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
If Pinocchio said his nose grew every time he told the truth no one would know he's lying
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.
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 likely puts us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. DPJ is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Hunt 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."
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