Garry Cobb recently wrote a piece on his site about the 5 most indispensable Eagles. The formula was fairly standard. Start with the QB, take the top skill-player on offense, select LT (w/right-handed QB), select defensive leader, and in the Eagles case, the all-Pro Kicker. OK. Some might go with the top two D guys, or the best RB and the best WR...but its not earth-shattering to read Cobb's case that McNabb, Westbrook, Thomas, Dawkins and Akers will be keys to success in 2007 or that legitimate contendership will be impossible w/o those 5. (Ok, we do have a guy named Winston Justice waiting in the wings at LT, so its POSSIBLE that Tra Thomas isn't a make or break guy.
But rather than rehash what GCobb put out there, or even critique it, I've decided to go a similar route, but rather than choose so-called "indispenable players"; I would like to identify a few key position/players that people are NOT giving much attention to right now.
If there positions work out, we could have a very strong team, if numerous holes appear and they guys don't step up, the Eagles will have some weaknesses.
First up:
Akers' place-holder. What? I can hear you all the way in Japan. But let me tell you. Last year I thought Akers struggled a but with P Dirk Johnson holding for him. The two lacked the chemistry Akers had with former QB Koy Detmer...I mean to the point that we brought Koy back to hold at the end of the season last year. We can't afford that shit this year. The coaches need to make damn sure Akers is comfy with his holder this year. We need Mr. Automatic back.
The long-snapper (detect a trend?). Here's the deal folks. Jon Dorenbos, the guy who replaced long-time TE/LS Mike Bartrum, just snaps. That's it. And the way roster are so tight these days, its hard (not impossible) to have 3 pure special teams guys. Bartrum was our 3rd TE, and while the term "seldom-used" was entirely appropriate for him, his could and did get out there on the field and make a play now and then. I have a feeling that with LJ Smith coming off the sports hernia injury, that AR & Co. wouldn't mind having a viable 3rd TE (perhaps the draft pick Celek). Depending on where the way the roster shakes out....if could be someone who can do double-duty. We Philadelphia fans were spoiled by the quiet, deliberate mastery of long-snapping by Mr. Bartrum. Dorenbos appears fairly capable, but his place on the roster is not guaranteed. If he is replaced, a big glaring spotlight will hit the new guy every times he lines up over the ball.
3rd Cornerback - Will James. We've heard the off-season talk about how he wants to start, and he's on a one-year "show me" contract, so James has all the motivation in the world to go out on the field and shine. But you see having an adequate-to-good 3rd CB isn't a luxury anymore. (its true the Eagles along with a few other teams seems to have regularly blessed with having pretty dang good 3CBs (First Al Harris [behind Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor] and then Rod Hood [behind Lito and Sheldon])....now we'll see if Will James is the next-in-line.
The Fullback - Thomas Tapeh (Incumbent). Lots and lots of talk this off-season about placing greater emphasis on running the ball (yes, I think we to do so as well). Guess what alot of the really good RBs (LT, Shaun Alexander) in the league had last year - an excellent blocking FB. Now Tapeh has plenty of work to do in this area (to his credit, he has pretty decent pass-catching skills). But what direction will the coaches go in. A more ferocious blocker would be a clear indication that the Eagles are going to get a little more serious when it comes to pounding the rock.
C - Jamaal Jackson. It's easy to forget that 2006 was Jamaal's first year as a full-time starting center in the NFL. He entered 2006 as a question mark, and left it as yet another rock-solid piece to our granite O-line. Well guess what? Time to get even better JJ. Flanked by Herremanns and Andrews, Jackson will be the cog that make our O-line shine. He adjust the blocking at the LoS, he snaps, and he (along with the rest of the OL) is who is going to determine whether or not all this talk about running the ball more works. Coaches feel like bustin' Buck or Tony Hunt up the middle on 3rd and 2? Well having a C that get movement is a key. Overall, he's not any more or less important than his fellow line-mates, but I think right now Philly fans have gotten a bit used to having a rock-solid O-line (trust me, as any long-time fans can tell you, the 80s and 90s were far, far different) and I wanted give a little credit the guy who's going to calling shots and directing traffic in the trenches. Its a mostly thankless job, but take heart JJ, now maybe 10 more people will know all about you. :P
Showing posts with label garry cobb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garry cobb. Show all posts
Friday, July 13, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
The Best Blurbs from Sports Today and a Pet Peeve about Spiderman 3
First, let me say that I quite enjoyed Spiderman 3. The wife and I trekked to Shimoda Mall and checked out the local Japanese cinema (a Toho multiplex), instead of trying to score "special screening" tickets that were being handed out on base (they were free and drew large crowds).
Spiderman 3 is good, but not spectacular. It plods in places, and chimes in at a hefty 2 hours and 20 minutes (at least that's how long we were in our seats from opening to ending credits). The problem: it feels longer....you know how certain movies zip right along, or have a pacing that makes you sort of forget how long you've been in the seat? Spiderman 3 does not have that feel. It starts slow and builds.
Now for something that's been bothering me with recent movies. The over-the-top, whirlie-bird, faster-than-the-human-eye-can-discern CGI-enabled action sequences. Spiderman 3 has several, but its really the first one that was annoying. Its the first big sequence, a night battle between Spidey and his best friend Harry (who's taken up his father's mantle as the Green Goblin). I mean it flashes all over the damned screen. My hats off to anyone with the visual acuity to follow the entire sequence....but it strikes me as showing off with the director trying so hard to wow the audience with how he spent the studios millions....look, I'd be a whole lot more impressed if you let me FOLLOW THE DAMN ACTION. These guys are flipping around and changing the visual perspective with their jump cuts so fast, its impossible to actually appreciate the scene. That might appeal to some, but when I've just paid 2,700 Yen (~25 bucks or so) for two tickets to traipse into the theater, I'd kinda like to be able to track what the fuck is happening on the screen. It does improve, the sequences that follow are paced much more thoughtfully, and let viewers take in what's going on. I just see that sorta zip-zap-zoom crap happening more and more, and needed to get that off my chest. Now onto FOOTBALL:
Some of the best/interesting bits about football I ran across today:
A couple of Garry Cobb's articles (no, not the best writing, but he's a former Eagles, who really studies the Birds)
This one whether or not McNabb out to feed in the self-stirring press frenzy about new QB Kolb or continue to quietly rehab his knee. (if you need to ask, you are on the wrong page); and this article that basically says the jig is up for stalwart MLB Jeremiah Trotter.
ESPN's TMQ commenting on Takeo Spikes: "Buffalo: TMQ doesn't understand the trade that sent Takeo Spikes to Philadelphia for Darwin Walker. Walker is a respectable player, but the Eagles were likely to waive him for salary-cap reasons, as they have two recent No. 1 draft picks at his position. The puzzler in the transaction is Spikes, who was the best defensive performer in the NFL in 2004. Then he missed 2005 with a bad injury, and last season he struggled early. Spikes didn't begin to show his old form until the second half of 2006 -- and in that period, the Bills had several big wins while losing to Indianapolis and San Diego, the league's hottest teams, by a combined four points. In the second half of 2006, when you watched the Bills' defense you thought, "Takeo Spikes is back." Now he's been unloaded for a journeyman. Either Spikes' health remains an issue -- in which case why did Philadelphia want him? -- or Spikes has recovered, in which case why in blazes did Buffalo practically give him away?"
and this about our draft: "Philadelphia: TMQ complains ad infinitum (Latin for "by using my AutoText") that the Eagles under Andy Reid simply refuse, as a matter of principle, to build a running game. Year in, year out, Philadelphia lacks a premier power back and does nothing about it. Why should this year be any different? The Eagles did not acquire any of the power backs who changed hands this offseason, and waited till the late third round to tab a tailback."
I like TMQ, but Easterbook is not infallible...two things about his very enjoyable column. I don't think the Eagles were going to cut D. Walker for salary cap reasons. His pay this year was modest. The having-spent-two-high-draft-picks is drive-by logic. It'll make perfect sense to readers who don't have an in-depth understanding of the team. But for us fans, who know better, not so much.
Secondly, young master Gregg, not matter how tastefully named, fails to recognize that the Eagles DID select one of the premier (if not the top) "big backs" in the draft. They had their choice of Tony Hunt, Antonio Pittman and/or Michael Bush with their 3rd round selection (90th overall). They did pass-up an opportunity to select Brian Leonard or Chris Henry, but they did not "fail" to address the position- they waited until Rd 3 and made a good pick. Then they took a flier on Nate "Big Nasti" Ilaoa (scroll down) out of Hawaii in the 7th round (admittedly much more of a longshot). We'll have to see if it works out, but the Eagles could have a punishing ground attack this year.
This is why I love Ray Didinger's writing. He sums up my thought about the Eagles early day 1 "strategy" perfectly:
"If I had been in the Eagles chair, I would have gone in a different direction and tried to address some immediate needs.
First of all, I’m not sure I would have traded out of the No. 26 spot. I would have been content to stay there and take Anthony Spencer...But for the sake of argument, let’s take the trade down to No. 36. At that point, the Eagles had their choice of: Eric Weddle, a safety from Utah; Chris Houston, the best one-on-one cover cornerback in the draft; David Harris, a tough inside linebacker from Michigan, and Brian Leonard, the do-it-all running back from Rutgers. There also were three intriguing wide receivers: Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith from Southern Cal and Sidney Rice of South Carolina.
I would have rather seen the Eagles take any of the first four players because they would have played – and helped the team – right away. Weddle would have competed for a starting safety position. Houston would have stepped into Rod Hood’s role as the third cornerback. Harris would have pushed Jeremiah Trotter at middle linebacker and played a major role on special teams. Leonard, with his superb receiving skills, would have been an ideal fit in Reid’s offense.
I’m sure the Eagles will disagree, but I think they could have made that pick at No. 36 and still landed Kolb with their next selection at No. 57. I don’t think any other team would have taken Kolb before the third round, I really don’t. If they did, oh well, life goes on. You still have McNabb, A.J. Feeley and Kelly Holcomb for this season. You can go looking for that next quarterback some other time."
Spiderman 3 is good, but not spectacular. It plods in places, and chimes in at a hefty 2 hours and 20 minutes (at least that's how long we were in our seats from opening to ending credits). The problem: it feels longer....you know how certain movies zip right along, or have a pacing that makes you sort of forget how long you've been in the seat? Spiderman 3 does not have that feel. It starts slow and builds.
Now for something that's been bothering me with recent movies. The over-the-top, whirlie-bird, faster-than-the-human-eye-can-discern CGI-enabled action sequences. Spiderman 3 has several, but its really the first one that was annoying. Its the first big sequence, a night battle between Spidey and his best friend Harry (who's taken up his father's mantle as the Green Goblin). I mean it flashes all over the damned screen. My hats off to anyone with the visual acuity to follow the entire sequence....but it strikes me as showing off with the director trying so hard to wow the audience with how he spent the studios millions....look, I'd be a whole lot more impressed if you let me FOLLOW THE DAMN ACTION. These guys are flipping around and changing the visual perspective with their jump cuts so fast, its impossible to actually appreciate the scene. That might appeal to some, but when I've just paid 2,700 Yen (~25 bucks or so) for two tickets to traipse into the theater, I'd kinda like to be able to track what the fuck is happening on the screen. It does improve, the sequences that follow are paced much more thoughtfully, and let viewers take in what's going on. I just see that sorta zip-zap-zoom crap happening more and more, and needed to get that off my chest. Now onto FOOTBALL:
Some of the best/interesting bits about football I ran across today:
A couple of Garry Cobb's articles (no, not the best writing, but he's a former Eagles, who really studies the Birds)
This one whether or not McNabb out to feed in the self-stirring press frenzy about new QB Kolb or continue to quietly rehab his knee. (if you need to ask, you are on the wrong page); and this article that basically says the jig is up for stalwart MLB Jeremiah Trotter.
ESPN's TMQ commenting on Takeo Spikes: "Buffalo: TMQ doesn't understand the trade that sent Takeo Spikes to Philadelphia for Darwin Walker. Walker is a respectable player, but the Eagles were likely to waive him for salary-cap reasons, as they have two recent No. 1 draft picks at his position. The puzzler in the transaction is Spikes, who was the best defensive performer in the NFL in 2004. Then he missed 2005 with a bad injury, and last season he struggled early. Spikes didn't begin to show his old form until the second half of 2006 -- and in that period, the Bills had several big wins while losing to Indianapolis and San Diego, the league's hottest teams, by a combined four points. In the second half of 2006, when you watched the Bills' defense you thought, "Takeo Spikes is back." Now he's been unloaded for a journeyman. Either Spikes' health remains an issue -- in which case why did Philadelphia want him? -- or Spikes has recovered, in which case why in blazes did Buffalo practically give him away?"
and this about our draft: "Philadelphia: TMQ complains ad infinitum (Latin for "by using my AutoText") that the Eagles under Andy Reid simply refuse, as a matter of principle, to build a running game. Year in, year out, Philadelphia lacks a premier power back and does nothing about it. Why should this year be any different? The Eagles did not acquire any of the power backs who changed hands this offseason, and waited till the late third round to tab a tailback."
I like TMQ, but Easterbook is not infallible...two things about his very enjoyable column. I don't think the Eagles were going to cut D. Walker for salary cap reasons. His pay this year was modest. The having-spent-two-high-draft-picks is drive-by logic. It'll make perfect sense to readers who don't have an in-depth understanding of the team. But for us fans, who know better, not so much.
Secondly, young master Gregg, not matter how tastefully named, fails to recognize that the Eagles DID select one of the premier (if not the top) "big backs" in the draft. They had their choice of Tony Hunt, Antonio Pittman and/or Michael Bush with their 3rd round selection (90th overall). They did pass-up an opportunity to select Brian Leonard or Chris Henry, but they did not "fail" to address the position- they waited until Rd 3 and made a good pick. Then they took a flier on Nate "Big Nasti" Ilaoa (scroll down) out of Hawaii in the 7th round (admittedly much more of a longshot). We'll have to see if it works out, but the Eagles could have a punishing ground attack this year.
This is why I love Ray Didinger's writing. He sums up my thought about the Eagles early day 1 "strategy" perfectly:
"If I had been in the Eagles chair, I would have gone in a different direction and tried to address some immediate needs.
First of all, I’m not sure I would have traded out of the No. 26 spot. I would have been content to stay there and take Anthony Spencer...But for the sake of argument, let’s take the trade down to No. 36. At that point, the Eagles had their choice of: Eric Weddle, a safety from Utah; Chris Houston, the best one-on-one cover cornerback in the draft; David Harris, a tough inside linebacker from Michigan, and Brian Leonard, the do-it-all running back from Rutgers. There also were three intriguing wide receivers: Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith from Southern Cal and Sidney Rice of South Carolina.
I would have rather seen the Eagles take any of the first four players because they would have played – and helped the team – right away. Weddle would have competed for a starting safety position. Houston would have stepped into Rod Hood’s role as the third cornerback. Harris would have pushed Jeremiah Trotter at middle linebacker and played a major role on special teams. Leonard, with his superb receiving skills, would have been an ideal fit in Reid’s offense.
I’m sure the Eagles will disagree, but I think they could have made that pick at No. 36 and still landed Kolb with their next selection at No. 57. I don’t think any other team would have taken Kolb before the third round, I really don’t. If they did, oh well, life goes on. You still have McNabb, A.J. Feeley and Kelly Holcomb for this season. You can go looking for that next quarterback some other time."
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