Thou Shall Not Covet
Posted: December 10th, 2011 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 28 Comments »Except this one time.
While watching tape of Miami the other day I noticed Jason Taylor on a couple of plays. He’s not what he used to be, but he’s still got a bit left in the tank. Jason has 4 sacks and a FF so far this year. Not bad for a 59 year old situational rusher. Okay, he’s only 37.
For years, Jason was my favorite non-Eagle. I remember watching him in the Blue-Gray game on Christmas day 1996. He was super tall and lanky, but this kid from Toledo just dominated. I’d never heard of him before that day, but haven’t forgotten him since. Classy guy, productive player. The Eagles have had a lot of good pass rushers over the years, but not in a long time have we had anyone that was a tall guy. I’m sure that’s part of what made me like him. I also appreciated the fact that Jason played on some awful Dolphins teams, but always played hard. He respected the game of football. I wish more guys did that.
I never got to see Jason play for the Eagles. Always wanted that, but it never worked out. So…who today would be a player I covet? Because of our situation I’d love a LB. The top of my list is Patrick Willis. Love watching him play. Someday the Eagles will have another star LB. Some day…
Maybe more interesting…here are some non-stars around the league that I covet:
* WR Lance Moore – Saints – So, so underrated. Can be a RS. Great slot receiver. Effective starter. Has 28 TD catches on 233 career receptions. DeSean has 19 TDs on 214 career receptions. Lance is all of 5’9, 190. He just gets the job done. Imagine if Jason Avant had speed and athletic ability.
* DB D.J. Moore – Bears – Slot DB. Has 7 INTs over the last 2 years. Broke up 14 passes. Just has a nose for the ball and making things happen. Joselio “MmmBop” Hanson is good, but Moore is better…and a playmaker.
* DE Kroy Biermann – Falcons – He’s only got 1 sack this year, but has been an effective situational rusher in the past. Great motor. I have always enjoyed watching him play.
* S Ryan Clark – Steelers – I was a big fan of his coming out of LSU. He spent time with NYG and WAS. Ryan wasn’t great, but always impressed me. He went to Pittsburgh and over time became a good player. Tough as nails. I think Kurt Coleman has the potential to develop into a player like Clark. Ryan was never a great athlete, but after a few years he became smart enough to anticipate plays and that made up for his lack of top physical skills.
* RB Frank Gore – Niners – I’m not sure if he’s truly a star. Only has 1 year with more than 1120 yards and 1 year with more than 8 TDs. The reason I love Frank is that I’ve thought for a while he’s the most physical runner in the league. He punishes tacklers. Violent runner. You see this from other guys (Marshawn Lynch, Brandon Jacobs) at times, but not consistently. Gore finishes his runs. Very, very tough to bring down. The Eagles haven’t had a guy like him in a long, long time. Heath Sherman?
I used to want smaller, athletic OL. The Eagles answered that this year. One rival player I love is Justin Tuck. I wish we had a guy like him, in terms of size, skill set, and “it”.
So which players do you guys covet?
Corey Graham, Bears.
Any special reason?
Colt Anderson is 2nd best STer in the league, Graham is #1. Underrated, doesn’t miss tackles, playmaker on ST. Always notice him when I watch the Bears play.
T.J. Ward, safety from the Browns. He’s a young guy with a ton of potential that makes plays and can deliver some hits. He gets overshadowed by Joe Haden, but I think he could be amazing on a good team.
Being from the DC area, I’ve seen quite a bit of the Skins.
London Fletcher and Mike Sellers were always at the top of my wishlist. They both had that mentality that they would do anything just to play.
Another is Jim Leonard of the Jets. Guy is always around the football and returns punts. Loved him in Baltimore.
Really like Jim Leonard myself….aslo like the corner from ATL- Brent Grimes…very good ball skills and plays much bigger than his size…pesky corner. 1 last player is Kam Chancellor from SEA…big big hitter and is rounding into a decent cover saftey as well but mostly he’s physical and has great range
Great topic. Tons of food for thought. I’d have to marinade on this one for awhile to produce a legitimate answer.
But off the top of my head? As far as ‘stars’ go: Rob Gronkowski, Jahri Evans, Haloti Ngata, Larry Timmons, Calvin Johnson, Justin Smith, Jimmy Graham, Eric Weddle…
Slightly more under the radar? Lamarr Houston, Patrick Peterson, Mike Tolbert, Jonathan Stewart, Brandon Flowers… drawing a blank, I know there’s quite a few more.
Again, great topic. I’ll have to revisit this with a fresh mind tomorrow.
Even though he’s past his prime, London Fletcher
I’ve always liked Steve Smith (Carolina). Plays angry and wants it more than the other guy.
You know, before this season I probably would have said Steve Smith of the Giants, I always thought he was a superb route runner and really tough to defend out of the slot, but now… well… you know…
Jason Witten – stud TE. I’m still bewildered how we let him slip away
Ed Reed – obvious reasons
Hakeem Nicks – I do like Jeremy and I think he will have a great career, but I wanted Nicks over him. I watched him play a bit at UNC and he was always outstanding.
Haloti Ngata.
Brent Grimes and John Kuhn
Kuhn is a good one. Quality role player.
I’m a huge Jason Taylor fan! The year he won the NFL defensive player of the year, he beat the Jets single handedly at NY. He had a strip sack, recoverd the ball for a TD, ran back an interception for a TD and blocked a field goal. Probably the only NFL game I ever saw won by defensive player strickly with his own production. I believe the score was 17-3 fins.
Right now the player I admire the most is Yeremiah Bell the FS for the dolphins. He was a low round draft choice who really worked hard at becoming the great player he is now. He is older now and a unknown outside Miami, but boy does he play the game right.
Another Miami player was Wes Welker. I still can’t believe Parcells could not see what a special player he was. The Patriots stole him for peanuts.
My favorite NFC east player by far is London Fletcher. He too is older now but I would have loved for him to have had his career here in Philly. He would have been worshiped here.
Now that TO can’t pay his child support, and I know it was just as much on the FO as it was on him, had things worked out he would have been a Philly hero for life also.
My thoughts on that situation was always this.
Banner : “TO you get us to the SB and we will tear up your contract”
TO : “we made the SB”
Banner : “yea, but you were injured for the playoffs so you really didn’t get us there”
TO : “FU banner pay me like you said you would”
Banner : “do it again and we will pay you”
TO: “yea sure I can trust you”
Now, more than anything, I want a Defensive Coordinator that understands you cannot let mediocre NFL quarterbacks establish a rhythm.
Robert Griffith III!! Nuff said. As far as the current players…Lance Briggs, non stop motor. Jordy Nelson, always makes the plays when the packers need one. Megatron. Do I need to say why?
And obviously Navarro Bowman and Sean Lee!!! They are sooooo dreamy.
On a side note, is Jeremy Machlin made of glass? It seems every year he’s out 2-4 games with a stub here or there. If we get top 5 in the picks tommy and you were roseman, do u go stud receiver, or RGIII assuming they are both on the board. I would take RGIII. He seems like a very unique talent and a Dream QB for the eagles O. Seems like a combination of Rodgers and Vick. Great deep ball, accurate, can run or stay in the pocket
Brian Dawkins.
Tom Brady?
Suggs, reminds me of dawkins with the desire to punish receiver/qb during a tackle, but seems to rarely get penalized for illegal hits. Plays hard every play.
Players aside… I really covet a bright young mind at defensive coordinator
London Fletcher is my first choice. Dude just seems to get better with age. Just when I tell my deadskins loving girlfriend that he is washed up, he makes the pro bowl. Also last I checked he is ranked near the top in the league in tackles….
My number two would be Aaron Hernandez of the Pats. Very, very few tight ends can run routes as good if not better than wide receivers
Always loved Tony Gonzalez; when the Falcons traded for him it was rumored we were in the mix. I think the FO thought he was done. Guess not.
I’ll go with some guys that’ll be free agents this upcoming season:
Mario Manningham, Jason Jones and Curtis Lofton.
Vic Fangio, Spags, Mike Zimmer or Juan to learn how to make 1/2 time adjustments and teach coverages. (I did like the crazy 2 down lineman blitz today. )
Johnathan Vilma, Jon Beason, Scott Fujita or any other LB that could help.
DE that play the run on the way to the QB (unlike turnstile Babin)
I also like Antonio Brown, Randall Cobb, Greg Little, possibly Hakeem Nicks (plays for the enemy).
Brian Dawkins, Duce Staley, Willie T. , T. Vincent, even Trot at this point…. to lead this spineless pack of talented losers.
a 50/50 pass/run ratio?
I agree with Fletcher – by playing in the NFC, you notice how good he was/is.
Briggs is another gut I agree with. These are two very good playersm and role models.
D Ware – I think he is a little over-rated (I’m suspicious of 3-4 OLBs as they spend a lot more time over the TE than a 4-3 DE – plus he is somewhat one-dimensional. BUT………he is very good at what he does, plus he is a stand-up guy.
Andre Johnson – exactly what the eagles miss/have missed at WR for eons (bar the 20 games TO gave us). PLUS, I love the Whupping he gave to Finnegan – I believe that he did it for the fans of all 31 frnachises (bar the Titans, of course)!.
A Rodgers – Comes across as a good guy, hard not to like him. Plus he put up with 3 years under the GB fromt office and Favre.
Love this thread…one guy I have always LOVED is Terrell Suggs…the guy is just an absolute animal. Goes hunting every single play, and can single handedly change games. I also love what Tamba Hali has done since he got to the league.
An under the radar guy Jarret Johnson for the Ravens as well. Extremely hard working, tough player.
Late on this Tommy. How about David Akers, he has never spent a injury free season on a losing team.