Posted: Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 9:35 AM | 6 comments |
 

Eagles links: Andy's drafting
options
 
From now on, the Eagles links will be compiled through a series of short posts during the week. Here's the first link...

I'm told by several people that The National Football Post is a must-read site for every NFL fan/blogger.

Interesting post on there by Michael Lombardi, who studied the Eagles' drafting since 1999 when Andy Reid took over. Lombardi notes that seven of the Eagles' 24 second- and third-round picks have been a complete wash out. Of those 24, six picks have been used on offensive or defensive linemen, and none of those six currently start for the team.

Lombardi's conclusion:

When you look at the names, what is most alarming is for all the talk about being cap sound and adding youth to the team, the names are not impressive, even if they do start. The Eagles are not a talent rich team—maybe that is why I defend McNabb so strongly. As John Madden used to say, “having a great quarterback is a great deodorant”.

Finding talent is a talent—- and the Eagles have the right plan in theory, but not in practice.

What Lombardi didn't do is compare the Eagles' drafting to other NFL teams. For instance, when he says the Eagles have had seven complete busts out of 24 second- and third-round picks, is that the worst percentage in the league over the span being discussed?

Maybe this comparison is something I can put together in the offseason.

By the way, it's officially the right move to start picking the opposite of me on Monday night games. We can call it the "George Costanza Corollary."
Posted by Sheil Kapadia @ 9:35 AM  Permalink | 6 comments
6
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:18 PM, 10/21/2008
    So why not give up a 2cd or 3rd round pick for Tony Gonzalez???? We'd blow the pick anyway.
    — atles
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:14 PM, 10/21/2008
    haha you went from mr monday night to mr stick with sunday
    — joeycramp
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:22 PM, 10/21/2008
    Figures don't lie ....BUT liars do figure. Let's look at this another way....7 out of 24 were "washouts" means 17 weren't. That translates to a 70% "success" rate. And that is just about as misleading as the original story which seems to say 7 were washouts and that's "bad". Hard to tell unless we have more specifics like what are the figures for the 31 other teams. Who of the 24 "washouts" became starters or solid backups? What sre these figurtes for other teams. Lombardi's puts out stats and then paints with a broad brush leavinf us with figures that just don't mean anything.
    — njguy2007
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:43 AM, 10/22/2008
    Andy Reid should do the Costanza Theory as well, if he thinks a guy is great, pick someone else. It's amazing to me that people want Kevin Kolb to play at the same time saying how bad Andy Reid is at drafting people. He drafted Kevin Kolb, so chances are he can't play. Like Timmy Chang, Andy Hall, Mike McMahon, AJ Feeley, and all the rest. He got lucky with McNabb, remember they had Tim Couch, Akili Smith and McNabb rated the same.
    — G
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:16 PM, 10/23/2008
    I suppose he got lucky with DeSean Jackson, too? And Westbrook? Trent Cole? He does seem to waste some picks, but every other study I've read about draft success in the NFL places Philly in the upper echelon.
    — JeffA
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:18 AM, 10/24/2008
    Dont forget Gaither, Bradley Sheppard and Brown. Remember when Reid was ripped for getting Shepp, Brown and Michael Lewis when we still had Booby Taylor and Troy "their window closed in 02" Vincent? Nah the haters wanna fire Reid. They dont have a better option but they do wanna fire Reid. Sounds so much like the idiots in NYG country who wanted Coughlin gone before 07 started. They unwashed masses are just as stupid there also.
    — CSpangler


6 comments
About Sheil Kapadia
Sheil Kapadia is in his fourth season writing about the Eagles and the NFL for philly.com. His earliest memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with his Dad. He's not a beat writer or an Insider, but is here to discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or by clicking here

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