Eric Weddle - CB

Don Wassall

Don Wassall

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Draft Daddy is highly complimentary about Weddle, saying he "might be the most underrated college football player in America." Gee, I wonder why that is?


From Draft Daddy: CB Eric Weddle ~ Utah -- Might be the most underrated college football player in America. Weddle has had a great career for the Utes and bigger things are expected this season. In 2005, he sparkled playing safety and cornerback, while also returning punts and lining up at wide receiver and running back for Utah at times. Going into last season, everyone knew Weddle was an impact safety, with good speed and great athletic ability. But when he lined up at cornerback and held Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who is widely regarded as a future NFL first round pick, to 2 receptions for 19 yards in the Emerald Bowl last December, his legend grew even greater.


Here's a bio: [url]http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/weddle_eric00.h tml[/url]
 
as you know, i've been excited about Eric Weddle for a couple of years now, ever since he was a TSN first-team freshman all-American at corner. for some reason, (hmmm, i wonder what it could be?
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) scouts keep referring to him as a safety, despite his incredible athleticism. even TSN rates him as a strong safety! anyone that can cover one-on-one in the slot is a corner. period. and that's what Weddle does. even his bio talks about it: has the ability and athleticism to single-cover just about anybody .

i understand why his coach wants him at safety, where he has the ability to make plays all over the field, but he should definitely project as a corner at the next level. anyone who saw Utah's bowl game last year will know what i'm talking about! i saw it, and he was phenomenal! he went one-on-one with what the announcers kept referring to as the most physically gifted receiver in college football, calvin johnson, and shut him down. amazing!
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I am also very excited about Weddle...a player that does not get nearly the credit he deserves.
 
Weddle is the man. He's the best DB in the country hands down and would be getting oh so much more respect had he been born a little darker. Weddle is so good that hopefully the scouts and Kiper can't hold his light skin aganist him. lol
 
SI.com's college football blog states that Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson "can't be stopped" by anyone. After describing Johnson as "shy" here's Johnson's opinion of himself:


When asked who has been his toughest defender thus far, Johnson replies, "Me." No one else comes close? "Nah," he says with a chuckle. So is there any defender who can stop you, Calvin? He ponders for a second before responding, "Maybe if you told the guy I was running a go-route, and he stood about 40 yards down field, then maybe the he could stop me."

At least one guy did stop Johnson last season: Utah's preseason All-America cornerback Eric Weddle. The Utes held Johnson to just two catches for 19 yards in their 38-10 Emerald Bowl upset of the Yellow Jackets. Asked about that game, Johnson grimaces. "Man, it was a nightmare. "The field was in terrible condition. We brought the wrong cleats. I couldn't run a route without slipping."


How typical. A braggard who won't give an opponent any credit at all, especially a white opponent.


Johnson will probably be the top WR in the draft in '07. His stats for the last two seasons are 102/1725/13 --good for a black receiver, but Hass and Samardjiza put up close to those numbers in a single season. What happens to Weddle when it comes to the NFL remains to be seen. If Hass lasted to the 6th round, will Weddle even get a shot at CB?
 
This kid sounds like the real deal and could break through at corner at the next level, but as mentioned above, is currently projected as the 8th best safety (big surprise) in the class of 2007, according to ESPN.
 
i guess the field was only slippery on Georgia Tech's side of the ball. ha!
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and even if the field was slippery, anyone who has ever played football knows that gives the offensive player the edge because he already knows where he's going. what a complete
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this johnson guy is!

Weddle shut him down completely...and his stat line was two catches for 17 yards.

Eric did it with no safety help, no underneath linebacker dropping into coverage, nothing. he was out there on an island, and johnson was the one voted off. Edited by: Jimmy Chitwood
 
my man, Eric Weddle, is finally getting some much deserved recognition.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of the 35 "players to watch" for its prestigious Player of the Year award, the nation's fourth-oldest individual college football accolade. University of Utah senior defensive back Eric Weddle was the lone Mountain West Conference player on the 2006 preseason list.

additionally, SI.com has a preview on Utah that talks about their chances this year and acknowledges Eric.

The spread offense will put up big numbers, and the nation's top cornerback, Eric Weddle, leads a veteran D.

here's a link to the article
 
here's an article about Eric Weddle that ran recently in the LA Times about how UCLA and other big schools somehow "overlooked" Weddle. it's an another eye-opening article, but of course they insist on calling him a safety... where for some reason Utah's coaches lined him up most of the night despite their other corners sucking donkey balls.

He's Right Man for All the Jobs
Weddle can play a little of everything for Utahâ€â€￾on offense, defense and special teamsâ€â€￾but he does his best work as a strong safety.
By Ben Bolch, Times Staff Writer
August 31, 2006

Eric Weddle's high school coach did everything short of leasing a Westwood apartment as part of a sustained campaign to get his star player to UCLA.

He made phone calls, sent highlight videos and issued breathless declarations, calling Weddle "the best high school football player I've ever seen." But the effort on behalf of the Alta Loma High standout failed to sway the Bruins as well as coaches from other major college programs.

"They were all saying, 'Coach, I don't have any use for a 5-foot-11, 180-pound wide receiver,' "John Kusleika recalled earlier this week. " 'I have 6-2 guys all over the place.' "

All over the place? That's an interesting choice of words considering that, four years later, Weddle covers virtually every inch of the field as perhaps the most versatile player in the college game.

The Utah senior will be ever-present Saturday evening when the Utes play UCLA at the Rose Bowl; the Bruins must contend with No. 32 on offense, defense and special teams.

At one point or another, Weddle could play safety, quarterback, receiver, punt returner, kickoff returner, punter, cornerback or running back. Oh, and he also participates on special-team coverage units and serves as the holder on field goals and PATs.

"Whatever position he plays, I know it's helping us win," said Utah safeties coach Derrick Odum, who begrudgingly shares his star pupil with the other assistants during practice. "I don't know if there is a best position for him."

Officially, Weddle, now 6 feet and 200 pounds, is listed as a strong safety on the depth chart. He has started 32 of the Utes' last 33 games as either a safety or cornerback and was selected the Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year last season after making 78 tackles, including 11 for losses.

Weddle also had seven carries and threw two passes after joining the offense late in the season, describing his role as "a changeup to throw something at the defense." But he insisted that his offensive and special-team functions are secondary to his responsibilities in the secondary.

"All those things don't take away from playing safety and corner," said Weddle, whose 11 interceptions are tied for sixth most in school history. "That's what I do. That's my No. 1 priority. All that other stuff is just extra stuff on the side. If it took away from my ability to play defense, I wouldn't do it."

Though Weddle wouldn't divulge exactly how involved he would be on offense against UCLA, he looms as large as the Wasatch Mountains in Coach Kyle Whittingham's plan to beat the Bruins.

"So far there's never been any challenge we've thrown at him that he can't handle," Whittingham said. "Whatever position or situation you put him in, he has that knack to be able to adapt to it very quickly. He's a natural."

Weddle's high school coach had been telling college coaches pretty much the same thing since he assumed control of the Alta Loma program before Weddle's senior year. But interest in the two-way player waned when his offensive role switched from receiver to quarterback as a senior out of necessity for the team.

"His junior year, he was getting letters from Notre Dame, the Pac-10 schools," said Steven Weddle, Eric's father. "His senior year, nobody gave him any respect because he played quarterback. He wasn't a quarterback, but he had to do what he had to do."

Kusleika said he told college recruiters that he envisioned Weddle as a defensive back at the next level, but "they didn't want what they were calling a 5-11 DB. They weren't sure if he was big enough. Well, he was big enough to play in the Fiesta Bowl."

Indeed, Weddle seems satisfied that everything has worked out for the best. He became a starter by the fourth game of his freshman season and went on to play a critical role in Utah's school-record 18-game winning streak. The next stop could be the NFL.

"Without a doubt," said Whittingham, who recruited Weddle and was delightfully surprised that the prospect hadn't been snatched by a more prominent college program. "I just could not understand why he was not more highly recruited, and I guess a lot of people are now asking themselves that."

Though he acknowledged being driven by the fact that he was overlooked, Weddle said vindication would not be on his mind when he stepped onto the field at the Rose Bowl.

"It's in the past," Weddle said. "For some reason, they didn't want me and it's fine with me because I've had a great career and wouldn't take anything back. ... The whole reason we're going is to win a football game, not to get back at UCLA."
 
Jimmy Chitwood said:
Kusleika said he told college recruiters that he envisioned Weddle as a defensive back at the next level, but "they didn't want what they were calling a 5-11 DB. They weren't sure if he was big enough. Well, he was big enough to play in the Fiesta Bowl.
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doesnt his coach know anything? Every D-back at the Division 1 level is taller then 5-11.
 
5-11 is average height for a starting NFL cornerback, maybe slightly above average. But then again we saw the "scouting reports" claiming that 6-1 Mike Hass was "too short." Even such an objective mathematical criterion as height is subjective when it comes to the Caste System.
 
Don Wassall said:
5-11 is average height for a starting NFL cornerback, maybe slightly above average. But then again we saw the "scouting reports" claiming that 6-1 Mike Hass was "too short." Even such an objective mathematical criterion as height is subjective when it comes to the Caste System.
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Here's another example of "Caste System math" I read in this week's Sporting News: "Titans WR David Givens has been mostly invisible since signing as a free agent in March. An ankle injury slowed him in minicamps, and a hamstring injury kept him out of the last three exhibition games. Givens likely will be healthy to start the season, however, and the team expects him to be a difference maker because of his size (6-0, 215) and speed."


Biletnikoff Award winner Mike Hass is too small to play in the NFL at 6-1 and 208, while 6-0 David Givens is a "difference maker" because of his size. How magical it must be to be black.
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Edited by: Don Wassall
 
Eric had a MONSTER game against San Diego State this past weekend. 3 interceptions, 2 returned for touchdowns. and he scored a 3rd touchdown on a run when he was lined up at quarterback.
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check out his press clippings i posted on the white DB thread. wow!
 
Here's Draft Daddy's comment:


Vastly underrated (nationally) Utah cornerback Eric Weddle continues to terrorize Mountian West Conference opponents -- had 3 interceptions and 3 touchdowns Saturday.


DD.com comment: Maybe the folks in the mainstream media -- particularly at E.S.P.N. -- could mention Weddle as a possible Heisman candidate?


We realize a cornerback from the M.W.C. will never win it, but if E.S.P.N. could pump up former Ohio State kicker Mike Nugent as a "worthy" Heisman candidate back in 2004, why not the dominating Weddle?


Of course they know the answer -- the MSM isn't going to promote Weddle as a possible Heisman candidate when most likely he won't be allowed to play cornerback in the NFL because of his race. He's the Mike Hass of cornerbacks and will get the exact same treatmentas Hass has received fromthe Caste System NFL.


Two years from now, he'll be a safety on someone's practice squad and they'll be cracking jokes on message boards about how "Team X is so weak in the defensive backfield they've resorted to signing a white safety," ha, ha, just like they do now about Dustin Fox.
 
here are some his exploits for all to see, courtesy of YouTube.

it's a Utah highlight montage from when Eric had 3 interceptions and scored 3 TDs. Eric is #32, and his highlights start at about the 1:54 mark, and then the last play is him as well.
 
wow! if this kid isn't athletic then i don't know who is... great hands, great speed, great power... he scored a power rushing TD, put a wicked spin move on a return, outrun their whole defense...

and yet i still wonder, will we even see him in NFL??
 
Here are last weeks MWC Conference players of the week.
I wonder how often other conferences have all whites winning this award.
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Weddle, Carney, and Sasser earn conference player of the week honors
Sept. 25, 2006

Shaun Carney (Air Force), Eric Weddle (Utah) and Zach Sasser (Air Force) are Mountain West Conference Players of the Week for games through Sept. 23. Carney earns Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Weddle garners the Defensive award and Sasser receives Special Teams recognition. This is Weddle's third career weekly honor and the second for both Carney and Sasser. Sasser earned the special teams' award after the second week of the season for his performance at Tennessee.


OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Shaun Carney, AIR FORCE
Junior, Quarterback, North Olmstead, Ohio/St. Edward
Junior quarterback Shaun Carney recorded career highs in rushing yards and carries with 131 yards on 25 carries in Air Force's 31-24 victory at Wyoming. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and rushed for two touchdowns, marking the fourth straight game he has scored a rushing touchdown. Carney also hit three of seven passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. All three pass completions were good for first downs.


DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ERIC WEDDLE, UTAH
Senior, Defensive Back, Alta Loma, Calif./Alta Loma
Senior defensive back Eric Weddle recorded four tackles (three solo) and three interceptions, two of which he returned 30 yards apiece for touchdowns, to lead Utah to a 38-7 win at San Diego State. He became the first Ute to total three interceptions in a game since 1987. Weddle, who had 64 yards in interception returns, also chose to knock down a pass on the last play of the first half inside Utah's 5-yard line, rather than make an uncontested interception. His four total tackles included an assisted sack. Weddle also played several downs on offense, scoring on a two-yard run on his first offensive series with 11:44 left in the second quarter to break a 7-7 tie. He made it back-to-back scores on the very next play from scrimmage, when he intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards for a score.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Zach Sasser, AIR FORCE
Senior, Place Kicker/Punter, Amarillo, Texas/Amarillo
Junior place kicker/punter Zach Sasser went 3-for-3 on extra point attempts and connected on his only field goal attempt of the game (27 yards) in Air Force's 31-24 win at Wyoming. Additionally, he punted three times for 118 yards and a 39.3 average, including a 59-yarder on his first career punt. Sasser also forced a Wyoming fumble on a kickoff that was recovered by the Falcons with 3:10 remaining in the first half. Air Force took the next drive in for a score to lead at the half,21-7.
 
wow! a kicker that can tackle. you don't see that every day...

in news related to my man Weddle, check out what bozo
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John Murphy (Yahoo! Sports' NFL personnel and college prospect evaluator) had to say about the match-up this weekend between Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech:

Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson vs. Virginia Tech DB Aaron Rouse - It'll be a battle of two of the best natural athletes in college football. Johnson already has 311 yards and five touchdowns, but he could be less than 100 percent since he is fighting a left quad injury. Rouse will likely be called upon to use his size (6-foot-4 and 220 pounds) to help shadow or double team the ACC's premier receiver, so this will allow him the chance to impress scouts the way Eric Weddle (Utah) did in last year's Emerald Bowl matchup against Johnson.

first of all, why are they "two of the best natural athletes"? more importantly however, how can helping shadow or double teaming johnson equate rouse's performance with Weddle's?
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Weddle was mano-y-mano all game long. so helping double cover the guy should be real impressive.
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7:29 left in first quarter vs Boise State and Eric has his 1st interception of the day: 4 yard return!
 
Against TCU Weddle just got his 6th INT in the last three games. You have to see the highlight on this one, he ran through the receiver and came up with the ball. Amazing!
 
Weddle just made another spectacular play! They ruled it a fumble recovery, but it was amazing, he just stripped the ball away from the receiver before he hit the ground. He has also has rushed for 15 yards on carries. QB Brett Ratliff is leading all rushers in the game. I can't believe TCU is getting beat like this! Way to go Utes!
 
it looks like the guys over at DraftDaddy are noticing a trend we picked up on ages ago... notice their recent posts about my man, Eric Weddle...

A DD.com reader that goes by the pseudonym "The Truth</font>", who frequently E-Mail's us to tell us how bad our site is and how stupid we are, has decided to set us straight on why Utah's Eric Weddle</font> should never be allowed to line up at cornerback in the N.F.L.:

The Truth</font>: Notes from Weddle's NFL scouting report... he's not suited to man coverage and not big enough of a hitter to play near the line of scrimmage, seen as a pure free safety type for next level that can also contribute by playing against the slot receiver, but over long periods of time would be taken advantage of out on an island.

DD.com Reply</font>: What ever genius wrote that masterpiece forgot to mention Weddle lacks "hip swerve".....Thanks Truth, and we do agree he would be better at free safety than strong safety, if he was forced to move to safety....Truth, hopefully one day, very soon, you'll get your own site (assuming you are not a DD.com rival) and charge each reader big buck$ for your wisdom.
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and also...
DD.com Comment</font>: Maybe we are simply naive fools that "need to get with the program", but we find it hard to believe Utah's outstanding shutdown cornerback Eric Weddle is widely considered only a safety prospect at the next level by every site and media outlet on the planet -- except this one.

We guess, despite holding Georgia Tech star receiver to 2 catches for 15 yards last season and basically stifling every wide out he faces, he can't be taken seriously as a cornerback.
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The local radio sports guys are now arguing over whether Weddle should be a corner or safety after getting beat a few times in last night's loss to New Mexico. It is stupid really, and one host said everyone has a bad game every once in a while. He made the point that the whole defense stunk last night. Weddle did get beat a couple of times, but he was just having the same kind of down night as the rest. They all agreed that he is the best player on the team though, which makes me wonder why a couple of them thought he should be a safety instead of CB. I did hear one of New Mexico's receivers say Utah was playing man coverage and were not in the right places to make plays. Weddle had to come all the way across the field to try to catch people last night. I think the defensive coaches were using the wrong techniques last night.
 
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