Eagles Like LaRon?
Posted: March 12th, 2012 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 85 Comments »Jason Cole reports that the Eagles “appear interested” in SS LaRon Landry. What should we make of this?
Cole is a solid reporter. I don’t know that he’s all that tied in with the Eagles, though. He worked in Miami a long time and I don’t recall him having a lot of Eagles connections. This seems more likely to be an agent driven rumor than a team source.
Landry is a highly confusing player. Great talent and potential. He’s about 230 pounds, but runs like the wind. There are times when he looks special, but other times when he is very sloppy. Landry loves big hits. Unfortunately he misses on some. You can think of it as some highlights for him (when he connects) and some highlights for them (when he misses). If he ever became more of a wrap-up tackler, Landry could become a really great SS.
Health is a major issue. He’s had achilles issues and has only played 17 of the last 32 games. The Skins wanted him to have surgery, but he said no thanks and has been trying to get healthy using alternate methods. I’m all for thinking outside the box, but you get the vibe that he might be too much of a free spirit in this area.
The fact he’s also such a weightlifting freak scares me. Landry got defensive last year when reporters asked him if he was getting too big and might be shifting to LB. All in all, he’s a strange dude.
Would the Eagles want him as a SS? Maybe. You can’t help but be fascinated by a guy with his size, speed, and toughness. I just don’t see the move as likely at all. The Eagles invested a 2nd round pick in Jaiquawn Jarrett. They still think he can be a good SS. Kurt Coleman is solid, at the least. Signing Landry would cost a lot and would make Kurt the backup FS and Ja-Jar the backup SS. Just doesn’t make much sense to me.
If you could sign Landry to a 1-year deal, that would be a different story. Ja-Jar could spend another year learning and developing. Coleman would be the #3 Safety. That would be of definite interest. The problem is that I think some team will move aggressively on Landry and roll the dice that he can stay healthy and play up to his potential.
Now…if you want to get weird for a second…what about Landry as a SAM? Remember that last year Juan Castillo said he envisioned SAM as a hybrid S/LB position. He wanted a guy who could cover like a S and play the run like a LB. Landry can do both things.
Really interesting, but unlikely idea. You’d have to get Landry to embrace the move, which I’m not so sure he would. You’d have to figure out how to pay him. There would need to be big money to lure him here, but also some precautions in case he wasn’t able to stay healthy.
I don’t doubt that the Eagles have talked to his agent, whether casually or seriously. This is being thorough as much as showing serious interest. If there is a limited market for Landry, you want him and his agent to know that you’re interested in a short term deal that could work for both sides.
Do remember that the Eagles get used a lot by agents. You’ll see us connected to a lot of players, but at least half of them are guys we are not interested in. Agents leak the Eagles name to help create a market for their clients. Why the Eagles? We generally have money to spend and we have a history of giving out good deals to big names. There doesn’t need to be any truth to a rumor for it to be effective.
* * * * *
Free agency starts Tuesday at 4pm. Monday and Tuesday could be active as teams rush to re-sign players.
I don’t think the Eagles will be making any signings tomorrow at 5pm. I don’t see any players that are so special you go break the bank for them…based on our needs and team makeup.
The Eagles will be smart shoppers this year.
* * * * *
I’ll be posting my FA/offseason plan later today. I’ve been agonizing over this thing for a while, trying to figure out what I truly want. Lots of interesting scenarios to sort through. There is no one right or wrong answer to the offseason, aside from addressing LB in a serious way.
As I said in the last thread, I wouldn’t touch Landry. He’s getting into David Boston territory. His legs are not going to be able to support the bulk that he’s added. I would bet nearly anything that he shreds an MCL or an ACL in the next calendar year.
His unpolished play always bothered me too, but I wonder how much of that was Washington coaching. I remember him being a fairly disciplined, form tackler at LSU. Maybe he just started getting highlight-hungry after playing next to Sean Taylor, and let his fundamentals slip. Not sure.
Getting into David Boston territory. I think he is there. The internet pics are very scary and it makes me wonder if the NFL testing policy is a joke or not. His upperbody in comparison to the rest of his body is out of whack in proportions. I hope we stay away unless he checks out fully.
due for an acl tear you say? sign him up
Tommy
Could you please explain in detail why you have such confidence in these 3 safeties the Eagles have and why you are so convinced that these 3 safeties “have what it takes” to shine in 2012 whether in a response or a new column….
I just dont see how you can put such confidence in a low round pick like Coleman based on the few games he played, Nate Allen — who hasnt even logged a whole season of effectiveness yet and Jarrett — who is clearly unproven.
Adding a safety with some sort of upgraded qualities into the mix, would be a wise choice I think.
As a related question, IF the Eagles don’t share your confidence in their safety trio this season, who do you think would be possible targets. I know you believe the Eagles want to see their safeties play next year, and as I said yesterday, you generally have a great feel for what the Eagles want to do, but hypothetically, if they don’t trust their safeties, is there anyone you wouldn’t necessarily be upset with/down on?
Good question. Let me think about that.
I’ve written many posts on the Safeties since January. Best bet is to use the Search function at the upper right hand corner to look for the posts.
Quick answer…Nate Allen has looked very good at times. I think with him being healthy in 2012 that he will have a good year.
Kurt Coleman lacks ideal size and speed, but has started 15 games and played pretty well. He was bad at the beginning of 2011, but was much better when came back from his benching (which he deserved). Kurt is the type of player who must be smart due to his physical limitations. He’s not got 2 years under his belt and will have a full offseason. I think he should be at his best in 2012.
Jaiquawn Jarrett remains a major mystery. The whole point with him is to let him play some so that we can find out what we do have. The team thought enough of him to draft him in the 2nd round. I don’t think you give up on that guy after a rookie season. I think you see what he can do.
If the guys stink up the joint in 2012, then Safety is a priority spot next offseason. If the guys are struggling this spring and early on at Lehigh, you go sign the best S you can or make a deal. I think you must let them play to find out what they can do.
Tommy
With such “uncertainty” with the overall safety position with all the facts you stated, is it worth it for a NFL team to not give this position some healthy competion with the possiblity this team falls in a major hole if all 3 “suspects” go in the other direction. (Another wasted NFL season for the Eagles)
I would say a veteran is a smart choice to add to the mix with these question marks.
The point is that these guys need reps. Bringing in a vet is only going to take away reps and hinder either their development or make them continuing question marks.
Well winning football games is what is important.
Let these guys play hard in the preseason and let them try to earn the spot. Adding experience only makes sense where you have a position of total question marks.
Sounds great in theory, but…how do you have Kurt and Jarrett battle for the job and have a veteran in the mix? That gets tough.
I’m fine with adding a veteran, but I wouldn’t make it someone with a big name. I’d sign a guy to a minimum contract and let him start off at the back of the line, knowing that JaJar and Kurt are really the guys battling for the starting job.
The key to all of this is to find out if Kurt and/or Jaiquawn can be a good starting SS. We know Kurt can start and be effective. Is that his ceiling? Ja-Jar is almost completely unknown.
The focus should be the competition between our own guys.
Doesnt the season have to do with winning football games not whether “our guy” get a chance to play or not.
You know there are reasons we dont go all the way and have never won a Super Bowl.
Im saying we shouldnt leave the safety position is such a state of chance: sign a decent veteran to play one safety position and let the “chance” guys battle it out for the other spot.
If we have younger player depth all the better.
Hello Tommy. You do a Great job! Where do you post your player draft rankings?
Working on that. Will let you guys know when all is ready. Had some technical stuff to work through. Got that solved. Now entering data.
Thanks Tommy!
Off-topic question that I forgot to ask in a past topic: How much is Ryan Tannehill benefiting from circumstances? He seemed to be viewed as a 2nd-round prospect throughout most of his Senior year. Then Matt Barkley decides to stay in school, and Tannehill rises a little bit. He doesn’t go to the Senior Bowl, but most of the guys who do(Foles, Wilson, Moore) disappoint in Mobile and Tannehill rises a little bit more. Now he’s unable to work out at the Combine or a Pro Day, while other prospective competitors like Osweiler shoot themselves in the foot in the workout process, causing Tannehill to continue to rise.
Essentially what I’m asking is… does he hold up under scrutiny in tape study? Or is he just steadily rising due to a series of dominoes falling in a QB-hungry league?
Tannehill looked better the more I studied him. I had some initial concerns and kept watching tape. He grew on me. I think he’s one of the few young guys who looks better under Center than in the shotgun.
I think his case is helped by the fact his coach had big-time, long-term NFL experience and success with some of the best NFL personnel.
Valid point as well. Just kind of weird for teams to be tripping over themselves for a converted WR with 20 career starts.
Overall I’m just amazed by how flippant teams have become with their QB situations. It used to be coveted as a position of stability. These days, there seems to be a handful of teams who will drop a high-profile QB like they’re dirty laundry. Skins mortgage the future for RG3; teams with well-paid starters already entrenched(KC, DEN, TEN) willing to pay top dollar to Peyton Manning; Jacksonville willing to give up on a top-10 pick(Gabbert) if Tebow becomes available, etc etc. All of this is just ‘talk’ at this point, but it is still surprising to me how loose teams are playing it in regards to the most important position in sports.
I just hope in the next few days I see “Eagles sign Hawthorn/Lofton/Fletcher” as a title on PFT. I still am 100% on board with Tommy, MLB in FA, SAM in the 2nd/3rd and BPA at 15. I just can’t believe the bears are looking at Hawthorne. There LBing corp would be crazy good. Briggs, Urlacher, Hawthorne. I wish Juan would not only envision the Bears Cover 2, but would also apply their tactics at LB!!!!!
Next few days? unacceptable.
“I don’t think the Eagles will be making any signings tomorrow at 5pm.” Unacceptable.
We need to see some blood (or ink drying on the dotted line) at 4:01, not a second later. We have waited way too long for nothing to happen tomorrow!
Money aside, I think signing Landry could be a good thing. The Eagles new DB coach might be able to help him out a bit in those things that he is rusty. Plus, with much better CB on the field than what he is used to, some of his deficiencies might be hidden a bit.
However, I wouldn’t cut any of the other players to sign him. Like others have said, durability is a legitimate concern and his uneven play does not negate that fear.
Now, if money is considered, he probably believes he is a top tier FA and will demand top tier money. I do not think he is worth that kind of money and if it came down to that, I would hope the Eagles pass.
I had to stop reading the comments in the last post because ya’ll started talking about Walking Dead and I had to wait until today to watch…
OH. MY. GOD.
I think the writers just destroyed TV drama. The bar has been set as far as I’m concerned.
Say what? The episode of Different Strokes where Arnold had to confront pedophilia is hard hitting TV at its greatest. Nothing says drama like Gary Coleman in a bathtub.
That made me laugh way too hard.
I remember that episode vividly. In the same way Len Bias’s death kept me away from drugs, the station owner from WKRP getting too frisky with Arnold and Dudley taught me never to trust adults ever again.
I still have a strong aversion to bicycle shops (shudder).
Dude, you’re killin’ me! I’m like 3 episodes behind because I was out of town and had to DVR it. I’m awfully tempted to power through all 3 episodes now, haha.
do it. totally worth a whole afternoon
100% valid excuse to call in sick.
hey T
Rumor has it Tulloch is asking for 6mil a year?
Do you think he’s worh it?..if not what kind of contract do u think the FO should offer?
Tulloch wanted $6M a year last year. Might want more this year.
I don’t think he’s worth that. We’ll see if another team does.
From Twitter:
Tim McManus @Tim_McManus
Evan Mathis on if he’ll test market or strictly negotiate w/ Eagles: “I’ll test the market. It’s the only way to know what I’m worth.”
I am not a fan of this at all. If Mathis leaves, OG (or OT depending on what you do with Herremans) becomes need 1a with MLB being 1b. It is sounding a lot like Mathis wants to get paid and I am curious what the Eagles will be willing to offer him.
Evan wants to find out what he’s worth. That’s fair. He has no idea right now. I keep telling him $37 bucks on Twitter, but he’s not buying it. I’m sure he’ll give the Eagles a chance to match the offers he gets. Money just has to be right.
He has also demanded a hug from Spadaro. I don’t know if you can invest that in a LG.
Evan wants to find out what he’s worth. That’s fair. He has no idea right now. I keep telling him $37 bucks on Twitter, but he’s not buying it. I’m sure he’ll give the Eagles a chance to match the offers he gets. Money just has to be right.
Mathis is trying to cash in….I dont blame him. I think he is going to realize once testing the market that the Eagles may be his best bet to start. If he leaves, 1 option is to move Todd back to guard and put Winston in at RT. Option two is drafting a guard high, possibly Decastro if he is there at 15.
I am eager to get Mathis locked up, because he stepped in on short notice and flourished in Mudd’s system. That said, I am reticent about getting into a bidding war for him. He has been mostly a spot-starter for most of his career, and Mudd seems to have a knack for knowing what players he can get a lot out of, which makes me wonder if we could fill the void at LG easier than we think. I’d miss his twitter antics, though.
I saw somewhere–maybe WalterFootball?–that was posturing that the Eagles will make a move for Carl Nicks. I love Nicks, and I think he’s right on par with Jahri Evans… I just don’t see us breaking the bank for a guy who may not be an ideal fit for the scheme.
I agree that we shouldn’t “break the bank” for any particular player this season, but having heard that phrase a ton of times in the last couple weeks, I think it should be pointed out that the Eagles are willing to give up big money to players they covet. I don’t think you can pull the Eagles from being a possible landing spot for certain free agents simply because they will be expensive. I’m not saying any of the FA are players the Eagles necessarily covet, but just pointing out a counter argument to the cliched argument of the Eagles will not “break the bank” for player X.
After last year, all bets are off. Joe Banner went from being nicknamed “nickles” to being nicknamed “John Fucking Dillinger.” I won’t count the Eagles out of the running for any FA.
Nicks is too big for Mudd’s system…he would have been perfect for Castillo’s line, but I think Mudd prefers smaller linemen.
Hey Tommy,
What do you think about signing Jeff Faine to be a back up center/gaurd? He seems like the right body type. I don’t know anything else about him, I just heard he was released
Possible. We’ll need someone to replace JamJax.
Possible. We’ll need someone to replace JamJax.
I’m sorry but the Eagles don’t telegraph their plans to reporters and purposely give people the wrong ideas about their intentions. Somebody may have told Jason Cole about the Eagles intentions but that person did not know what they were talking about. Sports reporters have it both ways. A bunch of liars tell them stuff and then they report it based on their sources with no intention of figuring out if those sources have their own agendas. Somebody should keep track of what these reporters say so we can weed out the guys that are just pretending they have integrity. Jason Cole you are on notice, because when this report turns out to be bogus everyone will know that you are just making stuff up or giving credence to liars — same difference.
This sounds great:
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
NFL is taking away millions of dolllar of salary-cap space from Cowboys and Redskins for how they front-loaded deals during uncapped year.
teehee
Update:
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Cowboys lose $10 million in cap space, Redskins lose $36 million in space. Can split it over 2012 and 2013 any way they want. More at ESPN.
Wow, Redskins lost some serious space.
Thats awesome! Maybe the Skins won’t be getting VJax after all.
Also,
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
All that money goes to 28 other teams — $1.6 million each — except for Saints and Raiders, who don’t get any but don’t lose any.
Holy crap. PFT is circulating it as well. Finally, after my last two nights of losing sleep over RG3 in a Skins uniform… I can rest soundly. Justice has been served!
Sorry V-Jax. No burgundy and gold for you.
From a PFT commenter:
“Cowboys and Skins fans should ban [sic] together and boycott the NFL this year. See how the NFL likes losing hundreds of thousands of fans. At least watch their own games only and boycott watching a single minute of any other game, news report, etc.”
Comedy Gold!
One reason I don’t read PFT anymore… the commenters are dipshits.
It’s not like the Redskins would have had a major turnaround in year one with RG3, so I don’t see this as a huge deal to them. Obviously if they intended to sign some key, young free agents, this is probably a big, big deal to them.
I also can’t think of any key players they have that they may want to sign long term now instead of waiting at least another year.
I wouldn’t downplay the potential of a one-year turnaround. Andy Dalton and the Bengals proved that you can pull such a turnaround off, just last year. And RG3 is very much going to be a special player, I think.
They can split the money apart over two years, and that will help them. But the big battle cry from Skins fans after the RG3 trade was “we can supplement the draft picks we lost with $40M in FA money this year.” They’re now most likely out of the running for Vincent Jackson, retaining Landry, etc.
They want to resign Fred Davis long-term. And rumors have it that they were planning to go hard after VJax and a few other FAs. Carl Nicks and Brandon Carr had been mentioned as far as I heard. But you never know about those types of pre-free agency rumors. Guess they’re gonna need a safety now too with Atogwe cut and Landry looking to leave.
Yup, I forgot about Fred Davis. They’re also primed to lose Fletcher, and they’re not too far away from having to reconsider Orakpo’s contract situation either.
And they’re already starting their annual dumping of the previous year’s FA busts:
Samuel Monson @SamMonson
Redskins cut Atogwe – cue @adbrandt’s treasure to trash.
This calls for a: http://sadtrombone.com/
Let me get this right, is that saying the Redskins will have to rescind their offer for the right to the number 2 draft pick, with all that cap space they’ve lost? Meaning, taking back their original package from St. Louis, since they’ll have a little over $10 million in actual cap space?
Maybe ridiculous, but if it’s true, it’s really quite a quiet time we’re having at the moment.
I think they’re okay, as far the trade goes. I could be wrong, but I’m assuming since there has not yet been any financial commitment involved with the trade(seeing as they obviously don’t have RG3 under contract yet), they’ll be afforded the opportunity to move some pieces around and free up the necessary space.
I love seeing the Skins squirm, but I don’t support them rescinding the trade. I hate knowing that RG3 will be a Skin, but it was a fair-and-square deal, made in 2012. Don’t take that away for something that happened in 2010(yuck, can’t believe I’m rationalizing the Redskins).
Yeah I don’t think the Skins would be rapidly cutting guys like Otogwe unless they were still moving forward with RGIII and trying to make the best of it.
Tommy, do you think we’d have any interest in Otogwe? Looks like the Skins may be rolling with minimum salary FAs or two rookies at safety this year (picked in the 3rd round or later)- those will be fun games.
Okay, let’s assume the trade isn’t effected, it’s going cost the ‘skins the price of having to pay RGIII as a 1st round pick. They don’t have much to build around RGIII, and highwire every draft pick they have left this year, which won’t be much in the way of rebuilding.
RGIII being their QB, is as dangerous as coiled cobra and can make even the worst WR corps look very descent. He also has tremendous speed and quickness. To top it off, he’s a very smart intelligence guy. With the way the Shannahans runs the team, they’ll probably try to work those around him, similar to what Carolina has done for Cam. And like Carolina, the ‘skins don’t have much in defense. I believe we can balance out to win both against ‘skins for a couple of years. After that, 2014, we had better start building on strength with the rookies from last year and coming this year. We can’t sit on our hunches, just yet, if we plan to be a contender for a long while.
Time will tell, but right now is the year for us to be a proven team to the whole NFL League, especially for AR and his staffs. All it takes, is for the FO not to be outdone by themselves, mainly not to let too much go to their heads, when they can just be as competent as being simple. They spent big last year, and got solid at the end of the season. Not this year, since we only need to cover few spots, and find potential talents for strengthening the rotational positions.
I’m sure whether or not they’ve been evaluating those players who haven’t seen the field yet, I’m sure there’s talents they can use to create competitions with. But the thought of RGIII in the NFC EAST, makes it hard to contemplate how he will fare on the field, as we don’t worry much about Romo and Eli (they’re still a threat), when we face them. So, we have division with solid and capable QBs, to measure the competitions within the division.
I think it’s going to affect the Skins’ current vets, but they’ll still be active in free agency and they’ll still go after star players. They will probably have to replace a handful of well-paid experienced players with younguns … which might even benefit them in the long run, as RGIII will probably begin to peak in Year 2 or beyond.
“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the teams were told “at least six times” during ownership-level meetings that there would be “serious consequences” for any team that used the uncapped year as an occasion to dump salaries.
The Cowboys and Redskins engaged in “systematic dumping” of salaries into the uncapped year, despite the warnings.”
pwned
Speaking of Safeties, given the Eagles cap situation and I don’t see the Eagles adding a FA SS or FS. FA Plan A has to be re-sign Mathis and Landri and get a starting caliber MLB. However because the Safety draft class is not very good, there could be some players available in rounds 5-7 that might be worth taking a flyer on. Some SS:
Duke Ihenacho, San Jose State (3x 1st-team All-WAC);
Sean Richardson, Vanderbilt (led Vandy in solo tackles, total tackles and TLFs, 4th in SEC in solo tackles); and
Damien Jackson, Mississippi
On this news of teams run by Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder cheating: I’m shocked, NOT!
OK, who is going to suggest that Landry is going to play LB for us? Oh wait, you already did.
Any chance Asante is traded by this time tomorrow?
Apparently Texans RT Eric Winston, who had a very good couple of years, was let go. If Mathis decides to leave, it could work out to have Todd move back to LG and have Winston at RT. Just a possibility. Although it might just be cheaper to resign Mathis.
Doesn’t he have the wrong body type though? He’s a big strong guy who was in the zone blocking scheme. I think that is different than what our line plays, right?
Im not sure about how he fits in scheme wise in opposition to the zone scheme from Houston, maybe Tommy can shed some light on that.
Winston sure is big at 6’7, but he is only 317, the freak(Jason Peters) is 6’4, 340 and Todd Herremans is actually heavier(320 to 317) even though he is slightly lower(6’6). To me, that seems like a sign of a pretty athletic guy that Mudd would like.
And again, i have think it would be easier and cheaper, just to resign Mathis and not have to worry about moving Todd, but at least it gives us an alternative to drafting a OT at #15.
Cowboys lose 10 mill in cap space and skins lose 36 mil, even tho they can split over next two years, it still helps us out big time. Almost as good as getting cap space ourselves. Skins and boys were gonna make some moves
Actually, because of it, we did get some cap space. So win-win.
What do u mean?
Oh c I now, haha, even better than I thought, thanks fellas haha
This may be another rumor that is coming from an agent or a guy with bad Eagles sources, but from twitter:
Pete Prisco @PriscoCBS
Keep hearing Dan Connor to Eagles will be done.
If this is seriously plan a and they end up bring in Dan Connor on day 1, I will be incredibly disappointed.
Typical eagles move.
Hopefully if they do that it will mean that they are also targeting Kuechly hard in the draft. They bring in Connor as low-cost insurance in case they can’t draft Kuechly and if they do get him Luke’s got the job.
He is not exactly what i had in mind, but he does fit well as our MLB. Tough runstopper, who seems bright and still willing to fight offensive linemen. Two bad he isn’t that good at covering guys. Then again, neither Lofton or Tulloch can cover either, so why should we pay them twice the money to be the same 2 down LB. I just pray that we don’t get cheap. Pay the guy you think is best, as long as it doesn’t get insane.
Could this mean we have interest in Zach Brown as SAM? He is a little short, but he sure did put on some weight. 244 with his speed seems like the perfect SAM for us, especially if its true that he impressed at the Combine when he was asked to read and react. I wonder if his tackling is improving, because we certainly dont need another bad tackler.
I’d rather have Lee or Poz.
Panthers fans seem to love the guy. That says something… maybe.
I would actually b fine w this if we get him on the cheap. Lofton might get overpaid. Lofton is a two down LB so no use in getting into a bidding war. Atlanta could have kept him. I would go tulloch since we know he can play the widenine, if we can get a decent deal on him, or conner on the cheap and draft an LB early.
Connor at MLB and Luke at SAM. Gives you a sold vet in the middle and allows Luke to use his speed and play reading ability on the outside. Although I wouldnt mind Connor at MLB and Erin Henderson from the Vikes at SAM. Draft Cox with our 1st. Look for Jam Jax, Laws or Landri and Parker to get cut. Justice will restructure (great backup at tackle or insurance if Mathis leaves, move Todd back to G and possibly Winston to RT). Tapp will either restructure or be cut. If hes cut look for the Eagles to draft a DE in the 2nd The king will prob get signed somewhere else Asante to get traded….hopefully today so the eagles have the cap space ASAP. My dream first three picks….Cox, Boykin, Sanu.
Luke in the 1st to play MLB..Kendricks in the 2nd to play WLB…..Boykin with our second 2nd pick and sign Hawthorne to play SAM..