4 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

For some reason, I really think that Doug has been hiding some stuff for this game.  Especially with regards to Hurts.

There is a bunch of stuff on film now to indicate our tendencies and I think this is when Doug unleashes all the wrinkles.

I absolutely think he has, and rightly so.  For as terrible as the Eagles' record is... that's irrelevant.  They lost out on HFA through out the playoffs early with the 0-2-1 start.   So, all that really matters is the division, which means you had better beat your division.   Bad news is that the Eagles frittered away the Washington game to start the year.  That should have been a "W", but self-inflicted wounds hurt them.  And frankly, they got a little bit lucky against the Giants that self-inflicted wounds didn't derail them again - Wentz' red zone INT, Elliott's missed FG, and forcing themselves to chase points instead of taking XP's (though... honestly, they are not a guarantee, given Elliott missed a FG that was shorter than a XP.

 

But, sitting where the Eagles are... the division is firmly within their own hands.  Beat Dallas, Beat the Giants again, beat Dallas in Dallas and finish with a Win over Washington at home.   All doable... and that puts the Eagles at 6 wins, plus a tie.  Any team to beat them out would have to get to 7 wins.  And I honestly, don't see any of them doing that.  Eagles still have some very tough games, but some of them might just be winnable with some players coming back.   It's crazy to think, but they could get to 8 wins by the end, and 8-7-1 with this litany of injuries on the OL and WR corps would make me happy.

 

Browns, Packers and Cardinals are sitting on the schedule.  Those would be tough games, but they could find a way to steal one or two.  The tough part is that they only have 3 home games left over the last 8 games.  And all 3 of those are on the road.   Can this team go into Lambeau and steal a win like they did last year?   Could they win in the desert?  Could they beat the Browns in the Dog Pound?   It really comes down to who's hot and who's not at that point.  

I see Seattle and New Orleans as likely guaranteed "L"s.   But, wouldn't it be nice if the Eagles could get to 8 wins?   

Join me in the Optimist Lunatic Club.   8 wins... 

Join me and Montell...

 

14 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

For some reason, I really think that Doug has been hiding some stuff for this game.  Especially with regards to Hurts.

There is a bunch of stuff on film now to indicate our tendencies and I think this is when Doug unleashes all the wrinkles.

Hiding plays for this game when he's being criticized for saying he ran out of plays?

1 minute ago, Mike030270 said:

Hiding plays for this game when he's being criticized for saying he ran out of plays?

To be clear, he said he ran out of goal line plays, not plays in general. 

1 minute ago, Mike030270 said:

Hiding plays for this game when he's being criticized for saying he ran out of plays?

Not necessarily hiding plays, more so hiding concepts that they will work on in practice which brings out new plays.

27 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

Rapaport says Bostic is not likely to be suspended for that hit on Dalton.  That’s pretty weak 

Unbelievable 

1 minute ago, Mike030270 said:

Hiding plays for this game when he's being criticized for saying he ran out of plays?

Running out of plays, in a game where he loses a TE and his top RB.  He has plays that he can run with certain guys, but that doesn't mean he'd want to run them with any guy in that spot.   He lost CHUNKS of the playbook (and the situational playbook) when he lost Ertz and Sanders.  Its not as crazy as it sounds.  Any 3 TE set - out.  Any play specifically designed for Ertz - out.  Any play specifically for Sanders - gone.  And on and on.     That's a lot of widdling out of plays.    Its not a great look, and Andy had such a big sheet that he'd never have that occur, which he got made fun of for.   And yet, we'd see Andy trotting out the same stuff at the goalline week after week and year after year.   Its not as simple as clicking on a Madden play and all the guys know what they are supposed to do, even if they are playing out of position.    These other throw ins need to practice these plays.   And how many plays did the Eagles run with Rodgers and Croom as the 12 personnel?   Not many, I'd bet.

 

Injuries change things... 

I haven't played a Madden game since maybe early 2000s

Just now, Mike030270 said:

I haven't played a Madden game since maybe early 2000s

That's not the point.  The point is, just because Croom is listed as a TE for that game, it doesn't mean he knows the entire playbook for the TE position, nor does it mean he's practiced it.   And with the NFLPA getting the amount of practice time CUT DOWN, and now coaches can't talk to players during the offseason, the deep depth loses a lot of reps.

54 minutes ago, FranklinFldEBUpper said:

I'm frequently told I'm deloooosional when I don't panic early in the year when the Eagles get off to a slow start. Or when they're a game out of a playoff spot with half of the season left to play. So even at 0-2-1, I wasn't slitting my wrists or looking for the closest window from which to jump. And at 1-4-1, I was even slightly encouraged despite the back to back losses to the Steelers and Ravens. That tends to be my mindset...to look at things with a positive perspective.

With this in mind, if I'm being true to myself, I have to feel the same is true for the Cowboys. We can puff out our chests about their sudden demise, but I think they've very much still in contention. The Giants are the team in the division I'm most worried about in the coming years, but I think they're cooked this year. And I really don't think the Football Team is going to be in it for the long haul. But I still can't count out the Turds. They're only a half game out. A win this coming Sunday would do wonders for our season, but I'm not convinced this is going to be as much of a gimme and so many of our fans seem to think. I think we're so beat up offensively that we won't be able to exploit the Cowboys defense like other teams have been doing. And that team still has the skill position players, sans quarterback, to do some major damage to our own defense.

Also, it sure feels like I'm the only one here who actually likes Alshon Jeffery and is hopeful that he'll return. 

Oh, and the idea of Peters lining up at left guard next to Mailata makes me think of The Godfather, when Michael anoints his father as his new consigliere. Who better to have as my right hand man, he asks. I can envision that same sort of fatherly wisdom coming from Peters. 

I think you have the NYG and Washington flip flopped.  The Redskins defense has lots of great pieces, a defensive minded HC and reputable DC in JDR.  They will find their quarterback, heck I could even see them bringing Cam Newton in next year if he isn't toast.  Logan Thomas is turning into a pretty good tight end.  They tend to find good running backs too.  They also go in to next year with $50 million in cap space.  They need o-line help in the worst way.

NYG on the other hand have an unproven HC and their best player is a running back who will be coming off a torn ACL with a new contract on the horizon.  What will they do with him moving forward?  I don't see anyone on that defense who is a pilar to build on.  Their WR are pretty average.  Maybe they get Jamar Chase if they think Daniel Jones is their quarterback.  

 

And if I recall correctly, in that game, they also lost Driscoll as well.  Which means they threw in their last healthy OL (at least the last OT) dressed for the game in Toth at RT.  Toth was just added to the mix that week, I believe.  How much of the playbook did he know?    The injuries have a trickle down effect to every facet of the offense.

Just now, bpac55 said:

I think you have the NYG and Washington flip flopped.  The Redskins defense has lots of great pieces, a defensive minded HC and reputable DC in JDR.  They will find their quarterback, heck I could even see them bringing Cam Newton in next year if he isn't toast.  Logan Thomas is turning into a pretty good tight end.  They tend to find good running backs too.  They also go in to next year with $50 million in cap space.  They need o-line help in the worst way.

NYG on the other hand have an unproven HC and their best player is a running back who will be coming off a torn ACL with a new contract on the horizon.  What will they do with him moving forward?  I don't see anyone on that defense who is a pilar to build on.  Their WR are pretty average.  Maybe they get Jamar Chase if they think Daniel Jones is their quarterback.  

 

Did you watch the NE game yesterday? He's pretty much toast.

3 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

That's not the point.  The point is, just because Croom is listed as a TE for that game, it doesn't mean he knows the entire playbook for the TE position, nor does it mean he's practiced it.   And with the NFLPA getting the amount of practice time CUT DOWN, and now coaches can't talk to players during the offseason, the deep depth loses a lot of reps.

I understood your point. I just find it funny whenever someone makes that Madden comment because I don't play Madden.

I still don't think he's saving anything for upcoming games 🤷‍♂️

29 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

For some reason, I really think that Doug has been hiding some stuff for this game.  Especially with regards to Hurts.

There is a bunch of stuff on film now to indicate our tendencies and I think this is when Doug unleashes all the wrinkles.

Right now, defenses know when Hurts is lined up in the shotgun it’s going to be a run; either Hurts himself or the option with a RB.

Doug is going to have to have him on the run and make a throw to keep the defense off balance.  I’d like to see Hurts lined up beside Wentz in the backfield with the possibility of a direct snap.  I think Wentz or Hurts lined up as a WR has run its course.

2 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

I understood your point. I just find it funny whenever someone makes that Madden comment because I don't play Madden.

I still don't think he's saving anything for upcoming games 🤷‍♂️

I don't either.  But, in Madden you can put any player in at any position, and they will do the right assignment.  That can't happen with real people without practice.

 

As for saving plays, he might have some plays that he'd drawn up that he never installed, or just weren't a part of that particular game plan when he 'ran out of plays'.

2 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

I understood your point. I just find it funny whenever someone makes that Madden comment because I don't play Madden.

I still don't think he's saving anything for upcoming games 🤷‍♂️

I think he’s 100 percent saving some things, but I don’t think it’s with this game in mind. Normally that would be the case, but this should be a game where we play it straight up and win comfortably. 

Then again, we tend to make things much harder on ourselves. 

I really hate that we don't get to fully enjoy the Dallas implosion. 

 

 

3 minutes ago, RLC said:

 

Anyone in the 21-day window projected to return this week?

1 hour ago, Mike31mt said:

Tough ask for a QB with way too many interceptions, in a tight game, with a WR he may or may not trust 100%

But I see the other Washers have beaten me to the punch (Wentz Washers Unite!) so Ill digress

Some of us Wentz washers have noticed that you are kinda selfish with the dispersal of your likes 

I have zero confidence in the Eagles to win this game. Prototypical trap game. The many members in here calling this a lock win is enough to activate my worst case scenario mindset (otherwise known as the Tuesday night Joe Webb mindset.)

If any players on the actual team are going into this game thinking like the majority of the blog, we're in for a huge let down. I'll gladly eat crow if we win, but I got a bad feeling about this game.

1 hour ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

For some reason, I really think that Doug has been hiding some stuff for this game.  Especially with regards to Hurts.

There is a bunch of stuff on film now to indicate our tendencies and I think this is when Doug unleashes all the wrinkles.

Oh Goodie 

1 minute ago, Westbrook#36 said:

I have zero confidence in the Eagles to win this game. Prototypical trap game. The many members in here calling this a lock win is enough to activate my worst case scenario mindset (otherwise known as the Tuesday night Joe Webb mindset.)

If any players on the actual team are going into this game thinking like the majority of the blog, we're in for a huge let down. I'll gladly eat crow if we win, but I got a bad feeling about this game.

I do, too.

Skip bayless said yesterday’s L to the Washington Football Team was the most humiliating loss he had ever seen and I’m here to tell him he’s wrong.  44-6 had to be much more humiliating and embarrassing as a fan as both teams were actually playing for a playoff spot.  

3 minutes ago, Br3 said:

Skip bayless said yesterday’s L to the Washington Football Team was the most humiliating loss he had ever seen and I’m here to tell him he’s wrong.  44-6 had to be much more humiliating and embarrassing as a fan as both teams were actually playing for a playoff spot.  

the woodshed game LOL

 

4 minutes ago, Westbrook#36 said:

I have zero confidence in the Eagles to win this game. Prototypical trap game. The many members in here calling this a lock win is enough to activate my worst case scenario mindset (otherwise known as the Tuesday night Joe Webb mindset.)

If any players on the actual team are going into this game thinking like the majority of the blog, we're in for a huge let down. I'll gladly eat crow if we win, but I got a bad feeling about this game.

Well the only thing I will say is it's hard to have a trap game, when you suck almost as bad as they do.

1 hour ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

I do agree that the playbook is limited now with all the injuries.

But the point I was trying to make was that in the back of his mind, Doug knows that beating Dallas is important to his perception here, and that he'd be willing to go a bit deeper into the playbook to achieve that.

And...given the state of the Cowboy defense, those calls may actually work.

Embarrassing the Cowboys in prime time is worth it for team morale alone