2 hours ago, Diehardfan said:

Yeah because that's why it was negative not the 10 wins and the team will struggle part of it.

The point isn't they are as good it's on paper they have a massive amount of talent arguably as good if not better on defense than 24. There is no reason to be down on what this team can do.

But also be realistic that the early part of the season will have its glitches as the players move up the learning curve of the Mannion system.

4 hours ago, Sack that QB said:

If he is on the outs, I could definitely see Howie pouncing on this one as a flier reclamation project.

In concept I agree. My only reservation is scheme fit.

20 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

Did he have a mental breakdown and word got around?

Maybe he didn't want to go to training camps or he isn't telling his agent to call teams to see if they are interested.

4 hours ago, BigEFly said:

Been there, tried that. A long time ago though. Better than most imitation cheesesteaks. But if I am in Texas eating a sandwich, sliced brisket from a non chain BBQ joint with obvious smoke from the smoker. Take a chopped brisket sandwich to go for later. Post oak as the wood. (Avoid Dickey’s and Soulman at all costs. Not a fan of Pappas either).

My other favorite Texas "sandwich” is a Taco al Carbon. For reasons understood by someone else, this TexMex favorite doesn’t make it out of the Lone Star state. (Well except from my grill). Prefer mine with some queso.

Thanks to the Czech Stop in West, Texas our favorite does not have any meat at all. Some local Philadelphia context is the reason. When we moved from Kennett Square to Dallas in 1989 the food we were leaving behind that we were going to miss most were deep fried, breaded mushrooms, which in Kennett Square are always fresh, never frozen. So our expectations were rather low when Landon’s boss, the Chairman of The Dallas Arboretum, as well as of Coca Cola Bottling of the Southwest, told us to be sure to get off I-35 in West and go to the Czech Stop and order their deep fried okra. It was absolutely fabulous!

20 minutes ago, mattwill said:

But also be realistic that the early part of the season will have its glitches as the players move up the learning curve of the Mannion system.

Absolutely, which I've mentioned multiple times. It's going to be a 4-6 week process for them to fully be on the same page/implement things

1 hour ago, Vileborg said:

Bill Millers typically makes a well cooked brisket. Most places these days over cook it a bit. They're a chain and they don't have the bark and flavor of some of the others but if you like well cooked brisket, they do pretty well.

Rudy's is a good go to. I'm a huge fan of Jalapeno Sausage.

Blacks is really good but they tend to over cook the brisket. Amazing flavor though.

I only had Franklins a few times and was not impressed.

Have done all three. Rudy’s and Blacks have gone downhill since the I35 corridor has grown so large. I am bad at the names but I tend to select BBQ joints based on looking like a BBQ joint and smelling smoke outside and in. Kind of agree with @Joe Ball on smoke, salt and pepper, but in true East Texas brisket needs the mop. Absolutely requires apple cider vinegar and most mix in some molasses or brown sugar. I prefer molasses as it holds the mop into the bark.

21 minutes ago, mattwill said:

In concept I agree. My only reservation is scheme fit.

Why do you think he wouldn't be a scheme fit?

7 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

Absolutely, which I've mentioned multiple times. It's going to be a 4-6 week process for them to fully be on the same page/implement things

Another wasted season then 😠

1 hour ago, Sack that QB said:

Definitely don't think the Eagles are better at DT this year. At least not now. Could prove to be if Carter takes his game to the next level and Ojomo as well, but Carter was great in 2024, and Milton Williams really came on strong and was just another body that allowed them to rotate. The DTs totally dominated that SB. Milton Williams was a monster.

I don't think the defense will be as good as 2024 but I think it'll be close.

So are you saying Carter 2026 will be worse than Carter 2024?

Williams improved steadily as the season went on, and comparing Williams Week One 2024 to Ojomo Week One 2026 is a push for me.

Where 2026 is much better than 2024 is at NT. Davis has improved massively over his 2024 self.

17 minutes ago, mattwill said:

Thanks to the Czech Stop in West, Texas our favorite does not have any meat at all. Some local Philadelphia context is the reason. When we moved from Kennett Square to Dallas in 1989 the food we were leaving behind that we were going to miss most were deep fried, breaded mushrooms, which in Kennett Square are always fresh, never frozen. So our expectations were rather low when Landon’s boss, the Chairman of The Dallas Arboretum, as well as of Coca Cola Bottling of the Southwest, told us to be sure to get off I-35 in West and go to the Czech Stop and order their deep fried okra. It was absolutely fabulous!

Everything is good at the Czech stop. We stop on the way when we're going south for kolaches (cherry and cream cheese), and north on the way home for beer bread, cheddar jalapeno bread, and more kolaches. Slovacek's opened up a few years ago and it gets better reviews than The Czech Stop, but I prefer the original. The lines inside are crazy sometimes and parking can be impossible.

This kid would be better on 94 than anyone they have working there

1 hour ago, Sack that QB said:

Statistically he may have been, but realistically they were not better than 2024 Milton. A key example why stats can only show so much. Anyone who watched the Eagles every week in 2024 saw the impact Milton had and it culminated in a dominating playoff run and championship to close out the season.

Davis definitely has improved a lot from 2024, but I'm going to take 2024's group of DTs as it stands right now. If Carter elevates himself to best DT in the NFL level and Ojomo has a dominant season in the rotation I could change that later.

Milton 2024 was a work in process. Definitely much better by year end, but definitely not at that level in Week One.

6 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

Why do you think he wouldn't be a scheme fit?

Maybe this is the blueprint?

12 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

Why do you think he wouldn't be a scheme fit?

I don’t know if he is a fit. I was pleading ignorance. With that said scheme fit to this Mannion Offense is mostly about feet and none of the stats you shared tell me anything about his feet.

4 minutes ago, mattwill said:

So are you saying Carter 2026 will be worse than Carter 2024?

Williams improved steadily as the season went on, and comparing Williams Week One 2024 to Ojomo Week One 2026 is a push for me.

Where 2026 is much better than 2024 is at NT. Davis has improved massively over his 2024 self.

I'm saying I don't know. Not until he officially shows he's better in 2026 than 2024 can I give the 2026 DTs the edge because missing Milton is huge. I think Milton is awesome. I think he's a top 6 DT in football right now just took a while to unlock it. Honestly, without the luxury of hindsight I'd go back in time and lock Milton up early in free agency for Jordan Davis money(which I think he would've taken before he hit the market) and let Davis go. And I like Davis, but Milton Williams is a game wrecker and I think he has a tenacity about him. I have more confidence in him being an elite level DT for the next 5 years than Davis, and I don't say that as a knock on Davis it's more just me loving Milton Williams.

2 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

I'm saying I don't know. Not until he officially shows he's better in 2026 than 2024 can I give the 2026 DTs the edge because missing Milton is huge. I think Milton is awesome. I think he's a top 6 DT in football right now just took a while to unlock it. Honestly, without the luxury of hindsight I'd go back in time and lock Milton up early in free agency for Jordan Davis money(which I think he would've taken before he hit the market) and let Davis go. And I like Davis, but Milton Williams is a game wrecker and I think he has a tenacity about him. I have more confidence in him being an elite level DT for the next 5 years than Davis, and I don't say that as a knock on Davis it's more just me loving Milton Williams.

I agree with your take on the current Milton Williams, but that is some serious revisionist history to say Week One 2024 Milton was the same as current Milton. Week One 2024 Milton was nowhere near as good as Week Eighteen 2024 Milton.

You are using rose colored glasses in your assessment IMO.

2 hours ago, Vileborg said:

I only had Franklins a few times and was not impressed.

Sorry, man.

8 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Have done all three. Rudy’s and Blacks have gone downhill since the I35 corridor has grown so large. I am bad at the names but I tend to select BBQ joints based on looking like a BBQ joint and smelling smoke outside and in. Kind of agree with @Joe Ball on smoke, salt and pepper, but in true East Texas brisket needs the mop. Absolutely requires apple cider vinegar and most mix in some molasses or brown sugar. I prefer molasses as it holds the mop into the bark.

I will use apple and cherry wood on smoked pork butts, and spritz ribs with apple cider vinegar with some brown sugar. A little butter and some honey when wrapping and finish for about 45 minutes. I've even used Dr Pepper to spritz. Pork is easy and forgiving imo. I used to dislike Carolina BBQ, well, the vinegar based variety anyway, but if it is not too overpowering its really pretty good. @BigEFly the next time I plan on coming to Clarksville for a golf tournament I am going to hit you up, I'll bring you a whole brisket for you and your family.

These idiots will never learn

Have my doubts about Carter's shoulders holding up in the long term. All the double teams he takes has to take its toll. But let's hope. Gotta give 2024 Carter the nod to kill this whole argument til that guy reappears. He really wasn't good last year. Same evaluation should be given for Jurgens, Dickerson and Lane Johnson. Til they're fully back, they are not. So going with the remaining 3: JD, MO and MW against JD, MO and BY. The drop off at number 4 with Young, makes that a wash at best. But the depth and ceiling of the 2026 entire defensive line is better. Going into this season, I still take the 2024 DTs.

One of the main reasons we lost last year was poor depth on both lines. Howie corrected I believe. I do like to keep it real and not drink all the Kool-Aid full time. Last year Howie fuct up. This year he corrected his mistakes. But, I'm going to skewer him when Missy starts losing games. Be ready for that. He's had ample opportunity to correct that one. Should have axed him before the playoffs last year. Rams dumped their special teams coordinator midseason and had a kicker carousel, til they got it right. You are only strong as your weakest link. Ticking time bomb with Missy...

42 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

Maybe he didn't want to go to training camps or he isn't telling his agent to call teams to see if they are interested.

That would be the dumbest thing a guy who just turned 27 and is generally considered a bust outside of one year could do. If his agent listened to him, he's not doing a good job.

6 minutes ago, mattwill said:

You are using rose colored glasses

Classic

1 hour ago, DaBirds said:

Anyone think Lemon plays this last preseason game? I feel like he needs it but also would suck to re-injure your hammy in a meaningless game.

I see no reason to keep Lemon in bubble wrap. I would play him at least a half and maybe into the third QTR. He needs lots of work and nobody really knows what he presently brings to the offense. If he hurts his hammy again then he would have hurt it in the opener.

2 hours ago, Joe Ball said:

That is my go to order when I DoorDash from Jersey Mike's, which is rare. Since I nearly cut the tip of my finger off last year slicing ribeye I don't make my own at home anymore.

You need one of the slicers like they have at Del Rossi's

https://share.google/JxcNdtSFFMPhPPpev