Youth Movement

[time2rock]

Youth Movement

Posted: October 31st, 2023 | Author: Tommy Lawlor

Howie Roseman is the NFL’s preeminent trader. So what did he do on NFL trade deadline day? Nothing. The Eagles didn’t make a single deal. They traded away DT Kentavius Street on Monday, but were silent on Tuesday.

Does this mean Howie thinks the roster is all set? The fact they didn’t make a deal doesn’t mean Howie didn’t try. You know he worked the phones harder than I do the bottom of a Funyuns bag, looking for that last tasty morsel. Nothing came of all the calling. I’m guessing this is a combination of there not be compelling targets and also not finding the right prices.

• The Giants traded 29-year old Leonard Williams and his 1.5 sacks and 5 QB hits to Seattle for a 2nd round pick and a 2025 5th round pick. That seems nuts to me.
• The Packers traded 29-year old Rasul Douglas and a 5th round pick to Buffalo for a 3rd round pick. Douglas was lights out in 2021 and he’s been erratic since then.

With prices like that, Howie decided to stick with the guys he already has. If you think about the potential weak spots on the team, there is young talent already in place.

LB – Nakobe Dean

SAF – Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown

CB – Eli Ricks, Josh Jobe, Kelee Ringo, Mario Goodrich

Edge – Nolan Smith

That is a talented group. They are also unproven, which can be dangerous for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. The old coaching axiom is that you would rather play a rookie a week too late than a week too early. Missed assignments can kill you.

Howie traded for DE Robert Quinn last year and that proved to be a waste. He traded for WR Golden Tate in 2018. That helped the team win a wild card game. Was that worth the 3rd round pick they gave up for him? Very debatable.

If you’re desperate, make the trade. If the value is right, make the trade.

The Eagles aren’t desperate this year. We have to guess that the value wasn’t right. Rather than force something, you go with the young players already in place. Draft picks like Sydney Brown and Nolan Smith will need to step up. Nakobe Dean is in Year 2, but still young. He needs to prove the team was right to count on him as the key LB this year. Ricks is a UDFA. That means there is less pressure on him, but this is a huge opportunity. If he plays well, Ricks could earn a job and prove he’s a good role player (or even better).

Brown certainly did some good things against WAS.

History tells us not all of the players will work out as hoped. The only way to find out though is to play them. See who can handle it and who can’t. The Eagles have a strong enough core that they should be able to play the young guys and still win games. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year while playing four rookie DBs.

We’ll have to see how things play out for the Eagles.

*****

The Eagles were desperate for a safety and made the deal for Kevin Byard last week. They got a good price so Howie was very smart to make that deal. That gave him the flexibility to be a careful shopper this week.

*****

Sean Desai was asked about the late TD his defense gave up to Washington. He became visibly frustrated. Not at the question, but at the drive that his defense allowed. I was happy to see his reaction. You could tell he was ticked off.

D’Andre Swift was wrong to score on the trick play, but the Eagles defense should not surrender a 49-second TD drive to Sam Howell. Desai said his coaching was to blame, but a lot of that was on the players. Hopefully that drive will stick in their memories the next time they have to protect a lead.

*****

It is certainly fair to be critical of Brian Johnson and the offense at times. I think we also need to understand that side of the ball is still pretty darn good.

2022 – 3rd in yards, 3rd in points

2023 – 3rd in yards, 3rd in points

Johnson hasn’t made things look as easy as Shane Steichen did. Steichen is one of the best play-callers in the league. You don’t lose someone like him without feeling it. But let’s make sure to appreciate Johnson for doing a good overall job, especially for someone new to being an NFL offensive coordinator.

The drop-off from 2017 to 2018 was significant. This is nothing like that.

http://igglesblitz.com/2023/10/youth-movement-3/

[weko]

This group may not be all that talented.  Dean has very low scores in pass D and it's a passing league which explains why he fell.  At the time we selected him Howie asked those around him "what am i missing in this guy?" He can't run and cover that's what you missed.  Love Sydney Brown's potential.  He is great vs the run and hopefully will be good vs the pass, but as of now he isn't.  Jobe lost his job to Ricks who has been a nice fa surprise.  Ringo who coast us a 3rd round pick in next year's draft can't get on the filed with 6 DBs out and us playing 5 undrafted free agents.  Howie would love to have that 3rd round pick back.  Goodrich played briefly but was horrible.  Blankenship a nice fa find.  Would like to see Smith get Barnett's snaps.

Not as much talent here.  Would love to re coup 3rd round picks for Dean and Ringo.  Jobe is marginal at best. Ringo looks like a bust.  Goodrich now can't play.  Hopefully Brown will get better at covering into next year.  As a whole this group isn't anything special

[EaglesAddict]

17 hours ago, weko said:

Ringo who coast us a 3rd round pick in next year's draft can't get on the filed with 6 DBs out and us playing 5 undrafted free agents. 

I've been thinking the same thing.  Is Ringo that bad that the team is playing Johnny-off-the-couch instead of him?  Man, I hope he's not a colossal bust and a complete waste of a 3rd round pick.

[weko]

9 hours ago, EaglesAddict said:

I've been thinking the same thing.  Is Ringo that bad that the team is playing Johnny-off-the-couch instead of him?  Man, I hope he's not a colossal bust and a complete waste of a 3rd round pick.

I used to be able to spell   cost and field...Ringo right now can't get on the field with everyone hurt.  The writers are making a big deal out of his special teams play, which makes me wonder if that's a sign he can't play and we're being prepped as fans to expect him to be nothing more than a core st contributor.  And describing Ringo in positive terms helps a writer keep access to the team and inside info.  Maybe the light bulb goes on year 2 with him.  We'll see

[brkmsn]

On 11/2/2023 at 2:29 PM, weko said:

This group may not be all that talented.  Dean has very low scores in pass D and it's a passing league which explains why he fell.  At the time we selected him Howie asked those around him "what am i missing in this guy?" He can't run and cover that's what you missed.  Love Sydney Brown's potential.  He is great vs the run and hopefully will be good vs the pass, but as of now he isn't.  Jobe lost his job to Ricks who has been a nice fa surprise.  Ringo who coast us a 3rd round pick in next year's draft can't get on the filed with 6 DBs out and us playing 5 undrafted free agents.  Howie would love to have that 3rd round pick back.  Goodrich played briefly but was horrible.  Blankenship a nice fa find.  Would like to see Smith get Barnett's snaps.

Not as much talent here.  Would love to re coup 3rd round picks for Dean and Ringo.  Jobe is marginal at best. Ringo looks like a bust.  Goodrich now can't play.  Hopefully Brown will get better at covering into next year.  As a whole this group isn't anything special

Dean actually had a pretty good grade in coverage vs Miami and was mostly in coverage that game. He wasn't as good last week (in coverage) but was asked to do more things. I have no idea what you mean by "can't run." He's making plays with his speed and his tackling grade has been very good. 

It was obvious Ringo came out too early which is why a guy with 1st round physical talent / size dropped to the 4th round. I felt is was a good pick because Slay and Bradberry are the expected starters this season no matter what. That gives him some time to develop and the Eagles time to develop him. Anybody that expected more from him at this point was kidding themself. 

Brown is an exciting prospect to watch this year and Ricks is clearly surpassing expectations. 

[weko]

On 11/4/2023 at 5:54 PM, brkmsn said:

Dean actually had a pretty good grade in coverage vs Miami and was mostly in coverage that game. He wasn't as good last week (in coverage) but was asked to do more things. I have no idea what you mean by "can't run." He's making plays with his speed and his tackling grade has been very good. 

It was obvious Ringo came out too early which is why a guy with 1st round physical talent / size dropped to the 4th round. I felt is was a good pick because Slay and Bradberry are the expected starters this season no matter what. That gives him some time to develop and the Eagles time to develop him. Anybody that expected more from him at this point was kidding themself. 

Brown is an exciting prospect to watch this year and Ricks is clearly surpassing expectations. 

To quote the PhillyVoice writer after the game tonite...Dean has been lost in space all year.  The kid can't cover.  He's too slow, not quick enough, not athletic enough.  He's the weak link on our passing D and it's a passing league.  I too like Brown's potential if he can be adequate covering in pass D.  Not sure he is athletic quick and fast enough to play in the slot but he can contribute on the back end for sure.  Ricks shows something but his back to back holding penalties late could have cost us he game but he is better than the collection of corners Howie has added so he could be a good one in time.  Ringo has bust potential, unfortunately, someone with his college pedigree and experience in the SEC shouldn't be completely mia when we lose 6 dbs to injury.  It's one thing to play and not play well and it's another altogether when the coaching staff won't consider playing him when everyone else is hurt.  Not good and anything he can offer next year will be an unexpected bonus in my opinion.  Clock is already ticking on his career here.

[weko]

one final thought on Ringo.  The staff is giving him a red shirt year.  When that happens and you are an early 4th round pick and cost us our 3rd round pick this April, you better fning show something positive from the very first mini camp after the draft, better look good right away in training camp.  The biggest jump is from year 1 to 2 and 2nd biggest is from year 2 to 3.  By then what you see is what you get with 90 per cent of players.  Ringo has been so dismal he needs to flash right away starting next May 

[brkmsn]

47 minutes ago, weko said:

 He's too slow, not quick enough, not athletic enough. 

That statement is a laugher.

[weko]

9 hours ago, brkmsn said:

That statement is a laugher.

Love Dean vs the run but he is really bad in coverage.  Isn't nearly fast/quick enough to cover athletic TEs and RBs.  That's why he fell in the draft.  The middle of the field on D is our weakness and our LBs, good vs the run, are the weakest links in pass protection 

[Miami]

3 hours ago, weko said:

Love Dean vs the run but he is really bad in coverage.  Isn't nearly fast/quick enough to cover athletic TEs and RBs.  That's why he fell in the draft.  The middle of the field on D is our weakness and our LBs, good vs the run, are the weakest links in pass protection 

Unfortunately have to agree.  Don't even notice him out there.

[brkmsn]

10 hours ago, weko said:

Love Dean vs the run but he is really bad in coverage.  Isn't nearly fast/quick enough to cover athletic TEs and RBs.  That's why he fell in the draft.  The middle of the field on D is our weakness and our LBs, good vs the run, are the weakest links in pass protection 

Every team's LBs are their weakest links in pass coverage. That's why teams have been using safeties as hybrid LBs and start a nickel back in place of an off ball LB most of the time.

As for Dean, his speed isn't the problem. He's a lot faster and quicker than TJ Edwards. The difference is Edwards has had 3 more years in the NFL to get better as a player. Dean needs to go through the ups and downs like everybody else. The injuries this season have slowed his progress a bit, unfortunately. 

 

[weko]

More bad Dean numbers in today's article.  He is ranked 66 out of 89 in LBs.  He has been decent vs the run but horrible vs the pass, allowing a passer rating of 102.4 when targeted.  He allowed receptions every time Dallas targeted him.  He's now on IR again due to a foot injury so the team doesn't have to continue to put him on the field to justify his 3rd round draft status.  Decent run defender but he just can't run with the TEs and RBs he has to cover.