Wide receivers -- Kevin Curtis for MVM (Most Valuable Mormon)
I am on record as being a Kevin Curtis believer from the very beginning, or at least since 2005, when he was an early-season free agent pickup of one of my best-ever fantasy squads, TheTyrannyOfEvilMen. Nobody had a better camp than Curtis, who is fast become a fan darling. We hear less and less Donte Stallowrth hand wringing, especially since the Eagles' former field-stretcher showed up on New England's PUP list.
And that's the crux of why Curtis will vastly outstrip what Stallworth gave the Eagles: he'll be on the field every week. Stallworth was a nice element to have in a receiving corps no doubt, but the dude only caught like35 balls because he was hurt so often. If you put the over-under on Curtis at 50, I'd take the over in a heartbeat. Pair him with Reggie Brown, who has been consistent in both his play and his improvement over the last two years, and that's a nice X and Y.
That brings us to Z, who, at this point, still appears to be Jason Avant, who had a great camp and even greater mini camp and OTA campaign. This guy caught just about everything, nudging himself ahead of the receiver that put on that performance a year ago, Hank Baskett. I think Avant and Baskett will share those duties pretty equally, with the coaches looking for matchup advantages whenever possible. But they will both certainly make the team.
Now the numbers game.
It seems unlikely that the Eagles will keep five running backs from their current roster of players, so assuming they don't go out and get a Corey Dillon or somebody like that, they will probably keep six wides. That is, if L.J. Smith's groin situation wasn't what it is. If they're not sold on L.J. being healthy at the start of the season, they almost have to keep three tight ends, which means a roster spot has to come from somewhere else. Wide receiver is a very possible target. And given that Jeremy Bloom is really the only guy returning kicks at this point, it looks as though he's going to make this team.
That leaves Greg Lewis out in the cold if the Eagles keep only five WRs. If they keep a sixth, I think it will be him because they trust him, he's rlatively sure-handed, he's not old yet, and there are no recent draft picks competing for that spot.
As for the rest of the receivers, J.J. Outlaw has been mentioned as a possible backup returner, which is a good sign for him. Bill Sampy was doing great until he contusioned his quad, and he has not appeared since, scuttling his hopes. Bill Gasperson showed some moxie in coming to Sav Rocca's aid on Monday night, but it won't be enough to get him on the roster, Zac Collie has done some nice things, but, you know, probably not. And Jermaine Jamison shot himself in the heart with his fumble against Baltimore.
And what about Mr. Sound and Fury himself, Moorestown High School graduate Dereck "Revolution No. 9" Faulkner? I'm hoping hard for a practice squad place for him. The numbers don't add up right for a roster spot, certainly, but he's had some signature moments. Of course, there are a ton of little things the coaches are looking for that I couldn't hope to be able to see. I have a feeling the way Dereck does those little things has a lot more to do with his future than the occasional circus catch.
And that's the crux of why Curtis will vastly outstrip what Stallworth gave the Eagles: he'll be on the field every week. Stallworth was a nice element to have in a receiving corps no doubt, but the dude only caught like35 balls because he was hurt so often. If you put the over-under on Curtis at 50, I'd take the over in a heartbeat. Pair him with Reggie Brown, who has been consistent in both his play and his improvement over the last two years, and that's a nice X and Y.
That brings us to Z, who, at this point, still appears to be Jason Avant, who had a great camp and even greater mini camp and OTA campaign. This guy caught just about everything, nudging himself ahead of the receiver that put on that performance a year ago, Hank Baskett. I think Avant and Baskett will share those duties pretty equally, with the coaches looking for matchup advantages whenever possible. But they will both certainly make the team.
Now the numbers game.
It seems unlikely that the Eagles will keep five running backs from their current roster of players, so assuming they don't go out and get a Corey Dillon or somebody like that, they will probably keep six wides. That is, if L.J. Smith's groin situation wasn't what it is. If they're not sold on L.J. being healthy at the start of the season, they almost have to keep three tight ends, which means a roster spot has to come from somewhere else. Wide receiver is a very possible target. And given that Jeremy Bloom is really the only guy returning kicks at this point, it looks as though he's going to make this team.
That leaves Greg Lewis out in the cold if the Eagles keep only five WRs. If they keep a sixth, I think it will be him because they trust him, he's rlatively sure-handed, he's not old yet, and there are no recent draft picks competing for that spot.
As for the rest of the receivers, J.J. Outlaw has been mentioned as a possible backup returner, which is a good sign for him. Bill Sampy was doing great until he contusioned his quad, and he has not appeared since, scuttling his hopes. Bill Gasperson showed some moxie in coming to Sav Rocca's aid on Monday night, but it won't be enough to get him on the roster, Zac Collie has done some nice things, but, you know, probably not. And Jermaine Jamison shot himself in the heart with his fumble against Baltimore.
And what about Mr. Sound and Fury himself, Moorestown High School graduate Dereck "Revolution No. 9" Faulkner? I'm hoping hard for a practice squad place for him. The numbers don't add up right for a roster spot, certainly, but he's had some signature moments. Of course, there are a ton of little things the coaches are looking for that I couldn't hope to be able to see. I have a feeling the way Dereck does those little things has a lot more to do with his future than the occasional circus catch.
posted by SMc. at 12:06 PM
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