Last week, I covered 10 players to watch in the first preseason game. Today, I'll list 10 players that need to improve on their performance.
1) QB Kevin Kolb. He had his moments, but I'd like to see be a little more aggressive tonight. There's some athleticism on the second team offense with him, so players creating space shouldn't be a problem. After the Pittsburgh game, a lot of people came away unimpressed with his arm strength. He has the ability to get the ball down the field, and he should get ample snaps to prove it.
2) WR Reggie Brown. Brown was inactive last week, so just being in the lineup is going to help him out. To a lot of the fans, Reggie's on the hot seat this season. Although he turned it on a little bit in the second half of 2007, he didn't have that breakout year a lot of people had hoped for. Now, it's believed that Jason Avant, Hank Baskett and even DeSean Jackson could push him for playing time. He says he's more focused and approaches each snap differently now, and that needs to pay off on the field.
3) OL Todd Herremans. I don't have any specific complaints about his game against the Steelers, but with Tra Thomas scratched tonight, protecting 5's blind side is a pretty big deal. He played LT in his rookie season before an atrociously illegal block cut it short, but he's played guard since. Most people would agree that he's a solid player, yet he took a step back in 2007. There are a lot of responsibilities at his temporary position, and he needs to show that he can step in and play the spot in a pinch if necessary.
4) G Scott Young. Who would've thought that tonight's starting O-Line would feature two projected backups and a third player playing out of position? It's unfortunate that Young has to start tonight, and it's also kind of alarming that players such as Nick Cole, and the two rookie Mikes haven't been able to pass him on the depth chart. He's a flat out fringe player, and he can't bring down the first team offense tonight.
5) DT Brodrick Bunkley. After a holdout and some discipline problems essentially eliminated Bunkley's rookie season, he burst onto the scene in 2007 and probably should've been a Pro Bowl player. He's big and athletic, and he can get off the ball fast. He's a huge reason why the team's run defense improved last season, but he struggled against Pittsburgh. He has to do a better job of holding his ground and disrupting the Panthers running game tonight.
6) DT Mike Patterson. The fact that I had to include both DT's shows how poor they played. Patterson has been on the field ever since he was drafted, and he's taken his lumps along the way. However, with a bigger and dominant Bunkley beside him, Patterson broke out last year. He's one of the quickest tackles in the league, and like Bunkley, should've had a postseason trip to Hawaii. The knocks against him are his size and strength, and his game against the Steelers didn't do anything to dispel those criticisms. He was on the ground way too much, and he needs to use his quickness to disrupt the flow and timing of Carolina's ground game.
7) MLB Stewart Bradley. We're already up to our third starting member of the defense. Bradley had some nice plays against the Steelers, but he got lost in the shuffle a little too much for a Linebacker with his size and skill. Some of the criticisms of the game can be deflected to the poor play of the tackles in front of him, but the reality is he won't get great protection from the tackles every play. He has to do a better job of quickly reading the play and shedding blocks to find the ball.
8) CB Lito Sheppard. Working with the second team tonight, Lito will be the best player on the field at all times. There's no reason for him to not blanket his receiver and make plays given the opportunity. He can't mope or not take the game seriously. Against Pittsburgh, he got a stupid penalty, wasn't as aggressive as he could be against the run and made one pretty poor play, albeit in zone coverage. With that being said, I wouldn't expect any special packages with him and the two starters on the field. Johnson isn't going to give us a taste of what he's going to do in the backfield until the regular season starts.
9) Brian Dawkins. I'm really not too worried about him at all, but that doesn't correct his poor position on Santonio Holmes' TD. In this defense, it won't be the last time Sheldon Brown blitzes and Dawkins has to competently cover a receiver that's quicker than he is. Part of that responsibility falls on Jim Johnson and Sheldon Brown, and I'll admit that. Surprise is a key element of blitzes, and lately, teams have had an easy time adjusting to what's being thrown at them.
10) Special McTeams. If special teams had a name, that's what they would be. I was thinking about listing Rocky Boiman for this entry, but he's not responsible for Akers' inconsistent kicking, nor is Akers responsible for poor punt coverage and return blocking. I don't know what it is about special teams, but they have been flat out bad in recent years, and things didn't take a turn for the better last week. DeSean Jackson is an incredibly gifted return man, and if he's not getting good yards, something is terribly wrong.
These aren't the only ten players that need to play better. In fact, a coach will say that every player on the roster needs to get better, and that's probably the truth. That's what these games are for. Donovan McNabb played well last week, but maybe he could get rid of the ball quicker. Buckhalter ran well in the preseason loss, but maybe he should position himself in pass blocking better. Everyone has something to work on, and I hope it culminates into an injury free, positive game tonight.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Game 121: Phillies at Dodgers (4/4)
Philadelphia Phillies: 64-56
Los Angeles Dodgers: 61-59
Brett Myers (5-9 5.09 ERA, 3-1 2.76 ERA)
Hiroki Kuroda (6-8 4.02 ERA, 0-0 -.-- ERA)
Projected lineups
Rollins SS N/A
Werth CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF N/A
Dobbs 3B N/A
Jenkins RF N/A
Coste C N/A
Myers P
Kemp CF 1/3, .333/.333/.333
Ethier RF 0/0, .000/1.000/.000
Kent 2B 5/12, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .417/.500/.917
Ramirez LF 3/13, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .231/.353/.615
Loney 1B 0/1
Garciaparra SS 1/8, 3 RBI, .111/.200/.222
Martin C 0/3, .000/.250/.000
Blake 3B N/A
Kuroda P
They have to salvage this last game or this road trip is already a pretty unfortunate failure. People were worried that the improved Dodgers would provide problems, and they were proven correct. They outpitched the Phillies early in the series, and they outhit the Phillies last night. Six runs should usually be enough to win, but when you don't get a hit after the 4th inning, I'm not sure the offense did its job. It got shut down by pitchers such as Jason Johnson and Chan Ho Park.
I think the outrage over Rollins' frontrunners remark is funny. I hate to criticize other people in this great fanbase, but he's completely correct. If you don't play well, the player gets booed. It's fact. They acknowledge it. Fans acknowledge it. Fans say all the time that they boo because they're passionate about sports. When you're booing a guy who's playing poorly but will cheer when he's hot, that's playing exactly into what Jimmy's saying! He probably shouldn't have said it, but he's 100% correct.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 61-59
Brett Myers (5-9 5.09 ERA, 3-1 2.76 ERA)
Hiroki Kuroda (6-8 4.02 ERA, 0-0 -.-- ERA)
Projected lineups
Rollins SS N/A
Werth CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF N/A
Dobbs 3B N/A
Jenkins RF N/A
Coste C N/A
Myers P
Kemp CF 1/3, .333/.333/.333
Ethier RF 0/0, .000/1.000/.000
Kent 2B 5/12, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .417/.500/.917
Ramirez LF 3/13, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .231/.353/.615
Loney 1B 0/1
Garciaparra SS 1/8, 3 RBI, .111/.200/.222
Martin C 0/3, .000/.250/.000
Blake 3B N/A
Kuroda P
They have to salvage this last game or this road trip is already a pretty unfortunate failure. People were worried that the improved Dodgers would provide problems, and they were proven correct. They outpitched the Phillies early in the series, and they outhit the Phillies last night. Six runs should usually be enough to win, but when you don't get a hit after the 4th inning, I'm not sure the offense did its job. It got shut down by pitchers such as Jason Johnson and Chan Ho Park.
I think the outrage over Rollins' frontrunners remark is funny. I hate to criticize other people in this great fanbase, but he's completely correct. If you don't play well, the player gets booed. It's fact. They acknowledge it. Fans acknowledge it. Fans say all the time that they boo because they're passionate about sports. When you're booing a guy who's playing poorly but will cheer when he's hot, that's playing exactly into what Jimmy's saying! He probably shouldn't have said it, but he's 100% correct.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Game 120: Phillies at Dodgers (3/4)
Philadelphia Phillies: 64-55
Los Angeles Dodgers: 60-59
Joe Blanton (1-0 3.27 ERA, 1-0 2.25 ERA)
Brad Penny (6-9 5.66 ERA, 8-4 3.33 ERA)
Projected lineups
Victorino CF 1/7, .143/.250/.429
Utley 2B 4/15, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .267/.353/.467
Rollins SS 9/45, 3 RBI, .200/.265/.289
Howard 1B 2/10, .200/.333/.200
Burrell LF 10/41, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .2444/.279/.488
Jenkins RF 5/17, 3 RBI, .294/.333/.471
Dobbs 3B 0/3
Coste C N/A
Blanton P
Kemp CF 1/3, .333/.500/.333
Ethier RF 2/3, .667/.667/.667
Kent 2B N/A
Ramirez LF 13/21, 6 RBI, .619/.625/.667
Loney 1B N/A
Martin C N/A
Garciaparra SS 2/3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .667/.750/1.667
Blake 3B 1/16, .067/.167/.067
Penny P
I don't know what's going to fix this offense, if anything. Your top five is set, and I'm not too worried about them. All of those guys have gone in and out of hot and cold spells, but that's baseball. Every team is going to deal with that. I suspect the main cause isn't those guys going into slumps at the same time, but the final four in the batting order. Jenkins has been a huge disappointment, and production from catcher has been inconsistent at best.
Tonight will probably be another low scoring affair. Joe Blanton has been on a roll lately, and the Phillies hope that'll continue. Although Brad Penny is struggling this season, he has always had success against the Phillies. He has great stuff, and a lot of players in this lineup seem to get overpowered by it.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 60-59
Joe Blanton (1-0 3.27 ERA, 1-0 2.25 ERA)
Brad Penny (6-9 5.66 ERA, 8-4 3.33 ERA)
Projected lineups
Victorino CF 1/7, .143/.250/.429
Utley 2B 4/15, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .267/.353/.467
Rollins SS 9/45, 3 RBI, .200/.265/.289
Howard 1B 2/10, .200/.333/.200
Burrell LF 10/41, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .2444/.279/.488
Jenkins RF 5/17, 3 RBI, .294/.333/.471
Dobbs 3B 0/3
Coste C N/A
Blanton P
Kemp CF 1/3, .333/.500/.333
Ethier RF 2/3, .667/.667/.667
Kent 2B N/A
Ramirez LF 13/21, 6 RBI, .619/.625/.667
Loney 1B N/A
Martin C N/A
Garciaparra SS 2/3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .667/.750/1.667
Blake 3B 1/16, .067/.167/.067
Penny P
I don't know what's going to fix this offense, if anything. Your top five is set, and I'm not too worried about them. All of those guys have gone in and out of hot and cold spells, but that's baseball. Every team is going to deal with that. I suspect the main cause isn't those guys going into slumps at the same time, but the final four in the batting order. Jenkins has been a huge disappointment, and production from catcher has been inconsistent at best.
Tonight will probably be another low scoring affair. Joe Blanton has been on a roll lately, and the Phillies hope that'll continue. Although Brad Penny is struggling this season, he has always had success against the Phillies. He has great stuff, and a lot of players in this lineup seem to get overpowered by it.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Game 119: Phillies @ Dodgers (2/4)
I tried posting this on my Ipod, but it was a pretty huge failure.
Philadelphia Phillies: 64-54
Los Angeles Dodgers: 59-59
Cole Hamels (9-8 3.35 ERA, -.-- ERA)
Clayton Kershaw (2-3 3.71 ERA, 0-0 -.-- ERA)
Projected lineups
Rollins SS N/A
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF N/A
Werth RF N/A
Bruntlett 3B N/A
Ruiz C N/A
Hamels P
Kemp RF N/A
Blake 3B 0/2, .000/.333/.000
Kent 2B N/A
Ramirez LF 0/3
Martin C N/A
Loney 1B N/A
Jones CF 4/13, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .308/.400/.538
Berroa SS N/A
Kershaw P
Cole Hamels has serious potential to have another hard luck loss tonight. Clayton Kershaw has great stuff, and young pitchers who teams don't have a big book on have cruised against the Phillies as of late. Hamels can match him pitch for pitch, and I'm not sure who's going to blink first. It's crazy to think that someone as good as Hamels might only be .500 this late in the season, but that's how things have gone this season. I sometimes wonder if the Phillies fans who don't think Santana is an ace feel the same way about Hamels.
I'm honestly not sure what the Dodgers lineup is going to look like tonight. Torre switches guys around a lot, and it's tough to get a read on what platoons he's trying to run. I don't think he likes playing Ethier against lefties, and he also wants to try and work Jones and Pierre in regularly.
Philadelphia Phillies: 64-54
Los Angeles Dodgers: 59-59
Cole Hamels (9-8 3.35 ERA, -.-- ERA)
Clayton Kershaw (2-3 3.71 ERA, 0-0 -.-- ERA)
Projected lineups
Rollins SS N/A
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF N/A
Werth RF N/A
Bruntlett 3B N/A
Ruiz C N/A
Hamels P
Kemp RF N/A
Blake 3B 0/2, .000/.333/.000
Kent 2B N/A
Ramirez LF 0/3
Martin C N/A
Loney 1B N/A
Jones CF 4/13, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .308/.400/.538
Berroa SS N/A
Kershaw P
Cole Hamels has serious potential to have another hard luck loss tonight. Clayton Kershaw has great stuff, and young pitchers who teams don't have a big book on have cruised against the Phillies as of late. Hamels can match him pitch for pitch, and I'm not sure who's going to blink first. It's crazy to think that someone as good as Hamels might only be .500 this late in the season, but that's how things have gone this season. I sometimes wonder if the Phillies fans who don't think Santana is an ace feel the same way about Hamels.
I'm honestly not sure what the Dodgers lineup is going to look like tonight. Torre switches guys around a lot, and it's tough to get a read on what platoons he's trying to run. I don't think he likes playing Ethier against lefties, and he also wants to try and work Jones and Pierre in regularly.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Game 118: Phillies at Dodgers (1/4)
Philadelphia Phillies: 64-53
Los Angeles Dodgers: 58-59
Kyle Kendrick (10-5 4.37 ERA, 1-1 6.75 ERA)
Derek Lowe (8-10 4.10 ERA, 3-1 2.84 ERA)
Projected lineups
Rollins SS 5/17, .294/.294/.412
Victorino CF 0/3
Utley 2B 3/11, 1 RBI, .273/.333/.364
Howard 1B 2/13, 1 RBI, .154/.267/.154
Burrell LF 6/16, 2 RBI, .375/.412/.500
Jenkins RF 2/12, 2 RBI, .167/.232/.333
Dobbs 3B 0/6
Coste C 1/4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .250/.250/1.000
Kendrick P
Kemp CF N/A
Ethier RF 2/4, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .500/.600/1.500
Kent 2B 0/3
Ramirez LF N/A
Loney 1B 2/5, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .400/.400/1.000
Martin C 2/5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .400/.500/1.000
Blake 3B N/A
Berroa SS N/A
It's time for five straight 10 PM starts. These games are always tough. They start late, and more often than not, the offense puts people to sleep. Tonight features a matchup of two sinkerballers, and Kendrick could learn something tonight. He has to go out there and compete, but between innings, I hope he's watching Lowe and how he approaches situations. He's a veteran sinkerballer, and it would be great if Kendrick could find a niche like Lowe's.
The Dodgers did get Manny, but this is a team that's under .500 and has been so since acquiring him. They have very good pitching and could overtake Arizona, but they're not an unbeatable force. Their lineup is mediocre up and down besides Manny, and if you control him, you control their offense.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 58-59
Kyle Kendrick (10-5 4.37 ERA, 1-1 6.75 ERA)
Derek Lowe (8-10 4.10 ERA, 3-1 2.84 ERA)
Projected lineups
Rollins SS 5/17, .294/.294/.412
Victorino CF 0/3
Utley 2B 3/11, 1 RBI, .273/.333/.364
Howard 1B 2/13, 1 RBI, .154/.267/.154
Burrell LF 6/16, 2 RBI, .375/.412/.500
Jenkins RF 2/12, 2 RBI, .167/.232/.333
Dobbs 3B 0/6
Coste C 1/4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .250/.250/1.000
Kendrick P
Kemp CF N/A
Ethier RF 2/4, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .500/.600/1.500
Kent 2B 0/3
Ramirez LF N/A
Loney 1B 2/5, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .400/.400/1.000
Martin C 2/5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .400/.500/1.000
Blake 3B N/A
Berroa SS N/A
It's time for five straight 10 PM starts. These games are always tough. They start late, and more often than not, the offense puts people to sleep. Tonight features a matchup of two sinkerballers, and Kendrick could learn something tonight. He has to go out there and compete, but between innings, I hope he's watching Lowe and how he approaches situations. He's a veteran sinkerballer, and it would be great if Kendrick could find a niche like Lowe's.
The Dodgers did get Manny, but this is a team that's under .500 and has been so since acquiring him. They have very good pitching and could overtake Arizona, but they're not an unbeatable force. Their lineup is mediocre up and down besides Manny, and if you control him, you control their offense.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Game 117: Pirates at Phillies (3/3)
Pittsburgh Pirates: 53-63
Philadelphia Phillies: 63-53
Jason Davis (1-1 2.57 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Jamie Moyer (10-7 3.78 ERA, 6-7 5.54 ERA)
Lineups
Sanchez 2B 3/6, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .500/.500/1.167
Rivas SS 7/19, .368/.368/.421
McLouth CF 0/3
Doumit C 0/1
Michaels RF 1/4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .250/.250/1.000
Moss LF N/A
Mientkiewicz 1B 5/20, .250/.318/.350
Gomez 3B 3/29, .103/.161/.103
Davis P
Rollins SS N/A
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Werth LF N/A
Jenkins RF N/A
Bruntlett 3B 0/0, .000/1.000/.000
Ruiz C N/A
Moyer P
Storms coming short entry.
Philadelphia Phillies: 63-53
Jason Davis (1-1 2.57 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Jamie Moyer (10-7 3.78 ERA, 6-7 5.54 ERA)
Lineups
Sanchez 2B 3/6, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .500/.500/1.167
Rivas SS 7/19, .368/.368/.421
McLouth CF 0/3
Doumit C 0/1
Michaels RF 1/4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .250/.250/1.000
Moss LF N/A
Mientkiewicz 1B 5/20, .250/.318/.350
Gomez 3B 3/29, .103/.161/.103
Davis P
Rollins SS N/A
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Werth LF N/A
Jenkins RF N/A
Bruntlett 3B 0/0, .000/1.000/.000
Ruiz C N/A
Moyer P
Storms coming short entry.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Game 116: Pirates at Phillies (2/3)
Pittsburgh Pirates: 52-63
Philadelphia Phillies: 63-52
Ian Snell (4-8 6.14 ERA, 3-2 4.50 ERA)
Brett Myers (4-9 5.34 ERA, 2-4 2.92 ERA)
Projected lineups
Sanchez 2B 1/11, .091/.091/.091
Mientkiewicz 1B 2/9, .222/.222/.444
McLouth CF 2/5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .400/.400/1.600
Doumit C 1/4, .250/.250/.250
LaRoche 3B N/A
Moss LF N/A
Pearce RF N/A
Wilson SS 3/13, 1 RBI, .231/.333/.308
Snell P
Rollins SS 8/15, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .533/.588/1.037
Utley 2B 1/8, 1 RBI, .125/.222/.250
Burrell LF 4/12, 1 RBI, .333/.385/.417
Howard 1B 1/10, 1 RBI, .100/.321/.100
Werth RF 0/2
Victorino CF 0/1
Dobbs 3B 3/6, .500/.571/.833
Coste C 0/5, .000/.167/.000
Myers P
I don't get it. I don't understand how a team that's supposed to have a great offense gets shutout two games in a row. I don't get how they only muster six hits in 12 innings against Pirates pitching. I don't get how they can't score a run for 21+ innings. How can they not even put the ball in play? I guess you have to give credit to some of the pitchers, but you're telling me that the entire roster these two days couldn't string together enough baserunners to score one run?
Philadelphia Phillies: 63-52
Ian Snell (4-8 6.14 ERA, 3-2 4.50 ERA)
Brett Myers (4-9 5.34 ERA, 2-4 2.92 ERA)
Projected lineups
Sanchez 2B 1/11, .091/.091/.091
Mientkiewicz 1B 2/9, .222/.222/.444
McLouth CF 2/5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .400/.400/1.600
Doumit C 1/4, .250/.250/.250
LaRoche 3B N/A
Moss LF N/A
Pearce RF N/A
Wilson SS 3/13, 1 RBI, .231/.333/.308
Snell P
Rollins SS 8/15, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .533/.588/1.037
Utley 2B 1/8, 1 RBI, .125/.222/.250
Burrell LF 4/12, 1 RBI, .333/.385/.417
Howard 1B 1/10, 1 RBI, .100/.321/.100
Werth RF 0/2
Victorino CF 0/1
Dobbs 3B 3/6, .500/.571/.833
Coste C 0/5, .000/.167/.000
Myers P
I don't get it. I don't understand how a team that's supposed to have a great offense gets shutout two games in a row. I don't get how they only muster six hits in 12 innings against Pirates pitching. I don't get how they can't score a run for 21+ innings. How can they not even put the ball in play? I guess you have to give credit to some of the pitchers, but you're telling me that the entire roster these two days couldn't string together enough baserunners to score one run?
Friday, August 8, 2008
Fake Game 1: Eagles at Steelers
I'm not going to do a full preview for preseason games, but here are ten players to watch as the Eagles return to the field for the first time since the 2007 season.
1) QB Kevin Kolb. He's expected to be the franchise QB starting as soon as next season, and it'll be interesting to see how far he has come in the past year. Last preseason, I thought he looked pretty good. He took some shots downfield and seemed to move around well in the pocket. However, his brief regular season time was quite forgettable. With an extra year in the offense and without the burden of being a wide-eyed rookie just trying to survive, he should look more comfortable out on the field.
2) RB Lorenzo Booker. Acquiring Booker for a second day pick was a pretty quiet move on draft day, but the Eagles are hoping he can play a role in their offense. As a rookie with Miami, he was unable to find the field much, and when the team made changes in their coaching staff and front office, they decided there wasn't a place for him anymore. Booker has opened eyes at training camp. His speed and quickness can create matchup problems for opposing defenses, and the Eagles will do everything they can to get him and Westbrook on the field at the same time.
3) WR/KR DeSean Jackson. In April, a lot of mock drafts pegged Jackson for the Eagles in the first round. Those got the team right, but the Eagles got better value on him by taking him 20, 25 spots later. Jackson has nuclear potential in the return game, and his elusiveness goes unmatched by most NFL players. In training camp so far, Jackson has even been able to contribute offensively, with reports out of Lehigh saying he catches everything in sight. As long as he can avoid those pesky hamstring injuries that limit his athleticism, DeSean Jackson should be an asset to the team this season.
4) T Winston Justice. Justice came under heavy criticism last season, and for good reason. His technique was horrible, and he was embarrassed on two occasions, one of which was on national TV. He may not be able to play LT in the NFL, but he can still be a part of the Eagles' future plans. However, he has to work hard and prove to the coaching staff that he can be a player in this league. Even if defenses are typically vanilla in a preseason game, the Steelers' 3-4 will present unique pass rushes for Justice to pick up. I don't know if he's on the roster bubble, but a bad preseason certainly can't help him.
5) T King Dunlap. I hate to include two offensive tackles here because I'm one of the only people who enjoys watching them play, but Dunlap is an interesting case. As the tallest Eagle, he has the size to be the dominant LT this team will need once Tra Thomas departs, but he's missing a couple important qualities for linemen. He has terrible technique, and he's not very tough. He was benched in his senior season at Auburn, but the Eagles just couldn't resist passing up on his size and potential. Getting into a live game will help him adjust to the NFL, and Andy Reid will be able to see what he has.
6) DL Darren Howard. You've probably noticed that every player so far has two years of experience or less, so what's an eight year veteran doing on the list? According to anyone who has seen him play this camp, he's quicker and in better shape than ever. His first two years as an Eagle have been disappointing, to say the least, and fans are still waiting for a return on the team's investment. After Victor Abiamiri's injury, Howard may have to step up and play a bigger role in the rotation than previously expected. If he can contribute anything positive this season, it'll be a plus.
7) DE Chris Clemons. Despite his dehydration scares in the early stages of camp, I'm pretty sure Clemons is going to play tonight. He piled up sacks with the Raiders last year, and the Eagles signed him to bolster a pass rush that was pretty lacking last season. Even if he's going to be in a limited pass rushing role, it'll be interesting to see how Jim Johnson works him into the defense and how his speed can improve the defense.
8) MLB Stewart Bradley. Bradley was thrust into the starter's role after the Eagles parted ways with Takeo Spikes, and he's going to be expected to use his size and athleticism to be a force in the middle of this defense. Overall in 2007, the Linebackers were solid. This season, they're the youngest starters in the NFL, and they're going to have to grow in a hurry. As MLB, Bradley calls all of the plays, so his football IQ will be tested early this preseason in the huddle.
9) LB Joe Mays. Mays was just a 6th round pick from a small college, but a lot of fans want to see how he plays. He was a big time player in the lower ranks of college football, and the Eagles hope he can contribute on special teams. He's an aggressive player with a nose for the football, and his hard working attitude could help him overcome a lack of height. I'm not sure if he'll ever become anything, but there is a lot of training camp buzz around this guy.
10) S Quintin Demps. The Eagles emphasized team speed this offseason, and I've probably used speed, quickness and athleticism too many times when doing these write ups. With that being said, Demps could be one of the biggest playmakers in the secondary. He can return kicks and contribute on special teams. At UTEP, Demps also showed the knack for the big play on defense, with several big interception returns for scores. I don't know if he'll start this year or even make the team, but he could be a weapon if he makes adjustments to the NFL.
1) QB Kevin Kolb. He's expected to be the franchise QB starting as soon as next season, and it'll be interesting to see how far he has come in the past year. Last preseason, I thought he looked pretty good. He took some shots downfield and seemed to move around well in the pocket. However, his brief regular season time was quite forgettable. With an extra year in the offense and without the burden of being a wide-eyed rookie just trying to survive, he should look more comfortable out on the field.
2) RB Lorenzo Booker. Acquiring Booker for a second day pick was a pretty quiet move on draft day, but the Eagles are hoping he can play a role in their offense. As a rookie with Miami, he was unable to find the field much, and when the team made changes in their coaching staff and front office, they decided there wasn't a place for him anymore. Booker has opened eyes at training camp. His speed and quickness can create matchup problems for opposing defenses, and the Eagles will do everything they can to get him and Westbrook on the field at the same time.
3) WR/KR DeSean Jackson. In April, a lot of mock drafts pegged Jackson for the Eagles in the first round. Those got the team right, but the Eagles got better value on him by taking him 20, 25 spots later. Jackson has nuclear potential in the return game, and his elusiveness goes unmatched by most NFL players. In training camp so far, Jackson has even been able to contribute offensively, with reports out of Lehigh saying he catches everything in sight. As long as he can avoid those pesky hamstring injuries that limit his athleticism, DeSean Jackson should be an asset to the team this season.
4) T Winston Justice. Justice came under heavy criticism last season, and for good reason. His technique was horrible, and he was embarrassed on two occasions, one of which was on national TV. He may not be able to play LT in the NFL, but he can still be a part of the Eagles' future plans. However, he has to work hard and prove to the coaching staff that he can be a player in this league. Even if defenses are typically vanilla in a preseason game, the Steelers' 3-4 will present unique pass rushes for Justice to pick up. I don't know if he's on the roster bubble, but a bad preseason certainly can't help him.
5) T King Dunlap. I hate to include two offensive tackles here because I'm one of the only people who enjoys watching them play, but Dunlap is an interesting case. As the tallest Eagle, he has the size to be the dominant LT this team will need once Tra Thomas departs, but he's missing a couple important qualities for linemen. He has terrible technique, and he's not very tough. He was benched in his senior season at Auburn, but the Eagles just couldn't resist passing up on his size and potential. Getting into a live game will help him adjust to the NFL, and Andy Reid will be able to see what he has.
6) DL Darren Howard. You've probably noticed that every player so far has two years of experience or less, so what's an eight year veteran doing on the list? According to anyone who has seen him play this camp, he's quicker and in better shape than ever. His first two years as an Eagle have been disappointing, to say the least, and fans are still waiting for a return on the team's investment. After Victor Abiamiri's injury, Howard may have to step up and play a bigger role in the rotation than previously expected. If he can contribute anything positive this season, it'll be a plus.
7) DE Chris Clemons. Despite his dehydration scares in the early stages of camp, I'm pretty sure Clemons is going to play tonight. He piled up sacks with the Raiders last year, and the Eagles signed him to bolster a pass rush that was pretty lacking last season. Even if he's going to be in a limited pass rushing role, it'll be interesting to see how Jim Johnson works him into the defense and how his speed can improve the defense.
8) MLB Stewart Bradley. Bradley was thrust into the starter's role after the Eagles parted ways with Takeo Spikes, and he's going to be expected to use his size and athleticism to be a force in the middle of this defense. Overall in 2007, the Linebackers were solid. This season, they're the youngest starters in the NFL, and they're going to have to grow in a hurry. As MLB, Bradley calls all of the plays, so his football IQ will be tested early this preseason in the huddle.
9) LB Joe Mays. Mays was just a 6th round pick from a small college, but a lot of fans want to see how he plays. He was a big time player in the lower ranks of college football, and the Eagles hope he can contribute on special teams. He's an aggressive player with a nose for the football, and his hard working attitude could help him overcome a lack of height. I'm not sure if he'll ever become anything, but there is a lot of training camp buzz around this guy.
10) S Quintin Demps. The Eagles emphasized team speed this offseason, and I've probably used speed, quickness and athleticism too many times when doing these write ups. With that being said, Demps could be one of the biggest playmakers in the secondary. He can return kicks and contribute on special teams. At UTEP, Demps also showed the knack for the big play on defense, with several big interception returns for scores. I don't know if he'll start this year or even make the team, but he could be a weapon if he makes adjustments to the NFL.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Phillies Have Their Eyres On Relief
With the news that Tom Gordon is injured again, the Phillies acquired left-handed reliever Scott Eyre in hopes of giving Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson a break. Eyre has been hit hard in his last three outings and has battled injuries all season. Prior to that, he had a couple of decent seasons with the Cubs. He's pretty much only a lefty specialist, which will also decrease J.C. Romero's workload.
In return, Chicago is receiving 22 year old reliever Brian Schlitter, a 2007 draft pick. He has a great K rate and allows less than a hit an inning, but it's still probably not a terrible loss for the Phillies. Eyre's deal expires after this season, so it wasn't necessary to give up very much.
In return, Chicago is receiving 22 year old reliever Brian Schlitter, a 2007 draft pick. He has a great K rate and allows less than a hit an inning, but it's still probably not a terrible loss for the Phillies. Eyre's deal expires after this season, so it wasn't necessary to give up very much.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
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