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What Are The Surprises From Eagles First 53-Man Roster · Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast

0:10
Speaker 1: Inside the Birds is back. What's going on? Everybody? Jeff Mosher,
0:16
Adam kaplan and the final No, not final, but the
0:20
initial fifty three man roster is in Adam and I
0:23
are going to talk about it. Wanted to get it
0:25
done early and out there for everybody and not have
0:28
to wait too long. So here we are. Let me
0:32
first make this very interesting observation. The Eagles do things
0:37
a certain way that is different. Howie Roseman even talked
0:40
about it, and so unique. But the media and the
0:44
fans have become so accustomed to that to the point
0:49
where the Eagles actually unleash a fifty three man roster
0:52
without a long snapper on it. They released their only
0:56
long snapper, which if any other team did, the first
0:59
question would automatically be excuse me, coach, how do you
1:02
plan to project roles right or you know, do anything
1:06
that involves a long snapper. But nobody even asked Howie
1:09
Roseman or Nick Sirianni that question at the press conference
1:12
because they know that this is roster tango and eventually
1:15
the Eagles will have a long snapper somehow elevated or
1:19
on the fifty three by the end of the year.
1:21
Speaker 2: But delevation, elevation, elevation. You've got three of them to
1:25
the roster. Here's my thinking. When you and I talked
1:29
this morning, I said, don't be surprised if came Williams
1:31
makes it. I just kind of a got feeling and
1:35
just whatever, I just had a very good feeling came
1:38
Wins is going to be the team because and how
1:39
we talked about this press conference, they developed players here. Man,
1:42
they don't do it the same way. They're gonna go
1:44
heavy on the D line. They're keeping they're keeping sixty tackles. Yeah,
1:47
two years ago they shocked the NFL by initially keeping
1:51
seven defensive tackles. It seemed ridiculous. Then they would trade
1:55
the Tavy Street to Atlanta, and they're keeping least for
1:58
now now tomorrow when we tomorrow, they may be having ten,
2:01
but they have eleven on the roster now. With Charlie Hewlett,
2:05
that's where you could just sign him to the if
2:07
the agent agrees or another. There's some long snappers who
2:09
were cut, about six or seven guys that are out there.
2:12
They're gonna have someone long snap, but you're gonna eat
2:14
someone for this week. So that's where signing to him
2:17
to a practice squad and not using a fifty three
2:19
man roster position is imperative because you're not gonna be
2:23
able to keep a guy like Trevor Keagan or Cam
2:26
Williams unless you go lights somewhere, you pull something off,
2:29
like you were talking about doing something very unique.
2:31
Speaker 1: Yeah, so you're right, I mean, and you hope the
2:34
Eagles have a good relationship now. I think how he's
2:37
got a better relationship now with a lot of players
2:39
and agents and maybe earlier in his career. So some
2:42
you might look at this and say, well, this might
2:44
you're getting too cute. What if Hewlett signs of somebody else,
2:47
then you got to pick up another long snapper who
2:49
may not, you know, be integrated quickly enough. I mean,
2:51
these things could backfire, but you get the feeling that
2:55
there's an agreement there and it won't be that difficult exactly,
2:58
and that they'll be able to end that the risk
3:00
is worth the reward. As you mentioned, of keeping players
3:04
on the team at positions of value that ordinarily you
3:08
wouldn't be able to keep. If you kept Charlie Hewitt,
3:11
you would have to eliminate one of the players that
3:13
the Eagles kept that didn't frankly deserve to be on
3:16
the team. It's whether it's a Trevor Keegan or a
3:18
Cameron Williams or we'll talk about some of the players
3:21
that are at the bottom of the roster, but you
3:23
don't want to lose them because you want to develop them.
3:26
So that was something that Howie Roseman actually didn't even
3:30
mince words with and his press conference if you really listened,
3:33
he talked about the difficulty and the strategy of balancing
3:38
being really competitive this year to the point where there
3:42
are Super Bowl expectations with also making sure that they
3:46
have guys down the line who they can develop and play.
3:49
And you've seen the results of it. They've seen the
3:52
results of having young players Day three guys. He even
3:55
mentioned all the rookie free agents that they've had, like
3:57
Read Blankenship, we've stepped in and play made an important
4:00
role on teams in years past. So it is a
4:03
good strategy as long as it works, and you don't
4:06
think get too cute and guaranteed the Eagles will play
4:08
next Thursday night against the Cowboys with a long snapper.
4:12
Speaker 2: Yes, yes, they.
4:16
Speaker 1: All right. This is the team by the way that
4:18
I think is still the only team ever to have
4:20
two active punters on their Super Bowl roster from three
4:24
years ago when they had Ryan Kern and sipos on
4:27
the Ern on the on the right.
4:31
Speaker 2: That's right, yeah, Red Kern man. Uh, talk about a
4:35
guy who had a great career and then when the
4:37
Eagles got him, he was pretty much toast. But yeah,
4:40
so let's go let let's let's go inside this lets
4:43
let's let's go inside this thing. We'll give you what
4:45
we know, what we have, what we hear. Howie, if
4:48
you listen to his press conference, I don't say he
4:51
was defiant, but what happens is he's aware. I'm sure
4:55
that fans are. Why don't you get an entress? Why
4:57
didn't you this there's tomorrow. Fridgie's not dead, he mentioned
5:03
more than once. They have a lot of draft picks
5:04
for next year. Relax, folks, relax, yep.
5:09
Speaker 1: Yeah, we reported. Look, we reported on the pod that dropped. Actually,
5:12
you know, depending on when you listen to this, but
5:14
we dropped it on Tuesday morning, and this pod will
5:17
come out Tuesday evening, so you might get a double
5:20
dose of itb in one day if you listen at
5:21
the right time. But we said, we know from other
5:24
teams and how he's been calling around certain positions interior,
5:28
offensive line, edge corner. He's doing that just like everybody's
5:32
doing He's doing it aggressively. And he made as you
5:35
just said, he was very almost defiant and just active
5:38
in saying, hey, we're not done. He said we're not
5:41
done over line, over and over, and he even alluded
5:45
to the fact that the fifty three man roster in
5:47
the next twenty four to forty eight hours might look
5:49
different than it does now. So take that all into
5:53
account as we go through what the fifty to thirty
5:55
man roster looks like. Right now, we'll start at him
5:57
with the offense now, all right now, he said he
6:00
would have traded. He point blank said he would have
6:02
traded for Sam Howell regardless of whether Tanner McKee is hurt.
6:07
My BS meter is up a little bit on that.
6:09
But because again without him having an extra year of control,
6:13
I don't understand what the value of having him unless
6:17
you just don't think hurts and McKee will stay healthy
6:20
for the whole year. And we do know McKee has
6:23
an injury now that that might force Howl into action.
6:26
I get that a little bit, but he said it,
6:29
so I have to take his word for it. And
6:31
maybe this is one of those examples of where this
6:34
is the short term where you have to balance. You
6:36
want as much talent at one position as possible, and
6:40
there probably are not too many number three quarterbacks in
6:42
the NFL that are better than Sam Howell.
6:45
Speaker 2: Yeah. And look if if the kid from Syracuse, you know,
6:52
deserve to be on the roster, he would have been.
6:55
Speaker 3: Man.
6:56
Speaker 2: That that's the thing. So I understand what how saying.
7:00
But let's let's face it. McKee gets hurt and the
7:04
kid from Syracuse, uh is from this area. He didn't
7:07
look good in training camp. Now, you're not gonna keep
7:09
four quarterbacks. Think about it. Let's be honest about it.
7:11
That's why this happened. Let's yep, let's call it like
7:14
it is.
7:14
Speaker 1: I mean, it's.
7:16
Speaker 2: It's a really weird deal. Man. You would like you
7:21
might say, Okay, if mccorr would have worked out and
7:24
McKee didn't get hurt, you're not keeping four courts. They're
7:27
not doing that like that now, Okay. So they knew
7:33
two weeks ago probably that mccor wasn't gonna make it
7:35
based on what what they saw in practice. Then the
7:38
preseason it was even worse. So that was I hate
7:41
to say it was an easy decision to release him,
7:44
but there was no reason for him to be on
7:45
the roster other than what you were saying earlier this week.
7:47
Howie has a history of egg keeping his players that
7:51
he's drafted, but being quarterbacks. But it became obvious you
7:56
knew this, Andrew knew it. I knew it. He shouldn't
7:59
have been on the football team. There was no way
8:01
he was going to be on there. You couldn't justify it, Okay.
8:04
Number one, Number two, Van McKee hurts his finger, this
8:07
mysterious finger injury, which turned out to be a broken thumb. Well,
8:11
you needed a quarterback. Obviously, you had to get somebody.
8:14
We understand, as we've known for all week, that McKee's
8:17
gonna be back somewhere between weeks one and three. Weeks one,
8:21
week three. That's why they didn't put him an ir. Okay,
8:25
And then you get how in your building you and
8:27
I talked about this on this on I think this
8:29
morning show or certainly this week, you get how in
8:32
the building, Yes, he's on the last year's deal, but
8:36
you get to know him. If you really like him
8:38
and you want him back, you let him know that.
8:40
And you know other teams are going to want Tanner
8:42
McKee in March, like you know that's coming. Yes, Sleek
8:45
cannot develop quarterbacks well enough. And this kid's a baller.
8:47
We all know that. And that's where it is.
8:49
Speaker 1: Yeah, and how he certainly made it sound like he
8:51
wanted at least one of those two between McCord and
8:54
dtr back on the practice squad. So we'll see what
8:56
happens there at wide receiver. Now, this is a little
8:59
surprise only in that they went only with five and
9:03
one of them is a rookie free agent, Darius Cooper,
9:05
who absolutely deserved to make it. But they cut Avery Williams.
9:09
You know, I kind of thought there was conspiracy going
9:11
on there. There was not, although it came down to
9:13
the wire on him. Cut him. They did cut Terrence Mathis,
9:18
and then they waved Taylor fo my gosh, I'm sorry
9:22
Terrace Marshall by the way. You know, in the nineties, dude.
9:27
Speaker 2: Do you know how good of a player he was though?
9:29
Speaker 1: Terrence Mathis from the Falcons? Yeah, yeah, yeah, you.
9:31
Speaker 2: Know, it's really funny a guy in our in one
9:33
of my keeper leagues for fantasy used to call him
9:35
Terrence Matthias.
9:38
Speaker 1: Because he couldn't He's a New Yorker.
9:40
Speaker 2: He couldn't say it.
9:40
Speaker 1: Rights, I get it. Yeah, sorry, they waved. They released
9:46
Terrace Mathis Marshall all right, Marshall's gone, and Niah Smith
9:53
gets waived. Avery Williams gets released also, So they only
9:56
go with five. Now, look at that, the faith that
9:58
they're showing it again, this is fl But their fourth
10:01
receiver is John Metch who just got here and hasn't
10:03
exactly had, you know, a lot of luck in his career.
10:07
And then their fifth receiver is Darius Cooper, who deserves
10:10
to make it. So obviously they are a top heavy
10:13
passing team to begin with. It's not like they have
10:15
to rely on four or five. But if there were
10:18
injuries or if they need like five wide formations, you're
10:21
gonna see those guys probably be active on game day
10:24
at least early unless there's corresponding moves.
10:27
Speaker 2: Oh, they'll have Obviously, you're gonna have to have four
10:29
at least on game day. The question is do they
10:31
have five?
10:34
Speaker 1: Boy?
10:34
Speaker 2: Cooper, who you know, I remember saying on our show
10:37
two weeks ago. This guy's on the roster. I did
10:38
a little bit early, and I normally would, but I'm like,
10:41
there's no way his guys are on the roster. He's
10:43
on the roster. I don't see them like tomorrow. If
10:46
they claim a couple guys off waivers, I'd be surprised.
10:52
If he's he would be a guy they would target
10:54
to release because we'll get the offensive line, but the
10:58
kids a baller. And remember Dotson and Mechi's contracts are
11:01
up after the season, don't and Cooper sign a three
11:03
year deal.
11:04
Speaker 1: Yes, so interesting stuff there at tight end, I guess
11:09
the only surprise. It's not like I'm shocked to see
11:12
that Kylan Grantson made it, But there is a redundancy there.
11:16
I mean, they went with pass catchers. They really don't
11:18
have a blocking tight end outside of Dallas Goddard. But
11:23
if you can bring EJ. Jenkins back to your practice
11:26
squad and maybe you can find someone, whether it's a
11:28
lot too muse or somebody from around the league who
11:30
you think can block a little bit, we'll see. We'll
11:32
see what they do there. They'll they'll they'll give themselves
11:34
some options.
11:36
Speaker 2: Yeah, I thought if they were going to keep three
11:39
and nine and think I thought pretty strongly that one
11:41
way or the other, grandson was going to be on
11:42
the team. I know you're absolutely right. It's very redundant
11:48
theoretically or realistically. He should have been on their practice
11:51
squad instead. And I only carry two tight ends and
11:55
then just play the roster tango. You know, have in
11:56
a relationship with the agent. You tell them, look, we
11:58
want them on the team, but we have to keep
12:00
some younger players. But he just doesn't. He's just not
12:03
a good enough hy tenant, which is an inline ten
12:05
and they're really hard to find. That's why they brought
12:07
in the guy formerly the Jets and Bengals last year.
12:10
The name escapes me.
12:11
Speaker 1: Oh I usamah. Yeah.
12:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, he unfortunate didn't work out. He was toasted. He
12:17
was near the end of his career. But I understood
12:19
why they did it because they needed to back up
12:20
why and that's why Jack Stoles and unjactor free agent
12:23
made it because the guy could block. And we'll see
12:27
what happens. But yeah, I agree with you, Jenkins or
12:30
somebody else can block has to be on the practice squad.
12:32
Speaker 1: Yep, we'll see what happens there, so that that's interesting
12:35
running back. No surprises. Obviously, I wasn't sure that Agent
12:38
Dian was gonna make it, but he stayed healthy. He's
12:41
probably gonna be used. You know again we're talking about Yeah,
12:44
we've talked about how you can use this guy. You
12:48
can use him on first down if Saquon gets hurt.
12:51
You can use him in that person sticking down role.
12:53
If you're up by twenty one points with six minutes
12:56
to go and you want to just milk the clock
12:58
out a little.
12:58
Speaker 2: Bit, that's why he's there.
13:00
Speaker 1: But another schedule I have a hard time seeing, but
13:02
you never know.
13:03
Speaker 2: Well, look you know what they are. Schedule is and
13:08
as hard as was two years ago. We know there's
13:10
some questions on defense, which we'll get to later. But
13:13
Will Shipley is the in game backup, main backup for Barkley.
13:16
But it's about as you mentioned, if there's six minutes
13:20
left and they're up by seventeen points, get Barkley up, put
13:22
Dylan in, let them let him salvet the game away.
13:25
You need a shortyard to carry, yes, goal line, Yes, Shipley.
13:29
It's just it's not that physically, he's just super explosive right.
13:33
Speaker 1: So here we go. Offensive line. This is where it's fluid.
13:37
They have eleven. They obviously have their starting five. You know,
13:40
Brett Toth made it.
13:43
Speaker 2: It might be starting week one. What do you mean
13:45
he made it out?
13:46
Speaker 1: Gosh, yeah, but you got Prior, you got Toth, you
13:49
have Kendall. Right, that's eight right there. They keep Cameron Williams,
13:53
who and Trevor Keegan, those two who did not have
13:57
fantastic camps. And then they also keep oh, Fred Johnson
14:02
is who they traded for. So that's eleven offensive lineman.
14:08
It'd be very very interesting, Adam to see again. Cameron
14:11
Williams is a guy I can see why they would
14:14
want to develop. He's got great tools, long arms, not
14:17
a lot of experience. He's like one of those players
14:20
that needs a little more, just like the way Gabe
14:22
Paul came here and needed more coaching, more development, maybe
14:25
a little kick in the rear end and got it.
14:27
They probably see the same thing in Camra Williams.
14:29
Speaker 2: I'm sure they do, because that's it's funny and it's
14:32
scouting report from clubs. It's needs to be pushed, yep,
14:36
needs to get it eventually. But he's how he likes
14:39
to say he's got a lot of tools. It's just
14:41
he's got to be developed. He theoretically would be got
14:43
he wanted to put on your practice squad, but he's
14:45
subject to waivers and the thing. Yeah, I can't say
14:50
there's nobody to know this, but the point is it
14:53
takes just one team out of thirty one to claim him,
14:56
then then you don't want to regret anything. So I'll
14:58
give you an example of where the Eagles made a mistake.
15:02
You remember Christian Ellis.
15:04
Speaker 1: Yes, you know, a linebacker, A good linebacker.
15:07
Speaker 2: Now I'm gonal practice, really really big time special teams player. Okay,
15:12
the Eagles didn't think he could play defense for them,
15:14
and most teams didn't. But guess what. He was claimed
15:17
off waivers by the Patriots last season. He got pushed
15:21
into service because they had two injuries. He played so well,
15:24
his tape was so good. What happened? And these this
15:28
really happens. You know, there are very few restricted free
15:30
agents get offer sheets. The Raiders game an offer sheet,
15:32
the Patriots matched them, matched it, and they're giving them
15:35
over six million per season. So why might I bring
15:37
this up? I know the circumstances are different. In terms
15:39
of where the guys are at in their career. But
15:42
you really never know what will happen. If there's a
15:44
guy you like and you figured you could get him
15:45
back to your practice squad, god forbid he develops for
15:48
someone else. You'll never get over that one. It's really cold.
15:51
I know, talking to gms and personal people, it saddens
15:54
them and pisses them off when somebody else develops a
15:57
guy you drafted. In this case also was an undirected
16:01
free agent from Minnesota, and then the Eagles you know,
16:05
brought him in and was on and off their practice
16:07
squap but they had eventually cut him and give New
16:09
England credit. They claimed him off waivers and they developed him.
16:12
And you just don't want to have any grets. That's
16:14
because again you don't know. We could say all we
16:17
want about Cam Williams didn't earn a roster spot, but
16:20
it's not about this year, folks. The pie in the
16:23
sky is somehow, some way Cam Williams matures, develops with stouts,
16:27
great coaching, and by year three and realistically twenty twenty seven,
16:31
that Lane Johnson retires. I think it's a real chance, realistic,
16:35
not definite, but there's a chance that Cam Williams could
16:38
be in play there to be the venture right tackle,
16:40
but that's pie and the sky if it all works
16:41
out right.
16:42
Speaker 1: And by the way, Miles hitting starts off on IR
16:45
so we'll have to see.
16:46
Speaker 2: Yeah, wow happen. I didn't. Yeah, I didn't. I didn't
16:48
even know. Yeah, there was no.
16:50
Speaker 1: He was not a pre season game, right, what's that?
16:52
Speaker 2: What's that?
16:53
Speaker 1: I think it was in the preseason finale against the Jets.
16:57
I thought he did. I be mistaken, but I thought
17:00
he did.
17:01
Speaker 2: Yeah, Okay, he clearly got hurt because yeah, he was
17:04
not hurt. He was not on the injury report during
17:06
the week that he was put out, and we appreciate
17:08
them doing that. Most teams don't put an injury put out, right,
17:11
And yeah, he obviously got hurt. So, yeah, he is
17:13
on I R d f R, which means designation for return.
17:17
He'll miss at least four games and then we'll see
17:19
when he's ready, but it's not season ending, that's the point, right, Yeah.
17:22
That that's another one that opened up a roster spot
17:24
for Williams and Trevor Keagan.
17:27
Speaker 1: Right and tooth. So it'll be very interesting to see
17:30
when it probably would have made it anyway, though they're
17:34
very heavy here at interior offensive.
17:36
Speaker 2: Well, I'm answer this question if I'm gonna ask you again.
17:39
If Dickerson's not ready and they cut Toth, who's starting
17:42
week one?
17:45
Speaker 1: My temptation is to say it is going to be
17:48
Tyler seen at left guard and Matt Pryor at right guard.
17:52
But I I guess I could be wrong. It could
17:54
be bred Toth, so we'll see.
17:56
Speaker 2: I asked Andrew remember on that he said he did
17:58
not see Steen line up in gardin cap right.
18:01
Speaker 1: But he's done it before, so they know. They suspect it.
18:05
Now that no media is watching practice, they have ten
18:08
days to have him taken rep there and get them
18:11
ready for it. I mean, if you want to have
18:12
offensive line, you do that. I mean, I don't think
18:16
you're your best offensive line. If if Toath is that left.
18:18
Speaker 2: Guard, I don't disagree, but it's all well what coach
18:24
Dallin wants, that's.
18:25
Speaker 1: Correct, all right. It'll be very interesting to see with
18:28
these eleven offensive linemen, whether it's Hinton who returns or
18:32
whether Hewlett after his three elevations, has to be signed
18:36
to the fifty three. Who who Who gets chopped off
18:39
the block there if it's at offensive line or at
18:42
a different position. All right, so that's O line, that
18:45
is the offense. What's switch to defense? Before we do that,
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Speaker 1: Yep, absolutely all right. So on defense, Adam, I think
20:06
fewer things that really like jump out. I mean, we
20:09
all nailed the six defensive tackles they were going to keep.
20:12
It was really not a question there. Yeah. The only
20:15
thing on edge is I thought Patrick Johnson might make
20:17
it for special teams. It sounds like they want him back.
20:21
But obviously obo okoronkwo oh, I got that right. I
20:24
can't I can't pronounce Teris Marshall, right, but I get
20:27
Ogo right. But yeah, he makes it. I wonder if
20:30
he can be a core special team or if they
20:33
just elevate Johnson as much as possible. But you know,
20:36
he's the fifth of the five edges to go along
20:40
with Jay ex Hunt, Nolan Smith and then your backups
20:43
as he's Ojeli and Josh Uche.
20:45
Speaker 2: I think your point was funny and very true. In
20:47
the morning when we did our morning show, he said, look,
20:50
he's the kind of guy by the end of the season,
20:52
he gets his numbers you're talking about. Yeah, yeah, that's that. See,
20:57
contract wise, it was hard for them to to swalk
21:00
with too much guaranteed money and the guy has been
21:04
look is you know we know for fact Carolina was
21:07
one team was in it. There was another one that
21:09
was in it for him. They clearly liked this tape.
21:12
I don't now, I'll be honest with I didn't see
21:14
it in training camp. I know in the preseason game
21:16
number two, he looked like he had something left. But
21:19
he needs to play man because Hunt's not there as
21:21
a pass rusher. Smith and then Vic put that Vic
21:24
sedded one of his shoulders was bothering him. And then
21:28
you got because his Smith is gonna be what he
21:31
once was or was last year. We have to see Ousche.
21:34
He's got quicks, but he's not the biggest guy in
21:37
the world. A conqueror. Obo is a guy that is
21:40
done in the past. But Cleveland was not great opposite
21:43
Miles Garrett, they got rid of him.
21:45
Speaker 1: Yes, it's a fourth three. I mean he's really I
21:47
don't know how much experience he has.
21:48
Speaker 2: In a three stood up before he stood up.
21:50
Speaker 1: He has okay, but even Vic's defense standing up, I
21:53
mean you have to drop, you have to play, know
21:55
your zone. It's a little bit different. So well, but hey,
21:59
you know what if they they I thought he had
22:01
a good camp and you know, certainly worth keeping uh
22:04
and trying to develop so good on that. Now you
22:07
and I both reported that, you know, we heard from
22:09
other teams in the league how he was making a
22:10
lot of calls at certain positions but not looking to
22:14
friend a lot of money. I just it's hard, right,
22:16
How are you gonna acquire an edge when you're not
22:20
spending money because these guys unless you're finding a guy
22:22
on a rookie deal, right, it's it's and plus teams
22:26
are give up edge, yes, like you're gonna have to
22:28
find a guy in a rookie deal who's pretty good,
22:30
who's better than what you already have, which might be tough.
22:32
Speaker 2: Right, So for instance, I know a lot of fans
22:34
asked of it aren't on epihetty. So from Falcons, here's
22:38
the problem. He's starting right now. The two first round
22:42
picks aren't ready yet. There's a tremendous amount of pressure
22:45
around the Falcons coaches as some people have really told
22:48
me to win. They know that there's pressure, like they
22:51
they the Gams draft. Terry Finans drafted really well. He
22:55
finally addressed the the intrusture problem and now he kind
22:59
of overd it. But you know what, Ebiquetty's a talented guy.
23:02
Now it doesn't stat like, let's see the kids are ready,
23:04
the two first round picks are ready by October. Wouldn't
23:07
stop if how he liked Ebiketty, wouldn't stop him calling
23:10
him right. So let's just to how he's point. Let
23:16
the situations play out. He made it perfectly clear he's
23:19
not done. He sees things differently than thirty one other gms.
23:23
He's just super aggressive. He's not gonna tell the whole
23:28
truth on what you know. He's very positive about his players.
23:31
I'm not saying he needs to criticize him publicly, but
23:34
he also is watching the tape. He knows what the
23:36
weaknesses are. Folks watching know what they are. Folks around
23:41
the league know what the weaknesses are. Edge second corner.
23:43
It is what it is. They're not done yet. That's
23:46
all I gonna say.
23:48
Speaker 1: Absolutely, and we'll probably talk about that a little bit
23:50
when we get the cornerback, inside or off ball linebacker,
23:53
very very chalk right, the four guys that you knew.
23:57
It's gonna be Campbell, it's gonna be Bond, it's gonna
23:59
be mon Don, and it's going to be Trotter Junior,
24:02
and then obviously Nikobe. Dean starts off on pup. He's
24:05
expecting to be back. I think we've been reporting forever
24:08
that it's October, and he wrote week five on his
24:12
that's October. You nailed it.
24:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, did your source say exactly what week? I'm just joking.
24:17
Speaker 1: Yeah, Yeah, that's pretty good.
24:19
Speaker 2: Yeah, I hope you know. One thing I want to
24:21
say about Dean, just folks understand, we told you when
24:24
John Campbell is ready, he's starting. There was never a
24:26
debate with anyone who knows what's going on. Yep, Nikobe
24:29
Dean does not get his job back just because he
24:31
was great last year. If Campbell is playing well, you
24:35
can't take him off the field, and we know Bo's
24:37
not coming off the field. It's just it is what
24:38
it is. I know they'll make a decision when they
24:40
get there, but I'm just telling you the way it is.
24:44
Dean was not a first round pick. He got hurt.
24:46
It's unfortunate. It is what it is. So they're not
24:50
taking Campbell off the field. This is the way it
24:52
works with the NFL. If the first round pick is
24:54
balling out, you're not taking them off the field. That's
24:57
the way it works.
24:58
Speaker 1: And listen, if deals are winning, no one's going to
25:00
complain about it.
25:01
Speaker 2: Yeah, no, no, But there's a there's some reporters who
25:04
are speculating that someone may be Someone actually asked me
25:08
on Twitter a couple of weeks ago. I don't respond to Twitter.
25:10
I'm all right. I'll eventually address it away some time.
25:13
I just know from cover this business twenty seven years
25:16
and learning and getting stuff wrong. When I thought a
25:18
guy would start and I'd be corrected by personnel. People goes, no,
25:21
it doesn't work that way, that the first round pick
25:23
is ready. I know you like this player, he's not playing.
25:28
The guy you like, our first round pick is playing.
25:30
And I go, I got it, yeah, because they've never
25:31
been wrong by the way every time.
25:33
Speaker 1: I right, they're trying to get that guy developed if
25:36
they already see baseline tools and fundamentals and they think
25:40
that all he can do is grow from there, like
25:42
Cooper to gen last year. They're just gonna put him
25:44
on the field and you know.
25:45
Speaker 2: We'll see how Kim's got play. Kim's got to play
25:48
well number one. Yeah, he could also add rush. You know,
25:51
we haven't really seen a lot of it and train
25:53
to camp a little bit. But I just want people
25:55
to understand so you don't get overly anxious, like when
26:00
when we we we really made fun that people talked
26:02
about this last year wh Quinnea Mitchell was running with
26:04
the threes and fours. We'll go folks about it. He's
26:07
starting if he's ready, Right, don't don't worry about what
26:10
happens in OTZ. Don't just relax. You just try to
26:14
learn from the eight years we've been in the Zore.
26:15
Eighth year, we've tried to walk you through how people
26:18
make decisions, first round picks play. They just do if
26:21
they're ready.
26:22
Speaker 1: Yeah, all right, let's go to the secondary. You heard
26:25
how he just gushing and glowing over his cornerback situation
26:28
and how great killer Ringo is and big and strong
26:31
and physical. Uh, and yeah, he'll be a wonderful gunner
26:35
on special teams.
26:36
Speaker 2: Because it's good at it. No, he's really good, is good.
26:40
He's really look, folks, he he's at best a third corner.
26:45
I think if you've, if you're really strong, a corner.
26:47
He's a fourth. Now we'll see what Jaccreyne Bennett is,
26:51
who's obviously on the roster. We'll see how they handle this.
26:56
Now again, something could happen tomorrow, which is Wednesday, off waves.
27:00
They could sign a veteran who hit the street. See
27:03
what happens. They're not done. How he is what makes
27:06
in the best GM in the NFL. He's relentless, he's
27:11
he knows the reality is you're that he I know
27:14
he's gonna tell we like our cornerback room. Of course,
27:16
they used to say how much the linebacker room was,
27:18
well belthole average. I'm being nice about it. Yeah, what
27:21
do you think they're gonna say? Probably?
27:22
Speaker 1: Come on, folks, of course, of course, how he make
27:28
it real for people? Right?
27:30
Speaker 2: You know what, we're not very good there. He's not
27:32
gonna say that, you know, but.
27:38
Speaker 1: I was gonna say. I would just anticipate, just based
27:40
on how he said and just knowing some things that
27:43
like that Eli Rix who was waived and Parry Nickerson
27:48
who has released. Those two guys, I would look to
27:50
see the Eagles bring back on the practice squad.
27:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, certainly, certainly Nickerson did a good job man, and
27:57
Vic knows Hi they had him two years ago. Good
27:59
story for this guy not to give up. He's been
28:01
cut a number of times and he's uh still doing it.
28:05
Uh to put a bow in this thing. It's very
28:07
obvious what their issues are. Edge rusher not good enough.
28:11
Upside yes, but not good enough yet. Second corner not
28:16
good enough on paper. Offensive line, I'd worry about the interior.
28:21
Speaker 1: I've moved from worrying about guard to say center, back
28:26
up center, especially with Cam Jurgen's coming off the back injury,
28:29
because they're next in line to snap the ball. Is
28:34
a rookie, Drew Kendall, who is a good He looks
28:37
nice as a rookie, but you don't want, you know,
28:39
if you're trying to win a super Bowl and he's
28:41
a fifth round pick and he's got to put some
28:43
you know, strength on. He's one of those guys who's
28:45
gonna be probably good down the road, but you just
28:48
worry about him stepping in and having to fill that
28:50
Cam Jurgen's role.
28:51
Speaker 2: Agreed, so, and also the strength are obvious, rather obvious quarterback,
28:56
running back, receiver, number one, tight end, great got a
29:00
to stud but we know what the injury history d line.
29:02
I am very bullish on this defensive line, offensive line.
29:06
The death is not quite as good as we probably anticipated.
29:09
We'll learn because if these guys have to play, then
29:11
you're really going to learn. Ilb as Vic calls him
29:16
potential to be all right, I don't. I mean, I'm
29:19
not grading thirty two teams to me potential top five group.
29:23
That's just probably good. Yeah, you know, jis right. You
29:28
like Mondon?
29:29
Speaker 1: Yeah, I like. I like his athleticism. I think I
29:32
like he's fast, he plays physical even though he's what
29:35
like two hundred and twenty twenty five pounds. I think
29:39
that if he had to start, he'd probably struggle a
29:41
little bit and getting off of blocks, playing down a hill.
29:45
Nikobe did that year one too, when he did get
29:47
on the field and he was mostly a special teamer.
29:50
But even in year two early Nicobe Bean struggled with
29:54
that and any things didn't really click obviously for Niccoby
29:56
until last year. So I think Mondan London's best days
30:01
or two to three years down the road, which ironically,
30:05
you know Bond's only signed to a three year deal,
30:07
so and this is your one. But I liked what
30:09
I've seen, and I think he has the good instincts
30:12
to play the position. And I think if Bobby King
30:14
continues to do what he's been doing with these linebackers,
30:18
I've never this is the first year I can probably
30:21
ever say, and we've covered I've covered the team for
30:22
twenty years, you've covered the league for twenty more that
30:25
they may have more talent at linebacker than edge rusher.
30:28
I can't believe I'm saying an eagle.
30:30
Speaker 2: So what Okay, so bond now as a just an
30:33
overall linebacker is we know that Fred Warner is the best.
30:37
It's definitely top four. Now. I know it's one year,
30:39
but he he's got it all for the people. I ask,
30:42
could he repeat? Yes, he can his performance because he
30:45
does everything. There's not a weakness from this guy. Campbell
30:47
is a flash player who's still learning. He's relatively near
30:51
the position, but he's explosive. We saw some superhuman plays
30:54
I've never seen before in this position. Here, to be
30:57
honest with you, in training, camp trut Junior is a
31:00
good third man. He's a good player. It's just he
31:04
doesn't have the ideal size that you want. Are not
31:06
a great athlete, but he's super instinctive and mindon Scott
31:08
good length. He just has to learn. So the upside
31:10
for this linebacker Cooper is phenomen nothing. Certainly, in our
31:13
eight years, we've never seen anything like this.
31:14
Speaker 1: That for damn sure, absolutely all right. So that is
31:18
the fifty three and obviously, as we said, there will
31:21
be changes. We're not done on Inside the Birds this week.
31:23
You'll hear from us again, and when you do, we'll
31:27
be talking about whatever changes are made between listening to
31:30
this podcast and the next the next fifty three, as
31:33
we like to say, so for Adam Kaplan, I'm Jeff Boscher.
31:37
That's gonna do it for this episode of Inside the Birds,
31:40
the leading podcast and Eagles Intel. As always, we thank
31:43
you for flying with us Inside the Birds. Be sure
31:49
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