What the Eagles’ working again rotation ought to appear to be, Avonte Maddox’s future and an obscure former Eagles assistant who’s now probably the most profitable head coaches in school soccer.

Roob’s 10 Random Eagles Observations kicks into Week 3 with an all-over-the-map assortment of anecdotes, tidbits, stats and leftover ideas.

1. Kenny Gainwell obtained nearly all of the touches towards the Patriots. D’Andre Swift obtained virtually all of the touches towards the Vikings. And as efficient as Swift was Thursday night time, I nonetheless consider this offense works finest with a rotation that makes the offense unpredictable and retains the opposing protection guessing. I like Gainwell and I believe he ought to have a major position on the offense. But I additionally don’t assume he’s a lead again. In the opener, Gainwell had 10 touches for 50 yards within the first quarter and eight touches for twenty-four yards the remainder of the sport. I simply assume there’s some extent of diminishing returns with Gainwell. Make him a part of a rotation with Swift – and Boston Scott or Rashaad Penny in some circumstances – and now you’re actually onto one thing. Swift isn’t going to run for 175 yards every week and he higher not get 28 carries every week. All these backs are gifted, and each one among them would profit from mixing it up. Look what occurred Thursday night time. Before he obtained harm, Scott entered the sport as a change of tempo and ran for 40 yards on simply six carries. More of that. This offense wants extra juice and a real working again platoon is an effective way to supply some.

2. Only 4 sixth-round picks in NFL historical past have began extra video games than Jason Kelce. Tom Brady began 333, long-time Colts and 49ers security Antoine Bethea began 200 by means of 2019, Browns left sort out Doug Dieken began 194 and Vikings heart Matt Birk 198. Kelce is at 178 and will stand up to 193 this 12 months.

3. Two video games into the season, there are solely 4 defensive tackles who’ve a Pro Football Focus total grade of 89.8 or increased. Two of them are Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. Chris Jones (92.8) and David Onyemata (91.5) are within the prime two spots, adopted by Carter at 90.2 and Davis at 89.8. Still marvel why the Eagles give attention to the 2 strains within the draft and never linebacker or security or working again? These guys are flat-out beasts. Jones is 29 and Onyemata is 30, and Carter and Davis are 22 and 23. The Eagles simply might need the highest two younger inside linemen in soccer. They’re each monsters towards the run, they’ve each made an affect pressuring the quarterback they usually’re each getting higher day-after-day. Try to discover a level in franchise historical past the place the Eagles had two inside forces like Carter and Davis who had been early of their profession on the identical time. You can’t do it. Jerome Brown and Andy Harmon by no means began on the identical time. Corey Simon and Darwin Walker? Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley? The Eagles have by no means had something like this. Few groups have. And these guys aren’t going wherever they usually’re solely going to get higher and, man, that is going to be enjoyable to observe for a very long time.

4. The Eagles are the primary crew in NFL historical past to open a season 2-0 regardless of permitting seven passing touchdowns by means of two weeks. Nine groups allowed six, from the 1955 Washington Football Team by means of the 2018 Chiefs. They’re additionally the primary crew in NFL historical past to go 2-0 regardless of permitting 300 or extra passing yards whereas being held to 175 or fewer yards in each of their first two video games. Last 12 months the Eagles didn’t permit their seventh passing landing till their sixth recreation. This 12 months they allowed it in Week 2.

5. Avonte Maddox is such a gifted slot nook, however I don’t understand how the Eagles can proceed to depend on him after this newest harm. Assuming Maddox misses the remainder of the season, and that appears possible, he could have missed all or a part of 36 video games due to accidents since 2019 and began and completed simply eight video games over the previous two years. He hasn’t performed greater than three video games in a row with out getting harm since late in 2021. Maddox performs a ferocious, bodily model of soccer that you just like to see, however at 5-9, 185 kilos, it simply appears his physique can’t maintain up underneath that model of soccer. Maddox is due $6.85 million subsequent 12 months within the last 12 months of his take care of a cap hit simply above $10 million, and there’s no means that’s going to occur. If he comes again it needs to be at a a lot decrease wage. Maddox might be 28 this spring and he hasn’t had a wholesome season since he was 25. I’m unsure what the long-term resolution is relating to the slot. Which is mostly a starting-caliber place. Zech McPhearson was the backup slot in coaching camp however didn’t do something to encourage confidence that he might be the man. Mario Goodrich and presumably Sydney Brown will get seems to be the remainder of this 12 months. James Bradberry will most likely get some reps inside however he’s too beneficial outdoors to maneuver inside completely. Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks didn’t observe inside this summer season however may get a glance subsequent 12 months at camp. The Eagles may draft a slot-specific nook within the spring or signal a veteran. But it’s only a disgrace Maddox can’t keep wholesome as a result of he’s a enjoyable participant to observe, he’s obtained an ideal mix of physicality and smarts to play the slot, and he’s been actually productive when he’s been wholesome. But these wholesome moments are simply too uncommon anymore.

6. DeVonta Smith already has 9 100-yard video games, fourth-most by an Eagle in his first three seasons. And he’s obtained at the very least 15 video games to go. Mike Quick and DeSean Jackson had 11 of their first three seasons and Fred Barnett had 10.

7. It’s thoughts blowing to me that the Eagles have solely 12 passing first downs after two video games. Fewest within the NFL. Last time they’d 12 or fewer passing first downs after two video games was 1999, when their beginning quarterback was Doug Pederson. This time final 12 months they’d 25. They’re solely the seventh crew within the final 14 years with 12 or fewer passing first downs by means of two video games (and the primary to go 2-0 for the reason that 2010 Steelers). Incredibly, solely 4 of these 12 first downs have come earlier than halftime. Jalen Hurts has handed for under 131 yards earlier than halftime – solely Desmond Ridder and Joe Burrow have fewer. And 54 of these 131 got here on one cross. Such a bizarre begin to the season for Hurts.

8. It’s been cool to observe an obscure Eagles place coach underneath Chip Kelly remodel into one among school soccer’s most profitable head coaches. Ryan Day was a quiet, humble, skilled quarterbacks coach for the Eagles in 2015, working with Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez – and Thad Lewis, who’s now the Buccaneers’ quarterbacks coach (and Tim Tebow in coaching camp). Day had spent a 12 months in 2006 as Temple’s huge receivers coach underneath Al Golden (Sean Desai was additionally on Golden’s workers that 12 months) and later served as Steve Addazio’s offensive coordinator at Temple in 2012 and in the identical position underneath Addazio for a pair years at Boston College earlier than coming to the Eagles. When Kelly was fired, he introduced Day with him to San Francisco, and when Kelly was fired after one 12 months in San Francisco, Day joined Urban Meyer’s workers at Ohio State as offensive coordinator. When Meyer was suspended in 2018, Day was named interim head coach, and when Meyer was compelled to “retire,” Day took over for good. Since then, he has a 49-6 document (.891). Only Georgia (.914) has a greater document than Ohio State since Day was named the Buckeyes’ head coach.

9. The two-highest completion percentages amongst energetic quarterbacks on Monday night time: 1) Marcus Mariota [66-for-84, 78.6 percent] and Jalen Hurts [69-for-97, 71.1 percent]. The lowest? Baker Mayfield [83-for-163, 50.9 percent]. 

10. It’s not simply Jalen Hurts. If it looks like passing numbers are down throughout the league, they’re. It’s solely two weeks, however NFL groups are averaging 216.4 passing yards per recreation, which might be the bottom over a full season since 2008. Yards per completion to date is 10.3, which might be by far the bottom in NFL historical past. The lowest on document is 10.9 from final 12 months.  And sacks are as much as 7 % of cross performs – the best since 1998. Teams are averaging simply 1.3 passing TDs per recreation, which might be the fewest once more since 2008 and equal the fewest since 1993. Some speeding numbers are down too. Teams are averaging 109.1 speeding yards per recreation, which might be eighth-lowest in NFL historical past, and simply 4.1 yards per carry – virtually half a yard worse than final 12 months’s 4.5 and the bottom since 2005. Overall, yards per play is 5.1, lowest since 2005 and matching the bottom since 1999. It’s early, however these are actually fascinating traits to regulate as we get deeper into the season.