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NFL GeneralTraining CampColts AnalysisFilm Room: Could George Odum be the starting strong safety of the future?New https://www.coltsfanshop.com/Chester-Rogers-Jersey ,14commentsOdum showed a ton of promise as a rookie.EDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Film Room: Could George Odum be the starting strong safety of the future?TwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailThe Colts are set at free safety for the foreseeable future with former first round pick Malik Hooker. He put together a really solid season in 2018 and should only get better with more playing time going forward. The biggest question, however, is who will be his running mate at strong safety going into 2019 and beyond. Clayton Geathers held down that role for most of last year, but he is only on a one year deal after a decent year in 2018. Among other options are veteran Matthias Farley and rookie fourth round pick Khari Willis. What about George Odum, though?Odum was a surprise last year as he made the Colts’ roster as an UDFA out of Central Arkansas. He played a major role on special teams early in the year before filling in at both free safety and strong safety late in the playoff run. With so much uncertainty at the strong safety position, could Odum be the answer? Today, I will be looking at ten plays— some positive and some negative— from his rookie season and talking about his positive traits, along with other areas of his game that he can improve. Odum is having a great camp so far, and I think his film from last year showed a player who can start in this league.<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="MmUlPS">Film RoomFirst play, and the athleticism is on full display. Odum reads the run to the opposite side of the field comes downhill with great speed and quickness. He strafes up the field and is able to take a good angle in tracking the runner down. Once he engages the runner, he delivers a good hard hit that knocks the running back backwards and limits yards after contact. Good job of tracking the ball carrier and finishing the play with a solid tackle to limit yards gained. <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Ib32mP">Odum was a former sub linebacker/nickel corner and you can see it in how he works down in the box. Here, he quickly diagnoses the run and races to his spot. He is able to beat Taylor Lewan to the spot and set up in great position to engage the runner around the edge. He breaks down in the open field and makes a good tackle to get the runner down. Again, he does a great job of not just tackling the ball carrier, but tackling through the player. He is a very physical tackler who finishes through plays rather than letting the runner get those extra yards. <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="r64iVB">This next play is the first negative on film for Odum and it is something that pops up a bit often with him. This is just a simple pass by the Titans to get a positive play going before halftime. The Colts do a good job of gang tackling, and the play is blown dead with the ball carrier still standing. Odum, however, keeps pursuing and delivers a hit after the whistle, drawing a penalty. Now, the call was a bit soft, but that is how the NFL calls these plays nowadays. He has to be more controlled and disciplined on plays like this and can’t be making mistakes that lead to points for the opponent. <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="7BRpVC">Odum's aggressiveness can sometimes be a negative, but for the most part, that is the mindset that you want your safeties to have. This next play shows his aggressive physical nature without even showcasing his abilities as a safety. Darius Leonard picks off Blaine Gabbert, and beginsreturning the ball down the sideline. Odum flies up from his safety spot and absolutely crushes the receiver that the pass was intended for. This play just showcases his mindset as an always physical, aggressive safety. He may need to calm it down a tad, but for the most part, you want this in your strong safety.<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="suLHqG">Odum has no fear coming down from his safety spot and engaging running backs as they come downhill. Here, he fearlessly meets 6’3” 235 pound running back Rod Smith. Odum doesn’t slow up one bit as he engages the much bigger running back, and he is able to give a good hit to the midsection of the runner. He makes the tackle in the open field and again limits those extra yards after contact. This is the base function of a good strong safety. Being athletic and fearless coming downhill and being a physical run defender. Odum checks off both of those boxes.<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="mDzuBa">On yet another play, Odum is quick out of his backpedal and makes a good tackle on a powerful running back. He does an excellent job each play of diagnosing what is in front of him and getting a good break out of his backpedal. He is then able to race downhill and get into a good position to make a play. Again, he takes a great angle and has a great form tackle while also giving a good jolt to the runner through the hit. Odum looks a lot like strong safety on many of these plays. <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="4zU8xM">The two biggest concerns in Odum’s game are the over aggressiveness on the backend and struggles to read the play in front of him. The second issue didn’t show up too much on film but here is one example of it. He is in man coverage with Zeke Elliott out of the backfield and is late to react to the route. Dak Prescott is able to recognize this and turn the play into a good gain. Odum needs to read these plays better on the backend, but these are expected out of a former linebacker UDFA in his first season. I expect him to improve in this area as he plays more in that deep safety spot and learns to see the field better. <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="TdzkEW">Here, we see a little bit of that athleticism and movement ability in coverage. Prior to this play, Odum suffered a MCL sprain on the previous series. Despite suffering that injury, he is still able to make this play on the backend. He tracks his tight end in coverage well from the deep safety spot and doesn’t bite too hard on the inside move. The ball is thrown high and deflects off of the tight end’s hands. Odum sees the pass up in the air and is able to lay out for the pass despite his knee injury. He also gets a nice little return after the pick as well. It may not be an elite play by Odum, but ball production is so big as a safety and it is great to see a young safety make a play like this.<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="DGsFeG">Near the goal line against one of the best running backs in the NFL Antonio Morrison Jersey , Odum shows off his strength and tackling ability. Saquan Barkley on the goal line is usually almost a sure thing, but he is shut down by the young safety, here. Odum comes flying around the edge and is able to make contact in the backfield with Barkley. He is then able to hang on and hold him back and get the stop before the goal line. Great play by the young safety to prevent the touchdown.<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="pBQlD4">The final play here is another example of his over-aggressiveness. The Giants go to the play action by the goal line. Odum is in man coverage with the tight end but he over-commits inside on the play fake. The result is an open tight end and a touchdown for the Giants. Darius Leonard even gives him some feedback as he is clearly not happy with the play. On one hand, it is understandable to commit to the run with Barkley close to the endzone but Odum has to maintain his assignment. Tough situation that he will get better at with time.<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="cJDivv">Final ThoughtsGeorge Odum really impressed me last season. He is a superb athlete who covers a lot of ground on the backend. He is also a willing tackler and very aggressive player who flies downhill and wants to be involved on every single play. His mindset, size, and athleticism would make him a perfect fit at strong safety going forward alongside Malik Hooker. The main concerns in his game, though, could keep him off the field in favor of more stable veterans. He does give up some plays due to being over-aggressive and his field vision as a deep safety could certainly improve. These are two areas that I’m not terribly concerned with him improving, as they both should get better with more experience as a safety. I always say that it is much easier to tame a crazy safety than to light a fire in a passive one.Ultimately, it comes down to how the Colts want to play it at strong safety this year. Odum probably isn’t as well rounded as players such as Khari Willis, Clayton Geathers, or even Matthias Farley at this point but he does offer the most upside. Those players can’t match him in terms of athleticism or aggression even. These traits and my belief that he will get better with more playing time, leads me to think that he could be the best option next to Hooker. He may have the most mistakes but the potential for a well above average safety is there with him.The Colts could go many ways with the strong safety position this season. George Odum may not be the starter, but he absolutely deserves a shot to win the job. He is a talented player, and by all accounts having a great training camp so far. I think the sky is the limit for this safety and he could be a good player in this league for some time if he develops a bit. There can be no better measuring stick for the Chiefs and young quarterback Patrick Mahomes than what they face Sunday night.Beat the Patriots in Foxborough and all that excitement in Kansas City might be validated.Remember, though, that the Chiefs, with Alex Smith, went into Gillette Stadium and won the 2017 kickoff to the season. They went on an up-and-down ride the rest of the way, lost in the wild-card playoff round, while the Patriots straightened out and made the Super Bowl before losing to Philadelphia.Mahomes, of course, has looked immune to any sort of high-stakes pressure in leading the Chiefs (5-0) to the top of the AFC. He embraces this challenge and trying to outdo Tom Brady.“It is going to be a great opportunity,” says Mahomes, who has a league-best 14 touchdown passes. “He is one of the greatest quarterbacks, if not the greatest to ever play. I am going against their defense, but as a team we are going to go in and try to compete. They are a good team in the AFC every single year. Just to compete against one of the best teams in the league is going to be an awesome opportunity.”How familiar is Mahomes with three-time league MVP Brady, whom he has never met?“I definitely watched a good amount of him in college (at Texas Tech),” he says. “Coach (Kliff) Kingsbury actually played with Tom at one point. He liked to show me some things that he did where he was in the pocket, his pocket movements and things like that. I have definitely taken some things from him. He does it at such a high level, it’s something you have to strive to be like.”New England (3-2) is striving to be, well, New England. After a 1-2 start, the Patriots appear to have gotten back on their usual winning path.The weekend began with Philadelphia’s 34-13 road victory over the New York Giants. Carson Wentz threw a season-high three touchdown passes for the Eagles (3-3). They beat the Giants (1-5) for the fourth straight time and seventh in eight games.Off this week are Detroit (2-3) and New Orleans (4-1)Pittsburgh (2-2-1) at Cincinnati (4-1)One of the NFL’s most vicious and yellow-tinted rivalries . As in:—These teams combined for four penalties for unnecessary roughness, one for unsportsmanlike conduct Kenny Moore Color Rush Jersey , one for taunting, one for roughing the passer, and two 15-yard penalties for grabbing a facemask in their previous meeting.—Cincinnati set a club record with 173 yards in penalties in that messy affair, when the Steelers overcame a 17-0 deficit to win.More numbers of note:—The Steelers have won the past six games in this series, nine of 10 and 14 of 17.—The Bengals are 8-24 vs. the Steelers under coach Marvin Lewis—Lewis is 2-15 at Paul Brown Stadium against Pittsburg.— Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is 24-4-1 in his native Ohio, including the postseason. He’s 13-2 at Paul Brown Stadium with 23 TDs, 10 interceptions.Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) at Cleveland (2-2-1)When last they met in Cleveland, the Browns won in their 15th game to avoid a perfect season on the wrong side of the ledger. So they lost every game in 2017, including at the Chargers.“Not to speak too much of last year, but I could not believe and I did not feel like they were an 0-16 team or 0-14, whatever they were when we played them last year,” says Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. “It was a good football team. They just did not find ways to win and so many (games) they had opportunities.”They’ve got two wins already and lead the NFL with 15 takeaways, two more than in the entire 2017 season.Baltimore (3-2) at Tennessee (3-2)Two clubs coming off down weekends: Tennessee was punchless at Buffalo, Baltimore was inept offensively at Cleveland.Both can play D, though, so don’t expect a lot of end zone activity in Music City.The Ravens are playing a third straight road game, then have four of the next five at home. They lead the NFL in scoring defense, allowing 15.4 points per game, with no TDs in a second half.The Titans have allowed seven points in the first quarter and lead in red zone defense, allowing three TDs in 13 possessions for a 23.1 percent success rate by opponents.Chicago (3-1) at Miami (3-2)The Bears have won three in a row and come off a bye. They haven’t earned four straight wins since 2012.With Khalil Mack revitalizing the defense, Chicago ranks No. 1 against the run and second overall. If second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky truly has found the passing rhythm — his six TD throws in a rout of Tampa Bay tied for second most in an NFL game — the Bears needs to be taken seriously.Miami was taken seriously until it laid eggs at New England and Cincinnati, where it blew a 17-0 lead. The Dolphins rank third worst in yards and fifth worst in points. They have been outgained by 94 yards per game, which ranks third worst.Carolina (3-1) at Washington (2-2)Washington was on the wrong end of the record-setting Brees blitz through the air in New Orleans, and was damaged as much by penalties as inefficient defense. The usually precise Alex Smith threw an interception and was generally off-target.Now comes Carolina, which has seven picks, is plus-5 in turnovers, and has nine sacks. The Panthers also have the NFL’s top rushing offense, in part because quarterback Cam Newton is such a weapon on the ground. Newton is 4-0 with nine TDs and zero picks for a 115.4 passer rating vs. Washington, along with two rushing scores.Washington has lost five straight to Carolina.Los Angeles Rams (5-0) at Denver (2-3)While Denver’s defense has been getting Orange Crushed recently, LA’s offense has looked unstoppable. Jared Goff leads the league with 1,727 yards passing and ranks second with a 119.7 passer rating. In the past month, Goff is averaging 374 yards per game. Todd Gurley tops the NFL with seven TD runs and ranks second with 645 scrimmage yards. Of concern for the impressive receiving group is that Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp each left last week’s win at Seattle with concussions.Denver star LB Von Miller has gone sackless the past three weeks. The Broncos yielded 323 rushing yards to the Jets, so, yes, that has caught Gurley’s attention.Jacksonville (3-2) at Dallas (2-3)Oddly https://www.coltsfanshop.com/Jeremiah-George-Jersey , Dallas has never won its first three home games at Jerry World.With RB Leonard Fournette still hurt, the showpiece matchup with Ezekiel Elliott disappears. Elliott has been the prime weapon for Dallas and is averaging 154 yards from scrimmage per game in the past three. But the passing game is 30th as Dak Prescott struggles without a topnotch receiver.He’ll face the stingiest defense in the NFL.Seattle (2-3) vs. Oakland (1-4) at LondonWonder if the Raiders will have as many fans in Wembley as they did in StubHub Center. They could really use the support as Jon Gruden’s return season spirals out of control.“I’m going to continue to emphasize the good and do everything I can to fix the things that are bad, because most of the things that are bad, my fingerprints are all over,” Gruden said.Such as a defense, minus the traded Mack of course, that ranks 30th. Oakland has the fewest QB pressures in the league (29), tied for fewest sacks (six), and is tied for third-fewest takeaways (five).Seattle makes its first regular-season overseas appearance. Worth watching:—Pete Carroll seeks his 91st win with the team to pass Mike Holmgren as winningest coach for the franchise.—Russell Wilson is 25-6 after a loss, the best record of any quarterback since the merger.—Seahawks kicker Sebastian Janikowski spent 18 seasons with the Raiders, holding the franchise record for points (1,799) and games (268).Indianapolis (1-4) at New York Jets (2-3)If any team needed the long layoff from a Thursday nighter it was the Colts. They went into New England undermanned and then got hammered with more injuries, giving them little chance against the Patriots.Assuming they are somewhat healthier, this is a far better chance for Indy to straighten out its season. Andrew Luck’s arm looks strong, but who does he have to throw to if T.Y. Hilton isn’t in the lineup?New York opened up its offense in a win over Denver, letting Sam Darnold occasionally fling the ball downfield and it led to some huge plays. The Colts are vulnerable to that.Buffalo (2-3) at Houston (2-3)Each team comes off a tight victory in which the offenses were stagnant, while the defenses and kicking games were decisive.Houston wants things more open when it has the ball, with Deshaun Watson connecting on throws to DeAndre Hopkins. Buffalo’s solid second-year cornerback Tre’Davious White, will be tested.Apparently fully healthy after two tough years, Texans DE J.J. Watt is tied for the NFL lead with six sacks. Watt had an 80-yard interception return for a score in his previous game against the Bills in Houston, a 23-17 win in 2014.Arizona (1-4) at Minnesota (2-2-1)What could be a mismatch — Arizona has the NFL’s worst offense and has scored all of 65 points — has one intriguing element. Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, a likely Hall of Famer, returns to his hometown for the sixth time in his 15-year career, with an average of 87.4 receiving yards and no touchdowns at Minnesota.On the other side, wideout WR Adam Thielen leads the league in receptions (47) and is second in yards (589). He’s also first in third-down catches (14). Thielen is the third player in NFL history with five 100-yard games to start a season, the first since 1961.San Francisco (1-4) at Green Bay (2-2-1), Monday nightFollowing a stinker at home to hand Arizona its first win, the Niners go to the prime-time showcase against Green Bay, which is following a stinker of its own at Detroit.Both teams struggle to protect the ball, and the 49ers can’t find ways to take it away from opponents; they have a league-low one interception and have forced three turnovers.Of special interest for the Pack: Mason Crosby went 1 for 5 on field goals and missed his only extra-point try at Detroit.Tampa Bay (2-2) at Atlanta (1-4)No one played worse the past two weeks than the Bucs. But the Falcons were close.Bucs QB Jameis Winston gets back his starting job following a bye; he was suspended for the first three games, when Ryan Fitzpatrick was either magical or mediocre. Tampa’s defense has been dreadful.Then again, so has Atlanta’s, which is ravaged by injuries. It ranks worst in points allowed and worst in third-down percentage. The offense struggles to protect Matt Ryan and to generate a running game.