Yesterday the Eagles top brass were in Morgantown, West Virginia working out, Geno Smith, the top-rated quarterback in this year’s draft. Birds owner Jeffrey Lurie, GM Howie Roseman and head coach Chip Kelly were all down in Morgantown to observe the workout because the decision on Smith is a very important judgement call.
The young quarterback has a Pro Day coming up in the near future, but the Eagles thought it was worth their time to go down to Morgantown and work him out on their own. When the season ended, Smith was considered strictly a pocket passer, until he showed everybody he had the speed to run a read option offense by running a 4.59 in the forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Kelly and the Eagles brass know that neither Michael Vick, nor Nick Foles, nor anybody else on their roster is their long term answer at the quarterback position. In order to be able to pass up on Smith at ther fourth pick, they had to go get a close up look at him to see whether he’s their answer at their quarterback position.
He has a NFL arm and without a question the best thrower at the NFL Combine. He can make every throw needed on the NFL-level, but his weakness had been inconsistency, which is attributed to his footwork. In spite of his inconsistencies, Smith completed 71% of his throws with 42 touchdowns and only six interceptions, which is nothing to sneeze at.
According to the top quarterback coaches, poor footwork can be corrected with coaching and repetition. We will see whether the Eagles believe that by what they decide to do with Smith.
If they do feel he’s their answer at quarterback, then they must grab him. Everybody knows how important the quarterback position is to all NFL teams.
Personally I don’t know about the idea of bringing in Smith to run Kelly’s offense despite the fact that he’s not used to running with the football. That football is a like a magnet during an NFL game and the speed will be greatly increased for Smith. If he wasn’t used to running with the football at the college level, I think it’s too big of a jump to think that he will be comfortable running with the football at the professional level.
I doubt the Eagles make him their top pick in this draft, but the decision is definitely important enough to take the trip to Morgantown and make an evaluation about how good Smith is and whether it makes sense to draft him. They were doing their due diligence yesterday.
It would surprise me if they decide to draft Smith, but it’s not out of the question.
They want to show the Teams behind them in the Draft that they are checking him out to jack up his Value.. Now Teams like the Cardinaks, Bills .& Jets nay have have to Trade down to #4 to get him which will return more for the Eagles
right all the people complaining about the eagles off season– IMHO the whole off season so far has been nothing but a smoke screen, delay in naming staff, the bogus namdi restructure, even the vick restructure– all smoke screen- hell we don’t even officially know they are running the 3-4– its all just been misdirection.
The only direction I see the Eagles is down the Basement looking up
At the better Teams above them.. They need 3-4 impact cul Players on Defense.. A RT & Guard, a Playmaker at TE, a big Target at WR
On Offense before they are out of the Basement and compete with the Top half Teams of the NFC
all that Green Energy pat on the backs Jeff Lurie received for his Linc solar panels was a smoke screen. The Aviation Fuel burned into the atmosphere the past 3 months flying all over the country with his new best friends Howie and Don is just ecologically arrogant. Jeff start picking the cheer leaders and stay away from the draft. Remember Jon Harris and Danny Watkins and keep yourself and Howie away —- far away for the personal department.