Random thought: our defense will almost assuredly be worse on a whole next season, but with an improved scheme, could we potentially be better against top QBs, maybe to the bar of being competitive?

The offense should be good enough to win games vs bad to average teams. We need the defense not to embarrass itself vs good QBs. 

1 minute ago, ManuManu said:

Random thought: our defense will almost assuredly be worse on a whole next season, but with an improved scheme, could we potentially be better against top QBs, maybe to the bar of being competitive?

The offense should be good enough to win games vs bad to average teams. We need the defense not to embarrass itself vs good QBs. 

That's kind of where I'm at -- hopefully the change at DC means our scheme is better against real QBs. Beating the bad QBs in the NFC can be done by our offense, but to win a championship we're going to need to beat Mahomes/Burrow/Allen. Gannon couldn't do that. 

6 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Random thought: our defense will almost assuredly be worse on a whole next season, but with an improved scheme, could we potentially be better against top QBs, maybe to the bar of being competitive?

The offense should be good enough to win games vs bad to average teams. We need the defense not to embarrass itself vs good QBs. 

That’s (more or less) where I’m at as well. 

6 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

Yeah, I don't see a difficult year when the offense should still be a top 5-10 unit.  The defense just has to not be bad.

The schedule rotation will mean the division as a whole will be 1-2 games worse than last season; we don't get to kick around the NFC North and AFC South again next year -- but let's worry about winning the division first, and seeding later.

I don't think it's a lost year but it will almost certainly be a more difficult year than 2022. Harder schedule + roster turnover + new coaching staff + natural regression in areas like sacks, turnovers etc. Everything from division winner to SB contender should still be on the table of expectations though given the state of the NFC. 

4 hours ago, CheesesteakNBeer said:

Why not? They were coming off a playoff showing the year before and at that point it was noticeable that Hurts significantly improved.

I think he thought he had a good enough roster to get to the playoffs and compete for the division, but I don't think he truly thought this was a Super Bowl contending team until the middle of the season. And a lot of that didn't necessarily come from how the team was playing, but how other preseason contenders in the NFC faltered. It shaped up perfectly with the Rams, Bucs, Cardinals, and Packers all have down/injury riddled seasons. Their only competition in the NFC ended up being San Fran and Dallas. 

A defense with the following pieces should still be good: Sweat, Graham, Davis, Williams, Reddick, Slay and Maddox. Add some FAs (likely at safety) and draft picks (CB at 10 and DT or DE at 30), and that is still a ton of assets. I really believe, given the talent, Gannon underachieved. 

Worth considering that it's not just about 2023.

Free agents after 2023

• Slay
• Hurts

Free agents after 2024

• Reddick (age 31)
• Sweat (age 28)
• Maddox (age 29)
• Devonta (certainly is getting 5th year option - age 27)
• Dickerson (age 27)
• Milton Williams (age 28)

By not overpaying Hargrave/Bradberry, we can extend our younger guys. The only hard call in 2 years is Reddick given he'll be 31.

1 minute ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I don't think it's a lost year but it will almost certainly be a more difficult year than 2022. Harder schedule + roster turnover + new coaching staff + natural regression in areas like sacks, turnovers etc. Everything from division winner to SB contender should still be on the table of expectations though given the state of the NFC. 

Couldn't agree more -- the whole NFC is a dumpster fire. SF needs a QB, Dallas is over the cap and going to lose more than they add, and Rodgers is going to the Jets.

3 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Random thought: our defense will almost assuredly be worse on a whole next season, but with an improved scheme, could we potentially be better against top QBs, maybe to the bar of being competitive?

The offense should be good enough to win games vs bad to average teams. We need the defense not to embarrass itself vs good QBs. 

Exactly right.  Less talent doesn't necessarily have to be crippling if the scheme is better.

So far the QBs next season are:

Dak (2x) -- top 12 QB

Howell(?) (2x) -- bad

Daniel Jones (2x) -- middling at best

Josh Allen -- top 5 QB

Tua/TBA -- not great

Mac Jones -- bottom half QB

Jets (???) -- who knows

Jimmy G (?? Raiders) -- who knows

Stafford -- maybe retired; not great either way

Purdy/Lance -- not great

Geno -- middling

Kyler/TBA -- not great

Mahomes -- the best

Cousins -- top 12-15 QB

Tampa Bay (???) -- who knows

 

Not really the Murderer's Row of QBs next season that some folks think.  Maybe add Rodgers in there if the Jets acquire him?

 

 

I think Howie learned a lesson from the "run it back" mentality he had after the 2018 Super Bowl and how none of those moves ended up working out. I think it's a different scenario with Gardner-Johnson due to how young he still is and he was my priority this off-season over anyone, but you can't pay everyone. And you also have to look ahead as well to the contracts that they will be giving Hurts, DeVonta, Dickerson, and some others in the next couple of seasons. We know Hurts is going to end up getting a mega-deal but if Dickerson keeps his play up, he'll command top guard money and DeVonta will most likely demand big WR money as well. And that's not even taking into consideration the deal they already gave AJ. 

They're going to be ultra-reliant on the draft to replace guys like Hargrave and Gardner-Johnson, which scares me a bit given their track record drafting defensive guys. 

 

Interesting who is scheduled to bring Paris Johnson in, two top 3 teams in the draft who are looking to move back and then the Eagles at 10. 

24 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Random thought: our defense will almost assuredly be worse on a whole next season, but with an improved scheme, could we potentially be better against top QBs, maybe to the bar of being competitive?

The offense should be good enough to win games vs bad to average teams. We need the defense not to embarrass itself vs good QBs. 

Even if they fielded the same defense they would not perform as well. Statistically they benefited from playing some pretty bad QBs over the season. Dak/Goff were the best QB they faced all regular season.

Like you said, the offense will score points, and the main goal for the defense this year should be to not allow above average QBs to be completing 80+% of their passes.

22 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

I don't know how good or not good Jordan Davis is going to be. It's obviously a wait and see.

But if the best defense you have of a player is showing some other player was a late bloomer, then there's not a lot of positive things to say about your player.

Ideally, the defense would be "Man, Jordan Davis totally wrecked the game vs the ____, he just was inconsistent" or "Jordan Davis showed the ability to get consistent pressure on limited snaps, he just needs more snaps and he'll be a beast."

Jordan Davis did jack crap this past season. For a guy they traded up for, major disappointment. Now maybe he does blossom like Dexter Lawrence. But the guy was a 4 year college player, who never at one point, displayed pass rush production. And played in an all-time college defense. I never saw it with that guy in college. He was all combine measurables and athetic traits, with not nearly as much substance to match. I remember saying last year at this time I didn't want the guy. Now granted, in fairness to the Eagles there weren't a ton of obvious options at that spot with Jameson Williams, the CBs, and Thibodeaux all gone. It was basically Davis or Hamilton. But I can't say I have any confidence in Jordan Davis. If I had to bet every penny I had right now on Davis either being a really good NFL player or a bust, I'll bet bust.

Eagles fans have blindly defended him like a son since before he was drafted. You’re spot on with this. I don’t see it. I definitely don’t see anything worth trading up for. Really hope he proves me wrong.

1 hour ago, paco said:

Excellent show.  Sounds like the movie is actually happening.

I've heard. Without Chevy Chase I assume.  😒

2023 NFL free agency: One player every team should prioritize signing in offseason

 

Philadelphia Eagles: OG Nate Davis

Nate Davis

TEN • OG • #64

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If Isaac Seumalo leaves in free agency, the Eagles will have a hole to fill at right guard. Well, there's another talented right guard hitting the market this offseason in Davis, and he should come a bit cheaper than what Seumalo signs for. The former third-round pick out of Charlotte in 2019 has been the Tennessee Titans' starting right guard since he took his first NFL snap.

26 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I don't think it's a lost year but it will almost certainly be a more difficult year than 2022. Harder schedule + roster turnover + new coaching staff + natural regression in areas like sacks, turnovers etc. Everything from division winner to SB contender should still be on the table of expectations though given the state of the NFC. 

This is where I’m at. I still think the Eagles expected to have this type of regression on defense. I still think they’re gonna add guys in free agency. It’s just not going to be the big name players that people wanted or covet. They’ll be guys like Zach Allen, maybe Byron Murphy or guys like John Johnson. Those are the guys they’re probably going to add which will help make the team better than where it stands right now with guys leaving.

I don’t usually agree with afan on a lot of things but I actually think he was spot on when he was talking about what the Eagles are doing for 2023. I think they believe they could still compete for a title but really they’re setting themselves up for 2024 to make a big leap with roster as compared to what they’ll have in 2023. It’s not tanking or not trying to win, it’s understanding the position they are in. I would be willing to bet in 2024  off-season even with Jalen hurts signing that extension they’re gonna add bigger pieces to this roster and have more optionality/flexibility. I think they knew the regression was coming on defense and hoping the offense could make up some of the regression. that this upcoming year it might be take one step back to take two giant steps forward in 2024 when your young guysget those snaps and season, you accumulate some good young talent, and then have more cap flexibility to add to this roster. 
 

RG is probably the easiest position for the Eagles to backfill, either players currently on roster or potentially through the draft, even UDFA. It would make no sense to me to prioritize one through FA. 

3 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

2023 NFL free agency: One player every team should prioritize signing in offseason

 

Philadelphia Eagles: OG Nate Davis

Nate Davis

TEN • OG • #64

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If Isaac Seumalo leaves in free agency, the Eagles will have a hole to fill at right guard. Well, there's another talented right guard hitting the market this offseason in Davis, and he should come a bit cheaper than what Seumalo signs for. The former third-round pick out of Charlotte in 2019 has been the Tennessee Titans' starting right guard since he took his first NFL snap.

Was thinking about this yesterday. I don’t know if Stoutland likes him or if he really fits the Eagles scheme but Ben powers of the ravens makes a lot of sense in terms of upside, age and oline. Cause I think could be an interesting FA signing. He’s only 26 and i think stoutland could make him even better. Don’t think he breaks the bank either. Gave up 1 sack in 633 snaps last year. Then again i tend to think the eagles rather draft then spend the money there.

Kinda wish Kelce would make up his mind before the start of free agency here.

5 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

RG is probably the easiest position for the Eagles to backfill, either players currently on roster or potentially through the draft, even UDFA. It would make no sense to me to prioritize one through FA. 

I think it depends. If stoutland identifies a guy in free agency he thinks could be like Brandon Brooks and you could get him at below or right at fair market value then I think they would go after him. I just don’t think they’d overpay in free agency for a guard it would have to be at their price.
 

Eagles have 2 1st rounder this year and as of now 8 total picks next year not counting any potential comp picks they would be awarded with the number of FAs leaving. 2023 may be a "down" year, but they still should be favorites to win the division and should also be able to make a good push in the playoffs. The NFC is not as stacked as it has been in the past, and the Eagles should still be a pretty favorable team. The NFC competition is the 9ers and dallas, then its the lions and vikings and in the far distance maybe the saints?

Just now, RememberTheKoy said:

Kinda wish Kelce would make up his mind before the start of free agency here.

Have a feeling the pod with howie is where he makes the announcement. I’m guessing that one is released a day or two before FA 

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

Have a feeling the pod with howie is where he makes the announcement. I’m guessing that one is released a day or two before FA 

Maybe he plays one more year because Brady and JJ Watt will use up two HOF selections in their first year, narrowing the path for others?

1 minute ago, wussbasket said:

Eagles have 2 1st rounder this year and as of now 8 total picks next year not counting any potential comp picks they would be awarded with the number of FAs leaving. 2023 may be a "down" year, but they still should be favorites to win the division and should also be able to make a good push in the playoffs. The NFC is not as stacked as it has been in the past, and the Eagles should still be a pretty favorable team. The NFC competition is the 9ers and dallas, then its the lions and vikings and in the far distance maybe the saints?

Seahawks possibly could take another step. NYG have a ton of cap space and depending on the moves they make they could be better in 2023. I have no idea what the Panthers plan is for QB, but they have some decent players on their roster too.