Jeffrey Okudah
By: Jeremy T. Ballreich
In 2020, with the 3rd pick overall. Bob Quinn went against the grain of then HC Matt Patrasha, and chose Jeffrey Okudah from Ohio State University. It was so obvious, especially when Patrasha left his computer room with his Dog staring into the Webcam during the virtual draft that year, because he rolled his eyes on disgust and walked away (I think he might have ate that pencil behind his ear)!
With no in person offseason, no preseason games, and a coaching staff that couldn’t develop Polaroid Film, let alone a player! He came to Detroit to play as best he could. Week 1, newly signed #1 CB Desmond Trufant was injured and the coaching staff says. Here, go cover everyone’s #1 WR and good luck. It wasn’t pretty. While covering #1 Wideouts, QBs had a 102.4 QBR against in the 10 games played. But in the 30 snaps he covered anyone else. That QBR plummeted to a paltry 78.4. Which showed me he had promise but wasn’t developed properly (again read my statement about the coaching staff). By Thanksgiving after the Texans embarrassed the Lions in a rout! Then Sheila Ford Hamp parted ways with the worst coaching staff in Lions history as well as the GM (Thank God) that drafted him.
2021 the Detroit Football Lions hired a new Front Office hired Brad Holmes as GM, and Dan Campbell as Head Coach. Dan Campbell hired a very accomplished staff behind him. Aaron Glenn DC, Aubrey Pleasant for DB Coach, Todd Wash for Dline Coach, Dom Capers for Assistant DC. And many more. Which gave me hope that Jeffrey Okudah would finally get the development he needed to get good.
Week 1 vs. San Francisco, he did not have a great game. Deebo Samuel made him look so silly ge was chewed out by Aubrey Pleasant, and rightfully so just before the half. They came out of the locker room, and Okudah made probably the best defensive play of his short career knocking away a pass from Deebo’s grasp. The next play suffered a Torn Achilles Tendon making a stop on the RB Elijah Mitchell.
Fast forward to 2022. Okudah was clocked a tenth of second faster than his 40 time he had a combine. Worked out with the starting QB and a plethora of the Wideouts and coaches on the staff.
Granted it is only 3 games into the season. But Mr. Okudah is looking like the Lockdown corner we wanted in the 2020 draft. He is doing well enough that QBs are not throwing his way when he’s covering their WR 1 option. So far, he has held Devonta Smith to 0 catches, AJ Brown to 2 catches and 17 yards with 0 TDs. Scary Terry McLaurin to 2 catches and 22 yards, and this past week. Held Justin Jefforson to 3 catches and 14 yards. Who wasn’t targeted after the 3 minute mark of the 3rd quarter this past Sunday. So 4 very good WRs to 53 yards receiving and no touchdowns. I think it equals a Lockdown Cornerback the Lions have desperately needed since the Quintrasha Era ran Darius Slay out of town.
Thanks for Reading!
