8 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

My glasses show an improving team. 

I understand the quality of opponent argument.  But they are better in November than they were in September. 

That's what this season is all about.

It’s been stated earlier in this thread, but Hurts also looked much more comfortable in the pocket and picked apart a good defense yesterday. That’s what we’ve been waiting for all year.

7 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

He's played better lately and was very impressive in the first half.

I guarantee the majority of Hurts realists would love for him to emerge as a quality QB.

 

yes

13 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

 

I figured today would be tough for the Hurts hating crowd after a big road win. 

He had a great first half.  The offense scored 23 points.  I would like to see him continue to perform well.  He had better pocket presence and made some nice throws over the middle.  He plays much better when the team is running the ball.  He is doing a very good job protecting the ball this year. His ability to run is an asset to the offense.  He needs to continue to improve and put together a complete game.  He nearly threw 2 INTs. I think the first near INT was a worse throw than the actual INT.  It looked like his arm got hit but he also into what looked like double coverage given how deep Simmons was when he made the pick.  So part of it wasn't on him and part of it definitely was.  I hope he continues to show more positives than negatives.  I don't want the team to fall in love with some marginally better prospect that ultimately costs the team in the long run.  

Just like the NFL, we have our first tie. The co-winners of the weekly predictions are

@jamiller who predicted 28-20 Eagles, and

@pallidrone who predicted 27-19

Bonus prediction winners are

also @jamiller Eagles more rush attempts than pass attempts

@vikas83 Bridgewater under 80% completion percentage. 

2 minutes ago, SB52 said:

It’s been stated earlier in this thread, but Hurts also looked much more comfortable in the pocket and picked apart a good defense yesterday. That’s what we’ve been waiting for all year.

Yup first game I've seen hurts manipulate the pocket from within it and make accurate throws from the pocket.

Progress 

If he can build iyn that then that's good, he needs to consistently show he can do that to be considered more than just a running back who throws.

22 minutes ago, Wentz_Era said:

Yes, sack is the only other possible alternative there!  There's no way he could have thrown it away or at the feet of his checkdown (or to the checkdown) or even ran!  You're going to quite great lengths to justify throwing into bracket coverage.

Umm, it's max protect. You do get there is no checkdown in max protect right? Throw it to the feet of the running back who missed the block? Is that what you mean? Well, first you have to know where that running back is, which you don't, because he's supposed to be between you and the guy running straight at you. That means dropping your eyes and trying to figure out where he disappeared to. You do get that on a max protect play, that's not what he's supposed to do? If he is looking for free rushers on this play, he can't run the play, because when there isn't a free rusher, the window to throw is already closed.

I feel like you are just throwing out ideas to justify your position without thinking them through or really understanding what the play design was, and what the realistic options were once it broke down.

 

30 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Eagles are playing worst teams from last year except the division games against the NFC South and AFC West (and their own division, but WTF and giants are worse teams too).  Currently, they are second in their own division, that means playing second place teams next year.  That’s the Rams instead of the 49ers and the Vikings instead of the Lions.  This isn’t a playoff worthy team when seeing in that perspective. The Eagles have beat four teams that were in last place in their divisions last year.  Yes, they get more bad teams to finish the season but we need to avoid the green colored glasses in viewing this as a winning team.  

We played a murdered row of bad QBs last year, so given we're rebuilding, the proper perspective is whether the team is better than last year - they've had a tougher schedule for the first ten games and are 4-6, last year they were 3-6-1 with Wentz at QB. The OL has been a merry-go-round both seasons, but is jelling this year. The defense is better.

Even if they win 8 games (I'll still stick with 7 wins, 3-4 the rest of the way), they're not a PO caliber team, but we know that.

They are playing a bunch of players from the last two drafts, and will probably land 4-5 starters out of the 2022 draft. That's a good start for building a contender.

By 2023 they can start entering the FA market, and make a splash in 2024 if they need to.

16 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Eagles are playing worst teams from last year except the division games against the NFC South and AFC West (and their own division, but WTF and giants are worse teams too).  Currently, they are second in their own division, that means playing second place teams next year.  That’s the Rams instead of the 49ers and the Vikings instead of the Lions.  This isn’t a playoff worthy team when seeing in that perspective. The Eagles have beat four teams that were in last place in their divisions last year.  Yes, they get more bad teams to finish the season but we need to avoid the green colored glasses in viewing this as a winning team.  

I agree.  I think they have a long way to go to be a consistent winning team that competes for playoff runs on a regular basis.  I was just stating that the way things appear right now that they have a chance to finish with a winning record and possibly make a Wild Card spot.  But when you're just better by enough than the bad teams you're playing (are going to play down the stretch) that's a possible scenario due to circumstance.  This team is still too up/down on both sides of the ball so they could still lose more than they win to end the season.  They still need an infusion of young quality talent and especially on the D side of the ball.  Finding 'Fool's Gold' this season doesn't change that.

 

3 minutes ago, SB52 said:

It’s been stated earlier in this thread, but Hurts also looked much more comfortable in the pocket and picked apart a good defense yesterday. That’s what we’ve been waiting for all year.

I agree he was more comfortable.  On at least one throw, I could see him almost start spinning in a circle to escape but then he stopped himself and re-settled.  

The second half also showed how much more they need to add to the offense.

Scott/Howard are not a credible starting pair, you can make do, but you'll want to upgrade. Don't need a 1st rd pick, but you do have to spend some assets, or revive Sanders or both.

Smith is the real thing, Watkins has been a solid #2 (on his way to 800 or so yards), Reagor is still a ??? But no big 3rd down target (the QB's friend), either a Jeffrey (win jump balls) or Avant (perfect routes/positioning/hands). And that's a very inexperienced group, still learning how to run routes, how to run a QB scramble fire drill.

Goedert is their 2nd best receiver, with him out they were in trouble. They'll extend him, they have to.

Stoll is coming along nicely, but he's limited, he may be a solid #2 outlet kind of guy (Lewis, Celek) but if he's more than your 4th or 5th option, you're in trouble.

Jackson has tremendous upside, but is a work in progress, just converted to TE and is learning on the job.

Dickerson is also learning on the job (no TC, switch from center to LG) as is Driscoll (switch from OT to OG), and it shows in pass protection. Inside pressure is what drives QBs out of the pocket b/c they can't step up into the pocket - fix this and you'll see Hurts get more comfortable. And blitz pickup will be an issue with a young OL that hasn't played together.

24 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Agree.  The defense is still pretty poor.  The Ss weren’t challenged much yesterday. 

I would like to see a good defense 2 weeks in a row.  The best thing I have seen is improved play from the LBs.  I think Taylor will probably show up pretty well on film.  He seemed to get to the ball quickly. 

1 hour ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

My glasses show an improving team. 

I understand the quality of opponent argument.  But they are better in November than they were in September. 

That's what this season is all about.

 

1 hour ago, BigEFly said:

Eagles are playing worst teams from last year except the division games against the NFC South and AFC West (and their own division, but WTF and giants are worse teams too).  Currently, they are second in their own division, that means playing second place teams next year.  That’s the Rams instead of the 49ers and the Vikings instead of the Lions.  This isn’t a playoff worthy team when seeing in that perspective. The Eagles have beat four teams that were in last place in their divisions last year.  Yes, they get more bad teams to finish the season but we need to avoid the green colored glasses in viewing this as a winning team.  

I think both of these things can be true.

The schedule is likely more difficult next year as compared to this year by virtue if they finish in second place in the division. (That could changed as year to year teams fluctuate but rams and broncos better. And whoever we play from the afc is likely better than the jets).

 I brought up last night but their end of the year schedule for 2021 is similar to 2019 where they got the great benefit of playing a lot of bad football teams and besides a trip to Miami they really didn’t have to get on a plane for 4 weeks. This year they don’t have to get on another plane for the rest of the season and playing a lot of bad teams outside of Dallas (saints but i think they are going to crash and burn with siemian or hill out there the rest of the season). 

i hope the Dallas game at the end of the year has meaning for both teams. Cause you can really gauge how far the eagles have come if Dallas has homefield on the line and the eagles have a playoff berth on the line. If you see a repeat of week 3 it’s concerning but if you see a big change that’s encouraging 

7 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

I agree he was more comfortable.  On at least one throw, I could see him almost start spinning in a circle to escape but then he stopped himself and re-settled.  

Yup I remember that play and thinking the same thing, I thought uh oh here he goes he's going to bail right instead of stepping up and he kind of righted his ship and stepped up and delivered a good pass over the middle from the pocket.

First time I think I saw him actually climb the pocket and deliver a catchable pass over the middle 

Progress 

1 minute ago, NCiggles said:

I would like to see a good defense 2 weeks in a row.  The best thing I have seen is improved play from the LBs.  I think Taylor will probably show up pretty well on film.  He seemed to get to the ball quickly. 

Honestly, Davion Taylor's play the last few weeks has been very encouraging. He and Edwards are a massive upgrade over Wilson and Singleton. That's more about Wilson and Singleton, but both Edwards and Taylor are showing improvement. 

22 minutes ago, SB52 said:

C’mon, man. Murray has obviously been playing hurt most of the season. He had 819 rushing yards last season.

And Dak hurt his leg seriously last year.  But the premise wasn’t in the past, it was currently.  And it was Bacarty.  Currently, as a QB runner, Hurts is #2. 

25 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

I think this illustrates how success ruined the team.

Howie did a real good job in 2016 & 2017.  Brooks, McLeod, Bradham, Wentz, Seumalo, Big V, Mills, Foles, Jeffrey, Smith, Long, Robinson, Wiz, Barnett, Darby, Jernigan, Blunt, Elliot, Ajayi, etc.  All critical factors towards a championship.

But after SB 52, the hubris and egos showed up.  Keeping the window open was a new challenge to them and they failed miserably.

I hold hope that now they are in building mode again, things will improve.

yup.

6 minutes ago, austinfan said:

The second half also showed how much more they need to add to the offense.

Scott/Howard are not a credible starting pair, you can make do, but you'll want to upgrade. Don't need a 1st rd pick, but you do have to spend some assets, or revive Sanders or both.

Smith is the real thing, Watkins has been a solid #2 (on his way to 800 or so yards), Reagor is still a ??? But no big 3rd down target (the QB's friend), either a Jeffrey (win jump balls) or Avant (perfect routes/positioning/hands). And that's a very inexperienced group, still learning how to run routes, how to run a QB scramble fire drill.

Goedert is their 2nd best receiver, with him out they were in trouble. They'll extend him, they have to.

Stoll is coming along nicely, but he's limited, he may be a solid #2 outlet kind of guy (Lewis, Celek) but if he's more than your 4th or 5th option, you're in trouble.

Jackson has tremendous upside, but is a work in progress, just converted to TE and is learning on the job.

Dickerson is also learning on the job (no TC, switch from center to LG) as is Driscoll (switch from OT to OG), and it shows in pass protection. Inside pressure is what drives QBs out of the pocket b/c they can't step up into the pocket - fix this and you'll see Hurts get more comfortable. And blitz pickup will be an issue with a young OL that hasn't played together.

No he's not a question at all. I have zero hope in him ever having any semblance of a meaningful role on the Eagles. 

19 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Just like the NFL, we have our first tie. The co-winners of the weekly predictions are

@jamiller who predicted 28-20 Eagles, and

@pallidrone who predicted 27-19

Bonus prediction winners are

also @jamiller Eagles more rush attempts than pass attempts

@vikas83 Bridgewater under 80% completion percentage. 

No one cares but my first bonus prediction was blocked punt, then I erased it and wrote blocked kick (any).  Then felt that was dumb and went with the slightly more obvious runs greater than passes.

 

@LeanMeanGM I forgot to put my picks in ESPN pickem this week, so I spotted you a 3 game lead.

4 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

I agree he was more comfortable.  On at least one throw, I could see him almost start spinning in a circle to escape but then he stopped himself and re-settled.  

I think that was near the end of the half.  The pocket was still OK and gave him time to throw, but after a few seconds he did get the happy feet and danced around in it a bit (which makes it harder for the OL to block and give him safe space to work from) before settling back in.  Yup, just checked the highlights.  It was with about 1:25 left in the half on a 2nd & 5 from their own 20.  He dances backwards and a bit left then back into the pocket before rolling to his right and hit Gainwell for a 1st down, the play where the Broncos D player hit Gainwell when he was borderline OOB.  There was a tiny bit of a push coming from the right side, but he wasn't in danger of getting sacked.  He could have stood in the pocket and picked out a WR.

 

4 minutes ago, jamiller said:

No one cares but my first bonus prediction was blocked punt, then I erased it and wrote blocked kick (any).  Then felt that was dumb and went with the slightly more obvious runs greater than passes.

 

Now you're just showboating 

Well woke up today with a different feeling about Hurts. Now I’ve been just as critical as anyone but I looked at the numbers and the situation he’s in and came away thinking maybe he can be a good QB in this league. 
 

He is on pace for:

3670 yards passing 

22 passing TDs

8 INTs

929 rushing yards 

8 rushing TDs. 

10 Fumbles

5 Fumbles lost. 
 

Not overly great numbers but pretty solid given the situation having a new coaching staff and only 14 starts. Sure he’s not totally there but there is some positives to build on. 

4 minutes ago, downundermike said:

@LeanMeanGM I forgot to put my picks in ESPN pickem this week, so I spotted you a 3 game lead.

I'll take a W anyway I can get it

27 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Just like the NFL, we have our first tie. The co-winners of the weekly predictions are

@jamiller who predicted 28-20 Eagles, and

@pallidrone who predicted 27-19

Bonus prediction winners are

also @jamiller Eagles more rush attempts than pass attempts

@vikas83 Bridgewater under 80% completion percentage. 

Like the Detroit Lions, I will take that tie and celebrate!

15 minutes ago, austinfan said:

We played a murdered row of bad QBs last year, so given we're rebuilding, the proper perspective is whether the team is better than last year - they've had a tougher schedule for the first ten games and are 4-6, last year they were 3-6-1 with Wentz at QB. The OL has been a merry-go-round both seasons, but is jelling this year. The defense is better.

Even if they win 8 games (I'll still stick with 7 wins, 3-4 the rest of the way), they're not a PO caliber team, but we know that.

They are playing a bunch of players from the last two drafts, and will probably land 4-5 starters out of the 2022 draft. That's a good start for building a contender.

By 2023 they can start entering the FA market, and make a splash in 2024 if they need to.

Offense is slightly better, mostly because of Smith and a relatively healthy and more developed OL.   Defense is equally bad and maybe a tad better at CB#2 with a one year rental. Sweat isn’t Graham but improving.  Hargrave better when healthy. Slay is having an All Pro year.  But the reality is the wins are against teams that were the worst in their divisions last year and they play in the worst division in the NFL.  If they get 4-5 starters out of the draft, they are barely or failing in replacing the players they will lose. (Nelson, McLeod, Harris, Maddox, Barnett, likely Kelce and possibly Graham).  Love your optimism but that’s the cold reality of it.  They have better stats but last year were playing better teams. 

1 minute ago, BigEFly said:

Offense is slightly better, mostly because of Smith and a relatively healthy and more developed OL.   Defense is equally bad and maybe a tad better at CB#2 with a one year rental. Sweat isn’t Graham but improving.  Hargrave better when healthy. Slay is having an All Pro year.  But the reality is the wins are against teams that were the worst in their divisions last year and they play in the worst division in the NFL.  If they get 4-5 starters out of the draft, they are barely or failing in replacing the players they will lose. (Nelson, McLeod, Harris, Maddox, Barnett, likely Kelce and possibly Graham).  Love your optimism but that’s the cold reality of it.  They have better stats but last year were playing better teams. 

The counter point is that of their 4 wins last year, 3 were against backup QBs (Mullens, DiNucci and Hill), and the 4th was against Daniel Jones. The QB play is improved this year -- I'm not a Hurts fan (but warming up after yesterday), but Wentz was the worst QB in the league last year. 

Honestly, the last 2 games have been encouraging. We hung with a good team in the Chargers, and went on the road and spanked an adequate team in the Broncos. I felt better after the Chargers loss than I have in a long time.