Weekend Reading: Iowa LB Kirksey Visits Eagles
Today is the last day NFL teams are allowed to host prospects for official visits.
The latest name to add to the Eagles’ list is Iowa linebacker Christian Kirksey. Kirksey was in town recently to chat with Chip Kelly and company, according to Draft Insider’s Tony Pauline.
Kirksey (6-2, 233) was a three-year starter and a two-time captain for the Hawkeyes. He had 104 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles as a senior.
Kirksey would be an inside linebacker in the Eagles’ 3-4 scheme. Not much jumps off the page with him from a measurables standpoint:
According to CBSSports.com, he projects to be a fourth-round pick.
***
Josh Thomas was an assistant at New Hampshire when Chip Kelly was directing the offense. Thomas is now the head coach at Burr And Burton Academy in Vermont. He did a Q&A with X And O Labs about adapting Kelly’s offensive scheme at the high school level. Thomas was asked what the biggest misconception is about the no-huddle:
I think the biggest misconception about the no huddle is you have to be a spread team to be no-huddle. You can do it in any offense, but you have to be committed to it. You cannot have one foot in the water. It is a philosophy. If you do not have the guts to go all in, then a no-huddle offense is probably not for you. You have to give up your concerns about time of possession and believe that you can score enough to win because you can score faster than your opponent.
Also, that you have to sacrifice good defense to use the no-huddle your offense. Your defense might be on the field more but we are aggressive on defense as well and do a great job of creating turnovers and negative plays.
That sounds like it applies pretty well to the Eagles.
***
Cincinnati tight end Blake Annen had a private workout with the Eagles, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
Annen (6-4, 247) is intriguing from a measurables standpoint. He reportedly ran a 4.41 at his Pro Day. But he didn’t do much in college, starting one season and catching just 16 balls for 183 yards and two touchdowns in 2013.
He is expected to be a late-round pick or undrafted free agent.
***
As noted previously, the Eagles had Nebraska guard Spencer Long in for a visit. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com likes what he sees from Long:
Watching Nebraska OG Spencer Long. Good mid rd player. Size, good knock off power, firm anchor. Not a great athlete but NFL starting OG
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 27, 2014
Todd Herremans turns 32 in October, and Evan Mathis turns 33 in November. It would not be a surprise if the Eagles tried to get younger at this spot in the draft.