4 hours ago, Saltpeter said:

Watched the JT O'Sullivan breakdown on Hurts vs. 49ers. Major opportunities to hit TEs on some of those routes. Obvious when watching Albert O across the deep middle, why they brought him in; he just hit parts of the field faster than the other TEs. But that's almost useless if Hurts doesn't look his way. Stoll running routes is a waste of time.

Having Goedert back is a big deal. What bothers me is that it shouldn't take having a top 5 TE to involve the TE in the receiving game. It shouldn't take a top 5 TE and 2 top 10 WRs to have a somewhat coherent passing game.

Some of it is Hurts being inconsistent. But the offensive philosophy doesn't help him enough. Why is there no back on this team who can pass protect? Why are so few easy outlets for Hurts when he's pressured? Why is there such little motion? Why do we keep running read option when Hurts has been a basic non-factor there all season?

The players are great and Hurts is clutch. The Eagles have a chance to win the SB regardless of what I wrote above. But they just make it too damn hard on themselves.

the Eagles pass game is -  throw the ball to one of the All Pros or throw the ball away.  When there are only 2 All Pros out there, it gets harder, the Eagles still probably win, but the Eagles are forcing the ball or throwing it away more than they want.

4 hours ago, Saltpeter said:

Watched the JT O'Sullivan breakdown on Hurts vs. 49ers. Major opportunities to hit TEs on some of those routes. Obvious when watching Albert O across the deep middle, why they brought him in; he just hit parts of the field faster than the other TEs. But that's almost useless if Hurts doesn't look his way. Stoll running routes is a waste of time.

Having Goedert back is a big deal. What bothers me is that it shouldn't take having a top 5 TE to involve the TE in the receiving game. It shouldn't take a top 5 TE and 2 top 10 WRs to have a somewhat coherent passing game.

Some of it is Hurts being inconsistent. But the offensive philosophy doesn't help him enough. Why is there no back on this team who can pass protect? Why are so few easy outlets for Hurts when he's pressured? Why is there such little motion? Why do we keep running read option when Hurts has been a basic non-factor there all season?

The players are great and Hurts is clutch. The Eagles have a chance to win the SB regardless of what I wrote above. But they just make it too damn hard on themselves.

there is one player who is running deep routes,and he should be off the field, replaced by someone who is in the backfield,  perhaps pass blocking, perhaps running, perhaps lead blocking on a run,  perhaps running a short and easy route.

Too many players too far away from Jalen and not open enough.  Not enough players helping Jalen if the 3 downfield receivers don't get open.

Normal NFL football for most of the years of the NFL - 3 downfield, 3 backfield.  today,  4 downfield,  2 backfield.   And that just means you have to assess more routes, quicker, before being sacked, throwing it away, or running it.

4 hours ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

And the defensive line does not have the depth/rotation it had last year. It’s why Josh sweat has played over 600 snaps this year with 5 games remaining and last year he was right below 600.

The Eagles are not playing players they could be playing.

Nolan Smith could be getting a lot more snaps than he's getting.   Making sure that Reddick is worn out at the end of the season doesn't seem like a good plan at all.

What the Eagles are doing with getting rid of backups or, if they're using backups,  never throwing to them,  is very unusual.  It's true there is a gap between the stars and the unproven players,  but still,  you don't want the handful of people you use to do all the work to be limping when the playoffs get there.   The Eagles should be clinching something soon,  maybe after that,  they can put other players on the field,  have them actually do things,  and let the stars get to 100% for the playoffs.

4 hours ago, Sack that QB said:

I don't think asking for the defense to not be the worst on several fronts is asking too much.

I think the stats will be good in the last 3 games.  If they're the worst at something now,  I don't think they will be after Giants x 2 and the Cardinals.

4 hours ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

@hputenis

Hit up the Asian bar at Harris Teeter earlier. Absolutely crushed it but man oh man 💩💩💩

Omg how desperately hungry were you?  Even I’m not messing with a Harris Teeter hot bar. 

15 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

The Eagles are not playing players they could be playing.

Nolan Smith could be getting a lot more snaps than he's getting.   Making sure that Reddick is worn out at the end of the season doesn't seem like a good plan at all.

What the Eagles are doing with getting rid of backups or, if they're using backups,  never throwing to them,  is very unusual.  It's true there is a gap between the stars and the unproven players,  but still,  you don't want the handful of people you use to do all the work to be limping when the playoffs get there.   The Eagles should be clinching something soon,  maybe after that,  they can put other players on the field,  have them actually do things,  and let the stars get to 100% for the playoffs.

I know Eagles fans have been clinching something watching these close games all year...

12 minutes ago, hputenis said:

Omg how desperately hungry were you?  Even I’m not messing with a Harris Teeter hot bar. 

That is masochistic behavior.

3 hours ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

unless Leonard returns to form or close to it  

Or they put VanS in, and he does well, despite being a udfa rookie,  perhaps because he led the NFL in tackles in the preseason this year.   Or possibly Nolan Smith,  who I think a lot of people here would want to see more of,  to give Reddick more time off at OLB, or possibly at ILB.

There always has been a chance that Nolan Smith or Ben VanS would actually be good, (you know look at those combine / pro day numbers)  and if the Eagles had put them out there weeks ago,  we would have a problem solved situation right now.   Was it AJ Brown who was saying that Kelee Ringo looked like an All Pro to him?   Ringo is sure fast.  Those 3 not playing almost ever (but, to give credit,  the proper ratios), change that to those 3 playing,  and maybe you get better results.

I'm not sure exactly why Ricks,  udfa rookie, is playing on defense, despite having a PFF of 38.4 on the season,  and those other ones who aren't slow aren't playing.

1 hour ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

Before he had to have the Tommy John surgery, I made the case on the Phillies thread around the start of last year that technically what you’re paying Ohtani is for One player but getting two players with 1 roster spot. Ohtani is the best hitter in baseball and arguably a top 10 pitcher in baseball (before TJ). The problem now is with the Tommy John surgery if he’s never great at pitching again or he can’t stay healthy because of it that contract looks absolutely absurd for just a DH hitter.

Baseball player union will never allow for a cap so gonna get more and more ridiculous contracts. I’m guessing soto gets something like 450 (but he’s purely just a hitter) 

 

I wonder what kind of windfall the Dodgers get from marketing/advertising and TV rights from a player like Ohtani. I read somewhere that they will more than make up for the $700M. 

36 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

The Eagles are not playing players they could be playing.

Nolan Smith could be getting a lot more snaps than he's getting.   Making sure that Reddick is worn out at the end of the season doesn't seem like a good plan at all.

What the Eagles are doing with getting rid of backups or, if they're using backups,  never throwing to them,  is very unusual.  It's true there is a gap between the stars and the unproven players,  but still,  you don't want the handful of people you use to do all the work to be limping when the playoffs get there.   The Eagles should be clinching something soon,  maybe after that,  they can put other players on the field,  have them actually do things,  and let the stars get to 100% for the playoffs.

It’s likely because they don’t trust Nolan smith yet to do the job at more then what he’s getting. And he also missed a good portion of last year at Georgia. So you aren’t getting a guy who was ready to go in terms of experience in college to just make the jump. It’s why they kept Derek Barnett and didn’t release him until later in the year. I think you’re gonna get more Nolan Smith, but acting like a rookie who missed a ton of time last year at Georgia and hasn’t done much all year is gonna suddenly just be thrown in there and not going to have his ups and downs is foolish. They’re not keeping him out because they want to keep him fresh and not get hurt. It’s probably based off what they’ve seen in practice over the time since they drafted him

 

14 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

Or they put VanS in, and he does well, despite being a udfa rookie,  perhaps because he led the NFL in tackles in the preseason this year.   Or possibly Nolan Smith,  who I think a lot of people here would want to see more of,  to give Reddick more time off at OLB, or possibly at ILB.

There always has been a chance that Nolan Smith or Ben VanS would actually be good, (you know look at those combine / pro day numbers)  and if the Eagles had put them out there weeks ago,  we would have a problem solved situation right now.   Was it AJ Brown who was saying that Kelee Ringo looked like an All Pro to him?   Ringo is sure fast.  Those 3 not playing almost ever (but, to give credit,  the proper ratios), change that to those 3 playing,  and maybe you get better results.

I'm not sure exactly why Ricks,  udfa rookie, is playing on defense, despite having a PFF of 38.4 on the season,  and those other ones who aren't slow aren't playing.

Cause preseason means everything… why Paul turner is a pro bowl wr? McKee should be the the back up to hurts if that’s the case. I like VanS long term upside, but I’m gonna trust the coaches who seen him from all the way in mini camp till now that have not given him that shot yet. It’s likely because he is a undrafted rookie and not ready to make that jump. Maybe next year. I don’t think they would’ve been in the market for Leonard if they believed he was ready. I think you’re making large jump to assume an undrafted rookie just gonna go out there and play at a high enough level to transform the entire defense. This is like when you told me VanS is advanced at FB because he was good at high school and had 5 games as a freshman at Michigan. does not mean he’s advanced at the NFL if he did it as a freshman at Michigan and was good in high school. Nfl is light years different then being good in HS and competent at Michigan for 5 games 

3 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

I wonder what kind of windfall the Dodgers get from marketing/advertising and TV rights from a player like Ohtani. I read somewhere that they will more than make up for the $700M. 

Easily make it back due to the Japanese marketing.  I’m surprised the Yankees didn’t go all out and try to get him before soto. Easily could’ve killed marketing. They killed the marketing with Hideki Matsui

Bit late to the party, but the Snow Bowl was a great life experience. Madder than I remember

 

This should come as a surprise to no one

 

32 minutes ago, hputenis said:

Omg how desperately hungry were you?  Even I’m not messing with a Harris Teeter hot bar. 

Just had worked out. Starved. The teriyaki meatballs were bomb 

5 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

Or they put VanS in, and he does well, despite being a udfa rookie,  perhaps because he led the NFL in tackles in the preseason this year.   Or possibly Nolan Smith,  who I think a lot of people here would want to see more of,  to give Reddick more time off at OLB, or possibly at ILB.

There always has been a chance that Nolan Smith or Ben VanS would actually be good, (you know look at those combine / pro day numbers)  and if the Eagles had put them out there weeks ago,  we would have a problem solved situation right now.   Was it AJ Brown who was saying that Kelee Ringo looked like an All Pro to him?   Ringo is sure fast.  Those 3 not playing almost ever (but, to give credit,  the proper ratios), change that to those 3 playing,  and maybe you get better results.

I'm not sure exactly why Ricks,  udfa rookie, is playing on defense, despite having a PFF of 38.4 on the season,  and those other ones who aren't slow aren't playing.

Sorry man, but you make it seem like all the coaches on defense don’t know what the hell they are doing and are just not seeing the quality/greatness of Van Summeren and to an extent Nolan Smith, who has shown a flash here and there in limited time. Are you there during practices or in film rooms etc.? Why do you assume that we the fans can evaluate their talents better without seeing practices and more. Combine numbers / pro days mean nothing when it’s time to perform on the football field. Good measurements can increase the ceiling of talent, but that doesn’t always translate onto the field of play IMO.

And I also have to add, that you cannot just transform a player from a certain position to another… like DE all of a sudden plays fullback at the pro level because he did so in high school. This isn’t soccer where that actually can work.

Just my thoughts and opinion ✌️

8 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

It’s likely because they don’t trust Nolan smith yet to do the job at more then what he’s getting. And he also missed a good portion of last year at Georgia. So you aren’t getting a guy who was ready to go in terms of experience in college to just make the jump. It’s why they kept Derek Barnett and didn’t release him until later in the year. I think you’re gonna get more Nolan Smith, but acting like a rookie who missed a ton of time last year at Georgia and hasn’t done much all year is gonna suddenly just be thrown in there and not going to have his ups and downs is foolish. They’re not keeping him out because they want to keep him fresh and not get hurt. It’s probably based off what they’ve seen in practice over the time since they drafted him

 

Cause preseason means everything… why Paul turner is a pro bowl wr? McKee should be the the back up to hurts if that’s the case. I like VanS long term upside, but I’m gonna trust the coaches who seen him from all the way in mini camp till now that have not given him that shot yet. It’s likely because he is a undrafted rookie and not ready to make that jump. Maybe next year. I don’t think they would’ve been in the market for Leonard if they believed he was ready. I think you’re making large jump to assume an undrafted rookie just gonna go out there and play at a high enough level to transform the entire defense. This is like when you told me VanS is advanced at FB because he was good at high school and had 5 games as a freshman at Michigan. does not mean he’s advanced at the NFL if he did it as a freshman at Michigan and was good in high school. Nfl is light years different then being good in HS and competent at Michigan for 5 games 

Hahaha - two dudes with one thought at the same time😂😂

21 minutes ago, Iggles25 said:

That is masochistic behavior.

You have no idea pal 

3 hours ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

I love how just making adjustments that’s gonna be the solution to all the eagles woes and fixing everything. You know what Dallas is thinking right now, why are we going to attack James Bradberry and slay on the outside when the eagles best linebacker has a hammy issue, morrow just got torched by the niners and Leonard hasn’t been there but for a couple days and Roby in the slot can’t cover lamb at this stage of his career. They’ll take their chances with the size mismatch with Ferguson on byard if that’s the route we want to go with Ferguson. Ferguson who was very good in the first matchup 

So what adjustment are you gonna make? They sent 5 or rushers last week against a weaker 49ers offensive line. Purdy was 10-11 for 238 yards and 3 tds and 9.4 yards per pass attempt. Mainly attacking morrow. So against a better oline in Dallas that’s the solution? Not sure that works and Dak has been pretty good against the blitz. Have slay follow lamb everywhere? So when they lineup Roby or jobe on cooks (who has been better lately) that’s a mismatch for them. And who says slay can shutdown lamb anyway. If you have Maddox that makes a world of difference as you have guys to potentially cover lamb inside and guys on the outside. Missing that personnel is a massive issue 

adjustments only goes so far. If you have multiple weaknesses on your defense, the good OC/offenses are going to still find it and exploit it when you make adjustments to try covering it up. Solak and sheil have discussed all season the adjustments and things desai has tried. The problem is you don’t have an adjustment to just make players become better than what they are vs. better offenses that teams exploit those players. Against better offenses (and bienemy against the eagles in his career as OC has torched us) this is like the leaking hole in the wall. Cover up one and another hole begins to leak and becomes a problem. So we can keep adjusting to cover it up but too many holes to cover up and the reality is you don’t have the personnel to fix the bigger problem right now and good offenses figure it out and still burn you 

Put Nolan Smith in.
Put Kelee Ringo in.
Put Ben VanSumeren in.

Let's not pretend that there aren't obvious potential solutions.   Maybe they don't work, but if you look at the combine and pro day numbers, Smith, Ringo and VanS are the ones who have the athleticism that the Eagles haven't been using.   Those 3 are all freakbeasts,  and I would have to say that if 3 new ones are used, at least one would be an upgrade.  there ya go,  one player upgraded.

Ricks with a 38.4 PFF,  a 4.60 40, and Ricks grabbing onto the wrs jersey as the wr runs by him. Anybody know if 4.60 is a good number for a CB?   I do. It isn't.   That doesn't mean cut him.  

One theoretically possible solution is go with 3 DL/DE.   Carter, Davis, Sweat.  And then take Reddick and put him in a sorta ILB position,  where, on run downs,  he lines up somewhere between the edges Carter and Sweat, and on pass downs, he's rushing the passer,  from different spots.   And,  to give Reddick some rest,   Nolan Smith and Ben VanSumeren could be doing the same thing.   Sort of like a 3-3-5, or 3-2-6. You put DL sized players on the DL,  LB sized players at LB,  and you mix it up a bit at the LB spot.   If you were doing 3-3-5 like that,  you could have any one of those LBs doing any of run stopping,  rushing and coverage.  

I don't know why Nolan hasn't seen the field much.  VanS was a udfa so I get that,  but Nolan Smith was a 1st round pick with 10 ras.   VanS can go sideline to sideline and Smiths numbers are better,  so Smith could do the same thing.   None of Morrow, Cunningham, Elliss, Dean and whatever other ILB I might have forgotten,  have those crazy freakbeast numbers the way the LBs who aren't playing much have.   

Seriously,  if the Eagles put Nolan Smith and Ben VanS out there are ILBs, especially against the run,  or as pass rushers,   they would present a type of challenge that the players who actually play at ILB don't present.    I can definitely see  Smith and VanS really going after the running back trying to get outside.  RB smashed,  stopped for a loss,  people clap.

23 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

Put Nolan Smith in.
Put Kelee Ringo in.
Put Ben VanSumeren in.

Let's not pretend that there aren't obvious potential solutions.   Maybe they don't work, but if you look at the combine and pro day numbers, Smith, Ringo and VanS are the ones who have the athleticism that the Eagles haven't been using.   Those 3 are all freakbeasts,  and I would have to say that if 3 new ones are used, at least one would be an upgrade.  there ya go,  one player upgraded.

Ricks with a 38.4 PFF,  a 4.60 40, and Ricks grabbing onto the wrs jersey as the wr runs by him. Anybody know if 4.60 is a good number for a CB?   I do. It isn't.   That doesn't mean cut him.  

One theoretically possible solution is go with 3 DL/DE.   Carter, Davis, Sweat.  And then take Reddick and put him in a sorta ILB position,  where, on run downs,  he lines up somewhere between the edges Carter and Sweat, and on pass downs, he's rushing the passer,  from different spots.   And,  to give Reddick some rest,   Nolan Smith and Ben VanSumeren could be doing the same thing.   Sort of like a 3-3-5, or 3-2-6. You put DL sized players on the DL,  LB sized players at LB,  and you mix it up a bit at the LB spot.   If you were doing 3-3-5 like that,  you could have any one of those LBs doing any of run stopping,  rushing and coverage.  

I don't know why Nolan hasn't seen the field much.  VanS was a udfa so I get that,  but Nolan Smith was a 1st round pick with 10 ras.   VanS can go sideline to sideline and Smiths numbers are better,  so Smith could do the same thing.   None of Morrow, Cunningham, Elliss, Dean and whatever other ILB I might have forgotten,  have those crazy freakbeast numbers the way the LBs who aren't playing much have.   

Seriously,  if the Eagles put Nolan Smith and Ben VanS out there are ILBs, especially against the run,  or as pass rushers,   they would present a type of challenge that the players who actually play at ILB don't present.    I can definitely see  Smith and VanS really going after the running back trying to get outside.  RB smashed,  stopped for a loss,  people clap.

Your solution is playing rookies more when they likely haven’t been showing out in practice, no ready to step into that type of expanded role, and going by combine numbers and cause you like to call them freakbeasts isn’t a great solution. The odds are against you as the only rookie who’s looked good so far this year in our draft class has been Carter. But since they are freakbeasts and have great combine numbers means clearly it’s the way to go. 

but freakbeastzzzzzzzzzzzzz and COmbine numberzzzzzzzzz

5 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

Put Nolan Smith in.
Put Kelee Ringo in.
Put Ben VanSumeren in.

Let's not pretend that there aren't obvious potential solutions.   Maybe they don't work, but if you look at the combine and pro day numbers, Smith, Ringo and VanS are the ones who have the athleticism that the Eagles haven't been using.   Those 3 are all freakbeasts,  and I would have to say that if 3 new ones are used, at least one would be an upgrade.  there ya go,  one player upgraded.

Ricks with a 38.4 PFF,  a 4.60 40, and Ricks grabbing onto the wrs jersey as the wr runs by him. Anybody know if 4.60 is a good number for a CB?   I do. It isn't.   That doesn't mean cut him.  

One theoretically possible solution is go with 3 DL/DE.   Carter, Davis, Sweat.  And then take Reddick and put him in a sorta ILB position,  where, on run downs,  he lines up somewhere between the edges Carter and Sweat, and on pass downs, he's rushing the passer,  from different spots.   And,  to give Reddick some rest,   Nolan Smith and Ben VanSumeren could be doing the same thing.   Sort of like a 3-3-5, or 3-2-6. You put DL sized players on the DL,  LB sized players at LB,  and you mix it up a bit at the LB spot.   If you were doing 3-3-5 like that,  you could have any one of those LBs doing any of run stopping,  rushing and coverage.  

I don't know why Nolan hasn't seen the field much.  VanS was a udfa so I get that,  but Nolan Smith was a 1st round pick with 10 ras.   VanS can go sideline to sideline and Smiths numbers are better,  so Smith could do the same thing.   None of Morrow, Cunningham, Elliss, Dean and whatever other ILB I might have forgotten,  have those crazy freakbeast numbers the way the LBs who aren't playing much have.   

Seriously,  if the Eagles put Nolan Smith and Ben VanS out there are ILBs, especially against the run,  or as pass rushers,   they would present a type of challenge that the players who actually play at ILB don't present.    I can definitely see  Smith and VanS really going after the running back trying to get outside.  RB smashed,  stopped for a loss,  people clap.

I’m all for changing some things up, as our D is awful, but just throwing crap at the wall and hoping it sticks doesn’t make sense to me. 
 

We don’t see them practice and don’t see the shortcomings of these super athletes that you mention. I will assume that if they are truly better than what we are fielding, then they would be on the field. No sense in keeping them out if they are better.

 

 

11 minutes ago, Frankfurteagle89 said:

I’m all for changing some things up, as our D is awful, but just throwing crap at the wall and hoping it sticks doesn’t make sense to me. 
 

We don’t see them practice and don’t see the shortcomings of these super athletes that you mention. I will assume that if they are truly better than what we are fielding, then they would be on the field. No sense in keeping them out if they are better.

 

 

Just cause you are an athletic freak and super athlete doesn’t mean you can actually play. Ask Ernie sims years ago. He was a top 10 pick and super athletic. Was terrible. Also it took the eagles 3 years to get TJ edwards to on the field and close to ready. I’m guessing vanS isn’t that close to playing significant snaps on defense as an UDFA. And it’s not cause they just wouldn’t do it regardless

I think some of the problems with the defense are Desai running so many different defenses (which I don’t think typically would be a bad thing) and how much we rotate in the back seven (yet not enough at DE). With all the injuries, it’s hard for a rotating cast to get much chemistry. We can blame injuries for some of it, but our platoon at nickel has been almost nonsensical. Ricks has proven to be a massive liability, and he doesn’t even project to be a nickel. Roby isn’t a legit starter these days, but he’s not the target Ricks is. Brown played nickel too, and he’s an even worse projection there than Ricks. We’ve played countless safeties this year. We’ve started four different linebackers, potentially five this coming Sunday. 

We don’t need to scale back to Gannon levels of simplicity, but maybe we need to simplify it to where everyone is on the same page. Too many busts and too much confusion. 

27 minutes ago, UK Eagle said:

This should come as a surprise to no one

 

That's a great way to build leverage ahead of a potential trade. Rest of the league are licking their chops to cough up assets for that jag.

This Army/Navy game is a real barn burner