The Eagles: A Look at 4-3 DL

[Brown Warrior]

They drafted Maclin 19th because it's the highest pick they had. They drafted Kolb first, too... even though he was a second rounder. Heckert's last three drafts for the Eagles were clearly aimed at scoring more points, and it's worked.

You can absolutely find good WR help after round one. Jackson might be the best example out there, grabbing the undersized playmaker (like Cobb or Young). Then he turned around and got Maclin in one, though.

That's where the Browns are right now, desperately in need of speed and playmakers on offense. There's hope on defense (8th in INTs, 12th in scoring defense), but still needs, especially at passrusher.

But once you point out that a team is 31st in scoring and 30th in passing... c'mon. You'd have to really ear fuck yourself to not see the #1 priority, especially in a league dominated by the teams that pass the best.

Not getting big-time playmakers at WR (probably more than one, but one that becomes our best) would be an F for the offseason. There's just no way around it.

Originally Posted by YtownBacker

As I posted elsewhere since you are trying to make a point that Heckert;'s strength is drafting offensive skilled players. He drafted one in the first round in the last 10 years. Kolb, Jackson and McCoy were second rounder.

As for not drafting a DB before the fourth round I don't have to do much research to remember them taking Leto Sheppard in the first round.

2003 - first round was a DE - Mc Dougle
2004 - first round pick was a offensive tackle - Andrews
2005 - first round pick was a defensive tackle in Patterson
2006 - first round pick was a DT in Bunkley

Philly didn't have a 1st round pick in 2007 or 2008

But with all that said, Reid was the last say in the draft, FA and the 53 man roster, not Heckert. I think it shows that you don't have to grab your skilled players with top ten picks for them to be any good. They took Maclin at #19 overall.

You can find skilled players outside the first round and you just pointed out.

[Solon16]

Heckert was the #2 guy in phily...he wasn't there GM...please with the heck did this heck did that routine...please!

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by Solon16

Heckert was the #2 guy in phily...he wasn't there GM...please with the heck did this heck did that routine...please!

Heckert wasn't Philly's GM?

EDIT: He was GM in Philly his last four seasons, 2006-2009.

[Brown Warrior]

Knowing he was only the head guy from 2006 to 2009 focuses things a little.

Upside: In that time, he drafted WRs Avant, Jackson, and Maclin... their top three WRs. He drafted Kolb, which will return a first round draft pick when the league resumes. And he drafted LeSean McCoy, an explosive back and their starter.

So he's really good with offensive skill players. As Y said, he can find some outside of round one... but mostly in round 2.

On defense, he's missed on DL Bunkley, Abiamari, Laws, and Smith. He hasn't hit on anything I could see. Stewart Bradley (LB) in 3 was a good pick. Gocong (3) didn't work out there but I like him in Cleveland.

He's way better drafting for offense. Which is a good freaking thing considering where we are right now. It's time for him to return to form.

[Alo]

Gotta factor in Haden & Ward when evaluating Heckert's track record with defensive players. And while some of those trench picks haven't panned out, DT Antonio Dixon is looking like an brilliant waiver wire pickup: we could use some of those.

[Solon16]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

Heckert wasn't Philly's GM?

EDIT: He was GM in Philly his last four seasons, 2006-2009.

\
It's not known how much final authority Heckert will have over Cleveland's roster, draft and free-agency moves. In Philadelphia, he had to defer those decisions to coach Andy Reid. Heckert was considered for Cleveland's GM job last winter, but he withdrew his name after Mangini was hired.

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by Solon16

\
It's not known how much final authority Heckert will have over Cleveland's roster, draft and free-agency moves. In Philadelphia, he had to defer those decisions to coach Andy Reid. Heckert was considered for Cleveland's GM job last winter, but he withdrew his name after Mangini was hired.

Stevie D. had a good article today about what both Heckert and Holmgren have done when they believed they needed to get better at WR.

I didn't realize that the Eagles traded up to 19 to get Maclin... and that trade was with the Browns. We took a center after multiple trade downs.

Realize that Heckert was that aggressive to get a WR the year after he stole Desean Jackson. Holmgren traded a first round pick to get Deion Branch (ouch) and drafted Koren Robinson at 9 (double ouch). When these guys need WRs, they go get'em.

(Let's hope Heckert makes the call, though.)