Philadelphia Eagles NFL Team Column

By: Gregory Quinn 2008 NFL Draft Analysis

Eagles Offensive Position Battles to Watch

Quarterback

If Donovan McNabb can stay healthy he is the starting Quarterback for this season. The battle is for the back-up spot between Kevin Kolb and A.J. Feely. This is an extremely important spot due to McNabb’s injury concerns. If mini-camp proves anything it is that the Eagles want Kolb to be the back-up this season. A.J Feely did ok when he filled in for McNabb last year but I really think that Kolb is going to be a good QB in the NFL and he is the QB of the future. Therefore I believe that Kolb wins the back-up role and A.J goes back to the # 3 QB.

Running back

Brian Westbrook is one of the best running backs in the NFL so we know his job is safe. But there is a battle for the spots behind him there at 4 guys that will by vying for 3 spots. Lorenzo Booker who the Eagles traded for on draft day is a lock to make the team and is a guy that we could see on the field at the same time as Westbrook to maximize the teams speed. So that leaves Correll Buckhalter, Tony Hunt and Ryan Moats fighting it out for 2 spots. You would have to believe that Hunt will make the team it is only his second year and he was a 3^rd round pick. I believe that the Eagles will give him a chance to be the short yardage guy everyone thought he would be last season. Buckhalter played well last year when he got his opportunity, including a 100 yard effort against the Giants when Westbrook was out, He would seem to be the one that you would think would take this spot, however his knees are always a concern and if the Eagles were that set on him they probably wouldn’t have traded for Booker. These factors lead me to believe that with a strong showing at camp Ryan Moats could sneak onto the roster. He is a guy that showed a lot of promise as a rookie in 05, then looked lost in 06 and suffered a season ending leg injury in 07. We will have to see how Moats looks because it will be up to him to make this a really battle. 

There also will be a battle for Starting Fullback between Jason Davis and Luke Lawton. The Eagles signed Dan Klecko and tried to make him the every down fullback but he must have not been working out because he was moved back to DT and the Eagles signed Luke Lawton from the Colts. I don’t know how this battle will turn out the Eagles seem to like Davis if he can stay healthy. So this is one to keep on eye on in camp and especially in preseason games

Wide Receiver

I believe that 3 guys have set roster spots and the top 3 spots on the depth chart: they are Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown and DeSean Jackson. Curtis and Brown will most likely start the years as the 1 and 2 with Jackson the 3. That leaves Jason Avant, Hank Baskett and Greg Lewis fighting for 2 spots. For years I have thought that Lewis would get cut however he keeps sticking around so I wouldn’t count him out. He has good speed and each year seems to have one big game that could cause the Eagles to keep him. Avant and Basket are both big receivers without much speed. There was a lot of hype about Baskett in 06 and he had some big catches to back it up but then seemed to disappear last season when they needed a big red-zone threat. And Avant seems to be a pro-typical slot receiver; he is big, strong and can go across the middle. His problem is he seems to be to slow to get opened in the NFL and that hurts him. These two spots could go either way, however I seem to think that Avant and Baskett will stick around this season.  

Tight End

L.J Smith was designated the Franchise player this season so his spot as the starting tight end is safe. Smith had a disappointing 07 due to injuries so the team wants to give him another chance to show what he can do before letting him go as a free agent or signing him long term. The battle here is newcomer Kris Wilson vs. Brent Celek vs. Matt Schobel for 2 spots. I think that Schobel is going to have to have a great camp and preseason to hold off Wilson and Celek. Wilson came from the Chiefs and has been stuck behind Tony Gonzalez for years. When he got his opportunities he did well. Celek was really impressive as a rookie last year. The 5^th round pick showed that he could catch the ball and get yards after the catch. I would be surprised if Wilson and Celek didn’t make the team, which makes Schobel the odd man out.

Offensive Line

There will be a fight for the LG spot between Max Jean-Gilles and Todd Herremans. Herremans disappointed last season he just didn’t play well at all. I think that Jean-Gilles will be given every opportunity to take this job and I believe he will, which would allow Herremans to go back to Tackle which he seems better suited. He would be a backup to Runyan and Tra Thomas along with Winston Justice and that would allow rookie Mike Gibson and Scott Young to be the back up the guards.

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EAGLES 2008 NFL DRAFT REVIEW

            Overall I think the Eagles had a good draft. I would give it a B grade. I love what they did in the first round. I was not big on Jeff Otah from Pitt and that is who I think they would have picked if they stayed at 19. However they trade that pick to Carolina and get their 2^nd round pick, a 4^th and their #1 next season. That is a great move. Carolina may not be a good team this year and that pick could be in the top ten.

2^nd round, pick 47 – Trevor Laws, DT Notre Dame – This was a good pick. The Eagles are thin at DT behind Bunkley and Patterson. Laws has a good motor and can get penetration in the back field. He also may be a better pass rushing DT than Patterson. He was my 4^th ranked DT and he was the 4^th taken so they go good value here. He will make an impact immediately.

2^nd round, pick 49-  DeSean Jackson, WR, California – This could be the steal of the draft. Yes Jackson only weighed in at 169 at the combine. But he is fast and at 5’ 11” he isn’t too short. He looks now that he is around 175 lbs. He can stretch the field and take a safety with him at all times. This is something the Eagles haven’t had since Pinkston tore his Achilles. He will open up the middle for Westbrook, Smith, Brown and Curtis. I think he comes in the team as a top 3 receiver with Brown and Curtis. He also may be the best kick and punt returner in this draft. He will be the Eagles most explosive return man since Westbrook did it full time in 2003. I love this pick and I think he is going to be playing with a chip on his shoulder trying to prove all the teams that passed him over wrong.

3^rd round, pick 80- Bryan Smith DE McNeesse St.- You always hear about the Eagles throwing fast balls at the offense and that is where Smith comes in. He is a tall fast DE that is similar to Chris Clemons at DE. He can be a situational pass rusher and do some good things for the defense. The Eagles already have Juqua Parker (formerly Thomas), Trent Cole, Chris Clemons, Victor Abiamiri, Darren Howard and Jerome McDougle on the roster. The drafting of Smith, assuming the keep him at DE, could mean the end of 2 of these players with the Eagles. If you asked me I would say Parker and McDougle would be the odd men out. A lot of people would think Howard but I think he is out most complete DE when it comes to moving inside and stopping the run. But if Smith shows the speed of the end that the Eagles like he will be a good situational pass rusher.

4^th round trade for Lorenzo Booker RB- This move went under the radar but could be one of the better moves of the draft. Booker was in Miami last year and he didn’t really fit in their offense. Now with the Eagles he has a chance to play more. I can see situations where he and Westbrook will play at the same time. They both catch the ball really well and have good speed. I could see Booker as an asset on 3^rd downs. He also is a similar back to Westbrook and could be a replacement incase of an injury.

4^th round, pick 109 – Mike McGlynn OG Pittsburgh- McGlynn was a Right Tackle at Pitt but is projected to play guard in the NFL. He played some guard at the senior bowl and turned some heads. He is the kind of OL the Eagles like he has a real mean streak. Herremans was not great last year and McGlynn could be battling Jean-Gilles for the starting LG and Herremans could be moved back outside. At the very least he provides depth. Not a bad move for a 4^th round pick.

4^th round, pick 117 – Quintin Demps S UTEP- The Eagles tried to draft safety help last year with CJ Gaddis but he didn’t make the team. They try again now with Demps. He is has a real nose for the ball. He had 5 ints as a senior. He also is pretty quick for a safety running a 4.39 at the combine. He has played both safety spots and some corner. We will have to see how he plays. But with he could develop into the starting FS after Dawkins retires.

4^th round, pick 131 – Jack Ikegwuonu CB Wisconsin – With the amount of 4^th round picks the Eagles had they were able to take a chance here. Ikegwuonu would have been a 1^st day pick if it wasn’t for a torn ACL and some legal trouble. He will not be available to play in 2008 but should be back at full strength for the 2009 season. Since Lito Sheppard didn’t get traded it seems he will be around for this season and possibly traded for next season and then Jack would have a chance to take over his spot. There is a chance he will not be the same after the injury, however as I said with all those 4^th round picks it was a gamble worth taking.

6^th round, pick 184 – Mike Gibson G California

6^th round, pick 200- Joe Mays ILB North Dakota

6^th round, pick 203- Andy Studebaker DE Wheaton

7^th round, pick 230 – King Dunlap OT Auburn

All these picks fill depth and could be long shots to make the roster. Mays however is a fast linebacker that hits pretty good and could be a valuable special teams player if he makes the roster. Studebaker is a small school DE who had a great junior year but was hurt most of his senior season. You will have to see how he adapts to the NFL but he could be a situational pass rusher or switch to Linebacker. Gibson and Dunlap were drafted to make more competition for the OL there are a lot of players there so I would think they would have to really stand out to make this team, both will be candidates for the practice squad. 

Overall I would give the Eagles a B grade for the draft. I think that Laws, Booker and Jackson will play right away and have an impact. We will have to see how it pans out though the first look will come next week at mini-camp.

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Position analysis and team needs: Offense

            The Philadelphia Eagles had a disappointing season in 2007, however if the last 3 games of the season were any preview, the future could be bright. I will look at the team position by position to see what upgrades will be needed to get back to the top of the NFC East.

Quarterback:

            This is one of the most solid and deep positions for the Eagles. Donovan McNabb has been involved in trade rumors since the end of the season. I do not think that he is going anywhere this year possibly next year when his cap number goes up considerably. Following McNabb are Kevin Kolb and AJ Feeley. Feeley showed some promise last year when McNabb missed some time with injury; however he was prone to big interceptions at the wrong time (see Patriots and Seahawks games). Kolb didn’t get much of a chance to show what he could do last year, instead seemed to be sitting back and trying to grasp the offense. From the little we saw from Kolb in the preseason he seems to be an ideal fit for the Philadelphia West Coast offense. My prediction here is that McNabb is the started, Kolb will back him up and Feeley will be the third QB.

Running Back:

            Philadelphia boasts one of the top running backs in the NFL in Brian Westbrook. Westbrook was 3^rd in the league in rushing last season trailing only Ladanian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson. He also is probably the most dynamic threat out of the back field since Marshall Faulk. It became obvious how important Brian Westbrook was to the offense in the game he missed against the Giants, when McNabb was sacked all night and they couldn’t get the offense going with him. There is a need to have some quality back ups behind Westbrook due to his injury history.

            Behind him are Tony Hunt and Correll Buckhalter. Buck has showed some signs of explosiveness when given the chance and seems to still be a viable back up for Westbrook. When Buckhalter can stay healthy and get 8-10 touches a game he provides a good change of pace to Westbrook. Tony Hunt is the 3^rd round pick in last years draft from Penn State. He was drafted to pick up the short yardage that the Eagles seemed to struggle with, however he was not given much of a chance to prove he is the guy for that role. It is far too early to write Hunt off though he will need to show in camp that he knows the offense and can pick up the tough 3^rd downs. The Eagles also have Ryan Moats on the roster, who has been a disappointment since the team drafted him in 2005 and he is coming off a serious injury.

            There is not a glaring need at this spot for the Eagles, however this a deep running back draft and the Eagles could take a shot at one of them on the second day especially if they add any value as a kick and punt returner. Possible 5^th round picks could be Mike Hart or Steve Slaton. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see the Eagles look at BJ Sams from the Ravens who is listed at a RB but is mainly a return man. 

            The Eagles are in desperate need of a new fullback. Thomas Tapeh is a free agent and just has not done enough to warrant resigning as the starting fullback. The Eagles do seem to be high on Jason Davis who has been around for a few years. He will most likely get a shot to win a starting job in training camp. But this is an area that I see the Eagles trying to upgrade either in free agency or the Draft.

            There are two free agent Fullbacks that could fit in the Philadelphia. They are Cecil Sapp from the Broncos and Lorenzo Neal from the Chargers. Neal is a former Pro-Bowl fullback who is one of the reasons that LT has had so much success in San Diego. Sapp is from Denver where the fullback is a key in their running game. Peyton Hillis and Owen Schmidt are also fullbacks that the Eagles could be interested in if they are around in the 4^th round or later. Hillis is the fullback from Arkansas who helped produce two 1,000 rushers in back to back season. Schmidt is from West Virginia where running is all they do with the Quarterbacks and Running Backs so you know he can play the part.

Off-season targets – HB – BJ Sams, FB – Peyton Hillis, Owen Schmidt, Cecil Sapp, Lorenzo Neal

Wide Receiver: 

            There has been talk for years about the Eagles needing Wide Receiver help. This year I see the Eagles getting some help and there are some options out there for them to look at. First we will look at the 3 players who will be back from last year: Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown and Jason Avant. These are the only 3 receivers that I think are guaranteed a roster spot as of right now. Curtis had his best year but I still think he is more built to play the slot. Reggie Brown is a good #2 but proved that he couldn’t handle being the go to guy. Avant showed flashes but I think he is more of a 4^th or 5^th receiver that is used in certain situations. I think it is about time that Greg Lewis was let go and Hank Basket didn’t show much last season so his job could be in jeopardy.

            There are a lot of receivers I like in both Free Agency and the draft that could help this team immediately. First let’s look at free agents or trades. There has been a lot of speculation that the Eagles could trade for Larry Fitzgerald from Arizona. Now this would be a perfect fit however I don’t see it happening because Arizona is asking for too much in return and he is pretty much guaranteed 31 millions over the next two years. The Eagles will not pay that and it will not be in Fitzgerald’s best interest to restructure the deal.

            There are some more realistic options starting with Javon Walker, who will be cut by Denver before he is due his roster bonus on 3/4/08. If you remember the Eagles were very close to trading for Walker a few years back but the Broncos made a better offer. If he is released I think the Eagles will have a strong interest in him. His best years came in the West Coast offense in Green Bay and I think he would jump at the chance to come to a team that throws as much as the Eagles do. Another Solid option would be Bernard Berrian from the Bears. Berrian possesses the size and the speed that the Eagles need to open up their offense. Other options could be DJ Hackett or Bryant Johnson but they would not be able to fulfill the #1 role that the Eagles covet. I guess I will mention the fact that Randy Moss would be a good fit, but I really don’t see him leaving New England.

            There are also a few interesting players in this years draft that could come in and help the Eagles immediately. First is James Hardy for Indiana, he is 6’6” tall 220 lbs. and ran a 4.5 – 40. That is pretty impressive for his size, plus he is a beast in the red zone. He had over 30 TDs in 3 years with 16 last year alone. He can go up and get the ball and he has good hands. I could see him as a red zone threat and a guy who can stretch the field and require a safety over the top to open up the middle of the field more for Westbrook, Curtis and LJ Smith.

            Other receivers that could help the Eagles are DeSean Jackson, Limas Sweed and Malcolm Kelly. I could see Kelly and Sweed doing similar things that I wrote about Hardy, they are both big, with some speed and can go up and get the ball in coverage. Jackson is extremely fast and has good hands but his size is an issue only weighing in at 169 lbs at the combine. His immediate impact would come more on special teams where he is an amazing return man.

Off-season targets – Larry Fitzgerald, Javon Walker, Bernard Berrian, DJ Hackett, Bryant Johnson, James Hardy, Limas Sweed, Malcolm Kelly, DeSean Jackson

Tight End:

            The Eagles are not weak at Tight End but could use some improvement. They still have all 3 of their Tight Ends from last year under contract: LJ Smith (Franchised), Brent Celek and Matt Schobel. LJ Smith had the franchised tag placed on him; however it would not surprise me if he threatened not to sign it that the Eagles would lift the tag and let him walk ala Jeremiah Trotter in 2002. Smith has been bothered by injuries and has had some trouble holding on to the ball, so if he is smart he will sign and prove he deserves a long term deal. Brent Celek showed some real promise last season and really can run after the catch. He will be on this team for a while. Schobel who was a free agent signee a few years back has had some big catches over the last two seasons but has not been consistent enough to be guaranteed a spot on the roster next season.

            There are a few free agents I would love the Eagles to look at. First is Alge Crumpler, this guy is a great tight end and he is great in the red zone which is something the Eagles have been lacking from a Tight End since Chad Lewis. I know that some team is going to throw a lot of money at Crumpler and the chances would be slim but I think it would be a great fit. Another, cheaper and more realistic option is Ben Troupe from the Titans. Troupe has the skill set to be a pro-bowl Tight End and I don’t know if it is because of the system he was in or what, that the production never came. He would be a relatively cheap signing and could end up flourishing in the Eagles offense that sends tight ends down the field, where his speed would cause mismatches against linebackers.

            There are also a few tight ends in the draft that could develop into pretty good players in the NFL. A few that I would look at in the draft if I where the Eagles are Martin Rucker from Missouri and Dustin Keller from Purdue. Both of these guys would also be good red zone threats that could go up and get the ball and they could be available in the 2^nd or 3^rd rounds.

Off-season targets- Alge Crumpler, Ben Troupe, Martin Rucker, Dustin Keller

Offensive Line:

The Eagles offensive line was not as dominant last season as it was in 2006. They still have some good players and this is not a glaring need, however they are not getting younger at Tackle and could use a young tackle from the draft to replace Thomas and/or Ruynan. I think that you will see the same OL starting for the Eagles this year. They do not need an upgrade at Center as they just signed Jamal Jackson to a big extension last year. Shawn Andrews is one of the best guards in football and Herremans will have to hold off Max-Jean Gillies to hold his starting spot. But either way I think the interior of their line is fine.

            The Tackles will be ok for another year maybe two but there is no guarantee so they need to get some young guys in there. Winston Justice is waiting in the wings but after seeing him at LT last season and give up a record amount of sacks, I see him more suited for the right side. This is a good year for OT in the draft and I see the Eagles trying to get one of these guys in the first 2 rounds: Chris Williams- Vanderbilt, Ryan Claddy, Boise State, Gosder Cherilus, Boston College, Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh, Sam Baker – USC or Ryan Clady Bosie St.

Off-Season Targets - Chris Williams- Vanderbilt, Ryan Claddy, Boise State, Gosder Cherilus, Boston College, Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh, Sam Baker – USC or Ryan Clady Bosie St.

            Overall I think the Eagles offense will be much better next season with McNabb at %100 percent. But making some of these moves could push them back past the Giants, Cowboys and Redskins and possibly back to the Super Bowl. Free Agency and the Draft are crap shoots so we will have to see how everything works out. Defensive overview and preview will be coming soon.

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EAGLES DRAFT 2007 NFL DRAFT GRADE

The Eagles originally had the 26th pick in the draft. They then traded with the Cowboys of all people and gave them the 26th pick and in return picked up the 36th pick plus and extra third and an extra 5th round pick.  

2nd Round

36th Pick- Kevin Kolb QB Houston  

I don’t know what to really think about this pick. Does this mean the Eagles think McNabb only has a year or two left? Does this mean that his recovery from knee surgery is not going as well as it is being portrayed? I guess we will have to wait and see. What I do know is that this could have been a reach for Kolb. Now he could end up being a very good player some day and this may look like a great pick but with the veteran team that they have now you would think they would have drafted someone that could him this team win in the immediate future instead of 3 or 4 years down the line.  

Kolb does have some good intangibles he is 6’3” and has a strong arm and quick release. He can move around the pocket running a 4.84 40 time and he has been extremely productive throughout his college career. He is also a smart player that should not have any trouble picking up the Eagles complicated offense. He did work mostly out of the shotgun in college. So he will have to adjust to a pro style offense but I don’t think that should be a big issue with him. This pick could pan out in a few years but right now it is a really questionable pick because they have the piece to win now. Sidney Rice or Dwayne Jarrett could have been the pick here in my opinion.

57th pick- Victor Abiamiri DE Notre Dame

This is another questionable pick in my opinion. I think he could be a very good player in the NFL however does the pick of a DE this early mean that Kearse’s injury is not healing as good as they are saying it is? They just gave Howard a big contract last year and I don’t think they are ready to give up on him yet and they re-signed Cole during the season and Juqua Thomas in the off-season. So you would think that this means that one of these 4 players could have their reps cut if Abiamiri impresses. The one think that this does mean is the end of the Jerome McDougle experiment there is no room for 6 DE’s on this team so unless on of the previously mentioned players gets cut unexpectedly then McDougle is gone.  

Abiamiri is big and quick. He gets a quick burst off the ball and could be a good situational pass rusher in his rookie season. He might need to add some weight if he wants to be an every down DE. But he could produce as a rookie similar to how Trent Cole did a few years ago. We will have to see how the competition stacks up now with a bunch of talented players at the defensive end position.  

3rd Round 

87th pick- Stewart Bradley OLB Nebraska

This is a pick that I am very happy with. The Eagles need help at LB still even with the addition of Spikes. I think that Bradley will have a chance to battle with GoCong and Gaither for the 3rd starting linebacker spot next to Trotter and Spikes. Bradley also has played all three linebacker spots and is big enough to play to MIKE and good enough in coverage to play the SAM. If he impresses he could be the starter at SAM of Trotters eventual replacement at MIKE.  

He is 6’3” and is 254 pounds. He has ok speed running a 4.84-40. He takes on blockers well and is a very good tackler. He was pretty good in coverage at Nebraska but was not asked to play a lot of man coverage there they play a good amount of zone. But if he shows the ability to cover Tight Ends then he may have a good chance to contribute this season. He may have an immediate impact on Special Teams. This was a good pick.

90th pick- Tony Hunt RB Penn St. 

If you read my pre-draft column you would know that I had Tony Hunt going to the Eagles in this spot. He is the back that the Eagles need to spell Westbrook and grind the clock out. He is a big and strong north-south runner and with the Eagles offensive line that is built to run block he is going to really be a contributor this season.

I think Hunt will have an opportunity to beat out Buckhalter and be the #2 back. If he does and he gets 8-10 carries a game then he will be a great pick here in the 3rd round. This pick pretty much means the end of Ryan Moats career with the Eagles he just didn’t fit with this team and expect him to be playing somewhere else next season. At 6’1” and 233 and the way he runs, this is the back that Eagles fans have been whining about getting for the past 4 years. So at the very least we wont have to hear people crying about getting a big back any more which is good.

5th Round  

159th Pick- CJ Gaddis CB/S Clemson

This could be a good pick. Gaddis is a great athlete and we don’t know if the Eagles project him as a corner or a safety at the next level. He has played corner, free safety and strong safety in his college career. He is good in run support which might lead you to believe that he could maybe challenge for a strong safety spot. My feeling is that he will challenge Hanson for the dime spot to start but you never know until they get into camp.

He is 5’11 ½ and weighs 203 his 40 times average around 4.45. He will contribute on Special Teams immediately but I would not be surprised if this guy saw the field on defense this season

162 pick- Brent Celek TE Cincinnati  

I was looking at Ben Patrick with this pick but I think that because he has a lot of similarities with LJ Smith that the Eagles wanted to take a bigger TE like Celek. Celek is 6’4” and 250 pounds which is not that much different than LJ Smith but I think Celek is a better blocker than Smith and he is a decent pass catcher too. He runs the 40- in about 4.75 which is not bad for a man his size. I’d expect him to be active on game day and could possibly contribute in the red zone.

6th and 7th rounds

201 pick- Rashad Barksdale CB Albany

Picks this late are usually developmental players. Barksdale for example on played one year of football in college after playing baseball for the first 3 years of his collegiate career. He is a raw talent and could be useful on special teams if he makes the team. He has good size and like Gaddis could be looked at as a safety and a corner. He is 5’11” 208 lbs and runs the 40 in around 4.47. He is extremely raw but you never know he could develop into a good player at corner or safety. These are the kinds of players you are supposed to take in the late rounds  

Pick 236- Nate Ilaoa RB Hawaii

This is a shorter big back since he is 5”9” and weighs 245. He maybe be the replacement for the Reno Mahe role if he were to make the team. He does have good hands out of the back field but he is pretty slow as it comes to running back with a 4.77  40 time. He also has injury concerns and was even granted a 6th year of eligibility by the NCAA because he missed so many games due to injury. He will have an uphill battle to make the football team but that is usual for 7th round picks.

OVERALL GRADE – C+ - I don’t agree with the positions drafted with the first two picks but I really like the both 3rd and both 5th round picks they could all contribute at least on special teams.  

By NFL Draft Dog Eagles Columnist Gregory Quinn

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