The Eagles offense is going to look different. They are going to be faster. They are going to be much, much, much faster. In addition to the rate in which they are going to play, they are also focusing on reducing turnovers. Turnovers were a problem last year for rookie runningback Bryce Brown as he lacked the fundamental ability to protect the football.

The increased speed plus necessity to reduce turnovers means that the Eagles are going to have to employ more than just LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown. Enter: Felix Jones.

ESPN is reporting that the Eagles have agreed to a one-year deal with the former-Cowboys running back. Jones, who turned 26 last Wednesday, rushed 111 times for 402 yards last season for the Cowboys.

The former first round pick out of Arkansas was primarily the No. 2 back behind DeMarco Murray in Dallas. Since 2008, Jones ranks fourth in the NFL in yards per carry averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

-Steve Dolan
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The reigning ALCS MVP signed with the Phillies and people aren’t excited. Actually, people are openly criticizing the decision to sign the guy. Seem strange? Well, not so fast. That just seems to be the way it is going these days for Delmon Young. The former Tigers outfielder went unsigned this offseason while generating very little interest before agreeing to a one-year, $750k contract with the Phillies on January 22nd. With Ben Revere locked down in centerfield, there are five players: Domonic Brown, Darin Ruf, John Mayberry Jr., Laynce Nix, and Young competing for two corner outfield spots. When the Phillies signed Young, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. stated that Young would compete for the starting job in right field.

Young has always been a hitter and that is what made him the first overall pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. He hit .322 with 25 homeruns and 115 RBI in his first season of professional ball in 2004. Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2005, Young hit .315 with 26 homeruns and 99 RBI and was name Baseball America’s No. 1 prospect for the 2006 season. He made his Major League debut in August 2006 and played his first full season with Tampa Bay in 2007. He hit .288/.316/.408 with 13 homeruns with 93 RBI as a 21 year old rookie in 2007 and finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting behind Boston’s Dustin Pedroia . He was traded the Minnesota Twins in 2008 and had his best season with the Twins in 2010 when he hit .298/.333/.493 with 21 homeruns and 112 RBI. He was traded to Detroit in July 2011. Last year he hit .267/.296/.411 with 18 homeruns and 74 RBI. He came up big for Detroit in the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees when he hit .353 with two homeruns and six RBI mostly as a designated hitter.

One thing that the Young will have to get used to when playing for the Phillies is playing the field again. He has not played right field since 2007 and, when he played left field for the Tigers last season, he was frightening defensively. Another issue that limits Young defensively is his weight. The Phillies even added an incentive clause into his contract that could earn him another $600k. He will be randomly weighed six different times throughout the season. If he is under 230 lbs. the first three weigh-ins, he will earn $100k for each weigh-in he is under 230 lbs. If he is less than 235 lbs. for the next three weigh-ins, he will earn $100k for each weigh-in that he is less than 235 lbs. Weight has been an issue for Young and it doesn’t help that he had surgery to remove bone spurs in November and likely will start the season on the disabled list.

Off the field is where the biggest concerns lay for Young. In 2006, Young was suspended for 50 games by the International League after throwing a baseball bat at an umpire after being ejected from the game. In April 2012, Young was arrested in New York City and charged with aggravated harassment as a hate crime after yelling anti-Semitic slurs at a police officer while intoxicated. He was suspended for seven days by Major League Baseball and sentenced to community service. Most recently in an interview with Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News, Young said it was cold outside and he was not anxious to join his team in games yet. Not exactly the best locker room guy.

Hopefully his bat makes his defense and off-the-field headaches and turns this signing into a steal for the Phillies.

-Steve Dolan
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The experiment is over. This was the last major move that fans were waiting on. The news today is the unofficial statement of failure from Howie Roseman regarding the 2011 free agent class. The class that included Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins, Vince Young, and Ronnie Brown lost their headliner today. With all four players gone, most recently Jenkins who was released last week, the only player who remained from the big class was cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. The key takeaway is that this is all in past tense.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Eagles have released Asomugha today.

Asomugha was a colossal failure in Philadelphia. He came to the Eagles after spending eight years with the Oakland Raiders. He signed a five-year, $60 million deal in July 2011. He record three interceptions with 40 tackles in his first season in Philadelphia. Many believed that Asomugha underperformed in 2011 and would regain form in 2012 playing in press coverage. That was not to be as 2012 was a complete disaster for almost every Eagle. Asomugha had one interception and looked like he had lost all foot speed. At 31 years old, Asomugha appears to be on the down side of his career.

I think it is safe to say that Eagles fans are happy about the move to rid the team of their “shutdown” corner.

-Steve Dolan
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NFL free agency is slated to begin tomorrow at 4:00 pm but that only means that the rumor mills are only going to heat up. The Eagles have holes that need to be addressed in free agency and through the draft. New head coach Chip Kelly will look to build a team around his new offensive system. In order for his system to work, he needs his weapons.

One weapon might be coming via free agency. CSNPhilly’s Geoff Mosher is reporting that the Eagles will pursue free agent wide receiver Danny Amendola. The 5’11” 188 lbs. receiver spent the last four seasons with the St. Louis Rams.

The 27 year old Texas Tech-product reeled in 63 passes for 666 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games last season. He played in only one game in 2011 but played a full 16 game schedule in 2010 catching 85 passes for 689 yards and three touchdowns. Amendola has been a part of the Eagles organization before. He spent a little more than a week on the Eagles practice squad in 2009 before then-Rams offensive coordinator, now current Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur signed him in St. Louis.

-Steve Dolan
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I don’t like this anymore than you do but it must be addressed. Former West Virginia quarterback Pat White is looking to make a comeback to the NFL according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. White, 26, was the 44th overall selection in the 2009 Draft by the Miami Dolphins (LeSean McCoy was selected nine picks later). He played one year in Miami primarily running the Wildcat offense before being cut after training camp in 2010.

What does this have to do with anything? Well, White was once a very mobile quarterback with a lot of promise coming out of West Virginia. He led the Mountaineers to four consecutive bowl victories while completing 65.7% or more of his passes in three of his four years in Morgantown. He ran a 4.55 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine.

A quarterback like White is the type of quarterback that would have been incredibly successful under Chip Kelly at Oregon. How well a quarterback like White would succeed under Kelly at the NFL level remains to be seen. White is a small quarterback standing and just 6’0” 200 lbs. which makes him susceptible to injuries. There is no indication that the Eagles have any interest in White but it is quarterbacks like White who will likely be tied to Kelly throughout this offseason.

-Steve Dolan
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The Phillies still have questions remaining in their outfield and have yet to address their lack of a righthanded power bat in the middle of their order. They have dabbled in trade speculation with the likes of Vernon Wells and Alfonso Soriano. Now they are turning their attention to the free agent market to hopefully address their holes.

CSNPhilly’s Jim Salisbury is reporting that the Phillies are “seriously considering” signing free agent Delmon Young . The 27 year old Young is coming off of an impressive performance last season for the Tigers, specifically in the playoffs. Young was named the ALCS MVP after going 6-for-17 with two homeruns and seven RBI in the four game sweep of the New York Yankees. Overall in the postseason, Young was 15-for-48 (.365) with three homerun, nine RBI, and five runs scored. Young’s impressive postseason came after he hit .267 with 18 homeruns and drove in 74 RBI in 151 regular season games for the Tigers in 2012. His beat season came in 2010 with the Twins when he hit .298 with 21 homeruns and 112 RBI.

It is not all positive with Young on and off the field. On the field he only played 29 games in left field for the Tigers last season as he spent much of the season and all of the postseason as the team’s designated hitter. He would not a defensive improvement over the guys the Phillies are considering platooning in the corner outfield spots.

Off the field, Young has had his conditioning questioned as he tends to be a little on the heavier side. Young stands at 6’3” and weighs in at 240 lbs. He was arrested at the end of April outside of a New York hotel yelling anti-Semetic slurs and was subsequently suspended for seven games. The incident in 2012 happened nearly six years to the day that he infamously threw his bat at an umpire in a minor league game.

There are pros and cons to this move but the cost might not be high for Young and that might be good for a player that, at age 27, might be entering the prime of his career. Whether Young signs or not, the move does not leave Phillies fans any more comfortable with the Phillies outfield.

-Steve Dolan
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The Phillies have upgraded their bullpen recently with the addition of Mike Adams who was dominant up until last season when he struggled in an elbow injury. He is expected to be a crucial part of the backend of the bullpen. The right hander and his slider figure to give the Phillies a great shutdown reliever but what about a left hander? After Antonio Bastardo’s breakdown year in 2011, he returned to earth hard last season. He posted a 4.33 ERA with a 2-5 and a 1.27 WHIP. That kind of production from the “go-to” left hander will not win you many games.

With some uncertainty floating around, it is no surprise that the Phillies have been linked to potential bullpen upgrades. Washington Nationals beat writer Bill Ladson of MLB.com mentions the Phillies as one of the teams competing for lefthander J.P. Howell.

Howell, 30, was 1-0 with three holds and a 3.08 ERA to go along with a 1.21 WHIP in 50.1 innings last season with the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2009 he was 7-5 with 17 saves and a 2.84 ERA for the Rays.

-Steve Dolan
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The Phillies made some improvements yesterday when they bulked up their bullpen with the signing of Mike Adams and added their presumed fifth starter when they signed lefty John Lannan. The move that everyone has been waiting for this offseason still has not come. The right handed power bat for the middle of the order has not been signed which leaves the Phillies fans questioning what the Phillies will do next.

That move might be coming soon. Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Phillies are increasing their pursuit of free agent corner outfielder, and Phillies nemesis, Cody Ross.

“Sources: #Phillies intensifying pursuit of Cody Ross. Other teams also being more aggressive. #Mariners among those that have shown interest.”

Ross, who turns 32 on December 23rd, had a productive year for the lowly Red Sox. Ross hit .267 with 22 homeruns and 81 RBI with a .326 on base percentage. Many Phillies fans remember Ross as the guy who killed the Phillies in the 2010 NLCS as he took home NLCS MVP honors for the San Francisco Giants.

-Steve Dolan
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The buzz has been about the Phillies for the last day or so as reports have surfaced regarding the Phillies acquiring a power hitting outfielder. First it was yesterday afternoon when WIP’s Anthony Gargano reported that a “good source” told him that the Phillies offered Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton a three year, $80 million contract. That was followed up less than an hour later when CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported that the Phillies had discussed a Dom Brown-for-Alfonso Soriano trade with the Cubs along with “keeping an eye” on free agents like Josh Hamilton and Nick Swisher.

All of this was certainly interesting given the no-so-secret fact that the Phillies need a power hitter in their lineup if they plan to be contenders. One area that was not an area of concern entering the offseason but became one following the trade for centerfielder Ben Revere is the starting rotation. Headlined by Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels, the Phillies have a formidable Big 3 that would rival almost any team’s rotation. The remaining two spots are question marks.

The Phillies had Vance Worley and Kyle Kendrick to fill out the last spots in the rotation but Worley is now a member of the Twins which leaves the Phillies needing a fifth starter. Most people are not sold that Tyler Cloyd can hold down the roll which might force the team to go get a starter in free agency. Philadelphia Inquirer Phillies beat writer Matt Gelb writes that the Phillies have options.

Of the eight pitchers that Gelb lists, two of them are particularly interesting: Jurrjens and Saunders. Jurrjens was non-tendered by the Braves last month after struggling early in 2012 and then struggling in Triple-A. He will be 27 when the season begins and is coming off a year in which he went 3-4 with a 6.89 ERA in 10 starts for the Braves then going 4-6 with 4.98 ERA in Triple-A. Despite his rough 2012, Jurrjens could still be productive. He is one year removed from going 13-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 23 starts in 2011. He entered last year as one of the Braves top young pitchers before falling out of favor. His upside might be enough for the Phillies to take a chance on Jurrjens.

Saunders, 31, has less of an upside but is a workhorse pitcher. He has pitched 174+ innings every year since 2008. He posted a record of 17-7 in 2008 and followed that up in 2009 by going 16-7 before being traded to the Diamondbacks in 2010 for Dan Haren. Last year between the Diamondbacks and Orioles, the left hander was 9-13 with a 4.07 ERA. He might be a cheaper option but you have a better idea of what you are getting.

But, as with almost every other move, no one knows what Ruben Amaro Jr. is thinking.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
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After another quiet day from the Phillies, the hot stove is quickly heating up as rumors begin to fly towards the end of the work day in Nashville. With the Phillies clearly in need of outfield help in the worst possible way, one name that has not come up much in regards to the Phillies is Nick Swisher. Well, that was until now. Former Reds/Nationals general manager and ESPN baseball insider Jim Bowden is reporting that the Phillies seem like a likely destination for the free agent outfielder.

“Swisher most likely landing spots are now Phiilies [sic], Mariners and Indians.”

Swisher, 32, hit .272 with 24 homeruns and 93 RBI last year for the Yankees while holding down right field. Swisher is a switch hitter that has hit 21 or more homeruns in each season since 2005.

From the “out of the blue” category, Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Phillies have showed interest in former Phillie Raul Ibanez.

“Could #Yankees lose on Ibanez too? Source says #Mariners, #Rangers, #Phillies all have expressed interest.”

The 40 year old Ibanez hit .240 with 19 homeruns and 62 RBI last year for the Yankees primarily as the designated hitter. He spent three years with the Phillies from 2009-11 as their everyday leftfielder.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports