There was plenty of blame to go around last year to explain why the Eagles finished at 8-8. Michael Vick couldn’t stay healthy. DeSean Jackson admittedly didn’t give full effort at times. Juan Castillo had no business being defensive coordinator. There are a million and one other arguments a person could make, but among the most pressing issues with the team is the safety position. And many of the fingers are pointed at Jaiquawn Jarrett and his inability to distinguish himself at a weak position and find a way to get on the field.
It’s not all Jarrett’s fault. At 5’11 198 lbs while running a 4.62 forty, he had no business being taken with the 54th overall pick. Couple that with almost no off-season and you’ve got yourself a recipe for disaster.
Now fast-forward a season. He’s now had a full year to acclimate into the system. He has a couple starts under his belt, and the Eagles’ safety situation has anything but sorted itself out, yet for some reason, a second-year, second-round draft pick may be out the door come Friday.
“That’s what comes with the territory. Sometimes you don’t make the plays that you need to make and you go back and look at the film and you see why you didn’t make them [then] you go into practice knowing what you need to work on.” said Jarrett when asked about his play thus far in the preseason. “It’s all about locking in, focusing in and continuing to get better every day. Going out there one day at a time, one play at a time, and it’s working.”
Second-round draft picks are rarely cut just two seasons into their NFL careers but Jarrett has a lot of work to do if he wants to avoid comparisons to Quinton Caver, the Eagles second round pick in 2001, cut just 6 games into the 2002 season.
With veteran O.J Atogwe competing for time, along with third year guys Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman, who have both shown more promise for the future than Jarrett, playing time is going to be hard to come by and the young safety knows it. “I continue to work every day. I don’t have an exact day or time of how far I am away but I continue to work every day.”
If he doesn’t show a glimmer of what the Eagles saw when they reached for him in the second round last year, he may be working for another team this fall.
The only thing that has keep Jarrett’s chances alive is the Fact that Atogwe,and Colt Anderson were unable to play much and Anderson not at all..
I think Jarett makes the Roster by default and Atogwe gets released who can’t stay healthy enough and also doesn’t play and any Special Teams so he little to contribute on the Roster.. I believe the Eagles will pick-up a Safety off the Waiver Wire and then decide between Jarrett & undrafted Phillip Thomas as their 4th Safety
Thursday’s game is a non-difference maker in my opinion..
It’s 2nd/3rd Stringers of the Jets going against the 2nd/3rd Stringers of the Eagles in perhaps once of the most boring Pre-Season Match-ups as the Final Games of Preseason have shown over the last few years ..
Probably 3-4 Position Battles for back-ups are to be solidified
6th WR , 6th LB and 9th/10th OL and 4th Safety
They kept moving jarrett around and with no OTAs last year its impeded his development.. phillip thomas looks ok .. but one guy that has impressed me is #47 ryan rau.. that guy is everywhere ..
they blew this pick. Very sad.
I would Like Ryan Rau to be the 6th LB and take the place of Matthews or Rolle who I don;t think either of them are NFL Quality Type LB’s
There are some real good Safeties in next Years Draft Class
Keep an eye on the following names in order of Rankings going into the 2012 College Seasons that should be Top 3 Rounds Prospects
(By Ranking of all COllege Players)
1st Rd (11th Overall) E Ried LSU 6-2 212 lbs
1st Rd (26th Overall) TJ McDonald USC 6-2 205lbs
2nd Rd (55th Overall) K Vacarro Texas 6-1 215lbs
2nd Rd (62nd Overall) Robert Lester Alabama 6-2 212lbs
3rd Rd (87th Overall) T Jefferson Oklahoma 5-11 210lbs
3th Rd (99th Overall) S Williams Georgia 6-1 218lbs
4th Rd (120th Overall) M Elam FLorida 5-11 202lbs
I really like Lester, Vacarro and WIlliams for they all have size, are physical and also have good ball skills and should really be productive NFL PLayers if they play for a solid team with good coaching, etc,etc…
We wouldn’t be having this issue if we would have drafted Earl Thomas instead of Brandon Graham. I know hindsight is 20/20, but I thought we should have done it then too! It’s a shame we wasted the past 2 years with nothing but dreck at the safety position!
tgrizfan, Dude we gotta move on from the Brandon Graham not Earl Thomas picked. We have to deal with the reality of the here and now and not live in yester year.
Paulman-I love TJ McDonald and Robert Lester. It would be nice if the Eagles would spend a first round pick on one of these guys.I’m afraid they will draft a tackle with that first pick which actually may be necessary. We may also need two linebackers too. I’m not sure about Demeco Ryans and not sold on Akeem Jordan. Wow the season hasn’t started and talking 2013 draft!!!
He did look to at least be in the right positions during the Browns game which is an improvement but he looked like a guy that was focused on that and not letting it all hang out. He’s got to kill it tonight, but I agree with Paulman he may make this roster by default because the position is so weak, add to it that they won’t be so eager to admit that they may have wasted a second round pick on him.