Soaring Rhetoric: BC Spring Football, the Future, and the NFL Draft
By Joe Micik
Kyle: I think Rettig will be able to improve upon last year’s performance. I don’t think he’ll move up to NFL Draft-prospect level but he will certainly be given a shot as an undrafted free agent.
Finally, he might have a healthy number one running back in Andre Williams so he won’t have to pass the ball on every down like last season, when we had a converted defensive back who couldn’t get more than two yards per rush and Deuce Finch “injured” every game. It’s too bad Finch left, because based on his stats from the end of the season, a Williams-Finch combo could’ve been deadly.
But anyways, if Williams stays healthy and diverts attention from the pass, Rettig will have more time to think and avoid giving up 13 interceptions. Anything can improve our running game from last season, which was 115th in the country, and as you know, the run should open the pass. Chase Rettig has matured over his years at the Heights and I think he’s going to really have a solid year with dangerous options in Spiffy Evans and Alex Amidon.
Joe: I’ll differ with you a bit on the first point; I think if Rettig has a good senior year, he’s got a chance at getting drafted in the later rounds. It’s interesting because I think a large-enough cross section of BC fans are either very high or very low on his prospects beyond college. He HAS to have a solid senior year, though. In 2012, Rettig was above-average to good (started very well but trailed off towards the end of the season). Another year like last year might seem okay to us but it’s not going to blow away NFL scouts when the 2014 draft looks loaded with good quarterbacks who have been playing better for longer.
As for the second point, I do think Rettig will have his best season in 2013, but at this point I can’t precisely quantify that.
Finally, on the 2013 draft. You make the call: which Eagles get drafted and in what round? Do any get drafted?
Kyle: I haven’t been intensely following the NFL Draft prospects. (I see there is a guy whose first name is “Star.”) But I see a lot of leadership qualities in OT Emmett Cleary. Even though the O-line was mostly weak this past season, Cleary was a constant force. I’m thinking 7th to undrafted. Also, LB Nick Clancy always put on his hard hat every Saturday and came out to work in the middle. But, unfortunately he is late 7th to undrafted for me. I’m leaning towards undrafted…
Joe: A general rule of thumb about BC in the NFL Draft is that we never get all the guys drafted that we expect to get. Right now, there are two that have somewhat of a realistic shot at the latest two rounds, but if I’m going to apply that rule, then I’ll say that one gets drafted and the other doesn’t. Now I’m left with the unfortunate task of picking, and it’ll be Emmett Cleary. I say Cleary goes in Round 7, John Wetzel just misses, and nearly everybody else gets a call from an NFL team with a camp invite after the draft.