Game Review – PS #2 – BUF at PHI – Defense
Posted: August 21st, 2017 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 112 Comments »Jim Schwartz turned the dogs loose in this game and blitzed more than he usually does. The results were bad for Buffalo. They ran 40 plays in the 1st half, gained 163 yards and scored just 6 points. The Eagles came up with a pair of sacks and a pair of takeaways.
The defense was more erratic in the 2nd half, with backups playing the whole way. Buffalo did score 10 points. The Eagles had 4 more sacks and another pair of takeaways, including the INT that sealed the win.
DL
Fletcher Cox – Stud. Drove the RG right back into Taylor, causing incompletion. On 3rd/10 he drove the C right back into Taylor. Played at RDE for a snap on 3rd down.
Brandon Graham – Flew into the backfield on the 2nd play and really popped Shady for the TFL. Drove the RT back into Taylor on the play where McLeod forced the INT. Dropped into coverage on zone blitz. Good coverage of TE. Switched places with Cox on 3rd down. Got by the RG, but QB slid away from that area.
Tim Jernigan – Showed good quickness off the ball. Got some push on an early run play. Later in the 1st Qtr, drove the LG 5 yards back, but the ball went away from his side. Chased down Shady on screen and made the tackle.
Vinny Curry – Played RDE. Didn’t really flash. Seemed to do a lot of power rushing. Go engage the OT and drive him backward. Went to the inside a couple of times to give good blitz angles to Kendricks.
Derek Barnett – Terrific game. Mostly RDE. Had a sack. Regularly disruptive. Used speed, power and inside moves to beat blockers. Great motor. Chased plays all over the field. Exactly the kind of showing you want from a 1st round pass rusher. Looks like the real deal.
Chris Long – Backup LDE. Disruptive all game long. Rushes from multiple stances. Effective whether upright or down on the ground. Knows how to get pressure by going around the blocker or driving him back to the QB.
Destiny Vaeao – Backup DT. Good game. Best moment was also his worst. Drove the RG backward and game off block to hit Taylor (and force quick throw). Slung Taylor to the ground and drew penalty. Not dirty or dangerous, but against the rules. Gave them 1st down. Good movement skills. Can go hard to the inside or outside. Good with rip move. Pushed the pocket on some plays.
Justin Hamilton – Backup DT. Another strong performance. Shed the LG and got RB for short gain on first play. Got some push on pass plays. Really collapsed the pocket on play where Kendricks got his sack. Drove the LG backward, shed him and stuffed RG for minimal gain in late-2nd. Love his power. Not the quickest guy in the world, but moves well for big guy.
Gabe Wright – Backup DT. Athletic player. Can be quick off the ball. Best moment came when he hustled downfield to make a tackle. Didn’t get much push on pass plays.
Elijah Qualls – Backup DT. Up and down. You can really see where his short arms are an issue. Had little success with power rushes. Was better when using quickness to get penetration. Still a project.
Steven Means – RDE. Great game. Was going up against 2nd and 3rd stringers, but got the best of them all game long. Seemed like he lived in the backfield. Combination of motor, quickness, power and skill makes him tough for backups to block. Credited with 2.5 sacks and a pass deflection. Disruptive force. One mistake came in late 3rd. Shot into the backfield and somehow missed TFL of RB.
Alex McCalister – LDE. Pretty good game, but paled in comparison to Means. McCalister was quick off the ball. Used his length effectively. I thought he showed a better motor this week and was more physical. Had a sack and FF. Good effort against the run.
Winston Craig – Was used as DE last week, but got to play natural position of DT this time out. Showed potential. Undersized DT, so he is quick and athletic as you would imagine. Good rip move. Must get stronger. Might be worth developing because of athleticism.
LB
Cool, but odd moment. On the Darby INT, Kendricks blitzed off the right edge. Bradham came off the left edge. When Taylor scrambled to their left, Hicks went over in pursuit. You had all 3 LBs right on him as he released the ball. Not a common sight for a 4-3 defense.
Nigel Bradham – Had terrific stop on run play. Lined up in the middle of the field and chased run all way to the sideline and slammed the RB down for short gain. Good range, physicality. Solid in coverage.
Jordan Hicks – Quiet night. Credited with 1 tackle.
Mychal Kendricks – Great game. Sack, INT, TFL. Got the pick when McLeod blitzed and tipped ball into the air. Easy to catch. Blitzed off the edge on 3rd drive and helped force pass that Darby picked off. OL buried him on screen. Got Kendricks off balance and just planted him in the ground. Used swim move to get by the RB and sack Taylor in the mid-2nd. Got TFL on run play late in the half. Blitzed and threw off the timing of a screen pass. Had tight coverage on TE down seam late in the half, but good throw/catch beat him. Coaches are letting him attack more and that has helped his confidence and has Kendricks playing good football.
Najee Goode – Backup SAM. Typical solid performance, but no real highlights.
Joe Walker – Backup MLB. Pretty good game. 5 solo tackles. Showed good range and made plays all over. Chased down QB on scramble play. Hit pass catchers over the middle, once breaking up a pass. Had one play where he fought off cut-block and got RB. I loved a play where he shed block of OL and got to RB. Just threw the blocker down. There were some negatives. Got lost on inside run and spun around. You never want MLB with his back to the LOS on a run play. Got stuck on blocks at times. Had chance to get QB on different scramble and went low. Couldn’t get him down. A half-step slow on that. Not all the way back from his ACL, but a solid young LB worth developing.
Nate Gerry – Backup WLB. Somewhat quiet night. 1 tackle. Should have recovered a fumble, but let QB steal the ball from him. Not good. Mostly looked good in coverage. There was one play where RB went in motion and either Gerry or Walker failed to adjust, leading to catch and run. Gerry is active in the box, but must get better at taking on and shedding blocks. Sometimes will try to slip blocks. LBs need to aggressively take them on and win.
Don Cherry – Played SAM and MLB. Effort guy. Flies around the field. Gets stuck on blocks at times. Highlight moment came when RB caught short pass and took off. Cherry chased him down and knocked the ball loose.
Kamu Grugier-Hill – This is Year 2 for him, but still looks like a project at LB. Gifted athlete and good STer. Blitzed late in the game and knocked the ball loose. You could see his burst on the play. Was offside so that erased the play. Not physical enough with blockers and still looks lost in the box at times. Much better in space. Lined up in the slot over a WR on one play. Turned out to be a run, but that was an interesting look.
S
Malcolm Jenkins – Good hit on WR in early 2nd Qtr.
Rodney McLeod – Had perfectly timed blitz on initial 3rd down and batted the ball into the air. MK got the pick.
Jaylen Watkins – #2 S. Solid night in coverage. No real highlight moments.
Corey Graham – #2 S. Flew upfield to help create TFL on run play. Got solid hit on TE down the seam. Got solid shot on WR along sideline late in the half, but he still held onto the ball.
Terrence Brooks – #3 S. Led team with 8 tackles, 7 of them solo. Good vs run. Tackled well and took good angles to the ball. Still hasn’t stood out in coverage.
Tre Sullivan – #3 S. No crazy moments this week. Still showed that he is a tough, physical player. Broke on the ball well on a pass that was in front of him. Had a TFL in the game. Hardest hit came on teammate when they were taking down a RB.
CB
Ronald Darby – Great Eagles debut. Came up with an INT. Broke up another pass. Should have had an INT on that play, but he dropped it. Showed great speed and athleticism. Made one mistake. Missed tackle of Shady on opening play of the game. Was in position, but didn’t get him down. Read pass to Boldin perfectly and broke on the ball. Just couldn’t make the grab. Made a leaping, athletic INT on the next possession. Was a poor throw, but Darby made a good catch. Weaved through traffic, trying for the TD. Should have gone outside. Would have scored with ease.
Jalen Mills – Gave up completion for 1st on 3rd down. Clean tackle, but was slow to break on the ball. Buffalo threw quick pass to WR and Mills tackled him for no gain. Good break on the ball and sure tackle. Bills tried to go to his side on next play. Mills used good footwork to mirror the WR and keep inside position. Forced errant throw and incompletion.
Patrick Robinson – Played in the slot and looked good. Gave up short completion to Boldin on 3rd down, but short of the sticks. Gave up underneath completion to WR and then shoved him out of bounds. Had tight coverage of Holmes and then hit him as he tried to catch the ball. Came loose for the incompletion.
CJ Smith – Up and down game. Broke up pass late in the half. Bad throw. Almost gave up TD late in the half, but WR couldn’t get 2nd foot down. Smith had pretty good position, but wasn’t able to play the ball or get the WR’s arms. Recovered a fumble in the 2nd half. Doesn’t look like he’s built on what he did last year. A step slow at times. Hasn’t played the ball well at times. Had chance for big play in the 2nd half when he made a good break on the ball, but couldn’t make the pick.
Aaron Grymes – Good game. Physical in coverage and vs the run. Just slung WR out of his way and went and tackled RB on draw. Love that kind of physicality. Covered pretty well. Effective blitzer. Was in on a couple of tackles. Looks comfortable in the slot.
Rasul Douglas – Took over for Darby late in the 1st Qtr. Played with starting D. Chased down Shady from behind on first play. Good speed, wrap-up tackle. Physical coverage affected route by WR and helped cause incompletion. Failed to jam WR and gave up completion, 1st down. Lined up in slot on play in mid-2nd. Read it and jumped the route. Should have been pick-six, but he dropped the ball. Soft coverage gave up completion late in the half and moved them into FG range. Too high in his backpedal and didn’t break on ball quickly. Can struggle when playing off. Didn’t get good jam on WR late in the half and he was able to find soft spot along the sideline. A better jam delays the release and gives the S more time to get wide.
Mitchell White – Bad game. Gave up several completions for intermediate gains, including a TD. Struggled to locate the ball.
Jomal Wiltz – Played slot and outside. Physical tackler. Made one mistake when he let WR get outside after a catch. Other than that, tackled well. Had really good pop of RB on inside run. Wiltz is not scared of playing in traffic. Tough dude.
*****
Fran Duffy has some great clips in his Eagle Eye post.
_
I think this defense will carry us just like JJ’s defense was the primary reason we went to 5 NFCCGs
That’s interesting. I think I’m a ton higher on Wentz going into year two than I was with McNabb. Wentz put in 16 games of work that was more a lot more positive than negative while McNabb sat behind a truly brutal Pederson and then missed the end of the season…….which should have warned us about his future ability to put in full seasons. But McNabb went on to a ton of playoff wins and 6 pro bowls, so I’m not sure if we can predict that from Wentz just yet.
Player for player across the rest of the O; I’m not sure where I’d call 2000-04 better or worse than what we’ll have by the time we’re getting into next season. The only think I’ll say with certainty is that Peters / Lane >>>>>>>>>>> Tra / Runyan.
WR is unquestionably better now, too.
As is TE and arguably RB. Duce was good, but Westbrook, Shady and Buck came on later. I’d say the O Wentz has is hands down better than what McNabb had Year 2. What McNabb had was a dominant D, a very good HC, the run ability to keep plays alive and a very good deep ball skill
The Eagles’ offensive skill personnel in 2000 was trash. Freaking Autry was the feature back for half of the season. Two crummy underwhelming veterans (Johnson and Small) and almost no other talent at WR.
The most and only semi-reliable offensive option was Lewis. He was money in Madden but in real life he was pretty darn slow.
The only reason that 2000 offensive was even half-competent was McNabb’s scrambling/play-making ability. Eagles’ fans seem to forget how mobile he was really early on his career especially before he got heavy and lost of his agility/speed.
Wentz is a statue compared to early career McNabb in terms of scrambling around and running around to pick up yards or salvage broken plays.
Wentz is the next Bortles, poor mechanics and bad instincts – stuff you just can’t teach at this level.
This statement makes me un-Happy.
It makes me happy – laughing usually does that. Nothing like some pure un-cut Monday morning absolute absurdity.
What?
Thomas/Runyan are under-rated IMO – those bookends played nearly every game and performed at a high level. Peters may be a HOF LT, but Johnson does not meet Runyan’s standard in my view.
Tre might be one of the most underrated players in the history of the NFL. He was HOF material in my book.
I think you’re right that Lane has a lot of work to put in to get to Runyan’s level, but having seen all of the careers of both guys leads me to see Peters and tons better than Tra. Thomas couldn’t bend his back well enough to run block for the 2nd half of his career.
Wentz has got a long way to go to be the McNabb. Changing out his interception-bait floaters for worm-burners would be a nice start.
Hey!! You don’t play for the team. LOSER!
The last few guys kept on D are going to be really interesting. Will they wind up being player(s) 47 through 53 and never heard from again this year or are they going to be guys who will contribute?
Outside of LB and DT, it looks like some talent is going to leave the 53 man roster.
I’m hoping they don’t contribute and the bottom players never need to be activated all season.
You and me both.
I also see people freaking out on twitter about who the Eagles should have drafted at RB and that we should take Barkley next year.
While RB seems to be worst position on the team, it would help if the OL could run block
The overreactions on the RB and OL are really funny. You hit the nail on the head with people target locking Saquan Barkley on twitter. I don’t somebody that his name should be “Long Gone” Barkley, because we’re going to be picking somewhere from 18 to 28 and he won’t be there. Barkley is going REAL early.
You’re also right to hit the horrid run blocking. 2/3rds of that is easy to fix from Thursday night; don’t have Peters and Seumalo out of the starting lineup. I’m still not sure what they’ll do with Mr. Softee at center.
If Barbre were still here i would love to see Seumalo at C.
Your math is off. 32 is not between 18 and 28.
A “push’ season for me to be satisfied with growth is 9-7. Anything better than that is pure gravy.
Blaming the running game struggles on the RB when the OL has been getting destroyed is crazy. Blount is a truck but even he will struggle to power through 2 or 3 tacklers all the time.
But…but…that one guy who nobody wanted had a long run in preseason! That should have been our guy!
We’ve yet to see Smallwood. Thursday we should see enough of him and the starting O-line to say how the Rb’s will play.
We’ll likely end up with Nick Chubb or Guice. Not the worst scenario honestly.
RB is about the least important position on the team.
The biggest criticism about RB I keep hearing is that the Eagles should have used their second round pick to select a player that was already picked by Minnesota two picks earlier.
I have also seen people say we should have drafted Tarik Cohen instead of Mack Hollins.
Tarik Cohen is smaller than Pumphrey and played at NC A&T,
I am starting to think Howie could make a cutdown trade sending Curry and his contract away for a late round pick to make room for both Means and McCallister.
I feel like there’s all sorts of possibilities like that – Kendricks obviously – though I kind of want to keep him, Treggs, Clement, Billy Brown, Tobin etc… a lot of bubble guys – and I now think of Curry (in context) along with them.
Of course most of that is unlikely, but if there’s a team eyeing one of our fringe players and wants to make sure they get him – thinking he’ll be cut.. – it could work.
It takes two to tango. Who’s going to want Curry?
Off the top of my head I can imagine Dal or Was being interested. There are a lot of teams weak at DE depth – or even starters…
I don’t think the Cowgirls want him due to cap issues. The Redskins too I think.
Oh right, that aspect is big…
I’m not sure curry would play if he is traded to the cowboys as he is a die-hard eagles fan
Yeah, I remember that and getting all hyped up myself for that concept of him playing for the team. But at this point, i wonder to what extent that faded given that he’s on the team, a multi-millionaire, and possibly a content to be a content guy (just one interpretation)… I have some doubts.
There would be about seven million reasons to get over it.
NE?
Again, if they give up on Curry and he flourishes somewhere else, another brick in the Roseman wall IMO. If they had so much doubt, why did Roseman extend him? Now that they have, they need to give him the opportunity to succeed.
But that doesn’t allow for this possibility: Eagles trade him away, and compensation works out positively too (if draft pick, selected player succeeds, if player, they succeed), Meanwhile, Curry flourishes with the other team, but the Eagles pash rush flourishes plenty without him.
In that case, hating on Howie would be foolish and just plain negadelphian baseless/pointless hate.
Sure, that could happen, never said it could not – but you’re doing exactly what you’re accusing me of i.e. slanting the argument only one way.
The point is they decided to pay Curry so they need to figure out how to get the best out of him. If they fail, that is on them and there should be accountability. If Curry is just not that good, then Roseman should be questioned for extending a stiff.
Sure, in that hypothetical, I was certainly slanting it one way.
See I think this is where you and I differ – “accountability and questioned” in this case, to me is worthless, pointless, pretend BS. You (in general, “fans”) can’t hold him accountable, all you can do is comment negatively. And what is the result of those negative comments? Nothing…. it’s just people getting their panties in a bunch at best.
Fans can make it very clear to ownership and management that they feel the GM is failing at his job and leading the team down the wrong path. That happens all the time everywhere. We pay for the product and choose to support it so when we feel mistakes are made, we have every right to voice our displeasure and stop supporting the organization. They can ignore us, they own it and can do whatever they want, but as a businessman myself, I know if you continue to upset your customer base and ignore feedback, it will eventually catch up to you.
Fans also have every right to spend their hard earned money to support an organization and ignore when they never win or keep making the same mistakes. That is not the type of fan I am and would hope most Eagles fans are not that way, but to each their own I guess.
Fair enough. I agree to each his own.
I don’t think the fans influence the Eagles in the way you suggest though. I think that the Eagles are a business that will have plenty of paying customers regardless of some people harping on Howie for contracts given out in years past, especially if the team is doing well but Curry doesn’t pan out or goes elsewhere and shines – if the Eagles are doing well, what happens with Curry will literally have zero effect on pressure to the org to fire Howie… and lately, vast majority is very pleased with what Howie is doing (and rightfully so).
Again, I never said the fans influence the Eagles. I said it is their RIGHT as customers who pay for and support the organization to make their opinions heard. What the Eagles do with that feedback is up to them.
The reality is the Eagles have never won a SB and Lurie has now owned the team for 20+ years. So at some point, they have to deliver to maintain credibility and be given the benefit of the doubt.
If the fans want a SB win badly enough, they will make it known that just “doing well” is not sufficient and the Eagles will need to consider how they respond.
If the fans do not care and are fine with entertainment during their fall weekends, then the Eagles likely will continue on as is.
Fair enough.
I would settle for “doing well” at this point. This has been a mediocre team for the last decade.
Yup the 3-year playoff appearance drought is the longest since 1997-1999.
The last time the Eagles had a 4-year stretch of not making the playoffs you have to go back before Lurie owned the team (1982-1987).
Don’t know if Pedeson gets fired if this team doesn’t make the playoffs but that there is going to be pressure on Roseman/Pederson from Lurie to do so.
Do I think Eagles’ fans influence individual player decisions? No.
Do I think Eagles’ fans reactions influence Lurie and that in turn he has conversations with Roseman which has a real influence on player personnel? Absolutely and more so since Kelly was fired
Ok, let’s go with that. Assume Curry doesn’t get better. Do you “feel the GM is failing at his job and leading the team down the wrong path” in that case?
Hasn’t he been given the opportunity?
A more limited one compared to other main DL on the Eagles…he got about 43% of the D snaps last year, less than Graham, Barwin, Logan, Cox and just a little more than Allen.
I think you’ve got to give him more rope and see what he can do.
The open questions are did Roseman over-rate him based on an faulty small sample size of performance? Or is this more of another Schwartz “he does not fit my scheme and I cannot figure out how to use him” problem? Or does he need more opportunity and will do better in a larger role? I think it is the latter, but am open to the other issues being valid.
Maybe he didn’t deserve more snaps. The guy has been in the league for 5 years now. If he didn’t show enough with 43% of the snaps then why would you give him more?
But again, if you’re right that he is not that good and deserves no more of a role, then why did they extend him at good money? Mis-evaluation?
Yes, and projection. At the time he was signed if he panned out he would be getting paid less then what another 4-3 DE would be making.
He happened to hit FA the year the scheme changed. Projections had to be made.
I wouldn’t worry about that happening.
Again? Did I repeat someone else? I hope not.
Personally, I think Howie is closer to a statue than a wall, but you constantly evaluate players of the data you have. At the time, Curry looked like one of the few bright spots on the roster. Now, he looks like a guy that may never recapture the lightning in a bottle. It happens, to every team. What is more important is to continue to evaluate and adjust, so you are not throwing good money (or snaps) after bad.
Kempski straight up scoffed at the notion of being able to trade Curry because of how much money he’s owed on the deal. It made me very sad.
The contract is a nightmare. They have to eat so much dead money. They’re stuck using him as a depth guy and finally getting out of it in the offseason.
Hopefully Schwartz adjusts and does utilize more pressure/blitzing this season and finds ways to leverage each player’s strengths
Personally I love blitzes even if you get burned from time to time. I know Swartz likes to get pressure without blitzing which I can respect if the DL is getting it. I just hope he throws in the occational blitz (more than last year) especially if the DL isn’t getting home.
Does anyone else find the lack of update on Hicks concerning? I’m leaning towards it being a personal matter, as he didn’t seem to take any reps. However why wouldn’t team simply note it is a personal matter? Maybe too sensitive or ongoing?
Nope
Deep breaths brother. We’ll get word one way or another
In Kempski’s practice notes he says “left with an injury.”
Training staff is probably outside staring at the sun. Give it time.
No news is bad news when it comes to NFL stuff, but Les says “mild groin” strain.
https://twitter.com/LesBowen/status/899768653180092416
I’m fine with this, I’d rather place those 2 in bubble wrap until the start of the season anyhow.
Yeah, they know their jobs. No reason to push it.
surprised no one reported this here yet.
Traded Tobin to seattle – also gave them our 7th, get their 5th in return.
effectively, the trade moves howie up from the 7th to the 5th rd.
surprised to see them deal some of the OL depth, but at the same time, i don’t think he was super likely to even make the team.
Jimmy didn’t have him on the 53 man roster in his last prediction – Tobin would have been the 10th OL. I’d assume that if they want to keep 10 OL, the last slot is going to go to a younger project type player.
Great trade. Don’t think they were keeping him. Big Victor Salako had a couple really nice blocks on game winning drive granted it’s vs. 3rd stringers. They probably should keep 9 imo and Salako might make practice squad.
Excellent return for a fringe player.
things are more dire in Seattle than I thought, and I knew it was pretty terrible.
Tobin was very likely to be cut, so this is a good move.
Amazing!
Seahawks acquired T/G Matt Tobin and a 2018 seventh-round pick from the Eagles in exchange for a 2018 fifth-round pick.
Wait a second. I thought Howie didn’t value draft picks?
He only values 4th & 5th round picks.
7th round picks are basically just priority UDFAs. If you pay more for them like we have been, you get the guys you wanted anyway.
Howie coming up big with unloading Tobin, so figure
Peters, Lane, Sem, Brooks, Kelce, Wiz, Warmack, Big V, and Dillon Gordon as your 9. Maybe Greene or Orlosky as your 10th if you’re afraid either gets signed off of your P squad.
Beckham just got his knee taken out…
oh whelp
What are the odds Barnett is the starter/get most of the snaps at the other DE spot opposite Graham even in Week 1?
Starter, minimal. You don’t do him any favors by getting him beat up vs. the run on early downs.
Most of the snaps on passing downs, at least more than Long and Curry, seems plausible.
Tobin is a bench warmer but had experience and versatility. I have a feeling the Eagles may regret this trade this year even though I understand the appeal of getting a 5th round pick for him.
He was going to be cut anyway.
Right. This trade was more about making a spot for…Dillon Gordon?
Is it really a foregone conclusion he would have been cut though?
Womack has been underwhelming and can’t play T either.
Yea, he was cooked unless somebody got hurt in the next 2 weeks.
Odell Beckham Jr suffers injury in preseason game vs Browns!!! Able to walk off under his own power.
https://youtu.be/IJbEBhhu7nw
He went down for the count in the back hallway however.
Really?
I saw that! Def don’t feel good about him getting hurt. I’d rather him be healthy to destroy Dallas. Darby can hold him down when we meet up!
knees shouldn’t bend like that…. Reminds me of RG3.
It looked like he got his foot out of the turf pretty quickly. Hopefully he is healthy enough to get frustrated by Darby.
博客真是个好地方！
Agholor needs to get some kind of crowd chant like Heath Miller used to have on every catch. I don’t think the guy has earned it, but he’s clearly the type of head case that would benefit from the confidence boost of it. Build the guy up, with fake hype and then real hype.
LOL!! I’m down!
Maybe they can do a wrestling themed graphic and the crowd can chant “Full Nelson!”
I’ll be on the field with trophies for everyone. “You’re A Winner!”
Then shoot me!
It cracks me up how some Eagles fans want Curry to be traded to Dallas or Washington.
If that ever happens with a direct division foe then we better get a 1st or 2nd round pick. Otherwise keep smoking that shit.
Dallas and Washington can’t afford him. He does kinda seem like a guy that got passed by the rest of the DL squad. He is awfully expensive to be less productive than Means and McCallister.
Still no reason to mess with your d line depth and strengthen a division rival. Doesn’t make sense.
What if the spot he takes as 9 million dollar depth is the one that send McCallister, young and cheap, to thrive in WAS for a decade?
Hell, I would be happy for a 4th round pick and let them be saddled with his lousy contract. Curry is vastly overpaid as a situational role player.
How do feel about injury depth if he is traded? Do you really feel he can be replaced in the 4th round? And how does any salary cap savings this year benefit the Eagles this year and also next year?
He has a $9M cap hit this year and that jumps up to $11M next year. If they release him next year, they take a $6M dead cap hit.
Means and McCallister aren’t as good but for the cost savings it would be a no-brainer. They have Barnett and Long.
Wow. Is this another Chip contact Howie is trying get of of or his own doing?
This is all Roseman when he resigned him last offseason. Maybe not a Top 10 worst contract in the NFL but it is pretty bad.
Build the core, build the heart campaign. I understand that aspect of team building. This is one of those that may be a miss yet sets a foundation of looking and locking in for future stability.
It was an overpay for a guy Roseman drafted based on a single season a few years prior. Roseman has been better than average since he has been back but this was a bad signing.