The New Corners
Posted: April 29th, 2017 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 86 Comments »Let’s talk more about the new guys.
Sidney Jones – 6-0, 186 – Washington
3-year starter for the Huskies. Complete corner. Can cover, blitz, hit, tackle and make plays. Press corner who can be very physical with receivers. Smooth, fluid corner who can mirror receivers. Has good ball skills. Explosive when coming forward, whether to break on the ball or to tackle a runner/receiver. Good blitzer. Mostly played LCB. Jones is the latest in a line of good UW DBs. Marcus Peters and Desmond Trufant are outstanding NFL corners from Washington in recent years.
The only real concern with Jones is his Achilles tear. The Eagles had their medical staff check this out thoroughly. They feel strongly that he will make a complete recovery. Howie Roseman said they studied recoveries from Achilles injuries and there was a high rate of success. Jones is just 20-years old and is in great shape so that should help him.
Still basking…
But surgeon, Dr. Robert Anderson told @TomPelissero "I've never had a guy not come back (from Achilles') who wanted to."— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) April 29, 2017
Jones' tear was higher up on calf, higher is better. Had minimally invasive procedure, which won't shorten healing. will guard vs infection
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) April 29, 2017
Very good fit for the Eagles. Jim Schwartz likes to mix tough man coverage with some zone. Jones can excel at both. He has the cover skills to blanket receivers all over the field. He can also play off and break on the ball when it comes his way. He has outstanding hands and is able to make some impressive INTs. Has the size/speed/athleticism combination you want in a corner who will cover top WRs.
Welcome, Sidney Jones!! #FlyEaglesFly #NFLDraft #CPS pic.twitter.com/pVFdKbHJbs
— Corner Pub Sports (@CornerPubSports) April 29, 2017
One of the latest mock drafts has the #Chiefs taking Washington CB Sidney Jones, who has drawn comparisons to Marcus Peters. pic.twitter.com/mCOKEqcm0d
— BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) February 24, 2017
***
Rasul Douglas – 6-2, 209 – West Virginia
Former junior college player who was a backup for the Mountaineers in 2015. Became a starter in 2016 and had a great season. Tied for national lead with 8 INTs. Very aggressive corner. Loves to jump routes. Has an uncanny knack for getting to the ball. Uses his hands, his helmet…whatever he can get to try and knock the ball out. Solid tackler. Very good at times, but there are plays when he will reach and grab and be sloppy. Only ran 4.59 at the Combine. The Eagles aren’t overly concerned by that because he had a good 10-yard split and uses his size (6-2) and length (32-inch arms) to help make up for a lack of ideal speed.
Douglas can be effective pressing or playing off, but he is vulnerable as well. His speed could be an issue when trying to press top receivers in the NFL. When he plays off, there are times when Douglas is too handsy, grabbing receivers as they break inside or out. That’s something he has to cut down on in the NFL. Douglas does a great job of reading receivers and routes, which enables him to jump routes and play the ball.
I thought Douglas would be a player Jim Schwartz would love because of his aggressiveness and ball skills. Seems like that was correct. Douglas had a great showing at the Senior Bowl and that got the Eagles attention. He seems like a Joe Douglas player because of his production and effort. Watch him chase a runner or receiver and he sure looks faster than 4.59. He’s got a real competitive spirit.
Douglas can come in and compete for a starting job right away. He doesn’t have a ton of experience, but he is a smart, instinctive player who is going to fight to get on the field. The Eagles need someone with his size and ball skills on the field.
https://twitter.com/LowLifeATH/status/839601750550200320
Rasul Douglas has some of the best reads from the CB spot in this class. He's breaking on ball simultaneous to WR making his cut. pic.twitter.com/eiPpQKiQxU
— Jared Stanger (@JaredStanger) December 23, 2016
_
The best news to me yesterday was the fact that the Eagles have passed on Mixon. Thank God for that…
Love the football player, hope he succeeds (not against us).
Who do you think we pick for RB?
Hopefully Perine or Gallmann..
I like Perine. And how he proposed to his girlfriend was pretty cool
Marlon Mack or Gallman
Looking at RBs left i think i would be ok passing on them and go with Matthews again this year or sign Charles. Whats left none of them pop out as starters. Think this is where you dont want to force the pick for the position. If was to get a RB use it on Cohen the Human Joystick.
Disagree. Some running back left on the board can come in and be real contributors in a backfield with Smallwood and Sproles. You can get great value in that in the 4/5 rounds. This is exactly where you pick up quality rotational RBs, and this is exactly what Matthews really was for us, except his neck is broken and he counts for 4 mill against the cap if we keep him anyway.
Is a deep RB class, i am sure they can find someone they today. Later in the draft it is easier to address ‘needs’ since you will often have 5-10 players with the same grade when you are picking, and then you just take the one at the biggest positional need.
Hope the find a bigger short yardage 1st/2nd down type RB. Smallwood and Sproles are good 3rd down backs that are versatile weapons, but sometimes you want a guy you can give the ball to and get 3-4 yards consistently.
Then next year try and find a more special multi talented RB to replace Sproles.
Get a RB plus Corn or Kazee, and it’s a successful draft.
Really hoping for a WR with some speed too. At this point i’m fine with one not being very quick and shifty, just someone who can actually stretch the field.
Basically, someone who’ll make sure DGB doesn’t have a roster spot next year.
Not going to say who I want because I’ll jinx it but these are the top 50 players left by my composite big board:
1.. OG Dorian Johnson, Pittsburgh
2. DE Carl Lawson, Auburn
3. DT Caleb Brantley, Florida(character concerns)
4. S/CB Desmond King, Iowa
5. DT Carlos Watkins, Clemson
6. TE Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
7. QB Nathan Peterson, Pittsburgh
8. DT Jaleel Johnson, Iowa
9. RB Wayne Gallman, Clemson
10. TE Jake Butt, Michigan
11. OG Isaac Asiata, Utah
12. RB Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
13. LB Anthony Walker Jr., Northwestern
14. WR Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
15. WR Chad Hansen, California
16. WR DeDe Westbrook, Oklahoma(character concerns)
17. OG Nico Siragusa, San Diego State
18. WR Malachi Dupree, LSU
19. S Eddie Jackson, Alabama(injury concerns)
20. DT Elijah Qualls, Washington
21. QB Brad Kaaya, Miami(FL)
22. TE Jordan Leggett, Clemson
23. RB Marlon Mack, South Florida
24. CB Damontae Kazee, San Diego State
25. CB Corn Elder, Miami(FL)
26. DT Vincent Taylor, Oklahoma State
27, OT Adam Bisnowaty, Pittsburgh
28. S Tedric Thompson, Colorado
29. LB Carroll Phillips, Illinois
30. C Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia
31. LB Vince Beigel, Wisconsin
32. WR Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech
33. OT Will Holden, Vanderbilt
34. OT Roderick Johnson, Florida State
35. WR K.D. Cannon, Baylor
36. TE George Kittle, Iowa
37. OT David Sharpe, Florida
38. CB Howard Wilson, Houston
39. RB Jeremy McNichols, Boise State
40. LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee(injury concerns)
41. LB Blair Brown, Ohio
42. RB Jamaal Williams, Brigham Young
43. OT Zach Banner, USC
44. DT Davon Godcheaux, LSU
45. OT Jermaine Eleumunor, Texas A&M
46. OG Danny Isadora, Miami(FL)
47. S Rayshawn Jenkins, Miami(FL)
48. WR Ryan Switzer, North Carolina
49. QB Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee
50. RB Brian Hill, Wyoming
29. C
Wow. TONS of good players left.
So unless we makes some trades, we have 3 selections in the next 50 picks.
Really not happy with the Cowboys draft.
Pretty good draft for them. Although Taco hasn’t really performed and is more of a projection. Really like Awuzie. Lewis allegedly assaulted his fiancee an has a July misdemeanor trial. Innocent until proven guilty and all but he allegedly dragged her and pinned her to the ground before letting here up. But only misdemeanor.
There are no pictures/videos so it didn’t happen. :/
And if there was do you think Dallas would care?
As a player I think he’s a good pick up
C’mon, it’s not like every accusation without video really happened. Mixon may have gotten off without a video tape, but that doesn’t mean he should have. He still got his chance in the NFL, and it cost him money. That passes for justice.
Im talking about the outrage not the actual legal consequences
I agree. But personally, just knowing that he broke a girl’s jaw would be enough for me to say no. For both Lewis and Conley, there is reasonable doubt.
I was speaking generally. Remember Ray Rice got a slap on the wrist before the video? And the Giants punter didnt get into trouble until the police reports came out.
Imagine if Cook’s issues were caught on film or CCTV. Or DGB pushing that chick down the stairs.
Taco is hit or miss, but Marinelli improves his odds. The 2 CB were both ones I would have been glad to see in green. The Lewis case seems really thin. I can’t convict a guy on he said/she said, and there are no other red flags.
Washington added some defensive pieces too
Washington keeps having good drafts. Fortunately they are still the skins and will be QBless once Cousins walks next year.
People would probably have had a meltdown with 2 injured CBs, but Fabian Moreau would have been a damn good pick in the 3rd for us too. Have to consider that we got Rasul + Jernigan instead of Moreau, but I would have loved adding him over Douglas.
The Jonathan Allen thing will example of why fans have no idea whats going on. People will either rave about a steal and call it a good gamble that didn’t work out, or call it super risky even though it did pan out and call it super expected if he doesn’t. The injury concerns and character concern are just impossible to evaluate without actually being in the NFL.
I have a really hard time seeing Ryan Anderson being a great contributor in the NFL, but he’ll probably become a solid NFL player. I just can’t see him as a guy who’ll develop into neither a great cover guy or a great pass rusher and in the modern NFL, that seems like a bad time.
Good point regarding fan vs inside knowledge. The real problem with Allen is facing him twice a year until his shoulder blows up. He’s the one guy I really would have liked over Barnett, but of course that’s without medical insight.
You can turn into a genius or an idiot really quick. Last year it was Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith and the whole top 5 talent in the second round.
I wasn’t as enamored with Allen as everyone seemed to be. Mainly because he felt like an awkward fit to me, because he is probably going to be a good player. I’d just have a hard time spending a 3rd round pick on Jernigan and then either letting him walk or giving him his contract and also selecting Allen. Could he play DE for us, maybe, but it didn’t really mesh with the wide 9 in my head. IMO, you’d have to switch to the more unbalanced thing the Hawks does, and Michael Bennett is a weird dude to replace. Not a lot of players can match what he does, and thats even discounting whether the player would be as talented as Bennett.
Either way, would have felt like a luxury use of resources, but again, Howie would look like a genius if Jernigan decides not to resign, Allen would have went in, we had still gotten Fabian Moreau and a 2018 3rd round compensatory pick for Jernigan.
Jack may very well be a steal. So glad Dallas didn’t take him.
I think I read recently that Jack only played 20% of the snaps this last year. But I think 1-2 players ahead of him have now left, so we’ll probably see this year what he can do.
He was the third lb, Jags have solid D. They actually moved Posluzney over to make room for him to start this year.
Not the biggest Taco fan, and he is pretty raw. Cowboys have drafted a lot of pass rushers in the 1st/2nd with his type of skill set recently and wiffed on all of them. Hopefully that trend continues.
They have a nice pair of CB’s but i like Jones/Douglas as a pair a lot more than Awuzie/Lewis.
I hate how consistently good they have been at drafting over the last few years
Love the Jones pick, do not know enough about Douglas
Glad to see Eagles focusing on the D, make that elite and Wentz’s job will be much much easier
Titans have really set Mariota up for success. Davis and Taylor were tailor made for his accuracy. Quick hitters for yac are perfect complements to that run game. Thought the whole NFC South did well.
Jamies Winston and Mariotta are about to ball out
lesson is — building takes time. Two good qb’s and we’re starting to see their teams talent catch up to them. Same here with Wentz. Takes time. Exciting times ahead…
Agreed. And those teams did have to give up picks to land their young QBs. Tenn got really lucky being able to trade back last year.
Totally worth it, but it is going to suck not having a 2nd next year.
I actually have faith in Howie figuring out a way to get a 2nd round pick somehow, someway. If there’s one thing that man can do, it’s making trades that seem to always favor the Birds.
He had 2 choices, let the crowd embarrass him and ruin his moment, or have some fun with it. I thought he was great.
https://twitter.com/igglesnut/status/858166686251454465
Cant remember who is still left. Perine as an early down back? Im sure there are many more options. My point was more that when you pick up guys in the fourth, your chances of getting a real contributor at RB seems about as good if not better as any other positions on the field, and this draft is deep at RB. You might be hard pressed to find true staring 3-down backs here, but the same goes for all the other positions as well; Its not like there are a lot of starting caliber WRs or CBs or OLs or DEs left at this point. RB at least seem to be a position where you can pick a guy and play to his specific strengths, and play him right away. A limited RB like Perine can be used with great effect if you only play him on early downs and let others handle the passing downs. A limited cornerback is different – his weakness will always be an issue when he is on the field (like, say, lack of long speed). A limited DE is problematic too (like, poor ability to set the edge in the run game). I think this is why these positions are taken earlier – you need, to a greater extend, prospects without major flaws, in order to get them on the field.
So I don’t know a damn thing about Rasul Douglas. The words getting thrown around, with Schwartz loving his style and all that, makes me think of Jalen Mills. Anyone have a good enough feel on these players to compare them? Can we expect Douglas to be better than Mills?
millions miles removed from the situation. As I was reading as much as I could on Douglas and his ‘down side’, couple thoughts popped into my head. 1 – Safety play can help over the top (appears he doesn’t have the speed to stay with them) and 2 – Addition of 1st draft pick. Get to the QB quick – less time for 1-on-1 for Douglas and WR. 3rd point — if the Eagles have the right CB coach in place — exciting times ahead…
Taller, more aggresive. More asante samuel risk taking ball skill personality.
Sounds like the type of player Schwartz wanted.
Josh Reynolds anyone?
Like him quite a bit
I really want Ford, Hansen, or Reynolds but I’m not sure they make it 139 and I like Perine, Mack at 118. I like Brian Hill and Jamaal Williams at 139 if they go WR or DB again at 118.
I’ve been feeling a lot better about all the picks since I woke up this morning. After taking a step back, it looks to me like the team did a really nice job of blending BPA, need, and fit. We’ve all beaten the first two to death, so here are some thoughts re fit:
The nuggets on Douglas’ draft strategy this week were really interesting–apparently, he grades prospects on fit rather than by round (like Belichek). The D is obviously predicated on getting to the passer with the front 4 and having pass defenders capitalize when passes go awry. We need to change up coverages (like all teams), the core principle has CBs facing the QB in zone and breaking on imperfect throws. Given this, the picks so far all look like strong fits.
(1) Barnett has some limitations, but that dude looks like he’ll be able to disrupt out of the wide 9. The Fran Duffy videos really highlight this.
(2) Jones apparently is good at lots of stuff (which is why he otherwise would’ve been a top pick), but he kills when he’s facing the QB.
(3) Douglas won’t be able to run with speedy guys, probably ever, but he’s also at his best when facing the passer. He’s exactly the type who will capitalize when a QB is under pressure.
So, I’m encouraged. We’ll continue to get burnt on long balls, but hopefully less because the pass rush will be better. And we’ll hopefully be able to create more sacks and turnovers.
I want to make the case for Douglas speed not being a great concern. Running 5.57 is not slow exactly. Especially if you are 6″2 with long arms. And especially if you have good instincts and anticipation. Now a really speedy receiver will eventually outrun him on a go route with pure speed, but with 5.57 speed and long arms, that receiver will need a lot of yards to outright outrun him and create enough separation for the QB to even attempt a throw, meaning it has to be a very deep route, way way down field. Of course these are plays you never want to give up, but they are also lower percentage plays where a lot more variables come into play and makes it hard for the offense to succeed including field position (cant get deep like that if you are already on the 25 yards line) the pass rush having more time, wind, accuracy, adjusting to the ball, timing, arm strength of the QB (flat/high trajectory) and the chance for a safety to get into position. If you are Jalen Mills, speed is going to be a recurring problem because you will concede enough separation even in the mid-range routes. If you are Rasul Douglas, I dont think there is reason to be overly concerned with speed. He is just fast enough to covers all but the deepest, most improbable attempts.
https://youtu.be/pP6zczng-N0
For those clamoring for speed wr, Selton Gibson in the 4th makes sense to me
I think they should take Butt
Plz keep it PG. There are kids on this forum.
That is me being PG
Joking aside, I would love to see TE be one of the next 3 picks.
Kittle
Not sure how Cox and Johnson would feel about that.
They’d be down.
Well played.
Perine is great at breaking tackles. I think that translate at next level, he had some big games I love his tape. Did he backup Mixon though, I cant seem to research that?
From what I saw, they rotated.
Ok thanks all
Essentially, yes.
No, he definitely was more than a backup. But it is important to know when looking at his decrease in production. He was getting a higher percentage of short yardage carry situations, plus fewer passing opportunities. Not sure he really fits Pederson’s offense, but it would be fun to watch him.
Semantics
Have you seen Perine? You tell him he was a backup. 😉
Perine started their freshman year (Mixon was suspended)
Sophomore year it was 2-1 in Perines favor
This year touches were pretty equally split
Jaylon Smith vs Sidney Jones: Risk vs reward, I take the non nerve damage 9/10. Nerves are just so fickle whereas tendon/bone/ligament its, ” slap it back together and your at least get some function.” This is of course subject to severity but Im generalizing.
Derrick Henry, Fournette, Foreman. Better have a stout DL in the South.
If they last long…
I’m thinking Marlon Mack, then a Speed WR with our 2nd pick in the 4th round
https://twitter.com/IgglesCoverage/status/858330084670885889
Love it
I hope our next pick is S/CB Desmond King out of Iowa. If Howie is really valuing production in this draft, then Desmond King will be the next pick if available.
He’s a ball hawk. He gets interceptions. He had great production in college. The question is his speed and how it will translate to the NFL. If he doesn’t work out as a nickle corner he could definitely become a safety.
He also has great kick return ability. I’m ready to triple down on the secondary and go Desmond King. Give me Jake Butt with our second fourth round pick. Medical red shirt him this year in Celek’s final year with the Eagles and go into 2018 with Trey Burton’s Butt Ertz!
I want Jake Butt with our second fourth round pick. Let him sit out in a medical red shirt year while Celek finished out his contract this year.
Go into 2018 with Trey Burton’s Butt Ertz!
Some good rb left. Gallman and McNicols are good west coast backs, catch, block a little. McNicols can push the pile and break arm tackles. Gallman can dance a little. Both run between tackles a lot and well.
Not as excited about Perine, can’t block, can’t catch no wiggle, not a violent tackle breaker. Seems he benefitted greatly from good OL.
Perine can’t block?
He was used as a fullback on 20% of his snap this year
I thought he was good at breaking tackles. Looks like it in highlights. Kinda like Wyoming rb brian hill but no idea where hes projected. Could be udfa for all I know
Did you just say, “not a violent tackle breaker”???
I don’t think Samaje Perime is who you think he is…
Awesome! I’ve wanted a CB who could break on the ball like that since Asante left. I expect Douglas will get burned deep a few times with his lack of long speed, but if we can give him safety help when he’s going against particularly speedy guys I think that can be masked to just let him jump routes and make plays.
“Rasul” sounds a lot like ‎”Ra’s al Ghul‎”
Can anyone on here justify the Bears trade up for Trubisky? A 3rd & 4th this year plus a 3rd next year to move up 1 spot.
If they think he’s the guy there is not price too high.
But they got snookered. And forced a QB pick
type of thinking makes you take a kicker in the second round
QB > Everything else
The kicker is that there was no way they were bidding against someone. If the Niners wanted Trubisky, there’s no way they make that trade. If someone else wanted him, they were certainly offering more. Makes no sense.