The Comeback Cornerback
Posted: December 30th, 2017 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 46 Comments »Big news from earlier today.
Roster Move: #Eagles have activated CB Sidney Jones to the 53-man roster.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/FQm38Yi3yN
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 30, 2017
This comeback has been nine months in the making.
Washington's Sidney Jones, a projected first-round pick, was carted off with left leg injury at his pro day… https://t.co/LbRQmxg1Ex
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2017
LB Joe Walker was moved to IR and Jones took his spot on the 53-man roster. The Eagles wanted to make this move because they want to see Jones play in Sunday’s game. He has been practicing for a few weeks. The Eagles like what they’ve seen, but practice is just practice. Going up against opposing receivers in a live setting is much more challenging.
Don’t expect Jones to come in and magically play like Eric Allen or Troy Vincent. Jones didn’t have minicamps or Training Camp or the preseason. He’s going to be raw. Jim Schwartz has talked about how Jones is active in all the meetings and should know the scheme pretty well. The question is how he’ll handle the physicality of an NFL game. Can he tackle? Does he take on blockers on outside runs? Will hitting and tackling wear him down?
It will be interesting to see how much he plays. I’m sure Jones would love to play a lot, but I just don’t know if his body is ready for that. It will be fun to see the young man in action. He’s got tremendous potential.
SIDNEY JONES BACK! pic.twitter.com/R6nCqiiexu
— Philly Sports (@MadeForPhilly) December 30, 2017
It would be great to see him come in and pick off Dak Prescott (13 INTs so far).
*****
It will be interesting to see who sits out.
We know Brandon Graham is going to miss the game. WR Marcus Johnson makes sense as an inactive. They could sit LeGarrette Blount and play Wendell Smallwood, but Blount has a chance for a bonus if he can rush for 21 yards tomorrow (750 for the year).
Will Beatty will probably sit.
I’m guessing Elijah Qualls sits.
Jalen Mills is dealing with a minor injury. They could rest him and let Rasul Douglas and Jones split snaps at CB opposite of Ronald Darby.
The last spot could be a LB. Nate Gerry makes sense, unless they want to let him play some snaps. Could sit Najee Goode. He’s the better STer, but doesn’t need to play on defense.
I think Fletcher Cox, Lane Johnson and Malcolm Jenkins are the most important Eagles. Johnson has to play to protect Foles while he’s in there. I don’t think Pederson will sit Cox and Jenkins, but it would make some sense if you’re focused on injuries.
Doug Pederson wants his guys to play well. He wants to win and carry momentum into the postseason. I get the feeling the key guys will play, but we’ll find out Sunday morning for sure.
*****
Cole Beasley will NOT play tomorrow because of illness. Tyron Smith, Orlando Scandrick and David Irving are also OUT.
— Edward Egros (@EdwardEgrosFox4) December 30, 2017
Really curious to see how Dallas plays on Sunday. I could see them mail it in or play their game of the year.
That team seems pretty dysfunctional. With their season essentially over, the Cowboys could play like disinterested individuals. You could also see them playing carefree now that nothing is on the line. That might bring out the best in them.
_
Amazing to see the best CB from the 2017 draft class on the field.
Also, how sad is it that Beasley is too scared of Howard Eskin to show up tomorrow.
“It would be great to see him come in and pick off Dak Prescott (13 INTs so far).”
That might be a bit greedy, Tommy. Certainly hoping for 4 or 5 picks is reasonable, but a bakers dozen might be a bit much.
One nice thing about playing hard tomorrow means Dak doesn’t get a freebie day to rack up garbage time stats.
There are cap implications down the road to activating him in week 17, but the locker room effect of rewarding his efforts are probably worth it even if he doesn’t contribute in the playoffs.
Actually, this is not the case. He’d need to play 6 games to accrue a service year and make himself eligible for UFA at the end of his rookie deal, and that’s impossible at this point even if they make the Super Bowl. It’s basically a no-lose situation for the Eagles, unless you think Joe Walker was the key to them making a Super Bowl run.
Interesting. Thanks.
Joe Walker was the key man, SMDH, Pederson is throwing the season away.
Walker –> Bryan Braman at the “wild-haired special teams linebacker” spot is an even bigger downgrade than Wentz –> Foles at QB, but we’re going to have to find a way. Next man up.
It doesn’t mess up the ability to keep him RFA after year 4, so that helps.
Well, okay. From those clips, he has a nice sense of balance.
I like the ball skills. Oh god for how long have I wanted a corner who knows how to high point a ball and actually catch it.
but Blount has a chance for a bonus if he can rush for 21 yards tomorrow (750 for the year).
..
Pretty interesting side Story. .. id think the team mgt would very much want players to meet bonuses.. the extra cash is meaningless to a year of payroll but the incentiveness and reputation to the players would be huge imho
You have to let him run for it. You don’t want a rep as a team that scumbags guys on bonus achievement.
Let him earn it in the 1st qtr..then rest him
Should only take one carry vs. that soft ass D.
That wud be awesome .. 1st run of the game he takes a long one and his day is over as fast as it takes to wire him 50 bitcoins
Or just rest him and pay him anyway.
Is that done?
Belichick has apparently done it a few times when he’s rested starters.
Good practice, imo. Players notice things like that, plus you know the Ajayi signing put a huge dent in his carries this year.
One interesting note: Lane Johnson had a holding penalty last week that negated a long Blount run. That run was 22 yards. lol
So… am I the only one who doesn’t want players like Cox, Jernigan, Darby, Jenkins, Jeffrey, Ertz, Johnson, Kelce, to even see the field tomorrow?
I mean, I know it’s Dallas and I know it’s nice to get a momentum win going into the postseason, but it’s not like you lose momentum if you basically concede that you’re not trying to go all out to win.
This is Pederson’s MO though, always aggressive, but I’ll be pissed if Cox or someone pulls a hammy out there.
I think it’ll be good to have them prepare and play for a part of the game. More than a half I’d say is unnecessary.
Its a lose-lose situation.
If they play and gets injured, all hell breaks loose. Nobody cares if they play and dont get injured.
If they dont play and look rusty/sloppy or we just plain lose in the play-offs, all hell breaks loose. Nobody cares if they dont play and we win in the play-offs.
Personally, I’d rest anyone who is nursing anything significant, but play the starters to avoid any rust by sitting 3 weeks between games. I’d be more agressive with playing backups on defense than on offense, because I want Nick Foles to get as many reps with good players as possible.
Best answer I’ve seen by anyone.
I’d side with caution and health, but Patrick is correct that no matter what they do it’ll be assessed through their results in the playoff game. If they choke a home game anything and everything Pederson did today was wrong. If they win, it was another smart button pushed by the true NFL coach of the year.
ESPN is heating up the Jim Schwartz to NY rumors. I’d add Del Rio to the list of DC replacement dudes if we lose Schwartz.
Yeah – I saw that. If Schwartz leaves, I wonder if they would promote somebody on the staff already (like Undlin or Williams) or go outside (I could see them bringing Spags back since he worked with Doug for a while).
If Schwartz goes to NY, do you think they could trade Mills for the #2 overall straight up, or would they have to throw in the pick they got from NE for Rowe????
I was looking at Curry, Kendricks, and Foles for the #2.
They really should be looking at Pat Shurmur if they want an experienced coach. Said it before, but they need to develop a new QB. Shurmur can do that. Schwartz will need to hire someone who can do that as OC.
I think this would be bad for the Eagles defense, but worse for the Giants organization.
Who else are you okay with?
Its come to my attention that when I post my generously provided advice in here such as, “Run the damn ball, Andy” that Doug Pederson is not getting that message in a timely fashion. I am most aggrieved by this information. I expect Tommy to correct this error in management in the near future. However, I am loathe to take a chance that the new mode of communication will not be ready for this afternoon’s contest. Therefore, I shall take my message directly to the gentleman in question. I shall attend the game today in person, 15 degrees and all, to ensure proper messaging.
Ahem,…
Dallas Sucks!!!!
Yep. I’m ready.
You better hope Pederson doesn’t call you out on your score predictions!
Good for you, enjoy the game! One word of advise, if you’re having a beer drink it fast they will turn into a slushy in a short time. Learned that on 1/11/81 against those Cowboys, about the same temp. Best game ever for me. Jaws was 9/29 for a whopping 91yds. Wilbert rushed for 194 and a TD. Enjoy!
Thanks for the tip. Loved Wilbert. Great player.
Today might be a day to stick with hotbchocolate and enjoy the beers after the game while watching the NFC South settle things from my living room.
Actually you may want a flask of schnapps while frozen in place. I actually think it’s way harder to be relatively still in that kind of weather than running around, exhaling warm air. Horseradish is another good internal heater. Enjoy the game
General FYI – CBS3 can drop dead for showing the loser Steelers to their loser fans who don’t belong in Philly today over Pats/Jets.
My rooting guide for the day:
Lions over Green Bay – lose Hundley lose
Houston over Indy – I’d prefer for Bill O’Brien to not get fired
Bears over Vikings – I’d find the Vikings in panic mode funny
New England over Jets – I don’t want Pittsburgh getting home field
Washington over Giants – hopefully the Giants get beat so bad their sideline erupts into a brawl that ends the career of multiple players on their team.
Pittsburgh over Cleveland – 0-16 needs to happen!
Atlanta over Carolina – F Cam, and I want to make sure Seattle doesn’t get in
KC over Denver – We might need Vance Joseph fired to get a deeper DC replacement pool
Tennessee over Jacksonville – need to keep scumbag Buffalo out of the playoffs
Niners over Rams – I want the Rams in the 4 to humble the crap out of piece of crap low grade trash Cam next week……and to be a better matchup for us in the divisional round over Brees
Miami over Buffalo – FU McDermott
Chargers over Raiders – Need to be extra protected from Buffalo possibly getting in
Seattle over Arizona – As much as I fear Seattle in the playoffs, I kind of like them……so I won’t be rooting for Arizona
Saints over Tampa – need to double make sure Carolina doesn’t win the division
Baltimore over Cincy – Again, need to see everything possible to keep Buffalo out of the playoffs
The the overall goal is to say “FU” to Scam Newton and Sean McDermott.
A couple if inquiries if you please. Do you prefer O’Brien not to get fired because you think he’s a good HC that a functional franchise could ride to SB? Or do you have another motive?
What is the rationale for your animus toward McDermott? He’s a Philadelphian, so this should be good.
Have you taken the time to distill your attraction to the Seahawks? Do you like rah-rah septuagenarians that teach safe tackling, or badass CB’s who get away with more than most? Or is it the 12th man?
Finally sir, do you not think that Carolina would present us an easier task than Payton/Brees?
Flip-side, if he lights it up, he’s got fresh legs. So just enjoy the no stakes show. Resist sensationalizing it either way.
The real positive is that he’s recovered enough from the injury to let them feel confident enough to play him. That’s really good news long term.
Yes. I’m glad he’s been healthy enough to really work with the team for several weeks now. It really doesn’t feel like they’re rushing him back. Upside is he could really be the shot in the arm the defense needs in the playoffs, although I’m guessing they don’t plan to have him start this season (I’m really not sure). Just want to see him and a meaningless game is a good opportunity.
I’m going to be watching him when we are on defense. I would love to see him pick Dak and take it back
Inactives:
– Ajayi
– Barnett
– Bradham
– B. Graham
– Jernigan
– McLeod
– Mills
Is Barnett hurt?
I see no upside to throwing Jones into his first NFL game now with most defensive starters resting and the Cowboys licking their chops to hammer the Eagles.
Also if Pederson is resting most of his defensive starters, why keep Cox, Kendrick and Jenkins active? They are the ones we can least afford to lose to injury! WTF
I think it’s a great opportunity to get Jones some playing time and experience under his belt. Otherwise this season is a complete waste for him. Who knows, if he plays well he might see some snaps in the playoffs. With injuries he might be forced to play. Any experience he can get is beneficial in my view.