Heard in the Cheap Seats

The Philadelphia Eagles did something out of character in the first round yesterday—traded up to take a wide receiver.  Ironically, this was probably the only year in recent memory when the Philadelphia fan base was not screaming for a WR with the first pick.  Jeremy Maclin stands a shade over 6’0” tall and is close to 200 pounds.  While he is not huge, the comparisons to DeSean Jackson are off base.  Maclin is a full two inches taller than Jackson and has significantly more bulk. 

Where Maclin is similar is he is an explosive player with elite top-end speed.  He excels in the kick-return game and can provide immediate help to the Eagles in that aspect of the game.  As a WR, Maclin is still a bit raw.  From most accounts, he is a below average route runner that is better suited for vertical and drag routes.  He also struggles to separate from man coverage, something that could prove costly at the NFL level. 

With DeSean Jackson and Maclin on the field, the possibilities in the passing game are scintillating.  Both players have the deep speed needed to stretch the defense and an opposing secondary will have a difficult choice to make as to which side to roll the coverage.  It also provides the Eagles with a dynamic and young WR duo for years to come.

All of that being said, I don’t think I would have gone in this direction.  I get the fact that Maclin is a top-10 talent that slipped into the later stages of the first round.  I also don’t doubt that he will be a good player that will help this team.  My concern is that with the first pick, the Eagles should be getting a guy that can get them over them hump by addressing a pressing team need.  The current Eagles roster allows little room for Maclin to see the field.  With Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Hank Baskett and Reggie Brown, it is unclear where Maclin fits into the fold.  With such a logjam at WR, Maclin will have a hard time getting the needed reps in order to make the impact a first round pick should make for a team looking to get to the Super Bowl.  The Eagles might move Reggie Brown or outright cut him to make room for Maclin.

Grade, B: Good player and an exceptional value at 19; but where does he fit on this roster?

In the second round, the Eagles nabbed Pittsburgh running back LeSean McCoy.  McCoy will see the field quickly as Brian Westbrook’s understudy and occasional backup.

When you think of McCoy, you need not look any further than Westbrook for a comparable player.  McCoy is 5’11” and close to 200 pounds.  On paper, he does not have elite speed with a 40 time slightly above 4.5 but the game film tells another story.  McCoy is explosive through the hole and extremely elusive in the open field.  And like Westbrook, McCoy has the ability to get lost behind bigger offensive linemen—making it difficult for opposing defenders to locate him.  What makes him an ideal back for the Eagles system is his pass-catching ability.  McCoy is the elite pass-catching RB in this draft and has very soft hands out of the backfield.  Again, like Westbrook, McCoy is dangerous after the catch with the ability to make people miss. 

In addition to serving as Westbrook’s change-of-pace back, look for the Eagles to use formations that involve both players.  It will be difficult for the opposition to key in on the pass or the run in a formation that involves both players.  Andy Reid is surely salivating at the possibilities. 

Grade, A: Excellent player that fits perfectly into the Eagles system and can help this team immediately.

Day One Overall Grade, B+: The Eagles appear to have taken Donovan McNabb’s appeal for more weapons to heart.  In Maclin and McCoy, the Eagles have added two dynamic playmakers that can expand the versatility and explosiveness of this offense.  Good first day.