Friday Night

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Less than 24 hours til kickoff. I am so ready to see Dallas get the whipping they so richly deserve.

The injury report listed 11 players, but they were all probable. Excellent news. Having Mike Vick and Quintin Demps available this week could be very helpful. I hope we're able to get Demps in the game. I'm not sure who we'll take out, but his potential on KOs could be huge. We had 9 drives start at the 20 or worse on Sunday.

Sounds like Tom Heckert is going to take the job in Cleveland. Good for him. Tom needs to go to another team for a few years to boost his reputation. I think there is a perception that he's just part of the equation here. A good stint in CLE could help him really get his own team in a few years.


Around the League

* I was shocked to see Jim Mora get canned today. He didn't have a good year, but Seattle had serious talent issues as much as anything. Now it sounds like Pete Carroll is going to leave USC to take the Seahawks job. Again, shocker.

Carroll is made for the college game. He is able to inspire kids and really connect with them. He was a mediocre NFL coach in NY and NE. You have to wonder what would make Pete leave USC.

He's reportedly getting a 5 year, $35M deal. That's very inspiring. You also have to wonder if anything else is going on. RB Joe McKnight is involved in an NCAA investigation right now. Could there be something going on behind the scenes that is pushing Pete out? I like Pete and what he's brought to the college game. There is another angle that bugs me.

The Pac-10 has been USC and the Seven Dwarfs (actually 9) for most of this decade. Now things are starting to change. Jim Harbaugh is building a good program at Stanford. Steve Sarkisian is doing well at Washington. Mike Riley has Oregon State playing at a high level. Chip Kelly is doing well at Oregon. And Mike Stoops seems to have Arizona turned around. Is Pete running from the first legit competition he's had in his time at USC? Probably not, but it could look that way to detractors.

Interesting sidenote. This could lead to the coaching version of musical chairs. Carroll goes to Seattle. Maybe Sarkisian gets the USC job. Mora could then get his dream job at the University of Washington.


* Eric DeCosta is out of the running for the GM job in Seattle. I think very highly of Eric and I'm shocked he remains without a GM job. I had the pleasure of talking to him on the phone a couple of years ago. He was very friendly and helpful.

Eric isn't a media guy. He's a football guy. Some owner or team president is going to wise up one day and make him a GM.


* BCS title game players:

'BAMA

LG Mike Johnson - good player, but not an Eagles type of OL. Lacks the size we seem to like.

TE Colin Peek - Complete TE. I'm not sure that we go for a TE in the draft with Celek and Ingram already in place.

RB Mark Ingram - Not eligible for the draft, but a great player. He should be a Top 10 pick next year. He's got footwork, body control, vision, balance, and power.

NT Terrence Cody - Not an Eagles target, but an ideal 3-4 NT.

ILB Rolando McClain - Great player. Likely a Top 10 pick. He would be a great MLB or SLB for us.

CB Javier Arenas - Interesting player. Great hitter, tackler. Had 2 INTs in the game. Good ball skills. Very good PR. Could be someone the Eagles take a look at.

TEXAS

WR Jordan Shipley - Very good player. I'm not sure how early he goes in the draft. Could go as early as the 2nd or somewhere in the 3rd/4th. If he falls far enough, Jorday could be an Eagles target.

QB Colt McCoy - I'm not sure he goes in the 1st round anymore. I think he's a very good prospect, but he only faced 2 big, physical defenses. Nebraska held him to 13 points and made his life miserable. Alabama knocked him out on the first drive of the game. NFL teams have to be a bit bothered by those games. Still has the potential to be a very good NFL QB.

DE/LB Sergio Kindle - Terrific athlete. Good pass rusher. Has some character issues. Likes to get drunk and run into buildings. I think he's ideal for the 3-4, but could be a DE target for us.

DT Lamarr Houston - Good player who had a great game. Not likely an Eagles target. We don't need an undersized athletic DT.

MLB Rod Muckleroy - Has played OLB and ILB. Big time hitter. Could be a WLB target for us.

S Earl Thomas - Only a RS Soph. Having a terrific year. Good hitter with some cover skills. Could be of definite interest if he comes out. I'd prefer him to stay and get one more year of experience. Lots of potential.
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