Lane Johnson has his moment on the NFL Draft stage with Commissioner Roger Goodell after being the 4th overall pick. (Image via the Philadelphia Eagles Instagram)
Eagles fans, the wait is over. There was no trading down — instead, when Oklahoma OT Lane Johnson was still available at number 4, the Philadelphia Eagles took him.
The 6’6, 303 lb tackle will be an integral part of the Eagles’ offense, helping to protect Mike Vick, who at this early stage will presumably be Philadelphia’s starting quarterback for the 2013 season. Johnson is an extremely athletic player – he has played both sides of the o-line as well as played quarterback and tight end in his career. Here is an excerpt from Johnson’s scouting report, via The National Football Post:
“With rare foot quickness he is able to slide out to the corner easily to stop speed rusher’s initial burst. His ability to block with base helps him to slide easily side to side to adjust to quick pass rush moves at the contact point. Although he does not punch aggressively in pass pro, he flashes the ability to get his hands on pass rusher quickly, can “get a good fit” and is able to lock-out and tie up pass rusher.”
Head coach Chip Kelly said that Johnson is one of the players the team had targeted and was extremely excited to add him to the Eagles.
“I know [Oklahoma head coach] Bob Stoops extremely well and I talked to Bob about [Lane Johnson] extensively last week. He just remarked what a tough player he is and what a selfless player that he is; he’s moved positions. He wants to play. I think he is going to be a great addition to our team. The game is won up front. He’s another tough, physical guy and that’s what we were looking for.”
For his part, Johnson is thrilled to be heading to Philadelphia for many reasons, including the fact that his experience with Oklahoma’s up-tempo offense should fit in well with Kelly’s plans.
“I know that at Oregon, they ran a very fast-paced offense that was very similar to Oklahoma and I think I fit with what they need…I’m excited. I think Coach Kelly brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the Eagles. I know we’re all anticipating what’s going to happen and so am I. I’m ready to get started and I’m very fortunate to be with the Eagles.”
Johnson also thinks that his style of play will be a good fit for Philly’s notoriously intense sports fans.
“I view myself as kind of an aggressive player on the field, but off the field I’m a down-to-earth guy. I’m not arrogant at all. I know Philly is a good blue-collar town that works its tail off and they’re very passionate about their sports, especially football.”
It’s a solid pick for the Birds. After tackles Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel went 1-2 to the Chiefs and Jaguars, respectively, and Oregon DE Dion Jordan, who was rumored to be of interest to Philadelphia, went third to the Dolphins, Philadelphia decided to stay put and get one of the top talents on the board, which was their strategy all along.
With the tattered o-line one of the biggest detriments to the Eagles’ efforts in 2012 and the unknown of if Jason Peters will truly be back to his former self going into 2013, picking one of the most talented players in a draft stacked with offensive line talent was a no-brainer for Philadelphia. And, as offensive lineman typically experience less of a gap in performance from the college to the professional level than other positions, Johnson will hopefully make his presence well known on the Birds’ line for years to come.
Welcome to Philadelphia, Lane.
Here is some film of Johnson, the first draft selection of the Chip Kelly era for the Eagles.
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The rumor mill was hot with speculation about the upcoming NFL draft and the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted that five teams, including the Birds, had expressed interested in trading down from their current first round positions in the draft.
“Teams that have made calls about moving back in draft include PHIL, DET, CLEV, BUFF, MIA. Doing what they should.”
Then came a report from the NFL Networks’s Albert Breer that Philadelphia had selected their targets for the first round to four players.
“Eagles down to 4 players they feel good about at the 4th pick. Good bet they’re all line-of-scrimmage players. The tackles, Star, Jordan …”
Does Breer’s report contradict Schefter’s? Probably – if the Birds are interested in trading down they certainly better have their sights on more than four players as targets for their first round selection. Breer later noted that he couldn’t see the Eagles trading too far down unless they got an incredible offer.
To further add clarity to the situation, ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio notes, in an article commenting on the rumors now covering almost every possible liklihood for Philadelphia, that
“Sources close to me tell me that the Eagles also could become interested in trading up. Which again should cover the entire universe of possibilities.”
It’s not surprising that reports are all over the place. An important aspect of teams’ draft strategies is to not reveal their hand too soon so as to give others around the league an opportunity to complicate the desired scenario. Any of the names Breer mentioned – Lane Johnson, Dion Jordan, Star Lotulelei by name, and presumably includes Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher – are logical guesses, as all represent the top talent in this year’s draft. But CB Dee Milliner is still thought by many to be a logical fit for the Birds.
All of which is to say what we’ve known all along: we’ll have to wait until the draft starts tomorrow to find out what the Eagles truly plan on doing.
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The Philadelphia Eagles 2013 schedule. (Image via the Eagles’ Facebook page)
We’re in the heart of the long, cold, lonely offseason but there are signs that the light that is professional football will one day return. That light on Thursday night came in the form of the release of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2013 schedule.
The first helping of regular season Eagles football will come on September 9 via a Monday Night matchup against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. That will be one of only two primetime games for the Birds, which is a marked decrease from recent seasons.
The Eagles will have an intense opening to their schedule, featuring three games in the first ten days. That stretch will be highlighted by a huge game: Andy Reid’s return to the Linc with the Kansas City Chiefs on September 19. How “Big Red” is greeted upon his big return to his former home will surely be the major storyline of that game.
Other highlights include a matchup with the Denver Broncos in the Mile High City on September 29 and versus Aaron Rodgers at the Green Bay Packers on November 10.
The team has a late Week 12 bye, the latest since 2000 when Philadelphia’s bye week feel on Week 16.
NFC East action continues after the opener on October 10 against the Cowboys at the Linc, with the regular season ending at Dallas on December 29.
Ready to make your predictions? I’ve seen some out there. But for now, here’s the full schedule for your perusal:
How much longer until September 9? Oh wait. Nevermind.
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With a little over a week to go until the 2013 NFL draft begins, Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman met with members of the press on Monday. The media hoped to discover inklings of the team’s strategy heading into the draft. Not surprisingly, little was definitively revealed by Roseman, including the question of who ultimately calls the shots within the organization at the draft. Will the Eagles trade down from their current number 4 overall pick? That’s certainly a possibility, but Roseman played the team’s cards close to his chest. What was absolutely clear is the fact that the enormity of that decision — and more specifically, getting it right – has not been lost on anyone within the organization.
“Like anything in this draft, you want to be sure. You don’t want to take someone because you ‘think’ . . . We’re not going to force anything.”
In one sense, it’s a basic decision. Who is likely to be the best player on the board when the Eagles make their choice? But that player must immediately be an impact player for the team. No if, ands or maybes. No overthinking or trying to force a player into a role where it will be a stretch for him to succeed. But that leaves little certainty as to how the Birds will proceed.
It’s no secret that the question of who will be the Eagles’ quarterback, both for the 2013 season and longer term, is one of the most pressing questions for the team. It’s also not new news that that position is not featured in the strength and abundance category as it was in 2012. Roseman spoke to that issue, saying that this year’s draft is actually the norm regarding quarterback talent, with last year being the exception.
That’s all fine and good, but what does that mean for the team’s picks at number 4 and beyond?
West Virginia QB Geno Smith is still on the Eagles’ radar. The team traveled to West Virginia to work out Smith, as well as hosted him for a visit at the NovaCare. Smith’s leadership and focus have come under fire recently, which may very well impact his draft stock, but if that’s not the Eagles’ own analysis those questions may not hold much weight.
Roseman noted that this draft was deep with talent along the offensive and defensive lines, noting that some of the top prospects at offensive tackle are attractive possibilities, such as Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher, and Lane Johnson, as that position is more straightforward in projecting success from the college to the professional level. Defensive end Dion Jordan is another pick that might entice the Eagles, particularly given head coach Chip Kelly’s familiarity with the Oregon player.
But Roseman noted yesterday that their strategy and selections are not his decision, or Chip Kelly’s choice. They are organizational decisions.
So there you have it. Clear as mud as we head ever closer to the draft. It may be frustrating now, but in less than two weeks we will have the clearest set of information regarding the Philadelphia Eagles’ possible focus and direction under Chip Kelly yet and have plenty of information to parse, dissect, and analyze.
FYI…
You will be shocked to know that the Eagles released veteran quarterback Trent Edwards on Monday.
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The Philadelphia Eagles had a busy Thursday making changes to their roster, making one player-for-player trade and cutting four others.
Running back Dion Lewis, acquired in the 2011 draft by Philadelphia, was traded to the Cleveland Browns. In exchange, the Birds acquired linebacker Emmanuel Acho in another move to prepare for the widely expected shift to a 3-4 scheme by Philadelphia.
Lewis’ loss is one the team could easily afford, as the former Pitt RB did not see much playing time in 2012. He made a total of just 13 carries for 69 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Eagles elected to acquire Acho (6-1, 240) based on his collegiate achievements, as he saw no playing time last season after being drafted by the Browns and suffering a knee injury that placed him on Injured Reserve. During his career at the University of Texas, the 22-year old linebacker appeared in 48 games, where he recorded 280 tackles, eight sacks, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Among his achievements, Acho started 13 games as a senior in 2011, garnering All-Big 12 first-team honors after leading the Longhorns with 131 tackles, while adding three sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble.
The following players weren’t so lucky as to find themselves traded to another team and instead were cut by the Eagles: LB Ryan Rau, LB Marcus Dowtin, WR Ron Johnson, and CB Chris Hawkins.
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It is a moment that will never be forgotten by any Philadelphia Eagles fan, and it has now been voted the best play in NFL history on NFL.com.
Picture it: a game against the hated New York Giants, on their home turf, and the Birds were being beaten. Badly. On that December day in 2010, with 8 minutes in the game remaining, the Eagles trailed the Giants by a score of 31-10. Stick a fork in ‘em — these Birds were done. Even the most die-hard fans knew the game couldn’t be salvaged and were waiting for the misery to end.
But then everything changed. Fans, who a moment before had been squinting at the game in pain, were treated to what has become known as a miracle. It was another Miracle at the Meadowlands.
The final moment that capped off that miracle — a stunning 65-yard punt return by none other than DeSean Jackson with 14 seconds left in the game – has now been voted the greatest play in NFL history. With that moment, the Eagles completed a 28-point comeback that enabled them to beat Big Blue 38-31.
Voting was based on 64 plays, based on NFL.com’s own version of March Madness, until a winner was proclaimed.
Like any vote, the winning play was met with controversy, but the fans have spoken.
I’m sure it’s a moment Giants fans won’t soon forget, either. Thanks so much for that little gift, Matt Dodge.
Let’s face it — there is no way you can hear that play referenced without wanting to watch it. So watch it again and again below.
Go Eagles!
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We’re in the depths of the long football offseason, but lo! A slight vision of hope on the horizon. The release of the Philadelphia Eagles preseason schedule. Kinda sorta.
It’s something, right?
The exact dates and times are not yet fixed, but in the first preseason under head coach Chip Kelly, the Birds’ schedule will be as follows:
August 8 – 11: vs. New England
August 15 – 19: vs. Carolina
August 22 – 25: at Jacksonville
August 29-30: at New York Jets
While the preseason is typically not greeted by the most excitement, under a new regime it will provide important insights into what Kelly’s plans are for Philadelphia for the regular season, including how the quarterback situation is shaping up at that time.
So. You ready? Just four months to go.
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Will Jason Peters return to his former glory? (Image via Rittenhoused)
The demise of the 2012 Philadelphia Eagles offensive line began before the season even started. It all started when Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters suffered an injury to his Achilles — two times. That seemed to set the tone for the line for the year, with injuries to Jason Kelce and Todd Herremans befalling the o-line as the season progressed.
As the Eagles go through the earliest part of their offseason program under new coach Chip Kelly and Peters returns to work, the question of the tackle’s status following a year of rehab for his injury looms large. Returning to a player’s previous ability level following an Achilles injury is a challenge, but it’s one that Peters plans to meet.
While participating in voluntary workouts with Philadelphia teammates at the NovaCare Peters proclaimed, “I’m 100 percent” and, according to Peters, he has been for quite some time.
“I was going to come back last year, but it was a bad season. I could have (played), but I didn’t want to risk it with a losing season. And the coaches kind of held me back a little bit.”
Peters is not satisfied simply to have recovered from the injury. If he is not back at the level of play of his 2011 Pro Bowl season, he’s not taking the field.
“I’m not going to get out there if I couldn’t be back to where I was before I got hurt.”
The coaching staff will start to get a read on Peters’ post-recovery performance at the Eagles’ first minicamp on April 16. With the increased tempo anticipated from Kelly’s practices, Peters is planning to get down to 320 from his playing weight of 340 in 2011 so he can be lighter on his feet and prepared for “whatever the coaches throw at us.”
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The Philadelphia Eagles continued to make moves to shore up their new defense by acquiring DE Clifton Geathers from the Colts on Thursday in a trade, giving up fullback Stanley Havili.
Geathers’ (6-7, 325) collegiate career
Clifton Geathers
was spent at the University of South Carolina, where he played in 36 games and finished with 72 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, 6 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. He was a sixth-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2010. Since that time, he has spent time in the NFL with Cleveland, Miami, Seattle, Dallas and Indy. The 25-year old Geathers has appeared in 15 total games during his three years of playing professional football. He played in eight games for Indianapolis in 2012, recording five tackles and a sack. Geathers will bring his run-stopping skills to Philadelphia’s new 3-4 defensive front.
Havili is in his second year in the NFL. With Philadelphia acquiring fullback/tight end James Casey and retaining Emil Igwenagu, the Birds have options to fill the fullback role typically featured in head coach Chip Kelly’s offenses.
Tapp moves South
DE Daryl Tapp, a member of the Philadelphia Eagles for the past three years, is now a member of the NFC East rival Washington Redskins. Tapp signed a one-year deal with the team. Prior to his time with the Eagles, Tapp spent four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Tapp played in 13 games for the Eagles in 2012, accumulating 17 tackles in 257 snaps.
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As March draws to a close, football’s focus turns increasingly to the upcoming 2013 NFL draft, which is exactly one month away. The Philadelphia Eagles will get the spotlight early, selecting fourth due to their abysmal 4-12 2012 season. With the stakes so high, Philadelphia cannot afford to miss with their draft choice.
This year’s draft will be different from that of 2012, including the fact that the first and second choice picks are not known. In fact, there is not a clear consensus as to which prospect will be drafted first. There isn’t the killer crop of quarterbacks that we saw last year. But the draft is always a different animal from year to year. The Eagles need to make the most of the talent present in 2013 and choose wisely. So who might they choose?
There is a lot of buzz surrounding Alabama corner Dee Milliner (6’0, 201), particularly after the deficiencies of Philadelphia’s secondary in the past few seasons. The corner is known for a remarkable combination of athleticism and size. Milliner appears on Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft as the second-best overall player in the draft, saying
“Nnamdi Asomugha won’t be wearing an Eagles uniform in 2013, and in a division with Eli Manning, Tony Romo and Robert Griffin III, the Eagles can’t simply attempt to piece together the secondary. They need talent, and Milliner offers the best cornerback talent in the draft. Not a tough pick.”
Can the Birds get him?
Mike Mayock ranks 6’2, 311 pound Star Lotulelei of Utah as the top defensive end for a 3-4 system, which certainly has to make him of possible interest to the Birds, particularly after racking up 42 tackles, 11 for loss, 5 sacks in his senior year.
Chip Kelly is plenty familiar with 3-4 outside linebacker Dion Jordan (6’6, 248), also ranked as the top in his position in the draft. His height allows him to quickly cover a lot of ground and get to tight ends and slot receivers in the open field.
Philadelphia could also use some help on the offensive line, with Jason Peters and Jason Kelce coming off of ACL injuries and former first rounder Danny Watkins showing repeatedly that he cannot provide what the line needs. Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel (6’6, 306) is considered by many to be the top overall talent in the draft. However, if he still around when the Eagles are on the clock it will be a pick that will be hard to refuse. If Joeckel is not available, perhaps the Birds will consider Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher (6’7, 306), who NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks describes as, “adding an athletic edge blocker with tremendous potential.”
Half of the fun of the draft is the anticipation. The waiting, the wondering, the storylines that may unfold leading up to draft day that may change a player’s standing. But the Eagles have got to hit their pick out of the park and pick up a player that will add immediate impact to team. Who will that player be? Only 31 days left to find out.
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