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2025 WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/08/06
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFC Championship, NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs, Preview, Rivals, Roster, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

 

Sisyphus- (Oops!) Washington, now that Dan Snyder is gone.

LOST NFC Championship Game, 12 – 5, 2nd place in NFC East, pspg 28.5 (5th) papg 23.0 (18th)

Washington was by far the surprise team of the 2024 season. Capitalizing on a last place schedule, and a rookie QB playing better than anyone could have anticipated; the Commanders made a deep run in the playoffs. They even out-dueled the #1 seeded Detroit, 45 – 31. A week later, the eventual Super Bowl Champions the Philadelphia Eagles, would annihilate Washington 55 – 23, and give them much to consider in the off-season.

Heading into the pre-season, this is how things look today:

QB: Jayden Daniels (331 – 480 – 69.0 – 3568 – 25 – 9) started all 17 games, while battling through broken ribs, suffered in Week 7. He ran for 891 yards and 6 scores, with a win/loss record of 12-5. But pump the brakes. That record could have just as easily been 8-9. His four game winning drives (Bears, giants, Eagles, and Cowboys) look good on paper, but the circumstances in each of those games will tell a very different story.

But that still leaves eight clear wins over the Bengals, Saints, Panthers, Titans, giants, Cardinals, Falcons, and Browns, right? Well, none of those teams made the playoffs. In fact, Daniels generally ceased to be a difference maker, whenever the opponent had a playoff caliber QB on the field. All early indications are positive, but demonstrated consistency is needed here.

Marcus Mariota returns as the back-up. The role looks to fit him well. He’s not asked to do too much when he’s asked to play, and he still has good mobility even at 31. Sam Hartman was an undrafted rookie, added to the roster last year; and for some reason, the well-traveled Josh Johnson was added to the roster, this year. (+)

RB: Brian Robinson (187 – 799 – 4.3 – 8) scares absolutely nobody. In three seasons he has never run for 800 yards in any one of them. He is not a game-breaker. He’s a big, “pound the ball between the Tackles” type. For explosive plays, the team is counting on Austin Ekeler (77 – 367 – 4.8 – 4 / 35 – 366 – 10.5 – 0). Surely, they’ll be looking to get him more than just 112 touches this season.

Providing depth is Jeremy McNichols (55 – 261 – 4.7 – 4) who is coming off a career year in 2024, having finally had his first career start after seven years, and four prior rosters. The Commanders also have third year man Chris Rodriguez (35 – 173 – 4.9 – 2). Putting together 354 – 1,600 – 4.5 – 18 between four guys, with their front line in a state of flux, may be the most slept-on story in the division. (+)

WR: Terry McLaurin (82 – 1096 – 13.4 – 13) saw a career-highs in both touchdown catches, and catch percentage (70.1). More importantly, he seems to have developed a real rapport with the guy throwing him the ball. So his current contract hold-out/hold-in/trade request isn’t too surprising. He’s currently still under contract, so I’m including him here.

WT Terry McLaurin being shown the money.

Meanwhile, when San Fran showed Deebo Samuel (51 – 670 – 13.1 – 3) the door, Washington couldn’t simp and give him a truckload of money fast enough. Even though his game is more suited to the slot, they want him to be a #2. Partly because overpaying a slot would be silly. Right Dallas?

Speaking of not showing up in the playoffs, Noah Brown (35 – 453 – 12.9 – 1) is back from the kidney injury that ended his 2024 campaign, in Week 13. Michael Gallup (no stats) is back from retirement. Further depth includes Luke McCaffery (18 – 168 – 9.3 – 0) and a handful of camp bodies and rookies, like 4th rounder Jaylin Lane.

There isn’t a legit #2 here, and the group is built as if the focus, is to capitalize on yards after the catch. That portends a lot of receivers taking big hits from Linebackers and Safeties. Which brings into question how healthy they’ll be, by the time we start with the Fall family gatherings. Once again, it’s basically McLaurin and then a big drop-off. (-)

TE: Zach Ertz (66 – 654 – 9.9 – 7) found the fountain of youth in 2024, while playing security blanket with his rookie passer. That said, with him being 34, the time to pivot to second year Ben Sinnott (5 – 28 – 5.6 – 1) should be this season. Nobody spends a 2nd round pick on a TE, without plans for him, and while John Bates is a tough sumbitch, he’s not a receiving threat. At the bottom of the barrel are Cole Turner and Tyree Jackson. (-)

OT: In order to keep the Broken Rib fairy away from their QB, Washington traded with Houston for LT Laremy Tunsil. He’s been a perennial Pro Bowler (for whatever that’s worth anymore), while dominating in the AFC South against the Colts, Jags, and Titans. All while playing in a dome. In a warm climate. The NFC East will offer him none of that.

Taking snaps (so far) at RT, is 1st rounder Josh Conerly. This makes for a brand new pair of starters on the ends. In 2024 it was RT Andrew Wylie, and (rookie) LT Brandon Coleman. Wylie took a pay cut in March, just to keep a job. Coleman is looking for an open seat anywhere on the line. Behind them, are a couple of career back-ups, and undrafted rookie Timothy McKay.

Nice bed. Be a shame if someone…

While the new starters may be talented, how they adapt to a new team, and system, are all question marks. Last year’s starters shit the bed hard enough to cause the team to wipe the slate and start all over. If the reserves have to step in, there can’t be a ton of confidence there. So until they prove otherwise… (-)

OG: Offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, may have as many as four new starters up front, going into this season. Last year it was LG Nick Allegretti and RG Sam Cosmi. This year Brandon Coleman is getting a look at LG, and Andrew Wylie seems to have been demoted to utility player.

Allegretti and Cosmi are still in the mix to start, but it’s a mix. Especially with Cosmi still rehabbing a blown ACL. Johnson completely re-tooling the line that he assembled last year, tells you how deeply disappointed he was. The real question here is, is this position any more talented than it was a year ago? The flat answer is, no. (-)

C: Tyler Biadasz is the anchor of this line, and he’s clearly the player that it’s being built around. He isn’t flashy, but he’s a consistent and stabilizing presence. He’s also the only player listed at this position. Michael Dieter is listed at G, but he’s got eight career starts in the pivot. So depth here is a mild concern. (+)

In A Nutshell: If the line doesn’t gel quickly, this offense is cooked.

 

DEFENSE

DE: Finally a starter (fifteen starts) Dorance Armstrong (39 – 5.0 – 0 – 0) was supposed to take a major leap forward. What happened is, he was less productive than when he was a back-up. Clellin Ferrell (26 – 3.5 – 0 – 0) also failed to be a game-changer despite his ten starts. Seeing low production from their starters (8.5 sacks), Washington decided to make a major move...

They gave a roster spot to what’s left of Von Miller. He’s collected 6 sacks in the last two years, as a situational player. Further depth looks like second year Jacob Martin (15 – 3.0 – 0 – 0); Javonte Jean-Baptiste (13 – 1.0 – 0 – 0); Andre Jones (1 tackle); and Viliami Fehoko, who was drafted in the 4th round in 2023, but has bounced around practice squads since then. (-)

DT: Jonathan Allen (Minnesota) was allowed to walk, breaking up the dynamic duo that was he and Daron Payne (42 – 4.0 – 0 – 0). Stepping up to be Payne’s new running mate, is Jer’Zhan Newton (44 – 2.0 – 0 – 1) who had eleven starts in 2024, due to Allen being injured. Newton was drafted last year to give Washington more interior pass rush and be a disruptor, but so far he’s “less of an asset” against the run.

Adding Javon Kinlaw (40 – 4.5 – 0 – 1) from the Jets, could be a good move, depending on which version of him shows up most of the time. NT Eddie Goldman came over from the Falcons, (probably as bulk vs the Brotherly Shove). He can anchor against the run, but no one is worried about his pass rush. Maybe that’s why Deatrich Wise (20 – 5.0 – 0 – 0) was added from the Patriots? Lots of experience, but there’s a lot of high mileage, new parts to blend. (-)

I/MLB: In 2024, Bobby Wagner (132 – 2.0 – 0 – 2) recorded his lowest tackle total since 2015. That’s despite starting all seventeen games. Whether it was because it was his first year in the system, or because he was 34, is the question. Given the lack of clear depth behind him, that’s not a good question to have.

Right now, second year man Jordan Magee (9 tackles), would be the first man off the bench in case of injury to Wagner. However, he only saw 15 snaps in 2024. Further depth looks like possibly 6th rounder Kain Medrano, or undrafted rookies Kam Arnold and Ale Kaho. Nick Bellore is a Special Teamer who also plays FB. (-)

LB Frankie Luvu jumps offsides, trying to stop the Eagles Brotherly Shove play.

OLB: Frankie Luvu (99 – 8.0 – 1 – 2) had career-highs in sacks (8), and passes defensed (7). Despite Dante Fowler and his 10.5 sacks going back to Dallas, there doesn’t seem to be a hard set plan for re-stocking the other starting spot.

Instead, Washington is hoping that Dominique Hampton, a 5th round tweener from last year’s Draft, can replace Jeremy Chinn (Las Vegas), who played a hybrid role, as a box FS/LB. You didn’t read that wrong. This is what’s happening. This is who they have, and they’re serious about rolling this out. (-)

S: Quan Martin (87 – 0.0 – 1 – 0 ) also added 3 forced fumbles last year, during his sixteen starts. They added free agent Will Harris from the Saints. With 3 career interceptions in six years, Harris isn’t exactly a ball-hawk or a game changer. He does however, bring a much needed veteran presence to a very inexperienced group.

Percy Butler (47 tackles) had five starts last year, but he had thirteen the year before. Instead of relying on him, Washington added a veteran. Below Butler are undrafted Tyler Owens (who doesn’t believe in Space or other planets); undrafted college special teamer Ben Nikkel; and undrafted rookie Robert McDaniel. (-)

CB: Mike Sainristil (93 – 0.0 – 2 – 1) saw sixteen starts as a rookie last year. It started out rough, but he played through, and by season’s end, the improvement was apparent. Marshon Lattimore (4 tackles) came over in a midseason trade. He only played two games due to a hamstring injury, which he blamed for his poor performance. BUT! If we’re going to keep it 100, he’s been a shell of himself since 2022.

Noah Igbinoghene (55 tackles) having defected from Dallas last year, now has two years of this system under his belt. Jonathan Jones (Patriots) is very experienced, especially in the slot. Add a handful of young guys, which include two undrafted rookies, and you have the makings of… A mess. This is a mess. It’s one decent player, a guy who’s washed, an old slot guy, a bench warmer, and camp bodies. This is a mess. (-)

In A Nutshell : Aside from possibly Kinlaw, no clear move was made to improve this unit.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Free agent signee Matt Gay has no competition on the roster. The gig is obviously his, despite him being 11/22 from 50+ yards, over the last two seasons. Did I mention he played the last two seasons in Indianapolis? Yes, a place with a dome. In fact, 8 of those 11 misses were in a dome. However, he was 28/28 from 49 yards or less. So he’s solid, but not clutch. (+)

P: Tress Way only had to punt 50 times last season, which helped keep his leg fresh enough to raise his average punt to 46.9 from 46.0 the previous year. He won’t set the world on fire, but he’s solid. (+)

In a Nutshell: Washington is solidly going the Gay Way in 2025.

BOTTOM LINE: At the end of January, no one was expecting this team to shell out 60M$ to two WR’s, but by Week One, that is precisely what has to happen. (Right?) As a result, there wasn’t big money to spend on improving a defense which allowed 55 points in the last game they played in. Add to that, a harder schedule, and a season’s worth of tape on their QB. This team won’t sneak up on anyone this year. 

Everywhere I turn, the national media has this team back in the NFC Championship game or beyond, but I just don’t see it. They just don’t have the firepower to make up for a poor defense. Let’s call it 9 – 8 and a Wild-card exit.

2025 NEW YORK giants

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/08/05
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, Offense, Players, Rivals, Roster, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

REBUILDING continues! In 2024 New York finished 3 – 14, 4th place in the NFC East, pspg 16.1 (31st), papg 24.4 (21st)

Their pass defense was top ten in yardage last year, but that stat is extremely deceptive. Last season they had an even split of 503 passing attempts and 503 rushing attempts, against them. They gave up 6.5 yards per pass, but 4.6 yards per rush! As an opposing offense, why would you ever throw the ball? As a result, the 503 pass attempts they faced, were third fewest in the league, thus the low yardage.

Heading into the pre-season, this is how things look today:

 

OFFENSE

QB: Tommy “Cutlets” Devito is the only player currently at this position. He has a career record of 3 – 5 in 8 starts for the g-men, throwing 8 TD’s and 3 picks, thus far. He’s also shown some ability to leg plays out. He doesn’t have elite tools, but he’s a competitor. A better organization might take an offseason to see what they have here, but…

Then just like that, the giants sign Jameis Winston for enough money and incentives to make him the odds-on favorite to win the starting job. He was the #1 overall pick in the 2015 Draft, but it’s hard to know what he is. Is he a talented guy who’s simply bounced from one bad team/situation to another and another? Or is he fool’s gold, that assures mediocrity?

Then BOOM! They signed Russell Wilson to an even larger contract, and in his introductory speech, he all but declared himself the Day One starter. The question is: What do the giants have in him? At this point in his career, it seems like he’s become enamored with making the smart decision, not necessarily the right one. With football being a game of moments, that aversion to risk, means he misses out on those most important moments.

Then, with the 25th overall pick in the Draft, the giants selected Jaxson Dart! With him being a first round pick, you know they want him on the field. And soon. Which then raises the question: What happens with Wilson, now? There are now four quarterbacks on this team, and the only one who’s ever won a game for it, is the one least likely to ever see another start for it. (-)

RB: Looking at his overall numbers would make you think that Tyrone Tracy (192 – 839 – 4.4 – 5) had a pretty good rookie year. Until you notice the 5 fumbles and how he only eclipsed 60 rushing yards just 4 times in 17 games. Free agent addition Devin Singletary (113 – 437 – 3.9 – 4) went from 2023 career-highs in carries and rushing yardage (216 – 898) with the Texans, to career lows as a giant. He also suffered career-lows in receptions and receiving yardage. Eric Gray has 6 fumbles on 31 career attempts, for 79 yards, no scores and a long run of 12 yards. If he makes their 2025 practice squad, I’ll be shocked. In the 4th round of the Draft, the giants selected Cam Skattebo. He’s a hard-running, high effort type. While he has the attitude to succeed, the question is: At this level, does he have enough talent? (-)

WR: Their best is Malik Nabers (109 – 1204 – 11.0 – 7). He’s coming off a productive rookie season, but much of that was from dealing in high volume, as he saw 170 targets in 15 games (11.3 tpg). Oh, and his 9 drops outnumbered his 7 scores. For comparison, Eagles A.J. Brown, on just 97 targets, also had 7 scores. With zero drops. That’s not a typo. Zero drops.

WR Malik Nabers competes for a pass.

Their number two, is Wan’Dale Robinson (93 – 699 – 7.5 – 3) who was targeted a career-high 140 times last year. Funny thing is, the more passes he sees, the more his yards per catch drops (9.9 in 2022, 8.8 in 2023, 7.5 in 2024). They re-signed deep threat Darius Slayton (39 – 573 – 14.7 – 2), but he’s already spent six years being under-utilized there. The last three were under current Offensive Co-Ordinator and former Eagles QB, Mike Kafka. Don’t expect much to change.

Speaking of former Eagles, Zach Pascal is also there. Combined since 2022, he has all of 19 catches, for 169 yards and 1 score. If they don’t draft a playmaker here, their passing attack will need their QB to be an absolute savior. (Update: They didn’t draft a playmaker here.) (-)

TE: Theo Johnson (29 – 331 – 11.4 – 1) is the headliner of this group. Um, okay? Daniel Bellinger (14 – 125 – 8.9 – 0) has seen his snap percentage decrease in each of the last two seasons, and he’s only played three. Chris Manhertz (3 – 30 – 10.0 – 1) played even less than Bellinger last year.

It would be easier to stomach these guys if their blocking led to huge improvement in the run game. Now say, if they helped some guy rush for 2,000 yards, then yeah, it wouldn’t matter that they suck as receivers. If they draft a player here, it had better be earlier than the fourth round. (Update: They added Thomas Fidone in the 7th round. (-)

OT: LT Andrew Thomas returns from a Lisfranc injury in his right foot, that cost him the final eleven games of last season. When he went down, the giants were forced to patch that position on the fly. RT Jermaine Eleumunor became the primary fill-in for Thomas at LT. Eleumunor didn’t exactly set the world on fire, and will face a 2025 challenge at RT from Evan Neal, who has yet to justify being the 7th overall Draft pick in 2022.

For depth, Stone Forsythe (Seahawks) and James Hudson (Browns) were added. Both are four year vets, who have never spent a season as a primary starter. Depth is scarce and the starters are “Meh.” at best. (-)

G: In his first season as a giant, LG Jon Runyan Jr. struggled until he was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve (I.R.) due to an ankle injury. RG Greg Van Roten (also in his first year as a giant), played better than Runyan, but neither was great. Perhaps a year of familiarity will improve them in 2025.

Behind them are Aaron Stinne and Jake Kubas. Plucking 5th rounder, Marcus Mbow from the Draft, already seems like a project. Their plan seems to be, moving him from college RT to professional G. (-)

C: They say the best ability is availability, and John Michael Schmitz made 15 starts in 17 games, anchoring an interior which started the first 13 games together. While not spectacular, he at least provides the kind of stability (another great ability) to build upon. Behind him is Jimmy Morrissey, who saw 4 starts as a rookie in 2021, and none since. (+)

In A Nutshell: Iffy offensive line, nothing but question marks at QB, and last year’s weapons, playing in last year’s system, which averaged 16.1 points, for 31st in the league. (-)

 

DEFENSE

DE: Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Roy Robertson-Harris are just a guys and both are 32 years old. So the giants swiped Chauncey Gholston from Dallas, with plans to deploy him on the line and as a ‘backer. Whether this means a transition to true 4-3, instead of the weird 2-4-5 thing they ran in 2024, remains to be seen. The personnel here however, would suggest a 3-4 or that 2-4-5 again. (-)

DT Dexter Lawrence doing Dexter Lawrence things

DT: Dexter Lawrence is one of the most disruptive linemen in the league, and he posted a career-high 9 sacks in 2024, to drive that point home. Tweener Elijah Chatman made the roster as an undrafted rookie last year, and logged three starts. He plays with hustle and passion, but he is a bit undersized at 278 pounds.

D.J. Davidson made two starts with 2 sacks, but the giants see him as a back-up. Jordon Riley made five starts, and was totally unremarkable, for the second year in a row. Which is probably why the giants drafted Darius Alexander in the third round. He’s heavy-footed and doesn’t make plays unless they’re run right at him. They have 1.5 out of 5 players here. (-)

OLB: Last year, I asked if Kayvon Thibodeaux (5.5 sacks) was a difference maker, or an over-drafted, situational player who gets too many snaps. Well, after three seasons, I think we have our answer. Then there’s Brian Burns who started every game last year, posting 8.5 sacks and a career-high 71 tackles? At least the outsides are secure, right?

So of course, the giants drafted Abdul Carter #3 overall in this year’s Draft, to take the starting spot from Burns. So Burns will shortly be depth, along with…maybe Tomon Fox? This is situation is just goofy. (-)

MLB/ILB: Micah McFadden posted career-highs in tackles (107) and sacks (3.0) in 2024, showing continued improvement for a second straight year. Bobby Okereke on the other hand seemed to have regressed, with fewer stops and big plays made. Behind him is Darius Mausau, who was an undrafted rookie last year, but played hungry when he got opportunities.

There are a number of other players at this position, but they’re all career back-ups, who even look like camp bodies in their photographs. This team, with a straight face, did nothing to address the interior run issues of the 27th ranked run defense. Not. A. Thing. (-)

S: Tyler Nubin started thirteen games as a rookie last season, but he defensed exactly 1 pass over the course of all of those games. Free agent Jevon Holland was added from Miami, but he also doesn’t get his hands on the pigskin very often. Dane Belton started six games last season, and intercepted a pass. These three are the top of the mountain for this team. Undrafted rookie Makari Paige, at 6’4” could prevent problems for opposing passing games. If he plays?

The giants have taken an unfortunate step backwards here. None of their players at this position, have a history of being a play-maker, nor show the potential to become one. Which is likely to turn into a brutal ordeal, in this division. (-)

CB: Deonte Banks started all fourteen games that he played last season, and got his hand on 12 passes, without intercepting any of them, while allowing a 70% completion rate. Across from him, for ten starts was Cor’Dale Flott (1 interception), who surrendered a 66% completion rate. Both look to have the inside track on returning as starters this season.

CB Paulson Adebo

Andru Phillips (1 interception) chipped in six starts as a rookie, but allowing a 75% completion rate won’t earn him more playing time. Perhaps that’s why the team shelled out 54M$ over three years, for free agent Paulson Adebo from the Saints. He intercepted 3 passes in just seven games last season, before breaking his thigh bone. After a lengthy rehab, he’s looking good so far in camp. (Grain of salt: He’s also going against giants receivers, here.)

There’s 7th round rookie Korie Black, and a bunch of guys who were already back-ups on the roster when he was selected. Overall they have Adebo as their #1 and two starters from last year fighting for the second spot. Which makes them at least three deep. (+)


In A Nutshell: This defense may be a better pass rush unit, but vs the run and covering people it’s hard to say that there’s been any meaningful improvement. (-)

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K/P: K Graham Gano (11/9 – 15/15) returns after a year struggling with injury. Two guys had a shot a replacing him, but well, Graham is still here. K Jude McAtamney (1/1 – 1/1) and Gano may battle it out this Summer for the gig.

P Jamie Gillian (43.7ypp – 40.5 net) was yet again remarkably unremarkable. He’s like that thing in the fridge that you keep meaning to toss, but keep forgetting about until the day after trash day. ( I gotta get rid of that mustard.)

In A Nutshell: Given all this teams issues, it’s silly to nit-pick unremarkable kicking. (+)

BOTTOM LINE: Are they trying to get Daboll fired? It took me MONTHS to write this up, because I was absolutely certain that I was reading this all wrong. There was just no way the giants were serious about the way they looked on April 27th.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, not yet touching his forehead, but getting there. (Seinfeld reference.)

So I decided to sit back and let the June 1st cuts happen. To wait for that second shoe to drop, and see a move or two get made, which would tie it all together. But here we are (now mid-June July beginnging of August), and nothing looks objectively better. Even as a rival fan I’m disgusted! If you’re an actual giants fan, take the gun out of your mouth, and just sit this season out.

Let’s call it 6 – 11 because the QB play in 2025 has to be better than 2024’s.

EAGLES 2025 SCHEDULE EVALUATION

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/05/20
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, NFC East, Reviews, Rivals. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

 

MOST sportswriters looked at the Eagles 2025 schedule, and ran to write their predictions. Mostly, using the exact same formula (wild guesses) as fans, to determine those outcomes. I on the other hand, am far more interested in telling you what the schedule means, than offering any sort of predictions.

Those comes in July.

From what I’ve been reading, almost everyone hates the schedule, and feels that the NFL has it in for us. To be honest, at first, I thought more or less the same thing. Then I did my deep look thing, and saw that this schedule isn’t nearly as bad as we think. Let’s weigh the cons, pros, and then we’ll see what’s under the soot.

CONS: Not only don’t we have any extended home stands, we don’t even have any back to back home games. We get short turnarounds on weeks 6, 11, and 13. Each of those leading us into a nationally televised game. Neither divisional game versus Washington has a set day and time. (But that might not be so bad. Keep reading.)

PROS: The week 9 Bye is in a good place. Midseason or later is where you want that. We get long rest periods going into weeks 2, 7, 10, and 14. Each of those games versus a 2024 playoff team. We go to Lambeau in early November, instead of later in the year. Then, after week 14, we have no games outside of our time zone.

DEEP DIVE: Week 6 is a short week, but we face a giants team also on a short week. (Sauce for the goose.) Week 12 has Dallas on a short turnaround. It however, is Washington that may just be our ticket to winning the East again. The best part is that Washington gets screwed by, and because of Christmas.

Washington’s last four games are against division rivals. Their first game against us, has to either be Thursday 12/18, (on a short week for both of us); or on Sunday 12/21. Since Washington has a game on Christmas Day versus Dallas, they can’t be put on Monday 12/22. That would only give them 3 days to recuperate. The NFL won’t do that.

So when we face Washington, we’re either on a short week, playing against a division rival on a short week. After they’d played a division game. Which are emotional, physical games. That would give us 9 days rest, before going to Buffalo on 12/28. Or we could play Washington on Sunday 12/21, and get normal rest before Buffalo. Either works for the Eagles.

Washington has to play a short week somewhere between 12/14 and 12/25. Can’t be avoided. They have to cram three games into eleven days, with us being one of those teams.

So the team that people think can unseat us, closes out the year with that eleven day run, followed by us, in the season finale. It’s almost not fair. Almost.

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP : Commanders

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/01/27
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC Championship, NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs, Rivals, Special Teams, stats, Super Bowl. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

 

PHILADELPHIA is going to the Super Bowl.

EAGLES 55 – Commanders 23

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (20/28 – 71.4% – 246 – 1 – 0 / 10 – 16 – 1.6 – 3 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (15 – 118 – 7.8 – 3 – 0)

Receiving: WR A.J. Brown (8 – 6 – 96 – 16.0 – 1)

Drive Killer: MLB Zack Baun (TD: 0/Int: 0/ FR: 1/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 1)

Sack Leader: OLB Nolan Smith (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 4)

Special Teams Ace: RB Will Shipley KR: 3 – 87 – 29.3 – 0 (36L)) / KC: FF/ Rush: (4 – 77 – 19.2 – 1 – 0)

****

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:

RB Saquon Barkley rips a 60 yard TD run on the Eagles first offensive play. LB’s Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu are reminded of why teams keep letting them walk.

1) Torment Single-high Coverage: We didn’t take advantage or refine many opportunities to do this at all. Many of our passes thrown, absolutely challenged one-on-one coverage of the outsides; but many of those were out-breaking routes that started from bunch formations.

We have to find ways to capitalize on loaded boxes, designed to slow down our run game. One of those would be to play with few WR bunches. The earlier Hurts can identify an open man, the faster he can get the ball out. (NOT DONE)

2) Limit the Scrambling: The Commanders QB finished the game with 48 rushing yards, but he only ran the ball 6 times in this game. In the prior two games he ran 16 and 13 times respectively. While he didn’t have a bunch of yards in any of the games, those runs help extend plays and mine opportunities for big plays.

We limited his chances to run and in that way made him play straight-up. The result was that he looked like a rookie who couldn’t match the pace of the game. (DONE)

3) Muddy the Coverage: We did an excellent job of this, especially in the first half. They got a single big passing play on a 36 yard catch and run, but most of what their QB Jayden Daniels (29/48 – 60.4 – 255 – 1 – 1) was forced into, was dumping off to his security blanket, TE Zach Ertz (16 – 11 – 104 – 9.4 – 0).

Just to illustrate how limited we kept Daniels, Ertz saw a full one-third of his QB’s attempts. Once we took away Daniels legs as an x-factor, it exposed how limited his supporting cast was, forced him to read more, and form there the hunt was on. (DONE)

4) Goedert As Hot Read: This one makes me grumble a bit, because instead of discussing general use of TE Dallas Goedert (8 – 7 – 85 – 12.4 – 0), I got hung up on discussing his third down use. While the Eagles put him to excellent use today, most of it was not as a receiver on third down. So we used him like an outlet, but not on the specific down that I wrote about. We did this, but it’s a technical: (NOT DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4, but it we did enough to post a blowout.

Now we get a week’s rest, and then we travel down to the Big Easy, for a Super Bowl win that won’t be. Bring on the challenge. Our guys wouldn’t have it any other way.

****

LG Landon Dickerson started the game at C, but had to leave with a knee injury. But he kept rooting for his guys!

Game Hero: The Offensive Line – The hidden story of the day is 29 rushes for 229 yards (6.3ypc) and 7 rushing touchdowns. That’s not a typo. We ran for SEVEN MOTHERFUCKING TOUCHDOWNS, in one game. And we did it behind a line featuring two injured Centers, tag-teaming the spot.

Game goat: K Jake Elliott (0/1 FG 7/7/XP) – I’m going to go with Elliott here, despite the fact that I didn’t care about the 54 yard field goal miss. Part of that has to do with the fact, that he’s been ass from 50+ this year; but I also wasn’t feeling the vibe in that moment. We’d unraveled on that drive, and were essentially hoping that a struggling guy might save us. So when he missed, it almost seemed like what needed to happen.

On The Whole: The 55 points that we put up in this game were the most point EVER put up in a Conference Championship Game, NFC or AFC. The Eagles own that record. Period. We scored 8 touchdowns in this game. All on Offense.

I made it clear in Four Things, that I wasn’t the least bit worried about Washington, and now you see why. We collected three Defensive turnovers, and one on Special Teams (by a RB who also ran for 77 yards and TD), along with ending two drives on unconverted fourth downs. One being a sack by Nolan Smith.

DT Jordan Davis makes his presence felt during a sack.

How bad was this blowout? If you doubled Washington’s score, and spotted them an extra touchdown and a two point conversion, they would have still lost by a point. So spare me all of that “Super Rookie” garbage. We just dragged his team’s face across stucco, in front of the nation, and he was helpless to stop it. Because what can one man do, against a superior team of superior men? The scoreboard is the answer.

And now onto New Orleans, to add to this poster.

FOUR THINGS: CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: EAGLES – COMMANDERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/01/25
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC Championship, NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs, Rivals, Super Bowl. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

ANOTHER successful home defense, and now we host the National Football Conference Championship Game. Whether you believe in RB Saquon Barkley, or openly and roundly criticize QB Jalen Hurts, they both continue to lift this Offense. Then there are the young guns on Defense, led by DT Jalen Carter and LB Zack Baun. This team is still heating up. It is still learning and improving.

This week we get a rubber match, against a team that won our last meeting, after we lost two key starters during that game. And even then, they just barely pulled it out. Oh, and did I mention that they were at home? Yeah. They were at home and needed that many stars to align, in order to beat us. This week the astrology is different. It’ll be them, vs our Eagles and 70,000 raving maniacs. All spelling the team name correctly.

I like our odds.

Win and we’re headed to New Orleans on our quest to win the Super Bowl.

Lose and it’s a short trip for the players to clean out their lockers.

Here’s to earning one more week of pain and sacrifice.

****

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. Often I list fundamentals, as some of the four things. BUT NO MORE! Unless something specific is needed, fundamentals like Running the ball; playing lots of Man Press; and Tackling instead of going for the strip, will be automatically included. (Like the five consonants and a vowel that Wheel Of Fortune automatically spots you.) So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week versus: the Commanders.

QB Jalen Hurts throws a laser.

1) Torment Single-high Coverage: We haven’t done this to them this year, but we need to make it happen Sunday. They will be loading the box to stop Saquon. So we have to capitalize on the one-on-one match-ups they leave WR DeVonta Smith and WR A.J. Brown.

Hurts has to identify the coverages, and get the ball out ASAP this week. If they show any form of Cover Two, audible to a run, and get behind either LG Landon Dickerson, or RG Mekhi Becton. However, if they walk a S up into the box, mix in some play-action and take advantage of the Commander’s so-so secondary.

2) Limit the Scrambling: The edges must be contained here. Especially the one manned by OLB Nolan Smith. When their QB goes to run, he should find a fence there on his right, to his passing side. This means that the DT playing beside Carter, needs to win that “A” gap to flush the QB, and not let him set his feet to run or pass deep.

DT Jalen Carter brings down QB Jayden Daniels

3) Muddy the Coverage: Take away anything quick. Small cushions and Safeties who delay their drop will help crowd the box, and force their QB through his progressions. That helps us vs the short pass, the regular run and scrambles. Which gives our pass rush time to get to the QB, for sacks and causing errant passes.

They may get off a few deep shots; but I’ll trust CB Darius Slay and S C.J. Gardner-Johnson any day, over the ability of the Commanders third rate receivers, to track down rushed passes.

4) Geodert As Hot Read: Their chief pass rushers are their OLB’s with 10.5 and 8.0 sacks this season. The next closest player has 5. Their rush comes off the edges, and this is easily exploitable with short passes in the Flat to TE Dallas Goedert. In our first meeting Goedert caught all 5 of his targets for 61 yards. He was on I.R. during our second meeting, which again, we lost.

On third downs, Goedert should run to OLB Dante Fowler, and line up outside of him. If Fowler rushes Hurts, then Goedert vs Zone, should find himself all alone. However, if the coverage is Man, well that should create time for Hurts to hold the ball, as the play unfolds. Look, he’s gonna do it. We might as well find a way to make it stop costing us.

****

If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…

RB Saquon Barkley makes a housecall.

Not to be cocky, but the Eagles are the more talented team. The healthier team. And playing at home. While every indicator says that we should win this game, we still have to go out and play the thing. No one is going to just hand the NFC trophy to the Eagles. It must be earned, and our guys not only understand that, they respect it. Besides, I doubt that Head Coach Nick Sirianni would have it any other way.

****

WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know FOOTBALL and that’s it. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, then you are a fool trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.

Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 18: giants

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/01/08
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs, Rivals, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
So. Guess who won the NFC East.

BACK-UPS handled business.

 

EAGLES 20 – giants 13

 

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Tanner McKee (27/41 – 65.8% – 269 – 2 – 0)

Rushing: RB Will Shipley (10 – 32 – 3.2 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: WR Jahan Dotson (11 – 7 – 94 – 13.4 – 0)

Drive Killer: S Sydney Brown (TD: 0/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops:0 / FF: 0)

Sack Leader: NONE (Sacks: / FF: / Tackles: )

Special Teams Ace: N/A

****

I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these Four Things articles. It’s to point out what we need to address BEFORE the game. Then AFTER the game, there’s a no-bullshit assessment of whether or not the Eagles did any of what they needed to do, to ensure the win.

So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: GIANTS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:

TE E.J. Jenkins catches his first NFL pass, and it’s for a touchdown.

1) Two Long Looks: The first look was supposed to be of McKee, and we got that. He looked in control and in command at all times. At no point did he ever seem flustered. Even when he had to corral two high snaps. He put up 269 and 2 scores with back-up receivers, behind a back-up O-line, with no run support, against starters. He has a few things to clean up, but McKee is legit.

The other long look was WR Johnny Wilson (5 – 3 – 24 – 8.0 – 0). He played 65 snaps (96%), but was wholly unremarkable. (DONE)

2) Give Elliott Some Practice: K Jake Elliott was 2/3 kicking field goals. Sadly, his miss was from just 39 yards away. So he got some work, but I don’t know if that helped at all. (DONE)

3) Make It Make Sense: The idea was to get a look at what WR Jahan Dotson would do with 4 or more targets. What he did was lead the team in targets (11), catches (7), and receiving yardage (94). With zero drops.

WR Jahan Dotson.

Dotson did this with a third string QB, versus a starting secondary. This only points out that there’s been no good reason on Earth, why he shouldn’t already be a larger part of this Offense. Someone needs to get their shit together. (DONE)

4) Value Combo Players: I was looking at a few players, but CB Isaiah Rodgers (2 tackles) was the player I’d mentioned in FT. I was hoping to see some value in him as a kick returner. What he showed were two returns, one for 24 yards, the other for 51. That’s an average of 37.5 yards. Not bad. (DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was a perfect 4 of 4, which is a perfect way to close out the regular season. Now, onto the playoffs, to send the Packers, packing up for their offseason!

****

Game Hero: QB Tanner McKee – Given his lack of support from the run game, McKee had to carry the Offense. No fancy runs. No 4th down punt fakes. Just a straight-forward, pocket passer carving up a defense.

Game goat: The Running Backs – Before we come down too hard on our back-up O-Line, consider that our two principle RB’s in this game, have been lackluster runners this entire season. Even behind the starting line. The fact is, we don’t have any depth to take seriously at this position.

On The Whole:

S Sydney Brown seals the game with an interception

We got the sweep, and we got to thoroughly out-class a division rival. That said, our inability to generate even a single sack, was a concern. It also needs to be said that everyone who’s played MLB for us this year has looked pretty good. Oren Burks (17 – 0 – 0 – 0) wore the green dot, and did a good job managing it. It makes me wonder if Zack Baun (DNP) is mostly a product of the system here. Not for nothing, but I think Jeremiah Trotter Jr (11 – 0 – 0 – 0) looked pretty good out there as well.

FOUR THINGS: WK 18: EAGLES – GIANTS

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/01/04
Posted in: Coaching, Defense, Four Things, free agents, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Rivals. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

WE’VE already locked up the #2 seed in the playoffs! All that’s left to do is get RB Saquon Barkley, the NFL record for Most Rushing Yards In A Season. Which we won’t be doing, in order to protect him from injury. Here, is where I usually try to get you hyped up about the game, but the Eagles from the top-down, have signaled that this game is all about going through the motions. Yay-woohoo. It’s no more than a prese-

THAT’S IT!

Like a preseason game, this game gives us a chance to look at the deeper parts of our roster. UN-like a preseason game, for the players this is a game that counts towards career numbers. For coaches, there will be game-plans implemented. So this game can be used as a real world evaluation tool.

It is not a joint practice, a scrimmage, or a preseason game. This is live fire. The real thing. This is an opportunity to see what we need to draft, or add through Free Agency, and where we’re already solid.

With a win we finish with a regular season record of 14 – 3, and a sweep of the giants.

A loss holds us at 13 wins for the year, but we let the giants escape with some dignity.

****

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game.

But not this week. This week the win or loss has absolutely zero functional value to us. So as I said before, we should use it as an evaluation tool. That doesn’t mean that fundamental don’t still count though!

Often I list fundamentals, as some of the four things. BUT NO MORE! Unless something specific is needed, fundamentals like Running the ball; playing lots of Man Press; and Tackling instead of going for the strip, will be automatically included. (Like the five consonants and a vowel that Wheel Of Fortune automatically spots you.) So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week versus: the giants.

QB Tanner McKee

1) Two Long Looks: Getting his first NFL start is QB Tanner McKee. When QB Kenny Pickett went to the bench, I said “You’re fucking up, Kenny!”. Giving your back-up an opportunity to shine? Just ask former #1 overall draft pick QB Drew Bledsoe, how that worked out for him. If the Eagles see potential, Pickett could become trade fodder in the off-season.

We also need to see a larger sample of WR Johnny Wilson. Specifically, we need to see him get a few targets. Against the Rams he played 51 snaps (70%), yet only saw one target. This is not how to develop a receiver. Throw him some passes. Let him do some good things and some bad things; that he can get on tape and study before OTA’s.

2) Give Elliott Some Practice: Just two weeks ago K Jake Elliott made his first 50 yard Field Goal of the season. That is terrifying, but we can’t undo it. Pinheads want to replace him, but at this point in the year, there are no better K’s out there on their couches. So maybe we can help Elliott out of his funk.

Try to get his confidence going, as well as letting him work on his mechanics. In the playoffs, we get at least two games at home. Make this game about practicing for the playoff run.

Let’s get THIS guy going again

3) Make It Make Sense: This off-season we traded for WR Jahan Dotson, to be our #3/Slot receiver. To this point, he has five starts, played 601 offensive snaps (56%), seeing only 22 targets for 12 catches. If he were unreliable, the low number of targets might be seen as a trust issue. Thing is, he has zero drops. So what gives!?

Dotson saw a season-high 4 targets for 2 catches and 11 yards, in Week 4 vs Tampa Bay. This is ridiculous. I’m eager to see what he would do with 4 or more targets on Sunday.

4) Combo Value Players: Last season we traded for, and stashed CB Isaiah Rodgers away for a year; while he was suspended for the season, over gambling. We were all expecting him to eventually push for starting spot. Enter rookie CB’s Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

Along with an excellent starting trio, we have young Eli Ricks and Kelee Ringo. So Rodgers is in a tight spot, with regard to next season. If he can offer value as a kick returner, it improves his chances of staying here next season.

****

If the Eagles do these Four Things, blah blah blahblahblah That being said…

Honestly, the only thing that could offer the this game any air of excitement, would be to cheer on Barkley. However, the coaching staff took that off the board. Wouldn’t it be great if they had a change of heart.

****

WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know FOOTBALL and that’s it. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, then you are a fool trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.

Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 17: Cowboys

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/01/01
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Fans, Four Things, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Rivals, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
DT Jordan Davis holds up fumble recovery. S Reed Blankenship and DT Jalen Carter, cheer him on.

2024 NFC EAST WINNERS

EAGLES 41 – Cowboys 7

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Kenny Pickett (10/15– 66.6% – 143 – 1 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (31 – 167 – 5.3 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: WR DeVonta Smith (7 – 6 – 120 – 20 – 2)

Drive Killer: S C.J. Gardner-Johnson(TD: 1/Int: 2/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)

Sack Leader: DT Thomas Booker/LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (Sacks: 0.5 / FF: 0/ Tackles: 5/3)

Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott 2/2 FG, 5/5 XP

****

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: COWBOYS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:

1) Establish the Pass Immediately: Luckily we started the game with a defensive score, because it took three possessions for the Offense to find some traction. By that time it was already the second quarter. (NOT DONE)

RB Saquon Barkley is now one of only nine men, to ever rush for 2000 yards, in an NFL regular season.

2) Lean On the Run: We absolutely nailed this one. Barkley had a season high 31 carries in this one, and they were enough to make him one of just nine men in NFL HISTORY, to rush for 2000 yards in a single season.

Those rushes weren’t just to chase a record. We needed this win to clinch the #2 seed in the playoffs, and ensure that the NFC East, didn’t somehow fall to Washington. We started a back-up QB (Pickett), and when he went down, we played third string QB Tanner Mckee (3/4 – 75.0 – 54 – 2 – 0). So Barkley’s 31 carries were essential. (DONE)

3) Take Away Anything Simple: We did a great job of forcing Dallas QB Cooper Rush (15/28 – 53.7% – 147 – 1 – 2) into uncomfortable situations, and making him air out passes, instead of sticking to the dink and dunk, that got him picked off on the first drive of the game!

We rattled him early with a pick six, and he got totally away from who he is as an athlete. He tried to do too much, and it only helped his team sink faster. He was smart enough to get the ball out and avoid sacks, but he just doesn’t have any playmaker in his DNA. He’s a closer (pitcher) forced into starting. He never stood a chance. (DONE)

4) Use Five Man Fronts: We did some of this, but not a huge amount of it. It might have been wise not to, with LB Oren Burks (8 – 0.0 – 0 – 1) starting in place of injured LB Nakobe Dean. As a second level defender, rotating with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (3 – 0.5 – 0 – 0) the Eagles may have wanted to keep help close to them. (NOT DONE)

Jordan Davis after his fumble recovery

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4, but it was more than enough. Next week we host the giants, in a game that will have either a ton of significance, or absolutely none at all. At least we now know it’s Sunday at 1:00

****

S C.J. Gardner-Johnson scoring a pick six, with S Reed Blankenship providing an escort.

Game Hero: C.J. Gardner-Johnson – He killed two drives, with interceptions. One he returned for a score, which equaled Dallas’s output for the entire game. He could also be seen calming fellow players down, as Cowboys players kept trying to bait Eagles into penalties, after the play. Given that he was ejected and fined $45,000 last week, this was some fast maturing on his part

Game goat: Defensive Line – We got just one sack, and allowed their mutt of a RB, to get 100 rushing yards.

On The Whole: It was a domination from start to finish. Offense, Defense and Special Teams all showed up and took care of business. We wrapped up a division crown; putting two players into the record books (Barkley’s 2000 rushing yards, and McKee becoming the only QB in NFL history to debut with more than one TD pass, on fewer than five attempts); or choking out a rival in front of a deserving fan base.

Nearly lost in all of this, is the huge day that DeVonta Smith put up. He had three plays where he reached into the Cowboys chest and extracted a still beating heart. A 22 yard score; a 49 yard bomb, that set-up first and goal from the one; and a 25 yard score, just to add battery acid to the wound. Just when an opponent thinks they have A.J. Brown under wraps:

WR DeVonta Smith on his second TD

FOUR THINGS: WK 17: EAGLES – COWBOYS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/12/28
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs, Rivals. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

CAN’T win ‘em all. You should however, win the ones where you pull five turnovers from your opponent. Speaking of five turnovers, that’s how many we collected the last time we saw this week’s opponent. MLB Zack Baun was in on three of those. A repeat performance would be awesome, as we go for the sweep.

The Cowboys don’t do a good job of scoring points, and our Defense is pretty good at not giving points up. So if both teams show our true colors, this one should be a walk for the Eagles, even without QB Jalen Hurts this week, due to concussion.

A win will see us improve to 13 – 3, complete the sweep of the Cowboys, and clinch the NFC East crown. It will also technically keep us alive for the #1 seed in the Conference.

A loss will hold us at 12 – 4, but we can still clinch the NFC East, if Washington finds a way to lose to Cleveland. Highly unlikely? Yes. Impossible? N- Yes. Yes it’s impossible. Who are we kidding? We’ll have to win to clinch.

****

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. Often I list fundamentals, as some of the four things. BUT NO MORE! Unless something specific is needed, fundamentals like Running the ball; playing lots of Man Press; and Tackling instead of going for the strip, will be automatically included. (Like the five consonants and a vowel that Wheel Of Fortune automatically spots you.) So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week versus: the Cowboys

1) Establish the Pass Immediately: Last week after Hurts went down, the Commanders sensed that QB Kenny Pickett couldn’t hurt them as a passer, so they started selling out against the run. We became one dimensional and produced just 5 field goal attempts (4 makes) in three quarters of football. That can’t happen again.

Pickett cannot rely solely on Slants, Crosses, and Hooks this week. All of those routes can be played from a loaded box. The ball has to find the TE and Slot WR this week, in order to stretch the box laterally and open up running lanes inside.

2) Lean On the Run: Last time we faced the Cowboys, I suggested lightening RB Saquon Barkley’s load. We did that and it worked. That would be the wrong approach this time. We’re an Offense in a tight spot. This is where it’s important to have an identity and know what it is. Our identity is running the ball. Let’s not get cute.

Running the ball will also set up play-action, which MUST be employed this week to create space in the pocket for Pickett. Screens are not the same as running the ball, despite what many offensive coordinators seem to think.

3) Take Away Anything Simple: Keep the coverage muddy underneath and force their QB to throw the ball deeper than he usually does. He’s a bright guy and he reads well, but he doesn’t have the arm strength to reliably deliver what his eyes see downfield.

We may have to live with a few big plays, but on average, him taking shots, benefits us more. He is also not fleet of foot. If he’s holding the ball, then the pass rush has time to impact the game, by impacting him.

4) Use Five Man Fronts: Recently the Cowboys have found confidence running the ball vs bad teams. They are likely to try their hand at it with us this week. Get into some five man fronts and shut that shit down tout de suite. That same front can be used to eliminate the frequent double teams on DT Jalen Carter.

****

If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…

This week revolves around how well we support Kenny Pickett. Last week he was thrown into live fire, but this week is still his first start of the season. He will not be capable of elite play, so it’s ridiculous to expect it. Hell, he had never been that guy before we signed him.

What I’m hoping to see more from him, is play-action and TE. Play-action and Slot. A couple of gutsy scrambles up the middle. We also need to attempt at least one Brotherly Shove with him. If teams think that we won’t run our “unstoppable play” when Hurts is out, it will paint a MASSIVE target on him. We can’t have that on the doorstep of the playoffs.

****

WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know FOOTBALL and that’s it. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, then you are a fool trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.

Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 16: Commanders

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/12/27
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs, Rivals, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

NO starting QB hurts team.

 

EAGLES 33 – Commanders 36

 

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Kenny Pickett (14/24 – 58.3% – 143 – 1 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (29 – 150 – 5.1 – 2 – 0)

Receiving: WR A.J. Brown (15 – 8 – 97 – 12.1 – 1)

Drive Killer: OLB Nolan Smith (TD: 0/Int: 0/ FR: 2/ 4th down stops: / FF: 0)

Sack Leader: OLB Nolan Smith (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 3)

Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott 4/5 FG (50), 3/3 XP

****

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) Gas Their Defensive Line: We started out doing this and it was working like a charm. Then we lost our starting QB, and our back-up proved to be no threat passing the ball. The Commanders simply loaded the box, and overwhelmed the running lanes.

QB Jalen Hurts lost to a concussion

I don’t want to say that we didn’t do this, when we were CLEARLY doing it at the start. However, I said in Four Things: “It’s not about how we start. It’s about how we finish.” Well, we didn’t manage to erode their front. (NOT DONE)

2) Don’t Miss Seven Points On Kicks: While Jake Elliott did miss three points on the one kick (from 56), he made 4 of 5, including his first from 50 this year. Despite it being a three point loss, this game can in no way be laid at his feet (foot?). The Defense allowed 36 points in this one. So leave Jake alone. (DONE)

3) Take Away Quick Reads: It seemed like when we did this, all we did was open up room for their QB to run. (He had 81 yards on 9 carries.) Our pass rush simply didn’t do a good enough job of containing him. Good to spot that weakness now, but not a good one to have. (NOT DONE)

4) Jump A Couple First Half Passes: We got all over this! CB Darius “Big Play” Slay (7 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) broke up 2 first half passes and S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (1 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) intercepted a pass in the second quarter. (DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4. Next week we’re back home playing host the Dallas Cowboys.

****

RB Saquon Barkley rips a 68 yard TD run

Game Hero: RB Saquon Barkley – Helped put us up 21 – 7 by the end of the first quarter. Two of those scores came after starting QB Jalen Hurts (1/4 – 25.0% – 11 – 0 – 0 / 3 – 41 – 13.6 – 0 – 0), was knocked from the game with a concussion.

Game goat: Head Coach Nick Sirianni – For three quarters, all that the Offense could muster was 4 field goals. Once Washington realized that QB Kenny Pickett wasn’t a threat as a passer, they loaded the box to stall our one dimensional attack.

As an offensive coach, to not have his back-up QB prepared to play, is egregious. It’s egregious, salacious, it’s downright preposterous!

On The Whole:

Weird shit, like this 12 Men On The Field penalty, which became a free play TD, is the sort of fluke thing that keeps me from being worried about the Eagles.

You may recall that I said this in FT: “We should run the table here. BUT, if there is going to be a loss in any of these next three division games, let it be this one.

Think back to the Monday night game on 11/14/22. We lost 21 – 32 to an inferior Commanders team, and at first, we were a little pissed about it. But the(n) we thought about it, talked about it, and as fans we came to call it “a good loss” because we felt it humbled us, and taught us valuable lessons. Turns out we were right, and we rode those lessons to a Super Bowl appearance.

I don’t think we need any lessons, but this is the only game in the next three, that has any form of possible lesson embedded in it.”

Hey! What can I say? This loss doesn’t have me panicked. Quite the opposite in fact! In a couple of months, we just might be thanking Washington for the wake-up call.