Eagles Beat The Jets And Secure Their First Win

The Philadelphia Eagles used stellar special teams and defense to beat the New York Jets 24-17 in week 3 action. Darren Sproles scored on a punt return to get the Eagles started and pushed the lead to 10-0 and the Eagles used that energy with Ryan Mathews hard running jumped out to a 24-7 lead at halftime.

 

The Eagles defense mobbed Ryan Fitzpatrick and caused 4 turnovers with an outstanding performance from Linebacker Jonathan Hicks who recovered a fumble and caught an interception. The rookie who filled in for a depleted linebacker corp really showed up and showed out in his first start totalling 10 tackles, 1 pass defense, and the aforementioned interception and fumble recovery. The Eagles needed every bit of their defense's contribution as the offense was stymied in the second half.

 

Sam Bradford continued to look uncomfortable in Chip Kelly's offense and failed to get the ball to receiver not named Jordan Matthews. The win nevertheless was the most important outcome and winning while not performing the best gives hope. The hope of course is that the offense can match the defense and string together a strong performance and start winning multiple games.

MetLife Stadium could be the start of something good but only time will tell.

Eagles Lose And It Looks Like A Lost Season

The Dallas Cowboys rolled into Lincoln Financial field and for the fourth time in a row defeated the Philadelphia Eagles on their home turf 20-10. The 20-10 score is not indicative of the kind of football played by both teams as Troy Aikman best said it, "This is bad football by two teams expected to contend for the NFC East title". The first half, which was marred by inept offense and penalties, concluded with the Cowboys leading 6-0 on two field goals.

 

The developing story of the season, though for Philadelphia, is how terrible the Eagles offensive line is as DeMarco Murray at one point had 8 carries for -15 yards. Sam Bradford when he had time watched his receivers drop passes which could have helped them develop a rhythm but that never happened. Jason Kelce, an emerging player, looked very average as the Dallas defensive line just physically whopped up on the line and caused confusion, mayhem, and chaos. Chip Kelly in the post game presser said rather clearly, "We couldn't block anybody and you're not going to win any games if you cant run the ball".

 

The defense played 40 minutes because of the offense's inability to run an offense and while they played heroically they wore down in the end as Terrance Williams late game touchdown sealed Dallas' victory. Byron Maxwell surrendered that touchdown but he and his teammates caused turnovers and generally kept the Eagles in the game. The Eagles now are 0-2 and a victory looks far away for this team. Their immediate concern should be sticking together and working harder because it quite frankly looked like they didn't practice on offense. The noise in the press and on talk radio will be loud and angry next week so the message has to be "Stick Together".

The season is fragile now and Chip Kelly is on the hot seat while everyone waits and watches for a response to these two bad games.

Eagles Credentialed For Big College Football Games

Per A College Football 24-7 Report, Eagle scouts were credentialed for several national college football games. Lets take a look at the games and maybe who they are interested in:

Georgia Tech vs Notre Dame:

Notre Dame has a blue chipper at Linebacker named Jaylon Smith who could be of interest as a rush linebacker.

Florida vs Kentucky:

Offensive lineman David Sharpe and Linebacker Antonio Morrison could be interesting esp since depth at these positions is low.

South Carolina vs Georgia

Several blue chippers in this game including Wr Pharoah Cooper, Linebacker Jordan Jenkins and OT Brandon Shell.

BYU vs UCLA

Myles Jack is a superior athlete and can play safety in the Eagles defense and instantly upgrade the backend.

H/t Chase Goodbread of College Football 24/7.

The Sad History of Bill Davis As A Defensive Coordinator

Bill Davis has become a buzz word around the Delaware Valley because to be frank his defenses leave a lot to be desired especially from a coverage standpoint.  The results last year really frustrated Eagle fans as the defense surrendered 90 plays of 20 yards or more. Simply math gives us five and half plays of 20 yards or more a game.  This will not win many games in the NFL and but for Chip Kelly's offense and tempo the team could have easily been 8-8 last season because a couple of games saw some lucky bounces.  Well let's dig a little bit into Bill Davis and look at his defensive philosophy.  

Davis started off with Pittsburgh Steelers under Bill Cowher as defensive statistical analysis coach and that means he studied games and looked for trends in formations, play-calling "tells", and helping with Linebackers.  He then went to the Carolina Panthers as a OLB coach for Dom Capers.  He studied under 2 pretty good defensive coaches and formed his defensive philosophy for attacking offenses and one would have thought that it would have translated as he became a defensive coordinator 13 years later with the San Francisco 49ers.  Bill Davis' defenses at San Francisco in 2005 and 2006 look like this though:

Year    |  Points Per Game         | Yards Per Game             | League Rank

2005               26.8                           391.2                               29th

2006               25.8                           344.2                               32nd

These numbers led to him getting fired but since the NFL is a good ole boys club he was hired as a Linebackers coach the very next year with the Arizona Cardinals in 2007.  Arizona was not the contending team it is today but they were a young team with emerging talent that they collected from drafting high due to losing.  The losing eventually gave Davis his chance again as a defensive coordinator with Arizona Cardinals. Here's his numbers with Arizona:

Year      |  Points Per Game      |  Yards Per Game            | League Rank

2009                20.3                        346.4                               14th

2010                27.1                        373.6                               30th

What about these numbers excite you about Bill Davis?  Three of the four years he was a defensive coordinator his teams finished 29th or lower in the league and one year his defense finished dead last! Lets now take a look at his Eagle numbers as a defensive coordinator:

Year    |  Points Per Game   | Yards Per Game                | League Rank

2013                                                                                         29th

2014                  25.0                     375.6                                28th

I didn't add the 2013 year's numbers because according to Davis it was an install year and everyone was still learning the defense but do you see a trend?  Of course you see the trend and it's all of these defenses rank 28th or lower in the league (except for the one outlier in 2009) . IT'S 32 TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE! The passing defense ranked 31st in the league last year and that is salt in the wound at this point but it magnifies my point.  THIS MUST CHANGE if this team is going to contend and ultimately this will be on Chip Kelly because the information is out there about how to attack and defeat Bill Davis and his defense.

Chip Kelly the failure of this defense will be on you not Bill Davis because you chose this.

Eagles Look To Rebound vs A Dangerous Dallas Team

Chip Kelly in his Tuesday and Wednesday pressers stressed penalties and technique as two areas that need to be cleaned up as they approach their game against the Cowboys. Kelly appeared calm as the Philly beat writers asked question after question about the team's preparation, fire, and readiness and he stood in as the questions came about his approach on the field goal attempt that Cody Parkey missed. Kelly backed his Pro Bowl placekicker and said the team must move on to the Dallas game. Oooooh yes it's Dallas week and a rival game, a division game, and the possibility of going 0-2 should be enough to get this team ready!

 

Speaking of readiness, everyone saw the lack of passrush and Marcus Smith is needed as a passrusher. Is he ready to rush the passer and help this team? Everyone is waiting to see because Vinny Curry is needed back on Dline duties.

 

Brian Baldinger, Herman Edwards, and Ron Jaworski all weighed in on Sports Talk radio and gave their insight and by their accounts the Dallas game is a must win and will go a long way in this season.

Eagles Lose To The Falcons 26 - 24....Over Reaction Tuesday

The Philadelphia Eagles game against the Atlanta Falcons was a great game for fans of the NFL as Chip Kelly's blitz style on offense and loose covering defense makes for an exciting brand of football, almost has an Arena League feel to it at times.  I have some observations of the game from the Eagles point of view with some interesting facts.  The Eagles are 1-4 in their last five regular season games and I see a blue print that defenses are using with Kelly's offense.  They are attacking the offensive line in the middle and this is where it seems to be weak. Jason Kelce, a fan favorite in Philly, made two bonehead mistakes by unnecessarily blocking men that had no chance of making the play and it negated two huge plays that could have shifted the game.  When he wasn't doing that he was getting run over in the run game and it's an identified weakness now. Andrew Gardener didn't do too well either as the Eagles decided to pass the ball 52 times and run it 16 times. There's some work to do on offense and defense as x plays (plays of 20 yds. or more) hurt the team and one 3rd down and 15 was especially painful as the team was clawing back into the game.  Julio Jones had his way with Byron Maxwell and lit the lamp for 9 catches, 141 yds. and 2 Tds.  It was an evening very similar to what was routinely seen last year.  Here's some other observations about the game again from the Eagles perspective

Chip Kelly Has To Decide what this team's identity is. If you bring Murray and Mathews here then use them in the run game which zaps the defensive lineman and  it gives Sam Bradford a chance to lather up and the receivers too. He looked like a rookie coach in the 1st half and he left his team looking confused on offense and defense.  Every play someone looked lost and that my friends is coaching.

The team will get better but now I'm looking at Kelly's calls and Bill Davis' defense with my magnifying glass because again they are 1-4 in it's last 5 games.

Ok, that's what's called Over reaction Tuesday after a Monday night loss.

DSPN Fantasy Football Primer Week 1

I have been playing Fantasy Football since '96 so I figured I can talk a little about Fantasy football because Ive been doing it for 18 years. Ok enough about me lets get to week 1. Here's two players who I think will surprise this week and this season and I have them stashed on all my teams:

Wr Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

His route running and playmaking ability just mesh with Russell Wilson and Russell will look for him as he consistently makes plays for him during the season.

Rb Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins

He is excelling Bill Lazor's offense, which uses elements of Chip Kelly's offense, and looks like he will only get better. I have him as my #2 Rb and will ride or die with him.

Other players Im high on this year are Qb Sam Bradford,  and Wrs DeSean Jackson and Brandin Cooks.  I just so happen to be high on these guys in week 1 too as all have considerable upside and are great plays. Bradford will explode IMO against a weak Atlanta D, Jackson has played well with Cousins and is the number #1 long ball threat in pro football and averaged 20.6 ypc last year with a revolving door at quarterback. Cooks has Jackson like ability and Drew Brees as a quarterback and in a half season looked especially explosive. I look for him to continue what he started with Brees last season.

Those are my guys for week 1 in Fantasy, I will be back next Thursday for my plays in week 2.

On Your Mark, Chip Set, Eagles Go

The season starts with the Philadelphia Eagles at the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night. The powers that be have decided to see what Chip's makeover is all about and put the Eagles on national Tv so everyone can see what that makeover looks like! Everyone is excited in Philly and high expectations have taken over the city with some touting dare I say it....SUPER BOWL WINNING expectations. Im expecting to see improvement but will take a wait and see approach starting with this Atlanta game. Lets take a look at the Atlanta game.

 

Here's some keys that I think will say alot about the season starting with this game.

 

• Sam Bradford's movement - I expect the Falcons to come after Sam as Dan Quinn, Atlanta's new coach, has an aggressive defensive philosophy. If Sam shows any mobility it dispels this myth that he lacks mobility and is a statue.

 

• Bill Davis' defense - This defense gave up 90 plays of 20 yards or more and at times in the secondary it looked like an episode of the Keystone cops and Davis took a lot of heat for it from the fans. The Eagles come into this game with wholesale changes in the secondary where only one starter returns from last year. They will be tested by the Falcons who have a good quarterback in Matt Ryan and a superstar receiver in Julio Jones.

 

• Complimentary football - Everyone will be looking at how Chip Kelly calls a football game with a lead in the second half if in fact, of course, they are leading in this game. The team looked tired at the end of last season and many blamed the pace of Kelly's offense and the defense wearing out.

 

Those are some things to look at as the Eagles and Falcons face off on Monday night. Here's my prediction.

 

Eagles 50 - 21!