I would not hand Ward the job but to me he is right now the favorite for the slot... Alshon will be on pup... Djax will likely start my guess is JJaw get favored for the Alshon role.

Reagor/Ward then get sprinkled in as WR 3.

Hightower/Watkins fight for WR 5 we could keep 6 until Alshon get back but my guess is 5 WRs with one going to PS 

Also to throw it out there 

Greg Ward 24(turns 25 in July) has 3 years of NFL experience under his belt 

John Hightower is 24 and is a rookie......

If we don’t think Ward can grow any why would we think the 24 Hightower can???? 
 

Both still young guys no need to write either off 

9 hours ago, cunninghamtheman said:

And I’m expecting our corners to travel more with their matchup. So being versatile is a big plus for the CB2 job this year.

I hope you're right there bud. Acquiring Slay could be a really good acquisition but only if we allow him to travel with the #1 receiver. 

8 hours ago, jsb235 said:

Until someone else proves they can do that, why get rid of him?

 

Roster size. Can’t keep everybody. I believe Ward has shown what he has. His skills aren’t really moving the needle unless it’s an emergency. Don’t you think we’d be better served trying to find a great player? Cultivating a diamond in the rough? It looks like we need to keep four young players on the roster to see what we have. I don’t want to give up on them for a player of Ward’s caliber. He played half the season and only accumulated 250 yards and ONE TD. I think our third TE can give us that as a WR.

If you fill the roster with Ward level mediocre players then guess what? You will have a mediocre team. I believe we need to swing for the fences a bit more. Take a chance on greatness. But it might not be apparent and ready week one. That’s the trade off. Last year I thought Ward deserved to make the team. This year we have higher upside options. I don’t want to give that up because Ward is in his fourth season with us and looks better in TC. I expect he would look better in TC.

7 hours ago, Bleedinggreen93 said:

Also to throw it out there 

Greg Ward 24(turns 25 in July) has 3 years of NFL experience under his belt 

John Hightower is 24 and is a rookie......

If we don’t think Ward can grow any why would we think the 24 Hightower can???? 
 

Both still young guys no need to write either off 

Age is always a factor. But this is Ward’s fourth year in this system. Hightower has experienced how much Pro coaching? So of coarse I’d expect major growth ahead for Hightower and other rookies.

  It’s the same mentality when you go into the draft each year. Do you want the more polished guy with very limited upside? Or do you want the guy that’s unrefined with huge upside? I’m looking for greatness. Can Bailey, Hightower, JJAW or Watkins be great? Don’t really know. But we need to take that chance. Ward I feel like we know his ceiling and worth. He’s good as an emergency option. That’s about it. Not hating on him but we need to find more. But can only do it by keeping guys with ability.

3 hours ago, cunninghamtheman said:

If you fill the roster with Ward level mediocre players then guess what? You will have a mediocre team. I believe we need to swing for the fences a bit more.

We swung for the fences with Agholor and he flopped. With JJAW. With Shelton Gibson. With Josh Huff. With Green-Beckham. With Mack Hollins. Flop, flop, flop, flop, flop.

Maybe be happy that we found a guy who runs good routes and catches the ball. Why cut a guy who does what all those other guys couldn't? If DJax and Goodwin get hurt, which is almost a certainty, who do they have who can play the slot? Hightower? He can't run routes or catch consistently. Obviously he can learn to do those things, but it's not as easy as you think.

Jenkins knew in training cap last year that Ward was better than most of the guys on our roster. He used Ward to practice against because he was the best route runner on the team. Maybe trust that he knows what he's talking about.

2 hours ago, jsb235 said:

We swung for the fences with Agholor and he flopped. With JJAW. With Shelton Gibson. With Josh Huff. With Green-Beckham. With Mack Hollins. Flop, flop, flop, flop, flop.

Maybe be happy that we found a guy who runs good routes and catches the ball. Why cut a guy who does what all those other guys couldn't? If DJax and Goodwin get hurt, which is almost a certainty, who do they have who can play the slot? Hightower? He can't run routes or catch consistently. Obviously he can learn to do those things, but it's not as easy as you think.

Jenkins knew in training cap last year that Ward was better than most of the guys on our roster. He used Ward to practice against because he was the best route runner on the team. Maybe trust that he knows what he's talking about.

I said the same thing about Ward last year. But that’s more an indictment of last years WR. But if you only keep the very limited players...then that’s all you’ll ever field. 

10 minutes ago, cunninghamtheman said:

I said the same thing about Ward last year. But that’s more an indictment of last years WR. But if you only keep the very limited players...then that’s all you’ll ever field. 

On the other hand, if all you keep are players who can't run routes or catch, then that's all you'll ever have.

Would you rather have a guy who makes a catch for five yards or a guy who drops a 25-yard pass?

No one is handing Ward a job. But it makes sense for someone to earn his spot rather than just giving it to someone based on a combine time and highlights from a game against Fresno State.

If we cut Ward, after this season our WR group is likely going to be Reagor, JJAW, plus whomever survives out of Hightower, Watkins and the rest of the guys on the roster. Out of that group, who do you feel comfortable with throwing to on third and 5? Last year against the Giants and Redskins, Ward had 11 catches that resulted in first downs. Until someone shows that they can match that production, I don't see how you get rid of him.

On June 30, 2020 at 1:40 AM, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Ok no worries. Let's ignore what all of the analysts are saying. Sure thing.

He's not looked convincing on the outside though. 

We're Eagles fans  when do we ever agree with the analysts..."unless it suits us." We're the experts...riigghhhttt ... lol ...snicker snicker.To me aside from the necessary skills a outside Cb needs , speed, smarts, good tackling, Maddox best characteristic is his competitiveness. I like the kid, but would prefer Sydney Jones because I like his size/speed on the outside over Maddox.

13 hours ago, Bleedinggreen93 said:

I would not hand Ward the job but to me he is right now the favorite for the slot... Alshon will be on pup... Djax will likely start my guess is JJaw get favored for the Alshon role.

Reagor/Ward then get sprinkled in as WR 3.

Hightower/Watkins fight for WR 5 we could keep 6 until Alshon get back but my guess is 5 WRs with one going to PS 

What Ward did for us last year along with his years of grind on our practice squad is commendable.  However, I share @Cunninghamtheman view that Ward has shown his limitations . I expect DJax, Reagor, JJAW our Alshon clone. Jeffery, Goodwin along with Ward to be on the roster, because they are Veteran Players. Coronavirus IMO secures their job. 

I love ALL the New kids. It's unlikely they will be able to get the necessary Field Time to compete and beat out those veterans... WR's Hightower, Watkins, Killins, Maneesh Baily... Pure Speed, decent hands and intelligence and Mike Warren RB with good hands. Without Coronavirus I would want the new kids to replace Ward, Goodwin,  and fill the open RB spots with Warren and Killins. Jeffery is still a SB hero, DJax is an Eagle forever. We gonna let some good talent leave is this the Craziest Off season ever.

8 hours ago, cunninghamtheman said:

If you fill the roster with Ward level mediocre players then guess what? You will have a mediocre team. I believe we need to swing for the fences a bit more. Take a chance on greatness. But it might not be apparent and ready week one. That’s the trade off. Last year I thought Ward deserved to make the team. This year we have higher upside options. I don’t want to give that up because Ward is in his fourth season with us and looks better in TC. I expect he would look better in TC.

Why can't you put the young guys on the practice squad?  Isn't that the purpose?   

IMO... you don't look for " greatness  with your last WR spot.  I would prefer my "greatness"  to be guys that are in the top positions.   I like reliability for guys that are my backups.  I think it helps the team much more.  At this point I am thinking about Wentz.   Reliable targets, we saw how he performs well at the end once Ward got in there and was fundamentally sound and reliable.  

Also, I don't expect Ertz to be on the team much longer. Ertz, I like him a lot... not really the epitome of a play maker... he gets open and makes the catch... reliable.  He falls down if the blade of grass is too high though.  Kinda limited in the same way everyone is saying Ward is?   I think with some " greatness" in the top WR spots, would be perfect to add the reliable guy in there.  Especially since I don't see this 2 TE set last much longer. Love the reliable target mixed in with great playmakers.  

BTW.... to me I look at the last 4 games with Ward... where he was actually a part of the game plan.  Once Alshon got hurt is really when Ward became a factor.  WE finally had reliability... Wentz was able to do his thing.   Don't see how Ward won't earn a spot and where one of the young guys doesn't go on practice squad.  

That would be great No Mas...if they don’t get poached. Big risks not protecting those assets though. But are you really that worried about losing Ward? The thought doesn’t really bother me. Last year...with no receivers...we needed him badly. But that was a break glass in case of emergency situation. We have several young new options with upside. We need to figure out what we have with them. Good or bad. If it’s all bad....then our problems are greater than releasing Ward...I assure you.

It’s highly unlikely Ward doesn’t make the team. Let’s be clear. But I don’t think he should be a lock....based on the reasons I’ve presented.

3 hours ago, Trini said:

.To me aside from the necessary skills a outside Cb needs , speed, smarts, good tackling, Maddox best characteristic is his competitiveness. I like the kid, but would prefer Sydney Jones because I like his size/speed on the outside over Maddox.

Do you know what... I'm with you there. And I don't think Jones is going to make it but that's actually the best outcome for this team. If Sidney can make it as CB #2 then Maddox can transition to his best position (in my opinion) at safety. Gives us long term options at both positions then. 

19 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Do you know what... I'm with you there. And I don't think Jones is going to make it but that's actually the best outcome for this team. If Sidney can make it as CB #2 then Maddox can transition to his best position (in my opinion) at safety. Gives us long term options at both positions then. 

I agree with you and Trini on this

No Mas, Brady wasn’t in the top spot in New England....until he was. Then became the GOAT.

4 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Do you know what... I'm with you there. And I don't think Jones is going to make it but that's actually the best outcome for this team. If Sidney can make it as CB #2 then Maddox can transition to his best position (in my opinion) at safety. Gives us long term options at both positions then. 

I don't know if Jones can ever play well enough for Schwartz to put him on the field over Maddox. And our signing of Robey-Coleman and Parks seems to cement the fact that he is only going to see action if a lot of guys get hurt. My guess is that he would put both Douglas and Mills at CB before Jones.

Certainly I would love to be wrong. Nothing would make me happier than to see Jones come to camp jacked up and ready to compete for the job. I also think Maddox could be a solid replacement for McLeod down the road. But Schwartz is who he is, and once he decides he doesn't like a player, they are often run out of town.

 

 

The way we are currently setup...we have several young guys on the roster at WR. Reagor, JJAW, Hightower, Watkins and Bailey. Reagor was a first round pick. So it goes without saying we are looking for greatness with him. I don’t see the point in just looking for mediocre reliability in the others. One or two need to become big players. That’s what would solve the position group for years.

6 minutes ago, jsb235 said:

I don't know if Jones can ever play well enough for Schwartz to put him on the field over Maddox. And our signing of Robey-Coleman and Parks seems to cement the fact that he is only going to see action if a lot of guys get hurt. My guess is that he would put both Douglas and Mills at CB before Jones.

Certainly I would love to be wrong. Nothing would make me happier than to see Jones come to camp jacked up and ready to compete for the job. I also think Maddox could be a solid replacement for McLeod down the road. But Schwartz is who he is, and once he decides he doesn't like a player, they are often run out of town.

 

 

I think this applies to Douglas mostly. Schwartz has never been a fan. Schwartz has even mentioned how he only sees Douglas fitting in the one specific corner role. Not at S. Not in the slot. Not on the right. And he doesn’t want to use him on the left until all other options are exhausted. I’m almost surprised Douglas took a paycut instead of just getting cut and moving to greener pastures for him.

JSB I like your contributions. Good knowledgeable Eagles fan. Keep it up!

48 minutes ago, cunninghamtheman said:

JSB I like your contributions. Good knowledgeable Eagles fan. Keep it up!

Gracias. I feel the same. This is like the blog without 80 pages of political crap.

12 hours ago, cunninghamtheman said:

If you fill the roster with Ward level mediocre players then guess what? You will have a mediocre team. I believe we need to swing for the fences a bit more. Take a chance on greatness. But it might not be apparent and ready week one. That’s the trade off. Last year I thought Ward deserved to make the team. This year we have higher upside options. I don’t want to give that up because Ward is in his fourth season with us and looks better in TC. I expect he would look better in TC.

I

I'll take the mediocre Ward over the high draft pick Ags and the JJAW of last year anytime.

At least he can catch the ball and seems to care unlike the prima donnas drafted by the birds.

1 hour ago, jsb235 said:

Gracias. I feel the same. This is like the blog without 80 pages of political crap.

Hehe. be careful when Ham compliments you

Hey I can compliment....doesn’t mean I agree with it all...but if you come knowledgeable to the discussion...I appreciate that.