Random thoughts after the Cowboys game

[mattwill]

Some random thoughts that are floating around in my brain.

(1) Regarding the Eagles' potential Playoffs Round 1 opponent, for me the biggest determining factor is Fangio's Defensive Scheme, which has a strong preference for light boxes ... only four pass rushers and a small number of blitzes.  Of the four Playoffs-possibile QBs from Washington, Green Bay, Tampa Bay and Atlanta, Jayden Daniels is far and away the most able to exploit the vulnerabilities of a light box.  He is mobile and athletic enough to find the creases between (or around) the four rushing linemen, and is the best (most elusive) open field runner of the four QBs.  On the other end of the scale, Michael Penix is the least mobile and athletic.  MBaker mayfield and Jordan Love are somewhere in between, but both are closer to Daniels than to Penix.  So for me, Atlanta is the team I want to see the Eagles play because their Defensive strengths take away the Atlanta passing game and Penix isn't as much of a threat to break through/around the Eagles' light box front.

(2) Regarding the value of Jordan Davis in Fangio's scheme, even though the number of snaps is low (dare I say very low), his ability to present a substantial obstacle to the opponents' establishing any kind of running game ... even when Fangio is deploying a light box and not blitzing one of the back 7 ... is incredibly valuable.

(3) Today's game gave us a whole passel full of blessings ... Pickett showed what he can do with a week of preparation working with the starters ... McKee nailed his audition for QB#2 in the 2025 season ... CJGJ kept his mouth shut and flashed some of the 2022 opportunism ... Cooper Dejean survived another day of punt returning ... the Eagles are +10 in net turnovers, which is tied for 5th in the NFL ... and for the second time this year when a statement game was called for, they came up big.

(4) The chart below puts the Rushing  record for Saquon into some context. At the end of Game 16 Saquon is in 8th all-time for season rushing yards, and O.J. is only 2 yards behind Saquon despite playing two less games.  If I'm Siriani, I am playing Saquon no more than one quarter against the Giants ... if I even play him at all.

[opa-opa]

After looking at that chart, I sort of change my mind on letting Barkley play next week.  I just feel even if he makes the record, it probably will be broken in the near future, now that we have 17 games, probably soon to become 18 games.... It just won't be a big deal.

[Portyansky]

2 hours ago, opa-opa said:

After looking at that chart, I sort of change my mind on letting Barkley play next week.  I just feel even if he makes the record, it probably will be broken in the near future, now that we have 17 games, probably soon to become 18 games.... It just won't be a big deal.

The way it has become a passing, I really doubt it. Even Henry won't touch 2k this year. It's not an easy feat. 

[Infam]

4 hours ago, opa-opa said:

After looking at that chart, I sort of change my mind on letting Barkley play next week.  I just feel even if he makes the record, it probably will be broken in the near future, now that we have 17 games, probably soon to become 18 games.... It just won't be a big deal.

I don't believe running the ball is that back.

It took a great RB like Barkley, a great OL to block, probably a dual threat QB and last but not least a team that is not only willing to run that much but likely a team getting in front of opponents so that it even makes sense to do so.

 

That said, I'd not give him a single snap. We have one goal, and it's not helping that.