8 hours ago, Texas Eagle said:

At least the 107 is dry heat. 107 in Austin? Forget about it. Find the nearest natural spring and don’t get out until night.

Head up 306 and get a tube for you and a tube for the cooler. Float down to Gruene (silly spellcheck wants to correct the spelling to Greene - at least it has the pronunciation right), a nice winery and a tasting room for three wineries in town then stumble to Gruene Hall and see who is playing.  Pardi was playing at the place offf the river on 306 last spring. Cures 107 real fast.  

Hippie Hollow was my favorite place to cool off as a teenager and while in college back in the 70s. On Lake Travis. Friend moved there with his family and they had a boat. Wonder if the UT coeds still nude suntan there. 

On 3/25/2023 at 1:20 AM, TEW said:

Sanders is not a good receiving back and he was getting feature back snaps. If you draft Gibbs he’s a featured weapon in both the pass and run game.

I see Gibbs as a 10-15 carry and 4-6 catch per game kind of guy. The type of player who would flirt with 1K rushing and receiving.

Gainwell should be in line for more rushes as well. He only had like 55 last year. He can easily take an extra 100 and leave 150 for Gibbs. And then if Penny is healthy he’s a volume rusher.

Let’s look at the pick as an investment, pick 30 is = 620, think you can get Eric Gray in the 4th, say = 50 and Deuce Vaughn  ( very Spoles like, even from K State ) in the early 5th round say 35ish and along with Penny, Gainwell.Not sure how good those value charts are. I do not see Gibbs anywhere close to Faulk, only one was Westy nobody else

 

2 hours ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

He sucks that’s why it wasn’t that much

I actually think he will be "fine" if they use him to his strengths which is around the line of scrimmage and the intermediate area a bit. A lot of the early readings is he's going to be a deeper safety which is not playing him to his strengths. I did listen to one podcast that said he will fit in Desai's defense in the intermediate area, 5-10 yards off the ball and be a disguise type safety. If that's the case, I'm "ok" with it.

But man, you can't just blow past only 5 interceptions in 5 years and zero, f'n zero, forced fumbles. He is anything but a "playmaker". 

Did I want CJ back plus a safety in the draft? Yes, I really did. I still think they trade for one of the younger safeties; Savage, Winfield Jr. , Chinn. At least I'm being very hopeful, maybe I can will it into reality. 

8 hours ago, Texas Eagle said:

It gets brutal. We’re starting to enter summer. Last summer was especially brutal. I’m not sure I can recall a day below 100 between May-October.

Was in the area in February walking the Riverwalk in 80 degree temperatures in shorts on our way to Corpus, Aransas and South Padre Island National Seashore.  (When your daughter is a little older, I highly recommend going to watch the release of the turtle hatchlings.  Obviously the turtles are protected from the onlookers but it’s fun to watch them waddle to the waves.  Great beaches.  The campground gets full pretty quick.)

7 hours ago, Random Reglar said:

thanks for the positive.  I've been thinking about it more. 

https://ras.football/ras-compare/?&p1=12072&p2=20197&pos=WR

Watkins v Mariota Ras compare.
Mariota has a big advantage in agility,  3 cone, shuttle.   Mariota has a Ras, as a WR, of 9.5

I don't like 3 WRs on the line, plus TE.   I'd rather have 3 backs in the backfield.  Left Halfback, Fullback, Quarterback.  That's the way it was for quite a few years.  Right now, there are only 2 positions that have question marks as to who the starter is,  slot/wr3/te2/fb and running back.   I'd put Mariota in one of those 3 back spots.   He's practiced throwing to AJ Brown.   The versatile back.  The Eagles have a lot of players they could rotate into the versatile back slot.   Cam Jurgens is someone I wanted doing that, in a Patrick Ricard type role.  You can give backup OLs snaps either there, or put them in for any of the starters, and move the starter to the versatile back slot.  I'd like to see innovation from that spot.  But have the OLs run for a TD.   Have them in the backfield pushing.  Fletcher Cox expressed interest in playing offense.   There's really a long list of players that could take turns at versatile back.  I think they'd like it.  If the function of slot wr is to distract defenses to make it easy for 3 star pass catchers, any of these versatile backs will make it easier, maybe not in the same way.   Jordan Davis.   Jordan Davis in motion before the snap.  Is the defense going to think,  just ignore that, it's eye candy?    

 

 

 

Value or players that aren't good?

 

Value. Getting veterans who want to play in Philly for less = good.

8 hours ago, Utebird said:

That sounds bad, it gets humid here in KS in the summer more so than UT at least but I imagine Austin is like x10 more than here.

We actually just got back from Texas, went down to Surfside beach just out side of Galveston, rented a little beach house right on the beach took my kids to see the ocean, it was fun, we drove, went through Dallas on the way there, my wife told me to stop saying Dallas sucks the whole drive through 😄 lots of big trucks with their stupid blue stars on them probably not too happy with my eagles license plate holder...

Wasn't too humid yet though in Surfside nor too busy so we missed the heat and the crowds.

Must be tough being an eagles fan in Texas.

Surfside over by Freeport/Brazosport.  Great time of year to do that.  Skeeters can be bad in summer if the wind isn’t coming off the ocean at night. 

9 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

 

Value or players that aren't good?

 

Leaning more towards players that aren’t good. Penny will be good if he can stay healthy but I think I’d rather have Jalen Mills and Epps as the starting safeties over those two 

51 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Head up 306 and get a tube for you and a tube for the cooler. Float down to Gruene (silly spellcheck wants to correct the spelling to Greene - at least it has the pronunciation right), a nice winery and a tasting room for three wineries in town then stumble to Gruene Hall and see who is playing.  Pardi was playing at the place offf the river on 306 last spring. Cures 107 real fast.  

Hippie Hollow was my favorite place to cool off as a teenager and while in college back in the 70s. On Lake Travis. Friend moved there with his family and they had a boat. Wonder if the UT coeds still nude suntan there. 

Oh have certainly done my share of floating in New Braunfels & San Marcos. Gruene is a great little place. 

Hippie hollow is now a nude "beach” for everyone that goes. I’ve never been as it isn’t my thing but go past it on my friend’s boat quite a lot.

On 3/25/2023 at 6:19 AM, Utebird said:

I don't think it was as much of a drop as it was just a really bad route, still can't figure out why the heck he slowed up coming out of his route, he keeps running he catches it in stride and walks into the end zone, instead he has to try to make a perfectly thrown ball into a really hard catch.

I'd say it was a one off but he had run the same lazy routes previous weeks so 

I don't know, I was frustrated with him, but like I said if he can get right the eagles are better when he's good 

 

25 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

 

Value or players that aren't good?

 

They are players that no one wants. That’s undeniable.
 

 They were all very high draft picks, so there was talent there once.  
 

If the Eagles can excavate that talent from them, then that’s outstanding.  No one wanted the guys they are replacing either when the eagles gave them a shot.

9 hours ago, BigEFly said:

Body thrower never a tackler. Allergic to tackling. 

His play on the field says the opposite ,look at the majority of safeties and their college stats , Evans is right there with the likes of

Branch 

Winfield jr

Adams

Simmons

Thomas

James

 

 

9 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

They are players that no one wants. That’s undeniable.
 

 They were all very high draft picks, so there was talent there once.  
 

If the Eagles can excavate that talent from them, then that’s outstanding.  No one wanted the guys they are replacing either when the eagles gave them a shot.

I don't remember a rich history of former high picks succeeding in a new setting. Typically that's a GM still loving his draft eval even when reality showed otherwise.  But we'll see. I don't think they are done either

1 hour ago, eagle45 said:

I've been musing over ways to use Gibbs.  While I do think he'd be a great addition to the offense, even at 30, I struggle to find first round value in a rotational RB who either won't be around for a second contract or who will get a second contract and will be overpaid and will peter out by the end of it.

He'd be fun to integrate into the offense, but I just don't think I could see it in round 1.  To be honest, I'd be more interested in seeing him dedicate himself as a full time WR.  That's an opportunity to play more snaps with better health.

Would you take Marshall Faulk at 30? Westbrook? CMC?

First of all, the 2nd contract is irrelevant. It is a completely different opportunity cost. The opportunity cost is 5 years of Gibbs vs 5 years of whatever other player you would select.

And usually, the opportunity cost is too high to take a RB because the marginal improvement over replacement is low compared to other positions. HOWEVER, Gibbs is unique. And I don’t throw that term around lightly. His combination of speed, hand size, catching ability, and open field moves are unprecedented.

I’ve made the comparison before, but Faulk is the only player who has ever come close as a prospect. Faulk was slightly bigger, slightly slower, with smaller hands. It’s not going out on a limb to say that Gibbs has the potential (obviously nothing is guaranteed) to be the greatest receiving back of all time. He has elite deep threat speed by WR standards. He has elite open field moves by RB standards. His hand size is above average by WR standards. And he has a legitimate RB body. 

As far as RB vs WR, the meta with him is that he is a WR/RB hybrid who can legitimately play both positions. That being the case, you want him at RB because he will be more impactful to the overall offense in combination with Hurts as a running threat. If you just make him the slot receiver, you’re back to having a normal RB and lose the matchup advantage.

But with Gibbs at RB, every play becomes a stress test on the defensive personnel grouping. How many DBs and how many LBs are on the field? Because by simply moving Gibbs between RB and WR, you’re going to exploit whichever sacrifice the defense makes. Again, think back to those Rams teams and how great Faulk make them. Now imagine if Kurt Warner could run like Hurts. Because that’s the potential with Hurts, Gibbs, Brown, Smith and Goedert.

If the Birds were to go CB early I’m wondering if Bradberry or Slay would/could move to safety. May be something for Slay to consider if he wants to prolong his career. 

The best comparison that I've seen for Gibbs is CJ Spiller or lighter Alvin Kamara. At 60? Let's ride. At 31? I'm not sure that's worth it.

A good client brought me Eagles Swag...sweet!

1 minute ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

If the Birds were to go CB early I’m wondering if Bradberry or Slay would/could move to safety. May be something for Slay to consider if he wants to prolong his career. 

They didn't pay them that money to play safety

Just now, pgcd3 said:

They didn't pay them that money to play safety

Of course they didn’t but say the Eagles do select a CB at 10 or 30 because he’s hands down the BPA. I don’t think they just make him the #4 for a season. 

FTR, I highly doubt the Eagles go CB early. Just something that crosses my mind as we were discussing safety. 

13 minutes ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

If the Birds were to go CB early I’m wondering if Bradberry or Slay would/could move to safety. May be something for Slay to consider if he wants to prolong his career. 

Not if Slay tackles like this lol

Think it’s more likely a rookie plays the nickel and Maddox moves to safety if anything

1 hour ago, pgcd3 said:

 

Value or players that aren't good?

 

Are these guys good special teams players? Not average, but actually good? If so, I'm more than fine with these signings. But they need to add one more higher level safety regardless. 

7 hours ago, TEW said:

Totally disagree.

And this is why I think the 40 is now underrated by the enthusiast fan. Basically it’s trendy to think instincts overcome raw speed. This isn’t correct. If you just look at this from a probability standpoint, great instincts don’t guarantee an optimal outcome.

It’s more like great instincts make up for an athletic deficiency some additional percentage of plays over average. But the 4.35 guy is still going to erase the angle those great instincts might create on some proportion of those plays. In other words, you can read the play correctly and still get beat. And if you don’t read the play correctly you will get beat 100% of the time by the 4.35 guy while you might recover against the 4.4 guy.

If your 4.35 guy has one speed and takes two steps to turn or stop, his speed difference is lost on 95+% of the plays.  If your DE is weak, has no bend his sub 4.5 speed won’t help him much against a quick OT on 95+% of the plays.  (Look at Nolan Smith’s bend in position drills, that is going to help him a lot).  Not discounting 40s but how often have low forties guys flamed out while UDFAs with less measurables become fixtures.  Football IQ matters.  Now take DJax.  His speed was killer but what made him wasn’t just his speed.  He came into the NFL with a pretty good route tree.  He had what I call lull speed, seemed to be running fast but then he could turn, stop, decelerate and accelerate quicker than a DB could react and that gave him separation and then you would see the burst and his real speed go to work.  So many fast guys just try to outrun the other player.  A forty doesn’t measure those skills but position drills do and film.   So a forty matters to show speed, just like the splits show where the speed in the forty shows up. But the shuttle probably gives a better measure of get off than the track stance from the forty in track shoes.  Take JJAW.  4.49 40 (decent for his size) but a 4.41 shuttle.  Awful quickness and spelled out in his draft profile:

• Excessive stutter-stepping pre-release
• May need alignment or pre-snap movement to free him vs certain matchups
• Plays with some hip tightness
• Takes additional time to sink, settle and open on comebacks
• Missing acceleration to run by clingy corners
• Average burst to separate at the top

Tried to do some light digging on Fangio’s scheme and Desai’s time in Chicago. I’m not sure if it was due to a lack of talent at LB behind Roquon Smith, but Desai played quite a bit of dime coverage. I didn’t see a final season breakdown, but one story at midseason had their third safety playing around 15-20 percent of the snaps in place of a second LB. He used Eddie Jackson all over the place, including a big uptick in slot coverage vs Darren Waller. The closest player we have to that as a movable chess piece is Justin Evans, whose contract is pretty similar to Edmunds’ ($1.6M with $600 guaranteed vs $2M with $600 guaranteed). 

We know Desai is a Fangio disciple and Gannon tried to implement many of his principles, in sort of an off-brand generic way. Under Gannon, however, our safeties flipped sides, allowing CJGJ to play on the wide side of the field where his speed and coverage ability was needed to cover more ground rather than Epps. In a true Fangio scheme, the safeties don’t flip sides and are more interchangeable. They line up frequently in two deep and  spin post snap (rotating one safety to single high while the other comes down into the box area/intermediate zone). This is done to disguise coverage presnap and to hold the QB’s eyes an extra beat to determine the coverage and allow the pass rush to get home. Basically, the goal is for the defense to look the same presnap every play to make the QB have to read post snap, limiting easy reads. 

As it stands, we have a clunky set of  interchangeable safeties in Blankenship and Edmunds (if they’re the projected starters) with Evans lurking. Edmunds has lined up all over the place, but doesn’t seem like a real FS type like Eddie Jackson. Blankenship isn’t that type of player either, making him and Edmunds a bad fit next to each other theoretically. I don’t know how the safety rotations split up under Fangio (does one rotate into single high 65 percent after spinning while the other picks up the other 35 or is it close to 50-50?) How much interchangeability do you need to keep the QB’s eyes honest? Maybe the ratio of safeties rotating has to do with the opponent’s presnap look.

Fangio’s bread and butter is cover 6 (cover 2 to the weak side and cover 4 to the strong side). The deep safety can cover deep over the isolated X receiver while on the strong side the safety has less distance to cover in 1/4 coverage. Where the spinning comes into play is when Fangio rotates into cover 1 and cover 3 to take away crossing routes. He often deploys match coverage, where the corners, nickels, safeties, read the release of the receiver and switch coverage responsibilities based on which receiver breaks inside or outside. Because of that, it seems we will be asking quite a bit of our safeties. Cover 6 on passing downs will help cover up coverage deficiencies of the safety, but if we’re going to ask them to man match, that’s a problem with Edmunds and Blankenship. That, to me, is where Evans comes into play. We know Edmunds has lined up all over the place, but it appears he’s better closer to the LOS. Meanwhile, Evans has displayed similar versatility in deployment, but in a much smaller sample due to injuries. If this is our safety group heading into 2023, I would think he would be one of the two starters with Edmunds probably the favorite over Blankenship. This is not to project confidence in Evans as a player, but Evans as an idea. He has better movement skills and fluidity than either Blankenship or Edmunds and has played well in coverage on a limited sample.

2 hours ago, eagle45 said:

I've been musing over ways to use Gibbs.  While I do think he'd be a great addition to the offense, even at 30, I struggle to find first round value in a rotational RB who either won't be around for a second contract or who will get a second contract and will be overpaid and will peter out by the end of it.

He'd be fun to integrate into the offense, but I just don't think I could see it in round 1.  To be honest, I'd be more interested in seeing him dedicate himself as a full time WR.  That's an opportunity to play more snaps with better health.

Bobby Mitchell and Paul Warfield are two good examples

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Mitchell

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Warfield