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Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see them rotate corners. Sure, some ego hit will happen, but few people on the field run as much as they do. Keeping 3 potential probowlers fresh in a rotation, with the option of going 3 wide to match up against teams is a major bonus. Brown moving to Safety would work also, as he's the slowest out of the 3, and the hardest hitting of the three.

Just heard Reid talk about Lito today- say their talk "went well" and that they were glad he came into minicamp.

Hey, if he's not going to bitch, the defense should be improved. They actually may have stumbled into the correct action- seeing as how NFC teams usually throw all over them; we'll see. I'm still in "positive mode" at this point.

Unless of course the pass rush remains non-existent.

But there go hopes for a big time WR. Maybe one of these scrubs can step it up.

FB, I agree it looks like they're going to need someone to step up.

Curtis played well in his first year with the team, and I think he'll improve a bit, making a few more catches he may have missed and get in better position.

I think this is a make or break year for Brown, if he doesn't step it up, they're going to probably FredX him.

Jackson will need at least a year to get used to the pros and the system before he will have a bigger impact, but if he does what he said he was planning on and putting on about 10 more pounds of muscle before the season, he will be close to 180, which would be fine for 5' 10". Considering Curtis is at 6' 185lbs, he would be on a similar build.

Hank and Avant really need to step up this year. I don't see the team holding onto more than 6 WR's, and they have like 9 or so signed for camp. Those two are basically playing for a spot on the team now.

It's not that they 'need' a big time WR, they just 'need' the targets on the field to perform at a respectable professional level. I'm not talking about acrobatic catches or blowing away defenders on a slant. Making the catches that are expected, along with a hopefully more stable arm from a 'fully healed' McNabb should allow them to throw the ball well. If they keep a balanced game of pass and run, and the young guys they have progress as professionals are expected to do, the passing game should be "ok".

I think this is a make or break year for Brown,


I think this is a make or break year for a lot of people. Including McNabb. Which is why it makes me think that the FO has to be working hard to get a better WR behind the scenes.

Which is why it makes me think that the FO has to be working hard to get a better WR behind the scenes.

That is EXACTLY what I want to think, yet I have no faith that it is actually happening.

I actually was modestly impressed with McNabb down the stretch last year. I agree, FB, this is a make or break year in which they are setting up the team to fail. I wish it was make or break year for Reid.

So Reid comes out and refuses to say anything about Shepherd.

Oooooooooooo-kay.

Guess they're still waiting for the right offer.

I actually was modestly impressed with McNabb down the stretch last year.

Part of that was real and part was a mirage, though. He was getting healthier and he was getting better, but they also ran into 3 of the worst pass defenses int he league. Throughout his career he's been known to shred poor pass defense and struggle quite a bit against good ones, so I don't know how much to take from those performances other than the fact that he looked more mobile.

FD,

I've been ultra-critical of Supa 5 and have pointed the very same thing out about his "success". I haven't come full circle about my opinion of him, but while I used to blame him for roughly 60% of the issues, I now blame Reid for 75%. He got him a star quality WR for 1.5 years and his numbers reflected that support. Even a fragile Cocksuckerfaceworth did better than the jokers they have had over a period of time. His mobility is back. The problem is that the same group of WRs is also back.

I genuinely can't understand it, particularly for a coach that prefers a 70/30 pass/run ratio.

I agree completely. I think you have to give Reid a lot of credit for where the Eagles are right now, but his arrogance and blind spots are the reason they haven't been able to complete the mission.

I genuinely can't understand it, particularly for a coach that prefers a 70/30 pass/run ratio.

That's really the problem, isn't it? Poor pass defenses can't do anything, good ones will wait for them to run to adjust to it. If they can get a balanced (read: not all Westbrook) running game going, complimented by the spread passing WCO, they should be formitable without a stud. If they keep Lito (which based on the stuff they'd get, I'm hoping they will now and just convert Brown to a Safety or get a corner rotation going), it gives the team a solid D with depth at many positions. Solid coverage gives the pass rush time to move, solid pass rushing gives the coverage time to make plays, and both working together allows the linebackers to make plays.

At this point, I'm thinking the team needs to focus on what people expect from the Eagles; a tough, hard fighting Defense. Lito is a key to making that happen. Adding on a 'cancer' WR won't make them any better on D, and if injuries happen, they'll be weak in the secondary again.

If they really want to move him, why not try to get a SS instead of a WR? I know everyone wants that game breaking speed receiver, but can you imagine if they had an Ed Reed lining up with them? You know Baltimore is looking to rebuild now, and moving a Vet player for a 1st rounder may be the ticket to that.

I agree, FD & Lyte.

Reid's stubborness paid off dividends on the offensive line which has been pretty good over his tenure. He's been hit/miss on defensive line. Other coaches infatuated with skill players without getting cornerstones to the team first are why franchises fail.

I wish he COULD put it all together.

A more balanced attack. Lyte, I'd hope for a Suggs/Lito + pick trade since he's up for FA next year. I still prefer to keep the 3 of them. Hood gives excellent depth and an incredible dime package. Demps/Jackson can be return men for year one. Get a power RB or use your FB more. Balance the attack...and viola.

Oh well, wishful thinking.

So none of the Philly papers reported the backhanded slap Reid gave to them in his PC yesterday? I'm so shocked.

And here's what I was talking about, from the DelCo. Times:

One playoff appearance and one winning season in the past three years may be taking its toll on the Eagles, who seem increasingly sensitive to criticism.

Asked to compare this camp to the minicamp last year, Reid dropped the bomb — a moan that he feels he and the team have been treated unfairly.

“I thought you guys struggled to find a positive story,” Reid said. “You did a good job finding the negative ones, but there are plenty of positive ones that you could find out there. There are some good young players that you could really focus in on and look at. Other than that, it was business as usual.”

For the record, Reid declined to address whether the Eagles have moved closer to a resolution with Sheppard.

“I’m not going to get into all of that,” Reid said.

So none of the Philly papers reported the backhanded slap Reid gave to them in his PC yesterday? I'm so shocked.

I'm kinda surprised no one has called him out on it yet. I think it smacks of the arrogance this franchise is so often accused of and would love for someone to run with it.

Your team has been underperforming, your family was/is a mess (which you rightfully received a pass on), and you feel like the media is obligated to come up with "positive" stories about your team?

Do positive things and there will be positive stories. That's how it works. it wasn't all doom and gloom when you were winning, but this franchise has been in a transition for a couple years here and you don't get a lifetime pass for a Super Bowl appearance.

Think about this...when you were in the Super Bowl, Desean Jackson was in High School. You're .500 since that season. Free lunch is over.

Why be surprised, FD?

The Philly media is a disgrace when it comes to Reid. Especially Da Hoff. You can't even take most of those guys seriously.

Shocker. Gollem took the bait.

"I'm positive that not only were the Eagles the only team in the NFC East to miss the playoffs last season, they were the only team in Philadelphia to miss them as well. And I'm just as positive that the last fact bothers the front office of the team more than the first one."
click here

When I awoke today to CSN running with a story of Reid's admonishment of the press, I smiled.

I was prepped for that after reading Spud's article from yesterday, in which the sentiment within 1 Novacare Way was sufficiently displayed for all to read.

"The media only came to camp looking for negatives. And got none! Lito's a professional!

HA!" Why not look at the positives? It's frustrating."

The media in Philadelphia looking for negatives?!?!?

The hell you say!

Eckel...is not a pretty man.

Good lord, no wonder why I've never seen him on TV.

Man, Eckel hates this F.O.

Exactly what kind of positives can we get from last year?

Sure, there were some players that stepped up, and I know I read a few positive articles about Stewart Bradley--but what else does Andy want here?

Does he actually sit down and read the sports page every morning?

If he cares so much about what other people are saying about him, why doesn't he insist that this team trade for a big-time WR?

Strange.

"When you're admiring my brilliant decisions, you're right. But I'm the only one allowed to criticize myself."

Yeesh.

I think that they figured more fluff pieces on the actual draftees, how they came to be here and what draft day was like for these young men who've worked extremely hard their entire lives to get here.

A positive piece on McNabb's apparent health heading into this camp as opposed to this time last yr.

How bout a story on how Kolb's progressing in a years time and his potentially gettin a shot at No.2 QB this yr?

A healthy LJ Smith story and what his return to the offense could spell for the team who was 6th in offense in the league last yr but failed to score once inside the redzone?




Prollem is Andy- they've all been written during this mini-camp, but all you pay attention to are the ones pointing to the conundrum you've got starin you in the face and are tryin to put band-aids on now with the ruse of a rotation in practice, as if it's really goin to play out that way.
Anything shining a light on this 'cough cough-non story' is going to irk the big guy. And he still doesn't know that he can't control the media here.

In towns like Pittsburgh, GB or Chicago perhaps.
Not Philly (or NY).


Could they keep all three, play them in a rotation or have Sheldon over the slot this yr?

Sure.

Is that their intent sittin here at the close of the 1st camp?

I think they've got to act as tho it is. Lito sayin the right things and the reports of the rotation being implemented etc are sending the necessary message to the league that you can't just low ball the Birds for Sheppard. And thats fine.

I think tho it's still their No.1 desire to move the guy and its even money he aint in Midnight Green come the start of the season.

But is it still realistic to believe that the Birds can get more for Shep than a 2nd round pick?

Personally, throw the guy some cash to make him happy and keep him. He's a good player and a good guy. He's not a huge cap hit either. I wouldn't mind the birds having the best secondary in the East, maybe even the league. They're going to need it.

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