Morning Phil-Up: Brett Hundley A More Realistic Option For Eagles

Realistic Quarterback Draft Options – The 700 Level

As much as many followers of the Eagles hold out hope that the team will go all-in to get Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, the odds of such a move taking place are slim, at best.

There are however, some much more realistic options that Chip Kelly and the Birds could consider. Brett Hundley of UCLA, Bryce Petty of Baylor, and Bryan Bennett of Southeastern Louisiana could all be of interest to the Eagles.

Hundley is the only other quarterback that may project to be a first-rounder, and is athletic enough to be of interest to Kelly. However, his inability to read a defense will make him a project and unlikely to help the team in his first year. The UCLA product should be on the board when the Eagles are on the clock, saving them the trouble of trying to trade up and losing additional assets.

Petty and Bennett are both projects as well, projecting to go in the later rounds of the draft. Petty is likely a third-round pick, who threw 62 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions in college. Bennett is a mobile quarterback who relies on his athleticism a little too much, and is known for leaving the pocket prematurely at times.

Eagles Rumor: Other Defensive Coaches Will Be Leaving – Bleeding Green Nation

The Eagles’ coaching staff could be experiencing some minor shake ups, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

The team has already lost assistant defensive backs coach Todd Lyght to Vanderbilt, and according to Howard Eskin, several other coaches from the defense may soon be on the outs.

While it isn’t clear which coaches could leave the team, secondary coach John Lovett would seem to the logical choice.

The Eagles had to be pretty pleased with the performances of their front seven. With guys like Fletcher Cox and Connor Barwin turning in career-years, and others like Cedric Thornton, Bennie Logan, and Mychal Kendricks all enjoying solid performances, its tough to imagine the Birds wanting to let go of any of the coaches from those units.

Lovett’s secondary was the weakest unit on the team, and with the amount of big plays that they have given up over the last two years, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Eagles look for a fresh voice to coach this unit.

On Deck: Three Questions For The Phillies’ Future – Philly.com

There are a handful of important questions surrounding the Phillies as we inch closer to pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training.

Among those are the following: Will Jonathan Papelbon be a Phillie this year? Will Cliff Lee be healthy? Will Cole Hamels be traded before Opening Day?

I think Papelbon is all but a lock to be a Phillie at this point. There has been no buzz around the league for Papelbon’s services, even though he’s coming off of a strong statistical season. Teams are still scared off by his big contract and personality.

Lee may be ready to pitch, but I don’t think he’ll be the same guy that the Phillies have been used to seeing. He’s now 36-years old, has a ton of miles on him, and is coming off of a significant injury. Those factors don’t add up to Cliff being one of the league’s dominant starters again.

I don’t expect Hamels to be dealt before Opening Day. The Phillies are in no rush to move him, and are rightly holding out to get a king’s ransom for one of the game’s top starters. They’re much better off waiting until the trade deadline.

Will Aaron Harang Repeat His 2014 Success – The Good Phight

The Phillies recently acquired veteran starter Aaron Harang, signing the veteran to a one-year deal to help bolster their starting rotation.

Harang had a strong season for the Atlanta Braves in 2014, posting an ERA of 3.54. It was the best year he had since 2008 with the Cincinnati Reds.

Harang’s success last year can be attributed to the new pitch that he added to his game: a cutter. By leaning on the cutter, the veteran was able to reinvent himself and keep hitters off balance.

Harang’s presence ultimately won’t make the Phillies any closer to returning to the playoffs, but he could prove to be a solid arm for the middle of their rotation, and could potentially be a trade chip for them later in the year.