Got Better?

The Philadelphia Eagles are set for another run at the Super Bowl, this time with a revamped roster and coaching staff.

On the latest episode of “Inside The Birds,” former Eagles starting wide receiver Jason Avant joined Adam Caplan and Geoff Mosher to discuss the team’s busy offseason and the newest additions to the team. 

New Eagles running backs D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny will look to replace the production of the departed Miles Sanders

Rashaad Penny/D’Andre Swift

Jason Avant: “They got better [at running back]. D’Andre Swift catches the ball pretty well out of the backfield, Rashaad Penny is a bruiser that can take it to the distance. When it comes to being able to pick up blitzes, you have two bigger bodies that are more pro ready.”

Olamide Zaccheaus

Avant: “He is a small guy. He’s not blazing fast, but he is fast enough to run reverse and play outside if you need him to, so he does have some diversity. One thing that I worry with after watching him on tape: You don’t see him uncovered the same way in man that you do in zone. Most of his catches are against zone.”

Sydney Brown

Avant: “I think Sydney Brown might be the revelation of the draft…If you watched Illinois last year, they play football like an NFL defense. He stood out, came up and was a sure tackler. When he had the opportunity to intercept the ball, he did.”

Brian Johnson

Avant: “That promotion scares me and that is related to Shane Steichen. We saw it with Frank Reich and Carson Wentz. When you can keep those guys cohesive for a few years: head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, the QB grows at a different rate. Even though Brian Johnson is still there, it’s not the same role as a quarterback coach that is directly talking to him about every single decision that he is making.”

Nick Sirianni

Avant: “He understands Philadelphia a lot more, understands the fans. I saw this man in his first year go from running the ball, went to RPOs, spread, he was trying everything to maximize the offense. Last year with Jalen’s rise, I believe he is on the right path. No matter what you say about him in the media and his quirky ways, what he is selling, the players are buying.”

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.