Analyzing Every Player’s Performance so Far on the 3-0 Eagles

So far this season, the Eagles have been somehow even better than expected. Jalen Hurts is an MVP candidate, they have the number 1 offense in the league as well as a top 5 defense, and the coaching has been great. So today, for anyone who doesn’t watch every player closely, I will give my takes on how everyone (including coaches) on the Eagles roster has been so far:

 

Jalen Hurts-

Wow. Just wow. Hurts’ play through the first 3 games has been phenomenal. Coming into the season, Hurts was the biggest question mark on a stacked team. He has proved all the haters wrong. First game he diced up the blitz against the Lions, using his legs to his benefit and hurting them occasionally with his arm. The following Monday, against the Vikings, Hurts was forced to use his arm against a contain-heavy soft zone defense. He picked them apart. He’s shown amazing poise, decision-making, accuracy, arm strength, and an ability to break contain, and scramble. He has improved so much this season, and he has played elite through 3 games. Credit to his work ethic, Nick Sirianni, Shane Steichen, and QB Coach Brian Johnson. We have a franchise QB.

 

Gardner Minshew-

N/A; Minshew has yet to play a snap. If the offense can figure out how to close out games, I’m sure we will see some Minshew this season.

 

Ian Book-

N/A; Hasn’t been active for a game this season.

 

Miles Sanders-

Entering a contract year, Sanders has a lot to prove. So far this season, he’s been a much more north/south runner, something he struggled with in the past. He also has added some power to his game! Sanders is currently averaging 4.9 YPC, with 1 TD on the season, and has not been afraid tp combine his explosiveness with his willingness to lower the shoulder. He’s been solid.

 

Kenny Gainwell-

Prior to the season, I had Gainwell as my top breakout player. He’s shown no signs of really being any better than last season. He is still our best receiving back, yet struggles with drops and ball security. Hasn’t been bad as a runner, just OK. Hurts’ only INT on the year came after a screen hit Gainwell right in the hands and he popped it into the air for a pick. Disappointing.

 

Boston Scott-

Scott hasn’t gotten many snaps for the Eagles this season. On one of his few carries, he was tackled for a safety. He has run well, for the most part, tho, solid depth. He is expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.

 

Trey Sermon-

N/A; Has yet to be active as an Eagle. With Scott out Sunday, Sermon will play his first game as an Eagle.

 

AJ Brown-

Ohhhh boy. Brown has been as advertised and MORE. The Eagles finally have a true elite WR for the first time in a long time. Brown draws tons of defensive attention and still dominates. He catches almost everything thrown his way and has been a safety blanket for Hurts. What a pickup he was. Swole batman has made his impact!

 

Devonta Smith-

Skinny batman breakout season! After setting the Eagles rookie receiving record last season, Smith looks even better this year. Having AJ Brown helps, but Smith has been really good the past two weeks. Amazing game vs Washington, he had 3 spectacular catches. Against the Vikings, he caught all of his 8 targets. Top 5 WR duo here in Philly. 

 

Quez Watkins-

While fast batman hasn’t put up crazy numbers, he still serves a big role in this offense. He’s the 4th target on the team, so it’s not expected to see him get a lot of targets, but Watkins has been great at stretching the field. He can easily take the top off the defense (see Vikings TD), and teams gotta pay attention to him which opens up the underneath for Smitty and AJB. He’s also drawn 4 PIs this season.

 

Zach Pascal-

There’s no robins in this WR room! Enforcer batman has been a glorified JJAW for us so far. Amazing blocker, especially against the run, and he can actually catch the football! Most of his touches have come in the RPO game, but he’s been good at what he does.

 

Britain Covey-

The team’s primary return man has not lived up to the hype. Is it really his fault? I don’t know. The ST unit is really bad at blocking. Can’t really blame the rookie UDFA, but we need him to bring some life to the return game.

 

Dallas Goedert-

He’s a top 6 TE. The fact that people have Pitts over him is a little disrespectful IMO. Goedert can do what almost no other TEs can do. Super explosive downfield, and he’s amazing after the catch. Lots of designated screen passes to him this season and he breaks them all big. He’s like a big WR in a way. 

 

Jack Stoll-

Very good blocker, nonexistent in the passing game. His blocking ability outweighs tho, and he has his use on the team. Great in the run game, essentially an extra olineman.

 

Grant Calcaterra-

Inactive the first two games, active last week. First and only career catch went for 45 yards. Very athletic TE but bad as a blocker.

 

Jordan Mailata-

Hard not to love Mailata. Great guy and amazing story. He still has stuff to work on, but he’s a top 5 LT. Mauler in the run game, although he struggled picking up the blitz the first two games. Bounced back against the Commanders, where he stonewalled his man all game.

 

Andre Dillard-

N/A; IR for a broken arm

 

Josh Sills-

N/A; The rookie UDFA has yet to be active for a game

 

Landon Dickerson-

Dickerson fixed his only flaw from last season – pass protection. He has been really good so far. Great run blocker, great pass blocker. He will be a pro bowler in a few years.

 

Sua Opeta-

He came in for an injured Dickerson late against the Commanders… and struggled. 29.3 PFF Grade, and he visibly allowed multiple pressures. He has been solid in other starts though, and he’s good depth at guard.

 

Jason Kelce-

He still hasn’t shown signs of regression. Sadly, this will be his last season, so hopefully he goes out on top. But he is so good.

 

Cam Jurgens-

N/A; Rookie hasn’t played a snap. Amazing preseason though (Kelce clone)

 

Isaac Seumalo-

Seumalo is underrated even by Eagles fans. He’s a very serviceable guard and probably starts on almost every team in the league. He’s the “weak link” of the Eagles online, but he’s a top 15 RG.

 

Jack Driscoll-

N/A; Hasn’t played a snap this season. Started 12 games last year and is a very solid guard, probably starts on most teams.

 

Lane Johnson-

Hasn’t allowed a QB hit in 2 years. Insane. Ofc, he hasn’t allowed a sack in 2 years either. Only one pressure allowed this season. Not crazy to say he’s the best RT in football and possibly the best lineman on our team.

 

Josh Sweat-

Pressure machine. Already 2 sacks on the season. Last year’s pro bowler is better this year and has been a force so far. Also has two sacks called back. Really solid and underrated DE.

 

Brandon Graham-

34 years old. Coming off a torn Achilles. BG should not be good. Yet, he still is amazing. 2.5 sacks, 4 TFLs, and a lotta pressures against the Commanders, and he leads the team in sacks with 3.5. Gotta love BG.

 

Derek Barnett-

N/A; Tore his ACL

 

Tarron Jackson-

Second-year DE who had an amazing camp. I think he has a lot of potential. Only played 20 snaps so far this season though, so I have nothing to judge him on.

 

Janarius Robinson-

N/A; Robinson has yet to be active as an Eagle

 

Fletcher Cox-

Is… is he back? Cox has looked washed for three years now, but he looks like his former self lately. # sacks and 2 FFs in 3 games. He had 3 sacks all of last season, and 3.5 the season before. He’s still got some left in the tank.

 

Javon Hargrave-

After an amazing pro bowl year last season, Hargrave has slowed down. He’s 29 now and needs a contract. At his current play, he’s not getting one. Hasn’t been bad but not the same guy as he was last season when he was a sack machine.

 

Jordan Davis-

Davis has been as advertised in pretty much every single way: He demolishes the run, inconsistent as a pass rusher, and only plays 30% of snaps a game. Lol, well there’s more to it. Davis stuffs every run when he’s on the field. You cannot run at him. As a pass rusher, he’s flashed. 4 pressures and 2 QB hits on 7 pass rush snaps last week. He was good. And the snap count is only low because he is lost in rotation. Lots of good DTs here.

 

Milton Williams-

A third-round pick in 2021, Williams really flashed at the end of last season. He might’ve been our best player in the playoffs vs the Bucs. This season, he has yet to flash. Haven’t seen many positives from him. Supposedly he’s second in the league for DTs in pass rush win rate behind AD though, so maybe I’m missing something

 

Marlon Tuipolotu-

After a horrible rookie season, Marlon T is a different player this year. He’s had a consistent impact so far, out snapping Jordan Davis, and has been good at getting pressures and stopping the run. Maybe he’s the best DT5 in the league, he is pretty solid.

 

Haason Reddick-

A big free agency signing, Reddick was slow out the gate. 1 pressure combined in his first two games, and he was dropping into coverage too much. Not good. However, something finally clicked. He got 7 pressures, 2 sacks, and a FF against the Commanders, and didn’t drop into coverage once. Love to see the adjustment there by DC Jonathan Gannon.

 

Patrick Johnson-

Reddick’s backup at the SAM position has been good too! He’s played quite a bit, and the second-year 7th-round pick has logged a few pressures, and almost had his first career sack twice last week. He is primarily an edge rusher but has shown the ability to play off-ball LB as well.

 

Kyron Johnson-

NA; The rookie 6th rounder has played 1 snap this season.

 

TJ Edwards-

He’s getting paid this off-season. Edwards has been the best LB this team has seen in a decade. Great against the run, great in coverage, great as a Blitzer. Took 4 years, but the former UDFA has ARRIVED.

 

Kyzir White-

Another solid free-agency pickup so far. White has been explosive with great speed. He’s the main coverage LB, and has gotten a little grabby with PI, but has been good other than that. Great play recognition.

 

Nakobe Dean-

NA; Maybe the rookie that had the most hype on this entire team, but he’s played 1 snap all year. Unless White or Edwards gets hurt, he will only play special teams.

 

Shaun Bradley-

Special teams pro bowl candidate. All I really got on him.

 

Darius Slay-

Slay is a top 3 CB. Is he the best in the league? Maybe.  Slay is GOOD. Locked down Justin Jefferson, 6 PBUs and 2 picks on the season. Could have 4 picks if he had hands lol. 32 years old and yet the past two seasons have been the best of his career.

 

James Bradberry-

He hasn’t been talked about enough. He’s also been elite just like Slay. We have the best CB room in the NFL. Bradberry quietly has a pick 6, 4 PBUs, and under 100 total yards allowed this season. Shutdown.

 

Avonte Maddox-

Last year he was a top 5 slot corner, this year he’s been top 3, if not the best. Amazing play from him so far, and having 3 great corners is the main reason our defense is top 5. Unfortunately, Maddox was carted off in practice yesterday. Still unknown what the injury is, but he will miss time. So his backup, Josiah Scott will take over.

 

Josiah Scott-

Speaking of Scott, the third-year slot corner is in line for his first career start this Sunday. Tough matchup going against Christian Kirk. No one knows if he’s good or not, but he has safety corner versatility.

 

Josh Jobe-

N/A; The rookie UDFA has only played ST

 

CJ Gardner-Johnson-

The former elite slot corner, now a free safety, has been up and down in his transition to a new position. One on hand, he’s been very explosive. On the other, he’s been gashed deep in cover 2. he’s improved every week though, and I have no doubt he will become great.

 

Marcus Epps-

Here’s another guy you gotta give Gannon credit for. I hated Epps for a long time. Thought he was terrible and had no clue why we kept him on the team. Last season, in limited snaps, he began to flash. This year, as a full-time starter, he’s been very solid. Former 6th-round pick, but he looks like a quality starting safety, and he can lay huge hits. Also great at forcing turnovers.

 

K’Von Wallace-

N/A; Hasn’t played a snap

 

Reed Blankenship-

N/A; Yet to be active on gameday

 

Jake Elliott-

He’s one of the best and most consistent kickers in the league.

 

Arryn Sipposs-

He’s one of the worst and least consistent punters in the league.

 

Rick Lovato-

He’s a long snapper who does his job well.

 

Nick Sirianni-

Current COTY front runner, as he should be. What a hire this has been, Sirianni is an amazing coach. Players all love him, people wanted to come to play for him, and he’s got a great coaching staff and scheme. 

 

Shane Steichen-

You probably have heard his name right now. Our OC Steichen is the top HC candidate in the entire league. Not only does he have the number 1 offense in the league, and is 12-3 since becoming the full-time play caller, but he’s a QB whisperer. First, he was with Herbert during his rookie season and had him look amazing. Then he comes here and transforms Jalen Hurts. Any team with a young QB and in need of a HC would kill for him to take the job.

 

Jonathan Gannon-

We judged him too early. Gannon listened to the critics and adjusted. After a very vanilla cover 2 defense last season, Gannon finally blitzes, disguises, and really has this defense playing well. He was interviewed to be a HC last season due to being very smart, he definitely will be interviewed and probably hired this time. Oh, and every team he’s ever been on he’s made the DBs play amazingly. Coincidence? I think not.

 

This was my first ever article, I hope yall enjoy it!

 

For Sunday, I got the Eagles defeating the Jags 27-23. Go birds!