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Rookie tight ends rarely dominate immediately. That's seemingly also true for Eli Stowers. The Philadelphia Eagles' second-round selection had a rough early go during stages of OTAs and minicamp, but no one should stress over that. He'll be fine. He's almost too talented and smart to fail. Some of this stems from inexperience. He spent much of his football life playing quarterback before transitioning to tight end. He has only played the position for three seasons, which means some growing pains should be expected.
Those concerns shouldn't overshadow what made him such an appealing prospect. Philadelphia believes Stowers possesses several traits that simply can't be taught. Greg Cosell believes that he can contribute to the Eagles' passing game immediately. While his blocking still requires refinement, Eagles Wire ranked him seventh among offseason newcomers for immediate impact. His athletic profile and receiving ability could eventually make him one of the more dangerous weapons on the Eagles' offense.
Every offense is searching for matchup advantages. Stowers may become one. Most linebackers simply lack the speed necessary to run with him down the seam. His acceleration forces second-level defenders into uncomfortable situations, particularly when he's attacking vertically. Sure, there will always be exceptions. Every defense has athletic linebackers capable of holding their own. Most don't. That's why Stowers projects as such an intriguing weapon in the passing game.
Some pass catchers fight for the football. Stowers doesn't. Well, he doesn't all of the time. Sometimes, handsy defenders can bother him. At other times, he can fight harder to claim his pace, but there's more to like here than not.
He consistently catches passes away from his body and tracks the football naturally downfield. Whether operating in traffic or finding space over the middle, he displays the confidence and hand-eye coordination coaches love to see. The Eagles should eventually find creative ways to get him isolated in favorable situations. When that happens, Stowers possesses the hands necessary to capitalize.
A 45.5-inch vertical jump is absurd. It's even more absurd for a tight end. Stowers set a combine record for the position, showcasing the type of explosiveness few players possess, regardless of position. That athleticism creates obvious advantages in the red zone and on third downs. Jalen Hurts doesn't always need a perfect throw. Sometimes, he simply needs to give Stowers an opportunity. More often than not, the rookie will have a chance to make a play on the football, especially if QB1 puts some height on it.
A 4.51-second 40-yard dash doesn't dominate headlines the way it once did. The context matters. At tight end, that type of speed remains rare. Stowers accelerates well and has already demonstrated an ability to create explosive plays against quality competition. His tape against Texas offered several examples. At times, he appears capable of playing even faster than he does. If he consistently trusts his speed and attacks openings aggressively, highlight-reel moments could follow. The Eagles understand Stowers remains a developmental player. That's okay. Dallas Goedert gives him time to learn. His coaches give him time to grow.
The encouraging news is that Stowers already possesses traits most tight ends never develop. Speed, athleticism, and natural receiving ability can't be manufactured. Philadelphia believes the rest will come with experience.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eli Stowers' 4 best traits that could translate to early NFL success
Continue reading...
Those concerns shouldn't overshadow what made him such an appealing prospect. Philadelphia believes Stowers possesses several traits that simply can't be taught. Greg Cosell believes that he can contribute to the Eagles' passing game immediately. While his blocking still requires refinement, Eagles Wire ranked him seventh among offseason newcomers for immediate impact. His athletic profile and receiving ability could eventually make him one of the more dangerous weapons on the Eagles' offense.
Linebackers simply don't match up well against him
Every offense is searching for matchup advantages. Stowers may become one. Most linebackers simply lack the speed necessary to run with him down the seam. His acceleration forces second-level defenders into uncomfortable situations, particularly when he's attacking vertically. Sure, there will always be exceptions. Every defense has athletic linebackers capable of holding their own. Most don't. That's why Stowers projects as such an intriguing weapon in the passing game.
Soft hands and natural ball-tracking ability
Some pass catchers fight for the football. Stowers doesn't. Well, he doesn't all of the time. Sometimes, handsy defenders can bother him. At other times, he can fight harder to claim his pace, but there's more to like here than not.
He consistently catches passes away from his body and tracks the football naturally downfield. Whether operating in traffic or finding space over the middle, he displays the confidence and hand-eye coordination coaches love to see. The Eagles should eventually find creative ways to get him isolated in favorable situations. When that happens, Stowers possesses the hands necessary to capitalize.
Rare athleticism for the position
A 45.5-inch vertical jump is absurd. It's even more absurd for a tight end. Stowers set a combine record for the position, showcasing the type of explosiveness few players possess, regardless of position. That athleticism creates obvious advantages in the red zone and on third downs. Jalen Hurts doesn't always need a perfect throw. Sometimes, he simply needs to give Stowers an opportunity. More often than not, the rookie will have a chance to make a play on the football, especially if QB1 puts some height on it.
Game-changing speed
A 4.51-second 40-yard dash doesn't dominate headlines the way it once did. The context matters. At tight end, that type of speed remains rare. Stowers accelerates well and has already demonstrated an ability to create explosive plays against quality competition. His tape against Texas offered several examples. At times, he appears capable of playing even faster than he does. If he consistently trusts his speed and attacks openings aggressively, highlight-reel moments could follow. The Eagles understand Stowers remains a developmental player. That's okay. Dallas Goedert gives him time to learn. His coaches give him time to grow.
The encouraging news is that Stowers already possesses traits most tight ends never develop. Speed, athleticism, and natural receiving ability can't be manufactured. Philadelphia believes the rest will come with experience.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eli Stowers' 4 best traits that could translate to early NFL success
Continue reading...
