Jaws: Eags Need To Go RB In First Round
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Jaws: Eags Need To Go RB In First Round
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
Monday morning at the NFL meetings:
Ran into Ron Jaworski and talked to the former Eagles QB and current ESPN Monday Night Football analyst about what he thinks the Eagles need to do in the draft. He shares my opinion that running back needs to be their top priority, and that they don’t need to come away with an offensive tackle in the first round.
``I don’t think they’re in as bad a shape at the tackle position as everybody thinks,’’ Jaws said. ``I really think Shawn (Andrews) can move outside, if he’s right. And Stacy (Andrews) was a really good pickup for them. When the Eagles got him, I talked to some of my friends on the coaching staff in Cincinnati and they raved about him. He got high grades from them.’’
With Brian Westbrook turning 30 soon and playing on a degenerative knee with a lot of NFL mileage, Jaworski feels getting a top-of-the-line running back right here, right now, is imperative.
``It’s not an indictment of Brian (that the Eagles will draft a running back high),’’ he said. ``He’s been one of the greatest running backs in the history of the Eagles. But it’s the wear and tear on the body. This is a physical, demanding game.
``I remember talking to (Dick) Vermeil when he first came back (to coaching in the late ‘90s). He had tracked running backs. What he found was that after the 48th-49th game, their performance started to decline. When you consider the number of touches Brian’s had. . . and people forget, he’s a helluva blocker. He’s a terrific blocker, especially for a guy his size.
``In fact, that was the one thing I noticed with his knee last year. I thought that his blocking slipped. I could almost see him favoring (the knee). When you’re taking on a 300-pound guy, that’s where. . . he just wasn’t able to drive block. I think (the knee injury) affected him more there than as a running back. I know they cleaned it up. But you’ve got to start getting a complimentary back. A guy who can some day be the guy.’’
Like me, like the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, Jaworski feels Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno and UConn’s Donald Brown are the best first-round ``fits’’ for the Eagles out of the top running back group that also includes Ohio State’s Chris Wells and Pitt’s LeSean McCoy.
``As a package for the Eagles, the top guy would be Moreno,’’ he said. ``He’s a really good receiver. He’s a natural route-runner coming out of the backfield, which, if you’re talking about fits, which is what the draft is about, he’d be a guy that would project as a good fit for the Eagles’ offense. He could come out of the backfield and catch the football.’’
On Brown: ``I really like him. He’s the most consistent guy as far as projecting to the NFL. He’s a tough, tough guy. Plays every down like it’s the last play of the game.’’
Some other morning thoughts:
* In the messages under my previous blog post, I noticed a couple of people were confused why the Eagles probably won’t be getting any compensatory picks from the league this week considering the loss of safety Brian Dawkins, Tra Thomas, et al. But the compensatories that will be awarded for next month’s draft are determined by the free agents teams lost THE PREVIOUS YEAR (after the ’07 season) and their production level with their new teams (in ’08). The Eagles didn’t lose any free agents of consequence last year.
* Commissioner Roger Goodell will be announcing the prime-time games for Kickoff Weekend in a few hours. No word on whether the Eagles will be playing in either the Thursday night opener (not likely) or any of the Week 1 Sunday and Monday night games.
* Jaworski on the whole Jay Cutler affair: ``Coaches like guys that they’re familiar with. Josh (McDaniel) coached Matt (Cassel). He knew he was a guy he could trust. He knew everything about him. Knew his strengths, his weaknesses. I think Jay overreacted to the whole thing. This goes on all the time in the league. GMs talk (about trading players). Personnel guys talk. Maybe not to the level this got to. I think Jay is a tremendous talent. Maybe one of the most physically gifted guys in this league. But now his immaturity jumps out. He faces a little adversity and now he wants to be traded? Grow up.’’
Will Westbrook 'pull a McNabb' when the Birds draft his replacement? AR has this team on the right path - there is a lot of football between April 1 and opening weekend...breath easy and let the pros do their job! Jaws wasn't appreciated when he was the QB...now the fans realize what he meant to the team.— ziggy- Jaws seems to really know football, I wonder why he hasn't got a front office gig yet? I'd love it if we could get Moreno or Brown and I think it's possible that one will fall to 21 but I'm still skeptical that the Eagles will draft a skill position in the first. Then again I would've never they would do a lot of things they've done this offseason... should be interesting...— aphillyphan
He already campaigned for it years ago (The GM job) He would take it in a heartbeat. And he would be spectacular at it!
Siran Stacey- JAWS sucked as our QB, and he sucks as an 'announcer'. Freakin nightmare.— Flyers75
- all i know is, westbrook gets all the yards, but doesn't give you the leadership and clutch play that Duce Staley did when he was here. Duce > Softbrook, draft a REAL RB this year, Puuuuhhhhlleeeeaaase!
- I'd love for the Eagles to draft Moreno. The guy has a high motor and he's a real high energy back. I think he'd be a great fit for the Eagles. I don't know why so-called "experts" keep projecting the Eagles drafting Wells. He's not a good receiver. The Eagles don't like drafting RBs that can't catch so I can't imagine them spending a 1st round pick on one. The other one that cracks me up is the projections of the Eagles taking a TE in the 1st round. Has Andy Reid ever given anyone the impression that he values TEs enough to spend a 1st round pick on one? Come on, get real.— JimG
- With all due respect to Mr. Jaworski, he failed to mention Wilbert Montgomery as his goto guy when running the ball was needed to take pressure off the passing game. The Eagles of late are pass mad and would like wise take pressure off MacNabb with a power back in the mix. They have the perfect answer right in front of them and won't have to trade up or down for him. Chris Beanie Wells. Big Strong Fast and has never fumbled.Not once.— MJPD345
- Bah hum bug— dowens1617
- flyers75--totally diagree. jaws gives in-dept analysis, while one talks like a puppet and the other comes up w/ stupid ideas. he's carrying the cast. The guy knows football. make a great gm,too. draft OL, then RB. probably Britton(OT Arizona), Donald Brown(RB Conn.)— 82tank
- I would really like to see the Eagles take Shonn Greene from Iowa, he has won the Doak Walker Award [nations best rb] offensive player of the year Big Ten-- 'youtube' this guy he is a beast and they could get him with their first pick in the second round [50 something] and use the two first rounders for other needs.— heaterman
- I would not stop at the 1st round for a back. I would look for a big strong back in say the 3rd/4th round to add a power RB to the mix. This can only help the offense. As for Westbrook ya gotta love his game. I want him around and I feel if he was made into a special 3rd down or specialist RB he could help the team for years to come. So for the next year groom Knowshon to take his place an keep Westbrook healthy.— Bubba
- sillibilli, i like the duce-talk, eags made big mistake when they let him go....to the peeps talking about jaws for gm---the 3 stooges would never hire him, he's not part of their little circle...— JimCC
- It's my greatest wish in life that Jaws can put together an ownership group to take the team away from these bloodsucking vultures otherwise known as Lurie and Banner. Count your pennies!!— Dean1
- I loved Moreno, then i found out he weighs 198. NO thinaks. We don't need anotheor small back who can't run inbetween the tackles. Donald Brown may be a better bet.— Eagles Phan in LI
