Reed Blankenship IS NOT an upgrade over Sydney Brown and Cooper DeJean when healthy!

coming up on today's edition of the lock down Eagles podcast I'm going to tell you why I'm not so sure Reed blankinship should be a full-time starter on the Eagles defense for the majority of 2024 I'll get into why coming up next on this Tuesday edition of the lockon Eagles podcast you are locked on Eagles your daily Philadelphia Eagles podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team everyday we thank you so much for making lockdown Eagles your first listen each and every day welcome in Eagles fans this Tuesday edition of the podcast we're brought to you by FanDuel make every moment more as the playoffs do wind down the sport stops sporting like we want them to but this summer FanDuel is hooking up all customers with a boost or a bonus daily that's right there's something for everyone every day all summer long just visit fel.com to get started Lou debiasi Riding Solo today goo's in Nashville for a little scouting trip shout out to Gin by the way one of his guys from the CGS All-Star Game Sharon Stevens has been really good for the Eagles in back-to-back practices had an interception for a pick six yesterday had a deflected pass in Red Zone drills today at the end of practice that led to an interception Stevens has been good and Gino's been talking him up on Twitter and he was scouting him running that CGS All-Star Game in Texas during the offseason so Gino knows corners and safeties that's one of his for dayses so shout out to Gino he'll be back on the show on Thursday really excited for Mark fretta joining me tomorrow on the podcast of course you guys know Mark faretta from uh 975 The Fanatic in Philadelphia he's now with us for our lockdown Philadelphia sports podcast um so he's goingon to be on the show tomorrow lot of exciting things coming up before Friday's preseason opener between the Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens but today I wanted to get into some more things about the Eagles secondary some Camp updates as well as some trade ideas to discuss and what I want to start the show with is Reed blankens ship Reed blankinship has been a really nice surprise for Philadelphia since he was an undrafted rookie in the 20122 off season didn't even think he was going to make the roster that year of course found his way onto the team it was a weaker safety group before they traded for chony Garner Johnson blankin chip played really well in the summer then at one point when DJ gets injured when they were kind of rotating through some of their defensive back field with avonte Maddox always getting hurt um Reed played really well in that Super Bowl season that interception against Aaron Rogers was great he was one of their more reliable tacklers in the playoffs in the regular season like he was a really nice surprise and then even last year the first half of the season when they had really bad safety play around him Reed was a really solid High floor player a really good communicator a solid tackler pretty solid in coverage like you could rely on him he was a really really nice story and it earned him a contract extension this year but what's interesting what gets lost in all this secondary dialogue that we have on this podcast and on Eagles Twitter and all these other shows is you know we're discussing like who plays and who does it between key Ringo Isaiah Rogers quinan Mitchell is he in the slot if he is what's Cooper dein's role when Sydney Brown comes back like where does he fit into this rotation should they play this guy here this guy here how do we get all these players on the football field and it feels like there's question mark surrounding so many of these guys Mitchell Dee Ringo Rogers heck even Darius Slay to a degree and Sydney Brown for some reason and again I think Reed's a very solid player and he earned that extension that he got this off season but are we sure Reed blankin chip is so good that he is automatically one of the Eagles five best defensive backs where he should and again I think he's a solid player but should he be unquestionably somebody that's someone always on the football field over a Cooper dee over a Sydney Jones I should say Sydney Brown when those two players do come back I'm not so sure I honestly don't think so I prefer Reed blankin ship when this team's at full strength in the secondary when Cooper dein's back in Sydney Brown I think there's going to come a point in 20224 where we say Sydney Brown and Cooper Dee are better players than Reed blankin chip Reed blanket ship is a better fit as that third rotating safety and it depends on where you use Cooper Dee is he an outside corner is he in the slot do you want to use him at safety but I think Sydney Brown at least Sydney Brown when he is healthy and it sounds like he's running really well currently on the pup list but he's not far off from being back in the practice field I think there will come a time this year where at least Sydney Brown we're talking about in a light where we pose a question is he a more exposive highering player than Reed does he belong in the field More Than This rotational package over blankin ship I think that's going to become a reality I already think that's something that the Eagles should explore because I think Cooper Dee and Sydney Brown are going to be bigger pieces of this puzzle than Reed long term and again I'm not saying that he shouldn't be a part of this defense I think Reed blanket chip is a really high-end third safety right and he can play in the Box he can play like he is versatile but I do think you looked at the second half of the season last year and of course it wasn't a great situation for anybody on defense the cornerbacks were banged up and not playing well the linebackers sucked the front seven completely disappeared it wasn't it wasn't easy for anybody and I'm not saying blankin chip should have carried them but I will say when he had to wear more hats he did show at times he was a coverage liability like he wasn't this Dynamic you know it's asking a lot to be a Malcolm Jenkins like player but he really isn't that guy and that's totally okay he can still be a very solid role player for you and I think on a lot of teams Reed blankin chips a starter I think even on the Eagles he has earned a starting job but long term if we're talking about like who is the best player when it comes to a ceiling who's the most dynamic player that you want on the field at all times in all situations I think there's going to come a time where when they're healthy Brown and Dee are guys I'd rather have on the football field than Reed blank ship again in a vacuum I like Reed blanket ship but I do not want him to be a reason that Cooper de and or Sydney Brown are not playing that much football this year so I don't know and again it's it's just funny because there's question marks on all these guys there's question marks on Sydney Brown and on Cooper Dee Cooper Dee hasn't played any football yet and he's injured Sydney Brown is injured and last year he was kind of all over the place he was sporadic rookie that showed flashes but he was kind of uncontrollable and out of position at times and was kind of a liability when it comes like penalties and in coverage you know he showed some flashes but he was a high variance player there's questions about key Ringo there's questions about Isaiah Rogers quinan Mitchell Darius Darius Slay to me the only guy that should be unquestioned in this secondary right now is chony Gardner Johnson and even chony has an injury history but why is Reed blankin ship not really getting any sort of questions about his role versus these other guys like again yes he's been a very solid player for I'd say the last like year and a half the the second half of 2022 the first half of 2023 but has he been that good where he shouldn't have to compete at all with all these other defensive backs that are being trained in multiple spots I don't know like again for me my ideal secondary long term for the Eagles like if it was up to me I would be putting my my top five and again they're going to use six seven defensive backs at times this year so all of these guys are going to play to a degree and of course there injuries too but if I was creating my ideal best five in the defensive backfield it's quinan Mitchell on the outside it's Darius Slay for this year on the outside I'd have Isaiah Rogers in the slot and my two safeties would be chony Gardner Johnson and Cooper deim and I'm sorry I almost would prefer Sydney Brown eventually to be that third safety over Reed like Reed might be my fourth fifth maybe like yeah I would say like he's the fourth guy at safety if Cooper deine would play that position now if Cooper is in the slot then Sydney Brown to me eventually would be that second safety and Reed blanket chip would be the third rotating player that's not what I think the Eagles are going to do what I think is going to happen that's what I would prefer that's where I'm at with Reed blankin chip but it's just funny that I don't know he's just like unquestioned while all these other guys are competing for jobs he really isn't and and I know why this team likes him a lot but I don't know I you guys know I kind of lean towards the younger ceiling players over the floor guy but I just think it's interesting that he's right now seen as somebody that's like Untouchable like his spot is Untouchable of course the two guys I'm talking about they're not even available so we this is more of a moot point until those guys are on the football field this is more of a conversation for when those guys are available I want them on the field there's a it's it's a great problem to have though I said this yesterday it's a great problem to have when there's seven to eight defensive packs that you want on the field and you just can't get them all on the field that means you have crazy depth and that's a really good thing but just thought that was interesting that Reed blanket chip really isn't talked about there aren't a lot of questions about hey what's his role long term versus these other guys when he's been good the last two years but he hasn't been great and it's been up and down so that's kind of where I'm at with the re blanket chip situation not really a situation but just the entire secondary situation all right guys coming up next right here on the lock down Eagles podcast we're going to get into some training camp updates from Tuesday's practice the Eagles first unofficial depth chart also did come out look at that as well coming your way on this Tuesday edition of lock down [Music] Eagles today's episode of the lockdown Eagles podcast we are brought to you by FanDuel look you guys know I love sports I love them so much that I never want them to stop but as the playoffs do wind down we get fewer games in the sports they're just not sportsing like we want them to but FanDuel lets me keep the sports going whenever I want all I got to do is open up the app and dream up bets anytime I'm in the mood I'm feeling a future on Jaylen Herz winning MVP maybe I'm feeling saquin Barkley for offensive player of the year you can bet on that all and more the Philadelphia Phillies the Olympics all of it on FanDuel they're hooking you up with a boost or a bonus daily that's right there's something for everybody every day all summer long so head over to FanDuel and start making the most of your summer FanDuel the official sports betting partner of Major League Baseball in the lockdown podcast [Music] Network thanks so much for making lock down Eagles your first listen each and every day guys want to let you know your second listen should absolutely be the locked on fantasy football podcast get daily insight to the best fantasy draft strategies so you can win your League this season part of the lockdown podcast Network your team every day so the Eagles were on the practice field yet again at the NovaCare complex today for Tuesday's practice got a couple more Friday we have a game finally to discuss Eagles Ravens in Baltimore Maryland let's take a look at the depth chart though before that game and again keep in mind when the Eagles do release that first official or I should say unofficial depth chart it's not done by Howe Roseman it's not done by the coaches this is done primarily by the Communications Department by the pr staff um when it comes to some takeaways from that depth chart though I don't really know if there's much to take away uh Tyler Steen was listed as the starting Right Guard but maai beckon was not listed as a tackle he was listed as the backup Right Guard um linebackers they were not given a designated starter or two starters it was Devin white niobe Dean Zack Bon Jeremiah trer Jr had the same situation at corner Isaiah Rogers slash key Ringo but it wasn't slash Quan Mitchell he was behind Darius slle on the depth chart Avante Maddox listed as a nickel Corner James Bradberry listed as one of those primary backup safety I don't know there really isn't much to take from this yet and again the preseason hasn't even started yet what is interesting is the kick returner was Isaiah Rogers along with Paris Campbell the punt returner was Britain cvy I kind of like the idea of Isaiah Rogers as one of those kick returners this is a guy that especially if he doesn't start you at corner I would like to see him as a returner he has a 42840 yard dash and I think he's faster than that now the way he's looking in practice he actually returned a kickoff for the Indian colts for a touchdown back in 2022 so I like that idea for Rogers I think it was notable that he was listed as the top kick returner when Cooper dein's back by the way he's another player I would like to see get a shot as a return man he was very very good as a returner at Iowa the Iowa hawkey won a few games because of Cooper dein's ability to return punts and kicks so thought that was interesting but overall take that depth chart with a grain of salt it's done by the Communications Department of course they have a good idea of what this team is thinking right now but it's before the first preseason game we haven't even had joint practices we've had a few live sessions with pads but overall take that all with a grain of salt what you should take more into account is what they're doing in practice and although Tyler steam was listed as the first team Right Guard McKai beckon for the second straight day with both healthy did get the first crack at the first team Right Guard spot over Tyler Steen and I think it's more noteworthy today than it was yesterday because yesterday was Tyler steen's first practice back from the ankle injury we were wondering with beckon starting of in team drills as the first team Right Guard if that was an indication that he's in the lead for the job now or was it just this s's first day back like he wasn't really participating in team drills is it something to keep an eye on today we kind of got that question answered with beckon getting first dibs again at Right Guard Tyler steam did eventually rotate through with the first team offensive line but the fact that beckon got the nod again for the second straight day to me shows the Eagles want beckon to win this job I think they thought Steen would win it I think it was a safer bet to predict Steen would win it because beckon has been a high variance starting tackle you look at that size like normally guards aren't that big like they really I think they wanted beckon to be that guy because of his Elite power in between cam Jurgens and Lane Johnson like especially on the ground in the Run game it'd be nice to have that kind of length and power next to Lane next to a undersized lineman like a cam Jurgens but I think they thought Steen would more likely be the guy that wins the job Steen got hurt beckon took advantage of that he has shown flashes over the last two weeks and it shows the Eagles wanted him to win the job because instantly like Tyler Stein didn't do much to really give up the job before he was hurt but look at the minute he wasn't available beckon took the job and now they're not giving it back to steam so the preseason is going to tell us a lot about that camp battle but right now I do think beckon is the favorite over Tyler Steen to win that job and whoever doesn't win it I think you can expect as the first man off the bench for the offensive line whether it's left tackle right tackle Right Guard left guard whoever doesn't win the Right Guard battle between Steen and beckon that's going to be your swing halul V Tha type of offensive lineman for sure so although the dep chart said Steen is the Right Guard I think Beck's the favorite to be that guy right now Isaiah Rogers by the way fifth straight day starting practice off as the second corner on the outside opposite Darius Slay over key Ringo I will say quinan Mitchell did get some first team looks today that's noteworthy quinan blanketed AJ Brown on a rep today he picked up a sack on a nickel Blitz against Jaylen Herz he made that impressive runfit tackle yesterday in the red zone I'm so impressed with Coan Mitchell I know isaah Rogers like this is an awesome story he's been suspended all year um comes back has to fight off Healey Ringo who the Eagles traded up for last year giving up a third round pick they took quinna Mitchell in the first round and here's Isaiah Rogers beating them both out for this outside job like that is impressive but quinan is not doing anything to show that he can't be that guy on the outside or in the nickel the fact that anything the NFL has thrown at this kid since they've because there were so many questions about him because he came out of Toledo as primarily an off Zone coverage Corner people were nervous about quinan and they loved the skill set so the NFL has thrown him to the Wolves they're like okay this is all we saw you do with a small MAC Conference school so let's see can you play press man coverage against some of the best receivers in the country in Mobile for the Senior Bowl can you play in the slot can you run fit can you cover AJ Brown Devonte Smith one-on-one and all of these new questions all of these check marks on this list that the NFL is throwing at quinan Mitchell he keeps checking them off and again we haven't had any live game action but early on every time the NFL has challenged quinan and has wondered if he can handle this bigger workload with higher competition than he had at Toledo all these question marks they had on him that they wanted to have answered so they threw him into those situations he has thrived and again it's so impressive because he really didn't do any of this at too he didn't play in the slot he didn't play a lot of man coverage he did not go up against AJ Brown Devonte Smith heck even Roman Wilson and Xavier Legette at the senior bow he didn't go up against a Ricky parasol and yet you look at his skill set and you the Eagles banked on him being able it was a projection but they banked on him being able to become that guy and do all those things and every time the NFL said hey let's see it on the field Quan's been that guy and I really hope that continues into the preseason into the regular season early on I think the Eagles nailed that draft pick again that's just my early inclination but I feel like they nailed it um Zack Bon once again first team linebacker next to Devon white noobe Dean Jeremiah trer Jr rotating in on those spots Zack Bond though I mean I'm very surprised that he just continues to be that first team guy but it sounds like he's earning it maybe he is this year's kazir white where he's just this veteran cheap first one-year deal that just never messes up it sounds like his play recognition has been really impressive his toughness I mean we heard Nick serani mention him by name the other day I this is kind of going back to the re blankinship conversation in segment one I still want ncoe Dean or Jeremiah trer Jr to win that job because I think they're more long-term answers at that position whereas Zack Bond Devin white one year veterans I'm not sure if they'll earn extensions next year how Roseman rarely pays linebackers even if they do play well that year I.E TJ Edwards and kazir white so I'd prefer if Dean or trod took that job eventually but right now Zack Bon is not giving them a reason to bench him and again the preseason will tell all but Zack Bond sounds like he's been really really impressive so those are some of the big noteworthy things from practice today McKai beckon first team Right Guard over Tyler Steen Isaiah Rogers yet again getting the KN at CB2 over key Ringo but Quin Mitchell keeps making plays and practice Zack Bon sounds like he's got a strangle hold right now as that majority second inside linebacker next to Devon white all right guys coming up next right here in the lockd Eagles podcast as we do every Tuesday in segment three what's more likely and it has to do with trades we'll get into that coming up next right here on lock Don Eagles today's episode of the lock on Eagles podcast is brought to you by better help online therapy when your schedule is packed with kids activities big work projects and more it's easy to let your priorities slip even when we know what makes us happy it's hard to make time for it but when you feel like you have no time for yourself non-negotiables like therapy are more important than ever like football season gets really busy for me I have to make sure I'm disciplined I take the time to log on to better help and get that therapy if you're thinking of starting therapy give better help a try it's entirely online and the good thing is when you're busy it's designed to be convenient flexible and suited to your schedule just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a license therapist and switch therapists at any time for no additional charge never skip therapy day with betterhelp visit betterhelp.com locked on today to get 10% off your first month that's betterhelp.com lockon for 10% off your first month of online [Music] therapy all right time now for what's more likely right here on the lockd down Eagles podcast as we wrap up this Tuesday edition of the show today's question does come from Chris on Twitter who writes in what's more likely the Eagles trade before the season for a wide receiver tight end or the field so what's more likely the Eagles trade for any other position that's not a pass catcher or is it a receiver or tight end this is a good question I think the Eagles will make one more I don't want to say it's a big move but a decent Siz move before the regular season starts and it won't be in the form of a waiver claim a free agency signing I do think howy Roseman will make one trade before the season starts gun to my head I would say it's for a receiver or a tight end really I mean Johnny Wilson's been impressive Britain cvy has made some plays Paris Campbell when he was healthy but Johnny Wilson's a six round rookie I don't know if they want to rely on him full time this year same with Britain cvy Paris Campbell really never stays healthy you know they keep mentioning Aaron Morehead the receiver coach Kell Moore they all keep mentioning a committee approach they all have different skill sets that they want to utilize same with annias Smith if he makes some plays John Ross which I totally get that mentality but I think another reason they're talking about a committee is that nobody's really running away with the job so I could totally see them you know if a skymore got cut right or a trayon Burks eventually when DeAndre Hopkins is healthy with the Tennessee Titans I could see the Eagles trying to bring in another top draft pick that fell out of favor with their team to compete with these players or make a small end trade for one of those guys I could totally see that or a trade for a tight end I think that's the most likely outcome I think that is more likely but I will say there are some other positions that the Eagles could trade for and I think one that's underrated is defensive tackle now again the Eagles are banking on these young kids to step up and I think they will Jaylen Carter Milton Williams Jordan Davis it sounds like my guy Moro aomo continues to make plays in the preseason or I should say in training camp hopefully in the preseason as well like he did last year Marlin tuy paloto looks pretty solid but let's say preseason those guys don't flash early on in the regular season those guys aren't carrying the load and you feel the absence of a Fletcher Cox I could see defensive tackle being a a position where ho Roseman says I just need one more piece like I need one more veteran guy to be a part of this rotation if suddenly we need moroo and or Marlin tuy pelou to have a bigger role than we thought and they're not stepping up like I I'm very optimistic about both of those guys aomo put some good tape on last summer Marlin Tui Pou before he got hurt last year the first half of the year was a pretty solid backup to Jordan Davis as the zero te showed off some much improved pass rush skills so I'm excited about those guys I I think between those five they're going to be okay but you never know they're all very young and have only flashed they haven't become full-time players yet and you mentioned I should say I mentioned the other day that Vic fangio said in his press conference he wants at least five to seven true defensive linemen and what he means by that is he doesn't consider Edge players defensive linemen like the Eagles have in the past so he wasn't saying five to seven guys that include Josh sweat Bryce Huff jayx hunt like Nolan Smith not those guys he said he wants five to seven interior defensive linemen on this team so even if those five guys are your main players I could see instead of keeping it like a Gabe Hall as that Sixth Man on the inside I could see Vic vanio going to Ho Roseman saying hey you got to go trade for give me one more veteran like bring in one more guy for me here so I have a solid six-man rotation like they did back in 2022 when they were very deep I mean they were rotating through Cox Hargrave Davis um linval Joseph Sue Milton Williams they had a deep six-man rotation I think VI fangio wants that again so I can see defensive tackle being a position they trade for but I would say what's more likely it is that the Eagles trade for a receiver or a tight end before the season starts or early on during the regular season all right guys that's going to do it for today's edition of the lock down Eagles podcast thanks so much for making your first listen each and every day Mark faretta joining me on the show tomorrow until then make sure your second listen is the lock on fantasy football podcast get daily insight to the best fantasy draft strategies so you can win your League this season you can find the link to locked on fantasy football in the description so you don't need to search it part of the lockdown podcast Network your team every day as always thanks so much for downloading watching listening and let's go Birds Fly Eagles Fly