23 minutes ago, TEW said:

I think you mean 64…  

The way I see it is CB is not a position with a major hole, but rather an opportunistic position where if the right guy is available you can bring in a succession plan.

 

23 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

. 64.

I could easily blame that on a typo, but I’d just be lying. 

21 minutes ago, TEW said:

Speaking of the draft and reflecting on the last two games…

If teams continue to use the strategy of sending blitzes on zero coverage or dropping 8 into coverage, I think we need to consider that our slot receiver will become an absolutely vital player for this offense.

On paper, we would probably like a deep threat there, but if this continues I think we need a slot WR who is more of a RAC guy… someone who can make a defender miss or break a tackle for extra yards after receiving a quick pass.

To that end I am really looking forward to watching Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky, play against Ohio State today at 4pm.

He’s one of the most unique prospects at WR to come along in some time. He’s absolutely electric with the ball in his hands, able to make defenders miss with suddenness but also has power to break tackles. The biggest question with Corley is the competition he’s played against, so the Ohio State game will be huge for his draft stock.

Much watch game IMO for people obsessed with the draft.

Another player I want to watch for this role is Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith. He’s got some Deebo Samuel in him, able to play both WR and RB. Would be a really interesting addition to this roster.

Both should also be good return specialists at both PR and KR.

Both of those guys are very physical YAC guys, and given that we have AJ and Smitty as deep threats I wouldn't mind going in that direction as quick targets rather than a stretch-the-field Quez type.  As a throwback slot receiver, McConkey is very well polished, likely cheaper in draft resources and continues the UGA trend.     

If Ricks/Ringo/Jobe were OL prospects I'd feel a lot better about it. We just don't have a huge recent track record of developing DB talent. I do like what I've seen so far though. Maybe they figured it out. 

1 minute ago, DEagle7 said:

If Ricks/Ringo/Jobe were OL prospects I'd feel a lot better about it. We just don't have a huge recent track record of developing DB talent. I do like what I've seen so far though. Maybe they figured it out. 

That a 4th, undrafted, undrafted. Even if just 1 ends up being a backup caliber player it’ll be a developmental success. If 1 is a starter it’s a home run

1 hour ago, D-Shiznit said:

 

The phrase "the play got blown up” is overused, but that second clip was literally Jordan Davis blowing that play up.

11 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

Both of those guys very physical YAC guys, and given that we have AJ and Smitty as deep threats I wouldn't mind going in that direction as quick targets rather than a stretch-the-field Quez type.  As a throwback slot receiver, McConkey is very well polished, likely cheaper in draft resources and continues the UGA trend.     

I think last year was some good luck and irreproducible deep productivity from Brown.  I do not see him as a deep threat moving forward at all.

2 hours ago, eagle45 said:

1. AJ Brown.  Not a second year player, but part of the class.  Also not a great start to the season.

I don’t think you can simply omit AJ Brown’s 1,500 yards from 2022 in an honest second year evaluation.  That production shapes the way defenses are scheming for 2023 and is opening things up for DeVonta Smith and the running backs 

11 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

Both of those guys very physical YAC guys, and given that we have AJ and Smitty as deep threats I wouldn't mind going in that direction as quick targets rather than a stretch-the-field Quez type.  As a throwback slot receiver, McConkey is very well polished, likely cheaper in draft resources and continues the UGA trend.     

Corley is just so intriguing to me. I don’t know if his game will translate to the NFL, but if it does, man would I love to have him in the slot. All of these zero blitzes would immediately stop and the 8 man coverage stuff could still go for chunk yardage.

3 minutes ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

That a 4th, undrafted, undrafted. Even if just 1 ends up being a backup caliber player it’ll be a developmental success. If 1 is a starter it’s a home run

I think Jobe is on his way to being an NFL caliber CB (albeit not an top end one). He wasn't even in a terrible position when Addison beat him for that TD Thursday. Still work to be done but he doesn't look lost or hugely overmatched from what I've seen so far.  

Ringo and Ricks will be very interesting to see. Seem like more boom or bust types for now. Although Ringo has at least had some ST flashes. 

5 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

I think last year was some good luck and irreproducible deep productivity from Brown.  I do not see him as a deep threat moving forward at all.

I think Brown can win deep balls as a physical jump ball type. He’s so big and strong that jump balls are more like 70/30 than 50/50.

We're 2-0. All this talk for a Super Bowl hangover and while it hasn't been pretty, it hasn't affected the standings. Our young players from the 2021-2023 draft classes all look good, so this isn't a mirage.

Now we get a mini-bye to get back on track to 2022 levels.

8 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

I think last year was some good luck and irreproducible deep productivity from Brown.  I do not see him as a deep threat moving forward at all.

What TEW said.

Just now, RLC said:

We're 2-0. All this talk for a Super Bowl hangover and while it hasn't been pretty, it hasn't affected the standings. Our young players from the 2021-2023 draft classes all look good, so this isn't a mirage.

Now we get a mini-bye to get back on track to 2022 levels.

The next couple of games will tell us a lot. If the offense gets back on track in the pass game and the defense cleans up in coverage, I think it will be safe to say we were just knocking off some rust. If it continues, then the reality may be that we have regressed to "contender” rather than "favorite.”

I’d like to see the Birds play AJ Brown in the slot. If defenses are going to keep bringing 6, the middle will be wide open and Brown can do some serious damage there. 
 

BJ needs to move the receivers around more and spread the defense out. 

42 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Meh.  When drafted Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown were solid prospects.  At this point, it would be safer to call Ringo and Ricks 'long shots'.  We all know about the hit rates in the draft... and we shouldn't see Ringo or Ricks as the exception to that just because they are Eagles.  That's not to say they can't become that... but the odds are not in their favor.

I feel Ricks is going to be a keeper.  I would be surprised if he didn’t become a very good corner in this league.  I’m more unsure about Ringo

Brown had 6 over 40 and 23 over 30 last year.  This year, I bet it’s 3 and <15.

3 minutes ago, McMVP said:

I feel Ricks is going to be a keeper.  I would be surprised if he didn’t become a very good corner in this league.  I’m more unsure about Ringo

I kind of agree. Ricks probably has a higher chance to be a serviceable player.
 

But Ringo has a higher chance to be a star.

6 minutes ago, TEW said:

The next couple of games will tell us a lot. If the offense gets back on track in the pass game and the defense cleans up in coverage, I think it will be safe to say we were just knocking off some rust. If it continues, then the reality may be that we have regressed to "contender” rather than "favorite.”

I still think Dallas wins the division. As long as we can get to the playoffs healthy and playing relatively well, we have a chance. For this roster, it's about the playoffs.

I didn’t know this was the feud i needed. But here we are 

 

3 hours ago, eagle45 said:

Let’s grade the 2022 class after 2 games at the mini bye…I always say the year 2 class is the biggest impact on whether or not the team improves or regresses.

1. Davis.  Loved the pick, hated his rookie year.  He looked bad.  With apologies to Carter, I actually think he might have been the best DT on the team through 2 weeks.  I can’t put him over Sweat for defensive MVP, but he’s second on the list.  He’s been a revelation.

1. AJ Brown.  Not a second year player, but part of the class.  Also not a great start to the season.

2.  Jurgens.  I haven’t isolated to critique him much…but the running game has been exceptional and all of the pass protection struggles feel like they are coming from the tackles.  It seems he has been good.

3. Dean.  The durability criticism has come to haunt him.  Hasn’t helped us so far.

6. Johnson.  Nothing.

6. Calcaterra.  Nothing.

UDFA: Blankenship.  Pretty darn good in week 1.  I think he’ll have an OK season as a starter here.  Probably a bit of a downgrade from what we had last year, but the trust in him allowed them to draft talent elsewhere in 2023.

 

Overall, that looks like a good class.  

1) Looks like a star DT this season

1) Literally an all-pro

2) legitimate starter

3) Injuries are an issue, let’s see if he can finish the season

6) nothing

6) nothing

UDFA — looks like a plus starter

4 starters, 2 of whom are stars, that’s an A+.

 

 

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

 

I don't think hurries are an official, well kept stat, but I feel like 85 hurries is the equivalent of about 85 home runs in a baseball season.

37 minutes ago, RLC said:

We're 2-0. All this talk for a Super Bowl hangover and while it hasn't been pretty, it hasn't affected the standings. Our young players from the 2021-2023 draft classes all look good, so this isn't a mirage.

Now we get a mini-bye to get back on track to 2022 levels.

The 2 things IMO that will most determine whether we get back to that level are injuries and coaching.

The team is absolutely loaded with talent. They haven’t forgotten how to play.

The coaches have to learn to put them in position for success and they have to hope that this rash of early injuries slows down.

Starting 2-0 with all of the challenges that have come our way so far is reason for optimism.

TB will go a long way towards setting the narrative.  The injury situation figures to be a lot better by then.  They should get everyone besides Dean and Maddox back.

An ugly loss OR win will leave us feeling a bit like the 2022 Vikings, just coming out on top of tight games and waiting to tumble against better teams.  A flex win will re-establish the Eagles as the class of the NFC.

2-0 is the reassuring stat. Here's the concerning one:

Pass defense: 652 yards, 7TD, 1INT, 37 first downs

Pass offense: 363yds, 2TD, 1INT, 12 first downs

The actual QB rating, completion %, and efficiency numbers aren't so bad...but at some point, they are going to have to lean on volume from their passing game.  Right now, the offense is built on the running game, qb runs, horizontal caretaker passing, and sporadic deep shots.