FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 17: Cowboys

Posted by The BEAST on 2025/01/01
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Fans, Four Things, NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Rivals, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
DT Jordan Davis holds up fumble recovery. S Reed Blankenship and DT Jalen Carter, cheer him on.

2024 NFC EAST WINNERS

EAGLES 41 – Cowboys 7

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Kenny Pickett (10/15– 66.6% – 143 – 1 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (31 – 167 – 5.3 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: WR DeVonta Smith (7 – 6 – 120 – 20 – 2)

Drive Killer: S C.J. Gardner-Johnson(TD: 1/Int: 2/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)

Sack Leader: DT Thomas Booker/LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (Sacks: 0.5 / FF: 0/ Tackles: 5/3)

Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott 2/2 FG, 5/5 XP

****

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

1) Establish the Pass Immediately: Luckily we started the game with a defensive score, because it took three possessions for the Offense to find some traction. By that time it was already the second quarter. (NOT DONE)

RB Saquon Barkley is now one of only nine men, to ever rush for 2000 yards, in an NFL regular season.

2) Lean On the Run: We absolutely nailed this one. Barkley had a season high 31 carries in this one, and they were enough to make him one of just nine men in NFL HISTORY, to rush for 2000 yards in a single season.

Those rushes weren’t just to chase a record. We needed this win to clinch the #2 seed in the playoffs, and ensure that the NFC East, didn’t somehow fall to Washington. We started a back-up QB (Pickett), and when he went down, we played third string QB Tanner Mckee (3/4 – 75.0 – 54 – 2 – 0). So Barkley’s 31 carries were essential. (DONE)

3) Take Away Anything Simple: We did a great job of forcing Dallas QB Cooper Rush (15/28 – 53.7% – 147 – 1 – 2) into uncomfortable situations, and making him air out passes, instead of sticking to the dink and dunk, that got him picked off on the first drive of the game!

We rattled him early with a pick six, and he got totally away from who he is as an athlete. He tried to do too much, and it only helped his team sink faster. He was smart enough to get the ball out and avoid sacks, but he just doesn’t have any playmaker in his DNA. He’s a closer (pitcher) forced into starting. He never stood a chance. (DONE)

4) Use Five Man Fronts: We did some of this, but not a huge amount of it. It might have been wise not to, with LB Oren Burks (8 – 0.0 – 0 – 1) starting in place of injured LB Nakobe Dean. As a second level defender, rotating with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (3 – 0.5 – 0 – 0) the Eagles may have wanted to keep help close to them. (NOT DONE)

Jordan Davis after his fumble recovery

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4, but it was more than enough. Next week we host the giants, in a game that will have either a ton of significance, or absolutely none at all. At least we now know it’s Sunday at 1:00

****

S C.J. Gardner-Johnson scoring a pick six, with S Reed Blankenship providing an escort.

Game Hero: C.J. Gardner-Johnson – He killed two drives, with interceptions. One he returned for a score, which equaled Dallas’s output for the entire game. He could also be seen calming fellow players down, as Cowboys players kept trying to bait Eagles into penalties, after the play. Given that he was ejected and fined $45,000 last week, this was some fast maturing on his part

Game goat: Defensive Line – We got just one sack, and allowed their mutt of a RB, to get 100 rushing yards.

On The Whole: It was a domination from start to finish. Offense, Defense and Special Teams all showed up and took care of business. We wrapped up a division crown; putting two players into the record books (Barkley’s 2000 rushing yards, and McKee becoming the only QB in NFL history to debut with more than one TD pass, on fewer than five attempts); or choking out a rival in front of a deserving fan base.

Nearly lost in all of this, is the huge day that DeVonta Smith put up. He had three plays where he reached into the Cowboys chest and extracted a still beating heart. A 22 yard score; a 49 yard bomb, that set-up first and goal from the one; and a 25 yard score, just to add battery acid to the wound. Just when an opponent thinks they have A.J. Brown under wraps:

WR DeVonta Smith on his second TD

FOUR THINGS: WK 17: EAGLES – COWBOYS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/12/28
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs, Rivals. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

CAN’T win ‘em all. You should however, win the ones where you pull five turnovers from your opponent. Speaking of five turnovers, that’s how many we collected the last time we saw this week’s opponent. MLB Zack Baun was in on three of those. A repeat performance would be awesome, as we go for the sweep.

The Cowboys don’t do a good job of scoring points, and our Defense is pretty good at not giving points up. So if both teams show our true colors, this one should be a walk for the Eagles, even without QB Jalen Hurts this week, due to concussion.

A win will see us improve to 13 – 3, complete the sweep of the Cowboys, and clinch the NFC East crown. It will also technically keep us alive for the #1 seed in the Conference.

A loss will hold us at 12 – 4, but we can still clinch the NFC East, if Washington finds a way to lose to Cleveland. Highly unlikely? Yes. Impossible? N- Yes. Yes it’s impossible. Who are we kidding? We’ll have to win to clinch.

****

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 Cowboys

1) Establish the Pass Immediately: Last week after Hurts went down, the Commanders sensed that QB Kenny Pickett couldn’t hurt them as a passer, so they started selling out against the run. We became one dimensional and produced just 5 field goal attempts (4 makes) in three quarters of football. That can’t happen again.

Pickett cannot rely solely on Slants, Crosses, and Hooks this week. All of those routes can be played from a loaded box. The ball has to find the TE and Slot WR this week, in order to stretch the box laterally and open up running lanes inside.

2) Lean On the Run: Last time we faced the Cowboys, I suggested lightening RB Saquon Barkley’s load. We did that and it worked. That would be the wrong approach this time. We’re an Offense in a tight spot. This is where it’s important to have an identity and know what it is. Our identity is running the ball. Let’s not get cute.

Running the ball will also set up play-action, which MUST be employed this week to create space in the pocket for Pickett. Screens are not the same as running the ball, despite what many offensive coordinators seem to think.

3) Take Away Anything Simple: Keep the coverage muddy underneath and force their QB to throw the ball deeper than he usually does. He’s a bright guy and he reads well, but he doesn’t have the arm strength to reliably deliver what his eyes see downfield.

We may have to live with a few big plays, but on average, him taking shots, benefits us more. He is also not fleet of foot. If he’s holding the ball, then the pass rush has time to impact the game, by impacting him.

4) Use Five Man Fronts: Recently the Cowboys have found confidence running the ball vs bad teams. They are likely to try their hand at it with us this week. Get into some five man fronts and shut that shit down tout de suite. That same front can be used to eliminate the frequent double teams on DT Jalen Carter.

****

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

This week revolves around how well we support Kenny Pickett. Last week he was thrown into live fire, but this week is still his first start of the season. He will not be capable of elite play, so it’s ridiculous to expect it. Hell, he had never been that guy before we signed him.

What I’m hoping to see more from him, is play-action and TE. Play-action and Slot. A couple of gutsy scrambles up the middle. We also need to attempt at least one Brotherly Shove with him. If teams think that we won’t run our “unstoppable play” when Hurts is out, it will paint a MASSIVE target on him. We can’t have that on the doorstep of the playoffs.

****

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 16: Commanders

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/12/27
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs, Rivals, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

NO starting QB hurts team.

 

EAGLES 33 – Commanders 36

 

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Kenny Pickett (14/24 – 58.3% – 143 – 1 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (29 – 150 – 5.1 – 2 – 0)

Receiving: WR A.J. Brown (15 – 8 – 97 – 12.1 – 1)

Drive Killer: OLB Nolan Smith (TD: 0/Int: 0/ FR: 2/ 4th down stops: / FF: 0)

Sack Leader: OLB Nolan Smith (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 3)

Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott 4/5 FG (50), 3/3 XP

****

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

1) Gas Their Defensive Line: We started out doing this and it was working like a charm. Then we lost our starting QB, and our back-up proved to be no threat passing the ball. The Commanders simply loaded the box, and overwhelmed the running lanes.

QB Jalen Hurts lost to a concussion

I don’t want to say that we didn’t do this, when we were CLEARLY doing it at the start. However, I said in Four Things: “It’s not about how we start. It’s about how we finish.” Well, we didn’t manage to erode their front. (NOT DONE)

2) Don’t Miss Seven Points On Kicks: While Jake Elliott did miss three points on the one kick (from 56), he made 4 of 5, including his first from 50 this year. Despite it being a three point loss, this game can in no way be laid at his feet (foot?). The Defense allowed 36 points in this one. So leave Jake alone. (DONE)

3) Take Away Quick Reads: It seemed like when we did this, all we did was open up room for their QB to run. (He had 81 yards on 9 carries.) Our pass rush simply didn’t do a good enough job of containing him. Good to spot that weakness now, but not a good one to have. (NOT DONE)

4) Jump A Couple First Half Passes: We got all over this! CB Darius “Big Play” Slay (7 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) broke up 2 first half passes and S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (1 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) intercepted a pass in the second quarter. (DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4. Next week we’re back home playing host the Dallas Cowboys.

****

RB Saquon Barkley rips a 68 yard TD run

Game Hero: RB Saquon Barkley – Helped put us up 21 – 7 by the end of the first quarter. Two of those scores came after starting QB Jalen Hurts (1/4 – 25.0% – 11 – 0 – 0 / 3 – 41 – 13.6 – 0 – 0), was knocked from the game with a concussion.

Game goat: Head Coach Nick Sirianni – For three quarters, all that the Offense could muster was 4 field goals. Once Washington realized that QB Kenny Pickett wasn’t a threat as a passer, they loaded the box to stall our one dimensional attack.

As an offensive coach, to not have his back-up QB prepared to play, is egregious. It’s egregious, salacious, it’s downright preposterous!

On The Whole:

Weird shit, like this 12 Men On The Field penalty, which became a free play TD, is the sort of fluke thing that keeps me from being worried about the Eagles.

You may recall that I said this in FT: “We should run the table here. BUT, if there is going to be a loss in any of these next three division games, let it be this one.

Think back to the Monday night game on 11/14/22. We lost 21 – 32 to an inferior Commanders team, and at first, we were a little pissed about it. But the(n) we thought about it, talked about it, and as fans we came to call it “a good loss” because we felt it humbled us, and taught us valuable lessons. Turns out we were right, and we rode those lessons to a Super Bowl appearance.

I don’t think we need any lessons, but this is the only game in the next three, that has any form of possible lesson embedded in it.”

Hey! What can I say? This loss doesn’t have me panicked. Quite the opposite in fact! In a couple of months, we just might be thanking Washington for the wake-up call.

FOUR THINGS: WK 16: EAGLES – COMMANDERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/12/21
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, Rivals, Special Teams, Super Bowl. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

ONCE again we had a very strong outing, vs a playoff caliber team. Offensively, we showed the world, that we can hurt a team any way we choose. In our Week 11 meeting, RB Saquon Barkley posted 146 and two house calls. With that, I expect the Eagles to choose running over the Commander’s 25th ranked run defense.

A win raises us to 13 – 2, and sees us clinch the 2024 NFC East division crown.

A loss stalls us at 12 – 3, and just about ends any chance of us earning the One Seed in the playoffs.

****

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 Commanders

RB Saquon Barkley making a 23 yard house call.

1) Gas Their Defensive Line: The 2024 Commanders haven’t been very stout up front, against the run. They had trouble with us during our Week 11 match-up, as we ran 40 times for 228 yards, and three scores. Now it’s later in the year. Now it’s colder. Now is the time to get sadistic vs a smallish front four.

Their head coach favors a 4-3 defense, even though he doesn’t have the players or depth to run it correctly. We need to lean heavy on the run, early. Even if it seems to not be working! It’s not about how we start. It’s about how we finish. The idea is to erode their undersized line that was assembled more for pass rushing.

2) Don’t Miss Seven Points On Kicks: Last time, K Jake Elliott missed two field goals before we managed to get on the board, with a field goal. It would be foolish to think we’ll get that lucky twice in one season, vs the same team. Let’s get our shit together and not leave a trail of breadcrumbs, for a lesser opponent to find their way to a lead at any point.
This isn’t one of the Four Things; but this week would REALLY be a great time, to finally see Elliott stroke one from 50 yards or better.

3) Take Away Quick Reads: Last week, commentator and Super Bowl LII victim, Tom Brady described our underneath coverage against the Steelers as “muddy”. That is precisely the thing we want the opposing QB to think, as he watches our coverage start unfolding.
The Commander’s QB is completing 70.5 percentage of his passes, despite a stint where he played through broken ribs. A lot of that is based on TE Zach Ertz, and RB Austin Ekeler, getting open quickly underneath and acting as security blankets.

Ekeler is on I.R. after a Week 12 concussion, and Ertz is questionable this week, despite suffering a concussion on Sunday. So there may be no security blankets. We need to force their QB to read and hold the ball longer, giving our players like OLB Nolan Smith, enough time to pile up sacks.

4) Jump A Couple First Half Passes: As I said before, their QB likes to get rid of the ball quickly. We however, want him to hold the ball longer. So how do we influence that? By jumping a couple of first half pass routes. Bat downs, interception attempts… Just need a big play or two, to help slay this rival.

S Reed Blankenship with a pivotal pick in one of last year’s games

If we get hands on the football early, later on (to avoid turnovers) their QB will hold it longer, while searching for more ideal openings. This increases our chances of getting sacks. (And hey, maybe one or two could be a sack/fumble! Dream big right, DE Josh Sweat?) So, yeah. Let’s jump some pass routes.

****

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

It’s a question of hunger. We played a playoff team last week, and this week we’re playing a team that is hanging on for it’s very playoff hopes. We’re playing for seeding. They’re playing for their season.

WHO. WANTS. IT. MORE.

That’s the question that has to be asked and answered on Sunday. Let me say this in advance. We should run the table here. BUT, if there is going to be a loss in any of these next three division games, let it be this one.

Think back to the Monday night game on 11/14/22. We lost 21 – 32 to an inferior Commanders team, and at first, we were a little pissed about it. But the we thought about it, talked about it, and as fans we came to call it “a good loss” because we felt it humbled us, and taught us valuable lessons. Turns out we were right, and we rode those lessons to a Super Bowl appearance.

I don’t think we need any lessons, but this is the only game in the next three, that has any form of possible lesson embedded in it. Specifically, I’m talking about hunger. This is a playoff game for the Commanders. So that in itself, makes it one for us.

WHO. WANTS. IT. MORE.

****

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 15: Steelers

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/12/17
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, playoffs, Reviews, Roster, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

OUR green monster, rages on.

 

EAGLES 27 – Steelers 13

 

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (25/32– 78.1% – 290 – 2 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (19 – 65 – 3.4 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: WR A.J. Brown (11 – 8 – 110 – 13.7 – 1)

Drive Killer: CB Darius Slay (TD: 0/Int: 0/ FR: 1/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)

Sack Leader: OLB Nolan Smith (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 3)

Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott 2/2 FG 3/3 XP

****

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

1) Run Behind Becton: The Eagles didn’t run much behind RG Mekhi Becton, but that’s fine, because we weren’t finding much success there anyway. Man, did I swing and miss with this one! (NOT DONE)

2) More Big Fella: I mentioned how we’ve been running DT Jalen Carter (2 tackles) into the ground, with the number and percentage of snaps that we play him. This week he still had a high percentage (91), but his number of actual snaps were low (39), well under his average of 52 per game.

DT Milton Williams, DT Jordan Davis and S Reed Blankenship, stop by to say “hi”

My suggestion for getting Carter rest, was playing DT Jordan Davis (1 tackle) for at least 40% of the snaps in this game. Well at 18 snaps, that put Davis at 42% for the first time since our loss at Tampa Bay. The result was a Steelers team that ran the ball 17 times for 56 yards (3.2ypc), and a fumble. Some more of this please! (DONE)

CB Darius Slay recovers a fumble

3) Set the Edges: The Steelers repeatedly tried to get to the edge with their rushing attempts. Unfortunately for them, all they found out there, were Eagles jerseys and fumbles. Again, we gave up just 56 rushing yards for the WHOLE game! To the STEELERS! And this is a good Steelers team. They came in 10 – 3, leading their division! Yet we absolutely punked and bullied that team up front. (DONE)

4) Punish Their Single-high Coverage: Hurts made a point of punishing the Steelers when they were in this coverage. He sprinkled five deep shots throughout the game, completing three. The best one was the first one. A 22 yard strike to TE Grant Calcaterra (1 – 1 – 22 – 22.0 – 0), that set the tone for our Offense.

The Eagles managed SIX passing plays of of 20 or more yards, due to a few balls that were completed just beyond the box area. Allowing us to still take advantage of their coverage, since defenders were not in place to to cover, because they were playing the run. The result was not one, but TWO 100 yard WR’s. Good stuff! (DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 3 of 4, and the score reflects it. Especially on Defense. We’re going to need some of that mojo when Washington shows up on Sunday. The keys we used to beat them a few weeks ago, won’t work this time. We’ll need a whole new plan.

****

Game Hero: Jalen Hurts – Accounting for 335 yards (290 passing, 45 rushing) and 3 scores (2 passing, 1 rushing), counts as carrying your team to victory. In recent weeks Hurts hasn’t really been driving the car. He’s been a passenger seat navigator. Not driving, but consistently contributing.

This week Hurts was asked to drive again. To his credit, he made it clear that despite his obvious and seemingly non-evolving flaws, he’s still one of the NFL’s more dangerous weapons.

Game goat: Special Teams Co-ordinator Michael Clay – Why on Earth, is CB Cooper DeJean (1 tackle) out there returning punts (3 – 23 – 9.6 – 0)!? As a regular defender, he has no business wearing a bull’s eye on a kick return of any sort.

Understand, this isn’t me lamenting the fumble that he lost. I don’t blame him for doing poorly, in a position that he should never have been placed in. His straight line speed is fine, but he is NOT elusive at the NFL level. Playing DeJean at PR is just an attempt to get him killed. And I 100% blame Clay for this.

On The Whole:

This week however, while national media wanted to try to make a story out of the players, I think the real story, was the offensive coaching staff feeling put on the spot by their own players. So this game was given a passing motif, as much to send a message to their own players, as any fan or pundit, or upcoming opponent.

Much will be made about the great job that we’re doing on Defense, and deservedly so. However, the offensive coaching staff just put the league on notice. The point was made against yet another physical, playoff caliber team, that the Eagles can hurt you any way we chose.

What’s more, when we have you torn and bleeding at the end of a 10 minute drive, with first and goal inside the 10… We can take a knee and mercy kill you. Folks, our Eagles team IS the monster under the bed. And we are 100% real.

FOUR THINGS: WK 15: EAGLES – STEELERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/12/14
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs, X's and O's. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

LAST week we clinched a playoff spot. It wasn’t our best showing, but we didn’t panic, or point fingers. We just stayed at it, got the “W”, and then set-up to get this next one. This week’s opponent doesn’t have any glaring or obvious weaknesses. That means our stars like QB Jalen Hurts, RB Saquon Barkley, WR A.J. Brown; as well as DT Jalen Carter, LB Zack Baun, and CB Darius “Big Play” Slay, are going to have to keep the troops focused and in the moment.

A win gets us to 12 – 2. Couple that with a Washington loss to New Orleans, and we would clinch the division. However, if Washington also wins, then we have to hold the confetti.

A loss would hold us to 11 – 3. It would also add significance to the upcoming row of division games for us.

****

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 Steelers

RG Mekhi Becton celebrates RB Saquon Barkley’s TD run.

1) Run Behind Becton: The Steelers list themselves as a 3-4, but often present as a 4-3 with OLB T.J. Watt playing as a DE. Doesn’t matter what it is, or what it looks like. We need to beat on it. If they want to line-up a 250 pound LB directly across from our 320 pound RT Lane Johnson, we should run the ball that way.

What does that have to do with RG Mekhi Becton? If we run tosses and pitches behind Johnson, Watt gets to use speed to go around Johnson. However, if the runs go behind Becton, Watt has to put himself in Johnson’s cross-hairs to help make a tackle. Let Lane spend the day beating on a man 70 pounds smaller, to reduce his impact on the game.

2) More Big Fella: We’ve been running Jalen Carter into the ground. Against Washington, he played 100% of the 66 snaps. Since then it’s been 54 (84%), 71 (99%), and 64 (90%) vs Carolina. Most of this is vs double teams. If we want him to have anything left for the playoffs, we need to start subbing him out more.

On the flip-side, DT Jordan Davis hasn’t played 40% of snaps in any game, since our loss to Tampa. If he were 34 years old, I’d get it. But he’s a 24 year old, first round pick, in his third year. He can’t be productive on the bench, playing just 3 in every 10 snaps.

DT Jordan Davis runs over a Carr (QB Derek in N.O.)

What does any of that have to do with the Steelers specifically? They’re a physical, running team. Especially in a week where their number one WR will either be out with an injury, or not quite his actual self. Davis’s 6’6 frame and long arms, will also create vision issues for the Steelers 5’10” QB. Use this!

3) Set the Edges: We’ve been pretty bad at this lately, and have allowed 108 rushing yards to QB’s in the last two games. We have too much speed on the outside for this to be happening. The problem is that, our DE’s aren’t setting the edges. They are instead crashing down, and then being easily blocked out of the plays.

Playing the run on the way to the QB. That’s an old piece of NFL wisdom, and this is where we really miss DE Brandon Graham. Our younger Edge guys don’t do this. Instead, they strictly hunt QB’s, overrun the play, give up contain, and allow QB’s to improvise and rescue plays. This needs to stop.

4) Punish Their Single-high Coverage: Single-high means one S in deep middle coverage splitting the field into left and right halves. The other S will be playing close to, or in the box. What that means is, at least one WR will be in true one-on-one, vs this coverage. If that deep S declares that he’s leaning left or right, the read is to go deep the opposite way.

We can’t of course do this every time they come out in Single-high, but we can go to ths well more than just once or twice. And we should.

WR A.J. Brown had THREE touchdown catches in this 2022 game

****

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

I expect a better more focused Eagles team than we saw last week. While I don’t think the players were looking past the Panthers, I firmly believe that they didn’t really get “up” for them either. This is different. This is bragging rights, vs a playoff caliber opponent, while defending home turf.

This is also an opportunity to change the narrative from media click-bait, to serious discussions about this team’s role in this year’s playoffs. Last time we faced the Steelers, the Eagles needed to make statement to the world. Two years later and here we are again.

****

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 14: Panthers

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/12/09
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFL, Offense, Players, Reviews, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

WE won. Stop whining.

EAGLES 22 – Panthers 16

 

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (14/21 – 66.6% – 108 – 2 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (20 – 124 – 6.2 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: WR A.J. Brown (4 – 4 – 43 – 10.7 – 0)

Drive Killer: S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (TD: 0/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)

Sack Leader: MLB Zack Baun (Sacks: 1.0 / FF: 0/ Tackles: 10)

Special Teams Ace: S Avonte Maddox downed punt at the 2

****

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

WR DeVonta Smith putting six points on the board.

1) Get the TE Involved: I understand that the passing game has been somewhat de-emphasized, with the emergence of RB Saquon Barkley, but this is starting to verge on the ridiculous. The Eagles have failed to pass for 180 yards in each of the last three games. Add to that the absence of TE Dallas Goedert (I.R.); and it’s probably of little surprise that TE Grant Calcaterra (3 – 3 – 16 – 5.3 – 1) was minimally involved. (NOT DONE)

2) Show Blitzes Off Carter: This never happened. We never capitalized on DT Jalen Carter (3 tackles, 2 TFL) being double-teamed, and their QB was able to evade 4 man rushes all game long. The one sack that we did get, was Baun running this blitz from the other side. Nice to see that it would have worked. (NOT DONE)

3) Take Away Quick Passes: It was inconsistent, but it was there. When we took away the quick pass, their QB would hold the ball, and the chase was on. He hit some big completions that way, but it also contributed to his delivery becoming spotty, and his 55% completion rate.

S C.J. Gardner-Johnson returning his interception for a few yards.

The issue was that, even before Gardner-Johnson was dinged up and went to the locker room in the first half; we were playing entirely too much Zone on the outside. Unfortunately, that let their QB find an early groove, and with it, a confidence and joy which carried him throughout the game. (DONE)

4) Take YES For An Answer: We ran for 209 yards on 31 carries, for a 6.7 yard average. We kept it simple. We stuck to our identity. It was the league’s best rushing attack vs the league’s worst rushing defense; and we didn’t over-think it. We simply took YES for an answer. (DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4. We’ll see if we can improve on that, when the Steelers come to town next week, for the 2024 Youse v. Yinz Bowl. Everybody grab your pretzels!

****

Game Hero: RB Saquon Barkley – He kept the chains moving, had five double-digit runs, and never seemed to be trying to do too much. I could also tag the Offensive Line for this, but I don’t want to split this among five guys.

RB Saquon Barkley moving the chains!

Game goat: The Coaching Staff – I have a major bone to pick with BOTH of our Co-ordinators in this game. Much of what irritated me, was the positions the players were put in.

Defensively, Vic Fangio didn’t call a very good game. I already mentioned all the Zone coverage, so I won’t harp on it. However, his four man rush package, was consistently evaded by the scrambling of the opposing QB; taking advantage of five on four blocking. No adjustment was ever made to that.

Then there was the goalline package with DT Thomas Booker (no stats) playing over the C, instead of DT Jordan Davis (1 tackle). What the fuck is that?! It was a walk in touchdown is what it was.

On Offense, Kellen Moore was smart to stick to our identity, but at no point did he call a deep shot for A.J. Brown. Time after time, every receiver on a play seemed to be running some sort of a come-back concept, or double-ins. Where were the clear-out routes?

Also, if we’re going to run so many damned RPO’s, we have to practice them, so that the QB understands the timing necessary to keep a 25 yard gain, from becoming an Ineligible Man Downfield penalty. That and Illegal Pick penalties, seem to happen far too often. Get it together.

On The Whole: I feel like the coaches, not the players, were looking past Carolina. The play-calling and adjustments were as creative as a preseason game. Maybe in anticipation of the playoffs, the staff is now trying to build in false tendencies, for opposing teams to get hung-up studying. If that’s the case, it would explain a great deal.

FOUR THINGS: WK 14: EAGLES – PANTHERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/12/07
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, X's and O's. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

PHYSICALITY. After last week’s domination of the Ravens, that’s the word that keeps popping up, in relation to the Eagles. Whether it’s our unstoppable Brotherly Shove, or our unblockable DT Jalen Carter; everyone now expects the Eagles to just beat up opponents. And they aren’t wrong about that.

This week we host a Panthers team that, despite still being awful, has been improving of late. The thing is, they aren’t a very physical or mentally clever ball club. That however, is no reason to “play down” to them. Now is the time of year when we should be sharpening our skill at putting opponents away, as early as possible.

With a win, we rise to 11 – 2, tightening our grip on the NFC East crown.

With a loss, we stall at 10 – 3, and still lead 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 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 Panthers

RB Saquon Barkley makes a 25 yard house-call.

1) Get the TE Involved: Last week the Offense was stagnant, punting on each of our first four drives. Then a quick pass to TE Dallas Goedert out in the Flat, turned into a 17 yard TD. While the points we nice, that pass forced the Ravens to stretch their defense laterally, thinning out the middle and making it easier for RB Saquon Barkley to do his thing. That pass helped to stabilize the Offense.

This week, Goedert is out with a knee issue. Practice Squad TE C.J. Ozumah has been moved to the active roster, but what we really need is, for TE Grant Calcaterra to step up and produce something like 5 catches for 40 yards on Sunday. The earlier he’s involved, the better.

2) Show Blitzes Off Carter: Opposing teams have decided to frequently double-team Jalen Carter. While he’s been good at physically beating those doubles; our coaching hasn’t done a good job of scheming him free; or of making the decision to double him, a costly one. There’s an easy way to rectify that.

Walking a blitzer up between Carter and the DE, immediately means either:

A) the G has to block the blitzer, and the C must go one-on-one with Carter; OR

B) the double on Carter stays, but the T has to pick up the blitzer, letting the DE go unblocked.

C) No change in the blocking scheme, would mean the blitzer runs free, unless the RB can to pick him up. Which is a real problem if the play is a run. So let’s show blitzes off of Carter’s outside hip.

3) Take Away Quick Passes: We need to show a lot of blitz, but rarely bring one. The real focus should be clouding and crowding the receivers early in their routes.

LB Zack Baun helps himself to a fresh turnover.

Since his return from being benched, the Panther’s young QB has made getting the ball out of his hand quickly, a major priority. We want to either force him to hold the ball longer, or to quickly force the ball into dangerous places. Mentally, we want him to feel like he’s regressing.

The guy they have at C is just a guy. He didn’t have a true position even in college, was a 6th round pick, and is only starting because the real starter was lost for the year. This will be just the 11th start of his six year career, in a position he’s still learning. With a young QB! Versus our D-Line!! The idea here isn’t to batter them. It’s to confuse. Demoralize. Bring out those feelings of Impostor Syndrome, and let the errors compound from there.

4) Take YES For An Answer: We are the number one rushing offense in the NFL. We are going against the dead worst rushing defense in the NFL. So I’m not even going to say it, because it shouldn’t need saying. What I will say is, If we get up big, let the young guys eat. Give the pups their chance at the prey.

****

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

The mission here, is to NOT play with our food, and have another game like the Jaguars (W 28 – 23). This is where we should start signaling that we can take care of business. We want to break this team’s will to compete, and have them take themselves out of the game. This week there are only two objectives,1) Win, and 2) Don’t struggle to do it.

****

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

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

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 13: Ravens

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/12/02
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, playoffs, Reviews, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Rookie NCB Cooper DeJean de-cleats RB Derrick Henry one on one, in the open field

TEST grade: A+

 

EAGLES 24 – Ravens 19

 

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (11/19 – 57.8 – 119 – 1 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (23 – 107 – 4.6 – 1 – 1)

Receiving: WR A.J. Brown (6 – 5 – 66 – 13.2 – 0)

Drive Killer: S Tristin McCollum (TD: 0/Int: 0/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)

Sack Leader: DT Jalen Carter (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 4)

Special Teams Ace: WR Jahan Dotson (1 – 1 – 7 – 7.0 – 0) Onside recovery to seal game

****

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

1) Control the Tackle Box: As prescribed, our Defensive Line didn’t get blown off the line of scrimmage. In fact, it as it was DT Jordan Davis (2 tackles) that spent most of the game getting double-teamed, DT Jalen Carter practically lived in the Ravens backfield with 3 of his 4 tackles being for a loss, including him blowing up a Jet Sweep on his own.

DT Jalen Carter blows up a Jet Sweep

We also did a solid job of setting the edges and bottling the runs inside. Maybe a little too good, as we ended up being gashed for a couple of RB Screens. But the adjustment was made on that, to the tune of rookie NCB Cooper DeJean de-cleating the Ravens 250 pound, starting RB. (DONE)

2) Unleash Goedert: We came out and punted FOUR TIMES, before Jalen Hurts attempted a pass to TE Dallas Goedert (4 – 3 – 35 – 11.6 – 1). It was good for a 17 yard touchdown and the Offense opened up from there. That pass didn’t happen until Goedert collided with the Ravens star S, who then had to be checked for a concussion.

It shouldn’t have to take nearly K.O.ing a guy, to get the QB to look Goedert’s way.

However, once that did, the complexion of the game slanted. The best example happened on RB Saquon Barkley’s 25 yard touchdown run: Goedert was lined up on the left side of LT Jordan Mialata. The ball was snapped. The hand-off went to Barkley who stepped right, going behind RG Mekhi Becton and disappearing into the swirling mass of Humanity. Ravens LB #23 Trenton Simpson (4 tackles) who was lined up in the box, doesn’t flow to his left to follow Barkley. Instead, he steps down and to his right, in the direction of a blocking Goedert. This ensures no back-side pursuit, and 25 yards later it’s Saquon and taxes. .

Once Goedert was established as a threat, the Ravens had to deal with him. Which made life easier for the entire Offense. We took our time getting around to it, but we got it (DONE)

3) Keep Our Linebackers Clean: Brother, the Ravens offensive line had more than they could handle up front with our Defensive Line. This let LB Nakobe Dean (10 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) and LB Zack Baun (13 – 1.0 – 0 – 1) bring two arms to their tackles, and not get dragged around by a RB bigger than either of them.

LB Zack Baun brings down RB Derrick Henry for a loss

We used some 5 – 2 alignments early, but shifted out of it later in the game, as our four man line proved able enough at clogging running lanes and keeping the opposing RBs trapped behind thetrash. (DONE)

4) Take Deep Shots Early: We took one early to WR A.J. Brown, and then backed away from any hint of a downfield passing attack. Part of it felt like the Eagles couldn’t force the issue with WR DeVonta Smith being out; but part of it feels like trying to preserve Brown, in a game that featured just 21 dropbacks compared to 24 hand-offs. There were also 9 QB runs, but those runs have to be thought of as a third category. (NOT DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score was 3 of 4. We got off to a slow start with the Offensive stuff, but on Defense we were killing it from the door. Next week we host a Carolina team, that recently has forgotten that they are doormats. It’s time someone reminded them.

****

Game Hero: The Defense – Our Offense couldn’t muster a single point in two of the four quarters in this game. We opened up with four straight punts and our QB started 0/4 passing. The last 7 of the Ravens 19 points were garbage time cosmetics, in a half of football, that saw them essentially shutout when the game was still in question. Keep in mind this was done without the Defense garnering a single turnover. S Tristin McCollum almost had one, on a 4th down pass break-up.

Game goat: The Officiating – I am amazed at how the most penalized team in the league, played us so cleanly! And I would have liked to see a replay of the Ravens QB’s 39 yard run, which somehow resulted in a flag being picked up. Dear NFL, why no replay after a 39 yard run??? Is this a new policy?

On The Whole:

This game was a measuring stick, to assess whether or not the 2024 Eagles, are really a deep playoff caliber team. We answered that with a resounding FUCK YEAH!!

We out-ran, out-tackled, out-toughed, and flat out-played the Ravens in their OWN HOME. Save for a garbage time run, that should have been brought back by penalty, we shut this team out of an entire half of the game. The second half. You know, the important one.

And don’t ask me about the Barkley/Henry MVP match-up. I think we tucked that baby neatly into a crib, and shot him into space. Man, we even had two kicks downed inside the five, by two different players. So even Special Teams was crackling with energy.

The slow offensive starts have to be resolved, but I’m not sure what can be done to make that happen. As Barkley surges to prominence, it almost seems like Hurts is sleepwalking more and more. Poise is one thing, but a lack of urgency is quite another.

We’re a deep playoff team, but if a team can jump on us 14 – 0 like the Buccaneers did, (our loss 16 – 33), we’re in trouble.

Side note: For what it’s worth, I didn’t like the look in A.J. Brown’s eyes, during his post-game interview at his locker. He said all the right things, but… I’ll let you look it up for yourself. You tell me.

FOUR THINGS: WK 13: EAGLES – RAVENS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/11/30
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

THAT Rams game was a statement win. Despite missing WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring), the Eagles still scored nearly 40 points, while rushing for over 300 yards, and even got 100 yards and a TD from WR A.J. Brown.

If we get Smith back, we just might end up terrorizing this week’s opponent, as they are the second worst pass defense in the entire league. Their problem isn’t a lack of talent or experience. It’s a fatal flaw built into the very structure of their defensive philosophy, and it has reared it’s head in each of their four losses.

This is a measuring stick game. This game will tell us that we are either ready for a deep playoff run; or it will tell us what needs tightening up, before the playoffs start. Win or lose, we needed a game like this.

A win raises us to 10 – 2, and ensures that we will hold the division lead, at least until our Week 16 re-match with Washington.

A loss would stall us at 9 – 3. We would however, still enjoy a 2 game in-division cushion over Washington.

****

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 Ravens

1) Control the Tackle Box: We have to make sure that two keys happen against the Ravens offensive line. The first key, is not allowing the middle of our Defensive Line to get blown off the Line of Scrimmage. With DT Jalen Carter getting double-teamed a lot, we’re going to need DT Jordan Davis to blow up a couple of inside runs.

The second key, is setting the edge. This will also help contain QB scrambles, and any Jet Sweep action. Setting the edge is where we are going to miss DE Brandon Graham (I.R.), the most. If we do both of those things, we’ll congest the running lanes and make it harder for them on the ground.

2) Unleash Goedert: The Ravens play a 3 – 4 defense, and their primary pass rush comes from their OLB’s. It’s a fatal flaw built into the very structure of the Raven’s philosophy of defense. That plays right into the Kerrigan Plan (if don’t know what that is already, click that link), and TE Dallas Goedert is exactly the man to execute that plan.

For a TE to be disruptive to the Ravens, he doesn’t need a bunch of yards or catches. He just needs to be important enough to the offense, that the Ravens have to pull an ILB to the outside, or keep a S over the TE. Either of these moves will weaken interior of the box. And you know what happens if the box is loose! Ohhh, say can you ‘quon…

Just get Goedert going early. He doesn’t need to finish the day with a ton of stats. We just need to force the Ravens to cover him. Or, if they choose not to, let him keep doing damage. We don’t need specific numbers from him, but you’ll recognize his impact if the interior run game looks good.

3) Keep Our Linebackers Clean: Tackling the Ravens RB will be a chore. Especially if he gets up a head of steam. Fortunately for us, he’s really big, at roughly 250 pounds. So he won’t fit through the smaller holes, and we can trap him in the trash on early downs, to help set up third and longs.

However, for those downs when he does see a decent hole, we need LB Nakobe Dean and LB Zack Baun to meet him in those holes. So blockers have to be kept off of them, so that they can see, and bring both arms cleanly to their tackle attempts. That might mean using more of the 5 – 2 alignment than we have been recently.

4) Take Deep Shots Early: To make Goedert more effective, and thereby open up the run, we need to get the ball downfield. That will clear space for the intermediate stuff. It’s not about making the catch (though it would be nice if we do). It’s about making the attempts. So don’t be bummed if a couple of early bombs don’t connect. Those passes are for stabilizing the Offense.

****

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

This game is a Test. This is to see if we are Conference Championship game material. While a road win over an 8 – 4 team, would strongly suggest that we are ready for a run; a loss (at this point in the season), doesn’t mean that we aren’t. It would just be pointing out the things we need to work on.

Understand, right now, as long as we don’t get blown out, either result is a good result, due to the caliber of our competition. Why pad our late season, with bottom-feeder wins? That’s what the Cowboys do, and what happens to them in the playoffs? Like clockwork, you can almost set your calendars to Dallas losing in the Divisional round. It should damned near be a holiday!

Look, let’s take this test, and dissect it afterwards. Win or lose. The goal is a parade in February, and this Sunday in December, is an important study tool in helping us to accomplish that.

****

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.