Reuben Frank: Interview With Tom Heckert

PhillyPhreak54 · January 21, 2007, 10:15:26 AM

Quote"Offensively, depending on what happens with (free agent Correll Buckhalter), we might have to go find a guy, and we have to decide on Jeff (Garcia), and if we don't sign Jeff we have to find a third quarterback," Heckert said. "But all the other positions, we think we're OK. Offensively there's probably not a whole lot we need to go out and get. And defensively, it's a lot less of a big deal than it was last year.

No mention of Stallworth in his opening comments

QuoteQ: Run defense killed you in the middle of the season and in the playoffs. Is it fixable with the guys you have?

A: "We were playing the run very well at the beginning of the year mainly because we were rotating a lot more, and that kept guys fresh. Then we just didn't have that rotation later in the year, whether it was because some of those guys weren't playing enough or whatever. Matt McCoy was getting killed in the media, but he was by far our most productive player on defense the first five games. Then he got hurt (shoulder) and that affected it, too. But obviously, the defensive line has to play better and the linebackers have to play better. That's the bottom line.

"We also need (Brodrick) Bunkley to come through and play for us and that's going to help. But we've got to have some sort of rotation. We think we'll be good at defensive end with Jevon (Kearse) back. We've just got to find the right inside guys to help those guys out."

Q: Have your feelings about Bunkley changed?

A: "Not at all. We thought he was a really good player in college. He's big, he's strong, he's tough — obviously the holdout and him coming in out of shape hurt him. There's no reason to think he can't play. He just hasn't played. I wish he would have. He played maybe 50 plays all year. I don't think you can judge a player off that. To say he's a bust off 50 plays is a little crazy. It's his own fault for holding out and coming in out of shape and missing training camp. That's why we're optimistic. With a full offseason and a full training camp, he'll be fine."

Q: Can Sean Considine physically handle strong safety?

A: "He's a really good tackler. He really is. He's a very good open-field tackler. The last game, he got run over, that's going to happen to everybody. Shoot, even Dawkins misses tackles. A guy misses a tackle, now he's a bad tackler, that's not fair. He started out well, he's just got to keep the weight on. Coming off the shoulder (injury), he couldn't lift as much and he lost some of that strength. Him being healthy, he'll be fine. He knows he has to be stronger.

"In his defense, he's probably a free safety, and we're playing him at strong safety because we like him. But there's no question he can be the guy, and we're happy with him. He's by far our smartest guy back there, and he's got the ability to make plays. He dropped a bunch of interceptions, but he's got great hands. Why that happened I don't know, but he'll be good for us."

QuoteQ: What about Trott? He's also going into his 10th year and wasn't as productive as he hoped.

A: "Trotter knows he probably needs to come in better shape than last year, but he should be fine. He's just got to come in shape and stay that way and he'll be faster and his knees (will feel better). But we think we're fine with Trott."

QuoteQ: You have four defensive backs who are unrestricted— Michael Lewis, Rod Hood, Quintin Mikell and William James. Are you concerned about having to rebuild depth in what has been a very good group?

A: "We're optimistic that we're going to get some of those guys back. If we do that, we'll be fine. If we don't, we'll probably address it in the draft, but we're hoping to get a couple of them back."

It won't be Hood or Lewis, obviously. But I am glad to hear that bringing James and Mikell back are on the list of things to do. Mikell is a solid player and with Hood leaving they need James in there.

QuoteQ: Do you have any idea how much you'll have to spend to re-sign Juqua Thomas, who was your best pass rusher the second half of the season?

A: "You really don't know what he's going to get. It's kind of strange because he was a complete free agent (last year) and nobody even made him an offer. Is it a priority? Probably not, just because if Jevon comes back we think we're OK there. But we'd like to have him back, no question about it. We've got a lot of money tied up in these defensive ends, but Andy has always said if we're going to overload anywhere, we're going to overload on the offensive line and defensive line. Can we get him? I don't know. We certainly want him. It's going to be interesting."

QuoteQ: Dont Stallworth had some huge games but was also hurt a lot. How will that affect his value on the open market?

A: "If he's healthy, he's a really good player. I think that will be kind of a wait-and-see deal because I don't think even he knows what he's worth. Getting him done before free agency, that's probably not going to happen. There's not a whole lot of wide receivers out there. It's tough to gauge. When he's healthy, he's a good player. People are going to say the same thing — if he's injured (often), how much are you going to pay him? But he's young and he's fast. He's really fast. I think he'll probably end up signing a pretty good contract somewhere. If you look at last year, those (2006 free agents) got huge money and they were just OK guys."

Q: If you lose Stallworth, will you have to go out and get another veteran?

A: "We feel the same way as before we traded for him. If we don't get him back, we think we're OK at wide receiver. Not saying we won't draft or sign somebody else, but Reggie (Brown) played really well for us, and I think Hank (Baskett) and Jason (Avant) are going to be really good. I really do. So that affects it, too. If we don't have him, I think we'll be all right."

And here's the Stallworth stuff. Sadly I think he's gone. The fact that Baskett looked good on a few plays has brainwashed them. Jesus Christ...farg!

QuoteQ: Will Chris Gocong get a chance to compete at strong-side linebacker? How far has he come since training camp?

A: "Yeah, he will. I think he's a lot better than when he first came to training camp because he knows a lot now. He couldn't practice, but he's been in meetings with the linebackers. He knows the defense, he knows what he's supposed to do. It's just a matter of seeing him do it. And we think he can. There's no reason he shouldn't be able to do it. He's a super smart guy, he works his butt off. It'll be good to see him."

Since it also looks like Juqua Thomas is a goner they need to scrap this plan of shoe-horning Gocong into SAM and letting him play play DE and get after the QB. Hell even if they bring Thomas back they should still have Gocong play DE. Let him take McDougle's spot on the roster. Go get a goddamn playing making SLB!!

shorebird · January 21, 2007, 10:48:30 AM

Quotebut Reggie (Brown) played really well for us, and I think Hank (Baskett) and Jason (Avant) are going to be really good. I really do. So that affects it, too. If we don't have him, I think we'll be all right."

Jesus, here we go again.

QB Eagles · January 21, 2007, 10:50:31 AM

<igy>

QuoteHe's by far our smartest guy back there

</igy>

I don't know what pisses me off more, the fact that he doesn't seem to care about bringing Stallworth back, or his thinking that the Eagles don't need Juqua Thomas because gimpy Jevon Kearse will be back.

rjs246 · January 21, 2007, 11:08:09 AM

This team is infuriating.

Magical_Retard · January 21, 2007, 11:51:37 AM

GET MOSS!

Rome · January 21, 2007, 12:15:10 PM

Matt McCoy was getting killed in the media, but he was by far our most productive player on defense the first five games. Then he got hurt (shoulder) and that affected it, too.

It's just amazing to read that. What does he take us for?

Jesus - you made a mistake, dude. Own up to it and move on. Either that or book yourself onto the next spaceship headed for the Sun.

Sgt PSN · January 21, 2007, 12:22:25 PM

I just died a little inside reading that article. Actually, I didn't even read the entire interview as I stopped during his comments about Stallworth.

Here's the Cliff's Notes version of that article:

Good bye Jaqua Thomas. Good bye Donte Stallworth.

Welcome back Considine and McCoy.

Pre-order your Marc Boerigter jerseys TODAY!

Eaglez · January 21, 2007, 12:26:06 PM

I don't like the tone of that interview. Heckert seems to full of himself and delusional in thinking that if they let go of playmakers and elevate guys beyond their level of competency they will be fine. Ridiculous.

I don't like how he dismisses the importance of Stallworth, Thomas, and how he thinks Considine is a good tackler when he CONSISTENTLY gets run over on critical running plays and how McCoy was the best player the first five games for them when he couldn't get off a friggin' block. If McCoy was so 'good', it is hard to fathom that a rookie all of a sudden took his place and made more plays than he did the first 5 games.

Dillen · January 21, 2007, 12:54:32 PM

McCoy actually was the best defensive player the first 5 games. Went far downhill afterwards.

QB Eagles · January 21, 2007, 01:11:26 PM

The only solace one can take from this interview is that perhaps Heckert is savvy enough to realize he is speaking with the press, and is therefore not showing all of his cards. The Eagles have nothing to lose by publicly talking down Stallworth and Thomas.

hbionic · January 21, 2007, 01:23:14 PM

Quote from: Dillen37 on January 21, 2007, 12:54:32 PM
McCoy actually was the best defensive player the first 5 games. Went far downhill afterwards.

Downhill? I think he went underground.

Geowhizzer · January 21, 2007, 01:24:13 PM

God help us all.

PoopyfaceMcGee · January 21, 2007, 01:24:21 PM

Heckert's stuff in that interview is far more infuriating than anything Joe Banner's said recently.

Rome · January 21, 2007, 01:34:45 PM

Quote from: Dillen37 on January 21, 2007, 12:54:32 PM
McCoy actually was the best defensive player the first 5 games. Went far downhill afterwards.

Being merely average does not equate to excellence. The entire defense was mediocre during the first five games and then fell off the map until the winning streak started.

Injuries played a part in it, sure, but come on. . . he's insinuating that McCoy played great and he clearly didn't.

The arrogance and refusal to accept blame that his superiors exhibit appears to be rubbing off on Tom Heckert.

The bottom line is this regime hasn't won anything yet, yet for some reason, they come off like they've got Lombardi Trophies coming out of their ears. Like rjs said, it's infuriating.

Sgt PSN · January 21, 2007, 01:42:08 PM

Quote from: QB Eagles on January 21, 2007, 01:11:26 PM
The only solace one can take from this interview is that perhaps Heckert is savvy enough to realize he is speaking with the press, and is therefore not showing all of his cards.

C'mon Dillen, you're sounding like taterskins fans talking about their offense during preseason. Are you having a relapse from the time we spent on ES? Has Heckert been touched by a General Managing Angel?

QuoteThe Eagles have nothing to lose by publicly talking down Stallworth and Thomas.

Except losing Stallworth and Thomas. Athletes, even the likable ones like these 2, are super sensitive ego maniacs who are insulted by comments like Heckert's. I'm sure both of them have already been on the phone with their agents discussing teams that they are interested in playing for next year.