Title Contender

Posted: August 31st, 2015 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 353 Comments »

I wrote this morning about the Eagles strong showing in the preseason making me believe the team is now a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Not everyone was so keen on this.

There are a few things to discuss here.

First, I said the team was a title contender. I didn’t make the Eagles the top team in the league or the favorite to win the Lombardi Trophy. Green Bay and Seattle are proven winners. I think you have to list them as the NFC favorites. But each team looks a bit vulnerable right now.

Another key thing to consider is that I thought of the Eagles as a playoff team before the preseason began. This isn’t a situation where the team was 6-10 last year and a couple of preseason wins have gotten me convinced this is the 1967 Packers.

The Eagles went 10-6 last year. They were 9-3 at one point. That team was flawed, though. Chip Kelly spent the offseason working on those flaws and it seems like his solutions are working. I know the regular season is the real test, but you don’t want me waiting until frickin’ December to talk about how good the Eagles might be.

Preseason football has more value than you think. You have to know what to look for. This isn’t like Steve Spurrier calling his best plays and getting a false-read on how good his team was. The Eagles are running basic plays. They are just executing at a high level. I’m not all that focused on the Eagles being 3-0. The first half domination in games is what has me blown away.

While the Eagles are clicking on all cylinders right now, there are no guarantees. A couple of key injuries and this team could go 6-10. I’m not trying to create some false hype and I’m realistic about the fact this team still has a lot to prove.

I don’t expect the Eagles to go 16-0. I don’t expect them to blowout teams week in and week out. I do think this Eagles team has shown that it has a higher ceiling than the first two Chip Kelly squads. Time will tell just how high that ceiling is.

* * * * *

The hype is building around this team, which is both fun and annoying.

It shouldn’t be a boring season.

_


353 Comments on “Title Contender”

  1. 1 Greg Richards said at 9:40 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    At this point, the question isn’t any more whether we’re going to go 19-0 on the way to being Super Bowl Champions. It’s does any team get within 20 points of us in any game?

  2. 2 Dan in Philly said at 9:54 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    How many years until the next Eagles loss? 3? 5?
    #realisticexpectations

  3. 3 wee2424 said at 10:28 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Sports Science will make our best players immortal therefore leading to the longest dynasty a sports team has ever seen.

  4. 4 EagleNebula said at 9:55 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Week 16 & 17 when all the starters are resting the other teams may get to within 25, not sure about 20 though…

  5. 5 Mike Cappelli said at 11:26 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    With the possible exception of the 2016 Eagles, is this the greatest team in the history of sports?

  6. 6 Ark87 said at 11:35 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    19-0? 23-0, the perfect year, 3 down, 20 to go

  7. 7 Greg Richards said at 6:56 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Preseason doesn’t count.

  8. 8 A_T_G said at 11:45 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    In week 15, Spuds will explain from the sidelines that the Eagles inexplicably want to get film on the back up punter playing QB, to add to the film of him playing kicker. Kip will allow the Cards will close the deficit to 17.

    From their seats in the uppers deck, Barkley and Tebow (now BFFs) try to raise a “We want Blan-chard!” chant, but it doesn’t catch on.

    In the waning moments, Kip hits Barner on a wheel route for a long touchdown. Arians throws down his hipster glasses and stomps on them, mumbling incoherently about a college offense.

    Meanwhile, following his touchdown, Barner finds himself near the Arizona sideline and coach Jen Welter. He pounds his chest and let’s out a yell. The Arizona players avert their eyes and back away. Barner scoops up Welter and carries her back to our bench.

    So, in summary, no, they don’t.

  9. 9 wee2424 said at 12:02 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Lol great.

  10. 10 James Adair said at 2:10 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Why does it stay on 6 when I keep up voting this…smh

  11. 11 Eagles_Fan_in_San_Fran said at 1:00 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    “Does any team get within 20 points of us in any game?”
    Unfortunately, yes.
    The Broncos score two late TDs in SB 50, making the final:
    Eagles 39, Broncos 20

    Chip then uses it as motivation the next year when we beat the Colts 72-3 in SB 51.

  12. 12 the guy said at 10:00 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Haven’t felt this optimistic going into an Eagles season since 2011, so I’m feeling pretty good right now.

  13. 13 TommyLawlor said at 10:05 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    You are a bad man.

  14. 14 the guy said at 10:07 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    At least I didn’t use the cursed words.

  15. 15 Rellihcs said at 10:18 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Look, if your goal was to just joke around and be a putz, congratulations, your mission was accomplished.

    BUT if you are suggesting that the reason for current widespread significant optimism about the current Eagles team is based off of WHO is on the roster as opposed to the quality of play on the practice and preseason field, then you are just being foolishly lazy and your actual point is laughable.

  16. 16 the guy said at 10:22 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    *Putz mission accomplished*

  17. 17 Rellihcs said at 10:24 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Fair enough, I took the bait, and it is yummy btw (tastes like funyuns made soggy by being soaked in PBR).

  18. 18 the guy said at 10:30 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Of course, like so many jokes, it is actually true. I genuinely haven’t felt as optimistic about the outcome of an Eagles season since 2011.

  19. 19 xmbk said at 7:12 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Don’t remember feeling particularly optimistic in 2011.

  20. 20 wee2424 said at 10:39 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    I think he was joking around while being serious. Alot of us were excited for the start of that season following the crazy off season.

  21. 21 makarov123 said at 10:04 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Seeing Bradford run the vanilla version of Chip’s offense Saturday night – I haven’t felt this optimistic about an Eagles team since the start of 2004.

    I’m convinced that the Eagles have a shot at a top 3 of all time season scoring record. If that much is true, if the Eagles can go out and hang 30-40 points week after week, an average defense could be all they need to go deep into the playoffs.

  22. 22 Michael Winter Cho said at 11:49 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Understand that the defense was average last year. http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef

  23. 23 Fufina said at 3:29 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yeah our defense was probably better than our offense last year. Our pace of play means our offensive stats get bloated positively and the defensive stats get bloated negatively, but looking at more advanced stats our offense was pretty much average last year, which lets be honest is reflective of what we saw from Foles/Sanchez.

  24. 24 mtn_green said at 10:05 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Preseason just shows how high the ceiling is. Folez, Vick didn’t look so good in preseason before 27-2.

    But…..none of the preseason opponents had much incentive in emphasizing defense against up-tempo spread. Up-tempo spread will really crush opponents without a specific game planned defense.

    But….OL really pushed off the snap, Murray really fell forward for 5 yards every run, Sam really lead receivers perfectly with hands in his face, dbs really caught interceptions thrown near them, DL will SMOKE teams without elite OL.

  25. 25 KAJomo said at 10:10 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    I hear everyone saying teams don’t gameplan for our tempo, but fail to explain what has changed from the two previous preseasons to this one. We werent blowing teams out like this the last two years. If this were chip’s first year I would be more skeptical, but this team is showing huge improvements over Chip’s first two preseasons. There is reason the believe that those improvements will carry over into the regular season

  26. 26 FairOaks said at 10:11 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    My memory was that Vick and Foles both looked really good in the preseason games. Not as good as Bradford last game, but really good nonetheless. Last year, Foles was not nearly as good in the preseason (harbinger of things to come).

    Otherwise, agree with all you say there. It will not be so easy in the real games. Other teams will blitz which may expose Andrews, etc. But the things which do translate look better than they have in a really long time.

  27. 27 Fufina said at 3:25 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    2013 we looked pretty fly offensively in preseason. Vick didnt turn the ball over and had sweet looking drives. The difference is our defence looks good this year as does our special teams.

  28. 28 xeynon said at 10:19 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Up-tempo spread will really crush opponents without a specific game planned defense.

    This I think is a very good point that a lot of people are missing. In the regular season, opposing coaches will look at the high tempo Kelly offense and focus their strategies specifically on slowing it down. Sometimes successfully, as we’ve seen over the last few years. In the preseason, they don’t even try because it just gives them more reps on film to evaluate the guys on their roster. The design of the preseason amplifies the advantages the offense provides so it may very well be giving us a false positive on how good the team is. I think they’ll be good – top 10 in the league – but they’re probably not the second coming of the Greatest Show on Turf.

  29. 29 wee2424 said at 10:16 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    The one thing I really love about Chip is when he sees a flaw on the roster he aggressively pursues the answer to that flaw more then the average coach/GM.

    ST were an issue his first year so he went and actively pursued multiple ST players making it easily the best ST in the NFL by far.

    Some may say what I am saying is untrue due to the point the secondary was an issue his first year as well and he didn’t fix it that off season.

    Do keep in mind however that he signed Jenkins which has proven to be a good signing. Also the secondary started to turn around towards the end of the year and Allen was showing progress. So I do understand as to why he didn’t decide to rebuild the secondary the off season following his first year. The progress at the end of the year did not warrant a full rebuild.

    That being said the secondary didn’t stay on the path of progression his second year and due to that he has now rebuilt it. He let go of all the problem players. Actively pursued the top S and CB option acquiring the CB. Added another depth CB in FA by getting Biggers. Invested heavily in the draft by spending 3 picks on CBs.

    Replaced Henery who was not working at K with a great rookie K who made the pro bowl.

    Did not like what he had at QB after his second year and pulled a headline trade by getting Bradford.

    Did not like Shadys E/W running style so traded him in another headline trade and got 2 out of 3 of the best N/S runners in FA while trying to get the other. Our RB depth and talent is now best in the league by a long shot.

    Injuries and depth at ILB hurt us last season so he picked Jones up in FA, traded for Alonso, extended Ryan’s and spent a reasonably high pick in the draft on Hicks.

    Did not like the character of some of the stars on the team so he shockingly and abruptly cut/traded them while finding the talent to replace them. Maclin successfully taking the #1 spot from Jackson and the plethora of RB talent to replace Shady.

    Most coaches would not be so aggresive/unorthodox/ballsy in fixing issues they saw on the roster.

    The most important thing is that these moves seem to be paying off in huge dividends.

    In the NFL unlike the NBA it can take years to move from one level of success to the next and rebuild a roster. Chip the coach and GM has seemed to fast track that in a flurry of shocking and surprising moves.

    Really have to love how he attacks problems and then has the coaching skill to back it up.

  30. 30 jpate said at 10:45 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Agree on all points except he missed one big one. OL depth, injuries to the OL was probably the second biggest determinant to this team, first being the horrendous secondary, and nothing was done to correct that, in fact releasing Mathis made it worse.

  31. 31 wee2424 said at 11:58 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    I don’t think he was all too upset with the depth of the OL last year. Keep in mind two of those depth players from last year he is completely comfortable with having them start this year. It’s only pre-season but they do look good.

    Most people do not know that according to PFF despite the OL injuries the OL ranked better last year in run blocking then even Dallas’s talented but over rated OL.

    This really hasn’t been mentioned much, but I do think the OL received an overly bad rap not due exactly to their performances but do to the performance of the QB and RB.

    For example Foles and Sanchez performing at very poor levels at the hint of pressure and not making the right read or Shady running east/west when he should have been going north/south.

    RBs and QBs can make an OL look bad when they really aren’t performing that bad. A perfect example is currently in Washington. RG3 makes that OL look horrible but when Cousins is in there it really doesn’t look nearly as bad.

    Murray going forward and Bradford with a quick accurate release and a true read progresion will make life alot easier on an OL then Foles slow release/ Sanchezs inaccuracy and improper read progression and Shadys east/west style if he doesn’t see something that is perfectly optimal.

    The additions at RB and QB are nearly meant just as much towards the OL as their respective positions.

    Keep in mind Lane Johnson is not suspended for the first 4 games this year. As soon as he came back the OL played alot better.

    Part of it is also a chance game. What is really the chance of us losing all those OL again? Not to great. I think Chip feels comfortable with Tobin coming in and starting if he has to due to injury. Barbre can play RT if need be, Tobin can play either G spot, so can Gardner, and LJ can play LT. Molk is serviceable and has started in the past at C. Moffit if he makes the 53 was a solid starter in the past. He has the physical tools. He just needs to knock alot of rust off.

    Name another team that has 3 pro bowl or pro bowl worthy guys on their OL. Not easy off the top of your head because there aren’t many besides the Cowboys and possibly another team.

    The very large majority of teams do not have good OL depth.

    For the most part everything Chip has addressed this season has been starters or guys that will make an immediate impact.

    I don’t think the OL is as big a current issue as many make it seem and Chip recognises that.

    To his credit it was reported that the Eagles did actively pursue Orlando Franklin and another guy but I can’t think of his name.

  32. 32 Fufina said at 3:23 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    The line was good to great by the 2nd half of the year (pretty much when Kelce was back). The line was awful in weeks 3-4 when we had no continuity at all and it was getting chopped and changed every series almost.

    Team is not deep at OL/OLB and the secondary is unproven. However that is always going to be the case for every team. If we loose a RB or TE or WR or DL or ILB we are going to be fine. Thats good depth across the roster.

  33. 33 xeynon said at 10:21 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Except we all remember watching film of the defenses of the 49ers, Redskins, etc. absolutely push the Eagles’ makeshift OL around early in the season. It’s convenient to blame all the struggles on Foles and McCoy since they’re no longer here. It’s also wrong.

  34. 34 wee2424 said at 10:33 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Where did I say it was 100% Foles or McCoys fault?

    Do you deny that a QB with a quicker release and a RB with a N/S mentality helps an OL? If the answer is no, well…..

    Keep in mind those games were played without LJ in which I said when he came back the OL played much better.

    We were already down multiple OL at that point. LJ’s backup was even out in Barber.

    Name 1 OL in this league that could deal with those injuries and not get pushed around.

  35. 35 xmbk said at 7:09 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Nah, it was the injuries and lack of continuity more than the depth.

  36. 36 EagleNebula said at 10:19 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    My biggest take away so far is the lack of dumb penalties on offense and general clean execution. How many drives were killed by poor execution/penalties last year?

  37. 37 wee2424 said at 10:35 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Way too many. Specifically the inaccuracy of our QBs to hit an open receiver therefore killing a drive drove me nuts.

    Having Bradford is going to help our D immensely.

  38. 38 Mitchell said at 10:31 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    For me, it’s not If we win a super bowl, it’s how many we will win back to back after this year.

  39. 39 EagleNebula said at 11:02 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    That depends, how long until the league bans Chip because having him as a coach gives you an unfair advantage?

  40. 40 nicolajNN said at 7:54 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    That’s absurd you silly billy, however they’ll definitely find a way to prove that it’s legal to tackle Chip in the knees

  41. 41 Insomniac said at 11:19 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    People can’t read lol. I have to agree with some of their points though. The season hasn’t started yet and people are forgetting that our strengths can turn into weaknesses with just a few injuries. If by some miracle, everyone plays to their best ability and stays healthy all year then damn right we’re Super Bowl contenders. I’d even say we might be a lock for a 11-5 or better season and the NFC Championship game, That’s a bunch of ifs though.

  42. 42 Ark87 said at 11:32 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    That’s every team, it’s redundant to harp on it. The Patriots, Packers, and Broncos are all 1 injury away from irrelevance. And they’re all contenders as is. You need things to break your way to get a trophy, that goes without saying.

  43. 43 HawaiianEagle said at 1:49 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Thank you. GB is one AR injury from midlin.

  44. 44 Ark87 said at 11:29 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    As far as I’m concerned if you’re pretty sure a team is a play off team and may even have a shot at a first round bye, you’re a contender, anything is possible. I think at this point if you think the Eagles have improved we’re right around that area, it’s not that absurd to suggest the possibility. No one is throwing a parade or crowning anyone yet. I hate it when people equate that with a non-conclusive opinion like saying the Eagles will be in the mix this year

  45. 45 lewis don said at 11:31 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Wins in the preseason don’t mean much, its how the game unfolds.

    Ive seen everything I have needed to see to believe the eagles will win the superbowl this year.

    Jordan Matthews catches everything, and has the work ethic of a veteran far beyond his years.

    Agoholor has game breaking moves. Not only his first touchdown, which his acceleration was flashed as he beat 3-4 defenders to the endzone in stunning fashion. But last game. I saw something important. He caught the ball and looked as though he was only gonna pick up 1. then he studder stepped and found a crease. That is an extremly difficult move. And I have said over and over that our WRs for a long time have lacked balance. he showed balance, elite quickness and burst as well as a high motor.

    Burton is ertz junior. He has top end athleticism. I have seen him multiple times lay out to grab a throw.

    Murray and matthews are positve yard getters. They gobble positive yards.

    Sproles is still a beast.

    Bradford can make tough throws and elite throws because he has a golden arm and swift eyes. I point to the burton TD. That was impressive. Burton was his second read and he made that anticipation throw after a quick shuffle of his feet as a DB was barreling down on him as he shifted his weight backwards off his back foot and delivered a near perfect spiraled laser on a rope, all in a couple of seconds.

    The line is good enough.

    Brent celek can catch again.

    Bennie Logan has made me apologize for calling him trash. He looks worlds stronger this year. At his size and quickness, for him to be strong too. dangerous.

    Walter Thurmond.

    Byron Maxwell.

    I trust them.

    We have leaders.

    The angry bird and Kiko in the middle.

    Barwin, graham. Nolan.

    Barwin bats balls and is long and uses his length well.

    Nolan and Eric will give up plays but they will also make plays.

    The middle two are fast, strong, cover well and are leaders. They are both elite.

    Graham is lighter.

    Cox and thorton are run stuffers.

    Special teams is elite.

    What can I say. Thats all three phases. and we have the best long snapper in the game. not a bad snap ever. not that I remember at least.

    Superbowl is ours.

  46. 46 johhnyblaze said at 11:45 PM on August 31st, 2015:

    Just now watching the greenbay game, I like what I saw on offense, the def didn’t look to good on that first touchdown drive. We put pressure on the qb during the game. but they’ve got to turn some of those into sacks, didn’t help that the qb was mobile. It made me wonder how they would’ve done against Rogers and both their starting receivers. It’ll be interesting to see if we get better coverage on the rb out the backfield when Alonso plays also

  47. 47 anon said at 1:31 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yeah defense was getting gashed by a rookie qb and backup wrs.

  48. 48 Charlie Kelly said at 4:31 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    you gota rememeber they werent blitzing very much.

  49. 49 Fufina said at 2:50 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I am hugely disappointed with the whole of Philadelphia at the moment. Since when have we been such pussies? Why are the seemingly vast majority of fans scared of believing in this team? What can really go so wrong…. The team disappoints and we go 8-8 in an injury ravaged season, and we get some banter from Giants and Cowgirl fans? How is that something to be personally scared of?

    This commitment fear is crazy. The entire point of sports is to get excited and invested and enjoy the ride. Things can change at any point in the football season. If GB looses Rogers week 4 for the season does that make their fans believing in the team stupid or naive or jinxes? To win a superbowl nearly everything has to go right. Great teams miss their window sometimes. We have a 10/1 chance of winning the thing in Vegas, that does not mean we are guaranteed to win, it means we have a realistic chance if things go right!

  50. 50 xmbk said at 7:05 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Well said.

  51. 51 RobNE said at 8:14 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    well said but I think folks here have been quite optimistic.

  52. 52 GEAGLE said at 8:15 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I hear you, although someone with a name “Fufina” calling others a pussy is a little Rich for my taste, but I like the passion…

  53. 53 mksp said at 9:53 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yeah, you definitely have the right to talk….

    :rollseyes:

  54. 54 stephenstempo said at 12:48 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    You need a hug big guy ?

  55. 55 GEAGLE said at 2:12 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Leave my bitch boy groupie alone . Get your own bitch lol

  56. 56 GEAGLE said at 2:11 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Ahhh good morning sweetie my favorite blowjob!, lick it clean, you were a little sloppy the other day. No teeth bitch boy

  57. 57 BlindChow said at 9:17 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Do you know how Vegas odds work? Hint: they aren’t determined by football experts deciding our team looks formidable.

  58. 58 bill said at 12:54 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I understand what you’re saying, and I’m no proponent of the efficient markets theory, but when large sums of money start moving in one direction, I tend to think there’s some level of legitimate analysis and consensus going on; at least equivalent to say, PFF grades. Doesn’t mean the analysis is right, but it does, IMHO, mean that it’s not silly to use that data as a piece of evidence.

  59. 59 BlindChow said at 4:45 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    That’s a good point, but my impression is it’s most likely bettors (overzealous fans, perhaps?) watching the Eagles dominate during preseason games.

    In this case, it seems like citing Vegas odds is akin to using fan excitement as evidence of a team’s potential… Questionable at best.

  60. 60 Cafone said at 3:49 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    But what happens when we cut Tebow and Jesus is no longer on our side?

  61. 61 TypicalDouche said at 8:22 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Well good thing the Pope isn’t going anywhere soon.

  62. 62 D3FB said at 8:52 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Tebow will be cut.

    Cut open in a ritual sacrifice.

    #ALLHAILCTHULHU

  63. 63 Avery Greene said at 9:57 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I better see this in some lockers this year.

    http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/2OpdQQib03mJuGvdhGkAKQ–/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztxPTg1O3c9NjMw/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/sports/2014-04-07/a94c96b0-be65-11e3-827f-f7afacea3679_jobu25.jpg

  64. 64 Michael Winter Cho said at 9:59 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b6gSWHuoGa0/UR8e4X0abQI/AAAAAAAAAms/hm0nRkgUq6A/s1600/LeviathansHelmet.png

  65. 65 P_P_K said at 11:32 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Considering the number fo Super Bowls the Pats have won recently, I think the support of the Devil is more important.

  66. 66 Charlie Kelly said at 4:33 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    i see cowboys fans, saying things like “eagles win 3 preseason games so eagles fans getting ready for the super bowl!! ahahaha” that only tells me they are nervous!! and i like it!!

  67. 67 xmbk said at 7:04 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    You’re spot on in your analysis. Preseason is not irrelevant, esp for a team with so many new parts and question marks about how they might gel. This is a team with a lot of talent that looks ready to compete at a high level. Injuries can derail any team, and often do. So of course there are no guarantees. But take away Rodgers, Brady, Luck, and Seattle, and no team can claim to have a better shot at the SB this year.

    They were 7th in Vegas, that will likely improve. And Vegas isn’t known for being fanboys who get carried away with meaningless preseason results.

  68. 68 E.A.G.L.E.S said at 7:44 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I’m ALWAYS overly optimistic during the preseason, so this is the same for me! The difference between this team and years past is this team seems loaded with talent and are playing at a high level. Chip has a master plan and has rebuilt this team in his vision. It’s really amazing.

    Do I except Bradford to be perfect every game? Of course not.
    Do I expect the team to dominate every team? No.
    Do I think this team is better than last years? Yes.
    Do I think we are one of the top NFC teams? Absolutely.

  69. 69 xmbk said at 1:11 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    People act like it’s blind trust. I guess if a coach does what every other NFL coach does, you can trust him. But don’t get outside the box, can’t have that.

  70. 70 RobNE said at 8:08 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    The twitters attacking Tommy are silly. Any team that is a 10-1 in Vegas to win the SB and that is seen by the writer as a favorite to win its division is a SB contender. I would say it’s semantics but I think that’s giving too much credit to the other writers, b/c I don’t see how semantically they are not SB contenders. Tommy didn’t say SB favorite.

    and how is it premature? you have to wait until a team has a 3 game lead in the division, that’s not fun or calling anything that’s just calling what has already happened.

  71. 71 P_P_K said at 11:31 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Great post.

  72. 72 RobNE said at 8:12 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    from Falcons blog, granted this isn’t a writer just a fan post. Too bad the Eagles only have one weapon in Murray. I also like how Falcons win just b/c it’s MNF and the team will be pumped. I don’t think this fan has seen the Eagles play in a couple of years. He also takes a dig on our OL.

    With Atlanta playing its first game of the year at home, in front of
    what should arguably be the most pumped up crowd since the 2012 NFC
    Championship game, the Falcons will be coming in with a vengeance, ready
    to preform in the big stage that the first MNF game of the year will
    bring. A new coach, revamped defense and the same, productive offense
    filled with elite weapons will be tough for Philly to counter. The
    Falcons offense should be able to beat out the Eagles D, and with the
    only formidable weapon that the Eagles offense will bring being DeMarco
    Murray, the Falcons new pass rush should be able to focus their efforts
    and stop big ground gains, especially when talking about a RB yet to
    prove himself outside of the stacked Cowboys offensive line.

  73. 73 Anders said at 8:17 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    yea Murray is our only weapon, until he finds out we also have Matthews, Mathews, Celek, Ertz, Sproles and Agholor

  74. 74 RobNE said at 8:18 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    he went thru all the games and predicted 12-4. I like the optimism but the take on the Eagles is not a smart one.

    Maybe those twitter attackers should tell this guy it’s a little premature to call the Falcons contenders.

  75. 75 EaglesFANqq said at 10:31 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Ert had surgery

  76. 76 A_T_G said at 11:24 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    …but is expected to be back for week 1.

  77. 77 TypicalDouche said at 8:21 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    That entire article is absurd. I can’t wait for that game because I will be in attendance and while all the Falcons fans are quiet from the ass whooping they are receiving I will be non stop yelling.

  78. 78 GEAGLE said at 8:22 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Lol silly little 6 win team…, poor simple bastards.,.

  79. 79 TypicalDouche said at 8:26 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    lol for real man its crazy. That team is terrible at almost every almost every position outside a few players , Jones, Ryan, Trufant, Beasley and yet those 4 are a better team then the Eagles?..They must be smokimg that good stuff in the ATL.

  80. 80 GEAGLE said at 2:09 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    We have more quality RBs then they have quality players lol

  81. 81 RobNE said at 8:23 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    yep I feel bad picking on that guy who clearly doesn’t know much but I am so starved to see what other fans think of us that I went there and could only find this.

  82. 82 Avery Greene said at 8:50 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    This is because people don’t pay attention much past their own team. When we drop 21 points in the 1st quarter, they won’t be thinking that way anymore.

  83. 83 Michael Winter Cho said at 9:57 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yeah, we just have to keep contain Vick and have someone watching Crumpler at all times. Hall is fast, but will bite one fakes and can be exploited for big gains.

  84. 84 Spooonius said at 2:56 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I see what you did there.

  85. 85 CrackSammich said at 9:04 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    It’s probably similar to how I can’t imagine the Falcons having any kind of pass rush. I’m just basing that opinion on the little I know about them from last year. I guess I’ll wait and see about that.

  86. 86 mksp said at 9:56 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    PHI is favored anywhere from 1.5 to 3 points right now, which is basically lock city. I see no possible scenario aside from injuries where PHI doesn’t win by at least 30.

    ATL has a long way to go.

    And let’s be real Falcons fans – it’s Atlanta. This isn’t New Orleans in the first home game after Katrina.

  87. 87 xeynon said at 10:26 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I see no possible scenario aside from injuries where PHI doesn’t win by at least 30.

    Seriously?!?!? C’mon, this is just silly. This is the NFL we’re talking about. A few years ago the Jags, who I believe were 2-14, were 21 points underdogs or something against the Broncos, who were the best team in the AFC at the time. They not only covered the spread, they almost won the game outright. There’s a reason any given Sunday is a cliche.

  88. 88 Avery Greene said at 11:01 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I just checked. The Eagles opened at 1.5 point favorites, and are now 3 point favorites. So basically they are saying we should win by 6-7 since Atlanta is the home team.

  89. 89 unhinged said at 10:01 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    D. Quinn is going to have a passel of looks and stunts to get at least one of his DL to get face time with Sam Bradford. His defensive unit in Seattle – granted with a superior cast of characters – had numbers that rivaled the 1985 Bears D. The good news: Quinn prefers single-gap, penetrating D-Linemen, and fleet, rugged LB’s behind them. Through the course of a game, Eagles should be able to gain substantial yards on the ground. Conversely, the Falcons running game is a rumor to this point, but Julio is their best player, and too much focus on that stud will leave Roddy White open, and he and Ryan are a very familiar connection. The challenge confronting Eagles offense will be protecting the football, and getting some inside push against Soliai and Hageman. The reward will be a steady diet of running the baal should yield a few long ones.

  90. 90 RobNE said at 10:56 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    his defensive unit in Seattle isn’t all that relevant right now in Atlanta. I’m not sure you said anything that makes me scared of them. I really don’t think a first year coach (with the implicit lack of top tier talent that a first year coach inherits) trying to install his brand of offense and defense is a good match up for the Eagles especially in the first game.

  91. 91 Tumtum said at 10:25 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    People are convinced the Eagles line is bad. I was really getting it from guys at fantasy drafts this past weekend. I just told them where I thought we stood (right with Dallas), and then let them chirp. In a few weeks I’ll be dropping it on them hard.

  92. 92 EagleNebula said at 11:51 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Sounds like someone who doesn’t understand fantasy football != real football.

    (!= is does not equal for you non programmers).

  93. 93 botto said at 12:09 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    i’d love to watch that game with this guy.
    one weapon? ha!
    don’t tell sproles that.

  94. 94 Nailed it! said at 12:19 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think there fans are more dellusional than the Cowboys fans are!

    Holy shit 12-4 for the Falcons?? Allot of them are even going as far to say 14-2 or 15-1!

  95. 95 GEAGLE said at 8:14 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    If you are one of the 6’teams that make the playiffs, it makes you a contender..

    Surprised Seahawks cut center Lemuel Jeanpierre who started to come alive for them last year….wouldn’t mind signing him to see if he gives us a better option then MOLK and Vandervelde at backüp center…
    ..
    They lost Max Ungar, really surprised they also cut Lemuel…

  96. 96 GEAGLE said at 8:18 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    preseason parade Saturday morning!!

  97. 97 Avery Greene said at 9:37 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    If Bunche makes the practice squad, do you think they’ll start working him at C more? He can play G a bit, but might be able to do both moving forward. I know that doesn’t help us this year, but it may pay off in the future.

  98. 98 bill said at 11:28 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Still holding out hope (against probably impossible odds) that Coccia makes the PS, given how he clearly modeled his decisions on mine, going from Freedom HS to UNH. The young man deserves a second chance after overcoming his poor choice in role models.

  99. 99 GEAGLE said at 2:08 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think he would be playing vs jets instead of getting cut the other day if he was going to make the PS

  100. 100 GEAGLE said at 2:07 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    No idea if he has ever played Center.: backups have the be versatile so if he makes it he should get snaps at Tackle or center on top of guard… I want Bunche on practice squad

  101. 101 GEAGLE said at 8:21 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Sounds like DENNIS Kelly and Tobin are going to make this roster…
    ..
    Wish I had a clue about how Moffitt vs. Vandervelde vs. MOLK plays out…
    ..
    I like tobin and Kelly, but I would feel a lot better if we had a better backup to KELCE
    ..
    Dying to know if we will keep 8 or 9 lineman…. That’s really the only question I need answered…

  102. 102 Anders said at 8:35 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I only think 8 has played well enough to make the team.

  103. 103 GEAGLE said at 2:05 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I would agree with that… Actually I’d say only 7 played well… But I’m not sure Moffitt needed to play well to mak the roster… Not sure if they expected him to have knocked all the rust off by now or if they want to give him time to get back to what he was during the season before we give up on him.. At full strength he should outclass Molk and Julian…
    ..
    If they are ok cutting Myself flit then only 8 make it. If they want to keep Moffitt, 9 will make it… How many OL we keep last year? 10?

  104. 104 Fufina said at 9:24 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Think Kelly has had a decent preseason, looks like our back up tackles are better than i initially thought. Tolbin covers LG decently enough but Kelly struggles with leverage at guard due to his hight. Really want to see someone put in a decent performance at RG on Thursday so we have a guy who can at least cover that position.

    Centre is a mess honestly since Molk can only play centre (and is not that good at it), Vandervelde is not a good solution at guard or centre and struggles with snapping a ball in the shotgun. Centre is honestly where i would be scouring the waiver wire to see if you could find someone.

  105. 105 RobNE said at 9:58 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    isn’t Moffit a back up center? If he is good enough to make the team, maybe that lets you cut Molk.

  106. 106 GEAGLE said at 2:01 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yes but He hasn’t learned the center position yet. Hasn’t played center in years

  107. 107 bdbd20 said at 9:18 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think a lot of people are missing the big point here. The big thing is that the Eagles have moved from the group of about 10 NFC teams in the “playoff” hunt and into the 4-5 NFC teams in the “SB hunt.”

    We haven’t been in that conversation since McNabb/Reid great years.

  108. 108 Avery Greene said at 9:19 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Fran Duffy did his All-22. Hicks and Rowe made some nice ST plays. I’m even more excited about Bradford (if that’s possible) as a QB.

    http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Eagle-Eye-Inside-Bradfords-Perfect-Night/55aaaabf-9f46-4c01-9dda-9f8f62e4dc09

  109. 109 xeynon said at 10:29 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think they’re a playoff contender for sure, if things go well.

    To call them a “title contender” to me is to say they’re in the Green Bay/Seattle/New England tier. They’re not, and won’t be unless things go well beyond reasonable expectations.

    So I think it’s okay to say that we should pump the brakes a little. They’ve looked good in preseason, which is certainly better than looking bad, but still only tells you so much.

  110. 110 Michael Winter Cho said at 11:41 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I disagree. They are rolling people. This is what a Superbowl champ looks like at this time of the year. And I am one of the pessimists around here!

  111. 111 xeynon said at 12:14 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    The Patriots and Seahawks both went 2-2 in the preseason last year, with the Patriots putting up 6 points against the Redskins and the Seahawks 16 against the Broncos. The 2008 Lions not only went 4-0 in the preseason, but won both their second and third preseason games, the ones in which the starters play the most, by 20+ points, holding both opponents to under 10 points scored. They finished the regular season 0-16.

    There has never been a very strong correlation between preseason and regular season performance before, and I don’t see any reason to think that will be different for the Eagles this year. I’d rather they look good than bad, but i think it’s foolish to get too carried away by what rolling teams that aren’t game-planning to beat you means.

  112. 112 Avery Greene said at 12:18 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Found this online and think it’s relevant and it does not include the last two years:

    2012 Ravens (2-2) 49ers (3-1)
    2011 Giants (2-2) Patriots (2-2)
    2010 Packers (2-2) Steelers (3-1)
    2009 Saints (3-1) Colts (1-3)
    2008 Steelers (3-1) Cardinals (2-2)
    2007 Giants (1-3) Patriots (2-2)
    2006 Colts (1-3) Bears (2-2)
    2005 Steelers (3-1) Seahawks (2-2)
    2004 Patriots (1-3) Eagles (1-3)
    2003 Patriots (4-0) Panthers (4-0)
    2002 Buccaneers (3-1) Raiders (2-2)
    2001 Patriots (3-1) Rams (4-1)*(played in HOF game)
    2000 Ravens (4-0) Giants (0-4)

    Only three 4-0 preseason teams have made it to the SB, two of those won it.

    Only one 0-4 team has made the SB.

    Average pre-season record of the SB winning team is 2.46-1.53
    Average pre-season record of the SB losing team is 2.15-1.92

    Nine teams had 2-2 records.
    Seven teams had 3-1 records
    Five teams had 1-3 records.

    http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/160741-super-bowl-teams-and-their-pre-season-records/

  113. 113 xmbk said at 12:54 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Meh, meaningless. Too many other variables. Tempo and practice pace gives the Eagles an advantage in preseason, but still, who cares. I care about what my eyes see key players doing.

  114. 114 peteike said at 1:11 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    ya that pace def helps them in preseason so have to factor that in. Hard not to like what we see though. I just recall way back, seeing a team like the Skins that year with Rypien or even Rams turf team just blaze through the league. Sometimes a team comes along that just hits a high gear and stays on it, we can only hope thats Eagles or something to that degree.

  115. 115 stephenstempo said at 1:07 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Those are descriptive stats. Hard pressed to call them predictive. Big difference.

  116. 116 Avery Greene said at 1:55 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Fair point, but I think people are taking outliers:
    Lions went 4-0 in preseason and lost all their games
    and
    Patriots went 0-4 in preseason and won the SB

    I think you want to see your team playing well in preseason. Losing games in preseason could mean the backups on the team are weak and gave up a lead. Or injuries during training camp caused lost games at the beginning of the season.

    I remember Spurrier going 4-0 in preseason, but keeping his starters in all game is not what the Eagles are doing.

  117. 117 RogerPodacter said at 12:21 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    don’t know why everyone is assuming we will go 4-0 this preseason. so far, the starters have gotten pretty big leads and then the other team led a sizeable comeback late in the game.
    if we assume the 4th preseason game is almost 100% backups, i think its more likely than not that we end up losing the 4th preseason game.

  118. 118 Ben Hert said at 12:51 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    This is actually a hilariously awesome point. Truly hoping we lost to the Jets so we can see all the people bend over backwards trying to justify the above stat about seven teams with 3-1 records won the SB.

  119. 119 xmbk said at 12:52 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yeah, don’t care much about the record. Hope a few guys stand out and win jobs, no injuries. But there is no more significant data until opening day. I think the Falcons are set up for some pain, but the fun really starts if we roll Dallas in week 2. That’s when the hype train will hit full steam.

  120. 120 stephenstempo said at 1:09 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Against almost 100% other team back ups. Coin flip.

  121. 121 xmbk said at 12:48 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Never been a strong correlation between preseason records and regular season records, for obvious reasons. That’s not the same as preseason performance, which Lawlor has pointed out. This team looks damn good on the field, and it’s not overperforming UDFA’s who are out there.

  122. 122 xeynon said at 2:48 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Your first sentence is why I cited not only the preseason records of those teams but also their performance in individual games. The Patriots and Seahawks were unimpressive in losses in the preseason last year. The Lions were impressive in victories in the year they went 0-16. Looking good in the preseason does not necessarily carry over either because preparation and game planning matter. Especially in the case of a team like these Eagles, who are likely to look better than most teams in the preseason because opposing teams are not game planning to stop their hurry up offense.

  123. 123 xmbk said at 5:05 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Citation noted, and disagree with. Eagles performance this year stands out. Negative correlation with Pats and Seahawks pretty much meaningless, completely different team situation, samples, etc.

    Lions did not look this good, starter on starter against top competition. We’re already crossing over into the massive subjectivity zone. Eagles look good, and that bodes well for the season. Disagree as you like, I’m ok with letting things play out to see who’s right. 😉

  124. 124 xmbk said at 12:45 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Brakes were pumping pretty hard all offseason. Most fanbases would have been stoked about all the positive moves made to make a playoff contender into a super bowl contender. It’s ok to say that, the roster, the coaching and the product on the field all support it. Even being 4th highest rate team by Vegas only gives a 1 in 10 chance to win it all. So it’s not like failing to hoist the trophy means you weren’t a legitimate contender.

  125. 125 peteike said at 1:08 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    thing is, the landscape is changing. Just remember thinking a few years ago, ugh, still so far away when GB, Sea and NO were forces, even Atl to an extent. Look now, GB is really banged up and losing Jordy legitimately takes them out of the superbowl imo or def hinders their ceiling. Seattle is still tops but they are also going through changes to that defense but Id have to think Wilson gets better and adding Graham helps, A few losses on D and Lynch older. Jeez, Lynch has to be on his last legs right, he cant keep up that pace and pounding. Dallas finally made a jump into playoffs but who knows if they can continue on that, they seem like a disaster of expectations waiting to collapse or we all hope for that show. I agree on pumping the brakes, lets see how it plays out but I do think the landscape in the NFC is changing and we know some other team will take a step up also.

  126. 126 EaglesFANqq said at 10:29 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Joe Banner the salary cap super bowl champion!!!

  127. 127 MattE said at 12:53 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    false..

  128. 128 E.A.G.L.E.S said at 10:44 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Only in Negadelphia can being optimistic get you criticized.

  129. 129 EaglesFANqq said at 11:36 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I don’t consider it optimism. I consider it stick your nose as far up Chip Kelly @sshole and inhale for as long and often as possible.

  130. 130 wee2424 said at 11:37 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    So being happy because the team is looking good is now considered brown nosing?

    Should would be upset they look good?

  131. 131 RogerPodacter said at 11:47 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    pretty sure thats another troll account

  132. 132 wee2424 said at 4:28 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Shame on me. Shoulda known.

  133. 133 LongDong said at 3:01 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Got you

    http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/trollhideout/images/f/f9/Famous-characters-Troll-face-Troll-face-poker-45046.png/revision/latest?cb=20130521020206

  134. 134 MattE said at 12:53 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    false.

  135. 135 ICDogg said at 12:56 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    come on, you know better

  136. 136 MattE said at 1:04 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    couldn’t help. that guy is lonely ya know…..

  137. 137 LongDong said at 3:00 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    GOt you

    http://metaversemodsquad.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Internet-Troll.jpg

  138. 138 LongDong said at 3:00 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Got you
    http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonvale/images/9/9d/Aussie_Troll.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20121005181742

  139. 139 stephenstempo said at 1:10 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Heath Evans is that you ?

  140. 140 LongDong said at 2:59 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Got you

    http://todaymade.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/kitten-troll-890×593.png

  141. 141 ICDogg said at 11:37 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Mehta seems very sarcastic.

    Anyway, if you haven’t already seen Fran Duffy’s “Eagle Eye” post, you should.

    http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Eagle-Eye-Inside-Bradfords-Perfect-Night/55aaaabf-9f46-4c01-9dda-9f8f62e4dc09

    Edit: I see it’s already been mentioned a few posts down.

  142. 142 Avery Greene said at 11:57 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I posted this earlier. I liked what I saw from Bradford. He quickly diagnosed the defense, made a decision, and got rid of the ball quickly.
    We are going to like Bradford in green this year. After watching him this preseason, the only thing that has me worried is Davis and his usage of the secondary (or lack thereof). This team can do big things this year.

    If we come out of the first four games with the secondary sustaining good coverage all four games, I’ll start to really get excited.

  143. 143 ICDogg said at 12:50 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Our secondary was deplorable last year. Going into this offseason I felt that if we could even upgrade that to “average” we’d have a good defense, considering our up and coming front seven. Now I see them playing well and am getting greedier.

    Thurmond and Carroll are looking like the real deal at their respective positions. Rowe has a few things to learn, but flashes some potential as well.

    I don’t worry about Davis. He is running a solid scheme.

  144. 144 Michael Winter Cho said at 11:40 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    OT: Randomly came across a blog commenting on “The Sports Gene.” Fascinating discussion on what one could call “measurables”.

    http://b-reddy.org/2014/06/04/some-notes-on-the-sports-gene/

  145. 145 Avery Greene said at 12:13 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Just finished reading it. Fascinating stuff.

  146. 146 wee2424 said at 11:44 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    Comments regarding Hicks since we really don’t speak about him much due to everything.

    He has at times looked really good in coverage, but at other times has looked like a rookie 3rd rounder in coverage.

    Looks good at rushing the passer, pressuring the QB a few times. One of those times leading to a Thurmond interception.

    Needs to work on his tackling and shedding blocks. He is reportedly a hard worker so this is something he will improve on.

    Generally looks like a rookie 3rd rounder but has flashed potential a few times and it is apparent as to what he needs to work on.

  147. 147 Avery Greene said at 12:14 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Fran Duffy’s All-22 showed him making a play on ST. Like to see that and that will earn him a spot on the team.

  148. 148 ICDogg said at 12:50 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    In fact he’s on all of the special teams units.

  149. 149 wee2424 said at 4:23 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    True, he has looked good on ST.

    Hicks is definitely more of a developmental pick then an instant impact pick besides on possibly ST. Especially with the talent ahead of him on the roster.

    The good thing is like I have mentioned you can see potential in him. He reportedly is a very mental player just like Ryan’s, so the day that Ryan’s is no longer on this team I do believe that he can possibly be a very competent replacement to him.

  150. 150 peteike said at 12:54 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    the way this coaching staff builds players, he is sort of a project imo with all the other intangibles and a few years to groom. We hope anyway

  151. 151 SteveH said at 11:47 AM on September 1st, 2015:

    I’m pretty stoked about how things have gone in the preseason, but I’m still waiting to see how we do for the first leg of the regular season. I think it’s a good chance that we’re gonna seriously roll some people, but… I refuse to get my hopes too far up yet. Been burned too many times in the past.

  152. 152 Tumtum said at 12:16 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I’m with you. The one thing that scares me besides the health of the sickly group is the simplicity of the playbook. Defenses said they figured us out at the end of last season. Were they giving themselves too much credit or was it the execution?

  153. 153 Avery Greene said at 12:22 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think it was in the personnel. Shady was bouncing everything outside so they knew if he got the ball where he was going (generally). Sanchez/Foles weren’t scaring folks with their arm or legs, so teams were playing the run. Then when in 3rd and long, it’s pretty obvious the play call that’s coming.

  154. 154 xmbk said at 12:27 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Seattle loves to talk – after the game. Don’t put much stock in their smack. Put in their backup QB for the game and see how good their playbook is. Hell, it’s not that good an offense with their starter, who’s the best in the league when the play breaks down. For the Eagles it’s about execution, and last year’s qb’s could not execute at a high enough level to beat the best D in the league. Think matching up with top defenses will be much more interesting this year.

  155. 155 Avery Greene said at 12:30 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    This is what I’m waiting to see. Last year they talked about how McCoy was scared to get hit and that Sanchez should be arrested for impersonating a QB.

    Both of those issues have been addressed. Murray and Mathews won’t avoid contact, and Bradford has deadly accuracy. If our OLine protects Bradford to keep him standing, this offense will be elite.

  156. 156 ICDogg said at 12:53 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    There really aren’t that many plays, though there are tons of variations on them. How many plays in preseason weren’t snags, drags, meshes, or inside zones?

  157. 157 GEAGLE said at 3:18 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I don’t buy that…. I call BS! The genius of Chips offense is he wants to make everything look the same … The more your plays look the same, the less opponents will be able to find tendencies that tip our hands,,…
    ..
    Of course to some degree every Defebse will find some tendencies and have an idea at times Of what you are about to throw at teams, but we should tip our hand less then most teams because chip tries to make everything look similar…
    ..
    I have heard a few players and ex players echo similar sentiments, like Westbrook who believes this is an advantage for us because there were times defenses were calling out Andy Reid’s plays presnap, knowing exactly what we were doing, and westbrook seems to think Chips offense will be a big upgrade in that capacity of opponents not knowing exactly what’s coming by looking at a formation

  158. 158 Tumtum said at 5:01 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I was thinking exactly of that Westbrook quote when I wrote that. Honestly, when the offense struggled last year, it looked a lot like the games he was talking about. The problem could have easily been personnel, I’m just not astute enough to reconigize the difference.

  159. 159 Greg Richards said at 12:22 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Seattle, who PFF thought RB depth chart was better than the Eagles, are reportedly about to sign Fred Jackson likely leading to Christine Michael’s release. Maybe, now they can say SEA has RB trio.

  160. 160 Ryan Rambo said at 3:11 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Think Christine Michael will end up in Dallas? He went to Texas A&M.

  161. 161 botto said at 12:42 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    after rewatching the beginning of the Gb game it is really inspiring how Bradford lays the ball in the recievers hands.
    the pass to sproles for the TD was so perfect it was unreal.
    all his other passes were really amazing as well.
    he is hitting guys in stride on the hands. this is going to kill teams if it continues which I think it will.
    Bradford looks great right now, pure passer.
    which makes me wonder why people think chip would want someone like RG3 who is so bad at passing…

  162. 162 ICDogg said at 12:54 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I don’t think he really would.

  163. 163 RogerPodacter said at 12:55 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    chip will take a QB that can run…. so long as that QB can also throw the ball like Bradford

  164. 164 jpate said at 1:56 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Well…who wouldn’t?

  165. 165 Crus57 said at 12:59 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Having seen a few replays of the Sproles TD, what really got me excited was that the ball is leaving Bradford’s hand as Sproles is still around the 6yd line. If Bradford can continue to show that kind of anticipation in our offense once we’re facing regular season defences, then good things are gonna happen.

  166. 166 botto said at 1:01 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I agree, that was the really cool part is that he threw it so early and it just lands in his hands. I could have made that catch.
    all the other passes were out front too and thrown on time and perfect.

  167. 167 RobNE said at 1:50 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    if you had Sproles’ speed, sure. Otherwise the ball hits the ground.

  168. 168 botto said at 5:53 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    ha how did you know? I probably would have been out of breathe after the initial part of the root

  169. 169 cliff-Y U on a knee, 99?! said at 1:07 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    on all those plays from Duffy’s article, his reads were all so quick, he knew who was covered and where to go next with ball. remembering Foles staring everything down, then to see Sam look and be on his 3rd read in under 3 secs.

  170. 170 anon said at 1:08 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    after just 6 months in the scheme, but he’s used to spread tempo from college think that helps

  171. 171 truehaynes said at 2:12 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    The throw to sproles on his big gain might have been my favorite pass of the game. Or the first corner to matthews

  172. 172 ICDogg said at 2:14 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    The throw under pressure to Burton is the one that impressed me the most by far. He had to make a quick decision and threw a perfect strike to where the ball needed to be right before taking a hit.

  173. 173 A_T_G said at 4:36 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think if Sproles had run that route with his eyes closed and just stuck out his hands, he still would have caught it.

  174. 174 ICDogg said at 1:26 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Kiko Alonso said tendinitis he has is in his left knee (same one as recent ACL injury).

  175. 175 ICDogg said at 1:27 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    (If I’m not mistaken, this is typical post-surgical condition)

  176. 176 cliff-Y U on a knee, 99?! said at 1:28 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    rest take care of it?

  177. 177 ICDogg said at 1:33 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think it’s one of these things where he’s going to have to ease into playing and not overdo it at first. And he’ll be using a lot of ice.

  178. 178 cliff-Y U on a knee, 99?! said at 1:38 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    thanks. good. finally cleared MK hurdle, though think most of that was me getting suckered in by continuous concern trolling. now have to worry over kiko getting on field. i really want to see those to play and dominate.

  179. 179 ICDogg said at 1:44 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think all of the 3 top ILBs are in various stages of shaking off rust. None of them are really 100% and they’ll all need to ramp up as we go through the first weeks of the season.

  180. 180 Avery Greene said at 2:00 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    So a pretty solid rotation of those 3, maybe with Goode every now and then?

  181. 181 ICDogg said at 2:08 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    or Hicks

  182. 182 Avery Greene said at 2:14 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Him too. We do have good depth there.

  183. 183 GEAGLE said at 3:13 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    unfortunately Najee Goode won’t be on this football team, even if I like him and think he is talented enough to be here.. Unfortumately for him, we are just too stacked at ILB for him to make this roster… We have the BIG 3 Kiko,Mykal,Meco,rookie Hicks, and I would assume that Brad jones OLB versatility will get the nod over Goode for that 5th ILB spot,.,.doubt we would ever see 6 ILBs make the roster..

    I’m hoping we can trade Goode to an ILB needy team for a backüp Center in the next couple of days

  184. 184 A_T_G said at 4:31 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    If we were talking about Acho, you logic would be a little harder to swallow, but still probably correct. I thought Acho showed promise this summer.

    With Goode, I won’t be all that disappointed when he doesn’t fit on the 53.

  185. 185 GEAGLE said at 9:57 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Aching allegedly did have an amazing summer.. He stepped in as well as a backup could last year.. Shame we probably can’t keep him

  186. 186 GEAGLE said at 1:58 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yeah… No biggie

  187. 187 ICDogg said at 1:28 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Kiko also says he’s playing Thursday, to get some reps in.

  188. 188 Nailed it! said at 1:34 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    He also said that before the Packer game…

    But he need live reps even if its just a series or two.

  189. 189 ICDogg said at 1:36 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yes, I think any way you look at it it’s a game time decision, but he intends to play a couple of series, get a feel for playing again.

  190. 190 Nailed it! said at 2:19 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    So do you think MK will take a few snaps with Kiko out there to build some trust, or is it more for Kiko to take live reps?

  191. 191 ICDogg said at 2:35 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    The latter. Just a chance for him to get back in the rhythm of a game, shake a little rust off.

  192. 192 GEAGLE said at 2:42 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    MK won’t play.. And I won’t be too surprised if Kiko doesn’t play… Vinny was raving about him a few nights ago about how explosive he has looked this summer and how quickily he picked up the defense… Curry seems really excited about sticking Kiko in the middle of the defense.. Got me excited Hearing how excited he was talking about Kiko..

    I don’t care if he doesn’t play Thursday, not risking setbacks before the season starts.. Kid lives to play LB, I don’t care if we don’t see him in preseason.,, although MK looked a little rusty so it was a kid thing he got snaps last week

  193. 193 Nailed it! said at 3:01 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yeah I am just chomping at the bit to see these two dudes out there lighting a fire together!

  194. 194 anon said at 3:03 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    be nice to see kiko — def is rust for all these guys, especially since meco isn’t 100%

  195. 195 ICDogg said at 1:38 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Panthers release wideout Jarrett Boykin

  196. 196 jpate said at 1:48 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Wow he can’t even break the panthers WRs corp, I guess all that hype was just Aaron Rodgers

  197. 197 GEAGLE said at 2:37 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Shocks me how it’s possibl that he sn’t one of the better WR on that weak roster,,, I liked Boykin more then Norwood who they just traded for…
    ..
    Wonder if Jarrett Boykin is headed back to Greenbay with their WR injuries

  198. 198 ICDogg said at 3:23 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    GB probably will give him another look.

  199. 199 GEAGLE said at 9:55 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    He wasn’t bad that year he saw consistent playing time with Rodgers

  200. 200 ICDogg said at 1:55 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Think of preseason as a beta test of a product. We’ve seen a lot of promise in testing. We’ve gotten great feedback and few complaints so far. But it’s still a small sample size, all the problems haven’t come up yet, and our ability to scale the success is still not well tested. So until the product is actually launched, being cautious in our optimism is not unwarranted.

  201. 201 Avery Greene said at 1:57 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    True. There’s plenty of applications that seem fine in testing until all the real users get their hands on it. Just hope the problems are minor and fixable, and not issues that will cause major meltdowns (I’m looking at you Windows ME and Vista).

  202. 202 HawaiianEagle said at 2:02 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Luckily, all teams follow the same protocol.

  203. 203 botto said at 2:10 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I agree, we still haven’t seen how Sammy handles blitz’s and the game planning that will come each week.
    i’m not really worried though, this guy is a real QB, with a live arm.

  204. 204 RobNE said at 3:10 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    we are not New Coke!!

  205. 205 ICDogg said at 3:12 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Or Bud Lite Lime, I would hope

  206. 206 GEAGLE said at 1:57 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    We are only a 3pt favorite in Atlanta? No way will that line stay at 3… Has to climb to 4-4.5 by kickoff… I’d be nervous if that line stays at 3

  207. 207 Avery Greene said at 1:59 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think it’ll be 4.5-5. These guys look at injury reports and a bunch of other things. If they feel comfortable with Ertz and Parkey being ready for the opener, I think that’s a def 1.5-2 point bump.

  208. 208 peteike said at 2:14 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    ooh may have to take that line now thanks

  209. 209 ICDogg said at 3:15 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    no line at Bovada yet

  210. 210 unhinged said at 2:00 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    We are in the throes of a saga that Hollywood will almost certainly get into. Brash college football guy goes headlong into a cauldron: NFL HC in Philadelphia, where fans have been known to be worse than rude – to their own team, and downright truculent toward opposing fans. Nothing too compelling there, but wait, there’s a showdown in the front office and the owner gives his best impersonation of Solomon. Then the conflict becomes dramatic and very, very compelling:

    The BMOC and the class clown are abruptly discarded, and the predictable media minions and many fans let the world know that this cannot stand. Accusations fly, the guy is a racist, a dogmatic control freak, a dictator. Then the brash college guy doubles down, and dispenses with every player who is not a good fit, in HIS vision. After repeated comments and answers from the BCG, self-appointed poobahs from near and far conduct a running commentary on EVERYthing the BCG says and does. Some of them, maybe most, see an attention-grabbing purveyor of gimmickry, but a few folks start to translate the inherent logic and soundness of BCG’s decisions. An emphasis on character that has no history in the sport – at any level – begins to be the subject of many conversations in households, among bon amis, on airwaves. BCG wants leaders on and of the field; he wants people who have graduated from their chosen schools. He wants players who are “wired the right way.” There is a palpable change in the tenor of verbal responses from players when questioned. Civil, courteous, team-oriented, even self-depricating become the new tone.

    Meanwhile, the league and the sport itself seem to be mired in controversy relating directly to the ethos of “win at all costs” and “anything goes”.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/01/opinion/joe-nocera-baylor-football-and-rape.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region

    Whether or not the BCG wins the prize, the story is made for the big screen.
    I wonder who will play the BCG?

  211. 211 botto said at 2:08 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    whoever played Barney Rubble…

  212. 212 unhinged said at 2:35 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yabba Dabba

  213. 213 ICDogg said at 3:13 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yabba Dabba Deez

  214. 214 Avery Greene said at 2:04 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Well, hopefully he improves over time.

    https://twitter.com/PFF/status/638719911607402497

  215. 215 Ark87 said at 2:45 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    The kid goes from division 3 at Hobart and transitions right into getting destroyed by Gerald McCoy for a summer, his confidence is probably shattered into tiny bits.

  216. 216 Mitch Musser said at 2:20 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    The Mcrib is back in central PA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry just had to share my excitement!

  217. 217 GEAGLE said at 2:24 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Ewwwww disgusting

  218. 218 ICDogg said at 3:18 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    http://i.imgur.com/Unlub.png

  219. 219 Mitch Musser said at 3:41 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    That’s what I’m talking about!

  220. 220 GEAGLE said at 2:23 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Don’t think I can enjoy the Falcons game. I want Dallas so bad!!!! Wish we opened the season @ Dallas!!! At least they put these scumbags on our hit list for week 2!!! Week 2 is going to be a bigger domination then what we did to them on thanksgiving.., I have no doubts we are going to embarrass that team in week 2… In the spirit of “straight outta Compton”, week 2 shall be forever remember as the “No Vaseline Bowl”….

  221. 221 peteike said at 2:32 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    hard enough to wait for MNF to watch our team. I Gotta see that movie

  222. 222 botto said at 3:35 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    bro, we are going to really enjoy the falcons game, no question.

  223. 223 GEAGLE said at 2:33 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    When will the players that got cut today clear waivers and be eligible for us to sign? I wouldn’t mind taking a look at the G/C Seattle cut Lemuel JeanPierre who got some playing time last year and looked better to me then Molk ever did last year…, unfortunately I’m not sure how athletic he is…. levitate is a bigger bam with a bigger pedigree but Levitre can’t play center like Lemuel can… I’m fine with our guards and backup guards, but Molk and Vandervelde having the play strikes the fear of God on me…. Kelce isn’t exactly the most durable cat… Would have felt so much better had we drafted th stud center from Oregon Hronis Grasu, but like Kyle Long, the Bears keep stealing too Oregon Lineman from us in the draft….. Last I checked, Jake Fisher won’t be starting for the Bungals…

  224. 224 ACViking said at 2:34 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    The waiver period in the NFL is 24 hours. So, a player waived on Tuesday (for example) can be claimed by another team by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

    Been this way for a while.

  225. 225 Avery Greene said at 7:30 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    And if more than one team makes a claim, the one with the worse record from the previous year gets first dibs.

  226. 226 ACViking said at 2:46 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Wondered about JeanPierre.

    I thought, with how important centers are (last season seemed to prove it), Seattle had a plan in place after swapping Unger for Graham.

  227. 227 ICDogg said at 2:42 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Some of you love this kind of stuff

    http://grantland.com/features/hard-knocks-playing-defense-with-tcus-gary-patterson/

    TCU’s 4-2-5 defense that’s proven uniquely capable of slowing the no-huddle and spread

  228. 228 Nailed it! said at 3:04 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I was just about to post this as well. Wondering if we may see some of this but with Kiko and Kendricks as the LB’s and having curry as the 4th lineman/OLB. Jenkins has stressed all year that we need 5 DB’s. Not necessarily a third CB or third S but just the 5th DB. I wonder if we will be seeing a version of this 4-2-5 in our defense.

  229. 229 jpate said at 3:24 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Doubt it, to Davis 4-2-5 is just an area code in Seattle.

  230. 230 GEAGLE said at 3:41 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Actually we run plenty 4-2-5 since 2013… That’s actually how we Predominently we have lined up in Nickel… We saw some 3-3-5, but it’s mostly been a 4-2-5 on Nickel, and a 4-1-6 on Dime…
    ..

  231. 231 Bert's Bells said at 3:25 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I wonder how they call blitzes. From the article, TCU’s front doesn’t know what the coverage is and vice versa.

    If an NFL quarterback knows he’s only getting rushers from the front 6, he’ll generally do pretty well.

  232. 232 RogerPodacter said at 4:28 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    sounds like a wide-9 with a lot of guys in zone coverage behind it.

  233. 233 GEAGLE said at 3:41 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Doesn’t that just mean they play a lot of Nickel as their base defense?

  234. 234 ACViking said at 3:53 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Wouldn’t that depend on the player who’s the 5th DB?

    For example, a Kam Chancellor-sized “nickel” back?

    Would seem to require some research into what kind and sized player TCU uses at what may in fact be more of a rover.

  235. 235 Greg Richards said at 4:42 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    That’s why I think Arizona’s 3-safety D matches up best against us.

  236. 236 makarov123 said at 5:13 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Thing about that look – when the offenses run against it, the gifs show at least 2 OL whiffing or delivering very poor blocks. I mean, if 6 up front can beat 5 OL + TE consistently for TFLs or no gain, you can run any kind of defense you want.

    I looked at the first picture and said “wow – free 5+ yards on inside run” with 6 on 6.

  237. 237 D3FB said at 9:38 AM on September 2nd, 2015:

    Football porn.

    mmmmmmmmmmm

  238. 238 ICDogg said at 2:53 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    https://i.imgflip.com/qeruc.gif

    The many faces of Bryan Braman

  239. 239 ICDogg said at 2:59 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Braman says he had to pay a fine for that suplex, btw

  240. 240 anon said at 3:01 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    yeah figured that

  241. 241 RobNE said at 3:07 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    how about the Raven who punched our guy?

  242. 242 ICDogg said at 3:20 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    didn’t see anything about that

  243. 243 peteike said at 4:50 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think Ravens are up there now for my hate. Harbaugh running over like hes going to fight the other coach, meanwhile his own guy takes a cheap shot that he defends the week prior. GTFO with that nonsense, I hope they have a miserable season. The Harbaughs are the worst

  244. 244 RobNE said at 5:19 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    right I was pretty apathetic but now I’m anti Ravens

  245. 245 GEAGLE said at 5:39 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I used to like them, but I really can’t stand them Now… Like they managed to climb right to the top of my shit list along with the Cardinals, and the Saints. so appreciate that the schedule makers put the Cardinals and the Saints on our schedule this year…beating the Cardinals is close to beating a division rival for me, and I can’t rest TIL we avenge the playoff loss to the Saints when they picked on our DL when they were a group of babies,.
    beating Saints in regular season ismt enough. I want those chumps to win their joke of a division and have to come to philly for round 1 of the playoffs again. We have to Knock them out the playoffs… Can’t wait to see how jacked up Logan. cedrick amd Cox will be for the Saints game,.. That saints OL is going to get its ass whopped by our “No Names”..

    the scumbag Ravens have really started to make my blood boil… Chumps, last time they came here, wasn’t it 2012, when we beat them at the beginning of the season, Meco had a Monster game for us, we kicked their ass on the way to a 4 win season and andy getting fired? ..
    ..
    Next year I will be praying to the football gods to put the Ravens on r schedule.. HOPEFULLY Suggs is still a Raven next time we play them. I really want to watch our Tempo and Run game destroy them, leaving them more gassed then we left JJ Watt last year.. Harbaugh starting to act like a clown, Suggs is human scum, classless steve smith screaming at Quiet Rookie Agholor like he did… I wanna smash THAT TEAM SO BAD!!!
    ..
    I want to make it to the Super Bowl more then ever, just because THATS our only hope for getting a chance to SMASH steve Smith before he retires.. Unless we both make the Super Bowl, steve smith is going to retire without us getting to kick his ass!!!… If we can’t get the Ravens in the SUPERBOWL tbis year, hopefully Suggs won’t be retired when we do get to play them next.,., I want them on our schedule next year, which could very well happen.. In 2013 we played the Kansas City, Raiders, Chargers, Broncos, 2014 we played Texans, Colts, Jags, Titans.. This year we play Patriots, Bills, Jets, Dolphins… Which means Baltimore, the steelers, Browns, Bengals are on deck for next years schedule,…. Steelers are glimg to have a POTENT offense,. Hopefully they don’t fix that defense by next season…

  246. 246 GEAGLE said at 4:22 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Braman, Maragos, Prosinski are AWESOME… Braman has the chance to go down as the Ike Reese of the chip kelly era… Excited this year to see how much better our ST will be this year now that we are adding another elite NFL ST player in AjiraTutu……. tutu, BRAMAN, Maragos are guys that would be the Special Teams captains competing for ST Probowl spots on regular teams… For us to have Multiple Elite special teams players of this caliber is going to be amazing.. can’t wait to see the BIGTIME plays we will get from Tutu this year…. Prosinski is also a monster ST player,,. If he isn’t on that elite probowl ST level, ProsInski is pretty close, and Burton had to be one of the best St rookie in the league last year…
    ..
    We were fantastic last year on ST, so it’s crazy to say, but we should have an even bigger year on ST then we had last year… Our ST unit can be that X factor difference that allows us to beat the few teams rated a little higher then us….
    ..
    packers missed the Super Bowl because of their ST play, and since then, they are still showing all kinds of bad mistakes on ST this preseason… Doesn’t seem they fixed the fatal flaw that ended their season….We won’t hear analyst factor our special teams into their weekly predictions this year which should prove toBe a Big Mistake… We have a historically bad ass special teams unit that can be the X factor that helps us win even when we are an underdog against teams like the Patriots, or Packers, seattle in the playoffs…

    Shame on the Dallas Cowboys… If you have aspirations to win the division, and you fancy yourself a SB contender (LOL delusional fuckers) how DONT you build your Special teams unit up When you see what a Powerhouse ST unit your division Rival beat?… Big big big mistake for Cowboys to not have prioritized trying to build a ST unit that can hang with ours this offseason..

    last year was a historically amazing ST year, but that was just the beginning of what should be an era of scary ST play….
    ..
    We certainly have come a long way TIL we lost a playoff game to saints, letting Sproles return a kickoff into FG range with Cary getting called for Facemask at the end of the return…

  247. 247 RobNE said at 4:35 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think it was a horse collar tackle. But your point stands.

  248. 248 GEAGLE said at 5:19 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Yeah your right…. The return was bad enough, and the entire KIck coverage unit was to blame, Cary compounded the disaster with the penalty.. .Cant beat them, POACH THEM… Hello Darren Sproles

  249. 249 RC5000 said at 3:31 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    The Eagles made a trio of roster moves on Tuesday to trim the roster to 75 players ahead of the 4:00PM deadline. Running back Kevin Monangai was waived, linebacker Emmanuel Acho was waived/injured (thumb) and cornerback JaCorey Shepherd was placed on injured reserve (knee).

  250. 250 GEAGLE said at 4:09 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Fingers crossed we see a Najee Goode trade these next few days…
    ..
    Wouldn’t mind of Sheed Bailey stubs his big toe, or has some ingrown toe nail and needs to spemd a year on our IR…

  251. 251 CrackSammich said at 3:51 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I’d love to see them rotate Tebow/Barkley every other drive. That way, nobody can come back with the “he was playing with the scrubs” excuse when one or both look awful.

  252. 252 BlindChow said at 5:16 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Same here. Let’s see how they look on an even playing field…

  253. 253 GEAGLE said at 4:07 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    RG3 has to be the dumbest kid playing QB in the NFL… His stupidity has no limits,, you just lost your starting spot yesterday, there are all types of questions about can u remain as a backup, or will you be a distraction? You know you are under a microscope right now, and your Job is in question, as in your roster spot on the team since you already lost your “Job”… What’s this genius do the next day? He goes and “LIKES” a post of a fan writing a paragraph how they will always love and Respect RG3 while really trashing the skins and blaming them for everything., smh….. In reality, this is no big deal, but in the context of the situation, where you stand in your career at this moment, you have to be a Moron to like that post.. Did you NOT think it would be National News? Right or wrong, PERCEPTION MATTERS Moron!.
    ..
    It’s not enough that you can ever take responsibility for poor play without publically throwing your OL and coaches under the Bus, but you lost your job, all types of questions sorround you about whether u should even have a roster spot, worrying if you will be a distraction, and you Give the Natinal media this type of opportunity to trash you, bring more drama to your franchise? Haven’t you hijacked and cost the skins emough? Even if you hate the skins and desperately want out of washington, you think every other coach won’t care that you can’t have a press Confrence without throwing your blockers under the bus? You think other coaches won’t care that you are too stupid to not draw more negative attention to the team by liking a post like that a day after losing your job? Do you ever learn anytning? He can’t even help himself..
    ..
    The worst part is, your play has been an absolute disgrace, just as bad is that fact you are an EPIC FAILURE at your job of being a leader and inspiring that locker room to follow you which is the responsibility of every starting QB. You failed MISERABLY in your leadership duty as a QB.. No matter how bad it gets, he just NEVER Learns, he can’t even help hikself, can’t get out of his own way.
    ..
    not for nothing, but you lost your job yesterday, it was tne National headline of the day, why in the world would you even go on Social Media at a time where everyone is going to be ripping you and everything Written about you will be so negative… What can you possibly get out of going on social media when you are the National negative story Of the day? What good could have possibly come from going on social media these last 24 hours?..
    ..
    And If THATS not bad enough, you go with the “someone else liked it from my account excuse”. Lol every coach probably lost respect for you these past 3 years because you take accountability for NOTHING, so what do you do right after getting benched? You blame your social media foolishness on an Intern? LOL what Coach is going to want to touch this kid? johnny Friggin Manziel LITERALLY shows more CHARECTER then this clown… You got the Shanahans fired already, you aren’t the athlete you were which was your main Talemt simce you have underdeveloped QB skills, you can’t find a single teammate who thru all this as stood up for you.. NOT ONE!! You think coaches from other teams don’t see THAT you have been there for 4 years and you can’t get 1 teammate to stand up for you?

    its like Rg3 and Trent Richardson are trying to race to see who’s NFL career can end the soonest… If you think Chip Kelly will even consider a QB with so many fatal flaws on the field and in the locker room you are either Crazy. Or hAvent been paying attention to chip these past 3 years. chip won’t respect him, and I don’t see what coach would.. I’m starting to think the Browns WOULDNT even look at him lol.. I despise TEBOW, and I don’t think Rg3 is much better then TEBOW, but Tim DOESNT come with half of these fatal Charecter flaws/blatant stupidity… I swear I would much rather have TEBOW or Barkley instead of RG3 any day…

  254. 254 OregonDucker said at 4:15 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    RGIII will never grace a Chip lockeroom. Yet, many on Skins’ blogs suggest just that. smh lol

  255. 255 Media Mike said at 4:47 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Good!

  256. 256 Michael Winter Cho said at 4:48 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Never say never. Mike Vick changed his life 180 to the point where he was actually a good teammate and football role model.

  257. 257 GEAGLE said at 4:54 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Mike Vick understood he NEEDED to Change or he wasn’t going to have a job… Seems like this isn’t ROCK Bottom ENOUGH for RG3 to GET IT….
    …as Peteike pointed out above, sever lack of self awareness, one can’t improve until he accepts his role in the fall from grace…his rookie year was 3 years ago, which is an eternity in Football time.. Since then it’s been a continuos nose dive in every way possible… if this isn’t Rock bottom for the kid, I hate to see what else needs to happen, what else does he have to lose before he is ready to take accountability for his downfall, and start trying to change and build himself back up…
    .

  258. 258 RC5000 said at 4:58 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Sanchez was reviled and lazy.

  259. 259 kevinlied said at 7:07 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    And Vick has always been beloved in the locker room, going back to Va Tech. Totally different situation than with RGIII, whose conduct conforms with the law but whose teammates can’t stand him. I really dislike the Vick-RGIII comparison actually. Many more ways in which they’re different than the same.

  260. 260 botto said at 5:51 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    vick was inherited though

  261. 261 Will:↑↑↓↓←→←→BA said at 4:20 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Big deal

    He’s getting cut anyway…. might as well let them know how he feels

  262. 262 GEAGLE said at 4:24 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I’m not sure about that…. How do you take THAT type of Cap hit? You might be better off just keepimg him on the books and telling him to stay homer,
    ..
    And that’s a pretty foolish, short sited comment. His fate may be sealed in DC, but if he wants to hope to have a job with another team, then he SHOULD CARE, and shit like that is a Big DEAL when you fucked up THIS BAD and your future career is in Jeapordy

  263. 263 Will:↑↑↓↓←→←→BA said at 4:33 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    At this point in the RG3 saga…. it doesn’t even matter. Everyone has seen this soap opera play out, and after all the BS players have done, and will do this year; I don’t think liking an instagram pic will matter in the grand scheme of things.

    And why cut him? Because its the smart thing to do. This situation was put in motion once they traded up to get him and then drafted Cousins in the third round. As long as they are both on the roster there is going to be controversy. Every time Cousin’s has a bad game the RG3 question will come up…. Its time to just move on from the situation.

  264. 264 holeplug said at 4:35 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    imagine they end up trading him for like a 6th round pick on the condition his $16.15 million option is renegotiated

  265. 265 peteike said at 4:46 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    zero awareness but the real problem is zero accountability. That is some kind of bubble hes in and thats what I dont get for such a smart kid. So so dumb everywhere else. Its never his fault with this guy, hes always shifting it elsewhere even with that social media, he claimed it was an intern. Well then, know what your interns are doing. Just clueless, its the opposite of growth mindset

  266. 266 GEAGLE said at 4:46 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Well said….just doesn’t “get it”

  267. 267 Media Mike said at 4:46 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Working on that brand!

  268. 268 unhinged said at 4:35 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think Kevin Monangai will make somebody’s 53.

  269. 269 GEAGLE said at 5:17 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I dunno….everyone has some unknown RB that looks good against the 3rd string… I do think at the very least he will be on someone’s PS

  270. 270 GEAGLE said at 4:49 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    huff is allegedly joining Alonso as guys who will play a few snaps on Thursdays. Don’t know how much I believe it, but that’s where we stand today.
    ..
    I’m more dissapointed that it looks like MS2 won’t be back for Thursday’s game,,. Would have liked to get some more game reps before we put him in a regular season game…

    if ERTZY is going to play in Atlanta, I imagine he needs to be cleared within the next week….

  271. 271 Media Mike said at 4:50 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    That had better not be anything close to an “if” with Ertz. He was said to have been on track to play game 1.

  272. 272 GEAGLE said at 5:08 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I hear you…. But there are no absolutes with dealing with the human body… Everyone is different…there is no abdominal surgery recover for dummies that will apply to everyone…. It’s also possible that he will be healthy by opening day, but not be back in game shape by then… Sure he can suck it up and play, but I don’t think out injury prevention sports science program works that way… Old school football mentality is play thru it, but if we want to continue to enjoy good health and strive to remain one of the healthier teams in the league, then we have to understand when a player is held out because the Science is telling us not to play him because his body is at a stage THATS susceptible to injury, for example: Holding Demarco back when his hydration levels are off…. It’s week 1, im sure Ertz would be able to “play thru it” by atlanta, put we don’t know if our Sports science department says he can play without being at risk to further injure himself… I’d rather see Ertz miss a game at the beginning, then to play in Atlanta and then miss the next 3 games…
    .
    Especially since we don’t need Zack Ertz to beat the Falcons… Byron Maxwell can pretty much win that game for us himself…. The Front 7 is not going to let the average run game of the Falcons have success, We have been scoring a ton of points in the first quarter whether it’s the Offense, defense or ST… Get a lead early, while shutting down the run, forcing Matt Ryan to throw and play from being allowing us to pin our ears back and get after QBs, unleashing what was the front 7 that generate more sacks last year then everyone excepf the Bills…. GET A LEAD EARLY, don’t let them run, pressure them into throwing from behind, Hit Matt Ryan and we should win by double digits..
    ..
    Or Byron Maxwell can make it easy for us, keeping Julio in check which pretty much Nueters that Falcon offense… If Julio doesn’t have a big game, realistically the Falcons won’t have much chance of scoring enough points to keep up with us…
    ..
    But if Ertz misses the week 2 “NO VASELINE BOWL” against Dallas, I will be crying and complaining like a Brat..

  273. 273 Media Mike said at 5:11 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Here’s an absolute for you; I absolutely cannot stomach injury recovery time going over initial projection…………..but not as much as Chip hates it.

    http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/mychal_kendricks.html

    Dudes that miss extra time will be flamed!

  274. 274 GEAGLE said at 5:42 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Should change that to “dudes that miss extra time will be FINED!!!!.. wolff would be broke

  275. 275 Media Mike said at 5:43 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Kelly ripping dudes that take a needlessly long time coming back from an injury is one my favorite things he does.

  276. 276 GEAGLE said at 5:46 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Speaking of… What ever happened to wolff. Did Wolff revert back to our IR, or are we just terminating all ties with injury settlement?
    .
    I assume we would try to keep Acho on IR..

  277. 277 A_T_G said at 6:11 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I thought we would hold on to Acho also, but I have only heard about Shepherd going to IR. Maybe Acho is hoping to get picked up, since he will only be out 4 weeks with the surgery?

  278. 278 GEAGLE said at 6:19 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Ohhhhhhhh if Acho isn’t out for the year, you are right, some team is going to want him, and chip WOULDNT want to block him from having a future instead of being Burried on IR as a #6 ILB..
    .,
    not sure what they are waiting for to announce what we are doing about Wolff? Maybe they are still negotiating an injury settlement?… Wouldn’t mind seeing Shede Baily mysteriously stub his toe after the Jets game and have to go on IR… Then again, he needs the year of work on the reactive squad so that would defeat the purpose.. Be surprised if they don’t give him Pratts Practice squad spot… I have seen Pratt mostly drop passes this preseason, although his QBs have been pretty bad,,. The one catch I saw was bailing out Tebow’s Horrible pass

  279. 279 Avery Greene said at 7:27 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Wolff is gone with an injury settlement.

    http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/21/eagles-arent-waiting-for-earl-wolff-to-get-healthy-anymore/

  280. 280 Media Mike said at 7:48 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    “pain tolerance”

  281. 281 GEAGLE said at 9:53 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Thank you sir…. So what does that mean for the kid? He will me out of football til he is healthy? Or could he latch on with another team while he rehabs?

  282. 282 Avery Greene said at 7:26 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I believe they cut ties.

  283. 283 jpate said at 4:56 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Browns cut Phil Tayor NT former first round pick.

  284. 284 GEAGLE said at 5:15 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Thought he was getting cut last year… Makes. Ton of money, and his snaps have been plummeting for years, not someone they want on the field on 3rd down… Solid NT against the run tho, but lack of pass rush is why guys like him are starting to be devalued and why Bennie Logan is so awesome, shutting down runs against double teams while also being able to stunt, and twist in our pass rushes,,
    ..
    Drafting Danny Shelton was really the nail in Taylor’s Coffin… Browns should have had class and cut him in March, or June if they had to wait for contractual reasons.. He was never going to be a brown this year, should have had more class then to cut him at the end of August..

  285. 285 Media Mike said at 5:25 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Seattle is missing a D lineman or two.

  286. 286 GEAGLE said at 5:41 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    cardinals,need help too… Dockett left them, his replacement got hurt… They are counting on some 4th rd rookie now….lol Niners need half a defense .
    ..

  287. 287 GEAGLE said at 5:16 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Bears claimed QB Zac Dysert off waivers..
    ..
    Giants cut Bamiro…

  288. 288 Media Mike said at 5:16 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Giants fans should cut their own wrists.

  289. 289 GEAGLE said at 5:20 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Hari Kari…” Keep what little dignity they have left and off themselves… It’s the only honorable thing to do”- Bradford on Giants fans… Bradford puts the SAM in Samurai…

  290. 290 OregonDucker said at 7:14 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    “Samurai SAM” or “Slingin’ Sammy”. Decisions, decisions, but he must have a handle after the first game. We owe him one if his first is a blow-out.

  291. 291 Avery Greene said at 7:35 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Would the Eagles have interest in Kruger now that he’s not facing a suspension? Can he go back to our practice squad?

  292. 292 GEAGLE said at 9:52 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    No idea about practice squad eligibility for him but we won’t be picking up any DLineman, we have an elite unit, 7 deep, 6 will dress and we won’t want to get rid of any of our current DL so unlikely we pick any more
    DL up this year

  293. 293 GEAGLE said at 5:51 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Seems chip Kelly out foxed the Saints…. He let the Saints have the big name, expensive former Duck Jarius BYRD, While we were very happy to take Malcolm Jenkins off their hands,… BYRD has been out with an injury forever it seems like, and he still isn’t going to be ready to play week 1, think he is going back on PUP…. They paid a lot of money for a guy who as of now is on schedule to miss something like his first 20 games as a saint… While Malcolm Jenkins has been one of the leaders of our defense and the captain of our revamped NO FLY ZONE!!!!

  294. 294 Media Mike said at 5:52 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Maybe we’ll get even over choking to them in the 2013 playoffs at some point as well.

  295. 295 GEAGLE said at 5:52 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Dude, we are going to smash that team this year

  296. 296 Media Mike said at 5:53 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I hope!

    And you know I’ll be all ready to blame Billy Davis again if we lose.

  297. 297 GEAGLE said at 6:11 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Did you blame Billy for the first Eagle shut out in God knows how many years?
    ..
    Did you blame Billy for turning a bunch of kids from a 4-3 into an elite run defense in a 3-4 in two years?
    ..
    Did you blame billy for coaching our defense to lead the league in forcing fumbles in their 2nd season?
    ..
    Was Billy to blame for coaching us into #2 in Sacks last year only to the Buffalo bills while everyone claims we lack that elite oass rusher? Lol
    ..
    I’m sure Billy has nothing to do with the awesome D we will see this year that everyone will rave about.l
    ..
    I sure remember how everyone blamed Logan so much in his first playoff game as a rookie for losing to the saints, to the point where this FANBASE wanted to draft a NT in the first 3 rounds to replace Logan,.. Two years later he is the talk of the preseason,,,..
    ..
    Listening to how much these players value the addition of DB coach Corey Undlin, and how much emphasis we put into upgrading the talent level of our secondary, even offering Safety Devin McCourty more money then everyone to join us, sure seems like Lack of Talent and Detail from the DB coach was to blame for the defensive defficiencies and it seems to have been adressed well… Kind of Silly to rip billy when after these season this time next year we Will be nationally recognized as a top defense going into the 2016 season because of the year billy Davis’ defense has this year… I’m sure by December we will be a top rated defense (health permitting of course)….. Sure remember the special teams and Billy’s defense covering chips offenses ass a ton last year thru all the OL injuries during our 9-3 start..
    .
    Still looking forward to the first time a reporter echos your sentiments about Billy to Chip Kelly… It will be the most we see chip snap on a media member since becoming Eagles coach… Next time Eagles play in a Super Bowl. Gentle mans bet, Billy Davis will be the DC!!!

  298. 298 Media Mike said at 6:12 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    No, I blame Davis for poor adjustments on D in that Saints game.

  299. 299 GEAGLE said at 6:13 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Next time we play in a SUPERBOWL, Billy will be the defensive Coordinatir (gentlemans bet)..,

  300. 300 Media Mike said at 6:15 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I’d love to see it, but I need to see it to believe it.

  301. 301 GEAGLE said at 9:50 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Fair enough.,, remember I said it… A year from today we will be nationally respected as one of the top defenses going into the start of next season because of the level this years defense will reach by the end of THIS season

  302. 302 Avery Greene said at 7:23 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Well that’ll be this season. We have to make a bet if he’ll be the coordinator for this team in the superbowl next season.

  303. 303 wee2424 said at 9:37 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I’m not so sure about that. With the lack of talent at DB I really think he had to sell out versus the pass.

    Drew Brees and co were by far the bigger threat. If he stopped defending so much against the past then Brees simply would have just lit us up.

    It was a good strategy but it just didn’t work. Better talent in the secondary would have meant that he could have focused against the run more. That talent just wasn’t available.

    The other problem was simply the DL just not beating the man in front of them. Logan being the biggest culprit. As a coach you can’t will your player to beat his opposition.

    The D just wasn’t evenly talented enough to handle the threat.

  304. 304 botto said at 6:15 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I blame riley cooper for dropping a 3rd down pass that could have gone for a TD.
    it only hit him in both hands in stride.

  305. 305 Media Mike said at 6:15 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Another reason to cut Cooper!

  306. 306 botto said at 6:16 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    i’ll blame #26 as well.

  307. 307 Media Mike said at 6:18 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Being a fan of a certain age, this guy will always be #26 in my book

    https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ff/7f/b7/ff7fb78aad5af6586d23c96a550ad1a3.jpg

  308. 308 A_T_G said at 8:35 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I am not sure if I am younger, or just have a shorter memory…

  309. 309 Sean Stott said at 6:20 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    that’s where my mind immediately went

  310. 310 anon said at 6:19 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    hundley did put up 315 and 2tds. i think the d is still going to look a little ugly at times (400 total yards in the air, more than the eagles QBs).

  311. 311 wee2424 said at 9:11 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    David has done a far better job then most give him credit for. He actually has done some pretty impressive things with this D albeit some glaring weakness in talent at certain positions (cb/s) and having to deal with his D on the field more then any other D.

    That being said I think he does justly take criticism for not sitting Fletcher and starting Carroll. It was a big mistake that he has even admitted to and the fans have the right to bitch about.

    With all of that mentioned I do want to reiterate then he has mostly done a good job. Like you said he created 4-3 talent into 3-4 talent and has helped many of our young guys on D elite or close to elite players. When he has the talent he succeeds. The areas in which he has failed is really to do with a lack of talent.

    It’s not like Fletcher was good before he came here and started to suck it up under Davis. He struggled in STL and was benched. By all accounts he looks bad in NE. Williams was average in Baltimore and was average with us. Allen actually looked the best he has looked since his rookie year during his first year with Davis. He didn’t continue the progression and went back to sucking like he did before Davis.

    Davis gets a bad rap that he doesn’t deserve. Most people want to mention the negative but not mention the positive which I think far exceeds the negative.

    Is it fair that he should deserve criticism regarding 1 or 2 things? Yes. But that criticism has to be held separate then his overall overall performance which is something people fail to do.

    A scape goat is always wanted, and after the collapse last year the easiest targets are Fletcher and Bill D. As the D coordinator part of that blame does rest on his shoulders. Especially when part of the solution may have been riding the bench.

  312. 312 GEAGLE said at 9:48 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    all this talk about Nolan Carroll IMPROVING this summer… Improving by definition means he wasn’t AS good last year… It’s a fine line, I understand wanting to ride one of your starters hoping he breaks the slump, and and en you just can’t keep going with him in the game.. We also don’t know how Nolan could have done after spending the season focusing on the dime position, and no matter how bad Bradley played, with the exception for Nolan, there was no one on the bench you could have put in the game..,
    ..
    Maybe we did have better options then Brad, In which case it was a mistake, but it doesn’t really matter.. Chip, Fipp, stout land everyone will make mistakes… The good billy has done far outweigh the mistakes he has made so this city really sounds Fuckim absurd the way they disrespect the job Billy has done.. Our offense was an injured mess the beginning of last year.. Billy and the Defense probably had a Bigger hand in the 9-3 start then chip and the offense did.. We aren’t a finished product t yet, we aren’t where we need to be just yet, but I have no doubts whatsoever that Billy D is going to be then that brings back a true Philly defense to the Eagles.. Shame how “fans” disrespect the job he has done

  313. 313 wee2424 said at 11:55 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I understand he has improved meaning better then last year. I know what that means. However do keep in mind Davis said himself he should have done it.

    You can say he wasn’t as good last year till you are blue in the face and capitalize improving a few more times, but when he says himself it was a mistake…. well then it was a mistake as you said it may have been.

    Regarding the not knowing how he would perform at outside due to the dime role, that’s bullshit. Are you going to tell me you think he didn’t practice at outside over the course of the year? That he started to forget the position he played all of his pro career?

    I’ve been living in Florida for years now so before Caroll came to the Birds I have seen him probably more then anyone on else on this site. I was very happy the Birds got him. He has always been a better CB then Bradley. I was shocked when he did not replace him down the stretch. His style of play fit exactly to our scheme.

    It was a mistake pure and simple to not put him in there. A self admitted mistake by Davis himself.

    You don’t need to sell me on Davis. I gave him ringing praise besides the Fletcher/Carrol situation.

    Furthermore just because someone doesn’t like Davis as the DC does not mean they are not a fan. Just because they don’t like our DC does not mean they are not loyal to the team such as your fan in quotes would suggest.

    Everybody makes mistakes and all mistakes have the right to be criticized. I’m good at my job and I really don’t mess up much, but when I do you can be damn sure i will be criticized for it and rightfully so.

    It’s not a definite but it is possible that having Carroll in there could have changed the way the season went. Fans have a right to be mad at a blatant mistake that they were calling to have some attempt made to be fixed.

    You can say that the D was a huge reason as to why we went 9-3 in the first place. That’s good, but the problem is that it was mostly the D that collapsed on us to end the season. More specifically the secondary. More specific then that Fletcher. The secondary folded at the time when it was most needed, that’s what really counts.

  314. 314 Avery Greene said at 7:23 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Uggh, Roc Carmichael not only getting torched on the outside, but his 18 size shoe booting a punt that should have been down at the 1 thru the back of the endzone.

  315. 315 unhinged said at 8:10 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I thought BD did a very good job of neutralizing NO’s biggest, most obvious threat, i.e., Drew Brees. The only reason Eagles had the lead so late was because of the defense’s ability to NOT do what they did ad nauseam last season: give up the big plays. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately (if you’re Jason Kelce) proficiency across the defense was spotty, and Payton, a very good schemer, took what was there. Kelly had the team overachieving, and that was no choke.

  316. 316 Will:↑↑↓↓←→←→BA said at 5:52 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    You know the Saints signed Kenny Philips as an insurance policy, in case Byrd cant go…

  317. 317 GEAGLE said at 5:53 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    ISNT Kenny on the Texans?
    ..
    Giants had to go back crawling to stevie brown…

  318. 318 Will:↑↑↓↓←→←→BA said at 5:55 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    NOLA
    Byrd is hurt and I think Sunseri went down too

  319. 319 Media Mike said at 5:54 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    This would be a better Phillips to start at safety

    http://atticfilmfest.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/captain-phillips-movie-624×346.jpg

  320. 320 Will:↑↑↓↓←→←→BA said at 5:56 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Maybe he just needed more time after his surgery to recover

  321. 321 botto said at 5:55 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    makes you think chip knows about injuries

  322. 322 Bob Scatchard said at 6:18 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I’ve been an Eagles fan since 1955 and I have to say this year is going to be the most enjoyable since the “Buddy Ryan” days…I know we didn’t win the big game, but they were sure fun to watch.
    Chip’s teams are fun to watch and I think this team is about 75% of what Chip wants as far as changes. In the next two years he’ll work on finding a (safety, OL depth, OLB depth and grooming a young QB. By 2017, if not sooner, this team will become a dynasty (yes, I said it!) why do I say this? Simple…Because of “tempo”, which teams can’t handle, unless the prepare all off season, which is not going to happen for a few years if ever.
    This year’s “tempo” is going to be twice as effective than the previous two years, because, in 2013, teams were not use to covering the whole field and we were able to hit Djac and Coop with “stretch the field” passes and free up shady with Zone Blocking runs and screen passes. In 2014, with a year for the DC’s to work with, and Foles continued growing pains and Sanchez weaker arm and no Djac, Shady had a tougher time breaking free with his E-W running style, so there were more tougher 2nd and 3rd down (and long) plays. The OL had to hold their blocks longer and Foles was having trouble finding the open, and was getting hit more often which caused a lot of 3 and outs and the defense on the field much more often.
    This year, with M & M both N-S runners there will be a lot of 2nd and 3rd down short yardage plays, which will keep us on the field longer as we wear out the opponet’s defense earlier in the game and are able to run shorter pass routes (using screens and crossing routes to free up our TE and WR. Our “T.O.P.” will improve and allow our D more rest. If Sam stays healthy, and I believe he will, we have a great chance of setting a NFL “season total points” record. Go Eagles!!

  323. 323 botto said at 7:50 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    nicely said

  324. 324 unhinged said at 7:58 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    If I am not mistaken, that record was set in the 1950’s by the Los Angeles Rams, with none other than Norm Van Brocklin taking the snaps. It would be fitting for an Eagles team, generations later, to break that record while winning this city’s first NFL championship since the great Van Brocklin won it all for Philly.

  325. 325 peteike said at 6:51 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    “Greg Hardy! You signed Greg Hardy! Of course you did. After all, when you’re the Dallas Cowboys, it’s not as if your reputation can get any worse. You are already a nakedly greedy enterprise, branded to within an inch of your life, surrounded by fans whose only life goal is to be an extra in a Bud Light Lime ad.”

  326. 326 A_T_G said at 8:28 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    The quotes make me wonder if this came from somewhere…

  327. 327 CrackSammich said at 8:54 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    The Deadspin Why Your Team Sucks articles made it to the Cowboys today.

  328. 328 Nailed it! said at 7:31 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Cole “The Hearthrob” Manhart was released. Do it Chip

  329. 329 mtn_green said at 7:32 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I think chip is seeing if Barner can replace Prosinski in all ST, then he can keep Barner instead of Prosinski, have Barner active and have Reynolds as the third safety.

  330. 330 Greg Richards said at 8:48 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Dear Lord,

    I realize that he’s your favorite son, but please grant me the blessing of not having my Eagles waste a valuable roster spot on Tim Tebow. Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to smoking, drinking, and scouting exotic dancers.

  331. 331 A_T_G said at 9:18 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    When scouting, remember the importance of measurables.

  332. 332 Greg Richards said at 9:45 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    It’s really important that the prospect has a nice bubble.

  333. 333 unhinged said at 9:20 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Can I get an Amen, anybody? Actually the biblical tales that were the stuff of my indoctrination would have the scorned and cursed (RG3?) as the favorite one, not the saintly.

  334. 334 Greg Richards said at 9:32 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I realize it’s a parable and not meant to be taken literally, but if I was the son who was always responsible and my lazy, rabble-rousing, good-for-nothing brother suddenly showed up and was getting my father’s love(and part of the inheritance), I’d be considering some Cain-Abel action.

  335. 335 OregonDucker said at 9:20 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Keep away from the dancer with the exotic snake tattoo. She’s nasty.

  336. 336 The Lord said at 9:29 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Thall shall be done. The is no need to save the righteous. The Cowboys are beyond saving, but I am working on making room for him in Washington. They need a little guidance.

    Also, congratulations on finally finding what you seek, *wink, wink* and I don’t mean the dancers.

  337. 337 jpate said at 9:28 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    That bum Mike freeman is reporting eagles are one of the teams interested in RG3. Yeah, ok. Even in the BIG off chance they were, freeman would be the last person to know about it. Idiot’s been wrongly criticizing chip at every step and excepts people to believe Eagles are feeding him info?

  338. 338 Greg Richards said at 9:32 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    People that think RG3 would be a good fit are idiot reporters who don’t understand Chip’s offense.

  339. 339 A_T_G said at 9:38 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    The absurdity extends far beyond the offensive fit. I agree that RGIII lacks the most important traits Chip wants, but the evaluation should never reach that point. He is everything that was wrong with Shady, DJax, and Mathis rolled onto one and expanded exponentially.

    Anyone who thinks he fits hasn’t been paying attention.

  340. 340 GEAGLE said at 10:09 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    LOL surprised Freeman beat Elliot shithead Parker to “report” this crap…
    ..
    Wha a joke!! And if he really did HEAR the Eagles are interested, it’s fabricated bullshit by the agent to try and pretend he has any leverage whatsoever.
    ..
    RGknee blatantly failed his role as QB/Leader on top of being atrocious on the field… Does a QB who not a single teammate stand up and sticks up for sound like a Chip Kelly Eagle culture player? Get real… Moron would have a bad game here and stand at the podium and say something like ” well I didn’t haven best game but Jason Peters got beat a couple times, Kelce had a few bad snaps that threw me off”….
    ..
    Not the athlete he was
    Can’t read defense aka stupid football intelligence
    EGo to the pint of delusiins
    Can’t get thru progressions
    Not accurate
    Not a leader of men

    When Johnny Manziel has more football character then you, you are a joke

  341. 341 unhinged said at 10:20 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    I’m not totally versed on Senor Freeman, but I have read his over-the-top prognostications about Chip Kelly, and I get your animus. But I have also read a pretty good (in my opinion) piece on DMAC’s uncharacteristic DUI busts, AND Freeman has been out in front lambasting Brady, Kraft and the whole Patriots franchise for their hubris and stupidity. Hope he’ll have the integrity to eat his words about Kelly in the public light.

  342. 342 jpate said at 11:36 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    He’s one of those antagonists who is generally negative about everything, everything except organizations or people who give him access I’m assuming, so I’m not surprised he took that stance against patriots.

    And you give him too much respect calling him Senor.

  343. 343 Greg Richards said at 9:34 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    This is awesome:

    Shepard Smith
    ‏@ShepNewsTeam

    3h3 hours ago

    Just In: CBS announces it will stream all of the network’s NFL games online for free

  344. 344 unhinged said at 9:42 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Curious. NFL property being “distributed” by a 3rd party makes me think that 3rd party is paying more than NFL figures it could get from streaming itself. Guess they realized that millions of people are already streaming the games, so may as well reap the good PR and cash from CBS.

  345. 345 unhinged said at 9:34 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    C. Wright Mills never played football to my knowledge, but he’s important for, among other things, introducing the ways of the corporate class to the rest of us. He coined the term “interlocking directorates” to denote the practice of wealthy parties banding together to protect their mutual interests by serving on one another’s Boards of Directors. It should not surprise anybody paying attention if one or more of the NFL billionaires’ club has direct connections to the Sony Corporation. This is how the monied roll:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/sports/football/makers-of-sonys-concussion-film-tried-to-avoid-angering-nfl-emails-show.html?_r=0

  346. 346 HazletonEagle said at 9:41 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Why in the world was Phil Taylor cut?

  347. 347 Greg Richards said at 9:44 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Overweight, gets injured constantly, overpaid, not that good.

  348. 348 HazletonEagle said at 9:47 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    thats too bad. He was an incredible talent.

  349. 349 unhinged said at 9:49 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Browns signed Randy Starks and drafted Danny Shelton, so they were definitely not happy standing still.

  350. 350 GEAGLE said at 10:02 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Can’t play on 3rd down and he makes too much money, plus spend 1st round pick on NT Danny Shelton..

  351. 351 GEAGLE said at 10:01 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    QB Cody Fajardo was cut… Anyone remember if we had any predraft interest?

  352. 352 GEAGLE said at 10:10 PM on September 1st, 2015:

    Can’t fuckin believe it’s football season!!!!!

    Week 2, Romo and Dallas will have a “Cuban Missle Crisis” on their hands when we unleash Kiko on Romo!

  353. 353 Google said at 5:18 AM on September 2nd, 2015:

    Google

    The information talked about inside the article are several of the best available.