Confession time. 

Back in 2009, I had my heart set on the Eagles drafting a wide receiver in the first round.  As the round unfolded, things broke in a way where it looked like I would get my wish.  Then, all of a sudden, the Eagles made a trade.  They moved up a few spots and did take a wide receiver - Jeremy Maclin.  The guy I wanted was Hakeem Nicks.  I was both excited and disappointed at the same time. 

The problem with Maclin is that I anticipated him being a Top 10 pick.  I did a very casual study of him prior to the draft.  I never considered him a serious target for the Eagles.  I spent all my time looking for players at the bottom of the first round, not top 10 guys.  I watched Nicks over and over.  He was going to be on the board when the Eagles picked.  Heck, they could even trade back and get him.  He would be a natural complement to DeSean Jackson.  It all made so much sense, but Maclin "ruined" my plans. 

If you go back to my post-draft columns from 2009, I was warning people to be patient with Maclin.  He only played two years at Missouri and was coming out of a spread offense.  I figured Maclin would contribute as a returner right away, but would take some time to develop as a receiver.  Boy, was I wrong. 

One of the points that Andy Reid made about Maclin on draft day was how smart he was.  The Eagles knew Maclin needed to learn a lot to adapt to the pro game, but they believed he would learn quickly.  Maclin was intelligent, coachable and hard working.  That's a great combination to have in a young player.  Maclin earned a starting role in his rookie year and had 56 catches. 

Fast forward to the current day and I think you can make a strong argument that Maclin is the Eagles' best receiver.  He's having a great season right now.  Maclin is on pace to catch 99 passes for 1,304 yards and eight touchdowns.  No Eagles wideout has ever caught 90 passes, let alone 99.  In 2003, Todd Pinkston and James Thrash combined for 85 catches. 

So what's the scouting report on Maclin?  He's developed into a complete receiver.  He runs crisp routes.  You see Mike Vick hitting Maclin with quick throws on some three-step drops.  Those routes require good timing.  The receiver needs to be at a certain spot.  Maclin gets to the correct spot and gets his body in position to make the catch.  This isn't always limited to short passes.  Vick hit Maclin with a deep ball in the second half of the Redskins game.  The pass was underthrown just a bit.  Maclin didn't stop and wait for it.  He slowed down and then made a good play on the ball.  He adjusted his route to the ball. 

Maclin has good hands.  Jason Avant has the best hands on the team, but Maclin is right after him.  He did have the terrible drop on fourth down in the Atlanta game, but that's an anomaly.  Most of the time when the ball gets to Maclin's hands, he catches it.  He's got the ability to pluck the ball away from his body.  When he's in traffic, Maclin can use his body to help him make the grab. 

Tommy Lawlor, goeagles99 on the Discussion Boards, is an amateur football scout and devoted Eagles fan. He was a finalist for Philadelphia's Most Influential Blogger Award and is the Editor of IgglesBlitz.com

Maclin can be a "move-the-chains guy" when the Eagles need that, but he is also a playmaker.  He caught deep balls against Atlanta and Washington.  I think his run-after-catch (RAC) skills have really developed this year.  The best example is the receiver screen that he caught in the Atlanta game and then ran 36 yards for a touchdown.  Maclin is both fast and elusive. 

Jackson is still the fastest and more explosive of the duo, but Maclin has shown the ability to be the big-play guy when called upon.  He delivered multiple big plays as a rookie against Tampa.  Maclin had an impressive long touchdown grab last year in the Monday night demolition of the Redskins.  He also had an 83-yard touchdown catch against the Falcons last year after Jackson had been knocked out of the game. 

Maclin is developing nicely as a red zone target.  He caught 10 touchdowns last year, several of them coming in the red zone.  Two of his three touchdowns this year have been in the red zone.  That's an area where Maclin must continue to work.  Truly great receivers must consistently deliver in that area of the field. 

LeSean McCoy can attest to the fact that Maclin has become a good blocker.  You don't break off as many long runs as McCoy does without downfield blockers.  Maclin isn't Hines Ward or Plaxico Burress.  He doesn't physically manhandle defenders.  He also doesn't run around throwing himself into defenders like a human bowling ball.  Maclin is more subtle.  Style isn't important in blocking.  Effort and results are.  Maclin tries hard and he occupies defenders long enough for McCoy to get upfield and do his thing. 

It is pretty amazing that I can get this far into the piece without even bringing up Maclin's off-season health scare.  Maclin lost weight and then missed all of training camp.  He worked hard to get back into shape and hit the ground running.  Now he's on pace to have his best year and one of the greatest seasons ever by an Eagles wide receiver.  Kudos to Maclin for overcoming some tough circumstances and playing the way he has. 

One of the things I like most about Maclin is that he's not the typical diva wide receiver.  Terrell Owens was fun in 2004, but his act quickly wore thin.  You read about Jets receivers complaining about not getting enough touches and even being critical of the offensive line.  The Cowboys love Dez Bryant on the field, but have had to deal with several off-the-field issues.  Maclin isn't like any of these guys.  He's a star receiver, but without the baggage. 

I've said a lot of great things about Maclin and he deserves all the credit in the world, but we have to deal with the bad as well.  Maclin has a couple of big-time mistakes this year.  He dropped a fourth down pass late in the Atlanta game as the Eagles were moving into the red zone.  He also lost a fumble late in the Niners game, when the Eagles were just about in field goal range.  If Maclin holds onto the ball on those plays, the Eagles might very well win those games.  This team could be 4-2 instead of 2-4.  Maclin didn't make the plays and that's something that will motivate him well into the future.  He did make some crucial catches in the Redskins game that helped the Eagles to victory.  Reid and Vick still have complete trust in him. 

What is Maclin's ceiling?  That's the question that intrigues me most.  I'm not sure that he can become an elite receiver like Andre Johnson or Calvin Johnson.  Those guys are huge, as well as athletic and skilled.  I see Maclin as a Reggie Wayne type.  They have similar size, speed and skills.  Maclin should be thrilled if he can come close to the numbers that Wayne has put up in his career. 

I was truly shocked when the Eagles got Maclin back in 2009.  As it turns out, that was a great pick.  He has two good years already under his belt and is putting up big numbers this year.  If the offense ever gets going at full speed this year, watch out. 

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