DRAFT Josh Uche

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Great blend of burst, bend & ability to utilize length at times. Looks comfortable and natural rushing the edge. Coiled up, 2pt/3pt stance. Decent array of moves around the corner. Showed some potential rushing B/C gap at times. Will use rip/dip, long arm but really jumps on you with his burst and ability to get long.

Potential as a situational rusher, blitz, delayed blitz. Off the ball/Los Swiss army type.

Decent recognition on what's coming in front of him in terms of blocks.

Shows good functional strength

Decent ID on reading QBs from the flat. He's an athlete that should be able to handle those types of duties.

+ chase/pursuit - backside.

Has the right attitude.

On the PTP board. Mentioned him as a potential Collins replacement recently.

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[primetime]

JUCHE

Juche - Wikipedia

 

[Adam Seward]

I can dig it, there is the fast LB we were talking about. Now a plug on the line so we don’t get Henry’d again?

 

[HailHydra]

Strong pick - him and Baun were similarly ranked

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Can you just give me the warm and fuzzies by saying he has nothing in common with Crabel (aside from both being Michigan men).

 

[Patstastic]

"Potential as a situational rusher"

Does this mean he won't be an every down player? Not happy if true. Otherwise, it's an okay pick I guess.

 

[jah]

I'm a bit confused about his position, as Collins was an off ball linebacker here but I only really hear this guy described as an edge player.

 

[Joey007]

I can dig it, there is the fast LB we were talking about. Now a plug on the line so we don’t get Henry’d again?

And if we do, let’s not get another 350 pound anonymous guy named after a holiday.

 

[primetime]

7. JOSH UCHE, Michigan (6-1, 245, no 40, 2-3): Uche gave consideration to transferring after hardly playing from scrimmage in 2016-’17. He posted seven sacks as a third-down rusher in 2018 and added 8 ½ more as a starter on the edge in ’19 before declaring a year early. “He was so underused there,” one scout said. “With his ability to bend the edge it’s ridiculous. He can affect the quarterback from a bunch of different angles. Michigan really did this kid a disservice. For as versatile as this kid is he should never leave the field. He can run. He can cover. I thought he was the best defensive player in Mobile besides (Javon) Kinlaw. He’s super conscientious. He would have run high 4.4s, low 4.5s and jumped close to 40. All that stuff people don’t know.” Uche finished with 56 tackles (20 ½ for loss) and 16 ½ sacks. “He’s a real serious, matter of fact, no ******** guy,” a second scout said. “You can tell he’s got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, but in a good way. He had to wait to play. When he got a chance he produced. The more you talk to him the more you like him. You feel like he’ll come in hell-bent to prove to people that he deserves to be there. There won’t be any damn drama with him. I think he’s a 3-4 outside backer. No way, no chance of that (playing stack LB).” He has abnormally long arms (33 5/8) for his height. “Little guy,” said a third scout. “He’s not a very good athlete. Nothing against the run. No burst as a pass rusher.” A fourth scout compared him to Yannick Ngakoue. Uche is from Miami.

 

[primetime]

I'm a bit confused about his position, as Collins was an off ball linebacker here but I only really hear this guy described as an edge player.

Think he's probably closer to a Van Noy replacement.

 

[BradyToAmendola]

"Potential as a situational rusher"

Does this mean he won't be an every down player? Not happy if true. Otherwise, it's an okay pick I guess.

I highly doubt bill would take him if he thought he was a one trick pony, that’s the opposite of bill’s approach. He believes Uche will be able to help in multiple areas

 

[Flash]

B+ pick, only qualm is his height. I like it.

 

[Patstastic]

I highly doubt bill would take him if he thought he was a one trick pony, that’s the opposite of bill’s approach. He believes Uche will be able to help in multiple areas

Okay good. I like this pick. But there's no way Stidham should be left with the current crop of TE's and Receivers on this team. It's unfair.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I'm a bit confused about his position, as Collins was an off ball linebacker here but I only really hear this guy described as an edge player.

So I spend about 10 seconds on where I think a player will play. I just go by where I think they'd play best but coaches are a lot smarter than me when it comes to that.

In his case his time at UM leaves a lot to the imagination when it comes to where he'll play. He did a little of everything and really never took on a defined role imo. Kinda their MO with a few players.

Honestly I know they're different but I could see him in a KVN/Collins type role. I compared him to one, maybe both lol. I can't remember.

He has that functional strength, build/ability to pack on a few lbs & length to potentially play up front. Range, agility & speed to play off the ball.

Bill definitely has a plan if he traded up for him.

 

[Mack Herron]

Senior Bowl director stumps for Josh Uche as first-round pick

 

[holyredeemer]

7. JOSH UCHE, Michigan (6-1, 245, no 40, 2-3): Uche gave consideration to transferring after hardly playing from scrimmage in 2016-’17. He posted seven sacks as a third-down rusher in 2018 and added 8 ½ more as a starter on the edge in ’19 before declaring a year early. “He was so underused there,” one scout said. “With his ability to bend the edge it’s ridiculous. He can affect the quarterback from a bunch of different angles. Michigan really did this kid a disservice. For as versatile as this kid is he should never leave the field. He can run. He can cover. I thought he was the best defensive player in Mobile besides (Javon) Kinlaw. He’s super conscientious. He would have run high 4.4s, low 4.5s and jumped close to 40. All that stuff people don’t know.” Uche finished with 56 tackles (20 ½ for loss) and 16 ½ sacks. “He’s a real serious, matter of fact, no ******** guy,” a second scout said. “You can tell he’s got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, but in a good way. He had to wait to play. When he got a chance he produced. The more you talk to him the more you like him. You feel like he’ll come in hell-bent to prove to people that he deserves to be there. There won’t be any damn drama with him. I think he’s a 3-4 outside backer. No way, no chance of that (playing stack LB).” He has abnormally long arms (33 5/8) for his height. “Little guy,” said a third scout. “He’s not a very good athlete. Nothing against the run. No burst as a pass rusher.” A fourth scout compared him to Yannick Ngakoue. Uche is from Miami.

Fascinating that all these reports talk about his speed and athleticism, then at the end, you got a scout saying he’s not a very good athlete and no burst as a pass rusher. Either someone has no talent at their job, was high on drugs, or was trying to hurt his value.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I love the uche pick. I do not know if he can be a 3 down player, but I think he will give you everything he has and he can find a qb.

 

[jah]

So I spend about 10 seconds on where I think a player will play. I just go by where I think they'd play best but coaches are a lot smarter than me when it comes to that.

In his case his time at UM leaves a lot to the imagination when it comes to where he'll play. He did a little of everything and really never took on a defined role imo. Kinda their MO with a few players.

Honestly I know they're different but I could see him in a KVN/Collins type role. I compared him to one, maybe both lol. I can't remember.

He has that functional strength, build/ability to pack on a few lbs & length to potentially play up front. Range, agility & speed to play off the ball.

Bill definitely has a plan if he traded up for him.

I see Van Noy and Collins as occupying different spots on the edge rusher-off ball linebacker continuum (Van Noy being closer to edge, Collins closer to off ball, with significant overlap in skill sets), so it would make sense that his positional projection would vaguely fall between or near them on that scale.

 

[jah]

Fascinating that all these reports talk about his speed and athleticism, then at the end, you got a scout saying he’s not a very good athlete and no burst as a pass rusher. Either someone has no talent at their job, was high on drugs, or was trying to hurt his value.

I wouldn't say on-field burst and measurable athleticism are synonymous. Maybe they think he has a lot of raw talent but it didn't show on tape with respect to burst. The most concerning thing to me in that write up was that vague third of a sentence claiming he couldn't play the run.