Grade FA after Runyan signing

[QB Eagles]

C. My previous grade assumed that Runyan would be resigned, so it stays the same. If Runyan had left, it would have fallen to a D.

[rjs246]

Because they still have the draft to go. And here's a newsflash - you can get good players in the draft too!

DT - I think they will get Bunkley or Ngata

WR is more like a luxury now. We know they are pretty much done unless Walker or Moulds falls into their laps. But I think they will draft a guy.

SAM LB is the one need that I think should be filled via FA.

If they draft a WR and DT then I am happy.

If they draft a DT, sign a SAM and draft/sign a WR then I am load blowing ecstatic.

So you're giving a grade based on a draft that hasn't happened yet and including a DT/WR combo that will somehow bring the grade up to a B+? I don't know what team you've been watching, but WRs don't just step in a 'improve' this team (don't use R.B. as an example, this team went 6-10 last year). Not to mention that our 'stud' DT rookie last year fell off TOUGH after the midway point in the season.

WR a luxury?

Noogies!

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Here's my prediction:  None of the players the Eagles get in the draft this year will make the difference between winning or losing the Super Bowl.

Bold, I know.

[phillywin2k5]

Because they still have the draft to go. And here's a newsflash - you can get good players in the draft too!

DT - I think they will get Bunkley or Ngata

WR is more like a luxury now. We know they are pretty much done unless Walker or Moulds falls into their laps. But I think they will draft a guy.

SAM LB is the one need that I think should be filled via FA.

If they draft a WR and DT then I am happy.

If they draft a DT, sign a SAM and draft/sign a WR then I am load blowing ecstatic.

Still think the Eagles take Lendale White and draft a DT in the 2nd round.

[Seabiscuit36]

B-  it was a c- before.  Getting Big John back with adding a DE/DT hybrid type of player helped out the D Line and with a little luck they pick up a guy like Wright or Harris in the second if they dont go DT in the first

[PhillyPhanInDC]

I'm giving it a B for now.

Gaffney will do well, fills a need. I really think he'll be locked in with a longer contract between now and the opener. He'll take over the number two spot if nothing else changes. They'll probably add a decent prospect in the draft.

Howard is going to do really well in a rotation with Cole, Kearse, and Doogs. And he is probably plenty anxious to prove that last year was a fluke, and get back to his double digit ways. If Doogs stays healthy, and surprises with only decent play, this could turn into a nasty D-Line with a solid DT from the draft added as well.

Schobel is a damn good signing. He is has some upside, and may wind up getting more snaps then LJ, especially if Reid is serious about running the ball a bunch more. (For the record, I am an LJ hater. Poor ball security and atrocious blocking  )

Garcia, as said before is just insurance, but is a huge upgrade over what we had at the spot last year. They'll add a talented guy (Gradkowski) to groom to take over the second spot next year behind McNabb. They absolutely had to fix this, and Garcia is just about perfect for a short-term fix.

Barber I think is a total joke. Why they brought the guy in is a mystery to me, even as cheap as he came. If he is healthy, and that is a long shot, he is an upgrade. He won't stay healthy. They are going to depend on a mix of McCoy and Barber at the WIL. They should be flogged for this.

Runyan doesn't vastly improve the line over last year, but his signing was a must, and the line would have been terrible without. I like having Herremans, and the other younger guys in a spot where they can be evaluated and learn more while being shuffled a bit. Not having to depend on them possibly coming through is huge.

Highest priority to me is a DT and a SAM, in that order. They'll get the DT in the first round of the draft, no doubt in my mind about that. The SAM....doesn't seem like they will address it soon, possibly in the June cuts. It'd be a miracle if they could land a LB later in the draft that could produce in JJ's system at the SAM spot this year. Dhani there again this year would have me ripping my hair out.

I'd still like to see them add some veteran depth along the interior of the offensive line, no studs obviously, but guys who can step in and push the other guys.

Overall, I'm actually starting to get a good feeling about this offseason, but I am slightly drunk at the moment. They could potentially still add a guy like Walker or Moulds, have the opportunity to have a pretty nice haul in the draft, and will probably lock up Dawk, Lewis, etc.  with extensions with the extra cap space.


My B grade comes from the assumption that they aren't completely done. If they stop now, and don't sign anyone else, it'll probably drop down to the C/C- range.

[Diomedes]

At least I'm not the only one on this board who uses way too many words.

[The BIGSTUD]

They should not get a higher grade than before for signing a player they should've signed anyway they had no excuse not to sign him so the grade doesn't improve. C-

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

They should not get a higher grade than before for signing a player they should've signed anyway they had no excuse not to sign him so the grade doesn't improve. C-

Your affinity for punctuation is only exceeded by your aptitude for logic.

[SunMo]

i think i need to change my grade now.

[Diomedes]

Back to sixth grade for Mo.

[The BIGSTUD]

They should not get a higher grade than before for signing a player they should've signed anyway they had no excuse not to sign him so the grade doesn't improve. C-

Your affinity for punctuation is only exceeded by your aptitude for logic.

Please excuse my run on sentence.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Because they still have the draft to go. And here's a newsflash - you can get good players in the draft too!

DT - I think they will get Bunkley or Ngata

WR is more like a luxury now. We know they are pretty much done unless Walker or Moulds falls into their laps. But I think they will draft a guy.

SAM LB is the one need that I think should be filled via FA.

If they draft a WR and DT then I am happy.

If they draft a DT, sign a SAM and draft/sign a WR then I am load blowing ecstatic.

So you're giving a grade based on a draft that hasn't happened yet and including a DT/WR combo that will somehow bring the grade up to a B+? I don't know what team you've been watching, but WRs don't just step in a 'improve' this team (don't use R.B. as an example, this team went 6-10 last year). Not to mention that our 'stud' DT rookie last year fell off TOUGH after the midway point in the season.

WR a luxury?

Noogies!

Yes, I'll explain.

The biggest problem on this team last year, other than injuries, was the defense. Specifically the lack of a pass rush. They signed Darren Howard to start at RDE. That RDE position has been a problem since Hugh left. Derrick Burgess doesn't count because he had a whopping 2.5 sacks in 2004. In 2003 McDougle was hurt and they had truck drivers and roofers coming in to get snaps. In 2004 it was Burgess who was hurt again for several weeks. In 2005 they counted on ND Kalu after McDougle was shot.

Now they not only have a solid starting RDE to help The Freak, but they have a solid pass rusher as the 3rd end. The Kearse-Howard-Cole trio will be very good.

They signed Jabar Gaffney. He is better than Greg Lewis right off the bat. Reggie Brown is going to be better and that gives them a soon-to-be stud (Brown) and a solid guy in Gaffney. Luxury wasn't the right word to use, maybe I should've said getting another WR would be a dream right now. Because if anyone expects them to get Moulds or Walker then you'll likely be disappointed. I would love to have either one. But I just don't see it happening unfortunately. So we go back to the days of spread it around without a guy like TO here. And the way I see it, they have a better WR corps now than they did in 2001-2003.

Backup TE was a big hole last year. Stephen Spach sucked balls. McNabb has always liked to use a second TE. Thomason played second fiddle to Lewis back in the day and Lewis played behind Smith in 2003 and 2004. Last year he did not have that option because Spach sucked. Now we have a solid #2 TE to play behind Smith. And as frustrating as LJ is when he carries the ball, he was on pace to have a great year last year until Donny got hurt.

Backup QB's were atrocious in 2005. Mike McMahon played the position like a speed freak. Koy's arm strength is comparable to a 10 year old childs. Now we have Garcia. And they'll likely draft a guy like Kellen Clemens or Bruce Gradkowski. The #2 and #3 spots will be vastly improved.

Runyan is re-signed. No big time OL shuffling.

Shawn Barber might have artificial knees but even if his knees looked like Hank Hill's daddy's on King of the Hill he would be better than Keith Adams. So not only does he solidify the WIL spot but he will help on nickle defense. That was a big problem last year because Ike was gone. Trot had to play a lot more and he was taken advantage of in coverage.

So we have improved the RDE, WIL LB, backup QB, backup TE, #2 WR and kept our RT.

That translates into a B+ in my eyes.

Sign a SAM and it becomes an A-

Acquire Walker or Moulds and sign a SAM and it becomes an A.

Acquire Walker or Moulds, sign a SAM and draft Brodrick Bunkley and we've got ourselves an A+.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Acquire Walker or Moulds, sign a SAM and draft Brodrick Bunkley and we've got ourselves an A+.

Well, I agree with you, assuming the SAM signed is actually better than Dahahahahani.

I think those would all be big moves, though, which is why they're still at a C in my book.  This off-season has thus far met my expectations almost exactly and exceeded my expectations by precisely zero.

[Don Ho]

B - everything DC said especially the Barber signing .  Very confused on that one.  The FO better know something we don't.