To Duce or not to Duce?
Personally, I am torn whether to bring back Duce Staley if he is cut by the Steelers. Part of me does not want him back for reasons of his age and injury status. Not to mention, I would like to see another younger back get a chance with the Iggles. With Staley's proness to injury and his bulked up frame (242lbs) his position with the team would not be a full time RB. More than likely just for short yardage and "goal-line" stuff. Instead of Staley, maybe keep 2 fullbacks Parry, and Tapeh and use them for short yardage. I think Tapeh with his size and speed could handle the "goal-line" attempts very well. I say give him a chance.
If not, there has to be other options. Denver has to get rid of one of their 4 possible #1 backs. Perhaps RonDayne, Tatum Bell or the bruiser Cedric Cobbs. How about Adrien Petereson from Chicago? He is a talented back that has been buried in obscurity for years. Michael Turner of the Chargers? Chris Brown of Tennessee? William Green of Cleveland? The list goes on. Grnated some of the named players would probably require a trade of some sort, but definitely all do-able.
On the other hand, I believe once an Eagle always an Eagle. There is the other part of me, however, that says bring Duce back, especially if Buck can't make it through preseason. I would love to see #22 back in the line up. No, not because I still have his jersey, but we have a history of bringing back former Eagles and successfully working them into the line up as productive playeres ie., Trotter, H. Douglas and S. Barber(verdict is still out on him anyway). Maybe there is a chance he could be the compliment to Westy we need this year. His tough running style and new "beefy" frame could help us at 3rd and 1 or 4th and goal. He is not afumble concern like Moats or Perry. I am just not certain at this point and time. Maybe we should sign Stephen Davis instead, but then again you get into the same debate as you did with Staley; injury riddled veteran whose best days are behind him, maybe.
So, bottom line, I am not sure what to do about Duce. Let me know what you think.
If not, there has to be other options. Denver has to get rid of one of their 4 possible #1 backs. Perhaps RonDayne, Tatum Bell or the bruiser Cedric Cobbs. How about Adrien Petereson from Chicago? He is a talented back that has been buried in obscurity for years. Michael Turner of the Chargers? Chris Brown of Tennessee? William Green of Cleveland? The list goes on. Grnated some of the named players would probably require a trade of some sort, but definitely all do-able.
On the other hand, I believe once an Eagle always an Eagle. There is the other part of me, however, that says bring Duce back, especially if Buck can't make it through preseason. I would love to see #22 back in the line up. No, not because I still have his jersey, but we have a history of bringing back former Eagles and successfully working them into the line up as productive playeres ie., Trotter, H. Douglas and S. Barber(verdict is still out on him anyway). Maybe there is a chance he could be the compliment to Westy we need this year. His tough running style and new "beefy" frame could help us at 3rd and 1 or 4th and goal. He is not afumble concern like Moats or Perry. I am just not certain at this point and time. Maybe we should sign Stephen Davis instead, but then again you get into the same debate as you did with Staley; injury riddled veteran whose best days are behind him, maybe.
So, bottom line, I am not sure what to do about Duce. Let me know what you think.
posted by Chris at 7:35 AM
3 Comments:
Personally, I'd love to have old No. 22 back in Eagle Green - the biggest issue would be asking Matt Clark (who?) to give up his number to Duce. Every analyst out there, including us amateurs here in Negadelphia, agrees that we don't have a tough running game. We need a guy who can get a yard or 2 a couple times a game. We all know it takes at least 2 guys, usually 3 or 4, to bring Duce down. i don't think he'll risk much injury getting the ball a few times a game in clutch situations. Right now, we can't run the ball between the tackles and that has weakened our offense significantly. You can't win championships that way, unless of course you have a WR corps like the 1999 Rams...which um, we don't.
Don't forget -- he used to be able to catch pretty well too. (At least a lot better than Parry, but that sort of goes without saying).
I would also love to see him back in Eagles green. I really dig the way he has played for us...
Still, as my boy Kevin -- a dyed-in-the-wool Stiller fan -- has consistently pointed out, since Duce came back from his injury, he really doesn't have much field vision anymore. He just doesn't seem able to really see daylight when it's there. Of course, that's not much of an issue if we just use him for short yardage situations to put his head down and steamroll over people.
I also have some worries about his age. Sure, he's had some rest over the last couple years, but he's still 31, which seems pretty old for a bruiser.
In general, I have really become increasing worried about our lack of a big back COMBINED with our lack of a substantial reciever. None of our receivers will demand double coverage, and defenses will be in a much better position to stop any runs up the gut. We should at least get the greatest player we possibly can at one of those positions. And I don't mean the greatest player that the front office is willing to afford, but the greatest player, period.
As excited as I'm getting about this season (as I do every year), I can't help but feel like I'm really trying to convince myself. Like last year.
Well, at the very least, our entire D line will be fun to watch. (Even tho I don't share J Dubb's unbridled enthusiasm for Juqua, who shined against the Ravens, but mostly against thier third string). As frustrating as they were, the Buddy Ryan years of a dominating defense and a great-to-watch-but-poorly-designed offense were damn fun.
Juqua got all 2.5 (really 3) of his sacks in the 3rd quarter, when the Ravens had their 2s and some of their 1s still in. Don't forget, they play preseason games TO WIN them. Hence, blitzing on every down against us (and against the Gnats the week before). Juqua does look legit, and I'm saying this as someone who liked him last year, then watched him do nothing all season - but I think he's a lot better this year, knows the system, and looks a lot faster than before. Who knows, he may just be a preseason star and ergular season wash-out, but do you know any team in this league who has a 5th DE that's better?
Friday's gonna be a good test of this D-line, especially if Bunkley starts. He's practicing with the 1s as of this week, and I heard he got a pickle and ran it back for a TD on the first play of practice (on a timmy Chang pass, of course...)
Post a Comment
<< Home