By: Jacob Keppen

Many Philadelphia fans were just happy to see their favorite team back in the playoffs, rebounding from a four-win 2020 season. Many fans had hopes that maybe the Eagles could upset the injured Buccaneers squad, which would help show Philadelphia truly belonged in the dance this year. Many were disappointed very quickly into their Sunday afternoons.

The 31-15 final scoreline does not do this game any justice to just how one-sided of a beatdown it truly was. Tampa Bay dominated this from the onset, driving down the field 75 yards to open with a 7-0 lead. That lead would never change hands, as the Bucs were adding to their total with ease.

The sequence with a little more than five minutes left to go in the third where the Buccaneers followed a Jalen Hurts interception on fourth down immediately with a 36 yard Mike Evans touchdown to give the Buccaneers a 31 point lead perfectly encapsulated this game. The Eagles were completely outmatched in every area. There is a silver lining to this though: most knew Tampa Bay was winning this one.

Although many put on their fan goggles and hoped to leave Florida with an upset shocking the world, the reality was Philadelphia was barely supposed to be there much less compete. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, many predicting Philly to have a similar result to the season prior, Philadelphia managed to squeak into the playoffs with the last seed in the NFC. While this game was mostly about gaining experience for the team and the young coaching staff, there still are some troubling takeaways from the performance.

The biggest takeaway from this game is that the Eagles need more talent across the board. In nearly every area the skill position players were simply outmatched. Despite taking wide receivers high over the past three seasons, there is still only one guy on this team who can consistently get open and catch the ball and that is Devonta Smith.

Quez Watkins is a modest speedster. He has speed that would do very well situationally, but he doesn’t have an overall refined game at this point. He’s shown some very good flashes and is someone you want to keep in your receiver room, that is all you can ask from a sixth-round pick. The problem is why Quez is having to be relied on as the “second receiver”, and that is because of a former first-round receiver who is quickly looking like one of the biggest flops in Howe Roseman’s tenure as GM.

Jalen Reagor isn’t just a disappointment for the Eagles at this point, he is truly a hindrance on the field. It is a fact that Jalen Reagor simply has not been good enough for the Eagles. We are past the point of comparing Jalen Reagor to Justin Jefferson. He is not a disappointment because Justin Jefferson looks to be a perennial top five receiver over the next decade and Reagor does not. Reagor is a disappointment because at this moment he is not proving to be an NFL-caliber receiver. He struggles mightily to get open and as a player who was renowned for his speed coming out of TCU he looks uncomfortable with the ball in his hands. As a punt returner, he’s arguably been worse. Multiple times this year Reagor has cost the Eagles key field position and the struggles were just amplified on the national stage today.

If the Eagles are serious about taking another step forward next year Jalen Reagor can not be on this team next year. Both him and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (remember him?!) must be let go of this offseason, proper replacements brought in who can help this football team. I hope for Reagor’s sake he can find a new start somewhere else because the confidence looks lost in him. You feel for Jalen Reagor because the harassment he has received from the fanbase over the past two years has reached the point of being unacceptable. These athletes are people first and nobody should be talked about the way he is online. Reagor had talent in college and I hope it can be realized in another city where he can regain his confidence, it just is not going to happen in Philadelphia.

Another area the Eagles need to add talent to is on that defense. Linebacker is still an issue. How long must fans hear “The Eagles won’t take a linebacker in the first, Howie Roseman doesn’t value linebackers high enough” while every time on the big stage the linebackers get exposed. One of the key differences between the Eagles defense and the Buccaneers defense is they have a star at linebacker. The Buccaneers have two actually in future Hall of Famer Lavonte David and Devin White. Both routinely make impact plays and routinely change the game. The Eagles simply do not have that skill at linebacker. The Eagles need their own bulls at LB on defense. Georgia’s Nakobe Dean or Utah’s Devin Lloyd one of them should be high on the Eagles board in the 2022 draft.

The Eagles have a top notch stud in Darius Slay. That’s very clear. Still, the Eagles need to add CB talent around Slay. Avonte Maddox needs to be the full-time slot and they need a more inspiring secondary corner other than Steve Nelson.

Finally, this all brings us to the biggest question mark the Eagles have for this offseason, what decision is being made at quarterback.

Jalen Hurts has been up and down, to say the least, this season. There’s a lot to like about him. His worth ethic and leadership abilities are star caliber. He is as tough as they come and adds another element to the Eagles running game they haven’t had since Michael Vick. The problems that many had before the season and before he was drafted are still there though. Hurts still struggles mightily as an overall passer with TB being a brutal opponent for him. Nothing seems natural for Hurts as a passer. Sure, he will make a good throw usually once a game on the run as the play breaks down, but from a down-to-down basis, he struggles with consistency throwing the ball.

Now as a “developmental quarterback”, Hurts can work on those issues. A lot of running quarterbacks out of college struggle with the more traditional elements of the game, but it doesn’t mean they are hopeless.

Look at Josh Allen. He was one of the most “inaccurate quarterbacks” in recent memory. Nothing was natural for him as a passer and he just torched the Patriots defense, looking like the player fans hoped he could become.

Allen did this through hard work and dedication, and there’s no doubting Jalen Hurts’ work ethic and determination. The key difference is Josh Allen’s tools. Allen lacked overall refinement coming out of Wyoming but he still had one of the best arms the league had ever seen. Jalen’s arm is just okay.

Hurts also lacks refinement as a passer, not to the extent that Allen did but still lacking refinement as a whole, but his arm simply isn’t elite caliber. Hurts lacks zip on some of his throws, especially outside the numbers, and it’s sometimes the difference between a completion and an incompletion. He doesn’t have the crazy tools to bail him most of the time as other top quarterbacks do. What is his true ceiling? Can he overcome his shortcomings and be the guy in Philadelphia?

The quarterback question could be a very simple one to answer for the Eagles. Despite his shortcomings, Nick Sirianni and his staff might have already identified Hurts as their guy moving forward at least into next season. Hurts did enough to stave off Gardner Minshew all season and it’s clear he’s the guy for the foreseeable future. With the 2022 offseason underway, the Eagles will have to figure out how they will build around the former National Champion.

The post Philadelphia Eagles offseason outlook and Wildcard Playoff game reflection appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

Plenty of uncertainty surrounds the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Houston Texans going into the 2021 season. Their quarterback situations are far from clear and their overall rosters are mediocre at best.

The same goes for their head coaches, with all three going into their first seasons at the franchise. Neither of Dan Campbell, Nick Sirianni, or David Culley has been a full-time head coach in the NFL. Campbell is the only one to have some experience, with his spell as interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2015.

Here is why you should be expecting the Lions, Eagles, and Texans to have the three worst records in the league in 2021.

Saying Goodbye To A Franchise Legend In Detroit. Struggles For The Replacement

Matthew Stafford was the number one overall pick in 2009, with the entire city of Detroit hoping he would be the man to turn around the fortunes of the franchise. Despite three seasons of making the playoffs, the Lions and Stafford never won a single postseason game as the wait continues. The Lions remain the team with the second-longest period without a playoff win, their last taking place on January 5th, 1992.

Stafford had some great individual moments as a Lion, most notably his Mic’d up moment during his 2009 rookie season. In a week eleven game against the Cleveland Browns, he overcame injury to produce a moment of pure heroism. He played with a separated shoulder despite the efforts of the medical staff to keep him off the field, leading the Lions to a touchdown-winning drive.

Jim Caldwell guided the Lions to these playoff appearances but was not seen as good enough to take them to the next step. New England Patriots assistant head coach Matt Patricia was brought in but never took to life as head coach. The Lions had three consecutive losing seasons under the coaching of Patricia. They will hope that they have found their guy in Dan Campbell. His press conference was certainly not dull, with Campbell referring to “biting kneecaps”. As a former Lions player, he knows what it takes to play in the league. He also knows about the city of Detroit and his intentions are both positive and clear. If he is given time, he has the desire to bring the good times back to Detroit. However, he is inexperienced as a head coach and the roster is below average.

New quarterback Jared Goff has the potential to struggle. This is despite the drafting of offensive lineman Penei Sewell at seventh overall, a selection that had Campbell and new General Manager Brad Holmes very excited.

Despite his brilliant 2018 season that saw the Rams reach Super Bowl 53, Goff had a poor game and struggled in 2020 as he and head coach Sean McVay’s relationship deteriorated.

Goff struggled despite a plethora of offensive talent around him. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp form one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. He is going to a franchise that let go of their two best wide receivers and failed to replace them.

The Lions have a schedule that features the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns. There are also two games against their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears. The Lions do not have it easy.

Prediction: 3-14

Trouble In Philadelphia; Reason For Hope?

The Eagles have seen three years of gradual decline after winning Super Bowl 52. The 2017 season saw the Eagles lift the Lombardi Trophy for the first time after two previous attempts.

Doug Pederson was the head coach to guide the Eagles to a Super Bowl but was fired after the conclusion of the 2020 season. His decision to bench rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts in order to lose and gain a higher draft pick appeared to be the final nail in the coffin.

Carson Wentz had an MVP caliber season before an injury derailed hopes of winning the award. Backup Nick Foles stepped in and guided the Eagles to the Super Bowl 52 win. He also stepped in a year later and guided the Eagles to a shock Wildcard Round win against the Chicago Bears, with thanks also going to a Cody Parkey missed field goal.

Both Foles and Wentz are no longer Eagles players. Out of the starters in that Super Bowl 52 win, only seven remain with the franchise. Their decision to draft Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson continues to be mocked by rival fans and nobody knows how new head coach Nick Sirianni will do in the role.

The schedule is mixed for Philadelphia. Whilst they face the New York Jets, Lions, and twice play the New York Giants, they also have to face the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.. This is as well as facing a rising Washington Football Team twice as well as playing the Dallas Cowboys both home and away.

Reports have surfaced in recent days of the Philadelphia Eagles being the favourites for Deshaun, with talks said to be “heating up”.

This could be a move that transforms the franchise. However, Deshaun Watson had his best statistical season yet the Texans only managed four wins all year. This proves that whilst it is very important to have a good quarterback, you need more around to be successful.

Unless the Eagles do something in what remains of the offseason, they will continue to be mediocre if their roster continues to be this poor. If they get offensive or defensive talent in the next one or two offseasons, then they are a team that will compete for years to come. Otherwise, the Eagles will fail to be a threat to both the NFC and NFC East.

This is why Deshaun should avoid the Eagles at this present time. He will be going into a situation no different to what he experienced in Houston.

Prediction: 4-13

What A Difference A Year Makes

Where do we start with the Houston Texans? The 2019 season saw them take a 24-0 lead against the Chiefs in the Divisional Round. However, they allowed 41 unanswered points as they lost 51-31. What has unfolded since in the following nineteen months has been reminiscent of a Greek tragedy.

Head coach Bill O’Brien, who also was general manager, made the unusual decision to trade star wide receiver, Deandre Hopkins. In exchange, the Texans received a running back past his sell-by date in David Johnson, one second-rounder and one fourth-round pick. O’Brien only lasted four games in the 2020 season as they finished the campaign with just four wins.

Since the conclusion of the 2020 season, franchise legend J.J Watt has left and there continues to be an uncertain future surrounding quarterback Deshaun Watson. Houston’s quarterback requested a trade in January before allegations of sexual assault arose. These have lingered throughout the remainder of the offseason. It is unclear if Watson will play in the NFL at all in 2021 but even if he does, it is unlikely that he will be wearing a Texans jersey.

Houston has said they would listen to trade offers for Watson, with the franchise said to be wanting three first-round picks. They have also acquired Tyrod Taylor via Free Agency and used their first pick in the draft on Davis Mills in the third round. Even if the Eagles stick with Hurts, there will be plenty of other suitors.

Even with Watson, the Texans are light on the ground when it comes to elite talent. Linebacker Zach Cunningham and Laremy Tunsil are talents and despite adding Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram to the running back room, the roster is one of the league’s worst.

David Culley has developed somewhat of a worrying reputation after his time with the Eagles, Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens. During his fourteen-season spell with the Eagles, his four seasons with the Chiefs, and two years with the Ravens, he had 0 wide receivers earn a PFF grade of 80 or above.

The Chiefs wideouts went an entire season without a touchdown under Culley. With a wide receiver room featuring Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins and Anthony Miller, this is not exactly a position of strength for the Texans. Culley is unlikely to see any of these receivers score high PFF grades.

Whilst the Texans might be playing the Jacksonville Jaguars twice and the Jets, they have a tough schedule. They will face the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks. Houston will also play the Los Angeles Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers as well as the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans twice.

They are unlikely to win many of these games. Fans should be expecting a difficult season.

Prediction: 2-15

The post Expect the Lions, Eagles, and Texans to have the worst records in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Who is the Eagles left tackle for the future?

The Philadelphia Eagles are in a peculiar situation regarding their left tackle position. For years left tackle was never in question in Philadelphia. For nearly a decade, Jason Peters gave the Eagles hall of fame caliber play on the left side of the line. That was last decade though, and the Eagles have a big decision to make for their franchise moving into the 2020s. Who will be the guy that will hopefully be protecting Jalen Hurts for the foreseeable future? Luckily the Eagles have a candidate for the job, in fact they have two, and it will be the highlight of camp to see who wins out the job.

If you asked any Eagles fan after 2019 who was the franchise tackle moving forward, almost all would say first-round pick, Andre Dillard. The Washington State product was drafted with the 22nd overall pick by the Eagles with the intention of taking over the blindside blocking position for Peters. It hasn’t worked out quite as fans would’ve hoped two years removed from that draft in Nashville. Dillard was thrown into the fire for five games during his rookie season, and he struggled a good amount early on. In his first real bit of action against Minnesota, the rookie Dillard struggled mightily, giving up nine total pressures. There were some promising moments, including a really good performance against Khalil Mack and the Chicago Bears.

Fans were hoping to see Dillard take that next step in 2020, but a torn bicep ended the sophomore season before it even started. In his stead, a new rising young star emerged at left tackle from an unlikely source. Shocking fans around the league, former rugby player and 7th round pick Jordan Mailata made the most of his opportunities at left tackle. On an offensive line struggling to do anything right, the 23-year-old Aussie was one of the few bright spots. Despite having no football experience prior to his rookie year, Mailata has made incredible strides as a player. His performance, combined with his great athleticism and young age has muddied the waters a bit on the left tackle position moving forward. Dillard was a promising first-round pick, but the team has no idea how good he is, even though he will be turning 26 this season. The left tackle position is one to keep an eye on all preseason.

Which wide receiver is on the chopping block?

The Eagles have pretty much two certainties in their wide receiver room. First round picks Devonta Smith and Jalen Reagor are locks to make the roster. Outside of those two, those final spots are completely up for grabs.

Greg Ward is one of the better bets to make the roster. The former Houston Cougars quarterback has done well in a slot role for the Eagles, being an unspectacular but reliable option. Travis Fulgham’s short but spectacular flashes during last year’s season should be enough to earn him a spot as well. 

Looking at the last two spots, there are three prime candidates. This camp is the proving ground for former 2nd round pick J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. The former Stanford receiver has been a massive disappointment for the Eagles, struggling to even see the field. John Hightower, a 5th round pick last year, showed promise as a route runner but struggled to catch anything. He is also 25. Quez Watkins is a younger speedster who showed promise as a deep threat. One of these three will miss the cut, and it will most likely come down to training camp and preseason.

Who is cornerback #2?

The question all offseason has been: who is starting opposite to Darius Slay? With the offseason in the past, fans still do not have an answer. The Eagles didn’t bring in any veteran competition for the position (yet) and only really added 4th round selection Zech McPhearson. The position is as wide open as they come, leaving an opportunity to be won at training camp.

Early on, the front runner looks to be Michael Jacquet. Jacquet has been receiving most of the reps in OTA at CB2. An undrafted free agent out of Louisiana, Jacquet showed some promise in starts late in the season before having one of the worst games by a corner in recent memory against the Cowboys. Only playing the position for a few years now, the Eagles might be intrigued by Jacquet’s high athletic upside.

There are other candidates possible for the job. The aforementioned McPhearson with a good camp can make his case to start, and a free agent can still be brought in, though it is very late in the process. Fans have been wanting the cornerback question answered all offseason, and it looks like everyone’s going to have to wait just a bit longer to figure it all out.

The post Top 3 questions for Philadelphia Eagles training camp appeared first on Pro Football Mania.