Monday Draft Talk

My SB Nation Philly column covered local offensive prospects and whether the Eagles might like them.   If you’ll look in the comments section, someone from the Rackley family got on me for criticizing Will Rackley’s play vs Drake.  She says he had a bum ankle.  Assuming that’s true, it helps him in my mind.  I still don’t see him as a OT prospect, but it makes me more comfortable with him overall.

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I watched lots of tape this weekend.  I’ll be doing a write-up on RB Taiwan Jones on ScoutsNotebook.  Eagles have to be fascinated.  Jones is a big play runner that might remind you of Jamaal Charles.   He’s definitely faster than Shady when you watch them run in games.

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I watched more tape of Jimmy Smith.  He played well against AJ Green in the UGA/Colorado game.  Green lit up Jalil Brown (the other Senior CB), but Smith controlled him.

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I’m really curious what Jim Washburn thinks of DL Cameron Heyward from Ohio State.  I watched the OSU/ILL game last night.  Heyward wasn’t dominant, but was definitely a factor in bottling up Mikel Leshoure.  Heyward has as much potential as any DL in the draft.  He can take over games (just watch him in the Sugar Bowl vs Arkansas).  He can play DT or DE.  He’s big and athletic.

The down side is that he wasn’t more regularly dominant.  Fair or not, comparisons to Vernon Gholston are going to happen.  It is easy to think of Vern as a bust now, but he was an elite prospect coming out.  Put on his final game tape vs Michigan and you see a dominant player.

Heyward would give Washburn an athletic inside player to help his scheme really max out.  Cam is 6-4, 287.  He’s quick off the ball and strong as well.  He can go through blocks or around them.  He’s not lazy at all, but you also can’t say he’s got a great motor.  The question is whether Washburn sees a player with great potential that he’d love to coach or whether he sees a talented guy that lacks the competitive streak to ever be a great player.   Washburn is an intense, fiery coach.  He needs players he can get after and be tough on.  I’d love to know if Heyward is a target or someone that Washburn isn’t interested in.

Draft Talk

In case you missed it, my latest PE.com column covers some Eagles draft talk.   More talk about Jimmy Smith.

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A couple of DTs are visiting the Eagles in the near future.  Temple’s Muhammad Wilkerson is coming in.  He’s a local visit so this isn’t the same as someone coming from out of town.  Still, it does show interest.

I’ve gone back and forth as to whether the Eagles will like him.  Initially I thought he would be a target.  Wilkerson is a big, tall guy that moves well.  Who wouldn’t be interested?  Then I started thinking Washburn would want more of a sleek build.  As I did some research for my recent DT post I realized that Jason Jones was really the only sleek DT he had at Tennessee.  Plenty were quick and athletic, but they came in different shapes and sizes.  Wilkerson is quick enough and athletic enough to play for Jim Washburn.  I’m now back to thinking Muhammad he will be a target.  I still lean toward the Eagles going CB in the 1st, but if we can trade Kolb and get another pick…DT could be a target.

Aaron Wilson of the NFP reports that Stephen Paea will visit.  Paea (6-1, 303) played at Oregon State.  He got a lot of press for setting the Combine record with 49 reps on the bench press, but Paea isn’t some workout wonder.  He is a darn good football player.  Some scouts love this guy.  I know at least one who considers Paea his favorite player in the whole draft.

Put on the tape and you see a high motor guy.  Paea is excellent in pursuit.  His strength from the bench press translates to the field.  Paea has played down in the 280s and 290s, but he was never easy to move off the ball.  I’ve seen him handle double teams.  I’ve gotten questions about Paea and DT Corey Liuget.  I do like Paea better.  Liuget may get drafted higher, but I value Paea’s motor and track record.  He had 29.5 career TFLs and played at a high level for 3 full seasons.  Paea hurt his knee at the Senior Bowl (making him more of an Eagles target?).  It wasn’t an ACL so it isn’t a huge issue, but it has limited his ability to workout for teams.