Sunday, April 27, 2008

Eagles: round 3 through 6 ...

(Bryan Smith, left)




Thumbnails for the second day of the Eagles draft:

Third round (80th overall)

Bryan Smith, DE, McNeese State

Height: 6-2. Weight: 231. 40-yard dash: 4.75. Bench press: 17 reps at 225 pounds. Vertical jump: 32 1-2 inches. Standing broad jump: 10-0.

Upside: Downhill player with a big first step who registered 31 sacks in 31 games at the I-AA level. 10 1-2 sacks and 22 1-2 tackles this past season. Also might be able to play linebacker.

Downside: Might not be big enough to play end on the NFL level, or fast enough to play linebacker. Dominated inferior competition. Projected as a late-round pick or priority free agent.


Summary: Trent Cole edge rush prospect needs a lot of work.

(Right, Mike McGlynn)

Fourth round (from Carolina, 109th overall).

Mike McGlynn, OL, Pittsburgh

Height: 6-4. Weight: 314. 40-yard dash: 5.36. Bench press: 30 reps at 225 pounds. Vertical jump: NA. Standing broad jump: 8-5.

Upside: Tough, hard-working and durable. Started 31 straight games at right tackle before shifting to right guard for senior year. Missed just one start as a senior playing through a torn labrum. Also plays center and longsnaps.

Downside: Lacks athleticism and doesn’t play well in space according to scouting reports.

Summary: Developmental center candidate for the practice squad.

(Quintin Demps)

Fourth round (from Minnesota, 117th overall)

Quintin Demps, S, UTEP

Height: 6-0. Weight: 206. 40-yard dash: 4.40. Bench press: 16 reps at 225 pounds. Vertical jump: 31-5. Standing broad jump: NA.

Upside: Good nose for the ball. Picked off 17 passes in three seasons, including five as a senior, taking two 100-plus yards to the house. Also recovered two fumbles, blocked a kick and broke up nine passes last season. Averaged 13.3 yards on 15 punt returns and 22.4 yards on 22 kickoff returns in ’07. Five career return TD’s including kicks.

Downside: Doesn’t like contact and is a reluctant tackler, based on scouting reports. Played against average competition in Conference USA.

Summary: Special teams prospect who might find work in nickel and dime coverage packages.

Fourth round (compensatory, 131st overall)

Jack Ikegwuonu, CB, Wisconsin

Height: 5-11. Weight: 194. 40-yard dash: 4.5. Bench press: NA. Vertical jump: NA. Standing broad jump: NA.

Upside: Aggressive, physical defender with good balls skills and confidence playing press coverage, according to scouting repots. Athletic, quick and productive. Five interceptions and two return TD’s in three seasons.

Sixth round (compensatory, 200th overall)

Joe Mays, ILB, North Dakota State

Height: 5-11. Weight: 245. 40-yard dash: 4.9. Bench press: NA. Vertical jump: NA. Standing broad jump: NA.

Upside: Led team in tackles from 2005-07. Division I-AA all-American and Great West Conference defensive player of the year in 2007.

Downside: Less than ideal speed and average at best level of competition.

Summary: Practice squad candidate.

Sixth round (203rd overall)

Andy Studebaker, OLB, Wheaton College

Height: 6-3. Weight: 251. 40-yard dash: 4.50. Bench press: NA. Vertical jump: NA. Standing broad jump: NA.

Upside: Division III all-American defensive end in 2006 with 17 1-2 sacks, 19 hurries and 24 1-2 tackles for loss. Had 19 1-2 tackles for loss and 7 1-2 sacks in sophomore year.

Downside: Sprained foot limited him to five games in ’07, although he registered 5 sacks and 6 1-2 tackles for loss.

Summary: Edge rushers always deserve a look.

Downside: Junior eligible won’t play until 2009 after blowing out his right ACL, MCL and suffering kneecap damage in January. Arrested in November of 2006 with his twin brother William on felony residential burglary and misdemeanor criminal trespass charges after allegedly breaking into an apartment and stealing an Xbox video game. Faces a July 10th court date.

Summary: Without the issues, a second or third-round pick.

Sixth round (184th overall)

Mike Gibson, OT, California

Height: 6-3. Weight: 305. 40-yard dash: 5.23. Bench press: 31 reps at 225 pounds. Vertical jump: 27-0. Standing broad jump: 9-2.

Upside: Technically sound with a good first step, according to scouting reports. Physical and always seems to be in position.

Downside: Lacks lower body strength, according to reports. Like Winston Justice, susceptible to the bull rush. Gibson missed the Armed Forces Bowl this past season with a concussion and played the 2006 season with an injured shoulder that required surgery. He tends to struggle in space.

Summary: A guard-center prospect.


Saturday, April 26, 2008

EAGLES acquire RB Lorenzo Booker from Miami

With the San Diego Chargers on the clock with the 27th overall pick, the Eagles acquired running back Lorenzo Booker from the Miami Dolphins for a fourth-round pick, No. 115 overall.

In seven games for the offensively-challenged Dolphins, Booker (5-10, 191) rushed for 125 yards (4.5 ypr.) and caught 28 passes for 137 yards (8.5 ypc.).

"I understand the game," Booker said. "Being traded is not always a bad thing especially when you're going to a good situation."






FLACCO goes 18 to BALTIMORE



The Baltimore Ravens traded up from 26 (after trading down from 8) to jump in front of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and draft Joe Flacco, the University of Delaware product.

Friday, April 25, 2008

BIRDS go up for Long, Gholston, McKelvin?




Everyone knows the Eagles want to move up in the first round of the draft. It's impossible to hide these things.

The Lito Sheppard-to-Tampa Bay visit pretty much gave it away. Dealing Sheppard and packing it with another second-round pick would give the Eagles enough ammo to reach into the top 5 if they really liked a player.

Chris Long, Vernon Gholston, Leodis McKelvin or Sedrick Ellis, anyone? That could happen.That would really show me something. That would excuse the Eagles for failing to add an elite receiver. If the Eagles stay at 19 in the first round they won't get an immediate contributer, as they've spun it.

(Upper left: Pass rusher Chris Long, son of Hall of Famer Howie Long.)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

TOP 10 DRAFT PICKS

With the draft just three days away, there's been a lot of buzz. Based on the chatter here are the top 10 picks (the next 10 are on the way):

1. Miami (1-15) – Jake Long, OT, Michigan. Done deal. But the Tuna should have taken Matt Ryan or Glenn Dorsey.

2. St. Louis (3-13) – Chris Long, DE-LB, Virginia. If they trade this pick to New Orleans, it's Dorsey.

3. Atlanta (4-12) – Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College. Ryan will come off the board here but maybe not to the Falcons, who could trade the pick.

4. Oakland (4-12) – Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU. With money woes, Raiders want to trade back. This assumes the Saints attempt to move up blew up.

5. Kansas City (4-12) – Vernon Gholston, DE-LB, Ohio State. Ran a 4.58 40-yard dash and recorded a 43-inch vertical at 266 pounds on his pro day.

6. N.Y. Jets (4-12) – Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas. Topping their list of numerous needs is points and this guy can score from anywhere.

7. New England (from S.F, 16-0) – Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC. Blue collar nose tackle is just what Bill Belichick needs.

8. Baltimore (5-11) – Branden Albert, G-OT, Virginia. It's either him or OT Ryan Clady.

9. Cincinnati (7-9) – Keith Rivers, LB, USC. He can play - and stay out of trouble.

10. New Orleans (7-9) – Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy State. McKelvin may not have the best hands and ball skills but has all of his kidneys and more upside than the other corners.