Note: Like lasts year’s article, this one is a weeks late. Unlike last year’s article, I still got it in before the season started. I was waiting to see how the holdouts of Commanders WR Terry McLaurin, and Cowboys LB Micah Parsons worked out, so I had an idea of how to stack those two teams. Well, I guess the Cowboys set us all straight on that one!
Strongest Offense: PHILADELPHIA – Aside from a lack of depth at TE, the Eagles are set across the board. They have possibly the best O-Line in football; one of the deepest WR rooms in the league; a generational talent at RB; and a QB who just keeps winning. Shove in an unstoppable short yardage play, and they are practically without weakness.
Weakest Offense: NEW YORK – Their starting QB is four losses away from being benched in favor of a rookie who had a nice preseason. Their RB room (long on effort, short on talent) has “high apple pie in the sky hopes”. The WR’s played in this system last year and were anything but dangerous. With a vet they might improve, but if a rookie gets out there… TE is a car crash, but worst of all is a the o-line, which is shaky everywhere but Center.
Strongest Defense: PHILADELPHIA – While some players were lost to free agency, the number two defense in the NFL was A) already starting from a position of strength (unlike their division rivals), and B) did a good job of restocking the cupboard. (Except at CB.)The Eagles are absolutely loaded up front, and the Safety problem is more about choosing a style, and not about a lack of talent. The Eagles wanted to have two stars at CB, but the second position is manned by good not great players.
Weakest Defense: DALLAS – Last year they had the 31st ranked defense in the NFL. Then they traded away Parsons, on the doorstep of the season, at at time when they can’t do anything to mitigate the loss. Now they have a bunch of well paid defensive backs, who will be playing behind less pressure up front. Unless the Cowboys have a huge surprise up their sleeve, this will again be one of the worst units in the sport.
Strongest Special Teams: DALLAS – Their Kicker has the strongest leg in the division, and he doesn’t have a history of being spotty. The Eagles have the best Punter, but taken as a pair, the legs in Dallas have the edge.
Weakest Special Teams: WASHINGTON – What put the Commanders here, is bringing an indoor Kicker to the outdoors, in the Mid-Atlantic region, during Fall/Winter weather. Did I mention that he struggles from 50+?
Projected Winner: PHILADELPHIA – By a country mile. The NFC East should have it’s first repeat winner since 2004, when the Eagles secured a fourth straight division crown.
Darkhorse Winner: WASHINGTON – Even with as bad as their defense is, they at least don’t appear to be trying to tank the 2025 season. If the Eagles stumble, the Commanders could have a puncher’s chance at keeping the “No Repeat” streak, alive.
Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott (4/4 FG, 53 and 51, 1/1 XP)
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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: JETS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Better Run Blocking:Our three RB’s combined for 25 – 76 – 3.0 – 1 – 0, on the ground, which fell well short of the 110 yards/4.4ypc benchmarks. In fairness though, I was hoping to see OL Matt Pryormoved inside to G for this game. Instead, he didn’t even dress. Still it was an improvement over last week’s performance vs the Browns (NOT DONE)
2) McCord Pushing the Ball Downfield:I wanted to see him start the first half. Got it. I wanted to see him attempt between 4 and 6 passes of at least 20 yards in the air. He threw 4, including a head-scratcher of an interception into double coverage, while his #1 option was wide open on an Out route.(DONE)
3) Penetration and Protection From the DT’s:We did a better job of this in the first half than we did in the second. Inconsistent effort earns no praise. (NOT DONE)
4) No Significant Injuries:CB Eli Ricksgot kicked in the dick, but he’ll be fine (DONE)
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This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4, but it’s preseason and most of those guys won’t even be here by Thursday. So there is literally no way to make the any of that game matter.
Our next game is a REAL ONE. We hang the Super Bowl banner, at home, while facing the Dallas Cowboys to start the season. Meanwhile their team is falling apart in front of America. Oh my god. I practically need a cigarette after just SAYING that.
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CB Parry Nickerson celebrates his interception.
Game Hero: CB Parry Nickerson(3 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) – The guy played his heart out. If he isn’t playing here in a week, he’ll still be somewhere in the NFL, drawing a paycheck.
Game goat: Head Coach Nick Sirianni – McCord was out there drowning, and the coaching staff simply let him. That was cold.
On The Whole: The game was a formality and now it’s over. There was nothing in it worthy of deep analysis.
WHEW! We sure did shit the bed against Cleveland! At least rookie S Andrew Mukubacame to play. His two takeaways led to all 13 of our points in that game. Well, the Jets historically, love sharing the football. So maybe Mukuba, or even other Eagles defenders, will convince the Jets to share their football with us.
With this being the third and final preseason game, if we leave this game with no significant injuries, then it’s a win. And that’s regardless of whatever is on the scoreboard.
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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. 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; andTackling 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 Jets.
1) Better Run Blocking:Last week our bacl-up Offensive Linemen could only muster enough running room to produce 33 yards on 19 carries. Don’t do the math, unless you want to cry. This week it would be nice to see OL Matt Pryor moved inside to G, where he’s better than he is at OT. Which I said last week, in the Eagles 2025 Preview.
I don’t expect to see starters playing, but I do expect to see back-ups trying to prove themselves worthy of a start. Benchmarks? If I’m pulling numbers out of thin air… Oh, 110 rushing yards as a team, with a 4.4 yard average, would be nice.
2) McCord Pushing the Ball Downfield:Against the Browns, our QB’s hardly attempted any passes downfield. Dink and dunk passing, keeps coverage close to the line of scrimmage. Close coverage also helps in shutting down the run. As a result, we couldn’t move the ball at all.
This week I’d like to see QB Kyle McCord start the first half, and attempt 4 to 6 passes that travel at least 20 yards in the air. I don’t want him to play the whole game, but I want to see him be aggressive while he’s out there.
3) Penetration and Protection from the DT’s:Penetration. For these first two games, our back-up DT’s have gotten pushed off the line, a lot more than I’m comfortable with. It would be great to see them getting past blockers and start causing more disruption.
Protection. Instead of getting pushed back into the lap of a LB trying to make a play, we need to see DT’s occupying blockers at or behind the line, and allowing clean LB’s to flow to the ballcarrier.
4) No Significant Injuries: It’s football. The football gods demand tribute, so injuries are a matter of when, not if. Just please, no key players.
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If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
Since Head Coach Nick Siriannitook over, we don’t really play our starters in the preseason, and we start slow every year as a result. Expect the same thing this year. We also make the playoffs every year, so…. I guess, expect the same thing this year.
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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 forFour Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.
So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: BROWNSdid the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
RB Montrell Johnson leading the ground game
1) Get Our Run Game On Track:We ran for 33 yards. For four quarters, all we could muster was (19 – 33 – 1.7 – 0) less than what RB Will Shipley(No stats – DNP) ran for last week. For posterity, RB Montrell Johnson (6 – 20 – 3.3 – 0) led the Eagles rushing attack.
When a rushing attack is this anemic, usually the culprit is an offensive line getting whipped in the trenches, but that wasn’t the issue here. The problem was a dink and dunk passing attack, that kept everyone within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. (NOT DONE.)
2) A Sack By A DE: This week the Eagles managed 3 sacks, and yes, one was by a DE. At least it was by a guy lined up at the position. During the second quarter “DE” Azeez Ojulari(3 – 1.0 – 0 – 0), who had been getting pressure consistently, finally got home and brought the QB down.
I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of an OLB lining up at DE, with his hand in the dirt. For example, Ojulari is 240 pounds. so I don’t want him squared up against 300+ pound RT’s. Listen, when Ojulari got his sack, it was on 2nd and 5. That could have easily been an audible to a run, and then Ojulari is overmatched. But he got it here. (DONE)
3) Win the Nod:The idea here was that the second CB spot would be decided by the play of CB Kelee Ringo(1 tackle) and CB Adoree Jackson (3 tackles). The truth is, neither distinguished themselves. So we head into the final week of the preseason, still not having even a foundation to make an argument for one over the other. (NOT DONE)
QB Kyle McCord throwing a 9 yard TD strike
4) Bench Our Back-up:We sat Tanner McKee (DNP)! It was the logical thing to do, which is why I was absolutely certain he’d play. We already know what we have in him. Why play him, and risk him getting injured? Then I saw him in pads, and my stomach knotted up. But then he sat on the sideline and I began to relax.
As for the third spot between QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (5/8 – 62.5% – 17 – 0 – 1) and rookie QB Kyle McCord(8/16 – 50.0% – 47 – 1 – 0), we should flip a coin and then just pick McCord anyway. He’s a rookie 6th round pick, so it makes sense for him to suck right now. (Besides, he’s a local kid, who went to St. Joe’s Prep, on Girard Avenue here.) DTR just looked so… flustered and shitty out there. Against back-ups! Hard pass! (DONE)
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This week’sFour Thingsscore was 2 of 4. This Friday we close out the preseason with a trip up to the Big Apple! There, we’ll face the Jets, in a game where the main objective is to leave with a healthy roster.
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S Andrew Mukuba returning an interception 75 yards to paydirt.
Game Hero: S Andrew Mukuba (1 – 0.0 – 1 – 1) – All 13 of our points in this game were owed to Mukuba’s amazing 2nd quarter. First, he intercepts a ball and returns it 75 yards to paydirt. Then when the Browns botched a hand-off exchange, Mukuba was there for the fumble recovery. Which helped set up a 9 yard touchdown strike.
Game goat: Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo – He had no kind of plan for the Offense, and made no discernible adjustments.
On The Whole: Whether it was the miss opportunity for the CB battle to be decided. The missed opportunity for the third QB spot to be decided. Or the in ability of any of the WR’s to establish themselves as a consistent factor. This was a game where players should have come to impress. The only ones who seemed to make an impact, were the guys who are already locks to make the team.
BEATING the Bengals was nice but not amazing, given that their starting defense already sucks so badly. So our back-ups, scoring at will on their back-ups, was a foredrawn conclusion. The Browns should be more of a challenge defensively, so this would be a great chance to set some goals, and see if we can reach them.
Wins and losses mean nothing to the team at this point. All the stakes are with the players. Who can stack a second good week, and almost assure themselves of a roster spot? Who stumbles for the second week in a row, and will be applying for a 9 to 5 by the second week of September. Expect to see some spirited football in this one.
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Now let’s talk about those goals!
RB A.J. Dillon gets loose for few yards.
1) Get Our Run Game On Track: Last week the running was easy. The Bengals were allowing just about anyone in an Eagles jersey to average five or more yards per carry. That kind of success would be nice to see this week as well. RB Will Shipley had 7 carries for 48 yards (6.8ypc). A stat line of 11 – 50 – 4.5 would be nice vs this team.
2) A Sack By A DE:Last week’s sole sack came courtesy of rookie DTTy Robinson. Glad to see it, but sack production by our DE’s has been relatively low for years now. (The Super Bowl featured a Chiefs o-line that was beyond banged up.) We shouldn’t have to rely heavily on OLB’s to bring down a QB. It limits what we can do defensively.
3) Win the Nod: Someone between CB Kelee Ringo and CB Adoree Jackson, has to pull ahead and at least get the nod as the starter. Having two potential starters has left us with zero potential starter. Corner is a confidence position. No being shown any confidence isn’t giving either man anything to feed off of. That must change.
4) Bench Our Back-up: We know what we have in QB Tanner McKee. Why let him play and risk injury? After all, we do have to decide that third spot, between QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and QB Kyle McCord.
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It’s preseason, so I didn’t bother to do any kind of scouting report. Many of the guys playing Saturday, will soon be getting visits from the Turk. So no team is going to roll out their full package, especially if none of the starters are going to play anyway. AS with last week, I expect the Eagles to use this game as an evaluation tool, while the Browns will prioritize winning it.
Prediction:Eagles 17 – Browns 21
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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.
PHILADELPHIA 2024 finished as the Super Bowl Champions, with a record of 14 – 3, Winner of the NFC East with a record of 14 – 3, 27.7 pspg (7th), and 17.8 papg (2nd)
The team got out to a slow start, with a 2 – 2 record. We took advantage of an early Bye Week, and used it to button up some deficiencies. There’ve been a lot of offseason losses for this team, but the roster is deep, and those players looking to step up, will get their chance to.
Heading into the pre-season, this is how things look today:
OFFENSE
QB: Jalen Hurts(248/361 – 68.7% – 2903 – 18 – 5 / 150 – 630 – 3.0 – 14) posted a 12 – 3 record in 2024. He led the Eagles to the division crown, then through the playoffs and ultimately to victory in the Super Bowl, where he took MVP honors.
Tanner McKee (30/45 – 66.7% – 323 – 4 – 0) won his only game as a starter, leading Eagles back-ups against giants starters in a 20 – 13 win. That made Philadelphia feel secure enough to trade away last year’s back-up Kenny Pickett to Cleveland, and give the #2 job to McKee.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson(DTR) is who the Eagles received in the trade for Pickett. His two year NFL career has been marked by struggle, but that may be down to playing for Cleveland. He’ll compete for the 3rd string job vs rookieKyle McCord. McCord is said to be a bit of a gunslinger. These two should see plenty of preseason action. (+)
RB: Offensive Player of the year Saquon Barkley(345 – 2005 – 5.8 – 13) led the league in rushing and yards from scrimmage in 2024. He was also the focal point of the Chiefs defense in the Super Bowl, which allowed the rest of the Eagles Offense to flow so smoothly. Credit needs to be given for that. Odds are against him rushing for another 2000 yards in 2025. In fact, a stat line closer to 256 – 1228 – 4.8 – 8 seems more likely.
Just because the Eagles won’t give the ball to Barkley as much, doesn’t mean they won’t still run it a ton. Sharing the load this year will be second year man Will Shipley (30 – 82 – 2.7 – 0), who had his struggles last year, but is said to be looking sharp in early Training Camp
A.J. Dilloncomes over from the Packers, after sitting out all of 2024 with a neck stinger. He’s a big back who can catch the ball, and pick up blitzes. If he is truly recovered, the Eagles backfield is going to be an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses.
Rookie Montrell Johnsonis a between the Tackles bully, who runs behind his pads. More of a violent runner than a creative one.
WR: A.J. Brown(67 – 1079 – 16.1 – 7) is probably the most dangerous receiver in the sport. He doesn’t put up the biggest numbers. Then again his numbers aren’t empty calories, as they’ve contributed to wins, Super Bowl appearances, and an actual championship. The Chases, Jeffersons, Lambs, and St. Browns of the league can’t claim any of that.
DeVonta Smith (68 – 833 – 12.3 – 8) had a catch percentage of 76.4 last season, and he caught “The Dagger” in Super Bowl LIX. Fucking legend. Jahan Dotson (19 – 216 – 11.6 – 0) seems firmly entrenched at the #3 here. Of his 19 catches 12 were first downs. He’s been reliable when the ball is thrown to him, but he can’t throw himself the football.
Johnny Wilson (5 – 38 – 7.6 – 1) and Anias Smith (7 – 41 – 5.9 – 1) may find themselves fighting off Elijah Cooks and Terrace Marshallfor the #4 spot, as the Eagles seem hellbent to keep an undersized KR/PR specialist like either Avery Williams or rookie Ife Adeyiat the #5 spot. (+)
TE: Dallas Goedert(42 – 496 – 11.8 – 2) is a great receiving option and blocker. The knock on him, is that he hasn’t played even a 16 game season since before the COVID epidemic.Grant Calcaterra (24 – 298 – 12.4 – 1) is a very good receiver. He’d be the starter, but his blocking leaves much to be desired.
E.J. Jenkins (1 – 7 – 7.0 – 1), veterans Kylen Gransonand Harrison Bryant and rookie Cameron Latu are all fighting for that #3 spot. The group has an excellent starter, but the steep fall-off after him, is troubling. Especially since he almost certainly will mis games again. (-)
OT: RTLane Johnson is one of the best EVER at his position. Here is the short listof players stacked ahead of him, and some of those rankings are very debatable.
RT Jordan Mailata is probably the most amazing story in the NFL. From never playing football until he was 22, to one of the NFL’s (and therefore the planet’s) premier players of the position, earning his first All-Pro nod at 27. This was despite missing 5 games. He’s still a better run blocker than pass blocker though.
Darian Kinnardhas been in the NFL for two years, with two different teams, and each year his team won the Super Bowl. So he can’t be allowed off the roster! Kendall Lamm is a career back-up coming from Miami to add depth. Brett Toth has been off and on with the Eagles organization since 2020. But the latter two players aren’t in the long-term picture.
The Eagles have a pair of well developing 2025 6th rounders, in Myles Hinton (son of former All-Pro OT Chris Hinton), and Cameron Williams. There’s also Laekin Vakalahi, an undrafted player on a three-year international development contract via the International Player Pathway, which the Eagles developed Mialata through. (+)
G: LG Landon Dickerson has developed into an annual Pro-Bowler, (for whatever that’s worth these days) and is the key to the Brotherly Shove play. Tyler Steen has been capable in spot duty, and will almost certainly be the starting RG to open 2025.
Swingman Matt Pryorreturns to the Eagles after aHeading into the pre-season, this is how things look today: four year, three team tour of the league. He’s better inside than on the edge. The Eagles traded Houston for Kenyon Green. He was a 1st round pick in 2022, but has so far underachieved. He has the tools for Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland to successfully harness the potential that the Texans were wasting.
Trevor Keegan was a 5th round pick last year but moves keep being made around him, instead of involving him. Hollin Pierce is a 6’8 341 pound college LT, being kicked inside and given the Mehki Becton treatment. The starters are solid, there’s a versatile veteran back-up, and even a couple of projects with very high upsides, in development. Stacked. (+)
C: In his first year of sliding over and taking over for a future Hall Of Famer, Cam Jurgens only won a Super Bowl and earned his first Pro Bowl nod. All that while playing through (since corrected) nerve pain in his back. Fucking legend. Drew Kendall is 5th round pick from this year, (who’s dad Pete also played some C in the NFL). To this point he’s made no noise in training camp.(+)
In A Nutshell: Despite a lack of depth at TE, this looks like it’ll be a top ten unit again in 2025.
DEFENSE
DE: The Eagles technically list just one player at this position, Ogbo Okoronknwo. He’s a 29 year old situational pass rusher, who won a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021. In six seasons he has 17 sacks, with his career-high being 5 in 2022. (+)
DT: The Eagles are LOADED here. Jalen Carter (42 – 4.5 – 0 – 0) sees a double on almost every play and still produces big plays. Jordan Davis (27 – 1.0 – 0 – 1) was a terror during the 2024 playoff run, due to a fitness regiment that he began last season. He kept it up in the offseason, and now comes in more agile and much faster. Sweet Jesus.
Moro Ojomo (20 tackles) has spent the last two years playing behind Milton Williams, who left for the Patriots. Because of this and his high motor, Ojomo is expected to take a huge step up this season. Rookie 4th rounder Ty Robinson has the ability to play both inside and outside.Byron Young is a 2023 3rd round pick, who was out of football in 2024. (+)
OLB: Nolan Smith (42 – 6.5 – 0 – 2) took a big step in 2024 while starting ten games. He looks to do the same in 2025, as he is no longer splitting starts with the retired Brandon Graham. Second year man, Jaylx Hunt(21 – 1.5 – 0 – 0) takes over for the Josh Sweat, who left for Arizona.
Free agents Joshua Uche (Chiefs) and Azeez Ojulari (giants), provide excellent veteran depth, as well as a history of being very good pass rushers. Patrick Johnson comes back to Philadelphia after a season with the giants. Antwaun Powell-Ryland was a 2024 6th rounder. It’s crazy just how deep this position is. (+)
M/ILB: Zack Baun (151 – 3.5 – 1 – 1) transitioned from situational pass rusher, to NFL star last year. Rookie 1st rounderJihaad Campbell, is being shown the ropes at this position, even though all indications say a move to the outside is in the plans.
Nakobe Dean(128 – 3.0 – 1 – 2) started fifteen games last year, before being lost to a knee injury. He’s currently on the PUP List and was expected to miss some early games, but he is rehabbing like a demon, to get back Week One. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (25 – 0.5 – 0 – 0) isn’t just some nepo-baby. He’s actually good. Rookie 5th rounder Smael Mondon has been flashing since OTA’s. (+)
S: Interception machine C.J. Gardner-Johnson was traded to Houston; but we’re still okay because Reed Blankenship(78 – 0.0 – 4 – 1) has a knack for clutch takeaways. Honestly, he seems to play his best, in close games.Sydney Brown (7 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) is trying to earn the other starting spot. Brown plays very aggressively and throws his body around. Which is likely why he keeps missing time with injuries.
Rookie 2nd rounder Andrew Mukuba, has been making a strong bid since OTA’s, for the starting job. Tristin McCollum(33 tackles) and Andre Sam(1 tackle), are joined by free agent Lewis Cine, in competition for that last fourth roster spot. So there’s one starter and bunch of question marks. (-)
CB: Quinyon Mitchell (46 tackles) is the Eagles lockdown corner. Cooper DeJean (51 – 0.5 – 0 – 3) is the Nickel. He has the speed for the outside, but not the change of direction ability. There’s a battle between Kelee Ringo (15 – 0.0 – 0 – 1) and former giant Adoree Jackson, for that second starting spot.
According to Spotracthe Eagles currently have 30M in cap space, in part because they didn’t elect to pay Darius Slay 10M. So we are now looking for a 2nd starter here, and things in training camp don’t sound promising. But wait! A trade was just made with Las Vegas, to bring in Jakorian Bennett, to increase the competition. Eli Ricks may be the odd man out. (-)
In A Nutshell: There’s more than enough talent to patch the holes made by defections, if the chemistry is there.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
K: Jake Elliott(FG 28/36 (77.7%), XP 47/48 (97.9%)), struggled for much of last season, especially from 50+, where he was 1/7 (14.2%). But he caught fire in the playoffs nailing 10/11 (90.9%) FG and 13/16 XP. (+)
P: Braden Mann(48.8ypp, 41.9 net) put together a very good season. The highlight being that of his 54 punts the Eagles allowed just 187 return yards. ALL. SEASON. LONG. (+)
In A Nutshell: Hey, if it ain’t broke…
BOTTOM LINE: No way is a team supposed to lose as much talent as the Eagles did, and still be a favorite to appear in a Super Bowl. The roster is deep, young, and hungry. It’s also led by a coaching staff that philosophically bends scheme to the player’s strengths, instead of trying to do it the other way around. This team is a monster.
QB Tanner McKee launches a pass from behind RT Matt Pryor.
WOW. I expected us to lose that game. The Bengals were playing starters; their ownership needed something to bring to their fans; and the Eagles use preseason games strictly as an evaluation tool. Yet, the Bengals are so shitty, none of those things mattered.
Keeping in mind how bad the Bengals are, I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself . Especially in regards to QBTanner McKee (20/25 – 80.0% – 252 – 2 – 0). That being said, DAT BOY GOOD! DAT BOY GOOOOD! Oh! He also scored a rushing touchdown on a 4th down Brotherly Shove. So I in no way, fear handing the keys to this guy, if we have to.
The format of this Four Things Reviewed is different, from the ones that will come out during the season. Keep in mind, this is preseason for me too. So I’m not rolling out the full playbook.
That said, let’s get into it.
The Brotherly Shove is the opening score of the year.
1) Who Plays:There was a question about whether or not any or all of our starters would play. The answer was that the only starter to play, was RG Tyler Steen. While he looked better than the guys around him, I’m not so sure that he has the starting job as sewed up as some people seem to think. No sense in debating about it though. We’ll just see how things play out.
2) Which WR Stands Out:That nod has to go to rookie Darius Cooper (7 – 6 – 82 – 13.6 – 1) he consistently created separation to allow his QB’s to deliver the ball safely, and he kept showing a little wiggle after the catch. I’d be remiss if I didn’t tip my cap to Johnny Wilson(6 – 3 – 73 – 24.3 – 0). I don’t speak very favorably of him in tomorrow’s Eagles evaluation (completed days ago), but in this game, he put his potential on display. If he makes me eat my words, I’ll even spring for a nice wine to pair with them.
3) Who is Patullo On 4th Down: I wanted to see how aggressive Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo was on 4th down. Just to get a sense of who he might be, once these games count. Well folks, we faced 4th down a total of 9 times. We went for it on 3 tries (failing once); we kicked 2 field goals; and we punted 4 times. So 5 times he called for the points, and 4 times he called for field position. FYI: Those punts were on 4th and 5, 6, 9, and 13.
DT Ty Robinson on the hunt
4) Defensive Line Pressure: Our back-ups did not get much pressure as a unit, nor did they do a good job of keeping blockers off of the Linebackers. It often looked like the entire Line was trying to rush through a single point in the offensive line. As a result they ended up clumping and doing half of the offensive lines job, for them. More emphasis must be paid to them winning their gap. After that, things will fall in line.
Rookie DTTy Robinson (1 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) recorded a sack and applied some heat on a couple of plays, but he lacks the speed to chase down QB’s from the inside out. Veteran LB/DE Patrick Johnson (0 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) had a sack that was negated by a penalty, but on the very next play, he tipped a pass to himself and turned it into an interception.
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We looked good out there. Especially given that we started out with our back-ups in against their starters. Yet we still went toe-to-toe with them. That’s the sign of a well built team right there. GM Howie Roseman is Jewish Jesus! Oh… wait….
I want to take a moment to discuss the CB competition between Kelee Ringo (3 tackles) and Adore Jackson(3 tackles). Neither played great, but one is coming over to a brand new scheme for him; and the other was juiced for a touchdown with no Safety help in his vicinity, by one of the best WR’s in the sport. Let’s not oversell Tanner, or undersell our Corners. At least not yet.
OPERATION Bounceback begins, as Dallas looks to pick themselves up after they finished 2024 with a record of 7-10, 3rd in the NFC East, 20.6 pspg (21st), 27.5 papg (31st).
Injuries derailed this team last season. They managed to tread water for a while, going 3-3 until their Week Seven Bye. They came back and lost four straight games, dropping them to 3-7, behind two division rivals that were ho,t and refusing to cool off. Missing the playoffs became almost a mercy killing. Head coach Mike McCarthy was fired, and replaced with Brian Schottenheimer. Brian is the son of a personal favorite of mine, the late, great Marty Schottenheimer.
Heading into the pre-season, this is how things look today:
QB: Much is expected of Dak Prescott (185 – 286 – 64.7 – 1978 – 11 – 8) but at 31 years old, coming back from a second major lower body surgery, those expectations may now be unfair. Even before his 2024 season ended, his record was 3 – 5, including 3 straight losses. He’d also thrown 5 TD’s against 6 interceptions in his last four starts. It’s too early to declare him washed, but he no longer belongs anywhere near discussions of being elite.
Gone is back-up Cooper Rush. Enter Joe Milton. He’s huge (6’5, 246), with good mobility and an extremely live arm. In fact, his high throwing velocity is the biggest knock against him. He lacks touch, so he rockets every throw, which can make him wildly inaccurate on short passes. That being said, the lad has some tools. (+)
RB: Free agent Javonte Williams is a reclamation project from the Broncos. He’s never rushed for 1,000 yards, and hasn’t broken a 25 yard run since 2021. Former Eagle Miles Sandersstill showed the ability to be explosive in 2024, but will he see enough work in 2025, to make a contribution? Hunter Luepke (12 – 38 – 3.2 – 0) is the unofficial FB.
Deuce Vaughn (17 – 70 – 4.1 – 0 – 0) hasn’t seen much action in two years, and at 176 pounds, it’s doubtful that he ever will. Rumor has it, that Dallas wants a thunder and lightning duo, between rookies Jaydon Blue a 5th rounder, and 7th rounder Phil Mafah. Both are one dimensional players. Dallas has five question marks and no answers here yet. (-)
WR: Ceedee Lamb (101 – 1194 – 11.8 – 6) was clearly hurt by the loss of his QB last year. Another thing that hurt him was a shoulder injury that worsened as the season went on, causing the Cowboys to shut him down, with two weeks left in the season. There’s been no indication of any further difficulty with the shoulder.
George Pickens (59 – 900 – 15.3 – 3) was traded from Pittsburgh. He’ll loosen coverage on Lamb and help clear out the box. The threat of him alone, upgrades the entire offense. Jalen Tolbert (49 – 610 – 12.4 – 7) will likely see his role reduced, with the addition of Pickens, but he’s a quality third. KaVontae Turpin (31 – 420 – 13.5 – 2) insists on being a real receiver, but his true value to Dallas is returning kicks (27 – 904 – 33.5 – 1). Jonathan Mingo (5 – 46 – 9.2 – 0) will likely round out the roster. (+)
TE: Jake Ferguson (59 – 494 – 8.4 – 0) should be able to produce more on the field, since opponents are usually focused on defending other players. Despite 59 catches, he produced no scores and just 18 first downs, in 2024. Luke Schoonmaker (27 – 241 – 8.9 – 1) was a 2nd round selection in 2023, but so far, has not been able to take the top spot from Ferguson.
Brevyn Spann-Ford (9 – 88 – 9.8 – 0) is a big target, but he’s a slow, lumbering runner. He won’t run many crisp routes, and offers little after the catch. There are also a couple of Special Teamers/camp bodies here. This position is practically a liability. (-)
OT: Last year LT Tyler Guyton struggled to the point of being benched. Instead of leaving him in the doghouse, the Dallas coaching staff worked with him in the offseason and they are so far pleased with what they’ve seen in OTA’s and early training camp. Terence Steele has started the last 34 games at RT. Though he’s not the greatest, he provides stability that can be built around.
Matt Waletzko, Dakoda Shepley, are experienced Cowboys back-ups, but that’s all they will ever be, barring injury. They are joined by free agent Hakeem Adeniji, who hasn’t been a starter since 2023 when he had 4 starts with the Vikings. There are a couple of late round picks down here, but no one on this bench, will ever develop into a regular starter anywhere. (+)
Rookie Guard Tyler Booker
G: With the retirement of perennial All-Pro Zack Martin, LG Tyler Smith takes over as the leader of the Cowboys offensive line. He’s been worlds better since he was moved inside in 2023. Even before OTA’s, 1st round pick Tyler Booker, was basically anointed the starter at RG. He’s a 1st rounder, but the NFL has a steep learning curve.
Depth is interesting. Saahdiq Charles comes over from division rival Washingtion, where he played OT. Not only has he changed teams, but also positions. Robert Jones comes over from Miami, where he started every game last year at LG. Both T.J. Bass and Asim Richards were Cowboys last year. Bass with three starts and Richards with one. So if Booker doesn’t pan out, there are plenty of veteran options. (+)
C: Cooper Beebe started 16 games as a rookie last year, which is an endorsement in itself. He leapfrogged Brock Hoffman, who has been with the team since 2022. There is nothing broken with this position, so the Cowboys made no move to fix it. (+)
In A Nutshell: There’s a line, some weapons, and QB who’s familiar with his supporting cast. They have the ingredients for a top ten unit. (+)
DEFENSE
Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs address the media during Cowboys training camp activities.
DE: If you go to the Cowboys website, Micah Parsons (43 – 12.0 – 0 – 0) is listed under this position. Some will want to argue that, but with Matt Eberflus hired to be the new defensive coordinator, we can’t be certain of what changes he has planned. Parsons has requested a trade over his contract situation, but as of when I hit ‘publish’, he was still on this roster.
Dante Fowler returns from Washington, where he had 10.5 sacks last year. Fowler hasn’t started double digit games since 2020, and Parsons’ could possibly end up sitting out games. So it’s a pretty strong bet that Dallas will have to lean heavily on their depth here.
Sam Williams is a 2022 2nd rounder, is coming back from an ACL tear, which robbed him of his 2024 season. Marshawn Kneeland a 2024 2nd rounder, is seen more as a run defender than a pass rusher. Payton Turner, a 2021 1st rounder, comes over from the Saints, with no career starts, but two long I.R. stints on his resume. Right now, there are no committed starters, and no back-up has any meaningful experience. (-)
DT: Mazi Smith (41 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) started every game last year and anchored the NFL’s 29th ranked run defense in yards allowed. He’s huge, but he tires quickly, and then gets pushed around easily. Osa Odighizuwa (47 – 4.5 – 0 – 0) posted career-highs in tackles and sacks, while starting every game for the third straight year. He’s disruptive, but undersized for the inside.
Solomon Jones comes over from the Jets. He’s played End most of his career, but he’s apparently being moved inside, because the Cowboys are paper thin there. Of his career 18.5 sacks, 8.5 have come in the last two years. They also have two rookie 7th rounders in Jay Toia and Tommy Akingbesote. Like I said. Paper thin. (-)
OLB: Donovan Ezeiruaku, rookie 1st rounder, was the 12th pick overall. So getting him on the field early, may be the reason why “others”, find themselves changing positions. Honestly, with Ezeiruaku’s body type, he might still line up with his hand in the dirt, quite a bit. Marist Liufau (50 – 1.5 – 0 – 1) will likely be the second starter, but with the new DC, it’s impossible to be sure.
DeMarvion Overshown (90 – 5.0 – 1 – 1) tore his ACL, PCL and MCL late last season, and will miss part of 2025. If he were healthy, he’d start over Liufau. James Houston is a recent signing, as pass rush insurance for the Parsons situation. The other three players at this position, probably won’t even make the Practice Squad. (-)
MLB: Kenneth Murray comes over from the Titans, in a bid to salvage his career as a starter. Already labeled as a 1st round bust for the Chargers, the Titans gave him a two year deal. Then they traded him for peanuts, after just one season. He’s athletic, and a hard hitter, and decent guy… The issue is his poor instincts when diagnosing plays. Yikes!
MLB Jack Sanborn in coverage
Jack Sanborn was a Bear for three years, and has played in Eberflus’s system. So it’s not a stretch that he could win the starting gig. But if he doesn’t, he’s great depth to have. Damone Clark started every game in 2023, but was demoted in 2024, with just two starts in fourteen games. Don’t be surprised if he’s the first ‘backer off the bench, inside or outside. (+)
S: Both Donovan Wilson (82 – 4.5 – 1 – 1) and Malik Hooker (81 – 0.0 – 2 – 0) started every game last season, and they’ll return as a tandem in 2025. Even with a new system being installed this should be an area of strength, because their communication will make it easier for them to digest the changes.
Markquese Bell (6 tackles), Juanyeh Thomas (14 tackles), and Israel Mukuamu (19 – 0.0 – 2 – 0) have all been Cowboys for at least two years. So all five of these players have been in two systems with each other, and can discuss where the similarities and differences are, in the incoming system. So they should be able to teach each other and adapt to it quickly. (+)
CB: Trevon Diggs (42 – 0.0 – 2 – 0) is coming back from 2024 cartilage damage in the same knee that he tore his ACL in, back in 2023. In the last two seasons, he’s played just 13 of a possible 34 games. Questions about his durability, and how much his athleticism is impacted, are legitimate at this point.
After losing Jourdan Lewis (Jaguars), DaRon Bland (41 – 0.0 – 0 – 1) will be the new starter. Can he regain the form he had before a stress fracture in his foot, took the first half of 2024 from him? Currently engaged in what will be expensive contract talks with him, the Cowboys will soon literally be banking (gambling) on it.
Josh Butler (21 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) started three games with the Cowboys, as a 28 year old rookie last year. He’s currently on their PUP list, as he’s rehabbing a torn ACL. In the 3rd round of the 2025 Draft, the Cowboys selected Shavon Revel. He is currently rehabbing a torn ACL and will not be available during Training Camp. Or for the start of the season. Oh, and Caelen Carson (27 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) the 2024 5th rounder who had five starts last year, is out for weeks with a hyperextended knee.
I am making NONE of this up.
So, just who is healthy? Kaiir Elam a former 1st round pick that Buffalo gave up on and traded to Dallas for basically a handful of pocket lint. (Actually, it was him and a 6th round pick, in exchange for a 5th and a 7th round pick.) The remaining six bodies at this position have a total of 1 career interception between them, and a combined 3 starts since 2023. (-)
In A Nutshell: How do you not bring in ANY serious help, for the 31st ranked defense?
SPECIAL TEAMS:
K: Brandon Aubrey (40/47 (85.1%), 30/30 (100%)) hit a 65 yarder to let NFL teams know, that if his team reaches the 50, he’s gonna be a problem. (+)
P: After boasting a 51.4 yard per punt average in 2023, Bryan Anger came back down to Earth with a 48.5 yard average in 2024. That number is almost perfectly in line with the 48.4 that he posted in his first two years as a Cowboy. His net punt however was down to 41.7 yards, his lowest as a Cowboy. Not awesome, but serviceable. (+)
In A Nutshell: The legs are reliable, and aren’t losing the field position game for this team.
The Cowboys GM be like…
BOTTOM LINE: The Cowboys are going to have to use the same formula as the Bengals to win. Every game will have to be a shoot-out, because defensively this team is trash. And that’s regardless of how the Parsons situation turns out. They went 3-3 in the division last season, this year will probably be 1-5, repeating their 7-10 mark from last year. If they stay healthy.
TONIGHT we’re getting our first taste of the 2025 Eagles season! New Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo, will get his feet wet a little bit! We’ll also begin the process of whittling all the players in Training Camp, down to a 53 man roster.
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The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner. It’s to discuss which tactics will give our Eagles the best chance to defeat this week’s opponent. Except in preseason. Winning would be nice, but these games aren’t for that. They’re for helping us establish depth, and to perhaps uncover a gem or two.
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So even if the score quickly becomes lopsided, what should we be looking for in this game?
1) Who Plays: In previous seasons our starters didn’t play and it’s led to some slow starts. Especially in games at the beginning of the season. Will this be addressed this year, by giving our starters a chance to shake the rust off, as early as opposing players do?
2) Which WR Stands Out: The WR4 position becomes WR3 in the event of an injury to a starter. So which WR plays this game like the ball is his, whenever it’s thrown to him? That’s the guy we’ll want to win the #4 spot.
3) Who Is Patullo On 4th Down: Surely circumstances will also play a hand in the decisions, but I for one, am interested to see how aggressive our OC is, when his back is to the wall.
4) Defensive Line Pressure: Our back-up line will spend a lot of time out there. Do they get much pressure as a unit? Do they protect the LB’s effectively? Who is the standout?
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Prediction: Eagles 20 – Bengals 28
The Eagles will be using this game as an evaluation tool. Cincy on the other hand, has been a factory for bad news. Their ownership will want a win, just to have something to wave at their fanbase, as a sign that things are going well. Meanwhile we just…
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 you 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.
Sisyphus- (Oops!) Washington, now that Dan Snyder is gone.
LOST NFC Championship Game, 12 – 5, 2nd place in NFC East, pspg 28.5 (5th) papg 23.0 (18th)
Washington was by far the surprise team of the 2024 season. Capitalizing on a last place schedule, and a rookie QB playing better than anyone could have anticipated; the Commanders made a deep run in the playoffs. They even out-dueled the #1 seeded Detroit, 45 – 31. A week later, the eventual Super Bowl Champions the Philadelphia Eagles, would annihilate Washington 55 – 23, and give them much to consider in the off-season.
Heading into the pre-season, this is how things look today:
QB: Jayden Daniels (331 – 480 – 69.0 – 3568 – 25 – 9) started all 17 games, while battling through broken ribs, suffered in Week 7. He ran for 891 yards and 6 scores, with a win/loss record of 12-5. But pump the brakes. That record could have just as easily been 8-9. His four game winning drives (Bears, giants, Eagles, and Cowboys) look good on paper, but the circumstances in each of those games will tell a very different story.
But that still leaves eight clear wins over the Bengals, Saints, Panthers, Titans, giants, Cardinals, Falcons, and Browns, right? Well, none of those teams made the playoffs. In fact, Daniels generally ceased to be a difference maker, whenever the opponent had a playoff caliber QB on the field. All early indications are positive, but demonstrated consistency is needed here.
Marcus Mariota returns as the back-up. The role looks to fit him well. He’s not asked to do too much when he’s asked to play, and he still has good mobility even at 31. Sam Hartman was an undrafted rookie, added to the roster last year; and for some reason, the well-traveled Josh Johnson was added to the roster, this year. (+)
RB: Brian Robinson (187 – 799 – 4.3 – 8) scares absolutely nobody. In three seasons he has never run for 800 yards in any one of them. He is not a game-breaker. He’s a big, “pound the ball between the Tackles” type. For explosive plays, the team is counting on Austin Ekeler (77 – 367 – 4.8 – 4 / 35 – 366 – 10.5 – 0). Surely, they’ll be looking to get him more than just 112 touches this season.
Providing depth is Jeremy McNichols (55 – 261 – 4.7 – 4) who is coming off a career year in 2024, having finally had his first career start after seven years, and four prior rosters. The Commanders also have third year man Chris Rodriguez (35 – 173 – 4.9 – 2). Putting together 354 – 1,600 – 4.5 – 18 between four guys, with their front line in a state of flux, may be the most slept-on story in the division. (+)
WR: Terry McLaurin (82 – 1096 – 13.4 – 13) saw a career-highs in both touchdown catches, and catch percentage (70.1). More importantly, he seems to have developed a real rapport with the guy throwing him the ball. So his current contract hold-out/hold-in/trade request isn’t too surprising. He’s currently still under contract, so I’m including him here.
WT Terry McLaurin being shown the money.
Meanwhile, when San Fran showed Deebo Samuel (51 – 670 – 13.1 – 3) the door, Washington couldn’t simp and give him a truckload of money fast enough. Even though his game is more suited to the slot, they want him to be a #2. Partly because overpaying a slot would be silly. Right Dallas?
Speaking of not showing up in the playoffs, Noah Brown (35 – 453 – 12.9 – 1) is back from the kidney injury that ended his 2024 campaign, in Week 13. Michael Gallup (no stats) is back from retirement. Further depth includes Luke McCaffery (18 – 168 – 9.3 – 0) and a handful of camp bodies and rookies, like 4th rounder Jaylin Lane.
There isn’t a legit #2 here, and the group is built as if the focus, is to capitalize on yards after the catch. That portends a lot of receivers taking big hits from Linebackers and Safeties. Which brings into question how healthy they’ll be, by the time we start with the Fall family gatherings. Once again, it’s basically McLaurin and then a big drop-off. (-)
TE:Zach Ertz(66 – 654 – 9.9 – 7) found the fountain of youth in 2024, while playing security blanket with his rookie passer. That said, with him being 34, the time to pivot to second year Ben Sinnott (5 – 28 – 5.6 – 1) should be this season. Nobody spends a 2nd round pick on a TE, without plans for him, and while John Bates is a tough sumbitch, he’s not a receiving threat. At the bottom of the barrel are Cole Turner and Tyree Jackson. (-)
OT: In order to keep the Broken Rib fairy away from their QB, Washington traded with Houston for LT Laremy Tunsil. He’s been a perennial Pro Bowler (for whatever that’s worth anymore), while dominating in the AFC South against the Colts, Jags, and Titans. All while playing in a dome. In a warm climate. The NFC East will offer him none of that.
Taking snaps (so far) at RT, is 1st rounder Josh Conerly. This makes for a brand new pair of starters on the ends. In 2024 it was RT Andrew Wylie, and (rookie) LT Brandon Coleman. Wylie took a pay cut in March, just to keep a job. Coleman is looking for an open seat anywhere on the line. Behind them, are a couple of career back-ups, and undrafted rookie Timothy McKay.
Nice bed. Be a shame if someone…
While the new starters may be talented, how they adapt to a new team, and system, are all question marks. Last year’s starters shit the bed hard enough to cause the team to wipe the slate and start all over. If the reserves have to step in, there can’t be a ton of confidence there. So until they prove otherwise… (-)
OG: Offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, may have as many as four new starters up front, going into this season. Last year it was LG Nick Allegretti and RG Sam Cosmi. This year Brandon Coleman is getting a look at LG, and Andrew Wylie seems to have been demoted to utility player.
Allegretti and Cosmi are still in the mix to start, but it’s a mix. Especially with Cosmi still rehabbing a blown ACL. Johnson completely re-tooling the line that he assembled last year, tells you how deeply disappointed he was. The real question here is, is this position any more talented than it was a year ago? The flat answer is, no. (-)
C: Tyler Biadasz is the anchor of this line, and he’s clearly the player that it’s being built around. He isn’t flashy, but he’s a consistent and stabilizing presence. He’s also the only player listed at this position. Michael Dieter is listed at G, but he’s got eight career starts in the pivot. So depth here is a mild concern. (+)
In A Nutshell: If the line doesn’t gel quickly, this offense is cooked.
DEFENSE
DE: Finally a starter (fifteen starts) Dorance Armstrong (39 – 5.0 – 0 – 0) was supposed to take a major leap forward. What happened is, he was less productive than when he was a back-up. Clellin Ferrell(26 – 3.5 – 0 – 0) also failed to be a game-changer despite his ten starts. Seeing low production from their starters (8.5 sacks), Washington decided to make a major move...
They gave a roster spot to what’s left of Von Miller. He’s collected 6 sacks in the last two years, as a situational player. Further depth looks like second year Jacob Martin (15 – 3.0 – 0 – 0); Javonte Jean-Baptiste (13 – 1.0 – 0 – 0); Andre Jones (1 tackle); and Viliami Fehoko, who was drafted in the 4th round in 2023, but has bounced around practice squads since then. (-)
DT: Jonathan Allen (Minnesota) was allowed to walk, breaking up the dynamic duo that was he and Daron Payne (42 – 4.0 – 0 – 0). Stepping up to be Payne’s new running mate, is Jer’Zhan Newton (44 – 2.0 – 0 – 1) who had eleven starts in 2024, due to Allen being injured. Newton was drafted last year to give Washington more interior pass rush and be a disruptor, but so far he’s “less of an asset” against the run.
Adding Javon Kinlaw (40 – 4.5 – 0 – 1) from the Jets, could be a good move, depending on which version of him shows up most of the time. NT Eddie Goldman came over from the Falcons, (probably as bulk vs the Brotherly Shove). He can anchor against the run, but no one is worried about his pass rush. Maybe that’s whyDeatrich Wise (20 – 5.0 – 0 – 0) was added from the Patriots? Lots of experience, but there’s a lot of high mileage, new parts to blend. (-)
I/MLB: In 2024, Bobby Wagner (132 – 2.0 – 0 – 2) recorded his lowest tackle total since 2015. That’s despite starting all seventeen games. Whether it was because it was his first year in the system, or because he was 34, is the question. Given the lack of clear depth behind him, that’s not a good question to have.
Right now, second year man Jordan Magee (9 tackles), would be the first man off the bench in case of injury to Wagner. However, he only saw 15 snaps in 2024. Further depth looks like possibly 6th rounder Kain Medrano, or undrafted rookies Kam Arnold and Ale Kaho. Nick Bellore is a Special Teamer who also plays FB. (-)
LB Frankie Luvu jumps offsides, trying to stop the Eagles Brotherly Shove play.
OLB: Frankie Luvu (99 – 8.0 – 1 – 2) had career-highs in sacks (8), and passes defensed (7). Despite Dante Fowler and his 10.5 sacks going back to Dallas, there doesn’t seem to be a hard set plan for re-stocking the other starting spot.
Instead, Washington is hoping that Dominique Hampton, a 5th roundtweener from last year’s Draft, can replace Jeremy Chinn (Las Vegas), who played a hybrid role, as a box FS/LB. You didn’t read that wrong. This is what’s happening. This is who they have, and they’re serious about rolling this out. (-)
S: Quan Martin (87 – 0.0 – 1 – 0 ) also added 3 forced fumbles last year, during his sixteen starts. They added free agent Will Harris from the Saints. With 3 career interceptions in six years, Harris isn’t exactly a ball-hawk or a game changer. He does however, bring a much needed veteran presence to a very inexperienced group.
Percy Butler (47 tackles) had five starts last year, but he had thirteen the year before. Instead of relying on him, Washingtonadded a veteran. Below Butler are undrafted Tyler Owens (who doesn’t believe in Space or other planets); undrafted college special teamer Ben Nikkel; and undrafted rookie Robert McDaniel. (-)
CB: Mike Sainristil (93 – 0.0 – 2 – 1) saw sixteen starts as a rookie last year. It started out rough, but he played through, and by season’s end, the improvement was apparent. Marshon Lattimore (4 tackles) came over in a midseason trade. He only played two games due to a hamstring injury, which he blamed for his poor performance. BUT! If we’re going to keep it 100, he’s been a shell of himself since 2022.
Noah Igbinoghene (55 tackles) having defected from Dallas last year, now has two years of this system under his belt. Jonathan Jones (Patriots) is very experienced, especially in the slot. Add a handful of young guys, which include two undrafted rookies, and you have the makings of… A mess. This is a mess. It’s one decent player, a guy who’s washed, an old slot guy, a bench warmer, and camp bodies. This is a mess. (-)
In A Nutshell : Aside from possibly Kinlaw, no clear move was made to improve this unit.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Free agent signee Matt Gay has no competition on the roster. The gig is obviously his, despite him being 11/22 from 50+ yards, over the last two seasons. Did I mention he played the last two seasons in Indianapolis? Yes, a place with a dome. In fact, 8 of those 11 misses were in a dome. However, he was 28/28 from 49 yards or less. So he’s solid, but not clutch. (+)
P: Tress Way only had to punt 50 times last season, which helped keep his leg fresh enough to raise his average punt to 46.9 from 46.0 the previous year. He won’t set the world on fire, but he’s solid. (+)
In a Nutshell: Washington is solidly going the Gay Way in 2025.
BOTTOM LINE: At the end of January, no one was expecting this team to shell out 60M$ to two WR’s, but by Week One, that is precisely what has to happen. (Right?) As a result, there wasn’t big money to spend on improving a defense which allowed 55 points in the last game they played in. Add to that, a harder schedule, and a season’s worth of tape on their QB. This team won’t sneak up on anyone this year.
Everywhere I turn, the national media has this team back in the NFC Championship game or beyond, but I just don’t see it. They just don’t have the firepower to make up for a poor defense. Let’s call it 9 – 8 and a Wild-card exit.
EAGLEMANIACAL.com 