Eagles new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz coached Birds defensive end Brandon Graham at the Senior Bowl when he was coming out of Michigan. Schwartz turned Graham loose and he had a big Senior Bowl game, which led to him getting drafted in the first round by the Eagles.
Schwartz is expecting big things from the former Michigan Wolverine this year because he’s going to be turned loose again and be allowed to focus on rushing the passer.
“Brandon was drafted for an attack scheme,” Schwartz responded to a question. “There are a lot of things he brings to the table. Number one, he’s strong. He’s hard to handle on the edge.”
Unlike many who see Graham’s lack of height as a weakness, Schwartz thinks the defensive end can drive the tall offensive tackles crazy by getting underneath them with his strength and quickness.
“That lack of height that he has that some people think is a disadvantage he can use to his advantage,” said Schwartz. “There are some guys in the history of the NFL, Dwight Freeney is one, Elvis Dumervil, some of those guys. Sometimes you get those 6’7 offensive linemen and they have a hard time handling those 6’1, 6’2 type guys. They have a little different leverage and it gives them a different look. Brandon can bring some of that.”
Graham has never gotten close to putting up numbers like Freeney or Dumervil. I think he has the potential to put up some big numbers and the time to do it is now.
HAHAHAHAHAAA!!!! Jim Schwartz is expecting big things from Brandon Graham?!?!??
I don’t know why. Maybe he’s just soothing his ego because he isn’t starting anymore,
Brandon Graham is who he is ….an average role player, who has NO business starting, and should be coming off the bench – because he stinks.