DESPITE the rumors that they’d be traded before the 2020 Draft or, traded during the 2020 Draft, both WR Alshon Jeffery and CB Rasul Douglas are still on the roster. This is the second “I was right” article that I wrote over the weekend, and it feels good to post this motherfucker.
Felt like not a day went by this Spring, where some folks weren’t running these guys out of town. However, it would seem that the Eagles organization finds them more valuable in an Eagles jersey, than as bargaining chips. I kept telling folks, that sort of thinking didn’t add up? But what do I know?
A lot. Turns out, I know an awful fuck of a lot. Yet some folk insist on being wrong. Maybe it’s part of their diet, and they’ll die if they aren’t fucking up. Who knows? (Probably ME!) But let me give my back and my palm a rest, and get back to talking Eagles, specifically.
I for one am excited by this, and what it does for our chances to repeat as NFC East champs. Understand, that in a year where there will be no OTA’s, no mini-camp, and an abbreviated Training Camp, having guys who have mastered our systems already, is a massive advantage over teams just learning theirs. There is no learning curve for our guys, so they can just hit the ground running.
Better still, our new players will have an easier time learning, because everywhere they look is an example of a player who knows what he’s doing, and why. Imagine being new somewhere, and the two other people whom you work directly with, are also new. Think of all the communication errors! Or when everyone thinks something was the other person’s responsibility.
The Eagles have accountable teachers from wall to wall. Why monkey with that? Oh yeah. The other thing is, Alshon and Rasul actually make plays. What fool lets that kind of quality walk out the door, without a bonafide successor in the wings, or for a sweet post-Draft trade package?
So you can shut the rumor machines down. The 2020 Draft has passed, and Alshon and Rasul are still rocking midnight green.
WHAT the fuck was that?! This is our first round pick? Are you shitting me?!? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking the player. If they use him right… Seriously. It’s not the player I’m pissed over. What irritates me is that with studs at WR, and other positions, we selected a slot receiver. Oh yes we did! Small, quick, and has problems with being pressed? That equals Slot in the NFL.
Side note, before we get into it: Remember when the local media and some fans, were trying to rumor WR Alshon Jeffery’s way out of Philadelphia? Remember about a month ago when GM Howie Roseman suddenly started talking Jeffery up, in public? Yeah, this is why. The Eagles can’t start a small WR, who has trouble being physical on the outside. So like I’ve been telling you: Get comfy with Alshon in 2020. (Unless you want to put money on WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, suddenly being ready to play NFL ball.)
For those of you who see links to this through social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.): Over the next couple of days, you will see this same article re-posted, but there will be new content added to it each day.
He’s fast, but not really a deep threat, because he has a small catch radius, and isn’t a contested ball winner. He also has issues with press coverage. However, being fast, quick and agile, he’s a natural as an NFL Slot receiver.
Also, his blocking reminds me of Matthew McConaughey doing a French accent in a movie. You say there’s no such thing? EXACTLY. Tell me that his blocking in this video didn’t make you queasy. This guy doesn’t like to mix it up, and that ain’t a great trait for a football player.
He does have experience as a returner. That said, I’m hoping we didn’t spend a first round pick on a returner. Especially in a game where the return aspect is being legislated away, a little more every year. Seems like it would be self-defeating right? Like masturbating with a cheese grater.
Reagor has some physical tools that can be harnessed, but he’s strictly a complimentary piece, and the first round of the Draft is no time to take complimentary pieces. That first pick is supposed to be a tone setter, and there is nothing about this guy’s game that says tone setter.
DAY TWO:
I found a new way to enjoy my Pepto Bismol. I call it the Roseman. I’ve named the ulcer Howie.
Where to begin? Where to begin? Oh I know! How about last night’s quote from GM Howie Roseman: “For better or worse, we’re quarterback developers. We want to be a quarterback factory.”
Note to reader: Factories make things to sell them, not to keep them. The next time you get a jersey with the name of an Eagles QB on it, you may want to make it a rental.
Enough about the pick. Let’s talk about the player.
Jalen Hurts can run and isn’t afraid to lay his body on the line. As a QB who’s (too) quick to scramble, he brings an element of spontaneity that defensive coordinators will find nearly impossible to game plan for. While he may not possess the biggest arm in this draft class, he can make every throw required of a pro.
On the other hand, his accuracy stats are eye-popping, until you watch film and see how often he throws Screens, and dump-offs. He possesses no pocket presence, and in fact, his quick-bail tendency can make an offensive line look worse, as they may not know if or where he’s scrambling from.
Remember how bad the line looked when QB Randall Cunningham played here, but how much better they looked when literally anyone else started? When you don’t scramble with a plan, your line doesn’t know how to protect your exit. Our new pick likes to scramble without a plan, and that may get Jalen, hurt.
All at once, this pick is a large middle finger to QBNate Sudfeld, and a warning shot at QB Carson Wentz. Dear Carson, Next time: With your shield or on it. As I said back on March 5th: The next time Carson voluntarily goes into a tent, there should be s’mores involved.
Round 3 (#103 overall) OLBDavion Taylor
YAY!!! Another LB ‘tweener! Because you can never have too much of something, that you already have too many of. Either he’s a LB that can’t beat blockers, or a SS that can’t cover and has no ball-skills. It’s up to the Eagles to decide which of these things they’ll give him your money for.
He’s 228, did 21 bench reps, and has 4.5 speed. He’s a test trap. You know, like Mikey Mamula. Ohhhhh, you remember that name don’tcha? DE Mike Mamula, tested off the charts, right? How’d that work out for us?
I swear, I’m not picking on Taylor. Look at the video. It’s not a highlight video, so it’s one that shows you who he is, down-in and down-out, throughout the course of a ballgame. It will show you who YOU will be watching on Sundays. Watch the video. Tell me if you want to see this guy squaring up in the hole vs a division RB.
The video makes it clear that he can read what’s in front of him, regardless of where the coaching staff decides to deploy him (Two Deep, Nickel, blitz, etc.) That said, he needs a refinement of technique throughout his game. From not getting engulfed by blockers, to initiating the action, to boxing in and forcing open-field runners to gear down.
There’s nothing here that can’t be fixed or enhanced, with the simple investment of time, and an opportunity to make a few mistakes. He has the instincts and the physical tools, as long as he’s played as a DB. Asking him to play Nickel LB in the NFL, is setting him up for failure. Give the kid a chance, and that should be all he needs.
Good feet, reads stunts, works combo block well and moves with ease to the second level. The knock on him is that he’s not a people mover. Then again it’s hard to be when most of the time he’s playing out of a two-point stance. In fact, nobody on his offensive line aside from the C, routinely plays with a hand on the ground. You can’t get consistent run blocking leverage, out of a two-point stance.
Pro coaching will get more run blocking out of him. The question is will he be kicked inside to G. Better still, with his relatively short arms, it might be smart to see if he can snap a football.
Round 5 (#168 overall): WR John Hightower
I went with the highlight reel here, because his only game video, shows a guy who wasn’t a factor in a double digit comeback win.
There isn’t much to say here. He has 4.4 speed if he’s running a straight line. He may break 12 tackles if he plays a decade, and he’s not going to break a single ankle that he wasn’t born with. He adds value as a KR, but we took care of that need in the first round. He’s definitely Practice Squad material, but odds are long against him making the active roster this season.
Watches entirely too much football while he’s on the field. Lacks aggression, and doesn’t initiate or dictate the action, which is a key to success when playing inside. Waits for blocks to find him, and then he sticks to them like he’s made of velcro. Physical traits are meaningless when you leave your heart in the locker room. Even his highlight video is COMEDY . Pure FARCE!
Round 6 (#200): WR Quez Watkins
Yet again went with the highlight video, because the game video is underwhelming. So is his highlight reel, but the alternative was to post a picture of television static.
We have here, yet another fast guy who returns kicks, doesn’t block, and can’t break tackles. This one however, gets alligator arms across the middle. (That’s on the game video.) He’ll compete for a Practice Squad spot, but that seems like where he’ll max out.
Round 6 (#210): OTPrince Tega Wanogho
Note: This is the same game, but a different video than was used for 4th round pick Jack Driscoll. Driscoll was circled in the first one, Wanogho is circled here.
The guy looks good in pass protection, and he gets out nicely on Quick Screens and up to the second level. His hand placement needs some work, but that’s true of almost all offensive linemen coming out of college. Many sources had him being picked earlier, but his run blocking is probably what held him back.
As with teammate Driscoll, Wanogho’s run blocking will vastly improve if he’s taught to routinely put his hand on the ground and uncork his height, before he steps into his blocks. He also needs to sustain his run blocks to the whistle. Too often he disengages, and leaves defenders able to influence the play.
He’s drawn comparisons to (grrrr!) former Eagles LT Jason Peters, back from when Peters was switching from TE to OT. If the time is taken to coach Wanogho up, this guy could be a rose that grew from concrete.
Round 7 (#233): DE Casey Toohill
Mike Mamula’s name was invoked earlier in this Report, and will be yet again here. Like Mamula, Toohill has a great motor, but he’s underpowered. He’s not fluid enough for OLB, but not strong enough to beat blockers. He also stops his feet too often when asked to work in space. Doesn’t seem to have a “thing”. Meaning there’s no bullrush, or swim, or spin, or club or anything that he relies on. Seems to think effort alone is enough to reach the QB, which would explain why it took 5 years to amass just 14 sacks in his career.
*****
On the whole, this wasn’t a Draft that was meant to produce starters in 2020. In fact, I doubt there is a single one of these players who will start a single game, that isn’t necessitated by injury.
This is a re-stocking, so that later we don’t have to shop out of desperation, when resources may not be as plentiful. We’ve opted not to take advantage while our opponents are trying to sort out their new coaches. Instead, we’re building for the day when they’re good, so that we can meet them nose to nose, if we can’t already be better.
This was a shitty Draft for those who’s only cooking is done with a microwave. For those of us who own a pressure cooker and a couple of crock pots, good eats are a-brewin’.
Notable Free Agent signings:
RB Mike Warren
Nicknamed “Truck” by his teammates, I already had Warren on my 2020 Draft Wish List. He gives the Eagles a guy who can gain tough yards between the Tackles, and has nice hands for a 226 pound RB. Sets up blocks well on Screens, and is no fun to tackle. His pass protection needs refinement, but he’s more than wiling to stick his nose in there. He was productive despite playing in a gimmicky read-option offense. Playing in a real system, with TE’s and an offensive line that won’t allow penetration on every other handoff, should help Warren show off his skills enough to make the 55 man roster.
LB Dante Olson
Runs a 4.8 40 and looks slower when running. The issue is that he’s actually a LB, not a the modern LB/S tweener. The guy plays with thump and ballcarriers tend to stop where he meets them. Speed may keep him off most NFL rosters, but a team that only asks him to scrape and perform zone coverage from Tackle to Tackle, could get a real steal here.
QUARTERBACKCarson Wentz’s leadership skills are not on trial here. I’m not questioning his ability to lead. So come on down off of that soap box. Don’t even get started. Deep breaths.
NBC’S John Clark wrote a storythat I’m going to lift heavily from, because, well you’ll understand when you read it. In it he discusses why the Eagles really cut S Malcolm Jenkins. Check it out:
*****
But I think the biggest factor is changing the dynamic — turning this team over to their franchise quarterback Carson Wentz.
Jenkins was the leader. He was the voice of the team. He broke down the huddles. He was a very powerful voice in the locker room and a commanding and inspirational leader…
But you saw what Wentz was able to do this past season when the offense was ravaged by injuries at receiver down the stretch. “Carson and the kids.” He led them to the playoffs. He was free to be the leader with the younger receivers. They say he inspired them.
I believe the decision to let Jenkins walk is about changing the overall dynamic of this team so this is Wentz’s locker room.
I think it is similar to what the Seahawks did when they allowed Russell Wilson to take over the team and let go of powerful voices like Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Michael Bennett.
This is undoubtedly Wentz’s team now.
*****
We won’t get into how that worked out for the Seahawks. (Didn’t.) What we will discuss, is that at no point did it ever seem like Carson and Malcolm had the team chasing different goals. Both men were active in the community. Both promoted accountability, and didn’t throw teammates under the bus. So it’s seems more like the locker room lost a standard bearer, and a player who led by example.
What I’m questioning is, whether or not the Eagles are invalidating Carson’s leadership, with their artificial attempt to prop it up. Removing other leaders from the locker room, in order to magnify Carson’s voice, could very easily have the opposite effect, and make him look less like a leader, and more like the team’s mouthpiece.
Remember when other Eagles players called QB Donovan McNabb a “Company Man”? It wasn’t a compliment, was it? Being Managment’s guy, didn’t help him lead did it? In fact, it was sort of a barrier between he and his teammates, wasn’t it?
Now let’s take the situation with Carson and WR Alshon Jeffery. If the Eagles brass attempts to solve a rumored interpersonal rift between Carson and Alshon, by removing Alshon, it makes it seem as if Carson couldn’t “handle his own huddle”, and had to tell the teacher. Which makes Carson look like a weak leader. On top of costing Carson his most productive WR.
The locker room damned sure doesn’t need a bunch of suits meddling in their chemistry. The Eagles need to leave Carson’s leadership to Carson. Let the man do his thing.
You know what!? I’ll do you one better! If it’s truly going to be Carson’s team, then let him pick his new WR this year at the NFL Draft! Let the locker room see him wield that kind of juice. (Let Alshon see that.)
In the meantime, we should be about the business of adding strong players, and voices to the team, not subtracting them. Not all players (especially defensive ones) will relate to a QB, and having him as the only voice, risks losing resonance with part(s) of the locker room.
Removing Jenkins like this was bad for Karma. Owner Jeffery Lurierefuses to learn this lesson. This is is Reggie Whiteall over again (11-5 in 1992 to 8-8 in 1993). This is Brian Dawkins all over again (NFC Championship game in 2008 to Wild Card in 2009). This is Terrell Owensall over again (Super Bowl in 2004 to 6-10 in 2005). We always pay for this immediately.
Do you see how we did Jenkins and LT Jason Peters (also a powerful locker room voice)?
That’s our kick-ass GM Howie Roseman. This guy, is a friggin’ GENIUS!
THIS so far, has been a nightmare. So far there doesn’t seem to be a plan. When we left the 2019 season we had obvious holes to fill, and things to strengthen. So get to it, right? Instead what happened, was our GMHowie Roseman, created more holes and has so far left them empty.
Some fans may have been placated by Howie trading for 30 year old CB Darius Slay. That said, I think many will acknowledge that a week earlier, no one was talking about Slay. Everyone (except me) seemed to want CB Byron Jones. As it stands now, Nobody’s First Choice, is thus far Howie’s crowning achievement of 2020.
Six weeks ago (going by talent on rosters), the NFC East was in the bag for the Eagles. Then our GM began just ripping shit up. Got rid of our only complete LB (OLB/MLB Nigel Bradham), a future Hall or Famer (LT Jason Peters), a perennial All-Pro (SS Malcolm Jenkins), the roster’s only down hill runner (RB Jordan Howard) and our leading receiver in Super Bowl 52 (RB Corey Clement).
Howie has left us thin at all of those positions now, and he hasn’t even brought in unproven players to fill those holes. What did we add to our roster you ask? Well shit, let’s take a look!
We got the aforementioned 30 year old CB, a NT (Javon Hargrave) for our 4-3 defense, in a Wide Nine system. We also got a… a… um…
Fuck! Just fuck, man! Fuck! The fuck is he doing, man?! I just want to… All he had to do was… I’m gonna go upstairs, put my head under my pillow, and blow my fuckin’ brains out!
Wait! Better idea.
But it’s no time to panic.
It is after all, still early in the process, and with everything being pushed back a bit, due to a public health concern (WINK!), it theoretically gives the Eagles Front Office more time to weigh all the options. The problem with theoretically, is that other teams are making moves in real-time, which removes some of the options, off the board.
Raise your hand if you’d have liked a serious run at trading for WR DeAndre Hopkins.
How about QB Nick Foles for a 4th rounder (like Chicago paid)? Foles is re-doing his deal so that the Bears can afford him. So, you know. Yay. I’m happy for the Bears. Hey, if you can’t see my eye twitch, or hear the bitterness in my tone, then you might assume that I took that trade in stride.
Hey! CB A.J. Bouye for a 4th rounder (like Denver paid), would have also been nice.
How about signing free agents like MLB Joe Schobert or LB Cory Littleton?! RB Lamar Miller is still out there (coming off an ACL injury) and waiting for a committee role.
Don’t even get me started about us not re-signing Bradham (still unsigned), Peters (still unsigned) Jenkins, Howard, or DE Vinny Curry (still unsigned). Rumor has it that the Jets are interested in Vinny.
I understand the idea of getting younger. I understand the idea of leaning on the draft. What I don’t understand, is the inactivity. What I don’t understand, is what we’re waiting for. What I don’t understand, is the plan.
UGH! Look at this idiot’s face. What’s the plan?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY TEAM!?!?
NBC’S Reuben Frank put out a steaming pile of bullshit, that called Alshon Jeffery a James Thrashclone. In it, he compares some “average season” stats, and delivers it with absolutely no context. When I see this from professional journalists, I want to just…
.
On one hand, it assumes the reader is smart, because it attempts to persuade with statistics. On the other hand, it assumes we’re stupid, because it talks as if We The Fanshaven’t watched both men play, and don’t get what’s going on here. (I’ll get into that in a minute.)
I’m guessing “Roob” either knows he’s full of shit, or he doesn’t do his homework: 1) Over the three seasons Thrash was here, he was QB Donovan McNabb‘s #1 targeted receiver. 2) Over the three seasons Jeffery has been here, he’s been QB Carson Wentz’s #2 targeted receiver. 3)As you can clearly see below, Jeffery has outproduced Thrash despite being fed the ball less:
Here’s what’s going down. This is the Eagles using a beat writer to drive the opinions of pinheads, who’ll call into WIP, and parrot whatever they read that morning. The idea is to promote the perception that “the public” wants to cut Jeffery, so the Eagles then can do it with less backlash, even if they don’t already have a suitable replacement.
Kind of like the dumb shit they did with cutting LB Nigel Bradham. Even I was surprised by the level of public backlash on that one. I figured Eagles fans would scarcely notice it, but nope. Boy did you! So this is likely the Front Office telegraphing the move, and trying to manipulate the perception that wefans want this. Some do. Most don’t.
I already said in THE 12, that we should keep Jeffery, letting he and DeSean Jackson help groom the kid we draft this year. Developing youth is the way to go here. Let me go on record now, and say that our options for moving Jeffery are likely worse than what we have already.
The flavor of the week is Minnesota’s WR Stephon Diggs. I find it hilarious that the idea is to replace Alshon’s attitude, with Diggs’ history of attitude issues, publicly criticizing his QB, and requesting to be traded. Here’s a link for those who didn’t know.
Some of you want to hamstring our salary cap, by paying Cowboys WR Amari Cooper 20 million or more per year. Amari has a terrible habit of losing interest during games, and whole chunks of the season. Remember our last game against them, where the Cowboys coaching staff benched him on he last play of the game (a CB Sidney Jones deflection in the end zone).
But we need to swap Jeffery out for this guy, right?
Someone also mentioned WR Breshad Perriman. In 5 seasons he’s played in just 51 games out of a possible 80, with just 10 career starts, while never starting more than 4 games in any year. While he’d be nice to have in camp, and maybe keep as a 4th, he’s by no means a 16 week starter.
Free agent WR Robby Anderson? Former Temple player. I could kind of see this one. But odds are, the Jets would overpay Anderson to keep him and provide consistency for their young franchise QB.
There are other names: A.J. Green, Emmanuel Sanders, both older. Reclamation projects like Josh Gordon and Devin Funchess. Or scratch-off tickets like DeMarcus Robinson, Tajae Sharpe, or Laquon Treadwell.
Instead of Jeffery? Really? These guys are who we hand to Wentz, and then expect more from him? That dog don’t even hunt.
No. Don’t let these beat writers tell you different. Alshon Jeffery is no James Thrash, and will be harder to replace than you think. Much harder. Especially given that WR Nelson Agholorwon’t be back. (Forgot about that, huh?) That would force Wentz into learning an entirely new WR corp.
Nah. Keep Jeffery and let him help train the pup we draft.
ROOKIE LT Andre Dillard was drafted knowing that he was taking a spot from a Hall of Fame caliber player. As a rookie, DE Derek Barnett split time with veteran DE Vinny Curry. QB Carson Wentz was expected to be our savior, and started Week 1 in 2016. in 2019 RB Miles Sanders was given heavy duty well before he was ready. CB Sidney Jones spent his rookie year hurt, but as soon as he was healthy he was expected to take a spot.
Imagine if JJ Arcega-Whiteside and another rookie WR were told on the first day of camp “Only one of you has a chance to make this team. We will keep the best one. The other one will likely never play another down.” After that, make the survivor wait until Week 4 or 5 to see a single down in the second quarter. That’s how you makes downs and targets count to him.
Instead, JJAW played Week 1. Week 2 he made 1 catch for 4 yards out of 4 targets. Week 3 he started and made 1 catch for 10 yards on 3 targets. You see the wasted opportunities? That’s heavy action in the first three weeks. That’s 7 targets, 2 catches and 14 yards.
Eagles coaches have a tendency to do this with draft picks. The coaches give them time on the field, instead of making them fight for it. That needs to change. There needs to be a dogfigh-
Sorry Mike. Young players should be made to compete for their opportunities. We need to pit the rookies against each other to make ‘em mean! Feed downs and starts to the winners, and as for the losers…
Because God made us MEN, that’s why
Honestly, I can’t tell you the last time the Eagles had a rookie that made me say “DAMN! That fucker is hungry!” Honestly, when was the last time you said that, or something similar about an Eagles rookie? Not “He’s talented”, but “He’s hungry”. That a guy was making the most of every snap that he got.
If you don’t work, you don’t eat. That needs to be our credo. We need to start raising our rookies that way.
FOR the last few years the Eagles Special Teams hasn’t scared anyone. It’s true that Punting and Punt Coverage has helped us win the hidden yardage battle in many games. The Kicking has also been reliable, but reliable and special are two different things.
What we haven’t been in some time, is dangerous. RB Miles Sanders had a 67 yard Kickoff return last year, but it was 67 yards and still not a score. Rookie legs broke free, on a dash to the end zone. Yet still we couldn’t seal the deal. Again.
Eagles 2019 Kick Return TD
Over the last few years we’ve had RB Darren Sproles lend us a little cred as a Punt Returner. However, given the number of games he’d missed over the past few years, we were trading on an old reputation. Meanwhile players who couldn’t really fill Sproles shoes, were given their shot at his job.
Which now sits vacant.
Part of our problem is that the staff likes to shoehorn a back-up into the role. Instead of getting a specialist, the staff picks a guy to act almost as a fill-in. Instead of a RB who can return kicks, we need a KR who can give us a few offensive downs per game. Understand the difference?
Maybe RB Boston Scott is that player. He’s done both KR and PR duty. Why not make that the primary reason he’s on the roster? Gives us a reason to keep 4 RB’s.
Eagles 2018 Kick Return TD.
The Eagles currently don’t have a Bobby Mitchell, Devin Hester, Mel Gray, Tamarick Vanover type player. Instead we have Miles Sanders playing KR, like RB isn’t enough wear and tear.
This season the staff needs to pick a young guy, and tell him that the only reason he’s making 40K a week, is because he can return kicks. Then stand aside and let that man earn a larger contract.
ASIDE from letting him test Free Agency, then trying to bring him back for less than 9 million, cutting OLB Nigel Bradham was a stupid thing to do. The move is billed as a cost cutting move, that will save the Eagles 4.4 million in 2020. That number is gravely inaccurate on a few levels, but it’s reporting was meant to get fans buzzing about what we’d do with the “extra” 4.4 million.
For the most part the trick worked. Many fans are speculating that the money will be applied to a free agent CB. The very notion is hilarious, and further proof that most Eagles fans don’t get the money side of this. Let me explain.
First. Money aside, Bradham was our best LB. He was our only complete LB, in that he could play the run or the pass. He has the size and speed to play inside or outside. He called defensive assignments. He has a nose for the ball, and has been on the scoring end of a few big plays for us. Nate Gerry, Kamu Grugier-Hill, T. J. Edwards, Alex Singleton and Duke Reilly, are what we have left now that he’s gone.
Second. Let’s talk savings. The Eagles didn’t save 4.4 million. Bradham made that last year. In 2020 had the Eagles picked up his option, he’d have made 9.75. Among current OLB salaries, here’s where he’d have sat:
If you want to argue that we saved 9.75 million, I’ll spot you that. Now let me ask you: What do we spend to replace him with similar or better production? Quality free agents don’t work cheap. And the list up there tells you what the market looks like.
Third. Let’s talk about where to apply that fictional 4.4 million in savings, or that temporary 9.75 million in savings. All the buzz is about either CB’s Chris Harris, Byron Jones, and Darius Slay. None of whom will touch Earth in Philly, without a sniff at 15 million per year. And that’s just to open the bidding. Last time I checked 15 was still more than 9.75. Again, no savings.
But WOO-HOOO! We still would have that hole at OLB! Isn’t this neat? Wait, what am I talking about about “would have”? They already cut him! We have that hole right now! Such a massive hole. Isn’t it GLORIOUS? You can see straight through to the Chinese lock-down, due to Coronavirus. Oh what an age we live in!
And for those who think we’re going to spend it on a 20 million dollar WR, after we cut/trade/murder WR AlshonJeffery, you all are my absolute favorite. Why confine yourself to reality, when you can put your head under a pillow, and scream until you pass out and dream of a world that suits you? I agree, Trump is the smartest President we’ve ever had!
So yeah. Cutting Bradham? Hey Howie. Way to go, Ace!
What is this happy horseshit where we usually rush four, rarely blitz, but when we do, we end up in crap like Cover Zero? We need to send five so that- Hold on. I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me roll this back a bit.
Last year in almost every game the commentators would mention that our pass rush isn’t as potent as it’s been in the past. At first that sounded weird, because our sacks have gone up two years in a row. If sacks were the only metric used, it would just seem like the typical media down-talk directed at the Eagles. Which we fans are used to.
Then you think about our opponent completion percentages. And their QB ratings! Seriously. We even made Haskins look good… The eyeball test makes it clear that we don’t bring the heat like we used to.
Part of that is because the only player on our D-Line who requires a double-team is DT Fletcher Cox. Us rushing four vs an opponent’s five man o-line, plays directly into our opponent’s plan. We have a pair of complete DE’s in Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry, but we don’t have a guy who alters blocking schemes. (DE Derek Barnett too often bails early on his contain responsibility.)
We need to send five rushers more often, to get Cox more 1-on-1 match-ups. That way he can do to blocking schemes what he does to marriages. We don’t have to do it all the time, but it has to stop being rare.
WIDE Receiver Greg Ward is a WR who’s played collegiate QB at a high level, yet in two years we’ve yet to utilize that. No Wild Cat, no Holder for Field Goals (as I’ve suggested over the last two offseasons). For a team that says it values versatility, the Eagles are doing a shitty job of holding onto it, and utilizing it. Allow me to elaborate!
Remember TE Trey Burton? Of course you do. TE, WR, RB, QB, Hands Team member, minister, bus driver, pilot, brain surgeon, Maytag repairman… Trey did everything. He made plays on Offense and Special Teams. He even threw perhaps the most important pass, in modern Eagles history.
If you look closely at #53 Kyle Van Noy, you can hear him shitting his pants in this photo.
We let him walk in 2018 because we already had TE Zach Ertz, and Chicago backed a dump-truck full of money (4 years 32M, 22 guaranteed), up to Burton’s door. We were already on the hook for 5M to Ertz, and couldn’t afford to counter. Chicago’s offer made Burton leave here so fast, that he was still getting dressed as he boarded the plane.
It worked out fine though. Burton is still a #2 caliber TE, but he has to start, because the Bears realized they grossly overpaid him. Meanwhile we were forced to draft TE Dallas Goedert. (Boo-hoo. Poor us, right?) He’s not as verstaile as Burton, but Goedert may end up replacing Ertz in 2021.
Now back to Ward. (Back toward Ward? Towards Ward?? Whatever.) Though we’re primarily a 21 Personnel team, we do run a fair amount of 31, as well.
This is why Josh Norman got cut.
When Ward is on the field, he can be used on Jet Sweeps (we already do this with him), and standard routes. He can also be shifted into Wild Cat QB, or motioned to RB, then used as a Screen receiver vs tight boxes, or fed Shovel passes when the defense spreads out. There are too many possibilities to ignore here.
I won’t write another paragraph about why he should be our Field Goal Holder. I’ll just include a link to the articlewhere I wrote about Ward specifically being the Holder. (I wrote another in 2019but it doesn’t mention Ward by name.)
In any case, we have a player who is a match-up headache. He has the ability to keep the defense guessing, and therefore keep them uncomfortable. That should be something we really want to do. Especially when we can do it so easily.
EAGLEMANIACAL.com 