Winning Up Front

Posted: December 21st, 2018 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 2 Comments »

The Eagles are 3-1 in the last four games. There have been different QBs, RBs and DBs.

One constant…the O-line.

While Isaac Seumalo started at LG in three of the games and Stefen Wisniewski started last week, the OL has played its best football of the year in this period. Wiz is a veteran starter so having him take over for Seumalo isn’t nearly like the chaos the secondary has gone through with injuries.

Watch this video with Jeff Stoutland and you’ll appreciate some of the subtleties of their blocking.

Size. Strength. Agility. Athleticism. These are all key traits for O-linemen.

As you watch that video, you’ll also see that the ability to execute blocks is critical. The players have to work together. You can have a guy who is 6-6, 300 and has good feet, but if he can’t function as part of a unit, he’s useless.

Right now the O-linemen (except for Seumalo) are healthy. That shows in their level of play. Lane Johnson hasn’t been able to start every game, but there were a couple where he did start and he just wasn’t 100 percent. Jason Peters has been banged up this year. Jason Kelce has had some minor injuries.

I think when we look back on 2018, the biggest takeaway will be injuries. Not just guys missing games, but players simply not playing to the level they have in the past.

Thankfully the OL is peaking now and it shows. The team is averaging 26.5 points per game over the last four weeks. They haven’t been close to that level the rest of the year. The run game has been good in the three wins. Pass protection has been good as well. Nick Foles wasn’t sacked even once last Sunday night.

The OL has a huge challenge again this week. They just shut down Aaron Donald and their reward is to face J.J. Watt and Jadaveon Clowney. Yikes.

If the OL can stay healthy and hot, the Eagles can win the next couple of games and will have a real shot at the playoffs.

If…

*****

We also need to give credit to the skill players and their blocking. Dallas Goedert is going to be outstanding. He’s already a good blocker. He could be a real stud. Zach Ertz is still a receiver first and blocker second, but he’s been better recently.

Nelson Agholor hasn’t caught a ton of passes this year, but he has done a good job as a blocker. Kudos to him for that.

*****

This is so good.

Goff just melts into the grass to avoid getting completely run over by Fletcher Cox.

That made me think of Richard Pryor getting lectured about bulls in the movie Stir Crazy.

This is a classic scene and really funny movie for any fans of Pryor and Gene Wilder.

_


2 Comments on “Winning Up Front”

  1. 1 Eagles News: Carson Wentz reportedly wants to play through his back injury - Bleeding Green Nation | admin said at 11:46 AM on December 22nd, 2018:

    […] Winning Up Front – Iggles BlitzThankfully the OL is peaking now and it shows. The team is averaging 26.5 points per game over the last four weeks. They haven’t been close to that level the rest of the year. The run game has been good in the three wins. Pass protection has been good as well. Nick Foles wasn’t sacked even once last Sunday night. The OL has a huge challenge again this week. They just shut down Aaron Donald and their reward is to face J.J. Watt and Jadaveon Clowney. Yikes. If the OL can stay healthy and hot, the Eagles can win the next couple of games and will have a real shot at the playoffs. […]

  2. 2 Eagles News: Carson Wentz reportedly wants to play through his back injury – SportsNewsNow said at 1:07 PM on December 22nd, 2018:

    […] Winning Up Front – Iggles BlitzThankfully the OL is peaking now and it shows. The team is averaging 26.5 points per game over the last four weeks. They haven’t been close to that level the rest of the year. The run game has been good in the three wins. Pass protection has been good as well. Nick Foles wasn’t sacked even once last Sunday night. The OL has a huge challenge again this week. They just shut down Aaron Donald and their reward is to face J.J. Watt and Jadaveon Clowney. Yikes. If the OL can stay healthy and hot, the Eagles can win the next couple of games and will have a real shot at the playoffs. […]