@mattwill

So this will be my third pick in the blog and I don’t want to jinx it by picking an 🦅 win. (I know, superstition doesn’t really work🤷‍♂️😅)

I do worry about this defense as it is not good IMO. I think if all these long 3rd down give ups weren’t there, it would make one feel a bit more confident, but if you consistently let other teams convert on 3rd and long, it’s going to bite you in the butt. Plus all the injuries on that side have not helped and will not help going forward. We’ve been fortunate late in games, so let’s hope the luck of the Irish will continue with this team.

Rotten 49ers: 31

Birds 🦅: 13

Bonus: 49ers convert a 3rd and 26 

2 hours ago, mattwill said:

Really good analysis.  It reflects interestingly on BJ without ever mentioning him.

 

Beautiful designs. But but but BJ sucks lol. 

Even the bad plays were good plays just JH made bad choices (and one 2 lineman missed their blocks wtf).

5 hours ago, mattwill said:

Really good analysis.  It reflects interestingly on BJ without ever mentioning him.

 

 

3 hours ago, jamiller said:

Beautiful designs. But but but BJ sucks lol. 

Even the bad plays were good plays just JH made bad choices (and one 2 lineman missed their blocks wtf).

It was, at best, a mixed bag for BJ.

I mean, 3rd and 15 and 3 out of 4 receivers run curl routes short of the sticks.

Luckily OZ and Hurts overcame it with a miracle play.

And yes, the 2 turnovers were bad option decisions. Needs to get better. However, when so much of your offense is RPO, you’re going to have some plays that the defense fools you in to the wrong decision. 

Hurts needs to recognize when they have lost and just eat it. On the INT, even if he somehow gets the ball around the edge rusher, Stoll was blanketed. The play was DOA, just throw the ball down at his feet and try the next one.

10 hours ago, RememberTheKoy said:

 

 

What was the result last time a hyped team used a lesser player in practice to mimic an ultra athletic Philadelphia player in a big game?

 

 

2 hours ago, Parrot Head said:

 

It was, at best, a mixed bag for BJ.

I mean, 3rd and 15 and 3 out of 4 receivers run curl routes short of the sticks.

Luckily OZ and Hurts overcame it with a miracle play.

And yes, the 2 turnovers were bad option decisions. Needs to get better. However, when so much of your offense is RPO, you’re going to have some plays that the defense fools you in to the wrong decision. 

Hurts needs to recognize when they have lost and just eat it. On the INT, even if he somehow gets the ball around the edge rusher, Stoll was blanketed. The play was DOA, just throw the ball down at his feet and try the next one.

Mixed bag is likely because there's more than one cook in the kitchen. Further there aren't many plays that are going to get you a 3rd and 15 (unless you're playing the Eagles defense smh). Playmakers make plays. Sounds like it was a conservative call to get better FG range and if a guy breaks a tackle you get the first or in shove range. Hurts the magician that he is made it a TD.

So it's now five months until the 2024 draft.

The priority should be to maintain dominance on both sides of the LOS.  It is the team's identity.  Kelce may retire.  Driscoll is a FA.  Lane is becoming fragile.  Cox and Graham may retire, although neither look like they are ready to.  We may not be able to keep Williams around after '24.  After Hurts, our lines are the reason we have been this good.

After that, the most glaring need is CB.  Our starters over 30.  Our NCB can't stay healthy.

Then you have basic roster construction.  Off-ball LBs, a successor for Goedert, RBs, general depth.

The allocation of finite draft resources and how Howie uses free agency will be interesting and well-discussed, as always.

1 minute ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

So it's now five months until the 2024 draft.

The priority should be to maintain dominance on both sides of the LOS.  It is the team's identity.  Kelce may retire.  Driscoll is a FA.  Lane is becoming fragile.  Cox and Graham may retire, although neither look like they are ready to.  We may not be able to keep Williams around after '24.  After Hurts, our lines are the reason we have been this good.

After that, the most glaring need is CB.  Our starters over 30.  Our NCB can't stay healthy.

Then you have basic roster construction.  Off-ball LBs, a successor for Goedert, RBs, general depth.

The allocation of finite draft resources and how Howie uses free agency will be interesting and well-discussed, as always.

We have three young CBs on the roster: Ringo, Ricks and Jobe. That's 2 rookies + one 2nd year player. Even if Jobe is bad, that's still two other guys. I agree that we need a young nickle to replace Maddox.

OT is far an away the biggest need. Lane can't be relied on to stay healthy. Driscoll will likely get real money in free agency because of other teams' poor OL depth. Whoever we draft at OL in RD1 is immediately OT3 on the roster.

1 hour ago, paco said:

What was the result last time a hyped team used a lesser player in practice to mimic an ultra athletic Philadelphia player in a big game?

 

 

Just a reminder... the Lakers won that series.   Just sayin'.    Game 1 was the highpoint of that Sixers team.   It was all downhill from there.

3 minutes ago, RLC said:

We have three young CBs on the roster: Ringo, Ricks and Jobe. That's 2 rookies + one 2nd year player. Even if Jobe is bad, that's still two other guys. I agree that we need a young nickle to replace Maddox.

OT is far an away the biggest need. Lane can't be relied on to stay healthy. Driscoll will likely get real money in free agency because of other teams' poor OL depth. Whoever we draft at OL in RD1 is immediately OT3 on the roster.

Yeah... I keep hearing about these guys.  Jobe has been relegated back to the bench and ST.  Ricks continues to be grabby and Ringo continues to be a mystery because he can't get on the field.   Nothing about any of them would stop me from adding more CB depth in the draft.  It absolutely needs to be a draft day priority.  Not just because we have guys on the roster, doesn't mean that they are good enough.   And, if ONE of them works out, there's still a need for a second CB.   CB is absolutely a priority for the draft.

It'll just be tough to roster all of these CBs. Bradberry/Slay are likely to be on the roster in 2024 (Slay almost certainly). Ringo will be there. Jobe is one of our best ST players. Ricks has played well enough to make it. The only young CB we can draft has to be able to play nickle or it doesn't fit.

35 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Just a reminder... the Lakers won that series.   Just sayin'.    Game 1 was the highpoint of that Sixers team.   It was all downhill from there.

 

(yes, I remember)

The lack of respect for this team is dumbfounding. Rolled into Arrowhead, gave AR his first post bye week loss as a coach, gave Mahomes his first loss at home in November.  Beat up up the Dolphins, OT win in appalling conditions vs the Bills. Etc

Respectfully, Dak has beaten up on a bunch of bad teams; Hurts has won in Arrowhead, beaten the Bills and Dolphins while having a knee injury.

You know the above is going to be such a focus in the Novacare this week. You are 10-1 and still get no respect.  The Whiners continued whining will only amp that up further.

1 minute ago, paco said:

 

(yes, I remember)

Not a downer, just a realist.  That was a great moment, but it lost a lot of its luster when the Sixers lost the series in the next 4 games.   Same goes for the monster hit by Sheldon Brown on Reggie Bush.  That hit would mean a lot more to me if the Eagles went on to win that game too.

 

24 minutes ago, RLC said:

It'll just be tough to roster all of these CBs. Bradberry/Slay are likely to be on the roster in 2024 (Slay almost certainly). Ringo will be there. Jobe is one of our best ST players. Ricks has played well enough to make it. The only young CB we can draft has to be able to play nickle or it doesn't fit.

We had Maddox & Goodrich when the year started on the roster so that's 2 but certainly there has to be a slot CB

1 minute ago, UK Eagle said:

The lack of respect for this team is dumbfounding. Rolled into Arrowhead, gave AR his first post bye week loss as a coach, gave Mahomes his first loss at home in November.  Beat up up the Dolphins, OT win in appalling conditions vs the Bills. Etc

Respectfully, Dak has beaten up on a bunch of bad teams; Hurts has won in Arrowhead, beaten the Bills and Dolphins while having a knee injury.

You know the above is going to be such a focus in the Novacare this week. You are 10-1 and still get no respect.  The Whiners continued whining will only amp that up further.

Folks are worried about style points.   The Bears years ago went 13-3, but played no one.  They were paper tigers.  Similarly, the Lions had a great record, but again, hadn't played anyone.  Now that they are, the losses will add up.   The Eagles played poorly in the early part of the season, and won.  Now they are playing tougher opponents, and are still winning.  

 

Let the talking heads talk.   The truth will be known in the end.

 

12 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

So it's now five months until the 2024 draft.

The priority should be to maintain dominance on both sides of the LOS.  It is the team's identity.  Kelce may retire.  Driscoll is a FA.  Lane is becoming fragile.  Cox and Graham may retire, although neither look like they are ready to.  We may not be able to keep Williams around after '24.  After Hurts, our lines are the reason we have been this good.

After that, the most glaring need is CB.  Our starters over 30.  Our NCB can't stay healthy.

Then you have basic roster construction.  Off-ball LBs, a successor for Goedert, RBs, general depth.

The allocation of finite draft resources and how Howie uses free agency will be interesting and well-discussed, as always.

I still think CB is a major and immediate need. Slay & Bradberry are not what they used to be and although I like our young group, there's no one I see as a guy that separated themselves to be handed a starting spot, yet at least.

Still, we know this teams motto, build from the inside out. DE is interesting and could be immediate depending on what happens with the contracts of our current starters. I'm assuming Graham will not be back. If Sweat & Reddick are extended then I'd guess DE slides below CB & OL.

I still find myself looking at DT. I love the idea of the best interior rotation in the game. Cox is probably gone, Williams will be coming up on free agency soon and may be priced out. I wouldn't hate adding another quality DT to the line, maybe one who's versatile that could also play DE at times. 

If Lane stays relatively healthy over the next few years, he's extended through 2027, maybe we find our next stud guard similar to Landon establishing himself at LG. The earlier o-lineman that I really like who can start at guard and move over if/when needed:

Taliese Fuaga ; JC Latham ; Amarius Mims ; Jordan Morgan 

 

1 minute ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Folks are worried about style points.   The Bears years ago went 13-3, but played no one.  They were paper tigers.  Similarly, the Lions had a great record, but again, hadn't played anyone.  Now that they are, the losses will add up.   The Eagles played poorly in the early part of the season, and won.  Now they are playing tougher opponents, and are still winning.  

 

Let the talking heads talk.   The truth will be known in the end.

If the Cowboys has the best record in the NFC, I'd get it. They don't. As you say style points beating up poor teams.  Their red zone percentages had dropped off of a cliff from last year too.

A good team without question but Dak as MVP is a bit much right now

Just now, UK Eagle said:

If the Cowboys has the best record in the NFC, I'd get it. They don't. As you say style points beating up poor teams.  Their red zone percentages had dropped off of a cliff from last year too.

A good team without question but Dak as MVP is a bit much right now

Its typical.  The Dallas hype machine is always well oiled until the wheels finally fall all the way off.  

17 minutes ago, UK Eagle said:

 

 

 

Most people qcting all offseason like Blankenship was going to be the 3rd or 4th safety.  He's been our best as I said he would. 

 

40 minutes ago, greendestiny27 said:

I still think CB is a major and immediate need. Slay & Bradberry are not what they used to be and although I like our young group, there's no one I see as a guy that separated themselves to be handed a starting spot, yet at least.

Still, we know this teams motto, build from the inside out. DE is interesting and could be immediate depending on what happens with the contracts of our current starters. I'm assuming Graham will not be back. If Sweat & Reddick are extended then I'd guess DE slides below CB & OL.

I still find myself looking at DT. I love the idea of the best interior rotation in the game. Cox is probably gone, Williams will be coming up on free agency soon and may be priced out. I wouldn't hate adding another quality DT to the line, maybe one who's versatile that could also play DE at times. 

If Lane stays relatively healthy over the next few years, he's extended through 2027, maybe we find our next stud guard similar to Landon establishing himself at LG. The earlier o-lineman that I really like who can start at guard and move over if/when needed:

Taliese Fuaga ; JC Latham ; Amarius Mims ; Jordan Morgan 

 

Doesn't seem to be a particularly strong DT or DE class, but intriguing at OT and WR.  CB kind of a crapshoot.

39 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Folks are worried about style points.   The Bears years ago went 13-3, but played no one.  They were paper tigers.  Similarly, the Lions had a great record, but again, hadn't played anyone.  Now that they are, the losses will add up.   The Eagles played poorly in the early part of the season, and won.  Now they are playing tougher opponents, and are still winning.  

 

Let the talking heads talk.   The truth will be known in the end.

while I agree with you- It is amazing how seemingly almost all the talking heads are openly rooting for the Birds to lose this game. 

I know we could win or lose, because both teams are very good, but the commentary I have heard, the Vegas line, etc... all is pretty much saying San Fran is the best team and the Eagles are not near them. Citing the poor 1st half results, the Refs, and single score victories. 

To me, I know the gauntlet of games we are in the middle of is a murderers row..... but truth be told I had us losing one of the last two games already, with losing another one of the next two. To me the difference has been Hurts, and his will to WIN EVERY GAME. That wont change at home here against anyone. 

 

Hurts is 30-4 in his last 34 NFL Games he plays in. 

 

That being said, I am picking them to lose a heartbreaker by one score or less. Not because I think San Fran is that good, but because San Fran had extra time, while the Birds just played an OT game on SUnday, and have some injuries which are concerning... (Lane,Cox etc...) 

 

 

I agree that offensive tackle is a need for this team. It's important that they find a quality successor to Lane Johnson at right tackle. However, that being said, is it *really* a 2024 draft need, something that has to be done immediately?

I honestly don't think the wheels would fall off if the team runs back the same core eight offensive lineman next year without adding anything significant. Going status quo for one more year while addressing the even more important DE (has anyone even noticed how barren this group actually is?) and CB needs might be the better strategy.

Speaking of the draft, what's the consensus on this Lions-Saints game? Who are we rooting for? Playoff positioning advantages (hope the Lions lose) or better second round pick (hope the Saints lose)? I think I'm going to root against the Saints and just hope the Eagles will take care of their own business and not have to worry about the Lions.

15 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

 

Purdy gonna die.....