Archive for April, 2010

After a three-month layoff, the Eagles returned to work today in preparation for the 2010 season. Getting a read on injured players, roster battles and how new faces are fitting in is impossible to gauge after one or two practices in shorts, but there were a few mildly interesting developments to ponder. The gastric band – File this under the WTF department. Max Jean-Gilles has never been the most svelte guy on the team, but apparently his weight had become such a concern that he had a gastric band placed around the top portion of his stomach to treat his [...]

The Eagles are doing right by their new starting quarterback. According to scout.com’s Adam Caplan, the Eagles and Kevin Kolb have agreed on a one-year extension rumored to be worth $12.26 million in guaranteed cash. Why only one year? Blame the lack of a new CBA and something called the 30% rule, which limits a player’s base salary growth to 30% from one year to the next. Guaranteed money does not apply to the rule, so the majority of the extension will be tied up in up front payment. This represents a strong commitment to Kolb from the Eagles. He [...]

Brian Westbrook has yet to find a new team. He recently passed a physical with the Rams, but hasn’t decided whether or not he’ll sign a contract. I for one hope Westy calls it quits. Even before he suffered two severe concussions last year, Westbrook was battling both knee and ankle injuries that date back to his college days. As is the case with most veteran running backs, the NFL rigors have left his body broken and slowed. He lacks the same explosion and shiftiness that made him an elite playmaker. Defenses no longer fear his versatile arsenal of skills. [...]

The Eagles continue to add more players to the roster in the wake of the 2010 Draft. RB Keith Flemming, DE Eric Moncur and CB Devin Ross were signed today as rookie free agents. In addition, G Shawn Murphy was claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Bucs. Ross is the third undrafted cornerback to be signed after the position was largely ignored during the draft. Murphy is the fourth lineman to be inked. Reid has a pretty good track record when it comes to finding diamonds in the rough, so maybe a couple of these guys will stick. Projected [...]

You can find the complete list here, but I want to focus on a couple guys who intrigue me. CB David Pender, Purdue – He’s 6’0″ 180 with 4.47 speed. Played in 51 games and finished his career with 33 PDs and three interceptions. Pender is experienced and technically sound in coverage. On a roster lacking true cornerbacks, he has a shot to make some noise. DT Charles Alexander, LSU – He spent six years at LSU due to a redshirt year and another cut short by injury. Finished with 29 starts and 4.5 sacks. I’d estimate his odds of [...]

While most of Eagles Nation ponders the possibilities of having a revamped defense predicated on attacking speed up front, I’m going to turn my attention to the other side of the ball. Last May I posited this theory about how the 2009 offense might look. To summarize, I suggested Reid might install a 2007 Patriots-like spread scheme to take advantage of his newly acquired weapons. Namely, Maclin, Ingram and the able-handed Leonard Weaver. Ya know, ’cause guys like JMac and Corny came from college spreads, and DeSean and Celek could easily adjust to that style of play.

I spotted a common trait among the 13 newest Eagles that has nothing to do with having a “high motor.”  They might be young, but they sure have played a lot of football. Check out my fancy chart after the jump.

Whew! What a hellish three days the 2010 NFL draft turned out to be. I mean that in a good way. Hey, I love the draft, despite the fact I have no idea what the hell I’m talking about half the time. I watch a ton of college football, read copious amounts of scouting reports and review a glut of highlight/lowlight packages, but I’m no draft expert, obviously. At the end of the day, I just enjoy taking in the whole process. As much as we fans would like to think we know more than the talent evaluators, we don’t. [...]

Closing out the 2010 Draft, the Eagles selected these four dudes: 6th Round: RB Charles Scott, LSU – Wait a minute, a big wide receiver and a big running back? That’s nuts. Scott is a punishing 240 pound between-the-tackles bruiser who racked 18 touchdowns as a Junior. Senior season was cut short by a broken collarbone. Could become a leading candidate to assume short-yardage and goal line duties, although Mike Bell is already pretty good in that area. Scott will get a chance to earn the third back spot. He’s a good value pick, but don’t get too excited. Fun [...]

The most scrutinized position on the Eagles roster during the last few years has added another body: Riley Cooper from Florida. Fans wanted a big wideout and Cooper fits the mold. He’s 6’3″ 225 pounds with 4.5 speed. A product of Florida’s spread attack, Cooper shined as a senior catching 51 balls for 961 yards and nine scores. Is physical and will operate over the middle. He needs to become a more adept route runner and lacks separation speed, but as a fourth or fifth option, and a possible red zone threat, he brings good value. Bye, bye fifth round. [...]

This is an interesting pick. Clemson defensive end/linebacker Ricky Sapp was rated as a second- or third-round talent, so the Eagles landing him in the fifth is great value. However, Sapp is a classic tweener at 6’4″ 250 pounds. Is he a hand in the dirt speed rusher, or is he a blitzing outside linebacker? Sapp is more of an athlete than a football player, which isn’t a compliment. He tore is ACL late in 2008 and never really recovered during his senior season. Maybe another year removed will benefit him. He’s strictly a speed rusher and will struggle versus [...]

The Eagles, amazingly, used all four of their fourth-round selections. After snagging cornerback Trevard Lindley, they turned around and had three quick picks bunched together. First up, undersized linebacker Keenan Clayton from Oklahoma. Another fifth-year senior who could project to strong safety due to being only 6’1″ 229 pounds. He racked up 159 tackles, six sacks and a pair of interceptions in his last two years with the Sooners. The pundits called this a reach. Could have had him in the sixth-round. Next, they took quarterback Mike Kafka from Northwestern. He’s big (6’3″ 225), strong-armed and accurate. Started only one [...]