Beau Ain’t No Bobo

Posted: August 5th, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 121 Comments »

The Eagles drafted Beau Allen in the 7th round, hoping he could compete for a backup spot on the D-line. If he wasn’t good enough to make the team, maybe he could make the practice squad and develop for the future. That’s what you generally expect for a late round pick. You certainly can’t expect those guys to make the team and contribute. You hope for that, but don’t expect it.

Allen doesn’t appear to be a normal 7th round pick.

A lot of people have gone out of their way to praise Allen. Chip Kelly said good things about him. Assistant coaches have raved about him. Even his teammates have said good things. The media members covering practice on a daily basis have written a lot of good things about Allen and how he’s looked this summer.

Sheil Kapadia on Monday.

I’ve got a bird’s eye view of some offensive linemen vs. defensive linemen one-on-ones. The one rep that stands out: Beau Allen pushes Jason Kelce back, and his teammates go wild. Impressive.

Les Bowen took the time to write a whole article on Allen. And even a good one. He got a very good quote from Jason Kelce on Allen.

“Beau’s an intriguing guy,” Kelce said. “For how big he is, he has very, very good feet. He’s quick, he’s very strong. He has a lot of raw ability that you like to see in a nose tackle. Right now he’s just working on his technique. Getting to know the plays, getting to know our offense. Some of the other ‘noses’ are ahead of him in terms of the knowledge, but you see a lot of the things you want to see in terms of the skill level in him . . . The nose guards that I see that are the most consistent . . . are big guys that have really quick feet, or really long arms.”

Jimmy Bama offered his take.

In 1-on-1’s today, there was one occasion when Allen put Kelce on roller skates, driving him well into the backfield. In the limited occasions I’ve gotten a good look at Allen, he has shown excellent raw strength.

Jeff McLane has officially chugged the Beau Allen kool-aid.

With Bennie Logan still slowly returning from a hamstring injury, Beau Allen has been making the best of his chances. He beat rookie Josh Andrews like a rented mule and then displayed impressive strength against Jason Kelce. I’ve been saying this since the Eagles drafted Allen in the seventh round – don’t be surprised if he’s the starting base nose by the end of the season.

Could Beau Allen actually beat out Bennie Logan for the starting NT job this year? I don’t think so. Logan is about 15 pounds lighter, but that is not the big deal many think. Logan has long arms and can 2-gap. He is a very good athlete for a NT and is effective on the stunts/loops that the Eagles like to use up front. Logan was the NT when the defense got hot last year. They held 5 straight opponents to 90 yards or less on the ground. And remember that Logan was learning on the fly, having never played 3-4 NT before.

Allen does have potential. But I can’t shake the Ohio State game from my head.

Allen is probably bigger and stronger now than he’s ever been. He’s getting great coaching. He has top talent around him. But I need to see him really handle some NFL people in live action before I start buying too much into the hype.

I’m glad the young man is playing well and making the most of Logan’s injury. I just don’t want to build up a false set of expectations for him. If he plays lights out on Friday night, maybe I’ll change my tune. For now, I think Allen has to be more concerned with making sure he’s the #2 NT than anything else. Damion Square isn’t going to just hand that spot over.

Last year NT was such a mystery, with Sopoaga and the rookies. Now you have Logan in place. Square is bigger and stronger. We haven’t heard much about him. Allen looks like he’s going to be at least an effective role player, hopefully more. And 4th stringer Wade Keliikipi was a good NT at Oregon that has NFL potential. Much better group than last year.

* * * * *

Random notes

From Jimmy Bama

• Rookie fifth round pick Taylor Hart is beginning to generate a lot of buzz. On the occasions I’ve watched him, I can see why. At a minimum, he holds his ground in the run game. I’d be shocked if Hart doesn’t see legitimate action as early as Week 1.

• Travis Long is another defender who is playing well. According to some of the other media guys near me, Long bull rushed OT Kevin Graf during team drills, knocking him on his back. I only caught the tail end of that play, but was locked in from there. On the next play, Long got around Graf again for a pressure on the QB. From there on out, Long was doubled by Graf and Michael Bamiro. Great series for Long.

• Backup OT Andrew Gardner stoned Brandon Graham and Damion Square on consecutive reps in 1-on-1’s, however, it appeared that Trent Cole got the best of him later on. Gardner has been getting second team reps at LT, and appears to be pushing hard for a roster spot.

I love reading about the backup linemen.

* * *

From Brandon Lee Gowton

• Quarterback Nick Foles looked pretty good. I didn’t see him make too many mistakes. The only bad throw I can remember was a slightly overthrown pass to running back LeSean McCoy, who was running a wheel route. Foles didn’t throw an interception on Monday. Prior to today he had thrown at least one in his last four practices. Now that I think about it, I don’t think I saw any interceptions thrown on Monday. That hasn’t happened since Day 3 of training camp.

• Random, but true: G.J. Kinne is deceptively fast when he takes off running with the ball. I’m pretty sure he’s the fastest quarterback on the team. Let’s hope we get to see him break off a nice run in the preseason.

• Trent Cole was roasted by Zach Ertz on one play. To Cole’s credit, that’s a big mismatch. Ertz could be mistaken for a wide receiver out there sometimes.

Preseason games are going to be crucial for Kinne in his bid to try and get in on the QB battle. His reps in practice have really decreased.

* * *

From Jeff McLane

Vinny Curry rushed from the edge against Jason Peters. Curry was quick off the snap, but Peters just ran him into the backfield. Peters, without much fanfare, just shoulders along. I think he needs maybe two more high level years to be considered Hall of Fame-worthy, but it’s something he wants, along with, of course, finally winning a Super Bowl, and I think it’s within his reach.

Mychal Kendricks got an opportunity to rush. The inside linebackers are typically working elsewhere, but he made the best of his opportunity and took the corner on Lane Johnson.

Center David Molk should be nicknamed “Shoulder Pads” for the number of times the top part his equipment comes out from under his jersey. He poked Damion Square in the eye during one matchup. That’s one way to protect the quarterback. Square returned.

Marcus Smith struggled during his two chances. He got some push against Donald Hawkins, but lost his football and tumbled on top of the rookie tackle. Smith tried to go outside on Allen Barbre, but the tackle held him off with one hand.

Rookie tackle Kevin Graf has been struggling in pass pro, but did well against Joe Kruger and then outside linebacker Travis Long. During team drills, though, Long ran Graf over and placed him on his back. Impressive. A play later, Long dodged Graf and got to Barkley.

— Important as one on ones are, the Eagles pass rushers have to transition to game action. The first team was strong during one set of plays.  Fletcher Cox and Connor Barwin split a “sack” on first down and then Barwin came back the next play and was rewarded for “sacking” Foles, who held onto the ball too long.

— A few quickies … The Eagles shook up the safety depth chart again. Jenkins and Chris Maragos were with the first team, while Allen and Earl Wolff ran with the twos. … I haven’t spoken much about Kendricks but he is silently having a strong camp. He had tight coverage on Momah downfield and Foles threw incomplete. …  Rookie tight end Trey Burton has talent. He’s smooth catching the ball out of the backfield. I don’t know much about his blocking.

_


121 Comments on “Beau Ain’t No Bobo”

  1. 1 RIP Worms said at 10:28 AM on August 5th, 2014:

    It will be interesting to see over the long term whether Chip Kelly is able to hit on more late-round, UDFA types based on the increased number of reps that guys at the bottom of the roster see compared to other teams.

    It will be hard to draw any statistically significant conclusions due to the small sample size, but intuitively and anecdotally it seems like the backups benefit from having more opportunities to prove themselves to the coaches.

    One indirect benefit of this, is that this dynamic could persuade top tier UDFAs to gravitate towards the Eagles. I’d be curious to get an agent’s perspective on that.

  2. 2 RogerPodacter said at 10:53 AM on August 5th, 2014:

    i would assume you are right. the guys at that level want nothing more than to show off what they can do. either they earn a spot on this team or show off for the rest of the league. you don’t get much of a chance to do that if you don’t get any reps!

  3. 3 GEAGLE said at 2:30 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    It’s absurd that you see some cases where a UDFA only gets like 5 snaps during an entire practice. Soon every agent will know that the eagles won’t treat your clients like that, if they don’t know already

  4. 4 Dominik said at 12:23 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    True, but: if you’re an agent, you’re not only looking for reps in TC, you’re looking for a chance at the 53. The stronger the Eagles roster becomes, the more unlikely it is to get the top UDFA.

    This year, scrubs like Maehl and Casey Matthews have at least a chance to land a roster spot on the 53. I hope (and I’m pretty sure) that will be different next year. One more year of drafting and FA and it should be very hard to make this roster.

    Many reps with us makes you a better player, but the other teams won’t see it. If the Jaguars or the Raiders call and you see their holes on the roster, you’ll probably think: well, Kelly might offer me more reps, but the Jags offer me a potential roster spot on the 53.

  5. 5 RIP Worms said at 11:24 AM on August 8th, 2014:

    I agree that this is actually the more important consideration for an agent (i.e., opportunity to make the 53/PS). But I think the added reps tip the scales in the Eagles favor if the level of competition is comparable.

  6. 6 GEAGLE said at 2:28 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Absolutely… If agents don’t already know, they will figure it out soon and I don’t see how it wouldn’t be an advantage attracting young players… Few occasions I heard players allude to how Chip cares about these guys and if they don’t make our roster he wants to help them get on other teams rosters….
    ..
    Not uncommon to see cases where a UDFA only gets something crazy like 5 snaps a day. Not sure WTF you are ever going to achieve getting 5 snaps…
    ..
    Hard knocks debuts tonight..and they always make sure to follow some of the major LONGSHOT story lines so I’m very interested in seeing what kind of opportunities UDFAs are getting in Atlanta
    ..
    The snaps we give long shots has to be able to attract UDFAs. If we aren’t attracting UDFAs yet, soon it has to become an advantage, I don’t see how it could not be an advantage unless it’s a player who plays a position we are stacked at.

  7. 7 austinfan said at 11:38 AM on August 5th, 2014:

    Beau was a DT in 2012 and pretty effective, 4 sacks off the bench in 2011, 2.5 sacks, 5 stuffs as a starter in 2012, then moved to NT in 2013. I wonder if it was just bad coaching, he seems to be playing like a DT in that film and doesn’t have two gap technique down. He certainly tested like an athlete for his size:

    6-3 329 32 10 [ — 1.73 30 4.55 7.33 31 8’8]

    His arms are average length, but otherwise his scores are close to elite, that’s a heck of a cone drill for a 330 lb lineman. Smart (Academic Big 10), hard worker, kind of guy who might respond to hard coaching. Hmmm, do we have a DL coach known for pushing his guys?

  8. 8 teltschikfakeout88 said at 4:03 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    He was going against Linsley of Ohio State who was a fifth round pick of the packers……and linsley was also getting help from the guard in some instances…

  9. 9 Mitchell said at 1:01 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    There is that versatility that Chip likes so much. The fans got what they wanted, a behemoth nose tackle. It is neat to see him with that kind of agility too.

  10. 10 CrackSammich said at 12:07 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    On Foles upcoming contract extension, obviously the Kaepernick and Dalton deals have set the tone for the future of big money QB contracts. I just don’t think that they’re really as team friendly as they look by the numbers. Obviously the team can drop them if they wanted to each season, and the financial stability is amazing, but if your newly paid QB ends up being just mediocre, which Dalton will, the odds are pretty low that you have access to another that is worth replacing him with. So, do you jetison the established QB who won’t win you a Super Bowl and go with the unknown/unestablished talent, or do you stick with the JAG and stay out of complete QB hell for another few years? Oh, and don’t chose poorly, because your fan base will revolt and you will no longer have a job. Seems to me that these contracts are just a metaphorical shrug, and a hope that you don’t have to make a real decision on the player before they flame out spectacularly (in which case, the next GM will make that decision for you) The fact that they are getting paid this way tells me that there’s a better chance than not that team feels like they’re screwed, or else the player would have more leverage to not accept such a deal in the first place. Good luck negotiating, Nick.

  11. 11 Dominik said at 12:34 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    You can always draft QBs and develop them, if you’re a a good offensive coach – and Harbough is. Heck, Dalton and Kaep are second round picks.

    What the teams won’t do is cut their QB and relax while trying to find a replacement. But they can develop a middle first round, second round or third round QB, see thim every day, see him in PS, maybe see him when the starter is injured and then can part ways with their maybe overpaid QB if they like what they see.

    QBs will get paid these days, even Mr. mediocre Dalton. I don’t like it, but there’s nothing you can do about it. What you can do and what the 49ers and the Bengals did and what I hope we will do is: don’t commit yourself too deep. Even if Foles has another great year, I don’t want to commit the Philadephia Eagles to him for seven years. If he turns into Mark Sanchez one day (because of injury, because he earned his paycheck, for whatever reason) I don’t want this QB on the team without having the chance to replace him. And with enough dead money, you just can’t replace the guy.

    I guess I’m really afraid of mediocrity. It’s the worst thing that can possibly happen, because if you rebuild, there is at least hope for you.

  12. 12 Dominik said at 12:39 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    As long as Beau Allen takes the roster spot of Square and plays better than he did last year, everything is fine with me. Square maybe a coachable player and has a good attitude, but I don’t see the athleticism. And it really hurt seing Murray stonewalled him. It maybe is unfair to judge him on that, but hell, your NT just shouldn’t be dominated like that.

  13. 13 GEAGLE said at 1:08 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Beau will be one of the 7 DL we keep, I think it comes down to Square vs. Kruger for that 7th spot that’s inactive on game day. Square is better player. But Krugs is still the second youngest player we have! who put on nice size in one year and wasn’t drafted toro vide instant gratification… Considerng his competition is square who doesn’t have half of Kruger’s NFL ceiling. Expect Krugs to make the roster no matter how he looks, but he will have to really earn his place in next years camp. Square doesn’t have a high enough ceiling, to be already pulling the plug on this developmental prospect

  14. 14 Ark87 said at 1:24 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Good points. Lots of moving pieces in there. If Kruger shows enough that we know he would get poached off the practice squad, and we trust Beau enough to be our back-up NT (not even necessarily beating Square, just good enough to be a back-up NT for now) I think Square becomes a casualty in the roster numbers game.

  15. 15 GEAGLE said at 1:44 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I was really high on Kruger’s potential, knowing he was coming out way too early. We drafted him, figuring we can grow him into someone that’s a steal for a 7th round pick…doubt we can practice squad him without someone poaching him. Curious to see what he can be with another year of maturity AND this year getting to practice with the team…. Hopefully he flashes some game in the preseason so it makes keeping him easier on the coca he’s, but either way I basically think he will get a free pass on this years roster, tho he won’t dress unless someone gets injured

    It’s not like Beau is competing with some veteran NT. We all know Square is obviously too small to play the position. I like Squares nastiness, but you can’t have a NT that gets trucked by Dallas running back….Beau will provide more this year. Than we got out of Squares last year….

    Expecting the DL to have a monster year.. Past two years, we drafted 3 of the DL I wanted: Krugs!Beau and hart, so how can I not be excited about the future of this DL….

    Beau and Benny should solve our NT problems and allow us to not worry about that position for 4-5 years.
    ..
    Would LOVE for Kruger to grow into a capable backup 4tec to pair with Hart off our bench, two Big, LONG backup DE’s….Vinny I Count on to pair with cox as our starting interior linemen in our Nickle. When another DT rotates in and plays next to Cox, Vinny will slide over and get some pass rush opportunities as a 4-3DE.

    Every team has room and values a high caliber nickel pass rush specialist. I believe we can count on Vinny to be that, but he needs to show a lot of improvement as a 4 technique if he is going to come off the bench and get snaps in our base…tho it’s way too early to say no way Vinny can ever grow Into that role. Think many fans will be watching all his preseason snaps in slow motion to see how he really looks…

    Curious to see: 1yr rental of BG vs. Having Travis long for a few years cheap, who has experience rushing as OLB AND 4-3DE. Like drafting Marcus smith, it’s easy to project long in our scheme… If the surgery hasn’t robbed him of his explosiveness, he will win the battle..

    The only thing that concerns me is eagles try to do right by our players…not sure how they would feel about cutting BG in August when most teams rosters are set..hopefully teams lose their DEs and give us a draft pick making this decision easier.
    ..
    If BG was in our future, we would be trying to lowball him into a Longterm deal now, instead of letting him get his value up and bidding against other teams on the open market.. 98% certain this is his last year in philly, and I’m not sure if we want to lose a young kid like long for a one year rental… LONG Vs. Graham is easily the toughest roster decision that I have my eye on

  16. 16 anon said at 7:49 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Not seeing why you’re so high on Kruger he’s super RAW. He picked up a lot of weight but from all accounts doesn’t know how to use it. Surprised he didn’t have a mentor or something trying to help him out.

  17. 17 Dominik said at 1:40 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I don’t know, mate. Kelly seems to be a pretty “what are you today” kind of coach. Forget the preseason games, Acho had more upside than Casey Matthews, who has literally zero upside combined with zero skills – and he got the roster spot because the coaches thought he brings more to the table in 2013 (hard to believe, was a ST, you must think). Please, don’t come with that OLB bs, because CM is as much an OLB as I am Brad Pitt or Megan Fox is dating T-Law. 🙂 His role as #4 OLB could have gone to Acho, Goode or to whoever is there at ILB.

    Kruger doesn’t have a good camp, by all the things we could read, so I don’t think he’ll make this roster. If we go with seven, and I think Chip would like that, it will be Square, I think.

    Now, if he’s not active on gameday there isn’t too much harm in it. Still, it’s a roster spot for a player with very, very little upside who doesn’t contribute now. I don’t like that. But I think Chip will do it.

    Now, if Kruger shines in Preseason, maybe there’s a chance he makes the 53. If we take seven, I sure hope it’s Kruger, who has upside, at least.

  18. 18 GEAGLE said at 1:53 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Pretty disrespectfull to think I would ever call Casey Mathews an OLB LOL… I wrote countless posts about last years lack of OLB depth, and I always would say “we had to PRETEND Casey was an OLB”…

    Doubt square is on this roster this year, so I expect us to not give up on Kruger’s talent until we have a 7th DL who we want to have Longterm… D Squares ain’t that player…

    Hold up… You can’t say Krugs has no upside, he has TONS of UPSIDE, the issue is he hasn’t realized enough of it yet. But Krugs has a drastically higher NFL ceiling than Square…square,just happens to be the better player NOW..but if neither are really good enough NOW, why wouldn’t we go with the highest potential, meaning Kruger? We have 90 Eagles, and Krugs is the second youngest. Who put on a nice amount of muscle in one year. Keep in mind, he didn’t get to practice with us lst year…. Would like to see our coaches actually work with him for one year, before they give up on his POTENTIAL, when he wasn’t a draft pick that was supposed to pay off yet…

    If your coaches aren’t going to try to groom a high ceiling developmental prospect, then they have to be retarded to spend a draft pick on him.

    Basically I think Square isn’t good enough to cut Kruger before coaches get a year to work with him and see how much they can grow him…. If D Square was a talent that we wanted to keep Longterm, it would be a very different situation.. But we will see. Ideally we could put him on the practice squad for a year but he would get poached… Don’t think Long or Kruger can be stashed on our PS

  19. 19 iceberg584 said at 1:55 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    “I wrote countless posts”

    I’m sorry, I couldn’t bring get myself to read much further than this…

  20. 20 Dominik said at 2:42 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Hey, Geag, I’m not arguing with you. And I don’t think that Kruger has no upside, you must have misunderstood me there somewhere. I think Chip will take Square if he thinks he’s the better player right now. I hope not, because I agree with you, Square shouldn’t be here longterm and is not reliable now, so I go with the higher ceiling. But I think (and hope I’m wrong) that’s not how Chip sees it.

    I could go on and on with that. I fear that Maehl will make this roster. He has no considerable skills and zero upside, but if Chip thinks he’s even a little bit better than Momah or Cunningham or Benn at the moment, he will take him. Don’t like it, hope I’m wrong, but I think that’s what will happen.

  21. 21 GEAGLE said at 3:23 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I was just breakin balls..meant no harm, and didn’t take your post as a rude attack

  22. 22 Dominik said at 3:25 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I know, I know. Just wanted to make it clear.

  23. 23 GEAGLE said at 3:32 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    No worries mate.

    Maehl is interesting case. Personally I think Mac,Coop.pope Jordan the 81st, Huff Huff pass, and Brad smith are all locks… Anti Maehl fans like us can find some comfort in I don’t think it’s a lock that we keep 6 WRs…for a 6th WR to be kept, IMO he will have to beat out all the other fringe roster players at other positions, so Maehl will have to do more than just beat out Momah,Benn! and the other WR IMO…

    It’s perfectly reasonable to think Chip will choose who performs best out of Kruger/Square. But my guess is that, we are smarter than to waste picks on developmental prospects who we knew wouldn’t pay off instantly, and give up on him before we even have our coaches work with him for a year, which he didn’t get to do on IR last year…. I think it’s fair to think they pick Square. That’s not some crazy opinion…but IMO, I will really hold it against the eagles to spend draft picks on players we cut without getting ATleast a year of coaching first…. Hopefully Kruger makes it easy and turns it up in the preseason and out plays square..

    I will say, that if Square is going to stay on our roster, please stop playing him at NT now that we have Logan and Beau…THE THOUGHT of an eagles NT getting run over by a cowboys RB is too much to bear

  24. 24 anon said at 7:48 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    It’s Maehl v. Benn on ST. Does Roc make the squad? I personally can’t believe he’s still here given what he did last year (in all games played).

    Kelly definitely has a soft spot for guys with measurables.

  25. 25 GEAGLE said at 8:13 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    No,clue man…I think guys like Maehl, Roc, are competing with all the fringe players like them at all the other positions.. For example say it comes down to is Maehl a better 6th WR then Roc as a 6th CB..who is more valuable
    ..
    Thinking the LOCKs are:
    3 RB
    3 TE
    5 WR
    5 CB
    5 Safety
    3 QB
    7 DL
    5 OLB
    4 ILB
    K
    P
    LS
    8 OL
    …That’s 51 players… The last two spots go to the best two players no matter what position they play, with ST ability and positional versatility counting as tie breakers

  26. 26 Dominik said at 7:53 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    I’d like 8 OL (+ one or two on the PS), but I think Chip will take 9. Who exactly, I don’t know. Besides our top 6 (while Lane won’t count against the roster until week 5), I see Tobin (they seem to really like him) and one Center. Maybe Gardner, who plays on the 2nd team as LT all Training Camp? Maybe Kelly for the time Lane is suspended.

  27. 27 Dominik said at 7:50 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    Kelly definitely has a soft spot for guys with measurables.

    Then how do you explain Kelly taking Maehl, Matthews and Square into the roster last year? Those guys have no measurables (you probably know Caseys spider graph already) and he kept them.

  28. 28 austinfan said at 4:56 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Kruger is going to the PS off what he has shown so far, who would claim him?

  29. 29 GEAGLE said at 6:47 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    He would get poached just off of his last name… Jordan Poyer got poached, doubt he would last on our PS, but I would love to be wrong

  30. 30 anon said at 7:53 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    hahahaha Poyer. I wanted him to be something, but he’s not.

    If he got poached my question would be “who cares”. Sometimes you should just stay in school.

  31. 31 GEAGLE said at 8:00 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    He still on an NFL roster.. If he makes the browns he will have won over a new coach and GM, not the ones that were there when he was poached..that would be like the 3rd coach/GM tandem who viewed him as an NFL player…not at all horrible for such a late pick.

    If you are going to draft projects who come out too early because you think you are investing a pick. In a kid who would be a much higher pick in next years draft, you obviously aren’t expecting instant gratification out of him..if you draft a kid knowing he won’t pay off right away, can you really cut that player without seeing what he can do with at the very least 1 year of coaching that Krugs didn’t recieve since he was on IR?
    …..
    If you aren’t going to try and develop him, and cut him before your coaches ever get a chance to try and grow him. Then it’s a horrendous waste of a draft pick,,,don’t take a project than! I’ll bash the hell out of the eagles if they spend draft picks on kids they cut before they even try to coach up..;.thats just friggin dysfunctional..
    ..
    Wtf if they cut Kruger or Reynolds this year, that’s horribly dysfunctional. Cut draft picks before you even try and coach them up, you might as well have just gave the pick away for a pick in the next years draft..

  32. 32 anon said at 8:06 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I wouldn’t be sad about losing him on the PS. Notice our approach to guys dropped in camp last year or PS guys on other teams.

  33. 33 Ark87 said at 1:21 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Murray didn’t stonewall him, he straight trucked the hell out of him in one of the most epic truckings of the decade, unforgivable that event belongs to a Cowboy trucking an Eagle. Every Demarco Murray B-roll for the rest of time will have that moment in it for us to relive, uhhhhg.

  34. 34 iceberg584 said at 2:01 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Definitely not a good moment for Square to put on film, but if you look at the play, it was really an unfortunate result of him hustling back into a position to make a play, and shifting his weight expecting Murray to cut back inside – only to have the Dallas back throw a shoulder and level him. IIRC, Murray was actually fined by the league after the game for the play.

  35. 35 RogerPodacter said at 2:03 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    yea, it kinda sucks for him that it worked out that way. he should get some credit for even being there in the first place. i just wish the result wasn’t so… unsightly.
    i believe you are correct about the fine as well.

  36. 36 anon said at 7:42 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    not even a DB, LB or something. THE NOSE TACKLE. I guess anyone can get trucked if they’re out of position but…

  37. 37 GEAGLE said at 7:54 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Emasculating having that happen to your NT

  38. 38 Ark87 said at 2:14 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Wasn’t it his helmet and should have technically been a penalty/fine on Murray? All I remember is it wasn’t pretty.

  39. 39 iceberg584 said at 2:18 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Yeah, just checked out the video and it was more helmet than shoulder, which would explain the fine.

  40. 40 GEAGLE said at 2:15 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Lol,stonewalling is definitely not what happened on that play. Watching a eagles NT get completely run over by a cowboys runningback is something I hope to never against see happen in my lifetime.

    I don’t care that it was illegal crown of helmet probably…two years ago that would have been legal trucking of our NT

    Upgrading Clfton Gaethers and Squares DL spots should really pay dividends these next few years because if these kids realize their potential we have a nice young DL rotation on our hands

  41. 41 anon said at 7:25 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Who cares can’t have demarco murray (a non power back) posterizing your “NT”. Seems like Eagles always getting trucked by running backs, i mean they basically created the crown of the helmet rule for Nate Allen.

  42. 42 GEAGLE said at 7:53 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    LOL OMG, who was the dude that completely ran over Nate? Think it was someone in a red jersey maybe a redskin? I think it was a preseason game or early September game…Nate got trucked by someone really bad one of his early years…anyone remember who trucked him that I’m talking about?

  43. 43 jpate said at 8:03 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I think you are thinking Kurt Coleman getting trucked by trent richardson first game of the season 2012

  44. 44 anon said at 8:05 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    You’re right, my bad Nate (if you’re reading).

  45. 45 GEAGLE said at 6:48 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    Yeah that’s right

  46. 46 anon said at 8:04 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    It was Trent Richardson, which seems even more absurd now…

  47. 47 GEAGLE said at 1:01 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Bet Boreland wishes the Niners had Beau with Ian Williams and Dorsey injured

  48. 48 Mitchell said at 1:38 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    So excited for Friday. Momah is probably gonna catch a TD!!!!

  49. 49 deg0ey said at 1:40 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Wow, Beau really didn’t look good in that OSU game, although it’s probably worth noting that 3 of the 5 linemen he was up against are currently on an NFL roster:

    LT Jack Mewhort – Colts, 2nd round pick
    LG Andrew Norwell – Panthers, UDFA
    C Corey Linsley – Packers, 5th round pick

    RG Marcus Hall was also brought in and subsequently waived by the Colts.

    You’d obviously like to have seen Allen do better, but that O-Line was about as talented and as experienced as you’re going to find in the college game.

  50. 50 D3FB said at 2:49 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Every non edge rusher I watched play OSU last year got their ass kicked. Their line had alot of veteran solid players, but also they were better than the sum of their parts.

    Beau Allen also has really bad tape against Iowa. But I’m ok with that because he lined up across from Brandon Scherff all day and Scherff is insanely strong, will be a 1st round pick in 2015, and is the best run blocker I’ve seen in my 4 years of being a draftnik.

  51. 51 RobNE said at 2:52 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    well we have an older OL, so let’s draft this guy. Will he be there at 32?

  52. 52 GEAGLE said at 2:59 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Rather have Oregons center to backup Kelce. Like the center from USC in a last years draft, Grasu can also play Guard for us…You can’t beat eliminating all the guess work of how a fat lineman will project to our high pace offense.. And you can always get the best center if you really really want him, they don’t go in the top 20… Chip would be getting a center/G he recruited and knows can play at this tempo. Perfect backup for Kelce, who can even start for Herremans in a few years..BE SHOCKED if he isn’t an eagle.
    ..
    If we draft Grasu, we will be set at center and NT for the next 5 years

  53. 53 D3FB said at 3:02 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Way to early to tell. He could go top 10 or 3rd round right now. While his run blocking would make Runyan tell him to relax and not kill the guy, his pass blocking leaves alot to be desired. The thing is he is a pretty solid athlete as far as getting out on screens and to the second level, so he clearly has good feet. But then he has to pass protect, and his feet go all to hell. Basically if it turns out his pass pro is just technique stuff, he goes top 10, if it’s some kind of bigger underlying issue he still goes top 75. I think its a combination of the two. I would love to make him a RG in our system.

  54. 54 GEAGLE said at 3:20 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Any experience playing with Tempo? Only watched Iowas defense last year, and cut ups of the TE

  55. 55 D3FB said at 3:24 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    Not really, Iowa is a pro style, classic Big 10 type offense. But he may be the strongest player in the entire NCAA, so I doubt he wouldn’t be able to change his body in the gym a little bit. This video is terrifying.

    http://collegespun.com/big-ten/iowa/video-iowa-offensive-lineman-brandon-scherff-hang-cleans-443-pounds-three-times#

  56. 56 GEAGLE said at 6:48 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    Thank you sir…. Who do you have as the top safeties in college this year? Not at all in love with Landon Collins or the Prewitt kid from OL Miss

  57. 57 D3FB said at 12:24 PM on August 6th, 2014:

    Safeties are tough because sometimes you need a ton of film to get a good idea. That being said right now I would rank them

    1. Kurtis Drummond
    2. Cody Prewitt
    3. Landon Collins
    4. Derron Smith

    Anthony Harris seems to have the physical skills but I have no real feel for him yet.

  58. 58 austinfan said at 4:57 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Haven’t watched Alabama lately?

  59. 59 deg0ey said at 5:03 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I saw them about a half dozen times last season and I’d say it’s pretty much a wash.

  60. 60 nopain23 said at 1:40 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    brandon cooks is killing in saints camp. it will be interesting to see who has the better career he or Jmat.

  61. 61 GEAGLE said at 2:10 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Plenty of Rookie WRs are making noise in camps. Curious to see which can carry that over to the regular season and make a nice impact during their rookie season.
    .,,
    Word out of Carolina is that Kevin Benjamin hasn’t dropped a single ball yet.

    Saint been raving about Cooks

    Colts are,excited about Moncrief
    ..
    Haven’t heard anything about Mike Evans, but Bucs reporters talk about how Austin Sefarian Jenkins is adjusting nicely…

    Jon Baldwin was cut by the Niners! and they picked up UDFA L’Damien Washington who the cowboys cut. packers Abrenderis tore ACL done for year, Colt Lyeria leg injury, and they also have Jeff Janis. If he gets cut I would love to spend a year looking at him on our practice Squad.

    Poor Sammy Watkins has EJ Manuel throwing him the ball.

    Going to be very interesting, 3 years from now to do a re-draft on this WR class

  62. 62 nopain23 said at 2:36 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    agreed. it will also be interesting to watch the defensive guys as well.
    i think its safe to say khalil mack will be a beast.other than khalil i think justin gilbert is gonna be a stud..patrick peterson 2.0. i really wanted him in the draft. he was my ‘luke kuechly” this year.

  63. 63 GEAGLE said at 2:54 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I like Gilbert’s upside, but Marcus was my guy.. Thrilled to have him. I would have taken Allen Robinson over Jordan Mathews, and I wanted to draft Moncrief as our second WR, but I’m very pleased with Jordan/Huff

    Mack, Clowney. Marcus should be the best edge rusher to come out of this draft class…
    ..
    I thought we would get one guy from each group:
    1) Taylor hart, Brent Urban. Cassius marsh..

    2) 7th round NT: Deandre Coleman, Beau! Shemar Stephens
    ..
    So I’m pleased with the way the draft unfolded. last year I had us taking Kruger and Jordan Poyer late in the draft..
    ….
    I’m not too crazy about this upcoming draft, but I’m excited to have a nice amount of picks… I want Mykal Kendricks little brother as a subpackage cover linebacker like Telvin smith. Would also like the big ILB from Miss st, McKinney. I will be shocked if we don’t draft Oregons center Grasu to back up Kelce he also can play guard….. I’m sure the enter world will mock Ifo OLOMU to us in round 1, and I’d bet anything we don’t draft him!! A coach who wants side at CB and already has 5’10 Boykin and Jalen Watkins isn’t going to draft a 5’10 outside CB in round 1…I’d bet every single analyst who mocks him to us that they are wrong…just
    Ike when they all had us taking Dee Milner lol

    Seems like Florida state has 37 1st and 2nd round picks of next years draft..

    Keep an eye on Stanford’s WR, 6’2 210lbs,..

    Besides Hroniss Grasu, Ifo OLOMU and Marriotta…..what other top prospects of next years draft does Oregon have?
    ..
    Another weak safety draft coming up. Draft looks good for ILBs and edge rushers tho

  64. 64 Dominik said at 2:55 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Jon Baldwin was cut by the Niners! and they picked up UDFA L’Damien Washington who the cowboys cut..

    Please let this guy pan out. I want to see that. UDFA cut by a team that needs literally all the help it can get just to turn out being a capable player at a SB candidate. 🙂

  65. 65 GEAGLE said at 3:05 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Haha yeah I would love to see us pickup a UDFA the cowboys cut, and turn him into a player. That would be such a good F You to Jerry jones… I liked L’Damien as a UDFA. I viewed him as getting a Big WR who is ahead of Momah when we added him last year..

    Downside is he is a 6’5 skinny dude, like a poor mans Martevis Bryant! and we seem to like our Big WRs muscular to smash DBs in the blocking game.

    Would have liked to see us pick him up and take a look….I find it ODD that we haven’t added a player off waivers in MONTHS….thought we would always be churning the end of our roster to keep bringing in new players mining for Diamonds

  66. 66 A_T_G said at 9:53 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I’d imagine the thinking is that the probability of finding a gem isn’t worth upsetting the practice pace.

  67. 67 Media Mike said at 8:41 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Jon Baldwin’s career highlight was getting his rear end kicked by Thomas Jones in the Chiefs weight room.

    http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2011/8/24/2381297/thomas-jones-jonathan-baldwin-fight-sucker-punch

  68. 68 Bert's Bells said at 4:22 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Giants fans haven’t been too happy with their pick this summer.

  69. 69 Media Mike said at 8:41 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I feel really bad for them. I now only wish 99% of their fans who show up in Philly to get slapped around as opposed to 100%.

  70. 70 Media Mike said at 8:39 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    You know who won’t; Beckham and Benjamin

  71. 71 GEAGLE said at 2:35 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Any chance that BG hits the open market, doesn’t get any decent offers so he comes back next year on a one year deal like Nate Allen did this year? If there is NO chance of this happening, we can’t lose young OLBs to rent BG for a year… And I don’t see any chance of us extending him during this season

  72. 72 RobNE said at 2:49 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    No. Allen can prove himself and go get a contract. BG can’t do that here.

  73. 73 Dominik said at 2:50 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    One 43 team with the same offer would be enough to “lose” him, imho. Why in the world would a guy with absolutely no coverage skills want to play in our D as OLB? If I’m Graham and no team besides the Eagles is offering me something, I’d even wait for injuries to happen.

    Guy can’t play in the 34, never will, but could have a decent career in the 43. I think he knows that, he’d be an idiot if he doesn’t and I don’t think he is.

    Now, all this is hypothetical, because I don’t think we would offer something, while I do think there will be offers from 43 teams. How many teams play the 43? Around 16? It used to split the teams in half, with some hybrid schemes, of course. If you can sign a player like Graham for a, let’s say, 2m to 2.5m/year bargain deal, why wouldn’t you? He showed he can have upside. Just not in the 34.

  74. 74 GEAGLE said at 3:14 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I can’t disagree with a word…which is why I’m factoring more into the OLB battle, then simply looking at it as who I would rather have this year, Travis or BG? That’s an easy question..but this is a much more complicated decision.. It’s even more complicated than just,3 years of Long at a cheap price vs. 1yr BG rental? Also need to factor in the cap hit that comes with choosing long over BG….

    We are going to make the playoffs, so we will have a shot at a SB run, so I would like to have BG’s pass rush this year, I’m just very skeptical about him being here, but then there is the cap hit, and Howie cutting a guy he drafted so Late in August..

    IMO this is the most complicated camp decision…curious to see how it pans out… Dying to get a look at long. need to see if the surgery has robbed him of any explosion, which is what happened to BG

  75. 75 anon said at 5:53 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    he’s not even an effective rusher when we’re in 4 man fronts. its not like he’s been vinny curry

  76. 76 GEAGLE said at 7:49 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Which is why I question if we will be ok losing a young player like Travis long for a one year rental. Where 90% of fans think long has no chance to make it over BG

  77. 77 anon said at 7:55 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I think they’ll showcase in pre-season, try to work a deal, but doubt they’ll cut him. They’ve said he’s gotten better at understanding OLB. It’ll be interesting to see if the let smith spell Cole or they just keep him on Barwin’s side. Or would they let Smith play Barwin’s side and move Barwin over.

  78. 78 GEAGLE said at 3:46 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Interesting that instead of having him chase #1 WR all around liked trick Peterson, the pats have Revis stationary lining up on the left side the entire time like Richard Sherman does for the Seahawks….so Maclin will get most of his work in against Revis at our joint practice, and that’s pretty awesome for Maclin. And for fans-coaches evaluation process.
    ..
    How tall is the pats nickel Kyle Arrington who Jordan Mathews will be competing with? Cooper vs. Browner is also interesting. Easy to see the value in FOles and our WRs practicing against the patriots DBs. Even if both coaches keep it Vanilla. Our guys still get to compete against some pretty talented individual players….
    ….
    I’m like holding my breathe during this entire camp as it seems like 1 player per day gets injured for the season league wide… Looking like the packers version of Allen Barbre, Don Barclay suffered a serious knee injury. Please please please let’s not lose anyone in camp.

    Always forget that the Packers drafted Devante Adam. What PIGS they are. Team with Aaron Rogers, stacked at WR, added Devante,Jeff Janis,Colt Lyerla and Jared Abrenderis to camp pass catching competition? What a bunch of greedy pigs
    ..l
    Seeing some crazy camp fights league wide also…

  79. 79 Anders said at 4:44 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Cooper vs Bowner will be a good battle as well as Maclin vs Revis. Arrington is a very solid slot WR so Matthews should get good battle there.

  80. 80 GEAGLE said at 6:45 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Nice…Arrington have any decent size for a slot?
    ..
    Word is the patriots dismantled the skins defense this week… Hopefully we put up a little more resistance

  81. 81 Dominik said at 4:52 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I don’t get this strategy with the CB on one side if you have a great one and not two mirror CBs (from size, speed, skill perspective), so to speak, like we have.

    Yes, Browner is very good if he can return to this legion of boom performance, but he’s a special CB. 6’4, that’s insane. But he isn’t the fastest. If I’m an OC and have a speedster and a big WR, how do you think I’ll play those? Of course: the speedster gets the side of Browner, while I seek an height advantage over Revis (while he obviously knows how to defend bigger WR, the bigger the better against Revis) on the other side.

    Now, of course, I get it. It has advantages, like the QB not seeing that easy if it’s a zone or man. But are they really bigger than the disadvantages? Two of the greatest Defensive minds in football think so, so who am I to question it. But I don’t get it. Can someone explain this to me?

  82. 82 RogerPodacter said at 5:04 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    yea man. i was never a fan of that. a few years back, we would have one solid CB and one lesser CB (i dont want to guess which year this was…lol). we would leave them each to their side of the field only to see opposing teams move their star WR to line up against our lesser CB.
    i would think that when you have a serious difference in skill between your two CBs, you can’t just leave them to one side or the other like that.

  83. 83 GEAGLE said at 6:56 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Yeah I hate that…. Take a look at the cardinals last year. Nice to have the great Peterson. But what good is he if your #2 CB Jaurod powers is a pigeon that teams keep throwing at and picking on…. Rather have 3-4 CBs that can play..

  84. 84 Mitchell said at 8:24 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    That was quite the haul on offense for them. I know how much we liked Janis before the draft.

  85. 85 GEAGLE said at 3:56 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    After seeing so many eagles practices these last two years, I’m going to enjoy watching the Falcons antiquated practices on hard knocks… Hope they say how many snaps the LONGSHOT player they follow is getting in practice..

    Not sure what to think of the falcons this year. But I can’t say I fear us playing them in the playoffs.
    ….
    Reports are that all the bengals draft picks aren’t getting higher than 3rd team reps this far….much of that has to do with them having one of the most talented rosters in the league…reporters and fans made an issue out of spending first round picks on someone who won’t start day one, when in reality we should be thriving to build a roster so deep that it becomes very difficult for rookies to earn playing time… Have a major man crush on Vontaze and Margus Hunt who would be perfect for us.

  86. 86 Phil George said at 4:31 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I’ll admit Beau did look like he was getting pushed around a lot in that game but he did see a lot of double coverage!

  87. 87 Anders said at 4:45 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/remember-me-curtis-marsh-turning-heads-camp

    Based on what I have read, I really think Marsh makes this team as 5th or 6th CB. I only think we keep 4 safeties consider talent at CB is much deeper.
    Marsh 100% fits the Eagles profile of a big CB as he is our biggest CB at 6-1

  88. 88 Dominik said at 5:04 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Casey Matthews, Alex Henery, now Marsh – I really respect your opinion, Anders, you know what you’re talking about, but you sure like players I can’t even begin to tell you how much I don’t like them. 🙂

    Now, factual: who do you think will be cut for Marsh? Do you really think we’ll cut our 4th or 5th round draft pick in year one? Do you think ST ace Maragos (with 1.5m dead) will be cut? You can’t think that Williams, Fletcher, Boykin or Carroll will be cut, that would be, with all due respect, pretty insane. Same goes for Jenkins, Wolff and Allen.

    Only way I see a chance for a 6th CB would be 11 DBs, to be honest with you. Reynolds may not contribute this year, but we picked him in the 5th round (that’s no garbage round), they knew that shitty Stanford problem with the graduation because of Ertz and Chip said by himself that he would have been a second day pick next year if he would have stayed at school. They can’t expect him to be ready if they think of him that way, but they can’t think that they’ll get him on the PS or on IR.

    I’d be pretty pissed with Chip if he cuts Reynolds, to be honest. Not because of Marsh, if he earns it, but because the lack of a plan who you’re drafting and for what.

  89. 89 Anders said at 5:04 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I have never supported Casey Matthews

  90. 90 GEAGLE said at 6:54 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    “I did not inhale” Lol

  91. 91 RogerPodacter said at 5:07 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    i think you are right – Marsh making the team just about guarantees that we give up on a mid round draft pick OR we carry a ton of DBs…
    Marsh was meant to be a long term project, though. it would be a shame if we gave up on him just as he was getting it together and turns into something decent.

  92. 92 GEAGLE said at 6:48 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Doubt we cut Reynolds this year

  93. 93 phillychuck said at 3:01 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    Reynolds will get a mysterious “injury” after the last PS game and spend the year on IR. Redshirt. Thus we can keep Marsh, who is likely to be more useful this year.

  94. 94 GEAGLE said at 7:18 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    Wouldn’t surprise me at all. Love IR…but Reynolds isn’t as raw as someone like Kruger when we drafted him. I don’t mind sticking him on IR, but I would try to put him on the roster if possible, because he will grow faster practicing and getting coached up this year, and while he is getting coached up, he would BRING IT on special teams for us…. IR/Roster….whatever, I won’t lose sleep no matter what they decide, since I doubt we are dumb enough to think we can put him on the practice squad without getting Poached

  95. 95 Dominik said at 7:01 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Right with the long term project. He disappointed all the years, but if he’s capable now – would be strange. We could go with 6 DL, if Kruger continues to struggle, it’s not like you have to keep a guy like Square. That would leave 11 DBs if we want. But it would be a commitment for next season (concering Fletcher and Williams), since we don’t need him on the 46 active this year – probably all year.

  96. 96 Anders said at 5:08 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    5th round is often garbage round. Everything after 4th is not guaranteed spot

  97. 97 Dominik said at 7:02 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Even if that may be the case (I see it for a loaded team like the Seahawks or the 49ers, not for us, but that’s my opinion): you simply cannot expect a rookie without OTAs and who’s not ready yet to contribute in year 1. If you know that while you are drafting, and they knew both of those things, you simply would be very stupid to draft the guy. Even if you don’t like many players on your board, trade the pick or go bpa. I don’t care. If you pick a player like Reynolds with his flaws, of those you are aware, then take him into the 53. There is no excuse for not doing that, imho. If you treat 5th round picks like that, basically expecting wonders in around 2 months or so, you’re not drafting good. And if you ignore FA (for the most part), you’ll never be a good team without respecting your draft picks.

    Now, Re: Matthews, I don’t have a quote to back that up, but I remember you supported him in a discussion here on this board. I’m not saying that you’re a fan of him, but you at least wrote that he has his place on this team. For a guy 99 % of the fans who know him want to kick out of town, that’s supporting.

  98. 98 GEAGLE said at 6:42 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    He is Nate Allen’s number 1 fan also.lol in fairness to him, Nate had his best year.and sounds like Marsh had his best camp..

    Alex henrey had a strong day. No touch backs but all kickoffs were deep into ENDZONE. And he Was 5 for 5 on FGs, two over 50yards
    ..
    Murderleg was poor

  99. 99 Mitchell said at 8:21 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I guess that’s why we have a practice squad and 4 pre-season games. The pre-season games will tell us a lot!

  100. 100 Dominik said at 5:20 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    I literally don’t care how Reynolds plays in Preseason. If you draft him in the 5th, you are anticipating that he has worth for other teams, so you won’t be able to sneak him into the PS or into IR (at least with a fake injury). You KNOW the second you write his name on the card that he is not ready to contribute this season. And with those two combined, you just have to keep him on the 53, there is no excuse for not doing it while scrubs like Maehl have a shot. He won’t be active on gameday, but that’s not relevant. He has talent, but is raw and came out too early (Chip said that, no draft expert). You coach him up and see what he can do next year. If he isn’t ready then, we can talk about cutting him. But cutting him now would be a waste of a draft pick and I don’t think Chip wants to do that. He wants to build through the draft, you don’t waste 5th rounders then.

  101. 101 GvilleEagleFan said at 1:23 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    I have a hard time seeing the DB’s break down any way than as follows: CBs Williams, Fletcher, Boykin, Carroll, Watkins; FS Jenkins, Maragos; SS Allen, Wolff.

    I know that’s only 9 DBs, but Watkins could fill in at S in an emergency and they’ll surely keep Johnson and another DB on the PS. I have to think the discretionary end of the roster spots on D will be going to our depth at DL (Hart, Allen, Curry) and LB (Acho, Goode, Long, Braman). Then you have to figure that Marsh is also fighting whoever is the 4th RB, 6th WR, and 4th TE (Matthew Tucker, Jeff Maehl, Trey Burton/James Casey) who could all make significant contributions. Finally, Marsh has never had a reputation for standing out on special teams. Overall, I think it’s gonna be hard for him to make this roster.

  102. 102 Dominik said at 5:24 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    Don’t forget Reynolds. It doesn’t matter how unready he is, you have to keep him because you knew he wasn’t ready when you drafted him. With him, there are 10 DBs. We could go with 11 if Marsh plays lights out in PS, that depends on the other roster bubble players (you named them).

    Watkins as an emergency Safety could still be relevant, though, because Reynolds probably won’t be active on gameday. Depending on how much Defense Maragos can play, you maybe need Watkins as your 4th Safety.

  103. 103 GvilleEagleFan said at 1:40 AM on August 7th, 2014:

    I think his late start with the team and minor injuries just make me forget we spent a 5th on him. With that in mind, I’ll be shocked if Marsh makes the roster. Just too many other good fringe players that would certainly make another team’s (Houston, Oakland, Jags, Bills) 53 if we didn’t keep them. I’m a homer when it comes to Burton, but I think he could do just as much, if not more, than James Casey could in this offense. If Casey stays, it will be only because the coaches aren’t confident in Burton as a lead blocker in short yardage. As a back himself in short yardage, he ran just as hard as Tebow ever did and with a lot more initial burst.

  104. 104 Dominik said at 4:46 AM on August 7th, 2014:

    Just too many other good fringe players that would certainly make another team’s (Houston, Oakland, Jags, Bills) 53 if we didn’t keep them

    I wouldn’t go that far. I may sound like a broken record, but as long as scrubs like Maehl, Square and C. Matthews have a shot at the roster, I wouldn’t say we’re too deep. We improved a lot in that area (especially at OLB, D-Line and Defensive Backfield), but are not quite there yet at other positions (O-Line, ILB).

    But that’s just a general rule of thumb. Of course, one or two teams could fall in love with one of our players. Marsh is a candidate for that, if he has a good preseason tape. Other teams could think: well, he has the size-speed combo, he was learning a new position and the lights finally went on for him.

  105. 105 GEAGLE said at 6:41 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    I have been pretty anti marsh but it sounds like has really been performing this offseason and it may have clicked for him. He was so raw at CB when we drafted him, combined with the years on dysfunctional defense, maybe it just took longer for the light bulb to go on for him…definitely curious to see how he performs in these preseason games

    Cary Williams press pass interview today, you got to see the real good team mate side or Cary Williams and he opened up and gave some of his thoughts on Marsh and Boykin….short interview, but. Side of Cary I hope fans see

  106. 106 anon said at 8:02 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Please tell me ROC is gone.

  107. 107 nopain23 said at 8:14 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    agreed. i want casey and him gone yesterday!

  108. 108 anon said at 7:06 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    also he’s making plays against PS guys and backup QBs, color me not impressed.

  109. 109 GEAGLE said at 6:59 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    What I love about Nick FOles is he will always work to improve to add to his game…all week we heard about the BG shoulder throws we were working on, today’s pass on the day, was FOles with a perfect back shoulder touchdown throw to Brad smith over Bradley Fletcher who played it perfect! but couldn’t defense the TD.

    FOles was sharp. NO INTs past two days…throw a Laser to Srtz threading needle for TD.

    Barkley was horrible today, really bad day for him according to everyone

    Last year FOles picked up the pump fake where he pats the ball from watching Brady….can’t wait to see what our sponge of a young QB picks up from Brady this year

  110. 110 Dan Thies said at 7:14 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Maybe somebody already mentioned this, but that OSU game featured a C who went in the 5th, a T who went in the 2nd, and a G who is in Indy’s camp right now. You see him jumping play side instead of 2-gapping a lot, but he’s also said that’s one of the things he’s working on now for the NFL. Chip’s guys *will* learn fast because they get reps. The next man up usually got more reps that week than the other team’s starters.

  111. 111 nopain23 said at 8:18 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    while i love me some JMat …khalil mack will be the best rookie this year no doubt.he was the most talented player in the draft and has almost zero bust potential.i think a close second will be justin gilbert..whom i have a man crush on. best WR will not be evans like a lot of drafniks think.he is going to really struggle to get separation in the LEAGUE. i say best rookie WR will be between cooks and jmat.

  112. 112 Mitchell said at 8:52 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    What about Sammy Watkins? Are you counting him out just because his QB is terribad? I’m not sure about Gilbert, his lack of physicality may be a problem, but I liked him too.

  113. 113 nopain23 said at 8:58 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    yup.you’re QB has to get you the ball. Foles and Brees are accurate so they willmake their WRs better. EJ has major accuracy issues. “Prime Time” wasn’t very physical (not saying gilbert is sanders) and he was a helluva player.

  114. 114 Insomniac said at 10:25 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Prime was also a freak athlete that understood the game.

  115. 115 GEAGLE said at 7:09 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    Shady has fallen in love with Jmat… Seems pretty convinced that Jordan will be a stud and the best WR in this class.
    ..
    “He is like 6’3, strong, plays physical, works really hard and runs like a deer. This was a strong WR draft and I’m confident we got the best WR from this draft. Our rookie is going to be special”- shady McCoy on pope Jordan the 81st

  116. 116 Media Mike said at 8:45 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Is it worth discussing that in addition to Beau Allen looking solid, that it’s very frustrating he see Kelce get roller skated again. The biggest hole in Kelce’s game is his lack of functional strength. I wish he’d improve that.

  117. 117 Sean Stott said at 10:19 PM on August 5th, 2014:

    Beau has 40 lbs on Kelce. You can get a bigger center but you’d sacrifice a lot of what Kelce brings to the table.

  118. 118 A_T_G said at 12:46 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    I think Mike is wishing that, ahem, Kelce would bring a little more to the table.

  119. 119 GEAGLE said at 7:04 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    He isn’t going to win every snap he ever takes…he said to be the strongest he has been in the weight room since he has been here..

    Pro bowl year for Kelce coming up.

  120. 120 GEAGLE said at 7:01 AM on August 6th, 2014:

    Anyone else laughing at the Falcons last night when you see their players standing around doing nothing during practice? Very different than a Chip Kelly practice… Also can’t help but laugh at their coach who was trying so hard to be cool on hard knocks. That coach is such a dope,….lTHANK you Howie and Jeffry for Chip Kelly…
    ..
    Beautiful to see Chip turn us into a cohesive team tighter than any eagles team we have seen In years. Love how he switched everyone’s lockers around. Usually you see clicks in locker rooms, made up of different position groups. Makes sense that you shouldn’t have all their lockers in the same area since they already spend so much time with their positions players….Chip mixed up the lockers so that a QB can find a NT next to him, or a WR finds a LB next to him…
    ..
    Chip trying to bring us together as a team has already materialized…
    It’s one thing to see Malcolm help Wolff along, or Barwin helping out Marcus….but I find it really cool to see our defenders helping out WRs, and OLBs being given tips by our OTs… Boykin talked about how he is staying after practice to work with Pope Jordan the 81st,to really help get him used to beating the NFL nickel corners….really cool to see a team that has come together like us…came along way from our highest paid players eating lunch alone in their car…

  121. 121 Charlie Kelly said at 3:03 AM on August 8th, 2014:

    momah, henry josey and trey burton… rooting for one of those guys to steal a roster spot