What is going on in these playoffs.
What is going on in these playoffs.
Just watched the extended highlights and wow, I've never heard such a burial of a coaching staff by a broadcast team than ESPN on the Eagles.
Having said that, they're clearly just not that good. Lucky they had a couple more wins than the Jags going into December because the implosion was probably even worse.
This Eagles loss has been due for us for weeks. It's thoroughly deserved by the coaching team because I really don't know how we've got here.
A personal breakdown of what I think happened is that everything was going alright, but some cracks were being papered over. Hurts being given his mega money in the summer was the start of the issues. I know it's the norm for this to happen, but it boggles the mind that these guys can't see how it affects roster makeup. Because of this contract we had to lose Hargrave, Seumalo and TJ Edwards and reinvest in high potential rookies.
This again was doing alright until you hit the Chiefs game. The Eagles got outplayed in that game, however all of Pats receivers lost their hands and dropped everything. Even then we left MVS wide open for a bomb TD right at the end, only for him to drop that too.
Next the struggling Bills came to town and put up 34 points. It was only Hurts doing Hurts things and a mega kick from Elliott that got us the win in that one. Again more cracks papered over.
Then came the absolute dicking from the 49ers. Followed by another bad loss away in Dallas. I think here is when one of two things happened. Either Siriani panicked too soon, or the locker room was lost.
Because all of a sudden, despite not being on staff or known to be working with us, suddenly a wild Matt Patricia, defensive mastermind, is calling the defence. In a great twist, the defence did not get better. The previous DC in Sean Desai apparently punted into the stands. At OC Brian Johnson didn't exactly do a great job either. His play calling became very stale(screen pass anyone?) and predictable. This was highlighted when CMC was on I think Manningcast and was calling out what plays we were about to call before we did it. In their defence, they were both rookies OC/DC hires, but it calls into question the decision to hire them onto a team capable of going all the way.
I think it's been a case of the players got the job done despite some bad coaching. It only goes so far though. Now I could be wrong, but what happens today will likely show how close I am. If the OC/DC and Siriani all go today it would not surprise me. It's also the option I'd take. Unlike last year, it's not going to be easy to just get everything back together and go again.
For example Kelce looked by his reaction at the end of the game, to be done. Cox, Graham, Swift, Cunningham, Opeta and Roby are all also free agents now. Most were on team friendly deals last year, but I doubt most of those will be back.
The offence should be great again next year, but that defence needs a rebuild. We don't exactly have the best placed draft pick to go and do it either.
Osi's going to be on fire in the highlights show. Haven't seen last weeks yet but he was on top form the week before.
It seems like the main problem is the co-ordinators - not sure why you'd hire an up & coming DC like Sean Desai & then bin him off in half a season for Matt Patricia, who is a proven bad coach/co-ordinator. Even if they weren't doing great the first half of the season, it seems like Patricia can't teach his scheme & isn't a good people manager, so now there's less pressure up front & the back seven have forgotten how to cover or tackle - Kevin Byard going from an all-pro in Tennessee to just some guy in Philly is probably the best example of this.Originally Posted by Gray Fox
The OC is less of a concern, it just feels like you gave a young guy his shot & it didn't work out. There's enough talent on that side of the ball to give you a good floor, but getting someone in who can improve the scheme & playcalling would take you back to being an elite offense. As for Siriani, I'd probably be guided by the players on that one - get the leaders together in private & see if the locker room still believes in him, and if they have doubts then sack him off & go hard after someone like Ben Johnson.
As for the roster, with Kelce having retired & Lane potentially out the door too, I'd say RB & OL are the only thing you need to look at on offense, other than maybe a WR3, and you can get a committee RB & a third reciever anywhere. You hope that Cam Jurgens can be the guy at center, and Steen or Driscoll could take the open spot at guard if Opeta leaves, so RT is the priority. Given the Eagles love to go trenches early in the draft, I'd imagine this could be where they spend their first round pick - not up on the draft class yet but maybe someone like Amarius Mims from Georgia.
It's probably also time to actually invest in one single linebacker that can cover anyone, whether that's with a day two pick or in free agency - a quick look at the potential free agents throws up Lavonte David & Patrick Queen, who'd be great but expensive, or Jordyn Brooks & Drue Tranquill, who might be more realistic options. You'd like another good young corner tooso that could probably be another option for an early draft pick, but other than that I feel like they can just get away with filling out the roster & a better DC should sort most of the problem out as the rest of the starters should be fine.
There's also an element of the schedule last season being so staggeringly soft that it gave a false impression of where the team was at, whereas this season they've played an actual schedule with good teams on, so they've come back to reality a bit. I feel like they're going to be in the 9-11 win range again next season regardless of what they do & a lot of the panic is just from setting the bar too high after last year.
I see a welsh rugby winger [Rees-Zammit] is off to join the IPP.
Does anyone ever make it out of that in a skill position?
There's the German fullback at Vegas. But he's only used as a run blocker so I guess he doesn't count.
But then Rees-Zammit is very young compared to most entrants so he's got a better chance (probably still next to none).
Efe Obada has done well for himself and Jordan Mailata is obviously a star.
Most of the successes seem to be in the offensive/defensive unit category.
I thought Christian Wade would do well.
I remember his first carry for the Bills in pre-season going for a 65 yard TD.
Never did anything after that.
That was a weird one though, in that even though he ran for the TD he was criticized for not running behind a blocker and instead taking on and beating a defensive player, wasn't he? Sort of as a wider illustration as to how people coming into the game have no real chance of having the necessary level of understanding to really make it.
With Kelce gone, he assumes top Boy status.
Nervous about our game tonight. Texans are no joke and they have the type of offence that could trouble us I feel.
Looking really good in the second half.
Loomar especially has been on fire.
Lions @ San Fran could really be some good fun. A shame it's not in Detroit.
These games were a bit too good so I had to stay up late and now I'm tired and drank too much beer.
Lamar is the only man who can save us from endless Taylor Swift coverage at the Superbowl.
You couldn't have echoed my sentiment any better.
Plus, it would be a bit shit having a champion with six losses. I think the last time that happened was Ray Lewis' last season, so I can give them a bit more leeway than Taylor Swift Chiefs.
Road Warrior/Underdog winners are the best, like when the Giants [ugh] turned over the flawless regular season Patriots.
Obviously the Chiefs don't fall into this category, so it's on the Ravens to sort things out themselves.
Hopefully Detriot stick it up the 49ers but I'm not confident.
I like an underdog winner but at the same time I do think some element of the teams who do well throughout the season (or come good at the end) being the winner has to be retained. I'm not a fan of a 14 team playoffs because you widen the scope for absolute bullshit teams like the Chiefs getting in there and ruining the whole thing.
We will do our job, lads.
Fuck Mahomes, Fuck Swift, Fuck the Chiefs.
What a fucking name.
This is the highlight of the post season, even if it is tough to overlook a lol Cowboys effort. Tricky one. Prefer the Ravens but don't like Harbaugh. Always loved Andy Reid but not a massive fans of the Chiefs.
Nice stand by Baltimore, oh wait. Sorry Mahow.
Last edited by niko_cee; 28-01-2024 at 08:11 PM.
We are all Baltimore tonight. Nobody wants four hours of Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl.
Oh god, swiftcam.
That was incredible from Lamar.
Slightly troubling times. Mahomes is giving people a chance, someone needs to kill him.
Please no.
Obviously no man-on calls in helmetball.
Kelce just tied Jerry Rice for all-time playoff receptions.
Oof. Should have challenged that Kelce spot.
Surely the first rule of 4th and short running is no cuts.
Last edited by niko_cee; 28-01-2024 at 09:00 PM.
I get the whole statistics thing but surely a chance to go up ten away from home, getting ball to start the second half would’ve been pretty good.
Points off turnovers.
Lamar
Holy shit. What a play.
Mahomes takes up 22% of his entire teams salary and you could still argue he’s undervalued.
Only one team really in it in that half, another big second half needed for Baltimore.
Almost perfect first half for KC. One blown play and a big holding call have stopped this being about 21-0.
Very lucky not to be picked there.
Baltimore are a write off for the Superbowl if they make it the way they've been in the play-offs so far.
We've been shocking tonight on both sides, we really need to wake up quickly.
Chiefs snaps constantly look dreadful.
The Kansas punter has been wank.
OLine just isn't holding up at all.
Fucking hell taunting, what an idiot.
Love the no voice ref though.
Such a dumb move from Flowers.
What a fucking play that is.
Oh good god.
Fuck
Feels like it's done.
Feels like the defence is going to have to do something big.
Not a good few minutes for Flowers.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote