Ogbah is happy, teammates are thankful
DAVIE — Emmanuel Ogbah has experienced his fair share of ups and downs and cross-country moves during the first five years of his NFL career.
The defensive end seems to be enjoying his experience with the Miami Dolphins so far this season.
Ogbah, who signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the Dolphins in March, has been a major catalyst and one of Miami’s most productive players during the team’s five-game win streak.
And the Dolphins (6-3) will depend on Ogbah’s valuable playmaking ability as they pursue the idle Buffalo Bills (7-3) in the AFC East, and hope to improve their No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff standings in Sunday’s road game against the Denver Broncos (3-6).
“I’ve been around. I’ve been on three teams in five years, which I’m tired of moving,” Ogbah said lightheartedly this week. “It’s been quite a journey. I’m blessed and I’m grateful for all the experiences I’ve had. I’m happy to be a Dolphin.”
Ogbah — who was drafted by the Browns and won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs last season — has eight sacks this season, which is fourth in the NFL behind the Browns’ Myles Garrett, the Rams’ Aaron Donald and the Steelers’ T.J. Watt.
Two of Ogbah’s sacks have forced fumbles that have been recovered by teammates and returned for touchdowns.
Ogbah also has five passes defensed this season, second among all NFL edge rushers, as his long arms have provided timely tipped passes at the line of scrimmage, displaying the total package.
Ogbah may even have a claim to be the team’s most valuable player, even though cornerback Xavien Howard is second in the NFL with
five interceptions this season.
“Man, that guy has just been balling,” fellow defensive end Shaq Lawson said of Ogbah. “It’s incredible how he’s been playing.”
Ogbah is just nine games into his Dolphins deal, which pays him $7.5 million this season and has helped Miami fill one of its weakest positions.
Still, Ogbah comes at a bargain to what Garrett ($21.8 million), Donald ($17 million) and Dolphins defensive teammates such as Byron Jones ($26 million), Kyle Van Noy ($15 million), Lawson ($13.5 million) and Xavien Howard ($11.9 million) will be paid this season, accounting for base salary and signing bonuses.
If Ogbah keeps his production up, and the Dolphins keep winning, both sides may have to go back to the negotiating table.
“Like I said earlier, I’m tired of moving. I don’t want to move no more,” Ogbah said with a laugh. “So, God willing, if it be Miami, then I’ll be thankful for it. I’ll be happy for it.”
Ogbah was a secondround pick by Cleveland in 2016 at No. 32, six spots before the Dolphins drafted Howard with the 38th pick.
Ogbah had 5.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits while starting all 16 games as a rookie. He was derailed by a fractured foot after 10 games in which he produced four sacks, six passes defensed in 2017. His sack production took a dip to three during the 2018 season, when he played in 14 games.
Ogbah entered the 2019 season on the trading block and landed with Kansas City, where produced 5.5 sacks in 10 games before suffering a pectoral tear that
ended his season well before the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win at Hard Rock Stadium last season.
“It’s just been a journey. I’ve had my ups and downs. I’ve started hot and got [seasons cut] short to injuries,” Ogbah said.
“But I’ve been focusing this year and just staying healthy, taking care of my body, spending money on my body just to make sure I’m good to have a full season.”
Obgah’s eight sacks through his first nine games this season are the most of any player in Dolphins history. He is also on a six-game sack streak, which is the second-longest in team history behind Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor’s eight-game streak in 2002.
But his most impactful plays have come during the first two starts of quar
terback Tua Tagovailoa’s career.
Ogbah’s strip sack of Rams quarterback Jared Goff on Nov. 1 sparked linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel’s 78-yard touchdown return, the second-longest fumble return in Dolphins history.
One week later in Arizona, Ogbah strip-sacked Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in the first quarter, which led to Lawson’s 36-yard fumble-return touchdown.
And Ogbah has no problems with his teammates such as Van Ginkel or Lawson getting some of the shine, too, thanks to his play.
“Shoot, I’m just doing my job,” Ogbah said. “I’m happy for those guys scoring the touchdowns. I’m just happy to be able to make plays for them to score touchdowns.”
Ogbah said he has invested more of his time and money to boost his nutrition, while using therapy methods like acupuncture and cryotherapy with hopes of staying healthy and available.
He has also depended on open communication with his Dolphins coaches, relaying how opposing teams are playing him so the coaches can call plays for him to make an impact.
Ogbah’s career has not started the way he envisioned. But his red-hot start with the Dolphins has been rewarding.
And he is hopeful he can continue his stellar play to help Miami reach new heights in the second year of its extensive rebuild.
“It’s just a blessing that I’m in the right position to make plays and grateful the coaches put me in the right positions to make plays,” Ogbah said.
“I’m just happy to be out here balling for them.”