The Unusual Suspects

Posted: April 24th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 67 Comments »

Are we overlooking someone?

Forget the usual guys:  Fletcher Cox, Luke Kuechly, Ryan Tannehill.

Forget WRs.  We’ve discussed that a few times.  I’m against it. Some of you are for it. Whether or not the Eagles do it, we’ve talked about it enough.

Forget OL.  I don’t t think any of the OTs are worth 15.  I don’t think DeCastro or Glenn makes sense for us with Mathis/Kelce/Watkins already in place.

Here are some guys we’ve talked about a little, but just for the heck of it…

SS Mark Barron – I don’t think the Eagles would take him.  That would mean that Jaiquawn Jarrett was a wasted pick.  The Eagles are usually pretty patient.  That said, Barron could push for a job from day one and he is a real talented prospect.  Is he hiding in plain sight, so to speak?

DL Quinton Coples – In 2010 he was a starting DT for the Tar Heels and racked up 10 sacks.  He was a very disruptive player on the inside.  Coples moved outside in 2011 and was very up and down.  He had 7.5 sacks, but 2 each came against Duke and James Madison when Coples was simply able to overpower blockers.  For the rest of the year he had just 3.5.  Coples doesn’t have the burst to consistently beat LTs.  If he was willing to play DT on a regular basis, I think the Eagles could have some interest.  I also think some of his motivation issues would be cured by some one-on-one time with Jim Washburn.  “Quinton, do your best. We all love you.  You’re awesome and we just want to see that. Okay, buddy?  Give us a big smile and then let’s see what you’ve got.”  That’s a loose interpretation of what Wash might say.

DT Michael Brockers – I don’t fully understand the Eagles interest.  Brockers isn’t a pass rusher.  What do they see that I don’t?  My guess is that they love his raw potential and think of him as a guy who could push the pocket.  Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers get the ball out quickly.  They do struggle when the pressure comes in the form of an OL being shoved straight back into them.  Brockers is a man-child right now, but with time and the right coach, he could develop into a force.

CB Stephon Gilmore – Great size/speed combination.  Might be able to play in the slot.  Will he last to 15?  Doesn’t seem likely at this point.  If he does, I think the only way the Eagles can take him is if they think he can play inside, at least to start his career.  I’m not his biggest fan, but he is very talented.

So what about…Courtney Upshaw / Dont’a Hightower?  I think Upshaw can play 4-3 DE, but he’s more of a run stuffer than pass rusher.  He lacks ideal speed, but is tough and strong.  Hightower is an ILB, best suited for the 3-4.  I can’t picture the Eagles taking him at all.

Dontari Poe?  Polarizing player. Some love his upside.  Some hate the risk.  We’ve talked about him more than a few times.

Some new guys…

DE Chandler Jones – Somebody hit the switch on the Jones sign, huh?  He wasn’t mentioned a week ago and is now all over the friggin place.  I don’t know if the Eagles have any interest.  He isn’t an ideal fit for the Wide-9.  I do think he can play for us.  Jones is a fast DE.  He played some DT in Nickel sets so he could do that for us as well.  He has excellent size at 6-5, 266.  I love the fact he can be physical and shed blocks.  Jones is big and can play up to that size.

DE Whitney Mercilus – Speedy edge rusher who has the build that Washburn loves.  He’s 6-4, 261 and faster than Jason Avant.  I think he could thrive in the Wide-9.

LB/DE Shea McClellin – I wondered for a while if the Eagles might have interest in him as a 2nd round target.  It now sounds like McClellin will go in the 1st round.  The question with Shea is what the Eagles would do with him.  He could play SAM and then be a situational pass rusher.  He could be a full-time DE.  His pass rush style would fit perfectly in the Wide-9.  McClellin is fast.  He is relentless.  High character guy that came up big in the biggest games.  Had a good Senior Bowl and Combine.  Really fascinating player who would be an out of the box target at 15.

I’m not trying to give the Eagles a DE. That just seems to be how the value lines up with these guys and spots the Eagles could take.  Mercilus and Jones both spent some time at DT in the Nickel and could have added value in that way here.  McClellin could have added value as a LB/DE/STer.  These aren’t one-dimensional players.  They can move around and do different things.

My hope is for Cox or Kuechly at 15.  If not, trade back.  I have no idea what the Eagles true goal is.  Guess we’ll find out in 48 hours.

* * * * *

Speaking of draft night…I will be splitting my time in 3 spots.  I’ll be here at Iggles Blitz.  I’ll be on Twitter.  I’ll be over at University Massage.  Oops, I meant ScoutsNotebook.  I get them confused because you always leave both places happy.

I expect a lot of smart Eagles fans will be here sharing opinions (hopefully not too hostile).

* * * * *

Asante Update

Other teams than the Falcons are getting into this.  Can’t go into who quite yet.  I don’t think we’ll get great compensation, but the fact that other teams are talking now is a good sign.  Key isn’t the Eagles, but is Asante and his agent being open to dealing with other teams.  The Eagles aren’t playing hardball.  They want to get a deal done.


67 Comments on “The Unusual Suspects”

  1. 1 JRO91 said at 10:12 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    Sit at 15 and see what falls if no cox/luke trade back and get an extra 2nd or 3rd. Take Fleener. Grab SAM and CB in the 2nd and Wolfe and WR in the third. 4-6th BPA/OL depth. Sign Bell/Atogwe/Bulitt to be the Vet safety of the bunch. Sign a vet RB. Bring on the browns!!

  2. 2 TommyLawlor said at 11:22 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    “Bring on the Browns”…I like the sound of that.

  3. 3 BoyboyWWWA said at 10:14 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    Sal Pal thinks Dallas and the Eagles both covet Brockers. He also thinks Gilmore would make a lot if sense if he’s there at 15.

  4. 4 Steven Dileo said at 10:28 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    When it comes to the Eagles, I’ve never take him seriously.

  5. 5 Vini Gonçalves said at 10:17 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    What do you think of Vontaze Burfict if he falls until the 6th round? Would worth a shot with such a late pick? I don´t like him but since he was expect to be taken in the 2nd round, could be a guy that we can put in the mix for a depth role?

  6. 6 Jim Reynolds said at 10:57 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    Personally, I think Burfict more likely to be a danger to others in camp than someone who can earn a roster spot.

  7. 7 TommyLawlor said at 11:22 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    I don’t like Burfict for us. Doesn’t fit our scheme. Don’t like him on our team. Would be best with veteran LBs and experienced defensive coaches to teach him.

  8. 8 Alex Karklins said at 8:47 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    He and Mathis could walk their chihuahuas together, which would be good for morale, right?

  9. 9 T_S_O_P said at 3:00 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Is he any better now or potentially than Greg Llyod Jr?

  10. 10 TommyLawlor said at 9:15 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Great question. Sadly, I don’t know.

  11. 11 midnitemud said at 10:37 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    I’m also intrigued by McClellin if we do trade back to a later spot in the first round, but if that is done, so many more options become available, and it might be BPA at that point. I still want Vinny Curry and Brandon Boykin in the 2nd round, but its looking like Curry might get drafted late 1st/ early 2nd. Do you think he lasts to one of out 2nd round picks? Either way, I’m looking for defensive players early on.

    Speaking of unusual suspects outside the 1st round… What about LaMichael James, Dwight Bently, Cyrus Gray, or Ladarius Green?

  12. 12 GeorgeFleep said at 10:53 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    I think McClellin has good value in the 15-20 range. He has the athleticism and the scheme fit. Jason Jones is to Chandler Jones as Shea McClellin is to ?????. Does he remind you of anybody. and the eagles have a project already in Brett Brackett who is Ladarius Green type.

  13. 13 TommyLawlor said at 11:21 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    Curry isn’t likely to last to 46.

    James could be RB target.
    Bentley should be a target. Can play slot or outside.
    Gray could be good #2 RB. Versatile player.
    Green…mixed feelings. Not a true TE, but could be a target as a big WR/TE.

  14. 14 R G said at 8:51 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Cyrus Gray is very underrated. His problem is durability. When heaalthy, he was really really good for the Aggies.

    Tommy: Isn’t Lamichael James and Andy Reid type player? Didn’t he love McCluster 2 drafts ago?

    It will be interesting too see where all TEs go this year. Probably higher than they should given the NFL is a copycat league.

  15. 15 Brett Smith said at 10:14 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    I will take Whitney Mercilus, LaMichael James, Bobby Wagner going into Saturday. Sounds like a decent hall.
    Although I really want that Slot Corner spot locked down…

  16. 16 Mr_electric10 said at 10:42 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    Where did Chandler Jones come from? I know their are some late risers but wow Jones is now being talked about going as high as 12. Is this another case of scouts recognizing a player late or have has he seriously just risen this much.

  17. 17 Steve H said at 10:45 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    I remember Jerod Mayo had kind of a similar thing a few years ago, he wasn’t really expected to go super high then out of the blue right before the draft all the buzz was that the Pats coveted him at number 7, but they knew no one else wanted him early so they traded back a few spots and took him at 10.

  18. 18 Mr_electric10 said at 10:53 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    Yeh very true. The difference is that I always saw Mayo as a first round prospect but at an undervalued position while Jones jumped a strong DL class.

  19. 19 Gary said at 11:01 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    I honestly think it’s a case of mockers simply getting bored projecting the same players to approximately the same spots over and over and feeling a need to mix it up. Kind of like how for a while, some people were saying RGIII should go before Luck (though I’m sure plenty of people still think that).

    Of course maybe I’m completely wrong and there’s actually a good reason that Jones has moved up. Maybe it’s been leaked to other front offices that a trusted team is coveting him or something.

  20. 20 TommyLawlor said at 11:17 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    The 2 key people talking about him are Mike Mayock and Greg Cosell. They are highly respected voices so what they say carries a lot of weight. I have no idea what NFL teams think or if they truly have Jones rated that high. Feels very weird.

  21. 21 eagleizeit said at 4:07 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    They’ve been studying Jones for the longest time and honestly see him as a mid to late 2nd rd pick. I’ve realized analysts/scouts try their best to project generally where teams are going to pick players and rank them accordingly, then put on their acting caps during and after the draft to argue any points they want to get across.
    Just like someone on 1 of the 2 networks last yr talked about Jarrett as the best S available and had a feeling the Eagles would draft him with their next pick and sure enough he was. Afterwards everyones arguing their points that after him no other S was close to him and that he will step in and start day 1. I’m not sure for example where they’d rank Maclin if the Raiders didn’t have a high draft pick and they knew a WR with speed would be drafted there; they just didn’t know Al cared soo much about speed that talent and getting extra draft picks meant absolutely nothing to him.
    Just a while ago they were talking about the unimportance of drafting RB’s early in the draft and no RB would probably be drafted in the top 10 since you can get them anywhere. Zoom into today and they’re saying TB is the team that might be forced more than anyone to move up; from 5 to 3, since the Vikings now want more draft picks. The player they’d feel the high need to take is none other than a RB.
    In my opinion it seems like these media so called scouts/actors today carry a lot less importance on actual honest evaluation of players and where they should be ranked/drafted, but instead have become more or less just hired pawns used to try and change the draft process into a drama series.

  22. 22 the guy said at 10:47 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    I still say the Eagles should draft Robert ‘Bobby’ Boucher, Jr.

    I don’t understand why nobody has talked about him as a target. He’d look great next to DeMeco Ryans. Guy can hit!

    EDIT: I just realized, his age is probably causing him to slide on draft boards.

  23. 23 TommyLawlor said at 11:15 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    Get with the program, sister.

  24. 24 sonofdman said at 3:02 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    one year wonder?

  25. 25 Dawson Fowler said at 10:57 PM on April 24th, 2012:

    Watching the Bill Parcells “Draft Confidential”. Missed the 1st 20 minutes. Did he explain whether or not the draft board they’re using is his actual rankings? If so, there are some interesting rankings. (ie: Burfict rd.2, Wolfe rd.2, Cox the third best DT?)

  26. 26 Dawson Fowler said at 6:52 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Can somebody delete this post?

  27. 27 NoDecaf said at 12:23 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Tommy, any interest in setting up a real time chat for the draft or are you already spread too thin?

  28. 28 Steve H said at 12:43 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    I think this is such a great idea, each of the past few drafts I’ve been thinking that a live chat would be awesome. I mean the forum posts number in the hundreds as it is, its almost like a chat anyhow, only more cumbersome.

  29. 29 nicolajNN said at 7:53 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    I brought this up last week, though didn’t get a lot of replies. But, even though I have no prior experience with it, I am pretty confident I can set up a chat, but I want to know if people are interested in it first?

  30. 30 Thunder_lips said at 8:54 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    I’d be in

  31. 31 Mark Sitko said at 12:38 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    I don’t like Hightower for us either, or much at all for that matter. I don’t know much about scouting but when I watch his tape the RB is often at the line of scrimmage before he breaks on the play – that can’t be good, right? He just looks slow and passive to me…am I crazy?

  32. 32 Jason said at 12:39 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Coples and Brockers, possibly Poe as well could be purely based on whether Wash thinks he can get them going, and how highly Reid and Roseman rate his coaching. If Wash really is the awesome coach, then hell lets take Brockers and see what can be done with him. Plenty of potential. Does he have a higher ceiling than Cox?? I think so, so why not back the coach to do the job?

    I still like Keuchly the best – still ‘biggest improvement available’ to me. And I’d rather trade up to get him than trade back and get Fleener and Wagner for instance. To me the stud prospect is better than having two decent prospects as this stage. If we were rebuilding, yes trade back, but we want a title!

  33. 33 JJ_Cake said at 1:47 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    This draft will be like the one where we watched Patrick Willis get picked when WE ALL KNEW he was going to be a great one.

    I hope the Eagles do the right thing this time and trade up to get LK. No way he falls to 15.

  34. 34 Arby1 said at 5:37 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    OK, here’s an Eagles mock for ya, some similar picks to what everyone else has been saying, some less familiar. I’ve said a few times that I’d rather have fewer quality players than a larger quantity of average players but unless Luke unexpectedly drops, I just see more value in dropping back and picking up an extra 2nd.
    1-#25 trade back 10 slots and pick up an extra 2nd rounder, the 57th pick. Whitney Mercilus DE (or) Coby Fleener TE (see pick #57)
    2a-#46 Janoris Jenkins CB, if we can live with character concerns after our interview, or Brandon Boykin CB
    2b-#51 Bobby Wagner OLB, because Lavonte David is already off the board and because Wagner can slide inside to MIKE in a pinch. Feel free to invert this pick with #46. Personally, I think OLB is bigger need than slot CB, but trying to stay true to board here.
    2c-#57 Here’s our extra pick from the trade down. If we took a DL in the 1st, then I’m taking Mohammed Sanu WR here. If we got our RZ threat in Fleener, then I’m taking Jared Crick DT here.
    3 =#88 Ben Jones C, we need a backup to Kelce now that Jamal is gone and the Eagles brought this guy in.
    4- #114 Cyrus Gray RB, I debated taking Turbin in the 3rd but he has durability concerns so I’m going with the safer pick here. Thanks to whoever posted this guy’s name a couple of weeks ago. Apparently, this guy does everything the Eagles like a RB to do including screens and pass blocking
    5-#153 Tom Compton OT, small school guy who I believe we had in for a visit
    6a-#172 Nate Potter OT, don’t know if he drops this far but injury concerns keep him out of the 4th rd.
    6b-#194 did you really think I’d do a whole draft and not include at least 1 trade for a future pick? 5th rounder in 2013
    6c-#200 Danny Trevathan, OLB, Here’s a pick for our beloved host TL who loved this WILL backer early last season for those of you paying attention at home.

    Unfortunately, I won’t be able to follow along with everyone on Igglesblitz this year but will be following it on my smartphone. Since I haven’t gotten very smart with the smart phone yet (relatively new with it), any suggestions on how easiest to follow the draft?

  35. 35 R G said at 8:54 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Makes too much sense. It will never happen. LOL I’d be quite happy if it happened like this.

  36. 36 Alex Karklins said at 8:57 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    For checking the draft on your smartphone, install a Twitter client and follow the right people/organizations. You can also follow Tommy if you want (not recommended).

  37. 37 Brett Smith said at 10:44 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Not a fan of C in the 3rd… I think you bring in a 6 or 7 or UDFA to back up Kelce. The rest looks good maybe we get lucky and Mercilus and Wagner end up Iggles.

  38. 38 Arby1 said at 3:42 AM on April 26th, 2012:

    OK, I’m making a change and taking Jordan Berstine FS at #174, after being reminded of this talented player by Matt Akire’s mock. With the new 7th round pick acquired in the Asante trade, I trade it for a 2013 6th rounder, then next year trade it again for a 2014 5th rounder, and so on, until 2019 when we have our 1st rounder. See Eagles fans, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Asante for a 1st rounder! Compound interest, gotta love it.

  39. 39 Eagles1991 said at 7:03 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Tommy:

    We are spoiled here. Thank you. When are you releasing you full list of who you want the birds to pick?

  40. 40 mheil said at 7:05 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    you didn’t mention Janoris Jenkins as a suspect. if they stay at 15, and are satisfied that he cleaned up his life, he is a possibility.

  41. 41 nicolajNN said at 7:56 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Tommy are you doing draft preview again this year? Those are some of my favorite post.

    Also have you all checked out Cosell’s “mock draft” it’s very interesting to read his take on the players http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2012/04/23/cosell-talks-mock-draft/

  42. 42 Arby1 said at 8:43 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Wow, that’s one weird draft! Except he has Coby Fleener at 25 just like I do ; )

  43. 43 BoyboyWWWA said at 9:26 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    The more I think about it, what Sal Pal said yesterday makes a lot of sense. The Eagles can’t afford to give up 27 TD passes again this year. They picked up Demeco Ryans, they can already get after th QB. They need to get better in the secondary. 22 is on his way out as we speak. DRC is on a one year deal. Nate Allen can’t stay healthy, Jai Jar is a question mark, and Coleman is what he is. I’m starting to think that the depth is on the DL and their will be players in the 2nd round. I don’t think I pass on Gilmore or Barron if they’re sitting there…which I doubt they will be.

  44. 44 Arby1 said at 9:59 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    I’m thinking it’s either DL or DB. If Gilmore is gone within the top 10, Barron could be gone to Dallas. We might just take whoever Dallas doesn’t take, of: Barron and Brockers. If we take Brockers, then get a CB in the 2nd.

  45. 45 ACViking said at 10:10 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    RE: Asante to Falcons

    I live in ATL, and the Falcon’s possible acquisition of Asante has been a hot topic.

    On this morning’s drive-in, the hosts on one of the sports-talk radio stations argued in favor of acquiring Asante because . . .

    “BY HAVING ASANTE, THE FALCONS CAN GO TO MORE PRESS COVERAGE”

    I laughed the rest of the long ride into work.

  46. 46 Arby1 said at 10:31 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    You live in Atlanta? And all this time I thought you lived in AC! i.e.,Atlantic City

    That is funny stuff about press coverage tho.

  47. 47 ACViking said at 10:47 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Arbyl:

    Grew up in Margate and played football for the ACHS Vikings.

    Left the Atlantic City area after HS . . . a long time ago.

    So long ago that I remember watching Norm Snead in kelly green at Franklin Field and thinking, “Sure, we can still come back to beat the Cowboys.” Final score: 38-7 ‘boys. Wasn’t that close. But I made my father stay until the final gun.

  48. 48 Brett Smith said at 10:54 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Awesome…. I think they deserve “El Matador” (No tackling Presidente fool). They can pair him up with “Leads with the Head” and have a devastating pair of “No tackling fools” and a $10 Million Dollar Slot corner.

    Does it come through that I don’t like the Falcons? I still hate them for that ’78 playoff loss.

    Mike Michel sucked.

  49. 49 ACViking said at 11:25 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Brett:

    What head coach goes into a playoff game without a place kicker?

    To my knowledge, Dick Vermeil may be in a class by himself.

    Michel, who kick at Stanford broke my heart too on that very rainy afternoon in South Jersey, was a punter in the NFL.

    It’s a move by Vermeil that’s puzzled me since it happened.

    Regardless . . . I’m no fan of the Falcons either.

    Especially back in the late ’70s and early ’80s, when the Falcons seemed to own the Eagles. (If the Cowboys didn’t pull off a miraculous comeback in the 1980 playoffs to defeat the Falcons in the divisional round, the Eagles may not have made it the Super Bowl.)

  50. 50 Brett Smith said at 12:54 PM on April 25th, 2012:

    ACViking,

    Good point about the lack of a place kicker. Almost like (but worse) going into the season without a PR/KR guy or no FB on the roster.

    I forgot that point…thank you for reminding me as I was really young back then and was just mad we lost.

    Tampa Bay is on that list as well.

  51. 51 GermanEagle said at 10:28 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    LOL!

    If the Eagles really get only a 6th round pick for Asante, the Falcons will end up with THE steal of this draft…!

  52. 52 nopain23 said at 10:48 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    If we get a 6th and can package it with another pick and move up to get a guy who we want who drops..like wolf..worthy…boykins….Wagner..then It’s worth it IMO…plus we free up cap space for shady…win win ….gotta lock up our BEST player

  53. 53 nicolajNN said at 10:30 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Okay, so I have set up a real-time chat, using Mibbit, for those interested, it should be accessible on any browser

    – To access it go to http://chat.mibbit.com/
    – Next to “Connect:” chose Mibbit [webirc]
    – “Nick:” Write the name you want to use for the chat
    – And for “Channel:” write #Iggles_Draft
    – Press connect and you should be sent into the chat.

    I’d be grateful if someone would test it

    It is possible to register a nickname on the server, that should not be necessary, but you can see how here: http://wiki.mibbit.com/index.php/NICK

  54. 54 Thunder_lips said at 10:38 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    It’s working for me.

  55. 55 TheRogerPodacter said at 10:54 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    works ok from my work pc, but not on my phone : (
    oh well!

    Edit: nevermind, it works using the normal android browser, but not Opera Mini. weird…

  56. 56 nicolajNN said at 11:07 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Good to hear it’s working. As far as on the phone; it’s using java, maybe Opera Mini doesn’t support this?

  57. 57 ACViking said at 10:31 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    RE: Luke “The Stuke” Kuechley (for those who remember Luke “The Stuke” Jackson from Pan Am College)

    It’s been suggested by one well-paid draftnik at a 4-lettered station that LTSK could go as high as No. 5.

    This morning, on the 8:30 am segment of ESPN radio’s Mike & Mike, Todd McShay (stop the booing) laid out a scenario that had LK going No. 5 to Tampa.

    His premise is that Tampa has locked onto Trent Richardson. If TR is gone by No. 5, or the Bucs won’t/can’t cut a deal to move up, then the next best player — a real 3-down-plug-him-in-and-never-worry-about-him highly talented FOOTBALL player — is LTSK.

    I don’t particularly follow McShay. I only remember this about him: 2 years ago, when even some well regarded national-media types were projecting Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame as a top-half of the 1st-round pick, McShay said “no way — 2nd round at best.” Other than that bolt of lightning, I know next to nothing about how well McShay’s called the past few drafts.

    Back to LTSK . . . a 3-down, non-pass rushing MLB taken at No. 5 in this day and age — that would be a shocker.

  58. 58 izzylangfan said at 10:44 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Couple of questions:

    Couldn’t Maclin play the slot, especially if a great wide receiver falls to us in the draft?

    Why isn’t the wide 9 more vulnerable to runs to the outside?

    If the Eagles can’t get a defensive lineman that fits their scheme and style at 15 shouldn’t they be able to use one of their second round picks to get a pretty good DT in round 2?

    It looks like most of the guys we really want will be gone by 15. So what are the trade down scenarios?

    OK more than a couple.

  59. 59 JRO91 said at 10:45 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    I think Howies speech on “character concerns” wreaks of Janoris Jenkins. If he is still there at 46 they will take him. He would be our slot corner for the next few years and eventually slide over into Nmandis spot. I would take DRC/Jenkins/Nmandi anyday over Asante/DRC/Nmandi. Asante is 31, lost a step, won’t press, gambles too much, due 10 mil, and won’t tackle. Everyone is so down on DRC….he was stuck in a position last year where he doesnt fit….
    Put tape of him on at Arizona when he was allowed to press and play man. He was pretty darn good. This is a business decision…why pay someone who is over 30, 10 mil, when you can pay someone who is in their mid 20’s, 1 mil to do the job you are asking. Asante won’t press, that is what the Eagles want to do now. As Tommy pointed out last year, 3rd and 5, Asante is 10 yards off the ball, QB completes an easy slant route for the 1st. DRC will be up in their face. They will also use this money they freed up from Asante to re-up Shady. This move would give the Eagles 4 sixth round picks. Look for them to make a deal with the Patriots to give up probably two of those, to either move up this year or for a mid round pick next year. Patriots have no picks after the fourth round and are actively looking to find some. Dream draft….if cox/luke are gone, trade back into the 20’s…get another 2nd. Take Chandler Jones/Curry/or Fleener at the end of the first. Use your three 2nds on Jenkins, Wagner, and Sanu. 3rd on Derrek Wolfe. 4-6th BPA….

  60. 60 ACViking said at 11:28 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Howie’s character talk may be about Quintin Coples.

    How else can you explain Peter King marrying the Ealges to Coples in his mock draft? ; )

  61. 61 ACViking said at 10:54 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Just a theory, but I think the Eagles’ RZ performance on defense would be improved more by a DT who could quickly collapse the pocket than a CB (except maybe the latest Night Train).

  62. 62 ICDogg said at 11:01 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    I was reading a CoverItLive chat that Dallas fans were having with Rick Gosselin. Looks like he’s not doing any mocks this year.. but he did say this

    “Cox won’t be there at 14. He’s the best pass rusher in the draft. Those guys don’t slide.”

  63. 63 ICDogg said at 11:02 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    On Coples: “…my guess is Jason Garrett wants players whose motors are always running.”

  64. 64 ICDogg said at 11:05 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    On trading down: “I have five blue chippers and 20 players I would value as first round picks. I’m told you might get the same player at 35 that you do at 25. You may get the same player at 45 that you get at 25. Because of that, I’m not sure a whole lot of teams would be interested in trading up. The Cowboys may want to trade down but I’m not sure they could find a partner.”

  65. 65 ICDogg said at 11:11 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    “There could be 7-9 defensive front seven players selected in the Top 20. Throw in three cornerbacks and a safety and the top of the draft will be defensive heavy.”

  66. 66 stryker138 said at 11:02 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Could Shea McClellin really be our full time SAM? If so, it’d make be feel a lot better about trading down…..

  67. 67 ACViking said at 11:18 AM on April 25th, 2012:

    Re: Coby Fleener

    T-LAW:

    Ray Didinger wrote in one of his “Ray’s Replies” that Fleener suffered a back injury in college which has continued to hamper his work-out ability to workout with weights and to block.

    http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/eagles-talk/Rays-Replies-Any-interest-in-Stanfords-F?blockID=686792

    Have you heard anything along those lines?