Just to add on to what I am and have been saying about the practices this team runs...  

 

The NFL's CBA has limited practice time to a ridiculous level.  It has limited contact to a ridiculous level compared to previous generations.   And I get it.  I understand WHY they are doing that.  They want to limit the head trauma and CTE.   And I'm all for that.   BUT, with the limited time actually ON THE FIELD now due to all the restrictions, and the limits on when the players and coaches are allowed to actually work together... not taking advantage of the time that is allotted is not good for the team.   It is not good for keeping the players and coaches on the same page.  It is not good at working to develop the younger players.   It is not good and ensuring that communication on the field amongst the players remains strong so that there aren't blown assignments.  

 

I'm all for veteran work loads being reduced at times.  But, I am NOT in favor of the practices being ended before the allotted time allowed.  Those minutes being trimmed off at the end of practices are minutes that younger players could have taken some extra reps ON THE FIELD under coach supervision.  If you are already dealing with a limited amount of practice time, why limit it even more voluntarily?   It makes no sense.    And for as much as we had a significant number of veterans on the team last year... Kelce, Cox, Johnson, Graham, Slay, Bradberry, etc.   We had an equally high number of very, very young players.    Blankenship was held out of the preseason games... a guy who had a grand total of 7 starts to his resume was handed the starting safety job and then wasn't on the field in game situations during the preseason to work on his communication skills in true GAME situations (not carefully orchestrated situations).  There's a lot to be said about the chaos of the actual game, versus practice.  The lights, the distance from the coaches, the crowd, the noise, the officials...  so much that really cannot be replicated in practice.   We also had a 20 year old CB that they drafted that was/is extremely raw.   How many extra reps did they take away from him by shortening the practices rather than using those extra minutes to work specifically with the younger players.   Jurgens, while the starting RG, was (and is) still learning playing center in the NFL as a second year player.   Steen was a guy that they are hoping can step in this year, how many extra reps could he have gotten if they'd taken full advantage of the practice times?  Dean as the green dot on defense.  Morrow just was added to a new team.   AND, both sides of the ball were under new coordinators, yet they acted like they were all together for the longest time working together without any changes or necessary adjustments.    Pure hubris that they didn't need to use all the practice time that was allotted to them.

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

 

He has to miss it but he isn't coming back. Shame he couldn't have gone just one more year, though. 

2 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

He has to miss it but he isn't coming back. Shame he couldn't have gone just one more year, though. 

.I think the tradeoff of being able to take that $15M or so it would have cost to sign him to getting all the extensions Eagles were able to pull off is worth it.

 

Gotta eventually see what Jurgens can do at Center since it would be wise to lock him into a new deal next offseason if he's good there.

I don't think there was a bigger thing this board agreed on more than practices were too short and soft

4 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

I complained about them until they made it to the super bowl against KC and then I just figured theres more than 1 way to skin a cat.

Yeah... that was the argument from those that thought the practice schedule was fine.   And yet, it turns out that the Super Bowl run might have been much more lightning in a bottle than true sustainable success... or that the previous coordinators knew how to truly maximize their time on the field with those players.   But, the new coordinators, both brand new to their respective positions, and adding more youth to the mix than the year before, needed more than was self-imposed by the team.  

 

I'm not suggesting two a days or three a days... but if the CBA is already limiting practice time... maybe they shouldn't limit themselves further.   We are trying to bring along a lot of young talent into new positions... they might need to practice more together to gain more familiarity.  And they might just need reps themselves to learn their respective positions better.

 

Looking at the roster right now... defensively...

DL:  Graham is an old head.   Sweat is a 'veteran'.  Milton Williams is the third longest tenured guy with only 3 years under his belt.   Davis barely has 2 (he got shelved midway through his rookie year when they brought in Joseph and Suh).  Carter has only 1.  Nolan Smith has 1... if you can count it as a full year given his limited usage.   And now we have Huff with 4 years experience being added fresh to a brand new defense.

LB: Dean has less than 2 years experience, and he'll have the green dot.   White is coming to a brand new defense (and is relatively young as an NFL player).  Trotter is a rookie.  Baun is going to be asked to do a lot of things that he's not done in the past.  

CB: There's Slay... and then there's a bunch of young guys.   (I'm ignoring Bradberry and Maddux, because I think ideally, both are going to be off the 53).  Mitchell is raw, and needs to work on technique so that he can truly exploit his athleticism.  Ringo is still raw.  Dejean will be asked to learn a lot of positions, even if it takes a little time.

S: Blankenship is STILL inexperienced on the back end.  Sydney Brown has less than a year's experience, and CJGJ is being added to a 4th DC in 4 years.  

 

These guys will need TIME ON THE FIELD, not just in the classroom learning how to play together.  

 

And the offense, if it is what I think it SHOULD be under Moore, will have a lot of new wrinkles to learn, so while there's not a lot of turnover there... Jurgens to Center, new RG and adding Barkley... there's a TON of new things to be installed, and they will need time to work out the kinks.   

11 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I don't think there was a bigger thing this board agreed on more than practices were too short and soft

I didn't have a problem with them 😜

Harder and longer is always better. It'll be a pain in the ass for sure, but it'll be worth it.

Just like I wish there was no more wars, famine and pestilence in the world, I wish practices were longer. 

1 minute ago, Sack that QB said:

Harder and longer is always better. It'll be a pain in the ass for sure, but it'll be worth it.

He visited Dallas. He's from Texas. Jerry strikes out on another.

4 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

He visited Dallas. He's from Texas. Jerry strikes out on another.

Dallas is having just a terrible off-season. A couple of nice draft picks, but overall, nothing has gone their way.

30 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I don't think there was a bigger thing this board agreed on more than practices were too short and soft

 

31 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

Harder and longer is always better. It'll be a pain in the ass for sure, but it'll be worth it.

Are you coming out to the blog?

38 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

Harder and longer is always better. It'll be a pain in the ass for sure, but it'll be worth it.

Say what, Jack?

More film breakdown.

-Mekhi Becton is a MF monster. GEEZ

-With the new number rules, Braden Mann needs to take one for the team and take 38 and let a position player wear 10

-Kenny Pickett took a risk shaking hands on camera

 

Your move Josh Harris

 

1 hour ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I don't think there was a bigger thing this board agreed on more than practices were too short and soft

That thinking may have waned in 2022 when all 22 of our starters were available for the Super Bowl.

I was initially on board with the shorter practices last season, thinking it was the third year in successful systems.  But the new coordinators brought more changes than anticipated.

15 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

More film breakdown.

-Mekhi Becton is a MF monster. GEEZ

-With the new number rules, Braden Mann needs to take one for the team and take 38 and let a position player wear 10

-Kenny Pickett took a risk shaking hands on camera

 

Yes, he is. Good lord, if he's healthy!!!

1 hour ago, RLC said:

Are you coming out to the blog?

7 hours ago, paco said:

It was extremely dumb, so that tracks.

I was just rooting for Eagles success.  But the Eagles board majority got what they wanted,  which was lots of losses.  I believe "playing possum" came from an ex NFL player.     I believe I was using "rope a dope".   Whatever,  Eagles "fans" here were happy with the losses.

7 hours ago, Utebird said:

RAS??? Whats that never heard of it🤔

Look im sure Jonny Wilson is a good blocker but the eagles arent going to keep him over similarly talented WR because he can block, he still has to be able to function as a WR.

If all we needed was a blocking WR bring JJAW back😒

eh,  let's say Johnny Wilson is better at WR than JJAW.

58 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

That thinking may have waned in 2022 when all 22 of our starters were available for the Super Bowl.

I was initially on board with the shorter practices last season, thinking it was the third year in successful systems.  But the new coordinators brought more changes than anticipated.

And less than they should have. Johnson’s offense took a page from Chip Kelly. Run about four plays and assume the other teams can’t figure them out. And don’t worry about blitzes.

1 hour ago, bpac55 said:

More film breakdown.

-Mekhi Becton is a MF monster. GEEZ

-With the new number rules, Braden Mann needs to take one for the team and take 38 and let a position player wear 10

-Kenny Pickett took a risk shaking hands on camera

 

They better block off the damn streets this time

32 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

eh,  let's say Johnny Wilson is better at WR than JJAW.

We need a TE, so he’d be smart to act like one to keep his job. 

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

 

House full of little kids, got to get out. Where’s a better place in Philadelphia for Kelce to get a free meal, hit the gym, talk to some former coworkers (and not get mobbed by fans).