Eagles Notes Going Into Sunday

Image Courtesy: http://gcobb.com/2016/09/05/eagles-qb-carson-wentz-looked-ready-all-training-camp/

•  Rookie QB and 2nd Overall Pick in this past April's NFL Draft Carson Wentz will get the start against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener at home.

• Going into the season Sam Bradford was set to be the Eagles starting QB, career backup Chase Daniel would be 2nd string, and Wentz would not dress, as teams do not dress their 3rd string QB anymore as it just takes up a roster spot.  Wentz injured suffered a hairline fracture in his ribs in his first preseason game and it was uncertain whether he would be ready for the season open if a situation like this happened.
• Bradford was traded to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday morning for the Vikings 2017 1st Round selection in the draft and their conditional 2018 4th round pick to replace severely injured QB Teddy Bridgewater.  After the trade the Eagles ran a CT scan on Wentz's ribs to see if he would be 100% healthy for the season opener, tests were positive in Wentz's favor and he was named starter jumping backup QB Daniel on the depth chart.

• On Wednesday the Philadelphia Eagles traded 2015 2nd Round draft pick Defensive Back Eric Rowe to the New England Patriots for their 2018 Conditional 4th Round draft pick, which can become their 3rd Round draft pick if Rowe plays 50% of the teams snaps for New England in 2016 or 2017.

Image Courtesy: http://www.csnphilly.com/philadelphia-eagles/source-eagles-trade-eric-rowe-patriots-draft-pick

•  Originally, this trade was reported on Tuesday by many NFL sources in the know and the Eagles were to also receive Patriots Offensive Lineman Josh Kline.  The Eagles had planned to flip Kline to another team for supposedly an offensive skill player but when trade plans fell through Eagles GM had removed Kline from the deal and the Patriots would go on to cut him.
• With Rowe being taken 47th Overall in last years draft out of the University of Utah, there was a lot of potential with the Cornerback/Safety who was drafted by Chip Kelly.  Rowe got a chance to show his stuff from Thanksgiving day to the end of the season after starting CB Nolan Carroll broke his ankle in the Thanksgiving day in Detroit against the Lions.  Rowe was outplayed that day by Lions (now retired) Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson who caught 3 TD passes, but after that game Rowe was able to lock down the position and played well. 
• After the firing of Kelly the defensive scheme changed drastically from last year to this year and Rowe was lost in Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz's defense.  Schwartz spoke about the trade and he felt that 7th Round Rookie CB Jalen Mills from LSU, who was rated as a 2nd Round talent but fell due to off the field issues, outplayed Rowe this off-season.  
• I really liked the way Rowe played in college and last year for the Eagles but as mentioned before the scheme has changed and Rowe was not able to adapt.  This was the right move for the Eagles to make as Rowe was almost a cut casualty, instead they get a 3rd or 4th and Rowe goes to a team that may be able to use his ability.

Image Courtesy: http://www.centredaily.com/sports/article98407932.html

• Eagles newly acquired WR Dorial Green-Beckham said today that he expects to play a big role and start against the Browns on Sunday in the season opener.  Green-Beckham can be used as a not so secret weapon against a sub-par Browns Defense.  Last year Green-Beckham did catch a TD against the Browns so the hope is he can get another one against them on Sunday.

• Earlier this summer WR Dorial Green-Beckham(DGB) was traded to the Eagles from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for Offensive Lineman Dennis Kelly, who in my opinion is a 3rd string Offensive Lineman at best.  DGB was the 40th overall selection in last years draft, who actually was a first round talent but just like CB Jalen Mills DGB had off the field issues.  DGB also had issues learning the playbook and a problem with work ethic in Tennessee but he has said himself as many of us believe as well is going to use this opportunity as a new start.
• Dorial Green-Beckham's stat line in limited time his rookie year reads: 32 Receptions, 549 Receiving Yards, 17.2 Yards Per Catch, and 4 TD's.(Stats provided by ESPN.com)  If Green-Beckham can learn the offense he can bring a Redzone threat that the Eagles haven't had in over a decade.  DGB caught a fade route TD in the Eagles preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts.