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. 

Pryor stepped in at RT last year.

58 minutes ago, time2rock said:

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.  

Pryor was terrible at RT. I didn't count Seumalo since he's a starter. Plus, he only played at right tackle after four other guys were hurt or suspended, so it's not like he was the first option when it happened. And they had to give him help the whole game, and he still gave up four pressures (but no sacks.)

So yes, the Eagles have players they can put in at RT besides Mailata. But as far as people who have been able to play the position at a level approaching competency in a professional setting, the list begins and ends with him.  

6 hours ago, Cochis_Calhoun said:

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.

I hear what you are saying, but defenders in the NFL are very good at tackling and if it was as simple as some make it sound the Eagles would be doing it. There is a reason they aren't using him in that capacity. 

Cause he’d have his knees blown out. This isn’t rugby with morons not wearing pads tackling up high. 

36 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

Because that's why we drafted Jalen Hurtzzzzz

DUH!

3rd and goal on the 2 yard line.

Wentz at QB.  Handoff to Hurts, Malaita lead blocker.

Touchdown!

He's used to running high if you watch those rugby players.  He'd get his knees split in half.  But if he somehow makes it in the league for 4-6 years you just know he'll get a Refrigerator Perry at some point.

18 minutes ago, 20dawk4life said:

Cause he’d have his knees blown out. This isn’t rugby with morons not wearing pads tackling up high. 

beat me to it.

7 minutes ago, NOTW said:

3rd and goal on the 2 yard line.

Wentz at QB.  Handoff to Hurts, Malaita lead blocker.

Touchdown!

The Philly Special Ed.

2 hours ago, eagle45 said:

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.  

Actually he was on the 53 man roster through most of his rookie year and the first couple of games last year.  He didn't play a down but he practiced and learned.  Guys on IR don't "practice" per se but they attend all meetings, games, work with trainers and position coaches and study a lot of video.  Stashing a guy like this on IR happens all the time. They needed his roster spot last year so conveniently, his back acted up again.  Don't forget he's only 23.  

Try him at QB. This factory is open for business 

58 minutes ago, Hawkeye said:

Actually he was on the 53 man roster through most of his rookie year and the first couple of games last year.  He didn't play a down but he practiced and learned.  Guys on IR don't "practice" per se but they attend all meetings, games, work with trainers and position coaches and study a lot of video.  Stashing a guy like this on IR happens all the time. They needed his roster spot last year so conveniently, his back acted up again.  Don't forget he's only 23.  

So why stash him in year 2 but not year 1?

If you look at the rugby footage of Mailata he's carrying the ball very loosely up and away from himself. I don't know rugby rules but that's easy for a defender to cause a fumble in our rules of football.

Every time I watch him with the ball I instinctively think a defender is about to cause a fumble. You just can't carry the ball like that here.

 

Mailata would have to completely learn another position from scratch to play RB, because what he did in rugby wasn't the same as american football. Mailata as RB is not going to happen.

 

46 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

So why stash him in year 2 but not year 1?

More injuries so they needed the roster spot sooner. They put him on IR after, I think, week 2 or 3 when guys started going down. 

Why not try him at corner? 

4 hours ago, Redzonemadness said:

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

The Eagles can sometimes get evaluations wrong, but they seem to believe he's best suited as an OT. I don't think there has ever been a back over like 6'3". Something else to note is most big backs have short careers. He's so big he would be easy to spot in the backfield. I personally think you would find far more failed runs than successful ones.

9 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?

Are his hands good for NFL football? Can he make a guy miss? Why are people so obsessed with this dude? He can't even make it on the roster right now. Nasty Nate should be changed to Mialota Magic. 

27 minutes ago, Fresh_Prince said:

If you look at the rugby footage of Mailata he's carrying the ball very loosely up and away from himself. I don't know rugby rules but that's easy for a defender to cause a fumble in our rules of football.

Every time I watch him with the ball I instinctively think a defender is about to cause a fumble. You just can't carry the ball like that here.

 

Mailata would have to completely learn another position from scratch to play RB, because what he did in rugby wasn't the same as american football. Mailata as RB is not going to happen.

 

Can this guy even catch a ball with a helmet and pads on? No matter what people think about how tough a guy looks in rugby it's a different game and people are a little free with their bodies when they throw on some pads. I only see fumbles and failures with him at running back.

57 minutes ago, EazyEaglez said:

Can this guy even catch a ball with a helmet and pads on? No matter what people think about how tough a guy looks in rugby it's a different game and people are a little free with their bodies when they throw on some pads. I only see fumbles and failures with him at running back.

I agree.  How about they get him going at tackle before he runs the Wildcat.

1 hour ago, EazyEaglez said:

Are his hands good for NFL football? Can he make a guy miss? Why are people so obsessed with this dude? He can't even make it on the roster right now. Nasty Nate should be changed to Mialota Magic. 

In a rugby sense he's got sure hands. He didn't exactly make guys miss though no. 

2 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

In a rugby sense he's got sure hands. He didn't exactly make guys miss though no. 

It's completely different to catch a pass without a helmet and shoulder pads on. 

44 minutes ago, Hawkeye said:

I agree.  How about they get him going at tackle before he runs the Wildcat.

Then people want him at fullback. Can you imagine a fullback that tall? He literally takes away line of sight for Wentz with his size. The guy belongs on the offensive or defensive line and that's it. If he can't do that then he doesn't belong in the NFL. 

33 minutes ago, EazyEaglez said:

It's completely different to catch a pass without a helmet and shoulder pads on. 

Oh absolutely I do not disagree there bud. It was a nice idea but doesn't look like it's going to work out. 

Wildcats baby he takes the snap runs wide pitches it to his wingback hurts who throws it 70 yards to a wide open Jackson!!

3 hours ago, EazyEaglez said:

The Eagles can sometimes get evaluations wrong, but they seem to believe he's best suited as an OT. I don't think there has ever been a back over like 6'3". Something else to note is most big backs have short careers. He's so big he would be easy to spot in the backfield. I personally think you would find far more failed runs than successful ones.

I'm not sure why we are even entertaining this 

Rugby League.

The game he's playing is Rugby League. As the great Laurie Daley once said - " Rugby League is a simple game, played by simple people. Rugby Union is a complex game played by wankers."

I have no doubt if he spend a bit of time in week training for it, you could line him up on goalline, hand him the ball and he'll be able get you 2-3 yards if thats what you needed for a TD. But he's already made such significant strides as a tackle from where he started and if you just want some hulking giant get you 3 yards and a cloud of dust, Hyde/Blount or any other big back can also probably do that job for you. No sense is taking his attention away from LT

5 hours ago, Bwestbrook36 said:

I'm not sure why we are even entertaining this 

Covid 19 got us debating nonsense. 😂