My NFL season prediction. 
 

14 week season that starts in October. No bye week. 3 preseason games in September without fans. 

I guess i need a smoker. Any recommendations?

11 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

I bought my first tomatillo plant for growing this year.  So, I'll likely be coming to you for some help when the fruit comes on.

That's a damn good idea. Do they need a certain climate to grow? I use them all the time but I'm up in New England now. 

 

17 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

I suppose he was productive catching checkdowns last year, but that doesn’t mean he’s good in the passing game. 

Okay .... so Alvin Kamara had 6.6 yards per reception last season on 81 receptions.  Is he good in the passing game??

5 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

Come to the guy with a culinary degree and who is a bonafide baus when it comes to cooking.   

But where are the tomatillos? 

1 minute ago, garingovt2000 said:

we have 8 picks not 10

You are correct.  We had 10 and traded for players so are down to 8.  I forgot about that.  Still, a trade back where we pick up 2 extra picks and then flip those to move up a couple times would be good for getting value within the top 100 picks.

 

1 minute ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

The smoked pork for carnitas is next level flavor.  

I love carnitas. Now I'm hungry.

3 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

The smoked pork for carnitas is next level flavor.  

You look almost good enough to be a cook at taco bell. 

4 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

The smoked pork for carnitas is next level flavor.  

I don't have a smoker... So I have to improvise.   My carnitas are instant pot, then broiled for some 'crunch'.   Pretty good.   Not smoked, but still pretty good.

4 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

Come to the guy with a culinary degree and who is a bonafide baus when it comes to cooking.   

You puree your shishito peppers? Never tried that. I just put a little char on them , hit them with lemon juice, and snack.

5 minutes ago, DEagle7 said:

That's a damn good idea. Do they need a certain climate to grow? I use them all the time but I'm up in New England now. 

 

They are likely fine up there, just grown as annuals - just like peppers or tomatoes.   In warmer climates, peppers are actually perennial, and that's why the peppers you find in grocery stores are heftier than the 'delicate' ones you grow.  The older the plant the greater the yield.

 

Just read that unlike tomatoes, they are not self-fertile... looks like I'm going back to get another one!  lol  

 

8 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

Come to the guy with a culinary degree and who is a bonafide baus when it comes to cooking.   

 

 

 

This is my wheelhouse, right here.  Can't wait to plant my garden this year, probably in 2 weeks going by the weather forecast.  Loading up on an assortment of peppers, tomatoes and rosemary.  Banana peppers and other spicy varieties do well for me.  Bell peppers not so much.

 

Some thoughts:

JJAW's biggest problem may be the team, that is, once DeSean went down, the other receivers (Jeffrey, Ertz, Goeddert) weren't clearing out space, his strength is size, hands and smarts, not explosive quickness or top end speed (hopefully he can become a bigger version of Avant) - without a deep threat he was going to struggle as a rookie. May never pan out, but last season was really a bad situation for him.

Dillard was a one year project, they knew he needed to add strength, very typical of finesse LTs. More interesting question is how far has Mailata progressed and is the back 100%.

Once you get out of the top 100 picks, it's a complete crap shoot and the waiver wire and UDFA guys are probably more important overall. Pumphrey fails and Scott plays like a top 100 guy. Point is scouting is more than 3 or 4 picks in the back of the draft, it's identifying the guys you weren't able to pick on draft day but show up on the waiver wire due to roster constraints for other teams.

This draft may be the death knell for workouts - the technology for analyzing players off game film has been developed and will probably dominate scouting evaluations the next few years - who cares if a player runs a 4.4 in shorts if he never breaks 4.6 off the LOS on deep routes? I think you'll see a much greater emphasis on film now that AI techniques will allow this kind of analysis.

 

7 minutes ago, ToastJenkins said:

I guess i need a smoker. Any recommendations?

Before I moved I had a Kamado Joe Big Joe.  Loved that beast.  Not cheap new and heavy... but the best steaks, brisket, pulled pork, burgers I've ever made.  Does it all-- smoking, roasting, grilling-- comes with a lifetime warranty too.  No questions asked they'll ship you a replacement part 2-day.

1 hour ago, RLC said:

RE: McLane Article.

Overall, while I appreciate that McLane is an actual journalist and does the work, I don't like how he doesn't source enough people.

If you look at his articles, they often come in with a very clear point of view. The Eagles in the past 4 drafts have successfully traded up from 13 to 2,  traded up for Goedert/Dillard right in front of teams that would take them, conducted a great trade-down with the Ravens at 32, got Maddox in RD4 who everyone loved (tape + analytics). 

Have there been misses? Of course. At the same time, you can't say "this is bad process because of misses" when the same process has also given hits and there's no background on those hits. 

I think you can infer it to a certain extent. He did talk about how everyone loved Sanders and that they prefer unanimity with their picks, which suggests they often do. He simply highlighted when they had splits. Obviously every team will have those choices, but the process of debating two players at the same position while on the clock — and then choosing the lower rated player — is bad process. Those discussions for premium picks should have been done well in advance. 

If the article is painting an accurate portrayal. 

2 minutes ago, austinfan said:

Some thoughts:

JJAW's biggest problem may be the team, that is, once DeSean went down, the other receivers (Jeffrey, Ertz, Goeddert) weren't clearing out space, his strength is size, hands and smarts, not explosive quickness or top end speed (hopefully he can become a bigger version of Avant) - without a deep threat he was going to struggle as a rookie. May never pan out, but last season was really a bad situation for him.

Dillard was a one year project, they knew he needed to add strength, very typical of finesse LTs. More interesting question is how far has Mailata progressed and is the back 100%.

Once you get out of the top 100 picks, it's a complete crap shoot and the waiver wire and UDFA guys are probably more important overall. Pumphrey fails and Scott plays like a top 100 guy. Point is scouting is more than 3 or 4 picks in the back of the draft, it's identifying the guys you weren't able to pick on draft day but show up on the waiver wire due to roster constraints for other teams.

This draft may be the death knell for workouts - the technology for analyzing players off game film has been developed and will probably dominate scouting evaluations the next few years - who cares if a player runs a 4.4 in shorts if he never breaks 4.6 off the LOS on deep routes? I think you'll see a much greater emphasis on film now that AI techniques will allow this kind of analysis.

 

Good to have you back.

Just to take issue with this one point:  From all reports we've seen, JJAW's problem was also running the right routes.  He literally ran into teammates.  That's on him.

18 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

Okay .... so Alvin Kamara had 6.6 yards per reception last season on 81 receptions.  Is he good in the passing game??

Of course he is. But if this is a discussion about counting stats instead of usage and skills in the passing game, it’s pretty pointless. 

9 minutes ago, austinfan said:

Some thoughts:

JJAW's biggest problem may be the team, that is, once DeSean went down, the other receivers (Jeffrey, Ertz, Goeddert) weren't clearing out space, his strength is size, hands and smarts, not explosive quickness or top end speed (hopefully he can become a bigger version of Avant) - without a deep threat he was going to struggle as a rookie. May never pan out, but last season was really a bad situation for him.

Dillard was a one year project, they knew he needed to add strength, very typical of finesse LTs. More interesting question is how far has Mailata progressed and is the back 100%.

Once you get out of the top 100 picks, it's a complete crap shoot and the waiver wire and UDFA guys are probably more important overall. Pumphrey fails and Scott plays like a top 100 guy. Point is scouting is more than 3 or 4 picks in the back of the draft, it's identifying the guys you weren't able to pick on draft day but show up on the waiver wire due to roster constraints for other teams.

This draft may be the death knell for workouts - the technology for analyzing players off game film has been developed and will probably dominate scouting evaluations the next few years - who cares if a player runs a 4.4 in shorts if he never breaks 4.6 off the LOS on deep routes? I think you'll see a much greater emphasis on film now that AI techniques will allow this kind of analysis.

 

JJAW’s route running was so poor last year. That was probably his biggest issue. 

I'm hungry now

2 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Of course he is. But if this is a discussion about counting stats vs usage and skills in the passing game, it’s pretty pointless. 

It's not.  It was a tweet claiming the market for Fournette would be thin (not true) because he was non-productive in the passing game (also not true)

7 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

No.  I used baby bells and Jalepenos.  I’ve used Anaheim or Fresno’s (which is a red jalepeno) but not shishito.   I’m not opposed to trying anything.   

 

BTW.  Something that was popular in western pa I learned and started to make a lot.  Stuff Hot Hungarian peppers with Italian sausage and mozzarella cheese.  Then bake covered in tomato sauce and more cheese.  Holy F!!!!!
 

 

Tragically, I have grown lactose intolerant while aging, so mozzarella is out. I’m good with aged hard cheeses where the lactose is negligible. Parmigiano reggiano, certain cheddars, gruyere, a few others. Hmm. French onion soup tonight is now on my menu. Thanks for the inspiration.😊

2 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

I think you can infer it to a certain extent. He did talk about how everyone loved Sanders and that they prefer unanimity with their picks, which suggests they often do. He simply highlighted when they had splits. Obviously every team will have those choices, but the process of debating two players at the same position while on the clock — and then choosing the lower rated player — is bad process. Those discussions for premium picks should have been done well in advance. 

If the article is painting an accurate portrayal. 

Lower rated by whom though?  One guy has to make the final decision, and if that person prefers the 'lower rated' player according to the evaluations of others, is that really bad process or just a difference of opinion?

 

 

Let's dig it down... you and I have discussed Justin Jefferson at length.   Let's say that you, me and e45 are in the war room.  Our turn comes to select and we have Jefferson, Reagor and Mims sitting there on the board.  
e45's likely ranking of those 3 would be: Reagor, Mims, Jefferson (I believe he's said he doesn't want Jefferson before Round 3, which I believe is just hyperbolic, but whatever).

My ranking is: Jefferson, Reagor, Mims. 

Your ranking, I think, would be Mims, Reagor, Jefferson.

 

So, who would the pick be?  It would come down to who has the final say.  And while it might have been 'settled' prior to the final moment, that doesn't mean that everyone was truly on board with that ranking.  So, they use the time allotted to make their final arguments for the different players.  And while, in a vacuum, I might agree to take Reagor over Jefferson in the days leading up to the draft, the truth is... if push came to shove and I had to put a name on the card, it would be hard for me to write a name other than Jefferson.  So, if I'm in charge, the 'higher' rated player, Reagor would likely not be the pick.  Meanwhile, if you were in charge, you'd likely put down Mims, but e45 and I would feel that he's not the higher rated player.   And what if the argument is between coaches versus scouts?  The scouts have more information, perhaps, but the coach is the one who would have to work with this player on a day in and day out basis.  So, who do you lean with?   It's not a black and white situation.  

The point is: arguments in the war room SHOULD happen during the draft, especially in the early rounds.  I fear groupthink.  No way I want everyone thinking exactly the same way leading up to the pick.  BUT... once the pick is made, then everybody puts aside their differences and unite behind the choice.   And if the coach gets the player he didn't prefer, it doesn't matter and he now has to work with that guy to maximize him.  OR, if the scout gets overruled, maybe he needs to realign himself with the traits the coach prefers.  

I just think that there's more than one way to run a war room.  And while the basics of the board is likely built... it likely isn't really as simple A over B over C.  I like B, you like A, and e45 likes C.  Who's right?  

6 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

It's not.  It was a tweet claiming the market for Fournette would be thin (not true) because he was non-productive in the passing game (also not true)

How do you know the market for Fournette isn’t thin? 

Yes, I agree that he had productive counting stats last year and am arguing that he still wasn’t good in the passing game (which is what I think he meant, but obviously couldn’t say for sure). 

1 hour ago, DEagle7 said:

Lol

Just checked to see how long he’s been out, and I had one of those mind blown moments. How is this dude and 8 year vet whose been out of the league for 4 years and is still only 31? That’s insane. 

5 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

The point is: arguments in the war room SHOULD happen during the draft, especially in the early rounds.  I fear groupthink.  No way I want everyone thinking exactly the same way leading up to the pick.  BUT... once the pick is made, then everybody puts aside their differences and unite behind the choice.   And if the coach gets the player he didn't prefer, it doesn't matter and he now has to work with that guy to maximize him.  OR, if the scout gets overruled, maybe he needs to realign himself with the traits the coach prefers.  

I just think that there's more than one way to run a war room.  And while the basics of the board is likely built... it likely isn't really as simple A over B over C.  I like B, you like A, and e45 likes C.  Who's right?  

It's that simple in RD2. Those decisions needed to already happen. They're WR rankings; it's not like they had already picked a WR and they had to reevaluate which 2nd WR would be a better fit.