40 replies to this topic

[Highboy]

Just for the hell of it Dave, I thought I'd post you Walt's offseason needs analysis for the Eagles and get you and everyone else's thoughts: http://walterfootbal...ason2013phi.php

Team Needs:

• Right Tackle: The Eagles had major issues on their offensive line. The return of Jason Peters would fix things on one side, provided he's close to 100 percent coming off an Achilles tear. Repairing the right side of the line could be solved by drafting Luke Joeckel No. 4 overall, which would allow Todd Herrmans to move to a more natural guard position.
  
  
• Cornerback: Remember how great Philadelphia's cornerbacks were considered after the team signed Nnamdi Asomugha and traded for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie? Well, Asomugha is bound to get released because he was so brutal in 2012, while DRC, an impending free agent, lived up to his nickname, "Doesn't Really Care." The front office will have to obtain a new No. 1 cornerback to pair with Brandon Boykin, who had an impressive rookie campaign.
  
  
• Safety: Two safeties might be needed, but Colt Anderson was serviceable down the stretch, so Philadelphia might be able to get away with him as one of the starters. Nate Allen, however, was horrific this past year.
  
  
• Outside Linebacker: The Eagles struggled to find a worthy complement for DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks. Both Akeem Jordan and Jamar Chaney failed in that role.
  
  
• Defensive Tackle: Fletcher Cox had a terrific rookie campaign, but Cullen Jenkins won't be around much longer. Philadelphia could spend an early draft pick on a complement for Cox, though Antonio Dixon, who was brought back to the team late in the season, should get a chance.
  
  
• Center: The Eagles had no answer at center when Jason Kelce was lost for the season with multiple torn knee ligaments. There's no guarantee that Kelce will be at full strength next year, so adding a veteran backup would be a good idea.
  
  
• Tight End: Brent Celek had trouble with drops and separation this past season. He has regressed.
  
  
• Wide Receiver: Both DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin always seem to be injured. Some depth could be added.
  
  
• Punter: Mat McBriar ranked dead last among starters in net punting.

[patpikunas]

Whew....I knew this team had a lot of holes but that's an exhausting list when you see it all laid in front of you.

And its assuming JAson Peters and Kelce comes back and that Foles can be a legitimate starter in this league

[CT Eagle]

lots of needs.....

Clowney 2014 !!!!!!!!!

[PhillyPhan13]

• Right Tackle: Agree
  
• Cornerback: How do you replace both of the starting corners in one season.
  
• Safety: While an upgrade is needed, it'll be tough to replace both.
  
• Outside Linebacker: Were Jordan and Chaney that bad.  There are too many other needs to worry about this one.  I guess I just don't value LBs that much. lol
  
• Defensive Tackle: Might have to keep Cullan.
  
• Center:  Was center that bad?  Was Kelce that good?
  
• Tight End: Not worried about TE; not this season anyway.
  
• Wide Receiver: Agree
  
• Punter: Agree

[Highboy]

1. RT/LT is a definite need. The only pick I'd accept at #4 that isn't a tackle would be Manti Teo though MLB isn't really a need. He's just that good a player and may be too good to pass up if available. But other than that, I agree with most mocks, Luke Joeckel has to be the pick. If Peters comes back healthy and you kick Todd back inside you instantly have maybe the best line in football. If Peters isn't 100% it makes the need for a tackle that much more glaring. Foles is obviously going to go into this season as the starter, and to give him a legitimate shot, the protection has to come first.
2. Corner is also a need, I agree. DRC actually played better than either I or Walt apparently gave him credit for, and I love Boykin, but he's more of a nickel corner. I've seen mocks that actually have legitimate starters at CB falling to the second round. Our secondary blows.
3. I don't know how you replace both safeties in one draft, but we need at least one.
4. Gerald Hodges is a legit starter in my opinion at the next level, very disciplined, very well rounded football player, and could be available in the mid rounds. All of our LBS outside Ryans and Kendricks are nothing more than depth players.
5. I don't agree that TE is a need. If a good TE is available and worth the value at the pick sure I won't mind adding competition at the position but its hardly a "need".
6. The WR position is kind of 50/50. Maclin has games where he looks like the first round pick he was suppose to be, and then has a game where he might catch one ball and limp off the field. Jackson to me is better than most give him credit for. For all the talent, they've been inconsistent, but to be fair, so has the QB play. With Foles as the full time starter and a more sane offensive approach that doesn't send 9 WRs deep 60 times a game they might shine. I agree that depth is needed though.
7. Who Fing cares about a punter?

[mjkvol]

1.  As painful as it is to say, I'd take Joeckel at #4 as well. but would be very happy with Teo, Jones, or even Lotulelei.       All are impact players, and that is the #1 criteria for me with a high #1.

2.  I'd absolutely take a corner early in the draft.

3.  Safety is a spot I might look to sign a veteran who might fit whatever scheme we have.      Scary but true that Anderson was the only close to useful player there in 2012.

4.  LB all depends on the scheme.       Hard to say where to go here without knowing that, but Kendricks is a keeper who will benefit from a legit DC.

5.  I would love to add a TE, but can't consider it a priority with all the other holes we have.

6.  We absolutely need a bigger WR, unless the coaches believe Cooper can be that guy, which I would doubt.      I'd love to see Jackson moved to the slot and back to returning punts again - that is where his value lies.      He is wasted the way he was used last year - he's not a #1 type WR, and they are fooling themselves believing he is.       Maclin would benefit tremendously having a legit WR on the other side and Jackson in the slot commanding attention.

7.  Bring a few punters into camp, and let them compete.


Bottom line in looking at the list of needs is what a f****ng mess the previous regime left this place in.        This isn't a quick fix situation, and truly hope it isn't approached that way.

[KOJO]

mjkvol, on 07 January 2013 - 01:49 PM, said:

Bottom line in looking at the list of needs is what a f****ng mess the previous regime left this place in.

This is the thing that angers me so much about people being soooooo thankful to Reid. Yes, thank him for what he did when he first came in & turned things around at the beginning, & then for a time after that when things were still good. But he left this organization in complete shambles, in many respects worse than the way he found it. I'm not thankful for that.

[mjkvol]

KOJO, on 07 January 2013 - 03:42 PM, said:

This is the thing that angers me so much about people being soooooo thankful to Reid. Yes, thank him for what he did when he first came in & turned things around at the beginning, & then for a time after that when things were still good. But he left this organization in complete shambles, in many respects worse than the way he found it. I'm not thankful for that.

When he got here in '99 the core leaders of his best teams were already here - Dawk, Reese, Trotter, the corners, etc.     It was as the team became all-Reid players that the whole thing began to fall apart.

Really, what did he leave us with besides McCoy, especially if it's true that the credit for the 2012 draft goes to Roseman, which I'm inclined to believe?        Thankful?       Give me a f****ng break.      

If his a** had been booted out of here when you and I thought it should have been, who knows how far along this program would have come if a good hire had been made in 2008, instead of.the 2-3 year (minimum) cleanup job ahead of us.

[Mr.BigKnuckles]

I agree all around. Andy Reid lost his mojo, most of his staff, and his players during the last years and we need to get that Winning and Bleeding Green way of life back.

Good Head Coach and Coordinators, 2 years of quality draft picks and a few key FA's should have us back in 2-3 years....

[Highboy]

While the team has holes, a rational coach with a sane approach to football should be able to walk out of this draft with the top LT in the draft, a legitimate starter at both safety and CB. He also should be able to get at least one OLB and one other safety that either can push to start or add depth at the position.

[mjkvol]

Highboy, on 07 January 2013 - 05:11 PM, said:

While the team has holes, a rational coach with a sane approach to football should be able to walk out of this draft with the top LT in the draft, a legitimate starter at both safety and CB. He also should be able to get at least one OLB and one other safety that either can push to start or add depth at the position.

Are you suggesting we haven't had that here lately?  

[ckudrick]

I'd take Joeckel at #4 ... but I don't think he'll be there.

[PoconoDon]

If they get it right in April 2013, they could solve 4 or 5 of their problem positions in one weekend.

Which 4 or 5 would I like then to fix with superior talent, in a perfect world?


I don't care....as long as it's a relatively permanent fix.....for a change.

[bobbywizdum]

i'd take star or joeckel based on availability. I'd also try to get long in free agency because we can't base our season on the expectation that peters will return or that we can get joeckel for sure. I hate to say it but i would keep drc and nmamdi or cut nmandi and start marsh. I would adress safety in both the second and third rounds and give the two rooks a chance to grow together. Unless your going 1st round the numbers just don't suggest that you will get a stud cb and i don't think we can or should address that at #4. This is a 2-3 year rebuild. We can't get impatient and try to make it all happen in one offseason. that's how we got into this mess.

[mjkvol]

Watching the National Championship game tonight, I might have to amend who I'd consider at #4 - I had forgotten about DeMarcus Milliner, the Alabama corner, who I saw a lot in the last couple of years.     He's a big corner, and is very, very good.

Te'o looked overmatched against the first really good and physical competition they saw all season.      

We could probably trade back a few picks and still get Milliner, if an opportunity like that arose.       Just a thought.

Oh, and I'd at least give Nick Saban a call to see if there is any interest there.

[CT Eagle]

mjkvol, on 07 January 2013 - 11:05 PM, said:

Watching the National Championship game tonight, I might have to amend who I'd consider at #4 - I had forgotten about DeMarcus Milliner, the Alabama corner, who I saw a lot in the last couple of years. He's a big corner, and is very, very good.

Te'o looked overmatched against the first really good and physical competition they saw all season.   

We could probably trade back a few picks and still get Milliner, if an opportunity like that arose.    Just a thought.

Oh, and I'd at least give Nick Saban a call to see if there is any interest there.

Te'o cost himself some cash tonight.

[mjkvol]

CT Eagle, on 07 January 2013 - 11:07 PM, said:

Te'o cost himself some cash tonight.

I'll admit I saw very little of him this year, but he looked a bit stiff and slow, didn't he?

[Highboy]

I agree Manti looked overmatched but this is why scouts are suppose to look at hours and hours of game tapes before making their evaluation. It was only one game. Regardless, I'm still hoping for Joeckel. Shoring up that offensive line is paramount to Foles success (if he's going to have any) and he's also probably the BPA at #4.

[DaveSpadaro]

There are plenty of needs, clearly, and it's going to be hard to fill all of them in a single offseason. Other than RB, is there a position on this team that you wouldn't challenge?

[PoconoDon]

mjkvol, on 07 January 2013 - 11:32 PM, said:

I'll admit I saw very little of him this year, but he looked a bit stiff and slow, didn't he?

He looked shell shocked......I think it may have had something to do with the fact that he's not used to seeing his D-Line get erased play after play. Makes a MLB wanna play up to help out...then he gets beat over the top for a TD......reminds me of the deer in the headlights look of Barry Gardner when he was the "answer" at MLB for the Eagles......yeah, shell shocked described what I saw best.

[patpikunas]

DaveSpadaro, on 08 January 2013 - 09:43 AM, said:

There are plenty of needs, clearly, and it's going to be hard to fill all of them in a single offseason. Other than RB, is there a position on this team that you wouldn't challenge?

Well said.... I hope Howie feels the same way Dave

[patpikunas]

DaveSpadaro, on 08 January 2013 - 09:43 AM, said:

There are plenty of needs, clearly, and it's going to be hard to fill all of them in a single offseason. Other than RB, is there a position on this team that you wouldn't challenge?

Does anyone find it more than just a little ironic that Reid emphasized passing over the run game, especially over the last 7 or 8 years, but yet the position that he leaves us stocked with the most talent is at Running Back?

[PoconoDon]

patpikunas, on 08 January 2013 - 10:07 AM, said:

Does anyone find it more than just a little ironic that Reid emphasized passing over the run game, especially over the last 7 or 8 years, but yet the position that he leaves us stocked with the most talent is at Running Back?

Ironic? Not pat, not ironic.

I think it's just another example of Reid out thinking himself....drafting good backs that will hardly ever run....now that we are likely to actually have a run game, the team looks to be in good shape. THAT was never his plan....he dummied into it....like so many other things....

[RPeeteRules]

PoconoDon, on 08 January 2013 - 10:11 AM, said:

Ironic? Not pat, not ironic.

I think it's just another example of Reid out thinking himself....drafting good backs that will hardly ever run....now that we are likely to actually have a run game, the team looks to be in good shape. THAT was never his plan....he dummied into it....like so many other things....

Reid liked RB's who could not just run, but catch the ball as well.  Keep in mind that McCoy was among the league leaders in touches per game prior to his injury.  There were absolutly times where they should have run more, but the work load wasn't lacking much as they would find ways to get the RB the ball.

[PoconoDon]

RPeeteRules,

To me, it was just another way Andy Reid made the simple things way too complicated.....yeah a few swing passes here of there to break things up, but with a back like him, you really can just line up and run it 25 times a game. Brown can run a little too so the team's hopes resting on a struggling QB should never happen with this team....yet that's all I saw manufactured by Reid....thank goodness that philosophy is finally gone.....JMO, of course.

[patpikunas]

RPeeteRules, on 08 January 2013 - 10:16 AM, said:

Reid liked RB's who could not just run, but catch the ball as well.  Keep in mind that McCoy was among the league leaders in touches per game prior to his injury.  There were absolutly times where they should have run more, but the work load wasn't lacking much as they would find ways to get the RB the ball.

The workload went up immensely for the RB's but after Vick went out

[RPeeteRules]

patpikunas, on 08 January 2013 - 10:42 AM, said:

The workload went up immensely for the RB's but after Vick went out

McCoy played in one game without Vick before McCoy became hurt.

Here is the ranking that I was keeping for weeks 7-9.
Week 7 - 2nd (22.67)
Week 8 - 3rd (22.14)
Week 9 - T-2nd (22.00)

[CT Eagle]

DaveSpadaro, on 08 January 2013 - 09:43 AM, said:

There are plenty of needs, clearly, and it's going to be hard to fill all of them in a single offseason. Other than RB, is there a position on this team that you wouldn't challenge?

KICKER !

Ryans, Kendricks, Cox, Graham, are only starters on defense that should be locks.
Kelce and Peters if healthy along with Evan Mathis along the O-line should be locks.
Maclin deserves to be back at #2 WR.


Thats about it for the starting 22 (obviously Shady as you mentioned)
In terms of depth....couple of guys on the Dline are fine, D Thomas, Boykin, Cooper, Avant....thats it

This roster could easliy have 25 new faces and not be any worse off.  Scary that people (myself included) thought this team was a contender 8 months ago.

[kitko60]

I love the idea of pairing Jared Cook(FA) with Celek and running plenty of 2 TE formations.  Cook can stretch the field from the TE position and could break out big time getting away from that mess of an offense in Tennessee.

I agree CB is a position that needs to be upgraded.  Nnamdi better be released/traded.  DRC better not get big $ from this team.

We need to find at least one safety.  Two would be great!

I think Herremans is at least an average NFL starter at RT and I HATE the idea of taking a RT at #4.  IF Peters is 100%(or close) you don't address RT at #4.  2nd or 3rd round pick or make a big signing like Jake Long to play RT.  I don't think he's an elite LT but I think he could excel at RT.  I'd love to see the Eagles trade down, acquire picks, and get a beast like Warmack, plug him in at LG.  A move that I think needs to be explored is moving Evan Mathis to C.  I think that could improve this line.

[Highboy]

CT Eagle, on 08 January 2013 - 12:21 PM, said:

KICKER !

Ryans, Kendricks, Cox, Graham, are only starters on defense that should be locks.
Kelce and Peters if healthy along with Evan Mathis along the O-line should be locks.
Maclin deserves to be back at #2 WR.


Thats about it for the starting 22 (obviously Shady as you mentioned)
In terms of depth....couple of guys on the Dline are fine, D Thomas, Boykin, Cooper, Avant....thats it

This roster could easliy have 25 new faces and not be any worse off.  Scary that people (myself included) thought this team was a contender 8 months ago.

I agree with your locks but Todd Herm has been an excellent lineman and should be a lock. As far WR, if you're only saying one of the starting two are locks, Jackson to me is that guy. Maclin gets hurt more and produces less.