Nakobe measured in at 5'11, 229 at the combine. Even if he can get to 235, that's more than enough to hold up...especially with our DL.

He's more than big enough to tackle Saquon, Pollard, etc.

 

10 minutes ago, Road to Victory said:

Read my first post. I’m thrilled about the draft and off-season. Howie did an unbelievable job but every team has a weakness. We have two starting Lb’s who are tiny, one is the size of a safety and the other is 5’11 229 playing in the middle. Jeez. 

That’s the evolution of the position. Speed>Size

Didn’t Dean already play against all of the best RBs in the NFL when he played against Alabama already?  
 

That’s why you draft guys from these 2 schools; they’ve already faced pro bowl, not just nfl, talent.  Just at 22.

I wish we had walked away with a TE2 draft pick, this class was hella deep.

Aside from mega-talent Brock Bowers, next year's class isn't all that.

Let's hope Calcaterra is that dude.

A good look at Morrow, including plays where he blew past Kelce, Lane and Mailata. 

I think he will be fine for us. He's obviously not going to be an all pro, but he's not going to be worse than Kyzir White was last year. 

3 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Outside of Derek Henry, I'd be hard pressed to think of one.  Then again, I'd be hard pressed to name a LB in the NFL that wouldn't have a hard time one on one with Henry in the hole.

Not a LB, but I love Blankenship's open field tackle on Henry who had 3 blockers in front of him. 2:23

 

PATRICK QUEENLB, BALTIMORE RAVENS

The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec writes LB Patrick Queen is "a potential trade candidate."

The Ravens picked Trenton Simpson 86th overall in this year's draft, just signed Roquan Smith to a huge extension, and have danced around the idea of whether they will pick up Queen's fifth-year option this offseason. Queen is coming off his best season to date and the Ravens appear to be willing to part with him for the right price, as they offered in Zrebiec's words "no resolution" on Queen's status at their post-draft pressers. 

7 minutes ago, jsb235 said:

A good look at Morrow, including plays where he blew past Kelce, Lane and Mailata. 

I think he will be fine for us. He's obviously not going to be an all pro, but he's not going to be worse than Kyzir White was last year. 

It concerns me that the team that let Morrow walk for $1m to sign with us felt it appropriate to bring in Edwards for 3 years $19.5m.  Kyzir White got 2 years, $10m

So I'm not sure the market agrees with you that he cant be worse than Kyzir White.

 

1 minute ago, eagle45 said:

It concerns me that the team that let Morrow walk for $1m to sign with us felt it appropriate to bring in Edwards for 3 years $19.5m.  Kyzir White got 2 years, $10m

So I'm not sure the market agrees with you that he cant be worse than Kyzir White.

 

Maybe there's a reason the Bears and Cardinals aren't good football teams and we are? 

5 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

PATRICK QUEENLB, BALTIMORE RAVENS

The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec writes LB Patrick Queen is "a potential trade candidate."

The Ravens picked Trenton Simpson 86th overall in this year's draft, just signed Roquan Smith to a huge extension, and have danced around the idea of whether they will pick up Queen's fifth-year option this offseason. Queen is coming off his best season to date and the Ravens appear to be willing to part with him for the right price, as they offered in Zrebiec's words "no resolution" on Queen's status at their post-draft pressers. 

Fun addition, sure, but we can't afford to pay him either.  For a 1 year rental off-ball LB, I'd want the draft pick we give up to be only 1 round higher than the comp pick we'd get.  So that's probably a 4.

35 minutes ago, Road to Victory said:

I would’ve preferred Dean at the Will and Morrow as a coverage guy off the bench. I think WIll is Dean’s natural position in the NFL. Would’ve liked them to address the Mike position and there’s still time, especially with Howie’s ability to make acquisitions. 
 

I can’t say about Desai’s D but based on how they drafted and signed this year, I think the D will be similar to last year.  Eagles don’t really employ MIKE, WIL and SAM now.  More a rush OLB (Reddick) and two off ball ILBs.  I suspect one will be Dean.  In fact, I think he is the green dot.  The other may differ.  Maybe they do employ Morrow only on coverage downs.  Sort of like how they employed Ike Reese years ago.  I doubt it, but it is possible.  Maybe they use Bradley (unlikely) or Elliss as the second ILB.  Frankly, I thought Elliss outplayed Bradley at LB last year on very limited snaps in mop up duty.   But in coverage, I would rather have Morrow.  Elliss was one of those players whose development may have been impacted by that weird Covid season.  (Elliss got 22 defensive snaps in mop up duty during the regular season and 9 in the  post season in 2022, so a small sample body.). But I still think Morrow is the off ball LB with Dean. 

1 minute ago, jsb235 said:

Maybe there's a reason the Bears and Cardinals aren't good football teams and we are? 

He's not good.  32 teams didn't want to give a guy with 0 injury concerns more than 1 year $1m.  He is not good.  It's ok to say it.

12 hours ago, Outlaw said:

Omfg he’s a UDFA LB. He most likely won’t even make the team. But if he does it’ll be as a ST/3rd string guy. You truly think a kid who is going to have to bust his ass to be the best possible LB and ST player he can be for even the smidgeon of a chance to make the team is going to have the time or mental capacity to then try and convert to offense?

If you look back far enough at almost any player drafted or UDFA, they all played some different positions in pop Warner, HS, etc. This does not mean they CAN or SHOULD do so at the pro level.

Go get funding and start your own National Bi League where everyone is required to play two ways so I can buy your equipment and other assets at pennies on the dollar when it flops 3 months later. I’ll do that just so I can take a video of myself setting them on fire and then urinating on them to douse the flames while gleefully shouting versatile freakbeast and post it here. 

If you couldn’t get laid in a room full of drunk divorcees when you play in a band, you really need to work on your game. 

I dunno.  He was a WR in High School.  spent those years mostly catching passes.  He was big, so he was classified as a TE for college purposes.  Short though for a TE 6'2.  He also ran the ball from packages with him as QB, and from motion.  So, he goes to Michigan.  Is the backup to Ben Mason for 2 years, and they didn't use him much, and they didn't have him catch passes, which is what he did in high school for the most part.  No defense.  Not a lot of blocking in high school, getting the ball into his hands is what the offense was in high school.  Basically,  Michigan made a position switch from WR/QB (catching, running, throwing) to FB (blocking, some running, no catching).  He had a TD run, a few other runs.   The next year he becomes a Linebacker.   It's not clear why that happened,  but players often say "yes, coach, I'll do what you tell me to."    "Whatever is best for the team".   Things said so often they're cliches.  Maybe they're not lying.

I would have to think that if you catch passes in high school, run for tds and throw td passes,  your dream is to do that.  If he wanted to be a LB then,  he could have done that.   He was the star receiver,  and, actually, superweapon.     Mostly is out wide, sometimes they shift into single wing formation with him at QB and he runs. superweapon.   He preferred being superweapon to LB.   But I would imagine Harbaugh and VanS sat down at some time and discuss the likelihood of being drafted even if he had hi ras if all he did was play fullback and do a lot of blocking at a time that most teams don't have fullbacks who do a lot of blocking.   Maybe they decided it would be best for his own future career for him to be a linebacker.   There are a lot more LBs in the NFL than FBs.    But if we're actually looking at what VanS probably wants,   it probably has something to do with catching passes,  secondarily running, blocking and passing.   

It's almost a cliche that the more things you can do to help the team, the better your chances to make the team.   And that includes VanS being a versatile back.  There are a lot of players on defense who could be versatile backs.   I don't think you necessarily rule out someone who has never done it.   Tyree Jackson was never a TE, a WR or anything other than QB.  Now he's a TE for the Eagles.  

What realistically might VanS expect?   Well,  Dean rarely played last year and he was a high pick.  If he made the team, he'd probably play special teams.   One  thing on defense he could be is a situational pass rusher. But so could a lot of core special teams lbs who don't play too often.   I personally think it would be great if these players could go out there at the versatile back spot and do something.   VanS brings a lot more than the average LB to the versatility question, being a Michigan Fullback.    I  see no reason why VanS shouldn't be used as a short yardage running back based on what he did in college. There should be no objections to that.  I would think that realistically, most udfas become practice squad players. The Eagles don't have a big back.  Penny is the closest.  Hurts.    I don't necessarily think that Hurts should be the short yardage rusher automatically.  

Ras compare as RB - Vans vs Jalen
https://ras.football/ras-compare/?&p1=23189&p2=18948&pos=RB
 

In every case,  Vans number is better, bigger, faster, etc.  Why not let this Michigan FB with a rushing TD at Michigan,  with the size and speed you want for the short yardage tasks?   Generally, you would expect that a player isn't quite ready if they're a udfa, and often practice squad.

I think that he could make the 53 if he did well at special teams, I would like for the offense to get snaps on offense from players on defense.   I really like the size and speed and resume versatility of a lot of those players.  The offense should be able to use those snaps.   The Eagles should want to look for these players.   Maybe Vans can return kicks?   Taysom Hill returned kicks well,  Vans is similar to Hill.   Being on practice squad wouldn't be seen as a bad outcome, I wouldn't think. I would want to keep this player on the 53 if he can do short yardage rushing + special teams, and/or coming along nicely at LB.   Hi ras in a big rb package which is rare.   could make the 53 could make practice squad, could be neither. 

Good place to watch him play LB - 13 off ball LB

 

1 hour ago, mattwill said:

I’m not optimistic about Bradley making the 53man roster.  If Franklin is right, and I believe he is, then Bradley’s only value is on Special Teams, and I’d probably prefer giving one of the newbies like  VanSumeren a shot there.

IIRC Bradley was a ST captain, if that means anything. 

On topic, or off topic, but why is there no thread for the Eagles' 7th round pick: Moro Ojomo?  The EMB is disrespecting the last pick.  

 

1 minute ago, Iggles_Phan said:

On topic, or off topic, but why is there no thread for the Eagles' 7th round pick: Moro Ojomo?  The EMB is disrespecting the last pick.  

 

??

 

While I don't buy into this offense/defense interchangeability stuff, I do think VanSumeren is meant to be an H-back.  His absent read/react skills won't hurt him there.  You can customize his assignments to his unique athleticism.  

2 minutes ago, pallidrone said:

??

 

Good find.   Wasn't pinned with the others, so I figured there wasn't one.  But, that shows that there wasn't one until around noon today.  Took a while for the EMB to show the love for the kid.  Hoping he's going to be a stud... just to prove us all wrong.

On paper and as of now, this is probably my favorite running back room since Duce/Westbrook/Buckhalter. The top three guys pair off one another so well and can be very dynamic. And then you throw Hurts’ running ability into the equation along with this offensive line and it’s hard to not get excited. All signs point to them absolutely bludgeoning teams in the run game and a strong ability to close out games late. 

16 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

He's not good.  32 teams didn't want to give a guy with 0 injury concerns more than 1 year $1m.  He is not good.  It's ok to say it.

Not saying he is good. I am saying he is better than what we had last year. And Dean will probably be better than Edwards. 

Nicholas Morrow is a replacement-level LB. That's fine.

6 hours ago, eagle45 said:

Well he is a tackle and he's not deficient in athleticism.  So of course he's going to be a guard with tackle feet.  

This pick is going to work out.  The Eagles judgement with OL is beyond reproach and they also have a smart, successful history of converting OT's to OG's.  But there still remains a reason that not every single starting OG in the NFL was a collegiate OT (although many were).

He's 6'6" with a higher center of gravity than most OG's and has been reported to get too upright off the snap.  So that needs to be sorted out.

His path to the starting lineup, unless he beats out Jurgens this year, obviously comes when Jurgens slides over to replace Kelce, presumably next year.  This offense is built around a road grating OL.  We have to see if Jurgens and Steen can manage that at RG.

I would take issue with one thing. Our offense, particularly the rushing offense, is not so much road-grading as it is multiple. We run four plays, basically: inside zone, outside zone, split zone, and read option.

That requires OL who can move. We have the best OZ in the league because of Kelce, who gets to the edge better than any OL, not just center, in the league. Cam Jurgens is almost as mobile. Having two such mobile guys to run the OZ is going to terrify teams. I anticipate an even better OZ this year than in years past. When Kelce retires we'll go back to the current mix because I don't believe Steen is comparable to either Cam or Kelce, in which case the offense will change if/when Cam goes to RG. More power, traps, and still lots of IZ and split zone but less OZ.

That uprightness at the snap is the nature of the tackle position rather than the player. Watching him at the Senior Bowl, when he played guard, he was plenty low and he has excellent knee bend. I don't believe that will be an issue.

20 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

I dunno.  He was a WR in High School.  spent those years mostly catching passes.  He was big, so he was classified as a TE for college purposes.  Short though for a TE 6'2.  He also ran the ball from packages with him as QB, and from motion.  So, he goes to Michigan.  Is the backup to Ben Mason for 2 years, and they didn't use him much, and they didn't have him catch passes, which is what he did in high school for the most part.  No defense.  Not a lot of blocking in high school, getting the ball into his hands is what the offense was in high school.  Basically,  Michigan made a position switch from WR/QB (catching, running, throwing) to FB (blocking, some running, no catching).  He had a TD run, a few other runs.   The next year he becomes a Linebacker.   It's not clear why that happened,  but players often say "yes, coach, I'll do what you tell me to."    "Whatever is best for the team".   Things said so often they're cliches.  Maybe they're not lying.

I would have to think that if you catch passes in high school, run for tds and throw td passes,  your dream is to do that.  If he wanted to be a LB then,  he could have done that.   He was the star receiver,  and, actually, superweapon.     Mostly is out wide, sometimes they shift into single wing formation with him at QB and he runs. superweapon.   He preferred being superweapon to LB.   But I would imagine Harbaugh and VanS sat down at some time and discuss the likelihood of being drafted even if he had hi ras if all he did was play fullback and do a lot of blocking at a time that most teams don't have fullbacks who do a lot of blocking.   Maybe they decided it would be best for his own future career for him to be a linebacker.   There are a lot more LBs in the NFL than FBs.    But if we're actually looking at what VanS probably wants,   it probably has something to do with catching passes,  secondarily running, blocking and passing.   

It's almost a cliche that the more things you can do to help the team, the better your chances to make the team.   And that includes VanS being a versatile back.  There are a lot of players on defense who could be versatile backs.   I don't think you necessarily rule out someone who has never done it.   Tyree Jackson was never a TE, a WR or anything other than QB.  Now he's a TE for the Eagles.  

What realistically might VanS expect?   Well,  Dean rarely played last year and he was a high pick.  If he made the team, he'd probably play special teams.   One  thing on defense he could be is a situational pass rusher. But so could a lot of core special teams lbs who don't play too often.   I personally think it would be great if these players could go out there at the versatile back spot and do something.   VanS brings a lot more than the average LB to the versatility question, being a Michigan Fullback.    I  see no reason why VanS shouldn't be used as a short yardage running back based on what he did in college. There should be no objections to that.  I would think that realistically, most udfas become practice squad players. The Eagles don't have a big back.  Penny is the closest.  Hurts.    I don't necessarily think that Hurts should be the short yardage rusher automatically.  

Ras compare as RB - Vans vs Jalen
https://ras.football/ras-compare/?&p1=23189&p2=18948&pos=RB
 

In every case,  Vans number is better, bigger, faster, etc.  Why not let this Michigan FB with a rushing TD at Michigan,  with the size and speed you want for the short yardage tasks?   Generally, you would expect that a player isn't quite ready if they're a udfa, and often practice squad.

I think that he could make the 53 if he did well at special teams, I would like for the offense to get snaps on offense from players on defense.   I really like the size and speed and resume versatility of a lot of those players.  The offense should be able to use those snaps.   The Eagles should want to look for these players.   Maybe Vans can return kicks?   Taysom Hill returned kicks well,  Vans is similar to Hill.   Being on practice squad wouldn't be seen as a bad outcome, I wouldn't think. I would want to keep this player on the 53 if he can do short yardage rushing + special teams, and/or coming along nicely at LB.   Hi ras in a big rb package which is rare.   could make the 53 could make practice squad, could be neither. 

Good place to watch him play LB - 13 off ball LB

 

If you think anyone is taking the time to read that, you’re more delusional than I thought.