Trent Cole gets some love
[editor's note, by BleedGreen]promoted from diaries. Nice to see more national media seeing what we saw all year...
Just saw this little tidbit over on Football Outsiders.
2007 Every Play Counts All-Pro Team1/2/2008
by Michael David Smith
Defensive ends
Jared Allen, Chiefs
Trent Cole, Eagles
...
I'm extremely surprised that Cole, who had 12.5 sacks and has stepped up nicely to fill the void created by the decline of Jevon Kearse, didn't make the Pro Bowl. In fact, my second-favorite NFC defensive end, Marques Douglas of the 49ers, didn't make the Pro Bowl either.
Allen and Cole were the only defensive linemen in the league with more than 30 Defeats, a stat combining turnovers, plays for lost yardage, and plays that prevent conversions on third or fourth down.
That's pretty freaking amazing. And he's not in the Pro-Bowl!
0 recs |
5 comments
Comments
He got snubbed!
by JoeD on Jan 2, 2008 2:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Perfect Offseason
Get Johnson or Fitzgerald by way of trades/cuts or a WR/KR like UCLA's DeSean Jackson.
Draft a CB/PR/KR with #1 or #2 pick (say Tracy Porter out of Indiana - he's an explosive punt returner + a physical interception prone ballhawk (leads NCAA active players) + superfast ex-track star - everything the Eagles like in a DB - google him!).
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profile.php?pyid=33075
Based on current mock drafts, the Eagles might actually be able to snag DeSean Jackson in round 1 and Tracy Porter in round 2 if they trade up about 10 spots for him. However, if Porter becomes more well known, he might become a 1st round pick.
by Andrew on Jan 2, 2008 2:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'd Love to get Allen
Whatever happens he's going to get big money.
Leading the league in sacks when your'e going to become
a free-agent helps out a bit.
It looks like there will be some options at reciever through a trade or free agency. Not saying they are great options neccesarily or a lot of true #1's but it looks like:
Donte Stallworth will get realeased, Jerry Porter will be a FA, Bernard Berrian will be a FA, Jevon Walker wants out, Chad Johnson seems to want out and something may happen with Fitzgerald because of his huge cap #.
I'm all for drafting a WR if he can get on the field and contribute.
Don't know why other teams can get significant rookie contribution but we can't.
by jaybird13 on Jan 2, 2008 4:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Rookies
Brown and Baskett both stepped right in as rookie wideouts, started games, and played extremely well. LJ Smith came right in as a Tight End and helped out too. Looking down the list at all positions, Mike Patterson started as a rookie, Omar Gaither, Todd Herremanns, Ryan Moats, LaJuan Ramsey, and Trent Cole all contributed. Michael Lewis, Sheldon Brown, JR Reed, and Rod Hood all contributed in the backfield as rookies.
This "rookies don't contribute on the Eagles" thing seems to be a myth that has developed based on some freak occurances with marquee draft picks.
Shawn Andrews - was to be a rookie starter in 2004 but broke his leg in first game (imagine how good we would have been that year!)
Matt McCoy/Chris Gocong - both seemed to have issues picking up the defense, and Gocong was allegedly "injured".
Lito Sheppard - rested on his laurels of being drafted first and watched Sheldon Brown get to play first
Jeremy Bloom - injuries
Jason Avant - beaten out by Baskett
Brodrick Bunkley - holdout + out of shape
Kevin Kolb - not needed
Billy McMullen - just a dumb, dumb guy, beaten out by Greg Lewis
Winston Justice and Max Jean-Gilles - O-line depth workd out against them
Jerome McDougle - injuries in pre-season
Brian Westbrook - sitting behind Brian Mitchell and Duce Staley
Matt Ware - just wasn't very good
A lot of the non-contribution is injuries, just a handful is guys struggling in the system like McCoy or McMullen or taking the dumb road to the NFL like Bunkley and Sheppard. And no one should have a problem with a rookie sitting and learning if the veteran ahead of them is an All-Pro (Kolb vs. McNabb, Westbrook vs. Mitchell, Justice vs. Thomas). When the Eagles have had a healthy and mostly smart rookie class, we've seen significant constributions, such as 2005. We all know how that campaign turned out.
by Andrew on Jan 2, 2008 4:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Jared Allen
I agree that LE needs an upgrade and Allen is an attractive target but maybe there are other quality choices to be found that won't cost so much.
by grover on Jan 2, 2008 10:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

by Andrew on 













