Football at Four: DiCecco's Thursday Eagles Notebook

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3:04I know it's feeling baseball-y today, but everybody needs to know everything the eagles do. And they made a couple of interesting moves earlier this week. Love to get your take number one on Elijah Moore. I know this is a guy a couple of years ago studying the draft, second round pick. Had a lot of talent. The Jets took a wee bounce to the Browns. Ended up having a couple of nice seasons out there. Ended up in Buffalo. And obviously did not make an impact. I want to see how you think. A guy like Elijah Moore fits with this team. Is he a guy that you think can make an impact? Is he a camp body? Is he someone for competition? Well, it's kind of par for the course with how Halley Roseman approaches the offseason, leaving no stone unturned to try and better the roster or at least conjure competition at a position that really needs it beyond AJ Brown and Devonte Smith. But I wouldn't be so sure that Elijah Moore is a lot to make the roster or anything like that. He's gonna have to battle with some guys, Darius Cooper, Halley Wood Brown,

4:05I think has more solid footing than Elijah Moore does. And Johnny Wilson's a player who they really like. You can do some blocking and some of the dirty work that they so sorely miss. And let's just say this. If you have four receivers, two of them beyond Devonte and AJ being Halley Wood Brown and Elijah Moore, who's playing special teams? Who's returning punts, right? I mean, Halley Wood Brown and Elijah Moore don't play special teams. But on the face of this signing, I do think it's a little intriguing because in a more stable situation, perhaps Elijah Moore can tap into the player that everyone believed he would be when he came out and was taken 35th overall by the Jets. He's bounced around a little bit though. The Eagles are his fifth team. So he's gonna have to pick things up quickly and try to make an early impact. Yeah, you mentioned Halley Wood Brown. He's a kind of a guy that you would think makes the team. You know, board, do you think he's a definitive shoe in? Or are they battling each other? How do you kind of see those two guys opportunities

5:08to make this team? Personally, I think Halley Wood Brown is a little better of a player right now, but you also have to like the appealing aspect of Elijah Moore being 26 years old and not having a ton of wear and tear on him either. They're kind of similar. I think Halley Wood Brown ideally would be the three. That's where he projects. I like the speed to be able to stretch teams vertically and create spacing for teammates. And Elijah Moore, I do a little differently. He offers a different skill set in that. It's short to intermediate routes, the ability to separate over the middle. I don't necessarily view him as a downfield burner. So they both provide something different, at least in theory to the offense. And so I think they both kind of compliment each other well. And really, they didn't have a whole lot of experience behind AJ and Devonte, but prior to getting Halley Wood Brown, then you bring Elijah Moore. But beyond that, you have Johnny Wilson who played one season, Darius Cooper, who played one season, Quest Walkins, Danny Gray,

6:09Britain Covey. And so I think they could use all the experience they could get, at least in training camp and see what you have. Hi, Andrew, check a football for Elijah Moore, the Y receiver, and then a savvy move. But I'm really interested to see what you think about Fred Johnson. Obviously, there's a offensive line coach change. And Fred is a guy that I think they got more out of him than maybe his talent suggests. He's been a steady player here. But they've looked around for a swing tackle. Couldn't find anybody. So went back to Fred. Fred, look for a starting job. Couldn't find one. So he comes back here. Do you think he's a fit for what they might do with this offense? Yeah, prior to the Fred Johnson signing, I'd gone on record and saying that I thought probably the most understated loss for the Eagles this off season was Brett Toath because he gives you value at all three interior positions. And I think that he would fit this presumed scheme even better than he did under Jeff Stoutland.

7:09And they're really youthful behind the starters. That being said, bringing back Fred Johnson, I think, was a really important thing for the Eagles to do. Now it didn't quite work out the way for a Johnson envisioned. He left last off season, left in pursuit of a starting job, or at least the opportunity to challenge for a starting job. And then same thing, this off season wasn't able to find the right pairing, the right match. And he returns to Philadelphia where he is a really good fit. And a great story of development under Jeff Stoutland. I think that that is valuable in the sense that he can be the swing tackle. He started eight games last season, played a career high, 626 snaps. I thought he performed well, especially relative to what you would expect a backup to play that level. And in this system, he does move well. He does have some validity to him. And I think that that's going to be really important. And let's not forget that if they didn't have Fred Johnson in the fold, you're looking at a youth infused room with Cameron Williams, Miles Hinton, Colin Pierce.

8:12I mean, of course, I still expect them to draft the tackle, but Fred Johnson gives you proven experience. He does, and he's obviously back as you would think the swing tackle behind Lane Johnson. And obviously, Jordan Milotta there. They do have basically their whole offensive line returning, but I don't know yet you're about you. You got a new offensive line coach. You got two guys coming back from some injury issues. You got Lane, obviously, who's getting close to the end. This offensive line, which has been the star of the team for a number of years. They struggled last year. Do you anticipate this line being a finished product? Yeah, in turn, I still think they're going to draft an offensive lineman. In fact, right now, as we speak today, I would imagine that offensive tackle will be at the top of the list. Maybe even later, you look for a versatile interior offensive lineman to replace what you had in Brett Toe. They really liked Drew Kendall. I can tell you that, but I think in terms of starters for 2020.

9:13I think they're pretty well set there. And that includes Tyler Steen. If you remember the NFL scouting combine, how he rose and included Tyler Steen when talking about that group. And so yeah, I think as a starting unit, they are set. Andrew Chekko, football at four. Let's look at the change at the safety position. Obviously, Reed blanket ship is out. They traded Sydney Brown, who was more of a reserve player, special team player. They bring Marcus Epps back. Would you be comfortable with a Andrew Makuba Marcus Epps tandem? Or do you think they still need to find another safety? If I were the Eagles, I wouldn't necessarily be comfortable with that. I think Marcus Epps is a solid. If unspectacular player that you'd feel more comfortable with starting three, four games, then you would the full slate of games. Because he's an instinctual player. He's a heady player. And someone who I think can be sort of that re-black-and-shabest traffic cop back there.

10:14But he does lack for athleticism. He lacks for range. And there are some limitations to his game. But it made a lot of sense to bring him back. They didn't have a lot. They didn't have any experience there at that position. And the Eagles and Marcus Epps know each other well. Marcus knows this defense. So you don't have to worry about him getting up the speed. And if he needs to start in a pinch, he can do that. I still think that there are other avenues in which the Eagles can explore to bolster that group, whether that be the trade market or even in the NFL draft. Now, I'm not suggesting that they take a safety high. But you've got to continue to add to that room. And they also sign JT Gray, who for those who don't know in your audience, he's a phenomenal special team's player. But that's really his area of expertise. He's only played 153 snaps on defense. That's not why he was signed. But he kind of replaces the special team's production that the Eagles got from Sydney Brown. And to last week, I'm sure you were typing away banging out these stories with all the additions. And last week on football for the NCAA Tournament,

11:14we didn't get a chance to hear some of your thoughts on. At the Indian Pierce, the guy who had a big year in Houston, I don't say a big year at 900 plus yards, does this feel like a guy who has a role or just a guy that wanted to kick the tires on? The latter, I think they're more so kicking the tire. You're bringing in someone who's 26 years old, not a lot of tread on the tires, had the breakout rookie campaign, and then injuries mounted. He had some ball security issues. But these are the type of players that you're willing to go the one year prove it they'll route with. Because if they're able to pan out, you've pretty much paid them next to nothing. And you look pretty smart for bringing that player. And now I think Damien Pierce, and I know that some have pointed to his kick return ability. Yes, he's returned 20 kicks in the NFL. I don't believe it. That's why he was signed. They may look at him there, but he has an uphill battle to make the roster make no mistake about that. They have three running backs whose roster spots

12:15are etched in stone. Essentially, of course, with Saplan Barkley, Tank Bigsby, who just changed his number to eights today, by the way. And Will Shipley, who on game days, is a core special teamer. And we'll see how Sean Manion chooses to use him, maybe as a change up or in the receiving game. So they have three players with the fine roles. They did keep four last year with AJ Dillon, but I would argue that that wasn't necessary. So he's going to have an uphill climb to make the roster in my estimation. There you go, Nick Nugget. Erdshaw sit here with me to check the width of Nugget. Tank Bigsby changed his jersey number to eight. He just did that today. Let's get your thoughts and read on the Andy Dalton trade. Because it was reported that the Jets had called the Eagles about the key, and the Eagles asked for a second round pick. I don't know if that's a greedy ask, or they're just not interested in trading him. But then they go out and trade for Andy Dalton. So is that their way of saying, we would trade McKee, and now we got a little insurance in case we do.

13:16Yeah, my understanding, Mike, with that whole situation, is that there's no immediate plan to move Tanner McKee. Now that's not to say that if an enticing offer was floated, the Eagles way that they wouldn't pull the trigger. But the Eagles value the backup quarterback position, perhaps more than any other team in the league. And I look at the Andy Dalton edition as more fortifying that group. Did they need to add them? Probably not. They could have drafted a quarterback. They are the quarterback factory after all, but they didn't need Sam Howell. They could have probably gotten by without Sam Howell last season. I know McKee was banged up, but they've also invested in previous years in Gardner, Menshue, Joe Flacco, Marcus Marriota. And so it's kind of a common theme that you've seen with the Eagles. And so I didn't read a whole lot into it. And it's something that when you see the asking price being a second round pick, the Eagles clearly value Tanner McKee. And that's always where you want to start. You want to aim high. And then maybe a team you're able to kind of go a little bit lower in terms of your, in terms of your agreeing for the asking price.

14:18But I, you know, I think right now they're with their three quarterbacks. And if they're blown away down the line, they'll move them, but they're not going to just give Tanner McKee away because they should be looked at as having a luxury of players at that position or anything like that. All right, Andrew, to check it, we're inside a month to the NFL draft. Over and inside the birds.com, Andrew's mock draft for the Eagles, his 2.0. And you mentioned it earlier, you have the Eagles staying on the offensive line Blake Miller from Clemson. So it sounds like even though the line is back, you hinted at it earlier, you still think offensive line will be the direction they go. Yeah, I do. And kind of expand on the Blake Miller pick because if you remember, you may remember in my initial mock draft 1.0, I had them taking Caden Proctor, the offensive tackle out of Alabama. Under Jeff Statlin, that would have made a lot of sense, but it Caden Proctor is 6'7, 366 pounds. So I'm not quite sure how that frame or skill set would translate to an offensive line

15:22and a run designs that we're expecting is going to demand offensive line and be a little bit more fleet footed and more fluid and be able to get in space and things like that. So I look at Blake Miller, 6'7, 3'15, really athletic, good footwork. He's a polished product in that regard. I do have questions about his ability to anchor, but when you're looking at that point in the draft, I mean, most first front picks are going to have questions about some area of their game. But I think Blake Miller would tend to profile as a little bit more of an appealing option for this new look Eagles offense. All right, check out the full mock draft that Andrew has posted for the Eagles over at insidethebirds.com and check out what areas they might be targeting in the draft. Now post free agency for the most part, I mean, they can still make free agent moves. The last thing I want to ask you before we get out of here is, are they a finished product at edge rusher or is how we kick in the tires?

16:22Is there a big move to make at edge rusher? Yeah, this is an interesting one, Mike, because no, I don't think that they're finished at edge rusher, certainly. They went into last off season with Jalice Hunt and Owen Smith as their top two guys. They ended up having to add a reinforcement in a big way in Jalen Phillips. But right now they have a vacati who they signed in for agency. They have Jose Ramirez is mostly a camp body, but they still need to carry, they, they, they will typically carry seven or eight edge rusher into training camp. And whether it's through the draft and you're adding a headliner in the first round or the second round, I like Joshua Joseph out of Tennessee in the second round at 68, I think that might be a sweet spot for him. Or you're drafting someone like a Celtic fallout of Auburn at 23. They could still explore the trademark at Johnson Grinard's a popular name. And I still think that this group lacks for a a bonafide headliner that then allows Jalice Hunt to settle into that number two role. And no one Smith to settle into that three role in a vacati to be that fourth edge rusher.

17:26And I think you're, I think you're feeling pretty good about that group once you make that upgrade. All right, well, first pitch about a couple minutes away. Andrew will let you get to the first pitch, but everybody listening in here at the anchorage for football at four. Everybody's favorite segment of the day. It's Andrew DeCecho for football at four right here on the sports bench from the inside of the bird's pockets. Thanks, man. Thanks, guys. Talk soon. Here's the truth. You could literally be adored by everyone and then come home and still get completely ignored by your own cat. It's classic cat behavior. But new Shiba premium puree is a lickable treat that changes all that. Their protein rich made with bone broth and have the smooth creamy texture cats go crazy for, especially when it's hand fed. Yeah, it's more than a treat. It's a fast pass to favorite human status. So feed your cat Shiba and go from totally ignored to truly adored in just 12 days guaranteed or your money back. Learn more at Shiba.com. Want flexibility?

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