Active Day for the Eagles
Posted: November 18th, 2014 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 67 Comments »The Eagles made some moves on Tuesday.
* Earl Wolff went to IR. He’s struggled with injuries all year long. I get the feeling the team thinks Wolff might be healthier than he thinks he is. Chip Kelly has said the team will never force a player to play, but he also says the #1 ability is durability. I think the team is highly frustrated with Wolff and how he has handled this season. The Eagles thought he would challenge for a starting role. Wolff was a non-factor on defense and even STs when he did play.
My guess is that Wolff comes back in 2015, but he’ll be on a short leash. Nagging injuries won’t be tolerated for a second season.
This really is a shame. Wolff showed good potential last year.
* The Eagles signed CB Roc Carmichael to take Wolff’s spot on the roster. Carmichael isn’t anything special as a player, but he fits. He can play in the slot or outside. He is a good STs player. Carmichael was added for depth purposes and he makes sense because of that.
* The Eagles made a couple of lineup shuffles. With Carmichael being added to the CB rotation, rookie Jaylen Watkins was moved to Safety. He has taken reps at both spots so he can help the team wherever he’s needed. I still like him more as a CB than a S. I don’t think he tackles well enough to be a primary run defender. The Eagles obviously feel differently.
* RG Matt Tobin did not practice today. Per Jeff McLane, he missed time due to a concussion. Andrew Gardner was in his place as the RG. McLane also mentions that Gardner might have gotten some reps even without the injury concerns. Tobin has shown that he can be a good run blocker, but he is inconsistent with pass protection. He was beaten by a DT on the opening drive and that led to Mark Sanchez taking a big hit and being sacked.
Gardner played RG for part of the 3rd and all of the 4th quarters in the win over Houston a couple of weeks back. He was very good as a run blocker. Tobin has spent most of his time in college and the NFL blocking on the left side. Some guys handle changing sides better than others.
* * * * *
I thought Bill Davis did a good job at his press conference.
He answered questions about Bradley Fletcher in a pretty honest way. He talked about some strategic moves that didn’t work so well and why that was. He talked about Marcus Smith.
I think Davis does a good job of offering honest answers to tough questions. He’s not in la-la land acting as if his unit is just fine, but he also doesn’t sit there and just needlessly rip his guys.
* * * * *
Panthers waived former #Eagles WR Jason Avant today. He publicly questioned the play-calling after the loss to the Falcons.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) November 18, 2014
Would love to see Avant go to KC or some other team that is winning games, but still needs some WR help. Really needs to be with a pocket passer in a WCO type system to thrive.
* * * * *
Happy Birthday to the best Eagles LB I ever saw play…
#PhillySportsBirthday Nov 18, 1964: Seth Joyner @sethjoyner (Eagles) [50 yrs old] http://t.co/nHtmniQaWz pic.twitter.com/mEaZiiv2Ri
— PhillySportPast (@PhillySportPast) November 18, 2014
_
Earl wolff is just a puss.
what, he eats utz snacks ?
no, he is a pussy.
he eats nutz sacks ?
he eats nuts….. for snacks
Everybody is an internet tough guy.
not earl wolff tho.. he sprained his pinky and cant go as hard on the keyboard as he would like. (:
well done sir…….
why thank you my good, sir
I think the most of us believe Wolff would be the starter this year and ended up being an even bigger disappointment than Marcus Smith in my opinion, since the secondary is weaker than the front-seven.
I would love to see more of Watkins, and let’s pray that Carmichael did not need to go into major snaps haha
Since it is likely that Tobin didn’t play Sunday, i prefer Dennis Kelly playing RG for us, more experience e gain rythim against the Titans for the rest of the season.
Marcus is disappointing? You think there is a rookie OLB in the NFL that should be getting snaps over Cole, Barwin and Brandon Graham with the way they are playing this year? You would give brandon Graham’s snaps to Dee ford? Give Barwins snaps to Anthony Barr? A red shirt year isn’t the worst thing that could happen for marcus especially with the production we ate already getting at his position
Yeah, I expresses my self poorly.
I am one of his biggest supporters of Marcus in the Eagles Brazil facebook group haha.
But i think that a 1st round pick should get more snaps in a team that has suffered with injuries.
Problem is none of the first 3 OLBs have missed a snap to injury.
Would love to see Avant go to KC or some other team that is winning games, but still needs some WR help.
Eagles, any one?!
I’d like to see Baltimore.
No. Eagles don’t need Avant. No longer a STs player. Must go somewhere he’s needed as a WR.
thought the panthers needed WR help…i guess they still do
The Eagles would have kept him then
“Happy Birthday to the best Eagles LB I ever saw play…”
I assume Ernie Sims was a close second.
My boy Matt McCoy was 2nd.
Bill Bergey was the best and should be in the hall of fame
Bergey was the best but Tim Rossovich is my favorite. Stories about him included eating glass and settimg his hair on fire
They said the same about Caligula, though he was no linebacker… and his brother never served as Iceman’s Radio Intercept Officer…
Keith Jackson
Wes Hopkins was a beast until his knee surgery.
Dhani Jones ?
In addition being in Chip Kelly’s doghouse, Earl is in my doghouse because I just had to pay a $30 fine to my housing association for *his* trash can that he left on the curb between our houses. I guess with the knee injury he couldn’t drag it up his driveway…
Ordinarily, I might have fought it to get him to pay, but considering he may be unemployed in the near future, I figured I’d just take care of it.
we need more early wolff recognizance.
“This really is a shame. Wolff showed good potential last year.”
Unfortunately, that seems to have been a trend with Eagles safeties over the last several years. We have had a bunch of safeties who have had solid rookie seasons, showed promise, and then within a year were a player the team became frustrated with. Quintin Demps, Macho Harris, Nate Allen (doesn’t fully fit the description, but was a guy who showed way more potential his rookie season than he ultimately has amounted to). It seems all of them took a step backwards after their rookie years. With Allen, part of it was injuries, but with the others, I don’t know why they all took a backwards step.
Truth. And the truth is hurting.
wonder what Stewart Bradley is doing now?? I thought he was here to finally solve our MLB problems
Thank you, Flight Night.
Interesting. Didn’t think of that trend. Not sure what to make of it, but something to consider.
I smell a new post on failures at safety!
Different players, different coaching staffs. For the most part, completely different teams between a lot of them, so I agree. I’m not sure what to make of it, and maybe the trend is just completely random, but outside of Jarrett, who was just a flat out bust, I think it is true of every safety we have drafted with any expectation of them having playing time. It’s certainly a frustrating trend.
Blount was cut by the Steelers. We could use some more hard nose running to relieve Sanchez when he’s not doing well.
I would love that but i don’t know if CK will go back to that well.
Hey, former Duck!
I wonder if Chip called all of his knucklehead players ugly duckling while he was at Oregon.
I would only see Blount here if Polk gets hurt again.
I’ve been hearing that Wolff has a lesion in his knee which has basically gone undetected until a most recent MRI. Basically the only way to heal is either rest (which is a long shot) or more commonly micro fracture surgery. If this is the case he was actually playing through pretty severe pain and putting his career in jeopardy by making things worse. If he undergoes surgery it’s basically 8 months till he can play, and longer till he regains his explosiveness. I’ve called Wolff soft plenty of times already but I’m gonna hold off further comment about him until there’s more detail about what is happening with his knee. If it’s the latter than I really feel for the kid, but who knows.
If we find out something else, I’ll correct what I’ve written and be happy to do so.
Sheil has a direct quote from Wolff:
”
When asked specifically what the knee injury is, Wolff said: “a lesion, in my knee, kind of like between the bone.”
Read more at http://www.phillymag.com/birds247/2014/11/18/eagles-place-earl-wolff-injured-reserve/#krbud1Dq04eSa5ke.99
I wonder why I wasnt found before? If so, I applaud him for trying to play through it and I also hope the coaching staff has him less in the dog house now
http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Patients/Health-Conditions/Osteochondral-Lesions-Osteochondritis-Dessicans.aspx
A good article on it since I’m by no means a doctor. The diagnosis section basically talks about how it’s hard to pick up on and can be missed by regular procedures and even MRI’s. Thanks to cliff And rockedupeaglesfan for a solid discourse on the subject over at Sheil/tim’s blog.
Poor kid. Imagine that, he actually knows what his knee feels like more than his coach, the media, and the fans.
I’m guessing Avant wasn’t spending a bunch of time with KB on the juggs machine?
KB wouldn’t have multiple dropped passes every game if that was the case.
It’s a bummer that it looks like Wolff isn’t panning out, but it’s not like the Eagles didn’t hedge their bet. I’m sure the tram wanted Wolff to win the job over Allen. Wolff has a higher ceiling. But alien seemed solid enough if Wolff didn’t pan out. This season, Allen is marginally solid, even counting that last play in the Arizona game.
It’s a matter of prioritizing assets and positions. Geagle mentioned something about this with regard to the dbs under the last column. I mostly just feel badly for Wolff. At least he didn’t get his groin ripped in half when jumping a fence.
Bill Davis may give frank answers but where is the real improvement on defense this year? Still the inconsistent and mediocre group it was in the 2nd half last year that gives up there share of big passing plays almost every week.
Yeah Kendricks/Ryans have missed time but they have had a relatively healthy unit most of the year too.
And Davis still has these bouts of really questionable playcalling. Gameplanning against Aaron Rodgers to stop the run? Are you kidding me?
That’s all we CAN gameplan for with out cbs! lol
lol u don’t think a shut out is improvement…you think an “offensive team” that’s been erratic on offense all year got to 7-3 without an improved defense? Lol
2nd in sacks, we sucked in this area last year
4th against the run
.drastic improvement getting off the field on 3rd down
…
Same OL defense right? Lol what’s wrong with u?
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Cox didn’t improve? Logan isn’t one of the top NT in NFL? BG isn’t playing much better than he ever has? Malcolm jenkins isn’t an upgrade? Lol ok…
Eagles’ Defense Ranking (2013/2014 through Week 11)
3rd down conv – 24th/13th
1st downs allowed – t-29th/18th
Yards/Play – t-19th/t-11th
% Scoring Drive – 15th/3rd
Rushing Yds/Att – 4th/12th
Rushing TD allowed – t-15th /t-5th
% Passing Pct – 19th/3rd
Passing Yds/Att – 19th/21st
Net Passing Yds/Att – 22nd/15th
Passer Rating – 15th/21st
Passing TD allowed – t-14th/30th
Sacks – 20th/2nd
% Sacks – 32nd/4th
INT – t-8th/22nd
% INT – t-16th/25th
FF – t-18th /t-14th
% Drives w/TO – 4th/20th
Defense definitely has been improved overall and I’ll take back my original statement.
The issues have been the big plays in the passing game and the lack of INTs but overall you have to say the defense is improved especially in getting pressure this year. Makes the passing numbers look that much more mediocre this year given the pressure they are getting.
Davis is absolutely open to criticism.
That is a Howie / Chip issue. Davis can only play the guys on the roster. The DB group sucks and needs to be addressed this off-season in a major way.
No, Avant needs to be on a team with effective speedsters. The Carolina Panthers without Corey Brown that we faced had to have been one of the slowest WR corps in some time, which is freaky, given how easy it is to have bad speedsters…
That you for using his correct name. There is nothing “Philly” about Corey Brown, so your use of his correct name is most welcome.
“Media” Brown?
Figured Jalen would be moved to safety, heard whispers that we don’t think he “runs well enough to play corner” which I found odd because he is supposed to be fast.
…
For the Eagles to have put wolff on IR, they clearly aren’t ready to give up on him, but Tom is right, he will have a short leaf, and he isn’t a cat, Wolffs don’t get 9 lives…we won’t put up with his nagging injuries and he will have to show up and blow away the competition. Jalen and Reynolds will have a year in the acheme so they should be able to play fast, and I’m sure we add atleast 1 new safety talent. Wolff either looks like a capable starter who won’t miss any more practice or he won’t make the team.
..
Tom is right, some lineman can’t switch sides very well. I’m not sure if that’s the case with Tobin, but that sack he gave up killed us
Check out this out the Monday night that Colt McCoy and the Redskins beat the Cowboys. A Cowboys fan trashes his TV and house. He hasn’t updated his TV in years apparently. He also appears to throw a sega genesis. I wonder if he heard about computers and AOL 3.0
The real destruction starts at around 1:06 although it’s hilarious, and sad, the whole way through.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxIOmst4MCQ
That man is clearly in the Chinese Hell of Being a Cowboys Fan.
So he last bought a TV when the Cowboys last won the Sb?
Good info on Fletcher from PFF:
“No one was targeted more than Fletcher against Green Bay as Rodgers targeted Fletcher 12 times completing seven of the passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns. The next closest Eagles defender to Fletcher’s 141 yards allowed was Brandon Boykin, who was targeted five times and allowed a grand total of 44 yards according to Pro Football Focus. The Packers signal caller posted a 141.3 quarterback rating throwing at Fletcher which is just points away from a perfect 158.3 rating. The cornerback was able to get his hand on two passes thrown his way managing to break up a reception in the end zone and one along the sideline.
Sunday was not the first time an opposing quarterback had picked on Fletcher en route to some impressive numbers. The performance at Lambeau Field was the fourth time this season an opposing quarterback posted a quarterback rating of 115.6 or higher when throwing Fletcher’s direction – the other three were Kirk Cousins, Austin Davis and Carson Palmer.
Fletcher, 28, has allowed more yards this season (668) than any other cornerback in the NFL and the six touchdowns allowed are tied for tops in the league. No other cornerback, aside from Fletcher, has allowed six touchdowns while recording one or fewer interceptions. A major part of the problem is what happens after receivers catch the ball against Fletcher as he seems to get beat badly and cannot recover. An incredible 253 of the 668 yards allowed have come after the catch ranking second in the NFL behind Carolina’s Antoine Cason, who has allowed 277 yards after the catch on a struggling Panthers team.”
Both outside CBs have been up and down this year with more down than up but Fletcher when he has been down has been awful. Question is how much can Davis cover up for this especially with a S in Allen who has been struggling all year in pass coverage and seems like he has never regained his speed after his knee injury.
I’m quite sure it is Nate Allen’s fault vs. running backs.
And good stat post.
Paging Ed Reynolds; Ed Reynolds?
Tommy,
What are your thoughts on LeGarrette Blount passing through waivers since he played for Kelly at Oregon? I do remember him punching a player and getting kicked off the team there. What happened to such a good RB?