Eagles 2 Round Mock Draft

The Philadelphia Eagles have been in a “Rebuild” for just a little over a year now. After a lackluster 2020 season from former QB Carson Wentz, the Eagles officially began their rebuild.

Let’s jump forward one season, and see where we are:

The Eagles traded Carson Wentz for a 2022 First Round Pick (16) from the Indianapolis Colts. The Eagles later traded down from the number 6 overall pick in 2021 for the number 12 pick where they used a late round pick to move from 12 to 10 to select WR Devonta Smith who became the Eagles all time rookie receiving yards leader for the team. They also gained a 2022 First Round pick (15) from the Miami Dolphins. They also dealt TE Zach Ertz to the Arizona Cardinals for a 4^th Round pick. 

These are all clear signs of a rebuild, however, the Eagles went 9-8 in Jalen Hurts first year as QB1 and made the playoffs! In a year that the team was supposed to be rebuilding, they made the playoffs and proved to the rest of the football world that they are here to play. 

The Eagles have the potential to build a roster dominant for years this offseason. They have cap space, plenty of draft capital, and the building blocks of a young roster. 

Looking to the draft, here is what I see the Eagles doing in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft:

Round 1, Pick 15- Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

The Eagles need linebackers and that has never been clearer. This year, there are two headliner linebackers between Lloyd and Nakobe Dean from Georgia. Dean is my LB1 in this draft, but I see him going anywhere from 7 to 13. Lloyd is my LB1B, as the only thing that gives Dean the edge is his ability to drop back in coverage. Lloyd is physical, he is fast, and he can stop the run as well as protect the middle on passing plays. Lloyd will be a dominant player in the NFL for years.

Round 1, Pick 16- Ahamad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati 

Slay and Sauce, Sauce and Slay, that’s something that I can get used to. Gardner has had a near perfect career at Cincinnati and finished it off with one last dominant performance against Alabama, shutting down Jameson Williams. 

Round 1, Pick 19- Traded to TB for Pick 27, 2023 First Round Pick, and a 2022 3^rd Round Pick

The Bucs need a lot. Tom Brady retired, so they need a QB desperately, Chris Godwin is likely to test free agency, and Antonio Brown is long gone, so WR is another position of need. With names like Matt Corral, Sam Howell, Desmond Ridder, and maybe even Kenny Pickett likely to be available at 19, as well as wide receivers like Chris Olave, Trylon Burks, and Jameson Williams, the Bucs will do anything to trade up and fill one of those needs. 

Round 1, Pick 27- Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State 

The Eagles need a wide receiver badly. They have Devonta Smith, but then it just gets ugly. Next on the depth chart is Jalen Reagor, who has dropping issues, struggles to get separation, even with his elite speed, and looks like a failed project in only his second year in the league. Then there is Quez Watkins. Watkins gave the fans hope after the preseason that he could easily be the WR2 on the team, but somehow, he fell back below Reagor on the charts. Lastly there is JJ Arcega Whiteside. He was picked over DK Metcalf, Dionte Johnson, Terry McLaurin, and more. He needs to be replaced. That’s where Dotson comes in. Dotson is everything you can want in a wide receiver. He has elite speed, great separation, precise route running, and has strong hands and few drops.  He can return kicks and or punts, and line up outside or in the slot. He is a utility tool when it comes to the wide receiver position and getting him at 27 could be a steal. 

Round 2, Pick 51- Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State 

The Eagles double dip on Nittany Lions in this mock draft. Brisker is a first-round talent sliding due to injury concern. Though he didn’t miss many games during his career at Penn State, he frequently exited games due to injury, though most of the time he returned. He also played through many injuries as well. Brisker fits what the Eagles need. He is a fast, physical safety with great ball skills, a strong ability to track the ball, and can even line up at LB at times as well as rushing the QB from either position. In other words, Brisker is a stud, and to some is a day 2 steal. 

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NL East Offseason Report

The National League East is home to the Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, the 2019 World Series Champion Washington Nationals, and the 2021 World Series Champion Atlanta Braves. 

They also have three of the last 5 National League MVP Award Winners in Giancarlo Stanton with the Marlins in 2017, Freddie Freeman with the Braves in 2020, and most recently Bryce Harper with the Phillies in 2020. That’s not even mentioning the Cy Young Dominance that Nationals (and now Mets) Pitcher Max Scherzer and Mets Pitcher Jacob DeGrom have had over the past six years.

Even with all these accolades, the star powered division is considered to be amongst the worst in baseball. The teams can some of the worst of the worst, and the best of the best all in one season. 

This offseason is one of the most star-studded free agent cycles that we have seen in a long time, and the trade market is just as crazy. The Mets have been all over it, bringing in stars like Center Fielder Starling Marte, Infielder Eduardo Escobar, 1^st Baseman Mark Chana, and now the icing on top, Superstar Pitcher Max Scherzer.

The Mets remain active, while teams like the Phillies and Braves, who were expected to be big players in this market, remain quiet. The Marlins also are expected to make a splash, pun intended. Yet we have yet to hear of any real traction between any major players in this market and either of these teams.

With all these teams being a key player or two away from being in contention for a title, it is strange to see four of five teams being quiet. 

The Phillies and Marlins have been linked to outfielders Chris Taylor and Nicholas Castellanos, and it seems like they are both frontrunners for both players, no real movement has been made, per Jon Morosi of the Athletic. The Phillies are also interested in potential infielders turned outfielders Trevor Story and Kris Bryant, though both seem to be looking for contracts out of their price range. 

The Braves and superstar 1^st Baseman Freddie Freeman have yet to agree on a deal or even to be rumored to be close in negotiations which has come to shock the MLB world. 

There has not even been a peep from the Nationals, not even a rumor. A potential extension for their young star outfielder Juan Soto could be in the works, but its yet to be said how Soto feels about his future in Washington. 

The balance of power in the NL East could be shifting, as the fate of the teams is in the hands of their front office’s. With Mets being the only team active, we could see a new team on top of the division very soon. 

Penn State vs Iowa Preview

It is finally time. The highly anticipated top four showdown at Kinnick Stadium is finally here. Penn State and Iowa always combine for exciting matchups and today should be no different. Both teams have gotten off to red hot starts and will be looking to prove themselves once again this afternoon.

Offensive Outlook:

Iowa’s defense has been stifling this season. They have allowed just 11.6 points per game, but have also recorded an astounding amount of takeaways. They have already scored three touchdowns and a safety in just five games this season. There isn’t a star player that the defense revolves around, but they play as a cohesive unit.

Typically Iowa teams are stout up front, which they are, but not as much as they have been in the past. Penn State’s run game hasn’t been incredible but they need to stick to it today. Keyvone Lee should be untilized throughout to get sure yards – something Noah Cain has not done recently. Cain is still the best back on this team, but Lee looks to be the better option to attack the Hawkeyes.

The strength of this defense is their secondary. Every player back there has years of experience and they capitalize on mistakes made by opposing Quarterbacks. However, they have not faced a test like this Penn State offense. It is important to get Jahan Dotson involved early because they do not have the star power to stop him. Once they become weary of him, that will open up easy reads underneath for Clifford to make.

Mike Yurcich needs to stretch out the offense and attack Iowa through the air. This is a game where they will need to target everyone and rely on Jahan Dotson in key moments to be the difference maker. Establishing the run is important, but will not be easy today, so that is why 11 personnel is this offense’s best option. Jack Campbell and the rest of Iowa’s Linebackers are excellent against the run, but have questionable coverage skills. The Nittany Lions must use that to their advantage.

Defensive Outlook:

Iowa’s offense is not going to take the top off of a defense as good as Penn State’s, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t capable of moving the ball. Tyler Goodson is one of the best Running Backs in the Big 10 and has an incredible interior Offensive Line to run behind. Ellis Brooks has proven to be stout downhill, but Brandon Smith has not done so just yet. Today is the day for younger Linebackers like Smith and Curtis Jacobs’ to prove their toughness.

Redshirt Junior Quarterback, Spencer Petras has proven to be a very good game manager for the Hawkeyes. He does not have spectacular arm talent and is not too versatile but has a good read on the pocket and generally makes good, safe decisions. It is important for Brent Pry to dial up blitzes throughout the game to pressure Petras and expose his shortcomings. Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Nico Ragaini are better than your stereotypical Iowa Wide Receivers, but aren’t anything that Joey Porter Jr. and Tariq Castro-Fields haven’t seen before.

Furthermore, the Hawkeye Offensive Tackles are a big question mark. They are inexperienced and will face a very big test this week. Arnold Ebiketie and Jesse Luketa should have big games pressuring both Petras and Goodson.

Final Verdict:

The Nittany Lions are better than the Hawkeyes at nearly every position. They are the better team and need to prove so today. Iowa’s defense hasn’t faced Wide Receivers as good as Jahan Dotson and Parker Washington yet this season; moreover, they faced a Quarterback like Sean Clifford either. Iowa’s offense will move the ball, but Penn State’s red zone defense matches up well. Don’t expect the Hawkeyes to score many touchdowns. If Penn State plays smart, doesn’t make costly turnovers, and doesn’t beat themselves, they will make a huge statement today in Iowa City.

Final Score Prediction:

Penn State 23, Iowa 13

Offensive Player of the Game:

Parker Washington

Defensive Player of the Game:

Arnold Ebiketie

Eagles vs Panthers Preview

With three consecutive losses in the books, the Birds look to get back on track this Sunday as they travel down to Charlotte in an attempt to upset the Carolina Panthers. While things have been largely negative in Philadelphia, the opposite is the case in North Carolina. Even after a loss in which they gave up 36 points to the Cowboys, the Panthers still sit tied atop the NFC South with an impressive 3-1 record. Big name offseason acquisitions and young talent have exceeded expectations to bring them to this point. Things won’t be getting much easier this week for the Birds, but expect plenty of fight from a team that desperately wants to avoid falling to 1-4.

Offensive Outlook:

The Panthers defense has the ability to be one of the most swarming in the league. They have playmakers at every single level that have the ability to make game altering plays at any given moment. Their two leaders in the back seven, Jeremy Chinn and Shaq Thompson have embraced important roles; both players have missed just a combined five snaps so far this season. Both players possess the speed and size to cover both Running Backs and Tight Ends. Expect them to make the screen game difficult with their sideline to sideline speed.

Their defensive line is headlined by Brian Burns who is probably their best defender. Burns and Haason Reddick are tremendous edge rushers, and Derrick Brown and DaQuan Jones are stout up the middle against the run. The Panthers starting Defensive Line is one of the best in the entire league, but they are on the field entirely way too much. Their defensive line depth is terrible, so the starters are often gassed. If Nick Sirianni is smart, he will run the ball and control the clock to tire out their front, but that is unlikely.

The Panthers’ achilles heel are their Cornerbacks. Newly added Stephon Gilmore is not eligible to play until week seven, so the only capable Corner they currently have is Donte Jackson. Eighth overall pick Jaycee Horn recently suffered a long term foot injury, so they are depending on a washed up A.J. Bouye, recently acquired C.J. Henderson, and other low end roster players. The Eagles need to do what they did last game and take what the defense gives them. They tried to force big plays against depleted secondaries the previous two weeks, but had a much smarter approach last week.

The Eagles should be looking to run a lot of 11 personnel once again to spread out the defense, give Jalen Hurts easier reads, and force Carolina into nickel or dime coverages. Donte Jackson is a good Cornerback, so Devonta Smith may have a tough day. Hurts will need to look to his secondary weapons like Quez Watkins and Dallas Goedert. If the Panthers have Jeremy Chinn playing more of a traditional deep safety position, then Goedert should have a big game running intermediate routes, but if they decide to have Chinn play more as a hybrid, there will be some big play opportunities downfield.

Defensive Outlook:

The Panthers’ offense has been extremely impressive and are now likely to have star Running Back, Christian McCaffrey back in the lineup. The Stanford product went down week three with a hamstring injury and was initially projected to be out through this week, but is now expected to play. He brings their offense to another level and will be nearly impossible to cover; he is what makes the offense good rather than decent.

Joe Brady helped evolve Joe Burrow into a Heisman winner and first overall pick when he was at LSU. He is now working the same magic on Sam Darnold. Darnold, selected third overall by the Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft, was stuck in a terrible situation for the first three years of his career. Now that he has been placed in a properly run offense with weapons, his true potential is beginning to show.

The Eagles secondary has been underrated so far this season but are yet again going to be put to the test. Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore have been one of the best Wide Receiver duos in the game and are complemented by Terrace Marshall, a rookie second round pick who is a more than capable WR3. Darius Slay should not have too much trouble, but there is a good chance that Steven Nelson will. Don’t expect many deep shots down the field as Carolina will most likely take the easy reads that the Eagles give them underneath.

This is not a game that will be won in the trenches. The old cliche is normally very accurate, but not in this game. The Panthers Offensive Line is not too accomplished, but they often play outside of the tackles. The Linebackers will be tasked with defending Christian McCaffrey against both the pass and the run. That is a sentence no Eagles fan wants to hear. However, if Jonathan Gannon’s zone defense can properly defend him, the Birds have a good chance at limiting Carolina’s offense. However, that is a very big “if”.

Final Verdict:

Christian McCaffrey simply adds way too much to the Carolina Panthers. He is the difference maker in this game. I truly believe that the result of this game depends on his health; if he is 100%, I think the Panthers win, but if he is not then the Eagles should win. Aside from McCaffrey, the Eagles match up very well with Carolina on both sides of the ball. Regardless, this is still a very winnable game. If the Eagles increase their efficiency in the red zone and on third down, they should be in this game until the very end.

Score Prediction:

Eagles 23, Panthers 28

Offensive Player of the Game:

Dallas Goedert

Defensive Player of the Game:

Darius Slay

Eagles vs 49ers Preview

The 1-0 Eagles are back in front of a packed Lincoln Financial Field to host the 1-0 San Francisco 49ers! Fans have been anticipating this moment for well over a year and it’s finally here. The Linc is going to be rocking especially given last week’s thrashing of Atlanta.

Offensive Outlook:

The Eagles are coming off a win in which they were very balanced and methodical. Nick Sirianni can’t get away from the run game, but if the Eagles have success on offense it will be through the air.

San Francisco is stout up front. Their defensive line possesses the likes of Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Dee Ford, and Javon Kinlaw. Fred Warner is also maybe the best linebacker in football. Those guys are going to make it very difficult to run the ball with success.

The 49ers lost their best cornerback, Jason Verrett last week and will also be without their second best Cornerback, Emmanuel Moseley. Their secondary was sub par to begin with but is now banged up as well. Jalen Hurts and company must take advantage of this. If the Eagles can indeed take charge with a high flying passing attack, that will open up the entire field. The second that the 49ers come out with an extra defensive back to help accommodate, then it’s time for the Birds to run the ball down their throats to keep the game plan balanced. It is important that they don’t start looking for the big play too often. Even if it might be there, they still need to run the ball and take what is given to them on shorter routes.

If played right, expect the Eagles to have another successful day on offense.

Defensive Outlook:

This is where the Eagles need to be concerned. San Francisco’s head coach, Kyle Shanahan has the best running scheme in the NFL. The Eagles run defense was very bad in the first half of last week’s game. The defensive line got better as the game progressed, but the linebackers still have yet to show that they can be trusted. This game largely depends on how well the 49ers run the ball – which will most likely be very well. Shanahan’s scheme is incredible, but their talent up front is no joke. Not only does their offensive line have big names like Trent Williams, Alex Mack, and Mike McGlinchey, but Kyle Juszczyk and George Kittle are two of the best blockers in the league at their respective positions. The Eagles defensive front is going to be put to the test today.

The pass defense will also be put to the test. There are questions about second year wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, but Deebo Samuel is one of the most underrated in the league. Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox will have their hands full with him today. Lastly, George Kittle. The man is a matchup nightmare and no one on this team can cover him. It will be interesting to see what Jonathan Gannon draws up to defend him, but odds are Kittle will have a big day.

Final Verdict:

The Eagles and 49ers are built very similarly to each other – Strong offensive lines, multiple talented running backs, dominant tight end groups, and stout front sevens with question marks in the secondary. Even Jalen Hurts and Jimmy Garoppolo have very similar games. Considering the talented offensive minds and injuries in the secondary that both teams have, there should be an offensive showdown at the Linc today. The Eagles will move the ball well, but San Francisco will likely have a better grasp on the game. Their success on the ground will keep Kyle Shanahan in control and George Kittle is an x-factor that will probably be too much for the Eagles to handle. However, this is anyone’s game. It will certainly be up for grabs and should be close until the final whistle.

Score Prediction:

Eagles 28, 49ers 34

Offensive Player of the Game Prediction:

Dallas Goedert

Defensive Player of the Game Prediction:

Brandon Graham

Penn State vs Auburn Preview

The Auburn Tigers are coming to Happy Valley Saturday night to take on the Nittany Lions in the university’s first white out in nearly two years. Not only is this a gigantic game for PSU’s season, but also for the Big Ten conference as a whole. The entire country will be watching this game in prime time and there is no better opportunity for this football team to show what this program is all about and that Beaver Stadium is the best atmosphere in college football.

Offensive Outlook:

It’s Mike Yurcich’s time to shine. The offense has executed well ever since they came out of the tunnel to start the second half in Madison. Quite frankly, Auburn’s defense matches up phenomenally with Penn State’s offense. Their weakness is up front, but this Nittany Lions offensive line has yet to prove that they will dominate an inferior defensive line. Auburn’s back seven has some of the best talent the NCAA has to offer. Owen Pappoe and Zakoby McClain are two of the best linebackers in the nation. Expect to hear their names a lot, especially McClain who led the SEC in tackles last season. Cornerback, Roger McCreary and Safety, Smoke Monday headline their secondary which contains plenty of question marks. The Tigers’ secondary has plenty of potential, but that comes with a lack of experience. They will play a sound game, but mistakes will be made and there will be guys open down the field. These opportunities will be few and far between so it is important that Sean Clifford makes the most of them. Clifford needs to keep the ball out of opposing hands and make the throws that he is given.

Mike Yurcich should use his running back depth early. Noah Cain has taken another gigantic leap going into this season and has proven himself to be this team’s best running back. Due to his importance, he needs to be fresh for the second half. Devyn Ford and Keyvone Lee should hopefully get touches early. All three guys need to remain fresh and go right at Auburn to wear down their linebackers. Then once the second half comes, it’s Noah Cain’s time to shine and put the game on ice.

The Nittany Lions will move the ball by being creative. Yurcich has already shown his willingness to go up tempo often and run the offense out of a wide variety of different personnel packages and formations. More of that style is to be expected tonight.

Defensive Outlook:

This has all the feels of being a dog fight. Not only is Auburn’s offensive line returning all five starters, but they have seven linemen in total who started multiple games last season. The Tigers possess experience and depth up front, they also possess one of the best running backs in the nation, Tank Bigsby. The sophomore is a downhill runner with power and underrated agility. However, it doesn’t end there; backing him up is Shaun Shivers, also one of the Tigers’ best players. He will see the field plenty, providing the finesse and receiving ability that Bigsby doesn’t. However, Tank is their guy and their offense goes when he goes. He will prefer to ground and pound trailing his guards, so it is important that the only returning Defensive Lineman, P.J. Mustipher clogs up holes and takes on double teams to allow his linebackers to make plays. The defensive ends need to keep their heads up to better defend the run and prevent success on draws and screens. Expect Jesse Luketa to have a big night on the edge due to his experience reading the field at linebacker.

The Nittany Lions’ back seven is most likely where this game will be won or lost. Auburn’s offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo is known for using multiple running backs to run the ball in his creative run scheme but also as receivers in the screen game. Penn State’s linebackers will be tested by Auburn’s offensive scheme. They need to be cautious of Tank Bigsby bruising them up the middle, but will also need to range sideline to sideline. Ellis Brooks has been phenomenal in the three halves he’s played this season, but Brandon Smith and Curtis Jacobs have been timid. They need to trust their instincts and play aggressively like they began to do last week against Ball State. Since Auburn is unlikely to be too spread out and will likely be in 21 personnel quite often, Brent Pry should be able to stack the box and trust his cornerbacks on the outside. Joey Porter Jr. and Tariq Castro-Fields have played excellently but will be tested on Saturday night, likely without much safety help. If those guys hold Bo Nix and the Tigers’ passing offense in check and allow the Linebackers to play aggressively sideline to sideline, the Nittany Lions probably win this game.

Final Verdict:

This is going to be a close game. Both defenses match up excellently against their opponents on offense. A multitude of running backs will be getting touches on both sides. This is going to be a game won on big plays and the turnover battle. Most likely Bo Nix and Sean Clifford will have relatively quiet games and won’t be asked to do too much. With that being said, there is a large chance that they will be the deciding factors in this game. If one throws a costly interception, but their counterpart is able to find a receiver deep for a timely touchdown, that probably decides the outcome of this showdown.

Score Prediction:

Penn State 23, Auburn 20

Offensive Player of the Game Prediction:

Noah Cain

Defensive Player of the Game Prediction:

P.J. Mustipher

Eagles vs Falcons Observations

The Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts led Philadelphia Eagles handled the Atlanta Falcons this past Sunday by a score of 32-6. There is a lot to unpack from this game.

Offensive Observations:

Jalen Hurts had complete control of this offense. The highlights of his beautiful passes are what will have people excited, but what is most important is the poise he showed. Smart reads were made on the backside Defensive Ends in the run game and he went through his progressions in the passing game. He read the pocket effectively, escaping at the perfect time – not to early but also not too late. Many times Carson Wentz would remain stationary too long which would result in a sack, but we saw none of that from Jalen Hurts. When pressure got to him or the coverage was like a blanket, he didn’t force the ball down field, yet he found his check down instead. A+ effort from our QB1.

After Jalen Hurts, the next impressive is Nick Sirianni. His play calling and grasp of the situation at hand was masterful. From the precisely calculated first drive, to the two minute drill to close out the first half, to running the clock towards the end, he was in control all game and executed his game plan. Props to the new head coach.

With that being said, it all starts up front. If your linemen don’t do their job, good quarterback play and coaching does not matter. Although they desperately need to cut down on penalties, the offensive line had an incredible day.

There were many questions in the offseason regarding the Birds’ skilled position players. Not only was there drama surrounding Zach Ertz, but there were major question marks about the lack of experience at wide receiver, and there was also plenty of criticism surrounding Miles Sanders and his drop issues. Not one skilled player had a bad game. Devonta Smith obviously stands out as the Eagles’ most productive weapon on Sunday, but even Jalen Reagor matched his reception total with six grabs. Both guys notched a touchdown on top of that. Quez Watkins’ speed was showcased early and even J.J. Arcega-Whiteside had an excellent day. The third year wide out failed to record a catch, but he was a dominant blocker in the run game and on screens (which were very successful throughout the game). Like past Eagles teams, multiple tight ends and running backs were utilized. Rookie Kenneth Gainwell provided a nice change of pace and found the end zone for his first career NFL Touchdown.

Defensive Observations:

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but this defense will need to improve going into the home opener this week. There are plenty of positives to discuss, however the run defense is a major concern.

The Falcons accumulated one hundred yards on the ground by the second quarter. This coming against a front that is known for shutting down the run. The defensive line was able to pad their stats in the second half once Falcons head coach Arthur Smith abandoned the run, but their play prior to that is a major concern. If this is not fixed soon, Kyle Shanahan will have a field day against them. With that being said, Javon Hargrave looks to finally be 100% healthy and he had an amazing day up the middle.

The Linebackers collectively as a unit were very disappointing. Eric Wilson didn’t seem to position himself too badly, but came up short on too many tackles. Genard Avery is still receiving playing time which is baffling considering it seems as if he still has yet to learn how to properly fill a gap. Alex Singleton once again looks like this team’s best linebacker.

On the flip side, the secondary needs to give themselves a huge pat on the back. Every player played Jonathan Gannon’s zone scheme precisely how it was drawn up. Darius Slay looked to be back to his normal self and his counterparts Steven Nelson and Avonte Maddox also impressed. Anthony Harris was the most important member of the secondary. In his first game with wings on his helmet, he was all over the field playing a major role with both Rodney McLeod and Marcus Epps sidelined.

At the end of the day, the defense gave up a lot of yards early, but did a phenomenal job in the red zone and gave their offense time to gain a significant lead.

Special Teams Observations:

Special Teams cannot be taken for granted! Although the coverage on kick and punt returns was non existent, Sunday was a day to be celebrated. Jake Elliott nailed every extra point and field goal he attempted after an abysmal 2020 season. Arryn Siposs shined in his first game as an Eagle, landing three punts inside the ten yard line. That is an incredible performance from the punter that will be overlooked.

Overall, great game from the Eagles. The offense and special teams were outstanding and the defense also had a good outing despite some issues that will be talked down.

Eagles vs Falcons Preview

Eagles football is back.

The Eagles travel down to Atlanta to take on the Falcons today at 1 PM ET to kick off their 2021 season.

There is much skepticism to start off this season considering there haven’t been this many unknowns on the roster in at least half a decade. Expectations are low, but the potential is high. Putting aside all the drama from the offseason, this Eagles team has the pieces to contend for the playoffs right now. The Birds remain strong in the trenches, have added youth and speed to their skilled positions on offense, and have also added proven veterans to sure up holes on all three levels of the defense.

How the Birds will match up on offense:

This is likely to be a high scoring game. All the talk out of camp has been about how stellar Jonathan Gannon’s defense has looked, but the offense is primed to be the unit that shines today. As cliche as it is, if the Eagles win today it will likely be because of the running game. Running the ball today is important for a multitude of reasons – It will allow Jalen Hurts and this young offense to settle in, it will give the defense a chance to get rest, and simply put, the Eagles should dominate the Falcons upfront. The Falcons defensive front contains good players like Marlon Davidson and Dante Fowler, but the real disrupters are Grady Jarrett and Deion Jones. If the Eagles confuse and contain Jarrett and get to the second level to block Jones, Miles Sanders and company should have themselves a day on the ground.

As for the passing game, Jalen Hurts should have a lot of options to throw to. Giving Hurts easy reads against a bad secondary should be Nick Sirianni’s focus. Atlanta’s defense will most likely be using Deion Jones and one of their Safeties (likely Duron Harmon) to contain Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz. Expect a lot of sparring with the Eagles running the ball often to set up big plays. Also expect the running backs to be used out of the back field a lot. This will distract the safeties and ideally set up plenty of one on one matchups on the outside.

How the Birds will match up on defense:

The key to defense today will be shutting down the run and playing good red zone defense. The Falcons have a good offense. They are going to put up yards. Matt Ryan is still one of the best quarterbacks in the game, and although they lost Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley remains and Kyle Pitts may be an even more effective option than Jones. Russel Gage can’t be forgotten either. Marcus Epps is going to be in at safety for Rodney McLeod today which makes these matchup nightmares even more hellish. Darius Slay is likely to not have much safety help against Ridley and no one on the Eagles can cover Kyle Pitts man on man. Very few players in the NFL can. The Falcons are likely to put up a massive number of yards through the air.

However, the Eagles once again are the better team up front. Just like the offensive side of the ball, our line is better than theirs. Atlanta’s offensive line features many high round picks that have been serviceable but haven’t quite lived up to expectations. The Birds could potentially dominate up front which is important because Atlanta’s head coach Arthur Smith likes to run the ball. If they take that away, Atlanta’s entire game plan will begin to crumble. Additionally, a good pass rush will also cause Matt Ryan to hopefully miss open receivers down field (because there will be plenty).

Final Verdict:

This is set up to be a high scoring game. The over/under is currently set at 49 which should get absolutely crushed. Neither team’s secondary is good and both Arthur Smith and Nick Sirianni are coaching in their first game as an NFL head coach. Neither defensive coordinator has a book on their opponent. Ultimately this game will come down to red zone efficiency, third down efficiency, turnover differential, time of possession, and special teams.

Score Prediction:

Philadelphia Eagles 34, Atlanta Falcons 30

The Eagles are too strong up front. They should win the battle of the trenches and as a result win the time of possession battle as well. The best defense the Eagles have today is for the offense to have long drives to keep Matt Ryan off the field.

Offensive player of the game: Quez Watkins

Defensive player of the game: Javon Hargrave

What to expect from the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021?

With The Eagles season just 3 Weeks away. We already kind of know what to expect. Or do we? With a new Coaching Staff and New QB a ton of questions remain unanswered in this blog I will give you some players and some coaches to be on the lookout for as we move closer to the start of the regular season.

Jalen Hurts

How can you hate Jalen Hurts? Jalen looks like player ready for war. He is always counted out and has always played very well under pressure. NBC’s Chris Simms recently left Jalen Hurts out of his top 40 Qb’s in the NFL. How disrespectful is that. I truly believe Jalen Hurts can take a huge leap and become the future for the Philadelphia Eagles. Now that is if the team allows him to. The Eagles have been recently linked to Houston Texans’ QuarterBack Deshaun Watson and knowing Howie Roseman he is most likely extremely interested. Although his legal issues may hold him back I would not be surprised if the Eagles trade for the star QB (if he’s innocent). But for now the QB1 is Jalen and he has all of the fanbases’ attention.

Nick Sirianni

Personally, I was not high on Nick Sirianni when the Eagles first hired him. And quite frankly I’m still not. As an eagles fan I’ve learned to never be excited about anything it seems like the eagles never have anything good. Like Donald Trump once said “Bad things happen in Philadelphia”. Nick Sirianni’s First press conference was one to remember he seemed nervous as if he’s never spoken to the media or anyone before. Since then he seems more confident but maybe a bit of a overthinker which is a big change supposing Doug Pederson was a guy who thought he knew it all. Coach Sirianni looks like he is ready to learn from his mistakes and become a better coach every day. Just like Coach said yesterday in His press conference ” Like Jalen said ‘Rent is due every week and we don’t plan on missing a payment”. Coach added, ” If we pay rent every week we get better”. Seems like these two are very responsible with their bills. Lol.

Jonathan Gannon

Oh Boy. Jonathan Gannon also newly hired as a Defensive Coordinator. His run defense this preseason is something that makes me want to turn off my TV. I really hope this is just a thing that he is doing for the preseason. He recently stated that he wants to see everyone 1v1. Meaning he won’t blitz this preseason which is understandable. Coach Gannon looks to regain the eagles reputation of being the blitz heavy defense we all remember. I expect big things this season for the defense with additions Like Anthony Harris, Eric Wilson and Steven Nelson this defense should look a lot better. If the team wants to be successful it starts with the defense.

Howie Roseman

This man has managed to salvage his Job multiple times. For example, When Chip kelly took over he was on the verge of being fired. One year Later he built a Championship Roster. But after that whole Carson Wentz and Doug Pederson Mess you have to hope this is a make or break season for Howie. Howie has been able to hire 3 head coaches that is unheard of in the NFL. But I give credit when credit is due and with no money he was able to sign some solid players. And was able to pull off a crazy trade on draft night to move up to 10 and draft WR Devonta Smith. I truly hope that of the eagles are a competent team in the trade deadline he is able to pull off 1 or 2 solid trades. With a estimated cap space of $54 Million and 2 first round picks in 2022 (Could be 3 if Carson Wentz plays 75% of the snaps for the colts) it’s a big offseason next year for Howie.

Devonta Smith

Devonta Smith was such a surprise pick. When the eagles traded up to 10 I was ecstatic. So was the entirety of the Eagles Fanbase just take a look at this.

You think Eagles fans were happy to draft a Heisman Trophy winner? 🏆 (via @Eagles)@DeVontaSmith_6 | @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/2LlavcXYo5

— NFL (@NFL) May 4, 2021

Devonta Smith had his debut on Thursday against the patriots racking up 2 receptions for 19 yards. Does his body frame worry me? Watching his tape it seems like no one can catch him in the line of scrimmage so if no one can get physical with him then I don’t worry about his frame. The Former Heisman winner put up video game numbers in 2020. Making him the 2nd WR of all time to win the heisman award. With all the accomplishments it seems like the eagles finally got a WR1 but only time will tell. Wishing the best for Devonta.

.@DeVontaSmith_6 in and out of the whip route in 2 steps 🥶 pic.twitter.com/uTAIbZHj1q

— Receiver School (@ReceiverSchool) August 20, 2021

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NFC East Record Predictions: How Will the Eagles Fair?

Before 2020, the Eagles were always serious competition in the disastrous NFC East, making the postseason from 2017-2019 (3 times); that’s when things turned upside down. This previous season, Philly went 4-11-1, and were plagued by injuries (lots of them!) and inconsistent quarterback play, along with several key players underperforming.

Let’s stop living in the past; it’s a NEW SEASON. This upcoming year most likely won’t bring the Eagles the past success they’ve came across, but there’s still hope for us fans. Let’s look at the different teams in this division, predict their record, and see where the Eagles land!

Washington: The Washington Football Team had a pleasantly surprising 2020 season, making the playoffs with an underwhelming 7-9 record (43.8% win pct.). They ended up losing to the soon-to-be Super Bowl Champs — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — in a thriller. This offseason — although they lost some notable names such as Ryan Kerrigan & Ronald Darby — they added even more talent, including veteran quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick and former Panthers wideout, Curtis Samuel, ultimately bolstering the offense. Washington massively improved their roster this offseason, and in my eyes, will end up with a winning record.

Ceiling: 11-6 | Floor: 9-8

New York: The New York Giants are coming off a rather disappointing season in which they missed the playoffs with a 6-10 record (37.5% win pct.) due to an Eagles loss to the WFT in Week 17. They had a pretty stellar offseason, though, retaining Leanord Williams and signing guys such as Kenny Golladay, John Ross & Kyle Rudolph, while drafting Kadarius Toney, providing Jones with more weapons. Regardless of the nice summer by the Giants’ front office, New York’s success relies on the man under center, Daniel Stephen Jones; how he performs this season is very unpredictable, as he’s flashed immense potential in the past, but has also seemed like a complete bust at times as well. Daniel Jones is why the Giants could place last in the NFC East or end up with a winning record.

Ceiling: 9-8 | Floor: 5-12

Dallas: The Dallas Cowboys’ 2020 campaign is the definition of disappointing. Up until Week 5, Dallas seemingly had one of the best offenses in the NFL, with Dak playing at a MVP level with multiple weapons to throw to…then came the injuries. On October 11th against the Giants, the Cowboys’ season was pretty much over, as Dak had broken his ankle on a scramble. The offensive line was in shambles through the season, Leighton Vander-Esch missed 5 games and Gerald McCoy missed the entire season; definition of an injury-riddled season. After that train wreck, Jerry made sure the offseason would be a positive one, bringing former Falcons HC, Dan Quinn, as DC aboard and drafting standout linebacker Micah Parsons at pick No. 12. 2021 feels like it could end up being a very good year for the Cowboys, but I’m stuck on how Dak could come back; it’d be difficult to recreate what he had going in the first 5 weeks of last season coming off such a serious injury. At best, they could win the division but could be a prime example of mediocrity at worst.

Ceiling: 10-7 | Floor: 8-8

Philadelphia: Finally our very own, Philadelphia Eagles. We all know what happened…the Carson Wentz dilemma, Hurts taking over, a plethora of injuries, Reagor being in/out of the lineup, Ertz playing horrible, Sanders dropping passes, etc…all of that leading to a 4-11-1 season that left us LAST in the NFC East. All fans doubted Howie after this, doubting that he could do anything more to clean his mess and build a competent roster once again; Howie rose up to the challenge. We don’t know if this is a competent team yet, but on paper, it looks like a damn good one. Roseman drafted DeVonta Smith, improving a poor WR room, added Anthony Harris & Steven Nelson, bolstering depth in a desperate secondary, signing Joe Flacco, a former Super Bowl MVP to mentor and backup Jalen Hurts while also getting rid of older players that wouldn’t benefit the team and would take away playing time from the young guys, among other little moves. Howie, throughout the offseason, worked to prepare this team to go through a small period of retooling while keeping what should be a fun roster to watch through the the 17-game season. He did the best he could, but that doesn’t mean it’ll translate instantly, especially not into this first season of the “retool.” The roster consists of several new players playing for an entirely rebranded coaching staff; it’ll take time to settle in. A lot of our potential success relies on Jalen Hurts and how he performs — he had his good and bad moments after taking Carson’s spot late last season. If Hurts can take that leap and cement his spot as the franchise quarterback then that’d make Howie’s work a lot easier these coming years. Focusing on this upcoming season, however, Philly could either surprise the league and end with a winning record or be the laughing stock of the NFL.

Ceiling: 9-8 | Floor: 5-12

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