Tag: Howie Roseman

The Eagles are now over .500 for the first time since the start of the season when we were 1-0. They already have 8 wins with two games remaining in the season. We all thought this was going to be a rebuilding year and the Birds are now on pace, not only to exceed expectations from before the season, but also to make the playoffs. All of this from a team with a new head coach, defensive coordinator, and what is really a first-year quarterback. It is time to give some credit to a number of people that deserve it.

Nick Sirianni is a first-time head coach who many of us had never heard of. He was the offensive coordinator under Frank Reich and a surprising pick from Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman. Sirianni started slow with a horrible press conference to begin the season along with being way to pass happy at the beginning of the year. He has turned it around in a way that is very encouraging. Sirianni did some self evaluation and realized that the team would be better off running the ball. Now the Eagles have the #1 running team in the NFL and a 6-2 record in their most recent games. The Eagles are likely not a Superbowl team at this point, but they have a young coach who connects well with his players (they never gave up on him) and has shown that he can adjust to the talents of his team. This is a rare trait and one that should have Eagles fans excited for the coming years.

Howie Roseman has had an up and down tenure as a GM. He made a number of great moves to help the Birds win their first Superbowl back in 2017. He then had a series of horrible free agency and draft choices that were responsible for a 4 win season in 2020. While I am still not sold on his draft selections, he has been much better recently. Sometimes it takes a 4 win season to re-evaluate what you are doing. This year’s draft is looking excellent so far.

• DeVonta Smith – The best wide-receiver on the roster since DeSean Jackson. Has the potential to be a regular probowl receiver.
• Landon Dickerson – One of the best second round picks in the entire draft. He has the potential to be an all-pro guard for many years.
• Milton Williams – A defensive tackle with a crazy draft measurables that were comparable to Aaron Donald. He is not likely to be Aaron Donald, but he sure seems like a solid starter and great d-linemen for a number of years to come.
• Kenneth Gainwell – A very solid running back with great hands. He has not been getting a lot of time lately, but that is likely more because of the new offensive approach then limitations.
• Tarron Jackson – A sixth round defensive end from Coastal Carolina. Tarron is outplaying his 6th round draft position. He is a rotational player who is getting better each game and has a sack and 14 tackles to his name. Check out Bleeding Green Nations write-up on him in the Washington Game (bleedinggreennation.com/2021/12/22/22849652/eagles-rookie-report-card-win-washington-devonta-smith-kenneth-gainwell-tarron-jackson-football-team).

Howie still has a way to go, but this year has to be viewed as a positive change from some of the more recent draft classes. Also, he has set us up with three first round picks for next year.

Lastly, Jalen Hurts has shown both promise and progress as a quarterback prospect. He is a second-year player who is really in his first year given the mess that was 2020. As a runner, Hurts is elite. He already has 10 rushing touchdowns with two games remaining. The all-time record is held by Cam Newton at 14 touchdowns. While unlikely, that number is within reach. He remains up and down as a passer, but he has been good enough to lead the team to 7 of their 8 wins. Hurts does not have an elite arm, but he has made all of the throws you need from a quarterback. His biggest limitation is the way he sees the field. This is concerning, but it also is something that is pretty common among young quarterbacks who are still getting used to the NFL. We do not yet know if Hurts can carry the team in the playoffs, but he has shown that he can be a very solid starter and maybe much more.

The most important areas for success in the NFL are coaching, QB play, and the front office. I would say that all three are trending positive at the moment.