Draft Talk

Posted: April 7th, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 2 Comments »

We are about three weeks from the draft. Howie Roseman just emailed me the Eagles draft plans, but I know you don’t want me to ruin the element of surprise so I’ll keep them to myself. You really are lucky to have me.

Let’s talk about a variety of players and positions.

Many of you thought I was nuts for having Chauncey Gardner-Johnson last until the second round in my recent mock draft. While he certainly could go in the first round, it isn’t a lock. Here is former NFL scout Bryan Broaddus on the safety position.

He has CGJ down at number six. He has potential Eagles target Darnell Savage as his 8th rated safety. This isn’t to say everyone would agree, but it is always interesting to listen to the opinion of someone who’s actually done the scouting and the picking. Broaddus now works as a writer/analyst for the Cowboys team site. He did a brilliant job of running the Eagles great draft of 1998 (Tra Thomas, Jeremiah Trotter, Ike Reese).

Whether CGJ does fall or not, sure looks like the Eagles will have good options at safety.

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I was watching some tape of a defensive prospect recently and kept noticing the RB going against him. That was Josh Jacobs.

I don’t know if the Eagles would spend pick 25 on a RB, but Jacobs would be very tempting. I know the Eagles just traded for Jordan Howard, but there is nothing special about him. Jacobs has the potential to be a star RB.

If you want the simple version, Jacobs can run, catch and block. And he does them all very well.

I focus on two things when it comes to RBs…footwork and vision. The RB needs to be able to see where to go. He also must be able to get there. Beyond that, I like physical runners. Guys who run behind their pads, meaning they keep their shoulders parallel to the line of scrimmage and they run with good pad level. Those runners are tougher to tackle. You don’t want runners that are too upright or who run east-west.

Jacobs is 220 pounds. He uses his size and strength to his advantage. He rarely goes down on first contact. He finishes his runs. Jacobs prefers to be the hammer, not the nail. But he has the feet to make tough cuts and to be an elusive runner. He’s not just a straight-line guy that relies purely on size. He reminds me of Edgerrin James. Both were big guys who could be physical or athletic and were gifted receivers.

Some people wonder about the fact Jacobs wasn’t the key runner at Bama. Forget about that. What kind of an NFL prospect is he? Donnel Pumphrey had one of the most productive careers in the history of college football. That hasn’t done him a bit of good at the NFL level. I feel comfortable in making this bold proclamation…Jacobs will be a better NFL RB than Pumphrey. How is that for analysis?

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The Eagles are looking at a variety of DEs. L.J. Collier and Maxx Crosby are very different players.

Collier is 6-2, 283. He’s got 34-inch arms and 10-inch hands. He is all about leverage and power.

Watching him get under blockers and just drive them backward is incredibly fun. I could watch that all day long. Collier isn’t a gifted athlete. You wonder if he’ll be able to use power as effectively in the NFL. Doing that to boys is one thing. Doing that to grown men is very different.

I do think Collier would be an excellent fit in the Wide-9 front. That would give him space to generate power before making contact with the OT. Collier should be a second or third round pick.

Crosby is 6-5, 255. He has 32 7/8-inch arms and 9 3/4-inch hands. Crosby is a gifted athlete. He put on quite a show at the Combine and you see that in his game tape as well.

Crosby is quick, agile and explosive. He uses his ability to get around blocks. As you can see, Crosby played in a Wide-9 type look on a regular basis in college so he would be comfortable in the Eagles front.

Collier is the better run defender.

Crosby is more of a playmaker. He got to the QB more often and also forced fumbles, which is a valuable trait for the NFL. I think he will go in the third or fourth round.

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One OL not being talked about much is Michael Jordan from Ohio State.

He started at OG for two years and moved to C this season. Jordan has good size at 6-6, 312. Heck with a frame like that, he could possibly play OT. The Eagles love versatile OL so Jordan makes a lot of sense in that respect. The Eagles had a coach work him out at his Pro Day so he’s definitely of some interest.

Jordan could go as high as the second round or he could go as late as the fourth. He’s far from a great prospect, but big, versatile blockers are valuable. I think his future is at OG. Not all teams like big centers.

The Eagles need depth on the interior OL.

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2 Comments on “Draft Talk”

  1. 1 增大网 said at 10:54 PM on April 7th, 2019:

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  2. 2 Eagles News: Nnamdi Asomugha is returning to Philly … with the Clintons – Bleeding Green Nation – Celebrity Life said at 7:54 AM on April 8th, 2019:

    […] Draft Talk – Iggles BlitzIf you want the simple version, Jacobs can run, catch and block. And he does them all very well. I focus on two things when it comes to RBs…footwork and vision. The RB needs to be able to see where to go. He also must be able to get there. Beyond that, I like physical runners. Guys who run behind their pads, meaning they keep their shoulders parallel to the line of scrimmage and they run with good pad level. Those runners are tougher to tackle. You don’t want runners that are too upright or who run east-west. Jacobs is 220 pounds. He uses his size and strength to his advantage. He rarely goes down on first contact. He finishes his runs. Jacobs prefers to be the hammer, not the nail. But he has the feet to make tough cuts and to be an elusive runner. He’s not just a straight-line guy that relies purely on size. He reminds me of Edgerrin James. Both were big guys who could be physical or athletic and were gifted receivers. […]