15 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

Its a pretty universally accepted opinion that it is "Easy" to find RBs, and you can get a starter in the mid-late rounds of the draft. So Im not sure if the resources argument holds much weight relative to the argument about this position specifically.

I think you can make that argument for pro bowl talents at RB. While you can get a later round guy in there, most commonly they seem to be 1st-2nd rounders.

But as far as finding a successful RB, they should have been able to do better than they have with those picks.

The last 3 really good backs they have had- McCoy, Sanders, Swift- are all 1-2 rounders. The eagles need to be better at hitting on the mid-late round RB picks. Its supposed to be easy.

I don't think it is easy to hit in the middle rounds.  Of the top 10 RB in 2023 by yardage only Kyren Williams was mid round (5th)  8 of them were 1st or 2nd round, one was 3rd.

Ive also read that Payton Wilson is expected to ace the medicals. Which is great news for him considering the surgeries and injuries he has had.

Just now, Freshmilk said:

I don't think it is easy to hit in the middle rounds.  Of the top 10 RB in 2023 by yardage only Kyren Williams was mid round (5th)  8 of them were 1st or 2nd round, one was 3rd.

I never really agreed with the devaluation of the RB position. And while people look at a RB like Alexander Mattison while he is on another team starting and try to make that case, now no one wants him here as our lead back. So....

Maybe like with LBs, eagles fans are beginning to realize the importance of good RB play vs average RB play.

4 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

I think thats a catch-22. I think the over-investment in the lines has also helped the team stay successful while other positions are weak.

For example last year its very possible that is this team had better CB play, and worse OL play, its results could have been worse. And, we dont even want to imagine what worse DL play would have looked like when the defense was already so bad...

I say, thank god we had the OL and DL talent that we had. 

 

Most definitely.  But equally, spending so many picks on OL, has meant 2nd/3rd rounders that could be used on LB as an example, aren't made.  You can more easily find a cheap RG or LG out there, than you can a cheap LB.  Even DE can be argued that the OL picks have affected that position too.

Very hard to build a 53, so it must even harder to go against an institutional bias and not pick OL or DT regularly,

4 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

DeJean not working out at the combine or pro day. 

Confirmed his injury was a broken fibula. Had surgery. Recently got back to running full speed so wasnt able to train like he wanted to.

Will work out for teams some time in early April.

 

I understand. But that workout was going to be a fun one to watch.

I read that he was going to work out for teams in April. 

47 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

I was just looking at the history and Miles Sanders is our only good RB pick in the last 15 years. Going back to McCoy in 2009.

After McCoy the picks were

Charles Scott 2010

Dion Lewis 2011

Bryce Brown 2012

Wendell Smallwood 2016

Donnell Pumphrey 2017

Miles Sanders 2019

Kenny Gainwell 2021

 

Absolutely horrible. Save for the 1 possible Joe Doulas pick. I guess he did one good thing here. Its unbelievable how bad this team is at evaluating RBs.

 

 

Sanders was a 2nd rounder, he wasn't a good pick either.  He'll probably be out of the league in a couple of seasons.

All the other guys are 4th rounders or later 

7 minutes ago, Freshmilk said:

I don't think it is easy to hit in the middle rounds.  Of the top 10 RB in 2023 by yardage only Kyren Williams was mid round (5th)  8 of them were 1st or 2nd round, one was 3rd.

But four of them also were acquired either cheaply vis trade (Swift) or FA (Conner, Montgomery and Mostert). 

1 minute ago, HazletonEagle said:

I never really agreed with the devaluation of the RB position. And while people look at a RB like Alexander Mattison while he is on another team starting and try to make that case, now no one wants him here as our lead back. So....

Maybe like with LBs, eagles fans are beginning to realize the importance of good RB play vs average RB play.

We realize it, but I also realize there aren't that many that are really good RB.  Why would a great athlete that dreams of playing in the NFL play RB unless they really have no other choice?  Short career, poor earning potential comparatively,  undervalued. 

As for LB, Eagle fans dream of good LBs.  Every FA/draft we all talk about the LBs we want but never ever get.

I’m probably going to die alone on this hill, but there’s something about this guy that I wouldn’t be comfortable investing the #1 overall pick in

 

22 minutes ago, Blazehound said:

The Eagles also let Raheem Mostert slip between their fingers. 

They also had Dion Lewis, who went on to have a solid career.

1 minute ago, ManuManu said:

But four of them also were acquired either cheaply vis trade (Swift) or FA (Conner, Montgomery and Mostert). 

True.  Speaks to the difficulty of finding a good RB in the mid rounds of the draft.

2 minutes ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

I’m probably going to die alone on this hill, but there’s something about this guy that I wouldn’t be comfortable investing the #1 overall pick in

 

Im listening to the PFF draft guys right now talking about rumors from the combine.

And though QB workouts have not happened yet, theres been days of interviews and medicals in the books already.

What they are saying is a month or 2 ago they felt like maybe some teams might like Drake Maye over Williams. Then there was a time they thought some teams might like Daniels over May.

They are now saying, it looks like it really is Williams at #1 and its not really even close.

They also seem to feel strongly that its Maye for QB2, and Daniels for QB3. Its pretty set in that order.

One of the guys said he has found only 2 teams that have Daniels over Maye. But one of those teams is too far out for it to matter. Another team may be in striking distance but probably not gonna happen.

 

But the QB order seems set with pretty good consensus. Williams, May, Daniels.

from walter football stock reports. First Im hearing about character with Cooper.

Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M 
Some teams had character concerns regarding Edgerrin Cooper, so it was important to show well at the combine. He did so with some impressive testing numbers. He ran a 4.51 40-yard time with a 1.54 10-yard split. He also leapt 34.5 inches in the vertical.

18 minutes ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

I’m probably going to die alone on this hill, but there’s something about this guy that I wouldn’t be comfortable investing the #1 overall pick in

 

He comes across as a massive 🍆 and while he clearly is uber talented, he's not a can't miss prospect.  Another less talented QB from this class could well turn out to be the better pro QB.

44 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

Its a pretty universally accepted opinion that it is "Easy" to find RBs, and you can get a starter in the mid-late rounds of the draft. So Im not sure if the resources argument holds much weight relative to the argument about this position specifically.

I think you can make that argument for pro bowl talents at RB. While you can get a later round guy in there, most commonly they seem to be 1st-2nd rounders.

But as far as finding a successful RB, they should have been able to do better than they have with those picks.

The last 3 really good backs they have had- McCoy, Sanders, Swift- are all 1-2 rounders. The eagles need to be better at hitting on the mid-late round RB picks. Its supposed to be easy.

Blount and Ajayi were both mid-round picks.  RB hasn't been a real issue for the team aside from 2016.  I think the argument isn't really that you can draft a RB mid-rounds no matter what. It's really that o-line play is more important than RB play.  

23 minutes ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

I’m probably going to die alone on this hill, but there’s something about this guy that I wouldn’t be comfortable investing the #1 overall pick in

 

Crying on mommy's shoulder 

@bpac55

Solak talked about LBs he would like to see the Eagles sign, and he mentioned Kenneth Murray. He said he objectively started to play better last year. 

22 minutes ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

I’m probably going to die alone on this hill, but there’s something about this guy that I wouldn’t be comfortable investing the #1 overall pick in

 

I will enjoy watching him get humbled in the NFL. I wonder if he ends up in the stands again crying in his mommy's lap in the fetal position

2 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

Blount and Ajayi were both mid-round picks.  RB hasn't been a real issue for the team aside from 2016.  I think the argument isn't really that you can draft a RB mid-rounds no matter what. It's really that o-line play is more important than RB play.  

That may be the opening statement. But when suggested- Why dont we try to have great OL play AND a great RB? In years past the answer has been a resounding NO! Thou shall not commit resources towards an elite RB. A blog commandment.

23 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

Im listening to the PFF draft guys right now talking about rumors from the combine.

And though QB workouts have not happened yet, theres been days of interviews and medicals in the books already.

What they are saying is a month or 2 ago they felt like maybe some teams might like Drake Maye over Williams. Then there was a time they thought some teams might like Daniels over May.

They are now saying, it looks like it really is Williams at #1 and its not really even close.

They also seem to feel strongly that its Maye for QB2, and Daniels for QB3. Its pretty set in that order.

One of the guys said he has found only 2 teams that have Daniels over Maye. But one of those teams is too far out for it to matter. Another team may be in striking distance but probably not gonna happen.

 

But the QB order seems set with pretty good consensus. Williams, May, Daniels.

I don’t disagree that he’s the most talented or had the best college tape, but it’s the influx of consistently odd comments and behaviors that concerns me. Stuff that we only heard from the Josh Rosens and the Johnny Manziels that people would brush off as "confidence”, when it really sounds like arrogance.

Remember when he wanted part of a team in his rookie contract? Or when he was talking about holding the #1 team ransom if it wasn’t someone he wanted to play for?

No issue with him crying after a USC loss. But he did it after he openly laughed at Max Duggan for him crying after TCU’s loss.

Does anyone remember the time he faked a leg injury to make a better story for his performance?

 Why specifically doesn’t he want an agent? Hes gonna lose more in endorsement opportunities the agent would drudge up for him than what the agent’s cut would be. It’s a waste of your time to do the stuff you agent can handle for you. 
 

And maybe the guy will go on an NFL tour talking about how that stuff is all overblown or misconstrued, but there’s a consist influx of the bizzare coming from him that seems unprecedented

1 minute ago, ManuManu said:

@bpac55

Solak talked about LBs he would like to see the Eagles sign, and he mentioned Kenneth Murray. He said he objectively started to play better last year. 

I think he'd be a good signing on par with Kyzir White but with more potential. He's definitely not a tier 1 LB but he has all the tools you want. Can these new Eagles coach and get the most of of the talent these guys have is the question. 

Interesting Junior Colson background. Came from Haiti when he was adopted at 9. Didnt speak any English. Played soccer because he said thats what they played in Haiti. And he was 55lbs soaking wet. Started playing football, got bigger and stronger. Won the Lott trophy which is an award for having the biggest impact in the community. Previously Will Anderson and Aiden Hutchinson won that award.

 

4 minutes ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

I don’t disagree that he’s the most talented or had the best college tape, but it’s the influx of consistently odd comments and behaviors that concerns me. Stuff that we only heard from the Josh Rosens and the Johnny Manziels that people would brush off as "confidence”, when it really sounds like arrogance.

Remember when he wanted part of a team in his rookie contract? Or when he was talking about holding the #1 team ransom if it wasn’t someone he wanted to play for?

No issue with him crying after a USC loss. But he did it after he openly laughed at Max Duggan for him crying after TCU’s loss.

Does anyone remember the time he faked a leg injury to make a better story for his performance?

 Why specifically doesn’t he want an agent? Hes gonna lose more in endorsement opportunities the agent would drudge up for him than what the agent’s cut would be. It’s a waste of your time to do the stuff you agent can handle for you. 

I think hes a bust.

I find it interesting that as the draft gets closer, he seems to be separating himself as the clear cut #1. 

6 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

I think hes a bust.

I find it interesting that as the draft gets closer, he seems to be separating himself as the clear cut #1. 

A point I was trying to make here last night that no one was biting on is that Andrew Luck didn’t end up being worth what Indy could have gotten in trade for that pick. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t been worth what Jacksonville could have gotten in trade for that pick. Rams traded 2 firsts, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds for Goff. Did they get appropriate value for 6 day 1 and 2 players? Sam Bradford, Jamarcus Russell, Carson Palmer. Heck, you could argue that if the Lions knew Stafford would make the playoffs only a few times, it would be worth getting a haul and spreading the talent for a lesser QB to have a better chance at success.

The draft is a game of probability, and the asset valuation before the pick is made is typically more than What the player is. As paradoxical as it sounds, Caleb Williams is far too valuable to draft him. That pick should be traded

10 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

That may be the opening statement. But when suggested- Why dont we try to have great OL play AND a great RB? In years past the answer has been a resounding NO! Thou shall not commit resources towards an elite RB. A blog commandment.

Meh - Leonard Fournette is not elite.