DE Anthony Spencer of Purdue fits the Eagles mold as an edge rusher

Anthony Spencer of Purdue is a 6' 3", 266 lb. defensive end, who ran a 4.63 40 yard dash at his pro day workout. Spencer is no mere undersized workout warrior-he was perhaps the best defensive player in the country at getting penetration and pressure from the edge last year. Scouts say that despite his lack of ideal height, he can pack at least 10 more pounds onto his frame, with no loss of speed or quickness. And it is quickness that is Spencer's forte.

It is an overused phrase to say a prospect 'has a motor." Its kind of a backhanded compliment ordinarily given to over-achievers. I wouldn't use "motor" to describe Spencer, as much as relentless. He doesn't quit on plays, and he just keeps fighting hard to bag QB's and runners. Spencer may be the best hand fighter in this draft class of all the defensive lineman prospects. He doesn't let tackles get a hold of him and lock out their arms and leverage him often. He is good at a variety of rips, swims and hand techniques to disengage from blocks. That is a skill most solid NFL pass rushers have to perfect to consistently get pressure on the pocket - you can't let the massive offensive linemen of today get and keep their hands on you, when they have a 50 or more pound size advantage. Spencer is somewhat advanced already in this area compared to his peers in this draft class. He got good coaching at Purdue, where successful NFL DE's have been groomed under Joe Tiller's program.

Spencer fits the Eagles' DE prototype. Jim Johnson and Andy Reid want guys that will instantly penetrate, and want ends that can crash the edge. The Eagles want to force quick throws, and to do that you need outside pressure. Spencer should, from day one in the NFL, be a solid 3rd down or nickle pass rusher. He plays the run better than you might think, and if he could get up to 275 and remain as quick as he is now, he should be able to be solid, but not spectacular, at anchoring versus the run. He benches 500 pounds, and has shown good functional strength, or "playing strength," for a somewhat smaller than ideal end. He is a good kid, very coachable. I like the fact he has gotten better each year. One other plus in his favor is mental and physical toughness. As Buddy Ryan used to say, "durability is as important as ability" in the NFL. Spencer was particularly gritty in a 15 tackle effort against Notre Dame. He played through a hyperextended knee. In the NFL, nobody feels good or healthy by November. Its still a tough guys league, despite the emphasis on speed and skill. One area where Spencer will have to get better is lower body strength. He will struggle versus double teams at the next level unless he gets more powerful in the legs. He also needs to keep those pads low all the time. He was so much better than many of the OT's he faced on the college level that he could get away with playing a little upright at times, relying on his good upper body power. All in all, while he may not last until 26, if he is there, Heckert, Reid, and Johnson would be really tempted to take a guy that is tough, quick and productive, to hedge against any problems Javon Kearse or Darren Howard may experience in 2007. I think a 3-4 defensive team will grab him though, before Philly gets the chance.

Brian Leonard of Rutgers - the missing piece to a championship puzzle?

Brian Leonard of Rutgers may have the best hands of any running back in this year's NFL draft. He is 6' 1", weighs 238 lbs., and runs a 4.5 40 yard dash. If Andy Reid had a chance to "design" the perfect fullback for his West Coast offense, in my opinion he would create Brian Leonard.

The matchup problems Leonard would cause opponents when added to weapons in Philly like Westbrook, L.J. Smith, Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown, would have to excite Andy Reid and his offensive coaching staff. How many fullbacks are actually legitimate deep threats in the passing game? You can line Leonard up outside the numbers, flexed out as a receiver. He and Westbrook would instantly be the best pass catching backfield in the modern NFL era. The Eagles could run their no-huddle offense, and just as easily go into a "5 wide" look, with no lack of athleticism, as they could run a power running play out of I formation. What would defenses do? If they stay in base defense, with 3 linebackers, they simply can't cover Westbrook, Smith and Leonard adequately with just LB's and safeties. If they go nickle or dime, they risk getting plowed under in the running game by the big offensive line and Leonard as a sturdy lead blocker.

I think the Eagles would have to move up to near the top of round 2 in the draft to get Leonard. Its a move they really should make. He can solve the "big back" and "short yardage" dilemma, while adding real firepower for many years to come to an already explosive offense. It may take giving up a 5th rounder to do it, or slightly more by way of an existing player or future draft pick. What really has to have Andy & Co. licking their chops is Leonard's talent catching screens - a staple in Reids West Coast Offense. Leonard is an underrated runner, with surprising elusiveness for his size. He has relatively loose hips, and can make the first man miss. He can cut back, and change direction well with the rock in his hands. He ran for 2,779 yards at Rutgers, for a 4.1 average, and found the endzone 32 times as a ballcarrier. He caught 207 passes in his college career, for a 9.1 yard average, with 13 TD's.

There are not may negatives with Leonard. He has extremely high character on and off the field. He is as unselfish a talented player as will ever enter the NFL. Objectively, though, he will be an effective, but not devasting, lead blocker in the running game. You lose a little power at the point of attack as a run blocker to gain his skill and versatility. He is a polished pass blocker, and slides well to pick up edge pass rushers. Hopefully we will hear Leonard's name called as a new Eagle this Saturday. Watch his resume here - http://youtube.com/watch?v=qgWptGJauog

Miami safety Brandon Meriweather - does it all

Brandon Meriweather is yet another talented safety prospect to come into the NFL from "the U." Brian Dawkins has been such a special player for the Eagles because of his versatility - he hits, can cover, blitz, and support the run. The complete package. I see Meriweather as having those kind of skills, albeit in a smaller frame.

In today's NFL, you can't hide a safety that can't cover adequately downfield one on one. Offensive coordinators are so adept at setting up mismatches, by formation or personnel grouping, that will isolate the weakest link in coverage. The value Meriweather brings to a defense is his versatilty, and his skill at every area a safety gets tested in the league at this time. You can bring him down into the box, and despite his size, 5' 11", 195 pounds, he is fearless attacking the line of scrimmage. He is an excellent blitzer. Blitzing can be taught, but the ability to time a blitz, make yourself "small" attacking a gap, and rush under control to get the sack and not just the "hurry," is somewhat of an innate ability. Like elusiveness in a running back, some people are natural born blitzers.

The fact that Meriweather was forced to play corner at the U at times, including several games last year, is a big plus, no doubt, to NFL coaches. He has the loose hips, the quick transition, and the ball skills to play tight man coverage at the next level. He is an aggressive guy who will throw his body around, but also is athletic and instinctive enough to really cover the pass --this is what separates the men from the boys in the NFL as a safety. Plenty of guys are bigger and can play in the box well, and plenty of kids coming out are undersized and can run and cover. Very few can hit, tackle, blitz, and cover well. A guy that can do that is a Dawkins, an Ed Reed. Meriweather has that kind of potential, more than any other free safety prospect in this draft. He plays quicker than he timed ( 4.48 on campus, 4.56 at the Combine).

There are risks. First, is the character issue, stemming from Meriweather's role in the FIU game brawl, and the incident in which he fired a gun at an individual who shot at his friend. NFL teams also have to be concerned about his size, and history of shoulder injury. He had a surgery on his left shoulder during his time in Miami. The counter to these concerns is the fact that Meriweather was pretty durable at the U -- playing long and well enough to own the career mark for a Hurricane safety in career solo tackles (182). As a football player, he has good character between the lines, as an emotional leader, and in his dedication to the game, inclduing a habit of intense film study. Meriweather was the heartbeat of the Maimi defense, and will add toughness to any team he joins. I think a program like Andy Reid runs in Philly -- where the locker room is filled with good character guys -- would be a good match for Brandon. He could be mentored by potential future Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins. He would immediately help the nickle and dime packages, and be a dangerous blitzer too, another weapon to point at opposing teams facing 3rd and long. Watch Meriweather's highlights - http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/specials/draft/2007/video

Texas CB Aaron Ross - a good fit for Jim Johnson's system

Aaron Ross is a rare prospect - a tall CB who is also a fluid athlete, with electric return skills. At 6'1" and just under 200 pounds, Ross has the size NFL teams covet today at corner. In a division that features Plaxico Burress and "you know who" in Dallas, the Eagles surely could use some more height and speed in the secondary. Ross fits the bill.

Ross is not comfortable as a press corner, but he has great catchup speed, and turns and runs well. He can plant and drive out of breaks. He is best in mirror and trail technique rather than bump and run -- but I think with more upper body strength and somebody coaching him up he can develop into a guy who could play press down the line. Ross adjusts to the ball well in the air. Some guys can stay in close contact with a receiver but can't make the play on the ball down the field. Ross excels in this. His great hands and ball awareness are reflected in his stats -- 33 passes deflected at Texas, and 10 INT's.

Jim Johnson doesn't ask his corners to play a huge percentage of press coverage. He uses alot of off coverage, and Ross can backpedal, mirror and turn and run with most anybody. Ross is willing to throw his body around, but he's not a force CB, or a physical tackler. He would be a poor fit as a cover 2 CB, say in the Colts and Bucs schemes, where the CB's are primary run defenders. Ross does seem to lack a great feel for zone coverage, and adjusting on the fly to the switching involved. Most of his big plays given up were either from this lack of instinctiveness in zone coverage. He also had a bad habit of grabbing jerseys downfield -- a "non-no" at the NFL level. These things can be improved with good coaching at the next level -- you can't teach his 4.45 speed and explosion. He has that second gear, and actually plays faster than he times in the 40.

Ross is a dangerous punt returner, and this adds great value to his selection late in round 1. He has the change of direction skills, good hands, and true burst needed to break long returns at the NFL level. If taken by the Eagles, Ross would help right away as a speedy, tall defender in nickle and dime packages, and as a punt returner. Down the line, he and Lito Sheppard could form a very exciting, athletic tandem at CB. With Bethel Johnson as kick returner and Ross as a punt returner, the Eagles would feature the speed and homerun hitting ability in the return game to keep special teams coaches on the other sideline up at night. Check out Ross' highlights from his days as a Longhorn here - http://youtube.com/watch?v=9nVjwzOCxQU

Players I like in the 2007 NFL Draft - Charles Johnson DE Georgia

From now until the draft, I will write about those players that I believe will become good NFL players in general, and good fits for the system run by Andy Reid. Charles Johnson should become a very solid pro - he does remind me of Saints DE Charles Grant, also formerly a Bulldog, as well as a younger version of Darren Howard. I think he will be a very good left defensive end in a 4-3. He is just over 6' 2", and weighs a legitimate 270. While you'd like a DE to be a little taller, that doesn't matter to me as much as the fact that he has long arms, and room on his frame to add another 15 pounds without losing too much quickness or agility. One reason I believe Jerome McDougle struggled so much in the NFL besides health problems is that he has short arms, and is too easily locked up by long armed offensive tackles.

Johnson is an exciting prospect because he is still a "baby," born in 1986, and declared early for the NFL after a superb junior year. I like taking players high in the draft who come from solid programs where the tape shows them going against decent athletes. Johnson was battle tested in the SEC. I like that he improved alot from his earlier career at UGA in his junior year -- he is rising. He makes plays too, and is not just a workout warrior. He was productive on film, and had 9 1/2 sacks last year, to go with 29.5 tackles for loss. He has a knack of timing his leap to bat down passes, and he goes angry to the ball and goes for the strip, causing 5 forced fumbles.

You watch this kid, and you see a guy who can hold the point versus the run, with good strength. What he did on the field strength wise showed up at the combine, where he shared a postion best 33 reps on the bench. Athletically, he has a nice burst and takeoff for a good sized end, and uses his hands well. He uses leverage, gets low and can bull rush as well as take the edge. He sets the edge versus the run. He has the quickness to chase plays down the line of scrimmage. He is powerful and explosive, with a really nice 34 on the broad jump, and a fantastic 9'11" vertical. What he lacks some shows up in his weak 3 cone time of 7.5 seconds --he is not a more loose hipped, change of direction guy like Nebraska's Adam Carriker, who did the 3 cone in 7.06 seconds. What this means is he will hold the fort, and runs well down the line and charging up the field, but probably isn't athletic enough to take on left Offensive tackles in the NFL as a pass rusher. Thus, he's a LDE in my opinion. He ran a 4.84 40 at the combine, but has reportedly run as low as 4.68 in the past. I think he would be a great fit as a LDE in Jim Johnson's scheme. He may go late first, or all the way to late third round. My guess is the Eagles would have to move up some in round two to get him, because he has great upside, and is a complete DE prospect, who can stay on the field on passing downs. Check out his highlights at http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/specials/draft/2007/video/