ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS OF DEC. 14-15 – FILE – In an Aug. 24, 2013, file photo Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65) sets up to block at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla. Jason Peters, Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Todd Herremans and Lane Johnson don’t get much recognition, but coaches and teammates credit the big guys upfront for helping the offense lead the NFL in rushing. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, file)
Lane Johnson went 4th overall in the 2013 NFL draft and represents the last time the Eagles selected an offensive lineman.
Two tackles, two guards, a center, the offensive line makes up the largest “starting” position group in football. Simple math would suggest that it’s probably a good idea to “add” to the number rather than deduct from it.
Chip Kelly dismissed questions about why he failed to draft a single offensive lineman over the last 20 rounds since the Lane Johnson selection. Chip elected to go with “backups” after releasing his starting veteran guards in 2015.
Fast forward to the 2016 offseason for the Eagles, the offensive line must be addressed after nearly three years of being totally neglected. What do the Eagles currently have with their projected 2016 lineup? When dealing with an offensive line, having stability and familiarity can hide a lot of deficiencies. I feel Pederson as a former NFL quarterback understands exactly how important the offensive line is for whatever quarterback he elects to go with.
All signs point to the new Eagles head coach keeping Jason Peters on the roster. Pederson went public with how he things of Peters, and I’m in total support of this move. Yes, he was hurt often last season and struggled at times even when healthy enough to be on the field. I believe that even at his price tag, he is worth keeping in the starting lineup for the 2016 season.
I see the potential for a dominant bounce back year for a few reasons. Not being forced to train the way necessary for Chip Kelly’s system in addition to the more natural pace of the game with Pederson’s offense will certainly benefit how Peters approaches his offseason program. I think this will help his overall help both heading into training camp and throughout the season.
Jason Kelce had his worst season as an Eagle in 2015. Simply put, too many penalties, a list of obvious and unnecessary mistakes made at costly points in the drive. And then there are the botched snaps which I have “zero” tolerance for. As an undersized player, Kelce is going to lose some 1:1 battles; he relies on his athleticism and speed to earn his paycheck. With how poorly the guards played last year, Kelce was thinking one way and moving the other.
I also feel that Kelce lost some of his edge, both with his play and with his “attitude.” I felt that Kelce was “Chip Kelly Jr.” with how he talked to the media at times, it felt superficial, but maybe that’s just me.
Lane Johnson received one heck of an extension this offseason and has been a “good” player during his three seasons with the Eagles. I’ve yet to see signs that Johnson can be dominant in the NFL, I need better consistency. I understand his new contract is based on the theory of him shifting to left tackle. In 2016, I need to see a Pro Bowl invitation. I want his game tape to show a player hungry for the future left tackle position and not a guy merely accepting the role by default.
The depth behind the likes of Kelce, Johnson or Peters is rather pathetic. Watching Kelly, Tobin, Gardner, Barbre and Molk over the last two seasons has been difficult and at times embarrassing. If it was me, I’d get rid of them all, but that won’t happen. The cap hit is cheap to retain serviceable backups like Gardner and Kelly for a minimum of one more season.
I do want to shed some light on the state of the offensive line. I feel confident the Eagles can fix their issues at offensive guard, plus add depth at center and find a tackle to step in for Jason Peters after the 2017 season. (I predict Peters plays two more years in Philadelphia).
Two veteran offensive guards that have already surfaced as potential free agent targets are Jeff Allen who played in Kansas City last year, and recently released Philadelphia native Jahri Evans who spent his entire NFL career with the Saints. I don’t expect the Eagles to sign them both. Allen would certainly be my preference over Evans. Allen has yet to reach his ceiling while Evans has declined the last two seasons, but he has also battled a few nagging injuries. I feel the Eagles could get away with signing a veteran and plugging in a rookie at the other guard position.
In terms of the draft, I really like the depth and have several prospects targeted in every round of the draft. If I’m the Eagles, I’m walking away from the draft with a minimum of three offensive linemen.
There are plenty of guards who have also played center during their collegiate career and vice versa.
There are also tackles who have played guard, allowing for the Eagles to initially use them at guard and then slide them out to tackle when Peters leaves.
With the 13th overall pick, unless Notre Dame offensive-tackle Ronnie Staley dropped to the Eagles, I’m not sold on the other available tackles. I’m also not reaching for a guard. I know the Eagles like the top rated guard out of Kansas State; they spoke to him twice at the senior bowl. I’d prefer the Eagles to trade back in the round if they do plan to address the offensive line, either drafting Cody Whitehair (KSU) or Vadal Alexander (LSU).
If the Eagles bypass on taking an offensive lineman in round one, no need to panic.
I’ll get into the prospects I like as the draft nears, and this is a very good class. The Eagles can only help their cause by signing veterans, and there will be plenty of tier two-tier three guys that won’t command huge salaries.
Out of all of the positions the Eagles need to address in the 2016 offseason, fixing the holes at offensive line is the one area I feel they have the best chance to “immediately” improve.
Bring in Evans or allen. Either one would provide depth and experience. Add another 2 in the draft and you have a experienced oline that all have played at this level at some point in their career.
Am in the only one who thought allen barbre played decent for most of the season?? Tobin and kelly are both young and could all play better with a more slowed down methodical approach. Asking a 34 year old peters to run every play was just absurd.
Neither Matt Tobin nor Dennis Kelly can play, nor should they be in the NFL. They both repeatedly got beat like a drum by the man in front of them, the tempo is designed to help the O line due to pace, snap count, and conditioning. Neither of them can block..period. Turnstyle Tobin and Can’t Play Kelly are not good enough to be back ups. Just because they are in the NFL does not mean they are NFL caliber players..they both suck and are mistakes on any NFL roster!
agree. they are both awful
sign 2 of Kelechi Osemele, jeff alen, and alex boone.
draft a tackle @ 13 for peters replacement
at least the birds can walk away and improve on this lack of talent in Tobin and Kelly, unfortunately they are stuck with equally inept DE talent in Graham and Curry at $7.5 – 9 million each who perform as bad defensively as Tobin and Kelly do offensively
With the limited snaps Curry has had he has played very well production wise, it was a joke and an embarrassment that Chip played his Oregon guy Taylor “Trash” Hart in front of him. We will see what graham does as a vet 4-3 D End. I think Graham is in for a big year in Schwartz’s scheme. We will see.
Do you think Chip will be interested in trading for Taylor Hart? He probably can wait it out as Hart will be cut from the Eagles.
Barbre was decent, but I feel the Eagles are “decent” in simply too many areas. For a team like the Eagles who have the type of money committed to the running back position, a “good” offensive line is needed to make the whole thing work. Mizzouri, Arkansas, Michigan, Iowa all have guards coming out in this draft that the Eagles can grab in round 3-5.
I feel the offensive line can really be a position of strength if addressed the right way between free agency and the draft.
Imagine if the Eagles end up signing two veteran guards in free agency, or if they tag Bradford, or if they bring back Thurmond.
How Pederson approaches free agency will really determine the draft plan. I’ve stated how important this draft is for the Eagles.
I’m personally tired of excusing the type of contribution the Eagles receive from their day 1 and day 2 selections these last few drafts.
I don’t think Kelce and Murray can succeed together. Kelce is good at pulling and blocking in movement particularity in the flats but is sub par blocking in the trenches because of lack of strength and size. Murray is good running between tackles and sub par rushing in flats because lack of agility & too big of a frame. Subsequently it made either called play in the trenches or flats a defensive advantage because of the either or individual sub par talent of one of the players.
free pass from the fans and media on Jason Peters. Leaked info began to come out that Peters wasn’t going to risk injury playing for Chip Kelly late in the year while simultaneous collecting 9 million. That kind of ” Strategic Thinking ” by Jason Peters is not something I’m interested in cheering. Time to move on.
Even IF the Eagles “hit” on their Oline draft picks this year it takes 2 years for an NFL olineman to become comfortable (maybe a little less for a guard, more for a tackle)
Perhaps a FA guard can quicken the process, but after being neglected for 3 years, the rebuilding of the oline is a 2-3 year PROJECT.
2 seasons from now there will be:
Johnson at LT
?? at LG
Kelce at C
?? at RG
?? at RT
And then they’ll have to play together for another year or two to really jell.
This is going to be a long term, slow rebuild because it has to be….and it will go and in hand with a slow, long-term plan at QB.
End of story.
This year witht he first pick the Wagles are going OT or QB. Next year they will choose the pooisite. If it was QB in 2016, it’ll be OT in 2017. If its OT in 2016, then it will be QB in 2017.
They are going to rebuild a young oline to go with the young QB to go with their young Wrs and TE.
Simple really.
As far as O linemen are concerned, Laremy Tunsil will be picked way before the Eagles choose, if the QB’s Goff and Wentz are off the board and Ronnie Stanley is available, you take him. Jason Spriggs, Taylor Decker nor Jack Conklin are worth the # 13 pick, none of the Guards are either. If Stanley is gone and WR Laquan Treadwell is available I take him. The WR corps needs to be rebuilt. Since Kelly liked Huff so much the Eagles need to see if Chip is interested in trading for him. I then go after Braxton Miler also. Treadwell and Miller with Mathews is a formidable receiving corps that can grow together. I am not an Agholor guy despite what Cliff says. I hope Agholor proves me wrong as it would only help the Eagles….after all, I do not have an issue admitting when I am wrong about a player.
I think we can all agree Andrew luck is a stud. Great mobility and arm and great body. Has been to three postseason games advancing further each season. Andrew luck having playoff experience and being able to get there has alot to do with being in the biggest joke division that Peyton feasted off of his whole colt career. He was pretty much guaranteed 6 wins every year, only needing to go 5-5 in the 10 non divison games to go 11-5 3 consecutive seasons.
Look what happened to him last season when he didn’t have a running game at all. Along with aaron Rodgers. These guys all struggled. U need to to establish a running game early to get the offense rolling. It doesn’t need to be a record breaking great running attack, but at least a formidable one. If these guys, who are great qbs and have had the same system and coaches every season would strugale, a qb In a new system with two torn acls wouldn’t?
It’s not rocket science. Build around ur qb and stop switching it every year like the Browns do. Joe flacco, cutler, Colin, Ryan Tannehill, romo, Matt ryan, Phillips rivers all make nearly 20 mill a season.
If they can make 20 mill, then so can bradford. Quit complaining about money that doesn’t belong to us. Howie will find a way to make it work if we sign sam.
Let the cap master do his job if he comes back
” Joe flacco, cutler, Colin, Ryan Tannehill, romo, Matt ryan, Phillips rivers all make nearly 20 mill a season.”
lmfao. yea look at how those teams that built around those players doin, and all them got way more talent then sam bustford
Not all of them have more talent on their teams then sam. Sam will probably have a better defense backing up him then all of them next year if he stays as well.
Sam can be the guy. Period. He’s 28, not 35.
To come back from two knee injuries should show u all have much he is dedicated to this game. He can only go up from here
Good morning Kool. Just waking up, getting ready for the late shift? LMFAO
If one of the top 3 QBs are there at 13 (even if we bring back Bradford) you have to take him. If a stud OT falls, you take him otherwise, best to move back, pick up an additional pick and take an OT (Decker, Conklin, or OG, Cody Whitehair). An oline of: Peters, Allen, Kelce, Rookie, Johnson could be pretty good with Gardner, Barbre, and a rookie as depth. Of course if we don’t resign Bradford, we will be chasing an unproven draft choice and will have to hope we can find linemen later in the draft.
Jon hart can you ask your source why the hell this would make any sense for us ?
Anderson Varejao – F/C – Cavaliers
The Cavs are considering a trade that would include Anderson Varejao, according to Frank Isola of the NY Daily News.
This report adds Philadelphia and Portland as possible destinations. A trade could help AV get minutes, but there is no reason to stash Varejao in almost any leagues.
Source: Frank Isola on Twitter Feb 17 – 5:21 PM
Ben McLemore – G – Kings
I have decided that none of this matters. Until this team has a Franchise QB (Defined for this purpose as a starter they have committed Multiple years to) no move has any meaning at all. If it takes 3 years to find that QB Half of these concerns are all different. This team needs to have a message for its locker room and for the Fans.
We are The Browns. We are The Raiders. We are every rudderless team trying to hold water in a fish net.
The Houston Texans are reported as looking at round 1 for their new Qb. Big difference between spot 22 and spot 13.
Eagles could still grab a tackle or guard at 22 while also picking up some additional picks.
Something to keep in mind for draft trade buzz…
Think Connor Cook to Christian Hackenburg as it concerns the Texans. Moving from 22 to 13 would command a nice haul of draft picks.
that should bring the eagle the 53rd pick (right around there)
Connor Cook doesn’t check the team leader/ personality test. PASS!
Two words… Jayson Tatum
This kid is amazing
If you don’t know who he is YouTube him…
He may be worth tanking for one more year hahahhah I kid I kid…
Right now he’s 6’9 205, extremely athletic has deep range, can make every shot, can take you off the dribble, fearless, attacks the rim ferociously, has good court vision passing the ball
Hes a senior in HS and has committed to duke
Let’s hope that kings pick ends up being 1st overall next year because we’ll have the right to swap that year as well
Exactly what the Sixers need, a Andrew Wiggins or Paul George type wing like this Tatum or his USA teamate Josh Jackson. Jeremi Grant has that skill set athletically but cannot hit the 3 pointer. Covington can hit the 3 pointer but cannot dribble at all or defend well.
And Brandon Ingram is Kevin Durant 2.0… What an amazing scorer..
Sixers gonna have to make some tough decisions…
Naaahhh…..
Naahhh what cliff?!
His game is very similar to Durants
Durant had bad games at Texas too so did many other nba superstars
Yes I’d take Simmons 1st overall because he can do more on the court RIGHT NOW but this kid Ingram is also special, a very gifted scorer
Don’t try to minimize and marginalize him because you have had an infatuation with Ben Simmons for the past year or so
There are other prospects that can ball too
No it’s not Jon…..not even close.
You do this every year, inflating players that aren’t as good as you think. This infatuation with Brandon Ingram too shall pass……guarantee it just like I did last year with Tyler Ennis, and DeAngelo Russell.
He wouldn’t make any decision for the Sixers hard at all.
I don’t see a potential impact NBA Player. There are players like him all over the NBA.. he’s just the latest…but you’re welcome to your opinion JH…lol…
He reminds me a little of a Donyell Marshal, Jeremi Grant type player.
Durant can run the point, he can’t, so you can’t be serious…
I agree that there is more talent in the draft than just Simmons, I just don’t think he is really one of them.
Louisville exposed Brandon Ingram’s court vision yesterday. They double teamed him immediately at the 3 point line. He shriveled under that pressure for double digit turnovers. Jahlil Okafor inherited the same problem from Duke. Unwillingness to release the basketball before the known double team arrives. ( selfish basketball)