Chiefs mock draft: Strengthening our position
By Ben Almquist
6th Round (#203)
Victor Ochi – OLB – Stony Brook
Strengths: Very strong and uses his hands and long arms well to neutralize blocks. Quick off the ball and closes on the ball very quickly. Quality motor and conditioning so that his opponent is always tired before he is. Keeps his body moving and plays relentless. Very active hands and a great eye for the ball.
Absolutely lives in the opposing backfield and is always a threat to make a play. Surprisingly stout at the point of attack and can set the edge. Was one of the stars of the Shrine Bowl practices.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t have the ideal height, and there is some concern that NFL linemen could swallow him up. Doesn’t anticipate the snap very well. Can be caught off balance by misdirection. Needs to develop his pass rushing moves to find a way to win to the inside. Didn’t face very much NFL talent during his career and stats may be inflated as a result.
The Fit: I’ve talked about Ochi before, and I’m still very high on him. Small school standouts like this are absolutely worth a late round pick. Their lack of exposure can make them gems hiding at the end of the draft. In reality, this is where a road scout can really make his name (and get some job security). Ochi is an explosive pass rusher who absolutely lives in the opposing team’s backfield. At the very least, he should translate into an excellent Special Teams player, and teams can always use some of those.
Well that’s going to do it for me, Addicts. We’re getting closer and closer to D-Day, so I’m sure everyone is gearing up to do their best Kevin Costner. This year’s draft holds a lot of value…and a lot of importance. As we have seen this offseason, the Chiefs have left behind the transition moves of 2013 and are moving towards being the organization that Andy Reid and John Dorsey were looking for. Now the real pressure begins.