Post 20 - Weekly Slant 16/6/2015

Hello! And welcome to my corner.

It's now officially Rob Gronkowski days until the NFL kicks off again, minicamps are underway and training camp is just around the corner. Excitement among NFL fans is definitely building!

With teams training again, there is a natural increase in story's and roster moves among the 32 teams and two of the biggest stories of the off-season continue to make headlines. The San Francisco 49ers' disastrous loss of players and Chip Kelly's complete turnover of the Philadelphia Eagles' roster.


The 49ers have been subject to a very sudden and harsh fall from power. 2 years ago they were one play away from winning the Super Bowl. The following year they were one win away from making a 2nd consecutive Super Bowl, they have now fired head coach Jim Harbaugh, lost star linebacker Patrick Willis, Willis' replacement and up-and-comer Chris Borland, longtime d-line lynch pin Justin Smith and starting RT Anthony Davis to retirement.

In free agency they lost one of the better guards in the league in Mike Iupati, arguably the most consistent running back in Frank Gore, Chris Culliver (CB) and Parrish Cox (CB). All in all they lost 20 pro bowls and over 1000 NFL starts, according to Chris Wesseling of the Around the NFL Podcast.

That loss of talent is potentially catastrophic and certainly unprecedented. As Dan Hanzus, also of the Around the NFL Podcast has said, "Poor Jim Tomsula got airlifted onto the titanic after it hit the iceberg". It certainly seems this way.


Chip Kelly's complete over hall of the Eagles roster continued with the release of 2-time pro bowl guard Evan Mathis. This was following his hold-out from OTA's in hope of a new contract. The release seems to be due to Mathis' fit in Chip Kelly's culture and scheme, rather than a drop in ability. Mathis remains one of the top guards in the league and supposedly is garnering interest from "at least half a dozen" teams according to his agent.

Mathis' exit leaves the Allen Barbre in place to take his spot at starting left guard. Barbre is somewhat unknown as a constant starter. He's been a bit of a journeyman and has never started more than 7 games in a season. However, he was the Eagles top backup lineman two years ago (he missed all of 2014 through injury)  and was signed to a 3-year contract in June 2014.

Furthermore, Tra Thomas, former Eagles lineman and intern coach, has said that Mathis didn't fit with Jason Peters. He said that they have different styles and it damaged the quality of the left side of the line. He goes on to say how he feels Barbre is a much better fit with Peters. With so much weight put on an offensive lines chemistry, this could work well for the Eagles.


Some uncomfortable news for Dallas Cowboys fans reared its head on Friday. Dez Bryant, who was franchised tagged at the beginning of free agency, has said that if he isn't signed to a (big) contract before the July 15th deadline, he'll consider holding himself out of the first game of the season.

Though it does seem like a slightly hollow threat, it could be quite damaging for the Cowboys. If they go into the first game of the season against the New York Giants with Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar in the backfield and no Dez Bryant, they could certainly find themselves behind in the division early. 

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