Andy Reid sees something special in this guy… and I see something of Andy Reid in his facial architecture…but that could be a very good thing!
Okay, all right, not all at once! I know this wasn’t the sexiest pick of the Andy Reid regime.
But real guys who know real football say the Eagles got a steal at 1st Round #23 overall with Danny Watkins…
I’ll admit, I was a little verklempt over the pick at first… especially since I had Derek Sherrod in my Mach 10, and Jimmy Smith in my “if it can’t be Sherrod, then let it be Jimmy” reserve portfolio…
But now that it’s settled in, and with the calming influence of “The Sage” JB99 from Austin, Texas, reinforcing the thought process of Andy Reid in drafting the 27-year-old Watkins out of Baylor, I feel a lot more confident about the pick.
Maybe it was Watkins’ ’40 time that sealed the deal? A guard who can also play center and tackle, at 6-4, 312, Danny ran a 5:36 at the Combine… not bad for a very large guy…
But good enough for a 1st Round pick?
No, it had more to do with competitive instincts and a “Gold Standard” character…
Here’s the short-version NFL scouting report:
Biography: “Junior college transfer awarded all-Conference honors as a senior. Started two-years at left tackle for Baylor. Originally a hockey player from Canada who was also a volunteer firefighter.”
Positives: “Fundamentally sound blocker who uses all his assets well. Bends his knees, blocks with leverage, and is patient in pass protection. Makes terrific use of angles, stays square, and seals defenders from the action with good body positioning. Quickly gets his hands up, extends them into defenders, and turns opponents from the action. Plays with great quickness, can adjust to opponents, and knocks them from their angle of attack. Works hard until the whistle blows.”
Negatives: “Average strength and does not get much movement run blocking. Will be 27 years old in November.”
Analysis: “Watkins is a tremendous story who has played solid football the past two-years. He’s a hard-working lineman who is NFL ready at a variety of positions and is a quick learner who should immediately break into a starting lineup this September at guard or tackle.”
Projection: 2nd
That’s the part that fooled me… I had Watkins projected to go in the 2nd round, and I was certain he’d be gone by the time the Eagles selected in the 2nd…and I had no illusion of the Birds trading up to get him. In fact, I had no realistic expectation of the Eagles even considering Watkins as a 1st-round draft pick.
Maybe Matt Enrico of The 700 Level said it best when he wrote last night:
“Watkins most definitely fills a need. The offensive line hasn’t had a solid starter in the right guard spot since Shawn Andrews played 15 games in ’07. Assuming this kid… eh, this guy, is any good, they will finally be able to field a nearly complete (offensive line) unit.”
“Watkins is versatile, and could play tackle in a pinch. Coach Reid also said he’ll learn to play center.”
Watkins went pretty close to where he was graded. Some mocks had him going ahead of the Eagles’ 23rd pick, and several even correctly identified him as the Birds’ target… Here’s Shutdown Corner with the scouting report:
Pros: Having never played guard in game situations before Senior Bowl week, Watkins kicked inside nonetheless and looked as if he’d played the position for years. He has a natural low stance from which he explodes into the defender. He also has tremendous upper-body strength; even when he’s bent back at the point of attack, he can resurface and win the power battle. Has a wide lower body which he naturally uses to establish a strong base as he gets his second foot down and in position.
For his size (6-foot-4, 312 pounds), Watkins has real side-to-side agility; he’s very good at preventing defenders from getting around him with quick outside moves. Played out of a two-point stance most of the time at Baylor, but said at the Senior Bowl that he’s just as happy to put his hand down and blow defenders out. Also practiced at the center position and had an equal affinity for that position. Selected fourth overall in the 2010 Canadian Football League draft, but chose to fulfill his obligation to Baylor and try his luck with the NFL after his senior season.
Cons: The former part-time firefighter (he went to Butte because of the school’s Fire Sciences program) will turn 27 years old in November, which may give potential NFL suitors pause as much as his lack of experience — his age could make him a one-contract guy. Doesn’t possess great second-level agility, but may be able to modify his technique over time to fit a zone-combo scheme. Watkins’ natural ability to adopt a new position will be tested by more complex NFL defenses — it wouldn’t be surprising if he struggles at first as his technique catches up to his raw ability.
It looks good on film and on paper… but the average Philly fan is not buying into it. I’ve rarely heard so much bias on the local airwaves against a draft pick as I have experienced last night on local radio stations. Stunning lack of support of the pick, to say the least…A typical criticism was this shot from “Willy”, who commented: “I’m okay with a team reaching on an ‘upside’ pick for a guy who is raw and inexperienced. But you make those kind of picks on young guys, not guys who are almost 27… by the time he reaches his ‘potential’, he’ll be too old to be an impact player in the future.”
Personally, I don’t have a problem with the pick as long as Watkins proves to be as valuable on the line as his supporters say he is. I was simply blind-sided by his appearance in the 1st Round. The Eagles were in perfect position to take Jimmy Smith at CB at that slot, too— another factor in the immediate fan reaction in Philly to the Watkins pick. A lot of local fans wanted Smith.
But now we have Danny Watkins. Apparently, Watkins is just so much of the kind of lineman Andy likes to mold into a versatile contributor, Reid couldn’t resist drafting him. Hopefully the boys at the Network will lay off the big guy until the new Fall season kicks in. Allow his deeds of performace to speak for themselves…and perhaps we’ll be celebrating this 1st Round pick again… someday soon.
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