Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 4/1/2014.
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Eagles notes: Thoughts on DeSean Jackson to the Redskins, and whether or not he was a 'one trick pony' - JimmyK, Philly.com
However, if there was one team that I could see foregoing thorough investigative work on the demands of the owner to just go get a player, that would be Dan Snyder and the Washington Redskins. On the one hand, it would such a Redskiny thing to do to bring in a character concern player into an already unstable locker room.
Replacing DeSean - Tommy Lawlor, Iggles Blitz
Chip Kelly likes to say that the Eagles have an "equal opportunity offense". He is open to running or passing. He doesn’t care who the ball gets thrown to. Kelly just wants to score points. He isn’t set in a particular way of getting that done. This is the key thing to remember when trying to figure out how the team will replace DeSean Jackson and his production. Too many people have thought in a linear fashion. "The Eagles are nuts if they think some rookie can come in and replace DeSean." The rookie will take DeSean’s roster spot, but his role in the offense will be addressed more creatively than that. If the Eagles get lucky and draft a WR that offers instant impact, great. But that won’t be the plan.
DeSean Jackson FAQ: What the Eagles Were Thinking and Where We Go From Here - Bill Barnwell, Grantland
Will the Eagles miss Jackson? Less than you’d think. One of the hallmarks of Chip Kelly’s system at Oregon was its effectiveness while swapping playmakers out of the lineup. Kelly started three different quarterbacks during his four years without skipping a beat. There’s no guarantee he can be as aggressive in changing his personnel at the professional level, of course, but he certainly deserves the benefit of the doubt after what he did with Nick Foles a year ago.
Kelly: Beating Man Coverage Is Huge For Us - Sheil Kapadia, Birds 24/7
The Eagles did damage against zone looks early in the season, and opponents took notice. Part of the reason was that packaged plays put zone defenders in conflict and gave the team's quarterbacks post-snap options. Soon, defenses took their chances playing a lot of man coverage, often with one safety deep. That allowed them to key in on LeSean McCoy and force the Eagles' pass-catchers to win one-on-one matchups. Tempo played a role as well.
Report didn't sink DeSean; His exit was sealed - Geoff Mosher, CSN Philly
The NJ.com report that detailed DeSean Jackson’s history of canoodling with Los Angeles gang members told a chilling and surreal story about the former Eagles wide receiver. But despite some interesting theories making their rounds, the story hardly served as the impetus or driving force behind the team’s decision to sever ties with the three-time Pro Bowl wideout.
Taking A Look At WR Picture Here - Dave Spadaro, PE.com
Who steps up? In no particular order, the Eagles have some candidates. Damaris Johnson has the skill set to fit into the equation in the offense – good quickness, capable hands and elusiveness – and he must rebound after his dip in game reps in 2013 after a promising rookie campaign. Jeff Maehl joined the Eagles midway through Chip Kelly’s first season and caught 4 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. Veteran Brad Smith played in six games last season and had a couple of catches. He’s going to benefit greatly by having a full offseason to prepare the way the Eagles need, and by being part of the rotation in the training sessions and having the offense down pat. Smith could emerge as a jack-of-all-trades player for the offense.
Small Receivers, Big Impact | The Tailgater
Little wide receivers can have a big impact. They can also come with a small price tag. In a draft like this one, loaded with 6-foot-3 mega-talents, teams will be able to find receivers with 4.4 speed, great hands, kick return experience and other marketable skills in the middle rounds, all because they don’t crack six feet.
Ohio State, Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins talks about his career, OSU - Landy-Grant Holy Land
Former All-American cornerback Malcolm Jenkins spoke with Land-Grant Holy Land about his career, free agency, and a host of other topics.