Busy Friday

Posted: May 18th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 33 Comments »

The hot news of the day is that the Eagles did make an offer to S Yeremiah Bell, but he ended up signing with the Jets.  Bell got $1.4M, with a small signing bonus.

As I’ve said all along, I preferred sticking with the young guys.  I want to see what Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman and Jaiquawn Jarrett can do.  The Eagles also said that last week.  Has something changed?  Maybe.  There haven’t been any big developments, but you do wonder if possibly Jarrett isn’t sending the team the right signals with his workouts or classroom training.  There is no actual practicing going on so those are the only options I can think of.

The Eagles didn’t aggressively go after Bell so clearly they weren’t desperate to get him.  My bet is that they made him an offer and told him he’d be battling for a roster spot, let alone starting job.  We don’t know if the Jets offered more money.  They have a much more open Safety situation.  The Jets have LaRon Landry (is he healthy), Eric Smith, and a couple of draft picks.

Our old buddy Derek from Iggles Blog speculated on Twitter that the asking price from Bell may have dropped enough to generate some interest from the Eagles.  That could be what happened.

More than a few of you are disappointed that the Eagles didn’t get Bell.  If the guy was truly someone the Eagles wanted, they’d have gotten him.  Let’s see what the young guys do in May, June, and July.  If the Eagles have any concerns, they can add a veteran at that point.  Some people say “Well yeah, but who is going to be available?”.  Guys like Bell.  He’s 34.  We’ve got his former positional coach here (Todd Bowles).  If Todd isn’t jumping up and down screaming for him, then Bell isn’t the slam dunk player that we’re looking for.  Bell isn’t an answer.  He’s a veteran on the decline.  Could be be an upgrade?  Yeah, but not definitely.  The Skins signed OJ Atogwe last year, but had him on the bench by December.  Just because someone has a proven track record doesn’t mean he’s going to be better in 2012 than Kurt Coleman or Jaiquawn Jarrett.

Jimmy Bama put together a good post on Bell.  Check this out.  Bell is a solid run defender and tackler, but his coverage skills have declined.

* * * * *

For SB Nation Philly, I wrote about Donovan McNabb and his situation.  I mixed in a bit of profanity in the form of Pulp Fiction quotes.  Apologies if that offends anyone.  It just fit too well not to use it.

* * * * *

Interesting stuff from Sheil Kapadia on the Shady deal and what that means for Andy Reid.  I’m not so sure we can take a lot from this deal as to Andy’s future.  Andy is close to Shady and did what he could to smooth the situation.   Bottom line for Andy is that he needs to win games to keep his job.  A strong 2012 season/playoff push will do him a world of good.

* * * * *

Jeff McLane put up an excellent blog post as part of his new Emptying The Notebook series.  I don’t agree with everything he says (Brian Rolle as a poor tackler and Marvin McNutt as a natural slot receiver), but there is plenty of good and interesting information.  Definitely check this out.

* * * * *

One interesting question about Shady’s extension…what happens now?  Adrian Peterson got hurt after getting his.  Chris Johnson had a terrible season after getting his.  Is there any kind of a curse?  Will Shady become a fat cat and get lazy?

Peterson was the primary target of every opposing defense.  They had no passing game.  It is easy to see how he could get hurt in that setting.

Johnson had a contentious negotiation with the Titans prior to getting his deal.  His head wasn’t right and you can see where that affected him.

Things never got nasty with the Shady negotiations.  And while he was the workhorse RB for us last year, Shady had a dynamic passing game behind him to help keep defenses from just focusing on him.

If you go back to 1993, the Cowboys gave Emmitt an extension during the season and they won the SB that year and in 1995.  You can pay a RB and still get good results.  If only Andy Reid’s mustache could coach as well as Jimmy Johnson’s helmet hair.

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33 Comments on “Busy Friday”

  1. 1 iskar36 said at 2:59 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    I posted this in the previous comment section in response to Morton questioning giving a RB money. I thought the article was an interesting and relevant find:

    “As to Morton’s comment, frankly, he has a point.

    http://www.fieldgulls.com/2012/1/21/2723827/nfl-playoffs-super-bowl-running-backs-gore-rice-giants-patriots

    This article identifies the primary running backs on both the superbowl winning and superbowl loosing teams since 2001. The trend is exactly what Morton claims. Very few teams have gotten to the Superbowl with an elite running back and even fewer have won it with an elite running back. Further more, that trend seems to becoming more exaggerated.

    Having said that, there is no reason a great running back can not help your team. In fact, a guy like McCoy, who is a player that this offense is largely built upon, is an incredibly valuable player to have on your team. Simply stating previous superbowl winning teams have not had elite running games may show a trend, but that certainly does not provide definitive proof. Signing McCoy means you are keeping one of the best players on your team happy, and considering his age, the deal is fantastic for both sides. Time will tell if McCoy can help the Eagles win a superbowl, but I am fairly certain he certainly does not hurt our chances.”

  2. 2 TommyLawlor said at 3:29 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    I think one of the keys is that often a team with a good RB is built around the RB. The Eagles are still a passing team. Marshall Faulk and the ’99 Rams were like this. That was a passing team with a great back. 2001 Rams as well.

  3. 3 Anders Jensen said at 3:50 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    The 2005 Steelers was build around the defense and running game, the Patriots had a good, but not great RB in there 3 SB wins, the Colts had a good but not great RB when the Colts was at there best.

  4. 4 47_Ronin said at 5:07 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    I think TL is spot on, the Eagles aren’t built around Shady. The Eagles are a passing team and last year Vick and the passing offense was too inconsistent and error prone, which I think forced Reid to rely more (maybe more than he wanted to) on Shady. Shady is another arrow (very valuable) in the Eagles quiver.

  5. 5 M0rton said at 2:19 AM on May 19th, 2012:

    This is a valid point. But it presupposes that Vick plays at a Kurt Warner type of level.

    In the end, it’s all about the QB, and then secondarily, about the pass rush. If Vick plays at a high level, this team is a Super Bowl contender. But what are the chances of Vick playing at a top-5 level consistently, for a whole season? I don’t know.

    And then, even if he does manage to do this, the defense needs to play at a top-5 level against the pass. If ti doesn’t, you get the 2000 Rams: elite offense and shoddy pass defense, and no playoff noise at all.

  6. 6 D3Keith said at 6:09 PM on May 19th, 2012:

    And all the talent in the world (at the skill positions) and 8-8.

    Re: the original argument, think of the flipside. Without McCoy, we are a team that can move the ball but can’t convert in short yardage and in the red zone. Those complaints, a theme throughout much of the Reidhinweg era, largely went away last season, at least the short yardage ones.

    Also relying on past trends is great until someone starts a new trend. Saying something hasn’t happened before =/= It can’t happen.

  7. 7 Arby1 said at 4:49 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    Agreed. “incredibly valuable” = invaluable, IMHO.

  8. 8 nicolajNN said at 8:27 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    I have noticed a pattern recently with M0rton, every time we make a move, no matter what it is, he arguments that X position doesn’t win you a super bowl or X position doesn’t give you more wins.

    And I just want to say that, excluding qb, I think it’s more about building the best team, whether that’s with a good rb, oline or secondary doesn’t matter, the best team wins no matter how it’s built

  9. 9 M0rton said at 2:15 AM on May 19th, 2012:

    The team with the best RB, but without a top-10 QB, is *never* the best team.

    Basically speaking, the best team is always the one with the best QB, and then, to break the tie among teams with equally good QBs, the best pass rush. How good the RB is doesn’t matter at all, or very little.

  10. 10 nicolajNN said at 6:30 AM on May 19th, 2012:

    And that’s why I said excluding QB since you obviously need a good one. And of course pass rush is important but I don’t think you necessarily need it, look at the Pats last year they had almost no pass rush yet made the super bowl, and yes I do know they lost to a team with a good pass rush.

  11. 11 A_T_G said at 10:04 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    http://xkcd.com/552/

    Correlation, check. Causation, not do much.

  12. 12 Da said at 3:42 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    Tommy. How can you dispute that Brian Rolle was one of the worst tacklers in the NFL last year – missing 18.5% of his tackles. see http://footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2012/broken-tackles-2011-part-ii. Hopefully he’s better this year.

  13. 13 iskar36 said at 3:50 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    I’d like to hear Tommy’s response as well, but as far as the way you expressed the question, “worst tacklers in the NFL” seems a bit extreme. Rolle missed his fair share of tackles so I agree that he was a poor tackler last year, but with his limited experience, I don’t know that I can go as far as worst tackler in the league.

  14. 14 TommyLawlor said at 3:53 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    The missed tackle stats always leave me curious. Who says what a missed tackle is. That’s subjective. I remember after 2010 PFF had Kurt Coleman graded as not missing any tackles. There were some plays that I specifically remembered where he was so faked out by a RB that he couldn’t even attempt a tackle. How does that factor in?

    I’ll need to go back and review my notes on Rolle. I don’t remember him as a missed tackle machine. Maybe I’m wrong.

  15. 15 GeorgeFleep said at 4:37 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    thats like PFF saying Asante is great as far as not allowing completions because when the WR catches the he is so far off coverage for it to count that he was covering the reciever.

    and does anybody know if it is possible to post a comment that has like 6 videos in it? if s how. Is the best way to do it just reply to on right after the other?

  16. 16 LiamGarrett said at 4:40 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    It can be hard to see our children’s faults clearly, sometimes.

  17. 17 ceteris_paribus1776 said at 4:46 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    they tell you they have 2 criteria: 1) the defender has the ball carrier in his grasp and he slips away, or 2) the defender is in good position to make the tackle but get’s juked. They don’t count dives at the ball carrier that are not likely to be tackles to begin with. Even if it is subjective, as long as it’s consistently subjective across players the relative rankings are useful. The percentage of plays may not be.

    I was impressed with Rolle overall. I thought we was one of the few players that played with high intensity and fight on the defensive side of the ball all year. I do remember him missing a hand full of tackles, through, out the year. I think because he made a number of nice plays and big plays its easy to overlook a missed tackle here and there. Plus, he only had 44 tackles by their count, so a one missed tackle per game for him gives you the 10 for the year and the poor ratio.

    I wasn’t surprised to see Nate Allen as one of the worst tackling defensive backs, however. I’m much more worried about Allen that I am Rolle to be honest. Allen just doesn’t look like he wants to tackle and waits for ball carriers. Plus he consistently took poor angles. I’m hoping it was the injury, but I have my doubts about Allen.

  18. 18 47_Ronin said at 5:02 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    +1

    Nice defensive plays do overshadow bad plays, but defenders getting bowled over by RBs or WRs stick out and I have lasting images of Allen getting trucked last year. I’m also concerned about Allen.

  19. 19 Baloophi said at 4:35 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    I’m sure the Eagles’ equipment manager is doing backflips now that he doesn’t have to sew a “D.” or a “Y.” on every “BELL” jersey.

  20. 20 TommyLawlor said at 6:17 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    Hadn’t thought of that angle.

  21. 21 GeorgeFleep said at 5:44 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    ShadyCelebrations:
    he has 33 career TDs and different ways to celebrate them

    – the regular one is when he waves his arms by his hips and moves his hips like elvis side to side.
    – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BioEOYG_iI8
    – 1 min 33 in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2A4ew_qNLY

  22. 22 GeorgeFleep said at 5:44 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    -ive done this TD celebration thing too much. does a forget this gesture and walks away. (against the jets) acually later he scores and another TD and does his regular dance
    – 2 min 19 sec in it is actually his 19th TD of season eagles record http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekJxXXA4m3I&feature=related

  23. 23 GeorgeFleep said at 5:44 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    – teach me how to dougie (2011)
    -McCoy 20 sec in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_2oA8kEdzE

    – goal post dunk
    – ive seen it but couldnt find it. if someone wants to help they can

    – jabbing ried in the stomach
    – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LntjmLOAXq8

  24. 24 GeorgeFleep said at 5:50 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    https://twitter.com/#!/GeogleFleep/status/203289684678426624

  25. 25 TommyLawlor said at 6:16 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    George, you officially seem to be the TD celebration expert.

  26. 26 GeorgeFleep said at 10:41 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    Yes! it’ll be on my name tag tomorrow.

  27. 27 Jeppe Elmelund van Ee said at 6:08 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    Tommy,

    I know it’s waaaayy early to talk 2013 draft, but can I hear your early favorites if the Eagles were to draft a QB in round 1 as Vicks successor.

    Mine are EJ Manuel and Geno Smith. I’ll watch them closely this upcoming season!

  28. 28 TommyLawlor said at 6:15 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    Manuel and Smith are talented. I don’t have a strong opinion of either guy yet.

    Logan Thomas of Va Tech is the guy I’m really fascinated by. He’s only a Junior, but with a good year he could easily come out. Problem is that he could be so good that he goes very early and is out of our reach.

    Never too early to talk draft.

  29. 29 Jeppe Elmelund van Ee said at 6:24 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    I tweeted with Dane Bugler about QB being a possibility for us next year, but he found it highly unlikely, that we would use an early pick on one. What do you think?

    Even though Vick might play 3 more years, I still hope we draft ‘our’ guy in 2013. The draft ‘seems’ to be deeper at the QB position than ever. This is our chance to get a top flight QB without paying a steep price a la Redskins this year.

    Pick the guy to love, and let him groom behind Vick.

  30. 30 A_T_G said at 10:10 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    Even in a deep draft, though, it might be pretty costly to trade up from 32.

  31. 31 D3Keith said at 7:02 PM on May 19th, 2012:

    This line will never get old.

  32. 32 Jason_E said at 7:17 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    Thanks Tommy. It’s been a while since I watched Pulp Fiction. I have something to do tonight.

  33. 33 nicolajNN said at 8:36 PM on May 18th, 2012:

    Tommy, do you know if Banner has giving some of the negotiating responsibility to Howie or is he simply staying more in the background this off season?

    I ask because it seems players are focusing more of their thanks for Howie whereas in the past I seem to remember they usually gave credit to Banner. I also think it’s been a while since we’ve heard/seen anything from him. Since Howie is a Banner guy I guess it would make sense that he would have more of that respectability than the case was with Heckert