Cleveland Browns Emmanuel Ogbah: Hard Hat Award Winner

Emmanuel Ogbah may not be a Pro Bowl player, but the Cleveland Browns defensive end is noticed for the dirty work he does that helps the entire defense

Cleveland Browns defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah is a Hard Hat Award Winner.

At a Browns’ presser with interim head coach Gregg Williams’ on Tuesday, a reporter made a comment that Ogbah’s numbers don’t exactly jump off the stat sheet.

Which, if we’re being fair, isn’t exactly true.

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Ogbah’s 2018 stats say he has 32 combined tackles (three for loss), 3.0 sacks, six quarterback hits, seven passes defended and a forced fumble in 11 games.

Which are some decent ‘doing your defensive job’ numbers in the NFL.

But Williams, a good coach and father figure to his players, defends his player and points out that Ogbah lends some above-the-stats value to the team, as well.

Says Williams:

"“He’s been doing some really good things on knocking some of the things to other people.” — Williams said via Jimmy Watkins of ClevelandBrowns.com"

Turns out on a football team, on any team, making your teammates better is a really admirable skill to have.

So much so that Williams has created what he calls the ‘Hard Hat Award.’

It celebrates the guys who do the dirty work, the players who might have a stat point or two less than the other guys but who have to do their jobs in order to get the ball or the coverage over to the playmakers.

Ogbah is a Hard Hat Award Winner.

One of the things Williams points out about Ogbah is his ability to play multiple positions every week. Williams, who also serves as the Browns’ defensive coordinator, says he has no reservations on how or where Ogbah can play.

At training camp, Williams noticed Ogbah was beginning to feel more like a Brown.

"“He is night and day more relaxed and doing things more instinctive, not over thinking and not afraid to make a mistake than he was last year.” — Williams said via Matthew Florjancic of WKYC"

Last season, Ogbah’s broken foot limited him to just 10 games, and when he did play it was in a new position, but still he came up with 4.0 sacks and a career-high 6 passes defended.

Ogbah is a Hard Hat Award Winner.

And Williams is the coach who invented that award.

Williams is a leader who encourages and awards players who make their teammates better.

Maybe something for general manager John Dorsey to consider when he’s choosing the next Browns head coach.