• March 18, 2024

Wendell Smallwood Fits The West Coast Offense

WendellSmallwoodRB1I thought rookie Wendell Smallwood stood out yesterday in the Eagles workout by catching 10 to 15 passes coming out of the backfield.  The youngster from Wilmington has got some soft hands as a ball catcher, especially for a running back.  The rookie seems very sure handed when the ball in thrown to him.

In this offense, he’s going to get a lot of chances to catch the football, because Doug Pederson’s version of the West Coast offense includes throwing the ball to the running backs a ton.

If can learn what the wide receivers are doing in this offense, I could see them putting him in the slot.  His ability to run with the football after the catch would make him extremely valuable.

You send him in the game as a running back and decide whether you’re going to put him in the backfield to run the ball or shift him outside and throw it to him depending on whether you’re facing a regular first down defense or nickel or dime.   Of course you throw against the regular defense and run against nickel or dime.

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gmcliff
gmcliff
May 18, 2016 3:31 pm

Smallwood is the Jamaal Charles of this Offense.

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
May 18, 2016 4:18 pm

I certainly hope so, and the reviews of the first full team practice (and can we believe we even comment on the first practice) were glowing….

However, the track record for West Virginia RBs making it in the NFL is pretty poor. So we’ll see.

paulman
paulman
May 18, 2016 5:12 pm

RB’s are a Dime a Dozen, Draft 1 every 2-3 Seasons and keep turning them over is what many Succesful NFL Teams.. Long gone are the Stud RB’s with 20-25 Carriers a Game for 6-8-10 Seasons, its just doesn’t happen often anymore..
Quick – Name the RB Tandem of the Patriots the last Few Seasons
or the Ravens, or the Bronco’s , etc,etc…

haveacigar
haveacigar
May 18, 2016 5:49 pm
Reply to  paulman

This from the guy (flip flop) who wanted Elliot at 8….

paulman
paulman
May 18, 2016 7:21 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

If the Eagles never traded up and stayed at #8, I would probably have Selected RB Elliot if he was still on the Board there as he would have been the Best Player on the Board at #8 and the Eagles need a RB for 2016 and the next few Seasons which Elliot could have performed at a very high level..
It’s all a moot point now for Eagles moved up to #2 to get their Future QB and the Cowboys Selected RB Elliot at #3 anyways.

In Terms of Pure Draft Value and filling a Teams Need , Drafting RB Elliot at #8 would have been the Drafts biggest Steal ..

paulman
paulman
May 18, 2016 7:27 pm
Reply to  paulman

I would Draft a RB every 2 Years between the 3rd & 6th round and use them up and replace them by the time their 4 Year Rookie Deals are up..
I would not extend a RB to a Long-Term Deal or Overpay like the Eagles did for their RB’s (Murray/Matthews) in Free-Agency

haveacigar
haveacigar
May 18, 2016 7:56 pm
Reply to  paulman

Flip flop per except you would have wasted a first rounder on Elliot? Are you dense?

mhenski
mhenski
May 18, 2016 8:10 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Lmfao. Pauls consistency definitely needs some improvement. On the bright side it can only go up for him.

JimChunk
JimChunk
May 19, 2016 5:34 am

I always respect what Mr. Paul writes on here minus this one. R. Backs and dime a dozen does not float. I like Smallwood. He may not be a BWest or Shady, but give him a chance. He was a very good pick up. I remember going to the link when Temple Played Nova. There was a back there whom made everyone else look like pee wee players. He ran through and away from everyone. His name…B West. When the Birds selected him, I went nuts. He was certainly not a dime a dozen dude from what I recall.

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
May 19, 2016 11:38 am

Howie Roseman sent his media hit man to assassinate the character of Darren Sproles today. The Eagles franchise is a dysfunctional joke. Jeff Lurie the NFL fans of the country laugh at your franchise every off season.
Washington Redskins Vinny Cerrato and DanSynder have officially been replaced as the biggest fools in the business right here in Philly.

paulman
paulman
May 19, 2016 2:02 pm

Where’s the Negative Stories about Sproles??
HC Pederson stated that Sproles was at home out in California finishing up Coaching his Son’s Track Team and would be returning to Philly once the Mandatory Camp OTA’s hit in June..

haveacigar
haveacigar
May 19, 2016 2:43 pm
Reply to  paulman

Zero doesn’t care about facts–

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
May 19, 2016 2:49 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Howard Eskin’s twitter page.

haveacigar
haveacigar
May 19, 2016 3:12 pm

From his twitter: To clarify a previous tweet. The intended meaning is IF #eagles Sproles was holding out he would not get long term deal. Not sure what’s up

So the ‘howie’s hitman to assassinate’ stuff was you just being an ass again?

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
May 19, 2016 7:25 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

oh, I didn’t see that other post and didn’t know he, Eskin, walked it back and/or clarified his thought with an “if” later. OK then, Howie and Howard i was wrong and was being an ass.

paulman
paulman
May 19, 2016 3:37 pm

I think there’s No Story here …
Darren Sproles is home out in San Diego Spending Time with his Kids and Coaching their Son’s Elementary Track Team which is almost over and then will return to Philadelphia to get ready for the 2016 Season as Coach Pederson stated
Holding out at almost 33 Years Old for an Aging RB Earning $4.5 Million in his Final Contract Year is not very bright and makes little sense.. If Sproles were to get Cut, he would be signed by another Team no problem, but not at Current Figure of $4.5 Million as a 3rd Down Scat Back/Punt Returner.
Let him Enjoy his Final Season as an Eagle and probably a NFL PLayer

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
May 19, 2016 4:04 pm
Reply to  paulman

Just Yesterday Roseman was Keyser Soze the way he “set up” Bradford…maybe this is all part of it. Howie “Keyser Soze” Roseman pulling the strings of the entire NFL from behind the curtain of his Emerald Palace.

That being said, this is, as usual, the overactive Philly Media doing everything it can to invent controversy out of nothingness. As I have stated 1000x, the media atmosphere around this team is toxic.

Every little thing tha can be seen as negative is disected to the utmost degree.

Just look at this one story:

Sproles holding out!
Sproles upset that he was on the block at draft!
Sproles wants a trade!
Sproles demanding a long-term deal!

Meanwhile Pederson says he wants Sproles and Sproles says he doesn’t want a new contract.

Meanwhile “good” stories like the two FO hires last week??

Crickets. What fun is that?

This is better:

Wentz Booed already!
Sproles demands contract/trade/release!
Rumour is COx will be traded
Rumour is Cox is out
Rumour is
Rumour is
Rumour is
Rumour is
Rumour is

paulman
paulman
May 19, 2016 4:25 pm

Rumor is that Pederson is bringing in WR/Returnman Marty Gilyard in for Tryout
Details at 11pm

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 19, 2016 4:55 pm
Reply to  paulman

LOL!!!!!

That guy has been told that he isn’t NFL material as many times as Tim Tebow.

paulman
paulman
May 19, 2016 4:30 pm

**NFL News***

Jagaurs 1st Round Draft PIck CB Jalen Ramsey suffered a Torn Meniscus
after Conditioning Workouts from last Week.. Per Team Doctors it’s a minor Tear but is mulling over 2 Medical Options
Rest and Minor Surgery and out 4-6 Weeks
Regular Meniscus Surgery and out 4-6 Months which means his Rookie Season would basically be a lost Year

Last Season the Jaguars Lost Top Pick OLB Dante Fowler to a Torn ACL during the first Day of Summer Drills forcing him to miss the entire 2015 Season…

Hope this Jalen Ramsey is ok after the Minor Procedure and can Play his Rookie Season…

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 19, 2016 4:56 pm
Reply to  paulman

Man what are they doing in camp to their top rookie picks in Jacksonville. Two years in a row. Tough break for a good player.

paulman
paulman
May 19, 2016 5:43 pm
Reply to  gmcliff

The Jaguars have had some terrible luck in recent Years with their Top Picks
2016 – Jalen Ramsey – Torn Meniscus
2015 – OLB DAnte Fowler Jr – Torn ACL (Missed all Rookie Season)
2014 – QB Bortles has been sacked more than any QB his first 2 Seasons
and needs some help along that OL and Running Game
2013 – OT Luke Jockel broke his Ankle after a 5 Games of his Rookie Season and ended up missing the Rest of his Rookie Year
2012 – WR Justin Blackmon keeps getting suspended and I think has been banned by the NFL after getting 3-4-5 Chances

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
May 19, 2016 7:27 pm
Reply to  paulman

Jacksonville has to find a new piece of grass or turf to hold these practices.

haveacigar
haveacigar
May 19, 2016 7:46 pm
Reply to  paulman

It’s not bad luck to have a player suspended multiple times. That’s bad scouting and research

paulman
paulman
May 19, 2016 9:57 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Your right about Justin Blackmon, who was known as a problem/high-risk player during his College Days.. A High-Risk with High Reward who never panned out for he rarely ever played due to his multiple suspensions..
Josh Gordon at Cleveland is another one, Greg Hardy another, Randy Gregory another, Johnny Football partied his way right out of the NFL..
I expect there will be 1-2 a High Profile Players from this 2016 Draft Class who are High Risk Guys… OT Laramy Tunsil & Robert Nkemdiche both of Mississippi, who are friends and partiers with possee’s who may get them in trouble if they are not careful… Nkemdiche’s Brother is bad-news and the Bills need to keep a close eye on him