Roob's 10 areas of concern going into 2024 Eagles season

Roob’s 10 areas of concern going into 2024 Eagles season initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Earlier than we begin, I do need to point out that I believe the Eagles are going to have 12 months. I’ll be shocked in the event that they don’t win a minimum of 11 video games, and I believe 12 is an inexpensive expectation.

I’ve obtained them profitable the NFC East, and I consider that together with the 49ers and Lions, they’re one of many three-best groups within the convention.

That stated, there are questions. There are issues. There are gamers and place teams that must come up massive if they’ll win 11 or 12 video games.

In order we sit right here simply six days earlier than opening day, right here’s a have a look at 10 areas of concern for me.

Stopping the blitz: This might need been the only greatest subject with the Eagles on the finish of final 12 months. By the point they obtained to Tampa for the wild-card recreation, everybody knew they couldn’t cease the blitz, and so they didn’t even appear to be making an attempt. It was a catastrophe and rendered the offense ineffective. A few of it was on Brian Johnson, who’s gone, and a few of it was on Nick Sirianni, who’s not operating the offense. A few of it was on Jalen Hurts, however for essentially the most half he simply didn’t have solutions when groups introduced an additional rusher. There have been no changes. There was no plan. This 12 months there might be a plan – it’s been an enormous focus of the preseason – but it surely’s as much as Hurts and the offensive line to hold out the plan as a result of you recognize groups are going to assault with stress till the Eagles show they can’t solely cease it however make massive performs in opposition to it.

The Jordan Davis query: We’ve spoken all summer season about Davis’s drop off final 12 months after a scorching begin. Davis has stated all the proper issues about health and consistency, however with Fletcher Cox and his 46 snaps per recreation gone, Davis must be a significant component all 12 months. Not for a month or two. All 12 months. He performed 30 snaps per recreation final 12 months, however if you’re the 13^th decide within the draft and your Corridor of Fame teammate simply retired, you higher be able to bump that quantity up considerably. Final 12 months, Davis had 2 ½ sacks, 5 QB hits, two tackles for loss and a compelled fumble after seven video games. He had no sacks, no QB hits, no TFL and no compelled fumbles within the subsequent 11 video games. That has to vary.

Are the linebackers ok: They’re higher than final 12 months, that goes with out saying. However are they ok? Devin White didn’t have a lot of a coaching camp, Zach Baun is taking part in a brand new place, Nakobe Dean had the very best camp out of the group however we don’t even know if he’s going to be beginning after which there’s Oren Burks, who missed nearly all of camp however appeared good when he lastly obtained again. I’m undecided precisely what the Eagles have right here, but it surely’s a typical group of Eagles linebackers as a result of there aren’t any massive contracts and query marks throughout the board. Baun wasn’t dangerous throughout camp, however Dean has to play. We’ll see how that goes. No staff goes to be elite throughout the board. If the Eagles’ linebackers are mediocre it’ll be a significant improve.

Can they get stress: Josh Sweat disappeared the second half of final 12 months; Bryce Huff had 10 sacks with the Jets however has by no means been a full-time starter and is now being paid like one; Nolan Smith remains to be within the venture class; and Brandon Graham is 36. That’s your group of edge rushers, and there’s definitely potential right here. Sweat was a double-digit sack man two years in the past, Huff has a ton of potential, and Smith was a 1^st-round decide final 12 months for a motive. Jalen Carter goes to be a pressure speeding the passer, however in the case of outdoors stress, there are query marks in every single place. The Eagles have been 4^th within the NFL with 24 sacks by means of seven video games, then 29^th the remainder of the 12 months with simply 19 during the last 10 video games. They need to get again on that first seven video games tempo to make life troublesome for opposing QBs. Who’s going to guide this group?

Will Jalen Hurts bounce again: Hurts was so pedestrian late final season it was stunning to observe. There was a lot dysfunction happening in every single place it was only a very troublesome ambiance to achieve. Issues definitely appear to be in a greater place now. Hurts seems to have a powerful relationship with Kellen Moore and it seems like he’s obtained a consolation stage in Moore’s offense. However he didn’t play within the preseason and all we actually need to go on is an excellent coaching camp. If Hurts isn’t elite, the Eagles gained’t be elite. He is obtained weapons in every single place, a proficient new play caller and there’s no motive he can’t recapture the shape that noticed him go 27-2 from December 2021 to November 2023. I anticipate he’ll. However the way in which final 12 months ended undoubtedly planted some seeds of doubt.

Inside o-line: Cam Jurgens had camp, has an amazing perspective and appears wired the proper manner to have the ability to change a Corridor of Famer. However he’s nonetheless obtained to exit and do it, and he’s changing one of many biggest to ever play the sport. An enormous concern with Jurgens is whether or not he can keep wholesome. He missed six video games taking part in proper guard final 12 months – that’s greater than Kelce missed during the last 11 years. And with Jurgens transferring to heart, it additionally creates questions at proper guard, the place Mekhi Becton would be the largest beginning guard in NFL historical past. It’s a brand new place for him, and he’s a piece in progress. The potential is there for this to be an distinctive o-line, even with out Kelce. Once you begin with Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson, you’re on the way in which to greatness. However when your heart and proper guard are each taking part in their place for the primary time within the NFL, it’s a priority.

Can Saquon keep wholesome: It’s thrilling to consider the probabilities that Saquon Barkley brings the offense. However accidents have been a difficulty for Barkley, and during the last 4 years he’s averaged a pedestrian 4.0 yards per carry – 23^rd-best out of 29 operating backs with a minimum of 500 carries since 2020. However Barkley has additionally at all times been the main target of opposing defenses, and that gained’t be the case this 12 months, and with this o-line – which is much better than any o-line he performed behind with the Giants – he needs to be far more than a 4.0-yards-per-carry again. The eight-longest TDs of Barkley’s profession have been all from 2018 by means of 2020, and he’s obtained to show he’s nonetheless obtained that explosive big-play potential to take stress off the passing recreation.

How will new defensive items come collectively: On paper, the Eagles have upgraded at linebacker (Devin White, Zach Baun, Oren Burks, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and an improved Nakobe Dean), at cornerback (Quinyon Mitchell, Isaiah Rodgers, Cooper DeJean, improved Kelee Ringo) and at security (Chauncey Gardner-Johnson for Justin Evans and Terrell Edmunds), however with all these new gamers – probably eight new starters, together with the slot – in addition to a brand new coordinator and 5 new place coaches all working a brand new scheme, rising pains are a priority. There may be a lot newness on the defensive facet of the ball, and it might take some time earlier than all of it comes collectively. There’s no query the Eagles are extra proficient this 12 months than final on protection, however communication, chemistry and cohesion are totally different than expertise, and there’s an opportunity the offense could have to hold the staff till the protection can get on the proverbial similar web page.

Life with out Fletch: Fletcher Cox was nonetheless taking part in at a really excessive stage when he retired, and as a lot because the Eagles have tried to organize for all times after Fletch with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Milton Williams, Cox was nonetheless probably the greatest inside lineman within the league, and the Eagles are going to have to switch his management, his expertise, his cross rush, his run protection and his 46 snaps per recreation. And till this group proves it’s up for the duty – and for 17 video games of constant manufacturing – the inside d-line goes to return beneath a number of scrutiny.

Can younger d-backs maintain up: It is a actually spectacular group of younger defensive backs – Cooper DeJean is 21, Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks 22, Quinyon Mitchell 23, Reed Blankenship and Tristin McCollum 25 and Isaiah Rodgers and C.J. Gardner-Johnson 26. DeJean and Mitchell are rookies, Ringo might be in a bigger function than final 12 months, Rodgers wasn’t in any function final 12 months, and Vic Fangio goes to ask quite a bit out of those younger guys. He has no alternative as a result of they’re not simply the way forward for the Eagles’ secondary, they’re the current. They’ve all been spectacular all through the summer season, however the common season is a distinct animal. They’re going to face some elite receivers and tight ends, they’re going to be challenged by some world-class quarterbacks, and so they’re going to get beat and so they’re going to need to rebound. After final 12 months, when the Eagles ranked 31^st within the NFL in cross protection, they wanted an injection of youth and pace. They obtained it, and the longer term seems brilliant, however there may very well be some pace bumps alongside the way in which.

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