New England Patriots Possible Target in the 2015 NFL Draft – Hau’oli Kikaha, OLB Washington
 Hau'oli Kikaha has been one of the most prolific pass rushers in college football the past two seasons.If he checks out medically, he could be a big-time player in the NFL.(USA Today Image) |
As the 2015 NFL Draft draws closer we’ll profile some of the players that may be on the Patriots radar. Some of these players have already been linked to New England as possible targets others, we feel would be a great fit.
Check out our earlier 2015 NFL Draft profiles on PatsFans.com:
DE/OLB Nate Orchard from Utah
WR Tyrell Williams from Western Oregon
DT Jordan Phillips from Oklahoma
DT Carl Davis from Iowa
RB David Johnson from Northern Iowa
CB Steven Nelson from Oregon State
OLB Zack Hodges from Harvard
CB Ronald Darby from FSU
WR Devin Funchess from Michigan
OG A.J. Cann from South Carolina
RB Mike Davis from South Carolina
ILB Benadrick McKinney from Mississippi State
The Patriots have a need at linebacker which we’ve pointed out in previous posts. Jerod Mayo missed the final 10 games of both 2013 and 2014 and Dont’a Hightower played down the stretch with a hurt shoulder that required surgery right after the Super Bowl. Besides Jamie Collins, the roster is full of players with potential but little NFL experience.
With our last draft profile we focused on the inside linebacker position, for this one, we’ll focus on the edge and a player who can definitely get after the quarterback. With the departure of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, the team will look to upgrade the front seven and improve the pass rush.
The Patriots already signed DE/OLB Jabaal Sheard, a free agent from Cleveland who will join in the rotation at defensive end with Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones. They will be joined by 2nd year player Zach Moore and Michael Buchanan at end and last season’s top draft pick Dominique Easley at DT. Collins and Hightower have been effective at blitzing from the linebacker position up the A-gap.
Hau’oli Kikaha from Washington is one one of the top pass rushing prospects in this season’s draft. He missed nearly all of two seasons (2011-12), with ACL tears in his left knee. But he produced solidly in 2013 once he returned healthy.
In 2014, the team moved him to outside line backer in the team’s 3-4 defense and he was immense, notching 18 sacks coming off the edge.
Kikaha is one of those polarizing prospects who some have as a blue-chip player and others as being a late round selection. But there isn’t any knocking his production, being 1st in the nation in sacks in 2014, and 4th in 2013. In the past two seasons, Kikaha has 32 sacks and 40.5 tackles for a loss. That is 72.5 explosive plays off the edge playing against some of the top teams from the west coast in the Pac-10.
He possesses good length at 6’3, 246 and although solidly built, he could use some additional muscle on his frame. Kikaha is best suited to play as an OLB in a 3-4, or with his hand on the ground in sub-packages.
He has experience playing both and has a non-stop motor. His work ethic on and off the field is excellent and although not considered a “twitchy” athlete, shows good body control and the ability to change direction. He has been compared to the Patriots Rob Ninkovich in some circles. But Kikaha likes to pattern his game after Packers linebacker Clay Matthews.
With a background in judo and wrestling, he uses his hands very effectively and will punch through blocks to get to the ball carrier. Keeps moving if his first move doesn’t work and a finisher who will get after and sack the quarterback once he gets after him.
Kikaha can drop into coverage and is most effective in short zones, but only so-so when asked to cover in man. He isn’t particularly great at setting the edge in the running game but with a year in the strength and conditioning program, he should be better.
Pros:
- Extremely productive, with 32 sacks and 40.5 TFL (tackles for loss) last two seasons
- Relentless pass rusher, good change of direction, excellent use of hands
- Great work ethic on and off the field, excellent teammate
Cons:
- Red Flag with injury concerns, (torn ACL in 2011, 2012)
- Needs to bulk up at the next level
- Doesn’t set the edge well enough for the NFL
Where Can the Patriots get him: Here is where the debate comes in, there is no clear consensus where Kikaha will end up. The most obvious red flag is his injury history which can’t be denied, however, the past two seasons, he’s been healthy and ridiculously productive. And while he’s thought of as somewhat of a one-trick pony, the NFL loves pass rushers and guys who can get after the QB. If the Patriots find him at the end of rounds 2-3, they’d be hard pressed to pass him up.
Kikaha would put them in a position where they can be creative with the defense, going to a 3-4 or a 4-3 and he is versatile enough where he would be able to bring pressure off the edge as a pass rusher. Initially at least, he’d probably be a sub-package pass rusher but as Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia work him into the system, he has the ability to be an every down player.
Once he adds a little more muscle in his upper body and gets more comfortable setting the edge in the running game, Kikaha could be a very productive player in the Patriots defense as he can blitz or drop into coverage. He’s the kind of player the team likes, lives, eats and sleeps football and wants to improve every day.
Here is a highlight film of Kikaha from Washington State:
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