Eagles News: DeMarco Murray thinks Mark Sanchez can help Philadelphia's run game

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Eagles' DeMarco Murray says Mark Sanchez gives running game 'added variable' - NJ.com
Murray said Thursday that those issues seem to have been resolved and that Sanchez's mobility could open things up for the running game. "It just gives us a different variable in the run game and has the defense having to respect the pull," Murray said. "I think that's going to help us out in the run game. We'll see how it goes."

Eagles' Brandon Graham a hit in starting role - Inquirer
While the new deal has given him long-term financial security, the 27-year-old Graham hasn't become fat and happy. He's been playing like a guy living paycheck to paycheck this season. Replacing Cole as a starter, Graham is having a very good season. He is second on the team in sacks (4 1/2), tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (three) and tied for second in tackles for losses (7 1/2). "The thing about B.G.," said Barwin, "is he didn't try to change who he is to become an outside linebacker. He took what he's good at and who he is and used that to play the position how he can play it. And obviously, he's played it well that way."

5 over/unders for Eagles vs. Buccaneers - PhillyVoice
In eight starts last season, Sanchez averaged 277 yards per game through the air and threw for at least 250 yards in six of them. The Tampa defense is allowing 233.2 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks, while the Eagles offense -- albeit with Bradford for all but a quarter of a game -- has averaged 256.8 passing yards per game this season.

Eagle Eye: Bucs Can Bring The Heat - PE.com
I took a long look at quarterback Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay passing attack earlier in the week, and now it’s time to look at this defense. The Buccaneers' defense is one of the fastest the Eagles will face all season, especially in the front seven. It’s a classic Lovie Smith unit. The Bucs play a large amount of zone coverage, don’t blitz a ton and play sideline-to-sideline with a relentless style of football. To me, it all starts with the linebacking corps, and the two leading tacklers on this team.

Three-And-Out: Eagles-Bucs Predictions - Birds 24/7
Murray's level of production was trending upward before a setback against the Dolphins. Averaging 85 yards and 4.5 yards per carry over his last four games, those numbers dipped (61 yards, 2.8 avg.) versus Miami due in part to the effectiveness of Ndamukong Suh and company against the Eagles' offensive front. It could be tough sledding once again, as Tampa -- led by standout defensive tackle Gerald McCoy -- boasts the third-best run defense in the league in yards per attempt (3.6). That's not great news for an Eagles running attack that will be without Ryan Mathews, who is sidelined with a concussion.

With Mark Sanchez, Eagles get no drop-off from Sam Bradford - ESPN
“That is one thing about Mark -- his work ethic,” Kelly said. “He's in this building very late every night, he works extremely hard on the game plan, he prepares himself like he's going to be the starter whether he's named the starter going into that game or it occurs in the first quarter, second quarter or third quarter. “When he goes in there, he has to be able to function in our offense, so we don't have to say, ‘Hey, we have to throw this whole chunk of offense out. We just only can go with this small portion of it.’ Because of Mark's understanding of what we're doing, we can run everything that we have in our game plan that week.”

Eagles Mailbag: Mark Sanchez, Jason Peters, long balls - CSN Philly
It might sound like I'm avoiding the question but it really is a combination of everything.  But you're right, the Eagles have 49 passing plays of 15-plus yards this season, which ranks them 24th out of 32 teams.  The quarterback play hasn't been great this season. Sam Bradford had played better lately until getting knocked out of the last game but he hasn't thrown many deep balls. A lot of that has to do with the offensive line. If he doesn't have time in the pocket, the play doesn't have time to develop.  Sure, Kelly deserves some blame. His play-calling has been suspect at times this season.  I think we have to pin a large portion of the blame on the wide receivers, though. The outside guys have been bad this year. Riley Cooper, Miles Austin, Josh Huff and Nelson Agholor haven't been getting enough separation and Bradford doesn't (and shouldn't) have enough confidence in them to throw up 50-50 balls.

Vincent Jackson will be a game-time decision - PFT
Now we’ll just need to wait a couple of days to see if he reaches his destination on Sunday or if this week’s work laid the foundation for a return in Week 12. Jackson has been listed as questionable for Tampa’s game against the Eagles and Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports that he spent time after Friday’s practice working with quarterback Jameis Winston and the team’s other wide receivers.

Complete history of the NFL's dumb catch rule confusing people - SB Nation
Figuring what is and isn't a catch has been a problem for NFL officials for several years now.

Eagles and NRG are working together to give away tickets, prize packs, and more
Check this out, Eagles fans! And stay tuned to BGN for more info on contests involving free tickets.

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