Mount Okam Checks In At 370 Pounds
August 29th, 2011
What is it about the behomoths of the NFL that causes fans, broadcasters and coaches to fall in love with them?
Joe’s not sure. Maybe it’s just the sheer awesomeness of men checking in at 325+ and still being gifted athletes, a completely foreign concept to the average Joe on the street.
So in what is sure to further fuel his exploding popularity, Frank “Mount” Okam is tearing up offensive linemen while weighing in at a relatively lean 370 pounds, so Raheem Morris said with a big grin at his news conference this afternoon.
Yes, that’s 370 pounds.
“Some days he’s 370, man, he’s huge,” Raheem said after a reporter questioned Raheem’s claim of Okam’s weight.
Raheem went on to relay a story of how Okam contacted the Bucs’ training staff to let them know he was reporting at 370 pounds this season. Raheem was concerned, he said, but after he and staff studied Okam’s body, they decided he was fit for duty.
Remember, two weeks ago Raheem raved about Okam’s fitness and small stomach.
“He’s just a big man. He doesn’t get tired. Man, I don’t know. He’s one of those guys. ‘Is he out of shape?’ Then you look at him and you’re like, ‘No. No. He just looks like a refrigerator.’
“There’s no stomach. Look at him. … He’s not fat. He’s just big.”
Like defensive line coach Keith Millard told Joe the other night, Raheem praised Okam’s ability at nose tackle and at the 3-technique. “He’s a space-eater, a penetrator, a problem,” Raheem said.
Joe chatted with Mount Okam after the Dolphins game Saturday, and Okam doesn’t want to be typecast as just a nose tackle.
“I’m a football player. I’m a defensive tackle. Whatever they need me to be, I can be. I think that’s one of my strengths. I don’t want anyone to put me in a box. … I have a high standard for myself wherever they put me,” Okam said.
It’s interesting. And Joe’s not sure what kid of “box” would fit Mount Okam anyway.
Raheem wears a massive grin when talking about Mount Okam and his size combined with his effectiveness. Buccaneers Radio Network reporter T.J. Rives was cracking jokes with Mount Okam after he talked about successfully flipping his hips on the defensive line.
Everybody loves the big guy.
And at 370, Mount Okam has an opportunity to become the most popular Buccaneer on the defensive side of the ball, and score himself a massive contract when he hits the unrestricted free agent market next year. All he has to do is keep producing.
August 29th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
He sure made a splash with Reggie Bush during that goal line stance.
If Raheem can rotate Okam into the rotation and keep his fresh and ready in the 2nd half it would really help Bowers and Clayborn to get 1-1 for their pass rush.
Now we just need a popular Buc nickname
August 29th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Hey Joe. Love your site. But thanks to you getting me on Tweeter I have to admit I visit less often since I get all the Breaking News there. Thanks Joe.
You need to get your head out of the sand when it comes to Internet Feeds. Who needs the phone network of Outhouse when I can get everything on my big screen TV thru the net? I don’t.
You can ignore it and erase posts but you can’t stop it.
Thanks for getting me tweeting. I love it. Use it to your advantage like you are. I still read good articles on the net and you have plenty my friend. Dew
August 29th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Love Mr Get Out of My Way Okam for sure.
August 29th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
I’ve been saying it since last season when he filled in for GMC, Okam is a beast.Love him on the nose.
August 29th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
That goal line stop was a thing of beauty! If he keeps making plays like that he can stick around as long as he wants. All 370 pounds of him.
August 29th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Joe here,
@Dew — First, Joe’s glad you like Twitter. …Second, Joe has nothing personally against Internet feeds of games but Joe’s not going to promote unlawful activity on his site. That’s the part you and others don’t get. Joe owns these comments and the website, and Joe’s not about to fascilitate pirated games and their use here. If Joe’s writing about these sites in a news story, that’s one thing, but it’s not going to be here in the comments.
August 29th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
I like the way Okam plays and hesitates to say anything negative about a very positive story for the Bucs, but I must. Okam’s weight is too much to be an effective every down player for 16 games. He will be great in the 1st half, but the laws of physics will take it’s toll in the 2nd half. He got tired in the Miami game. It’s nice to talk about an incredible hulk story now, but look around the league – teams are moving away from the Shaun Rogers and Vince Wilfork types. He should get under 350lbs to sustain the pace of today’s game.
August 29th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Joe here,
@Macabee — Hate to offer odd visuals for readers, but Joe has been alongside Okam as he’s left the shower and gotten dressed at his locker. The man doesn’t look slobbery or blubbery like you might think. He’s a monstrous, built like a fire hydrant kind of dude at 6-5. Even if he dropped 20, is that really going to make a difference? He moves like a smaller man and is strong as an ox. Joe suspects he can handle the weight, and if the Bucs’ didn’t, they easily could have demanded he drop 15 or so.
August 29th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
This guy is going to take Miller out of the line up. Love the goal line stance tackle.
August 29th, 2011 at 9:11 pm
I take your word for it Joe, but if he plays consistently throughout the season at that weight, he is indeed a rare find. I will certainly be pulling for him!!
August 29th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Loved Okam since the Lions game… He needs an awesome nickname though, Mount Okam always makes me think of Mt Cody…. Have to have something original or not being used now
August 29th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
The name is Frank the Tank. That’s his nickname.
That’s what Johnny Lynch called him, that’s what I’ll call him.
Big Frank the Tank baby!!!
August 29th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Besides, there already is a Mt Cody.
August 29th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
Frankly, I think Okam might be the best D-lineman we have right now. Dude is just a beast. And I’d like to see him block Suh in week 1. I bet he’d do way better than Ted Larsen would.
August 29th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
I could see us using him on 4th and goal from the 1!
Good story, Joe.
We need a hole-filling tree trunk in the middle that can fall on you in a heartbeat. Keep it up, Oh-CAN!
August 30th, 2011 at 2:18 am
Frank the Tank- works for me! Nice to see an immoveable object on the D-line! Go Frank Go!!
August 30th, 2011 at 10:04 am
Frank ‘Oak Tree’ Okam sure did put a stop to that shrub Bush!
August 30th, 2011 at 10:49 am
Wow the “Oak Tree” – now there’s a name. William the refrigerator Perry was a huge, fat slob when he was 370 lbs. He played well at 295 and his skills diminished when he gained the weight. He sure was exciting to watch on offense at the 1 yard line! His Superbowl goal prevented Walter Payton from scoring a SB TD. I wonder if Raheem might pull a Ditka and use that play?
August 30th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
Dang I cant believe all the love Frank Okam is getting from the Bucs, we cut is ass because he never demonstrated a love for the game and took plays off. I really hope he works out for ya’ll but as they say “a Zebra doesn’t change his stripes” or in this case a Mountain.