Franchise Tag prices (Runyan discussion)

[bobbyinlondon]

because I have no memory after some scotchy scotch scotch....  how many players have the Eagles let test FA and then re-signed to a deal?  gotta be somebody.   

Trotter and Adams last year. They've been burned on a couple of instances, where the player has told them he'd let them match whatever was offered--

Both Hugh and Shawn Barber in 2003--although I'm convinced that Barber never intended to re-sign with the Eagles. They had supposedly agreed to a contract extension after the Eagles lost their second NFCCG final--and then just before he was supposed to sign it, Barber backed out--and went to KC and signed the first day of FA.

However, maybe they plan to swing Artis Hicks outside or Herremans. Really, no one knows what they'll do until the 3rd comes around. But at 32, can you really blame them if they don't throw big money at him. As fans, we're not privvy to what kind of discussions are going on--suppose his agent is asking for a 4 year, 25M contract--especially when a mediocre talent like Backus gets franchised by the Lions--that's 6.93M--now, are we saying that Backus is better than Runyan--because the Lions' QBs spent A LOT of time on their backs the last 2 seasons.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Maybe this means they trade up for the 'Brick? Ha. Right. Are there really any other decent tackles in the draft (other that Ferguson) that could come in right away and make an impact, let alone take over for Runyan? I don't think there is in FA. They have to think Herremans has what it takes. This is farging awful. farg rebuilding.....McNabb, Dawkins, Trotter & Co. aren't getting any younger.....

[PhillyPhreak54]

If Runyan does walk there are three guys I want playing RT:

Todd Herremans
Marcus McNeill

Or D'Brickashaw Ferguson, but thats too much to hope for. He could slip to 6th or 7th though and if he does they better trade up.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

If Runyan does walk there are three guys I want playing RT:

Todd Herremans
Marcus McNeill

Or D'Brickashaw Ferguson, but thats too much to hope for. He could slip to 6th or 7th though and if he does they better trade up.

I'd be all about them bringing in McNeill, but not to start right away. I think of those two Herremans is the best option, although that doesn't mean he's going to be all that good. I think Herremans will eventually be a serious mauler along the line here in Philly, but I think his second year may be a little early to fill the RT role for the season. Based on what I saw of Herremans last year, he could surprise, and be extremely solid all year, but it is a bit much to expect that from the kid. I hope the FO has a plan that doesn't involve this.

[SunMo]

In the long term, losing Runyan may work out, just like letting Bobby and Troy work out.  Herremans may start this year at RT, they draft a LT with their 1st round pick to replace Tra next year.  But for this year, this move will weaken the offense.  The RT position will have been downgraded, thus they will need to keep LJ in more to block, which in turn will cut down on his development and it will leave McNabb with one less weapon on some passing plays.

[Diomedes]

The RT position will have been downgraded, thus they will need to keep LJ in more to block, which in turn will cut down on his development and it will leave McNabb with one less weapon on some passing plays.

Westbrook blocks better than LJ.  If they're counting on LJ to help the RT out more often, they should bank an extra 5 sacks on the year. 

[rjs246]

If Herremans can hold his own at LT like he did last year, shouldn't he also be able to function well as a RT? I don't really think that the fat boy should be a tackle unless he can stop being so goddamned fat and that he has the ability to really be good as a guard for a long time. If Runyan goes I would hope that Herremans would be able to step in there and not Andrews, but what the farg do I know?

[PhillyPhanInDC]

I've seen a lot of mock drafts that have the Eagles taking Joe Klopfenstein later in the draft at TE. He is supposed to be a pretty solid blocker, and is real big. But even the best blocking TE won't hide that the side of the line is going to be considerably more weak minus Runyan.

[rjs246]

If Runyans goes the line is definitely going to be weaker, but something like this was inevitable. You can't draft 47 offensive linemen in three years and expect the old heads to stick around. I would love to have him back. He's durable and mean and solid all around and is one of the few guys who stands out as a do anything to win player. But the team has repeatedly drafted offensive linemen to develop and I guess this may be their time. Frustrating.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

I pulled up Herreman's analysis from last year's draft. Looks like he has all the physical tools, but a lot of scouts felt he needed more coaching. Reminds a lot of Runyan came out in '96, although Runyan came out as a junior. Interesting useless fact: They were both selected in the fourth round of their repspective drafts, six picks apart.

Herreman's Analysis:

OVERVIEW
Herremans is a towering offensive tackle with a large wingspan that he uses very well to stave off the outside pass rush. He is a steady, competitive player with experience at both left and right tackle during his career with the Cardinals. He was a member of a senior class that amassed a four-year record of 39-9, including a 34-6 record in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference play, both marks ranking second all-time among Saginaw Valley State senior classes.

Herremans received all-state honors in football at Ravenna High School, where his father, Paul, served as one of his coaches. He served as senior class vice president. Herremans also lettered in basketball and track. He moved into the starting lineup at weakside offensive tackle, earning team Most Valuable Freshman honors in 2001 at Saginaw Valley, where the team compiled an 11-2 record.

Herremans was bothered at midseason with a right knee sprain that forced him to miss three games in 2002. He was a first-team all-region choice as a junior, starting 12 games. He opened the season at right tackle in 2003, but upon returning from a left shoulder sprain that forced him to miss the Indianapolis contest, he switched to the more demanding left tackle position. In 2004, Herremans garnered All-America honors as he lined up at left tackle in every game, allowing only two quarterback sacks for the season.


ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a big, thick frame with broad shoulders, long arms, good bubble, thick thighs ... Has the potential to carry at least another 15 pounds on his frame with no loss in quickness ... Above-average athlete who has decent balance, adequate quickness and agility along with good playing speed ... Good worker in the weight room and can take hard coaching ... Uses his size well to gain position and could possibly be an effective guard because of his ability to pull and hit a moving target ... Uses his long reach to hold off the pass rusher working on the edge ... Gets good hand placement to lock-on and steer ... Has good field awareness, quickly picking up games and blitzes ... Has the natural strength and size to sustain and shows just enough foot agility to slide with ease over a small area in pass protection ... Has good straight-line speed and when he stays low in his pads, he will utilize that quickness to drive the defender off the ball ... Understands blocking assignments well and can make quick adjustments to the defensive schemes ... Showed marked improvement in 2004, playing with more aggression ... Showed better explosion off the snap in 2004 than he did in previous seasons, demonstrating much better leg drive to knock defenders off the ball.

Negatives: Needs to add more muscle tone and bulk to his frame ... Lacks hip flexibility and appears stiff ... When he bends at the waist, he tends to lose balance, but he needs to play taller in order to generate better knee bend ... Falls off some blocks when he keeps his base too narrow ... Needs to be quicker in getting his hands up and into the defender's chest when coming off the snap ... Crosses his feet a bit when trying to run block and this becomes more evident when working in space, as he lets his hands get outside of his frame which prevents him from neutralizing the linebackers ... Has shown better aggression than in the past, but still lacks that nasty streak you look for in a left tackle ... In the run game, he has decent initial quickness off the ball, but when he is used to pull, he does not show good agility on the move and struggles to execute his blocks in space as well ... When he waist bends, he will over-reach on his angle blocks and will struggle vs. even decent speed off the edge, resulting in him having to chase the defensive end.

That last bit has me slightly worried, but again, a lot of his negatives sound like they could be coached out. WOuld be cool to see if Herremans' and Umenyiora eventually got to the point where they have battles like Strahan and Runyan do.

[Tomahawk]

The RT position will have been downgraded, thus they will need to keep LJ in more to block, which in turn will cut down on his development and it will leave McNabb with one less weapon on some passing plays.

Westbrook blocks better than LJ.  If they're counting on LJ to help the RT out more often, they should bank an extra 5 sacks on the year. 

An extra five per game.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

L.J. is a super blocker, and the team would be crazy to even consider drafting a TE early.  CRAZY, I SAY!

[rjs246]

Everyone knows that LJ can't block. but he CAN catch. So why spend a high pick on someone who will want and expect (rightfully) to be THE GUY at TE when really he'll be one-of-the-two-guys and will be called on for his blocking far more than the other guy?

The team can get a blocking TE who can also catch without spending a first rounder. If the team is looking for 'weapons' as opposed to 'players who actually fill a huge need' I would hope that they would go with a WR or RB, even if VD is a physical freak.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Put Vernon at RB and pound it up the middle every down.  Hard-nosed football.

[ice grillin you]

the highest pick youd ever spend on a blocking tight end would be a 3rd...and that might be pushing it