16 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

There's a lot more dead wood than Mills, much more expensive and oft-injured.  Mills at least gets on and stays on the field.  

I think there are DCs out there who can utilize Mills. He can cover in short areas, and play the run well. 

We have seen guys with limited athleticism go to other teams and have success at safety. Chung, and Coleman. 

26 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Sure.   And each player needs to be evaluated based on his talent, not his school.   But, you are going back a ways to find decent players from UNC.  

Julius Peppers and Ryan Sims were top 5 picks, I think... but nearly 20 years ago.     Means was 25 years ago.  Parker was over 15.   

 

But, they each need to be evaluated on their own merit.  Mississippi Valley St wasn't exactly a hot-bed for NFL talent, but produced Jerry Rice.

Oh I know, I'm in no way arguing that UNC is producing studs.  I just think both Javonte Williams and Michael Carter are both very nice backs regardless of the school.

1 minute ago, bpac55 said:

How much cohesion has the back 4 had?  Defensive backfields are like offensive lines.  They need to play together to play their best.  Do you think Mills had any confidence in whoever was lining up at CB2 or in the slot?  Your safeties need to trust the corners are doing their jobs so they can play the middle of the field or up near the line.  Mills also had to bounce around different positions all year.  He hardly played piss poor when at safety.  

Strong Safety/Free Safety is a thing of the past.  I'd rather rely on Mills and Wallace with Epps backing them up than Wallace and 31 year old McCleod coming off a torn ACL.

I'm not saying Mills is the savior at safety but give him a solid CB2, LeBlanc in the slot along with Slay and whoever the other safety is and I guarantee you he plays better and is the least of our worries.  You mentioned impact plays, he has 100 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 1 int.  Nothing to brag about at all but who else on the Eagles has?  You want Rodney back there?  He has just as many INT's and one less forced fumble.  

Wallace has shown nothing this year to give me any confidence he can produce moving forward.  In no way should he be guaranteed a spot.  I want MIlls/Epps/Wallace a mid-round rookie and McCleod on PUP.  Let the UDFA from this year battle it out again.

Even if you believe Mills was an average safety, how much do you want to pay Mills?  He was $4M this season, and he believes he’s a Pro Bowl candidate apparently, I was told he tweeted.

8 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

Discussion about drafting a RB early when we have tons of holes in more important areas.  Where have I read that before?  Some things never change.  

I agree there are more important needs throughout the team.

But having a nice 1-2 combo at RB would help the team tremendously. That's assuming we have a different HC.  If Doug is still here then forgot it. 

 

4 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

I don't disagree at all.  I just don't see a 1st or 2nd round pick as being a sound investment.  But, I'll also say that Etienne is very similar to Sanders.  It would be good to have more of a complement to his style.    Though Etienne is absolutely a talented back.

1st definitely not.  2nd maybe but with all the needs on the team its unlikely.  3rd and beyond I can see a RB taken.

Them taking a RB in the 2nd would hopefully signal a change in philosophy and more of a commitment to run the ball.  But i dont see it.

1 minute ago, Alphagrand said:

Even if you believe Mills was an average safety, how much do you want to pay Mills?  He was $4M this season, and he believes he’s a Pro Bowl candidate apparently, I was told he tweeted.

Guess we will find out.  I don't know what his value is going to be this year.  He was finally moved to safety, his better position, and he had trash around him.  Then he had to move to corner numerous times.  The guy does everything he's asked, doesn't complain, is becoming a leader in the locker room and IMO, his best football is still ahead of him.  Like I said, give him an average CB2...just average, and you'll see Mills play better. 

CB2 this year was played by the following players:

Avonte Maddox

Michael Jaquet

Kevon Seymour

Trevor Williams 

Craig James

Sorry, that's just unacceptable.  Plus you had NRC, probably playing his worst year as a pro in the slot.  Again, Mills is the least of their concerns.  You find a way to bring him back. 

8 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

I think there are DCs out there who can utilize Mills. He can cover in short areas, and play the run well. 

We have seen guys with limited athleticism go to other teams and have success at safety. Chung, and Coleman. 

He was a FA this past offseason and I dont think got any offers.  If there are DCs out there that can utilize Mills they didnt jump at the chance to get him.

I know some like him and some dont.  I'm just not a fan.  He has all the qualities you want as far as confidence and not letting a bad play affect him but he just doesnt have the skills imo.

1 minute ago, 315Eagles said:

He was a FA this past offseason and I dont think got any offers.  If there are DCs out there that can utilize Mills they didnt jump at the chance to get him.

I know some like him and some dont.  I'm just not a fan.  He has all the qualities you want as far as confidence and not letting a bad play affect him but he just doesnt have the skills imo.

Are we talking at CB or S?  I'm sure there are some out there but I can't think of any outlandishly bad plays he made while he was lined up at safety.  Meanwhile I can remember plenty of plays with Rodney McCleod trailing a WR giving up bigger plays but he is touted as untouchable for some reason.  When Mills lines up at CB is when you see him play bad.  

Again, give him a solid CB2 and keep him at safety for 16 games and he will be fine.

1 hour ago, eagle45 said:

The fact that Epps has been dominating the snap count over Wallace makes me think everyone might want to temper those Wallace expectations.

I would’ve agreed with this in past years but .... Schwartz 

8 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

Wouldn’t matter behind a crap O-line.    Drafting another RB that high would be a dumb idea.  RB can be had later.  They have short shelf lives.  You figure it out later.  You can’t "figure out” the O line or secondary later.   Don’t we know that.   

You can also find CB and O-line later too.  They can easily draft an O-lineman or CB in rounds 1-2 and they end up being a waste.  We know that as well.

Honestly I dont care if it's in the draft or FA but you need a compliment to Sanders.

13 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

Guess we will find out.  I don't know what his value is going to be this year.  He was finally moved to safety, his better position, and he had trash around him.  Then he had to move to corner numerous times.  The guy does everything he's asked, doesn't complain, is becoming a leader in the locker room and IMO, his best football is still ahead of him.  Like I said, give him an average CB2...just average, and you'll see Mills play better. 

CB2 this year was played by the following players:

Avonte Maddox

Michael Jaquet

Kevon Seymour

Trevor Williams 

Craig James

Sorry, that's just unacceptable.  Plus you had NRC, probably playing his worst year as a pro in the slot.  Again, Mills is the least of their concerns.  You find a way to bring him back. 

Avonte Maddox is the guy they chose over Darby, Douglas and Jones. Maybe Schwartz can figure out something for a change. He’s had a ton of guys and all anybody says is "that guy sucks” ... all I’m saying is maybe it ain’t just the Corner.

13 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

 This team needs to be rebuilt from scratch.  You do that on the lines and secondary.  Not running backs, wide receivers or tight ends (like others have suggested).  Any new GM or coach would be wise to go that direction.  Drafting a RB high only suggest you think you have a good foundation set.  Which we clearly don’t.  

I agree with you in principle, but with the Eagles having no money to spend in free agency as it stands now, the roster building will need to be done entirely through the draft — and there are only so many draft picks.

The Eagles are contractually tied to Lane Johnson through 2023, and Brandon Brooks through 2022.  Kelce likely plays one more year to the end of his current deal, then retires. That tells me the OL for 2021 is Johnson-Brooks-Kelce-Seumalo-Dillard (Mailata).  Mailata, Driscoll, Herbig all look like viable backups.  There is likely a spot open at C/G for 2022 depending what happens with Seumalo, and Driscoll’s development.  I wouldn’t look at drafting an OL player before Round 3, unless Sewell is still on the board (doubtful).

Secondary needs a coaching and philosophical change even more than a talent infusion.  Mills, Jones, Douglas, Maddox have all been drafted by this current regime and none have succeeded.  NRC has played like junk.  They’re only getting solid play out of Slay and McLeod because they were already very good players before they came here.  I’m not opposed to drafting Surtain or Farley in the first round, but what will they play like with the current coaching staff?

To me, I see the maximum value in this draft class as WR Round 1, CB/S in Round 2, and S/LB in Round 3

6 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

I agree with you in principle, but with the Eagles having no money to spend in free agency as it stands now, the roster building will need to be done entirely through the draft — and there are only so many draft picks.

The Eagles are contractually tied to Lane Johnson through 2023, and Brandon Brooks through 2022.  Kelce likely plays one more year to the end of his current deal, then retires. That tells me the OL for 2021 is Johnson-Brooks-Kelce-Seumalo-Dillard (Mailata).  Mailata, Driscoll, Herbig all look like viable backups.  There is likely a spot open at C/G for 2022 depending what happens with Seumalo, and Driscoll’s development.  I wouldn’t look at drafting an OL player before Round 3, unless Sewell is still on the board (doubtful).

Secondary needs a coaching and philosophical change even more than a talent infusion.  Mills, Jones, Douglas, Maddox have all been drafted by this current regime and none have succeeded.  NRC has played like junk.  They’re only getting solid play out of Slay and McLeod because they were already very good players before they came here.  I’m not opposed to drafting Surtain or Farley in the first round, but what will they play like with the current coaching staff?

To me, I see the maximum value in this draft class as WR Round 1, CB/S in Round 2, and S/LB in Round 3

I really think you're 100% correct on this.  I hate the way the secondary plays.  Seems like they are never in good positions.

23 minutes ago, 315Eagles said:

He was a FA this past offseason and I dont think got any offers.  If there are DCs out there that can utilize Mills they didnt jump at the chance to get him.

I know some like him and some dont.  I'm just not a fan.  He has all the qualities you want as far as confidence and not letting a bad play affect him but he just doesnt have the skills imo.

Mills doesn’t have the foot speed and doesn’t have the football sense.  The only reason he hasn’t been exposed as a liability the way he was at CB is how Schwartz uses the box safety in his scheme.  Jenkins made the defense better near the LOS, but when did you ever see Jenkins break up a pass downfield or help over the top when the CB was beaten?  You didn’t, because he played in or near the box.  Schwartz uses Mills the same way.

Kenneth Gainwell is another excellent back. I didnt realize he was draft eligible. Apparently hes a redshirt sophomore. 

24 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

Are we talking at CB or S?  I'm sure there are some out there but I can't think of any outlandishly bad plays he made while he was lined up at safety.  Meanwhile I can remember plenty of plays with Rodney McCleod trailing a WR giving up bigger plays but he is touted as untouchable for some reason.  When Mills lines up at CB is when you see him play bad.  

Again, give him a solid CB2 and keep him at safety for 16 games and he will be fine.

It seems like that happens too often where a safety is trailing on a big yardage play.  Then someone is looking around wondering where their help was.  Same with CBs giving up big plays.  They're looking around wondering where their help was.

Seems like guys in the secondary get confused too often about where they are supposed to be.  Remember a couple years ago Malcolm Jenkins asked Schwartz to simplify things at halftime of a NYG game because they were getting beat.

 

Didnt know Jahan Dotson was draft eligible either. What a baller he turned out to be for PSU. Hes a redshirt junior, never heard of him till this year. 

1 minute ago, LeanMeanGM said:

 

As it should be

6 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

Mills doesn’t have the foot speed and doesn’t have the football sense.  The only reason he hasn’t been exposed as a liability the way he was at CB is how Schwartz uses the box safety in his scheme.  Jenkins made the defense better near the LOS, but when did you ever see Jenkins break up a pass downfield or help over the top when the CB was beaten?  You didn’t, because he played in or near the box.  Schwartz uses Mills the same way.

Jenkins did break up some passes but like you said they were short throws within 10 yards of the LOS.  Nothing really downfield.

24 minutes ago, Casey @ Bat said:

Avonte Maddox is the guy they chose over Darby, Douglas and Jones. Maybe Schwartz can figure out something for a change. He’s had a ton of guys and all anybody says is "that guy sucks” ... all I’m saying is maybe it ain’t just the Corner.

Not arguing that.  Maddox has no business whatsoever at CB2 however.  He never once projected as an outside corner.  He's a slot corner who played well as a safety his rookie year.  He's been injured a ton now too.  

If Maddox has a starting position on this team next year we are in trouble. 

1 hour ago, RLC said:

The fact that this team constantly promotes veterans, it says little about Wallace

Epps is in his second year, so he’s hardly a vet. 

8 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

Kenneth Gainwell is another excellent back. I didnt realize he was draft eligible. Apparently hes a redshirt sophomore. 

I think he declared already after opting out, no?

13 hours ago, Iggles_Phan said:

 

 

Najee Harris is likely the best option, but would take the 2nd round pick.  Travis Etienne will likely be drafted higher, but is too similar to Sanders.  it wouldn't be much of a complement.

The guy I really like (and liked him last year) is Kylin Hill.  Not the biggest guy, but has a powerful build.  But, has a locker room incident looming over him that lead to a suspension from the team and then he chose not to return and opted for the draft.   Red flag that needs to be investigated.

And then there's the pair of backs from OSU.  Sermon and Teague.  

 

I really like Javonte Willams but he's probably a late second to 3rd rounder. If Doug is back, then it's pointless to go RB any higher than round 3... If they bring in a new play caller that has some history utilizing the run more consistently, then I'd be fine with a RB in round 3. 

We have a million holes and very few good young players. If we draft a RB in the top three rounds, shoot the FO to the moon. 

14 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

 

We are going to get clobbered, and I honestly could care less. I hope NBC is happy. Should be a 1 PM game.