The 2009 NFL Combine kicked off yesterday with Offensive Linemen and Tight Ends completing positional drills, bench pressing and running their 40’s.  Offensive tackle has been a position of strength for the Eagles over the past few years, starting two Pro Bowl level players in Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas.  However, both are aging and impending free agents.  Runyan is currently recovering from knee surgery and the rumor is currently floating that Tra Thomas will resign, but a young competitor at tackle may need to be added to the mix.

Although it isn’t flashy to draft an offensive lineman high in the draft, every good offensive in football has one thing in common: a good offensive line.  Here’s a look at some of notable offensive tackle performances from the NFL Combine:

I would love to see Jason Smith blocking for #5, but he may end up being the 1st player selected in the 2009 draft

• Jason Smith - At 6′5″ 309 pounds, Smith sure looked the part and is a pretty nasty finisher on tape.  Smith moved around well in positional drills and had an impressive overall workout.  Despite an average 5.22 40, he threw up the 225 pound bench press 33 times.  Smith looks like an impact player I would love to draft, but Smith will gone long before the Eagles have a chance to draft him, even if we combined both 1st rounders to move up. 
• Michael Oher - Has popped up as a potential target for the Birds in round 1, but had an uninspired Combine workout.  21 bench reps decent for a guy with long arms, but his 5.32 40 didn’t do anything to help his cause.  There are some question if Oher is a tackle or a guard, and the “boom or bust” talk seems to follow him but he looks like he may be worth the gamble.  
• Eugene Monroe - The massive 1st round prospect ran the 40 fairly well (5.12), and put up 23 bench reps.  He did show some of his agility, posting one of the better OT broad jumps of 9′2″.  The fact that Monroe’s play at LT kept last years 15th overall pick Brandon Albert at guard in Virginia says a lot about his ability.  Monroe is going to go early.
• Andre Smith - It baffles me that a guy who is due to make millions in guaranteed money by getting drafted in the top 10 picks would kill his draft stock by being so out of shape that he is forced to bail on the Combine.  Sure seems like a bust waiting to happen, but the kid has enough talent to get himself drafted in the first round or two.   
  

  Loadholt is quite a load at 6'8", 337 pounds

• Phil Loadholt - is 6′8″ 340 pounds, damn.  Due to his ridiculous size, it isn’t too surprising that he has some trouble dealing with smaller speed rushers.  Despite not lifting at the combine, he’s got a ton of upsize.  Practicing opposite the Eagles wealth of undersized and speedy DEs could help him become a real force at LT.
• William Beatty - Is one of the more impressive athletes in this year’s tackle class (5.12 40, 33.5″ vertical), but looked weak and his footwork is sloppy.  I’ll pass.
• Eben Britton - Looks like a natural who will transition well into the NFL and reminds me of Matt Light a little bit.  His 32 3/4″ arm length raises some concerns, but the 5.16 40 and 24 bench reps are legit.  His stock has been on the rise, and if the Eagles are stay at #28 and Britton we may be tempted to draft him (We’ll see how he interviews).
• Jamon Meredith - Another player with a real possibility to be drafted late in the first round.  The combination of his 5.03 40 and 31 bench reps make his performance one of the strongest statistically for an OT at the combine.

As you can see, there are a ton of solid options at tackle, and I expect quite a few of them will go in the 1st round of the draft.  I would love to somehow get Jason Smith,  but Oher seems like the top prospect that the Eagles have a legitimate shot to land at #21.  Even if the Birds don’t draft a tackle with their first pick, strong options may still be available like Loadholt, Britton or Meredith at #28 or even later.

The biggest news out of the NFL Combine so far has been the falling stock of Alabama’s Andre Smith.  Smith was widely regarded as the #1 OT in this year’s draft and was a sure fie top 10 selection before this weekend.   After not participating in any drills because he is over weight and reportedly giving horrible interviews to numerous teams, Smith up and left Indianapolis and returned to Alabama.  As a result, he could see his draft stock plummet faster than the Dow Jones Industrial.

Here’s what SI.com has reported about Smith’s inexplicable actions this weekend.

It’s been a bizarre few days for Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith, considered by most to be a top five pick. Immediately before the second group of offensive linemen were about to start their workout, an official announcement was made stating Smith had left the combine headquarters unannounced. After a long search, Smith was found 30 minutes before the workout began. The announcement went on to say Smith and his agent were giving conflicting stories as to the reason of his disappearance. Sources later said Smith’s interviews with teams have been going horribly. He’s been inappropriately dressed and has been giving a number of conflicting statements as to why he was choosing not to workout at the combine. Several offensive line coaches have already suggested Smith be removed from their team’s draft board and there’s no doubt his draft stock is falling.

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Chris Wells would be a perfect RB for the Eagles in Round 1

ESPN’s Mel Kiper released his first mock draft recently and for the Eagles sake it might as well be called a fantasy football draft because Kiper’s projection is about as perfect of a first round as the Eagles could have.

• #21 - Chris “Beanie” Wells (RB) -  Ohio St.
• #28 - Michael Oher (OT) - Mississippi

If Reid and Heckert walk away from Radio City Music Hall with Wells and Oher in the first round, they’ll deserve major props.  I am a big fan of drafting a running back in the first round this year to take the load off of Westbrook and Wells is about as perfect an option as we could hope for in the first round.  Wells is a big time talent and would be a top 10 pick had he stayed healthy this year and didn’t bring with him some injury concerns.  He’d be the good between the tackles runner that this team has been missing.  At 6′1″, 235 he is a load to bring down and would give the offense some power running - something Westbrook just can’t do.  He’s also not a big threat out of the backfield which would make his and Westbrook’s roles very defined.

Westbrook might not like the idea of a running back being draft in the first round, but getting a big back like Wells could really add some years to Westbrook’s career.  Westy looked pretty broken down as the season progressed and having another back to share the load would keep him fresh.  I love Correl Buckhalter, but I think Reid is affraid to give him too many careers because of his past injuries.  Draft Wells and we have a short yardage back, insurance for Westbrook, and another back to take some of the pressure off #36.

Oher has top 10 talent, but is inconsistent and there are questions about his work ethic.  With the questions surrounding Shawn Andrews the staff might not want to take a chance on a prospect like that, but if by some chance Oher falls to #28 there is simply no way they can pass on him.  If they can get an OT like Oher in the first round, this will be a pretty good draft.  The St. Louis Dispath had a quote from one scout about Oher which makes him sound like just the type of OT Reid would love to have.

“He’s not a killer in the run game,” said one NFC scout. “But his pass protection is what you’re looking for. He’s light on his feet. This guy physically is what you’re looking for. Talent-wise, he’s a top guy. Depending on the other stuff, he could fall.”

The problem is the Rams are supposedly looking at him - they have the #2 pick.  Now are they talking to him because they are considering taking him that high? Or do they think he’ll be there when they draft #2 in the second round as well?