Next In Line?
By DAVE SPADARO
March 15, 2003
The news that Hugh Douglas signed a contract to play with Jacksonville means the Eagles have some work to do along the defensive line. Or do they? With N.D. Kalu, Derrick Burgess and Brandon Whiting still around, the Eagles have a lot to work with.
Here?s a look at some possible scenarios the Eagles may pursue now that Douglas is gone.
Work in Kalu and Burgess, once he?s healthy, at right defensive end as a tandem. Burgess showed great potential in his rookie season, but there are questions now about his health after he?s undergone two surgeries to repair a broken foot suffered in the 2002 season-opening game against Tennessee. Kalu emerged last season after a pre-season experiment when he was moved to linebacker. Both players have talent, both are high-motor guys and both know how to get to the quarterback.
The question should the Eagles go that route is this: are both Kalu and Burgess stout enough to play the run? Are they ready to have such substantial role increases? And with Burgess, health is obviously a key question.
Sign Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, a restricted free agent from Green Bay, to an offer sheet. It?s been reported widely for weeks now that if the Eagles were to lose Douglas, they would try to lure the talented Gbaja-Biamila away from the Packers.
If the Eagles do that, here?s how the process would work: the Eagles would have to sign him to an offer sheet and then wait seven days to see if the Packers match it. Should Green Bay do so, Gbaja-Biamila would remain a Packer. Should the Packers not match it, the Eagles would have to surrender their first-round pick, the 30th selection overall, in the April 26 draft.
Keep Burgess, Kalu and Whiting and use that first-round pick, or one of the two second-round picks, on a defensive end. The draftniks are saying that this defensive end crop is among the best in the draft, deep with pass-rushing speed guys.
Continue to shop in free agency, or wait until the post-June 1 cuts to add to the roster.
Whatever the Eagles decide to do, they now need to replace Douglas? production. An Eagle since the 1998 season, the energetic Douglas was a consistent sack producer. He tailed off substantially in 2002 and then did not have a sack in the postseason, however.
The long wait to see what Douglas would decide has ended. Now he?s in Jacksonville and the Eagles have some decisions to make.
By DAVE SPADARO
March 15, 2003
The news that Hugh Douglas signed a contract to play with Jacksonville means the Eagles have some work to do along the defensive line. Or do they? With N.D. Kalu, Derrick Burgess and Brandon Whiting still around, the Eagles have a lot to work with.
Here?s a look at some possible scenarios the Eagles may pursue now that Douglas is gone.
Work in Kalu and Burgess, once he?s healthy, at right defensive end as a tandem. Burgess showed great potential in his rookie season, but there are questions now about his health after he?s undergone two surgeries to repair a broken foot suffered in the 2002 season-opening game against Tennessee. Kalu emerged last season after a pre-season experiment when he was moved to linebacker. Both players have talent, both are high-motor guys and both know how to get to the quarterback.
The question should the Eagles go that route is this: are both Kalu and Burgess stout enough to play the run? Are they ready to have such substantial role increases? And with Burgess, health is obviously a key question.
Sign Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, a restricted free agent from Green Bay, to an offer sheet. It?s been reported widely for weeks now that if the Eagles were to lose Douglas, they would try to lure the talented Gbaja-Biamila away from the Packers.
If the Eagles do that, here?s how the process would work: the Eagles would have to sign him to an offer sheet and then wait seven days to see if the Packers match it. Should Green Bay do so, Gbaja-Biamila would remain a Packer. Should the Packers not match it, the Eagles would have to surrender their first-round pick, the 30th selection overall, in the April 26 draft.
Keep Burgess, Kalu and Whiting and use that first-round pick, or one of the two second-round picks, on a defensive end. The draftniks are saying that this defensive end crop is among the best in the draft, deep with pass-rushing speed guys.
Continue to shop in free agency, or wait until the post-June 1 cuts to add to the roster.
Whatever the Eagles decide to do, they now need to replace Douglas? production. An Eagle since the 1998 season, the energetic Douglas was a consistent sack producer. He tailed off substantially in 2002 and then did not have a sack in the postseason, however.
The long wait to see what Douglas would decide has ended. Now he?s in Jacksonville and the Eagles have some decisions to make.
