Brian Billick throws us a bone... and Eagles "Mach 10" contestants are updated...

My apologies to Spiffo and South Philly Ben for failing to locate their archival "Mach 10" ballots in time for yesterday's blurrger... but I've got them now, having been given appropriate "time served" in the Shed to do required research. Thank you Bri, may I have another...

In all fairness, Brizer helped me to unravel the oddity of Abe Linc's mystery ballot...which it turns out was an identity crisis on my part, foolishly identifying with Fields o' 69's submission... which I sadly duplicated and for which I am deeply sorry. AbeLinc, I apologize... your original submission is still alive in the formative stages and yet to be delivered. We'll be ready when you are...

The excitement of impending Draft Day got to me...a crime for which I will do the time in Brizer's classically underinsulated Shed... Thank Jeebus that Swoop left me plenty of reading material...and a few tasty chocolate snacks still crackling with flavor in Brizer's old International Harvester cooler...

Now to right the record... Here are the MACH 10 submissions which include the "lost" veteran posts as well as the newest virginal submissions:

Spiffo's Mach 10:
1. Riley Reiff
2. David Decastro
3. Mike Adams
4. Brandon Weeden
5. Ryan Tannehill
6. Mark Barron
7. Michael Brockers
8. Kendall Wright
9. Brock Osweiler
10. Brandon Taylor

South Philly Ben's Mach 10:
1. Fletcher Cox
2. Harrison Smith
3. Cam Johnson
4. Tommy Streeter
5. Russell Wilson
6. Cliff Harris
7. Mike Egnew
8. Robert Turbin
9. Ryan Miller
10. Keenan Robinson

Leo Pizzini's Mach 10:
1. Mark Barron
2. Michael Brockers
3. Jared Crick
4. Kirk Cousins
5. Brandon Taylor
6. Nick Toon
7. Bobby Wagner
8. Chris Rainey
9. Audie Cole
10. Robert Turbin

Kent Phil's Mach 10:
1. Luke Kuechly
2. Fletcher Cox
3. Vontaze Burfict
4. Brandon Weeden
5. Stephen Hill
6. Michael Brockers
7. J. Francis
8. Antonio Allen
9. Dwayne Allen
10. Chris Rainey

PPW's Mach 10:
1. Luke Kuechly
2. Devon Still
3. Brandon Thompson
4. Mitchell Schwartz
5. Brian Quick
6. Demario Davis
7. Terance Ganaway
8. Duke Ihenacho
9. Davin Megget
10. Tavon Wilson

Todd Orange's Mach 10:
1. Luke Kuechly
2. Brandon Thompson
3. Kirk Cousins
4. Bernard Pierce
5. Fletcher Cox
6. Lavonte David
7. Kendall Reyes
8. Jared Crick
9. Zach Brown
10. Mitchell Schwartz 

Dr. Funt's Mach 10:
1. Michael Brockers
2. Fletcher Cox
3. Andre Branch
4. Zach Brown
5. David Decastro
6. Mychal Kendricks
7. Vin Curry
8. Joel Worthy
9. Ronnell Lewis
10. Coby Fleener

Hudson Hawk's Mach 10:
1. Luke Kuechly
2. Fletcher Cox
3. Riley Reiff
4. Alfonso Denard
5. Kirk Cousins
6. Sean Spence
7. Vontaze Burfict
8. Nick Toon
9. Chris Rainey
10. Kellen Moore


In the midst of all of this excitement over the Eagles' upcoming draft, my neighbor and mentor Brian Billick decided to give us a freebie. Brian is quite aware of his less-than-universal approval rating among Eagles fans, but my constant yet low-key appeal to him as an Eastern Shore neighbor (at least in the summer when I am down on Smith Island) finally persuaded him to give us Eagles fans a little insight into how a former Super Bowl-winning head coach evaluates the upcoming Linebacker class of the 2012 Draft:

Billick: "When evaluating linebackers, you almost have to divide them into three entirely different skill sets. Obviously middle linebackers will have different skills outside players, and of those outside backers, you must define them as traditional stack 'backers in the 4-3 defense or the newly popular edge rushers in the 3-4."

"Let's take a look at the best of each of the three linebacker positions."

"In the mold of the Steelers, Packers and this season’s Texans, the 3-4 defense is becoming commonplace in the NFL. The key to getting pressure in that scheme comes from the outside backers, basically stand-up defensive ends on either side of the three down linemen. Players such as Clay Matthews, DeMarcus Ware and James Harrison have become the prototype for this position, and there are a couple of players in this year’s draft who offer that type of ability."

"Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw is the cream of the crop and has many believing he can play all over the defensive front. His obvious position is as a 3-4 edge rusher, but he could even move down to play the 5-technique position in nickel situations to provide the offensive line a different look as a speed rusher. Like Harrison, Upshaw doesn’t have the ideal length commonly found in an edge rusher, but he is a ball of explosion who shoots out of his stances, throws a violent punch and runs the loop with compact and flexible hips."

"He also isn’t going to be a liability in the running game as he shows a strong ability to set the edge on tape and doesn’t give up his gap by always trying to get a pass rush. Upshaw has also played off the line of scrimmage as a traditional stacked 'backer but isn’t quite as comfortable there. He looks tight in the open field and doesn’t have great lateral movement to slide over blocks and sink his hips into contact. He isn’t the most reliable tackler in the open field, and that is why I see him best as a 3-4 rush end or even a defensive end in some fronts."

"With today’s NFL offensive systems being so reliant on tight ends and running backs to contribute in the passing game, that will change the way defensive players are being evaluated, especially at the linebacker position. Now, more than ever, “Will” 'backers, or outside 'backers in general are being asked to run with and cover tight ends and running backs in man coverage. You can drop a safety down to try to cover a tight end, but often, as in the case of Jermichael Finley and Jimmy Graham, the tight end is just too big. If you can stick a bigger framed linebacker with the ability to keep up with those players, you have a better chance of neutralizing the threat. That said, this year’s draft offers a couple of prospects who will provide that type of athleticism."

"Nebraska’s Lavonte David is a name most fans might not be as familiar with, but he is athletic enough to cover a tight end in man coverage, run with a running back out of the backfield and even lock down a zone against a shifty slot receiver. David ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds at 6-foot, 233 pounds. No...4.65 isn’t blazing fast, but it's plenty fast for a player his size who plays under control with balance and takes great angles on the field. He is light-footed and feels traffic around him with great field awareness and locates the ball well and reacts quickly. He plays within his role and is rarely out of position on the football field. He has fluid and flexible hips in his transition from backpedal to turn and run, and he could be confused as a safety when you watch his athleticism on the field."

"David will be competing with players such as North Carolina's Zach Brown and Miami’s Sean Spence to be the first Will 'backers off the board. These types of players aren’t as valuable as the top-end rushers and, therefore, shoudn’t start falling off the board until the middle of the second round, but they will be of great value to a team that regularly faces an elite tight end in their division."

"As for the middle linebackers in this draft, it's a two-man race between Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower and Boston College’s Luke Kuechly. You really can’t go wrong with either, but for my money, I’d go with Kuechly for what he brings to the middle of a defense.

"Kuechly had back-to-back seasons of 100-plus solo tackles and nearly tallied 200 total tackles in each of the past two seasons. I see him as a little bit of an overachiever based on those numbers, because some of those tackles were made 5-8 yards from the line of scrimmage."

"I would like to see Kuechly attack the ball carrier in the hole more confidently and disengage blockers with more violence, but his ability to run from sideline to sideline and his effort are things that can’t be coached. He is a player who always puts himself in the right position on the field, and you can tell he puts into play what he learns in the film room and in practice. He is a smart player who will be at his best when a defensive tackle allows him to roam free in the open field."

And there you have it. Read between the lines and you can tell whom Billick is touting for the Eagles' next rookie linebacker draft prospects...although he would not explicitly come out and tell Andy Reid what to do if the opportunity exists to draft Lavonte David or Dont'a Hightower or Luke Kuechly. After all, NFL coaches have to uphold a code of honor and loyalty to each other's circle of power and trust... And Brian Billick is not about to upset that equilibrium.  His life is very comfortable right now as an NFLN analyst and Fox-TV commentator and blogger. Life is good for the Billick family on the Eastern Shore.