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2019 NFL Draft: Houston’s Ed Oliver Scouting Report

By Jon Dove

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 16: Sam Glaesmann #4 of the Rice Owls fumbles the ball while being tackled by Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars in the second quarter at TDECU Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 16: Sam Glaesmann #4 of the Rice Owls fumbles the ball while being tackled by Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars in the second quarter at TDECU Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) /
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Houston’s Ed Oliver has been on the 2019 NFL Draft radar since his dominant freshman season.

Ed Oliver is a force along the interior of the defense. His ability to wreak havoc in the offensive backfield is why he is near the top of almost all 2019 NFL Draft rankings. There’s a realistic possibility that he’s the 1st player selected in next year’s draft.

Oliver features an elite 1st step that allows him to put pressure on the blocker. He combines that 1st step with excellent snap awareness. This combination makes him nearly impossible to keep out of the pocket.

He makes life even more difficult on the blocker because of his commitment to gaining inside hands. Oliver routinely rolls his hips and delivers a strong jolt.

This punch knocks the blocker off balance and helps Oliver work towards the ball carrier. It’s important to note that Oliver’s suddenness and lateral quickness also help keep the offensive linemen off balance. This is one of the reasons why he is so difficult to block.

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His commitment to keeping a low base gives him natural leverage. This helps him employ a dip and rip move that quickly gets him into the backfield. This is just an extremely disruptive defender who puts a ton of pressure on the offense.

Oliver is the type of defender who is always in pursuit of the football. He will pursue across the line and several yards downfield.

The one concern that could follow Oliver is his lack of elite size. He features a more athletic build rather than bulk. His best fit at the next level will be at the 3-technique and a lack of bulk could create some durability concerns.

However, Oliver’s quickness and explosive style will make it difficult for blockers to get into his frame.

As a run defender, he plays in attack mode looking to get into the backfield. He also shows the ability to disengage and purse. His lack of height is a small issue in that he can have a hard time locating the ball carrier at times.

The big takeaway with Oliver is that he’s an elite prospect who has a major impact on the game. There just aren’t many players who can disrupt an offense like him on such a consistent basis

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