Here are first-half observations from today’s Eagles-Chargers game.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter added a great “What if…?” to the Philadelphia sports landscape today, when he revealed that the Eagles had a deal in place to land Colin Kaepernick during the 2012 draft.
Join Tim and Sheil for a live chat during today’s Eagles-Chargers game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The following Eagles are inactive for Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers: QB Matt Barkley, CB Bradley Fletcher, CB Shaun Prater, OT Matt Tobin, OT Dennis Kelly, DE Vinny Curry and TE Emil Igwenagu.
Looks like the national pundits are feeling the Eagles in this matchup. Here’s what they’re saying about Chip Kelly‘s squad heading into the Chargers game:
If you missed the first cheat sheet, click here. Below are 10 things to know about how the Eagles’ defense matches up with the Chargers’ offense.
Here are 10 things to know about how the Eagles’ offense matches up with the Chargers’ defense.
Eagles starting cornerback Bradley Fletcher has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Chargers.
The 27-year-old sustained a concussion late in the game against Washington. He had yet to pass the ImPACT test as of Thursday afternoon.
The Eagles’ depth in the secondary will be tested. Brandon Boykin is expected to start on the outside in Fletcher’s absence, though he could very well move into the slot in certain packages as well. Brandon Hughes, who is recovering from a fractured hand, is a logical candidate to play on the outside when Boykin does move inside.
Not all blitzes are created equal. That much was evident when reviewing how Billy Davis made calls in his debut as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator last week.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Birds sent five rushers or more at Robert Griffin 22 times. On those plays, he went 9-for-20 for 78 yards, an interception and was sacked twice. Keep in mind, as a rookie, Griffin completed 69 percent of his attempts against the blitz, throwing nine touchdowns and no interceptions, per Stats, Inc.
Last year, according to Football Outsiders, the Eagles rushed four 77.8 percent of the time, tops in the league. But that number is going to take a dip in 2013.
“The scheme is built to where any member of the defense can be blitzing at any given time,” Davis said. “We have blitzes for every position – corners, safeties, nickels, dimes, mike backers. Anybody can be a blitzer. Either through an active call or a check.”
Chip Kelly was asked on Thursday how he would go about defending the Eagles’ offense if he was facing them this week.
“Fortunately,” Kelly replied, “I don’t have to.”
But John Pagano does. The Chargers’ second-year defensive coordinator has the task of trying to contain a cheetah of an offense that burst onto the field Monday, wreaked havoc for 30 minutes, and then disappeared into the night. There is little film to go off, and not much time to get his team prepared for the pace at which the Eagles operate.
“Trying to simulate what they do and their tempo…It’s very hard to probably match that tempo anywhere,” said Pagano.
Tim and Sheil look back at the Eagles’ eye-opening performance against Washington. Is this style of play sustainable? The guys explore that question from a variety of angles.
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The irony was not lost on LeSean McCoy.
For the past four seasons under Andy Reid, the popular argument was that McCoy did not get the ball enough. Now one game into the Chip Kelly era, and the concern is that his workload will be too large.
“Which one is it?” he asked.
You tell us. Were the 31 carries and 32 overall touches too much? Not enough? Just right?
Zach Ertz lined up to the left of Jason Peters at the Eagles’ 46 yard line.
When the ball was snapped, he took off down the seam before turning his head around, finding the ball, making the catch and somersaulting to the ground for an 11-yard gain.
Ertz got up, found the official, tossed him the ball, looked towards the sideline for the next play and set up at the exact same spot in-line next to Peters.
Not a lot to think about for the rookie after his first career catch. The Eagles were about to run the same play twice in a row.
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We asked Michael Vick recently who he thought was poised for a big year based off what he had seen this offseason. The quarterback took some time to mull the question over before giving his response.
“Zach Ertz,” he finally said. “The reason I say that is he’s fighting something right now. And once he gets that corrected, it’s going to be a beautiful thing.”
What’s he fighting?
“The ball.”
Presented with Vick’s comments, Ertz agreed with his quarterback.
