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Why Marcus Smith is Super

Eagles need a Smith to make the Super Bowl, and now they have one.

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2013, file photo, Louisville defensive end Marcus Smith (91) sacks South Florida quarterback Bobby Eveld (13) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Tampa, Fla. Smith was selected in the first round, 26th overall, by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL draft on Thursday, May 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2013, file photo, Louisville defensive end Marcus Smith (91) sacks South Florida quarterback Bobby Eveld (13) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Tampa, Fla. Smith was selected in the first round, 26th overall, by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL draft on Thursday, May 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)Read more
    by By Bob Vetrone Jr., Daily News
    Published 

I THOUGHT the staff here at BoopStats would be happy when I woke them yesterday morning and told them the Eagles, late in the first round, had drafted a guy who had thrown for 1,800 yards and 14 touchdowns and ran for another four scores . . . but I guess they just weren't as impressed with Marcus Smith's high school stats as I was.

They also weren't impressed that he went up from 211 pounds in 2010 to 255 pounds for the 2011 fall semester at Louisville after being asked to bulk up for defense. But I can understand not being excited about that . . . I've done that myself three times already this year.

But there were two things that did get our staff excited about the pick.

The selection of Smith (a 6-3 linebacker, defensive end, pass-rushing specialist, former quarterback) doubles the number of Smiths on the Eagles' roster, joining Brad, a veteran wide receiver. And that becomes important when we tell you that each of the Eagles' Super Bowl teams had a Smith on it (Charles in 1981; L.J. in 2005).

And the consensus most important thing our staff determined about Marcus Smith?

He's not a fireman.

Here are some other quick stats that caught our attention recently . . .

* Blake Bortles, the No. 3 pick in the first round, chosen by Jacksonville, threw for a career-high 404 yards and four touchdowns when Central Florida played Temple at Lincoln Financial Field last November. Wanna take a wild guess at which NFL stadium the Jaguars will open their 2014 campaign?

* Did anyone else of an advanced age find it funny that the first 18 picks of the NFL draft included a Clowney, a Martin and a Pryor.

* After being belted around by the Blue Jays' bats this week, the Phillies entered their series in New York this weekend having been out-homered 40-24.

* The Phillies' 10-0 loss last Saturday was their third by that exact score in less than a calendar year.

* The Rockies went 21-for-42 with runners in scoring position in the first three games of their four-game home and home series against the Rangers last week.