Film review: Is Olu Fashanu an overrated NY Jets draft option?

Olu Fashanu brings talent but also a slew of overlooked concerns

Even after signing Tyron Smith and trading for Morgan Moses, the New York Jets remain a strong candidate to draft an offensive tackle in the first round. The Jets’ two new veteran tackles are both on expiring contracts, leaving the Jets without any starting tackles on the roster in 2025. For this reason, the Jets could still select an OT with the 10th pick.

In a highly regarded OT class, there are many prospects the Jets could end up taking, whether they trade up, stay put, or trade down. Some of those include Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Alabama’s JC Latham, Washington’s Troy Fautanu, and the subject of today’s film breakdown, Olu Fashanu.

Fashanu is currently the consensus OT2 according to NFL Mock Draft Database. The Penn State product receives high praise for his pass blocking skills and is generally considered a likely option for the Jets at No. 10.

But is Fashanu overhyped?

After reviewing the film, I saw some holes in Fashanu’s game that are being overlooked – holes that should make the Jets think twice before selecting him with the 10th overall pick.

In this All-22 film breakdown, we will break down the nuances of Fashanu’s game to showcase everything Jets fans need to know about the potential top-10 pick.

• Is he as good of a pass blocker as advertised?
• How serious are his concerns in the run game?
• How does his technique compare to some of the other top prospects?

And much more!

Olu Fashanu film review

Olu Fashanu strengths and weaknesses

2023 games watched: Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, UMass, Ohio State, Maryland, Michigan, Rutgers, Michigan State

Strengths:

• Lateral mobility
• Re-directive balance
• Short area explosion
• Knows when to power step
• Fake punches show up
• Works to re-fit hands in pass pro
• Doesn’t overcommit to blocks on first level run combo blocks
• Doesn’t reach for contact in pass pro
• Uses overlap technique well
• Height at 6’6
• Strength
• Overall movement skills
• Quick feet
• Flexibility
• Balance
• Good knee bend and base in pass pro
• Can recover from less than ideal spots
• Punch timing
• Core strength
• Patient
• Quick to snap into anchor
• Quick out of stance
• Individual hand usage
• Sound on first level of combo blocks
• Flashes of inside, outside and double punches in pass pro
• Plays tight to LG when unoccupied
• Quick to “latch”
• Doesn’t chase on first level
• Attacks center of gravity to create movement on run blocks
• Shoots hands with good balance (pass protection)

• Gets over skis on second level
• Hands shoot from low too often in run game
• Hands can land high in pass pro
• Doesn’t roll hips in run game
• Can struggle vs. NFL power
• Base narrows while driving
• Gets high in space, not allowing quick change of direction
• Doesn’t finish blocks
• Lacks nasty
• High-waisted, which hurts in leverage game
• Splashed in run game too often
• Needs to bring feet into run blocks
• Doesn’t always “cover” play side gap in run game
• Can overset on play action
• Better on combo blocks than single blocks (worried about zone blocking)
• Over uses one pass set
• Has been stood up by linebackers on second level
• Can get too flat on first level
• Wanted to see more dominant reps vs. lesser competition

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