Solid quarterback play, stout defense, and an overwhelming amount of talent have been key reasons for the bird’s early season success. There’s no one who needs to take a bow more for the early season success than Howie Roseman.
Philadelphia has been able to overwhelm their opponents thanks to key off-season additions that have fit the previous mold of the roster perfectly. How perfectly? Well, let’s just grade out the Eagles’ off-season moves and how they are doing now.
Haason Reddick – B+
Philadelphia is tied for fifth in the league in sacks (a 26-team increase from last year) and Reddick leads the team in that category. Reddick has consistently been a player who gets sacks in bunches instead of a consistent stream of them.
That hasn’t taken away from his ability to get after the passer and give the Eagles more opportunities to create turnovers. His sack fumble in the win against Jacksonville locked the game up, and showed how important a player like Reddick is to a defense that wasn’t very good at turning the ball over or sacking the quarterback in the last few years.
Zach Pascal – C+
Pascal was brought in to help in the red zone, blocking scheme, and overall attitude of the team. He only has six catches for 39 yards, but his presence alone has helped the Eagles on special teams. He’s also a willing blocker capable of mixing it up against even the most fearful of secondaries.
The numbers don’t really stand out when we talk about Zach Pascal, but similarly to Brent Celek, his impact off the field is just as important as on.
Kyzir White – B
Pro Football Focus grades White to an above-average 63. The former LA Charger has shown plenty of flashes of being a top-cover linebacker over the last few weeks. Great plays against Ceedee Lamb, and spying on Kyler Murray allowed White to show off his athleticism. Compared to the previous linebackers the Eagles have held at Kyzir’s spot, the 26-year-old is playing like Jack Ham.
There are some issues though. The Eagles have given up over 100 yards rushing in back-to-back games because White is more predominately a pass-coverage linebacker. That doesn’t take away from the positive impact he’s had on the defense though.
AJ Brown – A
On pace for over 1,400 yards receiving, a big body receiver that has helped Jalen Hurts take the next step, and an infectious personality that has rubbed off so well on the entire city: what more could you want from AJ Brown?
Some people questioned whether because of the emergence of Brown, top players like Dallas Goedert and DeVonta Smith would be brushed aside but all three are trending on having over 1,000-yard seasons.
The Eagles’ offense is great this season because of AJ Brown.
James Bradberry – A+
Thank god for Dave Gettleman. The former Giants GM put New York in such a horrible cap situation that newly appointed Joe Schoen had to cut ties with the former pro-bowler. He just so happened to land right in Roseman’s lap.
Bradberry has been the best free-agent pickup the Eagles have had this season. He’s playing at an elite 76 grade per PFF and has given up the fewest yards in coverage so far this season: even less than Darius Slay. Bradberry has given the Eagles their best corner duo of all time and they continue to smother opponents.
Jaquiski Tartt – F
Not every free-agent acquisition pans out for GMs. Tartt signed a one-year, veteran-minimum deal but was cut during training camp after struggling in practice and preseason games.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson – A-
CGJ has given the Eagles more lethal swagger in the back end of their secondary and shows how quickly Howie Roseman can erase previous mistakes. Where Tartt failed to show he can be good in coverage, Gardner-Johnson is tied for the team lead in interceptions, has played the center-field position beautifully, and has helped Philadelphia’s defense be one of the best in football.
The trade to bring in CGJ has been not only huge for Philly but cataclysmic for the New Orleans Saints. The Saint’s defense has been bad this season and they currently own the fifth overall selection after a miserable start to the year…that ends up going to Philly anyway.
Take a bow, Howie Roseman!
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
