Combine's Coming
The NFL Scouting Combine starts Thursday. The Eagles have two first-round picks in the April 25 entry draft, and the priority seems to be offensive.
Combine's Coming
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
This week, your Eagletarian is preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine and his annual visit to lovely Indianapolis, a
city whose most memorable downtown feature is a labyrinth-like shopping mall, and whose better restaurants tend to be chain franchises. The forecast is for temps that never rise above freezing at any point between Thursday and Sunday. (Hey, Roger Goodell -- you're moving the Pro Bowl out of Hawaii ...why not give Honolulu a consolation prize? I think running the 40 on the beach might get more prospects in the mood to showcase their wares. Think about it.)But since you, the loyal reader, don't have to go to Indianapolis, you probably don't care all that much, except as the combine relates to the Eagles and their two first-round selections in the April 25 entry draft.
That's what we're hoping to get a little better fix on in Indianapolis. Our assumption is that the Birds' focus will be offensive, given that their No. 3-ranked defense is young and should be improving, and that of the team's unrestricted free agents, free safety Brian Dawkins seems the most likely to return.
That's what the mock draft world seems to anticipate as well-- I've looked at about a dozen so far, and every one of them has the Birds taking offensive players at 21st and 28th overall in the first round. I have no idea what the team's brain trust is thinking right now, but if it were up to me, the top priority would be offensive tackle, with Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan both about to hit the free agent market, Thomas at 34 and Runyan at 35. Runyan also is rehabbing after microfracture surgery on is right knee, which is what they do when you don't have any cartilage left.
Many mocks have the Birds getting an OT either 21st or 28th. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., for example, has them getting
Ole Miss OT Michael Oher 28th, after picking up Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells at 21. But right now, it's hard to see how Oher would last until 28th. I was on a conference call with NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock last week. Mayock thinks there are four elite O-tackles in this draft, including Oher, and he thinks all of them will go in the top 15.That would create a situation where the Birds, assuming they feel they need an elite OT in the draft, might need to burn that 28th pick to move up from 21. (No, I don't see any way they trade out of the first round again. That doesn't make sense.)
Losing even one of the first-round picks would be unfortunate, because the Eagles have other strong needs. Though Brent Celek finished strong as a pass-catcher, he is a poor blocker at tight end, and with L.J. Smith assumed to be leaving in free agency, tight end ought to be a draft priority. The problem there, as Paul Domowitch noted in the Daily News last week, is that Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew is the only really elite traditional tight end available in this draft. The Eagles would have to spend one of their picks on Pettigrew, or just handle shoring up that position in free agency.
Lots of mocks, including the one rendered by NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang, have the Eagles drafting Pettigrew. Rang has Pettigrew going at 21 and the Birds getting Arizona offensive tackle Eben Britton at 28. I'm not sure I like
that -- the reports I've seen on Britton indicate he's more of a run-game mauler and less of an agile pass blocker. We all know what sort of offense the Eagles run.Rang's colleague, Chad Reuter, has the Eagles getting Oher at 21 and Wells at 28, switching the order forecast by Kiper. Again, this would be nice -- Wells (6-1, 235) is the big back fans have long coveted. But he seems to get hurt a lot, and even if the Eagles go for a bigger back to help out/eventually succeed Brian Westbrook, they're likely to look for one who can catch a pass here and there. That isn't Wells.
There are other backs who might better fit what the Eagles do, if they take a runner in the first round, something that hasn't happened since Keith Byars in 1986. Georgia's Knowshon Moreno is 5-11, 207, and an excellent receiver. Scout.com's Chris Steuber has the Eagles selecting Pitt running back LeSean McCoy at 28, after getting Pettigrew at 21 (no offensive line help early from him.) McCoy (5-11, 205) is an intriguing player, who can run and catch. SI.com's Bucky Brooks feels he is the best back in the draft.
Traditionally, the Eagles have said this week is more about the interviews with the draft prospects than the drills and tests. Teams have plenty of chances to put players through their paces, and the Birds say they value what players show on game film more than what they do in shorts, anyway. But Indianapolis affords an opportunity to put a player in front of a chalkboard, with the coaching staff present, and hash out the team's offense or defense with him. You get a sense of what sort of person you are dealing with, and you should get a sense of whether the guy gets what you're showing him, or is totally overwhelmed. (See Ryan Moats, third round, 2005.)
Then, as the Combine ends, free agency starts, on Feb. 27. That's another post.
Comments (40)
Comment removed.
Fred Taylor is available. Here is a guy who is proven and valuable. Go after him and get the needed line players in the draft.— psuwelsh- There is one really good tight end in the draft, Pettigrew whom the Eagles could use desperately. Four good tackles which the Eagles could also use but I don't think any of them will be around by the 21st pick. Only two "one" type wide receivers who could do a "Larry Fitzgerald," (catch a ten yard slant into the post and go the distance) Crabtree and Macklin, are in the draft which the Eagles could also desperately use and no blue chip safetys. Let's see, three picks in the first two rounds and at least four to five need areas (including running back). Wonder how the Eagles solve this one. Suggestion: draft Pettigrew and the best player available at 28. Hoping to get an elite left tackle at either pick is fantasy. The only other wide receiver that excites me is Heyward-Bey but he doesn't have the physique to go over the middle in the NFL. Reminds me of Pinkston in some ways (but with wayyyyy more speed).— southern eagle fan
- Comment removed.
- Tra and Runyan have two years in them (they let up a franchise low 22 sacks this year - o line combined) Herremans is your future left tackle, Andrews is your future right tackle, Nick Cole is your future RG or C and Gilles needs to learn the C and LG positions. No need to draft an O lineman in the 1st round if they are not going to start this year. They needed a TE last year and blew it by brining LJ back. Would prefer a veteran Free Agent, but they are thin this year...But a RB is a MUST PICK with one of those two 1st picks.
- Andy's combine wish: Corned-beef combined with Russian dressing, combined with cole-slaw, combined with cheese fries.....and an offensive lineman from a Pac-10 school— Will T.
- Comment removed.
- The biggest need is for a big RB, but it has been that way for 6 years. The Eagles and their fans need to give the notion that just give the ball to 36 and stand back ... 36 is banged up and 30 years old soon !— Gringo4
- Fellow EAGLES FANS, chill. We need to pick up an offensive tackle. Also, if we add a great receiver (free agency- Bouldin or T.J.) and get a big back, we will BE A STRONG SUPER BOWL CONTENDER. I'm proud of my PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, and I do want a SUPER BOWL WIN!!!— boxer4christ
- Les, how about TE Jermaine Gresham of Oklahoma if he opts for the draft (I don't know if he has). He is a monstrous talent. You have to love his size and speed. They may be able to get him.— Bob1
- O-line is job #1.— p-diddy
- LOL @ Tango comment...i kinda agree with as it is too early to know what the eagles will do...also, depends on who is available the pick.— Bonnadn
- LOL @ Tango comment...i kinda agree with as it is too early to know what the eagles will do...also, depends on who is available the pick.— Bonnadn
- Petal to the metal Andy.......translation.........lets try again to out smart the other teams in the draft.— Voytas
- Tony Hunt doesn't suck. Andy never used him. Why draft a guy if you don't think he fits your system? And God forbid Andy should modify his system to fit the talent he's got.— nellar
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Eagletarian is your home for comprehensive coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Les Bowen
Daily News Staff Writer
Paul Domowitch
Daily News NFL Columnist
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