After a decent but not great free agency period and a GREAT draft, here are some needs I still think the Eagles need to look into, to make this offseason complete.
-- Veteran receiver to play opposite Brown, so Gaffney can play the slot.
-- Big back for short yardage, grind it out situations, and to wear teams out when we have a lead.
-- Depending on how fast Gocong can pick up the system and fit in here, we still might need a SAM, because if Gocong isn't ready, then Dhani Jones can't start. Maybe Emmons gets cut?
-- Maybe an undrafted QB to bring in to try to take Detmer's job.
Sounds like about it for me. After the draft this offseason has turned to quite satisfying, but I still there is just a tad more to do.
Bringing in Bloom and Avant pretty much guarantees that they won't bring in any veteran WRs.
McMullen and Lewis could be cut, and that would open the door. Plus it tells me they may not be happy with Pinkston's progress.
Quote from: Philly Forever on April 30, 2006, 07:47:06 PM
McMullen and Lewis could be cut, and that would open the door. Plus it tells me they may not be happy with Pinkston's progress.
I agree that McMullen is as good as gone and Lewis is likely gone, but I can't imagine Pinky not being around.
He'll be around, but maybe exclusively for certain areas of the playbook.
McMullen's gone, as is (I hope) Mahe. Lewis will be back. Pinky plays the vet WR role, as Detmer does for QB.
Tapeh's the "big back". We're pretty much done in FA, and as predicted, added no big names at WR. Surprise surprise.
I must say, however, that right now, I'm OK with that.
I think Pinkston will start the season on PUP. With the numbers they have at WR, if he's not 100% by the start of training camp, his ass is going on the injured list. I think that they will keep 6 WR's on the active roster: Brown, Gaffney, Lewis, Avant, Bloom, and the winner of a roster "battle" between McCants and McMullen.
I mean... we haven't even heard if Pinkston can JOG yet.
Heckert said on the radio the other day that Pinkston was doing light running and has been working out at the NCC all offseason.
Quote from: Philly Forever on April 30, 2006, 07:54:32 PM
He'll be around, but maybe exclusively for certain areas of the playbook.
No one gains 1 yard on WR Screen like Pinkston. NO ONE!
I think the Eagles still may work a deal for another running back. We'll see.
any chance hank gets the boot?
Maybe since he's been doing so much "working out", maybe he put on a few pounds of muscle...
Maybe. :paranoid
Fraley is most likely gone. With Jackson playing well the last half of last season and Jean-Gilles having the reported ability to play C, Phreak's twin brother's time in Philly is done.
Heckert says they aren't looking at getting a big RB right now....said the focus is on monitoring the guys coming back from IR...
Quote from: BigEd76 on April 30, 2006, 11:47:08 PM
Heckert says they aren't looking at getting a big RB right now....said the focus is on monitoring the guys coming back from IR...
What does that mean? Who coming back from IR the big RB?
Quote from: Drunkmasterflex on April 30, 2006, 11:50:13 PM
Quote from: BigEd76 on April 30, 2006, 11:47:08 PM
Heckert says they aren't looking at getting a big RB right now....said the focus is on monitoring the guys coming back from IR...
What does that mean? Who coming back from IR the big RB?
Probaby talking about Buck and Tapeh.
Baldy on Sports Final thinks the Eagles are going to turn into a 45% run team. He said it looks like they are building that way with the big lineman.
I sure hope so that would be friggin fantastic.
Quote from: Eaglez on April 30, 2006, 11:34:46 PM
Fraley is most likely gone. With Jackson playing well the last half of last season and Jean-Gilles having the reported ability to play C, Phreak's twin brother's time in Philly is done.
Yeah, I think Hank might go. The only way he stays is if Jackson gets hurt or struggles in camp/PS. But I don't see that happening.
I think we can go ahead as assume that they will not be bringing in a "big back".
This FO doesn't buy into the big back theory that many people do. Heckert said on SF tonight that they like the guys they have and it doesn't matter that they areall essentially the same size.
He's said that in numerous interviews. He said on WIP a few months ago that he thinks the smallish backs have an advantage sometimes because they get lost in the flow of traffic behind the big lineman. And he's right about that. We've seen that a lot of times when it looks like Moats or Westbrook were bottled up but they ended up making it through some tiny crack and getting positive yards.
And you don't need a big body to pick up 3rd and 1. If a RB is in the NFL, regardless of his size, he should be able to pick up a freakin yard.
Especially with the fatbodies we have on the line now.
Westbrook
Moats
Perry
Tapeh
That will be the RBs this year, IMO. Perry can get good yards between the tackles and Tapeh is a good inside runner as well. He can run well from the singleback set like he did in Minny.
I don't see a change in the top 4 of Brown, Gaffney, Pinky, and Lewis. I think Pinky will be fine. Lewis works for me at the #4. Just don't see getting down on a #3 who was thrust into the role of a #1, he matches up just fine with nickle backs.
Well, if they were willing to pick up Walker, it tells me they are at least interested in bringing in a veteran. We'll see if anyone shakes loose in june.
Quote from: Philly Forever on May 01, 2006, 01:01:02 AM
Well, if they were willing to pick up Walker, it tells me they are at least interested in bringing in a veteran. We'll see if anyone shakes loose in june.
Not going to happen unless they lose someone else to injury. They drafted Avant because he was the most veteran-like of the WR's in the draft this year. He has the best chance of coming in and making plays in the passing game year 1.
Give up, man. Not going to happen.
I think their remaining need was at FB and will have to see how the UDFA out of Illinois does in training camp. I think every "need" was addressed in the draft. I could see them picking up Drew Olson if they don't feel good about Chang.
Matt Bernstein....period
Not sure. But the Eagles already signed a FB
Jason Davis - FB - Illinois
I actually think Tapeh can be a pro bowl FB in this league. Everyone forgets about him.
Quote from: Philly Forever on May 01, 2006, 02:03:04 PM
I actually think Tapeh can be a pro bowl FB in this league. Everyone forgets about him.
its not that he's forgotten, but he's had more hip treatments than my 92 year old grandather.
Quote from: Wingspan on May 01, 2006, 02:16:52 PM
Quote from: Philly Forever on May 01, 2006, 02:03:04 PM
I actually think Tapeh can be a pro bowl FB in this league. Everyone forgets about him.
its not that he's forgotten, but he's had more hip treatments than my 92 year old grandather.
He's had one. A major injury... but only one injury. So, your 92-year-old grand_ather has a very healthy hip.
I know it seems stupid, but almost an hour after the draft ended I was going through football withdrawal. There's nothing to look forward to, preseason starts in 3 months. :-\
Quote from: FFatPatt on May 01, 2006, 02:22:53 PM
Quote from: Wingspan on May 01, 2006, 02:16:52 PM
Quote from: Philly Forever on May 01, 2006, 02:03:04 PM
I actually think Tapeh can be a pro bowl FB in this league. Everyone forgets about him.
its not that he's forgotten, but he's had more hip treatments than my 92 year old grandather.
He's had one. A major injury... but only one injury. So, your 92-year-old grand_ather has a very healthy hip.
so he had the surgery...and a doc hasnt treated his hip since...
my confidence level is very high :-X
Quote from: Dillen37 on May 01, 2006, 02:25:59 PM
I know it seems stupid, but almost an hour after the draft ended I was going through football withdrawal. There's nothing to look forward to, preseason starts in 3 months. :-\
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