http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/1561 Recent articles about Chris Clemons en-us Defensive end is one of the most important positions on your defense. Look at the New York Giants and how they won the Superbowl. Pressure, pressure, and more pressure. Something Tom Brady is not used to seeing much of. So with that being said, here are the teams who benefit most from having a scary tandem at defensive end. 10. Kyle Vanden Bosch & Jevon Kearse: The unpredictable outcome of Jevon Kearse's return to Tennessee after a horrific showing in Philadelphia for the past 4 seasons pushes the Titan's tandem to ten. 9. Elvis Dumervil & John Engelberger: The Denver Broncos have a young star emerging on the line in Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil had a breakout season last year recording 12.5 sacks, 4 fumbles forced, and 1 interception. The problem is, the Broncos will have a position battle for the left defensive end spot. John Engelberger started last year but Jarvis Moss will be fighting for playing time and so will Tim Crowder, two young guys waiting to jump in and shine. Until they have an established left end, I cannot move them up the list. 8. Adewale Ogunleye & Mark Anderson: The two Chicago ends helped anchor a defense that pushed this team to a Superbowl appearance just two seasons ago. The defense took a step back last year and did not have the type of season that we are used to seeing from a Bear's defense. Ogunleye and Anderson each had an alright season, but not to potential. 7. Will Smith & Charles Grant: The New Orleans Saints are not especially known for their defense, but Smith and Grant want to make us believe otherwise. With the help of a revamped front 7 (additions of Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis) this tandem should be expected to do big things in 2008. 6. Mario Williams & Anthony Weaver: The first overall pick was a mistake right? Reggie Bush was the obvious pick right? Wrong. Dead wrong. Super Mario collected 14 sacks this past season and showed everyone that Houston made the right choice. But because of the lopsided sack count, as Weaver had 0 sacks, they must be placed 6th. Not to be disappointed, they'll get better with experience. 5. Patrick Kerney & Darryl Tapp: The Seahawks pass rush brings two different skill sets to the line. Strength and speed. Patrick Kerney's brute strength gets him to the quarterback. He recorded 14.5 sacks this past season, 2nd in the NFL. Darryl Tapp brings speed and versatility to the line in Seattle. At age 23, he tallied 7 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 interception. Don't expect rest from these two, they bring it every single down. 4. Aaron Kampman & Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila: These two Green Bay stars are a bit overlooked by the football world. All the hype is on Brett Favre, but with his recent departure, it'll be up to the defense to get it done. Just check the stats, Kampman and KGB are the real deal. 3. Trent Cole & Chris Clemons: The Philadelphia Eagles are known for their offensive and defensive line play in the Andy Reid era. After Derrick Burgess departed to Oakland and Jevon Kearse did not pan out, Trent Cole has stepped in and been a force. His breakout numbers last season( 12.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles) showed he is among the elite pass rushers in the NFL. Clemons played for Oakland but his numbers don't lie. This 24 year old decided to breakout the same year as Cole with 8 sacks 2. Osi Umenyiora & Justin Tuck: With Michael Strahan's recent retirement, the Giants have a new look to their defensive line. Expect Osi to take a lot of double teams, but expect Tuck to explode. Tuck recorded 10 sacks last year and is good enough to step in and make an impact. Do not expect him to fill Strahan's shoes, but expect him to play very well in New York. 1. Jared Allen & Kenechi Udeze: Jared Allen is arguably the best defensive end in the NFL today. He lead the NFL in sacks last season and will be added to the Vikings stacked defensive line. With the Williams' brothers in the middle and Allen on the end, expect Udeze to have a big impact as a lot of focus will be off of him. These two hold the number one spot for the best defensive end tandem in the NFL for the 2008 season. Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:06:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278076 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278076 Jackson is rediculously fast and was a big time playmaker at University of Cal. I would be surprised if he did not play on special teams as the kick returner and punt returner. But there is still a question that lingers in my head. Will he be placed in the slot at wide receiver from day one? I would love to see him get on the field and make plays from the slot. This is given we do not aquire another receiver, which I still think we pull some type of deal a lot like the Donte Stallworth deal back in 2006. If we were to aquire another receiver the lineup would most likley be that receiver, Reggie Brown, and Kevin Curtis in the slot. But even if we do pick up another receiver does DeSean Jackson see offensive playing time? Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:37:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278054 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278054 PHILADELPHIA -- It is the expectation of the Eagles that sometime down the road, maybe in the next year or two, third-round pick Bryan Smith will have added some meat to his 230-pound frame and be able to handle the every-down duties of an NFL defensive lineman. For now, though, Smith at least has someone he can pattern himself after. Just a short walk down the locker room is newcomer Chris Clemons, a defensive end signed as a free agent who, like Smith, carried the body mass of a linebacker when he entered the league in 2003. In fact, the Redskins signed Clemons out of Georgia, after he was bypassed in the draft, to play linebacker. Eventually, his speed and burst off the edge facilitated his move to the defensive line. The trick, Clemons said, is playing bigger than your actual size. "You'd have to go through my whole life story to understand playing bigger than what I am," Clemons said. "When you come up the way I came up, you have to learn to go out and get what you want, and that's playing bigger than what you are." Clemons had just dragged his body out of the weight room after another hour-plus minicamp practice and wasn't about to enlighten the crowd on the trials and tribulations of his childhood. But it's clear he doesn't think his eight sacks for Oakland last season came by accident, nor did his transformation from special teams maven to quarterback hitman. Clemons, 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, played linebacker and end for the Raiders, and was used at end sporadically until Oakland switched its base defense from a 4-3 to a nickel package and asked him to play more snaps. He joined rare company by recording eight sacks despite starting fewer than 10 games. The only others to get at least eight sacks while starting fewer than 10 games last season were the Giants' Justin Tuck, Green Bay's Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Tampa Bay's Greg White. The Eagles envision multiple roles for Clemons. Coach Andy Reid has said Clemons was brought in to upgrade a special teams unit that sorely lacked speed and athleticism in crucial areas last year, while also giving defensive coordinator Jim Johnson another pass-rushing option on defense. "Fastballs," Reid likes to call such players. That doesn't bother Clemons in the slightest. "You always can see yourself as an every-down guy, [but] sometimes you really have to sit back and think, 'Is that going to be beneficial to me ...?' "My body is not the type of body, I don't think, to play every single down, especially in the NFC East, playing against big [offensive] tackles and teams that run the ball more." Clemons has incurred enough injuries to learn that lesson the hard way. He missed his rookie season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament and half of his second season because of a torn labrum he sustained after getting back on the field too soon after having his appendix removed. His 2006 season was marred by a sprained left knee he sustained in the preseason that led to his release by Washington. The Eagles expect incumbent left end Juqua Parker (former Juqua Thomas), a solid run stopper, to start and play mostly on first and second downs before going to Clemons to augment the pass rush. They also have second-year pro Victor Abiamiri, veteran Darren Howard and Smith to keep throwing those fastballs. "It helps, because me playing 60, 70 plays per game, you're going to get tired," Clemons said. "The play you get tired might be the play you get beat on, so you always want to keep fresh guys on the field. "I used to be so energized coming on for third downs in Oakland. I could understand exactly where [Reid] is coming from." Fri, 30 May 2008 06:27:24 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/272379 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/272379 Are the off season additions enough for the Eagles to make another run at the SB? Merrill Reese seems to think so. Mon, 12 May 2008 10:18:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265993 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265993 PHILADELPHIA -- When the Eagles cut ties with Jevon Kearse in February, many assumed fellow defensive lineman Darren Howard was next on the chopping block. And when the Eagles signed defensive end Chris Clemons, it seemed to be just a matter of time before Howard got the pink slip. Then, the Eagles added two more defensive linemen in the draft -- including McNeese State defensive end Bryan White -- and it appeared coach Andy Reid had officially rendered Howard expendable. Yet, when the Eagles wrapped up their first minicamp Monday, Howard was still there, dressing in the same locker stall he's occupied since being signed in 2006. Only this wasn't the Howard of the past two seasons, the one signed to a six-year, $30.5 million deal and expected to wreak havoc opposite Kearse in the Eagles pass rush. This wasn't the frustrated Howard, who never came close to fulfilling that contract, lost his starting job and eventually faded into the shadows of the NovaCare Complex. This Howard had trimmed down by 10 pounds, expressed optimism about 2008 and had accepted his role on the team. Hey, he still has one right now. "My whole career, I've always been one of the guys, if not the guy, on the defensive line," Howard said after the minicamp, recalling double-digit sack seasons with New Orleans. "I talked to [defensive line coach] Pete Jenkins before the camp and I talked about my role, and I understand that and I accept that. ... For the last two years, I didn't really understand what my role was going to be because it wasn't always clear. Now that I know where it is, I know where I fit with this team and I know where I can contribute." Right now, Howard believes he's still an important piece of the team's nickel and goal-line packages at defensive tackle and a formidable backup to Pro Bowl right defensive end Trent Cole. Howard disappeared last season after he lost his starting job to Cole. The big-play ability he showed for six season in The Big Easy was all but gone. When he did make an impact, it came during goal-line situations here and there -- certainly not what the Eagles originally broke the bank for. Howard, who averaged 40 to 50 tackles and about eight sacks per season with New Orleans, had one sack last season and just eight total tackles. The decline left Howard unhappy about himself and his situation in Philadelphia. But after much contemplation during the offseason and some discussions with coaches that cleared up his place on the team, Howard said he came to accept the role he can serve this season. "It was different, something that you got to adjust to it," he said. "I think every player comes into that time of their career. As long as it's clear between players and coaches and staff -- which it wasn't always -- when it's clear, it's a lot easier to accept." Now that he's trimmed some fat, Howard plans to add more muscle between now and training camp, which starts early this summer -- July 21 at Lehigh University. He likes the weapons Reid added to the defensive line and is comfortable backing up Cole, even though the left defensive end job is open, with incumbent Juqua Parker, second-year pro Victor Abiamiri, Clemons and White, a third-round pick, in the battle. Howard, a career right end, tried to play the left side when Kearse missed most of 2006 due to a knee injury but never felt comfortable and doesn't consider himself a candidate for the starting job. He believes he can still start -- just not here. "Not with the situation the way it is now," he said. "You got a young guy in Trent Cole playing. He's making a thousand plays. This is my ninth year. I'm 31 years old. That's not going to keep me from trying to get better, but you got to look at the situation realistically." Mon, 12 May 2008 06:23:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265928 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265928 Offense comes back strong: Donovan McNabb: Finished season healthy on a 3 game win streak and has all offseason to practice and not rehab. Brian Westbrook: Self explanatory, the man is unreal. Wide Receivers: Some say we did not address this position well. I still believe that we will make a trade similar to the Donte Stallworth deal 2 years ago. We have to get someone. If not we will rely on Curtis who has one season of experience with McNabb under his belt, and Reggie Brown to try to break out this year as last year was a disappointment to Eagles fans. Tight Ends: LJ Smith is back off injury and provides a big play spark. Celek looked good when he got the chance and was able to make plays. Schobel's future could be somewhere else next season. Offensive Line: Good as long as they all stay healthy. I think Max Jean-Gilles is ready for the pro's and if someone goes down he can step up. Defense will succeed: Trent Cole: Great pass rusher coming off the edge to put pressure on QB's. Patterson & Bunkley: With another year of experience these two should be a great tandem in 2008-2009. Patterson was 3rd in tackles of all defensive tackles last year behind the 2nd place tackler by 1. As long as he is not suspended he should be a huge factor. Brown & Sheppard: Sheldon will be back on attack again this year! No one knows what will happen to Sheppard but he will either play great on the field or bring us a great player in return, or a pick in next years draft. Linebackers: Jim Johnson thinks he has finally found that young, talented, smart group of guys who will play great next year and mesh through the next 10 years together. I feel confident with Gaither, Bradley, and Gocong starting and Akeem Jordan rotating in to add some speed and energy to the defense. Gocong and Gaither both started last year and can provide leadership for the other 2 young guys. Dawkins & Mikell: Brian Dawkins wasn't in football shape last year because he had to tend to his wife while she gave birth. Dawkins will be working hard this year and get himself ready properly for the season. As for Mikell, well he has to stay motivated throughout camp to keep his job and I believe he will do just that. Now for the new guys: Asante Samuel: Best in the business. Leads the NFL with 16 interceptions over the last two seasons. Who can forget the two interceptions and a touchdown he put up against us last year? Chris Clemons: Tallied a career best 8 sacks for the Oakland Raiders last year. Now he comes to a better defense and has the luxury of playing on the opposite side of Trent Cole, one of the NFL's best pass rushers. Klecko & Wilson: Dan Klecko is switching his position from defensive line to fullback for the Eagles and Kris Wilson is going to provide an athletic talent at the tight end position although he played full back in Kansas City at times. He had a leg injury which set back his career but healthy, this kid can make plays. Lorenzo Booker: Fast. Quick. Playmaker. All words to describe the versatile 2nd year running back out of Florida State. The Eagles had interest in him during last year's draft and after seeing what he could do in the pro's, they traded their 4th round pick aquired from Carolina for him. He should provide matchup problems while on the field with Brian Westbrook. Jackson & Laws: Desean Jackson was a tremendous kick returner at the University of California. He returned 6 kicks in his college career and had a good receiving career too. He provides speed for the offense and is a game breaker on special teams similar to the ability that Devin Hester provides for the Bears. Not to say that Jackson is going to have the impact Hester has but he will do better then Reno Mahe because I'm sure you have all seen his return against Tennessee last year! Trevor Laws had 112 tackles his senior season on a God awful Notre Dame team. He stood out on the defensive line and will provide depth for the Eagles. When he gets in he will be able to make plays and do what is asked of him. With the team healthy and the new additions, the Eagles should soar in 2008! Sat, 10 May 2008 22:30:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265594 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265594 There's nothing but great news coming from the Eagles' minicamp. The Eagles have improved immensely since last year. This team is truly ready to compete for a championship. Thu, 08 May 2008 00:03:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264613 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264613 During a Monday press conference, Eagles coach Andy Reid was asked about whether the situation involving cornerback Lito Sheppard is any closer to being resolved. Reid refused to address it. "I'm not going to get into all of that," he said. But the issue continues to hover over the team, like the scent from the byproducts of a beans-and-bananas brunch. Will Sheppard be traded? Or will he spend another year with the team that clearly wanted to trade him? If so, will he be happy with a base salary for 2008 that equates to less than ten percent of Asante Samuel's guaranteed pay? Our guess is that Sheppard eventually will be traded, and that the Eagles are acting like they'd be willing to keep him in the hopes of not getting fleeced by a team that thinks it's shopping at a Philly fire sale. Reid also addressed a few other topics of interest on Monday. On rookie receiver DeSean Jackson, Reid said this: "He came in here and we all heard he was fast and he can catch the football, but until you get here, you don't know that. He looked like he had good quickness, good speed and he caught the ball okay. Those were all things that we were looking for. Again, there's a lot of work ahead, this is just [in] shorts." Reid talked about the offseason shoulder surgery to linebacker Rocky Boiman: "[It was his] shoulder. It was a fairly major [operation]. I can get you the information on it. He's back now; it happened a while back. He'll be ready for contact once he gets to training camp. Until then, we'll limit him." Another Eagles player had a different procedure — something was lanced from the forehead of tackle Tra Thomas: "It could be a pimple," Reid said. "I don't know exactly what [it] is, right now. We'll find out when he gets back." Mon, 05 May 2008 15:42:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/263677 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/263677 By my count, the Eagles are bringing in 26 new players to minicamp. This includes free agents, players acquired through trades, drafted rookies and free agent rookies. Here is a complete list of new players listed by position: Running backs: Lorenzo Booker Fullbacks: Jed Collins Dan Klecko Wide Receviers: Bam Childress Terrell Golden Frantz Hardy DeSean Jackson Jamal Jones Shaheer McBride Tight Ends: Kris Wilson Offensive Tackles: Franklin Dunbar King Dunlap Mike Gibson Guards: Mike McGlynn Defensive Tackles: Trevor Laws Defensive Ends: Chris Clemons A.J. Schable Bryan Smith Linebackers: Rocky Boiman Joe Mays Justin Roland Andy Studebaker Cornerbacks: Kyle Arrington Asante Samuel Safety: Quintin Demps Punter: Richmond McGee It's interesting to look at the positions where they only got a few players, like safety and defensive tackle. Clearly the Eagles feel comfortable with the players they have returning from last years squad at those positions. The one position not represented in the list above: QB. Fri, 02 May 2008 12:26:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/262764 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/262764 Football season is still a long way off, but with minicamps starting up this weekend it's hard to not start looking forward to the coming season. The Eagles will begin their minicamp today and there are a few intriguing stories that are already developing as we look to the new season. *Lito Sheppard He's still on the roster, so Lito will be coming to minicamp. There is some discussion that if the Eagles are still trying to trade him, they are taking a risk in having him participate in minicamp. An injury right now would kill his trade value, so let's hope he stays healthy. *New faces By my count, the Eagles are bringing in 26 new players to minicamp. This includes free agents, players acquired through trades, drafted rookies and free agent rookies. Click the link for a complete list of new players listed by position. *Position battles Yes, it's early, but position battles start now. Dan Klecko is being brought in to battle with Jason Davis for the starting fullback spot. L.J. Smith will still be the starting tight end, but there are three players vying for playing time behind him: Brent Celek, Kris Wilson and Matt Schobel. My guess is the signing of Wilson will mark the end of Schobel's Eagle career. There will also be an interesting battle at running back where the acquisition of Lorenzo Booker will likely push out either Tony Hunt or Ryan Moats. Fri, 02 May 2008 11:42:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/262748 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/262748 Here is the transcript of the conference call that the Eagles had with DeSean Jackson for Philadelphia-area reporters: On what it feels like to be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles: "It's a blessing, a dream come true. The Philadelphia Eagles were high on my list. I felt like I had a connection with the program, [head coach] Andy Reid and the rest of the coaches. It's a dream come true and I am ready to get in there as soon as possible and make great things happen for the team." On what the connection was between him and Reid: "I felt like we had a good eye-to-eye conversation. He let me know how he felt about me and he just said he needed an explosive wide receiver that could come in and return kicks and punts. I informed him that I thought I was that guy to come in there and do some great things." On whether he was aware that it normally takes wide receivers a few years to blossom in this system: "Mostly, I spoke with [Dave Culley] the wide receiver coach. He just spent time breaking down the offense when I went on my private trip there to visit the team. The offense looks like a great offense to be a part of. I am just very excited for the opportunity I am getting." On whether he was surprised that he lasted as long as he did on the first day of the draft: "I definitely was. I felt like I would go higher than I did, but God had a plan for me and I knew it would be a team that would pick me up and put me in a great position. Like I said, everything happens for a reason and I think this is going to be a great fit for me." On how often people bring up his size and what he thinks about that: "I have been hearing about that all my life. It has been something to motivate me. Sitting back and waiting for my name to be called, I kind of figured that a lot of people were afraid of my size. Like I tell everybody else, my heart is bigger than my size and I play larger than I really am. It is just something that I will keep having to go through in my career, but I am ready to compete right away." On whether he will play with a chip on his shoulder because a few teams passed on him: "I definitely feel like that will motivate me. I just know I have to come to the Eagles ready to play, I will expect a lot of myself. I have sat back the past few weeks and saw [CB] Asante Samuel added to that secondary with [FS] Brian Dawkins. They have [RB] Brian Westbrook and [WB] Donovan McNabb. Those are some awesome names to be a part of. I am going to come in right away and try to compete and just get better as soon as possible." On how long he has been working with Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice: "I have been working with him for the past two months. He is a great mentor of mine. He has been teaching me a lot of things about running routes and being ready for the competition at the next level. He told me to study my playbook, keep my body healthy and so much more. Like I said, it has been an honor for me to be able to work with one of the best wide receivers in the game." On how they got together: "I am actually signed with DeBartolo Sports and Entertainment, so he is signed with them too. That is how I got to meet him." On why he was able to have success in college returning punts: "I am very confident. I can just sit back there and catch the football no matter where it is kicked. I can field punts and I am able to see the whole field. I can see my blockers and make great moves from there. Once I see a seam, I am going to hit it and take it the distance." On whether there is anything else that separates him from other returners: "I just feel like - even with the draft, I just felt like I was ready, just waiting for someone else to show confidence in me. The Philadelphia Eagles are a perfect fit for me and it's an honor and a blessing to be able to be their pick." On what he thinks will be the biggest adjustment from college to the NFL: "Coming in and working hard. I have to face every team. It's a long season, I hear from a lot of people in the NFL. I have to study playbooks and go to film sessions. I have to keep my body healthy. It is going to be a big transition for me, but I feel like I can come in and produce right away." On whether he thinks it will be harder to adjust to the return game or to playing the wide receiver: "I think both of them will be challenging. Coming in and being an impact wide receiver right away and coming in and returning kicks right way will both be challenging. That is something that I expect from myself. I expect nothing but the best things. I just feel like I am capable of making great things happen for the team. I am going to hope for the best and certainly come in prepared and ready to work." TREVOR LAWS Here is the transcript of the conference call that the Eagles had with Trevor Laws for Philadelphia-area reporters: On whether he had much contact with the Eagles coming into the draft: "Yes, I talked to a couple of guys. I had some great interviews with the guys. It's a surprise, though. It's a big surprise; I'm thrilled about it." On why he is surprised: "I would be surprised anywhere. Going through the draft process, not knowing what's going to happen, you can go anywhere. It's amazing that I'm going to be up there in Philly. It's awesome." On the situation at defensive tackle: "I looked at their roster a little bit, but I see there is a position for me to contribute. There is an opportunity for me to get in there and compete with some guys. I think it's a pretty good place for me." On whether he plays defensive end or defensive tackle: "I would definitely say I'm a tackle." On whether he has played any defensive end: "I played end in a 3-4 scheme, but in Philadelphia , who plays a 4-3, I'm definitely an inside guy." On who he talked to the most when he visited with the Eagles: "The whole staff. We sat down for a little bit and talked to a few people. They were some pretty positive meetings." On how close he is with DE Victor Abiamiri: "We're real close friends. We were roommates for over a year. I talk to him on a weekly basis almost. It's really exciting to go to the same team as him." On what his day was like: "It's nerve-wracking, but the moment your name is called, it's just amazing. It's the moment you've been waiting for, for so long. I'm just beaming right now." On what it was like when he got the phone call from the Eagles: "A lot of Eagles staff and [head] coach [Andy] Reid and a couple of different people. It was surreal. It feels great." On who the first person was that he talked to: "I think Coach Reid. As soon as the phone [rang], my whole family mobbed me, so it was kind of hard to hear, but it was a great situation." On whether he was worried that his stock would drop in the draft after Notre Dame struggled: "Yes, definitely. But, I think with my strong Senior Bowl and combine performances, teams kind of looked through the season and saw the player I really was." On where he is right now: "I'm in Minnesota right now at my parents' house." Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:30:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/259952 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/259952 According to a league source Al Davis tried desperately to resign Clemons but couldnt get through to reach him. Here's a quote from coach Kiffin: "We'll miss him," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said yesterday during an early-morning media breakfast. "He was a really phenomenal special-teams player for us early before he even started playing. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:48:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/226516 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/226516 The Oakland Raiders have made numerous off-season additions and they don't appear to be slowing down yet, even with being dangerously close to the salary cap. The team has signed two defensive lineman over the past couple days and were pretty close to acquiring a third. Out of all the moves they've made, these may have been the most beneficial Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:22:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/224523 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/224523 Okay, so far this offseason we've really seen the Eagles go on the defensive. With the signings of CB/Asante Samuel, DE/Chris Clemons, LB/Rocky Boiman the team has made it a point to go out and get what they feel is necessary to make them more complete in order to get to that next level. Aside from the lone offensive signing of the offseason in Dan Klecko we really haven't changed much offensively. Sure, he will compete with Jason Davis at FB and certainly provide more pass protection as well as run blocking for the ball carrier. Now, the signings all make sense but have to make you wonder about the direction of the team in the coming month or so. The release of Jevon Kearse was defniitely anticipated and was quickly overshadowed by the signing of Clemons. The addition of Boiman fills that void of a veteran LB presence (Takeo Spikes) in the event that someone goes down or just needs some guidance. He may challenge for a starting spot, most likely against Gocong but more than likely this was a signing with positional depth in mind. Of course Asante is here to help create turnovers and to shut down the other team's No.1 receiver. With all of this being said.. how does this roster look 2 months down the road? Do we all expect some trades to go down? Possibly. Can we expect another under the radar signing or two before draft day? Also possible. I really don't see us adding another starter before draft day but there are some guys still out on the market that can be key role players and provide competition on a roster that doesn't have any glaring holes. Yes, I understand everyone's "Need" for a WR but I really don't think it's a must have to take this team over the top. It's pretty safe to say that we'll grab a WR in the draft, possibly in the 1st round even, depends on the value of the pick and who is sitting there on the board. We're going to have an abundance of picks come draft day and I don't know how we can possibly keep even 8 of them seeing how we'll have anywhere between 10-12. Our needs in my opinion based on need goes in this order: S, OT, WR, DT, DE, CB - - Obviously in most of these positions they will be players to be groomed and not play right away, especially at Safety and OT. We need more depth behind Bunk and Patterson and we need to find that guy to play opposite of Cole. Our need for a CB will definitely jump forward if we trade Lito. These are just some of my thoughts on a slow day in the NFL, even with the signing of Boiman which I do like because I've read some pretty good things about him. Feel free to leave some feedback in response to my thoughts. Just remember that in the end, no matter what.. LET'S GO BIRDS!!!! Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:24:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/216827 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/216827 Ladies and Gents since the offseason started I've been on Donovan's bandwagon to get our Birds some playmakers aka a real number 1 WR. However time went by and yet even as I write this March 23, 2008 there is no new offensive weapon for Super 5. I mean there's always a chance before the draft we make a trade or something. The thing is I realized we really shouldnt let Lito go, he's been a constant Cowboy Killa. He's been our Number 1 CB for a few years and has done a great job.. With the addition of Asante and Chis Clemmons I think our Defense can really excel. Jim Johnson can blitz out of his ass now. We can have more LB blitzes because we know Gocong and Bradley can rush the passer as well. Now my fellow birds fans for anyone whoever reads my articles or comments you know i'm right in the front of the bus when it comes to getting a top WR but I think keeping lito might be better. Now lets just imagine my scenairo. I say draft S Kenny Phillips from Miami in the first round, for the second round pick the best WR out there and then address our usual picks which concists of OT and DTs. So lets say the seasons here.... we slide Sheldon to nickel have Kenny Phillips start at safety dawk at his spot asante and lito at the corners. We can then unleash our d-linemen for havoc. Damnit I MISS the GANG GREEN D our city loves great defense thats one thing our team would always get right through the years. The last few we went away from it time to get back on it. The only way my scenario works though is if Andy doesnt red shirt our draft picks because it seems the Eagles are the only pro team to redshirt rookies lol. Seriously though if we get rookie results from the rookies we are going to Tampa. Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:30:24 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/215535 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/215535