The Toolbox

Football has a language all its own. It constantly evolves, just like the game does. There was a time when “blitz” was a new word. No one knew what an RPO was all that long ago. We won’t even get into the weird stuff like turkey hole or slobber-knocker or butt-fumble.

Nick Sirianni and his staff like to use the phrase “toolbox”. I don’t recall hearing that on a regular basis in the past (in regard to football). What the coaches are referring to is a player or unit’s ability to do different things. Find the right tool for the situation. Use a hammer to drive in a nail. Use a screwdriver for screws. Use a wrench when you need something to throw at Jimmy Bama. Find the right tool.

The 2022 Eagles have a big toolbox. They seem to have an answer for everything. Let’s start with the offense.

The Eagles are 5th in the NFL in rushing yards. Miles Sanders is the leading rusher and is a versatile back. He has the speed to get outside and really stretch teams. He’s improved as an inside runner. He is running tougher than ever and fights for yards. Shut him down and you have to deal with Jalen Hurts. He can burn you on designed runs or scrambles. Hurts is unique because he is elusive and athletic, but also very strong. He is outstanding on QB sneaks. That simple play has become a weapon for the Eagles.

Hurts can use RPOs to drive a defense crazy. Run or pass. And with Hurts handling the ball he can turn the pass back into a run if he wants. That sure feels a cheat code.

One of the keys to these options is good blocking by the offensive line. The Eagles have a big, physical, athletic OL. Their talent and versatility allows the Eagles coaches to call up any run play they want. The OL can make it work. They can be dominant at times.

Re-watch the Titans game and you’ll see one thing in common on all three of Hurts TD passes. He had a clean pocket. Hurts could have pulled out Danielle Steele’s most recent novel and read a bit before looking downfield. The Eagles OL becomes truly special when you factor in their ability to pass block. Most OLs are good at run or pass, but not both.

If the defense does somehow shut down the Eagles run game, Hurts and the passing game are ready to beat you through the air. Hurts is #3 in the league in passer rating. He’s completing 68 percent of his passes and averaging 8.2 yards per attempt. Hurts has become one of the better deep passers in the league. The Eagles are 11th in the league in RAC yards so that tells you Hurts is getting the ball to his guys on short and intermediate throws and letting them make plays.

Blitz the Eagles and they can burn you. Play man and they can burn you. Play zone and they can burn you.

Hurts has great weapons to get the ball to. AJ Brown is proving to be one of the elite receivers in the league. He is special. DeVonta Smith is one of the best route-runners in the league. He can move the chains or make plays down the field. Quez Watkins is an explosive weapon. Zach Pascal is a terrific blocker and clutch receiver. Then you mix in Dallas Goedert, one of the best TEs in the league. The Eagles passing game can beat you in a variety of ways.

And that is just the offensive toolbox.

The defense is talented and versatile as well. The DL is big. They’re also athletic. That group can take on blocks or shoot gaps. They can go with a 5-man front or a 4-man DL. Javon Hargrave is the dynamic inside guy. Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat are the weapons off the edge. Then you mix in Fletcher Cox, Linval Joseph, Brandon Graham, Jordan Davis, Ndamukong Suh and Milton Williams. That is a special group of DL.

The Eagles are second in the NFL in sacks. They lead the league in sacks on third down. They get the job done when it matters most.

TJ Edwards and Kyzir White can play the run or pass. They aren’t great at anything, but do everything pretty well. Nakobe Dean showed real promise last Sunday.

The secondary is the best in the league. The Eagles allow the lowest opposing passer rating and they have the most INTs. They are third in completion percentage allowed. Throwing the ball on them is a major challenge. With corners like Slay and James Bradberry, they can play man or zone. The safeties are somewhat interchangeable, allowing the coaches to have more freedom and not worry about protecting a weak link.

The defense can be susceptible to the run at times, but as you saw on Sunday, they can shut it down when they focus on run defense. The Eagles held Derrick Henry to only 30 yards, his second worst game of the year.

The Eagles don’t blitz a lot, but they are good when they do it. Edwards can fly when he comes up the middle. He’s got a pair of sacks this year.

The defense has only allowed one second half TD in the last six games. That tells you they adjust well and clamp down when the game is on the line. They are second in yards allowed, 10th in third down defense and 6th in red zone defense. Nothing comes easy against this defense.

The Eagles toolbox is full of options for whatever opponents bring their way. There are still tests to come, most notably the postseason. We’ll find out just how big that toolbox is.

*****

It can be easy to think poorly of sports. Athletes can be pampered and crazy at times. We all spend too much time and energy on games that kids can play. But there is something magic about sports, especially when played by the right athletes. That can be true on and off the field.

Jason Kelce seems like a Hall of Famer as a person and as a player.

Brandon Graham won’t be going to the HOF, but he is still a special dude. This video is pretty amazing. You can see how he’s touched the lives of different people over the years.

A man of the people, @brandongraham55.@Nationwide | #WPMOYChallenge

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 6, 2022

We’ve been very lucky to get to follow Jason and Brandon as players, on and off the field.

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