FOUR THINGS: WK 10: EAGLES – PACKERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/11/09
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, playoffs, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

TOP team in the NFC, and we didn’t even play Week 9! The Eagles took a week off and came back deeper, healthier, and playing from the high ground.

We made a couple of low risk/high reward trades to strengthen our defense; we’re getting back OLB Nolan Smith from IR; and the cherry on top: DE Brandon Graham has come out of retirement! While no one expects him to play like he did in his prime, his leadership in the locker room is the definition of the word ‘invaluable’.

It’s a good thing we have all of this going for us, because this week we do battle on Lambeau Field. At night. With a low of 25, and 15% chance of precipitation, (read: snow). Lambeau when the mercury dips below 30, is probably the toughest place to play in American sports.

I love it! This is a champion’s challenge, and a fitting welcome back! We already head the division. Now we’re playing to keep the number one seed, and home-field advantage through out the playoffs. Now QB Jalen Hurts and RB Saquon Barkley need to tighten those chinstraps, as we prepare, to push on.

With a win, we move to 7 – 2 and hold our position as the top team in the NFC.

With a loss, we’d be 6 – 3, but still be at the head of the NFC East.

****

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 week. 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 Packers.

RB Saqoun Barkley with a 12 yard scoring run.

1) Over A Buck Rushing: The Packers haven’t beaten any team that has reached 96 rushing yards, this season. They also have an undersized defensive line that’s built around pass rushing. The approach here is simple. Spend the night pounding on them. Then when they’re tired and their will is broken, pound on them some more.

2) Deal Out Aerial Hurts: Getting the ball to WR A.J. Brown and WR DeVonta Smith is absolutely critical to getting this win. If we get the ball outside with the passing game, we can run inside. We have to use our WR’s down the field, in order to give Barkley room to navigate.

3) Our DT’s Must Penetrate: We need a big night from DT Jordan Davis and DT Jalen Carter.

DT’s Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter.

Carter in particular, because with their QB being right-handed, when Carter gets penetration, it’ll make it more difficult for their QB to step into his throws. On a night as cold as Monday, the ball will be as hard and slick as marble. Since their QB doesn’t really wear gloves, the more awkward we can make his releases, the better.

4) Take Away Anything Easy: Their QB is going into what he thinks is a game, without his security blanket. He’s already going to have to do more reading, so turn that up a notch. Get LB’s dropping slowly into zones, and Safeties not immediately dropping deep, but running with their assignments upon approach.

This will put more stress on our CB’s to not get beat deep, but the idea is to force the ball into their areas. Think about it, a stressed QB to throwing a slippery brick, deep downfield, without being able to step into it. They may hit on some of those passes, but the chances of a turnover are so much greater.

****

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

This is two teams potentially vying for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This win has to make a statement. This is not a time to prove how clever we can be. We’re the bigger team. We’re more physical, and we have the deeper roster.

LB Zach Baun with a sack

On Monday night, that all needs to be on display. Don’t get cute. Just go up, and take the other kid’s lunch money. Get under Center and run the god-damned football. Their QB doesn’t handle pressure well. So we need to set the dawgs on him. This isn’t a game. It’s a hunt. Run ‘em down, grab ‘em, drag ‘em into the shadows, and… Bon appetite.

On a side note: It would really be great if we ran the Brotherly Shove, on our first snap of the night. I’ll be at home wearing my “PUSH ON.” t-shirt. I hope you will be too.

****

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 8: Giants

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/10/27
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, Reviews, Rivals, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

REVENGE is a dish, best served cold.

EAGLES 38 – giants 20

 

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (15/20 – 75.0% – 179 – 4 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (14 – 150 – 10.7 – 1 – 0)

Receiving: WR DeVonta Smith (9 – 6 – 84 – 14.0 – 0)

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

Sack Leader: 5 players (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: / Tackles: )

Special Teams Ace: RB Will Shipley (3KR – 99 – 33.0 – 41 – 0)

****

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

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

1) Slant Against Their Run: We didn’t do much of this early, but after the half, movement along the Defensive Line vs both the run AND the pass picked up. The upshot was a day that saw us hold New York to 68 rushing yards on 21 carries and add five sacks. (Three in the second half.) It’s certainly something to build on. (DONE)

2) Don’t Abandon Saquon: “In the area of 20 carries” was what I said. Saquon had 14. However, I’m giving credit for this, because he was on his way to that target, when he tweaked his groin muscle; and Head Coach Nick Sirianni wisely decided to rest him.

RB Tank Bigsby runs over the people like a… tank.

Besides, although Saquon could have come back if needed, with RB Tank Bigsby (9 – 104 – 11.6 – 0 – 0) killing it on the ground, why not let our starter get a jump on resting for the Bye week? Especially after watching giants RB Cam Skattebo (3 – 12 – 4.0 – 0 – 0) get carted off the field with a dislocated ankle, earlier. We played it smart. (DONE)

giants Rookie RB Cam Skattebo, dislocates his ankle.

3) Target Our Wide Receivers: Jalen Hurts threw just 20 passes on the day, for 179 yards. Of those passes, 12 targeted WR’s for 8 catches, and 124 yards, with a touchdown on a 40 bomb to WR Jahan Dotson (1 – 1 – 40 – 40.0 – 1). Hurts made WR’s his mission in this one. (DONE)

4) Complete the Sack: We got 5 sacks in this game. There could have been more, but…baby steps. Let’s not be ungrateful. (DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was a perfect 4 of 4, as we head into the Bye week with a win. Not just a win, but a win where we showed up in all four quarters. We’ll rest up, and then get ready to tackle the second half of the season.

****

Game Hero: Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo – A lot of this has to do with the C position. First, we had OL Bret Toth filling in for starting C Cam Jurgens. Patullo didn’t call plays like Jurgens was out there. He instead frequently called plays where Toth had combo help.

We also ran the ball more from under C today. That makes it easier to sell play-action, because with the QB closer to the line, it’s harder to see if it’s a real hand-off or not. It also changes the timing of when the RB hits the hole, as Saquon demonstrated on his first carry going for a 65 yard score.

One of the best parts of the game was calling the 40 yard ‘Go’ route for Jahan Dotson. Knowing that Dotson validated his Coordinator and QB’s trust, by coming down with that ball, now makes him someone that future opponents have to account for. A loaded box with Dotson on the field, is now something opposing defenses have to weigh.

WR Jahan Dotson wins jump ball for 40 yard touchdown.

That wasn’t the case coming into this game.

Game goat: The Defense – In two games vs New York, our Defense has not forced a single turnover, despite the giants reliance on rookies. In this game, there wasn’t even a turnover on downs from them. Every time they surrendered the ball, it was either voluntary (a punt), or a score. We have to do better than that.

On The Whole: Offensively, this game featured 26 hand-offs to just 20 pass attempts. That ratio helps to stabilize the feel of a game, and allows any back-ups playing significant time, to not get swept away by the moment. We also won the Time Of Possession 33 minutes to 26, ensuring that our Defense wasn’t run into the ground.

Defensively, despite the 5 sacks, there were many instances of our linemen not keeping to rush lanes, and allowing their QB to escape all too frequently. It may also be why (in two games), we haven’t put enough pressure on their rookie QB, to intercept him even once. These are the sort of small problems that good teams correct.

DT Moro Ojomo gets the sack as LB Joshua Uche helps finish it.

There was also plenty of good on Defense! LB Nakobe Dean (5 tackles), LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (1 tackle), and DT Jalen Carter (2 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) played with a level of violence, that becomes more infectious as the season wears on. Did anyone else notice that we didn’t hear much about CB Kelee Ringo (2 tackles) in this game? Or that no giant had more than 3 catches, and their top guy had just 48 receiving yards?

FOUR THINGS: WK 8: EAGLES – GIANTS

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/10/24
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Fans, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, Rivals, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

EXPLOSIVE stuff last week, as WR DeVonta Smith and WR A.J. Brown combined for 304 of QB Jalen Hurts 326 passing yards. The giants enter this game with the 26th ranked pass defense in the league. So if they decide to sellout against the run like last time… we should have something for that ass!

Winning pushes us to 6 – 2, and a mostly restful Bye week. (Tweaks still must be made.)

A loss, would stall us at 5 – 3 and mean we were swept by the giants. Our record would be enough to keep control of the NFC East for another week, but under these circumstances, almost no one would take us seriously.

****

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) Slant Against Their Run: Stop playing opposing run games straight up and down! The idea is to get a hat in a gap, to make their RB’s have to do extra work, just to get out of the backfield. The giants don’t exactly employ dangerous cutback runners, so we should, (especially on early downs), slant to a side to clog the lanes.

2) Don’t Abandon Saquon: In both of our losses this year, we got away from running the ball looong before we needed to. In those games RB Saquon Barkley finished with 6 carries in the 17 – 21 loss; and 12 carries in the 17 – 34 loss, (though we abandoned the run when the score was 17 – 20).

This week, if only to give our Defense long enough to catch their breath, we need to play complimentary football, and try to get Barkley in the area of 20 carries. It also helps to sell the play-action, as we just saw vs the Vikings. Nobody buys play-action from the Shotgun. Especially if we never actually hand it off.

3) Target our Wide Receivers: Last game against the giants, Hurts threw for 283 yards, and TE Dallas Goedert had 9 catches for 110 yards and a score. Goedert can run, but he’s no WR. So like last time, the giants will probably be willing to concede him. That would allow them to keep loading up the box, and short-circuiting our run.

If we’re going to create room for our run game, we’re going to have to spread their defense out. That means throwing the ball to the boundaries, and throwing the ball to real speed. We have to seriously threaten the giants this time around.

4) Complete the Sack: We get pressure on QB’s. What we don’t do, is bring them down once we have a hand on them. This results in sustained drives, and letting opponents remain competitive in games they shouldn’t. We got two sacks last time, we need at least four in this one.

****

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

The un-retiring of DE Brandon Graham makes me feel better about this team already. I’ve been saying for weeks now (nowhere on-line) that the Eagles need a spark-plug player, because once Graham retired, we were out of those. I have… concerns over how well he’ll hold up, but having his energy in the locker room should be great for everyone.

****

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 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.