Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Catching Up

Posted September 21st, 2023 | 5 Comments »

I haven’t written a lot in the last week due to traveling and some other stuff that popped up. Since I’m a bit behind, no normal Game Review. Instead I’ll post some short thoughts on the win over the Vikings and then get into other Eagles news.

PHI 34, MIN 28 – Game Notes

What a weird game. On one hand, the Eagles felt lucky to win. On the other hand, they were up 27-7 at one point and felt totally in control. This felt a bit like the Detroit game from last year. The Eagles just couldn’t put the Vikings away. Injuries to the back seven didn’t help in a game where the opponent wanted to throw the ball. I do love the fact the Eagles coaches leaned on the run the way they did. If the defense dares you to run, do it. Don’t try to outsmart yourself by forcing the passing game. The Eagles played this game on a short week and it felt like that showed.

This felt a bit like a Nick Sirianni special. He loves explosive plays and takeaways. The Eagles had TDs of 63 and 43 yards and another pass play that covered 54 yards. They had 4 takeaways and only turned the ball over once.

The biggest issue from a coaching perspective was Sirianni not going for 2 late in the game. That could have proved to be critical. The Vikings never got the TD they needed to make that anything more than a point of discussion.

OFFENSE

For the second week in a row, the defense tried to make Jalen Hurts a pocket passer. He was 12-35 on the ground with a long run of 8 yards. The Vikings did a good job of limiting him as a runner. They played a really creative defense. Felt like they were in a 3-3-5 for a lot of the game. They mixed things up between blitzing and dropping as many as 8 into coverage. That kind of variance kept Hurts from getting comfortable and into a good rhythm.

Hurts went 18 for 23 as a passer and had some good moments. He stood tough in the pocket on the deep TD to DeVonta and paid for that with a big hit. Hurts had a late TD to AJ wiped out by a questionable holding call. His presence on the field opened up running room for the RBs.

Playing the light box gave the running game a chance to shine. Eagles RBs were 36-224 on the ground. D’Andre Swift was outstanding. His combination of vision, cutback ability and burst was perfect for this game. Boston Scott was 5-40 and looked good. His burst was perfect on the final drive of the half, as the Eagles were able march down for a FG.

The OL was outstanding in the run game. Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata bullied Vikings defenders. They were a lot of fun to watch. Cam Jurgens was up and down. He’s still getting used to the speed of the NFL game. Pass pro was more of a mixed bag. The Vikings used a mush rush at times, where the rushers try to box the QB in rather than going all out to get to him. Hurts bailed from that at times, which gave them a chance to get to him.

DeVonta Smith was terrific, going 4-131-1. He also blocked well. AJ Brown did not have his best game, as a receiver or blocker. He let his slow start to the season affect his effort and that’s not good. I’m sure Sirianni will have a word with him.

Dallas Goedert was 6-22 as a receiver. He made his presence felt as a blocker.

https://twitter.com/EaglesXOs/status/1703904580377903143

That ability helps make Goedert such a weapon. He can burn you as a receiver or get the best of you as a blocker.

DEFENSE

Remember last year when the Eagles had the best pass defense in the league, but were vulnerable to the run? Times have changed. They now have the best run D and a leaky pass defense. Minnesota ran 9 times for 28 yards before just giving up. Jordan Davis and the DL did a fantastic job of clogging up the middle.

The real star up front was Josh Sweat. He played DE and DT and was disruptive wherever he lined up. He had a sack, a FF and 5 QB hits. Sweat has special potential because of his combination of athleticism, strength and length.

https://twitter.com/PhillyTruthr/status/1702713510650626292

That is a wow play.

Davis added a sack and a couple of QB hits. Fletcher Cox had a couple of QB hits and recovered the fumble after Sweat’s strip-sack. Jalen Carter had a couple of tackles and a TFL, but was quieter in this game than I expected.

I thought Zach Cunningham played well. He led the team with 8 total tackles and had a TFL. He’ll never be considered a cover LB, but I thought he had some good moments in coverage. He’s solid when keeping things in front of him and then making the tackle. He struggles when he’s asked to cover a TE man-to-man.

Nick Morrow started over Christian Elliss and I thought he was solid. He had 3 tackles and got a good shot on Cousins.

Justin Evans is physical, but has serious coverage limitations. Terrell Edmunds had 6 tackles and a FF.

Darius Slay was credited with 1 PD. He got his hands on several passes and just missed a couple of INTs. The Eagles tried to match him up vs Justin Jefferson, but the Vikings did an excellent job of moving JJ around so that he got favorable matchups.

Josh Jobe did some good things in his first start. He did give up a long TD to Addison, but was physical and aggressive most of the time. Mario Goodrich took over in the slot after Avonte’s injury. Goodrich struggled initially. MIN went after him and had good success.

Sean Desai did some creative things. Sweat was at DT in some passing situations. Cunningham lined up like an edge rusher in one look. The ILBs blitzed multiple times. Desai didn’t have a healthy back seven, but tried to be creative with his defense. There is no question that the pass defense must improve.

STs

Jake Elliott nailed a 61-yard FG at the end of the first half. He’s been great so far this year.

The Eagles only had 2 return yards for the game. Britain Covey did fumble, but luckily the Eagles recovered it.

Evans did force a fumble and the Eagles were able to recover that. The FF came at the end of a 20-yard PR.

Siposs did not have a good game. There is a reason they let him go.

*****

There have been a few roster changes this week.

Quez Watkins got hurt last week. He didn’t practice today. The Eagles needed another WR on the roster so Covey made sense because of his ability as a PR. The Eagles could elevate another WR for Monday’s game.

Koback replaces Trey Sermon who is now with the Colts. Koback is a good downhill runner. I love those guys so I’m fine with his addition.

Mullen is a slot corner who could help as the team figures out what they want to do. Seems like Goodrich will be in the slot for now.

Kyron Johnson is mainly a STer at this point.

It would really help to start getting some of the injured guys back in the lineup.

*****

Dallas has a lot of talent. They don’t always have great depth. We’ll see how this affects them.

Diggs is part of the enemy, but you never wish ACL injuries on anyone. Hope he comes back healthy next year.

*****

I’m sure most people penciled in the Bucs as a W for the Eagles a couple of months ago. Don’t be so sure of that anymore. Tampa is 2-0. The defense has been good, but QB Baker Mayfield is the real story. He’s playing the best football of his career.

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Eagles Give Siposs the Boot

Posted September 18th, 2023 | 2 Comments »

Arryn Siposs is a good enough NFL punter that he’s been in the league for three seasons now. He wasn’t good enough to keep his job with the Eagles.

Nick Sirianni admitted the team wanted a better option. They liked what they saw from Braden Mann in a recent workout and decided to give him a chance. Mann can be elevated from the PS three times before he must be added to the roster. That gives him three games to show he deserves the full-time job. If not, back to the drawing board. The Eagles could always bring back Siposs since he’s got one more PS elevation left.

Punter isn’t a critical position for a team with a high-powered offense. But not every game will be a shootout and getting good punts can be important in key situations. That could mean a few more yards, better location or more hang time. Let’s hope we’re blinded by the light of Mann’s punting.

*****

Brian Johnson has gotten some criticism for the Eagles slow start on offense this year. He’s a new OC so it is easy to make a correlation between that and the struggles. I think there are other factors that are more important, but Johnson could be part of the problem.

That said, let’s make sure we give him credit for embracing the run game on Thursday night. A lot of young OCs want to show how smart they are by slinging the ball around and being creative. Johnson was content to run the ball over and over. The Vikings played a soft front and dared the Eagles to run. Johnson took them up on the dare. It isn’t just young coaches who can struggle with that. Bill Belichick dared Mike Martz to run the ball back in Super Bowl XXXVI. The Rams threw 44 passes and only ran 22 times. They lost 20-17. Kudos to Johnson for being smart.

The Eagles didn’t run the ball as much vs NE because the Pats have a much better front seven and played the run better. The coaches and players have to fix the passing game because they won’t always be able to do what they did vs the Vikings.

*****

We’re too early into 2023 to know anything definitively. The injuries this year have been odd. Rib injuries to multiple players? There isn’t any protection for that. A concussion for Bradberry? No protection for that.

I think Sirianni’s style is more about limiting hamstrings, calf injuries and other things that involve wear and tear. The Eagles still seem to be good in those areas.

The fact the Eagles reached the Super Bowl with their entire starting lineup last year means I’m going to trust Sirianni until I have concrete evidence to the contrary. And I sure hope we don’t get that this year.

There is no disputing the fact that there are more injuries to this point.

*****

Bonehead move by Nick not to do this. Glad he was asked about it and admitted the mistake. I love the fact his brother was giving him a hard time for the blunder. That was such an obvious decision. Shocked me when he didn’t do it.

*****

The NFC East is off to an interesting start. The Giants looked like the worst team in the league for the first six quarters. They came alive in the second half in Arizona and won 31-28. I know you’re shocked that a Jonathan Gannon defense would disappear in the second half. In Arizona, no less. Could be costly for the Giants. Saquon Barkley sprained his ankle and will miss this week. They think he will miss 3 games.

Washington is 2-0. They needed to come from behind to beat the hapless Cardinals and a mediocre Broncos team. Still, this is their first time to go 2-0 since 2011.

Dallas is the best team in the league right now. Some of you won’t like me making that statement, but it is a fair assessment after two weeks. Dallas is one of those teams that is amazing when things click, but can crashing back to reality very quickly.

Micah Parsons is the best player in the league this year. The offense started to click on Sunday vs the Jets. Their STs can make plays. I still don’t trust that team or Mike McCarthy so I’m not bothered by a strong start for them. January has been their kryptonite for a long time.

*****

A lot of people want the Eagles to make a move. I certainly get that. Let’s see what they do. The first choice is almost always to look at your own roster. Those guys know the scheme and have been in place. You want to try them first.

Howie Roseman isn’t shy. If he thinks there is a better option elsewhere that makes sense, he will go get that guy, be it via signing or trade.

Bradberry is still in concussion protocol so Mario Goodrich may get a chance for his first NFL start. Or maybe the Eagles will try one of the safeties in there. You know Sirianni loves to keep this stuff secret as long as possible.

*****

More of this please.

https://twitter.com/PhillyTruthr/status/1702713510650626292

Sweat has developed into an absolute monster.

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