Comparing the NFC East rivals' quality of Draft to the Eagles'...
It's always tough to compare division rivals and their spoils in the Draft. Each team has a unique matrix of combined needs and wants. Where you fall in picks for the draft in numerical succession affects everything...so that it's more about a numbers game than extreme scouting abilities in competition.
Here's how the numbers fell in the 2012 Draft for the NFC East:
Vinny Curry to the Eagles.... how could you not see this pick as a once-and-future message of Defensive End rushing threat to every offense in the NFC East?
Brandon Boykin... How did the rest of the division overlook this cat? As Leo Pizzini pointed out in yesterday's comments, not only is Boykin a potentially greater cover cornerback than Asante Samuel, but he can return kicks and punts...and has the athleticism equivalent to Michael Jordan in terms of vertical leap...
DALLAS DRAFTED FOR DEFENSE...
Dallas Cowboys: Dallas used its first 4 picks on defense and with good reasons. After giving up 33 touchdown passes in 2010, tied for the most in the league, the Cowboys made some improvement in this area last season numbers-wise. But it’s worth noting that while Rob Ryan’s unit allowed only 24 scores through the air, 9 of those came in the 4 losses to the Giants and Eagles. Combined with free agent addition CB Brandon Carr (Chiefs) and former first-rounder CB Mike Jenkins, the Pokes figure to be better in the secondary. And the additions of Crawford and Wilber hope to aid a pass rush that produced a respectable 42 sacks, but 19.5 came from OLB DeMarcus Ware.
RD PLAYER/SCHOOL
1/6 DB Morris Claiborne (LSU)
3/81 DE Tyrone Crawford (Boise State)
4/113 DE Kyle Wilber (Wake Forest)
4b/135 DB Matt Johnson (Eastern Washington)
5/152 WR Danny Coale (Virginia Tech)
6/186 TE James Hanna (Oklahoma)
7/222 LB Caleb McSurdy (Montana)
GIANTS DRAFTED FOR OFFENSE...
N.Y. Giants: The defending Super Bowl champions had a few holes to fill following the release of RB Brandon Jacobs and the free agent departure of WR Mario Manningham, both signing with the 49ers--whom the Giants obviously beat in the NFC title game. David Wilson is not necessarily the power runner that Jacobs was but could help the team in many facets, including kickoff returns. Meanwhile, the 6-3 Randle will get a chance to learn behind WR's Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. While the Giants did sign former Cowboys’ TE Martellus Bennett, Adrien Robinson will get a chance for some playing time, as both look to fill the gap in case TE Jake Ballard isn’t ready to go this fall.
RD PLAYER/SCHOOL
1/32 RB David Wilson (Virginia Tech)
2/63 WR Rueben Randle (LSU)
3/94 DB Jayron Hosley (Virginia Tech)
4/127 TE Adrien Robinson (Cincinnati)
4b/131 T Brandon Mosley (Auburn)
6/201 T Matt McCants (Ala.-Birmingham)
7/239 DT Markus Kuhn (North Carolina State)
EAGLES DRAFTED FOR A SWEET MIX OF DEFENSE AND OFFENSE...
Philadelphia Eagles: Andy's team stressed defense in the earlier half of the draft and added some playmakers in the final 2 rounds. The Eagles tied for the NFL lead with 50 sacks last season, 46 of those from their defensive linemen, but they were a mediocre 16th in the league against the run and allowed 130 or more yards rushing in 7 games last season... hence the addition of the versatile Cox and Kendricks, the latter added to a young linebacking crew that did get a little more seasoned this offseason via the acquisition of former Texans’ Pro Bowler DeMeco Ryans. Curry hopes to learn from DE's Jason Babin and Trent Cole, while one-time QB McNutt is an intriguing prospect at WR...
RD PLAYER/SCHOOL
1/12 DT Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State)
2/46 LB Mychal Kendricks (California)
2b/59 DE Vinny Curry (Marshall)
3/88 QB Nick Foles (Arizona)
4/123 DB Brandon Boykin (Georgia)
5/153 T Dennis Kelly (Purdue)
6/194 WR Marvin McNutt (Iowa)
6b/200 G Brandon Washington (Miami, Fla.)
7/229 RB Bryce Brown (Kansas State)
REDSKINS DRAFTED FOR CRAZY!
Washington Redskins: For the second straight year and coming off selecting an NFL-high 12 players in the 2011 Draft, their organization was very active during the 3-day process--the team’s combined 21 selections in two years the most by the franchise over a two-year span since the draft was shortened to 7 rounds in 1994. Griffin III cost the Redskins plenty to move up to get him, but the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner is a perfect fit for what Mike Shanahan likes to do. Much was made about the addition of Kirk Cousins at QB (pick #3), but the former Spartan was simply too good to pass up in Shanahan's opinion. The team also continued to look to improve the offensive front, using 3 of its 9 selections on G's Leribeus and Gettis and T Compton.
RD PLAYER/SCHOOL
1/2 QB Robert Griffin III (Baylor)
3/71 G Josh LeRibeus (SMU)
4/102 QB Kirk Cousins (Michigan State)
4b/119 LB Keenan Robinson (Texas)
5/141 G Adam Gettis (Iowa)
6/173 RB Alfred Morris (Florida Atlantic)
6b/193 T Tom Compton (South Dakota)
7/213 DB Richard Crawford (SMU)
7b/217 DB Jordan Bernstine (Iowa)
I liked the Claiborne pick by Dallas, but was pretty "meh" on the rest of Dallas' draft. Philly nailed it obviously. I liked New York as well, but I liked David Wilson a little more than most here, I think. I don't quite grasp the Cousins pick for Washington. There is no doubt that top to bottom the Eagles had the best draft in the division.
1 Like
haha and dave wrote a feelgood piece about the defensive line. you gotta hand it to him. considering he can't/won't/doesn't express what his true thoughts are, i think he does a good job.
I luv the Kendricks interview when he mentioned Soccer.. TJ/SweetCheeks has heard me bang on about cross-training before... One handed or in teams events, the shit works... If ya know anything about the center-o-gravivty physicality, and anticipation insticts at high level soccer, you would love a SAMLB thats quick And implements alternative skills into the gridiron..Drooool
Great game tonight for the young sixers! When Turner plays point and Jrue attacks the basket - good things happen. Allen crashing the boards. Thad with his defensive circus act. And Iggy . . . yeah, we see you buddy, the game is more fun when you hit on those windmills.
Vuc and Brackin both could use some minutes, moving forward. I'm just sayin . . .
ATV)) you just want a chance to truly evaluate players and see those who may have a chance. Some guys show incredible improvement through the off season stuff to TC....Colston of Saints comes to mind. You dont wanna cut someone too early and regret it. Last year, we never really had a chance to see what G Cooper was about
As far as those last two spots, Howie says that he will fill it prior to when rookies report for mini camp. Don't know how he plans to do that. We signed a whole bunch of nobodies prior to the draft
1 Like
Trying out Google Chrome tonite.............as my Explorer is really starting to suk...................won't refresh and won't show my points, no matter what I do. No problems so far with Chrome.......and loads real fast!!!!! So far, way better.
@dutchrubb Good for you. Haven't blogged on a lap top this year at all. Most my phone, rarely the iPad. Getting used to not seeing the timeline
1 Like
We have two spots left on our 90 man roster? Are those spots for a vet safety and a vet RB? Surely, the damn rookie roster out to be filled already.......is Plax still a consideration? I will think not
Man i hope JJ come to play this year... He has the world in the palm of his hand if he grasps it...
I do love the Derby and plan accordingly for it. Grow my own mint,....and will attempt to improve on old forlorn kentucker recipes. It's a lovely drink,.that I will consume only warchting the Derby,..or in new orleans. i don't know why.
1 Like
I cant bring myself to take any interest in a couple of horses running around a track.
But I do salute your dabbling in the beverage department. Mint Julep is a man's mixer.
I was a Blackhawks fan.... but watching you eagles brethren bang on about he Flyers has subliminally got me cheering for the dirty rotten champs...1-1 aye...
1 Like
@beanstalk brutal display,..after the first 5 minutes. These things happen in sports. I don't know why. The old cliche held serve,...the debils wanted it more!...dere you go LUPES!!!!
For the gambling man/woman/shemale...
I got a juicy Tip on a horse, FLYING ZERO. Canterbury, Race 5 Number 1. New South Wales Australia... at 2.53pm my time...
about 2 hours away...
And over here Packers are favourites at 6.50.. Eagles are 15 bucks with Saints, 49ers n Giants
2 Like
TBT,....I expected the flyers to win,.as did most pundits,...and after the first 1st pd,..i didn't feel it and expected a loss,..even though a win was expected. I expected the sixers to win on the surface,..yet I thought they might have to get over a perhaps over confident milieu to do it,.and conversely wiff da Bulls. And then lose,..cuz they were expected to win. As for the Phitens,..they are 12-12,.which should tell ya sumptin'. Don't expect nothing. That should clear things up.
@briview Sounds just about right to me... One shot in the second??? Holy jebus that was painful to watch!
3 Like
Sometimes the expected is the unexpected,..and sometimes the expected is that,.and the unexpected is also. But,..oft' times,.all things considered,..the happenings are visa versa. Nite ladies....GK.
1 Like
Anyone else notice the better it got for the Sixers the worse it got for the Flyers... And vicey versa??? And da Phitins were kinda down the middle and steady... 3 very different games to watch... How strange?
Guess the channel surfing to catch all the games wore them out..............hows it going ATV?
1 Like
@atvcar Three weekend swap meets in the can............with the last to go this weekend. We had a good time and bought and sold a lot good stuff........overall a good April stretch run for my biz...........but I am about wore out.
1 Like
@dutchrubb Welp 1 playoff win 1 playoff loss... And da Phitins provide the tie breaker... So guess I'm better than average
1 Like
Just made it back... in the nik of time!
c,c ccc!!!!!!111!!!!111!!!!1111!11!!!11
1 Like
Reading back to the delicious Brizer and Harry Pianos recipes... Welp, off to the gmish...
