There’s not a team in the NFL that stresses the age of its players more than the Eagles. If a productive player reaches the age of 30, the Birds immediately start thinking of getting rid of him. Yet for some reason with Baylor guard Danny Watkins, they decide to ignore his age.
I hope Watkins, comes in here and plays great, but that still doesn’t explain why a team that is age-obsessed would you draft a guy who is five years older than the other draft picks. If age is so important in the Eagles evaluation of their roster, then why isn’t a factor when you’re evaluating a first round pick. The fact that he’ll be 27 in November means you’re probably not going to get as many years of football out of him as you would a guy who is 22.
That’s five years of his career that are gone and you will never get back. Who knows he may be an All-Pro until he’s 40 years old but you can’t start harping about age with everybody else if you ignore it when it comes to Watkins.
The truth of the matter is that the Eagles don’t know whether he’s going to be a good player or not, but the fact that he’s five years older than nearly all of the other draft picks doesn’t make sense.
When asked about the age issue, the Birds just brushed it off. I personally think the Eagle overdo the age issue with other player, but why isn’t a factor in this case. If Watkins is able to come in a be a quality guard, it will only help them, but what about the other players they might have had on a defense that was historically bad in the red zone.
I’m also concerned that one of the reasons he was stronger than his competition is because he was older. A teenager or 21 year-old
isn’t at their peak of strength, but a 26 year-old is at their peak. There are plenty of players who didn’t make it in the NFL who would have been dominant in college if they had played college ball when they were 25 and 26.
I did see Watkins kicking some butt on tape, but I’m not crazy about the pick because I don’t like the idea of taking an offensive guard with your first pick because it’s not one of the more demanding positions on the offensive line. It’s much harder to find a tackle than a guard. The truth of the matter is that it’s harder to find a quality center than it is to find a good guard.
The Eagles got Todd Herremans in the fourth round, why couldn’t they get another offensive lineman of his ability in this year’s third or fourth round.
This guy will get man handle in the pros big time bust… 26yr firefighter lol I do remember Andy Reid signing trash truck driver few years back…
If you have 300lbs.+ force pounding your body at all times…….. How long could you think a 26 year old MAN who is going to see a ton of BEASTLY BEAST on Sunday’s…… Andy Reid is doing nothing but being MR. Miyagi and giving Howard Mudd his WAX ON WAX OFF assignment……. Another working project I might add…….
Can he play nasty football?Yes
Is he older then most rooks? Yes
Think it will benefit him?Yes
How come your not talking abotu the next round of players and the chance for help on D there or in FA Gary?In other words your stance is already old and worn out. Its beating a dead horse.Move on.
Because the Reidtard knows all and we the fans are merely a nuisance that comes with the job. Since when would anyone who follows the Eagles expect common sense and the Reidtard to be used in the same sentence. Expect the snow job to be in full force once the draft is over, the Franchise knows that the majority of Eagles fans are stupid enough to buy into what ever they are selling.
Too bad the Owner and his lackey’s aren’t bright enough to realize that Championships are taken and not just for those lucky enough to win them.
What makes you think he’ll get manhandles in the pros dude? Did you see the film on him that was comparible to the film on the other top OL in the draft.
Moron….they called Paul Grassmanis the “Truck Driver” cause he did the horn pull after his sacks.And stop sounding like a sack when you post.
Typical eagles….doesnt surprise me. He may pan out, he may not. Hope he does because we need someone to guard Vicks right side which is a lefty’s blind spot. No use in going crazy over the typical reid/gm/FO picks you “newbies” on here. once you’ve been “Flim-Flammed” by the green Koolaid long enough, you can’t get excited enough or crazy enough anymore (I’ve been through it too many times, and the disease of koolaid is what it is). Who on here can say they didn’t expect the Coach and FO to surprise us and pick a “rabbit out arse” pick. Doesnt excite me anymore. Day2/round 2 is here and it’s what I’m looking forward to most. lets wait and see if we go D which I think we will. By the way G, I got off work at 3am and expected to come here and find out news rather than logging on to Nfl.com eagles page which was too slow and annoying. how about a little more priority during the early morningam hours…just sayin. Peace.
LOL @ ERock
How come all you first timers come on here and act like d-bags and spew garbage that has no credibility?
Andy’s been here 12 years and he knows our passion and he thinks we’r e anuisance? Another moronic statement from a young buck.No dude…the media is the nuisance to Andy. He’s ok with us…..we pay his salary.
Ajax- he was also a canadian hockey and rugby player…
and he schooled Von Miller in game action…
jroc, how did Runyan do it?
Runyan retired at age 36. So if we get 8-10 years out of this kid – that ain’t bad.
Wheres paulman?
The past players that were let go on this team were let go because their game decreased to a great extent. Basically, for the most part they all sucked. To just merely direct it to them turning 30 years old is ignorant and naive. And its not like we drafted a 26 yeard old WR or RB. O lineman can play long into their years. By the way, everything I heard on this guy is nothing but positive. He is already being compared to Logan Mankins. The Guard position has been a living hell for us since Shanw Andrews decided to go crazy…they finally address it and the same people that bitched about us getting destroyed up the middle by jay ratliff in the playoff game are bitching now that we put a stud in that position. Why couldn’t they wait and address it with a 3rd,4th, or 5th round player? give me a break. we have those guys on our team already their names are nick cole, MgLynn, Max and so on…
Give me Ras-I-Dowling in the second round
Rodger Goodel:
with the 22nd pick in the 2nd round the philadelphia eagles select…WTF??? I cant pronounce this guys name? are you kidding me eagles with this pick? who is this guy? im not even announcing this shit
*throws card and walks away*
@Shiller……. Runyan was drafted by the Titans……. And besides…. Runyan was cut from a different cloth…… Ask Michael Strahan about him…… He’ll tell you that he was the most toughest assingnment to face on any given day…..
Whenever i hear the term “Kool Aid drinkers” I know it doesnt apply to me or anyone i know.Cause we drink Lager.Form our own hard-nosed opinions on our team. Becasue we have suffered since tots with this team.
So stuff that term in your a$$.
LOL@Vricchini……….. I thought with the troops on stage we picked up Ricky Dobbs or the second coming of him….. SMH…….
Shill…he looked good on tape against Von?
Kachtice “because the Reidtard knows all” LOL
Is it just me or was Vick seeing pressure up the middle all season? There is no way McGlynn can play OG effectively in this league. He’ll just get tossed around like he did at C last year. We needed a guy to step in right away and contribute this season. Watkins will do this. As for his age? He barely has any football years on his resume. His body will hold up for 8-10 years in the NFL. The rest of the draft along with free agency will fill our holes on D. I really don’t see why people are so negative about this pick. Logan Mankins turned out to be a pretty good OG in this league…
Erock, First-timer over here. Thank God you & Paulman are remainin sane about this pick. Everyone needs to chill and let the ENTIRE draft unfold before flying off the handle.
good pick, what do we get today?
Crystal ball Andy may have selected a good player only time will tell.
It may smell a bit of desparation. He needs somebody to start right away and this grown man is most likely the quickest fit. The Eagles front office have fired everybody but him and he’s next if the Eagles don’t go deep into the playoffs.
I know some of you think he’s not going anywhere until his contract is up, but this draft pick says “I’m in trouble and I know it.” If Vick goes down and babyarm has to start the Eagles are in trouble with last years offensive line. No reflection on kolb. Even brady would look normal behind those guys.
Crystal balls time is up. He’s the only one left to blame with Mcnabb and that sorry batch of coaches we let go last year.
Erock – I didn’t see it myself, but many analysts (and Reid mentioned it in the post pick press conference – it’s on the team website…) said that it was a flat out SCHOOLING at the senior bowl between Watkins and Von. Apparently it was no contest.
bsm, what’s with the ‘crystal ball’ moniker – that’s what the draft is all about, that doesn’t speak to ANYTHING unqiue about Reid!?
erock – google ‘Danny Watkins v. Von Miller”
bsm – the draft pick does NOT say that, you’re just hoping it does. You’re the ONLY one who said that. The draft pick says ‘we wanted a really good OL’. That’s all. Everything else is in your head.
jroc, from all reports watkins tough sonafabitch, even cowboys hof writer says this guy 2012 pro bowler and the surest thing in of this draft, patriots i believe wanted him, that says a lot, maybe reid got it right this time, stayed away from undersized speedy dline draft, went with a hoss
I think the only person suffering from age obsession is the writer of the article – it simple, the older you get the more poepl you have to compete against – when you are 26, you are probably in your 4rth year – when you are 36, you are in your 14th year – now – I do not know a single profession where people working 14 years expect to earn less then they did at 4 years. It is expected that the eagles will sign this guy to a 5 year deal – so the age issue is absolutely irrelavant. And isn’t being older when you graduate (ie more mature more developed physcally, emotionally etc.) one of the driving ideas behind minimum age drafting requirements.
Sorry Mr Cobb – you really missed the mark bad on this one. I can understand thinking the team had a higher need then the o-line – you can make a decent argument there –
And wasn’t in Sam Rayburn that was the truck driver –
TG – McGlynn did not get ‘tossed around’ that was you tossing something else. McGlynn was solid at center – the hole was the right guard, t – that’s where the pressure came (also backside DB blitzes) Cole and Giles were not effective – Justice hurt his knee and did not perform well at the end of last year –
This is a really solid pick –
I will be googling tonight while watching our defensive picks highlights as well.
I look at Watkins with a lot of Upside,, Here’s a guy thats only been playing Football for 3-4 years and ends up a 2 year Starter at a Div I School playing the most challenging position (LT) and then ends up being a 1st Roud Draft Pick.. Watkins should only improve with better coaching and more experience and the fact that he’s versatile is a big plus and the fact that he has only played a few years so far ,tells me his body isn’t beat up and he should be able to play at a high level for 6-8 years, so to me his current age at 26/27 years old is irrelevant since he should be playing and contributing in year 1 and doesn’t need the 2-3 years to develop like a MJG/WJ/K Dunlap all have.. Watkins actually reminds me of a young Todd Herreman’s a little bit but a lot more polished and has played versus muich better competition than Herreman’s ever did when he came out of College..
To Jroc
Correction on OL J Runyan,
He was drafted by the Houston Oliers who then became the Tennesee Titans.
schiller the crystal ball monkier was given to andy long before the draft.
He sees things that no body else sees.
An offensive line coach as a defensive coordinator. Only andy sees that.
“I’m happy with the WRs we have”…Only andy saw that.
don’t need to use a great young RB in the playoffs …Only andy sees that
Believe me I could go on.
Andy Reid is Marv Levy, Bud Grant, Don Coreyell. He will beat up on the weak teams and split with the good teams in regular season. Then he splits with the good teams in the playoffs. Hence all the nfc championship game losses, and 1st round exits. Andy is a good coach. But his inability to adapt in pressure situations and his stubborn nature to prove how smart he is, will always keep him from winning a superbowl in philadelphia. He may win one if he goes to a warm weather city or a dome stadium where all those undersized players he likes to draft could flourish indoors or with year round warm weather.
He has done what Jeffery lurie told him to do, which was build the team after the old SF 49,ers. The problem is that we play on the East coast. The team should be built more like the Steelers and Ravens or Packers. Cold weather teams that have won superbowls. Some multiple superbowls.
The fact is the Eagles have Fired alot of coaches and dumped alot of players. So what I said is not just in my mind those are facts. It is also a fact that the Eagles dump players when the get to be 30. They are right more often than not. So why spend a 1st round pick on a guy that is 27 when the season starts. It means you are looking to win right now. Remember when the Eagles would stock pile tons of picks. Watch the rest of the draft and see if that happens. Last year they brought in a ton of draft picks and I am guessing they will do the same this year. Andy has to win know and it is reflected in his actions. Or maybe you are right Schiller. But do you honestly believe that there were no 22 year olds (wisconsin guard) available? 3 more offensive linemen were taken after the Eagles drafted. They could have gotten a younger player that CAN play. But not as mature as the kid from Baylor.
Schiller I always hope that you guys who stick by andy are right. Because I want the Eagles to win. But the facts are, that Andy can’t do it. The NFL fires an average of 7 coaches a year. That means there is a complete turnover after 5 years. Andys time is up. He has had twice as long as the average nfl coach. How much more time does he need to prove he can’t win a superbowl? The NFC is not weak anymore.
Great so everyones happy he school von miller 240 pound linebacker lol, lets see if second coming of hank fraley can take on grown azz men in the middle…
Bsm – you said the facts are that Andy can’t do it. That’s not a fact – that’s a statement. A fact is that Andy HASN’T DONE it. But you are getting facts confused with assumptions.
He has had twice as long as the average NFl coach. Maybe because he has had far more success than most of those who got fired. I know he hasn’t won a SB, but if you’re looking for a guy to do it, do you go with the guy who has come the closest the most consitently? or fire him just because when your replacement options are ‘take a chance on a newby because the privious guy hadn’t’ or ‘try someone else who’s failed, with less success along the way’. Those two options are not upgrades over Reid. If you’re going to rebut with Cohwer or Gruden, well, ha, Cohwer was similar to Reid in tenure v. SBs and Gruden has been jobless for a reason.
navyeaglefan – In my opinion, Cole and Gilles aren’t even in the conversation anymore after their performances last year. Therefore I was comparing Watkins to McGlynn. McGlynn was overmatched a lot last year, and maybe it had something to do with Gilles and Cole not contributing, but McGlynn definitely didn’t help the situation. McGlynn isn’t a starting center or guard in this league. Great pick with Watkins. Hopefully Jackson can return to form and stay healthy.
I hate the Watkins pick…. of course, if I was 26 playing against 20 yr olds I would hope to dominate as well…. the reason the Eagles didnt wait to round 4 where they could get someone like Stephen Schilling of Michigan is because their scouting dept sucks and they have no talent at selecting good players…. it starts with Reid, an o-lineman by nature…. things wont change until the fat walrus is f-FIRED!!
Nice diatribe b-vids…just say you dont like the pick or the coach.We get it.
AJ10…Miller led the nation in sacks.Thats not a grown azz man?He was a blue chip lineman and we got em. Stop crying. When we get Nmanda what are you gonna say then?
jott what’s it like being a tool?
Von MIller is ony projected to be the best Pass-Rushers of the last coupld of Drafts…
I predict the Packers & Saints as the early front runners for the NFC Championship..
The Falcons Offense and Receiver corps with R White, J Jones, M Jenkins and H Douglas and TE T Gonzales could be the best in all of the NFL
Eagles need a shutdown CB and SS to be able to compete with all 3 of these teams come 2011
What up Jakedogg……. I hope he is what everyone says…… canadians are real tough SOB’s…….. But the NFL is a mental sport and some guys like the Haynesworth’s of the the league love to get in to a young guys head like his….. Excuse me correction…… Man Boy…….. I see where your coming from bro….. But it was a suprising pick for us all but than again were eagle fans who expect the expected……. LOL!!!!!
McGlynn will the 3rd Guard to fill in for WAtkins and Herramans
and I forgot the EAgles signed AQ Shipley who can be the back-up Center
Give all 4 of these players a camp and a year with OL Coach Mudd, and they all will be improved and better players..
Keep banking on raiders cb lol, eagles are in trouble if he doesnt come here…New flash nfc east has caught eagles, we better hope Andy can trade kevin kolb for 1st round pick next year because next year draft has better players coming out…
Key word hope.How come rookies come in the league and dominate older d-lineman then?Rational is suspect.
It’s the first round dudes.
If you don’t like this pick aske yourself this……..Who is the most improtant Eagle? Mike Vick? How many times did MaxJean Belly Band and Nick BBQ Coles get Mike hammered last year.
What do you think our leaders on the team think of this pick?
Guys. RG was our WORST position. The strength of our team is the offense and the QB. If our QB gets hurt, we can have the greatest defense in the world but we are 8-8 best. This was a huge priority and great pick. We gave up so much pressure through the middle last year at Center and RG. Now we are good at both positions.
Now onto the 2nd round, who do you think we get. What do you think of Marvin Austin?
This just in…. Espn reporting that they feel the cards and prepping to throw a lot at the eagles for kolb including cb patrick peterson. That’s why they drafted him not bc of “value”
Once they can make trades look for that trade
J Hart, are you making that up? I want to see a link.
J Hart why lying bro?