MONDAY during a radio show, in an interview via telephone, 49ers WR Deebo Samuels, hung up on the show’s host. After the Eagles 31 – 7 pummeling of the 9ers in the NFC Championship game, Samuels said the 49ers would have beaten the Eagles by double digits, if QB Brock Purdy was healthy. The host asked about those comments, and Samuels talked some shit about our next match-up, then hung up.
Deebo after hanging up.
Samuels isn’t the only 9er to still be running his mouth after the curb-stomping that we delivered; but it’s his comments that I’m focusing on right now.
In the meantime, two things (not Four).
First, the 49ers DID have a healthy Brock Purdy. The Eagles MADE him unhealthy. Then we proceeded to “unhealthy” their back-up. That was less about us hurting their QB’s, and totally about our front seven absolutely shitting on their pass protection. We shit on their coach’s protection scheme. We shit on their communication. We shit on their individual players strengths and abilities.
So Deebo can miss us with that “healthy Purdy” nonsense. He had one.
Second, Deebolita saying “Just wait until Week 13” was the best compliment an obsessive fan could have ever given the Eagles, and I want to thank him for it.
Training camp hasn’t even started yet, and he’s already equating our Week 13 match-up, with the NFC Championship game that he lost. So for him, this is huge. He’s clearly been chewing on that loss, since January 29th. Meanwhile, we won’t see him again until December 3rd. That’ll be 305 days, of him obsessing. YUM!
Given how he’s talked about us all off-season (longer for him than for us), all indications are that he NEEDS that game psychologically. A loss, especially a close one, could send him spiraling out. And maybe not just him, but many of his teammates as well.
Kyle Schwarber barrels a Schwarbomb.
I’m already on record as predicting a close loss to them during the season, before we full-blown barrel them in the playoffs, and pack 53 men onto a plane, all practically on suicide watch, then yeetin’ that bitch to the far side of the nation. That being said, I want both games. I just don’t know if the Eagles will be as desperate for the regular season one, as the 9ers already are.
In a weird way, I kind of envy them. The rest of us have to hope that our team makes it to the Super Bowl on February 11th. The 49ers are already scheduled to play theirs on December 3rd.
While any idiot can say “Hey let’s sign every high-priced Free Agent on the market”. THE 12 focuses on what we can do with what we already have, to fix or improve our team.
ONE person caused us to lose the Super Bowl. It wasn’t the fumble by QB Jalen Hurts. It wasn’t RB Miles Sanders. It wasn’t even the Defense giving up 31 points. The reason we lost the Super Bowl, was Greg Delimitros, V.P. of Equipment Management.
If you recall, the field at State Farm Stadium was a soggy, slippery mess. As a result, our Defense with it’s voracious pass rush, couldn’t get any pressure on the QB. Eagles OLB Haason Reddickcouldn’t run down QB Patrick Mahomes, despite Mahomes playing with a gimpy ankle. Yet no one discusses that! People just shrugged and moved on.
Folks! A Defense that had given up just 14 points in the playoffs, and just 50 combined in it’s last four games, suddenly coughed up 31. All because we couldn’t do proper CLEAT MANAGEMENT. Half of the Eagles team didn’t get to play it’s game that day, due to a simple equipment problem. You have no idea how much this eats at me.
The announcers talked about both teams slipping early in the game. You could see both teams discussing it at points. However, it was the Chiefs who did a superior job of managing the field conditions, and it was enough to give them a 3 point victory. THREE POINTS!
They say it’s a poor workman who blames his tools. I agree with that. Understand, it’s not our cleats I’m blaming. I’m blaming Greg Delimitrios for not being able to manage the problem, and make the proper adjustment. I’m blaming the workman, not the tools.
He needs to get his shit together this year. You would have thought that rainy, sloppy Jacksonville game would have been a great lesson, well prior to the Super Bowl. However, you have to be paying attention to learn. You have to be dialed in. Seems like Greg wasn’t. Even if Greg doesn’t learn, I have. Prior to the playoffs, I WILL be on the call-in shows, putting this out there.
While any idiot can say “Hey let’s sign every high-priced Free Agent on the market”. THE 12 focuses on what we can do with what we already have, to fix or improve our team.
WE’RE all itching to see DT’s Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter on the field at the same time. That however, can only happen if either DT Fletcher Cox is sitting, or has been flexed outside to LDE. Actually, the move to End would help out not only Cox, but the entire Defense. It would make a second Super Bowl appearance much easier to pull off.
Let’s get into why.
The Eagles featured pass rusher is LOLB/LDE Haason Reddick. When he plays LOLB, he’s outside of the LDE, and when he rushes from LOLB, so does the DE on that side. That’s usually as either part of a five man rush; OR a four man, where the RDE drops into shallow zone, with the ROLB and MLB shifting to their left, to balance out the underneath coverage.
That’s all simple principle. You saw it here last year, and you’ll see it every year, on every team, which has a dominant pass rusher at OLB. Can’t be avoided. But scheme isn’t the issue. Every team sees this coming, and nobody is ever caught off-guard by it. Ever.
Fletcher Cox may not be the 2018 version of Fletcher Cox, but moving him (primarily)to DE (with Reddick at OLB), puts Cox in a position where he can’t really ever see a double-team. Instead he gets to engage just the outer edge of a RG, because the RT has to create a wider gap to engage Reddick.
So wait! Doesn’t that leave Jordan Davis one-on-one with a Center? Because opponents can’t use their LG to help out on Davis, since that LG has Carter, right? Which leaves RDE Josh Sweatdancing alone with the LT.
So opponents can’t double-team anyone on our line. The only way to do it, would be to keep a TE or a RB, as blocking help. That gives our LB’s and Secondary fewer people to cover. Of course the Achilles Heel of this, is when our Front Five gets tired, right?
At which point we roll in LOLB Nolan Smith, LDE Brandon Graham, LDT Kentavius Street, RDT Milton Williams, and RDE Derek Barnett. Folks, there is no breather for opposing offensive lines. Imagine, after a few downs fighting against Fletcher Cox, the guy who lines up across from you now, is a fresh Brandon Graham. Did you catch a break? No. You didn’t.
Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox. FEASTING.
Eagles fans, we don’t have to add anybody to do this. We already have these guys! It’s just a matter of how we (LOL, I said Howie) deploy them. Did I mention that we have guys like DE Janarius Robinson and (rookie) DTMoro Ojomo, waiting in the wings?
So yeah. Let’s move Cox mostly to DE, making the season easier on both him and the team, on our way to Paradise, Nevada on February 11th, where we will finish the job this time.
While any idiot can say “Hey let’s sign every high-priced Free Agent on the market”. THE 12 focuses on what we can do with what we already have, to fix or improve our team.
IMAGINE the monster we could create, if someone could teach DT Jordan Davis, Reggie White’s Hump Move.
Lot’s of players have used some version of the Hump, but not many have been able to use White’s version of it. Not many could have. For example, J.J. Wattflat out said he couldn’t replicate it. Neither could Aaron Donald who insteadbuilt his career on the “Bull Snatch”.
These two have been premier rushers over this last decade. They however lacked the tools to replicate White’s move, but Jordan Davis has those tools. Yes, I just said that Davis has tools that Watt and Donald lack. More to the point, those tools could elevate him to the level of dominance that Reggie White, and Jerome Brownproduced.
In football, leverage is king, if you can get under your opponent, you’ll have an easier time of controlling him, and not being controlled by him.
The Hump takes advantage of this, by starting low and forklifting the opponent not just upward, but backward. It’s the Chinese finger trap of football moves. The further up you go, the further back you go, and the further back, the further up.
The crazy part is, there is no “figuring it out”, because it’s not a trick. It’s just how physics work on Earth. As long as the game is taking place on Earth, White’s Hump Move will work for a player who has the tools to pull it off. Period. Debate over. So what are these tools?
Reggie White played DE at 292 to 305 pounds. Keep in mind, this was at the dawn of the 300 pound offensive lineman. Back then Offensive Tackle John “Jumbo” Elliott was considered huge at 305 pounds. The Cardinals Luis Sharpe played OT at 267. The Steelers Tunch Ilkin at 265. The Rams Jackie Slater at 287. The Bengals Anthony Munoz at 287. All of these guys were Pro Bowlers. The last two are Hall of Famers.
White was country strong, but he was also flat-out bigger, than the men that lined up across from him. Think about how today OT’s are generally over 320 pounds, and DE’s are nearly always under 270. Watt played under 290, and Donald plays the interior at just 280. They were never physically set up for doing what Reggie did.
Jordan Davis on the other hand…
Jordan possesses the sort of natural strength that you can’t pick up in a weight room. He doesn’t have workout warrior strength, it’s just good ol’ fashioned see-that-there-bring-it-here type strength. That farmhand strength. Reggie had that. At 336 (listed) pounds, Jordan is also bigger than a number of the G’s he’s going to match-up with.
Now come the details. The context. These are easy to miss parts that you come here for, that other writers don’t have the insight to give you. Damn I’m humble!
On passes, the OT’s take two steps back, and the Guards take one. This forms the pocket that the QB is supposed to sit in. Reggie played on the end vs opponents taking two steps. Jordan will be playing in the middle, over guys taking one step, with a QB just behind them. Jordan will start out closer to the QB than Reggie usually did. (Though sometimes Reggie also lined-up inside).
Reggie also faced double and triple-team blocking most of the time. That’s easier to do on the edge, because coaches can help an OT with a TE and/or a RB. That’s harder to do in the middle of the offensive line without obstructing the QB’s view of the field.
Jordan would have to be be doubled with a G/C combo, which would leave DT Jalen Carterone-on-one. Keep in mind, Jordan plays beside someone who is expected to be better than him. Carter is the more natural pass rusher, and the one seen more as a generational talent. So blocking Jordan will not be the priority.
For those remember this Defense
imagine if back in 1991 our defensive interior consisted of Brown, and a version of White that was schematically nearly impossible to double-team. This is what I’m proposing here.
For those who have been fans for fifteen years or fewer, even if Davis doesn’t learn the Hump Move, the interior of the Eagles defense will likely be unlike anything you’ve ever rooted for. I don’t want to oversell it, but you should be very excited.
If Jordan does learn the Hump, it will essentially be the White version. If that happens, you will see something that for years has sounded like mythology to most of you, but I assure you it happened. NFL records will confirm it. That 1991 Eagles Defense gave up 150.8 passing yards per game. (That’s 37 fewer than the 2000 Ravens.)
While any idiot can say “Hey let’s sign every high-priced Free Agent on the market”. THE 12 focuses on what we can do with what we already have, to fix or improve our team.
CATCHES across our middle need to come with a high price-tag. Opposing players need to understand that Crosses, Drags, Slants, Deep-Ins, etc, all mean pain and possible trips to the blue tent. I’m not saying we should deliberately injure opponents. I’m saying that diving into the middle of our shark tank, should naturally result in bites.
While I wrote this key well before the Draft this year, I’m glad to see that our new Defensive Co-ordinator Sean Desai, believes in this, as well. He’s telling the players that he wants them to be violent. This was echoed by S Reed Blankenship“…We want to be violent, and so that’s our top goal right now.”
Some fans may hate to see me and an Eagles coach advocating for more violence, but violence is the foundation that American football is built on. Anyone who thinks it’s the excitement of throwing the ball, please explain the Pro Bowl’s declining ratings over the last decade. This year’s Flag Football edition drew 6.28 million viewers. According to the NFL, in 2022 average viewership for a game, was 18.5 million.
Proving that most Football fans aren’t interested in a glorified game of catch.
Though many are trying to legislate the violence out of the sport, they’ll never actually manage it. What they’ll do instead, is succeed in killing the NFL, while elevating some other league, that will give football fans the vicious hits, and crushing blocks that we crave. After all, every football league throws long passes. But not all of them hit.
Our DC wants us to hit.
When it comes to defense I’m not a fan of (BBDB) “bend but don’t break” concepts. That’s the practice of allowing teams to move the ball, then tightening up in the red zone. Remember how frustrating that was under Jonathan Gannon? And Jim Schwartz with those big cushions that allowed so many easy completions? And Bill Davis? And Juan Castillo? And Sean McDermott?
Buddy.
I’m more a fan of the Buddy Ryan/Bud Carsonphilosophy of defending every blade of grass on the field. When offensive players know that every footstep has a price, they tread a little lighter. They’re less brave about where they go.
(NOTE: Jim Johnson was a hybrid of BBDB and every blade, which is why he tinkered constantly throughout games. Jim Johnson “not making adjustments” never happened, he was the anti-Gannon.)
Against Buddy, a receiver running a Dig route had to catch a ball with his back to eitherWes Hopkins or Andre Waters. He had to focus on securing the ball while hearing those footsteps thudding against Vet Stadium’s knee-eating turf, getting faster and closer. As a result, the Eagles Defense garnered many incompletions, interceptions, and forced fumbles.
The 1990 Eagles had the Body Bag game, where NINE Redskins were knocked out of the game. The 1991 Eagles Defense gave up 150.8 passing yards per game, much of it predicated on fear. Because of 1990, our 1991 opponents knew, the middle was just somewhere you didn’t wander. The price tags were astronomical in that neighborhood.
Desai went on to say “Our philosophy is we’ve got to impact them physically and mentally. One of them is not going to be good enough. We need both, and we both on every single play”. No bend or break here, folks!
So let’s get that no-fly zone going across the middle.
While any idiot can say “Hey let’s sign every high-priced Free Agent on the market”. THE 12 focuses on what we can do with what we already have, to fix or improve our team.
WEAPONS are only effective if you use them correctly. This offseason, the Eagles re-signed CB James Bradberryfor 38M$ over three years; and restructured CBDarius Slay for 42M$ over three years. That’s 80M$ worth of CB over the next three years. So we’d better be about the business of using them correctly.
Putting them on cushions, backing them off five yards or more, is not the way to go. It prevents a CB from being burned right off the line of scrimmage, but if you have the sort of CB’s who can be beaten like that, you DON’T pay them 80 mil over three years. Capiche?
The best use of these guys is in aggressive Man-Press coverage. They should be in a receiver’s face, at the line of scrimmage. This takes away easy Slant routes; discourages WR Screens; flattens the blocking angle against the run; and lets the CB redirect the route, to throw off the timing of rhythm based passing games.
It also makes opposing QB’s hold the ball for a second or two longer. That would allow the pass rush to get home, and suffocate drives in their infancy. Or even better, lead directly to turnovers. That however won’t happen if opposing QB’s can just 1-2-3-FIRE!, 1-2-3-FIRE! We need to take that option off the board, immediately.
That’s not saying we shouldn’t mix up the coverage, and do some cushion work here and there. I’m saying it should be highly irregular. Teams should be almost confused when we give them a look that seems like an easy completion. Any time it looks like we’ve eased up, they should be mistrustful of the option we’re presenting them. They should immediately feel fucked with.
When in Man-Press, we should default to Cover Two on the back end. That way when a CB is beaten early, and the ball is quickly zipped to an opposing receiver, as that ball gets to him, there’s also a Safety arriving with just the absolute worst of intentions. What kind of hit are we talking? An absolutely FINE one, if you take my meaning.
Receivers should be jostled and frustrated, when trying to run routes, and brutalized when they do catch a ball. In the end, they should dread the idea of playing the Eagles. But first we gotta turn up the heat.
While any idiot can say “Hey let’s sign every high-priced Free Agent on the market”. THE 12 focuses on what we can do with what we already have, to fix or improve our team.
SOMETHING has to change, because in football, damage is cumulative. Which is why we’ve seen some players
get old all of a sudden. In two seasons as the Eagles starter, QB Jalen Hurts has played 30 games and run the ball 304 times. That’s an average of 10 times per game. Hurts is just 24. We don’t need him getting old at 26 or 27. So we have to stop running him 10 times per game.
To the Eagles credit, they’ve brought in an Offensive Co-ordinator in Brian Johnson, who is letting the world know, that Hurts will be throwing to his RB’s more. I love this. It’s best NOT to keep that new wrinkle a secret, because it tells opposing coaches, that now they can’t blitz Hurts without paying a stiff price. Fewer blitz attempts mean fewer hits on his body.
Also, when the coverage loosens underneath, it just makes Hurts scramble runs easier for him to get into, with more room to slide. Or dive head-first, as safely as football allows. The smart move would be (excluding QB Sneaks), limiting the OC to calling 3 Hurts runs per game.
Again, that’s called runs, not scrambles or Sneaks. Getting more short passes to RB’s should really cut into his scrambling. Hurts had 165 rushing attempts last year. That’s 11 carries per game. Getting that number down to 5 per game, would mean 85 for a whole season. And wouldn’t it be nice to see him play a whole season?
In prior seasons under OC Shane Steichen, pushing the ball downfield was the emphasis. So those RB Screens that RB Boston Scott was killer at, under Doug Pederson, didn’t get called. Scott saw just 6 targets last year. RB Kenneth Gainwell, who saw 50 targets as a rookie, saw just 29 last year.
While the team de-emphasizing passing to RB’s didn’t hurt our climb to the Super Bowl, overusing Hurts as the primary short yardage alternative to a hand-off, might stop us from going back any time soon.
The idea isn’t to handcuff him, like Rich Kotite wanted to do with Randall Cunningham. Nor do we want Hurts to avoid running, like Donovan McNabb(tried to do). We just need to limit how many high-speed, free shots we give defenses, on our QB. Including more checkdowns will help out with that.
So let’s keep it to 3 called runs per game. Circumstances permitting.
DRAFT reviews usually come out immediately after the event. Everyone is in such a race to get it to you first, that they rarely ever give it to you good. Not me. I like to take my time and go deeper. Really explore all those places that others tend to ignore. I want to make sure that you’re satisfied. (And accurately informed)
First off, General Manager Howie Roseman is on another level. On the surface, this Draft haul is so amazing, that it’s easy to want to jump to the end of the season, and start spouting a bunch of expectations; but we really need to pump the brakes. Me included.
Now let’s get into it.
Round 1 (9th overall): DT Jalen Carter– We started with the 10th overall pick, but Howie made a deal that moved us up one spot, to take a player widely said to be the most talented player in the entire draft. Some teams were concerned about character issues, but since when did the Eagles make a habit of taking head cases? So I have to trust their judgment on this one.
DT Jalen Carter celebrates his sack by raising the QB into the air.
As an athlete, Carter is explosive, and powerful. He’s an interior penetrator and disruptor, who also can stand a blocker up at the point of attack, not allowing a hole for the run. Better still, from what I watched of him, he keeps a QB’s feet chopping. That means the QB’s normal throwing platform, is compromised.
It’d be a mistake to judge Carters rookie season by sacks and tackles. Those numbers can’t tell the true tale of his value. What Carter does best, is make offenses run off-schedule. He has the ability to make opponents a lesser version of themselves. Wreck a blocking scheme. Make the QB throw off-platform. There’s no stat for those things, but watch how often you’ll see him do it. Pick Grade: A+
Round 1 (30th overall): LB Nolan Smith – His highlights make him seem like a DE and pass rusher, but he only had 12.5 sacks over 4 years at Georgia. Smith is an active, high-motor player, who was used more like an x-factor than a player with a dedicated role. Watching him vs Clemson, a few things jump off the screen.
The first thing I noticed was the size mismatch. He’s only 238 pounds, but Georgia liked to deploy him as a DE/Edge player too often. If the Eagles don’t make this mistake, Smith should be just fine. The next thing you notice is his speed. The guy is blur off the line, and can run with just about any RB or TE.
Georgia used him as more as a Edge player, but the Eagles are going to have to transition him into a bonafide OLB. While he’s shown an ability to set an edge and corral RB’s, as well as rush the QB; he’s also displayed the speed and movement skills to handle coverage in zone and shallow man. So he has the tools to make the adjustment. Pick Grade: A
Round 2 (65th overall): OT Tyler Steen– There is talk of moving him inside to RG, but the move will likely not suit him well. Steen isn’t a lunch pail sort of guy. He had a round 3 or 4 estimate on him, but we reached and grabbed him in the second. From what I’ve seen, there’s no way he should have been drafted at all.
Watching him in the Alabama/Tennessee game, hurt me to my heart. There was no aggression in his game. He fell off of blocks constantly; lunged and ended up on the ground a lot; and his hand usage is atrocious. In the game vs Texas, he looked like outright trash. Finishing no blocks, and watching entirely too much football.
Not an entirely accurate statement, but you get the idea.
Sometimes teams will take a diamond in the rough, because he’s extremely explosive; or has the nimble feet of Ginger Rogers; or is freakishly strong, or has other in-born traits that can’t be taught. That said, I honestly don’t see what the Eagles will try to build off of with this kid. Then again, I’m not on a coaching staff. Pick Grade: F
Round 3 (66th overall): S Sydney Brown – Word is, that he’s an in the box thumper. (I used to have a pet rabbit named Thumper, so this term always tickles me when it’s used in football).
However, watching video of him vs Wyoming, was underwhelming. It shows him watching a lot of football, when others are swarming to the ball, as well as missing tackles.
I usually don’t watch highlight vids, but even his highlight reels don’t back up the hype of him being a hitter. Maybe there’s a Special Teamer here, but I don’t see much else. Pick Grade: D
Round 4 (105th overall): CB Kelee Ringo – Watching him against Oregon, it was hard not to like the potential that was clearly on display. Rarely do I fall in love with measurables, but 6’2, 207, running a 4.36?! Yet my favorite part was watching how when he played man-press, the QB ignored his half of the field.
His tackling could be better, and his mirroring needs polish, but these things are what coaches are paid to improve. This kid has excellent tools, and will spend the next three years learning from CB’s Darius Slayand James Bradberry. Pick Grade: A
Round 6 (188th overall): QB Tanner McKee – Watching bis game against Arizona State made me wonder why the Eagles spent a pick on him. He showed zero pocket awareness, happy feet in the pocket, and seemingly has no idea what a “touch pass” is. Seriously, he strong-armed every throw on a straight, flat line.
Initially when I saw him as a pick, I figured maybe he’d compete with QB Ian Bookfor the third string. After seeing him play, he seems like just a camp arm. Essentially a salaried jugs machine. Pick Grade: D
Round 7 (249th overall): DT Moro Ojomo– Video against Alabama is always quality study material, and that’s what we have here. Ojomo is active inside, but doesn’t rush with much of a plan. So he can muddle a blocking scheme, but he runs himself out of plays just as often.
He looks like a solid rotation piece. They type who can come in later in the game, vs a tired o-line, and rely on raw strength to shine for a possession or two. Pick Grade: B
While the trade for native Philadelphian RB D’Andre Swift happened during the Draft, it’s not a pick, so it won’t be graded. It was also further demonstrated proof that the Eagles don’t draft RB’s in the first round. (At least not under this GM.) Fans clamored for RB Bijan Robinson, but I said we wouldn’t go that route, and I even told you why. I wanted two defensive lineman and that’s what we took.
Notable Post-Draft signings:
WR Joseph Ngata – 6’3 217, not a burner, but makes tough grabs in traffic, as well as YAC.
CB Mehki Garner– 6’2, 212, needs to be moved to S/NCB.
I know other sites and publications gave the Eagles (and nearly everyone else) A-pluses, A’s and B’s, but they’re grading on curve so gentle, you’d think they were a public school teacher on probation.
On the whole, after taking a deeper look than the national media could afford to, for every team, I’d give our Draft a C+. While we hit some home runs here, three of four picks just don’t look like they’ll fit here. Reaching for one of them just makes that pick hurt worse.
LAST year your Eagles finished 14 – 3 overall, 4 – 2 against the division, first place in the NFC East, Top Seed in the Conference, and lost the Super Bowl by a field goal. As is the case with successful teams, free agency has plucked a few feathers from the roster, but General Manager Howie Roseman has contained that spill. We’ve also had some coaching defections, but those may not prove as painful as the national media likes to think.
But enough chin wagging! Let’s look at how the Eagles 2023 roster looks 24 hours or so, before the NFL Draft.
OFFENSE
QB:Jalen Hurts is the class of this division, but that doesn’t mean he still doesn’t have a ton to prove. For many he answered the question of “Can he be a Franchise QB?”, by his play in 2022, and taking the Eagles to the Super Bowl. If one near MVP season, and a Super Bowl were enough, Carson Wentz would get more love than he does from this fan base. Fair being fair, Hurts has to have more than one great year, before we’re using the term “elite”.
Still, Hurts is the best in this division. His arm strength and accuracy are on par with Prescott, but Hurts forces fewer throws into underneath coverage. He’s also more mobile, and practically unstoppable with the QB Sneak (that several teams sought to outlaw). The measure failed, and now teams are pouting and vowing to imitate what they just sought to eliminate. It truly is an Eddie Murphy/Dexter St. Jacques moment, for Hurts. (Check it out. And you’re welcome.)
That said, in two seasons as the starter, Hurts has missed games in both, just as a natural consequence of how the coaching staff uses him. So it’s imperative to get the right back-up. Which is where Marcus Mariotacomes in. He’s a better scheme fit than Gardner Minshew was last season, as mobility is part of Mariota’s game.
With Mariota as the back-up, it means the RPO threat never leaves the field. This is a point that the Eagles silently hammered home, by adding Ian Book as the third stringer. (Seriously, YouTube some video of this kid in college. The Eagles scouting department seriously deserves some sort of award. (+)
RB: Gone are the 1,200 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns of Miles Sanders. Taking up the mantle (so far) is KennethGainwell. He’s fine as a utility player, but he doesn’t break tackles, run creatively, or have “take it to the house” type speed. In fact, in 225 touches (regular and postseason), he has exactly one play for 30 yards or more. Behind him is utility player Boston Scott, who is a great utility player, but who lacks the same traits that Gainwell lacks.
Injury-prone Rashaad Penny signed an heavily incentivized contract, in what is likely a last ditch attempt to have a career. When Penny is healthy, he’s explosive and powerful. He’s a physical runner who can also accelerate away from defenders; but out of the 82 games he’s been under contract for, he’s only suited up for 42 of them, with just 11 starts.
Last, and probably still least, is Trey Sermon. Sermon logged 2 carries last year for 19 yards (9.5 ypc.) so of course the logical place for him was wasting away on the Practice Squad last year. There are no clear answers here, besides the back-by-committee approach, which telegraphs an offense’s intent. (-)
WR:
At 230 pounds, A.J. Brown is the size of an elephant and runs like a deer. He caught for 1,496 yards and 11 scores, often seeming to do so at will, from anywhere, regardless of who was how close to his body. (Like in this picture.) Oh yeah! And his best friend in the world, just so happens to be his QB. And last year was their first season on the same team. And now they get to refine their connection.
If that sounds like a nightmare, consider this: If you try to double Brown, you’re just leaving room for DeVonta Smith, who is Brown’s polar opposite. Smith is a precise route runner, who capitalizes on the holes that secondaries leave when trying to contain an explosive athlete like Brown. Smith also has the more reliable hands of the two, and his grabs quietly eat up clock.
If Brown is an uppercut from Mike Tyson; then Smith is a chloroformed rag in a gloved hand, from your backseat, in a deserted parking lot. Either way, you’re going to sleeeep. Quickly. The only time that one of these guys doesn’t terrorize a secondary, is when both of them are doing it.
The fall-off after that is steep. Quez Watkins is blazingly fast, but his hands are so very suspect. He literally handed two turnovers to Dallas last year, during a 34 – 40 loss (and he’s mad that we’re still mad about that). Like Watkins, Devon Allen also sports 4.3 speed, but spent 2022 on the Practice Squad. Former Falcon Olamide Zaccheaus was just signed and he also has the speed to make house calls.
Britain Coveyspent 2022 being a very lackluster return man, and may not see final cuts this season. Tyrie Clevelandwas added to the roster from Denver, and it remains to be seen why Philadelphia did so. Unless it has to do with his college career, where he showed he could make a living, deep down the middle, as a 6’2 target with really good (not great) 4.46 speed.
Interestingly, Greg Ward is still on the Eagles roster. Ward is a decent, not great receiver, but he’s an awesome utility player. In just 40 games played, he’s caught 10 TD’s, and has some PR experience. He’s works well in the red zone; and having been a running QB in college, innately gets where he needs to be on a scramble drill. Lot of unusual tools in that box, and he’s only 28. Which may be why Zach Pascal was (surprisingly), allowed to walk. (+)
TE:Dallas Goedertis the best player at this position in the division. He is both a very good receiver, and a solid blocker. Last year he posted 702 yards and a catch rate of 79.7 percent. He did however, miss 5 games. The best ability is availability, and Goedert hasn’t played a complete season since 2018.
Jack Stoll is virtually an offensive lineman. He doesn’t have the size at just 247 pounds, but the Eagles potent run game wouldn’t be the same without him. Stoll won’t scare anyone as a receiver, but he catches what he’s thrown (78.6%). Third on the list is Grant Calcaterra. Same dimensions as Stoll, but polar opposite as a player. Catches well, but his blocking needs work.
Fact is, the Eagles need to address the lack of depth here. Goedert misses time. Period. The team needs a contingency plan for when (not if), that happens again. (+)
OT: Last year only six QB’s were sacked more than Jalen Hurts. Given that he missed two games, that’s an even more alarming stat. Of the 38 sacks allowed, LT Jordan Mialata surrendered 6.5 of them. He’s a mauling run blocker, but keeping the QB upright is the most important part of a LT’s job.
For the second season in a row, RT Lane Johnson didn’t allow a sack, and drew just three flags all season. Offensive linemen don’t get credit for yards gained, but Johnson is the best at not costing his team yards. There will a bust of him Canton, Ohio someday.
Jack Driscollcan play everywhere on the line, except the pivot. He’s filled in ably in Lane’s absence, but is ultimately better kicked inside, because he has clear issues with speed on the edge. Roderick Johnson andFred Johnson are also on the roster. (+)
G: While LG Landon Dickerson only surrendered half a sack last year, he was penalized 13 times for 89 yards. That’s enough yardage to wipe out a touchdown drive. He has to improve in that department. On the other hand, the guy is a flat-out mauler both in pass protection and especially when blocking for the run.
Sua Opeta has been a spot starter and has done some mop-up duty as an Eagle, but now he may have the inside track on the starting gig vacated by Isaac Seumalo. Tyrese Robinsonis the third player at this position. The playing is strong, but there isn’t a clear second starter. (-)
C: Future Hall Of Famer Jason Kelce returns for another run at the Lombardi. Behind him is a successor that the Eagles drafted, with Kelce’s help in scouting. That successor is Cam “Beef” Jurgens. With Kelce’s retirement being perhaps 17 games away, the Eagles want to get Jurgens feet wet soon, so there’s talk of playing him at Guard in 2023. Cameron Tom is a decent insurance policy. (+)
In A Nutshell: This Offense has no holes, but it does have cracks in the foundation. With the RB’s currently on the roster, the run game won’t scare anyone, but it’ll be functional. As long as it is, the play-action, and RPO stuff, still makes this one of the most explosive teams in the entire league.(+)
DEFENSE
DE:Josh Sweat notched a career-high 11 of the Eagles 70 sacks, returned an interception for a touchdown, and led the team with 15 tackles for loss. Brandon Grahamat the age of 34, came back from an Achilles tendon tear, to post a career-high 11 sacks, despite only starting one game. Tarron Jacksonand Matt Leo are also on the roster. Expect the Eagles to address this position early in the Draft. (+)
DT:Fletcher Cox started every game and turned in his best season since 2018, posting 43 tackles, 7 for losses, and 7 sacks. He returns at age 32 in what may be his final as an Eagle, largely to be a mentor. Jordan Davis blew no one away with his rookie stats (18 tackles, 1 for loss). This season more will expected as he’s no longer behind Javon Hargrave.
Milton Williams is more of a situational player, who despite not starting, posted 36 tackles with 9 for losses, as well as 4 sacks, He can also be moved to End. Marvin Wilson and Kentavius Streetare more penetrators than run pluggers. It looks as if these reserves are built with an eye towards pass rush, with little concern for trench warfare.(+)
OLB:Haason Reddick posted 49 tackles (11 TFL) and led the team with a career-high 16 sacks. Nicholas Morrow comes over from the Bears, presumably to fill the coverage role vacated by Kyzir White. Patrick Johnson splits his time between here and at DE. He influences lots of plays, but seldom makes one.
Kyron Johnson and Davion Taylormay not make it to final cuts this season. Taylor was drafted as a project, but the Eagles haven’t put the time in. They might be about to lose a gem.(+)
MLB/ILB: With the departure of T.J.Edwards, Nakobe Dean will become the eye of the storm, in Philadelphia. More instinctual and a better athlete than Edwards, this move is expected to be an upgrade. That however, hasn’t been seen yet. Shaun Bradleyand Christian Elliss are the reserves, but since Edwards rarely missed a down, they don’t have a ton of experience. (-)
S:
Undrafted rookie Reed Blankenship was forced into 4 starts last year, and played better than anyone had a right to expect. He’s probably going to have to compete for a starting job in 2023, but his competition won’t have an easy contest. He has more aggression than the departed Marcus Epps, and brings his arms to his tackles.
When the Eagles decided not to overpay Chauncey Gardner, they opted to bring in Terrell Edmunds. Edmunds is an in the box thumper, but his coverage is better than decent. So he’s an excellent pick-up, and possibly an upgrade over last year. K’Von Wallace and Justin Evans are on the roster for now, but the Draft is in a couple of days. So we’ll see. (+)
CB:Darius Slayturned in 14 passes defensed and 3 interceptions. His 58% completion rate was a little high, but not alarming. On the other side isJames Bradberry with 17 passes defensed, and 3 picks with a 57% completion rate, in 2022. There are no free or easy meals throwing against these guys.
Avonte Maddox is a capable Nickel, but he’s missing more and more time with injuries. You have to wonder if this is why the Eagles added Greedy Williams. Williams was a second round flame-out in Cleveland. But c’mon, it was Cleveland. So the Eagles are willing to take a flier on him.
Josiah Scott had a rough 2022. He had 2 interceptions, but he also allowed 68.8% completion rate. Zech MacPhearson is a fourth rounder who acquits himself nicely, but the bench holds a strong grip on those without Draft pedigree. Josh Jobe and Mario Goodrichare longshots to make a deep roster. (+)
In A Nutshell: Every defensive lineman on this team can be described as ‘disruptive’. Every. Single. One. Point to the other team in the NFL that can say that. This unit poisons offenses at the root, by destroying blocking concepts. If you can’t block, you can’t play. Anyone expecting the Eagles Defense to take a major step back, because of a couple free agent defections, can’t see the forest because of the trees. (+)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K/P: Kicker Jake Elliottdidn’t attempt many Field Goals in 2022. He was 20/23 (87%) 6/8 from 40+, and 51/53 (95.4%) on extra points. Yes. 53 attempts. The Eagles were a scoring machine. Those 53 attempted XP’s, doesn’t mention how often they went for two. Elliott had a career-high 63 touchbacks on 91 kickoffs (69.2%). (+)
Arryn Siposs was a sore spot lat year. A punt is the first play on defense. It sets the Defense up with a good or a bad situation. So his 45.6 yard per punt average and his 39.6 yard net, are just too far apart. Additionally, 20 of his 44 boots (45.4%) were returned for an 8.0 yard average. All of that needs to change.(-)
In A Nutshell: Elliott isn’t needed much, but when he is, he’s a great bet. I wouldn’t call him a sure thing and risk a paycheck on him! But I could wager a pineapple without batting an eye. Our punting game however, didn’t do much to help this team in 2022. This unit is more good than bad, but when it’s bad, it’s fish rotting in a nightstand bad.(+)
BOTTOM LINE: Eagles fans are told not to expect 14 – 3 again. Fine. Keep it. Especially with 15 – 2, 16 – 1, and 17 – 0 still out there. Realistically, as it stands, this is probably an 11 or 12 win team. This team can score with ANYBODY, while making it harder to score for everybody. It’ll be interesting to see what happens to this roster in the next 48 hours.
LAST year the Cowboys went 12 – 5 overall, and 4 – 2 against the division, to finish second in the NFC East. They utterly rolled over the Buccaneers in the Wild Card round, but then vs San Francisco, couldn’t get the engine of their offense to “turnover”. It would also mark the last game as a Cowboy, for C Ezekiel Elliott. In the aftermath, head coach Mike McCarthy, fired offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and took over the O.C. job, himself.
For the first time in a long time, there’s real interest, not just hype, about the Cowboys. People, and Cowboys fans, are curious about what happens next. So lets take a gander at the 2023 Pre-Draft Cowboys.
OFFENSE
QB: People will keep mentioning that Dak Prescott led the NFL with 15 interceptions in just twelve games, last year. Ignore it. It’s an overblown stat. John Elway, Dan Marino, Brett Favre, Warren Moon, Peyton Manning, have all surpassed 15 picks PLENTY of times. Vinny Testaverde played 20 years, and one year he threw 35 picks vs 13 TD’s. What matters isn’t how many picks you throw, but when you throw them. Like Prescott’s game winner vs Jacksonville.
Prescott has never been a great passer, but his delivery skills (read + velocity + accuracy) are still (as a combination) better than most. Add to that, his comfort in his system, and it only magnifies his ability to be effective. He is not a top 10 passer and he’s no longer dynamic, but he’s very experienced and still in his prime. It would be a mistake to underestimate him.
Preseason Hall of Famer, Cooper Rush led the team to a 5 and oh wait… 4 – 1 record last year during Prescott’s absence. Be it his completion percentage of 58, or his 5 TD’s vs 3 picks, the Cowboys organization brought him back for two more years. Will Grier has 52 career attempts and 4 interceptions vs no scores. Not a sexy group, but solid. (+)
RB: Gone is Ezekiel Elliott. Currently the head of the Cowboys running attack is Tony Pollard. Pollard, who’s game is speed and explosiveness, is not yet healed from a broken ankle suffered in the playoffs, and the subsequent Tightrope surgery that followed it.
Hedging their bets, just in case Pollard isn’t himself, Ronald Jones was added to the team. Jones is a decent player who can get production if he sees touches, but he’s not special. Rounding out the list is Malik Davis, yet another 6 foot, 205-ish pound RB.
With the way that Dallas historically likes to use this position (heavy use, between the Tackles, just a handful of plays designed), this team is either about to go in a new direction, or find out they’re incompetent on offense. (-)
WR:
At first glance the Cowboys situation seems great here. Then you realize that last year’s number two and three receivers are no longer on the roster, and number four is a RB rehabbing a broken ankle. Did I mention that number two was a TE?
Ceedee getting open easily.
Leading off is Ceedee Lamb, who had a career year, but he did most of his damage from the slot. This calls up a question that’s been dogging Lamb for three years: Is he truly a number one, or is he just Robin in Batman’s costume? Brandin Cooks was signed to add a legit deep threat, but it remains to be seen how well he’ll fit into a run-heavy system, where he’ll be asked to play heavy downs, despite not being the first option even on passing downs.
Signing Cooks wasn’t exactly a vote of confidence for Michael Gallup, who sports a catch percentage that has never seen 60 in any of his five years. However, he carries a 19M$ dead money hit for 2023, so he will be on the roster this year. KaVontae Turpin is a 153 pound returner who wants to be featured more as a receiver. Thus far he’s only been thrown two passes, catching one for 9 yards. Jalen Tolbert is also on the roster.
There’s plenty of talent here. The question is, in a run-heavy system, can it be blended in a way that keeps egos form becoming corrosive. (+)
TE:Jake Ferguson is the top of the food chain in Dallas now. His rookie numbers (19 – 174 – 9.2 – 2) notwithstanding, the organization seems to believe in him. That seems odd given the team’s stated re-emphasis on the run, and Ferguson being far from a “mix it up” type player. But, oh well!
Peyton Hendershotreceived an awful lot of press for a guy who’s entire 17 game stat line, was (11 – 103 – 9.4 – 2). Sean McKeon is the third stringer here. These guys are neither scary targets, nor great blockers. It’s hard to believe that this team won’t use a Day One or Two Draft pick on this position. (-)
OT: The Cowboys are going all-in on LT Tyler Smith. This means that Tyron Smith is likely staying at RT. How many snaps he takes there is another question. Over the last three seasons, Tyron has played in just 17 regular season games, missing 33 of a possible 50.
Ready to fill-in is Terence Steele who had 13 starts last year and only surrendered 1 sack. There’s also Josh Ball 41 snaps worth of pro experience; 26 of which came in a 27 – 23 win over the Texans. There are two more warm bodies as well. (+)
Zack Martin vs J.J. Watt
G: Future Hall Of Famer Zack Martin anchors the right side. As for the left, after losing Conner McGovern to Buffalo, the Cowboys currently have Matt Farniok who started 2 games last year and didn’t embarrass himself; and Chuma Edoga, who was a back-up when he was a Falcon. (-)
C:Tyler Biadasz is not particularly quick, or strong. Sohe’s a hard place for an offensive attack to hang its hat. But it’s either him or Brock Hoffman, who has yet to play an NFL snap, on offense. (-)
In A Nutshell: The head coach has revamped the offensive system to be run-heavy, despite most of his talent being at WR, not RB. Their offensive line is fully functional, but shaky in a couple of spots (C, LG). If the run game can get going, then the rest of the offense will stabilize. That said, any form of setback for Pollard probably dooms this unit. (+)
DEFENSE
DE:DeMarcus Lawrence started every game for the first time since 2019, and produced a career-high 65 tackles, on a Top Five defensive unit. On the other end of the line, Dorance Armstrong was second on the team with 8.5 sacks. So the Cowboys are fine here.
Used as a situational player Dante Fowler contributed 6 sacks, which was a lot of bang for the Cowboys buck. Rookie Sam Williams notched 4 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, and basically seemed to live in opposing backfields with 10 tackles for loss. Chauncey Golston rounds out the quintet, as a third rounder with so much talent ahead of him, that he barely sees snaps. (+)
DT:Osa Odighizuwa is an active and disruptive to blocking schemes against the pass. However, as a combination of his body type and play style, he can become an outright liability vs the run. He posted 43 tackles and 4 sacks last year, in 17 starts. He’s Robin in a Batman costume. Expect the Cowboys to get him some help.
Johnathan Hankins was added last year via trade with the Raiders, to beef up the run defense. That mission was a success, but Hankins comes with a few pronounced limitations, such as change of direction and motor. He produced 20 tackles last year, with just 1 being for a loss. Both were career-lows.
Quinton Bohanna began last season as the starter, but then lost his spot after nine games. After 27 games with 10 starts, he’s amassed just 29 tackles, with 1 for a loss. At 6’4, 360 pounds, he’s probably too bulky to produce in the NFL. While he can eat space, he can also be run away from too easily. Neville Gallimore is disruptive, but he’s just a rotational player. (-)
Former Eagle Brian Westbrook and Micah Parsons
OLB:Micah Parsons started every game, and posted 65 tackles (13 TFL) and a team leading 13.5 sacks. Teams seemed to figure out how to neutralize him, by forcing him to cover more. Dallas also added I.R. resident Takkarist McKinley, possibly to beef up their pass rush. (+)
MLB/ILB:Leighton Vander Esch was re-signed, much to the surprise of pretty much everyone. In 14 starts he posted 90 tackles (4 TFL) and 1 sack. He no longer has to be respected in pass coverage, and never offered much as a pass rusher. Damone Clark was a fifth rounder who found himself starting 5 games. Nothing impressive, but he at least picked up experience. (+)
S: There are eight players at this position. I will only be mentioning four. Donovan Wilson had 101 tackles (7 TFL), and 5 sacks, playing more like an extra ‘backer than a DB. Jayron Kearse (77 tackles, (7 TFL), 2 sacks) also spent a lot of time around the line of scrimmage. This made the Cowboys faster vs underneath passes, but left them too small against the run.
Malik Hooker only had 6 starts last year, but he played 81% of the Cowboys defensive snaps. He turned in career-highs in tackles (62) tackles for losses (2) and tied his career best with 3 interceptions. Israel Mukuamu had 3 starts last year but didn’t do anything remarkable with them. The Cowboys have the deepest group in the division. (+)
CB:
Trevon Diggs gets emotional at A.J. Brown, after Devonta Smith scores
For most players, 14 passes defensed and 3 interceptions would be a great year. For Trevon Diggs it meant coming back down to Earth. In a bid to not give opposing offenses an easy side to throw to, Dallas traded for Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore isn’t the ballhawk that Diggs is, but his technique is much more solid. Diggs gave up a 64% completion rate last year. Gilmore won’t be so generous.
DaRon Bland provided some spicy play, picking off 5 passes last season. That Nickel spot is unquestionably his this year. Kelvin Joseph is a former second round pick who is languishing on the bench. Jourdan Lewis has a knack for finding the ball and the QB, when he’s not on the bench. Nashon Wright cuts an odd picture for this position being 6’4, but the kid can play. (+)
In A Nutshell: The Cowboys have an extremely scary secondary, with just enough pass rush to help that secondary. Their predilection for speed however, motivates them to use smaller players, which sets them up for getting pushed around vs the run. It’s a “shock and awe” unit, that doesn’t do well in a fist-fight, or low scoring games. Luckily for the Cowboys, most teams are becoming less invested in running the ball, and therefore less adept at the things needed to achieve easy victories over this unit. (+)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K/P:Tristan Vizcaino is the only Kicker on the Cowboys roster. In his three year career he’s been on four teams, with a career mark of 11/12 (91.6%) and no kicks from 50+. (-)
Bryan Anger is the Punter. He’s got a 48.4 yard average with a 42.8 yard net. Both are best in the NFC East. He even launched an 83 yarder in 2022. On the other hand, of his 68 kicks, returners felt froggy enough to return 32 of them, for an average of 8.0. (+)
In A Nutshell: Expect the Cowboys field goal kicking to be spotty again this year. With the way they spend money at other positions, there isn’t much left to allocate to Kicker. The P has a big leg and does a good job of setting the defense up favorably. (+)
BOTTOM LINE:
This is a team that needs 20 points or more, to win games. In fact, this team hasn’t won a game where they scored fewer than 20 points, since November of 2018. They’re at four years and counting with that.
That puts all the pressure on RB Tony Pollard, to carry the run-heavy offense. If it works, things will be fine in Dallas. If it doesn’t, elements in that locker room will want coach McCarthy to switch his philosophy back to something they’re more comfortable with.
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