Jason Avant, Philadelphia Eagle

[The BIGSTUD]

The more I think about it, the more I love this pick. Watching the 2nd half of last season and all the dropped balls, and being pushed around, this pick makes sense. McNabb needs a sure-handed guy who can bring in a ball. I think all of us were tired of seeing a ball go off Greg Lewis' and McMullen's fingertips and the alligator arms. Avant is a tough sure-handed guy, who will help this offense I think. I doubt we'll be seeing a lot of dropped balls and alligator arms from him.

This offense won't score in 3 plays like it did in 2004, but I think it will be a good paced offense that can move up and down the field consistently.

[PhillyandBCEagles]

If Avant can give us the kind of production--and more importantly, the kind of big catches for first downs--in his rookie year that FredEx gave us in '03 and '04, I'll be ecstatic.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

If Avant can give us the kind of production--and more importantly, the kind of big catches for first downs--in his rookie year that FredEx gave us in '03 and '04, I'll be ecstatic.

Yeah, what would be awesome is if he made a "big" catch more than once a year.

[Sgt PSN]

Avant's Highlight video.  Check his hands for Super Glue.  How many tough catches can guy make?

I know basically nothing about this guy but from watching that, here's my take:

Pros:

Excellent hands, leaping ability and all around athleticism.  Some of the catches he made were amazing because there were quite a few in there where the ball was thrown well behind him, too far in front of him or over him. 

He also seemed to have some shiftiness to him and ran a lot of underneath routes across the middle which will be a welcomed trait in the WCO. 

And he showed great awareness on a few catches on the sidelines by getting his feet (foot) down. 

Cons:

Nothing really major but he didn't seem to me to have great speed.  The entire highlight reel consisted of him catching short/intermediate passes and in most cases was tackled shortly after.  There was one or 2 plays where he was able to turn it into a big gain but absolutely nothing showing him beating a corner deep. 

From what I saw in that reel I would label him a possesion reciever possibly similar to Keyshawn but maybe a little more athletic.  And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. 

All in all, I like what I saw. 

[cmleary0919]

Yeah thats the general knock on him, his speed.. I believe in the combine he ran a 4.8

[Don Ho]

Yeah thats the general knock on him, his speed.. I believe in the combine he ran a 4.8

Is that what knocked him down in the draft?  I remember when a lot of the first mocks came out in February he was picked by many to go in the second.  I swear I saw one that had him going in the first.  I am really excited about this guy.  Hopefully he comes in here with something to prove after dropping into the fourth round.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

As was said, he ran quicker at the combine.  He ran a 4.8 on his pro day with a cast on his usual push-off hand.

[Seabiscuit36]

didnt Anquan Boldin run a 4.7?  I thought that was the whole knock on him.

[Zanshin]

Yep.  It was a slowish time; otherwise, he would have been a first rounder.

[MURP]

yeah 40 time couldnt possibly be more overrated.  Jerry Rice wasnt a super fast guy on the track, we all know how that turned out.   Just look at the difference between Reggie Brown and Freddie Mitchell.  One busts his ass to become a good player and the other goes on world travel and hangs out at hollywood parties every chance he gets.  From Avante talking about catching 200 balls from the machine every day he atleast sounds like he has the desire to become a good player.

[Zanshin]

At this level, that's the key.  Everybody has some talent to some degree in the NFL...but because the playing field is much more even, it's way harder to get by on that.  I think it's pretty obvious the guys who relied solely on talent in their college careers have a much more difficult transition to the NFL.  Give me the guy with a chip on his shoulder.

[PhillyGirl]

posted this on another thread:

Jaworski just made a comment regarding timed speeds. He was talking about Vernon Davis and how yes, its great that he ran a great 40 time and such, but games are different than wearing t-shirts and shorts and running in that situation. I am not overly concerned with the kid's 40 times, the same way no one should be overly impressed with someone with a fantastic 40 time. It doesn't always equate to speed on the field or vice versa.

Hate to say this, but just look at TO. Not exactly the speed demon.

[Zanshin]

Well, yes and no.  I agree with all of that, except the TO point.  Last year he was timed in the 4.3 range, which is a pretty serious case of the quicks.

[Wingspan]

really. i'll pay attention when they run the 40's with at least a helmet on. or at least the NFL changes ovetime rule to include running into blocking sleds and doing windsprints.

[PhillyGirl]

Well, yes and no.  I agree with all of that, except the TO point.  Last year he was timed in the 4.3 range, which is a pretty serious case of the quicks.

wha? Where did you read that?