Eagles Week

[RedOctober3829]

The Eagles come to Foxboro at 4-7 yet only 1 game back in the NFC East because the Giants can't seem to play consistent. Mark Sanchez is at QB for the injured Sam Bradford, but Bradford was back at practice today. Walter Thurmond, Jason Peters, and Josh Huff are all dealing with injuries as well.

Pete Morelli's crew is assigned to the game as has been reported. This is a national 4:25 FOX game as well with Thom Brenneman's crew getting the broadcasting assignment.

If reasonably healthy, this is a cakewalk for the Patriots but at current form every game is going to be a struggle.

 

[loshjott]

I hope BB helps his friend Chip Kelly get back to the college ranks by hanging another L on the Eagles.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Dola and Collins back this week would go a long way on both sides of the ball

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Not that I have any doubts, but BB & crew better turn this shit around quick. There's been more residue post-loss so far than in a long time.

Dola, Chandler, and Keyshawn Martin it is. I am fully expecting Gronk and HT to be out for at least two weeks.

 

[DaveRoberts'Shoes]

They're going to win.

 

[LondonSox]

The Eagles are awful, enjoy your free win even with all the injuries.

Any questions from the Pats fans on the Eagles ask away and I'll answer as I can.

I think Bradford will play, I don't know why the defence has gone from top 5 to garbage vs Tampa and Detroit. It's crazy.
The Eagles o-line if peters is out is garbage, if he plays it's not great (in part because Kelce is having a horror of a season and the guards are crap).

RB mathews is one to watch, he's been constantly better than Murray, and missed last week with a concussion. Our WR scare no one.

Fletcher Cox is a beast, he's who I'd be nervous of given NE line issues.

Linebackers are suddenly playing like hot garbage.

Just lost Carroll who has been solid at CB for the season, rookie Rowe is expected to start, he of the let's leave this kid one on one with calvin johnson and see how that goes in his first game after not having practised as a starter fame.
He's not ready, so he'll be left on an island and if you guys have any WR left that's a problem.

Jenkins and Thurman have been very good at safety, the Eagles would be 2 wins better if Jenkins could catch the damn ball though. Stone hands.

There's every chance the team has quit on kelly and this is another embarrassment, which would make my week...

 

[dynomite]

Apart from that, how was the team Mrs. Lincoln?

Anyway, as you're saying, Pats are catching the Eagles at a good time.

London, how has the Eagles rush defense been playing? Do you think the front 7 is stout enough to stop the Pats if they pull an "Indy" and go 6 OL and Blount and try just move the chains and use that to set up play action? Are the safeties ever used in the box to help with running plays, or do they typically stay back to help the CBs?

With the Patriots without their top 4 receiving targets, I'm interested to know what the alternatives look like.

 

[ifmanis5]

I saw some of BB's presser today. He made the Eagles offense sound like the '84 49ers. Very few other coaches are so effusive of other teams and players, yet he's often called a grouch. I guess perception is more about tone than content.

 

[LondonSox]

The run defense was the strength of the Eagles d over the last couple of seasons under kelly and was fantastic early this season.

But much like the rest of the team something has gone horribly wrong. The d line is still excellent vs the run. But the depth has disappointed a bit. The surprise is how bad the linebackers have been since the rookie hicks went down. Alonso Ryans and kendricks are a lot of talent at mlb to be this poor. But they have played just flat out badly. The lions killed them on underneath passes to the rb and I expect to see plenty of that. If old eagle scat back wasn't hurt he might have 8 tds.

That said the talent there is very good so if they reverted to good run d suddenly it wouldn't be a shock. The surprise was how awful they have been lately. So short term trend is horrible, long term and talent by position says run d is the strength of the team.

Which shows up? The story of the Eagles season

 

[LondonSox]

Missed the coverage part. They tend to leave their corners on an island but with Rowe getting his first start maybe they try to help him more.

They play a lot of one deep and use a safety in the slot etc (as both Jenkins and Thurmond are good in coverage) more than they load the box.

It's really on the linebackers and line for the run

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

Huge if true.

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

 

[soxhop411]

“@globejimmcbride: #Patriots practice roll call: Edelman, Gronkowski, Easley, Coleman, and Trey Williams absent. Hightower and Collins are present.”

 

[DJnVa]

Nothing on Amendola?

 

[RedOctober3829]

Being present doesn't automatically mean both Amendola and Hightower are on track to play. Amendola was present all week last week. I still anticipate DH not playing on Sunday.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Nothing on Amendola?

Amendola is present too.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Here's Hightower's brace.

 

[E5 Yaz]

I suspect that if Collins is ready to go, they'll keep Hightower out a week.

They're playing with house money. Yeah, the No. 1 seed is important; but being healthy enough to make it matter having it is more important

 

[DJnVa]

Are you saying that if Collins isn't 100% and can't play they should play Hightower?

You want base the availability of one player based on another?

 

[RedOctober3829]

 

[RedOctober3829]

 

[soxfan121]

@LondonSox on a scale of 1-10, how much do you love Bennie Logan?

 

[LondonSox]

@LondonSox on a scale of 1-10, how much do you love Bennie Logan?

At least 10.
He's such a solid player, excellent vs the run a block shedding machine, excellent pursuit for a big guy and gets a surprising amount of pressure for a smaller NT.
He and Fletcher Cox (and Jenkins) are the best and most consistent players on the d.
That position is so under appreciated by the average fan, so he flies under the radar. He jumps out on tape in just about every game to me.
He also wasn't a high pick, and there was a lot of scepticism he was big enough for the position and the stats never jump out due to the role but that is a monster right there.

 

[RedOctober3829]

 

[E5 Yaz]

Are you saying that if Collins isn't 100% and can't play they should play Hightower?

You want base the availability of one player based on another?

Not at all. I'm saying that if Collins is ready to go, the prudent thing is to rest Hightower.

If Collins isn't ready, I'd still rest Hightower. The decision becomes easier the other way, of course.

And if Hightower isn't ready, it's a moo point either way

 

[DJnVa]

Not at all. I'm saying that if Collins is ready to go, the prudent thing is to rest Hightower.

If Collins isn't ready, I'd still rest Hightower. The decision becomes easier the other way, of course.

And if Hightower isn't ready, it's a moo point either way

So, to sum up: rest Hightower

 

[E5 Yaz]

So, to sum up: rest Hightower

Now that you put it that way ...

 

[m0ckduck]

What's up with Easley?

Edit: nevermind, just saw on other thread: ankle injury

 

[RedOctober3829]

Whoever didn't practice today is definitely out for Sunday IMO which means we won't see Easley. The other 3 DNP's on the 53 man roster are obviously going to be out. If I had to guess an inactive list it would be: Easley, Gronk, Edelman, Coleman, Flowers, Hightower, and Trey Williams.

 

[BernieRicoBoomer]

Whoever didn't practice today is definitely out for Sunday IMO which means we won't see Easley. The other 3 DNP's on the 53 man roster are obviously going to be out. If I had to guess an inactive list it would be: Easley, Gronk, Edelman, Coleman, Flowers, Hightower, and Trey Williams.

I thought they IR'd Flowers?

 

[RIrooter09]

I thought they IR'd Flowers?

They did

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Whoever didn't practice today is definitely out for Sunday IMO which means we won't see Easley. The other 3 DNP's on the 53 man roster are obviously going to be out. If I had to guess an inactive list it would be: Easley, Gronk, Edelman, Coleman, Flowers, Hightower, and Trey Williams.

Some good news on this front:

@dougkyed Dominique Easley, Justin Coleman and practice squad CB Chris Greenwood returned to Patriots practice today. Edelman, Gronk only absences.

Even if Easley and Coleman are out against the Eagles, it's good to have them return to practice this week. Easley has been a force, and Coleman would be hugely welcomed. Even just to keep Melvin off the field.

 

[RedOctober3829]

They did

I was not aware of that at the time of my post. I did not realize he was IRd for Trey Williams.

 

[joe dokes]

Some good news on this front:

@dougkyed Dominique Easley, Justin Coleman and practice squad CB Chris Greenwood returned to Patriots practice today. Edelman, Gronk only absences.

Even if Easley and Coleman are out against the Eagles, it's good to have them return to practice this week. Easley has been a force, and Coleman would be hugely welcomed. Even just to keep Melvin off the field.

It seems that many times returning to practice only on this Friday makes it very likely that the player will play *next* week.

 

[RedOctober3829]

 

[Carmine Hose]

@dougkyed Dominique Easley, Justin Coleman and practice squad CB Chris Greenwood returned to Patriots practice today. Edelman, Gronk only absences.

Thank God "only" those two were absent. And of course that Chris Greenwood returned to practice.

 

[amarshal2]

Doug Kyed ‏@DougKyed 2m2 minutes ago
Jamie Collins says he'll be ready to play this weekend.

As expected. Still exciting.

More:

[URL='https://twitter.com/DougKyed']Doug Kyed ‏@DougKyed

10m10 minutes ago
Jamie Collins wouldn't specify what illness he had. Said he lost "a couple pounds." Looks like more.

[/URL]

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

So, LaFell will be sitting the first quarter. (Sort of kidding.)

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/12/04/lafell-reveals-glimpse-of-belichicks-coaching-strategy-belichick-disagrees-with-players-assessment/?cid=twitter_985thesportshub

 

[Marciano490]

London - what happened to Jordan Matthews? He was a favorite of mine last year (possibly for fantasy reasons), but seems to have regressed a lot this year. In the few games I've watched, he's seemed to have some dropsies; anything else holding him
back?

 

[SumnerH]

Not at all. I'm saying that if Collins is ready to go, the prudent thing is to rest Hightower.

If Collins isn't ready, I'd still rest Hightower. The decision becomes easier the other way, of course.

And if Hightower isn't ready, it's a moo point either way

I don't think he'll be so easily cowed.

 

[LondonSox]

London - what happened to Jordan Matthews? He was a favorite of mine last year (possibly for fantasy reasons), but seems to have regressed a lot this year. In the few games I've watched, he's seemed to have some dropsies; anything else holding him
back?

He had some drop issues in college and even last year, it's a concern but he was rumoured to have a hand injury which didn't help. But honestly bradford earns some drops, he just hasn't been accurate enough and the ball is too often in a bad spot to catch easily. That said it's been a concern and will be until it isn't.
But really the issue is how bad the offense is. The qb has been bad the running game poor and the line awful, limiting options.

Also he's the top wr threat on the team right now meaning if anyone is getting the top coverage option or a double it's him. I mean huff hasn't really got going despite flashes, agholor has been hurt and well very rookie up and down. I'm not sure he's ready to be a true top wr on a good team. Fortunately he's the top wr on a horrible team.

Please please don't get me started about the money and snaps Riley cooper and miles austin are getting. It is insane. They are so so bad.

So mainly I think it's not on him, other than some drops which might have been partly injury related.
In camp he was sensational. Even the dick Ravens writers were gushing about how uncover able he was in the joint training.

He doesn't deserve a lot of credit for his year but he's a guy I'd say is a victim of others crapping the bed

 

[Tito's Pullover]

I don't think he'll be so easily cowed.

I'm not very bullish on his prospects of playing this week. Rest him up for the udder games, when there'll be more at steak.

 

[joe dokes]

I'm not very bullish on his prospects of playing this week. Rest him up for the udder games, when there'll be more at steak.

Yeah. It's not like either Hightower or Collins to milk an injury.

 

[koufax32]

Yeah. It's not like either Hightower or Collins to milk an injury.

That was cheesy.

The ideal situation in my opinion would be for BB to turn this game into a Terry Francona getaway day lineup day and just get our 27-17 win and move on. Resting that many regulars makes me a little nervous though.

 

[dcmissle]

The Eagles are a professional football team and eventually will rise up and bite someone. As have the Dolphins, Lions and Texans after looking like crap for weeks.

This notion that they have quit on Kelly and will continue to put bad performance on tape strikes me as nuts. Professional pride aside, if they were to succeed in getting Kelly fired, his successor would judge them harshly. And if they didn't succeed in getting him fired, it would be only worse.

I placed almost no value on a perfect season, and will not lose much sleep if we lose the 1 seed, so long as we get the bye. But there are no "getaway" lineups in this until you can't improve your position and the game counts for nothing.

 

[DJnVa]

This notion that they have quit on Kelly and will continue to put bad performance on tape strikes me as nuts. Professional pride aside, if they were to succeed in getting Kelly fired, his successor would judge them harshly. And if they didn't succeed in getting him fired, it would be only worse.

I'm not disagreeing in this exact instance, but your statement makes me think you don't believe teams quit on their coaches at all. Is that the case?

I'm not sure about Philly because I haven't read any local reports, but a few Philly fans called into EEI last week and man, did they sound disillusioned about the team and said that the whole city is down on them and it seems like Kelly has lost them.

 

[dcmissle]

I'm not disagreeing in this exact instance, but your statement makes me think you don't believe teams quit on their coaches at all. Is that the case?

I'm not sure about Philly because I haven't read any local reports, but a few Philly fans called into EEI last week and man, did they sound disillusioned about the team and said that the whole city is down on them and it seems like Kelly has lost them.

I think it can happen late in the season, and if it's late enough, it will be written off. When it happens early in the season, the coach may (Miami) or may not (Philly) get fired promptly, but in either case, you'd better wake up and play your ass off unless you have a contract like Suh's that makes you uncuttable. Otherwise, come the offseason, they will cut your balls off. My guess is that Philly rights the ship at some point and starts inflicting costly losses. And if you take them lightly, you'll get one of them.

 

[amarshal2]

Schefter says Dola will play but he's less than 100%. Tv no link

 

[LondonSox]

Bennie Logan added late (today) to injury report is questionable.
Big deal with Thornton also questionable two of the better run stuffers may be out today.

 

[LondonSox]

It blows my mind how many otherwise ok journalists cannot get any facts in deflate gate right due to their bias. It's so pathetic I've ended up having to call out a bunch of philly coverage guys on the cheating shit this week.
You really have to be trying to not realize it was nonsense by now. Or just refuse to care about facts. Which you know conflicts with the journalism claim.