If the Bungals Squeelers or Rats would have drafted him these guys would think he was the greatest thing since sliced bread!!! Later GO BROWNS
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
STRENGTHS: Thick, wide-hipped frame and comfortably carries his 335 pounds ... rare quickness, body control and lateral flow for his size ... shoots his hands at the snap to get movement and reset the line of scrimmage ... uses his length and hand strength to stack, lock out and play peek-a-boo to track backfield action ... violent hands to shuck single blocks and bully his way through the shoulder ... his go-to as a rusher is an arm-over power move ... anchors versus double teams ... voted a team captain in 2022 ... gives consistent hustle and logged 36.8 defensive snaps per game over his two seasons in Waco.
WEAKNESSES: His backfield production plummeted in 2022 ... inconsistent snap anticipation ... bends well when he wants, but too willing to stand up and play upright at the snap ... can be caved by angle blocks when he doesn’t sink and secure his outside leg ... can get himself buried when he overextends his upper half and sacrifices his balance ... his missed tackle rate increased in 2022 ... barrels to the ball, but needs to use better control to finish tackles in confined spaces ... suspended one game for an “off-field incident” (September 2021) ... needs to stay conditioned and keep his weight under control (was 12 pounds heavier at his pro day compared to the scouting combine).
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Baylor, Ika lined up at nose tackle in head coach Dave Aranda’s hybrid 3-3-5 base scheme, playing multiple techniques (1, 2i, 3) on the interior. After winning a national championship at LSU as a freshman, he followed Aranda to Baylor and earned All-Big 12 honors each of the last two seasons. Ika plays with the power, awareness and joint flexibility to press blockers off his frame and find the football versus the run. For a player his size, he is light-footed with the short-area explosiveness and hand usage to defeat blocks. However, his best flashes can be found on the 2021 tape and he struggled to make backfield plays in 2022 (partly because of his role). Ika is a nimble, disruptive big man with stout, powerful traits, but all of his impressive parts don’t consistently add up to impact plays. He is a toolsy size prospect with a high floor as an early down NFL nose while also flashing the ability to be more.
.. https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/siakiika I like the pick , congrats on 2 real football players Berry said something about a Horse and a goose, I think we got a turducken.
Last edited by THROW LONG; 04/28/2311:37 PM.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
this was a very bad pick.. Problem is when you mortgage all your high picks you really have to hit on the ones you have left. Not sure this team is better than it was yesterday with these two picks
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. -John Wayne
Kudos for them drafting a DT, so that's a plus...and the options were limited, as I think we all thought there would be more DTs available. I watched his tape 2 months ago, and for a plugger...liked Coburn more (Coburn moves and hustles a ton better) But I know Ika was viewed nearly everywhere as a rather consistent 3rd round grade nearly everywhere. He'll definitely be seeing the field for us, hope they condition his body better (2.10 RAS) excited for what tomorrow brings us (hopefully Jammie Robinson and McGuire or Andre Carter at end) would love an OT, LB, and RB as well.
We needed interior DL help in the biggest way. Whether or not Ika is a good player is TBD. But it’s pretty dire.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Not sure Schwartz can turn this guy in to a Ferrari - but he's a space eating, run stuffing plug to put in the middle of the DL. At #98 I am not expecting fireworks, solid rotation play and depth is fine.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
J/C. I really like the pick. I think we will use him differently than what he was used in college. I believe he will flourish in a 4-3 vs the 3-3-5 set up at Baylor. I thought they asked too much from him this season, he was way better in 21. Gotta think if Schwartz wants to run some stunts and twists this could be lethal business with Mr Garrett. I still think we draft another DT before the end of the day.
I don't really have any feelings about the pick either way. I mean I think it would be crazy to think you're going to have some world beater player fall into your lap at #98. They needed a space eater and they got one. I don't actually know enough about the guy to say how he will fit and or how productive he will be. Hopefully he will pan out to be able to fill the roll Schwartz has in mind for him. If he can do that the Browns got themselves a bargain.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
IMO, Ika is.."A PROJECT".. who needs a ton of work to prepare himself to compete at an NFL level.
Get him in shape and hopefully he can avoid injuries during the off season workout period that would slow his progress. Carrying 358 lbs puts a lot of stress on the knee and ankle joints and if Ika could drop 20 lbs or so, it might help to protect his leg joints.
Another concern I have is Ika's current health...while researching his workout results I could not find Ika's results for the "bench press". I checked the results from the Combine and Pro Day and it looks like Ika did not participate in the 'bench' ... so I wonder what's up with that?...is he nursing a shoulder or elbow injury ?
i heard a short interview with Stefanski this morning about the two picks we made yesterday. Schwartz wanted Ika. Said he wanted him because he is disruptive and that's what he wants on the DL. The DC wanted the guy and we got him. That is a good thing. My understanding is that he had a 3rd round grade on him as well. Maybe he doesn't work out, but this who Schwartz wanted. I get that maybe he didn't reach out to too many of us for input beforehand. So we'll have to wait and see.
IMO, Ika is.."A PROJECT".. who needs a ton of work to prepare himself to compete at an NFL level.
Get him in shape and hopefully he can avoid injuries during the off season workout period that would slow his progress. Carrying 358 lbs puts a lot of stress on the knee and ankle joints and if Ika could drop 20 lbs or so, it might help to protect his leg joints.
Another concern I have is Ika's current health...while researching his workout results I could not find Ika's results for the "bench press". I checked the results from the Combine and Pro Day and it looks like Ika did not participate in the 'bench' ... so I wonder what's up with that?...is he nursing a shoulder or elbow injury ?
Hopefully IKA is ready to put in the work.
How much have you seen him play to come to the conclusion he is a project? I haven’t seen him at all. I’m okay with the pick because Schwartz made it. He is what he needs in his defense.
Schwartz told him that he doesn't need to be a dump truck anymore...That he can be a Ferrari...watching his interview with Cedric Tillman,he was asked about it... He wasn't sure what that meant... Lol. But later Andrew Berry was asked about it. And he said it meant that he doesn't have to just take up blockers. That he wants him to just wrap havoc getting to the QB!!!! I think he is going to like that role... LOL
I thought I was wrong once....but I was mistaken...
What's the use of wearing your lucky rocketship underpants if nobody wants to see them????
Not sure what to think about this pick. I don't remember watching him play, so there is no eye test. The reports on him leave me w/mixed feelings. I'm probably leaning towards thinking this wasn't a good pick.
The reaction by Schwartz gives me hope. It seems like he really wanted this guy.
On the other hand, showing up 12 lbs heavier at his pro day than he was at the Combine is alarming, as is his one-game suspension for an off the field incident.
Not sure what to think about this pick. I don't remember watching him play, so there is no eye test. The reports on him leave me w/mixed feelings. I'm probably leaning towards thinking this wasn't a good pick.
The reaction by Schwartz gives me hope. It seems like he really wanted this guy.
On the other hand, showing up 12 lbs heavier at his pro day than he was at the Combine is alarming, as is his one-game suspension for an off the field incident.
This one seems like it's going to require some projection. The Browns talked about using him differently than he was used at Baylor (Dump truck -> Ferrari, which Berry later expanded on.) He two gapped a lot there, but they want to see him more attacking. Of course, saying it is one thing, and seeing it is another. I see some upside there. Here's a link to a video of Okie State's Mike Gundy commenting on Ika that kind of reflects that: Link
I'm not sure what to make of the weight change. He's going to be a big dude. That's what you saw on the film. I don't think he necessarily showed up heavier at his pro day as much as he tried to cut weight for the combine. Body composition could definitely improve, but I don't know if I'd go as far as alarming. It is, admittedly, something to keep an eye on. He moves pretty well:
Haven't been able to find out more about the suspension. Hopefully having a kid now will make that sort of deal a thing of the past.
You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Hadn't looked at any of Ika's highlights before this videos Watching it I keep hearing Schwartz saying we are goiing to turn you from a dump truck to a Ferrari can see what Schwartz is envisioning - hope it materializes
I
Am I perfect? No Am I trying to be a better person? Also no
Not sure Schwartz can turn this guy in to a Ferrari - but he's a space eating, run stuffing plug to put in the middle of the DL. At #98 I am not expecting fireworks, solid rotation play and depth is fine.
You never know, but I like the perspective. He is a 3rd round pick.
The guy probably isn't going to put up great stats. He is a guy who is going to help others put up stats. His stats and value will show up on film in the coaches room.
If he can take on 2 blockers or changes the way others team attack the run, he is a winner.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
It seems like the Browns feel like Ika has some untapped interior pass rush ability and they want to reform his role a bit from what was done at Baylor. The highlight videos do indicate some pass rush ability, but then again, they are called highlights for a reason.
We'll see.
At DT, context and meaning are a scarecrow kicking at moving goalposts.
I don't think he'll put up monster numbers, but I think he could be able to blow up blocking schemes and create opportunities for plays in the backfield for other guys.
You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
When I was 18; I moved from Cleveland to Oceanside, Ca. and went to junior college.
I started to meet people my age that grew up there. There was a large community of Samoans.
Pacific Islanders are some different people. The men are huge. Really thick guys with huge legs. They are really impressive athletes. Strong dudes with thick necks and tough as nails.
Samoa is a tiny island and they have put a bunch of players into the NFL.
Strange because Polynesians originally came from SE Asia. Asians in general are small people. The Samoans are a very good-looking and a finely-built race, both men and women, with skins of a pale brown color, bright eyes, straight black hair and beautifully white teeth.
They are a closely knit community. You would not want to make a mistake and have a run in with any of them. They are nice people but not people to cross.
Ika is a Tongan. They are the same people as Samoans.
He is a big guy and you can bet he is strong as hell. They are not just big fat guys. Quick and powerful to go along with their size.
Welcome to Cleveland Siaka Ika. Cleveland is a long way from the Pacific islands.
Always interesting to know a little something about a persons path through life. We have all had our twists and turns, not totally knowing where it as headed.
Even as older guys we don't know where that path is headed.
Well, ok, we know where it is headed, but you know what I mean.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
Way off topic but recently I heard Stephen Stills tell the story of how the song "For What It's Worth" was written.
He was living in Laurel Canyon with members of Buffalo Springfield. He was on Sunset Strip and there were a group of policemen pushing around some young people. They was a famous bar called "Pandora's Box." It was across the street from the "Whisky A Go Go." Another famous club.
Pandora's Box was going to be closed. People were there because it was really the police cracking down on the "hippie scene."
I had come up from Oceanside to go the Sunset Blvd. scene. We were standing around at Pandora's Box one night and the police were there clearing sidewalks and in general pushing people around.
I have no idea if it was exactly when Stills witnessed the incident but it could have been. The timing was real close.
I left Oceanside after two years and went back to Ohio. I enrolled at Kent State. That was in 1969. I was there May 4th of 1970.
Sounds like what we had with Jerry Ball and Michael Dean Perry 30 years ago
Forgot about Jerry Ball haha
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Sounds like what we had with Jerry Ball and Michael Dean Perry 30 years ago
Jerry Sherk and Walter Johnson were a great set of DT's also.
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Sounds like what we had with Jerry Ball and Michael Dean Perry 30 years ago
Those were the days. Browns football at its finest in my opinion.
The Constitution shall never be construe to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. – Samuel Adams