Zangaro: Doug Pederson Is Eagles' Biggest Question Mark
- The biggest question facing the Eagles as the season nears is how rookie head coach Doug Pederson will fare, opines Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com. Pederson – previously the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator – didn’t seem to be the Eagles’ top choice, notes Zangaro, who adds that other teams weren’t beating down his door for interviews. Pederson is off to an encouraging start, though, given his rapport with the Eagles’ players, Zangaro contends. Nevertheless, Pederson’s worth as a coach will come down to how he handles in-game situations.
Howie Roseman Explains Eagles' Offseason Strategy
Howie Roseman wrested back control of the Eagles‘ personnel staff over the offseason, and quickly turned to remaking the roster on his terms, dealing away several of former head coach Chip Kelly‘s acquisitions — such as DeMarco Murray and Byron Maxwell — while extending much of Philadelphia’s young core, including Fletcher Cox, Lane Johnson, Zach Ertz, and others. This approach was by design, as Roseman (now the club’s de facto general manager) explained to 94 WIP in Philadelphia.
Top 10 Teams That Could Sign Dwight Freeney
When I originally outlined this list, I saw more than half the clubs in the NFL as possible landing spots for veteran edge rusher Dwight Freeney. Even in his age-35 season, Freeney managed eight sacks for the Cardinals while playing only 255 defensive snaps. Many teams around the league could use that kind 
of production.
[RELATED: Best Available NFL Free Agents: Defense]
I eventually whittled down the list, and given that Freeney has stated he’d like to play for a winning team during the upcoming season, I tried to weed out clubs that seemingly have no shot at contending in 2016. Still, Freeney is an enticing addition not only because of his ability to disrupt the pocket, but because he’ll come cheap — his deal with Arizona last year was only for the prorated veteran’s minimum (though it did include sack incentives). Cap space won’t be an issue when trying to lure Freeney.
With that said, let’s take a spin around the league and examine some potential fits for Freeney (and his devastating spin move)…
Atlanta Falcons — It’s impossible to overstate just how poor the 2015 Falcons were at getting after opposing quarterbacks. They recorded only 19 sacks, the lowest total for any team in in the league since 2009, and finished last in adjusted sack rate. Atlanta’s only meaningful offseason addition to its defensive line was former Dolphin Derrick Shelby, who as Robert Mays gleefully noted in a recent Ringer NFL podcast (audio link), boasts all of nine career sacks. Freeney visited the Falcons at the beginning of June, but head coach Dan Quinn said his club would off — for now — on signing the veteran edge rusher.
Arizona Cardinals — Freeney has always stated that he’d prefer a return to the desert, but it’s not clear if the Cardinals are reciprocating that interest. Arizona acquired former Patriots pass rusher Chandler Jones this offseason, lessening its need to add another edge presence, and the club would also like to see what it has in its younger options, such as Markus Golden, Alex Okafor, and Shaq Riddick. Still, the Cards clearly know what Freeney brings to the table, so a reunion — at some point down the road — still makes a ton of sense.
Baltimore Ravens — All the way back in March, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said his club “wasn’t done in free agency” and casually mentioned that Freeney remained unsigned. Since that statement, Baltimore hasn’t plucked any key players from the open market, but it did select two rush linebackers — Boise State’s Kamalei Correa and BYU’s Bronson Kaufusi — during the draft. The Ravens will already field two aging veterans, Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, at outside ‘backer during the upcoming season, so perhaps the team doesn’t want another player who’s near the end of his career. General manager Ozzie Newsome, however, loves experienced players, as evidenced by the fact that Baltimore deployed the fifth-oldest AV-adjusted defense in 2015, according to Chase Stuart of Football Perspective.
Buffalo Bills — Bills general manager Doug Whaley specifically name-checked Freeney last month, indicating that the club would only look to add veterans if their younger players weren’t progressing as planned during camp. But Buffalo definitely has a need, as first-round pick Shaq Lawson will miss some regular season action after undergoing shoulder surgery. Rex Ryan is planning on using a more conventional 3-4 look in 2016, so Freeney would spend most of time at outside linebacker, but he clearly has the versatility to shift back to end if Buffalo shows a 4-3 front.
Cincinnati Bengals — Along with the Falcons, the Bengals are one of two teams that has actually met with Freeney, as they had him had him in for a workout at the end of May. Cincinnati has two above-average starters at end in Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson, but the club has little in the way of depth. As Roster Resource shows, the Bengals would be forced to rely on Margus Hunt, Will Clarke, and Marcus Hardison — a group that has all of two sacks to its name — if one of their starters went down. But if Cincinnati does look into officially adding Freeney, reports have indicated that it might not be until training camp begins, or perhaps even later.
Dallas Cowboys — In what is clearly a developing theme among clubs on this list, Cowboys management said at the end of last month that they weren’t interested in Freeney for the time being, as they’d prefer to get a look at their younger rushers first. That stance is going to be a problem for Freeney, who has admitted he’d like to get into a camp as soon as possible in order to prepare mentally. Teams simply don’t have much incentive to sign a veteran who will take practice reps away from less-experienced players. Still, with Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory each facing four-game suspensions, the Cowboys clearly have a pass-rushing need.
Detroit Lions — One side of Detroit’s defensive line is spoken for by the dominant Ziggy Ansah, while the opposite side is manned by the underrated Devin Taylor, an ascending player entering the final year of his rookie deal. However, the Lions did lose both Jason Jones and Darryl Tapp in free agency, so they could certainly use another edge rusher to lessen the load on Taylor, who only played about half of the club’s snaps last season. Freeney would be part of a rotation in the Motor City, which is how he’s best utilized. For what it’s worth, Justin Rogers of MLive.com didn’t dismiss the idea of Detroit signing Freeney when asked earlier this month.
Kansas City Chiefs — The Chiefs could be without linebacker Justin Houston, one of the NFL’s best defensive players of the past half-decade, for part or most of the 2016 season after he underwent ACL surgery earlier this year, but Houston isn’t the only Kansas City edge defender dealing with knee issues. Fellow veteran Tamba Hali is also recovering from offseason surgery and hasn’t participated in camp, while Dee Ford left practice earlier this month with knee tendinitis. Freeney wouldn’t help compensate for any loss in coverage, but he’d be an improvement over current Chiefs backups Frank Zombo and Dezman Moses in terms of pass rush.
New Orleans Saints — We’ve discussed at length the historically inept 2015 Saints defense, so suffice it to say that New Orleans can still use all the help it can get. Last year’s second-round pick, Hau’oli Kikaha, was supposed to make the transition from linebacker to defensive end this summer, but he’ll now miss the entire season after suffering a torn ACL in mid-June. Currently projected to rely on Bobby Richardson (who graded as one of the five worst edge defenders in the league last season, according to Pro Football Focus), Obum Gwacham, and fourth-round rookie David Onyemata to line up opposite Cameron Jordan, the Saints could use Freeney perhaps more than any club on this list.
New York Jets — The Jets will continue to run essentially the same defense used by the 2015 Cardinals, as Arizona continued to employ former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles‘ concepts even after he left for the head coaching job in New York. Gang Green’s defense was very good last year, as they ranked fifth in DVOA and first against the run according to Football Outsider’s metrics. The one area where they weren’t exceptional, however, was pass rush (21st in adjusted sack rate). As Roster Resource details, New York is set to count on Lorenzo Mauldin and Jordan Jenkins — who have played a combined 253 snaps in the NFL (all by Mauldin) — as starting outside linebackers. Freeney, then, could be make sense as a edge rusher who sees 20-25 snaps per game.
Others — The Colts could use another rusher off the edge, but Mike Wells of ESPN.com reported last month that Indianapolis hadn’t engaged in talks with Freeney, and added that a reunion was unlikely. Freeney described a possible stint with the Patriots as a “win-win” for both parties, but Mike Reiss of ESPN.com doesn’t see the fit, noting that New England already has a healthy stable of defensive ends and linebackers. In the NFC, the Eagles could be a landing spot as they convert to a 4-3 scheme under new coordinator Jim Schwartz. Brian Robison isn’t anything special opposite Everson Griffen in the Vikings‘ front, while in Carolina, Mario Addison and Wes Horton are currently the last lines of defense for the Panthers if injuries should befall either Kony Ealy or Charles Johnson.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Buddy Ryan Dies At Age 85
1:29pm: Rex Ryan has issued a statement on the passing of his father:
“On behalf of the entire Ryan family, we want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their sympathies, prayers and warm thoughts with the passing of my dad. He was many things to many people–outstanding coach, mentor, fierce competitor, father figure, faithful friend and the list goes on. But to me and my brothers Rob and Jim, he was so much more. He was everything you want in a dad–tough when he had to be, compassionate when you didn’t necessarily expect it, and a loving teacher and confidant who cherished his family. He truly was our hero.
“For Rob and me, we’ve had the great fortune of sharing the coaching profession that he was so proud of and cherished so much. There is no way we can possibly begin to measure how much football we have learned from him over the years and we are forever thankful to him for instilling within us his unwavering love for the game of football.
“While today is a tough day for all of us in the Ryan family, we are consoled in knowing how much dad was loved by so many and the love he gave back in return. Though we will miss him dearly, we take comfort in knowing that his memory will live on through all of us.”
8:37am: Former NFL coach and defensive guru James “Buddy” Ryan has died at the age of 85, his agent, James Solano, told NFL.com’s Conor Orr. The news has since been confirmed by the Eagles.
Ryan, the father of Bills head coach Rex Ryan and assistant head coach Rob Ryan, was battling cancer in recent years. Ryan was outspoken and bold and, like his sons, a proponent of aggressive defense. Ryan served as the defensive coordinator for the famed 1985 Bears and spearheaded some of the Vikings’ best defenses in the 1970s. Ryan won two Super Bowl rings over the course of his 35-year career as an NFL coach and also served as a head coach for the Eagles and Cardinals, compiling a 55-55-1 record in his seven seasons at the helm.
“Without Buddy Ryan … I’m just a guy,” legendary Bears linebacker Mike Singletary said in an ESPN documentary about the 1985 Bears (transcript via Orr). “He’s someone that you meet, and you think he’s the toughest, meanest guy that you’ll ever meet. But he loves you. He just doesn’t know how to express it. But you know it when he looks at you.”
Ryan was the pioneer of the 46 defense, a scheme that was wildly effective and changed the way defense was played in professional football. Of course, when you’re bold and successful, you’re not always going to be well-received everywhere you go.
“In Chicago they say, ‘Coach Ryan, so good to see you!'” Ryan once said (via the Daily News). “In Philadelphia, they say, ‘Hey, mother f—er, what are you doing here?”
Overall, however, Ryan was a beloved figure in the NFL and we here at Pro Football Rumors would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time.
Will Caleb Sturgis Beat Out Cody Parkey?
- Cody Parkey has been a fantasy football hero at times, but the Eagles kicker could be supplanted by Caleb Sturgis, Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com writes. Sturgis has looked better in the team’s open practices, according to Zangaro, and Parkey is coming off of an injury.
Do NFC East Teams Fear Eagles QBs?
The Eagles surprised many onlookers this offseason when they gave Sam Bradford a hefty extension while also drafted QB Carson Wentz No. 2 overall and adding free agent Chase Daniel. With two new signal callers behind the incumbent starter Bradford, are the Eagles striking fear into NFC East opponents? John Keim of ESPN.com doesn’t believe so. The Redskins respected Philly’s passing game last year, but Bradford is now in a new offense (again) and the backups aren’t necessarily going to bolster the passing game in 2016. Daniel can capably run Doug Pederson‘s offense if called upon and Wentz has star potential, but neither player makes a difference in the here and now, in Keim’s view.
Eagles Betting On Extensions Paying Off
In an expansive article for CBSSports.com, former agent Joel Corry details how the Eagles have returned to their front office roots, extending players who fit their system before they hit the market in order to lock in cheap(er) contracts. Howie Roseman, back at the helm of the personnel staff after being re-installed as de facto GM over the offseason, has handed out more than $280MM in guarantees over the past several months, but has also rid the club of unattractive contracts attached to players like DeMarco Murray and Byron Maxwell. As the salary cap continues to rise, clubs can spend more freely without having to worry about financial wiggle room, and while Philadelphia might be up against the cap in 2017, it can clear space by releasing (or trading) veterans like Sam Bradford and/or Jason Peters. The key, as Corry writes, is that the Eagles hit on the players — like quarterback Carson Wentz, tight end Zach Ertz, and defensive end Vinny Curry — on which Roseman has staked his reputation.
Eagles Turned Down Future 1st To Draft Cox
In the 2012 draft, the Eagles had their eye on defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. The night prior to the draft, the Eagles agreed to a deal with the Seahawks that would move them from No. 15 to No. 12, provided that one of the players on their short wish list was still available. Cox fell to No. 12, the two teams made the trade, and the Eagles were ready to announce their pick. However, when the Eagles were on the clock, they received a tempting trade proposal which would have netted them a future first-round pick in exchange for moving back, as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. The Eagles, of course, declined. 
“If he was [what the Eagles thought], how would we get that guy again?” Eagles exec Howie Roseman said. “And all around the room, everyone agreed that to get a 6-4, 310-pound guy, 35-inch arms, powerful, athletic, great character, we’d have to pick in the Top-5 — 21 years old. For us, even if that future one was a 12 or 13 or 14, we thought it was a unique opportunity that we were able to get that kind of guy, so we just kind of made the pick.”
In theory, the Eagles could have grabbed a player like Sheldon Richardson, Star Lotulelei, or Kenny Vaccaro in the following year, but there’s no way of knowing what they would have done in that scenario. In any event, the Eagles are thrilled with how things turned out and earlier this month they locked up their star defensive tackle on a massive deal through the 2022 season.
Eagles Notes: Bradford, Peters, Cox
The Eagles still have salary cap flexibility after doling out $280MM in guarantees this year, Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com writes. This offseason, GM Howie Roseman handed major money out to in-house players like Fletcher Cox, Sam Bradford, Lane Johnson, and Zach Ertz while signing Brandon Brooks, Chase Daniel, Rodney McLeod, and Leodis McKelvin.
On the surface, the Eagles have an issue as they are $5.7MM over the projected salary cap for 2017. However, there is some wiggle room there if the team is willing to be on the hook for some dead money. Bradford’s salary-cap charge for 2017 is $22.5MM but the Eagles can release him before that season, saving $13MM and eating $9.5MM in dead money, leaving them $7.3MM under the projected 2017 salary cap. The Eagles could also cut left tackle Jason Peters, who will be 35 in 2017, to save another $9MM in cap space.
- The new six-year, $103MM contract extension for Cox shows that the Eagles both value Cox and the defensive tackle position, Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. “It’s really hard when you look at building your team because when you have great offensive tackles, you can scheme against great defensive ends — I’m not telling you they are not equally as important; they are,” Roseman said. “But when you can get pressure up the middle and in a quarterback’s face, it’s hard. It’s hard for them. It makes them uncomfortable. I think this is something that we always believed in. There were very few guys that are this big and this athletic and have this kind of motor that are ever born, let alone play in the National Football League.”
Opinion: Eagles Should Consider Stephen Tulloch
The Eagles have a brand new coach this season and ESPN.com’s panel of NFC East writers pondered whether the rest of the division would be happy to have Chip Kelly out of their hair or perhaps be a little more fearful of Doug Pederson. The group notes that the Cowboys seemed to do pretty well against Kelly’s high-motored offense while the Giants on the other hand went 1-5 against Kelly with their lone win coming against fill-in QB Matt Barkley. The Redskins, meanwhile, lost their first three contests against Kelly but won the last three showdowns.
- Jimmy Kempski of The Philly Voice wondered if the Eagles should sign linebacker Stephen Tulloch if and when he becomes available. The veteran linebacker was excused from Lions minicamp last week, which could be an indication that his release is imminent. Tulloch played for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in Tennessee and the Eagles’ linebacker depth is pretty thin, as shown on Roster Resource. The Eagles are slated to go into the season with starting linebackers Nigel Bradham, Jordan Hicks, and Mychal Kendricks, plus primary backup Najee Goode. After that, there’s a dropoff in talent.