Eagles Notes: Who had the best offseason? Training camp, Penn Stater, and the defender to watch in 09
by JasonB on May 8, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
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ESPN's John Clayton ranked the Seattle Seahawks as having the best offseason in the NFL, but he ranks the Eagles as #2
2. Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan McNabb wanted help this offseason. Andy Reid delivered. Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters and guard Stacy Andrews were added to the offensive line. The Eagles also added wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, halfback LeSean McCoy, tight end Cornelius Ingram and fullback Leonard Weaver. Throw in cornerback Ellis Hobbs and safety Sean Jones in the secondary, and it's hard to argue that the Eagles haven't soared this offseason.
While we're having fun with lists... The Sporting News listed the dozen second year defenders to watch and our own Quintin Demps led the list.
1. Quintin Demps(notes), FS, Eagles. Philadelphia fans will need to get used to a new face after seeing Brian Dawkins(notes) roam all over the field for so many years. Demps is on track to be his replacement at free safety. With Asante Samuel(notes), Ellis Hobbs(notes) and underrated strong safety Quintin Mikell(notes) joining him in the defensive backfield, Demps will be left free to make big plays in a variety of roles.
Dawkins was effective in every area, from run support, to the blitz, to pass coverage. It will take some time for Demps to become such a great all-around safety, but the Eagles like his promise. If Demps can break out and Sheldon Brown(notes) sticks around to keep the team deep at cornerback, Philadelphia will have an elite secondary.
Penn State DE Josh Gaines, who signed with the Eagles as a UDFA, said minicamp felt alot like being in state college
"It's different, but it's funny though because the rules, atmosphere, I feel like I'm still in Penn State," Gaines said. "A lot of the coaches know a lot of the coaches at Penn State. Same rules, they're an old school team. They don't allow any straps (on your arms), no flashiness on the field. Same concept, our program actually comes from the Eagles, so it wasn't hard to adjust to it at all."
Finally, the Eagles have announced dates for this year's training camp at Lehigh University.
The Eagles will begin training camp Sunday, July 26, with rookies and selected veterans scheduled to report to Lehigh.
All remaining veterans are scheduled to report July 29, with camp breaking at Lehigh on Aug. 12.
We'll have to start working on that training camp BGN meetup soon!
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Interesting that they picked Demps not Bradley, who I think is on the verge of becoming one of the best MLBs in the league.
Let’s not get too stupid about the rookies just yet. Reid plays more rookies than is commonly recognized and these three could be very good, but all these guys have flaws in their games that may very well keep them nailed to the bench.
by Tracer Bullet on May 8, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bradley?
Best in League?
Not so much yet, no offense, that is very much a homer comment.
Have you watched other teams?
One of the best like in top 15… Soon.
Don’t get me wrong I love him, he fits our scheme and he is getting better.
He has alot more upside to him.
I just think that’s a helluva reach so soon.
Astra Inclanant, Non Necessitant
by EagleGreeninMD on May 8, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did I say “best”? No, I said “he’s on the verge of becoming one of the best MLBs in the league.” Significant distinction, that. But I did not see the line about 2nd year players.
by Tracer Bullet on May 8, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“One of the best like in top 15… Soon.”
Uh, Bradley’s already easily one of the top 15 MLBs in the league. There are probably only about 15 or so starting MLBs in the league. Unless you count both 3-4 ILBs as MLBs, which seems a bit of a stretch given vastly different roles.
by Bleed Blue 'n White on May 8, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was being sarcastic saying 15 to make a point.
I was just trying to say I have a feeling like he has a lot more growing to go, but will get there.
.
.
P.S. How can Iguana be better than Asante having never played a snap of Pro?
(Iguana was Asante’s nickname for Jack)
Astra Inclanant, Non Necessitant
by EagleGreeninMD on May 8, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
P.S. How can Iguana be better than Asante having never played a snap of Pro?
where did this come from
Let's get it.
by homestar2281 on May 8, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That funny guy named
Jack is better than Asante
Astra Inclanant, Non Necessitant
by EagleGreeninMD on May 8, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah dude...
we know who he is.. that was just a random comment.
“what? i’m wrong? well…….. that jack dude is a real db” lol
by keithk on May 8, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
nah
you were exaggerating, not being sarcastic, just as he was exaggerating when he said he was one of the best in the league. So lets all get the concept of exaggeration, and these little squams won’t occur.
by AllPhillySport on May 13, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hobbs over Brown?
Was anyone else a bit surprised by this? I know Hobbs is no slouch and he was a great offseason acquisition, but isn’t it still Brown’s job to lose (dispute aside)? I know Hobbs and Samuel played together, but I kinda figured Hobbs gave us a solid starting 3 at CB as well as assurance if Brown decided to sit out or tank on purpose (not that it looks like he will anymore, just sayin’).
by NOLACuse on May 8, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah I was a little surprised that good ole Vinnie demoted Brown already. I may be in the minority but I think Brown is the best CB on the team. I love Zont and think he is worth every penny we gave him, I just think Sheldon is a better all around corner but not as much a flashy game changer.
"The 0-2 pitch, swing and a miss! STRUCK HIM OUT! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of baseball! And let the city celebrate! " - Harry Kalas 1936-2009
by Whodie126 on May 8, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm with you Whodie
Samuel is a very good cornerback with a knack for the big int, but Sheldon is rally the better overall corner (gives up fewer yards per pass attempt, gives up fewer touchdowns, gets thrown at less, and is a better tackler). Hobbs is a competent replacement in case of injury, but there’s a huge drop off between him and the starters. In fact, I think it’s a toss up between Hobbs and Hansen for the nickel spot. Barring a rash of injuries I don’t think jack gets much of a chance to show if he’s really better than Asante this year.
by MJW on May 8, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Am I the only one that has doubts about whether Hobbs is even better than Hanson?
by mrb5091 on May 8, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No
We got him to match up with a certain type of receiver that Jack doesn’t match up well against. Teams can’t go small + fast on us b/c of the Brown/Hobbs/Samuel/Hanson combo, and they’ll have a tough time going big on us because of the Brown/Samuel/Iguana combo.
by Alon on May 8, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Claytons comment
how did seattle have the best offseason i mean yeah they picked up curry who went right into their lapsbut they also traded peterson a probowl LB for a DT in redding who isnt that good( i think curry can be as good or better than peterson but right now they cancel each other out in my books), but really what else did they do they got TJ which is fine but they didnt upgrade they Oline which was one of their biggese question marks ya they picked unger who is a good center but they needed a tackle with walter jones being on his last leg. they didn’t do enough to help out their terrible defense from last season they picked up gamble who is an upgrade over jennings across from trufant. but still am I the only one who thinks seattle didnt have that great of an offseason
by agj88 on May 8, 2009 6:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They did well
They added a variety of impact talent. That’s indisputable. Curry might already be better than Peterson. Curry might already be one of the 10 best LBs in the game. Not sure that they had a better off-season than us, but certainly if you’re looking at it from “Most Improved Win-Loss Record” they are probably going to have a larger gain in wins than we will this year, if for no other reason than the fact that they had such a bad year last year and it’s easy to improve from 4-12 to 8-8 or 9-7, but the jump from 9-7 (or 9-6-1) to 13-3 is real, real difficult.
Could we win 13? Sure, we could win 16. Ain’t likely, and it doesn’t mean the team we have this year isn’t a lot better than the team we have last year, it just means it’s hard as hell to go 13-3 compared to 8-8.
by Alon on May 8, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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