Everyone who watched the Eagles game last Sunday thinks that they are miles away from being a good team. They have been beaten convincingly in both games.
Then you hear Doug Perderson say they are really close to getting it all together. He gave the example of rookie RB Miles Sanders going through the growing pains of not hitting the right hole on a crucial third down play, or a pass interference flag early in the game being picked up instead of being enforced.
Well, after breaking down the game, I kind of see why Doug made those comments. They are a play away in multiple ways and here's a specific example: a screen play to RB Jordan Howard. Howard had a screen called for him and not everyone was on the same page.
The play was in the first quarter with 8 minutes left. Players call it a slow screen, which is run by the RB and the interior O-linemen (guard-center-guard). The first uncovered O-lineman is responsible for the linebacker who is covering the running back. The second O-lineman is responsible for the backside LB or safety. The backside guard is a peel-back blocker looking for anybody trailing the play from the backside.
No play is ever run the same because there are numerous things that can happen. On this play, the Cowboys' defensive line ran a stunt in the interior which caused RG Isaac Seumalo and C Jason Kelce to switch assignments because Seumalo was covered and Jason was uncovered.
Now, Isaac should pick up the LB, Leighton Vander Esch, who had RB Howard in coverage. Neither Seumalo nor Kelce picked up Vander Esh, which led to his tackle of Howard for a three-yard loss. What is even more concerning is I don’t think Seumalo knew it was a screen. To me, it was a clear assignment bust for the fourth-year O-lineman.
These are the little things Pederson is talking about that hinder the Eagles from becoming a good team instead of hovering at or below mediocracy.
NFL
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