free agents

JOSH McCOWN NEEDS RIGGING

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/08/18
Posted in: Conversations, free agents, Offense, Players, playoffs, Rants, Roster, Super Bowl, The 12. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

 

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WITH the Eagles QB room turning into an infirmary, our Front Office went out and signed QB Josh McCown to a 1year, 2M$ deal, that’s worth up to 5.4M with incentives. Lots of fans seem happy with the signing. To me, he’s the Human version of the Kobayashi Maru, the ill-fated ship in Star Trek II’s ‘No win scenario” simulation. So I flat out don’t like the signing. Let me breakdown why.

First off, this signing only has real impact if QB Carson Wentz gets seriously hurt in the first three or four weeks of the season. If that’s the case then we’re fucked already. Yeah yeah, I know, 2017. I was on here making memes about believing in QB Nick Foles when most of the fan base was doubting him. Remember these:

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This was after the giants game

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That said, 2017 was an anomaly, and 2018 proved it. Back-ups are back-ups for a reason. Don’t let nostalgia get the story twisted.

Speaking of back-ups, I’m hearing that McCown might be ahead of QB Nate Sudfeld on the depth chart, when Sudfeld comes back to active duty. That would be FARCE! McCown will have to be spoon-fed an Offense, that Sudfeld is already steeped in. McCown will have to develop his timing and touch with each receiver, whereas Sudfeld already has that. McCown will have to learn all the blocking protections.

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Like Pat Ryan and Mark Sanchez, McCown continues a long tradition of Jets who can to the Eagles to secure their place in the Hall Of Fame.

Unless we’re going to scale back the playbook for him. That usually makes a team predictable, no?

Some are touting McCown’s 17 years of NFL experience. However, what he has lots of experience at, is losing. His career mark as a starter is 23 – 53 (.302). No team he has ever started 10 games for, has EVER seen the playoffs. No team he has started even 7 games for, has ever finished with a .500 record. He’s everything you claim to hate about Sam Bradford. (Minus the sleeves.)

So playing McCown is essentially waving a white flag over the season. If it comes down to us leaning on a non-Wentz QB, why not lean on Sudfeld, or a QB like Clayton Thorson, whom we spent a draft pick on? If we’re just going to roll over and play for Draft position, then doesn’t it make more sense to develop our youth, so that the team has leverage in any possible holdout situation, and doesn’t end up where the Dallas Cowboys currently are?

This McCown signing make zero sense. It’d have made more sense to have WR Greg Ward take a few snaps per week at QB. He’s played the position at a high level in college and could be our 4th string/emergency QB. (It would also put us in position to do what I suggested in THE 12.)

Some look at the surface of this signing and they see a 17 year vet, with a name they recognize. They see that as a good thing. I look under the hood of this signing and I see a (well-traveled) 17 year vet, with a name I recognize (as not being good enough to win). There’s no way I can be happy with this.

Unless we can rig the simulation…

IT’S ALREADY STARTING

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/07/23
Posted in: Conversations, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Rivals. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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BACK on June 7th, I said that the Eagles signing of QB Carson Wentz to a 4 year extension, forces the Dallas Cowboys into a phone booth. I figured that those chickens would come home to roost at the end of the 2019-2020 season. However, events have conspired to actually hasten the demise of the Cowboys 2019 season, and likely beyond.

The first event was attempting contract negotiation with Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. A smarter team would have let the season start, gauged Prescott’s effectiveness or lack thereof, then made him an offer accordingly. Especially since they seem less than gung-ho, about committing to him long term for some reason. 

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Laugh if you want. She can probably suck the chrome off a trailer hitch.

Instead the Cowboys tried to get ahead of an inflating market, far too late into the process. If they were going to do that, they should have done so before a QB with lesser stats (Wentz), was inked to an offer commensurate with what franchise QB’s are going for today.

The second event was the “leaked” plan of Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott, to hold out if he doesn’t get a new deal, two years early. The Cowboys win when Elliott plays, and they lose when he doesn’t. If the Cowboys don’t pay him, they’re left with an over-rated, soon to be over-paid QB, throwing to their star (ugh, unintended pun) WR Amari Cooper, who’s on the last year of his deal, having said that he plans to play his contract out.

(FYI: Cooper is waiting to see what kind of money Falcons WR Julio Jones pulls down, to see what the market looks like. There is ZERO guarantee that he stays in Dallas.)

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I won’t even mention all the other expiring contracts the Cowboys have to deal with at season’s end. As it stands, these three are problematic enough on their own, but they’re hitting all at once. And what’s crazy is that NONE of them needs to be!

The reason I say “it’s already starting” is because today the Cowboys cut WR Allen Hurns, after he refused a pay cut. He was scheduled to carry a 2019 cap hit of 6.25M (4M base, 1.25M signing bonus, 1M roster bonus), but cutting him saves the Cowboys his 4M base. This 4M is money that they can now reallocate.

What this is, is a cannibalizing of the roster. I say this, because this is just the first of these moves. Lesser Cowboys are being ground up, to ensure that Jerry Jones team can feed his stars.

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This team’s starting QB, RB, and #1 WR are all playing with contracts on their minds. Either you have to prepare for the reality of losing one very shortly, or you have to realize that the only way to pay those three, is at the expense of their teammates. And don’t even entertain the notion of winning the division with such distraction looming.

Oh yeah. It’s already starting.

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DARREN SPROLES = SUPERBOWL?

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/07/20
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs, Roster, Special Teams, Super Bowl. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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JUNE 30th 2019: I wrote an article saying that we needed to bring back RB Darren Sproles, mostly to be a Punt Returner. The question was: Did the Eagles see the same need that I saw? Well, after signing him on July 19th, part of a statement on the Eagles website reads: “His dynamic punt return skills are second to none. We can’t wait to get started next week.”

Nowhere in that article does the team mention his role in the Offense, but they get right down to talking about him as a PR man, don’t they!? If I were to venture a guess, I’d say that once the Eagles staffer who reads my articles took my idea upstairs, the brass hurt their necks nodding in agreement.

Really, the Eagles need to just hire me, so that I can suggest these moves much sooner, and behind closed doors.

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Just so that we’re clear, it’s probably not wise to expect a huge offensive role for Sproles. He can still contribute there, but with so much young talent, why not let his load be to help develop them, and start him on his way as a member of our coaching staff? Sort of a player/coach, in the mold of former Cowboys RB Dan Reeves.

(Few words of advice to the Eagles: When we get to the playoffs, don’t try to add extra packages for Sproles, just to manufacture a few big moments for him. Do what got you there. “Dance with the girl who brung ya”. Don’t. Get. Cute. Let being on the field be good enough for him. )

Now that it’s happened, I can sigh a sigh of relief. This signing was massive. Without it we still narrowly win the division, but we likely crash on the rocks in the second round again. Just one more fun-to-watch, plucky team, that doesn’t win enough hidden yardage to squeak ahead in a playoff fist-fight. (Pssst! That’s the hidden reason why we beat Atlanta 15 – 10 in 2017.)

This time with a PR man, improved edge rushing, AND deep speed on the perimeter, we should smother opponents and advance to the NFC Championship Game, almost in a walk. Injuries could change this, but as of now, EXPECT the Eagles to at least play in this Super Bowl.

At least.

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BACKING UP NATE SUDFELD

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/07/09
Posted in: Conversations, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Offense, Players, playoffs, Rants, Roster, Super Bowl. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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HAVING QB Nate Sudfeld as the back-up to Carson Wentz, isn’t risky! In fact, it’s a very smart move for the Front Office to have made. For someone to write that it’s “risky” because he isn’t a more veteran presence, is an almost stunning display of ignorance and lack of foresight. These rogue writers better back-up off my QB!

Sorry, I started out ranting. Let me take a step back and explain. I read a ton of Eagles articles in the course of doing research for my articles, in order to make sure that when I write it, you can quote it, and rest assured that you’re 100% correct. Yesterday I read an article that said that the Eagles going with Sudfeld, instead of more veteran QB’s like Tyrod Taylor or Ryan Fitzpatrick, was a risky move.

Now normally when I read something I disagree with, I shrug and go to the next thing. So naturally I attempted the same thing yesterday. However, the longer the day got, the more it crept into my thoughts. Not just because I oppose it philosophically, but because it is fundamentally wrong. Not just incorrect, but downright WRONG.

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First of all, Nate has been here for two years and is familiar with the coaches, players, playbook, and core concepts of the Offensive system. He already has a firm grasp of everything, so there is no internal learning curve for him. If he finds himself pressed into playing, during film study and meetings, he can focus on learning the opponent. He’s at a point in his career where all of his learning can be external.

Bringing in a veteran, free agent QB, means teaching them a new system, new players, yada-blah, and etcetera. That of course doesn’t take into account whether the new player fits the team culture.

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Sudfeld is already a fucking Yahtzee. So why re-roll? Plus he’s a young player that the Eagles can develop. That development is important, because with all the young QB’s drafted in the last few years, Sudfeld likely won’t have many, (if any) starting opportunities come his way. Especially if Wentz stays healthier than he’s been over the last two seasons, and so Sudfeld can’t showcase his skills.

Being a career back-up is no young player’s dream. However, the idea of having longevity in a game they love, and getting to belong to, and contribute to, an era of success over a decade or so… That’s nothing to sneeze at. For the Eagles organization, that level of stability is also nothing to sneeze at.

I was trying to write this article without bringing up QB Nick Foles, but even 852 miles away, he’s still the elephant in the room. This needs to be addressed so that we can forever gain some perspective, and not base our view of the past on a mythology that seems to be spreading.

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Part of the reason that article said we need a more veteran QB, is because that’s what Foles was. Foles was a back-up who had once been a starter. He was battle-tested. He’d played a playoff game. He was qualified to start. Hell, his seven TD game is still an NFL All-Time record (tied with QB Peyton Manning). Foles uniform from that game is ALREADY in Canton. Foles went on to become a Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. So apparently this is the formula, right?

Wrong. First of all, if your back-up is in, people generally expect less success. When Wentz went down, plenty of Eagles fans expressed serious doubts about Foles. No one cops to it NOW, but it was a real thing back during Weeks 15 – 17 in 2017.

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Should Wentz go down again, judging Sudfeld against Foles 2017 season is straight bullshit. If there’s a free agent QB out there who can keep a team in the hunt for a Lombardi, then why the fuck isn’t he starting?! Why is he a free agent?

Foles isn’t the standard, he’s the exception. He had a great run in late 2017, but basing our hunts for future back-ups on the 2017 season, is sheer madness. It’s unadulterated farce. Meanwhile, we have a great situation with Nate Sudfeld, right now. It’s important that we as Eagles fans recognize that, and don’t let these rogue writers promote the idea of the exceptional as the enemy of the good.

These rogue writers better back-up off my QB.

NECESSARY LUXURY CONNOR BARWIN

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/06/30
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Offense, Players, Rants, Roster, Special Teams. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment
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Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz

AGAIN, LB/DE Connor Barwin has made his wish to comeback to Philadelphia, publicly known. It was a good idea when I wrote about it last March, and it’s still a good idea now. The only question is: Are the Eagles smart enough to pull the trigger? By the way, we should also grab RB Darren Sproles while we’re at it.

No. I’m not interested in an Eagles reunion tour.

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What? No! Wrong Eagles! Ooooohh in it’s entirety? No. Never mind that.

Look, I’ve been a fan of bringing back Barwin for years now. On Sproles, I’ve had a recent change of heart, following a recent change of heart. However, as it stands now, both players would be a Necessary Luxury. Yes, the statement is oxymoronic. Allow me to explain.

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Barwin is more of a 3-4 OLB than a typical 4-3 DE. However, in a Wide 9 front, the DE position operates more like an OLB with space around it. This puts emphasis on containment and then penetration, as opposed to block stacking and then penetration. Both are examples of setting an edge, but the tactic is different. Last time I checked, Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz still employ a Wide 9 front.

With the recent retirement of DE Chris Long, there is a hole here. Second year DE’s Josh Sweat and Joe Ostman, along with rookie DE Shareef Miller, would all like a shot at the 4th spot behind DE’s Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett and Vinny Curry. In fact, it makes sense to elevate a youngin. The trouble is the lack of versatility, which the Eagles covet. Every guy on this list is a defensive lineman. They aren’t meant for playing in space.

Barwin can play with his hand in the dirt, and can can also offer some value as zone coverage LB. He’s played both ILB and OLB, so the Eagles can move him around either situationally, or in the case of an injury. True or false: LB depth has been an issue for the Eagles for a while now? See? Necessary luxury. Barwin is a great locker room influence and also truly embraces the city of Philadelphia itself. In the absence of Long, you really can’t ask for better.

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Sproles, is a quietly intriguing case. When I talk to people about him, they always go right to discussing how we don’t need him, because we have RB Miles Sanders. While there may be some truth to that, there is no such thing as too much depth at RB. (Just compare 2018 to 2017.) Besides, if Sproles doesn’t come here, he’s going to New Orleans. Do we need that? Do we?

Also, what most people fail to realize is that right now, as you read this on June 30th 2019, the two most accomplished return men on the Eagles team are WR DeSean Jackson, and RB Corey Clement. Using DJax as a regular returner AND starting WR is stupid. Especially at his age and with his hamstring history. As I said in a prior article  Clement has a grand total of 6 (I say again, just 6) career punt returns and just 15 kick returns.

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Seems like maybe an on-field mentor would be good to have around. Teach the young guys? See? Necessary luxury. In addition to that, RB Coach Duce Staley has indicated that there might be a budding coach in Sproles. If we can transition him here, it’d be a ton of current wisdom to have in our stockpile.

HOW TO SWEEP THE NFC EAST: REDSKINS

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/06/28
Posted in: Coaching, Defense, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, Offense, Players, Preview, Rivals, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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FREE Agency rounds 1 and 2 have passed, as has the Draft. At this point, teams have basically added all their desired starters and key depth. Now it’s just a matter of seeing who everyone loses between now (with stupid vacation injuries), and the end of Training Camp. This article assumes the Eagles operating at their peak vs rivals operating at their peak, for 17 straight weeks.

Here, is how the Eagles can sweep the NFC East in 2019. Today we’ll talk about the Redskins.

2019 BURNED ALIVE

Ha-ha! Just a joke. Collins doesn’t cover WR’s. Wait. Is it doesn’t or can’t?

Defensively, the Redskins ranked in the middle of the pack last year, giving the impression that their defense is a building block. Nope. Typically teams that lean heavy on their run game and get production from it, are practically immune from falling into the lower one-third (21st to 32nd) in defensive rankings. Those teams simply hold the ball too long for opponents to rack up yards. Sort of a statistical sleight of hand.

Between two QB’s last year, the Eagles hung 52 points and 527 passing yards on this team, despite not having a balanced attack. In response to that, and the Eagles adding the NFL’s #1 deep threat, the Redskins ran out and overpaid for in the box SS Landon Collins, without benefit of a FS to balance the back-end out. Seriously, they did that. Honestly, the Redskins should give free tickets to firefighters, just so someone will be there to put their secondary out this season.

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The Redskins 3-4 system has allowed the Eagles an average of 26.3 points per game since Doug Pederson became the Eagles Head Coach. The lowest number of points being 20, and the highest being 34. That isn’t a ton of deviation, which implies that the Eagles system simply has the number of the Redskins system. The Eagles simply have to run their offense and the points will be there waiting for them. 

Offensively prior to the Draft, the thinking was that QB Case Keenum would get the starting nod in 2019. However, the Redskins spent their first round pick (15th overall) on QB Dwayne Haskins. Despite all the hoopla surrounding Haskins during mini-camp, there has been no clear indication that he’ll get the nod. This was muddied further by a June 20th report that QB Colt McCoy could still win the starting job, in 2019.

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Starting job! Keep your eye on the starting job.

No clear starter means no offseason workouts at the QB’s hacienda before training camp. That means a lag in chemistry. That means gaps in leadership and other players NOT buying in.

If the Redskins already have chemistry and leadership issues, they will fare poorly vs an Eagles team running the same defensive system, which surrendered just 13 points to the ‘skins, in two games last year. Especially with fewer injuries during week one, as the opening day dance partner for whoever plays QB. Get some pressure and the miscues will become turnovers.

Objectively speaking, even at optimal, the Redskins may be in a worse place than they were when the Eagles swept them in 2018. Which is scary because the Eagles have since improved.

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GIANT SHOES TO FILL

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/06/26
Posted in: Conversations, free agents, NFC East, Offense, Players, Rants, Rivals, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

reggie w jr

REGGIE White Jr. is a WR for the giants, and his jersey number is 13.

Sounds like a storm brewing, right? Nope. First of all, he’s not the son of THE ^Reggie White^, as in the Hall of Fame DE who made most of his rep as an Eagle. This guy’s dad was just an NFL Reggie White, who played D-line for the Patriots and Chargers. He’s one of three or four such players with that same name, strewn about NFL history.

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Odell Beckham‘s jersey number just so happened to be available when the young lad was signed as an undrafted free agent. An unfortunate confluence of events, to be sure. 

I stumbled across this while researching the giants roster for tomorrow’s upcoming article. Upon seeing the name and jersey number, I immediately felt uneasy that the blood of Eagles royalty, was now a member of a rival team. A closer look however, revealed that it was just some schmuck who’s dad was just some schmuck. Worse yet, Schmuck Jr. was assigned a number that may be more curse than blessing.

Woefully, the young man comes into the start of his career, wearing a number that may be too big for him, and carrying a name that he can’t live up to. Worse yet, not being a draft pick, he was officially on the bubble the moment he signed his contract. Tragic though it is, you have to be tough enough to earn your life in the NFL.

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You know what would be peachy? If after the giants cut him, the Eagles sign him to the Practice Squad, convert him to Nickel CB, and then on a blitz, he gets a sack fumble vs the giants. That? Well now. Wouldn’t that just be hilarious?

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