Some OL Talk

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Here is the current depth chart:

LT - Jason Peters .......... King Dunlap
LG - Todd Herremans ... Mike McGlynn
OC - Nick Cole ............ Jamaal Jackson ....... Dallas Reynolds
RG - Stacy Andrews ..... Max Jean-Gilles
RT - Winston Justice ..... Fenuki Tupo

There are some questions and concerns with the group, but the Eagles like this O-line and think it has the potential to be pretty darn good. 

Jason Peters was called "the worst LT in the NFL" by a website recently.  They had some statistical data to back up their claim.  That's all well and good, but clearly Peters isn't a bad player, let alone the worst.  They used some stats that a guy would only accumulate if he in fact played the whole year.  And obviously if Peters was a bad player he wouldn't have stayed on the field. 

Jason was inconsistent in 2009.  He had some terrific games and some downers.  He does need to get better.  Andy Reid refers to him as the best LT in football, but that's not true either.  Jason has the potential to be among the best, but he has got some work to do.  He has a full offseason with us this year.  He knows the scheme and blocking techniques we use.  He's healthy.  There are no excuses right now.  Jason needs to play at a high level in 2010. 

Todd Herremans is a player the team has mixed feelings about.  He looks like a Pro Bowl player at times, but must be more consistent.  I think he could be a star for a team that ran the ball more than we do.  Todd was sloppy down the stretch last year.  I hope to see him break through this year and play well the whole season.

Nick Cole is the front runner for C.  He didn't play well there in the final couple of games, but I think a whole offseason spent practicing in the middle will make a huge difference.  Playing C for us is different than other teams.  We ask the C to do a lot.  That's one of the reasons we won't be taking Maurkice Pouncey at #24.  Taking that guy and throwing him in as our starter just isn't the way we do things.  The Eagles like someone to come in and learn the scheme so that he can handle blitz calls and line adjustments.  We throw a lot of passes.  We do a lot of shotgun.  We run a lot of screens.  All of those things put added pressure on the C. 

Nick will be challenged for the job by Mike McGlynn.  I listed him at G on the depth chart, but Mike will get a chance to compete for the C spot.  He's had a quiet 2 years, but has learned well and is now ready to show what he can do. 

Stacy Andrews should be light years better than 2009.  He's healthy and in good shape (334 pounds).  He knows the offense and the blocking scheme.  He will have a full spring and summer of reps.  Expect him to look like a completely changed man this year.  I'm not telling you he'll be a Pro Bowl type, but he should be a solid starter, or better. 

The question with Winston is how good he can be.  He made giant strides last year.  Can he get even better now that he's got experience and confidence?  Maybe.  I don't want to falsely build up expectations that he can develop into a force at RT.  Winston's track record is so weird that I'll be happy to see him as an effective starter in consecutive seasons.  Winston is still a young guy.  The light went on for him last year.  I hope he's able to take things up a notch, but I'm just not sure that I should expect that to happen.  There isn't a clear line of progress and development with him. 

The backups are a mixed bag.  Dunlap has done enough to make you think he could still turn into a player, but I don't trust him.  We need a LT to challenge him for the backup spot.  Dallas Reynolds did some good things last summer.  I think he's a better player than the average fan realizes.  I've never been a fan of Max.  He was an underachiever at UGA and is the same type guy here.  Tupo is an interesting guy.  He spent the year on IR so that meant no practice time.  He was still able to sit in on film sessions and classroom stuff.  He should know the playbook inside out and be ready to show what he can do.  Tupo could be a backup at G and T. 

We need a backup who can play LT.  The guy should be versatile, though.  Peters and Justice are capable of starting for the next 4-5 years.  We don't need anyone at C, unless he's a clear upgrade over what we have.  The draft class is weak so I think we'll stick with what we have.  I'd love a mid to late round player brought in to challenge Max for a backup G spot.  Or we could add another OT and make Tupo's primary position G.  We need help with depth on the O-line, but we do have some good pieces in place.  Injuries really hurt in 2009.  We also struggled with all the change.  Too much shuffling and too many guys new to our offense. 

I know I've talked about Mike Iupati quite a bit.  He has special potential.  If he's on the board at 24 that could be a guy we grab and find a spot for.  You never want to pass on talent if you can help it.  Also, I say this every year, but it bears repeating.  We don't like pure Gs or Cs.  We prefer to take guys that played OT and move them inside.  John Welbourn, Hank Fraley, Jamaal Jackson, Todd H., Shawn Andrews, Nick Cole, and Mike McGlynn all played OT in college.  Most played LT.  Keep this in mind as we talk about prospects. 


ANSWERS


RE:  Alex Brown

I've not heard a thing about him as a target.  I think the Eagles would like to add a young DE to the mix. 


RE:  LB Eric Norwood

I've got notes to post on him for ScoutsNotebook.  Check there on Thursday evening. 


RE:  Shaun Rogers

I've wondered if he could be a player the Eagles might target to add to the DT mix.  He's huge, but also quick and disruptive.  Those guys aren't easy to find.  He has character issues, but has also played on some terrible teams.  That has to affect a guy.  Shaun just go arrested today for a gun incident at the airport, but I think that is more stupidity than any type of violence type issues.  He was caught with a loaded gun in a bag.  He says he forgot it was there and I can believe that. 


RE:  Earl Thomas / FS

Eric Berry and Earl are 1 and 2.  Big drop-off after that.  I think Nate Allen is 3.  I see him going in the early 2nd.  Eric and Earl are special.  Nate and the rest of the S prospects are good, but each has some question marks. 


RE:  hindsight on QB situation

The Eagles may have misplayed the Mike Vick situation.  He has too much baggage to demand a high price.  You have to negotiate differently with him than McNabb.  I really can't comment on Donovan until a deal goes down or doesn't go down.  If we land a high price, then they did things right. 

This is a complex situation.  Warren Moon is all up in arms about the way we handled it.  Gimme a break.  The minute we tell Donovan he's out of here and start aggressively shopping him the price drops.  Teams know we have to move him.  As dumb as it sounds, you have to play the "He's our #1 QB" card and act like there is a plan for keeping him.  That puts the pressure on teams to pry him away from you. 

The Eagles are catching a lot of flak right now, but that's because people don't know what is happening.  If the deal isn't going down it must be because Howie Roseman is an idiot and Andy Reid lost control of the team, right?  Gimme a break.  Roseman and Reid are talking to teams.  They are figuring out what is best for us.  Trading Donovan is complicated.  He's a star, but an older one in the final year of his deal.  This is a deep draft.  People don't want to give up picks. 

My calendar says April 1st.  If Donovan is here on May 1st then I will probably change my tune and say that Howie and Andy did screw up.  Let's see what happens.  There is more going on behind the scenes than people know. 


RE:  Gocong to CLE

This trade has been talked about for a few weeks.  It could go down anyday or drag on for a while.  I wonder if we're shopping Chris with McNabb as a package for some teams.  The Browns aren't in the McNabb hunt anymore.  Chris is being shopped. 


RE:  Sheldon

I am not sure what teams are interested in him.  I think he's worth a 3rd round pick.  I wonder if CLE might not take a look.  They could use CB help.  The Texans could also use help at CB.  I haven't heard a word about them dealing with anyone, but that could change. 


RE:  The Unit

I never watched the show when it was on CBS despite the fact I loved Shawn Ryan's work on The Shield and that I think David Mamet is a genius.  I am a huge fan of his style of dialogue.  The Unit has a simplified version.  It isn't as repetitive as most Mamet stuff, but has the same tone and style of delivery.  The show airs on Sleuth Network on Mondays and Saturday mornings.  I'm absolutely in love with the show.  Dennis Haysbert is brilliant as Master Sargent Jonas Blane.  Any time a military show is on broadcast TV there will be some cheesy moments and awkward action sequences, but I'm more interested in the characters and their interactions than anything else.  Very good writing and acting. 
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