Tag: Boston Scott

Philadelphia Eagles deemed the best analytics-based fit for Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor

Eagles deemed the best analytics-based fit for Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor

The Philadelphia Eagles have several pressing needs and one under the radar position that needs to be addressed surrounds the running back personnel.

The Birds currently have just Miles Sanders and Boston Scott on the roster, but according to NFL.com, one of college football’s most successful running back’s ever could be the remedy.

NFL Network Analytics Expert Cynthia Frelundwork used numbers and win share rates to determine the best organizational fit for the five-highest rated running backs.

In what could be a dream scenario if it happened, former Wisoncon Badgers All-American running back Jonathan Taylor finds his best fit with Carson Wentz and the Eagles.

4. Jonathan Taylor + Philadelphia Eagles = +0.40 wins
My favorite model observation from Jonathan Taylor’s college resume is his consistent speed after contact. The way I measure this is by tracking how fast a player is traveling prior to contact, and then how fast they’re going after contact. While not all contact is created equally, and I can’t measure the force of these shots, I can tell you that if a running back (in power five schools) took a hit, but wasn’t stopped, their speed was reduced an average of 54-68 percent (within a five-yard gain of the line of scrimmage, range reflects different schemes and where they were rushing) last season for their next three yards. Not Taylor. His speed dropped just 42-49 percent. Paired with Miles Sanders, this combination forecasts to help drive down the Eagles’ 31 fumbles (tied most) from last season.

Taylor, a South Jersey native, is rated among the top draft-eligible running backs with D’Andre Swift, JK Dobbins, and Cam Akers.

Taylor would offer the perfect complement to Sanders and he wouldn’t necessarily be considered the thunder of the duo after he ran the fastest 40-yard dash among the combine’s running backs at 4.39 seconds.

The bruising running back posted that time after weighing-in at 5-foot-10, 226 pounds, making Taylor just the second running back since 2014 to weigh in at 225 pounds and run sub-4.45 seconds in the 40, according to Warren Sharp.

During his three seasons at Wisconsin, Taylor rushed for 6,174 yards and 50 touchdowns.

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Could the Eagles have interest in Todd Gurley at a low base salary after his release by the Rams?

Eagles could have interest in Todd Gurley after Rams release the RB

The Eagles could use some more depth at the running back position and a former Pro Bowl could have mutual interest after his release from the LA Rams.

Sean McVay and company are moving on from Gurley after deciding not to pay his $10.5 salary, which would have been guaranteed at 4:00 pm.

Gurley has dealt with knee problems and his level of play has dropped over the past three seasons, leaving the Rams no choice but to move on from their star running back.

During his five seasons with the Rams, Gurley rushed for 5,405 yards, 58 rushing touchdowns (first in the NFL) and 7, 494 yards from scrimmage.

Gurley’s not the same running back but could offer a change of pace for an Eagles offense that currently only has Miles Sanders and Boston Scott on the depth chart.

Boston Scott named the best value on Eagles roster

Boston Scott named the best value on Philadelphia Eagles roster

Boston Scott is the ultimate example of never giving up and chasing your dreams.

The Darren Sproles look-alike turned a stint on the Eagles practice squad into a significant role on the Birds roster moving forward.

That versatility along with a low salary made Scott the best value currently on the Eagles roster according to Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report.

The player: Running back Boston Scott

The good contract: Two years, $1.2 million (expires in 2021)

Why it’s a bargain

Scott’s practically making the league minimum, but he was one of 12 running backs to compile 350 yards from scrimmage in the final four weeks of the 2019 regular season.

Top dog Miles Sanders also has a bargain contract (four years, $5.4 million), and Scott doesn’t have the track record or the potential of Sanders, but he’s making half the money, and his power and versatility should give him a shot at a major role again in 2020.

If that happens, it’ll be for just $660,000 before the Eagles have to decide how to deal with him as a restricted free agent next offseason.

Picked up after being waived by the Saints in the offseason, Scott wasn’t even on the Eagles 53-man roster at the beginning of the season. He finished the 2019 season as an integral member, amassing 350 total offensive yards and five touchdowns in the final four regular-season games.

Scott’s late-season surge ensured his roster spot for next season and may have pushed Jordan Howard out of Philadelphia.

9 Eagles among the top 200 fantasy players heading into the 2020 season

9 Philadelphia Eagles are among the top 200 fantasy players of 2020

The 2019 season saw several young Eagles players emerge on the offensive side of the ball and they project positively towards providing more playmakers for the 2020 season.

In a list of the Top 200 NFL Fantasy Players for 2020 compiled by Michael Fabiano of the NFL Network, the Philadelphia Eagles had nine offensive players named, with Miles Sanders headlining that group at No. 26.

Here’s a breakdown of the nine players cited by Fabiano.

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Dec 22, 2019; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) runs for a touchdown past Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown (30) during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

22. Miles Sanders

At the end of November, Sanders led ALL NFL rookies with 709 all-purpose yards and became the first NFL running back since Adrian Peterson, to amass 500+ scrimmage yards and 250+ return yards in his first 8 career games.

When November ended, Sanders was the only NFL rookie this season, to amass 200+ rush yards and 200+ rec. yards as well.

Sanders finished his rookie season with 179 rushes for 818 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns. Sanders was equally dangerous as a wide receiver, posting 50 catches for 509 yards and 3 touchdowns.

He’ll look to improve on those numbers in his second season.

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4 positions for the Eagles that don’t need much attention during the 2020 offseason

4 positions for the Eagles that don’t need much attention in 2020

The Philadelphia Eagles are set to make sweeping changes to their roster, but they can be confident in what they have in certain positions.

The Eagles will likely overhaul things at wide receiver and cornerback, but there are several key positions that will only require minor changes or some subtle additions.

Here are four positions for the Eagles that don’t need much attention during the 2020 offseason.

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1. Quarterback

Carson Wentz is coming off arguably his best and most complete season as a pro. Wentz started all, 16 regular-season games, became the franchise’s first 4,000-yard passer and led the Eagles to another division title.

Nate Sudfeld didn’t play this season, but he’s still a capable quarterback and will probably be better served to return to the Eagles rather than seeking a starting spot in free agency.

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3 sleeper stars from the Eagles 2019 season

Boston Scott was among three of the Eagles under the radar players to emerge this season

The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2019 NFL season with huge expectations and after injuries and attrition ravaged the roster, the Birds had several unlikely heroes emerge to finish the season strong and help secure the NFC East.

Not everyone on the Eagles roster was an All-Pro or highly thought of and we’ve named three Eagles players, sleepers and under the radar guys who were stars this season.

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1. Boston Scott RB

Pick up after being waived by the Saints in the offseason, Scott wasn’t even on the Eagles 53-man roster at the beginning of the season. He finished the 2019 season as an integral member, amassing 350 total offensive yards and five touchdowns in the final four regular-season games.

Scott’s late-season surge ensured his roster spot for next season and may have pushed Jordan Howard out of Philadelphia.

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Jordan Howard hoping to re-sign with the Eagles

Jordan Howard wants to remain with the Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles will have some free-agent decisions to make in the offseason and one prominent member of the running back group is hoping to stick around.

Howard was active but didn’t see any carries in the Eagles season-ending loss to the Seahawks, and with the running back set for free agency, he made it clear that he wants to return to Philadelphia in 2020.

“I hope to be back,” Howard said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Howard was the Eagles leading rusher before he got hurt and his stinger allowed Miles Sanders and Boston Scott to assume larger roles within the offense.

The one fatal flaw for every wild-card team

No matter how great any NFL team, there’s always that one potentially fatal flaw. Here are the things that could upend each wild-card team.

No NFL team is perfect, no matter how great they may be. The 1972 Dolphins, the only team in NFL history to put up a perfect season from start to finish, lived in an era where they didn’t need much in the way of quarterback performance. So, they could deal with the broken leg and dislocated ankle that cost quarterback Bob Griese eight games in the regular season. The 2007 Patriots, who came within one game of joining the 1972 Miami team with a perfect season, found it more and more difficult to pace themselves through a defensive regression that started with linebacker Rosevelt Colvin’s foot injury in late November.

So, if even the greatest teams in NFL history have potentially fatal flaws, what does that say about the eight wild-card entrants in the 2019 postseason? It says that, for each of those teams, they’ll have to overcome the things that could upend them from the first round on, hoping that the things that make them great are more present at the most opportune moments.

Here are the most obvious flaws for each of those teams as we head into wild-card weekend.

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen’s ceiling

(Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)

The Bills have an exciting run game with veteran Frank Gore, rookie Devin Singletary, and quarterback Josh Allen. They have perhaps the strongest defense from front to back in this particular wild-card group. They have Tre’Davious White, the only cornerback this season to pick off six passes without allowing a touchdown. Were it not for the relatively low ceiling Allen brings as a passer, they might be the most formidable team in the 2019 postseason. But Allen’s low ceiling is there, and it might be a problem.

Allen has been reasonably efficient. He’s thrown just three interceptions this season since his three-interception meltdown against the Patriots in Week 4, so at least he’s learned to minimize the damage to his own offense. And he does have 17 touchdown passes in that time period, so productive plays are a possibility — especially in concert with John Brown, who may be the NFL’s most underrated receiver. And certainly, Allen’s two-touchdown game against New England in Week 16 was a nice summary of his growth as a passer this season. But if the Bills wind up in a one- or two-touchdown hole in the playoffs, can Allen turn it loose effectively enough to mount a comeback? For a guy with a big arm, he’s been relatively quiet on bog downfield plays — just 18 completions on 68 attempts for 589 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions on passes of 20 or more air yards this season. And he’s not been terribly efficient under pressure this season, with a 41.2% completion rate and five touchdowns to four interceptions when his dropbacks have been disrupted.

Perhaps the 2019 playoffs is when Allen hits the proverbial next level. If that’s the case, the Bills instantly become as tough an out as you’ll find in this postseason and beyond. If not, everything else will have to work perfectly for a long postseason run.

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Eagles’ RB Boston Scott named NFC Offensive Player of the Week

Boston Scott named NFC Offensive Player of the Week

The Philadelphia Eagles embraced the next man up motto and thanks to Boston Scott’s huge effort against the New York Giants, he’s being honored by the NFL.

The 5’6″, 200-pound dynamo accounted for 138 total yards from scrimmage, three touchdowns, and a spin move that has the internet abuzz.

Scott was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round (201st overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. After spending his first season on the Saints practice squad, he was released and signed by the Eagles in December.

After being waived by the Eagles at the conclusion of training camp, Scott was placed on the Eagles practice squad, where he was called up and scored his first career touchdown in the win over the Bills.

Boston Scott, stingy defense powers Eagles to NFC East crown

The Philadelphia Eagles are playoff-bound after knocking off the New York Giants 34-17

The Philadelphia Eagles withstood injuries and adversity from day 1 to the season finale, and have earned the right to call themselves NFC East champions.

Boston Scott carried the ball 19 times for 54 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Through the air, Scott accounted for 84 yards on four receptions, further cementing his role in the Eagles offense going forward.

Scott shined bright after Miles Sanders and Brandon Brooks were both lost for the game with injuries.

Carson Wentz had a solid day passing, going 23 of 40, for 289 yards and one touchdown. The Eagles defense shined bright all afternoon, smothering the Giants all afternoon, besides one long Saquon Barkley touchdown run.