9 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Sounds like a BS report to me. 

Yup.

The idea that Wentz will just pick where he gets to start next year is absurd. 

33 minutes ago, austinfan said:

The obsession with Hurts is amusing.

If this team had an average defense, they would have gone 10-7 or better with Hurts at QB.

Not good, just average, able to get some stops in the second half against decent QBs.

Is it a run heavy offense? Sure, what a concept, build around your strengths, the OL and the best running QB in the NFL.

Can they do better? At some point. But bring in a conventional pocket QB and teams will have more success against the run, so that QB will be in more 3rd and long situations . . .

Don't assume a better passer would necessarily be a better QB - since the object is to win games, not accumulate passing counting stats. A clear upgrade over Hurts as a QB (not just a passer) will require a top ten caliber QB. Ask Indy if a strong arm is enough.

Both PFF and FO take into account situations, and PFF includes running, so when they rate Hurts 11th and 17th between them, upgrading isn't a simple matter as just getting a better passer.

 

There is no QB in this draft I'd take over Hurts, all have flaws, all will need years if ever to become top 20 QBs. None have top 10 potential.

My prediction is the Eagles go 10-7 and win a playoff game next year, which would be pretty good in the 2nd year of a rebuild.

This draft is going to add a lot of talent, not just the top 4 picks, but having a 4th and 3 5ths (before they trade Dillard) in a deep draft allows you to add a starter and a top reserve later in the draft.  And they have enough cap room to add a couple solid starters.

What this team needs is speed in the back 7, a power back, possession WR and a H-back. Though I'd like to see Stoll used more than just a blocker.

With a true power back paired with Sanders, Eagles will rarely be in 2nd and long, so play action will be available on a regular basis. With a possession WR, Hurts will have a more reliable target underneath, same if Stoll can become a zone buster.  Add some OL depth for Stoutland to mold.

Stoll is my 2022 surprise, he was a top blocker at TE as a rookie, but he's not a big stiff, ran 4.68 at 247 lbs (probably more like 4.8 at 260 if that's his current weight), 6.93 cone. Wasn't a great route runner or explosive player in college but had sure hands. The kind of TE that defenses tend to ignore in a two TE formation, but with good coaching can become that reliable underneath target like Celek and Lewis.

Your assumption is a pocket QB = less success running the ball even with a top 3 offensive line?  I'd postulate a better passing game QB opens up the run game as it keeps the safeties out of the box, linebackers can't simply crowd the LOS.  Makes a team less predictable.   Allows a team run out of passing formations and pass out of running formations.  

I do agree that doing what you do best is important amd Sirianni figured it out.  

As for the defense, I think it made enough stops but the offense could go half a game or more without consecutive 1st downs or 1st downs at all, and therefore long stretches without scoring.  The D needs help, that is not in question but even a good D would struggle with the inconsistency of the offense.  

Simply adding a power back with Sanders and assuming there will be minimal 2nd/3rd and long is not reasonable.   It presumes 1st down is a predominantly running play.  The NFL will figure that out and stop it, even with a great offensive line.  

Hurts is terrible making quick decisions and throws underneath, amd quick decisions are necessary for underneath throws. Smith can get open underneath at will and that part of our offense was eliminated because Hurts can't do it.  If Hurts could make quick, underneath,  timing throws Smith would have easily had 90 caches amd over 1000 yards, and oodles of 1st down receptions.  

 

7 minutes ago, Original Sin said:

Wentz is what he is at this point , average at best QB , who will be a backup soon .

Tampa Bay’s next QB. 

@austinfan Maybe you can clear this up for me. You said that pocket QBs make it so that teams aren't as successful running, yes? 

Why then (and this is one of many examples) did a team like the 2012 Patriots have comparable numbers in terms of rushing to the Eagles this year? This year, we averaged about 160 on the ground, scored 1.5 TDs rushing and played an extra game. Take one games worth away, to be fair, and the rushing yards are close with New England having more rushing TDs. 

This is with a somewhat older, immobile QB who also tossed the ball for almost 4700 yards and 34 TDs.

So an offense that didn't focus on running the ball, still ran the ball just as effectively and were infinitely better passing the ball.

What was it you were saying about pocket QBs hindering the running game, again?

3 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Tampa Bay’s next QB. 

Lol i thought last week Arians is the type of guy to take chances thinking he could fix him like he did with Carson Palmer. 

29 minutes ago, austinfan said:

Hurts doesn't need a lot of improvement to be a "winning QB." His legs are a huge asset, just has to become more consistent from the pocket, make quicker decisions, refine his mechanics, etc. I don't see a franchise QB in his future, but realistically, how many QBs play a decade for a team like McNabb did for us. Before and after we cycled through a lot of QBs. But for 3-5 years, a Hurts who improves as a passer and has his legs, could win a lot of games.

Mahomes was an instant success because he took over a great team, it's not like they weren't winning games with Smith, 11-5, 12-4, 10-6 before Mahomes took over.

Watson scored all of 7 points in his first PO game. Jones played just as bad for NE as Hurts did for us, and he was #15 in last year's draft. I can find numerous other QBs who struggled in the playoffs at the start of their careers.

Most QBs don't arrive until their 4-5th season as a starter, Eli took 6 years (slow learner), the quick arrivals tend to be the top guys. The guys without uber talent need game experience for the game to slow down and let them compensate for middle of the road skills.

Translation: Hurts needs to learn how to be a QB before he can become a QB.

4 minutes ago, Swoop said:

@austinfan Maybe you can clear this up for me. You said that pocket QBs make it so that teams aren't as successful running, yes? 

Why then (and this is one of many examples) did a team like the 2012 Patriots have comparable numbers in terms of rushing to the Eagles this year? This year, we averaged about 160 on the ground, scored 1.5 TDs rushing and played an extra game. Take one games worth away, to be fair, and the rushing yards are close with New England having more rushing TDs. 

This is with a somewhat older, immobile QB who also tossed the ball for almost 4700 yards and 34 TDs.

So an offense that didn't focus on running the ball, still ran the ball just as effectively and were infinitely better passing the ball.

What was it you were saying about pocket QBs hindering the running game, again?

Don’t worry it’s all about the 3-5 year plan to get a QB. We won’t need to worry about a QB until everything is completed on the team and we apparently just stop building once we get a QB.

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

Lol i thought last week Arians is the type of guy to take chances thinking he could fix him like he did with Carson Palmer. 

Arians would be dumb. He should let it resolve itself. 
 

Have a bad QB like Hurts or Trask, yada yada yada, you have a franchise QB

14 hours ago, Alphagrand said:

Best and most realistic option I’ve seen suggested on here is trade back #19 to CIN for picks #31 and 63.  That would give the Eagles 3 first round picks and two second round picks.

With that ammunition you could draft DE at #15, CB at #16, Carson Strong at #31 (if his medicals check out), and still be able to draft LB at #51 and S at #63 (or vice versa).  3rd round pick at #83 can be the best big WR on the board to augment a FA WR signing.

Strong can backup Minshew for 2022, Hurts would be shipped off for a 2023 3rd round pick …. and the retool is further ahead 

Another scenario could be Buffalo's #25 + #57 for Eagles #16, provided the Bills love DT Jordan Davis enough. If so, they'd probably need to leap-frog the Chargers who pick at #17 (and badly need a DT themselves).

You could even then do a Bengals trade of #31 + #97 (OT Penning or G/C Johnson), giving the Eagles seven top 100 picks.

FA - Safety Marcus Williams or Terrell Edmunds

Day 1
15 - DE Johnson (FSU) or Walker (Georgia)
19 - CB Booth (Clemson)
31-  QB Strong (Nevada)

Day 2
51 - OL Salyer (Georgia)
57 - LB Muma (Wyoming)
83 - WR Pierce (Cinn) or Watson (ND St)
97 - DT Jones (UConn)

Day 3 shopping list - a North-South RB, a back-up TE, a C prospect and one of the Punt Gods.

1 hour ago, austinfan said:

The obsession with Hurts is amusing.

If this team had an average defense, they would have gone 10-7 or better with Hurts at QB.

Not good, just average, able to get some stops in the second half against decent QBs.

Is it a run heavy offense? Sure, what a concept, build around your strengths, the OL and the best running QB in the NFL.

Can they do better? At some point. But bring in a conventional pocket QB and teams will have more success against the run, so that QB will be in more 3rd and long situations . . .

Don't assume a better passer would necessarily be a better QB - since the object is to win games, not accumulate passing counting stats. A clear upgrade over Hurts as a QB (not just a passer) will require a top ten caliber QB. Ask Indy if a strong arm is enough.

Both PFF and FO take into account situations, and PFF includes running, so when they rate Hurts 11th and 17th between them, upgrading isn't a simple matter as just getting a better passer.

 

There is no QB in this draft I'd take over Hurts, all have flaws, all will need years if ever to become top 20 QBs. None have top 10 potential.

My prediction is the Eagles go 10-7 and win a playoff game next year, which would be pretty good in the 2nd year of a rebuild.

This draft is going to add a lot of talent, not just the top 4 picks, but having a 4th and 3 5ths (before they trade Dillard) in a deep draft allows you to add a starter and a top reserve later in the draft.  And they have enough cap room to add a couple solid starters.

What this team needs is speed in the back 7, a power back, possession WR and a H-back. Though I'd like to see Stoll used more than just a blocker.

With a true power back paired with Sanders, Eagles will rarely be in 2nd and long, so play action will be available on a regular basis. With a possession WR, Hurts will have a more reliable target underneath, same if Stoll can become a zone buster.  Add some OL depth for Stoutland to mold.

Stoll is my 2022 surprise, he was a top blocker at TE as a rookie, but he's not a big stiff, ran 4.68 at 247 lbs (probably more like 4.8 at 260 if that's his current weight), 6.93 cone. Wasn't a great route runner or explosive player in college but had sure hands. The kind of TE that defenses tend to ignore in a two TE formation, but with good coaching can become that reliable underneath target like Celek and Lewis.

And if they had a better QB, one who could read a D, anticipate throws, had pocket presence and didn't dance in a mostly clean (by NFL standards and not college) pocket or run into pressure, and could see more of the field (and make some of those potential big plays Hurts missed) then we could have finished 10-7 or better by outscoring teams even with a suspect D.

This is an absurd statement.  The #1 priority of being a QB is the ability to PASS the ball, so a better passer would naturally be a better overall QB.  I think you typed this out wrong as to what you were actually trying to say.  I think your point is about arm strength because so many others usually list Hurts' lack of arm strength as one of his big weaknesses.  He could improve his arm strength by improving his mechanics which surprisingly suck since he comes from a football family and played at TWO big football universities and would have some of the best coaching at that level.  I am more concerned about the things I listed above than simply arm strength.  To me, a better passer is a QB who has all those things and not just arm strength, though it certainly helps.  So a QB who has those things would definitely be a better overall QB than Hurts who lacks those things even if that QB can't run the ball for 1st downs and is just only mobile enough to subtly maneuver in the pocket to make throws down the field.  If you have to make the case of Hurts being a better QB because of his running ability then that's a cover up for his lack of being able to do job #1 as a QB and that's to pass the damned ball, effectively.

It's not solely about stats and I don't think there's 1 poster who has made any reference to wanting a QB who simply puts up better stats.  I'm fairly confident we all know it's about more than just putting up gaudy stats, even considering some of the more 'colourful' posters here.  It's about playing the QB position the right way and being effective.  That doesn't mean the best stats.  It means putting your team in a position to win and when the moment falls to you that you get the job done.

And with Hurts as our QB this will be the top of our ceiling every season.  As I_P stated, we will never win the ultimate prize.  At best we'll only ever have a competitive team that will have a winning record, contend for the playoffs, and maybe win a playoff game vs one of the WC teams or lesser division winners.  But when it comes time to play a real SB contender with a top tier QB and a D that's either good or opportunistic we will fail.

Agree we have the opportunity to add talent to the roster in this draft.  It's a deep draft at certain positions and there should be some good players available with those 4 picks in rounds 4-5.  Positions like RB, TE, and OL especially while positions like LB, DL, WR, and DB there could be good value for depth guys.  We need young upgrades at certain starting spots, but we also to need to add depth as we are lacking in that as well.

 

 

37 minutes ago, Freshmilk said:

Your assumption is a pocket QB = less success running the ball even with a top 3 offensive line?  I'd postulate a better passing game QB opens up the run game as it keeps the safeties out of the box, linebackers can't simply crowd the LOS.  Makes a team less predictable.   Allows a team run out of passing formations and pass out of running formations.  

I do agree that doing what you do best is important amd Sirianni figured it out.  

As for the defense, I think it made enough stops but the offense could go half a game or more without consecutive 1st downs or 1st downs at all, and therefore long stretches without scoring.  The D needs help, that is not in question but even a good D would struggle with the inconsistency of the offense.  

Simply adding a power back with Sanders and assuming there will be minimal 2nd/3rd and long is not reasonable.   It presumes 1st down is a predominantly running play.  The NFL will figure that out and stop it, even with a great offensive line.  

Hurts is terrible making quick decisions and throws underneath, amd quick decisions are necessary for underneath throws. Smith can get open underneath at will and that part of our offense was eliminated because Hurts can't do it.  If Hurts could make quick, underneath,  timing throws Smith would have easily had 90 caches amd over 1000 yards, and oodles of 1st down receptions.  

 

TB and the NYG both laid down the blueprint for how to neutralize the Eagles' O.  Stack the box with 8 defenders, take away Hurts' running lanes and keep him in the pocket as much as possible, disguise coverage as much as possible, and minimize the Eagles' ground game which forces Hurts to have to beat you with his arm and processing. 

Part of me wants to see Hurts at QB in 2022 with opposing DCs doing this just to see what the outcome would be.  I'd wager it'd be pretty damned ugly and hopefully put to bed once and for all the notion he can be a top tier saviour of a QB.

And yes, a pocket QB who is effective throwing the ball will have opposing Ds sitting back off the LoS to allow the OL to get numbers up front and make for a more effective ground game.

 

The EMB Blog halftime show 

12 hours ago, vikas83 said:

Because we will run the ball like this year, which will enable us to beat bad teams. Plus, look at our schedule. NFC East is 3 wins. NFC north is at least 2. Same with the AFC South. So there’s 7 wins with the Steelers (no QB), Cardinals (depends on when we play them) and Saints (no QB and new coach). 

You have more confidence in this team than I do

32 minutes ago, Green_Guinness said:

And if they had a better QB, one who could read a D, anticipate throws, had pocket presence and didn't dance in a mostly clean (by NFL standards and not college) pocket or run into pressure, and could see more of the field (and make some of those potential big plays Hurts missed) then we could have finished 10-7 or better by outscoring teams even with a suspect D.

This is an absurd statement.  The #1 priority of being a QB is the ability to PASS the ball, so a better passer would naturally be a better overall QB.  I think you typed this out wrong as to what you were actually trying to say.  I think your point is about arm strength because so many others usually list Hurts' lack of arm strength as one of his big weaknesses.  He could improve his arm strength by improving his mechanics which surprisingly suck since he comes from a football family and played at TWO big football universities and would have some of the best coaching at that level.  I am more concerned about the things I listed above than simply arm strength.  To me, a better passer is a QB who has all those things and not just arm strength, though it certainly helps.  So a QB who has those things would definitely be a better overall QB than Hurts who lacks those things even if that QB can't run the ball for 1st downs and is just only mobile enough to subtly maneuver in the pocket to make throws down the field.  If you have to make the case of Hurts being a better QB because of his running ability then that's a cover up for his lack of being able to do job #1 as a QB and that's to pass the damned ball, effectively.

It's not solely about stats and I don't think there's 1 poster who has made any reference to wanting a QB who simply puts up better stats.  I'm fairly confident we all know it's about more than just putting up gaudy stats, even considering some of the more 'colourful' posters here.  It's about playing the QB position the right way and being effective.  That doesn't mean the best stats.  It means putting your team in a position to win and when the moment falls to you that you get the job done.

And with Hurts as our QB this will be the top of our ceiling every season.  As I_P stated, we will never win the ultimate prize.  At best we'll only ever have a competitive team that will have a winning record, contend for the playoffs, and maybe win a playoff game vs one of the WC teams or lesser division winners.  But when it comes time to play a real SB contender with a top tier QB and a D that's either good or opportunistic we will fail.

Agree we have the opportunity to add talent to the roster in this draft.  It's a deep draft at certain positions and there should be some good players available with those 4 picks in rounds 4-5.  Positions like RB, TE, and OL especially while positions like LB, DL, WR, and DB there could be good value for depth guys.  We need young upgrades at certain starting spots, but we also to need to add depth as we are lacking in that as well.

 

 

 The problem with the green statement is that some non elite QBs have won the Super Bowl on teams with great defenses.  That does not mean that Hurts is capable of winning a Super Bowl.  Not at all.  It also shows how negligent Howie was in not feeding talent to the defense.  Now if @austinfan claims that is because Schwartz would only play veterans, that would be Howie’s and Doug’s fault for accepting that.  

Otherwise, an excellent post.

2 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

The EMB Blog halftime show 

It’s gonna be Amazon. 

1 minute ago, WentzFan11 said:

It’s gonna be Amazon. 

Yep.

1 minute ago, WentzFan11 said:

It’s gonna be Amazon. 

You don’t think it’s RC Colas time to shine?

2 minutes ago, WentzFan11 said:

It’s gonna be Amazon. 

 

Just now, Swoop said:

Yep.

The Sun

planet Mercury

planet Venus

planet Amazon

planet Mars (once terraformed and colonized, planet Tesla)

planet Jupiter

planet Saturn

planet Uranus

planet Neptune

 

4 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

The EMB Blog halftime show 

Pepsi realizes what a waste of funds that is.  Given the huge amount of flushes that occur during Super Bowl half time, it should be a toilet paper company. 

2 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

You don’t think it’s RC Colas time to shine?

Was really looking forward to the porn hub halftime show. 

If Jalen Hurts was a soda he’d be a Dr. Pepper. Some people like it, you don’t know if it’s a Cola or a Root Beer, it’s got fake credentials attached to it but that gives it more swag than a Pepsi or Coke.

9 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

The EMB Blog halftime show 

I could definitely see Amazon going for it. They already have TNF

5 minutes ago, WentzFan11 said:

It’s gonna be Amazon. 

Nah, Bezos has to pay for taking down and putting back up a bridge to get his yacht to sea.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60241145

Frankly, I would rather see Amazon pay a dividend to its stockholders.

 

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

Was really looking forward to the porn hub halftime show. 

The Orchids of Asia halftime show