It is worthwhile revisiting the solid assessment e45 shared two weeks ago.

Regarding 1. The post Draft question is, "Will the team be worse in 2023 than it was in 2022?”  I have my own opinion, but I’m throwing that question out for everyone to weigh in.

Regarding 2 and 3, both are just as true now as they were before the Draft, and 3 nay even be more true.

How 4 works out may well be the key to the answer to the will the team be worse question … that, and will any of the rookies make meaningful contributions.

5 was unaffected by the Draft, but the turnover at DC looks even better given Gannon’s behavior.

On 4/15/2023 at 11:20 AM, eagle45 said:

Also...I don't know that it will all work out.  In fact, much of it probably WON'T work out.  But under the circumstances and constraints, I like what Howie did this offseason.

1. He avoided over-extending himself and retaining our key, big name vets.  This will make the team worse in 2023, but better beyond.

2. He kept the pieces that would have created gaping holes by preserving the starting CBs.  (You can hide a deficiency at DT or S and fairly easily find serviceable parts...a liability at CB is hard to run away from...and it pigeon holes you in the draft).

3. He is trusting his process and his draft picks, rather than spending untold millions just to keep his premium picks on the bench (Davis, Williams, Dean, Jurgens)..

4. He went for high upside players with his bargain bin shopping.  This is a very logical thing to do that most GMs just won't touch.  If you can only choose between a player that you KNOW isn't very good versus a player who might actually be great, but will probably either suck or get hurt...why not take a swing instead of bunting with the bases empty?

5. Minority hires at OC/DC.  Draft picks.

I would have been in on Mecole Hardman or Parris Campbell...they bring speed to the offense and some playmaking agility underneath, 2 things that would be really nice to add.  But neither have found much success in the NFL so far, so I understand rolling with Watkins for a year and then (ideally) trying to draft those traits in 2024.

Just don't screw up the draft.

 

3 minutes ago, mattwill said:

It is worthwhile revisiting the solid assessment e45 shared two weeks ago.

Regarding 1. The post Draft question is, "Will the team be worse in 2023 than it was in 2022?”  I have my own opinion, but I’m throwing that question out for everyone to weigh in.

Regarding 2 and 3, both are just as true now as they were before the Draft, and 3 nay even be more true.

How 4 works out may well be the key to the answer to the will the team be worse question … that, and will any of the rookies make meaningful contributions.

5 was unaffected by the Draft, but the turnover at DC looks even better given Gannon’s behavior.

 

He didn’t screw up the draft.  I don’t think the team looks worse either…record will be worse thanks to the schedule, but I think they have a shot at being a better team.

send a 5th round pick next year for patrick queen 

3 hours ago, Saltpeter said:

This guy is overblowing the run D concern (at least relative to last year), but the team definitely needs a backup NT. If I see Marlon T out there again I'm gonna lose my s***

The biggest OL is Mailata

2 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

The biggest OL is Mailata

As OT, TE, H-back or punter?

1 hour ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

Yes. He’d make it. 

Of course he would.  Absolutely right. 

25 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Trivia: after Georgia and Alabama, which college has the most players on the Eagles roster?

I cheated...I was gonna say it's OU...but it's OU and FSU.

One thing to keep in mind though...the draft was awesome.  We all love it.

They will get less boost in 2023 from this draft class than every single one of us is anticipating.  They are all rookies and this is a stacked roster.  Last year's draft class was almost completely irrelevant to the 2022 season.  

Just now, Wentz_Era said:

I cheated...I was gonna say it's OU...but it's OU and FSU.

It's also a bit premature of me to ask the question, considering almost half the roster is filler right now.

33 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Trivia: after Georgia and Alabama, which college has the most players on the Eagles roster?

Mississippi St?

6 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

One thing to keep in mind though...the draft was awesome.  We all love it.

They will get less boost in 2023 from this draft class than every single one of us is anticipating.  They are all rookies and this is a stacked roster.  Last year's draft class was almost completely irrelevant to the 2022 season.  

but some of last years draft class should give a boost as well. Are you taking that into account? Carter, best player in the draft, isn't a redshirt. He will play. Smith will likely be situational. Swift is a player. I would say the unknown is if Brown can come in and be productive at Safety.

I realize there are some question marks, but the idea of adding five high draft picks into starting/ rotational roles on the defense this year is really exciting. Davis, Dean, Carter, Smith, and Brown will bring some much needed young talent to the defense. Assuming most of them hit and they add another guy or two next year this is how you rebuild a defense when your franchise QB gets paid. Not to mention Ringo who should push for a starting spot at CB in two years.

Remember the end of The Princess Bride when Inigo Montoya was lamenting that now that he had achieved his life long goal, he didn't know what to do with the rest of his life? That's how I feel right now. I wait and wait and wait...full of excitement...for months and months for the draft. I literally count down the hours for much of it. And then when it hits, it hits hard, at full force, and is over just like that. And here I am, just worn out mentally and in a weird way distraught that we have another twelve months before the next one comes. Fortunately there's the actual season ahead of us, so I'll be okay. And the Eagles should be good, I think, so that makes it even better.

But still, it's a weird feeling right now.

Just now, Next_Up said:

but some of last years draft class should give a boost as well. Are you taking that into account? Carter, best player in the draft, isn't a redshirt. He will play. Smith will likely be situational. Swift is a player. I would say the unknown is if Brown can come in and be productive at Safety.

Brown would have to bomb in camp to not at least be the 3rd safety and you would think a starting spot from week 1 is a real possibility. 

Just now, Next_Up said:

but some of last years draft class should give a boost as well. Are you taking that into account? Carter, best player in the draft, isn't a redshirt. He will play. Smith will likely be situational. Swift is a player. I would say the unknown is if Brown can come in and be productive at Safety.

I think Brown is the Week 1 starter.  It won't take long for him to outperform the rest of the safeties on the roster.

Just now, FranklinFldEBUpper said:

Remember the end of The Princess Bride when Inigo Montoya was lamenting that now that he had achieved his life long goal, he didn't know what to do with the rest of his life? That's how I feel right now. I wait and wait and wait...full of excitement...for months and months for the draft. I literally count down the hours for much of it. And then when it hits, it hits hard, at full force, and is over just like that. And here I am, just worn out mentally and in a weird way distraught that we have another twelve months before the next one comes. Fortunately there's the actual season ahead of us, so I'll be okay. And the Eagles should be good, I think, so that makes it even better.

But still, it's a weird feeling right now.

I couldn't have said it any better myself. I almost feel depressed today and like I don't know what to do with myself any time soon.

30 minutes ago, mattwill said:

It is worthwhile revisiting the solid assessment e45 shared two weeks ago.

Regarding 1. The post Draft question is, "Will the team be worse in 2023 than it was in 2022?”  I have my own opinion, but I’m throwing that question out for everyone to weigh in.

Regarding 2 and 3, both are just as true now as they were before the Draft, and 3 nay even be more true.

How 4 works out may well be the key to the answer to the will the team be worse question … that, and will any of the rookies make meaningful contributions.

5 was unaffected by the Draft, but the turnover at DC looks even better given Gannon’s behavior.

 

On paper, I think this team is about equal with more variance to the downside.

Practically, I think it’s a worse team. We are relying on more question marks, be they rookies, unproven young vets or injury prone players, and some of those question marks will have an answer we don’t like.

The two biggest questions I see are at RB and QB. If Penny and Swift can stay healthy, we’ve massively upgraded the RB position. If not, it’s a massive downgrade. At QB, was this a flash in the pan season by Hurts or something he will build upon? Because if he continues to improve, we might be a better team even though other positions got worse.

 

 

16 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

One thing to keep in mind though...the draft was awesome.  We all love it.

They will get less boost in 2023 from this draft class than every single one of us is anticipating.  They are all rookies and this is a stacked roster.  Last year's draft class was almost completely irrelevant to the 2022 season.  

Not sure I agree. Carter will get more snaps than Davis did, Brown I expect to be a starter sooner rather than later, and Smith should be in the pass rush rotation from day 1.

I think this rookie class could contribute a lot, and do so early. 10 combined sacks from Carter and Smith is a reasonable goal. Brown winning the starting job by mid season is also a reasonable expectation.

That would be better than we’ve gotten most years.

2 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

I couldn't have said it any better myself. I almost feel depressed today and like I don't know what to do with myself any time soon.

Rookie mini camp is this weekend.  We have that to look forward to, not that the Eagles will give us much access.  I'm a nerd about things.  I'm excited to see what numbers the players pick (posted my predictions earlier today).  Love to see what gear they end up going with. Again, I'm a huge nerd when it comes to equipment and the aesthetics of the game.  This goes for every team, not just the Eagles.  I'll send this week and weekend looking at team websites to see what numbers guys are going with.  Do they keep the same helmet set up as they did in college and so on.

For instance.  Sydney Brown wore a Vicis Zero 1 helmet for a bit but finished his career in a Schutt F7 (my favorite helmet style).  The Eagles don't have too many Schutt guys and are heavily Riddell equipped team.  Will any of the rookies be trying out the hideous Riddell Axiom (Hasson Reddick's motorcycle looking helmet).  A lot of times we see rookies try a different helmet at rookie camp before making their final decision.

Sydney Brown in Vicis Zero 1

 

Sydney Brown in Schutt F7

29 minutes ago, Next_Up said:

As OT, TE, H-back or punter?

DT, it was a DT related question.   can Mailata take up 2 guys?  If Mailata was going against Kelce, would Kelce need help?  6'8 365.   You could just have Mailata go in and target one opposing OL for a bullrush. Maybe their guy gets quickly marched backward, maybe he doesn't,  maybe they send help.  Truth is that the Eagles have enough big and good DTs.   But giant OLs could be giant DTs especially if all they're asked to do is be giant, unable to be handled by one, and take up space. 

15 minutes ago, Next_Up said:

but some of last years draft class should give a boost as well. Are you taking that into account? Carter, best player in the draft, isn't a redshirt. He will play. Smith will likely be situational. Swift is a player. I would say the unknown is if Brown can come in and be productive at Safety.

I expect a major boost from last year's draft class.  I think the aggregate of Davis/Williams (although Williams is 2021) should exceed the loss of Hargrave.  I think Jurgens should match Seumalo.  And I think Dean exceed Edwards.

The second year draft class is all-important in making a team better or worse.

 

10 minutes ago, TEW said:

On paper, I think this team is about equal with more variance to the downside.

Practically, I think it’s a worse team. We are relying on more question marks, be they rookies, unproven young vets or injury prone players, and some of those question marks will have an answer we don’t like.

The two biggest questions I see are at RB and QB. If Penny and Swift can stay healthy, we’ve massively upgraded the RB position. If not, it’s a massive downgrade. At QB, was this a flash in the pan season by Hurts or something he will build upon? Because if he continues to improve, we might be a better team even though other positions got worse.

 

 

Hurts has 2 questions.  You hit the first.  

The second...and this applies to Hurts, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, soon-to-be Burrow and Herbert...is any non-Mahomes QB in the NFL good enough to carry a team to a title with the limitations a contract like that imposes on a roster?

1 hour ago, eglz1 said:

Didn't want to have to answer any 'uncomfortable' questions about the phone call(s)?

Since he took the call, didn’t make it, I wonder if this isn’t Ossenfort suggesting the level of control he has as GM. 

Just now, bpac55 said:

Rookie mini camp is this weekend.  We have that to look forward to, not that the Eagles will give us much access.  I'm a nerd about things.  I'm excited to see what numbers the players pick (posted my predictions earlier today).  Love to see what gear they end up going with. Again, I'm a huge nerd when it comes to equipment and the aesthetics of the game.  This goes for every team, not just the Eagles.  I'll send this week and weekend looking at team websites to see what numbers guys are going with.  Do they keep the same helmet set up as they did in college and so on.

For instance.  Sydney Brown wore a Vicis Zero 1 helmet for a bit but finished his career in a Schutt F7 (my favorite helmet style).  The Eagles don't have too many Schutt guys and are heavily Riddell equipped team.  Will any of the rookies be trying out the hideous Riddell Axiom (Hasson Reddick's motorcycle looking helmet).  A lot of times we see rookies try a different helmet at rookie camp before making their final decision.

Sydney Brown in Vicis Zero 1

 

Sydney Brown in Schutt F7

I missed your number predictions. I'll give it a go but only with a few guys:

Jalen Carter - 98

Nolan Smith - 0

Tyler Steen - 74

Sydney Brown - 30

Kelee Ringo - 25

Rashaad Penny - 10

D'Andre Swift - 3

Terrell Edmunds - 22

57 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

He didn’t screw up the draft.  I don’t think the team looks worse either…record will be worse thanks to the schedule, but I think they have a shot at being a better team.

Agreed