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FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 13: TITANS

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/12/05
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFL, Offense, Players, playoffs, Reviews, Roster, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

IS THERE NO ONE ELSE!?

EAGLES 35 – Titans 10

EAGLES STATS:

Categories include an EXCLUSIVE weekly Offensive Line Report (Rushing TD’s (6 points) + 3rd downs converted by handoffs (1 point) + sacks allowed (-2 points) = score); as well as Drive Killer (Int – FR – 4th down Tackles – FF – TD).

New Category Ace is for Kick return TD’s, Returners run-down, kicks blocked, etc.

Passing :(S) QB Jalen Hurts (29/39 – 74.3% – 380 – 3 – 0)

Rushing : (S) RB Miles Sanders (10 – 24 – 2.4 – 1 – 0)

Receiving : (S) WR A.J. Brown (10 – 8 – 119 – 14.8 – 2)

Offensive Line Report/Enforcer : (2 (12) + 1/3 (2) – 2 (-4) = 10) C Jason Kelce

Drive Killer : (B) LB Christian Elliss (0 – 0 – 1 – 0 – 0)

Sack Leader : (S) DE Josh Sweat (4 – 2.0 – 0 – 0)

Ace : PR/WR Britain Covey 6 PR, 105 yds (17.5)

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

FS Marcus Epps delivers the cold shoulder.

1) Pick the Fight: Titans rookie WR Treylon Burkes (1 – 1 – 25 – 25.0 – 1) was laid out like a cheap suit, by FS Marcus Epps (2 – 0 – 0 – 0), on a CLEAN hit. (See the picture.) Once we set the price for one Touchdown, at one Concussion, the Titans decided to avoid the end zone altogether. Or at least they played like it.

I said we have to win at the line of scrimmage? We got 6 sacks and shut down RB Derrick Henry (11 – 30 – 2.7 – 0 – 0).

I said we needed tackles that put men on the ground? Well, we didn’t hold players up to strip them. In fact, Titans ball-carriers were dropping like they were hit by sniper fire.

Hits that draw flags? See Treylon Burkes.

Send players to the blue tent? Burkes was literally knocked out of the game. CB Kristian Fulton (1 tackle) hurt his groin when A.J. Brown ran him over for a touchdown. QB Ryan Tannehill (14/22 – 63.6% – 141 – 1 – 0) acquired a second injured ankle, after being sacked 6 times. (Both Titans had to be removed from the game.)

We beat the high, holy hell out of this team. (DONE)

2) Keep Him Clean: The idea was that our Defensive Line would keep blockers off of MLB T.J. Edwards (6 – 0 – 0 – 0), so that he could make stops on Derrick Henry. The D-Line decided to go us one better, and took to stopping Henry, themselves. No complaints there!

As for Edwards? Pretty easy day. They may not even have to launder his jersey. (DONE)

3) Rush for 100 Yards: The Eagles ran for 67 yards as a team. Taking away Jalen Hurts 12 yard contribution, the RB’s ran 19 times for 55 yards (2.8ypc). Normally that would have me pretty angry. Especially considering that it represents a 300 yard swing in rushing yards, from last game to this.

Instead, I’m amused by the sheer ridiculousness of how dominant we were, having gotten soooo far away from the statement we made last week vs Green Bay. It’s unbelievable! I cannot imagine what it must be like being a defensive coordinator, and seeing Philadelphia next on your schedule. This was a HOOT! (NOT DONE)

4) Tight Man Coverage: The Titans WR’s were targeted 8 times and caught 3 balls for 35 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 concussion. Our CB’s spent the day following their receivers like unpaid bills. I knew this was going to be a poor match-up for Tennessee, but yikes. We were out there like:

(DONE)

****

So we totally slammed 3 of the Four Things this week. Next week, we take a 2 hour drive right up I-95, to visit the Rutherford New Jersey giants, and hand them the fifth loss that they should have gotten today. Friggin’ Commanders! Can’t do shit right.

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On The Whole:

QB Ryan Tannehill getting Cox from behind. By which I mean DT Fletcher Cox.

We spent the whole week gearing up for the second coming of The Bodybag Game, and what did we get instead? A bunch of bitches whining to the refs for penalties. They should have been embarrassed. Where were the tough guys, that I’ve seen in other games?!

Sure, they brought their physical style of play. We even saw a few of our guys head for the blue tent, and then exit the game: (LG Landon Dickerson, WR Quez Watkins (6 – 5 – 37 – 7.4 – 0), and LB Kyzir White (5 – 0 – 0 – 0) ). That said, it was clear that the Titans don’t take punches as well as they throw them. And this is what passes for playoff caliber in the AFC?

In last week’s FTR, I mentioned that rookie LB Nakobe Dean (5 – 0 – 0 – 0) perhaps should see some of Kyzir White’s early snaps. After White left today’s game, Dean did nothing but make my point. That kid looked good out there!

CORRECTION!

All season long, I’ve been misspelling the first name of LB Haason Reddick (2 – 1. 0 – 0 – 0) as “Hasaan”. I don’t know where I picked up the incorrect spelling, but you can google “Hasaan Reddick” and see any number of places where I could have picked it up. However, upon seeing this Tweet from him today:

it only stands to reason that the man knows how to spell his own name! (Meaning I was wrong.)

I’m not going to go back and correct every instance of the misspelling, but I will be better going forward, and will head to the Eagles website (I rarely go there), to check ALL of my name spellings against the roster.

This is embarrassing, but in this world, we must be accountable.

WR A.J. Brown makes AVERY sweet touchdown catch.

PRESEASON: EAGLES/JETS DIGEST

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/08/13
Posted in: breakdown, Defense, NFL, Offense, Players, Reviews, Roster, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

EAGLES QB Jalen Hurts (6/6 – 100% – 80 – 1 – 0), came out and did his thing. I said that I was going to focus on four other players, and I’ll get to them shortly. However, first there’s some housekeeping to be done. In that same article, I said that I would also be watching the Jalens. Here’s what I saw.

On the surface, Hurts stats look great. What they don’t tell you, is that he was decisive with the ball, threw over the middle, and threw a scoring strike to his left, from the pocket. His first passing attempt was a carbon copy of 2021, but after that, he used the whole field. His feet still dance a little after his drop, but the ball is coming out quicker. Progress is apparent.

Seeing action with the second string, I have to admit that WR Jalen Reagor (4 – 3 – 26 – 8.6 – 0), was reliable. I’m by no means a fan of his, and was hoping he’d get a chance to make an eye-popping play, to increase trade interest. Sadly, he never really had a chance to stand out, as the play-calling was milquetoast. Screens and shallow dump-offs, were pretty much all that was on tonight’s menu.

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Now to the meat!

I said I wanted to get a look at J.J. Arcega-Whiteside’s transition to TE from WR. I specifically wanted to see his in-line blocking. Didn’t happen. Though he played Special Teams all night, I only noticed him on a couple of Offensive plays in the fourth quarter. One was a pass that was thrown behind him. The other was on the Eagles final play.

How it looks: The Eagles know, just like LB Shaun Bradley (1 – 0 – 0 – 0), JJAW is a core Special Teamer who has upside on regular downs. When they did deploy him, it wasn’t as a blocker, but as a receiver. Even on the “Hail Mary” (that was never thrown), the coaching staff had him out there.

On Defense, I wanted to see if the Eagles used LB Patrick Johnson more like a LB or a DE. They did neither. He played a great deal of that game, coming out with the second unit. He primarily lined up as a 4 – 3 DE, but never put his hand in the dirt. Instead he played in a crouch that had his center of gravity far too high, on every snap.

How it looks: Tonight I guess they wanted to see him at rush DE, but he really didn’t generate much pressure, or influence any plays. In fact, he frequently got washed up-field, past QB’s when pass rushing, and he didn’t set the edge well, vs the run. If the Eagles want him to be a rusher, the coaching staff needs to teach him some counters.

My third subject was WR Britain Covey. His only chance to make this roster, is as a KR/PR. For all the buzz he’s been generating during Training Camp, he looked downright ordinary in his debut. He was even shown-up by RB Jason Huntley (16 – 48 – 3.0 – 1 – 1 / 5 – 4 – 39 – 9.7 – 0), who cracked off a 43 yard return in the 3rd quarter.

How it looks: There is no way a 5’8” 173lb WR without blazing speed, makes this roster. Or even the Practice Squad. Covey has two more games to show that he’s an extraordinary returner. Otherwise, he’s toast.

Finally we come to TE Jack Stoll (1 – 1 – 6 – 6.0 – 0). I wanted to see if the Eagles would go to him as a receiving option. Well, he caught a 6 yarder, less than a minute into the game. Then… Nothing after that. Wasn’t even targeted again.

How it looks: TE Noah Togiai (4 – 4 – 29 – 7.2 – 0) caught all of his targets and even ripped one away from a defender. That said, he looked slow against third stringers, and doesn’t offer much as a blocker. Stoll’s 2022 roster spot and role, are all but etched in stone. That is unless another TE can suddenly become a better in-line blocker.

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I didn’t talk about most of the names that everyone else is talking about, because everyone is talking about those. You’ve already read/watched/heard/been tweeted at about those. You don’t come to me for common, so I never give it to you. You come to me, specifically for what you can’t get anywhere else. And I’m glad that you do. (I just wish you would COMMENT more.)

Listen, even with as terrible as announcer Ross Tucker was tonight, he did (ad nauseum) get one thing correct: Some of those second and third string guys, will help determine the outcome of games this year. He mentioned the ascension of RB Boston Scott and WR Greg Ward from the Practice Squad a few years ago.

That had me looking for this year’s eye-catching third stringer.

The Eagles coaches did everything they could to sell us Jason Huntley, but I was far more impressed by RB Kennedy Brooks (7 – 26 – 3.7 – 0 – 0 / 1 – 1 – 2 – 2.0 – 1). He was not easily stopped, and fell forward at the end of his runs. Even his touchdown catch involved him lowering his shoulder to get into the end zone.

I’ve been talking up DT Renell Wren (2 – 0 – 0 – 0) since we picked him up this Spring. He’s a big (6’5, 320), strong, feisty presence. The problem has been injuries, which is why Cincinnati gave up on him. Tonight, he got in on a tackle, and made a stop on a play ran away from him. Wren’s biggest problem now, is who’s ahead of him at DT: Milton Williams, Jordan Davis, Javon Hargarve, and Fletcher Cox.

So far, I’m rooting for these two. They likely won’t make the 47 man, so I’m hoping that we they aren’t stolen (especially by a rival) before we can put them on the PS. I hope to see them pop again next week at Cleveland.

PRESEASON GAME 1: EAGLES vs JETS

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/08/11
Posted in: breakdown, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Roster, Special Teams, The 12, trade. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

NORMALLY I would do a Four Things article here. Just to get in a little “Live” practice. Like the players will be doing. Or should be doing. Instead, since the starters will play less than a quarter, I’m going to focus more on players, than on tactics this week. Besides, no one is game-planning for this game anyway. Why should I outwork the coaches?

Yes. For the 7 downs that he plays, I will be looking for how fast the ball comes out of QB Jalen Hurts hand, after his dropback. Yes. I will have an eye on WR Jalen Reagor as the team showcases him as trade bait. Yes, I will watch the Jalens. That said, my real focus Friday night, will be elsewhere.

There are certain players that have piqued my interest over the offseason. Some players that I’m flat-out rooting for: FS Marcus Epps, WR Britain Covey, TE Jack Stoll, (all of whom I wrote articles about in THE 12 ), and CB Zech MacPhearson.

WR Britain Covey

Then there are players with stories that have intrigued me: WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside’s transition to TE; WR Quez Watkins usage in the Slot; LB Patrick Johnson in his second year; and the rejuvenation of CB James Bradberry, whom I erroneously referred to in May , as a “fading star”.

There won’t be any deep strategizing– (isn’t it weird when you have to add a word to Word’s dictionary?) –so instead of trying to separate gnat shit from pepper, I’ll have my eye on a few of these guys tomorrow night. Namely, Covey (during kick returns), Stoll (as a receiving option), JJAW (specifically his in-line blocking); and Johnson (getting snaps at DE vs true LB).

Preseason games have always been watered down events, but ever since this latest Collective Bargaining Agreement, coaches are more concerned with making sure their starters are available Week One, than making sure that the team is any good for Week One.

So, during this game, we’ll get one or two series of the players we paid to see, then an hour of back-ups, followed by Practice Squaders and guys who’ll be at your job, filling out applications in three weeks. (Wow. I almost said something waaaaay depressing here. Something about euthanizing a dream. Quick! Here’s a picture of a cute piglet.)

In the meantime, tomorrow we’ll get to see the sausage get made, and hear every chop and squeal. So I don’t think I really need to roll out a full-on, Four Things article for this game. I’m just going to keep an eye on FOUR GUYS, while I eat Five Guys. Then I’ll write about them, so we can start to build a working picture of how deep, multi-faceted, and resilient this team really is.

I still hate this new logo.

#10: BRITAIN IN PHILADELPHIA

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/06/08
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, NFL, Offense, Players, Roster, Special Teams, The 12, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

DARREN Sproles was the last Eagles Returner, who made Special Teams feel like a legitimate contributor in every game. Helping to win the hidden yardage battle, is what former Special Teams Coordinator Dave Fipp used to call it. These days Special Teams has been de-prioritized, and it shows up in our starting field position.

Right now on the Eagles roster, we have 6 RB’s, and 12 WR’s. Of those 18 players, only 2 have serious collegiate experience returning both punts and kicks. (Don’t even ask about pro return experience.) Those players are WR Jalen Reagor, and undrafted rookie WR Britain Covey. Reagor and WR Greg Ward are our only options with over 20 pro punt returns.

So we have Ward not being dangerous, or Reagor muffing the ball twice in a game. Honestly, the Eagles players who have tried their hands as return men, have sucked horribly at it. Mostly because it takes more than speed to be a great returner. The most important thing you need, are nerves of steel.

For that reason, I think we need to take a serious look at Covey. By “serious” I mean at least until final cuts. We need to see what, if anything, we can squeeze out of his 5’8” 170 pound frame. Yep, he’s a little fucker. This coaching staff has an absolute fetish for small offensive players. And not even the fast ones! Just a bunch of tiny, short legged guys, getting caught from behind.

In five college seasons, Covey posted 4 punt return touchdowns on 92 attempts, racking up 1,092 yards for an average of 11.9. No Eagles player had college numbers anywhere near that, and they’ve been worse as pros. Covey also averaged 25 yards on 33 kick returns, but with all the touchbacks in today’s NFL, the punt numbers are far more significant.

As a receiver, he’s kind of in the mold of Raiders WR Hunter Refrow, just smaller. Like Refrow, Covey does his damage in the Slot; is fearless in traffic; and understands how to settle into another receivers wake to give his QB a clean target. At least that was his game in college. We don’t need him to be a starter, but if he can be a 5th WR, we’d be golden.

So we should take a long look at him. No need to rush, but try to develop this kid a little. Because if he can give us a PR/KR/WR, then he’s more than worth one roster spot. In fact, at that point I think the five WR’s we keep are Devonta Smith, A.J. Brown, Quez Watkins, Zach Pascal, and Covey. And if Covey doesn’t pan out, I guess we keep… Ward?