Draft Dreaming

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Stuck at home all day with the wife, who has the flu, so I figured I'd start a poll.

Assuming the first five looks like this:

1.  Houston Texans - Reggie Bush

2.  N.O. Saints - Matt Leinart

3.  Tennessee Titans - D'Brickashaw Ferguson

4.  N.Y. Jets - Young/Cutler

5.  G.B. Packers - Mario Williams

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Ngata looks OK, but doesn't really fit Johnson's scheme.  I think Bunkley is a much better fit and has a much higher upside.  With both Hawk and Ngata, I feel like they will both be serviceable starters in the NFL, but I really don't see either of them as major stars.

Vernon Davis will be a star.

[Feva]

Davis all day long.  Count me in with taking Bunkley over Ngata as well.

[rjs246]

Hawk. Crackheads.

[phattymatty]

Davis.  Without even thinking.

[rjs246]

I'm having a very hard time understanding why anyone would want to use the Eagles' first round pick on a TE.

Did anyone watch this team last season?

- LJ, for all of his faults, was on his way to a pretty huge season when McNabb went down.
- The defense SUCKED serious ass. I mean, they were an embarrassment.
- No one could block and the team couldn't run the ball to save its life.

Drafting a speed tight end solves none of these problems and yet everyone is creaming themselves over this kid. This offense will be improved more by a farging reliable fullback than by a pass-catching TE.

[phattymatty]

Just because he's fast, you shouldn't label him a speed tight end.  He's one of the strongest guys in this year's draft class, and that's counting big fat lineman.  Broke all kinds of UMD lifting records.  The fact that he's fast with great hands makes him too hard to pass up.  If he's there when we pick, which is doubtful, the Eagles would be retarded not to get him.  Regardless of what our biggest needa are.  I think having soemone who can catch the ball and throw fools on their ass is a big need anyway.

No one in the FA market would help us on O as much as he will, but we can go after D in FA to address our line and LB crew.

Plus, AJ Hawk reminds me too much of Simoneau and is too ugly to root for.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I'm having a very hard time understanding why anyone would want to use the Eagles' first round pick on a TE.

That's not a surprise, since you like the taste of L.J.'s wahnson.

Did anyone watch this team last season?

Yes.  Every game but the *NINE RUSHES* game at Dallas.

LJ, for all of his faults, was on his way to a pretty huge season when McNabb went down.

Yes, his faults are BLOCKING and HOLDING ONTO THE BALL.  Those are big faults.  He is a very good receiver, but he is not a very good all-around TE at all.  He's a liability in the running game.

The defense SUCKED serious ass. I mean, they were an embarrassment.

No doubt help is needed there... but a rookie LB is not what the team needs, unless the kid is a BEAST... and I don't see any of the guys with a 1st-round grade being that exciting.  I would contend that depending on what happens or doesn't in free agency, a guy like Brodrick Bunkley could be a GREAT pick.  But drafting for desperate need is murder, because rookie front seven guys usually take a few years to make a real impact.  Even Patterson and Cole, who were great for rookies, lost steam and were inconsistent.  McCoy, who the Eagles claim to like a lot, made zero impact last year.

No one could block and the team couldn't run the ball to save its life.

Exactly, and that includes L.J.  With getting healthy and a key addition or two, the offensive line should be very good again.  The issue is that L.J. is the only NFL-caliber (read: not Spach or Andy Thorn) TE on the Eagles roster, and he can't block for shtein.  He is a very, very poor blocker.

Drafting a speed tight end solves none of these problems and yet everyone is creaming themselves over this kid. This offense will be improved more by a farging reliable fullback than by a pass-catching TE.

The point is that VD is not a "speed" or "finesse" tight end, like L.J. is.  He's a physical beast, who is probably the best (and certainly the strongest) blocking TE in the draft.  The kid could pancake almost anyone.  In fact, he's probably a better blocker than he is a receiver already.  So, it would appear your narrow analysis of him has missed many of his skills, which is why your opinion on the matter is simply misinformed.

[rjs246]

I honestly think that an offensive lineman or two would help the offense infinitely more than a rookie TE.

Remember when Jeremy Shockey came into the league and we all made fun of Giants fans for thinking that a TE could turn their offense into a juggernaught? What happened? Shockey came in and played at an elite level right away and their team still sucked.

A TE does not make or break an offense and using a first round pick on one makes no sense to me.

[rjs246]

FF, justify all you want, but until I see a TE turn an offense around on his own you'll never convince me that drafting a TE in the first round is what will help the Eagles the most this year.

[Wingspan]

LJ, for all of his faults, was on his way to a pretty huge season when McNabb went down.

Yes, his faults are BLOCKING and HOLDING ONTO THE BALL.  Those are big faults.  He is a very good receiver, but he is not a very good all-around TE at all.  He's a liability in the running game.

he had 1 fumble last season

1

[MURP]

I honestly think that an offensive lineman or two would help the offense infinitely more than a rookie TE.

Remember when Jeremy Shockey came into the league and we all made fun of Giants fans for thinking that a TE could turn their offense into a juggernaught? What happened? Shockey came in and played at an elite level right away and their team still sucked.

lol,  so because you say the Giants sucked after drafting Shockey (they actually won 3 more games than the previous season), the Eagles would suck with Vernon Davis?    Makes total sense!!!!!

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

FF, justify all you want, but until I see a TE turn an offense around on his own you'll never convince me that drafting a TE in the first round is what will help the Eagles the most this year.

Drafting a TE in the first round is not what will help the Eagles most.  Drafting the best and most NFL-ready player available will help the team the most, and I think Vernon Davis is probably no worse than the 4th best player in the whole draft.

That said... none of these 3 guys will be there at #14, and even though I love the idea of getting Davis, I would not strongly advocate trading up for him.

[rjs246]

lol,  so because you say the Giants sucked after drafting Shockey (they actually won 3 more games than the previous season), the Eagles would suck with Vernon Davis?    Makes total sense!!!!!

Are you retarded? Did I say any of that? I said a TE does not make or break an offense, especially when that offense has good receiving TE already. Does this team need another TE? Of course. In a very very very bad way. They need a BLOCKING TE. Is this team going to suck with or without VD? No, dumbass.

Or should I say, "lol no, dumbass!!!!!"

[General_Failure]

You forgot the one and eleventy in there.

I'd love to have a monster FB on this team. I'd also prefer a WR, safety, corner, LB or any lineman before getting another TE. But I'll also be happy with anyone on the offense that can help both the running game and the passing game.