More on the QB Situation

Posted: October 21st, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 134 Comments »

Who will be the QB for the Eagles in 2014? Fans want an answer. The boring answer is that we just don’t know.

It could be Nick Foles.

It could be Matt Barkley.

It could be a kid putting up great numbers in college football right now.

We know Chip Kelly will want more of a long term answer at QB next year. Kelly was new to the NFL this season. He didn’t have good options in acquiring a franchise QB so he decided to stick with Vick and Foles, then drafted Barkley. I don’t think Kelly looked at any of these guys as “the answer”, but he wanted to give them a chance to show what they could do. These guys were “good enough” to get by with.

The interesting question is whether Kelly feels the need to have an elite QB or whether he would prefer to build a really strong team and go with a solid QB. All coaches want a great QB, but there is risk in trying to acquire one. Did the Skins make the right move in giving up so much for RG3? They can’t fix a flawed team, but they do have a star QB. There is no right/wrong answer. Just your take on the situation. Here’s an interesting nugget.

Maybe you are better off building your team and not selling out for one player.

You wonder if Kelly will feel like he could develop a QB who isn’t an elite prospect. That’s where the hope with Foles and Barkley lies. Clearly there is nothing special about either guy physically. In order for them to be “the guy” they would need to be a perfect fit with Kelly. The immediate notion is to think about a mobile QB, but that’s not what I’m talking about at all. Being a perfect match for a coach has to do with personality and mindset. I think both Foles and Barkley have the right personality to fit well with Kelly and how he likes things done.

Brady – Belichick

Aikman – Johnson

Brees – Payton

Those QBs ran the team the way the coach wanted it. Those QBs were great leaders and had the personality to make the players around them function well in the system. There was a special bond between the player and coach that transcended scheme and made the team better.

Other times there would be a player-coach match that worked, but was flawed. Marino-Shula got along well personally and those teams won a ton of games, but the match didn’t work in terms of creating a great team. You can say the same thing about McNabb-Reid. This isn’t an insult. There are differing levels of success. When you have a great player-coach combo, you can have a great team, not just a good one.

In order to find out about the QB-coach relationship, the QB must be the full-time starter for an extended period. Neither Foles nor Barkley has had that chance with Kelly.

Obviously the player has to fit the coach’s system well in terms of his skill set. Kelly thinks Foles and Barkley fit his system well enough. I don’t think either guy is an ideal fit, though. I was very surprised when Barkley was drafted. Just didn’t expect that to happen. Kelly said after the fact that Barkley and Bennie Logan were the 2 best interviews the team had at the Combine. That would be a hint that Kelly does like his personality and thinks they can work together long term.

There is some second-guessing going on about whether Kelly and Howie Roseman made the right moves. Should the Eagles have drafted Geno Smith? Should they have traded for Alex Smith? And so on.  Kelly didn’t see any QB that he couldn’t live without. The Eagles could have made a play for those guys. The Eagles could have dealt Nick Foles. Kelly is right to be choosy. The QB-coach relationship must work well in order for a team to succeed. Just look at how Freeman-Schiano ruined Tampa.

Just because Kelly took over this year didn’t mean he had to find his stud QB this year. It is great when that works out, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

I know preaching patience is boring, but it is the right thing to do now. Kelly may have had a certain idea of who he wanted 6 months ag0. After seeing the Eagles struggle against man-coverage, you wonder if Kelly has changed his ideas on the kind of QB he needs in the NFL. Maybe he’ll focus more on mobility. Maybe he’ll focus more on arm strength. Maybe he’ll focus more on a gunslinger type, who isn’t afraid to throw into tight coverage.

All we can do is wait and see, while speculating from the side.

I don’t know what the future holds for the Eagles QB position. I do know that no one at this point has done enough to make me comfortable.

* * * * *

I haven’t had a chance to re-watch the game so I don’t want to comment on Barkley yet.

* * * * *

The Eagles signed ILB Emmanuel Acho off the Giants practice squad. Jake Knott suffered a hamstring injury so the Eagles wanted more depth at the ILB spot. Eagles Nation was up in arms when the team cut Acho this summer. Clearly the team is now admitting they were wrong and Eagles Nation was right. Or something like that.

To make room for Acho, DB Shaun Prater was cut.

The Eagles also signed QB G.J. Kinne to the practice squad. He could get bumped up to the roster depending on how the QB situation looks on Wednesday. Barkley is the only healthy QB right now. Foles has a concussion. Vick has the hamstring. Both guys could be ready for Sunday or could miss the game. We just don’t know.

_


134 Comments on “More on the QB Situation”

  1. 1 nicolajNN said at 4:58 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Kinne era here we come! You must be ecstatic Tommy

  2. 2 Anders said at 4:59 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Seems Poyer got claimed by the Browns. Is this just Joe Banner collecting ex-Eagles or do they have a CB need?

  3. 3 Insomniac said at 5:28 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Pretty sure he just wants to stick it to Howie if Poyer pans out for them.

  4. 4 GermanEagle said at 5:01 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    You are right, Foles could be the future. Problem is though, he won’t be.

  5. 5 Anders said at 5:03 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Can you tell me this weeks Lotto number or who is going to win the Super Bowl?

  6. 6 GermanEagle said at 5:05 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    No, I can’t do it all I am afraid.

  7. 7 Anders said at 5:06 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    🙁 dam I just hoped now that you had already seen Foles future

  8. 8 Mitchell said at 5:01 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Gonna try and watch Mariota this weekend. I’m wondering how high he will go. Top 15? Top 20? I still don’t think you can write off Foles but you can only see so much before you say, “let’s move on.” Also, would like to see Barkley play with a full week of first team snaps. Guess we’ll see.

  9. 9 GermanEagle said at 5:02 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Make it Top 5. Some even have him 1 OVR.

  10. 10 Anders said at 5:03 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    100% top 10, most likely top 5. I do not see first overall for him.

  11. 11 Mitchell said at 5:06 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Sure would be nice if he slipped down a bit like players have in the past. I’m sure if no qb works out this year, the coaches will be working hard to find the “perfect” guy for next year.

  12. 12 Anders said at 5:09 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Mariota is a lot like RG3 with out the knee injuries.

  13. 13 Media Mike said at 6:22 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    For now. If you run read-option, your QB gets body bagged.

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

    After teams got burned passing on Kapernick! Marriotta isn’t slipping!!!

  15. 15 BlindChow said at 6:35 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    We need to figure out a way to get him arrested.

  16. 16 GEAGLE said at 6:38 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    That’s not going to help if Jeff Fisher picks ahead of us

  17. 17 ACViking said at 5:20 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Mariota . . . N-U-M-B-E-R O-N-E.

  18. 18 OregonDucker said at 5:25 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    The only hit on Mariota is leadership. He is a very reserved, shy guy. Both he and the coaches are working on his leadership skills. He is improving in this area.

    Needless to say, he is ideal for a Chip offense.

  19. 19 GEAGLE said at 6:21 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Less then ideal personality for the Philadelphia eagles, especially when he would have to be the face of the franchise….hopefully he comes out of his shell

  20. 20 ACViking said at 6:27 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    OD:

    That’s very interesting.

    Randall Cunningham took massive heat, once the Eagles lost 3 straight in the playoffs and he was pulled for a series in ’90 against the Washington team, for EXACTLY that reason.

    Randall was too “cool”. I think it was a west coast thing.

    But the defensive players back then (White, Brown, Joyner, Waters) wanted a LOUD leader.
    ____________

    Assume the Impossible Dream for a moment . . . .

    The Eagles somehow draft Mariota.

    How do you project MM doing within the clubhouse . . . and outside the clubhouse?

  21. 21 Media Mike said at 6:04 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I’m down with Mariota if they come in and develop him as a QB, NOT a QB/RB.

  22. 22 Donald Kalinowski said at 6:17 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I see 7 teams that are in the market for a QB next year: Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Houston, Jacksonville, Minnesota and Arizona. It could be less if Tampa likes what they see in Glennon or it could be more if.St. Louis wants to move on from Sam Bradford. Since Clowney hasn’t been as dominant as he was last year, I can see a 2012 draft scenario happening in which the top 2 picks are QBs. Even if a team with a steady QB like NYG or Pittsburgh gets a top 2 pick, they’ll get a lot of good trade offers for that pick. I wouldn’t be surprised if 5 of the top 20 picks are QBs- Bridgewater, Mariota, Bhoyd, Hundley, and Manziel

  23. 23 Mr. Magee said at 10:08 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I’ll take a pass on manziel – great college QB, mediocre pro who will also be a headache

  24. 24 jackpotsdad said at 7:42 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Full game U of O vs. Washington 2013: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znIRtufQsCs . He played pretty well throughout but it’s the 4th quarter you want to watch. That’s where he just took over.

  25. 25 Donald Kalinowski said at 5:13 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I was wondering today if Kelly really needed an “elite” QB . Maybe he just needs a guys with good arm strength and decent athleticism. If his philosophy is all about getting the ball to the skill players in space, then there should be more emphasis put on the offensive line and the receivers. Maybe Kelly can have success with a guy like Stephen Morris in the 3rd round.

  26. 26 Media Mike said at 6:09 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    2002 is the last year a team won with a non-elite QB. And then 2000 before that. In both cases those teams featured insane defenses. As Tommy pointed out, you don’t need a top of the first round QB to win a title, but:
    Flacco, Sheli, Rodgers, Brees, Big Ben, Sheli, Peyton, Big Ben, Brady, Brady, (Johnson), Brady, (Dilfer), Warner, Elway, Elway, Favre, Aikman, Young, Aikman, Aikman………….
    There is a pattern there. Your QB has to be a passer. He can scramble at times like Big Ben, Rodger, or Young………. but he has to be able to pass to win a title.

  27. 27 kevinlied said at 9:37 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Depends on your definition of “elite,” I suppose. I’d argue the last time a team with a non-elite QB won it all was 2013. Flacco is a “passer” in the sense that he has a live arm and can’t run. He’s not a passer in the sense that he’s really good at passing.

  28. 28 xeynon said at 11:00 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Flacco may not be an “elite” player this season but he certainly played like one in the playoffs last year.

  29. 29 kevinlied said at 6:32 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Sure did. He is an inconsistent QB capable of performing very well for stretches. Kind of like Mike Vick, Matt Schaub (before he started sucking out loud), and a number of other QBs who occupy the “above average, but not elite” and even “average” tiers. You can get away with one of those guys if he plays lights out at the right time.

  30. 30 ACViking said at 5:20 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Re: How a Concussion Can Lead to a SB

    In the Vet’s inaugural game in its inaugural 1971 season, the Eagles were blown out by the Cowboys 42-7 (not that close).

    The highlight — even more than DB Al Nelson’s 102 yard TD return off a missed FG — was Eagles DE Mel Tom (who’d switched from No. 58 to 99) nearly decapitating Roger Staubach after he threw an INT.

    Staubach — who’d came in for mop up duty — was watching the interception return. Tom came up from the side and gave Staubach a shot across the helmet with a forearm. Staubach went down like Jimmy Ellis against Joe Frazier at MSG. No flag either.

    Later that year, Staubach — recovered from the Tom-inflicted concussion — took over the Cowboys’ starting QB job from Craig Morton. And Dallas went on to win the SB, with Staubach getting voted the NFL’s MVP.

    So the moral of the story is, now that Foles has taken the requisite shot to the head, his level of play will rise to Staubach-ian heights, he’ll takeover from Vick for good, lead the Eagles to a SB in 2/15, and garner the MVP award.

    Not an unreasonable dream, right. I mean, Foles has had 8 starts. That should be enough to play like a SB QB in this town.

  31. 31 OregonDucker said at 5:23 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I want what you’re smoking AC. lol

  32. 32 ACViking said at 6:11 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Indeed. (Ah, it’s just one of those crappy, post-horrible, unexpected-loss-hangover days.)

  33. 33 nicolajNN said at 5:33 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    If that was true Kolb would be very very happy multiple times SB MVP

  34. 34 ACViking said at 6:10 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Kolb didn’t have enough starts in Philadelphia.

  35. 35 GermanEagle said at 5:25 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I have. It’s just not as the Eagles franchise starting QB.

  36. 36 Bob Brewer said at 5:36 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    They may not be top 10 picks, but they are first round picks for the most part. Brady (a freak) and Brees (very early second) are the exceptions off the top of my head.

    And I’d argue that we’re behind the curve in terms of QB drafting and Super Bowl success. We’re seeing QBs taken earlier in drafts which will lead to more Super Bowl wins by top 10 picks.

    It’s all about probabilities.

  37. 37 Media Mike said at 6:00 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Way too far out from the draft to really obsess over one specific name vs. another, but they need to make sure they get a guy who can efficiently pass the football. The QB as a full time run threat scramble garbage is a nice distraction, but it doesn’t win titles in this league. A guy who is a passer first, but has some wheels (Luck type), is a perfectly fine way to go.

  38. 38 ACViking said at 6:01 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Re: Selling out for a QB? — Yes, Because Team Building Is All About Rds 2-7

    Mr. Lawlor, Sir:

    The NY Giants, in the 2004 draft, did a *sell out* to get Eli Manning.

    To get Manning, whom the Chargers chose 1st overall, New York GM Ernie Accorsi sent to San Diego the Giants’ own No. 1 pick Phillip Rivers — who was 5th overall that year — plus the Giants’ third-round pick in 2004 . . . plus the Giants’ 1st and 5th Rd pick in 2005.

    Pretty steep price to move up 4 spots in the draft. (Washington paid an even steeper price for Griffin: swapped 1st Rd picks in 2012, a 2nd Rd pick in 2012, plus 1st Rd picks in 2013 and 2014.)

    But the Giants’ deal for Manning worked out well because GM Accorsi hit on some great draft picks outside of Rd 1. (See Below)
    ___________________

    Is it worth “selling out” for a franchise QB — that is, an extra 1st Rd pick or two plus a couple other relatively high choices? I’d argue the answer is “yes” because of the draft is such a crap-shoot anyway.

    And it you’re right, and hit on a franchise guy, his performance at QB will make up for the shortcoming elsewhere in the line-up.

    Of course, a team can hope to get lucky in Rd 2 (Drew Brees), hope a JUCO transfer slips through most of the 1st Rd and turns out to be better than Brett Favre (ARodgers), or wait for God to bless your franchise for a decade in Rd 6 (Tom Brady).

    That would be the Ozzie Newsome approach — stay where you are (usually) and just be really, really good at drafting, trading, and finding rookie free agents.

    Newsome’s the exception.

    Then there’s the alternative of repeatedly hiring bad head coaches and being consistently lousy — the way SF was before Harbaugh. Of course, you have to hit on your high 1st Rd picks, which the 49ers did.
    _________________

    Here’s how Accorsi made the Manning trade work with his post-Rd 1 picks:

    In 2003, DE Osi Umeniyora and OL David Diehl (and a WR named Tyree).

    In 2004, OG Chris Snee, S Gibril Wilson, and a pretty decent SL LB named Reggie Torbor.

    In 2005, CB Corey Webster, DT Justin Tuck, and HB Brandon Jacobs.

    In 2006, DT Barry Cofield. In 2007, TE Kevin Boss, LS/LB Zak DeOssie, WR Steve Smith, and HB Ahmad Bradshaw.

    Pretty solid drafting.

    In 2008, Jerry Reese took over as GM and found CB Terrell Thomas and WR Mario Manningham. But since then, the Giants have done as well as under Accorsi (IMO).

  39. 39 Media Mike said at 6:03 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Don’t forget a luck helmet catch, a bad drop by Welker, and Patrick Chung being too blind / stupid to go break up a rainbow pass on a WR who was stared down.

  40. 40 ACViking said at 6:20 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Yes, of course. And Asante Samuel dropped an INT just before helmet catch. Plus, 15 Patriots could have sacked Manning on the helmet-pass play . . . but they didn’t.

    The trade for Manning PUT the Giants there so those plays could happen.

    Hell, in 2004 Brady completes a pass to SB MVP Deion Branch because the ball passes an eighth of an inch above Sheldon Brown’s finger tips. Key play on the drive that puts the game out of reach.

    Not quite a helmet catch, but without God smiling on Belichick, there’s no pass over Brown to worry about.

  41. 41 Insomniac said at 6:07 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    All of this draft talk makes me wonder what we’ll do for free agency. We have some spending money and could pick up some pieces before the draft.

    The only guys that looks interesting to me so far is

    Lamaar Houston DL
    Michael Johnson DE/LB
    Donald Butler LB
    Brain Orakpo LB
    Alterraun Verner CB
    Jairus Byrd S
    Major Wright S
    Jared Veldheer OT
    Jon Asamoah OG
    Hakeem Nicks WR
    Jeremy Maclin WR
    Kenny Britt WR

  42. 42 Media Mike said at 6:10 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Don’t forget that Celek, Herremans, and T. Cole will all be free agents due to being cut as well.

  43. 43 Anders said at 6:13 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Why would we cut Celek and Herremans?

  44. 44 Media Mike said at 6:15 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Because they both suck and are overpaid. Herremans got dominated by a guy who has never made a pro bowl yesterday and Celek is a walking empty stat sheet. I can get a declining guard and a blocking TE for veteran minimum at both positions or in the draft, not for the large contracts both of those fools have.

  45. 45 ACViking said at 6:18 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    MM:

    Too rational and very Joe Banner-esque.

    That’s no good. All Banner did was structure the Eagles to be a playoff team for a decade.

  46. 46 Media Mike said at 6:21 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Ha ha man! 100% sociopath here. Declining player at big salary = CUT.

  47. 47 ACViking said at 6:23 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    MM:

    You’re channeling Joe Banner.

  48. 48 Anders said at 6:14 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I would love Orakpo and Verner.

  49. 49 Insomniac said at 6:27 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I would love to have Verner too. I just hope he doesn’t want too much money.

  50. 50 GEAGLE said at 6:31 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Verner is getting PAID!!! Rather have Byrd because he could help make our CBs good enough..
    ..
    If I could pick two free agents it would be Bj Raji and Jarius Byrd…but if we aren’t going to draft a supreme talent like Barr at OLB, then I would want Orakpo for sure

  51. 51 Insomniac said at 6:53 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I’m fine as long as he doesn’t want Nnamdi money. I don’t mind shelling out 8-9 million for an ascending CB in his prime.

  52. 52 GEAGLE said at 7:11 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I think it’s a bad idea…no matter what we do or don’t do at CB, we will still need to seriously improve the safety position….if you dish out big money for a star safety, he could make our existing CBs good enough…but even if you add Deon Sanders reincarnated, we still need to invest in Safety…so I would rather go all out and add the best safety on the market and give Cary and Brad another year to get comfortable and show what they can do when they are getting help from a probowl safety…and if they aren’t good enough even with top Safety play, we can invest in CB the following year…we won’t get all the players we need in the next offseason anyway…

    Plus if Verner keeps playing at this level! they won’t mind slapping him with the Tag…that kid is playing like a stud, and it’s not just his INTs…he is playing some good overall CB

  53. 53 Insomniac said at 7:38 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Titans don’t have the cap.space to tag Verner unless they start cutting a bunch of people.

  54. 54 anon said at 12:48 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Yeah plus you paid those guys guaranteed money so they’ll be here at least another year.

  55. 55 GENETiC-FREAK said at 6:19 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Marcell Darius is a pending FA as well i think

  56. 56 Insomniac said at 6:25 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I’m pretty sure he’s signed through 2014?

  57. 57 GEAGLE said at 6:29 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    BJ Raji is a free agent and only 28years old,..stick Raji between Thorton and Cox, with Benny and the jet(curry) of the bench…or Dline will be nasty….only way I would want Lamar Houston is if we don extend Thornton

  58. 58 Donald Kalinowski said at 6:37 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Doesn’t Raji play DE in 34?

  59. 59 GENETiC-FREAK said at 6:49 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Raji can play both NT/DE

  60. 60 GEAGLE said at 6:24 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Gotta sign BJ RAJI and Jarius Byrd…draft OLB Barr….and dump the rest into offense

  61. 61 ACViking said at 6:29 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    OPEN QUESTION:

    Name 5 free agents who substantially improved their new team’s fortunes?

  62. 62 Media Mike said at 6:32 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Peyton Manning X 1 million!
    Ricky Watters
    Brian Mitchell
    Jon Runyan
    Brett Favre (Vikings)

  63. 63 Donald Kalinowski said at 6:33 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Don’t forget Drew Brees, Reggie White, Deion Sanders,Charles Woodson, and Kurt Warner

  64. 64 GEAGLE said at 6:34 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Too early to discuss the last crop of FA…guys need time to grow into their roles on even teams and gel with new teammates…I think Daniel Ellerbe was a damn good signing..I think the KC free agent CBs are already paying dividends…Martellous Bennett is already helping out the bears,..Wes Welker..

  65. 65 Insomniac said at 6:45 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Peyton Manning
    Kurt Warner
    Reggie White
    Drew Brees

  66. 66 ACViking said at 6:53 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Brees the most important.

    Miami blew that one so badly.

    More?

  67. 67 Media Mike said at 6:55 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    And continues to blow. Who loses to Buffalo and/or thinks Jonathan Martin is a LT?

  68. 68 Insomniac said at 6:56 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    The same guy who asked if Dez’s momma was a hooker?

  69. 69 Media Mike said at 6:59 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Maybe he needed a date and Uncle Luke wouldn’t hook him up with a stripper.

  70. 70 holeplug said at 6:58 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Miami’s team doctors told their front office Brees wouldn’t be able to recovery from his shoulder injury so they passed. oops

  71. 71 anon said at 12:46 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Our FO must have learned from that. Thats why we don’t pass on anyone with an injury history.

  72. 72 BlindChow said at 8:56 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Alex Smith?
    Andy Reid?

  73. 73 Anders said at 8:49 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Getting a guy like Orakpo or Verner wouldnt substantially improve this team, but it would be another building block feeling needs on this team.

  74. 74 BreakinAnklez said at 10:41 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Orakpo is always hurt ….good when healthy but he is a legit liability

  75. 75 Allen3000 said at 10:14 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Marshall Faulk from Indy to StL was a BIG time move that paid off extremely well for the Rams.

  76. 76 Donald Kalinowski said at 11:45 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    There are also some non flashy guys that had a huge impact for their team- Antonio Pierce, Jacoby Jones, and Jabari Greer

  77. 77 Donald Kalinowski said at 6:30 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Most of these guys are going to re-sign or get tagged. I think Michael Johnson, Nicks, Britt, and Byrd are the only ones that are going to be on the market. I don’t want to commit too much money to Nicks or Britt and I don’t know how Michael Johnson would fit on this defense. Is he a DE or a LB in the 3-4? I don’t know enough about Byrd’s health or if he’s worth the $8 million price tag.

  78. 78 Insomniac said at 6:42 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Johnson would be a LB in the 3-4.

    edit: He’s a 270lb 4-3 DE as of now. I’m sure he could put some weight on and play DE in a 3-4. But I think he could make the transition like Cole did if we signed him.

  79. 79 anon said at 12:43 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    i’d rather not force another guy to learn a new position. Plenty of 3-4 teams out there.

  80. 80 ACViking said at 6:56 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Seems like the answer to turning around your team is signing an All Pro free agent QB coming off an injury.

  81. 81 A_T_G said at 7:58 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Michael Vick might be a free agent…

  82. 82 Iskar36 said at 6:18 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I know you are being a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I think there is a very clear misinterpretation by Ryan Lownes.

    “Of the last 10 Superbowls, 3 QBs were Top 10 picks.”

    *So, in other words, each year, around 250 players are drafted.
    *Since 1998 (the year Peyton Manning was drafted), ~3750 players have been drafted (15 drafts x 250 players/draft).
    *Of those ~3750 players, ~150 have been Top 10 picks (10 Top Ten picks/draft x 15 drafts)
    *So in 10 seasons, 4% of the drafted players (150 Top Ten picks/3750 players drafted) have won 3 games while 96% of the remaining drafted players (3600 Not Top Ten Picks/3750 players drafted) have won 7 games.
    *If it were entirely random, you would expect the Top Ten picks to only win .4 games while the 96% to win 9.6 games. So even though they may not have won the majority of Superbowls, Top Ten pick QBs are way overrepresented among Superbowl winners.

    So yea… I’ll take a Top Ten pick at QB over hoping to get really lucky with a find like Tom Brady any day.

    Like I said, I know you are being tongue-in-cheek with that comment, but it still bothered me because I’ve seen waaaay to many people read a stat like that and then use it to justify things in illogical ways.

  83. 83 ACViking said at 6:51 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    A serious, well reasoned argument. My compliments. Excellent.

  84. 84 GEAGLE said at 6:18 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Acho Acho man is back!!! Not only is he back!!! But he is back after participating in a nice Recon mission of they to giants defense!!!!!!

  85. 85 shah8 said at 6:23 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    1) Mariota isn’t that great. A Tannehill level prospect.

    2) Even Tannehill level prospects are picked before pick ten in weak QB drafts.

    3) Winning the super bowl is a team sport. Top ten QBs usually land on terrible teams, and terrible teams usually do a number on said prospects. The most successful QBs are the ones that land on a good team that has had an injury-ridden year. Culpepper, Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Rivers, so forth and on. You’re seeing quite a bit of that with Geno Smith on the Jets. So, by and large, you draft real QB prospects when they drop in your lap, like 49’ers and Kaepernick or Green Bay and Rodgers. You draft other players when there isn’t a QB, like Seattle in ’11 and Kansas City in ’12.

  86. 86 ACViking said at 6:45 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Can’t agree, except for Big Ben. (Do agree that week QB classes pull guys like Tannehill up. Ponder perfect example.)

    EManning — Drafted by the 4-12 Giants who were terrible in 2004 and 2005 and not because of injuries. That team was just bad.

    PManning — Drafted by the 3-13 Colts, and went 3-13 again. A team in transition. Talent, not injuries, the problem.

    DMcNabb — Drafted by a 3-13 Eagles. Worst Eagles team anyone younger than 40 has ever seen. Not because of injuries either.

    Matt Ryan — Drafted by the 4-12 Falcons. A one-man show when Vick was in town. New HC Mike Smith replaced Mora and ripped apart the team with GM Tom Dimitroff Jr. Took Vick-centric.

    Joe Flacco — Drafted by the 5-11 Ravens. Lighting in a bottle. No one better than Ozzie Newsome at turning over a roster. As he did when Flacco arrived.

    KKaepy — Drafted by the 6-10 SF 49ers, who were perennial losers — collecting great talent — because of lousy head coaching.

    The draft is a crap shoot. Consequently, if you think a QB coming out of college is the next “GUY,” pay the price to get him. In 3 years, the dividends will either roll in. Or you’ll be drafting the next “GUY.”

    Playing it safe is nice if you have 55 years to wait. I don’t anymore.

  87. 87 shah8 said at 7:27 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Well, much of what I’m getting at is that having a good situation is about as important as having the chance to draft a decent prospect. Eli is my real brainfart, and the specification of injury-riddled.

  88. 88 Stormbringer said at 8:12 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I’d say Culpepper was a product of his situation. I don’t know any other QB that came into a more loaded offense. He came into a situation with a Pro Bowl RB (Robert Smith), two of the greatest WRs of all-time, Carter and Moss (huge WRs at that could jump out of the stadium). Reed was pretty damn talented also and he was big too. One of the best O-linemen in history (Randall McDaniel) and all-time center (Matt Birk).

    Once that talent broke up (retired, moved on, got older) he was nothing special even though he should have still been in his prime. I can’t tell you how many times I watched him and he would just heave the ball up for grabs and Carter or Moss bailed him out by out jumping the CBs.

    He had a strong arm and was really hard to bring down but if you swapped other QBs into that type of situation they’d be good too. Kyle Boller could have succeeded in that.

  89. 89 jshort said at 9:19 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    know the feeling.

  90. 90 jackpotsdad said at 7:40 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    > 1) Mariota isn’t that great. A Tannehill level prospect.

    Have you watched him play? Watch the 4th quarter of the U of O vs. Washington game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znIRtufQsCs

    His performance was transcendent. He’s done this pretty much all last year and this year.

  91. 91 anon said at 12:39 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    it’s washington though. How many of those guys are going to the pros? Poyer was the best CB in the pac-10 last year i think. Unless it’s against an SEC team i don’t believe it.

  92. 92 A_T_G said at 8:11 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    What criteria are you using for “[t]he most successful” quarterbacks? Roethlisberger and Eli would make me think SBs, but Culpepper and Rivers over Brees, Rodgers, Brady, and the other Manning seem like odd choices.

  93. 93 GEAGLE said at 6:55 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    If we don’t draft a QB in round 1 we will get a serious talent at a position we need..This draft is going to be a QB and OT feeding frenzy at the top of the draft..if we bow out of the round 1 QB hunt, we can get a serious stud that can become a game changer for us:
    ..
    Barr, an athletic Freak at OLB, perfect batman to Barwins Robbin
    ..
    AUsin Sefarian Jenkins..a special type of TE prospect who could form a scary tandem with ERTZY 3 years from now
    ..
    Mike Evans..big explosive WR. Catches everything
    ..
    Louis Nix 3…top NT prospect, who would look big n beautiful(like “precious”) between Cox n Thornton
    ..
    Clinton Dix, top safety prospect in the draft..nice young tandem when combined with Hungry like a Wolff

    Vic Beasly a serious talent at OLB. Who is rising by the week

    Kyle van Noy is a stud OLB from BYU who could be in the range we would be picking if we sneak into playoffs

    Khalil Mack is another OLB with some big time talent…

    if we sneak into the playoffs in a week division, I do not want to see us trade the farm away to fight with half the league over QBs,,I would rather start stacking the rest of the team with probowlers. because the team is more then just a QB away from where we need to be..even if we can pull off a trade like skins did with RG3, that QB is going to need serious additions to be successful, and trading away the farm cripples our ability to turnover the roster and dump the Andy trash, and bring in some Kelly boys

  94. 94 GENETiC-FREAK said at 7:06 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    ILB n OLB looks strong next draft. DE too. Mike Evans is a beast.

  95. 95 GEAGLE said at 7:18 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    OLB and WR look very strong along with QB and OT..

    I like OLB and WR because if you pass on them in round 1, there should still be a pretty darn good one available in round two like the OLB from Stanford or Big WR from PSU….but the TE Jenkins might be really special…I wouldn’t hesitate to call him the best TE prospect since Vernon Davis….ILB is good, but with Mykal and Meco I wouldn’t want us investing high picks in that position this year

    What’s the consensus on AJ McCarren right now? Rd 2?

  96. 96 GENETiC-FREAK said at 7:28 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Meco getting up there in age n is due a big pay packet next year. Looked real slow with that INT yesterday lol Shazier looks good as an OLB n ILB. If we wait later rounds maybe Shane Skov or my favourite hitter Andrew Jackson.
    TE we got Ertz on the team but gonna need a QB to get it to him.
    AJ McCarren Rd2 maybe

  97. 97 GEAGLE said at 8:03 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Meco looked awesome yesterday in everyday..
    ..
    Blized well, disguised well, popped Dez interrupting a crossing route, INT, big 3rd n short hard punishing tackles..theman h s been playing stellar as he has gotten comfortable in the new scheme…Worried about safety,OLB,NT for the next offseason…because we still need to invest in Offense…

    If we are getting a young QB, TEs like Jenkins and Ertz can be his best friend

  98. 98 anon said at 12:36 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Yeah Meco has more tackles than the rest of the D combined i think. He’s beastin out there — too bad Kendricks isn’t getting there. But Meco and Barwin have been great IMO. Trent Cole turned into a great run stopper.

  99. 99 Anders said at 9:25 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I want Vic Beasley. Perfect speed rusher for our scheme.

    My perfect mock draft for the first 3 rounds is (after we trade Graham and Foles, tho Foles last game might ruin it)

    1st: Vic Beasley (I would love a QB here, but doubt we are in position for that)
    2nd: IFO (a good CB, have seen him rated from anywhere from mid 1st to mid 2nd)
    2nd: Ryan Shazier, great LB, a little light, but perfect against modern day TEs.
    3rd: Logan Thomas/Braxton Miller, 2nd tier QBs in this draft, both have good potential similar to what Kaepernick or Pryoer had
    3rd: Ty Montgomery, big WR with speed, great 3rd wheel to Maclin (I want him back) and Jackson

  100. 100 Vick or Nick said at 12:09 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    I agree. No reason to mortgage the future. Also Jameis Winston from FSU isn’t eligible till 2015 and he has big time talent. Give him this year and another year to develop and he can be better than anyone in the 2014 draft. Including Teddy Bridgewater.

  101. 101 Jonathan said at 8:49 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    NFC starting quarterbacks if the playoffs began today

    1) Seahawks – Russel Wilson (75th pick)
    2) Saints – Drew Brees (32nd pick)
    3) Packers – Aaron Rodgers (24th pick)
    4) Cowboys – Tony Romo (Undrafted)
    5) 49ers – Colin Kaepernick (36th pick)
    6) Lions – Matthew Stafford (1st pick)

  102. 102 TommyLawlor said at 9:04 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Are we pulling for the Giants tonight?

    Hear me out on this. The longer a team goes winless, the closer they are to having their breakout game and winning. The Eagles play the Giants on Sunday. Would it be better to face them at 0-7 or 1-6?

  103. 103 ACViking said at 9:12 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    But once a struggling team with a good QB wins a game, the players starts thinking “MO-MEN-TUM”.

    A win’s like a lanced boil . . . nothing good comes out of it for the next team on the schedule.

  104. 104 Anders said at 9:17 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I just want em to win as many games as possible so they do not get Clowney. We already have to face RG3 and Dez Bryant for 10 years, would hate to face a guy like Clowney for 10 years.

  105. 105 Donald Kalinowski said at 11:38 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    The Giants are a streaky team. It’s how they won 2 super bowls.

  106. 106 Weapon Y said at 9:44 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Watching Foles suck on Sunday was particularly depressing because he made mistakes he didn’t even make as a rookie. He handled pressure decently prior to that game in both seasons. I have to feel like he choked with the potential of becoming the permanent starting quarterback staring him in the face. All he had to do was play well for that game and the job was his for the rest of the season. But look, it’s a good thing we got to see Foles go out there and shit the bed. Now we know he isn’t the answer and can move on. There are some people who want to give him more chances, but I am really skeptical of a guy getting much better after his second year. By then, he pretty much is what he is. There are always exceptions, but you can’t take a gamble on a guy panning out if there’s no clear upside. The downside now outweighs the upside. If Foles produces mind-bogglingly record low numbers in a regular season game, what’s he going to do if the Eagles send him out there for a playoff game? He doesn’t have the mental fortitude to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. It sucks. I truly thought he had great mental toughness from everything I saw from his first two seasons. I was wrong. I hate admitting it, but I now know the Eagles will be hurt if they gamble their future on Foles. It’s time to spend more time watching film of the college quarterbacks. Chances are one of them is going to be wearing midnight green in 2014.

  107. 107 Mr. Magee said at 10:23 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Agree. I think Foles has (had?) a lot going for him, but man did he shoot the pooch on Sunday. Whatever the reason, the fact that he was SO incredibly awful dooms his future, IMO. Even great QBs have had bad days, but that was one for the ages and truly sets Foles apart, unfortunately.

  108. 108 anon said at 12:26 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    I think the problem was he was never in the game mentally. I think he choked. I think he knew he was choking — it was a huge game. I feel bad for him, I think without the concussion maybe he gets a chance to redeem himself. But even if you play shitty you gotta have the mental fortitude for the game.

  109. 109 jshort said at 10:27 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Then let him finish his second year before you make your judgement.

  110. 110 xeynon said at 11:08 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    While you may very well be proven right, I think your conclusion is premature. I’d like to see Foles have at least a full season worth of starts before we start writing the obituary for his potential.

  111. 111 A_T_G said at 10:01 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    One thing that I think speaks well for Foles and the coaching: despite how inaccurate he was, he always missed to the safe side. He knew he was inaccurate, for whatever reason, and either hedged to the incompletion or held the ball.

    I don’t know that that qualifies as a silver lining so much as a finding out that your burst appendix isn’t related to your colon cancer.

  112. 112 xeynon said at 11:09 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    This is the thing that mystified me the most about his performance yesterday. He wasn’t making horrible decisions or throwing into coverage repeatedly. He was just repeatedly missing when he tried to hit guys, including guys who were open. Really makes me wonder if there wasn’t something physically wrong with him.

  113. 113 holeplug said at 12:15 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Or he just choked

  114. 114 anon said at 12:23 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    yup

  115. 115 Always Hopeful said at 1:02 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Seemed like the moment was too big for him. Odd considering, as has been stated in many places, he’s been rather cool under fire…for the most part.

  116. 116 Always Hopeful said at 1:01 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Ha!

  117. 117 xeynon said at 10:56 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    Though I think Vick gives us a somewhat better chance to win right now, I’d like to see Foles start on Sunday. I want to see what kind of resiliency he has and how he bounces back from the worst game of his young career.

  118. 118 anon said at 12:22 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Kind of agree — except i want to win. I also dont think you can pass the concussion test that fast.

  119. 119 Michael Winter Cho said at 11:08 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    OT: I used to rely on Pro-Football Zap Eagles as my second option to get my Eagles fix. It has links to lots of great Eagles sites, including igglesblitz, and also shows when new articles are added. Unfortunately, it’s recently gotten weird. Tommy’s last shown post is from last month. It doesn’t even show Sheil’s site anymore. Anyone know of any other similar services? Thanks and hope not an inappropriate question.

  120. 120 BlindChow said at 1:37 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Browser bookmarks?

  121. 121 Mr. Magee said at 11:08 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    I want to see everything Kelly does in a positive light, but it’s possible Chip doesn’t know what he wants in a QB. The argument that he can make anything work, taken to the extreme, is another way of saying that he doesn’t know what he’s looking for. I don’t know that this is true (and I certainly hope it isn’t), but at this point, given Kelly’s words and actions, it has to be considered a possibility.

    In general, Kelly doesn’t seem to be making the surest of strides (and I’m not just talking about the in-game head scratchers). For example – and there are several – there was nothing about the roster that he assembled that said, “this is my kind of player / this is not my kind of player.” I know, I know, there was only so much he could do. But last year’s squad was a bunch of soft, underperforming prima donas, and the transition to a new era should have included a “statement” cut or signing.

    I’m not saying Chip won’t be successful here,

  122. 122 anon said at 12:21 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Our whole secondary was cut, anyone that underperformed was cut. Allen would have been gone if Phillips worked out. Look at the culture change in the lockerroom. Players are bought in, our offense is playing great overall. Yeah we need more TDs, but it’ll come.

    Our defense is playing the best it’s played in 3 years — and that’s all new players all new defense. This team has made huge strides this year, sadly they just aren’t consistent.

  123. 123 disqus_jB7dl5fzvO said at 11:15 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    It took Eli 37 attempts to reach 200 yards. Foles threw for 80 on 29 attempts yesterday, so continuing on that trend, it would have taken him 72.5 attempts to reach 200. The NFL record for pass attempts in a game is 70 by Drew Bledsoe, who threw for 426. Josh Freeman? As of writing this, it would take him 51 attempts for him to reach 200.

    Yikes.

  124. 124 anon said at 12:18 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    he threw 50 times, only had like 130. watching this game was like watching the eagles game yesterday, except we were the vikings and cowboys were the giants.

  125. 125 Mr. Magee said at 11:34 PM on October 21st, 2013:

    But it doesn’t necessarily feel like the organization reflects much of his personality. Maybe he’s just more of a football ‘technocrat’ than he is dynamic leader?

    In any event, by the time next season rolls around, I hope we have not only more of Kelly’s type of guys (whatever that is), but also a little more insight into how he intends to get from here to there. We shouldn’t have to do so much speculating based on what he did at Oregan.

    And hopefully we start hearing the word “rebuilding” – not only from Chip, but from Howie and everyone else. Losing games right now is fine, but losing credibility? Not so much.

  126. 126 Vick or Nick said at 12:03 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    I was more shocked than angry after this.

    I didn’t expect Foles to light it up but what I saw was just shocking. He missed pass after pass.

    I expected Dallas to torch our secondary. Again shocked at how well the D played.

    Cowboys Defense def played man coverage a lot. I would love to see the percentages but if I had to guess it seemed like 80% man, 20% zone. Clearly, this is a problem for our receivers. The few times they were able to beat one-on-ones, Foles was very inaccurate.

    This game just shows you have to play well as a team to win.

    The Defense did a good job in containing the “high-powered” Cowboys offense.
    The Special teams held Dwayne Harris in check.

    But the Offense (of all units) failed to do anything.

    First shocked, then disappointed. Then came to realize Eagles are at least another off season away from really competing. Good teams give you optimism to expect consistency. This team lacks it so far in 2013 season.

  127. 127 anon said at 12:16 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    we havent been consistent for several years, biggest plague on this team. not sure how to shake it. doesn[t help that everyone else in the division got a w.

  128. 128 Vick or Nick said at 12:11 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    If i had to pick draft needs:

    1. QB
    2. OLB pass rusher
    3. Big/Fast WR (can beat press man)
    4. Secondary
    5. NT

  129. 129 anon said at 12:15 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    yeah i actually think that’s how the draft will go….if we are picking top 10. IF we aren’t picking top 10 i think we’ll get OLB, QB, WR, OLB, NT

  130. 130 Anders said at 4:49 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Evans is not fast. He makes Riley Cooper look like a speedster

  131. 131 Vick or Nick said at 11:48 AM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Come on Anders. I expect better comments from you. He’s beating potential NFL DB’s from Alabama here.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n8GxriGnds

    I’m not implying those players exactly. I wanted to focus more on the need itself. Just offering suggestions based on where we are drafting.

    Riley got caught by a linebacker/safety in the Tampa game.

  132. 132 Anders said at 3:23 PM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Mike Evans will most likely end up with a 40 yard dash slower than Cooper.

  133. 133 austinfan said at 1:42 PM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Cooper has 10 receptions for 208 yards the past two games.
    Keep it up and you’re replacing Avant.

  134. 134 Anders said at 3:22 PM on October 22nd, 2013:

    Cooper is coming along, but his is no fast.