SEASON Reviews are usually done at the end of the season. A few are also done at the halfway mark. Starting in 2017, Eaglemaniacal.com began treating the season like a game, and breaking it into four quarters.
In 2021, the NFL expanded the season to 17 games, which makes for an uneven split. So this year (at least), these Quarterly Reports will come after games 5, 9, 13, and 17. (Ugh. I hate even looking at that format.)
Since football is a hard sport, we’ll take a hard look at where our team currently stands, in relation to where it started. Then we can discuss where it needs to go next.
STATUS: 11 – 6, 2nd in the NFC East, 5th seed in the playoffs
OPPONENTS:
L – Seattle
W – New York giants
L – Arizona
L – New York giants
OVERVIEW:
Two fourth quarter collapses vs the Seahawks and the Cardinals, ended any talk of the Eagles stealing the 1st seed back from San Francisco, and left the Birds needing Washington to beat Dallas, for the 2nd seed to tumble to us. We hardly seemed interested vs the giants in the season finale.
GRADES:
QB: Jalen Hurts (66/108 – 61.1% – 666 – 4 – 5) has been inconsistent in terms of production and decision making, as of recent. You almost wonder if, (beyond all the press conference speak), he truly understands what’s at stake. We’ve spent years hearing about his leadership, yet neither his sideline demeanor, nor his production, are indicative of someone worth following during tough times.
Marcus Mariota (15/23 – 65.2% – 164 – 1 – 1) showed enough understanding of the system, to warrant consideration as next year’s back-up. Even better, he showed enough mobility for the coaching staff to know that, in the even that he has to start any games, they don’t have to revamp the Offense for him. (Grade:D)
RB: D’Andre Swift (51 – 227 – 4.4 – 1 – 0/ 4 – 3 – 6 – 2.0 – 0) has been effective as a runner, but a joke as a pass catcher. In fact, overall he hasn’t done a thing that RB Miles Sanders didn’t do better last year. Swift was supposed to be an upgrade at RB receiver. Instead, his production proved that the issue is the system, and not the player that we replaced.
Kenneth Gainwell (21 – 129 – 6.1 – 0 – 0/ 8 – 7 – 53 – 7.5 – 0) has great looking numbers for a back-up, but watching him play tells a different story. Repeatedly getting 4 yards, when the team needs 5, or getting 5 when we need 6, is still coming up short, even though a 4.5 per carry average, looks nice on paper. Boston Scott (4 – 8 – 2.0 – 0 – 0/ 1 – 0 – 0 – 0.0 – 0) likely won’t be back next year. (Grade: C)
TE: Dallas Goedert (27 – 17 – 152 – 8.9 – 1) is being wasted out there. Instead of making him a downfield threat, he’s used on TE Screens and as a release valve. Not a checkdown, a release valve. Jack Stoll (1 – 1 – 11 – 11.0 – 0) is almost exclusively a undersized offensive linemen. Grant Calcaterra (4 – 4 – 39 – 9.7 – 0) saw his first targets of the season, during this quarter, and he caught all four of them. This position is woefully thin.(Grade: D)
WR: A.J. Brown (27 – 16 – 198 – 12.3 – 0). Fewer than 200 yards in four weeks. Add the knee sprain suffered in the finale, anyone want to guess at why he’s been so frustrated? Devonta Smith (15 – 12 – 159 – 13.2 – 1) didn’t play in the finale due to an ankle injury.
Quez Watkins (12 – 8 – 93 – 11.6 – 1) entire season’s production was pretty much just the last game of the year. That said, he didn’t look bad. Julio Jones (11 – 6 – 58 – 9.6 – 2) is still a hard read. The Eagles don’t seem to have a dedicated role for him, but he answers the bell when called. Olamide Zaccheaus (5 – 2 – 20 – 10.0 – 0) is still vastly underutilized.
All told, as a position the Slot/#3 (28 – 16 – 171 – 10.6 – 3) was productive this quarter, contributing 42 yards per game. Splitting it up among three players, who don’t strictly line-up in the Slot, makes it harder to notice, than if we used one as our version of Wes Welker, Hunter Renfrow, etc. (Grade: D)
OT: LT Jordan Mailata completed the season, having played every snap of every game. Penalty-wise it was his worst quarter of the season. On Christmas he gifted the giants with 2 penalties for 15 yards, and then gave up another 1 for 10 to the Cardinals.
RT Lane Johnson gave up 1 penalty for 10 yards, on Christmas day. He started the season finale, but was pulled early, with other key veterans, in prep for the playoffs. Swingman Jack Driscoll closed the game out for Johnson, and completed the season committing ZEE-RO penalties on the entire season. (Grade: B)
OG: LG Landon Dickerson missed the giants game on Christmas, which was his only miss of the season. His false start penalty vs the Seattle was his only penalty of the quarter. He logged some reps at C in the season finale.
RG Cam Jurgens missed the Seahawks game, and as pulled early with other key starters in the season finale. He wrapped up his second season without being called for a single penalty in his career.
Swingman Sua Opeta started game 14 at RG and game 15 at LG, then was back in the line-up at LG for the season finale, when Dickerson slid over to C. Despite all the switching, he committed no penalties. Back-up G Fred Johnson played half the season finale, also committing zero penalties. (Grade: B)
C: Jason Kelce was pulled in the season finale with other key veterans, but otherwise played every snap. He was hit twice this quarter for false starts, giving him a total of 6 on the season, which is the only category of penalty called on him. (Grade:B)
DE: Josh Sweat (8 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) (1 Tackle For Loss) only git two hits on QB’s this quarter. Technically he’s doing everything right as a pass rusher, but the ball is coming far too quickly for it to matter. As a run defender, his edge containment leaves much to be desired and is frustrating to see on a player with his experience.
Brandon Graham (5 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) (1TFL) is just a part-timer at this position, and had zero QB hits for the quarter. Having just two legit players at this position is foolish and stupid, but it is what it is, until the offseason. (Grade: F)
DT: Jordan Davis (8 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) has far too many skills and physical tools to be as under-productive as he is. Stats don’t tell the whole story, (like how much time he spends being doubled), but having no stats, tells the story of someone who will have no leverage at the contract table.
Fletcher Cox (9 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) had 2TFL’s and 2 QB hits this quarter, despite sitting out the season finale. Milton Williams (13 – 0.0 – 0 – 1FF) notched a TFL, and a QB hit. Jalen Carter (6 – 2.0 – 0 – 0) added 2 TFL and 2 QB hits this quarter. Marlon Tuipulotu (3 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) 2 TFL and 1 QB hit all happened in the season finale.
In addition to not getting much pressure, the middle of the Defense has been soft vs the run, as teams are winning the numbers game in the box against us. This is a coaching error that is showing up as a player problem. (Grade: C)
OLB: Haason Reddick (6 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) 2TFL, 4 QB hits this quarter. Despite this being his position, he’s too often deployed at End on a 4 man line, in a four mn rush with the second level dropping into Zone. The pass rush stands no chance as the coaching is sabotaging it.
Zach Cunningham (5 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) only played in the finale, after missing the previous three games with injury. Nolan Smith (9 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) still isn’t being used with any sort of a discernible plan for his development. Patrick Johnson (4 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) is Special Teamer who is also used situationally at End. (Grade: F)
MLB: Nicholas Morrow (33 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) at 216 pounds is far too undersized to play this spot and it shows up in the run game. He should be used outside as a cover and chase guy.
Shaquille Leonard (21 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) 2TFL and 1 QB hit, just played in his 5th game as an Eagle, and is still acclimating probably more to his teammates than the system itself. Ben VanSumeren (11 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) got to start in the Christmas day win over the giants, and made 6 stops that day. (Grade: D)
S: Kevin Byard (28 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) never seems close enough to the ball to make a play of any sort. Reed Blankenship (29 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) picked off a pass in the season finale, but often seems to be too far away from receivers in coverage.
Sydney Brown (12 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) snagged an interception,and returned it 99 yards for a score, then tore his ACL the following week. Tristin McCollum (6 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) brings both of his arms to a tackle. Maybe he should teach it to the rest of the Secondary. (Grade: D)
CB: Darius Slay (no stats) missed the last 4 weeks with a knee issue. James Bradberry (13 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) also had a tipped pass in the finale that led to Blankenship’s pick. Otherwise he’s been getting abused out there. Some of it is definitely scheme, but at some point a man just has to handle his business, and demonstrate that it’s dangerous to try him.
Kelee Ringo (16 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) started all four games that Slay missed and had a game sealing interception in the endzone, during the Christmas day win over the giants. He’s acquitted himself well for a rookie. Bradley Roby (10 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) missed the Arizona game. Avonte Maddox (4 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) played in the last two games. Eli Ricks (7 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) and Josh Jobe (2 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) are deep reserves. (Grade: F)
LS: Rick Lovato, the Man, the Myth, THE LEGEND! Forced a fumble in the Christmas day win over the giants and recorded a tackle in each of the final three games. Like a fucking BOSS! (Grade:A)
P: Braden Mann (13 – 674 – 51.8) is doing a great job of kicking the ball, but still outkicking his coverage leading to (9 – 75 – 8.3) the opponent feeling bold about attempting returns and carving into that 51.8 yard average and lowering it to just 46 of changed field position. (Grade: B)
K: Jake Elliott (7/7 FG, 10/10 XP) continues to be perfect. (Grade: A)
PR/KR: WR Britain Covey (6 – 113 – 18.8 – 0) has had himself a great quarter, ending the season as the league leader in return yardage (417). (Grade: A)
SINCE LAST QUARTER:
The Mission was to win the East and we didn’t do it. Arizona was the must-win game, and we lost it. The team lost three of the four games in the quarter. Many are not confident that we will survive the first round of the playoffs.
MISSION FOR THIS QUARTER:
Go win the damned Super Bowl.
EAGLEMANIACAL.com 
Here’s all you need to know about Jalen Hurts. Look at Baker Mayfield’s last touchdown pass last night. Confronted with a free blitzer right in his face, Mayfield hung in the pocket and found the open guy for six. When’s the last time you saw the Eagles’ $250 million bag of magic beans do that?
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