Eagles News: Josh Sweat makes list of top NFL breakout candidates

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

The NFL’s top 25 ‘prospects’: Young players who could break out in 2019 - ESPN In$ider
Josh Sweat blew up our SackSEER system last offseason, and it’s all on athleticism. He ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and had terrific scores in the vertical leap and broad jump. Thus, despite classifying him with a lower projection on the basis of his projected draft round, SackSEER still thought he was about as good as any of the pass-rushers who went after the first round (outside of Harold Landry, who should have been drafted in the first). Sweat’s 14.5 sacks in three college seasons were not all that impressive, but the tools should make him play above that number. Sweat’s rookie season in Philadelphia was mostly invested in watching the fearsome veterans the Eagles have assembled kick butt and take names. The Howie Roseman Eagles have a long history of young linemen being observers early in their career, then getting up to speed quickly once given a chance. With Michael Bennett and Chris Long departing this offseason, the Eagles roll into the year with Vinny Curry, Derek Barnett and Sweat all itching for time along with Brandon Graham. It’s likely all of them will get a chunk of playing time given how the Eagles run things. Sweat has the most imposing physical profile, and comps well to Vikings star Danielle Hunter in that area. He’s going to have to develop like Hunter to get playing time on this line.

Important: JJ Arcega-Whiteside weighs in on the nickname debate - BGN
As you can see, “Sega” was the clear winner. In speaking with Arcega-Whiteside in the Eagles’ locker room after an OTA practice in May, he told me he that’s a unique one he hadn’t previously heard before. But there’s also an issue with that nickname. Crossing Broad’s Kevin Kinkead astutely notes that the “cega” in Arcega should actually be pronounced as “thega” and not “sega” (like the video game system). Do recall that Arcega-Whiteside was born in Spain. So, if “Sega” is out, what should we call him? I sought out to answer that question by speaking with the 22-year-old pass catcher.

The Kist & Solak Show #106: Eye On the Enemy - Rams’ Offense - BGN Radio
Michael Kist and Benjamin Solak continue their Eye On the Enemy series & this time they go outside of the NFC East to focus on a major NFC contender, the Los Angeles Rams! Too much info to cover in one show so this one is all about the offense with a special focus on Sean McVay and Jared Goff! Powered by SBNation and Bleeding Green Nation.

Excitement is Building - Iggles Blitz
We still don’t know what to expect at LB. Nigel Bradham is the star. Will Zach Brown be the other key LB? Will Kamu Grugier-Hill have that role? Could someone like Nate Gerry surprise everyone? L.J. Fort will battle for a role, as will Paul Worrilow. Someone from that group will step up and impress, while someone else will likely stink up the joint, aka pulling a Corey Nelson.

2019 Quarterback Tiers: Risers and fallers - The Athletic
Carson Wentz slipped only because voters increasingly have questions about durability. He could rocket into the top tier, following Luck’s example, if Wentz can start all 16 games and show the form that made him look like a future star not long ago. [...] Nick Foles, Joe Flacco and Eli Manning are the 2019 Tier 3 quarterbacks with Super Bowl victories as starters. Foles won a ring more recently than the others, helping him outrank them this summer. Foles also played well enough this past season for voters to push him higher within the tier. However, there seemed to be more respect for what Foles has done than outright optimism that he would sustain success for the long term.

2019 NFL Training Camp battles: How will the Eagles’ crowded RB situation play out? - CBS Sports
Miles The expectations for Sanders are varied, mostly because the former Penn State standout and Barkley successor didn’t see the field in the spring. Some have prematurely slotted him right ahead of Howard as the Opening Day RB1, and some have understandably sided with caution, pointing to the Eagles’ spotty track record of RB picks since landing LeSean McCoy a decade ago. Let’s be clear, though: Sanders is not Wendell Smallwood or Donnel Pumphrey or Bryce Brown or Charles Scott or any of the other middling backs to come through Philly: He’s more chiseled, more refined and more talented. While he’s not nearly as explosive as you might prefer for a complement to Howard, he seems like a safe bet to split carries for chunks of the season.

It’s football, and football only, as Eagles open Training Camp - PE.com
Best roster battles? Cornerback has a lot of interest with incumbent starters Ronald Darby (knee) and Jalen Mills (foot) coming off of injury, with second-year man Avonte Maddox and third-year players Rasul Douglas and Sidney Jones understanding that they’ve got an opportunity in front of them, and with Cre’Von LeBlanc a player who saved the nickel spot last year after injuries ravaged the room. Running back is loaded with talent, even more now that Darren Sproles is back in the fold and prepared to challenge Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders and Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood and Josh Adams and Boston Scott for roster spots and playing time. That’s seven players for three, perhaps four, roster spots.

Ranking all 32 secondaries ahead of the 2019 NFL season - PFF
21. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Ronald Darby, CB Avonte Maddox, CB Rasul Douglas, S Rodney McLeod, S Malcolm Jenkins. Ronald Darby obviously came with an injury red flag, but his one-year, $5 million deal was an absolute steal for the Eagles. He offers consistency in coverage that none of the other corners on the Eagles roster can match. Darby has allowed a passer rating below 90 in each of the past two seasons.

Andre Dillard is the Eagles’ touted first-round rookie, but that might not earn him a big role this year - Inquirer
Jeff Stoutland was asked if he has a plan tailored to keeping Dillard engaged if he isn’t active for games, or is active and isn’t getting on the field. “I’m not ready to do that,” Stoutland said. “I want to focus on exactly what this individual needs to do on this play, with this technique, with this type of effort. You make your hay by focusing, by detailing everything out. Then the rest of it will take care of itself.”

Wawa is cheating on us with the Baltimore Ravens - NBCSP
Excuse me, Wawa. You did what? Apparently, our favorite corner sandwich shop/convenience store/gas station — you know, the one we defend to all of our out-of-town relatives, the one we swear by, the one to which we’ve pledged our undying allegiance — is cheating on us. With the freakin’ Baltimore Ravens. In an apparent attempt to dethrone Royal Farms in the Maryland area, Benedict Wawa has become the “official hoagie” of the Baltimore Ravens. This is like if your girlfriend cheated on you and then bragged about it on social media.

Predicting Every Team’s Record for the 2019 NFL Season - MMQB
EAGLES: 11–5* — At first glance, their schedule is a little brutal. Trips to Minnesota, Green Bay and Atlanta in the first six weeks is foreboding, but I’ll stick with my same thought from earlier in the offseason: This is one of the best quarterback complementary depth charts in the NFL, especially at running back.

Report: Redskins are releasing ILB Mason Foster - Hogs Haven
The Redskins already released Zach Brown, another former starting ILB, earlier in the offseason. Washington was looking forward to seeing Reuben Foster on the field, but he lasted 3 plays during OTAs before tearing his ACL/LCL. The Redskins signed veteran Jon Bostic, to replace Foster. He could end up starting this year alongside Sean Dion-Hamilton. The Redskins also have Josh Harvey-Clemons and rookie Cole Holcomb to compete for time.

Former Jets QB Mark Sanchez retires, joins ESPN - Gang Green Nation
[BLG Note: I think Sanchez is going to do well on TV.]

Giants’ roster bubble: Eight players who face challenges to remain on 53-man roster - Big Blue View
WRs Russell Shepard & Bennie Fowler: The Giants may not have a superstar at the position, but they would appear to have more roster-worthy wide receivers than they can possibly keep. That puts these two veteran players, both of whom were useful players for the Giants a season ago, on the bubble. Shepard, a 28-year-old entering his seventh season, was of minimal value to the offense a season ago. He had 10 catches in 19 targets for 188 yards, and now has 57 receptions in six NFL seasons. His real value is on special teams, where he has excelled throughout his career.

Tim Tebow’s Mets pipe dream is on hold - New York Post
Tebow, in the midst of his third professional baseball season, appeared in the Eastern League All-Star Game last year while playing for Double-A Binghamton, but the former quarterback’s hopes of reaching the majors were crushed when he broke a bone in his right hand. This season, Tebow has produced nothing but ticket sales, hitting .163 with four home runs and 98 strikeouts in 77 games.

The 2019 All-New-Team Team - The Ringer
From Odell Beckham Jr. to Antonio Brown to Earl Thomas, these are the players poised to make big splashes in their new homes

The NFL’s all-time old man team, by position - SB Nation
P: Shane Lechler, Texans, 2017 (41 years old). Lechler had to punt the ball 92 dang times in his final season as a pro and still averaged 49 yards per attempt. Honorable mention goes to Sam Baker. In 1968 the Eagles’ specialist converted 19 field goals and averaged just about 41 yards per punt at 39 years old.

...

Social Media Information:

BGN Facebook Page: Click here to like our page

BGN Twitter: Follow @BleedingGreen

BGN Manager: Brandon Lee Gowton: Follow @BrandonGowton

BGN Radio Twitter: Follow @BGN_Radio