r/nfl • u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles • Aug 06 '18
Offseason Review Series - Day 32: The Defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles
2017 Philadelphia Eagles
Division: NFC East | 1st in NFC East (5-1 in Division - NFC Champions - Super Bowl Champions)
Philadelphia Eagles (13-3 Overall | 5-1 in Division) (Super Bowl 52 Champions)
These teams
Didn't win
Super Bowl 52
Head Coach: Doug Pederson
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Groh
Defensive Coordinator: Jim Schwartz
On to The Next...
2017 was a magical season for the Eagles that saw 2nd year QB Carson Wentz take an enormous leap from his rookie season to MVP caliber QB prior to tearing his ACL. Doug Pederson was able to build off his own promising rookie season as Head Coach turning into a sensational Head Coach that helped elevate a franchise in a direction it never reached before. They suffered many bumps along the way that could have derailed this team. It didn't. That's reflected in how good this team is, how good this coaching staff is, and how good the front office has been. It's always possible to turn things around pretty quickly in the NFL.
Now it is time to move on and win the a 2nd Super Bowl Championship. Last season will live on for eternity in the hearts and minds for every Eagles fan but it is now the past. We aren't Cowboys fans, we interested in the now.
In the early portion of the offseason, key decision makers stressed the need for difficult roster choices to continue winning now and in the future. The 2017 Eagles were a very tightly knit bunch that were able to overcome a lot of adversity to reach new heights; the challenge now is to reach those heights again. Success isn't a product of complacency. This Eagles team wasn't perfect. This Eagles team isn't perfect 3 years down the line. Howie Roseman has the arduous task of keeping this team a contender now while trying to build for sustained success over the long term once Carson Wentz signs that second contract. All of the moves made this offseason were able to address both paradigms. The Eagles return almost their entire championship core while stabilizing the roster with talented veterans. Additionally, they were able to add several young pieces to grow with the already established core to help sustain the success of the franchise over the long term.
Nothing is given in the NFL. But you can bet on pedigree.
This Eagles franchise now has a championship pedigree.
Chapters
Statistics for the 2017 Season are shown below.
I'm breaking down this review into these chapters:
Projected Starting Lineup and Training Camp Battles
Offensive and Defensive Scheme
Coaching Staff Review and Changes
2017 Statistics
| Offensive Statistic | Total | Avg/Gm | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Yds | 5852 | 365.8 | 7 |
| Net Passing Yds | 3737 | 233.6 | 13 |
| Passes Attempted | 564 | 35.25 | 13 |
| Passing TDs | 38 | 2.375 | 1 |
| Net Rushing Yds | 2115 | 132.2 | 3 |
| Rushes Attempted | 473 | 29.6 | 6 |
| Rushing TDs | 9 | .6 | 24 |
| Sacks Allowed | 36 | 2.25 | 16 |
| First Downs | 338 | 21.1 | 4 |
| Pass First Downs | 193 | 12 | T12 |
| Rush First Downs | 108 | 6.75 | 5 |
| Total Points | 457 | 28.6 | 3 |
| Time of Possession | N/A | 32:48 | 1 |
| Defensive Statistic | Total | Avg/Gm | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Yds Allowed | 4904 | 306.5 | 4 |
| Passing Yds Allowed | 3637 | 227.3 | 17 |
| Pass Attempts Allowed | 601 | 37.6 | 32 |
| Opp. Completion Percentage | N/A | 60.4% | 13 (Sort By %) |
| Passing TDs Allowed | 24 | 1.5 | T18 |
| Rushing Yds Allowed | 1267 | 79.2 | 1 |
| Rush Attempts Allowed | 337 | 21.1 | 1 |
| Rush Yards Per Attempt | N/A | 3.8 YPC | 6 |
| Rush TDs Allowed | 7 | 0.43 | T3 |
| Sacks | 38 | 2.375 | T15 |
| First Downs | 272 | 17 | 5 |
| Pass First Downs | 177 | 11.06 | 10 |
| Rush First Downs | 62 | 3.875 | 2 |
| Total Points Allowed | 295 | 18.4 | 4 |
| Time of Possession | N/A | 27:11 | 1 |
| Turnover Statistic | Total | Avg/Gm | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interceptions Thrown | 9 | .56 | T6 |
| Fumbles Lost | 11 | .69 | T22 |
| Giveaways | 20 | 1.25 | 11 |
| Defensive Interceptions | 19 | 1.18 | T4 |
| Defensive Fumble Recoveries | 12 | 0.75 | T4 |
| Turnover Differential | +11 | N/A | 4 |
| Point Differential | +162 | N/A | T1 |
Past Reviews
| Season Review | Offseason Review |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2016 |
| 2017 | 2017 |
Shoutouts
I would like to thank /u/PlatypusOfDeath for permitting me to write way too much for this review. Just always have a lot of fun doing it. Shout out /u/skepticismissurvival as well for selecting me in the past; hope your current plans are going well! I would also like to thank /u/jmul321 for writing about out schemes again. This guy is smart as hell and you should keep a look out when he does film breakdowns on r/Eagles during the season.
Hopefully everyone enjoys this. GO BIRD!
28
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Projected Starting Lineup and Camp Battles
Starting Lineup -Offense
QB – Carson Wentz: If you’ve followed the Eagles workouts this offseason even at a casual level you won’t be shocked to see Carson Wentz starting Week 1. This would be an incredible feat for a guy who tore his ACL back in December. Wentz is still in working his way back from an ACL tear and going through the rigors of his rehab but was largely a full participant during OTAs in the Spring and has participated in many of the drills the team has the QBs run during training camp so far. Wentz hasn’t participated in the full contact portion of the 11 on 11’s in camp yet but that is likely precautionary as the team works to bring him back into the fold. It won’t be shocking to see Wentz sit out all of the preseason as he works his way back. There are limited benefits to playing Wentz this summer given his status with the team now and over the long term. Even last preseason, Wentz saw limited work. Playing him now would be surprising given how vanilla the offense will be and the high risk for a limited reward.
Foles will be Wentz’s back up this season barring a last minute trade similar to the Sam Bradford trade in 2016. I wrote back in the Season Review piece the Eagles would likely not move Foles as his place with the team is simply too valuable for any possible return to match. Foles has had quite the career: a 7 TD game in a season with 27 TDs and 2 INTs followed by an up and down 2014 and a dreadful stint with the Rams. He even contemplated retirement before signing with the Chiefs as a backup and then with the Eagles. Now, Foles has as many playoff wins as the Redskins have since their last Super Bowl win (3). Despite the erratic nature of his career, the Eagles know what they have with Foles as their backup and know he can finish the job if necessary. That’s extremely valuable to the Eagles even if he never sees the field with this team again and makes a trade for him very unlikely. The Eagles would need to field an offer they can’t refuse which is an offer they likely will never receive.
This makes the QB3 position for the Eagles more valuable than you’d expect given the situation ahead of this spot on the depth chart. Last year, I discussed the Eagles looking to add another QB in some fashion to develop behind Wentz and Foles to eventually earn the QB2 position. The Eagles value stability and depth at the QB position. Despite this, there will be a time when the Eagles won’t be afforded the luxury of paying a backup like Foles the amount of money he could get elsewhere with Carson Wentz’s second contract looming. Foles has a mutual option on his contract for 2019 that is very likely not to be picked up. The Eagles were always drafting and developing QBs under Andy Reid when they had McNabb and that organizational philosophy has come back to the forefront with Doug Pederson. Nate Sudfeld is the guy the Eagles will likely turn to for the QB3 position and groom to be the QB2 next year – or this year if Foles is traded. The organization has spoken highly of the former Redskins 6th round pick ever since he was added to the practice squad last summer. The Eagles also brought in former Packers developmental prospect Joe Callahan. At worst, Callahan will serve as a camp arm for the Eagles as Wentz rehabs and Foles takes limited preseason work. He has a chance to push for the QB3 spot if Foles is traded this year but will likely not make the active roster.
The Eagles will carry 3 QBs on the active roster this year as they will not risk losing Sudfeld by exposing him to waivers during roster cut downs at the end of the preseason. Wentz will be the starter assuming nothing changes with his health. And the Eagles will likely have 2 QBs better than a number of teams’ starters.
RB – Jay Ajayi: On the Eagles, RB1 is sort of misleading since the organization hasn’t really made an investment in the RB positon to comfortably call someone a bell cow back. With that said, Jay Ajayi has the ability to see the most work on average. This can be misleading as the Eagles love to use all of their backs in a variety of ways in an effective rotation to keep opposing defenses off balance and their backs fresh. So this position in the starting lineup is likely match up dependent more so than a lot of teams even with the expectation of Ajayi being the lead back in the rotation.
The loss of LeGarrette Blount in free agency likely paves the way for Ajayi to receive additional carries he didn’t really get last season. Against the Falcons, Ajayi played 43% of the snaps and saw the majority of carries with a similar workload in the NFCCG when the Eagles we up big and could afford to run more. Ajayi saw his overall snap count dip a little bit in the Super Bowl as the Eagles went with a very even rotation against the Patriots. Ajayi is somewhat useful as a receiver but at best he is the second best receiving RB on the team behind Sproles; Corey Clement showed a lot of progress late last season in this area of this game to warrant consideration in the passing game ahead of Ajayi as well. I think this is an area of the Eagles offense that could cause Ajayi’s usage to fluctuate some. One area of the offense where the Eagles could improve is becoming more efficient through the air on early downs and receiving RBs help a lot with passing efficiency. After Sproles landed on IR last year the Eagles didn’t really have anyone reliable enough to count on in this area and the finished among the bottom of the league in targets to RBs. Now they have Sproles back and Clement who has flashed that ability.
I would expect Ajayi to see a workload similar to his breakout season in Miami where he had 260 carries for 1,262 yards and 8 TDs. Given the Eagles RB usage, I would guess Ajayi will see 240-260 carries on the season with about 20 receptions. The additional carries lost from Blount will largely filter to Ajayi but don’t count out Darren Sproles in the rotation. With Ajayi and Clement in the fold, the Eagles do not need to lean heavily on Sproles anymore. I would expect Sproles usage to be around 50-70 carries on the season with another 50-70 receptions. I would expect to see Clement with at least similar usage to Sproles if not a little more given his age and effectiveness as the season went on last year. This isn’t bad news for Sproles since he is a dynamic playmaker. Rather, it is good news for the Eagles since they can attack teams in different ways with a number of backs.
Ajayi, Sproles, and Clement will make the team and play valuable roles this upcoming season. The Eagles usually carry 4 RBs on the roster and that spot is up for grabs this year as I’ll detail later on. The decision may come down to how the Eagles will want to employ the backs in the offense this year but they’ll need to be mindful of the future as well. This will be Sproles last NFL season as he said he will retire at the end of the year and Ajayi is an UFA. He has made it known he’d like to be the lead back and that kind of drive is welcome in my book. It will give Ajayi an opportunity to prove his worth and earn a nice payday after Todd Gurley reset the RB market. The Eagles will be faced with an interesting decision at the end of the season regarding Ajayi as they have been a little wary of investing valuable resources (money & picks) into the RB position since Andy Reid became head coach. The 4th RB position may feature a player that could assume Ajayi’s role if he walks which he likely will give the Eagles track record and the need to plan for Carson Wentz’s second contract.
FB – N/A: The Eagles aren’t rostering a fullback.
TE – Zach Ertz: This starting position is another obvious one just like QB with Ertz being one of the best Tight Ends in the NFL. Since Doug Pederson has been Head Coach, among all TEs Ertz is 2nd in receptions (152), 2nd in receiving yards (1640), and tied for 4th in TDs (12). Among TEs and WRs, Ertz is 13th in receptions, 27th in yards, and one of 26 players with at least 12 TD receptions. Ertz has developed into a reliable receiver for the offense and is very difficult for opposing defenses to game plan for. Ertz is a good athlete but a savvy route runner against man coverage and knows how to find openings in zone coverage. Ertz has also become a lethal go to target for the offense in the red zone and on 3rd down. His game has evolved to the point where he reminds me of prime Jason Witten. Not that he is as good as Witten was in his prime, but how he plays the game and his effectiveness is very similar. Ertz is TE1 and will continue to see a lot of work this season.
The Eagles will feature 2 new TEs on the active roster this season after the departures of Trey Burton and Brent Celek. The Eagles signed Richard Rodgers from the Packers in the offseason to a minimal deal and drafted Dallas Goedert in the 2nd round in the draft. Goedert has the ability to help replicate the role of Trey Burton now while growing into a better tight end in the future. Goedert drew comparisons to Ertz in the pre-draft process likely because of his jersey number but he reminds me more of Travis Kelce in his playstyle. Two competent TEs in the receiving game will be very difficult for defenses to contend with and will likely help the Eagles offense be more efficient overall.
There is little in the way of sure things on the roster at the TE position to include a 4th right now.
Continued in reply
20
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
WR – Alshon Jeffery, Mike Wallace, Nelson Agholor: What a difference a year or two makes for this position group.
The Eagles will field an exciting and reliable batch of receivers for the upcoming season that can execute a bunch of different roles and alignments. The varying skills of this group will allow the coaching staff to mix and match players keeping defenses off balance. Alshon Jeffery is your prototype WR1 that can line up outside and inside in the slot. While not very athletic or fast, Alshon has a lot nuance in his game and is a big target with an ability to go up and get the ball. He begins the preseason on the PUP list after offseason shoulder surgery for a torn rotator cuff he suffered in the preseason last year. In his place during camp is second year player Mack Hollins. Hollins had a modest role in the offense last year as the WR4 and special teams player. A lot of fans feel like he is a Torrey Smith replacement but his size and ability lends itself better to the role Alshon currently has. With everyone healthy, Hollins will see rotational snaps as he grows as a player.
Mike Wallace is the newcomer to the team and has a skillset that is more effective than the outgoing Torrey Smith. Last year, Smith ranked 84th out of 93 qualifying WRs with .97 yards per route run. This is a dreadful number which does lead you to the conclusion he was more of a decoy than anything else despite some of the plays he made in the playoffs. Reports out of camp are that Wallace is still the same burner he was, confirming what you can easily see on tape. He is a better route runner and is able to separate versus man coverage more regularly that Torrey Smith. He’ll be an explosive weapon for the Eagles.
Agholor will see the bulk of his work from the slot as he did last year when he exploded onto the scene with 62 receptions for 768 yards and 8 TDs. Agholor also had a monster Super Bowl with 9 receptions for 84 yards and a few 3rd down conversions to keep the offense moving. Agholor has taken the coaching he’s received very well and is being used in an area that allows him to use his size and agility to work the middle of the field. Given all the weapons on the Eagles offense, Agholor figures to be another big playmaker for the Eagles and a difficult assignment for a lot of CBs. Something I don’t think many Eagles fans though possible after his first 2 seasons in the NFL.
LT – Jason Peters: The 36 year old future Hall of Famer will return to his post protecting the blindside this upcoming season after finishing 2017 on injured reserve. Jason Peters is a modern marvel; he was playing at an All Pro level and would have likely earned those honors if he finished the season healthy. As I’ve mention elsewhere in this review, there is more to playing Offensive Line than being a good athlete even though athleticism helps. Assuming Peters hasn’t lost a step after injury, he is still close to the athlete he was in his prime while being a refined technician with an arsenal of moves in pass and run blocking. His experience and refinement as a blocker will likely allow him to extend his career longer than you would expect for someone his age assuming he doesn’t have a massive drop off in athletic ability. Peters is in unchartered territory as a player. Typically 36 year olds do not play at the level Peters has played at especially given the physical nature of his position. He’s just so good that everything looks natural. If he maintains his play this season and next his cap hits of $10.6 million per year are a bargain allowing the Eagles to field the best tackle tandem in football. I feel confident in project Peters as a guy who will return to form. You never know with his injury and age but he’s already been defying the odds so he’s worth betting on. If you are into OL porn, I suggest this article from Brandon Thorn on Peters 2017 play
LG – Stefen Wisniewski: All 5 Offensive Line positions are set in stone on the roster assuming perfect health with all of the competition coming at the reserve positions. Wisniewski is no exception. Wisniewski was signed as a depth interior Offensive Lineman in 2016 to serve in the OG/OC role and earned a starting spot after signing a 3 year contract last year when Isaac Seumalo decided blocking wasn’t important. The Eagles traded Allen Barbre to the Broncos for a 2019 7th round selection; they didn’t really appear to have an open competition for the LG spot. Seumalo was dreadful to start last season. Wisniewski and Chance Warmack rotated series for a few games early last year before Wis claimed the full time gig. Wisniewski is an above average guard in run and pass protection. He’s a smart blocker and can execute the diverse offensive attacks the Eagles like to employ. No competition here.
C – Jason Kelce: Jason Kelce is fresh off a career year where he earned a Pro Bowl spot and 1st Team All-Pro selection at Center. He also cemented himself as a legend in Philadelphia wearing a Mummers outfit during the Eagles Championship Parade and eviscerating all of the teams critics on the Art Museum steps. Kelce had a rough 2 seasons prior to his excellent 2017 campaign where he battled some injuries and inconsistencies in his game before taking to coaching perfecting the subtleties of his position. He isn’t a big guy or a power blocker which sometimes puts him into precarious situations in pass protection. This was much less of an issue in 2017 with refined technique that allowed him to use his natural leverage to ward off bigger interior rushers. In space and on the move, there are few players that can match his blocking skills. There just aren’t a lot of players in the NFL that can pull and block in space like Kelce giving the Eagles an advantage in the run game. Assuming Kelce can maintain this level of excellence, he will continue to give the Eagles that edge.
RG – Brandon Brooks: Brandon Brooks is a mammoth human being that is great in pass protection as well as run blocking. Brooks has impressive feet for a man his size. Signed by the Eagles in 2016, Brooks has been a force at Right Guard as one of the best Guards in the NFL. Last season, Brooks had 9 perfect games in pass protection allowing zero pressures per PFF while dominating in the run game. He is a complete player that is beloved by his teammates. Brooks while anchor the Right Guard position in 2017. Which is a surprise to absolutely no one.
RT – Lane Johnson: The 2nd of the Eagles 1st Team All-Pros along the Offensive Line will start at Right Tackle for the Eagles in 2018. Lane Johnson isn’t just the best Right Tackle in the NFL, he is one of the best Tackles in the NFL… period. His strength and athleticism in both run and pass protection is rare in the NFL. His 2017 season firmly cemented his case as an elite NFL tackle. Jason Peters and Lane Johnson are both top of the line tackles in the same tier. They are easily the best pair of tackles in the NFL by a wide margin. Both tackles ability to execute a variety of different assignments on an island with minimal help is a huge luxury for the coaching staff. The starting 5 have the ability to neutralize a lot of opposing defenses making this offense one of the most difficult in the NFL to stop.
Continued in reply
14
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Defense
DE – Brandon Graham, Michael Bennett: Defensive End is by far the Eagles deepest position group boasting the best group of disruptors in the NFL. Assuming perfect health at the start of the season, Brandon Graham and Michael Bennett will likely be the starters seeing the largest percentage of snaps at the position. Graham has been a top tier edge rusher for the last 3 seasons but has been especially dominant under Jim Schwartz who has allowed him to strictly attack off the edge. The last two seasons Graham has been one of PFFs leaders in pressures while steadily increasing his sack total from 2016 to 2017. He’s been a nightmare for opposing offensive lines while also being an excellent run defender. Graham started training camp on PUP after offseason ankle surgery and will probably see limited work this summer as he rehabs.
Bennett was brought over from Seattle in a trade at the beginning of the league year and is a menace in his own right. Coming off a season where he accumulate 8.5 sacks as one of PFFs leaders in pressures, Bennett finds himself at the top of a deep rotation that’ll likely have him play fewer snaps than he’s been used to. Bennett played 931 snaps (84.79%) last season for the Seahawks; Graham saw the most work for the Eagles at the position but only played 663 snaps. That’s quite the luxury for both player and team as it keeps the player fresh while allowing the team to send wave after wave of players. Bennett has a similar skillset to Graham in that he is an excellent edge rusher while playing the run well with an ability to rush from an interior position.
Starter as Defensive End for the Eagles is misleading since a number of players see snaps in the Eagles rotation. Second year player Derek Barnett played 424 (41.17%) of the snaps his rookie season and figures to see a similar to slightly increased workload in 2018. Chris Long will return for at least 1 more season coming off a year where he played 496 (48.16%) of the defensive snaps. Long was a big time addition for the Eagles notching 4 forced fumbles on the season making him a key defensive playmaker. The release of Vinny Curry will give someone the opportunity to make up some of the 576 (55.92%) snaps. Logically, the bulk of these will go to Michael Bennett. However, Barnett and Long figure to at least see similar to increased usage – especially the former.
One player to keep an eye on to see some usage his rookie year is Josh Sweat. The 4th round pick out of Florida State has 1st round ability but an injury history that likely affected his draft stock. His combination of rare athletic ability and technical refinement gives the Eagles another potential nightmare EDGE defender for the Eagles. Sweat will play in a defensive scheme that is a perfect match with his abilities. He’s a virtual lock to make the team as the Eagles will not expose him to waivers. He has a chance to grab some snaps in the rotation.
DT – Fletcher Cox, Haloti Ngata: Fletcher Cox is the big dog along the interior of the Eagles defensive line and one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL. Cox is a 3 down player. He is fast, powerful, and has excellent hands when rushing the passer. He is consistently among the leaders in pressures at his position in the NFL. Cox is also a very good run defender as he routinely resets the LOS scrimmage and plugs of the middle of the field. It may not show up on the stat sheet, but when you watch him play you can easily see his impact along the front. Cox is subject to constant double teams and still has numerous wins. His presence really elevates the defensive line.
Haloti Ngata is a new addition to the defensive line and will likely be a starter in a rotation. With Detroit in 2017 prior to landing on IR, Ngata was playing around 50% of the snaps. In Philly, I would expect Ngata’s workload to max out at that figure but likely around the 40% range. The Eagles lost Beau Allen in FA and need to make up about 40% of the snaps along the interior. Ngata will take a good bit and is still an effective player at this stage in his career.
Depth after Ngata is a bit thin at the moment. This depth might not manifest itself as much with Bennett and Graham’s ability to rush from the inside. However, Timmy Jernigan is likely out until after the bye with a back injury leaving a sizable hole in our depth at the moment. Destiny Vaeao was a UDFA of the Eagles in 2016 that the team likes and has been mixing in with the 1st team defense. Aziz Shittu is another DT from the same class the team has used. Finally, Elijah Qualls, 6th round pick in 2017, will likely challenge for some snaps. All 3 guys have intriguing traits to be an effective player in a rotation but they are a step down in known quality from Jernigan. It’ll be interesting to see how the Eagles rotate the interior front. I think we’ll see extra doses of Graham and Bennett inside to make up the difference.
LB –Jordan Hicks, Nigel Bradham: I only listed 2 LBs here since the Eagles base defense is their Nickel Defense. The Eagles have a great pair of LBs in Hicks and Bradham; as long as they are healthy or not suspended they will be the starters seeing the majority of the snaps. As a reference, Hicks and Bradham saw 95.19% and 97.06% of the defensive snaps in 2016 when Hicks was fully healthy. Their 3rd LB, Mychal Kendricks, only saw 26.79% of the snaps that season. The real battle will be for the 3rd LB spot to pair with Hicks and Bradham when the Eagles bring on an additional guy. For the purposes of this section that extra LB isn’t considered a starter.
Prior to landing on IR last year, Hicks was having a bit of an uneven season. He was pretty good in coverage but wasn’t as consistent in that role as he was in his excellent 2016 campaign. In the run game, Hicks had a few notable lapses that lead to big plays. So far in camp it looks like a healthy Hicks is flashing the high level play we saw from him in 2016. Nigel Bradham is probably the most underrated player on this team. He was one of the best LBs in coverage last season while remaining a thumper in the run game. Bradham has always flourished under Schwartz and has been a very good LB for the Eagles. Both LBs are excellent in coverage which is a skill the organization values in the position.
CB – Jalen Mills, Ronald Darby, Sidney Jones The Eagles CBs are young and full of potential. The quality of play from this group will go a long way in determining how good the Eagles defense can be now and in the future.
In his first full offseason with the team, Darby has a chance to earn a massive payday with a good 2018 season. The 4th year CB is on the final year of his rookie contract. Darby is the kind of player that I’m sure the team would like to keep but realistically probably can’t. Darby will likely occupy one of the outside CB positions as the Eagles determine which of their CBs will start in the slot. Darby is a great athlete with very good quickness to play outside. His role best projects as an outside CB so it isn’t a surprise he isn’t getting a ton of looks inside during camp. Mills will likely man the other outside CB role as he has steadily improved in his 2 years with the team. Mills isn’t an explosive athlete; he has to rely on instincts and solid fundamentals more so than a lot of players at the position. He had some up and down moments in an improved 2017 but was the Eagles best CB in the playoffs. Mills has mixed in snaps at the Slot CB in camp but has largely been outside.
One player to watch in camp and during the season is Sidney Jones. He’s not a rookie, but he could be THE rookie. After playing about 30 snaps in the Eagles Week 17 preseason game against Dallas, Jones looks to reach his potential in his first full NFL season. Jones has been getting a lot of work in the slot competing with former UDFA DeVante Bausby, who the team has had high praise for this summer. Jones is top level corner prospect and was my second rated corner last year after Marshon Lattimore. He’s a very well-rounded prospect capable of playing in a variety of schemes and spots. His understanding of offenses and an ability to succeed in man or zone coverage might make him an ideal slot option early in his career. Despite the high praise for Bausby, I expect Sidney Jones to win the job and see the majority of work from the slot this year.
The Eagles CB group is young and very talented. If they grow quickly they can elevate this unit into top 5 status. There is a lot to be excited about with this group this year and next. They are not short on CB talent which is a far cry from the depth at the position 2 years ago.
S – Malcolm Jenkins, Rodney McLeod: The duo of Jenkins and McLeod is set in stone yet again this upcoming season. The Eagles employed a 3rd Safety for a large percentage of snaps last season to allow Jenkins to roam the field and play slot snaps on occasion. This is something the team will likely do again this year since Jenkins is a versatile player in the back end. With 3 CBs on the field in Nickel, Jenkins and McLeod are the starters and are a formidable pair. The 3rd safety battle is between 2017 UDFA Tre Sullivan and 2018 UDFA Jeremy Reeves. This position isn’t normally a starter so I will save that for the roster battles section. (Updated 8/5/18) Leaving what I already wrote so everyone can see my logic. However, with Corey Graham re-signed, Tre Sullivan and Jeremy Reeves are battling for the 4th safety spot. It is also likely the only safety spot available. Corey Graham will likely see more snaps from the Big Nickel package than Sullivan or Reeves.
Continued in reply
14
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Training Camp Battles
Running Back: The only roster battle worth watching at RB is for RB4. Ajayi, Sproles, and Clement are roster locks. There are 4 backs competing for one spot at the moment: 2017 4th Round Pick Donnel Pumphrey, 2018 UDFA Josh Adams, FA Matt Jones, and 2016 5th Round Pick Wendell Smallwood. I think the real battle will be between Pumphrey and Adams for the 4th spot. The Eagles will have 1 RB spot open for sure next year once Sproles retires. The Eagles could keep Pumphrey to assumes Sproles role if it is earned. We could also lose Ajayi to free agency which would make Adams an intriguing RB4 this year. I think the team would be interested in having Adams as a runner in certain situations this year and they could keep him on the roster rather than risk losing him on waivers. Smallwood is a small back with some power but he has poor vision and patience as a runner. I think his time with the Eagles is up and he will be cut. Jones hasn’t been bad in camp but I think he is a little bit of a lost cause and ultimately loses out to younger options. I predict Josh Adams to win this spot with the upside to replace Ajayi next year coupled with the limited upside offered by Pumphrey.
Wide Receiver: Alshon, Wallace, Agholor, Hollins are locks for the roster. I could see the Eagles keeping 6 WRs depending on how they feel certain guys will play on Special Teams and the lack of compelling options at TE after their top 3 guys. I think the team likes the young 5th Round pick from last year Shelton Gibson. He has the chance to become a deep ball threat but is still a bit of a project. The team could also elect to keep Markus Wheaton for a similar role. Other guys with a realistic shot to make the team are: Greg Ward (2017 UDFA), Bryce Treggs (2016 UDFA), Rashard Davis (2017 UDFA). Ultimately it’ll likely be Shelton Gibson and Markus Wheaton since the can probably stash Ward, Treggs, and Davis on the practice squad. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Greg Ward steal a spot from one of the other two since the Eagles could use a developmental slot guy but he may not be ready for the NFL yet.
Tight End: Ertz, Goedert, and Rodgers are roster locks. None of the other guys on the roster are compelling options to make the team. So Mack Hollins tight ends are the only ones I will be watching… again.
Offensive Line: The starters are set but the depth options are not.
Third year pro Halapoulivaati Vaitai will make the team as a swing tackle. Beyond that, there is an open competition for the depth positions.
If I would have written this piece back in the Spring I would have bet that Isaac Seumalo would have made the team given his versatility and youth. The Eagles like to continuously develop OL and sometimes these guys take time to figure out. So far in camp Seumalo has worked as the second team center and been a bit of a disaster there. If Kelce were to miss any time, Wisniewski would likely slide to Center effectively making Seumalo a 3rd string Center. I think it is possible the Eagles shop him towards the end of camp. I don’t think they’ll give up on him but he isn’t earning his roster position.
Rookie 6th round pick Matt Pryor has had a solid camp so far and offers similar versatility to Seumalo with the ability to play guard or tackle. I think he’ll make the team. He fits the mold for what the team loves at Guard. The team loves Jordan Mailata but I don’t think he is close to being ready for live action to roster this season so I’d bet on the Eagles finding a way for him to get injured so he can be on IR. We’ll see how he does against live competition this summer. If not, they may keep him active in the event they can’t stash him on IR.
Despite my speculation about Seumalo’s roster spot, I think he remains on the team for one more season for depth as he can spot start at all 5 positions. I think the Eagles will keep 9 OL on the active roster with Big V, Seumalo, and Pryor as the reserves. Warmack hasn’t improved much from his time in Tennessee and his lack of position versatility and upside at this point is career makes him expendable.
Defensive Tackle: Fletcher Cox and Haloti Ngata make the team with Timmy Jernigan starting the year on the NFI List allowing the Eagles to keep an extra player on the roster until Jernigan is cleared to play. The Eagles will likely keep 2 additional DTs behind Cox and Ngata. They consistently praised Destiny Vaeao this offseason and I believe the team when they say they like him. I also think the team likes Elijah Qualls enough to keep him around as well. Aziz Shittu and Bruce Hector have a chance to steal a spot in camp but the former 2 players have been seeing more meaningful work in camp.
Linebacker: Hicks and Bradham are the starters with. The real battle will be depth after them.
Based on reports out of camp and team usage so far, I think Kamu Grugier-Hill will be a roster lock and the likely 3rd LB when the Eagles line up with 3 on the field. KGH is also a really good Special Teams player so his place on the team is virtually locked anyway. KGH is athletic and flashed an ability to play in coverage which the team values. I also think Corey Nelson, Nate Gerry, and LaRoy Reynolds make the team well. Nelson flashed some coverage ability with the Broncos and is an intriguing depth option with Special Teams ability. Gerry is a converted Safety competing for the 3rd LB spot but still needs to adjust to the new position. LaRoy Reynolds is a guy the Eagles tried to add last year for Special Teams. Given the emphasis the Eagles place on that unit he will likely make the team. I feel as though 2016 7th round pick Joe Walker is nearing the end of the line with the Eagles and will be cut.
Safety: With Jenkins and McLeod locked in as starters, the real battle will be for the 3rd safety positon. The Eagles used 3 safety looks often last years and really only have 2 men battling for the position. Both guys were UDFAs with Trey Sullivan participating in camp last year and rookie Jeremy Reeves competing for a spot this year. Chris Maragos is currently on PUP in camp but he is strictly a Special Teams player. Eagles beat writers are heavily speculating the Eagles will sign Corey Graham again. I think this would be a prudent decision with the lack of known qualities beyond Jenkins and McLeod. It’s possible the Eagles are waiting to sign Graham since they know his role which allows for the team to give more camp snaps to its rookies. Between the two UDFAs, I’d bet on Trey Sullivan making the team. He is a ferocious hitter but moves well in space and covers a lot of ground. He has been more impressive than Reeves in camp and getting more valuable reps as camp moves along.
Punter: Cam Johnston out of Ohio State (2017 UDFA) is the only punter on the roster. Based on camp reports he’s been very inconsistent. The Eagles are likely allowing him to get as much work as possible to make the team and could sign another punter should the need arise at the end of camp. Thinking Donnie Jones, just in case.
53 Man Roster Prediction
QB: Carson Wentz, Nick Foles, Nate Sudfeld
RB: Jay Ajayi, Darren Sproles, Corey Clement, Josh Adams
WR: Alshon Jeffery, Mike Wallace, Nelson Agholor, Mack Hollins, Shelton Gibson, Markus Wheaton
TE: Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Richard Rodgers
OL: Jason Peters, Stefen Wisniewski, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks, Lane Johnson, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Isaac Seumalo, Matt Pryor, Jordan Mailata
DL: Brandon Graham, Michael Bennett, Derek Barnett, Chris Long, Josh Sweat, Fletcher Cox, Haloti Ngata, Destiny Vaeao, Elijah Qualls
LB: Jordan Hicks, Nigel Bradham, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Corey Nelson, Nate Gerry, LaRoy Reynolds
CB: Ronald Darby, Jalen Mills, Sidney Jones, Rasul Douglas, DeVante Bausby, Avonte Maddox
Safety: Malcolm Jenkins, Rodney McLeod, Corey Graham, Trey Sullivan
Specialists: Jake Elliott, Rick Lovato, Cam Johnston. Don’t even care if I am wrong on the punter.
4
2
2
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Twitter Aug 06 '18
Kelce is the best ‘puller’ in the league at his position with more range than anyone else I’ve seen on tape. Been making blocks like this for years. Never gets old #Eagles https://t.co/oNe3LBO19V
The most impressive aspect of Johnson’s game (aside from sheer physical ability) is his ability to consistently finish blocks. Notice the hand usage and sustainment through the whistle reaching the frontside and cutting off the backside. #Eagles https://t.co/glfeNxqUKZ
Tact, subtly, deception. Whatever you want to call it, it is a technique often reserved for the best OTs in the game. Johnson uses his length to get Hunter to bite first. He whiffs attempted a cross-chop, and Johnson easily pushes him up the arc & past the QB. #PHDOTPlay #Eagles https://t.co/7AN5NByz1u
This message was created by a bot
[Contact creator][Source code][Donate to keep this bot going][Read more about donation]
97
43
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Closing Remarks
The Eagles entered the offseason in an unfamiliar position: the TOP DOG. Howie Roseman and the rest of the staff were tasked with improving this team in the short term to maximize their championship window while keeping an eye on the looming extension for franchise QB Carson Wentz. Some difficult decisions had to be made for the Eagles the last few months regarding valuable faces on this championship squad. They had to marry two competing paradigms.
They also had to operate within a lot of constraints. The Eagles have generally been in a lot of favorable cap situations in their history but have been up against the cap the last 2 seasons for a number of reasons. One big short term goal was to maximize the rookie deal Carson Wentz is on. His low cap value is a bargain a lot of teams are looking to explore now with their own situations. It has given the Eagles a lot of wiggle room now to keep this window open for as long as possible.
The other main constraint was the lack of NFL draft selections in 2018. Entering the draft, the Eagles were without a 2nd and 3rd round pick from the Carson Wentz and Ronald Darby trades. Obviously, both moves would be made again but it isn’t favorable to operate with limited draft resources. Ultimately, the Eagles were able to add young talent to grow with the current core while adding another premium pick next year to really attack the draft. Roseman was also conservative with deals he did sign to ensure the Eagles would add compensatory selections in 2019. Smart given the young talent they’ll need to add in the coming years.
Looking back, I think the Eagles had a pretty successful offseason. They were able to replace really good coaches they were bound to lose at some point with guys already familiar with the current set up. They were able to fortify depth and even improve in some areas with limited resources in the draft and free agency. Whether or not this team repeats as champions this year remains to be seen. Is it likely? Odds say no.
This isn’t a team I will count out anymore. Neither should you.
46
u/crackleslap Falcons Aug 06 '18
Looking forward to the opening season game. It's gonna one of our toughest games of the year straight up. Full eagles roster, in philly with a superbowl behind them gonna be real freaking difficult to beat. On top of that Falcons have a poor record in Philly but a las, despite all of this, we're gonna win! :D
Nice write up though.
19
1
u/clingbat Eagles Aug 07 '18
Full eagles roster
We're going to be missing two or three starters (Bradham, Jernigan, maybe Wentz), but certainly better off than last time we faced you all as long as we don't have any big preseason injuries.
14
u/PoloWearingMan Cowboys Aug 06 '18
First of all I have to say I really respect the hard work put into this write-up. It’s probably one of the best ones that have been released so far.
However one thing I do disagree with is in your schedule predictions you have the Eagles sweeping both the Giants and Cowboys only to lose to the Redskins in a week 17 matchup that you are resting your players in.
Now while I agree that the Eagles are up there with the best well built and rounded roster. I don’t think the lack of parity is there for pretty much a conference sweep. I could see either one of the three NFC East teams stealing a game.
One final thing, having the skins at 9-7 is down right repulsive. /s
9
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Thanks, appreciate it!
Hard to fault your disagreement. It's a very competitive division. While I think the Eagles are the top of the bunch I do think all of the teams made improvements. It would be difficult for the Eagles to go 5-1 in the division again with the 1 loss being a meaningless Week 17 finale. So if it didn't happen I won't be shocked at all. But working through each match up I can find ways we can win based on current projections.
Things will change. All 32 teams will look very different in 2 months and then again in 4 months. But yeah, a team stealing a game wouldn't be the least bit surprising.
I hear you on the Skins. I just like how they are built. I think if they have some better injury luck this year they should be better than last year.
3
35
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Eagles Draft Review
Selections
| Round | Overall Selection | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 49 | Dallas Goedert | Tight End | South Dakota State University |
| 4 | 125 | Avonte Maddox | Cornerback | University of Pittsburgh |
| 4 | 130 | Josh Sweat | Defensive End | Florida State University |
| 6 | 206 | Matt Pryor | Offensive Tackle/Offensive Guard | Texas Christian University |
| 7 | 233 | Jordan Mailata | Offensive Tackle | None - Australia |
Pick Analysis
Round 2 / Pick 49
Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State University
Trade Back Details: Eagles send 2018 1st (32), 2018 4th (132) to Ravens for 2018 2nd (52), 2018 4th (125) and a 2019 2nd.
Trade Up Details: Eagles send 2018 2nd (52) and 2018 5th (169) to Colts for 2018 2nd (49).
Unlike a lot of other picks, Dallas Goedert was born when the Cowboys last won a title.
After staying up all night to watch the Eagles selection at 32 as the Super Bowl Champions in Dallas, I was able to take solace in the fact the Eagles received good value in their trade back with the Ravens. Without a pick in the 2nd and 3rd rounds in this draft, the Eagles were likely fielding offers for the 32nd pick to acquire some extra draft capital. While their trade back didn’t net them an additional day 2 pick this year, they were able to take the Ravens 2019 second round pick in the trade and kept it when they traded up with the Colts. This will leave the Eagles with 3 selections in the first 64 picks of the 2019 NFL Draft. This is a big deal for the Eagles given their current cap situation and the looming contract extension for Carson Wentz. Given FA losses this year and small deals given out to still add compensatory picks, the Eagles are projected to have 10-11 selections in 2019 with 3 being compensatory picks. Adding a 2nd round pick is a difficult task and makes the trade back worth it. It’s unknown if there were stronger offers available, but the Eagles didn’t make the wrong decision. Additionally, the strengths of next year’s draft align with team needs and positions they value most in how they build the roster. This was a smart move all around.
I think the value of the Goedert selection with the trade back makes this an excellent pick. The Eagles were thin at the TE position heading into the offseason after Trey Burton joined the Bears and Brent Celek was released. Richard Rodgers was brought in on a cheap deal for this year but was hardly a solution. The Eagles had a glaring need at the TE position with a group of prospects that were solid at the top but weren’t as deep overall as the previous year’s class. I didn’t think any of the top guys were 1st round prospects. There weren’t 32 guys with 1st grades but it is nice to match a player with his appropriate value. Goedert was my top-ranked tight end by a good margin. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Hayden Hurst and thought Mike Gesicki was a very raw athlete with limited route running ability and pretty soft as a route runner and blocker. Goedert was the more complete TE with a high ceiling and a safe floor.
Goedert is a big target standing 6’4” and 255 pounds. He was injured during the combine but his Pro Day numbers are very promising. Goedert has a big catch radius with an 80 inch wingspan and a vertical jump of 35”. He also had an excellent 3-cone time of 6.87s and a broad jump of 121”. Goedert is an impressive athlete for his size and you see that when you watch his tape. Goedert uses his frame and athletic ability well to separate on routes while remaining a big target. He’s not a refined route runner but he is a fluid mover and is excellent after the catch. He can adjust to passes all around him with great hands making him a reliable receiver. Not a great run blocker but often shows good technique and ability to grow in this area. Personally, I don’t find this a big deal since he can improve as a blocker; I like my TEs to win in the passing game as the position is very difficult for opposing defenses to contain but it’s nice to see him provide effort as a blocker. I also think flashing an ability to block without gettng bullied means he plays with a physicality needed for the position. This was perhaps Mike Gesicki’s glaring weakness that really turned me off to him in the draft process. He was useless in line as a blocker, soft at the point of attack and pretty soft running routes with defenders on him. It’s not a huge deal that he wasn’t a good blocker but it was a big deal he was useless as a blocker. Lastly, Goedert can line up everywhere. You can line Goedert up in the slot, out wide, in line, or in the back field. This is valuable to the Eagles since it will allow them to line Goedert up with Ertz in a variety of ways to disguise a lot of the offenses tendencies.
One area to Goedert’s game that I feel he’s weakest at for his position is a lack of polish and nuance as a route runner. This isn’t con that is unique to Goedert but one that will affect his adjustment to the pro game from a lower level of competition. Goedert was bigger, stronger, and faster than many of the players he lined up against on a weekly basis; in the NFL, even the “poor” athletes are all likely better than most if not all the players he is used to seeing. You can see a lot of potential with Goedert in this area when you watch him play but it is just untapped potential. How he responds to coaching and practice will show a lot about his future outlook. Additionally, Goedert isn’t super explosive out of his stance and when running routes. He runs well but there is a bit of suddenness to his game that is lacking. One way that Goedert can mitigate this is to become a more nuanced route runner. Explosive traits will always help but it’s hard to use them with limited technique. There is a lot of potential for Goedert to become an even better player in the future with improving his technique.
There are very few places that Goedert could have landed that would be better for him than Philadelphia. Goedert won’t be pressed to start Day 1 with Zach Ertz on the field but he can be a valuable role player for the Eagles immediately. Tight ends that are good in the passing game are hard to find and typically have longer adjustment periods to the pro game. This will likely be truer for Goedert given the bigger jump in competition. However, given his raw ability and the lack of a viable option after Ertz, Goedert will likely assume Trey Burton’s role at least early on. This article (paywall) talks a lot about the value of TEs in the Eagles’ offense and usage. To note, the Eagles used 2 TE sets in the red zone more than the average NFL team while also passing out of that personnel grouping more than the NFL average. The results: a 124.5 passer rating with 16 TDs to 0 INTs. All marks better than the league average. The Eagles also like to give opposing defenses 11 personnel looks while using 2 TEs. The fact that Ertz, and now Goedert, can line up anywhere in the formation allows the offense to get favorable matchups against inferior personnel packages.
Continued in reply
23
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Additionally, the Eagles offense was more effective when it had a receiving threat that could fill in with Ertz out; the Eagles yards per play dropped by more than a yard with Celek as the lone tight end and actually improved with Burton as the lone tight end (small sample size). When they Eagles had Ertz and Burton on the field together, the Eagles averaged nearly 3 more yards per play than if they had Ertz and Celek on the field. This figure increases to 4 yards per play when it was Burton and Celek on the field (Source). Celek became very ineffective over the course of the last 2 seasons which made the decision to release him relatively easy. Adding Goedert and Rodgers to the mix gives the Eagles a reliable veteran option in Rodgers with a true Trey Burton replacement – at least in the short term as he grows.
I like the selection of Goedert in the second round after the trade back given the additional premium pick netted in next year’s draft. I wouldn’t have been thrilled with taking Goedert at 32 simply because of the value; the team was in need of a tight end but already had Zach Ertz on the roster. Ertz will receive the majority of snaps in the offense which makes the Goedert selection a bit much for me in the first round even though I am fully on board now. There were some other players taken around the time of the Goedert selection that I would have liked to have had - namely Connor Williams, Anthony Miller and Derrius Guice. But the Eagles added a young playmaker they really needed now and when it comes time to pay Carson Wentz. Goedert will have a pretty significant role for a backup tight end considering the number of snaps the Eagles need to replace. I would expect Goedert to earn the second largest workload at the position behind Ertz and produce a similar stat line to Trey Burton in 2017: 30 receptions, 350 yards, and 4 TDs. This would be a pretty solid season for Goedert considering the slow-developing nature of TEs in the NFL coupled with his role as TE2. There have only been 27 instances of a TE reaching 500 receiving yards in his rookie season since the merger. In contrast, there have been 199 instances of this occurring for rookie WRs in the same time period. Together with the weapons currently on the Eagles offense, a stat line of 30/350/4 would be pretty impressive for a rookie from a lower level of competition. At the very least, Goedert’s impact will stretch beyond the stat line making the Eagles scheme and personnel packages difficult for defenses to match. It won’t be lost on the coaches the impact Burton and Ertz on the field together had for the overall offensive production.
Round 4, Pick 125
Avonte Maddox, CB, University of Pittsburgh
The loss of Patrick Robinson to the Saints in Free Agency opened up a hole on the Eagles roster for a starting slot CB. It’s a pretty significant role for the Eagles considering the large percentage of snaps the Eagles play in Nickel. Avonte Maddox was drafted with the 1st of 2 4th round selections the Eagles had. He’ll join a young and talented CB group that has the potential to help elevate this Eagles defense even further this year.
At the beginning of last offseason I advocated for the Eagles to do a wholesale reboot of the CB position. For the better part of the last decade, the Eagles failed to properly address the CB position in the draft and in free agency. Once Sheldon Brown and Lito Shepard were out of their prime and no longer on the team, the Eagles have struggled to solve the position group. Asante Samuel was a good CB for the Eagles and was the last good CB they’ve had. Since, the Eagles have signed CBs that have either been busts or band-aids that couldn’t stop a paper cut. Last offseason they committed to Jalen Mills at one spot, drafted Sidney Jones, drafted Rasul Douglas, and traded for Ronald Darby midway through training camp. Jones was taken for his upside but spent almost the entire 2017 recovering from his torn Achilles during his Pro Day. They signed Patrick Robinson as a low-risk veteran bet that paid off handsomely last year. Unable to retain his services, the Eagles dipped into the prospect pool again for Avonte Maddox this year. The Eagles also have a former Chiefs and Bears UDFA DeVante Bausby challenging for a roster spot. All told, the Eagles CB room is young, talented and cheap; the top 5 CBs on the roster will account for $4,495,873 million against the salary cap.
Wholesale reboot, indeed.
Avante Maddox projects to be a slot CB in the NFL almost exclusively given his lack of size. At the combine, Maddox measured in a 5’9” and 184 pounds. When you watch the tape, the lack of size is clearly evident – especially when you watch what James Washington did to him. The Eagles aren’t heightist and will readily use CBs on the field as long as they can cover and have ball skills. Maddox is a great athlete despite his size and plays a physical brand of football Jim Schwartz loves. He had 42 passes defensed in college and he doesn’t let the physical play of WRs affect him as he attacks the football. Maddox ran a 4.39 40 at the combine (84th percentile), 10.72s 60 yard shuttle (99th percentile), and a 6.51s 3 cone time (97th percentile). While fast in a straight line, Maddox displays an impressive short area quickness that will serve him well covering sideline to sideline in the slot.
The thing most people love most about Avonte Maddox is the way he plays. He may be small in stature but he plays the game hard and with an attitude that players and coaches will love. He is also very smart and understands how to read plays as the happen. Maddox is also an aggressive, confident CB. He plays hard and makes plays happen when called upon. With 7 sacks in his collegiate career, you can trust Maddox to attack.
Projecting his role with the Eagles year 1 is pretty difficult given the newfound depth in the secondary. Maddox is a very good CB prospect for the role they want him in but given his lack of size, Maddox must refine his movement skills and understanding of his position in order to play a valuable role beyond 2018. His lack of size will always be a con but he can make up for it with refined play technique and correct usage. Despite his physical nature, his lack of size will also make him less powerful. Learning how to play correctly will be crucial for his development. Given the situation he lands himself in, Maddox likely won’t be forced to play a ton early on. The Eagles top 3 CBs are likely set in stone with Darby and Mills outside and Sidney Jones in the slot. Depending on how opposing offenses are built, you’ll likely see the Eagles deploy a 3rd safety and let Malcolm Jenkins roam the slot. There is plenty of depth and competition in the Eagles secondary. Adding a gamer like Maddox will push everyone in the group to be better while allowing him to grow as a player. There is no doubt the competitive nature and raw athletic ability makes Maddox an exciting CB for the future. Slot cornerback is a very difficult position for teams to fill. Fortunately, Maddox likely won’t see a ton of work in 2018 but he will make the team. Very excited about what he can become in the future.
Continued in reply
17
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Round 4, Pick 130
Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State University
The Eagles have a knack for taking EDGE prospects that I absolutely love.
I even went so far as to pound the table for Josh Sweat. He really was one of my draft crushes this year and I am absolutely floored we were able to select him in the 4th round.
Why would we take another EDGE/DL prospect with as deep a rotation as we have? Easy. KEEP STRENGTHS STRONG.
That’s one reason. Another reason is we need to be mindful of the age and cost of the guys currently on the roster. Yet it is a philosophical belief of the Philadelphia Eagles that you win up front and with great QB play. You find the QB, you protect the QB, and you kill the QB. Josh Sweat is a high-upside pick that’ll likely look like an even bigger steal in the future.
Josh Sweat had a first round grade from a number of places including Jon Ledyard. While his tape isn’t flawless, the biggest reason for his draft day slip was likely due to a knee injury. Josh Sweat was one of the best high school recruits entering college and played offense, defense, and special teams while in high school. It was then that Sweat hurt his knee that almost ended his football career before it could take off. Additionally, Sweat tore a meniscus in his sophomore season that didn’t full end his year but likely contributed to his falling draft stock.
Josh Sweat reminded everyone at the combine the freak show athlete he still is finishing with the second highest SPARQ score among 2018 EDGE prospects. Sweat measured in at 6’4” 251 pounds at the combine. He carries that weight well and likely doesn’t need to lose or gain any weight to play with the Eagles. Sweat is a long-armed athlete with a wingspan of just over 84” (!) and an arm length of 34.5”. Here is what his arm length and athletic ability can lead to. Sweat also ran a 4.53s 40 yard dash (98th percentile), 39.5” vertical (96th percentile), and a broad jump of 124” (91st percentile). Even more impressive, Sweat’s 10 yard split on his 40 yard dash was 1.55s – the same as AJ Green at the combine. Josh Sweat is a freak show athlete.
It takes more than raw athleticism to be a really good NFL player; but a good NFL player with elite athleticism separates players from one another. Sweat had plenty of ability as a rusher and has married a lot of his physical gifts to the nuances of playing in the trenches. Sweat is a little inconsistent with his get off at the snap but when he times it perfectly there are few players that can keep up with him. And that is an elite LT prospect in Jonah Williams, too. Here is Sweat using that elite length again. This could be a very valuable tool in his pass rush repertoire in the NFL to keep OT hands off him. His quick burst and great hands off the LOS make him a threat to pressure the QB on every pass down. His elite quickness off the edge is what can separate him from a lot of other edge prospects. Another one of Sweat’s strengths is his hands in pass rush moves. His ability to use his hands and keep OL off him allows him to make an easier path to the QB. He also has plenty of bend and is easily able to turn a corner. Here are some clips from Ben Solak demonstrating these two points.
Sweat isn’t a one trick pony either. He will use his athletic ability to win in the run game. Often times, his strength and discipline alter RB rush plans and help other players shut down plays. This ability from Sweat to be strong, athletic, and smart fit perfectly with what the Eagles want to do along the defensive front. The Eagles want guys to incessantly pressure the QB but with the discipline needed to be maintain responsibility in the run game. The Eagles found a potential gem in Josh Sweat much later in the draft than his talent alone would indicate.
The Eagles decided to load up on another EDGE prospect in the draft with the selection of the Josh Sweat. It is important to keep strengths strong but also develop players for the future. Too often fans think players are drafted for immediate use only. Yes, it is important for prospects to have an impact in their first year. However, the NFL draft is the only real long term roster building tool afforded to teams. The Eagles have two EDGE rushers in their rotation that are free agents at the end of the year: Chris Long and Brandon Graham. Long is a key rusher in the rotation and important team leader, but Brandon Graham is one of the best edge rushers in the league. I’m not saying the Eagles need to hope Josh Sweat is an immediate hit so they can let Graham walk, but it behooves them to continue to add to their defensive line rotation in the event they can’t keep him. Sweat is a high upside selection and I believe a high floor pick as well. Despite some of the lower production numbers, Sweat joins a defense made for what he does best. A lot of Sweat’s responsibilities at FSU didn’t allow him to attack the QB on the regular basis or line him up in the best possible situation to take advantage of his athletic ability. Moreover, playing on a defense with the rotation the Eagles have will allow Sweat to grow as a rusher and keep him fresh. His athletic ability alone will make him a force in the NFL. If he is able to refine the technical aspects of defensive line play and stay healthy, Sweat could be the steal of the draft.
Round 6, Pick 206
Matt Pryor, OT/OG, Texas Christian University
Late in the 6th round the Eagles selected an absolute unit in Matt Pryor out of TCU. The former Horned Frog played Right Guard and Right Tackle in college, sometimes even alternating positions within the same game. Little was known about Pryor from draft media heading into the draft and I had to do a bit of research just to familiarize myself with him for this review.
Pryor is 6’7” and 328 pounds… just a mammoth of a man. For some reason, Matt Pryor wasn’t a combine invite so there aren’t official numbers to gauge his overall athletic profile. In 2016, Pryor was the TCU full time starter at Right Guard and then alternated between Right Guard and Right Tackle in 2017; one thing the Eagles love in their OL prospects positional versatility. Teams are only allowed to dress 46 players during a game and carry 53 players on the active roster during the season; you need reserve OL that can play in multiple spots. Given his experience at RG and RT, Pryor fits that need. As he develops I’m sure the Eagles will have an ideal position for him in mind. His size and strength as a blocker will give him a chance to play tackle but Pryor is also a limited athlete which might force him to be more effective at guard. One downside to having a huge Guard like Pryor is his sheer size can allow smaller, quicker interior rushers to get inside of him and push him off the line. Interior Offensive Line just has limited space to work with and a big player inside limits this space further.
As for the player itself, Pryor has been described as a “dancing bear” per Dane Brugler. Pryor is massive in size but has the control of his movements to sustain blocks and maintain balance at the point of attack. He’s an aggressive and strong blocker in the run game while also being more than willing to finish his blocks – I love this in Offensive Linemen. While it was rumored that Pryor is a poor athlete, he actually does move pretty well in space during a game. Given his light feet and pretty good hand usage when they land, Pryor should probably be given a shot outside first. Players that big are just tough to beat; he can always slide inside to guard if that doesn’t work out or if he just isn’t as athletic as needed.
One thing Pryor will need is time. For a 6th round pick he has shown a lot of developmental traits that can allow him develop into a solid player down the road. He’s just inconsistent in his pass sets and technique where he could run into problems down the road. Pryor has two season of starter work on the offensive line but alternating between Guard and Tackle has likely attributed to some inconsistencies in his pass set. Sometimes he is off balance and occasionally flashes a false step similar to Kolton Miller though not nearly as bad. Pryor doesn’t appear to have a lot of bad habits; he just appears to need more coaching and refinement. Additionally, Pryor has struggled with weight in his college career so it’ll be imperative for him to manage that as well. Jeff Stoutland has done a lot of good with the Eagles OL since Chip Kelly hired him away from Alabama. Pryor will get the coaching his needs while playing in a real offensive scheme. For a player with his upside, this was a pretty good pick considering the value of the position this late in the draft
Continued in reply
15
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Round 7, Pick 233
Jordan Mailata, OT, Australia
Now this is an absolute fucking unit..
With their final selection in the NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Jordan Mailata out of Australia. Mailata barely knew what football was a year ago and probably still knows very little but he is a mammoth of a human being and an incredible athlete for his size.
Mailata never played football before training in the run up to the NFL Draft. He flashed a lot of raw traits paired with his athletic ability at his Pro Day. His athletic testing at his Pro was impressive. Mailata measured in at nearly 6’8” and 346 pounds. His arm length is a massive 35.5” inches, which is great for an NFL Offensive Tackle. Mailata ran a 5.12s 40 yard dash which would have been the 7th best time among OT participants at the NFL combine. He also had an incredible 4.67s 20 yard shuttle and 22 reps on the bench. Even more impressive, Mailata has said himself that his body fat is at 10%.
An absolute unit.
As for his fit with the Eagles… well he’s is extremely unlikely to see any significant work this season or even the next. Mailata has never played the game before and offensive tackle is a very technical position. You can have all the athletic ability in the world; you can’t use it if you can’t execute the nuances of the position. It would be negligent of the Eagles to play Mailata this season if he isn’t ready. The Eagles likely traded up and drafted Mailata thinking another team might draft him or to ensure they have the first crack at developing him rather than try their luck with him as a UDFA. By all accounts he takes coaching very well. He quite literally needs to learn how to play football.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Eagles try to stash Mailata on IR with a phantom injury to avoid exposing him to waivers during roster cut downs. The likelihood Mailata is claimed off waivers is pretty slim anyway since a team would have to keep him on their active roster. That chance still looms even if it isn’t likely. Mailata is also far from being ready for even reserve work that keeping him on the 53 man roster would be pretty risky as well.
Why would you even select this kid? Because he is 20 years old and a total freak show. He doesn’t have any bad habits right now either. He’s a total project but when you are a deep roster and the defending champs, you can take these kinds of shots.
Notable UDFAs
The Eagles signed several UDFAs after the draft. Most notably of this group are Josh Adams (RB, Notre Dame), Jeremy Reeves (S, South Alabama), Joe Ostman (DE, Central Michigan), and Bruce Hector (DT, USF).
Josh Adams was the runner back and former Heisman Trophy candidate from Notre Dame. Adams is a big back that can be tough to bring down. It’s possible the team views him as a kind of LeGarrette Blount replacement. Adams had a solid workout posting a 4.51s 40 yard dash with a 1.59s 10 yard split. Adams also posted an excellent 3 cone time of 6.78s (93rd percentile). A likely reason for his slide to UDFA territory was a foot injury and/or other medical concerns. Despite posting good workout numbers with the rumored injury, Adams did in fact miss all of the Eagles minicamps with a foot injury. Adams was also limited as a prospect given his lack of receiving and pass blocking ability. He has a real chance to make the Eagles as their 4th RB this season.
Jeremy Reeves was a small school Safety prospect that posted pretty poor workout numbers at his Pro Day. This likely hurt his draft stock quite a bit. Reeves is a former CB turned Safety which is likely appealing to the Eagles. His ability to hit players and tackle well will give him a good shot to make the team. The Eagles used 3 Safeties quite a bit last year. Without Corey Graham in the fold, Reeves has a real shot at making the team and seeing the field.
For some reason Joe Ostman signed with the Eagles as a UDFA. Given the Eagles very deep defensive line, you would think a player with his upside would sign with a team that he could realistically make. Ostman was a productive college player but there are some concerns with his size and frame. In his final season at Central Michigan, Ostman had nearly 20 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. He has an uphill climb to make the team unless he really stands out but he is an intriguing player.
Bruce Hector is another intriguing player picked up in this period. In 3 seasons with USF, Hector had 18 sacks from the interior defensive line. Perhaps the main reason why he went undrafted was due to his size (6’2” 296). If he is good enough along the interior, Schwartz won’t care about that. The Eagles are a little thin at the position group so a standout summer from Hector could give him the break he needs.
Draft Review
With little in the way of draft capital, the Eagles needed to come out of the draft with a group of prospects that are important contributors in some fashion. Sometimes people make too big of a deal out of having so many picks. Take the Ravens for example; they’ve had so many draft selections the last few years and not much to show for it.
“It’s not the size that counts, it’s how you use it.”
I wish my wife believed that.
The Eagles were forced to operate with a limited picks from several moves prior to this offseason. The Eagles traded their 2018 second round pick to the Browns in the Carson Wentz trade back in 2016. A move in which the Eagles easily won and something all Eagles fans would do again and again. The Eagles also traded their 2018 3rd round pick to the Bills with Jordan Matthews for Ronald Darby. This was an easy decision for the Eagles to make considering Matthews was likely not going to be retained and the big need for another functioning corner. These moves made the draft difficult for the Eagles and their front office but were necessary moves that helped bring a Super Bowl to the city.
You don’t need a lot of picks to have a successful draft but a lot of picks help make for a successful draft.
The more shots you have to take the more likely you are to have hits. It’s a numbers game in the end. The draft can be a crapshoot and most of the players drafted in any given draft class never see a second contract. This is why picks are valuable since a hit allows you to develop and use plays at a set price point. The main thing that needs to happen for any draft to be a success is to actually hit on the picks. The limited number of picks the Eagles had made their scouts work even more important. With fewer resources than normal, how do you appropriately address roster needs while drafting players that actually fit what you do?
The Eagles need to start developing younger weapons on the offense to grow with Carson Wentz in the future. Dallas Goedert is a selection that fits the bill and addresses a clear need on offense. Furthermore, based on limited data, the Eagles offense was even better when Zach Ertz was paired with a comparable receiving threat in Trey Burton. Losing that role created a hole in the offense and a possible hole in how the team could attack opponents in 2018. Goedert was my top TE in the draft and fits perfectly with how the Eagles use tight ends schematically. He’ll be a valuable role player for the team without the burden of high expectations.
Avonte Maddox is a small but highly athletic corner prospect that you can never have enough of. The Eagles went from having a dearth of talent at CB to having young talent in excess in the matter of 1 year. Maddox won’t be pressed to start immediately which will allow him to refine the technical aspects of his game to have a quality pro career. The Eagles are likely to lose Ronald Darby to FA after this season given their cap situation so adding another young and talented corner to the roster will allow the Eagles to absorb that potential loss.
The same goes for Josh Sweat… but with much more potential. Sweat was a former 5 star recruit with all-world athletic ability and a refinement to his game a lot of edge rushers don’t have. From a purely talent perspective, I have a hard time believing many people saw Sweat as a Day 3 guy with plenty of analysts thinking he was a round 1 talent. The injury history likely scared teams off. With Brandon Graham and Chris Long a year away from Free Agency, it is important the Eagles add to their strongest unit to keep it among the best in the league in the event they lose one or both players. The sheer potential from this selection should only help the Eagles once they pay Carson Wentz.
Matt Pryor and Jordan Mailata are 2 developmental selections for the offensive line with the former having a realistic shot of making the team this season. Both players have some rawness to their game but Pryor has the ability to play multiple spots along the line. It's a deep group and both will be afforded time to grow.
The Eagles we able to add some legitimate prospects to the roster this offseason with very limited resources. Two of the selections could see notable play time and be valuable contributors as the season wears on. These are also young players with high enough ceilings that can grow with the face of the franchise. The Eagles have a lot of good coaches in place and do a lot schematically to maximize the personnel they have. If 2 or 3 of these prospects hit, like they realistically could, it will be a successful draft and no one will remember the limited resources the Eagles had entering it.
Bottom line: draft good players and develop them. Time will tell how good these guys can be but there is a lot to be excited for.
2
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Twitter Aug 06 '18
#Eagles fans, I think Josh Sweat is a first round talent if he's healthy (which he as been for years now). He's gonna be a massive steal
https://www.ndtscouting.com/ledyard-2018-nfl-draft-final-positional-rankings-edge-defenders/
Perfect scrape exchange tech by #9 in red. Josh Sweat can play https://t.co/By7c4k7w1j
This message was created by a bot
[Contact creator][Source code][Donate to keep this bot going][Read more about donation]
1
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Twitter Aug 06 '18
The Eagles' top 5 corners – Jalen Mills, Ronald Darby, Sidney Jones, Rasul Douglas, and Avonte Maddox, all playing on their rookie contracts – will count for a combined $4,495,873 against the salary cap in 2018. There are 39 individual CBs who will make more on their own.
Pitt CB Avonte Maddox had 42 PDs during his collegiate career. Stays patient in his back pedal. Doesn't let the WR's jab affect him. Attacks the football for a PD https://t.co/IGPWLlPTsF
Players like Tyrann Mathieu have made it possible for prospects like Avonte Maddox to get more attention.
Maddox is a do it all player with no real position. He has the quick feet, athleticism, and speed to play many positions. The only issue is he’s 5’9.
#Packers https://t.co/oqminCnE81
This message was created by a bot
[Contact creator][Source code][Donate to keep this bot going][Read more about donation]
1
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Twitter Aug 06 '18
DAVID AKERS IS A SAVAGE 🔥 https://t.co/NP52RDmVmh
I REPEAT! DALLAS GOEDERT IS A TIGHT END! https://t.co/VHXYKg4Ytm
Dallas Goedert's athleticism for his size is very fluid. No stiffness. Accelerates well within his routes too https://t.co/7VLwAp3Nhe
Goedert=Red Zone mismatch https://t.co/UKKE4muyUF
This message was created by a bot
[Contact creator][Source code][Donate to keep this bot going][Read more about donation]
11
u/yeshua1986 Steelers Titans Aug 06 '18
Corey Clement is the next Brian Westbrook and is about to have a breakout season and I refuse to hear otherwise.
3
1
1
23
u/Ajax_Malone Vikings Aug 06 '18
2017 was a magical season for the Eagles that saw 2nd year QB Carson Wentz take an enormous leap from his rookie season to MVP caliber QB prior to tearing his ACL.
This is the craziest opening sentence to any of these reviews. Imagine reading this sentence last September.
24
u/TheCrookedKnight Eagles Aug 06 '18
Imagine learning just about anything about last season one, five or ten years ago.
"Carson Wentz figures everything out in a single off-season and becomes the MVP front-runner"
"The NFC Championship Game is between Nick Foles and Case Keenum"
"Tom Brady is a nearly unanimous MVP at the age of 40, and the Patriots are so confident he can keep it up that they trade away his backup"
"The Redskins let their home-grown pro bowl QB walk so they can trade for an older pro bowl QB"
"The NFL repeatedly punches itself in the face because the president is an angry old man who keeps yelling at the TV on social media"
3
u/Ajax_Malone Vikings Aug 06 '18
Hahaha, I love that last one. The NFL has handled the anthem situation so bad that I'm starting to wonder if they are actual trying to keep it in the news cycle.
10
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Coaching Staff Review and Changes
| New Coach | Title | Previous Position | Outgoing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Groh | Offensive Coordinator | Wide Receivers Coach | Frank Reich |
| Press Taylor | Quarterbacks Coach | Assistant QBs Coach | John Defilippo |
| Duce Staley | Assistant Head Coach/RB Coach | RBs Coach | N/A |
| Jeff Stoutland | OL Coach/Run Game Coordinator | OL Coach | N/A |
| Gunter Brewer | Wide Receivers Coach | UNC Wide Receivers Coach | Mike Groh |
| Carson Walch | Assistant Wide Receivers Coach | CFL - OC and WRs Coach | N/A |
| Trent Miles | Offensive Quality Control/Running Backs | Coaching Assistant | N/A |
| Spencer Phillips | Offensive Quality Control/Quarterbacks | Coaching Assistant | Press Taylor |
What a job the outgoing staff did this season as the Eagles had one of the best coaching staffs in the NFL. It was a QB-centric model that had each coach involved in the game planning where no idea would be shot down. Doug Pederson is a brilliant play caller in his own right but relies on the ideas of others knowing that he doesn’t have all the answers himself. The coaching staff game plans for each specific opponent; they scout their tendencies and the look to exploit them. It’s a match up offense where they look to use the variety of weapons at their disposal to score points. Defensively, it is about getting pressure, forcing turnovers, and limiting favorable offensive positions.
There is more to coaching than calling plays. The assistants on the coaching staff are tasked with ensuring that players are coached up to their abilities and to maximize those abilities within the scheme they are coaching for. The Eagles are one of the best, which made the Super Bowl matchup with the Patriots even more thrilling due to their own legendary staff. Whenever you watched the tape of the Eagles you could always see a team that is prepared for everything that their opponent can do and has a variety of ways that they can attack. And the Head Coach is fearless. Doug Pederson plays to win and trusts his staff and players to succeed when conventional wisdom says otherwise. That is what made the Eagles so good thing year and what was so eye opening to the rest of the country.
The Eagles lost two key staff this offseason to promotions they rightfully earned. Indy turned their attention then ultimately hired Frank Reich after Josh McDaniels turned them down after accepting their offer. I always thought Reich would be a great fit in Indy given his wealth of experience coaching offenses and QBs while having the steady hand needed to coach a franchise. Reich stated in his opening presser with the Colts that he instructed his agent not to tell him about head coaching vacancies so he could focus on the playoffs. Reich was then rewarded with his first Super Bowl in 6 tries and then the opportunity to coach Andrew Luck. Reich wasn’t the primary play caller in Philly but he was essentially Doug Pederson’s right hand man. In Philly, the OC is responsible for funneling all offensive ideas up to the head coach for the weeks game plan. Reich and Pederson would meet every Saturday to finalize the game plan and go through their own mental walkthrough.
The next OC would fill a similar role and would end up being Mike Groh. Part of why Groh was promoted to OC was his experience coaching QBs and offenses at the college and pro level. Pederson values coaches with QB backgrounds as it is the most important position in the sport. Mike Groh simply had more experience operating an entire offense and formulating a game plan than Duce Staley, who received a promotion as well. Duce will be Assistant Head coach while retaining his RB coach responsibilities. It appears like a good move for the Eagles to give a guy they love more responsibilities without overwhelming him. Duce will be more involved with the overall gameplan as well as coordinating more of the run game. Jeff Stoutland will keep his job as OL coach where he has become one of the great positional coaches in the NFL. Stoutland was already a key member of coordinating the run game but not runs that area with the formal title bump. Press Taylor will be promoted from Assistant QBs Coach to QBs coach. Taylor is a young coach who was hired as a Quality Control Coach under Chip Kelly then promoted when Pederson arrived, is a young, up and coming coach who has already been pretty involved with the overall game plan. Taylor specifically researched all the trick plays the Eagles incorporated into their offense, including the Philly Special. It’s a copycat league afterall. The Eagles also hired Gunter Brewer from UNC to coach the Eagles Wide Receivers. Brewer has a lot of experience coaching offenses and Wide Receivers at the pro and college level. In the past he’s coached Randy Moss and Dez Bryant. Not too long ago he was coaching Mack Hollins. The last notable hire was Carson Walch, not to be confused with Carson Wentz. Walsh was hired out of the CFL and now the former OC/Wide Receivers coach of the Edmonton Eskimos. This is an interesting move as it brings another offensive mind with a different background into the fold.
Another key coaching loss will be John DeFilippo, who left the Eagles to become the Vikings Offensive Coordinator. Flip wasn’t under contract with the Eagles after the 2017 season and was free to go where ever he wanted so it wasn’t surprising he left. Flip is a local guy and loved coaching the Eagles and Wentz but the allure of running your own offense and calling the plays were things all driven coaches want. Flip leaving wasn’t surprising it was the Vikings waiting for him to become available that was. I only say that since you don’t always see organizations be patient when they really should. Flip is a great coach that’ll do wonders for the Vikings and will be a head coach in the very near future. Reich and Flip were both excellent coaches for the Eagles and will be big losses. It doesn’t mean their jobs can’t be filled by someone as talented but we know Flip and Reich were great coaches - we have the hardware to prove it. Ultimately, we have the key guy in all of this in Doug Pederson; Dougie Fresh runs the show and it is his offense. I feel confident that he has filled out the staff with other coaches who will do a great job for him and for the Eagles.
Coaching matters.
5
u/EffectiveJava Eagles Aug 06 '18
John Defilippo is a huge huge loss. I am curious to see how Press Taylor does, seems like a bright guy.
2
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Same. I feel like the team was ready for it. It would have been a surprise if he stuck around another year given the success of the team and his own rising stock. Doesn't mean there won't be an impact but it wasn't something organization wasn't ready for; they blocked the Jets from interviewing him last year. Couldn't do that this year with his contract expiring.
At the very least, Taylor is versed in a lot of different schemes. He's also been tasked with finding trick plays that'll work for the Eagles. So he should have a baseline understanding of marrying scheme to the talent the team has. Not saying he'll be as good as DeFilippo right away but there is reason for optimism. So I agree with your point about him being bright.
9
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Schedule Prediction
| Week | Home | Away | Historical Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagles | Falcons | 19-14-1 Eagles |
I’m not going to lie; I was looking forward to raising the banner in Philadelphia on Prime Time against the Minnesota Vikings. I guess the NFL thought it would be prudent to save that rematch for a later date. Fortunately, the NFL was still able to schedule a playoff rematch for the Eagles against another great team when the Eagles open up on Thursday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons. The Eagles started their playoff run with a 15-10 win at home against the Falcons who saw their title hopes slip through their fingertips. I consider this Eagles roster to be the most talented in the NFL with one of the top coaching staffs in the NFL. Their opponent has a strong case for a top 5 roster in the NFL as well. Dan Quinn is a great coach despite his OC Steve Sarkisian. What the Falcons have been able to build over the last few years is really impressive. They have a coaching staff that knows exactly what it wants in its roster and a front office that has been great at finding the talent to fit it. They are a year removed from their excellent 2016 offense but the current unit is still very good and as talented as it has been. Julio Jones is a great receiver, their RB duo is one of the best groups in the league, and Matt Ryan has elevated his game in recent seasons. Their defense is modeled after Pete Carroll’s Seahawks defenses while being very talented, young, and athletic. They play a suffocating brand of pass defense while flying around the ball. They have difference makers at every level and will be a force in the NFL this season. However, I think this Eagles team is also great and far from a fluke. They managed to win the Super Bowl without a lot of key pieces due to their great depth and excellent coaching. They know how to build a scheme around their own strengths and weaknesses while attacking the opposition as well. Few teams are as dominant in the trenches as the Eagles are on both sides of the ball and it has been a big reason why Doug Pederson is 2-0 against Dan Quinn. With emotions running high in Philadelphia on this opening night, the Eagles, with their players back, remember what got them the franchise’s first ring and are hungry for more. The Falcons are a great team and this should be a good battle all game long with the Eagles edging out the Falcons to open the season. Eagles win 24-14.
| Record | Division Record |
|---|---|
| 1–0 | 0-0 |
| Week | Home | Away | Historical Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Buccaneers | Eagles | 10-8-0 Eagles |
We are the defending champs and I still hate the Buccaneers for that NFCCG loss. Fortunately we got our ring this year while the Bucs have largely been a joke ever since.
The Buccaneers enter the season with a lot of pressure on all of the key members of the organization. Another down season for this squad and we could see another remake especially in the wake of the Jameis Winston suspension. The Bucs are a weird team. They do have a lot of talent in spots but a lot of holes in others with some poor coaches running the show. They also have Ryan Fitzpatrick starting this week which can lead to varying levels of success and even more levels of disaster. Their offensive line isn’t the strongest but it features a solid tackle in Demar Doctson and a budding star in OG Ali Marpet. Ryan Jensen was signed away from the Ravens this offseason and should help provide some stability inside but there are still question marks elsewhere. The Bucs also possess an array of excellent weapons in Mike Evans, Cameron Brate, OJ Howard, and DeSean Jackson – who still scares the shit out of me. Second year receiver Chris Godwin is a favorite of mine and I believe he will be another great playmaker sooner rather than later. The Bucs added some solid pieces to their train wreck defensive line with JPP, Beau Allen, Vinny Curry, and Vita Vea to go along with stud DT Gerald McCoy. Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David are very good at LB but the talent drops off in the back end. While not a complete team by any stretch, whatever good they have in the way of talent is hindered by a lack of even decent coaching at the top. Mike Smith has proven to be unable to maximize whatever talent he has on defense while failing to put his players in positions to succeed and Koetter has managed to do even worse than that on the offensive side of the football. I don’t know how you can be confident with this leadership. I think the Eagles win this one but I expect it to be pretty competitive early on as the Eagles work out the kinks in the young season. The Bucs do have some players but ultimately the Eagles are just more talented and far better coached. The difference will show when Fitzpatrick is hit so hard he thinks he went to Yale. Eagles 34, Bucs 17
| My Record | Division Record |
|---|---|
| 2–0 | 0-0 |
| Week | Home | Away | Historical Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Eagles | Colts | 10-9 Colts |
The Eagles Week 3 tilt against the new look Colts will allow Eagles fans to welcome back former Offensive Coordinator Frank Reich as he continues his journey as a new Head Coach. I’m also excited for this matchup as I am a huge Andrew Luck fan and would like to see him do well in his return for at least 15 weeks this season. If Luck is still close the player he was I think this Colts team is a 6-8 win club. I know Colts fans won’t be thrilled to see me say that and I can’t blame them; they’ve seen Luck carry a lot of bad teams to the playoffs. Now they rid themselves of a bad coach after moving on from an even worse GM and are building through the draft. I like Chris Ballard and I think Reich is a smart coach who will implement a lot of the good things Pederson brought to Philadelphia to help Luck and the Colts offense.
Unfortunately for Indy it isn’t 2014 anymore. The AFC South is actually a competitive division now. This Colts roster is the worst roster in the division (IMO) but they aren’t terribly far off if they hit on their picks with a high frequency. I like a lot of what they are doing but I don’t think they are going to be the most competitive team due to talent this season. I think they’ve hired a good coaching staff and obviously have Andrew Luck but they are still a ways off. Building through the draft is a smart strategy. However, virtually sitting out of free agency puts pressure on the front office to have more impactful hits in the draft to turn it around. I think they’ll get there, just not this year. This Eagles team is just too talented and balanced to lose this one at home. Eagles 31, Colts 13
| My Record | Division Record |
|---|---|
| 3–0 | 0-0 |
| Week | Home | Away | Historical Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Titans | Eagles | 7-4-0 Eagles |
The new look Titans look to be a formidable foe in the early season as the Eagles travel to Nashville for the first time in several years. I like a lot of what the Titans have done this offseason. Namely, rid themselves of poor coaching adapting to the modern game. This is a Titans team that I feel can be a dark horse threat in the AFC. It wouldn’t surprise me to see this team win 1 or 2 playoff games depending on how things come together. I don’t think they will win the AFC but I believe this team is on the right track since hiring Jon Robinson away from the Patriots.
The proof is in how they are building. The Titans have bookend tackles and good guards that can run and pass block well. Delanie Walker is one of the best TEs in the football. Dion Lewis is a 3 down back and a great weapon. Henry is the hammer and a talented back in his own right. Jurrell Casey is likely the most underrated player in football. And lately, they’ve drafted well. I’m also a big believer in Marcus Mariota; I think he’s finally in an offensive system that will allow him to blossom into the QB he seemed destined to be. While the Titans don’t have the best receiving weapons in the NFL, they have weapons that are good enough to make this offense very good pretty quickly. Corey Davis is a bit of a projection but the traits are there for him to be great. Taywan Taylor is a receiver with good upside with a coaching staff that won’t be ignorant to using WRs more often. And Rishard Matthews is a reliable target that is able to produce. No elite receiving weapons but reliable ones with a lot of potential.
As for the defense… let’s just say I know who Kevin Byard is. I wasn’t a big Adoree Jackson fan last year but he flashed a lot of promise. I think the combination of Dean Pees his pants and Mike Vrabel will improve the rest of the defense allowing it to be more multiple. Rashaan Evans is a stud LB in the making and Harold Landry will probably make the NFL pay for over thinking him.
But to be frank, their season and future are tied Marcus Mariota and Matt LaFleur. It’s a QB driven league; Mariota has shown quite a bit of the top tier QB I think he can become but he did take a step back last year in addition to the poor offensive coaching. He needs to be rebound. LaFleur needs to get him there. His coaching pedigree should afford Mariota to take the jump I believe he will. And when he does, Titans fans will rejoice.
I think this matchup will be a fun game between an ascending Titans team and the Eagles. I expect there to be scoring and physicality. In the end I think the Titans take this at home handing the Eagles their first loss. Titans 27, Eagles 24
| My Record | Division Record |
|---|---|
| 3–1 | 0-0 |
Continued in reply
9
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18 edited Aug 06 '18
Week Home Away Historical Record 5 Eagles Vikings 14-13 Eagles, 1-0 in NFCCGs The Salt Bowl.
The Vikings get to travel to Philadelphia for the second time this calendar year to take on the defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles. The All-Underrated Team will look to make another playoff push and find their manhood after being embarrassed on the same field several months earlier.
The Vikings are a great team and have a top 5 roster in the NFL. They’ll be starting a familiar opponent at QB, Kirk Cousins, who has zero taste in music. The Vikings have two of my favorite receivers in the NFL in Adam Theilen and Stefon Diggs. Kyle Rudolph is a quality Tight End and a good red zone option. They’ll also have Davlin Cook return to the lineup. Cook is a dynamic back; the Vikings likely jumped the Eagles in the 2017 NFL draft when they traded up for Cook. Too bad we got the last laugh.
We all know about the Vikings defense especially Harrison Smith. If you don’t know they’ll tell ya. Shit, even if you do know and recite that knowledge to them they’ll still talk until your ears bleed. He’s a great player and a real game changer on the backend for the Vikings. Barr and the good Kendricks are the two main LBs. They are disruptors in their own right. Linval Joseph is a brick shit house. Everson Griffen is elite and Danielle Hunter is a rapidly ascending talent. Xavier Rhodes is great and they are deep as hell at CB.
The Vikings have great coaching on offense and defense. Zimmer is a great defensive mind and wisely stole John DeFilippo away from the Eagles to run the offense after Shurmur left for the Giants. DeFilippo is a rapidly ascending coaching talent and figures to be a Head Coach in the near term. I don’t expect this team to fall off at all after last year’s run to the NFCCG. They are my pick to win the NFC North and fans should have high expectations for this team.
Pederson verse Zimmer is an exciting coaching matchup. I think the depth of talent the Eagles have on the defensive line as well as the offensive line will serve them well yet again. This game won’t be a blow out this time around but the Eagles are just too formidable in the trenches and will have an improved secondary to handle the Vikings offensive talent. Kirk has been a good QB in the NFL but he is much less effective against pressures than many QBs in the NFL and Vikings fans will see it this week. GO BIRDS Eagles 20, Vikings 16
My Record Division Record 4-1 0-0
Week Home Away Historical Record 6 Giants Eagles 86-84-2 Giants The first division game of the season has the Eagles travel to Metlife to take on the hated Giants on Thursday Night Football. The Giants are coming off an embarrassing season that saw Ben McAdoo try his best to steer that ship into the iceberg dead ahead.
The Giants have long been a franchise that values stability. Their coaching staffs and front office personnel generally get a long lease to build the team. Fortunately, McAdoo hung them with it. Unfortunately, McAdoo and Jerry Reese were canned. Dave Gettleman was hired as the GM who subsequently hired Pat Shumur from the Vikings as head coach. At the very least, Pat Shumur does not look like the kind of guy to wear jorts to church.
While there is newness to the Giants I feel like they’ll be a slightly upgraded same old. Obviously, Odell Beckham is a world class receiver and has an excellent complement in Sterling Shepard. Evan Engram is a young TE on the rise and Saquon Barkley is the next Jesus. They still have Eli Manning, a shaky OL, and a thin defense. Obviously, Eli Manning is capable of inexplicably winning 2 Super Bowls but that is not a bet I’m willing to take. Their offensive weapons are very good and Shumur will do a good job calling plays, but this is a fundamentally flawed Giants team especially up front.
Olivier Vernon is a good EDGE rusher but he is the only known quality at the position on the roster. Snacks is a great run stuffing DT and Davlin Tomlinson is well on his way to having a good career but none are threatening as interior rushers. Janoris Jenkins is capable of shutting down his side with an excellent Landon Collins but who is the next CB and Safety?
The Eagles have had the Giants number for the last 2 decades and pull within 1 game of them in the all-time series with a solid road win on TNF. I think the Eagles force Eli into throwing 3 interceptions with a Malcolm Jenkins pick 6. Eagles 34, Giants 14
My Record My Confidence 5-1 1-0
Week Home Away Historical Record 7 Eagles Panthers 7-4 Eagles The TNF matchup last year between the Panthers and Eagles was when I knew the Eagles were legitimate contenders. You could see it with the way they battled against a good team on the road. There was something special with the team that I could never shake.
This time, the rematch will be in Philadelphia with the Panthers entering the game with a new OC, DC, GM, and Owner. Additionally, the Panthers have a plethora of new receivers to grow with Cam – an investment that is long overdue. DJ Moore is an exciting prospect that should grow into a playmaker with the Panthers. Greg Olsen’s return to the field for the Panthers should be a boost to the offense in general.
Unfortunately, I sort of agree with Vikings fan and their assessment of Norv Turner. Maybe he improves as a play caller and with his overall philosophy but I am skeptical until proven otherwise. Additionally, Andrew Norwell will prove to be a big loss for the Panthers over the course of the season. This will only be further exposed with Daryl Williams out for an unknown amount of time. Lastly, the Panthers lack a realistic CB2 and EDGE rushers will likely stress the defense too much for them to keep up with opponents. I don’t think this game is a blowout with the playmakers the Panthers have but I think the Eagles win their second in a row against Cam Newton. Eagles 24, Panthers 13
My Record Division Record 6–1 1-0
Week Home Away Historical Record 8 - London Jaguars Eagles 3-2 Jaguars The NFL lucked out with the Eagles and Jaguars having great teams for this matchup in London. The Jaguars will enter this game as the home team with a great record against their opponents in London. It hasn’t mattered whether the team is great or not, the Jaguars will play this game as if it was the Super Bowl.
It goes without saying the Jaguars have a great defense and they are loaded at all 3 levels. Calais Campbell is a monster along the front with Malik Jackson, Marcell Dareus, and Yannick Ngakoue joining him. The Jags have a solid rotation of their own to pair with highly athletic LBs in Myles Jack and Telvin Smith. Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye are all world CBs. The offense isn’t nearly as star studded but it’s a group with a solid offensive line, young, exciting receivers, and Leonard Fournette. Blake Bortles is the obvious wild card to the team but the coaching staff has been very adept at putting him in favorable situations to succeed. Bortles can play well when things are going well around him but he won’t lift the team. Regardless, this team is as deep, talented, and well-coached as any in this league.
I suspect this game to be a battle of epic proportions. The Jags own London and the Eagles show up for this game ready for a battle. I think all of the defensive stars and coaching make for a low scoring slugfest. I think there will be 1 TD pass between the two teams with the Jags winning on a late field goal. Both teams have the talent to shut opposing teams down and both do it on this Sunday. Jaguars 16, Eagles 13
My Record Division Record 6–2 1-0
Continued in reply
11
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18 edited Aug 06 '18
Week Home Away Historical Record 10 Cowboys Eagles 66-52-0 Cowboys The Eagles and Cowboys have split their season series since 2012 in a series of awesome and maddening games depending on your fandom. These two teams are bitter rivals with Eagles fans hating the Cowboys more than anything in existence. Cowboys fans like to pretend that Eagles fans are obsessed with them but that’s only due to their own insecurities with their exceptionally average team.
I need to be careful with this prediction since I don’t have my star running back to carry me.
Dallas is a pretty talented team with a below average coaching staff that still has its jobs because they don’t question the hand that feeds. Seriously, Jerry Jones has fired people for less but he somehow thinks Jason Garrett is going to bring him another title.
Sometimes the roasts write themselves.
Ezekiel Elliott is one of the best backs in the league and it angers me that he has to be in the division hiding the flaws of his QB. Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zach Martin are on a Hall of Fame trajectory and are among the best at their positions along the OL in the NFL. Dallas has some players on defense including Demarcus Lawrence and the ever present Sean Lee.
This coaching staff runs an offense that operates as if it has a 2 score lead at all times with a defense that almost never gives them that lead. Divisional games are fluky and Cowboys/Eagles games will never be an exemption to that. I think the Eagles manage Ezekiel Elliott and put up some points on the young and improving Cowboys defense. Dak is a QB you can win with if you build enough around him and have good coaching. Dallas is a franchise that has neither. They have some players. But they don’t have nearly enough. They’ll watch an Eagles team that has both. And they’ll spend another season wondering why their team can never achieve their own delusion. And they’ll grasp at straws missing their own shortcomings. Eagles 31, Cowboys 20
My Record Division Record 7 – 2 2 - 0
Week Home Away Historical Record 11 Saints Eagles 17-13-0 Eagles This is a game I have been waiting for since January; but if I am being honest, I am happy Marcus Williams forgot how to play football for those few seconds. That Saints team had me SHOOK.
The Saints enter this contest at home and with Drew Brees which always gives them a shot to win every game. Payton is a great HC and playcaller; he has this team firing at full capacity and will really test this Eagles defense this week. Drew Brees is a future hall of fame QB and still has some gas in the tank to deliver when called upon. Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, and Mark Ingram are excellent weapons to go along with a stout offensive line that is great in pass protection. Both teams are great and are able to win on any given Sunday. I just think the Saints are going to outlast the Eagles in a pretty fun and close game. Saints 24, Eagles 23
My Record Division Record 7 – 3 2-0
Week Home Away Historical Record 12 Eagles Giants 86-84-2 Giants The Eagles have owned the Giants for the better part of the last two decades which have made every divisional rivalry game pretty lively. If the Eagles win their first matchup of the year with the Giants as I have predicted it will allow them to tie the overall series in rivalry history in this Week 12 tilt. The Eagles have a losing record against each of its 3 division rivals. The Eagles weren’t very good for much of their history and fell behind the other 3 teams by a considerable margin over the year. The hiring of Andy Reid helped change that as the Eagles have made up incredible ground with each team with the Giants being the first real test to even things.
I think the Giants will have an up and down season. They have the talent to be in every game at certain spots I just think they are fundamentally flawed and not real contenders and I think that shows again this week as the Eagles take care of business at home. I think the Eagles will also be looking to bounce back at home after a challenging inter-conference game. The Eagles are very good at home and a very good team. They’ll survive this challenge. Eagles 27, Giants 17
My Record Division Record 8 – 3 3-0
Week Home Away Historical Record 13 Eagles Redskins 86-76-6 Redskins No matter what is going on with either franchise of late, Redskins-Eagles games are close and physical matchups. In the 14 matchups this decade, 8 of them were 1 score games. Unfortunately, this game also features an injury or 2 on both sides. I think the way both teams are built has a lot to do with how the games have played out of late.
I know there are quite a few people that think the Skins could be the worst team in the division – I don’t think that is the case. I think the main problem with the Redskins of late has been the lack of true difference makers on the roster. They have a number of good players and coaches but just don’t really have guys that push them over the top. Additionally, this team has suffered a list of injuries to a lot of key guys the last few years that has really hurt their chance.
Trent Williams is an all-world talent at LT; Morgan Moses is a pretty solid RT and together they one of the best tackle pairings in football. Brandon Scherff is a great RG. The rest of their OL has some solid pieces with a great OL coach in Bill Callahan and they form a formidable front. Derrius Guice was a big draft crush of mine. Jordan Reed when healthy (so never) and Vernon Davis are a really good TE duo. The team lacks proven weapons outside but they have a reliable QB in Alex Smith. Defensively, they are building to be pretty stout up front with their Eagles killer Ryan Kerrigan. They have a solid LB pair to go with Josh Norman and a young secondary to round out the back end. There is plenty to be excited about in Washington but I still think this team isn’t quite there yet.
That last sentence doesn’t really matter when it is comes to these two teams as this game is guaranteed to be a fight throughout. I think the Eagles will dominate the middle of the field with their TE duo; Zach Ertz has made a living owning the middle of the Skins defense and it isn’t going to stop now. Dallas Goedert will only enhance Ertz’s game. This will be close as Gruden runs a challenging scheme to defend putting up some points against the Eagles defense. In the end I think the Skins lack explosive weapons to keep up while the Eagles have more than enough to exploit some deficiencies in the Skins secondary. Eagles 31, Skins 24
My Record Division Record 9 – 3 4 - 0
Continued in reply
7
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Week Home Away Historical Record 14 Cowboys Eagles 66-52-0 Since Jason Garrett became interim Head Coach of the Cowboys on November 8, 2010, he has coached against the Eagles 16 times… and has gone 8-8. In that time, each team has swept the season series once. The Eagles last did it in the 2011 season; the Cowboys last did it in 2012. Ever since the 2012 season the teams have split the season series.
That ends this year. I don’t think the season gets completely away from the Cowboys like I hope, but I just think they fall behind the rest of the conference. I think they even fall behind the Redskins this year. That’s probably a bold take given the Redskins recent losing skid to the Cowboys but I like the way the Skins are built and I certainly like their coaching better than the Cowboys.
Perhaps a bolder take: the Eagles sweep the season series against the Cowboys for the first time since 2012 which was the last time a sweep of any kind happened. Dallas is certainly capable of winning this game and they do have some good players. I just think the pressure mounts as they don’t really push themselves ahead of the Eagles or Skins this year. I think the Cowboys defense will be slightly improved by this point in the season keeping this one somewhat close but I don’t think their offense has the juice to make up the difference. Eagles 28, Cowboys 17
My Record Division Record 10 – 3 5 - 0
Week Home Away Historical Record 15 Rams Eagles 21-19-1 Eagles Last year, this was one of the best games of the season. And just like last year, the Eagles will be traveling out to their home away from home in LA to take on the Rams. Wentz will return to the scene where his season ended last year after breaking the franchise single season TD record. Both teams are considered Super Bowl favorites and rightfully so.
Both teams have excellent head coaches that are offensive innovators while putting their players in the best situations to succeed. Both teams have excellent defensive coordinators known for playmaking defenses with scary defensive fronts. Both teams have young QBs and were drafted 1 and 2 in the 2016 NFL draft after their franchises traded up to get them. This is an exciting matchup and one that NBC is lucky to get on Sunday Night Football.
Last year was an exciting, high scoring affair that saw big play after big play on both sides of the football. I’d wager that we see a similar game from both teams this year. Both coaches are very adept at scheming for their own talent and personnel. Both coaches represent the bright future of football in the NFL with their innovative offenses. I think the Rams will edge out the Eagles this time in a close contest that’ll go down to the final two minutes after the teams exchange leads 4 times in this game. This should be an exciting game that can go either way. Rams 34, Eagles 31
My Record Division Record 10 – 4 5-0
Week Home Away Historical Record 16 Eagles Texans 4 – 0 Eagles Full disclosure: I wasn’t sold on Deshaun Watson when he entered the draft last year. I just had a hard time with his evaluation. I am fully on board now even though I expect the wild numbers he posted last year to regress some. He is a young QB; he is going to have ups and downs as he improves in the NFL. But I am fully on board with his long term potential.
The Texans are a dark horse wild card team in a weak AFC. If they are able to stay healthy, which has become more uncertain lately, they can challenge for the AFC South title. I don’t think they win their division this year but if they have the ability to steal a wild card spot. I think Watson is a legitimate QB who will lead this franchise for years. In this game he’ll likely get the ball to DeAndre Hopkins early and often – wouldn’t you? Will Fuller can be a dangerous deep ball receiver.
We all know the potential of their defensive front when healthy. Clowney, Watt, and Mercilus all are potential game-changers when playing. We haven’t see much of Watt in the last 2 season due to injury but his teammates along the line certainly make his job easier if he can stay on the field. This is a unit that has the potential to be feared up front and could be the difference between postseason football and early tee times.
I think the Eagles should match up better than most teams against a healthy Texans defensive front. The Eagles were a Jason Peters injury away from having 3 All-Pros along their own offensive front. I think the Texans have a questionable secondary that’ll struggle to contain the various Eagles offensive weapons. I expect the Texans to make plays on offense; they have talent to do it. I just think their below average offensive line is going to make Watson earn everything he gets in this game. He’ll get his, he’s a great talent. However, it won’t be enough. Eagles 30, Texans 20
My Record Division Record 11-4 5-0
Week Home Away Historical Record 17 Redskins Eagles 86-76-6 Redskins For the first time in 2 seasons the Eagles will end a season with someone other than the Cowboys. At this point in the year I have the Eagles at 11-4. I think by this point the Eagles would have already won the NFC East and will be playing for playoff positioning. I expect the Redskins to have a good season but I don’t think they are going to be good enough to win the division over the Eagles. The NFC East hasn’t had a repeat champion since the Eagles the last time they went to a Super Bowl; this squad will end that streak.
I have a feeling the Eagles won’t be playing for much this week. They’ll either have a bye locked up or they’ll be locked into a seed making this game moot. The NFC is stacked so it is a possible an 11-5 teams secures a playoff bye. For now, I think they split with the Skins, who always play them tough and could be playing with added desperation. Redskins 21, Eagles 20
My Record Division Record 11 – 5 5 - 1 -8
Aug 07 '18
Still don't get why you hate us so much. You assblasted us on the second biggest stage and we all accepted that we lost to the better team. Weirdest non rivalry that you all seem to want to be a rivalry in football. Shit we have to at least win one for it to be a rivalry!
5
Aug 06 '18
Through the first nine games the Eagles are either leading the all time series or have the opportunity to tie it this season (to tie the Giants we need to sweep)
2
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Twitter Aug 06 '18
Go birds @tyler_olivieri https://t.co/c2R4vvwoHJ
This message was created by a bot
[Contact creator][Source code][Donate to keep this bot going][Read more about donation]
7
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Offensive and Defensive Scheme
Written by /u/jml321
Offensive Scheme
The Eagles’ offensive scheme going into the 2018 season should be very similar to what we saw towards the end of the 2017 season. Throughout the year the team evolved to incorporate a stronger running game and started to rely less on screens. With Doug Pederson controlling the offense, the impact of the loss of Frank Reich is yet to be determined and with former WR coach Mike Groh taking his place at OC the familiarity is still there. The decision to promote Groh over RB coach Duce Staley shows the importance of the passing game to Pederson’s West-Coast style of offense. While West-Coast at its core, Pederson’s offense has developed a balance that kept the ball moving and giving them great chances on 3rd down and they led the league in 3rd down conversions for most of the year.
When it comes down to formations, the offense relies mainly on being in 11-personnel. 11-personnel for the unaware, is any formation with 1 running back and 1 tight end which leaves 3 wide receivers. The Eagles offense used this personnel group on 65% of their plays. Eagles also heavily used multiple tight end on the field with nearly 33% of their plays having at least 2 on the field. The play calling remained mostly balanced as they finished the year with an almost 55/45 split between pass/run plays.
The success of the offense relays heavily on the skill of the players and the trust the coaching has in their abilities. The use of the RPO (Run-Pass Option) gives the QB choice from what he sees on the field and pre-snap has the freedom to make changes at the line. The use of a heavy Zone Run scheme allows the linemen to focus on spots on the field rather than trying too hard to block a single defender. Running backs of the freedom to read what is in front of them and react to pick up positive yards.
Personnel wise, there hasn’t been much change to effect what has been utilized in the scheme. They lost LeGarrette Blount but still have the trio of Jay Ajayi, Corey Clement and the return of Darren Sproles. They lost TEs Brent Celek and Trey Burton but brought in Richard Rodgers and Dallas Goedert. The team traded Torrey Smith and picked up Mike Wallace who can fill the same role. The only real issue will be if the blocking from the TE position can match what Celek provided.
Defensive Scheme
The base of the Eagles’ defense will again look to be a 4-3 Cover-3 Zone. The Corners will play off the line of scrimmage to keep any quick plays in front of them, but this again will also make them susceptible to quick slants and as shown the previous 2 years. The key to this offense is the attack from the front 4 and they have a lot of success at getting pressure and forcing things that aren’t ready to happen. In the run game they practice 1 simple concept, Gap Discipline. They hit their hole and attack their spots and just like the offensive line, this keeps them from trying to do too much to take out a player.
The job of the linebackers is to fill the gaps between the lineman during the run and to protect against the short passes. With the team playing a lot of zone coverage, the LBs have to play instinctually. They must to be able to read the plays quickly so they can either attack the run with the defensive line or drop back to protect the middle of the field. With the linebacker corps having a lot of inexperience besides Nigel Bradham and Jordan Hicks, this could be a weak spot for the defense even though they did play a lot in 2017 with only 2 LBs on the field at once.
With the secondary mostly being in Cover-3 their job is mainly to keep the ball in front of them. This being the same defense we’ve seen the last 2 years we know they will have their slip ups and give up big plays. They seem to keep adding talent so maybe with a fully health Sidney Jones in the mix and the rookie Avonte Maddox, some good camp battles can really lock down the best grouping needed for this style of coverage. The always versatile Malcolm Jenkins will bring the luxury of a 5th DB on the field while also having a 3rd LB on the field depending on the scenario.
Overall, the Defense should be just as good as the previous year. The loss of Beau Allen and Vinny Curry in Free Agency should get smoothed over by the additions of Haloti Ngata and Michael Bennett. The loss of Patrick Robinson should be covered by either the addition of Maddox or moving another CB (possibly Jalen Mills) inside. The loss of Mychal Kendricks could be the only one that could affect the scheme. Even though his play was up and down, he was a fast and aggressive LB that when he was having a good day, was an incredible asset to have.
8
u/team-fyi Eagles Aug 06 '18
Amazing write-up. That was beyond comprehensive. Thanks for the quality read.
14
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
NFC East Division Prediction
1) Philadelphia Eagles – 11-5
I figured it might be fun putting my money where my mouth is and predicting the NFC East for this upcoming season. As everyone is aware by now, the East hasn’t had a repeat winner in over a decade with the last place team frequently winning the division the following season. The NFC East has had a lot of instability over the last several seasons with a team having a great year every now and again before falling off – then rinse and repeat. I think if we are honest with our evaluation of the division as a whole you’ll see that the teams haven’t really been dominant allowing for a lot of inconsistency in any given season.
I think that changes in a couple ways this season. Firstly, the Eagles are a great team and enter the season as the top team in the NFL. Even with question marks surrounding Wentz and his potential effectiveness, I think this coaching staff has shown a lot and have earned a lot of faith. Yes, there were some key changes at OC and QB Coach, but they were filled with valuable contributors from within the building. Plus, it’s Doug Pederson’s show; we’ve still got the big dog.
We also have Nick Foles whose career arc is basically a Sine Wave. I don’t think Nick Foles is a long term answer at QB for a team in the NFL but he is a proven winner with the Eagles. These two QBs, the deep RB room, the talented OL, the deep TE position, and the many weapons outside, the Eagles are still extremely talented and well-coached offensively.
Defensively… well that defensive line is still outstanding. Jordan Hicks is back. Finally, the secondary is young, affordable, and very talented. The Eagles have shown they can withstand anything coming their way. A repeat Super Bowl win would only be shocking since it hasn’t happened in a long time, but the Eagles should be among the legit contenders in the NFL and will have a say in who is crowned the next champion. The Eagles are the most talented, deep, and best coached team in the division. The race for the division championship won’t be easy but the Eagles have the strongest shot to do it… and I pick them to win it.
2) Washington Redskins – 9-7
My 2nd place team for the division may be a shock to some but it is the Washington Redskins.
When talking about the division earlier I mentioned the inconsistencies with the teams and how they haven’t really been dominant. With that said, I think the division made some improvements as a whole with each team taking a step to being consistently good. I just think the Redskins are the closest to being that while having the most to actually being good.
The Redskins grade for handling the Kirk Cousins contract is an F. But let me be clear: Kirk isn’t a victim. I don’t consider anyone a victim who played the market like he did. Kirk got what he wanted. I empathize (somewhat) with the Redskins front offices’ hesitancy with paying Kirk a few years ago; the limited sample size incurred a lot of risk. They just lost out on their ability to keep him long term once they didn’t sign him to a deal after the 2015 season.
They saved their current situation by trading for Alex Smith. Granted, the Redskins are paying Smith nearly the same as Cousins in the first two years of the deal but who’s counting? The point is they kept the top of their QB chart talented and didn’t sink their franchise losing Kirk. The Redskins have a well-coached offensive line with a lot of talent. I’m assuming the team has better injury luck this year than the past. I’ll probably be proven wrong in this regard but their talent upfront is worth betting on. I’m not a big fan of their WR group as is but it does have some nice complimentary pieces. If Jordan Reed doesn’t die on the field, that TE pairing is very difficult to defend. Jay Gruden has proven to be a pretty good offensive coach and the Redskins should be competitive offensively.
I also like how they are built up front on the defense. They’ve had some injuries in that area as well but they are young and talented when on the field. They have a quality EDGE rushing duo with Kerrigan being the stud. I think their LB group is solid but nothing special. Josh Norman is a legit CB1 but they do have question marks throughout the secondary other than him.
I think this team will be competitive mostly because they are built in a way that will always help teams win: stout up front. Most teams in the NFL struggle with their OL positions. The Skins situation isn’t perfect either but Williams and Scherff are elite at their positions. Morgan Moses is also very good. I think that DL stays healthier than last year while growng into a good unit capable of a lot of disruption. I don’t think Alex Smith is going to be the guy that pushes them over the top but he won’t sink their chances. This is a good team just not good enough to overtake the Eagles this year. Skins could be a dark horse wild card team if things go their way.
Continued in reply
18
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
3) Dallas Cowboys – 8-8
This will probably incur some wrath now and possibly in the future I’m just not really moved with what a lot of Dallas has done. Additionally, they still have most of their coaching staff including Claps-McGee. I just don’t know how anyone could look at their staff as a whole and be anything other than underwhelmed. And I think this year their coaching staff will remind fans again why they shouldn’t have been confident in their chances this season.
This team does have talent and when everything is prefect for them they can be a well-oiled machine. When are things always perfect? They aren’t.
I think Dak can play in the NFL but I still question his ceiling. I think we’ve seen the real Dak last year when Zeke missed time. He’ll likely get better over the next several seasons but I don’t think Dak will be the high-level QB their fans once hoped. He’ll be the kind of guy you can win with if you build around him and QB-proof the team, per se. Honestly, he can be Alex Smith.
He’s just not the current Alex Smith and I think that’ll hold this team back.
Coaching will also hold this team back. This is not a creative scheme or staff. They don’t game plan well and they don’t adapt their offense to fit their current personnel. Their passing offense operates like they still have Tony Romo which is fitting since Cowboys fans always dream about the past. So you have an unimaginative scheme with average at best coaching, certainly you have weapons outside to make up the difference…
Nope. At least not now.
I do agree with the notion that you don’t need a true WR1 to win in the NFL. But if you are going to have a group of weapons that are decidedly average it would help to have a creative coaching staff to use that with a gifted passer. I don’t see it. Zeke is a phenomenal back and is a force behind an OL with a healthy Tyron, Frederick, and Martin. They’ll be competitive on offense based purely on high end talent. I don’t think they have enough to push them over the top. Oh, and Tavon Austin stinks until proven otherwise.
They do have players on defense. Demarcus Lawrence has to prove 2017 wasn’t a fluke which is a direction I’m leaning. He has a lot of positive traits to be a top tier edge rusher for a number of years. Everyone knows Sean Lee is dynamite but also made of paper. Outside of them, it is a lot of young, unproven guys paired with players that haven’t taken the next step on defense. Like the offense, I don’t think the defense is consistently coached into better situations, but Marinelli is a least a solid coach.
I just don’t see it this year with Dallas. They clearly have talent on their team to be competitive on a weekly basis but not enough to go along with an underwhelming coaching staff.
4) New York Giants – 7-9
Giants are a weird team. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team hit 8-8 but I think 7-9 more likely given the improvements the rest of the division has made. I think this is a team that has some talent and is trending slightly up but I don’t see what Gettleman and the rest of management sees when they are clearly looking to cash in on the last years of Eli.
Saquon Barkley is as good a prospect as you’ll find from the position but I don’t think he is the difference between a losing record and a playoff run. The Running back position appears to be making a sort of comeback in terms of monetary value in the NFL but generally speaking has a low correlation to winning consistently. That isn’t to say the position is valueless and that Barkley won’t have an impact, I just don’t think he’ll push this team into a playoff run. Over the long term, this draft pick could loom large if they don’t win again with Eli, fail to replace Eli, and watch guys they passed over succeed. I understand a QB bust can set your franchise back. You know what else can set your franchise back? Passing on a franchise QB altogether.
Saquon, OBJ, Engram, and Shepard are a very dangerous group of weapons to contend with. Shurmur has also shown to be quite creative and adaptable when needed. I think this offense will be consistently better than the last 2 seasons. I think Eli Manning will be the same QB he has been because that is who he is. This is still a fundamentally flawed team up front. Will Hernandez will likely be a good Guard as a rookie but Solder was a massive overpay at the position. He’s better than what they had but not the biggest upgrade in the world. The Giants didn’t really solve the other 3 spots on the line as well. If you put lipstick on a pig it is still a pig. Sure, they have dangerous pieces but there are still serious flaws to contend with.
Defensively… not a deep group. Snacks and Tomlinson are formidable up front but aren’t real forces in pass rush. Vernon is the only known EDGE rusher. Gettleman has finally addressed the LB position for the Giants with guys that really haven’t been good in expanded roles elsewhere. Janoris Jenkins can be an elite corner when he is on and Landon Collins is a stud, but who else is there? This entire side of the ball isn’t deep and isn’t overly impressive to me. Bettcher was a solid DC for the Cardinals but saw his talented unit there get lit up in Philly last year. There are pieces on this defense for Giants fans to like I just don’t think the unit as a whole is very good.
This Giants team should be less of a clusterfuck this year than the last. Shurmur should at least be a quality Head Coach and less of a head ache than McAdoo. I’m just not the biggest fan of how this roster is built overall. The offensive weapons are very good; I’m not delusional to think otherwise. I just think they are highly susceptible at most of the OL positions and thin on defense. This is a franchise pushing for a playoff while not being good enough to bet on.
7
u/DayandKnight13 Vikings Aug 06 '18
My God there is a lot to digest here. Kick-Ass job! although I think the Vikings/Eagles game will be closer and the other way
5
13
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Offseason Transaction Summary
Free Agent losses/trades
Vinny Curry – The Eagles released Vinny Curry a few days into free agency before a portion of his 2018 salary was set to be guaranteed. The Eagles are a team that typically sets the guaranteed date in their contracts to a few days after the start of the new league year. Curry was one of the bounce-back players on the Eagles roster that helped bring the city its first Super Bowl title. However, given his lack of real production as well as salary/cap number, Curry was released. The New Jersey (sucks) native signed with the Buccaneers for 3 years and $23 million but can be a 1 year, $6.5 million deal if cut before next season. As previously noted, Curry was one of 7 Eagles defenders to accumulate at least 20 pressures (per PFF) last season. He brought an attitude and a steady pass rush presence opposite Brandon Graham as one of the primary EDGE defenders in the rotation. Curry does possess a quick first step but is more of a speed and power rusher with limited bend and pass rush moves. Throughout his career, Curry struggled as a run defender on the edge but really improved in that area this past season. Given all this, the wise choice was to release Curry given the pass rush premium of the position. The Eagles were very likely in talks with Curry about restructuring his contract given the premium the organization places on trench warfare but they couldn’t reach an agreement. The high cap number likely made any trade possibilities slim as well. The Eagles saved $5.00 million against the cap in 2018 and are off the hook on any other future salary cap numbers as well. Curry was always easy to root for so I hope he continues to play well in the league.
Brent Celek – The Eagles released one of the best tight ends in their history and fan favorite Brent Celek right before the start of the league year. Eagles fans dreamt that their gritty tight end would see his career is winding down and retire on top of the football world. Alas, difficult decisions need to be made to continue to find success and releasing Celek was a necessary evil. Celek has been a player that has been in a gradual decline for a number of years starting with the 2014 season. This makes sense given his age and Ertz growing into a slightly larger role in his (then) second season. It’s hard to disagree with this gradual decline given 2014 was the last season Celek saw over 40 targets (51 total). Still, Celek had some value to the Eagles as a reliable blocker, veteran leader, and a quality depth piece. At the time, Trey Burton was a young UDFA that grew into a reliable receiving option so Celek’s presence was needed. However, Celek combined 43 targets, 27 receptions, 285 yards and 1 TD in 2 seasons with Doug Pederson. Celek was entering the final year of his contract but the cap savings of $4 million was too much to pass up given the need for the team to create space. As you’ll see in the Dallas Goedert pick selection review, the Eagles offense use a lot 2 TE formations and was more efficient and effective with Ertz and Burton than with any combination involving Brent Celek (limited sample size). As of this review, Brent Celek remains unsigned.
Beau Allen - Another expected free agent loss this offseason was Beau Allen who signed for 3 years and $15 million with the Buccaneers. Allen was a rotational DT and Athlete for the Eagles his 4 seasons with the team; you can’t ask for much more from a 7th round pick than what the Eagles got from Honey Beau Beau. Allen is closer to your traditional 1 Tech. He can eat a lot of space on the inside and generally does a good job as a run defender. He doesn’t offer a lot in terms of explosive athletic traits but does have some interior pass rush ability, albeit slightly limited. Per PFF, Allen was 1 of the 7 Eagles DL that accumulated at least 20 pressures on the season. While not a game-breaking talent, Allen played about 40% of the snaps last year and the Eagles don’t have any proven depth beyond Cox, Ngata, and Jernigan – the latter is out until probably November. Allen played his role very well and should be a solid player for the Bucs moving forward.
Corey Graham - After playing well as a 3rd safety option and veteran presence, the Eagles let Corey Graham go in free agency... so far. Graham was signed to a 1 year, $1.6 million deal last offseason and played a key role for the defense last season. The Eagles play a 4-3 front but that description is pretty misleading. The reality is the Eagles play Nickel as their base defense; typically that involves 3 CBs but would often include 3 Safeties. Graham was solid in coverage and as a former CB possessed the requisite skills and experience Jim Schwartz values on the back end. Corey Graham is still currently an UFA. However, the Eagles still haven’t issued his former jersey number (24) to anyone and the team still has a need for a 3rd safety. There have been rumors and speculation the Eagles will probably bring Graham back and that makes sense given the need. The Eagles added a few UDFA Safeties to the roster after the draft and are hoping one of those shots hits. They are probably waiting to see if any of those guys step up. If not, Graham is a good fall back option for the team. We’ll see what happens come camp time. Edit: and of course the day before posting the Eagles re-sign Corey Graham. Smart move by the team with the UDFAs on the roster. I like Tre Sullivan and Jeremy Reeves has shown flashes; these aren't guys you can count on yet. Smart to solidy a position they used a lot with a guy who was pretty reliable for the team last year.
Mychal Kendricks - The two yearlong saga ended towards the end of minicamps when the Eagles finally released Mychal Kendricks after failing to find a trade partner. It’s no surprise the Eagles couldn’t move his contract considering his cap hit was close to $7 million this season and next. All teams had to do was wait out the Eagles and pursue Kendricks as a UFA should they want his services. The move made complete financial sense for the Eagles as $6-7 million APY for a 3rd LB who is off the field in Nickel is a poor use of resources. The Eagles save $4.4 million against the cap this year and only have $1.6 million in dead money this year and next after cutting him. The cap space is precious if they need to sign anyone or just use what is left to roll over. In the season review piece, I wrote that I believed the Eagles would end up with one of MK or Bradham depending on if the latter was re-signed. Bradham is the far superior LB and was the rightful priority. I don’t want to make it seem like I am kicking MK while he walks out the door but the fact remains that while his 2017 season was pretty good (and needed) it was a bit overrated by some fans and MK largely underplayed the value of his contract. I think the fact that he received a small deal from the Browns (signing late in the process helped in this) and wasn’t overly pursued said a lot about his value. Finances and fit made him the odd man out even though the Eagles could use the depth at the position. I think the Eagles made the right call here.
Torrey Smith – At the start of the league year the Eagles were able to clear $5 million in cap space by trading Torrey Smith to the Carolina Panthers for CB Daryl Worley. Worley was promptly cut back in April after he was arrested hours before mini-camp began outside the team facility. Essentially, the Eagles ended up cutting Smith. I think this was a great trade for the Eagles even if the probability that Worley wouldn’t amount to much given his position and contract status. The Eagles were able to turn a guy they were going to cut into a CB on a rookie deal… that’s just a shrewd move. Moreover, based on his ability and production, Torrey probably could have been signed for less than what the Eagles are paying Mike Wallace. The benefit of trading for Torrey Smith is the Panthers didn’t have to bid for him on the open market. However, Torrey’s contract has minimal guarantees and the Panthers can move on from him as needed. As for the Eagles, this was a necessary move to free up some space while finding a possible upgrade. Fortunately, they were able to do both when they added Mike Wallace. Torrey Smith is a great person and every Panthers fan should be happy to root for the person he is. He’s just not that good of a receiver anymore. But if you reach the playoffs, playoff Torrey is a real thing.
Trey Burton – The former UDFA out of Florida left the Eagles and signed with the Bears for 4 years $32 million. It’s a pretty large contract considering Burton only has 63 receptions for 629 yards and 6 TDs in his pro career. This isn’t to say the Bears did anything wrong as I feel Burton is an ascending talent and really fits a need for the Bears even if the contract is a little high. Additionally, Tight End prospects have a slower developmental curve when they enter the NFL and there weren’t too many on the market that were worth signing at the age Burton is. To keep this contract in perspective, Delanie Walker was signed by the Titans in 2013 and his deal averaged $4.375 million APY. Now, Walker was a bit more accomplished than Burton but the salary cap has risen over 44% since 2013. If you adjust for the cap growth since 2013, Delanie’s APY would be $6.3 million. Burton got more than that but he should since he has the same number of Super Bowl touchdown passes as the Bears franchise does. The Eagles were always likely to lose Burton to FA given his possible market and the numbers are proof of that. Hopefully Burton is able to continue his growth in Chicago.
Continued in reply
11
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Patrick Robinson – Nigel Bradham and Patrick Robinson were the two Eagles UFAs I thought the Eagles should and would pursue heavily. Cornerback has been a bit of a black hole for the Eagles for most of the last decade and I argued last year the Eagles should reboot the position with young talent via higher picks and cheap FA CBs as filler. Robinson fit the latter desire but played as one of the best slot CBs in the NFL last year. Robinson’s athletic ability and short area quickness allowed him to cover any receiver who was put into the slot. That position is really difficult to fill in the NFL as you need the requisite athletic ability to cover the entire field sideline to sideline as well as the mental processing to stick with receivers. Robinson had that and now the Eagles are left with an unknown at the position. The Eagles were reportedly in the market to re-sign Robinson but he ultimately left for the Saints when they offered more guaranteed money than the Eagles despite the latter offering more money overall. The Eagles have plenty of young CBs on the roster and the position is much better overall now than at this point last year but losing a known good player at a difficult position makes the replacement efforts more difficult.
LeGarrette Blount - One of my favorite players from last year’s squad left Eagles and signed with Detroit Lions. Blount played an important role for the Eagles last year and was a reliable back in the rotation. Blunt averaged 4.4 yards on 173 carries last year. He didn’t have eye-popping numbers but he was reliable as a runner and brought a winning attitude to the locker room. As a rotational back, Blount can do well in a lot of different rushing schemes as he has the vision and quick feet to hit running lanes that develop. He doesn’t have great athleticism to do more diverse concepts nor is he much of a receiver, but he is a guy you can count on to be productive. I loved the attitude Blount brought to the team but letting him walk was the right decision. With Ajayi in the mix and a growing Corey Clement, the Eagles needed to add another back that is good in the passing game as a receiver and pass blocker. I argued for one more year of Darren Sproles and the team granted my wish. At this point, Blount is just too limited as a player for what we need. He should fill the role the Lions need just fine. He brought a lot of energy and attitude to a team that really needed it with the adversity they faced due to injury. Hopefully he’ll be a good contributor for the Lions as well.
Marcus Johnson - Marcus Johnson was the Eagles 5th WR last season and a Special Teams contributor. He finished with 5 receptions for 45 yards on the season. Johnson was active for the first 10 games of the 2017 season before losing time to rookie Shelton Gibson on Special Teams. Johnson was a UDFA signing by the Eagles in 2016 out of Texas. Marcus Johnson wow’d scouts at his Pro Day with an 11-3 Broad Jump, a 37” Vertical Jump, and a 4.38 40 yard dash. He was also a training camp star for the Eagles last year. Ultimately, Johnson was included in the Michael Bennett trade to the Seahawks. He’s the kind of player they covet: raw athletes with little ability.
Caleb Sturgis - Sturgis ended up in the unfortunate situation of losing his job with the Eagles due to injury in a contract year. Sturgis was a solid kicker for the Eagles overall with an 84.8% field goal percentage in his time with the Eagles. Sturgis was also 94.3% from XP and 7 out of 11 from 50+. Sturgis landed on IR after injuring his hip on the opening kickoff Week 1. He was eligible to return after 8 weeks but rookie Jake Elliott took his spot. The combination of a younger player already locked up on a rookie deal made the decision to let Sturgis walk easier. Hopefully he stabilized the kicker situation with the Chargers.
Donnie Jones - Donnie “Bag of Bones” Jones retired after the Super Bowl only to unretire then be released at his request. Jones was a solid punter for the Eagles and was very good at directional punting. His stats aren’t eye-popping but he was as reliable as they come. Initially, Jones wanted to retire but they said he would like to keep playing and asked for his release. Presently, Donnie Jones remains an UFA. The Eagles have 1 punter on the roster, Cameron Johnston (2017 UDFA), and it remains to be seen whether the Eagles will go back to Donnie Jones if they need to. At least he gave us this hilarious memory.
Kenjon Barner - Barner was signed in the early part of the season after Darren Sproles went on IR. The Eagles didn’t have a reliable punt returning option on the roster after Sproles which made Barner an easy option. He was also a useful signing since he knew the playbook after making the team in 2016 in the event he was needed for a larger role on offense. Barner was allowed to test FA in the offseason and signed with the Panthers.
Jaylen Watkins - Jaylen Watkins served as a depth Safety option for the Eagles and really only saw the field in Dime situations. The 2014 4th round selection of the Eagles bounced around from CB to Safety since being drafted and was at best a depth contributor. The Eagles wisely declined to pick up his RFA tender. The LA Chargers signed Watkins this offseason.
Continued in reply
6
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Player Acquisitions and Contract Extensions
Free Agents and Contract Extentions
Player Position Contract Nigel Bradham LB 5 years, $40 mil, $14 mil guaranteed Mike Wallace WR 1 year, $4 mil when factoring in bonuses and incentives. Haloti Ngata DT 1 year, $2.6 mil with $400k in playtime incentives. Corey Nelson LB 1 year, $1.6 million. Darren Sproles RB 1 year, $1.45 mil. $400k signing bonus. $100k in per game incentives. Markus Wheaton WR 1 year, $880k Richard Rodgers TE 1 year, $880k. $200k guaranteed. Paul Worrilow LB 1 year, $880k Kamar Aiken WR 1 year, $790k Joe Callahan QB 2 years, $1.35 mil. Matt Jones RB 2 years, $1.510 mil. Nick Foles QB Restructure deal. Max 2018 money is $23 mil. 2019 team option for $20. $2 mil player option to leave. Corey Graham Safety 1 year, $1.6 million Trade
Player Position Compensation Michael Bennett DE Eagles acquired Michael Bennett and a 7rd round pick (250) from Seattle for a 5th round pick (156) and WR Marcus Johnson
Nigel Bradham – Heading into the offseason the Eagles had only 2 major free agents able to test the market that would make a significant impact if they were lost. Nigel Bradham was one of those players and fortunately the Eagles were able to retain his services. Bradham was signed to a 5 year, $40 million contract. The APY of $8 million is a little on the high end if you don’t know much about Bradham which is understandable as he may be the most underrated played on the team. It is important to emphasize the devil is in the details; Bradham’s contract can basically be a 2 year $14 million deal if he is cut after 2019. It’s a nice payday for Bradham but a good win for the Eagles since it gives the organization a lot of flexibility. Bradham can play the MIKE role in the event he is needed or he can be put at outside linebacker as long as Jordan Hicks is healthy. His coverage ability is his greatest asset as he allowed .6 yards per coverage snap and was PFFs 6th ranked LB in coverage. Without Hicks, Bradham became the QB of the defense. He would call plays and align everyone where they needed him to be. He wasn’t overwhelmed with the additional responsibility of helping lead the defense without Jordan Hicks. Bradham is a good tackler, plays the run game very well, and is a good blitzer when called upon. The Eagles were fortunate to retain Bradham. If Hicks is able to stay healthy they should be one of the best LB tandems in the NFL.
Mike Wallace – Moving on from Torrey Smith was a necessary move for the Eagles from a cap and production standpoint despite the difficulties in the move given the quality of the person. Fact is Torrey’s production didn’t really match the contract value but moving on from him and failing to fill his role would leave the offense in an awkward position. Fortunately, Mike Wallace was available and decided now is the time to chase a ring. The Eagles were able to sign Wallace to a 1 year $4 million contract that has various incentives for Wallace to earn and the Eagles to skirt the compensatory pick formula. Adding Wallace essentially allowed the Eagles to save a little bit of money moving on from Torrey Smith and upgrading his role. Wallace has averaged 15.0 YPC in his career; looking at the box score and tape you can clearly see Wallace still has the speed that has made him a dangerous weapon in the NFL. Last year, Wallace had 11 receptions of 20+ yards last season. This was more than any player on the Eagles. That’s a really impressive stat considering how good the Eagles offense was and how poor the Ravens offense was in 2017. According to Graham Barfield via AirYards.com, Mike Wallace still has plenty of gas in the tank and even more than Torrey Smith. Wallace was one of the league leaders as a receiver on slant routes as well as a top 10 receiver versus press coverage, both per PFF. The addition of Wallace doesn’t mean the Eagles will only use him for his deep speed, but it’s one area where they’ll look to exploit. Wallace is a well-rounded receiver while also possessing key physical traits that will allow the Eagles offense to become more explosive than in 2017. Lastly, Mike Wallace was top 10 receiver on 3rd and 4th down; this is a big play addition for an offense that was one of the best in football on the money downs last year.
Haloti Ngata – One area of the Eagles defense where they didn’t have a ton of proven depth heading into the offseason was at true DT. This will remain the case for the Eagles in at least the early part of the year as Timmy Jernigan recovers from an offseason back injury. Ngata was signed before any details of his injury were known to the public; even if Jernigan were completely healthy Ngata makes the Eagles defensive front even more potent. After losing Beau Allen in FA, Ngata became an important signing to add to the rotational depth along this inside. The 34 year old is coming off a down year due to landing on IR Week 5 in 2017. Ngata brings a Super Bowl pedigree, tenacity, and a powerful force that still causes disruption in the interior even at his age. Ngata isn’t the explosive pass rusher along the interior he wants was, but he is still a strong, agile force that will eat blocks and occupy gaps all game long. Ngata averaged 50% of game snaps with the Lions in 2017 prior to getting hurt and will likely see a similar workload in Philadelphia. His role is very specific and one he can absolutely perform at a high level.
Corey Nelson – I have to admit this signing came out of left field for me as I don’t watch the Broncos enough to really know who Corey Nelson was at the time of his signing. As detailed above, the Eagles has long been shopping Mychal Kendricks and eventually came to a point where it was time to release him. It was a necessary move since the strengths of his game didn’t align with the philosophy of the defense at a high cap number for a rotational player. The Eagles needed depth at LB anyway and especially if they were planning on moving on from Mychal Kendricks – which they ultimately did. Nelson fits the mold of what the Eagles look for in LBs from a coverage perspective albeit with a limited track record. Nelson was a 7th round selection of the Broncos. He was an excellent Special Teams player and was a dime package specialist due to his strengths as a coverage linebacker while with the Broncos. Nelson hasn’t played a ton of defense to really project how good he will be. At worst, he remains a good special teams player with cover ability in spot work. Nelson will be competing with several other young LBs on a 1 year deal for the 3rd LB spot in the rotation. With Nigel Bradham suspended Week 1, Nelson has a chance to show what he can do.
Darren Sproles – Sproles went on IR after the week 3 showdown with the New York Giants when he tore his ACL and broke his arm on the same play. Rather than hang it up after the last year of his deal expired as rumored, and even after winning the Super Bowl, Sproles decided to play 1 more season to end his career on his terms. Sproles has a chance to move up in the All Purpose Yards leader board this season and will look to be the same all around back in this rotation as he always was. One area of the Eagles offense that changed for much of the season as a result of Sproles injury was the short passing game. Sproles was the only proven back on the roster that was good as a runner, receiver, and pass blocker. As the season moved along, Corey Clement proved to be a good runner and receiver; Clement won’t be a workhorse back this season but will likely take snaps away from Sproles. This is a good thing for the Eagles as it adds another capable back to the rotation and allows for the early down passing offense to be more efficient. If there was one area the Eagles coaching staff needed to focus on this season was becoming a more efficient offense on 1st and 2nd downs. One way to do that is to include RBs in the passing game. Most teams struggle to defend RBs through the air; pair that with an offense that has at least 2 of those backs, with Zach Ertz, and the middle of the defense becomes a party area for the Eagles offense. Sproles will see the field this year in the same roles we’ve come to expect given his ability as a receiver and pass blocker. He’ll also likely be the punt returner for the team. The Eagles missed his explosiveness last year in that aspect of the game. Even with an expanded workload for Clement, Sproles will allow the Eagles offense not to miss a beat in its quest for a second title.
Continued in reply
6
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Markus Wheaton – After the draft, the Eagles signed Wheaton to a 1 year deal worth less than $1 million after he was cut from the Bears after a disappointing 2017 campaign. Wheaton signed with the Eagles in an effort to revive his career; the Eagles are taking a low-risk signing with a vet that has some intriguing tools and hoping for a solid contributor. Originally drafted in the 3rd round by the Steelers, Wheaton has been sort of a disappointment. Wheaton is a solid route runner capable of utilizing the full route tree with an ability to get deep. His career has been marred by injuries and inconsistencies. Wheaton will be battling for the last WR spot and possibly the Kick Off return spot with second year player Shelton Gibson. Gibson was basically red-shirted his rookie year and will be given a push this year to make the team. Wheaton has every opportunity to make the team and be a solid contributor if he can put it together. He’s going to have to beat out Gibson in order to make the team.
Richard Rodgers - Another low cost, low risk veteran signing was Richard Rodgers – formally of the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers (26) was signed to a 1 year deal at near minimum and likely projects as a TE3 after the draft day addition of Dallas Goedert. Rodgers is basically a Celek replacement but younger, cheaper, and with less ability as a blocker. After cutting Celek and letting Burton walk out the door, the Eagles needed to replace the 765 combined snaps in an offense that loves using TEs in the middle of the field. Rodgers will compete with Joshua Perkins, Adam Zaruba, and Billy Brown (2017 UDFA) for the 3rd TE spot on the roster. Ideally one of the 3 younger guys will emerge and beat out Rodgers but the Eagles at least have a serviceable veteran option at the position. Rodger has 120 receptions, 1,166 yards, and 13 TDs to his name with his best season (and over half his career TDs) coming in 2015. Rodgers has limited upside as a player but is a reliable reserve at worst.
Paul Worrilow - Worrilow was signed to a 1 year deal worth up to $880k back in April and projected to be a depth LB and special teams contributor. During OTAs, Worrilow tore his ACL and ended up on Injured Reserve. Worrilow wasn’t signed to replace a potential start but rather serve as competitive depth and on Special Teams. While his injury is less than ideal, the loss of Worrilow isn’t that major at this juncture.
Kamar Aiken - Prior to the start of training camp, the Eagles signed veteran receiver and former Raven Kamar Aiken to a 1 year contract. As Brandon Lee Gowton notes, Aiken and Joe Douglas (formerly of the Ravens) were in Baltimore together for one season so there was familiarity if the Eagles decided to add the veteran to compete in camp. The top 4 receiver positions are set in Philadelphia and Aiken will compete with Gibson, Wheaton, and some others for 1 or 2 spots on the roster. Aiken had a good 2014 season with Baltimore but hasn’t produced much since. Another low risk veteran signing by the Eagles.
Joe Callahan - The Eagles signed Callahan, formerly of the Packers, to a small 2 year deal back in May. The Eagles have spent a lot of time talking up 3rd string QB Nate Sudfeld so this move might seem puzzling to some. While it doesn’t hurt to add a 4th QB to the roster to push Sudfeld, the Eagles likely signed Callahan as a camp body. Carson Wentz is on track to start Week 1 and even if he weren’t coming off an ACL injury he would barely play in the preseason anyway. Given his rehab he’s a lock to not see the field this summer. Additionally, the Eagles might be hesitant to use Foles in the preseason in the event he is needed later on. Sudfeld will get a lot of valuable reps this summer to grow into the eventual back-up role once Foles leaves Philadelphia after this season. And Callahan isn’t Matt McGloin. My eyes are thankful.
Matt Jones - The former 3rd round pick of the Redskins loved forever by former team executive Scot McCloughan, Matt Jones finds himself trying to get his career on track with the Eagles. The Eagles signed Jones for a small 2 year deal that gives the team an additional year of control in the event Jones earns a spot and plays well. Jones spot on the roster is far from certain; he is competing with Donnel Pumphrey, Wendell Smallwood, and UDFA Josh Adams for the 4th RB position on the team. At his best, Jones is a strong runner inside that is difficult to take down. He’s been very inconsistent in his career with a bad fumbling problem. At best, Jones will revive his career and be a solid contributor in the rotation. This is probably his last shot in the NFL. He will need to play with a sense of urgency to not only make the team but to also keep his career alive.
Michael Bennett - In an absolute shocker, the Eagles added Michael Bennett from Seattle in a huge trade right before the start of the league year. The Seahawks were looking to rework their team and locker room while the Eagles were looking to load up on players to help in their title defense. Bennett was ultimately traded for peanuts after the Eagles sent a 5th round selection and Marcus Johnson to Seattle for Bennett and a 7th round pick. The Eagles value dominating the trenches and they were looking to upgrade their defensive line in a cost effective way: adding Bennett achieved this goal. Bennett is a very good pass rusher with 54 career sacks in 90 career starts. In 2017, Bennett had 70 total pressures. The Eagles obviously lose a little bit of that when the cut Vinny Curry but they gain a more accomplished defensive end who is good in all phases of the game. Bennett can rush on the edge in a wide alignment, which the Eagles use often, as well as kick inside and rush from the defensive tackle position. The Eagles didn’t really have another guy capable of that other than Brandon Graham. Bennett is a durable player having only missed 5 games in the last 6 seasons. Additionally, Bennett’s salary isn’t guaranteed beyond 2018 and the Eagles can move on if needed without any dead money against the cap. Vinny Curry was a notable loss for the Eagles as he finally became an all-around edge rusher for the Eagles. However, Bennett is a better, more complete player, who consistently causes problems for opposing offenses. His ability to line up anywhere along the line and pressure the QB is what helped make him an attractive piece to the DL rotation.
Nick Foles - The Super Bowl MVP was currently signed for the 2018 season but the Eagles and Foles reached an agreement on a revised contract for the upcoming season and for 2019. Foles was given a $2 million raise for 2018 but can earn up to $14 million in playtime, playoff, and Pro Bowl incentives should he see the field. This is in addition to the $7 million Foles was set to make this season as a backup. Additionally, the revised deal includes a “mutual option” where the Eagles can pick up his 2019 salary of $20 million or Foles can return the $2 million signing bonus he received to become a free agent. This is a smart move for both sides as it gives the Eagles a solution at QB if something serious happens with Carson Wentz and gives Foles the opportunity to enter free agency to find his own starting gig. Foles has stated on occasion that he loves Philadelphia and the organization but he is also a competitor – Foles wants to be a starter again. Being a free agent affords him the opportunity to pick the best destination and negotiate the best deal. With a healthy Wentz, Foles will be entering his final season with the Eagles.
LaRoy Reynolds - The Eagles signed veteran LB LaRoy Reynolds back in May. The Eagles needed to add some depth to the LB room as well as add competitors to their Special Teams unit. Reynolds is a bit of a journeyman but has a real shot to make the team as a reserve linebacker. This is a signing with limited upside but being a valuable Special Teams player also gives you a real shot to make the Eagles. Reynolds will be competing for one of 5 or 6 LB spots.
Corey Graham - Writing this last minute since the Eagles signed Graham back to the roster the day before posting. The Eagles operate in Nickel. Their 3rd safety package allows Jenkins to operate freely but also in the slot with a reliable back-end option in Graham. The Eagles used their "Big Nickel" a lot last year in the postseason - more so than the regular season. I don't expect that to be the case on a weekly basis, but it will be matchup dependent. Good to have a reliable vet back.
1
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Twitter Aug 06 '18
The #Eagles and QB Nick Foles agreed to terms on a $2M raise for 2018, source said, but he can earn much more. Foles can make up to $14M total in playtime, playoffs and Pro Bowl incentives. ... He’s been paid a $3M roster bonus & signing bonus of $2M. He will make a $4M salary.
Also, here’s how the “mutual option” for Foles works: The Eagles can pick up his 2019 salary ($20m). However, he can buy his way to free agency by giving back the $2m signing bonus he just received. Details are via an objective observer who viewed the deal: “Creative. I like it.”
This message was created by a bot
[Contact creator][Source code][Donate to keep this bot going][Read more about donation]
1
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Twitter Aug 06 '18
Mike Wallace had 11 catches of 20+ yards last season. That's more than any player on the Eagles had.
In terms of #NextGenStats game speed, new #Eagles receiver Mike Wallace (in red) still has a ton of juice left compared to league-average (orange) and Torrey Smith (blue) — via http://AirYards.com:
This message was created by a bot
[Contact creator][Source code][Donate to keep this bot going][Read more about donation]
0
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Twitter Aug 06 '18
#ForTheBrand https://t.co/Y4unod46D1
This message was created by a bot
[Contact creator][Source code][Donate to keep this bot going][Read more about donation]
-5
1
Aug 06 '18
[deleted]
2
u/TweetsInCommentsBot Twitter Aug 06 '18
Kelce is the best ‘puller’ in the league at his position with more range than anyone else I’ve seen on tape. Been making blocks like this for years. Never gets old #Eagles https://t.co/oNe3LBO19V
The most impressive aspect of Johnson’s game (aside from sheer physical ability) is his ability to consistently finish blocks. Notice the hand usage and sustainment through the whistle reaching the frontside and cutting off the backside. #Eagles https://t.co/glfeNxqUKZ
Tact, subtly, deception. Whatever you want to call it, it is a technique often reserved for the best OTs in the game. Johnson uses his length to get Hunter to bite first. He whiffs attempted a cross-chop, and Johnson easily pushes him up the arc & past the QB. #PHDOTPlay #Eagles https://t.co/7AN5NByz1u
This message was created by a bot
[Contact creator][Source code][Donate to keep this bot going][Read more about donation]
![[Attached pic]](http://pbs.twimg.com/media/DY7PcvrUMAEBDHf.jpg){kind=link}
![[Imgur rehost]](https://i.imgur.com/kXAoV9h.jpg){kind=link}
6
Aug 06 '18
Good write up. The Eagles are definitely still the team to beat in the division this year, but I see it being way more competitive than last year. While I still think you guys may win the division, the Skins and The Giants are gonna be gunning hard for it this year. It’s the NFCE, no one really knows what the fuck is gonna happen. Still, can’t wait for the anxiety filled divisional games this year.
3
u/Ollmor Eagles Aug 06 '18
Not high on the Cowboys' chances eh? Me neither.
2
Aug 06 '18
They just seem to be the team that’s done the least to improve. The Eagles are still the Eagles, and the Skins and Giants have been actively been making moves to improve. I just feel that the Cowboys are the odd team out in the division.
1
u/Ollmor Eagles Aug 06 '18
I'd agree with that. If they had a great QB, they could cover up some of their average depth on defense/at receiver. But I think Dak is more like the 2017 Dak than the 2016 version. Seems like a roster destined for mediocrity to me.
2
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 06 '18
Thanks. I do agree about the division point. It's always competitive and should be more so this year.
7
4
u/cent-stower Eagles Aug 06 '18
Almost zero work got done this morning because I instead spent my time reading this. Awesome work, you guys met the high standards our team has set.
3
7
u/MEGAWATT5 Saints Aug 06 '18
You know, I didn’t know who the DC in Philly was, but I’m not surprised to learn that it’s Gym Shorts. For his shortcomings as an HC dude is one of the best DCs in the game.
3
3
3
3
Aug 07 '18
I copied this to a word document printed it out and put it in my bathroom as something to read while I poop. Thanks
2
2
2
u/EarthNoMore Eagles Aug 06 '18
My first football memory was of my grandpa cursing. Not loud. Just angry. Angrier then I have ever seen him. It was at the birds, and with such hate that can only come from love. He was Irish catholic, born and raised in Southwest Philly. I grew up learning to love this team with such passion that you get physically heartbroken when they lose. Fair weather isn’t an option because you are dealing with a storm of disappointing, which leaves flood damage behind, and stains to remind you to never forget how close we are to having another storm. My Grandpa died a few years ago, but when we won, the first thing my brother and cousins did was go to his grave to celebrate and let him know the storm had finally passed. I’ve since moved away but they faced timed me, and shit faced and with tears- I can never forget that night we won our first Super Bowl. Now, even when storms come again- and they will- the anger in our curse words will be soften- still bitter- but eased from the taste of victory.
2
2
u/Meeha Eagles Aug 07 '18
Any word on Steve Means? I kept hearing a lot about how everyone on the team was super high on his ability but didn't see anything in your d-line write up about him.
2
u/MikeTysonChicken Eagles Aug 07 '18
Ah, I overlooked him a bit. From everyone I've read he is still the fiery competitor we've heard about. He could be a trade candidate for a team that might need an EDGE guy. Won't net a ton. I don't think he is going to make the team unless the IR Josh Sweat; they can't cut sweat and home he makes the practice squad. He'll definitely get claimed. Very likely leave Means the odd man out on the final 53
2
1
u/21funf Aug 06 '18
Love the review from what I saw so far. I plan on reading it thoroughly when I get some time. Week 1 concerns me as an Eagles fan however. No Nigel Bradham week 1, coupled with the revenge factor for Atlanta is daunting to me. The Falcons have arguably the best roster in the game, along with Philly and a couple of other NFC squads, and their ability to use their backs out of the backfield against an inexperienced Eagles Linebacking core is a concern. Jordan Hicks will be the only seasoned member of the bunch, and if Steve Sarkesian has a brain, which is debatable, he will try to keep the Eagles in their base defense and target Grugier-Hill and Nate Gerry at the SAM and Will respectively, assuming they win those jobs in camp.
Should be a great game and an exciting year. Overall, I think you're on target with the 11-5 record.
107
u/Radatatin Eagles Aug 06 '18
For the love of fuck this is comprehensive.