Takeo Spikes, Kelly Holcomb, Philadelphia Eagles

[Feva]

I'm not opposed to it either... I'm with you in that he would probably have more opportunities to make plays as a WIL... especially in this defense.  I just think that the Eagles grabbed him with the SAM in mind.

[ice grillin you]

hes not a will anymore since hes lost steps with age and the achilles...i think he can play sam but his coverage skills will come into question from time to time

his ultimate position imo at this point in his career is mike...he would be a vilma type in there...a manimal

cut trotter

[mussa]

i say we trade for randy moss throw in jones, greg lewis and a draft pick

[methdeez]

We've had a pro-bowl LB since William Thomas. Trotter made the pro bowl... on special teams but whatever!
A technical Oscar is still an Oscar dammit!

[SunMo]

shhhhhhhhh, time for sleep now

[Rome]

Holla!

[PhillyandBCEagles]

Why are people complaining about the WIL position??  Gaither had a pretty good year last year, especially for a 6th-round draft pick rookie, he's got nowhere to go but up.  McCoy has the tools to be a good nickel/STs guy and you could do worse as a WIL backup.  Unless we're planning on axeing Trotter and moving Gaither to the middle, we're fine at WIL.

I'll be fine if we go into next year with the following LB corps:

Trotter (MLB starter)
Spikes (SAM starter)
Gaither (WIL starter)
McCoy (nickel LB, STs)
Gocong
Richmond or Roper
Day 1 MLB draft pick (I like Anthony Waters from Clemson and Brandon Siler from Florida)


The great thing about picking up Spikes is that it buys us some time with the Gocong experiment--if Gocong can't learn the position by the end of next year then we'll need to pick up a long-term solution in FA or the draft in '08 but as long as Spikes can stay healthy the position is no longer an outright liability in '07.

[DH]

Holla!

Great shot. That was after the 5th and 1 game.

And before he made JJ Stokes his bitch.

[Rome]

FWIW, Spadaro's suggesting another move might be coming soon.  He mentioned the glut at LB, so...

[Eaglez]

The glut at LB? One starting quality very good LB and the Eagles now how an influx at the position. Of course.

I feel more comfortable feeling the Eagles have strong-side help that can do well against the run.

Trotter is still a decent MLB; but I agree his reps need to come down. If he can just be a 2 down LB that would be great.

Still, I think the Eagles need to draft a LB. A playmaker for the future and maybe someone who can contribute right now.

Walker was a good DT for the Eagles, but he didn't show up consistently. Further, if the Eagles expect Bunkley to actually contribute like he should and for Patterson to step up his game, then there really aren't any reps any more for Walker. Might as well trade a player where there is a "surplus" (in the sense that the Eagles are firmly committed to Patterson and Bunkley) to pick up talent at a position of need. 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

FWIW, Spadaro's suggesting another move might be coming soon.  He mentioned the glut at LB, so...

Dhani's scheduled to make $2.35m this year.  Bye bye.

[PhillyandBCEagles]

The glut at LB? One starting quality very good LB and the Eagles now how an influx at the position. Of course.

I feel more comfortable feeling the Eagles have strong-side help that can do well against the run.

Trotter is still a decent MLB; but I agree his reps need to come down. If he can just be a 2 down LB that would be great.

Still, I think the Eagles need to draft a LB. A playmaker for the future and maybe someone who can contribute right now.

Agreed.  In fact I'd say Trotter is still a very good MLB as long as he isn't out there too much.  I'd love to see us draft either of the guys I mentioned in round 3 (or even 2, especially if Leonard isn't available).  Both should be able to spell Trotter right away, and ultimately take over.

If Spikes can stay healthy he'll be fine at SAM for the next year or 2.  If Gocong works out and can take over, great, if not, we pick up a guy next year.

Use Trotter as a 2-down guy, and McCoy with Gaither or Spikes in nickel situations.

The big worry to me is if Spikes gets hurt and Gocong can't pick up the position at all--then we're farged.

[ice grillin you]

Why are people complaining about the WIL position??  Gaither had a pretty good year last year, especially for a 6th-round draft pick rookie, he's got nowhere to go but up

i complain about the linebackers in general...and i wont say anything bad about gaither because hes a sixth rounder and he did his best last year...but lets be real the guy isnt the answer...

i also dont think because youre a real late pick that means you have an upside...i tend to think they are limited in talent and anything they give you is a bonus rather than theres more of that to come...of course gaither could also be the next willie t...but to me upside is for ultra-talented players which imo gaither is not...his value got way overblown because mccoy was so friggin bad

[mussa]

axing the axe man is absolutely ridiculous idea. he may of had a bad year last year, but he is in no way a guy we want to get rid of this coming year. he's the heart of the defense and if not the leader of the entire team. the man deserves a shot at being the main man in the middle, but I do agree we need to look at his replacement in the draft. I am fine with McCoy and Gaither battling it out at WIL. Gaither did his job, and I thought McCoy had a pretty good year until he got hurt.

[Beermonkey]

FWIW, Spadaro's suggesting another move might be coming soon.  He mentioned the glut at LB, so...

Where did he mention the glut at LB other than saying they were deep but unsettled?

I can easily see them either cutting or trading Dhani, then picking up some unknown (but high motor/character) back up player to compete.