Back?
Posted: October 19th, 2018 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 1 Comment »The Eagles encouraged all of us with their performance in the win over the Giants. That looked like the offense we all expected to see. That looked like the defense that played so well last year.
Eagles players also felt pretty good about that performance.
https://twitter.com/JClarkNBCS/status/1050846026800750592
Eagles Wendell Smallwood says he saw a difference in practice today stemming from Giants Win:
“We had our swag back… we’re back” @6abc #Eagles pic.twitter.com/l3ElbJ0Xxt
— Jeff Skversky 6abc (@JeffSkversky) October 18, 2018
"That's what it looks like when we all put it together."@MalcolmJenkins was wired for sound during our Thursday night win. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/n26V6jE8oR
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 18, 2018
I will admit all of this makes me a bit nervous.
The Eagles were at their best last year when they were confident, aggressive and having fun. They played with an edge. They were fearless. Based on that, the comments would seem to be a good thing. And it could be.
At the same time, the 2017 team didn’t play an outright bad game until December. There were sloppy parts of games, but the Eagles were mostly outstanding. As Pederson likes to say, their execution fueled their emotion. That swagger came from playing like a bunch of bad asses.
Last week the Eagles beat the 1-5 Giants. They looked really good, but is that enough to make everyone legitimately feel this team is back?
I certainly hope so.
We really won’t know until we see this team play for a month. A game here…a game there. That isn’t going to tell us who this team is. We need to see this group play for several weeks to really know if the Eagles are back and the rest of the NFC should be worried.
I will say this. I think it is important for this team to be confident, to be aggressive. That is how they had success last year. While you don’t want the players being too cocky, this isn’t a humble group that is at their best playing a workmanlike style. When the Eagles play with an edge, it brings out the best in them.
It will be interesting to see how the Eagles play on Sunday. If they can get off to a fast start and get the emotion going, that would be a really good sign for the rest of the season. If the team is sloppy and falls behind, it will make you wonder if the Giants game was an anomaly.
Remember, for the emotion to mean something it has to be real. It has to come from good things happening on the field.
Execution fuels emotion.
*****
Braxton Miller is running the Eagles scout team this week, simulating Cam Newton. The former Ohio State QB turned WR is back at the helm.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) October 18, 2018
Miller was a dangerous runner at Ohio State. He could be valuable in helping the defense prepare to deal with Cam Newton.
*****
#Eagles Thursday Injury Report
DNP: LB Alexander (quadricep), CB Douglas (not injury related), LB Gerry (ankle, knee), S Graham (hamstring), CB Jones (hamstring), RB Sproles (hamstring)
Limited: T Johnson (ankle), CB Mills (hamstring), DT Ngata (calf)
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 18, 2018
The last thing the Eagles need right now is another injured DB. Let’s hope Jalen Mills is good to go on Sunday.
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[…] Back? – Iggles BlitzWe really won’t know until we see this team play for a month. A game here…a game there. That isn’t going to tell us who this team is. We need to see this group play for several weeks to really know if the Eagles are back and the rest of the NFC should be worried. I will say this. I think it is important for this team to be confident, to be aggressive. That is how they had success last year. While you don’t want the players being too cocky, this isn’t a humble group that is at their best playing a workmanlike style. When the Eagles play with an edge, it brings out the best in them. […]