Dominant Defense
Posted: February 9th, 2016 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 427 Comments »The Super Bowl wasn’t fun for those who wanted points, big plays and lots of offense. On the flip side, if you enjoy seeing defenses overwhelm blockers and punish QBs, you loved that game.
I enjoyed the game. It was cool to see Wade Phillips be part of a Super Bowl winner for the first time in his 40 or so years of coaching. He has been part great defenses in 5 different decades. If you were to ask Phillips who was the best player he ever coached, he would be able to choose from Reggie White, Jerome Brown, Bruce Smith, JJ Watt and Von Miller. And that’s keeping the list way too short.
Seeing that great defense got me excited for what Jim Schwartz is going to do with the Eagles. I’m certainly not expecting the Eagles to play that well in 2016, but just seeing them get back to an attacking style will make me a happy camper.
I wrote some thoughts on the 4-3 for PE.com, covering Reggie, Buddy, Jim Johnson, Wade Phillips and of course, Schwartz.
As long as the Eagles stay healthy, they have a chance to be outstanding up front. The LBs could be very good, but that’s not a sure thing. The secondary is the real mystery. Even there, the Eagles have potential. They might need to find a SS that can play in the box. It doesn’t feel like Walter Thurmond is a good fit for the defense we expect to see.
Scheme aside, the other aspect of having Schwartz run the defense is that he’s the team’s best DC since JJ. Sean McDermott was good, but learning on the job. Juan Castillo…just bizarre. Todd Bowles only had the job for part of a year and wasn’t running his scheme. Bill Davis has his limitations and worked under very challenging circumstances.
Schwartz has 9 years of experience as an NFL defensive coordinator. He was a head coach for 5 years. The man isn’t perfect, but he knows what he’s doing and understands how to teach his scheme to players and assistant coaches. There is tremendous value in that. Schwartz’s players knew what to expect from him and they had confidence that he would have them prepared for each game.
Players credit the defensive coaches for their ability to correct mistakes quickly — the Chicago Bears converted three consecutive third-down attempts on their opening drive against the Titans, but none the rest of the game — and for the detailed preparation that dovetails with what linebacker Keith Bulluck called Schwartz’s “little hobbies.”
Kyle Vanden Bosch said: “Especially from a defensive lineman standpoint, we don’t usually pay attention to formations and down and distance. He has that broken down for us. We know what to expect out of certain formations, and what plays they can run. It’s unusual for a defensive line. But we have a quiz in front of the whole defense on Friday, and he expects everybody to know that.”
I really do look forward to seeing what a smart, successful, veteran coach can do with the Eagles defense.
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Missed #85Bears? Don't worry – it's available on WatchESPN right now!
LINK: https://t.co/WpL9SpPLLM pic.twitter.com/lP97vUxm6E
— ESPN Films 30 for 30 (@30for30) February 9, 2016
I watched the 30 for 30 documentary on the ’85 Bears and it was great.
For many, that will be a trip down memory lane. For some, it will serve as an introduction to the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. I love Gang Green as much as anyone, but the ’85 Bears are the best defense I’ve ever seen. They had a 6-game stretch where they didn’t allow more than 10 points and shut 2 teams out.
They allowed 22 TDs all year and scored 5 TDs of their own.
The highlight of the 30 for 30 special is seeing the relationship between Buddy Ryan and Mike Singletary. It’s really powerful. Those men had a special bond that lasts to this day. Singletary went to visit Buddy recently and they show them talking about the old days. Buddy’s health is a major issue, but you can see the impact Singletary has on him.
At the end of the special, they show a letter Buddy recently wrote and sent to his defensive players. Those guys try to open the letter and read it on camera, but several break down before they can even come close to finishing.
Special coach.
Special players.
Special team.
I urge you to see this. Part of the special is former players talking up the glory days and we’ve seen that plenty of times, but the segments with Buddy and Singletary are really moving. Sometimes we forget about the power of the player-coach relationship. We got to see something special with Brian Dawkins and Jim Johnson. The difference is that here you have video of the two men in the 1980s and the present day so you see them in an up close and personal way that is very touching.
I never thought in a million years I would write that sentence about Buddy and Singletary, but go watch the special and you’ll see what I mean.
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[…] Tommy Lawlor The Super Bowl wasn’t fun for those who wanted points, big plays and lots of offense. On the […]
“For some, it will serve as an introduction to the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. I love Gang Green as much as anyone, but the ’85 Bears are the best defense I’ve ever seen. ”
The ’91 Eagles were a better defense. Too bad they had a putrid offense.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2014/historical-dvoa-estimates
Wow.
“Shifting to the other side of the ball, the 1991 Eagles are the best defense for now and it’s not even close. The 1969 edition of the Purple People Eaters, who come in second, are closer to 35th place than they are to first.”
I agree. The 1991 Eagles only gave up TWENTY TDs. Yes, better than the Bears. They scored one fewer TD on defense: 4. This, with the aforementioned offense that often turned the ball over or failed to convert on 3rd and 4th down. The Bears had only an average passing offense– cocky McMahon nothwithstanding– but the number one rushing offense. The Eagles were near the bottom with both.
team game. cant underestimate the importance of the bond between coaches / players. surprises me that more time isn’t spent on team building activities.
I think the CBA is way to strict now for any time to do things like that
I hope im not the only one who wouldnt mind a defensive player in at spot 13?
If none of the QB’s you like are there i expect us to take a defensive player. Looking at the boards at the moment (will change a lot), there is no OL that is going to be available worth no.13, so in all likelihood they go with a defensive player. So much DL, LB and CB talent in that area of the draft that i think one of them will be BPA.
yep, right now it seems the value is on defense unless you love one the top 3 QBs (and he is there)
“if none of the QB’s you like” — are you referring to you or the team? 🙂 You’ve been an advocate for a QB in this draft for quite some time. Will you be disappointed if a QB you like is there and the Eagles don’t take him?
Speaking about the team. I like all 3, but if they do the evaluation and do not like Lynch and decide to pass on him ‘fine’. They will know more than me about his off the field, work ethic, intelligence, charisma etc. If the Eagles do not think he can be a franchise guy then do not draft him.
A DB, DL(backüp 3Tec) even a LB if a myles Jack fell to #13 could all be useful picks… I think defensem at #13 is very much a possibility…. We need to add talent just about everywhere, BPA regardless of position is the way to go when we are picking so high in the draft…. Defense needs the most work, offense.needs help, but not,much immediate help..
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We already have our franchise QB in bradford 😉
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We need a #4 and #5 WR
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And we need to draft an OL or two… That’s like,3 or 4 picks spent on offense… We still have 5 picks for defense, and we need added depth at every level of the defense, DL, LB And DB
mostly agree :). I don’t think we have WR’s 1 and 3 (or 2 and 3) however it shakes out. Current WR’s 1/2/3 are not NFL caliber starters. JM – ok, I’ll give him a 2 or 3 spot. Wish we had more talent there. Wouldn’t mind Huff and Aggie as 3/4 and have their specialty plays etc.
Way to soon to say that Jordan, Huff and Nelson ARENT going to be the answer to our problems…. Maybe they won’t be, but iassume they will get their chance to succeed or fail in that role this year..
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I would love To see us snatch up Alshon Jeffries and some other startkng WR! Unfortunately I doubt the eagles would agree….the,2016 eagle WRs will go as far as jordan, Nelson and Huff take us…. I assume two WRs will be added, but odds are they will be underwhelming depth signings, instead of a WR that is capable of winning a starting role… In the future they may reach the conclusipn that Huff, Agholar and Jordan ARENT the answers and add proven #1’WR, but i don’t even think they are close to reaching that point yet…
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I wouldn’t get my hops up expecting some #1 WR additions tbis offseason. Id love to be wrong, but THATS not very likely from my poïnt of view
I think I’ve seen enough of Huff. LOL. Aggie – would love he takes the next steps to better himself. I do expect better from JM than last year.
No we didn’t…. Can’t ever say that about a kid after his second season
sooooo many holes on offense. I’m not hoping for defensive help. I’m hoping for offensive help. In a rebuilding year – stock up on your weakest area’s…
In a rebuilding year, you just draft the best players. Im not going to pick an OT over a much better defensive prospect
The motto always seems to be “wait on OL” … we’ve been waiting for years. PBA, at times, isn’t the best way to go. We draft say, a LB. Yeah – we have 3 starters and depth at LB. We’d still have 0 talent at OG. Extremely little talent at WR and OT. Will our C return to form?
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Would the game plan be – draft for depth – use FA to fill holes? Or draft for the future? One thing we do know, drafting anybody at 13 is a roll of the dice.
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Is this the year with no 2nd round pick? So we draft a defensive player to sit and get ready for 2018 and watch a boat load of players get drafted until we pick again – or go after an offensive player who can possible play now? it’s a tough choice. Unless a miracle happens and an impact defensive player falls, what would be the point?
LB is a HUGE NEED for us… I assume MEco will get cut, and Najee is a free agent…worst of all our 3 young LBs all have a problematic injury history..
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We don’t even know if Kiko will regain his athleticism,not sure where people get off acting like we are so set at LB…
Unfortunately I have to agree with you. That goes with my comments about defense “IF’s”. I can’t gauge any draft(obviously). My thinking is, if there’s a solid OT projected say at the 22 spot and no impact defense player at 13, I’d rather take the OT. He’d be more of an immediate impact on the team.
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I just peeked at a few mock drafts and they are heavily loaded with defense players. Maybe that’s where the talent is this year….
If the defensive player like Myles Jack, A’shawn Robinson, or a DB is thee clear BPA, I hope we draft them at #13
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But if we see a bunch of similarly graded prospects available and could pick any position without it being a reach, I would think a guy who can be a quality starting Guard while also being able to be the RT of the future would provide the most bang for our buck at #13….. But we have enough needs to where we have no business reaching for a certain position
Agreed!
You cant reach for an OL or other positions, or do you want another 2011 draft?
I’ll never understand this — why is that considered reaching? Because some nfl analyst say it’s reaching? Some chart says “oh, he’s the bpa so we HAVE to take him”? Garbage talk.
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Here’s my point — most teams use that same model “bpa bpa bpa” yet, it always seems to be the same teams picking in the top 10 year after year. How are those Rams doing? They pick the bpa every year.
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Think outside the box….
Its reaching if the TEAM has a defensive player far above an OT in their grade but take the OT as a need.
I’m saying — the Eagles will list there targets. Eagles will have needs. Eagles can’t say — in round 1, we’ll target A,B,C,D,E players. If one of those 5 are there, we’ll take him. Then when the pick comes, the Eagles can’t say “hey, look at player F because someone has him rated higher than our targets so lets take him”. Have to stick to your plan.
We have a LT of the future in Johnson, so really there is no need to use a no.13 pick on the OL. If you are really focused on getting OL talent trade down into the 20’s, take one of the guys who projects to be a good RT, and pick up extra picks to throw at interior depth in rounds 2-3.
Johnson moves to LT and who plays RT? The way Peters played, we may need one sooner than later…
Sounds good in theory, but in reality I think at least 2 dozen teams need O-line help. SB50 was a friendly reminder what happens when you have a subpar O-line.
I actually think the front office will see more holes on Defense, than Offense…Id bet more draft picks are spent on defense than offense this year…
That’s going to be interesting. I’d imagine the HC wants offensive players. DC wants defensive guys. I wonder what HR wants? LOL. I’d like to be a fly on the wall.
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I’d view 2 OG’s and maybe even center as 3 glaring holes. I guess you never draft OG’s in round 1.
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So many time, so little holes. (wait, strike that, reverse it)
I think the Eagles would like to add more offensive players, but they may have to wait Til next year to get rid of some current offensive playes ers and make room for new offensive talent..
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For example, im sure the Eagles would love to add some cheap rookie RB, but they may have to wait Til next year to get rid of murray or Ryan mathews freeing up a roster spot for a rookie RB..
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When it comes to our offensive personnel additions this pffseason, im expecting something like adding two Offensive Lineman, a #4 WR in Free agency (cheap veteran), a #5 WR with a late round draft pick, and that’s about it… I think we have our QB in place, we have our TE in place, our 3 young WR will get to start this year. And we might have to wait a year to shed RB salary and ass some youth to that position…
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Longterm, the Eagles want to add more than 4 offensive players, im just not sure we will be able to free up roster spots this yeat to be able to add all the offensive players we want… Out of those 4 offensive needs two can be drafted,two can be cheap depth signings… Where as on Defense, we can address all those Playets in fthe draft, not having to pay for them in free agency
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Our defense has immediate needs everywhere with the Exception of DE, and they can be filled via the draft
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1) a DT needs to be added, it can’t wait Til next year
2) a LB needs to be added, Probably add another one next year
3) Starting Safety
4) outside CB who can be groomed to replace Maxwell Next year
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I think we will see more draft picks spent on Defense instead of offense… Some of the offensive addition we want to make might have to wait til next year….. Then again, I don’t think yhe offense is DESPERATE for a Makeover… I think if we just improve the OL, we will see much better offensive playërs than we saw last year…
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But I guess it’s possible that the Eagles could dump a RB now, creating another opening for an offensive draft pick
“I wonder what HR wants?”
Plausible deniability!
if he’s the BPA hell yes.
personally, I’d take any of the following (if they were to fall):
Jack, Ramsey, Rankins, Billings, Buckner, J. Smith, Hargreaves, or Alexander. That’s 8 guys right there, not counting Bosa, with a few more real close (A’Shawn, Shaq Lawson, Spence, Apple, Darron Lee, Jarron Reid, Fackrell) who would be great in a tradeback scenario.
Looks like Ditka cut the sleeves off his sweater.
It’s not bad
[…] Dominant Defense – Iggles BlitzAs long as the Eagles stay healthy, they have a chance to be outstanding up front. The LBs could be very good, but that’s not a sure thing. The secondary is the real mystery. Even there, the Eagles have potential. They might need to find a SS that can play in the box. It doesn’t feel like Walter Thurmond is a good fit for the defense we expect to see. Scheme aside, the other aspect of having Schwartz run the defense is that he’s the team’s best DC since JJ. Sean McDermott was good, but learning on the job. Juan Castillo…just bizarre. Todd Bowles only had the job for part of a year and wasn’t running his scheme. Bill Davis has his limitations and worked under very challenging circumstances. […]
Defense winning Championships has a long tradition. Im really not sure why all of the sudden, the denver defense is causing these types of debates. When we just watched seattle ride their defense to back to back Super Bowl appearencs, the year before that the elite Niners defense took San Fran to the SB…. Stacking your defense, is an old and proven formula to NFL success.. We really didn’t need to see Denver defense win the Super Bowl to have this conversation…
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The Denver situation is fascinating,,, Talk about an Outlier… For starters, it’s rare that a team builds a Super Bowl paying for it in free agency… Denver handed out almost 400mil in free agent contracfs since 2012, only the Dolphins spent more..
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But what’s really fascinating about Denver is just two years ago, they made it to the Super Bowl. Being carried by the most explosive offense in the NFL. that Denver offense was really potent Two years ago, but that elite offense got its teeth kicked in by the Seattle defense,,. What’s really amazing is two years later. Denver is back to the SUPERBOWL, but with a completely different team. What was a record setting Offense two years ago, has become an average at best, game managing, offense, while the Denver Defense becomes Elite and carries the team to a Super Bowl win..
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You don’t see that every day…. In just two years Denver transforms from a record setting offense to a Elite First class Defense carrying a trent Dilfer type Ravens offense…This is pretty rare, but to make it even more of an Outlier is that they basically accomplished this via free agent shopping spree’s…
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Gotta tip your hat to the Job Elway did with those Denver rosters…. What’s really impressive is that they draft so well, think of all the great players they let walk, and still managed to build a championship (Julius Jones, Eric Decker, Potroast)
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What Denver did is an Outlier in so many ways, really pointless to be looking towards denver as our blueprint for success… People can call this an “Offensive League”, but everyone knowsm defense plays a big role in January success..
I predicted it yesterday and now the local bloggers are stealing from me :
http://www.phillymag.com/birds247/2016/02/10/eagles-wake-up-call-contemplating-mario-williams/
Mario WIlliams will be an Eagle next year.
just decapitate Cousins a few times and it’d be worth it
That’s like predicting rain with storm clouds in the distance and saying the weatherman stole his forecast from you.
Or like predicting Chip Kelly would be fired before the season started and the Doug Pederson would be the next Eagles coach before Chip Kelly was even fired. I predicted both of those events my friend. Listen smartly and hear the words I say to you. Mario Williams is coming to Philly.
Nah..more likely he ends up in New England, amasses 10.5 sacks, wins the SB and sticks it to buffalo in the process.
but it hasn’t happened
Heard Jim Schwartz on 97.5 this morning and although he looks like a total Eli Dousche Bag, he sounds good. I don’t think he will be with the Eagles very long – maybe two years – but it should be a fun ride!
But he can take over as head coach if Pederson fails miserably.
no doubt
what surprised me about the documentary of the 85 bears was seeing How terribly Walter Peyton acted after winning his first Super Bowl..for a player that was always talked about as a class act, I was blown away by how horribly he acted after winning that first SB… Allegedly, when he walked in to do his post game press Confrence, Walter was Furious, and the media didmt understand why he was so upset after just winning a SB.. Apparently Walter went absolutely bonkers because when they were on the one yard line, Ditka opted to give the TD run to Fridegerator Perry, instead of giving that TD to Sweetness… I missed the walter Peyton era, and I always heard how he was such a class act…. But if he behaved so selfishly in TODAYS era, Walter would have been ripped and roasted for his selfish behavior, being furious after a SUPERBOWL win because he didn’t get a goal line carry…. Had that happened today, it would be a shit storm! That’s like,Desean Jackson behavior… Lol
Walter Peyton – outside of that SB reaction – just may have been the most athletically gifted player to have ever played the game. Outside of field play — if you ever get a chance – read(or watch) what WP was capable of doing(like, walk the entire field on his hands). His agility was amazing. His coordination was off the charts. For me, I don’t need to watch men reading a letter and crying. Watch what WP was capable of doing, truly remarkable…
whoa there. Jim Brown and some others might have something to say about that.
when doesn’t jim brown have something to say
LOL. I’m not about play on the field. However maybe Jim is as talented. I just never saw/read about his abilities like Walter. Maybe I’m biased here because I did a book report on him years and years ago :).
he’s considered by many to be the best lacrosse player ever. If you google you will see. In college at Syracuse, Jim played basketball (2nd leading scorer), ran track, played lacrosse and of course football.
I also think Bo Jackson has a strong argument, though his career was short.
I see. So we are all just pretending Marlon Favorite never happened? That’s cool.
His gif is a Favorite or mine. All of ours.
loved that 30for30, I can get why he was upset but wrong time to be showing it. That doesnt take away from his entire career though and all the good he did off the field etc. Different time I guess and now looking back it was kind of lame not to get him a TD there. I was amazed how they were draining McMahons head to clear it out, that was impressive. Loved the stories about the O catching up to the D and just how McMahon called his own plays at the line and did his thing. So much of that stuff about him was taken out of context in the media.
When they ran that play, the group I was with said wow they didn’t give it to Walter that’s just rude. I get it. I know it’s a team game and all, and it would be nice if he handled it better but you were on the 1, you were rolling, you can pick who you want to score and you pick the Fridge. It was an insult.
I personally thought it was messed up they gave it to fridge. just lame really. sweetness up and over the top is what it should have been.
he had a crap game though all together
I agree.
Sure…. Im sure we would all prefer giving to to sweetness instead of the Fridge… I can understand being a little upset about it durng the game, but it’s pretty Lame to see a guy who just won his first Suerbowl being so pissed Off about it after a game….. We would hate a player in Philly if he was upset after a huge win because of his individual stats
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However Ditka also admitted that he made a mistake and should have given it to sweetness for whatever it’s worth…
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The link to the entire Bears – Pats Super Bowl broadcast is below.
No where is Payton seen being anything more than subdued — particularly as he exits the field . . . although none of the Bears was celebrating at game’s end. (The game had been over since the 2nd quarter.)
Then, in the locker-room — where all interviews occurred — he’s very polite in responding to the questions by the TV interviewer.
[4:15.30 of the tape.]
That said . . . no question he seems disappointed. It comes through.
But he was totally professional in front of the TV cameras.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c5h7jPbLUY
“As long as the Eagles stay healthy, they have a chance to be outstanding up front. The LBs could be very good, but that’s not a sure thing. The secondary is the real mystery. Even there, the Eagles have potential. They might need to find a SS that can play in the box. It doesn’t feel like Walter Thurmond is a good fit for the defense we expect to see.” — It’s off-season and I feel like I read this same paragraph every off season. This up and coming season I guess the difference is the DC. It’s hard to get excited about just the defense (that still has question marks) when the offense is terrible(at the moment). It’s a rebuilding year yet again. Have to use the same words every off-season — keep ship pointed in the right direction. 2017 here we come :).
wait until we win the first preseason game… it’s on!
The difference is that in a 4-3 our outstanding defensive line can actually make a difference. Getting to the QB makes the rest of the defense look a lot better.
Tommy (or some of the commenters),
Re: the safeties, ACViking (natch) had a great comment on the last post about the safeties Schwartz has had over the years. My quick google skills make me believe that for the last 10 years or so, he’s favored having two guys who are better described as FS types back there. If true, Thurmond could still be a fit.
I’d like to see someone with the chops talk about those safeties and how they were used. I know there’s plenty of time, and you’re probably already on it, but just registering my interest in the topic, since AC put the names in a list.
New safety coach Hauck also said that he believes in mirrored safeties, and that both have to be able to cover, which goes against the expectation that we would be going back to a Free safety and Strong safety Tandem
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Hauck raved about Thurmond, and talked ahout wanting him back, for whatever it’s worth… Just not sure that as will want to outbid other teams for his services if the price tag gets crazy.,, my guess is that there are better odds or us extending Nolan Carroll, than Thurmond….. However, if he gets to the open market and doesn’t find the lucrative offers he Is expecting, maybe staying in Philly for what we are offering becomes more attractive to him
Wonder who Tommy’s man crush will be in the draft this year.
can’t wait for his draft breakdown. Gotta go BPA with a top 15 pick. None of the QBs look worthy of a top 15 pick …so far…still early in the evaluation process I know. Hopefully treadwell, stanley or alexander is available at 13. All 3 fill needs and look to be blue chippers. Hoping treadwell is the pick but would be happy with either of the 3. Treadwell jut looks the part of a no. 1 WR and has tremendous Red Zone potential which is where we seem to struggle a lot.
Hey how about bringing back Trent Cole for some depth and to retire an Eagle?
I doubt the Colts are going to keep him at his current salary.
I think everybody here would go for that.
Toddfather too!
nope
You could sign him for a day so he can retire as an Eagle. You really want to use a roster spot on a position you need speed at on a guy turning 34. He isn’t going to help you on STs. Had a concussion last year too.
My favorite Eagles’ player of the last decade. Quiet, under-appreciated, never-stop guy who got the absolute most out of his talent.
Bring back DAWKINS to replace Thurmond while you are at it..
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Cole is more of a 3-4 OLB, wouldn’t be a scheme fit.
/s
CSN claims that we can have over 30 million in cap space if we just cut Demeco, Sproles and Sanchez…… Sproles is the only one, Id hate to lose at this stage
shut up
We currently have 21.5– so that’s correct. Hate to lose sproles.
Yeah, I’d prefer to keep him… But Sanchez and Mufasa should be cut
Does that include rollover? I’d rather sign two free agent guards and a safety while extending cox then let Bradford eat up 2/3 of that 30 mil
I think people who don’t want to pay SAM Bradford because of cap space wilL be in for a rude awakening when the Eagles ARENT that interested in Free agent Shopping,… Doubt we sigń more than 2 or 3 free agents, some of which won’t even be starters
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This notion that the Eagles will take the 20mil they save not paying Bradford, and go add 20mil worth of Free Agency IMO ISNT going to happen..
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I could understand if we were fans of a team that was always in Cap trouble. And had to lose a bunch of great players because we didn’t have the money to pay them… But I can’t even remember the last time we lost a player we wanted to keep because we couldn’t afford him… The Broncos are going to hand VON Miller 100 mil, they are going to give Osweiler a similar contract than what Bradford will get, and they plan on extending DANNY Travathan which will be one of the more expensive LB contracts in the league, and they think they can also pay to retain MALIK Jackson… Yet Eagle fans act like we are going to lose all these great players if we keep Bradford…
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Bet if we extend Bradford, we won’t lose a single Eagle in his prime that we don’t want to lose..
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Seattle had a STACKED ROSTER, won a SUPERBOWL. And had to give big money to retain their players… As Stacked as seattle roster is, and as many big extensions they handed out, what playërs couldn’t they afford to keep? Byron Maxwell the 4th best DB they had? Golden Tate, solid but nothing special… Seattle paid Wilson. BEASTMODE, KJ wright, Bobby Wagner, Kam. Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, took on Jimmy Graham’s contract, micheal Bennett and Avril one Of the elite edge rusher tandems in the game… Yet when it comes to the Eagles, we get this crazy idea that if we keep bradford, we will have to Sacrafice and get rid of all these great Eagles that we don’t want to Lose.. I don’t get it..
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I’ll be 100% shocked if SAM ISNT our QB next year,l..
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But no matter what they decide to do about the QB, I think it’s a mistake to expect some big sexy free agent Haul by the Eagles..
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Id consider us lucky if we came away Frm free agency with a starting Safety, and a stop gap older Guard(or,vice,versa)….. And paying Bradford won’t keep us from adding those players
I don’t see any possibility this group of linebackers could be good. Kiko is broken. Kendricks has no football IQ, doesn’t play smart, read his keys, or maintain good leverage and technique. Hicks has failed to finish 3 out of his last 5 seasons, I believe. Barwin is maybe the keeper in the group, if he holds up as SAM. They really need three new guys. MK can stay as a special teamer, since they can’t escape his contract right now.
They were playing in the wrong defense with not-good coaching. The linebackers are fine. Not sure about Kiko, but Schwartz can work with this group.
Kendricks ran around like a chicken with his head cut off before he played the 3-4, and I fail to see how Schwartz is going to do something magical that keeps Hicks healthy. Kendricks isn’t even as good as his younger brother.
Injury is far more random than people think… can loose 3 years and play the rest of your career injury free as long as there is not long term damage. Think Hicks has a good chance of being a bedrock player long term for us.
Kendricks will be fine as a WILL, where he is free to go around with his head on fire. Kiko struggled to overcome his injuries last year but that is not uncommon and he may well have a bounce back year.
Barwin is a DE in a Schwartz scheme, not a SAM. You waste his talent for a player who’s job it is to play 30-40% of snaps and mainly just set the edge in the run game.
I’m going to disagree. Hicks breaks a new part every other year, hip, Achilles, now pec tear. He’s not built to play Mike in a Schwartz defense. Look at Tulloch and compare body type to Hicks. Just because Kendricks is fast, does not make him a Will. He doesn’t read his keys he is slow to diagnose plays. He runs to the wrong place. He gets there quickly, but he is still not where he belongs. He is Ernie Sims, great athlete, no football sense. Great freelancers study like mad, process information in a blur and have great instincts. The latter two are not him. I trust Barwin at Sam, simply because I believe you can rely on him to be in the right place at the right time, and to do his job. Not a perfect fit, but he isn’t dumb and out of position too often.
I’m Schwartz would smack you upside the head for pigeon holing him into having one defense. One system.
Yeah, because it isn’t possible that the player who are here don’t exactly fit the description of what he would want if he were choosing prototypes. There are TWO proven, excellent players on this defense. Cox and Jenkins. Everybody else is a question mark.
Not sure why it duplicated but w/e.
Good cheap depth signing that i like. More good work Howie.
many you got to it before me.
So I only have to wait until 2041 for the Eagles to win a Super Bowl?
“Super Bowl LXXV
Philadelphia Eagles 26, Cleveland Browns 24 (OT)
June 30, 2041 – Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Decades of global warming culminate in a Super Bowl-record kickoff temperature of 125 degrees, prompting critics to insist the game can no longer be safely contested outdoors — even along the temperate Great Lakes
Riviera.
Nevertheless, Rivers Romo passes for 292 yards and connects on two long touchdown strikes to wide receiver Robert Griffin IV. Cleveland quarterback Benjamin Roethlisberger throws three touchdown passes, including two to veteran tight end LeBron James Jr. But the Browns fall short when a blocked punt rolls out the back of the end zonefor the decisive safety in overtime.
Afterward, President Rob Gronkowski presents the Lombardi trophy to Eagles owner Taylor Swift, who then signs Romo to a 10-year, $1 billion contract extension with $500 million guaranteed.
Training camp begins the following week for each of the league’s 128 teams.”
On the bright side, the Eagles will make 3 SBs over the next 25 years.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14747408/super-bowl-50-history-why-not-predict-next-25-super-bowl-winners
Sounds like something Barnwell would dream up.
this goes to show you that everyone equates us to the browns now,
and does taylor swift still employ Roseman?
The Browns’ comparisons aren’t apt yet but if Pederson has af few poor seasons (say max 6-7 wins), is replaced by another middling coach, and they keep changing starting QBs, it will be.
If Schwartz even get this defense up to the middle of the pack next year, he deserves some real accolades especially while implementing a new scheme that features a 4-3 instead.
Still a lot of ill-fitting pieces here and a lack of top-tier defensive talent too. Curious to see if Roseman will emphasize defense/offense more this offseason including in the draft or simply go with the best player available given all of the weaknesses this team has right now.
I would say Cox, Curry, Logan, Barwin, Hicks, and Jenkins are all top-tier talents. Rowe showed good signs of progression which is the a good step for a rookie corner. I basically disagree with your premise that there isn’t enough top-tier talent on this defense. Billy Davis had them play at a high level before the team collapsed. If Kendricks can get his head straight and Alsono returns to even a serviceable player then there is more then enough talent on this defense.
Kendricks and Kiko have top tier potential.
Agreed. Also the fact that this defense has shown the ability to play at a high level so I don’t get where this guy is getting his opinion from.
Because this was a historically-terrible defense after the bye. It wasn’t just 1 or 2 games where they struggled either.
A lot of people apparently seem overly enamored with with Schwartz’s credentials but asking a DC to turn this team into a Top 10 unit while implementing an entirely new scheme is pretty unrealistic.
Still have several holes that aren’t going to be filled in a single offseason. I’d be happy if this is a competent, middle-of-pack defensive team next year that doesn’t sag badly towards the end of the year.
If they do that, resign Bradford, and get some help to via FA and immediate production from the draft, they win 9 maybe 10 games if things really break their way.
I see a 6-8 win year next season even if they resign Bradford and he stays healthy. Expecting a lot of a first-time coach with a team that had a lot of weaknesses by the end of last season.
Can you call next year a rebuilding year? I guess but the Eagles would probably use the word ‘retooling’ instead.
Kendricks is a head case on the field and kiko looks like he’s under 200 pounds when he plays
Potential is the operative word.
When you look at our defense there isn’t an obvious hole to fill besides ss. However, a top tier edge rusher to pair with curry would make us formidable. I know we’re paying him a lot of money but I don’t want Graham playing more than half the snaps. He seems to only be effective when fresh
I disagree with your sentiment on Graham. Yes he played sparingly up until this year but his whole career he was a hand in the dirt DE and I think a full time role where he can just go after the QB every play will finally bring the best out of him. Besides that the defense needs massive LB depth and DT depth.
Same. I like Curry but at this point I’d say Graham is the better player.
Cox is the only one and we’ll see how Hicks does this year. Kendricks to me is a guy who has the athletic ability but was banged up & played poorly for too many stretches last year.
Barwin doesn’t have the athletic ability to be a top-tier player. Ditto Jenkins. Not sure how Barwin will fare either as a full-time LDE either.
Curry is (my opinion) the single most overrated player by this fan base. Maybe I eat my words and he has 10+ sacks this year as some are saying but to me is just a role player. One that should perform better under Schwartz but a role player nevertheless. Well see too how Logan does in this new scheme as a full-time DT.
Tommy time for a new post “Eagles re-signed LB Najee Goode to a one-year contract.”
Think this is going to be an impact year for my boy. Chip was Marcus Smithing him last year, time to unleash the Goode in everyone.
Wave,Mufasa goodbye….
Comp picks are the most overrated hyperbole in today’s NFL.
The average draft pick after the 2nd round is overrated
Thankfully we have a 2nd rounder this year…NOT!!
Individual draft picks are overrated, a policy of accumulating and wisely using draft picks is not.
True, but not signing a mid level FA like a Jeff Allen will most likely be better than what ever odds you have at picking a good player after round 2
I would disagree… Those extra 2-3 picks that the Pats/Steelers/Ravens get each year gives more depth, probably 1 or more makes the roster each year and 1 every 2-3 years becomes a starter. It all adds up and helps a team replenish consistently.
FA is more of a risk than people think… changing scheme, coaching and situation is harder to project than fans want to admit. Keeping your own guys and developing chemistry is the most consistent way to long term success.
We had good drafts in 2012 and 2013, so should be retaining that talent and not needing to hit FA significantly.
The funny is the Ravens was terrible this year, the Steelers have made the play offs for how many years?
The Steelers are a top heavy team who still lives on the early 2000 reputation
And it’s like the NFL rewards teams for not paying their players market value.
Tom Brady, yo.
Lol. One in a million. Just ask Aaliyah.
Unfortunately there has been no where near one million draft picks…more like …5000
But the number of players that have been available to be picked in the draft is much higher than 5000.
That doesn’t matter. There have been close to 5000 picks. If you are given a pick, then you have 1 in 5000 chances to pick a Tom Brady – not 1 in a million
No, thats not how it works, if there is 1000 players you can draft, but only get picked 250, that still means you have 1 in 1000 each year, not 1 in 250
How are extra chances to get good players overrated?
We’re not losing anything when we get comp picks..this year especially.
boy we keep talking about well if we just use the D players the right way and not have them play two extra games, they could really be good.
which says a lot about Chip doesn’t it?
They could be really good. Yes.
Says a lot about Chip. Yes.
I was so excited and all-in with him, and man I just feel letdown. I’m not over it. I kept thinking if just this or that happened, then OH BOY we would see what this team could do. I kept thinking no he doesn’t have a problem with players, no he didn’t just really cut that guy out of spite, etc.
Chip Kelly SUCKS he was HORRIBLE. GET OUTTA HERE
Moderator please.
edit: sung to this theme (maybe ATG can write the lyrics) Simpsons Monorail Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ5CbLnSjo0
He does have a point…
Does he? Chip Kelly was “horrible?” I agree he had to go but 10-6 for 2 seasons isnt bad at all. The last season sucked but there was also a lot of change. I dont think horrible is the right word, more like incessantly stubborn. Also, the troll never has a point just incessant mindless rambling.
Yes, he was horrible. He not only failed in every aspect of his job, he hurt the future of the team. His absolute incompetence will be hurting the Eagles for years after his firing.
Posted reccord numbers in offense for a couple years. Brought sports science to Philadelphia. Drafted players like Hicks, Rowe, Logan, Matthews and Ertz, not to mention promising players in Shepherd and Agholor. How did he hurt this team for years to come? Contracts can be dumped after this year. We lost a 2nd rounder this year. Im glad hes gone too but he wasnt the worst ever.
The Chip era was a roller coaster for me. I didn’t like the hire (and I hated the Davis hire). Then the Eagles went 10-6, things got exciting and I got on board. Then the Eagles went 10-6 again and things weren’t quite so exciting. Then… well you know the rest.
To continue our discussion, I’m “good enough” with the Pederson hiring but I’m exalted about Scwartz. I’m optomistic the Eagles can be one of the best D’s in the League next season. I think we have the personnell and Jim has the attitude and skills. Can’t wait to go 6-0 against the East.
what happens when they get to the playoffs and have to play that 2 extra games then?
it’s not two extra games if the opponent is also playing them. then it’s just games
they would have two more weeks (or 3 with the bye, of course), so it’s not “extra”. And with Chip those two extra games would now be another .25 of a game. So with Chip it’s now 4.25 games compared to your 2 playoff games. You never catch up. Trust me.
roger
Sal P. had a really good commentary on CK’s mantra about more plays run than the other team. Denver I think ran 55 plays in the SB and won, which means that running the most plays doesn’t mean you’re getting a victory. Knowing your team/talent is what will give you the best chance.
That said, Kubiak did kinda shut Manning down in the 2nd half and let his defense win it for him.
are the 30 for 30’s on Hulu? By the way, if you like movies with time travel themes I read Steven King’s 11/22/63 and really enjoyed it. I thought it would make a good movie, well Hulu is coming out with 11/22/63 as a miniseries. I’m excited, check it out.
yeah that book was pretty fun to read
Mayock’s initial top 5 at each position:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000635418/article/mike-mayocks-2016-nfl-draft-position-rankings?sf20694830=1
One surprise is Willie Beavers as the #5 OT ahead of guys like Jason Spriggs, Germain Ifedi. Also has Graham Glasgow of Michigan as the #5 OG and I hadn’t seen him rated that highly. Also surprised that Karl Joseph is his #1 safety(rates Jalen Ramsey at CB).
I still don’t understand what so many people see in Connor Cook. Nothing about him says NFL Quarterback, Leader of Men.
Didn’t see this posted, any interest in Schwartz or Beatty both about 30?
NFL (@NFL)
4 hours ago – View on Twitter
Media posted by NFL
.@Giants release LB Jon Beason, linemen Will Beatty and Geoff Schwartz (via @ConorOrr):
Geoff Schwartz cut by Giants , he gets hurt though.. Played for KC in 2013.
Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz)
2 hours ago – View on Twitter
I’m healthy now, training, and I’ll be ready to play for my next team. No doubt I can still ball, and play well.
They wouldn’t be bad depth signings but that would be all they are good for. Don’t get me wrong they are capable starters when healthy but that is the huge question mark with those two is the health.
Thinking about it, Beatty is probably going to command too much $ and he will probably find a starting gig if he is healthy or he gets healthy soon enough.
If he can’t find starting spot and was cheap, we aren’t exactly secure with Peters. I’m nervous about Peters but if they like a QB or even another position that is a top 10 type player, I don’t think they should reach for Decker, Conklin, or Spriggs.
the only Giant OL I would be interested in is the rookie Lt Eric Flowers which is ironic since I didn’t like him going into the draft, but I hear a lot of good things about that kid … Justin PUGH, Beaty, Geoff, don’t have much interest in them..
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heck, im not sure I can even name 5 players on the Giamts roster that I would want
There’s only one player on that roster that I’d want.
Eli?
LOL, I almost spit out my drink. SMH.
Basically….
uard Geoff Schwartz and linebacker Jon Beason were informed that they won’t be back with the team next season. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports was the first to report that left tackle Will Beatty has been added to the list as well.
Beatty tore his pectoral while lifting weights in May and was placed on injured reserve with the designation to return at the start of the season. He never made it back, however, and had shoulder surgery near the end of the year to compound his injury issues.
Beatty, who spent four years as the team’s starter on the left side of the offensive line, was set to make $6.625 million in 2016 with a cap hit of over $9.1 million. The Giants will get over $4.1 million of that back if Beatty is deemed a pre-June 1 cut and Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports that neither he nor Schwartz was approached about taking a pay cut.
Last year’s first-round pick Ereck Flowers took over for Beatty in 2015 and will likely remain there while the Giants address the right side of the offensive line this offseason.
Both Schwartz and Barwin today said that Barwin will be a Left Defensive end for us next year. hopefully this puts the Ridiculuos SAM Limebacker tallk to bed!!
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Shwartz interview today gave me goosebumps to hear a DC talk like that.,, I can’t wait to see our new defense… a lot of great info from the SChwartz interview,,
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The most interesting is that he identified Vinny Curry and Mychal Kendricks who were hampered by the scheme chip had them running last year, and SChwartz thinks that the scheme change will have big impact on Kemdricks (coming off a down year) and Curry.. He talked about taking the handcuffs off those two and unleashing them… Music to fans ears… With Kendricks coming off a down year, I like hearing our DC identify him as one of our players who will benefit the most from a Scheme Change that Schwatz is bringing..
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Svhwartz dropped another Interesting Nugget: he talked a lot about “busting opponents knuckles with the constant fastballs we will throw at teams, but every once in a while, we will also,throw a curve ball, maybe lineup with 5 down Lineman, usimg our 5 best pass rushers, but only sending 4 of them at the QB, and drop the 5th into coverage, with defenses not knowing which 4 are coming and which one is dropping into coverage”..
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I like that we are moving away from the 3-4, but SChwartz will still use skills that our players learned from playomg a 3-4 to our advantage, for example dropping guys like BARWIN, BG and MS2 into coverage, even tho they will be traditional 4-3DE in our new defense.l
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Seems pretty excited about having malcolm Jenkinsl and the impression I get from both Hauck and SChwartz is that we still won’t be seeing Traditional strong safeties like Landon Collins being drafted by the Eagles,.,I don’t know if he will take it to the extreme of playing a corner like Thurmond at safety, but it sounds like we will agree with the previous regime And not draft Box Safeties and remove playërs like Landon Collns from our draft board ..
”
Pretty good interview with the exception of the Host Anthony Gargano sounding like a moron
Why was it ridiculous to talk about Barwin at SAM?
Because you just spent 3 years watching him line up as a 4-3 DE with hIs hand in the dirt about 300 times… He is CLEARLY a 4-3DE for us, NOT a SAM..,
he may be a better DE than SAM but it’s not ridiculous. didn’t he shut down jimmy graham once?
Err ish, he bumped Graham and then handed the coverage to a Safety to do the down the field covering.
There are situations where Barwin will play SAM next year possibly… they just are not that common.
If a team plays a 2 TE set, then having Barwin as the SAM against the blocking TE makes a lot of sense to help the run game, and he can cover the TE on the odd route. But most of the time we will be in Nickle, and he will be pass rushing as a DE, and even in base defense against most teams really does not make sense.
So he will play like 50-60% of snaps at DE, 10% of the year at SAM and the rest taking a breath as part of a rotation.
There was NEVER any chance he would have been taken away from a crucial pass rush role, to be moved to SAM… There is more to SAM than matching up with a TE…
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He doesn’t have to line up as a SAM to put his Coverage ability to use, which,SChwartz explained in the interview… He is still gpimg to use BG and Barwins ability to drop into coverage at times… That doesn’t mean BG could also play SAM.
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A team would have to get like 5 Linebackers injured before a DC would take one of his top 3 edge rushers and move him to LB..
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BARWIN was always going to be a DE, SAM was never realistic, be
Ieve it or not
of course there’s more to it than just the TE, but the logic of “why waste his rushing skill” while ignoring “why waste his coverage skill” doesn’t sit well. the man’s versatile and he is not as good of a pure rusher as curry or (most likely) graham. so again, if those two are lined up as ends, and you’ve got a guy who can drop, set, or rush, at least as well as what we’ve seen from kiko (so far) or kendricks (recently), then the dumb thing to do is have him out of the game. am i saying he was supposed to be a full time SAM? no, of course not, and a full time SAM probably isn’t even on the field half the time these days. but if the argument is against wasting his skills by sticking him at SAM, then the counter argument is that you’re wasting his versatility by saying “no! DE only and always!” and not moving the man around. TWO, and this is important, he’s done it. he’s literally been a SAM before, so this isn’t a situation where you’re taking trent cole and making him change positions. barwin knows how to play both positions and our d line is stronger than our LB corps, so mixing up where you put him isn’t really a big issue. THREE, it cracks me the hell up to hear people excited about the DE dropping into coverage seeing as how, less than four years ago, we were ALL talking shit and complaining about dumb McDermott making DE’s drop. remember? it was the stupidest thing we had ever seen. now the panthers get one pick from gimpy peyton manning that way and it’s a sexy idea again? let’s look at the lack of logical consistency there: “yay we FINALLY have a system where the DL can just attack . . . BUT let’s make them drop into coverage sometimes.”
FOUR barwin defended 11 passes here in 2013. that’s not cartoonishly huge, but it was in the top third or so of OLBs.
so again, barwin is probably better in our scheme at DE but putting him at SAM situationally is a great idea and suggesting that he be a SAM may not be correct but it’s far from ridiculous.
What a shitty argument. What has Barwin been doing the past three years in the 3-4 then?
Lol ok… Belíeve and expect what you want
Careful there. This guy knows everything all the time.
Lol there is a reason you see 4-3DE grouped in with 3-4 OLB….. Instead of 3-4OLBs being grouped with 4-3 OLBs..
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This is sooooooo ridiculuos.. But if you don’t want to take it from BARWIN,who has now said this 3 differemt times since our DC was hired, and if you don’t want to take it from our DC, I don’t expect you to take it from me..
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Be lucky if you can find ten 4-3 OLBs that would ever be able to move to 4-3 DE, yet there are way more 3-4DE that can ove to 4-3DE.
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Honestoy, I can’t even believe we are havng this discussion…
We arent having the discussion. You already responded to this. I never said he SHOULD be a SAM just why it was so ridiculous. Calm down.
Music to my ears, definitely gonna check out that interview
You def need to check it out… He has me all types of JACKED UP with his baseball analogies… Talks a lot about “busting opponents knuckles with the fastballs we throw at opponemts”
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The “Fastballs” he talks about refer to the DL being in constant attack mode”, because he asks the DL to explode up field every play, he really needs two waves of DL to throw at teams. Because after 5 or 6 plays of DL pinning their ears back and exploding up field, they need a breather and we have to bring another wave of pasw rushers Off the bench
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He also talks about how even tho we will be busting tbeir knuckles with fastballs most of the time, we will throw teams a curve ball once in a while, like linning up with 5 of our best pass rushers with our hand in the dirt, but only send 4 after the QB,Mand since BG, BARWIN, MS2 all have experience dropping into coverage playing in chips 3-4, opponents won’t know which 4 are going after the QB and which One is dropping into Coverage… I assume this would probably be BARWIN, Curry, Cox, BG, and MS2 all with their hands in the dirt
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Uses,some other exciting baseball analogies…
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Great interview, check it out when you get a chance
I want to get a Jim Schwartz jersey.
definitely sounds like he will be a great fit for this city..
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You can tell he has plenty experience in blue collar cities like Baltimore, Detroit and Buffalo.. He sounds like he belongs here, sounds like he can really handle life in our crazy city… There are some elite NFL defenders who swear by this man…
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Hopefully he can find us a quality safety to pair with Jenkins
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Think we are a starting safety away from haviing a nice starting defense in place..from there we just need to build up the Defnsive depth, and Subpackage additipns like a backup for Cox to play next to run stuffing Beau Allen.. Backüp LB
Jim’s got the mojo. I think he’s inheriting a potentially great front seven. If Eric Rowe continues to develop and we score that other safety, then coverage will be good and the boys upfront will spend lots of time chasing qbs. My hope for next year: 6-0 in the NFC East.
Need a quality starting safety.. George Illoka or Tashuan Gipson would be ideal
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Other than a starting Safety, the other most important question is KIko Alonso… If he regains his pre injury athleticism, we will have 3 young LB that should flourish under Schwartzy…. We also need to prepare for the possibility that Kiko never gets that explosiveness back in which case he would end up getting cut in August…. But a 6’3 LB, with his quality coverage ability would be great fit for our SAM.
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Schwartzy claims that Kendricks is one of the players who were a bad fit for a 3-4 and should have a Big year when we take the hundcuffs off and let him fly around as the 4-3 WIL
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So when you look at our starting lineup, Safety is the Big NEED, and if KIko is back to normal. We have a nice starting defense in place…. However,we still have a good amount of depth Building to do.. DL, LB and DB depth is a need
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Shwartz was planning to use Him as a STACK Linebacker last year before he got injured
Kiko was the biggest disappointment last year. Hopefully, his problems were related to his injury and he returns to his stud lb play. If so, and we add a good safety, the Eagles D next season should be formidable.
an argument that comp picks aren’t as overrated as we’ve been hearing on this board. to sum up, bradford could be worth a third or fourth rd comp pick and in 2017 those picks are tradable: http://www.phillyvoice.com/should-eagles-punt-free-agency/
If you like the author.
i try and focus on what’s said as opposed to who is saying it.
Jimmy had an extensive article about why comp picks are worthless less than two weeks ago.
right, and this is a good response to that. did Jimmy’s article take into account that Bradford, specifically, could be worth a 3 or 4 based on the fact that he might end up being one of the most valuable departed FAs in the league? did he mention that starting in ’17 those picks can be traded and are therefore more valuable than they used to be? both of those factors make them more than meaningless. recouping a tradeable 3rd or 4th for sammy isn’t worthless.
He mentioned that when a player leaves via free agency even low level players offset the player that left at almost a 1:1 ratio.
He’s been changing opinions like a flag in the wind. Complete joke.
A mid tier FA who will make peanuts in a few years is infinetly more valuable than pick 97 in the 2017 draft.
https://twitter.com/Astonia67/status/697423014623907840
the comp pick is now a tradable pick as of 2017. this makes its value substantially higher than years past. comparing it to previous years is misleading for this reason. let’s do the logic thing real quick. if building through the draft, as opposed to FA, is considered the better formula for success, and we can get a tradable 3rd or 4th back for someone, then that’s not nothing, and showing preference to an FA goes against the stated strategy. but to get specific, what mid tier FA is going to be available who you would consider superior to pick #97 (considering, as no one seems to be willing to do, that pick #97 can be packaged and traded)? which mid tier FA would you trade pick 97 for?
http://sportsnaut.com/2015/04/nfl-draft-5-best-4th-round-picks-of-the-past-decade/
The ability to trade it does not make it substantially higher. It’s marginal at best (having the extra pick already allowed you more flexibility in moving other picks). Add in the fact it’s a 2017 pick.
An early 4 (which is more accurate than calling it a three) isn’t worth that much. It’s worth about 3-5 spots in the first round outside the top 10. It’s worth 8-10ish spots in the second round.
Also I’m not proposing a dream team FA. I’m thinking more 2013. We’re threadbare on depth on D. The O has alot of holes. The ability to patch the roster and increase flexibility on draft day this year is more valuable.
http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/9-Ravens-Players-You-Didnt-Know-Were-Compensatory-Picks/5f6aa694-2b4a-4273-92b0-271f32aad992
So in 15 years it’s Mcphee, a couple FB, a jag RB, a couple swing G’s and a meh starting RT.
Talent wise I really don’t think this defense is all that far from Denver. Will they ever achieve that level of play? The odds say no. They can still be a damn good defense. Jim Johnson would do amazing things with these guys.
I honestly think coaching has been the biggest gap between this defense and the one we saw hoisting the trophy. Not just Davis to Phillips. However, lets be honest that is like comparing a Lambo to a Prius. Sure they both do the same thing… but not really. This isn’t even a slight against Davis. Schwartz appears to be very good, but he hasn’t shown to be close to Wade. The biggest difference came from the team’s philosophy. Kubiak knew what he had, and played control offense to max his defense. If there is something beyond the exact opposite of that..Chip did it.
Sure there is a talent gap. I just don’t think it is as big as we think.
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Haven’t been as active lately so I’ll toss this in. I can’t think of a guy I am less afraid of going batty once he gets 50 mil in guarantees, than Fletch. Lock him up, there will be no Shawn Andrews type of problems with him (that guy should still be playing…). Genuinely excited for him. Can honestly say I have never felt that way about a millionaire who is about to become a substantially more wealthy millionaire (yeah Chris Davis, you are included).
Defense is like 4 or 5 players away,from being a top 5 defense… We aren’t far away especially on paper, but they need to add at least 1 player who can contribute at all 3 phases of the Defense.. We also have to keep an eye on Defenders they plan on getting rid of next year, for example Byron Maxwell. On papar with Maxwell and ROWE starting it looks like we don’t have a Starting NEED at outside CB… However, if we plan on geting rid of his contract after next season, then we should be factoring that into a NEED.
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We should always strive to get a guys replacement a year ahead of when we need him… The more we can avoid situations where we get rid of a starter and then look to find his replacement, the better off we will be..
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We need a backup DL Who we need to contribute as part of the rotation immediately
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We need a starting caliber LB because of the health concerns Of our 3 starters.
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We need a starting Safety
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And we need a starting CB if we plan on getting Rid of Maxwells contract after the season..
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The one position on defense we can wait a year To add talemt at is 4-3 DE, yet you can never have enough edge rush Talent so if the BPA is a DE, Id still wamt us to draft him even tho iTs not a need for us right now
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On Defense, we need like 15-20 defenders that we can use and rotate in each game, and that’s without adding injuries into the equation….. It’s not like we can get 11 good defenders and be set
Just sitting here, without thinking for more than 10 seconds, I can’t think of 5 teams with better defensive talent.
Den, Az, Car, KC. Not giving it to Pitt or Minn.. or anyone else. Honestly.. I don’t know that with the right coaching our defensive talent isn’t already better than Az and maybe even KC.
I concede that I could be in a total fan boy dream world…honest thoughts though.
Think up the middle we have the potential for an elite unit. Where we lack is ‘elite’ outside talent in a special CB or pass rusher. Those guys transform game plans, and we do not have a guy like that on the roster. Think we will be top 10, but unless Cox becomes JJlite or Rowe develops into a shutdown corner i think that is where our ceiling is at this time.
I agree we need Rowe to develope (Max can still grow too, not impossible). I do think VERY highly of Curry in a 4-3 pass rushing role.
Like I said there is some gap, that may never be closed. As it stands now though this defense to me has all the pieces to be a top 5 unit.
I think safety is a big hole. We plugged it really well this year, to the tune of some of the best safety play in the league, but I’m not sure that Schwartz wants that same type player and we are likely going to lose Thurmond, so we’d have find another miracle plug.
Maxwell will look better in this scheme (as will the entire secondary).
Yeah, I agree. The difference between Von Miller and Brandon Graham is substantial and Miller is rolling with Ware. I am hoping that the Lurie/Roseman braintrust goes off the chain acquiring DL talent to complement Cox. Schwartz is a legitimate DC, and he will absolutely awe with enough good players.
I think you’re under selling Curry and Graham. The talent on the Dline is special, and it can be argued that the ability to pass rush from the DT positions is even more important than the ends.
Texans
Have to admit I didn’t watch much of them, and the games I did they looked pretty bad.
No no no, you aren’t far off… I think we already have Most of the Ingrediants for the quality Defense SChwartz will build.,
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I think when SChwartz talks about our defensive personnel attracting Him to this job, he is being honest.. Just look at our defensive personnel compared to that of our Rival Giants which is also in the middle of a coaching Change… Im not sure I can name two Giant defenders that I would rather have than our defenders… It’s night and day the talemt we have compared to what the DC of the Giants has to work with..
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A lot of the NEEDS I list, ARENT even starting needs, for example, we need a back up 3Tec to play behind Cox.. This is a legit need because we will rotate two waves of defenders in each game, but that NEED doesnthave to be filled with a first or 3rd round pick… If we lose Thurmond, starting Safety will be an immediate Need…
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I figure SChwartz will want to at least add one of his own players on the DL, LB and Secondary…. We have some depth questions that may or may not be Needs… For example, Can JaCorey Shepard really start as our nickel Corner next year? I sure hope so, but I don’t know so… We have 3 young starting LB on paper Who all have some durability concerns, we jus extended Goode… Unless they plan on keepimg both Acho and Mufasa, chances are they will want to add a LB…
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If we lose Nolan, Do we have an adequate backüp Corner? Rookie corners suck for the most part, if we are counting down the days to next pffseason when we can get out of the Maxwell contract. The healthiest way to replace him is to draft a Cb now, that we can groom for a year before thrusting him into the starting Corner spot replacing Max.
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Even if SChwartz inherited a top defense, odds are a new DC will want to add a handful of his own defenders to the mix… Especially when we are making a drastic scheme change, it’s unlikeLy that the entire defensive roster will translate to his new scheme, we are just lucky in this regard that we were fortunate to already had a lot of 4-3 personnel that chip forced into a 3-4..
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I don’t think you are wrong. We should have the majority of the personnel in place for a quality Defens, with a solid draft or two hopefully SChwartz can take us to Top 5 status
SChwartz is the new FOles
If you haven’t noticed, my autocorrect does that for a lot of words
The Eagles are at least 1 elite edge rusher from being a good defense. And that’s a lot.
Denver had 2 this season — on display in the SB.
While a great edge rusher is just 1 player . . . it’s the hardest player to find besides a great QB.
Early in the thread, a link was provided to this article by FBO on the best defenses in NFL history by DVOA.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2014/historical-dvoa-estimates
Looking at the Top 5, each one had at least 1 (or 2) great edge rusher, in addition to great inside DLs:
1. 1991 Eagles — DEs Reggie White (HOF), Clyde Simmons, DT Jerome Brown
2. 1969 Vikings – DE Carl Eller (HOF), DT Alan Page (HOF)
3. 2002 Bucs – DE Simeon Rice (4x All Pro), DT W-Sapp (HOF)
4. 1976 Steelers – DEs Dwight White (4x AP), LC Greenwood (6x AP), DT Joe Greene (HOF)
5. 2008 Steelers – OLBs James Harrison, Lamar Woodley (28 sacks)
Schwartz’s best defenses — while not close to the same class as the preceding five –still had very good pass rushers on the edge: a healthy Javon Kearse in TN, Kyle Vanden Bosch in TN and DET, Cliff Avril in DET, and Mario Williams in Buffalo — along with great inside players (Haynesworth, Suh, Dareus)
At this point, the Eagles have DT Fletcher Cox. Dominant inside rusher.
But do the Eagles have an impact edge rusher? Someone for whom other teams have to game plan every week?
To date, neither Graham, Curry, or Barwin (or MSII) has been a player teams have game-planned around
(Yes, Barwin’s had a couple of big sack years. Still, he’s never been considered a great edge rusher.)
At this point, before seeing the Eagles’ projected DEs in Schwartz’s system, it seems like the defense is a ways away from what Denver showed in the post-season.
Things you need on a team (GREAT pass rusher(s), QB that doesn’t turn the ball over). Don’t know if it has to be an edge rusher but that guy has to be able to dominate whoever is blocking him.
Looking at arizona, great defense during the year — 0 pass rush, especially after honey badger left. same with seattle, pass rush no bueno. In the SB Von miller vs mr. blindside, nah.
A:
Maybe in this era, with the pass so much easier than in the past, a great defense needs two pass rushers . . . whether it’s two inside rushers, or two edge, or some combination.
Clearly, more is better when it comes to pass rushers . . . whatever the answer.
Too bad really good ones are hard to find.
Not that deep, certainly doesn’t require some research project …. It’s No Secret that the premier positions valued above the rest are QB, LT, DE, DT and CB…. There is a reason those positions are valued above the rest..
I truly think Vinny Curry can be a game wrecker and has been woefully under implamented.
to put in different light. we are not looking for all time great defense (currently) we want functional pass rush that can carry a team through the playoffs….. we need not look far for an example. To say Graham/Curry/Barwin/Cox/Logan/Allen/MS2 (any combo) and our DL potential is not at least comparable to the likes of the 2 NYG Super Bowl runs that featured the Nascar package of Umenyiora/Tuck/JPP….. all you can ask for in terms of rushing the passer is guys who have potential in terms of using both speed and power of which physically we have and if schemed correctly could potentially happen.
Casey Hayward “probably” hitting open market.
“They normally wait til closer to the deadline,” Hayward told Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com in a text message. “But we shall see. I’ll probably hit the market.”
Hayward didn’t have an interception in 2015, but helped the Packers hold opposing offenses to the league’s lowest completion percentage when throwing to slot receivers. That should make for a good market if he and the Packers can’t agree on a contract before the start of free agency.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/02/10/casey-hayward-probably-hitting-open-market/
Nolan Carroll:
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1) Really believes ROWE has all the tools and talent to become a top Level corner… But ROWE was so afraid to make a mistake and let the rest of the DBs down that he playef too tight.. He will soon realize that he has all the ability to be great, once he starts to trust himself
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2) Sounds like Nolan Cares more about remaining in Philly, then chasing the biggest contract offer. He claims there has been some talks between Roseman and his agent, but, he didn’t make it sound like they are close on a deal, and he doesn’t sound as if he is certain he will be here next year… But when a player wants to be here, and the team wants him, good chance they find a way to work it out and keep the player here, ESPECIALLY if he isn’t the type of guy Who simply plans on signing with whoever throws the most money at him…
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I would HATE to lose BOTH walt and Nolan, especially if the plan is to cut Maxwell a year from now..i really don’t want to lose Nolan. I hate losing playërs who are still clearly improving
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The biggest needs we have that require our immediate attention is the OL and the Secondary. Both of those areas need multiple additions… Id feel a lot better if we find a way to retain Nolan, and not have to replace him and Thurmond, because even if we retain Nolan, Secondary is still the area on defense that requires the most work..
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OL and the Secondary are the two areas that need multiple additipns to them… We need a DR here, a LB there, another WR… But OL and Secondary are the areas we need multiple additipns. Starting and depth additons..signifcantly upgrading the OL and Secondary should have a Huge impact on improving last years team
can you remember a time when we had 2 DBs to spare. Walt was a top 10 safety this year (at least for part of the season). Carroll was putting in work too.
Bmax – smh.
For a couple of years after drafting Lito and Sheldon when we already had Troy and Bobby, we had outstanding secondary depth.
The safeties weren’t half bad either.
It was awesome watching that secondary.
“’85 Bears are the best defense I’ve ever seen. They had a 6-game stretch where they didn’t allow more than 10 points and shut 2 teams out.”
In 2007, ESPN.com named the 1976 Steelers the greatest defense in NFL history. Here’s why: 28. That’s the TOTAL of how many points the Steel Curtain surrendered in the last NINE games.
8 games, five shutouts, 2 field goals, one high-scoring game.
Game 7 – Won 27-0; Game 8 – Won 23-0
Game 9 – Won 45-0; Game 10 – Won 14-3
Game 11 – Won 32-16; Game 12 – Won 7-3
Game 13 – Won 42-0; Game 14 – Won 21-0
Against some excellent teams. With a rookie QB.
Just because the Steelers found steroids before everyone else did.
there are steelers fan sites where you can post this garbage.
in the meantime, consider this free education:
For those of you that like interviews, take a listen to Schwartz on 97.5 w/Anthony. Something about listening to guys who love what they do and talk about it.
http://975thefanatic.com/2016/02/10/eagles-dc-jim-schwartz-w-anthony-gargano/
I don’t care about waiting a year, but I do think if you’re not in love with a QB, you don’t just pick one in the 1st. 2 out of 21 doesn’t leave me all fuzzy inside. But it also makes sense IMO – if there was a 1st round QB that was franchise-changing, they would go in the top 10 where probably 8 of 10 teams want to upgrade their QB position.
https://twitter.com/RoobCSN/status/697584843778084864
2 things i would say, this is a weird draft, with no clear No.1 QB in the class, and most of the teams in the top 12 having a QB, allowing someone to fall.
My instinct is that you need to trade up to top 10 to get one of the ‘big 3’ personally, fortunately that should not be ruinously expensive.
IMO:
Browns
Cowboys
Jags
These teams def need a QB.
If one of them falls (which goes to your scenario) these teams may want to groom the heir to the throne:
Chargers – 3
Giants – 10
Bears – 11
Saints – 12
So there’s a possibility a team behind us wants to jump up or we move up. Going up to 3 might cripple us. I’m not keen on trading with a division rival. But…
Then there’s the wild cards who may want a QB, but no one knows it yet:
SF – 7
This may be a possibility depending on how steep the price is, but I’m not particularly okay with giving extra picks to an old coach.
Behind us are:
Rams – they definitely need a QB, that’s the difference between them and the playoffs.
Bills/Jets:
They are one pick apart but high enough they may want to go to 8-10.
Which then leaves us with the option to trade back if they are there. If so, we may be able to get our 2nd back from StL (funny really if this happens), or get 1st, 2nd, & 3rd from either the Bills or Jets. I think that extra 2nd & 3rd (on top of what we have) would really go a long way to building out a better roster.
Jags??? Bortles looks like a good young QB. Rivers still has enough in the tank you are probably not spening the No.3 pick on a QB. 49ers with Chip might but who knows with him.
Cowgirls have Romo locked in the next 2 years due to cap… so is again very rich to spend a top 4 pick on a QB to be a long term back up, especially when while i like all 3 there is no ‘sure’ thing.
I don’t disagree with you, but I never underestimate bad decisions from desperate GMs.
The only desperate team that he listed is the Browns. Cowgirls have outdrafted us for years now.
Not sure i would agree… They have drafted well on the OL, but otherwise they have struggled most other places.
They have hit on studs way more than we have in the past 6 years. If you want to make an argument for “depth players” then yea we might have them beat but those guys don’t make nearly as much as an impact as guys like Tyron Smith/Dez Bryant.
desperate GM needs some defensive production… they have a good offense just the worst defense in the league. Doubt they do not address that side of the ball.
think the Jags take Jalen Ramsey or an edge rusher to pair opposite of Dante Fowler
Eh. Even with Romo signed, I guarantee any QB on the Cowboys’ roster will get significant playing time over the next two years. The difference between the playoffs and top of the 1st round for the Cowboys this year was the quality of their backup QBs. They can’t spend to sign a quality veteran, so how would you plan on upgrading the position that sunk your season this year?
Misleading information but hey he has to drive his narrative somehow.
Eh, he’s only looking at 1st rounders 13-32. But I think it’d be more interesting if he went back another 20 years though (unless that’s what you’re referring to).
Most of those guys were thrown into the fire but I guess that’s technically development also?
So, if you go back ten years, The Eagles have a 20% chance of getting an Aaron Rodgers or Joe Flacco?
I like those odds.
Odds say that you have a much better chance of ending up with a Career backüp QB, than a Franchise QB
Soo…having 1st round busts 4/5 years is a good drafting strategy?
“If you’re going to win in this league you gotta throw inside a little bit, we might get a warning or two, but we’re going to throw inside” Jimmy Schwartz.
My coffee must not have kicked in yet. I read that about four times, first thinking it was about Matthews in the slot, then wondering why that would get you a warning, then wondering why the DC is talking about the offensive plan, before finally realizing it was a baseball analogy.
Tommy – Everything has been Bradford and DE but can you write a piece on perspective FAs focused on WRs along with any knowledge you have on what Roseman might be looking for?
Figure they’ll sign at least one veteran WR to upgrade the unit, draft someone with a mid-round pick, and hope that Agholor gives them something next year.
lol, Tommy likely took 1 look at the list and decided it wasn’t worth his time.
courtesty of rotoworld:
Wide Receivers
Alshon Jeffery —> (he’ll get tagged or re-signed)
Travis Benjamin
Marvin Jones
Anquan Boldin
Rishard Matthews
Rueben Randle
James Jones
Brian Quick
Mohamed Sanu
Percy Harvin
Andre Holmes
Jermaine Kearse
Nate Washington
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that’s almost all garbage. if I kept going a few more names, Riley Cooper would have made the list
Mohamed Sanu
Andre Holmes also a big body, would be cheap.
Kearse isn’t bad
I like Sanu, but I think he could command more than people think. I think Rishars Matthews has some potential.
Not the type of guys you want to overpay for
You can add MIKE Wallace to the list… Vikings are done with him..
If this is the price, I’m definitely okay with this move.
https://twitter.com/MattLombardo975/status/697496554001866752
Huge spread at the ends of these ranges. Even the $20-$25M range is a noteworthy spread.
Love to see Roseman be able to convince Bradford that he signs here at $16-$17M it gives the Eagles needed funds to make additional moves to win now.
Still think Bradford gets paid ($20M+) though because it will just take one desperate team in a weak draft class and an incredibly weak FA class with no veteran QB being dangled right now.
Mario Williams? LOL good Luck with that… Don’t hold your breath
I would like to see Bradford here, but I still don’t think he has earned a contract equivalent with the top QBs like that. And I certainly don’t want him taking 22 million of the cap anytime soon (non-guaranteed at the end of a longer-term contract is quite another thing). While it does take just one desperate team, I think most of the teams with money to burn have their QB situation set.
Houston is probably the biggest issue. They have cap room, though not tons of room to burn. They will probably make a competitive offer, and have a bit more room than the Eagles. But I would agree with those rumors that it would still be below other top QBs — teams probably are sensitive to offering too much as other QBs with more of a track record would then demand more — and the current sky-high prices already have the cap increases taken into account.
Tagging Bradford is one way to head Houston off, but the one-year cost is probably a bit more than the Eagles want to pay. So, they could end up playing it straight, and letting him test free agency, and giving him an offer in the 17-18 million range (perhaps higher average if a longer contract), hoping they could get it done.
Even Houston has to protect itself from Bradford’s injury history. Also, people have to understand that with everyone expecting the cap to explode over the next few years, calling a $16M/year contract “franchise level” is pretty ridiculous.
The overall yearly salary is important, but the guarantees are even more so. And my guess, even if Bradford somehow gets a team to go overboard on salary, no team is going to do much more than what Kaep got from SF in terms of guarantees. Sam’s injury history is just too much of a red flag for any front office to feel comfortable with tying their name to a big guaranteed contract.
All that said, I won’t be surprised if the Eagles don’t even make a reasonable offer for him.
Lombardo keeps harping that there is no real downside to signing Bradford long-term tonight.
Maybe if you can structure it so the cap hit isn’t that bad in Year 3 but that is making a huge assumption.
His more valid point is drafting a QB out of need this year in the 1st round and that it would set the Eagles back more potentially than signing Bradford long-term. That has a lot more merit.
sure market for sam bradford is nowhere near that $25m mark. #sources
Roseman already is a Jedi master in terms of contracts. I wouldnt put it past him to sign Bradford to a heavily team friendly deal.
I predict that whatever he ends up signing for, it will be interpreted one way for the first hour, then another way, then a week later a whole other way. The entire time, both the team that signs him and his agent will alternate between being complete geniuses and complete idiots.
Long story short, if and when we do sign him, let’s be patient before jumping to any conclusions. My corollary prediction is that if we are the ones who sign him, the initial numbers will seem totally inflated and we’ll be calling for Roseman’s head, until things settle down and we realize the true nature of the contract.
Third prediction is that even if it’s a good deal for us, people will be calling for Roseman’s head, no matter what.
Fourth prediction: There will be an Eagles quarterback controversy.
Brent Celek or Mark Sancez? I’ll take GJ Kinne.
If you were willing to pay Bradford $17mil then there really shouldn’t be a problem paying him $22mil. Because at both numbers he is being paid and treated like a Franchise QB and really quibbling over the odd $mil for franchise QB’s makes no sense. Biggest issues with contract is guaranteed $$, as that effects things hugely down the line.
I don’t think Bradford is a QB who will take you deep in the play-offs, he is probably at best Dalton/Smith level with good supporting casts. So unless it is a cheap 1 year bridging deal (which it is unlikely to be unless he has 0 market in FA) i want no part of him.
People will point to Denver… but while Payton was poor this year, his 2013 signing and season attracted many of the Free agent stars that made that team, and at below market contracts. We are not going to get players like Ware to come in and sign team friendly deals with Bradford and the roster as it is currently constructed.
I remember hearing that Peyton also accept a contract lower than the amount he could have gotten so the Broncos would have extra cap room.
… although he got the amount reduced back in bonuses if he won the Super Bowl, so that amount (4 million) will be added to the Broncos cap in 2016 😉 They did win it all as the consolation prize though. And if Peyton retires, that would provide plenty of room probably.
I heard something about the Colts asking Luck to take the same kind of deal.
It matters if it is essentially a 1 year deal. 5 mil of cap can be a pretty decent free agent since Howie would likely backload a contract. If Pederson wants to do a trial run with Sam, by all means, please pinch those (500 million) pennies.
*interesting note, I miss-typed Pederson as Prederson, which is half awesome, half I don’t trust him with children.
From what I hear, Bradfords side was the one asking for 18mil a year going into last season, Not what the media reported saying we offered him 18mil that he turned down…. This also matches up with Sam’s reaction when he was asked if i was true he turned down a 18mil a year extension and he looked at the reporter as if he was crazy and said that offer was never made. The way he reacted to it looked like “are you crazy? I would have signed that extension with the quickness”
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Maybe 25mil a year was originally thrown out by his agent, but THATS negotiation 101, one side throws out an outrageously expensive number, the other side throws out an outrageously low number, And the two sides start negotiating and meet somewhere in the middle..
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Im under the assumption that SAM will be the QB of the Eagles… I don’t know many franchises that łet the best QB they can get their hands on get away and go play for another team.. Im convinced SAM will be here til proven otherwise, and I also expect that when we see the contract we give him, it won’t be as bad as we made it out to be and in the end we will feel fine about the contract we give SAM, just like every other contract HOWIE has ever handed out…
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However, one of the single biggest amatuer move chip ever made, was not insisting on an Extension before completing the trade for SAM… That’s when the Eagles had leverage, especially when the Browns were also interested and Bradford was against playing for them… We will never have the leverage we had when we made that trade, a smart GM would NEVER trade for a guy on an expiring contract without him agreeing to an extension before we make the trade official….seriously AMAUTER Bonehead GM move by Chip
Not surprising in the least. Also, the guarantees will be interesting, and I think will look a lot more like Kaep’s deal than anything else.
I wish a GM would just man up and be like here 2yr/$30mill fully guaranteed, get ur ass on the field. Basically a 2-year franchise tag at a lower rate, but Bradford gets his security and money while not being an overly bearing deal for Eagles lol…. Reverse-Revis-Psychology contract hahaha.
I dont want Sam Bradford as a long term quarterback.
no one does, how are you reading long term contract out of annual numbers?
why would Sam Bradford NOT sign a long term contract?
why would the eagles get into a bidding war? Do you how negotiations work and shopping in general? You have a price in your head and if he goes past it oh well.
Is there anybody in the draft that’s talented enough to merit a move up?
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SI has mocked the Eagles taking Laquon Treadwell (I trust “pro” mocks as much as I trust my own) .. just thought it was interesting…
Think if you want a QB of the big 3 then you may need to move up. I think Goff goes no.2 to the Browns since he is the most starter ready of the rookie QB’s. Depending on when and where Wentz goes off the board then teams are going to get jumpy for Lynch.
Otherwise i think there is not much value to trading up. Think the top 5 non QB’s will be too expensive to trade up for to be value, and the difference between DT2 and DT3, or CB2 or CB3 really is not that big to give up resources to trade up.
That’ll be interesting to watch if a QB does fall back. Seems like a few mock drafts I looked at made comments like “picks 8/9/10” are all interchangeable. Sounds like there are few elite prospects this year.
Well like most drafts there are 4-5 wow guys, 10-15 ‘1st’ round talents that should be good pretty soon and have all the tools to become great later…. then you are into ‘flawed’ talent range where there are either physical limitations, character flaws, or significant projection to the nfl level.
Sitting at 13, we will definitely get a 1st round talent, and should get one that is a scheme fit. Makes us a pretty attractive trade partner over a Houston where you have a chance to miss out on that.
Who is the really talented guy that should go before us but could possibly slip if all 3 QB’s go first? I know it’s early but I need a plan B if not a QB.
Im not even sure a QB in this draft is plan C
How can we move up? We don’t even have a second round pick. The only thing the Eagles will do is move back. Just like Andy Reid.
You don’t always need a 2nd to move up. There are always next years or the following years pics. I’m not saying I want it, just wondering how talented the draft his this year…
So you want to give up next year’s first rounder and not draft again til the third round this year? Have you ever heard of the Herschel Walker trade? That’s insanity to even contemplate this.
you’re putting words in my mouth. I never said first rounder and I also said, if you re-read it, ‘I’m not saying I want it’. I’m also not saying to move up to the first pic. Is there someone, say around the 10 spot to move up. That type of move wouldn’t cost a 1st rounder. I don’t know what type of talent is in the draft — that’s why I’m asking.
Just don’t ask that. This isn’t fantasy football. A move like you are talking about would set this franchise back into the Stone Age.
The Eagles aren’t moving up. If anything they are moving back to recoup that second rounder we spent on rubber band knee Sam Bradford
you realize the CBA has restructured rookie contracts correct? i.e. RG3 in Washington. It basically set them back 2-3 years, not a generation.
you’re from the stone age.
ever heard of anecdotal evidence?
You can get to 10 or 9 with a 3rd round pick, and with the boards looking like they do currently teams will probably be up for it since it will have limited impact on them being able to pick up a defensive star.
That sounds like a Chip Kelly move.
Andy traded up a lot in the 1st round… especially when it was 3-4 spots to get the guy he wanted, see Maclin, Cox, Graham.
Chip never moved up in the 1st round.
No I meant it sounds like a really retarded thing to do…something CHip was notorious for
…..or just using that handy dandy draft pick value chart.
… too early.
Jalen ramsey would look great next to Jenkins
Bosa, Ramsey, Tunsil are 3 guys worth moving up for
could be a little too expensive to move up far enough to get the top LT….. It’s not every day GMs are so Braindead like the Raiders, letting Miami pay so little to move up to 3 from 12…. Don’t think we will see a trade like that again any time soon….
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Could you imagine, only having to package a 2nd round pick to move up to #3? Lol I do that every year if we could. God bless the raiders. Lol can’t blame them when their plan b was to take Daius slay at #3
I don’t understand why people want Sam Bradford as the long term quarterback. His injury history and record indicate to me that he isn’t that good. I understand he may be better than Foles, but Bradford is who we thought he is. He isn’t that good.
I say bring back Foles for cheap, let him play two years and save the money from Bradford to bring in a veteran stud (something this team needs on the defense) like Mario Williams. Mario has 4 years left in him and he is an absolute stud.
Also Pederson being a Reid disciple you know he believes the game is won and lost on the lines. So exepct Mario WIlliams and a lot of OL draftees.
http://www.buffalonews.com/storyimage/BN/20130731/SPORTS/130739828/EP/1/2/EP-130739828.jpg
……..right so we can have (2) $100,000,000+ contracts (Mario and Fletch) on the DL with Curry and Graham also recently signing deals…. what is with all this Mario Williams talk lol (you weren’t the first).
Yeah I don’t get it either. It would be different if he was younger and they could build around him. It only makes sense if the team is a true contender and are in need of a player or two to put them over the top.
He has had one injury his entire career. He is 31. That isn’t old.
DE is literally the Last position they would add an expensive free,agent at…
Yeah, The only way, is if it were a situation like in 04′. Hugh Douglas left for the Jags, the team was close and they went and signed the Freak.
The Jags threw big money at Douglas. I believe he was 30 or 31 and inevitably he fell off the cliff. As do most players.. Especially for the players that are in the trenches getting pounded on by double team of Tackles/Guards and being chipped by TE’s. As for O-line 10 years of pounding into 300lb lineman or taking on 260lb lbs with a head of steam takes it’s toll.
JP has spoiled all of us. Some on here forget that JP is an extreme exception far from the rule. There is zero reason to overpay for an aging veteran at this time. Hopefully, the Eagles are built with talented youth and homegrown veterans in their prime and in a couple years we all can debate which Expensive Vet will help them get over the top.
Yup…fans need to come to realization that HOWIE is probably done with free agency, that blueprint has been nothing but a failure for us.. Maybe we sigń a free,agent or two a year, but it probably won’t be any crazy spending spree, which is why Im not sure why fans care so much about cap space.
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Realistically we will only be as successful as our Drafts take us…. Put together two quality drafts in a row, and good chance we will have a quality team on our hands… Fail in the draft, and there is no Deoderant
Depends how we draft… you can only spend money on your own guys if they are worth it. Think FA is useful tool, but you are better off focusing on guys coming off rookie deals that have been imperfect fits with their old team and have things to prove rather than top performers looking for a max pay check.
Dream team 3.0 baby!!! Whoooooooo!!!! Super Bowl here we come!! Forget our needs!! We want to sign a 5th DE at the age of 31… DrEAM TEAM 3.0!!!! Get me Vince young On line one!,,
I at one point thought we may be able to get him on the cheap for one year. After seeing Ware in Superbowl, I know that is a pipe dream. Every team that thinks they are a contender is going to try to get their Ware now.
Arizona Cardinals are,also pleased with the year they got out of Dwight Freeney who is another Fossil
Jamarcus Russel is transitioning to DT also HAHAHAHA.
Im Paroling Ray Caruth to replace walter Thrumond! From the Prison yard to the Linc!
This defense needs some “Grit” and a “Killer” mentality..
Yes I was.
Wouldn’t he have to be cut from St.L in order to get him for cheap? Doesn’t the dead money not make it worth cutting him there?
I am sure we could trade a 5th round pick for him.
Then he is 13 mill for one year. Meh
Unless Foles returns to 2013 levels, you are throwing away at least two of those four years. If you have no QB, you are toast. I guess you could be going for a Denver-like team, if you think you have a great defense, and a barely-get-me-by offense (and while Manning was severely limited physically, he still had a wily veteran’s book of tricks). I don’t think our secondary measures up though and that will also be expensive to fix. With Graham, Barwin, and Curry I’m not so sure there is room for someone like Williams, as good as he would be, unless he wants to play on a lower prove-it one year deal.
“His injury history and record indicate to me that he isn’t that good.”
Personnel guys and scouts look at skill set 1st, injuries 2nd. They actually watch the game tape, down and distance, play call, etc.
A QBs record and stats is heavily influenced by a culmination of surrounding talent, coaching, system, play calling, ownership, etc. You seem to see mediocre stats, mediocre record, ACL injuries, and come to the conclusion that he is nothing more than a mediocre QB with another major injury waiting to happen.
I read a quote the other day about something entirely different, but it still holds value when evaluating QB play. “It’s very easy to throw the prize at the kids who finish the race first, but always look at the incline they faced. That will tell you much more.”
No one is opining for Bradford to be the long term answer, 1-3 year layover until we can find a QB via draft, yes.
expensive layover
If they find an adequate hold over in the form of a veteran, it will be expensive no matter what. Nature of the position.
expensive is relative. a $15 mil pricetag isn’t the same thing as an $18 mil or a $19 mil. unless you think we’re contenders right now with sammy, why pay bigger money for the same result?
because i dont want to be cleveland.
i didn’t realize that the only thing separating us from being cleveland was whether we overpay bradford or a different stiff to be our placeholder. if you think bradford’s the man, pay him. but if he’s just a guy holding a place till we get the man, then let’s look for the most affordable “just a guy.”
Sorry going to need to repeat a rant from i put up on bleeding green nation….
“Please if another person compares us to the FUCKING BROWNS i will go nuts.
WE ARE NOT THE FUCKING BROWNS. It is fucking insulting to Browns fans to compare our situation to the Browns.
We have had 3 lossing seasons since 2000. 3! We have had not franchise QB since 2009 and have still only had 2 loosing seasons. We have 3 head coaches since 2000.
The Browns have had 2 winning seasons since 2000. Only 2. They have 1 playoff game since 2000, They have had 9 coaches since 2000.
The Browns are a true factory of sadness, organisationally incapable of any kind of success, who players avoid, have the worst reputation in the league, who pick their QB’s partially on the recommendation of homeless people to the owner, and their main focus every year is to try and generate enough buzz to Con people into buying tickets each year to watch their consistent shit show.
You can hate Howie, Doug, most of our roster… but they will need nearly a decade of consistent failure to even begin to be comparable to the god damned Browns.”
Start tossing 1st round picks at QBs like they’re candy and that decade will fly by.
I just do not like our QB situation, even extending back to the end of McNabb’s career when we were going to transition to Kolb…. with QB development you better have plan A,B,C in place. I hate this re-tread bullshit for plan D,E,F…. we need to draft a QB early and often until we have one.
Yeah i agree on the QB side, but we are not going to become Cleveland any time soon, the level of systematic failure across the organisation is mind blowing to me.
Draft QB’s and keep trying till you hit one.
In the scheme of things that sure feels like the same thing to me. To me the main concern would be getting a half decent level of play from someone else. Who is the guy we get the same result (or better ideally) with?
well i don’t know that any would outperform bradford and i’m not a salary expert so i don’t know what they would command but chase daniel has been mentioned, geno smith would probably suck, and drew stanton. again, this is assuming that we aren’t set up for a deep run just yet. so with the assumption that we will need time to become contenders, i’d rather take someone who still has some upside and saves a lil cash. now if you think sammy’s the guy and we’re close to contending as is, i wouldn’t have an issue with paying him. my problem is paying him big bucks if we think he’s just keeping the seat warm.
Honestly Sanchez over those guys is fine. He is at least as good as them. Which isn’t saying much.
I think this defense puts you in a position to contend. If Bradford really will do a deal for 18 mil I guess you do it. He could be the guy but probably isn’t. I would still be happy paying him 20 mil for one year. I have no idea how that works with the cap. I just know I don’t want to be stuck with him and I don’t want to be stuck without him.
I don’t buy rumors that Bradford would prefer to leave. Of course that is what his camp is going to say. They don’t want to lose any leverage.
wish my boss would reluctantly give me $20m a year.
If you were the best chance he had to profit 10x that, he would be wise to do so.
fitzpatrick will cost more this offseason.
Dont dignify trolls with responses especially after track reccords of being a dick to many of us for no reason.
shut up and kill yourself.
Why would Bradford agree to a short-term deal that, potentially, has him looking for another new team after each of the next 3 seasons?
Given Sam’s injury history, why would any GM want to risk his name and job by signing Bradford to something more?
maybe. maybe not.
But my central point is Bradford will decide where he goes.
What do you think will be the factors that will drive his decision?
1. Money.
Tied for 50th – Surrounding talent and location.
If there is an absolute tie in #1, numbers 50 will not favor the Eagles, certainly. But with his agent, I feel pretty confident that even a $100 difference is going to overwhelm everything else.
I guess it would be money or familiarity with the team and the area. Maybe he bonded with guys in the locker room and wants to stay. But once again he is going to have to learn a new system with new coordinators and a QB coach if he stays or goes.
If Sam is really about the money… Houston would make sense if the money was about the same. If I were a player, teams in Texas, Florida, and Tennessee have an advantage because they have no State income tax.
he hasn’t changed agents so probably money. But got to think continuity has to be up there.
Problem with same is that aside from completion % his numbers weren’t any better than the non-blue chip guys that weren’t playing for an “offensive guru”. So, or condon, will have to really sell a narrative to a team that’s going to give $20+m/yr for 5 years.
b/c he failed in his one year prove it deal. I doubt he has a ton of options – agree he can be patient but i don’t think anyone see him as a knight in shining armor.
Bradford may not have many options.
So then what becomes Bradford’s top 3-4 reasons for picking a destination?
Unless he wants another “prove it” year, he’s not going to sign a 1-year deal. But then, he’s not going to be offered a deal that binds a team to him for more than two — he could get some guaranteed money in a third year possibly, but not enough for a team to keep him if he sucks.
Obviously, most contracts have years on them which are not guaranteed, and you hope to still play those years as well. I’m sure it will be at least a 5 year contract, though it shouldn’t be more than two absolutely guaranteed (and I have doubts even his second season will have a fully guaranteed salary, though he might get close).
I think, preferably, he’d like to find a situation where he could compete on a good team (a team mostly lacking a QB), plus it looks like a stable coaching situation so he could actually play for the same coach for a while. Style of play could enter into it, as well as what offensive weapons he has. The money will as usual be the biggest factor.
Eagles… should be viable, unless he doesn’t like the fans or area. But we might not be the most attractive. We could have a pretty good team, with a more conventional offense. He did seem to have something going with Ertz at the end there (hey a TE is all that Cam Newton needed this year), and a bit with Jordan Matthews. The defense is shaping up to be pretty good. There are some questions, and I’m sure he’d like it if we had better WRs, but we should be competitive.
Might be between the Eagles and Houston. That latter one could be rather attractive though.
FO . . . very well said
A sneaky criteria might be to go to a team with an offensive head coach — a team with a defensive head coach who happens to hire a hot OC will tend to have those OCs leave, and thus change offensive systems more.
well “5-year deal”—>equating to a 3 year deal haha
He is not going to sign for 1-3 years. This is not fantasy football or Madden or wherever you get your information from.
why were do you get your information? BleacherReport? maybe i can get enlightened.
Why would a starting QB in the NFL sign a 1-3 year deal?? That is assininged
Of course… Everyone knows if HOWIE signs SAM, it will be a contract they can get out of after year 2, or more likely after year 3… Put people see the “5yr contract” and want to play Dumb, as if anyone would sigń sam to anything they couldn’t get out of tiil year 5..
Then Bradford isn’t resigning here. Why would he sign essentially what would be viewed as a possible 2-yr deal?
Because he’s not going to get offered that anywhere else, either. Even Aaron Rodgers was cuttable after three years.
Bradford could just retire after cashing out. The guy just doesn’t have what it takes to be a great NFL QB despite all of the tools.
You really don’t get NFL contracts do you?
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Maxwell signed a big 60 million dollar deal, wow!! Not exactly, in reality it’s a two year deal… Didn’t think this needed to be explained.. And that was the #1’CB on the market
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Demeco giant 5 year deal, will be waived next year, hence in reality it was a two year deal
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But don’t worry, HOWIE will bullshit the deal up, add all the dressings and the trimmmgs off thus big crazy contract, when in reality it’s a 3 year deal MAX regardless of what the contract that reported actually looks like
The injury history isn’t great, but he just missed two games this year. ACLs are flukes. I think he had one other injury during his career.
His record also isn’t great, but he’s never been able to develop — he’s been in a new offense basically every season. That means we’ve never seen close to what his ceiling is. And the QB I saw at the end of the season is someone I’m fine with — that was very good play. Yes, I’d be hoping that was at least the baseline and he’d be better than that often, so there is still some projection — something you’d rather not have with a QB of that age, but that’s the situation — sucks for him that the Rams kept churning OCs (with a defensive head coach). He’s probably at the point where he has earned a lowish-guarantee higher-salary type of deal. Ideally he’d have to earn the high salaries by bonuses (i.e. playing well), but it’s possible being a free agent will cause that guarantee to go up.
It’s completely understandable if you think he’s a mediocre QB. His play early in the season was quite poor (when first impressions are made). And while he got better throwing downfield at the end of the year, I think he still needs to get better there. Better WRs would help of course. So it’s more a matter if you think his play at the end of the year was an unsustainable hot streak — or if that was just him getting better towards his eventual talent level which has not been seen yet (in which case, no, he’s not what we thought he is). That is all part of the evaluation for sure.
i was with you at one point, but even at his best this past year (last 7 games or whatever) he was middle of the pack
He was mid-90s passer rating the last 7 games — that is more than middle of the pack if he’s there for a full season. In terms of 6-game hot streaks, sure — but some QBs got fat stats at the beginning of the season (warmer weather, playing against teams which haven’t gelled) then faded late. I don’t like those QBs, and if Bradford started off like a house on fire then faded, I would be much more wary. But he played consistently well, and was still getting better, including in cold weather and against good teams (Arizona). That seemed to indicate it was more than just a hot streak, i.e. it was more his base play, and he should keep getting better (though again, new offense for him next year). If you look at the other “hot streak” QBs, how many of them were towards the end of the year?
Sam looked pretty sharp against Dallas, Washington and New York.
sAM SUCKS
That was the point, asshole.
Washington where he threw for 1TD, had 3 fumbles and averaged 6.8 yards per attempt at 66% completion rate, and a 36% completion percentage on 3rd down is meant to impress me or look ‘sharp’.
While he put up big ‘380’ yards needs to be put in context of the 14 drives and trailing most the game in a game that we HAD to win. /meh
Yes, a day where the defense let Collins have a 120 rating, and their defense sort of knew what was coming (and gave up the shorter passes more easily). Not his best day, but not a disaster. It was too many passes for sure, and not enough scoring, but giving up 38 points isn’t going to win you many games either.
The one disconcerting part was that even while playing well over the seven games, we weren’t hitting paydirt (TDs) quite enough. There were several times those last few games where we punched in TDs on the ground (twice in that washington game); that held down the pass TD count a tiny bit but that really does need to be better.
The fumbles in that game were the worst part, though that didn’t seem like a chronic issue for the season for Bradford.
sam doesn’t suck, despite any trolls claiming otherwise. but he wasn’t as promising as we’d like to think, either:
“Proponents of Bradford have argued that in the second half of his season, Bradford improved to level that was worthy of a long-term contract extension, showing his potential as a “franchise QB”. Bradford did improve, but nowhere near that level when compared to other QB’s best seven game stretches of the 2015 season.
Bradford’s 68.2 completion percentage was 9th best, but he attempted the 11th most passes, for the 13th most yards, giving him a below average 19th in yards per attempt. His 10 TDs in seven games limited his passer rating to 97.0, which on the surface looks fine but in reality was worse than 20 other QB’s best seven game stretch. Compared to his peers over a similar sample, Bradford was mediocre at best.”
and
“The average amount of drops a QB suffered was 30. If we gave Bradford 30 drops by adding 11 completions to his season, and gave him an average amount of yards (11.5) and touchdowns (0.05, we’ll be generous and give him another TD) per reception for those new found catches, it wouldn’t significantly move the needle.”
Again, if you are comparing against other QBs who had a hot streak at the beginning of the season, I don’t think those comparisons hold up. Most of those other QBs were not in their first year of their system either. He looked to still be improving on a natural progression, to me. So yes he needs to still get better — that is the main question; if he can or will.
right. and writing the big check with that question unanswered is questionable.
That’s a question for any free agent — you are never sure if even past success will translate to your team. And you just had one year to evaluate Bradford, coming off injury and in a completely new system. You’re not going to get the chance to see him 2-3 years in the same system before making that choice — there is just going to be some risk.
He is young enough that he could be the QB for quite some time if he does pan out. That’s part of it as well. If he does play well in another town while we struggle to find a QB for some years it will be highly frustrating.
he doesn’t have past success, so you’d be paying him for a level of play you’ve never seen from him. this isn’t a small bit of risk we’re talking about – teams that wrote big checks for qbs who never lived up to their contracts have a history of causing full team regression. again, IF you think he’s gonna be the man AND you think we’re just a good QB from our goals, pay him like it. but if it doesn’t pan out this isn’t an “oops well now we know” situation. it’s a “damn, we just guaranteed multiple seasons of futility and several people are gonna lose their jobs.” so the person signing the check had better be more certain than just “eff it there’s always risks.” and sure, it would not be pleasant if he goes somewhere else and lights it the hell up. but i’d put down some cash that he won’t.
Yes, I am assuming we can sign him to a contract where we could bail after two years. Maybe guarantee some money the third year. Even the top QBs really don’t get guaranteed for more than three though. Even Aaron Rodgers was cuttable this season, after his third year, and no way Bradford gets anywhere near that contract. Yes, I can see investing in two years for Bradford. And yes, I’d like a younger QB even if we keep Bradford — if we hit on a young QB, we can afford to keep a Bradford on the roster for those two seasons while the young guy is cheap.
i understand your point but i disagree that moving on from bradford in two years’ time would be painless. it would be an admission of failure and essentially a rebuild. i’d imagine some folks would lose jobs, and some of our current studs would be oldish or ready for their big boy contracts. i also don’t know that he’d be stoked to stay here as a placeholder or even as an experiment while a team like houston is ready to hand him the keys, along with a decent defense and the best wideout in that division at the very least. so to keep him wouldn’t be peanuts. that’s a lot of risk for a dude even you don’t sound sold on as the long term answer
Any new QB is a rebuild. If you could guarantee we could draft a hot young QB, then sure you go that way. But if we let him go, and we draft a young QB who turns out bad, we are failing quickly and doing another rebuild as well. Or hoping for a better FA QB in future years, who would be at least as expensive.
If we sign him, I think he’d be “the guy” and it’d be a 5+ year contract, even if the first two are the only guaranteed ones. We’d draft a QB in later rounds (not first) in that case, since we need backups too. If that QB turns out well, then deal with that situation when it comes.
also, where’s the logic in pointing out that someone’s hot streak was at the beginning of the year if that person was not new to the team or the system?
QBs tend to perform a *lot* better once they have a couple years in a system and/or are familiar with their teammates. So if QBs play well in that situation early in the year but not late, it usually means it’s just a hot streak — their baseline level of play is a lower than that. Bradford looked to be steadily improving even through those seven games — so it did not look to me at all as though it was just a “hot streak” — i.e. we should expect him to play close to that level, and keep getting better. You can disparage those seven games as just a hot streak, but the situation was far different than most QBs. If we sign him to a longer-term contract, then yes the assumption would be that he would play better than he has shown, eventually.
So apparently we have the most money invested in RB’s but the least amount of money league wide invested in WR’s….
.
Talk about Ass backwards…. What’s especially scary is we didn’t even come close to getting our money’s worth from our RBs…
To make matters worse, this isn’t the type of free agent crop of WRs that you want to be overpaying for…
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It sucks, but our WR problem can Only be solved by getting Ags, Huff and Jordan to produce … Fortunately Andy Reid’s offenses have been able to compensate for weak WRs by using TE’s like Travis KELCE or throwing to RBs like westbrook and Jamal Charles so hopefully doug can compensate with ERTZ and Sproles while waiting for our young WRs to fully arrive
It is also fortunate that they are all young and talented. They can be a very good trio. Even more fortunate that Cooper is gone.
True that…. Paying so little for WR, DOESNT bother me… We invested a 1, 2 and 3 over the course of two drafts, no one can claim we haven’t tried to adress it… But paying the most for the most devalued positipn drives me crazy, especially since they would all be more happy if it was only two of them instead of 3 backs trying to split carries
Frankly is pointless to look at things in a vacuum, If you look at our spending on skill positions as a group we are pretty league average.
We spend high on TE’s and RB’s and are cheap currently at WR. Hopefully in 2-3 years that will switch when we draft RB’s to replace Mathews/Murray and our WR’s earn good contracts. If we were cheap all across the offensive skill positions then i would accept the criticism.
…please let Seattle inquire about Murray.
We wish… You have to believe that the Murray contract was the one that had Roseman banging his head against the wall last year at his desk in the Janitors closet
…
I wouldn’t be mad at the Eagles if their #1 priority is to do what it takes to get out of that contract, but nothing can happen without Murrays cooperation, and he has to be willing to make some sacrifices (adjusting his contract)
…
Imwould be ok with giving him back to Dallas if that’s the only way to get out of his deal, lol of course Id hope we asked for Terrence Williams in return ;), but I’d settle for a 7th round pick
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I hate his contract…. Actually seeing what he can do with this new coaching staff doesn’t bother me, but that contract is frustrating… Id love to go into the season with Ryan, Sproles and a rookie RB
We don’t need the $7mil Murray is being paid in 2016. Yes spending $15mil on a RB for 2 years and his production is bad, but it will have little to no impact on the roster construction or the teams long term future.
There is also a non 0 chance that he recovers form and is a good RB. People forget that he averaged 5yards a game with the Dallas OL was trash 3-4 years ago. There is talent there… just need to see if he can recover it, or if scheme changes and wear has made him an average guy.
The problem is keeping all 3…. Id rather have Ryan Mathews and Sproles, and lose Demarco, both because of Cap and on field ability…. if we can’t get rid of Demarco because it’s hard to get a team to take his deal, I think we have to get rid of Ryan or Sproles…..bring all 3 back, and at lest one them won’t be happy, if not all 3 of them..
Might be easier to trade ryan matthews at this point
but trading the good one would suck
agree he’s very talented but there are other first in the sea
which is why i’d be shocked to receive much value for him
agree, likely late round pick problem is matthews has such a bad injury history.
plus i don’t like getting rid of someone who did exactly what we asked in a difficult situation. the youngsters need to see that effort and results pay off here.
Another problem!!
Exactly the problem
He is definitely the easiest to trade.. Easiest contract to trade, and looked better than Murray this year
i think he can be rehabilitated, but that’s a terrible deal, especially since it’s really the line that matters. If the hole is big enough eddie lacy can get through.
Part of me is intruiged to see what he can do… Id just hate to lose Ryan or Sproles over Demarco, and keeping all 3 is a bad idea..
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Sproles is known as a class act, a pro’s pro, the ultimate team guy… When that man feels the need to publically state that bringing all 3 back next year will cause problems, best head that mans warning….. This isn’t T.O screaming that we wants the ball… Playing with Fire bringing 3 high profile Veterans back…
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The only way you may be able to pull it off, is if you sell Sproles on a perminantly move to the slot in a WEs Welker type role, but THATS probably a stretch
Err it is both. 2015 Cowgirls were a study of great OL and bad RB’s. You need good running backs, and theoretically his receiving ability and blocking ability make Murray a very effective mismatch player if used properly.
Not that I completely disagree, but I think that if Romo was healthy all year, the Cowboys’ run game would have looked much better just on that fact alone. With Romo out, teams just dared the Cowboys to win through the air. The OL couldn’t overcome BOTH the lack of RB talent and the fact that teams just stacked the box.
Good coaches don’t count anything against the cap.
If I’m the NFL and want to create even more intrigue, I put a cap on front office/coaching salaries. Imagine how much media play this story would get next year: “Roseman gives himself raise/Schwartz unexpected cap casualty”.
It would be interesting if there was an organizational cap. Wonder if philly would still be a preferred destination.
A cap on owners earnings would be fun too.
Some of you guys were talking about how many pieces away the defense is from being elite. I don’t think we have the time or resources to ever get to the level that the SB-winning Broncos and Seahawks were on for their runs. However, I do think we are closer to the 2007 Giants defense if we can get more solid DBs.
Agreed, NYG’s Old Nascar package is much more attainable than the sum of Denver’s defense.
If I am Sam Bradford I am literally taking notes from Revis, but situation is a bit different. Obviously Revis was the best at his position, whereas Bradford HAS NEVER been a Top-15 QB (except maybe 1 season). But just by shear numbers a team automatically has twice as many CB starters (2) vs a QB (1), thus the supply of that market right there is that much smaller. We are missing the point that Bradford’s Agent is STILL SELLING his potential, because contracts being awarded to veterans is either one of two things. 1) Raise for past performance for same organization + raise for future potential, 2) Future Potential. Either way Bradford is going to get maxed out at a top number due to no past success, and his only counter to maximize his earnings is taking highest guaranteed deals in any situation. Would you rather $30mill guranteed over 3 years or wait around 4 years for the same guaranteed, thus the main argument for ANY FOOTBALL CONTRACT IS GUARANTEED MONEY PERIOD! Fuck these 6 year contracts with 30% guaranteed, I want as much as i can get as quick as i can because you never know when you might blow off your fingers with fireworks (see what i did there)….. Houston Offers me $100mill/5yrs with $20mill guaranteed (and stipulations) or Philly offers me $30mill/2yrs fully guaranteed. At this point it is a question of Sam’s wallet vs. pride.
you are a dumbass
We strive for better conversation here. By all means, disagree, but the useless tough guy Internet bravado can stay on those other sites.
Don’t you recognize this poster? Save your time.
nuh uh
Why is houston giving sammy a $100m deal? Hoyer had better numbers than sam. Plus they have to back the truck up for hopkins
Raiders re-signed S Nate Allen.
wonder how much he got…
Why the cut and resign? Was it a salary thing? Why not just renegotiate?
yeah his salary was about to be guaranteed and i guess they were still negotiating.
“There are a number of … college quarterbacks coming out and I think
we have a good chance at getting one of them,” McNair said. “There are
four or five of them who look like they have enough talent and size and
athletic ability. I don’t know any reason why we wouldn’t be able to do
it.” The Texans pick at No. 22 overall. Rotoworld’s Josh Norris has them
taking Cal QB Jared Goff in his latest mock draft. The Texans met with
North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz at the Senior Bowl, and have “made
inquiries” about Memphis’ Paxton Lynch.
Doesn’t seem like texas is interested in a re-tread.
Maybe he’s telling the agents for free agent QBs not to expect the world.
Lol spoken out of sheer QB desperation…
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Somehow I doubt a GM from a team with a QB like the Colts or Panthers would say that there are 5 franchise QBs in this draft..
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When no one can even decide on who the first QB will be, doesn’t scream geat QB draft to me… You can’t find anyone to agree on these QBs,, Goff was #1 for the longest, now you hear execs call Wentz the best prospect they evaluated, and others claim they wouldn’t touch him in round 1… You can even find plenty of people who think Paxton is going to Cleveland.. This reminds me of the Lockert, Ponder, Gabert draft .. Don’t get me started on HACKenberg and Cadale.. I think I might like super raw Bryce Petty over both
must be talking to the fan base. We’re worried about getting a guy at 13 buy they’re sure they can get one at 22. Or maybe he’s already made a deal with Howie for our pick.
Lol these QBs ARENT even good enough to have anything close to a consensus on these kids… You can find Goff mocked to the Browns for the Longest, yet you can also find all types of people who think he goes in the 20’s as the 3rd QB drafted..
Some think Paxton is going to cleveland, many think he is a project who will go after Goeff and Wentz… And Wemtz you can find opinipns ranging from Best prospect in the draft (Caplans source) To not a round 1 prospect…
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You can’t even find a QB that everyone likes enough to mock in the top 10… Reminds me of the Lockert, Gabbert, and Ponder class…
Boring day… Wish the Eagles would cut Sanchez for my amusement
Jerod Mayo could get cut. He’s not terrible, just old.
Inside the command center at NovaCare . . . is there a difference?
Pass. Has had a great career though.
Nah, he lacks the tangy zip we are looking for.
He’s 29.
I just watched ABC news with Jeff Skversky interviewing Pederson. Two points of interest: 1.) Pederson may have given more interviews since his hiring than Chip did in 3 years. 2.). Sam wants to come back, the Eagles want him back, Sam is asking for more money than the Eagles are willing to pay.
Pederson said that Bradford’s “asking for more money than the Eagles are willing to pay”?
Is that a quote from the interview?
He said something along the lines that you can’t fault a player who reaches free agency to try to get every dollar they can.
Honestly, it sounded like they are each other’s first choice, if they can agree on money.
Do you have the link to this interview?. I’d like to see if I can come to these same conclusions you just came up with based off what was said.
blah, blah, blah
?
“Accounts to Ignore” list will be growing larger today…
That means what exactly?
Here is a link to the entire interview, the news aired a segment from around the 4:30 mark.
http://6abc.com/sports/eagles-philadelphia-head-coach-sits-down-with-6abc-action-news-/1197100/
At the 5:20 mark Pederson says Sam told him that he wants to come back and then expressed that he told Sam he wants him back. He admitted it was all about the money at this point.
Thank you sir
I kinda like Bradford, but what makes him think he’s worth 20+ million? I’m not sure he’s even a 10mm QB at this point?
Hmmm… we’ve been over that… a lot. Probably if you look at his stats and the salaries of other starting QBs it will help you come to your own conclusion.
If Ryan Tannehill is worth $17mil tyan sureoy bradford is.