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The Washington Commanders had plenty of needs to address this offseason, but, by far, the most glaring was the need for an edge rusher. The guys the Commanders had playing that role last year were either injured or they couldn't get the job done under Joe Whitt. With Daronte Jones now leading the defense under Dan Quinn's tutelage, things are going to be different.
To start, the Commanders attacked free agency and landed one of the top edge rushers in the league in Odafe Oweh. Drafted by Baltimore in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Oweh's rookie contract expired, and GM Adam Peters pounced. Here are five things to know about the Commanders' newest edge rusher.
Oweh was born in the United States, in Hackensack, New Jersey, to be exact. His parents have strong Nigerian roots, with his father being born in the country and his mother spending part of her youth there. Oweh's cultural background has been meaningful to him and helped shape his identity growing up. His family is incredibly close, and his younger brother, Otega Oweh, plays college basketball at the University of Kentucky. They have a close relationship, and there is a large athletic drive within the family.
As indicated above, Oweh's cultural background played a large role in his upbringing. As a child, people often called him by his middle name, Jayson, because "Odafe" was unfamiliar to them. As he grew and aged, he made the intentional decision to go by Odafe as a way to honor his Nigerian heritage and identity. He actively reclaimed his name, and embracing that helped him become more confident in who he is.
His decision to reclaim his name, which roughly translates to "warrior" or "one who brings strength," carried into adulthood and is now part of his branding, community work, and his efforts to connect American football to Nigeria. This is a representation of Oweh's self-confidence, cultural pride, and intentional identity building, a mindset that shows up both on the field and off of it.
Oweh created Oweh's Foundation for Opportunity (OFFO) to support causes such as reducing hunger and homelessness and helping single-parent households. Through the foundation, he's invested in community support and opportunity beyond football.
Aside from his foundation, Oweh actively uses his platform to host American football camps in Lagos, Nigeria. His goal is to bring American football to Nigeria, and helping expose young people to the sport increases their knowledge of the sport. That knowledge can open doors and create future opportunities, thus improving the lives of those impacted.
Oweh isn't just a football player and a philanthropist; he's also a whole human being. He has his own likes and dislikes, interests and things he stays away from. Off the field, he is known to enjoy artistic pursuits, including drawing and painting, which fans have found surprising given his high-octane on-field persona. He also has a passion for music and enjoys writing lyrics.
Odafe Oweh is only five years into his NFL journey. He has elite explosiveness off the line, stressing tackles immediately off the snap. His speed-to-power conversions highlight his explosiveness, especially when tackles overset. He's a strong run defender, using his length and strength to set the edge, and coaches tend to value his high-motor and defensive presence, which highlight his effort and physicality.
He hasn't yet reached his peak, though. His power is improving, but is not yet dominant. Early in his career, he relied on athleticism rather than technique, but he's added bull rush counters and better hand usage, which makes him harder to sit on. He's still developing as a technician, and while sacks may be lacking, he often forces hurried throws, rollouts, or broken plays instead of clean wins. This is something that Quinn and Jones will continue to work on with Oweh, and if he can nail it down, he'll be practically unstoppable.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: 5 things to know about DE Odafe Oweh
Continue reading...
To start, the Commanders attacked free agency and landed one of the top edge rushers in the league in Odafe Oweh. Drafted by Baltimore in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Oweh's rookie contract expired, and GM Adam Peters pounced. Here are five things to know about the Commanders' newest edge rusher.
Nigerian heritage
Oweh was born in the United States, in Hackensack, New Jersey, to be exact. His parents have strong Nigerian roots, with his father being born in the country and his mother spending part of her youth there. Oweh's cultural background has been meaningful to him and helped shape his identity growing up. His family is incredibly close, and his younger brother, Otega Oweh, plays college basketball at the University of Kentucky. They have a close relationship, and there is a large athletic drive within the family.
Culture matters
As indicated above, Oweh's cultural background played a large role in his upbringing. As a child, people often called him by his middle name, Jayson, because "Odafe" was unfamiliar to them. As he grew and aged, he made the intentional decision to go by Odafe as a way to honor his Nigerian heritage and identity. He actively reclaimed his name, and embracing that helped him become more confident in who he is.
His decision to reclaim his name, which roughly translates to "warrior" or "one who brings strength," carried into adulthood and is now part of his branding, community work, and his efforts to connect American football to Nigeria. This is a representation of Oweh's self-confidence, cultural pride, and intentional identity building, a mindset that shows up both on the field and off of it.
Philanthropy
Oweh created Oweh's Foundation for Opportunity (OFFO) to support causes such as reducing hunger and homelessness and helping single-parent households. Through the foundation, he's invested in community support and opportunity beyond football.
Aside from his foundation, Oweh actively uses his platform to host American football camps in Lagos, Nigeria. His goal is to bring American football to Nigeria, and helping expose young people to the sport increases their knowledge of the sport. That knowledge can open doors and create future opportunities, thus improving the lives of those impacted.
Artistic tendencies
Oweh isn't just a football player and a philanthropist; he's also a whole human being. He has his own likes and dislikes, interests and things he stays away from. Off the field, he is known to enjoy artistic pursuits, including drawing and painting, which fans have found surprising given his high-octane on-field persona. He also has a passion for music and enjoys writing lyrics.
He's still ascending
Odafe Oweh is only five years into his NFL journey. He has elite explosiveness off the line, stressing tackles immediately off the snap. His speed-to-power conversions highlight his explosiveness, especially when tackles overset. He's a strong run defender, using his length and strength to set the edge, and coaches tend to value his high-motor and defensive presence, which highlight his effort and physicality.
He hasn't yet reached his peak, though. His power is improving, but is not yet dominant. Early in his career, he relied on athleticism rather than technique, but he's added bull rush counters and better hand usage, which makes him harder to sit on. He's still developing as a technician, and while sacks may be lacking, he often forces hurried throws, rollouts, or broken plays instead of clean wins. This is something that Quinn and Jones will continue to work on with Oweh, and if he can nail it down, he'll be practically unstoppable.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: 5 things to know about DE Odafe Oweh
Continue reading...
