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McDermott helped get Josh Norman drafted


Mr. Scot

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Tidbit from an article about next year's head coaching prospects (link)
 

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But here’s what makes McDermott truly unique: Among current head coaches, if hired, McDermott would be the only one who entered the league through the scouting department. After working as a graduate assistant at William and Mary for a season, McDermott landed a job in Philadelphia (where he would eventually supplant Jim Johnson as defensive coordinator) as a scouting administrative coordinator.

“It was so valuable, just learning what Jim and Andy (Reid) looked for in players,” McDermott said this week by phone. “I didn’t know it at the time but I know it now—not everybody is fortunate to have those type of mentors at an early age.”

Twelve years later, McDermott’s eye on the scouting process may have landed Carolina a perennial Top 5 cornerback in the NFL. Josh Norman, NFL combine snub out of Coastal Carolina, made a name for himself with a spirited, borderline desperate East-West Shrine Game week in 2012.

“He was obnoxious, and flamboyant, and doing too much on the practice field,” one personnel man told The MMQB. “Honestly, it turned a lot of people off to him.”

But McDermott was poring through defensive back practice tape and noticed Norman do something odd in a one-on-one. After an incomplete pass fell short, Norman reached out and effortlessly snagged the wobbling grounder with one hand. Four months later, the Panthers took him in the fifth round, ahead of All-American Alabama cornerback DeQuan Menzie (who is now out of the league). Four seasons later, and Norman is one of the top-rated corners in the NFL.

“At that point in the draft you’re looking for redeemable qualities,” McDermott says, “and we felt he just hadn’t been exposed to some of the things players at higher levels had, but he was capable. Just from the way he played that ball, you could tell he had ball skills. We liked the length and the way he carried himself. Credit to the coaches and to Josh for where he is now as a player.”

 

 

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33 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Probably.

But if he doesn't get tagged, yeah that could happen.

What is the Eagles cap situation? They just spent their asses off last offseason. I know it's almost always doable to some extent. But they really spent some coin in Murray and maxwell and fletcher cox is coming up (I think)

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2 hours ago, TheRumGone said:

What is the Eagles cap situation? They just spent their asses off last offseason. I know it's almost always doable to some extent. But they really spent some coin in Murray and maxwell and fletcher cox is coming up (I think)

Honestly haven't looked it up. I do know the Eagles have a history of being one of those teams thaf annually has plenty of cap room.

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2 hours ago, TheRumGone said:

What is the Eagles cap situation? They just spent their asses off last offseason. I know it's almost always doable to some extent. But they really spent some coin in Murray and maxwell and fletcher cox is coming up (I think)

Almost $18 million available. 

PS. But it looks like their only QB under contract is Sanchez

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