Random Roster Thoughts

[Chopper0080]

Just some random thoughts on our roster that I need to get out of my head.

1 - We have 16 offensive linemen under contract, and only one of those is paid more than 4 mil (Humphries). I don't believe any player outside of Humphries and Paris Johnson is "safe".

2 - Our RB room is limited on explosive players, and our WR room has multiple small guys. Won't be shocked if Rondale Moore ends training camp as a RB as it is a better path for him to get snaps.

3 - Zaven Collins is the only non-EDGE LB over 240 lbs on our roster (depending on how you gauge Ojulari). Simmons the only one over 235. Would not shock me to see some shifting in roles from one of these two players.

4 - Not sure who our other base DE will be opposite Thomas. Ledbetter is listed but those are done by the media team, not the coaches. I don't know how much to factor this in, but every DE on the Eagles last year was listed 255 - 270 lbs.

5 - We have 10 ILBs listed on our roster. No idea what to do with that other than think some players are going to be shifted around.

 

[Chopper0080]

Mandatory training camp in June should clear some of this up.

 

[kerouac9]

It'll be interesting to see how players are using the offseason to remake their bodies.

 

[BritCard]

Just some random thoughts on our roster that I need to get out of my head.

1 - We have 16 offensive linemen under contract, and only one of those is paid more than 4 mil (Humphries). I don't believe any player outside of Humphries and Paris Johnson is "safe".

2 - Our RB room is limited on explosive players, and our WR room has multiple small guys. Won't be shocked if Rondale Moore ends training camp as a RB as it is a better path for him to get snaps.

3 - Zaven Collins is the only non-EDGE LB over 240 lbs on our roster (depending on how you gauge Ojulari). Simmons the only one over 235. Would not shock me to see some shifting in roles from one of these two players.

4 - Not sure who our other base DE will be opposite Thomas. Ledbetter is listed but those are done by the media team, not the coaches. I don't know how much to factor this in, but every DE on the Eagles last year was listed 255 - 270 lbs.

5 - We have 10 ILBs listed on our roster. No idea what to do with that other than think some players are going to be shifted around.

I think Beachum and Hernandez are locks. Both signed 2 year deals with basically a year locked in guaranteed money. Probably Josh Jones too as he's cheap. Other than that I don't think anyone else is a lock.

Rondale can barely survive playing WR. He'd last about 10 minutes as a RB. I don't think he's a great scheme fit and will be surprised if he plays more than 30% of snaps. They should probably trade him.

On the defensive front, the roster still looks like that of a 3-4 team. I was sure they would go 4-3 when they signed Kyzir and a million other LB's but nothing about our DL says they are. We have more standup Edge guys that true DE's, and 2 of those that could play 4-3 DE are Collier and Dimukeje .

 

[Stout]

Still hard to judge what our defensive front will be, given our dearth of DL talent.

 

[Chopper0080]

It'll be interesting to see how players are using the offseason to remake their bodies.

My guess is you will see that more between the mandatory camp in June and training camp in August if players look like they will need to shift. It sounds like they are already getting looks at Collins outside.

 

[football karma]

It'll be interesting to see how players are using the offseason to remake their bodies.

I could see Cam Thomas being asked to put 10-15 lbs on and play 4/3 DE at 280-285

 

[football karma]

4 - Not sure who our other base DE will be opposite Thomas. Ledbetter is listed but those are done by the media team, not the coaches. I don't know how much to factor this in, but every DE on the Eagles last year was listed 255 - 270 lbs.

maybe LJ Collier? 6-3 290 but not an inside guy. a 4-3 can have a big DE in the 290s and lighter one in the 270s

per above, i think the lighter DE is Cam Thomas -- but who knows

that would put Rashard Lawrence as one DT and Carlos Watkins as the other. Leki and friends back up

passing downs: one of the DTs comes off, Cam Thomas kicks inside and Ojulari / MyJai come in as DE

 

[kerouac9]

maybe LJ Collier? 6-3 290 but not an inside guy. a 4-3 can have a big DE in the 290s and lighter one in the 270s

per above, i think the lighter DE is Cam Thomas -- but who knows

that would put Rashard Lawrence as one DT and Carlos Watkins as the other. Leki and friends back up

passing downs: one of the DTs comes off, Cam Thomas kicks inside and Ojulari / MyJai come in as DE

Woof. This is a discouraging group of defensive linemen.

 

[football karma]

Woof. This is a discouraging group of defensive linemen.

might have to draft NFC west RBs in FF just to get their two games a year vs this group

 

[QuebecCard]

I could see Cam Thomas being asked to put 10-15 lbs on and play 4/3 DE at 280-285

That's more 3/4 D-end size.

270 is big enough in a 4-3. (IMO)

 

[gmabel830]

I don't see Rondale moving to RB, but think it's very possible (maybe probable?) his main impact is still on things like bubble screens, jet sweeps, etc.

 

[Harry]

I think the Cards definitely start Johnson at LG if Humphries is healthy. Johnson needs game action to understand the difference between college & the NFL. Beachum will start at RT but is on a short leash. He’s essentially only played tackle and his performance was adequate.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

When Schneider and Caroll took over the Seahawks, the roster churn the first year was some outrageous number of over 250 roster transactions - I kind of expect that this year. Just constant churn trying to find the core to build upon next draft and free agency.

 

[kerouac9]

When Schneider and Caroll took over the Seahawks, the roster churn the first year was some outrageous number of over 250 roster transactions - I kind of expect that this year. Just constant churn trying to find the core to build upon next draft and free agency.

You don't build a core around the bottom 10 guys on your roster.

 

[Russ Smith]

I guess Collins was also working with the edge rushers early on which has people wondering if Gannon intends to use him as a pass rusher in passing situations.

I still haven't seen any clear declaration are we 3-4 or 4-3? Clearly we don't have the DL that they had in Philly so assuming he'll play what they played there might not be correct.

 

[QuebecCard]

I guess Collins was also working with the edge rushers early on which has people wondering if Gannon intends to use him as a pass rusher in passing situations.

I still haven't seen any clear declaration are we 3-4 or 4-3? Clearly we don't have the DL that they had in Philly so assuming he'll play what they played there might not be correct.

Gannon has made a 'clear declaration' that he won't be getting into a 3-4 / 4-3 debate.

He says that it's about matchups and that will be a week-to-week adaptation.

 

[Russ Smith]

Gannon has made a 'clear declaration' that he won't be getting into a 3-4 / 4-3 debate.

He says that it's about matchups and that will be a week-to-week adaptation.

Right I guess we'll see how that works. The reason it comes up of course is many of us remember Wilks essentially promising he wasn't going to switch to a 4-3 and then switching to a 4-3 which created a real issue since the defensive roster was far better suited for a 3-4 from the prior staff. That was one of the real issues I think he had with the Cards, if he intended to switch come out and say so.

But I'm assuming Gannon was honest with the Cards before we hired him so they knew his philosophy.

 

[kerouac9]

Right I guess we'll see how that works. The reason it comes up of course is many of us remember Wilks essentially promising he wasn't going to switch to a 4-3 and then switching to a 4-3 which created a real issue since the defensive roster was far better suited for a 3-4 from the prior staff. That was one of the real issues I think he had with the Cards, if he intended to switch come out and say so.

But I'm assuming Gannon was honest with the Cards before we hired him so they knew his philosophy.

The difference is that Wilks had established stars he played away from the strengths of, including Chandler Jones and Patrick Peterson. He ended up essentially benching Deone Bucannon for Josh Bynes.

There are no stars on this defense right now to miscast. It's community theater all the way down.

 

[Chopper0080]

The difference is that Wilks had established stars he played away from the strengths of, including Chandler Jones and Patrick Peterson. He ended up essentially benching Deone Bucannon for Josh Bynes.

There are no stars on this defense right now to miscast. It's community theater all the way down.

This is one reason I think they will just go to a 4-3. There is not any talent that requires sticking with a 3-4.

 

[Chopper0080]

I guess Collins was also working with the edge rushers early on which has people wondering if Gannon intends to use him as a pass rusher in passing situations.

I still haven't seen any clear declaration are we 3-4 or 4-3? Clearly we don't have the DL that they had in Philly so assuming he'll play what they played there might not be correct.

I'm not shocked if they work him in at DE to get him consistent snaps. That is a guess, but one based upon his work with EDGE players at times already, his size, and the depth of the LB position and lack-of at DE.

 

[D-Dogg]

Right I guess we'll see how that works. The reason it comes up of course is many of us remember Wilks essentially promising he wasn't going to switch to a 4-3 and then switching to a 4-3 which created a real issue since the defensive roster was far better suited for a 3-4 from the prior staff. That was one of the real issues I think he had with the Cards, if he intended to switch come out and say so.

But I'm assuming Gannon was honest with the Cards before we hired him so they knew his philosophy.

That was his philosophy in Philly. He ran all kinds of looks.

 

[Chopper0080]

That was his philosophy in Philly. He ran all kinds of looks.

What does "all kinds of looks" mean?

 

[D-Dogg]

He ran even fronts, odd fronts, weird morphing stuff. Half the coverage in Philly media was trying to pin him down on defensive philosophy. He will sub a ton of packages in one game, straight in another.

 

[D-Dogg]

Like if he was asked if he was a 3-4 or a 4-3 guy the answer would be "yes"