The Linc – The Eagles’ best offseason move
5 min read
By: Brandon Lee Gowton
Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 7/2/21.
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …
Matthew Stafford to the Rams. Julio Jones to the Titans: The best offseason move for all 32 NFL teams – The Athletic
The Eagles’ best offseason move was actually two connected transactions. It was their decision to trade back from No. 6 to No. 12 in the draft, adding a 2022 first-round pick in the process, and then moving up from No. 12 to No. 10 to ensure they landed DeVonta Smith. If the Eagles remained at No. 6 and drafted the Heisman Trophy winner, few would have complained. An argument could have been made for Jaylen Waddle or Penei Sewell, or perhaps even a quarterback, but Smith would have been considered a fine outcome once Kyle Pitts and Ja’Marr Chase were off the board at Nos. 4 and 5. So for the Eagles to still land Smith and the first-rounder next year should be considered a boon. Smith steps in as the Eagles’ No. 1 receiver and will be needed to jump-start an underachieving receiving corps. And if Jalen Hurts doesn’t prove to be the team’s long-term answer at quarterback, then the pick the Eagles acquired could be used to help land a quarterback next offseason. — Zach Berman
2021 NFL season: Predicting each NFC team’s MVP – NFL.com
DeVonta Smith — Each season seems to bring us one rookie wide receiver who becomes an immediate star, so we’ll go ahead and predict DeVonta Smith as the 2021 version of Vikings prodigy Justin Jefferson. Smith won the Heisman Trophy for a reason: Hall of Fame wide receiver Isaac Bruce believes the comparisons between Smith and another Hall of Famer, Colts great Marvin Harrison, are legit. Smith clearly has the skill set to thrive at the highest level, and a look at the Philly depth chart all but ensures the former Alabama star will get a huge target share as a rookie. The Eagles are not a franchise known for producing superstar receivers — that could soon change.
Cowboys are this year’s Hard Knocks team – BGN
Every year, there’s some intrigue about which team will be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks series. As it turns out, the show is featuring an NFC East team this year. But not the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead, it’ll be their most hated division rival: the Dallas Cowboys.
Five under-the-radar Cowboys who will shine on Hard Knocks – Blogging The Boys
Al Harris, CB coach. There’s always a couple of coaches who end up stealing the spotlight during Hard Knocks. Who could forget Rex Ryan’s many quotes from the Jets’ season on the show? Or when the Browns were featured and offensive line coach Bob Wylie broke the Internet? If the Hard Knocks crew is looking for a Cowboys coach to highlight this time around, they need look no further than Al Harris. Sure, McCarthy and Dan Quinn will garner a lot of attention, as they should. But Harris promises to be good television as well. For starters, there’s the fact that Harris used to be one of the best cornerbacks in the game. The insight he offers his players from his own experiences will be fascinating to watch. [BLG Note: Didn’t even realize the former Eagles DB was coaching for Dallas.]
Greenroom Live Replay: Debating the best Eagles jersey color – BGN Radio
Brandon Lee Gowton stumps for kelly green while Shamus Clancy argues for midnight green. Plus the guys talk about the all-black jerseys, the Carson Wentz banner removal, retired numbers, and more!
10 stats from Eagles history too crazy to believe – NBCSP
BETTER THAN REGGIE? From 1989 through 1992 – the heyday of the Gang Green Defense – Hall of Famer Reggie White not only didn’t have the most sacks in the NFL, he didn’t even have the most sacks on his own team. During that four-year period, when White made 1st-team all-pro three times, he had 55 sacks, second-most of all NFL defensive ends. Who had more? Clyde Simmons had 56.
Report: Kenny Golladay at risk of being held in contempt of court – PFT
Giants receiver Kenny Golladay ignored a subpoena last December, failing to appear at a virtual deposition, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports. Thus, Golladay is at risk of being held in contempt of court later this month.
Better or worse? Giants defensive line – Big Blue View
The biggest question, of course, is how much will the Giants miss Tomlinson? The 2017 second-round pick is one of those players whose value isn’t told by traditional sack or tackle statistics. Tomlinson had 3.5 sacks, 49 tackles (8 for loss) and 10 quarterback hits. Ho-hum. That really doesn’t tell you what he meant to the Giants’ defense. Sports Info Solutions had Tomlinson ranked eighth among defensive tackles with 12.66 points saved vs. the run in 2020. Tomlinson saved .042 points per play, 45th among 168 ranked defensive tackles. Whatever the numbers, Tomlinson is the guy who handled the interior double teams that enabled Blake Martinez to run free. He held the point of attack to allow Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams to crash down and make plays. Can Shelton and Austin do that? If they can’t, it affects the productivity of everyone else in the front seven.
Is Taylor Heinicke a Poor-Man’s Colt McCoy? – Hogs Haven
Colt McCoy and Taylor Heinicke’s collegiate careers are eerily similar. Despite their respective colleges being worlds apart in level of competition, each player had similar collegiate success. Both quarterbacks came from big football states – McCoy from Texas, and Heinicke from Georgia, and were decorated high school athletes at the position. Both played four years at their respective school. Each player had similar measurables (although Colt is slightly bigger than the exaggerated height/weight of Taylor, who is not even 6’). Each quarterback relied on ability to move in the pocket and make off-platform throws in college, and both relied heavily on their legs to make things happen when they needed to. Each player has what you call limited arm talent to press the ball deep downfield, or make those tough intermediate throws on a rope into tight windows. However, both showed excellent accuracy, timing, and the ability to throw guys open in college.
The best and worst of Madden NFL’s new ‘homefield advantages’ – SB Nation
One of the big features in Madden NFL 22 is the addition of “homefield advantages,” which are unique edges given to teams when they play at home. On Thursday EA Sports released the advantages for all 32 NFL teams, which range from passive boosts to stamina, to truly game-altering abilities that will be infuriating to play against. Let’s dive in to some of the best, and worst homefield advantages so you can prep your team for the fall — or just be sad you got something as bad as the Bears did. Poor Bears.
The Look Ahead #43: Did the NFL protect Daniel Snyder + Cowboys on Hard Knocks – The SB Nation NFL Show
Rob “Stats” Guerrera, RJ Ochoa, and Kate Magdziuk react to the punishment the NFL handed down to WFT’s Daniel Snyder, and to the decision to feature the Dallas Cowboys on the 2021 edition of Hard Knocks.
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