More confident next season taking their game to the next level: Jordan Davis or Nakobe Dean?

34 minutes ago, TEW said:

He's had 2 years in an NFL weight room at this point.

He’s had 2 years to learn from Kelce and 2 years to learn from Stoutland.

I expect him to hit the ground running as a high end center.

Jurgens can fall well short of Kelce and still be a top-5 center in the league today.

Compare him to Humphrey, Linsley, etc.  Not Kelce.

2 hours ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

I kinda look at the Eagles this way, next off-season they’re likely going to either spend cap space on a defensive lineman/edge rusher or they’re gonna draft one relatively high. You look at their secondary, you’re starting corners are already on the team. Mitchell, Ringo and Cooper DeJean. They are likely going to be the guys competing to start in 2025 on the outside as bradberry and slay are likely gone. At safety you still have CJGJ, Blankenship and Brown. So you’re probably not adding anything in the secondary via free agency or high in the draft unless someone falls unexpectedly. They usually don’t spend big money at linebacker or have taken linebackers in the first two rounds in a while. You don’t need a running back as you still have Saquon Barkley so i doubt they go RB early on a draft. You don’t need wide receivers as brown and smith are extended and drafted smith to be your slot.  so either offensive line or defense/pass rusher are positions they likely address high in the draft or FA. I would be surprised if the Eagles don’t sign a pass rusher in free agency next year or draft one very high. 
 

I totally agree with you. And still, they have succession plans when it comes to pass rushers. Sweat will probably be gone, so the ideal scenario is Nolan Smith and Huff as starters, rotating with Hunt and a cheap addition via FA. Of course, they all can bust and we'd be in trouble, it's a possibility, but the reasoning is right everywhere along the roster. 

8 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

More confident next season taking their game to the next level: Jordan Davis or Nakobe Dean?

We really need both, but I'm more confident in Dean if his body allows. 

1 minute ago, Sack that QB said:

More confident next season taking their game to the next level: Jordan Davis or Nakobe Dean?

They are probably both what they are going to be at this point. Dean was fine when he was on the field. Davis had 43 tackles and 10 pressures. Those numbers are decent. 17 pressures is a good number for a nt. 

https://flyersnittygritty.com/report-matvei-michkov-could-be-in-the-nhl-sooner-than-expected/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0EeHpo1fP4YIgM7ZsTCtw-jizO3bap2aErDUYVSe5O7cuDCZIX2ARrV80_aem_AflUcd3sRiPmkEKSiIsHfobrH4BPa8aJWIelGuxdDO2qXNYI-lJsDQ28D39t66oIowEddUIrLrj3TqDLHdYbYHLx

Decision to come in late June.  Fingers crossed

 

 

So what happened with Trotter Jr?  Most way to early mocks had him going top 10-25 range.  Then he goes out and puts up almost exactly the same numbers as he did as a Sophomore (in 2 less games played) then he's projected 3rd-5th rounder

PFF had him going # 10th - https://www.pff.com/news/draft-way-too-early-2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-and-marvin-harrison-jr-land-in-arizona-colts-grab-joe-alt 

Sports Illustrated going 20th - https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-drake-maye-marvin-harrison-jr-brock-bowers-first-round-training-camp 

Bleacher Report had him going 12th - https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-drake-maye-marvin-harrison-jr-brock-bowers-first-round-training-camp 

26 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

My uniformed view is that they would be best served to have Slay, Mitchell, DeJean, Blankenship, and CJGJ on the field all the time.  DeJean and CJGJ can continuously move between NCB and Safety - further disguising coverage. 

Use different kinds of front six, 4-2, 5-1.  Diminish our exposure at LB and take advantage of DeJean and CJGJ in run fits.  OCs like to abuse smallish NCBs in the run game.  Our guys wouldn't fit that mold.

yep.

And when Jalyx is fully up to speed, hes another guy who never really has to come off the field either. Big enough to play the run. Nimble enough to pick up a TE or RB in man, or even line up over some WRs if he just has a zone responsibility. 

2 minutes ago, garingovt2000 said:

So what happened with Trotter Jr?  Most way to early mocks had him going top 10-25 range.  Then he goes out and puts up almost exactly the same numbers as he did as a Sophomore (in 2 less games played) then he's projected 3rd-5th rounder

PFF had him going # 10th - https://www.pff.com/news/draft-way-too-early-2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-and-marvin-harrison-jr-land-in-arizona-colts-grab-joe-alt 

Sports Illustrated going 20th - https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-drake-maye-marvin-harrison-jr-brock-bowers-first-round-training-camp 

Bleacher Report had him going 12th - https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-drake-maye-marvin-harrison-jr-brock-bowers-first-round-training-camp 

I wonder how much Nakobe Dean factored in to people just deciding Trotter is too small.

NFL LBs have been trending smaller and smaller. But maybe Dean has shown the threshold of where too small is, and Trotter is close to that. 

1 hour ago, TEW said:

Expecting him to be a special teamer and work in sub packages half way through the season is not some kind of overly ambitious projection IMO.

We aren’t talking about him as a starter. 15 snaps a game type of role.

 

I sincerely doubt he will see much play time oj defense this season, especially in situations like you outlined where you envision him to be out there on 3rd downs replacing thr MLB.  That's not going to happen.

45 minutes ago, just relax said:

Nah. I shouted to the heavens.

Or not.

I am lactose intolerant, though, so we have an issue there.🥛👎

Fresh milk is the salve that soothes all frustrations.  Drink more.

32 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

More confident next season taking their game to the next level: Jordan Davis or Nakobe Dean?

Don't have much hope for either but we need Davis to be the one to take it to the next level if either ever does.

32 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

More confident next season taking their game to the next level: Jordan Davis or Nakobe Dean?

Davis. First half of the year last year he played like a first round pick.

Dean is injury prone, coming off a major foot injury he still hasn't completely healed from, and was already questionable in coverage at the NFL level. LB is still a major concern.

1 minute ago, Saltpeter said:

Davis. First half of the year last year he played like a first round pick.

Dean is injury prone, coming off a major foot injury he still hasn't completely healed from, and was already questionable in coverage at the NFL level. LB is still a major concern.

I was gonna say the same thing you did at the end. Linebacker is still a huge concern to me. Dean hasn’t shown he could stay healthy nor did he show a ton when he was actually out there. Jerimiah Trotter jr. is a rookie so asking a lot of him to come out there and be competent as a rookie 5th round pick. And then  White got benched by Todd Bowles and Tampa. I don’t trust him to just turn back the clock to earlier in his career and be good. More of a chance he just is Ernie sims. Imo i think this is a spot where how might make a CJGJ type move prior to the season. 

Fran Duffy breaking down the picks.

3 hours ago, BigEFly said:

I hope you are right but I don’t see the speed or instincts for SS.  I do think he may have SAM skills.  But he has to develop OLB/Edge skills too and that is where his raw promise shows up best.  

Howie has stacked up on OLB/Edge/SAM candidates this offseason.  He already had Nolan Smith as the primary investment there. The others are just pick ups.  We have the instinct challenged Brandon Smith, here for his third time in the past year.  Great athleticism that got him on the field at PSU but no development.  We have Terrell Lewis, who plays OLB Alabama style, meaning primarily a bull rusher.  Frankly, he should move to DE.  We have Julian Okwara, who may be able to drop, we’ll see.  We may need to include the undersized Baun here, who shows some potential to be able to drop.  We have Patrick Johnson returning.  Think this is his last TC.  So the challenge is on Washburn to develop their drop capabilities, edge setting and pass rushing techniques.  Hunt will have plenty of companionship in the classroom.  

So one move had me puzzled on the defensive coaching staff changes this year.  Ronell Williams went from Nickel to Assistant LB coach.  He has a background as a LB himself.  Mostly he has been a QC coach and has that as part of his duties this year.   I just wonder if part of his job is focusing on teaching zone responsibilities to the LBs, both ILBs and the OLB/SAMs positions. Expanded focus on the lower zone players. 

I think quality control is the "internship position," where they spend long hours cutting up film and hopefully after a couple years have seen everything, so when they talk with their OC/DC they're on the same page. Probably comes down to how smart the young coach is, after a couple years watching every team and scheme in the league, they should develop a high football IQ. Once you become a hands on coach, your time is occupied by breaking down and building up your players and understanding your coordinator's schemes and what he's trying to accomplish.

Guess they are pretty similar eh

14 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

 

I sincerely doubt he will see much play time oj defense this season, especially in situations like you outlined where you envision him to be out there on 3rd downs replacing thr MLB.  That's not going to happen.

Who do you believe is a better coverage linebacker?

20 minutes ago, garingovt2000 said:

So what happened with Trotter Jr?  Most way to early mocks had him going top 10-25 range.  Then he goes out and puts up almost exactly the same numbers as he did as a Sophomore (in 2 less games played) then he's projected 3rd-5th rounder

PFF had him going # 10th - https://www.pff.com/news/draft-way-too-early-2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-and-marvin-harrison-jr-land-in-arizona-colts-grab-joe-alt 

Sports Illustrated going 20th - https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-drake-maye-marvin-harrison-jr-brock-bowers-first-round-training-camp 

Bleacher Report had him going 12th - https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-drake-maye-marvin-harrison-jr-brock-bowers-first-round-training-camp 

I think the reality of him being not big and an ordinary athlete at a non-premium position just set in.  He's still the same player that was mocked into that range and that's why, sentimentality aside, he was a good pick.  

He's big enough and athletic enough....and plays a position where those are not the primary drivers of success.

The best comp for him is really Nakobe Dean.

35 minutes ago, jsb235 said:

They are probably both what they are going to be at this point. Dean was fine when he was on the field. Davis had 43 tackles and 10 pressures. Those numbers are decent. 17 pressures is a good number for a nt. 

Davis is not going to be a 10 sack guy. Silly expectations.

His role is to dominate both A gaps, force teams to double him, and get inside pressure with bull rushes and maybe a couple moves. Anything more is gravy.

A dominant NT makes life easier for everyone around him, he forces the defense to shift toward him, creating one on one matchups and freeing an ILB.

46 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

More confident next season taking their game to the next level: Jordan Davis or Nakobe Dean?

JD is pretty much there, he just needs the consistency (re: conditioning). 
 

Nakobe still has to prove stuff we haven’t seen yet

1 minute ago, eagle45 said:

I think the reality of him being not big and an ordinary athlete at a non-premium position just set in.  He's still the same player that was mocked into that range and that's why, sentimentality aside, he was a good pick.  

He's big enough and athletic enough....and plays a position where those are not the primary drivers of success.

The best comp for him is really Nakobe Dean.

Or TJ Edwards when he was signed as a UFDA. Two years later, a step quicker and 10 lbs heavier, he was one of the best ILBs in the NFL.

28 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

yep.

And when Jalyx is fully up to speed, hes another guy who never really has to come off the field either. Big enough to play the run. Nimble enough to pick up a TE or RB in man, or even line up over some WRs if he just has a zone responsibility. 

Yeah, Hunt — assuming he develops as we hope — has the size to be an asset in the run game, the movement skills to be an asset in coverage, and the tools to be an asset as a pass rusher.

IF — obviously it’s not a given — he develops, I would expect him to be on the field a LOT simply because of his versatility.

Defense is as much about not having a weakness to exploit as it is about how good you are at a particular thing.

If we can put a lot of versatile players on the field on defense — Hunt, DeJean, CJGJ, Rodgers, maybe even Ringo with his size and speed — it will go a long way towards improving the defense. Then you can put more specialized pass rushers on the field and cover for their singular focus.

30 minutes ago, garingovt2000 said:

So what happened with Trotter Jr?  Most way to early mocks had him going top 10-25 range.  Then he goes out and puts up almost exactly the same numbers as he did as a Sophomore (in 2 less games played) then he's projected 3rd-5th rounder

PFF had him going # 10th - https://www.pff.com/news/draft-way-too-early-2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-and-marvin-harrison-jr-land-in-arizona-colts-grab-joe-alt 

Sports Illustrated going 20th - https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-drake-maye-marvin-harrison-jr-brock-bowers-first-round-training-camp 

Bleacher Report had him going 12th - https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-williams-drake-maye-marvin-harrison-jr-brock-bowers-first-round-training-camp 

People looked at how he tested.   Small and a little slow.  

It doesn't bother me.  He's a playmaker.  He's instinctive more than he is an athlete.   That's fine.   Let him read and react, keep him clean and let him run to the ball.  TJ Edwards was a good college player, but was considered way too slow, and went undrafted.   But, he was absolutely a 'solid' LB here when he got on the field.   Not great in coverage, but was very good in run support and a great tackler.  If Trotter can play at the level we got from Edwards, that's a great pick.  Hopefully he does... and even better if he exceeds it.

For soccer fans, Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich starts in 10 minutes.

This is probably the best historical continental rivalry at the club level. Lots of stars play in attack for both teams — Bellingham, Vinicius and Rodrygo for Madrid while Bayern will have Musiala, Kane and Mane.

Should be a really fun match. It’s the first of 2 legs — winner of the two matches makes the Champions League final. Madrid have the most titles with 14, while Bayern are tied for third most titles ever with 6.