Practice Squad Complete
Posted: September 1st, 2014 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 173 Comments »The Eagles added 2 more players to the practice squad, filling out the 10-man unit. This will change quite a bit in the coming months. Players will be added to the roster or signed away by other teams. Or maybe a player comes available that the Eagles prefer to the guys they currently have. Expect changes.
The 2 players added were
WR/CB Teddy Williams
QB G.J. Kinne
Williams is a very interesting player. He has good size at 6-1, 207. He played for Dallas and Arizona previously. The Cardinals used him at WR in 2013, then moved him to CB this summer. Dallas tried him at both spots as well.
Why do that?
Williams mainly has a track background and is still learning how to play football. He was a 4-time track All-American at Texas-San Antonio.
The Tyler native not only finished his career as UTSA’s lone four-time All-American, but he also helped lead the Roadrunners to six Southland Conference Championships (four indoor/two outdoor) from 2007-10. Williams claimed nine Southland titles (five indoor/four outdoor), was twice named the league’s Indoor Athlete of the Year (2009-10) as well as Outdoor Outstanding Track Performer (2008, ’10) and established UTSA records in the 55m (6.23a), 60m (Southland-best 6.59), 100m (9.90w), 200m (20.60w) and 400m relay (39.59).
Williams played WR in high school and it is easier to learn that spot than CB so the fact he’s been moved to CB makes you wonder if he has bad hands. I’m sure Chip Kelly is fascinated by the size/speed combo that Williams offers.
While the Eagles are trying to develop him, there is another possibility. Williams could be a versatile practice player. In preparation for Dallas, he could be Dez Bryant. For the Skins, DeSean Jackson. For the Cardinals, Patrick Peterson. It is hard to simulate the speed and athleticism of some WRs/CBs with normal practice squad guys. Williams could help there.
Geoff Mosher offered an interesting nugget on why signing Williams took so long.
How intensely did the Eagles pursue Williams? Per source, they paid double the practice squad money to sign him. Negotiations took a while.
— Geoff Mosher (@GeoffMosherCSN) September 1, 2014
As for Kinne…Kelly adds a 4th QB to help in practice and an athletic guy who will help in other ways. Kinne isn’t your typical QB. He’ll do anything. Kelly had him doing STs stuff last summer.
It feels like the Eagles looked elsewhere and things didn’t work out so Kinne got the call. I can’t imagine any other reason the team would not have signed him on Sunday.
Kinne has practice squad value, but I would rather the Eagles have signed a player who had some QB potential. Kinne is a fun guy to root for, but he has yet to show the traits of an NFL QB.
The overall group looks like this:
C/G Josh Andrews
G/T Kevin Graf
WR Quron Pratt
WR Will Murphy
WR Teddy Williams
QB G.J. Kinne
RB Matthew Tucker
NT Wade Keliikipi
ILB Emmanuel Acho
S Ed Reynolds
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Williams has previous CB experience. Dallas used him at both CB and WR when he was on their PS. So it’s not as if this offseason is his only experience at the position. His agent said on twitter(replying to Les Bowen) that the Eagles would use him at both positions.
Dallas cut safety Ahmad Dixon today.,.. How crappy do you have to look to be a rookie that gets cut from that secondary?
Local kid (Dallas), right?
Baylor?
Yup..that’s him
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All you have to know about how pathetic Dallas is, is that they announced Ronaldo McClain will be starting Sunday at MLB….HA!!!!
Troy Polamalu was just elected to his first Captaincy with the Steelers, so I’m not sure how important that is to team chemistry.
Dave Fipp is visualizing T.Williams and Boykin gunning…
So, we kept 6 WR on the roster and now have signed 3 more for the PS? I realize Williams tried to play CB too, but does 9 WR strike anyone as a little excessive?
I’ll reserve judgement until I see the roster comp after Polk is 100% healthy and Lane Johnson comes back.
I don’t care how many we keep as long as they have potential to grow into NFL players like Pratt….. Don’t get why Will Murphy is here, but whatever
Gary Potosky @InqPotosky · 1h
#Eagles Travis Long’s injury means Marcus Smith’s development may have to quicken, via @ZBerm http://www.inquirer.com/sports/20140830_ap_f96951c844a342d7846ff5657210b6af.html …
Gary Potosky @InqPotosky · 1h
#Eagles Marcus Smith didnt have a good preseason, and that could be a problem, via @ZBerm
Where did the idea that come from that Travis Long’s injury mean that Smith needs to develop faster? Smith was always the back up to Barwin, and I don’t recall Long ever being ahead of him on any depth charts, particularly in preseason. As far as I can tell the only real effect it had was that Casey Matthews retained his job. I watched most of the preseason games, and I honestly don’t even remember seeing Long on the field.
Not saying Smith was a stud or anything but I didn’t feel he had a bad preseason, obviously I would of liked to see him sack the QB more but am I crazy? Was Smith that bad that he was 3rd on the depth chart? Did he have that bad of a preseason?
No, Smith had a preseason that I think anyone rational would have expected, some flashes and some mistakes. A typical rookie preseason.
I do not get the Long connection to Smith either…if the Eagles can find a better option than Matthews that should take care of the 4th ILB spot. Smith has always played OLB behind Barwin as you said.
This is the media making a mountain out of a molehill as usual and applying pressure to Smith & the Eagles which is not necessary…if anyone calls Smith a bust based on one TC and preseason, they obviously know zero about how football works and rookies perform normally.
Yes; clearly, he is not ready to play in a meaningful game. Long would have earned a lot of snaps, backing up both outside lbs, on STs and as a 4th inside lb. He is a major loss. Smith, who would probably been inactive early in the season, will now have to play. He needs a full yr with the strength and position coaches. I am not calling him a bust, but he is not ready now.
Geez.. The media really makes my blood boil..
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Marcus is going to be such a nice player for us 3 years from now..shame a kid has to put up with this cities ridiculous media, and dumb fanbase..then again, I have to stop ripping fans, it’s not their fault…with the media coverage they get in this city, the fans never stood a chance..
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Just think how wrong the media has proven to be since Chip was hired..
Having the extra guy at CB can’t hurt. We’re not sure going into 2015 if they’ll cut Cary, re-sign Fletcher, have a new deal ready for Boykin, be ready to have Carroll step into a larger role, and/or see Watkins develop into a trustworthy NFL corner.
I like having a bigger CB around for developmental purposes.
We certainly can’t rely on going to the Marsh or Carmichael well again for anything except a bucket full of urine-tainted water.
“Kinne has practice squad value, but I would rather the Eagles have signed a player who had some QB potential. Kinne is a fun guy to root for, but he has yet to show the traits of an NFL QB.”
I’m with you there. In case of an emergency, you can always sign Kinne. He just didn’t show enough as a QB to be signed by another team. Why would you need 4 QBs in a Chip Kelly gameplan practice week?
Williams sounds at least like an interesting prospect, but I’m with Geagle, why 3 WR (+ 6 on the roster)? And if 3 WR, why not Momah instead of Murphy? No huge Momah fan, don’t get me wrong, but he just seems like a player that could be that kind of developmental WR that is ideal for the PS. If he doesn’t improve with one year of professional Chip Kelly coaching, then OK. If you have a superior prospect – cut him. But Murphy is neither of those things.
Plus Kinne is a scrambler, not a passer. The guys to develop behind Foles need to be passers as well.
I don’t think Kinne will ever be a starting or good backup QB in the NFL. So it doesn’t matter if scrambler or not.
But your comment made me come up with a good reason to sign him to the PS (53 roster would have been total nonsense, but I don’t think anyone would disagree with me). We play RG3 and out twice, Kaepernick, Newton and Wilson this season (+ Romo twice, who is no runner, but mobile nonetheless). It has some value if the QB your D practices against is mobile. Of course, Brad Smith could probably fill that role also, but then you don’t have him as a Receiver in practice. And he can’t train ST if he’s the QB in practice.
I can see some value in what you’re saying with Kinne as a scout player. I just dread having to beat down the “Chip needs a running QB” people next year in the draft even after Foles has another pro-bowl season.
Ignore those guys, Mike. Just laugh at them. Nick Foles has 999 years left under CK, he signed the non-running Sanchez in FA and drafted Barkley. The facts are on your side, mate. Just laugh it away. 😉
There was an uppity national writer that Evan Silva re-tweeted that I had to get into a nasty exchange with about duel threat = no threat in the NFL due to the fad status of playing the position in that manner. He didn’t care for me referencing that guys as varied as Booger McFarland to Greg Cosell (with Aaron Rodgers, Mike Tomlin, and Bruce Arians in between) explaining how that style of play is a dead end. The guy also (similar to a nasty exchange I had with Spike Eskin) didn’t care for being schooled on how Wilson isn’t a primary scrambler like Kaep even though a lame reading of their rushing attempts can delude one into thinking so.
I mentioned this point yesterday & below. I didn’t even count Romo b/c who knows where he is with recovering from surgery and being the same guy that moved well in the pocket. But if you added him that’s 9 QBs you’d classify anywhere from moves well to athletically mobile.
I don’t know man. The kid has completed what, like 14 or 16 preseason passes the last two years? It’s preseason against scrubs so we can’t say he’s shown he can be a good NFL player, but I don’t see how anyone can say he’s shown that he can’t.
I’d be fine with him as our 3rd QB. Obviously the coaches aren’t that high on him, so maybe he’s sub-par in the classroom or something.
It’s the eye test, I guess. I never liked his preseason play, all that dancing and scrambling around. Tommy also pointed out that it’s bad for the 3rd string Receivers, too, because they don’t get good tape with him at QB.
I maybe would have second guessed my own evaluation, but no one really saw it another way.
My guess is that they wanted Thad Lewis to sign as the PS QB. Thad is an athletic type QB. Didn’t happen, so we signed a known commodity in Kinne. We square off 7 times against teams with “mobile” QBs (including Luck & Rodgers). That’s almost half the regular season games. We need someone to play that role in practice & Kinne can be that guy. In this case, I don’t see Kinne signed as being a developmental QB as Barkley is holding down that spot at the moment. He’s here purely to prepare the team for Sundays.
.who know if we had any interest in Thad at all.. Eagles always bringing guys in to take a look, just so happens media found out about this one and usually these exploratory visits are kept under wraps…
My guess is that they worked him out for the PS spot, offered it to him, waited and he passed, so we just resigned Kinne.
Plausible…..not really sure that we have to have a PS QB. I mean, what does Barkley do all week when FOles gets the majority of the Reps and Sanchez gets the leftover scraps?
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Hard to be happy about Kinney when teams have developmental talent like Zac Dysert on their PS
What good, young QB wants to sign with the Eagles now? He would have three young QBs in front of him. No chance to play a snap this season. PS candidates are looking for a break–most have no loyalty to the Eagles. Bet the Browns get a lot of guys who want to go there…and not just for the statue of Joe Banner in the locker room.
This is true….
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Just frustrated with the lack of Longterm NFL potential to cultivate on our practice squad.
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I like seeing the PS used as a developmental feeder system to our active roster. Fill it with Ed Reynolds, and Kruger types, kids with NFL ceilings who came out of school to early and are a few years away from being ready to have a role on the active roster…. I understand that PS also has to practice against our active roster. But I don’t see why it has to be one or the other..
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I’d like 10 players who can oractice against our starters during the week but ATleast have some LONGSHOT chance at developing into a pro player..something like:
1) Mathew Tucker
2) Qurran Pratt
3) Graf
4) Ed Reynolds
5) Kenny Ladler safety
6) Joe Kruger
7) Momah
8) Ted Williams
9) Adrian Hubbard
… And then I wouldn’t mind a spot on a player with no legit NFL potential like Kinney
I think you’ll see PS changes after week 1–when teams can sign vets without any contract guarantees. Vet signings can cause ripples down the rosters of many teams.
Agreed… At the end of the day, whether we love or hate these players it’s not at all a big deal…just curious to know what we saw in Wade and Andrews to have given them spots…I don’t understand those two at all
Jerry:
Excellent post! Some fans seem to forget that it is the PRACTICE SQUAD, not the development squad. Since the average NFL career is something like 3.5 to 4 years, development really needs to be focused on players with upside and the possibility of longer careers. Age, injury probability (not just history), physicality, and football smarts are part of the equation. As fans we don’t get a chance to make evaluations based on all of the relevant information.
Thad Lewis is not eligible for the PS, I don’t believe.
He’s been in the NFL since 2010.
Even under the new rules, I don’t think he’d qualify
Really don’t get the point in signing Kinney., what a waste. He is our designated offseason QB, and anytime we need a QB because of injury/Trade we can sign him off the street… Doubt anyone would have snatched Kinney up.
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Sucks that The dumb raiders played Calvin Pryor and ruined practice squad eligibility for smart franchises who know he isn’t ready to be on the 53 man roster. Would have been an awesome practice squad QB to develop.
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I don’t know much about Ted, but I will ROOT FOR HIM desperately to become a quality player that we use against teams on Sunday…. One of my main fantasies is taking a cowboy castoff and turning him into a stud, not only making them look bad, but then using this player against them IN DALLAS..,
Read below in regards to Kinne.
Yeah u r right that there is a simulate opponents angle of it..
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But I feel like we don’t have enough future NFL potential on our practice squad. I would have liked to see ATleast 5 spots filled with Raw kids who Have LONGSHOT potential to grow into a player that can help us on Sundays… Like a Momah type. The only practice squad players that fit that Bill are:
1) Tucker
2) Graf
3) Pratt
4) Reynolds
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Players who are longshots, but could eventually grow into players that make our 53 man roster…
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I view Acho as just ILB insurance
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I don’t see Wade, Kinney! Andrews or Murphy ever making an NFL roster..
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Ted Williams… I know nothing of, I have no opinion of him..
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I Probably wouldn’t mind Kinney that much if we had some potential instead of wasting 3 spots on Andrews, Wade and Will.. They won’t be NFL players and we have two young NTs and two young Centers..
Why the lack of trust in coaches/GM’s ability to select PS talent? Brandon Bair, Travis Long, Matthew Tucker, Michael Bamiro were on the PS last season. How many had Bair making the roster this season, or even considered him NFL talent?
Seemed like every writer after the draft had their number two concern for the Eagles (after pass rush) being the age and lack of depth along the OL after the Eagles failed to draft any OL – now it’s considered one of their greatest strengths.
The Eagles’ coaches have seen Momah for 2 training camps now and didn’t select him for he PS, even after all the improvement – he cleared waivers and nobody else put him on their PS – just not enough versatility for a bottom of the roster guy.
As for Hubbard and Jeffcoat – neither are a good fit for Eagles D, Hubbard is too slow and has stiff hips. Jeffcoat needs to get stronger to play DE in the NFL. I would bring back Kruger before either of these two, and the Eagles and everyone else passed on him.
We’re 5 days away from PHI vs. JAX!!!
It’s not a lack of trust at all…. Difference of philosophy.
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For example, Will Murphy was kept to practice against. I doubt they view him as someone they can groom into a player… I don’t think you need all those spots for scout team players…..would have liked to see more spots spent on high risk, high reward types… Those 10 practice spots, IMO are when you should roll the dice on raw talents…
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I wasn’t even one of those Momah cult members, but I struggle seeing what could posses someone to keep Will over Momah after seeing how much he was able to improve on his own for a year..
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Lol I know Momah’s faults, you seem to leave out all of Will Murphy’s flaws in the equation lol…convenient,
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Maybe no one picked up Momah, but I doubt anyone picks up Will Murphy if we don’t…
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If you are just going to agree with every single thing the eagles do. What’s the point on posting? Save yourself time and write: I agree with eagles under every topic
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I’m Not PRO MOMAH…I’m anti Will Murphy, and you wrote 3’paragraphs but have yet to address what will Murphy brings to the table that he was one of the best 10 guys we could get? And I’m not someone who cries about some bullshit Oregon Bias, I just think we could have done better in PS squad selection, but I would love nothing more than to be wrong and see all 10 of these players go on to eventually help us……
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We can agree to disagree that will, Wade and Josh are good choices
Appreciate the difference in philosophy, and personally I’m more a risk-taker as well. I think what it boils down to is that there’s less developmental work that occurs during the season than warrants rolling the dice on projects, at least in year 2 of the CK era.
That said, as you’ve pointed out regarding Chip’s emphasis on team culture, as the core groups becomes more deeply rooted, I expect to see the Eagles take more risk on talent with character questions – in FA, the draft, and on the PS.
I don’t understand the Will Murphy spot either, unless his ST contribution potential was attractive to the coaches – but, like I pointed out, not many people had Brandon Bair developing to make the roster either.
With the depth of NFL experience and cerebral talent on this coaching staff, I have to believe that their input has helped shape the PS strategies.
There’s just so much that goes on with the players that the media and fans aren’t privy to, and that Chip wants to keep that way – I’m from Oregon and experienced the transition of their program under his leadership – and while I’m not saying he’s infallible, he’s as consistent and dynamic a leader as I’ve encountered in some time.
So, when I see something that makes me go “huh?” with Chip, I tend to chalk it up to a lack of information in understanding the decision making process.
I really believe Chip will take the Eagles to the promised land, and I’m not counting out this season as possible. I’m on the side that thinks the Defense will be vastly improved.
garbage. I’ll start with that. IF they are building a defense to stop a “certain” qb, we’re in trouble. Our defense should be built like our offense. On offense, we don’t care who’s on defense. This offensive is built to attack/exploit numbers and weakness. That’s what a “D” should have — a plan. Not a “oh, good thing we have Kinne on our practice squad because he can scramble”. Puke. Give me someone with potential. I’d rather have a kicker — you know, incase a rookie kicker who has yet to kick in an nfl game starts choking. Not that I don’t like the kicker, I like a plan B. Kinne is not play B or C or D or E.
Why do people get bent over the practice squad as if we’re supposed to be stashing that rare talent that 31 other teams were also unwilling to sign to their active roster. This has nothing to do with “building” a defense to stop a certain QB, but rather preparing a defense from stopping a certain type of QB. You can’t send Joe Statue out there and tell him to play the part of Wilson, Kaep, RGNothing. Preparing the team for the next opponent. That’s what the practice squad is for…Not just stashing projects.
ok, so you’re asking a player(Kinne), a player who can’t crack a 3rd string job in the NFL, to perform “like” NFL caliber QB’s? That’s what you’re saying right? That is an impossibility. Can Kinne pretend to scramble? Sure. So can the “speedster” they just signed. Can Kinne read a defense like RG3? Or sling that dart like Wilson? Not even close. My point is, the defense should have a scheme to stop Wash. Not a scheme to stop rg3. Our offense has a scheme to move the ball/score points regardless of who is on D. That’s how our approach should be on D, stop the O, not the player. Otherwise, your offense and defense philosophy contradict each other.
I don’t think anybody is bent out of shape, we’re just trying to understand a move that has no value. He’s not a project that someday may play in the nfl.
I don’t see any value in that speedster either BUT at least you can say — just maybe, after a year of playing something might click because he’s so raw. There’s about a 3% chance of that happening but at least there’s a chance…
“He’s not a project that someday may play in the nfl.” I think you basically made my point. It’s the ‘practice squad’ not the farm team. It’s not baseball, although I’m all for the developmental league that they’re looking at erecting. You just can’t expect every player signed to the practice squad to be a player with an NFL future. I don’t even give a rats behind that it was Kinne. To me, I’d rather carry 2 QBs on the active roster & 1 on the practice squad. I don’t see the need for 4 QBs b/c if you’re resorting to your 3rd string or signing your practice squad QB to the roster you’re already sunk. I’m just finding & stating the reason why I think they went with Kinne. Not that I agree with it, just making sense of it.
I get what you’re saying. He’s there to help others, I just don’t he can help at any level that’s value.
as it’s been said — sooner or later — the Oregon connection will be over, than we can really judge Chip. For now, we have to take his word for it. I get all the “well, they aren’t taking up starter spots” blab blah but they are taking roster spots. He are the practice squad makes zero sense.
I def can’t defend the practice squad selection
Practice squad without a pass rusher? Not only are there not
enough good 3-4 pass rushers available to make the Eagles 53, there aren’t
enough to make the practice squad in a developmental role on a team that was
20th in the league last year in sacks.
Would have tried to sign Adrian Hubbard to the practice squad. he is a Mutt, but he ATleast has legit potential…wouldn’t mind seeing our coaches take a stab at working with him for a year and salvaging his career which seems to be headed down the toilet..
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I know he sucks,… But Josh Andrews is terrible.
How is his career headed down the toilet? He’s a rookie who’s played 4 preseason games!!?!
His career has been headed down the toilet for years…he drastically underperformed in college to the point that he is only really even still around because of his body and measurements…last year was supposed to be the year he finally put it all together and became the caliber player he was recruited to become…that never happened, thus his draft stock..
He went from potential 1st round pick to UDFA to cut
Lol aka definition of career heading down the drain,
I would love Jeffcoat on the PS, guy has crazy athleticism, but is a raw pass rusher. He can even play ILB
Yeah man… I’d bring every young pass rusher that gets cut in for a closer look.. Look for our very own James Harrison, who we can grow
Disappointed with Kinne, Murphy, and Acho. Would like to see some new blood there. Is Jake Knott still on the street? You think they sign him again?
T-Law speculated when Knott was cut, based on his tweet, that it didn’t seem Knott would be coming back here.
If Long’s not hurt, no chance.
But if Knott gets healthy AND the staff sees him a very close substitute on special teams for Casey Matthews . . . maybe.
The only drawback could be the Birds would be short at OLB.
Ultimately, I’ll defer to T-law on this.
Knott’s suspension doesn’t start until he’s a 53 man roster.
Tough for a team to carry a back of the bench player for four games before he can even practice with the team.
BB:
Knott’s tweeted that the NFL informed him the 4-game suspension starts with Week 1 — not when he’s added to a roster.
The explanation is that Knott was on an NFL roster at the time his suspension was announced.
If he’d been playing in Canada, or a street guy, then his suspension wouldn’t start until a team signed him
Thanks. Hadn’t heard that.
Nice…so good shot we bring him back, I guess..
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Acho and Casey Mathews probabky shouldn’t get too comfortable
Acho has more potential than most guys if his head ever slows down enough, Kinne is do it all guy, but sounds like they hoped we something better and Murphy is there because not everybody on the PS can be high upside guys.
Acho must feel like a yoyo. How many times have the Eagles cut/waived him then re-signed?
Re: Track Guys in Green
The Eagles have had two genuine track superstars, both of whom are also remembered for their respective roles in two different Olympic dramas.
The first is the great Villanova sprinter Frank Budd, whom the Eagles drafted in the 7th Rd of the ’62 draft (#96 overall — or a 3rd Rd pick today), despite zero college football experience. Budd did play in high school.
Budd ran the opening leg for the US team in the 1960 Olympics in the 4×100. The team set an world record . . . only to be disqualified because of a baton-exchange violation. The gold medal went instead to the West German team.
Budd played only a single season for the Eagles in 1962 — under HC/GM Joe “Must Go” Kuharich. At 5’10” 175lbs, Budd was all speed.
He finished his one-and-done Birds’ career with 5 catches for 130 yards . . . a 26.1 YPC avg. Kuharich cut him anyway. Too many drops it was said.
The other great sprinter to play for the Eagles, though not in a regular season game, is the once-notorious John Carlos. He won the bronze in 200 meters at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and, together with US gold-medal winner Tommie Smith, stood on the victory giving the iconic black-gloved black-power salute.
The Eagles drafted the 6’3″ 210 lb Carlos in Rd 15 of the 1970 draft out of San Jose State. No prior football experience. None in college. None in high school.
Carlos signed with the Eagles in time for training camp — actually landing a signing bonus of about $15,000 and rookie contract that, in total, almost doubled the minimum. Big money back then.
The Birds assigned receivers coach Charlie Gauer and DB coach Irv Cross to tutor Carlos in the art of playing WR. He tore up his knee in TC running a route, though, and spent the year on IR.
The Birds had kept Carlos around hoping he’d learn the ropes of playing WR.
At the end of TC in 1971 — with the roster capped at 40 players and 6 of them being RBs — the Eagles had choice: Keep Carlos and hope he develops, or go with a gangly 6’7″ rookie 7th Rd pick at TE from Southern named Harold Carmichael.
And you know the rest of that story.
Great stuff.
Don’t forget about olympic track star Lam Jones from the Jets. First NFL contract over $1 million (could be wrong on that), and widely touted as one the great draft busts of all time. #2 overall and they traded up a bunch to get him.
BB:
Lam was the No. 2 overall selection in the 1980 draft.
You’re right . . . has to have been the track guy with the biggest NFL contract (relative to the times).
If more Eagles are being discussed,need to mention Bob Hayes, though he did play back-up on a great HS team.
“Bullet” Bob Hayes . . . “World’s Fastest Human” and 2x Olympic gold medalist (1964 Tokyo games).
Hayes was a full-time college football player at Florida A&M and member of FAMU’s hall of fame for his college football exploits. (Maybe I misread your comment.)
remember him hen I was a kid
got got the info from wikipedia
Hayes attended Matthew Gilbert High School (now a middle school) in Jacksonville, where he was a backup halfback on the football team. The 1958 Gilbert High Panthers finished 12–0, winning the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association black school state championship with a 14–7 victory overDillard High School of Fort Lauderdale before more than 11,000 spectators. In times of segregation laws, their achievement went basically unnoticed, yet 50 years later they were recognized as one of the best teams in FHSAAhistory.[1][2]
didn`t read about his university play
Paul Harvey style look at Eagles’ history – nicely done!
Per Rotoworld, we don’t get to see Mr. Harbor play on Sunday.
Jaguars TE Clay Harbor (calf) will not play in Sunday’s Week 1 game against the Eagles.
Harbor missed the entire month of August with his severe calf pull. He managed to keep his roster spot because of the sheer lack of depth in the Jags’ tight end room. Wavier pickup Mickey Shuler will back up Marcedes Lewis Sunday.
Re: Speaking of Marcus Smith II – 1st Rd #26
Some comments today about how some in the media are projecting what to expect this year.
Here’s a peek at the last the five players selected 26th in Rd 1:
2013 — DE Datone Jones, Packers. 3.5 sacks, 10 tackles as a rookie
2012 — Rush OLB Witney Merciless, Texans. 6 sks, 15 tkls . . . 7/33 – Yr 2
2011 — WR Jonathan Baldwin, Chiefs. 21 rec, 254 yds 1-TD . . . out of football
2010 — DT Dan Williams, Cards. 0 sacks, 21 tackles . . . AZ still waiting
2009 — Rush OLB Clay Matthews . . . Awesome dinner companion.
Let’s hope things follow a 5-year cycle.
This city will love Marcus in a year or two…so hopefully all the future hypocrites take it easy on the kid and not bash him too much… He has enough on his plate, don’t need a dumb media and ignorant fanbase piling on,,,
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We will see him on the field by Midseason.., even if his pass rush isn’t ready by then, his ability in coverage will allow Barwin to rush the passer, where as he has to drop back when he is in the game with Cole an BG…. So even in a small role this year, it will be important because it will give Barwin a few opportunities to rush the passer that he normally doesn’t get…. God forbid Barwin gets dinged up and misses two weeks, we will need this kids ability to drop into coverage
Smith’s biggest problem is getting stronger in his upper body and learning to use his hands as a pass rusher.
He might see the field as a 3rd down nickle cover LB who can blitz.
He def will by Midseason…. Opponents will scout him and view him as credible in coverage which means he should be able to catches teams off guard occasionally when we blitz him…..but he def has to get stronger and improve his hand usage before year two, I wouldn’t worry about it
im really comfortable with his upside/future. the big question is what his impact will be this year. if he can make an impact early that’s a huge boost for our D.
I personally view anything you get from a rookie a bonus. I was cool with spending a 4th pick on a Raw Lane Johnson…problem is Lane screwed up the Curve for Marcus. fans were told Lane was raw and he ended time, but he went on to provide instant gratification…so now fans expect more even tho they were told Marcus is raw and will need time before he pays off.
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Smart kid tho, works hard, so you can expect him to contribute by Midseason on 3rd down. He will either cover while Brandon Graham rushes the passer with Cole and Barwin getting a breather, or he will sub for Cole, drop into coverage and allow Barwin to rush the passer…… He will get pass rush opportunities even tho he really needs this year to grow his pass rush arsenal and improve on his hand usage, then by next year he will really be strong enough to really take that next step and show significant improvement setting the edge and rushing the passer…but his ability to cover, is what he can hang his hat on early in the year while his pass rush improves….
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Can’t wait til he isn’t a wet behind the ears rookie anymore and we can put more on his plate…we can probably field a nice 3-3-5 nickel that can really confuse opposing OLines..,.. Something like:
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………..Cole……….Cox……….Curry
……..Barwin………Kendrick……Marcus.
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Be very difficult for an OL to figure out who is rushing, who is Dropping, who is looping around who, twisting,stunting, blitzing
agree, and i think chip and the entire eagles org will give him every opportunity to succeed
Good stuff from Pat Kirwan at cbs regarding rookie impact:
At this moment about 25 rookie position players are penciled in to start and another six rookie kickers and punters bring the rookie the total to 31, but I suspect the total number of starters will swell to close to 40 by opening day. With 22 starting jobs plus a kicker and punter there are 768 starting spots which means the rookies of 2014 only represent five percent of the league’s starters. Remember all the hoopla at draft time that the rookies will change the fortunes of teams?
As for rookie starters there are five guards getting the call and only one of them is a first-round pick (Zach Martin, Cowboys). The others are Joel Bitonio (Browns), Jack Mewhort (Colts), Zach Fulton (Chiefs), and Trai Turner (Panthers). At linebacker opening day starters are C.J. Mosley (Ravens), Anthony Barr (Vikings), Khalil Mack (Raiders), Ryan Shazier (Steelers) and seventh-round pick Randell Johnson (Bills).
In my eyes, Smith is getting the cerebral crash course from the coaching staff in hopes that the “full” return will pay off quicker. They love Barwin and didn’t select Smith in the 1st to play his backup. He’s being groomed at the more difficult position (LOLB) on the nuances of the position so that when they flip him to the right side he’ll have down a much more stable base with which to work and couple with his physical talent. Remember this kid is just starting his 4th year playing defense, et al at the NFL level. He’s been getting by on his smarts (QB field vision) and talent to get to where he was coming out of college. He’s now getting the “education” to go along with that field vision and talent.
In 2005 we drafted a speedy LB/DE named Trent Cole. He played in 15 games at RDE as a pass rush specialist. In 2006 the staff made Cole play LDE to get that “education” beyond just using his talent. He started 14 games that year at LDE & they would flip him here and there on 3rd down, but the premise was for him to become more rounded at his position. He notched 8 sacks. In 2007 he was flipped back to his natural position at RDE and made the pro-bowl with 12.5 sacks. I’m guessing that Smith follows a similar path.
Cole never played LB in college, he was just predicted to play OLB in the NFL because of is size (6’3 230 at combine)
He was listed as a tweener LB/DE or DS (Defensive Specialist) if you will. Regardless, he didn’t always stick his hand in the dirt and would also rush from a standup position.
Maaaaarcus Daaaaaarling!!!! I’m still on cloud 9 that we got him and an extra 3rd round pick in the process….year two, year three, everyone will see what a stud we got
Now that the roster is kinda set…here’s expectations for the rookies.
Marcus Smith – 25-35 tackles, 4 sacks, 0 INTS, 1 FF
Jordan Matthews – 38 catches, 500 yard, 5 TDs
Josh Huff – 14 catches, 250 yards
Jaylen Watkins – 10 tackles, 1 INT
Beau Allen – 15 tackles
I think 3 sacks will be max for Smith as all his sacks will only be of the untouched or against RBs kind in his rookie year
We’re playing some weak OLs this year so you’ll never know. I’m sure Davis will switch things up with Barwin and Smith on passing downs.
I think if Smith is even active, he will only be used on 3rd down as a coverage LB (he might be the best LB on the team to cover TEs)
Yup, he replaces Cole to free up Barwin to rush the passer.. Hopefully we see some serious coverage skills like Dion Jordon locking down Gronk last year..
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Once teams respect Marcus ability to cover, he can catch teams off guard every now and then when he send him after QBs,,..
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Wouldn’t be shocked to see him inactive the first month of the season…but by November he should be ready to get some 3rd down snaps
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We have to wait til next year to see him grow into that well rounded OLB who eats QBs, sets the edge and is a weapon in coverage….I like that he is around two elite run defenders in Cole and Barwin who can really help bring him along, while he gets to really get an up close view of setting the edge in the NFL
sounds pretty reasonable, although i find it hard to believe Huff won’t find the end zone at least once this year
He’s the 4th WR. I doubt we’ll be running 4 WR sets with what we have right now.
i think chip kelly has shown us he can get the ball to a lot of people on just about any part of the field. plus he’ll probably be doing some KR work too
The only number that jumps out at me is the 4 sacks from Marcus Smith. I am not convinced that he has the tools to be an effective pass rusher right now in the NFL. I’m hopeful that he will develop them over time, but for this year, I imagine he will be used much more in coverage. I’d love to see 4 sacks, and I’d consider that a very successful rookie season, but I just don’t know that I believe he will get there, especially considering that our pass rush isn’t exactly a strength, so he will not have a ton of “freebie” sacks.
Barring injury I’ll take the over on all.
I’m willing to take on all bets with the 38, 500 yards for JM. That’s without injury to Mac/Cooper. If that happens his numbers will be higher as he’ll even get more targets.
New person for the enemies of Philadelphia list; John Breech………… who must have garbage for brains.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24690724/nfl-playoff-predictions-cowboys-titans-will-surprise
He has the Cowboys winning OUR division. Dumb.
I do not get people who think the Eagles will win fewer than 9 games and at the same time still think Cardinals or Niners wont regress when both teams are missing some of their best players at important positions on defense
Yeah, nonsense to have anybody pick the Niners to do anything but get worse. They’re missing a ton of talent on D and they plan on throwing more this year with a QB who struggles to read Ds.
You can’t even look at them as the Niners defense they have been. Their strength has been the Front 7, but they only have 3 of their Front 7 players to start the season…
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They really needed a big year from that front 7 to hide a suspect secondary in a transition year, but their front 7’is in shambles.,… An Offense that is used to only needing to score 24 PTs to win, will no longer play behind a defense that only holds teams to 24pts…
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If the rams had a QB, and the Cardinals didn’t have their own problems on defense, the Niners would be in real trouble…..but as is, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them miss the playoffs…..too dysfunctional of an offseason for a young QB that was in a crucial pffseason for his growth,,, week 4 after we already beat the Colts and skins, the Nation will see the Niners pass the torch to the eagles as the new contender in the NFC…
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Super Bowl winning teams always regress the next year, but the Seahawks have been quiet and that worries me. Don’t think we can count on them to get bit by the Super Bowl jinx, we will have to kick their ass the old fashioned way
I don’t see the Seahawks doing anything but slapping around other teams all year on a back to back title run.
Unless injuries pile up, we will meet them in the playoffs.
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Hype to see Thursdays Packers vs hawks game to kick off the year.. Curious to see how much peppers has left and if that defense improved enough to be taken serious..,,pissed that they didn’t cut Jeff Janis…
Green Bay doesn’t have enough size up front. They’re going to get run over by skittles.
Hate that they have Datone Jones,..really like that young mans game…
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Lacy vs. Skittles should be fun….Seahawks had to change a few pieces on their DL, look forward to seeing how their defense stacks up against a tough rushing attack against a team that they have to honor the pass against and can’t just load the box….. This will probably be one of the Seahawks defense most similar tests to facing us, a top rushing attack with a passing game that they have to honor……
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Can’t wait til we go 22 personel against the Seahawks and flex Ertz out wide to the right, forcing Richard Sherman to match up against him… He may be a BIG CB when he faces WR’s, but to Ertz, he is just a tiny CB to get physical with…motion Sproles to the slot to occupy KJ Wright… Which leaves Bobby Wagner to defend Shady…?Shady wheel route > Bobby Wagner in coverage LOL
Lacy might be able to run over the Seahawks (the Hawks is weak up the middle) and Rodgers is the best QB in the NFL imo
The reason why the Seahawks might win is because that offense looks pretty good so far with Harvin healthy and Wilson taking another step forward.
I love Foles and I think he was the best QB from his class last year, but Wilson might be the best next season
Kid is definitely legit for sure…as opposed to the ANNOINTED young FRAUDS like RGvick Kapernick…
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Wilson and luck are definitely Legit, and I expect to see Fples vs, Wilson have some epic battles for NFC supremacy for the next decade|….
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Be cool to eventually win our 1st Super Bowl by FOles beating Wilson in the NFC title game, and then beating Luck in the SB..now that’s the dream!!
Dallas cowboys announced that they will start Rolando McClain at middle LB this week….. THats really all that needs to be said to illustrate how pathetic they are..
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How dumb do you have to be to think a team with it’s own run game coordinator and pass game coordinator is going to win the division?
No, seriously, how can anyone even joke around and say Dallas will win the division? First of all, Romo’s season will end September 21st at the hands of the Mighty Robert Quinn and the Rams NASTY front 4.
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Any paid media member who would say that Dallas wins the division should no longer have a platform to pollute fans and his readers with such worthless garbage… You don’t win division with 5-10 quality players out of 53… What a baboon
The Cowboys have a dynamic offense and will score 28+ points a game…unfortunately they will give up 35+ points a game. Have they signed Big Daddy Lipscomb or Dick Butkus yet?
Meh.. They have 3 quality Offensive lineman.. Last I checked, you need 5 to have a potent offense…
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I’m telling you. Romo gets hurt for the season on sept 21st… Welcome to the Brandon Weeden era
Wtf? Didn’t McClain retire or did he just Brett Farve’d everyone?
He retired like 6’times already, but Dallas brought him out of retirement when their entire defense got hurt…now he is starting for them LOL
I don’t remember the conditions of that trade, but they will likely lose a pick if he starts any significant time with Dallas. Something like a 6th rounder.
They didn’t trade for McClain… They picked him off the street, dusted him off and stuck him in the starting lineup… I don’t care how injured your team is, you don’t let that mutt anywhere near your locker room
No. Though “retired”, Baltimore owned his rights as he was still under rights. I looked it up, they traded a 6th to Baltimore for McClain and a 7th.
Great! I’d love to see the major sports outlets all pick one of the other three teams. Put a little fire in our guys.
Even if you are trying to be a troll or are a homer Dallas fan, I struggle seeing how you can even come up with a scenario of Dallas winning the division… We are talking about a team, who went an entire game without getting a stop on 3rd down last year(forget who they played, either saints or bears)… I didn’t even think it was possible, but these fools managed to build a worse defense than the joke they had last year….
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No way Romo holds up all year, Brandon Weeden is terrible..
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Demarco Murray isn’t durable and they are now allegedly really committed to running him, so I don’t see why this would be the season he finally stays healthy…. Dez is awesome, The second year WR is pretty good..Whitten is a weapon but his skills have to start diminishing soon… They have 3 quality offensive lineman(center, rookie Zack, and Tyrone) but the other two OLinemen are suspect liabilities)
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Dallas has like 7-8 quality players on offense, NO healthy Quality players on defense. No one fears Melton. Their 3 starting LBs are Bruce, McClain and Justin Durrant…that’s pathetic. Their safeties are horrible. How can they have any chance at containing Ertz, Sproles, shady?
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Not to mention all the dysfunction surrounding that clown circus of a franchise…… You ain’t winning the division with 10 quality players out of 53…how can someone pollute his readers with garbage, wasting their time with delusional crap like this Incompetant cowboy team winning the division yesterday, wake up and still have a job today?
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CBS readers deserve better than to waste their time reading some Hack trolls fanboy delusions,,,.. Win a division. Give me a break, this division is a joke, no one besides us is equipped to beat the other teams in the division twice this year..so while we kick division ass, the other 3 teams will he busy splitting their series 1-1
Jets waived athletic LB Jeremiah George from Iowa State… Only 5″11 235lbs,I’d consider him over Acho…but I suspect we have to wait til after the 1st game to see any roster changes
Kid almost won the game for ISU against Texas singlehandely.
Yeah, kid can really fly around.. Surprised he hasn’t been picked up yet
Teddy Williams sounds like Curtis Marsh’s brother from another mother…
Can someone explain to me why all the excitement over Teddy Williams?
He is about 25 years old, with no success in the NFL. He is coming back from a torn(?) or injured Achilles tendon–there goes that 4.25 40 yard-dash speed.
Several teams have let him go.
What am I missing here? Has Howie said anything about him? Does he carry luggage real nice? Does he smell good in the locker room? What’s he got?
Excitement? Not seeing it. My guess is Williams is here strictly as a practice player – no hopes that he progresses. That is, he is here to simulate speedy WRs that we will face over the season. Moreover, with the zebra emphasis on downfield contact, if our guys were using a physical technique to slow speedsters down, they need reps against a guy like that without using their hands all the time. See Fletcher, Bradley.
The blogs were all over this guy. It was reported the Eagles paid him twice the typical weekly salary for PS players. They must see something special. But I don’t.
You’re not missing anything since there wasn’t anything about him in the first place. He might run that in tights but I highly doubt he’ll show that speed in pads. Sure he’ll be fast but he won’t be as fast as Jackson was here.
Tight Ends coach – Ted Williams. Any relation?
I wasnt aware there was that much excitment. Lol with that speed though the late Al Davis probably would have taken him first overall.
I picked up Sanchez on my fantasy team so now I have to root for Foles to get hurt.
Somebody gunna’ get hurt, you keep taukin’ like dat.
For draft fans who wanna get started early, they should check out this
http://draftbreakdown.com/memberarticles/prospect-spotlight-byu-edge-bronson-kaufusi/
Bronson Kaufusi, 6’7 265 stand up LB for BYU (he played DE last year), 6’7 makes him as close as they come towards a true Chip Kelly LB.
Much appreciated
Im really going to look at LBs and DBs close.
Sounds like he’s similar to Adrian Hubbard.
Hubbard was better in coverage
Question: The guys on the PS are most often trained up during the week to simulate the other team’s player(s) at the same position, right? Kinne spends next week simulating Andrew Luck, not learning how to be a QB in Kelly’s offense, right?
It depends (that’s my understanding). If you’re going against Andrew Luck, Barkley or Sanchez might run the scout team. It sounds to me like there are lots of variables there. But, yes, in general PS players are there to field full squads for practice.
Last year Kinne lined up at safety and other spots in practice. He may not have great talent but he does his job.
Yes and no. The coaches may sit down with a player or two at the start of the week and ask them to simulate certain traits of a player on the other team. So when we play the Falcons Kinne is going to be told to stay in the damn pocket for that week. When we play the Bucs, Graf may be asked to simulate Mankins and told to block the defensive line all the way through the whistle and be a little chippy afterwards to get them adjusted to that. They may tell Reynolds to just be a massive piece of shit all week when we play the Skins to simulate Merriweather. The scout team will run their plays off of cards with their assignments drawn up for them, it’s not like Kinne has to memorize the Jags offense this week and the Colts the following week, that would be impossible.
As far as players developing, despite simulating other teams players, the practice squad guys still sit in on positional meetings. Acho is going to be in all the meetings watching film with Meco, Kendricks, and Goode. But by and large the things the players are going to be doing are translatable. WR’s are going to be running: screens, fades, corners, post, slants, dig routes. So it may be a 12 yard dig and we run digs at 14, but the skills translate. Acho will be reading primary keys (OL) and secondary keys (backfield), his gap responsibilities may be different, and his zone responsibilities may be different but the basic principles still apply. There are only a handful of blocks the OL can execute: inside zone, outside zone, down block, base block, double teams, and pulls. Certain teams may do slightly different things in regards to splits, angles, and pass pro responsibilites but its the same thing when you get down to it.
lol @ the merriweather comment
This week I’m interested to see how we perform in the trenches. Good test for Barbre having to deal with pass rush from Clemons and Marks, even if they did to blitz much last year, their edge rushers are still a formidable test for Barbre…
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Expecting our defense to get after Henne. Our pass rush should open eyes this week. Jags OL was one of the most sacked teams last year, now they have Joekel coming back, a rookie Guard and a center making his first NFL start.a lot of change, should take this OL about half a season to gel, so we should be able to get after Henne this week. I’d like to see us generate a pass rush without blitzing much, but if Gerhardt is going to stay in and block. Unleash the Kendrick green dog blitzes.. Like to see Cox, Cole, BG, and Vinny all have success rushing the passer this week…if their OL holds up, we can start dailing up some blitzes that should definitely get home…but OL that haven’t gelled yet, you shouldn’t have to blitz much. Just keep throwing different looks at their OL, twists, stunts, 3-4 pass rush, 4 down lineman pass rush.. The more variety we throw at them, the harder it should be for an inexperienced line to not mess up their assignments, block the right guy, and win the blocking battle and keep our DLinemen off your QB
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I don’t view their backs as much of pass catching threat out the backfield, so everytime they stay in to block, I’d like to see Kendricks attack on a delayed GD blitz… They don’t have an explosive dangerous passing attack(tho You have to watch for the big play ability of Cecil shorts) so we shouldn’t have a problem shutting down their run game because it’s not likely that they can make us pay for it thru the air..
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X’s and O’s, matchups, all these aspects matter…but a big part of this game will be what team has improved the most since the 3rd preseason game, in terms of adjusting to the new rules…we can’t commit penalties that keep the Jags in the game
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Very curious to watch Thursdays packers vs! Seahawks game to see how the refs are calling a regular season game. I mean, Seattle is known as the most physical secondary in the game, what better gauge to see how these refs will call the game, then seeing them against the seabags..
Packers – Seahawks. Do we root for the Packers? A tie?
Ideal scenario: both teams look terrible in a tie. Both teams could be frighteningly good this year
Throw in a few injuries to both teams and you got yourself a deal 🙂
Root for Seahawks… Believe it or not, I’d rather play in Seattle during the playoffs than go to freezing Lambeau in January’s sub zero temperatures….we are built and trained specifically to flourish in Seattles noisy stadium… Bring it!!
I think we are built for a lot of things, and running the ball in Lambeau is one of them.
Of course,,.but let’s not pretend tackling Lacy in freezing temperature will be fun. then again, if the cold takes FOles and Rodgers out of the game, it probably benefits us, because we are way more lethal than they are throwing underneath to Sproles,Shady and our Tight ends… they really don’t have that short intermediate game that we can go to, if weather doesn’t let you go down the field..
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LOL Nick FOles after all does own the record for highest opponent QB rating in the friggin history of Lambeau… Let’s see Kapernick do that 🙂
JJ Watt signed for 100mil, 51mil Guaranteed dolla dollar bills y’all
Next year is the big question. We could see a lot of turnover. Well, more than what we’ve seen this year. I still think we need upgrades on defense but that’s just me.
Imagine how this team will be once Chip gets all the players he wants, instead of settling for some of the players that are on the roster now.
Cole and BG will be gone… And we will either have two 3rd round picks or two 4ths thanks to Bryce brown…I’d make the first 3 picks and OLB, ILB and WR(no particular order)
Then use our 4th rounders to get another DL and a CB since I like Drafting corners in round 4… Meco Will be extended.. Hopefully we can keep Cary for another two years..fans will agree after they see the year Cary has..
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You spend top picks on OLB, ILB, CB and DL and this defense will be set…safety’s suck in college
just wondering — any chance you think Williams would be used as a KOR? (down the road of course)
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/michigan-state-oregon-pat-narduzzi-defense-breakdown/
Worth a read and sitting here thinking, why cant he be our DC to Kelly’s HC?
trying to retool towards the 4-3 over would set us back again
Not really, only Hart of the front seven would be hard to place
hilarious NFC east breakdown: http://www.theonion.com/articles/onion-sports-2014-nfl-preview-nfc-east,36825/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_campaign=LinkPreview%3A1%3ADefault&recirc=fantasy-football#2
hehehe, thanx
Chip speaking worldly of Lee. Wondering if he mis-read the draft and should have taken Lee in round one….
What I really enjoyed from that interview was chips answer when a reporter asked him if he was worried the starting DL didn’t get any sacks in preseason,loved hearing Chip say “we consider Vinny curry a starter, And pointed out to him getting 1st team reps with the nickel defense”
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If we play Vinny in nickel! then all the crap everyone says about him not fitting here is complete Bullshit!! I assumed he would start in Nickel but I didn’t know for sure……GREAT to get some confirmation that we do value him as a starter in our nickel… As long as Vinny is on the field on 3rd down, all the talk about him not being a fit is worthless crap…still don’t understand why people care about Vinny not playing on first and second down, when we have Cox and Thornton who will continue to grow into elite DEs in I our base… We wouldn’t want to take them off the field anyway when the opponent is running, so who cares that we don’t use Vinny, as long as he is the first man on the field on 3rd down…
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But I recently heard some respected veterans talk about how people will be surprised by the strides and improvements curry has made against the run
Ravens cut ILB Josh Bynes. BGN has a good write up: http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2014/9/2/6098089/nfl-waiver-wire-inside-linebacker-josh-bynes-eagles
25 years old. Started 9 games. Played in 26. Special Teams player. Thumper who defends passes. Auburn Championship Team vs. Chip.
Kid can play!! Nothing special in coverage. But really stout against the run on first and second down…..jets cut ILB Jeremiah George who can also play… Both are better defenders than Casey Mathews … I would sign bynes, cut Casey…the sign George to practice squad and cut Acho
why would someone be cut today as opposed to before the 53 deadline?
They signed CB Cox…
Jeffcoat on Wash squad. I’m glad someone picked him up.
Darren Sproles: “Y’all haven’t seen anything yet”… Dude sounds very excited to play in this offense, which says a lot about Chip and how legit his scheme is considering Darren is coming from playing under NFL Offensive guru Sean Peyton…
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Sunday I’m wearing a bow tie with an eagles jersey to the game in honor of the man who came to save us from the slums of poor safety play, the bow tie bird, Malcolm Jenkins!!
Nice to seen Polk have a full day of practice! With Huff out, Chip confirmed Nolan Carroll is #1 Kick returner,,
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Besides Berry, Kansas City has safety trouble… In typical Andy Reid fashion! he addressed the safety issue by signing Kurt Coleman. Oh Andy….
Re: Missed Draft Opportunity?
Commenter “eagleyankfan” reported earlier:
“Chip speaking worldly of Lee. Wondering if he mis-read the draft and should have taken Lee in round one . . . .”
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I saw a couple of the Jags preseason games. Marquise Lee looked better — more explosive in and out of cuts, quicker, faster — than at USC in 2010-12.
The fact Kelly made that comment, and there’s no reason to think he’s blowing smoke (since, as I recall, 2014 draft-day reports have Lee ahead of Matthews on the Eagles’ board), makes me think three things:
1. The Eagles drafted Marcus Smith II higher than he was valued on their board but did so because of the expected (and resultant) run on pass-rushing OLBs;
2. Kelly still wants an explosive, big-play — read: plays faster than JMatthews, which Lee apparently does in Chip’s view based on draft rankings — on the outside at wide receiver; and
3. Kelly may be thinking — I’m speculating, obviously — that the Birds did reach, and won’t in the future, in the 1st Rd. That’s to say, maybe Kelly had Lee and Smith ranked in the same bracket, with Lee ahead, but for reasons beaten to death since draft day the Eagles selected MSmith II.
Or maybe it’s just that Kelly saw MLee for his 3 very best seasons in college and is over-projecting. Coupled with how Lee’s looked great against vanilla defenses in preseason — tapes Kelly’s watched in prep for Sunday.
On the other hand, maybe Lee’s just looked better against vanilla defenses than JMatthews has. And than MSmith II.
Don’t know, but interesting tid-bit.
Kelly’s not been one to blow smoke about players this way.
Bottom line . . . idle time, like right now, is when Eagles’ fans spend time in the devil’s workshop.
Remember also, I think Chip is a big subscriber to the “speak glowingly about your upcoming opponent” method. Lee is an easy conversation point.
I think the big play WR Kelly wanted was Cooks, not Lee (or he had taken him 22 or 26) and if Lee and Smith was in the same grade tier, one is not ranked higher than the other.
Cooks is the real deal. Watching him and Brees will be fun.
Smith certainly showed noting in the preseason on defense or ST that he is going to be a meaningful contributor in any capacity in the early going.
Some things I’m really looking to see this week:
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1) Opening day trends???? Under Andy Reid, too often we lost the first game of the season. Week 1 is annoying because it can be a screwy unpredictable week of games. Week one isn’t always about who the best team is, often which team is more ready to start the season factors in the outcome of games. We lost too many season openers under Andy, often going into the games as the favorite…. The Chip Kelly era started with a BANG last year, scalping the redskins on the road in their house. Hope to once again see us prepared to start the season, step on the field, fly around, play with Swag and set the tone for the year that teams no longer get to leave Philly with a win. Those days are over! I think it’s key that Sproles and Jenkins are so respected in the locker room already because they come from a saints team that was elite at protecting their home field and I hope they help us instil that attitude where we protect our house! Set the tone right this week, instead of playing down to level of the jags and let them make this a game… Need to come out, “and take their head clean off!!!”-Connar mcgregor
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2) penalties.. How have we adjusted to how refs are now calling games? The defense is going to do it’s thing Sunday and make plays, so it’s imperative to not bail them out with stupid penalties that had no effect on the play. Very curious to watch the Seahawks vs. packers game and see if they are still calling it like the preseason, or if refs eat a chill pill when the season starts.
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3) What level the offensive line is operating at with Barbre? Is the loss of Lane drastically noticeable! or can Barbre step in and not skip a beat? They have two good edge rushers in Clemons and marks who should test his pass blocking and they added stout run defender red Bryant…this offense will go as far as our line takes us…
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4) if our young DL plants it’s flag and puts the NFL on notice that we have arrived. Cox, Thornton, Cole, Logan, Vinny Beau Allen… The dawgs gotta have their way with Luke Joekel, a rookie Guard and a first time starter at center.
Its for Real Now, so. I want to see cox take over this game. I want to see Thornton stonewall Gerhardt all day with Vinny Curry replacing him on 3rd down and bringing the pain to Henne…
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First two weeks of the season I’m really trying to get an idea of teams Olines and Dlines league wide.. Win the line of scrimmage, and you typically go on to win the game…football is a funny game
So we didn’t sign Teddy Williams to the squad after all. Time for Momah?
And for McNabb to peacefully disappear.
It was great while it lasted, but it looks like the Teddy Williams era is over.
Eagles signed Donovan McNabb to the practice squad–he claims he is a franchise “practicer.”
He makes my blood boil. I do have to give him credit for the best Easter ever!!!