Eagles Draft Another Zoom-Zoom-Zoom Linebacker
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Eagles Draft Another Zoom-Zoom-Zoom Linebacker
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
Two years ago, Jamar Chaney had the distinction of running the fastest 40-yard dash among linebackers at the NFL’s pre-draft scouting combine. Zoom-zoom-zoomed down the Lucas Oil Field straightaway in an impressive 4.54 seconds.
His reward? The Eagles took him in the seventh round with the 220th overall pick.
Two years later, the Eagles again have selected the combine’s linebacker sprint champion, taking Cal’s Mychal Kendricks with the first of their two second-round picks Friday night. Why did Kendricks, who ran a 4.47 forty for scouts in February, get picked so much higher than Chaney?
Because, unlike Chaney, he had game tape that matched up with his measurables. When scouts watched tape of Chaney his final year at Mississippi State, they saw an uninstinctive linebacker who didn’t play nearly as fast as his clock time. In fact, his impressive 40 time at the combine probably was the only reason he was even drafted at all.
Kendricks, on the other hand, was the Pac-12s Defensive Player of the Year last season. Led the team in tackles (106) and tackles for losses (14 ½). Had two interceptions, three sacks and two fumble recoveries.
``Kendricks not only ran an impressive time at the combine, but he also was a highly productive player at Cal,’’ NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. ``The productivity lines up. The speed is phenomenal. People are worried about his size. But I think he can start in this league either inside or outside.’’
Ah, yes. The size. Kendricks is only 5-11 ¼ and 239 pounds. That’s not very tall for a guy who could be the Eagles’ season-opening starting strongside linebacker and is going to be counted on to cover much-taller pass-catching tight ends.
But Andy Reid said he isn’t concerned. ``He’s had success with that,’’ the Eagles coach said. ``In the Pac-10, they throw the ball once or twice out there. You get a little bit of a pinch there with him covering some guys. We’ll see how he does. That’s been one of his strengths. So we’ll see how that transfers over. I’m thinking it will.’’
Kendricks plays bigger than 5-11. He has been able to offset his lack of size with tremendous leaping ability. His 39-5 vertical jump was the best among linebackers at the combine. In fact, it the best among all defensive players, including corners and safeties. Kendrick’s leaping ability benefits him as a blitzer. He batted down a number of passes at Cal.
``The one thing that really interests me there is we’re getting a phenomenal pass-rusher on that (strong) side,’’ Reid said. ``We’re getting someone who can really cover the tight end, and his pass-coverage skills are a strong part of his game. When you see the way he’s built, you’ll understand. He plays a physical game. You’ve heard the term `heavy-handed.’ When he locks onto you, he’s pretty strong with that.’’
The tight end has become an important weapon in NFL passing games and defenses need linebackers and safeties who can both cover them and slow them up at the line of scrimmage.
The Eagles actually did a decent job against opposing tight ends last season. Held them to 66 catches for 765 yards and 5 touchdowns. Over the last 11 games, they gave up just two touchdown catches to tight ends.
The Eagles have been criticized for taking undersized linebackers. But they clearly value speed over heft, pass-coverage ability over run-stopping prowess. Chaney’s problem was that he negates much of his speed with slow reactions. He’s more of a downhill linebacker linebacker and often was slow in recognizing play-action.
``You want to try to, from an offensive standpoint, find a weakness in the defense,’’ Reid said. ``Then you want to exploit those weaknesses. From a coaching standpoint, I’m trying to eliminate any of those weaknesses the best I can from a defensive standpoint.
``A player like Kendricks, he doesn’t present you with a lot of weaknesses as long as it carries over. He is coming from the college level and I’m expecting it to carry over obviously, or I wouldn’t have taken him.’’
Comment removed.- If you ignore his VL then you aren't paying attention.
— DelValLifer - Kendricks's problem is that he's 2/3" too short? Pac-12 POY, 106 T, 14.5 TFL? This kid can play. This isn't Matt McCoy, or Ernie Sims, or Rolle. He is one of the top 3 ILB coming out of the draft. The Eagles, AGAIN, will play him out of position and play him as a SAM.— SeenGreen
- Pretty much every single scout and expert I read projected him as a SAM. Where do you want him to play, MIKE? Kid runs a 4.4 40 which is faster than any TE he'd have to cover, better yet he likes to smack people in the mouth. I'll take him at SAM over Jamar Chaney every day of the year
- Check out his game tapes online. He is fast, and a real force in the run game. Should be a heck of a blitzer. Amazing how quick he can get to the sideline, or shoot in on a rolling QB from his drop.— PHLtoLAX
- 4 months until at least the preseason........ARGGggg!— Corey301
- Great - another speedy, high-motor midget who will laser in and bounce off man-sized NFL running backs.— NM Eagle fan
- This guy is an animal. He may be short, but he was rated number 2 behind Kuechly, for good reason. His size is his only downfall. He is an absolute beast, and was the best linebacker at that pick, inside or out...— PhilliefaninAZ
- Here's the problem: He looks great on tape against college kids who are smaller and slower than NFL players. Yet another high motor guy who's too small for the position. He'll wind up a special teams player.— dtrain67
- You're right man, the Eagles are idiots drafting a COLLEGE player who looks good against college kids. They should be drafting the college players that already have film vs. NFL players - THOSE are the guys we want. Stop cutting and pasting what you see other people writing about "high motors" and "fast balls." If he was the defensive player of the year in his conference and the analysts who actually know what they're looking at when they see the film say the productivity matches the combine numbers then he deserves the benefit of the doubt. — mx55
- You're right! The Eagles should draft college players who look great playing against pros! Oh wait! That's not how it works with the college draft..... — DelValLifer
- You were saying dTrain?
"Kendricks, on the other hand, was the Pac-12s Defensive Player of the Year last season. Led the team in tackles (106) and tackles for losses (14 ½)."— DelValLifer - Guess we should just trade all our draft picks for veteran players. Ridiculous post! — markhoff
- I didn't say the guy was a bust -- just that he's undersized for a starting NFL linebacker. It's not a terrible thing if he turns out to be a special teams stud. Time will tell... — dtrain67
- I preferred David. Judging solely based on conference, you have to go Big Ten over Pac 12. Pac 12 defenses suck big time. With that said, I'm okay with this pick after reviewing the analysis, etc. on this guy.— Penfold18
