• March 19, 2024

Eagles 2015 Potential Breakouts And Let Downs

KikoAlonsoOTA1Under The Radar

Kiko Alonso

Alonso is the guy that I’m most excited to see out of all of the Eagles’ new acquisitions.

He’s overflowing with upside, and before the year is over I think he has a real chance to not just become a solid contributor to the linebacking corp, but become the face of the entire defense.

Lane Johnson

 I think the offensive line could potentially be a major problem for the Eagles in 2015. The interior of the line is weak, Jason Peters is aging, and I personally believe that center Jason Kelce is a little overrated (his size hurts the team in short yardage situations, and could be a bigger issue working with weaker guards this season).

However, Lane Johnson is the one guy on the line whose arrow may be pointing up.

Entering his third season, the former top draft pick should really begin to hit his stride. He’s had two years in the system, and it’s time for him to make his mark. Johnson has gotten a little overlooked in the offensive line conversation to this point, but if the line turns out to be a strength for the team then Johnson will have to be a huge factor in that.

Vinny Curry

Ever since Vinny Curry arrived in Philadelphia, the Eagles’ coaching staffs have just stared at him and scratched their heads, completely unsure of how to use him or how to find him playing time.

Curry picked up nine sacks last season in very limited playing time, and is now in a contract year. Now the Eagles have been giving him some work at outside linebacker to help improve their depth.

If Brandon Graham were to struggle or underwhelm, the opportunity is going to be there for Curry to swoop in and earn even more snaps.

Overhyped

DeMarco Murray

Murray/Kelly defenders will argue that Murray is the “north-south runner that Kelly needs”, but the reality is that the former Cowboy is stepping into a situation where he has significantly less talent around him than he did a year ago which could make it very hard for him to look like the same player he was a year ago.

When I’ve listened to Eagles fans talk about LeSean McCoy this off-season, I’m really blown away by the mentality that I hear. I believe everyone is greatly overblowing the negative aspects of McCoy’s game. Sure, he was indecisive at times, and maybe had more negative yardage plays than Chip Kelly would have liked. But the way everyone has spoken of him, you’d think that McCoy did nothing but run for negative yards all season.

McCoy’s offensive line was in shambles for most of the year. Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Todd Herremans, Allen Barbre, and Lane Johnson all missed significant chunks of time throughout the year, meaning that McCoy had the likes of David Molk, Andrew Gardner, Matt Tobin, Dennis Kelly, and Wade Smith rotating in and out of his lineup. And yet, he still managed to gain over 1,300 yards.

The offensive line this season has two massive question marks at the guard positions, and Jason Peters is also a concern to me as his play wasn’t quite up to par at the end of last season.

Murray no longer has Dez Bryant to scare defenses into scheming around to try to take away a dynamic receiving threat. The Eagles certainly have talent at the wide receiver position, but none of their guys are even in the same ballpark as Bryant.

Brandon Graham

If there’s one aspect of the Eagles’ off-season that I was on board with, it was the various upgrades on the defensive side of the ball.

However, one move that I completely disagreed with was the contract extension that the Eagles gave to linebacker Brandon Graham.

Graham was a solid contributor in a part-time role last season, but he’s shown nothing that suggests he’s a starter in this league. When given a chance to start for an injured Trent Cole late last season, Graham was quiet as a mouse in a must-win situation against the Washington Redskins. I’m not all convinced that the Eagles made the right move committing to him long-term.

I would have rather seen the Eagles save their cap space, and give an opportunity to Vinny Curry, who has been even more productive than Graham with even fewer snaps. Worst case scenario, if Curry couldn’t do the job, the club could have still turned to either Kiko Alonso or Mychal Kendricks on the outside.

The long-term ramifications of Graham’s extension will likely cost this team the chance to keep a couple of superior players. The Eagles may have Graham locked up, but he may only be an average player, and his contract will likely cost the team a chance to re-sign both Vinny Curry or Mychal Kendricks to fill a similar role.

Mark Sanchez

Not buying the Sanchez hype, not a little bit.

We’ve heard all off-season that Sanchez is making great strides, and could serve as legitimate competition to Sam Bradford for the starting job. We’ve been told Sanchez looks great, and could do greater things in the second year under Chip Kelly.

I’ve heard a lot of Eagles fans suggest that the Eagles could be at least a 10-win team under Sanchez.

Utterly laughable.

Sanchez is a heartbreaker. As a backup quarterback, he’s decent. He can come in, run the system, and if he isn’t asked to do too much he can be a somewhat passable game-manager.

But when the chips are down, and the team needs to be lifted by their quarterback, Sanchez is the guy who more often than not will find a way to commit a backbreaking turnover as he did in several big games last year.

Denny Basens

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armyprince
armyprince
July 30, 2015 9:39 pm

Let’s see the old shit on anything that is popular DeMarco for example and if he only gets 1300 yards say “I told you so”. Denny I disagree with Kelce being overrated. How is he called a top Center in the league by experts but be overrated? “Small”? has not hurt him that much. He is the most athletic Center in the league. lets stop all the damn nitpicking. Running game improved when he got back in the lineup.

deserteagle
deserteagle
July 31, 2015 10:06 am

Couldn’t disagree more with the assessment of Kielce.Hes the QB on the O line ,calls the blocking schemes and although size matters ,so too does brains and attention to details.

deserteagle
deserteagle
July 31, 2015 10:08 am

As far as Sanchez his body language and leadership(or lack of) qualities are what they are.Im agreeable that as a back up ,he’s quite capable ,but to count on him as a starter he s quite culpable.

paulman
paulman
July 31, 2015 1:12 pm

My List of Under the Radar

Offense –
RB – Ryan Matthews could be a better fit as he’s quicker and more athletic than what people think and a very good receiver out of the Backfield..
WR – Josh Huff needs to step it up in his 2nd Season.. He had 9 Catches last year and Im expected about a jump of 40-45 Receptions plus Run some Reverses/Kick-Off’s,

Defense
CB – Nolan Carroll – All Eyes are on Big Free-Agent Byron Maxwell but the key to any success the Eagles Secondary has will be how well Carroll plays
DE – Vinny Curry – Can he continue to shine in a limited role, can he get an expanded role and get Double-Digits Sacks .. I think he can if utilized more

Here is my Overhyped List
Offense
QB- Sam Bradford – I’ve written enough already about how I am not a Sam Bradford Fan, Hopefully this QB Friendly System is what he needs to step up the mediocre to disappointing Career he has had thus far in the NFL
HC – Chip Kelly – Eagles are facing a lot of physical Front 7 Defenses this Season, what is Chip Kelly going to do different in 2015 from his first 2 Seasons in preparing the Eagles Offense which had been ineffective against the better Defenses .. See Cardinals,49ers, Seahawk Games last Season
This Year the Eagles face Jets,Bills,Panthers,Pats, Cardinals, Dolphins (with N Suh)

Defense
ILB – DeMeco Ryans – Can he bounce back after injury and keep the younger players like Kendricks and Alonso off the field.. My guess is that its Ryans on the sidelines.. Not sure why he got the extension that he did to begin with, yes, Ryans is a great Teammate and Natural Leader, but I have a hard time believing that the Eagles 2015 Defensive Success will occur often with either Kendricks/Alonso on the sidelines.. K & A need to be on the Field

paulman
paulman
July 31, 2015 1:21 pm

Paulman’s Starting Eagles Defense for 2015

Base Defense
DL – Cox,Logan & Thornton
LB – Graham,Alonso, Ryans & Barwin
CB – Maxwell, Carroll
Safeties – Malcolm Jenkins & Thurmond

In Obvious Passing Downs

DL – Curry, Cox, & Graham
LB – Barwin, Alonso & Kendricks
CB’s – Maxwell, Carroll & Boykin
Safety – M Jenkins & Thurmond

paulman
paulman
July 31, 2015 1:32 pm

Bad News for Eagles

Redskins Sign OLB Junior Gallete to a 1 Year Deal who was released from
the Saints last week for off the field issues (Domestic Violence Case Pending)
Since I live in Panthers territory I see the Saints quite a bit and this guy is a handful and tough to block on passing situations as he’s built load to the ground and wide but very strong.. (Built similar to Terrell Suggs in my Opinion) and now gives the Redskins Rushes Ryan Kerrigan & Junior Galette on the outside which are going to be tough match-ups for the Eagles and everyone else.. Gallette is athletic enough like Suggs to be moved around the formations and I expect he will be coming up the gut often versus the interior of the Eagles OL (Tobin/Kelce)

Redskins are putting together a very good Team and a very physical Team
this Off-Season and if RG3 Rebounds at all, which is a big If, they could very well be the Surprise Team of the NFC along with the Vikings in my opinion

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 31, 2015 1:41 pm
Reply to  paulman

why is it bad news for the eagles? i don’t get it? its professional football, physical specimens are everywhere? so the skins sign another asshole…. they do it all the time so what? bad news for the eagles you are stupid.

paulman
paulman
July 31, 2015 2:10 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Go Ask QB’s Sam Bradford and or Mark Sanchez if it’s Good News..
The Current Eagles OL does not match up well versus the Redskins Front 7

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 31, 2015 2:50 pm
Reply to  paulman

Are you saying the saints don’t need good players? Damn they have a Sb coach with lots of control and they cut a player that the eagles should lose sleep over. Paul you seem like a nice man, but you like sports you don’t know sports…

paulman
paulman
July 31, 2015 3:44 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Sean Payton and has been cleaning house over for the last Year for the Saints…
Players with questionable character flaws have been shown the door..

OLB J Gallete is a Pro-Bowl Talent when Motivated and after getting humiliated and cut by the Saints, he will be a Holy Terror for whoever he faces in 2015

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 31, 2015 4:13 pm
Reply to  paulman

Another coach saying goodbye asshole? Do you think Payton has SB aspirations? I bet he does! So this asshole gets a sack or two…do you think he is the only guy the eagles play that will get a sack? Jesus Christ Reggie white was the greatest sack guy of all time and didn’t win until he had a QB…. Bruce smith got some sacks….I’m so scared!

paulman
paulman
July 31, 2015 4:52 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Bottom line, the Redskins Front 7 just got much better with the addition of OLB Galette and As an Eagles Fan knowing the Eagles have OL has ??? As it is, and have a QB whose skittish in the Pocket as Bradford is, Yes, I am concerned

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 31, 2015 5:55 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Bottom line, Sean Peyton is smarter than you, has more at stake than you and he feels better going to SB without said player… That’s the bottom line

paulman
paulman
July 31, 2015 1:47 pm

2015 NFC Predictions

EAST – Cowboys 10-6
NORTH – Packers 12-4
SOUTH – Panthers 10-6
WEST – Seahawks 11-5

Wildcard Teams
Vikings – 10-6
Rams – 9-7 (Beat out Eagles, Redskins in Tie Breaks)

Wildcard Weekend
Panthers over Rams
Cowboys over Vikings

Divisional Weekend
Packers over Panthers
Cowboys over Seahawks

NFC Championship
Packers over Cowboys

armyprince
armyprince
July 31, 2015 6:25 pm

Paulman I like you. Mainly because you go against the grain and you take your lumps. But sometimes I wonder if you try to hard to not be a homer. The Rams beating the Eagkes in a tie breaker? Come on. That post gonna bring out the Sharks lol.

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 31, 2015 6:39 pm

He throws shit against the wall he is neither loyal nor disloyal. His only job is to say stupid shit … Predict both sides if every argument

armyprince
armyprince
July 31, 2015 9:02 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Cigar I see that. My only issue is so you really love the eagles? I mean every move sucks or is not good. He has the Rams doing better than us.