Analyzing the state of the Eagles roster after the conclusion of the draft, questions remain with the linebacker position.
Recall that heading into the 2015 season, one of the “strengths” for the Eagles was going to be their linebackers. The biggest takeaway from the linebacker play last season was the surprise of third round rookie Jordan Hicks. The Eagles were very fortunate that he would ready to take on such a significant role with all of the injuries to the linebacker core.
Quickly recapping the 2016 offseason with how it altered the state of the linebackers.
– The Eagles hired a defensive coordinator in Jim Schwartz that ran a 4-3 scheme.
– The team then parted ways with DeMeco Ryans.
– Former Buffalo Bills linebacker Nigel Bradham was signed.
– Kiko Alonso was traded to Miami.
– The majority of the outside linebackers from the 2015 season were immediately converted into defensive ends for the upcoming season. (Brandon Graham, Connor Barwin, Marcus Smith, Travis Long and Bryan Braman)
– The Eagles used their third selection in the 7th round of the draft on Oregon linebacker Joe Walker and signed a few undrafted free agents.
In conclusion, with the starting trio of Kendricks, Hicks and Bradham, the next man up if an injury were to happen; special team standout Najee Goode.
Howie Roseman has stated that he is always scouting “talent,” and if he sees a player that can help his football team he won’t shy away from doing just that.
I like what the Eagles have in their starters, but I also have read the list of injuries that Hicks has battled since college. Kendricks has missed multiple games in all but one season during his time in Philadelphia.
It’s likely going to be the defense that gives the Eagles the best shot of winning football games in 2016. Relying on special team players and rookie linebackers as potential starters is a significant risk with how the roster currently stands.
The Eagles should do their due diligence to add a veteran player to their current linebacker core. I’ve mentioned in a past article that signing a veteran who has played both inside and outside linebacker would be a good direction to take.
Carson Wentz will have the luxury of his brother living with him in Philadelphia to help ease the possible feeling of becoming “home sick.” Why not add a former Eagle and North Dakota alumni in Joe Mays to help the linebacker core and share college stories with the rookie quarterback.
Eagles are very Thin at LB and especially at OLB
Nigel Bradham,Jordan Hicks & Michael Kendricks as Starters with Najee Goode as Backup MLB are 4 Solids LB’s
Players as Bryan Braman,Steven Means, Deontae Skinne, Travis Long
& Draft Pick Joe Walker will compete for the 2 Remaining Back-up Spots
I liked Skinner from Last Summer, but this is the Weakest Position on the Team and I would not be surprised to see a Player or 2 Added as Camp get closer…
Here’s a Few LB”s that are still out on the Streets looking for a Team
Most of the OLB’s come from 3-4 Schemes which really doesn’t help what the Eagles/Schwartz are probably looking for ..
ILB Curtis Lofton (Saints – Age 29)
ILB Donald Butler (Chargers – Age 27)
OLB Michael Neal (Packers – Age 28)
OLB O’Brien Schofield (Falcons – Age 29)
OLB Darius Fleming ) Patriots – Age 26)
OLB Cameron Gordon (KC Chiefs – Age 24)
Barwin never left the field much like Cox last season. Combination of availability, durability and endurance. It seems logical to believe he will see action behind the 4 DL. That may not be the plan today but neither was having Jaylon Watkins in the starting lineup at CB late in the season after being released.
I definitely see Connor Barwin getting Snaps at OLB and may get as many at OLB as he does at DE.. I can see Barwin Replacing NIgelBradham in obvious Passing Downs to Cover Backs/TE’s in Pass Coverage which is not Bradham’s strength..
On Passing Downs I can envision
DE’s Curry & Graham, DT’s Fletcher Cox & Logan or Mike Martin or Travis Raciti
OLB’s Barwin and Kendricks with MLB Hicks
The Eagles have been lacking LB Talent, and Depth for the last 8 years, and although they ran the 3-4 for the last few years neglected to sign free agents, or draft any impact at the most important position on the field defensively.
No, they don’t have nearly enough, and as I have said for years now Connor Barwin, is an athlete, who is an average football player at Linebacker. He can’t play over his head every year, and get 14 sacks through aberration every year – all he will be is the DE they want him to be.
@Paul, – You were screaming O’Brien Schofield last year, if he was ANY good, he would be on a team right now – and not on the street – NO MORE MEDIOCRITY!!!
Schofield had 30 Tackels and 2 Sacks last Year as a Back-Up on the Falcons who was signed on a 1 Year Cheapo Deal to spell Top Pick Vic Beasley, who you and may others said was going to be a Great Impact Player from last Years Draft and who I thought was going to be a Bust due to a lack of Strength and Size.. Beasley finished up 26 Tackles and 4 Sacks and Schofield was Beasley”s Back-Up and Played ok … I expect he will end up with some Team on another 1 Year Cheapo Deal and he still is as good at OLB than anyone the Eagles have right now ..
and yet at this time no one has signed him with all his talent, and Beasley is still their starter….lol
cliff why am i reading about jaylen declaring a week ago? i was expecting that inside scoop dude
Ask CLiff about PF Ben Bentil of Providence Who Cliff says that she is close to his Mom and that would never allow him to Declare for this 2016 Draft for she wanted him to stay in School to get his Education…..
I told Cliff that Ben Bentil will be a Top 6-8-10 Pick of the Draft and why would he go back to School for another Year and jeopardize Injury,etc ? Cliff said that he was going back to School since I don’t know his Mother well?
That’s what he said about jaylen. Weird I thought I would’ve heard about jaylen declaring here rather than read about him declaring over a week ago
Maybe Cliff is on the outs with these Kid’s Mom’s these days and he no longer has the inside scoop like he used to..
Cliff’s been helping Dabo Swinney out at Clemson
No, I stated, that my guess would be that he will stay, which he was leaning because Ivan Rabb was strongly considering the same thing – and is staying, but I also said it was his call. His mother felt the same way.
I personally felt he could have stood 2 more years of seasoning before he declared.
We’ve been quiet about it, because when you advertise that, then some family comes out of the woodwork with their hands out. This is his time.
Ursula Tilghman, his mother felt it was his decision as a man, and she wasn’t going to influence that. It had nothing to do with his potential draft status, and avoiding injury Paul.
let me guess you’ll be picking your nose draft day in Wilmington
No, I’ll be satisfied knowing you’ll be at home eating your jealous heart out.
If he is drafted by the Sixers, you’ll see me with floor seats.
Ok so he declares the national media over a week ago. He is going to be drafted in live tv in a few weeks. In about 5 months he is gonna be on tv virtually every night. May get a commercial or two. Is gonna have to do national and local press. But you didn’t post on this blog because it’s his time and because you’re trying to prevent people from puttin their handouts at a time when he hasn’t made 1 cent ? This makes no sense
It makes sense to me.
I stated it was his time in reference to him making the decision to declare.
We all knew it was going to happen at some point. I’m just not making a big deal about it….BTW, he declared more than a week ago – it was on April 21st.
Why did I have to post that, when it was national knowledge?
Will you be in Brooklyn at the Barclay’s center then June 23, 2016 at 7:00 pm for the NBA draft?
17,000 seat arena for Basketball 19, 000 for concerts. Where are you going to be that night? Plenty of seats for you to slide into.
Oh no,
There games in 30 arenas not just the 76ers. I’ll expect to see you in these “floor seats ” opening night for the franchise that drafts him. Jaylon Brown is a longshot to be a 76ers but he will wind up somewhere in the NBA. Here are the lotto teams with picks where he will most likely be drafted ( probably top 14) Philly, LA, Phoenix, Boston, Minnesota, New Orleans, NY, Sacramento, Denver, Milwaukee, Orlando, Utah, DC, or Chicago. Each one has a 17,000 seat arena to accommodate you rear end opening night and/ or first home game.
No, I’ll be at home with my younger children, and my wife watching it on TV
Nope, I’ll be attending the games closer to me in Philly – on the floor, all star weekend, and any major playoff games he’ll be playing in.
i hope you arent wearing red cliff!
I’m wearing a black Armani suit at my desk, and comfortable in my skin – what’s it to you?
you told everyone here you are terminally ill, about to die. Had a stroke. You collected all their sympathy and all of a sudden NOW you have time to wait for playoff games? Doctors know what terminal means, I know what terminal means apparently you seem to be confused what terminal illness means.
thank god youre not wearing red! i didnt want you to get hurt Cliff!!
If memory serves me correct, YOU were the only one screaming the word “terminally” in your sarcasm.
All I mentioned was that I had 2 strokes, a heart attack, and was technically disabled – YOU came up with all that other non sense on your own, then started claiming I was looking for sympathy – screaming, “you still alive!!”.
You don’t have to be “terminally” ill to have maladies, a stroke, and a heart attack. But thank you for your concern.
my memory is stronger than your ability to keep up with your lies.
Terminal diabetic is what you wrote.
I caught you changing what college you said you attended plus changing the college your daughter attended. You just make stuff up to pad your worth. One day you are a culinary graduate from Johnson and Wales then a NCAA basketball player at Illinois then a NFL scout with St Louis the same year you said you were a high school student who couldn’t afford to raise Jawan Carter so he was put up for adoption. You introduced this medical phony baloney to stop Izell Jenkins’ factual assault on you. You haven’t back tracked nor taken back not one of those lies yet.
??????????
Wtf???????
gmcliff
March 8, 2014 – 1:53 pm
Profile photo of gmcliff
I can still run DCar, I’m not in a wheel Chair brother. I have terminal Diabetes. If you met me you wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with me, because the intelligence is still clicking – and some of my Daughters model friends think I’m in my 30’s……….
I think he is a name that played over his head last year – and would stay away from him – Just go sign Byrd, and Jenkins to play Safety, and draft some depth for the future – Buchannon, Jimmie Ward, Keith McGill, Jean-Baptiste ect… – It really shouldn’t be that difficult to resolve
I hope your wearing pants over those red boxers. I smell bullshit and where’s there’s bullshit there’s bulls and bulls love red.
First of all let me start by saying – Your a liar Mhenski
Someone would look at the date you put on this thread, take it at face value,and may not go all the way back to 2014. Out of curiosity what was the title of the article you found this phony response???
– but I did, and this is a phony pasting of a response from me. There is no response from me to Dcar on my health anywhere in March of 2014 – and I went through every blog for the month, I did it because I knew I NEVER have stated I had terminal diabetes.
E0S, are you that desperate. Of course you remember all the comments from Izell Jenkins, because you were Izell Jenkins…….NICE TRY…LOL!!!
Yes my daughter transferred from Del State to fulfill her obligations to her modeling career in Florida….so what did you catch??…..and is now in graduate school down there.
medical phony bologna??
Wow, you are going off the deep end, and obsessed ……..
Sorry all true…
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
YOU CALLING ME A LIAR??????????????? FOR COPYING AND PASTING YOUR POST???????????? YOU OUTTA APOLOGIZE RIGHT NOW, CUZ THE ONLY PERSON LYING IS YOU
YOU THINK I MADE THAT UP?????????
i aint got a problem with you but your weird fantasies arent adding up. thats exactly what you said. and here is how i found it
I went to google and typed in the search bar gmcliff+gcobb+terminal. the search results contain 9 hits.
article name- “2014 Outlook: Linebackers”
heres the full context
paulman
March 8, 2014 – 1:11 pm
Profile photo of paulman
I like Safety Mike Mitchell and have stated so
All Off-Season.. I’ve seen him play all year with the Panthers since I live in NC and he’s a tough, good all-around player..
If Paired with a True Free Safety like Byrd,
Then Mitchell can play down in the Box, cover the short intermediate routes and have Byrd handle the deeper routes,
since Mitchell is not real strong in deep pass coverages
That would be a nice Safety Combo
Mitchell reminds me a little of a Bob Sanders type who was a little smaller, but flies around the field, always around the ball and brings energy & passion to the field…
DCar
March 8, 2014 – 1:25 pm
Profile photo of DCar
Mike Mitchell sucks!
gmcliff
March 8, 2014 – 1:45 pm
Profile photo of gmcliff
Yes he does…contract year wonder….
DCar
March 8, 2014 – 1:47 pm
Profile photo of DCar
gmc, me with 2 bad wheels, & you being handicapped (no joke intended), could have played safety on that defense.
gmcliff
March 8, 2014 – 1:53 pm
Profile photo of gmcliff
I can still run DCar, I’m not in a wheel Chair brother. I have terminal Diabetes. If you met me you wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with me, because the intelligence is still clicking – and some of my Daughters model friends think I’m in my 30’s……….
I think he is a name that played over his head last year – and would stay away from him – Just go sign Byrd, and Jenkins to play Safety, and draft some depth for the future – Buchannon, Jimmie Ward, Keith McGill, Jean-Baptiste ect… – It really shouldn’t be that difficult to resolve
DCar
March 8, 2014 – 1:57 pm
Profile photo of DCar
I know gmc. Your brain is well documented. Maybe we both should try out? LMMFBO! Be careful, my man. Take your Insulin & meds, diet right, & watch the injuries. It’s very easy for you to get catastrophic issues. Bless you, bruh.
gmcliff
March 8, 2014 – 2:01 pm
Profile photo of gmcliff
Thank You Good Brother, I do all that and then some…
DCar
March 8, 2014 – 2:03 pm
Profile photo of DCar
Good to here bruh! We only live once, & we need to be here for our families, & break balls on here! LOL!!!!
HERES THE LINK – copy and paste it and post in your address bar then add gcobb . com before the link
/2014/03/05/2014-outlook-linebackers/
CALLING ME A LIAR FOR PICKING UP ON YOUR BULLSHIT LIES
https://youtu.be/Lr7CKWxqhtw
https://youtu.be/wnedkVrgFF0
Mhenski, I did find what you posted, and I owe you an apology my brother.
I didn’t scroll down far enough on that article, and apparently I did write the word termina – but shouldn’t havel. So please accept my apology.
I do have diabetes – but it isn’t terminal, and have all the other ailments, as well as the history of the 2 strokes, and heart attack
– So sorry to disappoint E0S, I’m not going anywhere yet if I can help it.
Dude glad ur not dying. All these years I thought u were
Well, I am disabled. I had Diabetes for 15 years before I was diagnosed. The side effects to that along with Fibromyalgia, Narcolepsy, Retinopathy, Coronary Artery Disorder and Rhumatory Arthritis justify that.
Thank you for your kind concern Big Mhenski..:)
Not helping Dabo Sweeney.
My Nephew committed to The University of Nebraska, who gave him a full scholarship, as 40 other schools were offering including Clemson.
40 schools? not how it works in 2016.
It’s how it was for Avery Roberts, until he committed. Those offers were gradually on the table since his Sophomore year.
Maybe it just doesn’t work like that for the talent in your family.
you don’t even know how recruiting works in 2016. If this kid was a blue chip recruit he would have been to 6-8 summer football camps free of charge since freshmen year where programs charge other campers. It is money grab for programs. Maryland would of invited him to their summer camp where all the Big Ten teams would have a representative in attendance plus all area Division 3 schools. That is where the process is streamlined and visits narrowed down to 3-5 campus visits for blue chip players. Never 40 schools.
Players have 3-5 campus visits, but that doesn’t prevent the schools from offering them scholarships if they have knowledge of the players talents, and they are scholastically worthy…
He only needed to visit Penn State, Nebraska, Clemson, Stanford, and Maryland to make his decision. No one has to prove anything to you. Stop acting like you know what you’re talking about – You don’t!!
He had 31 after his Sophomore year, and 41 at the end of his Junior season.
He went to a lot of camps for free, but that isn’t the only place coaches have access. They can watch tape on Hudl, and other resources as well.
Why don’t you just go create an athletic prodigy that you can be proud of, instead of questioning, and hating on the accomplishments of others?
cliff you wearing red or nah?
Yeah, Nebraska red boxers….lol..
Cliff, you are the only person coming up with this nonsense. I should go to wikipedia and edit Jaylon Brown and Tyler Dorsey’s wiki page with every one of your fantasies and see how long it takes for it to get censored.
no need for anyone to check their wiki page, i wouldn’t insult these young men or their mothers or real fathers with editing their wiki pages with a mental patient’s grandiose penis stories
lol…continues to sound like your problem to me…
Monday Morning QB Draft For the Eagles
#2) QB Carson Wentz – N Dakota State (6-5 237lbs)
#79) OLB Jordan Jenkins – Georgia (6-4 260lbs)
#153) OT Joe Haeg – N Dakota St (6-6 308lbs)
#164) CB Harlan Miller – Southeastern Louisiana (6-0 185lbs)
#233) Guard – Vadal Alexander – LSU (6-5 325lbs)
#240) RB Keith Marshal – Georgia (5-11 220lbs)
#251) WR Keyarris Garrett – Tulsa (6-3 220lbs)
Cliff don’t wear red for a while. I don’t want you to get hurt bro.
right..lol
Phils lost again to St Louis, a shutout – having trouble scoring runs.
Sixers assistant Mike D’Antoni interviewed for Houston Rockets job.
Pacers let Frank Vogel walk — Sixers should jump to hire him. He is perfect for the Sixer Big Men that is his style. He wants to slow the game down and muscle out wins with 2 post players.