The Eagles concluded their 2015 NFL Draft by selecting Boston College defensive end Brian Mihalik in the seventh round. Mihalik is a 6’9″ project, who played in a 4-3 defense in college and the Eagles think he will have success as a two-gap defensive end in their 3-4.
The key to being a good two-gap defensive lineman is able to get extension with your arms after you engage the blocker. That is one of Mihalik’s strengths and if he can get stronger in the weight room, he could be very effective in the Eagles 3-4.
Mihalik totaled 86 tackles with 8.5 sacks in his four-year college career at Boston College. Those numbers are nothing to write home about.
“I think [Mihalik] has a skill set that it’s kind of when you look at it,” Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said, “[he’s] one of those guys when you spit things through and you just say, height, weight, speed, kind of off the charts. He’s 6-9, he weighs 300 pounds, has a 34-inch vertical jump, he ran 4.88 (in the 40-yard dash) and he’s a productive player.
“He just played wide defensive end in a 4-3 defense [at Boston College]. He hasn’t been a two-gap player, but we feel with the physical skill set he has that we can convert him to a four technique.”
The Eagles envision Mihalik getting stronger in the weight room, then being able to be a strong run defender and pass rusher in the future.
Who knows, maybe he can end up being the next Too Tall Jones, he had a nice career at that size.
Just stand up and bat them balls down!!! Special teams fg blocker!!!!
Dennis “Big Foot” Harrison
The Next Brandon Bair….
The first draft pick cut
6’9 athletic enough to run a 4-8, 4-9 and the tape I watched of him versus FSU he was manhandled.
Second thought I’d check his hands and try him at TE.