OTA’s

All posts tagged OTA’s

EAGLES 2020 RECORD: 11-5, 12-4?

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/05/05
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Preview, Rivals, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

PHILADELPHIA is about to repeat as NFC East champions. Fans of other divisions would shrug and say that’s no big deal. It’s just a division title. Fans in THIS division know that’s far from true. In most years, the NFC East doesn’t produce a winner. It produces a survivor. Which is why since the  2004 – 2005 season, no team in the division has won it back-to-back years.

This year however, the Eagles are looking like they’re going to change that.

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Signing RB Corey Clement was a subtle move, but by no means was it small. Social distancing policies have prevented all teams from having Organized Team Activities, and mini-camps. Teams use those periods for things like:

*Offseason workouts to help the team bond and develop chemistry.

*Introductory physicals, and on-site physical therapy by renowned experts.

*Retired veterans who come in to talk to rookies about money, agents, balancing life, etc.

*NFLPA sending reps to discuss insurance, union dues, obligations, legal protections.

*Meetings to discuss core concepts of the system, and Q and A about the playbook.

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Teams are trying to do some of this OTA and mini-camp stuff, digitally. However, it’s efficacy has no standard by which to reliably measure it, only to compare it. Also, many teams never got an in-person look at most (or in some cases any) of the athletes that they drafted. Yet they have to go right into Training Camp mode, and immediately begin evaluating players to see who stays and who goes.

This process will be harder on the Cowboys, giants, and Redskins, because all of them have new coaches who have to get to know their teams, and install brand new systems on offense and defense. The odds that they could overlook a gem, and leave talent on the cutting-floor is now more likely than not.

The Eagles have the same coach and (mostly) the same systems from last year, so they don’t have to worry about that steep team-wide learning curve. Which is where a simple move like signing Clement (who already has mastery of the system), will pay huge dividends.

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Moreover, there have been rumblings in the last week or so, about the Eagles bringing back LT Jason Peters and LB Nigel Bradham. These would be genius level moves. Bradham would immediately erase our hole at LB, and give the young guys a real LB (not a tweener) to learn the trade from. Peters would immediately ease any doubts people have about LT Andre Dillard, by giving him a little more shakedown time, as well as being on-hand to mentor him.

So last year’s champs have a massive head start. Oh yeah, and this can’t be repeated enough: The Eagles went 5 – 1 in the division while running on fumes, and still won the East. This season the team gets back firepower they hardly got to use last year, and then added to it.

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BE CAREFUL WITH CARSON WENTZ

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/05/22
Posted in: Conversations, Front Office (F.O.), Offense, Players, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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WANNA hear a joke? The Eagles are going go be smart, aka careful, with QB Carson Wentz.

Here we are at the beginning of OTA’s (Organized Team Activities) and Wentz has been medically cleared to resume being a QB, which means no limitations stemming from the rehab of a stress fracture of the vertebrae in his back.

Wentz’s injury was a different kind of fracture from the transverse process fracture that QB’s Cam Newton, Derek Carr and Tony Romo played through, and more akin to the one that QB Matt Stafford played through last year. (FYI: While Wentz would have preferred to play, it was the organization that decided to shut him down for the season. They then subsequently cleaned house regarding three key members of the medical staff. Somebody fucked up.)

With Wentz being fully healed, the team is going to be careful with him. By which they mean, they will let him get the shit kicked out of him, like any other NFL QB. What else could they mean? He (like the other QB’s) is already wearing a red jersey in practices. So he already can’t be hit. 

Mind you, this isn’t me complaining! I’m all for it. This is his gig. We need him to be able to do his job. I like the idea that we aren’t putting a skirt on him. I just think it’s hilarious when any football coach or front office type, says they’re going to be “careful” with a player.

“See those 11 guys? Well they want this ball, and are willing to kill whoever is holding it, to get it. So here, you take it. Then try to throw it accurately to a track star, running away from his own assailant. Just take what they give you, but impose your will. And hurry, ‘cause you’ll only have 4 seconds. Or 3. Maybe less. Fingers crossed, right? But don’t rush your reads. And don’t forget about your blindside. Now go! And remember Doc, Keeeep Smiling!”

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Because you know. Careful.

So yeah. The team is going to be SMART. Gonna be careful with the Carson. Not gonna let anything happen to the Carson. Now we’re being careful. Because apparently, we weren’t already being careful with our franchise QB. Wait. What? Nope. Nope! You know what? Fuck it. Fuck it. We’re being careful now. That’s our thing now. Now it matters because…..Arrrrgh! Fuck it. Just go with it. Just go limp and ride it out. Be a fan. I can do this. I survived Chip Kelly. I can do this. I can do this.

Oh Eagles. Even when it’s good news, you can still manage to make me want to chew Brillo. That’s how you know it’s love.

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LET’S HANG OUT

Posted by The BEAST on 2017/06/17
Posted in: Conversations, NFL, Offense, Players, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

CARSON Wentz just took another step towards becoming a franchise QB. He invited some of his teammates to hang out at his place. In the break between OTA’s and Training Camp, Wentz will be hosting a week-long passing camp for skill position players, at his home in Fargo, North Dakota. I’ve been wishing for an Eagles QB to do this since Donovan McNabb used to host teammates at his home in Arizona.

A couple years ago, I criticized Nick Foles (our then starter), for not doing this. McNabb did it to become a franchise QB and perennial playoff contender. Wentz is doing it and becoming a franchise QB. Foles didn’t do it and became a Rams back-up. then a Chiefs back-up. Now he’s an Eagles back-up.

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There will be no Defense at Wentz’s home. No one will wear pads. In many ways this will seem lesser work than the OTA’s. However, it’s infinitely more important. This will help the QB and the receivers work on chemistry, and timing. They’ll get to talk about the playbook as well as the Offense’s base concepts. They’ll get to teach each other, and gain more insight as they do. More importantly they’ll get a chance to get inside of each other’s head, and get a chance to understand what their teammates see pre-snap. More importantly, they’ll get a glimpse into why their teammates see it.

For those of you who don’t know this game the way I do, let me give you some good news: Our team is about to undergo a massive evolutionary step. Wentz was handed the role of starter last year, but the role of leader must be earned. This is him earning it. This is him stepping up and wanting it.

There’s an old expression that goes “Women communicate verbally, but men communicate shoulder to shoulder”. In the sun, in the heat, through his toil, Wentz will be shoulder to shoulder with his teammates. He will be earning his mantle of Leader, in the eyes of those he plays with. I can tell you firsthand, there is no substitute for that. None. This process cannot be faked, nor simulated. There are no shortcuts to greatness.

Howie Roseman said we would be blown away by Wentz’s intangibles, and I have to say that Howie nailed the hell out of that assessment. Wentz’s intangibles (ability to assimilate and utilize new information, commitment to his craft, even keel nature, ability to engender respect from his teammates, etc.) are all top-notch. I think Roseman overestimated Wentz’s athletic ceiling, but in any case it’s still seems higher than the athletic ceilings for Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, and Eli Manning. All of whom have won Super Bowls with lesser physical gifts than Wentz possesses.

I say that, to say this: Dear fellow fans. Sit back and prepare to enjoy the next few years at least. Our team is on the way up, because Carson Wentz just took another step towards becoming a franchise QB.

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I’M LOOKING BEYOND TODAY

Posted by The BEAST on 2017/05/24
Posted in: Conversations, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Players, Roster. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

ORGANIZED Team Activities (OTA’s) started for the Eagles yesterday, and I could hardly care less. For me, the season starts at Training Camp. Everything before that is glorified gym class. Scour this website back to it’s beginning in 2014, and you will never see me hyped about the Eagles during OTA’s. It pretty much a given that when football players are running around in shorts and no pads, I can hardly be bothered to watch. (This also goes for the Combine.)

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Since there’s no football to monitor, I’m still in offseason mode, and focusing on the business end of things. Basically, I’m wandering around in my robe and slippers, drinking coffee right from the pot until the June 1st cuts. Those cuts will trigger a few domino effects across the NFL, of players being signed and still other players being released afterwards.

I’m waiting to see whether or not some other team’s cap issues can net us an upgrade in a couple of places like OLB (one who can cover), RB, reserve OT or reserve DT. Also, there will be teams out there looking to score waived players from this process. When some of them miss out, then you may see a trade or two, as teams want to add needed pieces before Training Camps start on July 22nd.

The generally accepted rumor, is that we are going release RB Ryan Mathews, but there is no rule stating that we have to. Players like Mathews, C Jason Kelce, and OLB Mychal Kendricks could all be held onto, in an attempt to trade them to a team who missed on a Round Two Free Agent. Teams who suffering key injuries at these positions during OTA’s could also be part of that market.

So no, you won’t hear much from me about Phys Ed. for football players. On the other hand, I will make quite a bit of noise if our team can pull off a slick move or two in the next month or so.