WE won. Stop whining.
EAGLES 22 – Panthers 16
EAGLES STATS:
Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (14/21 – 66.6% – 108 – 2 – 0)
Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (20 – 124 – 6.2 – 0 – 0)
Receiving: WR A.J. Brown (4 – 4 – 43 – 10.7 – 0)
Drive Killer: S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (TD: 0/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)
Sack Leader: MLB Zack Baun (Sacks: 1.0 / FF: 0/ Tackles: 10)
Special Teams Ace: S Avonte Maddox downed punt at the 2
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I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these Four Things articles. It’s to point out what we need to address BEFORE the game. Then AFTER the game, there’s a no-bullshit assessment of whether or not the Eagles did any of what they needed to do, to ensure the win.
So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: PANTHERS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Get the TE Involved: I understand that the passing game has been somewhat de-emphasized, with the emergence of RB Saquon Barkley, but this is starting to verge on the ridiculous. The Eagles have failed to pass for 180 yards in each of the last three games. Add to that the absence of TE Dallas Goedert (I.R.); and it’s probably of little surprise that TE Grant Calcaterra (3 – 3 – 16 – 5.3 – 1) was minimally involved. (NOT DONE)
2) Show Blitzes Off Carter: This never happened. We never capitalized on DT Jalen Carter (3 tackles, 2 TFL) being double-teamed, and their QB was able to evade 4 man rushes all game long. The one sack that we did get, was Baun running this blitz from the other side. Nice to see that it would have worked. (NOT DONE)
3) Take Away Quick Passes: It was inconsistent, but it was there. When we took away the quick pass, their QB would hold the ball, and the chase was on. He hit some big completions that way, but it also contributed to his delivery becoming spotty, and his 55% completion rate.
The issue was that, even before Gardner-Johnson was dinged up and went to the locker room in the first half; we were playing entirely too much Zone on the outside. Unfortunately, that let their QB find an early groove, and with it, a confidence and joy which carried him throughout the game. (DONE)
4) Take YES For An Answer: We ran for 209 yards on 31 carries, for a 6.7 yard average. We kept it simple. We stuck to our identity. It was the league’s best rushing attack vs the league’s worst rushing defense; and we didn’t over-think it. We simply took YES for an answer. (DONE)
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This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4. We’ll see if we can improve on that, when the Steelers come to town next week, for the 2024 Youse v. Yinz Bowl. Everybody grab your pretzels!
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Game Hero: RB Saquon Barkley – He kept the chains moving, had five double-digit runs, and never seemed to be trying to do too much. I could also tag the Offensive Line for this, but I don’t want to split this among five guys.
Game goat: The Coaching Staff – I have a major bone to pick with BOTH of our Co-ordinators in this game. Much of what irritated me, was the positions the players were put in.
Defensively, Vic Fangio didn’t call a very good game. I already mentioned all the Zone coverage, so I won’t harp on it. However, his four man rush package, was consistently evaded by the scrambling of the opposing QB; taking advantage of five on four blocking. No adjustment was ever made to that.
Then there was the goalline package with DT Thomas Booker (no stats) playing over the C, instead of DT Jordan Davis (1 tackle). What the fuck is that?! It was a walk in touchdown is what it was.
On Offense, Kellen Moore was smart to stick to our identity, but at no point did he call a deep shot for A.J. Brown. Time after time, every receiver on a play seemed to be running some sort of a come-back concept, or double-ins. Where were the clear-out routes?
Also, if we’re going to run so many damned RPO’s, we have to practice them, so that the QB understands the timing necessary to keep a 25 yard gain, from becoming an Ineligible Man Downfield penalty. That and Illegal Pick penalties, seem to happen far too often. Get it together.
On The Whole: I feel like the coaches, not the players, were looking past Carolina. The play-calling and adjustments were as creative as a preseason game. Maybe in anticipation of the playoffs, the staff is now trying to build in false tendencies, for opposing teams to get hung-up studying. If that’s the case, it would explain a great deal.
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