Dom's Dish - NFL Draft - talk about value

Sure, I've been accused of being a homer.  I've been accused of worse growing up - "throwing"my brother down the steps (he told me to push him), "covering" a wall with boogers (they came with the house), "cursing" all the time on the playground (I was smart enough not to get caught and never spoke filth at home as early as 1st grade).  I also used to wear bright orange and deep purple jeans.  So I'm a homer...

So regarding the Philadelphia Eagles Draft class of 2009.  To be honest, aside from the fact that this is my first year without the NFL network to guide me through the draft (trying to save money to pay the $15/month for the greatest invention ever: DVR), and I haven't really heard the draftniks bragging about this year's draft class, I'm going to chalk this year's draft up to an overall grade of "D".  Sure there are some players up top in the first round or two, but not a year with a Eli Manning/Philip Rivers/Ben Roethlisberger, or Reggie Bush/Matt Leinart.  I just didn't feel the names were there early on, nor were there many names down the board.  So back to the Eagles.  They've made some trades before this draft and certainly "a few" during it.  They traded back so many times in the 3rd and 4th rounds...at one point they had SIX 5th round draft choices.  They turned 2 of those into a potential starting CB/KR in Ellis Hobbs (Patriots) - though I'm weary about a recycled secondary from great Defensive back coach Bill Belichick - BY THE WAY - did you see him during the draft on ESPN?  He was actually wearing a TIE and JACKET!  He looked serial killer-esque I thought.  Put the hoodie back on Bill....but I digress.  

Anyway, the Eagles then took ONE fifth round pick and turned it into a 7th in 2009: #222 and a 5th rounder in 2010 from New Orleans.  Then, they turned around and took #222 and made it a 6th rounder in 2010 from Indianapolis. One pick turned into 2 next year - which might not sound too cool until you realize that due to trades this offseason, the Eagles were uncharacteristically out of the mix with something like 5 choices in 2010 coming into the weekend!

So Monday was the day all those not drafted were eligible to sign with teams in an open market.  The Eagles went out and got them Rashard Mendenhall's younger brother, Walter.  6 foot 225lbs from Illinois State.  Let's hope he has some talent like his brother, a first round choice of Pittsburgh last year.  Andy Reid also fulfilled his BYU quota signing big Guard Dallas Reynolds (6-4, 311) from Brigham Young.  Perhaps Andy is beyond donating to his alma mater, he just employs a few right out of the college football program each year.  Hmmm.

Dom's Dish - A third round of runs

The round started with the Jets trading up for RB Shonn Greene - who sat out a few years ago academically ineligible and moved furniture to make ends meet.  After that the bulk of the first few picks were defense - Linebackers, D-Linemen, a few corners, then RB Glenn Coffee (Alabama) went to San Fran, then a few offensive linemen before a huge run on WR's with some Corners thrown in.  Derrick Williams of Penn State went to Detroit - both as a slot receiver to pair with Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford and also as a return man playmaker.  

The Eagles pull another in-division trade with their rivals, the NY Giants.  The Giants use this pick on 6'6" WR Ramses Barden - a possible replacement big body for Plaxico Burress.  The Eagles then trade back into the fifth round.  Now with 6 picks in the 5th round!  Talk about depth and special teams!  Signing off for now, not much to keep on.

Dom's Dish - Impressions of Day 1 NFL Draft 09

Well, with two rounds in the books on Day 1, the tri-state teams (Eagles, Jets and Giants) addressed some needs - WR/RB, (potential) franchise QB, and WR/OLB/ O-Line depth.  Other teams of note include New England addressing need in the trenches and some secondary help; Cleveland's trading back 3 times to acquire picks - Center, 2 WR and a 3-4 DE; The Super Bowl champ Steelers drafting a 3-4 DE to counter and trading their 2nd and 4th for two more mid-third-round picks.  Lots of draft day trades just on day 1 - lots of moving up and down, and none more surprising than the Jets trading up with their former coach, the "Mangenious", to get their QB of the future, while trading some depth along the D-Line and 2nd year QB Brett Ratliff - 0 NFL passes.  

Cleveland looks pretty good with all those picks, especially since they didn't have many coming into the draft due to trades made during the Romeo Crenel regime - namely their one pick of Ohio State's Brian Robiskie - son of NFL player Terry and current Falcons receiver coach.  Some peculiar picks: the Jacksonville Jaguars stockpiling Offensive Tackles in Eugene Monroe (UVA, #8 overall) and Eben Britton (Arizona, #39 overall).  Some other commentary, the Buffalo Bills did NOT take an Ohio State defensive back...yet.  No Fullbacks, punters or kickers taken Day 1.  Only 3 QB's were taken, all in the first round.  

Some big names will come off the board in the next round or two, including Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell, RB Shonn Green of Iowa, WR Derrick Williams of Penn State, Javon Ringer RB of Michigan State, and Safety Rashad Johnson of Alabama.  Hurry up and go - draft is on.

Dom's Dish - Lots of picks

So end of the first round and most of the 2nd have gone. The Giants
addressed a WR need with Hakeen Nicks out of North Carolina. After
that soke big picks include the big DTackle out of Missouri to the
Super Bowl champs and lots of safeties, corners, defensive ends and
linemen. Then the big pick: the Eagles address a major need in LeSean
McCoy, RB out of Pitt. Sure Moreno was high on their board but they
stayed true drafting for need and best available getting a playmaker
WR and an everydown back in the 5-11 210 pounder. Not a bad day for
Philly.

Some other notes: I'm surprised that Rey Maluga, the LB out of USC
fell into the early second round to Cincinatti, who I think would have
taken him in the middle of round 1. Good for them. Also, Pat White,
the "receiver" goes to Miami, just a few years after the Marcus Vick
experiment and fresh in mind a year after they crafted the Wildcat
formation. Looking forward to some good recap tomorrow, unless
something earth shattering happens tonight. Go Phillies and go
Eagles!!

Dom's Dish - Pick is in

Eagles trade up with the Cleveland Browns (3rd time already) to get a
WR, Jeremy Maclin out of Missouri. Good pick. Could be a return man,
another slot type #2 or #3 receiver, but another weapon for McNabb. I
like it! Could have grabbed Pettigrew, but obviously they trust Celek
and they're now out of the Boldin sweepsteaks.

Dom's Dish - 11-17: Defense and Thieves!

Defense rules aside from the Denver Thieves drafting Knowshon Moreno
at 12 then more defense before Tampa traded up 2 picks to draft QB
Josh Freeman of Kansas State. New coach Raheem Morris has a
relationship with K-State, having coached there a few years back.
Interesting so far. Way to snipe a pick the Broncos might have gotten
Raheem!

Dom's Dish - Top 10 are in

Recapping the last five picks since Sanchez: Andre Smith OT Alabama
(Bengals), Derrius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland (Raiders), Eugene Monroe OT
Virginia (Jaguars), BJ Raji NT Boston College (Packers), and #10 is
Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech (49ers).

The huge surprise to most though is the fact that Heyward-Bey was
selected as the first WR to Oakland. It doesn't surprise others since
Al Davis lives only for drafting the fastest player on the board. Who
knows, maybe he will become the next Jerry Rice? Apparently Michael
Crabtree gets no street cred for saying to ESPN the Magazine that he
can run a 4.3 40 yd dash. Who knew? At least Crabtree will be close
and be able to show up Al Davis for not picking him.