Cam Jurgens

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FOUR THINGS: WK PS3: EAGLES – VIKINGS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/08/23
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Roster, trade. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

WITH the 14 – 13 win over the Patriots, we moved to 2 – 0 and locked in a winning preseason. We capitalized on a couple of key turnovers, one changing the momentum of the game, and the other sealing the win. This week we go against a Vikings team whose starting QB is a turnover machine. If he doesn’t play, then it should be even easier to take the ball away.

Usually going undefeated in the preseason is a fool’s errand. Teams that chase it to “set a winning tone” often do it at great cost. Costs like, playing their starters more than their opponents; game-planning vs a team that didn’t; exposing their playbook too early, etc. In short, they run greater injury risk, and tip their hand.

They miss out on getting deep looks at their rosters, to make the best choices when building depth, in a sport where injuries are inevitable. Thee teams frequently compromise their ability to win real games, in pursuit of false wins. We however, went a different route.

The Eagles won both games essentially without playing our starters. Even let our back-ups play their way out of a hole, in that second game. There can be no better test of depth than that. Grit isn’t usually something you see in a preseason game, but our second and third stringers showed quite a bit of it, in two down-to-the-wire games.

A win here would have no bearing on anything, but it would be nice to get.

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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 Vikings

Offensive Co-ordinator Kellen Moore

1) Starters Must Play: Particularly with the addition of WR Jahan Dotson via trade yesterday. He’s had no opportunity to acclimate to QB Jalen Hurts, and we don’t have another preseason game or inter-team practice, until 2025. So give Dotson one or two simple things to do, and let him and Hurts have a couple of series to experiment with it.

We also need to let our starting Offensive Line get its feet wet, with C Cam Jurgens running the pivot, during real action. If there are any wrinkles to iron out, finding it out now, is better than finding it out in Brazil.

2) Offensive Line Must Deliver: Aside from keeping the QB upright, we need to see the interior run game come alive. We need holes, not creases. We need the line of scrimmage moved forward, before the RB hits that hole.

3) Make A Defensive Statement: We need a sack from a starting defensive lineman. So far we’ve done nothing to communicate to the rest of the NFL, that their QB’s aren’t safe against us. That needs to change this week.

4) No Key Contributors Play the Second Half: Playing the starters and key back-ups for three series is great. It’s even ideal. That said, they shouldn’t play an entire half; and under NO circumstances should they play a single down, after the half. They shouldn’t even leave the locker room with pads on.

Injuries are not on a schedule. They don’t happen after X number of snaps. However, the more snaps played, the greater the risk. So let’s not take on too much risk. Besides, winning this game with starters is meaningless. So don’t even attempt it.

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

Mostly what we want from this game is a little practice, and to get out of it mostly healthy. If we cando those two things, then even if we lose 0 – 99, it’ll still be a productive game.

Just a couple more notes on the O-Line. C Jason Kelce was undersized for the position. It’s why he spent the first half of his career getting handled. Then Offensive Line coach Jeff Stoutland shows up, and teaches Kelce how to use his gifts, so he can offset being smallish. The result is, five years from now Kelce will be putting on a gold jacket.

Jurgens is similar in build and athleticism to Kelce, but I think he might be a little stronger than Kelce was early on. I’m interested to see if Jurgens will also be a finesse player, or if he’ll bring a little more of the hammer to his game.

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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: WK PS1: EAGLES – RAVENS

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/08/08
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

PLEASE do not watch this preseason game trying to discern whether the Eagles “fixed” what was wrong last year. Nothing you see in this game, will indicate that. Especially since Head Coach Nick Sirianni doesn’t like to play starters much in the preseason.

What you should be looking for, is how different ‘Motion’ will make the Offense look. What you should be looking for, is how each of our MLB’s performs. What you should be looking for, is Big Dom.

A win or a loss is meaningless this week. What matters, is how hard guys play. What matters, is if they’re upset with mistakes. At this point in the year, passion should hang in the air so heavy, that you could scoop it by the handful. How bad do we want it, at the outset?

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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 the game. Except in preseason. These games are just tune-ups. So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on tuning up, this week versus the Ravens:

From 2023, Jason Kelce imparting some wisdom to Cam Jurgens

1) Running the Ball Inside: Teams already disrespect QB Jalen Hurts, by throwing the sort of blitzes at him, that only rookies usually see. To relieve pressure on him, we have to be able to run. With the retirement of C Jason Kelce, we need to immediately establish that opponents must respect C Cam Jurgens.

What that means, is a few early runs between the C and one of the G’s. Real runs, not the Brotherly Shove. Hell, we shouldn’t even attempt one of those this week. It’d be nice to see rookie RB Kendall Milton get a couple of early totes, against better players.

2) Stopping the Run: As last season ended, it seemed like our Defensive Line had worn down, as they kept losing ground at the point of attack. They didn’t even occupy blocks to free up our LB’s, and allow them to flow to the play. It became hard to watch. With the retirement of DT Fletcher Cox, guys like DT Jordan Davis must show improvement.

DT’s Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter are the future.

In this regard, Baltimore is probably the stiffest test the NFL can throw at us. They are the absolute best test we hope for. Given that we see them again in Week 13, it would also be a huge confidence boost, if we can contain, or even stop their run game.

3) Dynamic Slot Play: Adding a good Slot WR to this Offense, would make it corrosive to even the best defenses. This is where another WR needs to step-up, as a complement to WR A.J. Brown and WR Devonta Smith. A good Slot will also loosen the box for our run game.

I think WR Britain Covey is already a lock at WR5 as a KR/PR. So between the DJax-like speed of WR John Ross, and the 6’6” frame of WR Johnny Wilson, those are the two candidates that I hope become our WR’s 3 and 4. In the event of an injury, WR Austin Watkins needs a long look here.

4) Contested Routes: It’s not enough for our Secondary to make tackles after completions. It’s not enough to contest a completion, late in the receiver’s route. We need for our Defensive Backs to be running with their receiver for most of, if not the entire route.

Playing off-coverage, and letting receivers quickly get to their spots, lets the opposing QB get the ball out of his hand, fast. This retards the pass rush, and then everyone blames the Defensive Line for not getting sacks. We need to make QB’s search for openings, and in the process, hold that ball longer.

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If the Eagles do these Four Things, then they will be sowing seeds for massive success this season. We need to see indications on the field, that they have turned the page from whatever ailed them at the end of last season. These Four Things would make that case beyond the shadow of a doubt!

On a personal note, I’m sure well see some WR Screens, but I don’t want to see one on 4th and 12 again! I will absolutely lose my shit, if that happens. Regardless of if we convert or not. I’m looking forward to seeing this new look Offense; but with us moving to basically a 3-4 Defense, I’m a little less enthused about this side of the ball.

But we’ll see.

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Prediction: EAGLES 13 – Ravens 27

Why: Road game and the Eagles will be playing to evaluate, not really to win.

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, you are 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.

BEST OF THE NFC EAST: OFFENSIVE LINE

Posted by The BEAST on 2024/04/21
Posted in: breakdown, Draft, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, Offense, Players, report, Reviews, Rivals, Roster. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

DRAFT Day is April 25th. Well actually it’s three days 25th, 26th and 27th, but you get the idea. Over the coming days, I’m going to do a position by position breakdown, of each team in the division. Just to compare known players apples to apples, and get everyone on the same page, before we start adding rookies, which can include anything from 1st round busts, to 6th round sure-fire Hall Of Famers.

Today we breakdown (cities are in alphabetical order): The Engines

G Zack Martin, handling his business.

DALLAS: The Cowboys lost LT Tyron Smith and C Tyler Biadasz in Free Agency. Brock Hoffman is now the starting C. Ideas for protecting their QB’s blindside, include either moving All-Pro LG Tyler Smith to LT, or drafting one and hoping the rookie is a star. At RT Terrence Steele is essentially a turnstile. Depth at this position is Matt Waletko (2 years, 4 games, no starts.)

On the inside they still have RG Zack Martin, one of the best in the game. However, moving LG Tyler Smith to LT, would leave a two player hole, right next to Martin. So the Cowboys recently overpaid to retain FA journeyman G Chuma Edoga, who already knows the offense. Anyway you cut it, 40% of this line is about to be just a couple of guys.

RT Jermaine Eluemunor is back on the East Coast.

NEW YORK: The giants loaded up on linemen in FA. They lost one, but signed five. Of what they already had, C John Michael Schmitz and G Ben Bredeson, as well as T Andrew Thomas are likely to be starters in 2024. Beyond that, this room is loaded with journeymen and draft busts. Of the five guys they signed, not one of them has been to the Pro Bowl. Even as an alternate.

The biggest o-line addition was probably oft-traveled RT/RG Jermaine Eluemunor, who gets to play near his native Scranton; followed by G Jon Runyan Jr. Both started elsewhere last year. Which brings up the question of where LT Evan Neal fits in. He was a 2022 #7 overall pick, but so far he’s been an injury prone disaster. Does adding Eleumunor close the book on Neal?

Everyone else ranges from shrug-worthy vet, to just some guy in a jersey.

C Jason Kelce passing on pearls of wisdom to future C Cam “Beef” Jurgens.

PHILADELPHIA: Future Hall of Fame C Jason Kelce retired this offseason. Normally that would seem like a huge blow, but honestly, Kelce’s wisdom and energy may be missed more than his on-field play. Kelce helped the Eagles scout his replacement, C Cam Jurgens. Jurgens spent 2023 at RG in Kelce’s hip, learning when, how, and why certain things need to happen.

As for the rest of the line, LT Jordan Mailata and RT Lane Johnson might be the top pair of bookends in the entire league. On the inside, LG Landon Dickerson is the true engine of the Brotherly Shove play. With Jurgens sliding over, RG is now a question mark. The top candidate for the job is Tyler Steen, but he’s been underwhelming in the run game, so far.

Coming over from the Falcons is C Matt Hennessy, so he could man the pivot, and allow Jurgens to stay at RG. The loss of T/G Jack Driscoll, opens the door for T/G Brett Toth, who spent last year with Carolina, but has 17 starts under his belt as an Eagle. The rest of the depth is unremarkable and may have an uphill climb just making the roster.

Washington’s GM during a trip to Dallas.

WASHINGTON: One way to improve your strength in a division, is to steal talent from rivals. The Commanders did exactly that when they added C Tyler Biadasz. He’s not great, but he’s better than what they had. It’s to be assumed that Sam Cosmi is starting at RG, and LG will probably be Nick Allegretti. He was a career back-up in Kansas City, but Washington gave him 16M over 3 years (5M+ per year), so they probably don’t expect him to ride pine.

On the ends, RT Andrew Wylie is another KC defector, who quietly started 15 games for Washington last year. The LT spot however, was a nightmare last year. The Commanders outright released Charles Leno, and dragged their feet re-signing Cornelius Lucas to a 1 year deal. Without a legit blindside protector, their QB will be in for a rough year in this division.

They have a number of bodies as depth, but no one who won’t be a liability if they have to start a game. To be honest, even their starting line-up is shrug-worthy on paper. Unless the coaching staff can find enough magic to make this group more than the sum of its parts, this might be one of worst lines in football.

SO WHO’S THE BEST?

Even though Washington should be better than last year, they will likely still be awful. Dallas has clearly taken a couple of steps backward. That part can’t even be disputed. Both have question marks at LT, which is the last place on the o-line that a team needs questions. New York is unremarkable, but they do have parts they can move around, and possibly turn out a decent unit.

Philadelphia had a great line last year, and are bringing back 60 percent of it in place, and that could be as high as 80 percent if they so choose. They have a question that needs an answer at RG; but they even have depth whose starting experience is with their team, in the system they currently run.

There is no question that Philadelphia has the most complete, and deepest offensive line in the NFC East, at this point. And it’s not even close. You’d have to be an idiot, with your certificate hanging in a frame on your wall, to even argue.

FOUR THINGS: WK : PS2 EAGLES – BROWNS

Posted by The BEAST on 2023/08/16
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Roster. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

LAST week the Defensive Line and the Safeties looks pretty good. Long Snapper Rick Lovato (no relation to Poot Lovato) was an animal, recovering a fumble on a punt return. There were some positives. Everything else had the appeal of a four story walk-up. Not a deal-breaker, but you’ll never stop thinking about improving your situation.

Being a preseason game, the “W” or the “L” is practically meaningless. What the Eagles need is the momentum of improvement. There have been a lot of fundamental changes, so a season like the one we just had, is anything but guaranteed. In fact, until we see that the Eagles have adapted well to the changes, there is no reason to believe that they will recapture the division.

There is a lot to show in this game. That vibe however, is a very low-key one. For most, this is the least exciting week of the preseason stretch.

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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. Except in the preseason. At which point the wins are usually less valuable than the losses.

There are more than four things to watch for this week, but I’ll try to narrow the focus so that you don’t get burned out, trying to watch too much football, all at one time.

1) Play the Starters: Everyone needs to see a little action in this one. Don’t hand me any bullshit about how the joint practices that the Eagles had with the Browns, will probably be more physical than the game. If that’s the case, then play them in the game, and hold them out of practice! People pay for those tickets. Don’t jerk the fan base around

Besides, there are no nerves, no stakes, and no butterflies for these guys on a practice field. There’s no “L” to talk about for a week, in the event of a loss. Can MLB Nakobe Dean deliver under the lights and the pressure? Can new RG Cam Jurgens? Does RB Kenneth Gainwell really make a case for #1 RB? Is WR Olamide Zaccheaus a good fit for this team? Let’s see.

2) Be the Aggressors: Again, I don’t want to hear about how much rougher the joint practices are. If I could pen them a letter, it would read: Dear Eagles, this team has been hitting you all week, and now they want to hit you some more in your own home. In front of your fans. In a televised game. Don’t get bullied in your own home by the F Troop of football. Take it to ‘em!

I want to hitting and blocking that makes highlight reels. And not from just a couple of Safeties. A message needs to be sent to every team that has circled us on their calendar: Grab your eraser, and call in sick that week.

3) Better QB Play: While many fans want to throw QB Ian Book under a school bus, the truth is, all three QB’s didn’t look very good last week. Book was almost afraid to throw the ball, and QB Marcus Mariota looked somewhat hesitant at times himself. Both looked more comfortable tucking the ball and running with it.

Oddly, there’s been a fair amount of praise for QB Tanner McKee. He seemed to get the ball out faster, but quickly incompleting half his attempts, is no recipe for success. Granted, our Offensive Line wasn’t doing any of the QB’s any favors, but holding onto the ball too long, or not moving in the pocket, doesn’t offer the Line much support either.

4) More Defense: Closer coverage and more contested balls would be nice to see this week. It doesn’t matter how good the Defensive Line is, if the opposing QB immediately has somewhere to go with the ball. Last week we gave up a completion percentage of 61. It was 76% for their first two QB’s. We will find fourth place in the NFC East, real fast with play like that.

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We fans get riled for the first preseason game, because we’ve spent the entire offseason starving for football. Then the NFL hands us a preseason game, and we treat that saltine like it’s Premium. We salivate over it. “Is this a Ritz?!” (Right Eddie?) By the fourth quarter, we realize that the game is just some regular old crackers.

For most, the second preseason game is like being a kid, and getting a sweater for Christmas. It’s not socks, but you can’t wait to put that shit down and open the next one. Next week the starters should play at least a quarter, so we’ll care more about that one. But for now we’re showing up because it’s football. Show some improvement and don’t get hurt. That’s all we ask.

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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, you are trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.

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

FOUR THINGS: WK P1: EAGLES – RAVENS

Posted by The BEAST on 2023/08/10
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, NFL, Offense, Players. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

LAST time we took the field the result was a 35 – 38 loss, in the Super Bowl. Horseshoes and hand grenades, right? So this preseason game is the beginning of the tune-up, prior to the race to go back and finish the job this time.

As is the norm for preseason games, most starters will likely sit this one out. It’s primarily to prevent injury, though some think the lack of conditioning actually leads to more injuries. Still, the new players and rookies need to be folded in. So expect to see a half or so from them.

I also want to see how some new concepts are settling in.

If a win happens, great; but there is no merit in chasing a “W”. Getting a deep look at these guys, to make sure that we aren’t about to cut a potential star, is far more important. We need to know who our roster depth, and Practice Squad should be.

Also, before you put too much stock in watching WR Quez Watkins, let me just say Don’t. We already know that Quez can make the roster. Where he has to prove himself, is in games that count. That’s where he shit the bed last year, so that’s the mess he has to clean up in 2023.

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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. Except in the preseason. At which point the wins are usually less valuable than the losses.

There are more than four things to watch for this week, but I’ll try to narrow the focus so that you don’t get burned out, trying to watch too much football, all at one time.

1) Throwing to the RB’s: We already know that Screens and Wheel routes will feature for us in 2023. I’m looking to see what else looks promising. I’m interested in seeing the QB hit the RB’s in stride. Dump-offs to stationary targets gives advantage to the opposing defense. I want to see as little of that as possible.

2) Getting Defensive: New Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai, wants to impact opposing offenses both physically and mentally. That means hitting to intimidate. Translation: We need to cause some flags to get thrown. We need to.

Two or three ‘unnecessary roughness’ calls on non-QB players, sounds like healthy number. Nothing dirty or with intent to injure, but a couple of borderline hits. A full launch, instead of a shove out of bounds. A ‘pick-up and plant’ tackle. Laying out receivers on crossing routes. That sort of thing.

3) Who’s On First: Most starters will likely sit this one out, but I think RG Cam “Beef” Jurgens absolutely has to play. At least a series. The real question is, will he see any reps at C?

Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland says that Jurgens hasn’t locked up the starting RG gig, (but he has). Stoutland has been downright effusive in praising Jurgens’ feet, his confidence, his understanding of concepts, and even says he asks great questions. As for rookie RG Tyler Steen, Stout says “I like what he’s doing.”

Personally, I think the Eagles added free agent G Josh Andrews, because Steen and Brett Toth haven’t really been setting the world on fire. The Birds getting back G Josh Sills, isn’t going to make life easier for Steen either.

4) Listening for a POP!: I’ll be disappointed if MLB Nakobe Dean doesn’t start. Doesn’t matter how he looks in camp. We need to see him run a pro defense, under the lights, with pros to be accountable to. I want to see him shine. I want to see him pop. I want to see him make at least one play for negative yards. Two would be amazing.

Who is going to pop at second string DE? I don’t want to see hurries. I want to see the QB on the ground. I want to see the ball come out. I don’t care about the recoveries. Yet.

I also want to see where CB Kelee Ringo lines up. And I don’t mean which spot. I mean which spots. Spot with and ‘S’ on both ends. Both of two of them. Where do they move Ringo to, and how often? How does the kid respond? He held out longer than any other rookie here, over his contract. Based on that, he must feel he’s special. So let’s see it!

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We have two new coordinators, and new concepts that come with them. To hell with how physical joint practices can be. Saturday is the first time many of our players, will don a pro helmet. They will have stakes to play for. There will be nervous stomachs. It will important to see how these players respond to THAT pressure.

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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, you are trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.

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