Eagles Wake-Up Call: Petty And the System

INDIANAPOLIS — A short time after Bruce Arians described quarterbacks that run a spread-tempo offense in college as being “light years behind” when they get into a pro-style scheme, Bryce Petty revealed that the first time he was exposed to traditional play-calling was at the Senior Bowl.

“It was a little different. We were a signal system at Baylor. I love Baylor. I wouldn’t change it for the world. If I had to go back and do it all again, I’d do it the same exact way,” he said. “It’s a learning curve a little bit going from what we were doing at Baylor to where we are now. But it’s all part of the process, so you’ve got to enjoy it. You’ve got to love it, really, and I do love it.”

Mike Mayock has Petty as the third-best quarterback in this draft behind Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. Standing at 6-3 and 230 pounds, he looks the part, and flashed some charisma and command while addressing the large crowd of media at the Combine on Thursday.

Petty threw for over 4,000 yards with 32 touchdowns to three interceptions his junior year before taking a slight step backwards (29 TDs, 7 INT) this past season. He also rushed for 21 touchdowns over his career.  Petty played through cracked bones in his spine and also suffered a concussion his senior year, but says he is all healed up.

Similar to players like Mariota, the transition to the Eagles system might be a bit easier for Petty, whereas other teams have to do a little more projecting and would have to account for a significant learning curve.

“Honestly, it’s got to be hard for them to diagnose and project anybody really, because anything can happen,” he said. “For me, the best way I can say it is you’re going to guy who is passionate about football, loves football, loves to learn, loves to absorb. I think that’s what is hard to find on paper.”

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WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Safety Dashon Goldson could be available via trade, and Geoff Mosher thinks the Eagles should make a play.

Goldson, 30, might be on the downside of his two-time Pro Bowl career, but he’d be an immediate upgrade parked next to Malcolm Jenkins in the sport Allen occupied for the past two seasons.

The trade would benefit both clubs, giving the Eagles their most formidable safety tandem since Kelly became head coach and providing Tampa more cap cushion as Licht continues to remake the roster.

Goldson, who signed a six-year deal with the Bucs in 2013 to play for then-coach Greg Schiano, has just $4 million remaining in guaranteed money that Tampa Bay would absorb in a deal, but the Bucs would save more than $19 million over the next three seasons in cap space.

Goldson isn’t a perfect match for Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme, which usually employs safeties deep. His best days came in the 49ers’ man-press scheme, which is similar to the Eagles’ defense run by Billy Davis.

Chris McPherson of PhiladelphiaEagles.com on Ohio State receiver Devin Smith.

Wide receiver Devin Smith wore No. 9 at Ohio State because of wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who sported that same number in college at Missouri.

“Jeremy Maclin is one guy I kind of model myself after a little bit. I watched him when I was at Missouri. He was probably the reason I wore No. 9,” Smith said.

“He’s one of my favorite receivers. The thing about him is that when he runs, it looks so natural and he runs so smooth that it really looks easy to him.”

Like Maclin, Smith was one of the most explosive receivers in 2014. Smith averaged an eye-popping 28.2 yards per catch and scored 12 touchdowns. He nearly had 1,000 yards receiving (931) on just 33 catches.

COMING UP

Plenty more from Indy.