I know Howie isn’t big on committing at RB and I always agreed with that, but Swift has earned himself an extension. He’s played a key role in almost all of their wins. I think this offense is lost without him. 

35 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

At the very least, Sheldon Brown should NOT be getting more snaps than 2 1st round picks.

 

Is he trying to say Bradberry is Sheldon Brown? 

1 hour ago, DeathByEagle said:

Its going to sting Hurts bad when they demote BJ next season. 

That's more then likely the riff in the locker room. Everyone does not buy in on BJ offense scheme and has made it known to Hurts which explains his "Team needs to buy in" comments. Dont talk about my family friend OC. 

 

How far will it sting however? Will his FO relation ship be broken? Would he ask for a trade? Doubt it, but We have seen crazier things. 

This all tracks.   And the constant use of the shotgun is another issue.  It's limiting the running game, and that's not helping matters.   Can we at least go to the pistol every now and then so that the defense has more guessing to do?   Its true that when the Eagles properly execute, it really doesn't matter if the defense knows what's coming or not... BUT, it makes executing it perfectly that much harder on a consistent basis, hence the offensive fits and starts.   It really doesn't seem to be that hard to switch to a pistol formation from shotgun, but it seems too late in the process to make any significant changes now.  It all comes down to execution.  And this team doesn't seem to have the IQ to not make stupid plays that hurt them.   So, we play out the string, hope for a stream of miracle outcomes for this team and ultimately await the inevitable.   This team is 11-4, but based on the way they are playing, it is hard to have hope for even a puncher's chance in the playoffs.   They still have it, and if the defense could generate any turnovers, things could swing wildly from here.   BUT... right now we have an offense that turns the ball over too much and a defense that can't generate a turnover.  

4 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

This is an interesting quote from BG for a few reasons.

First, he's right. All they have to do is get hot. They could be the anti-Phillies. I think almost every Phillies fan knew they blew their load too fast. When they hit in bunches like they do, you know they are gonna go cold and go cold fast. The Eagles haven't even hit lukewarm yet. If they can heat up, I feel like they will keep building off of that.

Second, they players are noticing how Hurts carries himself. You have to wonder if his teammates want more than the always cool, never shows emotion guy that he is. I'm not suggesting they don't like it, but clearly BG notices it enough to mention that they need Hurts to smile because winning is fun and it's OK to smile and have fun. Just sicks out to me.

 

No, this is all clickbait. Brandon Garaham is making it all up. Everyone’s fine with Jalen for who he is. 

3 minutes ago, Ace Nova said:

Is he trying to say Bradberry is Sheldon Brown? 

Sydney Brown 

1 hour ago, RLC said:

Thing is, he does. QBR, CPOE, Passing yards, etc.

Do any of those take into account staying in bounds on a run where he should have obviously just gone out of bounds before the end of the half? 

Do they take into account holding the ball and trying to run rather than just throwing the ball away against a free rusher and keeping possession of the last timeout? 

These plays are indicative of poor coaching, poor decision making and a lack of execution by the QB.   Those plays are 100% on him and the OC/HC.  And frankly, the offensive struggles rests almost entirely upon those 3.  There have been a few boneheaded moments from others making mistakes that they can't afford... but for the most part, the scheme is too simple, the adjustments have been too slow in coming and the QB has turned the ball over way too much.

I still do not like an offensive scheme which is, in large degree, predicated on the running ability of the QB.  We got away with it last year.   Now defenses have caught up, and our team hasn't adjusted.   Fortunately, we are significantly more talented than most of the teams we face, which is why we can get to 11-4.  But, this team's scheme and execution has been that of a 0.500 team, if not worse.  

1 hour ago, ManuManu said:

Someone show this to AJ. He should be dominating DBs out there. 

Yup.  We saw the good and the bad of OZ yesterday.   He has the tenacity to block like that, and we see it here against a DB.  Sadly, on the KR where he could smashed back into Scott, he tried that same tenacity against a much larger, stronger LB.  And the results speak for themselves.  

But, blocking like that is all about heart, and team esprit de corps.  I'm not sure AJ has that.  

45 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Again, that’s why I do see value in very simple, bottom line, result oriented stats.  

This is why I prefer EPA/play instead of passer rating. One actually leads to points, while the other does not.

1 hour ago, RLC said:

Forget the off field stuff, but AJ has the size and strength to be a top 5 blocker if he wanted to. He's got that mentality when he has the ball, but not blocking. A shame.

🤔

I wonder why that is... 

9 minutes ago, BDawk_ASamuel said:

I know Howie isn’t big on committing at RB and I always agreed with that, but Swift has earned himself an extension. He’s played a key role in almost all of their wins. I think this offense is lost without him. 

The problem is they need 2 LBs, 2 CBs, 1 safety (and Blankenship isn’t exactly a stud in the fold), a 3rd WR, and are eventually going to derail an entire season because of a Lane Johnson injury.  And they are limited in cap space, specifically due to massive cap obligations on offense.

So I just don’t know that they can afford to make a financial commitment at RB.  I think they have to continue put 6-7th round picks into the trade market to shake some trees and see what falls out.  
 

I think Swift has to walk.  

1 hour ago, RLC said:

Our offense is 5th in EPA/play and 6th in EPA/dropback.

We're not in the 49ers tier, but this is a good offense.

This offense suffers from multiple personality disorder.

Are you talking scheme or players when you say that this is a good offense?   Players?  I agree.  Scheme?  I couldn't disagree more.

1 hour ago, brkmsn said:

Everybody wanted to see Hurts run less, now they are all complaining because our running game is less dynamic. 

Those two things SHOULD NOT be connected.  Is the 49ers' running game dynamic?   How many rushing yards does Purdy have?

You can have both a QB that doesn't run much AND a running game that is dynamic.  We have the players to execute it.  We do not have a coaching staff that is willing to implement it.

9 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Do any of those take into account staying in bounds on a run where he should have obviously just gone out of bounds before the end of the half? 

Do they take into account holding the ball and trying to run rather than just throwing the ball away against a free rusher and keeping possession of the last timeout? 

The first play is inexcusable. Given the situation, might be the worst play of Jalen's career.

2nd play is a 6 man blitz vs. a 5 man protection without any hot routes. Is that on the QB or the scheme? 

 

 

It should be noted that Swift was too successful on his runs during the last drive.

He converted on two consecutive second-down runs and then on a first-down run.  That's three first downs over five plays, rather than the nine plays we'd be allotted.

If he came up one yard short on any of those sequences.  We likely convert and run an additional 40 seconds off the clock - leaving the Giants with only about 30 seconds.

 

57 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

At the very least, Sheldon Brown should NOT be getting more snaps than 2 1st round picks.

 

Sheldon did well for a fella his age.  

51 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Why the hell did Carter only get 21 snaps? Did he get quasi benched after the too many men on the field penalty?

Probably did... and rightly so.   That was a lazy effort.

24 minutes ago, Ace Nova said:

Is he trying to say Bradberry is Sheldon Brown? 

Sydney Brown, more likely.

13 minutes ago, RLC said:

This is why I prefer EPA/play instead of passer rating. One actually leads to points, while the other does not.

Except for when it doesn't.   How did the EPA/play rate the scramble to the sidelines at the end of the first half?   That's a play that 'gained yards', but SHOULD have led to 0 points for that drive.  

12 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Those two things SHOULD NOT be connected.  Is the 49ers' running game dynamic?   How many rushing yards does Purdy have?

You can have both a QB that doesn't run much AND a running game that is dynamic.  We have the players to execute it.  We do not have a coaching staff that is willing to implement it.

9ers have a cheat code with the best RB in the league.

8 minutes ago, RLC said:

The first play is inexcusable. Given the situation, might be the worst play of Jalen's career.

2nd play is a 6 man blitz vs. a 5 man protection without any hot routes. Is that on the QB or the scheme? 

Its on the scheme... but the QB needs to know that they don't have the blockers and throw the ball out the back of the end zone.   Its his job out there to know the situation and do the smart thing in the moment.   Trying to run, rather than throwing it away meant burning the last timeout, which made the play right after it even dumber.  

 

Should he be coached to know that in that situation, he has to air mail the ball through the back of the end zone?   Yes.  But, he's a coach's son, has played QB his entire life, has a family friend who is a QB coach, etc, etc.   He has to know.   He's in year 4 of his NFL career.   That's QBing 101 in that situation.   Trouble is, he's been trained that QB draw in the red zone is a wonderful play... so he improvises the QB draw on that play, because that's what the muscle memory is.  That's partly on him, partly on the coaches.  And frankly, this is the danger of having a 'running' QB.   Their legs are their magic wand that they wave to get out of trouble.  

Some of the luster has worn off this OL and the running game.  If not for that, I think we could have had a 1 year fellowship for stud RBs looking to get a big contract elsewhere.  I was all aboard the Saquan Barkley 1 year cheap train for 2024 RB.  I don’t know he’d be on board for that now.

Week Sixteen / Game Fifteen Prediction results ... and a sigh of relief

There was one clear winner of the chicken dinner this week out of the 84 predictions that were submitted ... @paco with a predicted score of Eagles 31 Giants 26 ... just three points off the actual score.  For the second week in a row @mayanh8 was in the top two closest.  His 33-19 prediction had the Eagles score dead on and was only six points off the total score.  He shared second place with @Aerolithe_Lion who predicted 36-22.  One total point behind them was @E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles with a 35-20 prediction.  Congratulations to all you poulkry eaters!

Honorable mention goes to @seengreen whose "I'm not predicting s#1+! " was the most fdragrant prediction.

For the first fifteen games the chicken dinner has gone to:
@Alphagrand in Week One where the 66 recorded predictions were 65 for an Eagles win and 1 for a Patriots win
@Iggles25 and @bbabraham in Week Two where the 71 recorded predictions were 56 for an Eagles win and 15 for a Vikings win
@Cliftoma in Week Three where the 77 recorded predictions were 73 for an Eagles win and 4 for a Buccaneers win
@Casey @ Bat in Week Four where the 75 recorded predictions were 72 for an Eagles win and 3 for a Commanders win
@Mike030270 and @Texas Eagle in Week Five where the 78 recorded predictions were 63 for an Eagles win and 15 for a Rams win
@GoEagles5921 in Week Six where the 82 recorded predictions were 79 for an Eagles win and 3 for a Jets win
@jwill2420 and @mattwill in Week Seven where the 76 recorded predictions were 46 for an Eagles win and 30 for a Dolphins win
@Mortimer in Week Eight where the 70 recorded predictions were 66 for an Eagles win and 4 for a Commanders win
@Uscg-green in Week Nine where the 77 recorded predictions were 64 for an Eagles win and 13 for a Cowboys win
@Captain F in Week Eleven where the 86 recorded predictions were 53 for an Eagles win and 31 for a Chiefs win, and 2 were for a tie
@paco and @Mortimer in Week Twelve where the 88 recorded predictions were 74 for an Eagles win and 14 for a Bills win
@dawkins4prez in Week Thirteen where the 100 recorded predictions were 70 for an Eagles win and 29 for a Niners win and 1 with no score
@ManchesterEagle and @Giggity_goo in Week Fourteen where the 96 recorded predictions were 54 for an Eagles win and 42 for a Cowboys win
@mayanh8 in Week Fifteen where where the 81 recorded predictions were 60 for an Eagles win and 20 for a Seahawks win and 1 for a tie, and
@paco in Week Sixteen where the 84 recorded predictions were a delicious 69 for an Eagles win and 15 for a Giants win

The Bonus pick results this week had the following winners:

@Iggles_Phan with "Christmas will come no matter what."
@jamiller who got a by the skin of his teeth win with "Keely with an INT"
@Outlaw who also got a teeth skinner with "Ringo with an INT"
@Utebird who also has shinny teeth, with "Ringo gets his 1st INT"
@eagle45 with "Eagles play just well enough that the game never feels close and just sloppy enough that we don’t feel any better about them getting it together."
@LeanMeanGM with "Boston Scott has no TD’s and no rushes or receptions over 10 yards"
pisceschica gets full credit for "Hurts with a pick 6"
@Diehardfan with "Hurts throws another pick" although Goedert and/or Brian Johnson deserve the credit for that boner.
@Godfather with "QB1 keeps adding to his INTs and fumbles" with the same caveat as @Diehardfan got 
@Swoop with "Hurts with a fumble" but fortunately Hurts didn't lose that fumble this time.
@Eldereagle1 with "Jake Elliott to the rescue as the Eagles allow at least one turnover and let the Giants hang around until the end in a sloppy contest characterized by the Giants playing loose against a team that is not having fun right now."
@opa-opa with "Another ugly win"
@Alphagrand with "Leonard leads defense in tackles"
@EricAllenPick6 with "Eagles lose the turnover battle again."

An Honorable mention goes to

@bpac55 with "Saquon goes for 150  One of Ringo/Ricks/Brown causes a turnover." Saquan didn't actually go for 150, but it sure felt like he did.

There were a few Bonus picks that fell into the "I'm not sure" category.  They were as follows.  If anyone can provide clarity on the true outcome of these I'm sure everyone will be glad to get that input.

@eglz1 with "Eagles pull their heads out"
@paco with "Did you know Eagles fans threw snowballs at Santa?  I think they are going to mention that obscure fact"
@Iggles25 with "The nightmare continues"

And a special Negadelphian shout out goes to

@Talkingbirds for "Unless Cowboys lose.  Then Eagles blow lead in last minute of game by Giants Hail Mary pass."
@Mortimer with "Eagles go for two point conversion to win it, but Hurts trips and is sacked."

The 84 submitted predictions in high to low score order were as follows:

It really sucks in here after a loss.