9 minutes ago, just relax said:

Since I missed almost all of the preseason games I must bow to your wisdom.

All the same, I have this weird notion that he could learn and get better. Oh, silly me!

He also thinks it's laughable that anyone questions that Dillon isn't a above average player.  

4 minutes ago, eaglestime34 said:

He also thinks it's laughable that anyone questions that Dillon isn't an above average player.  

 I think Mason is going to be a steal for the Vikes too. We seem infatuated with former niner RB's year after year who aren't even good, but then miss out on one who actually is. 

16 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

If you can spend a 1st round pick on a WR (typically have less than 10 touches) then you can do it for a RB too.

You can also trade a 1st rd pick for a WR like we did with Brown, or I suppose a RB like Jacobs that is probably the 2nd best RB in the NFL. Is that a good idea when you already have Barkley?

12 minutes ago, brkmsn said:

I couldn't care less about the draft pick. You pretend to know people, but you don't. I was high on Reed Blankenship after his rookie preseason. I wanted him to make the 53 at the time --- not to start or anything. I just liked what I saw from a rookie that preseason. He was undrafted. Same thing with McCollum. I didn't see him in the preseason as a rookie because he wasn't here. But he was added to the practice squad later and was elevated late in the season. When he had a chance to play, he played well. He followed that up with a strong preseason in 2024 where he deservingly made the team. Brown was a 3rd round pick and was given work ST work as a rookie and also was given some playing time to the tune of 335 defensive snaps. That's a good sample to get a feel for a young prospect. Unfortunately the late season injury and following rehab robbed him of an important preseason opportunity and I would agree that 2024 didn't make him look farther along, but at this point you just want to see a guy gaining confidence in his knee. He'll be entering a critical preseason in 2025. 

Personally, I'm not handing anybody the starting nod right now. I want to see the competition. I want to see growth. I don't care if a 3rd round pick wins the job, an undrafted guy wins the job or if a former 1st round pick reclamation project from another team wins the job. I'm not expecting the winner to be a pro bowl candidate. I just want somebody that helps the team win games by doing what he is asked to do. I understand why Brown was a day 2 prospect. I understand why McCollum wasn't drafted. I understand why Cine was on a practice squad in his 3rd year. But I also understand that development takes time and I believe in competition. 

 

We don't have time to give people on the job training and development through mistakes with starting positions since we are a SB contender. Why is that point so hard for your to grasp? If we were a rebuilding team, it would be perfectly fine to let Brown, McCollum, and Cine battle it out and see what you have. That is not the reality of the situation. Look no further than some of the other positions where young guys will have a chance to earn bigger roles, there are veteran fall back options in place in case they don't earn it. Uche and Huff at edge (Hunt), Robinson at CB (Ringo). There isn't a single player on the roster with any big time pedigree or starting experience at the safety position beyond Reed. There is a GIGANTIC black hole at the positions right now and anyone who denies that is a moron. If Brown or McCollum were to beat out a Justin Simmons, Julian Blackmon, etc, than great. Going into camp without adding to the safety position because Brown "might get better" when you are a SB contender is moronic though. Thankfully Howie agrees with me since he tried to get Justin Reid and I have no doubt he will add a safety between now and the draft.

Furthermore, you conveniently left out the fact that in those 335 snaps as a rookie Brown got toasted time and time again in coverage and missed a ton of tackles getting himself out of position and/or going for the big hit instead of wrapping up. He is undisciplined, reckless, and often times just plays stupid which is the exact opposite of what Fangio looks for in his players. Lastly, f the fact that he never beat out McCollum (who also sucks) for the 3rd safety spot last season doesn't throw up major red flags I don't know what will.You can't even bring a modicum of common sense to the table with this conversation. Your entire argument is that despite visual evidence on the field that proves otherwise, Brown and McCollum are decent players who "might get better."

31 minutes ago, just relax said:

Since I missed almost all of the preseason games I must bow to your wisdom.

All the same, I have this weird notion that he could learn and get better. Oh, silly me!

Possible and probable are two very different things

13 minutes ago, eaglestime34 said:

He also thinks it's laughable that anyone questions that Dillon isn't a above average player.  

Silly me, I go by this weird thing called facts. The facts show that Dillon is an above average RB in this league especially as a pure backup. Average or below average  backup RB's don't average 785 yards and 31 receptions in their second and third seasons in a split backfield.  The facts also show that in two years Brown has gotten torched time and time again in coverage, missed a ton of tackles due to being over aggressive and often times going for the big hit instead of wrapping up, and that he couldn't beat out another guy who struggles in coverage for the 3rd S spot in McCollum. That also creates another fact that Fangio didn't trust Brown enough to put him on the field and when he did in garbage time at the end of the SB guess what happened, he got torched for a deep TD.

13 minutes ago, eaglestime34 said:

He also thinks it's laughable that anyone questions that Dillon isn't a above average player.  

Silly me, I go by this weird thing called facts. The facts show that Dillon is an above average RB in this league especially as a pure backup. Average or below average  backup RB's don't average 785 yards and 31 receptions in their second and third seasons in a split backfield.  The facts also show that in two years Brown has gotten torched time and time again in coverage, missed a ton of tackles due to being over aggressive and often times going for the big hit instead of wrapping up, and that he couldn't beat out another guy who struggles in coverage for the 3rd S spot in McCollum. That also creates another fact that Fangio didn't trust Brown enough to put him on the field and when he did in garbage time at the end of the SB guess what happened, he got torched for a deep TD.

2 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

We don't have time to give people on the job training and development through mistakes with starting positions since we are a SB contender. Why is that point so hard for your to grasp? If we were a rebuilding team, it would be perfectly fine to let Brown, McCollum, and Cine battle it out and see what you have. That is not the reality of the situation. Look no further than some of the other positions where young guys will have a chance to earn bigger roles, there are veteran fall back options in place in case they don't earn it. Uche and Huff at edge (Hunt), Robinson at CB (Ringo). There isn't a single player on the roster with any big time pedigree or starting experience at the safety position. There is a GIGANTIC black hole at the positions right now and anyone who denies that is a moron. If Brown or McCollum were to beat out a Justin Simmons, Julian Blackmon, etc, than great. Going into camp without adding to the safety position because Brown "might get better" when you are a SB contender is moronic though. Thankfully Howie agrees with me since he tried to get Justin Reid and I have no doubt he will add a safety between now and the draft.

Furthermore, you conveniently left out the fact that in those 335 snaps as a rookie Brown got toasted time and time again in coverage and missed a ton of tackles getting himself out of position and/or going for the big hit instead of wrapping up. He is undisciplined, reckless, and often times just plays stupid which is the exact opposite of what Fangio looks for in his players. Lastly, f the fact that he never beat out McCollum (who also sucks) for the 3rd safety spot last season doesn't throw up major red flags I don't know what will.You can't even bring a modicum of common sense to the table with this conversation. Your entire argument is that despite visual evidence on the field that proves otherwise, Brown and McCollum are decent players who "might get better."

I just have a completely different perspective than you about the team's future. I don't see us as "win or bust" this year. I see a team under Howie that has it's eye on the "now" and on the future. In as much, he has to make decisions like getting rid of CJGJ which I probably wouldn't have. But since CJGJ is the current "bar," I'm not too worried about finding a replacement --- including within the group of guys we currently have. We absolutely have to develop players with an eye on the future. A team simply can't afford to have an experienced vet (that's worth anything) at every position just to make a fan that saw every pre-season and regular season snap feel good. If for some reason the Eagles don't draft a DB and roll with the guys we have into training camp and they all fail miserably, the Eagles will still have options to bring in help --- either by watching the waiver wire or by trading a pick. Don't be so dramatic. 

Just now, T-1000 said:

Silly me, I go by this weird thing called facts. The facts show that Dillon is an above average RB in this league especially as a pure backup. Average or below average  backup RB's don't average 785 yards and 31 receptions in their second and third seasons in a split backfield.  The facts also show that in two years Brown has gotten torched time and time again in coverage, missed a ton of tackles due to being over aggressive and often times going for the big hit instead of wrapping up, and that he couldn't beat out another guy who struggles in coverage for the 3rd S spot in McCollum. That also creates another fact that Fangio didn't trust Brown enough to put him on the field and when he did in garbage time at the end of the SB guess what happened, he got torched for a deep TD.

Thats opinion, not fact

1 minute ago, ToastJenkins said:

Possible and probable are two very different things

Yep, and the people in here defending Brown today don't seem to understand the difference. Either that or they think a guy who has been bad during his first two seasons in the NFL and couldn't even get the 3rd safety role will probably get better to the point of being an adequate starter on a SB contender.

Just now, T-1000 said:

Yep, and the people in here defending Brown today don't seem to understand the difference. Either that or they think a guy who has been bad during his first two seasons in the NFL and couldn't even get the 3rd safety role will probably get better to the point of being an adequate starter on a SB contender.

I have little faith in Brown. He plays dumb and out of control. Not what Fangio would seem to want

i have no idea what Cine may be at this point

Just now, ToastJenkins said:

I have little faith in Brown. He plays dumb and out of control. Not what Fangio would seem to want

i have no idea what Cine may be at this point

That might be why CJGJ isn't here anymore.

13 minutes ago, brkmsn said:

I just have a completely different perspective than you about the team's future. I don't see us as "win or bust" this year. 

I don't see us as "win or bust" next year either. That doesn't mean I am penciling in a guy for a starting spot who hasn't shown a single thing in two years to indicate that he is ready for that position. Like I said, if Brown beats out a veteran FA signing or early draft pick that would be a different story. Going into camp with Blankenship, Brown, McCollum, and Cine as the only safeties would be monumentally stupid.

14 minutes ago, brkmsn said:

That might be why CJGJ isn't here anymore.

Seems unrelated to me. CJ wanted a new deal

1 hour ago, HazletonEagle said:

If you can spend a 1st round pick on a WR (typically have less than 10 touches) then you can do it for a RB too.

No. It doesn’t work that way - and you should know better. 
 

When a RB averages 15 Yard Per Carry the same way a 1st round WR averages 15 Yards per catch - then maybe you can make that argument.  But since that’s never going to happen - it’s a nonsensical comparison. 

1 minute ago, ToastJenkins said:

Seems unrelated to me. CJ wanted a new deal

CJGJ wasn't exactly the most disciplined safety. He has a career missed tackle percentage of 12.4% largely because he opts for the big hits and sometimes whiffs altogether. He started 2024 rough, but I do think he played his best football in the 2nd half of the season and his playmaking helped fire up teammates. But his mouth cost us one regular season win.

 

But if his lack of discipline had nothing to do with the trade, then I doubt Fangio is all that concerned about Brown, who from all reports is very coachable. 

29 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

Silly me, I go by this weird thing called facts. The facts show that Dillon is an above average RB in this league especially as a pure backup. Average or below average  backup RB's don't average 785 yards and 31 receptions in their second and third seasons in a split backfield.  The facts also show that in two years Brown has gotten torched time and time again in coverage, missed a ton of tackles due to being over aggressive and often times going for the big hit instead of wrapping up, and that he couldn't beat out another guy who struggles in coverage for the 3rd S spot in McCollum. That also creates another fact that Fangio didn't trust Brown enough to put him on the field and when he did in garbage time at the end of the SB guess what happened, he got torched for a deep TD.

  His average pre carry isn't above average is it?  We understand your opinion is fact and everybody else that doesn't agree with you doesn't know anything.  Never said anything about Brown.  

After the Jihaad Campbell pipe dream faded, my new one is a trade down from 32 and selecting Xavier Watts. It would solidify the safety position. Just have a hunch Watts is going to be a beast at the next level. Let Brown and Cine compete with him for the job. He will school them both.

Go EDGE and DT depth in RD2 and RD3 as there will still be good Tier 2 players on the board. Bradyn Swinson, Princely U, Kyle Kennard, Jack Sawyer, Savion Williams at EDGE. Norman-Lott, Alexander, Caldwell to name a few at DT. The workout hero Ingram-Dawkins from Georgia is also an intriguing option.

16 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

I don't see us as "win or bust" next year either. That doesn't mean I am penciling in a guy for a starting spot who hasn't shown a single thing in two years to indicate that he is ready for that position. Like I said, if Brown beats out a veteran FA signing or early draft pick that would be a different story. Going into camp with Blankenship, Brown, McCollum, and Cine as the only safeties would be monumentally stupid.

Who said the Eagles should pencil Brown in as a starter? You just want to argue until people say he sucks and should drop out of the league. 

1 hour ago, T-1000 said:

And that is EXACTLY my point. I can point to reason after reason as to why I don't think he will get better and why I think he is a poor fit in Fangio's scheme. Meanwhile the only thing you and others defending him can say is "maybe he will get better."  Which to be fair you and others should be saying "maybe he will get a lot better" since he needs to go from a 4th safety who Vic couldn't trust to put on the field to a quality starter on a SB contender. This is a SB contending team and we can't afford to just throw people into starting positions who haven't shown they are ready without a legit backup plan because they "might get better."

Snapshot.

2 hours ago, ToastJenkins said:

Not unless Jeanty somehow was there. But he wont be

I agree he wont likely be there. But you’d agree we should probably take him, right?

1 minute ago, TEW said:

I agree he wont likely be there. But you’d agree we should probably take him, right?

If he were there at 32? Depends who else is there, but probably yea

Just now, ToastJenkins said:

If he were there at 32? Depends who else is there, but probably yea

Yeah, so I think it’s a matter of value. If you have two relatively equal players, then you look at what position helps you the most.

But if one guy is clearly the better prospect, then you go BPA.

31 minutes ago, Ace Nova said:

No. It doesn’t work that way - and you should know better. 
 

When a RB averages 15 Yard Per Carry the same way a 1st round WR averages 15 Yards per catch - then maybe you can make that argument.  But since that’s never going to happen - it’s a nonsensical comparison. 

You were the one who said 10 touches a game.  Now you're moving the goal posts to average yards per touch.

3 hours ago, Alphagrand said:

Even though the roles of FS and SS are more blurred than they were 15-20 years ago, I think the most important attributes for a safety are tackling well (taking proper angles) and ball skills (anticipation).

Just as we want the QB on offense to read and process as quickly as possible, the same ability translates to elite safety play, IMO.  A deep safety needs to be able to cover ground, and reading the QB/offense is just as important as foot speed.  You want a player who knows the difference between being "looked off” and when the QB is about to release the ball 

All of which are attributes at which Blankenship excels.