In Roob's Observations: A regarding pattern with Eagles GM Howie Roseman

In Roob’s Observations: A concerning trend with Eagles GM Howie Roseman initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A regarding pattern for Howie Roseman, an insane Wealthy Kotite stat and the true situation with Dallas Goedert.

Right here’s our Week 3 version of Roob’s 10 Random Eagles Observations!

1. Mekhi Becton seems like a steal without any consideration guard. And Saquon Barkley – regardless of the drop – seems like a stroke of brilliance. However Howie Roseman’s big-ticket strikes on protection over the previous couple of years are beginning to look ominously unhealthy. First-round picks for Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith – excessive 1^st-round picks for Davis and Carter – don’t look so promising in the intervening time. Carter had that dominating stretch early final yr and I nonetheless consider he’ll be an important participant, however none of them have lived as much as the place they had been picked up to now and it is truthful to surprise when they’ll. Devin White, penciled in as a beginning linebacker, wasn’t even lively Monday evening. Bryce Huff hasn’t gotten near an opposing quarterback for $51 million. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson has the two^nd-most missed tackles of any NFL security (behind former Eagle Marcus Epps) and is damage once more. Zack Baun had a pair sacks within the opener however has the three^rd-most missed tackles of any NFL linebacker. Vaunted 3^rd-round decide Nakobe Dean has the two^nd-lowest Professional Soccer Focus grade amongst off-ball linebackers (forward of solely former teammate Kyzir White of the Playing cards). Quinyon Mitchell seems very promising, however total if you take a look at why the Eagles have had one of many worst defenses within the NFL by way of two weeks, it’s important to look squarely at a bunch of Roseman’s strikes. It’s nonetheless early, and the Eagles are on their third defensive coordinator within the span of eight video games and that is not superb, and we knew it was going to take some time for all the brand new items to suit collectively in a brand new scheme. There’s nonetheless time for all or any of those guys to show issues round. However no sacks by an edge? One of many worst opponents’ speeding averages in NFL historical past? One takeaway? No person is making performs, and that’s regarding. You’ll be able to’t maintain dropping high quality defensive gamers – Javon Hargrave, Haason Reddick, Fletcher Cox, T.J. Edwards, quickly to be B.G. – and never changing them. Particularly contemplating the belongings Roseman used to construct this protection. Howie’s monitor file through the years is superb. Two Tremendous Bowl appearances with totally different coaches and quarterbacks, six playoff journeys within the final seven years, simply three dropping seasons since he turned GM in 2010. However a minimum of up to now, most of his latest high-profile defensive strikes are wanting awfully shaky.

2. Thomas Booker has performed 17 snaps and has as many solo tackles as each different Eagles inside defensive lineman mixed in 245 snaps:

Thomas Booker: 3 tackles, 17 snaps

Milton Williams: 2 tackles, 53 snaps

Jordan Davis: 1 deal with, 64 snaps

Jalen Carter: 0 tackles, 97 snaps

Moro Ojomo: 0 tackles, 31 snaps

3. I’m nonetheless satisfied this has an opportunity to be among the finest Eagles offenses ever. If they’ll get rid of the turnovers, they’re going to be exhausting to cease as soon as they’re at full energy. They’ve obtained a gifted play caller in Kellen Moore, the offensive line has been the one space on your entire group that’s been distinctive up to now, we all know they’ve two elite WRs and a big-time working again. They’ve obtained to get Dallas Goedert going, however total I really feel like Jalen Hurts has performed some actually good issues in each video games when he’s not turning the ball over. Even with all of the turnovers, the Eagles are averaging 27.5 factors per sport – 5^th-highest within the league. They’re one in all seven groups that’s scored on a minimum of half their possessions, and on the 15 drives the place they haven’t turned the ball over they’ve scored 67 % of the time – 3^rd-highest within the league. If they’ll simply hold onto the dang ball they’re going to common over 30 factors, one thing they haven’t performed in 76 years.

4. Fourteen of the final 17 instances the Eagles have been 1-1, they’ve reached the playoffs – 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021. The one instances they opened 1-1 and missed the playoffs since 1995 are 1997 (6-9-1), 2005 (6-10) and 2011 (8-8). So solely twice the final 17 instances once they had been 1-1 did they end with a dropping file.

5. Within the final 25 years, there have been 183 extensive receivers drafted within the first or second spherical who’ve performed in a minimum of 40 video games. Of these 183, solely 19 have averaged 20 yards per sport or much less. Freddie Mitchell ranks 165^th of these 183 at 20 yards per sport, Jalen Reagor is 170^th at 16.7 and J.J. Arcega is 182^nd at 7.3. The Eagles are the one group to draft three receivers within the first or second spherical over the past 25 years who’ve averaged 20 yards per sport or much less of their profession.

6A. Through the 51-year span from 1950 by way of 2000 Wealthy Kotite was the one Eagles head coach to win a street playoff sport.

6B. That win – in 1992 vs. the Saints on the Superdome – featured one of many best fourth quarters in NFL historical past. Going into the fourth quarter, the Saints led 20-10, however the Eagles proceeded to attain 26 factors within the span of 8 minutes and 20 seconds on a Randall Cunningham 35-yard TD go to Fred Barnett, Heath Sherman’s six-yard TD run, a Reggie White finish zone sack of Bobby Hebert for a security, a brief Roger Ruzek subject purpose and Eric Allen’s 18-yard pick-6. The Eagles’ 26-point margin is the two^nd-largest in NFL historical past in a postseason fourth quarter (the Giants outscored the Bears 26-0 in a 30-13 win on the Polo Grounds in 1934), and the 26 factors are additionally 2^nd-most ever in a postseason fourth quarter. Groups main by 10 or extra factors going into the fourth quarter of a playoff sport are 315-18, and at residence they’re 211-5. Because the Eagles in 1992, the one group to win after trailing by double digits within the fourth quarter of a playoff sport on the street is the 2017 Titans, who beat the Andy Reid Chiefs 22-21 behind quarterback Marcus Mariota after trailing 21-10 early within the fourth quarter (and 21-3 within the third quarter).

7. Nolan Smith has one sack in 19 video games. In his first 19 profession video games, Mike Mamula had eight sacks, Derek Barnett had 7 ½ and Jerome McDougle had two. Trent Cole, a 5^th-round decide, had 10.

8A. There’s been a number of speak about why Dallas Goedert hasn’t been extra concerned within the offense, particularly with A.J. Brown out. Truly, he has been fairly concerned – his 9 targets up to now are 9^th-most of any NFL tight finish and put him on tempo for 77 targets, which might be solely 10 shy of his profession excessive of 87 in 2019. The true situation is the depth of these targets. Goedert’s common depth of goal is simply 3.8 yards, which places him 29^thof 42 tight ends who’ve been focused a minimum of 4 instances. His common depth of goal from 2019 by way of 2023 was practically double that (6.8 yards, 42^nd of 92 with 50 targets). That explains why Goedert is averaging simply 9.9 yards per catch, which ranks 18^th amongst tight ends with a minimum of 4 targets and is effectively under his profession common of 11.7. Goedert has 40 profession catches of a minimum of 22 yards however none this yr. I consider Goedert remains to be a top-5 tight finish within the NFL. I actually do. Since 2021, he has the 5^th-most yards of any NFL tight finish. Together with his pace, athleticism, toughness and talent to bowl folks over after the catch, he’s an elite weapon. Kellen Moore and Jalen Hurts simply have to start out utilizing him as one.

8B. Goedert’s former teammate, Zach Ertz, had 4 catches for 62 yards within the Commanders’ win over the Giants Sunday. The 4 catches give him 716 in his 12-year profession and inside three of Jimmy Graham, whose 719 catches are 7^th-most in historical past by a good finish. As soon as Ertz passes Graham, subsequent on the all-time record is Greg Olsen in sixth place with 742. The 33-year-old Ertz’s 62 yards had been his most in two years, since he had 70 for the Playing cards in Seattle in October 2022.

9. One other space of concern for the Eagles by way of two video games is penalties. They’ve been cited 16 instances (not together with 4 that offset or had been declined), 8^th-most within the league up to now, and allowed 5 penalty first downs, 5^th-most. That features 4 unlawful man down fields (three by Cam Jurgens). The Eagles aren’t adequate to get away with a scarcity of self-discipline. They’ve obtained to wash up the sloppy penalties like unlawful man downfield, delay of sport (twice), unlawful formation (twice) and two many males on the sector (as soon as). They’ve obtained to cease serving to the opposite group out with free yards.

10. For a group whose coach is continually preaching ball safety, the Eagles have now gone 10 consecutive video games with a turnover margin of zero or worse. That is actually exhausting to do. That 10-game streak of video games with out profitable a optimistic integer within the turnover battle is 4^th-longest in franchise historical past, behind streaks in 1967 and 1968 (15 video games), 2012 (12 video games) and 1985 and 1986 (11 video games). And longest present streak within the NFL. Final time they had been plus-one or higher was the 21-17 win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead in Week 11 final yr. (They’ve additionally gone 18 straight video games with out being plus-two or higher, the two^nd-longest streak in franchise historical past behind a 27-game stretch from mid-2011 by way of early 2013). Powerful to win that manner.

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