Should the Eagles pursue Byrd or Ward?

Free agency is 6 days away which starts all the activity of a few teams who decide to build their entire team through it (See 2011 Eagles or 2013 Dolphins). It brings many familiar faces to new places (Gross cliche). The Eagles have already been busy in this area locking up lineman Jason Peters and Jason Kelce, as well as both receivers Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin. Then on the defensive side Howie Roseman signed defensive end Cedric Thorton who had a breakout sophomore year with the Eagles. With the core group locked in place for the season, it brings us to the question of what the Eagles plan to do in free agency. A glaring need for the team is the safety position which features 2 if not 3 big time players looking to sign with a new team in Jarius Byrd, T.J. Ward, and Donte Whitner who all will receive big money contracts. Do the Eagles want to give that much for a impact safety or are they still playing it cautious after the 2011 "Dream Team" disaster that was sprouted because of the dip in free agency the Eagles took. Roseman told the Philadelphia press that the Eagles are not afraid to make a move in free agency if it is the right one. However they will be cautious of signing a big contract to a secondary player after the Nnamdi Asomugha move. This is a different situation in my opinion, Jarius Byrd and Ward are both rocks at the safety position that won't let you down in production. Byrd is a veteran but at 27 years old is still in his prime, and is coming off yet another pro bowl season. T.J. Ward is coming off a breakout year in Cleveland, but may not fit what the Eagles are looking to do, but maybe he does? He resembles Kam Chancellor of the Seattle Seahawks with his size and ability to close gaps in the run game as a 5th linebacker. The question that the media has been asking of the Eagles is which one do the Eagles want more? Or could they possibly want both? My pick to sign with Philadelphia is Byrd. He clearly wants out of Buffalo after rejecting their substantial offer, and told ESPN that Philadelphia is headed in the right direction. So maybe Byrd would like to join us in that direction shall he? With his steady production and being a veteran and all, he could really help the development of second year safety Earl Wolff as well as being the safety the Eagles have been missing since Brian Dawkins. Wolff showed some good signs in his rookie year, and having Byrd next to him could help in numerous areas. Byrd has a ball hawk nature that allows him to cause so many turnovers year in and year out, and would make the Eagles that much closer to reaching a Super Bowl so I choose Byrd to be the Safety that the Eagles sign, but either he or Ward would be good.

 

Eagles sign Jason Peters and Riley Cooper: Heading towards resigning Maclin

Left Tackle Jason Peters has been re-signed to a five year deal that he now says "I will retire an Eagle". Locking up Peters was a must for the Eagles who had tremendous success at the offensive line positions last year. With this out of the way, the Eagles will now move their focus to the wide receiver group which features two free agents in the likes of Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper. Reports have come out as well as general manager Howie Roseman saying that their is a mutual want for Maclin to stay in Philadelphia. As the days progressed more reports came out about the situation. Philly.com reported that the Eagles favored Maclin over Cooper. This to me was a no brainer anyway. Besides this season which Maclin did not play the entire year, his production has been steady and very good for a #2 receiver next to Desean Jackson. As for Cooper, his off season comments almost cost him his career in the NFL. Luckily for him the Eagles gave him a chance, and boy were they happy they did. Riley Cooper posted career highs in yards and touchdowns with Nick Foles who he seemed to have a strong connection with. Cooper owes the Eagles after the off season drama. It would be pretty frustrating if he left for more money when he could right now be easily on the curb not being picked up by any organization. He knows the system and fits will clearly with Nick Foles so it is likely he will be back. As reports go now, it is said that the Eagles are close to getting a deal done with both Cooper and center Jason Kelce so the Eagles are already on the move before the free agency frenzy begins on March 11th.


Breaking News: As I right this article it is reported that the Eagles have re-signed Riley Cooper to a 4 year deal! Now its time to lock up Maclin. Great work by Howie Roseman as usual.

 

Jeremy Maclin "I want to be here" would like to stay in Philadelphia

Jeremy Maclin is going to be a free agent come March. Maclin is coming off of a ACL tear before the season and did not play all year. With all the other wide receivers in free agency, it was expected that he would not be highly touted and that it wouldn't be for big money. Well reports are that the New York Jets really want Maclin. With another team really interested in Maclin, the Eagles need to be cautious with how they approach Maclin. The good news is that Maclin talked with the media today and said "I know everything's going to work out," Maclin told the Philadelphia inquirer's Zach Berman on Saturday. " This is where I want to be and the Eagles stated the same". So with this hopefully the Eagles will offer him a fair deal, and with Maclin wanting to stay in a system that he can thrive in and still get a pretty good deal after a ACL tear, it would override a big deal from a team like the Jets to me. The contract will probably be a one year deal to see how he looks after his injury, and hopefully after a productive season the Eagles can lock him up for a long time. I am very optimistic with Maclin saying this because now with a pro bowl receiver in Desean Jackson and two really productive tight ends in Celek and Ertz, if the Eagles can lock up Maclin and sign Riley Cooper who had a career year, then this team can reach another level in their quest for a Super Bowl. I expect Cooper to also re-sign with the Eagles as he kind of owes them after they kept him even with his racial comments in the off season.

What should the Eagles do at backup QB?

NFL Scouting Combine is February 22nd, Free Agency is March 11, NFL Draft is May 8. Where exactly will the Eagles find their backup QB? Will it be a return of Michael Vick? I highly doubt it since he wishes to chase a starting gig still and I think he will get one. So is Matt Barkley the answer in his second season? All these questions will be answered soon, but for now lets (Christian) ponder some thoughts on the possibilities for Foles's backup. First and probably the most talked about choice is Matt Barkley. After seeing limited time in 2013, Barkley struggled like most rookies thrown into the fire in the middle of a game do. Now the question is if he can be the full time backup in his second season. My assumption is yes. I think after another full off season under Chip Kelly's offense that he will pick it up. Did I like what I saw this past season from Barkley or did any fans like what they saw? Of course not but you can't expect a rookie who is learning a brand new, and might I say a complex system to just come in and be a Andrew Luck. Another option the Eagles could decide to go with is through the NFL Draft. This is the choice that the Eagles should go with no matter what. Even if Barkley or a FA QB wins the backup job, Chip Kelly will want to develop another quarterback, and with a very deep draft this year, Kelly could go get a mobile project like Tajh Boyd or Stephen Morris. Tajh Boyd's senior year at Clemson did not go as planned. The Tigers were expected to be BCS Title contenders and just couldn't beat the Florida State Seminoles, but as for the NFL draft, it is all about individual performance (Not always true but mostly accurate). I am a big fan of Boyd, he is a big bodied QB that scored double digit rushing touchdowns, and ran the read option exceptionally well. He also showed nice pocket presence and a big arm. His go to guy Sammy Watkins is going to be a top 10 draft pick so the criticism is that he had one of the best college players on his team to go to. The senior bowl did not help his performance, but like Russell Wilson all he needs is a chance to compete and coming to Philadelphia would be the perfect situation for Boyd who ran the no huddle in college, and is an exact replica of a "Chip Kelly QB". Stephen Morris is another mobile QB who needs a chance to get to a camp and develop his raw talents. This is the ideal scenario for the Eagles that could have Barkley and a young QB to battle for the backup job. This will not only help develop a rookie QB, but it will also push Barkley even more. As for free agency, unless Michael Vick decides to return to Philadelphia, there is not much to choose from in free agency. I would like to take this moment to make a quick statement on Michael Vick even if he leaves, we all in Philadelphia will be forever grateful.I want whats best for Michael Vick so if he gets a job somewhere else starting then go get it MV7 we all love what you did for us in Philadelphia even last year you were assential to keeping the team intact during the Cooper situation and much more.

Stuck in February of the Offseason, there is time for the Eagles to plan out what they will do to backup franchise QB...yes I said franchise QB Nick Foles.

Eagles end season in heart breaking fashion 26-24 in Wild Card

This one hurts. It hurts a lot. The season has come to an abrupt end in the wild card round of the playoffs as the Eagles have fallen to the New Orleans Saints in a close nail biter 26-24. With 3 minutes left Nick Foles through a touchdown pass to Zach Ertz to put the Eagles up by 1. I thought to myself as I am sure a lot of other Eagle fans did that there was too much time for a Saints offense that has Drew Brees as their quarterback. Yet #9 wasn't the one that put the dagger in the heart of a Eagles defense that forced 2 interceptions on Brees and completely shut down Jimmy Graham the entire game no, it was the power running game of Mark Ingram that sealed the Eagles fate and advanced the Saints to the divisional round where they will play the Seattle Seahawks (Lets  hope they get smoked no?). This actually reminds me a lot of the last time the Eagles were in the playoffs in 2010 when in a close wild card match up against the then to be super bowl champions Green Bay Packers, a rookie running back that nobody unless you are from Buffalo or Green Bay knew of gashed the Eagles to end their season and that was James Starks. Ingram really has been ineffective all year and most of the time he was hurt. It really bugs me that how terrible the Saints run game has been just happened to turn it up at the right time but hey I guess that is what you have to do to win right? Adjust. The Saints got the ball back with roughly 2 and a half minutes left to go and the Eagles held 2 timeouts to make sure they got the ball back, well that didn't happen. Three straight 3rd and shorts, Drew Brees sneaked up the middle behind his center to pick up the first down. Bennie Logan and the defensive line had no answer. As the clock ticked away with constant first downs there was nothing the Eagles could do but pray for a missed field goal by journeyman kicker Shayne Graham. Well that miracle did not come true. The Eagles fell in another wild card game and the fans went home with their heads down but that's not how the team approached it after the game. Nick Foles said in his press conference how proud he was of this team and that they are going to keep their heads up high and hey why shouldn't they feel proud of what they did this year? A brand new coaching staff took a 4-12 nightmare to a NFC East championship and a impressive 10-6 record after struggling in the beginning at 3-5. I am extremely proud of this team and can't say how much I am looking forward to the draft and training camp and getting back at it next year with a very young but promising squad. A young QB in Nick Foles can be the answer and a defense that is one big time safety away from potentially taking this team all the way, and hey isn't that the goal anyway? In the words of Herm Edwards "You play to win the game". Peace out Eagles Nation!

Eagles win NFC East! Take on Saints Saturday Night at LINC

Wow wow wow WOW! The Eagles are heading back to the playoffs! After two seasons of hype and turnovers and disappointment, the Eagles are once again NFC East champions and did it in the sweetest way possible. Defeating the Dallas Cowboys to send them home at yet again a 8-8 record. Hiring Chip Kelly was a promising move but nobody expected this type of performance in his first year. After blowing the roof off the Chicago Bears Sunday Night, the Eagles learned they would have to take on the Cowboys in a winner go on loser go home situation. Well a Christmas present arrived for the Eagles when Cowboys QB Tony Romo was ruled out for the rest of the season after a herniated disk was suffered in the big comeback win against Washington in week 16. Well yes Tony Romo didn't play but yet he was still there in spirit when backup QB Kyle Orton threw a last minute interception to Brandon Boykin to put the game on ice. The defense was the big story of the night. Three clutch plays by Connor Barwin, Carry Williams, and Brandon Boykin was needed to get a 24-22 victory. Monte Kiffin's defense was bad this year lets make that clear, but for some reason he knew how to make Nick Foles struggle again. Although Foles had another 200 yard passing performance and 2 touchdowns to 0 interceptions, he struggled at times with decision making. Can we all agree Lesean McCoy is a stud? A 130 yard rushing night with a touchdown claiming the rushing title was the best way to cap the best season of any Eagles running back in our history. Of course McCoy could not have done this without the offensive line which to me is the best in football. Jason Peters and Evan Mathis were flat out stellar on the left side and on the right side is a bit weaker but Todd Heremans and Lane Johnson improved week by week. But the sneaky MVP of the offense was center Jason Kelce. Watching game tape shows Kelce getting to the second and third level making blocks on corners and safeties is something not all centers can do. Foles proved to me that even in tough situations, he keeps his poise and adjusts during the game. If Michael Vick would have played in this game, he would have ran around and tried to make a play on that third and long rather than do what Nick Foles did and stay in bounds to kill the clock and only give the Cowboys 1:45 to work with down by 2. He will be the key in the playoffs if we are going to win a super bowl. Yes win the Lombardi is where I am looking, why shouldn't we? We are in the playoffs with one of the hottest teams in all of the NFL. The NFC East title is nice but this team is capable of beating the Saints and after that who knows. One thing that concerns me this Satruday is Jimmy Graham. Jason Witten had over 100 yards receiving and 12 receptions last Sunday.....Imagine what Graham will do if we allow him the same opportunities. Now what happened in Dallas was Mychal Kendricks covered Witten which was clearly not a good size match up for the Eagles. This week I would put and expect this to happen, Connor Barwin will need to cover Graham. He is athletic and fast enough to keep up but what he has that we need is length and size. With the 3 seed in the NFC the game will be at Lincoln Financial Field so expect a rowdy crowd. The Saints are a different team on the road everyone knows that, but Drew Brees is still the Quarterback so the defense needs to pressure him early and often throughout the game to make him uncomfortable.

Prediction: Eagles 28-24 Saints

Carolina here we come! (Maybe)

Eagles round up: Recapping the 4 Game win streak

A whirl wind of a month was it not? The Eagles are as hot as shrimp fried rice! After defeating the Redskins in a tight NFC East match up, the Eagles went into the bye with sole possession of first place in the NFC East at 6-5. Nick Foles and the offense had another steady game but the real story was how the defense has played so well in the close games and really the past 5 games. Fletcher Cox and Connor Barwin came up clutch in the end forcing RG3 to make some costly decisions. Brandon Boykin and the secondary benefited from this as Boykin caught the INT in the endzone to put the game on ice. Nick Foles didn't pass for any scores, but didn't turn the football over either not to mention the fact that he made a beautiful read in the redzone and kept a touchdown run. Naji Goode filled Mychal Kendricks spot beautifully recording a sack and contained RG3 on the ground as a spy all game. Another injury filler Rock Carmichael impressed in his 3 starts as well in place for Bradley Fletcher. This shows the depth that Chip Kelly and Billy Davis have built on every position on defense. Honestly I don't know a more promising, young, electric defensive line like the one that is buiding in Philadelphia. Fletcher Cox has been a menase all year long on both pass rush and run stopping. Cedric Thorton has been the unsung hero of the defense this year as well as Bennie Logan. Those 3 are all under 25 and still have been giving every offense they have faced a wicked headache. My personal favorite is Logan because of his sneaky pass rush ability and just the way he carries himself is exactly what the Eagles hoped to depend on when they shipped NT Issac Sopoaga off to the Wilforkless Patriots. Oh and THE STREAK IS OVER! The Eagles ended the 10 game losing streak at Lincoln Financial. Happy early thanksgiving Eagles fans! Now on to yesterdays thriller in Philadelphia against the red hot Arizona Cardinals. The Eagles (Fresh off a bye week) were coming in looking to prove they are a threat to the Cowboys in the NFC East and that this Cardinals headache the Eagles have needs to be rid of with some Nick Foles advil relief medicine ;). Carson Palmer going into this game had a top 5 QB rating after week 10. Michael Floyd (My Fantasy Baby) and Larry Fitzgerald have combined to be one of the best 1-2 punches in the league, and of course that scary Cardinals defense that is 2nd in run defense. Well what people forgot yesterday was that the Eagles have a pretty underratted defense themselves. On the first drive, Carson Palmer looking downfield throws the ball...but no! It is swatted back by none other than #58 the hunter Trent Cole and is recovered by the Eagles. Chip Kelly said in his press conference how when the turnover battle is won, your odds of winning is much higher (Not in those exact words of course). Well the Eagles offense delivered off the turnover after a beautiful play action roll, Foles gets to the right and sees a open Zach Ertz who slipped behind his linebacker and caught the 4 yard touchdown his second of the season. Now I won't go to a play by play but after a 10-7 lead for the Eagles, they kept their foot on the gas with Nick Foles getting the ball to his other tight end Brent Celek for another touchdown. You could tell throughout the entire game, and then the coaches and players confirmed that the Eagle knew how could Arizona's corners were, so they attacked their weakness which is their linebackers and safeties. Lesean McCoy notched out a tough 79 yards and made some big time plays in this game but one stood out over the others and that was ona 4th and 2, McCoy busted through a tight hole and picked up 5 tough yards to keep a drive going. That is what the Eagles need from their running game when the game is tight. Just like they did against Green Bay, they need to run out the clock and keep drives alive with McCoy and Bryce Brown. Nick Foles delivered Zach Ertz a beauty in the endzone to put the Eagles in promising position at 24-7. I really like how much Ertz has progressed this season. He now has 3 touchdowns on the year and has been a great compliment to a consistent and delightful starter in Brent Celek. Then the nail biting came when the Cardinals score 14 unanswered points. Michael Floyd scored a great touchdown that put them within 3. Nick Foles did throw a INT but was overturned after a penalty on Tyrann Mathieu for holding. So the record breaking streak contines. Anyway the defense need to come up big again. Just to clarify, early in the game Nate Allen picked off Carson Palmer after Coles strip sack and later in the game Carry Williams got a beautiful INT so the turnovers were there all game for the Eagles defesne that is a bend but don't break type defense. So this drive was going to be a tough one for Arizona but they were driving. With 1:56 to play Palmer gets the ball off just in time to Floyd but Bradley Fletcher who returned from injury this week got his "Inside leverage" on Floyd and was able to make a big time pass deflection to put the game on ice. This team is giving me heart issues with the close games, but I trust Billy Davis and this defense to get the job done when called upon. So the Eagles stand at 7-5 tied with the Cowboys for first in the East. Are we legit contenders? Super Bowl contenders? We will find out but Nick Foles and Chip Kelly have this team on the brink of something special. Or are we wittnessing it right now.
Quck Note: Desean Jackson has surpassed 1,000 yards on the season, he is having a big time season and is staying humble throughout the ride. He is close to breaking the single season record for yards as an Eagle. Go get it #10!