COVID-19 THIS SEASON

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/08/11
Posted in: Conversations, Rants, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Zeke eat virus

MARCH 18, 2020 was the last day that Philadelphia saw single digit (8) new cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), better known by it’s unhappy neighbors as either Coronavirus, Covid-19, or Ms. Rona. With Fall and Football season coming up, I wanted to talk about this thing from a slightly different angle.

I’m going to throw some numbers at you. Don’t run off. They’ll be easier to follow than QB passing stats.

Currently the city is in what is referred to, as a ‘Modified Green‘ phase of re-opening. We are not now, nor have we yet been, to ‘Full Green‘ phase yet. In the 38 days since going Modified Green on July 3rd, we’ve seen 4,623 new cases, for a daily reporting average of 121.6. Once there’s a lull in patients at work, I track the daily reporting numbers.

That term “daily reporting” is a tongue-in-cheek term. While people are testing daily, test results are not immediate. Some take a few as 2 days for facilities like hospitals that have their own on-premises lab. For other testing facilities, which have to send the tests to a lab, results can lag as long as 14 days behind.

8.9.20 covidphila

This chart is as of 5p.m. on 8/10/20

Even on the City Of Philadelphia’s official Coronavirus webpage, the daily reports are adjusted daily to reflect the new results that came in for that day. For example: At the moment, the new cases for Friday (8/7/20) is at 68. (It was at 52 when I started this article two hours ago)*. That number will creep upward for at least the next week. This is because every day, delayed results come in, and get added to the date of the test.

Now for those numbers that I promised.

June 1st to July 2nd (Yellow Phase) : 3,793 new cases, over 32 days, with an average of 118.5 new cases per day.

July 3rd to July 26th (Modified Green – Dormant Reporting) : 3,201 new cases, over 24 days, with an average of 133.3 new cases per day.

July 27 – August 10th (Modified Green – Active Reporting) : 1,422 new cases, over 14 days for an average of 101.5. Keep in mind, NONE of the numbers in this 14 day range can be counted on to be final. While at first glance it always looks like the curve is flattening in the Active Reporting range, the Dormant Reporting range tells what happens by the end of that cycle.

As you can see here on the city’s page testing-and-data/ in the upper corner of the Positives section, it cautions the reader that “Data May Be Delayed”. So again, the numbers in the 14 day range will creep upward for usually a week, but sometimes as long as two weeks. That’s just the raw data.

Data Arguing

Okay, maybe not THAT raw.

The point of this article, is to say that the Philadelphia region is not ready for a move to Full Green. There has clearly not been a “flattening of the curve.” In fact the data suggests that we’re ticking upward, even with the aid of outdoor spaces and ultraviolet rays, which help kill the virus (while in the air, not inside the body, Mr. President).

Philly’s leaders can’t allow the local economy to cave in, so some degree of being open is needed to keep people fed. Especially before the weather changes and forces people back into confined areas. (No outdoor spaces, and far less UV rays. COMING SOON! Get the picture?) We shouldn’t fault our elected officials for trying to do as much as they can, while they can.

Liberty Bell (1)

However, we the people ARE the government. By voice, by vote and by demonstrative acts as individuals. A move to Full Green does not mean that we as individuals are required to act as if we’ve put this thing behind us. Should our elected officials open movie theaters, or schools, or stadiums or whatever, in a way that flies in the face of our common sense, we are responsible for using OUR individual actions to demonstrate a lack of support for such a move.

Understand, intelligence is not what you know. It is in fact, your capacity to learn. Can you learn? is the question. Can you think? Unless we want to be the next Florida, or Texas, or California, or Georgia, then fellow Philadelphians, we have to demonstrate the capacity to learn. The ability to make a choice based on our intelligence and not our animalistic comforts.

The lives of our most cherished loved ones are depending on it.

*By the time I was able to get this article out, the case reporting for 8/7/20 had gone from 52 to 68 to 80.

VINNY CURRY RETURNS! (AGAIN.)

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/08/08
Posted in: Conversations, Defense, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Players, Roster. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Vinny Curry

CURRIED QB is on the menu again in 2020! The Eagles have re-signed DE Vinny Curry, bringing him back on a one year deal for 2020. I’m a huge fan of the move. I love his experience in the scheme. I love his productivity. I love his schematic versatility. I love the depth he adds. Indeed, the rich have gotten richer.

It’s the timing on the move that raises my eyebrow.

When Curry was allowed to walk at the end of the season, the Eagles already knew what they had. So why wait until a week into camp to bring him back into the fold? My first instinct was, maybe they aren’t seeing as much from the young guys as they were hoping.

Rhodie (JFK)

Then I had another thought. Maybe it’s Covid-19 proofing. Our Defense is predicated on getting pressure on opposing QB’s. DC Jim Schwartz tries to do that with his four down linemen. So keeping those linemen fresh, is as important to the scheme as the X’s and O’s are. That in mind, we might just be stockpiling pass rush talent.

That would also explain last month’s cutting and immediate re-signing, of DE Daeshon Hall. Hall “failed” his physical, cleared waivers, was quickly snatched up by the very team that cut him, and placed neatly on our PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List, where he incidentally won’t count against the roster. So basically Hall was stashed away.

While Curry at 32 years of age is unlikely to be stashed, a younger player could be. I’m thinking of players like DE’s Shareef Miller, Joe Ostman, Matt Leo, and the aforementioned Hall. A couple of those guys may end up on the Practice Squad, or this year’s very flexible I.R. format.

GRAHAM AND CURRY

If I had to bet on which DE’s make the Week One roster, I’d go with Curry, Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Josh Sweat, and Genard Avery playing a LB/DE swing role. Curry gives us a Nickle/Dime DT presence as well. (Graham and Barnett will start of course.)

This signing is a great move. Not only for what it added to our roster, but for removing Curry from garnering interest from a division rival at some point. Everything about this move was forward thinking. I have to love it.

MANIACAL FACT: When Vinny Curry starts 16 games, his team ALWAYS wins a Super Bowl. 

card.vinny.curry

THERE WILL BE FOOTBALL.

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/08/04
Posted in: Conspiracy Corner, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Preview, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

EAGLEMANIACAL.com guarantees that there will be football this Fall. It may be sloppy. There may eventually be a high number of replacement players dragged in. The season may even end early. That all being said, you will get football in 2020.

You’re welcome.

CHANGE MY MIND

You want to know how I can make such a guarantee, right? Of course you do. Let me nutshell it. The NFL has 5 billion reasons to make sure that they get their games, on our television screens. I’m specifically talking about the league’s annual broadcast contract hammered out in 2014.

Advertisers pay broadcasters to run their ads, and in turn the broadcasters pay the NFL (5 billion dollars. Billion. With a “B”) to attract eyes to see those ads. Zero games would mean zero eyes on ads, so advertisers would want their money back from the broadcasters. Which means the broadcasters in turn, would want their money (5 billion dollars) back from the NFL.

Understand, all of that nonsense can be avoided, with the simple broadcast of football games. To keep the money (the 5 billion dollars), the NFL simply has to fulfill their obligation to provide games. Those games don’t have to be great, they just have to be ON.

Right, Browns fans?

Being a BROWNS fan

So you will get football this year. And the NFL will even broadcast whatever it is that the Washington “Team” does now. I assume it’s a form of liturgical dance, or sports LARPing. In any case, you’re gonna get WEEKS of it. 

And you have Roger here to thank for that. 

Roger Goodell Boo the Commish 2020

Side note: This picture looks like Roger is promising to stop fucking the dog, but the dog already knows that he’s lying.  Can’t unsee that now, can you?

You’re welcome.

JASON AVANT IS AN EAGLE AGAIN

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/30
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Front Office (F.O.), Offense, Players, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

player-jasonavant550px.arrowheadaddict

JASON Avant working with the Eagles WR’s feels like an investment in Karma. It’s bringing him home to an Eagles franchise that he’s never strayed far from. Even when he played in Kansas City. Under head coach Andy Reid. (See what I mean?)

Avant was always a bit of a coach/mentor. Even as a player, he was one of a handful of players that young guys innately felt that they could talk to, and ask questions of. And why not? He carried an air of professionalism and credibility. While those things never jump out at you, over a period of time they build a level of gravitas that attracts people to you.

Never one that could be mistaken for a deep threat, Avant was known for running great routes and having even greater hands. Other sportswriters will tell you that his career was built on ‘precision’, but let me explain what that word actually means in relation to football. It means his career was about study, discipline, repetition, and habits.

avant catch.jpg

If you liked Odell Beckham’s catch, then you have to LOVE the original version.

Avant the player walked what he talked. And THAT is who now is among the teachers for young WR’s Jalen Reagor, J.J Arcega-Whiteside, John Hightower, Quez Watkins, and possibly most beneficially, Greg Ward.

It’s worth noting also that Avant and WR DeSean Jackson were teammates from 2008 to 2013. So there’s a dynamic at play where Avant and DJax can reminisce about playoff games, with the youngin’s in the room. The proof of what they say will be evident just by the fact of those two men being in that room. That level of credibility is hard for hungry players to ignore.

Jason Avant and Desean Jackson vs Den

I specifically mentioned those four young WR’s, because beyond 2020 there is little chance of seeing DJax and/or WR Alshon Jeffery in midnight green. At which point we will likely be starting Reagor and Arcega-Whiteside. That in mind, it would be wise for the 2020 Eagles to keep six receivers, with Jeffery, DJax, Ward, A-Dub (I’m introducing that nickname today), and Reagor at the top five.

(Sidenote: Rookie RB Adrian Killins (5’8″, 177lbs) will probably log as many NFL carries as RB Donnel Pumphrey (5’9″, 176lbs) did. Meaning zero. The smart move would be to put Killins on the 2020 Practice Squad, and try to transition him to WR. You don’t let speed like his just walk out the door, unless you are 1012% certain that he can’t play.)

While Avant isn’t the WR’s coach, having his voice in the room, is huge. It’s the voice of a mid-level talent who made an 11 year career, out of being a first rate professional. That can’t be anything but a huge Avant-age (see what I did there?) for the young stable of receivers we have here.

I’m thrilled with the move.

CHANGE MY MIND

BTW I found out TWO new things last night: 1) This guy’s name is Steven Crowder, and 2) We have the same birthday

DEAR REDSKINS FANS,

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/29
Posted in: Conversations, Fans, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Roster, trade. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

shadenfreude2

DON’T get it twisted. If Redskins (I’m calling them that, until they have an actual name) QB Alex Smith beats out QB Dwayne Haskins for the starting job, then that’s it, Haskins is trash.

Don’t @ me with arguments about how Smith was a first round talent, has over a decade more experience, and therefore should be able to beat out Haskins. Smith has been away from football for nearly two calendar years, and is 36 years old, with more than 36 years of wear and tear on his body.

Watching Smith’s workout video is a testament to his mental toughness. 

But watching him run doesn’t indicate any ability to avoid a sack, or even hard hits. Throwing Smith out there as a starter (especially with no preseason games), would be feeding sheep to lions. You might as well coat him in barbecue sauce.

All offseason long, Smith’s return is the most football related story I’ve heard tied to the Redskins. Oh wait! That’s not true. Trading away LT Trent Williams, the best protection Smith would have had, also got quite a bit of coverage too. Yeah, Williams made it clear that he wanted out of there, so they traded him. But why would he want to lea- Ohhhh! That’s right:

2020 roast redskins

So the Redskins are a team with no offensive line, RB’s who play with canes due to either age or injury, and a WR group that consists of ONE decent, but over-hyped player. There is no way to push Smith’s wheelchair up to the huddle, without it being a screaming indictment of Haskins.

Picking a starting QB is all about who you feel gives your (LMAO!) “Team” the best chance to win. It’s about who you have the most confidence in. If new head coach Ron Rivera starts Smith, it tells you how his new regime feels about the upside of their second year QB. It tells you that they have no confidence in him.

Because he’s trash. Warm, juicy trash.

Dwayne-Haskins-2

BAKING LINEBACKER SURPRISE

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/26
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, NFL, Players, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

article regular-red-pill-blue-pill

LINEBACKER is the weakest position on the Eagles team. At least that’s what we keep being told. Not just by the local and national sports medias, but also off-shoot independent bloggers. Hell, even I’VE laid offerings at the foot of the “OUR LINEBACKERS ARE TRASH!!!” altar.

But what if we’re all wrong? What if everyone is wrong, because we’re seeing it from the wrong angle?

We keep looking at the LB’s in terms of who the players are. After all, it’s not like Head Coach Doug Pederson can get out there and stop RB Adrian Peterson from ripping a 90 yard TD run right up the gut of our Defense. (Then again, it’s not like LB Nate Gerry could either.) So of course a fan’s knee-jerk reaction, is to look at it in terms of “Well, who are our LB’s?“

At least, that’s what an average fan does. You’re reading this, so clearly, YOU aren’t average. Welcome to being better than other people.

burpTOP

What we haven’t been doing, (both average fans and us alike), is recognizing all the changes made to the brain trust that runs our Defense. Specifically, the switch in Defensive Line Coach from Chris Wilson to Matt Burke, and the switch from Secondary Coach from Cory Undlin to Marquand Manuel.

D-Line, Linebackers, Secondary. Those are the three tiers of a defense, and we just changed two-thirds of ours. You can’t change two-thirds of anything, and not have a noticeable difference in outcome, from prior output. Good or bad, it just can’t be done.

Understand, the overall system and most core concepts run by Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz will remain the same. What will change, are some of the ideas, the approaches, and thus the implementation of the overall system. As of now, it seems that everything has been changed to support the LB position.

card.LB nate.gerry 

Over the last few years, the Eagles have been leaning harder and harder into these LB/S tweeners types. Today the roster sports a fistful of them. Nate Gerry, Duke Riley, Jatavis Brown, and rookie Davion Taylor, have all historically sported playing weights of under 230 pounds. Which seems weird in a division of larger opposing RB’s.

The emphasis seems to be on having guys who can fly to the ball-carrier, over guys who can stop a ball-carrier, or take on an offensive lineman’s block. That means keeping offensive linemen off of our LB’s, which indicates a coming change in our D-Line’s technique.

Enter Matt Burke. So now do you see where this is going? Of course you do. You’re smart enough to be here, and I explained it well.

tea

If our Defense is going to have major new wrinkles to it, maybe it’s best to have young, unestablished players running it. Players who have have a similar skill set, so they can be replaced in case of injury. Players who can’t count on their unique ability to earn them playing time. They’re all competing at doing task “X” with technique “Y”. This allows the coach to objectively pick the best player at it.

For example: Remember when we ran a 3-4 under TIK (The Idiot Kelly), and Brandon Graham played OLB? We relied on him for pass rush, right? Being that Graham has played pass rush OLB, should we start him at OLB, instead of coverage LB Gerry? No. Of course not.

Now imagine for a moment that you’re an Eagles coach, and you have to make that choice. While (mind you), factoring in the premium put on pass rushers. NOPE! The Eagles have nixed all of that. They went out and stockpiled a very specific type of player, indicating that they also, have a very specific type of plan. 

This is literally a move that the team has been telegraphing for half a year now. That said, until a few days ago, I was out here like a dope, not seeing it. Ugh! Like some average writer. Now having picked up on what Western Union was putting down, I wanted to make sure that I shared that telegraph signal with you.

jon-stewart-steven-cobert-drinking-tea

So in October, when the Eagles LB’s keep surprise everyone this season, we can sip tea and say that we saw it coming even before Training Camp opened. Because we aren’t average fans.

THE NFC EAST IS OURS

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/25
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, NFL, Rivals, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

ap-carson-wentz-eagles-bears-firstdown

REPEATING as division champs in 2021 may have just gotten easier for the Philadelphia Eagles. With the NFL officially announcing the cancellation of the 2020 preseason, all teams will have to go from Training Camp and practices, directly to games that count.​

This means no team gets any dress rehearsal games to see who can and and who can’t play. Some like to cry about how this will affect fringe players, who traditionally need some tape to help them make other teams. This however, gifts the Eagles with some serious early advantages.​

2.7 New boss

The first advantage we get, is all three of our division rivals have new head coaches. We knew we’d have that months ago, but the advantage has stiffened for us. All of our opponent’s players are learning totally new systems, and will have to deal with the trial and ERRORS that come as a result of so much change.​

Some may argue that the Dallas Cowboys offense is an exception, because they kept their old system and coordinator. The knee-jerk reaction is that, at least their offense should be fine. However, it can be argued that in some ways, that may make things worse for them. Much worse.​

Rhythm counts a great deal in football. A new coach will call a game differently, making the familiar feel either, “refreshing” at best, or “foreign” at worst. Throw in a new C to QB exchange, plus a dip in TE run-blocking talent, and you have the makings of a seriously off-rhythm team, that becomes frustrated when reliable plays from the last four years, suddenly aren’t. Particularly in the early part of the season.​ 

The second advantage we get, is that we aren’t relying on “hope” anywhere. None of our starters are being replaced by rookies that we hope we can lean on early. None of our free agents have been out of football for years, hoping to make a comeback. We aren’t relying on someone to be reinstated, in hopes of getting a talent boost at a weak position.​ 

fake tits

Our rookies can be rookies, and our free agent acquisitions are all bonafide.​

The third advantage we get, is that our coaching staff and our roster, can trust each other already. We can literally pick everything up from the end of the 2019 season, and start building immediately off of that. No other NFC East team can claim that.​

The fourth advantage we get is, a division game in the first week, versus the Redskins. (That’s what I’m calling them, until they have an actual name.) The giants and Cowboys don’t see a division rival until week five. An early win over the ‘skins, puts us out ahead of any tied division record, and gets the team thinking like division leaders.​

If the Eagles can develop an early swagger like we did after that 61 yard FG in 2017… Yeah. we have some SERIOUS advantages going into 2020. Here’s to staying healthy this year. ​

Jake Elliott 9.24.2017

THE NFL’s 33rd TEAM

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/22
Posted in: Conspiracy Corner, Conversations, NFC East, NFL, Players, Rants, Rivals, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

2019 Wentz is a gunslinger​
DOES anybody remember the Philadelphia Eagles? Last time I checked, that was the last team to win the NFC East division. Yet the national sports media scarcely acknowledges that Philly has a football team. Unless it’s a week where every team in a division gets a day.​

Oh wait! We did get some press after WR DeSean Jackson had a tweet that was viewed as offensive by some people. You may have heard of it? In any case, it was handled, and the rest of sports world forgot about the team again.​

Outside of that, when the Eagles do get brought up, it’s usually just a mention while being looked past. For example, despite taking the division directly away from the Dallas Cowboys, in a “do-or-die” second match-up last year, the national media seems to think that the Cowboys will win the division in 2021.​

2019 Sanders TD run

The Cowboys couldn’t beat the Eagles when they were more or less at full strength, and Philly was injury depleted. The Cowboys #1 ranked offense was held to nine points in that game. NINE. Versus an injury decimated team. And they’re still the favorites this year! With a new head coach!!​

We re-signed OL Jason Peters, immediately plugging a hole created by injury, and providing a gold plated insurance policy. Did that help the Eagles move into the favorite spot? Did it even invite a new discussion of how this would impact the Eagles, and thus the division?​

No. It did neither. No professional “journalist” wants to have those discussions. Instead, as expected, the national sports media delivered Jerry Jones his annual blowjob for wasting money, and producing more hype than substance.​

Mike Bolton Office Space disgusted
Whether being repeatedly overlooked, or listening to another year of empty Dallas hype, neither by themselves is even worthy of notice. However, when placed side-by-side, they create this weird effect. Almost like a prolonged feedback noise. A noise that usually lasts from April to October.​

Only four times in this New Millennium has the NFC East not gone to (9 times) or through (7 times) Philadelphia. That means that sixteen times in the last twenty years (TWO DECADES), the division couldn’t be decided without Philadelphia weighing in. Plus winning it twice as often as anyone else in the division, despite three head coaches over the span.​

Yet we barely rate a mention this time of year. Annually! It’s beyond annoying.

This year with the lack of other real football news, it’s worse than usual. It has me looking forward to the season for my salvation, because once the game count, and our winning starts, the Eagles cannot be looked past any longer.

2.7 New boss

GUARDED OPTIMISM

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/15
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), Offense, Players, Roster, X's and O's. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

jason-peters-jordan-mailata.jpg

FINALLY! Not only have the Eagles signed eventual Hall of Famer Jason Peters, but they’ve FINALLY decided to move him from LT to G. I’ve been on about that potential move for YEARS now.​

To finally see it take place… I- I feel so much pride right now. I now know how Ms. America felt when she got the roses, and began to make her way past all that human wreckage, as they cried real tears of pain, while giving her fake congrats. That had to feel amazing!​

And yes! With this news, I feel mah-velous.

billy-crystal-you-look-marvelous-instrumental-am​

Though Peters is just signed to a one year deal, moving inside could add two, maybe three high level years to his career. Study habits, strength, technique, concept of scheme, he owns all of those as an Eagle. Where he was starting to show wear and tear, was versus speed off the edge. That and the nagging injuries resulting from overextending to compensate for it.​

That’s no longer an issue, as opponents don’t get to try running around him. Now they have to wrestle with him in a phonebooth. Early word has him playing RG, to sub for RG Brandon Brooks whom we lost for the season, with a tear of his Achilles tendon.

While a right side of C Jason Kelce, RG Jason Peters, and RT Lane Johnson would be sick, this configuration won’t be the one that benefits the Eagles the most in the long run. Flipping LG Isaac Seumalo to RG and playing Peters at LG would be the most helpful alignment.

Jason Peters catching Ryan Mathews

Hey, does anyone remember the day Peters CAUGHT RB Ryan Mathews, out of mid-air to give him a soft TD landing?

Playing Peters one spot over from his familiar LT post, would help him mentor new starting LT Andre Dillard. While Peters at RG would be good while he played, the wisdom that he could pass down to Dillard, could help make the young man a perennial All-Pro, for the next decade-plus.

So Peters could either be a replacement for Brooks, or an investment in Dillard’s future. Instant gratification vs the long-term, high yield payout. In the end we’ll see who gets the roses.

UNSIGNED EAGLES ARE A PROBLEM

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/12
Posted in: Conversations, Defense, Draft, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Offense, Players, Rants, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

TRAINING Camps are rumored to be targeting a July 28th start date. With today being July 12th, that’s a mere 16 days from now. Two weeks and two days, or “Two and two.”

Love Connection Chuck Woolery.jpg

In the meantime, eight of our ten 2020 Draft picks, are still unsigned. To be clear, they will not be able to participate in TC without a contract. Not being able to do so, would slow their learning curve, and limit how early they can become serious contributors. Who do we have yet to sign? Take a look:

1st – No. 21 – WR Jalen Reagor

2nd – No. 53 – QB Jalen Hurts

3rd – No. 103 – LB Davion Taylor

4th – No. 127 – S K’Von Wallace

4th – No. 145 – OT Jack Driscoll

5th – No. 168 – WR John Hightower

6th – No. 196 – LB Shaun Bradley

7th – No. 233 – LB/DE Casey Toohill

Reagor not being signed (at this point), is extremely troubling. WR Alshon Jeffery isn’t expected back anytime soon from his 2019 foot injury. On the other hand, WR DeSean Farrakhan is being made to jump through hoops just to remain an Eagle.

In the event that the Eagles release Djax, the Offense will be right back where it was when the 2019 season ended. By that I mean, leaning on WR Greg Ward, and hoping that WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside can somehow put together the concepts of “get open” and “catch ball”.

Whiteside drops an easy score.

Remember this drop? If he catches this, he scores and we win. We lost 24 – 27. Good times.

The LB position remains an open wound. It would be asking a lot for 3rd round rookie LB Davion Taylor to be the upgrade that we need. However, we’re so thin on talent there, that we basically have to ask for exactly that.

All indications are that the Eagles have big plans for FS K’Von Wallace, but every day that he misses of TC, will be like a week’s worth of make-up time. Rookies who fall behind mentally, become liabilities that opponents will exploit during the season.

Not to downplay the importance of the remaining five Draft picks on the above list, but 1) None of them are signed either, and 2) The three guys that I pointed out, are the guys that the team needs big contributions from in 2020. (If there’s even a season.)

Rookie wages are subject to a wage scale, where every player earns less than the guy drafted ahead of him. So there are already valuation charts that approximate what every rookie should eventually sign for.

paid peanuts

Usually the Eagles have the rookies signed by late April, mid May, but many sportswriters want to speculate that the delay is because of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. However, given that Philadelphia moved into the Yellow Phase of the re-opening on June 5th, there is no reason why these deals shouldn’t have been/ couldn’t have been, negotiated in principle over Zoom, and then road tripped to finalize and sign.

Right now, we’re thin at LB and we aren’t signing rookies or veterans. Right now, we’re shaky at Opening Day WR, but instead of signing a top threat, we’re hinting at cutting one of the NFL’s top deep threats. Right now, we have more questions than answers at S, but we aren’t signing or trading for any.

Until we address those things, we can’t even seriously entertain the idea of adding an insurance RB, or getting some help at LT, or spending big coin on an over-hyped DE, who has just 32 sacks in 6 years. GM Howie Roseman, you gotta get it together.