The Achilles injury to Eagles’ left tackle Jason Peters may have Eagles fans distraught, but defensive coach Howard Mudd doesn’t seem concerned at all. If he had any doubts about how he would fill Peters’ vacancy at tackle, the emergence of Demetress Bell has erased them all.
“The truth of the matter is that I think Demetress has an unusual amount of athleticism,” Mudd said after practice. “I don’t anticipate changing the entire offense because we don’t have Jason Peters. We can win games with Demetress. We’re going to win games with Demetress Bell.”
Bell, a 28 year-old Louisiana native, was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round in 2008. Despite a slow start to his NFL career, Bell started every game for the Bills in 2010, helping his offensive line limit multiple defenses to one sack the entire game. Although a shoulder injury forced Bell to miss nine games last season, the Bills were 4-2 in the six games that the former basketball player started.
“He’s very athletic,” Mudd said. “He’s exactly what I thought we were going to get when we signed him.”
Although no one expects Bell to compile Pro-Bowl stats in his first year with the Eagles, he does have some large shoes to fill. Jason Peters, who also played with the Buffalo Bills before coming to Philadelphia, is a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro selection. With what will probably be a season-ending Achilles injury for Peters, Bell has a lot to learn for the upcoming season. Teammate Evan Mathis had some positive comments about Bell’s progression as an Eagle.
“Demetress has done a tremendous job of getting the game plan down, getting the playbook memorized,” Mathis said. “He’s a tremendous communicator on the field. He shows the passion, the desire to want to do this, to be one of the best. It’s been a pleasure working with him.”
I’m not sure what to expect from Bell, but if Howard Mudd believes in him then I trust his judgment. Hopefully the former Bill will be a great addition to the Eagles offensive line, helping to protect the all important piece to the Eagles offense.
Bell, will be a pleasant surprise. He will be fine. If anyone, can get this kid to play up to snuff, it’s Mudd. I have a feeling, that health, Vicks & Reid’s decision making, is going to determine our fate. We have all of the talent & very few holes, so both of their futures rely on each other. Put up, OR SEE YA!!!!
Good information. I trust Mudd’s opinion, and doubt he would make those types of comments if he felt differently. Mathias’s comments say alot also.
Of course, we haven’t even hit training camp yet, but this is a step in the right direction. GO BIRDS!!
Eagles have $15 Million of Cap $$ to spend,
My Guss is the Center Kelce gets a nice rich from his Rookie/6th ROund Pick salary of $450K.. WR Maclin and CB DRV
The only problem with this philosophy is that the Eagles are in REAL trouble if Bell or Herrimans goes down. King Dunlap is horrible and to ask him to block any of them stud DE in the NFC east is a disaster waiting to happen. The Eagles with thier 15 million in cap space BETTER have a better option than Dunlap as backup. They should be scouring FA right now and signing the next best Tackle and bring him in here on a 1 year deal. I am amazed that they havent done this already.
@ Paulman. This new CBA is horrible. Having to spend a set amount of dollars is bogus. This will force teams to sign players that you may not otherwise to long term deals. This seems like it locks teams into a very uneasy corner. Now I have 15 million left to spend and what if dont want to lock Maclin or DRC up long term? Maybe I think these players are serviceablle this year and I want to upgrade next year because my FA crystal ball tells me maybe 6 upgrades at that postion maybe available next year via FA. Now Im stuck with a DRC long term b/c I have to spend the money on someone. Another option is If you manage your cap well and have 15 million every year you will then have to give a (shaky) DRC a BIG 1 year deal or raise to spend that money. You will have to give multiple players 1 year deals just so you have money the following year to go into FA. Who the hell wants to lock up all these players and money to long term deals and your a 8-8 team. All these fans want to lock up all these players. You will have no cap room next year and what if your 7-9 or 8-8 your stuck with all these players long term. Bottom line is your gonna lock up all these players with long term deals and have no money next year to get a safety or LB or whatever. You better have multiple players on 1 year deals or expiring contracts or be able to get out of contracts every year to have money. If Im at the limit this year I better have multiple players coming off next year to have cap relief.
I think Dunlap is serviceabew… I am not sold on Bell, DJ Jones or Rookie Draft Pick Kelley either.. Do remember, that Danny Wwatkins played his final 2 seasons at Baylor as an OT and could probably slide out to Rt if Herreman’s were to get injured and thenn move Gibson.Vandervelde in at RG..
It’s the way it’s set up Dag.. Remember ,that you can sign them to big deals and then always cut them the following year only being out the Pro-rated Bonus $$$ so it’s not you are stuck with that player or contract as in Baseball,Basketball or Hockey…
Something I wished that passed in the CBA, is the Practice Squad set up
1).. Should be 8-10 Players that you can grrom for future seasons that are your Team’s property and cannot be scooped up by another..This would allow young players like QB Foles,CB Harris abd RB Brown to maybe not play for 2012 but would belong tot the EAgles to remain in their system for the entire Season where they practice,watch film,get coaching and be that much more ready for 2013 and then Teams ouldn’t have to waste 3-5 Roster spots with Draft pick who are no going to contribute until future years.. then these players get scooped up by another team, another scheme and coaches and many of these players get bounced around 2-3 teams and are never in 1 system long enough to contribute much.. HAve the Practice Squads expanded to 10 players who you can call up if injurues arise and if not, remain with you team on 2 years deals so they actually have a fair shot at making your roster…. This would help Teams,Coaches and Players in my opinion as opposed to how it’s set up now…
So basically after signing all these players to long term deals you better be able to determine if all these players can play after 1 year or you are stuck with them after 1 year or thier is some type of ramification cap wise moving forward. lol. If Im the 2-14 Browns I have to sign all them 2-14 type players to meet the cap goals and dump them the next year for cap reilef or im stuck the 2-14 players long term. Them teams will never get better. I guess they better draft well.
So If DJax gives me 40 catches, Trent Cole gives me 4 sacks, Herrimans is a turnstile, Mathis doesnt block anyone, they better be released next year or Im stuck with them b/c I had to use up my cap space? hmmmm. Then I have to spend big money on players just to reach my cap quota next year. Sounds like alot of turnover every year if it doesnt work out.
That’s a possibilty and the new way of Roster Manamgement..
Look that the players who signed big deals last year to only get bounced/released since those Teams were under tight Cap Space
Raiders – CB S Rouett, Cowboys, T Newman, or just players like Dolphins WR B Marshall or Eagles A Samuel who were moved for those players being highly paid but locker room distractions