Good Vibes Only

Round 3:LB Davion Taylor

Taylor played two seasons at Colorado. He had 72 tackles and eight tackles for a loss in his final season. He also ran track his junior season. He ran a career-best 10.51 seconds in the 100-meter dash at the Pac-12 Championships in 2018.

Taylor is raw in experience, but the physical tools are tantalizing. He ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at 228 pounds at the NFL Combine. A special team’s role, where Taylor’s speed can be utilized, is the best route to immediate playing time, but his development at linebacker will determine his true value.

Round 4: SS K’Von Wallace

K’Von Wallace, A versatile safety coming out of Clemson University, was an amazing value pick for the birds. 4th rounders usually are lacking the career accolades K’von possesses. 2nd Team All ACC defensive back, and National Championship winner. Wallace speed and fearlessness is quick to remind Eagles fans of another former great Clemson safety, Brian Dawkins. Exciting Fact, K’von was actually a college roommate of the son of Dawkins. 

Round 5: LT Jake Driscol 

The Eagles selected offensive tackle Jack Driscoll out of Auburn with the 145th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Driscoll finished his college career with 45 starts in 46 total games. His versatility will serve him well as the Eagles relish that in their offensive linemen. I expected a position change to guard is imminent with the eagle’s current LT positional depth.  

Round 5: WR John Hightower 

The Eagles added Jalen Reagor in the first-round on Thursday and then added the athletic John Hightower from Boise State in the fifth round.

An elite athlete who’ll give opponents matchup nightmares, Hightower led Boise State in receiving last season. A former JUCO star, Hightower is a big-time vertical threat that can damage a defense from multiple positions. Hightower went to Hinds Community College in Mississippi to run track after high school but ended up excelling in football. Hightower is slight of frame, although tall and the dominant plays he made in college won’t come in the NFL without added speed and muscle.

Round 6: LB Shaun Bradley 

Undersized inside linebacker better-suited at the WILL spot in a 3-4, where he can be protected by size around him. He has enough speed and nose for the football to find work on this level, but it may not translate to success in the pros due to his lack of traits and plus speed. He’s not twitchy or athletic enough to get away without top-notch instincts and recognition. He’s just average in those areas. He loves football. The intangibles and special teams production could give him a shot.

Excited about these future stars, FLY EAGLES FLY!!!

Actual 

1.    Joe Burrow QB- Is this surprising to anyone, Joe burrow had possibly the most excellent college football season of all time. A former Mr. Ohio football player of the year, Joe and Cincinnati were destined to unite. Could he be Ohio’s football equivalent of LeBron?!?

2.    Chase Young EDGE– Another natural selection, this man will cause havoc in opposing backfields for years to come. Which, as an eagles fan, is simply terrible. The chances of Young being a bust are slim to none. Paired with devastating defenders De’ Ron Payne, Jonathan Allen, and Matt Laurentius, Young comes into a situation where one-on-one pass-rushing opportunities will be plentiful.  

3.    Jeff Okudah CB- The highest-drafted corner in the last 30 years, Okudah has the potential to become an actual shut down corner in this league. Okudah’s dedication to learning the minute details of the game shows with his approach to the game. Okudah diagnosis routes before receivers have the opportunity to make a break in their paths. This supreme knowledge was evident with Jeff’s incredible 0 called penalties against last college football season. 

4.    Andrew Thomas OL- The first upset pick of the draft, Andrew Thomas, can shut people down. While OL is far from the sexist pick, Thomas possesses the ability to offer much-needed protection for potential franchise quarterback Daniel Jones. Along with added pass protection, star RB Saquon Barkley is also a happy man after the addition of a future pro bowler.

5.    Tua Tagovailoa QB- Love this pick, Miami went through an NBA level tank year for three first-round picks. With the highest of those picks, they choose a player who seemingly plays the game at a completely different speed. Coming from a Hawaiian village to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on game day, Tua showed no problem adjusting to the big lights in huge moments. Leaving a permanent mark in Alabama history, Tua hopes to make his mark on a lowly Dolphins franchise. 

6.    Justin Herbert QB – Not a massive fan of the player value in this pick, The LA Chargers are getting a long, athletic pass thrower. He can make the throws, evident by his performance in last year’s BCS Rose Bowl. Paired with the likes of Keenan Allen and a backfield featuring star pass-catching back Austin Ekeler. The Chargers are providing a vast catalog of weapons for Herbert’s arsenal. The more I consider the situation… On second thought, I’ve decided to switch my opinion; this is a good selection. 

7.    Derrick Brown NT- “Baby Barrack” former president of Auburn’s Student-Athlete Committee, Derrick Brown, is a grown man. All year he collapsed pockets forcing opposing QB’s to pass the ball often with an interior lineman in their lap. Derrick Brown’s gentle giant behavior quickly shifts when the lights come on. The folks down in Carolina are sure to love this man for years to come. 

8.    Isiah Simmons- My favorite player in the draft, Simmons positional versatility, makes him a truly elite weapon for a creative defensive coordinator. Standing 6’5 258, Isaiah is blessed with fantastic speedrunning a 4.37 forty yard dash. The Cardinals defense is in desperate need of a defensive overhaul after finishing last year ranked 31st in pass coverage. Pass coverage is where Simmons will shine, an MLB with the ability to cover like a corner. Simmons possesses the range to blanket the middle of the field by himself. This allows boundary defenders the ability to restrict their zones further.  

9.    CJ Henderson – Jacksonville is getting a long, athletic man coverage corner. Extremely confident in his footwork, Henderson possesses many natural tools (4.39 40.) at his disposal. Henderson provides the attitude and swagger typical of star #1 corners.  However, Henderson’s unwillingness to mix himself into the run game may cause the Jacksonville defense to suffer. The Jags are willing to offset this negative with Henderson’s excellent coverage skills. 

10.    Jedrick Willis JR. A 250-pound man stuck in a 360-pound man’s body. Willis’s natural footwork allows him to maneuver both passes and run sets without issue expertly. While a predominant RT in college, Willis JR’s athletic ability makes it very likely the switch to LT won’t be much of a challenge. Cleveland currently possess a Madden level offensive of star player. The hope is Willis will give Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield enough time to use those tools. 

11.    Mekhi Becton- A big man, he ran a 5.1 forty yard dash. AN RVA native I’m a massive fan of this dancing bear. The story goes. His mom had to continually carry his birth certificate to the game to prove his age. Mekhi’s colossal size and movability should make Quarter Back Sam Darnold’s pocket much cleaner. 

12.    Henry Ruggs III- Speed is his name, and explosiveness is his game. Ruggs surprises as the 1st receiver selected; however, Al Davis’s legendary love of speed continues with this selection. Claiming to have “Never lost a race in my life,” Henry plays with the memory of his deceased friend Rod. A motivation propeling this young speedster into a potential star.  

13.    The first trade of the night, The Tampa Buccaneers make the costly decision to move up to pick 13. With this selection, Iowa Tackle Tristan Wirfs is the pick. Tom Brady is hoping this large man will provide a clean pocket. Possessing Sub 4.9 forty speed. Wirfs lower body strength provides superior power when anchoring against bull rushers. While an excellent pass blocker, Wirfs needs work in his run game. Still, with the raw athletic ability possessed by Tristan, the switch shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. After all, he’s the guy who broke Brandon Scherff’s long-standing deadlift record. 

14.    Javon Kinlaw- A man with a truly remarkable story. Javon Kinlaw was once a homeless teen sleeping on DC buses for warmth. His way out was through football, but in his words, “it was what it was.” His one-year-old daughter now powers Kinlaw’s drive. A drive capable of crafting a guy who leads the stacked SEC conference in sacks from the DT position. A big powerful man capable of dominating elite offensive alignment at the point of attack. His hand strength physical punishes Offensive lineman upon impact, Kinlaw should provide a substantial contribution to the Superbowl hopeful San Francisco 49ers.  

15.    Jerry Jeudy – Well, it looks like the Denver Broncos will ruin my dream of Jerry Jeudy sliding to my Philadelphia Eagles. I can’t blame them, Jerry’s route running is already at NFL pro bowl level. He simply loses defenders on breaks and in cuts. Hoping to pair Drew Lock with some weapons, the Broncos have done a great job of staying put and still delivering.

21. The pick we all came to see, the Philadelphia Eagles select Jalen Reagor, WR TCU. I was convinced with the current board set up, Justin Jefferson would be the pick. Surprisingly, the eagles instead pick the speedster, Jalen Reagor. Reagor is a smooth athlete with blazing speed who has more playmaking talent than receiver skill, and play-callers need to account for that when determining how to utilize him. He’s electric with the ball in his hands, so getting it to him quickly rather than asking him to consistently make plays for himself as a ball-winner could be crucial. 

1. QB……………………………………Joe Burrow – Accuracy, poise, big arm, High IQ. Proven winner evident with the dismantling of Alabama in the championship game 2020
2. DE……………………………………Chase Young- Can’t-miss prospect,
3. CB……………………………………Jeff Okudah- Sticky press-man corner, useful in zone
4. LT……………………………………Jedrick Willis- Great prospect, length
5. QB…………………………………… Tua Tagovailoa-Winner, leader, injury-prone, damaged
6. LB…………………………………… Isiah Simmons – Long Athlete, Ferocious, pass coverage
7. DT…………………………………… Derrick Brown – Beast, control the rush point
8. LT……………………………………Mekhi Becton- Strong, Agile,
9. LT…………………………………… Andrew Thomas- good, needs a little work. Raw
10. WR…………………………………Jerry Jeudy –GET’s Open, Excellent route runner. Great speed
11. WR…………………………………Cee Dee Lamb- Great Routes, Great Speed, Great Hands
12. LT………………………………… Tristin Wirfs- Good prospect, needs development
13. DE…………………………………Javon Kinlaw- Unreal Power, Raw talent . Great work ethic
14. WR…………………………………Henry Ruggs III … Speed emphasized, great getting off press
15. DB…………………………………Grant Delpit – Large, Fast, Rangy DB. Inconsistent tackler
16. DE…………………………………Yetur Gross Matos – Size, Length, Explosive, Excellent potential
17. CB…………………………………AJ Terrell – Solid man corner, Zone coverage game needs to be worked on
18. DB…………………………………Ashtan Davis- Great athlete, High IQ, Physical, Rangy
19. CB…………………………………CJ Henderson- Best man corner in the draft, terrible tackler
20. CB…………………………..Kristin Fulton -Great technique press corner, decent speed/length.
21. WR………………………………… Justin Jefferson – Vers, CRISP routes, Can be a big slot
22. WR…………………………………Denzel Mims – Explosive, Great hands and blocker,
23. LB………………………………… Ka’von Chaisson- Leader, Wore #18 on LSU, athlete, better pass coverage guy, Remarkably fast
24. QB………………………………… Jalen Hurds- Gun Slinger, winner, hard worker, Playmaker
25. CB…………………………………Jeff Gladney- Good size, Versatile, Tough, Fiery Competitor
26. LT…………………………………Austin Jackson – Huge, Long arms, good feet for size, really young, Great character guy (donated bone marrow to little sister), Violent hands
27. C…………………………………. Ceaser Ruiz – Great winning history, quick, A real-life bull. Powerful frame
28. LB………………………………….Kenneth Murray- Solid 3 down LB, sideline to sideline speed
29. OLD…………………………………Zach Baun- Fast, versatile, strong
30. WR…………………………………Michael Pittman, Jr. Massive, Great over the middle, Can provide a large slot option
31. LB…………………………………Patrick Queen- Excellent in coverage, ferocious tackler, solid against the run. Solid awareness. High upside
32. WR…………………………………KJ Hamler- The definition of speed, excellent open-field ability, vision. Undersized and lacks an established route tree

Its Getting closer and closer to the official NFL Draft (Live stream edition)! As such, i’ve decided to begin my official mock draft starting with the anticipated top 5. Honestly if you’re a follower of most mocks, this one won’t detract too much. Either way enjoy guys

1. Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU  Burrow had one of the greatest college football seasons statiscally ever for a QB. Cincy will probably field calls for the pick, but you don’t trade out of a franchise QB and he grew up in your own backyard, don’t mess this up Cincy.

2. Washington Redskins – Chase Young, DE, Ohio State   Washington and Ron Rivera probably think about Tua here, but with the craziness of COVID-19 going on, I do believe they will have more faith in Haskins going forward and why not let Rivera build his monster defense by grabbing the best defensive prospect in quite some time in Young. Dude is a beast and will almost average double digit sacks with that nasty DLine the Skins have.

3. Detroit Lions – Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State   This is definitely a trade back scenario for Detroit and one you will probably see happen on draft night, but with his being no trades, Detroit will sit right here and take Jeff Okudah to fill the Darius Slay hole. Now it doesn’t seem very smart to trade away your #1 corner just to draft one with a top 3 pick, but Okudah is different. Makes everything look so easy and is cheaper and younger than Slay, so it makes sense.

4.  New York Giants – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson Now, this a mock of what I think will happen, not what I would do. Giants GM Dave Gettleman loves linebackers and drafting top ones in the draft. Simmons gives them an ultimate chess piece on the defensive side. In the NFC East you need a LB who will make plays on the RBs and cover TEs. Simmons can do both with his god gifted athleticism. Giants fans might not rejoice because it’s not an OT, but with a high R2 pick, they can get someone to protect Jones then.

5. Miami Dolphins – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon Again, this is what I think will happen. There is a lot of buzz around the NFL that the Dolphins are more comfortable with Herbert at this point than Tua. He is a safer pick, but his upside is not. I don’t like Herbert at all in this class and think he is a limited kind of Qb at the next level. The Dolphins could be throwing the biggest smokescreen ever and actually love Tua and take him here at 5 or trade up, but I will follow suit with most other draft analysts and agree that Herbert is safer based on his medicals.

    Thanks to a great suggestion by a team member of mine, my main man Zach. I’ve decided to blend this week’s blog post off of my last two passion topics; football and mental health. Namely the relation between athletes choosing to use CBD and marijuana to mitigate the constant physical pain and mental stress derived from professional contact sports. 

While this man may not appear to terrifying in this candid picture, Calvin Johnson terrorized NFL Corner Backs, Linebackers, and Head coaches for 9 years before injuries forced him into early retirement. Calvin has stated that poor medical management from the Detroit Lions organization, along with a constant supply of prescription pain medicine took away his love for the game. Calvin’s pain was so severe, in 2016 he contemplated leaving the show Dancing with the Stars, because of severe ankle swelling. This is when Mr. Johnson, along another NFL vet by the name of Rob Sims conspired to dive deeply into the business side of the marijuana industry. Johnson and Sims became partners in some real estate deals. But when Michiganders voted to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use last November they switched gears, and now are looking to break into the legal weed business in the state with a marijuana product line that will go by the name Primative.

Rob Sims, a former athlete suffered his struggles with pain tolerance post-playing career stating; “When I was finished playing, the prescriptions from the docs stopped. It’s a slippery slope when you come out of the league and you’ve got all the Oxy and Vicodin’s or whatever you have to manage the pain,” he said. “There has to be a substitution and cannabis ended up being that for me and helped my wife,” who suffered from Crohn’s disease. Marijuana has the capabilities of limiting the unprecedented amount of NFL veterans who end up addicted to prescription pills after constant usage supported by the team organizations
My viewpoints on the necessity to allow marijuana usage in the NFL can be best represented by the words of former All-Pro player, Eugene Monroe. Eugene, a retired lineman for the Baltimore Ravens, has become a passionate cannabis activist, urging the NFL to lighten up when it comes to pot. “It’s time for the NFL to change its archaic standards to better protect its players,” he said on his website. “For too long, I’ve watched my teammates and good friends battle with opioid addiction and leave the game with a long road still ahead; it’s time to make a change.”.

Also in case y’all don’t realize just how dominant Megatron aka Calvin Johnson was, i’ll include this video for visual understanding.

Jim Schwartz’s defense is predicated on an exceptional pass rush loaded with depth. Paired along with coverage capable of protecting long enough for big Fletcher Cox to penetrate the middle and collapse the pocket. However, Schwartz and the eagle organization has consistently allocated very few resources to the Linebacker position. Instead of spending huge money on quality starting LB like a Chris Littleton, or Don’te Hightower, the eagles instead intend to rely on decent pass coverage backers such as Nate Gerry, and Edwards.

   Honestly, this is the formula that worked for the 2017 team. Chris Long, Brandon Graham, Derrek Barnett, Vinny Curry, along with others created a relentless pass rush capable of disguising any talent lacking positional group. However, the eagles Superbowl team was pretty well stacked with Linebackers Jordan Hicks, and Nigel Brabham leading the middle of this defense. Hicks made his name as a solid young back with excellent coverage skills. While Brabham, the original Jim Schwartz  2nd round pick from his time in buffalo provided a solid thumping, run-stuffing LB. Not only did Bradham provide solid run-stopping, but he also is credited with a pick-six interception to help seal the NFC championship game against the highly ranked Minnesota Vikings team.  

   That’s why I’m changing my initial thought process on the upcoming draft. I’ve been constantly hammering home the idea of 1st round Wide Receiver,  1st round Wide Receiver, 1st round Wide Receiver,  but suddenly I’ve thought a change. If the Eagles are unable to land any of the big 3 WR’s, Judy, Lamb, or Rugger. Patrick Queen, a linebacker from LSU, has to be the obvious choice. Queen mixes a highly intelligent football mind, with top-quality athletic abilities. Having a playmaker like Patrick Queen provides a potential star covering the field for the next 4 years on a cheap rookie contract. Check out the highlight tape below, and let me know what yall think of this future star.

 Well, what’s an off season in Philly without the team investing a large sum of money into a defensive linemen. Don’t take the last sentence as a negative, in fact I’m a huge fan of the move. This move allows the eagles to possess a defensive line rotation on par with the 2017 teams rotation.  The paring of a young up and coming DT in Hargraves, a 315 + mammoth of a man with the bull aka, Fletcher Cox. Creates a dominant pass rush capable of hiding the problems in the secondary. Wait, what’s that? The eagles addressed the defensive backfield as well? B+ grade

                      I know I said that Nnamdi Asomugha, Byron Maxwell, and Dominique Rodgers Cromartie have caused me to be pessimistic on any big Cornerback signing…But Darius Slay BABY!!!. A solid corner with the ability to lock up top receivers ( Amari cooper here) without having to sacrifice an overtop safety. Not only has Howie made a great defensive sigining, hes also sacrificed only 4.6 million in cap space this year.  I’ll give this signing an A+  

With the loss of Malcom Jenkins, the eagles look towards Philadelphia’s own native Will Parks to fill the sub LB/S role championed by Jenkins these last 6 seasons. I’ve seen enough swagger out of parks to enjoy the move, while game tape definitely needs another run down. I’m confident in his speed and length to add a bit more diversity amongst the eagles secondary pieces. B – my grade

Just announced!!!, Eagles commit to their pursuit towards excellence with a quality signing for the nickle CB position. While the signing seems a bit confusing with Avonte Maddox and Crevon Le’blanc still readily available on the team. Personaly, I think pressure sharpens diamonds is the best tactic for creating solid positional groups. As such, this is a fantastic move. Let the strong survive and the weak fall off. 

Fill free to check in next week when we discuss the best 1-3 round draft pics for the birds. 

Until then FLY EAGLES FLY!

Whats going on y’all, Football season will be here before we know it. Which for eagles fans usually means the beginning of another 8 months of disappointment. However, in my blog ” If I was the GM” we’re going to discuss all the moves Philadelphia should make to return to the Super Bowl.

First step, Free Agency:

CB Byron Jones:

All true eagles fans know the issue with offering big named Corner-Backs large free agent contracts. But just to remind you, Nnamdi Assomugha, Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, and Byron Maxwell and that’s just the last 10 years. Either way, I believe the eagles should take one very long look at singing Byron Jones

Byron provides unreal athleticism, with strong man coverage skills. A strong candidate for the #1 CB roll vacated with the departure of either fan favorite Jaylin Mills, or the often burnt Ronald Darby.

LDE Yannick Ngakoue: The eagles defense is predicated on an effective pass rush capable of quickly getting too the quarterback. This formula worked fantastically in 2017, aka super bowl year. But as of late, the supreme depth once displayed is all but gone. While Brandon Graham is a stud, the inconcistences of Derek Barnett is a constant threat to overall defensive Line Effectiveness.

Thats where Yannick Ngakou come in. Ngakou will cost a pretty heavy penny, but the chance of pairing this star pass rusher with Fletcher Cox, Malik Jackson, and Brandon Graham is something worth consideration.

Thanks for checking in guys, next week we’ll discuss some early draft targets.

                 3 more months…. 3 more months until I’ll walk across the stage of a college graduate. While this sounds exciting on the surface, maaaaaan I couldn’t tell you how stressful it is. 3 more months…. 3 more months until the real world comes speeding 100mph at me entailing unending bills, potential unemployment, or even worse an actual 9-5 job. 

            So for my last few months of relative freedom, Getting Away and enjoying the conclusion to my young adulthood chapter is an important goal. Traveling has been a hobby of mine ever since my introduction to it a few years ago. As such, my escape will come through Trips to; Middle of Nowhere, West Virginia, Charlotte, North Carolina, and near bi-weekly weekend vacations up north to visit the people I have a love for.

A weekend getaway or short trip amplify your creativity. New sights and sounds stimulate different parts of your brain. There’s even Research suggesting that traveling may have a direct correlation with improved creativity. My trip to the Middle of Nowhere, West Virginia will serve as my creative retreat. Beautiful snowy mountains, warm campfires, and cheap liquor will foster a much needed refreshing atmosphere. 

Charlotte, North Carolina, home to one of my favorite rappers DaBaby and possibly the future home of yours truly. I’m excited for Charlotte, as it’ll serve two important purposes. Firstly, reuniting with old friends, and secondly exploring a potential setting for my next chapter. While previously sounding pessimistic about post-college life, I’m very excited. The possibility of being paid real money is as close as it’s ever come and I’m incredibly excited. 

Sleep, honestly I don’t get much of it. Even right now, I’m typing this blog in a zombie-like mood only 3 am could create. Counting sheep, reading a book, or hot tea never quite worked for me. 

What helps me, my incredibly interested readers ask? Hip Hop Instrumentals (i.e. J.Dilla, Lo-FI), and old Criminal Minds episodes seem to be the miracle solutions to my insomnia. Namely old Criminal Minds, as the new episodes have way too much going on.

Conditioned from a very young age, it seems my body only recognizes late night/early mornings as the best times to play video games. Unfortunately, this lack of respect for sleep is nothing to brag about. Sleep and mental health are closely connected. Sleep deprivation affects your psychological state and mental health. And those with mental health problems are more likely to have insomnia or other sleep disorders. Sleeping less than the recommended eight hours a night is associated with intrusive, repetitive thoughts like those seen in anxiety or depression, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Conditioned from a very young age, it seems my body only recognizes late night/early mornings as the best times to play video games. Unfortunately, this lack of respect for sleep is nothing to brag about. Sleep and mental health are closely connected. Sleep deprivation affects your psychological state and mental health. And those with mental health problems are more likely to have insomnia or other sleep disorders. In fact, sleeping less than the recommended eight hours a night is associated with intrusive, repetitive thoughts like those seen in anxiety or depression, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Well like all factors in mental wellness they’re interlinked but there are a few points:

1. Lack of sleep has been shown to make us more vulnerable to painful stimuli. For example, people hurt more if they are tired. This goes for any negative stimuli.
2. When tired and fatigued your brain and body will be wanting you to go to bed, but struggling through the day can create stress
3. Being tired and fatigued saps enjoyment of usually enjoyable activities, a hallmark of depression.