How a lot will the Eagles run the ball this 12 months? The genius of Jeff Stoutland. A pair intriguing under-the-radar roster strikes. What profitable the opener means for the Eagles.
Soccer season is lastly right here, and on Sunday – 238 days after that ugly playoff loss to the Bucs – the Eagles open their ninetieth NFL season in opposition to the Lions at Ford Subject in Detroit.
No extra OTAs for Roob’s 10 Random Eagles Observations. No extra coaching camp for 10 Obs. No extra follow squad.
It’s Week 1, and these observations rely!
1. I really feel like there’s a way that now that the Eagles have a big-time array of receivers and a quarterback rising extra comfy within the passing recreation in Yr No. 2 in the identical offense that the Eagles are going to swiftly get pass-happy like they began out final 12 months. And whereas I feel they’ll throw perhaps 5 – 6 occasions per recreation greater than final 12 months – once they threw lower than any NFL group – the working recreation goes to stay a giant a part of this offense. Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and Kenny Gainwell mixed for 1,912 scrimmage yards, 1,418 speeding yards and 13 touchdowns final 12 months and 4.9 yards per carry, and that manufacturing hasn’t gone away. With this o-line and these backs – and maybe Trey Sermon taking up the Jordan Howard function – the Eagles will nonetheless have a top-10 working recreation. The distinction is final 12 months they ran as a result of they needed to. This 12 months they’ll run once they wish to.
2. I might pay $100 to take a seat in a room and take heed to Jeff Stoutland speak. About something.
3. The Eagles’ harm report Friday consisted of … no person. Andre Dillard is out for a month or so and on IR with a damaged arm, however no person on the 53-man roster was even restricted two days earlier than the opener. That’s outstanding, and on high of final 12 months’s comparatively injury-free season extra proof that the Eagles’ preseason program is smart. Now, I assume if the Eagles flip in a clunker Sunday you’ll be able to attempt to make a case that they weren’t bodily prepared, however there’s one thing to be stated for a one hundred pc wholesome roster main into the regular-season opener. I used to be skeptical final 12 months, however I actually consider now that this coaching camp format is smart and provides the Eagles the most important probability to win. And this was not a straightforward coaching camp. The Eagles’ practices may be a bit of shorter than some groups’ classes, however they’re intense, they’re fast-paced they usually’re bodily. They only don’t deal with to the bottom. They nonetheless get good work in. It actually looks as if this group is prepared.
4. Generally I watch A.J. Brown making these absurd catches in follow and I simply can’t consider he’s right here. The Eagles flat-out stole him. Did they actually purchase a 24-year-old stud WR (now 25) for a mid-1st-round choose and a Third-round choose? After which lock him up by means of 2025 with a four-year deal? This may go down as one of many biggest strikes of Howie Roseman’s tenure. I knew Brown was actually good, however what I noticed this preseason was scary. He’s higher than I assumed. Approach higher. Quick, powerful, hard-nosed, bodily, aggressive. With loads of swagger. Brown is already considered one of solely 5 WRs in NFL historical past with 150 catches, 20 TDs and a 16.0 common earlier than his twenty fifth birthday. And he simply may be higher than ever this fall. That is going to be enjoyable.
5. The Eagles gained’t face any quarterbacks this 12 months that gained a playoff recreation final 12 months.
6. I anticipate Jordan Davis to get someplace round 25 snaps Sunday, and I’ve been so impressed together with his health degree this summer season that it wouldn’t trouble me if it’s a bit of larger. Davis seems like a special man than we noticed at Georgia. And he was unimaginable at Georgia, he simply was restricted as a result of he wasn’t in adequate form to make performs late in video games. However he’s actually taken the conditioning a part of changing into a professional severely, and that’s going to permit him to be a drive all through video games. The Eagles have such a luxurious with Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Milton Williams and Davis. None of them goes to should play 70 snaps. Who has 4 inside linemen with that type of potential? They need to all be contemporary and efficient within the fourth quarter, which is when the Eagles will want them probably the most.
7. I didn’t see one factor from Jalen Hurts in the course of the preseason that made me query whether or not he’s the man. Once you mix his work ethic and starvation to be taught, the upgraded weapons he has now, a second 12 months in the identical system for the primary time since highschool and the world’s greatest offensive line there actually is not any purpose I can discover to doubt him. He simply seems smoother, sharper, faster and extra decisive. You recognize what’s actually fascinating? From Week 7 on final 12 months, Hurts had a passer ranking of 90 or larger in six of 9 video games. That’s one lower than Tom Brady, the identical quantity as Patrick Mahomes, yet another than Josh Allen. And he missed two video games. There was progress however it was forgotten when he regressed within the Tampa playoff recreation. But it surely was one thing to construct on, and I’ll go this far: If Hurts doesn’t have a terrific season, I’ll be actually shocked.
8. A pair roster strikes final week went underneath the radar, however in getting working again Trey Sermon on waivers from the 49ers and quarterback Ian Ebook on waivers from the Saints, the Eagles quietly added a Third-round choose and a 4th-round choose without charge aside from their minimum-wage salaries. Ebook had 49 TDs and 9 INTs his final two years at Notre Dame whereas working for over 1,000 yards and 13 extra TDs, and Sermon rushed for practically 3,000 yards with 29 TDs at Oklahoma and Ohio State with a 6.5 common. I don’t know if Ebook or Sermon will ever contribute to this group, however they’re each guys that got here into the NFL with a number of promise, had been adequate to be drafted within the center rounds and have some upside. We hear a lot about Roseman constructing the highest of the roster, however these under-the-radar strikes to strengthen the underside of the roster usually repay as properly. And who would you moderately have, Jason Huntley and Reid Sinnett or Sermon and Ebook? Yeah, identical right here.
9. So many outstanding nationwide NFL analysts are popping up recently selecting the Eagles to win the NFC or earn a excessive seed, and there’s no method the gamers don’t hear that stuff. Nick Sirianni and this group’s leaders continuously preach specializing in the method, ignoring exterior noise and pondering solely concerning the subsequent rep or the following play. You heard Jason Kelce’s eloquent speech the opposite day. However blocking out the noise typically is simpler stated than achieved. I actually consider one of many massive challenges for this group might be determining shut out the “rat poison,” as Hurts calls it, and never get caught up within the astronomical expectations. I feel they’re wired the fitting method. I don’t anticipate exterior distractions to have an effect on this group. However you by no means actually actually know till the season will get underway.
10. Since 1984, the Eagles have gained their opener 20 occasions. They’ve solely had a shedding document two of these seasons – 2012 and 2016 – they usually reached the playoffs 14 of these years. Conversely, the 18 occasions since 1984 they’ve misplaced their opener, they’ve gone on to have a profitable season (and attain the playoffs) simply six occasions – most lately in 2010. Appears Week 1 is very necessary.
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