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Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...
Predicting the NFL teams likeliest to decline: Barnwell picks five for 2019 - ESPN
I can see the argument from Cowboys fans here. Things turned around for Dallas only after the team traded for Amari Cooper. The Cowboys were 3-4 before acquiring their star receiver and 7-2 afterward. What if we only evaluate the Cowboys on their performance after acquiring Cooper? Are they still likely to decline? Actually, yes. The Cowboys were slightly better than their record during the first seven weeks. While they went 3-4, Dallas outscored its opposition by three points over that stretch, which is roughly the level of a .500 team. And likewise, during their final nine-game run, the Cowboys went 7-2 while outscoring opponents by a total of 13 points, which is also about the level of a .500 team. We would have expected the Cowboys to win 4.8 of those nine games by point differential. Instead, they won seven.
12 notes from Eagles training camp practice - BGN
CARSON WENTZ UPDATE: It feels like there’s at least one — if not multiple — Wentz to DeSean Jackson deep bomb in every practice at this point. Today it was Wentz launching to Jackson for a 60-yard touchdown. Perfect throw. Earlier in camp, Wentz was overthrowing Jackson. And that did happen again today with Rodney McLeod coming up with an interception. For the most part, though, the timing between Wentz and Jackson is really good. It’s really hard not to get excited about Jackson’s big play ability in 2019. That’s just something the Eagles sorely lacked last year. The 2018 Eagles made moving the ball look so much harder than it should be in today’s offensive-friendly NFL. They didn’t really have anyone who could easily generate a huge play. It’s a relief to know that won’t be an issue in 2019 with Jackson around.
At the Podium: Coordinators Talk Adjustments, Development - BGN Radio
Two new pressers today! First up is defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz from Sunday, followed by offensive coordinator Mike Groh on Monday! Plus some programming notes on the feed’s schedule and a warm welcome to Mark Schofield, who officially joined the SB Nation podcast family! Powered by SB Nation and Bleeding Green Nation.
A look at the Eagles’ 2020 free agents, and who could be in-season contract extension candidates - PhillyVoice
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (UFA): Grugier-Hill was having a great camp before he suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear in practice. However, he should be back early in the season, and a starter in the Eagles’ defense, potentially as a three-down linebacker. Even with the injury, the Eagles would be smart to try to work out a contract extension with Grugier-Hill. ”I’m just focused on this year,” Grugier-Hill said, when asked if the team has approached him about a new deal. “Being in a contract year, that stuff is up in the air, so we’ll talk later down the road, but for right now I’m just focused on getting better, getting back, and helping this team win.”
Can’t Fake It - Iggles Blitz
Seeing the show the last few years has made me really appreciate Pederson. Gruden is weird and you’re just not sure what you are getting with him. Last year Cleveland had Hue Jackson and he came across very poorly. You could easily see why he struggled to win games. In 2017 we saw Dirk Koetter struggle with Jameis Winston and the Bucs. The year before it was Jeff Fisher and a bad Rams team. Pederson isn’t perfect to be sure, but he is a smart coach who communicates well with his players and knows how to run a team.
Nathan Gerry makes his bid to be the man in the middle of Eagles defense - PE.com
This is Year 3 for Nathan Gerry in an Eagles uniform, in a position totally foreign to him from his collegiate days, and he feels at home. With the Eagles. In this defense. As a linebacker. Gerry, all built up to 235 pounds after weighing 212 pounds when the Eagles used a fifth-round pick on him in the 2017 NFL Draft, says he’s ready to play his best football. The timing is perfect, right? Nobody knows exactly how this is going to play out, but with the Eagles set to open the preseason schedule on Thursday night against visiting Tennessee (7:30 p.m., NBC10, full coverage on PhiladelphiaEagles.com and official app at 7 p.m. with the Kickoff Show presented by Axalta), Gerry is the team’s middle linebacker and, yeah, he sees this as an opportunity to audition for the vacant position.
Can Miles Sanders make the Eagles’ running back fantasy a reality this season? - Inquirer
So, yeah, it is notable that Sanders is healthy and increasing his role in the offense with a month to go before Week 1. That doesn’t mean you should pencil him in for 15-20 carries a game. The Eagles have been one of the most egalitarian teams in the league with its ball distribution over the last couple of seasons, deploying a three- or even four-headed rotation whose rhyme and reason is not always easy to decipher. Along with the Dolphins, Lions and Packers, they are among only four teams in the NFL that have not had a running back carry the ball at least 174 times in either of the last two years, with LeGarrette Blount’s 173 carries in 2017 the closest they’ve come to relying upon a classic first- and second-down back. Last year, Josh Adams led the team with 120 carries, a total that 39 other NFL running backs eclipsed. On Tuesday, Pederson offered a telling reminder of how fast a rookie runner’s fortunes can change when asked what he’ll be looking for out of Sanders on Thursday. “You know, obviously, hanging onto the football when he’s tackled,” the Eagles coach said.
Unveiling the 2019 All-NFC East Team - The Athletic
QUARTERBACK: This year’s leader was cut and dried. Nearly every ballot showed Carson Wentz (PHI) as the first-team QB — he secured 15 points — and Dak Prescott (DAL) as the second-team QB (nine points). This makes Wentz the top QB in the study for the second straight year, but moves Dak Prescott into a clear second place. No other QBs received votes in the division.
Director of Analytics-Football Operations with Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia, PA - NFL Careers
This position will work closely with the VP of Football Operations and Strategy to shape analytics within Football Operations. The Director of Analytics will use data to address key issues in the modern NFL front office including player evaluation, game preparation, resource allocation, sports science, and player development. A strong candidate will have significant work experience, an advanced degree in a quantitative discipline, and a demonstrated ability to interact with a diverse set of stakeholders. We will prioritize applicants with deep knowledge of modern statistical techniques and the creativity to identify novel analytical directions. The position requires strong organization, communication, and leadership skills, and the ability to work on widely varying projects with distinct audiences. Candidates must have the ability and statistical range to draw insights from many different forms of football data and a passion for improving football decision-making.
The Cowboys are about ready to tie their hands for years, and it’s glorious. - Hogs Haven
Should the Cowboys go down this path, they will have approximately $122M locked up in seven players in 2020: Dak (QB), Zeke (RB1), Cooper (WR1), Frederick (C), Martin (RG), Lawrence (DE), and T. Smith (LT). Assuming an $11M escalation in the cap to $188M, that would have this group of players accounting for about 65% of the cap, leaving around $66M for the other 46 positions. That is, if nothing else, a “must win now” approach, built on a questionable offensive strategy. We’ll see if it works for them. In the meantime, I’m ecstatic to see them locking themselves into a top heavy, veteran reliant model that seems to be out of step with NFL’s current road map for success.
Breaking news: Cowboys defensive end Robert Quinn fractures hand, heading back to Dallas for surgery - Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys got a great deal when they traded for Robert Quinn from Miami for a 2020 sixth-round pick. The veteran pass rusher has been having a good camp so far, but on Tuesday, he got mixed up with left tackle Tyron Smith in a one-on-one drill and suffered an injury to his hand. Quinn was favoring his hand and received immediate attention from the team doctors.
Football 101: Intro to Defense Terminology - Mile High Report
One of the issues that has been brought to my attention a number of times since I started at Mile High Report are questions regarding certain techniques, coverages, and alignments. It’s easy to forget how much lingo is involved in football when you spend every day studying it, but the point of entry can seem overwhelming with a culture shock of sorts. Throughout the last year, bits and pieces of the following terminology have been covered here and there, but never as one syllabus to serve as a sort of one-stop shop to be reviewed as it serves you. Here, I’ll cover some terms you’ve probably encountered before, but may not have entirely understood. Welcome to class.
Saints fans are still suing the NFL because nobody knows controversy like Louisiana - SB Nation
The start of the 2019 NFL season is just around the corner, but some New Orleans Saints fans still can’t get over the missed pass interference penalty that defined January’s NFC Championship Game and cost the team a shot at the Super Bowl. A judge last week rejected the third federal lawsuit brought against the NFL by disgruntled Saints fans, but the quest for justice continues at the state level following a Louisiana judge’s order that commissioner Roger Goodell and three game officials be questioned under oath.