Beyond The Starters: Wide Receiver

Arguably the most talked about position so far during the off season for the Eagles after the release of pro bowl, deep threat, speedy receiver Desean Jackson who now has joined the rival Washington Redskins. Not to mention the second round pick of Jordan Matthews and the signing of Maclin and Cooper to extensions. To some it may seem as obvious what the starting lineup will be at wide receiver, but don't be surprised if the obvious Maclin-Cooper duo ends up turning into the Jordan Matthews show. Lets go behind the 3 starters and take a look at players like Josh Huff, Brad Smith, and Ifeanyi Momah shall we?  When Chip Kelly first was hired by the Eagles last summer, the stereotypical wide receiver for Chip Kelly was a small and speedy one like Desean Jackson. He proved to be the perfect fit as the Z receiver in Kelly's scheme, but this year Chip Kelly is taking more of a size approach with only one under six foot player in Josh Huff. Don't take Huff's size as a reason to say he is soft or just a fast receiver. Huff plays a hard nosed, gritty style of wide receiver. With Matthews being the expected immediate starter, Huff can develop his game and be a productive player on special teams, as well as being a rotating fourth receiver with Brad Smith and others. Brad Smith is an interesting player that has versatile abilities playing both wide receiver, running back, quarterback, and returning kicks and punts. Chip Kelly loves versatility that has been shown, so I can see Smith penciled in as no less than the number five wide receiver. Now one of the most intriguing prospects is 6'11 second year receiver Ifeanyi Momah. Last season Momah was a training camp receiver that couldn't use his size to his advantage during the preseason, and really struggled to come off press receiver and struggled with routes. Now remember before last season, Momah tore his ACL early during his season with Boston College, and truthfully didn't play much before that. The size is super enticing, but with how Kelly evaluates his receivers, Unless the Eagles keep 6 receivers and Momah beats out Arrellious Benn who is also coming off major injury, Momah will likely be stashed away on the practice squad and continue to develop into a legitimate NFL wide receiver. Then there is Damaris Johnson who really struggled last season and failed to make an impact on the return game, expect Johnson to be a late cut or call up if injuries strike. The Eagles have a unlimited amount of weapons on the offense, but the receivers may be thin with Desean Jackson gone. Eagles fans, coaches, and players alike though are opptomistic  about the youth and skill that this core group has to offer. Its a new era of receivers, no more Jason Avant or Desean Jackson, and with Maclin's contract ending next year, could we see a Jordan Matthews-Josh Huff-Riley Cooper group?

  

OT Lane Johnson suspended 4 games

Offensive tackle Lane Johnson has been suspended 4 games for the use of PEDs. Expect Allen Barbe to slide into RT while the second year tackle awaits the end of his suspension. 

Beyond the Starters: Running Back

One of the Eagles deepest positions on the team has a mix of versatility with a whole lot of speed, and power not only in Lesean McCoy, but in Darren Sproles and Chris Polk who I will highlight today. Chip Kelly loves to run the football in his high up tempo offense clearly as the Eagles ran the football the most out of any team in the NFL last season. Although the Eagles ran the ball a lot, it was merely one guy taking all those carries in Lesean McCoy. To help take off McCoy's work load, the Eagles traded for Darren Sproles and will continue to progress now third year running back Chris Polk. Sproles brings a brand new type of weapon to the offense that can allow the Eagles to do a bunch of different things with formations and where McCoy and Sproles line up as they can both be on the field at the same time during some plays. Darren Sproles as a Saint lined up not only out of the backfield, but at wide receiver and also in the return game. The Eagles will look for him to do the same things as a big hole with those skills needed is open after the departure of Desean Jackson which has been the talk of the off season. During the NFL draft the Eagles traded Bryce Brown who was there backup running back drafted in the seventh round two seasons ago. Brown showed some impressive things during his stint with the Eagles, but he couldn't kick the habit of pushing runs to the outside and often had ball security issues. Chris Polk brings a more secure and steady role as the third running back, and with all the speed the Eagles have on offense, Polk will be the power back coming in during short yardage situations and possibly red zone plays. When being signed as a undrafted free agent out of Washington, there were concerns that Polk was already worn down and he would battle injuries throughout his career. Preserving him for the past two seasons has helped keep the running back healthy while bringing him along in a new offense which he showed that he can thrive in last season in the limited carries he had. The Eagles are in a great position at running back, Chip Kelly is going to do a lot of new and creative things with the backs on the roster that will make this offense even more dynamic than it already is which may seem as a impossible task. 

Beyond The Starters: Quaterback

Starting a new series of roster projections, we are going to give the backups some love. Starting at the quarterback position where the Eagles have no controversy and have their guy in Nick Foles. Yet with Michael Vick leaving, who is going to backup number nine? On the roster currently the Eagles have Matt Barkley coming into his second year in Chip Kelly's offense after a unimpressive rookie year, Mark Sanchez who is coming over from the New York Jets after starting his first four years with New York, only to get beaten out by default to rookie Geno Smith after a preseason injury for Sanchez. The Eagles liked Sanchez for his veteran experience, and playing in big games including two AFC championship appearances. Last but not least the return of G.J. Kinnie who was a training camp body last year, but did some good things in limited time during last season's preseason and beat out Dennis Dixon to make the practice squad. It would take a lot for Kinnie to beat out Sanchez or Barkley, unless a injury strikes of course (which we do not hope for). Both Barkley and Sanchez are familiar with playing against Chip Kelly in college as Barkley was the predecessor to Sanchez at USC. Both Quarterbacks will compete for the number two spot behind Nick Foles and right now in OTAs which may not be the best judgement of who is ahead of who but hey its June, Barkley looks like he is much more comfortable in Kelly's offense compared to last season, and is throwing the ball with a lot more speed and power to it. Sanchez has been solid as well, he has been throwing nicely helping rookie Jordan Matthews along throwing with him after practice everyday. This is why unlike a lot of Eagles fans, I like the signing just because of how young the other QBs on the roster are, and having playoff experience on the bench is a great bonus in case of a injury to Foles which I pray does not happen. So much for Kelly needing a mobile Quarterback on his roster eh? Currently on the roster I would not say that one of these guys is "mobile" granite Foles did score some rushing touchdowns last year and can move at the most necessary times, it just was a off season filler story because of how Kelly ran his QBs at Oregon. College football and the NFL is very different styles of offense which is why although it may have been necessary to have a mobile quarterback at Oregon, Foles, Sanchez, and Barkley have the right physical tools to run Kelly's offense. Oh and you to G.J. Knnie, I didn't forget about you!

Eagle Eye Focus: Draft Recap

Eagles Draft Round up

Well the draft has arrived. T-23 hours when writing this until draft time. Unlike last year there are still many questions about where prospects are going to end up and all these rumors flying around about where they are going, potential trades, and quite frankly I am getting tired of it. Hopefully the NFL will return to the draft being in April next year. Its OK though because we are here. As for the Eagles, many rumors are flying and one is that the Eagles are seriously trying to get up to get one of the big time receivers. Odell Beckham Jr. is on the top of the list for the Eagles as we know now, but if you look into this deeper.....they could be going for Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans. Roseman would have to break the bank to get one of them since you would have to get into the top ten. However if they feel they could make the offense that much better, I would love to see Watkins in mid night green. A few potential trade suitors the Eagles could trade with are at fifth overall the Oakland Raiders, second overall St. Louis Rams, eleventh Tennessee Titans, and the seventeenth Baltimore Ravens. If the Eagles traded with the Titans or Ravens, I expect Cooks or Beckham Jr., but if it is the Raiders or Rams, it is Mike Evans or Sammy Watkins. Defense is still an option if they stay at 22, but I think even at 22, Marqise Lee is their guy. Well the NFL Draft is among us, I felt obligated to give my last write up before we dive into some NFL action once again. Go Birds!

Eagles targeting LSU Wide Receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

The Eagles are in full throttle for their draft coming up this Thursday, and they have hit the headlines this week with the report that Howie Roseman and the Eagles are talking with mid round teams to potentially move up for the speedy, versatile receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. who by the way is not only being touted by the Eagles. The San Francisco 49ers are also in hot pursuit of the receiver which to me is the more reasonable destination as the Eagles only hold 6 picks in this years draft. I would be perfectly fine if the Eagles stay put and settle for Marqise Lee or Kelvin Benjamin. I don't wanna break the bank on someone unless they truly believe he can be such a difference maker. If the Eagles could land Beckham Jr. it could add to this explosive offense that already features Lesean McCoy, Darren Sproles, Jeremy Maclin, Ertz, Cooper, etc the list goes on which is why it would be so much fun if Chip Kelly got another toy in this incredible toy box. I will keep Eagles Nation posted as more reports and rumors about the Eagles draft come out.