OFFENSIVE Line has to stop being an afterthought. It’s the engine of every offense, on any team, in any football league. Earlier this year we released RG Todd Herremans, and now we’re looking to trade LG Evan Mathis. This is literally a changing of the guard. Change however, needn’t be a bad thing; but when you get rid of players of a high caliber, it’s important that you can replace them with someone of a similar caliber. If you fail to do that, then change IS a bad thing.
As of right now I can’t see the end game in terms of who we’d bring in. Names like Will Rackley, Jeffrey Linkenbach may be possible replacements at Guard. Former Packer and Dolphin Daryn Colledge has been linked to us in the past, and though he’s got some miles on him, he might be seen as a mentor for someone we draft. (Though it would make more sense to keep Mathis to do that since he’s played well in this system.)
As for the Draft, I’d be lying if I said anybody was on my Wishlist yet, but I know whoever we get should be a mauler in the run game. (Which I’ve said in the past )That seemed less necessary when we had cutback runner LeSean McCoy, but now that we have north-south runner DeMarco Murray, nothing would fit the bill better. It would also help QB Sam Bradford, if the guys trying to get to him are tired from being rag-dolled on running plays.
It’s possible that the Eagles figure that players like Allen Barbre and Andrew Gardener will step up in 2015. Seeing as how neither player has much of a track record, it would seem like a hell of a risk to attempt this without a net. I think the smarter play would be to keep Mathis, let him play and let him teach. It certainly wouldn’t hurt morale.
This is the Offensive Line. It’s the engine of the Offense. While it’s true that over time you have to retool or replace parts in your engine, you certainly don’t gut it when it’s running smoothly.
I don’t understand why their getting rid of Evans either.Do you think Chip thinks he his scheme can produce without a good o-line?
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Kelly seems to think he can get production out of ANY player. We’ll see how many playoff wins he gets out of the deal.
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I think Kelly is blaming Foles and Shady for the lack of production of his offense. I think he feels he can win with the other guys as long as his back hits the holes and his quarterback is smart with the football. I think some of this does have some validity after all three yard gain form a N/S runner is better than five yard loss cause Shady is trying to channel Barry Sanders. Far too many turnovers and third and longs last season. We will see if it all works in the end.
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I doubt that it changes anything.
When Kelly got here he told everyone he didn’t need a mobile QB, since Foles could made quick reads and deliver the ball. (You and I had some classics over that.) According to Kelly, Foles was his guy for the next 1,000 years. So throwing Foles under the bus this quickly (and for Sam Bradford?), just seems less than above board.
Comparing Shady’s negative runs against a north-south runner’s 3 yard gains will of course make Shady look bad, but it negates TWO facts: 1) He spent WAY more time going forward than backward, and 2) He gained more yards than most of those runners while contributing to more wins than losses.
I myself prefer a between the tackles run game, but I’m not about to catch amnesia and act like McCoy was the source or this teams problems while they ranked most years among the top offenses.
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I’m not one of the people who are ripping Shady now. I’m just trying to do my best at trying to figure out the erratic mind of Chip Kelly. I’m not sure if his plan will work. I just hope he doesn’t se the franchise too far back when it’s over.
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I think he bit off more than he can chew.
What was the word that McCoy used? Panic.
Brother, you’d better believe it.
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Its always about money. Its not the erratic coach . Lurie’s press display about Shady was a load of crap.
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