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  • Don't get your heart set on Cook

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    Why the Eagles aren't drafting a RB in the 1st round


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    Mark Eckel | For NJ Advance Media By Mark Eckel | For NJ Advance Media
    on March 22, 2017 at 6:00 AM, updated March 22, 2017 at 7:36 AM




    History suggests it isn't going to happen.

    The last time the Eagles selected a running back in the first round of the NFL Draft was 1986 when then rookie head coach Buddy Ryan selected Keith Byars, out of Ohio State, with the ninth overall pick.

    That was a really long time ago.

    And 31 years later I'm not buying into Florida State's Dalvin Cook or Standford's Christian McCaffery being the Eagles selection with the 14th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft.

    Yes, LSU's Leonard Fournette intrigues me and the fact the Eagles brought him in for a visit when there is very little chance he lasts until 14 also makes me wonder, but no, the Eagles are not taking a running back in the first round.

    Here's why.



    Nick Foles vs. Chase Daniel

    The Eagles will have a new/old backup quarterback in 2017. Did they make the right move in replacing Chase Daniel with Nick Foles? And the team likes Wendell Smallwood more than you do.


    The organization through the years has done very well with running backs taken after the first round. In the Super Bowl era, the Eagles best backs were, and your preference depends on the order, Brian Westbrook (3rd round, 2002), LeSean McCoy (2nd round, 2009), Wilbert Montgomery (6th round, 1977) and Duce Staley (3rd round, 1997).

    So if they just look through their media guide they can see that it's not necessary to spend a first-round pick on a running back.

    And this year that might be more true than ever.

    While the above mentioned backs -- Fournette, McCaffery and Cook -- are the top three backs in the draft and will likely be taken in the first round, there are some good ones who will last until the second, third and even fourth rounds.

    A back the Eagles definitely like is Pitt's James Connor, a bruiser who Eagles fans will love in a hurry and who should be there in the fourth round, maybe even with the Eagles' second fourth-round pick.

    Finally, and this might be the most important reason the Eagles aren't taking one of the top three backs, the team really likes what it saw from 2016 fifth-round pick Wendell Smallwood.


    It was a small sample, mainly because he missed the final three games of the season, but when given the opportunity Smallwood produced.

    He was good (79 yards rushing) in the team's 34-3 dismantling of the Steelers, the AFC finalist. And he was even better (70 yards, 5.4 yards per carry) in the team's 24-15 win over the Falcons, the NFC Champions.

    So in the Eagles' two best wins, Smallwood produced. He deserves the chance to see what he can do with more of a workload in 2017. And I think he's going to get it.
    "Hey Giants, who's your Daddy?"

  • #2
    and we need defensive help far more than a RB !!!!!!!
    We're looking for people that are fundamentally different,” vice president of player personnel Andy Weidl said Saturday night. “The love and passion for football, it's non-negotiable. They're caring, their character, they do the right thing persistently, and they have a relentless playing style that you can see on tape. The motor, it burns hot. You see them finishing plays. They have a team-first mentality. They're selfless individuals.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by musicman View Post
      and we need defensive help far more than a RB !!!!!!!
      It sure wouldn't surprise me if we took a DL. I guess the only thing that actually would shock me is if we took a QB LOL.
      "Hey Giants, who's your Daddy?"

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      • #4
        If they go QB in first, I surrender. Will find another team !!!
        We're looking for people that are fundamentally different,” vice president of player personnel Andy Weidl said Saturday night. “The love and passion for football, it's non-negotiable. They're caring, their character, they do the right thing persistently, and they have a relentless playing style that you can see on tape. The motor, it burns hot. You see them finishing plays. They have a team-first mentality. They're selfless individuals.

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        • #5
          I anticipate a defensive 1st Rd pick. However, I am a proponent of BPA as I have stated before. If that's an offensive player, take him. QB excepted

          Of course, schematic fit may be an issue (i.e. if the player is a natural 3-4 NT vs. a 4-3 3-tech DT)

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          • #6
            when you have a young QB, you surround him with playmakers. Especially in today's offensive heavy NFL. I don't want us to make the same mistake we did with McNabb

            so I am 100% on board with taking a HB at 14. Would absolutely love it

            call me crazy, but I would also be on board with John Ross at 14. Just to add more speed and open things up even more

            it used to be a 20-10 league. It's a 30-20 league now.

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            • #7
              You can NEVER have too many good football players so again I say BPA and I agree with you Dawk that we should surround Carson with talent. I'm still not wild about a rb at number 1 but if that's what your board says so be it. I don't really care who they take as long as they don't reach for a db.
              "Hey Giants, who's your Daddy?"

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              • #8
                I mean, James Connor is a great kid and we would love him personally. He is just not very explosive.

                I want fast and versatile

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                • #9
                  I want BPA, but if you are looking at 1 of the top WR,RB and CB and it's your pick and you look at the roster and see Sproles and Smallwood, Jeffery,Smith and Mathews and then you see Mills and ???, I hope you do the right thing.
                  We're looking for people that are fundamentally different,” vice president of player personnel Andy Weidl said Saturday night. “The love and passion for football, it's non-negotiable. They're caring, their character, they do the right thing persistently, and they have a relentless playing style that you can see on tape. The motor, it burns hot. You see them finishing plays. They have a team-first mentality. They're selfless individuals.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I think they will go BPA but the way the draft will fall the BPA will most likely fill a need. Either DE, DT, CB or WR. I tend to think they won't go RB either. I like Cook on the field but his off the field issues should scare most and he does have quite an injury history.

                    That said if CB, DE, DT, WR and RB all have right around the same grade then they should go CB. That is their biggest need and also the position I think that they would get the most use out of as a rookie. DE, DT, WR and RB all rotate on this team. CB not so much.
                    Were from Philly F in Philly no one likes us we DON'T CARE!

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by dawkins20 View Post
                      I mean, James Connor is a great kid and we would love him personally. He is just not very explosive.

                      I want fast and versatile
                      i agree but that freight train hitting LBs and DBs 20 times a game? I grab him in the 4th round and team with Smallwood.

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                      • #12
                        Howie will make the wrong choice and Lurie will look like a clown trying to show off for TV while hosting the draft
                        Taking It One Game At A Time

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                        • #13
                          Damn, The last thing this team needs is another injury prone RB. Matthews was ridiculous and along with the fumbles is pretty much useless. About the only cool thing that guy ever did was propose to his wife during an interview after Boise State won their bowl game. I guess that Cook and Smallwood would be a nice 1-2 punch but Smallwood doesn't seem to be the most durable of guys either. I think that if I were the Birds I would have held onto Barner. Maybe the Birds are really high on Marshall. We'll see I guess.
                          Last edited by Eagle60; 03-25-2017, 01:07 PM.
                          "Hey Giants, who's your Daddy?"

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by WhizKid View Post
                            Howie will make the wrong choice and Lurie will look like a clown trying to show off for TV while hosting the draft
                            I'll ask again, why the fuck are you here? You're clearly NOT an Eagles fan, just a troll looking to stir things up. It may be time for a spring cleaning where the trolls are tossed out......
                            Official Driver of the Eagles Bandwagon!!!
                            Bleedin' Green since birth!

                            "Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many." - Mike Willey

                            ”Enjoy The Ride!!!” - Bob Marcus

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Jukin View Post
                              I'll ask again, why the fuck are you here? You're clearly NOT an Eagles fan, just a troll looking to stir things up. It may be time for a spring cleaning where the trolls are tossed out......
                              Removing him would be addition by subtraction. He never adds anything.

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