gangreen
Top Notch
Wrote this last night. You hate to overreact in Week 3. It’s still early and there’s plenty of time for a turnaround (last season, the Eagles were 4-6 and ended 9-7). This early in a season, you still don’t really know who the good teams are and who the bad ones are. So if there’s anything we can hope for, it’s that we’re just weathering the storm early and can bounce back later on. So I’m still holding out hope for October.
But three games in and I think one thing that’s become clear is that we really overhyped this team coming into the season.My post ran long, so spoiler tags:
Part of the struggles have been due to injuries to DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery, who were both great in Week 1, but the big advantage the Eagles were supposed to have had coming in was depth. That depth has been tested early and hasn’t risen to occasion at all, namely where the receivers are concerned. I’ll give credit to Mack Hollins, OPIs aside (one of those was a BS call, anyway), who actually did flash something in Weeks 2 and 3. But JJ Arcega-Whiteside, our big 2nd Round pick, has been invisible for all but one moment – when he dropped an easy TD pass thrown right into his hands (meanwhile, DK Metcalf has been killing it). Nelson Agholor has just been infuriating. Dude regressed all the way back to 2016 status. Dallas Geodert hasn’t taken the next step we all expected from him either.
Miles Sanders, our other big 2nd Round pick, has shown little in three weeks of play despite Doug, Staley, and Groh doing everything to get him on the field. He can’t create on runs and was dreadful in Week 3, with the fumbles. He’s flashed a bit in pass pro and pass catching, but the primary responsibility of an RB is to run the ball and he hasn’t done that effectively. Jordan Howard has been good, but the coaches have forced Sproles and Sanders and not used him, despite clearly being the best back on the team.
The defense is in a lot of trouble. I’ll give the secondary credit in Weeks 2 and 3 for facing down Matt Ryan and Matt Stafford and, although they did get torched by Case Keenum, managed to limit the Falcons and Lions to 17 and 20. Ronald Darby is dreadful, and Rasul Douglas, Avonte Maddox, and Sidney Jones haven’t taken the next step that they need to. Andrew Sendejo hasn’t been good. I think it’s time to just accept that they’ll never be great. But in fairness, when the defensive line – which is, to paraphrase Jim Schwartz, the “engine of the defense” – can’t sack anyone despite having Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, and Derek Barnett, it’s not all their fault. I think Howie fukked up big on defense this offseason trading away Michael Bennett, letting Chris Long walk, and not adding anyone to the team (Jadaveon Clowney, Ziggy Ansah, Justin Houston, etc.). He bet on Vinny Curry bouncing back, Fletcher Cox returning 100% after his injury, Derek Barnett taking another step forward, and Daeshon Hall or Josh Sweat stepping up. He lost. Injuries to big FA acquisitions Malik Jackson and Tim Jernigan haven’t helped.
The coaching is bad. Weeks 1 and 2 still had the same 1st quarter issues as 2018. FWIW, I thought Doug and Groh called a better offensive game in Week 3 – it’s not their fault if Agholor drops passes and Miles Sanders fumbles. The Eagles actually scored 10 points in the 1st quarter, which I hope is a sign that they’ve figured that out. I was willing to give Groh another chance as OC after 2018, given all the bullshyt he had to put up with, but it might be time for Doug to make a change. We need another experienced guy, like Frank Reich, to work with Pederson. Jim Schwartz is Jim Schwartz… same old, sometimes infuriating and sometimes the only guy whose unit is doing anything.
The offensive line has been up-and-down. They were great in Week 1, dreadful in Week 2, and… I don’t really know about Week 3. I don’t remember Carson getting hit much and they did open up holes that Sanders just couldn’t take advantage of. I’ll have to see that game again to really judge them.
Outside of the first half of Week 2, I think Carson has been solid. He moved the ball well in Week 1 (handicapped early on by a penalty to DJax, a terrible opening game plan from Pederson, and the Redskins dominating TOP) and Week 3. He’s not a perfect QB, but he’s been the only consistent member of the offense and really deserves a better performance from the team around him. Unfortunately, I’ve already seen dumbasses bringing up Foles and blaming him for his skill position players not doing their jobs. He’s been playing so much better already than in 2018.
So, with two winnable games against mediocre teams lost, the Eagles now sit at 1-2. They have a short week against the Packers, a 3-0 team with a HoF quarterback, an elite receiver, an elite offensive line, and a much improved defense. To start with, our secondary is going to get torn apart by Rodgers. The Eagles have no one who can cover Devante Adams. If our defensive line can’t get past the offensive lines of the Redskins, Falcons, and Lions, there’s no way they’re sacking Aaron Rodgers. The offensive line played horribly on the road in Week 2 and Lambeau Field isn’t going to be any easier than the ATL game was, so prepare for a lot of hits and sacks to Wentz. Alshon may be back, but DJax is likely out and I have no faith in Agholor or Arcega-Whiteside to make up the difference, so it’s back to having no deep threat to open up the field for Ertz (the only other offensive player, besides Wentz and Hollins, who seems capable of doing anything right now) in the middle of the field. And if Doug and Staley decide to force Sanders over Howard again, there’ll be no production from the running backs. I can see Carson trying to force plays to make something happen and racking up 2 or 3 INTs. I had this game written as a loss even before the season started, but via shootout that came down to the last possession, and now I can’t even believe that.
Hate to say it, ya’ll, but I think the Eagles are looking at 1-3 and a Saints-level massacre on Thursday. It’s going to be a blowout. And least they have a home game against the Jets to bounce back from afterwards.
Even at 1-3. It's still early, it's frustrating because these past two weeks were winnable games despite us being handcuffed. I think they will be fine when Alshon gets back and u start running Howard more. Hopefully DJax can play through the probable sports hernia but I doubt it
I read ur rant breh
. I agree with most of it.I dont understand Daeshon Hall regarding the pass rush. Dude was a beast in the preseason but we haven't see him yet.
We seen Josh Sweat and there is still no pressure, it wouldn't hurt to give Hall a shot just to see.
Barnett has been playing well just doesn't have the sack numbers but those come in bunches. I think he ranks first or second in QB pressures.
CLASSIC shyt
