EVERY so often I get fellow fans asking me why I don’t write “more enthusiastic” articles or why I don’t “hype my team more.” The reason is two-fold.
First, hype has no substance. Social media is full of people saying “Go team go!” We have plenty of that; but for the fans who want to have an actual discussion, there has to be an actual subject. So instead of “Go team go!” I break things down so that those fans can talk about what’s on their minds.
Second, where is the honesty in acting like our team is the greatest, while our trophy shelf collects dust? Instead of rooting for what I know to be dysfunction, it makes more sense to root for something broken to be fixed first.
Put bluntly: I don’t fake the funk. I’m the guy you see if you want to “real talk” about your team.
Speaking of real talk, next week I’ll review an NFC East team each day, and reveal the front-runner for division champion on Day 5. It’ll be on here on Sunday, but those who only find me Facebook, Google+, and other social media may not see it until Tuesday.
BACK in March I reported that the Eagles would face major salary cap woesin 2015. My assessment was echoedtwo days later by CSN columnist Rueben Frank. It was a simple process of first looking at the 2015 salary structures for the Eagles roster, then adding up everything everyone was making, and finally subtracting that number from the projected 2015 salary cap.
Put bluntly, this was extremely basic stuff. The Bottom Line is that there is going to be some major belt tightening coming up.
So today I come across an article by Jimmy Kempski, talking about the Eagles rolling over $20M from this year’s cap into next years cap. This is all fine and dandy and sounds like it’ll be a huge help toward next years problem. Except for two things.
1) NFL teams are REQUIRED to spend a minimum of 89%of the salary cap. PLAIN ENGLISH: This year the cap is set at $133M. The Eagles must spend at least $118.37M. That leaves a rollover maximum of $14.63M, not $20M.
2) This years rookie class must still be signed. If this team takes say…a WR, his salary will top out at more than the salary of a G would. PLAIN ENGLISH: This year the Eagles will be picking more expensive positions (OLB, WR, S) than they did last year (OT, TE, NT).
The Eagles have about $6M in space left between their current 20 and the maximum of 14 that they’d be allowed under the CBA. And that’s if they don’t run across a group of rookies looking to make larger bank than last years class, which topped out at about $6M.
We have lot to brace for in 2015. Better to take off the rose tinted glasses now and be ready, than to lie to yourself and be shocked by what comes later.
NOT a day goes by that I don’t see some pinhead saying that someone else ‘isn’t a real Eagles fan” or “must not be/can’t be, a real Eagles fan”. They talk as if they were granted some special power by the Eagles to set the standard for what a real Eagles fan is or isn’t.
As the man who created this website to celebrate Eagles fans, that ruffles my feathers to no end. I’d rather listen to a Cowboys fan drone on and on about their last Super Bowl, than to ride with an Eagles fan who turned on his fellows.
Because at least the Cowboys fan isn’t a traitor to their fellow fans.
Trust me, if these traitors showed up at the Linc they’d need a ticket to get in, just like that guy in a Redskins jersey. If they showed up with an open bottle of liquor, they’d be told to discard it prior to entry just like any guy in a Giants jersey. In fact, if they don’t buy a ticket and a woman in a Tony Romo jersey does, guess which one gets in and which one doesn’t.
So all their superfan bullshit nets them what? Nothing. It’s just an e-thug trying to make you feel bad about not being an asshole like them.
Usually the jerk takes a cheapshot by posting some inane crap in a language we’ll call “Functional Illiterate”, where every other word is either badly misspelled or substituted for, using “Netspeak” which is basically just cyber-Ebonics.
These morons are usually the same people with a TON of bathroom selfies, proudly displayed as profile pictures. Imitation grown men practicing how to “look hard” in the bathroom mirrors of the Old Country Buffet that they work in. (Look: One or two bathroom selfies isn’t a big deal; but when you’re taking off your shirt at work to take pictures of your chest tattoos, someone needs to throw you an intervention.)
Long story short, here’s what it takes for you to be a REAL fan. You have to think you are. Only YOU set the standard for you. No one else has that right unless you give it to them; and by and large the people who want to take it, are the LAST people you want to give your power to.
Don’t let an asshole tell you how to love what you love. Most times assholes don’t know a thing about real love anyway. Do your real fan however YOU see fit.
This is The BEAST, with love for ALL my fellow fans, no doubt!
LET’S be clear on something: I do not want to discuss DeSean Jackson‘s merits or faults on or off the field. The only reason I’m bring up his name is because he is on the other end of this story.
What I do want to discuss is his release from the Eagles. Back on March 26th I wrote an article that gave the reason he’d be leaving. That reason was money.
In a nutshell, the Eagles wouldn’t have been able to afford him in 2015. Replacing him with a FA in 2015 wouldn’t be cost-effective, and next year’s Draft won’t be as deep at WR. This years Draft allows for a team to get what would normally be mid-2nd round talent, deep in the 3rd or early in the 4th round. That makes making this move now easier to do.
So why not just say it’s over money? Because that reflects poorly on GM Howie Roseman. This franchise let go of fiscal wizard Joe Banner in favor of Roseman. How would it look if they had to get rid of a key player with no replacement available, and say it was all at the feet of Jeff Lurie for backing the wrong guy? As it stands the Eagles are already looking at a salary cap crunch in 2015 that will have longtime fan favorites like Trent Cole packing his bags.
So why all the (alleged) leaks about Jackson? Because it makes his exit seem like it’s his fault. (FYI: If he were actually guilty of any wrongdoing he’d be awaiting a trial, not raking in more guaranteed money.) From gang activity to repeatedly cussing out his coach, nothing the man has been accused of has a source willing to back it. LeSean McCoy said he’d never seen or heard of the latter.
However it does have people looking left (fake leak), when the trick is on the right (millions freed up in cap space).
It’s been weeks of chasing smoke for anybody interested in the “Why?”, and that’s a shame, because the truth is and has been, right in front of them all along.
BRANDON Grahamhas fallen out of favor with the coaching staff. Okay. That happens.
DeSean Jackson fell out of favor. Jason Avant fell out of favor. These things happen
But could someone please explain to me why Jeff Meahl, and Casey Matthews are still here. Or why Will Murphy, Brandon Bair, or Josh Kaddu were added to the roster.
Murphy is a WR who’s ENTIRE college career consists of 24 catches for 240 yards, and a touchdown. IN 30 GAMES!
Bair is a DE who’s ENTIRE college career consists of 5 sacks. In 2 years pro, he’s been on 2 teams and has yet to play a down.
Kaddu is a LB who’s 108 tackles in 40 collegiate games is the definition of the word ‘underwhelming’. In 2 years as an NFL pro he’s played in 5 games and has yet to record a statistic of any kind.
Did I mention that all 5 of these guys played at Oregon?
Did I mention that so far the most successful pro out of all of these has so far been Matthews? Soak that in for a second.
Now we’re trying to trade for ANOTHER Oregon alum, who’s so far been underwhelming as a pro, and now has had an injury (torn shoulder labrum), that will be easy to re-injure/re-aggravate in this particular sport.
I understand wanting to have a comfort zone, but this is getting out of hand.
Wide Reciever. Safety. Cornerback. In that order, those have been the most frequently… let’s call it ‘requested’, positions from Eagles fans for the upcoming Draft.
While it would be nice to replace the speed we just lost at WR ,and while like many I came into the off-season wanting Secondary help; picking any of those positions early, ignores the things we need the most now. It ignores those truths hiding in plain sight.
RUNNING THE BALL:
LeSean McCoywas the NFL’s Leading Rusher so you wouldn’t think this would be an issue right? Well you’d be dead wrong to think that. But last year we went 10-6, right? What if I told you that in 5 of those 6 losses, McCoy rushed for under 80 yards. What if told you that in those games where McCoy went over 80, we went 6-1. (FYI: The only game that queers both stats is the Chiefs game where he ran for 158 and we still lost.)
So basically if a team can shut down our run game, we can’t win. That game against the Saints? McCoy ran for 77 yards. Under 80 yards. 24-26. Losers.
PASSRUSH:
The Defense grabbed 37 sacks last year. Our leader in that category was Trent Cole with 8, followed up by Conner Barwin with 5. All bias aside, there is no player among our front 7 who commands a double-team anymore; and it would be kind to say that our pass rush was inconsistent last year. (FYI: In all 6 of our losses we lost the sack battle. Though this actually indicates TWO problems, one of them is definitely getting after the QB.)
PASS PROTECTION:
Last year we allowed 46 sacks, 28 of which were of Nick Folesin 10 starts. Most uncomfortable was how those sacks began to creep upward towards the season’s end.
Foles was sacked 16 times in his last 5 starts. Taking the Detroit game out (since neither team could rush the QB in those conditions, and both teams went run heavy on offense), that’s 4 times a game, in games not played in blizzard conditions. If we allow sacks at that rate next season, Foles will be sacked 64 times in 2014. That’s too many hits on your QB.
Despite the overwhelming fan support for edge players, most of our biggest problems have to do with who controls the Line of Scrimmage. Bottled up run? See the line. Can’t get to the QB? See the line. Your QB getting roughed up? See the line.
But most fans simply can not, (or perhaps will not), see the line. How about you?
On either side of the ball your line is the engine that makes your scheme work. It’s a little easier to see this on Offense, but this goes all but unnoticed on Defense most of the time. This despite the fact that systems are generally named by their fronts like 3-4, 4-3, and 4-4. (4-6 is named for a Safety that played under Buddy Ryanin Chicago when Buddy was developing the scheme.)
I’d like to see the Eagles invest in a couple of players who can change the complexion of the game at the snap of the ball, instead of having to wait until the ball is in the air. I’d like to see them get a couple of guys who get a chance to influence the game on every snap. But the only players who get that chance play on the line.
I hope that in this Draft someone in our Front Office, can see that.
” ‘Trust no one! The minute God crapped out the third caveman, a conspiracy was hatched against one of them! Get up goddamn you!” – Col. Hunter Gathers
JUST a thought, but what are the odds thatChip Kelly decides to bring in Marcus Mariota in 2015.
I first floated the idea during camp last year that A) Mike Vick(who I said would start) wouldn’t be here in 2014 (nailed both); and B) that less than a stellar 2014 from Foles would get him benched in favor of a more mobile rookie QB.
Having lost DeSean Jackson will now change the way the offense was able to function last year. This sets Nick Foles up to take a step back. Knowing the ol’ Chippah’s weakness for former Oregon players…
[ANTHONY Barr] is on the front page of the Eagles website as the subject of discussion on filling defensive needs.
While we couldn’t land Miami’s Dion Jordan in a trade, the idea that we were even actively wheeling and dealing for a young pass rusher indicates that perhaps the Eagles DO know what they’re doing after all.
Pass rusher is a need for this team. Not a luxury, a need. While fans may have gotten used to Trent Cole being a terror on the outside, it’s been awhile since he was worthy of consistent double-teaming. It would also be nice to have an OLB that was more natural in coverage.
Brings me back to Barr. There is no mock Draft that still has him on the board at 22. I have yet to see one where he makes it past 12. There are lots of OLB’s in this Draft and some of them are pretty good. Few have the size, and many are one dimensional (pass rushers OR coverage backers).
Barr gives you size and dynamicism, but in order to even reasonably have a shot at him we have to move up at least ten spots. I say “at least” because I’ve seen him go as high as 6 on some boards.
If I hadn’t seen this on the Eagles website, being discussed on a podcast ( after about 7 minute) by guys like Baldy (Brian Baldinger) and Bo Wulf, I wouldn’t even be mentioned it. But with the way that the Dion Jordan thing failed to happen, a trade up just seems like the next logical step; because their proposed scenario where Barr slides to 22, I just don’t see happening.
In any case I think it pays to be aggressive and get after what you want, instead sitting and hoping it comes to you. Especially after Baldy said the guy is like a bigger version of former LB William Thomas. So in that spirit I think dangling Matt Barkley, Brandon Graham and our first to move up should be enough to catch someone’s eye. Or at least get a dialogue going.
Comment box right below. Tell us what you think or how you’d do it better.
(NOTE: This film used in this article is of the 2013 Eagles/Bears game. All the snippets (none longer than 34 seconds), are culled from a video I got off of YouTube. There’s more film out there, but this was the most extensive example that wasn’t just scoring plays.)
LAST year the speed of DeSean Jackson forced defenses to begin many downs with their FS practically lined up in the parking lot. This did two things for our Offense.
Made the FS late to help in run support, and even to most tackles after a pass.
Forced OLB’s to frequently play inside the DE and back from the Line Of Scrimmage (LOS). They’re of almost no use as blitzers, late to fill against the run, and out of position to defend the outside pass. Remember our LB’s in the Wide 9? This is what we reduced opponents to.
And we gained these advantages prior to the snap of the ball!
The OLB’s playing on the DE’s inside hip changes everything from an Offensive Tackle’s perspective. The OLB being “in and back” means the OT doesn’t have to worry about two players on the edge. Since there’s no LB “out and over”, there’s no stunt or outside overload blitzer for the Tackle to worry about. Everything is literally in front of the OT. As an ex-O-lineman I can tell you, that’s the easiest block you can make without being on Hollywood Squares.
Remember how Jon Runyan would have to turn to his outside to block Mike Strahan? Take notice how on this running play Jason Peters completely ignores Julius Peppers
Here it is again
and again
and again
The FS isn’t so far back here, but again watch the OT ignore the DE
and again
Gotcha didn’t I?
In almost every one of these plays the FS lines up in in the press box, the OLB is inside the DE, and the OT just steps forward, ignores the DE and makes himself a problem for a LB. (Big people beating up little people.) It’s 1-2-3.
Against the pass it’s almost sad to watch. Almost.
There is nothing remotely resembling Safety help underneath; and due to the run game’s success, TE’s are getting easy releases off the line and into those underneath patterns. Here’s an example
Here’s another
Hold up, I have one more
Okay last one, I swear
Since the FS had to move so far back, teams had to compensate inside with a LB to fill what would normally be the FS’s run support lane. If teams didn’t do that instead of seeming unstoppable, our run game might literally have been unstoppable. And it was ALL, (every play you just saw) dictated by the one player.
This is what we have to make up for in 2014.
That’s not saying we have to find a player that moves a FS out again (though it would help). But we need to find a way to routinely make blocking schemes easy; get TE free releases; and practically renders one of the defensive players non-existent.
Yes. It is indeed a tall order.
The scheme’s keys weren’t hard to decipher, so believe me if an ex-semi pro OT can do it, you can bet your ass that NFL DC’s would have been too. This is partly of why I think Chip Kelly is going to a truer version of the Spread this year. But again, if I’m onto that, you can guess who else will be.
PLEASE stop crying about DeSean Jackson. Everything from:
“They out to get Trayvon! I mean, DeSean!” to “I’m burnin’ his jersey! While I’m still wearing it!”
Please fellow Eagles fans, for our collective dignity can we (you really), stop letting a REDSKINS PLAYER have so much control over our conversations?
I mean honestly, some people are starting to sound like that friend who keeps saying they’re over their ex, but won’t shut the fuck up about them.
Meanwhile they keep coming home to the WR’s we do have, and either talking about the ex or the next. It’s all Cooks or Jackson. Evans or Jackson. Riley CooperandJeremy Maclin who?
That’s no way to treat somebody who’s gonna lay it all out for you. Be a fan. Support YOUR TEAM. Leave the Foreskin players to the Foreskin fans.
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