LAST time we played the Commanders, we had an effective run game, and we won 24 – 22. So this opponent is a team that we know we can have success against. No, even better. It’s a team that we should have success against. Let’s score 24 more and take this “W”.
While last week wasn’t the outcome that we wanted, we did seem to re-establish a couple of things we can hang our hats on. One of those is RB Saquon Barkley running the football. Getting back LG Landon Dickerson and C Drew Kendall, seemed to solidify the left side of the Offensive Line, which had been the weak spot since Week One.
With a win the Eagles improve to 3 – 5.
With a loss, we fall to 2 – 6.
****
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; and Tackling 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: COMMANDERS
WR Makai Lemon in his first game as a pro.
1) Kerrigan Plan: We didn’t do this the last time, (Explanation of The Kerrigan Plan), but we had a running QB to manufacture yards and first downs at key times. This time we have QB Tanner McKee, who is practically a tree. (I swear his feet grow roots after his dropbacks.) So, it’s going to be super important for him to throw guys open, for easy completions.
So if we need short passes for run after the catch yardage, rookie WR Makai Lemon is your huckleberry. Why, that’s just his game! It would also be smart to get more than a couple of targets to WR Darius Cooper. (Be even smarter for him to catch them.) Man’s got real breakout potential, if he sees enough opportunities.
2) Force Passes Deeper: We don’t want a mobile QB like Jayden Daniels to be able to throw short passes all day. At that rate our Defense never gets off the field. Clouding the underneath area will force the QB to hold the ball longer, while he looks for a deeper target. More importantly, it will allow our pass rush time to get to the QB.
Our pass rush has been dreadful this season, because we keep allowing the ball to come out too fast, to wide open targets. Our Secondary has start playing competent football once again.
3) Defensive Ends Must Deliver: On Friday we got full practices from OLB’s (actually DE’s) Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Jonathan Greenard. Aside from Smith, they’ve played like garbage truck juice this year. For the record, Smith wasn’t exactly great in our first meeting with Washington this year, and Greenard didn’t play.
We’re going to need more than no sacks, no hits, and no forced fumbles in this rematch. Interior pressure in the last game, ran the opposing QB from the pocket. However, DE’s not having outside containment, resulted in him killing us all day. We won’t survive a second bout of that. We nearly didn’t survive the first time.
4) Balance the Play-calling: We can’t go getting pass happy. Despite how decimated we are at RB, Tanner McKee shouldn’t be asked to throw the ball 40 times, when we only hand it off 20 times. He still has upside as a pocket passer, but right now he doesn’t have the tools to carry the entire Offense. And it’s unfair to ask him to, this soon.
In the Panthers game, Tanner threw it 45 times and we handed it off just 12 times. In the Cowboys game, he threw 35 times against 24 runs. We we more balanced, smoother, and efficient vs the Cowboys, than we were against the Panthers. There is no mystery. There is no secret. Besides, play-action doesn’t work, if we don’t actually run the ball.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
In Week One, we barely got by the Commanders when we had a full roster. To beat them a second time, while we have so many missing pieces… That would be an amazing boost to this roster. Even though most people would dismiss it, as just one bad team beating a worse one, there are players on this roster who could use this win.
Some of these guys have sat on winning teams, but never brought back fresh kill, in their own jaws. Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, Drew Kendall, LT Markel Bell, LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Those guys are going to be pressed into starting, but have never been a key players in an NFL victory. Taking down a division rival would be huge.
****
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.
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: COWBOYS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Don’t Get Bullied: Well the point of this one, was for our Offensive Line not to get bullied. (Maybe I should have stressed it for both sides of the ball.) The emphasis was on taking it right to the Cowboys defensive front, and get our RB to 100 yards rushing. We didn’t get a 100 yard RB, but that had nothing to do with the Line.
The blocking was mostly very good. Aside from McKee’s 1 yard run, we ran for 120 yards on 24 carries, and 5 yard per carry. If Barkley could have played more, he’d have hit 100 easy, so I’m not counting that against us. The O-Line took it to ‘em. We didn’t win this one, but this was definitely a building block. (DONE)
WR Makai Lemon fights for his first TD catch
2) Spread the Ball Around:Offensive CoordinatorSean Mannion did the best job of scheming receivers open, that I’ve seen from from him all season. Unfortunately, Tanner McKee too often didn’t pull the trigger on bigger throws. Still, McKee did hit eight different receivers in this game. It would have been great though, if more of those completions were past the first down marker, instead of short of them. (DONE)
3) Take Away the Quick Stuff:In who’s book is an eight yard cushion considered covering somebody???! We saw a metric ass-ton of that bullshit last night, with ZERO adjustments ever being made. Some my want to put this on Head CoachNick Sirianni, but those people are idiots. Sirianni has never coached defense a day in his life. The guy to blame for this is Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio.
Our pass rush never got within a fifty dollar cab ride of QB Dak Prescott (15/27 – 55.5% – 212 – 3 – 0), because he was playing pitch-and-catch all night with wide open receivers. On one reception their TE bobbled a catch twice, pulled it in, and then still made a few yards after the catch. If he was covered, the ball would have been incomplete or even picked off. (NOT DONE)
4)DE Jalyx Hunt Must Win: This motherfucker (2 tackles) was invisible. As was DE Jonathan Greenard (no stats). YET AGAIN! Everyone wants to complain about all the money that was spent at DT this offseason. This season, the DT’s have at least made some impact plays. Aside from Nolan Smith (DNP – Injured), the DE’s have been M.I.A.
Everyone keeps asking what Sirianni does. I want to know what our Ends do!!! That position has been a historical place of honor for this franchise, (White, Simmons, Fuller, Cole, Graham, etc.), but these days… it barely warrants a punchline. I’m not a fan of tanking or a fire sale, but if GM Howie Roseman can unload Greenard (and the contract extension that we gave him), by all means, please do it, Howie. (NOT DONE)
++++
This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4. Offensively, we got some things heading in the right direction. Defensively, we threw the baby out with the bathwater, and jumped out the window after him. This Sunday we get an opportunity to sweep Washington, and get ourselves back in the win column. GO BIRDS!
****
Game Hero: Saquon Barkley – No question about it. He showed toughness and leadership out there. Not just by being willing to gut out the pain, but by being effective every time he touched the ball. He led by example, which didn’t allow anyone else to hide inside their own excuses. The result was probably crispest offensive performance of the season. Especially when you consider who was missing.
Game goat: The Defense:I know that I said I blamed Fangio earlier, but that was just in comparison to blaming Sirianni.
Who I really put this stinker on, is the players. Vic Fangio didn’t fail to set the edges. That’s on our DE’s. Vic Fangio wasn’t constantly late or absent, in his run fits. That would be LB Jihaad Campbell (2 tackles). Fangio wasn’t the guy backing out of man-press coverage into a zone, and then choosing to press sixyards downfield. That would be CB Riq Woolen (2 tackles, 2 PD).
Vic Fangio wasn’t out there physically getting pushed around. It wasn’t his pride that should have bowed up. It wasn’t Vic Fangio out there getting shoved past, for that final touchdown. I put this on the players, and the outright lack of manhood they showed out there.
I know this much: Until they redeem themselves, they need to tone down how much bass they put in their voices, when arguing with their wives. Keep it at a Kurt Russell and no deeper. All baritone is off-limits.
Defense was out there getting Apollo’d
On The Whole: I sound angrier than I am. Getting back LG Landon Dickerson and C Drew Kendall, really seemed to stabilize the Line, and from there the Offense. At one point the commentators noted that McKee was probably surprised with how much time he had in the pocket to throw. It was by no means a pristine performance, but it was all positive indicators.
As for McKee, he’s a back-up. If things around him are running on time, he’s a decent game manager, who still has some ceiling to reach. What he is not, is a genuine starter. His instincts for improvisation are almost nil. He’s a statue in the pocket. Worst of all, he’s too focused on not making a mistake, to swing for those home runs.
There was entirely too much clawing for the ball, instead of tackling the runner. Players make more on their contracts when they prove they can take the ball away. Problem is, when they don’t strip the ball out, they end up allowing extra yardage. Sometimes lots of it. Like last night.
It might be time to trade CB Cooper DeJean (7 tackles). Teams have enough book on what he can’t do. So we’re now watching different teams beat him in different ways. What’s worse, his dinged confidence is showing up in his eyes during interviews. That’s only going to magnified under the heat of competition. Competitors can practically smell it. We don’t want that to start infecting our defensive huddle. Either fix him, or ship him out ASAP.
RETURNING from injury this week, are RB Saquon Barkley and LGLandon Dickerson. Coming back with them, isn’t just top-shelf athletic ability, but a sense of veteran, emotional stability. These are men who know what it’s like, and what it takes, to be dominant. Especially when running the football.
And what do we have here!? Is that a Dallas team that ranks dead last against the run? Well, gasp indeed. An oasis in the desert. A cheeseburger in Somalia. A whorehouse that takes coupons! It’s time to get our groove back, baby!
With a win the skid ends and we get to a record of 3 – 4.
With a loss we fall to 2 – 5
****
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; and Tackling 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 COWBOYS
1) Don’t Get Bullied: Dallas knows how vulnerable they are to the run, and will be trying to cover that weakness with lots of posturing. Eight and nine man fronts, Zero-blitzes, mugged ‘A’ gaps… etcetera. We have to take the physicality to them, and bludgeon the fight out of them.
No Eagles player has run for a hundred yards in any game so far this season. That needs to change on Monday night. We need to turn this game into a metaphorical fistfight in the street. Our Offensive Line has to outright whip Dallas’s defensive front.
2024 Dallas Goedert catches 14 yd TD
2) Spread the Ball Around:We are going to be without our Week One starting QB and both starting WR’s. While we may not have a number one WR to take over the game, we have a few good, young receivers filling in for those guys. If we spread the ball around enough, it will open things up enough for everyone to contribute.
We’re going to be leaning on WR Darius Cooper and possibly rookie WR Makai Lemon. WR Hollywood Brown should finally be available this week, and he may even get the start over Lemon, just to bring a veteran presence to the field. Could be a big week for TE Dallas Goedert.
3) Take Away the Quick Stuff:Going back to the days of former QB Troy Aikman, the Cowboys have generally preferred a rhythm-based passing attack. Of course, that won’t work if we can consistently manage to throw off their rhythm.
4) DE Jalyx Hunt Must Win:The Eagles will be without OLB Nolan Smith who is tied for the team lead in sacks (3.0). DE Jonathan Greenard might play in this game, but he won’t be 100%. So, it’s imperative that DEJalyx Hunt finally steps up and delivers some splash plays in this game. He’s gotten plenty of opportunities, he simply hasn’t come through for his unit this year.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
The Eagles Offense has spent the beginning of the season trying to figure out what their identity is. Pretty hard to do when injuries are even claiming back-up players. Still, the Eagles have been battling. Week in and week out. Out-gunned and out-manned, they’ve even spent some of that time being out-coached.
But never once has the effort waned.
Beating Dallas won’t require a miracle. What it will require, is for the Eagles to find something they do well. Some ember of hope. Then blow on that ember, until there’s a flame of legitimate chance. Feed that flame until there’s a hungry fire going. Then, turn that fire loose on Dallas.
We can do it.
****
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.
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: BEARS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Power Via Doubles: Nearly all of Barkley’s success came from running off-Tackle, instead of inside. This is mostly because our interior linemen cannot be trusted to keep themselves between the ball carrier and the defenders. I said last week “We can bury the narrative that Philadelphia has one of the best O-Lines in the NFL”. Tonight we got the headstone dropped on our foot.
LG Cam Jurgens
While C Drew Kendall is solid, the Guard-play on either side of him, is sinking this team. Both players are liabilities! Watching LG Cam Jurgens get pushed around like a shopping cart yet again, had me wanting to see him benched. As far as RG Tyler Steen, I haven’t been a fan since we drafted him, as you can see here. (NOT DONE)
2) Get Hollywood In the Slot:Not possible, as WR Hollywood Brown was listed among the Inactives for this game. The Inactive list. Great place to keep a one year, 5M$ rental, who has speed to burn. (NOT DONE)
3) Win the ‘A’ Gaps Faster:We got our asses kicked here. The Bears essentially started a 38 year old statue at QB, but we couldn’t touch him. Largely because he was able to get the ball out quickly, to wide open receivers, all game long. We were decent against the run, allowing just 128 yards on 35 totes (3.7 ypc); but there was simply no time to mount a pass rush. (NOT DONE)
4) Sub In Some Size:While DT Ty Robinson (2 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) did get snaps in this one, he mostly rotated with DT Jordan Davis(3 – 0.0 – 0 – 0), and logged no snaps at LDE. (NOT DONE)
++++
This week’s Four Things score was 0 of 4. Which is the sort of score that will absolutely result in a blowout kind of loss. Luckily, it’s a short week. So Sunday we’re back home to host the 1 – 2 Los Angeles Rams. That is not a typo. What can I say? It’s been a weird season so far. TheRaiders are 3 – 0, baby!! Yeah… Weird.
****
Game Hero: The game’s 61st minute.
Game goat: QBAndy Dalton(0/1 – 0% – 0 – 0 – 1) –Jalen Hurts had to visit the blue tent to be checked for a concussion. That gave back-up QB Dalton, the chance to babysit the team for just three downs. THREE DOWNS! Two were hand-offs and the third was his lackadaisical toss for an interception, from the three yard line.
If like me, you were in the “Why is this fuck-nugget still taking up a roster spot on my team!??” group; Dalton just threw you a little validation tonight. If like me, you wanted QB Tanner McKee (Inactive tonight) to be our back-up, get on the call-in shows and make your “I told you so!” heard loud and clear.
Dalton’s interception was just one of our three turnovers, but his was the one that felt like the arrow in the ankle. It even drove Hurts to display anger on the sideline.
On The Whole: Sometimes an early season loss has value because of the lessons that come out of it. Or because it can serve as a wake-up call to a team just going through the motions. This is not one of those losses. This was just a bad loss. Mostly because we may not have the player(s) or coaching, to fix the Offensive Line.
Hey, someone explain to me why we couldn’t cover any of their receivers. Small receivers running constant crossing routes across the middle, has a time honored solution. One guy on a stretcher would have totally changed the way that the Bears called plays. And given the out of bounds hit on Jalen Hurts, I don’t mind saying that.
Sadly enough, no adjustment was made there. Speaking of no adjustment, I’m still feeling major Patullo vibes with these poorly designed Screens, inability to run the ball inside, bunch formations, and over-reliance on the Shotgun formation. Yes, Jalen is throwing over the middle more, but seriously. We just fired a guy over this kind of offense, didn’t we? Is he back on the payroll?
Fortunately, all this was also a night where nothing was going our way. From a few ticky-tack calls, to the way the ball bounced into the Bears hands on two fumbles, there was no luck to be had for the Eagles.
I said fortunately, because every season has one or two of these. Why have a bad luck game when we’re actually playing better? Just get the bad ju-ju out of the way, during a shitty performance. Fans who aren’t superstitious will dismiss that. The rest of us, would never. (Because it’s bad luck to say Luck doesn’t matter.)
Well at least the season is properly underway now. Because it’s not really football season, until you have to talk an Eagles fan off a ledge.
LISTEN, 2 – 0 is 2 – 0, despite how fans of lesser teams want to spin it. Right now, except for us, our division is in a tailspin, and this week we’re being fed a weakened opponent. Yes, yes. It’s always better to be able to say that we beat a team at it’s best, but the fact is, at the end of the season, they just count the wins.
This game, while not a division game, is a conference game. Even better, it’s a conference game covered in a sauce called REVENGE! Last time we saw this opponent, they whipped us 15 – 24. So we owe them a punch in the mouth. And boy, do we love doling out mouth punches.
The biggest possible mouth punch, would be if we got RB Saquon Barkley and the rest of our run game, on-track in this game. To see the Offense fully activated and show the league what they have to fear. To put it all together on prime-time television, with the nation watching, and all of it just dripping in REVENGE!
Yeah. Sign me up for that.
With a win we go to 3 – 0, and are still alone atop the NFC East.
If we lose, we hold at 2 – 1, and at worst would still be tied for the lead in the division.
****
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; and Tackling 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 BEARS
RB’s Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby.
1) Power Via Doubles: Since no member of our interior Offensive Line seems to be able to generate vertical movement at the line (shoving a motherfucker backwards), we need to get RB Saquon Barkley running behind some double-teams. If he gets the chance to do that, he should end up trapped in the backfield less. (I said should.)
2) Go Hollywood In the Slot: The proper replacement this week for TE Dallas Goedert isn’t TE Zach Ertz(damn it feels good to see his name like this again!) The proper replacement is WR Marquis “Hollywood”Brown, lining up in the Slot. Hollywood’s speed demands instant and constant attention, so let’s abuse it.
As the Slot he’d be a concern. As part of a four receiver spread, he’d be poison just for being on the field. A four WR formation would demand the Bears defense go into their Dime. This would be a physically smaller alignment, that we could more easily run the ball against. Hollywood wouldn’t have to catch a ball to massively affect the game.
3) Win the ‘A’ Gaps Faster:We need DT Jordan Davis to win hs ‘A’ gap faster. We’re getting pressure up the middle and pushing QB’s out of the pocket, but a lot of it is with twists and stunts between our DT’s and DE’s. It gets pressure, but it takes longer to unfold and frequently leaves our edges open.
DT Jordan Davis.
Because DT Jalen Carter is going to see the majority of the interior double-teams, Davis has to win his one-on-ones, quickly. It’s a more straight-up style of play, but it means our DE’s can focus more on keeping contain.
4) Sub In Some Size: Even if DE Jonathan Greenard returns from injury in this one, Defensive Co-ordinator Vic Fangio, is likely going to put him on a pitch count. So this would be a great game to see DT Ty Robinson log some snaps at the LDE spot. (I mentioned some of this in THE 12.) This would be less for pass rush, and more to set a hard edge against the run.
The Bears don’t have a particularly large offensive line. In fact, at 325 pounds their RT is their biggest guy. He’s not huge by NFL standards, but I still don’t want him to spend the day leaning on 240 pound OLB Nolan Smith, vs the run. So let’s get some size and strength out there, to combat size and strength.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
You can’t beat a strategist if you don’t cover small details, and Bears coach Ben Johnson is a strategist. We cant forget the RMT fundamentals that I mentioned earlier. Last week, Fangio mentioned some of our defenders missing 12 tackles, because they were going for the ball. This game is going to feature three of the NFL’s most innovative thinkers, but it will be won by the team with better fundamentals.
****
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.
LAST week was a fist-fight that came down to DT Moro Ojomo, denying Washington a two point conversion. That conversion would have tied the game, and likely forced overtime. Being a division game, you expect that sort of thing though.
This week’s victim, doesn’t play in our division. Our players don’t see each other twice a year, so our rosters don’t really know each other. I expect a more pure representation of how our new offensive scheme really looks, and what it should like when we’ve mastered it.
With a win, we move to 2 – 0 and would be alone atop the NFC East, unless the giants can find a way to travel to Los Angeles and beat the Rams. In which case, both they and us, would still share the top of the division, with them holding a conference tie-breaker. (But it’s way too early to start with tie-breaker talk.)
A loss would drop us to 1 – 1. Since both Washington and Dallas (who face each other Sunday) are both 0 – 1, the best one of them can do is 1 – 1, the other will own the basement. A giants win would put them alone atop the division, but a loss will still see us tied for a three-way lead. So we have to win this game.
****
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; and Tackling 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 TITANS
1) Our Power vs Their Size: Get our run game going. This should be a big week for RB Saquon Barkley, as last week the Titans, while at home, surrendered 152 rushing yards to the Jets. It might have something to do with having a smallish defensive line, as their starting four average just 276 pounds. The Eagles Offensive Line isn’t huge, but even with LG Drew Kendallstarting for LG Landon Dickerson, it still averages 324 per man.
Just getting downhill and putting hats on defenders, should be enough to give our RB’s the holes they need to punch through for big gains. So don’t get cute! Get mean! Be bullies! Don’t get mad. Take pleasure in pushing these little fuckers around. Let’s put more rushing yards on them, than the Jets did.
2) Unleash DeVonta: Let’s make it emphatically clear to the world, that WR DeVonta Smith, is our WR1. Let’s get him 100 yards or two scores, in this one.
Between how dramatically we established TE Dallas Goedertlast week, and the Titans trying to take away our run game, the middle of the field should often be crowded. That means we should see a good amount of isolation on the corners. When that happens, we need to capitalize on it.
3) Our DE’s Must Contain Better:All last week, the opposing QB kept getting outside the pocket to either pick-up rushing yards, or extend plays until he could find an open receiver.
Most of that was due to our DE’s running themselves out of plays, and not keeping the QB corralled. Often the only pursuit was a trailing DT, with no chance to close the distance. This week our DE’s need much better edge discipline, and they have to keep the QB from bootlegging out of the pocket, so there are multiple angles to hit him from.
4) Let’s Have Sacks: Mistakes come from trying to avoid and make up for sacks, so we have to go get some. We need plays that result in lost yardage, and take their offense off-schedule. Not a tackle just behind the line of scrimmage. A real, honest to God, “Somebody get him some milk!” kind of sack.
DT Jordan Davis running over a Carr (Derek)
To hell with all these empty hurries. If it still results in a completion, or doesn’t result in an interception, then we didn’t force their QB into a mistake. If we didn’t cause him to make a mistake and we didn’t bring him down for lost yardage, then their offense wins that down. Fuck that! We need to get their QB on the ground this week.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
This Offensive system will be a work in progress until the season ends. At no point in this season, will we be able to say that it has been mastered. Our players are just getting to run it, in real game situations. Sunday was the first time they got their feet wet against a real opponent, while not being vanilla in trying not to reveal anything.
Share this with your friends. Maybe it’ll help keep their blood pressure down.
****
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.
PHILADELPHIA begins our season with the sacrificing of a division rival. Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni, and Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio return with the goal of another Super Bowl parade, here in Philly. Joining them is rookie Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion, as he rolls out a vastly different scheme than the Birds have run in the past.
Rookie WR Makai Lemon, joins Super Bowl LIX MVP QB Jalen Hurts, 2024 Offensive Player of the Year RB Saquon Barkley, and future Hall Of Famer RT Lane Johnson, as they revive what became an anemic offense last year.
Despite the offensive woes, the Eagles repeated as NFC East winners, due to the strength of a top Defense. Spearheading that unit are DTJordan Davis and DT Jalen Carter, LB Zack Baun, and CB Quinyon Mitchell.
Playing the part of the sacrifice are the Washington Commanders. Already nursing some bumps and bruises along both their offensive and defensive lines, a match-up against the Eagles is the last thing the doctor would order. This game could get out of hand very quickly.
With a win, we move to 1 – 0 and tied with the winner of the Cowboys/giants game for first place in the NFC East.
A loss would drop us to 0 – 1 and scratching our heads. The truth is, this is a divisional game, so it will likely be hard fought. That said, we just have to go out and take care of business.
****
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; and Tackling 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 Commanders
TE Dallas Goedert hits paydirt
1) Use the Kerrigan Plan: Yet again this season, the Commanders primary pass rush comes from two OLB’s, who don’t cover. Why do they keep making this so easy, year in and year out!? Passes to the Flats, and Outs into the areas vacated by the rushers, has generally served us well against this rival. No reason to change up until they do.
I’ll be watching when we play 11-personnel, to see if they remove one of those OLB’s or a defensive lineman. I’ll be keeping an eye on that, because it would signal an evolutionary step. They have a new defensive coordinator, and I’m not very familiar with his work. So it’ll be interesting to see how fast he learns.
2) Force Passes Deep: Use a Two Deep Zone with LB’s playing Man Coverage underneath. This may result in a few big plays and penalties, but the idea is to take away quick, easy completions, and make it hard for their offense to be consistent.
3) Blow Up the Middle: We need to blow up the middle of their offensive line. The starters aren’t very talented, and they have injury issues there already. If we cave in their offensive line, it stymies their run game and gets their QB running and throwing from a moving platform. I discussed that plan, in detail, in THE 12.
DT Jordan Davis stops a run before it starts.
Despite their QB having good mobility, we want to get him running. He comes with a lengthy injury history already. In fact, we didn’t play against him last year, because he was injured for both games. We want to get their fragile QB out where he knows danger surrounds him.
4) Exploit Loaded Boxes: The Eagles want their identity to be running the ball, and we have Saquon Barkley, one of the most dangerous, and explosive RB’s in the league. So expect to see some eight man boxes, especially early in the game.
What we need is for Jalen Hurts to identify where that eighth man is being walked up from, and audible to a play that specifically targets the area where the eighth man should have stayed or covered. This sends an immediate message to the opposing defensive coach, and should get them back into seven man fronts again.
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If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
We’re going to be without offseason acquisition DE Jonathan Greenard for at least this week. That makes this a perfect opportunity to get DT Ty Robinson, a few reps at DE, as I mentioned in THE 12.
As far as the Offense goes, expect some growing pains, because everyone is new to running this system. Particularly under game conditions, because Sirianni doesn’t play his starters in the preseason. So expect some missed timing, missed routes, maybe an uncharacteristic turnover.
Again, this is a division rival, so this game could go all the way to the wire. More likely, the Eagles jump all over the Commanders, and it’s ugly from the get-go.
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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.
IN order to keep RB Saquon Barkleyfrom being overworked, his pitch count should be 18 carries. Unless it’s a close game, late into the fourth quarter. In which case, the coaching staff should play it as they see fit. Otherwise, we should use RB Tank Bigsby to finish off halves.
Tank is an aggressive, full speed, downhill runner. The sort of fresh legs which no tired defense wants to see. When we roll out Tank, it shouldn’t be about scheme and a chess match. That’s for when Saquon is on the field. When Tank comes out, we should be signaling that it’s time for a fist-fight in a phone booth. That the undertaker is here to box the defense up.
THE mission started as “repeat as champions”, and ended with “For the love of Christ, FIRE Kevin Patullo!” There were fans who weren’t even bummed about the first round playoff loss, because it meant the Eagles were going to finally shit-can the Offensive Coordinator. His ineptitude was wall to wall, and week to week. It was so bad, that when the Eagles hired the completely inexperienced Sean Mannion to replace Patullo, fans were still pumped. Now the Eagles have to prove that it was in fact him and not them. With no idea what expect from Mannion. Buckle up, and try to go a little limp. This IS the Eagles we’re talking about.
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OFFENSE:
QB Jalen Hurts pre-snap.
QB: Jalen Hurts– 16 starts, 1 rest (playoffs) (294/454 – 64.7% – 3224 – 25 – 6) / (105 – 421 – 4.0 – 8 – 8). Not helped by a (since fired) pedestrian offensive coordinator. While, his overall statistics were respectable, week to week his completion percentage could swing as much as 28 points. In 9 of his 16 starts (56%), his arm found the end-zone, just one time or less.
His two biggest assets are his rushing, and the fact that he doesn’t make many mistakes. As a result, the Eagles either win games, or keep them very close. Unfortunately, his rushing yards, carries, and scores this season, were all career lows, since he became the starter.
Tanner McKee – 1 start (24/43 – 55.8% – 274 – 1 – 1) (8 – 8 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) A third year pocket passer with plenty of upside. His only start was an chance to play his way into being a trade target for QB needy teams. He didn’t play well enough for that, and as a result, would be smart to secure a multi-year extension, as the Eagles back-up beyond 2026. (+)
RB: Last year the world spoke of Saquon Barkley (280 – 1140 – 4.0 – 7 – 1 / 50 – 37 – 273 – 7.3 – 2) as if he was washed up. Yet despite all the team’s coaching struggles, and injuries along the o-line, he was still the number 10 rusher in the NFL. Tank Bigsby (58 – 344 – 5.9 – 2 – 0 / 4 – 3 – 32 – 10.7 – 0) ran every carry as if it would be his last, providing an excellent one-two punch with Barkley.
Will Shipley(14 – 49 – 3.5 – 0 – 1 / 12 – 9 – 56 – 6.2 – 0) simply isn’t very productive with the ball in his hands. Barring injury to another player, I expect that he’ll spend a lot of time on the Practice Squad, if he isn’t cut outright. Dameon Pierce spent most of his career on a bad Texans team, that kept using him less and less. He had a cup of coffee with K.C. last season, now he’s here as depth, and to bolster our kick return game. (+)
TE: Dallas Goedert (82 – 60 – 591 – 9.8 – 11) was a redzone nightmare in 2025. On top of which he’s a solid blocker in the run game. Grant Calcaterra (13 – 9 – 76 – 8.4 – 1) is not a very physical player, but he’s a decent receiving option. Johnny Mundt was ostensibly brought over to help the position with another credible blocker. Goedert is very good, but he tends to miss time, and this position is only one player deep. (-)
WR: A.J. Brown (121 – 78 – 1003 – 12.8 – 7) posted his fourth straight year with at least 1,000 receiving yards, and 7 touchdown catches. Real speed, strong hands, and he’s a problem after the catch. Rumor has it that he’ll be traded to the Patriots in June. (I’d rather it’d be Cleveland.) So let’s talk about what the Eagles might look like without him.
WR catches the go-ahead score. (DT Jordan Love would later seal the game.)
DeVonta Smith (113 – 77 – 1008 – 13.0 – 4) is a silky smooth route runner who uncovers quickly, and has reliable hands. He’s very slight of frame, so he can’t be sent over the middle too much. The recent trade and contract extension for Dontayvion Wicks(Packers), has many certain that Brown will be traded soon. Darius Cooper (11 – 9 – 92 – 10.2 – 0) was assignment solid in his rookie season, and is expected to take a big jump this season.
The Eagles added free agents Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Elijah Moore. Both have loads of starting experience but are smallish targets, inviting the question of whether both will be kept. This is especially true with 6’6 228 Johnny Wilson(a good run blocker), returning from an injury that cost him all of 2025. In addition to Smith, regardless of which four make the roster, this will be an extremely deep position. Even without Brown. (+)
OT: Perennial All-Pro and future Hall of Fame RT Lane Johnson, is coming back for another year. He’ll be 36, and is coming off of a Lisfranc sprain that ended his 2025 season. At LT Jordan Mailata has yet to get a Pro Bowl nod, but is well considered to be among the best at his position.
Swing T Fred Johnson tested free agency, hoping to start elsewhere; but his market kept him in Philadelphia. He’s generally reliable, but he doesn’t always bring his mean-streak, which is likely what’s keeping him a back-up. His presence however, stabilizes this group. Behind him are Cameron Williams and Myles Hinton, a pair of 6th rounders from last year. (+)
OG: Landon Dickerson returns to LG despite rumors that he was going to retire. Injuries dogged him in 2025 and caused him to seek stem cell treatment in the offseason. Interestingly, he had the three years left on his extension reduced to just two. Tyler Steenreturns to RG but lacks the mean streak to stand out there. Especially in the run game. This group fell off in 2025, and a bounce-back can’t just be assumed. It needs to be seen first.
Both Drew Kendalland Willie Lampkin can also play the pivot. Kendall has a single start in his career. Combined, they have played in 7 games, with none of those games being by Lampkin. They are young. Correction, they are Similac young. Dropper feed young. There is versatility here, but no truly experienced depth. (-)
C: Cam Jurgenswas voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, but in all truth he kind of sucked in 2025, due to his back. He gutted through it for 14 starts, then was one of two Eagles offensive linemen to receive stem cell treatment in Colombia, during the offseason. It’ll be interesting to see if there’s a resurgence of the Brotherly Shove in 2026, or if the Eagles keep avoiding it, and lend credence to the accusation that it’s an increased injury risk.
Behind Jurgens are Wilie Lampkin, Drew Kendall andJake Majors. The only one of them that’s ever played a snap in a real game, is Kendall with seven games and one start, during week 18. All four players at this position are also listed as Guards, so there is some versatility, but it’s very green. (-)
In A Nutshell: A brand new offensive system, and an Offensive Line that has to prove that it isn’t washed. Otherwise, there are some great pieces here. (-)
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DEFENSE:
DE: Brandon Graham(8 – 3.0 – 0 – 0) is currently still on the roster and listed at this position, despite being used last year as an interior rusher. He played just 113 total snaps in 9 games. Ta’Quon Graham (no relation) comes over as a free agent from Atlanta. He’s already a longshot to make the roster. Many of the players who would normally be listed as an End, are listed by the Eagles as OLB, and will be discussed there. (-)
DT Jordan Davis seals victory by blocking a FG. Then recovering it. Then returning it for a touchdown.
DT: Jalen Carter(33 – 3.0 – 0 – 0) Missed six games last year with shoulder injuries. Don’t let the numbers fool you, he faces double teams consistently, and still manages to be highly disruptive, batting down 7 passes last year. Jordan Davis(72 – 4.5 – 0 – 0) blocked and returned a field goal for a touchdown, and also batted down 6 passes. He had a monster year, where he was likely the most impactful player on the Defense and Special Teams. Which earned him a fat three year extension.
Moro Ojomo (38 – 6.0 – 0 – 0) has been a solid back-up, and will command a boatload of money once his rookie deal is up. Byron Young(37 – 2.5 – 0 – 1) had a nice year and will look to prove that he can be a consistent part of a rotation. Ty Robinson (5 tackles) needs to step his game up. (+)
OLB: (Players in this paragraph play on the Defensive Line.) Jaylx Hunt(52 – 6.5 – 3 – 1) led the team in both sacks (6.5) and interceptions (3) despite just starting 9 games. Nolan Smith (31 – 3 – 0 – 0) had an unremarkable 2025. He’s had big moments, but at 238 pounds he might be too small to rely on, on the line. Joe Tyron-Shoyinka and Arnold Ebiketie are free agents brought in to possibly bolster the pass rush.
Zack Baun(123 – 3.5 – 2 – 1) is an actual off-ball ‘backer. He covers well, plays the run great and is an effective blitzer. Smael Mondon (11 tackles) has to this point been a Special Teamer. He has the physical tools, but he’s deep on the depth chart. (+)
MLB/ILB: Jihaad Campbell(80 – 0.0 – 1 – 1) made enough of an impression as rookie, to render another player expendable, and take over his starting role. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (32 tackles) is the back-up, in a role that used to belong to his father. He’s not as physical, but has stickier fingers. Chandler Martin and Chance Campbellwere free agents brought in as depth. (+)
S:Andrew Mukuba (46 – 0.5 – 2 – 0) was improving weekly during his rookie season, until he was injured and lost for the season. Marcus Epps (21 tackles) made four starts last season. Epps isn’t a bad player, but he plays to not get beat, instead playing to make the play. So he’s always regarded as “experienced” or “veteran” or “reliable”, but never “good”. Andre Sam is on the roster. Still. (-)
S Andrew Mukuba gets first career interception from that OTHER Kelce’s drop.
CB: Currently the Eagles have 12 players at this position, but I’m only talking about the 6 likely to make the roster. Quinyon “Quinyonamo Bay” Mitchell (45 – 0.0 – 0 – 1) still doesn’t have a regular season interception, but is still very much a shutdown corner. Cooper DeJean(93 – 0.0 – 2 – 0) is possibly the best slot corner in the game. Jakorian Bennett(7 tackles) hardly saw the field, but is “traitsy” and could stick around as depth.
Michael Carter(10 tackles) is a Nickel who might be in line for a position switch. Free agent Tariq Woolen is one of the best man-coverage players in the sport, but he’s had some trouble with allowing immaturity to draw penalties. Jonathan Jones is another free agent addition. His age and experience being the key assets in a room loaded with youth. Loaded. (+)
In A Nutshell: Safety is a concern. Otherwise, this unit could ALREADY be better than last year’s. (+)
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SPECIAL TEAMS:
P: Braden Mann(72 – 49.9 – 8 – 20) kicked his way into a shiny new deal of 4 years for 14M$. With 20 punts landing inside the 20 yardline as opposed to touchbacks (8), he really sets the Defense up with a steep advantage. (+)
K Jake Elliott
K: For a second straight year, Jake Elliott(20/27 – 74.0% – 41/42 – 97.6%) has made less than 80% of his field goal attempts. That 74% is glaring, yet the Eagles reworked his contract, instead of cutting him or bringing in a second player. Not sure about the reasoning on this. (-)
In A Nutshell: Mann should take photos with the Defense. Competition needs to be brought in for Elliott. (-)
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BOTTOM LINE:
The Eagles biggest problem, is mostly that they have to demonstrate that they don’t have any big problems. Speculation about them is rampant, but actual evidence of their demise, is sorely lacking. Prediction: 12 – 5
HEAD Coach Nick Sirianni, wisely manufactured a Bye week for our starters last week. Sadly, our back-ups fell just a little short of securing the #2 seed. Guess we’ll just have to settle for the #3 seed, and host at least one playoff game at home. This week’s opponent, the 49ers, chased seeding and played their starters last week. They not only lost the game, they got two of their starting LB’s injured, where they may miss this game.
So Nick was right.
With a 1,000 yard rusher in RB Saquon Barkley; two 1,000 yard receivers in WRA.J. Brown and WR DeVonta Smith; and TE Dallas Goedertwho caught 11 touchdown passes this season, the Eagles can put all kinds of different stress on defenses. Our opponent, really has the one guy, in RB Christian McCaffrey.
Can Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio, scheme up a way to minimize McCaffery’s impact on the game? Can LBZack Baun, CBCooper DeJean, and our man-eating Defensive Line execute that scheme? The smart money is on ‘YES!’.
With a win, we move onto the Divisional round. There, we’ll most likely travel to Chicago, to face the Bears. (Unless something really weird happens.)
With a loss, our season ends, but our players at least wouldn’t have to get on a plane, to come home and clean out their lockers.
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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 likeRunning the ball; playing lots of Man Press; and Tackling 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 Forty-Niners.
1) Run At Their DE’s:The 49ers are small, don’t have much depth, and are banged up, up front. Making matters worse, are their injuries at LB. Particularly at MLB, where their current starter was at home, unemployed three weeks ago. Shouldn’t take much for us to cause confusion and miscommunication in their second level.
What’s more, their pass rush has been anemic. Catching their DE’s playing the pass on 2nd and 8, or 3rd and 4, would be a nice way to gash big holes for Barkley. As a team, we need to put up 150 rushing yards. This should be like beating a fish in a race, because it doesn’t have legs and can’t breathe air. Their disadvantages are our advantages. Use them!
2) Get Their QB’s Feet Moving:He already doesn’t have a rocket launcher for an arm. So forcing deeper throws, while getting him to throw off-platform, could turn this game into a blowout in our favor. No need to blitz him, just rush him with a plan, and don’t let him get his feet set!
3) Unleash A.J. Brown:That man should see at least 8 targets, and at least two of them should be Go routes. The 49ers have nothing remotely in the form of an answer for Brown. So, we should take full advantage and put on a vulgar display of power. This week’s game should leave our next opponent shaken to their core.
4) Muddy Coverage Underneath:Corners in Man Coverage, Safeties slight delays on dropbacks, Linebackers in shallow zones. The idea is to keep the passing windows tight, and delay quick releases by the QB. Causing the QB to hold the ball longer activates our pass rush, and works hand-in-glove with making their QB move his feet.
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If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
The 49ers let it slip last week, that the Eagles were not the opponent they wanted to face in the playoffs. Goes to show, they may talk a lot of shit, but they know exactly what the fuck is up. Every indication says that this game is essentially feeding rabbits to lions, and the San Francisco rabbits, KNOW IT.
This is provided that the Eagles can successfully muzzle our Offensive Coordinator. If we could somehow, get him into a large wooden crate marked “Fragile”, we could ship him somewhere, and the team would be safe! Alas, we may be stuck with him making actual decisions.
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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.
