57 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

 

Eagles...

51 minutes ago, jsb235 said:

Who plays outside if Brown or Smith gets hurt and you have cut Parker to keep Covey? Is it really so easy to pluck a vet off the street? 

Parker can easily get to the PS, if it comes down to it and can be elevated as needed.   It's not about Covey vs. Parker.  

Cooper DeJean has a future career in diplomacy when his playing days are done.  Kenny Gainwell might want to speak with him for advice.  He did confirm, though, that the Eagles talked to him about all 3 secondary positions during their pre-draft discussions:

 

 

7 hours ago, Cochis_Calhoun said:

I think you're all worrying about the wrong side of the ball, as you say last year we carried 6 DE's and 7 DT's, as of right now our 90 man roster only has 9 DE/OLB and 8 DT's and 2 of both groups are either UDFA or signings off practise squads and one of the OLB's is Hunt who's a project.

There has to be a move coming for d-line right?  To bring in more top competition if nothing else, at the moment it's at least 7-1 you get cut if you're a DT on the roster.

 

 I don't think that DTs play much on special teams, not compared to LBs.  The Eagles have a lot of LBs.  OLB/edge,  ILB.  Also DBs,  a lot of them.   There is a long list there.  Many of those guys are fast,  many have played well at both defense and offense.   Physically capable of playing special teams.  

Last year,  all the DTs were good.  All were top 1/4 PFF.   The discussion took place here before the draft about the general question of "what to do to replace Cox's snaps".   And the general consensus was something like "what,  do you want to use a first round pick,  yet again,  on a DT"  And "just use the players we have,  give them more snaps."  And Ojomo.  and some other players who got some snaps last year.  it'll be fine.  That was the consensus.   I was pushing forward, as one possible option,  T'V Sweat,  didn't get him. 

Maybe Fangio wants a slightly smaller, faster defense.  Maybe he wants the edges to be able to cover more often.  Because that,  there are more LBs on the roster.

The massive Becton can play DT if he isn't playing OT.  Maybe.  Some teams have massive DTs who can't do all that much except plug up space.  Those huge players are typically not criticized for not doing any sacking.  Sure Becton won't probably play DT,  but there's your guy for that role you're looking for.  Guy to talk about playing DT, clogging up the middle.  It's not that the Eagles aren't set there,  but people want to have more names to talk about.  Last year,  the DTs were good, the best part of the defense.   Then the edges,  also good.  The LBs and the Ss were mid,  and the CBs were bad.   The Eagles recognized this and brought in 2 top picks at DB.   There isn't any real strong need to bring in a new DT. 

I can go onto the Eagles roster page, and find names of DTs who aren't Carter Davis Williams (and Ojomo).   Here you go.  

Thomas Booker IV
Gabe Hall
PJ Mustipher
Marlon Tuipulotu

There are 8 players for 2, sometimes 3, spots. 

Last year,  Carter Davis Williams Tuipulotu Ojomo had snaps on defense and are with the Eagles this year.  Cox and Street had snaps and are gone.   So,  Booker, Hall, Mustipher - 2 of those 3 will likely replace Cox and Street.   Ojomo has very few snaps last year,  is roughly the same size as Cox, and had a solid PFF.    Milton Williams,  with 70.4,  was 32/130.  Top 1/4.   Ojomo had 67.9.  Don't know where that places exactly,  but I think it's above average.  Mario Edwards Jr had a PFF of 68.0,  and he was 39/130,  so Ojomo was definitely above average.  Same basic size as Cox,  above average in limited snaps.  I'd say Ojomo should get a good chunk of Cox's snaps.  That's all fine. 

6 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

 

Van Ginkel is Baun. Baun is Van Ginkel. 

1 hour ago, ManuManu said:

 

Not surprised by this. Nick is charmin soft. Wish he would’ve got canned

44 minutes ago, just relax said:

Not entirely. You can protect four players from the PS, so that's 57, not just the 46 active. You can also pay PS players more than the required minimum, even a full active player salary, to keep them from jumping ship. The PS members are free agents, meaning that they are free to stay with a team even if another team puts in a claim.

With the new KO rules the RS - NOT just the PR - but both is a significantly more valuable position. He'll have 10 plays or so a game rather than the 4-5 punts. That's a lot, considering that guys like Brown and Smith get maybe that many targets each per game. I expect that of the two deep guys on KOs that one of them will be the primary blocker and the other the primary return guy. Wilson would be my guess for the blocker and Ainias Smith for the primary returner. I see Covey as having one foot out the door and the other on a banana peel. He does not play coverage teams and with the new rules a PS ONLY is half as valuable as he was last season. 

If he's with the Eagles this year I expect him to spend a good amount of time on the PS>

The ones on the PS still have to go through waivers to get to the PS, unless they are a vested vet.   PS members are NOT free agents until they pass through waivers.  Once they are on the PS, then you are correct they have the right to refuse to sign with any team.  But, it is a rare thing for a player to turn down a roster spot with another team versus sitting on a PS.   PS status, last I checked, doesn't equate to pension service time, whereas sitting on a roster does.  Sitting on a PS also doesn't count towards vested status either, as far as I know.  So, there are reasons for players to much rather be on a roster than on a PS.  

 

But, all of this misses the point I was making.  On Gameday you get 46 uniforms to distribute.  No more, no less.   Giving one to a uni-tasker limits flexibility in other areas.  And that's the rub.  Covey, as a one trick pony, being on the PS or the roster is far less important than whether or not he's one of the 46 that dresses.  But, I did hear that once upon a time he played QB, so he could be the #3QB too!  

 

BVS might be a backup LB, but dude is jacked. Gainwell's upper body looks significantly bigger. They may have lost Boston Scott, but Bryce Huff is doing his best to keep his likeliness around. Good to see Sidney Brown surrounded by the team during rehab. Looks like Jalen Carter, Cam Jurgens and Jordan Davis are at the heart of this. Small observation but that next young core of leaders stepping up would be terrific. 

 

They probably will blitz Devin White quite a bit too. I've always felt Baun and White are guys who will supplement some sack production in case Bryce Huff doesn't quite measure up to Reddick's production.

1 hour ago, Alphagrand said:

Everything Jackson did (and didn't do) in his second Eagles stint validated Chip's decision to get rid of him, more than anything Kelly could say himself.  

Him getting hurt at the age of like 45 validated chip getting rid of him?

Thats an odd take...

Desean was cooked when he came back, his hammies couldnt keep up anymore.

When chip got rid of him he was coming off a career year.

Was one of the stupidest personnel decisions in recent memory.

Every thing chip did afterwards invalidates everything  he said about desean.

1 hour ago, just relax said:

Not entirely. You can protect four players from the PS, so that's 57, not just the 46 active. You can also pay PS players more than the required minimum, even a full active player salary, to keep them from jumping ship. The PS members are free agents, meaning that they are free to stay with a team even if another team puts in a claim.

With the new KO rules the RS - NOT just the PR - but both is a significantly more valuable position. He'll have 10 plays or so a game rather than the 4-5 punts. That's a lot, considering that guys like Brown and Smith get maybe that many targets each per game. I expect that of the two deep guys on KOs that one of them will be the primary blocker and the other the primary return guy. Wilson would be my guess for the blocker and Ainias Smith for the primary returner. I see Covey as having one foot out the door and the other on a banana peel. He does not play coverage teams and with the new rules a PS ONLY is half as valuable as he was last season. 

If he's with the Eagles this year I expect him to spend a good amount of time on the PS>

IF you take the mystery box,  you might get a boat

33 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

How many injuries have occurred to top punt returners?   I don't remember a lot of times where Devin Hester or Brian Mitchell got blown up and injured.  And if its a non-contact injury... those can happen at any time, even practice.   There's inherent risk just in stepping on the field.  This team is far too injury adverse.  Let them play.

Why even risk it? It's silly when when you have comparable talent for the job is the point.

2 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

IF you take the mystery box,  you might get a boat

It could even be a boat! You know how much we've always wanted one of those! We'll take the box.

2 hours ago, ManuManu said:

I don’t think as currently constructed the Eagles would have to make a difficult cut to keep Covey on the 53 and active on game day. 

I can’t see a 53 with five 170 pound players on it. (D. Smith, Covey and A. Smith of the receivers and Isiah Rodgers and Shon Stephens of the CBs) plus three CBs in the 180s, Maddox, Goodrich and Ricks.  Seven of those have to contribute to STs to make the team.  Now, there is a good chance no more than one of those CBs make the 53.  D. Smith is going nowhere and really shouldn’t be playing STs and plays bigger than his size.  But do you keep six WRs on the 53?  So arguably Smith and Covey are competing for the same spot.  Personally I think the PR has to show he can be the second KOR but I also think that player has to show value at their designated position too.  There the slightly bigger/taller A Smith may have an advantage.  Arguably A Smith offers more potential on offense than Covey, if he is healthy.  

Funny that this offseason we are revisiting Covey, after a pretty successful year for him as a PR.  Rather be discussing who might be WR5 and contributing on STs than whether the rookie can play at LT or another at C like our friends in Jerruh World. 

22 hours ago, Random Reglar said:

There were a good number of WR who were at least 6'3+  220+ and 4.52.   There was a grouping there,  not many, but many got pro bowl.

Wilson is tall,  Not Harold Carmichael tall,  but definitely tall.

What Wilson has that is rare compared to other big WRs  is that great shuttle of 4.11.   Putting him at 8.86 ras,  for all WRs,  even the short ones.   Dez Bryant had a 4.46 in the shuttle,  a 1.99 ras for WRs.  It's a little more typical for the heavier WRs to have not so good shuttles and 3 cones and 40 times. 
 

RAS is another made up scoring system that has little to do with football and more to do with athletic ability in general. Josh McCown had a 9.98 and Joe webb had a 9.99 they were both dog **** as starters. 

Also, Wilson's weaknesses have been identified as poor footwork / releases and bad at catching the football consistently. He's a 6th rounder because he's viewed as a project...if he was any good he wouldn't have made it past round 4

 

15 hours ago, pgcd3 said:

I could see Covey get traded for a late pick at some point in camp

I too can see that as a possibility.

14 hours ago, Random Reglar said:

I don't see the Eagles wanting to downgrade the punt returns for no reason as much as you do.

It would only happen if Howie and Nick and Clay felt they had PR more than covered with the other players.

24 minutes ago, Eriv20 said:

Not surprised by this. Nick is charmin soft. Wish he would’ve got canned

Fangio did fail as a HC, so probably it's a good thing Nick doesn't do everything he asks for. 

Not saying the Eagles couldn't have a few more practices, but it's important to keep a good balance to avoid injuries. The Eagles have had very few major injuries over the past 3 years, I guess Nick is doing something right in that regard (and they've reached the playoffs every single year despite him being "charmin" soft).

10 hours ago, Cochis_Calhoun said:

Covey puts up good numbers but eye test he gets exactly what the coverage team gets him, he's never looked like a special returner who's always a risk to run one back to the house.

What you are not considering is the difference that the greatly improved quality of today's NFL punters makes.  The kind of "special punt returner" that you remember from years past had much less hang time and much more open space to deal with than today's punt returners have.

2 hours ago, Iggles_Phan said:

That's what I think it really comes down to.  The piece that we don't seem to have this year, that we had in other years is as much positional versatility amongst the backup OL.

Let's assume the starters are set and Steen is the RG.

Who are the backups?   Do we have a swing OT that can play both sides?  Or, is it a situation with Fred Johnson as the primary LT backup, and Becton as the RT?   Is Becton able to play the left side after the knee injury?   The Jets flipped him to RT after that.  What was the reasoning?

Who is the interior backup?   Hennessey seems to be the guy... but I think we need 8 OL dressed, MINIMUM, and might need 9.  

Top 5, Johnson for LT, Becton for RT, Hennessy for OG/C... and then maybe one of the interior rookies as a JIC.

9 is more than last year as I think they generally only had 7 or 8 OL dressed most weeks.   I'd be happy to hear if that's true or not, but that's what I seem to remember.

The 8th active OL is free so having 8 active is a no brainer.  Long time between May and September to see who shows the greatest scholarship at Stoutland University. 

10 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

IF you take the mystery box,  you might get a boat

 

32 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

BVS might be a backup LB, but dude is jacked. Gainwell's upper body looks significantly bigger. They may have lost Boston Scott, but Bryce Huff is doing his best to keep his likeliness around. Good to see Sidney Brown surrounded by the team during rehab. Looks like Jalen Carter, Cam Jurgens and Jordan Davis are at the heart of this. Small observation but that next young core of leaders stepping up would be terrific. 

 

Is that Huff on the right ? I thought he'd win for sure, looked like he was just hanging in the park from the look on his face.

7 hours ago, bpac55 said:

It's not a coincidence they drafted guys with both PR and KR ability.

Actually, I think it is a coincidence.

I don't know much about ST's but just from what they have shown how the kickoffs would likely look, it seems KR will be better suited with a shifty, quick returner than someone that has breakaway, straight line speed. I honestly don't know why they would even bother with having separate PR/KR players this year. Covey could and probably should just handle both which might help him stick around. 

27 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

They probably will blitz Devin White quite a bit too. I've always felt Baun and White are guys who will supplement some sack production in case Bryce Huff doesn't quite measure up to Reddick's production.

It's not just production, blitzing LBs through the A gap on a regular basis also means when they fake that blitz, the OL will react b/c the threat is real

Same reason he wants OLBs who are credible in coverage, if the QB has to look for the LB before making that sideline throw . . . .

It's part of Fangio's MO, don't be so predictable that the offense knows what's coming, make them hesitate a second after the snap, both the QB trying to read the secondary and the lineman trying to figure out their blocking assignments. That hesitation can give your guys a step, and keep the offense off balanced.