Yesterday the Eagles concluded their 2012 training camp and head coach Andy Reid was pleased with the work they got done during their time at Lehigh University.
“The thing I was looking for was, were they going to carry over backing up to last season?” Reid said following an indoor walk-through as it poured outside. “Were they going to carry over that energy they had at the end of last season that they brought into the OTAs? Now could they bring it into this camp here? They seemed to do that.”
I have a problem with how the entire Eagles organization played down the four wins at the end of last season, yet at every instance when they get the chance, they’re playing up the four wins they had at the end of the season.
They beat a 6-10 Miami Dolphins team, 8-8 New York Jets team , 8-8 Dallas Cowboys team, and 5-11 Washington Redskins team. They didn’t play a good football team in the last four games, so there’s no reason to take these wins as a sign of turning the corner. Instead it could be categorized as merely a weak part of the schedule.
“Do we have a long way (to go)? Absolutely,” Reid said. “We need the rest of this preseason to get ourselves right for the season. But at least there’s a foundation there to build on. I’ve got an idea of their personality, and I like that part of it. But we’ve got to go do it and finish up these next few weeks very aggressively.”
“You could probably take that young group of players and say that it was good to see them progress,” said Reid. “It seemed like they were taking steps forward, not steps backwards. If they had an off day, they got right back on the horse and were better the next day. Without picking one person out of the bunch, I think, generally, that’s what you saw.”
I agree with Reid in that this year’s group of rookies are what stood out at training camp this year. I felt Fletcher Cox, Mychal Kendricks, Vinny Curry, Nick Foles, Bryce Brown and Damaris Johnson turned heads during this camp. I believe they’re all capable of making key contributions to a winning football team.
As to last season
How many times did they take leads into the 4th quarter or late second half and lose
And it wasn’t the defense who got all the blame
It was the offense who couldn’t even get first downs to spell the defense
We still go as far as VICK takes us and I’m not convinced he can get it done…..
I’m convinced he’s not a good enough QB because he simply hasn’t consistently stepped up his ability for the quick read and accurate release and I don’t think he ever will. I’ll be thrilled if proved wrong.
Best players in Camp in Paulman’s opinion
Returning Players who had excellent Camps.
DE Phillip Hunt DT Cedric Thornton, DE Brandon Graham, DT D Landri, LB Casey Matthews, CB DRC,Curtis Marsh & Trevor LIndley, RB Dion Lewis,TE Clay Harbor,OL Dannny Watkins, OL King Dunlap Dallas Reynolds, OL Mike Gibson,SS Kurt Coleman & Tom Nelson and Kicker A Henerey
Returning Players who Disappointed and took a step back
DT Antonio Dixon, LB Brian Rolle, CB Asmo, WR D-Jax & Maclin (who can’t stay healthy), QB M VIck, M Kafka, LB J Cheney (can’t stay healthy), LB Keenan Clayton, Safety Jarrett
New Players/Rookies who have played very well and have a shot of making the Roster with the Eagles or potentially with someone else if released
WR’s D Johnson, M Gilyard, J Hamler, M McNutt, TE Brackett, RB B Brown, FB/TE Emil Igwenagu, QB N Foles, DL V Curry, Monte Taylor, LB M Kendricks,Ryan Rau & Monte Simmons
New Players who are still finding their way and need to step it up if they are going to be the major contributors that many thought they would be
LT Demetress Bell, LB Demeco Ryans, S O Atogwe and QB Edwards (as a solid back-up) DT Fletcher Cox, OT DJ Jones
Returning Players that are Veterans and are going thru the motions of getting their bodies and minds in shape for the Regular Season who are consistent performers OL T Herremans, J Avant, T Cole, J Hanson, B Celek,
Best Rookies
LB Kendricks,DE Curry,QB Foles,CB Boykin,WR McNutt,RB Brown, WR D Johnson, CB Cliff Harris (when Healthy) and RB C Polk
Rookies who need to step up and be more consistent
DT Fletcher Cox, OT Dennis Kelly
seriously paulman i have watched 16 practices because i live in the lehigh valley and i’m retired. you must have derived your opinion from reading these writers because you don’t have a clue buddy
That’s sound great Greymares that you were able to see so many practices,
Why don’t you give us your opinion/evaluation of the Team and it’s Players then
Damarius Johnson seems like a decent WR.
McNutt seems decent.
We need Bell to step up and the o-line and i think this team may be relevent again.
Problem is with D-Jax/Maclin/Avant/Dmaris Johnson and Cooper, they have too many small, afraid to get hit type of Receivers to do any damage across the middle.. WHo is going to make the touch catches in the Red-Zone..
What’s the basis of your evaluation paulman, and if you are correct this team may be very good in a year or two, but mediocre this year
Jake, because I still don’t beleive they have addressed their biggest issues with the Team
#1) Red-Zone Efficiency on Offense — Who is the Big Red-ZOne Targets and don’t tell me D-Jax or Damarius Johnon
#2) Red-Zone Efficiency on Defense — Red Zone is where you really have to have strong Safety play and I am not so sure this present Safety Corp is up for the Challenge to be a top notch unit..
#3) Win the Turnover Battle — Eagles still have smallish WR’s and a QB with the propensity to cough up the ball when getting hit, then also did not add any ball hawks on Defense.. Both CB’s Asmo/DRC are good press Coverege players but don’t have very good hands .. Can Ryans and Kendricks at LB help cause and create Turnovers, Time will tell….
I am thinking about a 9-7 Record this Season, maybe 10-6 if things go well
Here’s a preliminary Mock Draft for 2013 for the Eagles 1st 4 Picks
Rd # 1 (18th Overall) OT Taylor Lewan (Michigan 6-7 305 lbs)
Rd # 2 (50th Overall) SS Kenny Vaccaro (Texas 6-1 215lbs)
Rd # 3 (82nd Overall MLB Nico Johnson (Alabama 6-2 247lbs)
Rd # 4 (114th Overall) TE Jake Stoneburner (Ohio State 6-5 245lbs)
Rd # 5 (146th Overall CB Desmon Trufant (Washington 6- 190lbs)
That’s it for now ..
I expect the Following Players off the Eagles Roster come after 2012
DT C Jenkins, DE Jason Babin, MLB Demeco Ryans, Safety O Atogwe
LT D Bell
Trade Nnamdi
The D-line should be acceptable. Ryans looked useless vs. the Steelers, Kendricks will be ok. The other LBs are sub-par. Nnamdi has been a disppointment, DRC is talented but only plays when he feels like it. The safeties may be average if the overachieve. Shady is excellent, but we will soon find out how excellent without J Peters. Jackson is a one trick pony, but he is good at that one trick, still has much to prove. Maclin is ok, not a solid #1 wideout. Celek has issues staying healthy, hurt again this camp. Harbor is average at best. The Oline may be good, but Peters’ loss is huge. Vick has a great deal to prove. Athleticism is not enough. He must become Rodgers, Brees, Brady, either Manning, etc or he will be a backup someplace else next year. The MV Expirience is over, he has to be a human pass targeting and defense deciphering machine or this team cannot succeed. Add in a very difficult schedule, and this team faces a very daunting task just to make the playoffs.