Be Real

Posted: June 21st, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 69 Comments »

The 2011 Eagles were gunning for the Super Bowl. Didn’t happen. That bunch didn’t even get to the playoffs. The 2014 and 2015 Eagles were also considered Super Bowl teams. Didn’t happen. Not a playoff game for either squad.

Expectations bring hype. And pressure. There is no question in my mind that pressure hurt those teams and affected the team’s performance. Mistakes would snowball and bad moments became long term trends.

We don’t have to worry about sky high expectations for the 2016 Eagles. Jimmy Bama has the story on some comments by Howie Roseman.

When asked point blank on WIP’s Morning Show with Angelo Cataldi on Monday if he thought the Eagles’ roster right now is a “playoff team,” Howie Roseman offered very little in the way of short-term optimism. Rather, his focus was on building a consistent winner over the long haul.

“I don’t know,” said Roseman. “I think we have to get into training camp. We have to get into the season. Injuries play a huge role in what we’re doing. I think this is going to be an extremely competitive camp. I think we have some talented pieces, but I can’t tell you that I’ve sat here and evaluated and gone through the schedule and gone, ‘We’re gonna win this game, we’re gonna lose this game.’ When you’re in the offseason, you’re in building mode, and right now that’s what we’ve been in, is building and trying to get some building blocks in place so that we can have a team going forward that’s competing every year.”

Certainly, when presented with a question like that, most coaches and executives will be careful with their words, but Roseman clearly prioritized the future over the present.

There will be no “going for it”. The Eagles are trying to build a foundation that can sustain success for the next 5 years (hopefully more). There is enough talent in place that the team can compete right away, but moves were made with an eye on the future, not October.

Roseman is naturally aggressive so it is interesting that he’s been able to make this transformation. He really does seem like a changed man. He is still willing to make bold moves (the Wentz trade, the Cox extension), but Roseman isn’t attacking the offseason the way he did previously.

Roseman is doing a great job with the public relations side of things. He accepts blame. He gives praise. And he isn’t hyping this team. Roseman isn’t selling Super Bowls, but rather sustained success. That’s smart. It buys you time and it keeps pressure off the players, allowing them to develop at a reasonable rate instead of dealing with crazy expectations.

As Jimmy points out in his piece, the NFC East is so bad that the Eagles should be in contention this year. That’s not the same thing as being a Super Bowl favorite, but there is nothing wrong beating crappy teams and going for a division crown while you do build for the future.

*****

Interesting note from Dave Spadaro in a recent column.

Matt Tobin, offensive tackle

I’m talking about Matt Tobin, offensive tackle, not Matt Tobin, offensive guard. Tobin was thrown into a tough situation moving to right guard last season and he improved a lot. He’s really a good, solid NFL lineman and he’s at his best in space as a tackle where he can use his feet and his athletic ability. Tobin lined up as a backup at left tackle in the spring, his most natural position. What would happen if Jason Peters went down? Last year, the Eagles moved Lane Johnson from right tackle to left tackle and inserted Dennis Kelly at right tackle. They could certainly do that this year, too. But if Tobin comes along in camp, maybe he can become a trustworthy backup left tackle and help the team that way. The preseason games are going to be very telling.

Tobin has always looked his most natural at LT. I have no idea why the Eagles have been so insistent about using him at RG the past 2 seasons. He looks more natural on the left side so if you want him at OG, at least put him at LG.

I don’t know if Tobin will make this team, but there is enough depth at OG now that I think moving Tobin to OT would be smart. See what the guy can do there. I think his best preseason football has been at LT.

I do know this…it is time for Tobin to poop or get off the pot. He has to show that he belongs in the NFL and can be a reliable player. He struggled early on at Training Camp last year. Tobin can’t afford a repeat of that. He better play the best football of his career if he wants to stay in the NFL.

_

69 Comments on “Be Real”

  1. 1 Media Mike said at 10:39 PM on June 21st, 2016:

    “I do know this…it is time for Tobin to poop or get off the pot.”

    I’ll be amazed if he has any poop left considered he pooped the bed at guard over and over again last year.

  2. 2 Be Real - said at 10:40 PM on June 21st, 2016:

    […] Tommy Lawlor The 2011 Eagles were gunning for the Super Bowl. Didn’t happen. That bunch didn’t even […]

  3. 3 wee2424 said at 10:47 PM on June 21st, 2016:

    Another Chip Kelly head scratcher. You are 100% that he is more of a natural T. It’s just another one in too large of a list after 3 years.

    There is nothing wrong with attempting to turn a square peg into a round one and sticking it in the hole. With that said it is completely moronic to blatantly fail at transforming that square peg and continuously trying to smash it into the round hole.

  4. 4 Media Mike said at 10:48 PM on June 21st, 2016:

    And then claiming that somebody else was in charge of creating the shapes.

  5. 5 D3FB said at 11:18 PM on June 21st, 2016:

    I don’t neccessarily agree that he’s a more natural T than G, he is however about one billion times better on the left than the right.

  6. 6 truehaynes said at 11:41 PM on June 21st, 2016:

    I don’t understand why someone is better on one side or the other. Could you elaborate as to why?

  7. 7 Dude said at 1:16 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I’ll chip in here… I’m left handed. I throw, bat, golf, kick, and just about everything else better with my right hand/foot. But I look like a tard bucket with a pen or fork in my right hand. I couldn’t hit a nail on the head with my right hand if my life depended on it.

    I have been a wrestler since I was 8. I can hit almost any move right handed. I can hit most moves left handed. Some moves I can only hit left handed. Some moves I can only hit right handed.

    Bottom line, some folks can work both ways. Some folks can only work one way. Some folks do some things better to one side, and other things better to the other side.

    Pro athletes can usually switch it up when called upon. Some athletes are limited.

  8. 8 P_P_K said at 8:52 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    It’s always amazed me when pro baseball players switch-hit. It seems nearly impossible to hit one of those fastballs or curveballs from one side of the plate, yet alone both sides.

  9. 9 Media Mike said at 8:57 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Not terribly taxing from a toughness and conditioning standpoint, but the coordination involved in hitting a baseball from both sides of the plate is impressive.

  10. 10 P_P_K said at 9:13 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Exactly.

  11. 11 wee2424 said at 10:30 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    In some cases you are dealing more with power mauler type players on the right side, and on the left the speed and athletic type guys when facing the DL. I am not saying all cases, but many times it is like that. If you are playing LT you tend to deal with the opposing teams top pass rushing DE/OLB.

  12. 12 PacificPurl said at 4:29 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Footwork is different. Chuck Noll told his players once that they won the Super Bowl against the Rams because one of the Rams offensive linemen was moving his feet wrong!

  13. 13 RobNE said at 12:35 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Is that you Mags?

  14. 14 Media Mike said at 12:43 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I thought Chuck Noll told his players to fraudulently win 4 titles by being the most roided up team in the history of pro sports.

  15. 15 D3FB said at 9:11 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Everything is flipped. Starting with stance. On the right side of the line you would have your right hand down right foot back, it would be opposite on the left. This effects footwork and everything from there. Some guys can pick it up. Others take time to adjust and others can’t really pick it up at all. I know for myself it took me most of a full season to pick up playing left guard.

    You see it at other positions as well. Some guys are better pass rushing from the right side than the left. Some CBs prefer playing on one side than the other. It’s easier for QBs to boot to the right than the left.

  16. 16 kajomo said at 12:14 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Derek Burgess was a monster at LDE and almost invisible on the right side

  17. 17 wee2424 said at 10:25 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I think he is better dealing with generally smaller guys such as DEs then DTs. Not saying that NFL DEs are small, but you get the point. It just seem as thought DTs generally over power him, and he is better in more space where he can take advantage of his athleticism. I’m not saying he would be a good LT, but it just seems more of a natural position for him.

  18. 18 PacificPurl said at 4:24 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Who was the O Line coach?

  19. 19 Anders said at 4:27 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    The same

  20. 20 wee2424 said at 10:21 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Stoutland I believe.

  21. 21 Rob Jarratt said at 7:30 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Great variation of “square peg, round hole,” wee. I like it.

  22. 22 wee2424 said at 10:44 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Thank you.

  23. 23 wee2424 said at 10:47 PM on June 21st, 2016:

    Love the poop in pot reference.

  24. 24 Froogal Stoodent said at 11:06 PM on June 21st, 2016:

    I agree. Going for the kind of sustained success the team had from 2000-2008 is probably best.

    Also, I like that the expectations are lowered, so that guys don’t “force it” in an attempt to make that one play to put the team over the top. It’s nice to come in as an underdog, rather than a hyped-up ‘Super Bowl contender’ that underperforms and gets laughed at…

  25. 25 PacificPurl said at 4:24 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Sustained success? One Super Bowl appearance?

  26. 26 P_P_K said at 2:26 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    You raise a good point. A friend of mine and I continue to argue about the merits of building a team that is in contention over a period of many years, as opposed to building a team which can make a run at a championship during a briefer window of time. In theory these are not mutually exclusive but, in practice, they usually are.
    My buddy argues that he enjoys having his teams be competitive all year long, including a playoff run, even if it end without a championship. I get that, as it makes the season more meaningful and carries the team deeper into the calendar. For me, though, I’m more enthusiastic about having the thrill of one victorious season than several interesting seasons. The Philles World Series win in 2008, and my celebration with my friends, sits stronger in my memory than all the playoff wins during the Reid era. I’m a much more passionate Eagles fan, but the Eagles success during those runs is tempered by every season concluding with a loss.

  27. 27 RobNE said at 2:58 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I think you missed her assertion, which is that the Eagles did not have sustained success because they only had 1 SB appearance.

  28. 28 P_P_K said at 4:44 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I must not have conveyed my thoughts directly enough. The issue is what makes sustained success. My friend and I have different measuring sticks. His conclusion is that the era was demonstrably successful because of the Eagles annual winning seasons and regular appearances in the playoffs. I’m somewhat on the other side of the argument, that 1 SB appearance isn’t a convincing argument for success.

  29. 29 laeagle said at 6:54 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    It’s actually a pretty simple equation. There is so much luck and uncertainty involved in winning a Super Bowl; the “best” team doesn’t always win. See, Giants, New York Football.

    The best strategy in my opinion is to maintain a high level of sustained success to increase the number of opportunities you have to “hit” in any given year. It worked for Green Bay, it worked for New Orleans, it worked for Baltimore eventually as well. Outside of “have the best quarterback ever”, it’s the only strategy that makes any sense.

  30. 30 P_P_K said at 7:16 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Yea, luck is certainly involved. Especially in football when the playoffs are only one game, unlike the longer series’ in baseball and basketball.

    I agree with you in a general sense, but I think there a certain leap of commitment required to put a team over the top. Something like putting resources into getting a veteran FA who can play well for a year or two, as opposed to using those resources to draft a guy out of college who can’t make an immediate impact but would contribute for 5-10 years.

    I’m having trouble thinking of a specific example, which I know makes my argument weaker!

  31. 31 Froogal Stoodent said at 12:53 AM on June 25th, 2016:

    That’s my philosophy as well; perhaps influenced by my fairly extensive training in Statistics.

  32. 32 Froogal Stoodent said at 12:51 AM on June 25th, 2016:

    …One SB appearance, 5 NFC Championship appearances, and 7 playoff appearances in the 2000/01 through 2008/09 seasons. I’d call that “sustained success,” even though they didn’t win the big game.

  33. 33 daveH said at 11:14 PM on June 21st, 2016:

    Argentina just toyed and tooled us .. couldve been 10-0 .. Messi’s goal was perfect and will be shown no less than 5million times in our lifetimes.his assist on 4th goal was more easy perfection.
    Go Eagles

  34. 34 RobNE said at 12:33 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    In Iverson’s voice:

    you’re talking about soccer. Soccer. Not football, not basketball. Not even baseball. You’re talking about soccer.

  35. 35 daveH said at 8:03 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Well played mr Rob from Nebraska the Greatest Ever Johnny The Rocket Rodgers.
    (But but but But Messi’s goal is athletic perfection for all time. Not possible that in a years time there is a person on the planet that wont have seen it multiple times)

  36. 36 RobNE said at 10:37 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I haven’t seen it

  37. 37 daveH said at 10:43 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    On my permanent playlist
    ..
    https://youtu.be/exOxUAntx8I

  38. 38 daveH said at 12:55 PM on June 23rd, 2016:

    Did u watch? Did my link work i hope i did correctlt…

  39. 39 daveH said at 8:12 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    And fwiw, have you seen DJ Steve Porter remix of that it’s called press hop it is one of the greatest ever IMHO

  40. 40 A_T_G said at 6:41 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I wonder if Howie would agree that this is a change in philosophy. He could view it as previously he was adding a few performance parts where as now he needs to rebuild the entire drivetrain.

  41. 41 eagleyankfan said at 8:26 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    “I still think Reggie Brown will make an impact in the NFL”. Quote from D. Spadaro. That’s the last time I’ve paid attention to his talent evaluation. It’s nice you threw him a bone though….
    …..
    Have to say T-Lay — you are on your game this year. Articles have been a great read without missing a beat. Even if I disagree with some things written, that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy reading your articles. Cheers!

  42. 42 laeagle said at 6:51 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Note that this was after he’d spent several years talking about how Bill Sampy and Michael Gasperson were looking really good in training camp.

  43. 43 daveH said at 8:11 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Note to self, please interrupt Eagles receiver discussion with a did anyone see Messi’s goal discussion?!

  44. 44 Media Mike said at 8:46 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    There is only one way to B Real for fans of a certain age………………..

    http://images3.mtv.com/uri/mgid:file:docroot:vh1.com:/sitewide/flipbooks/img/artists/cypress_hill/getty/81887668.jpg?enlarge=false&matte=true&matteColor=black&quality=0.85

  45. 45 daveH said at 8:10 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Who shot ‘pac ?

  46. 46 RogerPodacter said at 10:25 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    all this stuff about Dorenbos doing magic is cool.
    but i remember back in the day, an eagles long snapper (was it mike bartrum?) long snapping the ball into small spaces, into the window of moving cars, stuff like that. its like he was doing ‘dude perfect’ videos before that was a thing.

  47. 47 Media Mike said at 10:29 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Bartrum was the best long snapper in the history of the NFL. Shame karate chops to the LS’s neck, now illegal, ended his career.

  48. 48 Rambler said at 11:34 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I do not recall that video. But this one of Dorenbos and Akers a few years back is pretty entertaining… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oIzsvNuxPk

  49. 49 RogerPodacter said at 1:53 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    this is the closest thing i could find. maybe (probably) i’m losing my mind…
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK11WK2aVQE

  50. 50 Anders said at 8:38 AM on June 23rd, 2016:

    Yea it was Bartrum who did it. He was a great LS for us

  51. 51 Gian GEAGLE said at 11:00 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I don’t have any delusions of contending this year, but I do believe we have a better roster than given credit for. Think our roster is good enough in a very weak division to consider the season a failure if we don’t win the division while bradford plays 14-16 games.
    ..
    I see the roster as good enough to be very critical of the coaches and players if we finish 3rd or 4th in this crappy division
    .
    If we aren’t trying to contend for the division crown, then Wentz and Seumalo should be getting playing experience. We can’t have it both ways. If the plan is to play with veterans like bradford and Peters who won’t be here 3 years from now than this team needs to be held to the standard of winning the NFC east.
    .
    I don’t view us as some hopeless 4 win roster to give this team a complete pass for the year. No reason why a team with the best defense in the division, and probably the second best OL in the division shouldnt be held to playoff or bust standards for the season.. The more we win, the more experiemce yoûng players game, the better situation Wemtz will step into whenever he is ready to take over the team. it would be extremely valuable for ypung players like Lane, Cox, Ertz, Mcleod, Jordan, Agholar, Logan, Hicks to taste some playoff experience
    …
    But I would thnk that the health of the Offensive line will be the main competent that decides if we make the playoffs or not. Last time we made the playoffs our OL was remarkably healthy throughout the entire 2013 season, riding that OL all the way to a playoff game against the saints… If Lane, Brooks, KELCE and Peters play 16 games, I have little doubt we will earn the right to gain some playoff experiemce. If we have a season where The OL is a mess, with injuries keeping us from building any Continuity, we probably won’t win the division.

  52. 52 Media Mike said at 11:20 AM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Dallas and Washington could both be 10 win teams leaving us in 3rd with 8ish.

    Under no circumstances will I tolerate finishing below the POS Giants.

  53. 53 Gian GEAGLE said at 1:57 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Think Dallas will be last in the division again

  54. 54 mtn_green said at 12:25 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    If ags breaks out and oline/defense stays healthy could win east.

  55. 55 Media Mike said at 12:29 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    O line is the key. They’ll be better on D for sure. I’m just not counting on the o-line being that much better with Peters and Kelce on the decline to uselessness and hot garbage being on the field at LG. I think they can continue to upgrade as they go, but the O-line worries me a lot

  56. 56 RobNE said at 12:36 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    ok who is excited about the NBA draft tomorrow night? I am. The tanking is going to pay off. Simmons and Embiid are going to be awesome.

  57. 57 Media Mike said at 12:42 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I am. Just need to get Okafor moved for 3 and a point guard or 4 and 13 and a point guard.

  58. 58 Gian GEAGLE said at 2:01 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Okafor will probably be traded to the Pelicans
    ..
    Foolish to invest in a starting PG when half of next years top 10 picks will be PG prospects better than any PG in this draft.,.. Simmons can run the offense for a year with a stop gap veteran at PG who can move to the bench after this year when we draft Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith, Lonzo Ball, Frank Nilikina, or De’arron Fox..
    ,,
    The,starting back court of the future will come from the 2017 draft, so I hope we are smart enough not to dump too many assets on a PG who will become a bench player a year from today

  59. 59 eagleyankfan said at 1:24 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    NBA is a holding tank for criminals

  60. 60 D3FB said at 2:42 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    You mean the Yankees bullpen?

  61. 61 Mac said at 12:58 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Title Says: Be Real.

    Article quotes: Dave Spadaro.

    ¯_(ツ)_/¯

  62. 62 BobSmith77 said at 3:58 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    At least Roseman is being frank and fairly realistic in terms of communicating expectations with fans. The Eagles had to take a step back this year in order to trade for Wentz and hopefully take two or three steps ahead forward in say 2018.

  63. 63 BobSmith77 said at 4:08 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Still think best case is 9-7 and sneak into the playoffs as the 2nd WC based on an improved defense and an efficient & unspectular offense.

    Worst case is 4-12 including several starts by Daniel and a team that doesn’t have a discernible strength and who really struggles to score points.

    6-10 is what I see this team finishing and in Vegas the over/under has gotten taken down to 7 wins from 7.5 in some places despite a very unfavorable under money line. Nationally a lot of betters including some sharps think the Eagles are going to stink this year and I tend to agree. Rebuilding year even if Roseman or Lurie wouldn’t use that word.

  64. 64 Ark87 said at 4:10 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I could definitely see us winning the division with a 9-7 record, depending on if the bulk of the wins are against division foes

  65. 65 BobSmith77 said at 4:13 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Maybe but I think one of the teams in the division will win 10 or 11 games this year.

    Certainly isn’t a spectular division but one I see improved from last year and the last few years. I’d be surprised if there are 3-5 wins duds in the division this year too.

    I’d feel a bit better too if it wasn’t a rookie coach who has limited experience and was going to be calling the plays too. I just see this offense sucking big time this year and being very dull to boot. Bradford also is just underwhelming and even during his improved 7- game stretch wasn’t even an average ranked QB.

  66. 66 Ark87 said at 4:17 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    I just think it’s more likely for the rest of the NFC to produced 2 extra 10 win teams than it is for the NFC East to produce 1. Like the NFC West and North should be producing 4 10+ win teams

  67. 67 Media Mike said at 4:15 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Barring a big injury to Bradford, I don’t see how they’re any worse than last year’s 7-9 given the vast improvement the D will make under Schwartz. I also don’t see how they’re going to be much better given the big questions at LT-LG-C

  68. 68 Bert's Bells said at 5:49 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    And Bradford WAS injured last year (shock!) and they were still 7-9. Maybe Daniel and a not gassed defense could pull out a game or two.

  69. 69 Media Mike said at 5:59 PM on June 22nd, 2016:

    Novel concept