Eagles 2023 Offseason

[LoneStarPhan]

I think Cunningham is a decent linebacker, although both the Texans and the Titans seem to have let him go or elected to not try to bring him back.

[phillychuck]

Here is a stat that "loves" Cunningham (through 2021): https://atozsports.com/nashville/one-stat-that-proves-zach-cunningham-is-the-nfls-best-run-stopping-linebacker/#:~:text=What%20makes%20Cunningham%20vastly%20underrated,for%20the%20last%20four%20seasons.

[bkeich]

Seems like a catch... if he is so good against the run how bad is he in coverage? Must be horrible.

[phillychuck]

I don't know how to read this commentary--he's either really bad or really good in coverage, "He also ranks last among all LBs in total EPA given up as the nearest defender in coverage in that span, per NFL Next Gen Stats."

"Last" in EPA given up could mean he was excellent in coverage, too.

[xogfog]

I’ll give Howie the benefit of the doubt, but when Patrick Queen gets traded somewhere for a 5th round pick, that will be upsetting, since the Eagles have four 5th round picks.

[zambonir]

There's a delete button.

[phillychuck]

It's not obvious, depending on screen size it's hidden in the "three dots" menu.

[bkeich]

Besides, it gives PC something to do. He is lonely.

[phillychuck]

Not lonely, butt constantly in need of activity.

[Purduke]

I don't know how to read this commentary--he's either really bad or really good in coverage, "He also ranks last among all LBs in total EPA given up as the nearest defender in coverage in that span, per NFL Next Gen Stats."

"Last" in EPA given up could mean he was excellent in coverage, too.

It's bad. Following is a blurb from PFF going into the 2022 about Cunningham.

Cunningham spent the first four and a half years of his career with the Houston Texans before being waived last December. The Titans were happy to scoop him up and immediately started him for the team’s final five games.

At his best, Cunningham is a whirlwind of energy who is capable of getting downhill in a hurry and blowing up any run play. The Titans were pretty solid against the run all year, but with Cunningham, they shut down the Steelers (35 rush yards), San Francisco 49ers (83), Dolphins (74), Texans (64) and Cincinnati Bengals (65) alike to end the season. Overall, Cunningham graded out as PFF’s fourth-best linebacker against the run among 126 qualified players at the position.

The problem is that Cunningham didn’t exactly produce in the same elite manner when the opponent dropped back to pass, which was true in the coverage (116th-ranked linebacker in coverage grade) as well as pass rush (122nd) deparments. There quite literally wasn’t a linebacker with a wider difference in rank in PFF grade vs. the run compared to in coverage.

Even with the Pass def hits PFF rated him 28th out of approx 85 LBs in bith '20 and '21. In 2022 he was supposedly grading out better against the pass before injuring an elbow in Week 3. Went on IR, came back Week 8 and then re-injured the elbow in Week 9 and went back onto IR again. He had been pretty stout prior to 2022. Titans released him in February with a failed physical "injury designation." If I had to pick a comp off the top of my head without looking at stats I'd compare him to Jordan Hicks. We'll see about the injury.

Jack seems to be trailing off career wise recently. PFF had him rated in the bottom 20% of LBs in 3 of the last 4 years, with 2020 being highly rated albeit a lot of that being as a pass rusher. Last year they had him ranked 65\81 overall, with his pass rush his only above average rating. Who was rated 64th overall? Nick Morrow (in his defense, some people felt he had a productive year last year)..

All that said, I'm pleased they signed both, but moreso Cunningham.

[bkeich]

Nothing wrong with a run-stopping LB if he is used that way, and frankly on likely passing plays there are 0-2 LB on the field anymore.

Jack, well, we have very young starting LBs (I don't really could Reddick as a LB), so maybe he is a bit of a mentor? Who knows. Problem is I doubt he plays ST (could be wrong) so I kinda wonder if Jack is not going to struggle to make the roster.

[xogfog]

Reports from camp is neither Siposs or Zentner are lighting it up in the punter competition. Matt Araiza is still out there, just sayin'...

[zambonir]

The fact that he is still out there seems sort of telling.

Matt Araiza's initial path back to the NFL could be on a practice squad

[xogfog]

He's still out there because of the legal case he was involved in and has been cleared.

[zambonir]

Yup but legal system is never the last word on such things. There is still a civil suit and that article mentions a bunch of teams that don't want to touch him. Including because he is just a punter.

[jimbomill]

Matt Araiza is still out there, just sayin'...

It is interesting that he isn't being brought in. Maybe there's additional litigation?

[zambonir]

There is.

In the HBO story referenced in the link I shared.one GM said women had already put pressure on his team, one essentially noted that not being charged isn't the same as innocence and one said it was not worth the trouble for a punter.

I don't see Lurie going there.

[LegoDoom]

Hopefully the team won't need a punter

[jimbomill]

I don't see Lurie going there

Agreed - but I am hoping for a better Punter this season, somehow

[rkeden]

Jeffrey feels so strongly, as you all recognize, about the team and its players being solid citizens, role models, and having a mature, supportive locker room. I would be shocked if Araiza is brought in. He will get his second chance elsewhere!

On the other hand, our "D" needs field position to be max effective. We need to solve our punter problem!