In our submittal publish I requested who’s the Eagles’ MVP by means of 4 video games: Reed Blankenship, AJ Brown, Jake Elliott, or D’Andre Swift. With 66% of the vote, the winner is… Jake Elliott!
If solely he had 61%. Elliott is in his seventh yr with the Eagles, in each years with the crew and in discipline objective makes an attempt he has had half the profession that David Akers has. However if you wish to say that he’s already the very best kicker in crew historical past, you gained’t get any argument from me. And if he isn’t, it’s only a matter of time. He has hit two 61 yarders. With the sport on the road, he has but to overlook. He’s 5 for 5 on FGs within the last minute of the sport to take the lead or tie, and is 2 for 2 in OT. Akers was 8 for 11 within the last minute to take the lead or tie, although two of these misses had been from 57 and 59; and he was 4 for six in OT.
On to your questions. A number of questions had been about Dallas Goedert, which we’ll discuss in a separate piece.
Some questions have been flippantly edited for typos
Fly Like An Eagle: Lots of people complain that we’re not enjoying our A sport and we’ve but to see the Eagles at their finest, which I might agree. However how a lot of our tough video games would you attribute to the truth that groups are enjoying as much as the Eagles stage? For instance each time we play a crew that offers up loads of sacks it looks as if we wrestle to get to the quarterback and so they scheme the ball out shortly.
Definitely if you end up coming off a Tremendous Bowl season, and one the place you had been a dominant common season crew, you’re going to get a bit extra consideration from groups than they might give, say, the Cardinals. The Eagles are usually not catching anybody off guard.
However I don’t suppose the opposite groups have actually raised their sport to the Eagles stage. The Patriots are simply plain awful and didn’t play effectively, they gained 43 yards on their first 5 possessions after which had been chasing the sport with an offense that may’t put up factors, they scored 30 factors simply as soon as final yr and this yr are thirtieth in scoring. The Vikings misplaced 4 fumbles, which is extraordinarily unfortunate by Minnesota. The Buccaneers is likely to be cromulent, however they performed poorly towards the Eagles, the Baker Mayfield renaissance referred to as out that night time. The Commanders gave the Eagles hassle final yr, divisional video games could be bizarre, there’s normally that one crew that’s a thorn in your facet, for the previous few years it’s been Washington. Since 2019 eight of the 9 video games vs WASTEAM have been inside 10 factors. (The one which wasn’t was when Carson Wentz was sacked 9 occasions.)
An issue this crew is dealing with proper now could be that they’ve gotten away from their offensive identification from final yr, and it was a deliberate change.
Final season the Eagles had a 56/43 run/go ratio which was the twenty second lowest go price; and used 11 personnel (3 WR, 1 TE, 1RB), on 72% of first downs, which was fifth most, and 12 personnel (2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB) on 21% of first downs, which was twenty second. And final season no crew threw to their WRs extra usually than the Eagles, and each crew threw to their RBs extra usually. They tore up the league.
Thus far, none that’s not the case, and it’s more likely to keep that method.
This season the Eagles have a 54/45 run/go ratio, which is the twenty eighth lowest go price; they use 11 personnel on 62% of 1st downs, which is tenth most, and 12 personnel on 30% of 1st downs, which is ninth most. And they’re right down to ninth in WR goal share and as much as seventeenth in RB goal share. Tight finish share is nearly unchanged, 18% for 18th final yr, 17% for twentieth this yr.
The Eagles traded for D’Andre Swift partially due to his talents as a go catcher, and his nice begin isn’t solely giving them no purpose to get away from utilizing him, however he’s on tempo to have the fewest catches of his profession, even should you don’t depend Week 1. I might anticipate to see a bit extra of Swift as a go catcher.
Each crew goes to make changes like getting the ball out faster towards the Eagles go rush, or enjoying safeties deep to attempt to negate the deep menace of AJ Brown and Devonta Smith. However the Eagles are additionally serving to the opposition out by getting away from their very own strengths.
JimWhit: Why does Hurts look so sluggish?
There are a number of potential solutions.
The scary one is that he’s simply slower now. Finally the invoice will come due on the wear and tear and tear he’s accumulating as a runner, it occurs to everybody. I don’t suppose that’s what is going on, however sooner or later it should, and we’re getting a glimpse of it.
One risk is that regardless of not displaying up on the harm report he’s bodily bothered by one thing. One thing that isn’t sufficient to restrict him in follow, a minor nagging ailment. Perhaps it was from successful he took in a sport, or perhaps it was one thing in follow or coaching camp. If in March it’s revealed that Hurts was enjoying by means of say a minor groin or hip abductor harm, we’ll go “effectively, that explains that.” It doesn’t assist that he’s taken hits at the next price this season, 7.7%, than final yr, 4.8%, although perhaps that’s a rooster or the egg scenario. Is he not 100% due to the hits he’s taken, or is he taking extra hits as a result of he’s not 100%?
Or maybe that hit and fumble in New England shook his confidence a bit. He put his crew able to lose, and although they didn’t lose, such a mistake can change the best way somebody performs, no less than within the brief time period. We are able to’t overlook that he hasn’t fumbled since. His longest streak of video games with out fumbling is three, final yr, and a kind of video games was the Week 18 Giants sport. If he doesn’t fumble on Sunday, he’ll be on a profession lengthy streak.
immynimmy: Why is Jack Stoll not talked about as probably the greatest TE backup blockers within the league?
As a result of nobody talks about blocking backup tight ends. However yeah, he’s been good at blocking. However he additionally gives nothing as a receiver, so enjoying him is actually like enjoying a person down when passing. That’s not a lot of an issue with this crew when the opposite choices are so good and enjoying effectively, however it’s a handicap, and as we noticed above they’re enjoying extra 12 personnel. Towards Washington Stoll performed simply 6 snaps because the crew went extraordinarily heavy with 11 personnel to maintain Emmanuel Forbes on the sphere for WASTEAM, and Jalen Hurts had his finest sport as a passer this season. I don’t suppose that may be a coincidence.
Kephas: 4 video games into the 2023 season, is that this the most important assortment of “meh” groups the NFL has assembled? I imply, The Athletic has Tampa Bay because the tenth finest crew, and ESPN has them because the ninth…
Nicely, they’re improper. Tampa is exceeding expectations, however they’re not that good. Two of their wins had been towards the Vikings, who stink, and the Bears, who’re simply embarrassingly unhealthy. This time final yr ESPN had the Packers 4th and the Bucs eighth, whereas the 49ers had been twelfth… energy rankings/polls are topic to massive biases is win totals and the final sport performed. The Bucs are 3-1 in order that they’re going to get ranked over 2-2 groups which have performed higher.
As for the meh issue… 2021 was fairly meh. The highest seed within the NFC had 13 wins however a 79 level differential, which is actually weak for a 1 seed, the highest seed within the AFC was even worse at 65. They each went one and performed, and the opposite 13 win crew additionally misplaced within the 2nd spherical, so the 2 finest groups by document within the common season didn’t even make it to the convention title sport. The Tremendous Bowl was a 4 seed vs a 4 seed. The worst crew within the league gained 3 video games, which wouldn’t get you the #1 choose in 8 of the earlier 10 seasons. 8 groups gained 8 or 9 video games. There was a tie. That was a meh yr.
TraugDog: Is there anybody on the market we are able to goal (by way of commerce) that might assist us both within the Slot or at Security? It seems like that is likely to be our Achilles heel in a deep playoff run.
The apparent name for Howie Roseman is to the Panthers for security Jeremy Chinn, who they might have drafted in the event that they didn’t take Jalen Hurts. The Panthers secondary is already decimated with accidents although, so it could be robust for them to make a commerce.
But when I’m including a DB in-season, I’d favor it to be a CB. I feel the Eagles would too contemplating they simply signed Bradley Roby to the follow squad.
I’m calling the Colts about Kenny Moore and seeing in the event that they’ll eat some wage; the Raiders about Marcus Peters, and the Panthers about Troy Hill in the event that they gained’t deal Chinn. You’re not getting high quality in the course of the season, simply getting one thing greater than a heat physique is about what you’ll be able to hope for.
The issue is that there may very well be competitors, with Tre’Davious White out for the yr the Payments is likely to be buyers too. The Patriots simply traded for JC Jackson, however that was extra concerning the Chargers being performed with him and the Patriots galaxy braining it.
Wentzylvanian: Does Swift’s efficiency to date solidify #0 as an excellent RB quantity? Or is it a wildcard that may very well be any ability place (no method an O-lineman may pull it off – perhaps in the event that they allowed 00).
Who’s one participant on offense the Eagles may snag from a backside feeder crew to bolster depth?
#0 is a good quantity when you’ve got pace, so being fast and being named Swift made it an excellent alternative earlier than he ever performed a down. Seeing him in motion has solely made it higher. 0 ought to solely be used for RBs, punt/kick returners, one trick deep menace WRs, and CBs.
As for the second query… having already talked about Jeremy Chinn I’ll throw this on the market: I’m wondering what the Bears would need for TJ Edwards.
GottaBeGreen: Is it too early to make use of a excessive draft choose on a WR this yr? (first or second spherical) AJ Brown could have 3 years left after this yr and Davonta Smith has 2 after this yr.
There’s already not sufficient ball to go round to AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert, bringing in a excessive draft choose at WR will solely add to that. However this draft is loaded at WR, so it you need to add somebody this would be the time to do it. I might draft one in a later spherical, Quez Watkins and Olamide Zaccheaus each scheduled to be free brokers so there very effectively could also be a job opening.
D_C_U: Two questions: why are the Eagles holding Penny out, and why can’t they provide one of many rookies an opportunity at slot nook?
Penny doesn’t play particular groups, so in the event that they’re solely dressing three RBs, Penny is the person out. He additionally didn’t endear himself with the coaches together with his go blocking, so dressing 4 RBs in all probability isn’t taking place within the close to future.
As for the slot… Ringo and Ricks are usually not slot corners. The choice with them could be to do what they’re already doing with Josh Jobe and play Bradberry within the slot when wanted and Jobe on the skin. I need to say don’t overreact to 1 unhealthy play by Jobe, however the Eagles did herald Bradley Roby so it’s open season on overreacting.
robbyonfire: level PAT kicks are drudgery, virtually computerized, and time- consuming, so why not eradicate them? Right here is my various suggestion and nobody has to love it – I’m simply questioning if this boring, robotic play could be streamlined or improved upon?
Right here goes… depend each landing as seven factors. The coach can take the seven factors TD, or elect to strive for one extra level by way of a play from scrimmage from the 2 yard line, run or go. If profitable the crew scores 8 factors complete on TD plus conversion.
If the D shuts down the additional level from scrimmage try the worth of the TD is diminished to six factors.
This manner there’s NEVER a PAT kick so as to add one level to a six level landing and the sport – each time a coach elects to take 7 factors for a TD with no conversion try, is sped up.
So you’re taking the 7 level TD; otherwise you rating 6 or 8 factors on the TD drive per the conversion from scrimmage consequence.
Is that this suggestion OK, or am I lacking one thing?
This concept has been floated round, and I find it irresistible. It provides technique, it provides threat, and it flips a play that’s extraordinarily boring to 1 that’s all the time thrilling. I’d add that if the protection is ready to run it again, they get some extent, much like the two level conversion. The NFL has seemed on the XFL’s kickoffs as a possible change. The XFL and USFL are merging, I might like to see them use this. The one oppositions to it that I can see are “this isn’t how the sport was meant to be performed” to which I might reply by declaring that passing the ball was once unlawful. The opposite opposition could be for security causes, which is affordable, however I might level on the market that Rob Gronkowski broke his forearm blocking on a PAT.
pier 3 iggle: The OC and DC have been dicey to date, no less than for a crew that has an ideal document. Steichen and Gannon improved after their 1st 4 video games. Can we anticipate a giant enchancment going ahead?
We should always anticipate an enchancment within the second half of the season as Brian Johnson and Sean Desai proceed to adapt to their gamers. I simply wouldn’t anticipate it to be huge. The one different groups with new play callers on offense and protection are these with a brand new head coach. So in a method that is like having a brand new teaching workers. You’ll be able to sort of have a look at this as a scenario the place a veteran core crew will get a brand new head coach, however one who had some earlier success. It’s commonplace for a profitable skilled head coach introduced in to win to comparatively wrestle at first.
Jimmy Johnson in Miami, Tony Dungy in Indianapolis, Invoice Parcells in New England, and Dick Vermeil in Kansas Metropolis all had their worst seasons there of their first yr. Marty Schottenheimer in Kansas Metropolis and Marv Levy in Buffalo had their second worst season of their first yr, with their worst being their final. A few of these coaches had been extra profitable than others, however nobody was hitting the panic button in these first seasons.
Now after all Nick Sirianni was the pinnacle coach final yr, and the core of the roster is identical, so the comparability isn’t completely honest. However this isn’t your normal teaching scenario.
Nevertheless it’s additionally not far off from one in at the moment’s NFL. 9 of the 13 different playoff groups from final yr modified a major play caller this yr: the Payments (DC), Buccaneers (OC), Chargers (OC), Cowboys (OC), Dolphins (DC), Jaguars (OC), Ravens (OC), Vikings (DC), and 49ers (DC); and the Giants and made and in-season change, Brian Daboll claims he didn’t take over play calling duties, however it was fairly clear on Monday he had. Aside from the 49ers, all of these groups have had their share of early season issues.
captain nodar: Why does Hurts proceed to take sacks by going out of bounds? He’s a better participant than that. I do know he’s attempting to focus downfield and make a play, however there’s merely no excuse to take a operating out of bounds sack, as you’re out of the pocket and simply must throw the ball away into the sideline.
It’s irritating when gamers do that. It’s not like they’re risking an interception.
I’m wondering if it’s the NFL model of when NBA gamers don’t take a very lengthy vary shot they know they don’t have any likelihood making on the finish of 1 / 4 or with the shot clock about to run out to not harm their capturing share. This isn’t a Jalen Hurts particular factor, however for instance in his profession Hurts has taken 10 sacks for a 0 yard loss, if these had been as an alternative incompletions his profession completion share would drop half some extent, from 62.9 to 62.4. Sack share hasn’t reached the identical stage as completion share in QB discourse–it ought to–so upping that to maintain the completion share up is a selfishly worthwhile commerce off.
NomadEaglesFan: Is there any likelihood that we’ll see the corners play extra press protection briefly yardage conditions?
I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Sean Desai didn’t press a lot when he was with the Bears, and it doesn’t match Darius Slay and James Bradberry’s video games.
sssetz: After that penalty on the Howell hit proper as he was going out of bounds BUT additionally reaching for a primary down, what if the NFL modified the official rule to if a participant has BOTH toes out as an alternative of only one? One foot out means the participant is technically out of bounds, however I really feel like for the gamers operating full pace they should clearly be a bit extra “OUT”. Ideas?
The league isn’t going to alter a rule to make the sport extra bodily. Definitely not the late hit rule.
folesandpederson: My query is can we take away ALL NY Giants video games from nationwide TV with Daniel Jones for the remainder of our lives as beginning quarterback ???. How can U present up as a coach with Jones as your qb this yr ???? Severely
4 of the Giants first six video games are on nationwide TV. 4 of six! They’re on Sunday Night time Soccer once more in two weeks, towards the Payments. Additionally they have a Monday Night time Soccer sport in Week 14 towards the Packers, the Giants will likely be coming off a bye for that sport. Perhaps they’ll have a brand new beginning QB for that sport. Or a brand new coach.
The Giants have as many prime time video games scheduled this season because the Eagles. However moderately than be upset or aggravated about it, I select to embrace it. Embrace it with me. The Giants had been enormous frauds final yr, however as a result of most individuals weren’t actually paying consideration their fraudulence went below the radar. This yr, with Coach of the Yr™ Brian Daboll and $81M man Daniel Jones, all eyes have been on them. The nation simply watched the Giants rating a complete of 15 factors of their three prime time video games this season. Now everybody is aware of what we already knew: the Giants are huge frauds.
Cravin’ LeBlanc: Why can’t we be blissful at 4-0?
WHY DO YOU THINK WE AREN’T HAPPY?!?!
Severely although… as a result of this crew is meant to be a Tremendous Bowl contending crew, and thru 4 video games they don’t fairly appear to be one. This crew is, to date, lower than the sum of its elements.
There’s no singular purpose why, however there are a number of elements, a few of which we talked about earlier right here. Hurts isn’t enjoying his finest as a runner. The offense hasn’t all the time put its finest personnel on the sphere like they had been final yr. They’ve new play callers on each side of the ball, early season struggles must be anticipated. Additionally identify a random Eagle from final yr and so they in all probability had a profession yr, or close to profession yr, a drop off is pure.
And but they’re undefeated. 4-0 is nice. It’s higher than 30 different groups. In the event that they go 7-6 the remainder of the best way they’re an 11 win crew. Getting the seventh seed could be a large disappointment but when issues go south they’re already two video games up on the seventh seed.
There’s nonetheless loads of time for this crew to hit excessive gear. Once they completely pummel a crew like they did final yr, we should always and can really feel higher. Go Birds.
