PHI 34, NYG 26
Posted: December 28th, 2014 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 187 Comments »The Eagles beat the Giants to close out the 2014 season. It wasn’t a thrilling game, but it was entertaining. Lots of offense. A blocked punt returned for a TD. Some timely defense. That is sort of the 2014 season in a nutshell.
The Eagles finished 10-6, but will miss the playoffs.
The good news of the day is that LeSean McCoy is fine. He left the game with a possible knee injury, but was asking Chip Kelly to let him back in the game.
We got to see Jaylen Watkins and Nolan Carroll play a lot today. There were mixed results. Each guy made plays, but also gave up catches and yards. Neither guy looked like much of a solution to DB problems. To be fair to Watkins, this was his first real taste of playing defense. He played in a game where the QB threw 53 passes. That’s a tough debut.
We can now shift to the offseason talk.
I don’t have a lot of definitive thoughts right now. I agree with Chip that we need to study the season to come up with the right assessments. Obviously figuring out QB and improving the secondary are at the top of the list.
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This sums up how I feel about the Eagles winning this game to get to 10-6:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7OWVM50sBw
I don’t give a crap about a 10 win season looking better on Chip Kelly’s resume, or avoiding going into the offseason on a losing streak, or whatever. This season ended in an epic collapse and was ultimately a failure and beating the Giants doesn’t change that one iota. They have a lot of work to do this offseason, and now have to finish rebuilding this team with draft picks that are three slots lower in each round. That’s likely to cost them at least one prospect that could help them. They also came thisssss close to losing Shady to a torn ACL in the last 5 minutes of a completely meaningless game. Chip Kelly should be thanking his lucky stars that wasn’t a serious injury. This victory is nothing to be happy about.
Noted…..
Someone better not tell me that the Cowboys road to the super bowl could include games against the Cardinals and Packers backup QBs…!
The only hope that I have the rest of the way is for the Cowboys to get eliminated. This is scaring me, and freaking Seattle can’t even score against the Rams. Looks like Aaron is going to get back in though.
Not sure about Rodgers. He was still limping.
Yep, they really need to squeeze through this game and get him better, Seattle and GB are the two teams we need to keep Dallas from going anywhere
Also, watching Carolina blowing out Atlanta, wtf.
Nah. It will be sweet when the Cowboys go out in the playoffs against Ryan Lindley.
That team’s defense is bad enough that any QB can beat them if their opponent’s defense can slow down the offense. Arizona and Seattle will both be more than able to do so.
smfh… like watching a horror movie
definitive and obvious: if there was a Pro Bowl spot for football blogger, there would be a lot less Pabst Blue Ribbon in Arizona next month!
Seattle will not lose. Rams can’t score. And all Wilson needs to do is generate 1 TD. It’ll happen.
Talk about mailing it in . . . don’t think the 49ers are trying to send Harbaugh out with a victory. SF making Ryan Lindley look like Otto Graham.
GB? Not gonna lose to Detroit at home. Even if Flynn plays the rest of the game. Just not gonna happen.
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Eagles, with some better work by coaching staff and players in Dec, could be playing at home next week.
Very frustrating.
Think all of the turnovers, injuries and some stupidity, along with an iffy call here or there and they could’ve easily won 13 games.
Kelly’s remarks about the QB position were revealing.
He didn’t use very much coach-speak (like he did about everything else).
Kelly seemed to say that (1) he’ll re-visit his own assumptions about what he needs to win at QB, (2) review what he has on the roster in light of whatever he thinks he needs, and (3) do whatever it takes to satisfy No. 1.
That may be heartily endorsing Foles. Or Sanchez (prob doubtful). Or shopping around for someone else. Or going with what he has on the roster.
Otherwise, the Eagles need better CBs. Another Safety. Depth on O-line.
And another OLB who do what Barwin did this year.
BGraham cannot do what Barwin does. I still believe that not getting Dion Jordon last year set back Kelly’s plan for his defense.
shame bucs got the 1st pick, i think titans would of been open to dealing. Bucs prolly wont want to give chip his QB after he refused the coaching job
I don’t know.
Not so sure Titans see Metzenberger as the answer at QB.
Not even sure Whisenhunt will be back there.
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Winston’s so damned good on the field.
Marcus M, too.
I can’t imagine a trade where either team gives up the chance to draft one of those guys.
if we trade for mariota foles is gone, so trade them foles.
Winston is going to be a train wreck. Manziel squared.
i dont want winston… i can see them settling for bryce petty to groom
We’re not dealing for a top 3 pick. Quit dreaming.
idk, big balls chip. lurie talked up the importance of having a franchise QB. and to take full advantage of chips style u needa QB with some running threat. but bucs got the 1st pick and i dont think they will give chip his QB since he refused thier coaching job
We do not have enough asets to make that trade. Doesn’t matter about chip being a risk taker or him not wanting to coach there. We simply do not have enough to move from 20 to 1.
sure we do. 3 1st round picks and foles. chip knows everything about marcus, if he thinks he is the real deal franchise QB, do what it takes. redskins/rg3 the hell out of it!! lol..
What D3FB said. 3 1st round picks will not get you from 20 to 1, not when the team you’re trading with is looking for a franchise QB. Even if it would, it would be an incredibly stupid risk to take. There is no such thing as a “sure thing” prospect and crippling your franchise for 5 years to draft a guy who may or may not pan out is not a strategy that has ever worked out for anyone.
yeah….. no playoffs doe… killin me…
Foles isn’t worth much. He’s worth maybe a day 3 pick. RG3 trade was three 1s and a 2. That was to go from pick 7 to pick 2. The Sammy Watkins trade was two 1s and a 4. That was to go from pick 9 to pick 4. We do not.
nah, hes a starter u can make a case for him, but yeah… one can dream.. lol
And we can see how well that worked for DC.
well we wont be picking the same player, we will picking someone who chip has worked directly with, thats gotta be an advantage.
Xeynon wrote:
“It will be sweet when the Cowboys go out in the playoffs against Ryan Lindley.”
__________________
If Arians can get Lindley to play like he is today against Dallas, those words will be proven prophetic.
I put nothing past Arians.
Quite clearly, the man can coach. Well.
I watched the second half of the game and was encouraged by Watkins. He had to line up against Beckham a lot and held his own ok.
One man’s view:
Top priority for the offseason is fixing the secondary. No more counting on the front seven to “cover” up weaknesses in the back four. Personally I would like to see 2 of the top 3 picks dedicated to this, and also something via free agency, depending on what is available. Drafting is highly unpredictable obviously, but if you dedicate two high picks hopefully at least one will develop into a quality starter.
Need to draft an o-line prospect as well. O-line regressed this year and is aging.
Foles is the QB next year but wouldn’t be opposed to drafting a developmental guy in the middle rounds.
Finally, if BGraham goes will need another edge rusher. Even if Cole comes back he is on the wrong end of 30… Marcus Smith could fill this hole if he improves, but must have a backup plan in place if he doesn’t pan out.
Inside linebacker is going to be an issue as well. Ryans is no spring chicken and a productive return from his injury can’t be assumed.
“if BGraham goes will need another edge rusher”
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BGraham couldn’t beat out 32 year-old 10 year vet Trent Cole.
And Graham didn’t notch a sack in the last 7 games of the season. Not since 11/10 agst Carolina.
7 straight games. No sacks.
Why is he so important to bring back?
I don’t disagree, but at the very least he did fill a situational/rotational role and that will have to be addressed.
No question.
But the cost of bringing him back may not make sense, given his role in this defense versus how much he could probably get as a FA somewhere else
His role in this defense isn’t just rushing the QB. He was kept off the field early on in the Kelly era because rushing QB was only thing he could do. He has worked and learned the play of an OLB in Kelly’s scheme which seeks to mirror offense’s sets. Your stats about BG’s lack of sacks reveal very little about how well BG is playing his position. He has become a viable, if not great, OLB and the cost of losing him to free agency will be greater in my opinion than re-signing him.
If we can fix secondary we can get away with the ILBers we have now with the d-line we have. I hope we upgrade but far as allocating resources secondary and o-line definitely higher on my list
While Carroll got beat he also made few plays which is more then Fletcher has been doing. Coaches favorite quality about Fletcher was he “competes hard” well i saw carroll busting his ass too. Doesn’t matter now but not benching Fletcher earlier is just mindbogglingly stupid decision
Nolan and Jaylen may not be Revis or Sherman but what we saw was encouraging and better than watching Fletcher
Yeah not expecting them to shut down Dez but worst case scenario instead of 3 tds maybe they allow only 2. Diff game then
O:
You should not be encouraged at all.
What we saw was the product of the starters being injured.
Neither Carroll II nor Watkins earned time on the field. Only injuries put them out there.
So whatever you think you saw counts for nothing.
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I’m being facetious, of course. Seeing Carroll and Watkins was encouraging and enjoyable.
It would have been nice to see Polk all afternoon, as well as Barkley, Huff, and MSmith II — instead of Sanchez, Cooper, and Graham.
Oh well. August is right around the corner.
Fletcher led the league in passes defended. He made plays too.
Yeah, Fletcher has surprisingly good bal skills for someone who gets beaten as much as he does. Playing the ball was never his problem.
Lets look him up then.
So in a few brutal weeks, Eagles fandom has gone from looking forward to a decent playoff run to hoping the ‘Boys don’t pick up a sneaky SB.
Was funny, getting together with the family again at Christmas, just like on Thanksgiving. Couldn’t believe how much had since Thanksgiving night.
NFC West-best division in football, NFC South-Dog shit
Hang on, there.
Carolina’s about to win it’s 4th straight — all in December.
Given them credit. They’re playing their best football when it counts the most.
The Eagles? They went 1-3 when it counted the most.
Pounded the Saints, squeezed by the Bucs and the Browns and are now pounding Atlanta. They are doing what they have to do, but still, 7-8-1 is not playoff football.
Last time I checked wins and losses aren’t weighted.
Yep. Same here.
Just remarking that the Eagles went 1-3 in December.
While Carolina went 4-0.
And they’ll win their division and get in the playoffs because — like you said — wins and losses aren’t weighted.
Record of Eagles opponents:
34- 30
Record of Carolinas opponents:
22- 42
Amazing, after all the talk of how bad the Eagles opponents records are/were, they ended up playing a respectable schedule and winning 10 game while setting a team record in points with 2 different QB’s that had average seasons at best. Their o-line banged up, flipping and flopping guys around, turnovers galore, and somehow ten wins. No other teams with winning records are sitting out of the playoffs this year, and there will be a 7 win team with a home field wildcard game. Well gotta go bash my head against a wall, see ya later.
I am not going to complain about the injustice of it all. The way this team played in December, they didn’t deserve to make the playoffs.
Completely agree, the big 3 game stretch, Dallas, Seattle, Dallas, they only took one, then they crapped out against Washington.
I usually take improvement over the course of a season as a sign of good coaching and building for the future. Gives me hope.
Thus, for me, the most disappointing part of this season is that I felt the team got worse as the season went along. There were a number of factors involved in that, but at the end of the day, I am now really questioning the ability of this coaching staff, including that of Chip.
I have real doubts and they won’t be erased for at least 9 months, probably longer. I know a championship team/program takes longer than 2 years to build. But the regression this year, especially when it counted, has me concerned that the issues go beyond just acquiring the right talent at a few spots.
what makes you think the team got worse, b/c we started losing games?
Did they get worse or did the weaknesses get exposed/exploited? i agree with you that you want to see improvement but you have to be careful how you define improvement and regression. For example, teams targeting the DBs isnt a regression so much as a weakness being exploited.
Any thoughts on the chance that Kelly has been “red shirting” Barkley until he has a better grasp of the offense and, he is the developmental QB or, is it back to running the scout team next season
Ask D3FB.
He has more hard football insight than just about anyone in these parts.
Barkley was a 4 year starter at Mater Dei, a national powerhouse. He was the first QB in school history to be allowed to audible and call his own plays. This happened as a sophomore.
He was a 4 year starter at USC.
I highly doubt it’s an issue of him not understanding the offense.
.
Maybe he peaked too early.
Or maybe he doesn’t have the physical skills to play in the NFL. He certainly wouldn’t be the first great HS/college QB that didn’t.
Combination of that and his arm which was pretty average to begin with is done after the shoulder surgery.
do you think that? or just saying what might be?
I mean it has to be that. He’s been reading defenses at a high level since 14, he didn’t just forget.
I meant do you think he doesn’t have the physical skills. Or could it just be he was hurt and/or needing to get used to the speed of the NFL, and could yet turn out to be our answer.
I know I might be grasping at straws. But finding an answer at QB is just so incredibly hard.
I wouldn’t count on him being anything. Crazier things have happened, but I would be highly shocked.
I still think there’s slightly worse than even money chance that Foles continues to develop into a second tier QB. A Rivers, Rothelisberger, Flacco type. He won’t win you 12 games by putting it all on him and throwing for 400 yards a week, but build a opportunistic defense, and put enough weapons around him, and you got a decent chance in the playoffs perennially.
Help isn’t on the way in the draft. There aren’t any Brock Osweiler, Jimmy Garoppolo’s in this draft.
It seems like his arm has more pop than Sanchez, which is frightening.
sanchez
Where does the issue come in NFL wise?
Mater Dei is a football powerhouse? I thought they trained restaurant workers?
That I’m laughing so hard even thought he Eagles are out and Dallas has homefield for a playoff game shows just how funny is your post. Thanks, I needed a good laugh.
I am glad I am able to contribute to the conversation.
Wasn’t a lot of great football today. To some degree, there was a veritable “school’s out” vibe…
At least now Eagles fans have their answer on why Fletcher wasn’t benched: Nolan Carroll is even slower.
It really should have been obvious. Bill Davis can’t just come out and say “wait, you want me to bench a slow cornerback for a guy that’s even slower?!” Sometimes you need to read between the lines.
And I guess we can give Watkins some rookie leeway and hope he gets better in the future, but right now he stinks.
People don’t care. They obviously know more than the coaches on players despite infinitely less information.
I don’t understand how people would think we have someone better behind Fletcher that Davis wouldn’t play. It was as if people thought Davis was thinking,” I’ll show those dumb fans, I have someone much better in Carroll behind stinky Fletcher but I’m not gonna play him. NANNA NANNA BOO BOO!” If we had someone better we were gonna play him. The coaches want to win….. not lose. The fact is our secondary is shitty and we need more talent. It’s not any more complicated.
I think it’s more frustration with Davis’ inability to change the approach when Fletcher was so clearly inadequate. Sure, Carroll may not be any better, but to paraphrase another poster, when you’ve got a guy giving up multiple 40+ yard completions and DPI calls each game, and not making any plays, you’ve got nowhere to go but up.
This. I was more frustrated by the schemes thst consistently left Fletcher on an island with his man. Particularly when that happens to be Jordy, Dez or desean.
our CB1 can’t cover a WR1, our CB2 can’t cover a good WR2. We’re always getting mismatched.
Better phrased, our CB1 and CB2 can’t cover. You’re welcome 🙂
I honestly felt that caroll looked faster than fletcher. I was aftually encouraged by the play of caroll and watkns today. I’d love to hear how fletcher would have done better than either of them. If didnt think cary outplayed either of them today either.
Best onsides punt ever.
After reading this, I definitely want Williams gone.
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2014/12/28/7458247/cary-williams-contract-eagles-bring-him-back-free-agent
Sconces is gone. I think we’ll keep Fletcher. Time to draft secondary next year.
If the Eagles bring Fletcher back I will drive down to Philly to punch Howie in the face.
If this happens, can I Instagram it?
Sure. You can also tweet and facebook it.
I will pay you back for all the new followers I’ll get following this. Plus, you’ll be a legend on sports radio.
Or this could be the alcohol talking and I don’t know what I’m doing…
I am thinking there’s a good chance you’ll make bail if everyone chips in.
Fletcher is a free agent. There is zero chance he’s back next year.
dude does keep it real i guess
He’s always been selfish. I wont cry if he’s not back.
I bet he wants to be released because of the TOP philosophy here. Too much work for him.
Good riddance.
He is (a) dealing with a disappointing end to the season, (b) positioning himself for the unavoidable contract renegotiation and/or (c) the hired mercenary we knew we were getting.
He was never my favorite player, despite GEAGLE’s promises that Philly was going to love him. This article doesn’t change my views on him in either direction.
The only think I love is to know real reason for GEAGLE’s love for Cary.
Well, Sconces is neither Nnamdi nor DRC, so he’s got that going for him.
Haha. Did you see the TD catch and run by Matthews? Maclin blocking DRC and he made zero effort to try and get the tackle? It so reminded me of 2012.
I assume you mean DRC being blocked and not trying to make the tackle reminded you of 2012, not Maclin blocking.
This is what it took to want him gone?
I’m a Lions fan now!!
Go Lions!
The sweetest sight in sports is tears running down Jerry Jones’ plastic face. I’m looking forward to seeing it at some point in the next few weeks.
What’s next for the ‘Boys..
1. Lions match up well in that they have one of the top Ds in the league and the offense is good enough to put up points against Dallas;
2. If they get there, Lambeau Field against Rodgers &co.
3. If they make it past there, probably at Seattle;
4. On a team with a nightmarish cap situation, Romo’s salary escalates to $27M next year;
5. Considering the above, Dez Bryant becomes a free agent
Dez would look nice in green, but it won’t happen, jerrah will put the cowbys in cap hell for the next 1000 years to keep dez
yep they’ll franchise him he will refuse to let him go even if it cripples them in the end there is no way they keep him AND Murray
If ‘allas can get through the Packers at Lambeau and Seattle at home then they deserve it. Two biggest home-field advantages in the league in my eyes and two very good teams guarding them.
Unfortunately, the Lions are bigger chokers than the Cowboys. Looks like the Boys will be going to Lambeau for their blowout.
What’s DallaSUK’s odds of winning the super bowl? I may do a devilish emotional hedge just in case the cowgirls ruin my football world for the next 25 years….
I would die. Seriously. I might eat my gun if Dallas were to win a SB
I’d quit liking football until september. I’m glad i don’t have cable so ESPN is no longer an issue for me.
I think Dallas/Detroit is a tossup. The Lions may be chokers but the Cowboys do not match up well with them at all.
Detroit wins.
Man, do I pick Carolina and their low offensive talent at OL or Arizona and that trainwreck of a QB situation?
I’m gonna take Carolina at home on a 4 game winning streak
I’ll take Arizona.
in my kick me while I’m down mood, is anyone else worried that the cap keeps going up and our advantage over cap hell teams like Cowboys goes away.
This bourbon barreled ale is slowly but steadily easing the frustration.
Yep. Kind of makes me wonder why the heck we are always 10-15 million under the cap.
another poster called it the Joe Nickles Prize .. we always win it!! can we get a ring for consecutive years of 15+ UNDER ??
Ask the saints how slurging on guys like jairus byrd helped improve their team.
I dont understand how more eagles fans didnt learn their lesson with the “dream team”.
can’t predict injuries
The saints defense was worse when byrd was healthy.
It would be one thing if the Eagles ever actually spent to the cap, but the fact is that almost EVERY year they have the most cap space of any team. Spending money on free agents doesn’t mean that have to spend it stupidly. Do you really think having Darelle Revis instead of 10 million dollars of cap space wouldn’t have made us a better team? People that excuse us leading the team in space under the salary cap every year sound like battered wives.
D you thunk we’d win the superbowl with Revis this year? If no than why waste the money. Continue rolling that money over into next year’s cap and spend it when you are ready to compete or have enough talent that you need to re-sign your own players
Probably not, but he was signed to a one year deal, and it would have given us a much better chance. There was reason to believe at the beginning of the season that we could have competed for a Super Bowl this year, heck we had a shot at the number one seed with 4 weeks left in the season. The only thing not signing Revis did was save Jeffy money.
That money rolls over to this year giving us more space. I think the eagles knew that if foles had a big year they would have had to give him a big contract this offseason. They also have kendricks, cox, thornton contracts coming up.
Are you telling me that the money that we SAVED last year somehow gives us a higher cap this year? If it’s a one year deal doesn’t all the money count on that year’s cap? Anyway, this isn’t a one year issue, we are ALWAYS one of the teams with the most room under the cap. What good is having space under the cap for next year if you are ALWAYS UNDER THE CAP???
Any unused cap does not gointo Lurie’s pocket. It gets rolled over to the next year. The eagles have a bunch of young talent players that need to be extended and will need that money over the next 2-3 years
Are you saying that the Eagles salary cap is then effectively 10 million or so more than other teams that were at the cap? This really sounds like bullshit to me.
ahh you quoteth of young Vincent … hurts credibility
You do realize that it’s stupid to draw conclusions from a sample size of one, right? Reggie White helped the Packers win a Super Bowl, Corey Dillon helped the Pats beat us in 2004, and TO helped us get there. Honestly, every time I hear people bring up the Dream Team as proof that spending doesn’t help you win I can’t help but wonder whether they’re a shill or someone that has just swallowed what it is that the shills say.
Because Jeffy doesn’t care about anything other than money. He’s figured out how to be in the sweet spot of being competitive without spending money to maximize revenue while minimizing cost. Oh, and he gets the taxpayer to pay for his stadium as well. Great scam that professional sports teams have.
trying to build the right way over time. Would a big name FA have solved this year’s problems, with injuries, etc. doubt it would have mattered and we’d have to let rookies walk.
Now if you’re saying that people on the team probably make too much money, that’s likely true.
When you have an amazing 2012 draft eagles get to keep them all.
I missed the game. I just saw ODB had 185 yards. Is there anyone of us not clinically depressed over ODB? I can’t believe the Giants got this guy. Kills me.
This is the single worst takeaway from this year.
we never had a realistic shot to draft him, but it does suck that he’s a gina
eh, maybe he’ll burn out in a few years like the other scary awesome talent the Giantts have been grabbing like Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and JPP.
They still have Cruz too..
They still have Cruz too..
I was at the game and I can honestly tell you that it did feel damn good that we swept the Giants! Next to me was this annoying prick who kept mentioning our 0 Super Bowl wins. I don’t really care about picking at 18 vs 20, but I did care about having this Giants fan shut his mouth.
I had a similar experience at the dec.19th game, it was awful until about 5mins left in the game
Which game was that, mate?
it was a few years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9prEhmGafqM
Awesome. I’m jealous.
best birthday gift ever
I was driving to a memorial for a high school friend from philly .. was driving in bumper to bumper traffic on 78 West ..listening to the game .. the run back happened in jammed traffic and I almost popped my carotid artery I was sofa king nuts! I pulled over to the shoulder and jumped up & down about 20 times screaming ..everyone looked at me and everyone knew why
That is the kind of thing that gets Giants fans harmed.
Maybe draft Trae Waynes and Kurtis Drummond with the 1/2? Keep that “no fly zone” alive? It would be neat to keep those guys together. Maybe their chemistry helps them adjust to the game faster.
Then I would like to move up into the second and get Sammie Coates. If this happens, as of December, I would have to change my pants at least 5 times.
honestly, i’m up for anything at this point
If I’m spending a first round pick on a corner, I’m taking Quinton Rollins.
That raw and you would spend a first rounder? I like him a lot though. I watched him last week. He has good instincts and ball skills for someone who just picked up the game! Why wouldn’t you take Waynes?
Wayne scares the hell out of me for the same reason Dennard did. All he does is play press. He’s overly physical. I have no real feel for how his hips or feet are. I don’t think he’s bad per se, he would just make me really nervous. Especially considering our defense plays, press, zone, and man off coverage.
Most people have Rollins top 100 already, having just watched a couple short cutups. Go back and watch his feet and hips. It’s stupid how fluid they are. He may not have been playing football, but he was trying to stay in front of guys who were 6’3″ and super explosive. That skillset transitions incredibly well. He’s fairly physical. He can get a bit panicky and his technique needs work, but his ceiling is the highest of any CB. If he runs well, and I would be shocked if he doesn’t, you’re going to see him start to creep up on boards. Nobody had DJ Hayden as a first round pick two years ago.
I agree. He could easily be the best cb. He doesn’t have any bad habits ingrained yet. He is literally a blank slate you could teach anything too. The problem is, how long does he sit for? 1 year, 2? I’d take him or Wayne’s honestly. We need secondary talent. What do you have for corner rankings thus far?
The two guys I love are rollins and Gunter (top 100). There’s just not alot of tape up. Especially for DB’s I don’t feel comfortable with less than 3 tapes, and sometimes at least 5.
I love playing the draft game and getting Gunter in the 5th…. Probably a later day 2 🙁
Yea but if we take him on day 2 people will be mad because the draft simulator told them he could be had in the fifth, and CanesBias or some shit.
Lol. I watched his tapes again and he does look good. In general, teams didn’t want to throw to him. In this draft, there is no excuses for not ending up with at least 2 solid secondary players. I feel there are several this year, especially for our crummy back end.
Yea it seems to be a nice group of guys with some size and skills. Also watch Paul Dawson or I’ll find you and tape your eyeballs open and put it on an infinite loop.
Paul
Dawson: ILB, TCU, 6’2, 230lbs
OVERVIEW: You don’t play linebacker at a top Big 12
school if you can’t play sideline to sideline.
Paul Dawson, a wide receiver coming out of high school, certainly fits
that profile. He was a two year starter for the Horned Frogs and was the team’s
leading tackler both years. The senior from Dallas has 128 tackles, 5 sacks, 4
interceptions, and one touchdown on the season.
That’s an impressive stat line.
Gary Patterson has done an excellent job at molding a great athlete,
into a very good football player.
Athleticism is the first attribute
that jumps out when studying Dawson. He has great range. Some linebackers are tackle to tackle
players, others hash mark to hash mark, even fewer are sideline to sideline. Dawson falls into the latter however his
range is borderline Gatorade cooler to Gatorade cooler. He should run a high
4.5 based on tape. He has the ability to
stick with running backs and tight ends in coverage, and due to his speed, the
zone he occupies is pretty large. He does a good job reading the QB’s eyes when
in coverage and it lets him jump routes effectively.
His instincts are decent. He’s by no means is going to be mistaken for
Luke Keuchly, but they are pretty solid nonetheless. It’s an area you can see
is still improving. In the short term his
burst once he makes his read compensates for any hesitation in what he
sees. He takes bad angles from time to
time, but that feels more like a player who hasn’t completely normalized to the
position more than anything else. He’s
most comfortable playing inside-out, and when allowed to play in this manner is
much more instinctive and takes better angles.
His best asset against the run is
that explosive burst. He diagnoses the
play and in an instant is in the hole to meet the ball carrier. He needs work at taking on blocks, but this
looks more like a matter of functional strength, as opposed to willingness. His
best game against the run was actually against Minnesota, who plays smash mouth
offense. He’s got no problem sticking
his nose in there and mixing it up, he just needs to continue to fill out his
frame.
FIT
WITH THE EAGLES:
The Eagles aren’t looking for another Demeco Ryans. In the modern NFL
you need two ILB’s who can be playmakers and roam sideline to sideline. Both
should be able to come up and stuff a fullback on one play, and then tackle the
running back in the flat on the next. Bowman and Willis, KJ Wright and Bobby
Wagner. Dawson would be an excellent fit for the Eagles 34. He would provide the perfect complement to
Kendricks. Dawson would be able to
immediately start in the nickel (TCU runs 4-2-5 base). As he fills out his frame (he should be able
to get to 245 easily) he becomes a playmaking ILB who possesses strength,
speed, and instincts.
Grade: Top 75
If you only watch one game:
Minnesota (2014)
Honestly, he looks better than McKinney or whoever the giant ILB from Mississippi st. is. He is a bit more mortal in the WVU game but is still super impressive. I wouldn’t be mad spending the second on him, if drops that far. Super explosive. When he attacks a hole he is able to hit it clean and not get stuck on blockers. however when the run is coming to him, he can get caught. I wouldn’t think that would be hard to fix though. Second round targets now include Dawson, Coates, and Drummond.
I’m super excited for you know who to catch on about Dawson. Say his name 500 times in 20 post and then take credit for discovering him.
LOL, well I’ll take the credit for Coates and Drummond. I’ll vouch for you discovering Dawson.
Such a shame we have wasted the greatest special teams year in Eagles franchise history.
Until next year… They still need that blocked FG run back for a TD.
DOES F IN JEFF LURIE EVEN KNOW WHO TOMMY LAWLOR IS ?? !!! does chip know, does Howie know !!!!!!!!!!!
Tommy has written frequently for philadelphiaeagles.com, the official site of the team. So, yes, I think it’s a safe bet these guys and the other honchos know T-Law. What’s your point?
I was just a moment of inspiration that came along after a season of amazing writing and disappointing finish.
inspired that Tommy constantly addresses our fan fears and dreams and disappointments so perfectly.
he builds the franchise with his writing. develops loyalty. he is valuable to Jeff Lurie and just wondered if Jeff Lurie knew him at all because he would deserve some major recognition.
Cool. I think a lot if us agree that Tommy is awesome and Iggles Blitz is a great place to hang out.
When I own the Eagles, Tommy will be one of my first hires. I’ll also need someone to scout the cheerleading team. I’ll weild my power by only consider you guys who’ve been up-voting my posts.
I down vote this as a declaration of my attempted coup d’eta, I wanna own the Eagles!
I’ll be keeping a close watch on you.
BTW, did you play D3 ball? If so, where?
Dickinson College.
Very cool. I work with the Middlebury College Panthers.
Nice! The Nescac is the Ivy to the Centenial’s Patriot League. I looked at Trinity a little bit.
Midd won at Trinity this year, 27-7, snapping Trinity’s 53 game home win streak, dating back to 2001.
Wow. About time somebody finally took them out.
Panthers football is a great program. Wxcellent coaching staff. The only bummer is no playoffs in NECAC football.
Oh hey! My alma mater. What year? I”m class of 2007.
I started Fall ’09.
Yeah no overlap with me but, my sister was in your year. Unfortunately I haven’t been back since ’10 since I started living here in China.
So the first years your senior year would have been the seniors my freshman year.
tommy lawlor is a difference maker.
god bless tommy lawlor.
So Dallas is all set for a loss vs. Detroit that will send the Lions to Seattle and Arizona continues to get lucky by earning a trip to Carolina for a win vs. low IQ scam Newton before heading to Green Bay.
In the AFC we can look at Cincy losing yet another first round playoff game at Indy while we’ll get the honor of watching a Steelers / Ravens brawl in the other matchup.
well Skins get to pick 5th and we helped knock the Giants down to 9 they would have had 13 while we had 17 but noooo
“If Mark Sanchez didn’t throw interceptions he’d actually be pretty good. He wound up setting a franchise record this year with a 64.1 completion percentage and tied the franchise record with his fifth 300-yard game … in half a season. But he just can’t help the INTs.”
Interceptions and a total lack of downfield throws is his undoing. Need to be able to occassionally stretch a defense vertically.
[…] PHI 34, NYG 26 – Iggles BlitzI don’t have a lot of definitive thoughts right now. I agree with Chip that we need to study the season to come up with the right assessments. Obviously figuring out QB and improving the secondary are at the top of the list. […]
Anyone have thoughts about moving Nolan Carroll to safety? I mean, if he’s not the answer at corner, maybe he can play safety. His dime corner role is kinda safety-ish…