EMB Blog: 2024 Offseason

[UK_EaglesFan89]

8 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

I like the idea of Covey at WR,  would be good, I like Covey, but at this point I would have guessed that WR3 was Parris Campbell.

I think it may be a number of options. With Parker (assuming he makes the 53 which at this point you’d have to think he will given the lack of options) they may kick Smith or AJ inside a little more. They may use Parris, Covey and maybe add another option today?

[Freshmilk]

7 hours ago, Sack that QB said:

My opinion watching him play and the fact that the Eagles don't seem very high on him. Sirianni didn't even mention his name when talking about players in the mix for the right guard spot. I'll change my opinion on him if/when he earns it. As of now, no reason to have any confidence in him whatsoever at the position and it's a spot in massive need of an upgrade.

On the other hand we read this article: Jurgens has moved into Kelce's locker, and Steen has moved into Jurgens RG locker.  Not to say things can't change, but as of now, according to Eagles locker law, Steen is the starting RG.

[eagle45]

7 hours ago, TEW said:

He’s top 8% all time in RAS.

Definitely better than "merely good”.

I mean…I don’t care what RAS says, a thin framed edge with no anchor weighing under 260,  running a 40 over 4.6, jumping under 38” isn’t a special or unique raw athlete.  That 40 for his weight is pretty unspectacular for edge rushers these days.
 

Now, he’s just under those benchmarks, so he’s not a bad athlete by any means.  And given how his frame has to change to play this position and how long he’s been playing it, he’s been under scouted, so there is some unique upside there that most/all SEC 2 year starter DEs in round 3 are going to lack.  So I’m fine with the pick.  And maybe he’s a better athlete for the few that really watched him than even the combine showed…I’m just saying he didn’t exactly blow it up.

[garingovt2000]

Give me some of

WR - Malik Washington, Devontez Walker, Troy Franklin

RB - Laube, Jaylen Wright, Guerendo

IOL - McCormick, Mahogany, Grable

TE - All, Johnson, Sanders, Stover, Wiley

DT - Leonard Taylor, Boyd, Wingo

OT - Crum, Nathan Thomas

LB - Trade for Muma, Gray

 

 

 

 

[we_gotta_believe]

The risk with players like Hunt isn't just because they're raw and unpolished, but also that they seen handpicked for the current DC. If Fangio busts in two years, then most of Hunt's utility could vanish overnight with a different DC.

[DeathByEagle]

52 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I think it may be a number of options. With Parker (assuming he makes the 53 which at this point you’d have to think he will given the lack of options) they may kick Smith or AJ inside a little more. They may use Parris, Covey and maybe add another option today?

Malik Washington out of Virginia. Dude never drops passes

[HazletonEagle]

17 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

I mean…I don’t care what RAS says, a thin framed edge with no anchor weighing under 260,  running a 40 over 4.6, jumping under 38” isn’t a special or unique raw athlete.  That 40 for his weight is pretty unspectacular for edge rushers these days.
 

Now, he’s just under those benchmarks, so he’s not a bad athlete by any means.  And given how his frame has to change to play this position and how long he’s been playing it, he’s been under scouted, so there is some unique upside there that most/all SEC 2 year starter DEs in round 3 are going to lack.  So I’m fine with the pick.  And maybe he’s a better athlete for the few that really watched him than even the combine showed…I’m just saying he didn’t exactly blow it up.

What if you changed your mindset and envisioned a different role for him than edge pass rusher? Think of him as a SAM with some pass rush skills. Now how is his size and athleticism?

[austinfan]

7 hours ago, Alphagrand said:

DeJean was a letdown.

I don’t see a first round talent at all, and neither did any other NFL team.  He wouldn’t have been a player I targeted as a trade up from 50 to 40, either.  If Fangio knows how to utilize him as a safety/nickel, then I’m more hopeful.  I don’t want to see him playing boundary CB at all.  Too stiff and not fluid.

The Hunt pick was a trade down, trade down, then take a flyer on a very raw project at #94 when you were sitting at #78.  Hopefully he’s not another Davion Taylor — who was an infuriating pick that went under the radar because of the furor over picking Hurts at #53.  Looking at Hunt’s tape, he is extremely raw.  A converted safety who looks lost out there in some of the clips I see.  He’s a twitchy, fast guy so the Eagles took him — but I haven’t seen very many evaluations listing him as anything other than a Day 3 prospect l

1st rd grades, once past pick 15 or so, are based more on fit with the team.

I agree that DeJean doesn't sound like the ideal outside CB, though he was good enough in college to probably hold his own there, and doesn't lack speed. But tight hips are hard to fix.

However, they already have Mitchell and Ringo, and Jobe and Ricks are probably better suited to the outside.

DeJean was probably viewed as another S/NCB hybrid who has the speed for FS, the toughness for SS, and the smarts and quickness to match up with WRs inside at NCB and limit RAC..

Don't sleep on Blankenship either, he hasn't exactly been surrounded with talent, as the talent improves (and the coaching), he can rely more on excellent instincts and not have to cover for teammates.

[Iggles_Phan]

36 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

The risk with players like Hunt isn't just because they're raw and unpolished, but also that they seen handpicked for the current DC. If Fangio busts in two years, then most of Hunt's utility could vanish overnight with a different DC.

No worries.  If that happens, we'll bring in a Fangio wannabe.  What could go wrong?

[DeathByEagle]

2 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

The risk with players like Hunt isn't just because they're raw and unpolished, but also that they seen handpicked for the current DC. If Fangio busts in two years, then most of Hunt's utility could vanish overnight with a different DC.

Hunt reminds me of an old school 3-4 OLB. Can do it all. Rush the passer, drop into coverage, play the run etc. The real way the 3-4 was suppose to be run to drive confusion on what the OLBs are doing. 

Reminders me of a Peter Boulware type of player. I personally like both OLBs to be that way. Then you can truly disguise your defense like the 3-4 was designed. Worth a late 3rd to find out. 

[austinfan]

3 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

The risk with players like Hunt isn't just because they're raw and unpolished, but also that they seen handpicked for the current DC. If Fangio busts in two years, then most of Hunt's utility could vanish overnight with a different DC.

that describes most players picked after #15 as well as most FAs.

Reddick fit a system where he was basically used as a wide 9/Elephant role, pin your ears back and attack the QB.

For most teams, that's a 3rd down specialist, for the Eagles the past two years that was a starter.

When Fangio came in, he became an overpaid specialist.

[austinfan]

1 minute ago, DeathByEagle said:

Hunt reminds me of an old school 3-4 OLB. Can do it all. Rush the passer, drop into coverage, play the run etc. The real way the 3-4 was suppose to be run to drive confusion on what the OLBs are doing. 

Reminders me of a Peter Boulware type of player. I personally like both OLBs to be that way. Then you can truly disguise your defense like the 3-4 was designed. Worth a late 3rd to find out. 

I think that's their vision, Hunt and Smith as 3-4 OLBs, then on pass downs you bring in Huff as a stand up pass rusher, move Carter inside from 3-4 DE and so on.

[Iggles_Phan]

2 minutes ago, austinfan said:

1st rd grades, once past pick 15 or so, are based more on fit with the team.

I agree that DeJean doesn't sound like the ideal outside CB, though he was good enough in college to probably hold his own there, and doesn't lack speed. But tight hips are hard to fix.

However, they already have Mitchell and Ringo, and Jobe and Ricks are probably better suited to the outside.

DeJean was probably viewed as another S/NCB hybrid who has the speed for FS, the toughness for SS, and the smarts and quickness to match up with WRs inside at NCB and limit RAC..

Don't sleep on Blankenship either, he hasn't exactly been surrounded with talent, as the talent improves (and the coaching), he can rely more on excellent instincts and not have to cover for teammates.

We need to stop perpetuating the idea that Jobe and Ricks have a future here.  They do not.  They are the bottom of the roster fill ins that come and go constantly.  They came in virtually maxed out and flawed.  They remain virtually maxed out... and flawed.   They aren't the answer.  They never were.

[UK Eagle]

The DeJean pick, I very much like.  Young talent is something this team has lacked in the DB room - no complaints at all. 

The trade downs were entertaining. I had to use social media to work out what had been traded because the NFL Network just shrugged their shoulders and stopped reporting trade comp.

Hunt feels like a familiar 3rd round pick for the Birds. Flyer on athletic freak, etc etc. I've never seen one work out, but maybe this time it ill happen?

Overall, happy with the draft so far. Younger, quicker but depth picks there.  A lot to like

[bpac55]

6 hours ago, ManuManu said:

Seems like the draft still has some good prospects at RB, WR, iOL, TE, LB, CB, S. I assume we’re done at S/CB, although maybe we can roster one more safety depending on the plan with DeJean. 

Some players of interest…

QB - None. Don’t need any of these scrubs. 

RB - Allen, Estime, Shipley, Davis, Wright, Irving, Tracy Jr, Guerrendo, Ali

IOL - Mahoganey, Bortolini, MacCormick

OT - Rouse, Greenfield, Crum

TE - T. Johnson, Sanders, Wiley, Bell, Stover, McLachlin, All

WR - Baker, Franklin, Washington, Rice, Walker, Cowing, J. Wilson, J. Jackson, A. Smith

DE - Meh

DT - L. Taylor, Dorlus

LB - Gray, Magee

S - Mustapha, Hicks, Taylor-Demerson

RB  and TE have barely been touched. I think we see a big run in round 4. 

[austinfan]

2 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

We need to stop perpetuating the idea that Jobe and Ricks have a future here.  They do not.  They are the bottom of the roster fill ins that come and go constantly.  They came in virtually maxed out and flawed.  They remain virtually maxed out... and flawed.   They aren't the answer.  They never were.

They'll carry 9-10 DBs.

Slay, Mitchell, Ringo, Rodgers

CJGJ, DeJean (hybrids)

Blankenship

That's 7, rest will come from Maddox, Jobe, Ricks, McPhearson, McCollum, Garner.

STs and upside will probably be deciding factors, so Ricks has edge on Jobe.

[HazletonEagle]

Just now, austinfan said:

They'll carry 9-10 DBs.

Slay, Mitchell, Ringo, Rodgers

CJGJ, DeJean (hybrids)

Blankenship

That's 7, rest will come from Maddox, Jobe, Ricks, McPhearson, McCollum, Garner.

STs and upside will probably be deciding factors, so Ricks has edge on Jobe.

The 3 non-roster locks Id keep would be Hall, Jobe, and Ricks.

[ManuManu]

6 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

We need to stop perpetuating the idea that Jobe and Ricks have a future here.  They do not.  They are the bottom of the roster fill ins that come and go constantly.  They came in virtually maxed out and flawed.  They remain virtually maxed out... and flawed.   They aren't the answer.  They never were.

"Having a future” is a subjective term, but I think Ricks can be a backup outside corner here for the next few years. 

[ManuManu]

3 minutes ago, austinfan said:

They'll carry 9-10 DBs.

Slay, Mitchell, Ringo, Rodgers

CJGJ, DeJean (hybrids)

Blankenship

That's 7, rest will come from Maddox, Jobe, Ricks, McPhearson, McCollum, Garner.

STs and upside will probably be deciding factors, so Ricks has edge on Jobe.

Don’t forget Hall and Brown

[eagle45]

14 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

What if you changed your mindset and envisioned a different role for him than edge pass rusher? Think of him as a SAM with some pass rush skills. Now how is his size and athleticism?

So that’s a great question.  Everyone compares him to Bryan Smith.  Maybe the better out of left field comp is Chris Gocong.

[UK Eagle]

Just now, eagle45 said:

So that’s a great question.  Everyone compares him to Bryan Smith.  Maybe the better out of left field comp is Chris Gocong.

That was my first thought when I saw the pick.

[Freshmilk]

18 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

The risk with players like Hunt isn't just because they're raw and unpolished, but also that they seen handpicked for the current DC. If Fangio busts in two years, then most of Hunt's utility could vanish overnight with a different DC.

It is seemingly a 2025 payoff, Howie said he wanted guys that can contribute this season so from afar it seems like an odd pick in the 3rd round. But since I know nothing about scouting and evaluation, I will be hopeful he becomes a contributor.

[ManuManu]

Just now, eagle45 said:

So that’s a great question.  Everyone compares him to Bryan Smith.  Maybe the better out of left field comp is Chris Gocong.

He was announced as an LB, which means he’s a SAM IMO. 

[HazletonEagle]

2 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

So that’s a great question.  Everyone compares him to Bryan Smith.  Maybe the better out of left field comp is Chris Gocong.

Still not on the right track there. I dont think Chris Gocong had any coverage ability. He just had crazy sack numbers, and the eagles still tried to turn him in to an off ball SAM.

The comp that I think is so easy to see is Connor Barwin. Who was effective moving forwards, and backwards and made plays in both facets of the game. Was never a double digit sack guy but if he gets around 8, and makes a ton of plays on tipped passes, supports the run... hell be a very versatile stat sheet filler. 

 

[ManuManu]

Just now, Freshmilk said:

It is seemingly a 2025 payoff, Howie said he wanted guys that can contribute this season so from afar ot seems like an odd pick in the 3rd round. But since I know nothing about scouting and evaluation, I will be hopeful he becomes a contributor.

The way Howie talked about him, he sure seemed like a developmental player rather than contributor. It’s the third round, so as long as they see future starter upside, fine by me.