1. Who will replace Andy Reid in Philadelphia?
The team fired Reid, who had been the head coach of the Eagles since the 1999 season, following back-to-back disappointing sub-.500 finishes. Under Reid's watch, the Eagles won the NFC East six times, played in five NFC Championship games and reached one Super Bowl. His career record of 130-93-1 was the best in franchise history, and was the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL.
Reid wasn't able to harness the team's potential the past two seasons, but these past two seasons shouldn't diminish what he'd accomplished the previous twelve seasons. Replacing Reid won't be easy, but the team has already looked into Oregon head coach Chip Kelly (who has since decided to stay with the school), Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and Cincinnati Bengals' offensive coordinator (and brother of former NFL head coach and current Monday Night Football color commentator Jon Gruden) Jay Gruden.
Whoever ends up taking the job will have to decide what to do with the quarterback situation, as incumbent Michael Vick's contract has only $3 million in guaranteed money out of his $15 million 2013 salary, meaning he could be allowed to walk at a relatively low cost. Rookie Nic Foles showed some promise when given an opportunity late in the season, but still has room to improve. That decision, along with what to do with other big contract players, will likely come down to whether their new head coach decides to rebuild or reload.
Showing posts with label Philadelphia Eagles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philadelphia Eagles. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Grading the 2008 NFL Draft: NFC East
In the final NFC installment, we'll be taking a look at the NFC East. For previous installments, see below.
NFC West, NFC South, NFC North
Dallas Cowboys
1(22) - RB Felix Jones, Arkansas
1(25) - CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida
2(61) - TE Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M
4(122) - RB Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech
5(143) - CB Orlando Scandrick, Boise State
6(167) - DE Erik Walden, Middle Tennessee
Thoughts: Jones (like former college teammate Darren McFadden) is a dynamic home-run threat out of the backfield, but has missed 16 career games due to injury, and was beat out by DeMarco Murray midway through this season as the Cowboys feature back. Jenkins has just two interceptions the past two seasons, and could find himself relegated to nickel back next season. Bennett was supposed to provide Dallas with a second solid tight end option behind Jason Witten, but has struggled with both blocking and attention to detail, and found himself as the third tight end much of this past season. Choice had a promising start to his career as a change-of-pace back, but his issues with fumbling caused him to be cut by both Dallas and Washington before finishing the season in Buffalo with his former college coach, Chan Gailey. Scandrick has been durable in his first four seasons, and has played fairly well in spot start duty throughout his career. Walden was among the roster cuts for Dallas in 2008, and bounced around before landing on the Packers as an outside linebacker, where he made 15 starts in 2011 (60 tackles, 3.0 sacks). Solid draft for Dallas, but a little lacking on high-level talent.
Grade: B-
New York Giants
1(31) - S Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL)
2(63) - CB Terrell Thomas, Southern California
3(95) - WR Mario Manningham, Michigan
4(123) - LB Bryan Kehl, Brigham Young
5(165) - LB Jonathan Goff, Vanderbilt
6(198) - QB Andre Woodson, Kentucky
6(199) - DE Robert Henderson, Southern Miss
Thoughts: Phillips (36 starts, 8 INT career) has been a solid starter at safety the past two seasons, while Terrell Thomas had ten interceptions and 31 starts between 2009-2010 but was on injured reserve for the entire 2011 season. Manningham slid to slot receiver this season following the emergence of Victor Cruz, and made the key fourth quarter catch in the Super Bowl to knock off the Patriots for their second Super Bowl victory in four years. Kehl has split time with the Giants and Rams as a career special-teamer. Goff was a full-time starter in 2010, but like Thomas, spent his 2011 season on IR. Woodson was a project quarterback that split time between the Giants and Redskins practice squads through 2009. Henderson was injured during his first career preseason game, and spent time on the Jaguars and Lions practice squads through 2009. Fairly solid production out of this group, and they didn't miss on any of their first three picks.
Grade: B
Philadelphia Eagles
2(47) - DT Trevor Laws, Notre Dame
2(49) - WR DeSean Jackson, California
3(80) - DE Bryan Smith, McNeese State
4(109) - G Mike McGlynn, Pittsburgh
4(117) - S Quintin Demps, UTEP
4(131) - CB Jack Ikegwuonu, Wisconsin
6(184) - OT Mike Gibson, California
6(200) - LB Joe Mays, North Dakota State
6(203) - DE Andy Studebaker, Wheaton (IL)
7(230) - OT King Dunlap, Auburn
Thoughts: Laws has one career start in his four seasons in Philly, and is largely a fourth defensive tackle. Jackson is the gem of this draft class, and is likely to be given the teams' franchise tag, though his attitude and effort are both inconsistent. Smith was cut prior to the 2008 season, and spent some time on the Rams and Jaguars. McGlynn was a starter for the Eagles in 2010, but was released during final cuts and spent this past season as a part-time starter for the Bengals. Demps has been largely a reserve for the Eagles (2008-2009) and Texans (2010-2011). Ikegwuonu spent his rookie season on IR and washed out of the league a season later. Gibson was a roster cut in 2008, but has spent the last three seasons as a reserve lineman for the Seahawks. Mays has spent the last two seasons with the Broncos, including 12 starts in 2011. Studebaker has spent his entire career with the Chiefs as a reserve linebacker/special teamer, and Dunlap has had mixed success in spot duty for the Eagles the past three seasons. Outside of Jackson, the team hasn't got much production from the rest of this draft.
Grade: C-
Washington Redskins
2(34) - WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State
2(48) - TE Fred Davis, Southern California
2(51) - WR Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma
3(96) - OT Chad Rinehart, Northern Iowa
4(124) - CB Justin Tryon, Arizona State
6(168) - P Durant Brooks, Georgia Tech
6(180) - S Kareem Moore, Nicholls State
6(186) - QB Colt Brennan, Hawaii
7(242) - DE Rob Jackson, Kansas State
7(249) - S Chris Horton, UCLA
Thoughts: Thomas (40 catches, 445 yards, 3 TD) had two poor season in Washington before joining the Giants near the end of the 2010 season, and is a kick returner/special teamer for the G-Men. Fellow wideout Kelly (28 catches, 365 yards) also played two seasons in Washington, spent the entire 2010 season on IR, and was cut before the 2011 season. Fred Davis has emerged as a terrific receiving option for the Redskins, but received a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy at the end of 2011. Rinehart was largely a reserve lineman for Washington, but got 12 starts for the Bills due to injuries along the offense line in 2011. Tryon has been a career reserve with the 'Skins, Colts and Giants while Brooks punted for half a season before being cut due to poor performance. Moore started 11 games in 2010, but was cut prior to the season opener this year. Horton started as safety as a rookie, but spent the next two seasons as a reserve, and like Moore, was cut prior to the season. Colt Brennan shined in the preseason in 2008 and 2009, but never got a true opportunity to play in the regular season for any team. Jackson has been a special teamer and backup at both defensive end and outside linebacker after the team transitioned to a 3-4 defense. Outside of Davis, this was a pretty poor showing for Washington.
Grade: D
NFC West, NFC South, NFC North
Dallas Cowboys
1(22) - RB Felix Jones, Arkansas
1(25) - CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida
2(61) - TE Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M
4(122) - RB Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech
5(143) - CB Orlando Scandrick, Boise State
6(167) - DE Erik Walden, Middle Tennessee
Thoughts: Jones (like former college teammate Darren McFadden) is a dynamic home-run threat out of the backfield, but has missed 16 career games due to injury, and was beat out by DeMarco Murray midway through this season as the Cowboys feature back. Jenkins has just two interceptions the past two seasons, and could find himself relegated to nickel back next season. Bennett was supposed to provide Dallas with a second solid tight end option behind Jason Witten, but has struggled with both blocking and attention to detail, and found himself as the third tight end much of this past season. Choice had a promising start to his career as a change-of-pace back, but his issues with fumbling caused him to be cut by both Dallas and Washington before finishing the season in Buffalo with his former college coach, Chan Gailey. Scandrick has been durable in his first four seasons, and has played fairly well in spot start duty throughout his career. Walden was among the roster cuts for Dallas in 2008, and bounced around before landing on the Packers as an outside linebacker, where he made 15 starts in 2011 (60 tackles, 3.0 sacks). Solid draft for Dallas, but a little lacking on high-level talent.
Grade: B-
New York Giants
1(31) - S Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL)
2(63) - CB Terrell Thomas, Southern California
3(95) - WR Mario Manningham, Michigan
4(123) - LB Bryan Kehl, Brigham Young
5(165) - LB Jonathan Goff, Vanderbilt
6(198) - QB Andre Woodson, Kentucky
6(199) - DE Robert Henderson, Southern Miss
Thoughts: Phillips (36 starts, 8 INT career) has been a solid starter at safety the past two seasons, while Terrell Thomas had ten interceptions and 31 starts between 2009-2010 but was on injured reserve for the entire 2011 season. Manningham slid to slot receiver this season following the emergence of Victor Cruz, and made the key fourth quarter catch in the Super Bowl to knock off the Patriots for their second Super Bowl victory in four years. Kehl has split time with the Giants and Rams as a career special-teamer. Goff was a full-time starter in 2010, but like Thomas, spent his 2011 season on IR. Woodson was a project quarterback that split time between the Giants and Redskins practice squads through 2009. Henderson was injured during his first career preseason game, and spent time on the Jaguars and Lions practice squads through 2009. Fairly solid production out of this group, and they didn't miss on any of their first three picks.
Grade: B
Philadelphia Eagles
2(47) - DT Trevor Laws, Notre Dame
2(49) - WR DeSean Jackson, California
3(80) - DE Bryan Smith, McNeese State
4(109) - G Mike McGlynn, Pittsburgh
4(117) - S Quintin Demps, UTEP
4(131) - CB Jack Ikegwuonu, Wisconsin
6(184) - OT Mike Gibson, California
6(200) - LB Joe Mays, North Dakota State
6(203) - DE Andy Studebaker, Wheaton (IL)
7(230) - OT King Dunlap, Auburn
Thoughts: Laws has one career start in his four seasons in Philly, and is largely a fourth defensive tackle. Jackson is the gem of this draft class, and is likely to be given the teams' franchise tag, though his attitude and effort are both inconsistent. Smith was cut prior to the 2008 season, and spent some time on the Rams and Jaguars. McGlynn was a starter for the Eagles in 2010, but was released during final cuts and spent this past season as a part-time starter for the Bengals. Demps has been largely a reserve for the Eagles (2008-2009) and Texans (2010-2011). Ikegwuonu spent his rookie season on IR and washed out of the league a season later. Gibson was a roster cut in 2008, but has spent the last three seasons as a reserve lineman for the Seahawks. Mays has spent the last two seasons with the Broncos, including 12 starts in 2011. Studebaker has spent his entire career with the Chiefs as a reserve linebacker/special teamer, and Dunlap has had mixed success in spot duty for the Eagles the past three seasons. Outside of Jackson, the team hasn't got much production from the rest of this draft.
Grade: C-
Washington Redskins
2(34) - WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State
2(48) - TE Fred Davis, Southern California
2(51) - WR Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma
3(96) - OT Chad Rinehart, Northern Iowa
4(124) - CB Justin Tryon, Arizona State
6(168) - P Durant Brooks, Georgia Tech
6(180) - S Kareem Moore, Nicholls State
6(186) - QB Colt Brennan, Hawaii
7(242) - DE Rob Jackson, Kansas State
7(249) - S Chris Horton, UCLA
Thoughts: Thomas (40 catches, 445 yards, 3 TD) had two poor season in Washington before joining the Giants near the end of the 2010 season, and is a kick returner/special teamer for the G-Men. Fellow wideout Kelly (28 catches, 365 yards) also played two seasons in Washington, spent the entire 2010 season on IR, and was cut before the 2011 season. Fred Davis has emerged as a terrific receiving option for the Redskins, but received a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy at the end of 2011. Rinehart was largely a reserve lineman for Washington, but got 12 starts for the Bills due to injuries along the offense line in 2011. Tryon has been a career reserve with the 'Skins, Colts and Giants while Brooks punted for half a season before being cut due to poor performance. Moore started 11 games in 2010, but was cut prior to the season opener this year. Horton started as safety as a rookie, but spent the next two seasons as a reserve, and like Moore, was cut prior to the season. Colt Brennan shined in the preseason in 2008 and 2009, but never got a true opportunity to play in the regular season for any team. Jackson has been a special teamer and backup at both defensive end and outside linebacker after the team transitioned to a 3-4 defense. Outside of Davis, this was a pretty poor showing for Washington.
Grade: D
Monday, November 14, 2011
NFL coaches on the hot seat
It seems as though this year has more coaches on the hot seat than any in recent memory. I've compiled a list of the head coaches that are potentially on the chopping block, as well as the likelihood of them no longer in their current position before the 2012 NFL season.
Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins
I almost feel bad for the guy, in that the team he had back in his first season over-achieved by such a large margin (went from 1-15 in 2007 to 11-5) that it almost set unreal expectations. The team has largely lacked elite talent, especially at skill positions. As an example, here are the quarterbacks he's had under center since taking over in Miami: Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, Tyler Thigpen and Matt Moore. In a league that's become increasingly quarterback-driven, the Dolphins have had almost zero consistency over this time (outside of Pennington's 2008 season), putting extra pressure on the running game and forcing the defense to play almost-perfect football. Throw in the fact that they've had to play the Patriots and Jets twice a year, and that'd make life pretty difficult for ANY coach.
Odds for 2012: Miniscule
Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins
I almost feel bad for the guy, in that the team he had back in his first season over-achieved by such a large margin (went from 1-15 in 2007 to 11-5) that it almost set unreal expectations. The team has largely lacked elite talent, especially at skill positions. As an example, here are the quarterbacks he's had under center since taking over in Miami: Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, Tyler Thigpen and Matt Moore. In a league that's become increasingly quarterback-driven, the Dolphins have had almost zero consistency over this time (outside of Pennington's 2008 season), putting extra pressure on the running game and forcing the defense to play almost-perfect football. Throw in the fact that they've had to play the Patriots and Jets twice a year, and that'd make life pretty difficult for ANY coach.
Odds for 2012: Miniscule
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