NAH see, what ha’ happened was, right…

EAGLES 10 – Dolphins I don’t wanna talk about it (48)

Categories include an EXCLUSIVE weekly Offensive Line Report (Rushing TD’s + 3rd downs converted by rushes – sacks allowed = 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:(B) QB Reid Sinnett (12/22 – 54.5% – 104 – “0” – 1)

Rushing:(B) Jason Huntley (11 – 93 – 8.4 – 1 – 0)

Receiving:(B) WR John Hightower (6 – 5 – 52 – 10.4 – 0)

Offensive Line Report/Enforcer: (1 + 2 – 2 = 1) / (S) C Cameron Tom (FR)

Drive Killer: N/A (Int – FR – 4^th down Tackles – FF – TD)

Sack Leader: (S) LB Patrick Johnson (1 – 1.0 – 0 – 0)

Ace: WR Devon Hall (Forced muff)

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

1) Pass Rush: “Someone get a sack”. We didn’t have one all preseason, and LB/DE Patrick Johnson gets one on the opening drive. Good under any circumstances, but given that Miami put out their starters vs our second string, it was doubly impressive. Johnson already has a spot on the active roster, so he didn’t play much after that. (DONE)

2) Some TE involvement: Rookie TE Grant Calcaterra (3 – 2 – 30 – 15.0 – 0) finally wore pads to a preseason game. He made a couple of grabs, including a holding call that wiped out a TD run by RB Kennedy Brooks (9 – 33 – 3.6 – 0 – 0). TE Noah Togiai (2 – 1 – 8 – 8.0 – 0) dropped an easy ball, and failed again to be a difference maker vs back-ups. Still, it was five passes thrown to the TE position, which is involvement. (DONE)

3) Kick Return Impact: What was asked for was a big return or two. Instead, the impact we got in the kicking game was WR Devon Allen playing Gunner of Special Teams. On punt coverage, he got downfield so fast that that returner wasn’t even able to take a second step, before Allen was on him. Allen didn’t make the tackle, but he held the guy there and others did. On Allen’s next trip, his proximity made the returner muff the punt. Eagles recovered and we got 3 points out of the deal. This is not what I specified, but I NEEDED a place to praise Allen, and say that he needs a roster spot. (NOT DONE)

4) Flash from a DE: We got the sack from Patrick Johnson, but it was LB Kyron Johnson (5 – 0 – 0 – 0) that had my attention. Damn his 5 tackles! Most of them came with him crossing to the opposite side of the field, to make the stop. While others saw the stops, I saw something else. On almost every snap he played, he crashed down the line, instead of setting the edge. That resulted in miles of open real estate on his side of the line, and at least one score for the Fish. And no one! No one! Not himself, not his teammates, nor the coaches, bade him do anything different. (NOT DONE)

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Of the Four Things we put up 2 of 4. It wasn’t nearly enough, but there are mitigating circumstances. In any case it hardly matters now. It’s time to focus on Week One and defeating the Lions on 9/11.

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On The Whole:

We put out our Defensive back-ups playing a 3-3-5 alignment. Clearly our coaching staff wanted to further evaluate some of the DB’s, so they gave more of them an opportunity to play and shine. Miami came out with their offensive starters, and nature took its course. Lions ate sheep.

With the Eagles looking to evaluate, and Miami balling out to win an exhibition game, I knew immediately it was going to be a long night at the office. Still the Eagles gave us a few bright spots.

We know that WR Devon Allen can play Gunner as effectively as any player I’ve ever read about, in addition to being able to rotate in as a deep threat on Offense. We saw WR John Hightower use his speed to uncover quickly, and more importantly, he was sure-handed. We should be able to sneak him onto the Practice Squad. We saw S Reed Blankenship (3 – 0 – 0 – 0) bring the attitude and wood tonight. I hope he makes the PS.