LAST week the Defensive Line and the Safeties looks pretty good. Long Snapper Rick Lovato (no relation to Poot Lovato) was an animal, recovering a fumble on a punt return. There were some positives. Everything else had the appeal of a four story walk-up. Not a deal-breaker, but you’ll never stop thinking about improving your situation.
Being a preseason game, the “W” or the “L” is practically meaningless. What the Eagles need is the momentum of improvement. There have been a lot of fundamental changes, so a season like the one we just had, is anything but guaranteed. In fact, until we see that the Eagles have adapted well to the changes, there is no reason to believe that they will recapture the division.
There is a lot to show in this game. That vibe however, is a very low-key one. For most, this is the least exciting week of the preseason stretch.
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The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. Except in the preseason. At which point the wins are usually less valuable than the losses.
There are more than four things to watch for this week, but I’ll try to narrow the focus so that you don’t get burned out, trying to watch too much football, all at one time.
1) Play the Starters: Everyone needs to see a little action in this one. Don’t hand me any bullshit about how the joint practices that the Eagles had with the Browns, will probably be more physical than the game. If that’s the case, then play them in the game, and hold them out of practice! People pay for those tickets. Don’t jerk the fan base around
Besides, there are no nerves, no stakes, and no butterflies for these guys on a practice field. There’s no “L” to talk about for a week, in the event of a loss. Can MLB Nakobe Dean deliver under the lights and the pressure? Can new RG Cam Jurgens? Does RB Kenneth Gainwell really make a case for #1 RB? Is WR Olamide Zaccheaus a good fit for this team? Let’s see.
2) Be the Aggressors: Again, I don’t want to hear about how much rougher the joint practices are. If I could pen them a letter, it would read: Dear Eagles, this team has been hitting you all week, and now they want to hit you some more in your own home. In front of your fans. In a televised game. Don’t get bullied in your own home by the F Troop of football. Take it to ‘em!
I want to hitting and blocking that makes highlight reels. And not from just a couple of Safeties. A message needs to be sent to every team that has circled us on their calendar: Grab your eraser, and call in sick that week.
3) Better QB Play: While many fans want to throw QB Ian Book under a school bus, the truth is, all three QB’s didn’t look very good last week. Book was almost afraid to throw the ball, and QB Marcus Mariota looked somewhat hesitant at times himself. Both looked more comfortable tucking the ball and running with it.
Oddly, there’s been a fair amount of praise for QB Tanner McKee. He seemed to get the ball out faster, but quickly incompleting half his attempts, is no recipe for success. Granted, our Offensive Line wasn’t doing any of the QB’s any favors, but holding onto the ball too long, or not moving in the pocket, doesn’t offer the Line much support either.
4) More Defense: Closer coverage and more contested balls would be nice to see this week. It doesn’t matter how good the Defensive Line is, if the opposing QB immediately has somewhere to go with the ball. Last week we gave up a completion percentage of 61. It was 76% for their first two QB’s. We will find fourth place in the NFC East, real fast with play like that.
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We fans get riled for the first preseason game, because we’ve spent the entire offseason starving for football. Then the NFL hands us a preseason game, and we treat that saltine like it’s Premium. We salivate over it. “Is this a Ritz?!” (Right Eddie?) By the fourth quarter, we realize that the game is just some regular old crackers.
For most, the second preseason game is like being a kid, and getting a sweater for Christmas. It’s not socks, but you can’t wait to put that shit down and open the next one. Next week the starters should play at least a quarter, so we’ll care more about that one. But for now we’re showing up because it’s football. Show some improvement and don’t get hurt. That’s all we ask.
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WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know football and that’s IT. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, you are trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.
Check back in a few days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.
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