A mid-camp look at the NFC East: Dallas in a landslide

[BourbonBalz]

Why do some keep saying the Eagles have a very good to great QB in Bradford if he stays healthy????? Based on what? He was a great college QB, but has yet to do squat in the NFL. There have been many great "college QBs" that didn't even play in the NFL. I don't get all the fear of a healthy Bradford. Maybe he will be very good IF he can stay healthy. Then again, it's just as likely he could be below average IF he stays healthy. Being the # 1 draft pick several years ago means nothing at this point. Just ask the Raiders how that panned out a few years ago.

 

[erod]

Murray one cut style is a great fit for Chip's offense. His initial read and step though is what I wonder about being a good fit.

Yep, and Murray is a deep-I type of back that likes to get a head of steam. He's not the shotgun sidekick type of scat back like Lesean McCoy. I guess they could line Murray up behind Bradford in the shotgun, but that's always awkward.

In a spread type of offense, it'll be frustrating for Murray. And I'm an OU fan, and this notion that he "did this in college" with Bradford is wrong. OU ran multiple sets, including a lot of power-I formation, for both Adrian Peterson and Demarco Murray.

Chip's offense doesn't suit Murray, and I don't know if he's willing to change it.

 

[viman96]

The perfect RB for Chip is a one cut back that can quickly read the defense and hit the hole. McCoy was not good at quickly making the read and hitting the hole.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

I think people are being shortsighted with the Eagles. Will they win the division? Probably not. But this is the best Eagles team on paper in the 3 years Kelly has been there. Their front seven is very, very good. They improved in the secondary by dumping Williams and Fletcher, their starting CBs.

It all hinges on Bradford. If (and that's a big if) he's healthy, they are going to be a very good team. Better than us? At this point, not really but the idea that we are 5 games better than them is wishful thinking IMO.

They improved in the secondary haha. Eagles aren't going to be good. They have way to many injury prone players. Get brought in two running backs that doesn't fit in a hurry up no huddle offense. Murray would get gased when we worked time of possession, how you think he going to do with no rest?

Their OL has taken a step back and their number 1 WR is Riley Cooper. On top of that Ertz is out for the year so the TE position isn't as strong either. Their entire offense in every level has taken steps backwards. Now down the road in the future......ya maybe but this season their offense will not be able to run the score up.

Their DL is a strength no doubt but what happens when their offense goes 3 and out or turn the ball over with only 30 seconds coming off the clock? Defense will be worn out by half time. They can't close out late in the game cause Chip wants a million plays ran every 10 seconds no matter the score.

They signed Byron Maxwell (who I want to see play without Seattle's defense helping him) and old *** Walter Thurman. Haha Dez and T Will have career days not to mention they traded Brandon Boykin. ......who covering Beasley? Witten?

Teams are going to throw the ball all over Philly, they do not scare me.

 

[erod]

They improved in the secondary haha. Eagles aren't going to be good. They have way to many injury prone players. Get brought in two running backs that doesn't fit in a hurry up no huddle offense. Murray would get gased when we worked time of possession, how you think he going to do with no rest?

Their OL has taken a step back and their number 1 WR is Riley Cooper. On top of that Ertz is out for the year so the TE position isn't as strong either. Their entire offense in every level has taken steps backwards. Now down the road in the future......ya maybe but this season their offense will not be able to run the score up.

Their DL is a strength no doubt but what happens when their offense goes 3 and out or turn the ball over with only 30 seconds coming off the clock? Defense will be worn out by half time. They can't close out late in the game cause Chip wants a million plays ran every 10 seconds no matter the score.

They signed Byron Maxwell (who I want to see play without Seattle's defense helping him) and old *** Walter Thurman. Haha Dez and T Will have career days not to mention they traded Brandon Boykin. ......who covering Beasley? Witten?

Teams are going to throw the ball all over Philly, they do not scare me.

Agree with all that, but Ertz isn't out for the year. He's supposed to miss a few weeks.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

They have two very good OTs and a good C. Matthews, their rookie WR, had 67 catches and 8 TDs last year. He's pretty good. As you said their RBs are very good. Cox is a stud. Logan is a solid NT. Barwin had double digit sacks. Kendricks is very good. I never said Maxwell is special. But if you don't think he's better than either Cary Williams or Bradley Fletcher, then you are smoking something.

Matthews had Maclin, Cooper and Ertz that required attention. Now he will be a top target how will he handle that?

Maxwell was surrounded by a elite defense with Sherman, Thomas and Chancellor. I want to see how he does without them.

I feel they are over rated like every year. Last year's team was better and they was bailed out by special teams and defensive TDs last season

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Agree with all that, but Ertz isn't out for the year. He's supposed to miss a few weeks.

Not what I heard from a Philly fan

 

[erod]

Not what I heard from a Philly fan

Those injuries are tricky, but there's hope he plays in Week One.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...rtz-has-core-muscle-surgery-to-miss-preseason

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Those injuries are tricky, but there's hope he plays in Week One.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...rtz-has-core-muscle-surgery-to-miss-preseason

Thanks for the update I stand corrected.

That being said a partially torn groin can be tricky like you said. I remember Terence Newman had groin problems that seemed to last a few years

 

[Sydla]

Yep, and Murray is a deep-I type of back that likes to get a head of steam. He's not the shotgun sidekick type of scat back like Lesean McCoy. I guess they could line Murray up behind Bradford in the shotgun, but that's always awkward.

In a spread type of offense, it'll be frustrating for Murray. And I'm an OU fan, and this notion that he "did this in college" with Bradford is wrong. OU ran multiple sets, including a lot of power-I formation, for both Adrian Peterson and Demarco Murray.

Chip's offense doesn't suit Murray, and I don't know if he's willing to change it.

I am not sure why you keep saying this but I believe over the last two years, Murray was one of the more effective TBs out of the shot gun in terms of yards per carry. In fact, in last year's free agent TB market, he was second to only Matthews in yards per carry out of the shotgun formation.

So where do you have the data to support your notion that Murray just can't work in that system?

 

[Sydla]

They improved in the secondary haha. Eagles aren't going to be good. They have way to many injury prone players. Get brought in two running backs that doesn't fit in a hurry up no huddle offense. Murray would get gased when we worked time of possession, how you think he going to do with no rest?

Their OL has taken a step back and their number 1 WR is Riley Cooper. On top of that Ertz is out for the year so the TE position isn't as strong either. Their entire offense in every level has taken steps backwards. Now down the road in the future......ya maybe but this season their offense will not be able to run the score up.

Their DL is a strength no doubt but what happens when their offense goes 3 and out or turn the ball over with only 30 seconds coming off the clock? Defense will be worn out by half time. They can't close out late in the game cause Chip wants a million plays ran every 10 seconds no matter the score.

They signed Byron Maxwell (who I want to see play without Seattle's defense helping him) and old *** Walter Thurman. Haha Dez and T Will have career days not to mention they traded Brandon Boykin. ......who covering Beasley? Witten?

Teams are going to throw the ball all over Philly, they do not scare me.

Hard to take seriously a post that claims Cooper is their #1 WR and Ertz is out for the year. There's talk Cooper might not even make the team if Austin proves he can play in the system.

 

[Sydla]

Matthews had Maclin, Cooper and Ertz that required attention. Now he will be a top target how will he handle that?

Maxwell was surrounded by a elite defense with Sherman, Thomas and Chancellor. I want to see how he does without them.

I feel they are over rated like every year. Last year's team was better and they was bailed out by special teams and defensive TDs last season

I don't think Maxwell is great by any measure. I think he was helped by the other three.

But are you trying to argue that he's not as good as Bradley Fletcher?

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Hard to take seriously a post that claims Cooper is their #1 WR and Ertz is out for the year. There's talk Cooper might not even make the team if Austin proves he can play in the system.

Then don't take it seriously, why reply. Give me your reasons why you think eagles will be so dominate.......who is their number 1? Matthews haha

 

[Sydla]

Then don't take it seriously, why reply. Give me your reasons why you think eagles will be so dominate.......who is their number 1? Matthews haha

I swear one of the funnier things about internet message boards is that people just want to read what they want to read, or in fact, don't read at all and just make assumptions. Nowhere in this entire thread have I uttered anything that could be interpreted that I believe the Eagles will be so "dominate". In fact, I've said the exact opposite. I don't think they are good as us.

My point all along is that I think it's suspect to think that a team that has won 10 games the last two years is suddenly only a 6 or 7 win team and that the Cowboys are at least 5 games better than them in the standings. As I've said a few times, assuming no injuries out of the ordinary, we are a 11-12 win team, Philly is like an 9-10 win team like they've been the last two seasons, Giants and Skins fall in behind them.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I can't see how anyone could look at the highly questionable moves the Eagles made this offseason can consider them being a better team than they've been the last two seasons.

 

[Sydla]

I can't see how anyone could look at the highly questionable moves the Eagles made this offseason can consider them being a better team than they've been the last two seasons.

Why not? They got better in some areas, they stayed the same in others, they got worse in a few. Pretty much even out for me. I don't think highly of Foles at all so at worst, QB is a push IMO. They had McCoy but they are probably deeper now at TB with both Murray and Matthews. Losing Mathis at OG is a problem as is Maclin at WR. But then they upgraded in the secondary and they got a stud ILB in Alonso. So I think they could be better on defense, maybe weaker on offense and just around that 9 or so win level. I think Kelly, while not a genius, is a pretty good coach as well.

I think people are completely overselling this whole notion that Kelly gutted the team and only lost talent and didn't add talent.

 

[viman96]

Why not? They got better in some areas, they stayed the same in others, they got worse in a few. Pretty much even out for me. I don't think highly of Foles at all so at worst, QB is a push IMO. They had McCoy but they are probably deeper now at TB with both Murray and Matthews. Losing Mathis at OG is a problem as is Maclin at WR. But then they upgraded in the secondary and they got a stud ILB in Alonso. So I think they could be better on defense, maybe weaker on offense and just around that 9 or so win level. I think Kelly, while not a genius, is a pretty good coach as well.

I think people are completely overselling this whole notion that Kelly gutted the team and only lost talent and didn't add talent.

Actually I addressed it. The influx is either due to injury or never showing they can produce at a high level.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

I swear one of the funnier things about internet message boards is that people just want to read what they want to read, or in fact, don't read at all and just make assumptions. Nowhere in this entire thread have I uttered anything that could be interpreted that I believe the Eagles will be so "dominate". In fact, I've said the exact opposite. I don't think they are good as us.

My point all along is that I think it's suspect to think that a team that has won 10 games the last two years is suddenly only a 6 or 7 win team and that the Cowboys are at least 5 games better than them in the standings. As I've said a few times, assuming no injuries out of the ordinary, we are a 11-12 win team, Philly is like an 9-10 win team like they've been the last two seasons, Giants and Skins fall in behind them.

They won 10 games last season which the defense and special teams won at least 3 of them. They are a worst team this year for reasons I have stated so I see them around 6-7 wins.

Still waiting for you to look at the depth chart and give be reasons why you think they are a 9-10 win team

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Why not? They got better in some areas, they stayed the same in others, they got worse in a few. Pretty much even out for me. I don't think highly of Foles at all so at worst, QB is a push IMO. They had McCoy but they are probably deeper now at TB with both Murray and Matthews. Losing Mathis at OG is a problem as is Maclin at WR. But then they upgraded in the secondary and they got a stud ILB in Alonso. So I think they could be better on defense, maybe weaker on offense and just around that 9 or so win level. I think Kelly, while not a genius, is a pretty good coach as well.

I think people are completely overselling this whole notion that Kelly gutted the team and only lost talent and didn't add talent.

Kiko has played 1 season and coming back from a terrible injury, not sure how he is a stud. While Murray is a good back he doesn't fit the hurry up no huddle offense and Matthews can't stay healthy the same as Murray having injury issues. I don't feel the secondary has been upgraded. You scared of Walter Thurman?

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

Why not? They got better in some areas, they stayed the same in others, they got worse in a few. Pretty much even out for me. I don't think highly of Foles at all so at worst, QB is a push IMO. They had McCoy but they are probably deeper now at TB with both Murray and Matthews. Losing Mathis at OG is a problem as is Maclin at WR. But then they upgraded in the secondary and they got a stud ILB in Alonso. So I think they could be better on defense, maybe weaker on offense and just around that 9 or so win level. I think Kelly, while not a genius, is a pretty good coach as well.

I think people are completely overselling this whole notion that Kelly gutted the team and only lost talent and didn't add talent.

Here's the deal with their improved secondary.

At corner last year they had:

Fletcher
Williams
Boykin
Carroll
Watkins

This year they have:
Maxwell
Carroll
Watkins
Rowe

That might be a clear improvement to you, but to me it looks like you've promoted the fourth and fifth corners on a horrible secondary to the second and third spots. Maybe Maxwell is so overwhelmingly superior to the guys he's replacing that he makes up for that. But playing guys who couldn't get on the field at your worst spot doesn't seem to equal improvement. And it isn't like Maxwell is some sure thing. He's been a starter for 17 games on the best secondary in the league. It's far from a sure thing that they've improved there.


At safety they're planning on playing a guy who can't stay healthy at a less physically demanding position who's never played the position.

Could they be better? Sure, but just saying they've improved there seems like a stretch to say if you look at the total picture.