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One Month ‘til the Draft: Who’s the Best Pick for the Philadelphia Eagles?

Monday, March 25th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

 

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Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Heads Back to the City

Monday, March 18th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Training camp will be set against a different backdrop this year when it is held in Philadelphia for the first time since 1943.

For the first time since 1943, when it was held at St. Joe’s University, the Philadelphia Eagles will hold their training camp in the city.  As is the case with 20 other teams in the NFL, the Birds have decided to remain at their facilities at the NovaCare Complex in South Philadelphia, the team announced on Friday.  Camp will feature a series of free, public practices at Lincoln Financial Field as well as private practices held at the NovaCare.

While the campus environment added to the fun, family feel at Lehigh, having camp held with easy access to the Broad Street Line will make the experience more accessible for many Eagles fans.  And for some, simply more convenient.

While the Eagles organization enjoyed its time and relationship with Lehigh University, per the team’s release about the decision,

“efficient access to all the facilities at the NovaCare Complex –  from the training room which is equipped with everything from a hydrotherapy pool and access to an MRI machine, weight rooms with state of the art equipment, an indoor practice venue, video and computer equipment that utilizes network infrastructure –  has become a necessity for the team.”

According to a report on 6ABC, the news came as a complete surprise to businesses near Lehigh University, where camp has been held for the past 17 years.  The change of location will impact their businesses but Eagles president Don Smolenski indicated that the team hopes to find ways to continue working with the community in Bethlehem.

“The Eagles and Lehigh University recognize that their long standing relationship is changing but not ending, and both parties have expressed a desire to explore community programs in the future.”

A schedule of the sessions open to the public will be released in the spring, with Smolenski indicating that the fan experience and interaction with the team offered at camp is a priority for the team.  The Birds will look to provide similar experiences at the Linc.

Will you be more or less likely to head to the South Philly version Eagles training camp this summer?

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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From Despair to Hope for Philadelphia Eagles’ Defense?

Monday, March 18th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

The Philadelphia Eagles’ woeful secondary was the biggest concern for the team heading in to free agency.  With the release of Nnamdi Asomugha and the signing of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie by the Denver Broncos, the team’s starting corners of the past two seasons disappeared into the sunset in just a matter of days.

It soon became apparent that some of the biggest defensive backs available in free agency, like Darelle Revis and Dashon Goldson, would not be heading to town, and concerns began to increase.  How were GM Howie Roseman and head coach Chip Kelly ever going to address the dire needs on the team’s defense?  We’re trying to trust you, Chip, what is it that you have up your sleeve?

Tuesday brought five solid signings but with no “wow” factor.  But that’s okay — we had enough of that in the shortened offseason of 2011, didn’t we?  But then the Eagles went silent on Wednesday while the anticipation grew.  Okay guys — what’s the plan here?

Then came Thursday and with it, sighs of relief.  Philadelphia added three players — all to defense, and two of those to the secondary, bringing safety Kenny Phillips, cornerback Cary Williams and linebacker Connor Barwin to the City of Brotherly Love.  All are players who didn’t break the bank but should add immediate improvements to the team’s defense.

Kenny Phillips. (Image via nj.com)

In a low-risk, high reward scenario, Philadelphia signed 26-year old safety  Kenny Phillips (6-2, 217) to a one-year deal.  The safety is quite familiar with the Eagles, as he comes from the division rival New York Giants.  But we’ll try not to hold that against him.  In his time with Big Blue’s secondary, Phillips totaled eight interceptions and 26 passes defensed, in addition to 263 total tackles. He was a first round draft pick for New York in 2008 out of the University of Miami.  Phillips was a standout in the team’s 2011 championship season with career-high four interceptions and ranking fifth in tackles with 72.

The downside of Phillips is that he has a history of knee injuries.  However, as pointed out by Roseman after the signing,

“It’s different looking at players that are 25, 26 coming off injuries than guys who are 31, 32.”

If he can stay healthy then Phillips can make a real impact for the Birds.

Welcome to Philadelphia, Cary Williams. (Image via Russell Street Report)

28 year-old  CB Cary Williams (6-1, 190) comes to Philadelphia from the Super Bowl winning Ravens with a three-year, $17 million deal.  With the Ravens, he started in all 16 regular season games and recorded four interceptions  (as well as two in the postseason) with 17 passes defended and 67 tackles.  Originally drafted by Tennessee in 2008, he joined Baltimore and 2009 and moved to the role of starter in 2011.

According to Pro Football Focus, Williams was targeted 102 times last year, the 10thmost of any corner in the league.  He joins only three other players in the league to be targeted over 100 times in the 2011 and 2012 seasons (along with Sean Smith, Tim Jennings and Tramon Williams).  And, prepare yourselves, Eagles fans: the man can tackle, missing only three last year.

Williams and Jeremy Maclin have enjoyed a loving relationship in the past, and I’m sure that that will continue (see below).

Ahem.

The Eagles expressed quite a lot of confidence in their move to sign linebacker Connor Barwin (6-4, 268), inking him to a six-year, $36 million deal ($8 million guaranteed).  Barwin comes to the Birds from the Texans, where he recorded 109 tackles, 19 sacks, two fumble recoveries and 16 passes defensed.  Barwin was acquired by Houston in the second round in 2009 from the University of Cincinnati. He shifted to outside linebacker from defensive end following the 2010 season. The change turned out to be a wise decision, as Barwin notched a team high 11.5 sacks in 2011, ranking third in the AFC.

As Philadelphia is widely expected to make the change to a 3-4 defense, they need versatile players who are proven in that type of scheme.  Barwin meets both criteria.  But more than that, according to Roseman, the real reason the Eagles inked the linebacker is for his pass-rushing ability.

“We want to be able to make sure we can get pressure on the quarterback.  Getting pressure on the quarterback, preventing pressure, that’s always going to be stuff that’s important to us.”

Us too, Howie.

So, what do you think?  Has Philadelphia successfully managed a blueprint for a much improved defense, particularly in the defensive backfield, in the 2013 season based on their moves thus far in free agency?

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Philadelphia Eagles Focus on Defense and Special Teams in Free Agency

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn’t a full-on frenzy for the Philadelphia Eagles in the first day of free agency, but they certainly made a splash by signing five players.  CB Bradley Fletcher and LB Jason Phillips signed 2-year deals with the team, while TE James Casey, S Patrick Chung and DL Isaac Sopoaga struck 3-year deals.

The fact that four of the five deals made were with defensive players reflects Philadelphia’s strongest overall need.  And with the release of Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie being allowed to walk into free agency, replacing the severely depleted Eagles secondary is chief among the priorities for this team.

Unlike that infamous summer in 2011, the Birds aren’t waving money around at the biggest names available in free agency.  Rather, they have so far taken a  more low-key approach, inking lesser-known players who they believe will truly make an impact on the team.  There was also a decided emphasis on strong special teams performances with these signings.

Some background on each player:

S Bradley Fletcher – Fletcher (6-0, 200) was a third round selection of  the St. Louis Rams in 2009 out of Iowa.  In four seasons with the Rams, he posted 169 tackles and five interceptions, starting in 26 of 43 games.  The 26-year-old played in all 16 games in 2012, making four starts and notching 25 tackles, eight passes defensed, one forced fumble and one sack.  Bradley’s best season came in 2010 when he started in 15 of 16 games and led the team with four interceptions.

TE James Casey – Casey  (6-3, 240) was a fifth round draft choice of Houston in 2009 out of Rice University, where he was a running back on the team.  He is a versatile presence, playing in 61 games (20 starts) in four years with the Texans as both a fullback and tight end.  The 28-year-old set career highs in 2012 in receptions (34), receiving yards (330) and touchdowns (3).  He has notched a total of 66 catches for 752 yards and four touchdowns in his NFL career.

S Patrick Chung – Chung (5-11, 210) was a second round pick for the Patriots in 2009.  Head coach is familiar with Chung’s skill set, as the player was a four-year starter at Oregon.  In four seasons with New England, he totaled 235 tackles, seven interceptions, three sacks, and 19 passes defensed.  Chung has played in 50 games in the NFL with 30 starts and has  racked up 25 special teams tackles.  In a win over the Miami Dolphins on 10/4/10, Chung blocked a punt, blocked a field goal, and returned an interception for a touchdown, all in the same game.

LB Jason Phillips – Phillips (6-1, 240) was a fifth round selection of Baltimore in 2009 out of Texas Christian University.  He  ultimately spent  time with both the Ravens and Carolina Panthers in his four-year career as a reserve linebacker and special teams contributor, appearing in 29 total games.  The 27-year-old played in all 16 games (two starts) for the Panthers in 2012 and led the team with 16 special teams tackles.

DL Isaac Sopoaga – Sopoaga (6-2, 330) has been a key contributor to the 49ers defensive line over the last nine seasons, recording 447 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 125 career games (80 starts).  He was originally a fourth-round pick from Hawaii of the 49ers in 2004.  Sopoaga has experience at both defensive tackle and nose tackle.  In 2012, Sopoaga played in 15 games (10 starts) and amassed 55 tackles and one sack.  He also had eight tackles and one sack in the postseason.  At 31-years old Sopoaga is older than the rest of the free agent signings but his experience, versatility, and success in a 3-4 defense speak for themselves.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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It’s Official: Nnamdi Asomugha Cut by the Philadelphia Eagles

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The symbol of the failed Philadelphia Eagles free agent signing frenzy of 2011 has finally been released by the team after two tremendously disappointing seasons.

A statement released by GM Howie Roseman is a follows:

“Coach Kelly and I each had a chance to speak with Nnamdi earlier and he took the news with a lot of class.  We expected nothing less than that from him.  He has been a true pro on and off the field for this organization and our community and we wish him all the best as he continues his NFL career.  We spoke to his representatives at the Combine about his future status with the team and wanted to take time to analyze and make a decision.  In the end, Coach and I both felt we needed to move in a different direction at the cornerback position for 2013 and beyond.”

Along with the firing, Asomugha took with him the $4 million dollars still owed to him by the team per his contract.  The Pro Bowl corner will now test how much his disappointing performance with Philadelphia has impacted his value on the free market.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Mike Vick Cancels Book Tour After Receiving Threats

Tuesday, March 12th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike Vick is and will probably always remain one of the most controversial figures in the public arena, not just in sports.  As such, it comes as no surprise that the release of his autobiography, Finally Free, and book tour  surrounding the work has garnered harsh criticism after his past involvement with dog fighting.  But after the NFL star received threats of violence via social media, Vick and Barnes and Noble bookstores announced that his schedule of signings in Atlanta, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have been canceled.

According to Worthy Publishing, the book’s publisher, they support Vick and his work about his life, including his time in prison for dog fighting and continuing the fight to rebuild his life and public image.  However, they don’t want to put innocent bystanders in harm’s way.

Said Byron Williamson, the publisher’s president,

“While we stand by Michael Vick‘s right to free speech and the retailers’ right to free commerce, we cannot knowingly put anyone in harm’s way, and therefore we must announce the cancellation of Mr. Vick’s book-signing appearances.  We’ve been assured these threats of violence, which have been reported to the police, are being taken very seriously by local authorities.”

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer,

The Facebook page promoting the event was filled with threatening and vulgar messages.

A spokesman for Vick stated the following:

“Michael Vick is committed to helping make his community a better place.  He is one of the most active players in the NFL in terms of community service.  It is a shame that a few extremists would threaten violence to try and prevent him from meeting fans and inspiring them to make positive choices.”

No matter what he does, Vick cannot erase the past and that fact is what continues to make Vick such a polarizing figure. For many, his part in harming dogs is simply unforgivable, regardless of any efforts post-prison to take ownership of his crimes and attempt to be a positive presence in his community.  True turnaround or publicity ploy?  This is the debate that will follow Mike Vick for the rest of his life.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Philadelphia Eagles Load Up on Quarterbacks

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

The Philadelphia Eagles added yet another quarterback to their roster on Tuesday, bringing the grand total to five.  That list includes Mike Vick, Nick Foles, Trent Edwards, Dennis Dixon, and now G.J. Kinne.

Erm…who?

Kinne (6-2, 234), was signed to a two-year deal with the Birds.  Obviously, he’s not a big name.  But he has ties to some presently with the Eagles organization.  He played at Tulsa with wide receiver Damaris Johnson and was coached by the Birds’ offensive quality control coach Press Taylor.  So, there’s that.  During his three-year career at Tulsa (he transferred there after attending the University of Texas his freshman year), Kinne ranked second in the school’s history in passing yards (9,472), total offense (10,831 yards), and passing touchdowns (81).

In 2012 Kinne was an unsigned free agent of the New York Jets before being waived by the team in June.  After the NFL didn’t pan out for Kinne, he held a brief stint in the UFL with the Omaha Nighthawks and in the AFL with the San Antonio Talons.

Confused as to what Chip Kelly’s overall vision is for the Eagles’ quarterback position at this stage?  Join the club.  Options can be good, but this latest signing seems to cast the proverbial net as wide as possible.  And, of course, the signing of Kinne gets us no closer to having an idea of what Kelly has in mind for his first NFL offense.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Initial NFL Draft Top 100 Big Board

Monday, March 4th, 2013

by Brandon Pemberton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The NFL Combine is now over and now prospects are training and preparing for their Pro Day workouts at their schools.  Here is my list of the top 100 prospects at this point, according to the scouting I’ve done myself.  There’s plenty of time left before actual draft day, so this list will change a few times until then.  Be on the lookout for the release of my top prospects by position as well.  Be sure to listen to Sports Trap Radio, Saturdays 10am-12pm on http://ueradiolive.com or http://livestream.com/ueradiolive as Daniel Trawick and myself discuss the NFL Draft and all things in the sports world!

 

1. Chance Warmack  G  Alabama – 6’2  317lbs

2. Dee Milliner CB  Alabama – 5’11 7/8 201lbs

3. Luke Joeckel  OT  TexasA&M  6’6  306lbs

4. Eric Fisher OTCentral Michigan 6’7  306lbs

5. Bjoern Werner DE  FloridaState  6’3  266lbs

6. SheldonRichardsonDTMissouri 6’2 1/2  294lbs

7. Sharrif Floyd DT  Florida 6’2 5/8  297lbs

8. Kenny Vaccaro  SS Texas  6’0  214lbs

9. Star Lotulelei DT Utah 6’2 311lbs

10. Jarvis Jones OLBGeorgia6’2 245lbs

11. Keenan Allen  WR  California  6’2 206lbs

12. Lane Johnson OT Oklahoma  6’6 303lbs

13. Barkevious Mingo  OLB/DE  LSU  6’4 240lbs

14. Alexander Ogletree  ILB  Georgia 6’2 1/2  242lbs

15. D.J. Fluker OT Alabama 6’4 5/8 339lbs

16. Jonathan Cooper G  North Carolina  6’2 1/8  311lbs

17. Ezekiel Ansah  DE  BYU   6’5  271lbs

18. Xavier Rhodes  CB  FloridaState  6’1 1/2   210lbs

19. Cordarrelle Patterson WR Tennessee  6’1 7/8  216lbs

20. DamontreMoore DE TexasA&M  6’4 1/2  250lbs

21. Johnathan Hankins  DT OhioState 6’2 7/8  320lbs

22. TavonAustin  WR West Virginia  5’8 1/2  174lbs

23. Tyler Eifert TE  Notre Dame  6’5 1/2 250lbs

24. Matt Elam SS Florida 5’9 7/8 208lbs

25. Sam Montgomery DE  LSU 6’3 1/4 262lbs

26. Desmond Trufant CB Washington 5’11 5/8 190lbs

27.Johnthan Banks CB  Miss St.6’2 185lbs

28. Kevin Minter ILB  LSU  5’11 3/4 246lbs

29. Dion Jordan DE/OLB Oregon6’6 1/4 248lbs

30. DeAndreHopkinsWR Clemson 6’1 214lbs

31. Zach Ertz TE Stanford 6’5 249lbs

32. Giovanni Bernard RB UNC 5’8 3/8 202lbs

33. Eddie Lacy RBAlabama5’11 231lbs

34. Terrance Williams WR Baylor 6’2 208lbs

35. Jonathan Jenkins DT Georgia 6’4 346lbs

36. Eric Reid FS/SS LSU 6’1 1/4 213lbs

37. Robert Woods WR USC 6’0 3/8 201lbs

38. Kawann Short DT Purdue 6’3 299lbs

39. Sylvester Williams DT UNC 6’2 5/8 313lbs

40. Barrett Jones G/CAlabama6’4 1/4 306lbs

41. Tyler Wilson QB Arkansas 6’2 1/8 215lbs

42. Geno Smith QB WestVa.6’2 3/8 218lbs

43. Matt Barkley QB USC 6’2 1/2 227lbs

44. DatoneJonesDE/DT UCLA 6’4 275lbs

45. Jesse Williams DT Alabama 6’3 323lbs

46. Alex OkaforDETexas6’4 264lbs

47. Khaseem Greene OLBRutgers6’0 3/4 241lbs

48. Kevin Reddick ILB UNC 6’1 3/8 243lbs

49. Quinton Patton WR Louisiana Tech 6’0 204lbs

50. Corey Lemonier DE/OLBAuburn6’3 3/8 255lbs

51. Larry Warford G Kentucky 6’3 332lbs

52.Arthur Brown ILB/OLB Kansas St.6’0 241lbs

53. Justin Hunter WR Tennessee 6’3 5/8 196lbs

54. Tank Carradine DE  Florida St.6’4 276lbs

55.Dave Amerson S/CB North Carolina St.  6’1 205lbs

56. Oday Aboushi T Virginia 6’5 3/8 308lbs

57. Jonathan Cyprien SS Florida International 6’0 217lbs

60. Kyle Long T/GOregon6’6 1/8 313lbs

61. Manti Te’o ILB Notre Dame 6’1 1/4 241lbs

62.DallasThomas T/GTennessee6’5 302lbs

63.Jamar Taylor CB Boise St.5’10 192lbs

64. BennieLoganDT LSU 6’2 309lbs

65. Justin Pugh T Syracuse 6’4 1/2 307lbs

66. Da’RickRogersWR Tennessee Tech 6’2 1/2 217lbs

67.PhillipThomasSFresnoState6’0 1/2 213lbs

68.Jordan Poyer CB Oregon St.5’11 7/8 191lbs

69. B.W. Webb CB William & Mary 5’10 1/4 184lbs

70.Menelik Watson T Florida St.6’5 1/8 310lbs

71. Darius SlayCB Mississippi St.5’11 7/8 192lbs

72. Brandon Williams DT/NTMissouriSouthern St 6’1 1/4 335lbs

73. Aaron Dobson WRMarshall6’2 5/8 210lbs

74. Nico Johnson ILBAlabama6’2 248lbs

75.LoganRyan CB Rutgers 5’11 1/8 191lbs

76. Jon Bostic ILBFlorida6’0 7/8 245lbs

77. Mike BuchananDEIllinois6’5 3/8 255lbs

78. Jordan Reed TE/H-BackFlorida6’2 1/2 236lbs

79. Cornelius Washington DE/OLBGeorgia6’4 265lbs

80. Mychal Rivera TETennessee6’3 1/4 242lbs

81. Andre Ellington RB Clemson 5’9 1/4 199lbs

82. Ryan Nassib QB Syracuse 6’2 1/8 227lbs

83. Tyrann Mathieu CB LSU 5’8 3/4 186lbs

84. Travis Frederick C Wisconsin 6’3 5/8 312lbs

85. D.J. Swearinger S South Carolina 5’10 1/2 208lbs

86.E.J. Manuel QB Florida St.6’4 5/8 237lbs

87. Vance McDonald TE Rice 6’4 1/8 267lbs

88. Bacarri Rambo FS Georgia 6’0 211lbs

89.Gavin Escobar TE San Diego St6’5 7/8 254lbs

90.Markus Wheaton WR Oregon St.5’11 189lbs

91.Leon McFadden CB San Diego St.  5’9 5/8 193lbs

92. Le’Veon Bell RB Michigan St6’1 3/8 230lbs

93. Robert Alford CBSoutheastern Louisiana5’10 1/8 188lbs

94.William Gholston DE Michigan St.6’6 1/4 281lbs

95. Sean Porter OLBTexasA&M 6’1 1/4 229lbs

96. Jelani Jenkins OLBFlorida6’0 243lbs

97. Montee Ball RBWisconsin5’10 1/2 214lbs

98. Jamie Collins Southern Miss 6’3 1/2 250lbs

99. Terron Armstead G/TArkansasPine Bluff6’4 3/8 306lbs

100. KnileDavisRBArkansas5’11 3/8 227lbs

 

Brandon Pemberton of Sports Trap Radio, for War Room Sports

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The Ron Jaworski Interview: Why Chip Kelly Will be a Success in the NFL and Why the Philadelphia Eagles Need Mike Vick

Monday, February 25th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski is a man who needs no introduction in the City of Philadelphia. But alas, I’ll give it a try.

Jaws, as he is otherwise known, remains one of the most popular sports figures in Philly sports history.  His place in Eagles lore was solidified when he took the 1980 team to Super Bowl XV and was named NFL MVP that year.  He remains active in the area’s sports scene as president and part-owner of the Philadelphia Soul.

Jaworski is a popular fixture on ESPN due to his analysis and insights revealed through hours of film study as well as his affable personality, all of which contributed to Jaws’ role as a commentator on Monday Night Football for five seasons.

Jaws joined me as well as Roy Burton and Kris Domingo of the Broad Street Line podcast to talk Eagles quarterbacks, Chip Kelly, his famous nickname and its connection with the Philadelphia Sixers and an exciting announcement about the Philadelphia Soul.  You’ll also find out the new project that has Jaws feeling like a 31-year old again.

QUESTION:  The Philadelphia Eagles are in the midst of a lot of transition, with Chip Kelly being the first new head coach in 14 seasons. We’ve had a chance to hear from Kelly briefly, but obviously there are so many questions about what he’s planning to do. What qualities make you believe that he can succeed as a head coach in the NFL, and specifically with the Eagles?

Jaws:  First and foremost, Chip Kelly has tremendous football IQ. He understands the game, and he comes from an offensive persuasion. I think in today’s NFL it’s so important that you have your offense in place. It’s a quarterback’s game. The quarterback is the most important player on the team. He is the heartbeat of a football team. So that’s one situation that Chip Kelly is going to have to clear up for the short-term and the long-term as well.

But what I really like about Chip, and I’ve watched his offense at Oregon for a number of years broken down on tape, tried to figure out what he’s trying to do and it’s very difficult to do that. Even a guy like me who’s a football wonk that studies all the tape–this guy is brilliant. He understands how to beat defenses. And he brings tremendous energy.

I know he is of the offensive persuasion, he cares about quarterback, but what I love is the energy he brings into the room that he will bring to the football team. That’s something you just can’t fabricate. I mean, he loves football and I think quickly the people of Philadelphia will understand that.

QUESTION:  Speaking of quarterbacks, right now there are three in the mix for the Eagles—Mike Vick, of course, Nick Foles and recently Dennis Dixon. Who do you anticipate succeeding the most in Kelly’s spread offense?

Jaws: I don’t think there’s any doubt it’s going to be Michael Vick. In fact, as Chip Kelly was hired I quickly announced that Michael Vick would be the quarterback, much to the chagrin of many people in Philadelphia who felt it was time to move on from Michael Vick and move to Nick Foles, or now we have a Dennis Dixon in the mix or whoever they deem in the draft or via free agency to acquire. But I think when you look at Michael Vick, he has a skill set that fits what Chip Kelly wants to run.  Mobility. The one thing, if you look at the Oregon offense, it’s not about throwing the football. It’s about a quarterback with movement who can run. Michael Vick can do both.

In the NFL it starts with throwing the football first. Mike Vick is still an outstanding passer of the football. We know he can run the football. Yes, he may have lost a couple tenths of a second in his 40 time, he may have gotten beat up a little bit over the past couple years, but even with those things going against Michael Vick he’s still a guy who can give you the burst, give you the big play.  I think he’s the absolute perfect fit for a Chip Kelly offense.

Then you go to Dennis Dixon, a guy that played with Chip Kelly out of Oregon, understands his system, has been with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has been with the Baltimore Ravens. He understands what it takes to run this system.

Nick Foles is your prototypical NFL pocket passer. I don’t see his style fitting in to what Chip Kelly wants to do. That’s not to take anything away from Nick Foles because I think eventually he is going to be an outstanding NFL quarterback. But he’s not a guy who fits in the type of offense that Chip Kelly wants to run.

QUESTION:  What do you think went wrong with the team last year, specifically? Can we chalk it up to talent or a lack of effort or was there something else going on?

Jaws: When we talk about professional football I never use the term “lack of effort.” I think these are highly skilled professional athletes that are paid to do their very best no matter what the situation is. Now, maybe there were some situations where they lacked the intensity and enthusiasm that we like to see from teams that are contending for a Super Bowl, but I certainly don’t think the Eagles would fall into the category of a team that lacked effort. Andy Reid got the best out of his football team.

When you look at last season’s 4-12 record, you have to go back to two years ago when the team struggled at 4-8. I believe going 8-8 masked their deficiencies. They were not a good football team at 4-8, they got their season to 8-8, Andy Reid got another shot but it was clear to me that there were problems within the football team that they needed to make changes. Those changes were not made, consequently the team comes back, suffers some very serious injuries–there’s no question of that–the offensive line was decimated and yes you did lose Michael Vick, your starting quarterback, for a number of games. But I look at this Eagles team now, this downfall where they won only four games this year, eight the year before, 12-20 over the last two years. This started a couple years ago. So clearly, I think all of the changes were mandated by a 12-20 record so time to move in another direction, and they are.

QUESTION: Is it true that Sixers’ current head coach Doug Collins gave you the nickname Jaws?

Jaws: That is correct! Doug Collins was my next door neighbor when he was playing for the Sixers and I was playing for the Eagles and he came up with the nickname Jaws. Now, most people think it was because the movie “Jaws” was very popular in the early 80s, but Doug said every time he saw me my jaws were always flapping so he gave me the nickname Jaws and it has stuck ever since.

QUESTION:  We all know and admire your analysis on ESPN but you’re working on a new project that’s pretty close to home, as it’s about your health.  You found relief from arthritis pain with a product called Stopain. Did your time playing football exacerbate your pain? Tell us a little about how you found your way to the product.

Jaws: I’m a 61-year old guy who played professional football for 17 years and 25 years total playing the game so when you get to be 61 there are some bumps and bruises that act up every now and then. Like most guys my age we’re looking for something that will provide us with some immediate relief and I found that in Stopain.

Before I got involved in the company I actually tried the product for months. I wanted to be sure that it worked, that it did help stop pain, that it allowed me to play golf, it allowed me to move freely, that it deeply penetrated my joints. It allowed me to swing the golf club, walk the golf course for 18 holes. Stopain had a remarkable turnaround in my life as far as being athletic and wanting to move and doing all of the things that I have to do at this age.

QUESTION: You’re part-owner of the Philadelphia Soul. We heard that you had some news that you wanted to share about the Soul. Is there anything you’d like to tell us?

Jaws:  There are so many great things happening with the Philadelphia Soul right now. Our training camp opens on March 2. We open our season in Arizona, which will be a replay of the Arena Bowl championship of a year ago in New Orleans. Philadelphia unfortunately lost that game to Arizona but we have a tremendous football team. We are very, very excited about bringing a championship back to Philadelphia. In 2008 we won the Arena Bowl championship and we kind of felt that we remained the team that everybody looked up to. Of course, a few months later the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series and we feel that we removed the jinx of William Penn in the City of Philadelphia.

We feel very strongly about what we’ve been able to bring in terms of competitive football and championship football to Philadelphia. I think one of the really cool things that our ownership group of the Philadelphia Soul—Marty Judge, myself, Craig Spencer, Cosmo DeNicola, Pete Ciarrochi–we’re taking arena football to China. You heard me correct. We are taking not National Football League to China, the Arena Football League under the direction of our ownership group of the Philadelphia Soul is going to China. We are the only organization in football that is going to be playing football in China this fall. It’s very, very exciting.

****

I know you’re sorry it’s over but I have good news for you—it actually isn’t. Be sure to catch the full interview tomorrow, Tuesday, February 26 at 6 pm via The Broad Street Line podcast for more from Jaws, including his thoughts on other quarterbacks around the league.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Mark Cuban Thinks the Lakers Should Amnesty Kobe?

Monday, February 25th, 2013

by LeRoy McConnell III

 

 

 

 

 

Leave it up to Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban to provide his two cents on what the 16-time World Champions Los Angeles Lakers should do with their superstar Kobe Bryant.  I mean don’t get me wrong, Cuban just gutted his own team last season so he has some idea of what to do.  Maybe it’s his way of reaching out to the Buss Family during trying times.

Let’s play devil’s advocate:

Kobe is due a mere $30 million next season which puts the Lakers over the luxury tax threshold by $7 million.  That doesn’t even include the signing of the summer’s biggest free agent, Dwight Howard.  Howard will command at least $20 million a season on his upcoming deal, which even creates more chaos for the Lakers.  Once you pass $5 million over the luxury tax, it increases to $1.75 for every dollar over.  After that, every $5 million over goes from $2.50 to $3.25 to $3.75 and increases $.50 for every $5 million after that.  But we are talking about Kobe!  Kobe Bryant is Mr. Laker, he is the draw, the 5-Time NBA champion that is relied upon to lead the success of the franchise.  His legacy belongs in a purple and gold uniform.  Mark Cuban spoke about his reasons the Lakers should amnesty Kobe.

 

“If you look at their payroll, even if Dwight Howard comes back, you’ve got to ask the question: Should they amnesty Kobe?” Cuban said during an appearance on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM’s “Ben and Skin Show.  “So I’m just saying that hypothetically. When I say amnesty Kobe, I don’t think they’d do it, but they’ve got some choices to make. Now, they’re in a big market, but they’re still limited. The Knicks, the same thing. Boston same thing.”

Is Mark Cuban trying to use his Shark Tank skills into conning the mighty Lakers franchise into disrupting their team?  When was the last time the Lakers organization were hurting for money?  Did Cuban forget that the Lakers just inked a $3 billion deal with Time Warner Cable?

Message to the Buss Family:

If you have forgotten, the Dallas Mavericks swept your team and went on to win the NBA Championship just two seasons ago.  Then Cuban referred to his Shark Tank entourage in deciding the fate of Tyson Chandler, the backbone of the Mavericks and Defensive Player of The Year.  HE COULD HAVE KEPT CHANDLER AND AMNESTIED BRENDAN HAYWOOD.  He decided against that, allowing Chandler to walk and keeping Haywood for one additional season before using the AMNESTY CLAUSE on HAYWOOD anyway.  Giving up a team that won you an NBA championship for financial flexibility!  The 2012-13 season has been a disaster for the Mavericks.  Cuban got his wish for all the financial flexibility in the world but no NBA player seems to want to play in Dallas.  So take note Buss Family, ride the horse of the Black Mamba as long as you can and find a way to keep Mr. Howard, because Mark Cuban has put your team on notice.

 

LeRoy McConnell III of A Fan’s Point of View, for War Room Sports

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