A mid-camp look at the NFC East: Dallas in a landslide

[viman96]

I think people are being shortsighted with the Eagles. Will they win the division? Probably not. But this is the best Eagles team on paper in the 3 years Kelly has been there. Their front seven is very, very good. They improved in the secondary by dumping Williams and Fletcher, their starting CBs.

It all hinges on Bradford. If (and that's a big if) he's healthy, they are going to be a very good team. Better than us? At this point, not really but the idea that we are 5 games better than them is wishful thinking IMO.

Easy to argue it is the worst roster on paper since Chip took over.

 

[Sydla]

Easy to argue it is the worst roster on paper since Chip took over.

And I think people are being shortsighted on this. I guess we'll just have to wait a month or two to see how it plays out.

 

[viman96]

And I think people are being shortsighted on this. I guess we'll just have to wait a month or two to see how it plays out.

How so?

 

[jobberone]

They have never played the game on paper. Always some surprise teams.

 

[DandyDon52]

you cant predict records at this point.
both dallas and eagles have strong and weak points.
But they are the top 2 teams in division.
Both giants and skins are weak.
If the giants offense can play real good then they might be a threat, but manning and O have not done well with new offense.
I think the dallas eagle games will be real important, and both teams need to sweep the giants and skins.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

I can't write anyone off right now. Philly certainly has questions but so did Dallas last season.

 

[DandyDon52]

Well Dallas won the div , so they are div champs till some other team takes that away.
Dallas has 2 "possible " weak points the run game, and run defense, and I would say pass defense, but they should have a
better pass rush this year so that should help the pass defense, but we wont know till we see it happen.

Philly is one big ? mark chip did so many crazy things, the team is totally different now so they are a unknown till we see a few games.
but I think they are the only team that can compete with dallas for the div.

 

[windjc]

The Eagles have a lot of talent and a coach that knows how to create an offense that scores points. HOWEVER, the Eagles are prone to wearing down over a season - we saw this in full effect last year, because the defense has to play a ridiculous amount of downs and they don't run DEEP rotations.

Yes, the Eagles have 3 very good backs. They have some very good OL, although how they work as a group we don't know. They have Bradford who, if healthy, can be an excellent QB. They have some decent defenders.

But the bottom line is, their style of play isn't built to last an entire season and playoffs. They MUST get off to a quick start to give themselves a chance to make the playoffs.

And they MUST stay healthy, because, outside of RB, they have no depth on offense or defense.

 

[DandyDon52]

The Eagles have a lot of talent and a coach that knows how to create an offense that scores points. HOWEVER, the Eagles are prone to wearing down over a season - we saw this in full effect last year, because the defense has to play a ridiculous amount of downs and they don't run DEEP rotations.

Yes, the Eagles have 3 very good backs. They have some very good OL, although how they work as a group we don't know. They have Bradford who, if healthy, can be an excellent QB. They have some decent defenders.

But the bottom line is, their style of play isn't built to last an entire season and playoffs. They MUST get off to a quick start to give themselves a chance to make the playoffs.

And they MUST stay healthy, because, outside of RB, they have no depth on offense or defense.

that is a good point, maybe they wear themselves out by Dec?
But to me last year was mental breakdown, 1st seattle beat them then dallas beat them and at that point I think they were out of playoffs, and they
gave up.

 

[Sydla]

How so?

I've detailed it in this thread. They lost McCoy but picked up Murray and Matthews. I think if healthy Bradford is a better QB than Foles (and Foles wasn't exactly the epitome of health himself). I've never been a fan of Foles as his skill set is middling IMO. They got better on defense with Maxwell and Thurmond. No, I don't think Thurmond is some stud safety but he's better than Nate Allen who was terrible. And Maxwell is better than either Cary Williams or Bradley Fletcher. They also got a stud ILB in Kiko Alonso.

They did lose Maclin, which I think is a loss. And cutting Mathis was kind of silly. But overall, I think they are a deeper, more talented team than the previous two.

Again, because apparently it needs to be said over and over, I am in no way suggesting that the Eagles are some SB contender. But I think it's kind of absurd to think they are now just a 6 or 7 win team and that we are at least 5 games better than them. That's the real point here.

 

[maxdallasfan]

The Iggles won 5 games last year due to garbage, ST touchdowns. Plus, I can remember about 3 games where the opposing team fumbled on their on 10 yard line, only to give the Iggles a quick score.

That garbage won't last. It didn't last during the last 7 games, where they went 3-4. Teams adapt to that college nonsense.

The whole NFL now knows that if you play man vs. Chip, you shut his offense down. His offense is made for a zone defense, where his crappy receivers run to the open area and his crappy QB's throw the ball 10 yards. Man up, and his crappy receivers can't get open. Simple.

 

[Longboysfan]

The Iggles won 5 games last year due to garbage, ST touchdowns. Plus, I can remember about 3 games where the opposing team fumbled on their on 10 yard line, only to give the Iggles a quick score.

That garbage won't last. It didn't last during the last 7 games, where they went 3-4. Teams adapt to that college nonsense.

The whole NFL now knows that if you play man vs. Chip, you shut his offense down. His offense is made for a zone defense, where his crappy receivers run to the open area and his crappy QB's throw the ball 10 yards. Man up, and his crappy receivers can't get open. Simple.

Send this into the Cowboys.....

 

[tyke1doe]

The Iggles won 5 games last year due to garbage, ST touchdowns. Plus, I can remember about 3 games where the opposing team fumbled on their on 10 yard line, only to give the Iggles a quick score.

That garbage won't last. It didn't last during the last 7 games, where they went 3-4. Teams adapt to that college nonsense.

The whole NFL now knows that if you play man vs. Chip, you shut his offense down. His offense is made for a zone defense, where his crappy receivers run to the open area and his crappy QB's throw the ball 10 yards. Man up, and his crappy receivers can't get open. Simple.

What?!?!?!?
Special teams scores are now garbage?

 

[viman96]

I've detailed it in this thread. They lost McCoy but picked up Murray and Matthews. I think if healthy Bradford is a better QB than Foles (and Foles wasn't exactly the epitome of health himself). I've never been a fan of Foles as his skill set is middling IMO. They got better on defense with Maxwell and Thurmond. No, I don't think Thurmond is some stud safety but he's better than Nate Allen who was terrible. And Maxwell is better than either Cary Williams or Bradley Fletcher. They also got a stud ILB in Kiko Alonso.

They did lose Maclin, which I think is a loss. And cutting Mathis was kind of silly. But overall, I think they are a deeper, more talented team than the previous two.

Again, because apparently it needs to be said over and over, I am in no way suggesting that the Eagles are some SB contender. But I think it's kind of absurd to think they are now just a 6 or 7 win team and that we are at least 5 games better than them. That's the real point here.

I'm only going off your comment "on paper" since Chip took over. The numerous players brought in are either injured or injury prone. The roster is filled with a bunch of what ifs where as before (regardless of culture or system fit) was not.

You could easily argue they are weaker at several positions:

QB - Unproven
RB - McCoy replaced with equal albeit injured/injury prone RBs
WR - Unproven
OL - Unproven Guards. Will they gel?
DB - Unproven

No doubt the potential is there but on paper it is not proven to be better.

 

[erod]

At this point, if there's a surprise team, I think it will be Washington. Talent exists there if they can get anything at all from the quarterback position.

Also, I think this is the year Chip's offense dies in the NFL, and the media will stop slobbering all over him. Defensive coordinators in the NFL can kill a gimmick if they have the time. They've just about got him cornered. The read option has already been largely abandoned around the league because it's getting quarterbacks not named Russell Wilson maimed.

 

[IrishAnto]

To me the big unknown when it comes to evaluating Philly, is how quickly they will gel as a team.

Most successful teams have had their core players together for several seasons which results is guys knowing what each other will do in most situations.

OB’s and WR’s spring to mind as does the play of the OL.

In Philly’s case most of their offensive skill players will play their first competitive game together this coming September.

There likely will be growing pains.

 

[erod]

Just look at the Eagles starting skill players:

Sam Bradford
Demarco Murray
Riley Cooper
Jordan Matthews
Nelson Agholor
Zach Ertz

I mean.......big deal.

As opposed to:

Tony Romo
Joseph Randle
Dez Bryant
Terrance Williams
Cole Beasley
Jason Witten

That's an astronomical difference in talent.

 

[gimmesix]

Murray is a deep I-formation running back these days, not a shotgun side kick. He's not shifty enough for that. He'll be very underwhelming this season, and I think Matthews gets the most carries by season's end.

They had a weak schedule last year early, barely beat some weak opponents, and pieced together a shaky record. When they played well, Foles was there, as were others now gone.

If Murray averages less than 4.1 per carry, I'll be very surprised. He has yet to be below that mark in his career, and the Eagles' line he has won't be worse than the Cowboys' line that started Phil Costa his first year. I won't be surprised to see Murray among the league's leading rushers again this year if he can avoid injury. Obviously, no one can expect him to have a season like last year or receive that kind of workload again, but there's no reason to not expect him to match the production Philly was getting from McCoy. The Eagles replaced one good back with another.

 

[viman96]

Murray one cut style is a great fit for Chip's offense. His initial read and step though is what I wonder about being a good fit.

 

[viman96]

Just look at the Eagles starting skill players:

Sam Bradford
Demarco Murray
Riley Cooper
Jordan Matthews
Nelson Agholor
Zach Ertz

I mean.......big deal.

As opposed to:

Tony Romo
Joseph Randle
Dez Bryant
Terrance Williams
Cole Beasley
Jason Witten

That's an astronomical difference in talent.

Add the uncertainty of the Eagles OL and the gap is even greater.