May 30, 2015
Yesterday, we envisioned an Eagles offensive line without Evan Mathis, which would weaken both guard spots, as well as the Eagles' OL depth. If indeed the Eagles want to get Mathis off the team (and even if they don't), they are going to have make additional roster moves to bring in OL bodies. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN, the Eagles had interest in former Redskins OG Chris Chester.
Former #Redskins RG Chris Chester to visit the #Falcons and #Eagles, per source.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) May 29, 2015
Chester is 32, and the seventh-oldest offensive lineman in the NFL. He would have been short-term help. Chester eventually signed with the Falcons, but clearly the Eagles recognize their need for more bodies along the OL.
Speaking with Jenny Vrentas of MMQB, Byron Maxwell kinda-sorta guaranteed the Eagles were going to the Super Bowl.
VRENTAS: Is that similarity in the team culture a big reason why you believe the Eagles will go to the Super Bowl this year?
MAXWELL: We will, though.
VRENTAS: That sounds kind of like a guarantee.
MAXWELL: You can take that as a guarantee. That’s just me believing in my team and the product we’re going to put out there on the field. I really do believe that. I have no choice but to think that way.
Is Maxwell going to play QB?
The Eagles' easy travel schedule is something we've been on for a while, but according to CBS, they will travel the least in the NFL this year, with just 6,818 miles. By comparison, the 49ers will travel 27,998 miles. Graph via Brandon Gowton of BGN:
Eagles have the shortest travel distance of any NFL team in 2015 http://t.co/STHUcG7XUJ pic.twitter.com/8kcxjgJIdq
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) May 30, 2015
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com ranked the 10 best rosters in the NFL, excluding quarterbacks, and the Eagles came in at #9, a spot for them that is fair. Otherwise, this is a strange list. Brooks has the Bills ranked #2, the Jets ranked #4, and the Cowboys #5. None of those three make any sense to me. The Bills have some nice pieces, but #2? The Jets added some guys, but a 4-12 team is #4? And the Cowboys at #5 when their QB is a strength, and they have next to nothing in the way of impact players on defense? Some omissions from Brooks' list include the Bengals, Lions, Texans, and Cardinals.
Here is a list of Eagles players who have had at least 10 special teams tackles in one season since 2011:
Player | Year | STs tackles |
Bryan Braman | 2012 | 17 |
Seyi Ajirotutu | 2014 | 16 |
Seyi Ajirotutu | 2013 | 16 |
Chris Maragos | 2014 | 12 |
Brad Jones | 2014 | 11 |
Chris Maragos | 2013 | 11 |
Chris Maragos | 2011 | 11 |
Chris Prosinski | 2014 | 10 |
Brad Jones | 2011 | 10 |
The Eagles have depth issues at a number of positions, but they don't lack for quality special teams players. How many of the above guys can they keep?
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