NFC East Beat Writers series: Eagles

[cowboyjoe]

NFC East Beat Writers series: Eagles
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys
June, 30, 2010 Jun 301:45PM CTEmail Print Comments By Calvin WatkinsWe welcome you to Day 3 of our series on the NFC East. We're a little late, and for that we apologize. Today we look at the Eagles, a team that lost three times to the Cowboys last season. And with that we talked to Philadelphia Inquirer Eagles beat writer Jeff McLane.


Five things to worry about

1. Offensive line. There are questions at each spot. Tackle Jason Peters wasn't great and Winston Justice was solid but he has to show he's more than a pass blocker. Jamaal Jackson is coming back from ACL surgery and might miss part of camp. I don't think I can count on him. Nick Cole had problems in the Dallas game snapping the ball. A lot of question marks.

2. Cornerback. Asante Samuel on one side, but teams showed beause he didn't play press coveage they can do some double-screens to give him problems. Ellis Hobbs replaces Sheldon Brown. The Eagles seem to think if they can get to the passer it's going to be OK.

3. Free safety. Nate Allen is an upgrade from Macho Harris, who moved to corner. Allen will compete with Quintin Demps.

4. Strong side linebacker. Not sure if Moise Fokou is big enough and he's not great in pass coverage. Stewart Bradley is another player who might come back and do something.

5. Coaching. Andy Reid has got a little pressure on him just because Donovan McNabb is not here anymore. I'm sure people want to see if he can win without Donovan. It's the biggest test of Andy's career.


Five things not to worry about:

Wide receiver. They've got DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Maclin will be better than last year. And when you add Jason Avant, you might have the best slot receiver in the league. I think they got one of the better wide receiver corps in the NFC East.

Tight end. Brent Celek can only get better. It's a little worrysome about the backups. Clay Harbor and Cornelius Ingram both have issues. Ingram hasn't played in almost three years because of two torn ACLs.

Defensive end. Trent Cole and Juqua Parker are solid, and adding Brandon Graham makes this a position of strength. They made defensive end a priority in the offseason and they felt like they needed to get to the quarterback. I think Graham will be a playmaker.

Quarterback. I know it's the No. 1 question coming in, but they are a lot more worried about other things than this. Kevin Kolb has been in the system for three years and he's developed a rapport with the wide receivers. I think Kolb will do pretty well.

5. David Akers. He's as good as it gets. A couple of down years, but he's rejuvenated.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Beasts Of The East: Catching Up With The Eagles
by Dave Halprin on Jun 30, 2010 2:00 PM CDT in Dallas Cowboys General 17 comments
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2010/6/30/1545024/beasts-of-the-east-catching-up#storyjump

More photos » Matt Slocum - AP .
Kevin Kolb takes over in Philly with Michael Vick waiting in the wings.

Browse more photos »

I recently exchanged questions with Bleed Green, a Philadelphia Eagles blog. Here's what they had to say about the 2010 season for the Eagles.


BTB: Big changes for the Eagles this offseason. Let's start with the obvious - Was it a good idea to move Donovan McNabb? How do you feel about him going to a division rival?

BG: Initially, I was very shocked and saddened by the move, being a longtime McNabb supporter, and especially because he was sent to a rival in the Commanders. However, my perspective has altered a bit since that Easter Sunday trade; researching Kolb and realizing that he really does have a lot of potential and talent has made me okay with the move, and as long as he executes, the offense should be explosive as usual.



BTB: Another big move is the release of Brian Westbrook, a Cowboys killer. Again, a good move?

BG: Like the trade of McNabb, the release of Westbrook hit me with a wave of shock (even though he was bound to depart soon anyway, with injuries and age taking a toll). Nonetheless, the team has filled the running back spot sufficiently, replacing B-West in the lineup with the young, shifty LeSean McCoy. Former Saints runner Mike Bell was also added, in addition to LSU product Charles Scott, via the 6th-round of the Draft.

BTB: Is Kevin Kolb ready to take over? Tell us about his game and how he differs from McNabb.

BG: The one thing that stands out between Kolb and McNabb is consistent accuracy. Many have pointed out that the latter was unable to complete simple passes and was too often misfiring targets, while Kolb seems to have shown he can connect with receivers on a more constant basis. Obviously, McNabb has one of the league's strongest arms and was able to provide the team with many big pass plays, something Kolb might not be able to do as often, but there's still enough talent around the new starter for him to have success.

BTB: How did the Eagles draft go in your opinion? Any player you're particularly excited about? Any steals?

BG: Honestly, this may have been one of the Eagles' best and deepest Drafts in recent memory. Not only did they lock up surefire starters in DE Brandon Graham and FS Nate Allen, but they also managed to solidify their defensive corps with a number of high-potential players, such as hybrid linebacker Ricky Sapp (who was snagged in the 5th-round but received many 2nd-round grades). The team got a total of 13 players in the Draft this year, and almost all have enough upside to have immediate impacts with the Eagles. As for steals, Sapp undoubtedly fits the bill, but Philly also got another in LB Jamar Chaney, taken in the 6th-round but with serious potential for the pro level.

BTB: Will Michael Vick have a bigger role this year in the offense? Is even a threat to become the starter?

BG: All indications are that Vick will indeed receive a larger role this season, especially to help with the development of Kolb as the starter, but there's an extremely small chance that the former Falcon will actually get a shot to start. Unless Kolb is seriously injured, don't count on seeing Vick in the No. 1 role.

BTB: With all the changes, where do you think the Eagles will end up in the NFC East at the end of the year? Are they still a playoff team?

BG: As long as the new pieces can execute and mold by opening day, I can definitely picture the Eagles making a run for a Wild Card spot as the second place squad in the East, simply because they have a tough schedule and the Cowboys are very well stocked with experience. If the new starters and additions are unable to develop as planned, a third or fourth place finish isn't out of the question.

Thanks to Bleed Green for the 411 on the Eagles.

 

[Nova]

NFC East Beat Writers series: Eagles
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys
June, 30, 2010 Jun 301:45PM CTEmail Print Comments By Calvin WatkinsWe welcome you to Day 3 of our series on the NFC East. We're a little late, and for that we apologize. Today we look at the Eagles, a team that lost three times to the Cowboys last season. And with that we talked to Philadelphia Inquirer Eagles beat writer Jeff McLane.



Five things not to worry about:

Wide receiver. They've got DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Maclin will be better than last year. And when you add Jason Avant, you might have the best slot receiver in the league. I think they got one of the better wide receiver corps in the NFC East.

While he's right about them not having to worry here, I don't think I've seen anything professionally written that has irritated me more than this.

1. Avant over Welker for best slot receiver?
2. The last sentence should read 'I think they've got one of the better wide receiver corps in the NFC East'. (sorry, I know it's picky but this is professionally written. This shouldn't be an issue.)
3. What does that sentence mean anyway? That they're WR corps are top 2 in the NFCE? Or does it mean they're better off than the Commanders (which is obvious). I think anyone could make the case that the Giants WR corps (when healthy) are right there with them. And of course, we here all know... well... Austin, Williams, Crayton, Bryant, Hurd and Ogletree can hold their own as well.

 

[cowboyjoe]

While he's right about them not having to worry here, I don't think I've seen anything professionally written that has irritated me more than this.

1. Avant over Welker for best slot receiver?
2. The last sentence should read 'I think they've got one of the better wide receiver corps in the NFC East'. (sorry, I know it's picky but this is professionally written. This shouldn't be an issue.)
3. What does that sentence mean anyway? That they're WR corps are top 2 in the NFCE? Or does it mean they're better off than the Commanders (which is obvious). I think anyone could make the case that the Giants WR corps (when healthy) are right there with them. And of course, we here all know... well... Austin, Williams, Crayton, Bryant, Hurd and Ogletree can hold their own as well.

totally agree with you buddy, in fact, after we drafted dez, most media writers were saying that our wr group was the best now in nfc east and nfc, and that teams would fear us with our big physical wrs in austin, dez and roy

 

[Hagman]

1. Offensive line. There are questions at each spot. Tackle Jason Peters wasn't great and Winston Justice was solid but he has to show he's more than a pass blocker. Jamaal Jackson is coming back from ACL surgery and might miss part of camp. I don't think I can count on him. Nick Cole had problems in the Dallas game snapping the ball. A lot of question marks.

Five things not to worry about:

Quarterback. I know it's the No. 1 question coming in, but they are a lot more worried about other things than this. Kevin Kolb has been in the system for three years and he's developed a rapport with the wide receivers. I think Kolb will do pretty well.

These two things don't make sense placed side-by-side. If my team had questions at every position along the offensive line, I'd sure be worried about a first year starter at QB. Heck, I'd be worried about any QB behind a line like that.

 

[cowboyjoe]

These two things don't make sense placed side-by-side. If my team had questions at every position along the offensive line, I'd sure be worried about a first year starter at QB. Heck, I'd be worried about any QB behind a line like that.

you would have to ask the writer that Hagman, by the way i like your pic

 

[Hagman]

you would have to ask the writer that Hagman, by the way i like your pic

Yea, I wonder what he'd say about a QB's ability to perform well behind a shoddy offensive line?

And thanks. I've loved the Cowboy-on-a-horse logo since I was a kid. They got away from using it for a while, and I always use to wish that the Cowboys would make more use of it. Now you see it on more stuff. They have (albeit an awkward) cartoon of it galloping across that huge screen at games. Last year I picked up a cap with that logo on it, and bought a plaque that has Dallas Cowboys Established 1960 on it with the logo featured prominently on the top. (I heard about the plaque from this website and ordered it immediately). Also had the family get me a t-shirt with the logo for Christmas. I believe I heard about the shirt on this site too. Hey, reading this site is costing me a lot of money.

Didn't I read somewhere that the name of the Cowboy-on-a-horse is CowboyJoe? That's a good name.........

 

[cowboyjoe]

Yea, I wonder what he'd say about a QB's ability to perform well behind a shoddy offensive line?

And thanks. I've loved the Cowboy-on-a-horse logo since I was a kid. They got away from using it for a while, and I always use to wish that the Cowboys would make more use of it. Now you see it on more stuff. They have (albeit an awkward) cartoon of it galloping across that huge screen at games. Last year I picked up a cap with that logo on it, and bought a plaque that has Dallas Cowboys Established 1960 on it with the logo featured prominently on the top. (I heard about the plaque from this website and ordered it immediately). Also had the family get me a t-shirt with the logo for Christmas. I believe I heard about the shirt on this site too. Hey, reading this site is costing me a lot of money.

Didn't I read somewhere that the name of the Cowboy-on-a-horse is CowboyJoe? That's a good name.........

yes it is, thats a pic of cowboyjoe

 

[CCBoy]

totally agree with you buddy, in fact, after we drafted dez, most media writers were saying that our wr group was the best now in nfc east and nfc, and that teams would fear us with our big physical wrs in austin, dez and roy

To the three large receivers you can add equally large tight ends in Witten and Bennett. That only amplifies the speed to the edge by Felix Jones. This emphasis on Red Zone should be a discernable improvement this season. Plug that into a top of the NFL producing team, minus penalty magnet Flozell, and maybe they should focus on real issues.

 

[CCBoy]

These two things don't make sense placed side-by-side. If my team had questions at every position along the offensive line, I'd sure be worried about a first year starter at QB. Heck, I'd be worried about any QB behind a line like that.

I would think that both Philadelphia and Washington will have to wade through problems of adjusting to new personell and familiarity issues as well. But with Philadelphia, young and unproven quarterbacks quickly hit limiting familiarity by opponents. They get figured out relatively quickly and that requires new skillsets and talent levels to succeed. Their transitional problems are only expanded by all three key positions: QB, RB, and WR having very young elements in the leadership roles.

With Reid having become 'gun shy' through the legal chaos brought in by his sons, and the departure of the Veteran elements of past success and experience, one would have to question whether transitions would be closer to the Dallas post Aikman period than a 49'er retooling from Montana to Young.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

This is how much I hate McNabb . . .

I want Kolb to come in and be a success. In fact, if the Eagles did go to the Super Bowl in the near future, I'd root for them to win just because he'd be doing something McChoke couldn't.

My hate for McNabb is greater than my hate for the Eagles.

 

[Joe Realist]

This is how much I hate McNabb . . .

I want Kolb to come in and be a success. In fact, if the Eagles did go to the Super Bowl in the near future, I'd root for them to win just because he'd be doing something McChoke couldn't.

My hate for McNabb is greater than my hate for the Eagles.

I have to disagree, probably because I live near the area. I respect what they have accomplished over the years, but never NEVER, want them to win the big one.