Fan-Demonium: Still On The Grind
March 27, 2008
| Last Updated: 3/27/08 8:10 AM ET
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Comments (30)
By: TOMMY LAWLOR
The Eagles signed tight end Kris Wilson to a three-year deal. Who is he and what does this move mean?
Wilson was an outstanding pass-catching tight end at Pitt. As a senior in 2003, he caught 44 passes and nine touchdowns. He lacked the ideal size for his position, but some teams really liked him because of his athletic ability. He was very good after the catch. He averaged almost 15 yards per reception that year, a very good number for a tight end. Kris was a playmaker as well as a good receiver.
The Chiefs took him in the second round of the 2004 draft. They hoped to pair him with Tony Gonzalez and run a lot of two-tight end sets. A broken leg ruined his rookie season. He did play in 2005, but had a limited role. Wilson moved to fullback due to injuries to other players in 2006 and 2007.
Clearly things didn't work out for Wilson or the Chiefs as either had expected when he was picked. To his credit, he didn't complain and give up. He played where he was needed. He became a good special teams player. Wilson played on special teams at Pitt as well. He seems to understand that you do what you have to in order to stay in the league.
Although Wilson never developed into a playmaker, he did improve each season. He caught three passes in 2005, 15 in 2006 and 24 in 2007. Four of those 42 catches went for touchdowns.
So what does this move mean for the Eagles? He is coming here to play tight end. He is here to play on special teams. L.J. Smith and Brent Celek
have the top two spots nailed down at tight end. Matt Schobel is currently the number three tight end. Matt is a solid backup, but hasn't provided the kind of special teams play you ideally want. Schobel has not been credited with a special teams tackle in either of the past two seasons. That isn't what a team is looking for out of a number three tight end.
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| Tommy Lawlor, goeagles99 on the Discussion Boards, is an amateur football scout and devoted Eagles fan. He's followed the team for almost 20 years. Tommy has been trained by an NFL scout in the art of scouting and player evaluation and runs www.scoutsnotebook.com. |
Wilson is still a talented, versatile athlete. He could be a good fit in the Eagles offense as well as on special teams. The Eagles have generally gotten pretty good production from their tight ends. Even a role player like Mike Bartrum was an effective weapon in some sets. I certainly would not give up on Wilson turning into a solid pass-catching tight end.
The part of this move that really fascinates me is the Eagles adding another veteran to the roster. I projected the Eagles to spend a mid to late-round pick on a tight end in the draft. With Wilson on board, the Eagles may take a flyer on a late-round player to develop or they could just add an undrafted free agent.
Yo ...Boiman?
Speaking of veteran additions …the Eagles added linebacker Rocky Boiman on Monday. This is not a splashy move, but I do like it. He can play all three spots, but the key is for him to backup Chris Gocong at strongside linebacker. Gocong will be entering his second year as a starter so I think having someone behind him who knows the ropes is a good thing.
Rocky can also help out on special teams. The Eagles coverage units last year were up and down. They need to play at a high level on a consistent basis. Adding a guy like Boiman should help immediately. He's got good size and he knows what he's doing. Also important is the fact that Rocky only has a one-year deal. He will be motivated to play well each and every time he steps on the field.
The Eagles weren't going to go add some big-name player, so anyone disappointed in the move is missing the point. The Eagles were not going after a starter. The team likes the players already in place. Boiman comes in to be a role player. That may not sound important, but moves like this can turn out to be bigger than expected in some situations.
Signing Boiman and Dan Klecko and then Wilson does show you that the Eagles are serious about having better special teams play in 2008. These players all have positional ability, but also can block on returns and cover kickoffs.
b4realplz@...
03/28/08
3:59 pm ET |
Well, I thought there were times we could have at least attempted to run in the red zone and didn't. For example, against MN it seemed like we tried to run in the RZ against one of the best run defenses at that time, but then against NY I believe there was 1 rush to 7 pass attempts in the redzone or 2 for 12 something like out of control like that. There are times where I feel like Marty or whoever is calling them just gives up on running all together. My stance isn't that the #1 WR should be a big red zone target but rather that it would bring back the big play ability to score points early and if they are YAC TD's or just a straight deep hit off of play action no one will be worried about RZ issues when your beating teams 42-17. I'd never suggest trading our best offensive player, but I do suggest giving him some help via letting the other backs tack some pounding as well. I mean you can't blame people for wanting a big name wide out after seeing our present guys get pushed around in important games last season. I like Brown and Curtis a lot. I even liked Stallworth even though he proved in New England that he won't give anyone 16 games. And then there is the season of our Super Bowl run that showed how dangerous Westbrook can be with all that underneath space to work with. With a WR who demands double coverage, can't double everybody, forcing teams to zone up and you know Kevin Curtis would eat that up. He could be our Wes Welker, I just know he isn't a Randy Moss. I'll say this about the moves thus far though, the ST unit should be WAY better, and as we have talked about you pray you hit money with a safety in the draft. If that wild card wide out can be plucked from another teams roster this would be, on paper, a Super Bowl caliber team hands down.
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JeromeBrown99
03/28/08
12:46 pm ET |
goeagles99... 19? I'm thinkin EAGLES should trade down. But w/out tradin up... EAGLES should take Albert or Phillips. I'd have the eyes of a Stomped On Toad if they pick WR.
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goeagles99
03/27/08
8:37 pm ET |
I watched one of Branden's games at LT. He showed potential. I prefer Chris Williams, but Albert might end up being good value at 19. ------ Glad you liked the mock. I think it would help out the team short and long term. It doesn't solve all problems, though. No draft really does. We'll add a FS late or as a UDFA if we don't take one early. There are some interesting guys out there.
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
7:37 pm ET |
goeagles99.... Took a look at your site. I like your draft. Thomas Brown and Harrison the Most. Love OT Williams. === Charley Casserly said he likes Brandon Alberts as LT. Never seen him play OT. But I know he did. With the way he moves at G sounds bout right. We might not have to trade up for him. Just a thought. === My old roomate in college is HUGE Michigan fan. So we watch every game. Chris Graham is another guy I love. Would probably be my favorite player comin out. He plays much bigger than he is. Good, tough guy with a ton of Fire. === Still don't know why Michigans DC didn't have Crable play with his hand down. 6'5'' 265lbs. LB doesn't make any since. Still he played well. I Wonder bout him as DE? === WR Kelly's of my list. Scary. === You gotta like Kellen Davis. Size and Abiltity.
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
6:53 pm ET |
I threw my alarm clock out!!! Found 2 Mexicans wondering on my land. Said they were lookin for Phoenix. I sat'em down at the computer. Showed them..... "Clicky? Clicky? Hmmm? Bueno? Clicky! Clicky! Mucho Bueno!" Give'em 5 bucks an hour. I'll drive'em to Phoenix after I get some No. 1's posts.....
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brizer9@...
03/27/08
5:01 pm ET |
Forsett here next month,..i saw him play..he's pretty solid..cya buck..beware hunt.
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brizer9@...
03/27/08
4:52 pm ET |
hey dope ,..nutin wrong wid yur ridiculous mock!...i just go wid jordy over doucet,..udder den dat,..i likey!...got my finger onda clicker,.ready to go..
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
4:41 pm ET |
Bri... Brilliant minds think alike. So you must know you die if you No. 1 me again.
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
4:38 pm ET |
b4... Our red zone probs were bigger than WR last year. We need to be able to run the ball. I'd never trade for Jones w/that contract. Just might help as a FA signin. After he gets cut. A healthy LJ will help. 2 legs for #5 will help. A Manute Bol type WR would help. But the ability to pound it in would solve our Red Zone probs. === Every1 talks bout a No. 1 WR... But to me a No. 1 won't help in the Red Zone that much. He would help more in between the 20's. But thats not our problem. RED ZONE. But at least you make sense with your No. 1 comments. Better than those who want to trade #36 for a WR. === Brown, to me is more of a FS than a SS. He's so small that I just don't see it. No way he covers TE's. Just too small. CB's can go to FS every now and then. But SS is tough move for a CB. === Brown will let you know he's out there regardless of where he lines up thats for sure. === FS? I don't know. Thought bout it enough. And I don't know what we will do. My hope is #20 comes back. Stays healthy. And plays like he has the last coupla years this year and the next. Problem solved.
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brizer9@...
03/27/08
4:32 pm ET |
JB,..i really don't care about the FS next year or this year,..I just want to get the #1 post!
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
4:22 pm ET |
goeagles99...Wasn't makin fun of Cincy FS. Just my abiltiy to pronounce names. === Thanks for the replies. === I'm not sure bout FS. I love to pick 1 later that I think could play...... But not sure bout NE1. I would hate to use 19 on FS. But it would solidify our secondary. With or w/out Lito. So maybe Ken Phillips. Just don't know. What I do know is I can't wait to see what REID and Co. come up with. Thanks again.
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b4realplz@...
03/27/08
3:01 pm ET |
On Matt Jones, I guess what I'm getting at is that if he were on this team last season perhaps our red zone issues would have been solved enough to get into the playoffs, but not go all the way. I get what you mean about the systems being different. I've always thought we could use some more slants to cool off the blitz. Jones could do better here assuming Reid utilizes him for what he can do best. At the same time, everyone knows the Jags like to run. I'm just thinking if you can't find away to be the open man of off their play action, how can he possibly beat press coverage on a regular basis. For whatever reason, I thought he was going to break out last year. If he is hanging around after the draft and no big trade deal is going to be made, sure. Adding him is better than doing nothing IMO. Perhaps my prediction was simply a year ahead of its time.
===FS===
AS far as I'm concerned we still need another decent year from Dawkins to make this Super Bowl Victory happen. I know most everyone thinks he is done, but if he retires or can't play I think we could be in trouble at one of the S spots. I though when #20 came back into the line up, he played fine, and obviously needed more time to recover but returned to help the team anyway. We'll see how it plays. In the even of an emergency break glass, keep lito, and move Sheldon Brown to SS and Have Q.Mikell play FS. ( Lito wants to leave so you'd want to move him, but he clearly couldn't play safety). Let's assume though, that Lito has been traded. Now if he is traded as part of a deal for T.J., Boldin, Williams, or Chad (likeliness in that order with Johnson being not likely at all) then we can probably get away with Q.Mikell and a rookie or Considine/Reed. But if he is traded for let's say just a 2nd rounder. Q.Mikell and a 2nd round S at starter could prove to be a disaster. At best, serviceable and that's provided the defensive line is getting pressure on the QB relentlessly and consistently and that we drafted the right rookie who can contribute right away. That is asking for a lot, but not impossible. Just have to pick the right guy and I have no idea who that is. I like the idea of landing Felix Jones as a return guy though, so that could make finding a pure safety a little easier.
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goeagles99
03/27/08
2:47 pm ET |
I think 2009 will be Dawk's last season in the NFL. Our FS could be Sean Considine, Sheldon Brown, some FA, or a Draft pick. That situation is wide open. I'd love to add someone this year, but I don't see any player that is so good the Eagles will feel compelled to go after him. I like DaJuan Morgan, but I don't know if he'll last to our 2nd Rd pick. I like Quintin Demps, but his tackling is less than ideal. Thomas DeCoud could be of interest. Don't laugh at Haruki Nakamura. This kid can play. He jumped out at me vs Penn State in 2005 and I've been watching him ever since.
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goeagles99
03/27/08
2:43 pm ET |
Kris Wilson could start for the Eagles somewhere down the road. I think it is unlikely, but you never know. ------ Why hasn't LJ signed his tender? Who knows. I don't take it as a bad sign, but maybe I'm being naive. I think the team had a better feel for his situation than they did with Corey or Trot back in '01. I do think LJ will play here this year and then move on.
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
2:36 pm ET |
goeagles99... b4.... Bri.... How you see our FS spot next year? As in '09. Assuming #20 is gone?
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
2:34 pm ET |
b4... yeah these are all good pickups on ST. === I was gonna barf if I saw Tapeh get knocked on his arse on KOR again.
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
2:32 pm ET |
b4... Jags run whole different set than we do. They run tons of slants and posts. Outs. === We are all over the field. My best friend is HUGE Arkansas fan. So I watched Jones plenty in college. 1 thing you could say bout him is... he's good in the open field. And fast(I guess thats 2 things). He was the most awkwardly effective QB in the country that year. LONG strider. And it would have taken a coupla years for him to figure WR out. If he gets cut.... I think he might fit in well here. Hopefully. === I do think we need another WR. But I like Curtis, RBrown and Lewis. Just wish'n we had a Giant to get a TD in the RZ every now and then. The 6'6'' Jones could be that guy. === I like this board a little better. We can actually get some chat in.
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
2:22 pm ET |
Haruki Naka?... Naka?... I'm Nakonna correctly pronounce his name EVER... if we pick him up.
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brizer9@...
03/27/08
1:32 pm ET |
Tommy,...thanks for your prompt retort. Perhaps, you read more into my comments than were intended, but answer me this. You made no comment about the Eagles being possibly upset with LJ right now for not signing,...why not?... but, you did feel #5 would be upset if LJ is gone or tagged removed. I found that curious. Moreover, you stated yourself that LJ is here for THIS YEAR, pretty much indicating the uncertainty in the situation. My point is there are no guarantees, LJ could be gone this year or next, (or injured again), Celek is OK, but Wilson has potential that has not been fully examined and I would not be surprised if he starts sometime as an Eagle. I have to admit, I saw him play but one time because I actually like the chiefs and did think he looked pretty good (coming from Pitt!). Thanks for your time.
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b4realplz@...
03/27/08
1:23 pm ET |
Also I had Matt Jones on my fantasy team last season. He rode the bench until other injuries forced me to dump him. Now I know Mcnabb wasn't throwing to him, but Garrad had himself a fine season and as far as I know the kid isn't the sleeper I thought he turn out to be. Better red zone target than Baskett or Avant, probably. The WR 'answer' doubt it.
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b4realplz@...
03/27/08
1:03 pm ET |
Depth is always important and the main reason our ST's have been horrible the past few years is because we have lacked in depth. Can't go deep without depth.
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goeagles99
03/27/08
12:59 pm ET |
Matt Jones could definitely be of interest to the Eagles. Andy was really interested in him prior to the Draft. Tried to trade up for him. ------- I like Morgan and Demps at FS, but I'm not sure the team will go after them. Haruki Nakamura is a late round guy I like (from Univ. of Cincinnati). David Roach is a SS to me. I don't know that he's got the ball skills for FS. ------ I also like Thomas Brown. Derek is a good effort guy, but I don't think he's worth a pick.
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
12:55 pm ET |
Bri I tossed in a ridiculous Mock on the old board. With no Williams. If we dont want KPhillips or Sweed or DThomas. Which I don't. I'm tradin down. Try to get EARLY 2nd and a 4th.
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
12:24 pm ET |
Here's 2 late rounders to look at... Thomas Brown/RB and Derek Lokey/DT
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JeromeBrown99
03/27/08
12:23 pm ET |
goeagles99... What are we gonna do bout FS? I have my eyes on 4 guys. But they seem far and few between this year. Of course Phillips but we'd have to use 19. Then Dajuan Morgan and Quetin Demps. 2nd or 3rd rounders. But I got a coupla TCU games and David Roach looks pretty good. Do you think he's possibility in 4th? Or would we have to go 3rd on him? His combine #'s were nice. === Anyways... Don't want a rookie comin in to play FS next year. Not sold on JR(Smith)Reed. I think we need a guy this year to sit round and get ready for next year. And good chance #20 don't make it all the way through this 1. Least thats how we have to think. === I think we can wait on TE till next year. TE is a spot where you can come in and play.
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