Off to San Diego
Posted: September 30th, 2017 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 73 Comments »Did you think I forgot?
When I see “LAC”, I think of the Los Angeles Clippers, not the Los Angeles Chargers. No doubt about it, Sunday is going to be strange.
I don’t have a good feel for this game and I certainly don’t have a good feel for the Chargers. They’re 0-3, but that team has serious talent at multiple spots. This is not the same thing as facing the 0-3 Browns or Niners, two teams that are clearly building for the future. When you have Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers, you are trying to win now.
I mentioned San Diego in the title because this is going to be an odd trip for the Eagles. They are going to play in a stadium that holds 27,000 fans. That’s not a stadium, it’s a shoe box. The field is regulation size, obviously, but playing in a tiny stadium can be a distraction. Making things even more confusing, there will be a lot of Eagles fans in the stands. This place may seem like The Linc Jr. on Sunday.
The best road teams treat away games as business trips. They stay focused on and off the field. They are disciplined. They don’t make mistakes.
We didn’t see that from the Eagles last year. They went 1-7 on the road and played very sloppy football. Their first road loss was at Detroit. The Eagles had 14 penalties and a fumble late in the game helped to cause them to blow a lead.
The next week against the Skins, the Eagles had 13 penalties and allowed five sacks. That was just too much for the team to overcome.
The next week was the meltdown in Dallas. The most overlooked play in that game was a fake punt that went for 30 yards. The Eagles were leading 20-10 and had control of the game. If the Eagles stop that play, they are in scoring position and who knows how things turn out.
The Eagles got really creative with how they were going to lose on the road. That has to change this year if the team is going to take the next step and become a winning team. Instead of making critical mistakes, they need to start making critical plays. The team did that in D.C., but not in KC.
That’s what makes this Chargers game so interesting. This is a long trip, but there won’t be significant crowd noise to overcome. The Chargers don’t have any home field mystique at the new venue. This is a road game, but isn’t like any game the Eagles have played in a long time.
The Eagles do have some injuries to deal with.
Doug Pederson: Fletcher Cox, Destiny Vaeao, Corey Graham and Jaylen Watkins will be listed as out for Sunday's game. #Eagles
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) September 29, 2017
This isn’t going to be easy.
Winning this week wouldn’t mean the Eagles are now a good road team, but it would be a sign the team is headed in the right direction. Remember that they’ve already matched last year’s road win total. Playing on the west coast is never easy and not having Fletcher Cox is a huge loss. Good road teams get past issues like these and find a way to win.
*****
Jimmy Bama did a good piece on Wendell Smallwood and his blocking.
RBs aren’t getting on the field if they can’t pass protect. Smallwood has shown real progress in that area. With Darren Sproles out for the season (hurts to write that), the Eagles need Smallwood to earn some of his play time.
So far, so good.
*****
Great clip here of Duce Staley breaking down a LeGarrette Blount run.
https://twitter.com/Eagles/status/913766581146185729
_
I think that we win, 24-21 or 27-17. Hope I’m right
Me too man!!
Elliott kicks a 62-yarder as time runs out.
My heart can’t take that again.
Glad the giants lost again to a last second FG. Should make the NY media go crazy
Tough time to be a Giants fan. Next week they take on the Chargers in the Battle for the Bottom.
Well the traveling part sucks, but not being in a particularly hostile environment can only help Wentz and the offense. I’d feel downright confident if so many key defenders weren’t banged up. Can’t get into a shootout with the Chargers.
HOPE EAGLES NI GGERS BLOW OUT THEIR ACL AND THEIR CAREERS ARE DONE.
You are a moron.
The Philadelphia Eagles will have a different look for their first trip to Los Angeles since 1990. Philadelphia will wear its green jersey, white pants combination for Sunday’s matchup against the Chargers.
The Philadelphia Eagles will have a different look for their first trip to Los Angeles since 1990. Philadelphia will wear its green jersey, white pants combination for Sunday’s matchup against the Chargers.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4203e71b8ef3330897b9a730df46981da28b5d1ef498775c11df2dac6bba76b1.png
I wish they had green pants
That would be a sweet look.
They should at least experiment with it during the color rush game.
The color rush we got was kinda lame, basically just all black, like we haven’t rocked all black plenty of time.
Still hoping for the Kelly Green to make a return sometime in the near future.
The all blacks were the best color rush uniform. Most of the color rush uniforms used throughout the NFL were hideous, make-your-eyes-bleed catastrophes.
I like that they are changing their look a little. I wouldn’t hate seeing silver pants again.
The silver pants with the Kelly green needs to be their new outfit for the future. Silver wings on the helmet too. Can we start a petition or something?
Should be Kelly Green, but it look nice so far.
Nike *still* can’t get the color right. They think Midnight Green = Teal. Embarrassing.
Also, side note: grass is also kelly green. It’s a terrible choice for a uni color.
Strongly agree.
Clippers play in a stadium with a capacity of 19,000. Not much difference there. If this game doesn’t sell out it’s even closer.
Chargers vs Eagles Pre-Game
https://forums.chargers.com/showthread.php?s=cfaa1c51217d7f9cc187157a32f25e22&t=106548
When’s the last time the Eagles traveled to the west coast and won? ’08 against a crappy Seahawks team is the last I remember, and these Chargers are probably better than that Hawks squad. There’s a lot of injuries this team must overcome on top of the long trek. I think we may be in for a frustrating afternoon of football. Hope I’m wrong.
In 2013 the Foles hall of fame performance was set in Oakland.
Ah yes, I’m surprised I forgot that one. A once in a lifetime preformance coupled with an uninterested opponent is all it took for our last west coast win. I jest of course but still, I wish we would have preformed better on these trips. Especially when compared to how well west coast teams play at the Linc.
Am I the only one who is still a bit frustrated that Foles got pulled for pretty much the entire fourth quarter of that game? He could have easily thrown another TD the way things were going. And then Nick freaking Foles would officially have had the best game of any QB in NFL history ever. Which is just… wlell, I like the idea, as asinine as it is!
No, gotta have class, we ain’t the Patriots.
Cox out hurts but Hicks and Mcleod back are huge.
Traveling to the west coast I think is the big X factor for this one, as it is for every team.
Always fun to watch tape breakdown and hear what the coaches are thinking. I bet Deuce is a good motivator for the backs. It was funny to hear him say that the DBs go looking for wideouts to block when a big guy like Blount is in the game.
I’m so bummed out I can’t go to the game. I’ve been waiting since the last chargers game 4 years ago. Now I have to go to the rams game at that crappy stadium..
Eagles should see if Matt Ware is available to bring some magic voodoo (in our favor) this Sunday.
I’m not interested in losing to a winless team. The Chargers can feel free to avoid going 0-16 by beating some other team some other week.
I am very pleased about Hamilton.
Should be fun to see him in rotation.
Excellent musical.
Game predictions?
I think the Birds’ offense is clicking this week after some September shake out. I think the defense can do enough with outstanding front 7 play overall. Wentz passes to Ertz and Alshon for TDs. Blount runs for another. “Piece of Cake” Jake is a perfect 3 for 3. Eagles win 30-24 as the Rivers and company score some garbage time points. The (homeless in LA) Chargers are in an awkward transition and it shows. Go Eagles!
Total collapse. Chargers 38 Eagles 6
You don’t know this team if you predict that. They are on a mission.
I’ve been following this team for 40+ years, son. I stand by it.
Multiple organization members need to be standing in the unemployment line if that happens.
I have followed since Vermeil too. And I am not your son. Show respect at all times please.
:). Thank you for the irony, Mr. Wonderful.
Well hey, you responded to me first, old dude. But…
Thank you for using your good manners, Mr. Sarcasm.
I knew you could do it.
There had better be roster cuts immediately post game if that happens to a winless team.
downvote.
that snot happening with THIS team !!
underperformance and letdowns are Andy Reid Legacies NOT Eagles legacies ..
only Andy exposes the fans to let downs and makes a team underperform
Ever heard of Chip Kelly?
Or Rich Kotite?
Double yuck.
Yuck
Debbie Downer spreading her sunshine lol.
Chargers 108 Eagles 6.
Our OTs neutralize the only good part of the Charger’s D and Wentz has a really good game. Eagles go up and down the field to the tune of about 27 points. Our D-line goes off and harasses Rivers all day.
27-13 final in the favor of the Eagles.
Another good projection is that Smallwood breaks out. He is now the 3 down back, Looked prrimed to break off a few explosive plays last week and the most obvious weakness in the Chargers defense is that they are soft up the middle if you can get around the DL. I am thinking Smalwood with a few long runs, might spring one or two for TD’s from a decent distance out.
Game predictions: Dug makes Carson throw it too much, Wentz has his typical 2 turnover game, and Rivers picks us apart with a multitude of short passes. We lose a close one.
Request to Santa: Run the dang ball. Let Wentz throw it when it’s advantageous to him or when it’s necessary. Set him up for success and don’t try to make him the focal point of the offense.
Request to Santa: Bring Smith out of RZ plays, put Hollins in, and throw fades to our big WRs.
or run the ball
Pffft you don’t run in football, that’s soccer you’re thinking about.
We’re from Philly and we don’t fade.
The report from last week was that the running came from Wentz being given the option and choosing correctly to run. To me, that was extremely encouraging for the continued success running and for the continued commitment to the run game.
I would love a rb like Barkley but no way we draft high enough for him
We have no chance at Barkley and maybe a single digit chance at Guice.
That’s ok. Means we might be able to pick up a starting OT in stead.
OT to Tumtum: In 2013, the Rams won just as many games after Bradford went down midway through the season, including putting 42 points up against the Bears. Losing him did not cause them to implode.
In 2014, after another Bradford injury and missed the season, Shaun Hill put up an 84 QB rating, better than Bradford’s career average at that point (Bradford now has an 85, after several years on much better run teams).
Dude is probably the most overrated QB in history.
Dude is also probably the most overpaid football player in history.
Super duper early draft talk
NFL comparisons
RB Saquon Barkley – LT
RB Derrius Guice – Maurice Jones Drew
RB Royce Freeman – Le’veon Bell
RB Ronald Jones II – Lamar Miller
RB Nick Chubb – Jonathan Stewert
RB Sony Michel – Ray Rice
You know how people said it was a historical RB draft last draft? I like this draft a bit more but who knows if I’m right.
Lots of hyperbole. Next year’s class always looks nice until everyone goes under the offseason draftnik scalpel.
Somewhat true then again it’s easy to say that when there is no hype around players. We don’t know who’s going to declare yet, the combine/medicals on players, and the backgrounds yet. I know the draft is a touchy subject for you but you can still have your own opinions from comparing the tape.
Bryce Love – David Wilson
This class is better than last year if everyone declares. Barkley is the best RB prospect since LT. Guice is better than McCaffery from this past draft. Nick Chubb is returning to his pre-injury form and is worthy of a 1st round pick. Guys like Bryce Love, Mark Walton, Rashaad Penny give this draft great depth. The problem is we only have 1 pick in the 1st 3 rounds.
Cautious optimism about this team. It won’t always be perfect but I feel like we can take another step tomorrow. I love our ability to fight back. I know we’ve had some things bounce our way, but they also bounced away from us a few times. That type of resilience can be huge. Win through adversity and these player losses and keep building confidence in each other. A healthy Darby down the line will be huge for our D. OAN…..I think we take it to those Chargers tomorrow. BIRDGANG!
I expect a typical Eagles game. We’ll get a lead but it’s going to be a tough game to close out.
Lil breakdown of Big Red’s revamped offense getting it done this year. https://www.fanragsports.com/examining-how-chiefs-get-creative-on-offense/amp/
San Los Diegolas seems like an organization in a bit of disarray. I have an odd sense of confidence going into tomorrow. I think the birds are going to come out balanced and I think Ertz is going to have a huge game.
Also I won’t jinx it tomorrow promise guys.