We’ve talked about a lot of draft scenarios. Here’s an interesting notion…what if the Eagles moved back to the late 1st or early 2nd and took RB Carlos Hyde from Ohio State?

I don’t want to add an early RB any more than most of you, but when you watch tape of Hyde, it is easy to fall in love with the guy. Check out these two games.

And…

Wow.

Hyde literally looked like a man vs boys in the PSU game. He would be a very good fit for Kelly’s offense. Hyde does something that coaches and OL love…he trusts the play. Shady has gotten criticized by both Kelly and Reid for making too many cuts at times. Hyde is a N-S runner who follows the design of the play. He can make cuts and will do that at times, but generally runs where the play calls for him to go.

This is important because it helps the blockers. Since the RB is behind them, they can’t look for him and adjust their blocking. OL have to go by the design of the play. When a RB changes what he does, you’ll see times when a defender is blocked right into the RB. Or maybe the blocker will release the defender since he assumes the RB is at a different spot and the defender can’t get there. Boom…TFL.

Shady is such a unique freak that he’s able to make his style work. But it still drives the coaches crazy at times. They would prefer he hit the hole more often and cut less.

Hyde is the top RB in this class and has the potential to be a dynamic NFL runner. He hits the hole consistently and wears down the defense. You see him really start to break tackles late in the game. He has good feet, which is unusual for such a big back (230 pounds). He his fast and has good body control. Hyde is a tough, physical runner, but he’s also smart. He can run guys over, but prefers to go around them when he can.

He is also a pretty good receiver and solid enough pass blocker.

I could see a coach like Chip Kelly who loves the running game loving Hyde. I have no idea if the Eagles have a high grade on him or would even consider him a target, but it does make for an interesting What If scenario.

I don’t care much for the RB class. Hyde is the best. Tre Mason is my favorite. Many of the other guys just don’t do much for me. We’ll find out this week if the Eagles like any of them.

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I posted some draft notes over at ScoutsNotebook.

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Greg Cosell wrote about big WRs and had lots of good stuff to say about Kelvin Benjamin. I respect the heck out of Cosell, but disagree with his thoughts on Benjamin. Cosell is a film guru, but his strength is covering the NFL more than it is doing college player evaluation. A couple of years ago he was hyping WR A.J. Jenkins as a top guy. Sure enough the Niners took him in the 1st round. I had Jenkins in the 4th round or something like that.

I’m not trying to rip Cosell. He’s a very smart guy and someone I always listen to. But even the best of us is going to miss on some players when it comes to draft evaluation.

He likes Benjamin. I don’t.

We’ll see who is right.

While I don’t like Benjamin, I do see where people/teams can like him. And Benjamin could turn out to be a good NFL player. I always keep an open mind, especially when I disagree with smart people. I won’t like the pick if the Eagles take him, but I do trust Chip. He’s got a vision for how to use guys. So far that vision has worked pretty well.

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