Nolan was at < 100%, and JC has started the season not up to last year's standard. But they show here early in the game that running counter at them is still a fool's errand, just like in '24. McVay later adjusted and started running counter away from that side with more success.

Ahh, found another one. No one left to block Baun in the middle. This time JC plays passive and allows Nolan and JD to Jet (penetrating 1 gap playing the run on the way to the QB) instead of 1.5 gap. Whether it's even or odd, I noticed last year that Jalyx does better as a 5 tech. Suits him.

Early indications are the league has caught up to Vic's G front condensed and 6-man fronts. Which should prob be reserved for short yardage since he can't adjust. Between this+Jihaad, they may become more of an odd front D. This nifty bear front out of base they have success with as a changeup.

Went through most run snaps -3 of 6 double digit runs mostly Vic's fault -3 of 4 7-9 yard runs mostly Vic's fault -On many 4-6 yard runs (I watched most) Vic mostly at fault Rams RB's, blockers, McVay deserve credit. DT's weren't as good as usual. But problems multi-factorial, all 3 levels.

Mukuba has been better in man than I was expecting based off the college games I watched. Nice job Eagles. I don't know if it's dumb luck or design (or a combo), but so far they have smartly not matched him up with TEs in the RZ where his size is an issue. 2 vid thread. Muku matches WR adeptly:

C'mon Eagles. This is very easy to fix and make the run game more productive. Just no excuse for this. Zero. None. Nada. Trying not to swear. #FlyEaglesFly

Eagles O 1) As much as I criticize, I have to take this moment to say thank you Uncle Vic for not being the Rams DC. 2) Barkley is better gap than zone. -more creative RPO/zone read -zone ISO gap block left+pull Big Aussie gap block right 3-More RB in pass attack and empty #FlyEaglesFly

Eagles WR AJ Brown, after the victory over the Rams, spoke about the importance of the message on his shirt "Check on your teammates. I'm still standing. I'm still here." The video is in two parts, as we stopped once. Please watch both

Baun kept us in the game early with a combination of his run defense and his coverage as the middle hook in quarters. 4-5 play thread. He sees the opening and shows off his quicks for the run stuff. #FlyEaglesFly

If Azeez Ojulari is not picking up all of the scheme quickly enough then dumb it down for him and get him out there. Our edge group is suspect vs the run. Nolan was our source of strength there. Azeez is the best edge setter we have on the 53 with Nolan out. #FlyEaglesFly

@denizselman33.bsky.social inspired me to chart the pass coverages vs Rams. Haven’t done that in a year. Handful of coverages had me stumped because they’ve made some changes. No Microsoft Office, just chicken scratch. School year evenings too busy. As I skeeted before game, Vic wanted to play man.

This is crazy. And wonderful.

Final drive thread of all 6 coverage snaps. Vic was not great. By my subjective tally: 1 Good call 2 Really bad calls 3 Meh calls Without two CB1s, he's reverting back to good DC, and not DC who walks on water. Overall, McVay out play-called him in the game. #FlyEaglesFly

The final drive. In a do or die w/little time it's more about matchups. "What does my guy do well vs their guy?" Top screen: Jakorian doesn't have to back pedal and can close because he has a cov safety over top. Bottom: Adams in slot so in 1/4s over him w/DeJean providing interference. Good Vic

Earlier it was 1/4s, this time 3firezone, but Rams get what they want with motion to force Reed to cover Davante Adams 1 on 1 down field. Adams scored the TD earlier in the game. This time Reed gets revenge.

Quinyon needs some positive press. Is he Deion Sanders part two? No. Is he damn good and can you trust him on a deep route vs a good receiver without help? Yes. As the ball went into the air, Davante looked maybe open, but I knew Q was going to close that gap. My concern level was very low.

A look at DeJean in coverage in base personnel at outside CB. To me, he's fine there but not special. Inside at nickel or safety he's more special. This continues to make no sense to me. Hopefully I am proven wrong. Puka slides inside TE to gain leverage advantage.

Whip it good!!! Volume up. I apologize in advance for singing. The coverage and pass rush help one another. Whoever said in life edges shouldn't drop didn't watch Vic's edges dropping. #FlyEaglesFly

I will forgive the sea of foolish pundits who had Stafford ahead of Hurts last offseason. Do it again this offseason and you deserve to be fired. Think long and hard about it. You have families to feed. He drops pillows from the sky.

Baun has been incredible so far in the 1st half. Without him, this would have been a slaughter, and a blocked field goal would not have decided the outcome. Shoots the gap for his 2nd TFL. They aren't run blitzes. He's just the best LB in the NFL.

Next play. As expected, Vic scared out of the condensed fronts again after the previous play. 5 down odd front in base vs 12. Jalyx Hunt vs 3 gaps. Misdirection to that side. And since there's only 1 Jalyx Hunt and not 3, well you guessed what happens. Vic getting beat in the chess match.

I've watched through most of 1st half. Uncle Vic is getting beat up 3x1 outside runs vs condensed fronts again. Rinse. Repeat. The book is out on how to defeat it now. Vic has to adjust. You end up with a numbers problem and then it's RB vs CB outside. @ej-smith.bsky.social @bowulf.bsky.social

Shift into condensed 5x1 penny because Vic is spooked again by McVay exploited his 3x1 problem again recently. Uche gets handled by a TE. Za'Darius looks unsure of himself. There's this guy named Ojulari. I heard he was an Eagle now. We could use him on the field.

Vic creepers from 5down odd to 6 down condensed. McVay motions to 3x1 outside run. Rinse. Repeat. Baun fast flows to take blocker no one else can. Can't do that in condensed. He has to slow play. Someone has to travel w/blocker in motion or come down from safety. C'mon, Vic, this is getting old.

Very next play, Vic clearly scared out of his condensed front quickly. 5-1 penny front with Jihaad at edge. Eagles get beat on WR motion in 1/4s again. No blown assignment. They might need to start having DeJean travel w/WR motion in 1/4s, especially now that they can't poach as often due to CB2.

All-22 not out yet 1) Vic 1st 2 drives heavy 1/4s. Baun was awesome in coverage as the middle hook 2) He also went heavy condensed fronts (creepered into it on the Baun INT and just lined up in it 2nd drive) w/big success 3rd drive, here comes the 3x1 that Vic can't handle in condensed fronts

Zone Bluff. I missed this. But hey they finally dusted off the moth balls and used it. @denizselman33.bsky.social Why has it been gone so long?

We can’t expect to steamroll the league the way we did ‘24. We likely have to be smarter this time in order to produce the same result. I’m expecting this lucky W will provide some of the wake up calls we need. But doubt we are all the way there. This W and comeback was fun. Thank U Howie/Lurie.

Tales of the Peloton Block Party will live on after I have turned to dust. #FlyEaglesFly

I bought a Jordan Davis jersey in his rookie season and people made fun of me I hope you bitches will still be laughing in hell

Landon’s face is all of Philly

I don’t ask for much in life. But I need to see every angle of the Jordan Davis run that exists. #FlyJordanFly #Peloton

I love you Jordan Davis

Gooooooo biiiiig boopoooyyyyyy

Stupid as F playing that far off Puka outside. Vic not impressive so far this drive. I’d double Adams and put Q on Puka.

Ok this drive is for all the marbles. I would send creepers but only 4 pass rushers.

I'm watching Rams defense, and other than pass rush/Verse it's like drinking soda that's been sitting in a cup for 10 hrs. Same DC. Meh LBs. Meh coverage. Some East West RPO/Read option out of the moth balls would be nice. If the offense doesn't awaken, concern meter rises to 4/10. #FlyEaglesFly

‘24 w/2k Barkley+two CB1s is not happening. So it’s better to compare the O to ‘23. Good 1) QB better 2) good enough to win games while holding plays in their back pocket 3)low TOs 4)better vs blitz (thank u Kellen) Bad 1) not enough deep shots or pass attempts Same Pass concepts mostly meh

Had to do it. The obsession with generating engagement off it is beyond lame at this point.

'24 week 12 Defense vs Rams: -Eagles by far most effective coverages were single high man and single high 3 match (also behaved much like man) rushing 4 -pass rush got home a big factor, especially BG -smattering of condensed fronts impactful Now: Kupp+Slay vs Adams+Adoree puts single hi in doubt

After getting burnt by pin/pull action on a big run in his condensed front vs Dallas, Vic chose 5 man odd fronts this game. But starting late 2nd quarter he was changing them into post snap condensed 6 man fronts by sending one of the LBs. It hurt the Chiefs 1st down running game. Short thread.

At times, our DTs made Za'Darius Smith look a little better vs the run than he actually is. He did have some good moments. He also had moments like this where other players drove the RB into his lap. JD and JC dominate on this rep.

Jordan Davis looking better on outside zone type stuff where he has to glide laterally at the new weight. Stuffing two blockers and getting in on the tackle.

Tyler Higbee is 32? I'm old. I still have to glance at the run game, but this Rams passing attack actually looks a little less scary to me than Dallas. Some of that 3 zone the Eagles played last week while protecting a lead they need to not do vs Stafford. They can man these receivers up some.

Some of it is how they are used. But the most impactful rookie safety on coverage snaps two games in is Xavier Watts. Justin Jefferson did cook him once on an out and up. I suspect Watts will play that less aggressively next time.😀 I didn't watch Emmanwori.

I'm not sure what the issue was with Jalen Carter. He was not looking 100% Vs the Chiefs. He wasn't terrible. But was not what we've come to expect. Luckily the Eagles DT stable runs deep. That position was a source of strength in the game even with JC not himself. #FlyEaglesFly

Vic puts Jalyx inside on 3rd down in order to run a simple stunt that frees him up mid-rush to become a spy. This type of role might be good for Jihaad Campbell on some money downs vs Washington. I wish Vic's rush plan vs mobile QBs had more like this. @bowulf.bsky.social @ej-smith.bsky.social

Vic occasionally bolstered the run by sending a creeper when in base. I like a good creeper. But the same creeper could be run out of 4 down w/more coverage players on the field. If KC had all their WRs, we couldn't do this as much as we did in this game. Maybe that was part of Vic's calculus.

Eagles get into their only condensed front on a run down of the game. 4th and 1. Tackle for loss, change of downs. Eagles get a FG out of it. Nolan Smith is part man, part beast, all Eagle. #FlyEaglesFly

Vic realizes that KC is taking advantage of his edge being too far away and throws a changeup by pulling Baun away from his gap. 5 yard gain on 1st down. Why get into base vs 12 from KC when Kelce blocks like a slot receiver? And if you are in base to stop run, don't pull dudes out of the box!