Posts Tagged ‘Todd Herremans’

Eagles make it official: Todd Herremans released

Saturday, February 28th, 2015

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

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In a move that was widely reported, the Philadelphia Eagles announced the release of offensive lineman Todd Herremans on Friday.

He helped protect Donovan McNabb, Mike Vick, and Nick Foles. He provided a consistent presence on the offensive line when the line was ravaged by injury. But the 32-year old veteran, who spent ten years on the Eagles, will no longer form the core of Philadelphia’s o-line.

In a statement, Chip Kelly said,

“Todd has been the ultimate professional during my two years in Philadelphia with him. He is a tough player and I wish him all of the best as he moves forward in his NFL career. I spoke to him earlier today and one of the things I told him was that by releasing him now, he will have a full opportunity to explore all of his options around the league.”

The move points to the business of the NFL – by cutting Herremans, the Eagles save $2.8 million in cap space. He had two years remaining on a five-year, $18 million extension he signed in March of 2012.

Herremans was a fourth-round pick for Philadelphia in 2005. He has played in 127 games with the Eagles, starting 124 at guard and tackle. Herremans and linebacker Trent Cole were the longest-tenured Eagles players.

It’s been a long time since we have seen a Herremans-less Eagles. He will be missed.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Evan Mathis undergoes ankle procedure; Will his recovery period buy Danny Watkins more time on the Eagles?

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

It’s no secret that the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line was decimated by injuries in the 2012 season.  Could those woes be spreading into the 2013 season already?

Not so fast.  Guard Evan Mathis confirmed that he has undergone an ankle “cleanout” (I believe that is the technical term) that will keep him out of spring workouts.  However, he expects to be ready to go in time for training camp this summer.

Mathis underwent a minor procedure that was described by CSNPhilly as

“a ‘clean out’ and said it wasn’t to repair any specific injury but just to address swelling and discomfort Mathis had been experiencing.”

Soon after Lane Johnson was drafted as the fourth overall pick by the Birds in last month’s draft, speculation began about the future of Danny Watkins, himself a first round pick in 2011 that has performed nowhere near expectations.  In short, it was believed that, if Watkins has any future in professional football, it will be north of the border in the CFL.

That move may come eventually but it will likely be delayed by Mathis’ recovery, as Watkins is now anticipated to take first team reps in Mathis’ place.

It’s not certain at this stage where Johnson will lineup.  If he plays at right tackle, then Todd Herremans will presumably return to his former position of left guard with Mathis switching to the right side.  Where would that leave Watkins?  That’s a very good question.

If anything, this serves as a reminder of how nothing is a done deal this early in the offseason.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Hope for the Philadelphia Eagles Hard to Find as Todd Herremans Placed on IR

Thursday, November 8th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Todd Herremans is out for the season.
(Image via Barstool Sports)

The issues for Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line got even worse on Wednesday when right guard Todd Herremans was placed on injured reserve with a broken foot, ending his season.

We knew the situation wasn’t good when Herremans was carted off the field on Monday night.  He appeared in the locker room on crutches following the game.  But as the Birds’ season grows more and more desperate, we needed some measure of hope.  Surely, somehow, Herremans would be okay.

Perhaps he will be, but not this season.  Official word from the Novacare Wednesday afternoon confirmed our fears: Todd Herremans would go to IR.  In his place, the Eagles promoted Julian Vandervelde from the practice squad, a lineman the Eagles had cut just before the start of the regular season.

Evan Mathis is now the only starter still standing on the line.  The Daily News’ Paul Domowitch called the mix-and-match mayhem “Evan Mathis and the Pips.”  To call them “porous” almost sounds too positive.  They can’t block a thing.

Mike Vick continues to take a beating behind them each and every time he gets on the field.  Monday night marked a season high 7 sacks on Vick with the line yet again performing abysmally against the blitz.  Which means that the Eagles had better be prepared to see a lot of it from Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan on Sunday.

Mike Vick is surviving as best he can.  “I just gotta believe in the guys in front of me,” he said on Wednesday.

For the season, Vick has already been sacked a whopping 27 times.  That’s four more than all of last year and we’re just past the halfway point of the season.  And that number doesn’t include the dozens of hits the quarterback has taken.

The question is always, What can this team do to improve.  Are there any answers to turn this thing around?

Vick says all he and his teammates can do is to keep on keepin’ on.

“Keep fighting.  Preparation is very important.  Don’t let up.  We’re going to catch a break here sooner or later.  This week has to be the week.”

“It’s not the funnest thing in the world to get hit over and over and over again.  But I keep getting up.  And I thank God that he blessed me with the ability to keep getting up, keep fighting, keep battling for this football team.”

“That’s why I continue to go as hard as I can and continue to make each and every play that I can.  Even though I sometimes find myself doing too much and overcompensating.”

The Eagles’ o-line woes point to one of the biggest conundrums for the Birds for the remainder of the season.  Many want to see Vick benched in favor of rookie Nick Foles, and that may well happen at some stage.  But even if Foles displays the same promise now as he did during the preseason, how long do you expect him to hold up behind this line?

With four straight losses, things clearly weren’t going well for the Eagles even with Todd Herremans in the lineup.  His season-ending injury adds to a long list of issues that makes it hard to see how there is any realistic possibility of the Eagles having anything but a miserable remainder of the 2012 season.

But if they can just get a win against Dallas it will all be just a lil’ easier to handle.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War room Sports

Tough Questions Face the Philadelphia Eagles After MNF Loss to New Orleans Saints

Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

LeSean McCoy ran for 119 yards in Monday night’s game but his efforts weren’t enough to help his team overcome defeat.
(Photo via the Philadelphia Eagles)

Nothing like a Monday Night Football embarrassment.  The Philadelphia Eagles could only assemble 13 points against the worst defense in the league.  The Birds notched 447 yards of offense and yet only came out of the game with 13 points.

Where do you go from here?

The Philadelphia Eagles have now fallen to 3-5  in the 28-13 loss  to the New Orleans Saints with absolutely no signs of improvement in sight.  The fourth straight lost for the Birds.

Mike Tirico called it, “The night of the red zone nightmare.”  And that about sums it up.  The turnover issues returned, and in the red zone, no less.

The offense was 0-5 in the red zone.  Mike Vick was sacked 7 times.  The offensive line got even worse when Todd Herremans left the game early with an ankle injury and Demetress Bell put in an absolutely atrocious performance at right tackle.

On defense, Eagles fans may be wondering if Juan Castillo is available to return as coordinator as things on that side of the ball were a mess once again.  Getting pressure on Brees was absolutely essential this game, so of course the D did as little of that as possible, though Jason Babin and Brandon Graham had a sack a piece.  The secondary, the unit that now-defensive coordinator Todd Bowles was brought in to the team to coach, was as it has been for much of the season – a problem.

Andy Reid said that Mike Vick would be the quarterback next week against Dallas, and why not?  Nick Foles would get killed behind that line.  Heck, it’s a miracle that Vick has lasted this long.

So what now?

The last game the Eagles won was on September 30 against the New York Giants.  More than a month without a win.  It’s astounding.

Andy Reid’s postgame presser showed a man who no longer believes his words but is desperately trying to put on a brave face.  Mike Vick seemed shell-shocked.  Brandon Graham expressed utter frustration at wanting to save his coach’s job and play a good season to honor Garrett Reid but having no idea what’s going wrong.

The Eagles’ loss rounds out a complete week of suckitude around the NFC East, with each and every team in the division suffering defeat.  That at least means that the Giants haven’t been able to increase their lead over the Eagles.  Up next for Philadelphia are the Cowboys at home, an always-intense battle.  If the Birds suffer an embarrassing loss to Dallas at the Linc, the boos heard against Atlanta in Week 8 will seem soft as lullabies.

It’s clear that no one knows how to fix the problems with the Eagles because if they did, the issues wouldn’t keep reappearing.  They would be fixed by now.  Maybe there won’t be the dramatic wave of changes this week as many have predicted if the Eagles lost in New Orleans.  Perhaps the team is resigned to the reality of their woeful and habitual under-performance.  And maybe we all have to face the fact there are no more excuses – this is just not a good football team.

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