Eagles 2022-2023 Season

[bkeich]

It isn't quite 1980-1 but still, been an incredible year for Philly Sports.

At the start of the season we were hoping / thinking that the Eagles could challenge Dallas for the division. We were hoping that what we saw from Hurts was the beginning of a good career. He is much better than that and we came within a couple plays of winning the Super Bowl.

The Phillies. Hoping for the playoffs maybe. Went to the World Series and won game 1 and looked like maybe we could take it. Houston was a much better team, but we almost stole it. If the bullpen could have held on for a couple more games or if Nola / Wheeler could have had a couple career games. Still, nothing to feel bad about.

Sixers are a very good team that could challenge for a championship if Boston has a key injury or two and somehow Milwaukee gets taken out. We are very good, not great, but in the hunt if we get a few breaks. Clock is ticking on this team, Harden is not going to last long and Embiid is shockingly fragile and will not be the same player in 2-3 years. This is the year they need some breaks.

Flyers. Playing better than expected, which is actually a bad thing. They are a decade away. Almost nothing in the farm and there young players seem like ok, not good or great. Sadly I think we are at the beginning of a build (it isn't a rebuild since we are building from a non-playoff team). They literally need to trade everyone on the roster they can for pretty much anything.

[Philsmania]

It isn't quite 1980-1 but still, been an incredible year for Philly Sports.

At the start of the season we were hoping / thinking that the Eagles could challenge Dallas for the division. We were hoping that what we saw from Hurts was the beginning of a good career. He is much better than that and we came within a couple plays of winning the Super Bowl.

The Phillies. Hoping for the playoffs maybe. Went to the World Series and won game 1 and looked like maybe we could take it. Houston was a much better team, but we almost stole it. If the bullpen could have held on for a couple more games or if Nola / Wheeler could have had a couple career games. Still, nothing to feel bad about.

Sixers are a very good team that could challenge for a championship if Boston has a key injury or two and somehow Milwaukee gets taken out. We are very good, not great, but in the hunt if we get a few breaks. Clock is ticking on this team, Harden is not going to last long and Embiid is shockingly fragile and will not be the same player in 2-3 years. This is the year they need some breaks.

Flyers. Playing better than expected, which is actually a bad thing. They are a decade away. Almost nothing in the farm and there young players seem like ok, not good or great. Sadly I think we are at the beginning of a build (it isn't a rebuild since we are building from a non-playoff team). They literally need to trade everyone on the roster they can for pretty much anything.

Don't forget the Union...MLS Final, lost the lead with maybe a minute left in stoppage time on a header by a LAFC ringer who was a veteran European premier league pleyer, lost the match in a miserable shootout. That championship loss is probably the most painful of all.

[bkeich]

"It isn't a sport if there are big spots on the ball"

-- paraphrase of George Carlin

Actually, I do occasionally watch Soccer (World Cups, etc), but US soccer leagues I still think of (I believe correctly) as far, far inferior to European and South American Leagues. In fact, I would say we are probably even below African Leagues, so yea, I never watch US Soccer leagues.

But, that diatribe aside, good point.

[Philsmania]

"It isn't a sport if there are big spots on the ball"

-- paraphrase of George Carlin

Actually, I do occasionally watch Soccer (World Cups, etc), but US soccer leagues I still think of (I believe correctly) as far, far inferior to European and South American Leagues. In fact, I would say we are probably even below African Leagues, so yea, I never watch US Soccer leagues.

But, that diatribe aside, good point.

MLS is clearly a minor league but a solid one. I've seen some rankings which put it at #10 in the world. To make a baseball comparison, tt is probably AAA where the Euro leagues are MLB. Said Euro leagues buy players from MLS while MLS buys players from lesser European or Latin American leagues.

[Docs]

I gotta jump in and say that the MLS is definitely not below any African or South American Leagues (the Brazil league is a better exporter of talent though). The European Leagues are the best in the world and definitely in another class (English, French, Spanish, Italian and German are the elite) and Mexico has a better league for now. Europeans still don't give American soccer enough respect and overrate their own teams so many lists will be biased.

But to bring it back to the Eagles - I agree with the posts that the Eagles were out-coached yesterday. Will be an interesting offseason to see what kind of team Howie can put together, as well as if any of the pending free agents want to come back for another run at a title.

I know both teams had to play on the field yesterday, I wonder if it hurt the Eagles more than the Chiefs, especially with our DEs. More than on thing can be true, I think the Eagles lost because the Chiefs out coached them, but I wish the Super Bowl focused on football first, and then built in the fanfare around the football instead of painting the field with slippery paint & having a 45 minute halftime.

[Philsmania]

If the below article is correct, the NFL utilized an experimental grass. For the Super Bowl. Is this the kind of thing you typically do in a preseason game?

https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq/ncaa-football/super-bowl-field-condition-college-football-team-blamed

[Philsmania]

Interesting Super Bowl tidbit...teams that wore the white jerseys in the game hold a 37-20 advantage over the team that wore the colored jersey. The Eagles have never worn white jerseys in a Super Bowl. Perhaps that's why they are 1-3 in Super Bowls?

[allentown]

Overall, I'm beyond satisfied, actually very pleased, with the Eagles season and organization. They have to improve special teams and vary the D. They'll lose coaches, unfortunately unlikely on special teams and defensive coordinator. They should make changes in those two areas regardless.

Difficult off-season ahead. A lot of starters will leave. I'd keep the starting defensive backs among my highest priorities. I'd lose the backup QBs, Cox, Edwards, Sanders, Graham, Barnett (keeping one of Graham/Barnett if $/yrs attractive),Pascal, Ward, Suh, Joseph, Quinn, Dillard whom they seem unwilling to play, and others too minor to mention who can have a chance in camp for the right price.

[Purduke]

The Tahoma 31 isn't really an "experimental" grass, either commercially, residentially or for sports applications, escecially in the southwest because it is very drought resistent and hearty. From what I have read it's the choice at Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium, San Diego football etc, and there are reports the NFL used it at both theLinc and Arrowhead two weeks ago for both AFC\NFC games.

I guess the NFL routinely re-sods fields for big games and the SB sod had been growing at a sod farm a couple miles away for 18 months, and then re-sod two weeks befor the game. Of course what is unusual at State Farm is the turf on rollers, so one wonders about what may have been unique installation issues, or perhaps the painting of the field that was pretty extreme.

During the SB broadcast it was mentioned that the Chiefs' complained about the field conditions after their Week 1 game with the Cardinals. Week 1 of the season -- makes me wonder again about a recent sodding. If it was a consistant problem there one would think the NFL would have had a season-ful of Cardinals experiences re cleats etc and would have had both teams in the know. But no problems in Philly and KC two weeks ago, lots of problems yesterday makes me think it is something with the field and not the grass.

[LoneStarPhan]

The Eagles had a great season but come up short in the final game. Phillies surprise getting to the World Series but come up short as well. Of course, everyone wants the championship, but let's not forget the good seasons for both the Eagles and the Phillies.

Let's get back to the final game again for both teams. Cannot win the championship unless you get back to the Super Bowl/World Series. I'm looking forward to watching both the Eagles and the Phillies return next season and maybe, just maybe, win it all.

[zambonir]

MLS has continued to get better, and is tons of fun to watch. The LAFC-Galaxy game and the final were both especially great. At no point have I ever watched that league and felt like I was watching the soccer equivalents of Thomas Eshelman or Andy Tracy, even though many of those guys would look like exactly that in Europe (but not all of them - the pipeline of players leaving MLS, and yes, older players finishing here has also thrived).

It's the top American league, the team is in Philly, and at this point MLS is as popular as the NHL if not more so (in terms of both attendance and TV viewership). So yes, it is Philadelphia's fifth major league team, even if nobody turned over a car when the Union lost and the parade would have been small (I sure would have liked to find out how that was going to be handled had both teams won on the same weekend).

For sure the league's biggest challenge, whether in Philadelphia or California/Texas, is still winning over fans who follow other leagues. In South Philly I see kids wearing Union stuff but in the bars and restaurants they're going to be watching Liga MX. I don't know why anyone who watches EPL on TV all the time wouldn't also want to see some MLS games in person though.

And while I worship George Carlin, funny how a lot of stuff didn't age as well as you'd think (and that particular bit is from the beginning of the deadest part of his career). The football and baseball routine remains iconic because he's poking fun at them affectionately. That other monologue is him just taking random shots at all the other sports (besides basketball).

[Philsmania]

MLS has continued to get better, and is tons of fun to watch. The LAFC-Galaxy game and the final were both especially great. At no point have I ever watched that league and felt like I was watching the soccer equivalents of Thomas Eshelman or Andy Tracy, even though many of those guys would look like exactly that in Europe (but not all of them - the pipeline of players leaving MLS, and yes, older players finishing here has also thrived).

It's the top American league, the team is in Philly, and at this point MLS is as popular as the NHL if not more so (in terms of both attendance and TV viewership). So yes, it is Philadelphia's fifth major league team, even if nobody turned over a car when the Union lost and the parade would have been small (I sure would have liked to find out how that was going to be handled had both teams won on the same weekend).

For sure the league's biggest challenge, whether in Philadelphia or California/Texas, is still winning over fans who follow other leagues. In South Philly I see kids wearing Union stuff but in the bars and restaurants they're going to be watching Liga MX. I don't know why anyone who watches EPL on TV all the time wouldn't also want to see some MLS games in person though.

And while I worship George Carlin, funny how a lot of stuff didn't age as well as you'd think (and that particular bit is from the beginning of the deadest part of his career). The football and baseball routine remains iconic because he's poking fun at them affectionately. That other monologue is him just taking random shots at all the other sports (besides basketball).

Yeah, handling a Phillies & Union championship parades would have been a good problem to have. I doubt they would have done a joint one or something on the same day. Either way, while the Phillies would get the full Broad Street treatment (either up Broad to a rally at the Art Museum or down Broad to a rally at CBP) with most schools and businesses shutting down for the afternoon, the Union would likely get the Market Street treatment (a five block parade from 20th to City Hall and a rally at Dilworth Park) that was wrapped up during lunch hour (and that would probably be the case if just the Union won).

There remains a certain hostility or dismissive disdain to soccer here in the United States, especially from the more low-brow crowd. Perhaps, ironically, it's an outgrowth of the sense of American exceptionalism which sees soccer/football--the sporting passion of the rest of the world--as beneath America since we supposedly have better sports to follow (so the argument goes).

[zambonir]

I think the Union would have just done a rally in Chester, had both teams won. NYFC just did something at City Hall and LAFC did it at their stadium. If they had won and Phillies had lost Union could have done something in CC and then a rally in Chester later (that's what the Timbers did in Portland in 2015 even though their stadium is close enough to do it all at once).

[gmwannabe]

wow. the only holding call of the day was on that play? Not sure. again, they got outplayed, but that is amazing.
gm

[bkeich]

Eagles now need both offensive and defensive coordinators. I have not been shy in my belief that Gannon's exit is a big plus, he got great play out of players but his scheme was laughably obvious.

Going to be a crazy off-season.

[zambonir]

Be careful what we wish for.

I assume losing Steichen won't be a big deal but then again Reich and DeFilippo weren't supposed to be so hard to replace either.

I would also think they might just promote from within, which would no doubt irritate people who want bigger changes defensively. But Brian Johnson is Hurts' guy so that would probably be smart.

So how many NFL head coaches are now part of the Eagles/Lurie family tree, I think it's actually a full dozen if you count Demeco (and I'm not even including Payton).