They called a penalty on US on this play, despite all the neutral zone violations, and a Washington player actually touching the ball. Trying everything they can to stop the Brotherly Shove.
Sack Leader: LB Nicholas Morrow (Sacks:3.0/ FF: 1/ Tackles: 11)
Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott 4/4 FG including OT game winner
****
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: COMMANDERS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Unleash Reddick:Didn’t happen. OLBHaason Reddick (2 – 1.0 – 0 – 0), all 230 pounds of him, spent the day playing DE in a 4 – 3 alignment. Although DE Brandon Graham (no stats), was listed as a starter at the beginning of the game, it was Reddick who spent most of the day there.
To his credit, Reddick did record his first sack of the season, but the new defensive scheme is keeping him from being the player he was last year, when the Eagles frequently rushed five players with Reddick mostly at OLB, not DE. Is there a difference? You saw those games, and you watch these. So you tell me. (NOT DONE)
WR A.J. Brown waved hello to the red zone, on his way through it, on this 59 yard catch and run TD.
2) Finish in the Red Zone: On the day we had ten possessions, three were touchdowns, four were field goals, three were punts. Only two of our drives saw the red zone. One produced the 5 yard touchdown run from Swift, the other a 36 yard field goal by Elliott. That puts us at exactly at 50% in terms of touchdown production.
I said that touchdowns are the mission, and right behind that, I said that coming away with a field goal, beats coming away empty handed. Again, we only saw the red zone twice, but we scored a TD 50% of the time, and points 100% of the time. It’s good to have high standards, but folks, we also have to remember to be reasonable. (DONE)
3) Get ‘Em Down: Last year, the Commanders beat us by running 44 times for 142 yards (3.2 ypc). They didn’t do a great job of it, just a committed one, and our inability to tackle on 3rd and 4th and short, resulted in 1st down after 1st down. So of course they started out trying that approach again.
Getting the Commanders RB’s on the ground was done resoundingly. Their RB’s combined rushing numbers (20 – 64 – 3.2 – 1 – 0), produced the same overall average, but moment to moment they weren’t able to duplicate last year’s game flow, and had to lean on the pass in this one. (DONE)
4) Make Penny Make Sense: This one was contingent on RB Rashaad Penny being on the active roster for this game, but he was left inactive instead. So this one almost shouldn’t count for this week. But…
Real talk? With the Eagles piss-poor commitment to running the ball in this game, I doubt that Penny would have seen a single touch. (NOT DONE)
****
So this weeks Four Things was a dissatisfying 2 of 4. This is how you end up having to win it in overtime. Next week we head out to Los Angeles, to take on the 2 – 2 Rams, who also needed OT to win this week.
****
Game Hero: Lots of people will tell you it was Jake Elliott, or A.J. Brown, but for my money it was Nick Morrow. I was high on his signing to replace Kyzir White, and felt a little salty when he was cut this year.
LB Nicholas Morrow, FEASTING!
The Eagles brought Morrow back due to the LB Nakobe Dean (foot) injury, and he’s been an unsung impact player every week. He had a fumble recovery vs Minnesota; he recorded the safety vs Tampa Bay; he notched 3 sacks, a forced fumble, and 11 tackles in this game. He has done nothing but ball-out since he got here, and it’s high time he got his flowers.
Game goat: Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai– For the third straight week, I’m naming the same person. I’ve been complaining about the cushions that we give WR’s for weeks now. Cut to this game. On 3rd and 6, with 9:21 left in the 4th quarter, our CB’s lined up with 5 yard cushions. Commentator Daryl “Moose” Johnston even mentioned how weird that was. We would give up an quick, uncontested 7 yard pass on the outside, for a 1st down.
Desai is not only misusing Haason Reddick, but his coverage concept is resulting in easy completions like we were giving up under Jim Schwartz, and Bill Davis. I was no fan of Jonathon Gannon, but his man concepts at least forced QB’s to read, meaning hold the ball. That helped result in sacks. Remember those?
Speaking of Gannon, we lamented his inability or unwillingness to make in-game adjustments. Desai seems to have caught that same disease, because not only is he not making adjustments in-game, but he also seems to not make them game-to-game. We are discussing the same problems every week!
As of now, the giants and the Seahawks have yet to play, but at the moment, we rank as the 5thworst pass defense in the NFL. With CB’s Darius Slay and James Bradberrymaking 80M$ over the next three years. With a deep and talented defensive line, featuring DT’s Fletcher Cox and Jalen Carter, we rank 27th out of 32.
Player talent is not the issue. We’ve seen these players perfom better under other leadership. It feels as if at DC, we’ve gone from Jimmy Johnson, to Barry Switzer.
On The Whole: I can’t be too angry at a 4 – 0 team. It just feels ungrateful. There’s much to clean up, but between rust from not playing guys in the preseason, rookie coordinators, a rash of injuries in the Secondary, at RB, and our signal calling MLB; look, this team being 4 – 0… I will take it. And I will show gratitude for it.
RB D’Andre Swift evens up the game with this 5 yard TD run.
That said, we need to see improvement soon. The winning will stop if we don’t flat out fix a few glaring issues. An evolution on Defense, and more commitment to the run, being the primary two. This game featured 37 passes, 9 Jalen Hurts runs, and just 18 hand-offs.
You know, because of the Eagles coaching staff’s resistance to learning, I have QB Marcus Mariotaon my bench in fantasy football. At this pace, the question isn’t if. It’s not even when. It’s “How long this time?”
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: BUCCANEERSdid the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Run to Set-up the Pass: We were late to the party on this one. We got around to it, but not until the second half. As a result, Jalen Hurts looked shaky and threw two interceptions on the night.
Head Coach Nick Sirianni, said this would be a RB by committee team, and that the Eagles would “ride the hot hand” at RB. Well hands don’t get much hotter than D’Andre Swift starting of with 4 runs for 36 yards (9.0ypc). So why the sudden shift to a less effective RB Kenneth Gainwell (14 – 43 – 3.0 – 0 – 0)? We are over-thinking this. (NOT DONE)
2) Rush Five:Nope! This game was started with us in an honest to goodness 4-3 alignment, with OLB Hasson Reddick (No stats) used as part of 4 man rushes. The result was our third straight week of just two sacks.
LB Nick Morrow and DT Jalen Carter, combine to force a fumble
This isn’t to say that we never rushed five. It was just damned infrequent, and on some of those occasions, a late blitzer was the fifth rusher. While there was plenty of pressure provided, the QB who committed the most turnovers, was ours. I’m pretty sure there’s a lesson in here somewhere… (NOT DONE)
3) More Man Coverage: NOPE! Our Secondary play is eerily reminiscent, of the Jim Schwartz era. Big cushions, resulting in quick and easy completions, and a neutered pass-rush. Regardless of our record, you cannot look at this Defense and say that it doesn’t fell like we’ve regressed. (NOT DONE)
4) Unleash the Pass: The middle of the field was open for business, with A.J. Brown making a couple of big snags of over 20, going over the middle. New Eagles WR Olamide Zaccheaus (3 – 2 – 58 – 29.0 – 1) hauled in a beautiful 34 yard TD strike from Hurts, giving the Birds a lead that they would never relinquish. (I told you that OZ would see an opportunity.) (DONE)
This week’s Four Things score is 1 of 4. That being said, the stats, the box score, none of it tells the story of of this game, quite accurately. No time to whine about it though. Because next Sunday, we get a 1:00 game against division rival, Washington.
****
Game Hero: RB D’Andre Swift – His running (specifically HIS running), forced the Buccaneers to load the box, Which opened up opportunities for the receivers over the middle.
Game goat: DC Sean Desai – Still has no idea of how to use OLB Hasson Reddick properly.
On The Whole: We are 3 – 0, but are still, a work in progress. While this one wasn’t a blowout, it is the first win of the season, that’s by a double digit margin. Imagine what we may look like, once we’re firing on all cylinders.
There are a lot of hidden details in this one. For instance, Tampa Bay came into this game, having trouble running the ball. However, instead of playing down to them, the Eagles Defense put shackles on the Tampa’s run game (17 – 41 – 2.4 – 0 – 1). It forced the Bucs to be one dimensional, and allowed the Eagles to walk away 3 – 0.
Special Teams Ace: LB Nicholas Morrow: 3 Tackles, 1 FR
****
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: VIKINGS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Run Swiftly: Boy, did we ever! I suggested 12 – 15 carries. Instead, the Eagles gave him 28, and he went off for 175 yards. Collectively, the Eagles ran 48 times, for 259 yards (5.3ypc). Take that, cherry necks! (Matt, that was for you.)
Most of our run game’s success tonight, was set up by the Vikings inability or unwillingness to adjust. If you get a chance to watch the replay of this game, look at how often the Vikings went with a three Safety look in the middle. With two cornerbacks on the outsides, that’s five in the secondary, leaving just six up around the line scrimmage.
Our five Linemen, plus the Running Back, plus a Quarterback who has to be accounted for in the ground game, means either we should have been calling run plays, or audibling into them. And we DID! (DONE)
2) Rush Five: The Vikings offensive line was down two starters and they lost a third during the game. They couldn’t run the ball, and their QB isn’t very mobile. Yet all we got, were two sacks in this game. Our Secondary just isn’t covering long enough, for a four man pass rush to get home. (NOT DONE)
3) Slay Jefferson: Going by the stats, Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (11 – 159 – 14.4 – 0) looks to have gotten the better of CB Darius Slay in this one. What actually watching the game will show, is that it took Jefferson about 400 yards of running, to earn the 159 that he posted.
For most of the night, the Vikings coaching staff had Jefferson in pre-snap motion to change his match-up; or they had him running crossing routes running away from Slay’s side of the field. Slay less took Jefferson away, and more escorted him to his own little play-area, where he couldn’t damage us, and others had to step up.
SS Terrell Edmunds was JUSTIN time to help WR Jefferson turn the ball over to us.
The result was 159 of the emptiest calories ever consumed on prime time television. You probably can’t recall the last time you saw a player with nearly 160 yards, have so little impact on a game. That is, aside from his fumble, which prevented mini-sota from a touchdown and instead resulted in a field goal for us. (DONE)
4) Oh My Goedert: The idea was to get TE Dallas Geodert(7 – 6 – 22 – 3.6 – 0) involved to open up the run game, by loosening the box. However, instead of running him down the field, the coaching staff had him horizontally stretch the box. While it was gross to watch Goedert catching balls in the backfield, it helped allow us to run for 259 yards. So we can’t bitch about it, too loud. (DONE)
****
Not bad! We did 3 of the Four Things, and improved to 2 – 0. Now we get ten days off, before we travel down to Tampa Bay, to lock horns with Ryan Lea- Johnny Manz- Sorry, Baker Mayfield, in our quest for 3 – 0.
****
Game Hero: RB D’Andre Swift (Stats above) – Hometown boy makes good! I can walk out my front door over to the 15 bus stop, and take it to Saint Joe’s Prep, where Swift played. He’s not a “local product” likeJoe Flacco, or Matt Ryan, or Corey Clement. Swift is Philly. Honest to god, Philly.
A great deal of the credit goes to our Offensive Line, for being smart enough to exploit the weakness (6 man box) that the Vikings wouldn’t stop presenting. However, all of Swift’s traits which I extolled in Four Things, were on display in this game. I’m telling you, if they try to start RB Kenneth Gainwell in Week Three, there will be a fan uprising.
Me looking at Sean Desai continue to not reach with four
Game goat: Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai – It was another toothlessly called game, and the result was QB Kirk Cousins (31/44 – 70.4 – 364 – 4 – 0) being sacked only twice. The turnovers that we generated weren’t coming from our scheme forcing mistakes, but from our player’s hustle. At this point Desai is passenger, not a driver.
On The Whole:
We are 2 – 0, having played two games where the game was in question, in the last five minutes of the game. Both wins were what we’re calling ugly.
Not so fast.
Do you realize that in two weeks we’ve scored 59 points? While 7 were the result of a defensive return (and extra point), the other 52 have resulted from driving the ball. That’s an average of 27 points per game, with an offense that we would describe as “sputtering”, “inconsistent”, and “rusty”. Can you imagine what this team is going to look like when they start to put it together?
Mama, there goes that man again! WR Devonta Smith on a blazing 63 yard catch and run touchdown
Defensively, we’re dealing with more injury issues than it seemed we had all last year. We had guys out there in this game, who had been elevated from the Practice Squad, who had previously been cut altogether. Nick Morrow was one of them, and he got us a turnover. WRBritain Covey is another, who… Let’s not talk about him.
I don’t want to sweep our troubles under the rug, but I think it’s important to point out, that the Kings of the NFC may be wounded, but we are far from dead.
Drive Killer: CB Darius Slay (TD: 1/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0 / FF: 0)
Sack Leader: DT Jalen Carter (Sacks:1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 1)
Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott(4/4 FG’s)
****
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: PATRIOTS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Establish the Run: We looked like we were going to with our first drive of the game, with 8 designed runs (7 handoffs) for 39 yards (4.8ypc). Then we bailed on it, with just 9 total handoffs for the remainder of the game.
The misdirection and RPO aspect of our run game from last year, was nowhere to be seen. The Eagles did employ some play-action, and it was somewhat effective at buying Hurts time to throw, but it didn’t help him when he tried to run. He looked to be pressing into the hole before it opened, doing half the job for Patriot defenders.
As a result, we never forced the Patriots to load the box. That took away simple answers for Hurts when passing. Instead, the Patriots forced him to read and think. At times his rookie crutch (bootleg wide right, stare down a receiver, force a ball down the sideline) was on glaring display. (NOT DONE)
2) Load the Box: The idea was to take away the Patriots run game (22 – 76 – 3.4 – 0 – 0); and put the game in the hands of Patriots QB Mac Jones (35/54 – 64.8% – 316 – 3 – 1). Those parts got done. We just didn’t have to load the box to do it. (NOT DONE)
3) Set the Dogs on Them:On third downs, use a five man rush. Go to Cover Two or a Tampa Two. Get those hands up, and challenge every ball in the air. NOPE!
Rookie DT Jalen Carter gets his first career sack.
We hardly saw a five man rush out of the Defense in this one. Sadly many of Jones passes were completed to receivers that were too wide open to be believed. From a defensive standpoint, it looked like Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai was still calling a vanilla preseason game, and trying not to show too much.
Their offensive line was missing three starters, and playing two rookies, and still we didn’t get a sack until the 4th quarter. Desai is on his way to making me miss former DCJonathan Gannon. (NOT DONE)
4) Pull the Trigger:Once the run game took over, deep shots down the field would be there for the taking. Except the run game never took over, and TEDallas Goedert (no stats) is apparently invisible to Hurts. We took two legit deep shots all game long, both to A.J. Brown. One was overthrown, the other catch was overturned by replay.
Otherwise, our passing game consisted mostly of Screens and checkdowns to RB’s. New Offensive Coordinator Brian Johnson, called a terrible game today. (NOT DONE)
This week’s Four Things score, is an ignominious 0 of 4 to start the season. We’d better get things in order quickly though, because we play again THIS THURSDAY. The 0 – 1 Vikings are coming to Philadelphia for a heaping helping of knuckle sandwich, with a side order of “Now stay the fuck down!” But we won’t be serving that, if we play like we did this Sunday.
****
Game Hero: DTJordan Davis(0.5 – 1 – 5)
DT Jordan Davis force a fumble from RB Ezekiel Elliott, with LB Zach Cunningham recovering.
Some will say it was Jake Elliott, but to me it was Davis. He forced an early fumble that led to a touchdown, helped stop the Patriot run game all day, and got half a sack, on a late drive, that became a turnover on downs.
Game goat: The coaching staff. I’m irritated with Sean Desai for rarely rushing five linemen. I’m irritated with Brian Johnson for bailing on the run game, and calling an ass-ton of Screens. I’m irritated with Head Coach Nick Siriannifor not playing the starters in the preseason, and contributing to all the rust we saw in this one.
On The Whole:
This was an ugly win, but it was a win. It was also a win against a team that has an all-time great coach, in terms of scheming and adjusting; yet we won both halves of the game. Scoring 16 – 14 in the first; and 9 – 6 in the second. If we weren’t so rusty, we’d have beaten the brakes off that team.
When the game ended, I was going to pen a spittle-flecked diatribe, over putting the team in this position due to rust. However, in his post-game press conference, Sirianni said that if he had it to do over, he’d have played the starters some in the preseason. Hey, if he’s learned, there’s no reason for me to harp on it. So let’s move on.
The broad strokes are usually covered by lots of other publications and podcasts. You can go a hundred places and read the same four or five bullet points, mentioned in ninety-seven of those places. Stats aside, what about the Four Things you came here to review, right? Let’s see if we scored aHITor a MISS on the areas I discussed.
1) Do The Starters Play?:Nope. Not a single solitary down. In fact, a number of Eagles didn’t even dress for this one. AGAIN! Third string RB Rashaan Penny, WR Olamide Zaccheaus (I actually spelled that right, on my first attempt), are examples of new players who didn’t dress.
And hey, for those who are still out there debating about who starts alongside FSReed Blankenship: It’s SS Terrelle Edmunds. He didn’t even dress, but rookie Sydney Brownplayed; and K’Von Wallace was still out there in the fourth quarter. Glad I could settle that for you. MISS
2) Tanner vs Their Twos:The Colts went one better for us, and left their starters out there for the entire first half. While McKee’s accuracy stayed right around 50% again, the game didn’t look too big for him. So mentally there’s something to work with there.
As far as his actual play, he had trouble connecting on intermediate and long throws. The ball often seems to leave the palm and heel of his hand, instead of his fingertips. The result is, instead of a spiral, it seems to travel more like a shot put. Better secondaries will feast on that, if we don’t fix that. HIT
3) Play Ian Book: QBIan Bookwent 11/15 – 73.3% – 80 – 0 – 0, with the ball coming out quickly and sharply. He looked nothing like the gun-shy player from the Browns game. Like McKee, Book wasn’t successful throwing the ball downfield. Still, the player we saw tonight, looked like he’d be worth a Practice Squad/developmental spot. HIT
4) Something Special:On the opening kick of the game, WR Devon Allenbobbled the ball, then recovered it and tore off a 73 yard return to set-up the game’s opening touchdown. He also had a big tackle for no gain on a punt. HIT
****
Who Looked Good:
LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams – (See above) We just signed this guy yesterday, but like VISA, the Philadelphia native, was everywhere you wanted to be. Once he got in the game in the second half, he seemed to constantly be flashing. We need to find spot for him. LB Ben VanSumeren (17 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) had many more tackles than TMW, but he didn’t flash as much potential, or generate a takeaway.
QB Ian Book– He seemed to find his poise and his pocket presence. Whether diving for the needed yardage on a scramble, or spiking the ball on first down to stop the clock, his command of the moment was beyond reproach.
TE Tyree Jackson – Showed a MUCH better awareness of presenting as a target for his QB. His stats (3 – 31 – 10.3 – 0) were modest, but they also indicate that he could be a very QB friendly target this season.
Who Looked Bad:
RB Kennedy Brooks– His day (2 – 16 – 8.0 – 0 – 0) was punctuated by being wide open, and dropping what would have been a walk-in touchdown. At no point this preseason, did he demonstrate a reason for another team to want him.
The Offensive Line – They allowed 3 sacks in this game, three tackles for a loss, and showed no ability open holes consistently.
WR Joseph Ngata– While he did do some good things out there (2 – 32 – 16.0 – 0), his fumble killed a promising drive.
****
On The Whole:
Given that we had a bunch of twos and threes, going against the Colts starters for a half, it’s hard not to give the Eagles a ton of credit. That’s not an attempt at finding a moral victory. It’s a preseason game. Nobody cares about the “W” or the “L”. What counts here is how hard our guys competed. It contributes to the ongoing culture.
The broad strokes are usually covered by lots of other publications and podcasts. You can go a hundred places and read the same four or five bullet points, mentioned in ninety-seven of those places. Stats aside, what about the Four Things you came here to review, right? Let’s see if we scored a HIT or a MISS on the areas I discussed.
1) Play the Starters: On Defense, only three of our presumed starters, Dean, DT Jordan Davis (no stats), SS 1A Terrelle Edmunds (4 tackles) opened the game. Dean forced a fumble inside the five yard line, which was recovered by SS 1B K’Von Wallace(7 tackles), stopping Cleveland’s first offensive drive.
No starters appeared on Offense, unless you happen to be in the camp that thinks RB Kenneth Gainwell (2 – 6 – 3.0 – 0 – 0) should start over RB D’Andre Swift. Swift didn’t even dress. (Throat clear) Not hard to read those tea leaves is it? MISS
2) Be the Aggressors: That’s a big ol’ nope-a-rooni on that one, good buddy. We sent no messages in this one. Tooth-rattling hits and savage blocks were nowhere to be seen, on a night where we surrendered 6 sacks, and saw Gainwell tackled in our end zone for a safety. The Defensive Line tried to bring heat, but they were too often hung out to dry, by loose and toothless coverage. MISS
FYI: This is NOT good protection.
3) Better QB Play: QB Marcus Mariota(9/17 – 52.9% – 86 – 0 – 1) looked awful. Trying to force himself to be a pocket passer (he only ran once, for 5 yards), he was totally out of his element. He lacks the accuracy, timing, mechanics, familiarity with the system, and read-skills needed, to be 1-2-3 dropback guy.
Tanner McKee got the ball out with more urgency than Mariota. He put the ball in some tight windows, hitting receivers in the hands. This week, he also did a much better job of not being a statue behind his Offensive Line. Those are ALL improvements on last week, and that’s all you want out of a rookie third stringer.
That said, while he looked fine as a rookie going against third stringers, anyone suggesting that he be elevated over Mariota, needs to have their blood sugar checked. There is too much McKee doesn’t know about the NFL, to put him one injury away from having to guide this franchise. Unforced error: Not playing QB Ian Book. HIT
4) More Defense: Tighter pass coverage and more contested balls, were the hopes. While this week’s completion percentage allowed (51%) was better than last week’s (61.2%), it still felt like opposing receivers gashed us for first downs, at will. Statistically the improvement looks great on paper, but anyone who actually witnessed that travesty, will tell you otherwise. MISS
****
Who Looked Good:
QB Tanner McKee: (See above) – There are gives and takes to judging his situation, so instead of guesstimating, let’s just look at what was produced. Several of his passes that found hands, were dropped. So he should have been 13/18 (72.2%) or 14/18 (77.7%).
TE Brady Russell: (1 – 22 – 22.0 – 1) – Whether catching a TD, making a block, or making a tackle on Special Teams, Russell was pumped to be out there. Even doing the dirty work. The numbers don’t favor him sticking, but guys like him are necessary.
LBZach Cunningham: (7 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) – Yet again he was where he needed to be, in order to make stops. He’s a seasoned pro, and teams are running vanilla packages right now. So for him, this is shooting fish on dry land.
Who Looked Bad:
QB Marcus Mariota: (See above) – He looks like the product of years of bad coaching, because that’s exactly what he is. Then again so was Micheal Vick when he first got here. Remember when people thought Jeff Garcia was washed up, after his stints in Detroit and Cleveland? Then he came here, got better coaching, and people put him on t-shirts. So relax. Mariota has NEVER been in better hands. Pro OR college.
RB Kenneth Gainwell: (See above) – It wasn’t THAT, he was tackled in the end zone for a safety. It was HOW, he was tackled in the end zone for a safety. He looked small. Helpless. Unable to defend himself. He was dead on contact. Kenneth will gain well if you block a nice hole for him, but he cannot force an issue on his own.
DC Sean Desai– Poor tackling. Coverage didn’t help the pass rush. We spent the night re-acting, instead of dictating the action. The Defense never gave the impression of evolving or learning. The knock on Jonathan Gannon, whom Desai replaced, was that he wouldn’t make adjustments. With the Desai, the question is: Can he make them?
On The Whole:
This game has me worried about the season. Not because of what happened on the field, but because of what didn’t. Remember being the underdog? Remember the “rent being due every day”? Remember when our players were hungry dogs? Take an honest look fellow fans. These Eagles don’t look hungry. They look very, VERY comfortable.
I’m sure the arguers against playing starters will point to the loss of CB Zech MacPhearson, DT Moro Ojomo, and WRTyrie Cleveland as the reason starters don’t even suit up. Which would make sense if injuries were based on use; as in X number of snaps, automatically equals an injury. However, that’s not how it works.
Football players have said for decades, there is no way to get in football shape, besides playing football. I can tell you firsthand, that is an ironclad fact. The only way to shake off the rust of not playing, is to play. Period. There is no substitute for football. It’s why you see football players accomplish feats that other athletes don’t even attempt. Not preparing right, feels like we’re setting ourselves up for failure.
This preseason has the feel of Rocky III, where Rock was training in the hotel, pausing to pose for pictures, and turning his prep into a mockery.
And he was subsequently dismissed in humiliating fashion, by Clubber Lang.
QB Jalen Hurts celebrates catching a football on the sideline. He would immediately throw his only pass of the night, to a fan in the stands.
DT Jalen Carter – (No stats) Easily discarded a Guard and nearly ran down a sack on his first NFL snap. How is the 9th overall pick still a steal? Thank you Atlanta!!!!
DT Moro Ojomo – (3 tackles) Baltimore couldn’t keep him out of their backfield. It was against their third unit, but he’s a 7th round rookie, so he warrants more study.
S Sydney Brown – (9 tackles) Made stops and brought a physical presence as well.
CB Eli Ricks – (1tack – 1 int TD) Got his hands on two passes, knocking one down and taking the other to the house.
WR Greg Ward – (5 – 53 – 10.6 – 0) Still does an excellent job of giving his QB an easy, early target.
Who looked bad:
QBIan Book – (1/4 – 25% – 11 – 0 – 0) Was reluctant to throw the ball too often.
OL Tyler Steen – Got the start at LT and struggled, giving up an early sack. Moved to RG and still failed to impress.
DE Tarron Jackson – (1 tackle) did not make his presence felt despite great interior play.
DE Kyron Johnson – (No stats) Was practically invisible.
****
The broad strokes are usually covered by lots of other publications and podcasts. You can go a hundred places and read the same four or five bullet points, mentioned in ninety-seven of those places. Stats aside, what about the Four Thingsyou came here to review, right? Let’s see if we scored a HIT or a MISS on the areas I discussed.
1) Throwing to the RB’s: Aside from a lone checkdown to RB Trey Sermon in the second half, there were no other completions to a RB, all game long. So far there doesn’t seem to be much difference between this and the last few year’s offense, in that regard. I understand not wanting to divulge pertinent information to opponents, but we have to practice what we do, if we’re going to be any good at it. MISS
2) Getting Defensive:Hits that draw flags. I was looking for two or three of those, and we didn’t have one. Yes, there were a few hits that laid the wood, but nothing that will “impact” opponents mentally, as Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai says he wants. While S Justin Evans and rookie S Sydney Brown provided some physicality, no one is going to see those guys in their sleep. MISS
3) Who’s On First?: Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutlandtold everyone last week that RG Cam Jurgens hadn’t locked up the starting job. I told you on Thursday that that was bullshit. Result? Jurgens spent Saturday night wearing a white Eagles t-shirt. So, you know, keep coming here to find out what’s what.
While I didn’t expect Jurgens to play much, I was surprised that he didn’t play at all. That’s an unforced error by the coaching staff. Jurgens isn’t a seasoned NFL starter who can just step back into where he left off last season, because last season he saw exactly 35 snaps. A guy as green as he is could use the work. If only to work on his muscle memory moving from bench C to starting RG.
I was interested in seeing if he got any game snaps at C, just in the interest of letting him play the spot that we all know he’ll inherit. It wasn’t a serious point, but him not playing at all, doesn’t sit well with me. MISS
4) Listening for a POP!: Sadly, MLB Nakobe Dean didn’t start. In fact, he didn’t play. He wasn’t even wearing an unpadded jersey on the sideline. Call me crazy, but I think zero career starts is too early to grant a player sacred cow status. Same as Jurgens, he could have used the work. And for those who ask “What if he’d gotten injured?”, my answer is, preseason game one is the time to find out if a guy is fragile. Not Week One.
No one popped at second or third string DE, which was surprising considering how much of a runaway train DT Moro Ojomo was out there. He was in the Ravens backfield so much, that it wouldn’t have been weird to see him pick up a blitz, or take a hand-off. It’s hard to believe he was still available in the seventh round.
The Eagles didn’t move CB Kelee Ringo around at all. Surprising since he has seen time at S and NCB in camp. Instead, he got a long look at LCB, where he made a hustle play to corral a long run, but then was later beaten for a 7 yard TD pass. He was all at once more than I expected, and less. MISS
****
This week we had four misses, and no hits. (Don’t worry, during the season it will go back to Done/Not Done.) Understand, the misses aren’t really failures, any more than hits would necessarily be successes. Hits and misses are just a way of charting the outcomes of what was discussed, during the preseason. That’s it.
****
On The Whole:
Our second string Offense moved the ball well against their second string defense. QB Marcus Mariota didn’t look very comfortable out there, except for throwing to WR Greg Ward. Though I wonder if thatwasn’t more Ward than Mariota. RB DeAndre Swift looked nifty, but the play-calling included too much east-west running.
Third string QB Tanner McKee took more shots downfield, but he has to, given the fact that he’s a statue. Any career he has, will be birthed by his arm, not his legs. He made a couple of nice back-shoulder completions (one was called back due to offensive pass interference).
RB Rashaad Pennylooked like he was saving his body for the regular season, because we all know that he can run harder than he did in this game. At no point did he look like a man worried about being cut.
Defensively, I was surprised to see DT Jordan Davis slotted at 4-3 DE at the start of this game, but then it occurred to me that he was actually more of a DT in a 5-2. Seeing rookies DT Jalen Carter and OLB Nolan Smith nearly combine for a sack was nice. What was even better, was how quickly they created that pressure. If we stay healthy, we’re going to be a problem up front this year.
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.
LOSING that game to the Commanders last year, is kind of sticking in my craw now. It hardly bothered me when it happened. In fact, after the loss inFour Things Reviewed, I said that I was grateful for the loss. Many Eagles fans were, in fact. Turns out, that loss is probably why we made it to the Super Bowl.
But part of it still bugs me. Not our turnovers. Those were an aberration. Those were never really anything to worry about. What bugs me, was our tackling in that game (and others).
While Washington didn’t run the ball well, they stuck to grinding out yards. That was in part because our defenders were too often trying harder to cause turnovers, than to secure the tackle and get the man on the ground. Which is helped Washington convert so many 3rd downs (12 of 21).
With the exception ofCharles “Peanut” Tillmanand his freakishly reliable ‘Peanut Punch’, most fumbles don’t happen because a defender forces it. Most fumbles happen when offensive players are trying to make something happen. Especially later in the game when their team is down. They fixate on making a move, and forget ball security. Then something bad happens.
Just get the man on ground. Just make the tackle. Especially early in games. Not with shoulder lunges to generate hits. Players need to execute proper form, and bring their arms. Wrap up the guy with the ball!
DT Jordan Davis showing how it’s DONE.
With the interior defensive line that we have, I’m expecting to see MLB Nakobe Dean get a lot of clean shots on ball-carriers. His tackling will be critical. That’s not to let everyone else off the hook; but from Dean (though I’ll cut him plenty of slack in other areas) his tackling will be important in determining whether we win the East this year.
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.
EAGLEMANIACAL.com 