I just posted an argument for an Eagles trade for Boldin, but I neglected to mention one factor...the only thing that could stop it would be a trade for Bills Left Tackle Jason Peters. Well, seconds after I posted that article I saw this news report.
A trade for Boldin isn't completely out of the question, but it's makes the chances much slimmer. We'll see what happens.
Showing posts with label NFC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFC. Show all posts
Friday, April 17, 2009
Boldin to Philly?
Arizona Head Coach Ken Wisenhunt has gone on record saying the Cards are willing to listen to offers for WR Anquan Boldin. All offseason the team has been denying rumors they are interested in moving Boldin even though everyone knew they were.It's no secret that Boldin thinks he's unerpaid (because he is) and it's also no secret that the Cardinals can't really afford to pay him what he's worth even if they wanted to. The best option for the Cardinals at this point is to get whatever value they can from him in a trade scenario, since he's not likely to re-sign unless he gets Larry Fitzgerald money ($10 Million a year range.)
Most people consider Boldin to be a number 1 wide receiver (essentially meaning he demands double coverage: a corner and a safety.) The going rate for a number 1 is a first- and third-round draft pick thanks to Jerry Jones and his foolish Roy Williams trade. I think there are a lot of front offices who don't want to start a trend of over-paying, though, and it's possible a deal might get done for a second and a fourth or fifth.
There are several teams who would be interested, but no team seems as intriguing as the Philadelphia Eagles. I personally think the Eagles are in a good position at receiver with second year phenom DeSean Jackson along with Curtis, Avant, Baskett and Brown, but they're almost certainly going to add another receiver at some point before the season starts, and with plenty of cap room and more draft picks than any other team they're in a great position to deal.
I can't imagine a much more explosive passing offense if the Eagles can manage to pull of a trade. Speedsters Curtis and Jackson stretching the field and the fearless Boldin working the middle. Boldin would go a long way towards improving the Eagles recent Red Zone struggles. McNabb and Baskett hooked up on a few fade patterns last season and Brent Celek came on really strong late in the season, add a tall (6'1"), tough receiver will only make it better.
McNabb has been one of the most prolific passers and proved in 2004 that he can put up historic numbers with a solid, dependable target (he was the first QB in history to throw for 30+ touchdowns and less than 10 INTs). The Eagles have a championship caliber defense and just need a little push to put them over the edge and into a Super Bowl victory. Boldin could give them that push.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Eagles Bring in OT Help
The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing Offensive Tackle Stacy Andrews in for a physical to finalize a deal. Andrews is a free agent formerly with Cincinnati and he is also the older brother of OG Shawn Andrews.
Andrews is likely to play Right Tackle, starting right next to his brother. The Eagles will miss Thomas and Runyan, but if Stacy has half the Talent of Shawn then the Eagles O-line just got a lot stronger.
Andrews is likely to play Right Tackle, starting right next to his brother. The Eagles will miss Thomas and Runyan, but if Stacy has half the Talent of Shawn then the Eagles O-line just got a lot stronger.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Potential Free Agents the Eagles Might Target
The Eagles have a lot of cap room and a few holes that need to be addressed to improve on a squad that reached the NFC championship for the fifth time this decade. Let's take a look at some of the free agents the Eagles might target:
1. Baltimore Ravens center Jason Brown: Brown is a big, strong lineman and the Ravens would love to bring him back, but they're not very close to a deal and Brown will almost certainly get a much larger offer from another team. Brown has a lot of experience playing against 3-4 schemes (4 games per year against Pittsburgh and Cleveland) and he could be a good weapon against division rival Dallas.
The other benefit of Jason Brown is that it would add another strong piece to the interior line in the event that Shawn Andrews is moved from right guard to tackle. Right now Jamal Jackson is the starter in the middle, but he hasn't been lighting things up. Nick Cole is the reserve center, but he could be moved to guard full-time and compete with Max Jean-Gilles for the starting right guard spot. Andrews can then move outside and replace John Runyan at right tackle. Runyan is scheduled to be a free agent, but his age and recent microfracture surgery makes it very unlikely he's going to be coveted by anyone (let alone the Eagles.)
2. Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison: It seems very likely that the Colts will release Marvin Harrison to clear up some cap room heading into free agency. Harrison is a hall-of-fame player. His skills have certainly diminished, but he's a HOFer none-the-less. The Eagles seem like a good fit because:
A) McNabb asked for more playmakers and Harrison is one of the best to ever play the game.
B) Harrison and McNabb have a history, playing together at Syracuse.
C) Harrison lives in Philly, so they might be able to get a hometown discount.
D) Harrison can help develop DeSean Jackson into an even better receiver.
The Eagles do not have a history of targeting over-the-hill players. In fact Andy Reid avoids them like the plague, but if I had to choose between Houshmandzadeh and Harrison, I'd choose Harrison.
3. New England Patriots fullback Heath Evans: Evans is a hard-nosed, versatile player. The Eagles suffered not having a true fullback on the roster last year and they can solve it without breaking the bank here. Evans is a good lead blocker and could help the Eagles pick up some of those 3rd-and-1's that they missed last season. He also has the ability to run and catch the ball if necessary. There's also the possibility of Philly looking for a FB in the draft. Tony Fiametta out of Syracuse is a possibility, but why not just spring for the known commodity?
4. Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins: I think this one is a long shot, but I have completely lost confidence in Kevin Kolb and would like to see the Eagles improve at the backup position. Collins is looking for a hefty starting QB contract from Tennessee, but it doesn't appear as though he's going to get it. My prediction is that he tests the water, no one is desperate enough to pay him the salary he wants and he ends up back in Tennessee at a price that satisfies both parties.
5. New York Giants running back Derrick Ward: This is another long shot. It appears as though Buckhalter is not going to be resigned, so the Eagles are in need of a quality backup. Ward, however is looking for (and likely to get) a starting position or at least starting salary somewhere. Not to mention the fact that there are much better prospects in the draft. It would be interesting to steal a player away from New York, especially if he contributes meaningfully to a victory against them.
These are all players that would immediately solidify their respective units. The Eagles would be smart to at least investigate these players and see what happens. In addition, I think the Eagles should investigate a possible trade for Anquan Boldin and should re-sign Tra Thomas and Brian Dawkins. That would go a long way towards strengthening questionable areas on the Offense and Deffense.
1. Baltimore Ravens center Jason Brown: Brown is a big, strong lineman and the Ravens would love to bring him back, but they're not very close to a deal and Brown will almost certainly get a much larger offer from another team. Brown has a lot of experience playing against 3-4 schemes (4 games per year against Pittsburgh and Cleveland) and he could be a good weapon against division rival Dallas.
The other benefit of Jason Brown is that it would add another strong piece to the interior line in the event that Shawn Andrews is moved from right guard to tackle. Right now Jamal Jackson is the starter in the middle, but he hasn't been lighting things up. Nick Cole is the reserve center, but he could be moved to guard full-time and compete with Max Jean-Gilles for the starting right guard spot. Andrews can then move outside and replace John Runyan at right tackle. Runyan is scheduled to be a free agent, but his age and recent microfracture surgery makes it very unlikely he's going to be coveted by anyone (let alone the Eagles.)
2. Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison: It seems very likely that the Colts will release Marvin Harrison to clear up some cap room heading into free agency. Harrison is a hall-of-fame player. His skills have certainly diminished, but he's a HOFer none-the-less. The Eagles seem like a good fit because:
A) McNabb asked for more playmakers and Harrison is one of the best to ever play the game.
B) Harrison and McNabb have a history, playing together at Syracuse.
C) Harrison lives in Philly, so they might be able to get a hometown discount.
D) Harrison can help develop DeSean Jackson into an even better receiver.
The Eagles do not have a history of targeting over-the-hill players. In fact Andy Reid avoids them like the plague, but if I had to choose between Houshmandzadeh and Harrison, I'd choose Harrison.
3. New England Patriots fullback Heath Evans: Evans is a hard-nosed, versatile player. The Eagles suffered not having a true fullback on the roster last year and they can solve it without breaking the bank here. Evans is a good lead blocker and could help the Eagles pick up some of those 3rd-and-1's that they missed last season. He also has the ability to run and catch the ball if necessary. There's also the possibility of Philly looking for a FB in the draft. Tony Fiametta out of Syracuse is a possibility, but why not just spring for the known commodity?
4. Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins: I think this one is a long shot, but I have completely lost confidence in Kevin Kolb and would like to see the Eagles improve at the backup position. Collins is looking for a hefty starting QB contract from Tennessee, but it doesn't appear as though he's going to get it. My prediction is that he tests the water, no one is desperate enough to pay him the salary he wants and he ends up back in Tennessee at a price that satisfies both parties.
5. New York Giants running back Derrick Ward: This is another long shot. It appears as though Buckhalter is not going to be resigned, so the Eagles are in need of a quality backup. Ward, however is looking for (and likely to get) a starting position or at least starting salary somewhere. Not to mention the fact that there are much better prospects in the draft. It would be interesting to steal a player away from New York, especially if he contributes meaningfully to a victory against them.
These are all players that would immediately solidify their respective units. The Eagles would be smart to at least investigate these players and see what happens. In addition, I think the Eagles should investigate a possible trade for Anquan Boldin and should re-sign Tra Thomas and Brian Dawkins. That would go a long way towards strengthening questionable areas on the Offense and Deffense.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Offseason Preview...Finally! Eagles Part 2
Philadelphia Eagles Part 2: Defense
See Part 1: Offense here.
DE: The Eagles are pretty deep at end. Trent Cole is probably the most talented End and faces frequent double teams. He posted a respectable 9 sacks in ’08, but it should have been more, considering he was coming off a 12.5 sack ’07. Still, the fact that he demands so much attention opens things up for the other ends. Cole is the Eagles only solid 3 down End.
Darren Howard led all Eagles with 10 sacks and frequently benefited from the extra attention Trent Cole received. Howard was shaping up to be a free agent bust until his strong showing this season. Victor Abiamiri is the Eagles biggest End and is used mostly in rushing situations. He will often move inside on passing downs to rush from the Tackle spot. The coaches were hoping Abiamiri would compete for the other starting position, but a hand injury kept him out until mid-way through the season. I expect Abiamiri to make a serious push to be at least a 2-down starter opposite Cole this season.
Juqua Parker and Chris Clemons were like mirror images of each other. Parker started the season pretty well, notching 5 sacks in the first 8 games and then disappearing. Clemons meanwhile recorded 4 sacks over the last 8 games and added a fumble recovery TD in week 17 against the ‘Boys after doing jack squat the first half of the season. If you lump them together as situational pass rushers then their production is pretty solid. Ideally, though, I’d like to see both play with more consistency.
The Eagles probably won’t see much turnover at the position. 3rd round pick Bryan Smith didn’t sniff the field in his rookie season, but he could push for playing time in year 2. I expect that Parker is the guy who should be looking over his shoulder.
Julius Peppers wanted out of Carolina and now that he’s been franchised he’s put together a list of 5 teams he’s willing to be traded to. The only team on that list that has been reported is the Dallas Cowboys, but the Cowboys traded their 1st round pick to the Lions for Roy Williams and don’t have enough ammo to snatch Peppers. It’s unlikely the Eagles are on the list (Peppers wanted to go to a 3-4 team where he could play a pass rushing OLB) but even if they are it’s unlikely they’ll pay the huge ransom the Panthers are looking for (I’m guessing at least a 1st and a 3rd round pick.) You can never have too many pass rushers though and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Eagles add one or two during the draft.
DT: The Tackles don’t make a lot of flashy plays but these guys are solid, aggressive, agile defenders that do a great job of plugging holes and leaving the linebackers free to chase the play down and make the tackle.
Jim Johnson likes to rotate his offensive lineman and he had a solid rotation of Patterson, Bunkley and Laws at tackle. Ideally he’d like to rotate 4 guys at the spot, but Klecko was often off working at FB.
I think this is the most underrated unit on the football team and I think they had everything to do with the Eagles’ excellent run defense all season long. They just stuffed the holes, occupied the offensive linemen and never let their men into the second level to block the Backers. In fact, Jim Johnson was flabbergasted that Broderick Bunkley wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl and I’m with him.
One criticism of the Tackles is their lack of sack production, but considering the Eagles frequently use Abiamiri and Howard at Tackle on passing downs that can be forgiven. I don’t see much change coming at the position. The Eagles will likely add a solid 4th tackle to the rotation. It might be Klecko, switching back to defense full-time, or it could be someone found through the draft. There is a game-changing Tackle available as a free agent: Albert Haynesworth. There’s no doubt Haynesworth is better than any of the guys on the roster, but he’s really the only marquee player hitting the market and there’s likely to be several teams willing to throw money at him. The Eagles will only go after him if they can get a very competitive price.
LB: The Linebacker position changed dramatically over the last 2 or 3 seasons. The Eagles dumped starting veterans Dhani Jones, Takeo Spike and Jeremiah Trotter in favor of a crew of unfamiliar, untested youngsters. Heading into this season most people were questioning the unit because of their inexperience, but I think most of those detractors have been silenced.
The Eagles have one of the most solid corps of young playmakers in the league. The projected starters for next season are Stewart Bradley at the Mike, Akeem Jordan at the Will and Chris Gocong at the Sam. Omar Gaither is their top reserve, having experience starting at both the middle and weak side and being effective. Joe Mays is a bit udersized, but people say he’s a wrecking ball. He got a reputation for laying massive hits on his teammates during preseason practices last year. Who knows what he has in store for opponents? Tank Daniels rounds out the top 6, now in his second stint with the Eagles in his short career.
I don’t see a lot of change in the rotation here. Stewart Bradley is a stud of Urlacher proportions (yeah, that’s right, I said it.) It’s nice knowing that you have 2 starting caliber Will’s in Jordan and Gaither. Gocong is solid, though not terribly flashy. He seems to still be learning subtle nuances of the linebacker position after converting from DE as a rookie. He’s a really smart kid and gets better every game. If he continues at this pace he’ll finish his career as a HOFer. I expect the Eagles to draft at least one or two Linebackers to push for reserve slots.
CB: Asante Samuel made the Pro Bowl in his first season as an Eagle – although I’m not convinced he deserved it based on his regular season. He managed to crank things up in the playoffs though and made game-changing plays against the Vikings and Giants.
Sheldon Brown was the other starting corner and he played really well all season. That is except when he was asked to cover Larry Fitzgerald one-on-one at the goal line. To be fair though, a corner with the cover skills of Deion Sanders and the height and leaping ability of Kevin Garnett couldn’t shut Fitzgerald down. Brown doesn’t make the flashy interceptions or returns like other players, but he also rarely makes highlight reel mistakes.
Lito Shepherd was a huge disappointment this season. He wanted a raise in the offseason but management (rightly so) wasn’t willing to give him one until he earned it. He asked for a trade and the Eagles shopped him around, but no one was offering value for him. The instead of going out and proving that he was worthy of a new contract Lito wilted and virtually disappeared. Some people have accused the Eagles of burying him on the depth chart to lessen his value, but come one, are you kidding me? What team would every put one of their most talented players on the bench for something like that? That’s just an ignorant accusation. Ultimately the Eagles probably would have been best-off taking whatever they were offered for Lito last season, even if it was below what they were looking for. There’s still hope for Lito, but he’s going to have to come to camp this year with a whole new attitude and work ethic, otherwise I think it’s doubtful he stays on the roster next season.
Joselio Hanson is going to be a free agent this year and I bet the Eagles make an offer. He has been a solid reserve and Nickel Corner for the team the last 2 seasons. I expect Hanson to re-sign and remain the Eagles Nickel Corner next year. There’s a chance he could be pushed by 2-year man Jack Ikegwuonu. Ikegwuonu was projected to go as high as the 1st round before he injured his knee working out at the combine. The Eagles ended up taking him in the 4th round, and if he can come back healthy he might end up being the steal of all steals.
S: Brian Dawkins and Considine are both free agents. I expect Dawkins to be back even though he’ll be turning 36 next October. Dawkins’ best seasons are behind him, but he still made the Pro Bowl this season and had some of the most outstanding performances of any player at any position on any team. The leaping strip-sack-recovery against the Steelers in week three and his 2 FF performance in a 44-6 rout of Dallas proved he still has gas left in the tank. Dawkins wants to retire an Eagle, fans want him to retire an Eagle and there’s no doubt he’s one of the most respected locker-room presences in the history of the NFL. The Eagles will probably offer him a 2 or 3 year deal to let him finish his career in Philly.
Considine is a solid reserve and a great special teamer, but he’s likely going to pursue a starting opportunity elsewhere. There are a few teams that would be willing to give him a shot so he’ll be going elsewhere.
Quintin Mikell had a Pro Bowl caliber season at the Strong Safety slot. It just goes to show that there is value in the rookie class, even amongst undrafted free agents. Mikell will be back next year as a starter and may even be gunning for a Pro Bowl bearth.
Quintin Demps showed flashes of good play throughout the season but sometimes seemed to be a little overwhelmed (just look at the Larry Fitzgerald TD in the NFC Championship where Demps got all twisted around and fell over.) Still though, I think he’s going to be a solid safety with a little more experience. He’s not ready to start yet, but if Dawkins comes back he and the coaching staff can groom Demps to take over.
There aren’t any gamebreakers on the market, but there’s a good chance the Eagles might add one or two veterans to compete for reserve slots. They also might draft a guy in the mid rounds. If they don’t re-sign Dawkins there is no evident replacement available.
K: David Akers played very well all season until the NFC Championship game when he missed 2 makeable field goals. Still though, there’s no pressure from competition and it seems as though kickers now-a-days are pretty interchangeable. Adam Vinaterri (who was overrated to begin with) has seemed to come back even with the pack and most kickers are pretty secure with their teams unless they pull a Vanderjagt (i.e. Suck.)
P: Punters are a different story. There are good punters and there are bad punters in the NFL. Sav Rocca started out last season as the best punter in the league, but his hot streak wore off. He ended the season near the middle of the pack in net yards, but he was 10th in number of punts inside the 20. He also had one of the highest percentages of punts inside the 20. All-in-all he is a solid punter and seems to be making a decent transition from Australian Rules football to the NFL.
KR: Lorenzo Booker was brought in from Miami to improve the return game, but he quickly lost his spots to DeSean Jackson and Quintin Demps. Jackson primarily handled punt returns because of his shiftiness and agility. Demps handled most of the kickoff returns because of his size and straight-line speed.
Both Jackson and Demps posted a return touchdown during the season and each broke several long returns helping give the Eagles good field position. Both are likely to continue their return duties unless the coaches deem them too valuable in their primary spots. For instance, if the team thinks Jackson is too valuable as a receiver they’re not going to risk injuring him on punt returns. Ultimately, though, both these guys are too dangerous to leave off the field for returns. Devin Hester proved how important a good return man can be against the Cardinals a few seasons ago which ultimately led to one of the most amusing coach meltdowns in all of pro sports:
See Part 1: Offense here.
DE: The Eagles are pretty deep at end. Trent Cole is probably the most talented End and faces frequent double teams. He posted a respectable 9 sacks in ’08, but it should have been more, considering he was coming off a 12.5 sack ’07. Still, the fact that he demands so much attention opens things up for the other ends. Cole is the Eagles only solid 3 down End.
Darren Howard led all Eagles with 10 sacks and frequently benefited from the extra attention Trent Cole received. Howard was shaping up to be a free agent bust until his strong showing this season. Victor Abiamiri is the Eagles biggest End and is used mostly in rushing situations. He will often move inside on passing downs to rush from the Tackle spot. The coaches were hoping Abiamiri would compete for the other starting position, but a hand injury kept him out until mid-way through the season. I expect Abiamiri to make a serious push to be at least a 2-down starter opposite Cole this season.
Juqua Parker and Chris Clemons were like mirror images of each other. Parker started the season pretty well, notching 5 sacks in the first 8 games and then disappearing. Clemons meanwhile recorded 4 sacks over the last 8 games and added a fumble recovery TD in week 17 against the ‘Boys after doing jack squat the first half of the season. If you lump them together as situational pass rushers then their production is pretty solid. Ideally, though, I’d like to see both play with more consistency.
The Eagles probably won’t see much turnover at the position. 3rd round pick Bryan Smith didn’t sniff the field in his rookie season, but he could push for playing time in year 2. I expect that Parker is the guy who should be looking over his shoulder.
Julius Peppers wanted out of Carolina and now that he’s been franchised he’s put together a list of 5 teams he’s willing to be traded to. The only team on that list that has been reported is the Dallas Cowboys, but the Cowboys traded their 1st round pick to the Lions for Roy Williams and don’t have enough ammo to snatch Peppers. It’s unlikely the Eagles are on the list (Peppers wanted to go to a 3-4 team where he could play a pass rushing OLB) but even if they are it’s unlikely they’ll pay the huge ransom the Panthers are looking for (I’m guessing at least a 1st and a 3rd round pick.) You can never have too many pass rushers though and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Eagles add one or two during the draft.
DT: The Tackles don’t make a lot of flashy plays but these guys are solid, aggressive, agile defenders that do a great job of plugging holes and leaving the linebackers free to chase the play down and make the tackle.
Jim Johnson likes to rotate his offensive lineman and he had a solid rotation of Patterson, Bunkley and Laws at tackle. Ideally he’d like to rotate 4 guys at the spot, but Klecko was often off working at FB.
I think this is the most underrated unit on the football team and I think they had everything to do with the Eagles’ excellent run defense all season long. They just stuffed the holes, occupied the offensive linemen and never let their men into the second level to block the Backers. In fact, Jim Johnson was flabbergasted that Broderick Bunkley wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl and I’m with him.
One criticism of the Tackles is their lack of sack production, but considering the Eagles frequently use Abiamiri and Howard at Tackle on passing downs that can be forgiven. I don’t see much change coming at the position. The Eagles will likely add a solid 4th tackle to the rotation. It might be Klecko, switching back to defense full-time, or it could be someone found through the draft. There is a game-changing Tackle available as a free agent: Albert Haynesworth. There’s no doubt Haynesworth is better than any of the guys on the roster, but he’s really the only marquee player hitting the market and there’s likely to be several teams willing to throw money at him. The Eagles will only go after him if they can get a very competitive price.
LB: The Linebacker position changed dramatically over the last 2 or 3 seasons. The Eagles dumped starting veterans Dhani Jones, Takeo Spike and Jeremiah Trotter in favor of a crew of unfamiliar, untested youngsters. Heading into this season most people were questioning the unit because of their inexperience, but I think most of those detractors have been silenced.
The Eagles have one of the most solid corps of young playmakers in the league. The projected starters for next season are Stewart Bradley at the Mike, Akeem Jordan at the Will and Chris Gocong at the Sam. Omar Gaither is their top reserve, having experience starting at both the middle and weak side and being effective. Joe Mays is a bit udersized, but people say he’s a wrecking ball. He got a reputation for laying massive hits on his teammates during preseason practices last year. Who knows what he has in store for opponents? Tank Daniels rounds out the top 6, now in his second stint with the Eagles in his short career.
I don’t see a lot of change in the rotation here. Stewart Bradley is a stud of Urlacher proportions (yeah, that’s right, I said it.) It’s nice knowing that you have 2 starting caliber Will’s in Jordan and Gaither. Gocong is solid, though not terribly flashy. He seems to still be learning subtle nuances of the linebacker position after converting from DE as a rookie. He’s a really smart kid and gets better every game. If he continues at this pace he’ll finish his career as a HOFer. I expect the Eagles to draft at least one or two Linebackers to push for reserve slots.
CB: Asante Samuel made the Pro Bowl in his first season as an Eagle – although I’m not convinced he deserved it based on his regular season. He managed to crank things up in the playoffs though and made game-changing plays against the Vikings and Giants.
Sheldon Brown was the other starting corner and he played really well all season. That is except when he was asked to cover Larry Fitzgerald one-on-one at the goal line. To be fair though, a corner with the cover skills of Deion Sanders and the height and leaping ability of Kevin Garnett couldn’t shut Fitzgerald down. Brown doesn’t make the flashy interceptions or returns like other players, but he also rarely makes highlight reel mistakes.
Lito Shepherd was a huge disappointment this season. He wanted a raise in the offseason but management (rightly so) wasn’t willing to give him one until he earned it. He asked for a trade and the Eagles shopped him around, but no one was offering value for him. The instead of going out and proving that he was worthy of a new contract Lito wilted and virtually disappeared. Some people have accused the Eagles of burying him on the depth chart to lessen his value, but come one, are you kidding me? What team would every put one of their most talented players on the bench for something like that? That’s just an ignorant accusation. Ultimately the Eagles probably would have been best-off taking whatever they were offered for Lito last season, even if it was below what they were looking for. There’s still hope for Lito, but he’s going to have to come to camp this year with a whole new attitude and work ethic, otherwise I think it’s doubtful he stays on the roster next season.
Joselio Hanson is going to be a free agent this year and I bet the Eagles make an offer. He has been a solid reserve and Nickel Corner for the team the last 2 seasons. I expect Hanson to re-sign and remain the Eagles Nickel Corner next year. There’s a chance he could be pushed by 2-year man Jack Ikegwuonu. Ikegwuonu was projected to go as high as the 1st round before he injured his knee working out at the combine. The Eagles ended up taking him in the 4th round, and if he can come back healthy he might end up being the steal of all steals.
S: Brian Dawkins and Considine are both free agents. I expect Dawkins to be back even though he’ll be turning 36 next October. Dawkins’ best seasons are behind him, but he still made the Pro Bowl this season and had some of the most outstanding performances of any player at any position on any team. The leaping strip-sack-recovery against the Steelers in week three and his 2 FF performance in a 44-6 rout of Dallas proved he still has gas left in the tank. Dawkins wants to retire an Eagle, fans want him to retire an Eagle and there’s no doubt he’s one of the most respected locker-room presences in the history of the NFL. The Eagles will probably offer him a 2 or 3 year deal to let him finish his career in Philly.
Considine is a solid reserve and a great special teamer, but he’s likely going to pursue a starting opportunity elsewhere. There are a few teams that would be willing to give him a shot so he’ll be going elsewhere.
Quintin Mikell had a Pro Bowl caliber season at the Strong Safety slot. It just goes to show that there is value in the rookie class, even amongst undrafted free agents. Mikell will be back next year as a starter and may even be gunning for a Pro Bowl bearth.
Quintin Demps showed flashes of good play throughout the season but sometimes seemed to be a little overwhelmed (just look at the Larry Fitzgerald TD in the NFC Championship where Demps got all twisted around and fell over.) Still though, I think he’s going to be a solid safety with a little more experience. He’s not ready to start yet, but if Dawkins comes back he and the coaching staff can groom Demps to take over.
There aren’t any gamebreakers on the market, but there’s a good chance the Eagles might add one or two veterans to compete for reserve slots. They also might draft a guy in the mid rounds. If they don’t re-sign Dawkins there is no evident replacement available.
K: David Akers played very well all season until the NFC Championship game when he missed 2 makeable field goals. Still though, there’s no pressure from competition and it seems as though kickers now-a-days are pretty interchangeable. Adam Vinaterri (who was overrated to begin with) has seemed to come back even with the pack and most kickers are pretty secure with their teams unless they pull a Vanderjagt (i.e. Suck.)
P: Punters are a different story. There are good punters and there are bad punters in the NFL. Sav Rocca started out last season as the best punter in the league, but his hot streak wore off. He ended the season near the middle of the pack in net yards, but he was 10th in number of punts inside the 20. He also had one of the highest percentages of punts inside the 20. All-in-all he is a solid punter and seems to be making a decent transition from Australian Rules football to the NFL.
KR: Lorenzo Booker was brought in from Miami to improve the return game, but he quickly lost his spots to DeSean Jackson and Quintin Demps. Jackson primarily handled punt returns because of his shiftiness and agility. Demps handled most of the kickoff returns because of his size and straight-line speed.
Both Jackson and Demps posted a return touchdown during the season and each broke several long returns helping give the Eagles good field position. Both are likely to continue their return duties unless the coaches deem them too valuable in their primary spots. For instance, if the team thinks Jackson is too valuable as a receiver they’re not going to risk injuring him on punt returns. Ultimately, though, both these guys are too dangerous to leave off the field for returns. Devin Hester proved how important a good return man can be against the Cardinals a few seasons ago which ultimately led to one of the most amusing coach meltdowns in all of pro sports:
Monday, January 19, 2009
Thoughts on the Conference Championship Round
Eagles/Cardinals:
- The Cardinals shocked everyone by beating three solid competitors on their way to the Super Bowl. Everyone is getting down on the Cards because they made the postseason with a 9-7 record after winning the hands-down worst division in football, but they brought it in the playoffs and have not just beaten, but utterly outplayed every team on their way through. Arizona has been playing on borrowed time all month long, there's no reason to think they're going to stop now.
- The Eagles were demolished in the first half, but somehow managed to turn the game into a real nail-biter in the fourth quarter, but in the end the Cardinals early lead was just too much to overcome.
- Eagles D-coordinator Jim Johnson called another game from the booth due to a back injury. Johnson likes to coach from the field so that he can have close contact with his players to give and receive feedback and make adjustments. You have to wonder if that had an impact on the defensive play in the first half.
- Brent Celek played an outstanding game on the NFL's second-biggest stage. There are some solid Tight Ends in the NFC East (Witten, Cooley, Boss) but the fact is only one of them was playing on Sunday. Does that make him the best of the bunch? That's your call. (Answer=yes)
- L.J. Smith is definitely not going to be in Philly next year. Even if the Eagles offer him a contract someone else will pay him more to be the number one on their depth chart.
- Did anyone catch that block by Hank Baskett? He leveled 2 defenders with one hit. That was the best block of the season, by any player, on any team, at any position. (Except maybe that Clemons block on Tarvaris Jackson during Asante Samuel's INT return in round 1.)
This is the best photo I can find. The problem with delivering a devastating block on a TD play is that every photographer is going to take a pic of the Touchdown.
- This is the one game of the season where I wish Andy Reid had passed more. I applaud him and Morningwheg for their renewed commitment to the run game and I hope it continues, but I really felt like the Cardinals were vulnerable (and they did give up some huge plays downfield to Jackson and Curtis.)
- I think Ref's call on the disputed kickoff was correct. The call wasn't that the kickoff illegally went out-of-bounds, but rather that Abiamiri touched it when he was out-of-bounds which would end the play. If you watch the replay closely the ball hits near the sideline and bounces up, and then appears to hit Abiamiri in the left forearm and starts spinning in a different direction. At least that's the way it appeared to me. Either way, once the whistle was blown the point was moot.
- There were 2 uncalled pass-interference penalties against the Cardinals that could have changed the game. Jason Avant was mugged on a third down catch in the first half and the Eagles were forced to kick a field goal and Kevin Curtis was absolutely interfered with on the fourth down play that sealed the game. I'm pretty sure it's never been legal for a defender to grab the legs of a receiver after getting beat. You have to wonder what might have been.
- This was really a down season for Brian Westbrook. Was it because he was banged-up all season long? Let's hope so, because the other option is far worse. Running Backs have a certain amount of carries they can handle in a carreer and when they hit that mark they decline very quickly. That number is different for each back, but all you have to do is look at Shaun Alexander and L.T. to see what I mean. Alexander set an NFL TD record only a few seasons ago and now he's out of football. L.T. broke that record a year later and the Chargers are seriously considering dumping him this offseason.
Ravens/Steelers:
- Defense wins championships and I don't think it's a coincidence that the league's top 3 defenses were all playing this weekend. I'm surprised there were so many points scored in a game between the first and second-ranked defensive units. I was half expecting a 3-0 victory in quintuple overtime.
- The Steelers' Offensive Line has turned things around pretty well. They were demolished by Philly early in the season, but now they're doing a better job at protecting Roethlisberger and they're getting things done with tough, physical run blocking.
- Excellent challenge by Harbaugh on the Santonio Holmes reception. Holmes clearly did not control the ball all the way to the ground. I heard someone complain that "The ground can't cause a fumble," but that was never the call. A receiver has to have complete control of the ball the entire time on a diving catch.
- Mike Tomlin is an excellent coach. I can't believe there were so many people out there who didn't believe he was experienced enough when he took the job.
- Harbaugh too.
- Joe Flacco played well for a rookie going up against the league's best defense in a conference championship game. This kid'll be back here real soon.
- My thoughts go out to Willis McGahee. All indications are that he'll be alright. He has movement in his arms and legs and is "neurologically intact." That's great news to hear. People get wrapped up in the sport sometimes and forget that it's just a game. It's not worth getting maimed for. Let's hope for a speedy recovery.
- The Cardinals shocked everyone by beating three solid competitors on their way to the Super Bowl. Everyone is getting down on the Cards because they made the postseason with a 9-7 record after winning the hands-down worst division in football, but they brought it in the playoffs and have not just beaten, but utterly outplayed every team on their way through. Arizona has been playing on borrowed time all month long, there's no reason to think they're going to stop now.
- The Eagles were demolished in the first half, but somehow managed to turn the game into a real nail-biter in the fourth quarter, but in the end the Cardinals early lead was just too much to overcome.
- Eagles D-coordinator Jim Johnson called another game from the booth due to a back injury. Johnson likes to coach from the field so that he can have close contact with his players to give and receive feedback and make adjustments. You have to wonder if that had an impact on the defensive play in the first half.
- Brent Celek played an outstanding game on the NFL's second-biggest stage. There are some solid Tight Ends in the NFC East (Witten, Cooley, Boss) but the fact is only one of them was playing on Sunday. Does that make him the best of the bunch? That's your call. (Answer=yes)
- L.J. Smith is definitely not going to be in Philly next year. Even if the Eagles offer him a contract someone else will pay him more to be the number one on their depth chart.
- Did anyone catch that block by Hank Baskett? He leveled 2 defenders with one hit. That was the best block of the season, by any player, on any team, at any position. (Except maybe that Clemons block on Tarvaris Jackson during Asante Samuel's INT return in round 1.)
This is the best photo I can find. The problem with delivering a devastating block on a TD play is that every photographer is going to take a pic of the Touchdown.- This is the one game of the season where I wish Andy Reid had passed more. I applaud him and Morningwheg for their renewed commitment to the run game and I hope it continues, but I really felt like the Cardinals were vulnerable (and they did give up some huge plays downfield to Jackson and Curtis.)
- I think Ref's call on the disputed kickoff was correct. The call wasn't that the kickoff illegally went out-of-bounds, but rather that Abiamiri touched it when he was out-of-bounds which would end the play. If you watch the replay closely the ball hits near the sideline and bounces up, and then appears to hit Abiamiri in the left forearm and starts spinning in a different direction. At least that's the way it appeared to me. Either way, once the whistle was blown the point was moot.
- There were 2 uncalled pass-interference penalties against the Cardinals that could have changed the game. Jason Avant was mugged on a third down catch in the first half and the Eagles were forced to kick a field goal and Kevin Curtis was absolutely interfered with on the fourth down play that sealed the game. I'm pretty sure it's never been legal for a defender to grab the legs of a receiver after getting beat. You have to wonder what might have been.
- This was really a down season for Brian Westbrook. Was it because he was banged-up all season long? Let's hope so, because the other option is far worse. Running Backs have a certain amount of carries they can handle in a carreer and when they hit that mark they decline very quickly. That number is different for each back, but all you have to do is look at Shaun Alexander and L.T. to see what I mean. Alexander set an NFL TD record only a few seasons ago and now he's out of football. L.T. broke that record a year later and the Chargers are seriously considering dumping him this offseason.
Ravens/Steelers:
- Defense wins championships and I don't think it's a coincidence that the league's top 3 defenses were all playing this weekend. I'm surprised there were so many points scored in a game between the first and second-ranked defensive units. I was half expecting a 3-0 victory in quintuple overtime.
- The Steelers' Offensive Line has turned things around pretty well. They were demolished by Philly early in the season, but now they're doing a better job at protecting Roethlisberger and they're getting things done with tough, physical run blocking.
- Excellent challenge by Harbaugh on the Santonio Holmes reception. Holmes clearly did not control the ball all the way to the ground. I heard someone complain that "The ground can't cause a fumble," but that was never the call. A receiver has to have complete control of the ball the entire time on a diving catch.
- Mike Tomlin is an excellent coach. I can't believe there were so many people out there who didn't believe he was experienced enough when he took the job.
- Harbaugh too.
- Joe Flacco played well for a rookie going up against the league's best defense in a conference championship game. This kid'll be back here real soon.
- My thoughts go out to Willis McGahee. All indications are that he'll be alright. He has movement in his arms and legs and is "neurologically intact." That's great news to hear. People get wrapped up in the sport sometimes and forget that it's just a game. It's not worth getting maimed for. Let's hope for a speedy recovery.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Plaxico Linked to '05 Shooting?
Authorities in New York are looking for a match between bullets fired from the back of a truck that Plaxico Burress rented in 2005 and the guns seized from his house.Apparently Plax's truck got stuck behind a Garbage truck in the Bronx and a shooting occurred (did they shoot up the back of the truck? Was it a road rage incident? Who knows, I'm not finding any specifics.) Anyway, the driver and a passenger fled on foot when the cops arrived, but two other passengers - both with criminal records - were arrested.
Plaxico claims that he lent the truck to his cousin that day and had no knowledge of the shooting. Well in that case he seems completely innocent in this whole situation. PSYCHE! This clearly isn't as bad as Michael Vick bodyslamming dogs to death or Pacman Jones ordering hits on people, but even if he wasn't present at the shooting (which he may well have been, two of the occupants of the car did manage to escape) and even if he had no knowledge of it until the police arrived he's still complicit. He gave the thugs the car, and if the authorities can match the bullets then he gave them the guns too. That's a really big deal.
Plax should have been smarter from the start. Don't associate yourself with thugs, especially when merely knowing them could land you in trouble with the fuzz. I don't care if they're childhood friends from the old hood, or if they're family or if they make you feel like a tough guy. You have everything to lose and shady characters like these are just going to ride your coat tails, mooch off your success and ultimately get you in trouble with their criminal acts. Even if you had no prior knowledge and weren't present you're still enabling their lifestyle, and they're eventually going to bring you down.
Incidently, the truck was the rental car that Plax was recently litigating over. Apprently the damages Plax had to pay for were incurred when the Police were impounding the vehicle.
This guy is just cocky and acts like he's above the law. He doesn't respect his coaches, his teammates, the NFL or the legal system. At first I was rooting for him, hoping the courts went easy on him for shooting himself in the leg, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe a few years in prison will humble him. Although if he does go to prison his football career will likely be over. A manditory 3.5 year sentence means that he'd be at least 35 when he got out. Likely too old to resume his career, especially after missing about 4 seasons.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Falacy of the Pro Bowl
I was reading Gregg Easterbrook's Tuesday Morning Quarterback article on ESPN's Page 2 today and something he wrote got me thinking:
I also believe that the fan vote counts for way too much in the voting formula. It's important to the league to put the most popular players in the Pro Bowl, but that means the Pro Bowl teams are loaded with players from bigger markets. Meanwhile it's practically a miracle to see a Brown or a Bill.
D'Qwell Jackson led the NFL in tackles with 154 but failed to make the Pro Bowl.
Washington and Dallas deserve nine Pro Bowlers even though they're stuck watching the playoffs from home? While playoff teams Atlanta and Philly are each only sending two?
Players like Mike Sellers and Chris Cooley get to go to the Pro Bowl but league-leading tackler D'Qwell Jackson and solid players like Brodrick Bunkley and Quentin Mikell from a playoff team don't? A travesty. The only thing I remember about Mike Sellers is a stuff and a stripped ball on consecutive plays against Cincinnatti. Washington lost that game.
It would be nice to see the Pro Bowl deadline held out until the end of the season, that way you can reward a player's entire campaign, as opposed to a few solid early-season games and preseason hype.
"This weekend was distinctive in two other ways. First, the games were yet another argument the Pro Bowl voting should wait at least until the regular season is complete, not close around Armistice Day. The NFC Pro Bowl roster includes 16 players from teams that did not reach the playoffs, and only two Philadelphia Eagles. Yet the Eagles were the NFC's hottest team down the stretch and on Sunday played tremendous defense. The AFC roster has 20 players from teams that did not reach the postseason, and only two San Diego Chargers. Yet the Chargers were the AFC's hottest team down the stretch and on Saturday played tremendous defense. Both Pro Bowl rosters are dominated by gentlemen from clubs everyone was talking about at midseason (the Cowboys, the Jets) rather than those that performed well over the long haul. Please change the Pro Bowl voting so that full-season performance rather than early-season hype is what's rewarded!"He's absolutely right! Pro Bowl voting is completely back-asswards. It makes Zero sense to vote for the best players of the year before the season is over.
I also believe that the fan vote counts for way too much in the voting formula. It's important to the league to put the most popular players in the Pro Bowl, but that means the Pro Bowl teams are loaded with players from bigger markets. Meanwhile it's practically a miracle to see a Brown or a Bill.
D'Qwell Jackson led the NFL in tackles with 154 but failed to make the Pro Bowl.Washington and Dallas deserve nine Pro Bowlers even though they're stuck watching the playoffs from home? While playoff teams Atlanta and Philly are each only sending two?
Players like Mike Sellers and Chris Cooley get to go to the Pro Bowl but league-leading tackler D'Qwell Jackson and solid players like Brodrick Bunkley and Quentin Mikell from a playoff team don't? A travesty. The only thing I remember about Mike Sellers is a stuff and a stripped ball on consecutive plays against Cincinnatti. Washington lost that game.
It would be nice to see the Pro Bowl deadline held out until the end of the season, that way you can reward a player's entire campaign, as opposed to a few solid early-season games and preseason hype.
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