What they're saying about the Eagles
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
What they're saying about the Eagles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Here's a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles:
Evan Silva of Rotoworld.com ranks the league's offensive lines. He's got the Eagles seventh:
The Eagles might have pushed for this list's top five pre-Jason Peters injury, but they'll have to settle for top-seven billing. Replacement Bell is a terrific scheme fit for OL coach Howard Mudd, who emphasizes athleticism up front. Mathis, Watkins, and Kelce form one of the league's most promising interiors, and each is entering his first full offseason in Mudd's system. Mathis is already a premier NFL guard. Herremans, who protects southpaw Michael Vick's blind side, allowed just four sacks last season while playing all but seven snaps. In Dunlap, Vallos, and Gibson, the Eagles have 23 career starts on the bench, and in Washington they have a potential left guard of the future. If Philly flounders again this year, it shouldn't be due to the offensive line.
Clark Judge of CBSSports.com takes a look at teams that finished .500 or worse last year and identifies five that will make the playoffs next season. The Eagles are one of them:
Just a hunch, but there will be dozens of preseason publications that put the Eagles -- not the New York Giants -- at the top of the NFC East, and there's a reason: These guys never, ever, ever go more than one season without making the playoffs. Not under Andy Reid they don't, and Reid -- like San Diego's Norv Turner -- is under orders to get this team in gear again ... or else. I say he does because there were a couple of nagging problems with last year's Eagles that should be corrected. First of all, the Eagles stunk against the run. At least they did early, with opponents finding holes the size of the Schuykill to run through. That exposed Philadelphia's unprotected and underwhelming linebackers, and it wound up sinking the club -- with Philadelphia blowing five fourth-quarter leads. The Eagles added tackle Fletcher Cox in the draft and acquired tackling machine DeMeco Ryans, and suddenly a weakness doesn't look like a weakness anymore.
Marc Sessler of NFL.com writes that the Eagles might have the best defensive line in the NFL:
Philly's focus on defense will generate havoc for opposing quarterbacks. It's premature to call the Eagles the best team in the NFC East with New York sitting there, but they might be in the running for the division's (and football's) finest defensive line.
The Eagles had the fourth-best sack rate on third down last year, according to Pat Kirwan of NFL.com.
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com has the Eagles eighth in his power rankings:
If somebody says Dream Team this summer, they just may get cut. The Eagles have a talented roster, which means it's all on Mike Vick.
Chad Reuter of NFL.com gives the Eagles a B+ for their draft:
Impact front-four defenders? Check. Linebacker help? Check. Slot corner? Check. Bruising running back? Check. Back-up quarterback? They got that, too. The price of a fourth-round pick and a sixth-rounder to trade up in the first round to secure top three-technique Fletcher Cox was reasonable. Small-but-talented linebacker Mychal Kendricks (Cal) and cornerback/returner Brandon Boykin (Georgia) were selected in the right spots and should fill their roles well. Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry was too talented to pass up at pick No. 59, as well.
ESPN.com's Dan Graziano offers his take on where Michael Vick needs to improve:
So, while "recklessness" is and continues to be an issue for Vick, it's not as simple as saying he exposes himself too much to injury based on the way he plays. It's is about Vick's overall decision-making as it pertains to throwing the ball, running the ball and accurately assessing the way he feels and what he can accomplish at a given moment. These are areas in which he has to improve, and just because recklessness wasn't the cause of any of the big injuries he had in 2011 doesn't mean (a) that it won't be in 2012 or (b) that injury is the only way it manifests himself.
Adam Schein of FoxSports.com likes what the Eagles have done this offseason:
In truth, Vince Young was a year late. Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid and general manager Howie Roseman honestly put together a dream draft class. Fletcher Cox and Mychal Kendricks should start. Roseman told me that defensive end Vinny Curry was the “classic highest player on the board pick” and was a steal at 59 overall. The Eagles plucked Brandon Boykin in the fourth round, and he’s a second-round talent.
With a full offseason, the likes of beleaguered defensive coordinator Juan Castillo and corner Nnamdi Asomugha should be more adjusted.
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Would someone ... anyone ... please start writing about the Eagles being under the salary cap by $18M ... What are they doing with this money? $18 MILLION!! Why aren't they spending it to make the team better? I know some will have to go to Shady ... but, are we O.K. with Lurie them not going after free agents that would help when they are still EIGHTEEN MILLION under the cap. A little more for the Luries, I guess ...
— Copper34- Copper, who would you have them spend the money on? Is it better to spend money on mid-level players just for the sake of spending it, or have it available in case they need to make a move because of injury (ie: Peters) or to use when there are stud players in free agency they want to go after (ie: Namdi, Babin, Jenkins)? If there was a free agent floating out there that would instantly improve this team, then I'd agree with you, but I don't see any that would right now.
The reason they can spend big in free agency when they want to is because they don't spend big in free agency just because they have the money...they pick their spots. This organization has its downfalls, for sure, but the way they manage the cap is certainly no one of them.— JTR - Better to have some cap flexibility. Still have to resign LeSean McCoy and perhaps sign some vets that get cut as depth. Houston had to cut a ton of excellent vets to get under the cap. If the Eagles had to do that there would be outrage. Say what you want but with few exceptions the Eagles manage their cap very well.— tpizza
I like what the Eagles have done this year in trades, the draft and re-signing their own players. Shady will get a nice contract but remember Maclin is up next, he's a free agent after the season as well as DRC. It'll be interesting to see if they keep DRC.- Interesting questions...his production this year determine what they do with DRC. He's young enough for them to sign to a 4-5 year deal if he produces...as for Maclin, does he get a comparable contract to Djax? More? Less? Do they even resign him? That'll be an interesting contract negotiation to follow. — JTR
- When Vick goes out with an injury ( as he does every year ),the season will be lost. The most important determining factor in getting to the Superbowl is having a healthy QB.— farley
- Totally agree that the Eagles to a great job of managing their cap space, but I can think of 2-3 FA's that would provide immediate improvement and/or insurance in key areas of need. How about a solid vet like Jos Addai or Ryan Grant to back up McCoy (other options are promising, but far from sure things). Then, I'd feel a lot better with one more athletic young LB in the fold -- can't assume that Ryans and Kendricks solve all their problems -- and Detroit's DeAndre Levy is out there, restricted, but hasn't been franchised or signed a tender..and he's only 25. Finally, there remains reason to be concerned about safety, and a good fit might be someone like Melvin Bullitt, ex of the Colts, who is excellent in run support, runs well, is still under 30, and deserves consideration for his name alone!— jmk1512
- Addai signed with Pats but I would like to seea vet or two...maybe safety and LB.— tpizza
- tpizza agreed. Still need at least one more quality, vetern linebacker. Cannot rely on what was here at that position. And dexter. That ranking of the Eagles offensive line kinda shot holes in your post the other day about the Birds having a poor line.— watsonmr
- Sheil is an Allstar. Don't want to see him go either. But if he does go to espn, I hope he replaces John Clayton. During the season, win or lose, I look forward to reading ManUp for position by position analysis.
- Taking money into the season is a good thing. I'm betting that some of the rookies make the team, there by eliminating signed players and creating more cap money before the season starts.
Watsonmr, as best I can tell the Eagles ranking has been between 12 and 28 from 2001 until the present. There are 32 teams in the league.
In all honestly, the Eagles play in a very tough division with each team having very formidable Defensive Lines. The Eagles lines are usually anchored by outstanding tackles, and soft guards and centers.
— Dexter - What I want one of these writers to find out is whether Mudd is going to stick around for awhile or whether he has a respectable protege. It doesn't make sense to revamp this entire line in his style if he is going to retire after the upcoming season. I will admit that I don't know much about offensive lines and offensive line schemes, but from everything I have read in the past year or so, Mudd's style is dramatically different than most other teams.— Penfold18
- I love that Graziano ripped off Sheil's article.— dragoon6
- WMR, I like the additions to LB but one injury and we are virtually back where we started. Jordan and Fokou don't produce anything worth mentioning and can go. Rolle is short but somewhat effective and I would give Matthews another shot but that still leaves us thin if Ryans goes down and I'm counting on Kendricks to produce right away. That's the mistake the Eagles made last year with Matthews though he will never be a MLB. Definitely want to see them add a vet.— tpizza
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