SB Nation User Blog: bsencore

Former Cowboys Defensive Coordinator to join Eagles

bsencore — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:36:19 -0000

Former Cowboys Defensive Coordinator to join Eagles

Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart will soon join the Eagles' coaching staff, according to a league source. Stewart was the the defensive coordinator under Wade Phillips when the Cowboys went 13-3 in 2007, but he was stripped of his play-calling duties midway through the '08 season. Phillips fired Stewart a few days after the team's humiliating 44-6 loss to the Eagles...

Asante Samuel, Trent Cole Twitter Accounts Are Fake

bsencore — Mon, 18 May 2009 23:48:20 -0000

Asante Samuel, Trent Cole Twitter Accounts Are Fake

I don't want to say I told you so but...
"Eagles director of football media services Derek Boyko pointed out to us via an e-mail today that the posts purported to be from the two players are in fact, "bogus," adding that the team has contacted Samuel and Cole. As it turns out, neither player even has a Twitter account."
$10 bucks says the guy who was writing these was the same fool who posted about it on BGN.

The Problem With No Minor League

bsencore — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:50:36 -0000

The problem with the NFL having no minor league (besides the variety of football issues) is you can't have moments like this:

Phillies Notebook: Phillies callup Escalona wins big-league debut

As recently as Friday [Sergio] Escalona was pitching for Double A Reading. A 24-year-old lefthander with an impressive breaking ball and good velocity on his fastball, he had recorded 10 saves in 14 appearances. Still, he did not expect the call that he received on Saturday, telling him to get to Philadelphia International Airport for a flight to Washington, D.C...

Prior to the seventh inning yesterday, Escalona got another call, this time on a phone in the bullpen. Forget the fact that the Phillies were involved in a one-run game, trailing the Nationals, 6-5. Setup man Ryan Madson and closer Brad Lidge had both pitched on the previous 3 days, and manager Charlie Manuel needed to find a way to finish the final three innings...

In the top of the eighth, the Phillies scored three runs to take the lead. An inning-and-a-half later, Escalona was the proud owner of his first big-league victory. Lidge presented him with the final-out ball, and the clubhouse broke out in applause. First wins are like first kisses: You don't forget them...

"It's unbelievable, really," Escalona said. "All I need to say is thank God - he blessed me. Oh my God. It's amazing. First game, first win. What can you say?"

The million-watt smile said it all.

Read the whole story here

Also check out Brad Lidge's quote. Football is a very different game from baseball -- and in many ways better and more exciting -- but I tend to think that with all that physicality there is a loss of the sentimental moments that can make a game so fun.

Then again, maybe I'm just a romantic sucker.

Draft and the Depth Chart: Safety

bsencore — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:59:22 -0000

Fourth in a series looking at how the guys the Eagles drafted affect the depth chart at each position.

Part 1: Cornerback

Part 2: Wide Receiver

Part 3: Running Back

Quintin Mikell -- In such a different position from last year at this time, when many, myself included, were unsure that Mikell could step into the starting lineup after being mostly used on special teams for the last number of seasons. Now he steps into camp not as a possible weak link, but as a veteran leader and Pro Bowl-caliber performer. Not to mention, someone satisfied with his position and salary. I would think Mikell is also a strong candidate for a contract extension. Maybe they'll wait to see if he can duplicate his performance from last year and have concerns because he's already 28, but he has relatively little wear on his tires and therefore should be able to play at a high level after his contract is up in 2010.
Quintin Demps -- Quintin 2.0 is this high not so much for past performance, but because he is expected to step right into the starting safety role immediately. While it is still possible that one of the other more experienced players could overtake him, at this point its Demps's job to lose. Demps actually played a good deal least year as a third safety, and he played fairly well. As somewhat of a tweener corner-safety, he has the cover skills and speed to be out there on all downs, something our beloved Dawk wasn't able to contribute much last year. While some point to his play in the NFC Championship game, especially the Fitzgerald touchdown, I challenge anyone to really show me that was Demps's fault. He was the one guy who saw the fake and stayed with Fitz, then ran stride for stride with him, only to stumble as the receiver displayed his unique skill of adjusting with the ball in the air. Who could have stopped that?
Sean Jones -- Truth is, everyone from this spot down could be cut. If Jones gets outplayed by one of the younger players, or has trouble adjusting to a new 4-3 system, he could be out looking for work again. But he clearly has an inside track on the backup safety job, because of his experience. He was a solid, if unspectacular, player for Cleveland with 14 interceptions over the last 3 years. And he will likely serve as quality injury/Demps insurance this season.
Victor "Macho" Harris -- I know, I already listed Harris as a cornerback. But clearly Andy sees him as something a little bit more versatile. Unless Sheldon Brown gets traded, there are already a pretty set five CBs (barring injuries and assuming you have any hope for the Iguana) so Harris might have to sneak on at this position. Ultimately he's probably more talented than the rest of the guys below him, even if he's not a polished safety yet.
Rashad Baker -- Baker was signed as futher safety insurance/competition in the offseason. And he's an interesting find. He's been in the league since 2004, but has bounced around and has only started four games. However, last year with the Raiders, Baker played only the second half of the season, but recorded 3 interceptions -- including the one against Tampa Bay that helped send the Eagles to the playoffs (yeah we owe him). He certainly seems capable of playing on special teams and in spot duty, but that's probably his upper limit.
Byron Parker -- Parker has captivated the imaginations of some Eagles faithful who saw him play in the CFL. While he had an impressive 18 interceptions, six returned for touchdowns, over the last three seasons, Parker is a project who played corner in a zone system in Toronto and has already been in camps with Jacksonville and the Cowboys in previous years without garnering a roster spot. We'll see if he can put it together here, but I won't be holding my breath.
Reshard Langford -- If it comes down to equal performance from these last three, the undrafted rookie with more upside (read: younger) will likely beat out the others. He's a "prototypical strong safety," four-year starter at Vanderbilt, with good potential special teams play -- sounds kind of like a Quintin Mikell replacement, which isn't needed right now. While he could, possibly, beat out Jones to backup Mikell, its more likely that he gets cut and/or goes to the practice squad.

What do you think?

Where Can We Get More of These Guys?

bsencore — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:12:44 -0000

Per Brookover:

"I love the Eagles," Cole said after one of yesterday's minicamp practices. "I like playing for the Eagles. I'm going to keep playing and let the process take its course. I signed a contract with them, and I'm happy with my contract. People don't make decisions for you. You make your own decision. When I signed my contract, I signed my contract."

Patterson said he was playing through some injuries when he signed his deal.

"It is a tough decision, but this league, it doesn't last forever," he said. "You're not in the game for a long time, and it depends on how you look at it. I got hurt that year, so a lot of things went through my mind. I felt real thankful and I still feel real thankful about it."

Quintin Mikell also quoted in the article. But after all this stuff from guys like Sheldon and Lito, even Westbrook, its nice to hear that some of the players are satisfied, even happy with the millions they are already making. Whether or not they deserve raises, they seem to understand how lucky they are and how the Eagles stepped out on the line for them too. Hopefully they never forget that.

But how do we get some more guys like this?

Draft and the Depth Chart: Running Back

bsencore — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:20:45 -0000

Third in a series looking at how the guys the Eagles drafted affect the depth chart at each position.

Part 1: Cornerback

Part 2: Wide Receiver

Brian Westbrook -- Do I really need to talk about this? He's arguably the most important Eagle, so hopefully he won't get hurt anytime soon (fingers triple crossed).
LeSean McCoy -- He's certainly got the talent. And we all love the pick. But it really is essential that he perform. This isn't some flyer at RB like Moats, Hunt, or Booker, who had the luxury to develop (or try) behind a solid back-up like Correll Buckhalter. McCoy's going to be thrown into the fire. Let's hope he's up to the challenge, especially blocking. Because if he struggles, we have so little depth behind our most valuable player. The coaches will cetainly be giving him all the opportunites in the world to grab this spot; but keep in mind, even Westbrook did hardly a thing his rookie season. We may be expecing too much for him to immediately contribute.
Leonard Weaver -- Yeah yeah, he's a fullback. But he will likely also be the third leading rusher on this team, maybe even some short yardage stuff that we've needed so desperately. He's certainly got a nasty streak. Right now he's signed as a one year rental, but if he performs well there's no reason his stoutness can't be blocking here for a long time.
Lorenzo Booker -- Here's where the bubble begins. Undeniably talented, he's been one-upped by another shifty back in McCoy, and will have to reassert himself if he wants to make the team, let alone assume the backup spot behind Westbrook. I imagine he'll have another great set of pad-less drills, but its when the real tackling starts that Booker has to show he's willing to take hits and deliver blocks. If he can't, the question becomes, why keep Booker when LeSean can do everything can do, but better?
Kyle Eckel -- I for one really like what Eckel brings to the table here. He ran with some real toughness to grind out some of those wins at the end of last season. It would be nice to have a guy like that who can take pounding away from Westbrook, if LeSean's not trustworthy/big enough. Certainly we can't put Booker in that role. However, its unclear exactly how much Andy & Co. value a player like that, so the likelihood is that he's fighting for a job.
Walter Mendenhall -- According to SI.com, Rashard's older brother is "just as big and strong carrying the ball... as Walter shows power on the inside, speed in the open field and the ability to slip tackles then create yardage." That all sounds good, and he would be a nice big back to complement the shifty guys the Eagles have (i.e instead of Eckel). Still, he's facing some long odds to make the roster. With surpluses at receiver, defensive back, and (as always) offensive line, I would think the Eagles try to keep only 4 backs this season, including Weaver as the big/short yardage back. 5 would make it much easier for him to make the cut, but remember the last big Big Ten back we took (Andy certainly will) and don't count on it.
Marcus Thigpen -- He's a speed demon who ran on the track team (10.67 seconds on the 100 yard dash - hot damn) and accumulated big yards on the football field as a kickoff returner. That's more likely what he was drafted as by the Eagles, and Thigpen even said that the team told him he would be a "slot receiver and kick returner." Thus, this may not be the best place to list him.
Marcus Mailei -- Mailei is an interesting case who isn't quite competing with the other running backs, and probably won't make the team unless Weaver gets hurt. He's a pure fullback who didn't perform well in workout situtations but showed nice blocking ability and caught 58 balls in college. If he shows some promise, look for the Eagles to try and stick him on the practice squad as a possibility for next year if Weaver leaves.
Eldra Buckley -- Call me cynical, but I find it hard to believe that a guy who spent 2 years on the Chargers practice squad makes this team.

What do you think?

"I have a tendency to start gliding. When I'm running and I know I'm beating everybody, I have a...

bsencore — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:23:28 -0000

"I have a tendency to start gliding. When I'm running and I know I'm beating everybody, I have a tendency to start gliding."
--Jeremy Maclin

Glide Away Jeremy

"Everyone is expendable," Ellis Hobbs said. "At the end of the day we’re all dollar signs. Moves n...

bsencore — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:56:04 -0000

"Everyone is expendable," Ellis Hobbs said. "At the end of the day we’re all dollar signs. Moves need to be made, things need to be done and at the end of the day that’s when you need to be professional about it and know that it’s a business and gone on. Sometimes you don’t fit into their program any more and like I said, unfortunately it was my time, but at the same time fortunately I can go to another team that wants me. Another man’s trash is another man’s treasure."

Hobbs: "We’re All Dollar Signs"

Draft and the Depth Chart: Wide Receiver

bsencore — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:57:33 -0000

Second in a series looking at how the guys the Eagles drafted affect the depth chart at each position.

Part 1: Cornerback

DeSean Jackson -- After a breakout and unexpectedly productive freshman campaign, DeSean starts 2009 as the man in this offense, Donovan McNabb's number one target. With a glut of other return men selected/traded for, it is likely that DeSean, like Westbrook before him, will be weaned off of return duties to protect his slight frame (maybe 5'10" 180 lbs. with rocks in his pants). Hopefully Mr. Jackson has learned from his previous mistakes (which honestly still make me nervous about his future) and is ready to step up as a responsible star in this system. He certainly has the talent and speed to be special here for a long time if he can keep improving.
Kevin Curtis -- Curtis missed the first half of the season last year, and never reached the level of production he played at in 2007. Still, he should rebound this year after an off-season to fully recooperate. If he returns to form, he can be a fantastic #2 receiver in Philly for the next few years. Long term, Andy may see him more as a slot receiver who complements the Mac-Jack attack.
Jeremy Maclin -- As soon as he steps on the field, Maclin will be the most talented receiver in this lineup. He's got DeSean-caliber speed but has a stronger, taller body (6'0", 200 lbs. isn't huge, but its legit). He's only 20 years old, but if you've seen his interviews, its clear he's a very bright, responsible, and humble guy. If DeSean can make an impact in his rookie season, no reason to think that Maclin can't replicate that success. Look for the Eagles to get him on the field wherever they can, especially punt returns.
Jason Avant -- Given the opportunity to contribute in this offense last year, Avant showed that he can be a productive slot receiver, unafraid to catch balls over the middle. He caught about half of his balls on 3rd down, the highest percentage of any Eagles receiver. Still, Avant has little upside at this point so he'll have to find a way to become more effective. His contract runs out this year, but he will be a restricted free agent if they want to retain him.
Hank Baskett -- We have all drooled over his potential as a huge target, but the numbers simply haven't shown a lot of improvement over the last 3 years. Last year he started 6 games, but didn't have much to show for it (other than one nice play and one nice girl). Truth is that he will likely never be a starter here, just like Avant. And he's in the same contract situation as Avant as well. If he can't step it up, there's little reason for the Eagles to extend his contract long term - let alone keep him ahead of someone with more upside.
Reggie Brown -- How he's fallen. Signed a contract extension just 2 years ago to keep him through 2014. That's the untold other side of the Sheldon Brown story. I'm sure they would love to trade him, but at this point they can't give him away. (I imagine this conversation went on at some point in the draft "Brad Childress, c'mon buddy, you want him? He'd be great. Please?") And they don't want to cut him because of a $5 million cap hit they'd take. Andy's probably hoping he'll return to form as a contributor, because he has more talent than Avant or Baskett, but if he doesn't play well than he won't suit up because he can't play special teams. Definitely a make or break training camp for Reggie.
Brandon Gibson -- The Eagles's 6th round pick is on the bigger side and Andy called him "one of the best route runners" in the draft, making him a possible steal as a bigger version of Jason Avant. Still, there's a reason he dropped so far. Gibson doesn't have great speed or quickness and had a subpar season last year after a great junior season. Honestly it is unlikely that he makes the team unless he really impresses, more than one of the three players above him, catching the ball and in special teams. Also could "get hurt" right before cuts if he looks promising.
Danny Amendola -- All you closet Hard Knocks fans can go away. He's not going to make this team. He'll certainly get rave reviews without pads, but there's no real place for him, unless the Eagles really shake up the WR corps.
Shaheer McBride -- Big body. Practice squad last year. Not going to make the team, no matter (as I said before) how much Spadaro gushes.
Brandon Robinson -- Undrafted rookie out of BC. Camp body, for sure.

What do you think?

A FredEx Blog?

bsencore — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:56:37 -0000

A FredEx Blog?

Say it ain't so...