Progress at 6 premium positions

[Eskimo]

Is it Gosselin who always preaches there are 6 premium positions on a football team? I think he lists them as QB. RB, LT, #1WR, #1CB, pass rushing DE. You could debate there is now a 7th - hybrid runstuffing/passrushing DT (i.e. Kris Jenkins, Richard Seymour, Warren Sapp in his prime) but we won't go into that.

So how does our future now compare to how it looked last year at this time?

2003 2004
QB Quincy/Hutch Henson
RB T-Ham Julius Jones/R Lee
WR A Bryant A Bryant
LT Flo Flo
DE Ellis Ellis/Wiley
CB Newman Newman

At all these positions, only one looks weaker than it did last year at this point and that is Bryant at WR.

There isn't much point in discussing the QB or RB situation as these are obvious huge upgrades over the previous talent. Will they be Pro Bowlers? That remains to be seen.

At WR, Bryant was coming off a great rookie campaign and we were looking for great things. We were disappointed with his regression in his second campaign and downright devastated by his conduct at mini-camp. He has had a solid preseason, and he still has plenty of time to turn his career around. Nevertheless, last year at this time we envisioned him as a future #1 WR and now most people think he will end up being a solid #2 to complement a future #1 WR who has yet to be acquired.

At LT, Flo was a huge question mark coming off the worst year of his career. He went out and became a Pro Bowler allowing only 1 sack and now the question is whether he can join Ogden/Pace/WJones as one of the eiltes at the position.

At DE, last year we had Ellis and this year we have Ellis and Wiley as our main pass rushers at DE. Neither are upper-echelon players but this position is at least much more solid than it used to be. Both players are approaching 30 so this position will likely need to be addressed in one of the next two drafts or FA.

At #1 CB, last year Newman was an untested rookie and now this year the question is not whether he will become a Pro Bowl-candidate, but whether he will become a true shut-down guy in the mold of Bailey/Law/McAllister.

A lot remains to be seen, but we definitely appear to be on much more solid footing than we were a year ago. With two first-rounders next year, hopefully some more holes (DT, pass rush specialist, #1WR) can be filled. Other holes such as #2 CB and safety are not unimportant but can probably be filled in with non-first round draft picks, vets in FA or from existing candidates on the squad.

One thing that clearly looks to be in our favour is the improvement in our drafting/scouting - our first picks in the last 3 drafts all appear to be rock solid - Roy Williams, Terrence Newman and Julius Jones. Compare that to the 3 previous years (2001 Q Carter, 2000 D Goodrich, 1999 Ekuban).

Let's take a look at the Eagles:

QB McNabb
RB Westbrook
WR Owens
LT Thomas
DE Kearse
CB Sheppard

Right now I would give them an advantage at 3 spots (QB, WR, DE) and give us the advantage at 2 spots (LT, CB) with one position a dead heat (RB - neither Westbrook nor Jones has proven they can carry the load, yet, but both show potential - obviously Jones is a bit more of a question mark than Westbrook, but I'll still call this one even for now because I like Jones' potential that much). However, when you consider the volatility of Owens, the shaky health of Kearse and the immense potential of Henson, it is easy to see a shift in division supremacy occuring next year.

[crazylegs]

Is it Gosselin who always preaches there are 6 premium positions on a football team? I think he lists them as QB. RB, LT, #1WR, #1CB, pass rushing DE. You could debate there is now a 7th - hybrid runstuffing/passrushing DT (i.e. Kris Jenkins, Richard Seymour, Warren Sapp in his prime) but we won't go into that.

So how does our future now compare to how it looked last year at this time?

2003 2004
QB Quincy/Hutch Henson
RB T-Ham Julius Jones/R Lee
WR A Bryant A Bryant
LT Flo Flo
DE Ellis Ellis/Wiley
CB Newman Newman

At all these positions, only one looks weaker than it did last year at this point and that is Bryant at WR.

There isn't much point in discussing the QB or RB situation as these are obvious huge upgrades over the previous talent. Will they be Pro Bowlers? That remains to be seen.

At WR, Bryant was coming off a great rookie campaign and we were looking for great things. We were disappointed with his regression in his second campaign and downright devastated by his conduct at mini-camp. He has had a solid preseason, and he still has plenty of time to turn his career around. Nevertheless, last year at this time we envisioned him as a future #1 WR and now most people think he will end up being a solid #2 to complement a future #1 WR who has yet to be acquired.

At LT, Flo was a huge question mark coming off the worst year of his career. He went out and became a Pro Bowler allowing only 1 sack and now the question is whether he can join Ogden/Pace/WJones as one of the eiltes at the position.

At DE, last year we had Ellis and this year we have Ellis and Wiley as our main pass rushers at DE. Neither are upper-echelon players but this position is at least much more solid than it used to be. Both players are approaching 30 so this position will likely need to be addressed in one of the next two drafts or FA.

At #1 CB, last year Newman was an untested rookie and now this year the question is not whether he will become a Pro Bowl-candidate, but whether he will become a true shut-down guy in the mold of Bailey/Law/McAllister.

A lot remains to be seen, but we definitely appear to be on much more solid footing than we were a year ago. With two first-rounders next year, hopefully some more holes (DT, pass rush specialist, #1WR) can be filled. Other holes such as #2 CB and safety are not unimportant but can probably be filled in with non-first round draft picks, vets in FA or from existing candidates on the squad.

One thing that clearly looks to be in our favour is the improvement in our drafting/scouting - our first picks in the last 3 drafts all appear to be rock solid - Roy Williams, Terrence Newman and Julius Jones. Compare that to the 3 previous years (2001 Q Carter, 2000 D Goodrich, 1999 Ekuban).

Let's take a look at the Eagles:

QB McNabb
RB Westbrook
WR Owens
LT Thomas
DE Kearse
CB Sheppard

Right now I would give them an advantage at 3 spots (QB, RB, WR, DE) and give us the advantage at 2 spots (LT, CB) with one position a dead heat (RB - neither Westbrook nor Jones has proven they can carry the load, yet, but both show potential). However, when you consider the volatility of Owens, the shaky health of Kearse and the immense potential of Henson, it is easy to see a shift in division supremacy occuring next year.

"There isn't much point in discussing the QB or RB situation as these are obvious huge upgrades over the previous talent."

Anyone with 1/2 a brain cell could of told us that.

[RatisBeast]

Is it Gosselin who always preaches there are 6 premium positions on a football team? I think he lists them as QB. RB, LT, #1WR, #1CB, pass rushing DE. You could debate there is now a 7th - hybrid runstuffing/passrushing DT (i.e. Kris Jenkins, Richard Seymour, Warren Sapp in his prime) but we won't go into that.

So how does our future now compare to how it looked last year at this time?

2003 2004
QB Quincy/Hutch Henson
RB T-Ham Julius Jones/R Lee
WR A Bryant A Bryant
LT Flo Flo
DE Ellis Ellis/Wiley
CB Newman Newman

At all these positions, only one looks weaker than it did last year at this point and that is Bryant at WR.

There isn't much point in discussing the QB or RB situation as these are obvious huge upgrades over the previous talent. Will they be Pro Bowlers? That remains to be seen.

At WR, Bryant was coming off a great rookie campaign and we were looking for great things. We were disappointed with his regression in his second campaign and downright devastated by his conduct at mini-camp. He has had a solid preseason, and he still has plenty of time to turn his career around. Nevertheless, last year at this time we envisioned him as a future #1 WR and now most people think he will end up being a solid #2 to complement a future #1 WR who has yet to be acquired.

At LT, Flo was a huge question mark coming off the worst year of his career. He went out and became a Pro Bowler allowing only 1 sack and now the question is whether he can join Ogden/Pace/WJones as one of the eiltes at the position.

At DE, last year we had Ellis and this year we have Ellis and Wiley as our main pass rushers at DE. Neither are upper-echelon players but this position is at least much more solid than it used to be. Both players are approaching 30 so this position will likely need to be addressed in one of the next two drafts or FA.

At #1 CB, last year Newman was an untested rookie and now this year the question is not whether he will become a Pro Bowl-candidate, but whether he will become a true shut-down guy in the mold of Bailey/Law/McAllister.

A lot remains to be seen, but we definitely appear to be on much more solid footing than we were a year ago. With two first-rounders next year, hopefully some more holes (DT, pass rush specialist, #1WR) can be filled. Other holes such as #2 CB and safety are not unimportant but can probably be filled in with non-first round draft picks, vets in FA or from existing candidates on the squad.

One thing that clearly looks to be in our favour is the improvement in our drafting/scouting - our first picks in the last 3 drafts all appear to be rock solid - Roy Williams, Terrence Newman and Julius Jones. Compare that to the 3 previous years (2001 Q Carter, 2000 D Goodrich, 1999 Ekuban).

Let's take a look at the Eagles:

QB McNabb
RB Westbrook
WR Owens
LT Thomas
DE Kearse
CB Sheppard

Right now I would give them an advantage at 3 spots (QB, RB, WR, DE) and give us the advantage at 2 spots (LT, CB) with one position a dead heat (RB - neither Westbrook nor Jones has proven they can carry the load, yet, but both show potential). However, when you consider the volatility of Owens, the shaky health of Kearse and the immense potential of Henson, it is easy to see a shift in division supremacy occuring next year.
I hope you're right, but don't ever undervalue the importance of coaching, luckily we got one of the best , if not the best doing that. :D

[Eskimo]

"There isn't much point in discussing the QB or RB situation as these are obvious huge upgrades over the previous talent."

Anyone with 1/2 a brain cell could of told us that.

Glad to oblige, I think.

[DallasKnight]

quote: Right now I would give them an advantage at 3 spots (QB, RB, WR, DE) Unquote:

Just 3? How about learning to count? That's 4! *ROFL*

And I'm not sure I'd give them and advantage at RB. I think Julius and Eddie beat out Westbrook.

[Eskimo]

quote: Right now I would give them an advantage at 3 spots (QB, RB, WR, DE) Unquote:

Just 3? How about learning to count? That's 4! *ROFL*

And I'm not sure I'd give them and advantage at RB. I think Julius and Eddie beat out Westbrook.

A small error there. The original post has now been edited.

[AJM1613]

Right now I would give them an advantage at 3 spots (QB, WR, DE) and give us the advantage at 2 spots (LT, CB) with one position a dead heat (RB - neither Westbrook nor Jones has proven they can carry the load, yet, but both show potential - obviously Jones is a bit more of a question mark than Westbrook, but I'll still call this one even for now because I like Jones' potential that much). However, when you consider the volatility of Owens, the shaky health of Kearse and the immense potential of Henson, it is easy to see a shift in division supremacy occuring next year.

Westbrook is a proven HB, has shown his skills, averaged 5.2 yards per carry last year and has proven he has good hands. Sorry, but you shouldn't say it is was just because you like Jones' potential.

Do you ever think that Ellis/Wiley will be better than Kearse/McDougle/Burgess/Douglas (premature, I know) by season end? Or that Bryant will be better than Owens?

Henson should prove to be a top 32 Quarterback, but lets not label him a top 5/10 QB just yet. McNabb has just as much potential to improve as Henson.

[Eskimo]

Westbrook is a proven HB, has shown his skills, averaged 5.2 yards per carry last year and has proven he has good hands. Sorry, but you shouldn't say it is was just because you like Jones' potential.

Do you ever think that Ellis/Wiley will be better than Kearse/McDougle/Burgess/Douglas (premature, I know) by season end? Or that Bryant will be better than Owens?

Henson should prove to be a top 32 Quarterback, but lets not label him a top 5/10 QB just yet. McNabb has just as much potential to improve as Henson.

When did I ever say our DEs beat your DEs? I clearly gave your guys the advantage right now. However, if you extract Kearse from the equation, I'd take our guys over yours.

In terms of #1 WR, I gave the advantage to Owens. He is a troublemaker and we'll see how he makes out this year with Mr. Inaccurate at QB.

Westbrook has only had to be a complementary back and has not been asked to carry the load. Hambrick put up similar running numbers as a part-timer. We'll see how he does as the main man but I don't concede that he'll be better than Julius. We'll know more by the end of the year.

McNabb is what he is. He isn't likely to improve tremendously anymore. This is his sixth season in the league? He makes plays with his feet but is below average throwing the football and shows no signs of improving in this regard. He will never be an eilite QB (Manning, Brady, Favre, McNair). He is definitely a tier-2 guy (Bulger, Culpepper, Pennington, Green, Hasselbeck, Gannon) and I don't even think he is at the top of that pack, either. We'll see how Henson does but I think he will be better than McNabb by the 2006 season.