Saturday Night Stuff

Posted: August 6th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 35 Comments »

Quick hitters that are bouncing around in my mind, which is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.  If you don’t know that means, go ask Hedley Lamarr.

* Chris McPherson interviewed Darryl Tapp today and got an interesting quote out of him.  Tapp said that last year the Eagles had times when  “Our minds tangled up our legs”.  Brilliantly put.  You can’t play fast if you are thinking too much.  Juan Casillo has simplified things and the defense is playing great right now.  Can’t wait to see them in action.

* Reuben Frank noted on Twitter that Jamar Chaney looks like a stud this year.  Maybe Chaney is meant to play SAM.  Maybe the simple scheme is bringing out the best.

* The Eagles have mixed in plenty of blitzing in the practice clips I’ve seen.  Some were worried about that back in the spring.

* Fenuki Tupou saw some reps as the #1 RT.  I don’t know what to make of that.  Very confusing.  Ryan Harris saw a bunch of time with the 1’s today.  He looked solid in the clips I saw.  Did get beat once by an inside move.

* DT Cullen Jenkins seems to be the real deal.  He’s played real well in the last couple of days.

* Don’t overlook Clay Harbor at TE.  I hear Donald Lee talked about a lot, but I’ve got Harbor over him so far.  Clay could be a breakout player to watch.

* I wasn’t particularly impressed with WR Terrance Turner when studying him for the draft, but he definitely has shown NFL potential at Lehigh.  He’s no threat for the roster, but it’s interesting to see how much better he looks in an NFL offense than he did at IU.

* I also like what I’ve seen from Gerald Jones and DeAndre Brown.  These guys need good preseason games in order to push for a Practice Squad spot.  None of them is pushing for the roster.

* Dave Spadaro made an interesting observation.  He said he’s noticed Daniel Te’o-Nesheim in the last couple of days.  Teo played LDE early on, but has since gotten snaps at RDE and played better.  Something to look for when he’s in games.

* Greg Cosell of NFL Films was at Lehigh on Saturday.  He shared some good insights on Eagles Live.  Worthwhile watch.

* Vince Young is very up and down in practice so far.  Remember that last summer Mike Vick was flat out struggling at times.  Young can still make things happen in a live game situation.

* Mike Kafka seems like a better player.  He was very streaky last summer.  We need to see better consistency from him.  It would also be good to know if he looks like a #2 QB or still a project and #3.

35 Comments on “Saturday Night Stuff”

  1. 1 Eric said at 5:43 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    Tommy,

    Non-Eagles related question. Do you think the Panthers did can play well this year with McDermott? Do you think a lot of these comments from former players and colleagues has made him simplify his defense as well?

  2. 2 Tommy Lawlor said at 5:56 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    McD’s system can work with the right players. We had some good games.

    He has a good set of LBs in Carolina. That will help. Not sure if the CBs are physical.

    I wish him well. Sean’s a good guy. He just was the wrong fit for replacing JJ.

  3. 3 theguyotc said at 6:12 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    Is it possible McD realized there were issues all over last year’s D (lack of talent and youth/inexperience) and decided to try and cover it up with schemes and trickery? Castillo is supposedly simplifying things, but that’s easier to do when you’ve got actual talented and experienced players.

    Unrelated question, if you had to pick your biggest concern about this team, what would it be? I realize it’s incredibly early, but all the excitement naturally makes me go to a worry place.

    My list, in no particular order: injuries, offensive line, defensive line, injuries, LB, safeties, injuries, and cutting down some of the promising young guys.

  4. 4 piercit said at 6:17 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    I think McD tried to do too much with too little. No doubt he has coaching talent. However the talent just wasn’t here last year. No coach can cover wideouts.

    I was really hoping that some of the players would have stepped up last year and backed him up. Just wasn’t to be. You can’t fire all the players, so you have to move on from the coach. I think Sean is going to be a success. Just needs the right situation. Good luck to him for sure.

  5. 5 Jeppe said at 6:18 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    Can anyone please explain me the difference between a possesion receiver and a true number one receiver?

  6. 6 Tommy Lawlor said at 6:22 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    A “#1 WR” is a player that can catch 80-100 passes, move the chains regularly, deliver big plays, be effective in the Red Zone, and handle all types of coverage. He can truly do it all.

    A possession receiver is simply someone who is very productive. Knows how to get open and has good hands. Not a playmaker. Not dangerous with the ball in his hands.

  7. 7 Jeppe said at 6:29 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    Thanks Tommy
    So, would that make Avant a possesion receiver and Maclin our number one?? What would you call D. Jackson? Does his kind of player have a football term at all other than explosive weapon? 😉

  8. 8 Jason-E said at 6:32 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    “Quick hitters that are bouncing around in my mind, which is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.”

    Ditto

  9. 9 Tommy Lawlor said at 6:35 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    @ Jason…

    Well played, sir.

  10. 10 Tommy Lawlor said at 6:36 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    @ Jeppe

    Avant – possession

    DJax – defies description

    Maclin – right now I’d call him a 1A type…not exactly a true #1, but he might get there … has that kind of potential

  11. 11 kyle said at 6:55 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    Tommy,

    If Maclin is unable to start the season would you put Cooper opposite of Djax, and keep Avant in the slot seeing that is where he is most effective?

  12. 12 Cliff said at 6:55 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    Tommy, I can’t wait to order a copy of the Eagles Annual and read what you’ve written up for us. Congratulations on being part of something like this. I’m sure you could put out a whole magazine of your own stuff if you had the means.

  13. 13 jrob said at 6:56 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    Love your insight, Tommy. And you sure do use your tongue prettier than a twenty dollar whore.

  14. 14 Tommy Lawlor said at 7:00 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    @ Kyle…

    You would mix in Cooper and Avant. Jason doesn’t have the speed to be a real threat outside, but he’s a great route runner and could be effective at times. Cooper is a player on the rise.

    @ jrob…

    That’s as good a compliment as you can give. Glad to see we’ve got another BS fan here. For my money, that’s the funniest movie ever made.

  15. 15 Jason-E said at 7:01 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    Andy should just work up a #6 on everybody this season.

  16. 16 CVD said at 7:17 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    maybe reid figured our offence should score a ton of points and since we should be ahead in most games he wanted a more basic defense. put great players on defense and let them just play fast.

    sean mac might have had lots of ideas and crazy schemes and didnt want to run a basic defense. if u r gonna run a basic defense i would this castillo would be pretty good just because he seems like a great coach as far as fundamentals and all that, we will see what happens game day though

    my biggest concern for the birds is RT, Maclin and the Henry boys. i got a feeling our linbackers will be pretty good and i love our dline. i am real happy with saftey as long as Nate Allen is 100%

  17. 17 ChrisOG said at 9:50 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    Mongo only pawn in game of life.

    Anything on Nate’s Knee? Hopefully they were just giving him a break as a precaution today.

  18. 18 VR said at 10:04 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    What, we’re talking about Blazing Saddles, and no one had mentioned what is, without a doubt, the funniest damn scene in the movie, if not in the history of the entire universe?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upvZdVK913I

    (NSFW due to use of racial slurs)

  19. 19 CVD said at 10:10 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    tommy

    last year i remember reading about keenan clayton and how andy wasnt happy with the way he practiced and it seemed as though he wasnt giving his all. and keenan’s response was that he had the same problem in college but he borught it on gameday. im sure i am not remembering it exactly the way i read it but it was along those lines.

    did u hear anything like that and anything noticed on him this year?

    i feel like he could be really good in our nickle package but i havent even heard his name mentioned yet. last year in the jets preseason game he got action and looked good (against bad competition but still)

  20. 20 D3Keith said at 10:50 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    I’ve got Clay Harbor as this year’s Antonio Dixon. Guy who goes from barely mentioned to respected among Eagles heads

    Phyisically he looks like a player. Hope he puts it together.

  21. 21 D3Keith said at 10:57 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    And I can’t stand the terms “No. 1 WR” etc unless we’re talking fantasy. In NFL terms, it’s a fairly hollow qualifier that gets thrown around too often. Stuff like that takes the ace of saying what you really want to say directly.

    (takes off editor hat)

    My biggest worry on this team now is probably injuries, although the FA signings have given u solid backups at the spots we needed them most. Kickers don’t worry me that much, so I’ll say LBs maybe. Having a rotating cast where no one stands out?

  22. 22 Mel said at 11:04 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    RE: Blazing Saddles

    That movie was okay. Not great. Don’t understand why people praise it so much.

  23. 23 McG said at 11:43 PM on August 6th, 2011:

    here’s a link for Morton…

    http://www.nfl.com/trainingcamp/story/09000d5d82148f8c/article/giants-amukamara-out-indefinitely-after-breaking-bone-in-foot?module=HP11_headline_stack

  24. 24 Stephen said at 12:39 AM on August 7th, 2011:

    Wow, Giants in big trouble at TE, Kevin Boss signs in oakland, Ben Patrick retires, who the heck is left?

  25. 25 Salty Yam Bag said at 1:44 AM on August 7th, 2011:

    I hear LJ Smith is available.

  26. 26 Bernard Arnault said at 4:20 AM on August 7th, 2011:

    From what I’ve read it seems to me like DeAndre Brown has been somewhat impressive. His monster 6’6″ 240lb frame, coinciding with his 30 inch vertical and 4.6 40 time makes him a true red-zone threat..He has made some good plays in camp, but why is he not pushing for the 5th receiver spot?

  27. 27 Morton said at 7:35 AM on August 7th, 2011:

    Man, I wish B.Graham would heal up ahead of schedule.

    One of the #1 things I was looking forward to on the team as a whole this year (prior to his injury) was his progession in his second year.

    And they hired the perfect DL coach for him too. Argh, why is fate so fickle and cruel.

  28. 28 Cliff said at 8:24 AM on August 7th, 2011:

    Did any other NFC East team get better this off-season?

    The Cowboys get Tony Romo back, so I guess that counts for getting “better.” The Giants seem to be shedding players.

    The Redskins have probably done the most to improve their team, but with QB concerns (Beck? really?) and the Shanahan Family running the show I don’t have much faith in the Skins being a competitive team.

  29. 29 ppk said at 9:21 AM on August 7th, 2011:

    I can’t get my mind off of Maclin. He’s been sick since Spring, can’t practice, and is still be evaluated by docs. The Eagles have a lot of pieces in place to make a serious run into the Big Game (phrase not copyrighten, I hope), but the lack of an elite receiver, on a team that is pass-happy, could dash our hopes. Maclin and Vick showed strong chemistry last year, and Jeremy is a well-rounded wr. DeSean, as exciting as he is, is too one-dimensional and, as we saw last year, can be shut down. I like Cooper’s size but he’s yet to prove anything. Avante is strong, but only in his role.

    I dread the idea that, shades of McNabb, Andy is going to ask Vick to carry the offemse without a true stud to throw to.

  30. 30 Dan said at 9:41 AM on August 7th, 2011:

    I’m not really worried about the NFC East but you can’t overlook the Giants and the Cowboys.

    I’m still concerned about getting past GB and CHI. They still have a great pass rush and the players that can stop Mike Vick.

    What’s your sleeper team in the NFC this year? I say its the Lions.

  31. 31 Cliff said at 10:05 AM on August 7th, 2011:

    Detroit seems to be the consensus “sleeper” pick every season, though. Haha.

    Does Tampa Bay count? They were 10-6 last season, but showed their youth (coach and key players) in important situations that could’ve added more wins and possibly a Playoff berth. The game against ATL late in the season comes to mind.

    Nobody talks about him, but Josh Freeman had a pretty good season last year. He threw 61% and had a 25-6 TD/INT ratio. He also added 364 yards rushing. If Mike Williams continues to progress at WR, a good passing. attaching could help as Tampa Bay already has a strong rushing game in place.

    The only issue I see is the division. If Tampa Bay is to make a leap to the post-season, they need to beat the Saints and Falcons. Their division record was 3-3 last year, but 2 of those wins came against Carolina.

    So, my “sleeper” is Tampa Bay. I don’t think Atlanta will replicate its 13-3 record from last season and the door will be open for the Bucs to steal some wins within the South.

  32. 32 Matt D said at 10:13 AM on August 7th, 2011:

    Everything I’m reading sounds super positive about the defense. I haven’t gotten to see any practices, but I love what I’m hearing about simplifying things to take advantage of what each player does well (ie no Trent Cole dropping back in coverage, as many have pointed out).

    But one inconsistency keeps popping in my mind regarding Nnamdi. Because he is SO good of a cover corner, why mess around making him into Woodson? Why not let him do what he does well, just like letting Cole do his thing?

  33. 33 eagleizeit said at 12:09 PM on August 7th, 2011:

    I think the RT and K will be fine. Like I said b4 the draft they should of gotten Greg Little and worry about the Red Zone offense; they fell in love with Jarret too easily. The offense couldn’t put up 20+ points when the games mattered at the end(Minnesota and GB). Still no WR who could help get TD’s. If any of the starting LB’s, Nate Allen or Coleman get hurt they don’t seem to have a plan either now. Everyones probably going to just run the ball at us while our constipated offense will make some big plays and score a lot, or not, each week.

  34. 34 CVD said at 12:52 PM on August 7th, 2011:

    What’s your sleeper team in the NFC this year? I say its the Lions.
    ======================================

    i really like the lions too. but i think the rams could be a big surprise.

    bad divison helps. but main reason i think this is cuz it will be spags 2nd year with that defense and they hired one of the best O coordinators in the league.

    and cliff i agree about freeman, he looks like a stud in the making

  35. 35 Alex K said at 1:15 PM on August 7th, 2011:

    In keeping with the Mel Brooks theme, maybe we can start calling Sam “Count DeMoney” (pronounced “DeMonay”).