After reflection, Eagles’ draft still doesn’t make sense

By Anthony Bialy  |   Thursday, May 03, 2007  |  Comments( 7 )

Philadelphia Eagles
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Eagles fans should at least know there are two people who hated the team's draft more than them: Kelly Holcomb and A.J. Feeley, who now have to face competition at clipboard holder and backup clipboard holder. Unfortunately, as far as players who will actually, you know, get on the field, Philadelphia didn't nab many last weekend, and those baffled by the team's selections haven't had their concerns assuaged even after a few days of deep breathing and reflection.

This isn't a situation where the Philadelphia zealots who booed after their team passed on Ricky Williams in favor of Donovan McNabb in 1999 are going to look silly a few years later, but rather a case of justified groaning by befuddled supporters.

Kevin Kolb may have been rated highly, and the only reason to avoid drafting him would be if your franchise had several needs, one of them not being a quarterback. Enter the Eagles. To be fair, Kolb was productive at the University of Houston, but beating up on Conference USA teams isn't exactly like storming through the SEC.

Also, while Houston doesn't employ the same anti-rushing offense it has been famous for where a successful ground game is defined as the receivers completing their routes, the Cougars still focus on attacking with the pass; and a gimmicky, one-sided college offense helped Kolb look good.

McNabb, at 30, still has productive seasons in his future and is on the recovery track, which means the Eagles either attempted to add his successor too soon or that they're not quite sold yet on the eight-year veteran as their guy. Which makes less sense?

Some other picks are confusing, too. Adding Victor Abiamiri is less a testament to the Notre Dame defensive end's ability and more of a lack of faith in Jevon Kearse. By all accounts, Kearse is recovering well, but the Eagles apparently aren't overwhelmingly hopeful he'll be the same; considering their first pick of the day, that trepidation can now be called the McNabb Rule. Along with, but not limited to, Darren Howard, the Eagles now have an end abundance, with definite needs never addressed.

That same lack of selections at certain positions is as egregiously glaring as the redundant picks they did make. Receiver Donte' Stallworth didn't work out as well as hoped last season, and not attempting to replace him with a draftee means the Eagles may have to go a second season without a deep wideout pool. They could have used cornerback help, too, but didn't add one until the 200s. Rashad Barksdale of the University at Albany at Pick 201 is going to face a slight increase in competition level. Oddly, Philadelphia didn't add anyone at all to the secondary until Clemson free safety C.J. Gaddis came on board in the fifth round.

The Eagles on draft weekend acted like a guy who was hungry at the supermarket and only put light bulbs in his cart. This could have been the season Philadelphia drafted starters straight from college, but it just didn't choose to do so. The Eagles have been one of the better teams in the league since McNabb came aboard, and instead of giving him help in the second half of his career -- such as someone to throw to or an improved pass defense so he can get back on the field sooner -- they gave him a guy who wants to, but won't, supplant him.

The nicest thing that can be said about Philadelphia's draft is that there wasn't a disappointing first-rounder whom can pout over.

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CommentsComments: 7  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
jrbt3@sbcglobal.net		07:55 AM
05/03/2007
You say Kolb ran a "gimmicky, one-sided college offense" I looked up the total rushing and passing plays the Cougars ran this...
No.2
WestMcNabb365		09:20 AM
05/03/2007
I am equally mystefied by the Eagles draft. Brian Dawkins 34? Forget about it. Sean Considine not being able to play the run....
No.3
Bobby Boucher		01:43 PM
05/03/2007
The most head scratching thing isn't that the Eagles drafted a QB with their first pick in the draft. It's that they just signed...
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