Close or Not?
Posted: January 14th, 2017 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 178 Comments »Are the Eagles “close”?
Doug Pederson says yes.
Howie Roseman won’t answer, but goes on to say just being 10-6…just getting into the playoffs isn’t good enough.
What gives? I addressed the situation in this week’s PE.com column.
On the surface, it sounds like the two of them disagree. That’s not really the case at all. Each man has a different perspective, based on his job. The coach has to think of today or this week. He can’t live in the future. Coaches who think too much about the future rarely make it to the future. Personnel executives have a different situation. They built the current roster, but are always looking to the future. What does the upcoming draft look like? Free agency? Should I be negotiating with my current players on extensions?
Both men actually gave the right answer.
The Eagles were close to being a winning team.
Being a winning team isn’t good enough.
The goal is to be a legitimate title contender. That means playing at a high level. The Eagles started to do this in 2001. They broke through in 2002 and played really good football again in 2003 and 2004. Those teams had a franchise QB, strong O-line and an outstanding defense. You can see where the current Eagles are headed in that direction. Whether they can be as good as the 2001-2004 teams is yet to be seen. That all depends on the development of Carson Wentz and whether they can find the right guys to go around him.
*****
#Eagles have interest in interviewing #Rams passing game coordinator/WRs coach Mike Groh for their WRs job opening, sources said.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) January 13, 2017
Jimmy Bama wrote about Groh here.
Groh has worked for the Bears and Rams. Prior to that he was at Alabama and did a great job with some talented college players. He is the son of former NFL and college coach Al Groh. Mike has been around the game of football his whole life.
One interesting angle with Groh is that he coached these players in the past:
Alshon Jeffrey
Brandon Marshall
Brian Quick
Kenny Britt
Marshall could be cut or might be available in a trade. The other three players are all free agents. Hiring Groh would not be a sign that the Eagles are going to pursue any of those WRs, but it is an interesting connection.
The problem with Groh is that he might want to be a QB coach in the NFL or offensive coordinator at the college level. He played QB in college and was a QBs coach at Virginia and Louisville. He was also an OC for Virginia.
If Groh wants to prove he can really coach, there is no better opportunity than taking the Eagles WR job. Get that group turned around and you would never be doubted again.
_
its tricky, tricky, tricky, tricky, its tricky to walk around to walk around
Odd news tangentially related to the Eagles:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-01-12-microsoft-epic-sued-over-gears-of-war-character
I wish we had a WR that was worth holding.
Draft Corey Davis
I would move up to get him or Williams
I don’t think the Eagles have to. One of them will be there at 14/15 but I do think Williams goes first.
I think one should be there. I don’t want them to settle on a guy in the 1st. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them move up.
If the team really, really loves one, Howie is definitely a guy that would be agressive enough to get him and considering his previous trades, get a decent deal.
I thought thats what he was hinting at “Not Settling” in his PC last week
Maybe, but I doubt the team has fallen in love with a prospect to the level of considering trading up in the first already.
Id be hesitant to give up a 3rd. Lots of talent in this draft.
yea but we need a premium offensive weapon for Wentz. Right now we have a good TE and a decent #2 WR and thats it
Yea. But we also have other holes. I wouldn’t mind grabbing a DE or CB if Davis/Williams aren’t there at 14.
Draft John Ross in the 2nd or another WR on day 3 (Shelton Gibson or Tywan Taylor).
I very much agree that we need a premium offensive weapon for Wentz, but still have way to many needs to give up ammunition that could be used to complete the roster.
Plus we’ve reached and paid the price in recent drafts. We need to draft BPA regardless of position, we need elite players all throughout the roster. We cannot get stuck on need and reach again. Roseman and Douglas have to nail this draft. We have a 3 year window before Wentz will need to be extended or let go. His development depends on offensive weapons, but also a good defense and ST as well.
We need a lot of things. There could be a full time starter at CB or RB for us in rd 3. You really dont want to give up that pick unless you think you are one receiver away from contending.
I didn’t think WR screens worked.
So why did the Falcons let Hester go?
This was essentially 6-win team that yet again won a meaningless game to finish the season just like the previous season. Yeah they played several close games that could have gone either way but you could say the same for a number of other teams that finished in the 6-10 win range.
My sense is that Roseman’s more frank and earnest assessment even if not directly speaking about specific needs is more accurate.
This is a team that can possibly make the playoffs next year with a strong draft and offseason but is a real long shot to be a title contender.
We played the hardest schedule in the NFL this year, our pythagorean win projection was -2.6 (ie for our points differential would normally have won us 2.6 more games), and we lost far more close games than we won. Combine that with a rookie QB who missed most of training camp and was not working with the 1st team all offseason and this team is pretty obviously better than their win record.
Which also reflects what we saw when we watched them play – outside of a horrible couple of games mid season this was a good team playing a lot of good teams and poorly executing late in games.
I dont think this team is far off from the playoffs. New coaches, QBs and schemes. If they keep improving each year they will be fine.
I could see them making the playoffs. Winning 11 or 12 games next year and getting to a Conference Game or Super Bowl? Nope.
Who knows? If they make playoffs i see no reason to believe they cant win a game, especially if we are good enough to win 11 or 12 games
I dont think there is a team in the NFC we absolutely cant beat next year.
Would everyone be ok if Wentz turned out to be as good as Matt Ryan?
I would. He is a Top 10 QB who has played even better this year.
Just has had a few bad playoff games which have really hurt his rep nationally.
Kind of reminds me of McNabb a bit. Funny how the past week has brought out a lot of appreciation from Reid.
The same fans who wanted to fire him after the ’08 season and were only happy to see him go.
Sure. Matt Ryan is good enough to win it all.
I would hope he is better but cant ask him to be a better passer. Hopefully he can add something with his legs similar to Steve Young
Fair enough.
As long as I get summary execution rights over anybody claiming Dak, Eli, or Cousins is better.
Matt Ryan putting on a clinic.
I dont really want to call Doug out. Sure play callling could have been better, but I dont think it was as atrocious as some people make it out to be.
Still, you have to wonder if the succes of the great offensive teams are purely because they have much better weapons than we do. I think Doug needs to improve and needs to go on a massive scouting trip across the NFL and look at whats working that he can use.
Seemed like he stayed rather basic and close to his own ideas this year. I get that, no weapons, a shaky OL after Lane went out and not only a rookie QB, but one that became the starter like a week before game 1.
But there were probably too many shadows of the stubborn Chip Kelly play calls.
The play calling needs some fine tuning for sure. The dumb screens have been drive killers. I think you can blame that on what personnel he has right now and he can’t execute it right now. Another problem might be that Wentz is falling flat in some areas. He can’t make all of the throws right now. His ball placement and reads have been all over the place.
You look at what the Falcons are doing right now and it’s nothing fancy. Matt Ryan is just scanning the field and completing a large majority of his throws. Of course having WRs that aren’t bums work very well too.
Agree with you. I also think Pederson needs to throw stuff out of the playbook that doesn’t work(WR screen to anyone not named Huff).
With the Falcons moving the ball like they are – Seahawks need to get a stop coming out of the half or this could be game over.
The penalty on the kick changed everything. Its a good game so far
I wouldn’t mind Atlanta winning it all this year
If they make it to the Super Bowl then I don’t see them beating the Patriots. If the Steelers/Chiefs make it then I can see them having a chance.
No one saw the Giants beating the Pats either. Maybe NE beats ATL 9 times out of 10. And maybe that one time is in the Superbowl
Im rooting for Big Red, but as long as its not the Cowboys i’m fine. I’d prefer the Pats to not win as well, but at some point you just can’t help but appreciate the level of football from Belichick and Brady aka the Sith of the NFL.
I got a feeling Andy goes to the SB this year… and then comes up short against Greenbay/Atlanta.
I can live with a ATL or KC win this year. Id even be ok with the Texans. I hate just about every other team
Poor andy.
Inherited a great Chiefs team and has 1 playoff victory in 4 years to be proud of …let KC start their own coaching debate to match ours.
Over Dallas and/or Pittsburgh sure. But I don’t really want yet another team without a Super Bowl to get one before we either.
Oh damn..Seahawks can’t catch a break.
Seahawks were cooked soon as Earl Thomas was lost for the playoffs… That secondary is just not the same without him. Sherman does not play as confident, they have no one who can cover the same level of field on the back end… and already the rest of their CB’s are not as a good as the Legion of boom once was. Bennett is a great DE, but outside of him there is no special rusher on the team, and if the QB gets time its game they can pick off this secondary as it is.
I think they also miss Lynch on the offense, he has been a monster in the playoffs. Ball control and big plays from Wilson were big keys to their playoff success. Now you’re relying on Wilson’s magic and Rawls to be Lynch.
Tyler Lockett is also hurt.
True but Richardson has stepped up.
I dont think he’s as good as Lockett
Watching this Falcons’ game makes me appreciate the Eagles victory vs them at their place.
Eagles’ best victory of the year and game plan too including letting anyone but Jones beat them.
Makes you wonder how we beat the Steelers and Falcons when they’re offensive juggernauts.
Any Given Sunday and good game plan.
Steelers just looked like somebody drugged their water bottles and completely off-kilter on both sides of the ball.
In the Falcons’ game, they played a really close game but stuck with the run including late in the 2nd half. Having a healthy Matthews and Mathews really helped too but the game plan enabled Wentz to keep within himself.
Really don’t want to see them having Wentz throw the ball 40+ times which happened an awful lot as the season went on. Pederson asked him to do too much and he really struggled as a result.
Everybody seems to harp on the lack of players & talent, Schwartz, Roseman, or even Lurie.
The biggest issue I feel this team faces is Pederson including having him call the offensive plans during the game. I see him as being the biggest hindrance to this team possibly doing well over the next 2 years.
Maybe I’m biased but there is nothing terribly innovate I saw and I have never thought he was articulate, intelligent, or quick-witted from any of the interviews he does. He doesn’t even really shine on 1-on-1 interviews in a more relaxed setting.
Does this mean I called for Pederson to be fired this offseason – No that was absolutely ridiculous.
The only way that would have been possibly merited if this team had lost out to finish the season with veterans on the team openly questioning Pederson as a coach. If that had been the case, it might have been warranted but nothing remotely close to that happened.
He deserves at least 2 more years at a minimum to show what he can do as a head coach.
Still like to see Roseman force Pederson behind the scenes to give up offensive play calling & transfer that to Reich this offseason though. Let Pederson concentrate on being the head coach next year without that additional burden.
On ATL’s (beautiful) 7-yard TD pass from Ryan to Julio Jones . . .
Mohamed Sanu engages — very clearly blocking w/ arms extended — the DB across from him at least two yards past the LOS and all the way to the four yard line . . .
before Jones catches the ball.
_______________
In the playoffs, the blocking rules that DGB apparently couldn’t master do not apply.
We just need to make the playoffs… that’s what you’re saying right?
After 2007 and 2011 yea just make the playoffs and see what happens.
Ertz is going to own January!
Eagles made the playoffs in 2013.
To be fair – it was right in that 2 yard area, which can be hard to judge for officials…. DGB would get down 4-5 yards and engage which is not going to be missed.
The initial engagement was close to the LOS.
But Sanu was easily past the point for an official to see it.
That said . . . it’s the kind of play I’m glad no flag was thrown.
Good teams and good players get good calls.
The Falcons paid more.
I live in atlanta. This is going to be painful.
In 2012 playoffs . . .
ATL took a 27-7 lead into the 4th Q over Seattle.
Then fell behind with about 30 seconds left 28-27.
But Falcons won it on a long FG at the buzzer.
______________
Russell Wilson put on a show in the 4th Q that day.
But today . . . no Marshawn Lynch or Earl Thomas.
Earl Thomas is the killer. That secondary is a lot more mortal without him and with it that entire defense.
Their more hype than actual rep at this point. Kind of reminds me of the Bears’ defense a few years after the ’85 defense.
It might start at the 3rd quarter today.
This game is also in Atlanta. There wasn’t a team I thought missed home field advantage as much as the Seahawks & took the Falcons this week.
I took the Pats but man 16 pts is insane. Liked Chiefs +1 and Boys at – 4 1/2.
All 4 home teams won last weekend and the Falcons are in the driver’s seat. Pats look close to a lock too to win tonight.
Can’t remember the last time that the home teams went 8-0 in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
The Falcons had good drafts in the last 3 years. Albeit, they had their franchise QB in place for a long time but it goes to show that a team can turn it around really fast with the right coaching.
They were really good a few years ago and then they hit a wall. I wonder if Carolina or AZ will have a bounce back.
Easy money. Can’t believe people thought Seahawks could keep up with Atlanta
Atlanta, that our crappy squad beat on?
Did someone forget to block downfield for Wilson? I don’t think ive ever seen him get lit up
How is that not a catch??
Looks like Kendricks is definitely getting traded or released no?
Seemed like he hardly was on the field this year. Wonder if we can package our no. One pick with him and move into top 10 again today year.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KendMy00.htm
Eeeeeesh
Highly doubt it. The cap savings is not much — lots of dead money release or trade. We were healthy at LB this year but next year could be completely different.
It might be tough though, with 4.8 million in dead money.
I love the team speed of Atlanta’s defense
The DL has been killing the OL.
Good night Seahawks. One sided but entertaining game.
How important is O-line Health?
Falcons have started the same 5 o-linemen for 17 games.
Historically . . . season-long O-line health corresponds to playoff success.
Magic talisman budget should increase by 1000%. Screw sports science.
Chip Kelly got a few things right. After two 10-6 seasons he realized that the Eagles were not really in a position to compete for a championship. But then he tried to kill off Roseman, burned through the Eagles salary cap excess, depleted the team of its offensive playmakers and put the team in salary cap hell by hiring expensive and inappropriate players. All this turned the Eagles into a bad team leaving the current team to solve the same problem Kelly had but now with no talent at corner and receiver and little cap flexibility.
Team has never been in ‘salary cap hell’. Salary cap hell is when you have to let good young players leave the team because you have awful contracts. Not being able to spend $20+mil in new free agency spending is not cap hell.
Chip failed because he when you have a decent defence and and a poor offence playing hurry up the entire season is not a recipe for success. He decided Culture > Talent, and failed to replaces those he threw away effectively.
There still not in good space in regards to the cap and have a few duds due to Roseman last offseason including Daniel and Curry.
Not sure how Daniel is a dud… he was signed to be a backup and he has held the clipboard effectively lol. Pretty sure Pederson demanded Howie to get him and he did – and he seems to have been a good vet around Wentz.
Curry was bad last year – but like many Howie deals we can get out of the deal if he fails to produce again next year.
Daniels’ had a $5M cap hit last year and next 2 years $8M/year. Lousy use of cap space especially this year when he’ll be the best paid backup in the NFL by a wide margin I bet and quite likely the highest ever paid QB backup in NFL history.
He is making more than Romo?
I could hold the clipboard, and you only have to pay me, say $500K
Yes, but now we might not be able to get rid of bad or inappropriate players due to cap effects and we don’t have the cap space to acquire the players we do need. So if I accept your definition, we are a step away from salary cap hell – were in salary cap New Jersey.
No, he incorrectly thought they weren’t in a position. The only reason the roster couldn’t make the playoffs was his shitty playcalling, and insistence on a stupid, archaic defense scheme that was exacerbated by the inept playcalling on offense.
His defense may have been a bit archaic but I also have a strong feeling Davis was a big culprit too.
Davis ran the 4-3 under in Arizona. He came here, CK said we want to run a 3-4 two-gap, specifically because that’s what would work well against his offense.
Please stop making me remember how awful CK was.
Davis was a lousy coordinator in his 3 previous stops and quickly lost his job at each place too.
… How did Pete Morelli get a playoff game?
Eric Rowe with his first contribution of the day, 15 yard penalty lol.
Today I learned that Jadeveon Clowney made the pro bowl? 6 sacks? Even B.Grizzle had more sacks than that, and he probably deserved to go.
He is a highlight reel type player though and ESPN loves him as does NFL network.
What highlights did he have this year? I don’t recall seeing him at all.
If Bill O’Brien had balls he’d go for it here… It’s not like playing keep up with the Pats is going to be easy.
Another FG coming up for the Texans
Seriously, only they could be gifted such things from the Patriots and still manage to fuck it up.
Whew
Brady at home in the playoffs: 15-3 vs 22-9 overall.
Against the spread: 9-8-1 at home.
Only 3 losses at Foxboro:
2012 Divisional Round: Ravens 13-28
2010 Divisional Round: Jets 21-28
2009 Wildcard: Ravens 14-33
Broncos, Ravens, and Giants are the only teams to have beaten him twice in the playofs.
Pats look like they are playing a bit tight and making some mental miscues. Wonder if they wake up after Belicheck spews venom and vitriol at them at halftime.
What was the spread at kickoff? I can’t believe the Pats aren’t just smearing the floor with these schlubs.
+16. Brady hasn’t been that sharp and their offense has been pretty mortal without Gronk. Hogan covered up some of that.
Give the Texans credit. They have looked angry & played aggressively. Some teams would have possibly faded a bit down 14-3.
Without Gronk, it really does make you wonder if the Pats have better offensive skill personnel than the Eagles (if they are each healthy).
I’d take a healthy Mathews over Lewis. Maybe a slight edge for Blount over Smallwood/Barner because of his size.
I’d take Ertz too over Bennett. At WR is where the biggest difference is – I’d take Edleman over Matthews but it isn’t a huge advantage. Pats have better depth at the position but Amendola is largely washed up, White is pedestrian, and Logan strikes me as the classic guy who is coached up & a product of Brady/this system.
Their WRs can consistently catch the football, understand route running, and have all around better football IQ than our WRs.
My sense it is because of coaching along with Brady’s accuracy & ability especially on intermediate and shorter routes.
Thats ridiculous. Forgetting the fact that you just removed their best player, but later forgives Mathews injuries, they outclass our weapons, even discounting Brady making them better.
A healthy Mathews? Yeah, thats his issue, you can’t just remove a weakness. Also, Blount has more running TDs than our entire team combined. The Pats have 2 better RBs, and the only where we compete is that Sproles has more big play ability/x factor than Dion Lewis.
I’d take Ertz too, but is reasonably close. Still, Gronk and Bennett outclass Ertz, Celek and Burton.
Their WRs are far, far better than ours. Edelman is a great player, better than JMatt solely because he can catch the ball, and while Hogan, Amendola an Mitchell aren’t impressive, they wipe the floor with the shit we have. The group is overall more balanced, can go deep, can create YAC and some possession ability.
Whenever Phil Simms says “he gets away with a little push off” you can pretty much assume the receiver got away with murder.
Am I crazy or his ability as a color guy declined? I used to not think he was too bad but he doesn’t seem to bring as much to the table anymore.
I never really liked Phil. Or Troy and Buck. I think a lot of the lower tier teams are actually superior.
I don’t mind Joe Buck as a play by play guy and prefer him more for football than baseball.
Like Aikman better too than Simms at this point. Simms just seems to miss too much. I like Collingsworth more even if he is a bit of a horse’s ass at times.
I thought it was funny how Buck slobbered all over the Indians during the world series only to see the Cubs win.
I think Buck is terrible, there’s no situation he can’t suck all the excitement out of.
I’d argue Buck is even more low key in baseball than NFL.
Buck recently put out his memoir out and has been doing media interviews the past few weeks. I listened to the one on NPR this week & kind of agree that fans are just used to their local announcers who typically bring a lot more emotion & intensity.
Generally agree especially some of the radio announcers. McManus for the Sixers locally is ridiculous and starting yelling about plays 2-3 minutes off tip-off. He’ll yell about a slam or a 3-pt when the score is 10-8 vs some terrible opponent.
I think that’s a cop out for Buck. He’s just got no emotional intensity whatsoever, no matter what happens. His idea of bringing excitement to the broadcast is to raise his voice an octave or two, but he doesn’t alter his inflection or verbage.
I personally think soccer announcers are the best announcers around. Not just because of the excitement they bring but because of what they’re willing to say. NFL announcers are somehow extremely opinionated without saying anything remotely interesting or controversial.
I think in the fifteen years I’ve been aware of Joe Buck’s existence, I’ve never heard anyone say they liked him.
I like Aikman, but that means I have to listen to Buck. Jack Buck was terrific, not so much the son.
Up vote for exact thought.
When the Texans rush 3 it’s not working at all… Pressure package is what is working for them.
Havent watch ANY Texans football this year, that defense is too legit!
Yea but the offense is more dysfunctional than ours
And they don’t have Watt… even competent QB play would make that squad a legit SB contender.
lol, big ups to Tracy Wolfson for braving a sideline interview with The Gremlin after that half of football.
Mike Waufle to the Bills. I was hoping Eagles could grab him to replace Wilson as DL coach.
thatll bout do it for the pats, gonna end up being a blowout, I hear the outfield, I dont wanna lose your love tonight
I repeat, how did Pete Morelli get to ref a playoff game? He should have been banished to the moon after our Detroit fiasco.
Will Fuller = Jordan Mathews?
floyds a drunk
Pats still cover. Home teams just dominating so far and crushing it vs spread (6-0).
They’re home teams for a reason
Trade Connor Barwin for Brandon Marshall please. Tod Bowles know Barwin and Jersey scheme is 3/4 4/3 hybrid – ideal for Barwin who has few years left in tank. I would have rather Marshall as bridge to some young home grown WRs, than pay for Jeffrey and get another overrated FA like in past years (See: Murray DeMarco, Maxwell Byron, Asomugha Nnamdi etc.) we are used to get in Free Agency. Also those older WRs are usually quite good in few more seasons. Like Steve Smith Sr., Ted Ginn, Crabtree, Anquan Boldin etc.
DeMarco looked pretty good this year…
Play calling and o-line dominance matched Murray’s skill sets. He wouldn’t be doing that anywhere but Tennessee of Dallas.
Marshall is a $7.5mil cap hit so would be doable and is not horrible value at that price, but only has 1 year left of his deal and is 32. Eagles have said they are not going to try and use as many band aids moving forward and due to his age he is unlikely to be the ‘solution’ in the medium term.
So put me in the meh – category, don’t hate it, but also don’t love it either.
Trade kendricks first
Britt? Quick? An old man? GTFOOH with that garbage. Eagles already have equally weak players. No thank you. I don’t know what’s up with AJ so really can’t comment on him.
….
Hoping Pederson’s comments are coach speak. Team isn’t close. Going into year 2 of rebuilding — you are not close. As of right now, team in pointed in right direction and that’s the best we can ask…
Closer now!
Round 1 Pick 19 (T.B.): Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State (A+)
Round 2 Pick 11: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama (A)
Round 2 Pick 18 (T.B.): Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State (A)
Round 3 Pick 10: Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky (A-)
Round 4 Pick 12: Travis Rudolph, WR, Florida State (A)
Round 5 Pick 1: Marquez White, CB, Florida State (A)
Round 5 Pick 11: Tanzel Smart, DT, Tulane (B)
Round 6 Pick 10: Keionta Davis, DE, Chattanooga (A-)
Round 7 Pick 12: Montae Nicholson, SS, Michigan State (B+)
Still waiting on that “block mock drafts” button, Disqus.
Here is the list of fringe guy on our current roster. Do any of you see any of these guys making an impact next year?
Rasheed Bailey, Andrew Bonnet, Don Cherry, ANthony Denham, Dillon Gordon. Dwayne Gratz, Darrell Greene, Aaron Grymes, Marcus Johnson, Alex McCalister, Aaron Neary, Aziz Shuttu, CJ Smith, Joe Walker, David Watford, Mitchell White, Dom Williams.
No. I wouldn’t be surprised if none made the team.
Best shots are Bonnet, gordon, and green.
Gotcha.
From my end, they could really use Green, Gordon, McCalister, Shittu, one CB, and one LB to really step up.
But it would be a large jump for any of these dudes to contribute.
Yeah, i mean McCalister is a possibility. That would be excellent if he is able to pan out, and do it this year. But long shot.
A cheap internal upgrade in the pass rush group would be most welcome.
Gordon’s a lock for the 53 short of a disaster.
Shittu’s got a chance at backup 3tech depending on what happens with DT, otherwise he’s probably back on the PS as a guy waiting for a call-up.
Gratz is a Terrence Brooks style reclamation project. He’ll have to be a special teams maven to make the roster over some kids and then have to bide his time until he gets a shot.
McCalister needs to show up 25lbs heavier with at least one counter and some semblance of football IQ. I’m not hopeful.
Walker is all about health. If he’s healthy he makes it. If not it’s Jacory Sheppard part 2.
Neary has an outside shot if injuries happen on the interior.
Thank you. I know T Davenport is a big Shittu fan, but I hope he gained some good weight.
McCalister showing up with 25lbs extra would scare me that he got into Lane’s “medicine” cabinet.
It’s not so much weight as play strength. Shittu was probably 285-290ish. If he can get to 295 that’s enough to be a backup 3tech (Vaeao’s probably more of a 1 tech long term anyways)
McCalister was 6’6 245. If he doesn’t get into Lane’s medicine cabinet he’s out of the league.
Can we split the difference on 30lbs and get him to 260 as a pass rush specialist for 2017 and 275 for an every down guy after we cut Curry’s bloated deal in 2018?
I’m not sure he’s even functional at 260. Dude is a twig. He’s got good burst and speed but not special to the point that he’s going to win off the edge without some strength. And trying to just run around the edge without using your hands isn’t gonna cut it in the NFL either.
If everything clicks he’s Taco Charlton (which is why he was drafted or kept around at all). I’m just not optimistic that he’s even functional.
We’ve all seen enough guys who can’t put it together in between the ears to be good players.
I cannot remember which beat reporter said it, but on twitter someone was hyping up McCalister saying he had put on 25lb’s and looked utterly different compared to pre-season.
It was Mclane or McManus I believe. We’ll see if he can keep it on and then you know, learn how to play football.
Lets hope he wasnt on the Lane Johnson diet.
Thanks for the insight. What are your thoughts on Greene?
I don’t really rate him. Doesn’t do much for me.
Asron Grymes looked like player potential
today is the 50th anniversary of Super Bowl I
KC and Green Bay are both playing today
Well it is a sad day to learn that 24/7 is shutting down…most likely cause of all the posters who left and came here among other reasons…
What do you expect when they try to replace Filet Mignon with McDonalds?
In case you were wondering, BB is actually the Goonies lady! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b2e3bd9d966955ebb3c0be91a21b3b4b6e738cc8157ca75431ce6276d64fc643.jpg
The team went 7-9 despite playing the toughest schedule in the league with a rookie QB and very poor skill position players, with all but 3 of the losses being close games that could’ve gone either way – change the outcome of just four plays (against DAL, DET, BAL, WAS) and they’re 11-5 and in the playoffs. They played the Cowboys – the best team in the conference – as tough as anybody. They had multiple impressive victories over playoff teams, including embarrassing the Steelers and the Falcons, two of the league’s top 6 or 7 teams this season. And they stacked up pretty well by advanced metrics, indicating that these victories weren’t flukes. They still have a lot of building to do – serious upgrades are needed at WR, CB, and RB at least. But they’re miles away either. With a last place schedule next year and Wentz improving from year 1 to year 2, I think they’re a good bet to make the playoffs.
I wonder what the Texans are going to do with their QB situation. Trading for Romo will create a massive money pit at QB for them. You can’t cut Osweiler right now and you can’t really give him anymore weapons than he already has. I believe they’ll try to draft a QB and groom him but they might not be in the position to grab one.
Would you trade down from the 15th pick to the 25th pick if they offered us Deandre Hopkins?
Yes, please. Too bad it’ll never happen. Hopkins is one of their best players.
Fineee we’ll throw in Paul Turner and Kelce too.
Lol. If that happens the hell will freeze tomorrow and Trump will step down.
So fast your head would spin.
If we are getting Deandre Hopkins we aren’t getting the 25th pick back in that deal. Not even sure our 1st would be enough alone.
https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/820669251900076032
What a shame, he might have been able to succeed there.
Feels like he isn’t cut out for the NFL now.
Was he ever ?
If he isn’t now he never was. I think that is pretty clear. I was one who thought getting rid of him so early was a mistake, though.
Guess I am the only one who thought he had the potential to be something special.
Not at all.
Hes an NFL bust but his future is still far brighter than most
You think so? I think he could probably go to college and do alright, maybe even come back Pete Carroll style later on. Now he might even become the OC in Jax.
I feel like no matter what, his next shot is his last one.
He’ll always have a job .. maybe he’s sad cause he snot making 7 million a year …
” Get that group turned around and you would never be doubted again.”
If he could turn this current group of receivers around I would pay homage to his greatness with a pilgrimage on foot from Baltimore to Philly, and I’ve got a nasty case plantar fasciitis!