The Day After – The Sackfest

Posted: September 26th, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 3 Comments »

Carson Wentz started 13 games in the Super Bowl season of 2017. He was sacked 28 times in those games. On Sunday, Wentz faced the Eagles defense for the first time in his career and he was sacked nine times. How is that for perspective?

The Eagles defensive line accounted for 8 of the sacks and only two of the sacks came on plays where the Eagles blitzed. The DL won battles over and over. Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick brought regular pressure off the edge. Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave pushed the pocket all game long. Wentz had nowhere to go. He was being circled by Eagles DL all game long. Brandon Graham came off the bench and ended up with 5 QB hits and 2.5 sacks. How is that for a comeback? Backup SAM Patrick Johnson didn’t notch a sack, but got 2 QB hits. Wentz was fair game for anyone and everyone.

https://twitter.com/ThePhillyPod/status/1574372873342418944

The constant pressure led to other issues for Wentz. He started to get the ball out quicker, even when he wasn’t under pressure. There were multiple third down plays where he threw short of the sticks. The pressure led to accuracy problems. Wentz was off target on more than a few throws. He completed more than 65 percent of his throws in each of the first two games. Wentz finished at 58 percent against the Eagles and that was aided by some completions in garbage time.

It is fair to point out that the DL beat up on a bad OL and that Wentz held the ball too long. The Eagles got inconsistent pressure in the first two games. Getting 9 sacks isn’t normal. This won’t be happening every week. At the same time, getting those sacks can wake the DL up. We’ve all heard the axiom that sacks come in bunches. This game could get the DL going.

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One of the things I love about this team is that they do the little things well. You see the RBs picking up blitzers. DL will eat up blocks to free up other rushers or LBs so they can make plays. And then you have this play.

https://twitter.com/danorlovsky7/status/1574188336830300160

That’s what we call a rub route. Zach Pascal is supposed to get in the way of the CB running with DeVonta Smith. The key is to do that without making contact. Pascal does a brilliant job of that. The play works because of something you won’t see on the stat sheet. That was a third down and the play went for 31 yards.

The other thing I love on the play is Dallas Goedert’s block downfield. He gets in the way of his defender to let Smith keep going. If Goedert tries to light the guy up, he could draw a penalty. Instead, he just positions himself correctly and lets Smitty fly down the sideline. Smart football.

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We don’t want all the brutality to go out of the game.

Boom.

Big is good. Big and mean is better.

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Maddox was up and down in the opener, but he’s been excellent the last two weeks. His pick of Cousins last week was a key play in the game. He broke up passes each of the last two games. On Sunday he stuffed TE Logan Thomas at the goal line. That was an impressive tackle.

Maddox plays in the slot so he’s going up against RBs, TEs and WRs. He has to be ready for a variety of sizes and skill sets. The nickel spot really has become critical in today’s NFL. The Eagles are lucky to have Maddox playing the position so well.

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Rookie TE Grant Calcaterra made his NFL debut yesterday. He only had one catch.

40 yards. How’s that for a first catch?

You can see why the Eagles like him. Calcaterra has good hands and good RAC ability. He sat out the first couple of weeks while working on his blocking and STs assignments. He played 17 snaps on offense and four on STs. I am interested in seeing how he did in those roles.

Jack Stoll is an effective backup, but he’s got a limited ceiling. Calcaterra is a better receiver and athlete. If anything happened to Goedert you would want a player like Calcaterra to be able to contribute. This offense needs a TE who can make plays.

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No praise for Hurts?

I need to write a full piece on him. He’s playing at a high level right now and boy is it fun to watch.

https://twitter.com/JClarkNBCS/status/1574389798432825345

Not too shabby.

I watched the SNF debacle last night. That was some bad offense. Russell Wilson has struggled so far this year. To be fair, his coach is a complete mess and that is a dysfunctional team right now. Still, it makes you think that the Eagles might have gotten lucky that Wilson didn’t want to come to Philly. Hurts is playing much better than Wilson right now. That could change by the end of the year or in the future of course, but right now Hurts is the MVP candidate and Wilson is the erratic QB. And the Eagles didn’t have to pay a steep price to acquire a declining QB. Those resources can be used to improve the roster in the future.

Thanks Broncos.

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If you want to enjoy a bit of schadenfreude, read this excellent piece from Les Bowen.

A couple of very good lines in there. This Bowen kid might prove to be a decent writer.

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3 Comments on “The Day After – The Sackfest”

  1. 1 The Linc - Eagles “definitely beginning to formulate a plan for giving Jalen Hurts an extension early” - Philadelphia News Station said at 7:18 AM on September 27th, 2022:

    […] The Day After – The Sackfest – Iggles BlitzI watched the SNF debacle final evening. That was some unhealthy offense. Russell Wilson has struggled up to now this yr. To be honest, his coach is a whole mess and that could be a dysfunctional workforce proper now. Nonetheless, it makes you assume that the Eagles may need gotten fortunate that Wilson didn’t need to come to Philly. Hurts is enjoying a lot better than Wilson proper now. That might change by the top of the yr or in the way forward for course, however proper now Hurts is the MVP candidate and Wilson is the erratic QB. And the Eagles didn’t should pay a steep value to accumulate a declining QB. These assets can be utilized to enhance the roster sooner or later. Thanks Broncos. […]

  2. 2 Eagles Information: Philadelphia is “undoubtedly beginning to formulate a plan for giving Jalen Hurts an extension early” - tiolinguica delivery said at 8:01 AM on September 27th, 2022:

    […] The Day After – The Sackfest – Iggles BlitzI watched the SNF debacle closing evening. That used to be some dangerous offense. Russell Wilson has struggled up to now this yr. To be truthful, his trainer is a whole mess and that may be a dysfunctional staff at the moment. Nonetheless, it makes you assume that the Eagles would possibly have got fortunate that Wilson didn’t need to come to Philly. Hurts is taking part in significantly better than Wilson at the moment. That would trade through the tip of the yr or sooner or later after all, however at the moment Hurts is the MVP candidate and Wilson is the erratic QB. And the Eagles didn’t must pay a steep worth to procure a declining QB. The ones sources can be utilized to toughen the roster sooner or later. Thank you Broncos. […]

  3. 3 Eagles News: Philadelphia is “certainly starting to formulate a plan for giving Jalen Hurts an extension early” - Momento geek said at 9:25 AM on September 27th, 2022:

    […] The Day After – The Sackfest – Iggles BlitzI watched the SNF debacle final night time. That used to be some dangerous offense. Russell Wilson has struggled thus far this 12 months. To be truthful, his trainer is a whole mess and that is a dysfunctional workforce presently. Still, it makes you suppose that the Eagles would possibly have got fortunate that Wilson didn’t need to come to Philly. Hurts is enjoying significantly better than Wilson presently. That may just alternate by way of the tip of the 12 months or one day in fact, however presently Hurts is the MVP candidate and Wilson is the erratic QB. And the Eagles didn’t have to pay a steep worth to achieve a declining QB. Those sources can be utilized to beef up the roster one day. Thanks Broncos. […]