Cutting the Corner
Posted: February 8th, 2017 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 202 Comments »There was the Chuck Bednarik Era.
There was the Ron Jaworski Era.
There was the Reggie White Era.
Sadly the Leodis McKelvin Era will not be joining those special periods in Eagles history.
Roster Move: #Eagles release CB Leodis McKelvin. pic.twitter.com/JBf7oKxG1w
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 8, 2017
Leodis did last longer than Frank Gore, but McKelvin proved to be a mediocre player. He started off okay, but nagging injuries got the best of him. And it wasn’t like he was Troy Vincent to start with.
The Eagles will gain $3.2M in cap space. They need that so they can go get WR help…and maybe go after a CB. Oh the vicious cycle of life.
The Eagles will have their 9th different starting CB combination in 2017 in 11 seasons: pic.twitter.com/t79iyYInV4
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) February 8, 2017
Nolan Carroll is a free agent. I know there were some reports about the Eagles talking to him, but don’t expect anything to happen there. From what I’ve heard, Carroll isn’t likely to come back.
The Eagles want to get better at CB.
The Eagles want stability at CB.
Carroll won’t help the team get better. And he wouldn’t offer long term stability. He would be a band-aid. The Eagles have had enough of that. They need to find players that can man the corner spots for several years. Jalen Mills has a chance to start at one spot. The Eagles will draft one or two corners and could add one in free agency. They know this is a spot that must be addressed aggressively.
*****
Source: the Eagles have waived DL Connor Wujciak. Spent the 2016 on IR. Former BC standout.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 8, 2017
Not big news, unless you study the DT depth chart very intently. Wujciak was a key UDFA last year, but got hurt and never really got to show what he could do. The Eagles obviously felt they had seen enough or were just ready to move on.
Aziz Shittu was on the practice squad all year and is still on the roster. He showed good promise in the preseason.
Shittu having a solid night, 2nd TFL so far pic.twitter.com/UzKty2a3Tg
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) September 2, 2016
Shittu overpowers guard before getting into the backfield for a TFL pic.twitter.com/PCnfsy6Y4X
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) September 1, 2016
The Eagles are focused on Bennie Logan when it comes to DT. If they lose him, things get interesting. Has Beau Allen shown you enough to start? Do you spend a high pick on a DT? Let’s hope they bring Logan back so the only question is whether they spend a late pick at DT or are pretty happy with depth like Beau Allen, Destiny Vaeao, Shittu and newly signed Justin Hamilton.
_
“I was in this coverage, and s— opened up so wide, I said he fittin’ to sit this (expletive) down and curl. I’m fittin’ to jump this s— and make a play. Ahhhh s—, wrong time. Wrong time. It was the wrong time for me to do that,” McKelvin said. You will be missed Leodis, God speed.
Lol, I remember him by that quote more then the INT.
Howie R. hopefully won’t make the same mistake with JP like Joe Banner did with Dawk.
Very different situations. Dawk was on the market so Eagles had to bid vs other teams. Peters is already an Eagle. Team is just trying to find a way to get some cap relief while keeping him happy. Should be easier to do that.
“The problem with approaching a player with a pay cut, is if the player says no you better be prepared to cut them” @AndrewBrandt
every year, every team does this — re-work the numbers so all parties are happy….pay cut is the wrong words to use…
We wouldn’t have had this problem if we would have moved on from Peters last year and picked up Mitchell Schwartz in FA… On that basis alone, I think the team has a right to ask. JP of course has a right to say no, but this organization has made him a wealthy man so, maybe he will be willing to do something to help out. He’s got to want that ring (if he keeps playing).
we were trying to turn back the clock to pre-ck era, so i think made some decsions we wouldn’t have made otherwise.
Look i don’t know what the Eagles asked him to do, but you can do a little restructure – save the Eagles a couple of million dollars, give him 2017 guaranteed money and better cash flow and everyone should be happy.
They may be asking for more and if that is the case then it may well be a situation where you need to be willing to cut him. I don’t see it personally – he is worth what he was paid in 2016, but maybe the team is just really high on Vaitai and want to move on in that direction asap.
We need 3 new CBs regardless of how we get them.
Plan A
Preferably you draft one or two high or back to back in the first + second round. Then sign some low key CB like Prince Amukamara/Morris Claiborne to come in to compete.
Plan B
Draft a CB high and another one in the late rounds to develop (5-7). Sign a tier two FA like Trumaine Johnson, Dre Kirkpatrick, Logan Ryan or whoever to lock down the #2 spot.
Plan C
Draft one and spend big bucks on CBs because that has worked out well for us recently.
Plan D
Draft a CB in the mid rounds and hope he pans out. Sign two journeyman CBs like we have done for the last 4 years and continue the revolving door of CBs. Maybe we’ll luck out on one!
Well, that’s kind of backwards, because FA happens first, but I get what you mean.
I would actually prefer your Plan B to Plan A. Everyone knows we need more CB talent, I’m not denying this, but CB is up there in the top 3 positions that is notoriously difficult to transition to the pros. If we take two high-picked corners, say both Florida or Ohio State corners for example, you’re really banking on two rookies carrying your secondary. We have elite safeties, which should make that easier, but I’m not thrilled with that…
It’s cost more money, but I would feel much better with a guy like Trumaine Johnson (who you KNOW can ball) as the vet who can teach the high talent rookie, High Talent rookie (Tabor, Lattimore, Jones, whoever), Mid-round rookie (Douglas, Kazee, Elder, etc.) and Mills. Plus you can go after Williams/Davis in the first if you want and pick a 2nd round CB no problem
That’s true, Plan A has the highest chance of yielding two good-elite CBs at a low price but as you said it also has a high chance of failure. The key here is that the draft is deep at CB so you could end up having a steal in the second round. There is still some doubts about our coaching staff’s ability to develop CB talent so there’s that too.
IMO, Plan B is the safest route in terms of everything and that’s my preferred choice as well. It’ll allow us to be flexible since you can’t really focus on one position for a team with a lot of holes. We’ll have some cap space if we cut/restructure some players so that shouldn’t be much of an issue. However said FA CB would want to play for us and we would probably have to win a bidding war.
Also true. It also depends on the particular FA CB. I’d feel a lot better about TJ or AJ Bouye in that role than I would Dre Kirkpatrick or Logan Ryan.
God help us all if they bring in Mo Claiborne and his Dallas stank.
I hope we end up with something like plan B.
I really like Kempski’s 7 round mock draft in that regards
http://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-only-2017-nfl-mock-draft-version-20/
I’m on the Logan Ryan bandwagon- the second to last time we got a CB from New England, it worked out well. Sorry Ellis Hobbs, you don’t count.
We really need 2 starters, including the slot. Coaching staff loves Mills, so I think its his job to lose. We saw what happens when Jenkins plays in the slot (he’s good, but our safety depth sucks which weakens 2 positions groups). So we are looking for at least 3 different CB’s, potentially 4 depending on how the talent shakes out. This will be tricky.
I liked Ellis Hobbs. That neck injury really bummed me out.
Ya, shitty way to end your career. I thought he was a poor mans Asante, without the ball skills to back up that style of play.
I liked his car and charitable work more than anything- hopefully he’s having a productive and fulfilling retirement.
Logan Ryan would undoubtedly be an upgrade over what we had. There has to be a lot of homework done on him first. He was rotating with Rowe on a game to game basis at one point. I think that Belichick contributes to a lot of his players success (like a 60/40 ratio). I would prefer Trumaine Johnson over Logan Ryan but that’s just personal preference.
These do seem to be the options. A is probably best for the team, even though we all really want a play maker on offense early.
Plan D is a good one too. That is of course if you don’t trade him after his rookie year. Sadly he wasn’t a mid round pick either.
Because there’s crap out there, Claiborne and Logan Ryan will command big bucks. We over paid for Assholgha and Maxwell. Hopefully, we’re done with that.
Called SPARQ:
https://3sigmaathlete.com/rankings/dl/
at one point the Eagles had 3 guys on the OL who was 3 sigma’s over average in atletisme in Mathis, Kelce and Johnson.
Good move to cut McKelvin. Hopefully Roseman, Schwartz and whoever else was involved learned something from that mistake. Rowe should would be nice to have on the roster now. Mills needs a lot of development IMO, hopefully he’ll make a big jump this coming season. It is going to be very tough again, as we’ve seen now for several seasons, to have multiple new CB integrate into the defense.
Thought Aaron Grymes looked athletic & promising…
I liked Grymes and CJ Smith as well… albeit against 3rd stringers and practice squad players.
I’d prefer the Eagles devoted resources to the offense over the defense this offseason, in fact I’ve talked myself into taking a RB in the first if Cook were available.
Topic for discussion: is this because I shamelessly want Carson to light it up next year, wins/awful defense be damned? Or is it because the defense doesn’t REALLY need all that much?
Our defensive “needs” aren’t really as glaring as the offensive side of the ball (outside of CB)- but we are going to need to start thinking about DE, and probably another LB in addition to our CB issues.
Offense is more complicated. We’ve got some potential depth issues along our OL. Going to need a starting Tackle, and either a Guard/Center. We need 2 WR’s. Going to need at least 1 RB for next year (unless Marshall or TinyErection develop into something). Probably a TE after this coming year (depth and decide what to do with Burton).
This is a big off-season for this team- we need to add some explosive talent on offense, but our pass rush/secondary issues need to be resolved as well. As of now, I’m in the category of trading back to accrue additional resources and see what happens. But that’s only as of today.
The charts of our previous 1st round draft picks have been horrible; say what you will about Dallas, but they’ve nailed their first rounders for the last 6+ years- far above league average of about 55% success/starter rate.
The Eagles can make the playoffs with an improved offense if the defense stays the same.
It would take a ton of luck to go anywhere after that.
Thanks for validating that line of thought. It’s hard to look at a defense with ZERO STARTING CORNERS and be like “well it’s not that bad” BUT I actually think that’s the case here.
I think coach Schwartz would agree with that. I’d be pretty disappointed if we don’t take at least 1 CB from this draft class and at least 1 Dline though.
The corner play can hardly get much worse, so there’s that.
I would say the latter.
Stop overpaying for these lousy FA CBs, draft one or two instead.
Find corners is almost as hard as finding QBs it seems.
Douglas stated as much in a recent interview at the Senior Bowl; something about projecting corners is just about the hardest position group to field at the NFL level.
3-4 OLBs also have an extremely high bust/underperformance probability. Which is one more reason why it’s nice to be back in the 4-3 defense.
Think we need to do both – sign a good free agent CB, and draft 1-2 CB’s.
They probably will do both, but we know the Eagles’ track record since 2010 of spending on FA CBs, they have been bad and costly.
Haven’t had much success with either option in both ’11 and ’15.
Signed: Asomugha (’11) and Maxwell (’15)
Drafted:
2011: Jaiquawn Jarrett, Curtis Marsh
2015: Eric Rowe, JaCorey Shepherd, Randall Evans
Can somebody just give the Eagles the right formula for DBs?
They signed Carey William and Fletcher somebody a couple of years ago who stunk. Reid, Roseman, and Joe signed many overpriced FA corners over years because they drafted poorly at that position. Hopefully, this new player guy from Balt will help Roseman draft better.
“The 2017 draft QB class is shaping up to be a weak one.”
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/02/09/nfl-draft-quarterback-needs-mitch-trubisky-deshaun-watson-deshone-kizer-nathan-peterman
Remember last year when it was a weak QB class and teams should wait for 2017?
Last year Howie said the Eagles looked ahead to 2017 and didn’t see a strong group of QBs.
Spot on- that’s why they made a huge push last year to get their guy. Factor that in with the number of teams that are looking for a young guy to draft, they played the field correctly and beat the curve by a year or two.
Now, if we could just have that same success in the draft, we’d be well on our way.
I mean, HR said that after they drafted him. There was so much hype last year about waiting for Watson, and now he probably won’t be drafted in the first round.
Watson was seen as a running QB. He had 1,100 yards rushing in 2015. Howie, as well as most NFL coaches, knew he wouldn’t be a hot commodity due to his high injury risk in the NFL.
Well he still said it, which look to be true now and its not like there is any high ranked QB said to hit the draft next year
One free agent CB I don’t see mentioned often is Marcus Cooper. Not sure where to read up on this guy.
Would he be a band-aid or a legitimate starter?
http://raisingzona.com/2017/01/27/arizona-cardinals-free-agent-preview-marcus-cooper/
http://www.ninersnation.com/2013/6/6/4400920/49ers-undrafted-free-agents-marcus-cooper-prospect-profile
Thanks for the link.
Youngish guy… knows how to catch a football that hits him in the hands. Gets beat deep.
Well, we have some pretty good safeties to help with the deep ball problem if we can keep our slot CB healthy.
I would see this as a real possibility to upgrade over Nolan Carroll. We need multi-answers at CB this off-season. Somehow, we have to take enough gambles at the position to be able to have a player we won’t need to resign four years from now.
I love Benny. He has all the tools to be one of the better interior pass rushers in the game. He seems as though he is high character. It pains me to have to hold a down year against him. He was in a new system and might have had some nagging nicks.
The problem is that he only has that year to show himself in that system, and he was in a contract year (the year you damn sure better not have a bad year). I can’t give him a pass. I can’t be happy if we back a Brinks truck into his driveway.
Am I crazy?
That man will get a brinks truck in his driveway no matter what unless he retires. So yes, I think you are crazy. Hope we keep him. Howie is smart with contracts. That’s my total thought on it.
No, I think Bennie is a little overrated by the fanbase. He’s a good run defender that can take up a blocker but I’m not sure if he’s in the same tier as Snacks Harrison and Linval Joseph. I’d pay him 5-6 million a year on a short term deal (if he wants) with some performance incentives.
His on the field value tops out around $6m, but players like him are getting 40% more than that in FA. Look at Brockers last year- average of around $11m per year. Now, he was a Top 10 pick, but Bennie (who shares the same agent that Cox uses) will probably be looking for that range.
He’s not worth that much money; anything over $7.5m is too much for him in my opinion. We’d have almost $40m locked in to just our starting D-Line if we pay him that…………
We (the fan base) better start coming to grips with the fact that he is not likely to be here next year
Yes- which is something that I’m coming around to think about…….. Bennie is good, but not great. He didn’t show a lot last year even with Cox getting most of the attention (I’d call him above average). Is that worth $9m a year? Not to me, not with the holes we have to fill
I want to keep Bennie but you don’t back up the brinks truck for him. If we lose him our DT situation is a lot more unsettled, guys like Vaeao and Allen are nice rotational guys but I don’t think you want either one as your 16 game starter going into the year.
Any way you slice it folks we have too many positions to address all in one offseason. Wherever we devote our resources someplace is going to end up getting short shrift. I say work on bolstering strength across the board.
“Any way you slice it folks we have too many positions to address all in one offseason.”
That depends on how you define “address”
I would say that the only position the team absolutely needs to address is cornerback. All of the other positions are serviceable, but several could use upgrades (WR, OL, DL, LB, RB).
I would add WR as a need as well.
WR is a need, but Doug seemed to make it much worse last year by depending on Ags instead of involving Ertz and Burton until the very end of the year.
After watching the Superbowl, I would say that Ertz, Burton and JMatt would be an upgrade over the Patriots entire WR/TE roster (discounting Gronk because he was injured). Amendola, Edelman, Hogan and Martellus Bennet are nothing to write home about.
I think our outside WRs are among the worst in the league. Cant go into 2017 with Wentz throwing to scarecrows.
I don’t disagree.
wow. I’m sure there’s no Eagles bias there. Burton? Come on. Edelman is a guy every team in the nfl would want. Plays with twice the heart of any Eagle wr. Is not an upgrade over Jmatt. Hogan is a question mark as he’s still young. Burton? Ertz would be amazing in Brady’s offense…
Julian Edelman is Cole Beasley with 60 more targets. New England’s offense is predicated on dinks and dunks. Small, slow-but-quick receivers who run 2 yard crosses and 3 yard slants are a dime a dozen.
Burton has excellent hands and was severely underutilized.
Just need to work on acquiring talent and developing players. All teams have places that need to be addressed.
Media Mike- This is for you. Based on Fanspeak big board
I tried to stay as close to talent availability crossed with team needs this year and going forward.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/600fc387ffd3fd4b4fb44463d719023e37a9ec209f9b1cbf2298f0b32bda430c.png
Media Mike will flush your phone down the toilet for drafting Mixon.
To me, that’s too good of value to pass up at that spot; didn’t like my other options.
Would you still draft him if he punched your sister in the face?
Fuck Mixon.
If we worried about what every single player did wrong off the field, we wouldn’t field a team. I’m not saying draft every idiot we can, but at some point they deserve another chance. What he did was VERY wrong, but we do have experience with troubled players going on to have productive careers, trouble free.
No, doing drugs, running a red light, possessing a firearm but not using it, those things deserve a second chance. Punching a woman in the face doesn’t get a second chance. He’s a scumbag to the core and shouldn’t be employable.
You don’t get to decide who gets a second chance and who doesn’t thankfully. He’ll play again. One mistake, no matter how huge doesn’t disqualify him from playing football ever again in life. Do you feel this strongly about Jared from Subway? I sure as hell hope it’s stronger disdain than this, cuz child molestation and pornography in my opinion is on a level all it’s own.
I don’t want Jared on this team.
Bad guy / bad “food” product.
Did you want Vick?
Vick went to jail. Mixon had to take a redshirt.
So.
One had consequences for his actions.
Really doesn’t matter whom any of us “want” because we don’t make the calls. It’s beyond stupid to act as if you’re someone’s Judge, Jury and Executioner though. Are you mistake free? Nobody on this site knows the errors you’ve made in life, yet I’m sure you’re gainfully employed.
I dunno, he might be very valuable in those 4th and a foot situations.
Never mind, he’s not worth it.
Try him at DE? Dallas has a lot of young kids in their backfield…
Ouch
Why? Its okay put peoples live in danger, but not okay to hit somebody back after they hit you first?
I tend to “forgive” relatively easily for things done in the heat of the moment, especially if alcohol is involved. Much less so when there’s an established course of conduct. Unfortunately, once bad behavior becomes habitual, it usually takes a “bottoming out” for people to want to change. No idea how this applies to any of the people under discussion.
So you equate possessing a firearm (legal) with doing drugs (potentially illegal) and running a red light (illegal)?
Well, I’m glad to see we have a Judge and Jury on this board, to go along with the attorney.
That’s why I keep coming back!
If he’s changed, give him a shot. I’m guessing you’ve never done something you regret?
Not employing a woman beater means I’ve never done something wrong?
pretty solid logic bro
Thanks bro, but its the sentiment behind it. Did he serve his time? In other words, was he sentenced, and completed his legal requirements? If so, then he’s upheld his legal requirements.
Listen, what he did was horrible. I’ve seen the video a number of times. There was an investigation. It’s over. Move on. I get it man, retribution is “en vogue” right now- but it doesn’t make it right. His debt has been paid
If my sister hit him in the face first? If you hit someone you don’t know expect to be hit back. Not saying anyone should hit anyone, but this isn’t like he went to a random person and popped them.
Dalvin Cook punched a girl too but no one bats an eye when his name gets brought up.
I say what Cook did is worse than what Mixon did.
No video proof so no one cares.
I just don’t have him on my board due to his issues.
I thought we wanted players with good hands? (is that over the line?)
I hear ya- that’s something I wrestled with; not saying he has changed, maybe he hasn’t. But that’s what the scouting department has to determine. What he did was wrong, no doubt. But if he’s trying to straighten his life out, why not give him the opportunity to do so here?
That’s a bit extreme; I’d never do that to a phone. I’d rather punch Mixon.
Good work, but as Mac put it; no Mixon. He’s off the board.
Here is one I did with CBS’s board. I didn’t reach beyond the 5th or 6th best available when picking.
14: R1P14 CB MARSHON LATTIMORE OHIO STATE
43: R2P11 G DAN FEENEY INDIANA
74: R3P10 WR ISAIAH FORD VIRGINIA TECH
117: R4P12 CB RASUL DOUGLAS WEST VIRGINIA
138: R4P33 RB KAREEM HUNT TOLEDO
156: R5P11 TE JEREMY SPRINKLE ARKANSAS
195: R6P10 OT STORM NORTON TOLEDO
233: R7P12 EDGE TASHAWN BOWER LSU
Pitchforks and torches, MM. “Fans” would take to the streets, not to mention turn over tables at the draft, if our Iggles drafted a guard in the 2nd round.
They’re going to need one and Feeney is really really good.
how far do you think butt falls in the draft due to injury?
3rd probably, just because the class is so TE heavy. Some playoff team is gonna get a steal at the tail end of the top 100.
My new draft plans; always get a Feeney!
I’d laugh at them. The team needs talent upgrades all over the place.
Yes, Sprinkle!
I see him as a logical player to add now so that we have a new blocking TE in place as Celek rides off into retirement after this year.
Other than Sprinkle and Bower, you and I are tracking on the same line of thinking. I don’t know a lot about those guys, but I like the depth options, with potential contributors in Round 4.
I like to learn more about those guys (especially on first pick where you can click their name) as you go through.
posted this before but you may have missed it. Do you keep track of these? do you have any favorites from last years draft? any that worked out well for the eagles knowing what you know about the players’ rookie years?
No, I don’t really keep track of them closely. If I have a guy who I really like that I try to keep drafting, I will keep tabs on that dude on draft day. As was the case with Travis Feeney last year. I’ll also use them as a rough gauge, along with a lot of rankings / mocks, for looking at how much value the Eagles got by taking a guy in a particular spot.
I just they’re a fun way to start conversations here about the different prospects and get a chance to learn more about the players from a few of the folks on here who really know college / scouting.
Did my own mock draft out of boredom and yes I had no clue on what I was doing.
1. Browns – Myles Garrett DE
2. 49ers – Mitch Trubisky QB
3. Bears – Marshon Lattimore CB
4. Jaguars – Malik Hooker S
5. Titans – Corey Davis WR
6. Bengals (from Jets) – Solomon Thomas DE
7. Chargers – Jamal Adams S
8. Panthers – Dalvin Cook RB
9. Jets (from Bengals) – Sidney Jones CB
10. Bills – Jonathan Allen DE
11. Saints – Reuben Foster LB
12. Giants (from Browns) – Leonard Fournette RB
13. Cardinals – Teez Tabor CB
14. Colts – Cam Robinson OT
15. Eagles – Mike Williams WR
16. Ravens – Taco Charlton DE
17. Redskins – John Ross WR
18. Titans – Quincy Wilson CB
19. Buccaneers – Malik McDowell DE
20. Broncos – OJ Howard TE
21. Lions – Derek Barnett DE
22. Dolphins – Tim Williams EDGE
23. Browns – DeShone Kizer QB
24. Raiders – Gareon Conley CB
25. Texans – Ryan Ramzcyk OT
26. Seahawks – Garret Bolles OT
27. Chiefs – Marlon Humphrey CB
28. Cowboys – David Njoku TE
29. Packers – Alvin Kamara RB
30. Steelers – Haason Reddick LB
31. Falcons – Charles Harris DE
32. Patriots – Jarrad Davis LB
Be the optimist, have us take Mike Williams at 14.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
If we lose the coin toss Eagles fans should pelt Goodell with coins until he has to leave the draft.
MM, the unrestrained id of Eagles’ fandom.
If that shoulderpad douche wasn’t a complete tool, he might be MM.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. That guy is the worst. I’m not a fan of playing dress up.
At all times!
I agree with Dave, the Colts aren’t entitled to our coin flip win.
And more QBs 1-13 please.
Barnett goes higher, edge rushers rarely slip down.
Barnett is unbelievably overrated on this site. If any DE is undervalued here it is Charles Harris.
Well, if he’s overrated, it’s not just on this site.
Higher to who? IMO, Barnett is purely a 4-3 DE with a low ceiling but high floor.
I think edge rushers might be second to only qb when it comes to being overrated in today’s environment.
I feel bad for McKelvin. He started off pretty good then pulled the hammy and never recovered. Missed opportunity.
He plays reckless. Don’t like that at all.
I’m still more mad that Nnamdi snagged Kerri Washington than I am about anything he did or didn’t do on the field.
The wheel of karma should have dealt Nnamdi a much worse hand.
He’ll get his in the next life.
Depending on how many hits he took, he’ll probly get his before he’s 50.
Hopefully we can find out who/what he is in his next life and boo that as well.
You know, I don’t actually hate him. Not sure why.
She was totally yours if it weren’t for Nnamdi right? 😉
I believe I’ve already made it clear on this board that me and Sheena Parveen are getting pretty serious.
Nolan Carroll seems iko go be a really nice athlete. .. just don’t know why he isnt better
He panics when the ball is in the air. That’s the biggest thing I saw from him last year.
Athletic but uncomfortable getting all turned around and lackibg fundamental wherewithall about it all
I keep looking over at the sidebar and seeing “DB Update” with Ron Brooks being hurt and it cuts off at “that’s a season ender…” Tommy was eerily prescient with that line.
I’m just not sure that Ron Brooks going down had anything to do with defensive decline. Did you know that ice cream sales are highly correlated with murder rates?
This is why I only allow the lactose intolerant into my inner circle.
Wisconsin travel ban?
I was getting some flack for this the other day. Is Ron Brooks an epic Slot CB, probably not (but I dare say that no slot CB is going to blow people out of the water, which is why they’re not playing outside CB). But he filled an important role on the defense.
2016 Eagles defense: Better with Jenkins at S or slot CB?
Or if you prefer: Would you rather have Ron Brooks on the 2016 Eagles defense or Jalen Watkins?
My opinion: I’ll take Jenkins at S, and I’d rather have a healthy Brooks over Watkins.
Conclusion: Yes the Brooks injury had a negative effect on the defense.
Yeah, Ron Brooks as Ron Brooks didn’t make the defense good. Ron Brooks as the guy who kept Malcolm Jenkins at safety made the defense better.
I don’t buy that. If the dropoff was so big from Jenkins moving to slot as needed, they could have picked up a slot corner down-roster or off the street.
Because the Eagles always do what makes the most sense?
The slot guys on the street weren’t really that good. I think the better argument would be to have moved up the practice squad guys sooner.
You didn’t want to call up Joselio Hanson?
so have we given up on a brandon cooks trade?
Not sure it was real to start with, not sure what the plan is with the Saints, but i doubt it is trading good cheap talent when you only have a few years of Brees left.
I would pick up the phone and ask however, offer our 3rd and Kendricks and see if there is interest – it probably ends up costing a 2nd but it is worth asking i guess, just seems unlikely.
I’d trade our 2nd for him; kid can ball.
If only it was that simple.
I’d give up a 2nd in a heartbeat. Hell, I’d give them our 1st if they took Ags too.
Keep Ags for 1 more year. Let him earn his spot but he has value
Kendricks is a guy who perennially intrigues me. This year is no different. I almost feel as if he and a 3rd are to much (which means it is probably right). I would drop a 2nd in a heartbeat though.
They let Kenny Stills go. Michael Thomas put up way better stats (i think) + cap issues.
He will cost at least a 1st and why would the Saints give up their best WR if Drew Brees wants to play 3-4 more years?
Let the speculation, otherwise known as “reports”, begin.
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2017/02/10/eagles-pursue-alshon-jeffery/
4 years, $39m, $18m gtd.
For Jaccpot that seems about right. Maclin is averaging $11M. Alshon will want $13+ per year.
DJax won’t get 10m/year anymore. He will be happy to get 8 at his age.
Who were you referring to? Alshon?
DJax
Maclin is a scoring machine compared to DJACC.
Jimmy’s most recent article on Pierre Garcon talked about how every agent alive is going to be dropping the Eagles’ name to “insiders” this offseason. I agree with him, and would advise caution when hearing about these kinds of rumors.
With that said, I’ve kind of expected them to make a run at him. A separate question is _should_ they take a run at him. I go back and forth. But as to the question of _will_ they take a run at him, I’d say there’s a high chance. He fits the mold of the splash free agents of the Reid era. Target someone who will be with the team for a long time, at a position of need, and who is more of a sure thing than other, similar FAs. For example, back in the day, we didn’t go in for middle to poor guys who demanded top money, like Peerless Price or Antwan Randle-El. When we went in, it was for a guy like TO or Kearse (OK ,TO was a different kind of deal, but the idea remains).
Again, I think the debate over SHOULD THEY is different than the debate over WILL THEY, and I have a strong feeling that this is exactly the kind of move that Howie would make.
Well said.
Very well said. Garçon makes a lot of sense for a team with an established #1 receiver. In Indy he played well as a #2, in DC he had Desean to take pressure off. It make sense in that regard, I just don’t see philly as the team.
Garcon doesn’t make much sense considering his age and the Eagles desire to build a corps for the future. I’d say Jax’s old connection to the team makes him a more likely scenario.
Jackson probably ends up in LA
he’s just using the Eagles for leverage
They are almost the same age.
Neither would be a long-term solution. Eagles need someone to stretch the field though, which Jackson gives you while Garcon does not. Garcon could make sense as a cheaper secondary WR addition if we get a young, fast guy in the draft — but free agency happens before the draft. If the Eagles draft a WR with the first pick, and Garcon is still unsigned at that point, then adding him as a veteran would make more sense.
What if we picked up Garcon and Goodwin? Surehanded wily vet, and a young speedster… Then get a rookie in the draft (wouldnt have to be first round). The idea is to build a wr corps here… not add one elite guy.
Yep, could do that… though not sure Goodwin has shown as much as even DGB at this point. Hard guy to count on, but as part of the potential solution it could make sense. You would prefer to have a deep threat you can count on in free agency though, so you don’t put that pressure on a draft pick (and also don’t force a draft for need). Goodwin is more of a “hope” signing, not someone you can count on as a #1 or #2 receiver. The other constraint of course is cap space (along with other holes like CB), so you can’t go all-out on spending. Garcon and Goodwin would be a little underwhelming there as a free agent haul, though it may be more of a realistic target.
True, but Djax has the former Eagles thing going for him, which I think would make more sense for him to return (plus his skillset is more unique).
And I hate him.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=18661161&sf55664822=1
“We’re going to be the next Cleveland Browns” – some “fans” after Chip Kelly was fired. Turns out we’re not that dysfunctional to the point where a theoretical top 5 draft pick won’t want to play for you.
Im sure Garret isn’t the only player not wanting to play for CLE.
I dont see a reason why CLE would want Romo.
I can get wanting to not play for Cleveland, but actively wanting to play for Dallas is a massive character flaw.
Well, he is from Texas
Could have been a Texans fan instead.
He’s from Arlington
Could have been smarter.
strike 2
strike 1
I don’t even know who that guy is and he’s already my least favorite player.
https://youtu.be/X9BUJxhk25s
He’s an interesting talent, but I can’t lay down $14, $15, or even $16 mil a year on the open market to a guy I don’t know and who is a 10 game spectator the next time he gets busted with PEDs. The suspension officially ended my desire to add Alshon.
I get it. His laundry list of soft-tissue injuries that keep him off the field for extended amounts of time is what makes me want to leave him alone. He’s the Mychal Kendricks we already have.
Yeah, that’s a really important point as well. I’m really at the point where I only want the Eagles paying top dollar for re-signs of their own best players with the exception being a transcendent (and iron man type) talent hitting the market.
I went with 3 CBs in this mock, but only after trading down once in the 2nd and once in the 3rd. I’m not trading down any lower than 19 in round 1 due to what Kempski out out about pick #20 being the Rubicon that shan’t be crossed.
Round 1 Pick 15: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State (A)
Round 2 Pick 14 (MINN): Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana (A)
Round 3 Pick 12 (N.O.): Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy (A)
Round 3 Pick 22 (MINN): Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina (A)
Round 4 Pick 5 (LAR): Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida (A-)
Round 4 Pick 12: Jaleel Johnson, DT, Iowa (A+)
Round 4 Pick 33: Daeshon Hall, DE, Texas A&M (B+)
Round 5 Pick 11: Corn Elder, CB, Miami (Fla.) (B+)
Round 6 Pick 10: Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State (A+)
Round 7 Pick 12: Jeremy Cutrer, CB, Middle Tennessee (B+)
General logic was. Starting CB and OG with the first two picks. 2018 Peters replacement with Garcia in the 3rd. Jones and Mack to get significant snaps at WR and RB. Johnson go slide in as DT 4 or 5 on the roster assuming we keep Bennie. Hall as DE 4 or 5 depending on what happens with Means. Elder as special teams / slot trainee. Pumphrey as the return man upgrade from Barner as we look to have Sproles replaced for 2018. Cutrer as the last man on the 53 and/or practice squad stash.
Certainly no Countess style mega-busts or mega-reaches here.
https://youtu.be/CDD2R02Qcdo
So you’re in favor of Lattimore at 14?
Now that I’ve seen some footage, I would definitely not be upset. He fits a big need and seems to be a very good player. I just want an impact player, no matter what position we end up going with.
Never a full time starter. Long History of hamstring problems. He’s talented but huge bust potential as well.
I saw the hammy stuff in what I read, so that’s worth considering. I’m kind of down of Tabor because I’m reading “big wuss who plays off and is scared of deep speed”, so that’s not a Schwartz guy.
which CB’s do you prefer as potential targets for us?
I’m actually liking the guys that are being ranked in the late 1st and second rd ( Wilson, White, sutton, douglas, tankersly) better than the top prospects like Sidney Jones, lattimore, Tabor.
I haven’t really dug in on the position.
Corners take me forever. Because of my history as an OL, it’s my weakest position of evaling. Add in TV tape and I’ve basically got to watch 5 or 6 tapes before I’m comfortable with anything (plus scheme things you have to infer etc). There’s enough depth that as long as we sign a legit FA I think anyone we take in the top 100ish picks or so should be pretty solid.
He most likely won’t be there when we pick.
Oh well. Maybe he will, maybe he won’t. It’s February.
Daniel Jeremiah’s lastest Top 50
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000784163/article/daniel-jeremiahs-top-50-prospects-for-2017-nfl-draft-20
Wish he had listed Heights &weights
A short write up, combine spider chart, highlight video, and current/former NFL player comparison all in one place. That would be pretty sweet.