Why Atogwe is an immediate upgrade for Skins

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 11:36 am

On Thursday—in the middle of ongoing labor talks—the Redskins signed free agent safety O.J. Atogwe to reported five-year, $26 million dollar deal. I talked about the possibility of this deal last week, because I see the former Rams’ free safety as an immediate upgrade to the Redskins’ defense.

Here are three reasons why this move is a key to seeing solid defensive football in Washington…

Scheme: This defense under Jim Haslett is very similar to the scheme I played in under Gregg Williams when we break it down from a coverage aspect. Zone blitz concepts, Cover 2, man pressure and multiple combination coverages. To be successful, you need a FS that can play the deep middle of the field, rotate down over a No.3 WR in coverage and get off of the numbers in Cover 2. With Atogwe, you have a proven playmaker that understands pro route schemes, takes good angles to the ball and forces turnovers. You pay for that, but you also get the returns on Sundays. Especially with today’s offenses, having a free safety with range and proven ball skills—like we see from Atogwe—is priceless when you put together a defensive game plan. Something you can't find coming out of the draft with this year's safety class. An easy decision for Washington.

Overall impact on the secondary: Start with LaRon Landry and work our way to the corners. I view Landry as one of the top five strong safeties in the game, but he can play too aggressive in space. Keep him near the line of scrimmage and use him creatively as an edge blitzer, plus

The Rest of the story

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:04 pm

Thanks 1Niks... to me its a no brainer, I'm very happy with the pickup!

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:26 pm

This is a very good upgrade for the Skins, and exactly the kind of approach we should have while building.

ATX_Skins · Post by **ATX_Skins** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:27 pm

Jersey # ?

riggofan · Post by **riggofan** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:39 pm

Sounds like a good move. I like that he played for Haslett before so they know what they're getting.

Does the money paid make sense?

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:50 pm

ATX_Skins wrote:Jersey # ?

Not sure of the jersey number but he already said there's no way he'll be wearing #21.. he already knows.

ATX_Skins · Post by **ATX_Skins** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:55 pm

langleyparkjoe wrote:
ATX_Skins wrote:Jersey # ?

Not sure of the jersey number but he already said there's no way he'll be wearing #21.. he already knows.

He can have 26

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:55 pm

He has changed his Name from OJRams21 (TO) BlessedSkins on Twitter and States Dis,, Yup its official , "taking it 2 Da Top by da Grace of God, Washington here We Go,, With All Due Respect ( I Will NOT) b Rocking ( Nor) Asking 2 Rock # 21"

GREAT WAY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE CITY!!!

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:56 pm

ATX_Skins wrote:
langleyparkjoe wrote:
ATX_Skins wrote:Jersey # ?

Not sure of the jersey number but he already said there's no way he'll be wearing #21.. he already knows.

He can have 26

touche!!!!!

I'd be ok with 100,000,000 % .. moreso because 26 was Sean Taylor's number @ the U

spudstr04 · Post by **spudstr04** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:01 pm

O.J. Atogwe's new five-year, $26 million contract with the Redskins includes roughly $12 million guaranteed.

For comparison, Antoine Bethea's four-year deal signed last June contained $18 million in the first two years. Eric Berry got $34 million guaranteed as the No. 5 overall pick last April. Brian Dawkins received $7.2 million guaranteed as a 36-year-old, Earl Thomas $12.32 million guaranteed on his rookie deal, and Antrel Rolle $15 million in 2011 free agency. We're not used to saying it, but it looks like the Skins did pretty well here.

http://www.rotoworld.com

Nice to hear this! Allen making some good moves!

USAFSkinFan · Post by **USAFSkinFan** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:37 pm

I've watched Atogwe here in StL for years. I like this deal as much as I disliked the Adam Archuleta deal. Atogwe is a solid guy all the way around. He's not a freak athelete like ST or anything, but he's very good on the field, in the locker room, and in the community. Even if Kareem Moore comes back strong, they had to have another FS.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:44 pm

langleyparkjoe wrote:He has changed his Name from OJRams21 (TO) BlessedSkins on Twitter and States Dis,, Yup its official , "taking it 2 Da Top by da Grace of God, Washington here We Go,, With All Due Respect ( I Will NOT) b Rocking ( Nor) Asking 2 Rock # 21"

GREAT WAY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE CITY!!!

Well, I didn't understand a word of that. Presumably, he'll be learning how to speak English before coming to Washington? Lol.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:36 pm

UK Skins Fan wrote:
langleyparkjoe wrote:He has changed his Name from OJRams21 (TO) BlessedSkins on Twitter and States Dis,, Yup its official , "taking it 2 Da Top by da Grace of God, Washington here We Go,, With All Due Respect ( I Will NOT) b Rocking ( Nor) Asking 2 Rock # 21"

GREAT WAY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE CITY!!!

Well, I didn't understand a word of that. Presumably, he'll be learning how to speak English before coming to Washington? Lol.

lol.. right, definitely hope his real verbage is better than his typing verbage

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:37 pm

wait, did that make sense?

anyways, glad he's here

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 4:18 pm

langleyparkjoe wrote:wait, did that make sense?

anyways, glad he's here

Well, I understood it......although that doesn't necessarily mean that it made sense :wink:

MDSKINSFAN · Post by **MDSKINSFAN** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 4:32 pm

I'm very excited about this pick up. It is a huge upgrade to the secondary.

GoSkins · Post by **GoSkins** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 6:36 pm

UK Skins Fan wrote:
langleyparkjoe wrote:He has changed his Name from OJRams21 (TO) BlessedSkins on Twitter and States Dis,, Yup its official , "taking it 2 Da Top by da Grace of God, Washington here We Go,, With All Due Respect ( I Will NOT) b Rocking ( Nor) Asking 2 Rock # 21"

GREAT WAY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE CITY!!!

Well, I didn't understand a word of that. Presumably, he'll be learning how to speak English before coming to Washington? Lol.

No worry, he's a Stanford grad and has lots of smarts.

fredp45 · Post by **fredp45** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:36 pm

Does anyone have any clue how to pronounce his name? A phonetic spelling, please!

I remember when the Skins had a safety a few years back that we ended up cutting that had a name that was near impossible to pronounce... He was a big hitter that couldn't cover. I finally figured out to say his name and then we let him go. He went to the Cardinals, I believe.

Anyone remember him?

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:49 pm

ah - TAW - gway

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:08 pm

fredp45 wrote:Does anyone have any clue how to pronounce his name? A phonetic spelling, please!

I remember when the Skins had a safety a few years back that we ended up cutting that had a name that was near impossible to pronounce... He was a big hitter that couldn't cover. I finally figured out to say his name and then we let him go. He went to the Cardinals, I believe.

Anyone remember him?

Didn't he wear #26?

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:12 pm

Red_One43 wrote:
fredp45 wrote:Does anyone have any clue how to pronounce his name? A phonetic spelling, please!

I remember when the Skins had a safety a few years back that we ended up cutting that had a name that was near impossible to pronounce... He was a big hitter that couldn't cover. I finally figured out to say his name and then we let him go. He went to the Cardinals, I believe.

Anyone remember him?

Didn't he wear #26?

When Clinton Portis joined the Washington Redskins, he bought No. 26 for $40,000 from safety Ifeanyi Ohalete. Portis paid $20,000 up front but refused to pay the rest after Ohalete was cut by the Redskins and picked up by Arizona.

Ohalete then sued and the issue was solved before a trial when the two sides agreed on a lump-sum payment of $18,000 to settle the matter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ifeanyi_Ohalete