Eagles Preseason Week 2 Takeaways
Hunter Martin / Philadelphia Eagles
After the week dominated by headlines of the joint practice and the continuing saga of AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts’ relationship, the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots went one-on-one in front of fans for week two of the preseason in Foxborough. Neither team had any of the marquee players on the field, but that didn’t temper the intensity of play with roster spots on the line.
While the first half looked dominant for the Eagles, the second half didn’t have the same fire. The fourth quarter was definitely better for Philadelphia, as they returned to what worked all game. In the end, New England drove the length of the field in the fourth quarter and scored on a long touchdown to pull out the win 24-21.
1. Eagles Offense Returns to Running Roots
Though none of the starters were in the game, Sean Mannion made it clear what the Eagles’ offensive identity will be: to run the ball and dominate in the trenches. Andy Dalton wasn’t asked to do too much throwing because Will Shipley dominated on the ground and the offensive line was pushing around the Patriots’ defensive line, creating lanes for him to explode through. After last season and the lack of an established offensive identity, it’s a great sign to see the Eagles establishing the run first and dictating the pace of the game.
When Dalton exited, Tanner McKee kept the ball moving with the run but also with hot-route quick throws to the running backs. Carson Steele was the leading receiver out of the backfield with six catches for 84 yards. The quick throws off of the bootlegs were there because of the dominant offensive line play from Philadelphia. Steele made a highlight play when he caught a short pass and hurdled a diving Brandon Crossley, showing off not only his athleticism, but also his creativity.
Steele wasn’t done hurdling defenders, as he did it again in the fourth quarter for a touchdown as well.
2. Young Eagles Pass Rush Continue To Impress
One of the biggest takeaways from the first preseason game for the Eagles was how well the young front seven played. In the first half, Ty Robinson continued to shine, showing off his whole bag of moves. He used power to move the Patriots’ offensive line against the run but also showed his motor and finesse moves to sack Tommy DeVito on third down, killing a drive that was starting to pick up momentum.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is truly making a name for himself and establishing himself in game action this preseason. He is showing that he is not just a depth linebacker and is making his case to be a starter on this team. His instincts and ball-hawking skills were on full display, and the Patriots’ line had no answer for him. Even sliding protection to cut him off didn’t stop the chaos he caused, as in the first quarter, he jumped the count on a blitz and got to DeVito before he could hand off the ball.
The Eagles linebacking core is definitely showing up this preseason, and it’s a great sign for Vic Fangio. When his defenses have success, it usually starts with great inside linebackers anchoring the defense, and it looks like he has another top group here.
3. Eagles Defense Needs Improvement in Tackling and Deep Coverage
The preseason isn’t where you expect the most crisp tackling, but in this game, even in the first half, the Eagles weren’t finishing tackles. It allowed the Patriots to get second-effort yards, which kept drives going, and in the third quarter that allowed the Patriots to drive the ball. Tackling is something the Eagles defense is built on, and watching it be as sloppy as it was is not easy to watch.
The other thing that was a real game changer, and directly led to the loss in this game, was how the Eagles were subpar at coverage on deep throws. The first was a blown coverage against Kyle Williams, who got a step on Ambry Thomas, and DeVito led him well, resulting in a touchdown. In the last minute of the game, the Patriots drove down the field, and Isaiah Bolden expected safety help over the top, but Nick DeGennaro snuck by for the game-winning score.
These are two items that need to be addressed, but it’s hard to make too much of a preseason game after all.
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible; we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
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