Welcome back from vacation! We’re officially in the Regular Season 2012…seems like a long time coming.
And in addition to the excitement leading up to Game 1 against Cleveland on Sunday, September 9, I’m pleased to observe that our GK Emeritus has resurfaced—yes, Brizer the Wiser not only lives…but he thrives.
This blurgger will keep it simple as we get back into the rhythm of a regular work week and a new season.
The Eagles filled out their eight-player practice squad Monday by signing offensive lineman Matt Reynolds. Reynolds is the younger brother of Eagles center Dallas Reynolds, who is on the active roster this season after spending three years on the team’s practice squad.
Matt Reynolds, 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, signed with Carolina as an undrafted free agent from Brigham Young University but was released by the Panthers last week.
The Eagles’ practice squad consists of center Chase Beeler, wide receiver B.J. Cunningham, tight end Chase Ford, fullback Emil Igwenagu, wide receiver Marvin McNutt, linebacker Ryan Rau, OL Matt Reynolds and defensive tackle Frank Trotter.
In other Monday news, Eagles defensive end Jason Babin participated in the team’s brief practice for the first time since suffering a strained right calf on July 31 during training camp at Lehigh University. Babin led the Eagles with 18 sacks last season while making the Pro Bowl. “We watched tape — practice tape and preseason tape — and you kind of get goose bumps,” Babin said in quotes provided by the team. “People are going to be really excited when we get out there and it counts.”
We’ll be excited all right… And I’m starting to get moderately excited about the strong safety the Birds just acquired from Cleveland.
David Sims, age 26, 5-9, 204, UDFA out of Iowa State, will probably work his way through special teams reps before he sees any significant duty at strong safety… but the more I learn about him, the better he gets…
After practice Monday at NovaCare, Sims told his story to interviewers.
New safety David Sims talked about a journey that could have him running out of the tunnel for his first NFL game against the team he spent the whole summer with before the Eagles acquired him in a trade last Friday. “It’s been a long time coming, since 2005,” he said. “This was my dream. But I feel [that my] work isn’t over … because just making the team isn’t everything. I would like to produce for the team and be a star. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Sims was an undrafted free agent who was cut by the New York Giants during camp last year, before winding up on the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad. This preseason, he thought he did everything required to make the Browns until they informed him early Friday afternoon that he was going to be released.
“I worked so hard in the offseason,” Sims said. “I wasn’t going to put myself in a situation like I was in with the Giants, you know? … And then they called me and it was like, `what more could I have done?’ “
The Browns held off on releasing him long enough to get a conditional 2013 draft pick from the Eagles in a trade that suggests the Birds’ former general manager and current Browns GM Tom Heckert still has a lot of savvy when it comes to negotiating trades and personnel maneuvers. No matter. The Eagles needed at least one safety coming out of training camp, and Friday’s move assured them they could get the player they wanted without having to wait out a claim process by all the teams ahead of them on the waiver wire.
Sims had 14 tackles to go with two interceptions in the preseason. A third interception, which he returned for a touchdown against the Eagles on Aug. 24, was called back when quarterback Trent Edwards was hit late. “Solid tackler, can play on special teams,” Roseman said. “He’s a guy that we’ve been following throughout the course of this preseason.”
I need to look at a lot more film and measurables on David Sims. But my intuition is he’s a lot better than I originally thought. Is he the next “Answer” at strong safety for the Eagles? Probably not…but Reid and Roseman have put him on the active roster. That tells me something.
2011 NFL Combine Results
| 40-Yard Dash | 4.50 |
|---|---|
| Bench press | 24 |
| Vertical jump | 37.5 |
| Broad jump | 10’0 |
| 20-yard shuttle | 3.90 |
2011 NFL Draft Prospect Scouting Report:
David Sims, SS, Iowa State
It has been a long road for David Sims to the NFL Draft. He started off his collegiate career at Butte Community College where he had a superb season in 2007. That led him to Norman, Oklahoma to play with the Sooners. However, academic issues got in the way and Sims never saw a snap for Oklahoma and left for Iowa State to play for the Cyclones in 2009.
It was in 2009 when Sims had a breakout season. The safety totaled 88 tackles, picked off five passes and forced three fumbles. Sims continued to play well on the field in 2010, tallying 96 tackles and forcing three more fumbles. However, he was arrested over the summer of 2010 and has some baggage that NFL teams will want to be cleared up before they use a draft pick on him.
Sims is a strong player, despite his relatively diminutive 5-9 stature. He can lay out some huge hits and always seems to be around the ball. When his head is in the game, Sims can make a big impact. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. The other big concern scouts will have is Iowa State’s defensive scheme. They generally have five defensive backs, thus limiting what the Cyclones ask Sims to do. He will have to prove that he can play with more open field around him and even then Sims is still a sixth or seventh round draft pick.
Last Updated Apr-06-2011 by Joel Welser
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