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After Injury To Johnny Wilson, What Now For Eagles WR Group? · Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast

0:09
Speaker 1: Inside the Birds is back. What's going on? Everybody? Jeff Mosher,
0:15
Adam Kaplan and Eagles training camps officially over, and unfortunately
0:20
it ended with some pretty bad news for a young
0:23
Eagles wide receiver. We'll talk about that in a second.
0:26
We'll get into the preseason game today. Still some interesting
0:29
things worth watching, and Adam has been making his rounds
0:34
on some NFL training camp tours. He was recently in Washington,
0:37
so we'll get a little bird's eye view of the
0:40
commander's camp from Adam in that. But let's start with
0:44
the hard news. Adam, it's a very unfortunate occurrence. I
0:47
was right there. I saw it happen. Johnny Wilson got
0:50
his got tangled up with bred Tothe on a play,
0:53
and the way he came off the field, he could
0:56
barely put any weight on that ankle, on that lower
0:58
lig area. And it turns out he's going to need
1:00
surgery on his ankle and his knee. That's pretty rough
1:04
and he's going to be out for the year. There
1:06
is no doubt about it. Adam. He was going to
1:08
be a lock to make the fifty three for not
1:12
only his contributions on offense, but also special teams and
1:15
his role as the lunch pail, dirty work blocking receiver
1:19
that was started a couple of years ago by Zach Pascal,
1:22
but even Johnny Wilson even brought a new element to it,
1:25
and he really did improve throughout the camp. So it's
1:27
really just unfortunate to see this happen.
1:29
Speaker 2: Yeah, he got off to a very slow start, very
1:31
slow start. Effort heed to be a little bit better.
1:34
We talked about that play where he needed to fight
1:37
through the contact and go get the ball when he's
1:39
got eight nine inches on a defender or on a dB.
1:43
But bottom line is he he got the message because
1:46
the last two weeks he was really good and he's
1:49
got value on teams a case special team since coach
1:53
is called teams teams. But he had bad value. The
1:56
big one was the blocking receiver. That's huge, huge, And
2:01
that's you know the thing is since he started applying
2:04
himself because we didn't see it last year because they
2:06
just didn't trust him. But they started trust him inside
2:09
in red zone situations in training camp of late. And
2:12
they're not going to have that because you can't cheach size.
2:14
He's a big dude.
2:16
Speaker 1: He is a big dude. He's unique. I mean six
2:18
foot six. We talk about the challenges that present someone
2:21
who's six foot six, as far as being an outside
2:24
receiver and starting to separate, or being an inside receiver
2:28
and having the hip fluidity to run two way go.
2:31
So it was always he was always a little bit
2:33
of a player without a position, but the Eagles did
2:35
such a good job of figuring out how to use him.
2:38
I mentioned the Zach Pascal dirty work role that Johnny
2:42
Wilson had last year, and he did a pretty good
2:44
job of it. I forget, I'll give you a second.
2:47
His his snap counts was three hundred and sixty nine
2:50
snaps thirty four percent of the offense, which isn't insignificant
2:55
for a rookie. And I'll tell you why. Well, explain
2:57
why his role was important. We made this joke in
3:00
the preseason when he was on the field right that
3:04
it was really eleven personnel because he's a wide receiver
3:07
dressed as twelve personnel because he's big enough to be
3:09
a tight end. Well, lo and behold. That's exactly how
3:12
the Eagles used him. He was oftentimes the third ride
3:16
receiver with Aj Brown and DeVante Smith in eleven personnel,
3:20
which means the defense would see three receivers and come
3:23
out in nickel, and then the Eagles would run out
3:27
of that formation because a smaller defense is on the field,
3:30
and then use Johnny Wilson really as sort of an
3:33
extra tight end because it was blocking. So that was
3:35
the I don't want to say the catalyst, but it
3:38
was a catalyst for how good the rushing offense could
3:41
be in eleven personnel because you can't always just run
3:44
out of twelve personnel. That's when they put a bigger
3:46
defense on the field. So the Eagles don't have anybody
3:50
like this right now. Listen, there aren't a lot of
3:53
six fort six guys. That's not what I'm talking about.
3:54
They just don't have a Zach Pascal Johnny Wilson, true
3:58
bully of a wide receiver that's going to force them
4:01
to either look for one or be a little bit
4:03
more creative offensively when they want to run the ball.
4:06
Speaker 2: You know, it's interesting. I wonder if Howie last year
4:09
when they drafted him, because they had because they had barklayin,
4:13
they knew that they were going to be become a
4:15
running team for the first time like ever, so did
4:19
he have that in mind. Okay, look, the guy's gonna
4:21
go late. We see this role for him because you
4:25
talked about it. He did an excellent job in it,
4:28
like he really good, impactful. We know that he wasn't
4:31
going to be used as a receiver, but man, you
4:34
can't cheat size, and he's actually over six six. In fact,
4:36
I'm going to give you his exact measurements of the combine.
4:39
Speaker 1: I think it was six six and three eighths or
4:41
something or something like that.
4:43
Speaker 2: I will you let me see file here. I still
4:47
have it.
4:48
Speaker 1: I think I have his Well you look for that.
4:50
It's a good question. I mean, most of the time
4:52
coaches adjust to their personnel. So I imagine they drafted
4:55
Johnny Wilson just based on their board, and then when
4:57
he was in camp, they felt, hey, we could use
5:01
this guy outside of just special teams as a bottom
5:04
roster wide receiver. We could actually throw him on the
5:07
field and come up with this eleven personnel package that's
5:10
going to operate more like twelve exactly.
5:13
Speaker 2: You nailed that last summer, by the way, Wilson sixty
5:15
six and three ACE.
5:18
Speaker 1: I nailed that too, That's what I said.
5:20
Speaker 2: It was two thirty one, thirty five and three eighth,
5:23
thirty five and three eighth in charge. That's left tackle arms. Yeah,
5:27
holy smokes.
5:28
Speaker 1: You're you're you're putting him on the field. The defense
5:31
responds in nickel and you've got Johnny Wilson kind of
5:34
either tight to the line of scrimmage or sometimes you
5:37
would trap right up the middle and then he's he's
5:39
smothering up a nickelback, right, I mean like that because
5:42
it's a shorter guy.
5:43
Speaker 2: So it worked the advantage the last two weeks, I
5:46
would say, going to camp, I was like, Wow, this
5:48
guy he's got the message because he's really applying himself.
5:51
He really not looked that good quite Frank, let's be
5:53
honest about it. As a receiver at all until right
5:56
since he's been here. It's such a shame for him
5:58
that he got hurt, and we wish him well. It's
6:00
a tough deal because you were you and I were there,
6:03
and when you see a guy go down, it's an
6:05
ankle to like a high ankle. So what'll happen is
6:07
if guy can't walk or if it may be a
6:10
very bad knee injury. What we saw was the two
6:14
people he couldn't walk so you you had two people,
6:16
one under each shoulder carry him off. They took him
6:19
into the tent. He couldn't walk, so they got the
6:21
cart out, and you're like, okay, this is at at best,
6:25
this is a high ankle sprain, exactly what I thought. Yeah,
6:28
turn out to be way worse.
6:30
Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, to to your point, usually when you
6:33
see an injury like that, a contact injury looks bad
6:37
but tends to be not as bad as the non
6:39
contact injuries that always turn out to be the acls
6:42
and the achilles. So when you saw him limping off
6:45
and so and the contact was was real, I'm like,
6:47
this is gonna be like a three to four weeker.
6:49
It's it's a high ankle or it's an MCL or something.
6:52
But it turns out that it's it's.
6:54
Speaker 2: Worse than that. That's unfortunately.
6:56
Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, ankle and knee. Man, that's that's that's rough.
7:00
So let's take a look at the wide receiver picture
7:02
as it is, because we were trying to figure out
7:04
can the Eagles really keep seven? And now they don't.
7:06
Speaker 2: I was gonna put six on it, right see, I
7:08
was gonna put six on it, so right now, Brown
7:11
Dotson Smith, I'm gonna put mechi on there. Why they
7:13
traded for me? You're not gonna you know, I could
7:15
just give him a week and say, okay, well we
7:16
don't like what we saw. We're gonna cut you right
7:18
and say they gotta give me time. And by the way,
7:20
he looked quick as hell. Has had us the first practice. Yep,
7:23
his short area quickness acceleration's really good. So Cooper will
7:27
be five now, and you suggestion you had a week ago.
7:31
Do they just do the veteran roster move tell terrors Marshall, Hey,
7:36
we like you, but we need to keep the younger,
7:38
play like a nice Smith on the roster. Yeah. Uh,
7:41
it's six now. Avery Williams as much as Syria how
7:44
he played him up in the owner's meetings. Have you
7:46
seen the guy make a play?
7:48
Speaker 1: No? But you know what, there's something in the back
7:50
of my mind that says, are they going to really
7:52
figure out a way to get this guy on the
7:54
fifty three the initial fifty three before some roster tangle
7:58
because they didn't act simply say that stuff. And then
8:01
he had a bad he had some kind of injury
8:03
that kept him out of OTAs. And I've seen so
8:07
much motion and shifting and jet handoffs that I think
8:14
that for what they're what, it appears that they want
8:17
to do offensively, he can fit. And I'm wondering if
8:20
they were hiding him somewhat. So maybe they can release
8:24
him and bring him back to the practice squads. I
8:27
don't know, but I am going to have a hard
8:29
time leaving him.
8:31
Speaker 2: He's invested veteran, so it's like he would not subject
8:33
to waiver.
8:34
Speaker 1: So good point, good point, you could cut him and
8:35
bring him back so but so so to me, that's
8:39
more likely the route because I think Anya Smith has
8:43
shown you he can return counts. He's been reliable as
8:46
a slot receiver. I would think Ania Smith as your
8:49
you know, like you just said the top three, and
8:51
then you have Annia Smith, you have Johnny Mitchie, and
8:55
you have Darius Cooper. I think that's your six, right.
8:58
Speaker 2: I know some people think, if they're going to bring
9:00
in Mechi via trade, we only just trade Dotson. Well
9:04
it makes sense on the surface, but who's really gonna
9:07
trade for Dotson? I mean, what what value does he have?
9:09
He's on the funality of his deal is he he's
9:13
a back If you're looking for a backup receiver. He's
9:16
not a bad one, but I don't know that's it's
9:19
a little bit strong.
9:20
Speaker 1: Yeah, what's that? I thought it was possible, you know,
9:23
I thought the Saints would be one because of Kellen Moore,
9:25
but then they went and traded for.
9:28
Speaker 2: So yeah, well, no, I understand that he would have
9:33
some value and plut but look if if Mechi had
9:36
been here all camp and he was doing well, like
9:38
Dot's gonna be traded because someone's got to go. You
9:40
don't need these two guys. But it's kind of like,
9:44
I know Mechi's healthy. You're taking and have you seen
9:47
enough of them? You've only had three practices with the
9:49
guy and a walk through, so we'll see what happens here.
9:53
But it's, uh, it's an interesting situation. Darius Cooper. I'll
9:57
gonna say it again, there's been one of those stories
9:59
of camp at receiver. We could go back a couple
10:02
of decades of guys who Hank Baskets the number one
10:06
of all time that I've seen. Certainly he hit, but
10:09
see his was a lot of deep, middle and nine routes.
10:13
Speaker 1: Yep.
10:14
Speaker 2: This guy lines up everywhere, by the way, not just
10:17
he lines up and he's In fact, I saw one
10:20
day he's filling it for A J. Brown at the exposition,
10:22
So that this guy is a great story man. I
10:25
look forward to seeing if you could get on the
10:27
field in the fall. But bottom line is put him
10:30
on the roster.
10:31
Speaker 1: Yeah, I would be stunned at this point if he
10:32
didn't make the fifty three. I don't I would be shocked.
10:36
So that's your wide receiver picture. And you know, unfortunately
10:41
for Johnny Wilson and he won't be involved this year.
10:43
I do think this, Adam. I think you're right that
10:46
the I don't know Anybody's beating down the Howie Roseman's
10:51
door or dialing up his phone for Johan Dottson. But
10:55
I would say this, if there was a team in
10:58
discussions with Howie, that they would it was worth taking
11:01
a chance on bringing in John Dottson. I think how
11:03
he now would feel comfortable making that trade knowing that
11:06
he has Mechi and Cooper here, you know, in his camp,
11:11
along with an Aya Smith. I think, even though an
11:12
Ias doesn't really play the same spot, my point is
11:15
I just think I think how we would make the
11:16
move if there were a taker.
11:18
Speaker 2: Well, here's the interesting thing, with Johan Dotson, so he restructured. Uh,
11:23
they did a simpler structure kind of on his last year.
11:26
They just basically took the They took a about one point
11:31
seven million of his base salary of the two point
11:34
eight million that convert to a signing bonus. So and
11:38
and they guaranteed the one point one million. So it's
11:40
actually a very tradable contract now the cash because we're
11:43
responsible for one point seven million of it. So the
11:45
new team, if they would trade him, it's the only
11:47
responsible for one point one million, so it makes it
11:49
very tradable. I just would feel more comfortable if they
11:54
got They had had Mechi for three weeks and he
11:58
looked great, So you know what, you don't need dots
12:01
and how many you're only You're gonna be a heavy
12:02
twelve personnel team anyway, so how many backup veterans do
12:05
you need? You just would want to feel comfortaent mechis
12:08
all the way back. And again he did look up
12:10
when we saw him. But that's a little specious to me.
12:12
You got to you gotta give it time.
12:14
Speaker 1: Yeah, No, I think that's fair. That's a fair point.
12:15
It would be a rocky three weeks if they did
12:17
trade dots and then if they had haven't forbid that
12:20
one injury to wide receiver, then you're.
12:21
Speaker 2: Oh, they're done right now.
12:22
Speaker 1: I said it, or or met you to get in
12:25
there and and have to you know.
12:26
Speaker 2: I'll say, I'm not rolling it out at all, trading Dotson.
12:29
I mean again, he's also on the last year's deal.
12:32
It's something to watch out. Well, we'll have more of
12:33
this on our Monday morning showt six am Eastern. When
12:36
we give it out, we'll give all the intel. What
12:39
are we're hearing, you know what what clubs are telling us. Yeah,
12:44
we'll leave it at that. Uh yeah, all right.
12:47
Speaker 1: So so let's move on to the game tonight. H
12:53
A lot of players are not going to play, not
12:55
only starters, but you know, I'd be surprised if, you know,
12:59
guys like Johan Campbell play. I don't think there's any
13:01
reason to play. I don't think well, Tenner mcke's got
13:05
an injury right now anyway, but he wouldn't play. I
13:08
personally don't even think dtr has to play. I think
13:10
they know what they've got in him, but he probably will.
13:13
I would assume play, if not the first quarter a
13:16
little bit of it, and then it's gonna be Kyle
13:17
McCord show, because Kyle McCord needs the reps and he's
13:20
more likely to be on the team.
13:22
Speaker 2: So last year, in that awful game against Minnesota, the
13:25
last game is on that Saturday. It was a terrible game.
13:29
Here here are the players that play, just to give
13:30
you an idea on your point. M HM Joe and Gatta,
13:34
Max Sharping, Nick Gates, Dylan McMahon, Bret Toath started right guard,
13:39
Canards started right tackle. Mister preseason, your boy Kevin Folsch.
13:45
Speaker 1: Kevin height End from New Hampshire.
13:51
Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know, I don't know.
13:56
Speaker 1: Maybe that could be wrong.
13:57
Speaker 2: Man, Their boint talk about guys whore no longer on
14:00
the team. E J. Jenkins, Paris Campbell gone pickatrated Ti
14:03
Davis Price gone uh huh. So we'll do the offense first.
14:07
So here's here's the way I see it.
14:09
Speaker 1: It was New Haven, That's where it was.
14:10
Speaker 2: Oh hey, wow, jeez, I was.
14:12
Speaker 1: I was in the same Newing. I was in the
14:14
right New England area.
14:15
Speaker 2: Here are the guys who are almost certain to see
14:17
a nice Smith. Arras Marshall logic cooks and is healthy.
14:20
Die and Taylor Morrin. They could dress. They could have
14:24
five or six receivers, dress Miles hitting Kenyon Green by
14:27
the way, Kenyon Green worked with the twos on Tuesday
14:30
when I was there, He's back. Kenyon Green's back, by
14:34
the way.
14:34
Speaker 1: He had he had to because they had two offensive
14:36
linemen from the twos working out the ones right, because
14:39
Matto was out and Dickerson's out.
14:41
Speaker 2: So that's right, Uh right, my lot with a concussion.
14:44
Darren Kennard, mister preseason Holland Pierce, Cameron Williams. Thatakalahi the
14:51
uh the international player. They have plenty of linemen. They
14:55
could have a dress and they could have an emergency
14:57
guy like Prior. They don't really need to play Prior
15:00
not really necessary. Now the question is do they play
15:02
Brett Toeath, who could be starting Week one? Why would
15:04
you do that? To me is I wouldn't do it.
15:07
Speaker 1: But that's well, let me ask you something. Let me
15:09
ask you this. You have last year's box score? Did
15:12
Fred Johnson play last year.
15:13
Speaker 2: In the dcon Johnson against the Freddie Johnson did not start.
15:18
Now did he play?
15:20
Speaker 1: I want to know if Fred Johnson and Tyler Steen
15:22
both played in that game in the preseason finale, because
15:25
I think that gives you some answers. If you're not
15:27
going to play your top two guys off the bench,
15:31
then we'll figure out tonight who the top two guys
15:35
are at least, you know, like, if Kenya Lamb doesn't
15:38
play tonight, or if Matt Pryor doesn't play tonight, that's
15:40
a pretty good indication that they're gonna be on the
15:42
fifty three. If Brett Toath does play tonight, then I'm
15:46
gonna think he's really not part of the fifties.
15:48
Speaker 2: Yeah, but no. But here's the thing, though, don't Fred Johnson,
15:51
by the way, did not play last year.
15:53
Speaker 1: I didn't think so.
15:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, Keegan didn't play and I don't know if he
15:56
had an injury. Matt Matt Hennessy, Holy smokes, Matt Hennessy
15:59
didn't play and wan up not making it. The the
16:04
guys who subbed in a named Danqua who's long gone.
16:08
Speaker 1: Okay, uh po.
16:15
Speaker 2: That was a little fire hard rink guy. Yeah yeah,
16:18
I think they actually sun him just to play that game. Yeah, yeah,
16:24
that's it. Yeah. So but again, man to need snaps.
16:29
I'm not I don't agree with you on this one.
16:31
Speaker 1: I don't. He played seven years in the NFL. He
16:34
doesn't know. You know what you got him? He he,
16:37
I don't know, man, he that's I'm just telling you this. Now,
16:41
if he's out there playing, I'll be less optimistic that
16:44
he's on the fiftie because he's with the backups.
16:46
Speaker 2: That was where I was gonna go. If you're not
16:48
gonna play him, it's because why if you're going to
16:50
start week one, you you can't take a risk him
16:52
getting hurt. Be he wouldn't be playing with backups. He'd
16:54
be playing with the starters in this case. Will be
16:57
clear in this case, right, So anyway, to.
17:01
Speaker 1: Your point, you made a dream. It's just made a
17:03
really interesting observation. If he's not playing at all, just
17:07
like with Hennessy, it doesn't mean he Also also.
17:10
Speaker 2: I don't know what hennessy situation was. He might have
17:11
been hurt. I have no idea.
17:12
Speaker 1: Oh you know what, I think you're right. I think
17:14
he might have had an injury. That's true.
17:17
Speaker 2: So now we'll get the defense at a minute. But
17:20
and we gave we gave you the remember week. I
17:24
think we gave the Cleveland one last year. The kind
17:26
of guys who were playing two years ago. They played
17:28
Bond in the second game, now real quick in the
17:32
in the finale, I don't even remember this game. They
17:35
played the Colts. It was in Philly. I literally do
17:38
not remember this game. But here is your offensive line. Now,
17:42
this is who started in twenty three in the final game.
17:46
Speaking of Tyler Steen, he started at right guard right,
17:49
the soon to be retired Dennis Kelly started right tackle.
17:53
Josh Andrews started at center. It's the soon to be
17:56
retired Josh. It's crazy right and a guy who has
17:59
just waved injured by Washington. Julian good Jones was the
18:01
left guard and Fred Johnson was the left tackle right.
18:05
Speaker 1: That was Fred's first year at the club, when he
18:07
was still trying to make the team. Last year he
18:09
was entrenched. He was the swing tackle. He didn't need
18:13
to play, so I would. I'm I'll be interested to
18:16
see if Matt Pryor and Kendall Lamb are on the
18:19
field tonight. And if you know, I don't think well,
18:24
obviously Drew Kendall will play, Hinton will play. To me,
18:28
it's just about whether Toth, Lamb and prior play and
18:32
what that means.
18:34
Speaker 2: And Jenkins mused lat too, McCord, DTR, m H Kilan Robinson,
18:40
I mentioned Montreal Johnson Man too. Betty would have got
18:43
he got hurt. Now he's back. He was back to
18:46
been back for over a week. But he looks so
18:49
good before he got hurt, like first week was kind
18:52
of quiet. Then he really took off. So yeah, that
18:55
would be it for offense.
18:57
Speaker 1: All right, cool, that's good self. By the way, DTR
18:59
is gonna be an interesting conversation only because he has
19:02
not played well in the games. He's had some better practices.
19:05
But if you don't keep DTR and you only go
19:08
with three quarterbacks, who is your scout team quarterback when
19:12
you have to prepare for Jaden Daniels.
19:13
Speaker 2: He'd be a great one, I know, but you're not
19:15
gonna keep it going the roster to do that.
19:16
Speaker 1: And no, no, you keephim on your practice. If you
19:19
can get him back on the practice.
19:20
Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, if you clear he's a guy you would waive. Yeah. Yeah.
19:23
I think offensively, I think Grantson's the X factor because
19:29
he gives him something completely different than Jenkins musing lot
19:32
to give you. Yep, I'm putting Grantson one way or
19:35
the other. Grants is going to play for these this season.
19:37
Whether it's the roster tango, which we came up with
19:39
that term seven or eight years ago, it still applies. Man,
19:43
how He's great at it. He's got great relationships with agencies.
19:46
A vested veteran contract would have to be terminated if
19:48
they cut him, whereas Jenkins good.
19:52
Speaker 1: Uh do you think the Bryant trade and Brian could
19:56
block a little bit makes it almost yeah? Yeah, yeah.
20:01
So do you think that makes it almost more viable
20:05
for Jenkins to make the fifty three over grantson because
20:08
you really have two pass catches?
20:10
Speaker 2: Yes, yes, yes, that's because to me, that's a conversation
20:15
with his agent where you have I don't know who
20:19
his agent is, but Howie's got to have a good
20:21
enough relationship with the agent because they they've they've spent
20:23
a lot of time with E. J. Jenkins converting from receiver.
20:26
It's a huge target is really remember they the Jets
20:31
cut them and you know this is this is his
20:33
third year with the Eagles. Come a long way. Can't
20:36
teach size or something here with this kid. Remember is
20:41
when Tyree Jackson was going to be that guy and
20:43
you know he had the a c L injury. That
20:46
was another one of those tall former receivers. Well he
20:49
was a former quarterback, but E J. Jenkins a former receiver. Yeah,
20:52
this guy's worth developing. So I'm with you that I
20:54
would keep Jenkins and Grantson would would do the veteran cut,
20:58
bringing back the practic squad. Figure it out.
21:00
Speaker 1: All right, let's switch over to defense. Defense. You know,
21:04
I don't think the only linebackers that I think are
21:06
gonna wind up playing or Smile Monding. The kid that
21:08
they just signed, Chance Campbell, he's definitely playing. Yeah, he
21:12
was signed to play because you're not gonna see Bowing.
21:15
You're not gonna see uh John Campbell. And I don't
21:17
think you're gonna see Jeremiah Trotter Junior either.
21:20
Speaker 2: Don't need to. Uh he'll be a small surprise. Yeah,
21:22
it's gonna be Gant Mondon, Chance Campbell who played for
21:26
Bobby King for two years with the Titans. So that's
21:28
obays say, a big reason why he's there. And Lance Dixon,
21:32
so yeah, that's it. Uh d line wise, you got
21:35
Sykes Rogers, they just signed Joe Evans, your guy. I'm
21:39
gonna I'm gonna throw this out to you. Okay, throw
21:42
this out to you. You might pick up crazy. Do
21:44
they rest Gabe Hall? Yeah?
21:47
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah because because Moro Jomo didn't play last year, right,
21:50
and he was the fourth d T the fifties.
21:53
Speaker 2: Let speak of. Let I have it open, let me
21:56
see Moro Jomo. No, he did start the third preseason game.
22:00
Speaker 1: Wow, he played many You know what, Remember they didn't
22:03
have the depth last year, right because they only they
22:06
didn't they had Gabe Young and they and he was
22:10
new to the team. They had they had whole I'm
22:14
so yeah, yeah, yeah, b Byron Young, Gabe hal Booker.
22:18
I think you can't just play with three d T right, So.
22:21
Speaker 2: Well here here's your played. They started with two d
22:25
tackles and two edges. It was two polo two and
22:28
Ojomo Nolan Smith because he just had a bad preseason
22:31
in training camp. He played. Remember how we were like,
22:34
oh my god, remember when he played against this game?
22:36
We were like what, Yeah, he had to because he
22:40
hadn't played well. Our guy Patrick Johnson. The backers were
22:43
Burke's and Trotter. The corners were Josh job Eli, Rix
22:49
Dejean played as a nickel. Andre Samon McCollum. Where with
22:52
the safety is now the subs by the way, on
22:55
your point, Gabe hal and p J.
22:57
Speaker 1: Mustafer, Oh yeah, yeah, you probably need five to get
23:01
through a preseason game. So that's what you think. You
23:04
gotta think. Sykes will play, Evans will play. You gotta
23:07
get the rookie in there a little bit, right Ty Robinson.
23:10
Speaker 2: Yeah, he's he's playing.
23:11
Speaker 1: Yeah, Yeah, he'll play. Yeah, Byron Young will play. That's four.
23:15
Speaker 2: Yeah.
23:15
Speaker 1: I could see Hall playing like a quarter, you know,
23:18
I think that.
23:18
Speaker 2: If not, I to me right now, he is better
23:22
versatility than Robinson gave Hall does. They've seen enough. They
23:28
know he could play like he's made a big jump,
23:30
like really really big jump. So uh well, actually the
23:35
young Sykes, Rogers and Evans and Robinson, you don't need fix.
23:39
They could go away with five. Now five I think
23:41
five go to edges.
23:43
Speaker 1: Yeah, the edges. I mean, I don't think any of
23:45
the top four. I say that. But you know, here's
23:48
the observation I've made on Josh Uche. You know, Greg
23:51
cose Ella said there's something in him, There's something there,
23:53
and I've seen it. I think we've seen it in camp.
23:56
Quick quick off the edge. But here's the issue that
23:59
I've I've did heted I think in my un expert eye,
24:01
but I've seen a lot of football and watch all
24:03
the tape. He's not as bendy as some other edges.
24:08
So even though he's quick off the ball, I've seen
24:10
offensive tackles ride him away from the quarterback and he
24:13
hasn't been able to bend under and and what do
24:16
they call it edge the route or a corner corner
24:19
his path back to the quarterback. And I think that
24:22
that's going to really rear its head during the season.
24:24
And you know, if the if the coaches are seeing that,
24:27
I wonder how valuable they really think he is.
24:28
Speaker 2: And making fifty three All right, let's go for years, right, yeah,
24:32
I know, well it's the past two he didn't right,
24:34
So here it is here It is not hard to
24:36
figure out Powell Ryland's playing. Yep, Obo Conqueror's playing. O'shawn
24:41
mathis is playing. You need fourth Patrick Johnson. They cut
24:45
they know who he is, that he know, you know
24:47
exactly who he is. You know he's a fourth or
24:49
fifth edge mister training camp. Now again the question is now,
24:53
now is he's Ojelari? Who did well last week against
24:57
the Jets. They also do he is, I wouldn't play
25:01
him at all.
25:03
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean not only that.
25:04
Speaker 2: If they were going to try to trade him, There's
25:06
no way I'm playing him because this guy's got major
25:08
injury history, right exactly, all right, back back end of
25:12
the defense, you know.
25:15
Speaker 1: I mean, Mac m williams has got to play. I
25:17
think I think Ringo has to play as well, if
25:19
he's healthy.
25:20
Speaker 2: He's hurt though, unfortunately he said, yeah.
25:22
Speaker 1: Well I didn't know if it was a major thing
25:23
or a minor thing.
25:24
Speaker 2: No, but whatever, if he's healthy enough to play, he's playing.
25:26
Obviously he has to play. He needs every ja. Coryan
25:30
Benett should start.
25:32
Speaker 1: You see, I am assuming Killy Ringo is probably not
25:35
gonna play cause of injury. So if he doesn't, it's
25:37
going to be Bennett and Mac McWilliams as your starting corners.
25:40
Speaker 2: Corners, here are your safeties, Tristan real quick, I'm sorry,
25:44
I'm sorry, but Brandon Johnson is hurt.
25:48
Speaker 1: Yep, So I don't know who they're they're gonna probably
25:51
wind up starting. Oh yeah, okay, so Parry Nickerson can
25:55
start it. Okay, good?
25:57
Speaker 2: Oh I forgot uh Castor Field. So here are your corners,
26:02
Mac McWilliams, Eli rixx to plenty of corners. They're they're
26:10
they're good and then uh, the safeties will be hook
26:14
Sam McCollum. This a J. Woods is still I forgot
26:18
he was still there. He's more of a nickel too. Yeah.
26:21
For safety, maybe they cross trained somebody. Maybe someone else
26:25
could play safety. They probably need address for yeah. Uh
26:29
see and unfortunate. This has been a great opportunity for seeing.
26:31
But he's hurt. Man, he didn't do anything too bad.
26:34
Speaker 1: Yeah, by the way, did Castro Fields? Isn't he a
26:37
little banged up too? He may not be able to do.
26:40
Speaker 2: I'm not sure. He might have been on the injury
26:42
report this week. But it's just whoever is healthy the
26:45
back and guys are playing, right. I want to see
26:47
before we get out of here. I want to see
26:49
Powell Island light it up. I just just show something.
26:51
I know he's got much. He's been mostly with the
26:53
threes in training camp. Right. He's a guy that you know,
26:57
had a really good college career, put up a lot
26:58
of numbers. He's not a great athlete, guy's productive. Let's
27:02
see what happens with him, and he's a guy that
27:06
you like because they're just they unfortunately folks the past
27:10
Rush group. One of the reasons why I think they're
27:12
going to be, if anything, if a good developmental or
27:17
the young edge who's buried on jeth Charge kind of
27:19
like Jacoryan Bennett was with the New Staff, buried him
27:23
with the Raiders. There's got to be some guy that
27:25
they like who's how is an opportunist man, He's the
27:28
best at it. He finds guys, gathers the information teams
27:32
have told us. He asked a lot of questions, and
27:35
the season guys are available or not. But there's got
27:37
to be some guy he likes on another team that
27:40
is not getting that his Just do the respect that
27:42
he should get, you know.
27:44
Speaker 1: Yeah, all right, before we get out of here, give
27:46
me like two or three takeaways from Commanders camp.
27:50
Speaker 2: Man without Terry McLaurin on the field. I know Diebo
27:52
looks great for Fantasy. By the way, I'm in on Deebo.
27:55
I don't know what his ADP is. Let me make
27:57
that clear. I don't have it in front of me.
27:58
Speaker 1: I would think it's in the seventy the eighties, if
28:00
not lower.
28:01
Speaker 2: Big injury history. We get it. He looks great. I
28:04
saw some plays on Thursday, loved it. Cliff Kingsbury is
28:09
really good. He's got a great mind. Love him. Uh,
28:13
Krosskey Merrit, Bill Krosskey Merritt.
28:15
Speaker 1: He's really gonna go by Bill, isn't he?
28:18
Speaker 2: Yeah? His explanation is so funny. Why they call him Bill?
28:21
But why once we called Bill? But they're gonna have
28:24
somewhat of a committee once they trade Brian john Brian.
28:27
I saw Brian Johnson. Looks like he lost weight by
28:29
the way. God him. But it's gonna be Eckler, Krosskey Merritt.
28:32
And this Chris Rodriguez is a man. He bangs it
28:35
up in there. Man. He is physical and he's got
28:37
he has got good long speed for a guy's built
28:39
like him. Eckler's going to be the third down back.
28:45
Speaker 1: To get a lot of opportunity. He's gonna be the
28:47
third down and passing guy.
28:48
Speaker 2: Yeah yeah. But then eventually they're gonna hand it off
28:50
to Krosky. Merrett will take over. So they got a
28:52
problem without it just and I no know, no, Brown's
28:55
not quite ready yet. But without McLaurin, it's ugly. Man
28:59
Jalen jayleen Land, who is a dynamic slot receiver, big,
29:02
big guy. He's built like, oh, the guy that was
29:06
overdrafted by the Jaguars. You know, I'm talking about. This
29:08
is the power slot. What the hell is the name?
29:10
Speaker 1: Oh my favorite guy, Lakwan Treadwell. No no, no, no,
29:13
no no, not Julian Black, Justin Black No no.
29:16
Speaker 2: No no no, it's Les Yeah. Yeah, not quite as big.
29:20
Let me make this clear, but he's powerfully built and
29:23
this guy could run. So they cross streaming on the
29:25
outside because they just don't have anyone. They're just they're
29:27
really short at receiver. They were they were vamping their
29:30
offensive line because well they made all these you know,
29:33
they they made it. Tunsil Trade Connolly is close to
29:36
being ready to be the right tackle good, so they've
29:38
kind of revamped it. Brendan Coleman's not playing guard. She's yeah,
29:43
he's playing guard. And defensively, the problem I have with
29:47
them is they have depth, but they're kind of like
29:50
the Eagles this year. They just don't have a high
29:53
end pass rusher. Eagles don't have one either, right, Nolan's
29:57
an emerging but he's not He's not a hot you
29:58
would not call him. No one would call him. Who knows,
30:00
we're not calling high in past rusher, developing pass rusher,
30:03
good football player, don't get me wrong. Yeah, it's not
30:06
a high in past rusher.
30:07
Speaker 1: Well, that's where the dan Quinn scheme up. The you know,
30:09
blitz from every direction thing comes in Frank on the edge.
30:13
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, right, that's why luvera blitzers. Von Miller looked
30:15
about fifty. Well he is right by me, and I'm like,
30:19
wait a minute, twenty four? Whoa the fuck? Well you
30:21
don't have the goggles on. Their secondary is going to
30:26
be good? Man? Who if if by a miracle, Marshall
30:29
Lattimore plays sixteen out of seventy games. Uh huh. I
30:33
could tell you this leaving their camp on Thursday. I'm
30:35
having a hard time picking division where they're Eagles commandos.
30:39
Both teams have their issues, you know, terms of rosters,
30:43
there's that. Both teams have some weaknesses. It's I think
30:45
they're really even, to be honest with you, awesomely I
30:48
like it.
30:48
Speaker 1: All right, good synopsis. We'll keep We'll keep doing this
30:51
as you keep going to camp. So that's gonna do
30:52
it for this episode of Inside the Birds, the Leading Podcast,
30:55
and Eagles Intel. As always, we thank you for flying
30:59
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