WhitewalkerInPhilly

A word in Murray's defense: Kelly also tried to make Murray run outside like Shady, thinking "oh, he'll just run through those holes that Shady danced around" Unfortunately for them, Shady dances when there is no hole.

Oh no! He'll have to wait until 2017 to sell the farm to get Romo's replacement! Look, Romo is still his guy. And while he doesn't have much of a shelf life left, he's still a darn good QB. If Jerry was serious about getting a replacement, he had his shot at 4. And, for the record, he didn't massively overpay to go up to slots for Wentz or Goff, neither of whom are sure things. Instead, he took a fantastic RB, has a solid O-ine, has a healthy Romo this year (and probably for next year)

Looking at his profile, and what the Bills need this year, he's perfect. He's not Calvin Johnson, and I'd be looking for another option for next year most likely, but he gives us the one thing we didn't have last year: a deep threat down the sideline opposite Sammy. No more single high safety safe to double up Sammy.

The extra weight makes me feel a but better. The one thing we were missing in all the other guys we have on the roster was a real burner. I like it.

Now that the picks are in, this is exactly what I expect for our base set. I posted a link a while to Rob Quinn's writeup on Pettine. Pettine effectively ran a 5-2, with Branch as a heavy 5 tech who could have played NT in a pinch (sounds like Washington), Dareus as a NT who played the 1 tech and switched between 1 and 2 gapping, Kyle playing the 3 tech and Mario as a move able chess piece pass rusher. On passing downs, Branch came out and Hughes came in. I'm expecting Hughes to take Mario's role, or maybe more precisely Ray Lewis: technically as a LB, but a pass rusher. Manny Lawson was SLB, and he primarily played right at the line.I think we swap one Lawson for the other now. And we've confirmed Brown and Ragland as starting ILB. We have Zach and Manny for depth. While technically 5-2, you can drop either Lawson or Hughes into coverage (Lawson more than Hughes). For nickel, we take Washington out, slide Lawson to 4-3 DE and have Dareus 2 gap. I think I have the answer to my question.

I'm a little confused by this one. Kyle's replacement?

That's more than I would have liked to give up to move up, but I like the player. Though I expect a freak out soon.

I'm kind of answering my own question, but I'm looking at the write up Quinn did on Pettine's system. http://buffalofambase.org/2013/04/09/inside-mike-pettines-playbook-part-two-the-3-4-as-a-personnel-group/

That's the thing: there's little to be gained by fighting now. There's nothing the Eagles get back other than dead cap by cutting him. The deal structure makes him very tradable, but at this point a #1 pick for this year is off the table, and the only team with the cap space and QB need is the Niners, which would require a deal in an even more toxic situation than it is right now due to the Chip Kelly fallout. The only way he gets what he wants is that he A) starts and has such a good year that the Eagles are forced to keep him another year, B) starts and plays so well the Eagles find trade value for him or C) plays ok, not well enough for the Eagles to keep him and choose to cut him but well enough that some GM this he has some magic left. Every scenario has him shutting up and Nutting up. "We'll take Sam Bradford, but you'll also have to give us Carson Wentz."

This is a bad look. Bradford has $18 million guaranteed for this year, $11 already paid. Yeah, maybe the Eagles could have handled it better. But if Bradford wants to make big money by starting for anyone, ever again, it behooves him to go out and show that the last six games of above average play were not a fluke. Refusing to show up or take a call from your coach, right after you signed a contract that told you they weren't convinced you were a long term solution...it's childish and unprofessional.

I watched a bunch of the highlights too. There are concerns about how he faced Stanley, but the two of them went back and forth all night from what I watched. I saw multiple tackles in the backfield, and a lot of coaching just to stop him. Good edge holder. He looks like he's Manny's replacement (and upgrade), especially if we are running more of the front that Pettine used.

I agree that Dareus (at this point) is probably the NT. Though I'm pretty sure that he can run gap. This would be my guess. I also wouldn't be shocked at all if the techniques on the base are a little more offset to give Kyle what he's best at: Dareus playing the heavy 5 like Branch did for us (under Pettine) a NT 2 gapping to clog up space (if we take Billings, I'm sure of it), then put Kyle at the 3 and let Hughes rush from the 7, and occasionally send him to cover.

Now that we have Shaq, I want to ask the defense minded posters a simple question: How the hell do we use him? Yes, I get that he is an edge rusher. But he is a rather different player than Mario Williams. How do you balance him with with a more speed rusher with Hughes, and two very different tackles in Dareus and Kyle. Do you try to get to the front you had with Pettine? Do you take a DE or NT and try to replicate the 46 defense? Something entirely different?

Honest question for people: what kind of front are we looking at if Hughes is opposite Lawson, and we are "fully pregnant"?

Thanks for the sneak peak Astro!

I remember reading about how he squared off with Stanley, and won. I'm hearing versatility, which I like.

Great edge rusher. I can live with it.

Only thing I can think of trading up for would be Lynch, and with all the talent he might slide. But at this point, if we can go four back, you do that.

Holy... Sorry for the fan boy moment but I'm a huge fan of your articles. You get a lot of redirects here already. I'm thrilled to see you on the board!

If that's true, they're idiots.

To your question, I think I can throw in my 2 cents. Bradford's base pay is $7 million this year. I believe the signing bonus stays with the team's cap space in case of trade and becomes dead money. $7 million for a Sam Bradford rental is not bad a QB needy team like the Jets or Broncos. Plus, they have Chase Daniel to be a mentor to slowly bring the pick along. If they were sure about a guy, the Eagles might maximize their picks this year.

Wow. I know I was talking about it, but yeah I guessed it for the Eagles

Strange, I just had the exact same feeling.

I see this as a possibility a whole lot more than the Bills. They have Bradford on a two year contract with almost no guaranteed money after this year, and I don't think much that would follow to another team if traded. If the Broncos are desperate, Bradford for the Broncos 1st is a bargain. 8 and 31 for 2 is not a bad haul.

That is "millennials". Points for irony. Really? That trade idea was on NFLN?