Eagles-Cowboys Movie Overview: Offensive takeaways

NFC East Champions! What a incredible season. Comfortable New Yr, all! Let’s begin 2025 with a breakdown of a Philadelphia Eagles win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Offense

The Eagles have run Crash (a brief in route and a deep out route) so usually that I believe my mind calls every part a variation of Crash now. This one might be generally known as ‘Double China 7’ by these of you who’ve performed Madden, however I nonetheless see it as a variation of Crash! Kenny Pickett had a fairly good recreation when he performed in time, and he does a great job stepping up within the pocket and hitting a wide-open DeVonta Smith right here. It is a nice play towards man protection as a result of the cornerback overlaying the within receiver should play with inside leverage, which supplies the receiver numerous open area to run into the nook.

My greatest takeaway from the offensive efficiency was the cross safety towards the blitz. It was excellent. The offensive line was nice, however Kenny Gainwell and Saquon Barkley had been enormous components of cross safety this week. The Cowboys ship 6 right here and run a stunt upfront, and Gainwell and Jurgens do a incredible job distributing the 2 rushers and retaining Kenny Pickett clear. Gainwell has improved rather a lot in cross safety, and I believe he’s been a really underrated operating again two this 12 months. He doesn’t get numerous love on-line, so shout out to Kenny G.

Eagles Offense All22 thread vs. Cowboys. 1) How a lot success have the Eagles had the previous 2 years operating variations of Crash? The Eagles run it right here with 2 in routes and a deep out route that turns right into a nook based mostly on the leverage of the cornerback. The cross safety vs… pic.twitter.com/4n4eLF5xu5

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 31, 2024

Most conventional folks: WOW! What an unbelievable throw and catch by Kenny Pickett and Grant Calcaterra.

Me, an enormous soccer nerd: WOW! What an unbelievable blitz pickup by the Eagles. Why on earth is Pickett bailing from this pocket?

I’m kidding, in fact, however what else can I actually say in regards to the throw and catch? It’s fairly apparent for everybody to see. It’s a incredible play! However this cross safety is what stands out. The Cowboys present blitz to the Eagles’ right-hand facet however ship stress from the left. The Eagles don’t even blink. Saquon sees this early and meets the linebacker early. Normally, you’d be completely satisfied in case your operating again may decelerate a linebacker for a second or two, however not with Saquon Barkley. He stops the linebacker in his tracks and forces him to surrender his rush. I believe this can be a good blitz from the Cowboys, and it’s well-disguised, so this can be a very spectacular blitz pickup by the Eagles. Great things.

2) Lol, I do not actually know what to say in regards to the throw and catch. It is a ridiculous play by Calcaterra. Nonetheless, the actually superior factor right here is the Eagles cross safety as soon as once more. Barkley does a incredible job. What a whole again he’s. pic.twitter.com/LdeJgkJL7j

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 31, 2024

Talking of the offensive line trying good, simply check out this rep of out of doors zone! It will probably’t get higher. I like to recommend you watch this play 5 occasions and watch each single offensive lineman. Each single one dominates. My goodness. The operating recreation wasn’t electrical at the beginning, however it improved as the sport went on (because it often does). Barkley has been phenomenal this 12 months, however it is going to be a staff effort if he breaks the speeding file. This offensive line deserves numerous credit score. I need to give a specific shout-out to Cam Jurgens, who had some extraordinary blocks in area on this one. It appears unbelievable to say that the Eagles haven’t missed Jason Kelce very a lot, however it’s the reality. Jurgens has been incredible.

3) Simply watch the Eagles 5 offensive lineman right here. Are you able to block this any higher? All 5 of them look incredible. It seems having an excellent OL and an elite operating again results in a great operating recreation… pic.twitter.com/djcxo4SuXW

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 31, 2024

Tanner McKee learn the Eagles’ offensive guide. While you get single-high protection, you throw it deep to your superstars! I do not know why the hell the Cowboys are calling this protection on the finish of the half, however the Eagles took benefit. DeVonta Smith is a artful route runner and does an ideal job attacking the cornerback’s blind spot right here earlier than getting vertical shortly. The one disgrace right here is that he doesn’t rating!

4) Single-high, let it fly child. DeVonta Smith is a incredible route runner. He will get into the cornerbacks blind spot right here and will get upfield when the nook is anticipating an out route. Enjoying one-on-one protection on the skin towards this staff is a danger. pic.twitter.com/sCxLzzeVrP

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 31, 2024

Can anybody keep in mind what I wrote final week?

Pickett’s greatest situation is that he thinks he’s extra cell than he’s. He must turn into a pocket passer who will get the ball out on time each snap. Nonetheless, he tries to create out of construction too usually.

The man thinks he’s Pat Mahomes! He makes an unbelievable play right here, however it’s nearly too good. He places himself in hurt’s approach when making this throw. It’s an incredible throw, and it’s a disgrace it doesn’t rely, however leaping into an ongoing rusher will assure {that a} massive shot might be taken. I don’t need to be important of a optimistic play, however Pickett has performed 2 video games, and he’s been injured in each. You don’t desire a backup quarterback who will get injured. He must discover a steadiness between creating and staying within the recreation.

5) Ah man, this play simply sums up Pickett. It is an absurd play however he places himself in harms approach and will get hit arduous while competing an insane throw. I simply want Pickett would play in time extra usually, however I believe he believes he can do that on each play! It is a disgrace it did not even… pic.twitter.com/RuYpc00xbp

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 31, 2024

A Kellen Moore staple. We noticed an incredible rep of Duo final week from Saquon, and we bought one other one this week! Simply take a look at how nicely he runs this. He tries to comply with his blocks however shortly realizes that the primary opening is roofed, so he effortlessly shifts to his proper earlier than realizing that 25 has coated that lane, so he bounces it exterior DeVonta Smith and accelerates previous the defenders. He makes this look really easy. He by no means stops his toes. He’s at all times transferring ahead and urgent the road of scrimmage. He’s phenomenal.

6) Beneath heart duo. A Kellen Moore favorite! The mix between the Moore & Stoutland run recreation has been superior to look at this 12 months. Saquon reads this so so nicely. He has elite imaginative and prescient in addition to elite athleticism. What a incredible run. pic.twitter.com/KaESE2Pba4

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 31, 2024

That is an superior design. The Eagles line up Grant Calcaterra within the backfield and Kenny Gainwell out vast subsequent to AJ Brown. The Cowboys cowl Gainwell with a linebacker and have a cornerback proper in entrance of AJ Brown. This provides the Eagles a fairly good concept that this might be man protection on that facet of the sphere. It’s arduous to disguise an excessive amount of when you might have a linebacker out vast. Tanner McKee acknowledges this pre-snap and throws an ideal back-shoulder ball to AJ Brown.

Can we simply discuss how straightforward AJ Brown makes this catch look? Might he look any extra informal? This play has an oz. of conceitedness to it that I really like. It’s like he’s pitying the man who’s overlaying him. He makes this look extremely straightforward.

7) We’ve not seen this look a lot. Calcaterra within the backfield & Gainwell outwide (coated by a linebacker) which alerts man protection to that facet. All-pro HOF QB Tanner McKee reads it nicely and throws a stunning again shoulder throw to AJ Brown who makes this catch look so really easy. pic.twitter.com/aB1wNlWAW4

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 31, 2024

Mr 2k! It’s becoming that the run got here on Counter, which is by far the Eagles’ greatest operating play. I’ve written about Counter quite a few occasions this 12 months. It’s additionally fairly cool that it got here on a play the place the Eagles’ 2 pullers had been Tyler Steen and EJ Jenkins (I’ll have been beneficiant in calling this an excellent block from EJ Jenkins, however come on, take a look at Tyler Steen!). I’ve gone on about how good I believe Saquon is an excessive amount of this 12 months. Simply take a look at him on this run, although. I’ll keep in mind this speeding season for a very long time, no matter whether or not he will get the file. I’ve loved watching him a lot this 12 months.

8) Here is the 2k run! It is becoming it got here on Counter (the Eagles greatest run) with excellent blocks from 2 backups in Tyler Steen & EJ Jenkins. What a nicely coached offense that is within the run recreation. I am unable to specific how a lot I take pleasure in watching Barkley. The persistence earlier than exploding… pic.twitter.com/xYJwNtzxbE

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 31, 2024

Let’s finish right here. Firstly, the landing comes on Crash! I’ll break down this idea later within the week. Secondly, take a look at the Eagles’ cross safety towards the blitz. Kellen Moore has achieved an excellent job turning this staff into an ideal offense towards the blitz. Probably the most vital change he has made this 12 months is that the Eagles at all times need sufficient gamers in safety to take care of any oncoming rushers. You possibly can see this right here. There’s a risk that the Cowboys will ship 6, so the Eagles go away the operating again into block. Typically, this implies you’ll sacrifice a participant in your route idea, however the Eagles suppose that is price it to make sure that the quarterback by no means has to take care of a free rusher. That is the precise reverse of the philosophy the offense took final 12 months. I wrote about how I assumed Kellen Moore would enhance the Eagles play towards the blitz within the low season..

Moore’s offenses weren’t afraid to go away backs and tight ends into block if wanted. The bottom line is giving the quarterback simply sufficient time, which suggests no free rushers!

I’m not shocked by how good the Eagles have been towards the blitz this 12 months as a result of I knew Kellen Moore would enhance it. It wasn’t a quarterback situation final 12 months. It was a scheme situation. Moore has fastened that situation.

9) The Eagles have gone from the worst staff within the NFL towards the blitz in 2023 to a staff that excels towards it. That is Crash as soon as once more. It is really easy. The OL wins their one-on-one matchups they usually give McKee the time wanted to finish the brief route. DeVonta does the remainder! pic.twitter.com/i8eh6jZ77X

— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) December 31, 2024

Thanks for studying! I’d love to listen to your ideas, so be happy to remark under and ask any questions. If you happen to loved this piece, you’ll find extra of my work and podcast right here.