Eagles' Andy Reid Prioritizes Drafting for the 'Big Uglies'

Strategic Insights -

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid emphasizes the importance of drafting quality linemen, citing them as the foundation of a good football team. This emphasis is evident in the team's draft history, with Reid having picked 22 linemen in seven years, including four first-round selections. However, the team's success in drafting linemen has been mixed, with only a few players like Shawn Andrews and Mike Patterson turning out to be solid starters. The Eagles are expected to prioritize drafting for the 'big uglies' again this year, with several top prospects, including Winston Justice and Haloti Ngata, being considered for the 14th overall pick. Despite the team's history of selecting linemen, their first-round prospects will likely face stiff competition from other teams, including the Cleveland Browns, who are expected to pick Ngata if he falls to them.

Key Takeaways:

  • Reid has drafted 22 linemen in seven years, with four first-round selections.
  • The Eagles have taken 13 offensive linemen under Reid, more than every team except the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins.
  • Four of Reid's seven first-round picks have been linemen, including Jerome McDougle, Shawn Andrews, and Mike Patterson.
  • Only a few linemen, like Andrews and Patterson, have become solid starters for the Eagles.
  • The Eagles are considering drafting Winston Justice, a 6-6, 320-pound offensive tackle from Southern Cal, and Haloti Ngata, a 6-4, 337-pound defensive tackle from Oregon, in the first round.
  • The team is expected to prioritize drafting linemen again this year, despite their mixed success in the past.
  • Reid believes that the foundation of a good football team is the linemen, citing them as the most crucial position on the field.
  • The Eagles have interviewed Justice and required him to explain his troubled past, which includes misdemeanor charges in 2003 and 2004.

Statistics:

  • 22: number of linemen drafted by Reid in seven years.
  • 13: number of offensive linemen drafted by Reid.
  • 14: number of overall picks the Eagles have held in the first round under Reid.
  • 7: number of first-day picks under Reid that were linemen.
  • 4: number of Reid's first-round picks that were linemen, including Jerome McDougle, Shawn Andrews, and Mike Patterson.
  • 2: number of linemen selected in the first round under Reid who are projected as starters for next season, Andrews and Patterson.
  • 45th pick overall: the number of the Eagles' second-round choice that could be used to trade up for a specific player.

Sources:

  • The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services
  • Philadelphia Online, the Inquirer's World Wide Web site (http://www.philly.com/)