Eagles News: Philadelphia has the NFL’s top ranked pass rush heading into 2018 season

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NFL pass-rush rankings: All 32 team’s entering 2018 - PFF
The Eagles led the way in our offensive line rankings and they lead the way again here. With a unit that is as impressive on the edge as on the interior, and with elite top level players and solid depth, another big season seems likely. Graham racked up 11 sacks, four hits and 45 hurries on his way to finishing the year as our eighth-highest graded edge defender. Meanwhile, Cox dominated on the interior with 51 total pressures. The big addition is the former Seattle Seahawks standout in Bennett, who arrives to Philadelphia after a 70 total pressure season in Seattle. The unit loses Vinny Curry, who added 47 pressures of his own in 2017, but look for Derek Barnett to see a bigger role after producing six sacks as a rookie.

For the second year in a row, the Eagles look improved at wide receiver - BGN
Jeffery figures to be the top receiver target again once he recovers from the torn rotator cuff injury he played through last year. It’s entirely possible we see a more effective Jeffery now that he won’t have to be fighting through that. We didn’t see Jeffery win as many 50-50 jump balls as we would’ve like to see. Maybe that changes now that he’s going to be healthy. He’s also had some time to build up a chemistry with Wentz. I’m excited to see what The Prophet brings in his second season with Philly.

RB by Committee - Iggles Blitz
The Eagles may not have intentionally gone RBBC, but it certainly worked out for them last year. It will be interesting to study what happens at RB over the next year. The first question is how the team will use Jay Ajayi this season. He never had more than 18 carries in a game for the Eagles. With LeGarrette Blount out of the picture, will that change?

NFC East Q&A: Who will be the division MVP? - ESPN
Tim McManus, ESPN Philadelphia Eagles reporter: Eagles QB Carson Wentz. He was on his way to league MVP last season before tearing his ACL and LCL in December against the Rams. He did more than expected in practice this spring and showed off some decent mobility -- encouraging signs as Wentz pushes to be back in the lineup Week 1. It takes some quarterbacks a full season until they return to full form following ACL surgery, and it’s possible that ends up being the case here. But Wentz is extremely motivated to reclaim his place as a top-tier QB and guide the Eagles back to the Super Bowl after missing out on the postseason festivities last season. He has one of the best offensive lines in the game and is working in a creative offense loaded with playmakers, which should help his cause and make for a relatively smooth re-entry.

Eagles training camp’s biggest story: Transition from Nick Foles back to Carson Wentz - Daily News
It seems likely that Foles will be the No. 1 QB through the preseason. If he plays the way he played in the NFC championship game and the Super Bowl (54-for-76, 725 yards, six touchdowns, one interception), will that build any momentum toward Doug Pederson being extra, extra careful with Wentz and entering the season with Foles under center? There is plenty of opportunity for awkwardness, maybe even confusion. But, so far, every attempt to pry open a fissure has been met with calm assurance that there will be no cracks in the organizational facade, no dissonance. “You sort of put your ego to the side, and you want what’s best for the team,” Foles said last month. “Ultimately, Carson’s getting ready to play; he’s getting healthy. But, at the same time, I’m ready to go out there and play. I’m equipped. I think I’ve shown that.

Howie Roseman using what he learned from Andy Reid - NBC Sports Philadelphia
One thing Andy Reid was spot on about during his long tenure with the Eagles was the importance of building around both lines. Big Red always made the offensive and defensive lines a priority, and during the Eagles’ stretch of deep playoff runs — from 2000 through 2009 — the O-line was anchored by guys like Jon Runyan, Tra Thomas, Jermane Mayberry and Todd Herremans and the D-line by Corey Simon, Trent Cole, Mike Patterson and Hugh Douglas. During that 10-year stretch, the Eagles had the most wins in the NFC and the third-most wins in the NFL, and the one constant during that stretch was solid line play.

The Definitive Guide to Each and Every NFL Owner - The MMQB
Political Donations: Lurie and his wife, Tina, have been primarily democratic donors. Notable contributions include: $15K to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee between 2006-07; $25K to the Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee, a committee aligned with the Democratic National Convention, in ’14; and $10K to the DNC in 1998. Lurie, has donated to republicans, as well, including $2K to the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2003, $1K to Rudy Guliani in 2000 and $1K to Rick Santorum in 1998.

Jason Avant Looks ‘Forward To Winning’ Flag Football Title - PE.com
Five months after the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII, former standout wide receiver Jason Avant will play in the Ultimate Final of the American Flag Football League. “A good friend of mine, (former NFL running back) Justin Forsett, called and said, ‘Hey, I have this flag football league, and I need some guys to play that’s kind of in shape,’” said Avant, who spent eight seasons with the Eagles from 2006-13 and finished his 10-year NFL career in 2015 with Kansas City. “And he asked me if I was in shape. I was like, ‘I’m in good shape. I’m not in football-playing shape, but I can be sufficient.’”

NFL’s Most Underrated Teams Entering 2018 Training Camp - B/R
Washington is laying 7-1 odds to win the NFC East. Those are worse odds than the Cowboys and equal to the Giants, two teams with gaudy front-line talent and Swiss cheese depth charts. Washington is solid-if-unspectacular up and down the roster, and there’s a little bit of spectacular lurking if guys like Trent Williams, Josh Norman and Jordan Reed can stay off injured reserve. The Eagles are prohibitive favorites to win the division, but Washington’s 7-1 odds are worth a long look.

Ranking the NFC East: Safeties - Hogs Haven
There hasn’t been a lot of change at the starting safety position for the 4 teams in the NFC East as compared to 2017.

T.O. activates 10-day CFL clause - PFT
According to 3downnation.com, Owens has invoked the 10-day clause that gives the Eskimos a window to offer him a deal or to release his rights. Owens made the request on July 14.

Which NFL uniforms are most in need of an upgrade? We asked an artist. - SB Nation
Philadelphia Eagles - “Same as the Ravens and previous Titans set - the fonts just really haven’t aged well. I think they would be well served to go back to kelly green, but just like Baltimore, they’re doing okay otherwise by keeping the rest of the jersey simple.”

Philly band Queen of Jeans pays tribute to ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ with new video - PhillyVoice
The other twist to the video is that it includes appearances by several people – Brandon Lee Gowton, Jim Adair, John Barchard, Max Rappaport, and Steph Driver – who are part of the bustling community of Philadelphia sports bloggers and tweeters. This was brought about by drummer Patrick Wall, who formerly wrote for the Eagles website Bleeding Green Nation and even worked for the Philadelphia Eagles for a time.

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