FOUR THINGS: WK 9: EAGLES – JAGUARS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/11/02
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Roster, stats, X's and O's. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

WE feasted on Bengal last week, in a 37 – 17 win. Acquired a taste for big cat, we did! So this week we’re staying home, and having some Jaguar delivered. Lugging the grub to our hub this week, is no other than Doug Pederson. The Jags will be staring down the barrel of QB Jalen Hurts, as he heads the NFL’s #10 scoring unit.

Yep. We’re top ten, despite only playing 7 games. Oh, did I mention that the Jags are 29th in scoring defense? I didn’t? Well the Jags are 29th in scoring defense. While many of us still have love, for the man who coached our first Super Bowl win; our Eagles are going to beat his team’s sorry 2 – 6 ass, tomorrow.

A win moves us to 6 – 2 for definite. However, with a Washington loss to the giants, it would also move us into first place in the division.

A loss holds us at 5 – 3, but we’d still maintain second place in the division with two head to head games vs Washington later this season. Actually, regardless of whatever happens this week, we maintain at least second place, since it’s now November-

****

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 Jaguars.

1) More Jalen Under Center: The Eagles have recently been using an increasing amount of plays from under Center, especially in each of the last three weeks. I’ve been begging for this wrinkle since Hurts became the starter. It’s been hard to reliably sell play-action from a QB in Shotgun. Particularly when he runs as much as his RB’s do.

However, we now have RB Saquon Barkley, who is super-effective and comfortable in the Singleback formation (shown here)

See the three guys in the bubble? They have to determine/guess whether it’s a real hand-off or a fake. Then they have to chase the appropriate man, and hope that they aren’t wrong. The result 37 – 17 Eagles.

This formation naturally places Hurts under Center. With Hurts under C, he has to turn his back during the fake, so the play-action is automatically much easier to sell! Especially now that our RB carries more than the QB.

2) Screen Their Ends: The Jags DE’s don’t offer much more than outside pass rush. What that means is, they rely on an explosive first step, up the field, to get the edge on OT’s. That’s great when it works, but when it doesn’t… Well, only the Panthers (33.8) and the Cowboys (28.2), give up more points per game than the Jags (28.0).

Their own scheme creates holes for mobile QB’s to leak through, and opens up the Screen game. So let’s hit the Easy button, and throw Screens from under Center.

3) Lots of Defensive Shifts: Neither of the Jaguars starting G’s practiced this week. So regardless of who plays or starts this week, we should dictate the action, and work to confuse their blocking scheme. Adding to the bounty, is a LT about to make his second start. This should be a 4 or 5 sack day.

4)Take Away the Short Pass: The Jags QB likes to get rid of the ball quickly. Take that away from him. If our LB’s aren’t playing Man Coverage, then their drop into Underneath Zone should be delayed. That way we take away short windows, and can make the most of any deflections.

****

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

The thing we have to worry about the most, is the Jags 2 – 6 record. For some reason we like to “play down” to bad opponents. The only thing that usually stops the Eagles, are our coaches wanting to be a little too cute, when the moment calls for an outright murder. No playing with our food this week. Just kill it, and eat it.

I also want to mention the other new wrinkle in our Offense. The use of back-up LB Ben VanSumeren as a FB in the I-formation, absolutely has my enthusiastic support. . Usually, (in the I-formation) the RB and the FB are directly behind the QB, in a straight line. VanSumeren however, has been lining up not in a straight line, but “offset”.

Not a prediction but, wouldn’t it be nice to see VanSumeren get a carry or catch a pass? Maybe make him into a genuine two-way player, since he’s a back-up and FB’s aren’t really part of the NFL landscape anymore.

****

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

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

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 8: Bengals

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/10/28
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Reviews, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

ANOTHER BLOWOUT VICTORY!!!

 

EAGLES 37 – Bengals 17

   

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (16/20 – 80.0 – 236 – 1 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (22 – 108 – 4.9 – 1 – 0)

Receiving: WR DeVonta Smith (7 – 6 – 85 – 14.1 – 1)

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

Sack Leader: OLB Nolan Smith (Sacks: 0.5 / FF: 0/ Tackles: 2)

Special Teams Ace: NA

****

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

1) Invert the Pocket: This didn’t happen. The Eagles seemed to be playing less to penetrate the Bengals interior, but more to muddy it. The result as was our opponent running for a combined total of 58 yards on the day, including 15 contributed by their QB trying to save his neck.

Between them only DT Jordan Davis (1 tackle) recorded a stat; while DT Jalen Carter didn’t get on the board. Part of that was the heavy rotation, which allowed DT Milton Williams (1 – 0.5 – 0 – 0) to get himself half of our only sack for the game. We muddied the blocking, but we didn’t blow it up. (NOT DONE)

2) Get their QB Off His Square: On the Bengals first couple of possessions, it looked like we wouldn’t even try to do this. However, after that, and especially in the second half we got him running around, moving his feet and we even got a pick off of him.

As for the “super dangerous” WR Jamar Chase (11 – 9 – 54 – 6.0 – 1), he caught 4 passes for 23 yards and the score, on the opening possession. After that, for the remainder of the game he had 5 catches for 31 yards. Fundamentals plus Four Things! (DONE)

3) Play-action TOWARDS Hendrickson: The idea was to bait Bengals passrusher DE Trey Hendrickson (4 – 0.0 – 0 – 0), to cut in front of LT Fred Johnson. So we did run some play-action towards Hendrickson. We just didn’t run much of it. Mostly because Hurts only dropped back to pass 22 times all day, while we ran the ball 39 times.

Instead of chasing Hendrickson around the edge, Fred could just get his mitts on him, as he tried to get at the inside gap. But Hendrickson would do that regardless of where the play-action was aimed! Making the day easy for Johnson, who only allowed one pressure in 13 match-ups vs Hendrickson. Freebie! I’ll take it. (DONE)

4) Target Their Linebackers in Coverage: We didn’t do this, but they seemed to be doing it to us. Which only made this much more frustrating to watch. (NOT DONE)

++++

This weeks Four Things score was 2 of 4, but in addition to that, we handled the fundamentals of Running the ball, Man Press, and Tackling securely. Next week, we welcome Doug Pederson back to the stadium where he has a statue; as he brings his 2 – 6 Jaguars, all the way from Florida, to get their seventh loss.

****

Game Hero: Jalen Hurts – The guy scored 4 touchdowns. Fucking right, he’s the hero of the game. Completing 80 percent of his passes, and not turning it over, is also on the list. However, my favorite part of his game this week, was the kind of rushing attempts he had. That more than anything is what I think broke the Bengals spirit.

None of the lame play, where he fakes the hand-off, then runs to the side, doesn’t find an opening, and then lays down to avoid injury. In this one, he would fake the hand-off, then follow the RB through the hole. The other thing he did, was sit in the pocket, then step up and through, only to be presented with open real estate.

Those are SMART runs! They are low risk, and they force the defense to change what they wanted to do, which opens up the deep passing game. BRILLIANT!

Game goat: CB Quinyon Mitchell (2 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) – His coverage is so damned good! But once again, the rookie drops an interception. This can’t keep happening. Maybe he needs daily practice with the JUGS machine…

On The Whole:

After a slow start, the Eagles battled back, made the game essentially 0 – 0, and then proceeded have a 27 – 7 second half. Contributions by new Eagles like Fred Johnson and Saquon Barkley, were beautifully complemented by the youth on this team.

Ever improving LB Nakobe Dean (7 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) recovered a fumble to help seal the game. A heads-up deflection by CB Isaiah Rodgers (1 – 0.0 – 0 – 0), resulted in the most back-breaking turnover, when C.J. Gardner intercepted the ball. And let us not forget the 4th down tackle for loss, by rookie DB Cooper DeJean (3 – 0.0 – 0 – 0)

Starting to look pretty good if you ask me!

FOUR THINGS: WK 8: EAGLES – BENGALS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/10/26
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

 

OUR Eagles mauling of New York, featured a team that hit all the fundamentals well. As a road team, we packed our Defense, and got off the bus running the football. The result was 3 points allowed, and 269 yards rushing. That doesn’t bode well for a Bengals team that is giving up 136 rushing yards per game, vs teams like New England, Carolina, the giants, and Cleveland

A win gets us to 5 – 2, and positions us to take over 1st place in the division. That is, pending the outcome of the Bears vs Commanders game.

A loss drops us to 4 – 3.

****

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 Bengals

1) Invert the Pocket: We need DT Jordan Davis and DT Jalen Carter to cave in the middle of the Bengals offensive line. Their C has a habit of almost standing up at the snap. He also doesn’t do a great job of chopping his feet in pass protection. These flaws makes him susceptible to bull-rushes.

Getting Davis and Carter in the “A” gaps, and pinching the C between them, should blow up the middle of the Bengals (or anyone else’s) blocking scheme.

2) Get their QB Off His Square: The Bengals have a rhythm based passing system. So their QB is almost always throwing to a specific spot in a route, from a specific part of the pocket. Here’s a link to some of his highlights which show that. This is aided, by how often his super-dangerous receivers get free releases off the line.

Its utter precision is exactly what can make it easy to derail. Just some Man Press on the receivers, and an inverted pocket to stop the QB from stepping into his throws. Get him out of his comfort zone. Get him running. Get him to move his feet while throwing, which is unlike what he normally does. This should reduce his effectiveness and maybe even get us a gift or two.

3) Play-action TOWARDS Hendrickson: DE Trey Hendrickson is their top pass rusher. While most teams who want to control a pass rusher, do it by double-teaming. Running play-action in Hendrickson’s direction, will give him something else to do, and keep him away from the play.

4) Target Their Linebackers in Coverage: Their two most prominent LB’s are not built for coverage. So force the issue. Use quick passes to punish their defense whenever they blitz.

****

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

Hopefully this game won’t end in a tie.

****

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: giants

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/10/22
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, Reviews, Rivals, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

SAQUON Barkley runs the giants.

 

EAGLES 28 – giants 3

 

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (10/14 – 71.4% – 114 – 1 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (17 – 176 – 10.3 – 1 – 0)

Receiving: WR Arthur Brown (5 – 5 – 89 – 17.8 – 1)

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

Sack Leader: MLB Nakobe Dean (Sacks: 2.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 11)

Special Teams Ace: P Braden Mann drawing a roughing the kicker penalty

****

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) Use A Metric Fuck-ton of Play-action: Nope. Not really. Hurts dropped back to pass, all of 18 times. He was sacked 4 of those, and attempted just 14 passes. I was expecting the giants to make a point of taking away Saquon. Instead, he romped and frolicked in their wilderness.

If he wasn’t running away from giants defenders, he was running over them. Why fake giving him the ball, if actually giving him the ball, yields results like these? I was wrong about this one. And you have no idea how happy I am about that. (NOT DONE)

2) Chip Off the Block: Again, I expected a different kind of game, but Hurts dropped back all of 18 times, was sacked 4, and attempted just 14 passes, on the day. There just weren’t many opportunities to use play-action. Which is probably for the best, since LT Fred Johnson wasn’t getting any chip help on the outside. He also seemed to have his hands full when we did throw it. (NOT DONE)

MLB Nakobe Dean collecting one of his two sacks

3) Speed Up Their QB’s Clock: Brother, did we ever! On 29 dropbacks, QB Daniel Jones (14/21 – 66.6% – 99 – 0 – 0) was sacked 8 times, and was under duress when he was able to get passes off. He averaged 4.7 yards per pass, in this game. That’s less than half a first down per attempt! We finally got a look at what our Defense will look like, if we build a comfortable lead. (DONE)

4) Win On First Down: The giants saw 23 first downs in this game. They gained 4 yards or more, on 10 of those plays. The Eagles held them to 3 yards or fewer (including 3 sacks), a total of 13 times. So on 56% of the giants first downs, the Eagles imposed our will and won the down. (DONE)

++++

This weeks Four Things score was 2 of 4. I absolutely nailed the Defensive side, but totally whiffed on the kind of Offensive game, we were going to have to run. Well, next week we’re on the road again, to face a 3 – 4 Cincinnati team, that is trying to revive their season.

****

Game Hero: RB Saquon Barkley – He went out there and set a tone. Lowering his shoulder and smoking DB’s. Putting his foot in the ground and absolutely butchering the giants defenders with runs of 55, 41, and 38 yards. It was glorious.

Game goat: CB Quinyon Mitchell (3 – 0 – 0 – 0) – He dropped yet another would be interception. This was what, number 3 or 4? Someone get Lester Hayes on the phone, and see if he has any more Stickum.

WR A.J. Brown and QB Jalen Hurts celebrate a 41 yard touchdown catch and run, on a 4th and 3 play.

On The Whole: Fundamentals. We stood strong on them, and for the second week in a row, our Defense didn’t allow a touchdown, and we didn’t turn the ball over. The result of those fundamentals, was a dominating win. Granted, it was over a bottom-feeder team, but like last week, you have to win the games that you’re supposed to win. We have that base covered.

FOUR THINGS: WK 7: EAGLES – GIANTS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/10/19
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, Rivals. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

WINNING with solid fundamentals, is the best way to do it, because those things show up on film, and can be built upon. We did that last week vs the Browns. We didn’t turn the ball over. We kept running the ball, even when it wasn’t producing a lot of yards. We tackled, and our coverage challenged routes, giving our pass rush time to notch five sacks.

It was a game that we never trailed in, and never seemed to lose control of. Pay no attention to the final score. Our actual play in that game, was better than that score indicates.

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 gives you.)

A win gets us to 4 – 2, and likely another week as second in the division, since Washington gets yet another easy assignment, vs the Panthers this week. It would also give us our first win this season, against a division rival.

A loss would make us 3 – 3, but we’d go from second in the division, to third. That’s because not only would Dallas have a division win when we wouldn’t, but it would be against the team we just lost to.

So this isn’t a must win game or anything like that, but it would sure be nice to get it.

****

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. So aside from running the ball, tackling over stripping, and playing lots of Man Press, here are the four things that we need to focus on this week versus: the giants.

If this picture doesn’t make you giggle now, you probably are a giants fan

1) Use A Metric Fuck-ton of Play-action: RB Saquon Barkley is returning to the place he played for the first six years of his career. He carried that offense for six years, and they thanked him by rewarding the heaviest part of his burden, while making Saquon beg for scraps. So the Eagles gave him a huge deal, and now… now he’s with us.

Having Saquon go back to New York Shitty and bust their asses wide open, would embarrass everyone in that organization. From the owner, down to the guy who changes the player’s diapers. So expect their defense to aggressively react, every time it even looks like Saquon may touch the ball.

With them playing so aggressively towards him, if we can get them to bite on play-action, it should spring a few easy, big plays downfield. This game could be a huge day for our TE and Slot positions.

2) Chip Off the Block: With LT Lafoga Mailata out with an injured hamstring, OT Fred Johnson now gets the start. It would be foolish not to get TE Jack Stoll out there, to help by chipping Johnson’s assignments. After giving a chip block, Stoll could hang out along the hashmark, to give QB Jalen Hurts an outlet receiver, if he has to run to his left.

Offering Johnson chip help isn’t because he can’t play. He can play. It’s to prevent what happened to Winston Justice in 2007, when he allowed 6 sacks in a game. At no point did the Eagles coaching staff send him any help. Due to Mailata being out, the giants will no doubt attack our LT. We have to be ready to force them out of whatever game-plan they prepared.

3) Speed Up Their QB’s Clock: Every QB has an internal clock in his head, which tells him when the ball needs to be out of his hand. We want to speed up that clock in Daniel Jones’s head, to force the ball out of his hand too early, and possibly into ours.

This week (like us), the giants are without their starting LT. Instead of trying to beat their back-up LT with only brute force, we should also overwhelm him mentally. Consistently walk a second defender into the ‘B’ gap, and force their LT to make decisions without the advantage of experience.

4) Win On First Down: It’s going to be a long day, if we keep allowing the giants to see 3rd and 3 or shorter. So we cannot constantly allow easy yardage on 1st and 10. Despite losing the game, the giants found a kind of spark last week vs Cincy. We have to make them believe that that spark, was a once in a season occurrence.

****

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

With the giants keying on Saquon, I’m not expecting big things from the run game. That means offensively, this game is on Hurts. While he has his top two outside receivers, the chemistry with everyone else that he’ll be throwing to, is sort of a work in progress.

I’d feel better if RB Boston “The giant Killer” Scott, was still somewhere on the roster. I’m just kidding. I liked Scott, but it’s nice to see our RB’s run through arm tackles and move piles. It would be nice to see rookie RB Will Shipley get his first NFL touches, and play well.

****

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: Browns

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/10/15
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Reviews, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

STEPS in the right direction.

EAGLES 20 – Browns 16

 

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (16/25 – 64.0 – 264 – 2 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (18 – 47 – 2.6 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: WR Arthur Brown (9 – 6 – 116 – 19.3 – 1)

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

Sack Leader: DE Josh Sweat (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 5)

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

1) Run Saquon Early: The idea was to get Saquon Barkley 5 to 7 carries early in the game to make it easier on the entire Offense. Well, he had 7 carries for 21 yards in first quarter. (Our third possession started in the 1st but ended in the 2nd quarter.) The Eagles didn’t run for a ton of yards in this one, but kept the defense honest with 22 hand-offs, and another 14 rushes by the QB himself. (DONE)

2) Press and Challenge: CB Darius Slay (no stats/left injured) started off the game playing mostly in Press coverage, while rookie CB Quinyon Mitchell (3 – 0 – 0 – 0) started out in more of a zone look. This is to be expected from Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense, as he likes to give each side of the field a different coverage.

Eventually, Mitchell got around to more Press. That helped the pass rush show up, in the way that it had been expected to, all season. Seven different players contributed to 5 sacks on the day, and Cleveland’s top receiver caught for just 42 yards. We should play Press Coverage every week. (DONE)

3) Dallas Slotted at #3: No dice. TE Dallas Goedert (no stats/injured) left the game early with a hamstring issue. Stepping right into his shoes was TE Grant Calcaterra (4 – 4 – 67 – 16.7 – 0). He saw as many targets and more yards than WR DeVonta Smith (4 – 3 – 64 – 21.3 – 1).

Instead of spending the day trying to force balls to a third WR, the Eagles just included the TE as the third tip of the trident. And it worked beautifully. Had I specified “TE” instead of “Goedert”, I would be happy to say “See what the TE did? Told ya so!” But, that’s not how I tagged it, and fair is fair. (NOT DONE)

4) Stops Over Strips: In this game, our defenders didn’t dick around, holding up offensive players and clawing at the ball. They just made contact, and put opposing players on the grass.

In this game, I counted SIX incidents where usually, our defense would allow an opponent extra yards, or blow a tackle attempt, swiping at the football. However, in this game, they just put the player down, eventually resulting in more difficult third downs, where they converted just 3 of 12. (DONE)

++++

This weeks Four Things score was 3 of 4. We hit the fundamentals and at no point did we trail. It wasn’t a blow out, but it never seemed out of control either. Let’s hope for more of the same next week, when we travel up 95 and pay a visit to the giants, in that New Jersey cesspool they split with the Jets, to avoid New York taxes.

****

DT Jalen Carter gets a sack and somehow DT Moro Ojomo isn’t credited with half of it.

Game Hero: The Defense – The Defense didn’t allow a single offensive touchdown in this game. They didn’t allow a single receiver to reach 45 yards. They didn’t allow a single runner to reach 45 yards. They tackled securely, and got to the QB repeatedly. They only thing they didn’t do, was get a turnover. Which would have happened, if Quinyon Mitchell and C.J. Gardner-Johnson (5 – 0 – 0 – 0), hadn’t run into each other trying to catch an interception.

Some will tell you that it wasn’t impressive, because the Browns limped in here as a woeful offensive team already. However, given our recent defensive woes, the impressive part wasn’t beating the Browns. It was all the fundamental issues that we corrected. (Especially if they stay corrected for a second week.)

Game goat: Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay – So in this one, we got a field goal blocked, and they returned it for a touchdown. A touchdown. What was supposed to be an easy 3 points for us, became 7 for them. That’s a 10 point swing. It was the only touchdown of the day for the Browns. And it was on Special Teams.

Through five games, we’ve seen a punt blocked, and a field goal blocked. We don’t have a kickoff return of 30 yards yet, and so far no 20 yard punt return. No one is ever afraid that we might take one all the way. There is literally nothing special about Michael Clay’s teams. Nothing. It’s been four years of nada, since he got here.

On The Whole: We beat one of the teams that we were supposed to. We did it without allowing a single offensive touchdown, and without turning the ball over. It was a good solid, fundamentally sound game on our part. This is despite losing three starters during the game (Slay, Goedert, and LT Lafoga Mialata.)

It was a win despite adversity. It was a win that speaks to the culture of this team, and the passion of Head Coach Nick Sirianni. If you want to know what poor culture and low passion does for a team, just replay the Lions /Cowboys massacre. Look at Mike McCarthy’s face while his team was butchered. Is that what you want? Is it?

It’s true. This game wasn’t a blowout. But it was, a win.

FOUR THINGS: WK 6: EAGLES – BROWNS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/10/11
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, NFC East, Offense, Players, Preview. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

TWO weeks ago, we lost a game that we didn’t deserve to win. Instead of playing another game to get that taste out of our mouths, we got a Bye week. An extra week to stew on it, and look at what went wrong in that game, and frankly, what hasn’t been working all season so far.

We also got a chance to get healthy. While it’s true that some of our injured players could have suited up for that last game, it was much smarter that they didn’t. Instead they used the Bye week to get solid for the long haul. After all, a football season is a marathon, not a sprint.

So the coaches have had a chance to refine our attack. The players have had a chance to get rested and healthy. We stumbled out of the gate, and fell all the way to 2 – 2. So with refinement, we should expect to see improvement.

Our first post-Bye test, is hosting the 1 – 4 Browns. They Browns don’t do great job of scoring points or stopping points from being scored. So if we’re going to be trying out some new stuff, this is the week for it.

A win gets us to 3 – 2, and above the .500 mark. It shows that we can beat the teams that we’re supposed to beat. It’s not cause to celebrate, it’s just TCB. Thank you very much.

A loss drops us to 2 – 3, and if the giants beat Cincinnati (and they should), it gets us the basement of the division. Alone to ourselves. No bueno.

****

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. So here are the four things that we need to focus on this week versus: the Browns

1) Run Saquon Early: On our first Offensive play of the game, we should be handing the ball off to RB Saquon Barkley. None of that weak shit, where QB Jalen Hurts keeps it, and then immediately gets down in the fetal position, because the other team didn’t buy his fake, and they’re already swarming him.

We need to run Saquon early, as much to legitimize our play-action, as we do for balancing our attack. Getting him 5 to 7 carries in the first quarter, will help the Offense run smoother for the rest of the game.

2) Press and Challenge: During our last game, color analyst Tom Brady, you know, this guy,

repeatedly mentioned that the Eagles were playing too much off-coverage, and allowing the Bucs receivers too many unchallenged steps into their routes. As a result, we were carved up by QB Baker Mayfield. And by George, ol’ Tomfoolery was right.

We have entirely too much man-cover talent on this team, to be playing this soft on the edges. Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio alluded to making changes to that in the second half of the last game, and he said that he had adjustments to make over the Bye. Hopefully this one of them.

I’ve been saying for years now that our poor coverage is the biggest culprit in retarding our pass rush. The ball is coming out so fast, that our linemen just don’t have time to reach QB’s. Worse than that, there is almost no chance at an interception if the receiver is wide open. So it keeps turnovers low.

3) Dallas Slotted At #3: Let’s shelve the quest for a #3 WR, and just make TE Dallas Goedert that guy for us. I don’t mean that we should line him up in the Slot. I just mean we should make Goedert our #3 option. It’s okay to platoon the Slot. In fact, platooning it will allow us to experiment and change match-up reads.

For example, placing WR Jahan Dotson in the Slot, means very different things than placing WR Johnny Wilson there. They have to be defended differently, both before and after the catch. That can allows us to create mismatches, and force defenders out of double teams, depending on who we plug in there.

4) Stops over Strips: I honest to god, hate it when our players hold an offensive player up, to claw at the ball. Just drop him where you meet him. If a fumble doesn’t result from the initial impact, then end the play and move onto the next down.

****

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

We’re probably the most talented roster in the league. However, there are too many times we let the fundamentals slide, and it bites us (See: Falcons game). Then, a week later, we show that we can absolutely buckle down (see Saints game), and it makes fans wonder why this doesn’t always happen.

Dismiss the thought that the Eagles aren’t one of the best teams in the league. This team can beat anyone, at any time, if we bring our ‘A’ game. We knocked out two of San Fran’s QB’s in less than a half, and gutted the team. Nick Sirianni went toe to toe, down to the wire, with Andy Reid in the Super Bowl. Our Super Bowl hangover included sleepwalking to 10 – 0 last year. Miami hung 70 on Denver and we boxed them up, looking excellent while doing it, in our Kelly Greens. This season, in week three, the media was ready to put New Orleans in the Super Bowl, and that team hasn’t been the same team since we paid their house a visit.

Your team is a bad ass. And it has been for YEARS now.

Yes, we’ve had some recent stumbles of course. For instance. last season’s loss to San Fran, where we forgot what tackling was. Which also happened in our last game. We just have to focus better on the little things. When we do that, we’ve proven to be world beaters.

****

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 2024/09/30
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Reviews, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

OUR Eagles deserved that.

 

EAGLES 16 – Buccaneers 33

 

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (18/30 – 60.0% – 158 – 1 – 0)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (10 – 84 – 8.4 – 0 – 0)

Receiving: TE Dallas Goedert (8 – 7 – 62 – 8.8 – 0)

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

Sack Leader: DE Brandon Graham (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 2)

Special Teams Ace: CB Kelee Ringo returns blocked XP (CB Isaiah Rodgers) for 2pts

****

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:

WR Parris Campbell looks in a touchdown pass

1) Our Reserves Must Gainwell: Aside from WR Parris Campbell (4 – 4 – 17 – 4.2 – 1) no other reserve Offensive player made a difference, or even a noticeable contribution in this game. Part of is it because some of these guys are actual trash, and part of it is because our Offense is routed through the not-so-swift brain, of QB Jalen Hurts.

This was the back-ups week to step up and demand the ball. To signal that they could be relied on. None of their body language or sideline activity, indicated that. The spotlight was on them and nearly all of them shrank from it. (NOT DONE)

2) Get to Baker: We sacked QB Baker Mayfield (30/47 – 63.8 – 347 – 2 – 0) all of twice. We played soft coverage nearly all game long, so Mayfield just sat back and played catch with his receivers. Especially in the first half. Things tightened up a little in the second half, but mostly it was Busc receivers running free, and making uncontested catches. They had four players with 50+ yards receiving. (NOT DONE)


DE Brandon Graham collection one of the Eagles two sacks

3) Run the Ball: AHEM!!! Twelve million dollar RB Saquon Barkley, had 10 carries in this game. Jalen Hurts had 8 for 20 whole yards. A couple of those were Brotherly Shove plays, but most of them were designed keepers. As long as the play-callers think Hurts is our second RB, our Offense is going to keep finding itself sputtering, just like it keeps doing. (NOT DONE)

4) Own the GCG Box: Our DT’s were somewhat disruptive, but at no point did they take over the interior of the offensive line. They did a great job of occupying blocks, which allowed MLB Nakobe Dean (6 – 0 – 0 – 0) to whiff on tackle after tackle. Or to be an inch too short to get a deflection. We didn’t allow a lot of rushing yards (111), but they did seem to be able to run it at will, which complemented their short, quick passing game. (NOT DONE)

++++

This week’s Four Things score is 0 of 4, which is precisely why we, got shit beat down our leg. Next week we get to stay home and lick our wounds. It’ll be nice to see a weekend without a Jalen Hurts turnover.

****

Game Hero: Whoever fired the gun at the end of the game.

Game goat: QB Jalen Hurts – This was a week, where Hurts should have taken the team on his back. Instead, there was no sense of urgency, no fire to him. Just that same look of boredom that he always displays on the sideline. Others call it “stoic”. I call it, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. I’ve seen players excited to play. I’ve been one. That’s never the vibe that our leader transmits.

In 2021, I wrote an article, where I said that Jalen Hurts would never become a true franchise QB, and I have never moved off of that assessment. How has that 2021 assessment aged? Well, Hurts, despite being in his FIFTH year, still can’t punish a blitz, and has become a turnover machine, hasn’t he? He’s regressed badly from 2022 hasn’t he?

In fact, check out my 2021 article and tell me if you aren’t seeing the exact same things today, that you were seeing in 2021. Granted, today he uses his TE better, and no longer avoids throwing over the middle. Otherwise, his failure to grow or to evolve, doesn’t indicate much future success for the lad. Or us.

On The Whole: There is a ton of blame that can be handed out for this match. But the truth is, on top of all the things the coaches didn’t get right; and the QB did wrong; and the tackles that got missed; are the facts that 1)we were playing shorthanded, 2) on the road, and 3) in 100 degree weather.

CB Kelee Ringo recovers blocked extra point and returns it for two points

It was a damned tough assignment, and we quickly wound up on the wrong end, of a 0 – 24 score. But did we quit? Hell no! We got it as close as 16 – 30. Even hustling on Special Teams for a blocked extra point, that was returned for 2 points. While we didn’t walk away with the “W”, it’s efforts like this, that help forge a team’s identity.

FOUR THINGS: WK 4: EAGLES – BUCCANEERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/09/27
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Offense, Players, Preview. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

 

LAST week the Saints were the most feared team in the NFL. Well, Head Coach Nick Sirianni didn’t get that memo. Our Eagles went down the Saint’s house, punched them in the mouth, and took a beer from their fridge on the way out. This is despite everyone thinking we’d get run through last week.

See how the NFL’s website did us?

Yeah. We keep receipts.

This week the NFL is feeding us yet another team with a winning record. Fact is, all we’ve beaten have been winners. Green Bay is 2 – 1, Saints are 2 – 1, now we get the 2 – 1 Buccaneers. No 1 – 2 Browns. No 1 – 2 giants. No 0 – 3 Bengals. Yep, winners.

A win gets us to 3 – 1. It gives us a positive to focus on, as we head into a Bye week that seemed too early when the schedule came out. However, now amid all these early, critical injuries, a week of rest may be literally, just what the doctor ordered.

A loss would put us at 2 – 2, with an extra week to sulk as we stressed over getting healthy again.

****

The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week versus: the Buccaneers.

1) Our Reserves Must Gainwell: We are almost definitely going into this game without WR’s A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, as well as RT Lane Johnson. That means another week of leaning heavily on RB Saquon Barkley and TE Dallas Goedert. The Bucs know this, and will work to take those two away as options.

This means we need at least one of our back-ups, to step up in a big way. A 60 yard day from WR Jahan Dotson, would be great! Or RB Kenneth Gainwell lining up in the slot a few times, and making 40 yards or so catching the ball. WR Johnny Wilson as a red zone threat? These are just examples, but they’re the kind of things we need.

2) Get to Baker: Aside from their win over a Commanders team without a defense, the Bucs are giving up an average of 6 sacks per game. In that pressure-free game vs Washington, QB Baker Mayfield threw for four touchdowns and zero interceptions. In each of his next two games, he threw a touchdown and an interception.

Since he’s clearly a different QB under pressure, LET’S GIVE HIM SOME! The best part is, that most of the sacks on Mayfield have come from defensive linemen. So we shouldn’t need to send blitz after blitz to lay hands on him.

3) Run the Ball: Since we’re missing key weapons on Offense, we clearly need to lean on Saquon for production. That part is a no-brainer. So the Bucs will try to take him away. Which is great! We need them to think exactly that.

We need to get Saquon involved early, in order to sell our play-action. Focusing on him and being drawn out of position, opens up opportunities for our reserves. The more dangerous we make them, the more things loosen up for Saquon to run inside.

4) Own the GCG Box: Deform the pocket and don’t give Mayfield anywhere to step into his deliveries. That Guard-Center-Guard area, not the Tackles, should be our focus this week. Hit them where they’re weakest. If we control their offensive line, we control their offense. Ask the Saints about that one.

****

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

We’re down three very important players this week, and we’re on the road. Again. Possibly on another sloppy field. Versus a winning opponent. If most teams were facing this degree of difficulty, their coaches would already be planting the seeds of excuses.

Not here.

That says a lot of about the culture of this team. That says a lot about it’s leadership. The last time we faced the Bucs, they blew us out 32 – 9, in the playoffs. Yet, there’s been no talk of revenge or score settling. That says a lot about the focus of this team. Which again, says a lot about the leadership.

There are people out there calling for Sirianni’s firing, because they disagree with his aggressiveness on 4th downs. Ask the giants if they wish Brian Dabol had a little bit of that aggression in him, tonight against Dallas. I’d rather my coach go down swinging, believing in his team, than have him sit and accept a more popular form of losing.

So I’m standing behind my coach. Never stop fightin’ Nick.

****

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

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

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 3: SAINTS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/09/23
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Reviews, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

 

QB Jalen Hurts fumbles for his second turnover of the game.

EAGLES overcome Eagles, for a win over the Saints.

EAGLES 15 – Saints 12

 

EAGLES STATS:

Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (29/38 – 76.3% – 311 – 0 – 1)

Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (17 – 147 – 8.6 – 2 – 0)

Receiving: TE Dallas Goedert (11 – 10 – 170 – 17.0 – 0)

Drive Killer: S Reed Blankenship (TD: 0/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)

Sack Leader: DT Jordan Davis (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 4)

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

1) Win the Line Of Scrimmage: Boy did we ever! DT Jordan Davis (4 tackles, 1TFL, 1sack, 1 batted ball) and DT Jalen Carter (4 tackles, 2TFL, 2 batted balls) made a day of playing in the Saints backfield. Saints RB Alvin Kamara (26 – 87 – 3.3 – 0 – 0) came into this game averaging 5.6 yards per run, but he found out that the Eagles aren’t the pushovers that the Panthers and the Cowboys are.

While the players did shift around and take advantage of the gaps up front, a huge nod has to be paid to Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio, for coming out in an obvious 5-2 front, instead of trying to disguise it. It immediately signaled that there could be no consistent double-team help inside. (DONE)

2) Set the Edges: Again, big nod to the 5-2 front, as it let the Eagles to shift the line side to side, creating a natural boundary on many early downs. Another important move was the heavy use of DE Brandon Graham (2 – 0 – 0 – 0), and the deployment of “LB” Josh Sweat (2 – 0 – 0 – 0) as a DE, instead of as an OLB in a Wide Nine rush technique.

That natural boundary allowed our actual LB’s Zach Baun (11 – 0 – 0 – 0) and Nakobe Dean (8 – 0 – 0 – 0) to run cleanly to the play. Dean had a TFL, and Baun had a fourth down stop. The final result was the Eagles putting a muzzle on the Saints run game (29 – 89 – 3.0 – 0 – 0). (DONE)

3) Go To Goedert: The idea was to involve Goedert, and use him to slow down the Saints pass rush, and blitz frequency. The idea was to involve him to force them to cover him. Well we DID involve him. The Saints however, never adjusted to prioritize covering him.

The result was Goedert romping and frolicking through the Saints wilderness, to the tune of 170 receiving yards, the MOST EVER BY AN EAGLES TE IN A GAME! Yep. We involved him, and all he did was make history, while setting up the touchdown that would be the dagger in the Saints heart. (DONE)

4) Don’t Settle for Early Field Goals: I said in Four Things, if it’s in the first half, we’re inside their 30, and it’s 4th and 3 or less, don’t think, just go. Well, it was the end of the first half, we were at the Saints 21, and it was 4th and 1. We went for it and didn’t convert. Bummer, but it was still the right call.

Most readers will disagree with me on that, and that’s fine. I made my position known prior to this game, so I’m sticking by it now. You want to keep your Offense in an attacking mindset. Especially given all the demoralizing injuries that mounted as the game went on. We needed to hunt touchdowns instead of field goals (DONE)

++++

This weeks Four Things score was 4 of 4. Usually you’d expect that to be represented in the score as a blowout, but the Saints are a tough team, in an imposing stadium. Honestly, in the long run, it’s probably best for our team psychologically, that it was an uphill battle. Hopefully things are a little easier and we’re a little healthier, when we visit the 2 – 1 Buccaneers next week.

****

Game Hero: Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore – We started the game without WR A.J. Brown. During the game we lost RG Mekhi Becton and RT Lane Johnson. That’s the entire right side of our Offensive Line. We later lost WR DeVonta Smith (10 – 7 – 79 – 11.2 – 0), and still the ball kept moving.

It would be easy to say that Saquon Barkley’s 65 yard TD run was the spark we needed. Or that Dallas Goedert is the hero, with his 61 yard catch and run, that set up the go ahead score. They would both be deserving, but it was Moore who quietly orchestrated things, so the Saints couldn’t take away our remaining weapons. Involving the reserve players just enough, to make sure that the Saints defense stayed honest.

Game goat: Head Coach Nick Sirianni – It was a toss up for me, between Sirianni and Jalen Hurts, given the QB’s two turnovers and lack of scoring strikes. I however, went with Sirianni not because of his aggressiveness on 4th down, but because he doesn’t seem to understand the risk of repeated failure.

As I said, I’m on-board with us going for it, at the end of the first half. What was dumb, was not taking the field goal at the beginning of the second half. The Defense was out there getting results. Repeatedly watching the Offense not produce points, could become demoralizing for a Defense. We’ve seen it happen before. This is what Sirianni doesn’t seem to mind flirting with.

I won’t make a big deal about the failed 60 yard field goal attempt. It was indoors, with a guy who’s made from 60 before. Kicking from anywhere on the field seems to be in fashion with the NFL this year, so I don’t fault the attempt. Thing is, when you add his field goal logic, the blocked punt, and the poor return game, it seems the Special Teams component of his coaching, is deteriorating.

On The Whole:

Today our team fought against being shorthanded, and self-inflicted wounds. Oh yeah, there was also a 2 – 0 team, somewhere in there as well. Yet we overcame ALL of it. On the road. In one of the toughest places to get a win in.

This was a bounce back game, and the team came out and showed grit, and resolve, and purpose. Sirianni made the kind of calls he made, because in his mind, he wanted to keep his team aggressive. Which is exactly what we saw when Reed Blankenship zipped past a New Orleans receiver, to make a diving interception to seal the game.

If you want to be frustrated, go right ahead. Just remember, this is a team that due to new coordinators, is still learning how they’re different, from who they were last year. Every team we’ve faced has been a heavy hitter so far, and we get another one in seven days. On the road. Maybe we should cut our guys a little slack.

By the way, I keep receipts: