trotter cut

[Eaglez]

If Gaither brings sideline-to-sideline speed in the middle and makes good reads on which gaps to attack, then I think he may be an upgrade over Trotter in the middle. All eyes are on him though, and the team has relatively high expectations. We'll see how he responds.

The Eagles collectively are good with personnel. For all the "questionable" moves that they made over the years they all seemed to turn out for the better save Burgess.

Plus, like someone else mentioned, I don't think Trotter is going to be playing special teams if he can barely run for one or two downs a series as it is, making most teams reluctant to sign him as a backup who may be a liability in kick coverage. The fact that he agreed with the move and was very gracious about it has me thinking that he knew that he is running on empty -- maybe not emotionally or mentally but his knees just won't let him play anymore at a high level.

[Wingspan]

Since when is the 3rd round late in the draft?

It's not late.  But remember, they didn't draft Bradley to be a MLB... it just turns out now that they figure he may be able to play there.  They drafted him because he was a natural SAM.

What I think IGY and Magic are getting at is that the Eagles knew that Trotter had a bad year last year and the thought of possibly releasing him crept into their heads all the way back in January.  Why then, do you go through the draft without going after a top level player at that position to groom as a replacement instead of taking a project and trying to fit a square in a round peg that may or may not fit?

They've done this a lot just in the recent years with their LB's.

Simoneau - was an OLB with in ATL.  Eagles put him at MLB.
Bowtie - was a MLB in college and a WIL in NY.  Eagles put him at SAM
Gaither - was a MLB in college.  Eagles put him at WIL (last year).
Gocong - was a DE in college.  Eagles have him STARTING at SAM.
Bradley - again, a SLB in college.  Eagles are turning him into a MLB.

If they're not going to get out there and go after quality LB's (Spikes notwithstanding) then I think you at least have to do yourself a favor and go after some top-notch LB prospects in the draft.

The original plan for Simoneau was to play the outside if i remember right, when they were hoping that Barry Gardner would work out (a 2nd Rd pick) at MLB for trotters second absent year). He was forced in the middle when Gardner crapped his pants.

Gaither was  MLB in college, and now is moving to play MLB, he was forced to play the outside spot because McCoy (another high draft pick, who was playing his natural position...that you convienently left off of your list) was constantly injured, and or out of position.

I can't explain Jones...

And you can't discount Spikes. LB was a need...and they got one of the best available.

[Zanshin]

Seriously, here's the reality-- and it has almost nothing to do with the Linebackers-- if the farging DTs can do their jobs with any kind of consistency, the Linebackers will be okay, particularly Gaither.  If the D-line folds up like last year, the LBs are going to be the ones that take the brunt of the criticism.  Especially because he's a smaller, quick LB, Gaither needs the big guys to play like big guys.

[Sgt PSN]

Gaither needs the big guys to play like big guys.

That's the problem.  Under JJ, the "big" guys up front have never really been all that big. 

[ice grillin you]

^^^^
exactly

bunkley
gaither
considine

up the middle isnt exactly putting fear in anyone

the linebackers leave a lot to be desired and unless a lot of pretty far fetched things go right they are gonna be bad for the forseeable future

[Zanshin]

True enough....  The better plan probably would have been to tell Trotter to forget about dropping weight and just pack on a few more pounds so they could have plunked him in at DT.   See, I'm a problem-solver like that.

[ThirdStreetMafia]

Holy Shtien did you guys know Trotter got cut?

[Feva]

The original plan for Simoneau was to play the outside if i remember right, when they were hoping that Barry Gardner would work out (a 2nd Rd pick) at MLB for trotters second absent year). He was forced in the middle when Gardner crapped his pants.

Gaither was  MLB in college, and now is moving to play MLB, he was forced to play the outside spot because McCoy (another high draft pick, who was playing his natural position...that you convienently left off of your list) was constantly injured, and or out of position.

I can't explain Jones...

And you can't discount Spikes. LB was a need...and they got one of the best available.

Simoneau was brought in to be in the middle.  He was the replacement for Kirkland... who was the replacement for Trotter.  It was obvious that Kirkland couldn't move... they made the transition to a "smaller, quicker" MLB... who turned out to be Simoneau.

I didn't leave McCoy off the list at all... I said that Andy has frequently played LB's out of their natural positions.  McCoy just happens to be one of the exceptions.  Of course... don't forget that he was considered a reach in the 2nd round and has done little to disprove that up to this point... which again, speaks to my point about top level prospects.

I don't want to discount Spikes.  I'm obviously very happy that they've finally aggressively addressed this.  My point on that is that it's about damn time... but where else has this happened?  What other FA's has Andy brought in that are or have ever been the calibre of Spikes?  What top level LB prospects has Andy drafted?

[Sgt PSN]

It took Reid about 8 years to draft a quality reciever (Brown) and he's an offensive minded coach.  Give him another 8 years to finally learn how to recognize a talented linebacker. 

Better yet.  Send him hunting with Dick Cheney. 

[Phanatic]

If there's a descent Momon LB prospect out there our problem will be solved!

[Magical_Retard]

not to mention they sign aging and or injured LBs to 1 yr contracts knowing full well its a 1 yr deal for both the player and team.

they dont do that with any other position really.

[methdeez]

What I just still don't understand is what they gain by losing trot as a back-up.
I can't believe that he would ask to be cut if not gaurenteed the starting job, so what would they gain?
Money? can't be that much  when you factor in the SB cap hit so it must be a Roster spot.
So then the question is, who is more valubale to them to keep on the team then having Trot be a back-up at MLB?
I just cannot imagine anyone who would be more valubale than veteran injury insurance at MLB.
Jason avant?
Big-head white o-line back-up dude?
I still can't agree with it.

[ice grillin you]

trot said after he was cut he was willing to be a run stopping backer only

i have to say tho after seeing him in that raven game even against the run he simply couldnt get the job done...which is why along with the prospect of seeing these young guys move in i was for the move...but even being in favor of it i have to admit that they have a very tenous at best plan b..you just got to hope it works...i wish it were one if tho instead of three or four

[bowzer]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=chadiha_jeff&id=2987771

This guy doesn't seem thrilled about the Eagles prospects or the Trotter release.  Interesting he noticed that we are getting older, without in turn noticing we have drafted players Kolb, Justice, MGJ etc, to try and prepare for the future. 

[shorebird]

BAM!!

That was the .44 automag killing this thread..............please.