Wellness

[gardenman]

And the Eagles have signed fifteen undrafted free agents to the roster. One kid who kind of jumps out is Blake Annen, a tight end from Cincinnati. He's 6' 4", 247 lbs. and runs a 4.41 40. (Vernon Davis who owns the record as the fastest tight end ran a 4.38, only three one hundredths of a second faster.) Annen only had sixteen catches with the Bearcats and was used mostly as a blocking tight end, but looked impressive in his pro day. With that kind of size and speed he could be a pretty impressive weapon, but he's raw as heck having only started one season. Reports indicate that he slows down when he's anticipating the ball coming to him to make the catch. A guy with that size and speed you want running through the catch, but that's a coachable issue. If you can get him running flat out and still making catches with that size, he'd be pretty much unstoppable. A 4.41 time in the 40 yard dash is faster than many/most of the wide receivers coming out in the draft. Getting that kind of speed in a tight end is a bit unusual. Will he polish up enough to be a keeper? It's hard to say, but at the least he's likely to be a practice squad guy if he doesn't make the roster. If he shows he can consistently catch the ball and gets a tick better in blocking, he could be a steal.

The Eagles are nicely stocked with tight ends with Brent Celek and Zach Ertz as starters and James Casey and Emil Igwenagu as backups, but all four of those guys had best keep an eye on this kid. He could just end up stealing one of their jobs. Brent Celek's pretty highly paid right now and I believe is due a new contract in 2015, so his days with the Eagles could be numbered if this kid can consistently perform at a high level.

The Eagles get all of the new kids on the field starting Friday for a rookie camp and it'll be interesting to see how they perform. Most of them are coming to town on Monday to start having meetings and participating in the training and OTA's, but the one kid we drafted from Stanford (a safety) can't participate (other than the 3 day rookie camp) until mid-June due to Stanford's late graduation practice and the league rules.

We're getting a better feel for the kinds of players Chip Kelly wants. Many of our picks were team captains, nearly all have already graduated with degrees, and there are no red flag character issues with any of them. It looks like he values character and intelligence more than a player with an edge in ability who has character questions/issues. He seems to prefer bigger, taller guys, smarter guys, good teammates, and proven commodities. We'll have to see how that works out long term.

[Spurt]

On 5/10/2014 gardenman said:

Yellowrose. No one truly knows how any team did in the draft and won't know for months. Chip Kelly said as much when an Eagle reporter asked him how he thought the team had done. He replied "I honestly have no idea." It'll take three to six months before teams/coaches start to know how they did and a couple of years to truly know. You just never know how a kid will transition from college to the pros. First round picks are about a fifty-fifty proposition so even then you don't absolutely know what you're getting. For every Andrew Luck, there's a Ryan Leaf. Right now all anyone knows is the number of players they got and their names, but reality will start to rear its ugly head as the mini-camps and training camps roll around.

As to the NFL Network, I just can't justify the cost. It's almost $13 a month for the "sports package" from Comcast and the only channel in that package I'd really watch is the NFL Network. That's just too much money for me to spend on one stupid channel. Comcast holds local customers in the Philly area at gunpoint. They have their Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia channel that shows all of the local sports (Phillies, Sixers, Flyers games) and about the only way you can get that channel is directly from Comcast. Technically they make it available to DirectTV and Dish, but Comcast charges so much for it that those outlets won't carry it. Verizon offers it on their FIOS network, but despite the FIOS cable going right past my front door, Verizon won't let let anyone who's not in a major metropolitan area, or a county seat subscribe to FIOS. I'm about a mile and a half outside the county seat and Verizon won't connect us. Dish and DirectTV often have deals where you get the NFL Network included with a package, but losing SportsNet Philadelphia is too high a price to pay to switch providers. What we need is a la carte pricing where you can buy just the channels you want to see. I'm currently getting multiple Spanish language channels (I believe we get around 10 of them) and many channels of children programming, neither of which I watch, but I still have to pay for, but they won't give me the NFL Network without paying an additional $13 a month.

Hey GARDENMAN,

Don't mean to hijack you and Yellowrose's conversation......but WOW!!!! $13.....I pay $4.99 for the Ultra Sports Package--It's well worth it because that includes NFL Network, Red Zone, NBA TV--lots more---but those are the ones I watch---I do check in with the Nascar channel...from time to time when they feature Joe Gibbs racing! I didn't realize what a bargain I am getting....Since Comcast purchased Time Warner I will have to warn my sister and my friends to expect an increase in their cable....and I heard BAD customer service too.....(but they already got that with Time Warner anyway).....our subdivision was more or less an experiment with a maverick cable company which promises to be cheaper than Time Warner and provide good customer service....and they have! GOOD PRICES AND SERVICE!

BTW our paper had a big article and you do NOT want a la cart....it seems that a lot of those channels are a throw in and it enables the cable companies to get a reduced rate on the bigger channels by doing this.....if you went a la cart it would depend on how many viewers are subscribing to each channel, which would result in a BIG RATE INCREASE for many of the favorite channels....But I agree with you---there are a lot I don't watch and only program my favorites--I do not watch the spanish channels, MTV or VH1 or some of the children's programming (although it comes in handy if I have to babysit a friend's grandson---he enjoys the "old school" cartoons on Boomerang)...

P.S. So GARDENMAN we were right and "experts" were WRONG, the Eagles did pick D with their first pick....I thought for sure that Chip would be tempted to get Johnny Manziel though....Eagles did pick up WR later and then turned to the D .....and Chip signed several Oregon Ducks I noticed....

[Spurt]

Well based on what I've read Im giving my Redskins a "D" in the draft....now I know, I know, we gotta wait a couple years to actually see how these players grade out.....But this is on the preliminary analysis alone....

Although we did pick up an extra pick....why are you allowing a RIVAL (the enemy) to get their man----why the Cowboys actually made a DECENT pick with Zack Martin!!! Sure it shut down the Cowboys for the rest of the evening BUT....!!!!

Why Oh Why Trent Murpy---I like that he's a mean and nasty a pass rusher (14 1/2 sacks this year)---but we DO have Rak and Kerrigan ---(perhaps in the event we do not get Rak re-signed next year).no explosion off the line of scrimmage--hard worker, first to arrive last to leave.....they plan to use him in nickel coverage.....STILL we have more pressing needs....and like the Redskin fan they showed on camera at the draft----WHERE WAS MORGAN MOSES!!!---draft grade-uncertain

Now the Redskins STILL got their man at a lower pick, Morgan Moses is a pick I DO like---he played both left and right tackle....good length and size....needs to develop foot quickness, good work ethic, and nice kid!

Then they draft G Spencer Long coming off MCL/PCL surgery---other guards were out there....guy from Stanford--forgot his name---let's hope they did due diligence like they said on the medical....

CB Bashaud Breeland----technically sound, good tackler (unlike those that we drafted last year).....if Breeland had stayed another year would've been projected as a first rounder....versatile--possible safety and has played safety in college---God knows we need a young safety--'

WR Ryan Grant-great hands, good route runner, not the speediest---kinda like a young Santana Moss or Art Monk (we will see if he can live up to that....)

RB Lache Seastrunk--former teammate of Robert.....he ran but did not catch balls at Baylor since they do not throw to their backs....and they say HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY, he can develop into a pass blocker/receiver....and spell time for Alfred Morris.... JMHO but better talent available at that pick!

TE Ted Bolser---special teamer can run down on kickoffs, good hands, played outside, played FB (do teams even play a FB these days)...needs to be "coached up"---Again others available with more talent... Of course the first time he runs a kickoff back for a TD I'll be cheering...

The 7th rounder--after they got an extra pick---Zach Hocker K, REALLY!!!! A KICKER---let me repeat that---A KICKER---with so many needs---good leg strength, 10th in the nation in touch backs...they wanted someone to challenge current kicker Forbath withot spending a lot of money in free agency....productive kicker at ARK--Suey Pig---maybe it was the "hog connection" in terms of mascot and Redskin beloved OL that got him that job.....NOT HAPPY!

Redskins did not take an ILB nor a safety-- MAJOR NEEDS---(although the ILB class was not that hot) Still Ryan Clark and Merriweather are old, Phillip Thomas is there (draft pick from last year) but coming off an injury.....and counting on Keenan Robinson, Akeem Jordan (most project as special teamer), and Sharpton...

SO THE GRADE IS A D!---did good job of trading down and picking up extra pick though not happy with who the trade was made with...3 out of 7 decent picks and the rest... other talent available at certain positions But I like the fact Gruden said they got good character guys and what he refers to as solid football players (good work ethic too)

[yellowrose]

Who ARE the "teachers" that give out the grades? I sure don't pay them any mind. I'll get the scoop on our draft next weekend from my go to guy.

Last year, Dish gave me NFL (and whatever other channels it came with) for $3.00 a month for 6 months. $13 a month, that's robbery. But it all feels like robbery to me since I don't watch but a few of my channels.

Happy Mothers Day, ladies.

[gardenman]

SPURT. The Trent Murphy pick looked really good until I saw Greg Cosell talking about him. Greg Cosell said he'd watched every sack of Murphy's and only two of Murphy's sacks came when he was challenged. Most of his sacks came when he was running free on a stunt, or blitz. When confronted with a blocker however, he was average at best. Who knows, maybe he'll turn into a sack machine in the NFL, but I wouldn't get my hopes up too high.

Lache Seastrunk is a guy I don't know much about but the Houston Texans beat writer, John McClain was begging, begging the Texans to draft him on Twitter during the draft. He loves the kid and thinks he'll be special so maybe the Redskins got something good there.

Team building is a multi-year process when you get a new head coach. The Eagles' defensive coordinator said last year it would be two to three years before he'd have all the pieces he needed to really turn loose his defense. The Eagles got him five more pieces in the draft and a few more in free agency, but we're probably still a full year away from having all of the pieces he needs/wants. The Eagle defense should be better this year, but it's likely to be another year or two before it's where it should be. The same is likely true for the offense. Chip's making fewer changes on offense, but we're seeing a slow migration from Andy Reid guys (DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant) to Chip Kelly guys.

The Eagles were hoping to pick up another offensive lineman or two in the draft, but there was a run on those guys at the end of the third round that took the guys they liked off the board. We did bring in a couple of undrafted guys to fill out the roster, but we'll need the starters to stay pretty healthy this year. Expect to see lots of o-linemen drafted by the Eagles next year.

[Spurt]

On 5/11/2014 gardenman said:

SPURT. The Trent Murphy pick looked really good until I saw Greg Cosell talking about him. Greg Cosell said he'd watched every sack of Murphy's and only two of Murphy's sacks came when he was challenged. Most of his sacks came when he was running free on a stunt, or blitz. When confronted with a blocker however, he was average at best. Who knows, maybe he'll turn into a sack machine in the NFL, but I wouldn't get my hopes up too high.

Lache Seastrunk is a guy I don't know much about but the Houston Texans beat writer, John McClain was begging, begging the Texans to draft him on Twitter during the draft. He loves the kid and thinks he'll be special so maybe the Redskins got something good there.

Team building is a multi-year process when you get a new head coach. The Eagles' defensive coordinator said last year it would be two to three years before he'd have all the pieces he needed to really turn loose his defense. The Eagles got him five more pieces in the draft and a few more in free agency, but we're probably still a full year away from having all of the pieces he needs/wants. The Eagle defense should be better this year, but it's likely to be another year or two before it's where it should be. The same is likely true for the offense. Chip's making fewer changes on offense, but we're seeing a slow migration from Andy Reid guys (DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant) to Chip Kelly guys.

The Eagles were hoping to pick up another offensive lineman or two in the draft, but there was a run on those guys at the end of the third round that took the guys they liked off the board. We did bring in a couple of undrafted guys to fill out the roster, but we'll need the starters to stay pretty healthy this year. Expect to see lots of o-linemen drafted by the Eagles next year.

I guess instead of watching A&M and Johnny Manziel I should've been watching Baylor and Seastrunk instead....

I was just NOT happy with the Redskins first pick of Murphy.....first pick .....lots of talented players were still out there

BTW did you hear that the Texans tried to trade back in to get Manziel but couldn't .

Bruce Allen cautioned that rebuilding is a process and it takes time.....I can just imagine if we had kept Vinny Cerrato as our GM---he had actually wanted to trade up to get Mark Sanchez....ARRRGGHHH!!!

[Spurt]

On 5/11/2014 yellowrose said:

Who ARE the "teachers" that give out the grades? I sure don't pay them any mind. I'll get the scoop on our draft next weekend from my go to guy.

Last year, Dish gave me NFL (and whatever other channels it came with) for $3.00 a month for 6 months. $13 a month, that's robbery. But it all feels like robbery to me since I don't watch but a few of my channels.

Happy Mothers Day, ladies.

Hi Yellowrose---well Happy Mothers Day to you.....

My sis calls Time Warner whenever they want a rate increase and complains and tells them what Direct TV was going to offer with their NFL Ticket for free (so she could see her Giants)....to keep her as a Time Warner customer reduced her cable bill way down to what they charged for Basic Cable a year, and she gets to keep all her premium channels plus Tivo---but since Comcast bought them out I don't know if they negotiate like that.....

$13 is OUTRAGEOUS......I pay $4.99 but I went to the ultra sports tier to get Red Zone.....otherwise I would have paid $3 a month......

I think I watched the Outdoor Channel ONCE it was DOG AGILITY TESTS.....

As for the grades, hey if the so called "experts" can do this.....so can I....I have the chance to be "just as accurate".....

[teganslaw]

The Colts draft picks:

OT Jack Mewhort (Ohio State) He will most likely play guard position.

WR Donte Moncrief (Mississippi). Needed as back up for Reggie Wayne or Hakeem Nicks since their contracts are up in 2015.

ILB Andrew Jackson (Western Kentucky.)

DE Jonathon Newsome (Ball State) Will be used as back up.

OT Ulrick John (Georgia State.)

The Colts did not fill their most pressing need, which is safety. Not having a first round pick most likely hurt them in that way. I don't know much about the players that were drafted, but the Colts aren't given a very good grade. Mewhort is more to provide depth and protection for Luck. The real question is Ulrick John, who seems to have no outstanding talents except athleticism. There was no report on John before he was drafted. Time will tell how this all worked out. I'm hoping for the best, but not sure.

[gardenman]

teganslaw. The Colts should be fine if, and this is a big if, Trent Richardson plays up to his potential. A good running game combined with Andrew Luck's passing attack should make the Colts a contender. The big question is can/will Trent Richardson carry his weight in the offense. The Browns gave up on him and he didn't show a lot last year. He's said the right things in the off-season, but saying the right things and doing the right things are different. If he picks up his game, the Colts are in good shape. If he doesn't, then the Colts could be in some trouble.

SPURT. Yeah, that Eagles pick at 22 was pretty popular. Minnesota wanted it, the Texans wanted it and apparently there were other callers too, but Cleveland offered the most for it and would require the Eagles dropping back the least, so Cleveland got Manziel. The Vikings thought they had the deal in place with Philly, but then before the call went to the league the Browns jumped back in and upped the offer. It worked out great for the Eagles they got the defensive player they wanted and a third round pick and only had to drop back a few spots.

I'm still a bit surprised at the deal we got for Bryce Brown from the Bills. To get a third or fourth round pick for a guy who wasn't likely to even make the team this year is pretty much unprecedented. Brown can be a pretty impressive runner, but his fumbles two years ago and his unwillingness to run up the field last year, made him expendable in Philly. At best, he'd have been the third running back behind McCoy and Sproles. Chris Polk had moved ahead of him late last season and the Eagles love this kid Tucker who was on the practice squad last year. I hope Brown has a big year for the Bills, but I really think they overpaid for him.

[yellowrose]

Looks like a late night tonight Spurt with the Spurs game not starting until 9:30. I probably shouldn't watch since they have done very well without me rooting for them. I may jinx them. But tonight will be the first game I'll be able to watch (since the Mav's disaster) and I don't want to miss a possible sweep.

Sorry for the OT......back to football, but I've got nothing so say, for now.