Day 2 Roundup

Posted: May 1st, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 4 Comments »

The Eagles did a great job on Thursday, maneuvering so they could draft Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith. He was great value at pick 12. I also think he’s got great potential and is a great fit with the Eagles. My only real concern with him is size, but that never affected him in college, where he set school and SEC records.

Friday was different.

The Eagles spent pick 37 on another Alabama player, OL Landon Dickerson. He is a terrific prospect and outstanding player. This would be a great pick if not for one issue…injuries.

2020 – Started 12 games, then tore his ACL
2019 – Started 13 games
2018 – Started 1 game, then hurt his ankle and redshirted
2017 – Started 4 games, then suffered serious ankle injury
2016 – Started 7 games, then tore his ACL

If Dickerson is healthy, he has the potential to be a Pro Bowl blocker, either at G or C. Can he stay healthy? Can the Eagles medical staff do their part? These are tough and fair questions. His health is a legit concern. So why would the Eagles spend pick 37 on this guy?

A few days ago I started to make a list of players that Nick Sirianni would love. After listening to his pre-draft press conference it hit me that he would push for certain guys. When I started my list, Landon Dickerson was the first name I wrote down.

Dickerson approaches the game of football the way Sirianni wants it done. Dickerson is a tough, physical player. He punishes the defenders he goes against. He wants to physically dominate them. We all know the stories of Andre Dillard and what a finesse blocker he is. Dickerson is the opposite. He’s out for blood.

Just as important, Dickerson is incredibly driven off the field. He arranged for workouts at his house when Alabama players weren’t allowed to go to the team’s facility. Dickerson is a leader. He’s a motivator. He’s a guy that gets things done. Dickerson also has a funny side. He loves to joke around and have fun. He’s not one of Bill Belichick’s robots.

Sirianni was with the Colts and they drafted Quenton Nelson to play LG. He brought immediate impact on the field with his talent, but his attitude and mindset also affected the team. He gave them an attitude and a confidence that weren’t there before. I’m sure Sirianni sees Dickerson as similar to Nelson because of this. Nelson was the better prospect and had no injury issues, but that’s why he went sixth overall and Dickerson went 37th.

Dickerson is 6-6, 333. He’s quick off the ball and moves well for a guy that size. You’ll never confuse him for Jason Kelce out in space, but Dickerson should be able to anchor better in pass pro and get more movement in the run game.

Former OL loved watching Dickerson play because of his physicality and mean streak. If he didn’t have any injuries, Dickerson would have gone in the 15 to 25 range.

But he did have the injuries and that can’t be ignored. Howie Roseman said the team expects him to play this year. They knew Sidney Jones would need to sit out his rookie season, but the Eagles think Dickerson will be on the field this summer or early fall. He will give them depth at C and G.

I would think he’s a better fit at guard long term, but we’ll see.

*****

The Eagles had pick 70 and traded back to 73, adding a sixth round pick.

I was confused by this pick. Williams was announced as a DE when he was picked. The Eagles website calls him a DT. In his presser, Williams said he could play outside in base and inside on passing situations.

I didn’t think the Eagles would be interested in Williams as a DT. Jonathan Gannon coached in Indy and Minnesota. Neither team had light DTs. The Colts did draft Tyquan Lewis last year, who was a DT/DE tweener. He played DE for them. Maybe Williams will have a similar role for Gannon here.

It is possible that he’s here to be a pure DT. With new coaches and new schemes, we have to guess what kind of players they want.

Williams had a great year in 2020.

Put on the tape and you see a highly disruptive player. He had 19 TFLs in 22 games over the past two years (10 sacks). Some of those were talent plays, but others were hustle plays. Williams might get blocked, but he won’t stay blocked. he battles, gets free and then chases the ball.

Williams is an explosive player. I think he’s got dynamic lateral agility.

That is freaky. Big guys aren’t supposed to move like that.

You can see strength on that play.

Check out his Pro Day numbers:

6-3, 284
4.67 in the 40
34 reps
38.5 vertical
6.96 in the 3-cone
4.33 in the SS

Now let’s put those in context.

Fletcher Cox

6-4, 298
4.79 in the 40
30 reps
26 vertical
7.07 in the 3-cone
4.53 in the SS

Brandon Graham

6-1, 268
4.72 in the 40
31 reps
31.5 vertical
7.01 in the 3-cone
4.25 in the SS

You can see that Williams has an outstanding combination of size, speed, strength, agility and lower body explosion. He is a gifted athlete.

I’m happy with the player, but I am curious where he plays and how they use him. He might be strictly and DT and that would be fine. He could also play some DE and that would be interesting. He’s bigger than most Eagles DEs at 6-3, 284. Heck, that’s about the size of William Fuller, who was a star LDE from 1994-1996 and is one of my all time favorite Eagles.

I’m genuinely curious to find out what the Eagles want to do with Williams. He played on a 3-man DL last year so watching his tape is different. There are times when he’s inside and other times when he’s on the edge.

The bottom line is that the Eagles DL is now better and the coaches have a talented, versatile piece to work with.

*****

There was an odd moment in the draft room after the Williams pick.

https://twitter.com/PHLEaglesNation/status/1388316564668157954

Most of the room is all smiling and happy. Not football advisor Tom Donahoe. He’s frustrated.

Howie admitted later that they moved back and a couple of guys they had interest in got taken.

70 – OL Brady Christensen
71 – CB Aaron Robinson
72 – DT Alim McNeill

I think I’d rather have Williams than that trio. Robinson is most comfortable playing in the slot. McNeill is most natural at NT.

It was interesting to see Donahoe disappointed, and then for Howie to admit there was frustration by Donahoe.

*****

No CB?

For once, the Eagles didn’t force a need pick. There are fourth round CBs I like. I’ll write about them on Saturday morning.

_


4 Comments on “Day 2 Roundup”

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    […] Day 2 Roundup – Iggles BlitzFormer OL loved watching Dickerson play because of his physicality and mean streak. If he didn’t have any injuries, Dickerson would have gone in the 15 to 25 range. But he did have the injuries and that can’t be ignored. Howie Roseman said the team expects him to play this year. They knew Sidney Jones would need to sit out his rookie season, but the Eagles think Dickerson will be on the field this summer or early fall. He will give them depth at C and G. I would think he’s a better fit at guard long term, but we’ll see. […]