Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 7/31/21.

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

2021 Fantasy Football: Quarterbacks to Target - Fake Teams
Hurts is the QB11, ranked after guys like Tom Brady and Ryan Tannehill. However, we’ve seen what rushing upside can do for a quarterback’s fantasy football floor, and Hurts is really the last guy I think you can like for that rushing element. After him are guys like Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins, and Matt Ryan, all guys who aren’t running. There’s also Joe Burrow, who the Bengals should NOT let run after tearing his ACL and MCL last year. I like Hurts’ weaponry, too. Miles Sanders is a candidate to be used more, and the Eagles added speedy wideout Devonta Smith in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. Hurts will need to protect the ball better and improve a bit as a passer (52% completion rate in ‘20), but you can’t often find top 5 upside in the double-digits of a position. Hurts represents that, though is floor is admittedly lower than guys like Brady, Tannehill, Stafford, and Cousins.

Fantasy Football: Does Jalen Hurts have “league-winning” upside? - PFF
It’s not fair to expect Hurts to put together a Jackson-like campaign from 2019 or for the Eagles to be as effective and efficient on offense as the 2019 Buffalo Bills, but we should see a Hurts-led Eagles team that prioritizes movement from the quarterback position. That will surely help his rushing percentages and afford a consistently high floor and an astronomical ceiling if he can find the end zone. Hurts’ 35% rushing percentage from last season was on a tiny four-game sample size and likely wouldn’t remain as high over a 17-game season, but the early indications are positive, even with the head coaching change. Most of the rushing attempts should remain due to Hurts’ propensity to tuck the ball and take what the defense gives him.

Best NFL player prop bets for the 2021 season - ESPN+
Jalen Hurts under 3600.5 pass yards. Kezirian: First of all, I am not convinced Hurts is the starter after a handful of weeks; I would not be surprised to see Nick Mullens take over the gig. But even if Hurts does play all 17 games, he must average 212 yards per game. In his four starts last year, he surpassed that total just twice — but did so with ease. Aside from that, defenses will learn to limit his abilities because he does not have many as a passer. His running nature will also translate to fewer passing yards, and that style also increases the chance for injury. Hurts had a great college career, but I think the NFL ceiling is quite low. Walder: I’m going to tail Doug here. In limited playing time last season, Hurts recorded a QBR of just 41, which was actually worse than what Carson Wentz posted (50) with the same team. Had he qualified, Hurts would have been the second-worst QBR quarterback in the league last season, ahead of only Sam Darnold. I’m not closing the door on Hurts after just four rookie starts, but last year’s performance — after being considered a non-premiere QB prospect — means we have to be pretty open to the idea that he won’t pan out.

Fantasy coaching & coordinator breakdown: PHI - FTN Fantasy
Jalen Hurts’ overall passing numbers last year might be an eyesore, but his limited attempts (27) on play-action were fantastic. Hurts ranked first among all quarterbacks with 100 or more dropbacks in completion rate difference (17.9%) and yards per attempt (4.5) difference on play-action throws. Hurts was also 11th in play-action adjusted completion rate (82.6%), finishing immediately behind Dak Prescott. The good news for Hurts is he should see a bump from his 18.9% play-action dropback percentage in 2020. The combination of Rivers and Herbert averaged a 24.4% play-action dropback rate. With two offensive minds in Sirianni and Steichen, who have made wise decisions in the past in crafting a scheme to fit their quarterbacks’ strengths, Hurts should enjoy the climb in play-action usage, which could surpass the rates Rivers and Herbert saw.

Eagles Training Camp Practice Notes: Nick Mullens looking better than Joe Flacco - BGN
I continue to be perplexed by the Eagles’ inexplicable decision to give Joe Flacco $3.5 million guaranteed this offseason. Just not seeing the appeal early in camp. He’s been the worst quarterback in camp. Flacco overthrew 6’7” Tyree Jackson on a post route in the end zone during a red zone series. He threw behind Jordan Howard in the flat, who ended up making the catch but didn’t have much RAC opportunity. He then threw a heater behind Jason Huntley that wasn’t able to be caught. Zech McPhearson dropped a pick on a Flacco throw over the middle into a crowded end zone. Prior to team drills, I saw Flacco overthrow John Hightower and throw wide of the hoop target during individual work. These struggles aren’t new. Flacco’s inaccuracy issues were clearly present last season when he completed just 55.2% of his attempts, a career-low. Flacco’s adjusted completion percentage (as calculated by Pro Football Focus) ranked 41st out of 42 quarterbacks ... only above Hurts.

Training Camp Day 3 Observations: Wentz’s injury, Flacco, Hurts’ progress - BGN Radio
Eagles training camp Day 3 recap! Brandon Lee Gowton and Jimmy Kempski discuss their big takeaways from Friday’s practice. The guys talk about Carson Wentz’s injury (which IS relevant to the Eagles!), Jalen Hurts’ progress, Joe Flacco, Nick Mullens, Davion Taylor, and much more.

‘Versatile’ has been the buzzword around Jonathan Gannon’s Eagles defense - Inquirer
The defense has been physical even though the players have yet to wear full pads. Emphasis has been placed on forcing turnovers with defenders hounding ball carriers long after the whistle. “A lot of ... offensive head coaches, they don’t want to see that,” Gannon said. “Nick [Sirianni] believes that’s the best thing for the team, the offense and the defense. So, he allows us to do that. “Now, we got to clean it up because we don’t want guys on the ground at times, but on defense, we’re going to play with a stinger and I’m not going to take that stinger away.” Scheme is important, and having versatile players equipped to carry out multiple calls is imperative in today’s NFL. But on defense, having a particular identity is also important. And often a unit will adopt the personality of its coordinator.

NFL 100: At No. 54, Eagles’ Chuck Bednarik was the last of the 60-minute men - The Athletic
There’s a scene you can picture that gets to the heart of Chuck Bednarik’s legend — even if you never saw him play or know nothing about him. Imagine there’s been a change of possession. The respective offensive and defensive units are trotting off the field. From the sidelines, two new groups straggle out and buckle their chin straps. All the while, there’s one person in the middle of the field who hasn’t moved, a grizzled 35-year-old, No. 60, with his hands on his hips, patiently waiting for 21 lesser men to join him in the fray. In many ways, Bednarik is something of an avatar for a bygone era. As he often reminded anyone who would listen, he was the last of the 60-minute men. In a tough game for tough men, “Concrete Charlie” might have been the toughest of them all. He was a 10-time All-Pro, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and the icon in what might be the most famous football photograph of all time. As longtime general manager Ernie Accorsi succinctly put it, “He was the John Wayne of football.”

Under the radar, Arryn Siposs hopes to make it as punter - PE.com
“It is a nice feeling that I’m the only punter here. I spent a lot of the spring putting in the work and working on feeling good about myself and giving them confidence in what I’m doing, and if I can continue that, we’ll see. I understand that this is the NFL and that things can change in a matter of minutes and that they can bring in someone to take my job, so I’m going to keep working on improving myself and keeping this going.” Siposs followed the NFL as a kid in Australia and he admired the path taken by his countrymen who forged the path to America and the game. He played 30 games professionally in the Australian ranks before turning his attention to the United States. The similarities between Australian Rules Football to the American game are similar in the way the ball is held and in the shape of the ball – although the Australian ball is rounder at the ends – and so the transition to actually kicking the ball isn’t too difficult. However, learning to kick directionally, or to emphasize hang time are nuances that must be mastered.

Darius Slay: Lions game is no big deal, but if Matt Patricia were still in Detroit it would be - PFT
“No, not anymore,” Slay said. “If Patricia was there still, I would’ve been very excited.” After he was traded to the Eagles, Slay said he had no respect for the way Patricia dealt with players. Patricia is now in New England, and Slay and the Eagles won’t see him this year. [BLG Note: Not entirely true. The Eagles will have joint training camp practices against the Patriots before playing them in the second week of the preseason.]

Colts QB Carson Wentz to see foot specialist, might need surgery - NFL.com
Carson Wentz ‘s new start in Indianapolis has met an interruption that might last longer than a few days. The Colts quarterback is set to see noted foot specialist Robert Anderson in the near future, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. A further timeline for Wentz’s return will be established following the quarterback’s visit with Anderson, Garafolo added, with minor surgery being a possibility, per Rapoport. Wentz is expected to miss the remainder of the preseason, Rapoport reported. Backup Jacob Eason took Wentz’s reps with the first team Friday.

Report: Colts QB Carson Wentz to Consult Renowned Foot Doctor for Injury - Stampede Blue
While it appears that Wentz is at risk of missing at least a few weeks of training camp (and worst case, even the initial start of the regular season), it is encouraging that this presumably won’t be a prolonged absence carrying well into the 2021 campaign. Or at least that’s the hope. Fingers crossed.

49ers signing Jordan Matthews - PFT
Matthews, 29, spent time with the team the past two seasons, appearing in three games for the 49ers. He saw action in two games in 2020 but had no receptions. He added 30 pounds and spent the summer working out at Louisville with receivers coach Gunter Brewer and assistant tight ends coach Stu Holt as he converted from receiver. Matthews weighed 215 pounds as a receiver.

If week one was this weekend Dak Prescott would ‘for sure’ be suiting up for the Dallas Cowboys - Blogging The Boys
Nobody likes injuries, and a training camp injury to QB1, who just signed a massive new deal and is coming off an injury that cost him most of the past season, yeah there is reason for the team, and fanbase, to have a quick moment of panic in the pit of their stomach. Fear not though, it seems Dak Prescott and the team have dodged the proverbial bullet as the injury doesn’t seem to be much of a concern at all. In fact, Dak is on record stating if it was game week and the team was preparing to play Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday, he would be ready to go.

Big Blue View mailbag: Justin Fields, training camp, more - Big Blue View
Brad, my answer is going to be a lot shorter than your question. Not to be snotty, but I don’t understand how you — or anyone else who might wonder why the Giants didn’t draft Fields — don’t understand this. The Giants believe in Jones. Or, at the very least are fully committed to giving him every opportunity to prove whether or not he can be a successful long-term quarterback in the NFL. You don’t do that by drafting another young quarterback in the first round and creating an instant quarterback controversy. That instantly pulls the rug out from under Jones and tells him you don’t think he’s the guy.

The 5 O’Clock Club: 3 veterans whose needles are pointing up in camp - Hogs Haven
There was a lot of excitement about Adam Humphries when he was initially signed, but as the offseason progressed, fans seemed less confident that Humphries’ name was written in ink as the starting slot receiver, pointing to his injury history and his modest one-year, $1.1m contract with no guaranteed base salary. Of course, his name was still on the roster sheet in pencil, but the competition seemed a bit more open than most assumed it would be when he first joined the team. Training camp so far has proven the worth of Humphries’ veteran experience and the fact that he has history with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick from their days of playing together in Tampa Bay. On Friday, Ron Rivera spoke about another receiver, Steven Sims, who is competing with Humphries for the slot receiver spot. While the head coach praised Sims for his explosiveness so far in camp, his praise for Humphries centered on the veteran’s understanding of how to exploit a defense, which seems the more valuable commodity for the offense, similar to the contribution that Jon Bostic makes to the defense.

The Look Ahead #47: Training camp stories to buy, sell, or ignore - The SB Nation NFL Show
Rob “Stats” Guerrera and RJ Ochoa pick one training camp story they’re buying, one they’re selling, and one they don’t care about. Why OBJ and Baker Mayfield will be better this year. Is Odell still a top wideout in the NFL? Why the situation with Aaron Rodgers is anything but over. Does the WFT have a quarterback controversy?

How much worse can the coronavirus get? - Vox
The virus will keep evolving. Here’s what scientists do and don’t know about the future of Covid-19.

...

Social Media Information:

BGN Facebook Page: Click here to like our page

BGN Twitter: Follow @BleedingGreen

BGN Instagram: Follow @BleedingGreenInsta

BGN Manager: Brandon Lee Gowton: Follow @BrandonGowton

BGN Radio Twitter: Follow @BGN_Radio

BGN Cameo: Click here for a personalized video message