Reed Blankenship

All posts tagged Reed Blankenship

EAGLES FANS, DON’T PANIC

Posted by The BEAST on 2023/03/20
Posted in: Conversations, Defense, Draft, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), Players, Rants, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

RELAX. Yes, S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson signed with the Lions. Yes, we could have used his services. While those two things are true, let me tell you two more truths. One, we may very well have the answer to his departure on the roster already. Two, his choice isn’t going to work out for him in the long run. And by the long run, I mean inside of the next 365 days. Gotta think long-term, folks!

(NOTE: If I’d written this without first writing GARDNER-JOHNSON’S DEAL, this article might be seen as sour grapes. But since I did write that first, there should be very little of that talk. There’ll be some (you’ve met morons before), but it’ll be minimal.)

First, when Gardner went down with a lacerated kidney and missed four games this year, rookie S Reed Blankenship stepped in for him. However, even after Gardner came back in the final game, the Eagles found a way to get Blankenship 45 snaps (71%) in that game. They got him 48 (92%) in the Divisional playoff game.

S Reed Blankenship picks off Packers en route to Eagles win.

This demonstrates that the coaching staff either had a lot of trust in Blankenship, or they were trying to get a look at him. Both Gardner and FS Marcus Epps were going to be free agents, so it made sense to know if Blankenship gave the Front Office any leverage; or if they just had to grease up, bend over, and bite down on the blanket.

If we don’t start Blankenship, maybe the answer is 42. By which I mean, K’Von Wallace, who also got a start during Gardner’s injury (when Blankenship missed a game with an injury). Maybe Blankenship and Wallace could be 2023’s pairing. In any case the F.O. seems settled on the position. Aside from Gardner, they didn’t seem interested in other free agent Safeties.

S K’Von Wallace saying hello. Is K’Von a variation of Kevin? This thought haunts me. Vexs me.

Epps was allowed to walk quickly, and the Eagles weren’t willing to offer Gardner a guaranteed 8M for just one season. They wanted three years. The deal he signed with Detroit is one year, worth up to 8M$. Meaning he’ll need to play for incentives to reach that 8M. I have no idea what those incentives are, and because he’s now S.E.P. (Someone Else’s Problem), I won’t be looking into it.

Brings me to my second point of why this move won’t work out for him.

First, he got off to the start he did last year, because opposing QB’s threw at our Safeties, to avoid throwing at our Corners; each of whom had 3 picks last year. Also the pass rush we generated last year, racked up 70 sacks. Helping us finish #1 vs the pass last year.

Second, Detroit’s CB’s are mutts, who had just TWO total interceptions. Given that their Safeties snagged 5 picks in 2022, opposing QB’s target their CB’s. So Gardner won’t see many chances to make plays. Also Detroit doesn’t generate as many hurried throws, with just 39 sacks last year. He’s out there on a prove it deal, and won’t be given a chance to do so.

The year he had with us last year is a complete outlier in his career. Check it out:

We made him. Now he gets to be an average S, on a bad defense, wasting away in the Midwest. But hey, Life is an I.Q. Test. This is the sort of decision you make when you chase short-term gains, without considering the long-term picture.

Oh, did I mention that Detroit finished 30th vs the pass last year? Oh, I didn’t? Well! Detroit finished 30th vs the pass last year. He tantrumed his way out of New Orleans over money, and now he’s let his emotions land him in Detroit.

By the way: The contract he signs next year, will likely be for similar per year money (6 – 8M) as the one he just signed, but given inflation, will actually be a smaller deal. I say “likely” because Detroit isn’t a very smart organization, so they could surprise us.

But don’t panic. No matter what happens elsewhere, we’re still in an great situation right here. With even better things already in the works. Gotta think long-term, folks!

GARDNER-JOHNSON’S DEAL

Posted by The BEAST on 2023/03/18
Posted in: Conversations, Defense, Fans, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), Players, Rants, Roster, stats, trade, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

ONE of my most frequent quotes is “Life is an I.Q. Test.” I say that a lot, and it happens to be true. For example, if SS Chauncey “CJGJ” Gardner-Johnson returns to the Eagles, it will show us how smart he is. By the way, the fact that he’s been a free agent this long, I think increases his chance of returning to the Eagles in 2023. Just saying.

He went into the free agent process thinking his services would fetch him at least 14M$ per year. So far only one Safety has netted such a deal, and CJGJ was not him. So he’s been posting and taking down messages on social media; the gist of which have been that, he feels disrespected by the offers he’s been getting. Boo-hoo.

So he’s not worth as much as he thought he’d be, and he’s butthurt over it.

Him being a twit and throwing a contract tantrum, is the reason the Saints gave him to us, for a 5th and 6th round pick. Forget a squabble over money, to them he wasn’t worth the headache.

In the end he’s still going to sign somewhere to make at least 7M$ this year, because it’s not like he’s going to retire in protest. So when he signs for under 14M, he’ll still feel like he’s underpaid, regardless of where he signs. (Hey look! It’s the world’s tiniest violin!)

This is where the I.Q. test comes in. Does he want to be underpaid on a rebuilding team, or on one that could be Super Bowl Champion inside of the next 365 days? Those are literally his choices right now. And I know what you’re thinking: “But he could go to another contender.” To that I counter with: Could he? Could he really? This article was brought to you by today’s sponsor: CONTEXT.

Chiefs are about all tapped out and won’t spend on him. Bengals would just be patching a hole created by the free agent Safety they just lost. San Fran just blew their wad on DT Javon Hargrave. Buffalo is a possibility, but CJGJ is a Florida boy, who likes nightlife. Dallas can’t afford him, because they just extended their own Safety,

Everyone else is farther away from being a Super Bowl contender.

There’s rumors that Denver is courting him, but they just hired a new head coach, and they play in the same division as QB’s Patrick Mahomes, and Justin Herbert. With as loaded as the AFC is, it’s possible that CJGJ could never take another playoff snap, over the duration of his next contract.

Or he could come back to the team that MADE him, and possibly become a champion. What do I mean by “made him”? Just this:

True or false. When CJGJ was out with a lacerated kidney last year, rookie S Reed Blankenship stepped in and looked pretty darn good out there. That statement would be TRUE. So, Chauncey might want to git his ass back here, while the gittin’ is gittin’. Because he has more ways to fail than succeed. Let’s see if he’s smart enough to see that, because Life is an I.Q. Test.

IF CJGJ GHOSTS THE EAGLES

Posted by The BEAST on 2023/03/17
Posted in: Conversations, Defense, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Players, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

LET me say up front, I would like to see SS Chauncey ‘CJGJ’ Gardner-Johnson return to the Eagles in 2023. He’s smart, aggressive, versatile, and sticky fingered. He’s also the sort of emotional spark plug that a defense needs, in order to max out it’s potential. So let me say again, (because I don’t want to confuse anyone): I would like to see him return.

That being said, if he doesn’t return, I am more than ready to roll with SS Reed ‘Ghost’ Blankenship. Blankenship wasn’t the sort of emotional leader that CJGJ is, and he’s not quite as fast, but he brings a work-pail and hardhat approach that can’t help but resonate with the people of Philadelphia. Even better, he’s also a sticky fingered, aggressive hitter.

The word is that CJGJ wants upwards of 15M$ per year; whereas Blankenship being drafted last year, is on his rookie deal. If we can re-sign CJ, great! If not, we have money that can be spread around to other veterans. Maybe someone like G Isaac Suemalo. Or perhaps DT Ndamukong Suh. Extra cash could also help facilitate a trade.

All I’m saying is, if we don’t end up with CJGJ, it is by no means the end of the world. Our fallback position is fairly excellent as far as options go. We have a young, confident go-getter, who is trusted by his teammates already, and best of all, he’s cheap.

So don’t be nervous. Howie, will figure it out. And again, while re-signing him is what I’d prefer, having CJGJ Ghost us, wouldn’t kill our chances of running it back. Meanwhile, at the Commanders headquarters…

FOUR THINGS REVIEWED: WK 12: PACKERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2022/11/28
Posted in: breakdown, Coaching, Defense, Four Things, Offense, Players, Reviews, Roster, Special Teams, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

THIS was a vulgar display of power.

EAGLES 40 – Packers 33

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 (16/28 – 57.1% – 153 – 2 – 0)

Rushing : (S) QB Jalen Hurts (17 – 157 – 9.2 – 0 – 1)

Receiving : (S) WR Devonta Smith (9 – 4 – 50 – 12.5 – 0)

Offensive Line Report/Enforcer : (18 + 3 – 4 = 19 ) C Jason Kelce

Drive Killer : (B) SS Reed Blankenship (1 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0)

Sack Leader : (S) DT Fletcher Cox (2 – 1.0 – 0 – 0)

Ace : (S) K Jake Elliott ( Two 4th qtr FG’s, one from 54 to ice the game)

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

1) Hit Their QB: We hurried him into an early interception, sacked him three times, and knocked his punk ass out of the game. Even before the Packers yanked him, you could see in his eyes that he was finished. (DONE)

2) Miles of Screens: We didn’t throw Screens to RB Miles Sanders (21 – 143 – 6.8 – 2 – 0). He did catch (3 – 3 – 17 – 5.6 – 0) everything thrown his way, while running for a career high 143 yards, but none of it was a Screen pass. This is one place where the technicality works against me, but I’ll own it, because the technicality does not diminish his involvement, nor the statement made by this win. (NOT DONE)

3) Wrap it up, B!: After their first drive we settled in and got this done. The issue this week wasn’t the wrapping up, it was getting guys in the right hole, to meet the ball-carrier. Too often our defenders weren’t getting a shot at the runner, until they were 3 or 4 yards downfield already. Still, on 20 attempts, we gave up just 106 rushing yards on the night.

SS Reed Blankenship lurk in the “Robber” position and breaks on the ball. Between this and his physical style of play, it made me think of Ronnie Lott, after he signed with the Raiders. Not comparing players, just stylistic similarities.

I like the “thump” that SS Reed Blankenship (3 – 0 – 1 – 0) added tonight. There were a couple of downs where I saw OLB Kyzir White (2 – 0 – 0 – 0) try a shoulder tackle instead of a wrap-up, leading to extra yardage for the runner. One of them looked like he was making a business decision near the right sideline. As I said in the Quarter Two Report Card, it may be time to get rookie LB Nakobe Dean some of White’s snaps. (DONE)

4) Deep Down the Middle: Nope. Most of the passing was of the short variety. I think Hurts threw more balls away, than he legitimately attempted as deep passes. (NOT DONE)

****

Yet again we finish at 2 of the Four Things, even though it’s really ore like three of them. No matter. Next week we host Tennessee’s rugby team, and get a first-hand look at their attempt to integrate the forward pass into their offense, as well as we have.

WR A.J. Brown demonstrating genuine Toe Drag Swag

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On The Whole:

RB Boston Scott and his bodyguard, LT Jordan Mialata.

It was a vulgar display of power, and I LOVED it. We did it because we wanted to do it, and there was no way for them to stop us. And was I excited? I spent that whole game on the verge of reaching for the hand lotion. (Not really, but you get my point.)

QB Jalen Hurts on his way to running for 157 yards on the day. The most by a QB in Eagles history.

We piled up 363 rushing yards in this game. I’ve been saying that running the ball is our identity, and we shouldn’t get away from that, but DAMN. This game was just us being more physical and looking to impose our will. We’ll need more of that next week.

RB Miles Sanders goes off for a career high 143 rushing yards.

Now my concerns. And I have a few.

I worry about the cumulative damage that all this running puts on Hurts. Not the hits, but the wear and tear. The torsion in his hips, knees, and ankles. I’m remembering last year’s high ankle sprain, as being non-contact. Pocket passers almost never get that injury. If we have a lead, there should never be a designed run called for him.

Defensively, we were consistently out-schemed by the Packers Screen and Pitch game. They did a great job of keeping us off-balance, and we had to wait for penalties, to hand us third downs where we could dictate the action. A well disciplined team won’t give us that chance. A PLAYOFF team won’t give us that.

Special Teams is a joke. Not only are we abysmal at returning all kicks, but now we’re now shit at covering them too. I’d been blaming WR Britain Covey, but today he only fair caught a punt. The rest of the returning was done by RB Boston Scott (3 – 24 – 8.0 – 0 – 0) who’s returning (4 – 91 – 22.7 – 0) was also underwhelming. Yet, returners can’t be blamed for the Packers gashing us for 172 KO return yards.