First – how’s the health of the Eagles – I saw Dallas Goedert was placed on IR – how big of a hit is that?
Well we’re a lot healthier than the Steelers! Then only guy we have out is Dallas Goedert – and he should be back by the end of the season. Earlier on Davonte Smith, A.J. Brown and Jordan Mailata were out but they’re back now and we’re almost at full health.
Grant Calcaterra has done a great job too at tight end. He’s more of a pass-catcher than a blocker though.
The two teams seem to mirror each other on offense philosophically – the Steelers a bit better passing team, the Eagles better rushing, but both rely on the running game to set things up. How do you see the Eagles managing the run game?
The Steelers are very good versus the run and the Eagles have the best running offense in the NFL. Of course we know the passing game has been called into question with the firestorm that came up this week between A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts.
A.J. Brown had an army at his locker room just the other day and he addressed his comments about the passing game. They had just 108 yards passing last week and are throwing just 20 times per game – the least attempts in the entire NFL.
Are the passing game concerns and comments being overblown?
Well when Brown was originally asked about what as wrong with the offense he just said “The passing game” which was open then for interpretation. He said since that his comments were misunderstood. The last time there were issues like this they faced the Steelers and Brown had a huge game, so I anticipate that happening again.
Is this a case of the running game working so well it throws the offense a bit off-rhythm?
It’s funny because A.J. was asked that and he said it was difficult to find a rhythm when you run the ball that well. He said it was extremely difficult. The Eagles are the worst scoring team in the first quarter in the NFL – they’ve scored only 17 points all season in the first quarter.
The defense has kept them in games and by the fourth quarter they’ve had leads. That’s when Barkley has taken over and they’ve been able to run the clock out. They didn’t need to pass then and Barkley in on track to break Eric Dickerson’s rushing record.
The Eagles are winning games though – is this a non-issue?
It’s not about A.J. Brown needing the ball more – that’s not what he’s saying. It’s more about him saying the’ll need to win games at some point by being able to pass the ball better.
Jalen Hurts has had open guys – he’s just not throwing them the ball. If you look at the box score you’d see he’s completing 70% of his passes and he’s among the leader in passing completion %. But he’s playing it too safe. He had some turnovers early in the season and I think he’s playing too conservatively now because of that.
What’s been behind the running success and how does it match up versus Steelers?
Saquon Barkley has been all he was advertised to be. In New York he had no room to run. They’ve been creative here running the ball and have a good offensive line and great offensive line coach. Barkley just doesn’t go down – he’s been a home-run hitter. People wondered if he still had it at 27 years-old, but he’s been breaking away from linebackers and defensive backs and getting big runs late in games.
Any sense off this team wanting to win for Kenny Pickett – is that an underlying theme at all?
I don’t think most know he’s even on the roster, to be honest. To be fair, this week people have been so inundated with the Brown conversation. Brandon Graham went on the radio and added fuel to the fire with his comments as well so it’s still being discussed. They weren’t even discussing the Steelers game Wednesday.
And as far as Pickett is concerned, many people thought Tanner McKee outplayed Pickett and should have been second string.
Who’s are some of the players that will surprise Steelers fans do you think?
Linebacker Zack Baun is going to be an All-Pro – if you never heard of him, you’ll see that on Sunday. He goes from sideline to sideline and has been unbelievable. They signed him for one-year for 1.6 million – he’ll get a big free agent contract next season.
Two rookies have also been big. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell came from a smaller school- Toledo – but he’s been terrific. No one throws at him now. He’s turned this defense around. And Cooper DeJean – when he was inserted into the defense he’s been a terrific, physical slot corner. He missed a couple of weeks early in the season but has helped change the defense too since he’s played.
Those three have been a huge change to this defense. They were last in defense last year and are number one this season.
Jalen Carter versus former Eagles lineman Isaac Seumalo will be a good matchup. He’s been a game wrecker. This time last year he started falling off but we’re not seeing any indication of that this year. Reed Blankenship has been a big player for the Eagles too but he’s questionable health-wise. If he’s out that will be a tough spot for the Eagles – he’s been a heady player.
Defensively, sacks seem to be coming from a number of different people on defense – is that by design – who are “the guys” there?
They don’t blitz a lot. Josh Sweat has been the main pass rusher – Jordan Davis has been forcing double-teams and that’s given Sweat and Nolan Smith more opportunities. When they do blitz they do so up with middle with Baun and DeJean -but they like to drop guys into coverage and make it harder for passing games.
The team is tackling very well now. Avonte Maddox missed a lot of tackles – they’ve been much better once DeJean was inserted into the lineup.
How do you see Eagles approaching this Steelers offense that won’t have Pickens out there?
Quinyon Mitchell is so good – he shut down Ja’Marr Chase, Ceedee Lamb and Terry McLaurin. Adam Thielen had a good game against him last week – the best anyone has had against him this year- but most of those catches were between then hashes. Mitchell has negated those number ones and they rely on him for that anyway. So I don’t think Pickens being out changes their approach.
How do you see this game playing out?
The Eagles like to run. You have to wonder if this passing issue they’ve been discussing changes that dynamic now. Do they try to appease the passing game and pass more? If they do, I think they’d say it was not because of A.J. Brown’s comments – that it was more of a response to Pittsburgh’s run defense.
I expect a low-scoring game. It’ll be a knock-out, drag-out fight. I do think this game is more important to Philadelphia as they’re still fighting for the number one spot. Detroit plays Buffalo this weekend and if Detroit loses and the Eagles win, they’ll be tied. And the Eagles play three of their last four games at home. So I think this game means a lot more to the Eagles.