It's interesting that Free Agency in the NFL is in full swing and we haven't heard much since the initial two days.
Everyone anticipates that first day and I know that I could hardly sleep, waiting to see who signed immediately at 12:01 a.m. last Friday.
There was nothing. The next morning? Nothing. I had to wait until later in the day to hear that the EAGLES had signed Asante Samuel.
Is he a good signing? Who knows. He seems to look good, on paper. He was real good on the field, but who's to say. Javon Kearse was a monster when we signed him. We all know how that turned out. Although, he seemed to be damaged goods when he left Tennessee, the EAGLES still threw a ton of money at him and brought him in as the savior of the defense. Injuries took their toll on Kearse, so I think that he would get an incomplete as a grade for his overall signing. He wasn't disappointing, when he played, but he seemed to miss too many plays. It's hard to be a stud defensive lineman when there's nobody on the other side of the line to keep the double-team off you. Oh well, he's back in Titanville.
Samuel is actually about 3 months older than Lito Sheppard and hasn't been to the Pro Bowl as many times, but he does have a few Super Bowl rings and he picks off passes very well. As far as Lito is concerned, I don't really know what should be done with him. Instead of trading him, I think the best plan would be to take him and make him the starting Free Safety. You could move Dawkins over to the Strong Safety spot and give us a spectacular defensive backfield. Moving Dawkins over to SS might actually give him some more time at the end of his career.
So, you don't trade Lito, you move him over. Now, you've solved the defensive backfield issues, where do we look next?
Defensive line? OK. Is there really a problem here? I'm pretty happy with the defensive tackles we have in Patterson, Bunkley, and Ramsey. The ends, with Cole, Abiamiri, Thomas, Howard, and newcomer Chris Clemons should be alright. I think if they use Howard at DT this year teamed with Bunkley, who is faster and stronger than Patterson, they would be able to put out four guys that can bullrush to the QB. The Giants had this work for them all year. I'm ok with the defensive line, although I'm fairly certain the EAGLES will pick another lineman in the draft and probably a high pick will be used for them.
Linebackers? I'm ok with Gocong, Bradley, and Jordan. Since the day he was drafted I thought that Omar Gaither would be a stud. I'm a bit upset that they let go of Trotter, but Gaither is going to be here for a long time. He's going to be a dominant player this year, and probably for years to come, although, I'm sure a few of those years will be with another team because the EAGLES won't want to pay him what he's worth. I'm torn on the issue of releasing Takeo Spikes. I didn't get overly impressed with him last year, but he's a veteran leader at a position where we definitely could use some veteran leadership. I think they made a mistake in letting him go, but I have to give Reid the benefit of the doubt on this one, because he doesn't make to many mistakes when it comes to releasing players.
Let's go to the other side of the ball.
Offense? What do we need? Hmmm…
Oh yeah. A stud receiver. I was impressed to hear that the EAGLES tried to land Randy Moss, although I believe that they only made the offer when they knew he'd be signing back with New England. It seems to be a move to appease the fans and McNabb and Westbrook. But, it was an offer that they knew wouldn't get accepted. It's an offer that they can use to justify bringing in a couple of less talented WR's and making it seem like they tried for the big play type of guy, but couldn't land him.
So where do we turn? I think you have to go for Bryant Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals. He's big, strong, fast, and runs great routes. He was drafted ahead of Anquan Boldin the year they both came into the league, but Boldin blew up. He actually should have never dropped to the Cards in the second round, but I'm not concerned with the Cardinals. Johnson is an above average WR on a team that has two superstars. There's no way that he shines on that team, but if he had the chance on a team, like the EAGLES, that has a great QB and a couple of other good WR's to work with, he could be a great WR. You could make him your #1, with Curtis and Brown splitting the #2 and #3 duties, like the Pats did with Stallworth and Welker. It would open up the field completely. With a healthy LJ Smith and Brian Westbrook in the backfield, you'd ahve an offense that would put the Patriots of last year to shame.
Neither Brown or Curtis is a #1 wideout, but they are both good enough to play the #2. Johnson is good enough to be a #1 and would thrive in the EAGLES system. The only thing that the EAGLES would have to do is commit to throwing the ball about 35 times a game.
Wait a minute, they do that already.
After that you give the ball to Westbrook about 25 times a game and that takes up your average of 60 plays a game.
I'll be willing to put money on the EAGLES having the most potent offense in the NFL if they sign Bryant Johnson.
I don't really have many problems on offense, as long as the line can stay healthy. Winston Justice is a stud, he just has to get time at the RT spot, instead of the LT where he has no idea what to do. Runyan could stand to take a few plays off this year. He's getting up there in age. I'm also happy with Andrews and Herrimans as OG's with Gilles coming to back them up. I'm also ok with Jackson as your center with Cole as the backup.
So, we're set.
The EAGLES only have to follow my advice and sign Bryant Johnson, move Dawkins to SS, Lito to Free Safety, and we'd be a Super Bowl winner, not just a contender.