16 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

At least 2, could use some work there, but few backs are gonna bat 1.000 in pass protection and to bench him would mean that Gainwell or Penny are cleare upgrades in that department, and I'm just not seeing it. 

Well.. we know Penny also had a whiff and tackled a defender on the TD pass to Brown that was called back because of his hold.

1 minute ago, RLC said:

Swift tries. That's half the battle.

Also, most teams won't blitz as much as Minnesota all season. 

Yeah that's a good point too, didn't realize how heavy handed Flores was with the blitz but there was an article by Fran Duffy that said he led the league in blitz percentage the year he was coaching the dolphins.

33 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

Yep.  I don't expect him to be an OL out there. 

I see his willingness.  I see him make good contact and show his guy down.  I don't expect a stone wall.

One of those reps was really good. Another one of them he bumps the guy on his release in to a pass route where he was wide open and looked frustrated the ball didn't come to him. It wasn't even a pass blocking rep so the person who posted that had questionable judgement anyway. 

Exactly, the guy is a playmaker with explosiveness, speed and moves. You do not sit him for Gainwell, would be a ridiculously bad move. 

The Eagles tend to draft better when they go against need and chase a guy they really want.  It usually doesn’t end well for us when Howie force picks a position of need.

The Eagles will head into the offseason with major holes at CB, S, and LB.  CB is typically a premium draft position, whereas S and LB are not.  I wouldn’t waste a 1 or a 2 on LB/S when they aren’t close to the BPA.  I’d sooner trade for proven vets who can step in immediately (which is what we need anyway).  CB is a different story…if the right guy is there, then they can draft that position high.  

Just now, eagle45 said:

The Eagles tend to draft better when they go against need and chase a guy they really want.  It usually doesn’t end well for us when Howie force picks a position of need.

The Eagles will head into the offseason with major holes at CB, S, and LB.  CB is typically a premium draft position, whereas S and LB are not.  I wouldn’t waste a 1 or a 2 on LB/S when they aren’t close to the BPA.  I’d sooner trade for proven vets who can step in immediately (which is what we need anyway).  CB is a different story…if the right guy is there, then they can draft that position high.  

32nd?

If they can afford it, FA should be used to find an actual LB.  Draft should be for CB and a speedy WR.

6 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

The Eagles tend to draft better when they go against need and chase a guy they really want.  It usually doesn’t end well for us when Howie force picks a position of need.

The Eagles will head into the offseason with major holes at CB, S, and LB.  CB is typically a premium draft position, whereas S and LB are not.  I wouldn’t waste a 1 or a 2 on LB/S when they aren’t close to the BPA.  I’d sooner trade for proven vets who can step in immediately (which is what we need anyway).  CB is a different story…if the right guy is there, then they can draft that position high.  

We're writing off all their young CBs just because they didn't shine in their first NFL game against a good passer?

5 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

We're writing off all their young CBs just because they didn't shine in their first NFL game against a good passer?

Let’s keep in mind who their young CBs are:

Goodrich: udfa

Jobe: udfa

Ricks: udfa

Ringo (behind all of them on the depth chart): 4th round pick.

Should they ever have been written *on*?  I like Ricks and Ringo, but we all know they aren’t going to stop the Eagles from making other, bigger moves to have a succession plan for Slay/Bradberry/Maddox.

22 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

The Eagles tend to draft better when they go against need and chase a guy they really want.  It usually doesn’t end well for us when Howie force picks a position of need.

The Eagles will head into the offseason with major holes at CB, S, and LB.  CB is typically a premium draft position, whereas S and LB are not.  I wouldn’t waste a 1 or a 2 on LB/S when they aren’t close to the BPA.  I’d sooner trade for proven vets who can step in immediately (which is what we need anyway).  CB is a different story…if the right guy is there, then they can draft that position high.  

Need to find our next RT to groom sooner than later. Also could see WR being a priority. We know that LB/S won’t be the pick. CB>RT>WR for me.

24 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

If they can afford it, FA should be used to find an actual LB.  Draft should be for CB and a speedy WR.

DE is a big need too.

15 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Let’s keep in mind who their young CBs are:

Goodrich: udfa

Jobe: udfa

Ricks: udfa

Ringo (behind all of them on the depth chart): 4th round pick.

Should they ever have been written *on*?  I like Ricks and Ringo, but we all know they aren’t going to stop the Eagles from making other, bigger moves to have a succession plan for Slay/Bradberry/Maddox.

Still high on Jobe, Rick's, and not writing off Goodrich after 1 game. 

28 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Yeah that's a good point too, didn't realize how heavy handed Flores was with the blitz but there was an article by Fran Duffy that said he led the league in blitz percentage the year he was coaching the dolphins.

Ben Solak said something along the lines that the Eagles were blitzed more in this game than any team in the last 4 years and saw 6+ man blitzes more than any team in the last 6 years.

So they really threw the kitchen sink at them and anything else they could find. The Eagles countered it by running to the tune of 255+.

4 minutes ago, wussbasket said:

Ben Solak said something along the lines that the Eagles were blitzed more in this game than any team in the last 4 years and saw 6+ man blitzes more than any team in the last 6 years.

So they really threw the kitchen sink at them and anything else they could find. The Eagles countered it by running to the tune of 255+.

Yep, and when our backs are putting up 6+ ypc against a defense selling out like that to get after the QB, I'm not gonna get on hurts for only throwing for 190yds.

6 minutes ago, Texas Eagle said:

Need to find our next RT to groom sooner than later. Also could see WR being a priority. We know that LB/S won’t be the pick. CB>RT>WR for me.

I think the RT urgency will be established over the flow of this season.  If Lane continues to struggle in pass protection and gets dinged again, 2024 should really be his swan song.  That means we HAVE to draft his replacement in the upcoming draft.  Probably a round 1 OT.

WR needs a Watkins upgrade (I keep wanting to give him chances) and a long term Brown replacement (that situation isn’t going to age well).  That won’t be a first round pick, but it needs to be someone with speed from a decently valued pick.  
 

LB/S probably shouldn’t be the pick.  They need immediate help anyway.  I’d rather trade or sign a proven vet.  Not a pro bowler, but someone we know can do the job.

Until Sweat either gets hurt or shows signs of slowing down, I’d probably dabble in raw high upside DEs later in the draft and hope to hit on one.  Once Sweat needs a succession plan, then that position is going to be a first round pick.  We probably have a couple years for that.

 

We have the resources to manage all of that.  The tricky part is figuring out what to do at CB.  I don’t trust what we have there to be any kind of answer.

33 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

The Eagles will head into the offseason with major holes at CB, S, and LB. 

Oline will be their first pick. If Brown developes, safety is set. CB doesn't seem to be a major need as they have a bunch under contract for next season. LB is a need, and drafting two wouldn't be the worst thing. 

11 hours ago, RememberTheKoy said:

What a picture.  As he's blowing kisses to the crowd after scoring his bomb of a TD catch.  

 

Smitty is an absolute stud. Imagine if we didn’t have him after whiffing on Reagor… I will be alternating between my white Smith and Kelly green Kelce all year. So far both jerseys are 1-0. 

46 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

The Eagles tend to draft better when they go against need and chase a guy they really want.  It usually doesn’t end well for us when Howie force picks a position of need.

The Eagles will head into the offseason with major holes at CB, S, and LB.  CB is typically a premium draft position, whereas S and LB are not.  I wouldn’t waste a 1 or a 2 on LB/S when they aren’t close to the BPA.  I’d sooner trade for proven vets who can step in immediately (which is what we need anyway).  CB is a different story…if the right guy is there, then they can draft that position high.  

DE is a sneaky need. Graham and Barnett are likely gone after this year and Reddick is a FA after next year.

RB is also a need. Everybody is a FA after this season.

14 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Yep, and when our backs are putting up 6+ ypc against a defense selling out like that to get after the QB, I'm not gonna get on hurts for only throwing for 190yds.

Too many are looking at the box score. People would be pissed if Hurts threw for 300+ but got injured from taking hits because they were getting blitzed so much. "Why didn’t they run the ball?!?”

2 minutes ago, shlo said:

DE is a sneaky need. Graham and Barnett are likely gone after this year and Reddick is a FA after next year.

RB is also a need. Everybody is a FA after this season.

Gainwell has a year left after this year. He’s the only one under contract for next year at the position. 

40 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Let’s keep in mind who their young CBs are:

Goodrich: udfa

Jobe: udfa

Ricks: udfa

Ringo (behind all of them on the depth chart): 4th round pick.

Should they ever have been written *on*?  I like Ricks and Ringo, but we all know they aren’t going to stop the Eagles from making other, bigger moves to have a succession plan for Slay/Bradberry/Maddox.

Seattle made a living off of late CB picks.  In any case a lot of these guys were considered high picks at one point so the talent is there in theory.  I tend to think Howie keeps with his model and picks OL or DE first.  And we did just pick Nolan Smith this year and I expect they'll pencil him in for something next year

51 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

If they can afford it, FA should be used to find an actual LB.  Draft should be for CB and a speedy WR.

You almost have to wonder if the Eagles actually know what an actual LB is.  Last time we've had 'actual LBs' is years and years ago.  

4 minutes ago, shlo said:

DE is a sneaky need. Graham and Barnett are likely gone after this year and Reddick is a FA after next year.

RB is also a need. Everybody is a FA after this season.

I want the best WRs and best OL in the NFL…and we can cobble together a new rb rotation every year.  Penny’s and Swifts will present themselves to this team every offseason so they can make money behind this OL for their next contract.

I think Nolan Smith has us covered with Reddick.  

Just now, Iggles_Phan said:

You almost have to wonder if the Eagles actually know what an actual LB is.  Last time we've had 'actual LBs' is years and years ago.  

We signed Kyzir White last offseason

Just now, pgcd3 said:

We signed Kyzir White last offseason

Mmmhmm.  

Let’s grade the 2022 class after 2 games at the mini bye…I always say the year 2 class is the biggest impact on whether or not the team improves or regresses.

1. Davis.  Loved the pick, hated his rookie year.  He looked bad.  With apologies to Carter, I actually think he might have been the best DT on the team through 2 weeks.  I can’t put him over Sweat for defensive MVP, but he’s second on the list.  He’s been a revelation.

1. AJ Brown.  Not a second year player, but part of the class.  Also not a great start to the season.

2.  Jurgens.  I haven’t isolated to critique him much…but the running game has been exceptional and all of the pass protection struggles feel like they are coming from the tackles.  It seems he has been good.

3. Dean.  The durability criticism has come to haunt him.  Hasn’t helped us so far.

6. Johnson.  Nothing.

6. Calcaterra.  Nothing.

UDFA: Blankenship.  Pretty darn good in week 1.  I think he’ll have an OK season as a starter here.  Probably a bit of a downgrade from what we had last year, but the trust in him allowed them to draft talent elsewhere in 2023.

 

Overall, that looks like a good class.