Nov. 21: #9 Indiana at #3 Ohio State, 11:00 a.m. CST
It’s nonetheless undetermined if Allen Robinson will probably be on the Chicago Bears roster in 2021 and I am going to exit on a limb and say Riley Ridley and Javon Wims is probably not dependable playmakers sooner or later. Chris Olave is in his junior season at Ohio State and after main the Buckeyes in receiving yards, yards per catch, and touchdowns, he has earned some nationwide recognition.
He is listed at about 6’1, 180, and if that is his true measurement I might be stunned. His body seems extra like somebody who’s within the 170-pound vary and about 5’11. He has good musculature and definition however some groups might want him so as to add a couple of kilos after they choose him.
Olave begins every route with a basically sound stance: he has good ahead lean, steadiness, and retains that again heel off the bottom. When the ball is snapped he will get upfield rapidly with none wasted time or power. I might guess his pace tops out within the 4.5 vary and on tape that has been greater than sufficient to take the highest off of many collegiate defenses. Along with pace, Olave has good physique management and hand-eye coordination: he’s versatile sufficient to regulate mid-air or mid-route to a ball thrown his manner and has good leaping means. He competed for and gained a shocking quantity soar balls on tape, I believe that could be a testomony to his toughness and robust fingers. He is a keen blocker as properly: although their scheme did not name for it fairly often, he engaged defenders on the perimeter and gave a stable effort at sustaining blocks.
It was powerful discovering many flaws in Olave’s sport, however their are a pair areas of concern for followers. First, I might have to say ball safety as a a modest concern for me. There have been a few occasions occasions the place he hauled in a tricky catch, took a giant hit, and both dropped the ball or fumbled. These are uncommon occurrences however on the subsequent stage, sustaining possession by contact (particularly in tight throwing home windows) are crucial to success. The second knock on Olave is his play power, can he beat press on the NFL stage? He wasn’t pressed a lot on the tape I watched, however when he was pressed, defenders had respectable success disrupting the timing between him and quarterback, Justin Fields.
Olave’s draft projection falls within the second to third-round vary for now and he’d be an incredible slot in Chicago. Together with his talent and athleticism, he may work out of the slot or be a possession receiver and add some much-needed depth at a number of receiver roles.
