1 minute ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I think Anias Smith is probably the odd man out after the Metchie trade. The only problem is I have no idea what they would do at PR if Smith is cut as well as Avery Williams. I guess the plan could be to sneak Smith on the PS and elevate him for the games the first few weeks and see what roster spot opens up when he's out of elevations.

I just don't want to see DeJean back there.

I think Dotson can return punts

1 minute ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I think Anias Smith is probably the odd man out after the Metchie trade. The only problem is I have no idea what they would do at PR if Smith is cut as well as Avery Williams. I guess the plan could be to sneak Smith on the PS and elevate him for the games the first few weeks and see what roster spot opens up when he's out of elevations.

I just don't want to see DeJean back there.

Do you think they'd have to sneak him onto the PS? I'm not sure he's ever shown enough to get claimed.

5 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I think Anias Smith is probably the odd man out after the Metchie trade. The only problem is I have no idea what they would do at PR if Smith is cut as well as Avery Williams. I guess the plan could be to sneak Smith on the PS and elevate him for the games the first few weeks and see what roster spot opens up when he's out of elevations.

I just don't want to see DeJean back there.

I think Dotson is the odd man out when he gets traded for CB2.

Fangio may go by committee, depending on opponent if Bennett is best man guy but not as good in zone.

But what we see in open practices/exhibition games may be limited as I'd expect installs for zone packages used in games would be mostly behind the scenes.

If Bennett, maybe man coverage underneath, if Ringo more pure zone, etc.

What we don't know is what Slay has left or Rodgers has period, when Rodgers went in last year QBs tended to target him with some success. It's not like he's guaranteed better than those in camp. And Slay definitely slipped last season, and probably some more this year.

Question is was any upgrade available at CB who'd bring more value on the margin than paying Baun $17M?

Because Howie knew he was losing 5 starters, the only question was which starters.

5 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

I think Dotson can return punts

He's played 6 ST snaps in his career and hasn't done it at the NFL level. Even in college he only had 25 returns. He's done it a little during this camp but it still feels like not a great option.

9 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I think Anias Smith is probably the odd man out after the Metchie trade. The only problem is I have no idea what they would do at PR if Smith is cut as well as Avery Williams. I guess the plan could be to sneak Smith on the PS and elevate him for the games the first few weeks and see what roster spot opens up when he's out of elevations.

I just don't want to see DeJean back there.

More than even CB2, punt returner has been my hot button this preseason.

Maybe they have a plan (Dotson?) that I don’t know about, but I’ll be pretty irritated if they put Dejean back out there.

9 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

Do you think they'd have to sneak him onto the PS? I'm not sure he's ever shown enough to get claimed.

I just meant cut him and hope he clears waivers. Not necessarily do anything special that other teams won't notice.

12 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

Of all of the people who cover the team nobody overrates the "Nasty Nates" of the world more than Bo. Cooper will be lucky to make the team and he sure as hell isn't going to end up above Wilson or Metchie on the depth chart.

I don't think he will be "lucky" to make the team, I think he's basically a lock at this point. He's practicing with the 1's now on both offense and special teams and the other WRs are not. Pretty telling. And Bo isn't alone on his Cooper love. It's pretty consensus. Every beat guy has raved about him. Seems like this might actually be a legit find this time.

Also as a side note, Ringo didn't practice with the 1's today at all according to McLane.

Does Metchie return punts?

Just now, Sack that QB said:

I don't think he will be "lucky" to make the team, I think he's basically a lock at this point. He's practicing with the 1's now on both offense and special teams and the other WRs are not. Pretty telling.

Also as a side note, Ringo didn't practice with the 1's today at all according to McLane.

Lucky might be harsh but I don't think he's a lock. It's going to come down he and Smith, and I would imagine they will try to get the other on the PS.

Ringo is pretty much done it appears. Howie is obviously awesome at his job but he really messed up banking on him and letting Slay and Rodgers go, and passing on the opportunity to try to sign Alexander.

2 minutes ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

Does Metchie return punts?

No

Just now, T-1000 said:

Lucky might be harsh but I don't think he's a lock. It's going to come down he and Smith, and I would imagine they will try to get the other on the PS.

Ringo is pretty much done it appears. Howie is obviously awesome at his job but he really messed up banking on him and letting Slay and Rodgers go, and passing on the opportunity to try to sign Alexander.

Slay had to go imo. I didn’t want to see a repeat of 2017 where they rewarded too many vets past their prime. It was best to get rid of him a year early rather than a year late.

Was hoping they’d keep Rodgers but he’s probably only a marginal upgrade over Jackson and they clearly expected Ringo to be better.

3 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

No

They need to teach his ass to do it

I think DeJean will return punts. He’s a football player. DJax returned kicks. This notion that you can’t use a starter in a play where they touch the ball for impact is lame

5 minutes ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

Slay had to go imo. I didn’t want to see a repeat of 2017 where they rewarded too many vets past their prime. It was best to get rid of him a year early rather than a year late.

Was hoping they’d keep Rodgers but he’s probably only a marginal upgrade over Jackson and they clearly expected Ringo to be better.

I thought that way too, and then camp happened. I was a Ringo truther and dang was I wrong. Jackson looks borderline cooked to me. Dude plays extremely far off and doesn't have the speed he once had to close.

I would overhaul the position before the season starts. I would cut Jackson and I would ask around and see if there is any team out there dumb enough to give up anything for Ringo. If there isn't a trade to be made I would just sign Gilmore or Douglas who can't possibly be any worse those Jackson and Ringo. If all things remain equal I would start Bennett who after being here for a whopping week was clearly the best of the bunch on Saturday.

1 minute ago, pgcd3 said:

I think DeJean will return punts. He’s a football player. DJax returned kicks. This notion that you can’t use a starter in a play where they touch the ball for impact is lame

Considering the issues we already have in the secondary that would be downright stupid.

36 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I think Anias Smith is probably the odd man out after the Metchie trade. The only problem is I have no idea what they would do at PR if Smith is cut as well as Avery Williams. I guess the plan could be to sneak Smith on the PS and elevate him for the games the first few weeks and see what roster spot opens up when he's out of elevations.

I just don't want to see DeJean back there.

You can't trust A. Smith to field punts. Keeping Smith to be a PR is like keeping Kylen Granson to be an in-line blocker.

16 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

I think DeJean will return punts. He’s a football player. DJax returned kicks. This notion that you can’t use a starter in a play where they touch the ball for impact is lame

This. Absolutely this. If there is someone better than Coop, the fine. But it looks like there probably isn’t. So let him fair catch three or four balls a game and trust him to not put himself in harm’s way on the few he does return.

3 minutes ago, Saltpeter said:

You can't trust A. Smith to field punts. Keeping Smith to be a PR is like keeping Kylen Granson to be an in-line blocker.

Ainias Smith has 2 TDs, a long PR and has secured the ball on all other occasions. He's WR5 and the PR/KR. I know he's not liked by the majority here, but he' improved his game from his rookie year and he offers the Eagles a slot WR and return man in one package. Saves a roster spot. He might not be flashy, but he's produced so far in the 2 games this year when the ball has been thrown his way. Not much more you can ask for.

1 minute ago, bpac55 said:

Ainias Smith has 2 TDs, a long PR and has secured the ball on all other occasions. He's WR5 and the PR/KR. I know he's not liked by the majority here, but he' improved his game from his rookie year and he offers the Eagles a slot WR and return man in one package. Saves a roster spot. He might not be flashy, but he's produced so far in the 2 games this year when the ball has been thrown his way. Not much more you can ask for.

Yep, this.

Meh, Ainias will make it to the PS - if not, Moron will - he has plenty of PR experience.

41 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

No

What happened to the guy they signed who was supposed to play RB and everything else? Didn't he return kicks for Atlanta?

30 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

I think DeJean will return punts. He’s a football player. DJax returned kicks. This notion that you can’t use a starter in a play where they touch the ball for impact is lame

It's becoming clear that Fangio intends on DeJean playing 100% or close to it of the defensive snaps this year. I don't think it is at all reasonable to have him return punts as well.

I don't get why they can't cross train guys like Shipley to do punt returns when they do kick returns.

Mac McWilliams didn't do a lot of punt returns in college but he did do some so maybe that's an option. Dotson another guy. Hasn't returned any punts in the NFL but did do it in college and more so than McWilliams.

3 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

What happened to the guy they signed who was supposed to play RB and everything else? Didn't he return kicks for Atlanta?

Avery Williams. Haven't heard a thing about him from camp.

Big news