The Eagles are off to their best start since 2004 after a 29-21 victory over the Jaguars on Sunday. The hype and optimism surrounding this team all offseason now seems to be legit, as Philadelphia is the last remaining undefeated squad in the NFL. It was only last season when the Eagles were seen as one of the league’s laughing stocks. At this time last year, the birds were 1-3 without a clear offensive or defensive identity. Now the Eagles sit alone atop the league. How did we get here? How do we keep it rolling into Arizona and beyond? Will the birds climb the mountain again? Read here to find out.
Howie Roseman
It feels bizarre to say that Howie Roseman is the best general manager in football again, but saying anything else would be unwise. After the disaster of 2020 (and I’m not talking about the pandemic), fans wanted Howie to follow coach Doug Pederson out the door. We were perplexed that owner Jeff Lurie let him stay on but boy was that the right call. The product of Marlboro, NJ has masterfully constructed a lean, green fighting machine of a squad.
Let’s start with free agency. Haason Reddick was the headliner of this free agent class and he is proving to be worth every penny. With 3.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles in four games, Reddick has provided plenty of juice to this pass rush. James Bradberry signed over from the Giants on a cheap deal, and is proving he should never have been released. The 29 year old is tied for the most picks on the team with 2, including a week one pick six. That pick six was initiated by another free agent signing in Kyzir White, whose 23 tackles are second most on the team. On the offensive side of the ball, Zach Pascal has carved out a unique and valuable role. Coach Sirianni’s “enforcer” has 6 catches for 39 yards, not bad for a WR4.
Many critics said that Howie could not draft. I mean, come on, what idiot drafts Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson, right? While he may never live that decision down, Howie has silently crushed the last two drafts. The 2021-2022 draft classes already are looking like all timers, with present and future contributors like Devonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, Milton Williams, Zech McPhearson, Marlon Tuipulotu (!!?), Patrick Johnson, Jordan Davis, Cam Jurgens, Nakobe Dean and Grant Calcaterra all now donning midnight green.
But Howie was not done there. If there was a book titled “The Art of the Fleece”, you bet your bottom dollar that it would be authored by Mr. Roseman himself. The Eagles first snagged the Saints first round pick this year for one of our first round picks last year. If Jalen Hurts did not work out (more on that later), Howie gave the birds ample ammunition to grab his replacement. Next, Howie traded for a top 10 receiver in the league in AJ Brown for a mere first and third round pick. I am sure Titans’ GM Jon Robinson’s head is still spinning on that one. Right before the season started, Howie recognized the weakness in safety depth and traded for the trash-talking, hard hitting C.J. Gardner-Johnson from our buddies down in New Orleans again. Finally, Howie atoned for his mistakes in drafting J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Jalen Reagor by trading each one. Not only that, but he traded each to the teams that have the receivers the Eagles passed on for them in true Count of Monte Cristo style.
Howie Roseman has more than redeemed himself. He is unquestionably the captain of this ship. However, he has to stay humble. Last time the Eagles were great, Howie got complacent. Roseman can know he is the smartest in the room, but should never lose his fire to keep improving this team.
Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon
The pieces are all in place, but that is only half the battle. Shane Steichen has been quite the pleasant surprise, and exactly what this Eagles offense needed. The second year OC has led the Eagles to the second most total yards per game in the league at the quarter way mark. Currently, the Eagles have players in the top 5 in passing yards (Jalen Hurts, 5th), rushing yards (Miles Sanders, 3rd) and receiving yards (AJ Brown, 3rd). Coach Nick Sirianni revealed that he let Steichen take over play calling after the Eagles’ poor start last season, and since that point the Eagles have been one of the premier offenses in the league.
What is worth noting however is when these points are coming. 85 of the team’s 115 points have come in the second quarter. The team seems to start slow, turn on the jets in the second, then lay off and run clock in the second to ice the game. So far this strategy has been effective, but it will be worth watching when we find ourselves in a position where we NEED offense in the second half. Does Steichen become too predictable as the game goes on? I would not say that much. The birds can still move the ball, just with less homerun shots mixed in. The Arizona and Green Bay games will be tests of if this offense can hang or not.
On the other end of the ball, defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has shocked this fanbase. Other teams this offseason had shown interest in making Gannon their next head coach, and he is proving why. After a 2021 season where the Eagles defense was quiet to say the least, they have exploded onto the scene this year. The birds lead the league in sacks (16.0) and takeaways (10). Plus, they have allowed the 7th fewest passing yards per game too, despite facing elite receivers such as Justin Jefferson, Terry McLaurin and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Gannon’s defense is finally stopping the run and generating pressure, which were this squad’s biggest weaknesses in 2021. Gannon has burst out of the gate, and is looking like one of the best DCs in the game.
TJ Edwards
The emergence of TJ Edwards has been quite the marvelous sight. As an undrafted free agent in 2018 out of Wisconsin, Edwards has slowly but surely worked his way up the depth chart from special teams ace to elite linebacker. The big man in the middle leads the team in tackles and passes the eye test with ease. His energy is infectious, his speed ever present, his play recognition phenomenal. Teaming up with fellow athletic phenom Kyzir White has allowed Edwards to focus more on his specialty: blitzing and run stuffing. Edwards is on pace for 140 tackles, 13 TFL, and 5 sacks. Those are pro bowl numbers at least. Not bad for an undrafted free agent.
Jalen Hurts
QB1. Need I say more? Saying Hurts has shown remarkable improvement in year 3 is an understatement. The NFC offensive player of the month for September is playing like a top 3 quarterback in the league right now. Hurts timing, instincts, touch, vision and accuracy on all levels have taken a giant leap. Seeing a Hurts deep ball and not wincing in fear is a feeling I can get used to. With 1,325 total yards and 8 total touchdowns through 4 games, Jalen is looking like Superman on a team of Batmen. Hurts was playing like his rent was due last year, and now he is the landlord. The scary part is he will keep improving. That is all Hurts has ever done since being a freshman at Alabama. Hurts is many things, but complacent is not one of them. If I am Howie Roseman, I am locking up my MVP candidate right now. Throw the entire bank at him, let him name the stadium, I don’t care. Hurts is proving he is our franchise guy, and we can’t risk losing him.
Nick Sirianni
I’d of course be remiss if I didn’t give credit to the man at the wheel. Sirianni has settled into a background type role from what it seems. He doesn’t call plays, he doesn’t make personnel decisions, he just leads. While his t-shirts may be a little goofy, his metaphors odd (we are 11-3 since the infamous fertilizer comments), he knows exactly how to rev up this team. This team has all the swagger and chemistry in the world, and that can be chalked up to the man in the visor. The Eagles have never looked better in my lifetime, and I saw them win a dang super bowl. The confidence in this team is through the roof thanks to coach Sirianni.
Looking Ahead
Sunday’s matchup against Arizona is very losable. Their record may not show it, but this Kliff Kingsbury offense could pop off at any time. Kyler Murray, Zach Ertz and company look to test the legitimacy of this Eagles defense. After that though, I would argue we do not have a game we should feasibly lose until the end of November. We are going to have to wait and see on the injuries of Jordan Mailata, Darius Slay and Isaac Seumalo, but if any team has the depth to keep up it is this one in Philadelphia.
Until then, it is Fly Eagles Fly through another week. See you all on Sunday!
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Jish Sokolsky is a featured writer at The Birds Blitz. For more from Jish, check out his archive and read through our Eagles articles for the latest news about the Birds.
