HEIGHTENED AGGRAVATION.

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/03/30
Posted in: Uncategorized. 2 Comments

JeerEaglefan

COME with me,

And you’ll be

In a state of heightened aggravation….

 

michaelbolton.slate

I love the Eagles team, but I detest the Eagles organization. I enjoy the football. The memories. High-fiving strangers who only needed a green shirt to become family. Being able to go anywhere and shout “E-A-G-L-E-S!” and have others stop to join in, and help me finish. I love that part.

What I hate is this constant manipulation of us. The way their “reporters” feed us only the angles that make the organization look good, even though the parts they leave out are readily available from outside sources. It’s one thing to be lied to. It’s another thing entirely to have the one who’s lying know that you’re aware of it, yet continuing to do it while smiling in your face.

This latest debacle just had us giving away a (vastly overpaid) Pro Bowl WR. So far there is no official reason for it. Just a kindergarten level smear campaign of leaked bi-level information that on one level is decidedly false; and on the other level would be just as damaging to the Eagles if it were true.

But if you go to THEIR website, all you’ll see is what a perfect place Duloc is.

And that’s why I created THIS website.

Look around and you’ll see me hyping my team, trumpeting good news, and trying to see the bright side of some situations. But when something stinks, expect to see it here. Because you deserve real information. Your loyalty buys you that. And if the Eagles media won’t give it to you, know that in this place you’ll always find it.

I started Eaglemaniacal.com for Eagles FANS. For you. That’s why I made it where you can write on it. It’s why I’m always asking your opinion. It’s why I take it to Facebook, and Google+, and other social media and blogs. It’s why our neighborhoods are the backdrops for it.

I’ve always taken it personally and spoken up when they do this to fans, but now I can BE HEARD as something other than just one tiny voice on a message board.

And now you can too.

 

CHIP KELLY’S 2nd ROOKIE YEAR

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/03/29
Posted in: Coaching, Offense. 4 Comments
Image courtesy of Insidetheiggles.com

Image courtesy of Insidetheiggles.com

LAST year LeSean McCoy led the NFL in rushing yards. Part of that was due to his 314 carries. Part of it was the Offensive Line opening holes for him. Part of it was the Line having fewer people in the box to block. Don’t expect Shady to repeat in 2014.

With the subtraction of DeSean Jackson from the line-up, Chip Kelly is going to do things to try mimicking that effect, even if he no longer has the last year’s cause.

Expect to see Darren Sproles in motion a lot. Expect to see the TE split wide 30-50% of the time. (When they’re out there.) Expect to more 4 WR formations than you’ve seen here since the days of Greg Lewis and Hank Baskett.

Expect to see “The Spread” as God and Mother Nature intended it. In many ways we’re finally about to see Oregon’s Chip Kelly.

Last year Jackson’s presence gave Kelly’s system a shot of pure adrenaline. Kelly had never had a WR who could give him what Jackson did in 2013. Never before did Kelly have a WR who could take the top off the defense and evacuate the box, but that’s gone now. Those days are over. Then again that’s not where Kelly’s head is anyway.

In 4 years as Oregon’s Head Coach, Kelly’s system produced just one WR with 700 yards or more (Jeff Maehl in 2010). Kelly (like early Andy Reid) simply doesn’t value the position highly. He wants blocker/tackle breakers, not dynamic field stretchers. Role players, not game changers. He wants a Billy McMullen, not a DJax.

And you don’t spend a 1st round pick on a role player.

Believe it or not, I don’t expect the passing game to be less efficient. I do expect the running game to be less explosive though. There are a number of reasons why. (Especially if they trade Evan Mathis, when it was Todd Herremans who struggled.)

 

1. McCoy won’t see as much work. In 4 years as Oregon’s Head Coach there were no 300+ carry RB’s for Oregon. Kelly likes to spread the carries out between his QB and (usually) 2 RB’s.

 2. The box will be stretched horizontally to create more space, but there will still be just as many defenders in the box. Last year wasn’t a true test of the spacing aspect of Kelly’s system, but he gon’ learn TODAY! Especially since Kelly can no longer take advantage of collegiate hash mark spacing.

3. NFL defenders are faster than college players. With fewer players in the box last year, Kelly didn’t have to coach against this. Expect a few plays this year where Shady gets blown up by lateral hits he didn’t see coming.

 4. Last year I said there were some smoke and mirrors along our 10-6 season. One of them was the Offensive Line. I’m waiting to see if a fundamental problem gets addressed in the Draft, because it’s been ignored so far.

 

That being said, not leading the league in rushing isn’t the same thing as being ineffective. McCoy will churn out yards and will probably even tote a decent average (4.1 maybe?). However more guys in the box will make him pay a lot more often for those sick juke moves.

BTW: If Sproles finishes 2014 as the starter, don’t say no one ever mentioned it.

UNINTENDED FALLOUT?

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/03/28
Posted in: Front Office (F.O.), Uncategorized. 4 Comments

accradmats

IF DeSean Jackson chooses to sue over defamation of character, then the Eagles will have to present what they knew and when they knew it. They cannot do this without implicating the organization itself.

Let’s start with what we all know about gangs:
1) They don’t bring you in when you’re in your 20’s
2) When they bring you in you’re required to perform a HIGHLY criminal act (armed robbery, assault, gang rape, murder).
3)You are required to “keep up” your cred and membership with these acts. (See: Aaron Hernandez)

If Jackson is in a gang NOW, it means he was when he was drafted. This means either the Eagles didn’t do their due diligence or they were willing to live with it. Recent statements (like one made by WIP’s Rob Ellis) say the Eagles have suppressed some stories involving DJax. This would point to them having known all along, which is an impressive piece of hypocrisy.

If the Eagles knew that he was a gang member all along, then they knew they had made a millionaire out of someone who had already committed heinous crimes.

If he was “keeping up” his street cred by continuing to do these things, and the Eagles were suppressing the stories, then the Philadelphia Eagles organization is complicit in multiple crimes. (Seriously, look up complicit.)

This is a bombshell. And it could blow back onto this organization in a way that will forever mark the names of all involved.

MAY THE STRONGEST SAFETY WIN

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/03/28
Posted in: Defense, Players. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Image courtesy of Phillymag.com

Image courtesy of Phillymag.com

THE question of who is going to start at SS opposite Malcolm Jenkins came up yesterday. Some fans say Nate Allen, some say Earl Wolff. Some are even holding out hope for prospect [Calvin Pryor]. Unlike most Eagles questions this one has a simple answer. And it’s staring you in the face.

This team’s biggest need right now is a top shelf pass rusher, so I wouldn’t put my money on drafting a Safety high. Unless he falls into the 2nd Round, I’d rule out Pryor.

Nate Allen is here on a 1-year deal. That indicates that he’s not seen (at least right now) as a long-term solution. He’s still young enough to have a breakout season and rake in some cake in 2015; but with the Eagles already cash strapped for 2015, I wouldn’t bank on seeing Allen here past 2014. If he’s really blowing it up this season, they could always sign him to an extension during the season and trade him prior to any 2015 salary obligation. (At least I’d do it that way.)

The Birds already had Earl Wolff when they brought back Allen. If they wanted to start Wolff on Day One, there was no need to re-sign Allen.

The handwriting on the wall says that barring a kick-ass Training Camp, Wolff opens the season behind Allen, and is slowly moved into a starting role somewhere around Week 7-9.

I think Allen finishes 2014 as the starter if Wolff doesn’t look ready by Week 9. By that point we’re talking playoff push. If it’s a tight division and the Safety play is solid, you don’t rock the boat, you “dance with the girl who brung ya”. 

But I’m interested to hear who you would start and why? Poll and comments right below. 

FINALLY,  A FRANCHISE QB!

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/03/27
Posted in: Offense, Players. 13 Comments
Image courtesy of goldmedalimpressions.com

Image courtesy of goldmedalimpressions.com

FINALLY! The Eagles have applied the word “Franchise” to a QB.

Since the trading of Donovan McNabb to the Redskins in 2010, we’ve had QB’s named the Starter. Kevin Kolb, Michael Vick, and Nick Foles respectively; but none of them were referred to as the Franchise QB. Now that we have declared one, this franchise can really begin to focus on winning a Super Bowl.

You may say “Jeez dude. It’s just words. You can “declare” anybody anything, it doesn’t make them any better. It doesn’t spot you points, or win you games”, and you’d be right for saying that. So why am I so excited? It’s because franchise QB is vastly different position from starting QB.

With a starting QB the coach names a guy because he’s the best fit on the roster for the system. A few shaky performances or not being 100% can change that, however.

With a franchise QB, he is the unquestioned starter because the franchise has anointed him so. He’s not the best fit for the system, he is the heart of the system, and pieces are added that fit him. If he’s not 100% he’s still expected –scratch that− counted on to play. When he’s shaky for a few games, no one mentions his back-up.

Better than that, the word “Franchise” says he’s going to be here for some time. If you’re a receiver it means you need to realize what side your bread is buttered on. When the QB calls a 2 week off-season workout at his house, you show up and you stay. For both weeks.

Tell the wife or girlfriend whatever you have to, because you can’t have your QB falling in love with another receiver, only to see your numbers drop, just ‘cause her heart was set on Cancun. Stats are money, stats come from execution, and execution comes from practice. That nice house she lives in, ain’t free. So you pack a bag and grab your ass a seat on a plane. The Franchise QB has juice like that.

When the coach hems and haws about a starter, even if both/all competing QB’s call a work-out, neither has the pull to punish if you don’t show.

This however, changes everything. Foles is THE MAN now. The focus is now on getting him the tools that HE needs. Now we can get around to seeing if he can deliver 10 wins a year, or if the Eagles have made a grievous error. We get to see if 2013 was real, or a marvelous fluke. Because now, we’re committed to our QB. We’re not approaching cautiously. We’re all in.

Finally. For the first time since McNabb was traded, we have ourselves a Franchise QB.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/03/26
Posted in: Front Office (F.O.), Players. Tagged: , . 7 Comments
Image courtesy of philly.com

Image courtesy of Philly.com

I’VE spent the day laughing at the notion that a rumor that was started and sustained by Tweets, is somehow supposed to be killed by Tweets.

During most of Jacksongate 2014© we’ve had to endure some of the worst “reporting” by professional outlets that I’ve ever seen. Tweets, sources close to blah-blah, and raw speculation have all fueled one of the most idiotic rumor sagas in modern sports history. It was even big enough to suck in an additional 5 NFL teams (Raiders, 9ers, Jets, Panthers, Ravens).

What’s funny is it all comes out of the fact that the Eagles won’t issue a single statement on the matter. Even now, after DeSean Jackson’s ‘go-team-go’ themed Tweets. It makes you wonder what’s real and what isn’t.

 

HERE’S WHAT’S REAL:

The Eagles can afford Jackson in 2014. They can’t next year (Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C). Not if they want to field an entire NFL team. Did you see the 7 TD’s Nick Foles rectally inserted into the cash strapped Raiders last year? (FYI: Foles didn’t throw more than 3 against any other opponent.) So unless you want the 2015 Eagles to be the 4-12 2013 Raiders, you want him (and others) to be moved.

Restructures won’t provide relief. Foles is still on his rookie deal for 2014 and 2015; but in 2016 he’ll command a salary of better than 12 million. So other player’s 2015 money can’t be spread out over 2016 and on, because they’ll need that room for Foles and the upcoming new deals for guys like Fletcher Cox, Mychal Kendricks, and Lane Johnson.

The room simply doesn’t exist. You went to school. You can do basic addition. This is just math. Besides, what do you do if guys don’t want to restructure? FYI: Connor Barwin and LeSean McCoy are the guys who would at that point be asked to take a cut.

Nothing has changed.

Jackson’s Tweet is completely meaningless. It carries as much weight as one put out by you or I.

Jackson was never going to trade or release himself. He never was said to be shopping himself. He never declared media silence on the subject of himself. That was all the Eagles as an organization, not as a team. None of his teammates threatened to shop him/trade him/release him. That was the Eagles organization, not the Eagles team.

The organization STILL has yet to declare what its intentions are. Keep in mind, Jackson spoke to Chip Kelly, not to Howie Roseman. Hell, Kelly has yet to issue a statement either! That’s an extremely important characterization. Especially in light of what Jeff Lurie said on Tuesday. You mean you didn’t know??

It’s still on folks. Eyes on the prize, not the distraction.

This story won’t go away until someone in the organization kills it, or if Jackson is still here on May 10th. Barring that, it still looks to me like he won’t be here much longer.

THE END IS THE BEGINNING

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/03/25
Posted in: Coaching, Offense. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Image courtesy of profootballspot.com

Image courtesy of profootballspot.com

THIS will not stop us. 

Make that the first thing you think about when you think about this situation. Is DeSean Jackson a dangerous playmaker? Yes. Can he be a game-changer? Yes. Does he create openings for other players? Yes. Absolutely. So how do we replace that?

We don’t.

Jackson is a holdover from the pass-happy West Coast system that was run during the Andy Reid era. Chip Kelly’s system is a run-based Spread. If Kelly feels that he needs a WR who has a different skillset than Jackson’s, it only make’s sense that he go out and get one.

Kelly says that his system emphasizes getting the ball out quick. That means the routes won’t be as long, so he won’t need to run a guy deep very often.

As one football writer first wrote in February; more short, quick passes to the TE would be a deadly wrinkle to add to this Offense. Again, that was first written in February, back before any of this mess with Jackson ever raised its head. It also goes hand in glove with what Kelly said his system is about.

Instead of trying to do what we did last year, we should build on what we can do best in the coming future. Instead of smaller players with quick strike capability, our Offensive focus turns to using larger players, thrown at the opponent in rapid succession, in order to simply pummel the will to compete out of them.

If we focus on who we are today we might not only survive this transition, we could come out of it as strong as we ever were.

SOMEBODY’S BEEN LYING

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/03/24
Posted in: Front Office (F.O.), Uncategorized. Leave a comment
image courtesy of funnyjunk.com

image courtesy of funnyjunk.com

SOMEBODY is full of shit. 

One source says that DeSean Jackson isn’t returning Chip Kelly‘s calls. Another source says that Kelly “is too busy“ to return Jackson’s. Another claims that Kelly told Jackson he won’t be traded, then retracts that statement.

The Eagles flat out refuse to say anything publicly. They’re acting as if their silence isn’t adding to this, while actually more than anything else it’s fanning the flames of this car wreck. It’s a coward’s position, and it’s more than a little disingenuous.  This allows all the information their fans are starving for, to be invented by pretty much anyone.

If I wanted to come on here and announce that the Eagles have agreed to trade Jackson  to Dallas for their 2017 7th rounder, I could do so with absolute authority, then simply claim (when it didn’t happen) that the Eagles had simply backed out of the deal for a better one.

It would certainly drive up my traffic. However I have this weird condition called integrity. While I would love more of you to click the ‘Follow’ button, I’m not willing to lie to you to get that. Many outside sources however, are entirely willing to.  

From what I can tell as I bounce around the places where my readers gather, nobody is mad at these outside sources, but there is a growing anger with the Eagle organization. And a growing weakness.

Right now they don’t control their own narrative. That looks weak. Disorganized. It’s black eye on the reputation of a franchise that used to be excellent at controlling the flow of how they were perceived. Remember the Gold Standard? The Eagles were called that by the entire NFL despite our failure to win a Super Bowl. 

Not today. Today as the Eagles struggle to get rid of one of the leagues more dangerous players, the organization just looks weak and dishonest. 

DID THINGS JUST GET HARDER FOR US?

Posted by The BEAST on 2014/03/23
Posted in: Players. Tagged: , . Leave a comment
Image courtesy of Newsday.com

Image courtesy of Newsday.com

THE Cowpies flat out don’t have the money to pair DeSean Jackson with Dez Bryant. Unless of course Jerry Jones was willing to do something absolutely crazy and… You know what, I don’t want to think about that!

However, the “giants” and the Foreskins, could push around some cash and pull it off a lot easier. Especially if Jackson were released, and there was no contract to renegotiate. He could sign to fit the cap structure of any team in the NFL. 

But would he be so motivated to stay in the NFC East and give away signs, signals, keys and intricacies of the system he just played in? And if he were, what number would he wear?