13 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

I hate how they use total yards and TDs now. If they want to add in rushing yards and TDs then just add it separately

Yes, agreed.  That changed right around the time Jalen became a QB because it's a fun way to inflate his overall numbers.  "38 total TDs" sounds a lot better than 23 TDs and 15 brotherly shoves.   

 

6 minutes ago, Arsenal79 said:

Low key the OL was a problem during The Collapse.  Needs improvement.

Facts. They weren't the typical dominating group. Could have been lack of repetition when it comes to the blown run game assignments but they definitely were a problem.

Here's my big issue with their approach to the 2023 season. 

They brought in a new DC. They moved on from both starting LBs and both starting safeties. The replacements for CJGJ, Epps, Edwards and White consisted of 2 guys they guaranteed starting positions to...Reed Blankenship (4 career starts) and Nakobe Dean (0 career starts). The other starting positions were going to one of Justin Evans, Terrell Edmunds and Nick Morrow. Zach Cunningham and Myles Jack were signed halfway through camp

So going in to the season, they filled 2 starting positions with Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship who had 4 combined starts and a whopping 323 snaps played in the NFL and the other starting positions were TC battles to journeyman players who all had known issues.

On top of that, while having a new DC and 4 new starters down the middle (2 with little to no experience), the Eagles thought the best way to go about things was to be the only team in the NFL to not hold mini camps, hold light TC and then not play any starters in the pre-season. I don't care how much classroom time they have or how many joint practices they have, the Eagles were the most unprepared team in the NFL heading in to week 1. How many other teams promoted an UDFA with 4 starts under his belt and figured he doesn't need any preseason PT? 

Reed Blankenship was hardly the problem this year, even though I still think he's as JAG as they come, but my bigger issue is the mindset and lack of preparedness. It's almost like they mailed it in before the season even started. We're good enough to not have mini camps, our guys are good enough to not see live game action.

How many teams had new coordinators on both sides of the ball and decided they don't need their starters to get just the tiniest bit acclimated with their schemes, the way they communicate and call games and so on by playing 1, 2 or even 3 series in the pre-season? The first time these guys were playing under the direction of Desai and BJ was week 1 in NE. And guess what, they weren't prepared for week 1 all the way through the WC game. Every week had miscommunications. The offense was NEVER in sync and constantly ran the play clock down trying to get set. The defense was lost almost every week. It all goes back to preparation and they took as little time as allowed to prepare. People are going to argue that the light approach helped them make SB57 with little to no injuries but that same approach saw the disaster that was 2023/24. 

 

Moving forward, they need to sign definitive starters. They need to take advantage of as much practice time as the NFL allows. I'm all for camp battles at certain positions such as WR3/4, nickel CB, OL6, PR and maybe even RB but when your entire middle of the defense is dependent on guys with no experience and 1-year deal guys it's just a disaster waiting to happen. 

23 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

I hate how they use total yards and TDs now. If they want to add in rushing yards and TDs then just add it separately

This was far and away Mahomes' worst season, though IMO.  I am truly thankful that Hurts got more fantasy points than Mahomes (don't give a ****), but Mahomes was throwing to Kelce and scrubs ... and Kelce had perhaps the worst season of his career thanks to having to shake it off constantly.

The only graph Eagles fans should care about is Hurts from year-to-year.  A lot of metrics put Hurts closer to 2021 Hurts, which isn't an elite QB.  The Eagles first priority this offseason is figuring out how to get closer to 2022 Hurts.

7 minutes ago, EricAllenPick6 said:

Yes, agreed.  That changed right around the time Jalen became a QB because it's a fun way to inflate his overall numbers.  "38 total TDs" sounds a lot better than 23 TDs and 15 brotherly shoves.   

 

A TD is a TD. No different than when Reid runs the goal line shovel passes to inflate QB passing TDs or pick plays to get wide open passing TDs. I don't see anyone discounting those. The shove is pretty much a guarantee unless Hurts fumbles or gets his head ripped off.

8 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

Here's my big issue with their approach to the 2023 season. 

They brought in a new DC. They moved on from both starting LBs and both starting safeties. The replacements for CJGJ, Epps, Edwards and White consisted of 2 guys they guaranteed starting positions to...Reed Blankenship (4 career starts) and Nakobe Dean (0 career starts). The other starting positions were going to one of Justin Evans, Terrell Edmunds and Nick Morrow. Zach Cunningham and Myles Jack were signed halfway through camp

So going in to the season, they filled 2 starting positions with Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship who had 4 combined starts and a whopping 323 snaps played in the NFL and the other starting positions were TC battles to journeyman players who all had known issues.

On top of that, while having a new DC and 4 new starters down the middle (2 with little to no experience), the Eagles thought the best way to go about things was to be the only team in the NFL to not hold mini camps, hold light TC and then not play any starters in the pre-season. I don't care how much classroom time they have or how many joint practices they have, the Eagles were the most unprepared team in the NFL heading in to week 1. How many other teams promoted an UDFA with 4 starts under his belt and figured he doesn't need any preseason PT? 

Reed Blankenship was hardly the problem this year, even though I still think he's as JAG as they come, but my bigger issue is the mindset and lack of preparedness. It's almost like they mailed it in before the season even started. We're good enough to not have mini camps, our guys are good enough to not see live game action.

How many teams had new coordinators on both sides of the ball and decided they don't need their starters to get just the tiniest bit acclimated with their schemes, the way they communicate and call games and so on by playing 1, 2 or even 3 series in the pre-season? The first time these guys were playing under the direction of Desai and BJ was week 1 in NE. And guess what, they weren't prepared for week 1 all the way through the WC game. Every week had miscommunications. The offense was NEVER in sync and constantly ran the play clock down trying to get set. The defense was lost almost every week. It all goes back to preparation and they took as little time as allowed to prepare. People are going to argue that the light approach helped them make SB57 with little to no injuries but that same approach saw the disaster that was 2023/24. 

 

Moving forward, they need to sign definitive starters. They need to take advantage of as much practice time as the NFL allows. I'm all for camp battles at certain positions such as WR3/4, nickel CB, OL6, PR and maybe even RB but when your entire middle of the defense is dependent on guys with no experience and 1-year deal guys it's just a disaster waiting to happen. 

Add in they also lost he LB coach, Nick Rallis, and the DBs coach, Dennard Wilson.

11 minutes ago, judunno said:

Facts. They weren't the typical dominating group. Could have been lack of repetition when it comes to the blown run game assignments but they definitely were a problem.

Addendum. Maybe Hurts not being able to run exposed the OL as well... hmmmmm.

1 minute ago, judunno said:

A TD is a TD. No different than when Reid runs the goal line shovel passes to inflate QB passing TDs or pick plays to get wide open passing TDs. I don't see anyone discounting those. The shove is pretty much a guarantee unless Hurts fumbles or gets his head ripped off.

Not true.  Punishment is punishment.   You don't use your $250M QB as a battering ram.   

 

BTW... we saw Hurts fumble on the Shove AND in the last game we saw him have his helmet nearly ripped off.    Is that what we want for our QB?  🤔

Just now, Iggles_Phan said:

Not true.  Punishment is punishment.   You don't use your $250M QB as a battering ram.   

 

BTW... we saw Hurts fumble on the Shove AND in the last game we saw him have his helmet nearly ripped off.    Is that what we want for our QB?  🤔

If Brady can do it... Hurts can do it. This is football after all.

One thing is for sure we need a better backup QB.

Not sure the thought process for signing Mariota was but need a better option.  

21 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Or player revolt where they went off script... 

Hope not.  That would be the worst of all possible scenarios 

1 minute ago, judunno said:

Addendum. Maybe Hurts not being able to run exposed the OL as well... hmmmmm.

I just don't think they had an answer once Hurts got injured against the rams. They came out with dominant run performances the first 5 weeks, and then the injury/non-injury happened. Stoutland is the run game coordinator, so he shares some of the blame there, but they fixed it a bit after the bye week. It just never got to the same level again. 

2 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Not true.  Punishment is punishment.   You don't use your $250M QB as a battering ram.   

 

BTW... we saw Hurts fumble on the Shove AND in the last game we saw him have his helmet nearly ripped off.    Is that what we want for our QB?  🤔

Another question that has bothered me all season is the fact that everyone on the planet knows when we are about to do the brotherly shove so no need to even try to disguise the play.  Why haven’t they tried it with a RB lined up so that Hurts doesn’t risk injury?  
 

 

If Hurts has issues seeing the field and going thru progressions it's best to get an OC that can get guys open immediately.

That's another difference from last year.  He would make quicker decisions with where to go with the ball.

3 minutes ago, 315Eagles said:

One thing is for sure we need a better backup QB.

Not sure the thought process for signing Mariota was but need a better option.  

Brissett, Tyrod Taylor, Bridgewater, Dobbs all better than Mariota

2 minutes ago, Ace Nova said:

Hope not.  That would be the worst of all possible scenarios 

We have one documented case where they did.   How many times did they do it on their own?    I would suggest that the TD to Brown at the end of Washington game 1 was likely 'off script' too.  There's likely more.   It is virtually impossible to believe that it only happened the one time that Brown owned up to.

What's nice is there are real options at LB in free agency to consider, even before we think about guys getting cut for salary cap purposes:

Devin White -- young, impact player who probably will cost ~$15mm per year. Probably too rich for our blood, and he's more of a liability against the run than we might want. I wouldn't pay up for him -- living off his name and draft status it seems.

Patrick Queen -- I guess the real question here is how much does he benefit from playing next to Roquan Smith? But truthfully, if we are going to finally spend at LB, this is where I put my money. Probably costs the same as White, and I'd much rather have Queen. 

Bobby Wagner -- maybe with Pete gone, Bobby is ready to leave Seattle for the 2nd time. No idea if he'd be cheap on a 1 year deal given his age, but he can still play. He signed a 1 year, $5.5mm deal with the Seahawks this year. I'd give him that contract in a heartbeat. Guessing he will look for more like $8mm, and probably still worth it on a 1 year deal.

Jordan Hicks -- little older, but can still play. A 2 year, ~$10mm deal could get it done. 

Lavonte David -- another older guy that's a candidate for a 1 year deal

Willie Gay -- played well for KC after stepping in due to injury. Young and likely not that expensive. Could be more like a 3 year, $12mm deal. 

You should be able to add a couple guys at reasonable cost, keep Dean to compete, and throw Leonard, Cunningham and Morrow in the trash.

1 minute ago, Iggles_Phan said:

We have one documented case where they did.   How many times did they do it on their own?    I would suggest that the TD to Brown at the end of Washington game 1 was likely 'off script' too.  There's likely more.   It is virtually impossible to believe that it only happened the one time that Brown owned up to.

I thought it was rather obvious that Hurts audibled to that go route to Brown for the TD. He gave AJ a hand signal before the snap.

3 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

We have one documented case where they did.   How many times did they do it on their own?    I would suggest that the TD to Brown at the end of Washington game 1 was likely 'off script' too.  There's likely more.   It is virtually impossible to believe that it only happened the one time that Brown owned up to.

If it’s a play or two a game, no big deal - I’d actually promote something along the lines if I were a coach.  Now if it’s the majority of plays - that would be a huge issue, imo. 

6 minutes ago, Ace Nova said:

Another question that has bothered me all season is the fact that everyone on the planet knows when we are about to do the brotherly shove so no need to even try to disguise the play.  Why haven’t they tried it with a RB lined up so that Hurts doesn’t risk injury?  
 

 

Probably because the QB center exchange is more reliable with the QB. 

 

12 minutes ago, judunno said:

Addendum. Maybe Hurts not being able to run exposed the OL as well... hmmmmm.

Definitely possible, as later in the year we saw more runs out of pistol and they weren’t effective… of course, just that fact that we were pistol might have been a strong tell as I don’t remember a lot passes out of it.

8 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

What's nice is there are real options at LB in free agency to consider, even before we think about guys getting cut for salary cap purposes:

Devin White -- young, impact player who probably will cost ~$15mm per year. Probably too rich for our blood, and he's more of a liability against the run than we might want. I wouldn't pay up for him -- living off his name and draft status it seems.

Patrick Queen -- I guess the real question here is how much does he benefit from playing next to Roquan Smith? But truthfully, if we are going to finally spend at LB, this is where I put my money. Probably costs the same as White, and I'd much rather have Queen. 

Bobby Wagner -- maybe with Pete gone, Bobby is ready to leave Seattle for the 2nd time. No idea if he'd be cheap on a 1 year deal given his age, but he can still play. He signed a 1 year, $5.5mm deal with the Seahawks this year. I'd give him that contract in a heartbeat. Guessing he will look for more like $8mm, and probably still worth it on a 1 year deal.

Jordan Hicks -- little older, but can still play. A 2 year, ~$10mm deal could get it done. 

Lavonte David -- another older guy that's a candidate for a 1 year deal

Willie Gay -- played well for KC after stepping in due to injury. Young and likely not that expensive. Could be more like a 3 year, $12mm deal. 

You should be able to add a couple guys at reasonable cost, keep Dean to compete, and throw Leonard, Cunningham and Morrow in the trash.

You could probably get Kenneth Murray for $4M.  He'd be a Kyzir White sort of signing.  

I think to truly fix the LB you've gotta draft a guy; and I mean before pick 100.  Not a Davion Taylor project, either.  A plug-and-play LB

2 minutes ago, judunno said:

Probably because the QB center exchange is more reliable with the QB. 

 

Primarily this, and all the wrinkles we ran off it (1 pass play if I recall).

17 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Not true.  Punishment is punishment.   You don't use your $250M QB as a battering ram.   

 

BTW... we saw Hurts fumble on the Shove AND in the last game we saw him have his helmet nearly ripped off.    Is that what we want for our QB?  🤔

The shove likely netted a few more touchdowns due to its consistency , but a good OL and RB should be able to score in goal line. So, we are largely transferring production away from other skill players.

19 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Not true.  Punishment is punishment.   You don't use your $250M QB as a battering ram.   

 

BTW... we saw Hurts fumble on the Shove AND in the last game we saw him have his helmet nearly ripped off.    Is that what we want for our QB?  🤔

The passing precision isn't there, so the battering ram, RPO, frequent QB draws are necessary to keep defenses off balance (doesn't always work, but still need to do it) to render the passing game more effective.

It started out as a unique offense.  Once the gimmicks fizzled out and teams realized our pass attack was inconsistent, teams realized they can just blitz, crash around the LOS to win the war at the trenches, and our offense would generally do bad things like misfire or turn it over.