Break Through
3rd-Year Eagles DT Making Major Impact
PHILADELPHIA – Whether planting opposing quarterbacks from the interior or sniffing out a defining play, Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo has established a flair for producing in high-leverage moments.
In Week 4, with the Eagles up 31-25 with two minutes remaining and reeling amid the steamy conditions in Tampa, it was Ojomo who knifed through to drop Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield for a nine-yard loss, setting up a 3rd-and-21 and effectively ending the game.
In Week 7, early in the fourth quarter, the Minnesota Vikings threatened to take the lead. For a moment, it appeared the Carson Wentz-led offense was poised to seize momentum before Ojomo wrangled the former Eagles quarterback for a seven-yard loss to force a field goal.
Ojomo also pinned Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart late in the fourth quarter of the second matchup for his team-leading fourth sack of the season, but that game was well at hand.
It’s been a breakout season for third-year DT Moro Ojomo, who has come up with big sacks in big games.
But the most recent example of Ojomo’s impact isn’t something that can measured on any stat sheet. Trailing by three with 1:30 remaining, the Packers were faced with a must-have 4th-and-1. As Packers quarterback Jordan Love, flanked by running back Josh Jacobs, aligned in shotgun – as the Lambeau faithful held its collective breath – an audible directive cut through the frigid evening.
“Inside zone this way! Inside zone this way!” Ojomo shouted.
Upon accepting the handoff, Jacobs was met by outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who displaced tight end Luke Musgrave to storm into the backfield. The ball was dislodged, with safety Reed Blankenship pouncing on it to end the late Green Bay surge.
“I didn’t realize this, but I guess they scored a touchdown on that play,” said Ojomo. “The quarterback came up, there was some communication, and it was like déjà vu. So, seeing the exact same thing happen again. And I just wanted to alert my teammates and kind of let them know what was going on.”
While defensive coordinator Vic Fangio cited a multitude of reasons that contribute to having such awareness – such as weekly preparation, information gathered throughout the course of a game, and even the stance Ojomo sensed – he didn’t believe it to be that “rare” for a player of Ojomo’s football intellect.
Ojomo, when asked, traced the overall enhancement of his football knowledge back to his college days of playing for Texas defensive line coach Bo Davis. The message Ojomo recalled was simple, albeit impactful: “The offense is giving you things.”
“And then after that, you get a guy like [Eagles defensive line coach Clint] Hurtt in the room,” he added. “Hurtt’s been a defensive coordinator. So, you don’t wanna be a robot out there, right? Coaches draw up a perfect play, but the reality is, the coaches aren’t out there and things are moving. So, get the job done, at the end of the day. That’s kind of how that spurred.”
Hurtt, as Ojomo noted, was once a defensive coordinator for two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Since joining the Eagles’ staff last season, Hurtt quickly established himself as one of league’s premier defensive line coaches, fixating on fundamentals and accentuating the strengths of his personnel.
Hurtt, demanding and detail-oriented, is imposing in figure but also stature, serving as the leader of the Eagles’ defensive line room. Ojomo lauded his position coach for adapting to the different personalities, while also being encouraging and assigning critique in the right way.
“Sometimes we butt heads, but it’s almost like a great marriage, in a sense,” Ojomo added.
Perhaps no player under Hurtt’s tutelage has experienced more tangible growth than Ojomo, who has dazzled in his expanded role. For perspective, Ojomo last season logged a career-high in defensive snaps (388). He’ll likely surpass that total on the first series Sunday night against the Lions, as Ojomo has accounted for 65 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
He might not fit the prototypical build for the position, but Ojomo should never have been put in a proverbial box. The 24-year-old just this summer was described as “awkward (in a good way)” to block by his three-time Pro Bowl teammate Landon Dickerson due to arm length, size and quickness.
Other traits showcased in a greater capacity this season are Ojomo’s lower body power, change of direction and violent hand usage. And based on his most recent impact, one could argue Ojomo’s intangibles – specifically football intelligence – act as the equalizer, fueling his breakthrough.
As he sat in his chair outside his locker stall, it took him a moment to decide on his personal favorite play through nine games. Akin with the team’s culture, Ojomo eventually landed on the play that required a collective effort.
“I think the Tampa versus Baker [Mayfield],” he said. “It was just cool, especially, like, a sack takes a lot of people, and that’s what people don’t realize. Any play in football takes the greatness of others, like [Nick] Sirianni always said. And Tampa, it was just a great sack; it ended the game, and then it was the way that I got to celebrate with my teammates and the way that they took me and embraced me and I embraced them. And it was just cool to hug everyone, be happy, and get the win.”
— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com
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