Eric Weddle in the NFL

[Jimmy Chitwood]

i thought i'd get him started off on his NFL career with an insightful discussion from DraftDaddy (like always) about the bias he will have to overcome throughout his NFL tenure...

DD.com E-Mail</font> [Rob]:

I am shocked that Eric Weddle</font> isn't in you top 10 safties. He showed over the course of the season that he is far superior to John Wendling</font>, in the Senior Bowl he made more plays than any other safety. Oh yeah, he ran a 4.48 40 at the combine, ran on of the faster 20 yard times, has the hands of a reciever, and is more versitile than any player in the draft. Please tell me it is just a mistake and you really meant to put him in the top 5 but forgot. If you need any more reasons go watch the Emerald Bowl when Utah played Georiga Tech. (He played man coverage on Calvin Johnson almost the entire game. Johnson had 2 catched for 14 yards). Get over the work out times and big school bias and look at the player on the field too. If you actually did your homework and watched film and studied a player as a whole, you'd get more accurate results. I don't think that Weddle is the best safety in the draft, but I can't think of more than 2 I would consider over him. LaRon Landry for sure and maybe Michael Griffin.

DD.com Reply:</font>

No mistake on our part, Rob. We have Eric Weddle</font> ranked as a "cornerback", which is the position he made All-American at in 2006. He was also played cornerback (and some safety) when we watched him at the Senior Bowl and he was listed as a cornerback on the Combine roster, so we have to wonder why you assumed he would only be listed as a safety?

As you noted, he did shut-down Calvin Johnson in a 2005 bowl game and ran pretty well at the Combine, which makes this theory that he "must move to safety" in the N.F.L. more absurd to us. We recently updated the cornerback rankings and ranked Eric in the top 10. Considering how valued corners are on draft day, any top 10 cornerback projects as a Day one pick.

By the way, we have talked to Weddle personally and will be printing an interview on his combine experiences in the coming days. We like him a lot as a player and person and hope he does well at the next level, whether he plays cornerback or safety. If you ever meet Eric Weddle, you'll find out why he's a very easy person to like. He'll be a great addition to any N.F.L. team.

 

[lumsdenpower]

I think I will love this guy and he can be a shut down corner like Champ Bailey. Make no mistake about it, he shut down Calvin Johnson who is REALLY good..

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

There is no way Eric Weddle will be allowed to play corner. Look at the history; Dustin Fox was a standout performer at corner for a perenial top 10 team in Ohio St. He had better workout numbers than Weddle 4.45, 43.5 inch vert. Look where he is employed Eagles Practice squad as a saftey.

Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[lumsdenpower]

There is no way Eric Weddle will be allowed to play corner. Look at the history; Dustin Fox was a standout performer at corner for a perenial top 10 team in Ohio St. He had better workout numbers than Weddle 4.45, 42.5 inch vert. Look where he is employed Eagles Practice squad as a saftey.

yeah maybe but for the talent, Weddle win.

 

[White Mike]

Here's a nice little Eric Weddle interview from the comnine.

What did you measure in at?

5-11, 203.

Doing tjhe whole workout?

Yes sir.

Do you have a favorite of those touchdowns?

The Tulsa game. The last touchdown. We were driving down and had to ice the game. He put me in to run QB runs and got a couple first downs and that four yard run. So we sealed the victory and got the 'W.; a couple of them we lost. I don't want to put that one up there.


What do you bring to the table for the casual fan?

Versatilty. Just a guy who loves football and who'll do anything for the team.I'll go out there and play special teams like I've done in my career. I'll play offense or defense or whatever the team needs. And I'll do the best I can.

How many years did you hold?

Two years.

On Holding.

It's a challenge. People say all you can do is fail at it. You're expected to put it down and if you mess up, it's your fault. But I look at it as an opportunity. An opportunity to help the team. And we've had a bunch of fakes to get first downs and get touchdowns. I love getting in there and helping the team anyway possible. If it is holding, then that is what I'll do.

Did you see the Dallas playoff game?

Yes sir. He didn't look it in there. But that happens.

The Cowboys talk to you about holding?

No......I'll do it though. No doubt about it.

Seems like you save your best for the bowl games

I pride myself on preparation. Knowing what the team is going to do, knowing what my job is, and to excel at it. You give me four weeks to prepare for a team and prepare for an opponent and I'll make the most of it. I'll spend every minute worrying about my position and worrying about the team. That is where you have to rise to the moment because the other team has that much time to prepare for you. So you have to put that much more time and work into it. A lot of it goes into conditioning and working out. Not only practicing but doing those things to get your body right for a bowl game. Utah has six straight bowl wins and we're doing doing the right things and it shows on our bowl record.

Did you draw Calvin Johnson in double coverage?

Double coverage? We don't double cover. I play man to man.

How was that challenge?

Great.

He may be the first player taken.

Yeah, I know. Look at the film. It was a great game.

You've said you'll do anything, but what do you envision yourself doing with your skills?

Playing on special teams. I've had experience on all the special teams. I've been the gunner, punt returner, blocking the kicks, front line of kickoff returns. I've played nickel back, played up in the box. I've had experience and excelled at all the defensive back positions in college so I'm comfortable with all the positions and situations.

Where would you pick to go?

I don't have a favorite. I like them all.

About his position and versatility.

I'm going in as a defensive back. But just the things I had to do for my college team and have on film shows that I am able to do those kinds of things. But everyone is looking at me as a defensive back and down the road if they need me to go block or hold, they know I can do that and know I have experience at it so they won't have to look at someone else who hasn't done it before.

Even kick?

Even kick. I've kicked two times and averaged 34 yards.

You mean punting?

Yes, you don't want me field goal kicking. I'll shank it right.

How did you shut down Calvin Johnson?

Like I said, I had four weeks to prepare for a player of his caliber. You have to bring your A plus game. If you film study you can eliminate stuff. Like down and distance, first down and third down split or where the ball is located. You can eliminate 90 percent of what the guys is going to do just based by his split, his release. So half the game I knew what he was going to do before he did it and I was just breaking on the routes. No disrespect to their team but the times they threw to him I was just breaking on the ball.

You married a girl from Utah State?

Yes, my wife has a scholarship from Utah State. She and I went to high school together. She was a year older. Then I came out and we dated other people then got together.


So when you go to the Utah-Utah State game, which side will you sit on?

Oh, I am always a Ute. Always will be and she'll do what I tell her. I'm just kidding. She'll bleed blue.


You know she may see this?

She knows. She'll laugh along with it. No, she's great and she means the world to me. This is why I'm here. For her and my family. I love football but I'm doing this for my wife to have a good life. I'm not going to be able to play football forever and I want to help kids and be a teacher, coach football, be a good husband and a great guy.

What was your degree in?

Special Education. Mild to moderate disabilities.

When did you graduate?

I am going to graduate, I am student teaching.

Have any teams shown a great deal of interrest like the Patriots?

Yes, I've talked to them a bunch and a bunch of other teams. Right now, it's really heresay and theresay. You've got a little over two months before draft day and a lot can happen like trades and free agency. Draft picks can be traded so I'm just going to go out there and do what I can control. Run times, do everything they want me to do and go out there and do the best I can.

Talk to the Cardinals?

I may have at the Senior Bowl, but not here yet.

At the Senior Bowl or here have NFL teams asked about your position?

Yes, the million dollar question was what I like better;corner or safety. I think they get irritated because I say both of them because they want top hear an answer, but thats true. I love playing man to man, I love playing outside and the challenge it brings, I love blitzing, I love playing zones or being around the box. Just whatever the team needs.

Have teams asked about playing offense or holding?

Not really, they haven't brought it up. They know I can do it but they know I'm coming in as a defensive back. They know I have experience at it.

Edited by: White Mike

 

[whiteCB]

Memo to Weddle say your a freaking CB!! I would just love for Weddle to come out and say he would like to play CB at the next level and just brag about how badly he shut down Calvin Johnson.

 

[backrow]

some love for Eric from big time analysts:


Clark Judge: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/sportsline/main10123560.shtml


Pat Kirwan, who has him as top ball hawk of the upcoming draft!: http://nfl.com/draft/story/10124927

 

[backrow]

and here's Eric in Chargers colors.

 

[White Mike]

Eric Weddle article that breaks down the battle for starting strong safety.

"In San Diego, Weddle will be asked to play but two positions. On running downs, he will be an in-the-box safety; in obvious passing situations, he will slide outside and serve as a cornerback, matching up against the slot receiver. If he can handle both roles proficiently, he has a chance to start from day one."

 

[White Shogun]

Wow, nice of them to start the white boy if he is good enough to do two jobs, instead of just one like everybody else. Any black DB who played both like that would be considered a superstar. But white boy has to be happy with just getting an opportunity to play.

 

[Thrashen]

As we all know, Eric Weddle was without question one of the top 3 overall athletes available in the draft. Personally, I would have liked the Patriots to have made him their top selection (as the Chargers aren't known for starting/signing/drafting white DB's). But then again, who is, right? The NFL is honestly a joke of a league in terms of who is allowed to "play."However, I'm not ready to give up just yet, as I believe our guys are making strides at positions previously denied to them. Other than Weddle, I would say that Ethan Kilmer from my school, PSU, will have the best shot at a starting job at CB with the Bengals.

 

[whiteCB]

It's the last year of Jue's contract so hopefully they'll just let Weddle start and see what he's made of.

 

[whiteafflete15]

I would have liked the Patriots to have made him their top selection (as the Chargers aren't known for starting/signing/drafting white DB's).

Neither are the Patriots. They'll start white on defense, but only at linebacker and defensive line. I can't remember the last time I even saw a reserve white in the defensive backfield for the Pats.

 

[Thrashen]

whiteafflete15

"Neither are the Patriots. They'll start white on defense, but only at linebacker and defensive line. I can't remember the last time I even saw a reserve white in the defensive backfield for the Pats."

Actually, Shawn Mayer (though mostly a special teams player) played for the Patriots (and actually saw a fair amount of time at strong safety) from 2003-2005. This is before being cut by the Patriots, Falcons, then playing in NFL Europe. He's now on the Browns. As I said, there isnt a single NFL franchise known for giving white DB's a fair chance. The fairest team to white DB's overall (and on defense in general) is currently the Bills.

 

[whiteafflete15]

If he wore #39 with the Patriots, I know who you're talking about. He was a good special teamer. I never saw his face and always assumed he was a light skinned black. However, Mayer did not see much playing time at all. I've watched every minute of every Patriots game and he would only go in in blow out games, if even that since players such as James Sanders, Gus Scott, and Dexter Reid usually filled in then. (Unless he received more PT during the 2003 season, which I don't remember as well.)

 

[Don Wassall]

Mayer led the Big 10 in tackles as a senior -- a phenomenal feat from the safety position. All the guy did was make tackles and big plays, buthis lack of "superb" measurables was the NFL's pretext for ignoring him. He could have been a fine NFL safety.Mayer reminds me in that way of Pat Tillman, whose athleticism was regularly ridiculed even after he made over 200 tackles for the Cardinals one season, simply an unbelievable total for a safety. It wasn't until Tillman joined theSpecial Forcesfollowing 9/11 that the media let up on him.

 

[whiteCB]

Mayer led the Big 10 in tackles as a senior -- a phenomenal feat from the safety position.  All the guy did was make tackles and big plays, but his lack of "superb" measurables was the NFL's pretext for ignoring him.  He could have been a fine NFL safety.  Mayer reminds me in that way of Pat Tillman, whose athleticism was regularly ridiculed even after he made over 200 tackles for the Cardinals one season, simply an unbelievable total for a safety.  It wasn't until Tillman joined the Special Forces following 9/11 that the media let up on him.

Totally agree. Its like these a$$holes just can't accept the fact that a white DB can be athletic and good.

 

[white is right]

whiteafflete15

"Neither are the Patriots. They'll start white on defense, but only at linebacker and defensive line. I can't remember the last time I even saw a reserve white in the defensive backfield for the Pats."

Actually, Shawn Mayer (though mostly a special teams player) played for the Patriots (and actually saw a fair amount of time at strong safety) from 2003-2005. This is before being cut by the Patriots, Falcons, then playing in NFL Europe. He's now on the Browns. As I said, there isnt a single NFL franchise known for giving white DB's a fair chance. The fairest team to white DB's overall (and on defense in general) is currently the Bills.

From what I have seen in file photos there are two Sean Mayers one is white and the other is black so maybe that's why there is some confusion about him. The black Mayer seems to be fairly dark so there isn't any confusion about whether he is white. Last night on ESPN the midnight host mentioned how in the past the black Jim Thorpe file photos would always be displayed whenever the native/white Jim Thorpe was mentioned in greatest athletes ever polls........

 

[Freedom]

Weddle will need a miracle to see much time outside of special teams his rookie season.

 

[Gi-15]

don't be so pesimist, they jsut released their previous SS and traded a whole lot to get him, he'll start sooner or later this season.

 

[Freedom]

I hope that they give him enough time to adapt to the pro game. Coaches make or break careers that way. They decide whether to write a player off or to let him develop. Weddle won't get much time to develop so he'll have to have great performances from the start and get his name called without a growth period.

Most defensive backs get a lot more of a growth period. I hope he can put us at ease with some great plays in the preseason and I really hope he DOESN'T GET INJURED.

 

[GWTJ]

Nice interception by Weddle. It really is a no-brainer for the Chargers to keep him on the team and give him a shot at starting sometime soon.

 

[Electric Slide]

Yeah I saw the pick by Weddle, he's showing he can continue his success into the NFL.

 

[backrow]

Eric's first NFL pick:

 

[sunshine]

Madden had some nice things to say about Weddle. Some may disagree but I think Madden gets an A in my book because he doesn't have "the routine" down of bashing white athleticism on a consistent basis. If a white player is athletic and or fast he will say it. To me he is a model of fairness in announcing.