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  • Backyard Banter Podcast
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 54: Kyle Crabbs - Build my own chair at the table
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 53: James Koh - Divorce the information from emotion
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 52: Will Brinson - That's how it'll have to be
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 51: Charles McDonald - Not an escape from reality
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 50: What you've learned - For you, by you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 49: Jourdan Rodrigue - Let's see what you think then
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 48: Justin Twell - Long process to come back
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 47: Justin Lonero - It's time to relearn life
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 46: Scott Bischoff - Life presented the greatest challenge possible
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 45: Al Zeidenfeld - Little steps along the way
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 44: Jason Romano - Just a different dream
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 43: Matt Harmon - But here we are (Season 1 finale)
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 42: Gregg Rosenthal - I have to make it work or else
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 41: Jon Moore - Determiner of what I want
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 40: Uncle Chaps - Just have fun with it
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 39: Bob Harris - The best addiction I've ever had
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 38: Scott Fish - Everybody working together to make this big
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 37: Jene Bramel - Ask the questions you want answered
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 36: Mike Tagliere - Never going to leave this candy store
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 35: Ben Cummins - Starting at ground zero
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 34: Field Yates - It's the nature of what we do
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 33: Chris Heil - I gave it everything I had
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 32: Sal Stefanile - Just make them notice you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 31: Adam Levitan - Accept an alternate lifestyle
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 30: Matthew Freedman - It's not built for everyone
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 29: George Kritikos - If your heart's not in it people notice
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 28: Marcas Grant - Certainly never expected this
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 27: Steve Palazzolo - I understand the questions that come
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 26: Matt Miller - To build bridges not burn them
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 25: Graham Barfield - A human game played by humans
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 24: Pat Daugherty - I just said yes to everything
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 23: Eric Galko - There's always work to be done
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 22: TJ Hernandez - In some roundabout way
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 21: Alex Gelhar - Homework for the rest of your life
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 20: The Fantasy Footballers - Because we were fans
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 19: Jessica Kleinschmidt - The scariest person you deal with is yourself
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 18: Evan Silva - A willingness to work hard
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 17: Jeff Risdon - It's hard to be in the middle
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 16: Cecil Lammey - Because I didn't ask for anything
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 15: Patrick Claybon - If you shine people will see you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 14: Denny Carter - People want to know you
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 13: Adam Rank - Honestly just don't go away
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 12: Adam Pfeifer - Being happy is doing this
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 11: Mark Schofield - You get one drive in this life
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 10: Liz Loza - Ride the horse in the direction it's going
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 9: Matthew Berry - I've done it without being negative to anyone
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 8: Matt Franciscovich - Persistence is a huge deal
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 7: Matt Williamson - I got lucky, but I made my own luck
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 6: Eric Stoner - Passions are best left as hobbies
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 5: Josh Norris - You don't have to have an opinion on everything
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast Episode 4: Rumford Johnny - Elevate somebody or get out of their way
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast episode 3: JJ Zachariason - No one cares because you're not established
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast episode 2: Matt Waldman - Popular doesn't necessarily make it good
    • The Backyard Banter Podcast episode 1 - Sigmund Bloom
  • Fantasy Hipsters
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 28: We''l see you in a bit.
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 27: "Ehhh how about you people relax with that one"
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 26: Mail Satchel - Davante Adams debate & "friends of the show"
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 25: NFL Network's Top 100 Players This or That
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 24: Mail Satchel - Surviving without Charlie and Tight Ends to Watch
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 23: Jeremy Maclin reaction, news recap and did Harmon pull off that hat?
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 22: Mail satchel - WE ARE THE PODCAST OF THE PEOPLE
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 21: Reception Perception review of sleepers, breakouts and surprises
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 20: Evan Silva destroys our MFL10 hopes and dreams
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 19: Mail satchel - Will Brandon Marshall thrive with the Giants in 2017?
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 18: We Are Pretty Mad
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 17: Mail satchel - Rompers, clean eating and the 2007 NFL Draft class
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 16: NFL depth chart breakdowns and being sick of bad Eddie Lacy jokes
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 15: Mail satchel - Drafting too many rookies, breakouts and bell-cow RBs
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 14: French press vs. pour over coffee & mock draft review with James Koh
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 13: Mail satchel - Los Angeles Chargers the hipster's team of 2017?
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 12: NFL Draft rookie fits and a cast iron running back with Matt Waldman
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 11: NFL Draft preview and drumset vomit with Josh Norris of Rotoworld
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast Episode 10: Mail satchel - Dynasty debate, bad impressions and hipster bands
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 9: Perfect Prospect Parings — identifying NFL fits for draft prospects
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 8: Corey Davis, DeVante Parker and what to drink at your draft
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 7: Carlos Hyde, Laquon Treadwell and NFL Draft rookie big board part 3
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 6: Valuing Jordan Howard for 2017 and NFL Draft rookie big board part 2
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 5: NFL Draft rookie top-12 big board and in-depth beer interview
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 4: Kaepernick saga, Harmon shaves his beard and Franchise gets roasted
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast Episode 3: Eddie Lacy, Free Agency, music & beer and picking best QB roommate
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 2: Early Free Agency Fallout, Combine Standouts & Mailbag
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast - Episode 1: NFL Scouting Combine preview and washed vets
    • Fantasy Hipsters Podcast: Teaser episode introduction
  • Reception Perception: 2017
    • Reception Perception: Investigating any correlation between the results and draft prospect age
  • The 2016 Reception Perception Project
    • Reception Perception: 11 flags planted for the 2016 season
    • Reception Perception: Nelson Agholor can bounce-back in Doug Pederson's offense
    • Reception Perception: Improved technician Donte Moncrief is set to explode in 2016
    • Reception Perception: Only one concern can hold Sammy Watkins back from his ceiling
    • Reception Perception: Bruce Ellington has a chance to flash this season with the 49ers
    • Reception Perception: Albert Wilson and the Diary of a Truther
    • Reception Perception: Willie Snead built an impressive resume we must not ignore
    • Reception Perception: Welcome the ascending Tyler Lockett to rarified status
    • Reception Perception: Kamar Aiken is the answer to the Ravens receiver riddle
    • Reception Perception: DeSean Jackson and Josh Doctson make the Washington wide receivers a strength
    • Reception Perception: Browns make a refreshing first pick in Corey Coleman
    • Reception Perception: The fruitless search for fatal flaws with Laquon Treadwell
    • Reception Perception: Why there will never be a cumulative or overall grade
    • Reception Perception: The changing variables for Torrey Smith point to a rebound
    • Reception Perception: 2016 media appearances
    • Reception Perception: Rashard Higgins - never tell me the odds
    • Reception Perception: Keyarris Garrett is a unicorn in this draft class
    • Reception Perception: Malcolm Mitchell is a top-10 receiver in the 2016 NFL Draft
    • Reception Perception: 2016 NFL draft prospects results
    • Reception Perception: Golden Tate won't be able to replace Calvin Johnson
    • Reception Perception: Jeff Janis, trump cards and sorting through the noise
    • Reception Perception: Top-four college receiver primer
  • The 2015 Reception Perception Project
    • Reception Perception Based Media Appearances
    • Reception Perception: Steve Johnson is the Surest Sleeper Around
    • Reception Perception: Target and Contested Catch Data for Sophomore WRs
    • Reception Perception: Success Rate vs. Coverage Scores for the Sophomore Wide Receivers
    • Reception Perception: Why we Must Consider the Entire Range of Outcomes for Sammy Watkins
    • Reception Perception: Data Results from Year 1
    • Reception Perception: Scanning Through the Dolphins Receiving Corps for Fantasy Answers
    • Reception Perception: Allen Robinson is Quietly on the Precipice of a Massive Breakout
    • Reception Perception: Michael Crabtree is Exactly What the Raiders’ Passing Game Needs
    • Reception Perception: Justin Hunter and Wisely Shopping the Clearance Bins
    • Reception Perception: How Kevin White Began His Ascension to the Top
    • Reception Perception: Sammie Coates Falls Along a Dangerous Archetype
    • Reception Perception: A Video Rundown of the Data
    • Reception Perception: New Browns Receiver Dwayne Bowe Bring Value to a Depleted Pass Game
    • Reception Perception: Expectations and an Odd Coupling Doomed Mike Wallace in Miami
    • Reception Perception: Andre Johnson Still has Plenty Left to Offer the Colts
    • Reception Perception: Randall Cobb Made the Right Call Sticking With the Packers
    • Reception Perception: Where Do We Go From Here, Percy Harvin?
    • Reception Perception: Devin Smith and The Value of a Trump Card (FBG)
    • Reception Perception: The Siren Song of Dorial Green-Beckham (FBG)
    • Reception Perception: Impending Free Agent Michael Crabtree
    • Reception Perception: Amari Cooper Under the Microscope (FBG)
    • Reception Perception: Sammy Watkins and Cordarrelle Patterson
  • Matt Harmon's in-season film review blog
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    • Reception Perception: Cordarrelle Patterson and a Developing Story
    • Reception Perception: Jordy Nelson and Mastering the Little Things
  • Ramblings
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    • Fighting through negativity bias and a wide receiver's drops
    • Saying Goodbye to Dixie
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    • My Reaction to Adrian Peterson and The Cycle of Abuse
    • Steve Smith: A Lesson in the Dangers of Emotional Football
    • The Arizona Cardinals Will Make the Playoffs
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    • The Commodification of NFL Players
    • Digging Deeper: Why Josh Freeman Failed with the Buccaneers
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    • The Eye in the Sky: The St. Louis Rams Should Commit to Sam Bradford for 2014
    • The Eye in the Sky: Why the Cardinals Struggle Against Tight Ends
    • The Eye in the Sky: Uncovering a Diamond in the Rough, Mike Brown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Uncovering a Diamond in the Rough, Brandon Bostick
    • The Eye in the Sky: E.J. Manuel's Improvement All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Why Defending the Colts Offense is too Easy All-22 Breakdown
    • The Eye in the Sky: Picking Apart the Jets Defense All-22 Breakdown
    • Eye in the Sky: Texans vs. Chiefs (Week Seven) All-22 Breakdown
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How to Fix ‘em: Philadelphia Eagles

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By: Matt Harmon

Year in Review:

             Well it was a fun ride under Andy Reid, Eagles fans. Well, at least the first thirteen years. This is a roster with a ton of holes and it’s hard to say exactly how many great players remain on this team. The problem with the two-year “dream team” experiment is that the roster was, in theory, incredibly top heavy, but the positions that didn’t have that top end talent were some of the worst position groups in the league, never mind that those top end players/parts of the roster never played up to their billing. The sum wasn’t equal to the whole of its parts, as they say. The new coach has a hell of a job on his hands because this roster frankly needs a hack job. A ton of overpaid, and poorly fit parts, need to be jettisoned. There are a few things to build on, LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown come to mind, but overall this roster is in bad shape and there are needs all over the place. A notoriously impatient fan base in Philadelphia is going to have to be very patient with this team, because it could be a long time until we see a run of success like this team had under Reid.

Top Five Team Needs:

  1. Offensive line: I normally don’t list an entire position group, but this unit was so dreadful in 2012 I found it necessary. Evan Mathis was rock solid, but after that it was just a mess. Jason Peters, Todd Herremans, and Jason Kelce were all lost to serious season ending injuries. Its going to be to tough to count on all three of those players coming back, much less at full strength, so the Eagles would be wise to develop a contingency plan. Former first round pick, Danny Watkins was injured off and on, and was eventually benched; further cementing how ridiculous it is to draft a 27-year-old non-elite prospect in the first round. The best move would be for the team to find a tackle who can start on the left or right side, depending on Peters health, so that Herremans can slide back inside to his natural guard spot. 2012 showed Philly that depth and competition is a must here.
  2. Two cornerbacks: This unit puts a face on the dream team failure. People expected this to be a stellar unit with Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie holding things down. Well Nnamdi was burnt so badly on a regular basis that a friend of mine wrote him a letter asking to be repaid for the jersey he bought of his last season. His regression from a shut-down corner to this is very perplexing. DRC was adequate, but he is a free agent who is likely to depart. Brandon Boykin looks like a keeper, but in a nickel role. Two starters should be added. 
  3.  Safety: The Eagles endured two second round busts in Nate Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett. This unit has been one of the bigger disasters the past two years as Kurt Coleman isn’t very good either. Special teamer Colt Anderson actually played serviceably at one spot, so they can ride with him as a starter for at least a season, but they desperately need to find someone to man the free safety spot.
  4.  Pass catchers: Maybe now that Andy Reid is gone the Eagles will actually utilize the strength of their offense, that being their running back stable. Their aerial attack has been extremely overrated the past two years. While part of that can be blame on Michael Vick being a shell of himself, but still this group has underperformed. DeSean Jackson is perennially overrated because all he can do is run go routes and get behind a defense. He is far from a number one option. Jeremy Maclin could fill that role, and he played much better with Nick Foles under center, but he struggles with injuries and hasn’t lived up to his potential. Brent Celek can’t get open much anymore and he struggles with drops; he should be replaced despite his hurdling abilities. This may have to wait a year, but a new starter at receiver could help.
  5. Quarterback: Nick Foles showed that he is at least a competent NFL quarterback, but is a new regime going to trust him to be their long-term starter? I wouldn’t bet my money on it. I expect someone to at least bring in some competition for him. As for Michael Vick, I harp on him a lot because I think he is vastly over hyped by the media, and while he has done a tremendous job remaking himself into a much better human being post prison he has not fixed many of his bad traits as a quarterback. I think he is most likely done. 

Offseason Moves:
  • Chip Kelly hired as Head Coach: Normally I am not in favor of hiring college coaches with no NFL experience, and Kelly has spent 0.0 seconds of NFL experience. Kelly spurned the Eagles and Browns a few weeks back over issues of control and Oregon booster Phil Knight shelling out a bunch of cash. So, its safe to assume that the Eagles gave Kelly a big contract and final say on the roster. Many are throwing around ideas about who fits Chip Kelly's scheme, but the important thing to note is that NFL teams weren't infatuated with Kelly just because of his offensive schemes. They really loved how he builds a program and has a great football mind and I doubt that he is going be bringing a carbon copy of his Oregon offense to the NFL. Also do not assume that Vick will be his quarterback just because he can run, that is lazy analysis and its just not what Kelly's offense is all about. To better understand Kelly's offense follow @smartfootball on Twitter and read his piece here (http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8631595/the-success-chip-kelly-oregon-ducks-offense-more-familiar-seems). Overall I like this hire as long as Chip Kelly aclimates himself to the NFL properly. Grade: B
  • Pat Shurmur hired as Offensive Coordinator: This initially strikes as an odd fit, but I think this can be a nice hire for a couple reasons. Shurmur has experience in Philly as he served under Andy Reid as his quarterback's coach for several years. Secondly, Shurmur is a west coast offense disciple, but rumor has it he has shown a willingness to scrap or modify that system in his interviews for offensive coordinator jobs with other teams. Shurmur will help Kelly adjust to the NFL and can give him a different offensive perspective as well. Grade: B
  • Billy Davis hired as Defensive Coordinator: Davis has never really been successful in any of his previous stops, so it is hard to give this hire a high mark. This looks like a case in which Chip Kelly waffled around too long searching for a coordinator and ended up having to scrape the bottom of the barrel. It also looks like the Eagles will run a hybrid 4-3 3-4 defense, another move I do not like. Grade: D
  • Resigning QB, Michael Vick: Now, lets be clear. Some will look at this deal and think Vick is getting $10 million for one year. Fat chance. Vick will likely see about $5.5 to $7 million of that money because he will not reach all of those incentives. Either way I do not like this. I think Vick is just about done and I do not think he can be a successful starting quarterback anymore. He just does not have what it takes a this point in his career and at 33 years old he just is what he is. I think Kelly realizes this and is bringing him in for purely competition purposes, which is fine. I doubt Vick starts more than half the season, if he starts at all. Grade: C
  • Signing QB, Dennis Dixon: Now this is a move I love. I really liked Dixon before his injury in his final season at Oregon. He has experience with Chip Kelly and he may still have untapped potential. Eagles fans shouldn't expect this guy to be the answer at quarterback, but he could be a nice bridge and long term backup guy. Grade: A

(Image taken from: http://findlogo.net/show/detail/P/philadelphia-eagles-logo#.UO3u2qVnL18)


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