SOMETHING has to change.
EAGLES 11 – giants 19
EAGLES STATS:
Passing: QB Joe Milton (18/34 – 52.9% – 169 – 0 – 0)
Rushing: QB Joe Milton (9 – 64 – 7.1 – 0 – 1)
Receiving: WR Makai Lemon (9 – 6 – 61 – 10.2 – 0)
Drive Killer: LS Rocco Underwood (2 tackles – FR)
Sack Leader: LB Zach Baun (2.0 – 0 – 7)
Special Teams Ace: P Braden Mann (8 – 384 – 48.0 – 2 – 85)
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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) Run It Left: On our second drive, RB Saquon Barkley (13 – 22 – 1.6 – 1 – 0) ran off-Guard, virtually untouched into the endzone for a 3 yard touchdown. At that point I figured “The hunt, is on! We’re going to run it left, and wear the giants down!”
Silly me. It was at that point, where the Offensive Line decided that one hole was enough for the day, and essentially packed up the run game. Aside from Saquon’s score and Milton’s 64 rushing/running for his life yards, we ran the ball 15 times for 25 yards. Or 1.6 yards per carry. This is the same line that gave up 7 sacks today. Something has to change. (NOT DONE)
2) Go Deep Early: It was a long Pass Interference penalty on our second drive, which set up the first and goal, that became our only touchdown. It was the only pass throw like it in the first half. As a result there was no room inside to run the ball and everything just spiraled down from there. (NOT DONE)
3) Set the Right Edge: There was still crashing down by the RDE, but there was far less of it this week. The result was 6 sacks, and the first opponent of the year that we held to fewer than 100 rushing yards (31 – 80 – 2.5 – 0 – 0).
DT Jordan Davis gets the sack, as well as some love from DT Jalen Carter
It also allowed DT Jordan Davis (3 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) to get his first sack of the year and his first two Tackles For Loss of the year. As I said, the RDE crashing down so much, has been ruining the hunt for the RDT. Today we saw that get fixed, by setting the edge. (DONE)
4) Smaller Cushions: I think someone has gotten the memo on this one, but CB Riq Woolen (4 tackles) kept starting out fine, then backing way up prior to the snap. (He’s one of three guys I’m hoping to see traded.) Still, the opposing QB was made to hold the ball longer, and we got 6 sacks out of what had been an anemic pass rush.
Perhaps a lesson has been re-learned? (DONE)
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This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4. We had a chance, but the Offense has gotten so poor, that it almost feels like it’s conspiring against us. We’re 2 – 7, the trade deadline is Tuesday, and our Bye is next week. Perfectly timed. Because something has to change.
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LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. not having any of that shit
Game Hero: LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr (11 – 0 – 0 – 0) – He was an absolute enforcer vs the run. Official stats put him at 3 TFL today, but I counted 4. His infectious energy, and physicality have been sorely missing from this unit since LB Nakobe Dean was allowed to leave. It was wonderful to see again.
Game goat: Offensive Line Coach Chris Kuper – What can you say? Allowing 7 sacks and not being able to generate 30 rushing yards, is simply unacceptable. I don’t know what Kuper is telling these linemen, but I want it to stop.
I keep coming back to how terrible this Offensive Line has been since Week One. Just two years ago, this Line was the gold standard in the NFL. Now despite sixty percent of it still being here, nobody bothers to communicate, no one can sustain blocks, and no one’s poor play gets them benched.
It’s that last part that really concerns me. Nobody is being sat down, regardless of how often our players are hit in the backfield. It occurs to me, if during film study shows these guys are taking the assignments they are coached to, the O-line coach can’t take issue with what they are doing. This is probably why no one is getting any better, and why RT Markel Bell, actually seems to be getting worse. Something has to change.
On The Whole:
The Defense gave us enough of a chance to win this game, and even the Special Teams tried to chip in with a couple of really big moments (LS Rocco Underwood recovering a muffed punt and P Braden Mann pinning the giants at the five, with a 85 yard punt).
P Braden Mann absolutely launches that pig!
It was the Offense that truly let the team down. I mean, on 4th an 1, who comes out in the Shotgun and hands the ball off to RB nursing a thigh injury?! Should I mention RB Elijah Mitchell (3 – 6 – 2.0 – 0 – 0) having less situational awareness than every fan in the stands? We do not have the NFL’s best and brightest up in that booth.
Something has to change.
