8 hours ago, eagle45 said:

Here’s what opinions I’ve developed from a mostly informationless preseason.  In order of importance.  

1. Bechton is the starting RG.  Seriously.  That’s just about the only real thing we’ve learned.  So we know who the starting RG is.  We don’t know if he earned it or really looked good, although the track record here suggests we should trust the process.  This also sets Steen’s career onto the likely path of an anonymous backup and fairly disappointing pick.

2. Hurts has good buzz.  Of course, that buzz will be amplified 10 fold in either direction with better, more reliable information simply based on the first series in Brazil.  It’s all talk right now.

3.  Nolan Smith has bad buzz.  He’s playing later in games than anyone wants to see a first round pick on a team that wouldn’t risk injury to the janitor in preseason…and not particularly standing out in the process.  It’s early, he has time, and I love his measurables at a position that I think demands them…but not loving the direction here.  

4.  The Eagles didn’t like their WR3 situation (which is one thing we all actually could see in the games).  Now their WR3 situation is exactly as good as you think Dotson is or isn’t based on his somewhat controversial and debatable level of play in Washington. 
 

Good post

I think Hurts needs a few games in the new O to get going. He should still look solid early but to really get a flow could take a few games. Of course we'll all judge every play. 

I'm not writing Smith off but yeah not encouraging as of the moment

I like Dotson. Capbell only had one 500+ yard season out of 5 and Ross never did. Dotson is 2 for 2 in that regard. I think he's a solid #3 at a minimum and I do think he'll be the #3.  They'll play both he and Smith and I think rotate the guy in the slot a bit to show different looks.

1 minute ago, bpac55 said:

I know they play different positions even though they are both DT so it's not a 100% 1 for 1 comparison, but Thomas Booker has flashed more than Jordan Davis during TC.

Not sure where this analysis has come from. 

1 minute ago, jsb235 said:

Not sure where this analysis has come from. 

Almost every beat writer has been talking about Booker all of camp. 

1 minute ago, bpac55 said:

Almost every beat writer has been talking about Booker all of camp. 

They have talked about a lot of players. But I don't recall any of them saying Booker has outplayed Davis.

1 hour ago, NYEagle said:

So forget the South....but in the West and North, I think Detroit and SF both take steps back....and with increased competition in the North with Green Bay and Chicago, and West with Rams and Seattle.....as long as the Eagles DO NOT pull a repeat of last year at the end, they should have a very good shot at the #1 seed.

I tend to agree. Lions had a cakewalk schedule last yr like wr did the year prior

lions are still likely 5-1 in their division

Just now, jsb235 said:

They have talked about a lot of players. But I don't recall any of them saying Booker has outplayed Davis.

Their words weren't that he's flashed more than Davis. I'm making that assumption based on what I've read, listened to and from the games watched. But so many of them have been very high on Thomas Booker. They aren't getting rid of Jordan Davis for Thomas Booker. I was just saying what I would prefer. Having Carter, Williams, Ojomo and Booker would give you four penetrating DT. I love that style of DT play. I want disruptive players with violent hands. I know in the Vic defense, they need someone to clog the middle and that's what Davis will do, which goes back to my initial post. A win for Jordan Davis this year is just being able to handle a bigger workload. It's a low bar.

34 minutes ago, DrPhilly said:

He's going to be excellent against the run and was last year for 10 games.  Whether he ever develops into a pass rusher remains to be seen.

So was linval Joseph and he was a cheap vet. 

19 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

Their words weren't that he's flashed more than Davis. I'm making that assumption based on what I've read, listened to and from the games watched. But so many of them have been very high on Thomas Booker. They aren't getting rid of Jordan Davis for Thomas Booker. I was just saying what I would prefer. Having Carter, Williams, Ojomo and Booker would give you four penetrating DT. I love that style of DT play. I want disruptive players with violent hands. I know in the Vic defense, they need someone to clog the middle and that's what Davis will do, which goes back to my initial post. A win for Jordan Davis this year is just being able to handle a bigger workload. It's a low bar.

Dont let draft position extrapolate to having such a low bar for booker 

jags flash in scrubfest Ps games every year

44 minutes ago, brkmsn said:

I don't understand why it's important to rate the sacks as if Reggie White never had an easy sack or Lawrence Taylor never went unblocked. Everybody gets some that way and how many times have we seen an unblocked rusher get side-stepped by a QB and completely miss the sack? It was nice to see Smith finish on the one where he went unblocked. A "soft" sack is a play where the QB fumbles the snap and dives on the ball giving himself up to the first defender to race over and get a hand on him. The rest are all good, earned sacks. 

 

Honestly, it's crazy that people want to do everything they can to minimize every positive thing that Smith did during the preseason.

"one of the sacks was soft..."

"he's playing against backups..."

"it's only preseason..."

"I didn't notice him..."

"he's still getting snaps in the final preseason game..."

"The RB chipped him into the QB..."

Smith played in the preseason and played well. He's an edge rusher, not an ILB. He's not going to be involved in every play. I have no idea what the critics were expecting to see from him. A couple sacks and a couple pressures and 6 tackles on 67 snaps is not something to be "concerned" about.

"Production" vs eye test

I'm worried about Davis holding up more than anything. First 8 games in 2023 Jordan Davis is worth a 1st round pick.

10 hours ago, Random Reglar said:

How do you know Parris Campbell is a fast now or that Smith isn't faster since he was recovering from a leg injury when he ran his 40. 

27 minutes ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

So was linval Joseph and he was a cheap vet. 

Yes he was

Except for Carter, all the Georgia guys were at least a year away. Some - like Smith - were a year away from being a year away.

You aren't the greatest size adjusted athlete in combine history and go #13 because teams are dumb.

You don't lead a historic national championship defense, have elite college production at LB, and fall to the 3rd round because teams are dumb.

You don't run a 4.3something at edge, jump out of the gym, and have insane bend and go #31 because teams are dumb.

You aren't 6'1, 200 lbs at CB, run a 4.3something, and go in the 4th round because teams are dumb.

You bet on the toughness, the athleticism, the college pedigree. But none of these guys were slam dunks, and that was from day one.

Jordan Davis has flashed in-games in a way that Nolan Smith never has.

18 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

How do you know Parris Campbell is a fast now or that Smith isn't faster since he was recovering from a leg injury when he ran his 40. 

Dude, that’s what the chart says so you know it’s gotta be right. It’s the chart!

2 minutes ago, RLC said:

Jordan Davis has flashed in-games in a way that Nolan Smith never has.

Schwing!

41 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

Their words weren't that he's flashed more than Davis. I'm making that assumption based on what I've read, listened to and from the games watched. But so many of them have been very high on Thomas Booker. They aren't getting rid of Jordan Davis for Thomas Booker. I was just saying what I would prefer. Having Carter, Williams, Ojomo and Booker would give you four penetrating DT. I love that style of DT play. I want disruptive players with violent hands. I know in the Vic defense, they need someone to clog the middle and that's what Davis will do, which goes back to my initial post. A win for Jordan Davis this year is just being able to handle a bigger workload. It's a low bar.

Davis played five snaps.  Booker played a decent percentage in the PS.  The Beats started the PS pondering if the Eagles were light at DT and DE.  They thrilled at the signing of Hall.  A few of them have had Mustipher articles as a back up at NT (despite Vic saying in his "refreshingly honest” (BS for his response on certain players which was always something positive but…..) that to make the team a DT has to be versatile.  Then Booker did the best of the DTs that played in PS games so they are filling their mystic sixth DT with Booker. Booker didn’t outplay Davis.  Hell the only time the DTs hit anyone were on OL v DL sessions (and frankly most of the Beats have no clue whether that is a defense or offense oriented drill session or one where Moore and Vic are calling plays "against” each other.  And watch how Vic and Hurtt react to questions.  There will be a lot of "praise but….” responses.  

Immaculate Grid - Football.  All later Eagles.

9 hours ago, eagle45 said:

I still think the Eagles paid up for Dotson as an insurance policy above all else…the offense becomes very lopsided with a huge hole If Brown or Smith aren’t available.  It’ll be nice to have a WR3 who can catch a pass and move the chains…but I think they were actually comfortable with the Campbells and Quez’s of the world for that.  

Bechton needs to play well.  Failure isn’t really an option here.  Can’t mess with OL play.  The OL has some elevated injury risks across the board…and you might have heard….a new center.  So coming out of the gates with a RG liability isn’t an option.

Smith…the pass rush seems to be the concern du jour for the defense.  Honestly, every single component of the defense should be a concern.  Did we watch last year?  But they DO have multiple interesting bullets in the pass rush chamber (they always do).  They just don’t really have a great track record of drafting the right ones.  If you look at all eagles sacks from the last 20 years, I bet the percentage from drafted edge rushers is pretty low.  

I am not as concerned about Becton in terms of his play.  He needs to stay healthy so he can progress.  I think there will be times where he's not going to look great but I also think Stoutland and the rest of the line will be able to minimize putting him in a bad situation.   I also think there's enough depth behind him that the team will be OK if he's not a keeper. 

The coaching staff did not do Smith any favors last season. He got very limited playing time.  He should have been used more frequently as a pass rusher.   He's got plenty of raw ability.  He just needs to work on pash rushing skills. Pass rushers typically take time to develop.  

1 hour ago, bpac55 said:

Their words weren't that he's flashed more than Davis. I'm making that assumption based on what I've read, listened to and from the games watched. But so many of them have been very high on Thomas Booker. They aren't getting rid of Jordan Davis for Thomas Booker. I was just saying what I would prefer. Having Carter, Williams, Ojomo and Booker would give you four penetrating DT. I love that style of DT play. I want disruptive players with violent hands. I know in the Vic defense, they need someone to clog the middle and that's what Davis will do, which goes back to my initial post. A win for Jordan Davis this year is just being able to handle a bigger workload. It's a low bar.

I don't think Booker is playing the same position.  Tuipulotu and Mustipher were back up NT.  The reports were that Davis out played them.  I seem to remember that Davis had a very good joint practice.  

19 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Davis played five snaps.  Booker played a decent percentage in the PS.  The Beats started the PS pondering if the Eagles were light at DT and DE.  They thrilled at the signing of Hall.  A few of them have had Mustipher articles as a back up at NT (despite Vic saying in his "refreshingly honest” (BS for his response on certain players which was always something positive but…..) that to make the team a DT has to be versatile.  Then Booker did the best of the DTs that played in PS games so they are filling their mystic sixth DT with Booker. Booker didn’t outplay Davis.  Hell the only time the DTs hit anyone were on OL v DL sessions (and frankly most of the Beats have no clue whether that is a defense or offense oriented drill session or one where Moore and Vic are calling plays "against” each other.  And watch how Vic and Hurtt react to questions.  There will be a lot of "praise but….” responses.  

I was a fan of Booker last year and thought he was deserving of a spot then too. I think there's something to his game. Again, not suggesting he makes the team over Davis. I just think he can be a contributor. One of the reasons I think this is that I think Milton Williams is going to play himself in to a huge contract this year. Now, the Eagles have shown they pay DT but at the same time, if Booker and Ojomo continue to develop, could Ojomo take Williams roll down and Booker takes Ojomo's roll down the road. 

Way too much forward thinking on my end. 

13 hours ago, Random Reglar said:

next year there's a non guaranteed 13 Mil (I think) option bonus.  Most do not think he's getting that.   Keeping Bradberry on the roster (after not having to pay him another dollar, and all the rest of the positive cap implications) seems reasonable.   He didn't suck last year,  he was in the bad but not suck tier,  and he has been good.  He's like CB5 and S5,  and when he is playing, which might be rare, could be a game day inactive, he shouldn't be beat up, should be refreshed.   I would expect a low-mid 60s PFF from him in limited snaps.  He wouldn't be the problem. 

What are you talking about? Are you responding to the wrong person? I said we’re keeping him and June 1sting him next year, so you’re disagreeing by saying…. We’re keeping him and June 1sting him next year?

I wasn't able to watch any preseason games, just some highlights. in the past, seeing the starters get to play a series in one game, then a full quarter (or half) in another, gave a better sense of what to expect and built some excitement. One you were satisfied with seeing that, then you could move on to check out rookies and backups to see what depth they've got.

It changes the excitement for the week 1 regular season. I can't argue whether or not it's a good thing for rest and injuries, I don't know. I've seen people debate that stuff. I just hope the team isn't too rusty week 1, travelling out of the country, being in a new culture and the media distraction of that. Thankfully, it's only 1 hour time zone difference rather than going to Europe for the international game.

Obviously, the way last season ended you want to see how they've improved but other than "winning" practice it's hard to get a sense at this point.

4 minutes ago, NOTW said:

It changes the excitement for the week 1 regular season. I can't argue whether or not it's a good thing for rest and injuries, I don't know. I've seen people debate that stuff. I just hope the team isn't too rusty week 1,

They were very rusty last year in week 1

41 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Davis played five snaps.  Booker played a decent percentage in the PS.  The Beats started the PS pondering if the Eagles were light at DT and DE.  They thrilled at the signing of Hall.  A few of them have had Mustipher articles as a back up at NT (despite Vic saying in his "refreshingly honest” (BS for his response on certain players which was always something positive but…..) that to make the team a DT has to be versatile.  Then Booker did the best of the DTs that played in PS games so they are filling their mystic sixth DT with Booker. Booker didn’t outplay Davis.  Hell the only time the DTs hit anyone were on OL v DL sessions (and frankly most of the Beats have no clue whether that is a defense or offense oriented drill session or one where Moore and Vic are calling plays "against” each other.  And watch how Vic and Hurtt react to questions.  There will be a lot of "praise but….” responses.  

Booker and Ojoma were clearly the best of the backup DL. Tui just doesn't anchor well at NT, athletic but not as much as those two, so a bit of a tweener. Mustipher and Hall showed enough to stash on the PS, but I don't think they'll be claimed. Booker won't make it through waivers.