Size isn’t everything. Speed isn’t everything. They can be a measure of potential, but they are not a precursor to success.
Standing at 6’7” and 239 pounds, and having run a 4.40 40 yard dash time, Ifeanyi Momah has all the tools to be a productive player in the NFL. But at the same time, he also doesn’t.
Momah still lacks possibly the two most important traits in an NFL player: Experience and a natural feel for the position.
In Boston College’s 2011 season opener against Northwestern, his first full season at wide receiver, Momah hauled in an impressive eight catches for 171 yards before blowing out his knee. But one game is hardly enough evidence to predict a player’s entire future.
And even in that game, he still showed too much of a tendency to catch the ball with his body, rather than his hands, and he dropped a catch he should have had in the endzone.
That game took place on September 3rd, 2011. Momah has not taken a hit in almost two years now.
Unfortunately, this rust is translating on the field as well. Despite his huge size and speed advantage, Momah failed to turn heads in both OTAs and in mini-camp.
According to Momah, what he has worked on most with the Eagles training camp so far has been cuts, breaks, and route-running. Those are the most integral skills to a wide receiver, and all the speed in the world doesn’t mean a thing if you can’t consistently get separation.
Take Jerry Rice for instance. Rice ran a measly 4.71 40 yard dash time, but went on to become the greatest receiver the game has ever seen. By excelling in the areas of route-running and hands, Rice was better than any speedster and track star that has ever put on pads.
Fans are quick to compare Momah to the Eagles great Harold Carmichael, also a giant at 6’8”. But what is often overlooked is the fact that Carmichael didn’t truly become a consistent threat until he perfected his pass catching and his route-running.
In other words, Momah could be the next Harold Carmichael, or he could be the next Hank Baskett. But as he stands now, he is far too undeveloped to make an impact even as a role player.
This is not to say that Momah’s physical skills mean nothing. It’s not every day that you come across a 6’7” player who runs a 4.40. But unless Momah shows incredible improvement, the Eagles should not reserve a roster spot for him when there are other receivers who could make a more immediate impact, such as Riley Cooper, Arrelious Benn, or Jason Avant.
Momah, rather, would be a good candidate for the practice squad. Football does not have a true farm system like baseball does, but the practice squad is the closest thing.
Plenty of excellent players have emerged from the practice squad. James Harrison and Danny Amendola both come to mind. Momah may not be ready to make an impact now, especially with such a crowded wide receiver corps, but the Eagles should keep him on the shelf until he becomes more accustomed to the wide receiver position.
Follow Yueh Ho on Twitter @YuehHo
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Riley Cooper is ass! Cut him and problem solved, and I don’t want to hear Cooper’s special teams value either, because the special teams sucked with him on it.
This “Ho” guy is the worse.
What have he seen the last few years out of Riley to value him over a player that’s faster, taller, and just out right better?
Well as someone else pointed out on another blo:
He’s 6’7, 240lb and runs a 4.39. You can find something to with him.
Songs- while I agree that Cooper hasn’t shown a ton, how do you know that Momah is better?
Not saying that he can’t develop, but he played 1 game in college and that was 2 years ago. There is simply nothing there to back up your claim that he is better than Cooper at this point.
That being said, I agree with TS in that his size and skills are definitely intriguing.
it wouldn’t take much for a player to show he’s better than a player who have shown absolutely nothing.
Wasn’t Riley drafted as an end zone threat instead of paying Burress?
OK, so by your logic, you are better than Cooper.
Again, I am not defending Cooper, but I am not sold on a guy who played 1 college game and that was 2 years ago. You are projecting on him like Al Davis used to do. A guy is fast, so he must be good. A guy is tall, so he must be good. You haven’t seen anything from Cooper? Well no one has seen anything from Momah.
2013 Eagles WR Corps
D-Jax,Maclin,Benn,D Johnson, BJ Cunningham & Sheppard
– J Avant gets traded to the NY Jets for 6th Round Pick in 2014 Draft in the first week of August and reunites with OC Marty Morhnewig and becomes the Jet’s 3rd WR and helps mentor their Young WR Corp & QB’s
-Cooper gets released and hooks up with the Jackxonville Jaguars as their
4th WR/Special Teams
– Momah gets released and try’s out with the Philadelphia 76ers
Paulman i couldnt agree More.
So Early Prediction Paulman if it is Foles or Barkley what do you see as there Season Stats?
Also i think it will be Run N Gun formation with the 2-3 TE sets
Foles 29TDs 11 Ints 3,468yrds
Or
Barkley 23 Tds 9Ints 2,999yrds
Vick 26 TDs 10 ints 3,010 yds; Rushing for 200 yrds If in fact he Starts and 2 Running tds
Paulman’s Predictions
If Foles – 26 TD’s – 16 Int’s & 3,350 Yards (2 Rushing TD’s)
If Vick – 21 TD’s – 22 Int’s & 3,100 Yards (4 Rushing TD’s)
If Barkely – 18 TD’s – 14 Int’s & 2,650 Yards (1 Rushing TD’s)
If Dixon – 15 TD’s – 11 Int’s & 2.350 Yards (3 Rushing TD’s)
J Kinnie – 13 TD’s & 18 Int’s & 2,150 Yards (2 Rushing TD’s)
You’re being too generous all around
Foles 330 of 530 (62%) for 3500 yrds 22tds 13 ints
Vick 232 of 400 (58%) for 2800 yrds 17tds 13 ints
Barkley 300 of 500 for 2800 yrds 14tds 16 ints
Thought I already posted, but damn, the hasn’t put on a set of pads, hasn’t done any significant full squad drills, hasn’t taken one hit and he certainly hasn’t seen a pre-season game. All of those things have to happen before people start getting relegated to the practice squad…anything just makes you look like an amateur.
Once again- Practice Squad is NOT protected and a PS player is free to sign with any of the 32 NFL teams. If he is good enough to worry about he makes the 53. If he is not good enough for our 53 but good enough for PS he will get signed by another team that see’s 6’7 and gives him a spot in their 53. He either makes the cut or he will not be here…Unless he gets injured..cough!
Correction to Regal
A PS is not Free to sign with any Team, a PS Player can be signed by another Team, but has to be claimed by the other Team and then has to be activated on their 53 Man Roster
Example Eagles could not sign a Jets Practice Squad Player unless that PS Player is placed on the Eagles Active 53 Man Roster
But a PS PLayer cannot actively contact other Teams and see if they would be interested, A Team has to put a Claim on another Teams PRactice Squad Player and if multiple Teams put a Claim on the Same Player than the Team with the worst winning % gets first dibs
There is a Diffense here or a PS Shopping his Skills around the NFL and a Team insterested and pursuing other Teams PS Players.. It has to come from the other Teams first
And a team like say Jaxonville may just add him to thier 53 or even the Jets for that matter. How much worse could he be than a hurt santonio holmeslice?