If you were one of many who wrote off Brandon Graham before the season started, he certainly heard you.
He's also doing a heck of a good job to change your mind.
After undergoing microfracture knee surgery in July of 2011, Graham played 3 games, and totaled just four tackles. Eagles fans, who watched their beloved team trade up to the number 13 selection only to pass on now Pro Bowlers Earl Thomas and Jason Pierre-Paul labeled him a bust, and many expected Graham to be cut during Training Camp.
Only one slight problem: he had no intentions of going anywhere.
Graham lived in the weight room this offseason, benching reps of up to five hundred pounds. When he came to Lehigh for Training Camp in July, he was looking and acting like a new man. He was well aware of the high standards set for him, and conscious that he could join the likes of Jerome McDougle and Broderick Bunkley as first round duds if he did not put in a stellar effort this Preseason.
With his back against the wall, the twenty-four year old delivered four outstanding performances. He registered 7 tackles to go with 3.5 sacks, good enough for 4th best among Defensive Linemen in the NFL. The third year Defensive End displayed lightning fast quickness off the snap of the ball, as well as the brute strength to throw Left Tackles around like rag dolls.
All of a sudden, the fear of Graham not panning out dissipated, and rushing in came potential through the roof. Even with a very deep rotation at Defensive End, the University of Michigan product was expected to be quite the difference maker. Yet through three weeks, we've rarely seen him on the field.
In Weeks 1 and 2, Graham saw the least amount of plays, just a combined 13 out of a possible 132 snaps, or just 9.8%. In Week 3 he saw an increase to 17 snaps (or 27%), yet starting LDE Jason Babin still controlled most of the snaps.
However, Graham was surpassed Philip Hunt as the team's second LDE, and in a crucial Week 4 matchup against division rival New York Giants, it may be time to unleash him. The man Graham will be lining up against will be Giants LT Will Beatty, who is entering his fourth season in New York. In 2011, Beatty was a massive liability, allowing 3.5 sacks (12.5% of the teams entire sack total), in just 10 games played. Although he has not allowed a sack this year, Beatty has not seen as balanced a pass as he will when the Giants travel to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
What makes Brandon Graham so special is that he plays like a carbon copy of Trent Cole. While Babin likes to work his way inside, Graham (like Cole) loves to work from the outside. Graham utilizes his speed and agility to work his way around the Left Tackle, effectively getting himself to the Quarterback. Although on the opposite side of the line, Trent Cole has proven for years that using his leverage to get around linemen is not only an effective way to get after the quarterback, but to force fumbles as well.
Beatty has played well, but at 6-6, 319 lbs., he lacks the mobility to shut down the motor of Brandon Graham. If the Eagles coaching staff want to give their former first round pick a chance to shine, there is no better place than under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football.
Jake Pavorsky is a Contributor for Eagledelphia. You can follow him on Twitter @JakePavorsky.
