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Which positional draft "upgrades" are overrated?

I see a lot of people here listing the positions the Birds need to address in this year's draft... Which of these positions shouldn't be considered eligible for immediate upgrade, in your mind? By "eligible for immediate upgrade", my basic metric is "should not be targeted in the first 2 rounds"; it doesn't mean they shouldn't consider adding depth at that position in later rounds. The Eagles have 3 picks in the top 2 rounds, and I've listed 5 positions here. I think the distinction between SS and FS has disappeared so I'm counting that as one position. Choose the one you think is a least concern in the first 3 picks. I'm not even going to list "offensive guard" or "defensive tackle" because these are retarded suggestions that will wind up getting runaway votes.

For me the overrated need is kind of a tossup between safety and wide receiver. On the one hand I don't think our WR corps is too bad even without DJax; between Maclin, Avant, Cooper plus Celek, Harbor and McCoy there are far, far worse, units in the NFL. New England has two TEs and NONE of their receivers possess even Maclin's speed and ability, and they lack an explosive back in the screen game but they passed for 5,000 yards this season. It's about efficient playcalling, QB play, and coordination.

Safety is hard to evaluate because both Coleman and Allen played some excellent games and both played some horrible games this season. I would attribute this perhaps to poor coaching/understanding of the scheme more than anything (especially in Allen's case, as he is gifted athletically and really underacheived this year). It's also worth remembering that basically ALL safeties were getting torched in this record season; there were far worse defensive backfields than ours. I saw Earl Thomas get beat badly by Riley Cooper in the SEA game...

The Eagles used 2nd rd picks the past 2 years on safeties, and Jarrett and Anderson are probably better than most backups. Add to this the incredible fact that our top 4 safeties are aged 22, 23, 24, and 26, and it's hard to justify another early pick here when these guys are still growing and had to deal with 2 DCs in two years.

I'm choosing safety as the largest overrated need I see listed here. My top need for them is LB-- in fact two linebackers, a SAM and MIKE. I also think they'd be wise to take a wide receiver and/or corner if the right one comes to them in round 2. I expect DRC/Nnamdi to be a much better combo than Samuel/Nnamdi next year, but Nnamdi and Hanson are both on the wrong side of 30 and beyond these 3 vets, there's zero depth. Marsh and Hughes suck ass.

Cast your votes!



Poll
Which of these positions should NOT be considered within the first 2 rounds (in other words, within the Eagles' first 3 picks)?
MLB
18 votes
OLB
5 votes
CB
102 votes
S
55 votes
WR
33 votes

213 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 28 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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I think Cornerback is probably the position of least need with WR second

Our LBs and Safeties were so bad last year so bringing in top talent there couldn’t be a bad thing. In order of priority I would rate: MLB, OLB, SS, FS

CB We go Nnamdi, DRC, Hanson, and Marsh. Not that I love Marsh but I don’t want to use another 1st or 2nd on a CB.

WR We’ve got our top 3 set but we could get a talented WR who would provide immediate goal line help I would be all for it.

by dstern77 on Jan 13, 2012 12:34 PM EST reply actions  

You make a good point about age though. I guess I don’t have a lot of faith in Jarrett and Coleman is just average so in my book that leaves a void at one safety spot…As I think about it though it wouldn’t be bad to draft a CB and let him get time as a nickle/dime player and hopefully he’ll be ready to go as Nnamdi’s getting into his mid-30’s.

by dstern77 on Jan 13, 2012 12:40 PM EST up reply actions  

CB heavy...

I disagree that we need CB at all…
currently NA, DRC, AS, Hanson, Marsh, Hughes.

I think we could consider trading AS and still be great in coverage.

We definitely need LB… I’d like to see 2 drafted in first 3 rounds.
And I think we need a DT,

we can grab a backup QB, and a vet safety in Free Agency.

It’s time to give Donny Mac a call and see if he’d be willing to be our backup QB….

by milroyigglesfan on Jan 13, 2012 2:59 PM EST reply actions  

My post was basically made under the assumption that Samuel is gone...

guess I should have wrote that down…

Anyway, they did sign Trevard Lindley a couple weeks ago in a move that went pretty unnoticed. I was honestly surprised that he was cut in training camp because IMO he was better than Patterson last year and would have certainly been more productive than Marsh or Hughes this season…

by Kevin888 on Jan 13, 2012 4:29 PM EST up reply actions  

I would say that New England has Wes Welker while not being the same player as Maclin he is a very good WR. If D. Jackson is gone next year I would like to see the team take a TE or WR some where in the first 3 rounds to help offset the loss. As far as safety goes if they feel they can get a impact Safety with one of there first 3 picks then go ahead. I don’t think we know enough about Allen, Jarrett, or Coleman to pass on a player that could help sure up the D.

by emtmess on Jan 13, 2012 3:06 PM EST reply actions  

If a guy like Eric Berry or Ed Reed was available in the first round, then I’d pull the trigger. But it doesn’t seem like there are any guys in that mold in this draft.

From what I can tell all the top safeties in this year’s draft are 6’2, 6’3 prospects. Obviously scouts (and fans) love seeing size in safeties, but those guys are getting driven out of the league more and more. Their 40 times may be great but it’s difficult for guys that height to have good stop-and-go/change-of-direction speed, which is increasingly important now when they gotta cover slot receivers and TEs like Graham and Gronk.

Look at the Cowboys, their once-hyped up safety Roy Williams is out of the league because he couldn’t cover, and now Sensabaugh (6’3) got beat a ton this year as well.

by Kevin888 on Jan 13, 2012 4:32 PM EST up reply actions  

CB

would be my choice, but I am kind of confused by this statement:

I’m not even going to list “offensive guard” or “defensive tackle” because these are retarded suggestions that will wind up getting runaway votes.

What exactly do you mean with this?

by The Reddgie on Jan 13, 2012 6:10 PM EST reply actions  

imo

dt is in much more need of an upgrade than cb

by STZ513 on Jan 14, 2012 8:17 AM EST up reply actions  

Why do you say that?

Jenkins was a stud again, Patterson played very well and our backups played better than most starters.

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 Jan 14, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions  

like i said imo

patterson is having brain surgery and Jenkins is gonna be 31 soon so I think it may be more helpful to use a second round pick on a dt than a cb where we have drc, nnamdi, marsh, hanson, lindley

by STZ513 on Jan 14, 2012 7:21 PM EST up reply actions  

either way I think it should be

If we keep DeSean:
1) MLB
2a) OLB
2b) DT/QB

If we don’t keep DeSean
1) MLB
2a) WR
2b) OLB

by STZ513 on Jan 14, 2012 7:26 PM EST up reply actions  

No way.

DRC is rather unproven in our Defense, I like him, I like what he brings to the table but he was sometimes a liability when in the game, but I will say he saved many TD’s with his speed and hustle… I’d like to see him start next season but I’d like somebody highly talented and young to learn behind him and Nnamdi.

As far as Marsh, Hanson and Lindley, Hanson’s old and the other two are unproven but talented.

For DT we’re fine, Jenkins didn’t slow down at all from 2010 to 2011 and was consistent. Patterson was very good. Laws had his contributions and Landri was a nice little spark… We don’t need a high draft pick at DT because this draft is rather deep with guys who can fit this system.

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 Jan 15, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions  

Do you have a list of your basic metrics you could post so the rest of us could get up to speed. It sounds very math analytical.

by waterfield on Jan 13, 2012 10:26 PM EST reply actions  

Cool idea

I chose OLB. I think Rolle and Chaney are a good tandem to cover the flanks. They fly around the field and for the most part make plays. Both have room to improve but both would greatly benefit from a legit MLB who could hold his own vs opposing OL.

In 16 games Chaney had:
92 tackles, 3 INT’s, 8 PD

Rolle played less but had:
54 tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR, 4 PD

I know it’s easy to say that neither of these guys are top 10 LB’s. But we can’t have top 10 everywhere and OLB in a 4-3 are expendable.

At least one more year of Andy and Juan. If they don't win it all they both better be gone!

by MightyJoeBanner on Jan 14, 2012 9:22 AM EST reply actions  

"Rolle and Chaney are a good tandem to cover the flanks"... "could benefit from a legit MLB"

Are you suggesting moving Chaney to the SAM position? Because I agree that could work better than with Chaney in the middle, but then they would need to draft a MLB, not an OLB…

by Kevin888 on Jan 15, 2012 2:24 AM EST up reply actions  

The question was
Which of these positions should NOT be considered within the first 2 rounds (in other words, within the Eagles’ first 3 picks)?

So OLB is the position I chose that we should not draft.

At least one more year of Andy and Juan. If they don't win it all they both better be gone!

No way Eagles draft a LB in the first round 2012.

by MightyJoeBanner on Jan 15, 2012 9:58 AM EST up reply actions  

We need a

Safety that can be a GREAT physical presence and has better than average cover skills.

MLB that can play on both sides of the LOS. Make teams game plan on how to get him blocked. Thus freeing up our other LB’s to clean stuff up.

We could use a WR that can stretch the field OR one that was a big physical guy that made safeties play over top bc CB’s couldn’t handle him 1-1.

We have the best CB tandem in the NFL any way you slice it.
Asante and Asomugha check.
Asomugha and DRC check.
Add Hanson and we have the best nickel coverage package in the NFL.

At least one more year of Andy and Juan. If they don't win it all they both better be gone!

by MightyJoeBanner on Jan 14, 2012 9:39 AM EST reply actions  

what's your opinion on jarret?

i don’t think we’ve seen enough of him to just move on already. I want to see what he does with a full offseason. If we can get allen back to his pre injury form and jarret turns out to be good we’re fine at saftey for a long time. We need Jarret to be that physical presence in the box we thought he was gonna be.

by phillyfan330 on Jan 14, 2012 12:35 PM EST up reply actions  

Not enough tape

all rookies unless horrible, should get 3 seasons. 22 year olds aren’t fully developed physically and the NFL game speed is different. It’s not wise to invest a pick, time to train and give up on young guys so quick.

At least one more year of Andy and Juan. If they don't win it all they both better be gone!

No way Eagles draft a LB in the first round 2012.

by MightyJoeBanner on Jan 14, 2012 9:02 PM EST up reply actions  

I wouldn't mind

15. Mark Barron
46. Donte Hightower
51. Mohamed Sanu

in our first two rounds.

At least one more year of Andy and Juan. If they don't win it all they both better be gone!

No way Eagles draft a LB in the first round 2012.

by MightyJoeBanner on Jan 14, 2012 9:49 PM EST up reply actions  

No way they should take a safety in the FIRST round...

And I believe Hightower’s stock has been rising, if he lasts into the 2nd round it will probably be earlier than 46…

by Kevin888 on Jan 15, 2012 2:26 AM EST up reply actions  

I don't see why not a safety that early

I know they don’t do that but it would make me happy. His stock will drop after the combine. He’s not that fast.

At least one more year of Andy and Juan. If they don't win it all they both better be gone!

No way Eagles draft a LB in the first round 2012.

by MightyJoeBanner on Jan 15, 2012 10:00 AM EST up reply actions  

Upgrade at MLB and that's it.

Rolle can play weak side and Chaney strong side.

DRAFT a legit middle linebacker….. Vontaze Burfict please?

Get Jaiquawn Jarrett on the field after an offseason to learn the system.

Nate Allen healthy….

Asante will be missed but DRC is no downgrade

So Asomugha and DRC on the outside. Hanson in the slot..

Front four = good to go (Trent Cole)
Linebackers = good to go
Corners = good to go
Safety = good to go

by bitterlyhonest on Jan 14, 2012 1:45 PM EST reply actions  

Fuck no.

Vontaze Burfict can keep his ass in ASU. I rather keep Castillo than to draft that piece of shit.

I think everyone should be bilateral coordinated.

by BIBTD on Jan 14, 2012 10:47 PM EST up reply actions  

If he’s there in the 3rd or late 2nd its worth to take a look

#HireSpags

Come on Andy

Shady McCoy is Still Dirty

Ravens 4 SB '12

by rohan915 on Jan 15, 2012 4:26 AM EST up reply actions  

only if we already have a player drafted/signed to play MLB

It doesn’t matter if he’s taken in the first or the 5th IMO…if he can’t play MLB for us then he’s a bust

If we were to draft Kuechly, and then with one of our 2nd rd picks no one we need is on the board, and we can’t trade down then I wouldn’t be against picking him up.. But if we sign no one in FA, and draft him to start I’d be really pissed

Just wait until December..

by maximdim on Jan 15, 2012 1:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

Alliteration

Piss poor poll.

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

by KByars on Jan 15, 2012 12:15 PM EST reply actions  

I didn't read the poll

And voted MLB by mistake. Woops.

Its all about the []_[]
#FirePaulHolmgren

by philiafan14364 on Jan 15, 2012 1:12 PM EST reply actions  

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