LISTEN, 2 – 0 is 2 – 0, despite how fans of lesser teams want to spin it. Right now, except for us, our division is in a tailspin, and this week we’re being fed a weakened opponent. Yes, yes. It’s always better to be able to say that we beat a team at it’s best, but the fact is, at the end of the season, they just count the wins.
This game, while not a division game, is a conference game. Even better, it’s a conference game covered in a sauce called REVENGE! Last time we saw this opponent, they whipped us 15 – 24. So we owe them a punch in the mouth. And boy, do we love doling out mouth punches.
The biggest possible mouth punch, would be if we got RB Saquon Barkley and the rest of our run game, on-track in this game. To see the Offense fully activated and show the league what they have to fear. To put it all together on prime-time television, with the nation watching, and all of it just dripping in REVENGE!
Yeah. Sign me up for that.
With a win we go to 3 – 0, and are still alone atop the NFC East.
If we lose, we hold at 2 – 1, and at worst would still be tied for the lead in the division.
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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. Often I list fundamentals, as some of the four things. BUT NO MORE! Unless something specific is needed, fundamentals like Running the ball; playing lots of Man Press; and Tackling instead of going for the strip, will be automatically included. (Like the five consonants and a vowel that Wheel Of Fortune automatically spots you.) So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week versus: The BEARS
RB’s Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby.
1) Power Via Doubles: Since no member of our interior Offensive Line seems to be able to generate vertical movement at the line (shoving a motherfucker backwards), we need to get RB Saquon Barkley running behind some double-teams. If he gets the chance to do that, he should end up trapped in the backfield less. (I said should.)
2) Go Hollywood In the Slot: The proper replacement this week for TE Dallas Goedert isn’t TE Zach Ertz (damn it feels good to see his name like this again!) The proper replacement is WR Marquis “Hollywood”Brown, lining up in the Slot. Hollywood’s speed demands instant and constant attention, so let’s abuse it.
As the Slot he’d be a concern. As part of a four receiver spread, he’d be poison just for being on the field. A four WR formation would demand the Bears defense go into their Dime. This would be a physically smaller alignment, that we could more easily run the ball against. Hollywood wouldn’t have to catch a ball to massively affect the game.
3) Win the ‘A’ Gaps Faster: We need DT Jordan Davis to win hs ‘A’ gap faster. We’re getting pressure up the middle and pushing QB’s out of the pocket, but a lot of it is with twists and stunts between our DT’s and DE’s. It gets pressure, but it takes longer to unfold and frequently leaves our edges open.
DT Jordan Davis.
Because DT Jalen Carter is going to see the majority of the interior double-teams, Davis has to win his one-on-ones, quickly. It’s a more straight-up style of play, but it means our DE’s can focus more on keeping contain.
4) Sub In Some Size: Even if DE Jonathan Greenard returns from injury in this one, Defensive Co-ordinator Vic Fangio, is likely going to put him on a pitch count. So this would be a great game to see DT Ty Robinson log some snaps at the LDE spot. (I mentioned some of this in THE 12.) This would be less for pass rush, and more to set a hard edge against the run.
The Bears don’t have a particularly large offensive line. In fact, at 325 pounds their RT is their biggest guy. He’s not huge by NFL standards, but I still don’t want him to spend the day leaning on 240 pound OLB Nolan Smith, vs the run. So let’s get some size and strength out there, to combat size and strength.
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If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
You can’t beat a strategist if you don’t cover small details, and Bears coach Ben Johnson is a strategist. We cant forget the RMT fundamentals that I mentioned earlier. Last week, Fangio mentioned some of our defenders missing 12 tackles, because they were going for the ball. This game is going to feature three of the NFL’s most innovative thinkers, but it will be won by the team with better fundamentals.
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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, then you are a fool trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.
Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.
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