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: SEAHAWKS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Run the Ball: Tire out Seattle’s defensive front. Don’t be one dimensional. Get 75 rushing yards for RB D’Andre Swift(18 – 74 – 4.1 – 0 – 0). We did those things, and it helped to keep Hurts from being sacked. (DONE)
2) Deploy the Kerrigan Plan: Didn’t get within a 80$ cab ride of this. There were four RB Screens thrown, but because of the constant WR and TE Screens, no one was in the Flat. So Seattle’s defense just hung around looking for screens, like horny boys outside of a girl’s Catholic school. (High school was fun.)
Making things worse, it seems like Hurts either doesn’t see crossing routes, or just refuses to throw to them. It also seems like opponents have figured this out, because again this week, there were plenty of gimmies left on field. Both of the uncovered and loosely covered variety. (NOT DONE)
3) Peter Out Their Line: This couldn’t be done because OT Jason Peters didn’t play. As a result, the left side of the Eagles Defense was gashed by the run, and no sacks were generated from there. A few times the Eagles went to a five man line, and were effective when not rushing in straight lines.
The reality is that OLB Haason Reddick(2 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) is too small to keep lining up at DE. He’s at his best as a stand up rusher, playing outside of a true DE. When he lined up at DE in this one, he just got washed around vs the run and, was a non-factor rushing the pass (NOT DONE)
4) Just Make the Tackle:We were doing a great job of this in the first half. In the second half there was rare edge setting, guys weren’t in their run fits, and watching DT Jordan Davis (2 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) repeatedly driven off the line, was something I didn’t understand. (NOT DONE)
++++
So this week we did 1 of the Four Things and surprise surprise, we lost. Next week the giants come to Philly to gift us with a win on Christmas day.
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Game Hero: RT Lane Johnson – Coming back into the game after twisting his ankle, was a big time move. Psychologically the Eagles don’t stay in this game, if Hurts is sick and Johnson is sidelined.
Game goat: QB Jalen Hurts – Running Back Jalen Hurts threw 2 interceptions, and was off all night, with his passing. Yet at no point was he selfless enough to admit that he wasn’t getting it done. While RB Hurts scored twice, QB Hurts turned the ball over twice. What’s that, two straight games without a passing touchdown?
On The Whole:
Hear me out.
The loss was stunning, but this game wasn’t nearly as bad as it seemed. While the replacing of Sean Desai with new Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia, may have felt like “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”, it really wasn’t.
There are only so many changes that can get made in eight days. Postgame, it was said that Patricia changed nothing. Supposedly, the only thing that changed were the people. This is smart, because Patricia needs to figure out if the problem was Desai, or the players. Players suddenly asked to do unfamiliar things, just means new mistakes.
For example, the go-ahead touchdown thrown on CB James Bradberry(5 tackles). He said that he was playing the sticks (the first down marker), and not expecting Safety help. Well then, he shouldn’t have let his man get behind him. Regardless of what the called defense was, Bradberry should have made that mental adjustment.
With Bradberry not making that simple adjustment, it says in this case the error is player not scheme. On the other hand, watching Reddick at DE, being repeatedly washed out against the run, says in that instance, the issue is scheme. Patricia now gets to evaluate and make his adjustments.
Offensively, having a sick QB run the ball 13 times, and absorb the beating that goes with it, was a sign that our coaching staff suffers from CTE. The extra fatigue from the beating he was eating, showed up in Hurts ball placement. Note how he didn’t put the ball where only his guys could get it.
There had to have been six Screens thrown in this game. None of them good. Unless it’s to a RB, we should knock that shit off. What creates room for a Screen, is moving players away from the line of scrimmage. Stacking receivers, who then cluster at the line like a doo-wop group, only attracts defensive players. Like it did in this game.
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 games 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: 10 – 3, 2nd place in the NFC East
[pic]
OPPONENTS:
W – Kansas City
W – Buffalo (OT)
L – San Francisco
L – Dallas
OVERVIEW:
We played K.C., Buffalo, and San Fran, all in the span of thirteen days. Both the K.C. and Buffalo games were played in driving, cold rain. The San Fran and Dallas games were blowout losses, with both opponents coming off of ten days rest. Not an excuse, but fatigue plays major a factor in an NFL season.
In the San Fran game, we started well but then… we just looked gassed. Then we came out flat against Dallas, and lost three fumbles. Two in the red zone (Hurts and Smith), and one (Brown) on the opening possession of the second half, when we were down 6 – 24. Uncharacteristic, and highly unlikely to be repeated.
There is reason for concern, but the Eagles still control their own fate with regard to winning the NFC East. So the sky is not falling, despite what the Panic Party keeps shouting from the clock-towers. We have however, lost the number one seeding. That however, could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
GRADES:
QB Jalen Hurts after walk-off TD vs Bufffalo
QB: Not a great quarter.Jalen Hurts(76/125 – 60.8% – 845 – 4 – 2) threw 3 touchdowns against Buffalo, but just 1 total in the other three games. Play-calling gets lots of blame, but Hurts is on he field, selecting which receiver to go to with the ball. Also, coaches are not who is holding the ball too long.
As ineffective as he’s been as a passer, his rushing (38 – 144 – 3.7 – 5 – 2) has also diminished greatly. He’s still shows the ability to pick up a first down, but he no longer deserves the respect afforded to dangerous runners. This last quarter, he justified every team who passed on him in the first round of the 2020 Draft.
RB:Why get a player and not use him?D’Andre Swift(43 – 208 – 4.8 – 1 – 0/10 – 6 – 42 – 7.0 – 0) averaged under 11 carries per game last quarter. In our two losses, Swift ran for 39 and 13 yards. In our two wins, he ran for 80 and 76. Those look like clues, to me! Let’s give a couple to the coaching staff.
Kenneth Gainwell (9 – 60 – 6.6 – 0 – 0/ 10 – 8 – 56 – 7.0 – 0) continues to whelm. Of those 60 yards, 23 came on one run. The remaining 8 carries produced 37 yards (4.6ypc).Boston Scott (8 – 33 – 4.1 – 0 – 0 / 2 – 1 – 27 – 27.0 – 0) worked more than last quarter, but for an average of just two carries per game.
TE: He missed all but one game last quarter with a broken arm, but Dallas Goedert(4 – 4 – 30 – 7.5 – 0) looked decent in his one game back. Let’s hope for no setbacks.
Jack Stoll(4 – 2 – 17 – 8.5 – 0) looked good on a 14 yard catch and rumble vs Buffalo. He however, doesn’t have his QB’s trust, as even when wide open, passes didn’t come his way. The Eagles have other players at this position and someone should remind them of that.
WR: After going on a tear earlier this year, things have slowed for A.J. Brown (39 – 23 – 253 – 11.0 – 1). Opponents have begun more aggressively bracket covering him, which has opened things up forDevonta Smith(37 – 27 – 374 – 13.8 – 2), who has posted his strongest quarter so far.
WR Olamide Zaccheaus with the 29 yard score.
Olamide Zacchaeus (3 – 2 – 57 – 28.5 – 1) has seen all of 15 targets this season. It’s insulting given the results that he provides. Quez Watkins(4 – 3 – 28 – 9.3 – 0) returned from a hamstring injury, and posted all of this quarters numbers vs San Fran. Help me understand this, Julio Jones (5 – 3 – 5 – 1.6 – 0). Why did we sign him, if we have no plans for him?
OT: I’m kind of glad that RT Lane Johnson has allowed a sack. Now it can stop being a mandatory mention. Even better, I can say that even though he’s allowed a sack, we still have the best RT in the game. He was hit for a false start vs both San Fran and Dallas, so that’s 10 free yards on Lane.
I feel I owe LT Jordan Mialata, not really an apology, but an acknowledgement that I was judging him too harshly. A lot of the pressure he gives up, is a result of the QB holding the ball too long, and dropping beyond the pocket. Jordan picked up a holding call and a false start last quarter, giving away 15 yards.
Swingman Jack Driscoll stepped in for us during Lane’s absence in the Buffalo game, and battled well enough to help us earn the win. Despite playing 66 snaps in a soaker, that went into overtime, Jack yielded no free yardage.
OG: It will come as no surprise that LG Landon Dickerson was hit with another bullshit offsides when executing the Brotherly Shove, last week. He was also hit with a false start vs Buffalo. Landon is THE GUY who makes that play work.
The return of RG Cam “Beef” Jurgens, didn’t revive the run game as many expected. Then again, you have to actually hand the ball off, to have a run game. At times Cam can be susceptible to bullrush, which only makes it worse when the QB takes forever to throw the ball, either to a receiver or away.
C: Sort of a weird quarter for Jason Kelce. He had 3 false start penalties (2 Buffalo, 1 San Fran), and a bad snap vs Dallas, putting 15 yards on his tab. I often wonder about the expiration date on his deal with Father Time. Jason throws the ‘R’ word around pretty liberally, and talks easily about it these days.
DE: The release of Derek Barnett, leaves starter Josh Sweat(11 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) and part-timer Brandon Graham(4 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) as the only two legit players at this position. Everyone else who lines up here, is just part of a package. This has severely impacted the effectiveness of everyone at the position. This position will require help via the Draft.
DT: Fallout on the ends has also stymied the interior. Fletcher Cox (7 – 2.5 – 0 – 1) continued to make his presence felt, despite missing a game last quarter. Jordan Davis (16 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) is no longer living in opponent’s backfields. That has to get corrected.
DT Jalen Carter’s first NFL touchdown.
Jalen Carter (11 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) returned a FR for a 42 yard score, but otherwise has been on milk cartons. Milton Williams(9 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) missed the Buffalo game, and Marlon Tuipulotu(11 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) is getting far too much work for someone that far down the depth chart. This is due to all the sub-packages.
OLB: Sadly, because he gets moved to End so much, Haason Reddick (13 – 3.5 – 0 – 0) doesn’t really line up here. It’s part of what’s crippling our pass rush. Zach Cunningham (26 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) missed the San Fran game, and his secure tackling was missed.
Nolan Smith (2 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) we’re told, is about to receive an uptick in playing time. Idiotically, they pay him opposite Reddick, instead of in rotation with.Patrick Johnson and Ben VanSumeren are Special Teams players and emergency depth.
MLB: At less than 220 pounds, Nicholas Morrow(31 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) doesn’t have the interior presence for this position, over a 17 game schedule. Morrow shows quick hands in coverage, but the fatigue is showing up in his tackling. This may be part of why Darius “Shaq” Leonard (2 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) was brought in.
S:This position will also see an early Draft pick. Reed Blankenship (29 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) will likely still be on next year’s roster, but last quarter he essentially played himself out of a starting role next year. Sydney Brown(15 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) hasn’t played great, but he’s a draft pick. So the Eagles will give him every chance to beat out undrafted Blankenship next year.
New acquisition S Kevin Byard denies QB Pat Mahomes
Kevin Byard(31 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) picked off Patrick Mahomes in the endzone, to contribute to a win. Also, Byard convinced coaches to let the DB’s scout opposing WR’s for the next game. Usually coaches handle that. Is Byard making a cultural impact?
CB: The eyeball test says that he’s struggling. The analytics say that Darius Slay (17 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) over this last quarter has been targeted 22 times for 10 completions (45.4%), 112 yards and zero scores. And Dallas completed none of the four passes they threw at him. James Bradberry (10 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) has been targeted 30 times, for 17 completions (56.6%) for 187 yards, and touchdowns in three of the four games last quarter.
Bradley Roby(17 – 0.0 – 0 – 1) hasn’t given up any scores, but his 64% completion rate, isn’t helping on third down. Neither Eli Ricks nor Kelee Ringo played enough to factor much this quarter.
LS:Yet again, Rick Lovato has been solid, steady, and uneventful. (Grade: A)
P: I thoroughly dig Braden Mann(16 – 794 – 49.6) kicking the ball half the field on average. We are allowing 8.0 yards per return, so he may be out kicking his coverage a bit. His 28 yard pass on a punt fake, was beautiful (Grade: A)
K: Not exactly news here, but Jake Elliott was 5/5 on Field Goals, and 9/9 on Extra Points. Shocker, right? Especially after that collar pop in Buffalo. Driving rain, against the wind, 59 yards out? For Jake the Make, it’s a gimme. (Grade: A)
PR/KR: WR Britain Covey (6 – 89 – 14.8 – 0) He has a great average, but he has never had a return, where I thought he might break it open. (Grade: B)
SINCE LAST QUARTER:
We went 2 – 2 over this last stretch and Dallas was not one of the wins. As a result, we are no longer in the lead for the #1 seed. Instead, we are currently, one of three 10 – 3 teams, but are behind San Francisco, and also behind Dallas by virtue of a tie-breaker. Up and down the Offensive roster, there is rampant under-utilization of players. That speaks to a lack of creativity and not understanding as a coach, how to use each players gifts.
It doesn’t always go our way.
Defensively, we essentially are just jogging alongside our opponents, on their way to a score. The pass rush that got us 70 sacks last year, just got us 6 over the last four games.
This is ridiculous! It’s egregious. It’s outrageous! This is simply inexcusable and unforgivable, and it has to get fixed. I’m going to say something I have never said in nine years of writing these articles. I don’t care how it gets fixed. Just fix it!
MISSION FOR THIS QUARTER:
It will take some help to regain the #1 seed, so that shouldn’t be the focus. The focus should be doing what we can to bring about the ending that we want.
If we win out, we win the NFC East. Due to Dallas’s loss to Arizona earlier this year, if we beat Arizona, then we win the tie-breaker with Dallas. So the mission is to win out. The Arizona game is a MUST win situation.
THE loss we suffered last week, wasn’t surprising. Being blown out however, was. Since the way we lost was uncharacteristic, it’s nothing to panic over. Luckily a second blow-out in a row, on national television, nationally embarrassed the brand and Team Owner Jeff Lurie; who looked to be seething during last week’s game. And that lads, portends change. (Hence the ‘luckily’.)
There can’t be a million changes in eight days, but for a start, our practice schedule was altered. The normal walk-through, became a padded practice, to work on fundamentals. Things like tackling, run fit assignments, hand-off mesh, blitz recognition. This was an excellent place to start, and a well-measured response.
This week we visit a 6 – 7 Seahawks team, that is 4 – 2 at home. The run game both on offense and defense, has become a problem for them over the last month. Likely because teams have noticed that their smallish defensive front, is built for pass rushing. Their offensive line isn’t very good either.
A win moves us to 11 – 3, and guarantees us a spot in the playoffs. We’ve been chasing that mark for a couple weeks. Now is the time to punch our ticket, and not let it become a point of panic for the weaker minded.
A loss, puts us at 10 – 4. Still not a place for panic, but if we can’t beat a lesser opponent like this, there have to be some real questions asked about next season, regardless of how this one works out. Namely, how do we go about upgrading the coaching room, as we do all the obligatory annual roster upgrades.
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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 Seahawks
Something like the Brotherly Sweep would be great this week.
1) Run the Ball:Don’t be one-dimensional. Tire out the Seahawks smaller front. This is the easy stuff. Low hanging fruit. If this doesn’t happen, then you know that the Eagles have a FUNDAMENTAL problem with how they approach offensive football, and that an offensive coordinator must be part of our shopping list, next season.
Usually I write-in a carry mark of around 14. Not this week. This week RB D’Andre Swiftneeds 75 yards rushing. Give or take. (We’re not going to split hairs over 68 or so in a win.) My point is, another 39, or 43 yard day won’t cut it. The Seahawks won’t treat our run game as a threat, if it’s led by QB Jalen Hurts.
2) Deploy the Kerrigan Plan:Everyone knows to watch out for WR’s A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. Word around the campfire is, they run predictable routes, and for this week, there is no need to change that. Opponents “knowing” where we want to be, tells us what their DB’s will try to protect. That leaves just the LB’s as obstacles.
This is where the Kerrigan Plancomes in. Press their Safeties back, with WR Quez Watkins or Julio Jones, to clear the underneath. Get passes out to the Flat for players like TE Dallas Goedert, and WR Olamide Zaccheaus. Throw a couple of RB Screens, not WR Screens!
Once we establish a presence in the Flat, it’ll dial back the Seahawks pass rush, and Hurts will have more time to go deep to Brown and Smith, vs one-on-one coverage.
3) Peter Out Their Line:At this point in his career, RT Jason Peters is essentially stealing money every time he puts on a football helmet. I’m sure that right now he’s still as strong as a bull. However, when he finished up here in 2020, his issue was matching outside speed. Folks, allow me to present OLB Haason Reddick!
Do you know how strong you have to be, to catch a grown man out of mid-air? I do. Firsthand. And you have to be pretty fucking strong.
Lining Reddick up over Peters is likely a mistake. Remember that day in 2016, when Peters caught RB Ryan Mathews out of midair, to make sure he landed safely? It’s not 2016, but I’d still lay a grand that Peters can ragdoll Reddick in a phonebooth. So play Reddick at OLB not DE, and force Peters to struggle with the counters.
4) Just Make the Tackle:Stop keeping runners upright, to claw at the ball. That just allows them to fight for extra yards, and gives their teammates a chance to push the pile. (Which the NFL is fine with, unless WE do it.) Just get the ball-carrier down. Immediately.
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If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
This doesn’t have to be a statement game. A win by one point, is the same as a win by forty. Meaning, it only counts for one win. So let every man take care of his responsibilities, cover his assignments, and trust his teammates to be doing the same.
This isn’t a big game. It just feels that way, because we’re hungry for a win, after two straight losses. This is a game we should win. And we’ll get absolutely no credit for it when we do.
****
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 Thingsas 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.
Special Teams Ace: P Braden Mann 4th down punt fake, 28yd pass
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I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these Four Things articles. It’s to point out what we need to address BEFORE the game. Then AFTER the game, there’s a no-bullshit assessment of whether or not the Eagles did any of what they needed to do, to ensure the win.
So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: COWBOYSdid the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Use A Brute Force Run Game:We didn’t really lean into handing the ball off, until the second half when we were down 6 – 24. Nearly all of the runs were between the Tackles, which was good. Not so good, was how often these tried to utilize misdirection from the Shotgun. That will fool fans in the stands, far more often than players on field.
Our leading rusher had just 11 carries, against 28 dropbacks, and 5 designed QB runs. I guess there’s a Zen sort of alignment in not investing in the RB position financially, since we no longer invest in it philosophically.
The Philadelphia region RESOUNDINGLY implored the team, to not be stupid this week, but alas, Head Coach Nick Sirianni and Offensive Coordinator Brian Johnson, could not help themselves. Nor the players they coach. Insult to injury: None of the three fumbles we lost, were by a RB. (NOT DONE)
Rookie DT Jalen Carter recovers fumble forced by DT Fletcher Cox, and takes it back for SIX!
2) Take Away the Quick Throws: At times we did this. We played more Man Press, challenged more passes, and got their QB to hold the ball longer than he wanted to, at times. The problem was, we didn’t do it consistently. This is an aspect to build on. I just hope they see that during film review. (NOT DONE)
3) Win the Turnover Battle:HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Okay, seriously, we gave away two red zone fumbles and a bonus third one, while only getting one in return. The lost fumbles are uncharacteristic for WR’s A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith (10 – 5 – 73 – 14.6 – 0). So there’s nothing to panic about with these two. Can’t say that for Hurts though, as fumbles are anything but rare for him.
Look. the turnover battle is hard to win, if you depend on your opponent to give you gifts. Turnovers have to be forced, and the two best ways to get turnovers; are violent hits on the ball (for fumbles), or close coverage (for interceptions). Our zone coverage and drag down tackling while pulling at the ball, won’t get the job done. (NOT DONE)
4) Spread Them Out: Not much was done to spread the Cowboys defense horizontally, until they decided to do so when blitzing. For a team that loves to throw Screen routes, we didn’t see one thrown to a RB all night. Even with frequent blitzing. (NOT DONE)
++++
This week we did none of the Four Things, which led to the shit-canning that we endured for a second week on national television. Next week we’re on national television again, as we travel to Seattle to beat up on the Seahawks.
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DT Fletcher Cox forces a fumble.
Game Hero: DT Fletcher Cox (1 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) – Forced the fumble that was recovered by DT Jalen Carter and returned for a touchdown. This week’s hero designation could have gone to Carter, or Haason Reddick. It was razor thin. What tipped the scale for me, was Cox’s postgame interview at his locker.
It wasn’t just what Cox said, it was how he said it. He didn’t keep making attempts to leave. He stood there and answered the questions. He expressed trust in his locker room, and issued a challenge to the true leaders and elite players on this team. He was calm, and even keeled. He was every bit the leader the Eagles need right now.
Game goat: Jalen Hurts – The stoic body language may work for when the team is winning, but when we’re being embarrassed on national television, someone has to keep the troops dialed in and focused, and he cannot be counted on for that.
Rallying the troops?
For the record, I’ve never been a fan of Hurts’ sideline demeanor, as my nature is very different. On a sideline, I was Brian Dawkins. Bill Romanowski. An agitated doberman roaming without a leash. I was fire, and rage, and an absolute head-case. But I was always a constant source of energy for my side. I was downright contagious at times.
Watching the postgame show, it was interesting to see pundits who’d been praising Hurts’ stoic body language, suddenly say they didn’t like it. They said he was almost sulking. To be fair to Hurts, I didn’t see much different from how he usually is. What I think is happening here, is that losing is robbing him of the benefit of the doubt. Which is bullshit. Ride with his demeanor or don’t. Don’t waffle on him.
During his first couple of years, the local media largely backed off of our young QB. Then last year, and up until now, all the winning brought passes for his flaws. So Jalen Hurts has never experienced the Philadelphia media with their claws out. It’s been easy going the whole time he’s been here.
Well, losing the number one seed, by losing to Dallas, while giving away the ball in the red zone, and appearing visibly dispassionate about the whole thing, may end up changing some things for him. Very shortly, he may end up experiencing pressure and adversity that he can’t simply transfer out of.
On The Whole:
Before I get into it. I won’t discuss Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai, because I’m tired of saying the same shit over and over, with Sirianni never making sure that change happens. But add to the regular defensive woes, our three offensive fumbles, and suddenly Desai is largely off my hook this week.
Missed it byyyyy that much!
This was another one where we were out-coached folks! Fundamentals? What are those!? Instead of trying to win the game, once again our coaching staff was hell-bent on showing us how clever they are. The result was three drives ending in turnovers, two ending in field goals, and one turned over on downs.
While Brian Johnson can’t be blamed for those fumbles, Nick Sirianni certainly can. His team came out flat, played uninspired, and ended up looking tighter and tenser as the game wore on. In instances like that, a team needs someone to rally them back into the fight, and ignite their pride and their passions.
Knowing that his QB either can’t be, or won’t be that guy, Sirianni needs to be that spark. He can’t just be a preening cheerleader, posing with his kids after his team wins. He also needs to be someone his players can lean on during adversity IN games, not just a blah-blah guy between the games.
Understand, the Eagles didn’t just lose this game. We were thoroughly defeated in it. Both from the inside and the outside. It won’t take much to fix what ails us, but it WILL require actually fixing it. Let’s see if darling Nicky has more in store for us than lip service this week.
OH no! We’ve fallen to first place in the NFL! Idiot pundits are calling for benching QB Jalen Hurts. Whatever shall we do!? Well step number uno is, not to overreact. Look, it was Rocky vs Clubber Lang 1.0 last week. It was an embarrassing loss in Philly, to an extremely aggressive opponent, who was dying to prove themselves.
This week, we go out to the West Coast to spar with Apollo, while getting our groove back. This is an opportunity to not only brush up on the skills that made us the NFL’s top team, but to maybe even evolve somewhat. Because Rocky vs Clubber Lang 2.0 is coming.
In the meantime, this Sunday we need to out-spar, and out-run our biggest rival, before we can frolic in the surf. Cue the montage!
A win, and we improve to 11 – 2. We’d also clinch a playoff berth, while all but buttoning up the NFC East.
A loss would see us fall to 10 – 3, and award the Cowboys the top spot in the division by virtue of Common Opponent tie-breaker. (We both fell to the 9ers, but they beat the Jets.)
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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 Cowboys
1) Use A Brute Force Run Game: The run game isn’t just for balancing an attack, it’s also for tiring out an opponent. The Cowboys have a smallish front seven, as they are built to rush the passer. Running the ball not only takes them out of what they do best, it exposes a built-in flaw that will become impossible to mask as the game goes on.
Getting RB D’Andre Swift18 carries has to be part of this week’s game-plan. Even if we fall behind early. He got 18 carries the last time we played. Though it was for just 43 yards, it balanced nicely with Hurts 23 pass attempts. We kept their defense guessing, and it kept our chains moving.
2) Take Away Quick Throws: A huge help would be playing a lot more Man Press. We have to stop giving opposing receivers, free releases off the line. We also can’t have LB’s covering WR’s, again this week. That’s a mismatch right from the time both sides line up.
3) Win the Turnover Battle: Playing a turnover-free game would be great. Even better, would be taking the ball away from the Cowboys. Tighter coverage would help create opportunities.
4) Spread ‘Em Out:Stretching their defense horizontally, makes it easier to get Swift to the second level of their defense, with room to roam. The chance for chunk run plays multiplies, if we can stretch their defense side to side.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
This is all simple and straight-forward stuff. We’re facing a division rival. They know us. We know them. So a reliance on smoke and mirrors, is a bad idea here. Besides, after being manhandled last week, it would be great to show the league, that we can still maul a motherfucker.
No excuses, but honestly, last week we were playing our third game (two of which were wars), in a thirteen day span, going against a good team, that was coming off of ten days rest. Nowhere in the multi-verse did we win that game. And that’s okay.
This week we’re on the road, going against a good team that “doesn’t lose” at home. Sounds good! Beating up on a tomato can would prove nothing to anyone. This is exactly the fight we need, in the moment when we need it.
****
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.
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: 49ers did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Impose Our Will By Running: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Run the ball? What’s that? There were 48 dropbacks between Jalen Hurts and QB Marcus Mariota (2/3 – 66.6% – 16 – 0 – 0). This was balanced against all of NINE hand-offs, ALL. GAME. LONG.
NINE.
The less we run, the worse we lose, and in this game we got our teeth stomped through our assholes. I cannot recall an ass-whipping, so richly deserved by an offensive coaching staff. The loss I saw coming from half a year away, but the score did take me just a little by surprise.
However, it literally got to a point where I wasn’t even the least bit upset about the score. Or even the NINE hand-offs. No, that’s not totally honest. I’m understating it. There came a point where I was almost gleefully waiting for Head Coach Nick Sirianni’s presser, to see if he would tell us that Offensive Coordinator Brian Johnson is still doing a good job.
The way this game was called was indefensible. Speaking of indefensible… You know what? Later. I’ll get to that shortly. But the Offense! Even when we had a lead, the attitude was pass-pass-pass. Starting RB D’Andre Swift (6 – 13 – 2.1 – 0 – 0) took the bulk of the team’s NINE hand-offs. (NOT DONE)
2) Take Away Short, Quick Throws: We did a great job of this on the first two possessions. We even played five men on the Defensive Line. Then we just stopped doing it. WTF!? I wish I could get Defensive Coordinator Sean Desaiin a locked room for five minutes. Just to repeatedly give him five solid reasons to improve.
We didn’t get beaten by deep throws. It was short throws, run after the catch, and S Reed Blankenship (7 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) repeatedly whiffing on tackles, that killed us. Have you seen how active General Manager Howie Rosemanhas been at trying to upgrade the S position? I sense a first or second round Draft pick being spent here. (NOT DONE)
3) Go Deep Early: We did not. Oddly, despite him being back, we didn’t try deploying WR Quez Watkins(4 – 3 – 28 – 9.3 – 0) as deep threat. He was solid catching the ball, with his targets being mostly around the sidelines. (NOT DONE)
4) Set the Edges: Yet again, this was something we started out doing. A lot of it was from a five man line. Then we just bailed and went to a four man line, for the most part. Even when they started pounding us behind their LT, we didn’t slide the line, add a man, or rush the LT’s outside hip to slow him getting to his landmarks.
Let me just say this, so it can’t be said, that you haven’t seen it somewhere. We have got to stop playing Haason Reddick at LDE. He really seems to be wearing down faster and faster in games. At his best, he’s an OLB playing from a five man rush, which we rarely do anymore. Didn’t think anyone could make me miss Jonathan Gannon. (NOT DONE)
++++
This week we nailed ZERO ofFour Things, and as a result, we got absolutely keistered over it. We can get this taste out of our mouths with a win over Dallas, next week.
****
Game Hero: WRDevonta Smith (11 – 9 – 96 – 10.6 – 1) – There wasn’t a whole lot to feel good about in this game, but Devonta had a pretty gutsy game out there. That 21 yard pick-up on 3rd and 19 was a thing of beauty. Watching his skinny ass power through tackle attempts, (in heavy traffic) had me on my feet, pounding my chest.
He had a couple catches today where he didn’t go down, but was instead pushed out of bounds. At one point he was German Suplexed, sparking a sideline blow-up that resulted in a 49er player, and the Eagles Head of Security, being removed from the field. And still Devonta played on.
Game goat: The Eagles Entire Coaching Staff – Top to bottom it almost looked like they were trying not to win this game. Never attempting a run game. Adjusting away from what was working on Defense. Using Quez Watkins exclusively on short routes. Not subbing out players who repeatedly missed tackles.
Every one of those things is a deliberate decision, and a result of coach’s call. We can complain about player execution, but if players are put in poor positions, it’s nearly impossible for them to be successful.
On The Whole:
This loss was pretty much always coming. I said it was in April, July, and even Friday. To us, it was the third game in thirteen days, with a division rival a week away. That’s the game that REALLY counts for something. For us, the 49ers was sort of a trap game. Simple as that. Their team needed this “rematch” for their wounded self-image. For us it was Sunday.
The fact is, we into the 49er’s grudge match, with no stakes for us. We started the game as the NFC’s #1 team, and we came out of it that way. If the 49ers had scored 1,000,000 points, that was never going to change. I’m sure our guys cared, but c’mon, we’ve just played two back to back wars; and we have another one coming up next Sunday.
We weren’t as into it as they were, and we were NEVER going to be. Again, I said this in April, in July, and just this past Friday. That was confirmed by our coaching staff almost looking like they didn’t even HAVE a gameplan. We deserved the loss! But honestly, did any issue we showed, surprise you? Of course not. We’ve seen these issues all season.
A win would have been nice; but if I told you that I cared about this loss, I’d be lying hard enough to have lightning strike ALL of us Eagles fans. This game was a write-off. Look at who still leads in the standings. A win over Dallas Sunday, will make this loss mean even less.
And so…MOVING ON!
As far getting that win, it would be nice to see us address things like the Offensive play calling, and actually disguising some of our underneath coverages. We need to generate turnovers, and as long as our coverages are paint by numbers, no one will have a hard time against them.
ANOTHERThrilla In South Phila, last week. Down ten at the half, our Eagles battled back and won the game, with a walk-off touchdown by Mr. Clutch, QB Jalen Hurts. It was almost unfair. I practically knew it was in the bag. The world was on fire, and I sat calmly watching, while shelling and eating pecans.
When the shit hit the fan, we didn’t point fingers. We didn’t flinch. We shut our mouths, and we got to work. Eventually we climbed out of the hole we’d dug ourselves, and reached the peak called ‘Victory’.
This week’s opponent isn’t built like us. Talking is the thing they do best. Followed by whining. Followed by complaining. Eventually, if you go far enough down the list, I hear that they’re supposed to be good at playing football.
A win and we go to 11 – 1, maintaining a two game lead in the NFC East. (It’s too early to get wrapped up in other scenarios, just yet.)
A loss would stall us at 10 – 2. We’d still have a one game lead in the East, but it would be a lot easier to encroach on our turf.
****
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 theFour Things that we need to focus on this week versus: the 49ers
1) Impose Our Will By Running: By running, I mean handing the ball off. I get a feeling in my gut that they’re going to try to hurt our QB, and I don’t think we should hand them extra opportunities to do so. The Eagles like RB D’Andre Swift to top out around 14 carries, so 15 or more would be a great way to take hits off of Hurts.
We have a massive and powerful Offensive Line. We should be unleashing it early and often. The 9ers are a bit undersized up front, and their D-line is the source of their pass rush. So we should beat on them early, to tire their pass rushers out late.
2) Take Away Short, Quick Throws: Using more Man-Press on the corners, and bumping their TE at the line, would be great. Anything to get their QB to hold the ball just a second or two longer. Also, would it kill LB Nick Morrow(or anybody)to unleash a vicious hit on someone running across the middle?
3) Go Deep, Early:We need to clear space underneath for the run game. The best way to do that quickly, is to test the 49ers commitment to stopping our deep passing game. The sooner we create that space underneath, the easier the entire game will be for our Offense.
If the last few games are any indicator, WR A.J. Brown will see heavy double-team action for most of the day. If that holds true, then run Brown on Slant routes, and let WR Devonta Smith and WR Quez Watkinsbe the deep options.
4) Set the Edges:The 9ers are going to use a lot of pre-snap movement, in order to confuse us. Our guys need to stay in our lanes, trust the scheme, and their teammates. If our DE’s set the edges of the line, it makes it easier for our LB’s to read, and fill their run gaps. No need to play undisciplined football.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
Months ago I predicted this to be a loss for our Eagles. Today I’m not so sure. And I LOVE that.
After the Eagles dominated in the NFC Championship game, the 49ers ran around screaming and crying like Michael Jackson filming a Pepsi commercial. (Look it up.)
The 9ers talked shit in the national media for months, even alluding to this up-coming game between us. It was clear that they’d built this game up into their Super Bowl. Meanwhile for us, it would just be another game. With the 9ers being so much more invested in this game since March, it was easy to see them winning this game.
They more or less went silent once the season started. Until this last week or so. Once again they’re running their mouths. This time though, it’s a little different. Eagles players have shown some annoyance over that, with some clapping back essentially “Come onnnnnn, wit’ it!”
The Eagles are 10 – 1. Playing at home. On a hot streak defeating quality opponents, yet it’s us that gets labeled (in gambling) as the underdog vs an 8 – 3 team. So the Eagles may be feeling just a tad disrespected. And what better way to dismiss that feeling, than grinding an opponent like the 9ers, under our boot heel.
I expect a good old-fashioned street fight. I expect fighting. Maybe an ejection. I expect to lose a player for the season. (Whether it’s an Eagle or a 49er remains to be seen.) I expect my six pack of Pepto Bismol to still not do the job. This should be a a good one.
****
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 forFour 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?
Drive Killer: CB James Bradberry(TD: 0/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)
Sack Leader: DE Brandon Graham (Sacks:1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 2)
Special Teams Ace: DT Jalen Carter(3 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) FG block
****
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: BILLSdid the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
CB James Bradberry picks off a pass
1) Frustrate WR Stefon Diggs: This one didn’t get done, but there’s a weird disqualifier to it. There were a few key third downs where the Bills themselves pulled Diggs off the field. This made it impossible to render him frustrated with his QB not going to him in key situations. Their coaching staff took that bullet instead. Weird. (NOT DONE)
2) Get To the QB Early: Once again the four man rush was anemic. So was the predictable and lame delayed blitz that we bring every week. From the same players. In the same gaps. (NOT DONE)
3) Run The Ball: I said 14 carries from Swift, and that was the exact number that we parked at. Of course, it did take a carry in overtime to get there. A single carry. On a nine play drive. A drive where the QB ran three times. On the day, Swift had as many carries as Hurts did. Again, that was 14 carries.
Let’s not forget about RB Boston Scott (2 – 14 – 7.0 – 0 – 0) and RB Kenneth Gainwell (2 – 26 – 13.0 – 0 – 1). For those keeping score at home, we’re talking 31 passes, 14 QB runs, and 18 hand-offs. Our RB’s ran for 101 yards on 18 carries (5.6ypc), but were mere co-stars in the run game. Technically we accomplished this, but it feels empty.(DONE)
4) Speed. Kills: Go deep early in order to loosen the box. Didn’t do it. In the first half, every time the Offense took the field, it felt like they should all have been wearing red noses and piling out of a tiny car. We cut it on the second half, but the call was to do it early. And we didn’t. (NOT DONE)
++++
This week we got just1 of theFour Things done, which explains how we limped to overtime, instead of bludgeoning the whole sordid pile in regulation, and getting the fans out of the cold rain! Next up, we have what I think will be a loss to San Francisco.
****
Game Hero: QB Jalen Hurts – The man threw three scores, and ran for two more, one of which was an overtime walk-off. After caving in the Bills forehead with a mushroom-stamp on national television, how could I call anyone else the game’s goat?
Game goat: Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai – A year ago under Jonathan “He doesn’t make adjustments” Gannon, with many of these same players, our Defense had amassed 23 turnovers and was sacking QB’s at will.
Fast forward to you reading this sentence, and we have 14 turnovers, and a pass rush that’s recorded just one sack in each of the last two games. In the last two games we were gashed for 168 and 173 rushing yards, respectively. We’ve also given up 14 TD’s on third and long.
I hate to keep harping on how much I hate the job that this guy is doing, but explain to me what we have to hang our hat on. We’re lousy on defense at EVERYTHING now. We’re 20th in points allowed! That’s bottom third of the league!! So please, just please stop telling me what a great job Desai is doing. He clearly isn’t.
On The Whole:
The segment that was originally here, was removed to turn into another article. (There was that much of it.) It will be entitled “On The Whole” and I’ll put it out tomorrow. Very different tone. Right now, let’s celebrate the win.
Finding out that RT Lane Johnson couldn’t play due to a hamstring injury, was a blow. In fact, most teams would be crippled if they lost an All-Pro OT. The Eagles however, have swingmanJack Driscoll! Jack filled in admirably against one of the leagues tope pass rushers in DE Leonard Floyd (1 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) and kept him sackless.
DT’s Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter
We lost DT Fletcher Cox(not stats) during the game, and were already thin at DT with veteran Milton Williams out with a concussion. So of course our young guys stepped up! DT’s Jordan Davis (5 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) and Jalen Carter were strong in the middle, as most of the rushing yardage we surrendered, came on the edges. Also, if Carter doesn’t block that FG, there is no overtime.
WR Olamide Zaccheaus making his one catch count
Talk about stepping up, WR Olamide Zaccheaus (1 – 29 – 29.0 – 1) made his only catch of the game count, with a touchdown grab between one of the best Safety tandems in the NFL. And please! Don’t think you get out of here without me mentioning K Jake “The Make” Elliott(1/1 FG, 4/4 XP) through the wind, through the driving rain, and into the inkwell of night, drove in a 59 yard field goal, that would have been good from 65, to send us to overtime.
Clutch was everywhere in this one. Tiny purses were EVERYWHERE! Quick, get me some cargo! Get me a cobra! Every player pulling in one direction and stepping up when their moment came. And now we’re guaranteed a playoff spot.
Because we clutched it.
Hello, I’d like to make a reservation for the playoffs.
WINNING at Kansas City, in the rain, in front of a raucous crowd. We were down 10 points at the half, but never let it rattle us. We stuck together as a team, and QB Jalen Hurts found WR Devonta Smith, at key points to help produce the points needed for our comeback. The Bills QB and WR? Those guys don’t always get along so good.
I’m counting on CB Darius “Big Play” Slay to perhaps inspire an argument. I’ll get deeper into that, down the page.
A win moves us to 10 – 1, and extends our hold on the NFC East, by at least another two weeks.
A loss stalls us at 9 – 2. That would leave us as still the best team in all of Football, for at least another week. Especially since the Bills are an AFC team, and so doesn’t count for us, or against us, in the conference standings.
****
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 Bills.
1) Frustrate WR Stefon Diggs:There’s no need to hold him catchless. However, if Buffalo’s QB has to look away from Diggs on key third downs, Diggs will go into yapping at his QB again. We’ve seen it at least twice this season, and it’s only Week 12! Any dissension we can sow on their sideline early, benefits us later.
This is where Slay comes in. The idea isn’t to get a bunch of turnovers. It’s to stay close enough to Diggs, so his QB has to go elsewhere with the ball. Or else hold the ball too long, and get to meet our Defensive Line. That’s it. Nothing fancy. Just be an irritant and let the flaws in their personalities do the rest.
2) Get To the QB Early: Turnovers are more important than sacks, but sacks help to generate the turnovers. The more heat we can get on the Bills QB, the more likely he’ll throw us one of his patented, league leading interceptions. That said, he won’t take the threat of a sack seriously, until we show that we can get there.
Instead of reserving blitzes for the second half of the ball game this week, it would be nice to see a few of them in the first quarter. Our four man rush isn’t reaching like it it did in the beginning of the season, so we have to compensate faster, before the opponent gets comfortable.
3) Run The Ball: When I don’t say it, we don’t do it. So I’m sayin’ it. The Bills come into this game giving up 4.5 yards per carry. As an Offense, we average 4.0 yards per carry. They’re small on the DE’s, small at LB, and favor a Nickel/Dime alignment for speed. This is a team that we should FEAST on.
In my fantasies, I see RB D’Andre Swift getting 25 carries in this game; but that won’t happen, so let’s say we need 14 carries from him, this week.
4) Speed. Kills: The Bills have a pair of very good, very experienced, pair of over 30-years old Safeties. They also have former Eagle CB Rasul Douglas starting for them now. It’s a very solid, very saavy secondary they have over there. It would be foolish to disrespect them, so I’m starting out by “putting respect on their name”.
That said, deep speed is a weakness for that unit. It was the main thing that the Eagles let Douglas walk over. So we should take a shot or two early, to open up the run game for us. Whether we hit or not isn’t the point. Once the Bills realize they need to play Cover Two or Four (any even coverage), a S comes out of the box. Advantage US.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
Do you realize that we are 9 – 1 having played 6 of our 10 games on the road? Not related to anything. Just wanted to throw that out there.
This game should be in the bag if we can keep the Bills to under 25 points. It would go a long way to doing that if we can get sacks, a turnover or two and control the clock with the run. This isn’t a secret recipe. Fortunately for us, we keep our kitchen stocked with just the ingredients to pull this off. Now all we need is some fresh meat. Hey look! Buffalo anybody?
****
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 Thingsas 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.
EAGLEMANIACAL.com 