*****The Dorian O'Daniel Thread*****

[Dante84]

More to come...

Overview
Athletic linebackers like O'Daniel are earning high marks from NFL scouts because they need to cover the middle of the field in passing situations. ACC coaches recognized O'Daniel's talent in 2017, naming him second-team all-conference after he led the Tigers with 103 tackles, including 11.5 for loss and five sacks, as well as three pass breakups in 14 starts. One of the top outside linebacker recruits in the nation after an excellent high school career in the Washington, D.C. metro area (all-state in Maryland with 1,307 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns as senior, 16.5 tackles for loss, five sacks as junior). O'Daniel redshirted in 2013, and then got into the action regularly as a freshman, starting once and leading the team with 13 special teams tackles (had 31 total stops, sack) in 12 games played. He once again paced the team with 19 special teams stops in 2015, and was credited with 32 total tackles in 15 games as a reserve. Given a chance to play more on defense as a junior (10 starts in 15 games), O'Daniel used his quickness and tenacious nature to make 60 stops, 10 for loss, and 2.5 sacks.

What O'Daniel lacks in size and speed at the linebacker spot, he makes up for with production and consistency. He may not have the tools to become a quality full-time starter at linebacker, but his outstanding career as a special teams cover talent could be enough to earn him a roster spot and a place in the league for years to come.

Strengths

• Madman on special teams
• Finished career with 48 special teams tackles and most of them in kick coverage
• Has a gift for playing past kick return blocks and maintaining focus on the returner
• Technically sound as tackler
• Sees what he hits and drives upper body into target while wrapping to finish
• Possesses agility for lateral tackles against cutback runs
• Hustles to contain against perimeter runs
• Offers versatility
• Played near the line and matched up on slot targets
• Redirects routes with force
• Reads and squeezes from zone
• Finished 2017 with seven passes defensed including two pick-six interceptions

Weaknesses

• Just one season as starter
• Has the frame of a big safety, but is an average athlete in space
• Is a little sluggish in his directional change and needs a runway to get accelerate to top speed
• Pursuit speed is below par
• Often blocked by smaller slot players against spread rushing attacks
• Needs to prove he can beat blocks near the line of scrimmage on next level
• Gives up separation when matched in man coverage
• Plays upright and needs to do better job of anticipating routes

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Could he be converted to a strong safety full-time? He’s a smallish backer with cover skills who could thump.

I know he was a special teams stud but I think his measurements could make him a freak SS.

[ChiefsFanatic]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

Could he be converted to a strong safety full-time? He’s a smallish backer with cover skills who could thump.

I know he was a special teams stud but I think his measurements could make him a freak SS.

I always wonder about teams converting college players to other positions, especially players with obvious skills but just not enough speed to fill the same position in the NFL.

Like taking big college linebackers and making them 4-3 defensive ends, converting big college corners to safeties, and big college safeties to linebackers, etc.

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[O.city]

NFL is all about small ILB that can run. Leave him there.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by O.city

NFL is all about small ILB that can run. Leave him there.

Yep. He can play nickel LB, safety in the 4-3 under or 3-4, and OLB in the 4-3. He's fine where he is.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by O.city

NFL is all about small ILB that can run. Leave him there.

This. He’s the same size as the backs he needs to tackle.

Also, here’s a read from the Athletic, if anyone wants to post the full version.

https://theathletic.com/605901/2018/...sive-weakness/

[ForeverChiefs58]

Clemson linebacker Dorian O’Daniel was shutting down his NFL Draft watch party, which included his friend and former high school teammate Kendall Fuller, a Chiefs cornerback who came to the team in the Alex Smith trade with Washington. Then the phone rang.

Guess who?

The buddies are teammates once again. With Fuller celebrating the news in the background, O’Daniel spoke to reporters about the thrill of being selected by the Chiefs.

“I thought, ‘This can’t be happening.’” O’Daniel said.

It was. The Chiefs, who didn’t have a first-round selection, closed out the second day of the draft and didn’t hide its priority, drafting three defensive players.

When it came to the last selection of the evening, No. 100 overall, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach put in the call to O’Daniel, but it was Fuller who answered.

“I thought I had the wrong number,” Veach said. “Kendall was kind of screaming, hooting and hollering. I had no idea. It was pretty cool deal.”

O’Daniel was a Butkus Award finalist as the nation’s top college linebacker after racking up some impressive numbers with the Tigers this season: He had 104 tackles, 11 1/2 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions.

In a four-year career, O’Daniel finished as the school’s career leader in special-teams tackles.

Veach sees O’Daniel as an outside linebacker in dime packages and a member on all special teams. Veach said the Chiefs had O’Daniel as the top special-teams player in the draft.

“He’ll be in the linebacker room and he’ll be on the field on all passing downs,” Veach said. “We think he can develop into a (inside) linebacker.”

[wazu]

Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic

I don't think Sutton deserves any credit for the way DOD played last night. The fact is that without an injury Sutton probably never puts him in the game for more than 1 or 2 snaps at best.

What I saw last night from DOD was the fastest LB on the team, and a LB who looked like he could perform in pass coverage better than any LB Sutton has put in pass coverage all year. He seemed to have pretty good pursuit of the ball, and wasn't getting mauled by the opposing offensive linemen.

Basically, he looked exactly like the type of LB that Sutton's scheme calls for, and it took a fooking injury for Sutton to play him. I cannot see any damn reason Sutton deserves any credit for DOD's performance.

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It took the Chiefs trading away Alex Smith for Reid to play Mahomes. I cannot see any damn reason Reid deserves any credit for Mahomes’s performance.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by wazu

It took the Chiefs trading away Alex Smith for Reid to play Mahomes. I cannot see any damn reason Reid deserves any credit for Mahome’s performance.

That's completely ludicrous.

[Iconic]

IMO he should stay at ILB, he's already the perfect WILB outside of weight. Just by looking at him he has a compact, muscular frame so there's a ton of room for more weight. They should ask him to gain about 10-15 pounds so he can turn into our every down guy.

He could be our Deion Jones, if not better.

[carcosa]

Originally Posted by ForeverChiefs58

Clemson linebacker Dorian O’Daniel was shutting down his NFL Draft watch party, which included his friend and former high school teammate Kendall Fuller, a Chiefs cornerback who came to the team in the Alex Smith trade with Washington. Then the phone rang.

Guess who?

The buddies are teammates once again. With Fuller celebrating the news in the background, O’Daniel spoke to reporters about the thrill of being selected by the Chiefs.

“I thought, ‘This can’t be happening.’” O’Daniel said.

It was. The Chiefs, who didn’t have a first-round selection, closed out the second day of the draft and didn’t hide its priority, drafting three defensive players.

When it came to the last selection of the evening, No. 100 overall, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach put in the call to O’Daniel, but it was Fuller who answered.

“I thought I had the wrong number,” Veach said. “Kendall was kind of screaming, hooting and hollering. I had no idea. It was pretty cool deal.”

O’Daniel was a Butkus Award finalist as the nation’s top college linebacker after racking up some impressive numbers with the Tigers this season: He had 104 tackles, 11 1/2 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions.

In a four-year career, O’Daniel finished as the school’s career leader in special-teams tackles.

Veach sees O’Daniel as an outside linebacker in dime packages and a member on all special teams. Veach said the Chiefs had O’Daniel as the top special-teams player in the draft.

“He’ll be in the linebacker room and he’ll be on the field on all passing downs,” Veach said. “We think he can develop into a (inside) linebacker.”

Very nice

[CasselGotPeedOn]

Originally Posted by stevieray

That's completely ludicrous.

That might be the dumbest thing I've ever seen posted here.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by CasselGotPeedOn

That might be the dumbest thing I've ever seen posted here.

I'm guessing he's being sarcastic....

[wazu]

Originally Posted by stevieray

That's completely ludicrous.

Did you read what I was responding to?

[wazu]

Originally Posted by CasselGotPeedOn

That might be the dumbest thing I've ever seen posted here.

No, you topped it.

[bricks]

When I watched O’Daniel against the Bengals I saw a guy who made good reads, took good angles in pursuit of the ball carrier and got there with good closing speed!