Eagles and FA

This morning at 12:01 am Fre Agency began. It is a time for teams to sign other players to strengthen their team. The Eagles haven't done much in Free Agency the past few years. In 2004 they signed DE Javon Kearse and WR Terrell Owens. 2005 brought in DE Darrin Howard. Nothing major in 2006. 2007 saw WR Kevin Curtis. What will 2008 bring?

CB Assante Samuel is the most coveted player in FA. A great corner in both man and zone coverage. He will be asking for some big money. The Eagles have it to spend after releasing Kearse. It saves them $6 million or so. Adding Samuel would signal that the Front Office has heard the pleas of the fans and players about adding playmakers. Samuel is rumored to be visiting Philly this morning. PLEASE DON'T LET HIM LEAVE WITHOUT A CONTRACT!

WR Donte Stallworth played here in 2006. He bolted for New England. Will he come back to Philly? I don't know. I don;t know what happened behind closed doors last year when the Eagles offered him a contract. Maybe he has a change of heart and signs here again.

DE Paul Spicer is a veteran. He's a very solid DE with Jacksonville. Adding him would provide solid depth with Kearse being gone. A nice one or two year deal.

OG Alan Faneca is ne of the top 3 OG's in the league. He may be 31, but OL tend to play longer than most position players. We really don't need him, but if you can add a top OL to an already solid OL, it's a good thing. Once again money will be the sticking point. If the price is right, get him. Imagine Runyan, Faneca, Jackson, Andrews and Thomas with Herremans, Jean-Gilles, Justice and Young as backups. That is a solid OL with experienced backups.

There are other possibilities out there. The top three are the ones I hope we do get. Do I want Faneca? YES. Do we need Faneca? No. So if he would go to another team, which is very likely, it won't break my heart.

Here's to hoping the Eagles Front Office goes out aggressively and gets the playmakers we all want to see. Super Bowl is the goal. Like a friend says "1 winner, 31 losers". I'm tired of being one of the 31!

Potential Prospects

Chris Williams – Offensive Tackle – Vanderbilt – 6’6” – 315 lbs.
Projected Round: 1st Chase’s Position Rank: 3rd
Overview: Is a natural pass blocker who rarely breaks his form or technique. Even in his long jump he landed initially with his feet and knees under his shoulders. Has a questionable lack of “mean streak” that most teams covet in a mauler Right Tackle. He’ll probably need to bulk up to be able to play to his potential at the next level. Off the field, nobody has anything bad to say about the guy. He’s known to be a hard worker and a quick study who is a likeable guy in the locker room with teammates and coaches. Is known to take the younger guys under his wing and help them improve on their own game; a team leader. Is believed to be one of the best offensive linemen in Vanderbilt history. Known more his “finesse” than power, but made a bold attempt at the Combine to prove the stereo type wrong by being somewhat over-aggressive in his position drills. He also showed great athleticism and the ability to “pull” and “stunt” fluidly though some scouts question his technique running longer distances. Has had experience at both guard and tackle and could probably make the switch to guard his rookie season until he reaches the ideal weight to bookend the offensive line.

Where he would fit in on the Eagles: With both current offensive tackles, William Thomas and Jon Runyan, the Eagles have a potential future problem at offensive tackle. If Chris Williams is selected by the Eagles at #19 (and it would have to be here) he will be a very good long-term solution to the future departure of William Thomas at left tackle but will most likely step in and compete for the starting Left Guard position his rookie season. Williams will need to add bulk in the offseason to make the transition to pros but at his current size it would appear that the transition to guard would be a more realistic scenario. But this is not his permanent home. The Eagles will need to work closely with him to get his body in shape to take a step to left when the spot is left vacant. I feel that he could become a staple in this offensive line in both positions on the left side of this defensive line but you will get the most value out of him at tackle.

What Scenarios Will the Eagles Possibly Face: Well, as with every #1 draft pick, there will be some questions that would need to be answered in depth chart on the offensive line. This pick will most affect the future of Winston Justice on this football team. It will boil down to if they feel Justice is better suited for the right side or not, which I feel that he is. But more immediately, this pick would pose a three-way position battle at left guard this training camp. Todd Herremans struggled at times and was unable to solidify his status as starter on the offensive line. Max Jean-Gilles was drafted in the 4th round two years ago and filled in respectably in spots at both guard positions and is expected to give Herremans a run for his money in Training Camp. With all four offensive guards from last season returning this is going to leave an odd man out and even open the possiblity of a trade later in the draft of either Herremans or Justice (who was a projected first round pick in 2006).

Derrick Harvey - Defensive End - Florida – 6’5” – 252 lbs.
Projected Round: 1st Chase’s Position Ranking: 3rd

Overview: Is a pass rush specialist. Is quick off the ball and is at his best when facing blockers that lack the athleticism or technique to counteract his speed. Has had no experience as a linebacker, but some feel that he is better suited as a 3-4 outside linebacker because his frame seems too lanky to have success in the NFL with his hand down. But if there is one thing that scouts seem to be wrong on more often than not is if a particular defensive end prospect doesn’t have the size to be an effective defensive end in the NFL (i.e. Dwight Freeney, Trent Cole). Though pass rushing is Harvey’s strong I personally do not feel that he is limited to this. In my opinion he seems to have the body that still has some pounds to gain and has extremely long arms that can be used to his advantage if he is taught how to use them. Harvey is most compared to Jevon Kearse, mainly in my opinion because they both were productive defensive ends at Florida and have similar physical measurable, unlike Kearse though Harvey has a wide variety of pass rush moves that he uses effectively. Is athletic enough to drop back in coverage in a zone blitz and fast enough to clean up sweep runs to the outside. I feel that Harvey could immediately step in and play in at least passing situations depending on what weight he reports to training camp at but that could develop in a very versatile every down defensive lineman in the NFL.

Where he would fit in on the Eagles: That’s easy. Remove Jevon Kearse and plug in Derrick Harvey. I think the comparisons between the two will make it hard for the Eagles to turn down if he’s still on the board. The Eagles were willing to pay Kearse big bucks to be the kind of defensive end that Harvey still has the potential to become. I see Harvey working right into the rotation on passing downs right away and as he starts to grasp the concepts of the defense and the NFL, he will eventually compete with Juqua Thomas and Victor Abiamiri for snaps.

What Scenarios Will the Eagles Likely Face: Well the buzz has already been going on around various circles that the Eagles might be ready to part ways with Jevon Kearse drafting Derrick Harvey would basically be packing Jevon’s bags for him. Darren Howard and Jerome McDougal have not been productive since becoming an Eagle and one of these guys could also feel the heat if Harvey is drafted. The Eagles normally carry five defensive ends going into the season (this year it was Kearse, Howard, Cole, Abiamiri and Thomas. McDougal was on IR) Which would leave at least one of the two the odd man out when it comes time to make the final roster cuts. Not only would this pick increase the production of the defensive end position especially in terms of quarterback pressure but in the long run it would also allow the Eagles to save money by making higher paid, yet disappointing players at the position expendable. A “win-win” situation on more than just the football field.

Offseason Feelings

It's the offseason. I always have mixed feelings this time of year. Excitement, disappointment, anxiety, depression, hope and fear all rolled into one package.

Excitement..... the combine is coming up. So is Free Agency and then the Draft. It is these times that I feel excitement. Watching the college players at the combine, hearing about certain players in Free Agency that the Eagles are targeting, and watching the draft live.

Disappointment.......the feeling I get when the Eagles fail to make moves to help the team. The feeling I get when we draft players that don't fit what we need, while seeing other players that we need get picked after us.

Anxiety......hearing a player is visiting the Eagles. Watching the draft and seeing a player I like still on the board when the Eagles are ready to pick.

Depression........seeing players bypass the Eagles for other teams. Watching players that I really like get drafted by other teams. Watching the Eagles sign players that don't fit what we need.

Hope .... the feeling I have at the beginning of the offseason. It's hoping we sign a CB or DE that can make plays. It's hoping we trade for a number one WR. It's hoping the draft if for this year and not the future.

Fear......the feeling I get when I hear the Front Office explain the moves they made. It's the feeling I get when we bypass players to get what the Front Office thinks is good for the team. And it is usually the feeling I get after the draft when the players we drafted aren't familiar.

So as you can see, the offseason is full of emotions. Will it be an offseason of joy or pain? We will find out in a few weeks.

Combine Offers Chance To See Players

Chris Long is already considered to be one of the top five players in April's NFL Draft.

But at this week's NFL Combine, the University of Virginia defensive end has a chance to sell teams on that fact in a number of ways.

"I think he's going to light it up," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "He's one of my favorite players I've ever watched on tape. I think he's more athletic than people expect him to be, and I think it's going to be fun to watch him work out."

than 300 players will be running, jumping and putting themselves on display at the RCA Dome in front of NFL coaches, scouts and personnel.

The six-day event begins today.

Long will be part of the story. But so will the 46 juniors who were invited, players such as Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, or Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey. It's also where players from small schools have a chance to shine, as former Rockledge High standout Laurent Robinson did last year.

Robinson's 4.38 time in the 40-yard dash wasn't the only reason the Atlanta Falcons drafted him in the third round last season, but it certainly didn't hurt.

Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, for instance, can solidify himself as the third- or fourth-best player at his position with an impressive workout.

Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson can have a great workout, too. But it won't change the fact some teams are concerned about the hitch in his throwing motion.

"You go through stages," ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. said. "You have the season, then you have the All-Star games, then you have the combine and individual workouts. It's all a process.

". . . The combine's just another stage of it. You can't overrate any particular stage. It's all encompassing."

There will be 13 different forms of evaluation going on during the combine, ranging from the 40-yard dash to the bench press, physical measurements, injury evaluation, the Wonderlic test and team interviews.

It's also a time where teams will examine a player's medical history and trying to get a short and long-term prognosis on any existing injury.

For a player like Long, it's a chance to show he has the kind of athletic skill to back up his production on the field, much like linebacker Patrick Willis did last year.

For others, who could be on the bubble between being a first- or second-day pick, an impressive showing could be the difference.

"The most important part of this equation is the underclassmen," Kiper said. "You have no (measure) on these kids until they get to the combine. So from an NFL standpoint, it's critical for those guys.

"There are 16 juniors projected as first-rounders right now. For those kids, its imperative they do well. The interview sessions are huge, from a character standpoint. Everybody's trying to get those smart, character-strong kids that New England brought in. It's a copy cat league, so whatever New England's blue print was, teams will try to follow that."

Teams will also try to copy the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, which could it a big week for pass rush specialists, particularly those that are effective not only playing defensive end in a 4-3 defense, but who are also athletic enough to play linebacker in a 3-4.

"People are going to be looking at trying to add pass rushing types of people that are athletic enough for scheme diversity," Mayock said.

He projects six defensive ends could be taken in the first round -- Long, Vernon Gholston of Ohio State, Phillip Merling of Clemson, Harvey, Calais Campbell of Miami and Lawrence Jackson of USC.

How it all plays out will have something to do with what happens over the next six days. But it won't be the determining factor.

"I think you can talk about workouts all you want, and All-Star game practices all you want, but in the end it comes to a gut feel of who you like and who you don't like," Kiper said.

"Some of these kids that didn't necessarily have great Senior Bowl weeks, or (don't have a) great combine will still go pretty high. It's not the end-all-be-all. It still has to reflect on what a player did during his career, with his team.

"You can't overreact to one stage of the process."

LINK

Eagles Final Review

Going into the season, Eagles head coach Andy Reid thought he had one of the most talented teams in his nine years in Philadelphia, even with distractions arising. First, there was the health of QB Donovan McNabb, who was coming back from ACL surgery and facing the prospect of being backed up by his future replacement, rookie Kevin Kolb. Reid also had to deal with family problems away from the field. But in the end, the reason the Eagles finished 8-8 and in last place in the NFC East was that the team didn’t make enough big plays. It was anemic in the red zone, ranked last in defensive takeaways and didn’t have a return touchdown by punt, kickoff, fumble or interception all season.

Team MVP: RB Brian Westbrook was the team’s best player, taking that title from McNabb with an even better season than his breakout effort in 2006. Westbrook has silenced critics who said he was not durable enough to be a full-time back and established himself as one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. He was the team’s best runner, receiver and even returner, though the team resisted giving him that duty full time.

Biggest surprise: The LB play was something of a concern entering the season, but it became a team strength by year’s end. The nicest surprise was that it was the young guys who played the best. Omar Gaither played well enough to more than justify the release of Jeremiah Trotter in training camp. But the real star of the group might be Chris Gocong, who bounced back well from a neck injury. The college D-lineman played the “Sam” spot as if he had been doing it his whole life. Stewart Bradley’s strong effort at season’s end caught some eyes, too.

Biggest disappointment: The secondary was a sore spot for most of the season. CB Lito Sheppard logged a lot of time in the trainer’s room and wasn’t always the shutdown corner he had been in the past. Fellow CB Sheldon Brown has a spot on the team, but he often gets burned and simply isn’t athletic enough. And FS Brian Dawkins, the mainstay and leader of the group, missed six games due to injury and took a big step back in his play. With the depth thin, the team needs to add multiple defensive backs.

Offseason outlook: TE L.J. Smith is expected to land elsewhere as a free agent, so tight end is a position of concern. But finding help in the secondary and getting a return specialist are more pressing needs. The Eagles aren’t flush with cap space, but they have enough to make a few key moves. Plus, there is talk that some high-priced veterans not named McNabb — Darren Howard, Jevon Kearse, Takeo Spikes and others — could be let go to free up more money. As for McNabb and his plea to add more playmakers, well, it’s on the list but not necessarily at the top.

LINK

EBG as GM of the Eagles

Since the offseason is full of speculation of trades, drafts and Free Agency signings, Chase, RipperEagle and I have put together our version of what the Eagles should do.

First, resigning some of our own Free Agents is a must. CB Joselio Hanson and S Quinton Mikell are tops on the list. As is LJ Smith since he has been franchised. Now if it were up to us, we would let LJ walk and bring in Ben Troupe or Eric Johnson at a much cheaper price and same amount of production.

Second, make some cuts to free up cap space. DE's Jevon Kearse and Jerome McDougle top the list. Other cuts include RB Ryan Moats and DT Montae Reagor.

Next up is adding some Free Agents. DE Justin Smith, DT Antwan Odom and OT Max Starks tops the list.

Draft day is now upon us so lets work some magic. With the signing of Starks, William Thomas is expendable. He goes to Detroit, along with our 4th round pick for Roy Williams.

Now for the draft itself:

Round 1....... WR Limas Sweed....... he will be the best WR we've drafted in a while. A big physical player, he makes Reggie Brown also expendable.

Round 2...... trade Brown and the current pick to move up and get best available CB. Hopefully that is Rodgers-Cromartie or Cason. This move shores up our CB position for when Lito gets hurt..... as much as I hate to say that.

Round 3....... OT Chris Williams...... we know Reid loves his OL. So drafting one here makes sense. We don't know what we have quite yet in Justice, so Williams may be able to push Justice for a backup spot.

Round 4...... we traded that pick......but fear not. We get one anyways by trading our 5th and 6th rounder for a 4th. With that pick we grab FB Owen Schmitt. One tough sunuvabitch. Could bring an aspect to the Eagles offense that is now missing which is someone that goes out there and tries to bring the pain to players trying to tackle him. Is good in pass blocking, is a bruising runner and can catch the ball out of the backfield but might need to work on it a bit. Tapeh is a FA and Davis has been hurt the past two seasons. So this move works.

After this pick, the rest of the draft is a crapshoot. We will have some comp picks for losses incurred last year to help bring players in to compete.

These moves in our opinion make the Eagles serious contenders again. The 53 man roster would look like this:

QB: McNabb, Kolb, Feeley (3)
RB: Westbrook, Buckhalter, Hunt (3)
FB: Schmitt (1)
TE: Smith, Celek, Schobel (3)
WR: Williams, Sweed, Curtis, Lewis, Avant or Baskett (5)
LT: Starks, Williams (2)
LG: Herremans, Jean-Gilles (2)
C: Jackson, Cole (2)
RG: Andrews, Young(2)
RT: Runyan, Justice(2)

LE: Thomas, Abiamiri (2)
DT: Patterson, Bunkley, Odom, Clark (4)
RE: Cole, Spicer, Howard (2)
WILL: Spikes, Jordan (2)
MIKE: Gaither, (unmentioned rookie) (2)
SAM: Gocong, Bradley (2)
CB: Sheppard, Brown, Cason/Rodgers Cromartie, Hanson, Graham (5)
FS: Dawkins, Reed (2)
SS: Mikell, Considine (2)

K: Akers (1)
P: Rocca (1)
LS: Dorenbos (1)

KR: Reed
PR: ???????

2008 Pro Bowl

The names are the same, Peyton, Terrell, Hutch, Flozell, but in between are some new faces. CB Antonio Cromartie, RB Adrian Peterson, LB DeMeco Ryans, DT Darnell Dockett. Young players and veterans get together for the Pro-Bowl.

Missing this year are Tom Brady and Randy Moss. The record setting duo are sitting out the game. Also missing is Sean Taylor, who was killed in his house during the season. Three Redskin players selected to the Pro-Bowl will be honoring him by wearing his number 21.

More Story Here:

Giants Defeat Patriots in SB

Plaxico Burress made a bold prediction. 23-17. He claimed the Giants would beat the Patriots. And he was right. He caught the game winning touchdown from Eli Manning, the MVP, to seal the win. And the Giants D came up big with a stop to seal the victory 17-14.

The mighty Patriots have fallen. a 18-1 season is nothing to be ashamed about, but they were outplayed by the same Giant team that they beat in the regular season. It was a defensive struggle all the way. The Giants used blitzes to get to Patriots QB Tom Brady, sacking him 5 times while hurrying and hitting him numerous other times. Randy Moss was pretty much shut down. The record breaking WR only had 5 catches for 62 yards but scored what looked like a game winning TD with just over 6 minutes left. Wes Welker had a Super Bowl tying 11 catches for 103 yards. It was eerily similar to Deion Branch in 2004.

Eli Manning showed his true grit in this game. He threw for 2 TD's and one INT, the first of the playoffs for him. His hail mary pass to David Tyree set up Burress' TD catch. In a play that looked doomed, Manning escaped pressure from the whole Pats DL/LB and lofted a pass that Tyree went up for and came down with. Pats S Rodney Harrison tried to knock the ball away but to no avail.

Give the Giants all the credit in the world. They went into the playoff as the number 5 seed. They beat three division winners on the road and then in the biggest game of the year against what might have been the most explosive offense in NFL history, shut them down. They were held to less than 300 total yards. Quite a feat.

Congrats to the Giants...winner of the 2008 NFL Super Bowl.