NFL · 1 year ago

5 Things We Learned About the Philadelphia Eagles in Wild Card Loss

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

Defensive Overhaul Necessary
What else is there to say? This defense has fallen apart. I was happy that the defensive line showed up as they produced four sacks, but no one else on that defense deserves a job next season. In the secondary, Kevin Byard is horrible, Reed Blankenship can’t be relied upon heavily, Avonte Maddox has no help, Darius Slay is too old, and James Bradberry cannot tackle. Leading up to the game, we asked for Kelee Ringo to start over James Bradberry in particular, and Bradberry was the worst player on the field. Looking at their linebackers, none of them should be back next season. They all stink. Howie Roseman will have his hands full this offseason because this defense is a disgrace.
Nick Sirianni Needs to be Fired
At this point, there is no certainty whether Nick Sirianni will be retained as the Eagles’ head coach, but how do you move forward? Ever since the San Francisco loss, everything has spiraled out of control to the point where it looks like the team gave up and had no fight against the Bucs in the playoffs. Looking objectively, what does Sirianni even do? He doesn’t call the defense, he is not an efficient play-caller, and his offensive design stinks. After the Super Bowl run, he was lauded as a leader and a motivator, but what did he lead or motivate this season? He was supposed to get this team out of their rut, but he was incapable. This isn’t a regular coaching cycle, as countless marquee names are out on the market that would move mountains to land a job in Philadelphia surrounded by the talent on this team. I don’t think Bill Belichick would be a candidate here since owner Jeffrey Lurie isn’t a fan of his, but someone like Mike Vrabel would be an unbelievable hire, as his teams in Tennessee were always prepared, motivated, and tough as nails. If you watched the playoff disaster, it was proven that the Eagles possess none of those three traits. Move on and start this thing fresh.
Don’t Panic on Jalen Hurts
Did Jalen Hurts look as dominant as he did last season? Absolutely not, but I can’t shake this sentiment that his coaches gave him no help. He’s getting blitzed relentlessly, for crying out loud, and the coaches put nothing in place to save him from the pressure! A short 11 months ago, Hurts was the best player on the field in Super Bowl LVII. After an offseason where his popularity soared and lofty expectations were assessed, I believe Hurts deserves the benefit of the doubt to lead this offense back to the Super Bowl. Hopefully, for his sake, it’s with an offensive mind that can draw up a dang slant against the blitz.
Draft a Starting Running Back
D’Andre Swift provided some value to this Eagles’ roster. Still, as a pending free agent, it’s in the Eagles’ best interest to move on and draft a running back they plan to have around consistently for the foreseeable future. The offensive line will take a hit with Jason Kelce’s presumptive retirement, so having a running back you can rely on for three downs is more critical. Scooping up someone like Blake Corum in the third round of the draft would be huge for this offense to give it some continuity for years to come.
DeVonta Smith: Bonafide Superstar
Man, what a game DeVonta Smith had on Monday night. Was he the only one that cared? He was arguably the best player on the field, as he had eight receptions for 148 yards, continuously giving the Eagles big catches to keep them alive in this game. People don’t discuss him in the upper echelon of NFL wide receivers, primarily since AJ Brown overshadows him, but this dude is incredible. Imagine someone like him in a Kyle Shanahan offense. What DeVonta produced on Monday night with his coaches being unable to scheme him open is unreal, so I envision the next offensive coordinator or head coach salivating at the chance to work with him. What an exceptional talent.
Defensive Overhaul Necessary
What else is there to say? This defense has fallen apart. I was happy that the defensive line showed up as they produced four sacks, but no one else on that defense deserves a job next season. In the secondary, Kevin Byard is horrible, Reed Blankenship can’t be relied upon heavily, Avonte Maddox has no help, Darius Slay is too old, and James Bradberry cannot tackle. Leading up to the game, we asked for Kelee Ringo to start over James Bradberry in particular, and Bradberry was the worst player on the field. Looking at their linebackers, none of them should be back next season. They all stink. Howie Roseman will have his hands full this offseason because this defense is a disgrace.
Nick Sirianni Needs to be Fired
At this point, there is no certainty whether Nick Sirianni will be retained as the Eagles’ head coach, but how do you move forward? Ever since the San Francisco loss, everything has spiraled out of control to the point where it looks like the team gave up and had no fight against the Bucs in the playoffs. Looking objectively, what does Sirianni even do? He doesn’t call the defense, he is not an efficient play-caller, and his offensive design stinks. After the Super Bowl run, he was lauded as a leader and a motivator, but what did he lead or motivate this season? He was supposed to get this team out of their rut, but he was incapable. This isn’t a regular coaching cycle, as countless marquee names are out on the market that would move mountains to land a job in Philadelphia surrounded by the talent on this team. I don’t think Bill Belichick would be a candidate here since owner Jeffrey Lurie isn’t a fan of his, but someone like Mike Vrabel would be an unbelievable hire, as his teams in Tennessee were always prepared, motivated, and tough as nails. If you watched the playoff disaster, it was proven that the Eagles possess none of those three traits. Move on and start this thing fresh.