OL Shakeup

The Eagles offensive line has not exactly been stable this year. Ten games into the season, the Eagles have played 655,321 different combinations. That’s a loose approximation so don’t try to correct me if I left a couple out.

More changes are on the way.

Lane Johnson says his season is done. "The inside of my ankle has collapsed."

— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) November 27, 2020

Eagles offensive line Monday night against Seahawks

Source tells me Jason Peters will move to RG

LT Jordan Mailata
LG Isaac Seumalo
C Jason Kelce
RG Jason Peters
RT Matt Pryor

I’m told Jason is helping Jordan and is seeking advice from Brandon Brooks pic.twitter.com/oh3X7OK83o

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) November 27, 2020

Let’s start with the Lane Johnson news. I’m glad he’s packing it in and focusing on getting healthy. His leg hasn’t been right all year. This is a lost season. There is no reason to risk more damage to the ankle. Get the surgery, rest your leg and focus on 2021.

When Lane Johnson played Week 2, a medical source I contacted said that given Lane’s size, he would’ve wanted to wait a few more weeks, to make sure he was healed, so tendons and ligaments wouldn’t be overworked, etc.
Welllll….
Now he needs deltoid ligament repair.

— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) November 27, 2020

Johnson is a respected veteran. Teammates won’t question his decision at all. Nor should fans. Not only is his ankle in bad shape, but it is affecting his play. There were a couple of plays last week where DEs drove him back into Carson Wentz because Johnson struggled to plant and anchor. The ankle is only going to get worse so shutting it down is the prudent move.

I’m thrilled to see Jordan Mailata getting to play LT. The Eagles are on pace to get a Top 10 pick. Do they need to look for a LT or can Mailata be that guy? My apologies to Andre Dillard for leaving him out of the discussion.

Mailata is going to have ups and downs, but that’s okay for a young guy. Peters has had his struggles. There is no upside with him. This is the final year of his storied career. You don’t sit a young guy with big potential to play Peters.

Moving Peters to RG is a different story. The Eagles have been looking for an answer at OG all year. The return of Isaac Seumalo has solidified LG. There isn’t an ideal option for the right side. Nate Herbig has been the Eagles best OG outside of Seumalo based on my eyes, but something is going on with him. He’s been benched and we don’t know why. Sua Opeta is the other young guy and he’s struggled.

With Pryor taking over at RT, that leaves Peters as the best guy to plug in at RG.

Peters has never started at guard in the NFL. While he’s the best fit, there will be some ups and downs. I have no problem with the Eagles playing Peters at RG and not a young guy. None of the young players has shown enough to make you think they deserve the job. You don’t start them just because they have potential. They must show you something.

Peters can excel in the run game. He’s got the power to move defenders off the ball. He should be good on double-teams. The big concern is  pass blocking. DTs that use quick moves are challenging because they’re right on top of you. OTs can use space to help. They can run the DE wide and keep him off the QB. Life is different on the inside.

Why Pryor over Jack Driscoll? Pryor has played more this year and the coaches probably value that experience. Driscoll can come off the bench if needed.

I do think Mailata-Seumalo-Kelce-Peters-Pryor can be an effective OL, but it is hardly a slam dunk. There is real value in getting Mailata on the field so I’m happy about that. You need to see him play, even if he struggles. You need to find out if he’s a future starter or is best as a backup.

*****

Seattle is dead last in yards allowed. They are dead last in passing yards allowed. If there was ever a week for Wentz and the Eagles passing game to get it going, this is it.

The Seahawks have been better since acquiring DE Carlos Dunlap, but they haven’t allowed less than 21 points all year. Every team has thrown for at least 248 yards against them.

If the Eagles revamped OL can protect Wentz, the passing game might just come alive. Please feed the ball to Travis Fulgham

*****

Can the Eagles control Seattle?

As we know, the Eagles have struggled with running QBs. Russell Wilson is Seattle’s leading rusher. Ugh, that doesn’t bode well.

The defense will have to be disciplined and tackle well. Discipline has been an issue this year, especially with the young players in the back seven. This will be a huge challenge for them.

I do wonder if Jim Schwartz will do anything differently with his DL. This isn’t the game to have them flying up the field blindly. You want to keep Wilson in the pocket as much as possible.

One possible reason for optimism…Wilson has struggled with turnovers recently. If the Eagles can pressure and hit him, they will have a chance to take the ball away. That hasn’t been a strength for this defense, but this would be an ideal time to do it.

*****

Roster Move: #Eagles have activated DE Vinny Curry and RB Corey Clement from the Reserve/COVID-19 list. pic.twitter.com/46z9E0m0IU

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 27, 2020

Curry’s return means we aren’t likely to see Joe Ostman this week. Curry is a significantly better run defender so he’s a better fit for this week.

_