King For A Day
Posted: March 13th, 2012 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 90 Comments »Here is my plan for the Eagles offseason. This is what I would do if they put me in charge. The Eagles plan will be different because they don’t necessarily obsess on the same players that I do.
First, I’m not all that active in free agency. It occurred to me the other day that the last 2 Super Bowl winners were very quiet in FA in the year they actually won. Les Bowen wrote about this dynamic on Monday (great minds think alike, I guess). I think we need to learn from these teams. Stability and continuity are important. Sometimes you are better off letting the FAs and draft picks already on your roster develop and figure things out. I hate to do this, but Victor Cruz, Jake Ballard, and Chris Canty would be examples. Cruz was a preseason novelty until October of 2011 when it became clear we had to take him seriously. Ballard was good at TE. Canty had been a big signing back in 2009 that had somewhat disappointed. The Giants stuck with him and he had his best season for them.
The Eagles made a ton of moves last year. Those players are the real key to 2012, not the crop of FAs that will become available at 4pm on Tuesday. The rookies that have been piling up in recent years need to step up, from Riley Cooper to Mike Kafka to Jamar Chaney to Jaiquawn Jarrett. I don’t know that we have anyone like Cruz waiting to explode, but then again…this time last year Victor Cruz wasn’t “Victor Cruz”. He was more like Ron Johnson or Mardy Gilyard.
Now that I’ve warned you that my plan won’t be “sexy”, let’s get onto the moves.
* Re-Sign: LG Evan Mathis, DT Derek Landri
These moves should be self-explanatory. Mathis wants to test the market to find out his value. That’s okay. He’s allowed to do that. The Eagles are willing to pay him a decent deal, but if Mathis gets a big offer from some other team, he’s got to chase the cash. This is his one chance to get paid for life. I don’t blame him for seeing what’s out there. I don’t think he’ll get great offers so I’m hoping the Eagles either match what he finds or they simply work something out while he’s exploring the market.
Landri earned a spot last summer, but was cut. He came back a few weeks later and had a terrific season. He will look around to see what he’s worth. I hope we work something out.
Keep King Dunlap or Re-structure Winston Justice’s Deal
We need a veteran OT. D.J. Jones could be that guy, but I want us to keep one of the guys already here for at least one more year. Dunlap may get a starting gig from a desperate team. Justice won’t have serious suitors. Get him to take a pay cut and keep him around. That’s win-win for everyone.
* Sign a few UFAs
LB David Hawthorne — I would bring him here to be the starting SAM. Juan Castillo wanted someone that could cover and play the run. Hawthorne has 7 career INTs. He’s also led the Seahawks in tackles for 3 straight seasons. One of the key reasons I’m adding a veteran LB is for him to help develop the young LBs. They could benefit greatly from someone who can teach them the little things it takes to be successful.
Hawthorne is my only starter to be added. Beyond that we go for backups and role players.
WR Plaxico Burress — We need to have a better Red Zone passing offense. Plax is too old to regularly start and offer impact, but he would be our #1 RZ target instantly. He also could start for a game or two if DeSean or Maclin was hurt.
RB Justin Forsett — I’ve been a fan of his since Cal. The Eagles brought him to Philly for a pre-draft visit. He’s 5’8, 195. Has KOR ability and can catch the ball. Can carry 12 times one week and then just 2 the next game. Pure backup RB, but fits us.
G/C Jamey Richard — Okay, I’m not going to lie and tell you I’m an expert on Richard. I anticipate the Eagles letting go of Jamaal Jackson this year so he can find a job elsewhere and compete for a starting gig. We do need a veteran on the inside who can play G or C and who fits Howard Mudd’s system. Richard was picked by the Colts/Mudd back in 2008. He has 11 career starts. Goes 6-5, 295.
SS Gibril Wilson — Missed all of 2010 and started just once in 2011. Older player on the way down. Has a lot of experience and could step in right away to play if needed. Has the kind of experience and skill you want in an emergency option. He would be here in case of problems with the young guys. The real goal is for Kurt Coleman and Jaiquawn Jarrett to battle for the starting SS spot. Wilson would actually be the backup FS in practice/camps unless he was needed to be moved over to SS.
* Trades
The Eagles should deal Asante Samuel. My preference is to add a 2013 pick. The Eagles may need to draft QB early next year so adding an extra pick could help if the team needs to trade up. The target would be a 3rd round pick. In a fantasy world, you would get a 2013 2nd Rder.
* The Draft
1 – MLB Luke Kuechly – Boston College – 6’3, 242
2 – CB Brandon Boykin – Georgia – 5’9, 183
2 – DE Vinny Curry – Marshall – 6’3, 266
3 – DT Derek Wolfe – Cincinnati – 6’5, 295
4 – OT Nate Potter – Boise State – 6’6, 300
4 – WR Greg Childs – Arkansas – 6’3, 219
5 – QB Austin Davis – Southern Miss – 6’2, 219
6 – OG Desmond Wynn – Rutgers – 6’6, 303
6 – WR Keshawn Martin – Michigan State – 6’0, 188
6 – SS Jerron McMillian – Maine – 5’11, 203
Okay, so here’s the thinking. This is my draft, the players I really like. This is based on need, talent, fit, and realistic availability.
Kuechly is here to be the MLB. He is my favorite player in the draft. The last time the Eagles took my favorite player was 2001 when they got DE Derrick Burgess. Kuechly is a tackling machine and that is exactly what the Eagles need at MLB. He has great instincts and covers better than some people think. With a veteran beside him in Hawthorne and a returning starter in Rolle, Kuechly would have the kind of talent and stability to succeed.
Boykin is a slot corner, RS, and playmaker. The Eagles are set with starting CBs, but do need a better athlete on the inside. Wes Welker abused Joselio “MmmBop” Hanson. Experience only gets you so far. Boykin also is insurance in case talks break down with DRC on a contract and we need another option at LCB in 2013. Boykin played slot and outside at UGA. He’s also an explosive return guy. Good on punts, great on KOs.
I wanted to slot a DT to the Eagles at this pick. Unfortunately, there is no option I’m comfortable with. Nebraska star Jared Crick was only 6’4, 279 at the Combine and then had a pedestrian workout. That made me nervous. Curry didn’t exactly have a great Combine (ran slow), but I watched him a lot as a Senior and then saw him down in Mobile. He shows up big time on the football field. As a Senior he had 11 sacks and 7 FFs, plus 3 blocked kicks. I think he is tailor made for the Wide-9. He can fly off the edge. The thing that attracts me to him is that he sheds blocks well. Has a bit of violence to the way he plays. Not dirty, but rather very physically aggressive. I saw this in Aldon Smith last year and he lit it up for the Niners. Curry played some DT in Mobile and was unblockable on the inside with his quickness and the way he used his hands to fight off blockers. Jim Washburn loves high motor guys that are versatile and who get to the QB. Curry’s slow 40 time bugged me until I remember that Terrell Suggs ran a 4.85 or so when he was coming out. Game tape showed speed. That’s what NFL blockers and QBs have seen. Just not a track guy.
Derek Wolfe is one of my favorite players in the draft. He had a very good Senior season, finishing 4th in the nation with 21.5 TFLs (Curry finished 3rd). Wolfe had a good showing in Mobile, as he played both DE and DT. He then had a very good workout at the Combine and showed off his athleticism. Wolfe isn’t polished and that’s why I think some people still think of him as a 4th or 5th round player. He is big, fast, and athletic. I think he’s Top 100 material for sure. Would be an excellent under tackle for Washburn. Can also play DE if they want a big guy out there. Plus, he’s from Cincy (Cole, Celek, Kelce).
Potter has the size and skill to be a starting OT down the road. Played LT for Boise. He needs to get bigger and stronger. Has a good frame and held up well most of the time, but you could see in the game vs UGA this year that he needed work. SEC guys pushed him around at times. That can be worked on. Has good feet and is a solid athlete. Quality pass blocker. Should fit well in Howard Mudd’s system. Could play LT, RT, or maybe even G if needed.
Childs looked like a star in 2009 and early 2010, but then hurt his knee. Came back this year and struggled on the field. Back in ’09 he averaged 19 yards per catch and had 7 TDs. This year was just 21-240 with no scores. Part was due to him, part due to Arkansas being loaded with other star WRs. Childs had a good workout at the Combine and was even better at his Pro Day. Ran 4.55 with 36.5 VJ in Indy. Dropped a few pounds and then ran in the 4.4s and had a 41.5 VJ at the school. Has the frame to be a big WR, but the speed to be considered a downfield WR.
Davis just broke most of Brett Favre’s passing records. Davis started for 3 1/2 years. Nothing great about him, but does have NFL potential. You take him at this point and if he’s great, he makes the team. If not, he could be Practice Squad material. Any player taken before the 5th round almost has to make the roster. Eagles need someone to push Mike Kafka and Trent Edwards, but this is a garbage QB class. Don’t force the issue. Bring in a late guy with potential and see what happens. QB is key target in 2013 and that class should be much better.
Wynn was a DE and pass catching TE in high school. Went to Rutgers to play on the DL. Got moved early on to OL and ended up thriving there. Had some injury issues early in his career, but stayed pretty healthy his final 2 years. Pretty good athlete. Should be a solid fit in Mudd’s system. Not sure if he has any OT potential or is a pure G. Good frame.
Martin really grew on me this year as I watched tape. Excellent RAC ability. Good receiver, good runner, and good RS. MSU’s offense didn’t have much speed so they fed the ball to Martin when they needed explosive plays. Had a good workout at the Combine. Is only rated this low because it is such a deep group of WRs. Could play in the slot and be the RS.
McMillian is a good run defender. Think of him as a poor, poor man’s Bob Sanders. Not the biggest guy, but a downhill player who loves to attack RBs and blow them up. Good hitter and tackler. Okay in coverage. Could be good STer. Good showing at the Combine. Can impress and win a spot or head to the P-Squad.
The Eagles roster would look something like this after the moves. I’m listing out the top 70 or so players so you can see the potential roster battles.
WR – DeSean Jackson….Jason Avant ……….. Greg Childs ……….. Mardy Gilyard
WR – Jeremy Maclin …. Plaxico Burress ……… Riley Cooper …… Keshawn Martin
TE – Brent Celek ………Clay Harbor
FB – Stanley Havili
RB – LeSean McCoy …. Justin Forsett ……. Dion Lewis ………. Graig Cooper
QB – Mike Vick………… Mike Kafka ………. Trent Edwards …….. Austin Davis
LT – Jason Peters ……. Nate Potter
LG – Evan Mathis ……. Desmond Wynn ….. Dallas Reynolds
OC – Jason Kelce …….. Jamey Richard ….. Zane Taylor
RG – Danny Watkins ….. Julian Vandervelde
RT – Todd Herremans …. Winston Justice ….. DJ Jones
DE – Trent Cole ……….. Darryl Tapp ……… Phillip Hunt
DT – Cullen Jenkins ……. Derek Landri ……. Derek Wolfe
DT – Mike Patterson ….. Antonio Dixon …… Cedric Thornton
DE – Jason Babin ……… Brandon Graham…. Vinny Curry
WB – Brian Rolle ………. Jamar Chaney …….. Keenan Clayton
MB – Luke Kuechly …… Casey Matthews ….. Greg Lloyd
SB – David Hawthorne …. Fokou/Jordan …… Monte Simmons
SS – Kurt Coleman …… Jaiquawn Jarrett ….. Jerron McMillian
FS – Nate Allen ………. Gibril Wilson ……….. Tom Nelson
CB – N. Asomugha ……. Brandon Hughes …… DJ Johnson
CB – D. Rodgers-Cromartie ….. Curtis Marsh ….Trevard Lindley
NB – Joselio Hanson …. Brandon Boykin
I don’t think anyone here would be described as a pure camp body. I did not list a FB to compete with Havili, but clearly one would be brought in. I just don’t have a specific target that I’m all set on. Clearly the team is very heavy at DE and CB. I would see about trading Darryl Tapp or Phillip Hunt for a 2013 pick. I would also try to deal Hanson, but it is unlikely that anyone would trade for him. Still, can’t hurt to ask.
After getting the roster to this point, the focus turns to long term deals for DRC and Shady McCoy. Get them locked up prior to the 2012 season.
Fire away with questions, concerns. I can’t imagine there will be any criticism for a plan so shockingly brilliant that it is 99.9% perfection (give or take 37 percent).
I agree with your preface. A lot of people will argue, “well, you have the cap space… use it!” I’d much rather they eat up the 10 mill (more if Asante is gone) by extending Maclin and McCoy and front loading them some for this season. Just as long as you have enough for emergencies.
front-loading!!
Looks good, slightly concerned by the lack of additional talent to the WR corps, but that can be traced back to DJ and when/if he signs. I get the desire to add future picks for Asante, yet if AR is in win now mode then doesn’t he trade for a pick this year to try & get Mo Sanu/Joe Adams?
You do see that we have DJax, Mac, Plax, and Avant in the scenario above? How many footballs do you plan on Vick throwing at once?
Hmm, I thought they were changing the rules this year! Good point, and noted. Is Plax going to contribute that much? I get the feeling he’s on the same merry go round as Moss & T.O. at the moment.
You only want Plax for 35 catches 5 to 7 TDs. He’s a specialist. Mr. Red Zone.
New red-zone plan: Remind Wynn of what he learned in high school and put him in a two TE set with Celek on the other side. Plax goes on the outside at WR, Harbor in the backfield at FB.
Clearly the best RZ plan is just to get your biggest guys on the field 😉
No No No No. Clearly you haven’t seen the footage of Peters streaking across the endzone and catching a touchdown from his college days at Arkansas.
but… I thought Chad Hall was our Red Zone guy, i mean they should put him in commercials for the channel. Wildcat? Chad Hall, hail Mary? Chad Hall. Fade pattern? Chad Hall.
I think, for whatever odd reason, if Coby Fleener is still there with the first second round pick; you have to take him.
Boykin is in my top 5 of players I want, but I’d be willing to sacrifice that for Fleener.
TE waits a year for me. Gotta see what Harbor does in 2012. Fleener is very good.
I completely agree, but you can’t ignore BPA too.
T..awesome post.if the iggles pulled this off then they win FO of the year IMO and we fans would learn to trust them again.I think its important for fans to.trust their FO.just look at the Ravens and Steeler fan base.love ur draft except I’d take Kendricks in the second instead of curry.I think we have good competition at DE and need to infuse more talent at LB.my dream LB crew..luke at MLB….Kendricks at wlb..sorry Rolle and Hawthorne at sam…no Tulloch or Lofton in FA…please….no reason to overpay for two down guys..Brady..Brees..Eli would kill us with no huddle offense with these guys on the field
Great post. I’d LOVE that off-season…so watch us do a 180 🙂
FYI, I don’t see Asante for a 2013 2nd that unrealistic. That’s a value of a 2012 3rd…and Asante helps teams win now so other teams may be ok with this move.
I would be really happy with this offseason too.
The stress of not knowing for 7 weeks whether Kuechly was in the fold or not would be difficult though.
A bit of an aside, but if anyone has a mock draft App that they can recommend, please let me (us) know. I’d appreciate any thoughts and insights that you might have.
What about all this Dan Connor talk? I dont know what to think about him…..
Dan is a solid fallback option. You sign him if the first 3 or 4 guys don’t work out. Connor would be an upgrade, but isn’t a player you flat out target as “the answer”.
Love the Vinny Curry Pick….reminds me of 2nd coming of Trent Cole….Hope he lasts that long on the board.
Anyway you can email your draft and FA siginings to Spuds and ask him to put it on Howies desk when he’s at lunch?
Looks good. I think Hawthorne makes the most sense as a free-agent LB target. I think he’ll be the best value on the market. One thing I’ll add is that I would love to see London Fletcher in an Eagles uniform for the next 1-2 years. I can’t think of a better mentor for a young LB corps. The plan would still be to get Kuechly at 15, but then if he was gone by 15 it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
My main criticism is that it assumes Kuechly will be on the board when the Eagles can’t actually assume that. I don’t see how the team can put itself in a situation where, if the sure-fire day 1 starter at LB isn’t there in the first round, they are left with Chaney as a starter.
Point being, you have to at least sign a viable veteran starter who Kuechly can beat out if we get him but can not be embarrassing if we don’t. Which is where Conner would probably fit in nicely in this plan, by the way.
I would think Tommy’s response may be you get Kendricks with the second second round pick.
Agreed!
And if he’s not there? Counting on getting a starter in the draft is dangerous business.
If Seattle signs Super Mario and Matt Flynn in FA, then Kuechly would become their most likely target with the 11th pick. Short of that, I don’t see a team ahead of us who would ignore a major need at pass rush, QB, or OL to draft a ILB – especially when impact players are available at their need positions. If a team fills those needs during FA, then I could see them opting for Kuechly. Eagles are unique in the top 15, in that our only major hole is at LB positions.
Phew! Good thing teams behind us can’t trade up if they know we are waiting on Kuechly.
Zing!
Possible…but likely? Who is the team behind us with the need, will and ammunition to move up for him?
I concede that there is risk – but I’m prepared to accept small risk. If the risk becomes likely, then I would advocate different tactics. I’m watching FA as much to see what other teams do and how those moves will affect our draft.
I’d prefer Fletcher to Connor in this scenario based on Fletcher having the edge in terms of mentoring the young guys. But I’m with you that you can’t go into the draft knowing that you NEED Kuechly. Not least of all because 14 other teams picking before you will ALSO know that you need Kuechly.
And every team drafting behind you will know exactly who they have to trade up past if they want him…
Hawthorne would then slide to MLB if Kuechly isn’t available, right?
You have options. Move Hawthorne to MLB. Draft Kendricks. Sign Connor. Sign a MLB after the draft.
Moving Hawthorne to MLB and starting Chaney at SLB instead is just rearranging deck chairs, isn’t it?
And what kind of FA is out there after the draft?
I think you need to sign two veteran LBs. They don’t have to both be outstanding. But they both have to be capable. You can then take their replacements in the draft, be it Kuechly or Kendricks or others, if those guys are on the board, but it seems silly to risk being left with our usual grab bag of well-below NFL average starting LB play.
I aggree, its dangerous to expect Kuechly to be available, but in that case you go get him, assuming he shows the same kind of athleticism at his pro day. If not, then the talks start again whether he is a 3 down player(i think he is) and you don’t go get a 2 down MLB.
On a side note….I wonder if the Eagles Brass is going to send a fruit basket to Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder for paying Antonio Dixon’s salary next year?!?
meant to say this year…sorry. Edit wont work for me for some reason.
I like it… I am not sure about DT/DE though. I have a feeling that one of the backup DE/DTs gets upgraded. Everything else seems spot on.
Another scenario would be a FA MLB and Fletcher Cox being drafted in 1st round.
Who out in FA would you upgrade with? and dont say Williams because we are not giving him 10 mill.
I am not sure. I wish I had Tommy’s “King for a Day powers” I cringe at the thought we overpay Lofton. But what would be worse is sticking with what we used this year.
What if they bring in some “Mark Simmenono” dude in to play MLB that we have never heard of?
I am not sure. I wish I had Tommy’s “King for a Day powers” I cringe at the thought we overpay Lofton. But what would be worse is sticking with what we used this year.
What if they bring in some “Mark Simmenono” dude in to play MLB that we have never heard of?
T-Law, very adept off-season analysis. My only quibble, and I’d have to knock some points off the 99.9% #, is that you ignored the annual Reid-Belichick bromantic draft trade!?!?!
Yup..which I hope is Dajax for one of their 1st rd picks….then we draft stephen hill
But…I’m in charge of this offseason and I’m not trading with Belichick.
Quiet! Don’t let the dark lord hear you say that. He will hoodie choke the life out of you!
I agree. Anger the sith we must not.
I would be extremely happy with this scenario. My measure for how successful the offseason is will depend on how far the Eagles stray from your gold standard.
On a serious note, Tommy-
With the “Law Firm” hitting FA do you think he’s a reasonable target as a backup RB? He doesn’t have a lot of mileage, but I don’t know if thinks (or teams) his as a starting RB or a piece in a RBBC situation.
I think BJGE is looking for more touches and money. He’ll get neither here.
Great post Tommy. I generally agree but with few nits to pick. I am skeptical that the Eagles will actually draft Keuchly with their first pick thus I think that their picks at the DL and WR are actually a bit higher up than your mock. and it will more likely be a DT than a DE. I think the Eagles will want to add a TE because if two tight end sets are used more often the Eagles will need a backup. And finally, Hawthorne at LB would be the most perfect acquisition in free agency, thus it will never happen.
Doubting the Eagles on a 1st round LB is totally fair.
Any chance the Birds go after Super Mario (dunanana nana)? I know we are set at DE right now, but it could potentially solidify our DL for years to come. As Cole and Babin phase out, Williams and Graham (fingers crossed) phase in. I haven’t heard a word about him to the Birds, but it would be dope to have Bowser if the Skins are going to get the Princess.
Oh and this was a great article. There’s a hole in my office where I’ve been pacing waiting for it to come out.
What do you think about Mike Tolbert as backup RB? He seems to have every quality AR wants in a backup RB, can handle few touches, can pass block and can catch out of the backfield.
Think he’ll want to go where he can get touches.
So I take it you weren’t satisfied with the Eagles returners last year (Forsett, Boykin, Martin)? Glad to know Desean won’t have to be preoccupied with fielding punts during warm-ups and can concentrate on bobbing his head while wearing novelty sized headphones and thinking about which opposing assistant coach he wants to call out after a long completion.
Considering how little love we give our back-up running backs (as Don Draper would say “that’s what the money is for”), would Forsett want come here, or has he reached the point where his options are limited? His injury history shouldn’t be a big concern since we’ll be trading him for Jerome Harrison around Week 5. I was hoping the Cardinals would let Stephens-Howling go so we could corner the market on undersized Pitt running backs.
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Tommy very well thought out plan. The only real concerns I have is our LB corps are still problematic even after signing Hawthorne and drafting Kuechly. I don’t want to be in a situation where injury or inability to pick up scheme leaves us with the same old clowns out on the field. The only LB’s I trust on our roster are BRolle and Clayton (nickel). I feel we need to bring in more competition at the positions. Bring in Dan Connor. I also love Erin Henderson from MIN and no one seems to be speaking about him. And draft more than 1 LB in the draft. That is all.
Vikings fans love Erin Henderson, as does PFF. I think they overrate him. Solid, but not the star-to-be that they think.
Understand your thoughts on the LB depth, but you can’t have stars everywhere. Casey Matthews and Jamar Chaney are solid backups. Both guys should play better in 2012 than last year. Gotta roll the dice somewhere.
My two favorite things about this plan and lineup:
1) Obligatory selection of a guy with previous knee problems
2) No Chad Hall
I don’t have anything against Chad Hall, personally, but more how they used him on some goal line plays at RB. Those were mostly in 2010, but he did get into the backfield a few times in 2011 as well. He’s the only guy I’ve seen lined up at RB in the NFL in recent years that looked slower on the field than I think I would.
Don’t blame the Eagles for trying with Chad, but it clearly hasn’t worked. Hope they let him go.
“Eagles agreed to 3-year contract extension with OL Todd Herremans through 2016”
Do you think the Eagles were waiting for you to release your off-season plan, to make you look bad?
Getting his Tackle $$$ I am assuming….renegotiate Winston as a backup plan. Sign Mathis…and the Oline looks great!!
Yes. And heads will roll.
Nice plan. They will draft Kuechly if he’s there and it’s not impossible they’ll move up to get him. I would suggest in the 2nd however they might fill their need for a tall WR as a red zone threat ahead of DL and I would want to see if a Lavante David is there are 51 before signing Hawthorn. L David is faster, more athletic and much cheaper. I’d be just as happy to sign a Jones as draft a Wolfe. A LB core of David-Kuechly-Rolle would turn LB from a liability to an asset in year one and a strength in year two. They could play together 6+ years.
David is also small. Weighted in at 227 lbs at his pro day, in other words, can’t retain weight after stopping intensive training.
Not overly concerned about weight. His speed and productivity far outweigh 227 v 233. He is young enough maturity will add 5. I am tired of physical studs who bite on every fake. I rate David over most of the rest because he was so productive and appears to have the best cover skills. Carlos Emmons was my favorite Eagle but rule changes now favor speed and agility over size. Rolle lacks height and heft but he hits with authority because of speed and savvy. We did fine with TE’s last year. RBs killed us. I’d gladly go for a Demarco Davis who is bigger stronger and faster, but didn’t match the productivity, if he can meet the coverage demands. This scheme isn’t looking for a Trot to run blitz on every play. They need to make sure 2 yard runs don’t turn into 12 and defend the pass.
AFan’s concern with David’s weight is a legit issue. David would be fine at WLB, but as a SAM…big risk. Could be great, could be a Matt McCoy type. Lavonte can tackle and play, but you need some bulk to deal with blockers.
Weight is but one factor.. He projects as a WIL rather than a classic SAM however my understanding is the Eagles don’t want the classic SAM who might be 245 rather than 230 but runs a 4.76 rather than a 4.56, The logic of the 6-4, 246 SAM is to match the big TE. But they did very well defending TE. RBs killed them. They killed them when they got to the 2nd level on the ground and on passes out of the backfield. Our tackling sucked and it seemed the LBs bit on every fake and consistently left their gaps. They need instinctive football players with strong fundamentals. Kuechly and David were highly productive due mostly to top notch football instincts and just solid fundamental tackling skills. I’ll take the big brain over the big ass any day. In this example 227 v 232 just isn’t significant. I am going by reports listing David as very instinctive and solid in all phases of the game including blitzing and coverage. If the Eagles think Demarco Davis is close in that regard than I take Demarco but that’s not what their productivity is saying. MY fear of David isn’t that he’ll be matt mcCoy but Ernie Sims. I see Ernie and Fokou as the same guy. Great bodies, minds, not so much.
A few quibbles:
Wouldn’t touch Plax, Cooper has far more upside and can play STs, we’re talking 4th WR at best. STs are important in that role. And Cooper showed he can highpoint last year, just needs a lot of reps in a full preseason. Plax would be deadweight, and in the red zone, what can he do that Celek can’t do? If you want another red zone target, draft Green as a TE/WR hybrid.
Bottom feed in FA, that’s where the value is, especially when you run unique schemes like the Eagles, Richard, Pollack, Satele, smaller athletic OL for Mudd, Langford, Carriker, Harvey, Jamal Anderson, Trevor Scott, Quiten Groves for Washburn. If the price is right, like last year, bring in bodies with upside to camp – that’s how we found Landri and Mathis and Hunt.
Childs ran on a rubber track, add a .10 of a second to his pro day performance. He was awful at the combine, I’m not sold on him. I really like Hemingway as an upgrade over Avant.
Don’t waste a 5th on Davis, either a QB is starter quality or sign veterans that have flopped elsewhere and try to rehabilitate them. Backup QBs are a dime a dozen (most with higher IQs than VY).
Curry worries me, like Chandler Jones, probably better suited to playing on the OT’s shoulder where he can use leverage and moves, rather than in space where his average athleticism will be exposed. Think they’re better off just hitting the list of athletes who’ve struggled in conventional roles, think Clemons, Barnes, and how they blossomed in wide 9 like roles.
Of course Cooper has more upside. That’s not in dispute. Which guy would you choose to be on the field for 3rd and goal right now if your life depended on it? If you didn’t say Plax, let me know who to send flowers to.
Ron Wolf did pretty well by taking late QBs in GB. You never know when you’ll hit on a Matt Hasselbeck.
Curry doesn’t time fast, but he does play fast.
Ah, but they play the real games in September.
And I suspect by then I’d take Cooper over Plax, who’ll be a year older, another step slower and just as useless on STs.
Curry may play fast, but the wide 9 is a different animal, I want athletes more than polished DEs, still say Curry is best suited to a conventional 4-3 DE.
Davis doesn’t strike me as Hasselback, maybe Wilson but the height is a real problem, same with Moore, who is more Koy Detmer. At this point I’d just stick with Kafka, who has more going for him than anyone drafted after Weeden.
All I have to say is this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBh895KdXAU
I’d be ecstatic if we ended up with that roster going into camp.
I watched all the youtube highlights of Kuechly, and didn’t see him stop a RB coming through the line? All the highlights had him running sideline to sideline making tackles with help, and covering well and making interceptions. Can you tell me he is good at stopping the run, especially stuffing big physical RB’s coming through the line? If he can’t do that, give me Mychal Kendricks in the second round, and a Big athletic DT like Cox, or Brockers in the 1st round. I thought you liked Cox also?
I have seen Kuechly make just about every type of tackle imaginable. At BC he wasn’t an attacking downhill LB. His job was to stay back, read plays, and go to the ball. He did have over 30 TFLs so he made some plays in the backfield.
Thanks Tommy! I’ll take your word for it. I still would prefer Mychal Kendricks in the second round, and a Big athletic DT like Cox, or Brockers in the 1st. I think the Eagles also value lineman over LB’s. Watching Kendricks at the combine he looked like a man, and seemed to be all business in his workout. I think he will workout well for whoever drafts him. I’d wager that Kendricks ends up being a more successful pro than Kuechly. How about a Guinness?
I watched all the youtube highlights of Kuechly, and didn’t see him stop a RB coming through the line? All the highlights had him running sideline to sideline making tackles with help, and covering well and making interceptions. Can you tell me he is good at stopping the run, especially stuffing big physical RB’s coming through the line? If he can’t do that, give me Mychal Kendricks in the second round, and a Big athletic DT like Cox, or Brockers in the 1st round. I thought you liked Cox also?
I find it remarkable that this topic is 5 hours old and there is not one mention of Havili for Schmitt. Nicely done Jedi Master.
Can I ask the reasoning behind this? I pretty sure we have similar views on Owen who is OK, but what does Stan bring?
In a surprise move this week, the Eagles will sign FA Michael Robinson, formerly of Seattle.
I have mixed feelings on Havili. Watching USC back in 2008 I remember thinking…who is this kid who can catch the ball so well. I was shocked to find out he was a FB. Really good college back. Problem is that he never was a strong lead blocker. That’s something that must be worked on.
Eagles saw him in practice all year. I’m guessing they saw enough progress to trust him. If he can be an okay blocker, could be a real good FB for us. Can run and catch well.
Honestly, I’m fine with Schmitt coming back. He’s nothing great, but was adequate and did a good job as a lead blocker around the GL.
how realistic is it for the eagles to have 12 Defensive Linemen. Ttapp would let up 2.5 mil in cap Eagles should give cedric thornton a fair chance. Phillip Hunt is now 260 that is 7 less than Babin. How versatile is Landri and Dixon are. Cullen Jenkins could play DE at times next season. As you noted washburn likes players that are versatile.
Only 10 or 11 DL will make the roster. Tapp can be cut. Thornton could go back to the PSquad.
So maybe Thornton can be the 2013 Laandri except he will be on PS and not cut from the team. And would Tapp be cut or traded? Be funny if trade to IND with eagles 5th for their fifth.
hope the bills sign williams…so seattle doesn’t get a shot at him.then they have to go pass rusher in the draft and don’t draft luke..
more good news…conner visiting dallas hopefully he stays there…luke.starting to lool like luke will be there at 15..
What about Joseph Addai as a backup RB? He is an excellent pass catcher out of the backfield, a very good blocker, comes from a time share situation, has familiarity with Howard Mudd’s scheme, and we would not be totally lost without a semi lead back if something were to happen with McCoy. I understand he is injury prone but a clear no. 2 back it might allow him to stay fresher and avoid those nagging injuries.
Maybe. Would Addai want to come here knowing he would have limited touches?
i see addai happening if stays around come draft time
Isn’t Forsett a Dion Lewis type? I’d think they’d want to bring in a move-the-pile, change of pace back.
We haven’t had success with big backs so I chose Forsett.