For the majority of 2018, the Steelers had just three outside linebackers available: T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree and Anthony Chickillo. But kept hidden on injured reserve and later added to the roster was undrafted rookie Ola Adeniyi. He was the team's darling of the 2018 preseason and was kept protected on injured reserve to prevent any team from stealing him from their practice squad.
But why did they go through all that for a player who saw all of nine defensive snaps last season? That's what we look at today:
Adeniyi's preseason featured 10 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. But it wasn't simply the numbers that made him jump out to observers, it was how he was winning off the edge. He's still very much a raw talent who didn't jump off the charts athletically in the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine when he was coming off his redshirt-junior season at Toledo.
Adeniyi's highest rankings among edge rushers in the events were his shuttle time of 4.28 (seventh) and his 26 bench-press reps (fifth), but he otherwise looked mediocre. What emerged after the Steelers gave him a chance to shine was how aggressive he could be with his hands off the edge and how that would give him leverage.
Watch how he beats this Panthers tackle by sticking his inside hand into the intended punch of the lineman, then slapping away those arms with his outside hand and finishing with a rip to get his clear shot at the sack:
Even if you're not the quickest or the fastest, having violent hands on the line can make a player dangerous. It's the biggest improvement factor in Watt's production as a pass rusher and why I think he'll be the Steelers' MVP of 2019. So it serves to pay attention to how that trait has boosted Adeniyi's stock.
Watch how he gets after the Titans' Luke Falk for this sack. He attacks the edge of the tackle, forcing him back, then uses his inside hand to shove the tackle off balance. Once that B-Gap opens he takes advantage and takes down Falk:
Adeniyi isn't going to just walk into Saint Vincent College, dominate training camp and become a star this season, but he does have good technical upside that can make for a solid foundation to build on in camp.
Keith Butler ultimately needs a fourth option as an edge rusher so he can keep Dupree and Watt fresh and have a reliable backup duo should the team run into injuries. They lucked out in not having that problem in 2018, but I doubt they'll feel comfortable gambling with just three outside linebackers on the active roster again in 2019.
When camp opens, look for Adeniyi in backs-on-backers drills and in edge-rushing opportunities to see how he does against tight ends, tackles and situational challenges. If he shows he can adapt with other necessary skills, the Steelers may find more uses for the 21 year old.
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