Making sense of the Eagles' picks
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Making sense of the Eagles' picks
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Here's my take on the Eagles' three Day 2 selections in the NFL draft:
Mychal Kendricks, LB, California
The Eagles drafted six linebackers from 2009-2011, but none before the fourth round. And the position was a disaster last season, playing behind Jim Washburn's defensive line. Earlier this season, the Birds acquired DeMeco Ryans to man the middle, and Friday night, they took Kendricks with the 46th overall pick. He'll compete at the SAM position immediately and should be expected to win that job.
Kendricks (5-11, 239) had a great combine, running a 4.47 40. But more importantly, he was a productive college player, earning Pac 12 Player of the Year honors last year. I watched a couple of Kendricks' games from last season, and he was always around the football, totaling 25 tackles (15 solo) in two games against Stanford and USC. He combined for 28.5 tackles for loss in 2010 and 2011. And Kendricks was an effective blitzer in 2010 with seven sacks.
As for covering opposing tight ends, remember, the Eagles were pretty good at that last year. According to Football Outsiders, they were third-best in the NFL. So yes, Kendricks will be asked to be good in coverage, but Nnamdi Asomugha and others might still be asked to shadow the more prolific tight ends like Jason Witten.
Here's what NFL Network's Mike Mayock thought of the pick:
"I thought he was one of the most productive and active linebackers in college football. He's instinctive, he can run, and I think he fits what the Eagles do. They have DeMeco Ryans inside. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kendricks outside."
Love Eagles pick of Kendricks. Clearly philosophy change re: LB with signing of Ryans + drafting of Kendricks. Fast + physical, + can blitz.
Still can't get over Kendicks pick. Best 4-3 LB in draft after Kuechly. As I said, an excellent blitzer. Great sidline-to-sideline range.
Given their recent track record with linebackers, it's fair to be skeptical of the Kendricks pick. But he appears to have all the tools to be a three-down linebacker. And while he might start out at SAM, Kendricks gives the Eagles a backup plan for Ryans - both this season, and for the future.
Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall
This was a value pick. Mayock had Curry ranked as his 30th-best overall prospect. The Eagles got him at No. 59. At 6-3, 266, he had 23 sacks in the last two seasons. And in 2011, Curry ranked tied for third in the nation with 22 tackles for loss.
My immediate reaction after the Curry pick was that Darryl Tapp is going to have trouble finding a roster spot here if everybody is healthy. The Eagles have Trent Cole and Jason Babin as starters. Assuming Brandon Graham is ready to go, he'll be in the rotation too. That could leave Tapp as the odd man out.
As for Curry, here's what Mayock said about him:
"I really believe this is a pick by the Eagles where they say, he's too good, forget what our needs are. He's got a motor. He's going to get hustle sacks and play tough against the run."
And Cosell:
I guess Eagles want to improve their defense. Curry showed excellent hand usage + good closing speed. An effort more than athletic player.
Doug Farrar of Yahoo Sports wrote that Curry has some qualities which resemble Jason Pierre-Paul, adding that he has two speeds: Off and Kill.
With Babin turning 32 next month, the Eagles were smart to invest in Curry once he started slipping. Since they hired Jim Washburn to coach the defensive line, the Eagles have added Babin, Cullen Jenkins, Fletcher Cox and now Curry. It's a talented group that should be one of the best pass-rushing units in the NFL next season.
Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
I was off on many of my pre-draft predictions, including the one where I said the Eagles would not draft a quarterback.
Many thought the Birds might take a shot on Ryan Tannehill if he slipped or Kirk Cousins in the second round. But they ended up going with the 6-5, 243-pound Foles. With the pick, the Eagles now have the following quarterbacks on their roster: Michael Vick, Mike Kafka, Trent Edwards and Foles.
My guess is the plan is for Kafka and Edwards to compete for the backup spot, with Foles as the No. 3. And if I'm Andy Reid or Howie Roseman, I'm not too comfortable with that plan. Maybe Kafka or Edwards will prove me wrong and be good enough to back up Vick, but that spot just seems like a huge question mark at this point.
As for Foles, here's what Cosell Tweeted about him a few weeks ago:
Tightly schemed shotgun pass game w/almost no intermediate throws.1 read concepts. Easy reads.
Slow arm speed limits driving the ball. Heavy feet. Needs space to throw. Showed better traits when had time + space.
Did not drive the ball on few intermediate throws or sideline throws.
And from draft analyst Matt Waldman's Rookie Scouting Portfolio:
Foles has the size, the short-range accuracy, and some fundamental skills that could help him develop into a pro quarterback with work. I think his footwork with his drops, releases, and his decision-making in the pocket will need refinement for him to develop into an NFL quarterback with starter potential and I think that’s asking a lot from him. I think he's a lot more of a project than some think.
Reid and Marty Mornhinweg may feel differently, and they've had plenty of success working with quarterbacks. But take a quick look at the QBs Reid has drafted: Donovan McNabb (1999), A.J. Feeley (2001), Andy Hall (2004), Kevin Kolb (2007) and Mike Kafka (2010).
McNabb was clearly an outstanding pick. Feeley was a fifth-rounder, who's stayed in the league, and Hall was a sixth-round selection.
While the Eagles turned Kolb into a second-round pick and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from the Cardinals, we have no idea what kind of quarterback he's going to be. Kolb's started 16 games in five NFL seasons, having completed just under 60 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
As for Kafka, he enters his third season, and it's very much up in the air whether he's even good enough to be this team's backup. And Vince Young, while not drafted by the Eagles, spent last year working with Reid and Mornhinweg. He remains unsigned.
The point is this: While I believe Reid and Mornhinweg have earned their reputations as great quarterback coaches, the Birds' track record in selecting quarterbacks has been a mixed bag.
I'm not trying to bury Foles before he even gets a chance. If the Eagles had more of a sure thing behind Vick, I'd have less of an issue with them using a third-round pick to develop Foles. But with the way things currently stand, they don't seem very well-equipped to handle an injury to the starter.
If you missed it from earlier, check out part of Foles' QB Camp episode with Gruden.
Get complete coverage of the 2012 NFL draft.
You can follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
The Eagles put their money on Vick for this year. If he can play 14 games, he either takes them to the playoffs or he is done. They have a year to plan for quarterback and with the extra selections, the drafting of Foles was a reach but what if it pays off? If it doesn't, get on the merry-go-round again next year. I like the other selections so far. I think they are opportunistic in their selections and that they will get at least a couple of performers out of the first two days of drafts. The pre-draft trades and pick-ups show they are determined to get back on track. I don't like Andy Reid but he has a solid track record of "almosts." But really, how many coaches out there are better? He wasn't hired to give good quotes. He was hired to get good results and all that is missing is a Super Bowl trophy.— gotedge- We need to try and get Brandon Boykin, CB from Georgia. He is an ideal slot/nickel corner who can play right away. Also has return abilities. I think he would make this draft that much better so far. http://www.nfl.com/draft/2012/profiles/brandon-boykin?id=2532798— Iceberg23
- I think 'younged' nailed it pretty well. Defensive picks are solid if not great (which they very will might be), but the Foles pick leaves me scratching my head. So many different ways they could have gone (kick, punt returner would have been my preference), and instead we get a long-term project that Andy might not even be around to develop...— Mr. Magee
- Foles is a nice pick-up for the 3rd round...he broke Drew Brees high scholl passing records, so he obviously is a good passer...let's see if he can develope into another Tom Brady who was a low 6th round choice.— phil500
- Had a decent draft going until they blew it with the stiff QB. They never get much in the third round because that is where they are always smarter than everybody else.— Ssteve115
- Trade Tapp and our 4th to move up to top of 4th and get Lemar Miller RB out of the U!!!!!!!!!— connorjr
- You have to feel sorry for Curry. If there's a guranteed bust in the first 3, it's him.
Jerome McDougle, Bryan Smith, Victor Abiamiri, Brandon Graham, Teo, the only exception being Derrick Burgess.
Suffice to say, if you're a DE drafted by Andy in the first 3, not only won't you play for the Eagles, you won't play period. Take the GREs.— banned - Foles pick is a waste; he's a 6th rounder at best and any other organization, he wouldn't last one training camp. Another wasted reach pick.— JBinPA
- @uts
are you nuts? Fletcher Cox is basically 300lbs but is a phenomenal athlete....I'd rather have 300lb proven athlete who can cause havoc than a 320lb big belly toilet clogger type. Kendricks is a tackling machine, he literally gets 18 inches off of the ground and launches perfect form tackles. He wont get run over by anyone. And Curry is 270lbs..hardly undersized for a DE. He has been compared to Trent Cole in body type and style of play. If he's half as good, it's a great pick. Add in DeMeco Ryans and 2 good cornerbacks who can now play to their strengths...This defense should be vastly improved. In fact I'm really looking forward to it.— juaniflaco - Now get Burfit or Boykins in the 4th and Cyrus Gray RB from Texas A&M in the 5th!!!!— connorjr
- Nick Foles was drafted for the RAIDERS, who are signing Matt Leinart as their backup, and they will trade TERELLE PRYOR to the Eagles for him to develop under Andy Reid. Foles is not an Eagles type, but he's definitely a Raider type.— EmanuelP
- We will wind up getting Kolb back for the "bag of hammers" that we got from Atlanta for Asante. Bye Bye to Edwards and Kafka. Foles #3.— Fred B.
- Why does Reid keep drafting "project" quarterbacks? So that he can buff them up and trade them for draft picks to schmoe teams like the Arizona Cardinals. But I don't think ANYONE will bite on Kafka. Possibly this Foles kid if he can be trained to move his feet. He might even work out OK for us. We shall see what the Land Whale bringeth forth.— NM Eagle fan
- uts: Fletcher Cox was widely regarded as the best DT in the draft, genius. And Kendricks was the best LB still on the board. I agree with criticisms about Reid's tendency to draft smaller, faster players to a point, but the Eagles weren't reaching for any of these players (except Foles), they just happened to be the best players available. It's not like you just choose the biggest player. The #1 consideration has to be performance in college games.— p-diddy
- Would someone please explain why we traded down past a better quarterback and a top 5 linebacker for another pick (4). WHO ELSE WAS IN THE NINE AND WHY?— LaCroix,Nolet,Gendron
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
