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Danny Watkins, Future Pro Bowler?

Eagles rookie guard Danny Watkins. Image courtesy of our guest photographer Steven Ramiza. Check out more of his shots from camp here.

Matt Williamson from Scouts Inc did a recent breakdown of the Eagles offensive line, which is one of the few spots on the team that still has to be considered a question mark. The left side is pretty well set, but elsewhere that really isn't the case. Specifically, the right side is all but guaranteed to have two new starters, which is a big deal when your QB is a lefty. Check out the full article here, but I wanted to focus on what Williamson had to say about the right side, and specifically two players that are turning heads at Lehigh.

The Eagles used their first-round pick on Danny Watkins. A tackle at Baylor, Watkins is projected to play guard at this level. I do think he could contribute as a right tackle for Philadelphia if need-be. Even with the lack of practice time during the lockout being considered, you don’t draft guards in the first round to use them as reserves. He is sure to start at guard, probably on the right side. I think Watkins will be a Pro Bowl guard before long.

At right tackle, I mentioned that Herremans could be an option, but the most logical starter here is newly signed Ryan Harris. Like Jackson, durability has been the No. 1 negative with Harris. But this is a guy who was excellent in Denver’s quicker zone-blocking scheme. Harris is a well above-average athlete for an NFL right tackle and exactly what Mudd looks for at the position.

He makes an important point there about Harris. He's an extremely athletic guy, which is what Howard Mudd looks for first in an offensive lineman. While the Eagles have always liked guys that can move around, they've liked their big maulers even more. They used to have a guy that was both in Shawn Andrews, but we know how that turned out. However, Mudd has never seemed to care all that much about size. Look at all those great offensive lines he coached in Indy. They weren't packed with 350 pound immovable objects and yet Peyton Manning was routinely the least sacked QB in football and guys like Edgerrin James were having pro bowl years running the ball.

So expect to see and hear more about these athletic types on the line. Danny Watkins is 300+ pounds, but wears it better than I've probably ever seen. Nothing about him seems "fat." The rookie center Jason Kelce isn't even 300 pounds and yet he's been running with the first team in camp and appears to be thriving in Mudd's system.

h/t eaglesadvocate

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Our O-line is becoming, more or less, a strength for us.

Starters look great, and for the first time in what feels like forever, we have reliable depth. I’m really liking this.

by LegendKnight22 on Aug 7, 2011 6:20 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

yep....

It’s been a long while since I felt the up front guys were a strength…usually there was at least one starter, and every reserve, where I felt we were weak…this year, the starters are solid and the backups used to be our starters or are young guys with promise that could be starters…

Watkins just seems like a stud…he’s got natural size, quick feet and uses his hands well…and I don’t see that learning the playbook is going to be an issue…

---AstrosFan (Austin Lawyer and Sports Fan)

by AstrosFan on Aug 7, 2011 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

/Glenn Beck’d

Q: What do a leaky tampon and Sean McDermott's defense have in common?
A: They are equally ineffective in the red zone.

Ed Wade=all the farm system the Phillies will ever need.

by EvilBanner on Aug 7, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

LOL

But you were forgetting the fake tears.

El Donkerino (if you're not into the whole brevity thing).
Looking forward to seeing Eli getting picked off in the jungles of VietNnam!

by El Donkerino on Aug 7, 2011 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

they took my dog

derka derrrr

My mojo so dope. BITCH!

Revis's Island< Nnamdi's Nation< Jimmy Smith's EGO

by dday on Aug 7, 2011 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

That would be fantastic...

I have much more confidence in the O-line obviously than I did last season. Kelce is a really nice surprise. Hopefully everyone can stay healthy, especially Ryan Harris. We actually have some depth at OL!

"Get 'Em"

by FlyEagles15 on Aug 7, 2011 6:21 PM EDT reply actions  

We...

We are probably going to be looking to move a center in trade, barring injury…and that’s just freaking crazy considering where we were last year…

---AstrosFan (Austin Lawyer and Sports Fan)

by AstrosFan on Aug 7, 2011 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

I hope not

God knows we need as many backups at center as possible!

"Get 'Em"

by FlyEagles15 on Aug 8, 2011 12:25 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

I hope so.

Cant believe we almost got Doug Free though… that woulda been the biggest FU to the cowboys

by Manoovi on Aug 7, 2011 6:21 PM EDT reply actions  

Nabbing Nnamdi after the Rob Ryan high five and Jerr Jones crying thing is pretty big.

"It's not going to make me try to hit you any harder, because I'm going to do that anyway." - Brian Dawkins

by TheRealMcCoy on Aug 7, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions  

H/t’ed YES! EAT IT FELLOW BGNERS!

by Eaglesadvocate on Aug 7, 2011 6:23 PM EDT reply actions  

FP’d > H/T’d !

"Asomugha was only targeted 31 times in 14 games last season. Samuel: 36 times in 11 games."
#Winning
Follow me on Twitter
Philly's Most Valuable Blogger Awards 2011: Nominate BGN!

by PhiladelphiaEagles on Aug 7, 2011 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

I unfortunately cannot disagree with this.

by Eaglesadvocate on Aug 7, 2011 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

huh?

what is FP and HT?

Joe Banner is Evil Banners father. Kinda like Luke and Darth Vader.

Juan Castillo switching from the offensive line coach to Defensive coordinator is soooo dumb it might just work.

by MightyJoeBanner on Aug 7, 2011 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Front page and hat tip I assume

"you cannot think this 6-foot man is going to survive a full season if defenses have 904 chances to knock his block off"

by EaglesandRavensFan on Aug 7, 2011 8:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

thanks

Joe Banner is Evil Banners father. Kinda like Luke and Darth Vader.

Juan Castillo switching from the offensive line coach to Defensive coordinator is soooo dumb it might just work.

by MightyJoeBanner on Aug 8, 2011 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

I almost died when I saw photo 27.

Flashbacks of “he who must not be named” came unbidden to my mind…same initials, same last name…scary shit, man.

Q: What do a leaky tampon and Sean McDermott's defense have in common?
A: They are equally ineffective in the red zone.

Ed Wade=all the farm system the Phillies will ever need.

by EvilBanner on Aug 7, 2011 6:24 PM EDT reply actions  

I hope so

Pro bowl would be great, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. I gotta see this guy when the season starts

by robmoze on Aug 7, 2011 6:27 PM EDT reply actions  

same here

I don’t want to get my hopes up, I wanna see them in the preseason at least

by con-vick on Aug 7, 2011 6:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

Possible.

But he hasn’t played a meaningful down year (or hell, even a preseason game down). Have to watch him play before making Pro Bowl prediction.

Though, I can safely say he won’t be as bad as MJG/Nick Cole combo. Just because it isn’t possible to be that bad.

RIP Jim Johnson, best ever.
"To catch theme is my real test, to train them is my cause."

by Imp on Aug 7, 2011 6:36 PM EDT reply actions  

I would be satisfied if he was simply good.

AR should have to wear a Flava Flav necklace until he learns how to manage a fucking clock.
I am the proud target of temper tantrums.

by KByars on Aug 7, 2011 6:43 PM EDT reply actions  

Whats happening in pic 46

It looks like Vick lined up as a wide out ugh

Η κόλαση δεν έχει μυστικά
"There is no struggle too vast, no odds too overwhelming, for even should we fail, should we fall, we will know that we have lived.--"Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness
Evil is relative…You can’t hang a sign on it. You can’t touch it or taste it or cut it with a sword. Evil depends on where you are standing, pointing your indicting finger.
-Glen Cook The Black Company

by Udalango on Aug 7, 2011 6:43 PM EDT reply actions  

Wildcat

http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/ - Eagles
http://bloggingthebeast.com/ - NFC East

by JimmyK on Aug 7, 2011 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

Is Vince Young QBing?

If so, Shotgun Formation

"I will never have my best season," Brian Dawkins

Mike Vick is a piece of shit

We be journalizing, son.
by JimmyK on Jul 21, 2011 7:21 PM EDT

by Talon Talent on Aug 8, 2011 3:06 AM EDT up reply actions  

Brandon Graham was supposed to be DROY. I will never buy into rookie hype after what Nate Ilaoa and CJ Gaddis did to me- crush my hopes and make me look like an idiot.

Interesting thing is that if Watkins starts this year, he will be the same age Free was when played his first season as a starter.

by The Pied Piper on Aug 7, 2011 6:44 PM EDT reply actions  

Ronnie Brown is #36??

How could they?!?!

by The Pied Piper on Aug 7, 2011 6:47 PM EDT reply actions  

hes going to change it

when players are cut

RIP Lennie Bias
Hold my Vick
The rebirth of Maryland Basketball. GO TERPS
Turgeon General, Fear the Turgeon, in Turgeon we trust.
Danny O'brien=future #1 overall pick
Lesean is the "Real Slim Shady"

by dterpfan on Aug 7, 2011 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

The only two numbers available for him were literally 20 and 36.

"Asomugha was only targeted 31 times in 14 games last season. Samuel: 36 times in 11 games."
#Winning
Follow me on Twitter
Philly's Most Valuable Blogger Awards 2011: Nominate BGN!

by PhiladelphiaEagles on Aug 7, 2011 7:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

DRC gave him 23...

it’s already over…

"Eagles fans are a passionate group who love their team," said McNabb, "if not the actual players. It's not like winning a Super Bowl before the first month of the season is the hardest thing they've ever asked of me. That'd be all those times they asked me to go kill myself."

by greenbean#twoOH on Aug 7, 2011 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

Off topic, but I won’t be near a TV during the eagles preseason opener. Is there a specific and reliable site I can stream or should I just rely on Justin.tv?

"If I can get you to think twice, I'm in your head."
-Brian Dawkins

Nnamdi, Asante, DRC; The Three Graces...charm, beauty, and creativity.

by immynimmy on Aug 7, 2011 6:51 PM EDT via mobile reply actions  

Try myp2p.eu, thats where i watch the games when they’re not being broadcast here in new york. I’ve found that justin.tv has begun to decline alot, can hardly find a game that i want on that site.

by Matthew Krawcheck on Aug 7, 2011 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

find a friend with directtv

they can stream any game online. basically nfl ticket on your pc/mac/iphone. i believe it costs an extra $100. I write him a check, he sends his account login. everyone’s happy.

or buy a slingbox, have someone in philly hook it up to a spare cable box.

feds cracked down on all the free streaming sites.

by bradyjkim on Aug 7, 2011 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

Speaking of Slingbox, has anyone ever used one? How easy are they to use? I am thinking of getting one when I head back to school in a couple weeks.

by Ben16 on Aug 7, 2011 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions  

This is quite interesting. Check it out.

It’s a look at the BGN archives…of a very special game. Very relevant to this thread. And Watkins and Harris and how much they are needed.

http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2007/9/30/191735/674#5393509

Q: What do a leaky tampon and Sean McDermott's defense have in common?
A: They are equally ineffective in the red zone.

Ed Wade=all the farm system the Phillies will ever need.

by EvilBanner on Aug 7, 2011 7:21 PM EDT reply actions  

I’ve seen BGN fanshots that get more then 62 comments. Was this the 1st week of the site haha

We got the 4 aces for baseball, 3CBO in football, and the Russian Walls in hockey. Philly is no longer the blue collar losers, were primetime baby!

Good game, Lets eat

by JpH89 on Aug 7, 2011 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

That seemed like such a good draft at the time. ZOMG!! They got Bunkley AND Justice!!!!

(I recall them saying they would have taken Justice with a first-rounder if Bunk hadn’t been there.)

Of course, he came back and played better than he did in “The Winston Justice Game”, but it sounds like Harris will be an upgrade.

by BrianS on Aug 7, 2011 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

And JasonB going all EvilBanner on Reid...

…quite awesome to see.

Q: What do a leaky tampon and Sean McDermott's defense have in common?
A: They are equally ineffective in the red zone.

Ed Wade=all the farm system the Phillies will ever need.

by EvilBanner on Aug 7, 2011 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

Damn

I posted that thread in 2007? I’ve been here for longer than I can remember….

by Thiago on Aug 7, 2011 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

…in that thread…
Fixed.

by Thiago on Aug 7, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

i could really this kid flourishing under mudd into a real star

by eaglesinmd on Aug 7, 2011 9:01 PM EDT reply actions  

Isn't Every First Round Pick a Future Pro-Bowler?

Watkins is fairly well protected as a RG (what I consider the easiest on the line positions). Also with hype on a good team he could make a ProBowl whether he deserves it or not.

However, I see this prediction as a bit excessive. Let’s see these rookies play 6 games or so before sainthood.

by phxphilly on Aug 7, 2011 9:02 PM EDT reply actions  

Actually, no

Tim Tebow was a first round pick and he probably won’t see the field again in Denver barring injury. Ditto Cam Newton (great talent, nobody to throw to), Reggie Bush (tis a fine wide receiver, but tis no runing back), Roy Williams, Jamarcus Russell, and you see my point.

Prediction is excessive? Prediction generally is always excessive, whether optimistic or pessimistic (see Merrill Hoge’s comments on Tebow’s potential). O-Line is one of the few positions where their performance at camp generally approximates what you should expect on the field. I’m not going over the moon yet ,and I’d like a cap on all overhyping, but I don’t see anything wrong with saying he has the tools, ability, and work ethic to be something special.

To make a nonexcessive preview of the season, I think the Eagles will go 8-8. And nobody is going to pay any attention until I say they go 15-1, because that’s how media works. Sure got people talking here.

If you like what I have to say here, visit my blog for more (http://dehype.posterous.com)

by CJDehype on Aug 8, 2011 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

Danny Watkins: Future Backup?

Get real. The guy has not even played a single down. Talk about getting ahead of yourself. I hope the guy pans out, I really do, but a future pro-bowler? Wasn’t Fred-Ex a first round draft pick that we all thought was a future pro-bowler? Let’s see the guy play some football.

Whoever you are, when I log off, you cease to exist.
Yours truly,
H.R.H Emperor Iggy of the Internet, forever to be known as the InterEmperor.

by IggleGreen on Aug 7, 2011 9:11 PM EDT reply actions  

This is in total agreeement with Phxphilly, in case you haven’t noticed.

Whoever you are, when I log off, you cease to exist.
Yours truly,
H.R.H Emperor Iggy of the Internet, forever to be known as the InterEmperor.

by IggleGreen on Aug 7, 2011 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

Lets wait until he plays 1 fucking snap in the Regular Season before asking this question

Why stop with Danny? Lets question our whole roster!

Every Eagle a Future Pro Bowler?

We’ve only just begun seeing him practice for 2 days!

Now that that’s been said lol, I’m glad he’s getting such good reviews… It’s been a few years since our O-Line could even possibly be considered a strength.

by Ralf E Chubbs on Aug 7, 2011 9:49 PM EDT reply actions  

i may be putting all eggs in one basket here

but I love the look of our O line this year, especially Harris. I think he and Watkins could both become multi time Pro Bowlers

by STZ513 on Aug 7, 2011 9:57 PM EDT reply actions  

That’s right, eh?

Formerly DeSean10
36-5-20-JJ -- Forever Bleeding Green

by AnthroEagle on Aug 8, 2011 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

The land of ruggedness

They come tough up here… but most prefer hockey.

by brisulph on Aug 8, 2011 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

Who gives a shit about the Pro Bowl?

I honestly cant remember the last time i watched it. I dont even know what channel broadcasts it! As far as Watkins going 300 lbs,thats a shocker to me. He does carry it well. I havent seen any camp footage though. Is he quick off the line? Does he use his upper body strength,or plant his feet and use his legs for power?

"Running through the meadows,laughing with revolvers"- Warcloud.

by Dunta Is A PUNK on Aug 8, 2011 12:15 AM EDT reply actions  

it hardly matters anymore too

The super bowl players aren’t gonna be there. Nor AFC or NFC championships, for soreness reasons….so what happens is guys get there that really don’t deserve to be there……I suppose being pro bowl caliber is a good measure of talent, but only if you’re originally voted in or maybe a back up….I prefer All-Pros more

by sandiegoeaglesfan on Aug 8, 2011 2:13 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

These 2 guys certainly sound promising for a rejuvenated O-line

This was also quite the area of concern and with these 2 additions, it certainly will help boost our offense. We needed some depth and skill in these area and I hope that both guys remain healthy and also that Watkins exceeds even more expectations when it comes down to the real deal.

"If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail. You know what I mean? Fuck it." -- Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant

by jXn on Aug 8, 2011 8:52 AM EDT reply actions  

A few things..

First… I loved Watkins during draft time, the only reason why I figured he’d drop to the 2nd round was because of his age. I was very adamant that he was the best OG in this draft and if even 2 years younger he’d be a top 20 pick. He will be a future probowler if he stays healthy, anybody who’s seen him play knows he can do what’s needed.

Second… I really wanted Harris at RT early in the offseason but I was also content with Justice then got caught up in the “Doug Free shit”.. Should Harris stay healthy he’ll rival the signing of Jon Runyan.

Third… I knew Kelce was going to be a player in this league, I knew he was going to be a good one. I have 0 clue it’d be this fast. I just figured they’d need him to muscle up over an offseason and let it be. I’d have no issues with him starting at Center with McGlynn as the primary backup at all 3 interior positions. That way we can drop Jackson and his 1.6 mill cap hit.

Fourth… Mudd doesn’t care about size, everybody says he likes “smaller” guys. That’s not true, he’s had his share of big guys who can move and those were the ones who really did well in his scheme. Peters, Herremans, Watkins and Harris are actually very athletic lineman, McGlynn fits this mold too. Kelce could be our Saturday.

Finally… Mudd has kinda a zone blocking scheme he runs, McCoy will have an amazing year in it.

Defensive player of the year for 2011 is...

Wild_Eagle!

Yes, Wild_Eagle's infamous reputation did help him get this award. But he shows that he walks the talk that he serves...with his keyboard. Wild_Eagle protects the motherland (BGN) from the evils of noobs, douche-bags, and other assholes. Although he may be crude and unnecessary, all great defenders draws the yellow flag from time to time.

-Awarded by Number5

Wild_Eagles’ Heart is scarier than Hell, you lose. - d-jackfan10 at the troll known as vicksuck!

by wild_eagle on Aug 8, 2011 10:33 AM EDT reply actions  

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