Eagles' Bye Week Self-Scouting Key to Second-Half Success
With the NFL's halfway point looming, the Philadelphia Eagles are off this week while their opponents gear up for a crucial stretch of games. As the coaches prepare to return to practice next week, they'll be scrutinizing the team's performances from the past eight weeks, identifying areas of improvement and opportunities to exploit weaknesses.
For a 6-2 record, which includes victories over five playoff teams in 2024, the Eagles have shown flashes of brilliance, but also exhibited vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. Here are five key takeaways for the Eagles' second-half resurgence:
Firstly, they must revitalize their outside run game. The recent breakthrough against the Giants, where Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby went over 100 yards each, suggests a newfound effectiveness with under-center formations, an extra offensive lineman, and a refocused approach on running the ball outside the tackles. By embracing off-tackle runs and keeping Bigsby involved, the Eagles can reduce their reliance on six-man o-lines, creating more space for Barkley to thrive.
The offense also needs to speed up its tempo, relying on no-huddle formations to keep opponents guessing. This approach has helped Jalen Hurts dictate the pace of games and prevent situational pass rushers from getting on the field at inopportune moments. By accelerating their plays, the Eagles can wear down defenders and improve their third-down efficiency.
A.J. Brown, the team's most dynamic playmaker, needs to be utilized more effectively on designed pass plays, rather than just relying on his YAC (yards after catch) ability. The Eagles have been hesitant to get him involved in intermediary games, with routes designed to allow him to turn upfield and make big plays. By incorporating these types of plays into their arsenal, Brown can tap into his strengths more consistently.
The cornerback position is also a pressing concern, particularly at CB2. While Jakorian Bennett's emergence could provide an answer, the Eagles need to ensure he stays healthy and delivers on his promise. Alternatively, Michael Carter II working in the slot could be the solution if Bennett fails to meet expectations.
Lastly, the four-man pass rush will play a crucial role in the Eagles' defensive resurgence. With the return of key edge rushers Nolan Smith, Brandon Graham, and Azeez Ojulari, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has options at his disposal. By finding the right combination of players and schemes, the Eagles can restore their ability to disrupt quarterbacks and pressure defenses, rather than relying on blitzes and man coverage.
By addressing these areas, the Eagles can build momentum for the second half of the season, making a push for the playoffs and capitalizing on their strengths while minimizing weaknesses.
With the NFL's halfway point looming, the Philadelphia Eagles are off this week while their opponents gear up for a crucial stretch of games. As the coaches prepare to return to practice next week, they'll be scrutinizing the team's performances from the past eight weeks, identifying areas of improvement and opportunities to exploit weaknesses.
For a 6-2 record, which includes victories over five playoff teams in 2024, the Eagles have shown flashes of brilliance, but also exhibited vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. Here are five key takeaways for the Eagles' second-half resurgence:
Firstly, they must revitalize their outside run game. The recent breakthrough against the Giants, where Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby went over 100 yards each, suggests a newfound effectiveness with under-center formations, an extra offensive lineman, and a refocused approach on running the ball outside the tackles. By embracing off-tackle runs and keeping Bigsby involved, the Eagles can reduce their reliance on six-man o-lines, creating more space for Barkley to thrive.
The offense also needs to speed up its tempo, relying on no-huddle formations to keep opponents guessing. This approach has helped Jalen Hurts dictate the pace of games and prevent situational pass rushers from getting on the field at inopportune moments. By accelerating their plays, the Eagles can wear down defenders and improve their third-down efficiency.
A.J. Brown, the team's most dynamic playmaker, needs to be utilized more effectively on designed pass plays, rather than just relying on his YAC (yards after catch) ability. The Eagles have been hesitant to get him involved in intermediary games, with routes designed to allow him to turn upfield and make big plays. By incorporating these types of plays into their arsenal, Brown can tap into his strengths more consistently.
The cornerback position is also a pressing concern, particularly at CB2. While Jakorian Bennett's emergence could provide an answer, the Eagles need to ensure he stays healthy and delivers on his promise. Alternatively, Michael Carter II working in the slot could be the solution if Bennett fails to meet expectations.
Lastly, the four-man pass rush will play a crucial role in the Eagles' defensive resurgence. With the return of key edge rushers Nolan Smith, Brandon Graham, and Azeez Ojulari, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has options at his disposal. By finding the right combination of players and schemes, the Eagles can restore their ability to disrupt quarterbacks and pressure defenses, rather than relying on blitzes and man coverage.
By addressing these areas, the Eagles can build momentum for the second half of the season, making a push for the playoffs and capitalizing on their strengths while minimizing weaknesses.
it means the coaching staff gets to really analyze what's going on with the team and make some adjustments without the pressure of upcoming games. they gotta work on revamping that outside run game tho, its been pretty predictable so far. also aj brown needs to get more involved in designed passes - hes got the speed to blow past defenders 
but we cant rely on just his yac ability to move the ball. and yeah cornerback is a major concern, cant have benjamin coming down with injuries 
hopefully jacorian bennett can step up and fill that void
its gonna be weird when the game starts and everyone is like "oh wait we forgot our bird thingy on" 
what do u think the key takeaway for the team is? is it gotta run better outside or like speed up their tempo? btw did i tell u about my new cat? her name is mitty 
why do they have to break it down into 5 key takeaways?! its just so much info 
but seriously tho, the eagles need to work on their outside run game, it was lit against the giants 
but what about when bigsby gets hurt? and jalen hurts speed up tempo already, like, come on guys 
and aj brown needs more involvement in designed pass plays, its just basic football 
and cornerback position is def a concern, gotta stay healthy and deliver 
a.j. brown needs more involvement in designed passes he's got the yac but we need him making big plays too 
CB2 is a major concern who's gonna step up and fill that void?? michael carter ii or jakorian bennett? either way we need an answer ASAP 
pass rush is key let's get nolan smith, brandon graham, and azeez ojulari back on the field and make some noise 
.
.
. And CB2 is a major concern, but Bennett's emergence could really help us out 
. The four-man pass rush is gonna be huge for our defense, and with Nolan Smith, Brandon Graham, and Azeez Ojulari back in the mix, I'm feeling confident about our chances 
. The Eagles' mid-season break is the perfect opportunity to review their strengths and weaknesses. Revamping their outside run game would be a great starting point 
. They need to tap into Saquon Barkley's potential more consistently, rather than just relying on him in big games. Also, getting A.J. Brown involved in more designed pass plays would make a huge difference 
. The cornerback situation is also super concerning 
️.
.
the real issue is player safety, and how they're handling concussions and overuse injuries. i mean, 6-2 record or not, that's still a pretty mediocre performance from an elite team like the eagles 
... revamping the outside run game and speeding up their tempo would be sick tho 
I think it's awesome that the Eagles are taking this bye week to self-scout and identify areas for improvement 
, especially at CB2. The Eagles need to find consistency there and get Michael Carter II working in the slot if Jakorian Bennett can't deliver.
. With their edge rushers back on the field, Vic Fangio has a solid foundation for disrupting quarterbacks and pressuring defenses 
. Maybe they can shake things up by making some changes on the coaching staff or adding some fresh blood to the roster. Whatever it is, I'm hoping they come out of this bye week feeling refreshed and ready to make a push for the playoffs 
. Maybe they need to bring in another veteran CB to shore up the slot? But overall, I think the Eagles are on the right track with their self-scouting and identifying areas for improvement. Fingers crossed they can make a push for the playoffs! 
.
! And cornerback is definitely an area they need to work on 
. But overall, with their strengths and the return of key players, I think they've got this