Eagles News: Corey Clement is seeking a bigger role in Philadelphia’s offense

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Corey Clement, one year after his meteoric rise, is ready to grow his role with Eagles - Daily News
“I definitely want to get more touches, more carries, more catches out of the backfield this year. I want to be more of a key contributor. I don’t think that’s being greedy. I have a job to do and that’s to put this team in the best position possible [to win].” Clement’s playing weight at Wisconsin fluctuated between 225 and 230 pounds. Last spring, Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley told him he needed to be lighter to be successful at this level. He came into training camp last summer at 212 and played most of the year at 215. He said he’s 216 right now. Ideally, he’d like to get back down to 212, but “the weight room work is working. So I can’t be mad that I’m packing on more muscle.’’ Clement has spent much of the offseason trying to strengthen his legs.

Sidney Jones is “definitely in the mix” for a starting role in the Eagles’ defense - BGN
Jones lined up as the first team slot corner when the Eagles were utilizing their nickel package. That’s hardly an insignificant role. Consider that 2017 slot corner Patrick Robinson played 69% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps. Nickel is the new base, after all. Jones made a good impression in the first practice of his NFL career that was open to the media. His size and length were apparent as he blanketed receivers in coverage. He leaped high in the air to pick off a Nick Foles pass that was underthrown.

Relax, the Eagles’ defense won’t implode because Mychal Kendricks is gone - PhillyVoice
Is the team better with Mychal Kendricks, or without him? Answer the question! ANSWER IT!!! They’re marginally better, I suppose. The Eagles tried to trade Kendricks last offseason, and almost did. There’s certainly an argument to be made that the Eagles were fortunate to have him after Jordan Hicks got hurt. But let’s not overstate it. At one time in his career, Kendricks looked like he was going to be a playmaking linebacker. That did not materialize. Over the last four seasons, Kendricks has zero interceptions. Over the last two seasons, he has zero forced fumbles. On a defense that lived off of takeaways a season ago (they had 31 of them during the regular season), Kendricks was responsible for none. The following is a cutup of all the Eagles’ sacks, interceptions, and fumble recoveries from a year ago. As you can see, Kendricks barely appears in the above video, despite playing 612 defensive snaps.

Eagles Add a LB - Iggles Blitz
Wilson was the MLB for Arkansas State and led the team in tackles. He is 5-11, 229. Put on the tape and you see some things to like. He is a wrap-up tackler. He’s got some pop when he hits. Physical player. He is patient and shows good vision. He fills well. The problem is that he’s got stiff hips. Wilson can go hit what’s in front of him, but he can’t open his hips and go flying out wide. Check out his agility drills and you see that confirmed. His shuttle time of 4.75 and 3-cone time of 7.72 wouldn’t be good for an O-lineman that was 300 pounds. They’re absolutely horrible for a LB. Levon Kirkland from 2002 would have posted better numbers.

Never play again? Josh Sweat never let injury get in his way - ESPN
Lying in a hospital room, his knee badly damaged and twisted out of shape, Josh Sweat was given about the worst news possible. “I’m 99 percent sure you’re never going to play football again,” he remembers being told. “And there’s a good chance we might have to cut it off.” There are varying accounts as to the rank of the medical expert in his hospital room who delivered such a harrowing assessment. A doctor? A nurse practitioner? Whatever the case, it was a voice of authority -- a voice that still lives inside Sweat. He recited those words while standing inside the Philadelphia Eagles training facility last week, four football-filled years removed from that moment and fresh off his first practice as a pro.

Will Michael Bennett fit in Eagles locker room? Stories from those who know him best - NJ.com
“It was so inspiring,” Hagopian said. “It was what you hope that folks that have that kind of platform and that kind of reach will do. If you’re somebody who is going to be disparaged by people in power, he’s going to show up by your side and put you up on the platform with him.” Zirin, a sports editor for The Nation, was set to make a speech at a town hall in Seattle when Hagopian asked if he’d rather just interview Bennett on stage instead. So, in front of a packed crowd — the event had to be moved to a larger auditorium to accommodate — Zirin and Bennett spoke for more than 90 minutes on a panel that was titled “The Collision: Sports and Politics in the U.S.” where Zirin and Bennett discussed, among many topics, racism, anthem protests and the NFL’s handling of sexual assault. This was in January 2016, just days before a Seahawks playoff game.

Press Pass: Matt Jones - PE.com
Running back Matt Jones speaks about what it is like to play for his childhood-favorite team.

Roob’s 10 observations: Anthem policy, Kendricks’ career, Wentz - NBC Sports Philadelphia
And I found Eagles owner Jeff Lurie’s statement uncharacteristically tepid and vague. Lurie has been courageously supportive all along of Jenkins, Chris Long and all the players league-wide who’ve used their platform to fight for equal rights and social justice. All that statement did was avoid taking a stand on the new NFL policy. Disappointing.

The factors that help determine teams’ pace of play - PFF
Chip Kelly became the head coach of UCLA this offseason, and that means that pace-of-play discussions will be limited mostly to the college game in 2018. However, pace and pass vs. run ratio remain relevant topics for professional football and provide the foundation for most systematic sets of projections and rankings. I had dipped my toes in these research waters before — mostly because of Kelly back when he coached the Eagles — but as I started to do so comprehensively in recent days, I discovered that the calculus is much more complicated than the Kelly narratives would have led one to believe.

In altering anthem policy, NFL made itself into bigger piñata for President Trump to smack - Yahoo Sports
If the NFL thinks its new national anthem policy is going to appease President Donald Trump – and really, that’s all this is about – then, well, that ought to work out about as well as having your lunch money stolen and believing that bringing extra cash the next day will solve the problem. Trump slapped the NFL around on the anthem issue. There is no denying that. It’s a complete knockout victory, yet for Trump it’s better than that. Anytime he wants he can put the smelling salts under the NFL’s nose before using the league again as a convenient rallying cry to his political base.

John Dorsey on Nick Foles report: We’re excited about Tyrod Taylor - PFT
A report this week indicated that the Browns took a run at trading for Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles this offseason, but found themselves looking elsewhere for a quarterback when the Eagles passed on the deal after running it by Foles. Browns General Manager John Dorsey was asked about that report on Wednesday and cited tampering rules as a reason for a no comment while also taking time to mention the veteran quarterback that the team did wind up acquiring in a trade.

Why Is the NFL So Obsessed With Patriotism? - The Ringer
With its new national anthem policy, the league has put the bottom line above players, fans, and maybe even itself.

Four Downs: AFC West - Football Outsiders
There’s a serious need for defensive help in Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Oakland. In Denver, meanwhile, the Broncos must determine whether or not Case Keenum can really be a long-term solution at quarterback.

The NFL reportedly adopted its anthem policy without an official vote. What happened to the ‘unanimous’ decision? - SB Nation
The NFL’s new national anthem policy adopted at its annual spring meeting requires all players on the sideline to stand and “show respect” for the flag and the anthem. The controversial new rule gives players the option to stay in the locker room during the anthem, but the deeply flawed policy has resulted in an immediate backlash. When NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the policy change at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, he called it a “unanimous decision” among team owners. But ESPN’s Seth Wickersham reports there wasn’t even an official vote.

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