Last week, we looked at five teams that could be interested in trading up in the first round of next week’s draft.
But it looks like we should add one more to the mix: the Atlanta Falcons.
Quarterback EJ Manuel is doing a weekly diary here on Birds 24/7 as we count down to the draft. In this installment he writes about his visit to Philadelphia, and his emotions with the draft less than a week away.
Casey Matthews cut off his locks and is sporting a fresh new look. Time to change things up, he said.
That has pretty much been the mantra of the Eagles this offseason. The organization — the city — is dizzy with all the alterations Chip Kelly is making. What is foreign to most, though, feels quite familiar to the former Duck linebacker.
The 2013 schedule has been released, and it features just a pair of prime-time games for the Eagles.
The Birds will open the season with a Monday night matchup in D.C. against the Redskins on Sept.9. And Andy Reid comes to town in Week 3 for a Thursday night tilt against the Chiefs on Sept. 19.
The Eagles’ remaining 14 games are on Sunday, and 12 of those 14 are scheduled for 1 p.m. starts.
The Birds start the season with three games in 11 days, and they don’t get the bye until Week 12.
Below is the breakdown (at signifies road games).
Todd Herremans says he has not watched the draft since 2005. That was the year the Eagles selected him in the fourth round out of Saginaw Valley State.
But next Thursday could affect the ninth-year pro. After moving to right tackle before the 2011 season, Herremans could be asked to slide back inside to guard, particularly if the Eagles use a first-round pick on someone like Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel, Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher or Oklahoma’s Lane Johnson.
So surely Herremans will be tuning in this year, right?
“I’m sure I’ll see it on Twitter,” he said.
LeSean McCoy will have no issue sharing the load with Bryce Brown. He won’t be upset if Chris Polk works into the mix.
In this offense, he says, it’s a necessity to rotate backs in and out.
“You’re going to need another back in this offense,” said McCoy. “This is an offense where it’s not a debate, ‘I can do it myself.’ For one, you are going to do more plays than any other offense. Two, the amount of hits. You’re running so much. If you’re faking it, or running it, pass or not, you’re constantly going. I think any back, no matter how great of shape he’s in, is going to need some extra help.
“You’re running so much, it’s like a freaking track meet. It’s like a relay. You need extra guys.”
Is Dion Jordan overrated? Will Eric Fisher be available at No. 4? That and more in the latest Eagles mailbag.
When Vinny Curry began his college career at Marshall, he played defensive end in a 3-4.
His position coach at the time? Jerry Azzinaro. Yes, that’s the same Jerry Azzinaro who is now coaching the Eagles’ defensive line. He spent one year at Marshall before joining Chip Kelly at Oregon and eventually in Philadelphia.
While many (yours truly included) expected Curry to make the switch to outside linebacker this offseason, he’ll instead be under Azzinaro’s direction – for now, at least.
As Vinny Curry headed towards the locker room after the Eagles’ second mini-camp practice, there was a snack waiting for him in the hallway.
“Mango, peanut butter and banana,” explained the second-year defensive end.
Post-practice smoothies are just one of many changes these days at the NovaCare Complex. In previous years, players would be tossed Gatorades as they walked off the field. Now, lined up along several tables sat custom-made smoothies with each player’s name written on the plastic cups.
Word got out this offseason that Trent Cole had been dealing with a right hand injury for over a year, and had surgery to address the issue. He filled in some blanks while talking to the media on Wednesday.
“It was an injury I actually had — two years ago it happened to me,” said Cole. “But I kept playing with it and finally it snapped in half and I had to get some surgery. I played through the season with it.”
Snapped what, a tendon?
“I tore tendons and everything. I snapped a bone and a tendon, right at the joint. The surgery went fine to help me get some movement in my hand and go from there.”
The Eagles have only had two days of practice under Chip Kelly, but count tight end Brent Celek among the players who are already impressed.
Celek was a fifth-round pick in 2007, only knew one way of doing things through his first six seasons, but is now seeing some sweeping changes at the NovaCare Complex.
If there was any doubt that the read option was coming to Philly, Michael Vick erased it Wednesday.
“We’ve done a lot of read option,” said Vick. “It’s part of what we do. I’ve been working very hard in the weight room, and all the quarterbacks have as well. We’re trying to make sure we’re physically ready for whatever needs to be done in this offense.”
And so we know that the option game is being implemented. And we also know that Nick Foles is splitting first-team reps with Vick in what Chip Kelly describes as a wide-open quarterback competition. How does that work?
EJ Manuel says the Eagles are one of the teams showing him the most love. Plus, Jon Gruden on Tavon Austin and two more pre-draft visits to catch you up on.
Geno Smith? Star Lotulelei? Dion Jordan? With the draft just eight days away, there are still a lot of names in the mix for the Eagles with the No. 4 pick. Here’s the latest mock draft roundup.
Brandon Graham dropped back into coverage once during the entire 2012 season.
Trent Cole? Three times.
Fletcher Cox most often lined up at defensive tackle in a four-man front. Vinny Curry barely saw the field.
So while Chip Kelly, defensive coordinator Billy Davis and the rest of the Eagles’ coaching staff have spent a considerable amount of time watching players on film, they’ve known all along the importance of finally getting them on the practice fields.
