Eagles 360: Season Opener In View

Monday Night football. How are you doing, Buddy, I'm doing an outstanding I'm just so excited, Dave, because of all the questions that we're waiting to answer are in the off season. We finally get to see it unfold firsthand. All the changes that Chip Kelly made with the roster. Well Sam Bradford thrive at quarterback the running back position, can DeMarco Murray build off the amazing season he had last season? And the defense is it better? We're gonna

see it all unfold starting on Monday night. Yeah, We've got a ways to go before we get to Monday night. We got a lot to catch up on. Great show for you today, a little Cover two segment with some Philadelphia reporters who will give their perspective on all the changes the Eagles have made and the look that they have for this two and fifteen season. We will take a look around a crazy agreed NFC East Nuts, what's happening in this division and Chip Kelly joins me in

studio for our exclusive weekly one on one. Let's first get you caught up on everything happening with the Philadelphia Eagles today Alex Smith our Eagles three sixty update. Hi everyone, Alex Smith here with your three sixty update, presented by Sports Authority. The Eagles are less than a week away

from their Monday Night against the Atlanta Falcons. Today, Eagles head coach Chip Kelly spoke at his pre practice press conference talking about some of the challenges that go along to game planning for a Falcons team with a new head coach and Dan Quinn, who last year was Seattle's defensive coordinator. No, you know, you just got some preseason games, and obviously I don't think Dan used everything in the preseason, both offensively and defensively, you know, just because of the

how preseason expresses itself. So he got to kind of look at the coordinators and where they came from and kind of match up what you think is going to happen. But they'll have to be some in game adjustments. Kelly also touched upon the addition of quarterback Stephen Morris, who hadn't with the Jacksonville Jaguars before being signed to the eagles fifty three man roster. Kelly spoke about what it is that Morris brings to the table here with the Eagles.

We just had him. He was our highest we have everybody rated. He was the highest rated guy that was available after the waiver wire went too, So, you know, we like his arm. He's got a really really strong arm.

Quick relieve. Jeff Stoutland knows him pretty well, was actually at Miami when he played there, so kind of know the make up of the player, talked to him back when he was coming through the draft process, so kind of relied on all of our information that we had, But he was the highest rated guy we had that was on the wave of wire. As for an injury update, Kelly said that all sixty three players were on the

practice field today. That includes Cody Parkey, Zackert's, and Marcus Smith, all who had previously missed time, and two other injured players who are making their way back from a long road to recovery. Are Sam Bradford and Demiko Ryan's. They spoke today about how they're feeling entering the season opener. You know, I guess you could look at it as it's the last step, you know, getting out there and playing a full game. But you know, in my opinion,

we've already hit the last step. You know, I think I'm ready to play. You know, I don't think there's anything else that I need to do, and now it's time to just go out there and have fun and play ball. Yeah, I do anticipate, anticipate playing on Monday Night again. Coach Coach Davis will monitor the raps or see how much I play, but I do anticipate playing

tight end. Zach Ertz said that he is hopeful to play in the Eagles Monday night opener, and he's doing everything that he can to make sure that he's fully healthy after missing the entire preseason with a core muscle injury. I mean, I don't want to miss any games. I mean, it works so hard all offseason i'd be ready for the games and making impact for this team. So when the games come around, I know that if I have

an opportunity to play, I'm gonna play. Um, obviously we have to be smart of it or for it, because it is the first game of a long season and hopefully a long playoff run as well. So at the end of the day, we're gonna be smart. Moving over to the defensive side of the ball, cornerback Byron Maxwell spoke about how this first game is a big test, not just for him in his Eagles debut, but for the entire defense as a whole. I think we'd be

very good. I mean, we got a lot of guys that they go after the ball, so we could be balls out there. Man. That's really what it's all about, the end of the day. He just get in turnals, making plays and what you all do. And last, but certainly not least, we caught up with the newest quarterback in the Eagles locker room, as Stephen Morris spoke about

getting to know Chip Kelly during his draft process. He was telling me that he couldn't really know after quarterback at that time, so obviously I was just didn't go drafted that year, so I just went to Jacksonville and he had an opportunity to pick me up and over the form, that's what he did, and I was excited man, happy to be here, happy to work with him, and also on coach Day and coach Pat Tomorrow, we will once again hear from head coach Chip Kelly in the morning,

and then we'll hear from DeMarco Murray and Malcolm Jenkins in the afternoon. But until then, be sure to catch up on the latest Eagles news right here on Philadelphia Eagles dot com. Thanks so much, Alex and Chris. Now time to get a little perspective on what some reporters out there think about the football team in here. Yes now, I don't want to go so much into the Atlanta game. I want to focus big picture the regular season. Exactly what do the reporters believe Beagles can do? What are

their thoughts on Bradford? What are their thoughts on the improved defense. Jimmy Kemski from Philly Voice and Timocmats from Birds Twain for seven joined me a short time ago. We will have covered two right after this break on Eagles three sixty, Section five, twelve, Row six, seats seven through ten. Those are our seats at this one time. We can't be there. Please treat them right, get there earliest day late and yellow whole lot dress, warm gloves, hats,

warm boots. Eric sits in the middle, Uncle Paul sits on the aisle, And if you want to sit in my seat, make sure you get your ticket from the only place a fan can trust, buy and sell one. Verify authentic tickets with other true fans only on NFL ticket exchange tickets from one fan to another. However you do sports, however you do fun, However you do summer, do it at Sports Authority Shop. Thousands of great deals

this summer Sports Authority. Well everyone, you know it must be the start of the regular season, because it's time for cover two here on Eagles three sixty. I'm Chris McPherson, please be joined this week to open the year with Tim McManus a Bird twenty four seven, and Jimmy Kemski of Philly Voice. So, gentlemen, I don't really want to focus on the falcon so much this week. I know Eagles fans want always gonna happen Monday night, but let's take a big picture approach to the entire season. I

will start record Sam Bradford. Tim, you got to see him in trading camp, You saw him in the preseason four drives four touchdowns. What are your thoughts on Bradford heading into the regular season. They couldn't have looked any better. I mean what Chip Kelly was hoping he would be at least four this small sample size is exactly what he got and that's he likes. The repetitive accuracy was a term that he I don't know if he coined, but he's been using ever since he got into town.

And that's what we've seen with Bradford. Just everything is on point and that translated over into the preseason games, of course, culminating in that ten for ten performance in which he got the hopes of the city about as high as they could possibly be following the postseason or

a preseason play. I think that the one issue is that always got I mean, so we have to keep it in perspective, don't because Bradford, while he's looked exceptional and I think that he can have a really good year, he's also had a bunch of years in the league, and while there were things that were holding him down you can say schematically and injury wise and all that sort of thing, he still hasn't done it in a big way in a big game and a big level

quite yet, and so I'm tempering expectations. But certainly everything he's done so far has been next James agree or disagree, which great. I mean even just the ten for ten, It wasn't even so much that he went ten for ten. Every pass he through was right where vall needed to be. And not only that, the anticipation throws were great, which is it really kind of speaks to the level over poor that he's built up with his receivers already in

a short amount of time. And for me, the one concerned that I would have is that he just really hasn't moved around all that much. So I think when he actually faces real live opponents, not that they weren't live opponents in the preseason, but of course nobody's nobody's sending the house at him, so he you know, sees a couple even one of a couple of those double a gap lits is where he's got the pressure right in his face? Can he move away from that? And

for on the row? And that's you know, one thing that he still has to kind of prove he can do. But certainly everything he did in the preseason is more than what anyone could have asked for all right, Gemma. So the Eagles revamped the running back position. They signed to Marco Murray, they signed Ryan Matthews, They bring mcdren Sprowls from last season. Jimmy, how do you think the rotation is gonna look once the season begins? It's the best trio of running backs in the NFL in my opinion?

And wait, wait, wait wait, you disagree with Pro Football Focus? How dare I? But yes, I think it's the best trio running backs, and I really I don't think it's close. And Mary's going to be the guy that is the feature back, of course, but Ryan hapy is what he showed both in training camp and in the preseason, looks really good in his issue. Again, like Sam Bradford has been that he hasn't always been able to stay healthy.

So if he can stay healthy and more of a limited role, but of course being out there, and you know, you have that kind of combo of Mary and Matthews being the two sledgehammers and they can wear defenses down over the course of a game and kind of face tired defenses in the fourth quarter and just throw those guys or that North South running style, those guys can really be a force. Tim, Where does Darren Sprowles fit

into the picture. I think that he's gonna have to find a role that's going to be elevated from last year. And I think the coaching staff has kind of reinforced that Dirny all season as a priority that they wanted to make sure that that Sprowles remains a significant factor, even though he is accompanied by those two very solid running backs into Marco Mary and Ryan Matthews. And so I think what you're gonna have is a lot in the passing game. I mean you throw him out there

in the slot, coming out of the backfield. He puts a gigantic strain on defenses, and I think that they're going to be utilizing him quite a bit, even though it isn't crowd of backfield. All right, Let's look at the Eagles defense. They allowed a league high seventy two passes the ex plays of twenty yards or more last season. Tim, And your estimation is this Eagles defense better than the one in twenty fourteen? Yeah? I think it has a

chance to be significantly better. There's been upgrades, as we know, in personnel, also the coaching staff, the people that have been raving about Corey on one, I mean, it's unbelievable how much you know, attention that he's been getting, and so that certainly speaks to a couple of things, but one of them being the fact that they've really taken to his coaching. The one area of concern would be

the nickel right now. Billy Davis suggested that there might be a rotating cast of characters in there depending on matchup. That says to me that nobody has locked down that spot yet and that's not a disaster but something to keep an eye on. But overall, I think the defense and the secondary in particular can be much improved. James, any questions for you about the Eagles defense, Well, yeah, just to Peeback on Tim, I think even just the

personnel in the secondary is going to be a lot better. Buyer. Maxwell certainly going to be a big upgrade over Carry Williams, and of course Bradley Fletcher, and then you have Walter Thurman, who, before training camp began, you know, safety was one of the biggest concerns heading into this season, and I think he's kind of solidified that position starting opposite Malcolm Jenkins. So if he can play well or he can play as well as he did during training camp in the preseason.

And I think they have two, you know, very good safeties, probably the best pair of safeties that they've had in a while. And that defensive front seven really good. Obviously, those front three at the on the defensive line are all very good. Cox Benny Logan looks like he took a big step forward this year. Cedric Thornton's a really solid run stopper, and then those four linebackers across really could make things happen against the pass, you know, getting

after the quarterback in coveraging against the run. All Right, we all agree Eagles will win Monday night. To say, I would say, yeah, I think I don't think the Falcons are are a very good team. They're Eagles are a better teams, should win. I would say that they're maybe a little susceptible to a loss here. I think

they're the better team. But think about it, like the inside linebacker is going to be a total strength of this team, But is it going to be a strength of this team on the onset given the fact that none of them have had their reps. While you're figuring out who the nickel Is in secondaries is kind of

jelly and figuring out how to work together. So there's I think while they have looked exceptional in the preseason all around, we do have to factor in the fact that there are a lot of new pieces and new places, and so I don't expect it to necessarily be gangbusters out of the shoot, but they should still win, all right. We'll take that as a win. So that's going to do it for the season debut of cover two. Here on Philadelphias dot Com, I'm Chris McPherson. Thank you very

much for joining us. Stay tuned for more here on Eagles three sixty. I sept to Philly. I sept the Philly Thus the Trolley Regional Rail. I sept to Philly the seventeen to training Rostreet Line to my Parkway, Margaret frankfort Line all night. Experience the power of physical therapy At Novocare Rehabilitation, we know the importance of an active lifestyle. If you're currently injured, let us bring that active lifestyle

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for the summer break men. You 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 only at McDonald's for a limited time. I'm oh lovenute, nave spednarrow, Chris mcpheerson, It's Eagles three sixty worth, an overcare complex, and we're gonna step outside of Philadelphia Eagles and talk about the NFC East a wild, crazy, turbulent

and I would say downgraded NFC East. Would you agree that the Giants have taken a step back? The Cowboys maybe not. The Redskins certainly has. Certainly Washington, no question about the cover of the Washington Post said this morning, Reset rebuild, reject, repeat very strong words about the struggle that that franchise has had over the last couple of seasons. Certainly they thought they had to answer in RG three and he hasn't proven to be that to this point.

Can Kirk Cousins come in with some weapons around? You have Pierre Garsan, you have de Shaun Jackson, But is Kirk Cousins a good enough quarterback to keep that offensive float? Meanwhile, on the defensive side of football, I think the defensive line got better this offseason, got mccluhan. The general managers made some good additions there. But from a passwal standpoint, they don't have Briana Rackpo. They brought him Junior Gallet from the Saints and he ruptured his achilles. He's not

playing from this season. So who is going to be that compliment to Ryan Carrogan. I think that's a big question. That's Trent Murphy's role. He's gonna come up and play big in year number two for him, he's a big time player. But the Redskins clearly in disarray from the top to the bottom. So the when Eagles see them early in the season on the road, you expect more turmoil in our nation's capital. Now the New York Giants, let's start there with the defensive side of the football.

Jason Pierre Paul with the unfortunate accident fourth of July fireworks blows off his finger, not going to play football for perhaps a month. And then even after that, how effective canny be? That really damages the Giants in the trenches. The pass rush really takes a hit there, and their offensive lines had some injuries. Really, the Giants at the line of scrimmage, huge question marks. This Pierre Paul situation

is just so bizarre. You know, first Pierre Paul doesn't want to meet with the Giants, doesn't want to see the extent of the injury. He finally reports, and at first everyone's optimistic Pierre Paul would be ready to go. The finger situation wouldn't be able to hold him off the field. The Giants song, They're like, he's not ready to play football. So he had not signed his tender yet, use it the franchise tag for this season, so he can't even be with the team. I don't know as

it has to read. I don't know anybody who would have been optimistic. I think the media totally overreported this. It was ridiculous to think that somebody can lose an index finger, not train the entire summer, and then walk in the week of the opening game and have an effective performance. Clearly that is not the case. Clearly the Giants looking for some answers defensively. Offensively, though, Chris, they should be a really good football team if the offensive

line whole, Yeah, that's a big question. First round pick Eric Flowers, the number two, number ten overall pick. If he can slide in a tackle, then they will be okay upfront. Now, Eli Manning did a great job distributing the football. He cut down on the turnovers last season. Victor Cruz looks iffy for the season opener against Dallas,

so we don't know if he's gonna play. Everyone knows how good Odell Beckham Junior is, and the running game should be a little bit better, But really it's gonna come down to the offensive line there and then, as you mentioned, the defensive side of the football. It seems Bagnol, the defensive coordinator, once again there doesn't have enough of a pass for us. That's what helped him be successful in the past. I don't know if he has that

this time round. The Dallas Cowboys the team to beat in the NFC East, the defending championship of the division, and they've had a pretty strong offseason, a quiet offseason. Questions of Dallas Cowboys, who runs the football? What about the linebacker situation? How much of an impact is Greg Hardy's four game suspension and the loss of cornerback Orlando Scandrick, who have the ability to play outside and in the slot,

really impacts that defense. One that overperformed last year a year ago this time because we were talking about how the Cowboys would be historically badge. Offensively, they overachieved, but they've taken some hits in the offseason at linebacker certainly, on the defensive line with Hearty suspension, and in the secondary, yes, and bringing a guy like Hardy who has his off the field issues, you know, does that disrupt the chemistry?

Randy Gregory another never person with off the field character issues coming into the draft. He selected in the second round by the Cowboys. Look, can they provide they rushed off the edge, certainly, but will that disrupt the locker room? And then that running back position, you know, they trade for Kristen Michael for really of the Seahawks, they just don't seem to have a certified answer there or all offseason it seemed like they've got a good offensive line.

They're gonna be just fine, but you can't just replace it. DeMarco Murray, Well, if the offensive line is as dominating as it was last year, I've always believed that it's the offensive line more than the running back. I think the Cowboys will be able to run the football, and I think the offense will score some points. So that is a look at the NFC East. Now let's get

back to the Philadelphia Eagles. And when we return to Eagles three sixty head coach Chip Kelly in studio are exclusive one on one with Chip Kelly coming next right here on Philadelphia Eagles dot Com. In the body. If you're the guy from the operation game, you get operated on. It's what you do true. If you want to say, fifteen percent of one car insurance gets which the guy go, it's what you do. Night ain't but the PAINTA hot

of the pain to hot of the paint. Carves to compete electrolytes, to replenish everything you need to keep sweating. Section five twelve, Row six, Seats seven through ten. Those are our seats at this one time. We can't be there. Please treat the right, get there earliest daily and yellow whole lot dress, warm gloves, hats, warm boots. Eric sits in the middle. Uncle Paul sits on the aisle. And if you want to sit in my seat, make sure you get your ticket from the only place that can trust.

Buy and sell, verify authentic tickets with other true fans only on NFL Ticket Exchange tickets from one fan to another. We welcome you into our studio. It's our exclusive one on one with head coach Chip Kelly, and Chip thanks for joining us. Opener on Monday night, the Atlanta Falcons a new coach and new start. Tell us about that team, what you've seen from them through the preseason. They had a good preseason. Dan Kunco came over from the Seattle Seahawks.

He was their defensive coordinator. They're playing very hard on the defensive side of the ball, a similar scheme to what they ran in Seattle. And then offensively, it starts with Matt Ryan, one of the premier quarterbacks in this league and one of the best receivers in the league, and Julio Jones. So it's it's gonna be a great test for us on Monday. Eagles coming off a three and one preseason. Things look good from the outside. From your perspective, would you learn about the team during the

training sessions store in the preseason games? You know, I think we improved since we first got here um integrating some new faces. I thought they players got along really well and learned how to work with each other pretty fast. It's a group that really enjoys playing football, so we're excited. Sam Bradford two preseason games thirteen to fifteen, four touchdowns in his drives, four touchdown drives. We talked in the preseason about his performance. You said that what you see

is what we've seen. Um, he's come along so well, coach, tell us about what you expect from him moving forward. Just to let things happen is enough to make things happen. In this offense. We have a lot of playmakers and both in the backfield with him and then at the receiver spots. And I think we've got a good group upfront. So, um, just really be the point guard indition, beat the ball. So when you take point guard drop back, make the

right decision, be accurate, and find a favorable matchup. Exactly, It's exactly right. Okay. You talk about the wide receivers in the preseason as well, deep talented human vision rotating that group a lot. I mean, what can we expect from your use of the wide receivers and the added depth that you feel like you have. Well, we'll see how what expresses itself in terms of matchups. But we feel like we got a good group out there. Are starting with Jordan and Josh half and Riley Cooper coming

back from last year. And then you add Nelson Aguilard of the mix, and then Miles Austin and a year or two too, So we've got six that will be up on game day. So we're excited about you know, what those guys can do. What will Jordan and Josh showing your year one to year two. Just a lot of growth, you know, I think, a better understanding of what we're doing offensively, a better understanding how they fit

into schemes. They can play multiple positions. Um, so I see a big jump for them as we get moving here and near two. With those guys, it's a mental thing with with the young as just an understanding of the scheme and of the way it works in the NFL.

I don't think it's this the young guys. I think it's anybody in two years in a system, whether you came in on your Darren's roles and you've been in the league for a while, it's just you know, you get you're just more comfortable in your environment, more comfortable and how we do things, and and um, you know, we expect big things out of those guys with the depth.

You have a running back, chip, Um, what are the benefits of having DeMarco and Ryan and Darren and Kenyon if you decided to address him that maybe you didn't have in the past. We just had more. You know, we would really relied on one running back in the last two years, and now we got an opportunity to kind of spread those carries out and keep people fresh. Helio Jones, you mentioned him, Describe him as a receiver,

one of the top receivers in the league. He's obviously got the great size and speed combination, has great range, contract the ball really well when it's in the air, can run underneath routes and really understand zone concepts. But also is just such a talented receiver, can beach in one on one matchup. So I think it'll be a great challenge for our entire defense. And you look for the secondary, how do you feel about that group moving forward? Good? You know, we got a lot of new faces there

except for really No. One and Chris Maragos and Malcolm Jenkins, the rest of them are all new, So I thought they've they got here, have worked extremely hard to fit in really well, and they're excited about the matchup. And it's gonna be a big matchup because they're they're a talented group with the receiver spot with Jones and Who and Roddy White. Another change for this defense, or at least a different book. Brandon Graham moves into the starting lineup.

How is he on did to that responsibility and kind of grown into the role? I'm fine. He's played a ton of football for us and played, you know, a ton of snaps over the last couple of years. I don't think you'll seeing anything new in terms of Brandon not understanding what he's doing. I think he's really excelled and we were excited to get him back. Special teams last year and in one of the rankings first cumulative in the NFL. Obviously a lot of pride, a lot

of excellence. Why is that coach? Why is this team and the players and the coaches put so much emphasis on special teams and then the players really embrace it and Who out and excel so much. I think it's it's a huge factor in the games, and when games are so close, you can swing so much field position on one play. On the biggest field position you can gain is on a special team's play. So you can flip the field rather quickly in a positive or negative manner.

And we knew that going in. Dave Phipp and Michael Clay do an outstanding job coaching those guys, and we got a bunch of guys that enjoy playing special teams. I sept to Philly up the Foolie Bus, the trolley, regional rail. I've sept to Philly the seventeen to training rostreet line to my park boy Margaret frankfort Line all night. Hi, my name's Jim Taylor. I've been with pack Me for thirty four years. Our lengths to brand beef is the

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You'll feel it, You'll love it. 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? Enter at Philadelphia Eagles dot com for a chance to win a pair of tickets in the Amoso Suite when the Eagles take on the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field.

We welcome you back at Eagles three sixty. Dave Spidero Chris mcpheerson some closing thoughts, chrisms we creep closer to the Falcons of a team that has had a number of injuries on certainty on the offensive line. I'm feeling good right now about the Eagles as they match up

with the team very much so. I think there are some matchups that you know you'll want to see the Eagles get tested against, and mainly it's those Falcons wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White against the Eagles secondary Howell Byron Max will fit in will he trail Julio Jones through the course of the game. But the pass for us, the front seven, I think is gonna be so dominant for the Eagles going against that offensive line. They traded for Andy Levitre, they brought in Jake long

in for a workout. They're not quite sure what they have upfront. So I certainly think it's a good starting point for the Eagles, going against a team that was six and tending year ago, and as a brand new coaching set that they're trying to integrate. And we know, crazy things happen in the NFL in weeks one and two, so don't take anything for granted. We learned that ten years ago. Jeremiah tried to bring you brought that up. It was a tough one after the loss in the

Super Bowl. Starting in Atlanta with a loss like that, a very difficult way to start a rocky season. But we get to that as we get closer to Monday. For Chris McPherson, I'm Dave Spidero. A lot more coming your way this week. Eagles three sixty returns tomorrow at five o'clock. Make sure you're with us. In the meantime, have yourselves a great Eagles Day.