2 minutes ago, UK Eagle said:

This is quietly a year for the Vikes where the HC and GM need to move forward. The Cousins band aid is no more and they have a prime WR looking to run his contract down and have the option of moving on if things stay as they are.  Trading up for a QB makes a ton of sense, as does the Texans moving down a little. 

Just purely a hypothetical, but what if the chargers and Harbaugh want to draft McCarthy at five (frankly think the chargers would be dumb to do this trade). the Vikings are acquiring first round picks to trade for Justin Herbert, so that McCarthy could be drafted at five by Harbaugh who loves him and thinks highly of him. He is on a rookie contract, and the Minnesota Vikings get Herbert, who is ready to win now with playmakers on that offense. If i remotely even thought about trading Herbert it’d start with at least 3 first and I’d probably want more. 

3 minutes ago, UK Eagle said:

 

He's got the size. I didn't even realize he was 6'3" 255lbs

2 minutes ago, UK Eagle said:

 

Aside from the point specifically about Huff which is interesting, a lot of people need to note how the eagles have these positions listed because a lot of people seem confused about what positions there are in this defense, and who is playing them. 

I got a long lecture in here about this defense and how Carter and Milton Williams are DEs, and Sweat is a LB....

The tweet pretty much shows it how I know it is. Not how some people think it is.

6 minutes ago, UK Eagle said:

This is quietly a year for the Vikes where the HC and GM need to move forward. The Cousins band aid is no more and they have a prime WR looking to run his contract down and have the option of moving on if things stay as they are.  Trading up for a QB makes a ton of sense, as does the Texans moving down a little. 

Who would they be trading for, assuming Daniels/Williams/Maye are gone?

I dont think McCarthy is top 5 caliber, so I guess Penix? 

What’s the worst that can happen if we tampered ?

11 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

I don’t see Jerry selling them. I see him passing it down to his son. I think some of the financial stuff is more due to circumstance. Not sure he wants to give Dak an extension in the midst of an investigation. That’s a bad PR look even if it turns out Dak is correct that the woman is just exploiting him. 

I agree with everything you stated except I think Jerry doesn't want to extend Dak this year, investigation or not...I think he wants to see Dak produce in the post-season before commiting again. Here's the problem, DAL can't really help Dak do that by not filling roster holes created by cap issues, they just don't have room without extending him. DAL is in a situation where they will likely end up with a few down years whether they pay Dak or not (unless they by some miracle end up with a cost-effective, low cap QB as his replacement), they can't create/retain a top line supporting cast for him with the cap constraints. If they pay/extend him they still can't keep other top level talent because Dak wants too much.

They are really in a no win situation that they created for themselves.

I say blow it up...trade Parsons while he is in his prime before he becomes the highest (top 3-5 minimum) paid defensive player...get a few picks (two 1st, two 2nd...idk pick something that is a win-win), same with CDL, he's going to command top 3 receiver $...let Dak finish this year, take the hit in '25...start over. F it.

It's a great time to be a Cowboy fan...next year 🤣!

I want to be optimistic that this team will have a better defense this coming year.    I feel very confident in the offense coming back this year.    I am much much more confident in the offense with Kellen Moore running things.   I look forward to watching an offense where the OC actually finds ways to scheme open our playmakers and let's them do their thing.

Offensively, there are a few questions:
1 - Jurgens stepping in for Kelce.  There will be a drop off, the question is how big will it be?  
2 - RG.  Is Steen ready, or are they going to add another guy in the draft?
3 - How much is left in Barkley's tank?   I like this move, independent of the cost.  He's a guy that can impact the offense significantly.  I look forward to finally getting to really pull for him.
4 - How will Hurts rebound from a down season last year?  Will he bounce back to more like 2022, or will he regress more to 2023 and 2021?   

 

 

Defensively... I am extremely wary.
1 - Is the Fangio system figured out around the league and no longer effective?
2 - Are the young DTs (Carter, Williams and Davis) ready for the increase in snaps coming this year?  Davis especially has me concerned that he just can't increase his snap count and remain effective.
3 - What's the plan at CB?  Do they have young CBs that can really step up?  I don't think they currently do, so I am hoping for good things from the draft.
4 - The LB situation remains a giant concern.  White doesn't move the needle for me.  Dean remains a giant question mark.  Is he big enough for the NFL?  Is he strong enough for the NFL?   Can the DTs keep him clean enough to be effective?  Will this team add a LB worth discussing in the draft?   A lot of questions.
5 - Safety remains a concern.  I still like Blankenship more as Safety 3, rather than top 2.   Sydney Brown was like a Tasmanian Devil out there... much more noise than actual danger.  He flew around like crazy, but always seemed off balance and wasn't the best tackler.   I like my safeties to be very sure tacklers (which is what I really like about Blankenship).  

5 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

Aside from the point specifically about Huff which is interesting, a lot of people need to note how the eagles have these positions listed because a lot of people seem confused about what positions there are in this defense, and who is playing them. 

I got a long lecture in here about this defense and how Carter and Milton Williams are DEs, and Sweat is a LB....

The tweet pretty much shows it how I know it is. Not how some people think it is.

The problem is Sweat is not a LB. And we're not running a 4-3 or 4-3 under.

In a 3-4 hybrid, one thing you want to be able to do is drop your OLBs in coverage, have them line up with a hand on the ground, or standing up at the LOS.

This allows you to show one formation pre-snap, then shift after the snap, confusing both the QB and the OL who's making the blocking calls.

But if a OLB can't be credible dropping into coverage, it leaves a big hole and makes the defense more predictable.

With Nolan Smith, I'll be interested in the body he brings to camp, as a rookie he was undersized, especially when lined up on the LOS. Ideally, you'd like to see him bulk up to about 245 without a serious dropoff in speed.

19 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

If New England doesn’t love Maye or McCarthy then they probably should trade out. Might ultimately backfire on them as Maye might be a franchise Qb. But i don’t see them taking a Qb just cause they need a QB. Kind of see them trying to pull off something like what Chicago did last year with Carolina. Probably gonna get 11, 23 and 2025 first rounder if they trade back with Minnesota. If I’m New England I’d probably also try to sweeten the deal and ask for Addison. 

Right, but while they're waiting to fall in love with a prospect, the years go by and they're mired in the basement -- and that entitled fan base will start staying away, and Kraft will die off (which is long overdue, btw).

They need to be pragmatic.  80% of first round QBs bust (defined for my purposes as not playing under a second contract with that team), so their energy needs to go into developing a solid QB prospect rather than falling in love.

With Alex Van Pelt as OC and T.C. McCartney as QB coach that 80% likely climbs to 99% .... but, they should only want to be drafting top 3 once.

46 minutes ago, UK Eagle said:

That's what you get for looks $2.5m guaranteed. Not going to change the world, but can do something well. But will need some who can tackle around him.  Perhaps having a Fangio barking at him may make it work, or he'll be a Steeler next year because they love signing washed out LBs

So basically traded Kyzir White for Devin White.  

Just now, austinfan said:

With Nolan Smith, I'll be interested in the body he brings to camp, as a rookie he was undersized, especially when lined up on the LOS. Ideally, you'd like to see him bulk up to about 245 without a serious dropoff in speed.

In the video posted by @HazletonEagle about Barkley's pass protection, I saw Smith playing a few snaps at MIKE.  Very interesting that I missed last year.   I wonder how much they will do similar things with him this year.  And how well he can handle it.  He didn't look great in that spot in those videos.   The one where he was coming up to play the run, he was in position, but Barkley made him look silly.   In the one where he dropped... he got nice depth and width, but the throw was just out of his reach.

Just heard about the Howell trade. That's crazy, I actually thought he could become a decent starter in a year or two. Barely got anything in return too. 

10 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

Just purely a hypothetical, but what if the chargers and Harbaugh want to draft McCarthy at five (frankly think the chargers would be dumb to do this trade). the Vikings are acquiring first round picks to trade for Justin Herbert, so that McCarthy could be drafted at five by Harbaugh who loves him and thinks highly of him. He is on a rookie contract, and the Minnesota Vikings get Herbert, who is ready to win now with playmakers on that offense. If i remotely even thought about trading Herbert it’d start with at least 3 first and I’d probably want more. 

It would move a QB on and give the Viikes a more known quantity and looking at their O, it could be fixed quickly.  Herbert is likely looking at another tough year in LA, so it could work well and give the Chargers a rookie contract to balance the books.

8 minutes ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

Who would they be trading for, assuming Daniels/Williams/Maye are gone?

I dont think McCarthy is top 5 caliber, so I guess Penix? 

I've seen little of McCarthy, but he doesn't scream of a top 5 pick to me, but the Niners took Trey Lance early, so what do we know?  Not sure Penix will go high - feels to me like be Hendon Hooker sort of player that will hang around a bit.  Bo Nix could be picked there, but it would be a hell of a reach to do that.

Just now, we_gotta_believe said:

Just heard about the Howell trade. That's crazy, I actually thought he could become a decent starter in a year or two. Barely got anything in return too. 

I thought the same thing yesterday...then I went at looked at the final '23 QB rankings...granted he didn't have a lot of protection, but he is not the future for them...especially with new ownership and coaching staff.

3 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

So basically traded Kyzir White for Devin White.  

Pretty much. A decent side dish rather than the main part of the meal

6 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

In the video posted by @HazletonEagle about Barkley's pass protection, I saw Smith playing a few snaps at MIKE.  Very interesting that I missed last year.   I wonder how much they will do similar things with him this year.  And how well he can handle it.  He didn't look great in that spot in those videos.   The one where he was coming up to play the run, he was in position, but Barkley made him look silly.   In the one where he dropped... he got nice depth and width, but the throw was just out of his reach.

Im a little worried that theyre gonna take some 3-4 rushers in him and Baun and try to turn them in to off ball LBs...

 

The Nolan Smith missed tackle looked like a business decision. He didnt completely vacate the hole to shy away from barkley. But he jumped his feet away from the tackle instead of trying to drive through him. He basically laid out in place to make it look like a strong diving attempt. But his center of mass was never even moved towards the ball carrier. He had no intentions of laying a lick on Barkley coming through that hole. It was really, really disappointing to see. I thought he was a really tough, strong player in college. That makes him look incredibly soft, in which case I lose confidence in him developing. 

 

 

9 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

Right, but while they're waiting to fall in love with a prospect, the years go by and they're mired in the basement -- and that entitled fan base will start staying away, and Kraft will die off (which is long overdue, btw).

They need to be pragmatic.  80% of first round QBs bust (defined for my purposes as not playing under a second contract with that team), so their energy needs to go into developing a solid QB prospect rather than falling in love.

With Alex Van Pelt as OC and T.C. McCartney as QB coach that 80% likely climbs to 99% .... but, they should only want to be drafting top 3 once.

I’m not investing the 3rd overall pick in a qb i don’t absolutely love. I can draft and develop a solid Qb in round 2-7. I can’t take that risk at 3 if I’m not head over heels about that Qb when i could potentially get either MHJ (generational talent) or boatload of firsts that sets me up for a better roster in the future or be in placed in a better position to acquire a QB i do love. I am not taking a quarterback in the top three unless I absolutely love them. This would be just taking a quarterback just to take a quarterback, cause we need a quarterback.

according to reports they love Daniels. If I’m them, I try to convince Washington to move back one spot if they aren’t as in love with Daniels or they have maybe/Daniels as equals. So that they can get the quarterback they want. Frankly, if Washington loves maybe as much or more than they love Daniels then they should make that move because they’re gonna get an extra couple of picks to move back one spot and still get the guy they want. 

Just now, Joe Ball said:

I thought the same thing yesterday...then I went at looked at the final '23 QB rankings...granted he didn't have a lot of protection, but he is not the future for them...especially with new ownership and coaching staff.

Looked like a future quality backup.

4 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

Aside from the point specifically about Huff which is interesting, a lot of people need to note how the eagles have these positions listed because a lot of people seem confused about what positions there are in this defense, and who is playing them. 

I got a long lecture in here about this defense and how Carter and Milton Williams are DEs, and Sweat is a LB....

The tweet pretty much shows it how I know it is. Not how some people think it is.

2 minutes ago, UK Eagle said:

It would move a QB on and give the Viikes a more known quantity and looking at their O, it could be fixed quickly.  Herbert is likely looking at another tough year in LA, so it could work well and give the Chargers a rookie contract to balance the books.

I've seen little of McCarthy, but he doesn't scream of a top 5 pick to me, but the Niners took Trey Lance early, so what do we know?  Not sure Penix will go high - feels to me like be Hendon Hooker sort of player that will hang around a bit.  Bo Nix could be picked there, but it would be a hell of a reach to do that.

I’d point out, the 2 cheap years of Herbert’s extension are 2023 and 2024. Jumps from 19.3 to 37.3 in 2024 to 2025. That said can’t happen as it’s $89 mil cap hit in 2024 to trade him unless it’s post June 1st which then actually clears cap. Just interesting hypothetical 

1 minute ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Looked like a future quality backup.

and that is worth more than they received in the trade...

8 minutes ago, Swoop said:

So you don't understand at all what he was saying. Got it.

If you'd like to explain it to me I'm all ears. I think I was pretty clear in saying in retrospect that NFL Teams had this man CMC ranked as a 1st round prospect (as I said the Eagles were hot for him and they picked 14 that year). If you're going to sit here and predict that after the draft Will Shipley would have been on the board of  NFL teams with a mid to top 10 first round grade, don't bother explaining. That's delusional.

34 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

This doesn't make me feel better about White.  

Bad words in there.   "Needs motivation."     
"Lousy tackler."   
"Game declined..."  💀

Yeah... that's pretty much what I thought before free agency began... and seeing a beat down there confirm.  That's discouraging.  

 

Now, we can try to convince ourselves that our LB situation can't be worse than last year with White, and maybe that's true.  But, the hope was to see improvement, not just holding serve with the LB play.   We can also try to convince ourselves that the team can find a young LB in the draft who can be a difference maker and sure up the middle of the field.   Of course, there's not a ton of support for that being realistic.   And we can convince ourselves that in this organization, White will feel motivated to put it all out there and use his athleticism to fix what he's struggled at in the past.   Then again, if this organization was so great at motivating folks, we wouldn't have seen the meltdown that we saw last year.  Just dysfunction at every level on the defense.   Maybe that's due to the change from Desai to Patricia, but it sure looked like a lot of business decisions were made by the Eagles' defenders, especially in the last 6 or 7 games.

He had some good players around him that probably made him look better early on. Howie got a big name but I'm not sure that position is in a better place.

7 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

In the video posted by @HazletonEagle about Barkley's pass protection, I saw Smith playing a few snaps at MIKE.  Very interesting that I missed last year.   I wonder how much they will do similar things with him this year.  And how well he can handle it.  He didn't look great in that spot in those videos.   The one where he was coming up to play the run, he was in position, but Barkley made him look silly.   In the one where he dropped... he got nice depth and width, but the throw was just out of his reach.

What was your opinion of Barkley's blocking?

In those clips, he was in the way just enough imo. But the tape didnt match the rave review he got in the video. It was sloppy. And he looked lucky the QB got the ball off in time. Blankenship dominated him with a straight arm move. Another one he went stumbling about 10 yards up field. I think there was 1 clean win in the whole video. The effective cut block. Otherwise, bad hand placement. Poor balance. Looked pretty bad honestly. 

23 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

and why does that matter at all in relation to what I said initially? You still arent getting it....

You're sitting here comparing CMC to Shipley lol. Did that change somewhere along the conversation?