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Rookie Free Agent Scouting Reports

Here are the scouting reports on eight of the 11 rookie free agents who have agreed to terms with the Eagles, courtesy of Tony Pauline from Sports Illustrated and DraftInsider.net.

Quarterback Joey Elliott, wide receiver Blue Cooper and fullback Chris Zardas do not have full scouting reports, but you can read their bios below.

DT Charles Alexander, Louisiana State
Pos. Rank: 26 Grade: 6th-7th Round Height: 6-4 Weight: 300 40: 5.31 Year: 6-Sr.

The Good: Nice-sized defensive tackle who fights hard and plays with good quickness. Explodes off the snap, fights with his hands throughout the action and keeps his feet driving up the field on contact. Fluid changing direction, makes plays down the line of scrimmage and plays with good pad level. Resilient and tough to knock off his feet.

The Bad: Shows marginal speed in pursuit. Easily controlled at the point by a single blocker. Marginally productive in college.

The Verdict: Despite his size, Alexander plays more like a one-gap, penetrating tackle rather than a space eater upfront. He offers a good degree of upside potential, yet he must start to play to his measurables and increase his productivity to stick around the NFL for any length of time.

G Zipp Duncan, Kentucky
Pos. Rank: 22 Grade: FA Height: 6-5 Weight: 297 40: 5.10 Year: 5-Sr.

The Good: Strong small-area blocker who fights hard until the whistle blows. Stays square, works his hands throughout the action, and keeps his feet moving in pass protection. Jolts defenders with good punch, controls him once engaged in a block, and works hard until the whistle blows. Solid position blocker who turns defenders off the line and then seals them from the action.

The Bad: Lacks flexibility and has difficulty handling speedy, athletic opponents. Lacks lateral blocking range. Bends at the waist and extends into blocks.

The Verdict: Duncan is a hard-working prospect who offers growth potential and has a slight chance to make it as a backup guard.

T Austin Howard, Northern Iowa
Pos. Rank: 21 Grade: FA Height: 6-7 Weight: 333 40: 5.53 Year: 5-Sr.

The Good: Big, athletic blocker with a good degree of upside. Blocks with a wide base, keeps his feet moving nicely adjusts to pick up blitzes thrown by the opposition. Displays good movement skills, effective on the second level, and can hit a moving target. He plays with a large degree of quickness. He

The Bad: He gets lazy with his hands at times and does not stick them into defenders.. Does not finish blocks and tends to fall off defenders. Must improve his overall body strength.

The Verdict: Howard has taken to the tackle position since moving there his junior season. He possesses an NFL body and is a solid long term developmental prospect who should be stashed on a team

WR Kevin Jurovich, San Jose State
Pos. Rank: 45 Grade: FA Height: 6-0 Weight: 188 40: 4.45 Year: 5-Sr.

The Good: Outstanding possession receiver who makes some spectacular receptions on the field. Fluid releasing off the line, sells pass routes, and comes back to the ball out of breaks. Gets separation from opponents, running sharp routes, extends his hands and catches the pass away from his frame. Displays a sense of timing, eye/hand coordination, and gets vertical to highpoint the ball over defenders. Possesses both soft and strong hands. Stays focused, plucks the ball from the air, and makes the tough catch in a crowd.

The Bad: One-speed receiver who cannot beat defenders down the field. Lacks classic possession receiver size.

The Verdict: Jurovich made the seamless transition to receiver as a junior and has all the qualities necessary to be a fifth wide out on an NFL roster.

T Jeraill McCuller, NC State
Pos. Rank: 30 Grade: FA Height: 6-6 Weight: 328 40: 5.43 Year: 5-Sr.

The Good: King-sized offensive lineman who moves well on his feet. Blocks down well on defenders, displays good punch, and easily controls opponents once he gets his hands on them. Uses his size to engulf defenders. Keeps his feet moving throughout the action.

The Bad: Marginal blocking range and struggles sliding off the edge. Lacks balance, agility and struggles to finish blocks.

The Verdict: McCuller has shown the underlying ability to play at the next level and has the size most teams the desire. He needs to improve the details of his game yet is a solid developmental prospect who should be stashed on a practice squad.

CB Josh Morris, Weber State
Pos. Rank: 38 Grade: FA Height: 5-11 Weight: 186 40: 4.45 Year: 5-Sr.

The Good: Nice-sized cornerback with a large degree of upside. Strong, fluid, and quick changing direction. Easily transitions with opponents off the line, displays good deep speed and the ability to run downfield with receivers. Engages opponents throughout the route, quickly locates the ball and effectively positions himself to defend the pass. Strong getting off blocks and making plays against the run or screen passes.

The Bad: Occasionally shows hesitation to his game and late reacting the play. Needs to improve his backpedal.

The Verdict: Morris has been productive at Weber State the past two seasons and is one of the better sleepers at the cornerback position in this year's draft. He possesses both the physical skills and football ability to make it at the next level, and he could see playing time as a rookie in the NFL in nickel or dime.

CB David Pender, Purdue
Pos. Rank: 36 Grade: FA Height: 6-0 Weight: 180 40: 4.42 Year: 4-Sr.

The Good: Instinctive cornerback who plays a physical game. Displays good footwork in all directions of the field, quickly breaks to the action, and has a nice burst out of his plant. Physically beats down opponents to defend the throw or stop the run.

The Bad: Occasionally bites on the play-action pass or receivers moves. Poor hands for the interception.

The Verdict: Pender has been a solid cornerback on the college level and offers potential in the NFL for a zone system. Needs to brush off the rough edges of his game yet could make a competent dime back.

WR Pat Simonds, Colgate
Pos. Rank: 79 Grade: FA Height: 6-5 Weight: 229 40: 4.57 Year: 4-Sr.

The Good: King-sized receiver with reliable hands. Effectively uses his frame to shield away defenders or protect the pass, extends and shows the ability to pluck the pass from the air with naturally soft hands. Good eye/hand coordination, effective when he extends to make the reception away from his frame, and always offers the quarterback a nice target.

The Bad: Lazily comes off the line at times, slow, and rounds off pass routes. Plays soft and runs out of bounds all too often rather than trying to pick up extra yardage after the reception. Minimal quickness in his game and does not have a burst. Does not always win out in battles the way he should. Gives halfhearted efforts as a blocker.

The Verdict: Simonds has the size, speed and pass catching skills to be a big time small school prospect. Relatively productive the past three seasons, he never truly dominated the way scouts but he should and does not have a complete game. Simmons must turn the intensity up in all aspects of his game for any chance of making it out of camp summer.

-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 5:46 p.m., April 26

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