1 minute ago, eagle45 said:

Time to start scouting edge rushers for the 2021 draft now.  That's our first round pick next year.

I think that will be the #1 need, but could easily see DT or CB. And in a horrible turn of events LT. 

1 hour ago, BigEFly said:

Think the Pats want Herbert or thought they could get Hurts later. Fact they traded down suggests no love for Love.

Would you rather have Winston for one year, where you are looking again the following year, quite possibly for two QBs (with a possibility of no college football this year) at what cost or Hurt for four years at rookie scale.  If, and that is a big if because I am not a huge fan of Hurts, he pans out to be a serviceable backup, then it makes Howie look pretty smart trusting his analytics. 

 

Technical question: is there a way to delete tweets from a post you are responding to.  Every time I try it just opens Twitter for me.  

This is a good question. Don and I were talking about this yesterday during the draft about  Winston and if you could fix him. 

I’d have to see the contract that the Saints are giving Winston. It makes sense for the Saints to go after Winston if this is Drew Brees his last year which Adam Schefter makes it sound like this is it. it is very contingent on the price to me. 

That said if you believe you can you can fix Or develop Jameis Winston’s turnover problem then It could be a nice calculated risk/reward. To me Jameis Winston talent has never been questioned it his decision making and turnovers. If you some how are able to solve that you could either keep him (saints cause brees retiring) or trade him for a nice haul (eagles).

That said not sure you are going to be able to get through to him and fix the issue. bruce Arians and a previous coaching regime hasnt. However maybe this whole experience humbles Winston And changes him for the better. 

6 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Time to start scouting edge rushers for the 2021 draft now.  That's our first round pick next year.

I’d argue outside corner is up there. You have jones, maddox and Douglas competing on the outside and slay is going to be 30. I think it depends on if any of those three develop into players this year. It’s definitely going to be pass rusher or corner imo. Probably DE as that’s where we gravitate too but i think corner is up there depending on what those three do this year 

2 minutes ago, austinfan said:

"The Saints will have to get creative, as usual, to make room for Winston financially, since they have only about $4 million in salary-cap space and still need to make room for their draft picks and a possible long-term extension with running back Alvin Kamara, among others."

In other words, they're maxed out and will have to load up on dead money to fill out their roster this year.

One reason is these signings on top of the contracts they already gave out:

Brees, 2yr/$50M

Peat 5yr/$57M ($33M guaranteed)

Onyemata 3yr/$33M

Jenkins 4yr/$32M ($16M guaranteed)

 

But have they massively improved their roster this off season? What moves have they made to bring guys in? Other than Jenkins. I mean Winston but he doesn't improve them. In fact he's a step back from Bridgewater I'd say. 

Just now, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

I’d argue outside corner is up there. You have jones, maddox and Douglas competing on the outside and slay is going to be 30. It’s definitely going to be pass rusher or corner imo. 

Apparently next year is a really loaded corner draft but not great at DE.

6 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Time to start scouting edge rushers for the 2021 draft now.  That's our first round pick next year.

DE/CB in some order for our first 2 picks. 

It’ll be interesting to see which group of WRs and which RBs make the team. There’s 2 WRs and 1 RB who are locks. Don’t really think that’s a good thing. A week in TC it could be very obvious we need to add talent at WR and RB. 

1 minute ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

But have they massively improved their roster this off season? What moves have they made to bring guys in? Other than Jenkins. I mean Winston but he doesn't improve them. In fact he's a step back from Bridgewater I'd say. 

Apparently next year is a really loaded corner draft but not great at DE.

Yeah I’ve seen that too. I thought this class at the top (Meaning first two rounds) was ok but as the rounds went by it was definitely not deep. I’m guessing we add a corner next year. How high i think falls upon jones, maddox or Douglas (still surprised he’s on the team thinking he could be dealt still or released On cutdown day since he’s owed 2.3 and would likely be 5/6th corner) and how they play this year 

Just now, EaglePhan1986 said:

There’s 2 WRs and 1 RB who are locks

I'd argue 2 RBs are locks. Given the lack of moves Scott is making the roster and rightly so. 

Just now, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I'd argue 2 RBs are locks. Given the lack of moves Scott is making the roster and rightly so. 

I also think they are going to bring in a veteran at some point  They did that with Blount after the draft and last year brought back sproles right before the draft. Maybe it is clement but not sure the eagles trust him to stay healthy after the last two years. 

23 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Aside from the Hurts fiasco, Wallace is the only pick that I need someone to convince me will be OK.

I'm not familiar enough with him, but every report cites coverage as a problem. 

I don't care that Schwartz likes one safety getting his nose into it at the LOS.  Jenkins (and we can admit this now that he's gone) has been responsible for SO many deep 6 coverage nightmares in recent years. 

Look at the draft this year.  Look at what we did.  Look at what KC is.  Look at what everyone else did.  Every DB on the field should excel in coverage.

We don't blitz much.  Our DL stops the run.  Nothing should matter more in our safeties than pass coverage.

What can we reasonably expect from Wallace on that front?

He’s arguably the best cover safety in the draft. He won’t be a single high safety, but he can line up in the slot and cover well. 

https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-kvon-wallace-has-everything-you-want-in-a-slot-cornerback

 

4 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I'd argue 2 RBs are locks. Given the lack of moves Scott is making the roster and rightly so. 

Scott most likely makes it but I’m certainly not calling him a lock . 

3 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I'd argue 2 RBs are locks. Given the lack of moves Scott is making the roster and rightly so. 

RB is a position where our + coaching has allowed us to get a lot of out of limited resource allotment. We've filled holes later in the preseason and seasons without skipping a beat. 

OL is another position where our coaching has allowed a large volume of hits recently. When is the last time we had to go FA route to fill a significant hole there...it was after the Kelly years of limited resource use. Since then hasn't been an issue. 

And I think we're trying to follow a similar route at DE with all the mid-round selections. Not sure our coaching is quite up there for that position group though

Whether or not Howie made the right choices (check back in 3 years), the draft was very different from Douglas.

What I want to see is internal logic in a draft, does the man have a plan?

Howie moved away from "he produced at a big time program" and toward combining athleticism and character (i.e. no gambles on bad apples or good guys who can't run). And he put more emphasis on health, they've had too many injuries the past few years.

This draft reflected that new philosophy, Prince was the only medical gamble and that was a value gamble (low cost, high upside). Lots of speed and overall athleticism, lots of guys "who love football" and will put the effort in to improve.

He certainly felt "the need for speed".

My suspicion is that Doug drove the Hurts pick, both because he's had to play Wentz's backup three straight seasons in the playoffs and because he must have fallen in love with Hurts, otherwise they would have just waited until the 4th rd to pick your usual generic backup (either an athlete with a weak arm or a pocket QB with a strong but erratic arm). Reports that Doug was smiling when asked about the pick confirms this, didn't sound like a HC at odds with his GM. QB is different than any other position, as the Eagles showed last year, you can win without a starting caliber WR, but try winning without a starting caliber (even if not a top 20 guy) QB in the cap era.

What they probably saw in Hurts was a combination of attributes:

1) Great athleticism, doesn't have the jets of Jackson, but he's an explosive runner at 225 lbs, as a RB might have been a top 100 pick. And probably would have been an excellent receiver at RB, as we see with Ward, ex-QBs often have an edge b/c they're used to handling the ball and know routes.

2) Great intangibles, you don't start at Alabama and Oklahoma without them, obviously he won't be intimidated by the NFL

3) Intelligence and the basic skill package, good enough arm, someone you hope to coach up. Not Russell Wilson, but similar in that he went to a major program as a graduate and started and won immediately in a different scheme.

They might have gotten a better WR at #53 than the ones they drafted later, but the odds are that one of the three (and Goodwin) may end up as productive over the next four seasons as say Mims. And they weren't getting a solid QB prospect later on, gambling you're gonna hit on another Dak on the 3rd day, really long odds.

One player rarely makes a draft, at the end of the day hopefully they'll end up with 2-3 starters (Slay, Reagor, Prince, Wallace) and a half dozen backups who contribute.

If they don't trade for Slay, they might have passed on Hurts at #53 and moved up into the 60s to take him, but Slay has more value than anyone on the board at #53.

 

8 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

I also think they are going to bring in a veteran at some point  They did that with Blount after the draft and last year brought back sproles right before the draft. Maybe it is clement but not sure the eagles trust him to stay healthy after the last two years. 

Yeah I think they probably will and actually I think they need to. 

19 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Time to start scouting edge rushers for the 2021 draft now.  That's our first round pick next year.

Now that the draft is over and with the possibility of no college football season this year, what does everyone think about giving up the 2021 1st for Yannick? 

6 minutes ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

Scott most likely makes it but I’m certainly not calling him a lock . 

I think I would purely based on options.

1 hour ago, HazletonEagle said:

We have a lead back (Sanders).

We have a power back (Warren or Holyfied)

We have a pass catching back (Scott or Killins)

That is how they are competing. Might each be a little different when you delve in to specifics, but both are competing for the same role. 

My suspicion is we have a lead back, Sanders.  We have a change of pace back for the Sproles carries, Scott.   We have a power back, Warren.   All three can run between the tackles.  All three can catch.   Sanders and Scott can run RB and WR routes.  Warren can run TE/FB routes.   I think they likely carry a fourth. Could be Holyfield.  Could be Killins.  Could be someone signed later.  May bring back Corey.  May use that fourth spot to carry a third TE or another WR.  Maybe an extra OL.  Back of the roster discussions we have every summer. 

Saints, Bucs, Vikings, 49ers, and Seahawks are all easily more talented teams than the Eagles in the NFC. Packers and Cowboys are on their level. 
 

If the Eagles want any chance to compete this year they’re going to have to add some veteran talent. Preferably at DE and WR. 

4 minutes ago, obedt said:

RB is a position where our + coaching has allowed us to get a lot of out of limited resource allotment. We've filled holes later in the preseason and seasons without skipping a beat. 

OL is another position where our coaching has allowed a large volume of hits recently. When is the last time we had to go FA route to fill a significant hole there...it was after the Kelly years of limited resource use. Since then hasn't been an issue. 

And I think we're trying to follow a similar route at DE with all the mid-round selections. Not sure our coaching is quite up there for that position group though

I think Schwartz has tweaked his scheme in response to the changes in the league, more quick hitting routes don't give DEs time to get to the QB.

So the emphasis is now on one gap DTs who can blow up the pocket and disrupt the short passing game, not the wide 9 rushing the QB.

The DEs do more containment and "trash collection" when the QB scrambles out of pocket pressure.

45 minutes ago, Desertbirds said:

Wentz played really well last year - especially in light of what he had to work with.

Agreed.  But he also had some bad games and showed his mechanics and decision-making need a bit of work.  He's good enough to carry the team so just hoping he comes back with a vengeance.

37 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Aside from the Hurts fiasco, Wallace is the only pick that I need someone to convince me will be OK.

I'm not familiar enough with him, but every report cites coverage as a problem. 

I don't care that Schwartz likes one safety getting his nose into it at the LOS.  Jenkins (and we can admit this now that he's gone) has been responsible for SO many deep 6 coverage nightmares in recent years. 

Look at the draft this year.  Look at what we did.  Look at what KC is.  Look at what everyone else did.  Every DB on the field should excel in coverage.

We don't blitz much.  Our DL stops the run.  Nothing should matter more in our safeties than pass coverage.

What can we reasonably expect from Wallace on that front?

Would not surprise me at all if Wallace is remembered 10 years from now as the best pick of this Eagles draft.

Projected 2020 Depth Chart – Training Camp

Offense (25)
QB(3): Wentz, Hurts, Sudfeld,
RB(4): Sanders, Scott, Killins/???, Holyfield/Warren
TE(3): Ertz, Goedert, Perkins/Togiai
WR(6): Reagor, Jackson, Arcega-Whiteside, Ward, Hightower/Watkins, Goodwin
OL(9): Dillard, Seumalo, Kelce, Brooks, Johnson
Pryor, Herbig/Opeta/Juriga, Mailata, Driscoll, Tega Wanogho

Defense (25)
DE(5): Barnett, Graham, Sweat, Avery, Miller/Ostman/Toohill
DT(5): Cox, Jackson, Hargrave, Ridgeway, Rush/Williams
ILB(2): Edwards, Riley
OLB(4): Gerry, Taylor, Brown/Singleton/Bradley/Olson
S(4): McLeod, Mills, Parks, Wallace
CB(5): Slay, Robey-Coleman, Jones/Douglas, Maddox, Leblanc

Specialists (3)
K: Elliott
P: Johnston
LS: Lovato

----

Deeper than last year, albeit less top-heavy (Peters, Bradham, Jenkins)

2 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

Would not surprise me at all if Wallace is remembered 10 years from now as the best pick of this Eagles draft.

That wouldn’t surprise me either. I still love that pick for the value where they got him and everything he can do. I’d be Really surprised if he isn’t contributing as a rookie on defense. 

30 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Time to start scouting edge rushers for the 2021 draft now.  That's our first round pick next year.

That and corner will be top needs. LB still could be too

feel ok about the offense for now

5 minutes ago, RLC said:

Projected 2020 Depth Chart – Training Camp

Offense (25)
QB(3): Wentz, Hurts, Sudfeld,
RB(4): Sanders, Scott, Killins/???, Holyfield/Warren
TE(3): Ertz, Goedert, Perkins/Togiai
WR(6): Reagor, Jackson, Arcega-Whiteside, Ward, Hightower/Watkins, Goodwin
OL(9): Dillard, Seumalo, Kelce, Brooks, Johnson
Pryor, Herbig/Opeta/Juriga, Mailata, Driscoll, Tega Wanogho

Defense (25)
DE(5): Barnett, Graham, Sweat, Avery, Miller/Ostman/Toohill
DT(5): Cox, Jackson, Hargrave, Ridgeway, Rush/Williams
ILB(2): Edwards, Riley
OLB(4): Gerry, Taylor, Brown/Singleton/Bradley/Olson
S(4): McLeod, Mills, Parks, Wallace
CB(5): Slay, Robey-Coleman, Jones/Douglas, Maddox, Leblanc

Specialists (3)
K: Elliott
P: Johnston
LS: Lovato

----

Deeper than last year, albeit less top-heavy (Peters, Bradham, Jenkins)

I’d like to see both Hightower and Watkins on it and the / be for JJAW/Ward.  But I think what you have is more likely.

The way I see it, the biggest talent deficit we are left with is now at DE.  But that’s for next year.