Darryl Tapp is an Eagle

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Chris Clemons + 4th round pick for DE Darryl Tapp

This trade caught me completely off guard.  I hadn't heard a word about this.  There is a lot of stuff to talk about so let's get to it. 

Good move.  This is a weird offseason.  You have to be aggressive and creative to find players this year.  Tapp is a solid DE.  This isn't a high impact move that thrusts us to the top of the NFC or anything like that.  It does make us a better team. 

Tapp is now the likely frontrunner at LDE.  We still have Juqua Parker there.  Both guys have started and had success in the league.  Tapp is younger, bigger, and more talented.  He should be the starter.  Parker is best when he's able to come off the bench.  Think of it this way.  Tapp is a better starter than we had in 2009.  Improvement.  Parker is a better backup than we had in '09.  Improvement. 

Clemons was not a lock to make the team in 2010.  Really, this deal is a 4th round pick for Tapp.  While this draft is talented and deep, the DE class isn't great.  Tapp is far and away better than any prospect who would have been available in the 4th round. 

By acquiring him, we can now focus on the back seven with our early picks.  That is good news.   We need help at CB, S, and LB.  We can now focus our resources on those positions, if the right players are available.  We don't have to reach for a LDE. 

Tapp has been up and down in his young career.  Here are the numbers:

2006 - 16 Gms, 0 Starts, 22 solo tkls, 3.0 sacks, 2 TFLs, 1 FFs, 1 PD, 1 INT
2007 - 16 Gms, 16 Starts, 41 solo tkls, 7.0 sacks, 5 TFLs, 3 FFs, 8 PDs, 1 INT
2008 - 16 Gms, 11 Starts, 46 solo tkls, 5.5 sacks, 3 TFLs, 4 FFs
2009 - 16 Gms, 5 Starts, 40 solo tkls, 2.5 sacks, 7 TFLs, 3 PDs

Darryl has played LDE and RDE in his career.  Most of his time was spent on the right side.  He was a full time starter in 2007 and posted really good numbers.  Injuries slowed him a bit after that and he also lost time with the arrival of Lawrence Jackson.  The reason the Seahawks dealt him is that he wasn't a great fit for what Pete Carroll wanted to do in the next few years.  Tapp was not a guy anyone was looking to get rid of because of his ability or attitude.   The vibe out of Seattle is that he'll do well with the Eagles. 

I am going to watch some tape of Darryl so I can post some notes on his play in the last few years.  For now I'll leave you with the notes I had on him coming out of college. 

Notes on Darryl Tapp

Goes about 6'1, 256. Very good college player, but is not a naturally gifted athlete. Gives terrific effort. Relentless. Thick-ish build. Good swim move. Spin move. Quick off the ball. Good inside move. Plays with good leverage. Makes his share of plays vs the run. Lines up at a really wide angle. Can shed blocks. Seems to make a lot of tackles. Gets the most out of his ability and works as hard as any player in CFB. A lot of people want to compare him to Dwight Freeney because of similar size, but that is a bogus comparison. Dwight was an explosive athlete who wowed the scouts and coaches at his Pro Day. I don't see Tapp being anywhere near that level of athlete. Effort is great, but the lack of explosive ability is a concern.

Tapp at NFL.com
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Update: Mike Bell Signs Offer Sheet

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Per Adam Schefter of ESPN:

Saints restricted free-agent running back Mike Bell and the Philadelphia Eagles reached an agreement Tuesday on a one-year, $1.7 million deal that includes $500,000 guaranteed and could be worth over $2 million if he hits his incentives, according to a source.

The Saints will have a week to match the offer.  We don't owe them any compensation if they refuse to match since Bell is strictly a right-of-first-refusal player.

Good move.  Now we sit tight and wait for the Saints to officially let him go.

PE.COM STUFF

I wrote some thoughts on possible Eagles prospects.  You guys have asked about some of the players. 

-Link-

I wrote a column on some of the FA moves so far. 

-Link-
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Mike Bell Coming To Town

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The Eagles will be hosting free agent RB Mike Bell on Tuesday.  Good move.  The RB I coveted was Justin Fargas, but there are injury concerns with him.  Bell is a similar player so the Eagles and I are on the same page.

Bell is 6'0, 225.  He has a thick, sorta squatty build.  He lacks breakaway speed, but has enough burst that he can break off the occasional 20 or 30 yard run.  Bell is a one-cut runner.  He likes to stay N-S as much as possible, but if given a cutback lane he can see it and has the ability to get there.  That shows he has good feet and body control.  Bell runs behind his pads and is a physical back, but he's not a power runner that will just steam roll tacklers. 

He played a lot as a rookie with Denver and then this year with the Saints.  Bell was quiet in 2007 and '08.  This year he was 172-654, 3.8 ypc.  He ran for 5 TDs.  He only caught 4 passes so that is something he'll want to work on.  He's only got 26 in his career.  He did catch 50+ passes in college and showed the potential to be a solid pass catcher out of the backfield.

Bell would give us a nice complement to LeSean McCoy.  We need someone that can come off the bench for 8-10 carries a game and be effective.  Bell also can be a good short yardage and goal line runner.  Him running behind Leonard Weaver gives us a good combo on 3rd/1.

Bell is a RFA, but the Saints tendered him low.  No compensation is required.  They kept the right of first refusal, but New Orleans has a crowded backfield with Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, and Lynell Hamilton already in place.  Chances are the team that signs Bell will be free and clear.

The addition of Bell wouldn't rule out the Eagles taking a RB in the draft.  Since 2004 we have not had a RB by committee approach.  Brian Westbrook was so good that Reid wanted him on the field as much as possible.  Shady is a good young RB, but hasn't shown anything so special that you feel obligated to make him "the man".  I'd like to see us add Bell and then a bring in a rookie to challenge Eldra Buckley for his spot.  I want to get back to the days of using all 3 RBs on a regular basis.  That is one NFL trend I'd definitely like the Eagles to follow.

Mike Bell at NFL.com


QUESTIONS

RE:  1st Round DE?

Not going for Edwards doesn't mean the Eagles are definitely thinking DE in the 1st.  With Trent Cole and Juqua Parker in place we won't reach for a DE.  They'll only take a position due to need if there is a huge hole to fill.  In 2003 we had to go DE.  Our projected starters were ND Kalu (career backup to that point) and Derrick Burgess (coming off a major injury).  We traded up for Jerome McDougle and the rest is history. 


RE:  Graham / Morgan

Brandon could easily go in the 15-20 range.  He is the kind of guy that some teams could absolutely love due to his motor, speed, production, and toughness.  I wouldn't be shocked to see him go before Morgan, but I think most 4-3 teams will prefer Derrick.
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Quiet Weekend

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Not much going on this weekend for the Eagles.  I'm just going to offer up some thoughts on subjects that people are talking about.

RE:  Ray Edwards

Sounds like this will not happen.  The Eagles must feel that Edwards is good, but just not worth pick #24.  There is a possibility that Edwards will only sign a 1-year deal with the Vikings and then hit the open market next year (assuming a new CBA is in place with old FA rules).  We could then make a run at him without having to give up any compensation. 

We don't want to make a move for the heck of it.  Find players you believe in.  If the Eagles have any doubts, leave Edwards out. 


RE:  Andre Carter

Interesting idea.  He doesn't want to play LB in the 3-4.  That might put him on the market.  The problem is that he's more of a RDE.  We're looking for a LDE.  I don't know if Andre would be a player we would pursue for that role.  I've always thought of him as more of a pure pass rusher.  We need someone who can be an effective run defender and solid pass rusher.  Carter doesn't seem like a good fit to me. 


RE:  McNabb overrated?

This is a tricky notion.  You have to figure out who you're comparing Donovan to.  I think McNabb is in the 2nd tier of QBs.  He clearly isn't as good as guys like Brees and Peyton.  There are a handful of QBs in the top tier.  McNabb is below that, with players like Eli and Romo.  Donovan is still a good starting QB.  He can be great at times.  He can be...not so great...at times.  I do think he's still got 2 or 3 strong years left.  I also think he could be a perfect fit on a team that uses a more balanced offense.  That would take pressure off McNabb and he could actually thrive in that situation. 


RE:  Big moves coming?

I think Spadaro just made that comment in trying to make a point.  This isn't the typical offseason where we knew what would happen.  Peppers to Chicago caught a lot of people off guard.  Think about some of the trades.  Who saw Chris Houston, Kamerion Wimbley, and Antonio Cromartie being dealt back in January?  Who thought Shaun Hill, Brady Quinn, Seneca Wallace, and Charlie Whitehurst would be on the move prior to Mike Vick? 

This is a weird offseason.  I can see the Eagles making a small signing or two in the next 5 weeks or I could see some big trades.  It really is hard to predict what will happen because there are just so many strange circumstances (odd FA rules, coaching/GM changes, major cuts, changing to 3-4 D, big players being on the trade block, etc.). 


RE:  DE move? 

All things being equal I'm fine with signing Derrick Burgess and going with the band-aid approach.  There isn't a great choice left in Pro Personnel.  Edwards is tempting, but pick #24 is a steep price.  There are some talented players in the draft, but we've also got to address CB and would like to still add help at FS.  We could sign Derrick and then go for a DE in the 3rd if the right guy is there.  We could also pass on a DE and see if Abiamiri shows us anything at LDE.  Most likely we're just putting the LDE question off a season, but that might be okay.  The FA class next year should be much stronger.  It is way to early to even speculate on the draft. 
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Hank Signs + Some Ray Edwards Talk

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Hank Baskett signed a 1-year deal to return to Philly.  Good news for everyone involved.  Hank is perfect for what we need.  He gives us a good #4 WR.  Hank can play, even start if needed.  He also will block and play Special Teams if that is what we need.  High character, low maintenance.  We will have a spot open to add a 5th WR.  That will likely be filled through the draft.  Hank is just a good insurance policy.  I'm glad he's back.  We can now look for WRs at our discretion.  There isn't a need to get someone that is polished or able to contribute right off the bat. 

No official word on Justin Fargas.  That leads me to believe he may have some injury concerns.  Justin has talked to a couple of teams.  He visited KC and here.  You know money isn't the issue.  If he's not signing there may be some problem with how he checks out on the team physicals.  That is the reason Oakland reportedly cut him. 


RFA HUNTING?

Ray Edwards has been getting quite a lot of pub recently.  Some Minny writer speculated that the Eagles could make a run at him.  Now Bob Grotz is saying that we could go after him.  I have mentioned Ray a few times as a potential. RFA target. 

Here's the case for Ray.  He is 25 years old.  He plays LDE and has an ideal build at 6'5, 270.  That gives him the frame and bulk to be able to hold the POA.  He's also athletic enough to be an effective pass rusher.  Ray isn't an explosive up the field guy.  He's a complete LDE, something we hoped Victor Abiamiri would develop into. 

Ray is an ascending player.  He gets a little better each season.  People think he just had the good game vs Dallas in the playoffs.  Not so.  He emerged this year to being a real quality starter. Check out his numbers: 

Year 1 - 15 Gms - 10 Sts - 3 sacks - 10 Tkls
Year 2 - 12 Gms - 11 Sts - 5 sacks - 30 Tkls
Year 3 - 15 Gms - 15 Sts - 5 sacks - 54 Tkls
Year 4 - 16 Gms - 16 Sts - 8.5 sacks - 51 Tkls

He is just hitting his prime and has 4 or 5 really good years left.  He also doesn't benefit from playing in a blitzing defense.  MIN likes to use their DL to get most pressure.

For comparion's sake, check out Aaron Kampman's numbers in his first 4 seasons:

Year 1 - 12 Gms - 6 Sts - 0.5 sacks - 24 Tkls
Year 2 - 12 Gms - 10 Sts - 2 sacks - 29 Tkls
Year 3 - 16 Gms - 16 Sts - 4.5 sacks - 67 Tkls
Year 4 - 16 Gms - 16 Sts - 6.5 sacks - 81 Tkls

Aaron followed this start with 37 sacks in the next 3 years.  That was the prime of his career.  I don't know that Ray will end up being as good as Kampman, but he's definitely headed in the right direction.  

The case against Ray is that he plays on a great DL and that skews his production.  He rarely has to deal with double teams.  He can count on pressure from RDE and up the middle.  There are also questions about whether he will pay the price to become a Pro Bowl type of DE.  

We'd have to give up pick #24 to get him.  I know some people think you could negotiate with the Vikings, but they're not letting him go for less than a 1.  The only reason they would let him walk is that they have so many other high-priced players.  AP and Sidney Rice will want mega-deals soon.  Same for Chad Greenway.  Percy Harvin will be in that category in 2 years.  They already have 3 high-priced DL.

Do you give up #24 and a big deal to sign Ray?  Maybe.  The DE class has lots of potential, but each guy also has issues.  Jason Pierre-Paul is raw.  Derrick Morgan isn't an explosive athlete.  Jerry Hughes is a bit undersized.  Sergio Kindle is more of a 3-4 LB.  Brandon Graham is short and doesn't have long arms.  Corey Wootton is still dealing with the after effects of an ACL injury from December 2008.

I haven't had a chance to watch a ton of tape on Ray.  I know he's a good player, but I'm not exactly sure how good.  I'll trust the Eagles on this. 

I wouldn't get too worked up one way or the other.  This reeks of a situation where writers are starting to write about other writers' speculation.  Somehow this morphs from random idea to rumor with legs. 


HALL REPORTING FOR DUTY

The Eagles signed former Air Force star Chad Hall.  He was a WR/RS and extremely productive for them.  He's spent the last 2 years doing his duty, but is now hoping to get a chance to play football.  He's only 5'8, 180, but Chad has excellent quickness, good hands, and is just a natural football player.  Think of him as a Danny Amendola type.  Chad realistically projects to the Practice Squad, if things work out for him. He's been out of the game for a couple of years. It can take time to shake that rust off. You'd hope for him to really make a run at the roster in 2011.

Now, it is possible he'll get here and won't be able to overcome the size/speed issues. If so, you cut him and say "Off you go". It is also possible that Chad will exceed expectations and grab one of the final roster spots. You don't know what to expect with a guy like him. No matter what, it is highly unlikely he'll offer any impact in 2010 outside of being good in practice.

Dave wrote a great story about how he got signed.  Must-read material.

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=20470&spadaro=1
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McNabb Update

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Good news and ... odd news.  The Eagles are talking to teams about McNabb.  The stories you hear about "the Eagles aren't negotiating" are partially true.  Apparently the Eagles are telling teams "here is the price...take it or leave it".  Obviously they aren't using adversarial words like that, but the point is the same.

I'm very encouraged to hear that the Eagles are at least acknowledging that McNabb is available.  That is the first step in all of this.  I have mixed feelings about the hard-line stance regarding compensation.  If there are multiple teams looking at McNabb then you are smart to ask a high price and drive a hard bargain.  We are talking about a franchise QB, after all. 

At the same time, I don't want the Eagles to burn bridges because they are being too greedy.  I know some NFL people are ticked off right now by the Eagles refusal to haggle.  That is part of the negotiation process to a certain extent.  However, you don't want the Eagles seeming so obstinate that other teams throw their hands in the air and move on. 

The asking price for Kolb is super high.  I didn't get specifics, but it was enough that it definitely scared off suitors.  The asking price for McNabb isn't as high.  He's an older guy who will also want big money.  Those factors lessen his value. 

Right now I make the key suitors as Cleveland, Seattle, and Buffalo.  They have pick 7, 14, and 9 in the upcoming draft.  Seattle also has pick #6, but it is very doubtful that they will let go of that pick. 

This situation is headed in the right direction.  The Eagles are working things and trying to get the best possible offer.  I guess there is still a chance that Andy Reid can't pull the trigger, but I'm starting to think that even Big Red realizes that it is time to move on.  Don't expect a quick resolution.  I get the feeling this could still take a few weeks as teams try to decide what they are willing to pay and as teams go to Pro Days and evaluate just what they think of the draft prospects. 

I'm not hearing anything about Vick.  He appears to be on the back burner.  Maybe they hold him until the summer and then deal him to a team that has an injury. 


MARLIN

I'm fine with the Eagles signing of Marlin Jackson.  He comes here to compete with Quintin Demps and Macho Harris for the FS job.  If the right guy falls in the draft we will grab him up, but we're not forced to reach for a FS. 

I'll watch some tape of Marlin when I get a chance and post some thoughts. 
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Marlin Jackson Visit - UPDATE - He Signed

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The Eagles hosted DB Marlin Jackson last night and today.  He left without a contract.  He came to us from Baltimore and is now headed to the Jets.  Is Marlin on a free agent tour or just trying to travel along the eastern seaboard?

Jackson tore ACLs in 2008 and '09.  All of his suitors are trying to see where he is physically.  Jackson says he's in a good spot in the rehab process, but what else is he gonna say?  Wouldn't you love just once for a guy to say "Wow, I am so far behind it is ridiculous.  I sure hope none of these teams is dumb enough to think I'm worth signing for the upcoming year."

No official word yet on whether Jackson would play CB or FS, but I have to think it would be S.  Jackson was never a burner and coming off 2 ACL surgeries rarely increases your speed.  I was going to dig up some Colts tape from his days as a starting Safety, but put that aside when it became clear he was going to continue meeting with teams.

Jackson would come here as a band-aid.  You sign him and then draft someone in the 1st or 2nd round.  That player can have the job if he earns it.  If not, Marlin is the man in the middle.  I still like O.J. Atogwe very much, but if the Eagles are going to make a strong push in the draft to land Earl Thomas or Nate Allen...then going after Atogwe wouldn't make a whole lot of sense.  Going after Jackson would.

The Eagles still have hopes for Quintin Demps and Macho Harris.  The problem is that you can't count on them.  You sign Jackson, or a similar vet, and then have a competition between the 3 guys and the rookie.  May the best man win.  It is possible the board will break wrong and the team won't land a top flight rookie.  Then you just have Jackson battle the young guys for the job.  No one is guaranteed anything at FS.

Marlin already has an in with the team.  He and Jason Avant were college teammates.  It sounds like they remain close friends.  If Avant vouches for the guy...how am I supposed to say no?

UPDATE --- Jackson just agreed to terms with the Eagles.  Here's the story. 


SALPAL HAS...USEFUL STORY?

The Mayans were wrong.  The world won't end in 2012.  It is coming much sooner than that.  SalPal actually offered up some worthwhile news, which in itself is a worthwhile news item.  Sal says that he's hearing that Pete Carroll is making a strong push for either McNabb or Kolb.  Apparently Pete is desperate to win right away and thinks our QBs could help him do just that.

Look at the NFC West for a minute.  The Rams are bad.  The Niners are tough and physical, but can't score any points.  The Cardinals have been good with Kurt Warner at the helm, but now he's off to eat dinner at 430pm with the other retirees.  Are the Cardinals still a good team?  Nobody knows, including them.

If Pete Carroll takes his 1st round picks and trades them for McNabb and WR Brandon Marshall, that might be enough firepower to make Seattle the favorites in the division.  I think McNabb and Carroll would be a great fit personality-wise.  Donovan might thrive in a balanced offense that used a lot of bootlegs and other throws on the move.

Stay tuned to see if anything comes of this report.  Let's hope SalPal is dead on the money this time around.


QB WATCH 2010 UPDATE

The Browns signing of Seneca Wallace doesn't really make a difference to us.  I didn't think of the Browns as serious contenders for Mike Vick anyway.  They want Kevin Kolb.  They'd love to pair him with Wallace to solidify QB.  Kevin isn't going anywhere minus a trade offer so ridiculous that you simply could not turn it down.  Cleveland might have interest in McNabb.  Again, the addition of Wallace shouldn't affect any desire to deal for Donovan.  Seneca is a good backup and spot starter, but I don't see him as a full time starter.

BUF likes McNabb a lot.  The question is whether he'd be willing to go there and sign an extension.  They won't give us a high price to rent #5. I really think the Bills are the team to watch.  That fanbase is jonesing for a good QB and the owner is an older guy who would give anything to get back to the playoffs.  The Bills are apparently open to dealing their 1st.

CLE is a mystery team.  No one knows what they'll do.  Quinn isn't the answer.  Wallace is mostly a backup.  Single-wing with Cribbs?

Are the Eagles being too ambiguous?  I don't think so, but it is possible.  I'm fairly certain that 31 NFL teams know that Vick is available.  Working out the details is the tricky part.  I also wonder if any team sees him as a future starter.  That affects things greatly.

The McNabb situation is confusing.  There are NFL teams, fans, and media members who are convinced that Big Red means it when he says that McNabb will be the guy in 2010.  Other see this as a smoke screen and negotiating ploy.  Andy does have a great poker face.

McNabb will not get an extension to stay in Philly.  The only way that could happen is if he does stay for 2010 and we have some magical 15-1 year where we break scoring records and win the SB.  Anything short of that means McNabb is on the move after this year.  Kolb trusts Reid very much and wants to be an Eagle, but he would walk the second that McNabb signed a deal to stay here.  Kevin wants to play. 


RANDOM STUFF

RE:  Lito trade

I was told the team had a good deal worked out, but Lito had crazy contract demands and the other team nixed the deal.


RE:  Greg Ellis

To the best of my knowledge, Greg played LDE for the Raiders last year.  He started 14 games.  He had 7 sacks and posted okay numbers.  He could be a player we'll target just before or after the draft.  Greg still knows how to get to the QB.


DRAFT NOTE

I posted a list of my Top 35 prospects over at ScoutsNotebook. 
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