More on Skill Player Expectations
Posted: May 22nd, 2014 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 165 Comments »Rookie receiver Jordan Matthews will have a chance to contribute right away. The question is how good he can be as a rookie. Some feel that rookie receivers are more likely to struggle than contribute. Eagles blogger Allen Rodriguez decided to see how things look from a historical perspective.
Here’s what he found.
Below is a graph of all 2nd-round1 rookie receiver outputs from 1994-2013 (86 players). The Y-axis shows yardage, and the X-axis3 gives tells you what percentage of the sample exceeded that output. So, roughly 33% of rookie 2nd-round receivers exceed 400 yards.
The high mark on that graph is Anquan Boldin (1377 yards). DeSean Jackson (912 yards) was third.
Now, of course there are reasons to suspect Matthews is more likely to end up on the better-than-average end of the scale. For one, he has no injury history. But more so, he figures to have a good opportunity to earn playing time, is smart enough to learn the offense and earn the trust of the coaches quickly, has an excellent quarterback, plays in an era where teams pass more than ever, etc.
Go check out his post for some additional info.
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Pro Football Focus had one of their Fantasy Football experts post his stat projections for the Eagles. I’ll post a couple of them.
Jordan Matthews
Matthews is a hot name in the dynasty fantasy football community, and for good reason. His measurables are good, his production was good, he has good size, good speed, great hands, and an incredible work ethic. The Eagles have already named him as the starter in the slot, which can create a lot of matchup problems for opposing teams. Expect Matthews to be one of the better rookie wide receivers in year one.
PFF Fantasy projections: 38 catches, 492 yards and four touchdowns for 114 fantasy points, or WR74. Currently, Matthew’s ADP is 152.5 as the 60th wide receiver taken.
Nick Foles
Foles had a year for the ages last season. In just 10 starts, Foles threw for 2,891 yards and 27 touchdowns to go along with just two interceptions. He led the NFL in touchdown percentage, yards per attempt, and passer rating. While some believe that that was all Chip Kelly, that is irrelevant to fantasy football. Foles has 16 career starts, as he had six under Andy Reid, and has totaled 4,590 yards and 33 touchdowns through the air and 263 yards rushing with four touchdowns on the ground. Can he keep it up? He should be able to, now going into his first year as the starter and second year under Kelly, he could be one of the top five quarterbacks in fantasy football yet again.
PFF Fantasy projections: 3,886 yards, 32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and 240 yards rushing with five rushing touchdowns for 321 fantasy points, or QB4. Foles is projected to be a top-tier QB, and should be a QB1 in your league. Currently, his ADP sits at 66.17, as the seventh quarterback drafted.
Jeremy Maclin
Maclin signed a one-year deal for this season, but both he and the Eagles have expressed interest in a long-term contract. Last year, Maclin missed the entire season due to injury, but he is out to prove that he is a top receiver, and in Kelly’s offense, that could be a dangerous combination. Two years ago, Maclin caught 69 passes for 857 yards and seven touchdowns. With the loss of DeSean Jackson, he could be the top receiver on the team, but will he be able to stay healthy and consistent?
PFF Fantasy projections: 58 catches for 780 yards and six touchdowns for 173 fantasy points, or WR46. Maclin’s ADP is currently 66.83 as the 31st wide receiver off the board.
Interesting stuff.
I’m not a big FF guy, but these analysts and writers do their research. They aren’t just throwing poop against a wall. 38-492-4 seem like reasonable expectations to me.
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Those numbers would exceed the 2013 stats of Jason Avant, the man Matthews is mostly replacing. Avant went 38-447-2 last year.
Some of you asked about how a big WR like Matthews can play the slot. Isn’t that the home for smaller, quicker guys? Not necessarily.
Calvin Johnson got moved to the slot a lot in 2013. The Lions obviously felt it would be tougher to contain Johnson if he worked the middle of the field. Johnson is a freak and can play anywhere, but the point is that big guys can work the slot. You need players than are comfortable in traffic. Smaller guys can use quickness to get open. Big guys use muscle to fight through contact and give the QB a target.
Former Vanderbilt star Earl Bennett was a good slot receiver for the Bears. He was 6-1, 205. Heck, Avant was 6-1, 210.
Here is a very good article on bigger slot receivers and why teams are putting guys there.
Matthews is talented enough to play outside. You’ll see him there some this year, but for now Chip Kelly will use him inside and leave Mac and Coop out wide in most sets.
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Need a good laugh? Brandon Lee Gowton put together some of Beau Allen’s best tweets. Hilarious stuff.
My favorite.
Why doesn't Subway sell Cookie dough???
— Beau Allen (@Beau_Allen) April 12, 2014
I love Subway cookies. This is a very relevant question. I get the feeling that Allen is the kind of smart, but weird big guy that John Madden would love.
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Training cam… pre-seas…. reg-sea….. playof… SUPER BOWL!!! CANT GET HERE QUICK ENOUGH!!!
I was thinking about this in bed last night, it’s already June. The hard prt of the offseason is out of the way, we will be in the preseason in no time.. Plus soon we will be getting awesome Cary Williams quotes to get us thru our days
“I have fifty cats howling outside my window because I have ten thousand rats running around my building!”
I’m in the fantasy camp that believes there are very few QBs worth owning and starting every week. Foles would pass… Who coincidentally bailed me out when I was stuck with one I was very iffy on in Matt Ryan.
Wow, same for me too. Finding those backups who emerge on the wire is such a key element.
The year that I least expected Riley Cooper to do anything..he sends me to a smooth sailing into the playoffs and then fails me in the playoffs .
Before week one last year i got julius Thomas.. SCORE!!!!!
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The year before i picked up alfred morris after seeing him run for like 20yards against us in preseason. SCORE!!!
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Moves like these are how you become a two time defending fantasy champ!!
How about I drafted Arian Foster after his rookie season in all 3 of my leagues 2 of which were dynasty…. in the 12th+ round! Oh and his contract expired after last season….in and out like a bandit!
That’s a BIGTIME score!
I already designated Foles and Ertz as my fantasy keepers in one league
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Shady and Foles in my other league 🙂
I was in two leagues…as soon as Vick went down i was able to get Foles in one of my leagues, the othet league someone else stole him on the waiver wire. Week later he plays Dallas, gets cut, no one wants him, I pick him up in both leagues and start him against the raiders!!! Lol
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I play in A league with all giants fans,,,,they must hate me 🙂
I am extra hard on Eagles players in fantasy. I over compensate for my green goggles. I rarely end up with any. (though I had Shady Desean and Nick, and Ertz though never played em, spread across my leagues).
My leagues are all highly competitive and for fairly significant cashola. If I must shun my Eagles to maintain dominance, then I do it gladly.
Same… I won’t draft birds just to draft them,…but I’m usually the only Eagles fan in my leagues, so I have more knowledge on young Eagles players than the people I play against..not having any eagles fans in the league means I don’t have to fight for some eagles with other green goggled owner…
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Like two years ago, when shady went down, I started Bryce, and he had those two monster games which came in fantasy crunch time(right before the playoffs)
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I play for too much money to just draft players because they are eagles
Wouldn’t it be weird if Nick Foles turned out to be as good as he was In 2013?
Great profile on Villanueva
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/hotread140522/army-veteran-alejandro-villanueva-pursues-nfl-dream-philadelphia-eagles-three-tours-afghanistan
Even more relevant… Why doesn’t Subway sell PBR?
In my experience Subway doesn’t even sell what they say they sell.
Never encountered that. Delicious Subway sandwiches are always available as advertised any time I decide to stop in.
Let me finish your post:
Subway: Eat Fresh
@ T-Law
Didn’t you forget the best big slot WR? I think Colston would be near to the best case for Matthews, especially if you think about the production distribution of the Saints and Brees.
Yep, should have mentioned him.
Really nice comparison
Those fantasy projections would be a huge disappointment for Maclin. I know I’m hoping he slips under the radar a bit and I can snap him up late in my fantasy league.
“They want a guy that can be active as a pass-rusher and can run sideline to sideline and give great effort, and those are the things that I bring to the table,” Allen said. “Sometimes, I get the unfortunate knock of just being a run-stuffer, but I don’t see myself like that at all. I see myself as an athletic guy that can move and rush the passer well. I think I bring a lot to the table and obviously so do the Eagles coaching staff or else they wouldn’t have drafted me.”
He wouldnt be here if he was an immobile stiff..,def more athletic than people realize
You can tell just by looking at him that he brings a lot to the table, and that very little of it ends up in a Tupperware in the fridge.
Slander. Beau and I will be suing you.
You come in 3rd place this week for frivolous lawsuits:
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3) TY Law
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2) Man sues woman because their kids are too ugly
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1) Houston man wants to sue stripper for taking to much of his money, and he wants a stripper payment plan
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I wish I was making this up….only in Murika
Nope. Have you seen the johnny manziel lawsuit yet? LOL
here it is. read @ your owr risk:
http://www.sbnation.com/2014/5/23/5744690/johnny-manziel-lawsuit-nude-hot-dog-selfies
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
that was my reaction
I feel for the pro team that will have to worry about Jameis Winston’s crap
Since twitter wars between some of the best at their position is kinda the trend now…who would you guys take?
Patrick Peterson or Richard Sherman?
Adrian Peterson or Shady?
for twitter war, I’d take Sherman and Shady…. for football, I’d take the law firm of Peterson & Peterson all day.
Think its a silly discussion…
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One is a cover 3 CB who sits on the left side all game, the other is a shut down CB who will move around and follow WR all over the field… To decide who you would rather have at CB, depends on what type of defense you want to run
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AP is a beast, as is marshawn, but why in the world would anyone rather have any back over shady in a chip kelly offense? Shady is better for Chip than AP would be, whoch is all that matters to me
I think AP would be scary with those wide open lanes, sure he cant juke a person, he just run straight over them. AP is also a good blocker and underrated pass catcher.
The only thing against AP right now is age.
All true, but I adore the wheel route portion of our offense.
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Think Shady/Sproles is Chip Kelly’s wet dream
you think ap can’t catch? eagles were perfect for ck, we live for the offense big plays
No, he can surely catch, just not sure I’d want to throw wheel routes to him 20yards down field
Altough you have to think that CK and Foles wasn’t love at first sight. 😉 Think Kelly adored Shady and the O-Line on the field plus the salary, financial possibilities with the staff etc. and the power off the field when he came here.
Kelly had wanted Foles for his quaterback since he(Foles) kept scoring against him when at Oregon.
Foles one of the reasons Kelly is here.
I don’t know. It’ possible you’re right, only CK knows. But he re-signed Vick and made him the starter. He didn’t had to re-sign Vick if he was sold on Foles from the get go.
I get the same impressions inspite of our dumb media, I think FOles is a big part of why he took this job in the first place
Poor William Gay.
I think AP would break the rushing record under Chip.
If just Def play – Sherman. If counting returns – Peterson
RB – Shady – He gets less pounding due to chips offense…
Want a fantasy sleeper? COLT LYERLA!!!!
no one that rogers throws to is a sleeper
There’s a really distasteful joke about Jermichael Finley’s injury in there.
Wish I coulda snatched Jarett Boykin last year
I grabbed him, but then rogers got hurt and it was over basically.
For Dynasty owners…may be a good idea to get your hands on Donte Moncreif this year playing with Andrew Luck.
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Think a guy like Cody Latimer is better early, but there’s no telling how much longer the Sherif will keep playing. Moncreif is a player you can take late and expect to grow with Luck the next few years
If only Moncreif had hands and didnt body catch everything
A good sleeper is Robinson or Lee for the Jags
Thinking Moncreif can grow hands, quicker than Lee or Robinson can grow a decent QB 🙂
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I want Jeffry Lurie to take Blacmon on as his next rehabilitation project. by then, our locker room should be really strong, and I’d take a flier on that type of talent. So what if he fails…it’s not like we don’t have the horses at WR, and it probably wouldn’t cost Much..
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Blacmon is done in jaxonville, but do you think the drafting of the two WRs will spend the end of Cecil short in Jax, since I believe this is a contract year for him? Nice little player that kid
Things that should happen but never will. Blackmon isn’t done in JAX just like Gordon isn’t done in CLE. They’re too talented and it’s hard to find that kind of proven talent that you don’t have to pay for.
Frankly, we just don’t need those guys. Chip Kelly is Greg Popovich, takes undertalented players, puts them in the scheme and lets them excel at what they do naturally.
Disagree, think Jax is thru with him, after having to invest two draft picks because he can’t be trusted. Better chance they retain Short IMO…Jax talks like they are thru with him
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Cleveland on the other hand looks like they will definitely tolerate josh crap… Funny, Josh was campaigning to draft Manziel! and now he won’t even be there for the rook
Stats are great to see a trend. However, past stats do not dictate future stats. Here’s one reason why. Any of those 86 players drafted by Chip? Any of those players play in Chips offense? Throw those stats away. It’s fun to discuss, but we’re putting the cart before the horse. My gut feeling. IF he can handle camp and IF he picks up Chips offense. 500 +.
Foles 32 TD, I think is a lot.
I’m the opposite . I think 500 would be asking a lot, and 32 shouldn’t be that hard in 16.
31.25 yards per game for a starting slot guy — should be reachable.
He had 27 in 10 games last year.
32 in 16 games represents a significant down-tick in tds per game. I’d say it’s a reasonably conservative guess.
Aside from just extrapolating from last year’s numbers, we can also look at the strengths of this team. The OL excels with their athletecism moreso than their pure power, which seems to make them a touch less effective down by the goal line. And Foles is an absolute beast in the red zone.
Compared to what you’d expect to be the norm for a Chip Kelly offense, I think this team will put up a higher than expected passing tdrushing td ratio.
Being the optimist that I am, I think we can expect plenty of both.
4 QB’s in the nfl had > 31 td’s last year. That and this team being more of a running team – minus DJ. This team will move the ball a ton, I’m just not sure they result in TD passes in high volume.
If Foles was to manage > 31 … clearly, we have our franchise qb.
Last year in the red zone, with Nick Foles at QB, Nick had 16 touchdown passes and 3 of his own rushing touchdowns, to only 6 rushing touchdowns for all other players. And he’s got better red zone options this year than last.
I see us gaining a lot of yards on the ground between the 20s and finishing a lot of drives off via the pass.
I’m hoping so. Last years success doesn’t always = this years success. Ask Mat Ryan…..
Meh…Ryan fell off because they were basically a 2’WR/no run game offense, and his main WR got hurt..
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We have too many more weapons. How many weapons have to get hurt for FOles to suffer the way Ryan did last year?
OK — how about Matt Schaub … or Vick from 2011 to 2013. How many examples would you like?
The point is there are so many variables. Other teams will adjust to Foles. Chip will re-adjust. No matter, we can’t rely on last year stats to be a given for this year.
to answer your question 1 — Mac. He goes down..we’re hurting pretty bad.
Sure.. Everything can easily change from one year to next, but I believe in hard work, and coaching.
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I feel confident that we will get that from Chip/FOles so I see no reason why I should assume we don’t improve.
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I think our offense will be much harder to defend this year than it was last year.. I wouldn’t worry much about what defensive coordinators will do now that they have seen Chip. I’d be more concerned with what Chip will do to them, now that he has had a season to really see what works and doesn’t in the NFL..
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I don’t believe DCs can adjust to FOles, because I don’t expect Nick to be the same player as he was last year. Kid has done nothing but improve, and I don’t see why that would stop now that he has an entire team soley focused on his development. I don’t believe you get to see the best it’s going to get from a player their first year in a new scheme…and when we are talking about a young player who is still improving and coming into his own as a pro, I expect him to reach a new level this year
But nothing is a given from one year to the next, that’s for sure. But if I believed in Nick this time last year, how can I not believe in him now?
I’m with you on Nick Foles. Huge supporter of his.
Yeah, I remember you were down with the cause last year. One of the few who believed in him before he flooded the black hole
There were few of us then … many on the train 🙂 now …
I’d love Foles to be that 35+ guy. I just don’t want my hopes up. I think a natural growth for him and this offense will be to be more efficient.
Yes sir…. Yeah typically you won’t be seeing me projecting any of our players numbers for this year.. Very different offense, so many weapons to spread it around.
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I’m concerned with Nick becoming more efficient, continue to keep the turnovers to a minimum! but be able to do that while improving on holding the ball too long, throwing it away sooner and taking less sacks.
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If he just improves on his efficiency and the little aspects of the game, in this offense, the numbers will come!
Been in Nick’s corner since his rookie year when he said during the week ‘he needs to do a better job of climbing the pocket instead of trying to escape it’, then he did exactly that in the next game and for the rest of that season.
For years we heard guys say they had to improve on this or that without ever seeing the improvement. Here was a guy who said that, and then did it. Immediately.
Yeah you always had my back in my pro FOles rants 🙂
Btw, what are peoples expectations of Ryan and the Falcons this year… Closer to a playoff team, or picking in the top 10 of the draft again? I struggle trying to project them
yeah its intersting for fantasy, not a ton of YDs passing — though could improve with screen game and lots of TDs.
Honestly, if Foles was a better downfield passer i’d see more of the need for a field stretcher, but since he’s way better at short/intermediate then i’m glad we’ve switched to horizontal attacks.
Foles has 33 TDs in around a seasons worth of attempts, so +30 is not out of reach for Foles (this includes his bad rookie year where he only had 6 TDs in 6 starts)
That article about slot WRs also tells you why Kelly wanted Jenkins in FA and drafted Watkins, both are more physical type CBs who can play the slot (Boykin is physical as well, both if he gets injured). This also opens up for more dime or “big nickle” with 3 safeties on the field.
We have certainly come a long way, when last year we were looking at Chung to backup Boykin in the slot.
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Jenkins, Nolan, Jaylen, all capable of defending inside WRs
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Last year was so vanilla, I can’t wait to see what cool ass Billy Dee does schematically now that he has options
Can I just say that for only being 6′ 2″, Beau Allen wears 333 lbs better than anybody I’ve ever seen. Spanks?
You really just went there? 🙂
Well he is officially my man crush, he’s a legit nerd, currently #1 on the list of Eagles I’d go to the bar…or comic con with, which has been vacant since Quintin Mikkel left lol.
But seriously, supposedly Wilfork is 325.
http://playerperspective.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/vincewilfork.jpg
Kelce and Mathis don’t factor in at all??
You got me there, that entire O-line seems like a pretty good time. You know that meeting room has to be awesome.
I feel like Peters is very normal…maybe even a little lacking in personality. I have a feeling they love to screw with him.
I always got that vibe too. Chill black dude with a bunch of crazy white dudes just being weird. Back when Watkins was on the team, someone put video up of them all paying Watkins to eat a worm. Watkins had that fire truck, of course Kelce had to take that opportunity to do this: http://nesncom.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/6a0115709f071f970b017744cd0fa9970d.jpg
Did you see what they did to him yesterday? Lol there was a brinks truck at Novacare, and Mathis was tweeting pics of it saying that Peters signing bonus had arrived! LOL
Wait Mikell was a nerd?
Yeah, saw an interview with him waaay back, his hero? Goku from Dragon Ball Z. I did a triple take on that one, like wait….wtf?
Why? Goku would have been a great football player.
I guess with a name like Quintin you should expect as much. Thats awesome though. I could see Evan Mathis being a good nerd as well.
Lol,well played. Nadje Goode is a cartoon nerd.
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right? in my mind Wilfork is the biggest dude in the nfl, but google wouldn’t lie…right?
He very well could be.
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Imagine how fat he must be after being injured
If Matthews puts up big numbers, that’s bad news.
Because it means someone had a serious injury, with Maclin, Cooper, Ertz, Celek and Sproles, uh, there’s only one ball. And Huff may outproduce Matthews because he’s actually perfect for the Cruz role in the slot, enough speed to threaten deep if matched against a safety, and the run after catch ability of a former RB with a RB body.
Interesting note from BGN comparing Mathews & Sammy W……
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2014/5/23/5742204/jordan-matthews-sammy-watkins-comparison-better
As I wrote there, it completely ignores film
Just shows that some people believe everything that they read. I’m sure Matthews is paying rotoviz since there’s an article comparing him like every week there.
Matthews is compareble to Watkins is just a joke. Matthews is good because OMG HE LEAD THE SEC IN CAREER RECEIVING YARDS AND OMG HE IS BIG AND OMG HE IS RICE*S COUSIN AND OMG HE HAS A GOOD WORK ETHIC.
Not to mention that Watkins would have shattered that record easily if he stayed one more year. I feel like me and you are the only ones that are cautious about Matthews. The bloodlines don’t mean crap when you see the most of the sons of Montana, Rice, Deion/Barry Sanders, Bruce Matthews and etc not even making NFL teams.
Bruce Matthew son did get drafted by the Falcon this year, but yea in general blood line means nothing. Its super rare sons of famous dads become anything.
Holiday weekend, interesting to see what our guys priorities are(not that it matters during a holiday):
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Acho tweets: “went to get some extra work in on my day off and I saw 10 rookies working out,.. I LIKE IT”
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Sheeeeet I like it too!
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Bamiro and a bunch of the guys are in Detroit for Brandon Graham’s wedding
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The big swinging dick of the eagles, aka shady McCoy is going to tear up Vegas…and if the picture of the girl he was Macking in Honolulu is any indication, of his weekend! GOD BLESS HIM! Let’s just not throw woman out of party buses this weekend 🙂
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And instead of going on a bunch of media tours this offseason, our young QB is still in where’s Waldo mode!! LOVE IT!
And hope he doesn’t downgrade to throwing her out of a moving car and think he’s showing improvement.
“But I’ve learned my lesson, I didn’t throw her off a party bus! It was just a rental car!”
We,call that… PROGRESS!!!!
That picture of Logan playing basketball next to BANE Johnson had me worried a lil but about my boy Bennie from the block, but a day later this pick of him lifting alone was released and he looks much much better.
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People complaining our NT only put on 8lbs, well it looks like 8lbs of solid muscle, which I’ll take over 3lbs of muscle and 12extra LBs of fat
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If anyone finds out Vinny Currys target weight gain, please give me the heads up… Thanks
Where is the pic of Bennie?
It was floating around the other day… For that sort of thing, you should probably check out BGN… But I don’t visit that site and I saw it somewhere this week besides twitter, either philly.com or CSN….but I’d bet you can find it for sure on BGN… SBN platform is where you typically find everyone posting pics and Gifs.
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Eagles also tweeted it out,
In that photo, Johnson is just BIG and I mean really big, 6-6 320 and most likely still runs like a TE
He looks like BANE from batman… Scary beastly looking. Tackles did not look like that 20years ago.
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I wouldn’t trade Lane for Greg Robinson!!
Tony Boselli (Who Lawlor compared Johnson too), Pace and Ogden was that big and athletic.
Hmmm I like having to look for hall of famers to find a decent comparison to our puppy 🙂
Try the Colts’ Jim Parker
I’m not complaining 🙂
https://twitter.com/ChrisMaragos/status/467842240153673729/photo/1
Looked all over for that. Ended up watching highlights from the 2013 Charity game, Maclin and Boykin (who we already knew) got GAME, dude. Mac nails the 3’s Boykin turns all the bricks into alley-oops. Honorable mention goes to Foles, who dunks and drops 3’s.
Anywho, funniest part of this picture is, A) GJ Kinne doesn’t look like a football player among those dudes, and B) Lane is so damn big for a moment I thought Bennie was Phillip Hunt.
Kinney was actually dunking that day, check out his twitter feed, he has a pic that says QBs are athletes too or something.
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Barwin on McPherson,and Bo Wolffs podcast this week was really informative for an interview this time of year..talked about basketball and how we have so many impressive players and Dunkers, but when it came to the best dunker, he said without a doubt Boykin and it’s not even close, and that’s coming from someone who can throw down and made a big east basketball team…. He also seems impressed by Marcus Smiths athleticism being on the field with him a few times.
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Barwin says when we use him to rush on 3rd he is always either rushing from the 9 or the 5 (which was the gaps Cole was accustomed to rushing from in our 4-3), but now we has Cole rushing often from the 4….wonder which route they will go with Marcus as a rookie. assuming it he much easier starting him off rushing from 9 and 5.,,
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I don’t think Howie got enough credit for what an amazing signing Barwin was..to have a guy that you can use in a playoff game, to completely ERASE and OWN one of the best modern day TEs in the game, is such a valuable card Billy D has in his pocket that is just huge to have in today’s NFL. Barwin has the strength to handle a guy like Gronk, and the athleticism and physicality to beat up on Jimmy Graham… Barwin talked about how Marcus was very similar to him in size and build, and how you see the athleticism to easily understand why he was a first round pick..
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Those that haven’t seen the podcast video, should get to it on a boring day they are craving eagles info.. I’m critical of our media, but that was a pretty darn good interview in terms of info, while also blending in an nice amount of goofing around with Barwin…
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Barwin did one of those Q and As with fans this week on one of those famous sites, can’t think of the name.. Is it Reddit or something? I know Mathis did the Q and A on the site last year. I didn’t get to check it out yet(not even sure where to find it)…has anyone seen it? It was from like 2-3 days ago
I saw the podcast. Barwin is a very unique dude, especially among football players. Very good guy.
He’re the source material from the Reddit AMA. Reddit’s format can be confusing until you get used to it, these ama’s can be pretty light hearted and nonsensical (not a hube for informed football fans) but ther eis some neat tid-bits. http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/25ygve/i_am_connor_barwin_a_philadelphia_eagles/
MUCH APPRECIATED!!!
Good answers as expected..
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He was asked about our 29th rank defense, and he said we were 17 in points allowed, which is more important that yards, and we played 300 more snaps than any D..
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Media loves to talk a bout our defense as if it’s weak, but I get the impression players don’t see it that way at all and that they feel like they are coming together as a good unit.
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Lol team measured Biceps last week and Fletcher cox was the biggest. That’s what I like to hear about our 22yr old prized bull.
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Barwin has never intercepted FOles at practice..
My favorite was when someone asked him what it was like going from a playoff team to a 4-12 team and he was like, I went to a playoff team, what happened to that other team when I left again? OOF!
Yeah that was n awesome answer! He seems jacked up to play the texans this year to
55 is Brandon Graham. Logan is 96, and not in the picture, from what I can tell.
You have to see the pic of Bennie lifting weights…looks much better
Well, maybe, because that isn’t Bennie in the first picture. It is Graham.
Lol that could be why lol..
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Pics are also misleading. Cox and Shaq were pictured together this week looking at a Bughatti, and Cox looks about the same size as Shaq… Lol WE WISH!!!
Even funnier because there is no way either one of them could fit into a Bughatti. Their shoulders would touch the ceiling and their knees would touch their ears.
It’s Bennie, dunno why he is wearing 55 (they probably made the jersey for graham and he had to back out or something and Bennie subbed in? dunno). Rule of thumb ATG, not just anybody can grow a beard like that, trust your instincts! https://twitter.com/derek_boyko/status/467835818821029888/photo/1
NFL teams really need to be careful who they pay..
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Carolina paid the Kraken, and he is flipping out beating his girl over infedelity with rapper Nelly lol
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TJ Ward gets paid, and already he is arrested in Denver? WTF is wrong with people???
How do you feel now about the Ward signing then? Howie must have knew if Elway knew too.
I like,Jenkins/Wolff more than most.. Think they will be a pleasant surprise
I don’t expect much from Mathews this year because the offense is loaded with pass catchers (Maclin, Cooper, Ertz, Celek, Sproles). His most valuable contribution will be blocking downfield.
What if I told you that he’s a mediocre blocker right now?
From a,fantasy standpoint, think it will be hard to figure out what round Sproles should be drafted.. Much easier when he was a saint
I wouldn’t touch him until after my starters were pretty much all figured out.
Ok.. For my fellow game of thrones fans….
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We have established Tony Romo shall be forever known as Reak… But…
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If Chip Kelly is “The Imp”, would that make Andy Reid “HODOR”?!?!? LOL
Btw, if we are going to do a fantasy league again, we can not play by last years god aweful rules. Not playing PPR is horrible. Found last years rules to be so boring, and I was screwed because I didn’t pay attention to them til after the draft lol
To add to the bit about Herremans, Jimmy Kempski broke down all of the sacks allowed this season. Early in the season Herremans struggled individually but you really got the feeling that he always had an eye towards Lane and that exaggerated his struggles a bit. A few times he would drop back and look to his right to possibly help Lane in the event of an inside mover, then a guy would be stunting from the left and get by Herremans hardly touched. Herremans was struggling mentally as much as physically, which was odd for a veteran. Both of those guys settled down and got a good rapport going and that side of the line got much better.
Yes sir… All good points indeed, Definitely easier for Mathis to go out and do his job than it was for Herremans who had to help Lane along, as well as probably feeling like he has to compensate for Lane mistakes. I don’t know what it’s like to play guard! but I know what it’s like to play Tackle next to a guard that didn’t know what he was doing, and it’s not easy
Fantasy lovers: Desean or Garçon?
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Have a feeling the skins Oline won’t be good enough to give RG3 his best chance at weaponizing Desean. Garçon got a ton of balls thrown his way. I also view RG3 as an underdeveloped passer at this point in time, incapable of going through his progressions.. These types of young players usually put more trust in bigger targets! think Mcnabb n Chad Lewis. Kapernick with Vernon and Anquan. Thinking that with a bad OL, and this stage of RG3 development as a passer that garçon and Reed will really cut into Deseans looks…unless RG3 is back to scrambling like a maniac, where he may be able to find Desean Deep on broken plays… But I have so many questions with how RG3 will play:
1) Will he feel healthy, and mentally think he can continue to play such a wreckless and instinctive game.
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2) If he does, how long can he even last
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3) 2nd injury, mentally will he be afraid, knowing the next injury could end things?
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4) what kind of leash will Gruden have him on. Will he encourage him calling a bunch of roll outs playing to his old styles strengths..or will he want him on a tight leash, keeping him In the pocket, thinking it’s the fastest way to develop him?
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It’s nice to have a flashy new deep threat, but IMO you probably should make sure your OL is in place, before you worry about toys that require Time for the QB to be able to use. Can that OL really give a young, probably still underdeveloped NFL passer to make BIGTIME use of a WR who is strictly a big play home run hitter going deep?..
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In OUR offense, I would have taken Desean over Garçon ALL DAY… Now, I think I would probably draft Garçon much sooner than I would even consider Desean..
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Btw, going back to my point of young WRs leaning on the big targets…IF Geno Smith ends up playing more game than Mike Vick, Jace Amaro could be a really nice fantasy sleeper, because I don’t think Geno will be developed enough to not Lean on the big TE target, especially in Marty’s offense…if Vick is the QB, he probably makes better use of a guy like Decker
If Garcon can stay healthy, he will be a better fantasy WR.
Reed will also be a monster fantasy TE if he can stay healthy and even RG3 will be a scary fantasy QB if he can stay healthy.
Trading RG3 for Demarius Thomas in a dynasty league: my biggest fleecing in a FFB trade ever! Drafted him purely to trade him if he did well. Drew Brees was the weekly starter.
Yeah that’s a damn good fleecing.
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Gracon 10x out of 10
Has everyone seen this? Let it be true! http://rotoviz.com/index.php/2014/04/this-week-in-blasphemy-comparing-sammy-watkins-and-jordan-matthews-versus-common-opponents/
Shit, I just realized this may be considered spamming. Apologies. Awesome article though…
Looks like the Eagles made a great pick.
I do find it fascinating how similar they are just from a numbers perspective. I think Mathews is going to do just fine as a pro.
“Below is a graph of all 2nd-round1 rookie receiver outputs from 1994-20132 ”
So basically, all of Nick Foles’ years as starter.
I like that you are looking forward, but in 1994 Nick was five years old.
And now I feel old.
And if the Eagles were smart they would have drafted Nick Foles in 1994 and we would have won several Super Bowls with him instead of that bum McNabb. FIRE ANDY.
That was yet another draft mistake by Rich Kotite and Harry “don’t rip me or your screen name gets banned on 24/7” Gamble.
As bad as the KOTITE era was, I think the last two years under Andy were far more dysfunctional
Hopefully we learn our lesson soon. Brian Dawkins Jr. Is already in high school.
Looking at the schedule, I knew we were getting to play the Colts without Robert Mathis, but I didn’t realize we played the Niners so early in the year. Aldon Smith will be suspended for sure, and is Navarro going to be back before October?
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One thing that’s a joke is that they have us going to Lambeau for second year in a row. How is that even possible?
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I like that we play the rams at home because they are so much tougher in St. Louis, as are the Seahawks….. We caught big breaks in the schedule with tough road games like colts and Niners
Schedule formula. “They” don’t have anything to do it.
I don’t fear going to Lambeau.
We just won there…don’t fear it either, just don’t get how they get to host us twice in a row
I hope that last game didn’t enstill confidence!
I just don’t want to play there in January. Then again, if it’s a battle of the run game, bet we shut down Lacey easier than they contain Shady
If Jeremy Maclin isn’t getting as many passes his way as he wants will yet another self-serving “unnamed source” tell CBS that Foles isn’t a good teammate?
No
Linky?
Just curious, why does everyone think Maclin was the unnamed source? Could it not plausibly have been someone else?
It’s not everyone. Mike just makes it seem that way. 🙂
Not a big fan of our media. But something always bothers me this time of year when there is nothing to report on… Always wish our media would spend more time asking some of our veterans about some of the young players making year two or three leaps who we will be counting on..
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For example, everyone is bombarding Barwin with questions about Marcus smith! but wtf do they really expect?mBarwin has known him for like 3 days lol…. Yet, Barwin and young players like Cox seemed pretty tight last year. I remember Barwin bought him a nice dirt bike for his birthday. Cox has been here two years, and we know nothing about the kid. Think it would be great to heat Barwin and Demeco’s thoughts on young players in the front 7 that we are counting on like cox,Ced. Curry, Kendricks…
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Of course not every veteran will be a good source of intel. For example Cole has a strict policy of not answering questions about other players.. But a guy like Barwin who is pretty open, I feel like is a blown opportunity to learn about our team.
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Just like I think it would be great to hear Cary answering questions about his expectations of Wolff and Boykin….
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Barwin did reveal that one of the locker room changes, thanks to bullygate, is we terminated the player fine system in the locker room which he said was great for bonding especially since they never took it overboard always putting the money towards team dinners or parties.
Interesting that Howie went out of his way to mention Curry and James Casey in his interview with the fanatic. “James is a guy we signed last year, who is looking great this year”..This isn’t the first time hearing positive comments about how James Casey looks this year. Makes me wonder if he was battling thru that ankle for the first half of the season. Casey doesn’t strike me as the type to sign a new contract, kick his feet up and get fat and lazy, If he is looking so great this year, what was the reason he didn’t look so great last year?… We then went on to see his role expand in crunch time of a playoff hunt..
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I always thought James role would increase this year and that he wasn’t oh the chopping block like so many suggested. It would be exciting if he is an added weapon that we as fans aren’t accounting for right now in our projections
yeah, he got here and the first thing they did was a surgery, you gotta think he didn’t pop back from that like they expected him to or something. It will be interesting to see how he does this off-season.