Eagles Scouting Profile: Bennie Logan, DT, LSU

The Eagles are transitioning to a new defensive scheme, and with that, comes changes. The team has dropped former scheme fits, such as Mike Patterson, Akeem Jordan, and Cullen Jenkins while adding new fits like Connor Barwin, Isaac Sopoaga, and Emmanuel Acho. The team also went new scheme-heavy in the this year's draft, picking up Utah's Joe Kruger, David King and Bennie Logan. Of the three, Logan is likely to have the earliest impact for the Eagles.

Logan was taken by the Eagles in the 3rd round of this year's draft. At 6'2" and 309-pounds, Logan is a bit of tweener (a theme of this summer for the team's acquisitions). Mostly used as a three-technique, the former LSU Tiger was a big part of the defense. A three-star recruit coming out of Louisiana, he redshirted in 2009 and played in only three games in 2010. As a redshirt sophomore, Logan became a starter and became a force. He totaled 57 tackles, with 6.5 for loss, and 3 sacks. In his final season at LSU, he had 45 tackles, with 5.5 for loss, and 2 sacks.

Here is what NFL.com had to say about Logan:

STRENGTHS

Athletic tackle with a wide frame and solid thickness and strength throughout. Nice lateral quickness to step into a gap after the snap, can penetrate through to get a hand on the ballcarrier or hold his ground with a shoulder against single blocks to stuff the hole. Plays with leverage when man-up and against double-teams, doesn’t get moved off the line often. Flashes the violent hands and pop to shed and eat up backs coming into his area. Works hard as a pass rusher, can use his hands and strength to bull through the shoulder of his man to reach the quarterback if the ball stays in the pocket too long. Strong tackler who swallows ballcarriers when in position and also slows them with an arm even if engaged.

WEAKNESSES

Not elite in his initial quickness, will be stoned more consistently by NFL linemen unless it improves and might be taken out in obvious passing situations. Might be best as an athletic nose, rather than a three-technique. Inconsistent getting off blocks inside to two-gap, lunges towards ballcarriers after they’re already by him. Gets overaggressive on his punch on occasion and doesn’t have elite upper-body strength, so better linemen and double teams can get his shoulders turned out of the hole. Stamina is an issue, losing his chase ability and short-area quickness when facing strong competition, and forces him to be heavily rotated. Has difficulty seeing and handling cut blocks. Doesn't offer much as a pass rushing threat.

NFL COMPARISON

Tyson Alualu

My Take: Bennie Logan is a firecracker up the middle. As an interior defensive linemen, Logan's size is average but his length is fantastic. He is a bit short for a natural 5-technique but he does a great job of anchoring. A tremendous leverage player, he may be a good fit for nose tackle. He has tremendous burst and plays with motor. A patient rusher who is very stout, he could be the answer to Eagles fans that pined for Star Lotulelei. He may have issues taking on double teams with his in-game strength, but at the Combine, he showed he is working on that area of his game (30 reps on the bench). As mentioned before, he has a significant motor but can get tired with too many snaps. He is an okay pass rusher, so he could replace Sopoaga on third down. I expect him to compete for both the nose tackle starting job and against Cedric Thornton to play opposite Fletcher Cox. Like the other Eagles draft picks, Logan is special because of his potential, not his production.

Check out Logan for yourself and see what the big man can bring to the Eagles: