College Football
Move over JJ Watt, here comes Ed Oliver
Could the University of Houston’s Ed Oliver be the next JJ Watt? A comparison of Ed Oliver and Houston Texans star JJ Watt show the two have so much in common that it is not much of a stretch to believe it could happen.
Let’s Get Physical
JJ Watt stands 6’5″ 295lbs with a 40 yard time at the combine of 4.84. Oliver gives up a negligible three inches and five pounds coming in a 6’2″ 290 with 40 yard best time of 4.82. Watt regularly benches between 400-500 in regular workouts with a regularly sickening vertical of 58-59 on the box jump. He had a 37 inch jump at the 2011 NFL combine. Oliver’s bench is comparable at 415 and when compared to the number 6 pick in the 2018 draft, the 2018 Outland Trophy winner is a crazy good 34.5 clearing the Jets pick Jamal Adams by a solid three inches. We could continue to compare physicality but I think you get the picture.
On-Field Prowess
Watt, in two seasons at Wisconsin, put together a remarkable career, finishing with 106 tackles in 26 games including 74 solo stops. Throw in 11.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and a pick and there seems to be no question as to why the Houston Texans snapped him up with the 11th overall pick seven years ago.
Ed Oliver, a five-star recruit out of high school, has not disappointed since bursting onto the scene in the 2016 Texas Advocare Bowl against the vaunted Oklahoma Sooners. Following that first game out of the gate as a true freshman, then-Houston head coach Tom Hermann could not find enough superlatives to describe Ed Oliver’s performance.
“Upside is off the charts,” began Herman in his remarks about Oliver. “He’s a tremendously explosive, strong athlete. He’s a 6’1/2 290 pound kid that’s probably eight percent body fat. His traps touch his ears.The thing I love about Ed, the intangibles, the explosiveness, the speed and the power are great but Ed plays with a motor that is contagious. I love it. His play raises some of the play of the other guys because of how hard he goes.”
The Cougars defensive end has exceeded everything JJ did in college and still has a season to go. Oliver has played 25 games with 94 solo tackles. Of his 134 tackles, 39.5 have resulted in losses. Then throw in five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one blocked kick and 10 sacks.
The Secret Weapon
Many will remember “the Fridge” from the 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl team. William Perry was the first secret weapon. Then nearly 30 years later along comes JJ Watt who was a tight end in high school playing the same with the Houston Texans catching 3 TD’s in 2014.
Now comes the potential number one pick and the top defensive player in the country taking his place on both sides of the ball.
“I hope so,” said Houston offensive coordinator Kevin Briles when asked about if he’ll have Oliver as an option on offense. “I’ve got the green light from the head man, so that’s the number one key. But yeah I mean the guy’s the most talented guy on the team so if we can incorporate him down there then we’ll do that.”
Oliver had a rushing touchdown in last season’s 33-27 loss in the Hawaii Bowl. Although his first priority is on defense, the Heisman Trophy candidate is excited about contributing on both sides of the ball before he departs for the NFL.
What the experts say
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com analyst, has this to say about Oliver:
“Oliver is capable of winning with finesse or power on the inside, but he wins most of his snaps by outworking his opponent at the line of scrimmage. Whether it’s using a second or third move on a rush or simply running down a ball carrier from behind on a chase play, Oliver’s energy and effort jump off the screen.”
The drawback to Oliver, said Brooks in his May 21, 2018 article is that the Cougars’ star has not shown he can be a consistent sack producer.
As for JJ Watt, NFL scouts as a whole had this to say about the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year:
“His recognition skills leave something to be desired.”
“Won’t consistently get the edge on (offensive) tackles with his get-off or quickness.”
“Lacks some lateral mobility, both rushing the passer and playing in space.”
And the most damning of them all: “He won’t ever be a stud pass rusher.”
Watt is the all-time Houston Texans sack leader with 54 and a record-setting two 20 plus sack seasons.
The experts were wrong about JJ and Ed Oliver is about to prove them wrong again.
