DMN: Gosselin: The Eagles are vastly overrated

[jobberone]

Gosselin: The Eagles are vastly overrated

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/incoming/20150629-chip-kelly.ece/BINARY/w940/Chip+Kelly
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly reaches for his whistle during NFL football minicamp, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

By RICK GOSSELIN
Staff Columnist

Published: 30 June 2015 10:13 PM
Updated: 30 June 2015 10:13 PM
Columnist Rick Gosselin held a chat on Monday. Here are some highlights.

Don't you think the Eagles are a bit overrated? They have the best RB in the NFL now, great, but a injury prone - and never great - QB, an average offensive line, and nothing much on the defensive side. Chip is an innovative coach and probably a nice guy, but Jimmy he ain't.

I'd say vastly overrated. The Eagles finished two games behind the Cowboys last season and although they added Murray, they need players to stretch the field on the flank to optimize his effectiveness. Murray won't have a Dez Bryant in Philadelphia. I'm not sure he even has a Terrance Williams. And we still have to see Sam Bradford play a 16-game season for us to buy into the stabilization of the quarterback position.

The Gmen snagged the Cowboys super return man! With that said, do you see an adequate replacement currently in the Cowboys camp?

Keep an eye on undrafted college free agent Lucky Whitehead. If he doesn't cut it, my guess is you'll be seeing a lot of Lance Dunbar and Terrance Williams on kicking downs.

The Supreme Court heard same sex marriage case in April and has ruled. Why does it take the NFL longer to announce the Hardy ruling?

No rush. It doesn't impact anything. He can still go to training camp and play in all the preseason games. Ideally, the Cowboys would have liked to have known the duration of the suspension before the draft. That way they could adjust their drafting to compensate for any extended absence. They still covered their bases in April with the drafting of Gregory. But when they didn't hear by the draft, it didn't matter if they find out in June, July or even August. They know he's going to miss some games. But, yes, I would agree it's taking a ridiculously long time to hand down a decision.

Do you think some of these preseason games might turn into the Greg Hardy show? He's expected to get extra reps in order to knock the rust off pre-suspension so he should wind up rushing against 2nd and 3rd string OLs if he's still in after the 1st qtr. Could be fun to watch.

My guess is Hardy takes his regular turn with the starters. I wouldn't look for him to play 3 or even 4 quarters per game. Not sure his taking second-half reps in the preseason against offensive linemen who are going to be cut benefits anyone. My guess is he won't play any more or less than the other regulars.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL CHAT

 

[BIGDen]

The Hardy ruling taking so long doesn't impact anything? T. Williams being a return guy if Whitehead doesn't pan out? Really? Hey Rick, each day that goes by without a Hardy ruling delays the whole process of a possible court date/decision. T.Williams on returns, while possible, seems pretty unlikely if you ask me.

Of course, I agree with him about the Eagles being overrated. I'm not a Gosselin fan at all, but I agree with him every now and then.

 

[arglebargle]

Eagles must be really overrated if Goose can see it.....

 

[TheSkaven]

He's right. When you look at the Eagles' lineup, you have to scratch your head wondering how they'll even make the playoffs.

• Foles was a good quarterback for them. They were 6-2 with him and below .500 without him.
• They lost their leading receiver, Jeremy Maclin, a season after losing DeSean Jackson.
• Their offensive line is in shambles. Calling it an average line is generous.
• They have problems in their secondary, no pass rush

Murray, coming off a 390+ carry season (including playoffs), without a receiver who can stretch the field and behind that offensive line.. he'll struggle.

If I were a betting man, I'd bet the Cowboys will be slugging it out with the Giants this year. The Eagles look to be headed to 6-10.

 

[zack]

He's right. When you look at the Eagles' lineup, you have to scratch your head wondering how they'll even make the playoffs.

• Foles was a good quarterback for them. They were 6-2 with him and below .500 without him.
• They lost their leading receiver, Jeremy Maclin, a season after losing DeSean Jackson.
• Their offensive line is in shambles. Calling it an average line is generous.
• They have problems in their secondary, no pass rush

Murray, coming off a 390+ carry season (including playoffs), without a receiver who can stretch the field and behind that offensive line.. he'll struggle.

If I were a betting man, I'd bet the Cowboys will be slugging it out with the Giants this year. The Eagles look to be headed to 6-10.

I just am not seeing the Giants being very good either. They did nothing to improve their defense from last season. Plus their offensive line is not very good. Maybe this the year that Dallas just runs away with the division and the rest of the group aren't even competitive.

 

[bonafidebanter]

I just don't get the fascination with Chipper. He's looking foolish and a lot of mediots are still riding his macadamias. Knock it off.

 

[DCBoysfan]

The season is going to be interesting, the Eagles have some good players, if they can come together and play is another question. The divison is going to be tough just like it always is reguardless of the records.

 

[BAZ]

I just don't get the fascination with Chipper. He's looking foolish and a lot of mediots are still riding his macadamias. Knock it off.

If Tebow has to take a legitimate snap the bloom will be soon off the rose.

 

[CF74]

They don't have a Dez nor a Macklin anymore...

 

[Garrettop]

Call me crazy, but Tebow is the Eagles best chance for the playoffs this year.

 

[Sydla]

I stopped reading after the first paragraph.

To say they have nothing on defense is kind of a silly comment. They have a pretty good front seven and if Kiko Alonso is healthy, that's a big upgrade over an old and oft injured Demeco Ryans.

I think people are letting Eagles hate blind them. They are going to be a good team. They won 20 games with Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez as their QBs. Bradford is certainly no worse than those two clowns.

 

[VACowboy]

I just am not seeing the Giants being very good either. They did nothing to improve their defense from last season. Plus their offensive line is not very good. Maybe this the year that Dallas just runs away with the division and the rest of the group aren't even competitive.

Unfortunately, I think the NYG are going to surprise some people.

 

[CATCH17]

I've been saying this. Now that Goose says it im starting to doubt my opinion.

 

[Bullflop]

Looks to me like the northeast U.S. faction of fandom is getting the benefit of overhype in grand style now.
Now that the hype is justified for the Cowboys, fans rooting for the underdog are doing their due diligence.
If they can't win on the field, it seems their best option is to kick tail via their PR department doing the job.

 

[Wheeltax]

Eagles are highly overrated but they're going to be in the hunt. I do not believe they will be bad or even average, and it pains me to say that.

They do not have "the best RB in the NFL", they have DeMarco Murray who did really well last year in a contract year behind the best OL in the NFL. He's a really nice player. He's not the best.

I think Eagles take a small step back this year, but I think Dallas does, too, as NYG takes a step forward. I think WAS will take a small step forward, too, meaning the whole division becomes more competitive.

 

[Fletch]

I just am not seeing the Giants being very good either. They did nothing to improve their defense from last season. Plus their offensive line is not very good. Maybe this the year that Dallas just runs away with the division and the rest of the group aren't even competitive.

Nothing would please me more than to have an AFC EAST run for at least one season like the Cheatriots do year in and year out.

 

[Aven8]

Call me crazy, but Tebow is the Eagles best chance for the playoffs this year.

Ok, Crazy.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

The season is going to be interesting, the Eagles have some good players, if they can come together and play is another question. The divison is going to be tough just like it always is reguardless of the records.

Yeah that's the thing... They can't get a "overrated" or underrated" description from me. They are rebuilding via scrap heap... So many new eagles players.

I could see 4-12
If Sanchez plays most game maybe 8-8

 

[LandryFan]

Call me crazy, but Tebow is the Eagles best chance for the playoffs this year.

In my best Patsy Cline voice...craaazzy

 

[VACowboy]

I stopped reading after the first paragraph.

They won 20 games with Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez as their QBs. Bradford is certainly no worse than those two clowns.

I think that remains to be seen. Bradford is certainly worse at running and moving the pocket than either of those two clowns--a statue behind an offensive line that has lost multiple pieces since last season. The team lost it's #1 receiving threat too, so Bradford's choice of targets looks to be worse than the Philly QB's had last year. Besides all that, nobody knows whether Bradford can even stay on the field. He's averaged 9.8 games a season thus far in his career, and he's gonna get hit at least as much in the City of Brotherly Love as he ever was in St. Lou.

As far as Chip's defense, it's going to be on the field 70+ snaps a game, and the Philly offense is looking primed to generate more three-and-outs than it did in 2014. So while Goose may be wrong about the Philadelphia defensive personnel, I don't think it matters.