Eagles Trade for Peters
eagles trade for one of the top left tackles in the league. needless to say, i'm very happy with this move. on paper, adding this one anchor piece to the line makes this the best o-line they've had heading into a season. they have size, youth, and versatility like i haven't seen in previous o-lines, and two guys who are top 3 at their positions.
my brother and i were talking a couple of months ago and this was the move i was hoping the birds would be able to pull off. i'm ecstatic that they did.
a large portion of the eagles fanbase will be urging the birds to trade for anquan boldin as well. i'm not sure that is such a great idea. first, he's a good wideout, but not a difference making wideout. i don't think you bring a guy like that in and overpay him, it screws up your teams entire pay structure (if you need an example, just take a look at how many bad contracts the sixers have).
i'd gladly give a one and a three for larry fitzgerald, but i wouldn't give a one and a three for boldin. they're not in the same class. if the eagles do go after a receiver, the best one out there is braylon edwards. he's no larry fitzgerald, but he's better than both boldin and roy williams.
my brother and i were talking a couple of months ago and this was the move i was hoping the birds would be able to pull off. i'm ecstatic that they did.
a large portion of the eagles fanbase will be urging the birds to trade for anquan boldin as well. i'm not sure that is such a great idea. first, he's a good wideout, but not a difference making wideout. i don't think you bring a guy like that in and overpay him, it screws up your teams entire pay structure (if you need an example, just take a look at how many bad contracts the sixers have).
i'd gladly give a one and a three for larry fitzgerald, but i wouldn't give a one and a three for boldin. they're not in the same class. if the eagles do go after a receiver, the best one out there is braylon edwards. he's no larry fitzgerald, but he's better than both boldin and roy williams.
Labels: football
posted by The Mean Guy at 8:00 AM
61 Comments:
A very late 1st and a 4th round pick for a stud LT seems kinda if you think about it.
The reason why you would over-pay for Boldin is because he's more of a Philly type guy than we've ever had (especially at the WR position). He out-Dawks Dawkins if you ask me. The reason why he would not work is because they've now got 2 $10 million men on the offense (Peters, 5) and 3 would tie up too much cap space on 1 side of the ball.
That should be cheap - seems kinda cheap for a stud LT.s
Anyone else get a call from Peters this afternoon? Dude did NOT sound excited to be in Philly.
Nope, no call. And I'm surprised, I've always gotten them in the past.
So does this mean we go for a RB in the draft? TE? (one that can block) Do we need another TE with such a good O line now?
Anyone else think the no-lunging rule is going to be ridiculous this year? Kind of like the crease rule in hockey was in the early-mid 90s?
What/who do you think we can get for Brown? I think he's gone, and we do need another WR, so where do we get if from if not Boldin? As we know, the eagle's have not done well with WRs in the draft....
Incidentally, the Flyers finally player their game yesterday and it showed. Also, it shows what having the home crowd can do for you, which means the Flyers have a HUGE uphill battle with game 7 in Pitts. Also, I am absolutely at a loss for how bad the playoff officiating is. Both sides. while I continue to see a dislike of Ed Snider's team by NHL officials, the calls, non-calls are just completely inconsistent and wrong. And yes, I'll even say on both sides. What they're calling for one team is not being called for the other. There's just no place in professional sports for that.
And while I was at the Flyers game yesterday and didn't see the Phils win, I saw the replay and am glad they were able to stick with it. I was worried the Padres really had the Phillies number. Did anyone see if Lidge got an ovation after his first loss in that incredible streak?
Also, Whitey and HK being gone, it's just not the same Philadelphia anymore, but I will say Tim McCarver is doing a fine job.
- Joe
First sign of concern. Sal pal said tonight that the "best LT in football" surrendered 12 sacks last year and Stacey Andrews surrendered 10. The Birds as a whole surrendered 23. That is cause for some alarm. I also heard Peters gave up 4 to Demarcus Ware when he played him 2 years ago. Dude also looks very slow of foot to me when I've watched his highlights this weekend. is he really that good?
As for the Flyers, they just aren't playign the same game. Pittsburgh is so much faster and betetr skaters. Refs or not, the Flyers need to sprint the entire game just to stay relevant and that pace will wear them down by game 5. Wow is Pittsburgh fast! Scary thing is, when they play Detroit, the Wings make them look slow. Yikes!
Bumble
Now Sheldon's whining about a new contract. Geez. This all started with Duce!
I disagree that Pitts are faster skaters. TV may make it look like that because of how they typically follow certain players, but we had a lot of times when our guys blew right past them, and our D (which is where we are not deep) has been able to keep up and prevent and major break-aways even from Crosby & Malkin. The penguins have an odd cylcling and positioning which seems to separate them from their opponent and give them odd angle shots, but I don't think it has to do with speed.
The Flyers need to:
forecheck agressively in the neutral zone
Stay out of the box unless you take one of them with you
If in doubt, shoot the puck, their goalie doesn't do well when he starts to see the puck a lot.
- Joe
First sign of concern. Sal pal said tonight that the "best LT in football" surrendered 12 sacks last year and Stacey Andrews surrendered 10. The Birds as a whole surrendered 23. That is cause for some alarm. I also heard Peters gave up 4 to Demarcus Ware when he played him 2 years ago. Dude also looks very slow of foot to me when I've watched his highlights this weekend. is he really that good?
i have to admit, haven't seen him play... not even once, so i'm in the same boat as you.
however, you and i both have a ton of respect for jim mcnally, and here is what jim mcnally thinks:
"Other than Anthony Munoz, this is the most devastating blocker and pass-protector I've ever coached,'' said the retired and well-respected former NFL line coach Jim McNally, who mentored Peters from being a college tight end to one of the premier tackles in the game. "He's a terrific player and a good kid."
... plus sal pal is a dope.
I disagree that Pitts are faster skaters.
i dunno, joe... they look pretty darn fast to me.
A TMG sighting! We have a TMG sighting!
I don't know McNally, but he sounds kinda biased, if you ask me.
McNally wouldn't come out and say anything if he thought the guy was a dog, so that is definitely legit to me.
Why don't players get it? The gravy train with the Eagles comes and ends early. You get waaaaay more money than you earned up front and safety from early career ending i njury in exchange for lower back end deal. I never hear any of these piss ants complaining when they sign the deal. Sheldon is a nice NFL CB, but he's 30, has 0 pro bowls, and generally gets eaten alive by good WR. I wouldn't budge either. This does force them to draft a CB when they may have done otherwise.
Bumble
Cardinals just stated that the new lower price for Boldin is a 2nd rounder and considerations. The Eagles would be nuts not to make a serious offer.
- Joe
They aren't serious about Boldin, but they made a pseudo fan appeal offer. Realistically any offer including Winston Justice cannot be taken as legit considering he may be the worst O lineman in the league.
Bumble
Maclin? Huh. I didn't see WR as nearly a need position as RB or CB. Guess Brown is d-u-n done and Curtis probably isn't a LT answer. Or maybe they just really, really like him. Interesting that they'd rather spend a 1 on him than a 2 or 3 on Boldin, though obviously a much lower cost to them.
And Casserly just gave Philly the "Best value" pick of the entire 1st round as he had Maclin as a top 10 guy. Kiss of death?
so I guess TE and CB coming up tomorrow?
- Joe
Maclin has been rated very high and the Birds LOVE McCoy per Ray Diddy. I'd've preferred Moreno but for some reason Denver feels the need to have 7 RB on their roster and that was not in the cards. I could have seen taking Pettigrew, but Celek looked pretty darned good at times. To leave day one with 2 high potential weapons makes this guy happy.
Can you even imagine being a Raider or Brown fan with their awful picks thus far? How about being a Dallas fan and trading out of day one? Birds did well today IMO.
Bumble
And yet the problem last year was not the offense's ability to score points, but a defense that could never shut anyone down. 5 better shut up now that he has a couple more weapons.
We've disagreed with this for months, but statistically you are correct Phil, iN reality you coudl not be morre wrong. They scored points in bunches-they had a bunch of very high scoring games-btoh Dallas, Arizona, but their offense threw too many stinkers out there-both Skins, 1st Giants, Bears. The O could never sustain drives and it killed them. I am 100% on board with upgrading the offense. they needed better OT for the run game. Check. they needed an actual NFL FB to open the run game. Check. They needed someone to spell the aging and deteriorating Westbrook. Check. They needed more WR playmakers. Check. They need a TE who can block. If they grab that, then watch out.
Look I am all for upgrading the D, but D didn't lose them games for the most part. The laid a few turds, but more often than not the D kept them from being embarassed.
Bumble
Bumble, you never fail to crack me up. They set a FRANCHISE RECORD for points scored. You have set the bar so high, there is no way this offense will EVER be able to meet your expectations. No matter how many FBs they field or blocking TEs they pick up.
FO had their offensive variance (performance among games) as 22nd last year. Below average? Yes. But the 7% was much closer to the GB at 14th rank (6.2%) than DAL at 30th (12.2%).
Phil,
They scored more than 40 poimts in 3 games, hence the record. very skewed data set by a specific few data points. Their offense was not nearly good enough often enough. It isn't about me having high expectations. it's about me seeing an inconsistent mess week in and week out that struggled to move the ball. The D lost the AZ game and had a stinker or two of their own, but trust me this draft is going to immensely help their team by hopefully making them less dependent on guys like LJ Smith, Reggie Brown, Hank Baskett, and an aging Brian Westbrook. They did what they needed to do this off season. Completely retooled the offense to have more play makers and core positions in order to set the table for when McNabb is not resigned.
Bumble
Bumble,
The FO variance #s say their offense wasn't THAT skewed versus the rest of the league. That's why I threw them out there. I'm saying you have unrealistic expectations for any NFL team as far as consistency goes.
I'm not going to disagree that this team has gotten better*. Considering the team was good enough to make it to the NFC Championship game last year, I guess we've got another year of high expectations ahead of us. Yeah.
* I think they've gotten better as long as 36 can still produce. Any material drop off from him or big injury and this team has taken a step back. I wouldn't expect much from the rookie RB they drafted as they can never get the protection system down in year 1.
bumble, i'm just curious. which team out there does have a consistent offense?
which team is the standard that you're holding the eagles to?
Uh-oh. 1) Everybody loves them some Maclin and 2) Apparently, he can't run routes. Combine this with a huge rookie year from DeSean and he's toast. Expectations are way too high here and need to get knocked down.
Consistent offenses by my definition are those that score points every week. Pats, Colts, Giants (yes drop off when Plax went down), Chargers, Saints. Birds scored lots of points one week and nothing the next. You have to admit that when they play an upper tier defense, they are helpless. The Skins, Steelers, and Ravens just completely stone walled them. The difference is when those great defenses play some of the otehr teams I mentioned, they give up points. If your protection schemes can pick up the initial blitz, your QB can audible and make adjustments at the LOS to find the open man, and you don;t drop balls, then your offense will do well. Unfortunately for the Birds they fell victim to parts of all 3 (not so much sacks, definitely the two latter).
And TMg what did you think about the draft? I like it, we often seem to be opposite, so did you dislike it?
Bumble
Bumble,
SD (28th), NO (24th), and NE (25th) were all more inconsistent than the Eagles last year (22nd) in offensive variance. But don't let statistics get in the way of a good belief system.
What is offensive variance? What does 22nd mean for the Eagles? What is this stat and why is it significant?
Again you miss the point Phil, which makes me wonder if you actually watch the games. They score in bunches and put up big points one week and then struggle the next. They had at least 4 awful offensive games last year (both Skins, Bengals, Ravens, Steelers-hey that's 5). So 1/4 of their season they score less than 13 points and you insist they have no offensive issues. Please explain to me your dogmatic approach to this issue. Do you not see that as a problem? Do you enjoy the 3 and out parade when they have these games? I just don't understand why you refuse to acknowledge this issue. It is right in front of yoru face...if you watch the games.
Bumble
And don't counter with "well they have games where their D gave up big points". Yes, that is true, however the arguments posed on this blog and outside imply that a slong as you score at a pace that exceeds what you give up by one, then it's fine. At a minimum, you have to cede they have both offensive and defensive issues.
Bumble
Bumble,
I think what Phil is trying to say, is that you set your standards WAY too high. There is no such thing as a perfect team. There is no such thing as perfection. The Eagles got to the NFC game last year, which means they were no worse than the 2nd best team in the NFC. Not too shabby for a team that admittedly had issues, but whose issues are still again no worse than how many other teams that DIDN'T make it to the NFC game? How many of those games that we lost did we lose by 7 or less? To my memory of last season, the Eagles were in every game.
There does come a point where you have to be satisfied and thankful for what they gave us. It wasn't a 3-13 year. I remember those. Those sucked ridiculously hard.
I'm actually very excited for training camp to start up so I can start watching the live reports, interviews, coverage, etc....
So actually, thank you Bumble. Your pessimism has reminded me that I'm a die hard Eagles fan, and can look forward to another year of excitement at the very least.
- Joe
Bumble, the offensive variance stat I quoted measures exactly what you're talking about. A high variance (and commensurately low ranking) would be scoring 20 points every other week and 5 points the other weeks. A very low variance would be scoring the exact same amount of points week in and week out.
So, ranked 22nd is obviously not a great ranking, but it's still better than a lot of the teams you talked about. The numbers are also fairly closely grouped together meaning most teams offenses vary about the same. This doesn't mean they score the same amount of points, just that they vary about their score about the same.
Bumble, these are FO's DVOA adjusted numbers. I'm using their numbers to prove my point. I'm not dogmatically choosing teams offenses I wish the Eagles were like and saying we need to be like them. Even when they're actually less consistent.
And I think I've always acknowledged the issues. I just disagree on the magnitude of the issues. I've never cared as much as you and TMG about style points, just what the end results are. No SB wins are disappointing, but they're overall record is not bad.
My biggest issue with this team right now is that 36 is about done and that's more likely to impact this upcoming season than anything else. And not in a good way.
I agree with you big time on 36. When his bottom drops out, it will be swift and ugly to watch. He was pretty terrible in the playoffs last year (70 yard TD screen pass vs. Minnestoa aside, he was awful in that game up until that play). I'd love to say it's just because teams 100% game planned to stop him, but I honestly cannot say that. Thankfully, on paper, McCoy should be a great transition plan.
I am not pessimistic on the Birds gosh darnit! That is a big misconception. No team is perfect and all I care about are W, but no way in Hades were they the second best team in the NFC last year. They got hot for a few games and then collapsed under the bright spotlight (par for course for this team), but they have flaws. Now I will say I think they plugged the bulk of them this off season with good signings. I still don't love their DE and they need to start thinking about challenging Akers, but I feel pretty good about what this team could do. Health is always a factor and will play a role, as will luck and peaking at the right time (Giants were the best team maybe ever to play for 8 games last year, unfortunately they were games 3 through 11). Bring on the season already!
Bumble
I'm more pessimistic this season than I have been in a while. Rookie WR have always had a bigger impact in Reid's system than RBs and that's only marginal at best. 36 only played in about 8 games his rookie season if memory serves correctly. So don't count on much from McCoy this season.
I wouldn't expect much from Maclin in year one and DeSean is due for a sophomore slump.
I hope the FA o-line signing work out, but it just seems like 50% of the time when a fat guy gets a big contract he loses his motivation. I hope that's not the case and our o-line improves, but one of their strengths the past 4 or 5 years is that there had been very little turnover. We're probably looking at a pretty rocky month or so before they start to gel. Maybe.
can someone please explain to me why Westbrook awiats until June to get surgery? Brutal! No depth at RB. The guy had to know he had major issues back in February or March.
Bumble
Bumble,
Why did he have to know? A RB probably has tons of pains every morning. It's only the ones that stay above volume 5-6 consistancly for a couple weeks that he's going to listen to.
I agree, no PROVEN depth at RB But then again, there's no one who we could get that would sign an "insurance" level contract.
- Joe
you telling me he had no clue he had issues the past 5 months? Don't buy it.
They can grab some free agent, but still, so much of what they do revolves around B Wes.
Bumble
I have trained on a broken foot before. I have trained on a torn achilles, knew it hurt, continued to train, and ended up also tearing my perineal. For a long while I was getting various pains that I thought was from years of joint tears and such, and it turns out I was simply not diagnosed for something. You can ignore and deny a high level of pain if you're passionate about something. Adding money to the equation just makes things worse.
- Joe
Maybe, but your workplace didn't have a team of doctors and trainers on staff who could diagnose you in 5 minutes and who have trained you how to read the signs your body is giving you. In my opinion, it was irresponsible not to get this cleaned up in March or April. This really puts his contribution for this year at risk.
But there are stopgap RB options out there on the cheap, I'd get one of those. They are a 70% throwing team anyway, so a fill in RB won't be the end of the world, especially someone like Edge who is aged but blocks well and knows how to play that RB/WR hybrid.
Bumble
Bumble,
I'm no doctor, but aren't a lot of football "injuries" just normal wear and tear that heal with a couple of months rest? Maybe the trainers thought it was that sort of thing.
Regardless, I don't think it would have mattered either way. 36 is getting old and he's always been a bit brittle. I think he's already lost at least one step and it's only a matter of time before he's no longer effective. If our young/explosive WRs pick up the mantle of Playmaker, then it won't matter. If they can't, then this team is hosed.
Phil,
My gut tells me the same as yours-36's best ball is behind him and he is going to quickly plunge into mere mortal and then sub par RB stage.
Play making WR won't make much difference-remember one does theoretically need quality RB despite Andy's stubborn insistence on trying to prove otherwise. There are effective RB on the street who could be one year stop gaps and help bring the rook along, because no way Shady McCoy is ready to carry the full load.
The league is using two RB now in almost every city. The Birds need to get on this train quickly or they'll continue to struggle to salt away wins in late games and cold weather.
Bumble
Huh? This city invented the 2 RB tandem. Had been 36/Buck. I'm sure they'll pick up someone along the way.
Speaking of RB tandems, I just read on PFT how NO promoted a formerly undrafted 2nd year guy to #1 RB with Reggie Bush as 1A. How long before people start talking about him as a bust? Can you imagine how bad fans around here would kill him with his lack of production?
What's Reggie care ? He got his money and he's knocking the bottom out of Kim Kardashian every day. I doubt he gives a cr*p about what the fans say as long as he got his money.
Captain
Thanks, Captain, for putting that into perspective for me.
I saw the Eagles sold out all single game tickets in 15 minutes. I guess football beats recession in Philly this year.
Any idea when we'll get a TMG sighting around here?
Interesting topic to discuss: Would losing JJ be a good thing or a bad thing this year? Up until last year, I would have said it would be a good thing, but his D really turned it around after 4 or 5 games. Better than it had been in years. Maybe JJ got his fastball back?
I don't think JJ had lost it. I think the personnel tanked on him. They didn't execute, and some (Lito) didn't even try. However, I still think it's not a bad thing if JJ backs off and we get some fresh eyes on the D. I don't think there's any doubt that the run book for our D was well known by other coaches. Mixing it up a little combined with the talent we now have, I think could really improve things.
- Joe
I think JJ did it with mirrors a bit late last season. In a pinch, this team still lacks a great DE. Cole has spurts early in the season, but he gets so worn down with that miniscule frame that by mid season, he completely disappears. The DT played well and Bradley improved a lot, so teams couldn't bust them up the gut as easily. I think Gocong and Jordan are average NFL LB at best and probably more below average. Lito tanked, Samuel only shows up in the playoffs, and their safeties are only OK. It is kind of amazing they won at all. I think they need fresh personnel, not fresh coaching. They take waaaaaaaay too many tiny tweener guys thinking they can be rush DE/OLB when in fact they turn out to be tiny tweener guys.
No comments on the complete waste of money they just made with McNabb? Give hima bunch more money but no more years? So basically say that they have no faith in Kolb and McNabb is the guy for the next two years, but when those 2 years are up and McNabb and Kolb are free agents, what do you do? I didn't get that move even a little bit. Not one person, even brown nosing Eagle jock sniffers like Eskin liked that move. Made absolute zero sense.
Bumble
Bumble,
That's what I mean about JJ. Their personnel were so-so, yet they got great results out if it. That's good coaching 101.
I'm still not talking about that player.
Ha. Phil is that player on your schmidt list?
Bumble
No, I just think too much emphasis is put on the QB position. There's 21 other starters on every football team.
How about those rumblings for a contract extension for Reid? Who would have thought 2 years ago that he'd be likely to finish out his current contract let alone get an extension?
If and only if Westbrook is still not well after his rehab stint, do the Eagles look at Edgerin James? I saw a little blurb on Profootballtalk.com
- Joe
For the right price? Why not? Course his upside is only about 3 yards per run and zero chance of breaking one for a long TD, so it's not like he'd be much of an upgrade over our other guys.
Too much emphasis? On the guy who touches the ball on 50-60% of the snaps in any given game? Can too much emphasis be placed on that position? That's why those guys make so much money, because more than any position in any other sport, their value is nearly immeasureable to their team's success.
Is anyone else bored with sports in this town? Birds have a few upgrades, but certainly won't be a Super Bowl winner unless Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Rothlisberger, the entire Ravens D, and whoever they'd play in the NFC championship has a season ending injury. The Phils are the worst team in abseball rigth now, scoring 0-1 run a game for the last 10 with a minor league pitchign staff, the Flyers trade youth for a long past his prime Chris Pronger, and the Sixers sit in mediocrity drafting a kid who will never be a superstar in a league where you must have superstars because they win just enough to draft late.
Maybe I should just take up watching Antiques Roadshow.
Bumble
I think you're wrong about the Flyers. Chris Pronger is better than J-Bo, is huge, can play a lot of ice time, etc.. He's exactly what they needed to help out Kimmo. they needed to get rid of someone because of the cap, and while I would have preferred they dump Briere or Knuble, the Flyers will be fine without Lupul. I think this show that they believe Pronger along with Emory will help us get past the Penguins and into the cup finals.
- Joe
Joe,
I know you need to give in order to get, but are you concerned that Sbisa could be a future star? He is young, fast and talented. I can see him being the kind of utility defenseman they long for in the future, especially if Pronger only plays one year. Lupul is not the loss, the 19 year old and 2 draft picks is.
Bumble
Eagles first team to sign a 2nd rounder. Very important to get McCoy in early.
And yes the QB isn't that important. Offense takes maybe 42% of the snaps and while the QB does touch the ball on each of those snaps, 40% are hand-offs. Hardly as much impact on that play as the RB himself. And when he's passing he's got the WR who's responsible for at least 35-40% of the play . . .
Important? Yes, but the QB is not even 1/3 of the team.
Phil,
I am dumbfounded but will reserve comment and hopefully, someday, someone who isn't me you or Joe (the only living bloggers left on this site) will weigh in with a third point of view. Suffice it to say that you and I cannot possibly be farther apart on this one, but maybe somewhere in the middle (as it is with most things in life) the truth will lie.
A good QB sets your table for every single thing the offense does. Your argument would support that the Birds would've been just fine with Doug Pederson at the helm as long as Ricky Watters was running the ball. We both know that isn't true.
And the Phillies absolutely blow this year.
Bumble
Bumble,
I agree it's a shame that TMG can't update this site more than every other month.
I said the QB position wasn't = to 33% of the team. There are 22 starters on each team so all positions being equal (which I do not believe they are) would be 4.5% per position. I'd say the QB position is probably 3x more important than any other position so I'd value it at about 15%. Where would you rank the QB position?
No where did I say that a RB is equal to a QB. Just that a RB is worth more than a QB on running plays.
Fair points. I'm just waiting to see a new post.
Is anyone else sickened by the amount of Michale Jackson coverage? The guy made good music-20 years ago, but he's been a recluse drug addict pederast for the last 15 years and every reputable news station plays 24 hour Jackson coverage as the leming public laps it up. I cannot fathom great world leaders getting such coverage, why is this person? Seems like just another OD to me.
Bumble
Bumble, I am with you on Jackson. He was a PEDOPHILE !!!!! Why is he getting a free pass ! All the news media blows it off as "allegations" and then go on about his greatness ! Absolutely sickening !!!!!!!!!!!!
Phil, I see what you're saying, but I think your minimizing the importance somewhat. While some marginal QB's have won SB (Dilfer, E. Manning), most of the true "winning" SB teams have had great QB's. Brady, Aikman, Roethlisberger. And, as we know all too well, a QB is crucial in crunch time when it's less than 2 mins and you're trying for tht game-winning or game-tying score.
TMG just changed jobs, hopefully we'll see more of him when he settles in and isn't travelling so much. I've just been crazy busy. Crappy job w/long hours and low pay, getting divorced....you know, the usual nuttiness.
Captain
Cap,
I am sorry man. That is a lot of shit to swallow, so I hope that you are doing as well as you can. You are a good dude and I hope you come out the other end of this python without getting completely digested.
Bumble
TMG? Hello . . . . ?
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