Seahawks21 Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED EVERY LAST ONE A YA IS A HYPOCRITE!!!!!!!! There isn't one guy in here, (NOT ONE!!!!!) who hasn't at some point made a joke that their homer team should throw games to go after a higher draft pick to his buddies. NOT ONE!!!!!!! No teams haven't had a bad spell and ya know those draft pick cracks come a flyin!! Am I right or am I right!?!?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylive5 Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED EVERY LAST ONE A YA IS A HYPOCRITE!!!!!!!! There isn't one guy in here, (NOT ONE!!!!!) who hasn't at some point made a joke that their homer team should throw games to go after a higher draft pick to his buddies. NOT ONE!!!!!!! No teams haven't had a bad spell and ya know those draft pick cracks come a flyin!! Am I right or am I right!?!?!? 867497[/snapback] Wongo bucko. I suppose it says something deeply meaningful about me when I say that scenarios involving losing and draft picks have never even entered my mind. Guess I just can't get a grasp around something like that. Wonder if it is too late for me to turn into some sort of shallow, bend with the wind, fly-by-night, bandwagon fan? Where did I go wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chessmaster Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Wongo bucko. I suppose it says something deeply meaningful about me when I say that scenarios involving losing and draft picks have never even entered my mind. Guess I just can't get a grasp around something like that. Wonder if it is too late for me to turn into some sort of shallow, bend with the wind, fly-by-night, bandwagon fan? Where did I go wrong? 867558[/snapback] How does hoping for a loss for the sake of draft position make you a bandwagon fan??? I think it just makes you a smart fan. Sure, winning is nice whenever it happens, but once your team is out of playoff contention it is in ITS BEST INTERESTS to lose. Remember what the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers did in the 2002-2003 season?? They lost on purpose, fielded a terrible team on purpose, so they could get more lottery balls. And what did they get out of it??? A draft pick by the name of Lebron James. Worked out pretty well, I think. So please, stop ripping us smart fans for hoping for the best for our teams. While you root for your 5-10 team to win their final game to finish at 6-10, I'll root for them to lose and go to 5-11. Matter of preference, really, but don't rip us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spain Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED EVERY LAST ONE A YA IS A HYPOCRITE!!!!!!!! There isn't one guy in here, (NOT ONE!!!!!) who hasn't at some point made a joke that their homer team should throw games to go after a higher draft pick to his buddies. NOT ONE!!!!!!! No teams haven't had a bad spell and ya know those draft pick cracks come a flyin!! Am I right or am I right!?!?!? 867497[/snapback] Even in the midst of a 5 win season last year, with all hope lost, I never ever ever wanted the Titans to lose a game. But thats just me and all of the other Titan fans that I know. I cant speak for fans of other teams like say the Seahawks whose most ardent supporters are indifferent at best and down right apathetic most of the time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scourge Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 (edited) Here is an article I wrote for the football site that I occasionally write for. Hopefully someone here will enjoy it. It is a breakdown of the Eagles from top to bottom. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 2004 Record: 13-3; NFC Champions, lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. OVERVIEW The outcome of the upcoming 2005 season will ultimately hinge on how the Terrell Owens holdout is resolved. If Owens holds out into the regular season, it could cause irreparable damage to the team’s chemistry and cohesiveness on and off the field. Starting DT Cory Simon is also holding out after the Eagles slapped the franchise tag on him. MLB Jeremiah Trotter was the most important signing and will return to the Eagles after inking a five year deal. Jon Ritchie, Correll Buckhalter, Hugh Douglas, and Brian Westbrook will also be back in Midnight Green this season to represent the Eagles. KEY ARRIVALS The only free agent addition to the team worth noting is the signing of fifth year quarterback Mike McMahon. McMahon spent his first four NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions. He is expected to compete with Koy Detmer for the right to backup Donovan McNabb. DT Mike Patterson of UNC was drafted 31st overall by the Eagles in the 2005 NFL draft. Nicknamed “Baby Sapp”, due to his vast similarities to Oakland’s Warren Sapp, Patterson is a bit undersized but has a great first step and is aggressive to the backfield. He could make an immediate impact in 2005, especially if Cory Simon continues holding out. Drafted 35th overall in the early second round of the 2005 NFL draft is WR Reggie Brown out of Georgia. Brown is not known as a burner but had a nice 40 time of 4.46 at the combine workouts. He is a very strong, physical type receiver that has good vision and can make the tough catch in traffic. Brown looked great during the Eagle’s passing mini-camp in the spring, but their version of the West Coast Offense usually takes a full year to learn. Don’t expect too much from Brown this year. Unless the Owens holdout lasts into the season, Brown will be a situational receiver in 4 WR sets. Another player that may or may not make an impact this season is RB Ryan Moats drafted out of Louisiana Tech. Moats is not a power runner, but more of a quick, elusive runner that can slip through defenders. Expected to be 3rd on the depth chart behind Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter, Moats could see significant playing time if one of them gets injured. KEY DEPARTURES The Eagles are notorious for not resigning players after they hit 30 years old and it has panned out for them so far. For a team with questionable depth on the Offensive Line, however, allowing veteran OL Jermane Mayberry to leave and sign with the New Orleans Saints could come back to haunt them. Mayberry, 31, will be missed as part of the OL rotation this season. The oft injured DE Derrick Burgess managed to stay healthy for the majority of the 2004 season and was a nice situational pass rusher and run defender. With several question marks behind Jevon Kearse at the DE position, the depth he added will be missed in Philadelphia. If healthy, however, he could be a nice addition to the Oakland Raiders in 2005. Most people who follow the NFL know who Freddie Mitchell is. Not from his playing ability, but from his off the field comments and humorous anecdotes. Andy Reid, however, did not find some of the things he did and said very funny at all toward the end of the 2004 season. Mitchell, who occasionally makes the “big play” and is credited with making the infamous “4th and 26” catch against Green Bay in the 2003 playoffs, was cut by the Eagles on May 6th. He has since signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and will be given the opportunity to put his money where his mouth is. He will be replaced by either Greg Lewis or Reggie Brown in the slot receiver position for the Eagles. Other Departures: Nate Wayne, Ike Reese, Jeff Blake & Dorsey Levens. WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON... Positional Duels o QBs Koy Detmer and Mike McMahon for the No. 2 QB position. o WRs Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown for the No. 3 WR position. FADING FAST o DT Cory Simon, 27, has shown up to camp overweight the last two seasons. In 2004, Simon had a career low 26 tackles while playing in all 16 regular season games for the Eagles. The Eagles put the franchise tag on him in 2005 and he is currently holding out for a long-term deal. The Eagles were trying to trade him around the time of the 2005 NFL draft, but were unable to get anything done. COMING ON STRONG o L.J. Smith is now the Eagle’s only legitimate receiving threat at TE. In his first two seasons in the NFL, the athletic Smith has 698 receiving yards and six touchdowns, with five of those six coming in the 2004 season. With Chad Lewis out of the picture, Smith is in a great position for a breakout season and should produce as one of the better tight ends in the NFC. ON THE REBOUND o FB Jon Ritchie, the seven year veteran has been a durable player throughout his career. Early in the 2004 season, Ritchie was lost for the season to a torn ACL. Fully healed and resigned for another year, the excellent blocking fullback will be opening up holes once again for one of the shiftiest running backs in the game, Brian Westbrook. Ritchie’s presence was missed last season, and his soft hands make him another weapon out of the backfield for Donovan McNabb to pass to. INJURY PRONE o RB Correll Buckhalter has missed two of his first four seasons to knee injuries, including all of the 2004 season. Averaging 4.4 yards a carry in the two seasons that he has been healthy is proof enough that he can be a productive running back in the NFL. If Buckhalter can stay healthy, the Eagles could have one of the best backfields in the NFL. OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN QUARTERBACKS Donovan McNabb: McNabb is the keystone of the Eagle’s offense as any Super Bowl contender needs their quarterback to be. In 2004, he showed what kind of numbers he could produce with a legitimate receiving weapon. McNabb threw for 3875 yards, with a completion percentage of 64% and 31 touchdowns, all career highs. If Owens is back with the team in body and spirit, McNabb should put up similar numbers. If not, he should still lead the Eagles into the playoffs as he has proven to be solid even with limited receiving weapons to throw to. Koy Detmer: Detmer has been the Eagle’s number two quarterback since the 1998 season. The eight year veteran knows the Eagle’s complex version of the West Coast offense like the back of his hand. Detmer is a serviceable backup but his real asset to the Eagles is being one of the best holders in the league for field goals and extra points. Mike McMahon: As the newest member of the Eagles, Mike McMahon is out to prove he is more than a third string quarterback in the NFL. Seeing limited action with the Detroit Lions in his first four NFL seasons, the Eagles are interested to see what McMahon can do with their offense. If McMahon can learn the offense quickly, he could get a chance to prove himself if McNabb goes down for any extended period of time. RUNNING BACKS Brian Westbrook: Brian Westbrook is one of the most versatile running backs in the league. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and had over 1500 total yards last season. He is a good blocker, picks up the blitz well in pass protection and lines up as receiver in certain sets. Westbrook signed a one year tender and is playing for his next contract this season. You can be sure he will leave it all on the field every game. Correll Buckhalter: Missing all of the 2004 season with a torn patellar tendon, Buckhalter signed a two year extension and is being given another chance to be a contributor to the Eagle’s backfield. Averaging 4.3 yards per carry with 542 yards and eight touchdowns in limited action during the 2003 season, Buckhalter is a big question mark with big upside. Ryan Moats: Rookie Ryan Moats is expected to compete with Buckhalter for the number two running back position. Moats is a small, explosive, quick runner similar to that of Brian Westbrook. FULLBACKS Jon Ritchie: Jon Ritchie is one of the best blocking fullbacks in the NFL. He was lost for the majority of the 2004 season to a torn ACL. Signing a one year deal with the Eagles for the 2005 season, Ritchie will be the cornerstone of the Eagle’s running game. Josh Parry: Josh Parry did a decent job at the fullback position after Jon Ritchie was lost for the season in 2004. He dropped quite a few passes and often blocked in the wrong gaps. The only way Parry sees the field for the Eagles in 2005 is if Jon Ritchie gets injured again. WIDE RECEIVERS Terrell Owens: The Eagles knew they were taking a chance when they signed Terrell Owens prior to the 2004 season to be their number one receiving option. All was great last season between the Eagles and Owens. Owens was in the spotlight and the Eagles allowed him to be, even lauded him at times. Toward the end of the 2004 season, while having a spectacular season, Owens was collar tackled resulting in a severely injured ankle and leg that required surgery to repair. His heroic return to the field in Super Bowl XXXIX was something out of folklore. He had the city of Philadelphia eating out of the palm of his hand. Six months later, however, things could not be more of the opposite. Owens hired super agent Drew Rosenhaus and demanded that the Eagles restructure his contract. Now holding out for more money and exchanging verbal pleasantries through the media with Donovan McNabb, the Owens’ situation looks to get worse before it gets better. Todd Pinkston: Todd Pinkston has been criticized by the Philadelphia media and Eagle’s fans alike for being too thin and tentative to catch a ball in traffic. But, the reality is that Pinkston is a solid number two receiver for the Eagles. Love him or hate him, his numbers tell the story. With above average speed and the ability to stretch the field, he tallied 676 yards receiving on 36 receptions, averaging a superb 18.8 yards per reception. Pinkston is obviously not a number one receiver in this league, but coupled with Owens, he has proven he can be a good number two. Greg Lewis: Greg Lewis is expected to be the new number three receiver in Philadelphia in 2005. With Freddie Mitchell gone, Lewis could be a nice contributor to the Eagle’s passing attack. With better size than Pinkston and a bit more athleticism, he could actually push for time in the number two slot as well. Reggie Brown: Rookie Reggie Brown is said to be learning the Eagle’s complex offensive scheme quickly. He has a winning attitude and all the tools to be a nice receiver in the NFL. Keep an eye on Brown as he will be pushing Greg Lewis for playing time. For now, expect to see him on the field as a situational receiver on 3rd and long in four WR sets. TIGHT ENDS L.J. Smith: As one of the more athletic tight ends in the game, L.J. Smith is poised to prove he is one of the more dominant receiving threats at his position in the league. As it looks now, the Eagles are not going to bring veteran TE Chad Lewis back for the 2005 season. As a result, Smith will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent in the upcoming season. James Whalen: Whalen, who saw limited action in his first four NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, signed a two year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles this past off-season. He will primarily be used as a blocker in two-TE sets. DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS BREAKDOWN DEFENSIVE TEAM Aside from the departure of DE Derrick Burgess and OLB Nate Wayne, the Eagle’s defense is the same unit as they were last year. DE Jevon Kearse headlines the speedy defensive line with either Jerome McDougle or N.D. Kalu at the other DE position. Rookie Mike Patterson will be given the opportunity to start along side Cory Simon this season as long as Simon comes to camp or isn’t traded. With Hollis Thomas and Darwin Walker providing depth in the middle of the line, the Eagles should have enough depth to keep their lineman fresh through four quarters of football. MLB Jeremiah Trotter was resigned by the Eagles after having a great second half of the 2004 season. He will be between outside linebackers Keith Adams and Dhani Jones. Adams is a run stopping specialist while Jones excels in pass coverage. The Eagles secondary is led by FS Brian Dawkins. The 10 year veteran has spent his entire career with the Eagles and had a nice season last year with 61 tackles, four interceptions and three sacks. Young cornerbacks Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard both showed great improvement last season combining for 118 tackles, seven interceptions and four sacks. SS Michael Lewis has proven to be one of the better, young, hard-hitting safeties in the league with 74 tackles and two forced fumbles. The Eagle’s defense as a unit has a chance to be one of the best in the NFL this season. Their success all hinges on the pressure the front four can put on opposing quarterbacks. Jevon Kearse will have to stay healthy and Jerome McDougle will have to step up for this defense to have a chance at greatness. SPECIAL TEAMS K David Akers: David Akers has established himself as one of the most consistent kickers in the game. Akers was 27 of 32 field goal attempts last season and missed one extra point, his first XP miss in three seasons. He has a big leg and during pre-game warm-ups often boots field goals 60 yards or better. P Dirk Johnson: Dirk Johnson has established himself as a solid punter. Improving every year, he finished the 2004 season averaging 42.1 yards per punt, pinning 20 of them inside the 20 yard line. Return Men: This is all speculation right now as all of the return duties are up for grabs. DB Rod Hood is expected to field kickoffs with rookie Ryan Moats. DB Dexter Wynn is expected to field punts. Hood and Wynn did an excellent job with their respective roles last season and it will be their jobs to lose. BOTTOM LINE With or without Owens, the Eagles should easily win the NFC East and make it to the post season. A team with so much talent on both sides of the ball should not accept anything less. Edited July 7, 2005 by Scourge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffian Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Here is an article I wrote for the football site that I occasionally write for. Hopefully someone here will enjoy it. It is a breakdown of the Eagles from top to bottom. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 2004 Record: 13-3; NFC Champions, lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. OVERVIEW The outcome of the upcoming 2005 season will ultimately hinge on how the Terrell Owens holdout is resolved. If Owens holds out into the regular season, it could cause irreparable damage to the team’s chemistry and cohesiveness on and off the field. Starting DT Cory Simon is also holding out after the Eagles slapped the franchise tag on him. MLB Jeremiah Trotter was the most important signing and will return to the Eagles after inking a five year deal. Jon Ritchie, Correll Buckhalter, Hugh Douglas, and Brian Westbrook will also be back in Midnight Green this season to represent the Eagles. KEY ARRIVALS The only free agent addition to the team worth noting is the signing of fifth year quarterback Mike McMahon. McMahon spent his first four NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions. He is expected to compete with Koy Detmer for the right to backup Donovan McNabb. DT Mike Patterson of UNC was drafted 31st overall by the Eagles in the 2005 NFL draft. Nicknamed “Baby Sapp”, due to his vast similarities to Oakland’s Warren Sapp, Patterson is a bit undersized but has a great first step and is aggressive to the backfield. He could make an immediate impact in 2005, especially if Cory Simon continues holding out. Drafted 35th overall in the early second round of the 2005 NFL draft is WR Reggie Brown out of Georgia. Brown is not known as a burner but had a nice 40 time of 4.46 at the combine workouts. He is a very strong, physical type receiver that has good vision and can make the tough catch in traffic. Brown looked great during the Eagle’s passing mini-camp in the spring, but their version of the West Coast Offense usually takes a full year to learn. Don’t expect too much from Brown this year. Unless the Owens holdout lasts into the season, Brown will be a situational receiver in 4 WR sets. Another player that may or may not make an impact this season is RB Ryan Moats drafted out of Louisiana Tech. Moats is not a power runner, but more of a quick, elusive runner that can slip through defenders. Expected to be 3rd on the depth chart behind Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter, Moats could see significant playing time if one of them gets injured. KEY DEPARTURES The Eagles are notorious for not resigning players after they hit 30 years old and it has panned out for them so far. For a team with questionable depth on the Offensive Line, however, allowing veteran OL Jermane Mayberry to leave and sign with the New Orleans Saints could come back to haunt them. Mayberry, 31, will be missed as part of the OL rotation this season. The oft injured DE Derrick Burgess managed to stay healthy for the majority of the 2004 season and was a nice situational pass rusher and run defender. With several question marks behind Jevon Kearse at the DE position, the depth he added will be missed in Philadelphia. If healthy, however, he could be a nice addition to the Oakland Raiders in 2005. Most people who follow the NFL know who Freddie Mitchell is. Not from his playing ability, but from his off the field comments and humorous anecdotes. Andy Reid, however, did not find some of the things he did and said very funny at all toward the end of the 2004 season. Mitchell, who occasionally makes the “big play” and is credited with making the infamous “4th and 26” catch against Green Bay in the 2003 playoffs, was cut by the Eagles on May 6th. He has since signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and will be given the opportunity to put his money where his mouth is. He will be replaced by either Greg Lewis or Reggie Brown in the slot receiver position for the Eagles. Other Departures: Nate Wayne, Ike Reese, Jeff Blake & Dorsey Levens. WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON... Positional Duels o QBs Koy Detmer and Mike McMahon for the No. 2 QB position. o WRs Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown for the No. 3 WR position. FADING FAST o DT Cory Simon, 27, has shown up to camp overweight the last two seasons. In 2004, Simon had a career low 26 tackles while playing in all 16 regular season games for the Eagles. The Eagles put the franchise tag on him in 2005 and he is currently holding out for a long-term deal. The Eagles were trying to trade him around the time of the 2005 NFL draft, but were unable to get anything done. COMING ON STRONG o L.J. Smith is now the Eagle’s only legitimate receiving threat at TE. In his first two seasons in the NFL, the athletic Smith has 698 receiving yards and six touchdowns, with five of those six coming in the 2004 season. With Chad Lewis out of the picture, Smith is in a great position for a breakout season and should produce as one of the better tight ends in the NFC. ON THE REBOUND o FB Jon Ritchie, the seven year veteran has been a durable player throughout his career. Early in the 2004 season, Ritchie was lost for the season to a torn ACL. Fully healed and resigned for another year, the excellent blocking fullback will be opening up holes once again for one of the shiftiest running backs in the game, Brian Westbrook. Ritchie’s presence was missed last season, and his soft hands make him another weapon out of the backfield for Donovan McNabb to pass to. INJURY PRONE o RB Correll Buckhalter has missed two of his first four seasons to knee injuries, including all of the 2004 season. Averaging 4.4 yards a carry in the two seasons that he has been healthy is proof enough that he can be a productive running back in the NFL. If Buckhalter can stay healthy, the Eagles could have one of the best backfields in the NFL. OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN QUARTERBACKS Donovan McNabb: McNabb is the keystone of the Eagle’s offense as any Super Bowl contender needs their quarterback to be. In 2004, he showed what kind of numbers he could produce with a legitimate receiving weapon. McNabb threw for 3875 yards, with a completion percentage of 64% and 31 touchdowns, all career highs. If Owens is back with the team in body and spirit, McNabb should put up similar numbers. If not, he should still lead the Eagles into the playoffs as he has proven to be solid even with limited receiving weapons to throw to. Koy Detmer: Detmer has been the Eagle’s number two quarterback since the 1998 season. The eight year veteran knows the Eagle’s complex version of the West Coast offense like the back of his hand. Detmer is a serviceable backup but his real asset to the Eagles is being one of the best holders in the league for field goals and extra points. Mike McMahon: As the newest member of the Eagles, Mike McMahon is out to prove he is more than a third string quarterback in the NFL. Seeing limited action with the Detroit Lions in his first four NFL seasons, the Eagles are interested to see what McMahon can do with their offense. If McMahon can learn the offense quickly, he could get a chance to prove himself if McNabb goes down for any extended period of time. RUNNING BACKS Brian Westbrook: Brian Westbrook is one of the most versatile running backs in the league. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and had over 1500 total yards last season. He is a good blocker, picks up the blitz well in pass protection and lines up as receiver in certain sets. Westbrook signed a one year tender and is playing for his next contract this season. You can be sure he will leave it all on the field every game. Correll Buckhalter: Missing all of the 2004 season with a torn patellar tendon, Buckhalter signed a two year extension and is being given another chance to be a contributor to the Eagle’s backfield. Averaging 4.3 yards per carry with 542 yards and eight touchdowns in limited action during the 2003 season, Buckhalter is a big question mark with big upside. Ryan Moats: Rookie Ryan Moats is expected to compete with Buckhalter for the number two running back position. Moats is a small, explosive, quick runner similar to that of Brian Westbrook. FULLBACKS Jon Ritchie: Jon Ritchie is one of the best blocking fullbacks in the NFL. He was lost for the majority of the 2004 season to a torn ACL. Signing a one year deal with the Eagles for the 2005 season, Ritchie will be the cornerstone of the Eagle’s running game. Josh Parry: Josh Parry did a decent job at the fullback position after Jon Ritchie was lost for the season in 2004. He dropped quite a few passes and often blocked in the wrong gaps. The only way Parry sees the field for the Eagles in 2005 is if Jon Ritchie gets injured again. WIDE RECEIVERS Terrell Owens: The Eagles knew they were taking a chance when they signed Terrell Owens prior to the 2004 season to be their number one receiving option. All was great last season between the Eagles and Owens. Owens was in the spotlight and the Eagles allowed him to be, even lauded him at times. Toward the end of the 2004 season, while having a spectacular season, Owens was collar tackled resulting in a severely injured ankle and leg that required surgery to repair. His heroic return to the field in Super Bowl XXXIX was something out of folklore. He had the city of Philadelphia eating out of the palm of his hand. Six months later, however, things could not be more of the opposite. Owens hired super agent Drew Rosenhaus and demanded that the Eagles restructure his contract. Now holding out for more money and exchanging verbal pleasantries through the media with Donovan McNabb, the Owens’ situation looks to get worse before it gets better. Todd Pinkston: Todd Pinkston has been criticized by the Philadelphia media and Eagle’s fans alike for being too thin and tentative to catch a ball in traffic. But, the reality is that Pinkston is a solid number two receiver for the Eagles. Love him or hate him, his numbers tell the story. With above average speed and the ability to stretch the field, he tallied 676 yards receiving on 36 receptions, averaging a superb 18.8 yards per reception. Pinkston is obviously not a number one receiver in this league, but coupled with Owens, he has proven he can be a good number two. Greg Lewis: Greg Lewis is expected to be the new number three receiver in Philadelphia in 2005. With Freddie Mitchell gone, Lewis could be a nice contributor to the Eagle’s passing attack. With better size than Pinkston and a bit more athleticism, he could actually push for time in the number two slot as well. Reggie Brown: Rookie Reggie Brown is said to be learning the Eagle’s complex offensive scheme quickly. He has a winning attitude and all the tools to be a nice receiver in the NFL. Keep an eye on Brown as he will be pushing Greg Lewis for playing time. For now, expect to see him on the field as a situational receiver on 3rd and long in four WR sets. TIGHT ENDS L.J. Smith: As one of the more athletic tight ends in the game, L.J. Smith is poised to prove he is one of the more dominant receiving threats at his position in the league. As it looks now, the Eagles are not going to bring veteran TE Chad Lewis back for the 2005 season. As a result, Smith will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent in the upcoming season. James Whalen: Whalen, who saw limited action in his first four NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, signed a two year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles this past off-season. He will primarily be used as a blocker in two-TE sets. DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS BREAKDOWN DEFENSIVE TEAM Aside from the departure of DE Derrick Burgess and OLB Nate Wayne, the Eagle’s defense is the same unit as they were last year. DE Jevon Kearse headlines the speedy defensive line with either Jerome McDougle or N.D. Kalu at the other DE position. Rookie Mike Patterson will be given the opportunity to start along side Cory Simon this season as long as Simon comes to camp or isn’t traded. With Hollis Thomas and Darwin Walker providing depth in the middle of the line, the Eagles should have enough depth to keep their lineman fresh through four quarters of football. MLB Jeremiah Trotter was resigned by the Eagles after having a great second half of the 2004 season. He will be between outside linebackers Keith Adams and Dhani Jones. Adams is a run stopping specialist while Jones excels in pass coverage. The Eagles secondary is led by FS Brian Dawkins. The 10 year veteran has spent his entire career with the Eagles and had a nice season last year with 61 tackles, four interceptions and three sacks. Young cornerbacks Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard both showed great improvement last season combining for 118 tackles, seven interceptions and four sacks. SS Michael Lewis has proven to be one of the better, young, hard-hitting safeties in the league with 74 tackles and two forced fumbles. The Eagle’s defense as a unit has a chance to be one of the best in the NFL this season. Their success all hinges on the pressure the front four can put on opposing quarterbacks. Jevon Kearse will have to stay healthy and Jerome McDougle will have to step up for this defense to have a chance at greatness. SPECIAL TEAMS K David Akers: David Akers has established himself as one of the most consistent kickers in the game. Akers was 27 of 32 field goal attempts last season and missed one extra point, his first XP miss in three seasons. He has a big leg and during pre-game warm-ups often boots field goals 60 yards or better. P Dirk Johnson: Dirk Johnson has established himself as a solid punter. Improving every year, he finished the 2004 season averaging 42.1 yards per punt, pinning 20 of them inside the 20 yard line. Return Men: This is all speculation right now as all of the return duties are up for grabs. DB Rod Hood is expected to field kickoffs with rookie Ryan Moats. DB Dexter Wynn is expected to field punts. Hood and Wynn did an excellent job with their respective roles last season and it will be their jobs to lose. BOTTOM LINE With or without Owens, the Eagles should easily win the NFC East and make it to the post season. A team with so much talent on both sides of the ball should not accept anything less. 867611[/snapback] Good analysis--I'd say that hits the mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Good analysis--I'd say that hits the mark. 867654[/snapback] Ok, there was just no need to quote that entire thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylive5 Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 ...., but don't rip us. 867582[/snapback] There is no 'us' .... just you. And I was not 'ripping' you, I was questioning your actually being a 'die-hard' Redskin fan from the comments you made in an earlier post. Your adding an additional post about rooting against the 'skins to better a draft position just added fuel and insured that the fire would be out of control. I do not now, nor have I ever needed to be, a 'smart' fan. I am a fan, period. Thick or thin, good owner bad owner, win lose, makes no never mind. I prefer to see them win of course, but I understand that just like life, there are ups and downs. You make it through them and as always..... hope springs eternal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spain Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 And I think yer dead wrong about Gibbs and Ramsey--Gibbs has taken an unbelievable amount of heat up here for the Brunell travesty. Everyone in the league knew Brunell was done but Gibbs, Snyder and Cerratto and Gibbs got burned real bad. He is not used to that and learned from it. So while I agree that the Campbell pick showed he is looking in a different direction in the future, this year is all Ramseys and he can do what he wants with it like Brees in SD (or far worse). I will bet now that barring injuries Campbell never takes the field on a meaningful play this season. All accounts out of minis have been Ramsey is a different guy, far more cool and collected. And he has been in the entire offseason. And yes, I am a homer. 867352[/snapback] Gibbs did take alot of heat for the Brunnell debacle, and rightfully so. As we all could clearly see, Brunnell had nothing left, and yet, Gibbs stuck with him in light of the obvious. Did he stick with him so long because he thought Brunnel could play, or to justify the big $$ he gave Brunnell? Or was it because he lacked confidence that Ramsey could do any better? I dont know to be real honest. But Ramsey will need to step up this year or else he will be stepping out of Washington next year. If Ramsey does improve significantly, then I believe the Skins can make the playoffs. The Eagles are still the class of the division(is it an oxymoron to use the words "Eagles" and "class" in the same sentence?). But the Giants are horrible and the Cowboys have Julius Jones on offense and nothing else. The door is open for the Skins, but whether Ramsey can lead them through it remains to be seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffian Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Ok, there was just no need to quote that entire thing. 867704[/snapback] Sorry about that. Force of habit. :doah: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Where did I go wrong? 867558[/snapback] To yer credit you've probably been a Redskins fan longer than the Cowboys have been a franchise. Nevertheless I'd start there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylive5 Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 To yer credit you've probably been a Redskins fan longer than the Cowboys have been a franchise. 867879[/snapback] Oh, yes. I can well remember the days before cowboys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmoore Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 (edited) The Jags have a realistic chance of making the playoffs, they can finish 10-6, maybe even 11-5. The reason mainly has to do with scheduling: they play the NFC West, @Cleveland, Balt. and the Titans(2x) are in a down year. If they can make it to the bye week 3-3 (SEA, @IND, @NYJ, DEN, CIN, @PIT) they will be in good shape. That looks tough. These first 6 weeks are by far the meat of the schedule. After that, it softens up considerably. Jags 2005 schedule Several things (as with all teams) have to happen: 1) Taylor has to be able to play most of the season 2) Jags have to win the games they are suppossed to win 3) Win one or two in which they are underdogs I bring up #2 and #3 b/c the Jags are a young team and I feel they are learning these lessons that veteran teams already know. I know all the coaches talk about "one game at a time", but if you look at the schedule as a whole, there are some games that Jax should win for sure. They have to mature as a team and play like the conender that they are being tagged with (in some circles). If not, they will have had their 2 years as Cinderella picks and people will ignore them. Overall, the defense is good, we have teh best DTs in the league. They need to get answers @ right corner (please DO NOT sign Ty Law for that kind of $$), Byron will be a year better, we have a good K now, and the O-line has been improved. The WR core is underrated, they should have a good year. 10-6, wildcard berth, hopefully winning one game in the playoffs if they get a good draw. Anything more would exceed expectations (which is fine by me). Thanks for the time....let's kickoff! Edited July 7, 2005 by cmoore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skins Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 (edited) AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED EVERY LAST ONE A YA IS A HYPOCRITE!!!!!!!! There isn't one guy in here, (NOT ONE!!!!!) who hasn't at some point made a joke that their homer team should throw games to go after a higher draft pick to his buddies. NOT ONE!!!!!!! No teams haven't had a bad spell and ya know those draft pick cracks come a flyin!! Am I right or am I right!?!?!? 867497[/snapback] I dont remember ever joking about it myself but the comments here are not about jokes but actually rooting for yer team to lose. There is a difference between saying "well, this was a tough one, my team will at least get the draft pick, doh" and "man, I cant wait to see them get their d***s knocked in the dirt by our rivals for that bomb diggity draft pick." How does hoping for a loss for the sake of draft position make you a bandwagon fan??? I think it just makes you a smart fan. Sure, winning is nice whenever it happens, but once your team is out of playoff contention it is in ITS BEST INTERESTS to lose. Remember what the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers did in the 2002-2003 season?? They lost on purpose, fielded a terrible team on purpose, so they could get more lottery balls. And what did they get out of it??? A draft pick by the name of Lebron James. Worked out pretty well, I think. So please, stop ripping us smart fans for hoping for the best for our teams. While you root for your 5-10 team to win their final game to finish at 6-10, I'll root for them to lose and go to 5-11. Matter of preference, really, but don't rip us. 867582[/snapback] Yer a "smart" fan. Maybe if "smart" means "crappy" or "Athenaey". Edited July 7, 2005 by skins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chessmaster Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 I dont remember ever joking about it myself but the comments here are not about jokes but actually rooting for yer team to lose. There is a difference between saying "well, this was a tough one, my team will at least get the draft pick, doh" and "man, I cant wait to see them get their d***s knocked in the dirt by our rivals for that bomb diggity draft pick." Yer a "smart" fan. Maybe if "smart" means "crappy" or "Athenaey". 867950[/snapback] Alright. While you celebrate over the two victories the Redskins finished with last season that moved their record up from 4-10 to 6-10, I will be upset that their first round draft pick dropped from a top 5 pick to the 9th overall pick. If they had wanted Carlos Rogers all along, they could have traded down from #3 or so to #9 and get an extra second round pick. That is significant. How much better will they be this year because of those two victories?? Marginally, at best. The Redskins always seem to finish out the season with wins, and it never does them any good. All it does is drop them down from the top of the draft into the middle range, where they miss out on the top talent. Hope that makes you happy!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spain Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Oh, yes. I can well remember the days before cowboys. 867892[/snapback] Wow you are old! I think Cowboys have been around since around the mid 1800's or so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheHate Me Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 forgive the late reply... but I've just come out of hiding and am still a little punch drunk from the haymaker I caught from Ricky 4:20 Williams... Life long Miami fan, but just haven't had the heart to keep up on the happenings this year... Any other Dolphin fans out there who can bring me up to speed, would be much appreciated! --SheHate Me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sox Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED EVERY LAST ONE A YA IS A HYPOCRITE!!!!!!!! There isn't one guy in here, (NOT ONE!!!!!) who hasn't at some point made a joke that their homer team should throw games to go after a higher draft pick to his buddies. NOT ONE!!!!!!! No teams haven't had a bad spell and ya know those draft pick cracks come a flyin!! Am I right or am I right!?!?!? 867497[/snapback] I've never joked or wanted it. As a Bengals fan,it just always seemed to work out that way in the pre-Marvin era. Thankfully,those days are over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawks21 Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 To all of you who have never rooted for their team to get a better draft pick, I must admit I admire your pride---yet loathe your lack of creativity. If the Seahawks are in a position where they are say, 5-9, I darn well better see the younger players getting their chances to see if they can outperform the bums that put us at 5-9. I could care less whether they win or lose, I'm really just watching the younger guys hoping some of them look like "players". I mean I guess any win shows heart, which is essential to the character of the team, but I would almost say that getting a higher draft pick is more important than getting your 6th win. I'm sorry I'm not important cause I'm not a Dolphins fan or a Redskins fan or a Bears fan or a fan of a team with such dignity (get over yourselves already!!!), but rough times call for drastic measures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhereAreMyRedShoes! Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 I'll keep is short and sweet. Marco and Julius are the keys. If they are both healthy this team will push the Eagles for the division. It is really that simple for the Cowboys. The defense obviously will rebound and Bledsoe will just have to not make a ton of mistakes. If Rivera and Jones can play 13 or more games, he won't. 865974[/snapback] crackhead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhereAreMyRedShoes! Posted July 9, 2005 Share Posted July 9, 2005 crackhead 870720[/snapback] Bump one Bump two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herdmaster Posted July 10, 2005 Share Posted July 10, 2005 It's good to see that some things have not changed here..LOL!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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