Iggs Cut Iggy, Add Cunningham

Posted: October 14th, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 95 Comments »

The Eagles made an interesting move. They cut TE Emil Igwenagu and signed WR B.J. Cunningham.

You may remember that Cunningham was on the practice squad last year and was on the roster this summer. He has more size than speed, but was a player I liked quite a bit coming out of Michigan State.

Why the move?

You wonder if this is Chip Kelly adjusting to his players. He wanted an offense built on TEs initially, but may have realized that this group is more effective with multiple WRs on the field. Shady McCoy is better running from spread sets than with lots of TEs.

Regardless of why it happened, the Eagles now have 3 TEs and 6 WRs.

It is interesting that the Eagles used Jeff Maehl and Damaris Johnson more yesterday than in most games. And that Riley Cooper had his best game of the year.

A good conspiracy theorist will read into this move as having something to do with the Foles-Vick question. Cunningham is from MSU. Foles began his career at MSU before transferring to Arizona. Therefore, this must be a sign that the Eagles are going with Foles.

Pretty good, huh?

You could wonder about this move having to do with practice since big WRs have given the Eagles fits this year, but they added Cunningham to the roster and not the practice squad so I’m not sure that makes sense.

UPDATE … from Twitter.

_

95 Comments on “Iggs Cut Iggy, Add Cunningham”

  1. 1 Anders said at 5:10 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I think its all about the 11 personal. You do not need 4 TEs on the roster if you almost exclusively use 11 personal.

  2. 2 GEAGLE said at 6:31 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I agree… I wish I would get to see one drive where a few plays we line up in the same exact spread formations we use when we are in 11, but instead of the WRs, line up with Ertz,Casey at WR spots….just curious to see how a defense counters is since we haven’t put it on film yet..

  3. 3 eagleyankfan said at 8:58 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    like reading your posts about things like this..good info.

  4. 4 A_T_G said at 5:19 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Although I’ll never be upset about getting a BJ, I was hoping we added Randall when I saw the headline. That would have added a new variable to the Vick/Foles debate.

  5. 5 GEAGLE said at 6:20 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I’m gonna ask my girl for a “Randall” tonight!!!

  6. 6 shah8 said at 5:26 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I suspect this is about the red zone, and about developing a target that can play Plaxico or Anquan.

  7. 7 Flyin said at 5:29 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    This is the move that puts the Eagles over the hump… Superbowl or Bust!

  8. 8 GEAGLE said at 5:59 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    FOles is the only thing that matters lol

  9. 9 eagleyankfan said at 7:59 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    missed having my back up here. Peeps had a field day with me… lol…

  10. 10 GEAGLE said at 8:38 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Sorry to leave you hanging…have no fear, the Cavalry is here

  11. 11 Telmert said at 6:04 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I’m wondering if special teams (punt coverage) might be a factor here…

  12. 12 Media Mike said at 6:19 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Switching to a 3-4, according to Chip, was supposed to fix the special teams, make biscuits from scratch, and cure cancer. What happened?

  13. 13 ICDogg said at 6:22 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    MRSA

  14. 14 GEAGLE said at 6:47 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    misanelli edited the MRSA wikedia page…A new symptom of MRSA is that it makes you completely incapable of stopping Riley Cooper…
    …
    I LOLed, but Mikey Miss is just a dope who gave NO credit to Riley…yet I knew FOles was going to get him involved…heck he got Riley involved last year when we were pathetic…Mike Vick is the problem, NOT Riley…with FOles playing, we will get 30-60 yards a game out of Riley on a consistent basis…
    …
    sure, Riley is never gonna get much separation, but that doesnt Mean a passing QB can’t consistently get him to produce…Vick doesn’t Anticipate throws, he waits for guys to get open or have a step and a half on their man….well If you only throw it to WR who are open, then you can’t use Riley…Riley isn’t good, he shouldn’t start, but when FOles plays Riley will prove that he isn’t the joke that he looked under Vick..
    …
    Vick might make Shady better, but you all know FOles makes the Oline, WRs and defense better!!!

  15. 15 GEAGLE said at 6:19 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I love Chip Kelly!!!!!!!
    …
    We lined up in shotgun to kneel on the ball, so Schiano couldn’t do his high school crap of trying to disrupt the kneel down…Chip said we know that’s Schianos style, so we decided to kneel down out of the shotgun to avoid pile ups….
    …
    Hahahahahahaha Harry high school’s BS was neutralized by da Chippah!!!! LOVE it,,,
    …
    Sunday had to be tough for Bucs owner, players and fans to have to sit thru “what could have been” watching Chip on opposing sideline

  16. 16 Media Mike said at 6:20 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    If I was a coach that Schiano tried that garbage against, I’d call sweep to the sideline right at Schiano and pummel him with the whole team.

  17. 17 GEAGLE said at 6:21 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Lol that works too.
    …
    Just love our thorough thinker…dude had a counter for a kneel down defense lol….Andy Reid woulda stood there confused

  18. 18 Media Mike said at 6:24 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I’m just down with the violence.

  19. 19 GEAGLE said at 6:32 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I ain’t mad at ya playa lol….MORE VIOLENCE!!!!!

  20. 20 A_T_G said at 6:52 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I forgot about that. I loved that little detail too. Before the snap, when Foles and Kelly were talking, my Dad asked what they could possibly need to discuss. When they ran the play, it took me a second to put together why, but then I started smiling and explained. That was great.

    Also, when they drew them offsides and Foles took the snap, Shady was caught flat footed. Apparently he believed, like 99.9% of the world that the exercise was a waste of time.

  21. 21 Media Mike said at 7:06 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Juqua Parker thinks differently.

  22. 22 GEAGLE said at 7:06 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Parker was the first thing I thought of when that play happened

  23. 23 Media Mike said at 7:08 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    And when that off-sides jumping clown makes the news again for ANYTHING, I’m going to troll the comments section with off-sides chatter.

  24. 24 ACViking said at 7:19 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Still more risk than under center.

    That’s Frank Lemaster talking, not me.

  25. 25 GEAGLE said at 6:32 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Barwin talked about what a great job Vinny did on his interview on PE .com

  26. 26 GEAGLE said at 6:38 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    As spectacular as St. Nick was, what really was impressive is that when we needed to kill the clock and preserve the lead, we pounded the ball down the throat of a very good run defense that knew we weren’t going to throw the ball….and we did it without The threat of Vicks legs

  27. 27 ACViking said at 6:59 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Think circa 1961-66, with Starr handing the ball to Taylor and Hornung to run the 26 power, 37 slant, 35 drive, 28 sweep, etc.

    Power wins.

  28. 28 GEAGLE said at 7:04 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I was born in 82 lol….the only thing I know about the 60’s is what you tell me, and that i missed a lot of free spirited Orgys 🙂

  29. 29 Media Mike said at 7:10 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Most of the womyn weren’t shaved, so you didn’t miss much.

  30. 30 OregonDucker said at 11:55 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Noooooo, he really did!

  31. 31 ACViking said at 7:16 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    You’re talking late ’60s — when the Purple People Eaters and Fearsome Foursome became part of the vernacular.

    Looking at the non-NFL stuff you missed, I have a deeper appreciation for the nicknames given to those 4-man groups . . . .

  32. 32 ACViking said at 6:51 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Re: B.J. on the Come (blame Roseman, not me)

    I’m sorry to be Mr. Skeptical . . . but I don’t put much stock in anything Howie Roseman says publicly about the players, the coaches, or the draft.

    That’s not to say I think he’s being mendacious whenever he speaks.

    Only that “factual convenience” is the best friend of a good general manager.

    _________________

    If the Eagles’ brain trust thought Cunningham was on the rise, then Kelly and Roseman are in an exclusive group of NFL talent evaluators.

    The Eagles waived Cunningham on August 1st — while they (and every other NFL team) still had 90 players. In fact, the Eagles still had 11 WRs after Cunningham’s early departure.

    http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/01/eagles-waive-wide-receiver-b-j-cunningham/

    If he’d been showing something during training camp, why has Cunningham been available for 2 months to any NFL team?

    Similarly, if he was looking like a keeper, why cut Cunningham when the Eagles had 90 players on the roster? Why not wait?
    _________________

    All I’m saying is I’m cautious at taking anything Roseman — or any other GM — at face value.

    I think searching for a more contextually reliable explanation is worth the exercise. If the negative can’t be proven, then I accept his assertion.

  33. 33 Anders said at 6:59 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Not saying you are wrong, but the Eagles cut him on a injury waiver because they needed somebody else.

    Regarding him been a riser would really only be knowledge the Eagles had unless other teams had spies at OTAs and TC.

  34. 34 ACViking said at 7:03 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    “[T]hey needed somebody else . . . .”

    With 11 WRs on the roster, I’m not sure I want to buy that theory. Someone to run routes for Kinne and Dixon?

    Whatever the reason, Cunningham was deemed expendable.

    And the Eagles — even after losing Benn — had no qualms losing Cunningham to another team.

    Through the first 6 weeks of the season, the Eagles had no problem with Cunningham heading to points unknown.
    _____________

    I just think — as I always do with pro-sports GMs, but especially the paranoid NFL kind — that there’s more going on here.

  35. 35 ICDogg said at 7:09 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    No one is saying he’s anything special. But it sounds like they liked him, thought he had a little bit of promise, probably planned to keep him, but then he got dinged up. Now that he’s no longer dinged up, they are bringing him back for another look.

  36. 36 ACViking said at 7:12 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    ICDogg . . . that I believe.

  37. 37 Anders said at 7:09 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I think Cunningham was cut when we had like 6 or 7 healthy WR.

    Maybe Kelly just wants to use 11 personal more and therefor need 6 wrs on the roster and only need 3 TEs?

  38. 38 ACViking said at 7:12 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    No. Cunningham cut with 11 WRs on the roster.

  39. 39 Anders said at 7:17 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    How many of them was healthy? There was a time where had like 5 WRs there was injured (with Benn and Maclin)

  40. 40 OregonDucker said at 11:56 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I think Chip found that WR sets are more effective, especially in the redzone. He wants relatively big WRs.

  41. 41 GEAGLE said at 7:03 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    can’t wait til this weeks defensive DGR and the FOles DGR…I. Re watched the game and it’s even more impressive than it looked. defense actually played better then we thought…dying for the Earl Wolff DGR. Kid showed blitz ability getting pressure forcing badthrow, TD Saving last line of defense tackle, another TD saving Coverage in the RZ…so far he has PBUs in the ENDZONE against gates! Victor Cruz! and now Vjax
    …
    cox had his best game of the season. I Believe he was credited with 5 QB hurries.
    ..
    Soap actually made his presence felt on a few occasions
    ,,,
    Barwin continues to play well, and he talked about how well Curry played..
    …
    our CBs continue to settle into their new habitat and show improvement
    ..
    Thornton continues to play well
    …
    Meco had 11 tackles. a WR shook him out his jock in coverage, and after that play a flip switched and Meco started punishing defenders with some big hits
    …
    I’m willing to bet that when Tom does his defensive DGR, he too will say that the defense played better then we originally thought, Guys are really starting to come into their own and make things happen

  42. 42 P_P_K said at 7:29 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    How did Trent Cole look on film? Watching the game it seemed like he was all over the field, in a good way, though I don’t know that he wracked up stats.

  43. 43 GEAGLE said at 8:40 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Didn’t jump out at me…then again, I watch the young players. Graham saw his most snaps of the season, and Cole saw his least snaps of the year…Cole got exposed in coverage, brought no pass rush til late, but as usual, he played the run well

  44. 44 P_P_K said at 10:55 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    Thanks, buddy.

  45. 45 ICDogg said at 7:06 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    For most positions the Eagles are mixing guys in, aren’t playing most of them more than 75-80% of possible snaps. But one big exception to that is the inside linebackers. They are playing every single defensive snap.

  46. 46 ACViking said at 7:09 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    ICDogg . . .

    No Frank Lemasters on this bench.

    Not sure there are even any Dave Lloyds.

    We’re in the Al Chesley zone.

  47. 47 Media Mike said at 7:09 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    ACHO!

  48. 48 ICDogg said at 7:17 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    yeah… that’s pretty much the point. But I look at these guys, Ryans and Kendricks, and see the mistakes they make, and can’t help but wonder if they wouldn’t be better if they weren’t overworked.

  49. 49 Anders said at 7:18 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Normally you do not substitute your ILB/MLB.

  50. 50 GEAGLE said at 7:08 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Btw, I put up 212pts in fantasy yesterday and I still get TY Hilton’s points tonight lol. KCs defense keeps piling up fantasy points

  51. 51 anon said at 12:09 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    Yeah Chief put up more points than my QB some weeks. Blackman is a beast.

  52. 52 A_T_G said at 7:09 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    One play that bothered me was the fade to VJax over Williams. Why didn’t Williams just let him catch it, put his shoulder into his belly, and carry him out of bounds? He barely got his toes in as it was. A good shove was all it needed.

  53. 53 Anders said at 7:10 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Thats not how you teach it.

  54. 54 ACViking said at 7:11 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    But should it be taught?

  55. 55 Anders said at 7:12 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    On most fades it wouldnt matter.

  56. 56 A_T_G said at 7:18 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Between the momentum of the two players and the verticals of these guys I bet a DB could keep a WR in the air for a good two steps.

    Three is a reason they tried to put in a force out rule: it is a good tool for the defender, and the rules committee dates that. It was impossible to enforce fairly, so defenders get one tool back. They don’t have many left, they should use them.

  57. 57 Anders said at 7:21 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I have seen a lot of tried push outs where the CB is in bad position and the WR still keps his feet in. Remember if Williams is not contesting the ball, Jackson have an easier time going for it.

  58. 58 Vick or Nick said at 10:10 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Bradley Fletcher does this extremely well. Maybe he can teach Cary.

  59. 59 ACViking said at 7:23 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Re: Cowboys’ Injury Update

    DeMarcus Ware out for Sunday — has a 3-4 week quad injury.
    http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000263271/article/cowboys-demarcus-ware-likely-to-miss-3-to-4-weeks

    I’m sorry he’ll miss the game. If Foles plays, I’d like to see him against the best the other team has to offer.

    Likewise with Vick.

    I’d like to see the Eagles against the best every opponent has — so we can get the most reliable eval.

  60. 60 GEAGLE said at 8:42 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    WIN first(especially against the cowFockers), evaluate second. I for one, won’t miss Demarcus ware next week

  61. 61 ACViking said at 9:20 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I’d agree with you if the game were in Giants Stadium in February 2014.

    Since it’s not, I’d really like to know where this team stands week after week against the best the league has to offer.

    I’ve said this before . . . in 1971, the Eagles closed 6-2-1. All 6 wins came against losing teams.

    The next year, the Eagles went 2-11-1.

    Wins against crappy teams prove nothing except you can beat crappy teams.

    Also, don’t believe everything you read about the late 1960s.

  62. 62 Ark87 said at 10:29 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    “Wins against crappy teams prove nothing except you can beat crappy teams.”

    Still infinitely better than the extremely damning alternative

  63. 63 anon said at 12:08 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    yeah last year we didn’t even beat the bad teams. A sign of the good teams is that they can beat the teams they are supposed to beat..

  64. 64 Always Hopeful said at 12:53 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    I think ACViking is thinking about the long term building of this team. Mores specifically the long term prospects of the young QB currently on the roster. Let Nick go against the best to see what he’s made of. Not only him but the whole team.

    There’s a African proverb from the Yoruba people that says, “Fry the fat and see what’s left.”

    Nick facing some more heat will reveal what he’s made of.

    However, I “scouted” the Cowboys last night and their back ups (dudes off the street) played really well late.

    Don’t know if it’s because Washington’s o-line is that bad, but the “no name” replacements were all over RG3 last night 🙂

  65. 65 GEAGLE said at 7:55 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    ??

  66. 66 eagleyankfan said at 9:00 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    next question.

  67. 67 Ben Hert said at 9:35 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    Remember that one time you said “Where is GEagle for some sanity?” Is this what you were talking about?

  68. 68 ICDogg said at 11:41 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    !!

  69. 69 jshort said at 8:23 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    this working?

  70. 70 GEAGLE said at 8:44 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Who would you rather start this week against Dallas? FOles or RG3? Lol

  71. 71 eagleyankfan said at 9:04 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    some Dallas players on the mend… has to help a little. would upset the world of balance if they pull off a win here…

  72. 72 cliff henny said at 10:02 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    vick, lol…brother, you must be on cloud 9 this last day and half.

  73. 73 OregonDucker said at 10:59 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Folsey without question. You see, I want to win. I don’t have favorites.

  74. 74 eagleyankfan said at 8:59 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Just wondering if he needed to see iggy a few more weeks to decide on him. I guess he made his decision…

  75. 75 shah8 said at 9:39 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    King Dunlap is not playing bad on my screen. Happy for him…

  76. 76 A_T_G said at 10:16 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Makes you wonder if the wake up call of getting cut had any impact, or if the coaching is that much getter than what he got here.

  77. 77 ICDogg said at 12:17 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    Better fit for their blocking scheme

  78. 78 Anders said at 7:26 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    Also Dunlap wasnt a bad pass protector, he was just a terrible run blocker and he didnt fit that Howard Mudd type blocking scheme

  79. 79 eagleyankfan said at 9:48 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    2 TD’s by DJ. Just wondering the last time that happened…(yes, I know the answer)

  80. 80 Ark87 said at 10:16 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    According to the broadcast didn’t they say he’s never done it before yesterday? hard to believe. Seems like at some point he would have had a punt return and a TD catch, or one of those awesome end arounds happening in 1 of those games.

  81. 81 D3FB said at 10:46 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I believe the actual stat was first time w/ 2 Receiving TD’s in a game.

  82. 82 eagleyankfan said at 9:14 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    bingo D3FB…

  83. 83 Insomniac said at 9:50 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    How does Keenan Allen look to you guys? I only saw the stat sheet before tuning in just now.

  84. 84 A_T_G said at 10:47 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Elusive, and much more productive than Tavon Austin, who is sitting at the bottom of my fantasy bench.

  85. 85 Tumtum said at 9:53 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I have one question. Who has been wearing King Dunlap’s jersey all season?

  86. 86 A_T_G said at 10:11 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    I assume this question should not be interpreted as you conducting a survey to determine the number of fans that are rocking their Dunlap Eagles jersey…

  87. 87 Tumtum said at 7:37 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    More of an extreme curiosity in how he is playing half way decent. I have theories. Most of which involve Aliens.

  88. 88 Vick or Nick said at 10:09 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    This is why Foles should start:

    Accuracy % under pressure
    46.7- Vick
    85.7- Foles

    Time to throw
    3.06- Vick
    2.61- Foles

    (PFF)

  89. 89 ICDogg said at 12:15 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    I’m on board with Foles having more time to prove his case, but he has to continue to play that way.

  90. 90 eagleyankfan said at 9:13 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    WHY????? again with the expectations that Foles has to be perfect. Foles/p.manning/Brady — nobody is perfect. The odds of Foles repeating those numbers he put up are slim. Unless you’re “continue to play that way” means poise/understanding of the offense and nice throws to DJ. Otherwise, you’re going to be disappointed…

  91. 91 ICDogg said at 11:14 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    Yeah, I’m not talking numbers here. Just confidence, not getting rattled, not making stupid decisions, etc.

  92. 92 A_T_G said at 10:24 PM on October 14th, 2013:

    Fluker is the biggest tackle that Chucky has ever seen? Did he look on the other end?

  93. 93 anon said at 12:10 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    Hakeem Nicks is on the trading blocks. Thoughts?

  94. 94 ICDogg said at 12:12 AM on October 15th, 2013:

    For some reason I doubt he would be traded within the division, but you never know. I think a more likely destination is New England.

  95. 95 Enslaved Meth Cook said at 8:58 PM on October 16th, 2013:

    was foles at michigan state with BJ?