Eagles Get Some Insurance

Posted: April 3rd, 2018 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | Comments Off on Eagles Get Some Insurance

Howie Roseman and Joe Douglas are fine-tuning the roster to have the Eagles ready for another run at a Super Bowl season. Unlike 2011 when the team focused on talent more than fit, this year the Eagles are taking their time and trying to build the right roster.

Worrilow started in Atlanta from 2013 to 2015. He was a productive MLB for the Falcons. They replaced him in 2016 with Deion Jones, who turned out to be a terrific player. Worrilow then went to Detroit last year and was a backup.

The Eagles see Worrilow as insurance for Jordan Hicks. The backup MLB in 2016 was Stephen Tulloch, who couldn’t run any more. Last year it was Dannell Ellerbe, who also couldn’t run very well. Worrilow ran a 4.59 at his Pro Day and he’s got the kind of speed the Eagles would like in a backup MLB.

Hicks played in 8 games as a rookie and 7 last year. He did start all 16 in 2016. Hicks had some injury issues in college so it is fair to be concerned with his durability. Ellerbe and Tulloch were poor backups, mainly due to health issues of their own. Worrilow is healthy and has the movement skills the Eagles want.

This move is a sign that Najee Goode and Joe Walker probably won’t be Eagles. Goode is still a free agent. He was a solid STer and somewhat effective backup LB. Worrilow is the same age as Goode, but has much more starting experience.

Walker is still on the roster and could play his way into a job, but he’s going to have to work his butt off. Walker looked very good in the summer of 2016, but got hurt and his athleticism wasn’t all the way back last year. The Eagles would love for Walker to look like his 2016 self again, but a team with Super Bowl hopes can’t roll the dice on a player in his situation.

Worrilow isn’t a player you want as your starting MLB going into a season. He doesn’t have ideal instincts, which is a critical trait for a LB. He doesn’t always do a good job of taking on blockers. Worrilow needs to be more aggressive with his hands. He is at his best on the run, whether shooting gaps into the backfield or playing in space and attacking a runner/receiver in front of him. He has good pop when he hits. Solid tackler.

The Eagles now have good depth at LB.

SAM – Nigel Bradham ….. Kamu Grugier-Hill
MLB – Jordan Hicks ……. Paul Worrilow ……… Joe Walker
WLB – Corey Nelson ……. Nate Gerry

You’ll notice I left off Mychal Kendricks. It feels like he is almost certain to be dealt, whether now or in the summer.

I expect the team to add a LB in the draft or at least as a priority UDFA.

*****

Speaking of LBs and the draft…the Eagles have already brought a trio of LBs to Philly for visits.

Leighton Vander Esch
Darius Leonard
Jermaine Carter

LBs coach Ken Flajole was at Vander Esch’s Pro Day today and worked him out. It seems like the Eagles are very interested. The only problem…it doesn’t seem likely that Vander Esch gets to 32. Is this a player the Eagles could move up for? That would be wild.

Leonard is a 2nd or 3rd round target. Carter is more of a late round guy. All of them can play in the middle.

Vander Esch is 6-4, 256 and athletic. He might remind you a bit of Brian Urlacher.

You can see why NFL teams are really high on this guy.

_

Comments are closed.