Eagles and the Draft
Posted: October 1st, 2011 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 20 Comments »Long day of college football. Saw a few guys who could be of interest next April.
* QB Russell Wilson – Wisconsin — Vince Young is 98% likely to bolt next March. We’ll have Vick as the starter and Kafka as the backup. That leaves room for a 3rd QB. Wilson is a guy that would fit us well. He is mobile. Smart, high character player. Can throw downfield. He’s short and that will lower his value. Only goes about 5’11. That will knock him down to the middle of the draft. Wilson is had a great game vs Nebraska and is having a great year. Interesting player.
* I mentioned Pitt RB Ray Graham the other day. I doubt we look at him too closely. Shady McCoy is the star here. Dion Lewis looks like a solid #3 with the potential to be a #2. We’ll likely add a mid to late round RB with some size to finish out the group. There isn’t a player I’m infatuated with yet. I have some interest in Boise State RB Doug Martin. He lists at 5’9, 208. Has some thickness. Runs hard. Very good on screen passes. Tough to bring down. Was 21-126 in today’s win over Nevada.
* LB Travis Lewis – Oklahoma — I watched some tape on him the other day. Interesting guy. Not huge at 6’2, 227. Makes plays in the passing game. Has 8 career INTs, 11 passes defensed. That may lead you to believe he’s a finesse LB (like Clayton), but that’s not the case. Lewis will take on blockers and fight to get to the ball. I need to study him more carefully before knowing just how good he is. Might be a good target for SAM if Castillo really wants someone who can cover in that spot and size isn’t a key.
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Since the Miracle at the New Meadowlands, Michael Vick is 1-4. Turnovers have been a major issue. Gotta tighten that up tomorrow.
Our last win at home was 12/2/10 when we beat Houston on a Thursday night game. The last time we won a day game at The Linc was against the Colts on 11/7/10. The last time we won a 1pm start at The Linc was 10/17/10 against Atlanta, almost 350 days ago. Weird, huh?
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I hope Ronnie Brown gets more action on Sunday. I think he’s a guy that needs a few touches to get going (like most RBs).
He’s got 10 carries for 23 yards this year. His long run is 11 yards. The other 9 carries have netted just 12 yards. Let’s get him a few more touches, especially in the Red Zone.
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U think Wilson will come out? I don’t think he will ever be a starter. Personally I think the kid should win the Rose Bowl and then head back to the Rockies minor league system.
As far as another back how about Wilson’s teammate Montee Ball?
How the hell does one even try to evaluate the LB’s at Bama? One play they are lined up on the slot reciever the next their playing the 3 tech?!
Wilson could very well go back to baseball, but he really struggled with his hitting this spring. He might be open to the NFL.
Haven’t watched Ball closely enough to offer detailed thoughts. Wisconsin RBs do scare me a bit.
Bama LBs are meant for the 3-4. They have that kind of size and also need to be moved around creatively.
No more short QBs! I want a 6’3+ guy!
The thing I like about Ball is he loves running between the tackles and seems to have another gear once he breaks a tackle. Also he isn’t one of the big ole Wisconsin Winnebago backs they have had recently
Welcome to the Big Ten, Nebraska
Still a big time producer of NFL talent though.
Weird, huh?
More like scary. I am not happy with such a stat.
How come that the Eagles always seem to struggle at home more than on the road? is it the pressure, the fans, the Philly cheese steaks, what is it?! Dying to fin out..
Also it would be nice to shift the focus back from the Phillies to the Eagles again. Don get me wrong: I love the Phillies and root for them to win it all but Philly is a football town, right?!
D3FB already commented on the Alabama linebackers, but when Hightower is playing linebacker, what do you think of him?
I don’t like the Bama LBs for a 4-3 team. Those guys are 260 or so. They are built for the 3-4. Very good players, just not 4-3 LBs.
I was watching Wilson thinking about how he’d be perfect for the WCO. Impressive field vision and downfield timing and accuracy yesterday, threw the ball away rather than take a sack or get picked.
There’s been a lot of talk this week about DeSean not “showing up” in games, and the usual response to that is that he’s an all-or-nothing receiver and his presence shouldn’t just be measured in touches and yards and TDs but in how he keeps the safety 20 yards off the LoS at the snap, draws double teams, etc.
But it seems like if he has a big game, we win. I can’t think of a loss we’ve had where people said afterwards, “man, at least DeSean was playing his heart out” like we do for Shady or some of the defensive players. Even Maclin had that huge ATL game (admittedly, with The Drop).
This is only kind of a non-sequitur, but, how much is Vick to blame for DeSean’s non-factor games? There are definitely times when he forces the ball to DeSean and it seems like a lot of the times when he holds on to the ball too long, it’s because he’s looking to get it to DeSean and doesn’t adapt quickly enough to move on to reads 2, 3, or 4. And as long as that happens, the defense racks up cheap “coverage sacks” or “coverage hits,” even though the “coverage” there is only on one player.
And as long as this keeps working, the D keeps doing it and DeSean gets effectively covered for a whole game while the right answer is for Vick to look elsewhere (getting the ball out quicker), and forcing the D to roll coverage other ways, and maybe opening up DeSean’s game a little bit.
I’m not down on DeSean right now. He’s blocked well this year. He had the hustle play to chase down the DL on the fumble play vs ATL. I think he’s become a more complete player. It would be nice to see him deliver a big play today.
Wilson plays baseball as well. It was a sore point for coach Obrien last year when he wanted him to play spring ball and Wilson wanted to go and play baseball. Wilson decided to play ball instead and Obrien moved onto the glen non kid. The rest is history and was best for both parties as Wilson transferred to Wisconsin and nc state has moved onto a qb with an additional year of eligibility. That being said think his love of baseball may have something to do with his NFL aspirations.
Tommy
If you should name a few other LB’s to have an eye on during college season, who would that be?
I am liking Sean Spence, Lavonte David, Luke Kuechly and Manti Te’o.
I am thinking that both Kuechly and Te’o will probably go in the 1st round (and play MLB), while Spence and David probably will be available in the 2nd/3rd…
How do you see their strenghts and weaknesses? Do they fit the wide 9? How is their abilities to shed blocks?
Thanks!
I’ll put a post together for you on LBs.
Also,
Is there any chance that RG3 declares? And if he does, will he be a lock in the 1st? Or do we have a chance to grab him in the 2nd-4th?
I think there’s a very good chance. Already graduated. He’s engaged. 4th year Junior. Makes sense for him to come out.
He’s an early pick, not a mid-rounder.
Why are we even discussing 1st and 2nd round linebackers. You know the Eagles will never draft them that high. 🙂
I’m staying with my sister in Orlando, no mode of transport until late tonight, and no sports bars within walking distance. I’m in serious danger of missing an Eagles game for the first time in over 12 years(by my count). Worst case scenario, I listen to it on the radio and follow it on Gametracker.
But does anyone know any websites where they stream the game for free? I don’t think these things are (strictly speaking) legal, but my days as a Super Spy are over, so we’re safe.