Let's Clear Something Up about Gibson/Witherspoon
by macjack09 on Oct 20, 2009 11:42 PM EDT
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Its been only 6 hours and its already crazy the amount of hate the Eagles are getting about this trade. All because we traded away a 6th rounder to a receiver needy team for a LB that we desperately needed. Understand, I liked Gibson as much as anyone one. He has shown great play and he has a mass amount of potential. I hate to see him go too. But let's be honest on somethings:
1) Gibson was not going to start on this team--As much as most people wanted to see him start over Maclin because he showed up more in the preseaon, recognize it wasn't going to happen. He wasn't going to start over Avant since Avant has shown to be a hell of a slot player (and one of the best 3rd down options we got), and he sure as hell wasn't going to start over Jackson. Maclin has a better skill set, fits Andy's offense more, is a 1st rounder, and had a 100 yard game. All that pretty much points to Maclin. Maclin is our eventual replacement for Curtis in the future and the future looks pretty present right now.
2) Nobody wants to take Brown or Curtis--Nobody wants a 31 year old injury prone WR wide receiver who gets hurt like its part of his job and another WR who is about as useful as a broken condom. Both have contracts that are not worth it. Between them they are scheduled to make $11 million next year. Thats why they weren't traded. If either one of them only costed $2-3 million, there would be a better chance. I would have liked to see either one go rather than Gibson. But they didn't. Too Bad.
3) We needed a LB--And he was worth the price. A WR that has only been active for 1 NFL game and has yet to record his first NFL reception and a 5th rounder is not a bad price for a established vet. All you guys crying about wanting a LB but not wanting to give up Gibson sound like hypocrites. You want quality, you have to pay for it. Something had to give and I would rather have a player that can help us at position we need immediate help at rather than a player that has little to no chance to play his first 2-3 years.
Will Witherspoon is a good player. Possibly great. Here are the reason why I think he will be fine and we will not regret this move:
1) As I said, Will is a good/great player--Its no accident he was a starter on 2 different teams. In his rookie year he helped anchor the number 2 defense in the Carolina Panthers. He went to the Rams and only got better. He has only missed 2 games his career and provides reliable coverage against a position we have been torched by, tight ends.
2) He's on the best defensive he's been on in a while--We are currently the number 4 ranked defense in the NFL, and that was before he got here. He has a great front 4 in front of him (Patterson, Bunkley, Cole, and whoever is the rotated one at LE) and one of the top secondaries in the league behind him. With the exception of Otogwe most of the players on the defense were useless (Laurinitis has been good, but the season is still young). The Rams have the number 30 ranked defense. When everyone around you is bad, most likely it makes you look bad. Now that he has talent around him, he has less to worry about now.
3) He is not as old as everyone makes him sound--Last time I checked 29 is not old. Especially in MLB years. Since he doesn't have to do a major amount of moving around, he is only 26 in MLB years. He can still play sideline to sideline. Also, he may only be 239 lbs. but wasn't DeMeco Ryans the number 2 leader in tackles at 230 at one time? Didn't Johnathan Vilma lead the NFL in tackles in 2005 at 230 lbs? Didn't and Patrick Willis both lead the NFL in tackles at 240 lbs?
I'm sad to see Gibson go, but he has more chance to make something happen in his career where he could start on the Rams rather than be the number 4 receiver here. I wish the best of luck to him and hope he turns out as good as we all know he could be. God Bless.
With that being said, I welcome Will with open arms knowing how bad we need him and knowing what he brings to the table. He was worth the trade in my opinion. I think he is better than Derrick Johnson since he is an established vet and is a consistent starter. At worst, he provides insurance for the season till we get to the off-season. Enough with the hate. I would like a Superbowl ring now. If that means having to trade away a talented unactive rooke that has little chance to even play on this team for an established veteran that can come in and contribute right away....so be it.
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does anyone know whethor or not he will start against the redskins?
Weapon X eats babies for breakfast.
I thought I heard that
I’m searching for an article.. but I thought I read he’d be starting. The Rams use a similar defense, coached by one of JJs protege’s, Spags.. so while he’s been playing WIL lately, his biggest adjustment is not the system as much as remembering the MIKE position… so he should have an easy adjustment.
Rec from me as well...
Great points about Ryans, Vilma, and Willis. Brandon Jacobs will still be a bitch to tackle 1 on 1 though.
Andy Reid has to live with Sunday's reality: He was out coached by Tom Cable. (John Clayton)
An inconsistent coach is far worse than an inconsistent quarterback.(Route 36)
I would also like to add to your " why you think he will be fine section".
4) He played in the same defensive system as the Eagles and coached by an ex-Eagles coach. Learning curve will be shallow.
Andy Reid has to live with Sunday's reality: He was out coached by Tom Cable. (John Clayton)
An inconsistent coach is far worse than an inconsistent quarterback.(Route 36)
The Death Star
Football Outsiders called the Eagles defense “The Death Star,” and by that they meant that it’s very imposing and scary, but has that one fatal weakness – not being able to cover running backs and tight ends with their linebackers.
This trade goes a long way in fixing that. Not sure how anyone can possibly be bashing a trade in which we help fix our team’s biggest weakness when we only lose a 5 and a guy that was a 6th round pick and has never stepped onto an NFL field for a regular season game.
And nice post…
The trade pissed me off.
So that right there should tell you it at least improved your team for the hear and now.
"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E
by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 21, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions
LOL
nothing like the frustration of your competitor to confirm your decision!
"What did it feel like? That collision, I didn't feel nothing, because he was pretty much defenseless. It was like running through a cardboard box. Seriously. Cardboard box."- Sheldon Brown on his pounding of Reggie Bush in the '06 Playoffs
So - here's a question
Brandon Gibson was, what 4th, 5th, or 6th on the depth chart?
I saw Reggie Brown on the field against Oakland when the Birds went 4 wide…
I think the Eagles just significantly upgraded the weakest unit on the team for 2 fifth round picks.
by cavortingEagle on Oct 21, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions
yah
this was a move that needed to happen in some capacity. I know a lot of people targeted different players, but at least we addressed the need somehow. I don’t really know anything about him, but based on reactions it seems like he will be, as you said, a significant upgrade to a place that needed it badly.
jesus byedawk
so how long till hes starting?
by rainvillefromottawa on Oct 21, 2009 12:42 PM EDT reply actions
Yep...
I was at first concerned about his age and then remembered that this may be a stop gap for the return of Stewart Bradley (and maybe one year of insurance)…we were desperate to fill the gap this year, and with trade deadline, the essential two fifth rounders for a starting proven LB is an understandable deal.
---AstrosFan (Austin Lawyer and Sports Fan)
excellent post.
Props to the OP. I couldnt have summed it up any better myself….this team is built for this year and we are extremely weak at the MLB spot. Very good move by the Eagles…unless of course Gibson is the next jerry rice. Than I reserve the right to curse them out 2 years from now ;)
29 Years Old
London Fletcher’s 34. Ray Lewis is 34. James Farrior’s 34. Gary Brackett’s 29. Antonio Pierce is 30.
If he’s productive and talented, he’s got plenty of time left.
"What did it feel like? That collision, I didn't feel nothing, because he was pretty much defenseless. It was like running through a cardboard box. Seriously. Cardboard box."- Sheldon Brown on his pounding of Reggie Bush in the '06 Playoffs
Good point
If people want to get technical, Will is now the second youngest ILB in the NFC East right now only behind Bradie James and Bradie James turns 29 in January.
Or running back. It sucks. I had my hopes too high for him. We basically lost the Raiders game because of him.
Andy Reid has to live with Sunday's reality: He was out coached by Tom Cable. (John Clayton)
An inconsistent coach is far worse than an inconsistent quarterback.(Route 36)
by Route36 on Oct 21, 2009 4:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
and Reid.
Andy Reid has to live with Sunday's reality: He was out coached by Tom Cable. (John Clayton)
An inconsistent coach is far worse than an inconsistent quarterback.(Route 36)
by Route36 on Oct 21, 2009 4:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
SPOON
I like it……no matter how he plays he can’t be worse at covering TE’s and RB’s out of the backfield. So even if he blows a few during the season he will still be better then what we are currently working with.
I knew it wouldn’t take long before teams started throwing on Trotter…….the guy just can’t move with any quickness anymore. To bad he was a killer in his prime!!
seriously
i dont get this bitching .. witherspoon is a huge upgrade ..we stole him!!! come on now .. fuck gibson .. the guy hasnt even played .. he almost got cut .. he was a 5th round pick .. he is not fast .. he is jason avant .. so who gives a shit if we gave away another average receiver when we already have avant whos a little better version of gibson .. all this love for some guy who was never gonna play .. if amendola made this team people would be bitching if we traded him too .. these guys are nothing special .. gibson will never amount to anything! ill take 2 good years from a stud lb anyday .. what a steal
by jack is better than asante on Oct 22, 2009 12:38 AM EDT reply actions
Didn’t the Rams also pick up Amendola?
Aside from the general amount of vitriol I largely think JIBTA has some valid points here. Gibson was way too deep on the roster and was never going to see the field until next year at the earliest.
That being said, I haven’t seen TOO many people bitching about this trade.
Let the beasting begin.
by TransplantedFan on Oct 22, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Witherspoon is good but not
even close to “stud” status…
thats Cobb on Kolb crime if you ask me... as said by yophillybro
what is the MLB to OLB age ratio?
"it's like i tell my ex-wife, i never drive faster than i can see, and besides it's all in the reflexes." -Jack Burton, Big trouble in little China
Does Spoon move to WLL next year when Stew comes back?
You"re right, 29 is not that old and i understand that spoon has been playing WLL for the Rams. When Stew is back, do we bump Spoon Outside? Could be an upgrade for a couple years…
Nah, they(coaching staff) finally grow a brain cell
and move Gocong to LDE giving us a threat there, move Witherspoon to SAM and Stew plays MLB with Jordan at Will… Jordans our best LB right now.
thats Cobb on Kolb crime if you ask me... as said by yophillybro
Jordans our best LB right now.
Wrong. Jordan was our best linebacker. Spoon gets that title even without playing a game. Jordan has a chance to be our best linebacker this year though.
Andy Reid has to live with Sunday's reality: He was out coached by Tom Cable. (John Clayton)
An inconsistent coach is far worse than an inconsistent quarterback.(Route 36)
Que?
’Spoon has made maybe 1 impact play this year and has generally been pretty quiet according the folks who cover the Rams. He is likely going to be also miscast as a MLB too.
Then again you consistently make ridiculous proclamations so no big surprise.
How are you going to judge by his impact on the Rams? The whole team blows. Why just look at this year? In 2007, he had 110 tackles,7 sacks and Team MVP. Based on career numbers, Spoon destroys Jordan in all categories. He actually played MLB for the Panthers and did very well there, averaging close to 100 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 ints per season. He is not going to be “miscast”. Please don’t tell me it was a long time ago. He is only 29 not 40. Like I said, I like Jordan and if he keeps his play up for the rest of the season, he has a chance to be the best linebacker.
Can you please remind me the ridiculous proclamations I consistently make?
Andy Reid has to live with Sunday's reality: He was out coached by Tom Cable. (John Clayton)
An inconsistent coach is far worse than an inconsistent quarterback.(Route 36)
Reality check
Couple of facts:
1. ’Spoon NEVER was never primarily cast as a MLB even in his Carolina days. He was always a RLB and only played in the middle due to the injuries issues that Dan Morgan always seemed to have every season at some point.
2. His stats from his days as a Panther mean next to nothing at this point. That was 2005 and a lifetime ago in the NFL. What don’t you understand about that?
3. For the past 1 1/2 years, ‘Spoon just hasn’t been making that many impact plays and his numbers are down. That is what really matters. Doesn’t mean he is completely washed up by any means but pronouncing him a ‘star’ is equally ridiculous.
4. Jordan hasn’t been exactly lighting it up but he generally has been the most consistent player this season at LB for the Eagles (which isn’t saving much either).
Basically Eagles made a move they desperately needed after Gaither’s injury and hopefully Spoon can be a 3-down player at MLB for the Eagles because they really don’t have another solution at this point because Trotter has been that bad and they don’t have a younger player who they think is a good fit.
Still, this is something the Eagles should have done and been more active in the preseason after Bradley went down. Again it was a case where the Eagles thought they could get buy with largely completely inexperienced players because of “their system” and they were 100% wrong and it likely cost them at least 1 game. Seems to happen at least once the past 3 years.
Let’s just agree to disagree, my friend.
Can you still please tell me the ridiculous proclamations i consistently make?
Andy Reid has to live with Sunday's reality: He was out coached by Tom Cable. (John Clayton)
An inconsistent coach is far worse than an inconsistent quarterback.(Route 36)
by Route36 on Oct 23, 2009 3:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I guess my proclamations aren’t ridiculous as you say. 1 impact play? He made 2 in his first game with the Eagles.
Andy Reid has to live with Sunday's reality: He was out coached by Tom Cable. (John Clayton)
Since 2005: Andy Reid 36-32-1; 7-25-1 when tied or losing at halftime.
are you an idiot? you cannot
say someone who hasnt played MLB in our system after switching from Will LB is our best LB… Jordan IS our best LB.
thats Cobb on Kolb crime if you ask me... as said by yophillybro
wow
arnt u going to say ur boy gocong .. come on now wild eagle .. and witherspoon is our best lb .. not even close
by jack is better than asante on Oct 24, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Gocong's 2nd best...
Witherspoon hasnt played a down for us yet therefore he cannot be judged by us yet.
thats Cobb on Kolb crime if you ask me... as said by yophillybro
moron
that is just stupid .. so if we go get antonio gates he is only our second best TE til he plays .. noooooooo retarted
An inconsistent coach is far worse than an inconsistent quarterback.(Route 36)
by jack is better than asante on Oct 25, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Who is the the idiot now?
Andy Reid has to live with Sunday's reality: He was out coached by Tom Cable. (John Clayton)
Since 2005: Andy Reid 36-32-1; 7-25-1 when tied or losing at halftime.
haha hey
i was with u all the way bro
An inconsistent coach is far worse than an inconsistent quarterback.(Route 36)
by jack is better than asante on Oct 27, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Hilarious
So fans are pissed about trading an undersized guy who likely won’t ever contribute at a meaningful level for a player who can contribute right away at a position they desperately need help?
Disagree though about ‘Spoon. People keep mentioning 2004/05 and his stats. That’s ridiculous. He isn’t the same type of player anymore and he will be miscast as a MLB. Still given Gaither’s season-ending injury and Trotter (everybody rightly is criticizing his pass defense but the Raiders were also running alot to the outside because Trotter has no lateral speed anymore and hasn’t shown the same instincts he used to have to knife in to make a great play or force the play back inside), the Eagles desperately needed to make a move and they knew it.
Derrick Johnson would have been a much better fit against the run than Spoon or Trotter (and possibly the pass game too) but I imagine the Chiefs probably wanted at least a 3rd round pick among a package of picks and the Eagles weren’t willing to part with that for a player who isn’t that sound against the pass either.
Here’s hoping that ‘Spoon and contribute but the bigger issue (and still unanswered question) is can ’Spoon be a 3-down player at MLB? I don’t know and I bet the Eagles aren’t sure either.
I guess we wont know for sure 'til Monday nite.
It was good to get another potentially productive guy backing the line at the last minute. I sure hope this guy can rise to the challenge cause the Eagles need improvement there. I’m hearing more of ‘he can’ than ‘he can’t’.
Pickings were slim, we needed something, and we got what we got. Whether he turns out to be a stud, just good enough, or more of the same, there is just one thing to say now:
Frak ‘em. We’re winning anyway.
A bag of week-old piss...
Would be a better wide receiver than Reggie Brown. That’s why no one wants to trade for him. The Gibson business is, as the Bard says, Much Ado About Nothing. We need linebackers. Gibson is what we needed to give up. ’Nuff said.
"Right now Winston Justice is the guy...until that person gets back out there"
Rec'd
Just read this in its entirety today – great post. Love to see what he can bring to the table tonight.
GO GREEN!
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