Why isn't Jordan Malaita being tried at RB?

[Procus]

Okay - the guy is an athletic hulk whose frame screams for being on the OL.  But he was a beast with the ball in his hands when playing rugby.  Why not give him a shot as a RB in the NFL?  Could you imagine trying to tackle him in short yardage situations?  And if to many players commit to him, look at what this would open up on the outside.

[FranklinFldEBUpper]

How many running backs do you know who run the forty in over 5.0 seconds?

[Redzonemadness]

from last year 

https://www.si.com/nfl/eagles/news/jordan-mailata-a-running-back-not-so-fast-he-said-PikQoF6d4kKr4DV3XXGE7w

[TEW]

Because you could not genetically engineer a better athlete for LT. 

[Procus]

7 minutes ago, FranklinFldEBUpper said:

How many running backs do you know who run the forty in over 5.0 seconds?

He's a pound it in your face guy and not needed for speed - but I will read up on the article Redzonemadness posted.

Thanks.

[Cheesteakitis]

He can’t stay healthy playing tackle, he wouldn’t make it as a rb. 
I still have hope for the dude but I don’t know if he can hack it.

[PoPpInFreSh]

I don't know much about the rules of rugby, but I do know there's a technical difference in tackling between it and Football. 

A lot less players going low to tackle in rugby due to less padding. 

A man that size takes one good shot to the knee and he might not be the same again. Also a man that size cannot possibly get low enough to protect himself or the ball. 

 

Better suited to run routes being tackle eligible or 2nd/3rd TE in a big package on a goalline pass.

[RUEagle]

It was a long shot and it’s not looking good.  But I would make the pick again because if you can hit on a guy like that the results could pay huge dividends.  Not ready to give up yet but not looking good. 

[jsb235]

10 minutes ago, RUEagle said:

It was a long shot and it’s not looking good.  But I would make the pick again because if you can hit on a guy like that the results could pay huge dividends.  Not ready to give up yet but not looking good. 

The plan for Mailata was always to not play him the first two years, so I am not sure why things aren't looking good to you. He was the 12th-highest tackle in pff's preseason rankings (out of 42 eligible) and the number 1 run blocker. As far as his injury, he said he was fine after a few weeks of rest and that the only reason he was on IR was because they needed the roster spot due to injuries at other positions.

Plus, he's really the only backup tackle with any pro experience the team has right now. And even if they sign Peters, he is the only experienced backup RT.

To me things are going exactly as planned. This year he will almost certainly be the swing tackle, and if Dillard struggles he may be starting after a few weeks. 

[DeathByEagle]

TE not running back. 

[EazyEaglez]

2 hours ago, Procus said:

He's a pound it in your face guy and not needed for speed - but I will read up on the article Redzonemadness posted.

Thanks.

At his height he isn't pounding anything. Football is a game of leverage. The lower man generally  wins. He's slow and could easily be tackled. 

[Diehardfan]

2 hours ago, Procus said:

Okay - the guy is an athletic hulk whose frame screams for being on the OL.  But he was a beast with the ball in his hands when playing rugby.  Why not give him a shot as a RB in the NFL?  Could you imagine trying to tackle him in short yardage situations?  And if to many players commit to him, look at what this would open up on the outside.

The video of him trucking people would go a lot different in the NFL.

[birdman#12]

If he can't be a left tackle, they really need to put him at defensive tackle......he'd be a monster in there.

[Portyansky]

I thought he would have been an amazing fullback.

[Cochis_Calhoun]

7 hours ago, Diehardfan said:

The video of him trucking people would go a lot different in the NFL.

Given his size I'm not sure it would if the OL gave him a hole to get through the DL, it's simple physics that a 6-5 300lb guy that can run 40 yards in 5 seconds is going to be tough to stop, pads and a helmet don't change that.

The idea that rugby is all waist tackles is a false one.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

TE perhaps? Fullback perhaps? I guess short yard situations? But at this point are we just trying to figure a way to get the guy on the roster when perhaps it is time for the experiment to end?

[JP HOF]

I wish they tried this.

[The Norseman]

He would have made a nasty fullback.  Unfortunately, they don't exist in the NFL anymore.  Can you imagine him lead blocking for Sanders? 

[EricAllenPick6]

I think the question you are asking is why are we using Malaita at tackle.  The answer is simple, LT is quite possibly the 2nd most important position on the football team, and we don't have JP anymore.  

Also this:

14 hours ago, TEW said:

Because you could not genetically engineer a better athlete for LT. 

 

[Bwestbrook36]

4 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

TE perhaps? Fullback perhaps? I guess short yard situations? But at this point are we just trying to figure a way to get the guy on the roster when perhaps it is time for the experiment to end?

I guess they will invent positions for him till he ultimately cut or shows he can handle a back up role on the oline

[Nivraga]

14 hours ago, Cheesteakitis said:

He can’t stay healthy playing tackle, he wouldn’t make it as a rb. 
I still have hope for the dude but I don’t know if he can hack it.

Do you honestly think he's actually been injured. He wasn't ready for the regular roster and they would lose him if they released him for the practice squad. So - he gets a hang nail and they stash him on IR.

[eagle45]

8 minutes ago, Nivraga said:

Do you honestly think he's actually been injured. He wasn't ready for the regular roster and they would lose him if they released him for the practice squad. So - he gets a hang nail and they stash him on IR.

It's all speculation, but I actually do think his injuries have been real.  Same injury, 2 years running, and he has missed chances to practice with the team.  If he played as well as many say he did in the preseason last year, he wouldn't have been a liability on the regular roster.  

The guy has never played football and has been unable to practice with the team for his 2 years here due to being on IR.  Either you keep him on the roster or take your chances with the practice squad.  He's stagnating on IR.  

[Redzonemadness]

12 hours ago, EazyEaglez said:

At his height he isn't pounding anything. Football is a game of leverage. The lower man generally  wins. He's slow and could easily be tackled. 

This is the best argument i seen against RB  Malaita. That said i would really love to see him make some highlight reels. 

[Hawkeye]

14 hours ago, jsb235 said:

The plan for Mailata was always to not play him the first two years, so I am not sure why things aren't looking good to you. He was the 12th-highest tackle in pff's preseason rankings (out of 42 eligible) and the number 1 run blocker. As far as his injury, he said he was fine after a few weeks of rest and that the only reason he was on IR was because they needed the roster spot due to injuries at other positions.

Plus, he's really the only backup tackle with any pro experience the team has right now. And even if they sign Peters, he is the only experienced backup RT.

To me things are going exactly as planned. This year he will almost certainly be the swing tackle, and if Dillard struggles he may be starting after a few weeks. 

He’s never played a down in an NFL game.  It’s now or never.

[time2rock]

14 hours ago, jsb235 said:

Plus, he's really the only backup tackle with any pro experience the team has right now. And even if they sign Peters, he is the only experienced backup RT.

Actually Seumalo has taken live snaps at RT here - technically they could bounce him out in a pinch and play Pryor at LG (although doubt they would go that route).  Also Pryor player RT in college.