Other than quarterback and perhaps defensive end -- although it is debatable with the latter position -- left tackle is the most difficult position to fill with quality. A great left tackle must have superior footwork, precise technique and tremendous mental strength. Left tackles must be able to hold up to a bull rush and agile enough to handle a blitz off the edge.
In Peters, the Eagles have the prototype left tackle. He has been a very fine player in the three seasons he's been here, but only in the 2011 season did Peters receive national raves, which filtered down to recognition by the fan base and local analysts praising his play.
The Jason Peters of 2009 and 2010 showed glimpses of greatness, but he also made mental mistakes with false starts and some less-than-dominating moments. In 2011, Peters was menacing every week, leading the offensive line to a strong season and raising hope for a bright future up front.
Peters, along with running back LeSean McCoy and defensive end Jason Babin, was named to the *Associated Press *All-Pro team. Peters and McCoy were named to the first team, while Babin earned second-team honors.
All three are worthy of the honor and the recognition speaks to the quality of talent at the top end of this roster. And it goes to show that good players can be acquired in many ways. Peters came to Philadelphia in a trade with Buffalo. McCoy was a second-round draft pick in 2009. Babin was originally signed as an off-the-streets free agent in training camp in 2009, went to Tennessee in 2010 and emerged, and then returned to the Eagles as an unrestricted free agent last summer.
Good for all three players, and here is to hoping the Eagles double the number of players who make All-Pro in 2012. There really are a lot of good players on this roster. Howie Roseman and Andy Reid have assembled a roster that competes. There are moves to make and improvements to be had, but the foundation is strong very real.
NEWS, NOTES AND A LITTLE BIT OF THIS AND THAT
- Breaking down a few players added to the roster this week .... first, cornerback Trevard Lindley. It was disappointing that he didn't distinguish himself in training camp, but the Eagles like what he brings to the table -- Lindley has a chance to be a good cover corner in press coverage and he is going to benefit greatly from a full off-season at the NovaCare Complex.
Running back Graig Cooper had some flashes in the preseason and is a big back who is another year removed from a knee injury that hampered his career at the University of Miami.
Wide receiver/kick returner Mardy Gilyard was a fourth-round draft pick by the Rams in 2010 and didn't make it there. Gilyard is a slot receiver who is also going to get a look as a return man.
None of these players are slam dunks to make the roster. But the Eagles see things they like in all of the players and they are all going to get a chance to make it. You see how it works, right? The Eagles want to add a physical cornerback, so Lindley is back after playing for a year here and then sitting out 2011. Cooper is a candidate as a bigger running back, and when you see the roster you know that Ronnie Brown is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent. The Eagles need a return man, so Gilyard will try to impress there.
- Playoffs? I guess I'll go with New Orleans over Detroit and Atlanta over the Giants in the NFC, with the Bengals handling Houston and Pittsburgh winning ugly against Denver. Not that I have many plans to watch. The only game I have on my schedule is Saturday night's Lions at Saints battle. Honestly, I'm miserable about the whole thing.
- Here's how the offseason works: Players are permitted to work out at the NovaCare Complex on their own from now until the conditioning program begins in mid-April. The team has a shorter number of days for Organized Team Activities and the conditioning program is shorter than in past seasons.
- I saw a TV sports jabber show discussing this topic: Can Michael Vick become an "elite" quarterback? I give that question a resounding "yes." We can talk about it next week.
