On 7/19/2021 at 5:44 PM, Hawkeye said:

Players report a week from tomorrow with their first practice the next day.  I, for one, cannot wait regardless of the prospects this season.  Top 5  offensive storylines:

1. Jalen Hurts.  Nothing else matters if he can't rise to the occasion.
2. DeVonta Smith:  When was the last time a rookie came into his first Eagles camp with expectations like this?
3. Offensive line:  stories from left to right, starting with who's starting at LT?  On the other side, will Brooks and Johnson return to form?
4. Coaching:  there's some natural skepticism inside and outside the facility about the new coaching team.  Should be fascinating to watch.
5. (tie) RB and TE:  The RB room is pretty full - I think there are 8 RBs on the current roster -and Ertz is still an Eagle.  Something has to give.

Thoughts?

I am 100% behind the entire org and team, unless they force me to turn on them by doing really stupid and crappy things all year. Even then, I am stuck with them- I was born in Philly and they are my team, win, lose or draw. 

On 7/19/2021 at 7:32 PM, D-Shiznit said:

Maybe some of the old timers can help us out, but I don’t remember any Eagles rookie with as much hype or expectations as DeVonta, ever.
 

And thing is, he is the one Eagles rookie who can legitimately live up to them.

DJax, but not as much as this kid.

On 7/20/2021 at 10:48 AM, Utebird said:

With any first round rookie there is a certain Amount of hype, most often more hype when a QB is drafted in the top half of the first.

I can't remember too many non qb first round picks getting an abnormal amount of hype, sometimes a guy may get a little more hype than normal but the amount of hype and expectations and praise Devonta Smith has receivers seems uncommon.

I think the eagles fan base are starved for a WR, they've been obsessed with WR since as long as I can remember.

The only non QB that I can remember generating as much hype was T.O. and he was an established all pro.

Devonta hasn't done anything yet except run around in some shorts, and look " Smoothe" doing it 

I'm excited to see when the live hits come, I'm not sure he can meet the lofty unrealistic expectations of some fans and media which is why I'm keeping my expectations even.

As for the rest I think Howie screwed the pooch with Ertz and every day he's here is another day that pooch needs lube.

I am pulling for Devonta, but I want to see what happens when he gets the full out, NFL snot-n-slobber hits on placed on him. Then I'll know more. I already know he will be able to get off the line of scrimmage, which is huge. Now I want to see if he can take those hits, or if he can protect himself properly in the NFL. We'll see.

On 7/20/2021 at 4:55 PM, EazyEaglez said:

I’m curious to know why people think the Eagles will run the ball more this year. Their backfield consists of Sanders who still hasn’t lived up to his potential, and has fumble problems, Scott who isn’t a guy you can give the ball 20-30 times to, a guy who failed in Detroit, a guy who failed here after he got a stinger and failed in Miami, and a rookie to go with a bunch of other guys who are basically just fodder. Not to mention the stories about tho owner obsessed with the pass. 

The coach likes to keep a good run/pass ratio going, but he will adjust to what players he has. Meaning if the RB's suck and struggle, he will adjust to that. If the RB's can do their jobs, he will be more balanced than recent coaches.

26 minutes ago, Talonblood said:

I am pulling for Devonta, but I want to see what happens when he gets the full out, NFL snot-n-slobber hits on placed on him. Then I'll know more. I already know he will be able to get off the line of scrimmage, which is huge. Now I want to see if he can take those hits, or if he can protect himself properly in the NFL. We'll see.

Those hits have been legislated out of the game for the most part, especially when it comes to receivers, not too mention DBs and LBs across the league are smaller.

For us guys that grew up in the 80s and 90s we all watched the highlights if Andre waters and Wes Hopkins lighting up scared receivers over the middle 

That doesn't happen anymore, the rules give receivers free reign over the middle and limit how when and where the DB can hit them.

As for protecting himself he did so in a good college conference where he took a number of hits, one doesn't catch over 100 passes and not take any hits.

I think he'll be fine, yet when he does get hurt which he will cuz they all do, there will be those that will say it's because of his weight.

 

1 hour ago, Talonblood said:

The coach likes to keep a good run/pass ratio going, but he will adjust to what players he has. Meaning if the RB's suck and struggle, he will adjust to that. If the RB's can do their jobs, he will be more balanced than recent coaches.

How do we know what he likes when he’s yet to really coach in the NFL? The running backs aren’t that special and our current TEs aren’t that great at run blocking either. He might want to be more balanced, but he really doesn’t have the personnel to do so. 

7 hours ago, EazyEaglez said:

Yeah I’m not as convinced. The Eagles as a franchise is better than the God awful Texans, but there is still a lot of issues with talent on the Eagles. 

It would be a franchise altering move whether he plays well or not.  They would mortgage their present and future to get him.  That's a game changer, one way or another. 

1 hour ago, Hawkeye said:

It would be a franchise altering move whether he plays well or not.  They would mortgage their present and future to get him.  That's a game changer, one way or another. 

He’s certainly elite, but overall that’s a type of move that could come back to haunt them. I don’t trust he’s going to be able to stay out of trouble and there’s no guarantee he won’t want to bail on the Eagles just like he wants to bail on the Texans, and how Carson bailed on the Eagles. 

9 hours ago, EazyEaglez said:

Yeah I’m not as convinced. The Eagles as a franchise is better than the God awful Texans, but there is still a lot of issues with talent on the Eagles. 

The biggest being at QB.

For all the Eagles issues they still made the playoffs 3 years in a row, it was only when Wentz completely went into the toilet that they didn’t. And if Wentz had a normal year in 2020, the Eagles surely would have won the division.

8 hours ago, EazyEaglez said:

How do we know what he likes when he’s yet to really coach in the NFL? The running backs aren’t that special and our current TEs aren’t that great at run blocking either. He might want to be more balanced, but he really doesn’t have the personnel to do so. 

He has talked about it before, openly. 

10 hours ago, Talonblood said:

I am 100% behind the entire org and team, unless they force me to turn on them by doing really stupid and crappy things all year. Even then, I am stuck with them- I was born in Philly and they are my team, win, lose or draw. 

DJax, but not as much as this kid.

On a side note, BWestbrook26's fave emoti is . Just so we all know.

10 hours ago, Sack that QB said:

The biggest being at QB.

For all the Eagles issues they still made the playoffs 3 years in a row, it was only when Wentz completely went into the toilet that they didn’t. And if Wentz had a normal year in 2020, the Eagles surely would have won the division.

Even with a good Wentz the Eagles averaged 8 wins a season and Watson having a great season with the Texans went nowhere. The truth is the Eagles lack overall talent. Winning the NFC East is like being the tallest member of a short person contest. 

2 hours ago, EazyEaglez said:

Even with a good Wentz the Eagles averaged 8 wins a season and Watson having a great season with the Texans went nowhere. The truth is the Eagles lack overall talent. Winning the NFC East is like being the tallest member of a short person contest. 

+1 for being politically correct

 

Who locks up that CB2 spot?

On 7/22/2021 at 9:22 AM, greend said:

Best I can do. What a shame

This is much better

 

 

On 7/22/2021 at 1:02 PM, Talonblood said:

I am pulling for Devonta, but I want to see what happens when he gets the full out, NFL snot-n-slobber hits on placed on him. 

I've seen video of him taking those hits in the SEC and he popped right up, no laying on the ground or anything of the such, dude ain't no wuss, he'll be fine.

I am kinda excited! 

Much more so for this season than I was for last season. 

3 hours ago, EagleVA said:

I've seen video of him tanking those hits in the SEC and he popped right up, no laying on the ground or anything of the such, dude ain't no wuss, he'll be fine.

That's good to hear. I hope this guy becomes a super star.

One good thing about this time of year.... this board comes alive. Love it- even arguing with some of the idiots on here is better than a silent board. 🤣