Detroit's take on Sims
Looking for some perspective on Ernie Sims, the Eagles' latest acquisition, I spoke to a few people who would know best what kind of linebacker the Eagles were getting. One was a Detroit area writer who covers the Lions and another was a NFL scout that regularly scouts the NFC North.
Detroit's take on Sims
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Looking for some perspective on Ernie Sims, the Eagles' latest acquisition, I spoke to a few people who would know best what kind of linebacker the Eagles were getting. One was a Detroit area writer who covers the Lions and another was a NFL scout that regularly scouts the NFC North.
The writer had nice things to say about Sims the person and his devotion to football. But he said there was a reason why the Lions had given up on their 2006 first-round draft pick. Some of it had to do with timing -- Sims is in the last year of his contract -- some of it had to do with never reaching one's potential and some if it had to do with just moving on.
The scout thought the trade was a good one for the Eagles, not only because they would be getting a player with a "high motor," but because Sims would flourish in a system that was predicated on its linebackers playing downhill. The scout did say that Sims had trouble playing in space.
The Eagles view Sims as a starter, either at weak-side or strong-side linebacker. His size would imply that he's better suited to play WIL, but the Eagles need a SAM linebacker that can run with a tight end and Sims has done that, although not much of it.
As much as I appreciated the reports I received from the writer and the scout, I thought the e-mail I received from a Lions fan this morning was just as useful. Take it for what it's worth, but I could imagine an Eagles fan writing the same thing to another team's beat writer about a player that looked great to the outside world but not so great to those who watched him week after week, year after year (think: McNabb). Here's the unedited e-mail:
Here is some Detroit perception for you ...
Sims is 5-10, 230 lbs., not 6-0.
He is quick, but he continuously overruns plays, even when in the scheme he was drafted for. Perhaps part of this is his maturing as a player.
I think he's a high character, high intensity guy who is always working hard, but he's not really big enough to play linebacker. If he were smart enough to make the position change, I think he could make a good strong saftey, if he played better in space, because he is a hitter.
Given the observation that he continues to overrun plays at linebacker which is a position he already has a lot of time at, expecting him to play well in MORE space as a strong saftey would be a stretch.
Finally, as a Matt Millen high draft pick, you have to be a little skeptical. He started here because the Lions spent a high pick and a lot of money on him and kept hope that he would pan out. As bad as our defense in Detroit was the past couple of years (one of the worst in history), if he were REALLY a catalyst, wouldn't Gun Cunningham (who really knows what he is doing) have kept him around? The Lions don't even have a replacement, yet traded him ANYWAY.
I wish Sims and the Eagles well, but honestly, I'm GLAD we got rid of him.
Good luck in Philly.
It seems to me that the only thing Sims did wrong was get hurt last year. How many eagles had 140 tackles last year? He played on a team that didn't win a game 2 years ago, if i were a detroit lion fan ( think what that would be like negadelphia eagle fans )i would think all the lions players sucked.— mmonahan
BirdsSuck: This team replaced both starting tackles, both RBs, one WR and the TE on offense last year. They played all year with backup linebackers and a big hole at safety. They still won 11 games. If Cole can handle the C spot better, and they get anything out of the draft, this team will be better, not worse. They are going to score a lot of points. Bradley, Sims, Tapp and Jackson will help the D recover. I don't see the Eagles regressing. I think it is a young team with a lot of talent who took it's lumps at the end of last season and will be better for the experience.- Ernie Sims wasn't some Matt Millen reach pick, he was widely considered one of the best athletes coming out that year. Flies to the ball whenever you watched Lions games. Quickness and speed are EXACTLY what this defense needs. For a 5th round pick? Even if he is a career underachiever, he's a top 10 talent. He can perform like a 3rd rounder and this is still a win-win-win for the Eagles. Personally, I think even Charles Rogers would have been better off with another organization besides the Lions, lol, so you see where I'm coming from. Doomsayers will always see darkness.— KNuff
- Sims has a lot of potential, but he's not destined to last long in the league. He is an undersized linebacker who plays with his hair on fire and had at least five concussions in college. His injury issues, not surprisingly, have followed him to the NFL. Even if the Eagles coaches can teach him not to overrun plays, I don't think he's got many 16+ game seasons in him. Of course, Millen knew about his size and all those concussions when he drafted him ...— STW P. Brabbs
- One more quick note, I'm admittedly biased as a Michigan fan, but I will be absolutely stunned if Brandon Graham isn't a stud in Philly. He was unblockable last year despite being on a really terrible defense, and was also unblockable in the Senior Bowl. He completely dominated Brian Bulaga last year at Iowa. Even his lack of height is overstated - kid's got no neck whatsoever, so his functional length is better than 6'2". Might end up being better than Lamarr Woodley.— STW P. Brabbs
