Training Camp Darling 2009!

TRAINING CAMP DARLING 2009

Born from the loins of Na Brown and Gari Scott, the training camp darling ("TCD") is a man that will be the focus of fascination, speculation, and, ultimately self-flagellation.  Since my reign formerly at the Eagle Scout Blog and now at DBTB we've had the following TCDs grace our collective consciousness:

2005:  Ryan Moats

2006:  Hank Baskett

2007:  Brent Celek

2008:  Lorenzo Booker

Now, there are many that caught the imagination of the local media (just doing their part) who weaved the prose that would inspire the excessive adulation of the fanbase.  We had tight end Lee Vickers, and wide receivers Justin Jenkins, and Bill Sampy.  We had wide receiver Darnerien McCants catching bombs from the hand of Timmy Chang.  Tight end Andy Thorn connecting with former Delaware stallion Andy Hall.  And although heavily weighted towards the wide receiver and tight end positions, the defense had their fill with Dedrick Roper and the renowned Tank Daniels.  Hell, even Jerome McDougle, made a run at the 2008 TCD title.  Anything can happen at Lehigh in July.  Blind desperation for anything Eagle-related after 6 months of football sobriety tends to skew the collective judgment of the base - myself included.

Evidence of overly excessive adulation regarding last year's TCD:

Once again, Lorenzo Booker plays with the first team, split out wide, opposite Kevin Curtis, with Reggie Brown in the slot. On this play, Booker starts in motion and hooks back behind McNabb, and a reverse is feigned. McNabb hands the ball to Correll Buckhalter, who explodes up the middle. Just a few plays later, the reverse to Booker is executed. If these early, early practices are any sign, Booker will be all over the field this year.

ALL OVER THE DAMN FIELD!  THREE HEADED MONSTER RETURNS!  Thank you Dave Spadaro.  Even SI.com's Peter King got in on the act writing that Booker could be the next "Ryan Grant lightning-in-a-bottle."  Well, Ryan Grant gained over 1,200 yards on the ground last year.  Lorenzo Booker gained 53.  It was close, but Grant took it by a nose.

My question to you is - who will become the official Training Camp Darling of 2009? 

The Tote Board

1-1 - Cornelius Ingram - TE - 5^th Round Pick, Florida

4-1 - Brandon Gibson - WR - 6^th Round Pick, Washington State

6-1 - Byron Parker - S - FA acquisition - Toronto Argonauts

6-1 - Macho Harris - CB/S - 5^th Round Pick, Virginia Tech

10-1 - Josh Gaines - DE - UDFA - Penn State

Let's take the nominations one by one with the respective odds of each becoming TCD 2009 (Odds signify nothing really - do you have to make to the squad to be a true TCD?  Recent history says yes).  Top picks are not eligible for nomination (Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy) nor are green but touted prospects that are expected to perform well (Quintin Demps, Trevor Laws).  On to the nominees:

Cornelius Ingram - Tight End - Odds: 1-1 (Even bet)

I almost excluded Ingram from this list because he currently carries the mantle of Post Draft Darling 2009.  Expectation levels for the man are already off the charts.  His college coach, Urban Meyer, head of the "C.I." cheerleading brigade helped stir up the fervor.  Meyer on Ingram:

"He's a freak - and I say that respectfully, he's not normal. He's a big, great-looking athlete who can do phenomenal things. Coach [Andy] Reid was very thorough and very detailed in looking at this guy. We talked a lot about Cornelius and we agreed he can be a matchup nightmare in the NFL."

Most fans look for big, great-looking guys who can do phenomenal things [Jeff Garcia grinning fabulously and nodding...giggling].  What Ingram has going for him is the lack of depth at the tight end position.  I mean, he's got to beat out Matt Schobel to make the roster.  That guy is a human suckfest.  I heard Football Outsiders just invented a metric that concluded Schobel could surpass Reno Mahe as the most worthless player to continually make an NFL roster over a four year period.  Too bad Mahe made the team for FIVE years in a row (sigh).

So yeah, Ingram is the leader in the clubhouse.  The major criticism of Ingram is his blocking resume.  Ingram was rarely asked to block at Florida and given his pedigree as a receiving tight end, he'll likely need work at the NFL level.  Is everyone ready for the following stories from the local beat men come August:

"Ingram out to prove his blocking prowess" - Phil Sheridan

"Pass catching not a problem for Ingram, but blocking may need work" - Paul Domowitch

"Cornelius Ingram, the Anthony Munoz of tight ends" - Dave Spadaro

But blocking aside, there is the little reported, but insanely intriguing skill set that Cornelius Ingram is keeping from us - his history behind center.

Cornelius Ingram came to Florida as 2004's 3^rd best quarterback recruit in the nation and the 3^rd best athlete in general.  Some propaganda from Ingram's high school coach that could make Dave Spadaro blush:

"He's as physically talented a kid as I've seen in many, many years," Johnson said. "If you look at him right now, it's like a miniature Michael Vick, except he's not left-handed. That's what every coach winds up telling me.  He's a kid who is comfortable throwing the ball in the pocket. He can throw it 65 yards on the fly. He's got great presence about him. He can sense pressure and get himself out of trouble when the protection breaks down. He's such a big kid, he doesn't mind running with it."

Quarterback controversy!  Jack McCaffery (Delco Times) and Angelo Cataldi (Clowncar Inc.) opinion pieces reveal:

"Ingram should be the starting QB.  McNabb is a choke.  Kolb is a bust."

Or maybe just an insanely intriguing Wildcat option.  I contend that Andy Reid might run the first quadruple reverse pass in NFL history.  Empty backfield.  Trips left - Jackson outside, McCoy, Ingram in the slot, with Maclin on the outside right, Westbrook on his inside.  McNabb hands to Maclin who hands to McCoy who hands to Westbrook who hands to Ingram.  Ingram plants his back foot and throws the ball 65-yards in the air (across his body) to DeSean Jackson for the touchdown.  Don't worry about the blocking, the play only takes 42 seconds to develop, but that irrational exuberance is what drives the Training Camp Darling sweepstakes! 

Brandon Gibson - Wide Receiver - Odds: 4-1

Gibson is the very definition of a sleeper.  Going into his senior season, NFL Draft Scout had Gibson ranked as the 4^th best receiver, and 41^st best player overall in the 2009 draft.  His junior line was an impressive, 67 receptions for 1,180 yards, and 9 TDs.  Gibson decided to head back to Washington State as a senior to finish what he started.  Big mistake...biiiiiiggggggg mistake.  Four quarterbacks later, Gibson's senior line declined to a pedestrian 57 receptions for 673 yards, and 2 scores.  Ouch.  After reading his scouting report, Gibson seems comparable in size and physicality to someone like Jason Avant.  However, NFL Draft Scout had higher aspirations for the man:

Compares to: MUHSIN MUHAMMAD, Carolina -- Gibson has become a capable underneath receiver and like Muhammad, he relies on his weave and savvy, rather than explosion, to gain positive yardage after the catch. He shows good aggression battling for the ball in a crowd, but did struggle lined wide in the spread offense, making a slot position a better fit for him at the NFL level.

MOOOOOOSE!!!!!!

So just go ahead and project Gibson as a potential 10,000 yard, 60+ TD career wide receiver.  Now, I know the wide receiver corps is deeper than any we've seen during the Andrew Reid era, but that shouldn't temper any enthusiasm.  Once Gibson makes a couple one-handed acrobatic catches over third teamers Trae Williams and Dimitri Patterson, the Lehigh Valley hills will be alive with the sound of unrealistic expectation. 

Byron Parker - Safety - Odds: 6-1

Some background (most are already aware of Parker's basketball exploits - 2003 NCAA Slam Dunk Champion):

Parker has been in camps with Jacksonville (2004) and Dallas (2006) but has yet to make an NFL squad.  Up in french fry and gravy-land, Parker was smashing Canadian Football League records for interception return yardage (18 interceptions with 6 returned for TDs in 3 seasons).  Parker also reportedly runs a 4.3 40-yard dash, and has registered a 43-inch vertical leap.  In addition, the guy's got a phenomenal work ethic, exemplified by this quote in the official Philadelphia Eagles media guide (regarding his first job as a landscaper):

"Don't ever do that.  You have to wake up way too early in the morning!"

A real go-getter that Byron Parker.  Parker's vibrant history is a training camp writer's wet dream - thus coverage of the man will come hot and heavy (and sticky!) in early August.  Couple that advantage with the competition at the free safety spot and you just may have a TCD perfect storm.

Victor "Macho" Harris - Safety/Cornerback - Odds: 6-1

You think Byron Parker has an interesting back story?  Mere tedium compared to Macho Harris's times gone by.  While hosting Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer for a recruiting visit, a grease fire broke out in the Harris kitchen and Macho suffered 3^rd degree burns in his effort to put out the flames (Harris received skin grafts).  Ten days later on Christmas Day, Harris's mother collapsed and died after suffering a brain aneurism. 

Jesus.  You said it. 

Prep Star had Harris ranked as the 2^nd best college recruit in the country.  Rivals.com ranked him one spot lower at 3^rd.  Harris entered Virginia Tech as an "athlete" and made his mark as a defensive back and kick returner.  Once Harris cracked the starting lineup as a sophomore he never looked back.  Harris registered 4 interceptions in 06', 5 interceptions in 07', and 6 interceptions in 08'.  Of those 15 picks, Harris returned 4 of them for touchdowns.  Add a 100-yard kickoff return to the mix and you've got one of the biggest playmakers in the 2009 draft. 

So the knock on Macho is that his timed speed is a tad slow and he's defensive back without a true position (safety or corner?).  Who cares!  Harris is a football player dammit!  Given his history as a playmaker and a fierce hitter, Harris has a fighting chance to capture the imagination of the collective mind at Lehigh. 

Josh Gaines - Defensive End - Odds: 10-1

Gaines went to Penn State.  Homers unite!