It’s a long time to do anything, forty years. It really is. You have most likely witnessed a family member or relative celebrate a 40th anniversary at some point. Yes. They’ve been having a great time for a while. Heck, take a peek at each other. A few of you are not even forty years old. It’s impossible to even get off the sofa without running the risk of hamstring or ACL strains. You might ask, “What the heck does that have to do with the Philadelphia Eagles?” We appreciate you asking. Spend a few moments lingering with us.
We frequently see connections made between our Birds and promising young defensive backs when we read through mock drafts or write them ourselves. And after that,
Since 2002 (Lito Sheppard), the Eagles have not selected a defensive back in the first round of a selection meeting. They often select an offensive or defensive lineman, though on rare occasions they might select a wide receiver in the draft.
Ever since Andy Reid started pacing the sidelines, it has been the pattern. That is precisely what Howie Roseman frequently does (having picked up trade secrets from Big Red), but there is one pattern that we would prefer to see stop as it goes well beyond forty years of Eagles football.
The Eagles haven’t drafted a linebacker in Round 1 of any NFL Draft in almost 45 years. Perhaps, it’s time to invest heavily into one.
If the Birds were more serious about linebacker play, where might they be? People have been asking that question nonstop. The solution is known to us. We’ve never understood Philly’s lack of understanding.
Every year, it seems like we end up in discussions on Philly’s annual disregard for their needs at the position. The Birds are more concerned about linebackers than they appear to be, as Howie Roseman has occasionally informed us. He is not believed by us.
We didn’t think Andy Reid was a fan of linebackers. Howie doesn’t seem to give a damn about them. Jim Schwartz, we think, liked them even less. And for a while now, this has continued. It is supported by their proposed strategy.
We said that for 22 years, the Eagles ignored cornerbacks in the first round. They took significantly longer to disregard outstanding linebackers. Since Jerry Robinson was selected in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft, Philly has not selected a player in that round. Yes, friends, forty-five years is a long time.
You may see something when you watch any great NFL team, especially the Super Bowl champions or runner-ups. The majority have experienced excellent linebacker play. We had the 1985 Bears, the legendary Steelers teams from the 1970s, and more recent champions like the Legion of Boom to name a few. Those teams had better play in the second level of their defence.
Elite-caliber inside and outside linebackers are included in this year’s NFL Draft class. Men like Chris Braswell, Edgerrin Cooper, Marist Liufau, Dallas Turner, and Chop Robinson spring to mind almost immediately.
We comprehend. We won’t pretend that the Birds haven’t benefited from a wise draft approach. Taking offensive and defensive linemen on the first night of the selection meeting makes sense since, at the end of the day, games are won and lost in the trenches.
To be honest, we wouldn’t object if the Eagles selected a top edge rusher in the first round. It might be time to break a four-and-a-half-decade drought and select a top linebacker in the first round—God knows they need one. If beliefs on the value of the defense’s second level aren’t reexamined soon enough, we might be headed for more subpar defensive football.
