Eagles vs Raiders observations

[taz]

Absolute dominance. They should dominant a team like this and they did. That is the biggest takeaway.

Offensively - They held the ball for just shy of 40 minutes in the game. They have won many games in the past by controlling the clock. Interesting part of this was they only averaged 3.9 ypc. They did get 183 yards on the ground. Hurts only threw the ball 15 times. Ran it 47 times. Very lopsided but int this game they dominated by doing this.

1. Hurts - Excellent game. I did think in the first half he missed some things as far as read but overall how can you find fault. 12-15 for 175 yards and 3TDs (should have been 4).

2. Goedert - Good game, can't drop that TD pass though.


Defense - 72 yards allowed. Worst offensive performance by the Raiders since 1960. Hat Tip to the boys. First half they had a couple of things where there were some drops 2nd half just total domination.

3. Graham - Not sure if the first one was credited as a sack because of Dejean bone headed penalty. But he should be credited with two.

4. Baun - Baited Pickett on that INT. Great play.

5. Covey - Really needs to step up in Windy conditions. I don't know if it was Clay or him but he is lining up too far back and then not coming up and catching the ball. He needs to do that. He costs them some yards today.

6. Penalties - The reason I bring this up is the Eagles had a season low 3 penalties today. This is the first time I can remember the Eagles not having more penalties than the opponent (Both teams had 3 today). Its amazing how much better the team operates without those needless penalties. (Although DeJean was legit and needless) I thought the one on Steen was BS.

Overall they went out and did what they needed to do. Have to do the same in Washington next week. Buffalo will be an interesting test, Washington the last game may not matter.

[sfphillyfan]

I’ll reply more but just popped in to say: chiefs are dead!!

[Pliny]

Because of the way the team has been playing the last 3 weeks and those 2 gut-wrenching losses, I skipped the game today for my sanity. Couldn't take another nailbiter.

Of course, I skip a blowout performance and what appears to be their best game of the year

Shame on me. Now I have to see if I can find a replay.

[RobLew65]

Offense looked better but running game really needs to get going. Some of it is Barkley. More Bigsby please! Hurts quality bounce back game. Defense was totally domination! Great game across the board. Not much to say. Gotta build on this one and take care of Commanders next week

[andrewaters]

There were more yards there for Barkley today. He is not seeing tue field as well. Jalen looked comfortable in the pocket. That drop by Dallas was terrible but other than that the passing game was great.

keep Ojomo and Davis. Let Carter walk. Although Ojomo is playing himself into a Milton Williams deal.

great to see you Zach Baun!!

[Eagle60]

Wow, now we are turning on Barkley. This is one screwed up season, but what I saw today was an excellent football team kicking the other team's asses. I don't care what their record is, the Raiders are an NFL team and they got clobbered. I don't know how this Bigsby kid was available but he's a player. It's December and it's time to win!

[sfphillyfan]

Wow, now we are turning on Barkley. This is one screwed up season, but what I saw today was an excellent football team kicking the other team's asses. I don't care what their record is, the Raiders are an NFL team and they got clobbered. I don't know how this Bigsby kid was available but he's a player. It's December and it's time to win!

It seems like he’s always cutting the wrong way even if the holes are there. It’s really concerning.

[RobLew65]

Not turning on Barkley just noticing he is truly not reading his keys well. Could be the Oline problems but he has missed several holes by either bouncing too early or dancing instead of just hitting the hole

[NoDakIggle]

I agree that Barkley isn’t Barkley. Not throwing him out with the trash. There are a number of guys who aren’t who they were last year. Mailata and most of the OL for a start. But this is the time of year when they need to turn it on because they are still very very talented football players.
aw, will be interesting off season for D. Ojomo has certainly increased his stock whether to the Eagles or some other team. I’m not ready to let Carter walk though. Remember we still have old man Graham out there playing interior line snaps.

[Eagle60]

I really don't think Barkley is any different than he has ever been. I just think the other team doesn't concentrate on the running back position so much when he is out of the game.

[taz]

The biggest problem with the running game is they continue to try and run against stacked boxes. Several times yesterday I was screaming, check out of the play Jalen, you know its a run, the defense knows it a run, bam two yard loss. The difference between last year and this year is they would turn those stacked boxes into long TD runs. Defenses are slanting more and basically are stopping it. Is that Barkley, is that the offensive line, is that defenses simply are better prepared for it? All of the above.
So how do you combat it. Just like they did yesterday, those TE tosses down by the goal line were great play calls, the mis direction for most the most part works well to. Depends on the DE if they stay home that leaves Jalen 1 on 1 and Jalen has been losing those more than he has been winning them. The play were Jalen got hurt (and he seems to be fine) was a prime example of the DE read it perfectly. Jalen needs to just throw the ball away there and live for another play.
I don't think Barkley is necessary different this year. I think he is a tick slower to the hole but that is not unusual for a back who took as many hits as he took last year. All that said he is on pace for another 1k season. Probably breaks that this weekend in Washington.
I do want to see a little more of Bigsby if not just to keep Barkley a little more fresh. I think they need to have at least 30 carries a game, give Barkley 18 and Bigsby 12 (Jalen will probably carry a few times to)
Also would love to see more two back sets with Bigsby and Barkley on the field at the same time. That will make the defense have to guess on which way to slant.

[andrewaters]

60... I don't think we are turning on Barkley. But Barkley isn't seeing the field like he did last year or cutting upfield at times when he needs to and taking the yards that are there. I think 3 times yesterday he had opportunities to cut upfield and get another 4-6 yards through some contact but he chose not to and bounced it outside running out of bounds. I'm not saying he has gotten soft. I think he is a great player. But something is off with his calibrator this year. He isn't running upfield on one cut explosions as much as last year.

The same could be said of Hurts up until yesterday. I saw last year's Jalen running with the ball yesterday. Only one time did I think he went out of bounds instead of getting an extra few yards. He ran downfield and downhill at least twice and took a hit. I don't need him doing that all the time but a few times a game is OK for me. He is a big and strong man. Act like it.

My issue with the running game is twofold right now. Taz... you are right. Jalen is not checking out of a stacked box when he should. But also, where is the bootleg action? I think I saw it once yesterday. On the second and 2 play in the first half, we ran it to the left. It was obvious we were running it to the left. Maxx Crosby crashed on that run big time. If Jalen keeps it there, he could roll out to the right which he prefers and my guess is somebody would have been open. Why are we not running a boot action more?

I honestly wonder if they think they are in the playoffs and are holding some things back even still right now. I do think Jalen decided he needed to start running so he did. I also think AJ has been hushed up a bit so the targets to Dallas were not a problem. Dallas is having a career year. It's great to see. That said.... DALLAS CATCH THE BALL. Can't drop a TD pass. I guarantee you after that game he was happy with his production but pissed that he dropped that one.

DeVonte Smith is such a warrior. He made 2 catches and on both of them he sacrificed his body. The guy is like rubber band man out there.

Moro Ojomo is really good guys. He is going to get Milton Williams money somewhere next year from somebody. We aren't going to be able to keep him so it will be Ty Robinson time... come on down Ty.

Nolan Smith is good but not great. And apparently in looking at some of the initial breakdowns from the game Jalyx Hunt is a big time tinker toy/utility type player. He is so athletic the breakdown I saw on defense is he was able to use his speed to maintain some leverage and made some pretty athletic drops in the passing game from a DE/OLB position.

I don't know how we are going to keep Cooper DeJean and Quinyon MItchell but we need to figure it out. DeJean is honestly one of the most fundamentally sound football players I've ever seen. He does almost everything right. He tackles so well. Quinyon is just glue.

Zach Baun.... where you been.

Lastly... Taz and I were worried. I thought that Kenny Pickett would come in and play well. I thought that Ashton Jeanty was due to go off. Neither of those things happened. The Raiders had 72 yards of offense. How is that even possible? The Raiders are the worst football team I've ever seen. They have 3 good players.... Crosby, Bowers, and Jeanty. I don't think they have much more other than that. They signed Thomas Booker and he played a lot. Last year I think he was our 5th or 4th DT. Truly they are an awful team. They should deal Crosby and get more picks. They need a QB, 5 offensive lineman, 2 WRs, and other than a DE a completely new defense.

[dawkins20]

Hard to take too much from that game. Raiders are brutally bad. Their O didn’t test our D. Offense looked better. But oline issues remain.

Tough call on what to do w Lane and JC. On one hand, the 2 seed is still possible and we should go for it. On the other hand, we need help and having them in the playoffs could mean more than chasing.

[Eagle60]

60... I don't think we are turning on Barkley. But Barkley isn't seeing the field like he did last year or cutting upfield at times when he needs to and taking the yards that are there. I think 3 times yesterday he had opportunities to cut upfield and get another 4-6 yards through some contact but he chose not to and bounced it outside running out of bounds. I'm not saying he has gotten soft. I think he is a great player. But something is off with his calibrator this year. He isn't running upfield on one cut explosions as much as last year.

The same could be said of Hurts up until yesterday. I saw last year's Jalen running with the ball yesterday. Only one time did I think he went out of bounds instead of getting an extra few yards. He ran downfield and downhill at least twice and took a hit. I don't need him doing that all the time but a few times a game is OK for me. He is a big and strong man. Act like it.

My issue with the running game is twofold right now. Taz... you are right. Jalen is not checking out of a stacked box when he should. But also, where is the bootleg action? I think I saw it once yesterday. On the second and 2 play in the first half, we ran it to the left. It was obvious we were running it to the left. Maxx Crosby crashed on that run big time. If Jalen keeps it there, he could roll out to the right which he prefers and my guess is somebody would have been open. Why are we not running a boot action more?

I honestly wonder if they think they are in the playoffs and are holding some things back even still right now. I do think Jalen decided he needed to start running so he did. I also think AJ has been hushed up a bit so the targets to Dallas were not a problem. Dallas is having a career year. It's great to see. That said.... DALLAS CATCH THE BALL. Can't drop a TD pass. I guarantee you after that game he was happy with his production but pissed that he dropped that one.

DeVonte Smith is such a warrior. He made 2 catches and on both of them he sacrificed his body. The guy is like rubber band man out there.

Moro Ojomo is really good guys. He is going to get Milton Williams money somewhere next year from somebody. We aren't going to be able to keep him so it will be Ty Robinson time... come on down Ty.

Nolan Smith is good but not great. And apparently in looking at some of the initial breakdowns from the game Jalyx Hunt is a big time tinker toy/utility type player. He is so athletic the breakdown I saw on defense is he was able to use his speed to maintain some leverage and made some pretty athletic drops in the passing game from a DE/OLB position.

I don't know how we are going to keep Cooper DeJean and Quinyon MItchell but we need to figure it out. DeJean is honestly one of the most fundamentally sound football players I've ever seen. He does almost everything right. He tackles so well. Quinyon is just glue.

Zach Baun.... where you been.

Lastly... Taz and I were worried. I thought that Kenny Pickett would come in and play well. I thought that Ashton Jeanty was due to go off. Neither of those things happened. The Raiders had 72 yards of offense. How is that even possible? The Raiders are the worst football team I've ever seen. They have 3 good players.... Crosby, Bowers, and Jeanty. I don't think they have much more other than that. They signed Thomas Booker and he played a lot. Last year I think he was our 5th or 4th DT. Truly they are an awful team. They should deal Crosby and get more picks. They need a QB, 5 offensive lineman, 2 WRs, and other than a DE a completely new defense.

Man, I've been calling for that QB draw all season!