I’m not at all convinced that Murray is going to be more of an asset, or even as much of an asset, as LeSean McCoy was.
Murray ran behind what might have been the best offensive line in football last year. He also had a very good passing attack to support him with Tony Romo throwing to a top-five (maybe top-three) receiver in Dez Bryant.
Now Murray comes into a situation where he will be the first guy that defenses look to take away. He goes from having an elite line blocking for him to an offensive line filled with a lot of question marks. Jason Peters and Evan Mathis are in their mid 30’s, and have a lot of miles on them. Recent reports have suggested that the Eagles are actually trying to deal Mathis away. Right guard is a major question mark now that Todd Herremans is gone. The Eagles are fooling themselves if they think they can get by with Alan Barbre or Matt Tobin as a replacement. Both players are solid backups, but neither is a guy you want to have playing full-time.
The Eagles also don’t have a passing attack that is nearly is as potent as what the Cowboys have. Jeremy Maclin is gone, leaving Riley Cooper, Jordan Matthews, and Josh Huff as the team’s top three outside threats. While the team is likely to add receiver help through the draft, it’s highly unlikely that whoever they pick is going to be able to fill the void left by Maclin. And that’s assuming that the team uses a pick in the first three rounds on a wideout.
Then there’s also the fact that Murray endured an extremely heavy workload last year, combined with the reality that before last season Murray was a guy who really struggled to stay healthy. Last season was the only year that DeMarco has stayed on the field for a full 16 games. Compare that to McCoy, who hasn’t missed a game in nearly three years and has only had one season in which he missed more than one game.
History suggests that it’s going to be very difficult for Murray to come close to what he did a year ago.
What’s even more of an issue is that I don’t think Murray fits the Eagles’ scheme. Chip Kelly calls for a lot of stretch runs to the outside, where Murray was much more of a between-the-tackles guy in Dallas. He’s going to be adjusting to running out of the shotgun all of the time, and without a fullback, and when you add that in with the other factors working against him, to me this is a signing that could wind being considerably underwhelming.
The direction of this franchise continues to be utterly baffling to me.
Replacing one expensive veteran running back with multiple expensive veteran running backs doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. It’s very easy to find quality running back help without allocating a significant chunk of the salary cap. Instead of using the remaining cap room to help beef up the offensive line, or add to the other areas of need like wide receiver, cornerback or safety. The Eagles can’t fill all of their needs through the draft.
Overall, I look at this team and I feel like they’ve taken two steps back and I’m not at all convinced that there’s even been a step forward.
Denny…you must be a real pleasure to be around. Man-o-man I have never seen more negative articles come from one person.
Football focus actually has the 2014 Eagles O-line as a better run blocking unit than Dallas’ O-line. Murray did have a ton of touches last year which is always a sign that the back will have a down year the following season. However, there is one huge difference with Murray…His injury history has kept his pre-2014 reps way down so he actually has much less millage than your typical workhorse back. I believe he has something like 600 less carries than McCoy.
Plus, the fact that Matthews is here as well will also take his carries down and give us a backup plan if either gets hurt.
People also fail to realize that the McCoy trade also netted us a potential pro-bowl line backer….AND the Murray deal has almost 10mil less in guarantees so it is much more team friendly.
In the end, we basically got Murray and Kiko for McCoy with a much more team friendly contract.
The passing attack is suspect and I agree with you there. However, I really think Chip feels that a backup plan is to kick Jordan to the outside and let Ertz start in the slot a-la Aaron Hernandez. That puts Jordan back in a position that he thrived in in college, gets Ertz on the field without having to worry about his poor blocking, and we still have a “big guy” in the slot per Kelly’s wishes.
Cheer up buddy.
In regards to Pro Football Focus…you can trust whatever numbers a website throws at you, or you can make a judgement for yourself with your own eyes. And this Eagles line was NOT better than Dallas last year, and with all of the questions surrounding the age of the left side of the line, and the hole at right guard, can you objectively say that you’d take this Eagles line over Dallas?
And I’ll believe that Chip is planning to involve Ertz when I see it. Ertz has been brutally underutilized during his first two years.
Well, it would be hard to be better than Dallas with the suspension of Johnson and the injuries that took place last year. I guess it comes down to whether or not you think that Shady rushed for 2900 yards in the last 2 years with help from the offensive line or in spite of them.
Terrible article… It’s disgusting how some of you people on this site are so damn negative all the time. You would think that after all those years with Andy Reid, someone like Chip Kelly would be welcomed with open arms. He finished with a winning record his first two years in the league with absolute garbage on his team. Are you forgetting his first year as head coach, the Eagles were expected to finish at the bottom of the NFC East?
Let Chip do what he wants to do and wait to see the results. To say that this team took two steps back is ridiculous. And for the record, Eagles Oline was ranked #1 at run blocking last year, Cowboys were #2. Big deal they lost Herremans, the guy lost it, releasing him is an upgrade. This defense is 100x better than the garbage they had out there last year and Foles was the most average QB you could have on your team. Losing Lesean hurts but it’s not like we’re replacing him with nobody. How can a backfield of Murray, Matthews and Sproles not excite you? That’s without including that because of that trade we got a young stud LB, an upgrade at corner and an upgrade at QB.
I swear some of you bitch just for the sake of bitching. Chip Kelly could lead this team to a Super Bowl victory next season and you will still fucking cry about everything.
Stfu – You and I are on the same page. To be honest there are way more positive fans but they are not the type to call into radio shows and write on message boards so it seems like the whole city is down on this team. Most people I talk to like the majority of these moves or at least are letting it play out before they go nuts.
I agree with you both.
Denny, I haven’t read an article yet where your excited about anything, your one of those gloom n doom guys like a few others on here, this is now his team n he wants his guys, our D is upgraded big time compared to last year n I’m not the lease bit worried about our O, he’ll get us 25 to 30 points a game no matter who he throws out there, below is an article from Peter Kimg, he interviews Jimmy Johnsom, this is what JJ had to say, the similarities are amazing, whether it works for Chip is something we’ll have to wait for but at lease he’d bold enough to go out there like JJ and go with his vision, I’m on board with it!
“Does Kelly remind you of you, 25 years ago?” I asked Johnson the other day.
“Well, in some ways,” Johnson said. “I really like what I have seen out of Chip Kelly. Chip called me and we visited a couple times, and what I heard from him, I liked. No one can say from the outside—right moves, wrong moves. You gotta let ‘em play out. You won’t know till you see the results. I felt I was right when I did the things I did, but who knew? I traded away my starting quarterback, Steve Pelluer, to Kansas City. The leading receiver, I don’t remember his name [it was Ray Alexander] we got rid of. I talked to Danny White, and he retired. Then I traded Herschel Walker. You can’t be afraid to make moves. Chip’s not. So some of it is similar. But there is one big difference: We were the worst team in the league two years in a row [1988, 1989]. People were ready for a big change.
“The similarities? We’re both confident, both competent, both know how to win. We talked after he got the new responsibilities this year. I just said, ‘Go with people you believe in, and go with players who fit your personality and fit your system.’ I have talked to Bill Belichick about this too. Certain players are gonna be successful in his system and not in others.”
Andrew, have I missed something? The last few years hasn’t exactly brought a lot of exciting/positive things to talk about in Philly sports. We have the Sixers tanking (which I actually agree with, and believe in the direction they’re going in) the Flyers do have a good future with Hextall in place as general manager…but the Phillies and Eagles? The Phillies are a train-wreck as long as Amaro remains in power, and the Eagles are an enormous question mark that have given this city one playoff berth since 2010. Sorry if I’m not blind to the reality that this organization that hasn’t won in the postseason since 2008.
I’m sorry, but what has Chip Kelly done in this league? Has he even won a playoff game? I must have missed the deep playoff run we went on last year, I must have been watching a different season than you. I’m pretty sure I saw Chip fail to beat a lot of winning teams, and coach the team that started 9-3 to a 1-3 chokejob over the final month of the season, but I might be wrong.
Chip Kelly hasn’t proven a thing, especially as a general manger.
As a fan, you want to look at the bright side of things and you want to have some kind of hope to hold on to and I get that. But I look at what’s gone on here, and I don’t know how you can say this team is going to better than it was last year, or even two years ago.
fair points denny for sure
Denny, are you serious? This guy is going into his third year of ever having anything to do with the NFL, Pete Carroll, jimmy Johnson, dick vermeil came from college n took a few years to succeed, none of them started off as quick as Chip, your mad cause he hasn’t won a playoff game, your acting like he’s has been coaching this team for five years, calm down! Your out there looking for this instant gratification like he should of been in the SB by now, You guys make me laugh.
“I’m sorry, but what has Chip Kelly done in this league? Has he even won a playoff game?”
No doubt Denny, if that is how you want to look at it, but why don’t you do a little actual journalistic work and investigate what the majority of new NFL coaches have done in their first 2 years and do a comparison. I am not saying that Chip is or will be a great coach, but I wonder how his first 2 years compare to some others…Jimmy Johnson, Bill Belichek, Pete Carroll have all won SB’s, compare their first 2 years with Chip and see if Chip is so much more terrible as you have described.
And STFU about the WR postion. Maclin is so average at WR… if any of you would pay that man $11 million per season, you have your heads up your asses. These days it’s so easy to find competent, big and fast WRs, spending 8 figures on one is ludicrous.
List some of the highest paid WRs for the last 15 years and tell me which ones have ever won a SB: TO, Randy Moss, Desean, Ocho Cinco, Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson… this list goes on and on… the only thing a top paid WR brings is a big cap hit and a bad attitude.
If the Patriots can win the SB with a couple of slow white boys at WR, the Eagles should do just fine with Matthews and Huff. The key to winning a SB is having a strong defense, a beast rushing attack and a smart QB with an accurate arm, and that is exactly the type of team that Chip is trying to build.
Yeah, 85 catches, 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns are pretty average.
Enjoy another year of Riley Cooper’s blocking.
Denny, those numbers are a byproduct of Chips system, he never saw a 1000 yard season befoe let alone 1300 yards, now he’s back with Reid who he put up those under 1000 yard seasons with n playing for a QB who couldn’t throw ONE TD to a receiver, He’ll be paid 11 million for 800 yards n 4 TDs, that’s what they got coming from their high paying number two receiver.
So can I put Riley Cooper/Josh Huff/Jordan Matthews/whoever the Eagles draft down for 90 catches, 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns since one of them will likely be number one in his majesty’s system?
Look at the situation Maclin was in before last year…only so many balls could go around with DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, Brent Celek in his prime, and LeSean McCoy all commanding a certain number of balls to go their way.
Last year was the first time Maclin had an opportunity to be “the guy” in this offense.
“The System” doesn’t make a player. “The System” can certainly help put players with talent in a position to do some really good things, but it can’t turn garbage into gold. There’s got to be something there to work with in the first place.
well it is a coincidence then that desean, lesean and maclin had their best years in ‘the system’
as far as ‘number 1’ receiver– I still contend that verbiage doesn’t exist to chip–
First of all Chip is walking away with another receiver or two between the draft, FA n trades but if he had matthews n Cooper on the outside or huff on the outside n Matthews back in the slot then I’m saying yes! Your gonna get the same production from your receivers along with Ertz as you did last season with Maclin n the season before with Djak, this guy knows how to utilize his receivers n get down the field, I do know this n you quote me on this, your boy Maclin will NEVER see last seasons numbers again! He should send Chip a gift every birthday n holiday thanking him for helping him get the mine he got.
Andrew you are correct — when you add the top 3 receivers catches, yards and TD’s each of the first two years it is eerily similar–
murray doesnt excite me either denny and i will miss mccoy for sure.
however kiko does excite me big time
i think investing this much money at rb is a little nuts but like they say it isnt my money. but yea murray doesnt excite me and i dont think he is a special talent. i watched his highlites from last year and most were just him running through lanes that were big and wide… your point about defenses will look to take him away first and foremost, well thats what they did with shady also…
it is what it is he is our rb now and not going anywhere for 3 years so hopefully he is legit.
imo i would have rather went with mathews, polk, sproles and signed culliver and had 2 stud corners rather than dump all this money into rb
the bigger issue is body cast bust bradford
Agree on Alonso, if he’s able to come back healthy you’re looking at a guy who could potentially add a lot to the front seven.
The Bradford move is the most egregious thing that has gone on here. Asking a quarterback made of glass to run an offense like this where the quarterback is going to take a pounding is just absurd.
I’m bracing for seeing more extended action for Sanchez.
Hahahahahah Denny you’re ridiculous. I love Chip, he’s the man. Whether I agree with what he’s doing or not, I love it because he’s changed the game. Unlike Andy Reid who fucked up so many chances to win a SB despite how amazing of a team he had.
Let Chip do what he wants to do, that way there are no excuses when it’s all said and done. At least the man tried his hardest to finally bring a SB to this city. What Philly was doing before obviously wasn’t working, so he’s trying a different approach. Stop being such a whiny bitch and watch greatness take place.
He’s changed the game? How? The hurry up offense existed in the NFL before Kelly got here. The smoothies didn’t exactly help either the Eagles when they went 1-3. But yeah, he’s the man alright.
So please, by all means enlighten me to what his majesty has done to “change the game”.
You guys don’t remember how many years we had to deal with Pinkston and Thrash at WR before Andy finally brought in TO? You don’t remember how unbelievably predictable Andy Reid’s offense was? For God’s sakes I could watch the game from home and be able to call out the play before they ran it. Chip Kelly is an innovator and he isn’t afraid to take chances. It’s about damn time we got a coach that is willinging to change his approach to the game.
So you can sit there and cry like a little baby but I’m excited about this team and can’t wait for the season to start. Super Bowl or not, at least our head coach approaches the game like a man and isn’t afraid to take chances.
No one is calling for the return of Reid. I want a plan I can believe in, and I haven’t seen a thing that makes me confident that this coach is taking the franchise down that path.
And I actually do remember what Pinkston and Thrash were like…but apparently you don’t. You’re ok with losing Maclin and having a guy like Cooper back another year? Yikes. Another year of Cooper might make me long for the days of Charles Johnson and Torrance Small.
Denny you’re more obnoxious than Jon Hart.
Still waiting for that explanation about what Chip is doing that has changed the NFL.
No answer other than “he’s the man!”?
Say no more, you’ve convinced me.
Good article Denny, just pointing out the obvious Chip has no plan unless you call killing the cap by adding a oft injured QB and a over priced corner and adding more holes a plan.
***Eagles News****
Eagles added another Kicker from Australia to the Roster…
Not sure of his name… But he will be brought in to add competition to K Parkey
Denny as for the RB position… once again you have to start viewing what is going on from a different point of view– shady is a great back– chip doesn’t like the E-W stuff– plain and simple- he attributes a 3 and out to shady losing two on first down– he thinks murray going n/s will eliminate this– this isn’t about murray getting 1800 yards or whatever–
Yahoo Sports’ Rand Getlin notes that USC WR Nelson Agholor is visiting with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday.
Source: Rand Getlin on Twitter
Mar 16 – 2:10 PM
Interesting henski, so far the only pre draft visits are with later round guys.
good point big, dont get me more worked up thinking yota is still possible. i feel like im already turning into an obsessed poster with my disdain for bradford
but then again there is that track record of chip trying to take 7th rounders in the 3rd…
Kelly Just Extended Taylor Hart’s Rookie Deal for 3 More Years at the Maximum Contract Amount using up all the remaining Cap Space..
Hahahahaha
Nelson Agholor is a Good WR from USC, and a 2nd Round Prospect
Qucik in and out of his Routes, Good Hands and 6-0 198lbs and Runs a 4.42
and very similar to Jeremy Maclin..
He more of a Intermediate, Sideline Route Runner, who has a thin frame and is not a very Physical Receiver though he has that quick burst and acceleration similar to Maclin, who can make big plays out of short passes
He’s not very strong on Deep Routes..
I dont see why people like Benardrick McKinney..only thing he has is size..ive watched tape on him..not feeling this dude..rather denzel or anthony. Plus i hope it was a typo..but it says his bench press at combine was 5?!?!?!?!?!? MLB?!?!
Per Adam Schefter..Tim Tebow is working out for the Eagles today.
Shhhhiiiiittttt, when is Jamarcus coming in for his workout?
Ok..had to look for myself..saying 16 on the bench
what THE FUCKKKKKKKKKKKK TEBOW IS WORKING OUT FOR US ????????????????????????????? HAAAAAAAAAA
Get rid of barkly..i would take anybody..LOL..even tebow
Now that’s the kind of post I can get behind Rhino, if Tim Tebow hits 2 out of 5 moving targets, Barkley is outta here.
i’ll go for that…Tebow has a third string…why not?
hand palming face
According to the source, Tim Tebow is working out for the Eagles today
This is confirmed
According to my source, you are a fucking ass muppet!
LMBO!!!!
**Eagles to Bring in Matt Lineart, Todd Marinovitch, A Dixon and every other
Unemployed QB from the Pac-10
The Browns are signing CB Tramon Williams to a 3 year deal worth $21M
He turned 32 today
Your time is near, the mission’s clear
It’s later than we think
Before you slip into the night
You’ll want something to drink
Steal away before the dawn, and
Bring us back good news
But if you’ve tread in primal soup
Please wipe it from your shoes
Just then a porthole pirate
Scourged the evening with his cry
And sanctuary bugs deprived
The monkey of its thigh
A dust arose and clogged my nose
Before I could blink twice
Despite the stuff that bubbled up
I gave some last advice:
The flesh from Satan’s dogs
Will make the rudiments of gruel
Deduct the carrots from your pay
You worthless swampy fool
Exploding then through fields and fen
And swimming in the mire
The septic maiden’s gargoyle tooth
Demented me with fire
I drifted where the current chose
Afloat upon my back
And if perchance a newt slimed by
I’d stuff it in my sack
Soon I felt a bubble form, Somewhere below my skin
But with handy spine of hedgehog
I removed the force within
Suzie then removed her mask
And caused a mighty stir
The angry mob responded
Taking turns at grabbing her
The foggy cavern’s musty grime
Appeared within my palm
I snatched Rick’s fork to scrape it off
With deadly icy calm
The crowd meanwhile had taken Sue
And used her like a rag
To mop the slime from where the slug
Had slithered with the bag
In summing up, the moral seems
A little bit obscure…
Give the director a serpent deflector
a mudrat detector, a ribbon reflector
a cushion convector, a picture of nectar
a virile dissector,a hormone collector
Whatever you do take care of your shoes
Man you are a fucken weirdo!!!!!!
haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Henski is the Resident “Polish Rapper” of GCobb.Com…
Spasm waiter dropping to his knees, sees
Slander on wrap paper ties
Lifting up his head he feels the sunlight in his eyes
Grasp a kettle top and shoot the breeze, please
Ramble while slop scraper sighs
Tossing in his bed at night he’ll dream until he dies
Operations at the sink
The dribble liquid visible beneath his troubled eyes
Feels it tilt and start to slide
Mask a pretty hopper’s foot with squeeze cheese
Dangle some grape apple pies
Tranquil and serene until he runs out of supplies
Your hands and feet are mangos
You’re gonna be a genius anyway
Your hands and feet are mangos
You’re gonna be a genius anyway
Come stumble my mirth beaten worker
I’m Jezmund the family berzerker
I’m bought for the price of a flagon of rice
The wind buffs the cabin
You speak of your life
Or more willingly Locust the Lurker
Confuse what you can of the ending
And revise your despise so impending
‘Cause I soak on the wrath
That you didn’t quite mask
I’m getting it clearly through alternate paths
Or mixed in with the signal you’re sending
But who can unlearn all the facts that I’ve learned
As I sat in their chairs and my synapses burned
And the torture of chalk dust collects on my tongue
Thoughts follow my vision and dance in the sun
All my vasoconstrictors they come slowly undone
Can’t this wait ’til I’m old
Can’t I live while I’m young?
But no peace for Jezmund tonight
I plug the distress tube up tight
And watch what I say as it flutters away
And all this emotion is kept harmless at bay
Not to educate somebody’s fright
Here thinking..that if we do sign Tebow…we might be taking on some kids with character issues..Tebow-3rd string..side job..chaperone?!?!? LOL!! IJS.
culture over talent!
Well that counts Jamarcus out he’d have to put the platter of ribs and chicken down to workout, and no way in hell is he going for a rib/chicken smoothie.
Another question.. We should be getting a Compensatory picks for losing Maclin?? Would it be a 2nd or 3rd?? Better not be no damn 4th! Anyone know?
Not until Next Draft Rhino… All the Compensatory Picks are Figured out for the Following Years Draft
The Picks are a cumulative result of How Many Free Agents you Lose Versus How many you Sign, and Who were Starters & Who were Back-up’s..
etc,etc..
So the Eagles lost Maclin, T Cole, C Williams, N Allen & T Herremans, who lets say, all become Starters for their New Teams while the Eagles Signed Murray, Maxwell, Thurmond and lets say 2 more Players who become Starters which would result in 5 Lost Free-Agents, 5 Gained Free-Agents so Zero Compensatory Picks would be given by the NFL
Thanks Paulman..
All of the “Kelly needs a running QB” people should be happy today. Tim Tebow is in town. The guy is built like a fullback, unfortunately he throws like a linebacker.
greenfan, he doesn’t throw like a LB, he throws like he has feet for hands, & shit for brains!
Another clickbait troll article with no real substance just bland cliche negativity. This article read like a transcript from an Angelo Cataldi morning show phone call.
Most of your points are easily defeated with just a small amount of research…..this is pathetic journalism at its core. You can do better than this.
One thing I will always remember out Tebow is during that Jets comeback game that started the hype….Antonio Cromartie wanted no part of Tebow rumbling towards the goalline lmao…..
“Then maybe the Signing of Tim Tebow will”
1) Bradford
2) Sanchez
3) Tebow – Say Bye to Matt Barkley
***NFL News***
Texans sign WR Cecil Shorts of the Jagaurs on a 2 Year Deal
and DT Vince Wilfork
Eagles “Did Not” Offer a Contract to Tim Tebow who has left NovaCare
What is the big fuss about 4th string qb.
Wow Howard eskin just said drew brees to the Jets.
Brees cap hit next year is 27$ million….qb contracts are crippling
Yes they are wow if this is true than Damn jets may have the best team in the afc.
If that happens Rex will be pissed . lmao
Tim Tebow perfect signing, no arm plenty of legs
perfect chip qb
Man Howard eskin fooled got you!
**NFL News***
Cleveland Browns with 2 nice Signings today
CB Tramon Williams (3 Years – $21 Million)
DT James Starks (2 Years – $8 Million total)
( Starks was cut after Dolphins signed DT N Suh)
*** Mhenski News****
Raiders Release QB Matt Shaub…
Chip Kelly to invite Shaub to NovaCare Ctr for a Workout with Mhenski’s
Approval…