A nationally televised ass-whipping?
EAGLES 17 – Giants 34
EAGLES STATS:
Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (24/33 – 72.7% – 283 – 1 – 1)
Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (12 – 58 – 4.8 – 0 – 0)
Receiving: TE Dallas Goedert (11 – 9 – 110 – 12.2 – 1)
Drive Killer: N/A (TD: /Int: / FR: / 4th down stops: / FF: )
Sack Leader: DT Jordan Davis (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 6)
Special Teams Ace: N/A
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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: GIANTS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Don’t Overthink It: For the second week in a row, I mentioned establishing the run. In the first half we were doing exactly that. Saquon Barkley went into the half 8 – 56 – 7.0 – 0, with a long run of 18. He would finish the game with just 4 more carries for 2 more yards. There were many plays where he wasn’t even in the backfield.
This is NOT about execution. If the player isn’t even on the field, how can he execute? If the ball isn’t handed off, how can the run game fail in its execution? This is a play-calling problem, but until Head Coach Nick Sirianni holds Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo accountable, this problem will persist. (NOT DONE)
2) Strangle Their Pass Rush: A short, quick passing game, right behind the pass rush. It would have kept the QB clean, got the ball out fast, backed their linebackers up, kept the chains moving, and the ball out the hands of the opposing offense.
Instead, we were treated to yet another example of why people keep leaving Jalen Hurts off their top ten QB lists. Raise your hand, if you find yourself yelling “THROW THE BALL!!” at your television, at least 4 times per game. Raise your hand if you’re sick of seeing him count past “five Mississippi”. This should’ve been easy. (NOT DONE)
3) Push the Interior Pocket: The idea was to force their QB to run and step into hits by our LB’s. However, every time we got him out of the pocket, our LB’s were off getting a hotdog or something. As far as the run, not only did our linemen get no penetration, they were also getting blown off the line. (NOT DONE)
4) Take Away Anything Easy: We did take away the dink and dunk underneath stuff. So their QB went into hunting our CB’s, specifically CB Kelee Ringo (3 tackles). Still, their QB only had an okay night, passing the ball. The real issue was the 172 rushing yards that we surrendered. (DONE)
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This week’s Four Things score was 1 of 4, so you shouldn’t be surprised that we lost. Next week we travel to Minnesota, to right the ship against a well rested Vikings team.
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Game Hero: What? Are you serious?
Game goat: HC Nick Sirianni – This team has issues on all sides of the ball, but Offense is what’s killing us. I realize that Patullo may be his friend, but now it’s definitely time for Sirianni to step in, and take over the play-calling. At the very least.
On The Whole: The Offense is going three and out so much, that it’s wearing down the Defense. Not just “in-game” wear, but the kind of wear that gets carried from week to week, is starting to show. Our Defense is in need of a game (or three) where we hold time of possession for 36 minutes or better.
There’s an over-emphasis under Patullo, of taking what opposing defenses are giving us. That allows our opponents to dictate the game to us. Our players hate it, and you can see it actively sapping their mojo. Saquon Barkley said “We have to get back to that attitude. To that mindset, where we don’t really give a fuck what people are trying to do.”
Standing at his locker, RT Lane Johnson called for the plays to be less predictable, and he mentioned ‘keys’ that give away what the Eagles are doing. (He also remembered to say they need to execute better.)
Both of these are pleas for a shift in mindset. The question is: Who are these pleas, to? Who exactly do the players hope to rescue them?
Last week’s loss could have been a constructive loss, had we learned from it. We did not. This giants loss renders the Broncos loss, just a failed opportunity. This giants loss could be a constructive loss, if we learn from it, and make meaningful changes. Otherwise, it’s just going to be a nationally televised ass-whipping.
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