Oooh…Love Ertz
Posted: April 26th, 2013 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 114 Comments »I hope all of you are familiar with the Nazareth song so that the title makes sense.
Zach Ertz is a great fit for the Eagles. He was an outstanding college player and was going to be highly rated by most teams, but he really is what Chip Kelly wants. The phrase “tight end” meant pretty much the same thing in the Andy Reid era. Some were bigger. Some were more athletic. Some were better blockers. But the TEs all got used in a similar way (many would argue not enough).
As I’ve explained, Kelly has 2 different TEs. There is the tradition TE (Y) and the H-back (F). Beyond that, Kelly can go for different players. And this is where Ertz is so important. He is a Y-TE, but is much more than just a guy who will line up on the line of scrimmage (LOS). Ertz can line up outside or in the slot.
Now put on tape of many prospects and they also line up in those spots. The difference is that Ertz runs such good routes that he can actually get open when playing out in space. Ertz has fluid hips and sells his fakes well. This is critical when coming off the ball and trying to get a DB off balance. If you just run hard off the line, the DB can turn and run right with you. A good receiver must be able to put moves on the DB as he releases. Most WRs do this well. Very few TEs do. It’s hard for a 6-5, 250 guy to sell a 200-pound DB with a fake because most TEs are a bit stiff. They might have strength and/or explosion, but those are muscle-related. Being fluid and agile at 250 isn’t common.
Ertz is smooth, fluid, and has great body control. This allows him to get that little advantage that it takes to get open in space. All you have to do is get the DB leaning one way or the other. If the DB plays off, Ertz can get on top of him quickly and then put a quick move on the guy to get a step on him and create separation. This will only give Ertz a a couple of feet, but that’s wide open in the NFL.
There are other TEs who are bigger. There are some that are stronger. I think Ertz is the best at route-running and getting open. Add in the fact that he has great hands and is a willing blocker and you’ve got an outstanding prospect.
I’ve talked for 6 weeks about how Chip Kelly wanted weapons for the slot. If Kelly can’t get Tavon Austin, Ryan Swope, or Marquise Goodwin, he can use Ertz in that role. Ertz gives Kelly the kind of flexibility he wants, especially in a no-huddle attack. I’ll get more into that later, but hopefully this will give you an idea of why Ertz was so important to the Eagles.
Cal used Safety Josh Hill on Ertz quite a bit and Ertz gave him fits. Here’s the game:
_
“Very smart player. A great route-runner. I think he’s a guy that will really give us a lot flexibility in terms of what we can do,” said Kelly. “I’ve always been a heavy tight end guy. We don’t play with a fullback. We really use that second tight end — and now a third tight end. He’ll go in with Brent Celek and James Casey and add to the mix of what we can do and present a lot of problems for people.”
I’m hoping they get a corner or damontre Moore.
Would Cyprien have been the pick if both were available at 35?
I preferred Cyp, but don’t know what the Eagles would have done.
Kelly was pretty emphatic that Ertz was the top rated player on their board heading into the day. Didn’t seem like BS to me.
I think Ertz was a primary target in this draft
Love Ertz? I expect better out of you Tommy.
Is lack of sleep a good enough excuse?
I’ll give you a pass since it’s the off-season. You better bring it strong when it counts in September.
(from previous thread)
My targets at 67
John Jenkins
Keenan Allen
Jessie Williams
DJ Swearinger
Jonathan Franklin
Alex Okafor (?)
Travis Kelce (I know…)
Christine Michael
Dude, that’s an Everly Bros. song.
Gram Parsons is also an acceptable answer.
Roy Orbison, too.
Tommy, who are your top targets for round 3?
At least teams aren’t snapping up all the CB’s. I hope this means there will be a good choice of secondary talent left at our next pick. I like our first 2 picks, but I’m more worried about the defense than the offense.
Damn, Hunt and Swearinger gone. My heart is now broken. That was my safety. Now Im looking hoping for Duke Williams at safety.
Kelsey Grammer just announced Denver’s pick…
Huh, people are more sensitive about that song that I expected. Love the pick.
so Tommy who are we targeting here in the 3rd? who can fill the gaping void in my heart left by the absence of Jonathon Cyprien?
Any thoughts on a player that could be trade bait? So many interesting players still available.
Eddie Lacy seems like a good fit for Green Bay.
Yep, wasn’t too surprised by that pick.
Freakin Caplan on eagles live… Doesnt know where Baccari Rambo played, doesnt know who Michael Buchanon is…. Caplan never impresses me, dont know why they always have him on.
Why isnt Tommy on there?
He knows the star players and has great NFL connections. Not sure why they use him for later rounds.
Some 3rd Rd targets:
CB Sanders Commings
FS Phillip Thomas
LB Corey Lemonier
DL John Jenkins
QB Zac Dysert
QB Matt Scott
I’m leaning against WRs, but ya never know.
Tommy, I need to know, who’s going to take the pain away?
It’d be nice to drop back since there are so many similar targets…
You think Commings is a target? Didnt he beat a girlfriend or something? Im not expecting him to be on our board which is a shame because he seemed to be a great fit.
Lemonier would be nice. Id still love to get a OLB. Buchanon is another one Id like there.
Duke Williams is the safety I want at this point.
Maybe my favorite player, though the least sexy of all listed, Schwenke. Interior OL depth is a HUGE need that most people have overlooked all offseason.
He would fit the “off-color play on words” theme of the offseason after the acquisitions of Wang, Johnson, etc.
I’m thinking Jenkins or Goodwin.
Good choices there…
Was I the only one who was concerned Jesse Williams has chicken legs?
Looks like Andy Reid decided he couldn’t live without a Kelce bro. in his life.
Demontre Moore anyone?
Almost time to consider DaRick?
Big fan of his. Character issues, though.
Right. How low do you expect them to drop him? 3rd round seems reasonable Id think.
I wouldn’t be mad with that pick. Tons of talent.
1st round talent.
Philly got the pick in quick…
Who?
Didnt see this one coming.
first pick i dont like
We don’t even know anything about him yet…
Guessing this is a guy to come in and play the nose?
Seems a bit small…5-tech maybe?
I’m glad we got a defensive player, but Bennie Logan doesn’t feel like a BPA pick.
Tommy please talk me off the ledge. Please.
This is not a bad pick at all. I’m just trying to figure out how he fits in. Good player.
You’re on the ledge over a Chip Kelly 3d round pick? How did you survive the drafts in the Andy Reid era? How sedated were you when they picked Teo- Nesheim?
ughhhh, teo-nesheim, literally the only person I didnt want in that draft lol.
I’m 21. This is the first draft I am legally allowed to drown my sorrows during.
See, I thought you were 67!
Dude, its a 3rd rounder. Do you really expect this guy to be a perennial Pro-bowl type player? Even if he’s not that good, the best teams draft busts too e.g. Terrence Cody
From Chip Kelly:
– Holding our breath – we had him as a second round kid (really??)
– Versatile
– Can push pocket from the inside
– Looking at him as in interior player
– Played against him two years ago
– Interviewed at Combine
–
Great. Thank you.
There was a time when Logan looked like a 2nd Rder to me, but I fell into the trap of liking bigger guys or athletes. He is a tweener.
If you find a way to build a whole defense full of tweeners, you can find players for it easier than anyone else can
If nothing else, Logan prolongs the suspense around what kind of defense they’re going to play.
He’s probably more of a 5 tech
I’d seen Logan projected as a 2nd-3rd round pick, so it’s not a reach, but why wasn’t anybody talking about Logan earlier in the process? I don’t know much about him but he seems like more of a 4-3 DT.
Not precisely 4-3. More accurate to say 1 gap.
Right. But 1 gap DTs are necessary for a 4-3, not so much for a 3-4.
Try telling that to Wade Phillips…
Wade Phillips runs an odd variation of the scheme though. Sopoaga is a classic 2 gap NT so I don’t think Davis is planning on copying his style of 3-4.
The basic alignment is quickly becoming one of the most common alignments in the NFL. Some teams like the Broncos have the weakside end/LB put his hand on the ground though, which makes it look like a 4-3, rather than Philips (and Davis in Arizona) making it look like a 3-4.
The Eagles ran a 2gap 4-3 under McDermott. Bunk and Patt were the 2gappers. Also yeah to the Wade Philips comment, though it’s valid to classify that as a 4-3 that is undershifted with the SAM playing at the line. Either way, that’s 1 gap.
It does kinda feel like the Giants and the Eagles got their last two picks mixed up.
DL Bennie Logan is a bit of a curveball for me. He doesn’t have classic NT size. He doesn’t have the height to be a 5-tech DE. If we’re going to run the 4-3 Under, he could be a 3-tech with Fletcher Cox over as the 5-tech DE.
I like Logan as a player. I need to figure out how he’s going to fit in.
I have no problem with the pick. I’m just trying to figure it out.
Were there any other DL you were hoping to get more than Bennie Logan?
Kruger
Or literally anyone else
I understood the first pick. I knew Hertz is a good player but thought we had much heater needs, then after seeing so many guys I thought we needed vanish one by one and the 3rd rd. Wtf player, I’ve been Googling noose tying instructions. I’m REALLY bummed Tommy boy. Invade you missed it…. :((
I’m actually ok with Logan. No question he’s going to play NT, that they’re ok with his weight and he can add pounds. The only question I have about it why Jesse Williams is falling, whom I like. But Logan has upside and can be solid immediately.
I believe Williams has a knee issue that might be more serious than people originally thought.
I just cant figure it out. Not one of the tall players they seem to prefer. Only 310lbs doesnt sound like a NT. I just dont get it.
Casey Hampton, in my opinion one of the best pure NTs ever, was 6’1, 314 at his combine, “only” plays at 325 and did 4 bench reps more. I wouldn’t say Logan couldn’t become a NT, especially since the 1 gap NT is becoming popular. Logan also provides some scheme versatility and could play DE.
He also has a lot of experience playing two-gap, has a pretty nice bull-rush to collapse the pocket and the awareness to get his hands in passing lanes. Not someone I necessarily expect to contribute from day 1, but I really think he’s got a chance to be a good player.
Yeah, I doubt that he will be a big part of the defense tomorrow, but thats why we signed Sopoaga.
I could see Logan fitting in at DE; he’s a little short, but only a quarter inch or so shorter than Star. See those two as pretty similar players, really, in terms of style. Obviously Logan has been a little underwhelming in college, but he’s got talent. I think he’ll be in the mix at both 5-tech and 3-tech (expecting a pretty heavy rotation on the DL anyway)
Alternatively, maybe they think they can bulk him up to 320-325 and play the nose. He kinda reminds me of a less-talented Hankins. If he can bulk up he should at least be able to hold the line and eat up blocks.
Playing devil’s advocate here. Isaac Sopoaga was about the same size coming out of college so maybe he is Sopoaga’s replacement. Also watching some tape he looks like a two gapper rather than a pass rusher
If they’re looking at him as a future NT they must not like Jesse Williams much.
T-Law says he has knee issues.
baffling. it seems like alot of talent from alabama got devalued
I have a theory with Bama these days…. there are a lot of players who are over valued – they are Pro coached and have Pro fitness already so really wont have much upside. a lot of Bama guys drafted last 2-3 players and a LOT of flops or under achievers.
Chip Kelly said that Logan can get bigger. Logan said they told him in interviews that they are playing a base 3-4. Sounds like an NT to me. With Sopoaga here, the undersized NT doesnt have to start so thats a plus.
Can’t really argue that. He can start off as a 1-tech in nickel situations and rotate in at NT as he gets bigger.
3 picks are in. Why are they waiting so long to announce picks on TV this year?
I already know who the steelers picked…
Just occurred to me that the Eagles tried to sign Ricky Jean-Francois in FA. He was 6-3, 295. Wanted him to play DE/DT/NT. Now they drafted Bennie Logan. He’s 6-2, 309 and will play DE/DT/NT. Both guys went to LSU. Neither a great athlete, but both willing to do the dirty work.
Are we thinking he’s the defensive equivalent of a swing tackle rather than someone to pencil in as a starter?
I doubt that’s the attitude they are taking. If it was, that is an awful pick for a 3rd rounder. You have to be trying to get a starter in the 3rd round, not a backup. But again, I would doubt that’s how they see Logan.
Not necessarily sure I agree with that. Maybe I had a bad choice of words considering the OL are pretty constant unless someone gets injured, but there are gonna be a lot of snaps to go around on the defensive line and someone that can be a rotational guy at all of them without being the starter at any could have real value.
You’re right that guys will get more snaps as a backup dlineman compared to a swing tackle, but that pick is the top of the 3rd round. You want to come away with a serviceable starter at that pick. I rotational Dlinman can be found on the 3rd day. If Logan ends up as a rotational palyer, that doesn’t make him a terrible pick, but it still is bad value for a 3rd round player in my opinion.
It’s possible that he could be a rotational player at first and later develop into a starter.
Oh absolutely. Maybe I misunderstood deg0ey’s comment. I read it to mean being a rotational player would be Logan’s long term role, not simply his rookie role. For this year, I would fully expect Logan to compete for playing time, and if he pushes for starting time, that’s a bonus. In 3 or so years though, if he isn’t considered a starter, that’s not what you want from a high 3rd round pick.
Yeah, I didn’t do a great job of making my point. Kinda figured he could be a good piece to have in the short term since he can fill in for a number of roles and then maybe you get him to specialise in one in a year or two when you’ve seen where he (and other players on the roster/in next year’s draft) fits best.
Got it. Sorry for misinterpreting your comment. In that case though, I definitely agree with you. For this year, I would think he would compete for the starting role with Curry, but certainly I would guess he would be put into the rotation and as you said, could be used at a few spots to take a few reps from the starters.
It’s possible that he could be a rotational player at first and later develop into a starter.
good players here for Dallas and NY
safeties are going off the board now
So if Casey is our Hernandez, Ertz is our Gronkowski
Eg – zach – tly what the offense was lacking.
Think Chip Kelly saw something he likes in Logan? At 6’2″, maybe this guy doesn’t have the ideal height Chip envisions, but his 34″ arms may make up for height.
DaRick Rogers
Jordan Poyer
Brian Schwenke
Duke Williams
Shamarko Thomas
Chris Harper
David Quessenberry
Alex Okafor
Quinton Patton
Devin Taylor
Michael Buchanon
Kasheem Green
Some good players to pick from in round 4. CB is getting thinned out. And safety especially. 3-4 OLB as well.
Later round guys I want are Chris Thompson, Tristan Okpalaugo, Michael Mauti, Rontez Miles, Melvin White
Poyer, Schwenke, Thomas, Rogers, Patton, and Taylor are all guys I’d be okay with them taking in the 4th round. As you say, if they want to address the defensive backfield, now may be the time to do it.
In terms of Safety, what about Rambo or Thomas? I wouldn’t mind getting either of those guys I don’t think.
I’ll put up a Bennie Logan post in a bit. Jimmy & I are going to record a quick recap show.
POST IT NOW, PUNK!
Have to laugh at the reactions to Logan. Because he’s not the right height and weight suddenly he’s worthless? If he was 319 instead of 309 would he magically become good enough for a NT? Because you could tell him to eat the house down for the next month and that dream would be fulfilled… And for height, his arms are 2″ longer than Jesse Williams, which seems to make up for being 2″ shorter.
As for his role…drafting, especially in 3rd round type area is either for future starters or sub packages. As it happens Logan can be useful in both. He can learn to play NT under Sopoaga and eventually replace him at that spot in a couple of years. While doing that he can compete for the 5-tech starting job with Vinny Curry and Cedric Thornton and may the best man win. Then he can play lots in a line rotation that may be out on the field a lot if we are running a hurry up offense. I’m glad we spent the pick on a big dude rather than an edge rusher type.
I’m more worried about Ertz. Will Kelly really play 3 TE/H-backs? Celek and Casey are useful players, do they not get to see the field as much now with Ertz there? Or is Ertz really a big slot receiver who replaces Avant? Possibly both…but either way, in Chip we trust!
I will take credit for asking Tommy a few days ago if we saw Logan as a tackle prospect.
Eagles should go after Earl Wolff
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