Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi sacks Buffalo Bills quarterback AJ McCarron for a loss during a preseason game last August. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

Don't Edit

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Coming out of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2017, Larry Ogunjobi carried a rare combination of athleticism and strength that offset concerns some scouts had about his size -- specifically his arm length.

Ogunjobi didn't start playing football until his sophomore year in high school. But he was an integral part of the Charlotte 49ers launching their new football program and started every game of his four years.

Each year he led the defense in tackles as well as tackles for loss, and left in indelible imprint on the program.

The Browns drafted Ogunjobi in the third round, the 65th pick overall, with high expectations. Ogunjobi got off to a strong start in the first seven games before a mid-season groin injury slowed him down. He finished with around 300 snaps for the season and was a part of a rotating defensive line that went five-deep occasionally.

For whatever reason, Gregg Williams didn't feel comfortable giving Ogunjobi a majority of the defensive snaps quite yet, but when he did, the tools that have come to define Ogunjobi flashed.

Don't Edit

2017 FORESHADOWING

Ogunjobi's quickness was evident from the start of the season. You can see him here using a quick club/rip (using the off arm to club the lineman and ripping under with the near arm) to defeat Maurkice Pouncey (No. 53) and get in on the run stop.

Don't Edit

In his first meeting with Baltimore, again the speed and power flashed. Watch him drive the opposing center into the backfield with impressive speed to disrupt the path of this outside-zone scheme. The elite flashes were there.

Don't Edit

Ogunjobi was most dominant as a penetrating shade (offset aligned over the center), or the 1-technique (aligned over the inside eye of the guard). His quickness and power showed in several examples from his rookie season. These three run stops displayed his ability to win at the point of attack and finish with one arm at the tackle point, occasionally.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

In the lone sack of his rookie year, Ogunjobi epitomized his skill set. He worked power through the lower body to the hips, used the long-arm to put his man on the ground and finished Mitchell Trubisky with effort.

Don't Edit

Ogunjobi finished his rookie year with 32 total tackles -- 17 solo, 15 assisted. He accounted for eight pressures, four tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, and one sack.

Also, according to Pro Football Focus, Ogunjobi added 16 "stop" plays, which account for a loss for the offense. He finished with a 79.4 total grade. Granted, he played a small number of snaps, but the impact was felt and he showed enough to be heavily trusted going into Year 2.

Don't Edit

2018 BREAKOUT

In 2018, expectations were amped up. The Browns moved on from several rotational players from his rookie year, including former first-round pick Danny Shelton and Jamie Meder, and cleared the way for Ogunjobi to anchor the defensive interior.

He made himself at home as the Browns' consistent 1-technique or true 0-technique nose (lined head up over the center).

Ogunjobi finished the year with a massive uptick in snaps. Ogunjobi played 931 snaps -- good for fourth among NFL defensive linemen. That increase in snaps meant more output. Ogunjobi had 52 tackles -- 33 solo, 19 assisted -- and that number led the Browns' defensive line.

He also had 5.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, 21 pressures, and 33 "stop" plays.

The grading results were up and down, and he ended the year with a total score of 64.0, but his impact playing so many snaps was felt throughout the year.

Let's take a look.

Don't Edit

QUICKNESS

Don't Edit

Aligned at nose here, Ogunjobi shot the playside A-gap untouched, as the backside guard had no chance due to the speed off the snap. Ogunjobi was in the backfield before Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco could adjust, and Ogunjobi got the quarterback hit and pressure as he forced the incompletion.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

The Jets ran split-zone in Week 3, and Ogunjobi was into the backfield right off the snap as the Jets don't account for his depth. Led to the tackle for loss.

Don't Edit

Again against the Jets, Ogunjobi flashed the speed, as he aligned in the 0-technique and was able to split the double team down the line and win at the point of attack for the tackle for loss.

Don't Edit

Bengals right guard Alex Redmond (No. 62) took one false step in the DUO scheme and Ogunjobi was through and into the backfield for the TFL on Joe Mixon.

Don't Edit

In Week 2, the Saints went with a quick slot tunnel screen, and Ogunjobi showed that change-of-direction skill as he planted the right foot on his pass rush, and got down the line quickly to impact the screen and get in on the tackle for loss. He runs well for being an interior lineman above 300 pounds.

Don't Edit

You can see the pursuit effort and speed here in Week 16 when Ogunjobi dealt with the initial double team, then worked around Emmanuel Ogbah to make the sack. He flashed that immense closing speed on Bengals quarterback Jeff Driskel.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

When the Browns unleashed Ogunjobi on a stunt, which didn't happen often enough in 2018, he impacted the game. In Week 5, we saw an effective twist the Browns used when they wanted interior movement. Ogunjobi twisted with Genard Avery (No. 55) to get home for the quarterback hit and pressure on Joe Flacco.

Don't Edit

Against the Buccaneers we see it again. Twisting with Avery (No. 55) and staying close to the exchange, he closed quickly for the sack.

Don't Edit

USING THE CLUB/RIP

Ogunjobi loves the bull rush, but when he wants to get home with a move, he turns to the club/rip. His impressive hand and arm strength help him to deliver a blow with the club, and quickly rip under to create the angle. He dominated the Saints in Week 2 with the move.

Don't Edit

The first rep was textbook effectiveness with the club/rip, and Ogunjobi went back to it on the next two sacks, but he also combined his power finish once he had to redirect. The power was on display on the final two reps as he put the center in Drew Brees' lap each snap.

Don't Edit

BULL RUSH

Ogunjobi's best trait is the power he is able to quickly generate through his strong lower body. He has the ability to win at the point of attack with quick drive that comes from his legs and hips that gets him under opposing offensive linemen and allows him to displace them in the backfield.

He injected both his run reps and pass reps with this skill. His bull rush ability is one of the league's best.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Aligned in a shade on the center, Ogunjobi used the bull rush and power to drive Jets center Spencer Long (No. 61) into Sam Darnold's plant foot and force the interception.

Don't Edit

Aligned as a 0-nose, Ogunjobi again used the bull rush to get under the pads of Ravens center Matt Skura (No. 68) and put him in the face of Lamar Jackson to force the sack.

Don't Edit

Ogunjobi also used the technique in the run game as well. Although he didn't displace his man here, Ogunjobi used the technique and pad leverage to hold down his gap in Week 2, and make the stop at the line of scrimmage on third and short.

Don't Edit

Watch him turn the power on early here and drive Broncos' center Connor McGovern into the backfield and then quickly shed him for the tackle for loss on Phillip Lindsay. A dominant rep here.

Don't Edit

FINAL THOUGHTS

In Week 13, Ogunjobi tore his biceps muscle against the Texans. Instead of packing it in for the year, Ogunjobi decided to play through the pain. He played 51 snaps the following week. The injury did not require surgery and it appears he will be able to play with it for the rest of his career.

After the injury, Ogunjobi put together a few of his stronger performances.

It remains to be seen how much of an impact the injury will have on his career.

Ogunjobi will rehab the injury throughout the offseason and focus on improving his overall conditioning and technique. For Ogunjobi to take the next steps to be an elite defensive tackle he will have to find counter moves when his original plan fails.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

When he can find the quick answer and use the leverage off his initial move, he will see the production increase. At 25 heading into Year 3, he has plenty of time and ability to improve those areas.

Ogunjobi will be anchoring the interior defensive line for years to come, and look for the Browns to restructure the unit around him through free agency and the draft -- both littered with plenty of impact names along the defensive line.

If Ogunjobi gets closer to 650 to 700 snaps where he can go with his highest motor and use the rare speed/power combination he possesses, there is little doubt the Browns have a top-flight player on their defensive line for years to come.

Don't Edit

Jake Burns played quarterback at the collegiate level and also has coached at both the high school and college levels. You can read more X&O analysis from Burns at the OBRand VikingUpdate.com.