How did Joe Douglas grade the new Eagles corners pre-draft?
Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas was brought to the organization for his scouting abilities, and so far so good in Philly.
Have you ever wondered what goes into a successful draft? Honestly, most of us have. Unfortunately, even the most dedicated fans will never now what that feels like. Philadelphia Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas earned himself a spot in the organization for two reasons.
One, the Eagles needed someone with a clear sense of direction and purpose. This is especially true following what will forever be remembered as a series of mostly unsuccessful draft picks made by Chip Kelly. The second reason is also obvious. His track record showed he was better than anyone the Eagles had in their camp prior to his hiring. He’s gotten rave reviews for his first effort. It appears that things are off to a good start for him in Philadelphia.
Why these guys?
Prior to the draft, we had heard that Douglas did his homework. We heard about his draft board and the work his team did in putting it together. We heard they believed in their plan so much that all the organization had to do was stick with it and things would be okay. The cornerback position was a focal point for the Eagles, and they landed two. Just in case you missed it, a story was written by Dave Spadaro for PhiladelphiaEagles.com. We got a glimpse of what the thought process was as Douglas shared some of the notes on his scouting report.
In round two with pick 43, the Eagles took Sidney Jones of the Washington Huskies. Here’s some of what Douglas had to say:
"“Outstanding height and outstanding length. Outstanding instincts, route recognition, and ball awareness. He is a complete cornerback who obviously would not have been available in the second round of the draft had he not been injured.”"
As complimentary as Douglas was of Jones, he was just as generous in his compliments of third-round selection Rasul Douglas.
"“Hardcore, tough-as-nails guy…Nolan Carroll and Leodis McKelvin, gone. And Douglas is right in the mix to become a starter. That’s an astounding thought considering that Douglas was at Nassau Community College three seasons ago.”"
Training camp is still a few months away. There hasn’t been an ounce of football played yet, but it appears the future of this great organization is in good hands. Excitement is in the air about “The Birds”, and if you’re a fan, it’s comforting to know that’s the case.