24 replies to this topic

[Operator 7]

Dave, any idea about the QB prospects available in the draft next year?  Call me crazy, but I think it's a good thing if we can keep a very poor record this season -  so that we can be in position to grab a top prospect.  Any thoughts on that you'd be willing to share...

Also, for Nick Fowles, I've heard a lot of good things, but the one bad thing I've heard is that he isn't good with the deep ball.  How big of a problem is that?  I'd think it's pretty big, especially if that is something that cannot be improved on.  CAN that be improved on, or is it a matter of arm strength (and even then, can arm strength be improved on)?

thx

[KOJO]

Operator 7, on 14 November 2012 - 04:34 PM, said:

Also, for Nick Fowles, I've heard a lot of good things, but the one bad thing I've heard is that he isn't good with the deep ball.  How big of a problem is that?  I'd think it's pretty big, especially if that is something that cannot be improved on.  CAN that be improved on, or is it a matter of arm strength (and even then, can arm strength be improved on)?

I've heard & seen exactly the opposite. He threw a beautiful one on Maclin's TD. Kid's got a hose.

[EAGLESinc]

The pass to Maclin was thrown from the Eagle 45 or so....so thats at least 55 yds in the air and he looks like he lofted it.....I think FOLES has plenty of arm..

[patpikunas]

They are going to bring McNabb back Operator

[PoconoDon]

Op7,

The general info I'm getting from the various sports outlets I've checked, is that this coming draft has 2 name QBs who don't look particularly good, especially compared to Luck and RG3.....kind of like, if they came out last year, they'd be 2nd-3rd rounders.....like....Foles!!

That's what I'm getting at this point.....but it's early in most of these guys' analysis.

Unless there's a clear blue chipper, other positions may be better addressed early in this coming draft.

[VaBeach_Eagle]

I haven't seen nearly enough of Foles to really have a good grasp on how good I think he is, but I can't shake the "Gus Frerrotte/Bobby Hoying/Ty-Koy Detmer" feeling that I get from him. I definitely don't get a  "Tom Brady/Andrew Luck" or even a "Donovan McNabb" feeling from him.

But it's very early and he could turn out to be a "dream come true". Just hopefully that dream won't be a nightmare.

Who's coming out of college next year? Is 3-13 worth going for him?

[KOJO]

VaBeach_Eagle, on 14 November 2012 - 10:50 PM, said:

Who's coming out of college next year? Is 3-13 worth going for him?

I think Tyler Wilson of Arkansas is an interesting guy, as is Landry Jones from Oklahoma & even Geno Smith from WVU. But I wouldn't give up the farm for them.

[mjkvol]

Matt Barkley of USC has all the tools, but looks like he might follow the path of other hyped SC QB's (Sanchez / Leinart).     Amazingly, the guy I might take a mid round flyer on is Tyler Bray from Tennessee.      Big guy with a ton of talent, but some 'issues'.

[CT Eagle]

I was thinking ahead to the draft yesterday.....I would put my money on an OT

[mjkvol]

CT Eagle, on 15 November 2012 - 10:05 AM, said:

I was thinking ahead to the draft yesterday.....I would put my money on an OT

I'd love to see us take the best impact defensive player on the board, regardless of position.

But most of all, I'd love to see a draft run by someone whose board we can trust!

[Operator 7]

interesting/good comments


(except Patpikunas)

[CT Eagle]

mjkvol, on 15 November 2012 - 11:33 AM, said:

I'd love to see us take the best impact defensive player on the board, regardless of position.

Great minds must think alike because that is exactly what Reid did this year (2010 too ).

[mjkvol]

CT Eagle, on 15 November 2012 - 01:19 PM, said:

Great minds must think alike because that is exactly what Reid did this year (2010 too ).

Sorry, but when you rotate defensive linemen like f****ng hockey lines, there are no impact players on the DL - especially after the idiotic system you based your entire defense around was exposed as the one-dimensional joke that it is.

Besides, this coach wouldn't have the first clue how to even go about drafting a real impact player on defense - in 14 years, the closest he came was one 5th round DE who was a nice player. Explains why he had to go the mercenary route at nearly every key defensive spot.   

All except safety, of course.   That has become the defensive equivalent of what receivers were here until he went mercenary with T.O.

[CT Eagle]

mjkvol, on 15 November 2012 - 02:09 PM, said:

Sorry, but when you rotate defensive linemen like f****ng hockey lines, there are no impact players on the DL - especially after the idiotic system you based your entire defense around was exposed as the one-dimensional joke that it is.

Besides, this coach wouldn't have the first clue how to even go about drafting a real impact player on defense - in 14 years, the closest he came was one 5th round DE who was a nice player. Explains why he had to go the mercenary route at nearly every key defensive spot.   

All except safety, of course.   That has become the defensive equivalent of what receivers were here until he went mercenary with T.O.

Corey Simon had a decent run as did Sheldon, Lito, and Michael Lewis but you are correct for the most part.  The poor drafts were a key part in the demise of the Eagles over the past several years.

[mjkvol]

CT Eagle, on 15 November 2012 - 02:24 PM, said:

Corey Simon had a decent run as did Sheldon, Lito, and Michael Lewis but you are correct for the most part.  The poor drafts were a key part in the demise of the Eagles over the past several years.

Yeah, I thought of all those guys.      They all had their moments.       I want impact, as in Pierre Paul, Woolfork, Thomas, .....er.... wait....... we could have had a couple of them!!!  

One problem here has always been the whole "scheme first" mentality.     JJ's scheme was good enough to overcome a lot of mediocre talent in his later years, and of course he had Dawk and Trotter as leaders.      His passing truly exposed the lack of talent here, and forcing that Wide 9 along with the over rotating of linemen just made it worse.

What we need is something we haven't seen in a decade and a half - solid coordinators with schemes that will maximize the talent on hand.      Then we'll start seeing impact on both sides of the ball.

[Rodney_Zero]

mjkvol, on 15 November 2012 - 02:53 PM, said:

Yeah, I thought of all those guys.   They all had their moments.    I want impact, as in Pierre Paul, Woolfork, Thomas, .....er.... wait....... we could have had a couple of them!!!  

One problem here has always been the whole "scheme first" mentality. JJ's scheme was good enough to overcome a lot of mediocre talent in his later years, and of course he had Dawk and Trotter as leaders.   His passing truly exposed the lack of talent here, and forcing that Wide 9 along with the over rotating of linemen just made it worse.

What we need is something we haven't seen in a decade and a half - solid coordinators with schemes that will maximize the talent on hand.   Then we'll start seeing impact on both sides of the ball.

Impact, not at all, good yes, better than what we have (Allen) debatable. The whole problem with our D started when AZ beat us in the NFCCG, JJ had beat then in the reg season, what does this tell us, JJ never changed or adjusted in big games, like against the Bucs & Panters in the NFCCG, and like AZ , he beat them in the reg season. When JJ passed away, Reid should've went outside the box for new and fresher DC. One of the things Pittsburgh does well and is not afraid to do is change OC's and DC's, Cowher & Tomlin have shown that.

[CT Eagle]

Rodney_Zero, on 15 November 2012 - 04:30 PM, said:

JJ never changed or adjusted in big games, like against the Bucs & Panters in the NFCCG,

One of the things Pittsburgh does well and is not afraid to do is change OC's and DC's, Cowher & Tomlin have shown that.

JJ's D was not the problem vs the Bucs or Panthers......

D Lebow has been the Steelers DC since 04

[mjkvol]

CT Eagle, on 16 November 2012 - 08:41 AM, said:

JJ's D was not the problem vs the Bucs or Panthers......

I totally disagree regarding the Buc game.      I went into that game expecting Brad Johnson to be carried off on a stretcher at some point in the first half  (this was when the NFL was still a contact sport, and to think such things wasn't considered neanderthal, as it is today), and he instead dropped into coverage the entire half.     The Bucs scored 17 points in the half, and when JJ started bringing the house in the 2nd half, he held them to a field goal.        

It's true that Reid did his usual hideous job in a big spot, and never adjusted properly, but JJ's bizarre passive approach in the first half put us behind the eight ball.      Reid and McNabb did the rest.

Regarding Carolina, that was 100% on Reid.

[DaveSpadaro]

I'm not going to talk about next season until this season is over, gang. Sorry.

[CT Eagle]

DaveSpadaro, on 16 November 2012 - 02:39 PM, said:

I'm not going to talk about next season until this season is over, gang. Sorry.

This season isn't over yet ?

[Rodney_Zero]

CT Eagle, on 16 November 2012 - 08:41 AM, said:

JJ's D was not the problem vs the Bucs or Panthers......

D Lebow has been the Steelers DC since 04

Panters lose was Reids fault

Cowher had 4 D-Cords in his tenure

Capers
Haslett
Willy Robinson
Lebeau (twice)

IIRC Cowher had different OC's as well

[james1345]

DaveSpadaro, on 16 November 2012 - 02:39 PM, said:

I'm not going to talk about next season until this season is over, gang. Sorry.

What team has gone 7-0 and made the playoffs? I think realistically this team is not going to make the playoffs this year, so why can't the fans talk about next season?

[PoconoDon]

james1345, on 16 November 2012 - 05:00 PM, said:

What team has gone 7-0 and made the playoffs? I think realistically this team is not going to make the playoffs this year, so why can't the fans talk about next season?

James,


We can....Dave just can't.....until he's given the ok from above.....it shouldn't be too much longer.

[eaglesaddict]

DaveSpadaro, on 16 November 2012 - 02:39 PM, said:

I'm not going to talk about next season until this season is over, gang. Sorry.

Give it a few more weeks and the season will be over after we lose our 8th game in a row.

[Eagle fan in SA]

I think Foles will start next season, but a quality pocket passer back-up will need to be aquired to continue to develop him!