Author

David Zahn



Sports
Hurts holds up in debut, Rekindles Birds’ playoff hopes
David Zahn Posted On December 14, 2020

Hurts Shines in Debut, Rekindles Birds’ Playoff Hopes

On Sunday, Eagles’ fans felt genuine happiness for what felt like the first time all season. As heavy underdogs and led by a rookie quarterback, they managed to defeat the New Orleans Saints 24-21. The victory brings the Birds record to 4-8-1 and keeps their hopes of stealing the top spot in the NFC East alive. Meanwhile, this loss knocks the Saints out of pole position for the top seed in the NFC as their 10-3 record mirrors the Green Bay Packers (who own the tiebreaker). Find out just how effective Jalen Hurts played and other game storylines below.

Hurts Displays the Dual-Threat is Real

Heading into this matchup, it was expected that both quarterbacks would utilize their rushing ability to keep the opposing defenses guessing. Jalen Hurts absolutely got the best of Taysom Hill in that department as he led the entire Eagles team in carries; topping the century mark with 106 yards on 18 attempts. His long run of the day was only 24 yards, but Hurts used his legs effectively possession after possession to keep the sticks moving and turn would-be sacks into positive yardage.

His passing statline wasn’t anything prolific, as he completed 17 of 30 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown. However, one has to keep in mind that the Saints defense is one of the toughest in the entire league and this was only his first time playing a full NFL game. Those excuses won’t be there long for Hurts, but as he becomes more comfortable in the offense those numbers should improve. His favorite target in the early going has been Dallas Goedert, who caught four of six targets this game for 43 yards. Meanwhile, Alshon Jeffery caught Hurts’ sole touchdown pass on a 15 yard connection in the second quarter.

The most significant takeaway from Hurts’ debut is that he didn’t make any serious mistakes. He did exactly what the Eagles asked of him in playing a turnover free game and his dangerous rushing ability mitigates a lot of decimating sacks for loss that Wentz repeatedly took during the season.

Advertisement

 


All Smiles for Miles

Eagles vs Saints - Miles Sanders
Eagles vs Saints – Miles Sanders

Running back Miles Sanders entered this game on a cold streak but turned it around in a big way when the Eagles needed him most. Sanders was featured prominently both on run-pass option schemes with Hurts and as the pure between-the-tackles runner. On the day, he was superbly effective with his 14 carries, going for 115 yards and two scores.

Both of his scores came at crucial moments for the Birds. The first was an electric 82 yard sprint late in the second quarter that increased the Eagles’ lead to 17-0 before halftime. The Saints did mount a furious comeback in the second half, and midway through the fourth quarter the Eagles only found themselves with a narrow 17-14 lead. They turned once again to Sanders, who located paydirt from the one yard line to give him his first multi-touchdown performance since week 5. Sanders also contributed four receptions for 21 yards on the day.

Advertisement

 


The Playoff Picture

While the Birds’ primary focus was on the game in front of them, they also had to be curious to see how the New York Giants and Washington Football  Team, two teams ahead of them in the NFC East race, fared on Sunday. The Giants submitted a clunker of a performance, falling to the Cardinals 26-7. Meanwhile, Washington defeated the San Francisco 49ers 23-15 and now assumes first place in the division.

There’s no hope for any NFC East team to squeak into a wildcard slot so it’s division or bust for all of these teams. The Birds are just a half game back of the Giants but trail Washington by slightly more than a full game (the percentages are a little complicated with the Eagles early season tie). Birds’ fans need to hope both of those franchises drop games in the coming weeks. The Eagles will match up against the Washington Football Team in their last game of the season, a contest that could very well decide the division if the Eagles can catch some breaks down the stretch.

A Look Ahead

Of course, any chance the Eagles have at making the playoffs is contingent on their continued success week to week. After defeating a team as competent as the New Orleans Saints, the Birds shouldn’t be afraid of anybody. But they also should be ready to meet stiff competition as teams will now be working hard to game plan against Jalen Hurts and take away his strengths. The Eagles will travel to Arizona to face to face the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.


Continue Reading
0
122 Views


Sports
Some thoughts on the 76ers Season Schedule
David Zahn Posted On December 9, 2020

Some Thoughts on the 76ers Season Schedule

On Friday, December 4th the NBA unveiled its schedule for the first half of the 2020-2021 regular season. Following two preseason games with the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, the Sixers will draw a matchup with the new-look Washington Wizards for their very first game on Wednesday, December 23rd. Check out the rest of the Sixers’ first half schedule and subsequent thoughts below.

Philadelphia 76ers 2020 2021 Schedule
Philadelphia 76ers 2020 2021 Schedule

The Opening Schedule Looks like Cake

The Sixers will be looking to prove they’ve put last season well behind them with victories early in the season. The schedule looks quite amenable to that plan as only two of their first eleven opponents are teams that made it out of the first round of last season’s bubble playoffs (the Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets). This early season stretch includes multiple games against the Charlotte Hornets, and other matchups with lackluster teams such as the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

This is a terrific opportunity for the Sixers to gel with new coach Doc Rivers while he figures out how to maximize the talent on their roster. Of course, everyone gets along better when a team is winning so it’s important for the Sixers to capitalize against weaker opponents in the early going of this season.

Advertisement

 


All Kinds of Back-to-Back Matchups

The scheduling for this NBA season was executed with an eye towards minimizing travel in the hopes of keeping all teams safer as the country continues to navigate life during the pandemic. As a result, there are frequently scheduled back-to-back matchups, where teams face off against each other twice in the span of three days.

Philadelphia 76ers 2020 2021 Season - Doc Rivers
Philadelphia 76ers 2020 2021 Season – Doc Rivers

This will be an interesting wrinkle to the regular season as it will allow coaches to showcase their ability to make adjustments for an opponent game to game, much like what transpires during the playoffs. The teams with more savvy coaches will surely benefit and the Sixers hope with new hire Doc Rivers, that they are surely counted in that group. Through the first half of the season the Sixers will play in back-to-back matchups with a slew of teams including the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors.

A Down Year for Primetime Games

The Sixers have enjoyed the luxury of several primetime matchups the past few years. Their share of those opportunities has taken a dip this year, as the NBA has favored younger teams with exciting stars such as the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans.

Should the Sixers pile up wins and prove they are a team to be reckoned with, it is very likely they will earn more primetime matchups across the second half of the season. Through the first half, their most exciting game looks to be against the Brooklyn Nets as the matchup will feature two teams with sky-high potential in the eastern conference. Other primetime games include dates with the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and defending champions Los Angeles Lakers.


Continue Reading
0
445 Views


Sports
The Hurts Show Begins
David Zahn Posted On December 9, 2020

The Hurts Show Begins

Head coach Dough Pederson finally gave confirmation that Jalen Hurts would be the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in week 14. The official start against the New Orleans Saints will be the first in Hurts’ young career after replacing Carson Wentz in the second half of last week’s contest. It’s a brutal first matchup for the rookie who will be attempting to move the ball against one of the top defenses in the NFL. Below, we’ll anticipate how the Birds will use Hurts among other top storylines for this game.

We’re Going Mobile!

When Hurts tossed his first NFL interception in the closing moments of last game, it wasn’t much of a surprise. All rookie quarterbacks are prone to make mistakes. Consequently, the Eagles coaching staff will be tasked with crafting a game plan that minimizes these mistakes while putting Hurts in the best position to succeed. That sweet spot will likely allow Hurts to use his legs and flash the athleticism he was renowned for in college.

This might mean a return to the frequent RPO (run-pass-option) plays that used to be a staple of Pederson’s offense. The frequency of deep balls is also bound to increase as Hurts displayed his capability in that department on a 32 yard touchdown bomb down the sideline last week. The Saints defense is known for pressuring quarterbacks with regularity. As a result, expect a lot of moving pocket and for Hurts to rush for 50+ yards in this game.

The Saints have also had a recent quarterback change, albeit theirs came as a result of a rib injury suffered by Drew Brees. Taysom Hill has filled in wonderfully and has yet to drop a game. In fact, the Saints are now 8-0 during the last two seasons when they start a backup quarterback, proving how well run their entire organization is.

Eagles vs Saints - Taysom Hill
Eagles vs Saints – Taysom Hill

Taysom Hill, even more so than Jalen Hurts, is a running quarterback. He’s far more comfortable using his legs than his arm and has demonstrated such in his time as a starter, posting double digit rushing attempts in each of his three contests. The first passing touchdown of his career actually came last Sunday, the very same day that Jalen Hurts reached this milestone. Defending “the swiss army knife”, as so many commentators are apt to label Hill, will be a tough task for the Eagles defense and one that requires a large degree of discipline as he needs to be contained in the pocket.

One thing’s for sure, Hurts will not just be relegated to a game manager role. Pederson stated that he made the change to Hurts because the offense “needed a spark”. In order for sparks to turn into fire, more fuel will need to be added.

Advertisement

 


Who Wants to Snap a Losing Streak?

Eagles vs Saints - Zach Ertz
Eagles vs Saints – Zach Ertz

The Eagles find themselves in the midst of a four game losing streak. This skid has put them behind both the New York Giants and the Washington Football Team in the NFC East standings. Amazingly, the 3-8-1 Birds are still in the playoff hunt, though it will take a string of losses from both of those teams down the stretch for the Eagles to have any hope.

A matchup against the 10-2 Saints where the Birds are slated as underdogs by more than a touchdown certainly isn’t ideal for snapping this losing streak. However, the Eagles sure have to try. There are key players whose performance needs to improve for the Birds to have any hope.

Chief among those players is Miles Sanders, who was expected to be the linchpin of this offense going into the year. He’s all but disappeared the last three weeks, averaging a miserable 37 yards per game on the ground during those contests. A return to elite form from him is critical both to keep the Saints offense off the field and to alleviate the pressure from Jalen Hurts in his first start.

Some pass-catchers also need to step up their play in week 14. Travis Fulgham’s mid-season magic now seems like an aberration given his inability to create separation anymore. Additionally, Zach Ertz has yet to make a big splash since returning from injury. It’s hard to gauge who will build a rapport first with Hurts under center. Traditional rookie quarterbacks often lean on their tight ends as safety blankets, but then again Hurts is far from a traditional rookie quarterback.

The Pick

This is just too tall a test for Hurts is his first NFL start. While the Eagles will fight during this game, they simply can’t match up with the talent on both sides of the ball that the Saints feature on their roster. Saints over Eagles, 24-17.


Continue Reading
0
296 Views


Sports
Wentz benched for Hurts as Eagles can’t keep pace with Packers
David Zahn Posted On December 7, 2020

Eagles Can’t Keep Pace with Packers; Wentz Benched for Hurts

It was going to take an exceptional effort from this Eagles team to keep up with an opponent as dominant as the Green Bay Packers. The Birds were not up to the task in week 13, stalling for long stretches of the game and ultimately losing the contest 30-16. The big takeaway on the Eagles side of the ball is their decision to pull Carson Wentz during the third quarter in favor of rookie Jalen Hurts. Find a review of his first extended game action and other week 13 storylines for the Birds below.

The Quarterback Story

It’s no secret that Wentz hasn’t been playing inspiring football this year. He continued that trend during the first half on Sunday, failing to lead the Eagles to any touchdown drives and taking poor sacks that brought the offense out of field goal range.

Eagles vs Packers - Carson Wentz
Eagles vs Packers – Carson Wentz

The quarterback change that many fans have been calling for finally happened during the second half when the Birds were trailing the Packers 14-3. At that point in the game, Wentz had completed just 6 of 15 passes for 79 yards. While Wentz hadn’t committed a turnover yet, he had taken four costly sacks and coach Pederson had clearly seen enough. Instead of bringing Hurts in for just a play or two, the rookie quarterback was given the reins for the remainder of the game.

The performance of Jalen Hurts in his first ever extended game action landed somewhere between mediocre and fine. While Hurts completed just 5 of 12 passes for 109 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, those numbers are better when qualified with context. Racking up over 100 yards on just five completions displays that Hurts is willing to throw the ball downfield, something Wentz repeatedly proved unwilling to do with regularity. Further, his lone touchdown was a beautiful 4th and 18 toss to keep the Eagles hopes alive while his interception transpired with just a minute left when the game was already out of hand.

I think this was an encouraging, while not spectacular, start for Hurts who also ran the ball 5 times for 29 yards and multiple first downs. The Eagles playoff hopes look bleaker by the week, but it’s nice for the team to gauge what they have in Hurts.

Meanwhile, the other quarterback in this game was busy making history. Aaron Rodgers became just the sixth quarterback of all time to throw for 400 touchdowns, and he did so in just 193 games, edging out Drew Brees (205 games) for the fastest to achieve that accomplishment. He played lights out in this contest, completing 25 of 34 throws for 295 yards and three touchdowns.

Advertisement

 


Birds Fail to Find a Ground Game

One of the recipes for the Eagles to have a shot this week was winning time of possession through establishing dominance on the ground. Following this model, the first quarter actually went splendidly for the Birds. They won time of possession by a significant margin and ran a full 20 plays during the quarter.

Unfortunately, those 20 plays only resulted in 67 yards and a measly 3 points. There was hope that Philadelphia could find success on the ground against such a porous rush defense, but as the game wore on that proved decisively not the case. Miles Sanders never got going, amassing only 31 yards on 10 carries.

Newly acquired running back Jordan Howard actually looked fresh in his debut, but only received four carries on the day. Once the Eagles fell behind by double digits, a slow run-heavy approach was no longer an option.

Advertisement

 


Reagor to the Rescue

Eagles vs Packers - Jalen Reagor
Eagles vs Packers – Jalen Reagor

There was a brief glimmer of hope for the Birds during the fourth quarter of this matchup. After Hurts’ 4th down touchdown toss and a subsequent three and out by the Packers, rookie wideout Jalen Reagor put on an absolute show. He fielded a punt and returned it a full 73 yards to the house, bringing the Eagles within just one score of their opponent.

This dazzle of athleticism proves how dangerous Reagor can be with the ball in his hands. The Birds need to make a more concerted effort to feed him the rock as he was only targeted once in this game, hauling in that lone reception for 34 yards. Fulgham continues to struggle (0 catches on two targets) so Reagor figures to be a great option for Hurts along with tight ends Goedert and Ertz, the latter of which returned to action and contributed 31 yards.

Looking Ahead

Fresh off playing the number 2 seed in the entire NFC, the Birds will now have to square off against the number 1 seed in the NFC, the New Orleans Saints. The Eagles will host Taysom Hill and company in a week 14 matchup that is mathematically win-or-go-home for the Birds.


Continue Reading
0
311 Views


Sports
Three players who need to shine for a Week 13 Birds victory
David Zahn Posted On December 2, 2020

Three Players Who Need to Shine for a Week 13 Birds Victory

The Eagles battle in week 13 is certainly of the uphill variety. At just 3-7-1, they will travel to Lambeau field to take on the 8-3 Green Bay Packers. They are heavy underdogs in the contest with sports books giving them a full nine points on the road. While Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are in position to challenge for the overall one seed in the entire NFC, the Birds are simply vying to claw their way back to the top of the NFC East in the hopes of a playoff spot.

A lot will need to go right for the Birds to have a shot at upsetting the Packers on Sunday. Below, we’ll take a look at three players in particular who need to play well above average for a victory to be realized.

Miles Sanders

After a return from injury, the last few weeks have not nearly been as productive for Miles Sanders as one would hope. Last week was actually Sanders’ least impressive game of the year as he only mustered 22 yards in total. Despite the down production, Sanders remains the Eagles most lethal offensive weapon and they’ll need him to step up in a big way for this matchup.

Working in Sanders’ favor is the fact that one of Green Bay’s few weaknesses is their run defense. Their defensive philosophy entails preventing big plays on the outside by encouraging the opposing offense to attack the middle through a series of short yardage gains. As a result, they are susceptible on the ground and recent weeks have proven as much with running backs such as James Robinson and Jonathan Taylor posting exemplary games against the Packers.

Miles Sanders hopes to be the next running back who sustains drives on the ground and keeps Green Bay’s defense on the field. If the Eagles can establish Sanders as a chunk rusher early, they will have a chance at winning time of possession, a crucial factor when playing a quarterback as historically great as Aaron Rodgers.

Advertisement

 


Fletcher Cox

Philadelphia Eagles - Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles – Fletcher Cox

One positive takeaway from the Eagles week 12 loss was the proficient play of their defense. They’ll once again need that defense to show up in a big way in week 13, and no player on that unit has the ability to play bigger than their man in the middle, Fletcher Cox.

Fletcher Cox needs to be an absolute run-stuffer for the Eagles to stay in this game. While the Packers have long been lauded for their aerial attack, I think it’s more important for the Birds to curtail their rushing production for this game. The Packers utilize a 1-2 punch of Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams on the ground, a devastating mix of agility and power. Once the Packers establish a competent rushing baseline, they will turn to play-action, where Aaron Rodgers has been making a living this year.

However, the Packer’s play-action designs won’t be effective if the Eagles can shut down their ground game from the get-go. This will be a team effort but one that Fletcher Cox should spearhead as the heart and soul of the Birds front seven.

Carson Wentz

Philadelphia Eagles - Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles – Carson Wentz

Sigh. While it’s quite painful to write the same things week after week about Carson Wentz, the truth of the matter is that he is absolutely one of the players that needs to shine on Sunday for the Eagles to have a realistic shot at victory. The quarterback position is too important in today’s NFL and the Birds don’t possess the sort of team that can win with a game manager at quarterback.

Of course, tasking Wentz with the burden of being more than a game manager is plenty dangerous. He’s proven that game after game as he leads all quarterbacks in both interceptions and sacks taken. The threat of Hurts taking over as the starter looms ever large but I don’t see the change happening at this point in the season. Instead, Wentz has to be counted on.

I can’t envision an outcome where Wentz plays up to par with his counterpart, Rodgers, but the Birds need him to at least put together a respectable performance. I’m done wishing for a contest devoid of turnovers as I know he doesn’t have that in him, but Wentz needs to at least make enough plays, whether through the ground or air, to keep the score close.

Tight end Dallas Goedert emerged as an adequate target last game, but Wentz needs to also push the ball downfield and trust his receivers Travis Fulgham and Jalen Reagor. The Packers boast a fearsome secondary so nothing will come easy, but Wentz has nothing to lose at this point so he should come out guns blazing.


Continue Reading
0
258 Views


Sports
Another week, another loss; Seahawks down Eagles 23-17
David Zahn Posted On December 1, 2020

Another Week, Another Loss; Seahawks Down Eagles 23-17

The Eagles have suffered yet another loss, this one finally dragging them down in the NFC East standings from first to third place. The game’s final score is deceptive, as it appears they were a touchdown away from taking the contest. In reality, an Eagles touchdown and successful two-point conversion with just 12 seconds of game clock left made this match seem more competitive than it actually was. Below, find the most significant takeaways from the Birds’ week 12 defeat at the hands of the Seahawks.

The Defense does their part

While the Eagles’ defense is nothing to write home about, they have been a step above their respective offense all year long. What’s more, they showed up for this contest; holding an incredibly potent Seahawks’ offense to just 23 points on the night. That’s a solid figure and one that theoretically gave the Birds a chance to win if they could only muster enough offensive production. 

The defense was particularly effective in the first quarter, achieving two crucial fourth down stops and allowing zero points. A huge reason they were able to cap the amount of points scored by Russell Wilson and company is due to their ability to win third down in this game. Overall, they hindered the Seahawks’ offense to just a 2-10 conversion rate on third down for the day. This translated to field goals, instead of touchdowns. Sure a field goal is still points, but preventing touchdowns on multiple occasions kept the Eagle’s hopes alive in this game.

Slay is Slayed by Metcalf

Eagles vs Seahawks - DK Metcalf
Eagles vs Seahawks – DK Metcalf

While the defense played an adequate game overall, they couldn’t stop all of the Seahawks explosive weapons. Second year wide receiver D.K. Metcalf has been torching defenses all year and this trend continued on Monday Night Football. Metcalf caught 10 of 13 targets for 177 yards, including a 52 yard bomb that was nearly a touchdown.

Much of his aerial production came when covered by Eagles’ cornerback Darius Slay. Frankly, Metcalf embarrassed Slay, repeatedly winning this matchup throughout the night. The two clashed multiple times in the first quarter, leading to unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for Slay. Perhaps this was only fuel for Metcalf as he steadily poured on the yardage all night.

The Wentz bench watch

Eagles vs Seahawks - Wentz and Hurts
Eagles vs Seahawks – Wentz and Hurts

Yep, the title of this section has been altered to accommodate for the very real possibility that Wentz gets benched at some point this season. Many thought that benching would come as soon as this game, as both Hurts and Wentz took reps with the first team during last week’s practices. However, outside of a few snaps, Pederson chose to forge ahead with his starter, Carson Wentz, at quarterback.

The result was both shaky and a recipe for disaster, as it has been all season long. Wentz completed 25 of 45 passes, for 215 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He was also the Eagle’s leading rusher on the day, amassing 42 yards on five carries. His lone interception couldn’t have come at a worse time as it was tossed in the redzone and resulted in a change of possession instead of points for the Eagles.

A confusing moment of the game was when Pederson did decide to bring Hurts in under center. It occurred during a second quarter series when the Birds were facing a 2nd and long. Hurts completed a pass to make up half the yardage but was subbed out immediately after. Switching quarterbacks on a play by play basis like that leaves the players without a chance to establish rhythm and the front office without a chance to accurately assess the prospects of Jalen Hurts as a starting quarterback.

Hurts was also brought in later in the contest for a gadget play where Wentz lined up as a receiver. Coach Pederson needs to make a firm decision about playing Hurts instead of using him intermittently and leaving his team with no idea of what their future is going to be at the quarterback position.

Looking ahead

As alluded to in the past, the Eagles are in the midst of a murderer’s row of opponents. Next week, they travel to Lambeau field to battle Aaron Rodgers and the 8-3 Packers. They will once again be healthy underdogs. Critical eyes will be on the Eagles organization all week as calls for Pederson’s firing have turned from rumbles to overt statements. I’m still of the opinion that however bad Wentz looks, he gives the Eagles their best chance to win. However, if Hurts were to start the NFC East would feature an entire division of backup quarterbacks (Daniel Jones suffered a hamstring injury Sunday). I call that a comedy wrinkle in this season of who’s the most incompetent NFC East team.


Continue Reading
0
227 Views


Sports
Carson Bench?
David Zahn Posted On November 25, 2020

Carson Bench?

The hard truth of the 2020 Philadelphia Eagles is that their obvious struggles are not the result of any single player. Rather, an amalgam of factors across the season have contributed to their dismal 3-6-1 record. Injuries, particularly through the first leg of the season, crippled both the offensive line and the receiving corps. Dubious coaching decisions have also helped bury this team, such as Pederson’s insistence to try two-point conversions in confounding circumstances. And yes, player performance has also played a large part. Carson Wentz, as the face of the franchise, has woefully underperformed amid a flurry of turnovers this season. Now, as the Eagles still continue a playoff push, it is his job on the line.

Carson Wentz has failed the eye test miserably this season and a look at the statistics only bolster the validity of that assessment. Entering week 11, he ranked 32nd in completion percentage at 58.2, 31st in yards per attempt at 6.1, and first in the dreaded categories of interceptions (12) and sacks taken (35). Week 11’s defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Browns was also a display of Wentz’s worst qualities. He tossed two more picks, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and was sacked an additional five times, one of which resulted in a safety for the Browns. Coach Pederson expressed after the game that benching Wentz at this time would send the wrong message to his team. But one has to wonder, are the Birds receiving any right messages with Wentz under center?

Carson Wentz - face of the franchise?
Carson Wentz – Face of the franchise

The obvious replacement at the quarterback position would be rookie Jalen Hurts, who the Eagles selected in the second round of the most recent NFL draft. Hurts has been used very occasionally by the Eagles this season, largely as a rushing option with passing capability for gadget plays. In the event that Hurts does get the nod to start at quarterback, it’s unclear what the impact will be on offense. I think it’s unlikely that Hurts improves the aerial attack as he would be playing regular downs against NFL defenders for the very first time. He also doesn’t have the rapport that Wentz has at least attempted to build with the pass-catching options this year. However, Hurts would provide the Eagles with an interesting hybrid rushing attack and option runs could offer a spark for the offense. The most important result for the Eagles will be in the turnover category and it seems unlikely that Hurts could give the ball away more than Wentz has this season.

Advertisement

 

Philadelphia Eagles - Jalen Hurts
Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Hurts

A further consideration for the Eagles is on the financial end of things. Wentz is currently under contract through the 2024 season for just about 32 million annually. That’s some serious cap space to just waste away on the bench. It’s too much money to simply cut him but it’s also rare that a team would choose to trade for him and absorb the contract with the way he’s been performing as of late.

I truly think that Carson Wentz gives the Eagles the best chance to win the division in 2020. While a start for Hurts could be interesting, and even thrilling, I don’t think it makes sense in either the short or long term for this team. No official change has been made at quarterback yet, but Pederson has appeared increasingly uncertain when asked about his starter for Monday night’s matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. Another wrinkle is that word from certain Seahawks’ players, such as DK Metcalf and DeeJay Dallas, is that they are in support of the Eagles benching Wentz in favor of Hurts. Who knows if this a form of trash talk leading up to the contest or their genuine thoughts but it could serve to inspire either of these signal callers.


Continue Reading
0
160 Views


Arts & Culture
Bowie and the City of Brotherly Love
David Zahn Posted On November 23, 2020

Bowie and the City of Brotherly Love

As a burgeoning rock star in the United Kingdom during the early 70s, David Bowie often dreamed of travelling to America and experiencing the delights that so many of its cities had to offer. New York was easily the urban location that topped Bowie’s list, as it does for so many foreigners. Beyond existing as the center of culture in America, it was also home to one of his artistic idol, Andy Warhol. Bowie recollects his initial venture to the states on “Lazarus”, a track from his final album Blackstar. He nostalgically croons, “By the time I got to New York, I was living like a king”.

But he wouldn’t stay in New York long, as he had touring obligations in support of his massively successful album Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. During the American cross-country tour of this project, he would write and record his next album Aladdin Sane, which he would aptly describe as “Ziggy Stardust goes to America”. This was 1973 and Bowie was on top of the rock world as a result of his androngynous glam-rock musical creations.

By July of 1974 David Bowie was living just outside of Philadelphia and searching for a new sound. Towards the conclusion of the first leg of his Diamond Dogs tour, Bowie chose to live at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. This theater would serve as the backdrop where his live album, simply titled David Live, would be recorded. While he was living in such close proximity to the city, he often frequented Sigma Sounds Studio. This famous Philadelphia studio was owned by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, co-founders of Philadelphia International Records. It was also notable as the home to many well-known black American musicians.

David Bowie and Ava Cherry
David Bowie and Ava Cherry

Bowie, especially during the early years of his fame, brought sexy excitement with him no matter his destination. One such intent of his visits to Sigma Sounds Studio was to work on the recordings for musician Ava Cherry, who later would tour as a background singer for Bowie. It was no secret that the two were having an affair during Bowie’s time in Philadelphia.

Advertisement

 


Bowie was not permanently in Philadelphia at this time, as he still was travelling for the second half of his Diamond Dogs tour. However, Bowie’s visits to Sigma Sound Studios soon began for different reasons. He and longtime collaborator Tony Visconti were diligently working on Bowie’s latest album Young Americans. The sound of this album is deeply indebted to the musical traditions of Philadelphia music itself. The sound of the album is a revolutionary combination of R&B and Philadelphia soul. When asked about the sound he was going for, Bowie labeled the album as “plastic soul”, depicting it as “the squashed remains of ethnic music as it survives in the age of Muzak rock, written and sung by a white limey”.

David Bowie and the City of Brotherly Love - Sigma Kids
David Bowie and the City of Brotherly Love – Sigma Kids

The citizens of Philadelphia certainly took notice of the star residing in their city at the time. The recording of Young Americans attracted an immense amount of local fans, who soon could be found waiting outside Sigma Sound Studio over the entire span of the recording, dubbing, and mixing sessions. Bowie would affectionately refer to these near-acolytes as “Sigma Kids”. Their persistent dedication was rewarded when Bowie allowed them into the studio on the final day of tracking for an opportunity to listen to rough versions of his new songs.

Although David Bowie didn’t reside in Philadelphia long, moving onto Los Angeles for the recording of his next album Station to Station, his imprint on the city of Philadelphia was long-lasting. Plastic soul remains a sound with deep connections with the City of Brotherly Love. Additionally, the original building for Sigma Sound Studios was officially dedicated as a historic site by the city of Philadelphia in 2015.


Continue Reading
0
171 Views


Sports
Eagles fall to Browns 22-17 amid downpour
David Zahn Posted On November 22, 2020

Eagles Fall to Browns Amid Downpour

Another week in the books and another loss for the Philadelphia Eagles. Their disappointing 2020 campaign has the built-in torture device of fans knowing the team perpetually has a chance to win the division despite the team’s poor play. That miserable play in week 11 led to a 22-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The win brings the Browns record to an impressive 7-3 on the year. Meanwhile, the Eagles record drops down to 3-7-1. Check out the most pertinent storylines from week 11 for the Birds. If you need a pick-me-up, just realize that it is getting increasingly realistic that as little as 5 wins will take the NFC East this year.

Browns Defense dominates the day

The severe weather conditions had an immediate impact on the passing games and pace of play for both teams. Both offenses struggled mightily out of the gate and at halftime, the only score on the board came as a result of a 50 yard interception return touchdown by Browns’ linebacker Sione Takitaki.

Eagles vs Browns - Sione Takitaki
Eagles vs Browns – Sione Takitaki

The Browns defense has been quietly stout all year long and they continued their excellent play by repeatedly stifling Wentz and company. The Browns defense was particularly effective on third-down, holding the Eagles to just 2-12 on third down conversions. This marks the second game in a row where the Birds have failed horrifically on what is universally understood to be the most significant down.

The Browns not only gave the Eagles fits all day, but they managed to do so without their star defensive player, Myles Garrett. While only sacking Carson Wentz three times, they added a late game safety, forced four fumbles (recovering two), and secured two interceptions. Anytime your defense gives you 9 points on the scoreboard to work with, you won’t have to do much to achieve the victory. The Browns did enough today but their defense unquestionably won the day for them.

Advertisement

 


Birds can’t keep pace in RB battle

With such inclement weather, the run game assumed a role of elevated importance for both teams. For much of the game, Miles Sanders seemed to be the top dog on both teams at the running back position. Regrettably, the Browns two-headed monster of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt came alive in a big way down the stretch, ultimately assuring the Browns’ victory.

Eagles vs Browns - Miles Sanders
Eagles vs Browns – Miles Sanders

Despite losing a fumble early in the game, Sanders ran well throughout most of the contest. His final numbers ended at a modest 16 carries for 66 yards to go along with three catches for 15 yards, but all of his production came when the defense was keying in on him as a playmaker.

The Birds’ rush defense was smothering in the first half of this game, only allowing Chubb and Hunt a combined 20 yards. But teams, like the Browns, that commit to a heavy run strategy often reap the rewards of that approach in the second half of games. This phenomenon was certainly on display in this game’s second half as Chubb exploded for close to 100 yards and set up teammate Hunt for an acrobatic leaping touchdown. The Browns ability to run the ball down the stretch helped them maintain a lead and win time of possession by nearly four minutes.

Advertisement

 


Wentz rides struggle bus; Fulgham disappears again

Carson Wentz was all too quick in reminding fans that last week’s turnover free game against the Giants was but a silly aberration. Wentz dropping back in the pocket to throw, especially when playing from behind, is about as inspiring as starting any tight end not named Travis Kelce. It’s possible..but it’s just not going to work.

This game, Wentz completed 21 for 35 passes, which resulted in 235 yards, two touchdowns, and a pair of interceptions. While his counterpart for the day, Baker Mayfield didn’t show anything special, he also didn’t make crucial mistakes. That’s all Mayfield needed to do with the defense’s performance. Wentz also got plenty of help from his defense but failed to turn decent field position into points on too many occasions.

It was nice to see solid production from both tight ends, Dallas Goedert and Richard Rogers. However, for the second game in a row, wide receiver Travis Fulgham completely disappeared. This was not for lack of attention, as he commanded seven targets on the day. The problem was that so many of these targets came in tight windows and would have required spectacular adjustments on Fulgham’s part to make each reception. The result was only one catch for 8 yards. For a receiver with so much recent momentum, it’s very disappointing to see only two catches and 16 yards in the last two games.

Looking ahead

The recent losses for the Eagles have been embarrassing, but they need to shake them off and try to manufacture some wins as they remain in contention in today’s NFC East. The road gets no easier in week 12 as they host the 7-3 Seattle Seahawks. The Eagles will surely open as underdogs but will hope to win this clash of aerial predators. Expect a game preview later this week.


Continue Reading
0
223 Views


Sports
Meet Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers First Round Pick
David Zahn Posted On November 20, 2020

Meet Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers First Round Pick

With the 21st pick in Wednesday’s 2020 NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Tyrese Maxey, guard from the University of Kentucky.

Maxey is only 20 years old but has long been a highly touted prospect and is no stranger to basketball success. As a high school player, he made two all-state teams, a national all-American team, and even helped the United States secure a gold medal at the 2018 FIBA U-18 Americas Championship. He was among the very top basketball prospects in his high school graduating class and made the choice to join forces with other NBA-bound players at the University of Kentucky.

He led that Kentucky team in minutes per game and while doing so also averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. Head coach John Calipari envisions clear success for Tyrese Maxey in the NBA stating “He is going to do great in the NBA because there’s nothing he can’t do. He can handle the ball, he can shoot, he’s got great athleticism, and he really defended as the season went on. He reminds me of what Jamal Murray was able to do, and we know how well he has done in the NBA.”

While the Sixers might not be getting a player as tremendous as Jamal Murray, they have to like that comparison. Other guards that Tyrese Maxey is often paired with when noting his future potential include Kyle Lowry and Bradley Beal. Again, these players are towards the more successful end of the spectrum, but Maxey has the basketball skills that inspire the parallels.

Philadelphia 76ers - Tyrese Maxey
Philadelphia 76ers – Tyrese Maxey

The scouting report for Maxey indicates that he has clear positives at both the offensive and defensive end of the floor. On offense, he is a clever finisher at the rim who can score at awkward angles and with either hand while absorbing contact. He is a solid pick and roll scorer and with the ability to pull up for a jump shot off the dribble on a dime. On defense, his strong frame and long arms allow him to be an excellent on-ball defender and he’s always displayed an engagement during off-ball defense that keeps him in plays at all times.

Advertisement

 


As with any prospect, there are also areas to improve. One of these is his shot selection, as he attempts too many contested jumpers as a result of not creating enough space with his dribble. The defenders don’t get any slower in the NBA so he’ll have to adapt in this regard. Maxey has also been pegged as a streaky shooter which some attribute his low release point, despite overall his form being praised.

Tyrese Maxey is a great fit for the Sixers as they needed a primary ball handler to help out Ben Simmons. If Maxey’s shooting proves reliable, his play could prove deadly when paired with both Simmons and Embiid. Now that other shooters, like Danny Green and Seth Curry, have joined the team as well, the Sixers are ready to put 2020’s season behind them and play for a championship this year.


Continue Reading
0
444 Views