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Miles Sanders

What Now? An early offseason look at the Eagles’ Offense.

by EUGENE Holt January 9, 2020

What Now? An early offseason look at the Eagles’ Offense.

After a disappointing 17-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the Wildcard round of the playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles are left with a ton of questions heading into the offseason. On the bright side, the team has found some answers throughout the season as well.
One of those answers has been at the Quarterback position.

CARSON CARSON CARSON…

Carson Wentz once again showed why he is a franchise quarterback. Throughout the season, he has answered critics’ questions about his leadership, accuracy, ability in the clutch. Despite last Sunday’s concussion from a questionable hit, he’s responded to the question about his durability.

Carrying an offense ravaged by injuries on his back for the final month of the season answered many questions from the anti-Wentz trolls that seemed to be so vocal whenever convenient. Was he perfect? Absolutely not. But he proved he definitely is the guy going forward.

AND EVERYONE ELSE?

How about every other position on the team? That’s a different story.
The team, in its entirety, needs an upgrade in speed and athleticism. Both sides of the ball are painfully slow at key positions. Also, a youth movement is long overdue.

O-line

Looking at the offensive line, there are some question marks and reasons for hope. The biggest question is the future of All-Pro Center, Jason Kelce. Kelce wrestled with the notion of retirement last offseason. After the Seahawks game, Kelce stayed behind at his locker. Every other player had showered, dressed, did interviews, and left. But the was Kelce still sitting at his locker still in his uniform like he didn’t want to take it off. Since then, Kelce has gone dark, refusing to speak to reporters. Certainly, it seems like the actions of a man contemplating serious decisions.

A reason for hope would be the play of rookie LT, Andre Dillard. The rookie stepped in for an injured Jason Peters and held his own, showing the athletic ability and polish that the Eagles fell in love with. With the future Hall of Famer Jason Peters likely to move on, Dillard is expected to carry on the high-level play at LT for the foreseeable future. LG, Isaac Seumalo turned in a solid season as the unquestioned starter. The former 2016 third-round pick finally seemed to put it all together, mixing his strength and athleticism with newfound technical expertise.

On the other side of the offensive line RG Brandon Brooks and RT Lane Johnson, two of the best in the league at their respective positions had their seasons cut short due to injury. However, they are on schedule to be back to one hundred percent by the time training camp comes around. The Eagles also have a few developmental players who, at the very least, should provide good depth. Overall the offensive line is not a significant concern going forward.

Running Back

At Running Back, the big question is whether or not to bring back Jordan Howard, who the team traded for a year ago. Howard was effective as a north/south runner with power, but missed the latter part of the season with a stinger and was a healthy scratch in the playoffs. It’s fair to question whether Howard is a fit for what the Eagles like to do on offense. The Eagles like to throw the ball to their backs, and Howard simply isn’t a threat in the passing game. Also, being an unrestricted free agent, does Howard even want to come back knowing he’ll likely split carries with Miles Sanders?

Speaking of Sanders, the rookie out of Penn State was a revelation. He proved himself to be a dangerous weapon as a runner as well as a receiver. The coaching staff was enamored with Sanders since spring mini-camps, and we can see why. Often times Sanders was the only threat on offense and still produced. The kid still has to get stronger and more durable, but the future is bright for him. Another pleasant surprise at RB is Boston Scott. The 5’6″, 200lb Back came off the practice squad and quickly proved he belongs on the big stage. Functioning as a runner and receiver, Scott used his great quickness to make himself a mismatch for opposing defenses. Overall the RB position has talent but may need a little more of a power runner, depending on whether Jordan Howard returns or not. Not a major need but undoubtedly worth monitoring.

And then there is the Wide Receiver position…

To put it simply, the ENTIRE position needs an overhaul. Lack of talent, lack of speed, you name it, they lack it. On top of the lack of talent, there were apparent chemistry issues between receivers Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholar, and Carson Wentz. From the outside looking in, it seemed like Carson lost faith in his receivers because of the myriad of drops.

Additionally, his receivers were frustrated with Carson because he focused on his favorite target, Zach Ertz, instead of them. Again that’s just me spitballing, but there was a clear disconnect. So much so that it’s almost a foregone conclusion that neither player will be back in this offense.

The guys from the practice squad seized an opportunity, put their best foot forward, and deserve applause for their efforts. But still, the Eagles cannot come into next season with this same roster.

Greg Ward is the exception. The former Houston QB has opened some eyes and proven to be a viable option as a slot receiver. I’m excited to see him next season. Second-round pick, JJ Arcega-Whiteside had a disappointing rookie season and still needs to prove that he’s an NFL caliber player. Judging from his play at Stanford, it was pretty clear the type of player JJ was. He was a jump ball, contested catch guy.

His strength was boxing out defensive backs and using his size to make the catch. Speed was never his game; precision route-running would never be his strong suit. The Eagles knew that when they drafted him (at least they should have). But the most staggering thing about JJ Arcega-Whiteside’s lack of production was his inability to master the playbook, the main reason he couldn’t get on the field was the coaches simply didn’t trust him.

Hopefully, he puts the work in during the offseason because receivers the Eagles passed on in favor of JJ are making them look bad right now. Veteran, DeSean Jackson is expected to be back next season but by no means should be counted on mainly because of age and injury history. This position needs new blood and should be a top priority for the Eagles headed into the offseason.

Finally, Tight End…

This position appears to be the most stable. You have the starter Zach Ertz who is one of the best in the league. His route running and toughness is second to none. Playing 61 snaps in a playoff game with two broken ribs and a lacerated kidney is a testament to the type of player he is. Backing up, Ertz is ultra-talented Dallas Goedert. Goedert excels in the areas of the game that Ertz lacks in, blocking and running after the catch.

General Manager, Howie Roseman has made it clear that he plans to feature this lethal duo for years to come. Rounding out the position is Joshua Perkins, who showed his versatility by stepping in at Wide Receiver and making himself a reliable target. The ability to play WR as well as TE as a backup is a tremendously valuable commodity for the Eagles and the main reason Perkins has hung around.

To sum things up, the Wide Receiver position needs a ton of work. The other positions could use some minor tweaking going forward. We’ll see what Howie does in the offseason.
Next up, I’ll tackle the Defense. Stay tuned…

Eugene Holt is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

January 9, 2020 0 comment

NFC East NFL Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles Week 1 Recap

by EUGENE Holt September 9, 2019

written by EUGENE Holt

Eagles Week 1 Recap

So week 1 is in the books…

First off, when you sit your guys for the entire preseason, you’re going to start slow. That’s what happened in the first half. It was an adjustment period for the coaches and the players. Doug had some lousy play calls early on and didn’t establish dominance on the line of scrimmage.

THA D

The first-half defense was just sluggish. There was a lack of pass-rush early on and poor tackling. On that Vernon Davis TD, Ronald Darby went low; ok fine, Davis is twice his size go for the legs. Darby went for the legs and got hurdled. Problem was Sendejo who got beat in coverage and had a piss poor tackling effort. Then Rodney McCleod literally stood there and watched the whole thing happen. It was an embarrassing moment all around.

Rasul Douglas got burnt! The WR Terry Mclaurin is going to be a good player, so Douglas shouldn’t feel too bad. But we see Douglas has the same weakness Jalen Mills has; he can’t run.
Overall, the first half was rust.

Second Half

The Eagles finally woke up. Sidney Jones came in for Rasul Douglas. Sidney got beat deep too (Mclaurin can play). Luckily Case Keenum missed him. Sidney came back and had two pass breakups.

The pass rush came alive a little bit and gave Keenum less time to throw, and the coverage tightened up.
On offense, Doug decided to establish the run. That started everything. I really like this offensive line; they ran the ball whenever they wanted to and kept Carson Wentz clean. There was a lot of Sproles. Doug said he saw something in the Redskins defense that he thought he could exploit with Sproles. So I wouldn’t expect that workload every week. Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders were great. You see the vision and ability they both have.

All about the O

DeSean Jackson was phenomenal. He was unguardable. The aged veteran showed you his speed…but what is different is his route running ability. The CB was so afraid of him going deep that he couldn’t cover the underneath route that DeSean has perfected.

Carson Wentz is special. You wouldn’t notice it because it all came in the flow of the game, but he played at a very high level. His decision making is way faster than it has been, and his accuracy was on point. That 2nd bomb to Jackson was all Wentz. That wasn’t the play that was initially called.

On that play, the Washington Redskins were lined up with only one deep Safety, Carson saw that pre-snap and changed the play. He sent two deep routes at that 1 Safety putting him in a lose/lose situation. Carson stood in the pocket and stared down Nelson on the one deep route, forcing the Safety to float to the middle of the field to get Nelson. Then Carson switched to a wide-open DJax who burned his man because he was expecting Safety help. Carson manipulated that whole thing, and it was magical.
I didn’t like the slow start, and I have concerns about the defense going forward. But a win is a win is a win!

Eugene Holt is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

September 9, 2019 0 comment

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Couch-Fire Projections for SB LIV

by Jermaine Lockett August 13, 2019

written by Jermaine Lockett

Couch-Fire Projections for SB LIV

It’s that time again folks. You have had your offseason, draft, and camp. Now you are 100% sure that this is your year! We’ve heard this speech mainly from the “America’s Team” since 1996, and all they have done is prove they can turn Tony Romo into a future Hall of Fame Broadcaster.

But really folks, what chance does your team have this year? Are they contenders or pretenders? I am going to give you the four top powerhouse teams in each Conference and why they are so beast.

Additionally, the couch-fire projections will also cover the AFC and NFC Champions. Strap in folks and get your stress ball handy, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. We’ll start with the top NFC Teams.

NFC TOP TEAM PROJECTIONS

4. Philadelphia Eagles

Of course we look at the fate of these E-A-G-L-E-S to fall on the shoulders of 2017 MVP hopeful Carson Wentz. The guy plays lights-out football and with speedster DeSean Jackson back in the house, and a defense that was 12th in the league. Sure, there was a lot of turnover here, but when you have seasoned vets like Orlando Scandrick and Malcolm Jenkins in the same backfield that experience is going to take some of the load off of Wentz’s shoulders. Add a supped up RB in Miles Sanders that everyone is raving about and this is a formula that has playoffs written all over it. According to rotoworld.com

“NJ.com reports Miles Sanders has “easily been the most impressive runner” through the Eagles’ first 10 training camp practices.”

Of course, this house of cards all relies on its foundation of its signal-caller to stay healthy. Let’s face facts Cody Kessler isn’t taking this team anywhere.

3. Los Angeles Rams

Sean McVay is all I should have to put here. His offensive mind despite the SBVIII hiccup caused by the diabolical but masterful work of Bill Belichick is still one to hold in high regard. Jared Goff is still a monster in the game, and when your offense is averaging 421 yards per game, I believe this powerhouse does not miss a beat come the 2019 season. Now if we could just get them a fan base that shows up for Super Bowls or regular-season games for that matter.

2. Minnesota Vikings

Now hang on! Hold the pitchforks and cabbages! We’re looking at a team who has one of best WR tandems in the league in Stefan Diggs and Adam Thielen. Their defense is one of the top 5 in the league. So what Kirk Cousins had a bad year. His body of work says that this is a bounce-back year and to look out for pure explosiveness out of this O. Add a healthy Dalvin Cook to the equation, and we are talking postseason rumblings at a minimum.

1. New Orleans Saints

Now that the lawsuit is being cleaned up and a new replay rule is in effect concerning pass interference, the Saints are definitely not going to miss out of the playoffs. According to the current NFC Championship odds, the Saints are top contenders for the title. SB, maybe. But what I do know is this, Michael Thomas got paid for a reason. The Saints’ D is reminiscent of the 1990’s D. Last year’s unit locked down the run so well they only allowed 80-yards-per-game total rushing. Drew Brees is not going out like a punk and missing playoffs this year.

Now that we have the National Football Conference projections, let’s focus on the American Football Conference.

AFC TOP TEAM PROJECTIONS

4. Baltimore Ravens

It’s no secret the Baltimore Ravens have been retooling their offense around one of the leagues most dynamic players in Lamar Jackson. Aaron Kasinitz of pennlive.com has been reporting all offseason on Jackson’s improvement. I honestly believe a repeat performance for the regular season is in order. Teams will not know how to prepare for this offense weekly. This Earl Thomas led defense and offensive time of possession will carry the load, and only two of their divisional opponents will figure them out on the second encounter. This team will hit the playoffs with speed and may even advance past the wildcard round. It all boils down to can the Ravens adjust once other teams sniff their scheme out.

3. New England Patriots

I say this every year and even focused on an article that pinpoints the problem here. The AFC East has to be the worst division in football. Brady and the gang have an easy road to 11-wins each season because all they really need to focus on is five teams. Six of those are already in the bag. The Dolphins, Bills, and “Jests”, I mean Jets are simply non-factors. Only one of these teams really had upgrades during the offseason and draft, and that was the Jets. Spending $121 Million on key free agents such as Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley is a great start, but I would like to see how they transition on the new team before declaring a change in the guard. I put NE at no. three because let’s face it, Tom Brady is old! However, even with his age the Brady bunch is still able to pull off the impossible. According to the current AFC Championship odds, the Patriots are still top contenders for the title.

2. Los Angeles Chargers

Phillip Rivers is getting up there in age, but his mind is getting sharper. Should he avoid his typical late-game interception and finish, this team is looking at another postseason birth. Keenan Allen is healthy and already making highlights in camp. This defense is continuing to beast under the direction of Gus Bradley, who is very creative. Sure, I see Melvin Gordon’s holdout issue. According to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com:

“He’s justifiably upset that the fifth-year option on his rookie contract is scheduled to pay him just $5.6 million this year, and he wants a new deal that pays him like the high-level performer he has been.”

I believe the team has such a great stable of backs with Justin Jackson and Austin Ekeler that they won’t miss a beat. Postseason hopes continue for the Bolts.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

The league MVP, Patrick Mahomes put up 50-TDs last season. He made no-look passes, he thrilled, he chilled and then his defense stalled when they needed them most in the playoffs. Andy Reid is not likely to make the same mistake this year. Adding veterans like Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu to sure up the secondary and help this team get back to January football. Now, if they could just keep their players from allegedly physically abusing women and children, they might go all the way!

Let’s talk Championships!

AFC

Let’s stay in the AFC since we are already here. Call me a homer, but I’ll go ahead and place the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs for the Week Three rematch of dynamic gameplay out of this world. This is what the people pay to see! Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes have two completely different styles of play but bring entertainment nonetheless. I believe the game will be one similar to the Chiefs vs. Rams game that rocked the football world on Monday Night Football last season. While Jackson and crew bring fast Ferrari type players on offense and a beast secondary, Mahomes ability on third and long to extend drives will be too much for the Ravens to handle. My prediction for this nail-biter is the Chiefs pulling it out by a field goal to seal it 30-27.

We now have our AFC Champion, the Kansas City Chiefs. There is still one more couch-fire projection to go. Let’s look at the NFC Championship.

NFC

I’m predicting the New Orleans Saints vs. the Minnesota Vikings. As much as I want to put Sean McVay and crew here in the mix, I cannot ignore the fact that 2018 was Kirk Cousins first year in a new offense on a new team. The Vikings have placed protection around him by drafting a center first round. With that protection, look for Kirk to throw strikes all over the field as Kyle Rudolph flashes ability from at least five years ago. Drew Brees will not be ignored. We all are aware of the nasty elusive element Alvin Kamara brings to the game. That talent will be heavily utilized in what should be a pretty good showdown between the “Dirty South” and the “North Star State.” We have to have a winner, and while Kirk and the Vikes bring much to the table, I have to go with the Saints bringing more firepower on offense.

According to this sportsbettingdime.com, the current team two teams with the best odds to win the AFC and NFC Championship title are the Saints and the Patriots.

I have the Chiefs and the Saints meeting in Super Bowl LIV, but if you believe it’s your year, go ahead and put on those lucky socks, neglect shaving, showering (not around me please) or perform your LEGAL annual sacrifice of something. Your efforts are needed to get your team to January. Happy Football Season from all of us here at CRR to all of you!

Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter

August 13, 2019 0 comment

NFC East NFL NFL Draft Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles’ 2019 Draft: Did you get your guy?

by EUGENE Holt April 28, 2019

written by EUGENE Holt

Eagles’ Draft: Did you get your guy?

Photo Credit: Instagram

The 2019 Draft Class:

Andre Dillard – Big and athletic. He should fit in immediately as a backup LT and eventually replace JP as the LT. Once he becomes a dependable run blocker the offensive line should continue to dominate without JP.

Miles Sanders – Dual threat RB with size and speed. Good vision to knife his way through the hole and enough speed to bounce it outside. He can also go in the slot and run routes. Catching the ball won’t be a concern for him either. The Eagles will ease him in but I expect him to leapfrog Corey Clement as that 2nd RB option and eventually take over for Jordan Howard, as the Eagles redo their RB position.

JJ Arcega-Whiteside – A big body possession WR. He excels at vertical routes. A former basketball player, so he treats passes like getting a rebound. He only runs a limited amount of routes, but the ones he runs best are the ones the Eagles use. He’s got great hands and is really strong catching the ball. My guess is he was drafted because the Eagles don’t have long term plans for Alshon Jeffery. He’ll be a backup this year and probably thrust into the starting lineup next season.

Shareef Miller – Big, strong and raw. A local kid with alot of ability, he just needs time to learn techniques. He comes in with pretty much one pass rush move. The bull rush. It works for him but in the NFL you need more. Expect him to battle with Josh Sweat, Daeshon Hall and Joe Ostman for that DE spot on the 2nd unit.

Clayton Thorson – The Eagles love a project at QB and Clayton is the latest. Strong arm, functional mobility to move in the pocket. Thorson goes through his progressions rather quickly. There’s something to work with there. His accuracy is off and his mechanics need work. Eagles probably slot him at 3rd string QB and watch him develop over the years.

Eugene Holt is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

April 28, 2019 0 comment

NFC East NFL NFL Draft Philadelphia Eagles

If I was Howie Roseman…

by EUGENE Holt April 19, 2019

written by EUGENE Holt

If I was Eagles GM and President Howie Roseman I’d be licking my chops right now as I think about all the talent available in this upcoming NFL draft. The Eagles have had a fairly busy offseason and aren’t done yet, most experts expect Howie to live up to his reputation as a wheeling and dealing wizard on draft night.

But since trades are quite unpredictable, I’m going make picks at normal draft positions. So if I was Howie Roseman I’d draft…

Round 1 #25 – Jerry Tillery 6’6 295 DT. A big strong athletic pass rusher. Showed some dominant play on film and fits nicely into the defensive line rotation.

Round 2 #53 – Miles Sanders 5’11 211 RB. Eagles fans will say, “But we have Jordan Howard, Corey Clement etc. etc” Jordan Howard is on the last year of his contract and Head coach Doug Pederson likes backs that are a threat in the passing game. Miles Sanders fills that need and then some.

Round 2 #57 – Elgton Jenkins 6’4 310 G/C. The Eagles look for versatility in their offensive linemen and Jenkins is Exactly that. He has played every position on the offensive line and held his own. The Eagles have age and depth issues on the offensive line and Jenkins provides immediate depth and the possibility of being a starter in the near future.

Round 4 #127 – Mecole Hardman 5’11 183 WR. The Eagles came into the offseason looking for speed at WR. They found it in DeSean Jackson, but Jackson is 32 years old so an heir apparent is necessary. Hardman has blazing speed and shows the potential to be a good route runner. But he needs time because he is relatively new to the WR position. While he develops, Hardman brings immediate help on special teams with his dangerous return ability.

Round 4 #138 – Sheldrick Redwine 6’0 196 S. The Eagles want Safties with a CB background, and Redwine fits that prototype. The Eagles use a 3 Safety formation for over 50% of their snaps, so depth at the position is a necessity. Redwine steps in and provides relief to the starters that are getting long in the tooth.

Round 5 #163 – Emeke Egbule 6’2 245 LB. The Eagles are likely to go into the season with Nigel Bradham as their MLB and a tandem of free agent signee LJ Fort and backup Kamu Grugier-Hill as their primary Linebacker rotation. That group is serviceable for the season, but all 3 players can be unrestricted free agents after the year so replacements will have to be brought in. Emeke Egbule is big and fast and played in a variety of roles with Houston. Most importantly he shows the ability to cover. He would be a great addition to help on special teams immediately and carve out a niche in the LB rotation going forward.

Round 6 #197 Nick Fitzgerald 6’5 226 QB. The Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie says he would like to draft a QB every other year. It’s the organization’s philosophy to continuously bring in and develop QB’s. So since they didn’t draft one last year, they probably want to bring a guy in this year. Nick Fitzgerald is a physically gifted player with a strong arm and good mobility. He should serve well as a developmental project.

So this is what I would do if I was Howie Roseman. I believe with the players added you get immediate contributors on offense and defense as well as quality depth. I also believe the later round picks have upside while still helping on special teams early on. But that’s just me. Let’s see what the real Howie does…

Eugene Holt is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

April 19, 2019 0 comment

NFC East NFL NFL Draft Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles on the Bye: Looking Ahead

by EUGENE Holt November 4, 2018

written by EUGENE Holt

With the Eagles on their bye week, they usually take that time to self-scout and evaluate the team at the midway point.

I figured I’d take a shot at identifying some positions of need and some potential college prospects that could help in the future……here goes:

Running Back

All my fellow Eagle fans that know me, know that I have been an advocate for more talent at the RB position. It’s been about 2 years now and I’m still crying for a running back. Darren Sproles is at the end of a brilliant career and there is a legitimate chance we’ve seen the last of Jay Ajayi, with him rehabbing an injury and heading into free agency. Nothing against Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood, but there just isn’t anything dynamic about that duo. There isn’t a defensive coordinator in the league that is losing sleep about defending Clement and Smallwood, and that’s a problem. Josh Adams is probably the best running back on the roster, but I’m not prepared to say he’s anything more than a rotation player. So here are some kids to keep an eye on.

Miles Sanders Penn State – The backup to Saquon Barkley offers much of the same skillset. He’s a nice blend of speed, power, and agility with skill as a receiver as well.

Elijah Holyfield Georgia – The son of boxing legend Evander Holyfield shows tremendous talent in his own right. He shows excellent burst, good speed, and great power finishing runs. All his skills are shown in small sample sizes due to the RB rotation at Georgia, but the talent is obvious.

Justice Hill Oklahoma State – Undersized, but athletic and very fast. Hill would serve well as a change of pace player with his route running ability, high-end speed, and quickness. He’d be an ideal Darren Sproles replacement

Trayveon Williams Texas A&M – Jack of all trades type of player with excellent vision, quickness and good speed. He’s also very adept in the passing game and a good blocker. You won’t have to worry about him missing a block and getting the QB killed. (Looking at you Smallwood)

Rodney Anderson Oklahoma – Anderson might be the most talented running back in the 2019 draft. He’s got breakaway speed with a powerful 220 lb frame. The only reason for concern is his injury history. He’s had three season-ending injuries in college and is a legitimate health concern. But if healthy he would be an instant fan favorite in Philadelphia.

Defensive Tackle

The biggest myth about the Philadelphia Eagles is that they’re stacked on the defensive line. They have enough to continue to compete this year, but beyond that is an issue. Brandon Graham is heading into free agency and has stopped contract talks with the team. Chris Long and Haloti Ngata will more than likely retire after the season and Tim Jernigan is coming off a serious back injury and would save the team 7 million if he’s cut. So for a team that wants to send waves of pass rushers at the QB, they are painfully thin going forward. Luckily the 2019 draft is LOADED at DT.

Quinnen Williams Alabama – Excellent strength at the point of attack. Good hand usage to keep blockers off of him and great burst and pass rush moves. Pairing him next to Fletcher Cox would terrify the rest of the NFL.

Raekwon Davis Alabama – A massive human being at 6’7 300+ lbs. What makes him special is how fast and fluid he is at that size. His long arms allow him to toss blocks aside and make plays in the backfield.

Isaiah Buggs Alabama – Sensing a theme here? Yes. Alabama has a monstrous defensive line. Buggs has the ability to play inside or outside and is effective in both positions. At 6’5 293 Buggs uses his strength on the outside and speed rushing from inside. The Eagles love versatile defensive linemen.

Rashan Gary Michigan – A player very similar to Michael Bennett. Gary can play every position on the defensive line and is a force due to his freakish athleticism. Gary’s toughness against the run and tremendous upside as a rusher would be a welcome addition for Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

Jeffrey Simmons Mississippi State – Beautiful blend of strength and athleticism. Simmons gets into the backfield whenever he wants to. Playing on the Eagles defensive line, Simmons would be insanely successful. The only cause for concern would be his character, there is a video of him hitting a woman that is sure to surface in the offseason.

Gerald Willis Miami – Highly skilled with his technique and hands. Willis routinely gets in the backfield with his speed and quickness. In an aggressive front like the Eagles, Willis would blow up his share of plays.

Wide Receiver (With Deep Speed)

Wide receiver isn’t a serious need. Especially not with the addition of Golden Tate, a highly productive player that will immediately make Carson Wentz’s days easier. But behind players like Tate and Alshon Jeffery, there are some questions. Also opposing defenses crowd the line of scrimmage because they don’t fear any Eagles WR going deep on them. So in a league where you have to keep up with teams like the Rams and Saints, the ability to throw a 70 yard bomb would be a nice weapon to have. There aren’t many speed receivers coming out though. I managed to find a few.

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown Oklahoma – Eagles fans will look at Brown and immediately be reminded of Desean Jackson. Like Jackson, Brown is undersized with insane speed and agility. Brown also has good hands and electric run after the catch ability. Brown definitely would create space for Ertz and Tate to work their magic.

Diontae Johnson Toledo – Part of a talented trio of Toledo wide receivers, Johnson brings speed and precision route running to any offense. Like Brown, Johnson isn’t very big but his speed allows him to get all the separation he needs.

Denzel Mims Baylor – One of the most fluid and athletic wide receivers in this class. He has the speed to run by defensive backs as well as the ability to go overtop of them with his 6’3 frame and leaping ability

Deebo Samuel South Carolina – If the Eagles liked Golden Tate, they’d love Deebo. He’s a very similar player, but with deep speed. He is very quick in his route running and strong enough to make contested catches. He offers value as a kick returner as well. Deebo Samuel would be a tremendous addition to the Eagles offense.

Mecole Hardman Georgia – A fairly unknown player because of a limited amount of snaps. Georgia rotates alot of players. But the former 5 star athlete coming out of high school has the speed to spare. He’s already taken a kick return back for a Touchdown and puts fear in defensive units every time he steps on the field. A raw player, but definitely a project worth working on.

Defensive Back

We all know about the struggles of Jalen Mills, but there are some other areas of concern in the Eagles defensive backfield. Starting CB Ronald Darby is heading into free agency and isn’t expected back. Backup Safety Corey Graham is heading towards retirement, and team leader Malcolm Jenkins can’t run like he used to. One silver lining is the emergence of rookie Avonte Maddox who is playing Safety and getting better every week. But this defensive backfield still needs an influx of speed and ball skills.

Dionte Thompson Safety Alabama – Amazing range and speed. Thompson can play the receiver in the slot, contribute in run support and has the ball skills to snag whatever pass in his vicinity.

Levonta Taylor CB Florida State – Excellent speed and athletic ability. Has loose hips to mirror receivers throughout their routes and ball skills to attack the ball like a receiver. Teams rarely test him. He can play the slot or outside so wherever the Eagles have a need Taylor would help.

Chauncey Gardener Safety Florida – Physical and aggressive is Gardener’s game. He’s a force close to the line of scrimmage and has the speed and range to play in a single high coverage. He also can play the slot, which the Eagles require of their safeties.

The Eagles could definitely address some of these issues in free agency but keep an eye out for these names. One or two could be in midnight green next season.

Eugene Holt is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

November 4, 2018 0 comment