Howie Roseman: Likes players buying in, But regrets “good players who fall by the wayside”

Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman says he likes what he seeing at Nova Care Complex as Chip Kelly and the Eagles go through their OTA’s.  Roseman likes the uptempo, high energy workouts, which show a motivated and enthused football team.

“The most important thing we have is buy-in from our players. When you see how hard they’re working, how hard they’re training, I think that’s the reason for optimism, that they’re buying in.”

Yes the players are working hard, but working hard in and of itself doesn’t matter.  Everybody is working hard during the offseason. I don’t think that’s a big deal during the off season.  Players are trying to make the team and show Kelly what they can do.

The important time will be early in the next season, when players are playing in the new system.  How much success are they having in the new system?  If they’re struggling then, Kelly’s job will be tougher to keep them committed to the system.

If they’re playing well offensively, running the ball effectively, wearing down the opposing line and pummeling the other team, then you’re going to have the players buying in.

When a coach or his system helps a player become more productive, then you’ve got yourself a player who will buy in.  If they don’t succeed, then the players will not be committed to the coach and system.  Kelly needs success and  I’m interested in seeing how much early success the Eagles have next year.

Roseman doesn’t like the thought of the Eagles getting rid of good players, who have been productive during their careers with the Birds, but he knows some will be leaving the ball club in the near future.  It’s inevitable when a team changes coaches and systems.

“One of the things that’s hard for us and you’ve seen some of it this offseason, we’ve had players that were good players in a different scheme that we’ve invested in and it’s not going to turn over”.

“For me, that’s different because we’ve been with one head coach, but when you talk with people around the league, they tell you, ‘When you change coaches, when you change schemes, there are going to be good players who fall by the wayside,’ and that’s hard for the general manager because you know it’s a good player. You know in a different scheme he’s going to be a good player, but at the same time you know it’s not a good fit for you.”

I know he’s probably dreading the idea of saying good-bye to Trent Cole.  The defensive end turned linebacker doesn’t look like a good bet to make the team.  Cole is a liability when dropping into coverage against running backs, tight ends and wide receivers.  He’s also not suited to playing head up on the biggest offensive tackles in the league.

Cole is probably going to play for somebody else next year and he’ll play well, but he doesn’t fit into what the Eagles are doing defensively.

Vinny Curry was drafted a year ago to be a pass rushing defensive end in a 4-3 defense.  Now he’s being asked to play the defensive end position in a 3-4, which is totally different.  Curry isn’t big enough to play defensive end in a 3-4.  He’s also not fast or quick enough to play outside linebacker.  The young man will likely be playing elsewhere in 2013.

Last year the Birds drafted Nick Foles in the third round and he looked promising when he took over for Michael Vick, but does he fit in what Chip Kelly wants to do.  Can you really see Foles running the read option?  Could Foles be the Eagles quarterback of the future despite his slow feet?

Tight end Clay Harbor is a long shot to make the team, now that Zach Ertz and James Casey have been acquired via the draft and free agency.  He’s young, with good speed and he’s improving.  Harbor will catch on with another team if he’s released.

In the end, we’re going to be forced to wait and see exactly which players Roseman was talking about.