Sixers trade Steven Hunter and Bobby Jones for Reggie Evans
Decent trade. Fills needs for the Sixers and the Nuggets.
Why the trade is good for the Sixers:
Hunter simply had no space on this roster when the Sixers drafted PF/C Jason Smith. Sure he had a reasonable contract for what he brought, but the Sixers DO NOT need the type of player he is. Lets face it, Steven Hunter is no complement to Samuel Dalembert. The Sixers do not need another guy who does nothing but block shots and take up a roster spot. The Sixers need a bruising power forward who can rebound, rebound and rebound. Jason Smith and Steven Hunter are practically mirror images. Although they both block shots and can run the floor, Jason Smith is much much more polished and has a better touch on offense. Steven Hunter provided excellent defense while he was here, make no mistake. He filled in admirably as a interim starter for our beloved Sixers and I hope he has a great future, he just doesn't have a spot given the emergence of Amundson and Herbert Hill. Where does the trade leave Shav? Shav may be on the way out based on his injury history and I feel the coaches favor Amundson over Randolph. My one fear going into the regular season was Bobby Jones making the team over Derrick Byars. There is no way a team can cut an SEC player of the year over a guy like Bobby Jones. With Jones gone, the 2/3 position just got a whole lot better IMO. Reggie Evans is a heck of a rebounder, exactly what we lack. I'm not quite sure the whole future Evans obtains with the Sixers, but he is the bruiser they really need. I can easily see Reggie Evans being trade bait along Andre Miller at the trade deadline. Evans will start from the first day guranteed. Either way, I don't see this trade having any effect on this upcoming season because it doesn't fix our woes on offense, but the team should be much better defensively. I absolutely LOVE what Billy King is doing to this team. He's filling a roster built on defense and rebounding, the best way to go. The way I see it, Evans will be an overpaid energy guy coming off the bench in a year or two but will not get many minutes. He'll be traded or cut in a year or two and won't have an impact with the future of this roster. He will not be starting mid season. Ricky Sanchez will never put on a Sixer uniform.
Sixers Current Starting Lineup
Andre Miller, Louis Williams
Rodney Carney, Willie Green
Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver, Thaddeus Young, Derrick Byars
Reggie Evans, Herbert Hill, Louis Amundson
Samuel Dalembert, Jason Smith
Why the trade is good for the Nuggets:
The Nuggets got exactly what they needed, which was pretty much the opposite of what the Sixers needed. Whereas the Sixers needed rebounding and a physical presence in the paint, the Nuggets needed a guy like Hunter who can block shots and run the floor. The Nuggets run a super uptempo style of offense and Hunter should fit right into the Nugget's offensive scheme. They needed a guy who can alter shots on defense, exactly what Steven Hunter can bring. Bobby Jones is defender which is what the Nuggets lack. He won't get playing time on the Nuggets, but he's worth a look on a team that struggled to find role players in the post season.
Overall:
I give the better grade to the Nuggets for this trade. They get a valuable player, a role player for a team that just cannot seem to find any. Hunter will jump right in and block shots, exactly what they need. The Nuggets also save some cash, Evans will battle to start for the Sixers, and will probably win the job, displaying how poor the position really is in Philadelphia. I think him and Andre Miller could develop some good chemistry together. The Sixers lack a veteren and a bruiser, and they get that with Evans. Evans is now the only rebounder on the Sixers roster and could average over 10 per game this season, no joke. More importantly the Sixers get roster space and can add one of their promising young players like Herbert Hill or Derrick Byars. Good addition by subtraction for the Sixers.
Now all that is left is for the Sixers to get rid of Willie Green, which will allow future all star Thaddeus Young and Derrick Byars to get some playing time this season. Get it done BK!
Grade for the Sixers: C plus
Grade for the Nuggets: B minus
I think fans of both teams should be pretty content about this trade.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers Preview and Predictions
2006-2007 Eagles versus Packers Preview
It's football season baby!
Life can now offically begin.
Pressure the quarterback, pressure the quarterback, pressure the quarterback. The team that shows the best ability to pressure the quarterback will be victorious on Sunday. It's as simple as that. There will be blitzes coming from all angles on Sunday, especially from Jim Johnson in order to hide the deficiencies of Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong. The Packers will use the short game to keep our offense off the field by throwing screen after screen to exploit our young linebackers.
Key Matchup for the Eagles: The defensive line versus the rook Brandon Jackson. The Eagles caught a break in that the Packers starter Vernand Morency remains injured, therefore despite the inability to stop the run the Eagles have the advantage here. What an excellent time for the young backers to step in and show them what they got early in the season. The Eagles should take care of business here, but the Eagles always start out slow, so this has me worried here. Do the Packers have the potential like the Saints to run it down our throats? There will be breakdowns but I don't think so.
Key Matchup for the Packers: Brett Favre versus Our Linebackers. This is what scares me. I have nightmares of Brett Favre, a seasoned leader, taking advantage of the inexperienced backers SAM Chris Gocong and MIKE Omar Gaither. Get ready for the Packers to do everything they can to exploit this part of the defense by running screen after screen, attacking Gaither right up the middle and seeing if Gocong can defend against the pass. The Packers have had a year to gameplan for this game. This is what we will see. Can our young linebackers shed blocks, make the open field tackle and read play action?
Key Player for the Eagles: Brian Westbrook. As Westbrook goes, so do the Eagles. Brian Westbrook has barely played all preseason, but he prime and ready for the opener. There's no doubt he's the most dangerous weapon on either team, and the Packers have an aggressive front seven that likes to blitz. Get ready for a ton of dumps, delays and screens due to an over pursuing defense to let Westbrook run loose. He's gonna have a huge game.
Key Player for the Packers: Donald Driver. Will he play? It seemed, at first, he'd be out quite some time but apparently he practiced yesterday and looks ready to go. He's probably the best player on the Packers and there is no doubt the Pack will use him as a possession receiver on those quick slants Favre likes to throw. Lito better be ready because he's gonna have an extremely active game.
Prediction: Eagles 23 Packers 17
This game will go back and forth in terms of emotions. There will be many occurances where the game is in the Eagles hands but defensive breakdowns and penalties will keep the Pack in this game til the very end. I predict the Eagles will get on the board early and often but fail to score the remainder of the game. Although McNabb will look on target and an early MVP candidate, drops by the WRs and mistackles by our linebackers will be the main heartache for Eagle fans.
It's football season baby!
Life can now offically begin.
Pressure the quarterback, pressure the quarterback, pressure the quarterback. The team that shows the best ability to pressure the quarterback will be victorious on Sunday. It's as simple as that. There will be blitzes coming from all angles on Sunday, especially from Jim Johnson in order to hide the deficiencies of Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong. The Packers will use the short game to keep our offense off the field by throwing screen after screen to exploit our young linebackers.
Key Matchup for the Eagles: The defensive line versus the rook Brandon Jackson. The Eagles caught a break in that the Packers starter Vernand Morency remains injured, therefore despite the inability to stop the run the Eagles have the advantage here. What an excellent time for the young backers to step in and show them what they got early in the season. The Eagles should take care of business here, but the Eagles always start out slow, so this has me worried here. Do the Packers have the potential like the Saints to run it down our throats? There will be breakdowns but I don't think so.
Key Matchup for the Packers: Brett Favre versus Our Linebackers. This is what scares me. I have nightmares of Brett Favre, a seasoned leader, taking advantage of the inexperienced backers SAM Chris Gocong and MIKE Omar Gaither. Get ready for the Packers to do everything they can to exploit this part of the defense by running screen after screen, attacking Gaither right up the middle and seeing if Gocong can defend against the pass. The Packers have had a year to gameplan for this game. This is what we will see. Can our young linebackers shed blocks, make the open field tackle and read play action?
Key Player for the Eagles: Brian Westbrook. As Westbrook goes, so do the Eagles. Brian Westbrook has barely played all preseason, but he prime and ready for the opener. There's no doubt he's the most dangerous weapon on either team, and the Packers have an aggressive front seven that likes to blitz. Get ready for a ton of dumps, delays and screens due to an over pursuing defense to let Westbrook run loose. He's gonna have a huge game.
Key Player for the Packers: Donald Driver. Will he play? It seemed, at first, he'd be out quite some time but apparently he practiced yesterday and looks ready to go. He's probably the best player on the Packers and there is no doubt the Pack will use him as a possession receiver on those quick slants Favre likes to throw. Lito better be ready because he's gonna have an extremely active game.
Prediction: Eagles 23 Packers 17
This game will go back and forth in terms of emotions. There will be many occurances where the game is in the Eagles hands but defensive breakdowns and penalties will keep the Pack in this game til the very end. I predict the Eagles will get on the board early and often but fail to score the remainder of the game. Although McNabb will look on target and an early MVP candidate, drops by the WRs and mistackles by our linebackers will be the main heartache for Eagle fans.
Top 5 Eagle Players Under the Spotlight Sunday
Here is my list of the top 5 players in order that will be under the microscope on Sunday afternoon against the Pack.
1. Donovan McNabb- Has 5 returned to form? McNabb will have an excellent opportunity to show he still belongs in the NFL elite, especially against a very active Green Bay defensive line. Our offensive line will have their hands full Sunday, making McNabb's short passing game and ability to run out of the pocket on display for everyone. There is no doubt Green Bay will bring the blitz almost every down, no question. Rather than focusing West, I feel they will make McNabb beat them with his arm after missing the last 6 games of the 06 season. Does McNabb still got it? He showed in preseason that he has not lost his touch, but the difference in tempo between preseason and the regular season is vast.
2. Sav Rocca- It seems it's not just me, but Rocca is just about as big of an unknown than Gocong, Gaither and Considine. Can he display consistency in the kicking game? Can he hold snaps for Akers? Is Akers comfortable with Rocca holding the ball? One thing is for sure: The moment Rocca botches a snap is the last snap he will ever hold in an Eagles uniform. Regardless, Rocca has that rare ability to wail the ball 60-70 yards on any given punt. That kind of advantage is SO important to a football team, given that the game is nothing more than a game of field position. If Rocca can show what he has shown in preseason on a consistent basis, it will be a huge step forward for the Eagles, which is why I'm putting this at number 2. The Eagle's offense may show a lot of 3 and outs on Sunday, making Rocca's performance is huge. Dirk Johnson haters, like myself, finally have our boomer, but will he fold under the pressure?
3. Jim Johnson- No doubt about it. This will be a huge game for Jim Johnson given the lack of experience and youth in the defense. Can Jim Johnson create a scheme that hides inexperienced players like Chris Gocong, Omar Gaither and Sean Considine to play to their strengths? Gocong and his ability to make an open field tackle, Gaither and his inexperience being the leader of an NFL team and read play action, Considine and his ability tackle and not make bone head plays. These three young players looked awefully tentative during preseason and cannot be seen in the regular season. I want to see that dawg in each of these players come Sunday afternoon. No hesitation on opportune sacks. No thinking, just puttin a hurtin on. The potential is there: The rotation of our defensive line is top notch, Broderick Bunkley will become a reliable starter, possible stud, Patterson and Van Oelhoffen will rotate to stop the run, our defensive backfield is top notch, spare an unproven Considine. It's up to Jim Johnson to get it done.
4. Shawn Andrews- This could be the offensive line as a unit, but since Andrews hasn't played all preaseason, I'm gonna single him out. He is, without a doubt, the best players on the Eagles roster. What he showed along with Runyan on the right side was just out right dominance in the second half of last season. I fully expect that kind of dominance this season as well. The question that remains is the insertion of Andrews to the offensive line and whether or not they have lost a step or not. Westbrook needs his carries if this team wants to go to the Superbowl, and it all starts with Andrews.
5. LJ Smith- Everyone knows the story on this kid. He's been injured, he is in a contract season and the Eagles don't seem to want to resign him, and he's got a young kid named Brent Celek breathing down his neck for playing time. Can LJ Smith regain his form and play at the level we're used to seeing him perform? Like it or not, the Eagles NEED LJ to get his ass back on the field. Celek looks good but is he ready? Absolutely not. This is a huge game for LJ. He can set the tone for the entire season all year by having a dominate game. A major reason for the dominant running attack in the second half of last year was LJ Smith. He went from being a below average run blocker to a very good one in a very short amount of time. Can he show the same blocking skills he showed or will his injury hamper that ability? Will he be a liability on the field because of this? Huge game for LJ Sunday.
1. Donovan McNabb- Has 5 returned to form? McNabb will have an excellent opportunity to show he still belongs in the NFL elite, especially against a very active Green Bay defensive line. Our offensive line will have their hands full Sunday, making McNabb's short passing game and ability to run out of the pocket on display for everyone. There is no doubt Green Bay will bring the blitz almost every down, no question. Rather than focusing West, I feel they will make McNabb beat them with his arm after missing the last 6 games of the 06 season. Does McNabb still got it? He showed in preseason that he has not lost his touch, but the difference in tempo between preseason and the regular season is vast.
2. Sav Rocca- It seems it's not just me, but Rocca is just about as big of an unknown than Gocong, Gaither and Considine. Can he display consistency in the kicking game? Can he hold snaps for Akers? Is Akers comfortable with Rocca holding the ball? One thing is for sure: The moment Rocca botches a snap is the last snap he will ever hold in an Eagles uniform. Regardless, Rocca has that rare ability to wail the ball 60-70 yards on any given punt. That kind of advantage is SO important to a football team, given that the game is nothing more than a game of field position. If Rocca can show what he has shown in preseason on a consistent basis, it will be a huge step forward for the Eagles, which is why I'm putting this at number 2. The Eagle's offense may show a lot of 3 and outs on Sunday, making Rocca's performance is huge. Dirk Johnson haters, like myself, finally have our boomer, but will he fold under the pressure?
3. Jim Johnson- No doubt about it. This will be a huge game for Jim Johnson given the lack of experience and youth in the defense. Can Jim Johnson create a scheme that hides inexperienced players like Chris Gocong, Omar Gaither and Sean Considine to play to their strengths? Gocong and his ability to make an open field tackle, Gaither and his inexperience being the leader of an NFL team and read play action, Considine and his ability tackle and not make bone head plays. These three young players looked awefully tentative during preseason and cannot be seen in the regular season. I want to see that dawg in each of these players come Sunday afternoon. No hesitation on opportune sacks. No thinking, just puttin a hurtin on. The potential is there: The rotation of our defensive line is top notch, Broderick Bunkley will become a reliable starter, possible stud, Patterson and Van Oelhoffen will rotate to stop the run, our defensive backfield is top notch, spare an unproven Considine. It's up to Jim Johnson to get it done.
4. Shawn Andrews- This could be the offensive line as a unit, but since Andrews hasn't played all preaseason, I'm gonna single him out. He is, without a doubt, the best players on the Eagles roster. What he showed along with Runyan on the right side was just out right dominance in the second half of last season. I fully expect that kind of dominance this season as well. The question that remains is the insertion of Andrews to the offensive line and whether or not they have lost a step or not. Westbrook needs his carries if this team wants to go to the Superbowl, and it all starts with Andrews.
5. LJ Smith- Everyone knows the story on this kid. He's been injured, he is in a contract season and the Eagles don't seem to want to resign him, and he's got a young kid named Brent Celek breathing down his neck for playing time. Can LJ Smith regain his form and play at the level we're used to seeing him perform? Like it or not, the Eagles NEED LJ to get his ass back on the field. Celek looks good but is he ready? Absolutely not. This is a huge game for LJ. He can set the tone for the entire season all year by having a dominate game. A major reason for the dominant running attack in the second half of last year was LJ Smith. He went from being a below average run blocker to a very good one in a very short amount of time. Can he show the same blocking skills he showed or will his injury hamper that ability? Will he be a liability on the field because of this? Huge game for LJ Sunday.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Top Skill I Want to See Improve From Every Sixer
Here is an early breakdown of what each Sixer must improve on their game in order for the Sixers to be successful this season.
Enjoy.
Louis Amundson: Must show CONSISTENCY. Amundson has showed he has the heart, size, hustle and skill set to be a very good role player in the NBA. What he lacks is consistency. He's shown he can be that hustle player off the bench that can block shots, shoot a high percentage, rebound the ball and get the crowd involved. Just one problem, he has never played more than 10 games in one regular season. I firmly believe he's a lock to make this roster and he'll be counted on to be a key figure coming off the bench. If he can bring that all around game he's shown in the Summer Leagues he'll be that impact player off the bench we've lacked for a long time.
Derrick Byars: Must show ROLE. There's no doubt the kid can play, as evident by being the SEC player of the year and projected by many a first round pick in one of the deepest drafts of all time. Although he was hampered by an injury during the majority of the Summer League, we all know he has skills to make this youthful roster. The only problem is what are those skills? We know he has range to hit the three, play defense, good athleticism, make that extra pass and has all the intangibles in the world that makes him an excellent leader in the club house. But what separates him from the rest? Byars must show what role he can excel in in order to make the roster.
Rodney Carney: Must show PASSING. Carney has a sweet sweet stroke with range, world class athleticism and an excellent ability to finish around the hoop. The only problem is that's all he's got going for him. We all know he can score the ball and his the available three from downtown, but unfortunitely what we do know is that he brings nothing on the court other than scoring. Averaging a horrible 0.4 assists per game, those numbers must improve if Carney wants to be a part of this spread offense., especially as a starter.
Samuel Dalembert: Must show EXPERIENCE. Everyone knows Samuel Dalembert is one of the top athletic centers in the game of basketball, but unfortunitely everyone knows Sammy D is one of the dumbest centers as well. The man simply cannot grasp the game of basketball, evident by inconsistent play, rotating off the wrong man on defense and making ridiculous fouls keeping him out of the game. Sammy finally showed his potential last season averaged over 10 and 8 and starting in all 82 regular season games. In order for the Sixers to be successful next year, he must improve in those stats. I'm looking for Dalembert to go from young, center pro to proven vet this season. 12 and 9 and 2 blocks a game should be about right with Miller and Iggy all improving this year.
Willie Green: Must show ALL AROUND GAME: Willie Green is a great scorer. Duh. He's just not anything else, similar to Carney. In my opinion he's the key guy to get traded or cut from the team prior to the start of the regular season due to this. Green shows nothing in terms of passing the ball and rebounding for him to be a starter in this league. Guys like Willie Green are a dime a dozen.
Herbert Hill: Must show REBOUNDING: It's as simple as that. On a team that features zero physical players that can rebound the ball both on the offensive and defensive side, the second round pick Herbert Hill finds himself in a surprisingly excellent spot to make this roster. To boot, he's even showed he has excellent hands to finish in the paint. I believe Herbert Hill is a lock to make the final roster on a team that lacks exactly what he can bring: a guy that can make the big rebound and finish around the hoop. How badly did we get beaten rebounding in the offensive and defensive paint last year?
Steven Hunter: Must show WORTH. Steven Hunter filled in admirably as the Sixers starting power forward late last year. He played good defense, could rebound the ball somewhat on the defensive end and could finish a bit on offense. Too bad he's a center fooling himself as a power forward in the NBA. All he brought last year was a good shot blocking power forward. Although it was an improvement over a miserable performance by Chris Webber last year, his skill set only shouts shot blocking. Even though he did pretty well starting, he's still considered a bench player at best and not a starter in this league. Can Hunter improve in his starting role as a power forward on this team or is he the same old 2nd round draft pick trade bait that's plagued his career?
Andre Iguodala: Must show DEPENDABILITY: We all know Iggy is on the verge of becoming an Allstar. He's a premiere defender, passer, rebounder and leader for such a young player like himself. What he lacks is that dependability factor, but only for the reason that he's not played at the level he performed after the AI trade. After AI was traded, he averaged over 20 and 6 and 6 for the rest of the season. Can he do it again? With a bad back? Iggy will be counted on not only to improve on last years numbers but become the superstar we all think he can be. This is the year he makes himself a house hold name.
Bobby Jones: Must show UNIQUE ABILITY. Bobby Jones was drafted on his defensive skills alone coming out of Washington. On a team that is built with depth in SGs and SFs, Bobby Jones finds himself in a struggle to compete. Jones must show he has obtained a reliable jump shot and can do all the little things that makes guys like him successful in this league. Think of Bruce Bowen. Jones must make one ability unique, whether that's shooting, passing or rebounding that separates him from the rest of the SFs on this roster. Will he get playing time? That's the key factor keeping him from making this roster.
Kyle Korver: Must show DEFENSIVE RELIABILITY: Kyle Korver showed great improvement in his ability to extend his offensive game, including a reliable turn around jump shot. Korver has a great stroke, duh. What he must prove this year is that he can step it up on the defensive end. What sucks about this is that this is probably as good as it gets for Kyle Korver. Physically speaking Korver just cannot play on the same court with upper tier athletic players. Can Korver improve his offensive game enough to prove that he belongs on the court?
Andre Miller: Must show VETEREN LEADERSHIP: With Miller and Hendersen being the only vets on this squad, Andre Miller must continue to show why he's the best point guard the Sixers have seen in a long long time. Miller will be counted on to lead a roster full of youngsters. His offensive game could show some improvement but lets face it, the guy is clutch. Not much else to say. If only Andre Miller was 3 or 4 years younger......
Shavlick Randolph: Must show OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING: Lets face it, the only reason Shav was on this team was due the lack of depth in the paint and his ability to get offensive boards. After a season of disappearance, Shav must show that he can do exactly what he showed two years ago that made him a fan favorite. Shav is battling Jason Smith and Louis Amundson for second on the depth chart at starting power forward and it will be this ability that puts him over the top.
Jason Smith: Must show KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME: Jason Smith has proved he has the ability to rebound, block shots, hit the open shot, dribble a bit and run the court. What he hasn't shown is that he has the intangibles to start in this league. Jason Smith needs to gain that moxy that'll make him the starting power forward on this team, which is yet to be seen. He's shown flashes as a power forward that can spread the floor off the dribble and shown that he has a reliable mid range game, but I do not believe that is his strength. After watching the Summer League games, he has extreme hops and is a much better defensive rebounder than I thought. If Jason Smith can show those hops on a consistent basis and reliable hands in the paint, he should be starting in no time. I'm very impressed by his ability to finish and his soft touch around the hoop.
Louis Williams: Must show CONTROL: We all know Louis Williams has the ability to average over 13 points per game as starter in this league, what we don't know is his ability to lead a team as the starting point guard. If only Lou Will was a few inches taller. Since he's so short, he must be a point guard. Louis Williams has extreme natural scoring ability, he just needs to prove that he's not as turnover prone as his age denounces.
Thaddeus Young: Must show BALL CONTROL: I really think this kid has it all. Shooting, rebounding, hustle, intangibles, leadership, passing, reputation.... What Thaddeus Young lacks is his right hand lol. The lefty simply cannot dribble with his right hand. Thaddeus Young has the smarts that will make him a star in this league, but will they translate this season? I'm not so sure about that. I believe Thaddeus Young will show incredible flashes this season, but those exact weaknesses will display themselves often.
Current Starting Lineup in October (very subject to change)
Andre Miller/Louis Williams
Rodney Carney/ Willie Green/ Derrick Byars
Andre Iguodala/ Kyle Korver
Steven Hunter/ Louis Amundson/ Shav
Samuel Dalembert/ Jason Smith/ Herbert Hill
Enjoy.
Louis Amundson: Must show CONSISTENCY. Amundson has showed he has the heart, size, hustle and skill set to be a very good role player in the NBA. What he lacks is consistency. He's shown he can be that hustle player off the bench that can block shots, shoot a high percentage, rebound the ball and get the crowd involved. Just one problem, he has never played more than 10 games in one regular season. I firmly believe he's a lock to make this roster and he'll be counted on to be a key figure coming off the bench. If he can bring that all around game he's shown in the Summer Leagues he'll be that impact player off the bench we've lacked for a long time.
Derrick Byars: Must show ROLE. There's no doubt the kid can play, as evident by being the SEC player of the year and projected by many a first round pick in one of the deepest drafts of all time. Although he was hampered by an injury during the majority of the Summer League, we all know he has skills to make this youthful roster. The only problem is what are those skills? We know he has range to hit the three, play defense, good athleticism, make that extra pass and has all the intangibles in the world that makes him an excellent leader in the club house. But what separates him from the rest? Byars must show what role he can excel in in order to make the roster.
Rodney Carney: Must show PASSING. Carney has a sweet sweet stroke with range, world class athleticism and an excellent ability to finish around the hoop. The only problem is that's all he's got going for him. We all know he can score the ball and his the available three from downtown, but unfortunitely what we do know is that he brings nothing on the court other than scoring. Averaging a horrible 0.4 assists per game, those numbers must improve if Carney wants to be a part of this spread offense., especially as a starter.
Samuel Dalembert: Must show EXPERIENCE. Everyone knows Samuel Dalembert is one of the top athletic centers in the game of basketball, but unfortunitely everyone knows Sammy D is one of the dumbest centers as well. The man simply cannot grasp the game of basketball, evident by inconsistent play, rotating off the wrong man on defense and making ridiculous fouls keeping him out of the game. Sammy finally showed his potential last season averaged over 10 and 8 and starting in all 82 regular season games. In order for the Sixers to be successful next year, he must improve in those stats. I'm looking for Dalembert to go from young, center pro to proven vet this season. 12 and 9 and 2 blocks a game should be about right with Miller and Iggy all improving this year.
Willie Green: Must show ALL AROUND GAME: Willie Green is a great scorer. Duh. He's just not anything else, similar to Carney. In my opinion he's the key guy to get traded or cut from the team prior to the start of the regular season due to this. Green shows nothing in terms of passing the ball and rebounding for him to be a starter in this league. Guys like Willie Green are a dime a dozen.
Herbert Hill: Must show REBOUNDING: It's as simple as that. On a team that features zero physical players that can rebound the ball both on the offensive and defensive side, the second round pick Herbert Hill finds himself in a surprisingly excellent spot to make this roster. To boot, he's even showed he has excellent hands to finish in the paint. I believe Herbert Hill is a lock to make the final roster on a team that lacks exactly what he can bring: a guy that can make the big rebound and finish around the hoop. How badly did we get beaten rebounding in the offensive and defensive paint last year?
Steven Hunter: Must show WORTH. Steven Hunter filled in admirably as the Sixers starting power forward late last year. He played good defense, could rebound the ball somewhat on the defensive end and could finish a bit on offense. Too bad he's a center fooling himself as a power forward in the NBA. All he brought last year was a good shot blocking power forward. Although it was an improvement over a miserable performance by Chris Webber last year, his skill set only shouts shot blocking. Even though he did pretty well starting, he's still considered a bench player at best and not a starter in this league. Can Hunter improve in his starting role as a power forward on this team or is he the same old 2nd round draft pick trade bait that's plagued his career?
Andre Iguodala: Must show DEPENDABILITY: We all know Iggy is on the verge of becoming an Allstar. He's a premiere defender, passer, rebounder and leader for such a young player like himself. What he lacks is that dependability factor, but only for the reason that he's not played at the level he performed after the AI trade. After AI was traded, he averaged over 20 and 6 and 6 for the rest of the season. Can he do it again? With a bad back? Iggy will be counted on not only to improve on last years numbers but become the superstar we all think he can be. This is the year he makes himself a house hold name.
Bobby Jones: Must show UNIQUE ABILITY. Bobby Jones was drafted on his defensive skills alone coming out of Washington. On a team that is built with depth in SGs and SFs, Bobby Jones finds himself in a struggle to compete. Jones must show he has obtained a reliable jump shot and can do all the little things that makes guys like him successful in this league. Think of Bruce Bowen. Jones must make one ability unique, whether that's shooting, passing or rebounding that separates him from the rest of the SFs on this roster. Will he get playing time? That's the key factor keeping him from making this roster.
Kyle Korver: Must show DEFENSIVE RELIABILITY: Kyle Korver showed great improvement in his ability to extend his offensive game, including a reliable turn around jump shot. Korver has a great stroke, duh. What he must prove this year is that he can step it up on the defensive end. What sucks about this is that this is probably as good as it gets for Kyle Korver. Physically speaking Korver just cannot play on the same court with upper tier athletic players. Can Korver improve his offensive game enough to prove that he belongs on the court?
Andre Miller: Must show VETEREN LEADERSHIP: With Miller and Hendersen being the only vets on this squad, Andre Miller must continue to show why he's the best point guard the Sixers have seen in a long long time. Miller will be counted on to lead a roster full of youngsters. His offensive game could show some improvement but lets face it, the guy is clutch. Not much else to say. If only Andre Miller was 3 or 4 years younger......
Shavlick Randolph: Must show OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING: Lets face it, the only reason Shav was on this team was due the lack of depth in the paint and his ability to get offensive boards. After a season of disappearance, Shav must show that he can do exactly what he showed two years ago that made him a fan favorite. Shav is battling Jason Smith and Louis Amundson for second on the depth chart at starting power forward and it will be this ability that puts him over the top.
Jason Smith: Must show KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME: Jason Smith has proved he has the ability to rebound, block shots, hit the open shot, dribble a bit and run the court. What he hasn't shown is that he has the intangibles to start in this league. Jason Smith needs to gain that moxy that'll make him the starting power forward on this team, which is yet to be seen. He's shown flashes as a power forward that can spread the floor off the dribble and shown that he has a reliable mid range game, but I do not believe that is his strength. After watching the Summer League games, he has extreme hops and is a much better defensive rebounder than I thought. If Jason Smith can show those hops on a consistent basis and reliable hands in the paint, he should be starting in no time. I'm very impressed by his ability to finish and his soft touch around the hoop.
Louis Williams: Must show CONTROL: We all know Louis Williams has the ability to average over 13 points per game as starter in this league, what we don't know is his ability to lead a team as the starting point guard. If only Lou Will was a few inches taller. Since he's so short, he must be a point guard. Louis Williams has extreme natural scoring ability, he just needs to prove that he's not as turnover prone as his age denounces.
Thaddeus Young: Must show BALL CONTROL: I really think this kid has it all. Shooting, rebounding, hustle, intangibles, leadership, passing, reputation.... What Thaddeus Young lacks is his right hand lol. The lefty simply cannot dribble with his right hand. Thaddeus Young has the smarts that will make him a star in this league, but will they translate this season? I'm not so sure about that. I believe Thaddeus Young will show incredible flashes this season, but those exact weaknesses will display themselves often.
Current Starting Lineup in October (very subject to change)
Andre Miller/Louis Williams
Rodney Carney/ Willie Green/ Derrick Byars
Andre Iguodala/ Kyle Korver
Steven Hunter/ Louis Amundson/ Shav
Samuel Dalembert/ Jason Smith/ Herbert Hill
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Eagles/ vs. Ravens Review and Grades
Interior o line received the worst grades. D line was horrible, evident by inability to stop the run and get to the QB on key third downs. The Ravens consistently blitzed up the middle and off the edge and we could not stop it whatsoever. Highest grades were received by Brent Celek, Kevin Kolb, Brian Westbrook, Broderick Bunkley, Sav Rocca, Rashad Barksdale, and Nick Graham.
QB
AJ Feeley- Looked ok to me. Made a couple nice throws but missed on a wide open Reggie Brown on the sideline. Made a nice pass to Curtis for an 8 yard gain. His struggle was mostly not his own, as he was given zero pass protection, evident by the Ravens constant blitz. He really didn't show much other than the fact that he's no more than a number 2 or 3 quarterback. Grade: C.
Kelly Holcomb- Looked better than AJ last night. Similar to AJ he was pressured in every series but unlike AJ he made several very nice passes and threw a very nice ball. Made a fantastic pass to Greg Lewis on the right sideline in tight space during a pass rush, which was very impressive. He hit almost everyone in stride and displayed much more promise than AJ Feeley really. Grade: B.
Kevin Kolb- Definitely looked confident throwing into coverage last night and hit his man not only in stride but in between multiple defenders. Quick feet, quick release, strong arm, great swagger, good mentality- looks like a Garcia clone. Most importantly what he showed last night was that he CAN read a blitz and he CAN make both passes long and short. At first I thought he was just a system QB who can throw short and accurate passes, but this guy simply has a gun. I am very encouraged with our future QB. Give him 2 years to learn the system and this guy could be deadly, I really mean that. Even though his stats may not show it, I really like what I saw from him. He was hampered by drops and fumbles by the WRs and I don't believe the fumble was his fault. Showed lots of promise with his accuracy in tight spaces and down the field. Grade: A minus.
RB
Brian Westbrook- Didn't have any help from his o line, but he displayed exactly what we saw from the second half of last season. Loved the screen pass that he broke for over 20 yards. Get him a couple of series on Friday against the Panthers and then keep him out of the remaining 2 preseason games. We can't afford him getting hurt and he is the most important piece to our offense. Grade: A.
Correll Buckhalter- Due to the lack of effort by the o line, didn't do anything really, rushing and in the passing game. Didn't show any burst getting through the gaps and looked indecisive. Not much to talk about here other than the fact that he didn't impress. Missed big time in the blocking game, on multiple plays looking completely lost. Did not pick on the blitz. Grade: D minus.
Tony Hunt- Couldn't get much done in the running game, no one did, but did show something in the passing game, getting 2 catches for 11 yards. He didn't get to show his 3rd and short ability due to way too many 3rd and longs by the offense. Shame. Hopefully Friday we'll get to see it. Did show a decent burst on one run up the middle, but got pushed back on the rest. Impressed me more than Buck last night. Grade: C.
Ryan Moats- May have had a career ending injury. If you didn't have half a tear going down your face when you saw him on the ground and in the stretcher, you're not an Eagles fan. Such a shame. He was never going to make the team but you never want to see a player go down like that. Wasn't it hilarious how the Ravens broadcasters kept talking about this guys injury and how it will hamper the chances of the Eagles season? And Pat Burrell is a fast runner (thank you Joe Morgan) lol!. Grade: I'll give him an A because he'll need it lol.
Nate Ilaoa- Didn't show the burst I was hoping, looked pretty big for such a small guy out there. Looked ok. Nothing in the run game, but showed something in the passing game, which is his strength. Grade: C minus.
FB
Thomas Tapeh- Was he on the field? lol. Seriously, didn't do a thing. Poor blocking, no carries, receptions. Did not impress. Grade: F.
Jason Davis- Looked much more impressive than Tapeh as he made a decent carry up the middle, in his only carry lol. Did a better job blocking IMO than Tapeh, which isn't saying anything really. Grade: C minus.
WR
Reggie Brown- Made a nice catch for 6 yards near the sideline but other than that did not do much. Much due to the lack of pass protection, he didn't have the opportunity to shine. Looks like the real deal and I believe he's ready to take that third year WR step. Grade: C.
Kevin Curtis- One nice catch for 9 yards on the first play of the game. Looked smooth and ran a quick route effectively. Grade: C.
Jason Avant- He's still the physical, great blocking WR he was last season. Made a reception for 12 yards, and that's it really. Reliable, consistent, physical, a great possesion receiver and a great run blocker that will fit in very well in this offense- no wonder why the Eagles FO loves this kid. Grade: C plus.
Hank Baskett- Showed great hands catching a ball for 9 yards in between two defenders. Grade: C plus.
Jeremy Bloom- Made a couple really good catches in between defenders and took the hit well. Showed excellent hands. Those two receptions will go a long way in him making the team. If he does that again on Friday he's a lock to make the team, due to his punt return and kickoff return ability. Showed an excellent juke on one punt return. Showed great acceleration and quickness, but had no holes or gaps to run in between as the special teams were aweful just like the o line. With better blocking he has potential. Grade: B.
Greg Lewis- Made a great catch on the sideline on 3rd down for 10 yards, but it was an even better throw by Holcomb. Shows that he's an excellent 3rd down receiver, which made him effective last year. The progress of Avant and Baskett will make it hard for the Eagles to keep him but he'll definitely have a job somewhere else. Grade: B minus.
TE
Brent Celek- What a performance by Celek. He showed exactly what reports out of TC have reported. Runs excellent routes, great hands, great ability after the catch and is very advanced for his time in the offense. What else can be said that has already been said? Grade: A plus.
O Line
William Thomas- Got beat off the edge and on one play his man got the sack. Could not read the blitz coming off the edge. Did not seem prepared or into the game whatsoever. Grade: D.
Todd Herremens- This is where it got ugly. Ravens blitzed up the middle on a consistent basis, which really did not fit well with Herremens. From all the progress he has reportedly been given during TC, I'm left unimpressed. Grade: D minus.
Jamaal Jackson- Similar to Herremens. Was outmatched by the Ravens blitz. Seemed lost. Could not run block or show anything that made him a top center in the league last season. Grade: D minus.
I don't even need to go further with the rest of the o line. It was simply pathetic. Scott Young, Max Jean Gilles, etc, etc were all noticably bad. Not giving them all an F but they could very well deserve it. Isn't this position our strength? They looked like they have never seen a blitz before and very unmotivated. Very very very poor showing. Way to represent guys.
D Line
Broderick Bunkley- Must be consistent if the Eagles want to get to the Super Bowl. I truly believe it's as simple as this: If the Eagles stop the run, they're the best team in the NFC. Bunk is a huge huge part of that and so much is riding on him. It was good to see a sign to see him so effective in the run game. Made two GREAT plays getting the running at the LOS. A completely different player than last year. This is the guy we drafted in the early-mid first round. Great showing. Grade: A.
Mike Patterson- Was really nonexistent. Didn't show anything. HAS to play better, especially when our blitzing linebackers don't do anything. He's not there for his run defense, so he has to pick it up and become a factor. Got eaten up on several run plays over 10 yards. Grade: D.
Trent Cole- Did not show any kind of pass rush or help against the run. Did not even come close to making a tackle. Very poor showing. MUST play better. Grade: D minus.
Jevon Kearse- Similar to Cole. Not one tackle. Don't really care though. As long as he stays healthy really. Grade: D minus.
Juke Thomas- Made a couple nice tackles, especially one getting the RB from behind. Still the good blitzing rotational guy we expect. Grade: C.
Victor Abiamiri- I was pretty impressed by his play. Made a couple nice tackles in the backfield and showed good strength against the run. Performed the best out of our group of DEs. He's a lock to make the roster from his overall game against the pass and run. I like it. Seemed to be the only guy wanting to make the final roster on the d line. Grade: A minus.
Jerome McDougle- completely nonexistent. Not making the roster. Grade: F.
LB
Takeo Spikes: Didn't show much really. Not exactly sure how much he played really. Didn't notice. Only made one tackle. Hope to see more on Friday. Grade: D.
Chris Gocong: Made a great tackle along the sideline, but that's about it. Grade: C.
Jeremiah Trotter- Could not get off blocks on several plays, and on one big run. I didn't see the improved, quicker Trotter. Not a good sign. Grade: D minus.
Stewart Bradley- Showed flashes getting into the backfield but took several bad angles allowing for big runs. Must improve reading defenses. Definitely out of position at Mike linebacker. Seems to be better than Simoneau, which is a breathe of fresh air. Needs time, maybe a year to learn the defense. Grade: B.
Omar Gaither- Very unimpressed by Gaither. Looked lost, especially when he completely let up on getting Boller out of bounds, allowing him to run for an extra ten yards. Could have been due to the lack of players around him. Must improve. Grade: D.
Tank Daniels- Made one good tackle on a pass but that's about it. Nonexistent in the run defense. Will not play this year at linebacker. Still a project. May get some time on special teams but that's it. Grade: D plus.
Matt McCoy- Looked much better than last year getting off of blocks and wrapping up RBs in stride. I was really impressed with him as he looked stronger, more physical and decisive than last year. Not big but a fastball linebacker that can play some snaps in nickel situations. Will definitely make the roster and be effective on special teams. Grade: B plus.
CB
Sheldon Brown- I didn't even notice him on the field. Did he play lol? Grade: Incomplete.
William James- Got beat on a big 3rd down play that led to a score. Didn't seem into the game. Looked lost. Definitely not starting over Sheldon Brown this year. Must improve for our pass defense to be effective. Kinda worried here. Grade: D minus.
Joselio Hansen- Made several nice tackles and broke up on pass play on defense. Looks more confident this season after a year under his belt. I think he'll make the roster. Grade. C.
Rashad Barksdale- VERY impressed by this kid. He just looks natural out there in the backfield. Was all over the field, broke up a deep pass in the end zone and was a great tackler. I don't think he missed one tackle. He has excellent size too. Great pick and he has much potential. I think he'll make the team as the last DB. Much less of a project that I thought. Grade: A plus.
Nick Graham- Like Barksdale he was all over the field. Great performance to get his name out there. Excelled in garbage time and looked like he belonged. Grade: A.
S
Sean Considine- Very strong performance in coverage by a key player in the first preseason game. Must be a consistent tackler against the run. Seems to be a smart player. Was horrible blitzing and could not get off the line at all. Do not blitz this guy. Grade: B minus.
P
Dirk Johnson- Had a pretty good game actually punting the ball. Grade: B plus.
Sav Rocca- Excellent performance today. Punted one ball from the back of the end zone to the opposing teams 30 yard line! WHAT?! That's what I've been waiting to see. I believe Rocca has taken the lead as the teams first string punter. Hopefully it continues. Grade: A plus.
QB
AJ Feeley- Looked ok to me. Made a couple nice throws but missed on a wide open Reggie Brown on the sideline. Made a nice pass to Curtis for an 8 yard gain. His struggle was mostly not his own, as he was given zero pass protection, evident by the Ravens constant blitz. He really didn't show much other than the fact that he's no more than a number 2 or 3 quarterback. Grade: C.
Kelly Holcomb- Looked better than AJ last night. Similar to AJ he was pressured in every series but unlike AJ he made several very nice passes and threw a very nice ball. Made a fantastic pass to Greg Lewis on the right sideline in tight space during a pass rush, which was very impressive. He hit almost everyone in stride and displayed much more promise than AJ Feeley really. Grade: B.
Kevin Kolb- Definitely looked confident throwing into coverage last night and hit his man not only in stride but in between multiple defenders. Quick feet, quick release, strong arm, great swagger, good mentality- looks like a Garcia clone. Most importantly what he showed last night was that he CAN read a blitz and he CAN make both passes long and short. At first I thought he was just a system QB who can throw short and accurate passes, but this guy simply has a gun. I am very encouraged with our future QB. Give him 2 years to learn the system and this guy could be deadly, I really mean that. Even though his stats may not show it, I really like what I saw from him. He was hampered by drops and fumbles by the WRs and I don't believe the fumble was his fault. Showed lots of promise with his accuracy in tight spaces and down the field. Grade: A minus.
RB
Brian Westbrook- Didn't have any help from his o line, but he displayed exactly what we saw from the second half of last season. Loved the screen pass that he broke for over 20 yards. Get him a couple of series on Friday against the Panthers and then keep him out of the remaining 2 preseason games. We can't afford him getting hurt and he is the most important piece to our offense. Grade: A.
Correll Buckhalter- Due to the lack of effort by the o line, didn't do anything really, rushing and in the passing game. Didn't show any burst getting through the gaps and looked indecisive. Not much to talk about here other than the fact that he didn't impress. Missed big time in the blocking game, on multiple plays looking completely lost. Did not pick on the blitz. Grade: D minus.
Tony Hunt- Couldn't get much done in the running game, no one did, but did show something in the passing game, getting 2 catches for 11 yards. He didn't get to show his 3rd and short ability due to way too many 3rd and longs by the offense. Shame. Hopefully Friday we'll get to see it. Did show a decent burst on one run up the middle, but got pushed back on the rest. Impressed me more than Buck last night. Grade: C.
Ryan Moats- May have had a career ending injury. If you didn't have half a tear going down your face when you saw him on the ground and in the stretcher, you're not an Eagles fan. Such a shame. He was never going to make the team but you never want to see a player go down like that. Wasn't it hilarious how the Ravens broadcasters kept talking about this guys injury and how it will hamper the chances of the Eagles season? And Pat Burrell is a fast runner (thank you Joe Morgan) lol!. Grade: I'll give him an A because he'll need it lol.
Nate Ilaoa- Didn't show the burst I was hoping, looked pretty big for such a small guy out there. Looked ok. Nothing in the run game, but showed something in the passing game, which is his strength. Grade: C minus.
FB
Thomas Tapeh- Was he on the field? lol. Seriously, didn't do a thing. Poor blocking, no carries, receptions. Did not impress. Grade: F.
Jason Davis- Looked much more impressive than Tapeh as he made a decent carry up the middle, in his only carry lol. Did a better job blocking IMO than Tapeh, which isn't saying anything really. Grade: C minus.
WR
Reggie Brown- Made a nice catch for 6 yards near the sideline but other than that did not do much. Much due to the lack of pass protection, he didn't have the opportunity to shine. Looks like the real deal and I believe he's ready to take that third year WR step. Grade: C.
Kevin Curtis- One nice catch for 9 yards on the first play of the game. Looked smooth and ran a quick route effectively. Grade: C.
Jason Avant- He's still the physical, great blocking WR he was last season. Made a reception for 12 yards, and that's it really. Reliable, consistent, physical, a great possesion receiver and a great run blocker that will fit in very well in this offense- no wonder why the Eagles FO loves this kid. Grade: C plus.
Hank Baskett- Showed great hands catching a ball for 9 yards in between two defenders. Grade: C plus.
Jeremy Bloom- Made a couple really good catches in between defenders and took the hit well. Showed excellent hands. Those two receptions will go a long way in him making the team. If he does that again on Friday he's a lock to make the team, due to his punt return and kickoff return ability. Showed an excellent juke on one punt return. Showed great acceleration and quickness, but had no holes or gaps to run in between as the special teams were aweful just like the o line. With better blocking he has potential. Grade: B.
Greg Lewis- Made a great catch on the sideline on 3rd down for 10 yards, but it was an even better throw by Holcomb. Shows that he's an excellent 3rd down receiver, which made him effective last year. The progress of Avant and Baskett will make it hard for the Eagles to keep him but he'll definitely have a job somewhere else. Grade: B minus.
TE
Brent Celek- What a performance by Celek. He showed exactly what reports out of TC have reported. Runs excellent routes, great hands, great ability after the catch and is very advanced for his time in the offense. What else can be said that has already been said? Grade: A plus.
O Line
William Thomas- Got beat off the edge and on one play his man got the sack. Could not read the blitz coming off the edge. Did not seem prepared or into the game whatsoever. Grade: D.
Todd Herremens- This is where it got ugly. Ravens blitzed up the middle on a consistent basis, which really did not fit well with Herremens. From all the progress he has reportedly been given during TC, I'm left unimpressed. Grade: D minus.
Jamaal Jackson- Similar to Herremens. Was outmatched by the Ravens blitz. Seemed lost. Could not run block or show anything that made him a top center in the league last season. Grade: D minus.
I don't even need to go further with the rest of the o line. It was simply pathetic. Scott Young, Max Jean Gilles, etc, etc were all noticably bad. Not giving them all an F but they could very well deserve it. Isn't this position our strength? They looked like they have never seen a blitz before and very unmotivated. Very very very poor showing. Way to represent guys.
D Line
Broderick Bunkley- Must be consistent if the Eagles want to get to the Super Bowl. I truly believe it's as simple as this: If the Eagles stop the run, they're the best team in the NFC. Bunk is a huge huge part of that and so much is riding on him. It was good to see a sign to see him so effective in the run game. Made two GREAT plays getting the running at the LOS. A completely different player than last year. This is the guy we drafted in the early-mid first round. Great showing. Grade: A.
Mike Patterson- Was really nonexistent. Didn't show anything. HAS to play better, especially when our blitzing linebackers don't do anything. He's not there for his run defense, so he has to pick it up and become a factor. Got eaten up on several run plays over 10 yards. Grade: D.
Trent Cole- Did not show any kind of pass rush or help against the run. Did not even come close to making a tackle. Very poor showing. MUST play better. Grade: D minus.
Jevon Kearse- Similar to Cole. Not one tackle. Don't really care though. As long as he stays healthy really. Grade: D minus.
Juke Thomas- Made a couple nice tackles, especially one getting the RB from behind. Still the good blitzing rotational guy we expect. Grade: C.
Victor Abiamiri- I was pretty impressed by his play. Made a couple nice tackles in the backfield and showed good strength against the run. Performed the best out of our group of DEs. He's a lock to make the roster from his overall game against the pass and run. I like it. Seemed to be the only guy wanting to make the final roster on the d line. Grade: A minus.
Jerome McDougle- completely nonexistent. Not making the roster. Grade: F.
LB
Takeo Spikes: Didn't show much really. Not exactly sure how much he played really. Didn't notice. Only made one tackle. Hope to see more on Friday. Grade: D.
Chris Gocong: Made a great tackle along the sideline, but that's about it. Grade: C.
Jeremiah Trotter- Could not get off blocks on several plays, and on one big run. I didn't see the improved, quicker Trotter. Not a good sign. Grade: D minus.
Stewart Bradley- Showed flashes getting into the backfield but took several bad angles allowing for big runs. Must improve reading defenses. Definitely out of position at Mike linebacker. Seems to be better than Simoneau, which is a breathe of fresh air. Needs time, maybe a year to learn the defense. Grade: B.
Omar Gaither- Very unimpressed by Gaither. Looked lost, especially when he completely let up on getting Boller out of bounds, allowing him to run for an extra ten yards. Could have been due to the lack of players around him. Must improve. Grade: D.
Tank Daniels- Made one good tackle on a pass but that's about it. Nonexistent in the run defense. Will not play this year at linebacker. Still a project. May get some time on special teams but that's it. Grade: D plus.
Matt McCoy- Looked much better than last year getting off of blocks and wrapping up RBs in stride. I was really impressed with him as he looked stronger, more physical and decisive than last year. Not big but a fastball linebacker that can play some snaps in nickel situations. Will definitely make the roster and be effective on special teams. Grade: B plus.
CB
Sheldon Brown- I didn't even notice him on the field. Did he play lol? Grade: Incomplete.
William James- Got beat on a big 3rd down play that led to a score. Didn't seem into the game. Looked lost. Definitely not starting over Sheldon Brown this year. Must improve for our pass defense to be effective. Kinda worried here. Grade: D minus.
Joselio Hansen- Made several nice tackles and broke up on pass play on defense. Looks more confident this season after a year under his belt. I think he'll make the roster. Grade. C.
Rashad Barksdale- VERY impressed by this kid. He just looks natural out there in the backfield. Was all over the field, broke up a deep pass in the end zone and was a great tackler. I don't think he missed one tackle. He has excellent size too. Great pick and he has much potential. I think he'll make the team as the last DB. Much less of a project that I thought. Grade: A plus.
Nick Graham- Like Barksdale he was all over the field. Great performance to get his name out there. Excelled in garbage time and looked like he belonged. Grade: A.
S
Sean Considine- Very strong performance in coverage by a key player in the first preseason game. Must be a consistent tackler against the run. Seems to be a smart player. Was horrible blitzing and could not get off the line at all. Do not blitz this guy. Grade: B minus.
P
Dirk Johnson- Had a pretty good game actually punting the ball. Grade: B plus.
Sav Rocca- Excellent performance today. Punted one ball from the back of the end zone to the opposing teams 30 yard line! WHAT?! That's what I've been waiting to see. I believe Rocca has taken the lead as the teams first string punter. Hopefully it continues. Grade: A plus.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Top Tight End Prospects in the 2008 NFL Draft
For those who think this will be LJ Smith's last year, here are the early top TE prospects entering the 2008 NFL Draft.
Just getting you ready for some intense TE chat when LJ leaves for free agency next year lol.
Here's what I got my info from: http://walterfootball.com/draft2008TE.php
And here are the top 5 TE prospects in the 2008 NFL Draft, not in order.
USC Fred Davis
His stat page from last season: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=156173
Texas A and M Martellus Bennett
His stat page from last season: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=177364
Other Info: Best TE in the country in my opinion, 6'7 frame too
Missouri Chase Coffman
Stat page: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=177294
Notre Dame John Carlson
Stat page: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=150292
Michigan State Kellen Davis
Stat page: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=160704
Bottomline, there aren't many stand out TEs in this years class but it's a pretty deep year IMO. Most are projected in the second and third rounds due to their slow 40 time. One thing about this years class is that they are all HUGE and physical. I like Bennett the most, but I think Carlson has the most potential out of the group since he's coming from a great TE school and coach in Notre Dame and Charlie Weiss. I think Carlson is in for a huge year.
I think Bennett and Carlson will be there when we make our pick in the mid 20s next year, and either one is a leading candidate for our pick. I know this is way too early, but I thought it'd be fun.
The Eagles will also be looking for a safety in next year's draft.
Here's a link talking about the cream of the crop: http://walterfootball.com/draft2008S.php
Just getting you ready for some intense TE chat when LJ leaves for free agency next year lol.
Here's what I got my info from: http://walterfootball.com/draft2008TE.php
And here are the top 5 TE prospects in the 2008 NFL Draft, not in order.
USC Fred Davis
His stat page from last season: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=156173
Texas A and M Martellus Bennett
His stat page from last season: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=177364
Other Info: Best TE in the country in my opinion, 6'7 frame too
Missouri Chase Coffman
Stat page: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=177294
Notre Dame John Carlson
Stat page: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=150292
Michigan State Kellen Davis
Stat page: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=160704
Bottomline, there aren't many stand out TEs in this years class but it's a pretty deep year IMO. Most are projected in the second and third rounds due to their slow 40 time. One thing about this years class is that they are all HUGE and physical. I like Bennett the most, but I think Carlson has the most potential out of the group since he's coming from a great TE school and coach in Notre Dame and Charlie Weiss. I think Carlson is in for a huge year.
I think Bennett and Carlson will be there when we make our pick in the mid 20s next year, and either one is a leading candidate for our pick. I know this is way too early, but I thought it'd be fun.
The Eagles will also be looking for a safety in next year's draft.
Here's a link talking about the cream of the crop: http://walterfootball.com/draft2008S.php
Thursday, August 2, 2007
The 3 Most Important Players to the Eagle's 07-08 Season
(Not Named McNabb and Westbrook)
1. Broderick Bunkley- In order to make the playoffs, let alone Super Bowl, the Eagles MUST improve their run defense. I don't think there is any way around it. Yea sure Mike Patterson must improve, and Ian Scott should be an upgrade, but the guy that must prove his worth (being a top first round pick) is Broderick Bunkley. Here is a guy that showed up late and out of shape at last years TC, missed a flight to a game, and had tons of hype as the answer to our defensive woes. According to early reports, Bunkley has been working his ass off all offseason and has looked good in his first hitting day at TC. Dawkins said yesterday that Bunkley's maturity has significantly improved, and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson even said that the difference is light and day between the way Bunk approached the game this year compared to last year. In my opinion, Mike Patterson will be what he is, a reliable but only good defensive tackle for his career. Bunkley has a ton of untapped potential, and he is the key to our defense, even Super Bowl run, if he plays like he's suppose to. The Eagles know they need a significant boost to their run defense, and a much more mature Broderick Bunkley will be relied upon heavily in the 07-08 season. If the Eagles can stop the run, I don't think this Eagles team can be stopped, but that's a big if.
2. Chris Gocong- It's no secret that Dhani Jones was one of the worst linebackers on the Eagles last year. Over the last 3 years, Dhani Jones has amounted 1 sack. 1 Friggin Sack! That's just absolutely pathetic. But that's not the worst part. Jones was consistently out of position all year, every year he's been an Eagle. Countless NFL tapes show Jones being too slow off the snap, being too late to fill the gap and not being able to break through any blocks to make a play in the back field. Enter Chris Gocong, who has all the size, speed, instincts and intangibles you look for in a linebacker. The only question, and it's a big one, is can he play linebacker in the NFL? With a year under his belt of studying the playbook, it's all a matter of putting it all together for the sophomore from Cal Poly. Strictly speaking, any performance from our strong side linebacker this year will be an improvement over the last 3 years of Dhani Jones, so performance out of the position can only go up. Last year the Eagle's linebackers were exposed. In fact, only one Eagle linebacker, in my opinion, had a decent year and that was Omar Gaither who will be backing up Trotter this season. The addition of pro bowler Takeo Spikes should lighten the load a bit on Chris Gocong, but his performance will go a long way in deciding the success of our beloved Eagle defense.
3. Marty Morningweg- Not a player, but THE guy that will determine whether Westbrook will run wild in 07-08. There's not much to say here then what has already been said. We all know how good our offense is, but what we were exposed to last year shows how a conservative, time consuming offense impacts the defense. Morningweg needs to maintain the exact same game plan the Eagles utilized the second half of last season and continue to trust, in my opinion, the best offensive line in the NFC. I also want to see Morningweg utilize the two RB system that seems to be the trend right now in the NFL. Give Westbrook 20 carries a game, but split 10 more carries between Buck and Tony Hunt. THIS is the way we get to the Super Bowl. Last year we proved we can be that grind it out, power running team that Eagle fans have said we could be. The second half of last season it became a reality and it took us to the playoffs. There is no reason why it should stop.
Honorable Mention: Reggie Brown, Jevon Kearse
1. Broderick Bunkley- In order to make the playoffs, let alone Super Bowl, the Eagles MUST improve their run defense. I don't think there is any way around it. Yea sure Mike Patterson must improve, and Ian Scott should be an upgrade, but the guy that must prove his worth (being a top first round pick) is Broderick Bunkley. Here is a guy that showed up late and out of shape at last years TC, missed a flight to a game, and had tons of hype as the answer to our defensive woes. According to early reports, Bunkley has been working his ass off all offseason and has looked good in his first hitting day at TC. Dawkins said yesterday that Bunkley's maturity has significantly improved, and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson even said that the difference is light and day between the way Bunk approached the game this year compared to last year. In my opinion, Mike Patterson will be what he is, a reliable but only good defensive tackle for his career. Bunkley has a ton of untapped potential, and he is the key to our defense, even Super Bowl run, if he plays like he's suppose to. The Eagles know they need a significant boost to their run defense, and a much more mature Broderick Bunkley will be relied upon heavily in the 07-08 season. If the Eagles can stop the run, I don't think this Eagles team can be stopped, but that's a big if.
2. Chris Gocong- It's no secret that Dhani Jones was one of the worst linebackers on the Eagles last year. Over the last 3 years, Dhani Jones has amounted 1 sack. 1 Friggin Sack! That's just absolutely pathetic. But that's not the worst part. Jones was consistently out of position all year, every year he's been an Eagle. Countless NFL tapes show Jones being too slow off the snap, being too late to fill the gap and not being able to break through any blocks to make a play in the back field. Enter Chris Gocong, who has all the size, speed, instincts and intangibles you look for in a linebacker. The only question, and it's a big one, is can he play linebacker in the NFL? With a year under his belt of studying the playbook, it's all a matter of putting it all together for the sophomore from Cal Poly. Strictly speaking, any performance from our strong side linebacker this year will be an improvement over the last 3 years of Dhani Jones, so performance out of the position can only go up. Last year the Eagle's linebackers were exposed. In fact, only one Eagle linebacker, in my opinion, had a decent year and that was Omar Gaither who will be backing up Trotter this season. The addition of pro bowler Takeo Spikes should lighten the load a bit on Chris Gocong, but his performance will go a long way in deciding the success of our beloved Eagle defense.
3. Marty Morningweg- Not a player, but THE guy that will determine whether Westbrook will run wild in 07-08. There's not much to say here then what has already been said. We all know how good our offense is, but what we were exposed to last year shows how a conservative, time consuming offense impacts the defense. Morningweg needs to maintain the exact same game plan the Eagles utilized the second half of last season and continue to trust, in my opinion, the best offensive line in the NFC. I also want to see Morningweg utilize the two RB system that seems to be the trend right now in the NFL. Give Westbrook 20 carries a game, but split 10 more carries between Buck and Tony Hunt. THIS is the way we get to the Super Bowl. Last year we proved we can be that grind it out, power running team that Eagle fans have said we could be. The second half of last season it became a reality and it took us to the playoffs. There is no reason why it should stop.
Honorable Mention: Reggie Brown, Jevon Kearse
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