Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 6/13/17.

Let's get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Why a 'sophomore slump' is highly unlikely for Eagles QB Carson Wentz - PhillyVoice
While those are all fairly obvious reasons, they don't guarantee Wentz avoids the dreaded "sophomore slump." And I promised a guarantee. In fact, I believe it was a three-word explanation. Ready? They. Aren't. Real. "Sophomore slump" is a phrase people like to throw around without ever taking the time to see if it's actually a real thing. It's simply a way to label something that doesn't otherwise make sense or – and this is the one that really bugs me – to build a false narrative about a certain player.

Biggest upcoming roster decision for the Eagles - BGN
This is a good point. The Eagles did a good job of surrounding Wentz with some new weapons. But how many of them are here for the long haul?

So Far, So Good - Iggles Blitz
A great offseason on paper can be very different from reality. Fans of all teams have learned that the hard way. Dan Snyder has made more splashy moves that most owners and has virtually nothing to show for it. The Eagles looked like geniuses in 2011 and went 8-8 (and needed a 4-game win streak at the end of the year to get to that point). Most people agreed that the Eagles did a good job this offseason in acquiring talented players and good fits. We’ve only seen a few weeks of OTAs, but so far the big moves look like they were in fact good moves.

Lane Johnson's new diet: hold the supplements, add kale - ESPN
Philadelphia Eagles tackle Lane Johnson is not taking any chances. He says that supplements are "totally out" of his regimen now after being hit with a 10-game suspension last season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs a second time. He believes the positive test last year was the result of taking an amino acid he purchased online that was contaminated. One more positive test, and he'd face a two-year league ban, so he's doing things the old-fashioned way now to ensure there are no "mishaps." "The deal with supplements is it’s supposed to supplement your diet, but if you get everything in your diet [that you need], you don’t have to do it," said Johnson.

Eagles' defensive backs have 'a long way to go' - Daily News
But while the Eagles seem to think they've upgraded substantially this offseason at wide receiver, running back and edge rusher, Undlin's group is very much a work in progress. "We have a long way to go, obviously," Undlin said. Asked when he will know whether his unit is better than last year, when the Eagles allowed 19 touchdown passes in their final 10 games, losing seven of those, Undlin said: "When we start playing the games and it is (better)."

Philadelphia Eagles DL coach on Derek Barnett: 'He's a thermostat. He's not a thermometer.' - PennLive
Several Eagles coaches and teammates doused rookie Derek Barnett with praise over the past couple weeks, but Philly's defensive line coach found a way Monday to inject new lingo into the conversation about the first-round pass rusher. "What I do love about him is he's a thermostat," Chris Wilson said. "He's not a thermometer." Barnett's temperature-detecting skills aside, Wilson's point is this: The 20-year-old defensive end doesn't need much time to get acclimated to his surroundings on the Eagles' practice field. Instead, he's been setting the tone with his aggression and talent.

Santoliquito: Time For Fletcher Cox To Show He’s A Great Player – Not Just A Good One - CBS Philly
The promise has always come in drips and drabs. Fletcher Cox is one of the better defensive tackles in the NFL, though not exactly the best. Opposing offenses did game plan for him last year, though he didn’t necessarily help himself. The fact is, Cox regressed in 2016. Personal foul penalties in games against Detroit and Washington cost the Eagles. He was supposed to be a better pass rusher in Jim Schwartz’s 4-3 scheme, yet he had fewer sacks in 2016 (6.5) than he did in 2015 (9.5) in a 3-4 alignment. His tackles dropped last year from 50 in 2015, to 27 last year. His stuffs fell from 6 in 2015, to 4 last year.

Nine Things We Learned From The Coaches - PE.com
Carson Wentz's critics like to point to a stat from his impressive rookie campaign - 6.23. That's his yards per attempt, which was next to last among starting quarterbacks last season. Those who aren't aboard the Wentz Wagon will argue that this number shows he doesn't have the arm talent necessary to threaten NFL defenses on a consistent basis. Quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo "absolutely" sees that number rising in 2017 for a number of reasons.

John DeFilippo shows no bitterness after Eagles blocked him from leaving - CSN Philly
If he's bitter at all about being denied the chance at a promotion, it doesn't show. "I’ve wanted to coach in this organization for a long, long time, having been from Philadelphia," said DeFilippo, who grew up in Radnor. "Here’s my take on the whole thing. My goal this year is to be the best quarterbacks coach in the National Football League, improve our guys as much as I can, and then usually things have a way of taking care of themselves."

Rookie could have Eagles racing to replace Kendricks - Delaware Online
For the Eagles, converting Nate Gerry to linebacker might have signaled a race to see if he can make the transition fast enough to essentially replace Mychal Kendricks before the season starts. The Eagles have been watching Gerry closely through the previous three weeks of organized team activities and will do so again beginning Tuesday for a three-day mandatory minicamp. The Eagles aren't openly admitting that they want Gerry to replace Kendricks. But math and economics would indicate that's the case. Kendricks played just 27 percent of the snaps last season while counting $4.6 million against the Eagles' salary cap.

Where does Jeremy Maclin fit into the Ravens offense? - Baltimore Beatdown
For much of his career, Maclin has been an outside receiver and he has thrived in that role. In Baltimore, that will more than likely be the role that he continues to play. That then gives the Ravens three receivers that have the potential to be starters on the outside, Mike Wallace, Maclin, and Breshad Perriman. To me, Perriman will be the odd man out. Despite the fact that Perriman has been very impressive thus far in OTA’s, but Wallace and Maclin are both more reliable and have more experience.

Jeremy Maclin gives Ravens much-needed receiving boost - SB Nation
At 29 years old, Maclin has a wealth of experience in the NFL and can help the Ravens offense with his route running and strong hands.

Vince Young tears hamstring, out 4-6 weeks - PFT
Vince Young’s football comeback already has hit a roadblock. Saskatchewan Roughriders coach Chris Jones said Monday that Young tore his hamstring and will miss 4-6 weeks. Young was hurt in practice June 6. Young, 34, has not played in a game since 2011 with the Eagles. He was attempting a comeback in the CFL.

NFL QB hot seat index: Rating the 14 starters who could be elsewhere in 2018 - CBS Sports
Kirk Cousins — We'll have something of a better sense of closure on this one by July 15, which is the deadline to sign him to an extension off the franchise tag, under which he's set to make nearly $24 million. Of course, the Redskins could always franchise him again -- for a third straight time -- in 2018 if need be, but I actually expect these sides to agree to a long-term deal by the deadline this time around.

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