Steelers rookie tight end Phazahn Odom staying low during OTAs
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� Phazahn Odom appears more like a possession receiver rather than a tight end. Or maybe a combo forward on an NBA team, for that matter. Regardless, he sticks out.
Odom 无毛视频� standing a 6-foot-8, 250 pounds 无毛视频� was signed by the Steelers for organized team activities after a solid showing in rookie mini-camp. Since joining the full 90-man roster, Odom has flashed potential during his first week in OTAs. At least, from a receiving perspective he has.
The only issue is that tight ends at the NFL level are forced to do more than just catch passes.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 great to be 6-8 in the pass game,无毛视频� said Odom as he walked off the UPMC Rooney 无毛视频 Complex practice field. 无毛视频淏ut then the run game, I can无毛视频檛 be 6-8. I have to force myself to stay low.无毛视频�
If Odom can prove his potential trumps his liabilities, he might end up on the practice squad out of training camp as a project for Mike Tomlin and the coaching staff. Adding weight to his frame would aid in improvement as a blocker. As a receiver, he already contains qualities that make him difficult to defend considering most defensive backs rarely stand taller than 6-3.
无毛视频�(A player like Odom无毛视频檚) range is so crazy. A guy towering over you, especially who who can really jump and extend his arms, you无毛视频檝e really got to play technique sound ball,无毛视频� safety Sean Davis said.
Odom was a standout receiving tight end at Division I-FCS Fordham, where, as a senior in 2015, he set a single-season record for receiving touchdowns as a tight end (seven) while leading the team in receptions and receiving yards.
His college stats, possession receiving ability and 36-inch wing span made him an intriguing prospect as an undrafted free agent, one the Steelers eventually took the bait on just before Ladarius Green无毛视频檚 release.
Fordham, though, ran a no-huddle spread offense with minimal verbiage and little emphasis on tight ends impacting the run game. When Odom first got to Pittsburgh, he quickly realized Todd Haley无毛视频檚 scheme was on the opposite end of the spectrum.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 being asked to do different things,无毛视频� Odom said. 无毛视频淏ack at Fordham, I didn无毛视频檛 really in-line block as much. Here, the tight ends are forced to block. I无毛视频檓 adjusting to that.无毛视频�
It无毛视频檚 difficult to work on blocking during the OTA setting without pads, but Odom无毛视频檚 areas of needed emphasis can be addressed. Blocking derives around leverage. Ultimately whoever stays lower is going to win the one-on-one battle, and Odom is already at a disadvantage. Agility chute work, which forces players to stay low while coming out of a three-point stance, has been part of the regular routine for Odom under tight ends coach James Daniel during practices this week.
For Odom, the chute brings on a love-hate relationship.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 not the most fun thing, but it无毛视频檚 something that无毛视频檚 necessary,无毛视频� he said, laughing. 无毛视频淪omething that I have to do.无毛视频�