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NFC East Pre: Can Eagles Be First Repeat Division Champ In 20 Years? · Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast

0:09
Speaker 1: Hello, Welcome back to Inside the Birds with Jeff Mosher
0:12
and Adam Kaplan, and of course we're finishing off our
0:15
NFC East preview series. We are doing that with the
0:19
Philadelphia Eagles, and of course we bring in our godfather
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of tape breakdown, Greg Cosell to break down this Eagles team.
0:26
Speaker 2: Greg.
0:27
Speaker 1: I don't know if you know this. They actually won
0:29
the Super Bowl last year. It was really big all
0:31
over the chief Yeah, you know, you know, I don't
0:35
know if the tape got to you yet, but but
0:40
guess what that roster that won the Super Bowl very
0:44
convincingly over the Chiefs, A lot of it is back
0:47
this year now. Offensively, Defensively, not a lot of it has. Yeah, yeah,
0:52
we got a lot to talk about, but we do
0:54
want to start offensively because you know, a lot the
0:58
Eagles have so many players that people are pretty familiar
1:01
with their game and what they're doing. But the major
1:03
changes on offense, Greg, are really in two backup spots
1:07
that are going to be important.
1:08
Speaker 2: Now.
1:08
Speaker 1: One is backup quarterback Tanner McKee is going to be
1:12
the number two quarterback. So we wanted to start by
1:15
asking you this, what do you remember about Tanner McKee
1:18
coming out of Stanford, right, and then what stuck out
1:21
from his tape last year when he did play for
1:24
the Eagles.
1:25
Speaker 3: Well, I think the reason McKee was a sixth round
1:28
pick is simply because he lacks movement ability, but he
1:33
was incredibly refined in understanding how to play the quarterback position.
1:38
I remember watching him at Stanford and he just was
1:42
you know, quarterback, we get so caught up and the
1:45
guys that can run around that, you know, sometimes you'll
1:48
lose sight of that. It's a really disciplined craft position
1:52
with so many subtleties and details and nuances. And McKee
1:55
was that guy. He showed that in college, and I
1:58
thought when he played last year he showed the same thing.
2:02
Speaker 2: Now.
2:02
Speaker 3: He's not going to break away and make plays outside
2:05
of structure. Can you run boot action with him? Sure,
2:08
you can do that with any quarterback, but he is
2:11
really given his size and given the fact that he's
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not really athletic relative to a lot of other quarterbacks,
2:19
is he's a pure pocket player. But he is in
2:23
some ways. I don't want to use the word mastered
2:25
because that's too strong a word, but he's he's for
2:29
the most part, really has an excellent feel for the
2:32
nuances and details of the position and how to play
2:35
it from the pocket.
2:38
Speaker 1: So so when he got in that game last year,
2:41
and now obviously it was Kellen Moore's offense, and you
2:44
saw him put some points on the board, what's stuck
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out there besides just being like being able to operate
2:50
the pocket, was there anything about his poise or.
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Speaker 2: His or oh yeah, you can see to the boys.
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Speaker 3: I mean, you know, quarterbacks are different, and you know
2:59
now because we have quarterbacks that make plays in multiple ways.
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You know, it's it's hard to say, you know, oh
3:06
that this is better, this is worse. But McKee plays
3:10
efficiently from the pocket. You know, he drops back, he
3:14
hits his back foot, he knows where to go with
3:16
the football, and the ball comes out. Now, some might say,
3:19
you know, oh, that's old school quarterback and you can't
3:21
play in the NFL like that, you know all the time.
3:24
Speaker 2: Well, it's funny.
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Speaker 3: I mean, you know, in the offseason, I tend to
3:27
talk to coaches and offensive coaches.
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Speaker 2: In the league.
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Speaker 3: While they clearly appreciate the fact that guys who can
3:35
make plays outside of structure that that's become important, they
3:38
still talk about the fact. And these are coaches, now
3:42
I believe this too, but these are coaches that I'm
3:44
talking to, offensive coaches that still say that when you
3:48
get into those sort of critical, high leverage moments, you know,
3:51
third and fourth quarter, third and nine, you know, must
3:55
have plays that you've got to be able to drop back,
3:59
read a cover, bridge, go through a progression and deliver
4:02
the football. And you know, and and again I'm not
4:05
saying McKee is at the highest level, but that's the
4:08
style of quarterback that he is, right and you know,
4:11
don't forget he's been doing that probably since he first
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picked up a football. That's you know, the guys who
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are like that from the time they picked up a football,
4:20
they're always thinking about who can I get the ball too?
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Not can I run around? You know, the guys who
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are great athletes, they know when they are twelve, thirteen, fourteen,
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they're the best athlete on the field and they know
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they can just take off and go and no one's
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going to catch them and no one's going to tackle them.
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You know, the Tanner mckeeth types, they're always thinking, well,
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who can I get the ball too?
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Speaker 2: I'm going to run.
4:43
Speaker 4: Around, right, Jeff let me add this one thing about McKee,
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which he's really improved on. I sawt in twenty three
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in training camp where I was like, man, he doesn't
4:52
move very well. And then I was a training camp
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in their all season program last year. I was like, wow,
4:57
this is the same guy because he's over sixty six.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, he showed.
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Speaker 4: Better pocket mobility, which had to happen. He had to
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be able to move better. We saw it in the preseason.
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And you know, it's funny because as I travel and
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I know Jeff, you know this because you talk to
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people and you travel. He's like a phenomenon in the
5:15
scouting world. Everybody knows about him. It's kind of funny
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because he's it was only six round pick, but Jeff
5:24
and Ali that has trouble developing quarterbacks. This is a
5:27
guy to watch out for the future. It's really interesting.
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He's come a long way. As Jordani Alata calls him,
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the Mormon missile. This kid's arm you have to see
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it live. Like at OTA's something else. He's six sick
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and sixty six in a quarter I think two thirty
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and Jeff, you see this kid throw the football, you
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go wow. So there's a lot there right.
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Speaker 1: I think what it shows is a validation a little
5:53
bit of an Eagles process that not everybody agrees with.
5:56
Some people think that your backup quarterback should be somewhat real,
6:00
relatively similar to your starting quarterback so that you don't
6:03
have to change your offense. And I'm not saying that
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that's a bad think way of thinking too. You don't
6:08
want to have to change up a whole lot on
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the fly if you have a quarterback who can run. However,
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if you're choosing a backup quarterback who overall is far
6:17
more deficient than a potential starter, or a much better
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backup who doesn't have the same traits as your starter,
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then you're basically passing on a better talent just to
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quote unquote fit an offense. And you don't even know
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if this guy's ever going to play. The point is
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get the best player, get the best quarterback, and if
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he's not an exact clone of your starter, that's okay.
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You'll figure it out because that's what coaches are paid to.
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Speaker 2: Do, right. So that really interesting.
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Speaker 1: And you know, history says that McKee may have to
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play one two, hopefully not more, but you know the
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backup has had to play for the Eagles for quite
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a bit throughout the years. So the other spot, greg
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that we wanted to really talk about is this running
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back position, because sa Quon Barkley stayed healthy last year,
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and when he's healthy, he's one of the best. He
7:00
had a great year, an unbelievable year, the centerpiece of
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the offense. But there's no more Kenneth Gainwell, who was
7:06
sort of a teacher's pet and did a lot of
7:08
the little things right. And now you've kind of got
7:11
Will Shipley in year two versus AJ Dillon as a
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as a free agent, versus you know, a couple of
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guys that they brought in. So how about Shipley? What
7:21
can we say about Shipley in his limited action last year?
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Does did he show you that you think, with some
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improvements he can be a Kenneth Gainwell type.
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Speaker 2: I believe that. I love Shipley coming out.
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Speaker 3: He's just not big, so he's not a feature back
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in the league, but he's I think he's a really
7:38
good receiver. He I think he's got good traits. I mean,
7:41
I don't I thought Will Shipley was a good prospect.
7:44
I wasn't surprised as to where he was drafted because
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he's not going to be seen as a feature back,
7:49
he's not going to be seen as special. So he's
7:51
clearly a number two back, a complimentary piece. But I
7:55
think he can certainly fill that role.
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Speaker 4: Yeah, that's the issue, Jeff, is if if let's say
8:02
we'll move this sward of Shipley is the two. It's
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what happens if he has to play, because you just
8:07
don't know about the volume. That that's the one issue
8:09
that I have. Whereas you've got Dylan. Now Dylan's healthy,
8:11
if his legs are back, I didn't play last year.
8:14
If he's healthy, we know why he was brought in
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here to handle rushing volume. So it'll be interesting to
8:19
see what happened.
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Speaker 3: I would think, guys, that if Barkley were to have
8:22
to miss a game or two, you know, we hope not,
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but I would expect that Dylan would fill that role.
8:29
I don't think that Shipley would fill that role, but
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I could be dead wrong.
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Speaker 2: I would.
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Speaker 1: I would think if Dylan made the team, First of all,
8:35
he's got to make the team. He's gotta be healthy,
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right uh, and and not sort of become Anothershad Penny
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like right, and.
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Speaker 3: That and that's you know, it's funny you say that
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because you never know about undrafted free agents, you know,
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and I can I'm gonna mention a guy and then
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he could be cut, you know tomorrow, who knows. But
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I liked Montreal Johnson's tape coming out.
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Speaker 2: At the university.
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Speaker 1: If we're going to ask you about him.
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Speaker 3: And and and he's to me, he's in some ways
9:01
like Shipley. I mean, I think he's good runner, good receiver,
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good football player. I actually talked to Graham Mertz, who
9:08
was the far at a quarterback at the combine, and
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he loved Montreal Johnson. Now, again, Graham Mertz is not
9:13
an NFL you know, scoured or coach, but I mean
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Montreal Johnson is one of those guys. He's not you know,
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you always here with backs. Well, he's not special. And
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of course he was a free agent, so that tells
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you something right there. But I thought, I just thought
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he was one of those guys that's a good football player.
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And I hate to be cliched, but he was just
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I thought he did everything well and I think there's
9:34
a place for him in the league. It may not
9:36
be with the Eagles, or maybe it is. You know,
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you raise a great point, Jeff, there's no guarantee that
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aj Dillon makes the team.
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Speaker 4: Jeff c twenty seventeen with Corey Clement that on the point,
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you know what, and they had a lot of backs
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on the roster. Yeah, so yeah, Greg's point is well taken.
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And by the way, he ran well for for one
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for guy be size, he's almost two fifteen.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, I actually think that is pretty special to run
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a four four through fifteen. He just didn't have the
10:01
production right and yet a knee, knee injury and.
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Speaker 4: Knee issue right right, man, he's healthy and this is
10:07
a guy to watch.
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Speaker 2: Good back.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, that was definitely one of our dark horse guys,
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Gregg's that Adam and I mentioned when they when they
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signed him. Offensive line looks good, So obviously Tyler Steen
10:18
will battle it out with Kenyan Green. Have you been
10:20
surprised at all? I mean, I know Kenyan Green dealt
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with a shoulder injury and set him set him back
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a little bit. But I believe it was you who
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once who mentioned us that you didn't think the tape
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was great. Even before this guy was not considered overdrafted,
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he was considered the best no anterior offensive lineman when
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they picked him.
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Speaker 3: His tape has not been very good in the NFL,
10:39
and that I can tell you. But he was a
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consensus you know, where you're right, Jeff, He was a
10:44
consensus guy. It wasn't as if you know Houston, when
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they drafted him, you know, it was people said, oh
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my god, what.
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Speaker 2: Are they doing? All right?
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Speaker 3: But his NFL tape has not been very good. You know,
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it'll be interesting. I mean, you know, Tyler Steen has
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been up and down in his opportunities up to this point.
11:00
But now theoretically he's the guy. We'll see how it
11:03
plays out. We'll find out. I mean, that's the only
11:07
position of a concern. I'll tell you the the two
11:13
they drafted, two offensive tackles who are obviously, you know,
11:17
not gonna play this year barring anything crazy happening. But
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I was truly fascinated by the tape of Miles Hinton,
11:24
truly fascinated because that guy has every trait you want
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in an offensive tackle. Now he's a one year player.
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He had gotten benched at Michigan the year prior, so
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you know that factors into what, you know, team doing
11:38
their due diligence and find out what the deal is.
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But boy, and I know that the Eagles love him
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as far as what the traits are, and we know
11:47
about Jeff Stalin and what he does with old Lineman. Now,
11:50
you know, obviously we don't know how much longer Lane
11:52
Johnson's gonna play. I mean Lane Johnson. Lane Johnson's reaching
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the point where you have to start discussing him as
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one of the greatest right tackles to ever play play
12:00
the game, you know, I mean he's at that level
12:02
of play. I mean, the guy's he's a first ballot
12:04
Hall of Famer type player, you know. So who knows
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how much longer? How old is Lane Johnson thirty five?
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Speaker 1: I believe he's thirty five.
12:13
Speaker 3: Yeah, Now again that's up to him. And you know,
12:15
assuming his level of play doesn't deteriorate. It's c retally
12:18
didn't deteriorate last year, So I mean, you know, we're
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dealing with kind of a freakish guy.
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Speaker 2: Absolutely.
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Speaker 1: So let's talk about offensively, because the Eagles have talked
12:28
about evolving a little bit, Greg, Can this team finish
12:32
I think they were twenty sixth or twenty seventh in passing, yeah,
12:36
and top three rushing. Obviously they ran the ball as
12:39
well as anybody. Do you expect that, Dina, that bet
12:43
that have to gap to be bridged a little bit
12:45
this year for them to have repectable success.
12:48
Speaker 3: Essentially, what you're asking, Jeff is are they are they
12:50
going to play the same way or is the new
12:52
OC Kevin Pittulo going to look to you know, put
12:56
his stamp on it and expand some things.
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Speaker 2: That's essentially what you're asking, Yes.
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Speaker 1: But not because he wants to put as do they
13:02
have to well, they have to adjust because the league
13:05
is now seen what they've done last year, just like
13:07
in two thousand.
13:08
Speaker 3: And Again, there's no there's no way we can answer that,
13:13
like it's a mathematical equation, like, oh yeah, this is
13:15
definitely gonna happen, or this is definitely not gonna happen.
13:18
Speaker 2: We don't know that.
13:19
Speaker 3: But don't forget Jalen Hurts has been playing quarterback now
13:22
for a number of years. The league has seen Jalen Hurts, right,
13:25
and you know the Eagles offense when you had added
13:29
Barkley into the equation, I mean even go back to
13:32
two years ago when they were in the soup. Three
13:34
years though, I guess it is now when they were
13:36
in the Super Bowl and lost, and Miles Sanders He's
13:38
not Saquon Barkley, but he had a really good season.
13:42
They ran the ball really really well. I'm not can
13:47
we sit here and say that Kevin Petullo may not
13:50
want to add some things to the past game. Maybe well,
13:53
but I think philosophically, I don't think you're going to
13:57
see a dramatic change in how they play, because I
14:01
don't think they can make a dramatic change in how
14:04
they play. You know, Jalen Hurts is one of those
14:07
quarterbacks that has really defined strengths and a couple of
14:12
limitations that everybody knows that are not likely to change
14:16
at this point in his career. That would be my guess.
14:19
You know that he's not going to be a different
14:21
guy this year. I mean, it's pretty remarkable that in
14:26
the NFC Championship Game and in the Super Bowl, other
14:30
than checkdowns and the long touchdown to DeVonta Smith, which
14:34
came off a turnover and was just a great call
14:36
and a great throw and a great route by Smith,
14:39
but a great ball by Hurtz. But other than that,
14:43
he did not throw one ball between the numbers.
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Speaker 2: Okay, crazy, which is.
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Speaker 3: Crazy in the NFL. Now, think about that for a minute.
14:52
That's by design. They don't throw the ball hardly ever
14:56
between the numbers, because that's not the way hurt sees
14:59
the game. But on the other hand, because he's in
15:03
the gun on almost every play, the Hurts run game
15:06
element is such a critical piece of their offense. And
15:10
I will add this, and you know, I mentioned this
15:13
somewhere else weeks and weeks ago, and not that you know,
15:16
I'm starting to see a lot more people talking about it,
15:19
but we talked about it during the season. I think
15:22
the thing that's set, and more teams are doing it,
15:25
by the way, but I think the Eagles have kind
15:26
of been in the forefront of this. I think one
15:29
of the things that separates the Eagles and changes the
15:32
way defenses have to play them on third down is
15:36
the fact that they are a four down offense. So
15:38
when they get to their forty yard line the minus forty,
15:42
if it's fourth and four or less, you can almost
15:46
take it to the bank that they're going to go for.
15:48
So that changes how you have to play on third down,
15:52
because if it's third and nine and you give up
15:55
a seven yard game, and you know, everybody done defense
15:58
does this. It's fourth down, the Eagles are going for it.
16:02
So now think about what that means. Teams don't want
16:05
to play man against the Eagles because of Jalen Hurts
16:08
and his ability to run. But if you play zone,
16:11
rally up and tackle and it's fourth and two, they're
16:15
going for it. So now you have to change a
16:19
lot of your thinking as to how you play against
16:21
the Eagles on third down. And I think that is
16:24
such an important part of who they are on offense,
16:27
and Hurts is a major part of the fact that
16:29
they can go for it on fourth and three or
16:32
fourth and two. Let's put the touch push aside. We
16:34
know when it's fourth and one, that's what they're going
16:36
to do. But I'm talking about fourth and two, fourth
16:39
and three, fourth and four, you know they go for it,
16:41
and Hurts as a critical factor there because of his
16:44
movement ability.
16:45
Speaker 4: Right, Greg, One more guy that I want to talk
16:47
about before we move to defense, and using your term,
16:50
there's something there. Terrace Marshall is a second round pick
16:53
and Eagles don't have great depth at receiver. Yeah, it
16:56
comes into play if somebody gets hurt that it's Dotson
17:00
and then who the heck would be the three. So terrast,
17:01
Marshall is the second rounder. I know he's barely done anything,
17:05
but what do you remember about his.
17:06
Speaker 3: Yeah, I like him coming out of play inside, could
17:09
play outside. He's had moments in the league. I gotta
17:14
tell you. Look, I don't know about Jahon Dodds, and
17:16
none of us do. He wasn't a big factor in
17:18
the past game. There's two guys that I think are
17:21
interesting to see as we go through, you know, training camp,
17:25
and that's Marshall and Nia Smith. Nice and you know
17:30
I liked Nia Smith a lot coming out too, so
17:33
we'll see. I mean, obviously, look, this is not an
17:36
expansive pass game. I mean it's really the focus is
17:40
Brown and DeVonta Smith and you know Goddard, you know Adam.
17:44
Speaker 2: You you know this better than I got heard.
17:46
Speaker 3: You know, would love to be somewhere else where he
17:48
can catch ninety balls because he's got that kind of talent.
17:50
But I mean, this offense is not a big volume
17:53
offense in terms of the past. I mean, look, the
17:56
Eagles were the best team in the league last year.
17:58
I don't think anybody can dispute. Besides the Super Bowl,
18:00
they were the best team in the league, and there
18:04
were a lot of games where Hurts they dominated the game,
18:06
and Hurts was, you know, fifteen for twenty one. They
18:09
they're not a team that throws at forty times there
18:12
you know, rarely does that happen, and so therefore there's
18:16
not a lot of target share for three four guys
18:19
that it doesn't happen that way. So you know the
18:22
fact that Dotson wasn't a big factor. While we could
18:25
talk about Dotson individually and say, oh, he's not this,
18:27
he's not that.
18:29
Speaker 2: That's not what their offense is. So is that going
18:32
to change?
18:33
Speaker 3: I don't think we know the I don't think we
18:35
know the With the answer to that, I really don't.
18:37
You know, I don't know what Kevin Patula is going
18:39
to do. Every offensive new guy does something that's a
18:43
little different, because he, to me, is he dramatically going
18:46
to change? I mean, they're not going to become the
18:48
Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow throwing the ball forty.
18:51
Speaker 4: Times now with Barclay there, But also understand Jeff will
18:55
be sent it back to you. This is Patula's fifty
18:58
with herts. He knows the strength and limitations. So he's
19:01
going to call the game the way that Jalen needs
19:03
to call it, and he's going to take Jalen's input.
19:05
So I think it's a good thing that they stuck here.
19:07
They didn't go outside the organization and promoted Petulla, because again,
19:11
he knows now Ches Hurts, he knows the talent of
19:15
the receivers Gotters you mentioned, he knows what he's dealing with.
19:18
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, you stay inside with him, you go a
19:20
little bit outside for fresh ideas by bringing in a
19:22
new quarterbacks coach, and maybe that's a good mix for
19:25
the room.
19:26
Speaker 3: Let's know, Scott Leffler is the new quarterback coach, and
19:30
this just popped into my head. And I'm not saying
19:33
we have no idea, but you know, Scott Leffler was
19:35
at Virginia Tech when the quarterback was Logan Thomas, and
19:40
Logan Thomas had a really great season under Leffler, and
19:44
I actually thought Logan Thomas had a chance to play
19:46
quarterback in the league.
19:47
Speaker 2: The league thought differently.
19:48
Speaker 3: That's the way it goes, you know, But but Thomas
19:51
had a really good season under Leffler, and I guarantee
19:54
he'll have some concepts that you know, they'll talk about,
19:58
you know, what they decide to implement. We have no idea,
20:01
but it would surprise me greatly if they vary. You know,
20:04
wouldn't it surprise you guys if they vary greatly from
20:07
what they are.
20:08
Speaker 4: Oh, they're gonna run it. I mean with Barkley by
20:11
the way, real quick, Jeff with Leffler will move to defense.
20:14
So in twenty fifteen, it was either gonna be Leffler
20:17
or Kevin O'Connell to be the Browns quarterbacks coaches. Twenty
20:22
fifteen it was Leffler Kevin O'Connell. Twenty fifteen, John D.
20:26
Flippo was the OC and the decision was to go
20:31
with Kevin O'Connell. O'Connell worked out for seven yeah and did.
20:37
Speaker 1: All right, let's move over to Eagles. The defense greg
20:39
obviously a lot of missing pieces, a lot of turnover
20:42
for the number one ranked defense last year. Let's start
20:45
up front like we always do. Milton Williams, we saw.
20:47
I always joked that we were gonna turn our show
20:49
inside the Tape into inside Milton Williams of tape, because
20:52
week after week after week you just started to see
20:54
him dominate. I have to imagine playing alongside Jill and
20:57
Carter's that's a big part of it. You get a
20:59
lot of one on one. So now Moromo will step
21:02
into that spot. They did draft the kid, Ty Robinson.
21:05
They have some other guys as well, but it'll look
21:07
like to be Moro Jomo at first. How do you
21:09
feel like that transition from Milton to Morrow will go?
21:13
What are moros?
21:13
Speaker 2: Well? John showed flashes when he's played. Yeah.
21:17
Speaker 3: Now again, none of us can sit here and say
21:18
he's going to be Milton Williams. We certainly don't know that, right.
21:22
You know, Ty Robinson is a really interesting player. He
21:26
his tape was really good, and I bet they'll they're
21:29
reshaping his body a bit because he looked, you know,
21:31
on tape, he looked like he was a heavy guy,
21:34
and I guarantee they're reshaping his body.
21:36
Speaker 2: But he's a fact.
21:38
Speaker 3: Ty Robinson to me is one of those guys that
21:40
we could be talking about, maybe not this year in
21:42
terms of you know, how many snaps he plays. But
21:45
I think he's a really good prospect, you know, and
21:48
I think he's he's not as good a pass rusher
21:52
as let's say, someone like Brayden Fisk, but he's that
21:55
kind of like plays hard, makes plays. You know he's
22:00
gonna play somewhere along the line. He's gonna get snaps
22:04
And I'm really curious to see him because I thought
22:07
his tape was really kind of fun to watch. But
22:09
getting back to a Jomo, I remember when he came
22:12
out of Texas. I really liked him and I was
22:15
truly surprised as to where he was drafted, truly surprised
22:19
because I thought he was worthy. To me, I thought
22:22
he was a third round type player. I really did.
22:24
I loved his tape. I thought he could play the run.
22:26
I thought he could rush the quarterback. I thought he's
22:29
got quickness to him. He could be one of those
22:32
guys that ends up being really good. You know, we
22:34
don't know that. It's mid June, but I really like
22:37
Moro Jomo.
22:38
Speaker 1: Nice and if it winds up being a little bit
22:41
more a Jomo slash Ty Robinson mixed in that, that
22:44
could be a good thing. It's a little depth for
22:46
the Eagles as well.
22:47
Speaker 3: I guess Jordan Davis is still the elephant in the
22:50
room because you know, he has up to this point
22:53
in his career, he has not played on third down
22:55
or in obvious pure pass situations. I'm assuming it would
23:00
be the same. I'm assuming, you know, you know, he said,
23:03
Davis has has had every game. He has moments. You know,
23:08
he makes a couple of plays that you go wow,
23:10
But that's what he is, right.
23:12
Speaker 4: You know, did he tell us one snap of nickel
23:14
last year? Did he tell us that he had one?
23:15
Speaker 3: I think he played one snap of the on third one,
23:19
not now one snapp a nickel, one snap on third
23:21
down the medium obviously if it's third and one, you know,
23:27
one snap of third down and six plus it serves
23:30
me correctly.
23:31
Speaker 4: So so Jeff on ty Robinson, what I was told
23:33
by someone in scouting for a team that on ty Robinson,
23:36
the knock on him was what is he at this level? Okay,
23:40
we know he's an interior defensive lineman, but what is
23:42
he a benefit for forty three thirty four?
23:45
Speaker 2: Like?
23:45
Speaker 4: What how do you use him? Is he seven technique?
23:48
Like you just that that that was sort of a tweener.
23:51
The friend of mine said, so, okay, but everyone but
23:55
the thing about ty Robinson is everyone at scouting love
23:59
likes the player, like because he just he's efforts great
24:03
good interior quickness, but there's something that was missing to
24:06
not make him be a I talked.
24:10
Speaker 3: To Matt Rule who was at the combine, and he said,
24:15
the kid is all football. He's just one of those
24:19
like crazy football kids that he loves it to the
24:22
point where it's obsessive. He's gonna make it, you know,
24:25
we just don't know in this first year. You know,
24:27
we don't know that. But he's going to work his
24:30
way somewhere along the line to get snaps. Adam's point
24:33
is a good one. He because he's not a pure
24:35
pass rusher. You don't look at him and say, man,
24:37
he's a three technique, just just send it, you know.
24:39
But he's strong, he's powerful. You know, he's going to
24:43
find a way somewhere along the line to get snaps.
24:46
Speaker 1: Right Greg, the edges, I mean, it's fascinating, right there's
24:50
no more Josh Sweat, who played such a huge role
24:53
for this team, no more Brandon Graham who you know,
24:55
it's it speaks for itself. Uh and maybe the youngest
24:58
as far as experience wise, set of edges in the
25:02
starting edge in the history of the franchise. Because between
25:06
Nolan Smith and Jalx Hunt. You have eleven NFL starts.
25:11
Both guys have I would say high ceilings. I know
25:14
you've talked about them. Both people keep asking us, you
25:17
know which player has the highest?
25:19
Speaker 4: Is it Nolan Smith?
25:20
Speaker 1: There is a Jallex Hunt And I struggle with this one.
25:22
And I think Jalx Hunt just from what we saw
25:25
last year of how fast he developed for a guy
25:27
who was just a safety in the IVY League three
25:29
years ago, it almost makes me think the sky is
25:32
the limit for this kid. But what did you observe?
25:34
Speaker 3: Yeah, and I thought he played well when he played.
25:37
You know, obviously Nolan Smith made a major jump from
25:40
early in the season and you know through a training
25:42
camp where you guys talked about it a lot that
25:43
he just didn't look very good in the preseason. He
25:45
looked awful, and then you know, he started to kind
25:48
of use his hands and he started to become a factor.
25:52
But Jalx Hunt is a little bit of a freakish athlete.
25:56
I'm really curious to see what he does this year.
25:58
I think I think he could be a really good
26:01
player in multiple ways because I think he can rush
26:04
the quarterback with his safety background, he can drop into
26:06
coverage but you know, I thought the Eagles did a
26:09
nice job with two signings. Now again, when you sign
26:12
guys who have had some success, but it just injuries
26:18
hasn't worked. You know, you don't know, but I thought
26:20
that as he's o Jelari, Okay, now this kid he
26:23
can rusht the quarterback and we'll see, because you know,
26:27
we don't know for sure about Hunt yet. I mean,
26:30
now you ideally you're asking Hunt to play fifty sixty
26:33
snaps a game or at least forty, and you know
26:35
hasn't really done that. And then josh Usha is another guy.
26:39
It was a couple of years ago. I remember doing
26:41
when New England was still good. I remember doing pieces
26:44
where you know he where he was involved in their
26:47
pass rush schemes. So you know, you don't know with
26:51
those guys, but they were both pretty high picks. And
26:54
I remember doing Ojeli coming out of Georgia and he
26:57
was a really good prospect. I remember he's not but
27:00
he had really long arms. Kno had to use that
27:02
arm length, and he was a good pass rusher. Now,
27:07
injuries obviously have impacted his career. But you know, when
27:11
you sign those kinds of guys, you hope one of
27:14
them really works out. You know, two of them work out,
27:16
it's beautiful, but you hope at least one of them
27:18
works out, makes your roster and can play meaningful snaps.
27:22
Speaker 2: Greg.
27:22
Speaker 4: Before we get to the secondary, one player that I
27:26
wanted to bring up just because I we want to
27:29
see how this works out. J We know Campbell. We
27:32
know has come back from surgery, right but hot Campbell, yeah, right,
27:36
And we know they are going to start on as
27:38
an inside backer, but we also know he's been an
27:40
edge rusher. So as an edge rusher, from what you
27:43
saw from Alabama, was he very impactful because he also has,
27:47
you know, a plate, give us an idea of what
27:49
it looked like.
27:50
Speaker 3: Campbell is a freakish athlete. He's not a purely physical player.
27:54
I think that's the area he needs to improve. Maybe
27:57
it's one reason why he dropped because he's really not
27:59
a physical player. But this guy's a freakish athlete. He's
28:02
a local kid timber Creek High School in South Jersey,
28:05
so he came home. But he went to Alabama as
28:10
a pass rusher, as an edge player, but they had
28:13
Dallas Turner and Will Anderson, so they moved him to
28:17
stacked backer, that's how it all played out. But he
28:19
went there as an edge player, so he can rush
28:23
the quarterback and he's good at it. He's bendy, he's flexible,
28:26
he's an athlete. That's his game. So, you know, as
28:29
a stacked backer, because he doesn't have experience, you know,
28:32
stacking and shedding, to use that term they use for linebackers,
28:35
you know, that's not his game per se. But he's
28:39
a really, really good athlete. You know, just as an aside,
28:43
I was talking to a coach who basically said, number one,
28:46
he couldn't believe the transition Zach Bond made. And he
28:50
came right at and said Zach Bond was the best
28:52
inside linebacker in football this year, which is a strong
28:55
statement given the Fred warners. You know, that's what this
28:57
coach said. So, you know, and we'll see about Nakobe Dean.
29:01
If he's ready week one, he won't. And if he's
29:04
not ready week one, you know, is it Johad Campbell,
29:07
Is it Jeremiah Trotter Junior? I mean, then then who's
29:10
gonna you know, who plays next to Bond?
29:12
Speaker 2: Right right?
29:14
Speaker 1: It's interesting because with Campbell you have this great athlete
29:16
right with with Trotter, not necessarily the athlete, but somebody
29:19
who has knows how to play, So they have an
29:22
interesting dichotomy there.
29:25
Speaker 2: Greg.
29:25
Speaker 4: One guy I want to talk to you about is
29:27
Powell Ryland.
29:28
Speaker 2: Yeah, Virginia Tech kids.
29:30
Speaker 4: He put up monster numbers. He put up monster numbers,
29:34
and I was talking to a friend of mine. He
29:36
did what's called the crossover tape. He didn't have his area,
29:38
but he was assigned the edge rush group for the draft.
29:42
He goes, you know what, he's not what you would
29:45
call explosive.
29:46
Speaker 2: Good effort.
29:48
Speaker 4: He put up major sack numbers, but he goes, you
29:50
know what, he goes, he goes. He asked me, what
29:53
do you hear about him? Like, we'll put up big numbers,
29:55
but didn't really play to his numbers. He wasn't that guy.
29:59
What did you see from the Because the number the.
30:01
Speaker 3: Reason he's a sixth round pick is you nailed one
30:04
of the things. Number one, he's smaller, and number two
30:07
he's not explosive. So you look at the traits and
30:09
you go, nah, they're just okay. But you know, sometimes
30:14
we talk about a quarterback and say, you know, hey,
30:15
he just sees the field. Well, this guy just knows
30:18
how to rush the quarterback. I know that sounds clichd,
30:22
but this guy just has a feel. And by the way,
30:24
you know, people talk about that at all positions, guys
30:28
that actually have a feel for how to rush the quarterback.
30:32
And he had a feel for how to rush the quarterback.
30:34
He just knew how to use his hands, knew how
30:37
to set up offensive tackles. He just knows how to rush.
30:41
But then you know, because Virginia Tech is I guess
30:43
in the ACC and he's not necessarily playing against the
30:46
best competition because he's not purely explosive. He's not twitching
30:50
your sudden and because he's shorter than you like at him,
30:53
you know, there's a lot of people, you know that
30:55
just figured, Okay, well, this guy's not going to do
30:56
that in the NFL.
30:58
Speaker 4: You know one thing before me of just secondary which
31:00
is interesting because if you look at it, Greg for
31:02
the future, right for twenty six and beyond, So we
31:05
know that barring something over set, it's gonna be Smith
31:07
and Hunt this season. Agelaris on a one year Deal's
31:11
on a one year deal, so for the future, and
31:14
they got a couple other guys like kJ Henry and
31:16
O'shawn Mathis. But the reality is if if Powell Ryland
31:21
makes a team, which he should, how he has a
31:22
history of keeping his traut picks, who knows he could
31:26
Jeff Powell Ryland not this year, but down the line,
31:30
Paul Riley could want being the third guy.
31:33
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I think the experience there, right, that
31:35
he showed in college, and you know, you throw a
31:37
dart in the late rounds day three, and you hope
31:39
that a guy who helps that trades, you know, gives
31:42
yourself and learns behind some really good ones as well.
31:45
Speaker 3: You know, and you also you also signed guys like
31:48
kJ Henry, who again free agent, might not make the team,
31:51
but he came out of Clemson, played big time college ball.
31:54
Speaker 2: He's six', four he's.
31:55
Speaker 3: LONG i, MEAN i did him coming, out AND i
31:58
thought he had a chance to play in the. League you,
32:00
Know so you, know sometimes that works. Out you, know, sometimes,
32:03
hey you could be cut. Tomorrow BUT i, mean you
32:05
know that's what you. Do you bring in guys because
32:08
what happens with guys like. That you guys know, This,
32:11
okay what happens with guys like that is someone in
32:14
the scouting department liked, him you, know and they go
32:17
back and they look at their reports and they, say
32:19
you know, what we had a third round grade on.
32:21
This And i'm saying they did or, didn't but you,
32:23
Know i'm just giving an. Example, oh we had a
32:25
third round grade on this. Guy let's bring him.
32:27
Speaker 2: In you. Know that's that's the way that stuff.
32:29
Speaker 1: Works, yeah, yeah all, right let's move to the back
32:33
end of this, Defense Greg and you, know corner is
32:37
an important, position but we want to start. Somewhat, yeah
32:40
but the safety in Vic fangio's, Defense you've talked a.
32:43
Speaker 2: Lot about the different really important.
32:45
Speaker 1: Reponsibility it's very. Important and they drafted a kid out
32:49
Of texas And andrew, Mccoob drew mccoob as he likes to.
32:52
Know and you can almost see the smile on mcfanzio's,
32:54
face and you can only imagine What Sidney brown was
32:57
thinking when that. Happened but how would you describe the
33:02
fit For drew mccooba in What Vic fangio does with his? Safeties?
33:07
Speaker 2: Perfect he loved in one, word huh.
33:10
Speaker 3: Yeah now, AGAIN i don't know if he's. READY i,
33:13
mean that's that's a whole different. Question but mccouba was
33:16
drafted to start next To. Blankenship, now whether that Happens week,
33:19
one you, know none of us can answer, That but
33:21
that's why he was. Drafted you don't draft a safety
33:24
number two like that and you know to be a
33:26
special teams. Player he was drafted to start next To,
33:30
blanketship and he's got four years of college. Experience he
33:33
was a starter from day one To, clemson played there three,
33:36
years transferred To. Texas this, KID i hate to use the,
33:39
word but it's. True this kid has. Instincts he has
33:42
a great feel for what he. Sees he sees, it
33:45
he reacts. Fast he was light at the, combine BUT
33:48
i know they've added ten pounds, already so hopefully they
33:51
get him up to about two, hundred which is. Fine
33:53
but this kid just he's an explosive. Athlete he can
33:57
play on the back. End he plays downhill in the
33:59
run game with. Conviction THIS i mean he will hit.
34:02
YOU i mean he doesn't lay you. Out it's not
34:04
Like Ronnie, lott but he will come down and hit.
34:06
You this kid's just a really good football. Player really
34:10
good football. Player sees, it triggers gets, it can play
34:14
on the back, end can play. Downhill he's a perfect quarter.
34:18
SAFETY i, mean barring anything, unforeseen assuming HE'S i can't
34:23
imagine that he's a kid who can't pick things up
34:26
just because he played forty years in college and he
34:28
played like he. Understood so you, know again we're not,
34:31
there BUT i would imagine sooner than, later this kid's
34:34
going to start next to.
34:35
Speaker 4: Blanketship and you told us also when he's a clumsy
34:38
played some, nickel, Correct.
34:39
Speaker 2: Yes he's played nickel as.
34:40
Speaker 3: Well SO i, mean, hey look they, now assuming when he's,
34:45
ready they might have some. Interchangeableness that's not a, word
34:49
you know WHAT i, mean call it yes with him And.
34:53
Speaker 2: Dejene you.
34:54
Speaker 3: Know so now you get into a whole different Because
34:57
degene has a lot OF i mean he's he's a
34:59
REALLY sma more savvy player and he can do a
35:02
lot of. Things so now you have some optionality there you.
35:06
GO i like that you, have you have that as.
35:09
Speaker 1: Well, YEAH i mean at some Point greg down the,
35:12
road maybe even a few games into the, year will you,
35:14
know when some of these rookies get their feet. Wet
35:18
you can sort of see Vic fangio's influence in what
35:20
he can. Do when you have a player Like campbell
35:22
right who can line up at sort of. Luvuish he
35:26
can line up inside a, linebacker but he can come
35:28
down on the line and rush in the. Passer he can,
35:30
drop he can look like he's rushing and. Drop he
35:32
can look like he's dropping in. Rush we're playing THE
35:34
iob in. Rush and then you've Got cooper To, gene
35:37
who can rush from the, nickel he can, drop he
35:39
can go, outside he, can as you just, mentioned switch
35:42
to safety on a, dime and maybe you bring mccoober
35:45
right in the. Nickel so that is the stuff That Vic,
35:47
fangio who does not blitz a whole, lot loves because
35:51
he's gonna keep the quarterback guessing just on usage of his.
35:55
Personnel and then.
35:57
Speaker 3: At as far as you guys, know because you you
36:00
may know, this BECAUSE i. Don't i'm Just i've been
36:02
actually just sitting in my office grinding away watching a
36:05
lot of, tape which is kind of WHAT i do
36:06
all the. Time but my guess is they're probably cross
36:10
Training degene at safety as, well are they not a little.
36:12
Speaker 4: Bit, yeah that's gonna, Happen, Yeah vic said, That, Yes.
36:15
Speaker 3: Yeah SO i Mean forgen is just a super smart,
36:18
player Although mcooba played that way in college as. Well you, know,
36:21
AGAIN i can't sit here and compare their, smarts But
36:24
mcooba played like a really intelligent football, player.
36:27
Speaker 1: Right they're also they've also used in the portions of
36:30
the media that we're able to watch, camp they've Used
36:32
cooper at outside corner in base defense as, well And
36:36
vic said that they're basically trying them.
36:38
Speaker 3: Everywhere that wouldn't surprise me because right, now you know
36:42
Opposite mitchell that that's an open.
36:43
Speaker 2: Spot that's that's a competition spot right.
36:46
Speaker 4: Now right speaking of so we there's a probably the
36:52
most we get asked about any player on the back
36:55
end Is Keigley ringo now in year, three and The
36:58
eagles really felt this should be his year to, start
37:01
but they've always liked Particularly Howie roseman Or Dorty. Jackson
37:05
greg this is kind of we know it's going to
37:07
be a competition in training. Camp ringo his third. Year
37:10
we know he's limited, tape but you also saw him in.
37:12
College what are your thoughts In ringo Versus jackson?
37:15
Speaker 3: Here, YEAH i, mean he hasn't played a ton in THE,
37:17
nfl so there's not a lot of tape to. Study you,
37:19
Know ringo coming out to, me he's straight, lined, fast
37:25
but he's stiff and he struggles to. Stop so NOW
37:29
i don't know if he's. DIFFERENT i mean they know this,
37:31
TOO i can tell you that from talking to people
37:32
in the. Building SO i don't know if he's different
37:35
now than he, was you, know three years, ago or
37:38
if that's just his body type and that's what he,
37:40
is you. KNOW i mean guys like that tend to
37:44
be better in. Press. Now The eagles are not a,
37:47
heavy heavy press, team so you, know when you play
37:51
off coverage and guys are, stiff you start getting into the,
37:55
transition the change of, direction the ability to stop when
37:58
guys attack them vertically with their.
38:01
Speaker 2: Stem you, know.
38:02
Speaker 3: That's where he's had had issues coming out Of. Georgia
38:05
LIKE i, said he hasn't played enough for me to
38:08
say whether he's different or. Not that may just be
38:10
the way his body.
38:11
Speaker 4: Is jeff training camp last, year and it was the
38:15
competition was over pretty. Quickly rogers beat him out After
38:18
ringle had a very good, Offseason but once they got
38:20
to training, camp that showed up the transition and then
38:23
you would see the back of his, jersey and it
38:26
was just. Clear rogers was much. Better but if you
38:30
look at the, trades six one and three quarters elite,
38:33
speed right.
38:35
Speaker 2: Can run fast in a straight. Line he's a very linear.
38:38
Speaker 4: Athlete yeah he is. Long he's very long for a.
38:40
Speaker 2: Corner.
38:41
Speaker 4: Yeah but, man he's just his, ability the lack of.
38:44
Transition he's his core and his.
38:48
Speaker 2: Hips that's the. Problem and we would flat.
38:50
Speaker 4: Out Toll by more than once by scouting. People you
38:54
really can't get rid of. It i've asked so many.
38:56
Speaker 3: People, yeah well he was one of those guys because
38:59
he played At, georgia because he was the number one
39:01
corner coming out of high school in the. Country you,
39:05
know WHEN i did him coming, OUT i did not
39:07
love his college tape AND i remember just getting ripped
39:09
a new one by so many.
39:10
Speaker 2: People you, know what are you talking.
39:12
Speaker 3: About He's Kiley, Ringo he's At, georgia you, know because don't,
39:15
forget he was one of those guys that a lot
39:17
of people, had you, know before the process really got started.
39:21
Speaker 2: Out he's going to be a top ten.
39:22
Speaker 3: Pick and WHEN i did, HIM i, said, OH i
39:25
think this guy to, me AND i don't do lists like,
39:27
that BUT i saw him as a lower round, player
39:30
which of course is what, happened because he does have these. Limitations.
39:35
Speaker 1: Greg when you just look at the overall picture here
39:37
on defense as we finished it, OFF i, mean they
39:39
certainly have the bodies to replace, losses and the losses were, big,
39:43
right whether they're high draft, picks they have some good.
39:46
Veterans this will probably end up being one of, the
39:50
if not the youngest starting defense in the, league one
39:52
of the youngest starting defenses in the, league and certainly
39:54
from an experience, standpoint.
39:56
Speaker 4: And that's WHAT i.
39:56
Speaker 1: SEE i see a lot of a lot of real
39:59
raw talent and the potential to be really good, again
40:04
but missing some key veteran thiss that you got with. BEG. Cj,
40:08
Gardner johnson And nikobe was playing like. One he's probably
40:12
gonna be out to locked. Over and so this will
40:14
be a, TEST i think for the players and the
40:16
coaches of how quickly they can grow up and. Develop,
40:20
yeah and.
40:20
Speaker 3: And, again you know the the questions we spoke, about
40:25
you know who who is the week one starter at
40:27
safety Opposite Blanket, Ship who's The week one starter at
40:30
corner left corner Opposite mitchell at right? Corner where Does
40:34
Cooper gjene play in? Bass you, KNOW i, mean you,
40:37
know these are things we don't know the answer to,
40:39
yet and they're, questions and you, know the coaching staff
40:42
can feel they'll feel good about their, answers but we've
40:45
all been around coaches enough to know that sometimes they'll tell, you,
40:48
well we just don't know till we play the, games,
40:51
Right and that's the way it, Is you just don't
40:52
know till you play the. Games how quickly Can Jahide
40:55
campbell Understand vic's defense to where they feel comfortable putting
40:58
him out, There because to tell, you a linebacker IN vix,
41:01
defense And i've had this conversation with With fangio, disciples
41:05
linebacker is so critical IN vix. Defense you, know for
41:09
years people, said our linebacker's. Lost you, know it's it's
41:12
it's not as important a position. Anymore, well IN vix,
41:15
defense it's a really important. Position you. Know there's so
41:18
many examples of that with. Plays you, know we're not
41:20
going to go over those, now BUT i, mean you,
41:22
know so how quickly can he acclimate and assimilate into the.
41:25
Speaker 2: Defense they were, thrilled.
41:27
Speaker 3: As we, know they really Wanted campbell and they didn't
41:30
expect him to, drop and they were trying to trade
41:32
up to get him because they did not anticipate him.
41:34
Dropping so this is a player they. Wanted so they
41:38
wanted him for a. Reason they you, know they wanted
41:41
him not to play all on special teams this.
41:43
Speaker 2: Year they wanted him to play meaningful. Snaps so we'll
41:45
see how that works.
41:46
Speaker 1: Out, Yeah and of COURSE i forgot to Mention slay in.
41:49
There when you Lose SLAY C. J, Gardner, Johnson Brandon,
41:52
Graham Josh, Sweaton Milton. Williams that's a lot of combination
41:56
of talent and.
41:57
Speaker 2: Experience so that's what the players who played in big
41:59
games played well a ton of its.
42:01
Speaker 1: Right that's what This eagles defense will have To that's
42:04
the challenge that is in front of them in the
42:06
twenty twenty five. Season that is about as. GREAT i,
42:09
MEAN i don't know if anybody can go through The
42:10
eagles roster as well as we just. Did that's going
42:13
to finish off OUR Nfc east preview. Series we Thank
42:17
Greg cosell again does this every. Year it's an, awesome
42:19
awesome experience for, Us So, greg we thank you For
42:22
Greg cosell And Adam. Kaplan I'm Jeff. Mosher you've been
42:25
watching The inside The BIRDS Nfc East preview