Brandon Graham

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CHRIS LONG IS A NO-BRAINER

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/01/27
Posted in: Conspiracy Corner, Defense, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, Players, Rivals, Roster, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

card.chris.long

NEXT year DE Chris Long is due 3.5M$ in the final year of his contract. That’s a pittance for what we’re getting in exchange. Aside from being a reliable, productive player, Long is an extremely high-quality person off the field. On the field, he plays starter level minutes, but he never bitches that he doesn’t get to start, and doesn’t make starter level money. (Note: Over the last two seasons, Long has more sacks (11.5) than any giant besides starter Olivier Vernon (13.5).

olivier vernon

Every time the giants overpay a former Dolphin, an Eagle gets his wings.

Chris is rare. Our odds of finding another player like him, are staggeringly low. When he leaves, regardless of how he leaves, we will miss him. Even if we find another player like him, we’ll have a situation where we could have had two like him. There is no getting around the fact that we are better with him. And Jerome forbid, Long should go to a division rival, like the aforementioned giants! 

So keeping Long should be a no-brainer.

He said that he’s mulling retirement. However he also said “I’m literally just kind of sitting back and seeing what the Eagles do, and who they bring in, or don’t bring in, and how deep that room gets.” And he also said “Listen, I know I’m an older guy. But, you know, I don’t think I’ve missed a practice over the last two years. I feel like I’ve been durable and ready when called upon.” In addition to that, and most importantly, he said “I’d like to play football in 2019”.

Let me run that by you one mo’ ‘gin: “I’d like to play football in 2019”.

What you just read were multiple examples of a guy quietly making his case. He’s saying to the Front Office that he’s still viable. That he still has good football in him. He’s waiting for the Eagles to say “Chris, we’d like you back. Will you come back?” That’s it. That’s what the man is waiting for. He has a contract, he just wants to know if Executive Vice President of Football Operations (EVPF– Fuck it), GM Howie Roseman wants him to stay.

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Last year (March 2018) when he was mulling retirement, I said we’d be fine at DE, even with the loss of he and Vinny Curry. However at that time, Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett and Steven Means were all under contract, and we’d even added Micheal Bennett.

As I said in RE-ARMING FOR WAR, the loss of Graham and Long, (Steven Means now plays in Atlanta), would leave us with Bennett, Barnett (returning from injury), and second year DE Josh Sweat. Sweat is also returning from injury, and he didn’t really flash before he got hurt.

So we need Long. We need him for character, depth, production and even tactically. Yeah, tactically. He understands the nuances of what his spot demands situationally, for this scheme. So if on a given down, he needs to freelance, he can do it without downgrading the integrity of the unit. You can’t get that from a new player. Even if that player is a ten year vet.

This is a phone call. This is that phone call that Reggie White and Brian Dawkins didn’t get from the Front Office. Not to put Long on that level, but the ease of resolving this situation is similar. We’re shooting ourselves in the foot if we don’t. This is easy. We need to get this done.

It’s a no-brainer.

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Don’t worry. Howie is smarter than this… Right?

 

 

RE-ARMING FOR WAR.

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/01/23
Posted in: Defense, Draft, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Roster, Special Teams, trade, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

wentz or foles

DALLAS won the NFC East this season by sweeping us. The giants added firepower in 2018 and figure to pad their defense in 2019. This division isn’t going to roll over and let us just walk away with it like we did in 2017. We need to be able to take it from them.

That however, will take some serious work, because with 20 players becoming Free Agents this March, we’re a hair trigger away from being as big a mess as the Redskins. This locker room is about to undergo a significant change, and it’s going to be of supreme importance that the right players are either brought back, or brought in.

So what are the priorities? Let’s start at the top.

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QB: Carson Wentz is and should be, the future here. It’d be great to keep Nick Foles too, but he’d be too expensive. We’re projected to be 13 million over the salary cap, and he’s due to make 20 million. (Cap Savings!). This is simple math. By trading him to say…Jacksonville, we get him out of the conference, and can move up from 25th to 7th in the Draft. (Plus whatever else we can get out of them.) Nate Sudfeld has looked capable. He’s a (FA) Free Agent, but if he’s smart, he comes back here in 2019.

RB: Jay Ajayi suffered an ACL tear to his left knee in 2012. He also has osteoarthritis and now this ACL tear, in his right knee. No need to re-up for all those future missed and partial games. Darren Sproles is mulling retirement, so plans should be made like he’s not in the picture. (But if he’ll stay for 2M$ or so, we should find the cash.)

Otherwise, this position needs a complete overhaul. Not just of players, but of our philosophical approach to the kind of players we have here. We need more guys on the roster who want to be “The Guy” and work towards that. No more players who are happy being one-trick, role-players, just glad to have a roster spot.

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Installing Corey Clement as our third down/change of pace back, would be very smart. Also drafting a 225 pounder who actually runs like a big back, would give us the balance we had when we were putting up 30 points per game in 2017. It also wouldn’t hurt to sign a FA like Latavius Murray, or Spencer Ware as an insurance policy.

Were we to forgo drafting a back, adding Kareem Hunt (not Le’Veon Bell) is the smart move. Adding Hunt to this system would immediately lessen the aggressiveness of opposing pass rushers, and give our QB more room to operate. Besides, he’s 23 and has no rookie deal, so he can be inked for 4 or 5 years, and not at the top end of today’s RB market, due to his recent baggage.

WR: Alshon Jeffery is the big dog here, so he needs to see 10 or more targets (not 7), per game from Wentz. Nelson Agholor is due 9M$ on a fifth year option, which he really isn’t worth. (Cap Savings!) If he can find a team (Redskins maybe) to give him 9 mil, good on him. But it shouldn’t be us. Jordan Matthews made his meager opportunities count, so he should be brought back based on that, and his prowess as a blocker. Jeffery, Matthews and the returning Mack Hollins would make life hell on opposing secondaries, especially if a young speedster is drafted. Golden Tate thank you, and good luck on your next team.

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TE: Zach Ertz is a receiver. He’s improved as a blocker, but he’s really a big WR. Dallas Goedert helps give us what might be the most formidable 1-2 punch at this position, in the league. Still, we could use a guy who’s calling card is blocking. Not a puppy, but a veteran presence. Someone like FA’s Tyler Kroft or Geoff Swaim.

OT: I’d like to see Jason Peters retire now. (Cap Savings!) He’s our best at the position, even when injured. However, these constantly occurring injuries make it clear that he should walk away, now. Before his body betrays him, and reduces him to just “some guy”. True, 10M is a lot to walk away from, but his body and his legacy should be worth more.

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Moving Lane Johnson from the right to the left beginning in OTA’s, seems like the smartest move. Halapoulivaati Vaitai simply can’t be trusted to man the blindside. During the 2017 playoffs, our coaching staff got away with giving him help on some downs, and rolling everything else to the right. However, during the moments he played the left in 2018, opponents showed that they were wise to us with that.

Jordan Mailata says that we can expect big things from him in 2019. If he plays a single down in 2019, it would be a vast improvement over how much he played in 2018. So the bar there is really low, right now. Matt Pryor is huge, but like Vaitai, his feet are way too slow, so he’s likely better suited to Guard.

A high draft pick, possibly our first rounder, needs to be spent here. No Free Agent patch. This guy should be homegrown, and allowed to get old with the QB.

G: Brandon Brooks should be back from Achilles tendon surgery, but there is no guarantee that he’ll be ready by Week 1. (Note: I initially had this written as an ACL tear, but alert reader Bobby, stepped up, and got me on the right path. If you talk I will listen!) Stefen Wisniewski and Issac Seumalo give the Eagles stability in terms knowing the scheme, but neither is the blocker that Brooks is. Chance Warmack is a FA, but he’s not liable to attract many suitors, and the Eagles could use an inexpensive insurance policy. That being said, there is also no reason why Pryor can’t be kicked inside, where he’s actually a better fit.

C: Jason Kelce has publicly acknowledged that he is mulling retirement, and that he doesn’t know if he’ll be back in 2019. That means we need to add a player. Not just a body. A player. There are no prizes to be had in scheduled Free Agency, so unless someone gets cut, it’s best to save that cap space. Wisniewski has extensive experience playing the pivot in the NFL. Seumalo has also logged downs at the spot, so we’re by no means in dire straits. However, it would be smart to draft kid. (Hopefully 320 pounder, with a nasty streak.) Until he’s gone however, Kelce has to be counted here.

 

DE: Brandon Graham is going to be a FA, and Chris Long  is mulling retirement. This leaves us with Derek Barnett (returning from injury), Michael Bennett who is a beast, and Josh Sweat. Sweat is more of an edge setter than a pass rusher, so he may not be a good fit in this scheme. If Graham is willing to come back for 5.5M, then we should ink him. Otherwise, see if (former Eagle) FA Steven Means wants to come back to Philly.

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DT: Fletcher Cox is the heart and soul of this defense, and one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL. The Eagles may attempt to free up 5M in (Cap Savings!), by cutting Timmy Jernigan and just eating 6M in dead money, instead of paying him 11M. Space-eating, run-stuffers like Free Agents Johnathon Hankins or Jordan Phillips would look really really good next to Cox, and wouldn’t break the bank to get here. Treyvon Hester should make the roster again in 2019, but everything about him says “role-player”.

backups

OLB: Nigel Bradham put up solid numbers, but most of what he does (plays through injury, adds an air of toughness, finishes his tackles, doesn’t blow assignments), doesn’t show up on a stat sheet. Still, it would be nice if he were turned loose more as a pass rusher. Kamu Grugier-Hill looked like a work in progress this year, but not getting to start until your third year will put a layer of rust on any player’s instincts. He has the speed and motor to be a diamond in the rough, the only question is whether or not he’ll get the opportunity in 2019. Depth here is a real issue, and has been for years now. Adding a Free Agent like Gerald Hodges should be easy and inexpensive. Aside from that, we should be able to grab a couple of Special Teamers after the Draft.

MLB: When Jordan Hicks is healthy, he’s a very good player. Problem is, his track record for being healthy is shabby and now he’s coming off his rookie deal, and will want big boy numbers on his checks. Given the thin FA market though, the Eagles would be wise to sign him to a 3 year deal, and get an actual back-up in here. That’s not a shot at Nate Gerry, who filled in for Hicks this season. Gerry is a Safety/Outside Linebacker tweener, so he isn’t really suited for the MIKE position. If we’re spending on Hicks, we won’t have the money to blow on a FA. That means we’ll need to draft a back-up/possible replacement.

SS: Malcolm Jenkins is the only player at this position and that’s a problem for a couple of reasons. First, he’s up there in years, and we’ve got no one behind him learning to do what he does. Second, we been really lucky that he’s been healthy enough to play every snap, seemingly since he got here. It’s tempting fate to act as if we can ignore these things. We need to draft a kid to groom. A leader type.

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FS: Rodney McLeod is coming back from injury, but he should be full-go in 2019. Corey Graham frequently forgets to bring his arms to a tackle. (That’s when he isn’t diving at ankles.) Graham is a FA and so no lock to return. Tre Sullivan didn’t see a lot of action during the season, but he was an unsung hero of the Wild Card win at Chicago.

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CB: Rasul Douglas is tall, competitive, sticky fingered, and a solid tackler. If we’re smart, he opens 2019 as a starter. Avonte Maddox can be baited because he’ll chase the big play. While he’s been beaten a few times because of that, he’s also made a few plays because of it. After all, nothing ventured is nothing gained. Cre’Von LeBlanc is credited with nothing less than saving the Secondary, so um, expect him to be here in 2019. Jalen Mills was having an up and down year ((cough cough) struggling) before he hurt his foot. It remains to be seen if he’ll get to start on the outside or in the Nickle spot. Sidney Jones excelled in college playing man-press. The Eagles (regrettably) don’t use such a scheme, and so there is a real chance that the Front Office may have wasted a second round pick, on first round talent, that our coaching staff simply can’t find a use for. There’s talk of the Eagles drafting a player early at this position, but that seems almost like a massive overreach here, and robbing another position of needed talent.

K: Jake Elliott is a FA, but he’s restricted. There is no chance the Eagles let him walk.

P: Cameron Johnston still needs to work on his directional kicking, but he’ll be here.

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THE BEST D-LINE IN THE NFL

Posted by The BEAST on 2018/04/02
Posted in: Conversations, Defense, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Players, Reviews, Roster. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

 

Best line?

WHEN the Los Angeles Rams went out and signed free agent DT Ndamokung Suh, the cry heard ‘round the world was that the Rams now had the best defensive line in the NFL. Pairing Suh with DE Aaron Donald is talked about like it’s the end-all be-all in the NFL. People are talking like the Rams are now the favorite to win the Super Bowl in 2019.

Whoa now. Hold up. Pump the brakes.

The Rams will boast an extremely scary interior, that is just as disruptive against the run as the pass. But still it’s just two guys. One of which will be learning to switch from being a 4-3 DT to either a 3-4 DE or NT.

They play a 3-4, so you have to look at the front five, not four. Take a look up and down their ROSTER and you won’t see another player to fear. DE Michael Brockers? He has 19 sacks in 6 years, after being selected 14th overall in 2012. Everyone else is a career back-up who’ll now be counted on to make difference. (I guess.)

With the Minnesota Vikings (4-3) there are four legitimate headaches with Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Sheldon Richardson, and Danielle Hunter. Not two guys, four. The Jacksonville Jaguars have 3 game wreckers in Calais Campbell, Malik Jackson, and Yannick Ngakoue.

Then of course there’s the grand-daddy of them all, the Philadelphia Eagles.

brandon grahan lombardi kiss

DE Brandon Graham

The Eagles boast Fletcher Cox, Timmy Jernigan and Haloti Ngata at DT. At DE There’s Brandon Graham, Chris Long, and Derek Barnett. We lost DE Vinny Curry and all we could find to replace him with was some guy named Michael Bennett. That’s SEVEN players. The Eagles are literally, TWO defensive lines deep.

We don’t just have starters better than the Rams starters, we have better back-ups than the Rams starters. (DE Steven Means and DT Destiny Vaeao don’t qualify for this list because of who’s in front of them, but if Bennett misses any time, you’ll see those two make a serious contribution in his absence.)

Even if we were to throw out things like sacks and hurries as a measure of an individual player’s effectiveness, there’s the fact that the Eagles as a team, allowed just 79.2 rushing yards per game, to the Rams 122.3. That’s number one vs fifth worst. Also our key players aren’t in their first year of the scheme.

So all this big talk about the Rams D-line is ridiculous. The Rams don’t have the best D-line in the NFL. Hell, they don’t even have the best D-line in the conference. Those distinctions BOTH belong to the Eagles.

As things stand, the Rams D-line may not even be as good at the Vikings. IJS.

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: SUPER BOWL: PATRIOTS

Posted by The BEAST on 2018/02/05
Posted in: Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFL, Offense, Players, playoffs, Reviews, Roster, stats, Super Bowl. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

E-A-G-L-E-S! CHAMPIONS!

Toldja we’d win.

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EAGLES 41 – Patriots 33

We spent two weeks hearing how the Patriots QB was going to single-handedly carry his team to victory. The media (showing an inability to learn), basically said that the “scrappy” Eagles would only be speed bump on the Patriots way to a 6th ring. Well, seems like Super Bowl MVP, QB Nick Foles (28/43 – 65.1% – 373 – 3 – 1) didn’t quite agree with that assessment. In the end, the Patriots bitch of a QB, ran off without even shaking Foles hand.

Speaking of hands, the Patriots attempted to throw a pass to their QB early in the game, but he proved to be… Let’s say “less than clutch” in that situation.

super nope 52

OOPS!

Later on, Nick Foles would not only catch a pass, but catch a a touchdown, off a one yard pass from TE Trey Burton (1/1 – 100% – 1 – 1 – 0), on a honey of a trick play:

 

(I told you that Doug was gonna hunt these fuckers.)

Former Patriot RB LeGarrette Blount (14 – 90 – 6.4 – 1 – 0) won a second consecutive Lombardi, by splitting carries with RB Jay Ajayi (9 – 57 – 6.3 – 0 – 0). That helped balance the offense and kept New England’s defense honest. Not to be counted out however, was rookie RB Corey Clement (4rec – 100 – 25.0 – 1) who led all Eagles in yards from scrimmage with 108.

Defensively there weren’t a lot of “stats” to talk about. The one sack allowed all night proved to be fatal (for New England), as DE Brandon Graham (2 – 1.0 – 0 – 1) forced a fumble in the process. Rookie DE Derek Barnett (0 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) didn’t get cute and simply recovered the fumble. After rookie K Jake Elliott (2/3x, 3/3, 46) added a 46 yard field goal to our 38 -33 lead. it pretty much snuffed out any realistic chance for any last minute heroics. That left the Patriots hoping for a miracle. Miracles however, require good karma to occur. And so naturally the Patriots lost.

I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these “Four Things” articles. We introduce an idea of what needs addressing BEFORE the game, so that fans have to honestly answer questions about those things, AFTER the game. This helps to get us, and keep us, all on the same page.

So, of the Four Things we were looking for in this last game, what exactly did we see?

1) Work the middle: Be it TE Zach Ertz (7 – 67 – 9.5 – 1) diving across the goal line (for a score); Corey Clement cornholing an over-matched LB (for a 22 yard score); WR Alshon Jeffery (3 – 73 – 24.3 – 1) going up and grabbing a 34 yard score; or WR Nelson Agholor (9 – 84 – 9.3 – 0) on a crossing route, the Eagles made sure to work inside. That kept the Patriots from loading the box, and allowed our top 2 RB’s to average 6.4 and 6.3 yards per tote. (DONE)

2) Destroy the pocket: Not nearly enough pressure was generated inside for most of the game, which would be forgivable if we also hadn’t allowed 113 yards on 22 carries (5.1 per tote), mostly up the middle. The fact is, that this area of the defense has fallen off since mid-season and we need to find a way to turn it back on by July. (NOT DONE)

3) Blount. Force. Trauma: LeGarrette Blount was the games leading rusher in terms of yards and carries. It was his best game since November, and in my view, his best in an Eagles uniform. The man has been a monster for these playoffs and it irritates me that he has likely played his last down as an Eagle. (DONE)

4) South Paw Switch: To be fair, I didn’t really expect this to get done, since it isn’t actually DC Jim Schwartz’s M.O. to make wholesale changes at the half. It would have however, kept the Patriot from outscoring us 21 -19 in the second half. (NOT DONE)

Well, 2 out of 4 Four Things was good enough to get the “W” this week, and bring our playoff tally to 9 of 12. Usually this is where I’d mention the next opponent, but this officially brings us to the end of this season’s road.

There’s nothing left to do now, but celebrate at the parade which will begin Thursday at 11, on Broad and Pattison, heading north up Broad before swinging up the Ben Franklin Parkway to the Art Museum steps. (Isn’t it funny how we say “The” Art Museum, even though Philly has a few of them?)

On The Whole:

I told you that HC Doug Pederson was going to be aggressive vs New England and boy was he ever. We had an internationally televised brawl, with the NFL’s last champion, and we TOOK from them what was rightfully ours.

We started with the Draft at the Art Museum in April, and we’ll end it with the Super Bowl parade ending at the Art Museum in February. The football gods have smiled upon Philadelphia for the 2017-2018 season. Despite adversity, despite injury, we were smiled upon. Recognize that and be grateful, fellow fans. Recognize that and be grateful.

Let this stand as a lesson to you. Just because someone doesn’t believe in you, or thinks they know your situation, don’t you ever, EVER stop believing and working for your dreams.

As a wise man named Harry once said:

Just what makes that little old ant

Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant…

WK3: STEELERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2016/09/25
Posted in: Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFL, Offense, Reviews, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

w3-pit

EAGLES 34 – Steelers 3

PHILADELPHIA dominated Pittsburgh in a fashion that will be impossible to ignore around the NFL. By the end of the third quarter it was clear that the fight had gone completely out of the Steelers, and they were just waiting for the bus ride home.

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QB Carson Wentz (23/31 – 74.1% – 301 – 2 – 0) came out and effectively managed the game again. RB Darren Sproles (2 – (-1) – (-0.5) – 0 – 0 / 6 – 128 – 21.3 – 1) led all Eagles in receptions and receiving yards today. Rookie RB Wendell Smallwood (17 – 79 – 4.6 – 1 – 0) got made the most of his 14 second half carries as he paced both teams in rushing.

While the news stories will undoubtedly focus on Wentz, the real story here is our Defense. It was one thing to hold Cleveland and Chicago’s heads underwater, but Pittsburgh entered this game with the NFL’s second leading rusher. Today they were held to 29 yards on 10 carries. As a team. Ben Roethlisberger (24/44 – 54.5% – 257 – 0 – 1) was sacked 4 times, losing a fumble on one of those.

Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz once again called a masterful game, and got production from all levels. His Defensive Line however, was the heart and soul of this attack. DT Fletcher Cox (3 – 2 – 0 – 1) was a terror up front allowing DE Brandon Graham (1 – 1 – 0 – 0) to collect a sack in his third consecutive game, as well as a fumble recovery. DT Bennie Logan (1 – 1 – 0 – 0) also looked great out there, contributing not just on Defense, but also blocking Pittsburgh’s first field goal attempt on Special Teams.

Did you notice?

WR Josh Huff (4 – 20 – 5.0 – 0) had 4 catches today after only one in the first two games. Both he and Sproles worked the flat area in the first half, which opened up the run up the gut in the second half. I specifically mentioned this should be the Eagles strategy in my Four Things article. This isn’t the first time the Eagles suddenly shifted what they routinely do, to something I’d specifically suggested in one of my articles.

WK2: BEARS

Posted by The BEAST on 2016/09/20
Posted in: Defense, NFL, Offense, Players, Reviews, Roster. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

 

w2-chi

EAGLES 29 – BEARS 14

THIS was not a pretty win. Like last week, the Eagles broke the game open in the 3rd quarter, but unlike last week, the Defense played the entire game. This week it was the Offense who had trouble finding the stadium, as 20 of our 29 points didn’t come until after the half. K Caleb Sturgis (3/3 – 2/3) battling a leg ailment, missed an extra point that would have had the final score at 30 instead of 29.

On Offense we took a three field goal, 9 – 7 half-time lead into the locker room. Apparently someone made some adjustment somewhere, because our last three scores were all touchdowns. Two on the ground by RB Ryan Mathews (9 – 32 – 3.5 – 2 – 0), and one by TE Trey Burton (5 – 49 – 9.8 – 1), who finally broke his touchdown cherry. QB Carson Wentz (21/34 – 61.7% – 190 – 1 – 0) was an effective game manager, who’s numbers may have looked a little better if not for WR Jordan Matthews (6 – 71 – 11.8 – 0) losing a sure touchdown off of his fingertips.

Defensively we held the Bears to 64 yards rushing, on 18 attempts, for 3.6 yards per tote. We also harassed QB Jay Cutler (12/17 – 70.5% – 157 – 0 – 1) sacking him three times, picking him off, and getting a fumble from him; on the way to injuring and knocking him out of the game. If you’re counting, that’s two straight QB’s we forced off the field in just two weeks. Can you FEEL that?

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Nigel Bradham kills a Bears drive

DE Brandon Graham got a sack in second straight game (4 – 1 – 0 – 0 ). OLB Nigel Bradham (1 – 0 – 1 – 0) killed a Bear’s drive with a leaping interception that he almost took back to the house. Also getting in on the turnovers was MLB Jordan Hicks (1 – 0 – 0 – 0) recovering a sack/fumble forced by rookie DT Destiny Vaeao (1 – 1 – 0 – 1), and CB Ron Brooks (5 – 0 – 0 – 0) recovering a fumble forced by DT Bennie Logan (1 – 0 – 0 – 1), whom I called out in this weeks Preview article. Between the forced fumble and the improved run play, I would say that Logan responded very well.

Hey, did you notice:

How easy it was to hear players cursing at each other out there. You could hear them yelling things like “That’s fuckin’ HOLDING!”

DEFENSE WAS GREAT, BUT PUMP THE BRAKES.

Posted by The BEAST on 2016/08/19
Posted in: Coaching, Defense, Players, Reviews. Tagged: , , . 2 Comments

EAGLES STEELERS SACK

TONIGHT the Eagles gutted the Steelers 17 – 0 in front of a national audience (provided you weren’t in any of the blackout areas). Our Defense grabbed 4 picks, 4 sacks and only allowed 50 yards rushing on 21 attempts. Sounds pretty bad-ass, right. Start buying Super Bowl packages, right?

Hold your horses. Pump the brakes. Last year, we wiped out the Ravens 40 – 17 in our second preseason game. I said “pump the brakes” but many of you didn’t listen. A week later, Green Bay sat their starters (sound familiar?) and we won 39 – 26 in Green Bay. QB Sam Bradford went 10/10 with 3 TD’s and many of you were talking Super Bowl. Yes. Many of you were. This, however, was my reaction to that game:

“Normally after a preseason game, I want to talk about what we need to fix. While there is PLENTY, I won’t do that this week. Many fans are really pumped over the result of the game, and pumped over what they saw of the game. So I’ll leave it at that.”

Remember how last year went? Maybe you’ll listen now.

Pump. The. Brakes.

We started tonight night facing a “B” team, and our Defense did what they’re supposed to do if some coach decides to gamble with the future confidence of his reserves. We showed those sacrificial lambs why they’ll get to watch more football than they’ll play.

We had some issues on Defense though. DE’s Connor Barwin, and Brandon Graham allowed themselves to be washed out of position a few times vs the run. This version of the Wide 9 won’t work if the DE’s can’t set the edge and turn the action back inside, to a free-flowing LB.

There seemed to be more of a pocket for the QB to step-up into tonight; as well as clear line of sight and passing lanes. More has to be done to force QB’s to move in the pocket, because we won’t be facing 4th round draft pick who gift us 4 picks, every week. We have to make plays, not just rely on mistakes.

I told you back in May – no wait, I told you back in April, even before the Draft- that the Defense would likely have to carry the Offense this year. I said the Defense would set the Offense up with short fields, artificially padding our scoring stats. It is unlikely that we’ll run away with the NFC East, and more likely that we will merely survive it. That being said, pump the brakes Eagles fans. We still have much work to do.