It’s the bye week and the Eagles are 6-0! Amazing. I had said they’d be good like 11+ wins, but I didn’t expect them to be on the same level as the Bills and Chiefs. I especially didn’t see them being undefeated (and the only unbeaten team in the NFL) 7 weeks into the season. Let’s take a look at the 10 players I was excited about heading into training camp and the 2022 season. Let’s see how I made out so far. We’re going to grade on the Bill Weston scale of grading during radio station meetings. Check is fine, check + is good, check ++ is really good and check +++ must be great. I wouldn’t know we’ve never been given a check +++ in meetings.
Here is the original article if you want to check it first.
QB Jalen Hurts – Check +++
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Fingers uncrossed. The guy has been an absolute stud this year. His leadership and decision making have both taken that next step. The Eagles have themselves a franchise QB. Not only are his legs a dominant aspect of his game, the threat of connecting with his receivers down field is there and it’s been great. Jalen Hurts is a really talented QB, and the Eagles are in a really good position with him leading this team.
Conclusion: Took the necessary steps in the offseason to get better. Top tier franchise QB.
The Corners – Darius Slay and James Bradberry – Check ++
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Studs. Possibly the best combo this team has seen. Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor were very good, Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown were very good. Darius Slay and James Bradberry have been GREAT. 6 games into the season they have a combined for 5 interceptions and 1 returned for a TD. What I missed during the initial write-up in the secondary was Howie trading for CJ Gardner-Johnson, who has come in to play safety and he also has 3 interceptions on the year. Teams are going to continue to have issues throwing on this secondary. Coming out of the bye week look for these numbers to go up as they play the Steelers, Texans, Commanders and Colts. All with middle to below average QBs.
Conclusion: Eagles must lock in Bradberry’s contract and keep this tandem together.
TE Dallas Goedert – Check
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Goedert is a top 5 tight end in the NFL which is great for an Eagles offense that is already stacked with weapons. Unfortunately the TE position is a disaster throughout the league. Not many guys putting up huge numbers. Good thing for Goedert is the Eagles only need him to catch what is thrown his way and be difficult to take down. He’s done both. The touchdown number is disappointing at 1 TD, but with so many mouths to feed + a QB who can run it in I guess that should have been expected. We’ll see if his TD numbers go up after the bye week.
Conclusion: TD numbers could be better, but he’s been the right TE in the Eagles system.
Pair of Defensive Rookies – Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean – Check + & check (I guess).
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Jordan Davis has been an absolute monster in the middle. He’s not out there for all the defensive snaps, partly because of the D-line rotation and partly because teams have been down so quickly against the Eagles that they need to throw. When this giant is in the game he has shown the ability to push other big men around with ease on the line of scrimmage. Nakobe Dean gets a minus, only because he hasn’t been able to get on the field. Kyzir White and TJ Edwards have been playing out of their minds which is keeping Dean off the field. That’s good for Dean to learn and adjust to the NFL. His time will come and as Tirico and Collinsworth said against the Cowboys, the Eagles are really high on him and expect him to be a very good lineback.
Conclusion: Drafting SEC players is good. Do more of it.
LT Jordan Mailata – Check ++
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Only 2 sacks allowed this season. A pillar on the left side of the best offensive line in football. Dominant. Credit to Jeff Stoutland University for building this player.
Conclusion: Stud. Great singer, great accent.
C Jason Kelce – Check ++
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Kelce continues to be the best center in football. If he continues to play at this level and stay healthy, why retire? At the end of each year we should all be buying him whatever keg he wants to keep playing for the Eagles, or at least come back and coach his handpicked replacement Cam Jurgens.
Conclusion: A Philadelphia treasure!
Devonta Smith – Check +
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Smith has taken that next step in his growth as an NFL wide receiver. AJ Brown opposite him has helped Smith continue to get open. His ability to go up and get 50/50 balls is great. He said his mindset on those is it’s either his ball or nobody’s ball. He will remain a really good 1B option for this offense as defenses have to keep their eyes on so many different weapons.
Conclusion: Skinny Batman. Drafting SEC players is good.
A.J. Brown – Check ++
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Has been a dominant WR. Opens up everything for this offense, draws defenders his way and still makes them miss. It’s only a matter of time until he catches a slant pass and takes it 80 yards for a TD. On the long list of Howie’s really good offseason and draft moves, Brown is probably the best. If you want to say drafting Hurts was his best I can’t argue that, but trading for AJ Brown has had the quickest impact on how this team goes.
Conclusion: Swole Batman. Trading for former SEC players who are stud NFL WRs is good.
