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00:00And now it is time to continue our season-long previews of the entire NFL, and we've made our way into the NFC, wrapping up the NFC East this evening with our coverage of the defending Super Bowl champion, Philadelphia Eagles.
00:16And for that, we bring in Chris Franklin. He is a beat writer for the Philadelphia Eagles for a number of publications, including NJ.com, and also a member of the distinguished group, the Pro Football Writers Association.
00:29Mr. Franklin, thank you very much for joining us this evening, and let's get right into it here.
00:35The defending Super Bowl champs, Mark and I were talking about it earlier in this program.
00:40Two out of the last three years, they've been to the big game. They've won 14 games in each of those seasons.
00:45Now this year, their season win total here in Las Vegas is 11.5. Is that disrespectful, or would you expect some regression out of the champs?
00:54Well, I think it's perfect, because when you look at it, especially as tough as their schedule is, it's just, it's murderer's row.
01:01And they lost a lot on defense. I mean, you lose C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the back end with the safety.
01:07Josh Sweat goes to the Arizona Cardinals. You lost Milton Williams, some of your depth there.
01:12They have guys like Mauro Jomo, who was basically the fourth, fifth defensive tackle. He's LB in Elevator as well, too.
01:17So the defense took a hit, so I could see a regression in that effect, but that schedule, boy, you know, it says heavy lies the crown.
01:26When you're the Super Bowl champions, that crown gets a lot heavier, and it comes in the form of a schedule.
01:32If the Eagles are going to fail, why is it going to happen? If they don't have a successful season, if they don't win the NFC East, what goes wrong for them?
01:40I think mainly it's two things. I think it's looking at their pass rush, and I think it's health.
01:44And when you look at their pass rush right now, you have Noah Smith coming back and Jalex Hunt, both guys very young, both who showed that they, toward the end of last season, they were really coming on.
01:55They were mixing up their various pass rush looks. They were getting around the corner, and they were becoming a problem.
02:00Well, also, the Eagles, you like to use that rotation to keep them fresh.
02:04Well, you don't have Brandon Graham there anymore. As we mentioned, you don't have Josh Sweat.
02:07So, interior-wise, with their defensive line, their defensive tackles, what have you, you've got Jalen Carter, Jordan Eagles is fine.
02:13But if you can't get pressure around the edges, and a lot of these quarterbacks that they're facing has a lot of time to pick apart, especially if you lost a lot on the back end, you're sitting there and you're questioning.
02:24And then when it comes to just overall depth, I still think they're a little top-heavy defensively on a lot of things, as well as linebacker, cornerback for Thor,
02:32because, oh yeah, Darius Slays now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, so you've got to worry about that now.
02:38And then I think we look at stuff like tight end, and then, all importantly, Saquon Barkley.
02:42He had a huge workload last year, and it gets to the point where if he's not able, if he gets dinged up more because he's still feeling affectionate last year,
02:52and you have to rely on your more passing, that's when these questions start popping up.
02:55So, if they aren't healthy, and if they can't generate a pass rush, then all of a sudden you're talking about a potential wildcard team.
03:02Chris, you know, I think there's a lot to be said about continuity, and sometimes, you know, when we're trying to handicap teams
03:10and we see a lot of changeover in coaching and quarterback and this type of thing, sometimes that is a team to maybe bet against.
03:17And it hasn't really caused a problem, it seems, for the Philadelphia Eagles.
03:20They've had a number of offensive coordinators, a number of different offensive coordinators in the past few years.
03:25But, as I noted, they've been very successful, a couple Super Bowls, including a win last year.
03:30Well, now you've got a new guy in Kevin Petullo, but he's been in this system for a minute, several years, and most recently as the passing game coordinator.
03:38Do you think they pick up right where they left off, or is this guy a little green behind the ears?
03:43You know, I think with the way they rotate all these offensive coordinators, I'm pretty sure all of us are about to get a call pretty soon to start filling in,
03:48pretty much to go ahead and start calling those things here.
03:50But with Petullo, it helps in the sense that he knows the personnel already.
03:55He's been Nick Sirianni's right-hand man, if I want him, even back to a time when they were with the Colts.
04:00And you look at it, the biggest concern is you worry about, you get to see, even though you get to scheme everything up,
04:06it's getting that flow of the play call.
04:09Now, early on, that first game, even though it was backups, you're seeing them look like, wow, okay, it's great.
04:14These base packages and everything, these guys are really rolling.
04:16He's getting the flow, he's setting things up, it's perfect.
04:18And then you start to look a little bit when it comes to that last game.
04:21Yesterday, it's like, what's going on?
04:23I think overall, when you see the ones in there and you see them really working and everything else, I think that'll be okay.
04:29It's a matter of when you get towards the back end of the season, when you see a lot of these division opponents a second time,
04:35can you create a counter game plan that won't look predictable and stuff like that for it?
04:40I think we'll still see Mojan.
04:41I think Kellen Moore set the groundwork for that, because before Kellen Moore came in, they were very stagnant.
04:46And he's like, okay, we know where this is going.
04:48Defenses didn't move.
04:49You didn't get guys moving around.
04:51Next thing you know, defense stopped it.
04:52You saw the motion with Kellen Moore board.
04:53So you'll see, I think when you look at Patula, I think you'll see a guy who took a little bit from everybody there.
05:00I think he's going to take a little bit from Steyn Steichen, Nick Sariai himself, use his experience.
05:04He's another former quarterback.
05:05And he's collegiately, he was a former quarterback as well, too.
05:07So use that experience to get Jalen Hurts in the best position as possible.
05:11But if it was someone I completely knew about this organization, I'd have a lot more concern than Patula, who's been around for a while.
05:17I think it's going to be a hope.
05:19What do you do with Saquon Barkley?
05:21It's the only possible for him to duplicate the season that he had last year.
05:24So some regressions should be coming.
05:26Obviously, teams are going to be scheming for what he does in Philadelphia.
05:30What's your sort of prediction on Saquon?
05:32Will he be used in the same manner?
05:34What sort of production can we expect?
05:35I think they're going to try to use him a little bit.
05:38I think there's a couple options where, say, if they get up early, which is tough to look at this.
05:43We'll say they get up a little bit, or maybe they give him like two or three less carries to try to preserve him over time.
05:49Maybe you don't use him as much as the passing game, if you do at all, and use that.
05:52And I thought the one thing that was pretty interesting, when he didn't resign Kenny Gainwell and decided to keep Will Stripley and elevate him to be the new backup number two,
06:01and you see his big play potential.
06:02So when you look at that big play potential, what he can do, and the way he can spread him out, man, especially with that trade that happened today with John Mechie,
06:10you get teams to spread him out and you can use him, you can still have a lot of success with Saquon Barkley running between tackles.
06:16And maybe if he's breaking a few more runs, maybe you utilize Shipley a little bit more into that game plan so you're not really wearing him down overall.
06:24So I don't expect him to run for over 2,000 yards again.
06:29I don't think we're talking about hearing, hey, Eric Dickerson, watch out again.
06:32He's going to take your title.
06:32I don't see that happening, but I still think he's going to be a very effective first player and something where Nick Sirian and running backs,
06:40Coach Javon Singleton, are going to try to vary it up a little bit so that way he's not on the field as much so they can have him for a postseason run.
06:47Chris, you mentioned that they lost a lot of players on defense.
06:52They also went heavy after defensive players in both the draft and in free agency in the offseason.
06:58Is it enough to fill the gaps or no?
07:02I think it's still, I think it's all except for cornerback.
07:06I still have a lot of questions.
07:07I know they traded for Ja'Coria Bennett from the Raiders instead of the backup defensive tackle.
07:10That's my main concern because it's not besides the passports because if you don't have anybody,
07:14you have to have use Mitchell to roam around and do that.
07:17If you don't have enough there, I still think there's a lot of questions.
07:19So I won't be surprised if we saw a few more trades coming up.
07:22I really think that's the best way to put him to do that, especially fill on the defensive side of the ball.
07:27He is Chris Franklin.
07:28He is a beat writer for the Philadelphia Eagles.
07:30You can find his work at nj.com.
07:33You can also find his work with the Pro Football Writers Association.
07:37We're talking Philadelphia Eagles.
07:39We will have more on the other side as we continue to dive into this team deep and their expectations for 2025.
07:45We'll be right back with more in just a moment on in-game live game day right here on Sports Grid.
07:50We are back here on in-game live game day on Sports Grid.
07:54Brady Cannon and Mark Zinno with you.
07:56Chris Franklin, our guest, kind enough to stick around as we continue to break down the Philadelphia Eagles,
08:01the defending Super Bowl champions who have been to the big dance twice in the last three years,
08:07both times, of course, facing the Kansas City Chiefs.
08:09They have split that series.
08:11Chris, I want to ask you, in the offseason, it was an interesting vote that, you know, went before the committee.
08:17I don't know which committee it was, the rules committee, what have you, about banning the tush push.
08:23And we know the Philadelphia Eagles kind of started that whole thing,
08:26and it's been really a massive part of their offense and their success.
08:29It was not banned, and the Eagles can continue to make that a part of their offensive effort.
08:36Maybe not a better offensive line in football and maybe not a better quarterback to execute this play.
08:41How big is that for Philadelphia?
08:44And is that play alone worth a win or two in your mind?
08:47It is a huge play, and I think it can be.
08:51It really is, because when you go into a game, you know, especially for the Eagles,
08:55basically you're looking at first and nine instead of first and ten,
08:58and you think, oh, it's just a yard, what have you?
09:00We've seen plenty of times that so many teams try to duplicate that
09:04or try to run a regular run play, and they can't get the game that yard.
09:08So the fact you know pretty much nine times out of ten you can get that yard, what have you,
09:12it changes your play column immensely.
09:14You look at the third down play column.
09:15If it's third and short, and you're able to go around, you just go up right up to the line.
09:19Teams don't really don't have the time to really substitute anything in.
09:22Run behind it, and you go there.
09:24So it really does affect the fact that you don't have to gain as many.
09:28You know you can get those automatic yards.
09:30You can change your play calling.
09:31You can take more shots downfield knowing especially if you're short.
09:34It definitely relies on a win or two, especially depending on the opponent,
09:38because a good team like, say, the Cowboys, their defensive tackles are not known.
09:42Lomazi Smith is not one of the top-tier defensive tackles in his league.
09:47You look at that overall, you know you can get that in the middle.
09:50That's cake.
09:53You know, I look at the NFC East, and I think it's been 23 consecutive years
09:57without a repeat division winner.
09:59I'm not sure if you're buying into that, but who, in your opinion,
10:02is the biggest threat to the Eagles in the NFC East?
10:05Washington Commanders, for sure.
10:06And I'm not just saying that just because they were in the NFC Championship Games
10:10last year.
10:11It's something about Dan Quinn when he faces the Eagles.
10:14He really knows how to play them tough.
10:19And you look at the whole entire – you look at Jaden Daniels,
10:22and as a rookie, the poise he showed, the arm strength he showed,
10:26the ability to move that offense.
10:28And to me, the biggest – with them being the biggest thing,
10:34they're the ones that can stop themselves.
10:35And I never understood why they did not give Terry McLaurin
10:39that extension earlier, because I think that lingers in.
10:42Because even though if he comes back and he's fine,
10:44some of the other players see that.
10:45It's a tough distraction.
10:46So you have to worry about is that lingering a game or two into the season?
10:51And looking how close these teams are,
10:54that could be the difference between who holds home field advantage in the NFC
10:57to who's the number five seed and having to go on the road.
11:01And we all know what happens with road playoff teams.
11:02You can get a lot of data.
11:03Look at the Minnesota Vikings, for instance.
11:05So, yeah, I think they're the toughest team.
11:07Their defense, I know they had a Vaughn Miller, the Edges.
11:10They got a lot older, for sure, but they have enough talent
11:13to really make things tough for the Eagles
11:15and potentially make that trend to go into 24.
11:18Chris, what is your overall expectation for this team?
11:22And let's say how many wins does that translate
11:24into the Eagles getting this year?
11:26And if you look at some of the stuff,
11:28there's a lot of reasons to kind of go against this team this year.
11:32They were 8-2 in one-score games last year.
11:35Their turnover margin was plus 11.
11:38We talked about them having such a difficult schedule this year.
11:41Per season win total projections,
11:44they have the fourth most difficult schedule in the NFL.
11:47They played a very soft schedule of opposing defenses last year.
11:51There are a lot of reasons.
11:52You could say it could kind of go sideways, the workload for Saquon Barkley.
11:56We figure that can't be repeated.
11:58There's a lot of reasons you could say it could go sideways for this team this year.
12:01Again, what are your thoughts?
12:03Where do they land at the end of the year?
12:06I think when we're all said and done, I think they get to 12 wins,
12:09and I think it's going to come down to a tiebreaker.
12:11I look at those last three – you look at those last three games.
12:14Commanders, Bills, Commanders.
12:16That's right there.
12:16That's not only – that's for the division.
12:18I think that's for all for 14 purposes as well, too.
12:21And I just look at that – every time we try to count this Eagles team out
12:27and look at them – there's been times I'm like,
12:28there's no way they can beat this team.
12:30There's no way they can do this.
12:31Next thing you know, Jalen Hurts finds a way to overcome that and they win.
12:34And it's something about just being like a winner and finding –
12:37in those tight situations, in those late-game situations,
12:40finding ways to win.
12:41That's what separates these teams that you see in championship games
12:43versus teams you see in the playoffs and go, oh, wow, we made it, what have you.
12:46So I think this team wins 12 games.
12:49It's not going to be Freddie.
12:50It's not going to be in the dominant fashion we saw last year,
12:52anywhere near that.
12:54But I also think it could be something where we're looking at maybe they get
12:57to the championship game and not lose it because, thank God,
12:59it wears over time.
13:00And you got a lot of players right there, it wears over time.
13:03Who that's against?
13:04It could be the Rams and sure, I come back and get upset.
13:06It could be the commanders again.
13:07Who knows that?
13:08But I think we're just looking at a potential of seeing them come back
13:11and making a decent run.
13:14I mean, obviously the Nick Sirianni fire has died down from the fan base
13:21after four weeks they were fired last year.
13:24But what is the thought from the fans and everybody else on Nick Sirianni
13:28and kind of his acumen as a coach?
13:30I mean, obviously he's secure for the next couple of years at least,
13:33but we've seen Philly fans turn fast.
13:36And that's the fun thing about that too, because if you talk,
13:39we'll talk last year, it was just for inclusion.
13:41He's going.
13:41We're going back on that.
13:42It's like, what, what?
13:43And you saw what happened there.
13:44He has the buy-in on the player.
13:46I still remember A.J.
13:46Brown at his locker in 2023.
13:49Still, everybody's calling for Nick's head in the middle of that slump.
13:52He stood up, say Nick told him about how he called,
13:54passing the team for a call,
13:55and I was about to get intentional.
13:56And you look at that, he still has to buy the player.
13:59The players believe in him.
14:00He finds ways to motivate him that.
14:02Those are the most important things you need with a coach.
14:04So I think for now it's good,
14:06but let this team get a three-game losing streak.
14:09Yeah, I think they'll be calling for his head.
14:11I mean, look at what happened with Doug Peterson.
14:13Same thing happened.
14:14So, yeah, I wouldn't be surprised.
14:16Three-game losing streak,
14:17and then they're calling for Nick's head in the middle of the season.
14:20Not a lot of patience there out of sports fans in the Northeast.
14:24I hear you loud and clear.
14:26And Nick Sirianni, I'd say his track record is pretty darn good.
14:29Chris Franklin, thank you so much for joining us
14:31and helping us break down the Philadelphia Eagles tonight.
14:33Enjoy the season, my friend, and we'll talk again down the road.
14:37Sounds great.
14:37Thank you guys so much for having me on.
14:39All right, indeed.
14:41That is Chris Franklin.
14:42You can find him on Twitter at CFranklinNews.
14:45He's on the pulse there for the Philadelphia Eagles.
14:48Mark, what do you think?
14:49You think 12 games seems about right, 12 wins for the Eagles?
14:55Yeah, 12 and 5 feels about right.
14:56But, again, it's hard to win 12 games.
14:58You have to have a certain amount of luck.
14:59You have to win close games, and that's not easy.
15:02Yeah, I think I might go under 12.
15:05I don't know, 11 and a half is a pretty good number.
15:07Vegas is good about that type of thing, I've noticed.
15:10We'll come back and wrap up the program here pretty quick.
15:19See you next time.
15:20Have a great day.
15:20Bye.
15:21Bye.
15:21Bye.
15:21Bye.
15:22Bye.
15:30Bye.
15:34Bye.
15:34Bye.
15:35Bye.
15:35Bye.
15:35Bye.
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