West Virginia running back Wendell Smallwood was still sitting on the board in the fifth round because of some trouble he had been in a couple of years ago. While in high school, he was accused of witness-tampering in a murder case.
I think the young man made the mistake of hanging around the wrong people for a short period of time during his youth. He came clean about it to reporters yesterday and I believe him. Howie Roseman said the Birds had looked into it and accepted the youngsters explanation.
The key for Smallwood will be learning the west coast system. He’s a speedy and tough playmaker, who can get it done when he gets the football in his hands.
In the 2015 season, Smallwood ran for 1,519 yards on 238 attempts, which is a 6.4-yard per carry average. The kid is explosive to say the least. He caught 26 passes for 160 yards, which is a 6.2 yard per catch average.
All he’s got to do is gain the confidence of the coaching staff that he knows what he is doing in this offense. He’s the kind of playmaker that the Birds will try to get the ball to by lining him up all over the place.
Smallwood must know what his assignment is on running plays, pass plays and most importantly, who to block on blitz-pick up. Mistakes on blitz pickup by young running backs, keep them on the bench.
The young man is well put together with tremendous speed and quickness. He has the physical skills to play right now, as soon as he catches up to things mentally, he will be put into the lineup.
Eagles took some risks with character issues on RB Smallwood, DB Jalen Mills Mills & DE Alex McAlister that they have not done in recent years which is probably why all 3 Players were still on the Board when the Eagles Selected them.. Hopefully these Players gave all matured and put some Hesse issues behind them and that the Eagles have some strong mentoring & support system in place to help these kids .. If these 3 Players can develop and utilize their Talents then this 2016 Draft Class would show to be very strong one in a couple of Years… If these guys don’t than this Draft Class outside of Wentz wont help much down the road..
any good will the Public Relations department promoted on how civil Carson Wentz is, Has been wiped clean by the police blotter past on these 3.
while watching some of the draft selection coverage when the Eagles were on the clock, they flashed a QB stat for the Eagles franchise. Last Eagles QB to start all 16 games was 2008 McNabb. Hope Carson is durable. This is one of the downers about Vick, Foles and Bradford here.
Learn to pass block kid. Then you get the rock.