22 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

No argument there.  I posted last week that the best thing to help Jalen Hurts is to have a defense that creates turnovers, gets points on their own and gives the offense the best possible field position.

I don't know enough about Gannon, but I don't see him as a miracle worker who is going to take roughly the same defense as last year and completely change it to a defense that does all of the above.

With that being said, Steve Nelson isn't THAT good of a player that his signing here transforms this defense from average to good or whatever they may rank.

Nelson wouldn’t be this defense’s savior but he would take some pressure off of Slay and the younger guys. At a certain point they have to address the #2 spot and everyone behind Slay seems to be a nickel corner.

23 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Nelson is a philosophical question.  
 

Are we going all in this year?  Obviously not.

Are we tanking?  No.

Then exactly where do you set the rpm’s in between?

Do you scoop up anyone that makes the team better?  (Applies to Nelson).  Do you ignore every good player who will very likely be either off the roster or overpaid by the time the team is a true contender?  (Also applies to Nelson).

I agree with the sentiment that losing becomes a habit and a culture.  But I also resent short sighted investments that get the team nowhere…just to save face short term for a gm.

This team could have as little as 3 wins and as many as 10. No one knows at this point. I vote to strive for the latter. Philly sports are miserable right now so it would be nice to see the Eagles gain momentum going into next year with our plethora of early picks.

1 hour ago, LeanMeanGM said:

He's got a point, but with our current cap situation we have to be smart about this. We can't just spend money on everything or anyone just to reunite the gang and bring back someone familiar. So Howie has a tough job right now because he has to make sure to sign Jason Peters first. If there's leftover money, then we can bring him back to start at MLB

I appreciate the jokes but the Jason Peters ship has sailed.  That isnt happening, I can almost guarantee it.  If Howie did sign Peters back I'd drive down to Philly and personally slap him across his weasel face multiple times.

Bringing back Nate Gerry on the other hand kinda worries me.  He better not though.

2 hours ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

That’s a legitimate concern.  But he doesn’t move like a tackle.  That’s ridiculous.   

Obviously, it's hyperbole. The point is he hasn't shown any ability to run well or be technical enough to win 1 on 1.

2 hours ago, LeanMeanGM said:

He's got a point, but with our current cap situation we have to be smart about this. We can't just spend money on everything or anyone just to reunite the gang and bring back someone familiar. So Howie has a tough job right now because he has to make sure to sign Jason Peters first. If there's leftover money, then we can bring him back to start at MLB

JP wants a raise or no deal

51 minutes ago, 315Eagles said:

I appreciate the jokes but the Jason Peters ship has sailed.  That isnt happening, I can almost guarantee it.  If Howie did sign Peters back I'd drive down to Philly and personally slap him across his weasel face multiple times.

Bringing back Nate Gerry on the other hand kinda worries me.  He better not though.

Interestingly, I thought the same thing before last year.  We'll see.

1 hour ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Interestingly, I thought the same thing before last year.  We'll see.

Well I think a portion of us were ok with him coming back to play Guard after Brooks got hurt but not necessarily Tackle.  

I cant see them bringing him back.  As bad as Howie has been you have to think he's learned some lessons on what not to do going forward. 

When Brooks and Johnson are both out late next year, someone is going to have to lock Lurie and Howie in the basement to keep them from calling Peters.

36 minutes ago, 315Eagles said:

Well I think a portion of us were ok with him coming back to play Guard after Brooks got hurt but not necessarily Tackle.  

I cant see them bringing him back.  As bad as Howie has been you have to think he's learned some lessons on what not to do going forward. 

Yup. Made sense to add the help at guard while he theoretically mentored Dillard.  Then Dillard got hurt and we were reminded that Peters is probably the last guy we want influencing youngsters on the team.

6 hours ago, eagle45 said:

Nelson is a philosophical question.  
 

Are we going all in this year?  Obviously not.

Are we tanking?  No.

Then exactly where do you set the rpm’s in between?

Do you scoop up anyone that makes the team better?  (Applies to Nelson).  Do you ignore every good player who will very likely be either off the roster or overpaid by the time the team is a true contender?  (Also applies to Nelson).

I agree with the sentiment that losing becomes a habit and a culture.  But I also resent short sighted investments that get the team nowhere…just to save face short term for a gm.

If you have the money and it makes the team better you make the move. 

3 hours ago, eagle45 said:

Yup. Made sense to add the help at guard while he theoretically mentored Dillard.  Then Dillard got hurt and we were reminded that Peters is probably the last guy we want influencing youngsters on the team.

It never made sense to bring a guy who'd played 14 years at Tackle and who was clearly over the hill the year before in to cover at Guard. He was done, that's why he was released. We should've signed a vet guard when Brooks went down not tried to do Peters a solid when no one else was calling.

7 hours ago, eaglesflyers#1 said:

The worse the defense plays, the worse Jalen will play.

The defense is going to be bad this year. Really bad. First-time defensive coordinators struggle.

Sean McDermott started out badly. Todd Bowles WAS WORSE THAN JUAN CASTILLO.

Even great defensive minds need to be given the opportunity to learn. Unfortunately, that won’t happen here. Gannon will learn on the job for two years, start to get better, then be fired.

8 hours ago, eagle45 said:

Nelson is a philosophical question.  
 

Are we going all in this year?  Obviously not.

Are we tanking?  No.

Then exactly where do you set the rpm’s in between?

Do you scoop up anyone that makes the team better?  (Applies to Nelson).  Do you ignore every good player who will very likely be either off the roster or overpaid by the time the team is a true contender?  (Also applies to Nelson).

I agree with the sentiment that losing becomes a habit and a culture.  But I also resent short sighted investments that get the team nowhere…just to save face short term for a gm.

I grab Conley and lightly pencil him in as the number two. Nelson is a better player but he's not great by any stretch and turns 29 in January. I got us around a 5 win team so what's the point. Let Zech mix in at both slot and the outside in training camp and see what he's got. I don't want to put the pressure of a starting gig on his rookie year so they need to sign someone. He's a 4th rounder, not a first day selection. Don't think it's all that fair to do or expect him to be a starter right out of the gate. 
2022 off-season needs to begin the process of upgrading and fixing the back 7, at least it should be. I'm not holding my breath with Jeff/Howie running the show though. 

Bad if they re-sign Peters and Gerry.  Best to clean cut and leave them out there.

Speaking of keeping the old players going beyond the expiration, was it Doug or Howie/Lurie who wanted to have them around?  Obviously they were not at the playing level to warrant that approach. 

8 hours ago, bpac55 said:

I posted last week that the best thing to help Jalen Hurts is to have a defense that creates turnovers, gets points on their own and gives the offense the best possible field position

 

29 minutes ago, Perforator said:

 

Here’s another one for you:

The Eagles success this season will be dictated heavily by how well these young players learn the new schemes, offensively and defensively.  They have to know the playbook and their assignments like the back of their hands.  It will be somewhat apparent in the first 2-3 games if the players have learned and taken to these new coaches.

Penalties will be a huge indicator.  How many false start penalties, illegal formation, illegal shifts, time clock running out, etc.?  On defense how many blown coverages, too many men, illegal substitution?  You expect a certain amount of holding calls, but the penalties due to guys not being there mentally are very frustrating.

17 hours ago, Mike030270 said:

Let people who aren't excited about him alone then 🤷‍♂️

He's already achieved the ultimate goal for an NFL player though

I want Howie fired regardless of how Hurts performs

Wait. IF, and it's a massive IF, Hurts performs at an All Pro level, the team reels off 11-12 wins and secures a home playoff game....you'd still want Howie fired? Why??

37 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

Yeah.  But is he that much better than Maddox?

I think TBH Jacquet makes more sense than Maddox as the outside CB.  Maddox and McPhearson should be in competition for the slot CB position.

38 minutes ago, TorontoEagle said:

Wait. IF, and it's a massive IF, Hurts performs at an All Pro level, the team reels off 11-12 wins and secures a home playoff game....you'd still want Howie fired? Why??

If Howie needs anything close to that to save his job, he should go ahead and list his house and start packing.

I project McPhearson as the CB2.  Look, all draft prognosticators project 4.5 CBs under 6’ tall as nickel backs.   Like Maddox, McPhearson primarily lined up as an outside corner in college.   His comp to me is Sheldon Brown, although about ten pounds lighter.  Similar speed, good tacklers (although Sheldon became a great tackler as he gained strength) good agility that tend not to get out of position. May need some safety help with speed receivers. Let Maddox and McPhearson battle for the CB2 and loser plays the slot.  Let the other back up CBs battle for the dime back, back up. 

8 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

I project McPhearson as the CB2.  Look, all draft prognosticators project 4.5 CBs under 6’ tall as nickel backs.   Like Maddox, McPhearson primarily lined up as an outside corner in college.   His comp to me is Sheldon Brown, although about ten pounds lighter.  Similar speed, good tacklers (although Sheldon became a great tackler as he gained strength) good agility that tend not to get out of position. May need some safety help with speed receivers. Let Maddox and McPhearson battle for the CB2 and loser plays the slot.  Let the other back up CBs battle for the dime back, back up. 

That's how I'm hoping it all works out.  Maddox isn't an outside CB.  We all know where he's played his best football...even his best can be much improved upon but heck let's at least put the players where we can get maximum performance.  This really should be his last year as an Eagle. 

I'm curious about Craig James.  There was some buzz around him last year but a lot of that was because of his ST ability, which shouldn't be overlooked.  He's been injured quite a bit too but he did get some good experience in 2019.

Michael Jacquet, Kevon Seymour and Shakial Taylor are all 6' which and have experience/coaching familiarity which might help in some way.  Again, none of these guys are inspiring much confidence in CB2 or even CB4.  They realistically should all be PS guys but given the state of the roster one of them will probably get significant minutes.  

Josiah Scott is a Maddox clone and best case scenario is he can step in at nickel and let Maddox walk in 2022.

Lavert Hill.  PS guy who probably gets called up when injuries mount up at the end of the season.

 

CB1- Slay

CB2- McPherson

Slot- Maddox

CB4- James

CB5- Taylor (strictly based on his experience with the staff)  but honestly put on a blindfold throw a dart at one of the bottom 5 CB and put them in here.

CB6- Scott.

2 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

That's how I'm hoping it all works out.  Maddox isn't an outside CB.  We all know where he's played his best football...even his best can be much improved upon but heck let's at least put the players where we can get maximum performance.  This really should be his last year as an Eagle. 

I'm curious about Craig James.  There was some buzz around him last year but a lot of that was because of his ST ability, which shouldn't be overlooked.  He's been injured quite a bit too but he did get some good experience in 2019.

Michael Jacquet, Kevon Seymour and Shakial Taylor are all 6' which and have experience/coaching familiarity which might help in some way.  Again, none of these guys are inspiring much confidence in CB2 or even CB4.  They realistically should all be PS guys but given the state of the roster one of them will probably get significant minutes.  

Josiah Scott is a Maddox clone and best case scenario is he can step in at nickel and let Maddox walk in 2022.

Lavert Hill.  PS guy who probably gets called up when injuries mount up at the end of the season.

 

CB1- Slay

CB2- McPherson

Slot- Maddox

CB4- James

CB5- Taylor (strictly based on his experience with the staff)  but honestly put on a blindfold throw a dart at one of the bottom 5 CB and put them in here.

CB6- Scott.

I think they keep five CBs at best.  Probably nine DBs and this depends a lot on McLeod’s health as to who stays.  The back up DBs are going to have to perform on STs. 

1 hour ago, Bacarty2 said:

3 coaches in 6 years. 

terrible draft after terrible draft. 

But sure man. Howie's the man

Ah yes, let's leave out the Super Bowl win. 

1 hour ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

Yes.  I do.  And have.  Because he sucks as a GM.  But let's get real.  Hurts is not going to play at an All Pro level.  I mean that is a pretty silly condition to introduce.  Maybe pro bowl, but all pro isn't happening.  

 

Lurie and Howie are f-ing clueless.  The Eagles winning 11 games this year would be similar to us winning the SB in 2017.  It would take the players to all gel at the right time, a large portion of the team to have their best years of their careers and divine intervention.  My father helped us out in 2017.  The best thing for this team is to lose....a lot of games this year.  And Lurie realize he needs to back off and replace Howie.  Then we would be loaded with draft picks and would hopefully have a real GM.  Not a bean counter who is the laughing stock of the league.  

I understand most of the Howie hate. He's really screwed things up post Super Bowl. But if by some miracle (and it would take a miracle) this team far exceeds expectations, you'd be foolish to can him I think. What justification would there be? One really bad down year after a Super Bowl win and 2 subsequent playoff appearances? Also, if Hurts even plays at a Pro Bowl level, I think that would somewhat justify the 2nd round choice and offer some vindication. Especially if Wentz is average or worse in Indy.

Now, I do not think any of the above WILL happen. In fact I think we'll be a bottom 5 team this year. But I think it's ridiculous to proclaim that no matter what happens this year, Howie should be fired. I just don't agree with that at all. 

28 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

I think they keep five CBs at best.  Probably nine DBs and this depends a lot on McLeod’s health as to who stays.  The back up DBs are going to have to perform on STs. 

Agree but was trying to keep at least one CB with some size and Scott, who for some reason I think they are going to try to find a role for.