Didinger's Mailbag: Eagles' offseason moves

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Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Posted: 11:19 a.m.
By Ray DidingerCSNPhilly.com

Answering your questions and commenting on your comments, here is another dip into the mail bag.
Question: In your opinion, who is the most important prospect for the Eagles to take a hard look at on defense for this years draft, someone they can realistically get and seriously need?
Barry Springer
Answer: I still believe their biggest need on the defensive side is a cornerback. The trouble is the two best prospectsPatrick Peterson (LSU) and Prince Amukamara (Nebraska)will be gone in the top-10 picks so the Eagles arent likely to get a shot at either one. If the Eagles stay in the No. 23 slot, Aaron Williams (Texas), Brandon Harris (Miami) and Jimmy Smith (Colorado) should be on the board. Id have to see if I have a higher rated player at another position (offensive line), but I would certainly consider one of the corners. Right now I have Williams rated higher than either Harris or Smith.
Question: Im reading all these stories about Muhammad Wilkerson, the defensive lineman from Temple, and people are saying he could be drafted in the first round. I know the Temple football program is improving, but a first round pick? Ill believe it when I see it.
Steve O. Clifton HeightsAnswer: I think you will see it, Steve. I fully expect Wilkerson to be a first-round pick, barring some misstep like a bad individual workout or something like that. The NFL scouts love his size (6-5, 305 pounds) and versatility. He can play tackle or end, but he seems ideally suited to play end in a 3-4 defense. With more teams going to the 3-4, Wilkerson will be high on a lot of draft boards next month.
Question: I saw Boise State on TV last season and became a believer in Titus Young. I think he is going to be a star in the NFL but Ive read quotes from scouts who say he is too small, he played against lousy competition, etc. What is your opinion?
DominicHammonton, N.J.

Answer: I would be surprised if Young is not a first-round pick. He was a very productive player and Boise State is no longer a small program. Young is similar in size to DeSean Jackson (5-11, 170 pounds) but he actually runs better routes. He isnt quite as explosive but he is plenty fast enough. He was very impressive during Senior Bowl week. He made every catch.
Question: Thanks for your column on the scouting combine. It gave me an idea. Id be interested in your all-time team comprised of successful players who were seemingly not physically suited for their position or even to play in the NFL. An example might be someone like Sam Mills.
Brian Law
Answer: Interesting idea, pick a team of players who did not fit the classic height-weight-speed mold but still had good-to-great careers. Ill offer my thoughts, but I would welcome your input. Pick your own Non-Combine team and send it along. Here is mine:

Offense

Wide receiversWes Welker, New England and Wayne Chrebet, N.Y. Jets.
Tight endFrank Wycheck, Tennessee.
TacklesNate Newton, Dallas, and Joe Jacoby, Washington.
GuardsWoody Peoples, San Francisco-Eagles, and Jesse Sapolu, San Francisco.
CenterJeff Saturday, Indianapolis.
QuarterbackJeff Garcia, San Francisco-Eagles.
Running BacksPriest Holmes, Baltimore-Kansas City, and Darren Sproles, San Diego.

Defense

EndsRobert Mathis, Indianapolis, and Kevin Greene, Pittsburgh-Carolina.
TacklesJohn Randle, Minnesota, and Curly Culp, Kansas City.
Outside linebackersSam Mills, New Orleans-Carolina, and James Harrison, Pittsburgh.
Middle linebackerZach Thomas, Miami.
CornerbacksEverson Walls, Dallas, and Herman Edwards, Eagles.
SafetiesCliff Harris, Dallas, and Donnie Shell, Pittsburgh.

All those players were written off as either too small, too slow, too fat or too something, yet they all proved they could play in the NFL. Most were undrafted, including Randle, who now is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Question: I read your article about the zone blitz and had a question. Didnt Jim Johnson run zone blitzes from the 4-3? I dont understand all the hype about the 3-4.
Phil Van Allen
Answer: You can run a zone blitz from either the 3-4 or the 4-3, but it is more common in the 3-4. Yes, Jim Johnson used it and so did Sean McDermott. (Thats when you saw Trent Cole dropping into pass coverage). Buddy Ryan used it as part of his 46 package. Ryan would have Clyde Simmons drop into zone coverage while a safety or a corner came on the blitz. It is all about disguise and surprise. What made it topical recently was the two defensive coordinators in the Super BowlDom Capers of Green Bay and Dick LeBeau of Pittsburghare the primary architects of the zone blitz. Both are 3-4 coaches.
Question: It seems obvious that having a rookie such as Juan Castillo calling defenses is a mistakeunless Castillo brings some dimension Andy Reid thought was lacking and one that resonates with his big picture view of what the team needs to get over the hump. Any ideas?
Jim Kempner
Answer: You cant call it a mistake yet. We have to see how it works out. But certainly it is a huge gamble by Reid. Everything you have heard about Castillo being a good teacher and hard worker is true. He is a 247 grinder. I have no doubt he will come up with very good game plans and drill his defenses thoroughly on the practice field. But no one can predict how he will handle the pressure of calling the shots on game day. When the opponents offensive coordinator shows a new look, will Castillo be able to adjust on the fly? That is the risk Reid chose to take, putting a coach who has never been a coordinator in that spot.
Question: I enjoyed your book, The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies. Two questions: If you were updating the book, where would you rank The Fighter? And where would you rank Christian Bales performance among those of other supporting actors in sports films? I cant recall a better one.
Sandra R.Cherry Hill, N.J.

Answer: Glad you enjoyed the book, Sandra. To answer your first question, I would put The Fighter around No. 30 in our Top 100. My co-author Glen Macnow would put it a little lower. We didnt love it as much as the critics or Sports Illustrated (the magazine called it the best boxing movie ever). I thought it was good, not great.

But I agree Christian Bale was superb as Mickey Wards crack-addicted brother. Your question made me reopen our book and review all the supporting actor performances. I would put Bale second only to Joe Pesci who also played a boxers brother, in Raging Bull.

Here are my top five Supporting Actors in a Sports Movie:

1. Joe PesciRaging Bull
2. Christian BaleThe Fighter
3. Burgess MeredithRocky
4. George C. ScottThe Hustler
5. Dennis HopperHoosiers

All five were nominated for Oscars but only Bale won. Pesci lost to Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People). Meredith and Burt Young lost to Jason Robards (All the Presidents Men). Scott and Jackie Gleason lost to George Chakiris (West Side Story). Hopper lost to Michael Caine (Hannah and Her Sisters).

Three actors did win Oscars for Best Supporting Actor in sports films. Can you name them? One played a washed-up boxer, another played a football player, the third played a scheming lawyer. You can find the answers at the end of the mailbag.

Question: What are you hearing about the CBA talks? I was encouraged when the two sides actually talked face to face last week. Are they any closer to a settlement?

Dan C. Plymouth Meeting

Answer: Hate to disappoint you, Dan, but the answer is no. The federal mediator did a good job keeping the two sides at the table, but when it was over he said they still were far apart on the key issues. I think the best you can hope for is the owners may agree to push back the deadline and not impose the lockout at midnight Thursday. But it does not appear the two sides are anywhere near a settlement.

Question: Ive read reports about the NFL players union decertifying if it cannot reach an agreement with the owners on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. I dont get it. What does the union stand to gain by that?Harry W.Norristown

Answer: In a nutshell, it means the union will dissolve; therefore it will cease to exist as a bargaining vehicle. The players then can take the NFL to court and fight this as an anti-trust case. The players seem to feel they have a better chance of getting what they want in court than they do at the negotiating table. That is how they won free agency in 1992 with individual suits brought by Reggie White, Freeman McNeil and others.
Here is the answer to the movie question

Prior to Christian Bale winning the Oscar for The Fighter, three other men were voted Best Supporting Actor for performances in sports movies. They were: Walter Matthau (The Fortune Cookie, 1966); Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Jerry Maguire, 1996) and Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby, 2004).
E-mail Ray Didinger at viewfromthehall@comcast.net

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