Roseman looks for improvement from Graham, Allen, Jarrett
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Roseman looks for improvement from Graham, Allen, Jarrett
Jonathan Tamari
INDIANAPOLIS -- One of the biggest problems for the Eagles recently has been drafting big-time defensive players. While the Eagles passed on Jason Pierre-Paul -- who has gone on to become a star with the Giants -- high picks such as Brandon Graham and Jaiquawn Jarrett have made little impact and Nate Allen has been up and down, at best.
Back at the Combine, where presumably general manager Howie Roseman will again be looking at players who could upgrade the defense, he talked up the possibilities for his recent picks, and called on each to improve in 2012.
"To tell you that we know exactly what they’re going to be at this point, they know that they’ve got to step up their game and they’re looking forward to it, but the work ethic is there. They want to be great players and we’ve seen it out of them," Roseman said, speaking specifically about Graham and Allen.
On Jarrett he said: "You get a guy in like that who's a rookie and doesn’t have a lot of offseason and maybe it’s a bigger adjustment than we thought. He's been in lifting already and I think he’s got a chip on his shoulder and what we’re really looking to see and we’ve told him is the nastiness, the stuff that we saw in college that he had and playing fast and I think that’s a product of knowing what you’re doing."
Unless Graham, Allen and Jarrett show improvement, the 2010 and 2011 trio could follow in the footsteps of other recent disappointing defensive picks such as Trevor Laws, Victor Abiamiri, Steward Bradley and Daniel Te'o-Nesheim.
Roseman, though, noted that Graham and Allen have been slowed by injuries after what he said were fast starts, and hopes that Jarrett will improve with a full offseason to prepare. Much of the discussion with reporters focused on Graham, the 13th overall pick in 2010.
"We have high expectations for Brandon Graham," Roseman said. "When he came into training camp he was unbelievably productive, in fact he became a starter because of his production in training camp."
But an early high ankle sprain -- "that's a tough injury," Roseman said, was followed by a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
"We knew this year was going to be a struggle for him," Roseman said. (Allen, too, suffered a serious knee injury as a rookie and was slowed last season).
As to why the Eagles chose Graham over Pierre-Paul, Roseman elaborated on some recent comments about that big decision in 2010.
"We went into the draft knowing that those two were going to be very good players. What sold us on Brandon was his production. He was productive for four years, he was a two-time team captain, he played in a big-time conference, and that’s not taking away from any other defensive ends that were drafted, but we felt very comfortable that he fit what were trying to do on defense, great character guy, he had the work ethic to succeed."
Graham, in particular, is aware of the JPP comparisons and "sees that out there and he wants more for himself."
While Graham and Allen have at least showed glimpses of what they could be, Jarrett hardly saw the field in 2011, despite the Eagles' need for safety help, and made little impression when he did play. He was invisible on special teams. Roseman made clear that the team expects more and said he believes a full offseason will help Jarrett be the big-hitter the team touted when they picked him.
"The more he’s around, the has an offseason, the better chance he has of being that kind of player," he said.
- don't forget Teo-nothing. he was another high-motor gem.
— coloradoeagle - Can Graham play LB?— bobcitydoc
- "We went into the draft knowing that those two were going to be very good players." Do you know something we don't know? I mean, is Graham viewed as a very good player in the NFL? Howie has been doing a lot of talking the last several days, but I don't know where he's coming from, in referance to some of the statements he has made.
— watsonmr - With the 15th pick of the nfl draft the Phila Eagles draft Joe Smoe DE from your local community college, second string player but has a high motor. He can't spell to good no how.— big red
- HA! HA! How true. They'll grab some kid no one ever heard of from some remote obscure school buried deep in the mid-west. Experts that analyze the teams drafts will be amazed and shocked. Can't you hear Mike Mayock now?: "I'm amazed and shocked that the Eagles selected this kid. I thought he'd go in the third round at the earliest. He runs a 4.8 40 and bench presses ten reps of 175lbs and stands 5'11 and weighs about 225lbs but can probably bulk up. He's a "GOOD CHARACTER" guy with a "HIGH MOTOR" though and I'm sure Andy knew what he was doing when he selected this kid."
Meanwhile, the NY Giants move up to number 16 and select Luke Kuechly, linebacker from Boston College. Another typical Eagles draft because, as we are all well aware by now, the Eagles are smarter than the whole NFL world.— essell - Awful drafting on the defensive side of the ball since Andy has been there. Period. The 2011 class is no different.— sore richard
- say middle LB by any chance ?— oldBird
- All you naysayers are ridiculous. Just wait and see. The Eagles will draft a 5'11" 220lb middle linebacker and a 6'1" 240 pound defensive end and all will be good. Still can't go over the drafting of a 28 year old rookie offensive lineman and another who was blind in one eye. I done until the walrus is run out of town.— RH
- He's small— spear1
- Is everybody ready for Year 3 of the hit reality show 'Howie screws up the Eagles Draft'— zeke128
- i have my popcorn ready! — coloradoeagle
- Jmieo, outstanding comment— camasbud
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"The more he’s around, the has an offseason, the better chance he has of being that kind of player," he said."
Probably has the inside track on next camp's Jerome McDougle Award as the player who should be cut but was drafted too high to do so.
— banned - hilarious and true. — coloradoeagle
- Calm down people. If Graham doesn't produce next season it'll be time to move on. Hopefully he'll surprise us.— p-diddy
