FOUR THINGS: WK 5: EAGLES – STEELERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/10/08
Posted in: Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFL, Offense, Players, Preview. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

VICTORY made us the top team in the NFC East, last week. Now it’s time to build on that. The giants (0 – 4), Broncos (1 – 3 (Jets)), and Texans (0 – 4). These are the teams that the Steelers have beaten. Texans by 7, Broncos by 5, giants by 10. Pittsburgh is no one to be afraid of. Especially if QB Carson Wentz gets back either WR Alshon Jeffrey or DeSean Jackson.

A win this week, keeps our lead over the division. Regardless of what our rivals do. It would also get us to .500, and give our roster a chance to feel like they’d weathered a storm together.

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics will practically guarantee our Eagles this win. CAUTION: 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 FT as a gambling tool, you are trying to lose your money.

So let’s talk about the Four Things we need to focus on this week versus the Steelers:

C-F-L!! C-F-L!! LB Alex Singleton’s single pick was worth a ton.

1) Jump short routes: The Steelers passing game looks almost airtight. Their best WR boasts a catch percentage of 89.5, through four games. However, upon closer inspection, it’s clear that the emphasis is to get the ball out of the QB’s hand, as fast as possible. This is why their top two receivers average just 10 yards per catch. We need to jump those short routes. Make plays on the ball. Force them out of their comfort zone, make their 38 year old QB hold the ball longer, and give the NFL’s sack leading defense the time to do what it does.

2) Trim their edges: Want some good news? The Steelers run a similar 3-4 to the one we castrated for years when the Redskins ran it. The 10 yard Out should be there anytime TE Zach Ertz wants it. This would be a great game to see the RB Screen make it’s re-appearance. They should also be highly susceptible to play-action. Conversely, this is NOT a week we want to see Wentz running much.

3) Set the edge vs the run: Pittsburgh doesn’t do a lot of WR rushing. They like to pound it between the Tackles with RB’s, which suits us just fine. Our objective here is not blowing containment on the right side of our Defense. When there is no LB on his outside hip, the RDE has to rush up the field, instead of immediately flattening down the line of scrimmage. We can’t give away big runs to this team and expect to win.

Do you see what Whiteside is doing? Boxed out, bent arms, fading backwards? Yeah. Don’t do ANY of that.

4) Fight for catches: Eagles receivers have to start winning some of these contested passes. It’s frustrating to see receivers on other teams bail out their QB, then listen to announcers chide Wentz for not delivering a perfect ball, every time. Our guys need to treat every throw like it’s their personal property. They wouldn’t let another man snatch their phone, or their car keys, or their paycheck. The ball needs to be prioritized on that level.

If we do all these things we should win, with a score looking like:

PREDICTION: EAGLES 27 – Steelers 21

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

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 4: 49ers

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/10/05
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Reviews, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

FIRST place.

EAGLES 25 – 49ers 20

EAGLES LEADERS:

(S) QB Carson Wentz: (18/28 – 64.2 – 193 – 1 – 1)

(S) RB Miles Sanders: (13 – 46 – 3.5 – 0 – 0)

(B) WR Travis Fulgham: (3 – 2 – 57 – 28.5 – 1)

(B) CB Cre’von LeBlanc: (4 – 1.0 – 0 – 1)

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

So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: 49ers did the Eagles get around to doing? Well let’s see:

1) Be the Aggressors: As far as I’m concerned this game was a signature win for Wentz. With a decimated supporting cast around him, he put this team on his shoulders. Again. His running (7 – 37 – 5.2 – 1) was deliberate and aggressive. Same with his 42 yard touchdown pass to Fulgham, who wasn’t even on the roster last week. Despite no line and no receivers, the Eagles stayed on the hunt. (DONE)

2) Support the D-Line: The D-Line came up with 4 sacks today, but underneath coverage and second level containment was spotty. Especially in the first half. We got some good football out of LB T.J. Edwards (3 – 0 – 0 – 0) and LB Alex Singleton (2 – 0 – 1 – 0) who also brought back his interception 30 yards for a score in the 4th quarter. Still, if we weren’t going against second and third string QB’s this would have been our 3rd loss of the season. (NOT DONE)

3) Run the damned ball, Doug!: Today we saw 28 pass attempts and 28 runs. Three of those were deliberate runs by Wentz. So out of 52 plays, call it 32 called passes to 25 called runs (52% pass). This is a serious change from the 66% pass rate we’ve been sporting. It helped set up play-action, and acted as a force multiplier for practice squad players. I’m telling you: When the starters get back… (DONE)

4) Screen the defense: There was a decent Screen to TE Zach Ertz (5 – 4 – 9 – 2.2 – 0), but aside from that, it looks like this team has forgot how to run Screens. (NOT DONE)

That puts this week’s Four Thing’s score at 2 of 4 (5 of 16 on the season). Next week, depending on what Covid says, we get the Pittsburgh Steelers. They had this week off, so they’ll either be rested or rusty. My guess is the former, not the later.

On The Whole:

While I saw a number of positives in this game, I saw a number of things that concern me.

First, Miles Sanders is far too eager to run out of bounds, or go down when running up the middle. I shouldn’t see my QB fighting for yards, and trying harder to break tackles than my RB. Sanders said last year that he left about 300 yards on the field. Well he’s doing that again in 2020.

Second, something has to be done about LB (LOL) Nate Gerry (5 – 0 – 0 – 0). He’s a liability vs the pass AND the run. I understand that rookie LB Davion Taylor is raw, but teams are picking on Gerry at this point. Picking on him! I wasn’t a fan of rookie LB Shaun Bradley being drafted here, but I’m at the table with a bib on, looking for someone to serve me some crow.

Third, our guys are forgetting to get their arms involved in tackling. There are too many shoulders being thrown. As a result, we’re allowing touchdowns of the highlight reel variety, on what seems a weekly basis. Also too many of our DB’s seems to be shying away from impacts, instead of bringing the hot high heat.

FOUR THINGS: WK 4: EAGLES – 49ers

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/10/01
Posted in: Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Preview, X's and O's. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

LOST in all of last week’s pouting over a tie, was the fact that the Eagles ran for 175 yards. More impressively, a career-high 65 came from QB Carson Wentz on 9 carries. His most since 2017. Better still, he looked comfortable when he was out of the pocket. Seems like the sort of thing that Head Coach Doug Pederson may want to work into his game-plan this week.

Three games, no wins, and we’re still just half a game out of first place in our division. The NFC East is   W     I     D      E   open. Now is not the time to pussy out, and start talking about Draft picks. That’s quitter talk. Once a team has been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, then and only then can ‘Tank Talk’ take place. Until then, it’s “Win, or go down swinging.”

Here in Philadelphia we can, and we have forgiven much. But quitting? Giving up? Punking out? True Philadelphians never forgive a lack of effort. NEVER. No matter how great, you can never live down “For who? For what?” and “We talkin’ ‘bout practice.” And its as true for turncoat fans, as it is for athletes. Full effort is demanded.

So if you truly bleed green, then get your ass behind your goddamned team, and behave like the best damned fans in all of sports!

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics will practically guarantee our Eagles this win. CAUTION: 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 FT as a gambling tool, you are trying to lose your money.

So let’s talk about the Four Things we need to focus on this week versus the 49ers:

1) Be the Aggressors: The 49ers come into this game rocking a 2 – 1 record. It’s smoke. Don’t buy into it. Their two wins are against the Jets and the giants. Their loss is against an Arizona team that LOST the turnover battle in that game. We need to ignore the records, and come out done with ties and losses. Go for the kill early. Be the aggressors.

2) Support the D-Line: The 49ers interior offensive line is injured, small, and not very good. If we can get consistent, tight coverage early in routes, it will be a very long, very frustrating day for whomever starts at QB for San Fran.

3) Run the damned ball, Doug!: The Eagles won a Super Bowl behind being a bruising rushing team. We’ve struggled since we got away from it. RB Miles Sanders has run for 95 yards in each of the last two games, and averages 5.0 per tote. Makes no sense that we aren’t pounding the rock with him and RB Corey Clement, to wear down defenses.

4) Screen the defense: What’s with all these lame passes at or behind the line of scrimmage? What happened to our RB Screen game? (Show of hands from everyone who’d like to see Clement get some of those again.) Let’s get that back, and loosen up the coverage for our outside receivers.

If we do these Four Things, the final score should be:

PREDICTION: EAGLES 28 – 49ers 17

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

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 3: Bengals

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/09/28
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Reviews, Roster, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

YAY, we didn’t lose!

 

EAGLES 23 – Bengals 23

EAGLES LEADERS:

(S) QB Carson Wentz: (29/47 – 61.7 – 225 – 1 – 2)

(S) RB Miles Sanders: (18 – 95 – 5.2 – 0 – 0)

(S) WR Greg Ward: (11 – 8 – 72 – 9.0 – 1)

(S) DE Brandon Graham/Derek Barnett: (4 – 2.0 – 0 – 0)

I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for the 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: BENGALS did the Eagles get around to doing? Well let’s see:

1) Give the rush time to get home: There were a couple of drives where this happened, and the Eagles racked up 8 sacks because of it. Particularly on the two opening drives, and through the fourth quarter. During the middle of the game however, it was open season on our Secondary. Again! (NOT DONE)

2) Trust the Offensive Line: Wentz seemed at his best when he got out of the pocket, or was improvising after a near sack. His improvised touchdown pass to Ward was a thing of beauty. Same with his 7 yard touchdown run. Behind the line, he still looks like he’s trying to beat the egg timer. If you get a chance to see a replay of this game, notice how at ease he looks on the move, and how jittery he looks in the pocket. (NOT DONE)

3) More balanced play-calling: This week we saw 47 pass attempts, 28 designed runs, and 7 scrambles. On 81 plays, that’s a 54 to 27 pass/run ratio, or 66.6% pass. This is not a winning formula. (NOT DONE)

4) Do the hard part: There is no joy to be seen out there. The team body language is devoid of passion. There was the standard celebratory, defensive preening nonsense, but nothing to get the team’s energy up. Nothing to get them out of their heads, and into the moment. (NOT DONE)

 

This week we posted a score of 0 out of 4, (3 of 12 this season). Were this not the Bengals, starting a rookie QB, we’d have been blown out. Next week we get a wounded 2 – 1 San Fran, that is eager to challenge for their division lead. Hur-fucking-rah.

On The Whole:

Wentz didn’t look good today as a passer, or for that matter as an emotional leader. He did however, turn in a gritty performance, adding 65 yards rushing yards, and a big-time, ‘gotta-have-it’ 7 yard touchdown run. While he may have looked shaky as a passer, at no point did you doubt that he was all-in. At no point did you doubt that he wanted the “W”. He never dogged it.

To be fair, he wasn’t aided by the in-games losses of WR DeSean Jackson, TE Dallas Goedert, and LT Jason Peters. By the fourth quarter, he was back to Ward, WR Deontay Burnett, and a third string TE. Just like late last year.

For a third straight week, the Defense allowed over 20 points. What was your question?!? How many takeaways did our Defense get? What’s a takeaway? Is it Chinese?

I’m afraid that as an Eagles fan, I don’t know what a “takeaway” is anymore. I don’t think our Secondary has any clue about what that could possibly be.

That all said, given the horrid, downright goofy nature of the NFC East this year, even our 0-2-1 record has us just half a game out of first place. We have ZERO wins in three cracks, and the division is still wide open.

FOUR THINGS: WK 3: EAGLES – BENGALS

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/09/24
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFL, Offense, Players. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

WE shit the bed Week 1, and rolled over in it Week 2. On the upside, finding our run game led to our QB not being sacked once, behind what is STILL a makeshift Offensive Line. That sort of stepping up is why injuries can never be used as an excuse here.

This is a battle of two 0 – 2 teams. Some say that something’s gotta give, and so an Eagles win won’t be much of a big deal. Those people are dead wrong. This team is currently just a single game behind. We have two losses, and are still just ONE game behind. We aren’t exactly chasing the ‘72 Dolphins here. A win mean means a lot.

A win gets us to 1 – 2, and back in the national conversation with regard to who wins our division. A loss puts us at 0 – 3 and in the basement with a jackhammer.

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics will practically guarantee our Eagles this win. CAUTION: 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 FT as a gambling tool, you are trying to lose your money.

So let’s talk about the Four Things we need to focus on this week versus the Bengals:

1) Give the rush time to get home: Everyone is talking about how disappointing the Defensive Line is, and it drives me nuts. Are we being shredded by numerous deep, accurate throws? Nope. Opposing QB’s are getting the ball out of their hands quickly. Which means that opposing receivers are uncovering quickly. Which means the coverage is shitty. (This is the same coverage that had GM Howie Roseman boasting about WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside during Training Camp. So keep in mind that our Secondary may be trash.)

If Not Malcolm Jenkins wants people to stop bringing up Malcolm Jenkins, he needs to give us a reason to stop missing Malcolm Jenkins. Otherwise, we’ll keep saying Malcolm Jenkins, when we say we miss Malcolm Jenkins.

2) Trust the Offensive Line: After taking an 8 sack beating during Week 1, QB Carson Wentz’s Week 2 accuracy came into question (despite receivers getting two hands on some of those “errant” passes). He was clearly rushing passes, forcing passes, and (in my opinion) seeing ghosts.

After a week of being able to run the ball and not getting beat to shit, he’ll have some reason to trust his Line again. If he does, he should look more like himself, in terms of his processing and delivery mechanics.

3) More balanced play-calling:

Week One (42 passes, 17 called runs) 71.1% passing.

Week Two (43 passes, 24 called runs) 64.1% passing.

So far this season, we’ve thrown the ball 67.4% of the time. No one will buy play-action from a team that never hands the ball off. We’re telegraphing to opponents that they can unload the box, and pin their ears back. That makes it harder to utilize all the speed we added this offseason. Even a 34 pass to 26 run ratio, would change that.

4) Do the hardest thing: Dear Eagles, Right now the hardest thing for this team (or any losing team, trust me, I’ve been there), is remembering to have fun. Remember why you compete. Remember that you love to show off. Are you better than the man across from you? Then PROVE IT TO HIM. Prove it to his woman watching at home. Prove it to his mother, who’s hoping you don’t kill her boy. Prove it to his father, who this week can’t say “I taught him that!”

This is just Week Three. This is no time for the ‘Dig Down Deep!!!’ speech. It’s too early for the ‘Who Wants It More?!’ speech. This week’s speech is the ‘Trust Your Brother, and Have Fun’ speech. Don’t go to work this week. Don’t “practice your craft” this week. Just go out there and play football. Let’s see some joy out there. Let it be infectious. Just don’t get Covid.

If we do all these things we should win, with a score looking like:

PREDICTION: EAGLES 27 – Bengals 23.

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

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 2: RAMS

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/09/20
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFL, Offense, Players, Reviews, Roster, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

HOW do we fix this?

Eagles 19 – Rams 37

EAGLES LEADERS:

(S) QB Carson Wentz: (26/43 – 60.4% – 242 – 0 – 2)

(S) RB Miles Sanders: (20 – 95 – 4.7 – 1 – 1)

(S) WR DeSean Jackson: (9 – 6 – 64 – 10.6 – 0)

(S) DE Brandon Graham: (1 – 1.0 – 0 – 0)

I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for the 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 get around to doing? Well let’s see:

1) Run the football: I said 24 handoffs at least in this game, and 24 handoffs is exactly what was delivered. As a result, Wentz was sacked exactly none times this week. He also wasn’t holding the ball long, which sort of neutered all the speed we added in the offseason. (DONE)

2) Play more man coverage: We played loose man coverage, and took away the Screen game. However, we also let receivers to uncover far too quickly, allowing the Rams QB to hit on all of his first 13 pass attempts. In fact, the Rams had 21 points on the board before a single pass was contested, as the ball was delivered from clean pocket after clean pocket. We played “man”, but there was no “coverage”. (NOT DONE)

3) Get outside and play: In the 3rd quarter, Wentz hit TE Zach Ertz (7 – 5 – 42 – 8.4 – 0) on a play-action roll-out to his left, but it was the only one not born from pressure. It’s as if the coaching staff feels that they no longer have to be creative or unpredictable, now that we have more speed on the roster. FYI: We have yet to make that speed dangerous to anyone besides our own expectations. (NOT DONE)

4) Capitalize on their punting: What punting? On ten drives, the Rams scored 5 touchdowns, 1 field goal, had 2 punts, 1 drive ended by half-time, and 1 drive ended by the game expiring. We can’t stop anybody or generate turnovers. The one turnover we had today, was generated by our Special Teams. Our Defense is trash. And no I didn’t stutter. (NOT DONE)

This week we did 1 out of 4 things, (3 of 8 on the season), which is how you get keistered by almost 20 points. We were almost blown out. At home! In front of our cut-outs!

There is a metric fuck-ton to fix, in order to avoid going 0 – 3 vs Cincinnati next week.

On The Whole:

I know many fans are going to want to put this on Wentz, because he didn’t throw a touchdown, while throwing two interceptions. Fine. Go ahead. I won’t argue with that crowd.

FOR THE REST OF YOU: I’m far more concerned with our inability to stop anybody, or even seem to slow them down much. On those eight drives not ended by the Rams just LETTING time expire, they scored six times. Five of those six scores were touchdowns.

In two weeks, this Defense has also generated zero turnovers, and hasn’t even been close to doing so. Next week we face an 0 – 2 rookie QB, and run game that is sputtering. If we can’t stop that team from putting up 21, then it will be time to seriously evaluate the Defense from the top down.

This season is far from over. The two division leaders are both sloppy 1 – 1 teams. So the NFC East is by no means out of reach, or even starting to slip away. That said, we need to put up a “W”, quick, fast and in a hurry. The fastest way to do that, will be finding a way to stop opponents from scoring at will.

FOUR THINGS: WK 2: EAGLES – RAMS

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/09/17
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFL, Offense, Players, Preview, Special Teams. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

LAST week we absolutely shat the bed! Instead of complaining about that, I’m focusing on the upcoming game. Please. Step into Week Two with me.

Lost in all of last week’s wreckage, was the fact that the Eagles showed an ability to start fast. Given that this week’s opponent still looks like their slow-starting 2019 edition, there’s a definite advantage to be had. If we jump on it.

The return of RB Miles Sanders with his knack for running routes and snagging passes, also gives us a decisive edge over the Rams Linebackers. In fact, the 3-4 scheme that they run, is similar to the system that Washington just abandoned. (After we swept it for three straight years.)

There are no rivals playing each other this week. That means (in the most extreme cases), we could all win, or we could all lose. A win over the Rams gets everyone realizing that our loss last week, was a fluke. A loss doesn’t bury us, but it could give teams the impression that we’re past our prime. That’s not a stink we want on us.

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics will practically guarantee our Eagles this win. CAUTION: 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 FT as a gambling tool, you are trying to lose your money.

So let’s talk about the Four Things we need to focus on this week versus the Rams:

1) Run the football: At least 22 handoffs to RBs, have to happen. This line cannot pass protect for intermediate and deep routes, without threat of a run. Last week’s play selection (71% passing plays), will not get the job done. If we get off to a fast start again, the run game will help us sustain what we’ve built. Even if all it does is slow down pass rush on early downs.

2) Play more man coverage: The Rams like to employ WR Screens. Those are hard plays to execute with a CB shadow. It doesn’t have to be press coverage, but when the ball is in the air, the CB has to be ready to make the tackle (not hit) for a loss. Send the message early, that they have to throw away a large section of their playbook.

3) Get outside and play: Sprinkle in some play-action bootlegs with QB Carson Wentz, to open up quick underneath routes.

Instead of complaining about him not giving up on a play, why not give him options to salvage that play? Seriously. Why waste downs? The object of a drive isn’t to avoid a mistake, it’s to make enough plays to score points. QB Nate Sudfeld didn’t throw a single interception last week. Did it help? Nope. Not at all. This week, the coaching staff needs to help Carson make plays.

4) Capitalize on their punting: We need punts to come out fast and flat, or short and high. Either the ball needs to reach our PR before the coverage can get there, or it basically needs to be shanked. In either case, Special Teams would be back to being a contributing factor, and not just a daycare for back-up players.

If we do all these things we should win, with a score looking like…

PREDICTION: EAGLES 28 – Rams 17

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

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK1 : FOOTBALL TEAM

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/09/14
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Reviews, Rivals, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

EIGHT sacks allowed.

Eagles 17 – Football Team 27 

EAGLES LEADERS:

QB (S) Carson Wentz: (24/42– 57.1% – 270 – 2 – 2)

RB (S) Boston Scott: (9 – 35 – 3.8 – 0 – 0)

TE (S) Dallas Goedert: (9 – 8 – 101 – 12.6 – 1)

DE (B) Josh Sweat: (3 – 1.0 – 0 – 1)

I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for the 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: Football Team did the Eagles get around to doing? Well let’s see:

1) Run the football: We handed the ball off just 16 times today. Compared with 42 passing attempts, and 1 QB sneak. Play-calling like that (71.1% pass) will get a defense not respecting the run, and teeing off on our QB to the tune of 8 sacks. Especially against a makeshift Offensive Line that took on more injuries during the game. No attempt at establishing a rhythm on the ground was ever attempted. (NOT DONE)

2) Blitz off our right: There were a couple of these after the half, but most of the game was spent with no pressure or contain on our right side. This is particularly damning given the absence of DE Derek Barnett, and the subsequent injury to DE Vinny Curry (1 – 0.5 – 0 – 0). No attempt to shore up that side was ever made. (NOT DONE)

2020DallasGoedert

TE Dallas Goedert hits paydirt on a 34 yard strike from QB Carson Wentz.

3) Throw aggressively: This was done to the point of foolishness. There were some very nice downfield throws and reads. However, when it became apparent that Wentz wouldn’t have the time to stand in the pocket, shorter routes for the WR’s were not called. (DONE)

4) Make tackles: There were some misses, but nothing egregious, or atypical of standard football. For the most part the Eagles defenders reliably wrapped up what was in front of them. Nobody got put on a poster today. (DONE)

That makes this weeks Four Things score, 2 of 4, and puts us at 2 of 4 on the year. These were easy marks to hit. The fact that we were on 50/50 on them, indicates that somebody (Head Coach Doug Pederson) was being cute today.
Here’s hoping we get some of this stuff ironed out by next week when we face the  1 – 0 Rams. The killers of Cowboys.

On The Whole:

I’m not going to harp on injuries, or use them as an excuse. We’ve been dealing with those for years. We’ve been saying “Next man up” for years. As fans, we’ve been crowing the words “Despite injuries…” for years. So we don’t get to hide behind them now. If a man is paid, he should be able to do his job.

I’m on record as saying that Boston Scott is more of a Screen guy and less of a legit RB. That showed today when he did get carries. When a defender meets him, the play is over. If RB Miles Sanders misses anymore time, we need a better response than Boston Scott.

Eagles WR’s barely showed up today. Part of it was a lack of protection. Part of it was just rookies being rookies (8 targets, 2 completions). Detail stuff like, not coming back to the ball on Curl routes. Nothing to panic over. It’s why you call a rookie a rookie. This was their first NFL experience vs. guys not on their team. Understanding how to leverage a teammate that you see everyday in camp, is different than leveraging guys you’ve never seen. This will get fixed.

The O-Line is a nightmare. On Tuesday I had no idea that RT Lane Johnson would miss this game. For some reason C Jason Kelce was a game-time decision. No one on the right side of our line had ever started an NFL game. You cannot dangle a Franchise QB, on 42 pass attempts, behind a duct taped O-Line IN WEEK ONE! Unless you’re trying to kill him, or get him injured.

Defensively we seemed to pick up where we left off:

Too much room with the cushions.

Too much Nickel.

An unwillingness to blitz.

An inability to generate turnovers.

Our Defensive Line can never reach it’s full potential, if the Secondary keeps allowing receivers to uncover quickly.

There is a great deal that needs addressing this week. Injuries be damned.

DEAR WASHINGTON FANS,

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/09/11
Posted in: Conversations, Fans, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, NFL, Players, Rivals, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

PERENNIAL laughingstock. That’s the best way to describe the team formerly known as the Redskins. Every year for the last quarter century, you fans get geeked up in September, only to end up moaning “We’ll get ‘em next year.” by mid-October.

And as if that wasn’t bad enough, this year, owner Dan Snyder renamed your team “The Washington Football Team”. In one fell swoop, he literally turned your fan base into a fucking Abbott and Costello routine. It’s hilarious! I have to love it.

JOURNALIST: So sir, who is your favorite football team?

FAN: Football Team.

JOURNALIST: Yes. Who is your favorite?

FAN: The Football Team.

JOURNALIST: Yes, but which one?

FAN: That one!

JOURNALIST: Which one?!

FAN: The Football Team!

All across America, there are probably thousands of conversations just like that, going on every day. Fans who know your team is doing something stupid, yet trying desperately to defend it anyway. Which I suppose is habit by now for Washington fans.

JOURNALIST: Sir it’s a simple question. Which football team is your favorite?

FAN: I’m a fan of the Football Team!

JOURNALIST: From which city?

FAN: Technically they don’t represent a city.

JOURNALIST: Okay then. Which state?

FAN: It’s not really a state either.

That’s true by the way. The District of Columbia is a federal district. It technically neither a city, nor a state. Like the Redskins who technically do, but don’t have a name. They exist in a perpetual state of “Yeah, but not really. Absolutely, but not at all.”

I’m also enjoying how suddenly “woke” you all are, while still trying to justify what you’re now woke about. That irony is rich enough classify as a dessert.

JOURNALIST: Who owns your favorite team?

FAN: Dan Snyder.

JOURNALIST: Wait! You’re a Redskins fan?

FAN: Don’t call them the Redskins! That name is racist.

JOURNALIST: How long did you root for them?

FAN: All my life! Thirty-two years.

JOURNALIST: And the name just became racist?

FAN: Once they changed it, yeah. Fuck that name.

JOURNALIST: But it was okay before they changed it?

FAN: Oh yeah! Got it tattooed on my chest here. Over my heart.

JOURNALIST: And until then, you didn’t care how Native Americans felt?

FAN: Who?

JOURNALIST: Native Americans.

FAN: Which team is that? What city do they come from?

JOURNALIST: They’re indigenous people…

FAN: Indigestion?

JOURNALIST: You used to call them Redskins!

FAN: HAIL! I mean, fuck them! I mean, fuck that name! I mean, go Football Team! Hey-yah, hey-yah!

This is what you’ve been reduced to. This is what you’ve become. Remember being proud? Yeah, that’s in the past now. You’re the Geoffrey Owens of football fans. And do you know the BEST part? Still, in all of this, you all actually think your team has a shot at winning the division. That is SO cute!

You guys should start small. Focus on developing a QB who finishes games before he starts taking pictures with the crowd. Focus on not running off a Pro Bowl caliber LT. Focus on hiring a head coach who you don’t fire every other year.

Your team is just awful. How awful? Ron Rivera signed with your team, and then was diagnosed with cancer. Actual fucking cancer! I’m not blaming your team but yes I totally am. And then to make his life easier, your team let go of a Hall of Fame caliber RB in Adrian Peterson, so that they can start J.D. Mickissic. If you didn’t know that Mickissic was your starter this Sunday, YOU’RE WELCOME!

These are all REAL things. I would make some up, but I could never match the idiocy with which your team is being run into the ground. Honestly, I think if Dan Snyder counted his balls ten times in a row, he’d never get the same number twice. That level of incompetence deserves some sort of prize. So the Eagles will give it to you.

This Sunday. At 1:00.

FOUR THINGS: WK 1: EAGLES – FOOTBALL TEAM

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/09/10
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, free agents, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Preview, Rivals. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

EAGLES vs “Football Team”. My god. How does Washington not see how stupid that looks?

The 2020 season sees last year’s Division Champs, your Philadelphia Eagles, return with a bigger, beefier QB Carson Wentz. Back comes DT Malik Jackson. Added was NT Javon Hargrave. Now DT Fletcher Cox will see more one-on-one blocking. The same Fletcher Cox who beats double-teams! We added the power to control offenses.

Then we realized that we needed speed. Speed was our need. Greasy, fast speed!

So we added it. WR DeSean Jackson returns! Instead of making him our only source of speed, the Eagles also added WR Marquis Goodwin. Then WR John Hightower. Then WR Quez Watkins. Goodwin opted out of 2020, due to Covid-19 concerns. That leaves us with “only” three players who can blow the lid off of the defense, this Sunday.

A badly wounded Eagles team won the division in 2019. Then we lost in the first round of the playoffs. That made the team angry. And hungry. So they spent the offseason, sharpening, honing,  their edge so fine, that you can hear a breeze splitting against it. If the Eagles could defend in 2019, they can hunt in 2020.

Win the division and we’re in the playoffs. No nonsense about being the 7th team, or getting help to qualify. Win and we’re in. Beating 2020 means winning the division. So that’s the mission: Beat 2020.

The first Adam’s Apple that even now, trickles blood at the point of our sword? Washington.

Settle your affairs Washington! The Eagles are coming.

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics will practically guarantee our Eagles this win. CAUTION: 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 FT as a gambling tool, you are trying to lose your money.

So let’s talk about the Four Things we need to focus on this week versus the (ahem) “Football Team” :

1) Run the football: That means at least 24 handoffs this week. Washington’s defense is sporting a new scheme. That’s true. Still, their interior is the same guys that our Offensive Line has physically been pushing around for years now. This year however, they’re smaller at DE and OLB. That won’t fare well vs our 2-TE sets. Especially if we don’t give them a strong-side to read easily. I guess they could always walk the SS into the box. Right, DeSean?

2) Blitz off our right: The loss of LT Trent Williams was massive. So Washington is attempting to plug the hole with OT Geron Christian Sr. Yes, Senior. He’s just 24 years old, and he’s already listing himself as “Senior”. I suppose it’s so he isn’t mistaken for his 3 year old son. In any case, he’s basically Halapoulivaati Vaitai, in a Redsk- Football Tea- (Lord, give me strength), Washington jersey. Overload his side. Confuse him. Force their RB to give blitz help on the edge, and take away one more receiving option. Let’s get their QB holding that ball a little bit longer. 

3) Throw aggressively: SS Landon Collins is one hell of an ILB. Too bad that’s not what they signed him to play. That has led to one the most flammable secondaries you’ve ever seen.The funniest part was this offseason, when they gave CB Ronald Darby a boatload of money to pretend he’s hurt after blowing some more coverage assignments. This couldn’t be happening to a better team, and I mean that sincerely. A better team wouldn’t pay him. Get that ball down the field, Carson!

4) Make tackles: Seems like a silly thing to say, but winning has a great deal to do with confidence. Start out by doing things right, and the confidence will bloom. Not just that, but missed tackles might make Washington’s suck-ass players feel like they have a chance. Take a chainsaw to that shit while it’s still in the cradle. Make those tackles.

If we do all these things we should win, with a score looking like…

PREDICTION: EAGLES 34 – Red- (Ughhhh! Fuck it!) Redskins 17

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