Eagles 360: Episode 4

Roll excided it started last night in Foxborough, Massachusetts. And what's that? I think I hear the Atlanta Falcons radio abroad just kidding Tom Terriffic. Now he was not kidding. Last night Tom Brady four touchdown passes and the Patriots opened the season in very strong fashion. We are focusing, of course, here on the Eagles and the Falcons. We've

got a lot to get to today. Lane Johnson in studio, Joe and I break it down a bit, a couple of matchups to watch on Monday night, and then Alex Smith talks a little bit about the numbers, the stats, the history of the Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons. But first things first we throw it out to the practice field. It's our Eagles three sixty update. Alex Smith with everything happening today. Hi everyone, Alex Smith here with your three

sixty update. Present it by Sports Authority. We are just three days away from the Eagles regular season opener in Atlanta on Monday night. Today, it was team chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie addressing the media. Lorie backed head coach Chip Kelly, saying that the head coach had nothing to prove this season and that he is an excellent head coach in this league. No, we just you know, we just go game to game, and he's an excellent coach in this league. There's no question about it. It It doesn't

need to prove anything. It's a builder of a roster, you know, culture builders. He's everything that I think we all thought when we interviewed him in more. We wanted someone that could see the big picture at all times and help build a roster, help build the culture the way we wanted it, and had a vision and wasn't afraid to make unpopular decisions. And that's that's all come to Fruition, you know. Now, we just got to try

to remain somewhat healthy and and play really well. One of the biggest questions heading into Monday night will be how Sam Bradford will hold up in his first regular season game in an Eagle's uniform, and according to both Bradford ed head coach Chip Kelly, there are no limitations on his snap count. Now. We're real confident in Sam's conditioning. We want to throw our guys every day. Did a great job. He was in great shape when he got here in August, past the conditioning test, So not concerned

at all with the modest snap Sam will take. No I feel great with him. Um, you know, do you guys talk like I didn't get any work with him. I mean, we had five weeks of practice and we're out here for two hours today. I mean, we got a ton of stamps with those guys. Um, you know. So I feel really good with both the receivers and the line on the defensive side of the ball. We heard from Brandon Graham and Walter Thurmond on what it is that Falcon's running back Tevin Coleman brings to the

table with his speed. I mean, like you said, it means a rookie and he's still getting his shop swayed as in the NFL, and you know, preseason is one thing, but it's gonna be different when you have going out there with the ones for the whole game and going out there with live buds. But I mean that's I mean, it's very impressive for running back to him to uh

to run you know mid FO three. You know, I mean that that shows that he has home and ability if we if we aren't on our gaff assignments and our MP's and ques to where that he can't break the long one. I mean, he hit the whole. You know, that's one thing. And I mean with Shanahan stretch, you know type offense, he just looking for that one hole

and you know he's shooting. I think that we just gotta get to him in numbers and we got we can't get them started because once you get him started, I mean, I know, Nolan num Boys fast four three is real fast. For all the latest coverage here from the Novacare Complex, be sure to keep it right here on Philadelphia Eagles dot com, and be sure to tune in for our kickoff show on Monday night at six o'clock. Thanks so much, Alex. When we return we'll get to

visit with Lane Johnson, right tackle. I mean, I think he's gonna be a Pro Bowl player potentially. Well, it's a big year for him, Dave. I mean, you know, you're talking about a situation where, you know, fourth overall pick in the draft just two years ago, so now in his third year, you know you're looking for Look, everyone's confident in Lane Johnson. We know that, but now it's about taking it beyond just confidence and trying to

get to the point of dominance. That's really where I think, you know, the objective is because you know with Peters, you know, with Kelsey, hey, you're locked in there. The guards some uncertainty. They played pretty good in the preseason. Lane Johnson an opportunity really for the organization take a step forward if you can get that dominant status, as you're saying. The Pro Bowl and when we return, we

will visit with Lane Johnson. We're not gonna talk necessarily about football all but in our crunch time segment, we are going to talk about Lane Johnson, the man coming from Oklahoma as a young man. Now he's a full fledged mature daddy and he's also hoping to dominate on the football Field. I scept to Philly, I sept the Philly, the bus, the trolley, regional rail, I scept to Philly, the seventeen to Training roadstreet line to my Parkway, Margaret

frankfort Line all night. Not ain't but the pain, to hot of the pain, to hot of the pain. The pain carves to compete electrolytes, to replenish everything you need to keep sweating. Hi, my name is Jim Taylor. I've been with back Me for thirty four years. Our lengths to brand beef is the best around. We cut our meat fresh every day and we actually have customers come from other stories just for our meat. Freshness is our

number one priority. No one beats our fresh fish. We have a precious apple, the Christie's Lettuce Fresh produces what we do. We do the best cake decorading in the area, hands down, one hundred and twenty three years strong. Come on in, you'll see the changes, you'll feel it, you'll love it. With Xfinity, stream your recordings anywhere board, download them to your smartphone or tablet to watch when you're offline. And now it'd be nice, let's take it on the

train awesome or on a plane. This will work in a plane. You can even watch on the moon. Call or click. Today, we welcome you back to Eagles three sixty. Dave Spidero Joe to camera time now for our crunch Time segment, and we visit with Lane Johnson, the Eagles right tackle in his third season. Now, Lane Johnson has high, high expectations for this twenty fifteen season, and how's he

coming along off the field. I explore that with Lane in our crunch Time segment Welcome to Lay's Kettle Cook presents crunch Time on Eagles Insider Dave Spidero with Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson and Lane in his third year in the NFL, already a grizzled veteran in this league. I wondered, Lane, what is the transition like going from college to the NFL now that you've had some perspective on it. Probably the biggest change is just mentally grasping everything.

You're moving to a new city, you're learning a new offense, new people. So my rookie was definitely my toughest year. But each season you learn more and more and you gain more knowledge, and so going to this year, I feel a lot more comfortable than I had the two previous years. How has the body changed? I bulked up. I think when I first surround here, I was around three oh five probably, and it was hard to keep that weight. So I guess my body's finally adapted because

usually I wake up in around three fifteen. Sometimes I get around three to twenty. So, uh, you know, bulked up a little bit. It's a business, and for a twenty five year old man to be thrust into this business a lot of responsibility, the fame, the money, the pressure, the media. You've had a chance to, you know, be very ground to married, child, child on the way. How's that helped you? Huh? Well, you know, I have a lot of people depending on me, so I'm doing it

for them. But it's it's been a wild ride. Just I'm just scrolling. I mean, each year I'm on this earth, you just learn more and you develop as a person and as a teammate. Here Lan, what was it like for you initially going from Oklahoma to Philadelphia where the fans are above and beyond loving this team, and every time you turn around there's a camera in your face. It's been a big change. Um, you know, I actually grew up around Houston. My grandfather lived in a big city,

so thank god for that. You got me accustomed to a little bit. But the first year is definitely a big change, just being in my own house, you know, new family, you got it, got a child, so that was definitely the biggest, biggest difference, just my responsibilities, you know, went to a whole whole different level. Is the mental challenge of the game just as difficult as the physical transition,

I believe. So I think developing your mind is keith key in this league because there's gonna be times where you make mistakes. Um, you get beat. That's how you learn to grow from There's a lot of players that get beat and ruin their confidence they never come back. So, um, I think the mental aspect is a big thing in this league. What's it like for you to leave here a frantic day, a physical day, to go home to a baby and a wife and your wife's expecting that

must be a dose of reality. Yeah, yeah, I mean it's refreshing though. You get get to go down to the house and an unwind and get to be around the people you love, so it's a lot of fun. How about the camaraderie in the locker room, Lane, if these are these guys friends for life, friends for life, Yeah, it's it's definitely a brotherhood. We get in there and it's like recess to be honest. Um, a lot of jokes are made, guys. I mean, there's there's so many

characters on this team. I don't even know where to start. Some players may kind of get an opening game, it's just another game. Do you feel that opening night Monday Night Football National TV? Still something special? Definitely? Um, anytime you're out there on the big stage playing the NFL, it's an opportunity to be here. Um, it's not given to you. So you have to you have to you have to know that, and you know every time you're on that field is definitely special. What do you like

before a game? I try to stay calm. I try to waste no energy because I know the game is going to be uh, you know a lot of plays involved, so I try to try to conserve my energy. Lane Johnson, thanks so much for joining us. Have a great season. Thank you. I ain't paint hot pain carves to compete electro lets, to replenish everything, you need to keep sweating. What makes a Temple owl meet Stella. She's wise, fierce, and she's not alone. Temple University, where owls call home.

We are the Cherry and White. The city is our classroom, and we lead the rush hour, making our mark on every field around the world. A world without Temple, well, that's like the sky without the north Star, Temple never stopping. The tournament is there. You're here, and before you take the team star midfielder from here to there along with his entourage, you have some things to do, like finding a place to stay. It's getting an oil change, mapping out the best route. Yes, are we there yet? No

roadside assistance, not today, but always on call. So wherever your journey takes you, Triple A helps you get there, so everyone's a winner. Start your journey at triplea dot com. Stop by your McDonald's for the summer break menu. Choose from a delicious double cheeseburger, fileo fish, six piece chicken McNuggets or a snack wrap plus a small fry for just two dollars and fifty cents and bring brighter days to your summer Oliot McDonald's for a limited time. I'm

loving it. Welcome back to Eagles three sixty Dave Spidero Joe to camera. Time now for us to give you our two matchups for the Eagles and the Falcons on Monday night. Joe, You're up, Come on, baby. There's a lot to look at it this game, obviously, Dave. But I'm gonna start with the offensive lot of the Eagles. You know, we've already talked about Lane Johnson, but let's go to the other side now with Jason Peters, the

Pro bowler, the possible future Hall of Famer. And you know, you're talking about a situation when Jason Peters in this game going up against Vic Beasley, junior, very very very talented pass rusher from the University of Clempson his first pro football game, of course, Dave, in a regular season to six overall the overall pick in the draft, are coming out of Clemson, and a situation where you know, you talk about Beasley, you're talking about a player in

his four years at Clemson as the all time sack leader in the University of Clemson's history thirty three sacks, a top and of course, you know, a dominant player in the ACC, a two time first team All American. So there's just a lot, you know, he's he's a guy that can be disruptive, forcing fumbles, Dave. I mean, he's a heck of a player now rookie exactly right, he's going to as an experienced player, So how about

all that stuff aside? I know, but I think he's got to deal with Jason, But I agree with you. You know, they lost Brooks read On the other side, O'Brien Schofield comes in somehow, the Falcons have to put pressure on the line of scrimmage. And that's asking a lot for a rookie, although a first round pick, it's asking a lot for a rookie in his first game.

It is, and it's it's one of the reasons why Atlanta is not considered a great team yet because you know, as much as they were strong a few years ago, they lost some players defensively, so they're trying to regenerate that process and you certainly he's a big part of their future. The question is how involved will he be, how dominant will he be able to be? In Game one? And you know, I think it's safe to say it's going to be more of an advantage for Jason Peters

on Monday Night. So well, look's good on paper for Jason Peters, give me your matchup number two. Well, number two, I'm going to go to the other side of the ball and I'm gonna look at Brandon Graham. And Brandon Graham is going to be up against Jake Matthews, who was a six overall pick in the draft just two years ago. You know, for Brandon Graham, hey, this is a big spot now because you're talking about replacing trend Cole. You're a starter. Now, you're getting paid some solid money.

You know. The defense last year for the Eagles was a defense to a second in the league in sacks, as we know, Dave. But at the same time, I still feel there could have been more pressure, particularly on third downs. It was a weird balance, Dave, because you know, usually a team that has that many sacks you would think is more dominant on third downs. But we saw the second dary struggle in part because the team seemed to struggle at times getting to the quarterback on third downs.

So for Brandon Graham, an opportunity here five and a half sacks last year in a limited role, as we know, part time role. Obviously, the expectation will be for him to rise that number this year with additional sacks and going against you know, Jake Matthews is you know, from the Matthews family, and he was a big pick last year, and you know, it's it's an important spot in this and Brandon Graham is ready to go on that one.

I really, I really think the Eagles have the feeling that they have such an advantage up front with the progress that they've made and then the problems that Atlantis had on the offensive line. So but you got, it's one thing to feel the way, it's another thing to want and do it. So good stuff. My two matchups to watch. The first one is an obvious one. It's the Eagles secondary in the vertical passing game against Julio Jones,

a Pro Bowl player and All Pro wide receiver. Does it all very difficult to sup I don't expect Byron Maxwell to shadow Julio Jones throughout this game. I do expect the Eagles to at least bracket coverage Jones, mix up the looks, try to put the pressure on with the line of scrimmage, and do things to help them up front. I mean, Brandon Graham's gonna have to win that battle. It's gonna have to get to Matt Ryan. Can't give Ryan an opportunity to drop back seven steps

and throw the ball down the field. Julio Jones will get his catches. What you want to do is limit those big plays. And remember last year Eagles allowing seventy two plays of twenty plus yards in the passing game, worst in the league. They went out and they rebuilt the secondary, new coaching staff, new players, new scheme, first test Julio Jones. It's a big one. They want, very big one. And of course, you know the young players there in the secondary. We'll see how long Bob Derek

Rowe is and biggers. I mean, this is you know, this is a chess match, and it'll be the you know, the game within the game. I agree. So the other matchup that I have is on the other side of the ball to Marco Murray. I'm not looking at the big picture numbers. I'm not looking at thirty carries and one hundred and sixty two yards. I'm looking at to Marco Murray and Ryan Matthews to a degree, in the red zone. That's where the Eagles have really struggled the

last couple of seasons. Twenty third in the league and touchdown efficiency. Last year, they bring in Murray, they bring in Matthews. They expect that physical running style in the red zone to put the ball in the end zone and keep Cody Parkey on the sideline. So that is just a huge matchup for me. I think Atlanta is going to be aggressive, physical, the Seattle style of defense, crowd the line of scrimmage, try to take away the run. But I think the Eagles want to establish that ground game.

And I really believe Joe that the Eagles are gonna have no problem moving to football from twenty to twenty, as they have in both of Chip Kelly's first two seasons. It's inside the twenty where they've got to strike gold more often than they have in the past. We saw issues last year. I mean, you know obviously versus Arizona and versus San Francisco, and so this is a scenario where, yeah, I mean punching the ball in and we saw Pittsburgh

just last night, Dave. When you don't punch the ball in, you got to settle for field goals and your missfield goals and also all that sort of stuff. So it's it's a huge part of football and obviously. I think DeMarco Mry and Ryan Matthews will be a huge upgrade for the Eagles with the physicality they present inside the red zone, specifically inside the tenant. It's listen. I'm very excited with how this thing sets up. I really we shall see. Those are our key matchups? What are yours?

I know you'll be thinking about it throughout the weekend. We've got a long way to go between now and Monday night. It's Eagles three sixty and when we return, Alex Smith is going to break it down for us even further from a statistical standpoint. Our stats only segment on the way with Extra twenty checking from sant Andrea. You can get paid twenty dollars a month. Just direct deposit fifteen hundred dollars or more and pay two bills a month with the online bill pay feature. Then you

can get paid twenty dollars a month. That's just the way it works. So what are you waiting for? Hi? My name's Jim Taylor. I've been with back Me for thirty four years. Our Lancus to brand beef is the best around. We cut our meat fresh every day and we actually have customers come from other stories. Just for our meat. Freshness is our number one priority. No one beats our fresh fish. We have a precious apple, the

Christie's Lettuce Fresh produces what we do. We do the best cake decorading in the area, hands down, one hundred and twenty three years strong. Come on in. You'll see the changes, You'll feel it, you'll love. It is not pain, A hot pain to hot of the pain, carves, to complete electrolytes, to replenish everything you need to keep sweating.

I sept to Philly, I sept the Philly, the bus, the trolley, regional rail, I supt the Philly, the seventeen to Training roadstreet line to my parkway, Margaret frankfort Line all night. We welcome you back. As he goes three sixty, Dave and Joe. Here, time now to take a look at the numbers. Inside the numbers, it's our Stats Only

feature with Alex Smith. Hi, everyone, welcome inside the Novacare Complex studios and welcome back for a brand new season of Stats Only, where we go through each and every Eagles game, bringing you all the key facts and figures that you need to know. Today we go beyond the box score with the Eagles preseason, and we'll start things out by looking at quarterbacks Sam Bradford and some of the remarkable numbers that he put up in his first

games as an Eagle. Bradford completed thirteen of fifteen passes for one hundred and fifty six yards and three touchdowns, good for a one hundred and forty nine point six passer rating, the second highest passer rating for any quarterback this preseason, trailing only Detroit's Matthew Stafford at one fifty

six point three. His eighty six point seven completion percentage was tied for the league high with Buffalo's Matt Passle among quarterbacks with at least ten passing attempts in the preseason. Of course, it was the Eagles third game against Green Bay in which Bradford shined his brightest, going ten for ten for one hundred twenty one yards and three touchdowns.

His passer rating of one fifty six point seven is just about as close as you can get to a perfect rating one fifty eight point three followed just shy of a yard per attempt criteria. Of Bradford's ten completions in that Green Bay game, six of them went to Eagles running backs, and if the preseason has taught us anything, it's that those Eagles backs, no matter who it is, will have a big impact in this team's passing game.

While the sample size is much smaller, the Eagles running backs were a much bigger part of the passing offense to this preseason than they were during the two and fourteen regular season. Eagles running backs total three hundred and sixty eight receiving yards, led by Raheem Mostert, who led the team with one hundred and ninety four yards. Running Backs contributed thirty three percent of the team's receiving total as compared to last season, when the backs made up

twelve percent of the team's receiving yards. And finally, we turn our attention over to the defensive side of the ball, a unit that the Eagles put a lot of time and effort into this past offseason to make sure they had the right personnel in with this group to help eliminate the big passing plays and increase the numbers of turnovers heading into two and fifteen. And if this preseason has been any indication, Eagles fans may be very happy

with this defensive unit this season. The Eagles ball Hawking defense created nine turnovers in four preseason games, highlighted by a pair of dazzling interceptions by Walter Thurman and to pick by the newly acquired Byron Maxwell. The defense generated two point two five turnovers per game in the preseason, a noticeable increase from the two fourteen regular seasons when the Eagles generated its twenty seven turnovers on the year. That's less than two per games. And that will wrap

things up here for Week one. But we will have an Atlanta Falcons preview version of stats only that will run on Monday Night during our kickoff show. Thanks so much, Alex. We've got one more segment to go. Some final thoughts on the Eagles and the Falcons Monday night football. What's going to happen? Well, we'll give you our opinions when we return to Eagles three sixty with Exfinity f your recordings anywhere or download them to your smartphone or tablet

to watch when you're offline. Wrong, now, it'd be nice. Let's take it on the train. Awesome, or on a plane. This will work on a plane. You can even watch on the moment. Call or click today, the tournament is there. You're here, and before you take the team's star midfielder from here to there along with his entourage, you have some things to do, like finding a place to stay. It's getting an oil change, mapping out the best route. Yes, are we there yet? No roadside assistance, not today, but

always on call. So wherever your journey takes you, TRIPLEA helps you get there, so everyone's a winner. Start your journey at TRIPLEA dot com. Experience the power of physical therapy Novocare Rehabilitation. We know the importance of an active lifestyle. If you're currently injured, let us bring that active lifestyle back to you. No Vocare is the exclusive provider of physical therapy to the Philadelphia Eagles and with more than

one hundred convenient locations throughout Philadelphian and South Jersey. Go to novacare dot com today and request an appointment online or call eight hundred seven seven zero six six eight two. The Eagles choose Novacare, so can you. Novacare the power of physical therapy. With extra twenty checking from sant Anderi, you can get paid twenty dollars a month just direct deposit fifteen hundred dollars or more and paid two bills a month with the online bill pay feature, then you

can get paid twenty dollars a month. That's just the way it works. So what are you waiting for? Love? The Eagles play the new instant game from the Pennsylvania Lottery. Players must be eighteen or older. Please play responsibly. Final segment here on Eagles three sixty Dave Spidero, Joe Di Camera and some final thoughts why not? What are you think? I want to hear what you got to say about Monday Night and about the season victory Monday Night Dave double digit. I do expect it to be a high

scoring game. I really do. It's a situation where I think the second are for the Eagles will still get up some plays in the passing game to Matt Ryan. I mean, Matt Ryan's pretty good quarterback and they got some receivers. But I think it's just a game or the Eagles outscore Atlanta. I really do. As far as the season goes, I got the Eagles at twelve and four. I think the Birds are a heck of a football team.

I think they've got a possibility for greatness. We'll see if they can push there, but I've got it as a division winning team twelve and four, a team that wins a playoff game and has a real viable shot, Dave to compete for the NFC Championship game, and beyond do they get there. I'm not sure, but I think they are very much in the mix, and I really believe Dave. They enter the season third in the conference,

behind only Seattle in Green Bay. As far as being ready to contend, I think the Eagles have a great shot, he says, a great season. You know what I'm gonna say. I'm not gonna look at the season. I'm gonna look at this game. And here's my word of caution. It is a weekend paved with giddy thoughts toward a victory of double digits. As Joe said, I just know from experience that the first game of the season can be wacky, can be weird, can be wild. Strange bounces, unusual things happen.

So don't take this game for granted. Atlanta is coming in with a new coach, a lot to prove a rabbit home following. I think it's gonna be a lot tougher than people expect. I think the Eagles are better football team, and if they play the a game, come away with a victory on Monday night football. But it will not It will not be easy. That's my opinion. I'm a more cautious guy that I got double digit, but but still giving up some place. Yeah, well it's

just that offense day. Yeah, come on, this offense now. Hey, I'm just sell you on the come on. I think the Eagles can put up fifty. But let's let's say I respect with the lanfoul because the're gonna do defensively. They play a pretty interesting scheme. All right, that's good. That does it for us. Our final thoughts, Joe to camera Dave Spidero with thank you for joining us on Eagles three sixty, and we remind you that our coverage

begins on Monday night at six o'clock. It's our kickoff show with Joe and Chris McPherson, the halftime Report, and our postgame show presented by Rico, Chris McPherson and I Crease. All the coverage you want and more from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The season begins on Monday night. We hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for joining us. Everyone have yourselves ugar all Right Eagles Night