Eagles 2024-2025 Season

[dicemen99]

He did not play everydown in New York. Look at New Orleans first drive on third and short he was supposed to contain the edge, he pushed the blocker into the pile with his back to the runner and the running back easily bounced around him. He was immediately pulled from the game and only played on passing plays the rest of the way. He does not look like he is able to make decisions on the field and is overwhelmed to the point of being ineffective

The eagles made the assessment that he could play all three downs for them and that was a gross miscalculation

This.

Let's just switch him back to being a sub-package rusher on 3rd down (which happened at the end of game 2, and then again after the first series of game 3). Unfortunately, this means a much larger role for Brandon Graham, Nolan Smith, or Jalyx Hunt.

• Graham productivity-wise is more than fine, but he's 35 years old and you're tempting fate to run him out there too much - if he goes down, we're screwed.
• Smith - I've said my piece already on him, can't play.
• Maybe we can fast-track develop Hunt in conjunction with playing Graham - it seems early returns are good. But doubtful he could be a key contributing piece to a playoff-level team at this stage.

Howie is probably wearing out his cell-phone as we speak.

[Austinfan]

o

Reddick, Huff and Sweat are all stand up pass rushers who can't drop into coverage and struggle sealing the edge.
They're undersized as conventional DEs and lack the athleticism in space to be 3-4 OLBs.

Baun, Smith and Hunt have a brighter future as hybrid pass rushers/3-4 OLBs with Baun able to move inside.

[phillychuck]

Smith is surprisingly effective against the run given his size, he just hasn't figured out how to get much pressure yet other than by running the hoop, and if that's your only move in the pros you're not going to be productive.

Huff and Smith can be an effective platoon, and if Huff can go back to what he was as a part-timer for the Jets that would be a fine platoon. Calyx Hunt is the wildcard--I don't think they know what he can be yet.

[dicemen99]

Smith is surprisingly effective against the run given his size, he just hasn't figured out how to get much pressure yet other than by running the hoop, and if that's your only move in the pros you're not going to be productive.

Huff and Smith can be an effective platoon, and if Huff can go back to what he was as a part-timer for the Jets that would be a fine platoon. Calyx Hunt is the wildcard--I don't think they know what he can be yet.

Me and you are watching different players. Chasing down players once in a while from the backside is not my idea of being surprisingly effective. The next time he sets an edge or plays contain will be the first time.

He's got a motor, he hustles at max effort. Not an NFL player.

[dicemen99]

I should temper my criticism a bit. Not an NFL player is a bit strong

It's clear he wasn't ready to play coming out and was drafted on projection. I'm pretty sure the work effort was exemplary and that was likely part of the eagles calculus - the development won't be stalled because of a lack of effort.

It's concerning that we're over a year in and there hasn't been progress. Maybe he would have been better served as a lower draft pick that worked his way into a serviceable player. But the finances of being a 1st round pick might dictate that has to happen somewhere else.

If course we could also point to Brandon Graham and say it's too early to tell. But those are long odds.

[schillingfan]

I don’t form any opinions until at least four games into the season. Though the easy one is tat Saquon can play, keep running him on the Mailata Dickerson side.. Hope he stays healthy. Seriously the way preseason is and with two new coordinators there are going to be hiccups and mistakes and adjustments.

[bkeich]

Not sure I am buying that Huff is playing “too much”. He is only credited with 18 plays in the last game, slightly more than 30%. He seems to be getting used as a part timer, at least in this game, he just isn’t doing anything while he is on the field. Of course, no DE is doing anything.

[zambonir]

Which is part of the problem really. The solution should be to return him to his more limited role but he's already in it.

[phillychuck]

Watch the game film of Smith. He's been complimented by Baldinger, Cosell, and Duffy for setting the edge well against the run. The all-22 shows it, too. He's not getting pressure, but he's been better than NFL average against the run.

[bkeich]

Watch the game film of Smith. He's been complimented by Baldinger, Cosell, and Duffy for setting the edge well against the run. The all-22 shows it, too. He's not getting pressure, but he's been better than NFL average against the run.

… but never makes a play? Seems more like trying to justify that “he hasn’t been that bad”. I am rooting for him, I really am, but he has had 3 terrible games so far.

Tackles are not a great stat for DL anymore because of the way teams defend the run, as you point out, often the DL’s job is just to cut off and funnel, but 0 tackles in 3 games is an indication of poor play. My eyes show him in the frame on TV, but never getting off his block. I assume his “win rate” on runs is awful, but someone can correct that if I am wrong.

[phillychuck]

bk, Smith has 6 tackles, 3 solo and 3 assists. Are you talking about Huff, who has 0 and 0?

[xogfog]

Covey to IR, Stoll to 53.

[bkeich]

lol. I guess I fixated on the topic I was thinking of and ignored the name. Ahh, senility, it is going well.

[bkeich]

For those that missed it, our iron man was credited with 3 offensive snaps. Reed Blankenship, who has not missed a play on defense yet this year.

He is also part of the victory formation, so he got offensive snaps.

My guess is we are not too far away from him getting WR snaps soon if Brown and Smith are still hurt. He has (almost) more catches than Dotson, Campbell and Wilson and no one is throwing the ball to him (intentionally (Campbell has 3, Dotson 2, Wilson 1… Blankenship has 2)

[Austinfan]

I think VanSumeran is the one they'd plug in, he played FB in college and showed some good route running in camp.
Would be interesting if they gave him some practice reps, but probably keep that one close to the their vest.

[xogfog]

With the bye after this week (actually coming at a good time based on the injuries, I don't think Brown, Smith or Lane will play. They did sign John Ross back to the practice squad. They'll probably call up Campbell and Ross for the game.

[bkeich]

With the bye after this week (actually coming at a good time based on the injuries, I don't think Brown, Smith or Lane will play. They did sign John Ross back to the practice squad. They'll probably call up Campbell and Ross for the game.

That might qualify as the worst set of WR I have seen in a long, long time (they are even missing Covey). Campbell, Wilson, Dotson, Ross.

Goeddert might get 200 yards simply because he is the only one that can catch. I guess they can use Gainwell as a WR on some plays, maybe even Barkley.

It may be time to consider 10 OL and Barkley. . Do a swing pass to Mailata and see if ANYONE is interested in trying to tackle him.

[schillingfan]

If one is going the DB route for receivers, Slay might like running routes. He’s a ball hawk and is good and jumping the routes for interceptions. Plus he’s a diva.

[xogfog]

I'd actually go with DeJean on offense, he has played offense before and has great moves and hands.

[phillychuck]

And DeJean currently has a smallish role on defense, so that side of the ball would be OK. I can see him doing exactly the Covey role.