Cover Story: Here we go

So what if Marcus Smith is a great player will people still be attacking like this. I've seen Smith play like in person against Rutgers and he is a beast. 

Thank you Andy

In the April before Andy Reid's final season in Philly he may have given us the greatest gift that he could, beside of course a SuperBowl. With the clocking ticking on this tenure, Reid drafted four guys that are soon to be corner stones to the Chip Kelly era.

With the Eagles first pick of that 2012 draft Reid selected Fletcher Cox, with his second pick he Mychal Kendricks, then he selected Vinny Curry, Nick Foles, Brandon Boykin, and Bryce Brown.

Traditional you like to get a couple of starters out of a draft, but Reid did better than that getting four starters, if you include Boykin would plays a ton. Curry came into his own this year and Brown is a solid back up.

Not bad for a guy who was basically a dead man walking.

Chip Kelly's first year in papers

Its been a wild ride for Chip Kelly and the Eagles since he took over. Here is a look at how its has gone through a collection of Philly Daily News front pages.

Long Strange Trip for Tom Savage

I remember sitting in Rutgers Stadium Sept. 12, 2009 waiting for Tom Savage to make his debut for the Scarlet Knights.

Fast forward a couple of years and a couple of different colleges, Savage is now considered a potential first rounder in the NFL Draft. This story ran on NFL.com: Tom Savage: The best QB prospect you've never heard of.  While I'm happy for Savage, I just wish he would have done all of this while at Rutgers. He was the highest rated quarterback ever to come to Rutgers.

I just wish it would have all worked out better on the Banks. Blame for it not working out has to be shared between Savage and then head coach Greg Schiano.

Cover Story: New York Loves Geno

So this is a slow time in New York City sports. The city's baseball teams are not yet playing well and the NBA and NHL playoffs are still early on. Leave it to the Jets to supply the story line. Draft Geno Smith and the front pages and stories are sure to flow.

2013 NFL DRAFT

Twitter is going to destroy the NFL Draft

While the NFL has taken steps to eliminate networks from giving out draft picks before they are officially announced, there are still many issues. On Thursday night, many of the teams first round picks were released on twitter before the commissioner announced them. The Sherman Report takes a look at the impact Twitter had on the draft: Twitter removes draft suspense for ESPN, NFL Network.

The Fletch is coming to Philly

The Eagles selected Mississippi State DL Fletcher Cox with their first pick. The Fletch is coming to Philly.

Live Blogging: NFL Draft 2012

Starting at 7:30, the OTWT will be taking you through the fun of the NFL Draft

Scouting report: Natural Knee Bender

Name: The Moose
Height: 2 ft 6 inches
Weight: 29 pounds
Head: 19 3/4
Position: Left Tackle
40 yard dash time: Depends on what type of lawn tractor is chasing him
Positives: Being short, Huba has a low center of gravity. He is explosive like a choo choo. He is also explosive when food is shown to him. Loves being outside, so practice should not be an issue. He is a natural knee bender.
Negatives: limited football knowledge and lack of potty training make him a project. Easily distracted by Elmo dolls, trains, and lolly pops, so his focused has been questioned. Still naps, which might make him miss afternoon practices and 1 p.m. games. Wants to be paid his signing bonus in lolly pops. His large head makes finding a helmet for him a challenge.
Draft position: third rounder

JaMarcus Russelll > Ryan Leaf

Interesting look at what former first overall NFL draft pick JaMarcus Russell is up to. The No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft should be out on the field. Tells are complete story on what happened to Russell with the Raiders and what he is up to now.

Turning unwatned QBs into Gold

This is why the Eagles are so good at what they do. In the last 18 months, the Eagles have traded two QB's for two 2nd round picks, a 4th round pick, and a 25-yr old CB with 13 career INT's. Some people thought the franchise would go down the drain after McNabb left but that is far from it. In Andy and Joe we trust.

OTWT Draft Predictions

Everyone does it so why not OTWT, so here is our Top 10 NFL Mock Draft:

1. Carolina (2-14): Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

2. Denver (4-12):  Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

3. Buffalo (4-12): Von Miller, DE, Texas A&M

4. Cincinnati (4-12): AJ Green, WR, Georgia

5. Arizona (5-11): Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU

6. Cleveland (5-11): Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

7. San Francisco (6-10): Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

8. Tennessee (6-10): Jake Locker, QB, Washington

9. Dallas (6-10): Tyron Smith, OL, USC

10. Washington (6-10): Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

We stole Nate Allen

So maybe this whole McNabb trade was really the best thing for the Eagles. Little did we know that he was the weakest of the three qbs we had on the roster last season. Today it showed, as Mc5 was pulled toward the end of the Redskins Lions game with Rex Grossman, yes Rex Grossman, replacing him.

In the deal the Eagles got a second round pick they used on safety Nate Allen. So far that is starting to look like a steal. Maybe the skins gave up way to much for Mc5, instead of second rounder it should have more like a six or fifth rounder. Oh second guessing is a ton of fun and oh so true.
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Jevan Sneed and John Walsh might need to talk

What do a Texan who played QB at both Texas and Ole Miss have in common with the a former quarterback at BYU. Jevan Sneed (right) and John Walsh (above) both have a lot in common from the skills at playing college football to their bad judgement in deciding to go to the NFL.

Coming into the season, some scouts and media people said that Ole Miss signal caller Jevan Sneed would be the top player eligable for the 2010 NFL Draft. After a so-so season, Sneed decided to test the NFL water, while few people thought he would be in the top part of the draft that was predicted at the start of the season, some still thought it was a good idea. During the recently completed draft, Sneed went undrafted in the draft and ended up signing with the Bucs.

While BYU QB John Walsh came into the 1994 season as the top ranked QB on many NFL teams' boards. So after a solid season, Walsh decided to leave the Cougars and head for the money and just like Sneed the decission was a bad one. Walsh ended up getting drafted in the seventh round by the Bengals and not making anything out of his talents. The current location of Walsh is currently unknown.

Sneed and Walsh should maybe sit down and talk about what happened to them and their talents. Both chose to leave school early instead of returning to a team with talent. Maybe the two of them can sit down and enjoy an adult beverage and talk about where everything all went wrong.

OTWT NFL Mock Draft

The Only Time Will Tell Scouting Department has viewed all of the tapes and needs and here is the departments Mock Draft.

1. St. Louis (1-15): Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma.
2. Detroit (2-14): Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
3. Tampa Bay (3-13): Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
4. Washington (4-12): Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
5. Kansas City (4-12): Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
6. Seattle (5-11): Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
7. Cleveland (5-11): Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
8. Oakland (5-11): Bruce Campbell, OT, Marylan
9. Buffalo (6-10): Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
10. Jacksonville (7-9): Joe Haden, CB, Florida

Ndamukong Pele

Can you imagine being a striker in the premier league and having to face Ndamukong Suh in central defense. Strikers are happy that he chose football inside of the world's game.

It's a Shore Thing

Growing up along the Jersey Shore can only mean a couple of things boardwalk fries, Three Brothers Pizza, liking the Boss, and the Shore Conference. The Shore Conference is home to my old high school, Toms River South and a variety of state powers in the many different sports including baseball, football and basketball. But over the last month, the conference has been the home to three professionals that have made their debuts in a pair of sports.

In football the conference has produced running backs Knowshon Moreno and Donald Brown.

While at Middletown South, Moreno led his team to three Central Jersey Group III championships. He rushed for 1,629 yards on 153 carries and scored 28 TDs in 11 games as a senior. He finished his high school career with 6,268 career rushing yards, 128 touchdowns, and 728 points. His rushing yards are second all-time in New Jersey. He also rushed for 420 yards and 7 touchdowns in one game against the Neptune Scarlet Fliers. He also rushed for 6 touchdowns against the Monmouth Regional Falcons. During his time at Middletown South, he also was a top tier sprinter during the indoor and outdoor track seasons. Moreno was a first round pick of the Denver Broncos. After starring at South, Moreno went on to star at Georgia. On September 27, 2009, Moreno scored his first career NFL touchdown with a 7 yard run against the Oakland Raiders.

Brown attended Red Bank Catholic and stared as a running back. During his senior year, Brown rushed for 2,032 yards and 27 touchdowns. Brown was a first round pick of the Colts.

While in hockey, former Christian Brothers Academy star James van Reimsdyk (photo right from World Junior Championship) has made an immediate impact with the Philadelphia Flyers. Van Riemsdyk attended CBA before transferring out after his sophomore year to play for USA Hockey's National Development Team. In his final high school game for CBA he scored the game winning goal in overtime to defeat the Delbarton School and star goaltender Michael D'Urso in the 2005 Parochial state championship. After playing for the National Development Team JVR went on to star at New Hampshire for two years. In his first three games as a member of the Flyers JVR has tallied three points.

Its good to see to players from the high school conference you grew up in make an impact so quickly.

OTWT Scouting Department Draft Views

For the last year, Nationals fans have been billed yesterday as the day that turned around the franchise. On Tuesday all Nats fans rejoiced as they selected San Diego State righthander Steven Strasburgh, hopefully this will be the moment the franchise turns around.

Here are some other views on the draft:

• MLB Network coverage is not bad, it was pretty good for their first, but there is so much room for improvement. The room makes it looks really cheap, but you have to remember the first time that ESPN did the NFL Draft it was in hotel ball room and look what that has turned into.
• Enjoyed the fact that MLB Network brought in Jim Callis from Baseball America he has always been a favorite, he could become their Mel Kiper Jr.
• I don't understand why the Pirates did what the did. Ok so Sanchez could be a good player but not the outstanding player that could have gotten. Rule one of drafting that high is never draft a guy with a questionable bat.
• I know that there are issues with North Carolina pitcher Alex White, but how can the Braves take Vandy's Mike Minor. Watch the two of them and tell me who is the better pitcher.
• When people thing about baseball in the SEC they think of Florida, Ole Miss, Georgia; but few programs have produced the number of the first round picks over the last couple of years that Vanderbilt has. Price, Alvarez, Weathers, and now Minor.
• Over the last couple of years the Rockies have played it conservatively when it came to the draft but this year they did not by drafting left handed pitchers Tyler Matzek and Rex Brothers. Sure Matzek will take a ton of money to show, but in the end it could be the best pick of the draft.
• The Detroit Tigers never shys away from players with signability issues. In 2006 it was Andrew Miller, in 2007 it was Rick Porecello and this year it was Missouri High School righthander Jacob Turner. Turner has the best arm of any of the high school righthanders.
• According to Baseball American, the Texas Rangers have the number one farm system in baseball and during the draft might have added two of the best arms in Matthew Purke and Tanner Scheppers to an already stocked system. Its only a matter of the time before the Rangers return to the playoffs.
• Keep an eye on South Carolina pitcher Sam Dyson, who was drafted by Oakland, and Clemson pitcher Christopher Dwyer, who was drafted by Kansas City. Have seen both on TV and both have a ton of talent and power arms. They could be two steals in this draft.
• The best name drafted was when Atlanta drafted Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg, a first baseman from Nova Southeastern, 478 overall and the Braves thought that Saltalamaccchia was tough to put on the back of a jersey.
• Love the fact that Mike Trout was at the show, it would be great if MLB Network could get more of the players to the draft it would make it more fun and would add a nice touch.
• Now that the 2009 draft is over its time to look ahead to the 2010 draft with a name: North Carolina pitcher Matt Harvey.

Top Picks Madden Style

The picks have been made, they have been introduced, and now its time to see what they look like in the new Madden Video Game. Here are a couple of the top picks:

Matt Stafford: Lions

Jason Smith: Rams

Aaron Curry: Seahawks

Tyson Jackson: Chiefs

More will be coming over the next couple of weeks.