Unser Chat » they’re certainly — like in most measures

If they’re not Womens Nate Gerry Jersey , they’re certainly — like in most measures — somewhere near the top" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesBleeding Green Nation homepageHorizontal - WhiteBleeding Green Nationa Philadelphia Eagles communityFollow Bleeding Green Nation online:Follow Bleeding Green Nation on TwitterFollow Bleeding Green Nation on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchBleeding Green Nation main menuFanpostsFanshotsEaglesOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Eagles StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Eagles NewsYahoo Eagles Team PageYahoo Eagles ReportYahoo Eagles Depth ChartYahoo Eagles TransactionsYahoo Eagles PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Are the Eagles the best “up the middle” team in the league?New,30commentsIf they’re not, they’re certainly — like in most measures — somewhere near the topEDTYesterday, Daniel Jeremiah submitted this question to the rogues of Twitter:An interesting way at looking at a team, for sure. One of the most common answers ended up being the Eagles — though there were more than a few teams whose names were thrown into the mix.Worth taking a deeper dive into? I say so.The most popular answers I saw were Atlanta, Los Angeles (Chargers), Dallas, Cleveland and Philadelphia. I also think the Jets are a sneaky fun group to consider, but we’ll table them for now.I’ll rank the five players at each position and tally up the scores, doubling the value for QBs (arbitrarily), so as to assign more positional value to that spot. It’s an inexact science, but the conversation is more important than the actual content.QuarterbackIt’s a talented list, but we can quickly place Wentz above both Dak Prescott and Baker Mayfield — he’s proven more over his short career than Dak has, as we’ve covered on BGN Radio many, many times, and Mayfield had a strong finish to 2018 but still needs more reps until he’s a known quantityI do struggle to put Wentz above Matt Ryan, who I consider to be the top QB in this group. Philip Rivers is a bit of a closer conversation in terms of who’s better in the year 2019, but with Wentz still rehabbing from injury, I’m gonna give Rivers the benefit of the doubt for now. Both are definitely Top-10, maybe Top-8 QBs in the league.Falcons: 10Chargers: 8Eagles: 6Cowboys: 4Browns: 2Running BackI’m sure there are those that are upset that I’m not DEVALUING running backs the way I’m boosting the value of QBs, but hey — this is just an exercise. Calm down and eat your Wheaties.The best back here is clearly Ezekiel Elliott, and the worst is probably Jordan Howard/Miles Sanders, whoever ends up starting for Philly. I don’t really know who to call the starter in Cleveland — Kareem Hunt or Nick Chubb — and that would change the rankings slightly, but I’m going to err on the side of Chubb, as Hunt’s situation with the league is tenuous at best, and there’s no reason to take reps away from Chubb given his performance last year.Unfortunately, that puts Chubb below Devonta Freeman and Melvin Gordon — which Youth Brandon Graham Jerseys , again, is the trickiest battle here. It’s easy to forget how good Freeman was in 2016-2017 before he lost the 2018 season to injury, but I think I’m still gonna edge Gordon, who — while he has his own health problems — has steadily improved in Los Angeles.Falcons: 13Chargers: 12Eagles: 9Cowboys: 9Browns: 4CenterIt might not be as easy to remember each team’s starting center, so to run through ‘em real quick.Eagles: Jason KelceFalcons: Alex MackCowboys: Travis FrederickChargers: Mike PounceyBrowns: JC TretterOkay, here’s what I know. I know Jason Kelce is the best, and that’s probably with a bit of bias, but the dude is a back-to-back First-Team All-Pro center, so I feel comfortable with this one.I also feel comfortable calling Travis Frederick the second-best. He wins differently than Kelce — power instead of quickness — but he’s consistently aggressive, lockdown, and productive when tasked with opening gaps. If he’s healthy, he’s No. 2.JC Tretter, who’s a good player, is a tick below Alex Mack and Mike Pouncey —I think he lacks their elite physical traits. Between Mack and Pouncey, I’ve been impressed with Pouncey’s play outside of Miami for sure — but I still think Mack is the more consistent player, with more elite traits. I know LA fans will be upset, and rightfully so — but watch Mack execute reach blocks for the Falcons and tell me otherwise.Falcons: 16Chargers: 14Eagles: 14Cowboys: 13Browns: 5Note: I’m quickly sensing that the Browns may not belong yet on this list.Defensive TackleThere was no guidelines given in terms of calculating the tandem of DTs as opposed to just the top ranked interior defensive linemen, so I’m just going with one player.The Cowboys are in the clear weakest spot here, and the Chargers are second. Both lack a truly elite standout starter (Tyrone Crawford v. Corey Liuget) and are hoping for instant impact from high draft picks (Trysten Hill v. Jerry Tillery). Things could shift in a year, but they don’t have anyone who can match with the Top 3 players here.And again, Larry Ogunjobi (or Sheldon Richardson, your call honestly — I just think Ogunjobi is a better player) is a strong young player and franchise building-block, but he can’t be put up against Fletcher Cox and Grady Jarrett.And once again, Grady Jarrett is a franchise cornerstone who helped power the Falcons’ Super Bowl run — but for all of his penetration strength, he’s no Fletcher Cox. There’s only one dude who Fletch would have lost to, in this exercise.Falcons: 20Eagles: 19Chargers: 16Cowboys: 14Browns: 8LinebackerGrabbing the best off-ball linebacker I can find here and not really committing myself to a MLB designation on the depth chart — though for the most part, these fellas are all their teams’ signal-caller and MIKE by usage.The Cowboys and the Falcons are at the top of the list Brandon Graham Jerseys Stitched , with Leighton Vander Esch and Deion Jones. Browns are once again cellar-dwellars — not because Joe Schobert is bad, but because he’s just Joe Schobert. I know some folks have love for Denzel Perryman in Los Angeles, and I’ll allow that he’s improved over last year, but I still don’t think he’s as quality a starter as Nigel Bradham is for Philly.And as much as I love Deion Jones, I can’t put him above Vander Esch, who was shockingly dominant as a rookie. Jones just has too many gaps as an undersized coverage player, despite all his strengths.Falcons: 24Eagles: 22Cowboys: 19Chargers: 18Browns: 9SafetyLast but certainly not least, safety. Thank God I’m only doing one of each, because the Chargers have about four starters at safety. As it is, I’ll match Derwin James up against the Cowboys’ Xavier Woods, Falcons’ Keanu Neal, Browns’ Damarious Randall, and Eagles Malcolm Jenkins.Cowboys and Browns, once again, the bottom two. Woods is a promising young player, and Randall was a great addition that filled a need, but neither could be described as consistent, reliable, locked-in-to-their-position starters at this point in their careers. I prefer Randall to Woods.Are we ready to say Derwin James is better than Keanu Neal and Malcolm Jenkins? I don’t think I am, though it is tempting. James made a strong push for DROY as a safety — which rarely happens — but Neal and Jenkins have both been as good (or better) for longer.And between the two, I will take Jenkins. Neal is a hammer in the middle with great presence against the run, but he doesn’t match Jenkins’ coverage versatility and value as a captain and veteran. Falcons: 28Eagles: 27Chargers: 21Cowboys: 20Browns: 11It was tight there at the end, but call the Falcons the best team up the middle in the league — just by thaaaaat much. For me, at least." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesBleeding Green Nation homepageHorizontal - WhiteBleeding Green Nationa Philadelphia Eagles communityFollow Bleeding Green Nation online:Follow Bleeding Green Nation on TwitterFollow Bleeding Green Nation on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchBleeding Green Nation main menuFanpostsFanshotsEaglesOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Eagles StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Eagles NewsYahoo Eagles Team PageYahoo Eagles ReportYahoo Eagles Depth ChartYahoo Eagles TransactionsYahoo Eagles PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕The 2019 Eagles season is much more easy to get excited about than 2018New,75commentsFor me, at least.EDTEagles training camp begins this week and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m really looking to the 2019 season.I didn’t quite feel the same way last year.Don’t get me wrong, I was hopeful about the Super Bowl LII winners trying to repeat as world champions. But the 2018 offseason felt so short. As I sat in my press box seat prior to the Eagles’ Week 1 game against the Falcons Youth Rodney McLeod Jerseys , I couldn’t help but think how it didn’t feel like the 2017 season was truly over. That feeling only intensified over the course of that game. Nick Foles was starting under center. Foles caught a pass, not unlike he did against the Patriots in Minnesota. A low-scoring game against Atlanta once again came down to Julio Jones failing to catch a pass in the end zone. Just uncanny.Of course, the similarities to 2017 would not end there. Carson Wentz would suffer another season-ending injury that would have Foles quarterback the Eagles during a playoff run for the second in a row. It felt like the underdogs were going to shock the world again. Alas, it didn’t happen. The 2018 season officially came to an end shortly after a Foles pass went right through Alshon Jeffery’s hands. Unlike the conclusion to every other Eagles season after 1960 and prior to 2017, however, there wasn’t the same kind of anger when it was all over. There was natural disappointment, surely, but there was also something that previously wasn’t present: a sense of pride. A feeling that this team cannot be counted out moving forward. Because even when adversity has struck, Doug Pederson’s team has found a way to respond with their backs up against the wall. Foles was undoubtedly a big part of that resiliency. And he’s gone now. He’ll be missed, especially if Wentz goes down for a third time in three seasons. But the Foles departure also symbolizes a fresh start for the Eagles. 2017 and 2018 felt like one big, long season. 2019 is an entirely new chapter as Philadelphia moves forward with Wentz as their undisputed franchise quarterback.The way I see it, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about Wentz’s outlook. He’s healthy now. He’s working with one of the best offensive supporting casts in the league. He’s already formed a strong connection with the ever-dynamic DeSean Jackson. The Eagles made offense look so hard at times last year. Moving the ball down the field was like pulling teeth. That should be different in 2019. Jackson’s field-stretching ability alone makes a big difference. Then add in the likes of Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Nelson Agholor, JJ Arcega-Whiteside in the passing game. Not to mention a running game that should be better with Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders in the fold. On defense, the Eagles should have enough to at least field a competent unit. I have some concerns about the depth at defensive end but I do think the interior defensive line is going to generate a lot of disruption. There are unsettled spots in the secondary that Jim Schwartz needs to figure out but it’s not like the team is totally devoid of talent there. There’s youth and potential. Look, it’s way too easy to be optimistic about everything now. This is the time of year where most NFL fans are envisioning their favorite teams as Super Bowl contenders. It won’t take long for that feeling to fade if/when things go wrong early in the season.I know there are those who get nervous when people start putting big expectations on the Eagles. There’s been a lot of talk lately that the 2019 squad is arguably better on paper than the 2017 team. The pressure is on and not everyone loves that because they’d rather the Eagles be the underdogs. And I get it. You have some concerns about the team. You’re used to disappointment. You’d have a lot more fun seeing the Eagles exceed expectations than failing to meet lofty goals.If that’s how you feel, fine. But when I look at this team, I can’t help but see a legitimate Super Bowl contender. It all just comes down to Wentz’s health. If he can stay on the field, the Eagles should be in pretty good shape. If not, well, they’re screwed. And if that unfortunate outcome materializes, I’ll cross that bridge of disappointment when it arrives.For now, though, I’m feeling excited.