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When the Eagles announced on Friday that they had traded for fullback Luke Lawton, we noted that it could signal that the coaching staff has doubts about the ability of Dan Klecko to make the transition from defensive tackle to fullback.
The Eagles essentially confirmed that today, announcing that Klecko will move back to defensive tackle.
Klecko took his place among the defensive linemen at today’s organized team activities after three months of trying to learn how to play fullback on a full-time basis. He had occasionally played fullback in short-yardage situations with the Patriots and Colts.
Klecko will compete for playing time at defensive tackle in a group that includes Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley, Trevor Laws, Montae Reagor, LaJuan Ramsey, Jeremy Clark and Darren Howard.
June 9th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Defensive tackle to fullback, a defensive back to wideout, wow, go Eagles. How about a punter at tightend?
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Man that a lot of defensive tackles he has to compete with to become a starter.
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June 9th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Why can’t the Eagles just draft a big back…I’ve seen Nick Cole and now Klecko not work. Ugh. I understand trying to maximize roster spots, and I suppose “big back” is just “another” position to Andy Reid, but he’s obviously not doing well at converting defensive linemen into anything else.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
ie…he’ll make it till the end of camp.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
We used to call him 3 way Klecko when he was on the Pats as he played defense, offense and special teams. He doesn’t care where he plays as long as he’s out there. Always like this guy, huge am0unt of heart.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
“Klecko will compete for playing time at defensive tackle in a group that includes Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley, Trevor Laws, Montae Reagor, LaJuan Ramsey, Jeremy Clark and Darren Howard.”
Or . . Klecko will compete for unemployment compensation in a group the includes Shawn Alexander . . .
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I doubt he was going to be more than a special teams guy anyway.
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June 9th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
…. in other words, he’s going to be cut in late August.
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June 9th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Darn…he was their 2nd best offensive player behind Westbrook.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Meaning, don’t buy a house in Philly Dan…keep your bags packed.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Klecko sucks. So does Lawton.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
They already have a big RB in Tony Hunt.
I would say the Eagles will probably be using Hunt far more this year than last year. He is 230lbs and decently quick.
Klecko probably doesnt have a shot at making this team.
Oh, Darren Howard is a DE, not a DT, unless they made a roster change on that…but Darren Howard was brought into Philly to be a DE.
So, unless the Eagles carry 5 DT’s, I doubt Klecko makes the team.
I think the one player that probably needs to fear for his future with the Eagles is Correll Buckhalter. Word on the street is that Lorenzo Booker is really doing a fantastic job of picking up the offense and showing that he can be the #2 back. He is faster/quicker than Buckhalter and has better hands. Tony Hunt is a guy that they can use between the tackles if need be and Westbrook is, well, amazing.
I think Buckhalter could be cut.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Ravensfan,
Actually, Howard can play, and has played, both DT and DE for the Eagles.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Heres an idea. If Klecko was any good as a fullback, wouldn’t the Jets of picked him up considering Joe will probably have his number retired soon? They had no fullback last year(unless your counting Stacy Tutt) and spent money trying to shore up the position with Tony Richardson. The Eagles have way too much talent at the defensive tackle position so converting him there makes little sense to me.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
It’s the off season and this is why teams hold OTA’s. I for one applaud Big Red for admitting that a player whom would primarily only be on the field for special teams or goal line plays didn’t work out the way the front office expected (i.e. Jeremy Bloom) and being aggressive and going and getting a cheap replacement. At least they made this move early on so the Eagles are not scrambling during the end of Training Camp to sign the next Reno Mahe to the fullback position like last year with PR. This should be good news to Klecko so that he can now concentrate on making this team as a DT.
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June 9th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I still say if Klecko had any willpower whatsoever he would have dieted down to 250 lbs. — which, let’s face it, ain’t tiny for a guy who is 5′11″ — and made a career as a run-stopping MLB who knows how to use his hands to shed blocks. Instead he’s just a tweener who’s too slow to play LB, too slow to play DE, and too small to play DT.
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June 9th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Was there space on the site that needed to get filled. Who cares about dan klecko as a player? The guy was a fourth round pick 5 years ago. Since he has register a marvelous 27 tackles in 47 games and 3 games in which he started. Being a philly fan this is like reading an undrafted rookie got cut today. WHO CARES? Did anyone really expect him to make the team? If the guy was any good he would still be on the colts or even the patriots. And obviously he couldn’t cut it a fullback. So the other sports around are so boring that we will use this type of post to fill the void that the nfl leaves when its season ends.
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