Nice Mention of Austin Howard

[unidizzle]

Austin Howard, OT, (undrafted), Eagles
It's amazing that in a league that values tackles more than just about any other position on the field, the mammoth and quick Howard (6-7, 335 pounds) went undrafted. The Eagles have found a gem, all right, in this first season with Kevin Kolb as the full-time starter.
Howard, who played tight end his first two seasons at Division I-AA Northern Iowa, won't be in the starting lineup to open the season, but rest assured he'll get there. He's stepped in and been physical, quick and shown good hands in every practice and preseason game.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz0xkguWIw5

[4N6]

Re: Nice Mention of Austin Howard

Wow. Hard work pays off for Austin. Keep it up, Austin.

[Blue42]

Re: Nice Mention of Austin Howard

Really makes you wonder why no one used a draft pick on him.

Think of all the stiffs that got picked ahead of this guy, who'll likely be starting on a solid team in his rookie season.

I thought NFL teams spent a fortune on scouting?

[Hail Our Panthers]

Re: Nice Mention of Austin Howard

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/TastyKakeStory.asp?story_id=21119

Can Howard Be The Next Jason Peters?

May 23, 2010 | Last Updated: 5/23/10 8:32 PM ET | Comments (2)

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He was a tight end in college. He was not drafted. He became a left tackle. He's now a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

Yes, that's Jason Peters.

He, too, was a tight end in college. He, too, became a left tackle. He, too, was not drafted. No, he's not a Pro Bowl selection.

That is, not yet, at least.

Following in the footsteps of Peters wouldn't be bad for former Northern Iowa offensive tackle Austin Howard, a rookie free agent who got the chance to step in during the post-draft mini-camp and play left tackle on the second team.

""You know getting a chance to prove yourself, for me, I really want to step up to the task," Howard said. "With good athletes on the field I know what the coaches expect and Coach (Juan) Castillo did an awesome job making sure enough of the plays and these practices are about getting the technique down."

Primarily used as a blocking tight end, Howard started all 13 games in 2007 and caught five passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. He was moved to left tackle the following season and earned second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. In 2009, he was named to the American Football Coaches Association's All-American team.

And there he was at the post-draft mini-camp, helping protect another three-time Pro Bowl selection in Michael Vick.

"At first, you're star struck. Michael Vick. Quarterback. That's awesome, but out here he's just another one of the guys," Howard said. "He helps out as much as he can. He's been a really big help."

Rookie free agents have thrived in Philadelphia. Center Jamaal Jackson was once a rookie free agent. Pro Bowl strong safety Quintin Mikell and linebacker Akeem Jordan are just two other examples of players who somehow were lost in the draft process.

Howard is still raw, but in the hands of Castillo could help push to become a valuable backup as a rookie. And who knows? Maybe he will follow in the footsteps of Peters one day down the line.

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 8:30 p.m., May 23

[SteinPizza]

Re: Nice Mention of Austin Howard

I thought NFL teams spent a fortune on scouting?

They do. They also hold non FBS players to a higher standard, in the sense that they need to dominate lesser competition to be compared to their FBS peers. This is also true of MAC type players as well.

Didn't Austin give up a couple sacks in conference play last year? If so, there's probably a big part of the reason. Keep in mind though, that NFL teams take the undrafted free agent signings pretty seriously. One of the big reasons they pay scouts is to find those players, along with their later round draft picks.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: Nice Mention of Austin Howard

They do. They also hold non FBS players to a higher standard, in the sense that they need to dominate lesser competition to be compared to their FBS peers. This is also true of MAC type players as well.

Didn't Austin give up a couple sacks in conference play last year? If so, there's probably a big part of the reason. Keep in mind though, that NFL teams take the undrafted free agent signings pretty seriously. One of the big reasons they pay scouts is to find those players, along with their later round draft picks.

So much of scouting is a crap shoot. Yes, they spend a lot of money on it, and spend a lot of time with formulas and tests and comparison numbers, etc. Doesn't make it any more of a certainty.

That's how you get a Ryan Leaf as 1st Rounder and Tom Brady in the 5th/6th. And there's as many Pro-Bowlers and Hall of Famers in the middle rounds as there is in the first.

If NFL teams are holding non-BcS players to a higher standard than they are stupid and I don't buy it. They're looking at size, speed, other intangibles-regardless of where you play. Otherwise you are saying that Iowa State, Baylor, Washington State, etc. players are all rated (assumed) automatically higher than a player from UNI, Montana, etc.

As for Austin, he fell into a great situation by not being drafted. It allowed him to move to a team where he fits better and may have a better chance to stick.

[casbern]

Re: Nice Mention of Austin Howard

If NFL teams are holding non-BcS players to a higher standard than they are stupid and I don't buy it. .

[UNIGUY]

Re: Nice Mention of Austin Howard

Here is a great interview of Austin Howard! The commercial before the interview isn't bad either.

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/mu...63&play_clip=Y