FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 7: Vikings

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/10/20
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Reviews, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

BOMBS away!

EAGLES 28 – Vikings 22 

   

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (19/23 – 82.6% – 326 – 3 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (18 – 44 – 2.4 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: WR DeVonta Smith (11 – 9 – 183 – 20.3 – 1)

Drive Killer: OLB Jaylx Hunt (TD: 1/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)

Sack Leader: OLB Joshua Uche (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 3)

Special Teams Ace: N/A

****

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

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

1) Get Barkley 18 Carries: Saquon had exactly 18 carries, and every single one of them mattered. Especially with us losing the time of possession 25 minutes to 34. More important than the 44 rushing yards, real hand-offs helped sell the play-action. The last three hand-offs were just to kill clock, and preserve players for next week.

Teams have been absolutely selling out against the run, to prevent Saquon from beating them. Too often this season the Eagles have allowed themselves to be victims of that. Today, we took massive advantage of it. As a result, I think next week, the run game will have much better production. (DONE)

2) Lead the Receivers: I said “Throw the ball to our receivers on the move.” Boy did we ever! Our WR’s averaged 23.3 yards per catch this week! Hurts had five pass plays where the ball was in the air for 20 or more yards. Strikes of 37 (TD), 79 (TD), 28, 26 (TD), and 45 yards, ALL of those passes hit receivers while they were on the move.

WR A.J. Brown draws first blood with a 37 yard TD catch and run.

DeVonta Smith and WR A.J. Brown (6 – 4 – 121 – 30.3 – 2) accounted for 304 of Hurts 326 passing yards. They showed the NFL what can happen if too many resources are committed to stopping our run game, without enough respect for our passing game. Expect more room for Saquon to run, in the near future. (DONE)

3) Pinch the ‘A’ Gaps: We held Minnesota to 89 total yards rushing, but our DT’s still spent too many plays crashing directly into offensive linemen, and not the gaps beside them. As a result we really didn’t get much quick penetration. We made playing defense, harder on ourselves than it should have been. (NOT DONE)

4) Contest TE Releases: We started out doing this on the opening drive; but as the game wore on, I’m not sure if we kept doing it, or if they were just trying chip on the way out. Doesn’t matter. It resulted in few easy TE looks, poor production (10 – 7 – 52 – 7.4 – 0) and the QB reading longer. Which were exactly the tactic and goal. (DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 3 of 4, in a game that we controlled from the outset. Next up, we host a giants team that will be coming in with more confidence than they should. Ahhh, youth!

****

QB Jalen Hurts gunning down the Vikings defense.

Game Hero: Jalen Hurts: While the true foundation of this offensive explosion is Saquon Barkley, it was Hurts who executed and capitalized on the opportunities provided to him. There were no weird overthrows from clean pockets, or unseen receivers running wide open, this week.

Instead, Hurts put on an absolute clinic, with a completion percentage above 82, and a perfect QB rating of 158.3. If your fetish includes QBR numbers, his was 95.2 (whatever that means). I don’t get into the weeds on such metrics. I care about yards and touchdown to interception ratios. Hurts had 326 yards and a 3:0 ratio. He was HIM.

Game goat: CB’s Adoree Jackson/Kelee Ringo: All these guys do is tackle, and neither does so very reliably. Is it possible to get rookie CB Mac McWilliams some snaps?

On The Whole: We controlled the game from start to finish, and doled out gut punch after gut punch, as we went. We repeatedly rocked Minnesota, and we played keep away with the lead, from the moment we went up 7 – 0. But we never got the knockout.

Pass rush, specifically sack production, continues to be a point of worry. Allowing QB’s to constantly escape a tackle, keeps opponents in manageable down and distance situations. As a result, we’re keeping opponents in games that they shouldn’t be in.

OLB Jaylx Hunt returning an interception for a touchdown

We did the same thing again, this week. We just won a game in which we scored 4 touchdowns, over an opponent who scored only 1, and difference in the final score was just 6 points. SIX. Something is very not right with that.

Again, opposing time of possession this week, was 34 minutes them, to 25 us. Part of that is our run game not eating clock. The other part, is when third and ten becomes first and ten, after a QB scrambles away from a sack, 16 yards up the middle. That one happened TODAY!

It’s a detail, but it has a huge ripple effect. We have to start getting QB’s on the ground.

FOUR THINGS: WK 7: EAGLES – VIKINGS

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/10/17
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Draft, Four Things, NFL, Offense, Players, playoffs, X's and O's. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

 

CONGRATULATIONS giants and Broncos! For two straight weeks, teams not only beat us, but they celebrated like they had won a trip to the Super Bowl itself. Smoke machines in their locker room. Ripping off shirts in front of reporters. Taking a victory rides down Broad Street… Jeez! Talk about living rent-free in someone’s head.

The fact is, teams hold the Eagles in extremely high esteem. Heck, even this week’s opponent, the Vikings, find themselves rallying behind an old ex of ours. You know. The one without the statue. Yeah, when he thinks of what could have been, I wonder if it ever… Hurts.

A win and we’re 5 – 2, solidly atop the NFC East.

A loss, means we stumble to 4 – 3, leaving Washington in a position to take over first place in the division. (Eagles fans: This week we’re rooting for Dallas over D.C.)

****

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

[pic]

1) Get Barkley 18 Carries: Getting RB Saquon Barkley at least 18 hand-offs in this game, should be the Eagles most important mission for the week. In some regards, it’s even more important than the win itself. Listen. Without actual hand-offs, we can’t sell play-action or set up QB Jalen Hurts for productive keepers on RPO’s.

Also, with us going three and out so much, our Defense is on the field too much. They’re getting tired earlier and earlier in games, as the season wears on. We need to take back time of possession, so that the Defense isn’t too worn down come playoffs. Giving Barkley 18 carriers has long term benefits for the stability of the Offense.

2) Lead the Receivers: We’re seeing a lot of turn and stop routes for Eagles WR’s. It’s allowing for quick tackles, and for defenders to contest many of these passes. Let’s keep them at a disadvantage and throw the ball to our receivers on the move.

Doesn’t need to be a deep throw either. (For example: Play-action to draw the LB’s up, and then hit WR A.J. Brown on a 7 yard Crosser.) Put the ball in front of them so they doesn’t have to stop or gear down. It would also help make illegal contact or pass interference very easy to identify.

Admit it. You want to see another moment like this one.

3) Pinch the ‘A’ Gaps: In recent weeks, our DT’s have spent too much time playing G’s straight up. As a result, we’re getting no penetration and blown off the line of scrimmage vs the run. This needs to stop. Deliberately knife into at least one of the gaps on every play. Ruin every run concept that isn’t a 23 Dive. Ruin the timing. Ruin the landmarks established in practice. Ruin the trust.

4) Contest TE’s Releases: The Vikings go to their TE a lot. Don’t give him clean releases off the line. Muddy the underneath coverage and force the Vikings QB into bis third and fourth reads. Give our pass rush time to get home.

****

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

Give LB Jihaad Campbell some reps at LDE. As I said in my Draft Report, it seems like this was the Eagles plan the entire season. We’ve spent the last two weeks watching QB’s outrace our DE’s. They won’t be able to pull that off vs Campbell.

****

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

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

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 6: Giants

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/10/12
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Reviews, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
…and here is Eagles CB Kelee Ringo, getting mossed by some guy named “LilJordan”.

A nationally televised ass-whipping?

EAGLES 17 – Giants 34 

     

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (24/33 – 72.7% – 283 – 1 – 1)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (12 – 58 – 4.8 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: TE Dallas Goedert (11 – 9 – 110 – 12.2 – 1)

Drive Killer: N/A (TD: /Int: / FR: / 4th down stops: / FF: )

Sack Leader: DT Jordan Davis (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 6)

Special Teams Ace: N/A

****

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

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

1) Don’t Overthink It: For the second week in a row, I mentioned establishing the run. In the first half we were doing exactly that. Saquon Barkley went into the half 8 – 56 – 7.0 – 0, with a long run of 18. He would finish the game with just 4 more carries for 2 more yards. There were many plays where he wasn’t even in the backfield.

This is NOT about execution. If the player isn’t even on the field, how can he execute? If the ball isn’t handed off, how can the run game fail in its execution? This is a play-calling problem, but until Head Coach Nick Sirianni holds Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo accountable, this problem will persist. (NOT DONE)

2) Strangle Their Pass Rush: A short, quick passing game, right behind the pass rush. It would have kept the QB clean, got the ball out fast, backed their linebackers up, kept the chains moving, and the ball out the hands of the opposing offense.

Instead, we were treated to yet another example of why people keep leaving Jalen Hurts off their top ten QB lists. Raise your hand, if you find yourself yelling “THROW THE BALL!!” at your television, at least 4 times per game. Raise your hand if you’re sick of seeing him count past “five Mississippi”. This should’ve been easy. (NOT DONE)

3) Push the Interior Pocket: The idea was to force their QB to run and step into hits by our LB’s. However, every time we got him out of the pocket, our LB’s were off getting a hotdog or something. As far as the run, not only did our linemen get no penetration, they were also getting blown off the line. (NOT DONE)

giants coach Brian Daboll hugging his concussed job security.

4) Take Away Anything Easy: We did take away the dink and dunk underneath stuff. So their QB went into hunting our CB’s, specifically CB Kelee Ringo (3 tackles). Still, their QB only had an okay night, passing the ball. The real issue was the 172 rushing yards that we surrendered. (DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 1 of 4, so you shouldn’t be surprised that we lost. Next week we travel to Minnesota, to right the ship against a well rested Vikings team.

****

Game Hero: What? Are you serious?

Game goat: HC Nick Sirianni – This team has issues on all sides of the ball, but Offense is what’s killing us. I realize that Patullo may be his friend, but now it’s definitely time for Sirianni to step in, and take over the play-calling. At the very least.

On The Whole: The Offense is going three and out so much, that it’s wearing down the Defense. Not just “in-game” wear, but the kind of wear that gets carried from week to week, is starting to show. Our Defense is in need of a game (or three) where we hold time of possession for 36 minutes or better.

There’s an over-emphasis under Patullo, of taking what opposing defenses are giving us. That allows our opponents to dictate the game to us. Our players hate it, and you can see it actively sapping their mojo. Saquon Barkley said “We have to get back to that attitude. To that mindset, where we don’t really give a fuck what people are trying to do.”

Standing at his locker, RT Lane Johnson called for the plays to be less predictable, and he mentioned ‘keys’ that give away what the Eagles are doing. (He also remembered to say they need to execute better.)

Both of these are pleas for a shift in mindset. The question is: Who are these pleas, to? Who exactly do the players hope to rescue them?

Last week’s loss could have been a constructive loss, had we learned from it. We did not. This giants loss renders the Broncos loss, just a failed opportunity. This giants loss could be a constructive loss, if we learn from it, and make meaningful changes. Otherwise, it’s just going to be a nationally televised ass-whipping.

FOUR THINGS: WK 6: EAGLES – GIANTS

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/10/08
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Crazy Talk, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, Rivals. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

WE just played an “L” of a game, but for a while there, we were throwing it all over the yard. We saw WR DeVonta Smith get his first 100 yard game of the year; and RB Saquon Barkley had a 47 yard catch and run touchdown, off a simple Wheel route. Behold, the giants! Who are 25th in the league against the pass. So yeah, we need to hack that bone.

However, the giants are also 26th against the run! Probably need to dial up a bit more of that too.

Sooooo, we’re gonna need our Eagles, to go ahead and hand it off more than eleven times this week. Yeah. That would be great. 

A win improves us to 5 – 1. It would maintain our seat atop the NFC East division.

A loss, would stall us at 4 – 2. It could possibly drop us to second in the division, depending on the outcome of the Washington/Chicago game.

****

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

1) Don’t Overthink It: There are only six teams in the NFL that are worse at defending the run, than the giants are. The Eagles are a better team when our identity is as a running team. We need to establish the run, and in a big way. If we don’t get it done against the giants, future opponents will smell blood in the water.

2) Strangle Their Pass Rush: Guys being injured on our Offensive Line, means that part of protecting QB Jalen Hurts will have to be scheme. Run hot routes to the vacated areas behind the giants DE’s. These will be short throws, but they’ll A) avoid sacks, B) keep down and distance on schedule, and C) act as an extension of the run game.

The best part is that, this key isn’t blitz dependent, but it works against the blitz with no adjustment needed. If the giants want to counter by having their MLB play man coverage, then Hurts can grab an easy five rushing yards directly up the gut.

3) Push the Interior Pocket: The giants are starting a rookie QB, who likes to run. Look, let’s not get too hung up on trying to trick or confuse him. He can grow past that. We’re going to be seeing this guy twice a year, for who knows how long. This is his first meeting with the Eagles. Let’s focus on beating some PTSD into the lad.

He likes to run? Fine. Push the pocket into his lap, and let him dart into hits by LB Zack Baun and LB Jihaad Campbell. Maybe get a fumble or two out of it! Surging that line segment backward, will also work against their run game.

4) Take Away Anything Easy: Don’t let them beat our coverages, with quick throws. Advertise a ton of man coverage, but muddy up the underneath, when playing Zone defense.

****

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

The Eagles have all the talent in the world on this roster. So identifying what they need to do, and assigning it to the right players, is child’s play. The problem is, that the Eagles are not always quick to apply what they’ve learned. They can be very obstinate about how soon to fold in a new wrinkle.

****

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

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

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 5: Broncos

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/10/06
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Crazy Talk, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Fail Mary full of grace, see this egg upon my face…

STUPIDITY earns Eagles a loss.

EAGLES 17 – Broncos 21

 

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (23/38 – 60.5% – 280 – 2 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (6 – 30 – 5.0 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: WR DeVonta Smith (10 – 8 – 114 – 14.3 – 0)

Drive Killer: N/A (TD: /Int: / FR: / 4th down stops: / FF: )

Sack Leader: DE Za’Darius Smith (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 3)

Special Teams Ace: N/A

****

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

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

1) Run Fewer Bunch Formations: The Eagles refused to spread their formations. Thus, all the defenders stayed bunched up inside, making it easier to combat our run and run various blitzes. I don’t know which was worse. Hurts inability to get rid of the ball quickly (5 sacks), or the coaching staff not adjusting for his weakness. (NOT DONE)

2) Limit Their Run Game: Hold them under 120 rushing yards. That was the ask. We gave them 130 on some of the least creative, ugliest running I’ve seen since November of 2022, when Washington beat us 21 – 32. After that loss we were still in first place, but we’d been sleepwalking and needed a loss to wake us up.

Sound familiar? Click that link up there, and you’ll shake your head until you feel like a bobblehead doll. Why do Nick Sirianni’s teams KEEP repeating this pattern? (NOT DONE)

3) Don’t Overthink It: The idea was to use our bigger line to run the ball a ton, and overpower their smaller line. Our leading rusher got all of 6 carries. Our 20 million dollar per year, former 2,000 yard rusher, saw just 6 carries. This is not just an oversight. It’s downright unprofessional.

If I’m Owner Jeffrey Lurie, I want a word with Sirianni, not his hired help. I would ask him “Nicholas John, why I’m paying a man 20 million dollars, for 6 carries, in front of our home crowd?” Each time I hear an answer I don’t like, I’m saying, “That’s the wrong answer. Give me the right one.” (Specifically: This won’t happen again.) (NOT DONE)

4) Box Them In: We did a really good job of this, as LB’s Zack Baun (12 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) and Jihaad Campbell (11 tackles) led the team in stops. The scheme did a great job of playing team concept defense. The problem was the silly number of late opportunities the Bronco’s offense got, because the Eagles kept going three and out. (DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 1 of 4. We get a short week here, as we have to be back at it on Thursday night vs the 1 – 4 giants.

****

Game Hero: N/A

 

Game goat: Head Coach Nick Sirianni – I’m through blaming the Offensive Coordinator. Sirianni preaches situational football, but in real-time, he seems totally unaware of too many situations on his team.

On The Whole: Like that Washington loss n 2022, this loss was overdue. Lack of offensive clarity is the root of this team’s issues. It’s always trying to do two things passably, instead of one thing at a time, well. For instance: Why an RPO, and not an Off-Guard run? Why so many deep routes that meet in the same area? Why does Hurts hold the ball so damned long?!

On Defense, our line is neither slowing the run, nor getting to the QB. Today CB Kelee Ringo (6 tackles) has been more impactful, than DT Jalen Carter (4 tackles). That’s a fact, and it shouldn’t be.

FOUR THINGS: WK 5: EAGLES – BRONCOS

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/10/03
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Preview, Roster, X's and O's. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

LAST week’s win over Tampa Bay, gave us our third consecutive win over a team that won their division last year. We hit some rough chop in the second half, but we have a very talented, very battle tested roster. We’re led by celebrated battlers on both sides of the ball like, RT Lane Johnson and DT Jalen Carter. The Broncos can’t make that claim.

A win improves us to 5 – 0. We would enjoy another week as the only undefeated team in the conference, remaining firmly atop the NFC East.

A loss, would leave us standing at 4 – 1. Still atop the division, but now tied at the head of the conference with the 49ers.

****

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

Look at all the room in that box! SPREAD. OUT!

1) Run Fewer Bunch Formations: We’re less effective when we do that, because it makes it easy for opponents to crowd running lanes, give us different blitz looks, and muddy any underneath passing lanes, while they drop into coverage. So how about we stop doing our opponents any favors.

Let’s get our WR’s split from the ends of line, to pull defenders laterally, and create spacing for RB Saquon Barkley to run. We’re going against a VERY smart coach this week. It’s important that we understand where our natural advantages are, and exploit those beyond his ability to scheme solutions.

2) Limit Their Run Game: Under 120 rushing yards they are 0-2. Over 120 they are 2-0. Make their QB carry the offense, since it’s highly unlikely that he can. The Broncos offense is a decent stew, meaning that their ingredients (the players) combine to make a final product that is richer and more complex, than any of the ingredients alone.

That being said, they are a decent stew, not a great one. They have no special ingredients. The Broncos don’t have any truly scary players, that you have to worry about taking over a game. So stymie their run enough to make their attack unreliable. Get their young QB trying to forcing things. Then capitalize on his mistakes.

3) Don’t Overthink It: The Broncos defensive linemen are prioritized for quickness, so their line is on the smallish side. They use a 3-4 front, dressed up as a 4-3 or a 5-2. It looks a little like this:

This is what we should look like spread out, to force those lineBackers into coverage, and out of blitzes. The 49 back there is former Eagle Alex Singleton. (Everyone wave hi!) Let’s get him chasing Saquon all day. If they want to go with a small line, let’s spread it thin and run over it!

In any case, their front five averages about 274 pounds, (291 across the middle three.) Our front five averages 329, (middle three 318). Our Offensive Line features multiple All-Pro players, and their defensive line does not. We have the size and talent advantage up front. So spread them out, and run the ball down their throats.

4) Box Them In: Set the edges and walk the middle of the pocket back to the QB. If their very average o-linemen are busy fighting our talented Defensive Linemen, then they shouldn’t be able to leak out and affect LB’s Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell, making them free to roam, hit, tip passes and catch tipped passes.

****

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

The Broncos are coached by Sean Payton, who is not just clever, he’s downright sneaky. He’s wringing more out of his team than he probably should be at this point.

Having given him more than fair praise, the fact is, coaches don’t score points, players do. The Broncos players just aren’t on the same level as the Eagles, and we should make that crystal clear. We need to come out and just bully this opponent. Make it a physical beat-down, and change Sean Payton’s mind about the Brotherly Shove.

Speaking of the BruvShove, the Broncos have just one defensive line player on their entire roster, who is 320 pounds. Hoo boy!

****

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

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

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 4: Buccaneers

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/09/29
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Reviews, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
S Sydney Brown returns blocked punt 35 yards for that tasty treat.

SPECIAL Teams does it again.

EAGLES 31 – Buccaneers 25

 

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (15/24 – 62.5% – 130 – 2 – 0)

Rushing: QB Jalen Hurts (9 – 69 – 6.9 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: TE Dallas Goedert (4 – 4 – 37 – 9.2 – 2)

Drive Killer: LB Jihaad Campbell (TD: 0/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)

Sack Leader: LB Zack Baun (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 8)

Special Teams Ace: S Sydney Brown returns blocked punt 35 yards for TD

****

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

1) Feed the Dawgs: The statlines for WR DeVonta Smith (2 – 2 – 29 – 14.5 – 0) and WR A.J. Brown (9 – 2 – 7 – 3.5 – 0) yet again have them looking like vastly overpaid stooges. That is so entirely not the case. The problem is junior varsity play design, and Head Coach Nick Sirianni not telling the truth to Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo.

When the score was 31 – 23, we ran the same Comeback route to Brown, three times in a row. Each time, Buccaneer defenders broke on the ball, but didn’t pick it off. Then we punted. So are we blaming Hurts for going to the same guy, or the play being called for the same guy? Because at this point, someone needs some blame. (NOT DONE)

2) Set the Edges: We did a better job of this in the first half, but we did enough of it in the second half. So schematically and conceptually, the Defensive Line was playing solid team football. The stats won’t tell the story, but their play had a great deal to do the fact that we managed to hold on and win the game.

LB Zack Baun brings down QB Baker Mayfield for the sack

What was distressing, was even though we routed runs down the middle, they were able to pick up decent gains almost at will. It would be different if our pass rush was killing it, and the runners were just running past our rushers, but that wasn’t the case. Still, we kept their QB’s legs from becoming a factor, and contained the run. (DONE)

3) Keep Their Receivers Wide: Except for some 4th quarter pass over the middle, we did a great job of this. Even on the Buc’s two long TD passes, they were mostly towards the sidelines, where our defenders were able to make attempts on the ball. It was the same with Campbell’s interception in the endzone. Great job here. (DONE)

4) Blitz the Blitz: In the first half Hurts was 8/10 vs the blitz. In the second half he was 0/8 on pass attempts, period. An entire half of football where a 50 million dollar per year, professional QB, couldn’t complete a pass. Someone has to be held accountable, here. (NOT DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4. Both were on Defense. Next week we host a Broncos team that (depending on tonight’s game) will either be 1 – 3 or 2 – 2 when we see them. So far, they are not yet as good as either record would indicate.

****

Game Hero: Special Teams – Whether it was K Jake Elliott (1/1 FG, 4/4 XP) kicking, or TE Cameron Latu (2 tackles) blocking a punt, or Sydney Brown (2 tackles) returning the block for a TD, 13 of our 31 points came from Special Teams.

Let’s not forget P Braden Mann (7 – 363 – 51.9 – 63) booming punt after punt to help us win the field position battle. However his best play, was his run for negative 34 yards for a safety, in order to run out the clock, and ice the game. This unit was the difference in this win.

Game goat: The Offense – Saquon Barkley was repeated being hit in the backfield, right after handoffs. That’s on the Offensive Line. Jalen Hurts isn’t audibling, to get us into a better play when he sees 8 and 9 man fronts. That’s on Hurts. The play-calling and play design is pedestrian, at best. That’s on Kevin Patullo.

RB Saquon Barkley scores on Brotherly Shove fake. Congratulations Buc’s! You sold out to stop us from getting a yard, and gave us six points instead. Thanks for that.

On The Whole: Our Offense is paid entirely too well, to keep laying duds like this. The inability to get four quarters of professional production out of them, has to be addressed.

Let me also say that the Defense’s inability to get a QB on the ground, is also mystifying. This team concept stuff has at 4 – 0, but it also has these games being closer than they should be, because we are unable to decisively put opponents down.

FOUR THINGS: WK 4: EAGLES – BUCCANEERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/09/26
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Preview. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

 

COMING back during the “Silencing of the Rams” last week, the Eagles showed the entire league; that even if they’re an undefeated team, with a 19 point lead, your ass ain’t safe! This team is going to fight for four quarters. As made evident by DT Jordan Davis blocking a field goal, and returning it 61 yards for a touchdown, to ice the game.

The Buccaneers have had to comeback in each of their three wins, against opponents with a combined record of 1 – 8. Last week they were up 23 – 6 over the Jets, and ended up having to comeback and win it 29 – 27. The Eagles are a much stiffer test than that. When we get a lead: We keep it.

A win over the Buccaneers makes us a perfect 4 – 0. That would be good enough to be at least tied for top record in the NFC. It would also be the cannibalization of a second consecutive, undefeated, conference opponent.

A loss would leave us at 3 – 1, and falling a step behind in the race for home-field advantage.

****

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

1) Feed the Dawgs: Last time we saw this team, we were without WR A.J. Brown, WR DeVonta Smith, and RT Lane Johnson. While RB Saquon Barkley started, RB Kenny Gainwell had to play nearly half the game in his place. The Buccaneers jumped out to a 24 – 0 lead, but that game still ended 16 – 33, with our back-ups getting as close as 16 – 30.

Whole different monster this Sunday. Time to feed the dawgs! Time to get the ball to our big players! Time to let ‘em eat! If we’re going to provide room for Barkley to run, then Smith and Brown need to see at least seven targets each.

2) Set the Edges: Their QB likes to run. Keep him and any RB’s in the Tackle Box, where our hitters can get clean killshots on them in the hole. This is going to be a hot, and humid game. So drive up the frustration, and beat fatigue into them. Take away the required energy for them to stage late heroics.

3) Keep Their Receivers Wide: Clean releases to the inside have to be minimized to give our Safeties room to jump passes. The Buccaneer’s QB is willing to share the football, but you have to bait his natural arrogance, first. Challenge him to dot the sideline and then cut off his access. Especially from an unsettled platform.

4) Blitz the Blitz: We need QB Jalen Hurts to punish the blitz. The Buccaneers SLB is Haason Reddick. On a blitz, we all know that Reddick ain’t covering. So when Reddick rushes in, anyone lined up in front of him, will have a open release along the hash. Unless a Safety picks them up… meaning one-on-one on the outside.

We need Hurts to see that, and hit that quickly. We’re going to continue to see these quick blitzes and loaded boxes until he starts to change the narrative, that he’s susceptible to them.

****

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

Managing the heat is going to be important. The heat itself, the moisture loss, possible cramping. Seems like job for pickle juice. It’s already proven it’s worth to this franchise during the Pickle Juice Game.

Back in 2000, we beat the brakes off the Cowboys 41 – 14 (in their own home) because we were better prepared for the 109 degree temperature. In fact, temperatures on the field were in excess of 120 degrees. Their players were folding like origami, while we chugged along, mostly by chugging pickle juice.

Athlete Josh Mansour drinks a shot of pickle juice during a National Rugby League match in 2017

If we can somewhat even the environmental odds, then we can just let the better roster and better coaching staff, decide the outcome of this game.

****

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

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

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 3: Rams

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/09/22
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Reviews, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment
The game was put on QB Jalen Hurts shoulders and the Eagles are 3 – 0

THE Thrilla in South Phila!

EAGLES 33 – Rams 26

.

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (21/32 – 65.6% – 226 – 3 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (18 – 46 – 2.6 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: WR A.J. Brown (10 – 6 – 109 – 18.1 – 1)

Drive Killer: DT Jordan Davis (TD: 1/Int: 0/ FR: 1/ 4th down stops: 1/ FF: 0)

Sack Leader: DT Jordan Davis (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 5)

Special Teams Ace: DT Jordan Davis 1FG Block, recovery, scoop and score

****

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

1) Pound the Rock: In the first half, Saquon Barkley had 7 carries for 13 yards (1.8ypc). We didn’t do enough to establish the inside run, and the passes to Saquon, behind the Line of Scrimmage, only served to keep defenders close to the line. We doubled down on beating ourselves here.

WR A.J. Brown breaking the fuck out of a tackle

Things opened up in the second half, as Jalen Hurts just started winging the ball to A.J. Brown, which opened up the box, just enough for Saquon to be legitimate threat on his remaining 11 carries for 33 yards (3.0ypc). If we’d come out with this mindset, there would have never been a 19 point hole to climb out of. (NOT DONE)

2) Make Their QB Run: Right off the bat, I’ll say that we didn’t do this. However, we might have either, just spoiled the Rams entire season, by exposing a tell to their future opponents; or set ourselves up to beat them again in the playoffs.

QB Matt Stafford (19/33 – 57.5% – 196 – 2 – 1) when facing pressure, more often elected to throw off his back foot, or not step into a throw, instead of scramble. The result was that more than a few of his passes were uncharacteristically high or long, of their target. That could be useful information if we face them in the playoffs. (NOT DONE)

3) Involve Goedert Early: It wasn’t until the third quarter when TE Dallas Goedert (2 – 1 – 33 – 33.0 – 1) saw a target. It was an easy 33 yard strike for a touchdown. Right down the hash. He only saw two targets on the day. Not having to cover him, kept the box loaded and neutered our run game. Great job, Kevin! (NOT DONE)

4) Let’s Safety Dance: It was a relatively quiet day for rookie S Andrew Mukuba (3 tackles) who spent much of the day in deep coverage, because CB Adoree Jackson (5 tackles) is a liability. After he went out with an injury, CB Jakorian Bennett (5 tackles) took over as the guy who allows completions. (DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 1 of 4. Which is exactly how we ended up being down 7 – 26 in the third quarter. The thing is, we’re a team that can push past adversity, and the Rams are a team that unravels when they get punched in the mouth. That won’t be the case next week. Next on the docket are the Buccaneers, and they seem to thrive on getting punched in the mouth. Worse yet, they’ve had our number as of recently.

(Fun Fact: We played away at the Bucs on 9/28/24 and it was 88 degrees. This year we play away at the Bucs on 9/29/25. As of now, the weather forecast calls for 88 degrees.)

****

DT Jordan Davis didn’t just block this field goal, he damned near caught it.

Game Hero: DT Jordan Davis – Our only sack. A fourth down Tackle For Loss. A field goal block to win the game. The scoop and score after the block, was just icing on the cake and a reward for me having started the Eagles DST in my fantasy football league. (If I win tomorrow, Davis’s TD will be a key reason why.)

All game long, the Rams K was getting credit for knuckle-balling his kickoffs, so that they would dribble along the ground, making it hard for our returners to corral them. What I think happened, was too much of the his kickoff mechanics, found their way into his field goal mechanics. Hence the low trajectory and two blocks.

Game goat: Offensive Co-ordinator Kevin Patullo – He called the first half of game like he doesn’t know who his players are. Once the decision was made to let our QB throw down the field, the entire game changed complexion. Which proves that the only thing missing initially, was his will to threaten our opponent.

Listen, when Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniels is fired, I would love to see him added to this staff as a “consultant” or whatever, and transitioned to OC in 2026. His head coaching run in Miami was so disastrous, that it’ll be years before he gets another nibble. So we’d get to keep an offensive innovator for multiple years.

On The Whole: Once LB Zack Baun (7 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) intercepted Stafford on the Rams first drive, and we scored a touchdown off of it, I just knew that we were about to blowout the Rams. And then, all four of our frickin’ wheels fell off the car.

The Rams beat us deep for six (getting the extra point), and then we surrendered four field goals, while being shutout of the second quarter. At the half it was 7 – 19. After the half, we fumbled our first possession, and the Rams added another touchdown. Now we were down 7 – 26. A deficit of 19 points.

As a teen, I read that a final difference of 20 points, is a blowout. I have used that metric as a guideline for over thirty years now. It’s why I never said that we blew the Chiefs out, in the Super Bowl. Today however, we were in danger of being blown out at home.

WR DeVonta Smith catches the game winning touchdown.

Then, as if flipping a switch, Jalen Hurts threw Geodert a touchdown. The Rams punted, and Hurts throws Brown a touchdown. Suddenly were down by five points. They go out on downs. We go out on downs. Then DT Jalen Carter (3 tackles) blocks a FG! Are you serious!? Hurts throws WR DeVonta Smith (9 – 8 – 60 – 7.5 – 1) a touchdown, and for the first time since the first quarter, we have the lead!

We go for two, and miss it. Our lead is one point, and the Rams have ball.

The Rams only need a field goal and have 1:48 to get it. They play to ensure that our Offense will not see the ball again. With three seconds left in the game, the Rams attempt a 44 yard field goal.

IT’S BLOCKED! The Eagles have w- Wait! Did Jordan Davis recover the football! He did! He’s running with it! There’s a convoy behind him! Look at the big man go, look at- Oh my god, he’s going to score! There are no flags! HE’S IN THE ENDZONE!

DT Jordan Davis returns a field goal that he blocked and recovered, 61 yards for a touchdown

This game was one for the books. But it still doesn’t get Patullo off the hook! Mike McDaniels in Philadelphia? Think about it.

FOUR THINGS: WK 3: EAGLES – RAMS

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/09/19
Posted in: Coaching, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Preview. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

WE cemented our place above the Chiefs, in their house, no less! Our Defense stepped up big-time, with rookie S Andrew Mukuba stealing what could have been the go-ahead score for them.

Despite our Offense being one-sided, we were able to lean on our run game. Instead of a bunch of flashy long runs, we took a ground and pound approach. This week we should be able to pull that off again, behind an Offensive Line that averages 329 per man, vs a Rams front five that averages 281.

A win moves us to 3 – 0, and keeps us in sole position at the top of the division.

A loss, would see us held to 2 – 1, and expose us to the possibility of falling to second in the division.

****

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

1) Pound the Rock: Again, we have a significant size advantage up front. In both games last year when we faced them, we were sporting an average size of 338 pounds per man, and were throwing dudes out of the club with the regularity of a sunrise. Just for clarity, 24 hours per day, a sunrise is always happening somewhere in the world. The result was TWO 200 yard rushing games from RB Saquon Barkley.

We’ve slimmed down by an average of 9 pounds per man, but it still should result in a relentlessly vulgar display of power. There’s a really good chance we’ll be looking at 8 and 9 and 15 man boxes, in order to stop our run game. If that happens, there had better be some audibles to get the ball quickly into WR A.J. Brown’s hands.

2) Make Their QB Run: Their QB is 37, and he has a bad back. He’s also never been much of a runner. To put numbers to that, last year he ran 30 times for 41 yards. On the other hand, if we let him stand in the pocket and throw the ball, he will perform surgery on our Defense, and remove it’s heart. This would be a great week to get a blindside sack (or four) from DE Jalyx Hunt.

3) Involve Goedert Early: The Rams OLB’s are pass rushers. They won’t spend much time trying to cover TE Dallas Goedert. That means either an ILB comes from the inside and makes running the ball easier; or a S has to come down, putting the Rams in Single-high coverage. That will give one or both of our WR’s one-on-one match-ups.

The earlier Goedert gets passes completed to him, the sooner this effect begins to take place. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s a very good run blocker. Either passing should be easy or running should. Best of all, it’ll be really easy to read which one the Rams are surrendering.

4) Let’s Safety Dance: Make sure that CB Adoree Jackson has help back deep. Honestly, I don’t trust him vs either of the Rams top two options. If the catch gets made, we at least need to be able to make the tackle.

****

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

This is a battle of two unbeaten teams, that met in the playoffs. When that game is discussed, what keeps coming up isn’t the Rams loss. Instead, what gets brought up is that they mighta/coulda/shoulda/maybe had a shot at beating the Eagles in that game. An Eagles win here, makes that discussion not worth having anymore.

****

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.