Eagles 2024-2025 Season

[allentown]

They should at least not be allowed to interview coaches from teams whose season hasn't ended.

[zambonir]

it's a virtual interview. In-person isn't allowed and there are also other periods when no contact is allowed (which is how the Cardinals wound up tampering with Gannon).

I'm sure the coaches absolutely do not think they should be completely restricted, and probably most owners don't either, because they don't want to only interview unemployed or eliminated guys.

[phillychuck]

To make it fair for all coaches, allow no hiring or interviewing until a few days after the Super Bowl. It is irritating and distracting to have a popular coordinator and be prepping for a playoff game.

[zambonir]

The rules are the rules. All the owners vote on them.

I think we probably have no idea what these guy's schedules are like. The Dick Vermeil days are long over. He is doing three interviews this week, Thu/Fri/Sat. If he was actually going to miss any important practices, meetings or prep, more NFL teams - and the Eagles specifically - would be more worked up about it.

All it probably means is he gets to spend less time with his family or can't watch a TV show each day.

So who are the Cowboys' two Rooney Rule candidates?

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NFL head coach interview process: What to know about league policies, Rooney...

These are the interview requirements for coaches of teams in the postseason:

If the employer team has a bye in the wild-card round, virtual interviews may begin three days after Week 18 games and must happen before the end of wild-card games.
If the employer team is participating in the wild-card round, virtual interviews may begin three days after the team’s wild-card game and must happen before the end of the divisional-round games.
Starting the day after the divisional round ends:

Teams can conduct in-person or virtual interviews with candidates employed by other NFL teams whose seasons ended.
Teams cannot hold initial interviews with candidates employed by teams participating in the AFC and NFC championship games until the end of the employer team’s season. A candidate’s employer team may not voluntarily grant permission for those interviews.
During the bye week between conference championships and the Super Bowl:

Second interviews, either in-person or virtual, are allowed with head coach candidates employed by teams in the Super Bowl. The team(s) conducting the interviews must notify the employer team(s).
Contact with head coach candidates in the Super Bowl is not allowed from during the Super Bowl week until the day after the game.

[VoteForKalas]

So who are the Cowboys' two Rooney Rule candidates?

Saleh and Frazier

[zambonir]

Not Deion?

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

The Eagles should win the game on Sunday, but now it appears there will be heavy snow at the start of the game. Snow increases the risk of bad performances on both sides. Whenever it's slick, that significantly increases the risk of pulled or torn groin and other injuries.

[zambonir]

But given how they played against Minnesota and that it is rematch it was never a gimme, so I'd say it still favors the team with the great running game that isn't based in Southern California.

Technically not having the bye has already cost the Eagles Dean. But that is playoff football, and so is winter weather.

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

I'm more concerned about injuries.

[phillychuck]

Snowy fields do not lead to more injuries (at least according to the data I've seen). Very cold temps are worse, more hard hits and guys having their cleats stick in the ground.

[zambonir]

Well I'd still rather have the Eagles win while dealing with some injuries against Detroit than have the Rams win while dealing with some injuries against Detroit. The weather is part of our home field advantage and it's too bad we won't have it next week (well, we could have it in terms of the fans and stadium, but the climate wouldn't really bother the Commanders compared to the Lions or Vikings).

But perhaps it will be enjoyable for the Eagles to play indoors next.

[bkeich]

Snow is perfect for this team. Snow helps the running game and hurts the passing game, normally. Well, we have the best rushing attack in the league.

We also have strong LB play and two (or three) DTs that can shut down runs.

[phillychuck]

Eagle Eye guys said Andy Reid told them years ago the snow helped the passing game more than running as long as it wasn't exceptionally windy. He claimed offensive players running routes knew where they were going and defensive guys had to react, and bad footing affected reacting more than planned movement.

[allentown]

We also have strong LB play

A lot less good without Nakobe Dean.

[bkeich]

We also have strong LB play

A lot less good without Nakobe Dean.

Yes, that does hurt, but it is still a strength. Weird to say since for 20 years we have almost always had very weak LB play, some years ridiculously so.

[Docs]

I could see that - similar to the week one game in Brazil on terrible turf, the corners had trouble reacting

[bkeich]

Eagle Eye guys said Andy Reid told them years ago the snow helped the passing game more than running as long as it wasn't exceptionally windy. He claimed offensive players running routes knew where they were going and defensive guys had to react, and bad footing affected reacting more than planned movement.

I thought of that, but snow often comes with wind. I would never disagree with Andy Reid on Football, but WR slip sometimes even when they know where they are going. When a WR falls on a route it could easily lead to an interception, when a RB slips you lose a few yards you would have gotten.

There is a reason that the previous team record for yards in a game by a RB by the Eagles was in a blizzard. I can’t think of a game where we had 400 yards passing with deep snow (I am sure it has happened). Most snow games are grind it out and field position games with occasional big plays.

[allentown]

Most snow games are grind it out and field position games with occasional big plays.

Which could put the Elliott problems in stark focus.

[zambonir]

I'd be curious what the data is on the Eagles' 4th-down tendencies (both how it compares to other teams/"the book" and how much success) now that we have a whole season. I remember the early-season aggression and failures, but Ellliott also missed both of his 50+ attempts in the first five games (he was 6-8 overall with no attempts in the fourth game. Or the sixth actually. And his only miss in games 7-9 was another 50+. Wasn't until the Washington game, #10, that he missed a shorter one, as well as another longer).

All of which is to say they probably go for it a lot in the snow, both running game and quick receiver routes have an advantage.

I'm a bit more worried about Dean's absence as the defensive leader than in terms of where the stops come from. Hopefully this game is both a win and a chance to work that out (I believe Baun is taking over?) before the next two.

[Purduke]

Eagle Eye guys said Andy Reid told them years ago the snow helped the passing game more than running as long as it wasn't exceptionally windy. He claimed offensive players running routes knew where they were going and defensive guys had to react, and bad footing affected reacting more than planned movement.

Has there ever been weather known to mankind where Andy doesn't believe the passing game has an advantage?