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Tag: Kellen Moore

  • Which Team Are the Eagles a Repeat Of: 2023 or 2024? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Credit: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images

    The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 season has gotten off to a perfect start: sending the rival Dallas Cowboys home with a loss in Week 1 and leaving Arrowhead Stadium with a gutsy win in Week 2. While the Birds are flawless on paper, leading the NFC East with a 2–0 record, their victories haven’t been all that convincing.

    So far, the Eagles’ offense has been underwhelming. Following a marvelous first-half performance against the Cowboys, it’s been difficult to advance the ball down the field. They ranked 30th in second-half expected points added per play (EPA/play) in Week 1 and 22nd overall in Week 2.

    Mind you, nearly an identical offense, minus an offensive coordinator swap, put up 40 points against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Despite having endless weapons, Philadelphia has lacked dynamism.

    That’s almost exactly the same scenario as 2023—a brilliant offense, led by a new, internal coordinator, regresses after dominating the Chiefs’ defense in the Super Bowl. That season, the team started the most unconvincing 10–1 you’ll ever see. Then, they collapsed hard, losing six of their last seven.

    Interestingly, the Eagles didn’t have the prettiest start in 2024, either. At 2–2 with some discouraging offensive outings, many fans were panicking. But they quickly started clicking, victorious in 16 of their last 17, including a championship title.

    So, what are these Birds? A 2023 or 2024 repeat?

    Verdict: Be Skeptical, But Give the Eagles Time

    Ultimately, the Eagles deserve time to figure this out. First, let’s set the scene. The offense came out roaring against the Cowboys, ranking atop the league in first-half EPA/play during Week 1. Then, the lightning delay happened. Over an hour of real-life time later, the teams got back out on the field, and neither looked all that fantastic. The Birds get a pass.

    Then, you have Week 2. Jalen Hurts only had 116 total yards on a combined 31 pass and rush attempts, with his biggest play being just 28 yards. He got the win, which he made sure to clarify to Chiefs superstar Chris Jones, but it wasn’t one that makes you say, “Wow, this team can beat anyone.”

    Sep 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) hands off the ball to running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the third quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
    PHOTO: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesCredit: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images

    However, the Eagles were facing the defending AFC Championship winners on the road, regarded as one of the toughest places to play in sports. Getting a win at all, with revenge as a motivator for Kansas City, is nothing short of incredible. Besides, Patrick Mahomes only put up 17 points. Shouldn’t the 0–2 Chiefs be worrying a little bit more?

    It’s always good to be skeptical. But the Eagles have had a challenging road thus far, and they’ve come out on top. Their new offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo, is still adapting, and so is the team around him. Kellen Moore, the team’s previous holder of the job, didn’t truly “figure it out” for a while—around Week 8 last season, to put an exact number on it.

    The 2025 Eagles deserve your patience, too.

    Tags: Dallas Cowboys Jalen Hurts Kansas City Chiefs Kellen Moore Kevin Patullo NFL Philadelphia Eagles

    Categorized:Eagles

    Justin Giampietro

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  • Eagles’ Saquon Barkley Is Adding a New Dynamic to the Offense – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles’ Saquon Barkley Is Adding a New Dynamic to the Offense – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images

    When the Philadelphia Eagles signed running back Saquon Barkley in the 2024 free agency period, it was a big deal.
    Not only has he been good, but he has also added a new dynamic to the offense.

    Barkley Is as Good as Advertised

    So far, Barkley has lived up to the hype and more. Looking at basic metrics, he averages 0.7 more yards per carry (5.3 versus 4.6) than D’Andre Swift was as the king of the running back position last season. Despite having an offensive line without Jason Kelce on it—this isn’t even Barkley’s full form.

    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images

    The appeal here is both Barkley’s efficiency and explosiveness. First, we’ll start with the former. For the third season in a row, he is top 10 in rushing yards over expected (RYOE) with 133 in the early stages. The investment here has been well worth it, as he has gained yardage at a much higher rate (1.52 yards per attempt) than he theoretically should.

    That total is being inflated because of a few plays in particular, though. Barkley has always been an explosive football player, but 11 explosive carries (rushes with at least 10 yards) in 91 attempts certainly adds something to an offense. That’s nearly three more explosive carries per 100 attempts than Swift last season, which is well worth the increased cost of a big-name running back.

    When the Eagles’ offense was stalling against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3, he took matters into his own hands and rushed for a game-changing 65-yard touchdown. Down 3-0 in the fourth quarter, Barkley’s contributions made a loss become a win. He did this in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, too, but it was a bit too little, too late for the Birds. Still, a player who can flip the field is invaluable.

    Should Barkley See More Usage?

    Barkley is averaging 21 touches per game this season. Is that enough?

    There are a lot of mouths to feed on a fully healthy Eagles offense, but Barkley might just be the most important. While there hasn’t been a game this season where he’s had a ridiculous workload, his two highest-usage games were the ones where the Eagles scored the most and second-most points in a game this season.

    Barkley wasn’t signed to be the face of the Eagles’ offense. Jalen Hurts has a responsibility to keep defenses honest with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but he might be relying on his arm a bit too much. Though it’s probably not in his future, could a 30-carry game be beneficial to the offense?

    This is a fair question to ask, seeing as the 2024 campaign hasn’t been Hurts’ brightest. He has been far from poor, but it’s plausible that Barkley can be the piece to elevate the unit.

    The Eagles hit a grand slam with Barkley’s signing.
    He has added a new dynamic to the offense and emerged as a player Hurts can depend on if he needs a safety blanket.

    PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images

    Justin Giampietro

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  • Eagles Woes Continue, 2-2 Heading Into The Bye – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles Woes Continue, 2-2 Heading Into The Bye – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    After another pitiful performance in Tampa Bay, the Eagles sit tied for 2nd in the NFC East.

    Hopefully the Eagles can avoid meeting the Buccaneers in the Wildcard round, again.

    Moving on to the early bye week at 2-2 isn’t the end for the Eagles, but it isn’t instilling much hope.

     

    Offensive Woes

    Sure the Eagles have been without A.J. Brown for multiple weeks and spent a game and a half without Lane Johnson & DeVonta Smith. But they only average 21.5 points per game in 4 games this season, which drops to 17.3 not including the packers game.

    This is also a team that has 8 turnovers on offense and 8(!) 3&Outs. What gives?

    Where’s The Motion?

    Last season, the Eagles ranked dead last in motion(10.9%) While the Chargers(25.9%) were ranked 8th(Kellen Moore’s last team) while having Easton Stick start multiple games at QB.

    With the hire of Moore in the offseason, everyone was expecting a more competent offense. Now loaded with even more talent in the backfield and along the offensive line.

    But through 4 weeks…

    The Eagles are in the middle of the pack. Which becomes concerning when you see NextGenStats posting the Eagles used 65.8% in their season debut.

    Makes you question why there’s been such a decline in only a matter of weeks.

     

    • Why are the Eagles afraid of short yardage plays down 3 of their best players?

    • Down 2 of your Weapons. Why does Saquon only see the ball 10 times? No wonder the offense stalls.

    • After admitting to being the one to call a USELESS fake QB sneak in New Orleans. How much of the Offense does Nick Sirianni have control of?

    And most importantly.

    • Why does this team feel so similar to last years?

     

    The Missing Piece

    Normally, when a team cleans house, they clean house. It was already questioned last year what Nick Sirianni did as Eagles head coach following last years disastrous end. Somehow, he was able to keep his job.

    Brian Johnson was let go as the scape goat to the collapse of the offense compared to their Super Bowl season. But now in Washington, Jayden Daniels is thriving as the Commanders hold 1st place in the NFC East.

    Dennard Wilson is now the Defensive Coordinator in Tennessee, and finding some success with a team that isn’t having a great season. After spending last season with the Ravens as a Defensive Backs Coach & Passing Game Coordinator, the same position he held in Philadelphia the 2 years prior.

    There’s multiple coaches who have left the Eagles who are finding success. And yet the Eagles seem to be stagnant now 2 years after their Super Bowl appearance. Even after bringing in highly valued coordinators on both sides of the ball.

    With many inconsistencies and similarities causing concern just 4 weeks into the season. A 2-2 record might not look bad, but how many head coaches can survive a 3-8 run to end and begin seasons with high expectations?

     

    With the weakest strength of schedule in the league and 13 games still left to play. There aren’t many excuses for this Eagles team to not still be competitive and push for a top seed in the playoffs. But with the way they’ve been playing, there better be some good performances following the bye week. Otherwise the playoffs could soon be out of reach.

     

     

     

    Photo Credit: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images

     

    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Why Tanner McKee Should Be QB2 for the Eagles – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Why Tanner McKee Should Be QB2 for the Eagles – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Eagles have had two exciting preseason wins so far. This was largely due to the play of second-year quarterback Tanner McKee, who has looked stellar so far through training camp and the preseason games.
    Nick Sirianni is standing firm on Kenny Pickett being QB2, but Tanner McKee has proven it should be him.

    McKee looks much better as a passer than Pickett does.

    In his most recent outing against the Patriots, McKee threw 19 passes and completed 15 for 140 yards.

    It is evident when you watch the games that Kenny Pickett isn’t any good. Against the Patriots, he had 11 completions for 67 yards. He’s already had two full seasons as a starter under his belt, and as Steelers fans will tell you, he was awful out there.

    He is a first-round pick who has proven he isn’t a good QB in the league, but McKee, on the other hand, is a 6th round pick who hasn’t gotten a chance to prove himself.

    Even if McKee isn’t that good, he’s a better option than Pickett.

    Tanner McKee looks like a solid passer when he’s on the field, especially since he’s throwing to wide receivers who probably won’t be on the roster. He is someone who could come in and win a few games if Jalen Hurts goes down, which he usually does at some point during the season.

    There were even people who thought McKee should have been QB2 last season, ahead of Marcus Mariota. McKee finished his college career at Stanford with 5336 passing yards and 28 touchdowns in two seasons as a starter. He was definitely a solid passer in college, and that could translate to the NFL.

    Jalen Hurts has missed games during every season since he’s been a starter. If he goes down this season, the Eagles cannot put Kenny Pickett out there.
    Philadelphia will have a much better chance to win if they put Tanner Mckee in the game, which is why he should be QB2.

    PHOTO: —

    Nate Schweitzer

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  • New Eagles That Need To Make An Impact In 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    New Eagles That Need To Make An Impact In 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Eagles may have made some drastic changes throughout the roster. But there’s still some uncertainty about the depth chart. But with the new coaching changes and acquisitions made in the offseason (and yet to come), there’s plenty of players who will have their opportunity to make an impact on the roster.

    Below are a few standouts to look forward to in the regular season.

    Bryce Huff

    The biggest change to the Eagles defensive line is going to be the swap of Haason Reddick for Bryce Huff.

    In his 4 seasons with the Jets, Huff put up 17.5 sacks (with 10 coming in his last season), as well as 21 QB hits and 10 TFL in the 2023 season. During that season Huff only played 480 defensive snaps (42.22%). When you look at the workload that Haason Reddick had on the Eagles last year, with 862 defensive snaps (74.18%). Reddick posted 11 sacks, 23 QB hits and 13 TFL.

    Huff will have big shoes to fill in his opening season with the Eagles. But with a defense the Eagles have gone all out on, hoping to turn things around from the #26 rank they had last season, and 31st in passing defense.

     

    Will Shipley

    With the 127th pick in this years NFL Draft, the Eagles selected running back Will Shipley. Shipley had 827 yards and 5 rushing touchdowns in his final season at Clemson. Could the Eagles need to reduce Saquon Barkley’s workload, Shipley should be the best available backup. Fans and opponents saw the Eagles overuse of Kenneth Gainwell last season, with only 364 rushing yards. And unless his offensive woes(4.3ypc) were also due to Brian Johnson’s uncreative offense. He should be on a very short leash as the Eagles longest tenured back.

     

    There won’t be much to expect from Shipley in his rookie season if all goes well. But in the event of injury, the Eagles RB depth will need to come into play. And if Kellen Moore’s new offense can bring out the best in all 3 backs, perhaps they’ll be able to make their way into more top 10 rankings.

     

    C.J. Uzomah

    Something I spent most of last season hoping the Eagles would address, was adding another tight end to the roster.

    When they signed CJ Uzomah along with Kellen Moore becoming the new offensive coordinator. The offense was going to get some new looks. Uzomah might not have had much to show for his 2 seasons with the Jets, but joining a backup role behind Dallas Goedert might be the perfect setup for his next season.

    Throughout Moore’s OC seasons, his teams 1&2TEs had the following stats:

    2019(Cowboys)
    Jason Witten – 63Rec, 529Yards, 4TD
    Blake Jarwin – 31Rec, 365Yards, 3TD

    2020(Cowboys)
    Dalton Schultz – 63Rec, 615Yards, 4TD
    Blake Bell – 11Rec, 110Yards, 0TD

    2021(Cowboys)
    Dalton Schultz – 78Rec, 808Yards, 8TD
    Blake Jarwin – 11Rec, 96Yards, 2TD

    2022(Cowboys)
    Dalton Schultz – 57Rec, 577Yards, 5TD
    Jake Ferguson – 19Rec, 174Yards, 2TD
    Peyton Hendershot – 11Rec, 103Yards, 2TD

    2023(Chargers)
    Gerald Everett – 51Rec, 411Yards, 3TD
    Donald Parham – 27Rec, 285Yards, 4TD
    Stone Smartt – 11Rec, 155 Yards, 1TD

    With productive seasons from multiple TEs across multiple seasons and including a 2nd team should mean good things for the coming Eagles offense. If Dallas Goedert stays healthy for all 17 games of the season, the Eagles might be able to expect a 1,000 yard season from him, let alone how many yards they’re able to get from their TE2, arguably C.J. Uzomah until listed otherwise.

     

    There’s more than just the 3 players who need to make their impact known. But from the draft and free agency, these are the roles that could help define this Eagles season as a success, from positions they could have been lacking in the last few years.

     

    We only have to wait 19 more days until Training Camp starts. And after that, pre-season will be right around the corner.

     

    Photo Credit: Seth Wenig / AP Photo 

    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • From DeVante Parker Retiring to John Ross Signed – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    From DeVante Parker Retiring to John Ross Signed – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    It’s not an Eagles offseason without a weekly dose of roster moves.

    DeVante Parker’s 2-Month Stint In Philly

    The series of events started on Monday when news of DeVante Parker’s retirement broke. Suddenly, the Eagles were down a receiver.

    Signed on the 2nd day of free agency, Parker was the 1st of 4 receivers acquired by the Eagles this offseason, including:

    • Parris Campbell
    • Ainias Smith
    • Johnny Wilson

    There were mixed reviews when Parker was initially signed by the Eagles. He may have torched the Eagles in 2019, but he wasn’t that Miami receiver anymore. He barely scraped by the 500-yard mark in 2021 and 2022. Parker didn’t eclipse 400 on the 2023 Patriots.

    While their QB carousel provided no real chance for receivers, there was an interesting stat that may not have helped Parker’s case.

    Even coming to Philadelphia as competition for WR3/4, this didn’t bode well for Parker’s case to make the team, which had the Eagles in familiar territory to last season.

    Myles Jack’s 2 Week Stint In Philly

    On August 6th, 2023, just days before the Eagles first preseason game. They signed Myles Jack and Zach Cunningham to 1-year deals. Adding two players to the Linebacker core that had yet to sign Shaq Leonard and still had a healthy Nakobe Dean. Things were looking good for the Philly Defense.

    It was exactly two weeks later that Myles Jack announced his retirement, leaving the Eagles without a depth linebacker they could have used.

    However, Jack’s retirement was shortened. Exactly three months later, on November 20th, the Steelers signed Myles Jack to their practice squad. He may not have played until December, but he could have been a useful piece for the Eagles’ struggling defense down the stretch.

    Quickly Filling Holes, Eagles Add John Ross

    The Eagles were going to need to move on from Quez Watkins after the disastrous season from the WR3. Seeing Olamide Zaccheaus and Julio Jones not be re-signed wasn’t the best result.

    But bringing in four receivers while bolstering the Tight End depth they’ve needed for multiple seasons is a welcome change to Kellen Moore’s new offense.

    In the wake of DeVante Parker’s retirement, the Eagles didn’t let the week end before signing a contract for their OTAs, which resume on Tuesday.

    While Ross might not have played for the last 3 seasons, that might be the least of the Eagles’ worries. If former Colt Parris Campbell can return to his Indy form, there’s only need for a WR4 on the Eagles roster.

    This provides Ross, Smith, Wilson, and Ngata with plenty of competition for that final spot. And this is all before we get to any potential trade deadline targets in October!

    Of all the players still vying for that final receiver spot.
    Who do you have making the Eagles roster at the end of the offseason?

    PHOTO: —

    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Hurts, McKee, Pickett & Grier! The QB Factory Is Back! – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Hurts, McKee, Pickett & Grier! The QB Factory Is Back! – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Eagles have acquired their 2nd Quarterback of the free agency period.

    While they had to trade a pair of 2025 7th round picks and drop from 98th to the 120th pick in this years draft when acquiring Pickett from Pittsburgh last week.

    It was only a day later when the Steelers announced they had traded a 2025 6th round pick for Bears QB Justin Fields. Some had wanted the Eagles to pursue Fields as an Eagles backup. However, with only 1 year under contract before a $25.6M 5th-year option (which the Eagles would most likely not pick up).

    Going after Pickett for 2 years with only $4.6M guaranteed is very similar to when they traded a 2022 6th round pick for 2 years of Gardner Minshew, who only cost the Eagles $3.39M.

    With the following Quarterbacks under contract for multiple years

    • Jalen Hurts (2029)
    • Tanner McKee (2027)
    • Kenny Pickett (2027)

    You’d think they’d be done with the QB market.

     

    Until the QB factory opened its doors.

     

    4th QB On The Roster

     

    There’s nothing to blow out of proportion with the Eagles signing Will Grier. Who will most likely be the 4th QB on the depth chart.

    After Grier spent 2 seasons in Dallas he found himself signed to the Chargers practice squad last December, ending up with Eagles new OC Kellen Moore again. Moore is probably the biggest reason why the Eagles made this move. Bringing in a familiar face for a new system, and will bring competition to both Tanner McKee and Kenny Pickett.

     

    Long Way Till Final Roster Cuts

    Much like the Eagles signing of DeVante Parker, there’s no guarantee we’ll see Grier make it through 53-man roster cuts and could end up on the practice squad. So there’s no reason to overreact to the Eagles weekend signing. We’re a long way from the August deadline.

     

    With the additions of LB Oren Burks, DT P.J. Mustipher, CB Tyler Hall, WR Parris Campbell, between the QB moves this week. The Eagles depth chart is being rounded out with over a month until the 2024 Draft, where the Eagles still hold three picks in the top 55. And have previously made outstanding moves in the draft, including last years Day 3 trade for D’Andre Swift.

     

    As we inch closer and closer to April 25th, who do you expect the Eagles to announce with the 22nd overall pick?

     

     

    Photo Credit: Tim Heitman / USA Today Sports

     

     

     

    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • The Eagles Free Agent Frenzy – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Eagles Free Agent Frenzy – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Eagles had another grocery list of positions to fill this off-season.

    • Safety (or 2)
    • Linebackers (multiple)
    • Wide Receivers (multiple)
    • Running Back (or 2)
    • OL Depth

    They had already made a few moves to shore up some depth and competition in the roster. See more of the previous moves like Okwara and Kinnard here.

    If you had told me that the Eagles would cross off most of that list within the first week of free agency. I would assume most of the players were cheap acquisitions who might not even make the 53 man roster. But by end of day Thursday, the Eagles have started the off-season impressively.

    Let’s recap the moves they’ve made since Wednesday.

     

    Division Rival Betrayal

    The Eagles began the legal tampering period with some of the best news. And later finalized a 3-year, $37.75M deal with Saquon Barkley.

    This should be the 3rd year in a row Eagles end up with a 1,000+ yard player in the backfield. From Sanders, to Swift and now Barkley, who put up 962 rushing yards in only 14 games with the Giants this past season. While the Giants had started Tyrod Taylor, Daniel Jones and Tommy DeVito for equal amounts of the season. Saquon was in a similar situation to Christian McCaffrey, and should now make as much an impact on the Eagles as McCaffrey has to the 49ers offense.

    With only a $3,950,000 cap hit in 2024. Barely costing the team as they continued to spend their available cap space…

     

     

    Shopping From Both Sides Of MetLife

    There was one more stop the Eagles had to make while they were scooping players from MetLife Stadium.

    Signing Bryce Huff to a 3-year, $51M contract is a big price to pay for a defensive end who only played 42% of the defensive snaps. Compared to Sweat at $13.3M and Reddick at $15M, who both played over 70% of the Eagles defensive snaps. But with Huff putting up 10 Sacks last year for the Jets, this signing feels similar to when they signed Haason Reddick 2 seasons ago.

    So could this be a signing to replace one of the expiring Sweat or Reddick deals? Or utilizing the $30M jump in cap space to re-invest on the defensive line? We won’t know for now, but this Josh Sweat instagram comment might be a hint of what could still be to come.

     

    Addressing The OL

    Every year, there’s plenty of people online who scream into the void “The Eagles should use their Day 1 pick on an offensive lineman”

    I’m here to tell you they probably won’t do that, again.

    The Eagles had plenty of players depart from the Offensive Line. From Kelce’s retirement to no news on Sua Opeta or Jack Driscoll. But they’ve already gone and signed Darian Kinnard, and now Matt Hennessy.

    With 20 starts in Atlanta over the last 3 years, the former Temple Owl will make his way back to Philadelphia. Having played center and left guard in Atlanta. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Hennessy is viewed as a backup piece, but can bring competition for both Cam Jurgens and Tyler Steen during training camp.

    While this is only a 1 year deal, it probably keeps the Eagles from using a high round pick in the draft on the offensive line. If they’re truly building for the future they could use a 2nd or 3rd round pick, like they have in the last two drafts.

     

     

     

    Finally, Some Linebackers!

    There’s one position the Eagles desperately needed to invest in this off-season. And it took awhile for these moves to come through but they’ve made them.

    Adding 2 linebackers in the opening week of free agency is steps ahead of the linebackers the Eagles were acquiring last year.

    Nicholas Morrow was the only free agent move in March for a LB, and Zach Cunningham and Myles Jack weren’t signed until August.

    Devin White, a former Pro-Bowler and All-Pro had 83 tackles last year, including 2.5 Sacks and 2 Interceptions.

    While Zack Baun had 30 tackles, 2 Sacks and 1 Interception.

    Many may not approve of the White deal, but with plenty of time to make final roster decisions and the draft still a month away. White and Baun are better moves than the Eagles have seen at LB in some time. (We all remember Nate Gerry, right?)

     

    A Reunion In Philly

    Maybe this is what was missing from the Eagles secondary in 2023.

    C.J. Gardner-Johnson didn’t see plenty of playing time in Detroit, With a Week 2 injury that saw C.J. out until week 18. The reacquainted Safety still had 2 Interceptions across his 6 total games in Detroit, 3 in the regular season and 3 in the playoffs.

    Some wanted Justin Simmons to fill the void in the secondary left by Byard, but after some apologies, many are on board with this addition.

     

    The New WR3 In Town

    With Quez Watkins and Olamide Zaccheaus set to be free agents, the Eagles had to bring in multiple new faces for new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

    And they did.

    While DeVante Parker’s separation numbers are the worst in the league. The Former Patriot still had 539 and 394 yards during his 2-year stint with Mac Jones at QB (And Matt Patricia at OC).

    Not bad numbers to fill in a WR3 role that Watkins and Zaccheaus didn’t come close to last year. Sure the offense struggled under Brian Johnson, there’s still bright things to expect with new faces on this team with new coordinators and schemes being put in place this off-season.

    There’s still 1 more open WR spot on the roster that could be addressed in the draft or re-signing Zaccheaus. And with the Eagles only paying $1.2M of Parker’s deal, there’s no guarantee he makes the final roster cut in August either.

     

     

     

     

    The Eagles have already made plenty of moves signing new faces to the team, who are you hoping they’re still able to add before the draft?

     

    Go Birds!

     

     

    Photo Credit: Matt Rourke / AP Photo

     

     

     

    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • More Coaching Hires. Kellen Moore & Clint Hurtt to Philly – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    More Coaching Hires. Kellen Moore & Clint Hurtt to Philly – Philadelphia Sports Nation


    Amidst the flurry of coaching hires and Pro Bowl dodgeball. The Eagles have continued to make moves on their coaching staff.

    Last week, the Eagles had begun their search for new coordinators. They started off by hiring Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator. Fangio was most likely their 1st choice last season, but the Arizona Cardinals tampering incident saw Fangio off to Miami for the year. 

    Moving on from the Patricia & Desai conundrum as quickly as possible might have saved this Eagles off-season.

     

    Another Coach On The Way Out

    It was announced that Quarterback Coach Alex Tanney will be looking for new opportunities. The Eagles would have yet another hole to fill in their coaching staff with OC Brian Johnson also being let go. There’s been no formal severance from Tanney yet, so there’s a potential he could remain with the team still.

     

    Another Coach On The Way Out

    The Eagles might’ve already found their Defensive Coordinator in Vic Fangio. But it looks like the Eagles will flesh out their defensive staffing with coaches Fangio has spent previous time with.

    New Defensive Line Coach Clint Hurtt spent two years with the Chicago Bears as an Outside Linebackers Coach during Fangio’s time as Chicago’s Defensive Coordinator (2015-16). Hurtt was most recently the Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator for the last 2 seasons. With a familiar joining Fangio’s team. The Eagles now have to question what they’ll be doing with Tracy Rocker. The current Defensive Line Coach who has been with the team since Sirianni’s arrival.

     

    There’s another coach from the Dolphins staff that the Eagles have already reached out to.

    If the Eagles are able to bring in Fangio and potentially Joe Kasper from Miami. Perhaps GM Howie Roseman might consider making another blockbuster trade for the Safety position?

    In August of 2022, the Eagles acquired C.J. Gardner-Johnson and a 2025 7th round pick from the New Orleans Saints for a 2023 5th, and the worse of their 2024 6th round picks.

    If the Eagles were considering a splash with a trade. Using a couple of their picks, perhaps they could make a move on Miami’s Jevon Holland? With the loss of Sydney Brown in Week 18, it’s unlikely the Eagles will see their own Canadian-born Safety back for the 2024 season. Why not get another one?

    After all. Jevon posted this video of himself kicking rocks the same day that Fangio was moving on from the Dolphins staff. While Holland tried to down play the video. Even Dolphins pages like PhinPhanatic think that Miami should listen in on potential trade offers.

     

     

    Finally, An Offensive Coordinator

    Last week, the rumored names for the Eagles Offensive Coordinator availability were Kellen Moore and Kliff Kingsbury.

    With Moore winning the job and Kingsbury staying in the desert with the  Las Vegas Raiders. It almost seems like the Eagles once again dodged a bullet that the Raiders once again took for them.

    During the 2021 coaching cycle. The Eagles almost hired Josh McDaniels over Nick Sirianni. Since then McDaniels went on to coach the Raiders to an uninspiring 9-16 while Sirianni has gone 34-17 in Philly, with 3 straight playoff appearances.

    Missing out on another coach that ends up going to Vegas might be good for the Eagles. It worked once, hopefully it works again.

    With Moore moving on from the Chargers (understandably after hiring Harbaugh), it was a surprise to see him heading to Philly. Expected to get Head Coaching offers following his last year in Dallas. Moore even refused the interim position in Los Angeles after Brandon Staley was relieved from his position, as Kellen Moore was expected to be hired as a head coach himself during this years cycle.

    If you really wanted to know how lackluster the Eagles 2023 offense was. They ranked 32nd (10.9%) in Pre-snap motion. And when they started using more motion later in the season, it was mostly for show. Kellen Moore’s offense in Los Angeles ranked 8th with 25.9%. Expect big changes in a Philadelphia offense with only 2 active Running Backs, Receivers and Tight Ends.

     

    How are you feeling about the Eagles new coordinator hires?

     

    Go Birds!

     

     

    Photo Credit: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images





    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Eagles hiring former Cowboys assistant Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator

    Eagles hiring former Cowboys assistant Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator


    The Eagles have turned to their biggest rival to fill their offensive coordinator vacancy.

    Kellen Moore, who coached the Cowboys to three top-6 offensive rankings in four years in Dallas, will be the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday evening.

    Moore replaces Brian Johnson, who was fired after three years with the Eagles, this past season as offensive coordinator. Moore will be the Eagles’ third offensive coordinator in three years.

    Moore spent the last year with the Chargers as OC under Brandon Staley, who was fired last month and replaced by former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. 

    Nick Sirianni said on Wednesday that whoever he brings in as offensive coordinator will bring in his own scheme and structure as opposed to calling plays within Sirianni’s offense. 

    “We’re bringing in a guy to bring in new ideas, to do the things that he’s done in the past,” he said Wednesday. “It’d be crazy not to add some of the things that we’ve done in the past here, as well. …

    “We’re working on getting the best guy in here for the job and a guy who has a vision, a guy who’s going to call the plays, a guy who’s going to be able to coach a quarterback. … So it’s just about getting the right guy and then we’ll decide where that goes. But I’m hiring him to do a job and to be in charge of the offense.”

    The Eagles did finish seventh in the NFL in scoring this past season, but the offense grew stale and predictable as the year went on. They scored fewer than 20 points in five of their last seven games, and in their wild-card loss in Tampa, the Eagles scored just nine points.

    Moore, 35, spent parts of six seasons as a backup quarterback with the Lions (2012-14) and Cowboys (2015-17) before starting his coaching career in 2018 as the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach. After one year, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and held that position from 2019 through 2022.

    The Cowboys were ranked 6th, 17th, 1st and 4th in Moore’s four years running the offense, the first year under Jason Garrett and three under Mike McCarthy. Curiously, both Johnson and Moore coached Dak Prescott – Johnson at Mississippi State and Moore with the Cowboys.

    After the Cowboys lost to the 49ers 19-12 in a conference semifinal game in Santa Clara last year, the Cowboys and Moore parted ways. A day later, he was hired by the Chargers, and in his one season in L.A. the Chargers went 5-12 and ranked 21st in offense.

    Kellen was one of only three known candidates for the job. Former Cards head coach Kliff Kingsbury and Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson also interviewed. All three were big-time college quarterbacks.

    That tells you how important this hire is to Jalen Hurts, whose performance declined under Johnson, who was coached in high school by Hurts’ father.

    “It’s really important that those two guys are going to work hand in hand to make sure we’re getting back to where we need to be,” Sirianni said.

    During Moore’s four years in Dallas as offensive coordinator and play caller, the Cowboys averaged 27.7 points per game – 2nd-most in the NFL behind the Chiefs’ 28.8. During his five years in Dallas as either QBs coach or OC, they had the 4th-most passing yards in the NFL with 256 per game.

    Moore’s only NFL playing time came in with the Cowboys at the end of the 2015 season.

    With Tony Romo injured and Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel struggling, Moore played in the last three games, starting two, and threw four touchdowns and six interceptions vs. the Jets, Bills and Washington. He threw for 435 yards with three TDs against Washington in his final NFL appearance. Moore is the first head coach or offensive or defensive coordinator in Eagles history who either played or coached with the Cowboys at any point before he joined the Eagles.



    Reuben Frank

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  • Eagles Should Prioritize Running Backs in 2024 Offseason – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles Should Prioritize Running Backs in 2024 Offseason – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    If any team knows the importance of depth at the running back position, the Philadelphia Eagles might be first on that list.
    Their 7,414 regular season rushing yards in the three-season Nick Sirianni era rank third to only the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears, while the Birds rode that wave into Super Bowl LVII with a league-leading 531 rushing yards that playoff.

    With that being said, the Eagles are now in a predicament that could leave them without their lead back in D’Andre Swift and third- and fourth-stringers Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny — all three of them being unrestricted free agents.

    In addition, potentially losing Jason Kelce to retirement is a crushing blow, even at his 36-year-old age.

    The Eagles’ bread-and-butter rushing offense could take a massive hit in the 2024 season if they aren’t careful.

    With some good money to spare and high-end draft picks at their disposal, there should be no reason why they avoid the running back market; this time, it’s a necessity.

    A Somewhat Regressing Rushing Attack

    In 2023, the Eagles’ rushing attack ranked eighth with 2,190 overall yards and tied for eighth at 4.3 yards per attempt. Those are still solid numbers, but for how fantastic their offensive line is, it’s not good enough. While Swift became just the tenth back in team history to reach the illustrious 1,000-yard total in his first season with the Birds, he did so with -65 rushing yards above expected (RYOE), suggesting he was one of the less effective high-end rushers in the NFL.

    Among backs with 100 or more carries, he ranked 40th of 49 in the category — just the 18th percentile. When adjusting for RYOE per attempt, he was not much better at the 24th percentile. This is not a point to rip on Swift but to highlight some of the inefficiencies in Philadelphia’s backfield as a whole. With how good their offensive line is, they could have been better.

    Even Jalen Hurts saw his worst season as a rusher, with 3.9 yards per carry despite having a career average of 4.8. Hopefully, getting a new offensive mind will start to fix this, but whether Kliff Kingsbury, Kellen Moore, or anyone else gets the job, they will need some help.

    The Eagles have issues all over the field that they will need to address, but an offense that scored just nine points in their early-playoff exit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has to become more explosive on the offensive side of the ball. If anything, it was their defense that kept them in that game, though the 32-9 final would suggest otherwise.

    All season long, the Eagles have struggled to truly incorporate their rushing attack like they have in years past under Sirianni. The last time it truly felt as though they did this properly was in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, way back on Sept. 14. In fact, that feeling is backed up by the stats. From Oct. 1 until the end of the season on Jan. 15 — a 15-game span — the Birds did not have a single player reach 100 rushing yards in a single game.

    Having 100 rushing yards is no small feat, as the Eagles only had a player reach this total four times in 2022, but their passing attack was also one of the best in the league. They didn’t have the duel threat in 2023, with Hurts regressing a bit stats-wise from his 2022 campaign, making it something they arguably should have leaned on more. At times, it felt as though they were not a threat at all on offense despite their elite talent on that front.

    What a Move Could Entail

    Whether or not General Manager (GM) Howie Roseman can land — or even afford — a game-altering back this offseason, it should be something he pushes for. It’s not always the best use of assets, but he and the Eagles know all too well what Christian McCaffrey has done for the San Francisco 49ers. Leading the NFL with 349 RYOE, it’s no surprise that he has made the NFC Championship with his new squad in each of his first two campaigns.

     Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

    It’s very rare for a younger, talented back like McCaffrey to be on the market, but it’s not like the Eagles won’t have options. The Pittsburgh Steelers had two positive RYOE, 100-attempt backs in Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris. Meanwhile, the lowly 6-11 Tennessee Titans could be shopping Derrick Henry, who finished with 84 RYOE and 0.31 RYOE per attempt. There are options that should be available, but sacrifices will have to be made.

    If Swift doesn’t re-sign to become the lead back and the Eagles can’t land one of the top available players, they might be in some trouble. While Kenny Gainwell is still under contract and got a decent workload with 84 carries in the regular season and 4.3 yards per attempt, he really isn’t in a place to see a massive uptick in his involvement in the offense. Between Hurts and him, there will need to be another body mixed in there, if not multiple, that can be heavily involved in the rushing attack.

    In his Jan. 24 end-of-season press conference, Sirianni preached “fresh ideas.” While this might not have been referring to his back, it’s very clear that a shakeup is necessary.
    If the Birds can put more faith in them and have it be a staple of their offense, it might be the first step in returning to the Super Bowl. They have a few months to figure out how they want to attack this dilemma.

    Photo: Philadelphia Eagles

    Justin Giampietro

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  • The Coordinator Search Is Half Over, Eagles Hiring Vic Fangio – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Coordinator Search Is Half Over, Eagles Hiring Vic Fangio – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles fans are able to breathe a partial sigh of relief.

     

    It’s been a long week of slowly learning that the Eagles were letting go of coordinators.

    Sean Desai was the first to go. With the wording that Sirianni made the call confirmed that the divisive head coach would keep his job.

    Many wanted to see Sirianni let go after the Eagles catastrophic end to the season. Losing 6 of their last 7 games, including a 23 point blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during wildcard weekend.

    After the news of Desai’s departure. Fear began to settle in that Matt Patricia would remain the defensive coordinator in Philadelphia.

    Only on a one-year contract, Matt Patricia will be moving on from the Eagles. Probably ending up with Bill Belichick, who just lost out on the Atlanta Falcons vacant head coach position.

    With Brian Johnson the last to be let go. Just like that, the Eagles would be replacing both coordinators for the 2nd straight off-season.

    The Interviews Begin

    There’s plenty of coaches available this hiring cycle. While the Eagles missed out on potentially replacing Nick Sirianni with Jim Harbaugh or Mike Vrabel. They’ve already begun on potential coordinators.

    The Eagles began their search by reaching out to and interviewing the following coaches:

    (OC) Chargers OC Kellen Moore

    (DC) Former Giants DC Wink Martindale

    (DC) Falcons DC Ryan Nielsen (Hired by Jaguars)

    (OC) USC Senior Offensive Analyst Kliff Kingsbury

    (DC) Former Commanders HC Ron Rivera

    (DC) Former Jaguars DC Mike Caldwell

     

    While things seemed to favor Ron Rivera as a potential DC who wouldn’t end up getting poached the following season. The Eagles interesting news broke during Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni’s press conference Wednesday afternoon.

    Eagles New Defensive Coordinator, Vic Fangio?

    During Wednesday’s press conference, Adam Schefter reported that Vic Fangio was moving on from the Miami Dolphins and that the expected landing spot would be the Philadelphia Eagles. It would be confirmed on Thursday

    Turns out the Eagles got the defensive coordinator they were after all along. If not for a tampering incident with Jonathan Gannon, the Eagles would have most likely hired Vic Fangio instead of Sean Desai.

    Changing to a 3-4 defensive front could mean a philosphy change for the Eagles. A team that spent the least amount on the linebacker position, at $3.8M. With 4 Free Agent linebackers, the Eagles have a lot of work to do in rebuilding that room.

    Howie Roseman pointed out that Zach Cunningham had a good season despite missing 3 games. Perhaps that’s a hint toward a potential re-signee later in the off-season?

    With plenty of free agents available, including Patrick Queen, Devin White and Azeez Al-Shaair. This could be the off-season for the Eagles to spend at the position they neglect the most, while also building through the draft with players like Jeremiah Trotter Jr. or Junior Colson.

     

    One Coordinator To Go

    So far, the Eagles interviewed candidates for the offensive coordinator position don’t bring much hope for the future of the offense. Kellen Moore was expected to get head coaching interviews following his season in San Diego. Bringing in a coordinator that worked with the Cowboys during Dak Prescott’s worst season is one thing. But Kliff Kingsbury following his disastrous exit in Arizona is another.

     

    There’s been no decision at offensive coordinator yet. What potential candidates do you hope the Eagles reach out to before making a final choice?

     

    Go Birds!

     

     

    Photo Credit: Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports

    Tyler L’Heureux

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