Odafe Oweh has built a reputation as an excellent pass rusher. Collecting 17.5 sacks over the last two seasons will establish that. His quarterback pressure rate is way up there, hovering near 16%, illustrating how ferocious he can be getting after the passer.
His usage suggests that as well, with the Baltimore Ravens using him primarily as a situational pass rusher.
The Commanders edge rusher would like to remind you that wasn’t always the case. He had zero sacks in his final season at Penn State,
even with all the physical tools required to be an excellent NFL pass rusher.
Without the pass-rush stats, Oweh had to be a force in another aspect of his game that has gotten a bit lost as he enters his fifth professional season.
“My run game,” Oweh said in a press conference following Monday’s training camp practice. “I came in as a run defender. I had zero sacks (his last year at Penn State), and some people forget that. I worked hard, and by the grace of God, he has helped get better as a pass rusher. The run game is what I hung my hat on at first. People forget that, because I was a designated pass rusher in some defenses. I’m really trying to get back to that playing style against the run, attacking the edges and getting TFLs.”
He’s right. Go back to his NFL.com draft profile and you’ll find this assessment of his run defense: “He has dominant potential as a run defender with burst and range to upend back-side and play-side runs, turning them into short gains or losses.”
Opportunity plays a part in how much run defending Oweh gets to do. He was more of a situational guy in Baltimore, where he was drafted No. 31 overall back in 2021.
While pass rushing was key to the Commanders giving him a four-year, $96-million contract in free agency, he’ll be more of a three-down presence in Washington. That will give Oweh a chance to prove he’s a complete player.
He’s proud of his development as a pass rusher, which involved refining the technique required to accentuate his elite physical skills. His motivation stems from doubters, from those projecting what he can’t do.
“Each obstacle, each moment of adversity is like a test,” Oweh said. “That’s when you’ve got to work. That’s the universe telling you that’s where you’ve got to get better. Even if you’re listening to the fans, you can compartmentalize it and use it as motivation. I think, ‘Alright, I’m going to show you guys.’ That’s why I celebrate so much and point to the naysayers. You have to use that.
“We play sports. You can’t hang your hat on the bad reps. You have to work hard for the good ones. I feel like that was the best part for me. I’m glad I went through (tough times), because now y’all know me as a pass rusher, but y’all gonna remember that I’m a run defender, too. That’s a testament to how hard I work and my ability to close out the naysayers and do my job well.”
Oweh believes Daronte Jones will give him great opportunities to do that. He has generally been a secondary pass rusher, behind Kyle Van Noy or Justin Houston in Baltimore and Khalil Mack with the Chargers. Washington brought in some serious talent off the edge, Oweh’s the alpha here.
New coordinator Daronte Jones is given Oweh some freedom on when to stay disciplined in rush lanes and when to take a big shot. He’ll have plenty, but isn’t putting everything on his shoulders to sack the quarterback.
“Rushing well as a group is key,” Oweh said. “I’d rather have that than one dominant pass rusher. A group of pass rushers who know how to play and work well together. That’s what these first few days of training camp are all about…having chemistry with the guys and understanding what they like to do.”
