Earlier than we really get into the depths of the low season, it’s time to evaluate the 2022 draft class. I gained’t evaluate anybody until they performed sufficient snaps (so this will probably be a really brief sequence!). That is the final participant I’m going to evaluate, however I feel he’s essentially the most fascinating to speak about Reed Blankenship shocked everybody together with his play final yr, so let’s take a look at what he did and what summarize what I take into consideration him transferring ahead.
Beforehand: Jordan Davis | Cam Jurgens
Arms up – who had Reed Blankenship as Professional Soccer Focus’ Tenth-best security this yr then? The numbers are robust in just about each class, albeit a really small pattern measurement in fact. The actually fascinating factor is the variety of deep snaps Blankenship performed as a result of quite a lot of the safeties the Eagles have added this offseason excel within the field or within the slot. This provides him a implausible probability of enjoying quite a lot of snaps this yr, even beneath a brand new defensive coordinator.
+ He confirmed some excellent reps as a run defender, the place he got here flying downhill to make a play on the ball service. That is very important for a split-safety protection.
#9 Blankenship stood out as a run defender too. The Eagles requested him to come back into the field so much and he had some spectacular reps. The Eagles run protection was actually good once more and apart from a few runs they shut the Giants down. pic.twitter.com/9pCMVJs6fp
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) January 24, 2023
#10 Linval Joseph has been an ideal signing. Even when he is doubled he anchors so effectively. Nice rep by Cox too and Blankenship comes flying right down to make a play on Barkley. Blankenship reads the sport very well and he was a implausible draft decide. pic.twitter.com/KwZRwgPAxb
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) January 24, 2023
+ His instincts appeared actually robust. He didn’t appear phased by play-fakes or misdirections and at all times appeared close to the ball.
#11 And let’s finish with Reed Blankenship as a result of he barely performed however his instincts and aggressiveness are simply superior to observe. He is most likely going to have a Marcus Epps profession trajectory and will probably be a advantageous starter sooner or later. pic.twitter.com/gAaLOQ5gPj
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) January 31, 2023
+ He confirmed good tackling method and his athletic vary appeared actually good at occasions. He’s bought a very good construct for a security.
Aside from the lengthy TD which wasn’t actually his fault anyway, Blankenship had some glorious reps! Love his quickness and prognosis of this run play and Aaron Jones is just not a straightforward open discipline sort out. Clearly not good that CGJ is injured however I’m excited to see Blankenship play. pic.twitter.com/rWvYCE8AiJ
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 30, 2022
That is lovely. 5 man entrance, Reddick and Sweat each drop into protection & do a great job. Maddox rotates again into security which permits Blankenship to blitz, he bursts previous the guard and chases Daniel Jones down for a brief acquire. The communication within the secondary is so so good. pic.twitter.com/3pOCTKqb9l
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 14, 2022
+ He confirmed such a great understanding of the Eagles’ protection for a rookie. Enjoying security on this protection is just not straightforward and it’s an enormous credit score to Blankenship that he performed so effectively as a rookie.
It is a implausible disguise. I like this play. Epps travelling with the WR alerts single-high man protection. It is truly 2-high and Blankenship reads it completely. Rodgers doesn’t count on Blankenship to be right here and he picks it off. What a enjoyable play! pic.twitter.com/5V0kXlxPxP
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 30, 2022
Reed Blankenship had a great debut too I discuss this secondary on a regular basis however the coaches have carried out such a great job at making gamers higher within the secondary time and time once more. He reads this play completely and he seems very comfy on this protection already. pic.twitter.com/uNcslBA7Wb
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 6, 2022
#4 Eagles quads protection was actually good and I assumed Blankenship had a superb sport. He makes a pleasant play on the ball right here. Sweat fights via a chip from the TE and almost will get the ball out right here too. pic.twitter.com/7N8PIrctjo
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) January 24, 2023
#6 Giants examined the Eagles with these 4 robust seems with late movement to journeys. That is excellent zone match. Watch TJ talk the 4 robust on the snap. Bradberry in MEG protection to the lone WR. Blankenship performs TRIX & watches the crosser from the robust facet. Great things! pic.twitter.com/eyP6h63Chj
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) January 11, 2023
+ I like watching him play. He was one in all my favourite tales of final yr and his mixture of instincts, measurement, and vary is absolutely enjoyable to observe.
– His athleticism and top-end velocity, particularly in house and when not transferring in a straight line, feels fairly common at finest.
Ultimate detrimental… That is nearly actually a mistake/miscommunication. There is no approach the Eagles must be enjoying single-high man protection with Scott protecting the RB and Epps protecting the slot WR. Simply should not occur, ever. A massively expensive mistake too. This will’t occur. pic.twitter.com/4thdGOqKf5
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 30, 2022
– I don’t know if he has the flexibility and canopy expertise to play any man protection from the slot. I feel he may be a deep zone defender solely and I’m not totally bought on his protection expertise.
As somebody who was very impressed with Blankenship, I assumed I might return and browse some scouting reviews on him to attempt to discover out why he went undrafted. That is the abstract from Bleacher Report’s scouting profile:
Blankenship performs with bodily palms when taking up blocks. At occasions he does battle to disengage, however he performs his leverage and units the sting.Although he has proven to run via ball carriers when enjoying within the field, when tackling, he can get overextended and compelled to dive at higher athletes, resulting in missed tackles.
In the end, Blankenship was a profitable participant at Center Tennessee State, the place he left because the main tackler at school historical past. A participant with good motion expertise, he could also be tapped out together with his athletic means. He’s a constant participant who’s draftable with backup potential.
And right here is the abstract from NFL.com:
Versatile security with enough measurement and good athleticism. Blankenship is a staff chief who’s aggressive and closely skilled in a protection that required his versatility. He’s prepared and keen in run help however has an issue with sort out angles that causes too many misses from a wide range of places across the discipline. He’s athletic and his route recognition is sweet when he’s enjoying from up high; nevertheless, he lacks top-end velocity to stick with downfield assignments. He might want to shine on particular groups to enhance his probabilities of making it within the league.
Each of these reviews really feel fairly honest truly. They each point out his largest situation is a scarcity of top-end velocity and missed tackles. We didn’t actually see that leap out as an enormous situation final yr. Nevertheless, I’ve to remind myself continuously about this, the pattern measurement could be very small. Not solely is the pattern measurement small, however it’s additionally vital to recollect he’s going to be enjoying in a brand new protection this yr beneath a brand new defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. As a lot as I consider in Blankenship, I most likely shouldn’t be completely shocked if he does have a barely underwhelming season.
However… I feel Blankenship goes to have a great season and I really feel fairly assured that he’ll be a starter regardless of what I stated above. I feel he’s the very best deep security the Eagles have and I count on him to begin with Terrell Edmunds who is healthier nearer to the road of scrimmage. I count on Sydney Brown to rotate in too however he’s additionally higher nearer to the road of scrimmage.
Reed Blankenship is unlikely to be an elite security and he fell within the draft due to considerations over his velocity and tackling. However he confirmed a very robust understanding of the protection final yr and Jonathan Gannon asks so much out of his safeties. That protection is just not straightforward to play and for a rookie, Blankenship was actually spectacular. He’s clearly good, and instinctive and it’s fairly unimaginable how effectively he performed for a UDFA. Security is arguably the one place (exterior of quarterback) the place athleticism is barely overrated and Blakenship confirmed actually good instincts and route recognition. I wouldn’t be shocked if his profession arc follows somebody like Marcus Epps who was additionally a late-round decide that I actually preferred.
The Eagles added quite a lot of safeties this offseason, and it’s straightforward to foretell Blankenship because the odd one out if you take a look at the profiles of the gamers they added however, I’m predicting a great season for Blankenship.