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Eagles News: ESPN projects Philadelphia to win six games in 2016

Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 5/16/16.

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Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

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Football Outsiders' early 2016 NFC projections - ESPN
Our projections are also down on the Eagles. Their offensive DVOA dropped from 13th to 26th last year, but the expected rebound is somewhat blunted by the fact that our system penalizes offenses that are learning a new system from new coaches. The defense has to replace four regular starters.

1. Dallas Cowboys: 10-6 (9.6 mean wins, SOS: 30)
2. New York Giants: 6-10 (6.3 mean wins, SOS: 17)
3. Philadelphia Eagles: 6-10 (6.3 mean wins, SOS: 11)
4. Washington Redskins: 6-10 (6.0 mean wins, SOS: 9)

Eagles rookie running back Wendell Smallwood game review - PhillyVoice
You could probably separate vision and cutting ability into two different categories, but Smallwood does a great job combining the two. He does a nice job seeing where holes are developing, and has the ability to cut in the direction of the hole without losing much in the way of speed. This is a great attribute to have as a runner, and it was a big reason for his success at West Virginia. It is, in my opinion, his biggest appeal. Here it appears that the play design is to the left behind the fullback against Texas Tech, but Smallwood sees a hole on the back side and cuts it back with two short choppy steps for a big gain. Note his acceleration once he makes his cut.

A Year Ago - Iggles Blitz
It can be interesting to look back and compare the present with the past. I decided to look back a year and see what was going on.

Eagles focusing on bulking up offensive line - Daily News
ALL ACROSS the field at the Eagles' indoor facility Friday, small groups of players congregated around position coaches. This was rookie camp, with just 55 participants, including tryouts, so some of the clumps contained only a few guys, some as many as half a dozen or so. Then there was the mob at the far end, presided over by offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. A total of 10 beefy gentlemen pivoted and twirled under Stoutland's command. At one point he had to shift the entire bunch several yards to the right because the guy on the end closest to the sideline couldn't perform the pulling maneuver asked of him without going out of bounds into a cluster of reporters.

Eagles should let Sam Bradford, Carson Wentz compete for QB job - USA Today
In the Eagles’ case, you have to wonder whether Bradford’s protest, which he surely hoped would lead to a pre-draft trade, would have crystallized the need for an open competition. Bradford’s agent, Tom Condon, has stated publicly that a competition would be stacked against his client given the high price paid to move up to land Wentz. No argument there. Even so, it would provide good business optics for Bradford, who has experience on his side, to accept such a challenge while collecting the $22 million guaranteed in his new two-year contract. He can prove something to the league by winning the competition.

Eagles and Carson Wentz could take similar approach to Jaguars and Blake Bortles - Eagles Wire
Like the Jaguars in Bortles’ rookie season, the Eagles have a plan to bring Wentz along slowly. Bortles made his regular season debut when he came in relief of Chad Henne in the second half of a blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The plan to sit Bortles was quickly scrapped when Jaguars coach Gus Bradley elected to start his rookie quarterback in the fourth game of the season. Chad Henne was supposed to keep the starter seat warm for Bortles for most of his rookie season. Bortles found some success as a rookie and showed promise for the next season. He gained valuable reps with the weapons that were brought in to help him.

Is Jon Dorenbos, the longest tenured Eagle, in trouble? - NJ.com
The Eagles signed undrafted John DePalma, a 6-5, 252-pound long snapper out of West Virginia. If the rookie shows he can do the job through the spring minicamps and in training camp, Dorenbos could be in trouble. There's no doubt the Eagles' new regime, Howie Roseman, Doug Pederson, et al, like DePalma. In an interview with the West Virginia University website just before the NFL Draft, DePalma said the Eagles had shown more interest in him than any other team.

Undrafted rookie LB Quentin Gause on 'mission' to make Eagles - CSN Philly
"I worked my butt off in college, and now it's my time to show them I can do it in the NFL," Gause said Friday at Eagles rookie minicamp. "This a great opportunity. I know I'm gonna make the team. That's my goal, and I'm just excited to go out to practice today." Typically, only a handful of undrafted players make NFL rosters, especially as rookies. Fewer still go on to have long, successful careers. No matter how wide open the depth chart, Gause is fighting an uphill battle.

Rookie impact will be minimal this year for Eagles - Morning Call
Don't expect too much immediate impact from the 2016 Philadelphia Eagles rookies. Because of their plan to keep first-round draft pick Carson Wentz on the sideline indefinitely as the third-team quarterback, all they had to give up to get him and an aggressive plan in free agency, the Eagles probably had all their starters for this year under contract before the NFL Draft even began.

NFC East Roundup: A Shakeup In Dallas? - Birds 24/7
Let’s catch up with the Eagles’ division rivals as they start to put their rookies to work.

Jarryd Hayne retires from NFL to play rugby in the Olympics - SB Nation
No one wants to play for Chip!

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