WHAT loss?! Man, fuck that loss! We’re already in the playoffs, and since we won’t get the one seed,
IT DOESN’T MATTER, which seed we get!
Seeds two through seven, all need four wins to hoist the Lombardi. So us six teams, are all in the same boat. Meanwhile, seeds five through seven, basically have to do it entirely on the road. Which has been done a few times already.
In fact, it seems to happen every few years since 1997:
Oakland Raiders (1980), Denver Broncos (1997), Baltimore Ravens (2000), Pittsburgh Steelers (2005), New York Giants (2007), Green Bay Packers (2010), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020)
So don’t lose hope, or sight of the goal, Eagles Fans.
Let’s get something straight, right now. Barring an inspired act of God, Dallas isn’t going to lose to Washington, which makes the outcome of our game practically meaningless. So don’t go getting hung up on the final score. What matters, is if we look like our Defense is coming back to life; and if we can be dangerous on Offense again.
Think of this game as a tune-up. Two weeks ago, we beat the giants by eight points. This time, we want to beat them by more than eight, or hold them to 21 points or fewer. Either one is a major step in the right direction.
A win has us finish the season at 12 – 5, as the 5th seed in the NFC playoffs. That is, unless Washington somehow manages to beat Dallas, making us the 2nd seed.
A loss means we finish the year at 11 – 6, and as the 5th seed. So we’re bulletproof either way.
****
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. So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week versus: the giants
DT Jordan Davis forces RB Ezekiel Elliott to fumble
1) Contain the Run: Right now DT Jordan Davisis lining up over players, instead of gaps. Then he’s doubled more than 50% of the time. Look, no RB runs through his o-line. They run through the gaps. Davis can’t clog up a player, but he can clog a gap. Dictate the action, by lining up in a gap, and taking that gap away.
With Davis taking away a gap, the MLB has to read and fill the open gap, before the runner gets momentum enough to break a tackle. We also need our DE’s to set edges, and force runs back inside the Tackles.
2) Get To the Quarterback: Two weeks ago, these two teams met, and we got one sack from a team that surrenders an average of five per week. It was a travesty. We need 3 or 4 sacks in this one, just to prove that our pass rush is at least getting back on track.
3) Spread and Run: Stretching the opponent’s defense laterally, will let our RB’s pop into the second level faster, with the inside run plays that we like to run. Run the ball. Eat up clock. Let a Defense that has seen too many snaps recently, get some rest.
RB D’Andre Swift looked good vs that defense a couple games ago.
4) Go Deep Aggressively: Opposing defenses are playing our Slant and Out routes, far more aggressively than they did during the beginning of season. The only way to combat that, is to throw the ball deep down the field.
Whether or not we hit on the play, our opponent has to honor the idea that we will attempt it again. That loosens the box and underneath coverage again. Two deep shots in a game isn’t respectable. Between two and four, is respectable. Five or better is putting your next opponent on notice. Let’s make them uncomfortable.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
A win (at this point) is meaningless without help. A loss means we have hold as the 5th seed. So it would be no change. This game is a total freebie. We’re gambling with house money. So, more than chasing a “W”, we should use the game as a tune-up for the playoffs.
Be nice to get RB Boston Scott some redemption.
****
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.
OFTEN when I write an original draft, if something doesn’t fit right, or I’m not sure how to use it, I’ll move it all the way to the bottom of the draft, then go back up and keep working. So in the originals, there’s sometimes a bunch of leftover stuff at the bottom, that gets totally left out of the article that you read.
I originally wrote this while working on the “On The Whole” segment of Four Things Reviewed: WK 12: Bills. I wanted to be celebratory, but I kept ending up expressing my concerns. Then I would shove those down page, and then write more happy shit.
While I’m grateful for the win, and did want to enjoy the moment, it would be disingenuous of me to not reflect, what many of us are feeling, despite being 10 – 1.
About the game itself, I’m not understanding what’s going on. After the game, WR Devonta Smithwas talking with local reporter John Clark, about how we still have yet to play a complete game. WHY??? Who is fucking up so often, and why aren’t they accountable? And why is four quarters of strong effort, too much to ask for?
I’m from Philly, so I have to speak plain on this. I’m sure I’ll get called negative or whatever, but this “Nothing matters as long as we win” attitude, is silly and keeping the team from getting better. In fact, it seems to be getting worse. We didn’t start the season with 10 point halftime deficits, but look at us over the last two games.
We have all four of our starters in the Secondary healthy, as well as our NCB. So we no longer have the injury excuse, yet the coverage issues that we were told would be addressed during the Bye week, still remain. Opponents are still getting the ball out quickly, so the pass rush has deteriorated. If anything it’s gotten worse after the Bye.
I don’t get why we keep running a QB who’s knee is better, but not healed. I don’t get why we don’t give more carries to our RB. I don’t understand why it’s okay that guys who could cover last year, can’t this year. I don’t understand why we make every QB we face, look like vintage Steve Young.
Handing the ball off just 18 times, almost seems like the coaching staff is trying to get our QB hurt again. We’re 10 – 1 and honestly, I’m not sure that we could beat a playoff team, IN the playoffs, right now. We just refuse to play for four quarters!
Again, this was just stuff that I kept pushing down the page, almost as if I was pushing it down inside my mind. Telling myself a form of “Don’t worry be happy.” But I can’t keep quiet about it anymore. This is really starting to spook me. Is any of this bothering any of you?
SEASON Reviews are usually done at the end of the season. A few are also done at the halfway mark. Starting in 2017, Eaglemaniacal.com began treating the season like a game, and breaking it into four quarters.
In 2021, the NFL expanded the season to 17 games, which makes for an uneven split. So this year (at least), these Quarterly Reports will come after Weeks 5, 9, 13, and 17. (Ugh. I hate even looking at that format.)
Since football is a hard sport, we’ll take a hard look at where our team currently stands, in relation to where it started. Then we can discuss where it needs to go next.
STATUS: 8 – 1, 1st place in the NFC East, 1st place in the NFC, best record in the NFL.
Darius really slays ’em
OPPONENTS:
L – New York Jets
W – Miami
W – Washington*
W – Dallas*
OVERVIEW:
We’re 8 – 1, with a 2 game lead and the head-to-head tie-breaker over 5 – 3 Dallas. After we swept 4 – 5 Washington, they immediately hung up their season, and traded away their two starting DE’s. Our Defense held Miami’s 37 point per game offense, to a single scoring drive, on national television, as we donned our Kelly Green uniforms for the first time in over twenty years. Amid a four turnover game, we earned a loss vs an oddly scrappy Jets team.
What’s crazy is that the Eagles have struggled with turnovers and penalties, but keep finding ways to claw back and claim wins. This team has yet to play the sort of game befitting an 8 – 1 record. The mantra this year has been: “Just you wait ‘til we put it all together!” The thing is, we’re 9 games into a 17 game season. Real talk? This is starting to look like who we are.
GRADES:
QB:Jalen Hurts (97/137 – 70.8% – 1,085 – 9 – 2) has stepped up his game in every regard as a passer. Much of that has to do with the reported bone bruise in his left knee, limiting his effectiveness as a runner (33 – 110 – 3.3 – 3). He still runs, but he’s clearly not as dangerous right now. Still, 50% of Hurts as a runner, is still more of a problem than half the QB’s in the league right now. His per carry average is also deceptively low, as it includes both kneel downs and Brotherly Shoves. (Grade: A)
RB:D’Andre Swift (59 – 180 – 3.0 – 1 – 3) was abysmal as a rusher last quarter. Don’t hand me the “injuries to the O-line” excuse. We were down ONE guy! Added to that, his receiving (18 – 15 – 91 – 6.0 – 1) isn’t lighting the world on fire, either. He’s helping to get the ball out of his QB;s hand and move the sticks, but it’s not the sort of performance that ends in a long term deal. Neither are his three fumbles this quarter.
Kenny Gainwell remains underwhelming whether rushing (15 – 47 – 3.1 – 2 – 1), or receiving (8 – 7 – 35 – 5.0 – 0); but the coaching staff seems to love him. Head Coach Nick Sirianniraves about him. Remember when this team was all about competition? Sirianni was paying rock-paper-scissors, and shooting hoops… You wonder how much competition Swift feels with Gainwell behind him. My guess is, he seems to feel pretty safe. Boston Scottand Rashaad Pennyeach logged just 2 carries during the quarter. (Grade: F)
Goedert finds paydirt.
TE:Dallas Goedert (24 – 17 – 205 – 12.0 – 1) was the only player at this position to touch the ball last quarter. His production had been consistent with 205 yards per quarter. However, the broken arm that he suffered vs Dallas, will shelve him for at least four games. His receiving will be missed, but where his absence will most be felt, is in the run game. Both in terms of blocking, and ability to draw defenders out of the box. Jack Stoll (no stats) is a very good blocker. Not developing depth here was stupid of us. (Grade: C)
WR:A.J. Brown (41 – 32 – 464 – 14.5 – 4) has been an outright menace. Despite frequent double coverage, he’s operated as volume receiver, while still catching 78% of the passes thrown to him. Oh, and he set an all-time NFL record, with six consecutive games of 125 or more receiving yards. Not Jerry. Not Megatron. Not T.O., Fitz, or even Julio. Just A.J. Alone.
I said before, that Devonta Smith (26 – 19 – 243 – 12.7 – 2) needs to be involved more. Instead, he saw a drop-off in targets, despite a 73.0% catch rate. Speaking of usage drop, start checking milk cartons for Olamide Zaccheaus (7 – 3 – 18 – 6.0 – 0). Quez Watkinshas been out with injury since Week Five. Julio Jones (3 – 2 – 11 – 5.5 – 1) may see more time next quarter, due to injury at TE. The ball needs to be spread around more, but there are loads of production coming from here. (Grade: A)
OT:Lane Johnson is the premier RT in the sport. Due to an injury beside him, he’s had to help compensate, and yet the Eagles are still 8 – 1, while averaging 27.7 points, last quarter. On the other hand, LT Jordan Mailata hasn’t been quite as smooth recently. He drew a false start against Washington, and allowed a sack vs Dallas. Nothing to cry about, but to this point Mailata has spoiled us. So it’s easy to notice when he’s not perfect. (Grade: B)
That blue line is where their defense lined up. So much for that shit!
OG: LG Landon Dickerson has shown improvement since last report, by drawing zero flags. He’s also a huge reason why the Brotherly Shove works as well as it does, as the left side of the line is far more dominant at generating a new line of scrimmage. At RG Sua Opeta filled in while Cam Jurgens was on I.R. Opeta is a gamer, but his lack of physicality is likely what led to him being benched for rookie Tyler Steen. With Steen’s first start being against Dallas, he acquitted himself well, recovering a fumble that could have changed the flow of the game. We still weren’t able to run the football the way we like, and that is an area for concern. (Grade: B)
C: Finalist for People magazine’s 2023 World’s Sexiest Man award, Jason Kelce has been burning so hot, that it’s starting to concern me, about how much he’ll have left in January/February. Nice worry to have, right? (Grade: A)
DE:Josh Sweat(9 – 4.0 – 0 – 0) has indeed stepped up his game as a pass rusher, with 4 sacks in four games to go with 5 tackles for losses (TFL). Now if he can start to get the ball out of opposing QB’s hands, that would be faaaaantastic. Brandon Graham (4 – 2.0 – 0 – 0) made a cameo in the Dallas game, getting to the QB on two consecutive downs. It was a moment of absolute fucking cool. Very much on the order of David Bowie’s cameo in Zoolander.
How Brandon Graham showed up vs Dallas.
Derek Barnett (1 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) played 27 snaps over three games, and was inactive vs Dallas. He’s healthy and has had no penalties, but the window to trade him has passed, so I have no clue what the plan for him is. This position is one player deep, and then staffed with part-timers. That allows us to surprise teams, but not to know what we can count on from down to down. (Grade: C)
DT:Fletcher Cox (7 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) is still a very disruptive force inside, but more and more, he’s gimping to the sideline during games. (Playing him as an End would mitigate some the abuse that he takes fighting through traffic.) Jordan Davis (7 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) isn’t making as many plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage. In fact, neither man has a TFL last quarter.
Jalen Carter (4 – 0.5 – 0 – 0) missed the Jets game (back pain), and therefore is undefeated as a pro. Milton Williams (8 – 0.5 – 0 – 0) has decreased in effectiveness with each game last quarter. This position was money for the Defense in the first quarter, but has taken a nose-dive since. Get it together! (Grade: D)
Once again… HAASON, CHOP!
OLB:Haason Reddick(14 – 4.5 – 0 – 0) also has 5 TFL last quarter, as if to underscore what a nightmare he is for opposing offensive lines. Zach Cunningham (21 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) has stepped up in coverage, breaking up 3 passes over the last two games. While his numbers aren’t flashy, his play has been rock solid. Rookie Nolan Smith (5 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) so far, has never seen more than NINE snaps in a game. That’s too few. The guy can’t be productive without a chance to produce. Patrick Johnson(1 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) is a Special Teamer who was drafted as a DE/LB hybrid. He’s since been rendered pointless by the additions of Reddick and Smith. Unless he can be a stop-gap for Barnett, he’s entering his last half season here. (Grade: B)
MLB:Nakobe Dean (23 – 0.5 – 0 – 0) makes tackles, with 2 for losses. What he doesn’t do (right now) is make plays. What he also doesn’t do, is stay on the field. He’s looking at a second I.R. stint this season. He’s also a bit of a liability in pass coverage. Some of it, (by the eyeball test) seems to be related to his height and short arms. Neither of which can be coached up. He’s got good instincts for the run, but until he becomes a factor in either underneath coverage or pass rushing, he’s running a serious JAG risk. (Just A Guy)
When Dean returned from I.R, Nick Morrow(10 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) saw a steep drop in his snaps. However, with Dean going out again, Morrow returns to the starting line-up. I think Morrow is the better option anyway, as he has a better feel for underneath coverage. (I’m already interested to see what our Front Seven’s production will look like, at the end of this next quarter.) Christian Elliss (3 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) hasn’t logged a defensive snap since Week Three. All of his quarterly production has been on Special Teams. That should change shortly. (Grade: C)
S: Before I get into this, I want to tip my cap to traded STerrell Edmunds (13 – 0.0 – 0 – 0). He deserved better than going from a 6 – 1 team that he helped build, to a Tennessee team with no shot this year. That being acknowledged, let’s dig in.
Reed Blankenship (21 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) missed the game vs Miami, but still managed to break up 4 passes and recover a fumble. He’s been up and down this year, but I have to keep reminding myself that he’s in just his second year. In all honesty, he’s probably playing way more than coaches planned for, when they didn’t draft him at all last year.
This is how you Reed a QB!
Who we did draft, was Sydney Brown (15 – 0.0 – 0 – 1). Lots of energy and wants to hit, but he seems slow to process routes, and ends up late to the play. Fans end up cheering a tackle, when they could have been cheering an interception. We traded to get Philly native Kevin Byard(16 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) only to handcuff him to a system that doesn’t let him challenge routes, and reduces him to a tackler only. Which is what we had with Edmunds. Meaning that we’re getting the same thing, but with higher expectations now, which is why the disappointment feels sharper. Hopefully the Bye will help our coaches realize their error.
Justin Evans (no stats) has been on I.R. since Week Four. Injuries have been the 2023 story of this position, so far. After the Bye, there should be a full stable to work from, but so far this position hasn’t been our strength. (Grade: D)
CB:Darius Slay(19 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) was out vs the Jets, but made a huge, possibly game saving interception vs Miami. He also has broken up 3 passes this quarter. James Bradberry (17 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) has 4 pass break-ups, but the completions and the FOUR touchdowns he allowed last quarter, are reason for alarm.
For comparison, while Slay has given up two this season, Bradberry has given up seven. Much of that can be laid at the feet of Bradberry being a Man-press player, forced to play off-coverage, thus exposing his lack of top-end speed. Put simply, the defensive coaches are hanging him out to dry.
Bradley Roby (1 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) returns from I.R. soon, and will almost certainly take over the Nickel spot. Refresher: We added Roby after Josh Jobe(4 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) proved to be an easy mark for QB’s to throw on, through the first quarter of the season.
Eli Ricks (7 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) took over the Nickel job, after Roby went on I.R. and Jobe still seemed to struggle. Respectively, Ricks and Jobe have broken up 1 and 2 passes this quarter. However, until the Dallas game, where he was frequently matched up with WR Ceedee Lamb, Ricks was seeing little traffic. He’s generally done a good job of making QB’s look off of his man.
Kelee Ringo (2 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) hasn’t seen a defensive snap since Week Two. Last quarter’s tackles are from Special Teams. According to Sports Illustrated, the Eagles want to develop him into a S, which makes sense when you see his body type and see him move. If that’s the case, unbury him from this depth pile, and move him to where he’ll see actual snaps. Another unforced coaching error! (Grade: D)
LS:Rick Lovato has been solid, steady, and uneventful. (Grade: A)
P:Braden Mann (10 – 514 – 51.4) is kicking the ball over half the field, which is a 10 yard improvement over the first quarter. Only 1 of those 10 punts has been a touchback, and 2 have been inside the 20. Over that same period, we’ve given up just 50 return yards on only 4 returns (12.5 ypr). Meaning that, generally Mann shifts the field position by half the field, and then you stay where he puts you. This is all awesome sauce! (Grade: A)
K:Jake Elliott (2/3 FG 66.6% – 15/15 XP 100%) Four games, just three field goal attempts. Should we get mad at the Offense? The miss was in the Jets game. Everything went wrong that day. Just shake it off and throw the game tape away. Elliotts is balling. Shows up in the clutch like a G when we call him. (Grade: A)
PR/KR: WR Britain Covey (5 – 38 – 7.6 – 0 / none) missed the game vs Miami, but otherwise is doing little to deserve a roster spot, if he’s not going to be more aggressive about helping with field position. No other Eagles has attempted a punt return season. RB Boston Scott had a 38 yard kickoff return vs Miami, but that’s really the highlight of the return game this quarter. It’s one thing to have poor results. It’s quite another to make no effort. (Grade: F)
SINCE LAST QUARTER:
We went 3 – 1, beating BOTH the Dolphins and Cowboys. Getting the sweep of the Redsk- Commanders, was big. Coupled with the win over the Cowboys, that sweep puts us up 3 – 0 in the division, holding a tie-breaker. Right after the sweep, the Commanders hung up their season at 4 – 5, and traded away both starting DE’s.
So that’s a kill.
MISSION FOR THIS QUARTER:
This is the tough part of the schedule. By “tough” I mean all the teams we face, are playoff caliber. Then again, so are we. Everyone in this arena is a killer, but every one of these teams has more losses than we do. So let’s not forget, they have to play US too. And no one is covered in more blood than we are.
I’m on record predicting a loss to the 49ers. I said as recently asJuly, that I expect to lose a close one to them.On December 3rd, we will be playing in that team’s Super Bowl. Meanwhile to us, it’ll just be a game. They’re not just going to want that game, psychologically they already NEED it. If we win that one, it could cause that whole roster to emotionally spiral out.
I want that game!
Getting out of this stretch 2 – 2 is fine, as long as one of the wins is over Dallas. That would put us at 10 – 3 and them at 9 – 4, even if they win their next three. The Eagles going 3 – 1 over this stretch puts us at 11 – 2. So if we go 3 – 1 or better, it won’t matter what Dallas does. If we go 4 – 0 it would break the NFL.
Guess which one I want!
(I gotta simmer down. Simmer down! Don’t burn up before the games get here!) So the mission is 2 – 2, with a win over Dallas at minimum. More than two wins removes conditions.
The Eagles make #11 (Micah Parsons), body-surf three yards. Backwards.
PHILADELPHIA has designed an unstoppable version of the QB Sneak. Initially, it was referred to as “Snoopy” by the Eagles players, However, since the Eagles didn’t make that known, others around the league, and media detractors of the play, pejoratively called it the “Tush Push”. So a few weeks later some of us fans began circulating the name “Brotherly Shove”, on-line and through word of mouth.
The name made it’s way to Head Coach Nick Sirianni’s ear, at his press conference on September 27th. When Coach heard it, he closed his eyes and nodded his approval.
Lookit that mug! Have you ever seen a more Italian face?! Total classic, right here!
Soon after that, the Eagles began referring to the play, as the Brotherly Shove. Then on October 10th, the organization filed a trademark application for the name.
While some assholes are still using ‘Tush Push’, that name is fading fast. What is not fading fast, is our opponents hatred of it. They see it, and can’t stop it. They try it, and can’t execute it. So now a number of teams have stomped their foot, shit their diapers, and wailed for the play to be banned outright. Awww, poor babies!
They want the NFL to ban it on the grounds that:
1) Someone could get injured running the play – This is based on the giants having two players injured on the same down, while trying to execute the play. It does not take into account, the flagrant stupidity of the giants as an organization. If you asked each man there, to conduct ten separate counts of his own balls, none of them would ever get the same number twice. So banning the Brotherly Shove on that merit, lacks any. Next!
2) Someone could get injured by the play – This is true. That could happen. This is, players also get hurt running regular QB Sneaks; or being tackled legally; or landing from a jump; and let’s not forget all those popped Achilles and ACL tears, which are nearly always the result of no contact plays. So players get hurt playing Football. So quitcherbitchin. Next!
3) Players shouldn’t push the ball carrier from behind – The fuck?! Literally every game you or I have ever seen or played in (involving helmets and pads), has featured a pile being pushed from behind. Seriously, I don’t know how they ban the play based on this, without changing all of Football, and how linemen are coached from Pop Warner, through the Hall of Fame.
4) It’s an ugly play – So is every play run by Washington!
5) It’s more of a Rugby scrum than a football play – STOP!! ! This is some of the most rank bullshit I’ve seen propagated on America, since Little Caesar’s was promoted as food. It’s taking advantage of the fact that most Americans have never seen a game of Rugby, and so don’t know what an actual ‘scrum’ looks like. (I’ve watched it, and even considered joining a local league in my late 30’s.) Here’s an example of a scrum:
THIS…is a Rugby scrum.
Notice the arm and head placements? Now here’s how it usually moves:
Eagles opponents never put up this kind of fight.
The Brotherly Shove looks nothing like those. However, what the Shove has going for it, is that it is clearly a throwback to Football’s Rugby roots. For those who don’t know, Football was invented around 1870, as a refined version of Rugby. The forward pass wasn’t introduced until 1906. So Football looked a lot like Rugby, or Australian Football for almost 40 years.
I do watch Aussie “footy” when I can get it. The West Coast Eagles for mostly obvious reasons.
In addition to the name, Philly’s city colors are blue and gold.
I hate Collingswood because they dress like a team of referees. Incidentally, that sport is also born of Rugby, but it has more Soccer mixed in it. You might actually like it if you stumble across it.
The Brotherly Shove is literally Football returned to it’s beginnings. It’s gone caveman. It’s what happens when Football gets in touch with it’s roots. Gets barefoot, butt naked, and runs in the bush. The Brotherly Shove is primal. It’s hunter gatherer. It’s a fistfight in a phone booth. It’s an 11 man, 3,000 pound masculinity check, that nearly every opponent fails, every time.
And that’s the real reason why they want it banned.
UNLESS a new head coach is coming in, I rarely care much about Training Camp. With a returning HC, we already know most of the starters, the system, the culture, yadda and so forth. Most fans get excited about who’s going to beat out whom, for one of just a few open starting gigs. But that’s mostly picking gnat shit out of pepper, so I don’t bother.
I do want to weigh in on a few things though, and I want to say them early.
1. For everyone wondering who the two Safeties will be, between Reed Blankenship, Terrell Edmunds, and Sydney Brown, here’s the logic on what to expect. Early on, expect Blankenship at FS prioritizing deep coverage, and Edmunds at SS with emphasis on the box.
Edmunds will also be used like a third LB at times, stealing snaps from OLB Nick Morrow. In that situation, you may see all three Safeties on the field at once.
There’s a lot of “either/or” thinking being done around this roster. Don’t succumb to that. Think “AND!” Think in terms of possibilities, and what you can get out of those possibilities. Fences are for cows; borders are for places, and limits are for coupons. WE, are talking about people. So think “AND!” Because it certainly seems like this is how the coaching staff is leaning.
2.Anybody buying into WR Quez Watkins based on the camp he’s having so far, is buying fool’s gold. I’m not saying he won’t deliver and be a quality third WR. (I’m praying that he does.) However, Quez didn’t lose our faith in Camp. He lost it last year, during games. He lost it having balls PULLED FROM HIS HANDS. Versus both Washington and Dallas, no less!
Quez has already shown us that he can contribute to losses, and even be the reason we lose. He now has to show us that he’s part of why we win. Especially if, (knock wood) injuries should force him into a number two role.
3. Let’s be clear, OLB Haason Reddick is not underpaid. He signed his 3yr, 45M$ contract last year. Yes, there are a few pass rushers making more than him now; but that’s how the free agency carousel works. His turn at the feeding trough comes around again in 2025. Possibly sooner, if the Birds want to talk extension. But if he wants to fuck around, let him find out.
Reddick has always been a player who was great at producing sacks and pressure. Leadership and vision however, have been cultural aspects lacking in both his Arizona and Carolina teams. Given that he’s not really one of our leaders, it’s not hard to imagine that he could go to a place like Washington or New York, and again put up numbers, but not make playoff noise.
I’d like to see Reddick rotate with rookie OLB Nolan Smith, this year and next. However, if Reddick becomes a headache in ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, it would be smart to trade him (after 2023) out of the conference (maybe to Las Vegas), and elevate Smith to starter. The loss is Reddick’s to take.
4. Finally, we’re about to get to know Nick Sirianni. Yeah, hes already been here for two years. We’ve seen his kids. He’s cussed at a camera. He’s been really fun so far. That however, was with Jonathan Gannon and Shane Steichen, the respectively departed Defensive and Offensive Coordinators. Both had been with him from the beginning of his tenure here in Philadelphia.
Sirianni tapped those guys, because he’d worked with them before. They were of similar philosophies and understandings. They were his boys! Enter the replacements in OC Brian Johnson, and DC Sean Desai. These are not his boys. These are men who have to learn his vision and buy into it. Especially when things get tough.
Johnson has been the QB Coach here since 2021, when Sirianni first got here. So you think he’d already be on-board. And you’d be wrong. Under Steichen, the Eagles hardly threw the ball to our RB’s. Johnson has been telling anyone capable of hearing, that the Eagles will be pulling a 180 on that, this season.
Under Steichen the Eagles relied on QB Jalen Hurts to supplement our RB’s, with his 304 carries, 1544 rushing yards, and 23 touchdowns over the last two years. It’s a pace that I’ve been saying, will kill him. As a former QB, Johnson agrees, and wants to see the ball dumped off to RB’s in order to minimize Hurts running. He’s also been a close friend of Hurts’ family for 20 years and likely wants to protect Jalen from unnecessary risk.
Desai has come in preaching nastiness. He wants teams to fear his defense. This is a departure from the cold, snarky Gannon, who preferred no labels on his system. Desai has preached situational football, which was not really a strong suit of Gannon, who was much maligned for his either unwillingness or inability to make defensive adjustments during games.
Both of these men represent a break from what Sirianni came in preaching. It’s relatively easy during OTA’s and during meetings to agree, and to go along with something that maybe one of them doesn’t agree with. When the games count, and the losses mount, and the questions get stiffer in front of the media, and in the GM’s office; that pressure could lead to more pushback between coaches.
So now we’re going to see how Sirianni manages that. If the Eagles get out to winning like last year, there won’t be any headaches at all. If it’s in anyway tougher than last year, Sirianni is going to have to keep a steady hand on the rudder. And we’re about to see if he can.
MONDAY during a radio show, in an interview via telephone, 49ers WR Deebo Samuels, hung up on the show’s host. After the Eagles 31 – 7 pummeling of the 9ers in the NFC Championship game, Samuels said the 49ers would have beaten the Eagles by double digits, if QB Brock Purdy was healthy. The host asked about those comments, and Samuels talked some shit about our next match-up, then hung up.
Deebo after hanging up.
Samuels isn’t the only 9er to still be running his mouth after the curb-stomping that we delivered; but it’s his comments that I’m focusing on right now.
In the meantime, two things (not Four).
First, the 49ers DID have a healthy Brock Purdy. The Eagles MADE him unhealthy. Then we proceeded to “unhealthy” their back-up. That was less about us hurting their QB’s, and totally about our front seven absolutely shitting on their pass protection. We shit on their coach’s protection scheme. We shit on their communication. We shit on their individual players strengths and abilities.
So Deebo can miss us with that “healthy Purdy” nonsense. He had one.
Second, Deebolita saying “Just wait until Week 13” was the best compliment an obsessive fan could have ever given the Eagles, and I want to thank him for it.
Training camp hasn’t even started yet, and he’s already equating our Week 13 match-up, with the NFC Championship game that he lost. So for him, this is huge. He’s clearly been chewing on that loss, since January 29th. Meanwhile, we won’t see him again until December 3rd. That’ll be 305 days, of him obsessing. YUM!
Given how he’s talked about us all off-season (longer for him than for us), all indications are that he NEEDS that game psychologically. A loss, especially a close one, could send him spiraling out. And maybe not just him, but many of his teammates as well.
Kyle Schwarber barrels a Schwarbomb.
I’m already on record as predicting a close loss to them during the season, before we full-blown barrel them in the playoffs, and pack 53 men onto a plane, all practically on suicide watch, then yeetin’ that bitch to the far side of the nation. That being said, I want both games. I just don’t know if the Eagles will be as desperate for the regular season one, as the 9ers already are.
In a weird way, I kind of envy them. The rest of us have to hope that our team makes it to the Super Bowl on February 11th. The 49ers are already scheduled to play theirs on December 3rd.
While any idiot can say “Hey let’s sign every high-priced Free Agent on the market”. THE 12 focuses on what we can do with what we already have, to fix or improve our team.
IMAGINE the monster we could create, if someone could teach DT Jordan Davis, Reggie White’s Hump Move.
Lot’s of players have used some version of the Hump, but not many have been able to use White’s version of it. Not many could have. For example, J.J. Wattflat out said he couldn’t replicate it. Neither could Aaron Donald who insteadbuilt his career on the “Bull Snatch”.
These two have been premier rushers over this last decade. They however lacked the tools to replicate White’s move, but Jordan Davis has those tools. Yes, I just said that Davis has tools that Watt and Donald lack. More to the point, those tools could elevate him to the level of dominance that Reggie White, and Jerome Brownproduced.
In football, leverage is king, if you can get under your opponent, you’ll have an easier time of controlling him, and not being controlled by him.
The Hump takes advantage of this, by starting low and forklifting the opponent not just upward, but backward. It’s the Chinese finger trap of football moves. The further up you go, the further back you go, and the further back, the further up.
The crazy part is, there is no “figuring it out”, because it’s not a trick. It’s just how physics work on Earth. As long as the game is taking place on Earth, White’s Hump Move will work for a player who has the tools to pull it off. Period. Debate over. So what are these tools?
Reggie White played DE at 292 to 305 pounds. Keep in mind, this was at the dawn of the 300 pound offensive lineman. Back then Offensive Tackle John “Jumbo” Elliott was considered huge at 305 pounds. The Cardinals Luis Sharpe played OT at 267. The Steelers Tunch Ilkin at 265. The Rams Jackie Slater at 287. The Bengals Anthony Munoz at 287. All of these guys were Pro Bowlers. The last two are Hall of Famers.
White was country strong, but he was also flat-out bigger, than the men that lined up across from him. Think about how today OT’s are generally over 320 pounds, and DE’s are nearly always under 270. Watt played under 290, and Donald plays the interior at just 280. They were never physically set up for doing what Reggie did.
Jordan Davis on the other hand…
Jordan possesses the sort of natural strength that you can’t pick up in a weight room. He doesn’t have workout warrior strength, it’s just good ol’ fashioned see-that-there-bring-it-here type strength. That farmhand strength. Reggie had that. At 336 (listed) pounds, Jordan is also bigger than a number of the G’s he’s going to match-up with.
Now come the details. The context. These are easy to miss parts that you come here for, that other writers don’t have the insight to give you. Damn I’m humble!
On passes, the OT’s take two steps back, and the Guards take one. This forms the pocket that the QB is supposed to sit in. Reggie played on the end vs opponents taking two steps. Jordan will be playing in the middle, over guys taking one step, with a QB just behind them. Jordan will start out closer to the QB than Reggie usually did. (Though sometimes Reggie also lined-up inside).
Reggie also faced double and triple-team blocking most of the time. That’s easier to do on the edge, because coaches can help an OT with a TE and/or a RB. That’s harder to do in the middle of the offensive line without obstructing the QB’s view of the field.
Jordan would have to be be doubled with a G/C combo, which would leave DT Jalen Carterone-on-one. Keep in mind, Jordan plays beside someone who is expected to be better than him. Carter is the more natural pass rusher, and the one seen more as a generational talent. So blocking Jordan will not be the priority.
For those remember this Defense
imagine if back in 1991 our defensive interior consisted of Brown, and a version of White that was schematically nearly impossible to double-team. This is what I’m proposing here.
For those who have been fans for fifteen years or fewer, even if Davis doesn’t learn the Hump Move, the interior of the Eagles defense will likely be unlike anything you’ve ever rooted for. I don’t want to oversell it, but you should be very excited.
If Jordan does learn the Hump, it will essentially be the White version. If that happens, you will see something that for years has sounded like mythology to most of you, but I assure you it happened. NFL records will confirm it. That 1991 Eagles Defense gave up 150.8 passing yards per game. (That’s 37 fewer than the 2000 Ravens.)
While any idiot can say “Hey let’s sign every high-priced Free Agent on the market”. THE 12 focuses on what we can do with what we already have, to fix or improve our team.
QUICK knockouts in boxing usually come from punches to the head. So inexperienced fighters often fixate on (headhunting) throwing punches to the head. Even a mediocre trainer will instruct their fighter to “Work the body to bring down the head”; because punishing the body, can rob an opponent of offensive firepower, and make their arms feel heavy, loosening their defense.
Listen, there are no quick knockouts in football. No matter how hard the Eagles rock an opponent early, the game is still sixty minutes. Which just makes working the body even more important.
Running the ball is about power and will. Yes, technique is important, yes angles are important, yes quickness matters. However, the defense also has technique, they take angles, and they’re quick too. Once beef meets beef in the trenches, it’s power and will. And when you spend a day beating a man into the dirt, you break his will. You bring down the head.
The Eagles had three losses last year, and in two of them (Washington and New Orleans) we got away from our M.O. of running the ball, with just 14 handoffs in either game. We were in both games until the end, so there was never a need to get away from the run. We just sort of…did.
Instead of playing our game, our offensive coaching staff over-thought things, and played down to our opponent. Instead of doing what works, we got cute. Luckily we lost the Washington game, and it screwed our heads on straight. Had we gotten away with that game plan, who knows how far we’d have strayed from our fundamentals.
We are a running team, and we need to never lose sight of that. We’re a team that wins in the trenches! We win the street fights. We aren’t locked in here with them. They’re locked in here with US! Once the game starts, we get to play with our food for sixty minutes. So why not torture, torment, harass, and demoralize them? Punish them.
THANK you Schedule Makers! According to our opponent 2022 win percentage of .566 (which is the tool used to make this measurement every year), the Eagles 2023 schedule is the toughest in the NFL this year. That means, no one can claim that our winning the East again this year, was an easy road.
I want to thank the Schedule Makers for such a tough road. No sarcasm, I’m being serious. The NFC East hasn’t had a repeat winner since we last did it in 2003 and 2004. To do it vs the NFL’s toughest schedule, builds validation even from rivals, directly into every “W” that we earn.
I want that.
Now lets discuss Our 2023 Schedule itself. As with any year, there are things I love about the schedule, and things I hate about it. Let’s start with the good news.
Our Bye hits on Week 10. It’s after nine games played, leaving eight on the schedule’s back-end. It’s also right after our first meeting with the Cowboys, which will be a home game. No post-game travel means, one less plane ride for any of our guys leaving Philadelphia during the Bye.
Speaking of planes, our players won’t have to get on one from Weeks 6 – 10, or Weeks 16 – 18. That’s no jet lag, and we’re either playing home games, or in places (NY and DC) where our fans already have very healthy representation. In fact, we finish the season practically on a three game home-stand.
I also happen to love that our division games have quick turnarounds for each second match-up. We play Washington in Week Four, and again four weeks later. Then a Dallas game, with a re-match four weeks later. At season’s end, both giants games have just one game between them. Sweeps, splits… We’ll know pretty quickly where we stand vs each team.
The bad news?
Kansas City has the same Bye Week that we do. So we get Andy Reidafter a bye. Andy is damned near invincible with an extra week of prep time. (He’s practically Batman.) Then on a short week, after the KC game, we get Buffalo (but at least it’s a home game.) And then the Forty Whiners come to town. (Probably with 6 QB’s and JUGS machine wearing a jersey.)
I’m also personally not a fan of us playing just three 1:00 games. First, the Eagles have traditionally played well in that slot. Second, I have a whole routine based around early games. The earlier we play, the easier it is for me to get the Four Things Reviewed articles out, on time on Mondays. Those articles can take two to six hours to complete, depending on other games that impact us.
This is partly why I’m irritated with us having at least FIVE prime time games this year. I say at least, because that last giants game is “To Be Determined”. For Sunday night games, I can’t even start my articles until around midnight, while still having to be at work on Monday morning. So night games don’t exactly thrill me.
Thankfully we only have one Thursday Night game, and it’s a four day turnaround not just for us, but Minnesota as well. However for us, it’s a home game. The Vikes have to get in a short week of practice, then get on a plane, while also losing an hour.
On the whole, I’m happy with how the schedule works out for the Eagles. It’s an undeniably tough road, with validation built in. However, due to our geographical location and the way the division is laid out, travel fatigue should be about as light on us, as any team in the league.
KEEPin mind, when these predictions come out, no one knows who will be drafted by which team.
This is an assessment of the team as it is staffed by veteran players with track records.
Rookies don’t usually shake up the NFC East division, so there’s a pretty good chance that what you see here, will be how it shakes out for the year.
Strongest Offense: PHILADELPHIA – This was the NFL’s #3 scoring unit last year. They had two free agent defections, but the replacements have all been reliable contributors on this team fpr years. There are no holes, and no question marks. No other unit in the division can claim that.
Weakest Offense: NEW YORK – Everything is wrong with their offense. I won’t go into details here. I already did that, in the article.
Strongest Defense: PHILADELPHIA – Dallas has a deeper (better?) secondary, but up front, their line gets manhandled vs the run. Philadelphia does not have that problem, and is solid from front to back. (See: PLAYOFFS, San Francisco)
Weakest Defense: NEW YORK – Holdouts and defections cannot be great for team morale. There was already a talent vacuum, last year. This season can’t have made that any better.
Strongest Special Teams:NEW YORK– Reliable kicking in a stadium that sees the kind of winds, that New York, San Fran and Chicago sees, is nothing to dismiss. One team being able to count on their kicking when the other team can’t, has been the tale of many a victory in this league.
Weakest Special Teams: WASHINGTON – This unit has been limping along since 2020. Apparently the bar is just set to “Low” for this part of the team.
Projected Winner: PHILADELPHIA
This team has mitigated losing personnel extremely well. In fact, they didn’t lose as many players as they were expected to. Some even re-signed for less money than they could have gotten elsewhere. That’s the sign of a roster that believes, and is dialed in.
Darkhorse Winner: DALLAS – ESPN picked them to win the East. Given that New York and Washington don’t have the tools, if it’s not Philadelphia, it has to be Dallas.
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