• March 28, 2024

2013 Eagles Third Quarter Grades

ChipKelly1We’re coming into the home stretch of the 2013 season. Another quarter of the season has gone by, and that means its time to step back and evaluate the team’s progress in all of the key areas.

Coaching Staff

Chip Kelly: Kelly’s coaching jobs have been dramatically better over the last four weeks than they were in the first half of the season. In the first half of the season, Kelly’s in-game management had been costing the Eagles games.

Over the last month, his offense has rediscovered its explosiveness and most of the players on his roster have shown considerable improvement. Kelly can be given credit for the production that guys like Nick Foles, Riley Cooper, and Zach Ertz have come up with over the last month that have helped this offense succeed.

Playcalling is still a bit of an issue for Kelly.

Too often he’ll call a run for LeSean McCoy on a third down with five or more yards to go. We’ve also seen too many designed runs for Nick Foles. There’s been numerous instances where the called play has been either bizarre (Brad Smith Wild Cat play in redzone) or poorly timed (third down runs to McCoy).

Kelly has also struggled to close out opponents. While he called a great series of plays to run out the final nine minutes of the Green Bay game, his offense struggled mightily in the second halves of the Washington and Arizona games. The failure to generate additional points or run significant amounts of time off of the clock allowed the Redskins and Cardinals to get back into the games and nearly swipe two victories away from the Eagles.

Overall, Kelly has had a very good month. Anytime you go 4-0 and call an offense that produces the NFC’s player of the month with an offense that regularly generates 400 or more yards, you’re doing something right.

First Quarter Grade: C-

Second Quarter Grade: D+

Third Quarter Grade: B

Billy Davis: I can’ say enough about how impressed I’ve been with the job that Billy Davis has done over the last two months. Davis has been pulling the strings of a much-improved defense that I believe has just as big a hand, if not more so, in the Eagles’ four-game winning streak than the offense has.

Davis’ defense has held opponents to 21 points or less in eight straight games. They’ve also forced 9 turnovers over the last four games, and they’ve played a major role in the wins over Green Bay, Washington, and Arizona.

Davis is even discovering ways to get more sacks out of this group. The Eagles have managed nine sacks in the last two games. In the previous 10 games, they had only managed more than two sacks in a game three times.

The arrow just keeps pointing up for this defense, and Billy Davis should be given a wealth of credit not only for their improvement, but for the success that this team has had. As impressive as Chip Kelly, Nick Foles, and the offense have been, I believe that the defensive improvement is more responsible for this team’s turnaround more so than any other aspect of team. If this defense wasn’t playing at the high level that its been at, the Eagles wouldn’t have half of their wins.

First Quarter Grade: F

Second Quarter Grade: B

Third Quarter Grade: A

Quarterbacks: Nick Foles has exploded over the last month and has not only cemented himself as the starting quarterback of the Eagles, but is also making waves around the league.

Foles began the month by tying the NFL record for touchdown passes in a game with seven against the Oakland Raiders. He followed up his historic performance by throwing three touchdowns against the Packers. He then threw for nearly 300 yards against the Washington Redskins, and also added 47 yards and a rushing touchdown. Last week, he threw for three more touchdowns and made some tremendous throws to help the team beat the Cardinals.

Foles’ body of work over the last month has been nothing short of spectacular.

He’s been named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November, he’s thrown for 19 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, and he’s proving that he can indeed be a starting quarterback in this league and he can run Chip Kelly’s offense.

First Quarter Grade: B+

Second Quarter Grade: C+

Third Quarter Grade: A

Running Backs:  Its been an excellent month for LeSean McCoy.

McCoy has been a key in wins over the Packers and Redskins. Against Green Bay, McCoy ran for a season-high 155 yards and was instrumental on the final nine and a half minute drive that the Eagles used to run out the clock and finish the game. A week later, McCoy had over 70 rushing and 70 receiving yards while scoring two touchdowns against Washington.

Shady has also stayed involved in the passing game, catching 13 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown.

The backup running backs have really faded out of the offensive picture.

Bryce Brown did have one really nice performance against Oakland, rushing for 54 yards on seven carries, but has gained just 17 yards over the last three weeks.

Chris Polk hasn’t taken a carry since Week 5.

While it would be nice to get a little more out of Bryce Brown, and it would be nice to see Polk get a touch here and there, LeSean McCoy’s performances have been top notch, and his efforts alone is good enough to earn this group top marks for the third quarter.

First Quarter Grade: A+

Second Quarter Grade: C+

Third Quarter Grade: A

Wide Receivers: DeSean Jackson continues to perform at a high level. Jackson has had at least 80 yards in three of the last four games, and has scored two more touchdowns. He’s surpassed the 1,000 yard mark just 12 games into the season, and has just three games this year where he’s been held below 50 receiving yards.

Over the last month, Riley Cooper has transformed from a fringe player and a weekly non-factor into an exciting playmaker that has become a key figure in this offense. Cooper has had two 100-yard games and scored five touchdowns. He’s developed a great rapport with Nick Foles, and he’s figuring out how to use his size to his advantage.

Jason Avant has seen his production dip dramatically. He’s got just four receptions in the last four games, and hasn’t scored a touchdown since the Chiefs game.

No other wide receivers have made an impact. Jeff Maehl had a 19-yard catch against the Raiders, but that’s been it. Damaris Johnson has been a healthy scratch ever since Brad Smith joined the team. And as for Smith? Well, he ran that one Wild Cat play poorly.

Jackson and Cooper are doing great things, but the reserves behind them have got to establish themselves as more legitimate threats.

First Quarter Grade: C+

Second Quarter Grade: B-

Third Quarter Grade: A-

Tight Ends

Over the last month, the tight ends have finally started to emerge as consistent threats in this offense.

Brent Celek and Zach Ertz have combined for five touchdown receptions over the last four weeks, including three against the Arizona Cardinals. We’ve been waiting all year for these tight ends to make a dramatic impact on a game, and they accounted for every touchdown against Arizona.

The unit was still a non-factor in the Green Bay and Washington games, with Celek and Ertz combining for just three receptions in those two weeks.

Oh and how about that James Casey? Yeah, he’s good for a catch every month. Casey has posted just three receptions for 31 yards on the season, with his only catch in the last four weeks coming against the Oakland Raiders.

The tight ends are improving, and Arizona was their strongest showing to date, but they’re still not quite what we expected them to be this season. If the Arizona game is any indication, they could finish the final month strong.

First Quarter Grade: D+

Second Quarter Grade: D+

Third Quarter Grade: C+

Offensive Line

The line has begun the jell, and they’ve been much better in the third quarter of the season then any other point.

Protection for Nick Foles has been solid, and the line has bought the young quarterback plenty of time to set his feet and step into his throws, which has helped him to complete some of his longer passes.

Jason Peters continues to look good but not great. He’s playing well, but he’s not dominating like he was two years ago. Injuries an age always take a toll on players sooner or later, and I’m not sure that #71 will ever be the same.

Alan Barbre was forced to step in for Peters, who went down with an injury in the Green Bay game, and was able to play at a high level.

Lane Johnson has looked more settled in at the right tackle position. Evan Mathis has been solid all season. There was talk of benching Todd Herremans for Barbre earlier in the year, but Herremans has straightened himself out and has been performing at a serviceable level.

Jason Kelce has done a decent job as a blocker, but he’s still had too many bad snaps.

First Quarter Grade: C

Second Quarter Grade: C-

Third Quarter Grade: B

Defensive Line

Fletcher Cox is really growing fast, and has been making plays every week.

Cedric Thornton’s production has dipped a bit in the last month, but he remains one of the pleasant surprises of this defense.

Bennie Logan has done a good job taking over the nose tackle spot. He’s got 15 tackles in the last four games. That’s three more than former starter Isaac Sopoaga had in eight games. Logan’s given the team much more energy than they had with Sopoaga in the middle.

Vinny Curry continues to be the most productive lineman off of the bench, picking up sacks against Oakland and Green Bay.

First Quarter Grade: D+

Second Quarter Grade: C+

Third Quarter Grade: B

Linebackers

The linebacker have had a tremendous month, easily their best yet. They’ve been getting game-changing performances from multiple players, and this is starting to look like one of the best units on the team.

DeMeco Ryans is giving the Eagles a Pro-Bowl caliber year. Ryans is already over 100 tackles for the season, and he’s averaged more than 10 tackles a game over the last four. He came up with another big interception against the Packers, and a sack against the Cardinals.

Connor Barwin continues to be a solid member of this defense. He turned in a tremendous game against the Redskins, with five tackles, a sack, a forced fumble that became a turnover to stop a Washington drive in the redzone, and also batted a pass down at the line.

Trent Cole has surprised everyone with how well he’s adjusted to his new role as an outside linebacker. Cole has caught fire over the last two weeks, with two sacks against Washington and two more against Arizona. Cole forced a fumble on the first Cardinal drive that the Eagles turned into seven points.

Mychal Kendricks has been the only starter that hasn’t really stood out in the last month. The good news is that the second-year man hasn’t had any noticeably bad moments either.

The Eagles have even gotten strong production from their reserves. Brandon Graham had his best game of the season with two sacks against the Cardinals, and Najee Goode picked up a sack in a start for an injured Kendricks against Washington.

First Quarter Grade: C-

Second Quarter Grade: B

Third Quarter Grade: A

Secondary

Its been another good month for the defensive backs.

Bradley Fletcher missed two games, but recorded an interception against the Raiders.

Roc Carmichael was forced to step in and start for Fletcher in those two games, and the defense didn’t miss a beat.

Cary Williams recorded an interception against Arizona.

Brandon Boykin had a huge interception against the Packers, picking off a Scott Tolzien pass on the goalline and running it back over 70 yards.

Nate Allen is third on the team with 71 tackles, and made an interception against the Cardinals. He’s gone from a liability to a decent starter, and looks very comfortable in the new defensive system. The former second-round pick has finally regained his confidence.

Patrick Chung is the weak-link in this unit. He’s been forced back on to the field since Earl Wolff went down, and he’s been missing tackles and getting beat in coverage.

As a group, they’ve faced some pretty good receivers in the last month. From Jordy Nelson, to Pierre Garcon, to Larry Fitzgerald, and the only one who really burned them was Fitzgerald, and that play can be attributed to the missed tackle by Chung.

First Quarter Grade: F

Second Quarter Grade: B-

Third Quarter Grade: B+

Special Teams

Donnie Jones has won two NFC Special teams player of the Week awards. He’s been one of this team’s unsung heroes, and has been a solid punter all year long.

Brandon Boykin has done a great job in punt coverage. There’s been several instances where he’s ran down kicks and helped down them deep in opposing territory.

Alex Henery has hit four of his five attempts this month.

The return game still leaves something to be desired. The Eagles have shuffled return men a bit, benching Damaris Johnson and going with Brandon Boykin on kickoffs and DeSean Jackson on punts.

First Quarter Grade: F

Second Quarter Grade: C-

Third Quarter Grade: B+

With Week 17’s match against the Dallas Cowboys shaping up to be a showdown for the division, Denny Basens and Jeff Kolsky are planning to get a group together to watch the game at XFINITY Live, and we would like to extend invitations to any and all readers of GCobb.com to come out and join us. We sincerely appreciate all who read, comment, and make this website great, and we’d love the opportunity to meet some of the readers and experience a great game together.

Denny Basens

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CT
CT
December 5, 2013 11:48 pm

I’ll never understand why Chris Polk isn’t more involved. I know he’s been injured recently, but still cmon man. Lemme let all you know something right here right now. Chris Polk is a better player than Bryce Brown’s bum ass. Chip needs to start handin the ball off to Chris Polk 6-8 times a game. I was at the training camp, and I swear, besides McCoy, Chris had the best training camp for RBS and the best preseason.

Biglion821
Biglion821
December 6, 2013 7:45 am
Reply to  Denny Basens

You can’t teach running between the tackles and for a big man Brown still tries to bounce everything outside. Chip is enamored by speed and that is the only reason I can see why he’s ahead of Polk.

drummerwinslow
December 6, 2013 5:47 pm
Reply to  CT

Apparently, Carlson Palmer was injured against the Eagles and won’t play this week. Wait a minute! Does he run the old “college” read option?

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
December 6, 2013 7:49 am

Howie Roseman: Grade A+ – selected two massive lineman on each side of the ball and an emerging tight end with big play ability in the draft. Future looks bright!

paulman
paulman
December 6, 2013 7:51 am

Good Stuff Denny
I agree with most of your assesments
And definitely agree that the WR’s after D-Jax/Cooper need to make some more Plays, I also agree with CT that Polk should see more Carries than Brown who I am not crazy about.. Pols is a straight, north/south runner who I believe would be a better complement to McCoy’s zig-zag style of running and would give the Eagles a more physical presence in short-yardage/red-zone opportunities and a better change of pace..
I think it would be fair to say that none of saw this quick improvement of the Eagles Defense under DC Davis..with 5-6 New Starters, New Schemes,
Players like Cole/Graham playing new Positions
Just a great development to see as the Season has progressed
Even Nate Allen is playing very well and believe it or not, will likely get some Pro-Bowl Votes in the NFC where Safety play has been up and down for many Teams..(Cowboys,Redskins, Giants,Bears,Packers) to name a few Teams with
Dissapointing play from their Safeties..

RealTalk777
RealTalk777
December 6, 2013 12:40 pm

I think it was a little harsh to rate the secondary as an F in the first quarter…and mark the LB’s as a C- in the first quarter, I’d do a swap of grades for the first quarter for LB’s and secondary…The LB’s were a major problem in the passing game particularly in the zone defense scheme..In which the Eagles couldn’t get off the field on 3rd downs, even 3rd and 6 or longer……LB’s were really exposed in SD and KC games..Secondary wasn’t that bad!

Stevo
Stevo
December 6, 2013 1:19 pm
Reply to  RealTalk777

hmm… i dont know about that. For sure the 2ndary was a prob early. Go back and watch the first few games. Outside of a few Boykin strips…. the 2ndary was again the major problem. The LB’s were not much better though… perhaps D’s all around for this D early.

Im glad to see the topics have moved away from 1 spot…. lots to talk about with this TEAM.

Great article on Philly dot com today about the last 2 drafts. We trully have done well. Now, if they can land a CB and a Safety in this next draft that will contribute for years… we are going to be alright.

RealTalk777
RealTalk777
December 6, 2013 2:26 pm
Reply to  Stevo

I agree to an extent, but I think the weakest link of the secondary would of been the safety play early on in my opinion…When teams were catching balls thrown short across middle, many times early on it was against zone coverage, and the LB’s weren’t reacting quick or being aggressive enough…But I think the CB’s have done a decent job since day 1 of the season…In a passing league you’re gonna give up some big plays. Id give CB’s C grade early on, safeties a D grade, average around C-.

paulman
paulman
December 6, 2013 1:07 pm

***Other NFL News

Texans Fire HC Gary Kubiak today
DC Wade Phillips was named as Interim HC for the Remainder of the Season
This comes to no surprise as the Tezasn have struggled all Season on the Field, in the Locker-Room with a lack of Leadership all around this Team

Also – 2B Robinson Caneo Sign’s a 10 Year $240 Million Deal with the Seattle Mariner’s

Also – Miami Heat in the Market for a Scoring Guard and have expressed interest in Evan Turner as Dwayne Wade continues to struggle with Injuries and may be on his final legs of a great Career

Mets sign CG Granderson to a 4 Year $60 Million Deal with the NY Mets

USC Hires former Washington Huskie HC Steve Sarkasian to be HC of Trojans, Sarkasian was the OC under Pete Carroll and was miffed that he didn’t get a chance to take over for him when they hired Lane Kiffin.
Now Sarkasian is back with an up-tempo Offense and great Recruiting SKills

University of Washington has now hired HC Chris Peterson from Boise State to lead the Huskie Program back to Prominence which is an excellent HIre

haveacigar
haveacigar
December 6, 2013 1:22 pm
Reply to  paulman

Like i said Pman in baseball they are throwing around funny money! Its not just us…. and if the GM of the Mariners slices Cano’s achilles on opening day next year it will be a really bad move!

bugsyhawk
bugsyhawk
December 6, 2013 2:12 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Signing a 31 year old to a 10 year deal will always be a bad move. Ask the Angels. The only way that this works out for them is if they win a WS there. I know that that is the market, but it is also bad business. Some teams can afford to do get 3-4 good years out of a player and then eat 6 years and over 100 mil more. Most can’t. Apparantely the Mariners can.

They are not done spending too. They are in on Napoli, Cruz, Beltran and Choo. Not too mention the idea of bringing back Morales.

Also I have seen some speculation on them getting into the David Price sweepstakes by packaging their top prospect SP Tijuan Walker and also newly displaced Nick Franklyn, That would give them King Felix, Price, Iwakuma along with Hultzen.

That team has the potential to be nasty.

haveacigar
haveacigar
December 6, 2013 3:42 pm
Reply to  bugsyhawk

It is not bad business because it increases your brand awareness. It may be bad competitively but is great for business. I don’t 100% get the ins and outs of it but the simplest explanation is it’s funny money and you are really hoping the first five years of that salary is a ‘bargain’ knowing that the back end you are overpaying. When a very good player like elsbury gets 150 for 7, per altar gets as much as he got… It’s the market of the sport

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
December 6, 2013 1:45 pm
Reply to  paulman

Paulman – add USA Men’s National team opens world cup June 16, 2014 verse Ghana ( who eliminated USA in the last 2 world cups in 2010 & 2006)

koolbreeze
koolbreeze
December 6, 2013 1:37 pm

Not terribly bad grades Denny but you are off on the Offensive line, Tight Ends and Wide Receivers …they were not up to par in the first part of the year with the exception of the Washington game…thus I would have given them a D- in the first part of the year…

mhenski
mhenski
December 6, 2013 2:08 pm
Reply to  koolbreeze

no Koolbreeze I have not seen your baseball

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
December 6, 2013 2:11 pm

Houston Texans made two big mistakes in personnel —
they chose Brian Cushing over Demeco Ryans and
they chose to give franchise tag money to Arian Foster instead of Mario Williams.

bugsyhawk
bugsyhawk
December 6, 2013 2:16 pm

Hindsight on the Cushing decision. Who knew dude would blow out a knee 2 years in a row both on pretty low blows?

And i understand not wanting to let Williams go, but Foster had 1800+ total yards in 2011 b4 Williams left. Hard to let that go.

And I don’t think that anyone saw this Schaub implosion coming.

They have had some bad luck.

haveacigar
haveacigar
December 6, 2013 3:44 pm
Reply to  bugsyhawk

Yup injuries and bad luck… Happens everyday in sports. Penthouse to the outhouse in a blink

E-money
E-money
December 7, 2013 12:11 am
Reply to  bugsyhawk

Schaub fell apart, reminds me of Jake Delhomme towards the end.

Atlanta and Texas surprised me this year, I didn’t see either of them falling apart as fast as they did

Biglion821
Biglion821
December 7, 2013 7:21 am
Reply to  E-money

E-money the Texans surprised me but not Atlanta they won a ton of games last couple of years it seems by a stroke of luck. I thought Schaub was a little on the overrated side but yes he has fallen quickly.

paulman
paulman
December 7, 2013 11:36 am
Reply to  Biglion821

The Key to Schaub and the Texan’s Offense the last 2 Years has been the Play-Action Pass.. Without a Healthy Arian Oster, their Running Game has suffered and hence, the Paly-Action not fooling any Defense’s
HIs Injuries all season were the start of the fall for Schaub and this Texan Team… They lost a lot of Productive Players and Locker Room Leaders as well the last couple of Seasons in Free-Agency (Mario WIlliams,C Barwin,Q Grover, E Winston, P Casey) and really haven’t replaced them with equal talented Players.. The Signing of Ed Reed was a mistake and not a fit for Wade Phillips style of Defense..

CT
CT
December 6, 2013 3:56 pm

I can see Chip making a low risk, high reward move in obtaining Brian Cushing. Why not? Sign to a 1-2 year option deal and we might have something here. It wouldn’t shock me considering how much we do business with Houston. Casey, Ryans, and Barwin etc

paulman
paulman
December 7, 2013 11:37 am
Reply to  CT

LB Cushing just signed a 4-5 Year Extension back in the Summer and is not a Free-Agent for the Texans.. unless he gets Cut, he’s most likely is not going anywhere..

paulman
paulman
December 7, 2013 4:27 pm

Watching Auburn vs Missouri Game,
Place close attention to Missouri’s DE’s
Kon Early and David Sims who are both NFL Prospects

Also the Ohio State vs Mich State game as Michigan State has
3-4 Pro Defenders on their Squad CB Dequeze Denard
And a couple of their LB’s

I am calling for the Eagles to Select Mich State’s CB Denard with their 1st around Selection and Missouri’s DE/OLB Early with their 2nd Round Pick
In my latest Mock..
One of the reasons to watch these Championship Games as well as the Bowl Games is to really get a good look at NFL Prospects playing against better competition, versus better Coaching in important games and to see how they handle the “bright lights” .. Enjoy the Games

haveacigar
haveacigar
December 7, 2013 5:14 pm
Reply to  paulman

Paul you are typically full of crap but I turn on mizz and auburn and one of the DE lines up at tackle and makes a huge play. Eely? I think good call

paulman
paulman
December 7, 2013 5:59 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

That’s Kon Ealy from Missouri, who at 6-4″ 265lbs kind of reminds a little of Aldon Smith of the 49ers, long,lean, big wingspan and can line up all over the place as a DE, or as a Stand-up OLB or move him around anywhere
I think he has a bright future in the NFL

paulman
paulman
December 7, 2013 6:04 pm
Reply to  paulman

Most Scouting Sites have Kon Ealy rated around the Top
45th-55th Player in the 2014 Draft (2nd Rounder), but with a strong showing in big games, a good Senior Week/Indy Combine, etc,
He may move up to a late 1st Rounder since Pass-Rushers are highly coveted by every Team ..

paulman
paulman
December 7, 2013 7:22 pm

This Auburn/Missouri Game is a fun game to watch, not many Defensive a Plays being made out there and like a track meet out there.. Whoever has the Ball last Win it appears..