Another Blocker for Wentz
Posted: April 30th, 2016 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 190 Comments »The Eagles selected a franchise QB on Thursday night.
On Friday they added an interior lineman to protect him. Today they added an OT, Halapoulivaati Vaitai from TCU.
I like this pick quite a bit. I’ve listed Vaitai to the Eagles in previous mock drafts. He is a big man at 6-6 and 320. He played RT and LT at TCU. He has good feet and is a natural pass blocker. I think he’s got the potential to be a starting LT in the NFL. He certainly adds a big, talented body to the OT mix.
The Eagles didn’t have to grab an OT, but Vaitai was a combination of good fit and good value.
Doug Pederson made no secret of his desire to upgrade the OL. The team has done that in the past couple of days. These are young, big, talented blockers.
One of the benefits from this move is that Vaitai can work at LT behind Peters and Dennis Kelly can focus on RT behind Lane Johnson. That helps both players, as they fit those positions. It gives the Eagles better OL depth.
_
Wouldn’t mind going all offense if the next pick is Thomas or Listenbee.
Good to see the line addressed. Hopefully we’ll get some interesting guys with our last 3 picks.
Peterson following Andy Reids mindset, as expected. I like it, keep adding resrouces and talent, especially young talent to your trenches. Dominating the LOS is important and we have the perfect beginning to do that with Logan, Cox, Curry, Graham just needing depth and with Lane and Brooks on the other side needing young talent besides them.
If he has the size, the feet, and the potential, why is HPV available in the 5th? People afraid to read the name at the podium?
Raw, spread OL
Teams have been trying to take him since the 3rd and the card submitted had the wrong spelling. League said pick again because there’s no such player in the draft. Howie used year away from personnel control to brush up on his spelling skills.
First round pick if his name was John Smith.
Vaitai to me is a big improvement at swing tackle over Dennis Kelly moving forward. I feel confident he can fill that roll. If he takes to coaching and can become a starting T, this is a homerun pick.
So this still puts us in the market for drafting a starting RT in the 2nd round next year once Peters is gone and Lane is at LT?
Potentially. They’ll have a better idea of what they have by then though.
Cool, thank you. Although I’d still prefer to have Peters traded, Lane at LT, and Schwartz at RT.
Calling the defense and playing RT is a lot to ask.
I have high standards.
You probably won’t get more than a 6th rounder for Peters.
I would have taken it to avoid any dead-ish money. And we’d be all set with Lane and Mitchell as our Ts.
Peters played very hurt last year. Maybe that’s just his reality at this point, but if he can stay reasonably healthy I think he’ll surprise people with 1 or 2 above average years.
I don’t count on old people in the NFL to heal, I put them out on the ice flow.
smarter GM would have cut he cord, but JP will retire here in 2 years.
Jatvis Brown just went. I had forgotten about him. He was interesting.
Everyone saying that we should let players walk, sit out FA and get the comp picks, take note of the caliber of player teams are adding.
That comp pick system needs to go.
Especially when you cannot even rectify when someone tampers with your free agents. But you can reward them for not even trying to re-sign their own players.
Exactly. F U Goodell.
It’s brutal. 13 of them in this round.
And the Pats can still get one after cheating?
I’d still like to add Travis Feeney if at all possible here. Tyrone Holmes would be cool too.
If I’m Sammy B i’d look at how bad we are at drafting players and i wouldn’t be worried about wentz.
Mate
Shall we not give Carson a chance first?!
You dont like the picks so far?
I like sammy b more than wentz – but we’re consistently active in FA for a reason.
Hey look, we are picking at 13 this round. How novel.
I’m starting to sense a bias in DP/Roseman’s choice of OL.
Sorry I’m a bit behind here, but it seems Smallwood isn’t exactly a high character guy, given recent years, I’m not sure if this should please me, or worry me
If I was Lurie I would have every Eagles player not using Twitter!
Just keep him away from his loser friends and he’ll be fine.
Vince Papale; CTE issues?
He’s looking very foolish and very spray tanned on these ads that have been on non-stop.
He likes Toomey, so probably.
I’m sure he’s getting paid well.
Congrats GE!
A German Viking? Hard to process.
Lol
I don’t think those barbarians ever made any successful incursions into German. They whooped up on some Brits and Russians however.
Yes!!! Ze Germans!!!
http://i.imgur.com/j3nTpJU.gif
Another Blocker for Wentz? I guess even you have given up on Sam Bradford having any kind of success, or a breakout year. That leaves one shot at finding a franchise QB instead of two. I’m no longer a big Bradford fan, but I don’t understand how everyone had given up on him even after he had a solid second half of the season last year. I don’t believe the Eagles had given up on him breaking out and becoming a franchise QB. The recent events have probably damaged that possibility.
Sam is more than welcome to come out and have a great year, but both of our O-line picks this year are more likely to be starters after this year, not this year.
Possibly because these guys may not start until next year, when it’s much less likely Bradford is around…
Vaitai is a depth player this year. Semualo is probably 50-50 to beat out Wis.
But 100-0 to beat out Kelce next year I hope.
And when Kelce bounces back and is fine?
Say some nice things at my funeral after I die of shock.
Everybody has given up on Sam Bradford because before he was mediocre, now he just came out as a grade a bitch running scared.
He isnt a winner and he isn’t a competitor. The only thing keeping Bradford in Philly is value.
Nobody should ever “Cam out.” Cam is a piece of crap.
You caught that before the edit huh? Damn autocorrect.
JESUS CHRIST THE JAGS ARE GONNA SACK EVERYBODY
Mercy. I’m ridiculously jealous of their pass rush.
They are having an epic draft. Thank god they are in the AFC.
That hurts.
there goes Tyrone holmes to the Jags…
AHHAHAA!
Belichick just broke a window.
In addition to the ones he was breaking at Goodell’s house while the commish was busy running the draft?
Listenbee, Peak, Mike Thomas or Kalan Reed. I really liked Tyrone Holmes here before the jags picked him
Those would be solid. I’m still hoping we get Travis Feeney. We haven’t had a real 4-3 SAM since Emmons in 2003.
I would be very happy with Freeney as well. Kinda forgot about him
Feeney needs to add some “good” weight, but he can run with any TE and is 6-4. And Washington has been pumping out some really good defenders over the last few years.
We’re too ‘smart’ to pick any of those players… Howie has a new one you haven’t heard of 😉
Really glad to see Keenan Reynolds get drafted.
Jerell Adams to Giants. Don’t know why he dropped this far.
So now we need to get Travis Feeney to shut him down.
I’m surprised Cajuste hasn’t been picked yet. Eagles may take him.
Jared Norris, Jakeem Grant, Deandre Houston Carson, Alex McCallister
DHC gone
Damn Bears at it again.
Poop
Deutschland Über Alles. 🙂
Houston-Carson to Chicago. PHI showed tons of interest in Norris at E-W Shrine Game. Quiet on him since.
3 straight NFC East picks coming up
Damn, you’re good, D3FB. Jakeem Grant to MIA. Now you’re the one jinxing us.
F!
NFL,com has this pick listed as Dolphins(from Dolphins)
Makes sense
GOD DAMNIT
Redskins took QB Nate Sudfield. We’re up.
Cash? Listenbee?
If its WR Listenbee or Michael Thomas from Southern Miss make sense.
I will finally be excited lol
Here they go having another interview when the Eagles are picking. GRRRR!
And commercial on espn
Maybe the Temple LB?
Norris from Utah would be better. They also seem to like the BC kid.
Right. Daniels?
Yep.
Come on defensive pick!
TRADE
future pick?
Nope, 188 for 196 and 240.
They could’ve traded every pick yesterday and today and probably still get their guy… Now they freaking trade.
They traded it
188 for 196 and 240.
eh not bad
3 7 rounders lol
great value… never normally see 6th round trades. Wonder who they suddenly want?
Lol.
Why?
Yea not a whole lot left that I’m crazy about
I mean why?! The chances for the guy who’s picked at #240 at making this team may be less than 7.93849%.
Basically just gives them ability to ensure UDFAs
Must have found out who the cowboys were wanting to draft and needed to trade up to snake Jerrah.
nfl.com says 196 is the Dolphins pick – guess thats wrong?
that’s what I’m seeing too
ESPN has it as Eagles
Good trade. There’s still some value sitting around here.
And by here, I mean my living room. Boxing up some old books that might be worth something years from now.
lol
wonder who they’re targeting
What is going on with Jeremy Cash? Too much of a box S?
There’s always one S that draftniks love who freefalls.
Nobody wants this pick 196 Eagles (From Vikings through Dolphins through Patriots through Texans)
The old “Terrell Davis” pick…
Kinda just hoping for FCS guys I’ve never heard of at this point.
Would love Justin Zimmer of Ferris State.
What about Justin Zimmer IN a ferrous state? Made of iron?
Or international
I just dont see him as a LT, but RT is very viable. If he does play RT he has to improve his technique to better be able to defend against speed rushers. I think his best positional fit in the NFL is G. He wont be going up against speed rushers lile he would be on the outside.
Stupid Lions. Taking a Michigan QB in the 6th round. When has that ever worked?
Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Shoots some pool and drinks a Mai Tai
Listenbee taken by BUF. Think we’ll go D anyway.
Still want Thomas, but Listenbee was my next choice.
I say we go Brandon Allen (QB – Arkansas) just to make Bradford’s head explode.
One thing I like about the choices of Isaac Seumalo & Halapoulitaavi Vaitai is the fact that Samoans often outperform their projections in the NFL
Exactly. Do we have confirmation that they are both Samoans? I was so hoping that.
Their names don’t sound German or Danish.
You can get a mighty Dane next year, OT Andreas Knappe from UConn
Close enough, lol!
Can they both be Samoas?
Seumalo is Hawaiian.
@D3FB
Where are you at with Dadi Nicolas?
No
Ha!
I’m still hoping for Feeney here.
Forgot about him. Feeney or Thomas (WR) for me
Almost like the trade-down almost telegraphs the Eagles know their target wouldn’t be taken by other teams anytime soon.
They could’ve done it every time after round 1
NFL.com still doesn’t know the pick is ours.
Their network does at least
They fixed it.
Time for NFLN commercial….
They need to kill themselves.
Cash here?
Countess
Countess
No clue haven’t watched him.
Auburn in the house! That will dial Mrs. Baloophi back in for a few more years!
And here I thought nobody missed the days of King Dunlap
We drafted female nobility? Really? Countess? She had better be good.
He was our last NovaCare visit.
There’s nothing on the guy :/
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/726509385116164099
What’s the sample size tho?
one season, he was at michigan before
Really can’t stand Howie during draft time.
From the games I tolerated this year, he was around the ball a lot. Some would say, too much (I recall at least one targeting penalty). Auburn’s D has been pretty wretched of late but the secondary made some plays… against some very good receivers.
Small zone corner. Good college player, not sure how well he translates what sounds like will be safety.
So NFL.com Draft profile lists no bio, no grade, no size or weight for Countess, but his portrait is almost ethereal, I imagine being able to phase through offensive players will lead to a lot of breakups.
But it’s really a problem when it comes to tackling.
Transferred from Michigan.
If this is who we’re taking in the 6th round, I imagine the next pick will be someone from my alma mater, Mercer County Community College. We don’t actually have a football team, but that’s what makes it such a sleeper pick.
BLAKE COUNTESS
5’10 185lbs (Boykin-esque?)
Before Auburn . . .
U-Michigan:
* started 30 games
* three-year letterman
Could be a slot. Could be a safety. Versatile.
Ahoy!
Hail!
S or CB though. I would guess S.
Sounds like he graduated from Michigan, had a year of eligibility left, and went to Auburn.
“After measuring in at 5-foot-9 and 184 pounds, Countess had a 36 1/2 inch vertical jump, a 10’1’’ broad jump and 21 reps on the bench press. Countess was one rep shy of his personal record on the bench press. The 21 reps at 225 pounds would have tied him for first place at the NFL combine in his position group.”
Hand-times 4.49 40 at the pro day, apparently. Sounds like he played corner, safety, and nickel at Auburn. Also special teams. Seems like a potential slot corner or special teams guy, maybe backup safety too.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/auburn-corner-blake-countess-visited-eagles-last-week/
Info on Blake
Michael Schottey
@Schottey
2m2 minutes ago
Before Eagles’ Blake Countess’ ACL injury a few years ago, was on track to be a fringe 1st rounder. Isn’t same guy, but dude has some skills
3 retweets
4 likes
“He provided leadership in a new defense that had deficiencies, earned everyone’s respect right away,” said former Auburn secondary coach Travaris Robinson, who’s now the defensive coordinator at South Carolina. “Played all defensive back positions in one game, shows his smart and his film study and ability. Instinct wise, he is at the top of all the guys I coached in my career.”
Basically a more athletic version of the kid we took from K State last year.
Randall Evans?
Wonder how BC’s ACL injury compared to/contrasts with Jaylon Smith’s?
Beware ACLs.
See Kiko Alonso.
Seems like everyone we draft was at one point going to be a first rounder
40 Yard Dash:
4.49
CB Combine Avg. (03-15):
4.49
– 10 Yard Split:
N/A
CB Combine Avg. (03-15):
1.55
– Bench Press (225 lbs):
21
CB Combine Avg. (03-15):
15
– Vertical Jump:
36.5”
CB Combine Avg. (03-15):
36.0”
– Standing Broad Jump:
10’2”
Tackling: Plays well above size with aggression and closing burst to attack forward. Will aggressively charge the box or the boundary and slices into ball carriers without breaking stride to lay firm hits.
Man Cover Skills: Is not particularly sticky on route stems to stay attached to the hip. Disconnect between a fine functional
athletic skill set and ability to feel receivers and mirror on route stems.
Coverage IQ: Plays with greatest impact and ability to impact the game when coming forward; lacks same level of twitch or
confidence in movements when being tested to peripherals.
Acceleration: Plenty of ability to stick foot in the ground and get downhill; is effective both in charging the flats or driving into the MOF. Turn and run capabilities do not appear as strong.
Toughness: Mean, nasty demeanor when attacking the football. Very hard nose to duck into traffic and stick body into piles trying to clean up mess.
Flexibility: Adequate bendability but lack of efficiency in hip hinge appears to contribute to softer coverage when trying to play off the ball and gain depth to sustain leverage.
Effort: Tremendous motor. Plays with rapid close ability and will consistently outrun teammates in pursuit to the football. Flashes into the screen suddenly in the run game and is consistently an additional defender on the boundary.
Ball Skills: Is very strong at the catch point; will play receivers and place jarring hits to dislodge the football. Has plant and drive ability to break on throws in front of face; particularly from the flats or hook/curl region.
Blitz Ability: Twitch and physicality as a player present very well as an option to pressure the pocket. Plays fast and decisive
Summary: Auburn Cornerback Blake Countess is a bit of a difficult projection.
Countess (Michigan/Auburn) played at his best in a bit of a hybrid role; when he was free and shaded overtop of receivers and squatted as a zone defender he definitively made a more consistent impact of the game than any reps he played working backwards and to the
boundary. Countess may very well be a nickel defender and there is nothing wrong with that; he is a strong fifth defensive back option who can be relied upon to charge aggressively and attack the ball in underneath areas of the field. Coutness should not be relied upon to lock up receivers one on one in space; he simply has not shown high quality man to man coverage and would require a good deal of time and investment. Should be a zone/buzz defender against spread sets. Countess would be excellent value in the middle of Day 3.
Between him and shepherd we have the all-hype, all-ACL 6th round CB market cornered
holy shit the Jags actually drafted an offensive player!?
Video interview with Countess / article following his pro day (since he was not invited to combine):
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/sports/college/sec/auburn-university/war-eagle-extra/article65039497.html
I wonder if when they interviewed Schwartz, part of the sales pitch was “you come to philly and you can have whatever player you want at pick 196”?
Random comment, but what are the Buccaneers doing? They’ve drafted a Kicker and a Fullback, seems like those are the kinds of players you can easily pick up as UFDAs
UDFA’s can choose where to go. Not sure why they wouldn’t wait until later in the draft to get them though.
Aguayo is supposedly a great kicker.
Vitale is a very athletic and versatile FB.
I think they drafted pretty well..aside from trading up for Aguayo.
Its seems that kickers who are drafted never really work out that well, certainly not to justify a 3rd rounder
This kicker was going to be drafted for sure. On the other hand, trading *up* to get him in the *second* round… not so sure. Granted, bottom of the second round.
Janikowski was a 1st-round kicker who has worked out fine.
NEW THREAD. Everyone bus your area, please.