The Eagles wrapped up their mandatory OTA workouts yesterday and although it was just OTA’s, I was able to see some of the young players who were developing and some veterans who were in full stride.
The time running back Darren Sproles got his hands on the football on Tuesday, he was showing off his quickness and explosiveness. Right away Doug Pederson started talking about ways to get the ball in his hands. Rookie Wendell Smallwood had a good camp and he’s got some great hands catching the football.
Starting running back Ryan Mathews could have a big year if he stays healthy. Of course that’s a big if, but we all know that Mathews can play.
Jordan Matthews is still the Eagles most productive and dependable receiver. Nelson Agholor made his share of plays, but he needs to get more consistent. Josh Huff was disappointing. Chris Givens showed his speed at times, but he’s not a DeSean Jackson. Rueben Randle didn’t get the chance to do much, but they need him to take a starting position and be productive.
The tight ends are going to be a big part of the offense and don’t be surprised if they keep Brent Celek, Zach Ertz, Trey Burton and Chris Pantale on the roster for the season. Pantale is considered a fullback, but he can and will play tight end.
Left tackle Jason Peters was showing off his quickness and power throughout the OTA’s, but usually when a veteran player’s body starts to break down, it never stops. He’s moving well now, but he’s got to move well in November and December.
The offensive line needs to have a good year with Peters, Allan Barbre at left guard, Jason Kelce at center, Brandon Brooks at right guard and Lane Johnson at right tackle. Brooks is a major improvement at right guard, but can he help make this line dominant.
On the defensive side of the ball, I’m looking forward to seeing that defensive line led by Fletcher Cox. Cox should be a monster at defensive tackle and Vinny Curry looks like a blur coming off the corner. We’ll have to wait and see how Benny Logan looks in this system and who wins the starting position between Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham.
The linebackers could be exceptional if middle linebacker Jordan Hicks stays healthy. Hicks has great football instincts and he makes plays. It’s time for Mychal Kendricks to use his athleticism to star in this defense. The Eagles are very thin at linebacker position.
The Birds are strong at the safety position with Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McCleod, so the key will be the play of their cornerbacks. Veteran Leodis McKelvin took over on the first day of the workouts. He’s likely to start at one of the corner spots. The battle for the other starting cornerback spot or spots will be between Nolan Carroll, Ron Brooks, JaCorey Sheppard, and rookie Jalen Mills. This competition at the cornerback position might be the best battle in training camp.
This 2016 Eagles team lacks depth at numerous positions and it is an injury away from falling apart. Unfortunately they have quite a few key players with a consistent injury history. Somebody needs to step up at the wide receiver positions other than Matthews. The defensive line has to be dominant for the defense to succeed, but they could be very good.
I assumed that Brandon Graham would be the RDE and Connor Barwin would be the LDE starters similarly like they played last year at OLB starting spots. But GCobb’s podcast seemed to insinuate Vinny Curry is the starter & the other 2 are in a training camp battle. Does this mean Vinny Curry is the feature RDE starter against Left OT Trent Williams, Tyron Smith and Erik Flowers?
That’s How I see it… Curry as the Starter RDE and Barwin the Starting LDE with Brandon Graham spelling them both throughout the Games as well as MSII getting some snaps as well
Some more bad news about this Agholor Sexual Assualt Case is that a Report has surfaced that Fletcher Cox offered the “Alleged Victim” a Financial Payoff to keep her mouth Shut insinuating that something went on… We all know the Eagles Owner Lurie is very sensitive to these type of Charges with any Players on his Team which hurt the Eagles Brand and right now in the NFL as in everywhere, Sexual Assault on Women will simply not be tolerated
I cannot imagine the Eagles possibly Negotiating their Biggest Contract and largest Financial Commitment to a Player (Since D McNabb) with a Player that now may have some uncertainties overhanging his Character and Judgement if any of this Stuff is True.. I am sure the Eagles will due their Due Diligence and wait for all the Investigation’s to be complete and you can bet that the Eagles have their own Security working on this as well..
I see Nelson Agholor Released in a Heartbeat if any of this Story is True.
Fletcher Cox wasn’t traded Paul…….
Good thing you didn’t take that bet bruh; it would have been a 2 year hiatus from GCobb.com……
What do you think of the possibility of Ziggy Ansah being reunited with Jim Schwartz in Philadelphia next offseason as a free agent signing,
along with Khalil Mack, to improve the pass rush, and overall talent on the Defense…..
do you want to make another guarantee that there is no chance either will leave their respective teams, and sign with the Eagles Paul??…
They have no 1st round pick, so I think they need to make a splash some way.
Your thoughts….
Doug Pederson already commented on this topic sometime ago. Curry will play LDE, and Barwin will play RDE exclusively…..There is no surprise with this.
Graham stink regardless of where he plays so he comes off the bench like he’s supposed to.
Cox deal is done. Its big… and I expect him to earn it. Lets roll.
Stoked on the Cox signing. He’s going to be a monster in the 4-3
I see it as Curry and Graham starting and Barwin backs them both up on running downs and then Barwin moving outside and graham moving into the middle on 3rd.
Great plenty of money to pay the hoes.
The Eagles are going yo party tonight at the strip clubs fletch got paid. Hoes for everybody
Great to see Fletcher Cox extension has been taken care of. Can’t wait to see him ball in Schwatz’s system. $103 mil over six years, $63 mil guaranteed…now that is a mega contract worth talking about….make it rain…on second thought…
Lmao
Eagles zero… Hmmmm they were able to do this all with having three QBs…all your negativity was for naught.
the last 2 GMs in 2015 and 2014 weren’t good enough for finishing in 2nd place and were publicly humiliated by Jeff Lurie and Howie Roseman ( complete classless departures by Lurie and Roseman kick them right in the rear end ). Howie Roseman took over personnel 100% in 2016 then overspent on every potential Eagle free agent to keep them out of the hands of Chip Kelly and the San Francisco 49ers. We will see how well he does in 2016. Wins matter !
overspent? interesting all those re-ups were considered ‘team friendly’– and they were done a year early….no one was jumping to chip kelly– you never let facts stand in the way of your narrative.
Cowboys RB Darren McFadden to have Elbow Surgery and is expected to be out 6-8 Weeks meaning he will miss most of Camp and possibly be placed on the Short IR List to Start the Season .. This will mean Rookie 1st Round Draft Pick Ezekial Eliot to get a bigger workload sooner than originally expected … I am not sure if this is Good News for everyone else..
NFL… next man up… no news here, move along.
McFadden will never see the Field again as a Cowboy..They don’t need him
RB Ezekial Elliot wins Offensive Rookie of the Year in a Landslide as
he Rumbles for 1,400 Yards with 10 TD’s as well as 40 Receptions for another 500 Yards and 2 TD’s … .
And when Elliot needs a breather, they Bring in Alferd Morris behing that massive OL which has 3 All-Pro’s on it…
McFadden will never see the Field again as a Cowboy….that certainly falls into the who the hell cares category…
as for elliot… who cares- you sound fearful of the cowboys???? non- of that happens after Romo breaks a ______________________
I am not fearful of anything HAC and especially not a Football Team
It just happens that the Cowboys will have the most potent,talented & balanced Offense in the NFC East by far with a Healthy Romo and the Eagles Offense have the weakest making it very difficult for the Eagles to Outscore Teams like the Cowboys,Giants,Redskins to Win actual Games..
maybe… i think they should just mail in the records now! The cowboys have warts as well. You like to play the games on paper, compare big names on rosters-
The Reality is that the Eagles will have one the Weakest Offense in the NFC East and probably in the entire NFC Conference starting out the Season.. The Rams are probably a close 2nd along with the 49ers but the Rams have an established RB in Gurley where the Eagles have ???
Everything cannot be fixed in 1 Off-Season, the Eagles Offense will go as far as their OL & Running Game will go for Sam Bradford is simply a Game Manager who needs all the other facets of the Offense to be working well in order for him to have success.. They will average 17-20 Points a Game which is not enough to Win more that 6-7 Games in Today’s NFL
The Defense should be much improved and if they can create Turnovers, Sacks and Negative Plays resulting in a lot of Short Fields and some additional Points, then the Eagles can maybe average 23-24 Points a Game which now gets them into contention to be in most of their Games and ultimately Win more games…
Special Teams will be huge and they should be very good on this Front with the Same Coach (Fipp) who is now going into his 4th Season which is a long tenure for most Special Teams Coach’s who change Teams often
Kicker Parkey should be on everyone’s Fantasy League Teams for he should just get a ton of Points and Opportunities for FG’s which is great for him, but not good news for the Offense if they have to settle for FG’s
Lets see if this Eagles Rushing Game can Average 150 Yards per Game as and Offense .. If Not, its going to be difficult to sustain any Offense against these better Defenses that they will face in 2016 (Steelers,Bengals,Ravens, Vikings,Packers & Seahawks)
Either way, it will be fun watching them compete in 2016 and seeing how Coach Pederson and the Players, Schemes improve as the Season goes along..
NFC East is Wide open with no Dominate Team
If Romo is Healthy and that’s still a big if, than their Offense will put up 30-35 Points a Game and even though their Defense Front 7 Stinks, they can still outscore many of their Opponents on their Schedule
NY Giants Offense is mostly intact and will be running the same schems and Offense as it has since Coach McAdoo arrived 3 years ago and their Offense will Score it’s share of Points and they added 3-4 good Defensive Players which hould make their Defense Better than whats it’s been in recent Years…. LB and Special Teams are still a Black Hole for them…
Redskins are now the most Physical Team in the Division, added some Players to their Defense, had another Solid Draft and their Season will likely hinge on how QB Kirk Cousins plays.. but they can Run the Ball, have Playmakers on the Outside and Inside and should have an improved Overall Defense
10 Games Wins the NFC East
The Eagles have one thing none of the other teams in the division have…”a strategic thinker”, at the head coaching position.
June14…. Injuries haven’t happened, veterans haven’t run out of gas and no rookie has had a pad on…. Everything is on paper. Useless chatter