The Philadelphia Eagles might actually have something in Jack Driscoll
The Philadelphia Eagles may have landed a steal in the fourth round.
To the casual observer, Jack Driscoll‘s NFL debut with the Philadelphia Eagles wasn’t something to write home about.
Through his first 50 professional snaps, Driscoll gave up a particularly ugly sack on Carson Wentz and was featured prominently on a few more highlight-reel plays due to miscommunications as to whom he should be blocking on any given down.
I’ll admit it, these plays were bad. At times, Driscoll looked like a rookie, which is understandable, because he is a rookie.
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I know, crazy, right? But it’s true. Driscoll, who started out his career playing guard for the UMass Minutemen before transferring to Auburn to play two seasons at right tackle across from eventual Eagles teammate Prince Tega Wanogho, is a rookie, and yet, somehow, he was able to do this to Chase Young 100 seconds into his pro career.
As crazy as it may sound, that might be the most impressive play of any member of the Eagles in an otherwise bummer Sunday afternoon, even more so than Jalen Reagor’s 55-yard reception midway through the first.
Measuring in at 6-foot-5, 306 pounds, Driscoll tested out as one of the most athletically gifted tackles in the 2020 draft class – recording the third-fastest 40 time (5.02) and fourth-longest broad jump (114-inches) of any offensive tackle at the combine in Indianapolis. While some scouts knocked Driscoll’s functional strength or gave him poor marks for having the wingspan of a modern-day T-Rex (33 inches), for a team like the Eagles looking for athletic pullers in their zone-blocking scheme, landing the former Tiger in the fourth round, with a comp pick no less, was pretty amazing value.
Want to know what’s even more amazing? Driscoll was able to competently sure up the right side of the Eagles’ offensive line playing alongside another youngster making his NFL debut on about 30 minutes’ notice.
Yup, you read that correctly; if Lane Johnson was ultimately able to work through the pesky ankle injury that’s haunted him all summer long Driscoll probably wouldn’t have even seen the field in Week 1 outside of minor cameos as a change-of-pace sixth blocker. Matt Pryor would have probably gotten the start at right guard, and the Eagles would have trotted out the same starting lineman they used in Game 17 of the 2019 NFL season. However, with Johnson out, Driscoll had to go from taking snaps at left tackle the week prior to the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting right tackle.
Again, while he wasn’t perfect, it’s hard not to be incredibly impressed with how Driscoll handled the situation he was forced into on the fly.
With a bit more seasoning, and a long sitdown with Jeff Stoutland ironing in the importance of inside-out pass blocking and the importance of man-to-man concepts, Driscoll could not only serve as the Eagles’ top reserve offensive lineman at four different positions, but a real contender to fill Brandon Brooks’ shoes as the team’s starting right guard in 2020.
Next. Whatever happened to Doug Pederson’s offensive creativity?. dark
Is Jack Driscoll Andre Dillard? No. He doesn’t have the former Washington State first-round pick’s upside or athletic profile but he also doesn’t have Dillard’s position specificity, allowing Doug Pederson and company to move him all around the offensive line with little discretion. Whether his ceiling is the team’s next great right tackle, kicking Lane Johnson to the left side, or Big V 2.0, the Philadelphia Eagles are a better team with Driscoll on their roster and his play could be vital down the stretch regardless of where he lines up.