What They’re Saying About the Eagles


Here’s our weekly roundup of what the media are saying about the Eagles.

What kind of impact will Chip Kelly’s blazing-fast tempo have on the offensive linemen over a 16-game season? John Clayton offers his thoughts.

Any offensive lineman coming out of an up-tempo system in college will tell you how tough it is. The difference in college is there are more players on the roster who can be used if guys get tired. Does that mean Kelly might have to have nine offensive linemen on the active roster rather than the seven or eight most teams use? Possibly. The weight of each lineman won’t drop that far down, but it will be tough for 330-pound road-graders to survive in this offense. You also wonder if the linemen will be completely worn out by the end of the season. Conditioning is going to be a key.

Clayton also assesses the NFC East.

The guess here is that the winner of the NFC East will be a nine- or 10-win team and will not secure a first-round playoff bye. Because the top teams in the NFC East are so close in talent, it’s likely that the winner of the division will be no better than 4-2 in divisional games and very likely 3-3.

Reuben Frank thinks there could be some rough waters ahead for this defense.

Maybe the new coaches will help. Maybe the new coordinator will help. Maybe the new scheme will help. Maybe the new additions will help. Still, I don’t see where the Eagles have really dramatically improved themselves on defense. The subtraction of Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a few others will help, but I still don’t see any playmakers. Fletcher Cox is very good, Mychal Kendricks has a chance to be a player, and Bennie Logan could become a stud. But the sacks, the interceptions, the forced fumbles, the big game-changing hits –- all the stuff that was missing last year and, really, the last couple years -– where’s all that coming from? The way the Eagles are going to play offense is going to put tremendous pressure on the defense. A three-and-out might take 45 seconds, and then it’s back out there for the defense. That’s going to be very tough for this group.

DRC recently told a reporter that he was big on signing in Denver because they weren’t afraid to point out his flaws. “Nobody had done that, and that impressed me,” he said. These comments didn’t sit so well with Tommy Lawlor.

Since entering the NFL in 2008, DRC has been supervised by the following people:

ARZ head coach Ken Whisenhunt

ARZ Def Co. Clancy Pendergrast

ARZ Def Co. Bill Davis

ARZ DBs coach Teryl Austin

ARZ DBs coach Donnie Henderson

PHI head coach Andy Reid

PHI Def Co. Juan Castillo

PHI Def Co. Todd Bowles (also 2012 DBs coach)

PHI DBs coach Johnnie Lynn

DRC would have us believe that none of these men in 5 years pointed out his flaws. Okay. And I”m going to cure cancer by sniffing Megan Fox’s hair while we chug PBRs and watch Lone Wolf McQuade together.

TO Tommy’s point, DRC credited Castillo just last season for pointing out his weaknesses and helping him work on them.

If you’re in the mood to feel really old read this piece on Jon Runyan’s son, who is getting ready to play college ball at Michigan.

 The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder pledged to the Wolverines earlier this week. Jon Runyan Sr., who played nine of his 14 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, was a standout offensive tackle at Michigan from 1992 to 1995. “Because of my dad, I’ve grown up watching Michigan play,” Jon Runyan Jr. said. “I guess you could say that helped with making the decision.”

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