❱ Baldy on the Eagles
❱ Camden Catholic kicker Matthew Kilic ❱
SAGUON BARKLEY’S STAR POWER HAS BEEN CONTAGIOUS
Saquon is a Star
After a 2023 complete collapse over the last two months by the Eagles, some roster building needed to take place.
Quickly certain position coaches and both o ensive and defensive coordinators were replaced.
New o ensive coordinator Kellen Moore wanted to have a strong running game at its core principle.
The o ensive line was intact after replacing Hall of Fame everything center, Jason Kelce, announced his retirement and Cam Jurgens was waiting in his wings to fill those big shoes.
When Saquon Barkley became a free agent by the rival NY Giants, Howie Roseman and the Eagles were there to invite him in...immediately. It sent shock waves throughout the league. How could the FACE of the G-Men not be signed to a long term contract?
What Saquon would the Eagles be receiving? An often injured Saquon? A running back who had spotty production since he was the unanimous rookie of the year when he surpassed 2000 total scrimmage yards.
When he averaged a career best 5.0 yards per carry and had 13 total touchdowns?
When the free agent deal was announced and consummated I immediately said that Saquon would have the best season of his career, and have a legitimate chance to win the rushing title.
The reason was simple.
Saquon never ran behind an o ensive line like the Eagles have. He never had lanes and runways like he would see behind Lane, Becton AND Jurgens and Dickerson and Mailata. Never.
And he has delivered.
As of this writing, hours before their Thursday match up with the Washington Commanders on Thursday night Prime, Saquon was averaging a
career best 110 yards per game, along with a career best 5.8 yards per carry with eight regular season games remaining.
And healthy as when the season started.
The Eagles also are following a league wide trend to becoming a “run first” mentality whereby they have run it almost 55 percent of the time, the highest in the NFL.
When I spoke to Saquon hours before their victory in New Orleans this year he told me that he was close to breaking a big run.
He said the o ensive line was doing their job and getting him
BRIAN BALDINGER ON THE EAGLES
EAGLES ROOKIE DEFENSIVE BACKS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN BIG WAYS
Maybe they’re so young they just don’t know rookies aren’t supposed to be doing what they are doing in the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive secondary. Or, maybe they are just so good that age isn’t a factor for Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, starters at cornerback who have made an instant impact just months after
BY DAVE SPADARO EAGLES INSIDER
being selected 1-2 by the Eagles in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Whatever the reason, Mitchell and DeJean have been di erence makers.
That’s indisputable.
“The way they’re playing, how poised they are, they aren’t rookies to us,” safety Reed Blankenship said. “They’re part of this team. They’re football players. Age and time in
this league, those are just labels. They have both prepared so well and they have gone out on the field and they’ve produced.
This isn’t a league where you get a redshirt season. You’re here to do your job, and that’s the name of the game in the NFL.”
Mitchell, the team’s first-round draft pick (No. 22 overall) from Toledo, was a Day 1 starter at cornerback, the first time that’s happened for the Eagles since Eric Allen in 1988. Allen, of course, went to a borderline Pro Football Hall of Fame career and has since been named to the Eagles’ Hall of Fame.
There have been other rookies who have contributed – Bobby Taylor started since the fifth week of his rookie season in 1995, Irv Cross jumped into the lineup back in 1961 after Tom Brookshier suffered an injury, Lito Sheppard played but didn’t start as a rookie and Kelee Ringo started the final four games of his 2023 rookie campaign.
But Day 1?
As a starter and a standout? It has been a looooooongggg time for the Eagles at cornerback. Until now. Until Mitchell.
“I’ve just taken everything day by day,” said Mitchell, soft-spoken o the field but
Rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
BAUN AND DEAN ARE GIVING EAGLES ELITE LINEBACKER PLAY
For a number of years, the Eagles have purposely looked for linebackers after they were satisfied with the talent they had at positions on the defensive line and in the defensive backfield.
Birds General Manager Howie Roseman has made it clear that he is going to take care of the defensive line positions and the secondary positions before he addresses their needs at the linebacker position.
BY GARRY 'G' COBB
Despite not putting the linebacker spot up at the top of the list, Roseman has done a tremendous job of getting linebacker talent, such as Birds linebacker Zach Baun and his partner in the middle of the Eagles defense, former University of Georgia star, Nakobe Dean.
Baun has played great football nearly the entire season. Initially, Roseman saw him as a backup pass rusher and Special Teams standout.
Thankfully Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio saw more in Baun and thought he could be an outstanding inside linebacker.
Not only has Baun captured a starting inside linebacker position, he’s been the Eagles best defensive player for most of the season. Amazingly, this free agent has been playing at a Pro Bowl level for most of the season.
The fifth-year linebacker was named NFC Defensive Player Of The Week, for his outstanding performance against the Dallas Cowboys. He made eight tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble, as well.
Baun leads the Eagles in tackles with a total of 87. He has 55 solo tackles,
32 assists and two quarterback sacks. The former New Orleans Saint has also picked o one pass and forced 3 fumbles.
The former Wisconsin Badger has been a tackling machine for most of the season and everyone has been surprised by the way he has been able to defend the pass.
Baun has surprising speed, which has enabled him to cover running backs, tight ends, and on occasion some wide receivers as they are running their routes in his area.
Dean, who helped the Georgia Bulldogs win a National Championship and was drafted by the Eagles in the third round a few years ago has battled injuries
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Zack Baun (53, bottom of pile) has shown a nose for the ball all season.
EAGLES FLYING HIGH WITH BARKLEY AND THE RUNNING GAME
BY AL THOMPSON
Many Eagles players and coaches are openly gushing over the play of running back Saquon Barkley after just nine games.
Going into the NFC East matchup against the Washington Commanders, Barkley has recorded 171 carries for 991 yards and six touchdowns.
In 2023, his last with the Giants, his totals for the 14 games he played in were 962 yards on 247 carries and six TDs.
His yards per carry have increased by nearly two yards.
He has 21 catches on 26 targets for 158 yards and two more trips to the end zone.
Those numbers are terrific, but they do not measure his sheer greatness. The 27-year-old from Whitehall Township, PA is playing the running back positionas Cowboys linebacker and former Penn State teammate Micah Parsons framed it – “peacefully,” now that he has a stud O-line and a dynamic quarterback in Jalen Hurts.
Players and fans are still buzzing over Barkley’s now legendary 14-yard run against Jacksonville when at the start of the second quarter, he took a short pass from Hurts, then put a wicked spin move on Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd, then turned up field to pull o a Dr. J-like backward, no-look hurdle over Jacksonville cornerback Jarrian Jones before he was finally tackled.
There were seven Jacksonville defenders around Barkley when he was finally brought down.
The stadium, not to mention the Ea-
gles sideline, went bonkers.
When someone started to ask Eagles Pro Bowl defensive back Darius Slay about the play, he interrupted the questioner with…“Is amazing,” Slay said.
“I’m just gonna just throw that out there.
I just got to say, I played with a lot of great, great, great players, Calvin Johnson and all that kind of great things… played against a lot too, but this probably, by far, probably the best football player I’ve played with.
“Stu like that is just unheard of. And
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Saquon Barkley was soaring all day against Jacksonville.
to witness that? Yeah, that’s, that’s crazy, you know, crazy stu .
“I played with Megatron,” Slay continued. “I never seen Calvin jumping nobody backwards after shaking two people, then jump backwards. [Barkley’s] like, 6-foot, 230 maybe 225, so that’s, that’s impressive. Like, that’s amazing. Yeah…he’s that man.”
That’s just one teammate.
EAGLES O-LINE TALKS ABOUT THE BIRDS IMPRESSIVE RUNNING ATTACK
Center Cam Jurgens was asked what it’s like to have Barkley behind him.
“If you just drive and push and get a little bit of a hole for him, he can make a guy miss,” Jurgens said at his locker at NovaCare. “As long as you’re doing your job, he’s going to make you look a lot better.”
Jurgens was asked if he agreed with recent comments from observers that the Eagles are a running team first. The 6-foot-3, 303 pounder out of Nebraska answered with a breakdown.
“A lot more motions and getting more things involved ...when the running game’s going,” he said. “It opens up a lot of other things you can do. There’s a lot of stu we can do with it.”
Jurgens was asked if the Eagles o ense got this good like a kid’s teeth would gradually mature by wearing braces. The 25-year-old laughed.
“It is just staying true to what we are and who we are and how we can get better,” Jurgens said. “Slowly but surely, if you keep doing the same things over and over and doing it over and over again and working on your double teams and your combo blocks…you’re eventually going to get better at it.”
Lane Johnson put his two cents in regarding the running game.
“When you are able to run the ball e ectively, it opens up so much,” Johnson said after the Bengals game. “First o , it wears down the interior defenders, weakens the pass rush…pucks the ‘backers in predicament so the more we can e ectively run block, set up play action, it just opens up everything.”
HURTS IS ENJOYING A GREAT ALL AROUND SEASON
Having Hurts as a threat to break a big play running the ball has also been key for the Eagles running game that is tops
Eaglesquarterback Jalen Hurts has his share of high-flying runs.
in the NFL with 1,585 yards after nine games.
The Commanders (7-3) are No. 2 with 1,535 yards and played one more game than the Birds (7-2).
Hurts has scored ten rushing TDs in 2024 after nine games. The26-year-old has rushed for 378 on 93 carries. Some of his runs and touchdowns rival any running back in the league.
Hurts was asked what he thought of Barkley’s reverse leap over the Jacksonville defender:
“God has blessed Saquon with some special things,” Hurts said after the game. “I really genuinely pray he continues to use those things and the fullness of him and give him the glory with that because there’s special stu he’s capable of doing. So we just need him to continue to be that type of player.”
NICK SIRIANNI TALKS ABOUT THE PLAYER HE LEANS ON AS MUCH AS ANYONE
It was brought to Sirianni’s attention that Barkley is on pace for 377 touches this year. He is rested during the week,
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Saquon Barkley has already rushed for 991 yards and six TDs.
EAGLES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
but is the coach monitoring that?
“You try to take care of them and do what you need to do to win each and every football game,” Sirianni said. “You try to take care of them throughout the week.I think the two games – obviously not the last game, but the game before that and the game before that – we were able to get him out in the fourth quarter.
“So you try to monitor it as much as you possibly can. And that’s really our jobs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and being aware of it on Sunday.
“But, yeah, always considering that with each and every one of our players with load management.
“I think our strength and conditioning sta and our trainers and our doctors give me really good insight on how to do that. And give our sta really good insight on how to do that.
Yeah, always on our mind with how many touches he has.”
What did the coach think of Barkley’s backwards hurdle?
“It was the best play I’ve ever seen,” Sirianni said. “And I had no choice but to give him -- I’ve been giving out game balls this year for special plays. Obviously, Nakobe (Dean) gets one. Ends the game with I guess would you call it a walk-o interception?
“I guess you would call it that. Even though you’ve got to take three knees. They should allow you to go to the next play.
“But Saquon’s play, what I think is so cool, is there are going to be kids all over the country and all over Philadelphia -- I really think about that -- trying to make that play and talking about that play and simulating that play as they play backyard football or Pee Wee Football.
“They aren’t going to be able to make it because I think he’s the only one in the world that can do that.
“I’m speechless. It was unbelievable, and the way the crowd -- when I looked up, like I thought I saw what I saw.”
“Sirianni was asked if Barkley is better than he thought he was now that you have him?
“We knew he was special,” he said. “Just when you’re preparing to play against special players in this league, they tend to take so much of your time up of you thinking about them and you preparing to stop them.
“So, we knew he was special. I think when you’re around him on a daily basis it’s safe to say, yes, that he’s even more special than I could have even imagined.”
BARKLEY AND HURTS GET INVITED TO MEET WITH AN AMERICAN LEADER
Barkley and Hurts were invited by Eagles owner Je rey Lurie to play a round of golf with former President Barack Obama at the Merion Golf Club about two weeks ago.
Barkley played with Obama’s golf partner and Lurie and Obama were the other team.
Barkley reported he and his partner lost to Obama and Lurie.”I couldn’t make a putt all day,” Barkley said.
Barkley said Hurts simply walked the course and did not play. He said he stayed away from politics but asked the former president about what his thoughts were on how to be a leader.
Barkley would only share a snippet of Obama’s answer.
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Jurgens says Barkley does not need much of a hole to make a big play.
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Saquon Barkley says he really appreciates how impactful the “Tush Push” is now that he is an Eagles. “You can’t stop it.”.
FOR VIC FANGIO...THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
BY PAUL DOMOWITCH
I’ve known Vic Fangio for 40 years. First met him in February of 1984 in of all places, Deland, Fla., which happens to be the home of Stetson University where the Philadelphia Stars held training camp during their three years of existence.
We both are from coal country. Vic is a product of Dunmore, which is a stone’s throw from Scranton. I was from nearby Wilkes-Barre. He went to East Stroudsburg. I went to Wilkes.
I was a 30-year-old sports writer covering the Stars for the Philadelphia Daily News back then.
Vic was a 26-year-old low-level defensive assistant on Jim Mora’s sta . When I say low-level, I mean low-level. Vic, who
was just two years removed from serving as the defensive coordinator at Milford Academy, a New York prep school about 25 miles west of Cooperstown, spent most of the ’84 season sleeping in the basement of Veterans Stadium to save the few cents the Stars were paying him.
Fangio had been a graduate assistant at the University of North Carolina in the fall of ’83. Got hired by Mora to do the Stars’ coaching grunt work and learn the ropes. He learned them fast. And well.
“I went there with the understanding that after the [Stars’] spring season, I would return to North Carolina,’’ Fangio said. “But our o ensive coordinator, Joe Pendry, left to become the head coach of the Pittsburgh Maulers. Some other coaches were shu ed around and Jim offered me a full-time job. He didn’t want me to go back to Chapel Hill. So I was
the defensive quality control coach and also the strength coach. The rest is history, I guess.’’
Indeed it is. In the four-plus decades since he spent his first night sawing z’s on a cot in the bowels of the Vet, Fangio has established himself as one of the best defensive coaches in NFL history.
At 66, his career – and life – have come full circle. He’s back in Philadelphia where it all started for him. He’s on his 10th NFL team and is in charge of his eighth NFL defense, including three as the head coach of the Denver Broncos.
I feel reasonably confident that there won’t be a ninth. The main appeal of the Eagles job for Vic is location, location, location. It has brought him back to his Pennsylvania roots, a mere 2-hour ride up the Northeast Extension from Dun-
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Jalen Carter’s game has significantly improved since the arrival of Viv Fangio.
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Vic Fangio has helped elevate the game of rookie Cooper DeJean.
PHOTO BY TERENCE LEWIS
Just nine games into his first season as defensive coordinator for the Eagles, Vic Fangio is being elevated to folk hero status.
FIELD
With
CAMDEN CATHOLIC’S MATTHEW KILIC WANTS TO TAKE HIS KICKING GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL
BY AL THOMPSON
There are terrific things that happen during our lives that get started by chance.
People find a life of music as a toddler after being introduced to an instrument at a family get together.
Many young men and women have found a career in coaching after volunteering to help a friend with a youth football, basketball, softball or baseball league.
For Camden Catholic kicker Matthew Kilic, he found his calling during his first year of playing the sport of football for
the South Jersey private coeducational Roman Catholic high school.
“I played soccer my whole life.” Kilic said after a recent Irish practice. “When I came to Camden Catholic, I was originally going to play soccer. But I was a little on the heavier side. I’d wanted to play football since I was a kid. So I thought I might as well.”
Kilic said he was originally going to try out for the defensive line. He said he was moving along in that role until one day the coaches asked him to try a new position.
“It started at the end of my freshman year.” Kilic said. “The coaches were having people try kicking PATs (points after
touchdowns). And since I played soccer, one of the coaches say to go out there and try it.
“I made one and I’ve been working at it ever since.”
Kilic said playing soccer in grade school gave him the instep instincts to be a good kicker on the gridiron.
Now he has hit several field goals in league games from 47 yards.
“It’s amazing actually,” head coach Wayne Gilliam II said. “I’ve said this to a number of people I’ve talked to…Matt is an absolute weapon. Knowing that if you get the ball past the 50 [yard line] just a little bit, this is a kid who can get you some points on the board.
“Especially in our division, we saw a lot of teams that had to go for two because they didn’t have a kicker.
“Just knowing if you score a touchdown, it’s not a woulda, coulda, shoulda or if … you’ve got somebody that is basically automatic at kicking extra points.”
KICKING GURU TALKS ABOUT KILIC
Former Temple kicking legend Jim Cooper Sr., the owner of 5 Star Kicking, a kicking and punting instruction facility, talked about how Kilic’s skills have developed since he started coaching him a few
Camden Catholic kicker Matthew Kilic would like to take his game to the next level.
PHOTOS BY AL THOMPSON
Camden Catholic kicker Matthew Kilic has two 47-yard field goals on his 2024 resume for the Irish.
years ago.
“Matt has been with me for about two years and has continued to make steady progress,” said Cooper, whose outdoor facility is located in Berlin, NJ. “He’s very diligent about his technique and mechanics and always strives to improve. Like all kickers, as they mature and work yearround at their craft, they begin to hone their skill and work through any discrepancies that could hold back progress.
“High school coaches generally like to go for the six points but I think Matt has proven himself to be a real weapon. Flexibility has always been a big key to the success of a specialist and this year Matt’s improvement is a direct result of his flexibility training.
“He has a live explosive leg and have seen him hit kick field goals from as far as 60 yards at camp 5 STAR. He definitely possesses the skill to play at the next level and it will be exciting to watch him and continue to get better.”
THE BAR IN THE KICKING GAME IS GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER
In an article by Lev Akabas in Sportico, the author talked about the surge in field goal distances in the NFL this year and the confidence coaches have in kickers making long-distance attempts.
“The monumental improvement, however, has been at long-distance kicks. Kickers are on pace to make 251 field goals from 50-plus yards this season, which would shatter the record of 158 set just last year. In fact, in 2023, there were only 230 attempts from that distance.”
The competition at the college level for scholarships is fierce as there many great kickers out there.
Gilliam, who is pushing for college scouts to look at his guy, talks about his chances.
“I think he still has the most upside of any of those guys,” Gilliam said. He’s only been doing this for a couple of years…. just being a kicker.
“Matt was dealing with some injuries and wasn’t able to kick this past spring. So he didn’t have a lot of opportunities to kick.
According to Gilliam and Kilic, the senior has hit five of his six field goal attempts with two made kicks from 47 yards,
“Matt is the kind of kid that is going
to work. He knows what he is up against and will put in the work to get better. He is working every day. With him being a raw prospect, Matt has a very high upside.”
Camden Catholic finished 9-0 for the regular season, but lost to Pope John 42-7 in the NJSIAA Tournament, First Round, Non-Public, Group B. The Irish have one more game on November 27 against a very good Paul VI team.
Gilliam’s squad won the West Jersey - Patriot League with a perfect 6-0 record.
He talked about some of the players he leaned on during this season and will one more time on the night before Thanksgiving.
His assistant coaches included Quaashie Jetter, Demrick Cook, Demetrius Hudson, Kyle Dupree, Mike McGrath, Nazir Streater and Waverly Harris.
KILIC TALKS ABOUT HIS PROGRESS
The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder said playing soccer in grade school gave him the instep instincts to be a good kicker on the gridiron. The deeper he got into the position, the more he learned the things he would have to do to have success at a craft that keeps setting the bar higher every season.
“Players are just getting stronger nowadays,” said Lilic, who was named the Courier Post South Jersey Gridiron Gang Player of the Week for Week 5. “We have di erent supplements and food. People are just more genetically gifted.
“It’s also about the technique,” Kilic continued. “Everything is being perfected compared to how it used to be. People used to be barefoot kicking…now there’s a certain technique you want to achieve.”
Kilic said he has played defensive tackle for Camden Catholic…but only in practice.
“I practice every now and then to make sure I know how to tackle just in case on kicko s.”
said Kilic, who lists Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson and Eagles running back Saquon Barkley as the NFL players he admires, said he also works on the mental aspect of kicking in the sport of football. He talks about dealing with being on an island when he is lining up for a kick.
“You just have to kind of zone out from everything else,” Kilic said. “You have to focus on everything you’re doing. You can’t let anything else distract you. That’s really all it is. Just be able to focus on you.”
Kilic hopes his progress is enough to land home for the next four or five years.
Some information taken from camdencatholic.org
“Of course we had senior quarterback Mike Moritz, plus sophomore running backs Nymir Daily and Bryce Clark, sophomore defensive back/ wide receiver Josh Collier, senior tight end Sean Welde, junior wide receiver/DB Daniel Leahy, senior Makai Bolden (CB/RB), Freshman (WR/ DB) Terence Barnes, junior (LB/FB) Sean O’Reilly, junior (OL/DL) Tristan Owen and senior (DL) Joel Amegatcher. “The list goes on,” Gilliam said.
PHOTO FROM CAMDEN CATHOLIC ATHLETIC TWITTER PAGE
2024 WJFL Patriot Division Champions!!! The Irish went undefeated in division play to claim Camden Catholic’s first WJFL title since 2017!
TOP HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS
FOOTBALLSTORIES TOP HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS 2024--PLAYOFFS HEATING UP
RANKINGS AS OF NOVEMBER 12, 2024. For questions - corrections email al.thompson@footballstories.com
SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TOP 20
1. Imhotep Institute (6-1)
1. St. Joe’s Prep (7-2)
3. Central Bucks South (12-0)
4. LaSalle (10-1)
5. Malvern Prep (8-2)
6. Downingtown West (11-1)
7. Bonner/Prendie (8-2)
8. North Penn (10-2)
9. Roman Catholic (8-4)
10. Garnet Valley (9-3)
SOUTH JERSEY TOP 20
1. Winslow Township (11-0)
2. Hun School (9-1)
3. Millville (8-2)
4. Holy Spirit (8-1)
5. Washington Township (9-2)
6. Camden (8-2)
7. Rancocas Valley (9-2)
8. Shawnee (9-3)
9. Kingsway (8-3)
10. St. Augustine (6-3)
11. Central Bucks West (10-2)
12. Springfield (11-1)
13. Bayard Rustin (11-1)
14. Haverford (10-2)
15. Bayard Rustin (11-1)
16. Pope John Paul II (Royersford) (11-1)
17. Phoenixville (9-2)
18. Chester (10-2)
19. Strath Haven (10-2)
20. Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-3)
20 Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (8-2)
20. Bishop Shanahan (8-3)
20. Owen J. Roberts (9-3)
ALSO HAVING GOOD SEASONS: Ridley (6-5), Neshaminy (6-5), Haverford School (73), Perkiomen Valley (7-4), Marple Newtown (8-4), William Penn Charter (7-3), Souderton (7-4), Downingtown East (6-5-1), Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-3), West Philadelphia (7-4).
11. Glassboro (10-0)
12. Paul VI (7-2)
13. Mainland (8-3)
14. Atlantic City (8-2)
15. Woodstown (9-1)
16. Seneca (8-3)
17. Delsea (5-6)
18. Camden Catholic (9-1)
19. Burlington Township (8-2)
20. Cedar Creek (7-4)
20. Schalick (8-3)
20. Lawrenceville (7-2)
20. Hopewell Valley (10-1) DESERVES A LOOK: Willingboro (7-4), Cherokee (5-6), Haddonfield (6-4), Oakcrest (6-4), Pennsauken (6-3), Cherry Hill East (9-1), Delran (9-2), Ocean City (6-5)
DELAWARE TOP 10
1. Caravel (10-0)
2. Salesianum (9-1)
3. Middletown (8-2)
4. Sussex Central (8-2)
5. Appoquinimink (7-3)
6. Archmere Academy (8-2)
7. Smyrna (5-5)
8. Hodgson Vo-Tech (5-5)
9. Woodbridge (7-3)
10 Tatnall (10-0)
10. Delmar (9-1)
10. Indian River (9-1)
10. Howard (7-3)
HONORABLE MENTION: Cape Henlopen (5-5), Polytech (8-2), St. George’s Tech (5-5), Delaware Military Academy (5-5), Laurel (5-5), Lake Forest-felton (6-4), Red Lion Christian Academy (7-3).
Undefeated and South Jersey No. 1 Winslow Township two-way star Cam Miller looks to lead the Eagles to a state title.
PHOTO BY JESSE GARBER
No. 3 ranked undefeated Central Bucks South quarterback Owen Pinkerton winds up for a throw against Neshaminy back on October 18, 2024.
“I’ll leave that one to myself,” Barkley said. “But it was a really well thought out answer. His answer applies to what I can do as a leader not just in the locker room…but in everyday life. And in what I aspire to be during football and after football too.”
BARKLEY ON A PLAY THAT IS INDIGENOUS TO THE EAGLES
Barley was asked for his view of the “Tush Push” and has changed since he has been an Eagle?
He knew when he signed with Philadelphia, that when the Eagles are at fourth and one anywhere on the field, including one yard from the end zone, it is Hurts who gets the ball 99 percent of the time.
Barkley was asked if he likes the “Brotherly Shove.”
“Depends on how you look at it, right?” Barkley said at his locker on a recent Wednesday. “Could I have taken the mindset that I could have more touchdowns?
“Yeah, but the most important thing at the end of the day is winning football.”
Barkley then shifted to talking about the play itself and how it works. All he ever saw as a member of the Giants was Hurts being catapulted across the first down marker or the goal line in an unstoppable manner.
Now Barkley has full knowledge of the play and knows how unstoppable it is.
“The core of the play is just man-onman…stop us! There’s something about that.
“Everybody knows it’s coming. Everybody knows what’s going on. You can’t stop it. Every team can’t do it. There’s a reason Philly’s been so good at it for the last couple of years.
“I look at it more that it’s a statement. When you’re on the one-yard line with fourth and one…you know it’s coming and you can’t stop it. Some have some success here and there…but more times than not, we’ll get the best of them.
“That shows you how physical and the mindset of a team that we have. That’s what you need for a successful team.”
Barkley was reminded of when he was on Kelce’s podcast and was told how impactful the play was from the one-yard line.
“I might run it from the two,” Barkley laughed. “I look at it like this…If I wanted to do the Tush Push, no score.
I’m going to do my best to make sure I don’t put the ball at risk of taking a touchdown, because at the end of the day, the most important thing is winning football games.
SPIKING THE FOOTBALL IN CINCINNATI AND THE FUMBLE AGAINST THE JAGS
Against Jacksonville, the Eagles were rolling along with a 22-point lead well into the second half.
With 5:30 left in the third quarter, Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence finished o a 10-play, 61-yard drive and twopoint conversion to make the score 22-8.
On the first play of the ensuing drive Barkley gets the ball and goes four yards before he stumbles after hitting two players – on Eagle and one Jaguar - and hits the ground.
The ball came out. Then 272-pound defensive lineman Travon Walker grabs the ball and rumbles for a 35-yard touchdown and another two-point conversion.
The play looked like the ground caused the fumble. But after review, the play was ruled a fumble and a TD.
The Birds were rescued from a brutal loss by linebacker Nakobe Dean, who intercepted Lawrence in the end zone.
“Once they called a fumble, I knew it was going to be a fumble,” Barkley said.
“It’s happened to me before. It’s one of those things where if they had called it not a fumble, it wouldn’t have been a fumble.
“But they called it a fumble. I’ve got to do a better job protecting the ball. Those are weird because I felt I did have good ball security.
“When you are falling down, the elbow kind of gets flipped under…the ball comes out. It’s kind of tough. No excuses, I’ve got to be better in that situation.
“That play kind of sparked Jacksonville. It made the game a lot closer than it needed to be.”
On his last rushing TD of the day against the Bengals – he had three on the day – Hurts handed the ball to Barkley to spike it like has done with o ensive linemen in the past.
“That was my first spike…ever,” Barkley laughed during a session at his locker at NovaCare.. “So how did I do?” he asked reporters, “He handed it to me… To be honest, I’ve never spiked the ball before..so I went ahhhh…just do it.”
The running back talked about his approach to post TD celebrations.
“My celebration comes more from just
joy,” Barkley said. “I’m not a planned celebrator. When I score, I just give the ball to the ref…I may run around, or do something like that because I’m a kid playing a game.
“I don’t have a signature celebration ... .yet.” Hand it to the ref and act like
you’ve been there before. That still is my mindset.”
Eagles hope Barkley keeps his mindset focused on New Orleans in February. ••
Some stats taken from nfl.com and pro-football-reference.com.
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Saquon Barkley could be headed for a career year, his first with the Birds.
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni says he has never seen a play like Barkley’s backward hurdle.
OPINION: THE CURIOUS CASE OF NICK SIRIANNI
BY MATT SANTOLERI
The Philadelphia Eagles are 7-2, sitting a half a game ahead of Washington in the NFC East, and only a game back from Detroit for the number one seed in the entire NFC.
The team has won five straight games since their beating they took down in Tampa Bay in Week 4 where they were missing key players across their o ense in wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith plus right tackle Lane Johnson.
Three of the five wins now after the 34-6 drubbing they handed a Dak Prescott-less Cowboys team in Arlington have been by more than one score,
something they previously hadn’t done since a Week 7-win vs Miami last sea-
son in 2023.
By all accounts, this team is rounding
into shape and as the contenders start to form and the pretenders start to wilt away, finding themselves firmly in the latter group.
So, what’s the problem?
Well, depending on whom you ask, the prevailing concern with how such a talented team might fail to meet the expectations set in front of them rests squarely on the shoulders of their Head Coach Nick Sirianni.
This may seem crazy considering he’s put together winning seasons in each of his previous three seasons, well on his way to a fourth, a NFC East title, a Super Bowl berth, and an overall Win/ Loss record of 41-19 (.683).
That Win/Loss percentage is second most of all active head coaches and ninth best in the entire history of the NFL ahead of Mt. Rushmore level NFL Head coaches like George Halas, Don Shula, and Bill Belichick, whose name has swirled in rumors since the o season as a potential replacement for
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Nick Siranni may rub some people the wrong way, but his players are all in with him.
Sirianni.
Even with all the success that Sirianni has brought to the city of Philadelphia, the mere mention of his name on commercial radio and water cooler talks alike gets fans blood pressure skyrocketing more than a Whiz Wit.
Could it be his overtly homer demeanor bordering on politician level pandering?
Could it be his extremely unserious antics he deploys on gameday sidelines jawing with opposing teams fan bases, and sometimes, even his own?
Could it stem from last year’s epic collapse when after they started the year o 10-1, they would lose six of their next seven including a heartless and uninspiring loss to Tampa Bay in the Wild Card round?
Could it be after being relegated to his now “CEO Head Coach” position, lead him into making questionable in-game decisions that have either cost them wins, like vs Atlanta, or almost did, like against Jacksonville, when that’s pretty much what
his job is now that he’s not in control of the play-calling?
His slip-up at the podium when discussing whether QB Jalen Hurts was dealing with an ankle injury or just “load management” going into the Dallas game could result in a financial penalty that his bosses might be mad about too, although that’s far down on the list of complaints from most fans.
The obvious-but maybe boring answer - is it’s just a little bit of everything with Nick Sirianni.
He’s going to rub some people the wrong way with his bravado and outbursts of swagger but it’s this very thing that also has endeared him to players in that locker room and many fans alike too.
The in-game decision-making is a legitimate gripe from the naysayers and that surely must improve but as long as he keeps winning games and moving further up those record boards, he’ll be given the chance to work this out.
Sirianni isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon, and maybe that’s a good thing. ••
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Nick Siranni has a winning percentage that has him rubbing elbows with some of the all time coaching greats.
Baun Zack Baun
LINEBACKER
2024 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES SCHEDULE
REGULAR SEASON
Sunday, November 24 at Los Angeles Rams 8:20 p.m.+ NBC
Sunday, December 1 at Baltimore Ravens 4:25 p.m.+ CBS
Sunday, December 8 Carolina Panthers 1:00 p.m.+ FOX
Sunday, December 15 Pittsburgh Steelers 4:25 p.m.+ FOX
Sunday, December 22 at Washington Commanders 1:00 p.m.+ FOX
Sunday December 29 Dallas Cowboys 4:25 p.m.+ FOX TBD*
New York Giants TBD TBD
POSTSEASON
Saturday, January 11; Sunday, January 12; Monday, January 13 –AFC and NFC Wild Card Playo s Saturday, January 18; Sunday, January 19 –AFC and NFC Divisional Playo s Sunday, January 26 –AFC and NFC Championship Games Sunday, February 9 –Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA (FOX) All games will be broadcast live on 94.1 WIP
PRESEASON
Friday, August 9 at Baltimore Ravens W 16-13
Thursday, August 15 at New England Patriots W 14-13
Saturday, August 24 Minnesota Vikings L 26-3 REGULAR SEASON
Friday, September 6 Green Bay Packers W 34-29
Monday, September 16 Atlanta Falcons L 22-21
Sunday, September 22 at New Orleans Saints W 15-12
Sunday, September 29 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 33-16
BYE
Sunday, October 13 Cleveland Browns W 20-16
Sunday, October 20 at New York Giants W 28-3
Sunday, October 27 at Cincinnati Bengals W 37-17
Sunday, November 3 Jacksonville Jaguars W 28-23
Sunday, November 10 at Dallas Cowboys W 34-6
Thursday, November 14 Washington Commanders 8:15 p.m. Prime Video
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SKIN IN THE GAME…
It’s been around for years but many athletes do not incorporate this into their training programs.
What is it?? Barefoot training. We were created to move without footwear. Our feet are designed to flex, extend, rotate and absorb impact.
Shoes came along... especially “modern” footwear, and although it has its advantages, they became a substitute for natural functioning such as balance, flexibility, shock absorption, power, and contact sensitivity.
BY BRIAN LANGE
Because of that, our feet aren’t as aware of our movement, which leads to a decrease in strength, flexibility, agility, proprioception and the like which can result in reduced performance and ultimately injury.
When the foot/ankle lacks stability, it a ects everything up the kinetic chain.
Poor foot and hip stability directly a ect knee stability. It’s all connected so we need to make sure the “connections” are at their best.
So, how do we do this barefoot training? Get rid of the shoes for now… and get your feet functioning at peak capability!
Progression is key. You wouldn’t throw 300 on the bar when you can only press 200. You build up to it, thus decreasing your chance of injury and getting the best possible results.
I remember several years back talking with an orthopedist.
I asked her what she thought about minimalist footwear. Her reply: “they keep me in business”. She said that people would jump right to minimalist training at the same intensity they were doing in their traditional shoes. Thus, creating intense overload, resulting in ankle sprains, fractures, plantar fasciitis, and Achillies injuries.
Barefoot training is no di erent. Progressional stages from, non-weight bearing (unloaded) movement, to weight bearing, and on to dynamic exercises.
There are a multitude of exercises, but the ones below are a good place to start.
Unloaded/active ROM movement: These are performed sitting on the ground. One leg straight, the other bent at about 90 degrees with the foot flat on the ground. In this position you would bring your ‘flat” foot through a variety of motions.
Adduction/abduction, flexion/extension and inversion/eversion.
Weight bearing movements: Standing with feet about shoulder apart, legs straight, gently rock from the heel to the ball of the foot. Think toe/calf raise with a slight rocking motion. When you get to the front of the movement, push down and then up onto your toes.
Single leg balance is another good exercise. Most athletic movements are single leg in nature, transferring energy from one side of the body to the other. Stand with one leg straight, foot flat.
Opposite leg, knee slightly bent with foot o the ground. First just hold this position for 10 seconds then rock up onto
the forefoot and hold for another 10 seconds.
Lastly, Dynamic type movements. These would include active lunges, deadlift, squats, running and gentile hops forward and side to side. These should be initiated without any weight to start and then resistance added as skill and ability progress.
Depending on the stage of movement and exercise, soft surfaces are best. Carpet, grass, and turf are good areas to start. Harder surfaces can be utilized during progression and with various movements/lifts.
Consult your Athletic Trainer or S&C coach before exercise, especially if you already have ankle instabilities, plantar fasciitis, Achillies issues etc. Also, they are a great source for more variety and progression of movements.
I hope this gets you started on building a solid functional base where all your lower body movement originates from. Barefoot training will increase your kinesthetic awareness, decrease your chance for injury and elevate your athletic outcome!
Keep moving forward… - Brian ••
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Brian Lange shows o his bare feet...for training.
Barefoot training.
COLLEGE REGULAR SEASON WINDS DOWN-BOWL GAMES AND PLAYOFFS ON THE HORIZON
Footballstories College Football Editor Rock Ho man reviews his local Players of the Week for 2024
“Playo s!”
Most football fans have heard that exclamation from Jim Mora after he was asked if he thought his team (the 2001 Indianapolis Colts) could make the playo s after a bad loss.
Now that the College Football Playo (CFP) has expanded to 12 teams from four, “Playo s!” can be exclaimed with ex-
BY ROCK HOFFMAN
citement not the sarcasm of Mora’s original statement.
Starting in early November, the 13-member selection committee started ranking the top 25 teams in the nation. After the conference title games, they will issues their final rankings and then seed the qualifying teams according to CFP rules.
The top four seeds –which will be the four highest ranked conference
champions - will receive first-round byes. Overall, the top five highest ranked conference champions will receive automatic bids. Most – if not every year – that figures to be the champs of the ACC, SEC, Big Ten and Big 12. The highest ranked title winner from the Group of Five conferences will get the fifth automatic bid even if they are ranked outside of the top 12.
The conference commissioners, who are the ones who came up with the playo protocols, wanted to honor teams that won their leagues.
“They want the conference championships to mean something,” said Rich
Clark, the executive director of the College Football Playo on a webinar with the media. “Honoring the conference champions is important for a couple of reasons. One, it makes the regular season matter, it makes the conference championship games matter and it’s a pathway for that Group of Five conference champion to come in.”
The remaining seven teams will be atlarge bids with seeds five through eight hosting on-campus, first-round games. Once the quarterfinals are set, the games will be tied into bowls games around New Year’s Day. The playo s
PHOTO FROM VILLANOVA.COM/SPORTS
Defensive Player of Week, first week - Richie Kimmel, linebacker, Villanova.
PHOTO FROM THE CFP WEBSITE
Pictured from the 2022 championship game left to right are Jamaree Salyer (no 69), Stetson Bennett (no 13) and Jordan Davis (no, 99).
will rotate through the six major bowls with four hosting the quarterfinals and the remaining two serving as the semifinals. This season, the Championship game will be in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20.
The Football Stories College Players of the Week are selected from the 14 schools they play in the Philadelphia region. Here are the honorees for the season so far.
Week 1 – O ensive Player of the Week
– Ryan O’Connor, quarterback, Delaware
Defensive Player of the Week – Richie Kimmel, linebacker, Villanova
Week 2 – O ensive Player of the Week
– Devin Smith, wide receiver, Villanova
Defensive Player of the Week - Jacquez Mabin, defensive lineman, Del Val
Week 3 – O ensive Player of the Week
-Nunes Bukula IV, running back, Rowan
Defensive Player of the Week – Aaron Rios, defensive lineman, Ursinus
Week 4 – O ensive Player of the Week
– Evan Simon, quarterback, Temple
Defensive Player of the Week – Jalen Walker, defensive lineman, Widener
Week 5 – O ensive Player of the Week
– Aidan Sayin, quarterback, Penn
Defensive Player of the Week - Jalen Walker, defensive lineman, Widener
Week 6 – O ensive Player of the Week
– Jalen Bradford, quarterback, Ursinus
Defensive Player of the Week – Connor Noble, linebacker, West Chester
Week 7 – O ensive Player of the Week
– Malachi Hosley, running back, Penn
Defensive Player of the Week – Connor Carter, linebacker, Ursinus
Week 8 – O ensive Player of the Week
– Trevor Bopp, quarterback, TCNJ
Defensive Player of the Week - Jacquez Mabin, defensive lineman, Del Val
Week 9 – O ensive Player of the Week
– Jayson Schmidt, running back, TCNJ
Defensive Player of the Week – Brendan Bell, linebacker, Villanova
Week 10 – O ensive Player of the Week
– Marcus Yarns, running back, Delaware
Defensive Player of the Week – Shane Mosley, defensive back, West Chester
Week 11 - O ensive Player of the Week
– Liam O’Brien, quarterback, Penn
Defensive Player of the Week - Jalen Walker, defensive lineman, Widener •• EMAIL
PHOTO FROM WEST CHESTER ATHLETICS
Week Ten defensive player of the week. Shane Mosley, defensive back, West Chester.
PHOTO FROM TCNJATHLETICS.COM
Week 9 O ensive Player of the Week – Jayson Schmidt, running back, TCNJ gets love from O-lineman Joe Matone (50).
PHOTO BY JESSE GARBER
Week Four O ensive player of the Week - Evan Simon, quarterback, Temple.
BY
PHOTO
ANDY LEWIS
COBB
and watched others play the position, during his time with the Birds.
He stepped up during this year‘s training camp and outplayed former Tampa Bay Pro Bowl linebacker, Devin White for the starting inside linebacker position next to Baun.
It took him a few games to get into the groove, but he has been playing some outstanding football. Eagles fans will never forget the interception he made at the end of the Birds win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Dean went up and pulled down a great interception in the end zone with the Jaguars on the Eagles ten yard line and in position to score and take the lead with seconds remaining.
It was a game saving play that Dean was ready to make because he does a tremendous job of studying what opponents do and being ready for them.
Dean is second only to Baun, on the team in tackles with 40 solo stops and 26 assists for a total of 66 take downs. He
also has two sacks and one very important, game-saving interception.
Number 17 calls the defenses in the huddle for the Birds, just like he did in Georgia for their championship squad. He’s one of the leaders on defense and they have been focusing on forcing more turnovers.
Dean, Baun and their teammates are emphasizing going after the football on tackles and especially, if they’re the second man in on the stop. On sacks, they’re encouraging each other to punch the football out of the hands of opposing quarterbacks, if the opportunity presents itself.
The Birds have a young defense that seems to be getting better each and every week. At the beginning of the season, the Eagles o ense led the way, but as the games have continued, the defense has been leading the way.
Fittingly, Dean and Baun are two of the leaders in the front of the Birds defense and hopefully they will continue to lead the way with great performances against opposing o enses.••
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Nakobe Dean has been a leader since the first day he walked onto the NovaCare facility.
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Nakobe Dean has turned into one of the best linebackers in the NFL.
a player who exudes confidence when he’s competing. You’re going to get great players every week so you have to prepare. You have to be ready for every play. Any letdown and they’re going to make you pay.
“So, I’ve just worked hard and have gotten a lot of help from the guys around me, from my coaches. But there is so much more I have to learn. Every day is like that.”
Mitchell has played in 10 games as a starter and he has been on the field for nearly every defensive snap.
The Eagles aren’t hiding him; in fact, they have given him great responsibility in man-to-man coverage and have treated him like a seasoned veteran.
“You could tell from the time he got here that he was going to work for it, didn’t expect anything to be handed to him,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “He has responded. Hasn’t been perfect, of course, but he continues to get better and improve his technique and trust what he’s seeing out there.”
Michell has consistently graded highly, has been excellent against the deep ball,
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physical in his matchups and has tackled well.
The shortcomings have not been apparent. His play has been a big plus for the defense since the opener in Brazil, but the defense still had holes to fill.
After going 2-2 in its first four games, the Eagles inserted DeJean, the team’s second-round draft pick and No. 40 overall, into the lineup as the starting nickel cornerback, and immediately went on a winning streak that vaulted them to the top of the NFC East.
DeJean’s size – he’s 6-foot, 198 pounds – athleticism and intelligence have helped him contribute quickly, something that didn’t seem likely when DeJean reported to Training Camp with a hamstring injury that he su ered in the o season.
DeJean missed all but the final week of Camp and the last preseason game, and his contributions through four games were limited to returning punts replacing Britain Covey, who su ered a shoulder injury in a Week 3 win over New Orleans.
DeJean is explosive as a returner and he’s helped the special teams, but it’s in the defensive secondary where DeJean has made the greatest impact.
He has been outstanding, limiting big plays from slot receivers.
“I think really the older guys in our
room having trust in us to go out and do our jobs on the field and then teaching us and helping us prepare. They’ve been doing that since we got here,” DeJean said.
“They’ve treated us like we’ve been out there and we’ve been playing for a while. Everyone is on the same page. That’s a big help, too.
“Great coaching, for sure, has helped us out on the field. They’ve prepared us for this moment. We have a lot of young guys, guys who are eager to learn. We want to be big parts of the team and not play as ‘rookies,’ if you know what I mean. We’re out there doing as we are taught.”
A defense that has undergone significant change at all three levels is in the midst of a critical stretch of games – at the Rams, at the Ravens next – as one of the most e ective groups in the entire NFL. Why? Having youth on its side certainly helps, and that’s something the Eagles have not had in the form of two hot-shot rookies in the secondary in … forever?
“There is a lot of football left and nobody is looking ahead, but it’s helped a lot having those two young bucks out there,” said 15-year veteran defensive end Brandon Graham. “They are bringing it, and it’s just the beginning for them. They’re just going to get better and better.” ••
PHOTO BY JESSE GARBER
Eagles rookie Quinyon Mitch (right) and Giants rookie defensive back Dru Phillips trade jerseys then pose for Footballstories after the 28-3 Eagles win.
PHOTO BY AL THOMPSON
Eagles rookie defensive back Quinyon Mitchell at his locker after practice to get ready for the game against Washington.
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
into the secondary. He said he was too quick to make cuts after he saw the opening and the safeties were getting better angles to flatten his runs. He said he needs to really press the safeties first and then make his cut.
In the fourth quarter, after the Birds struggled mightily for three quarters, Barkley ripped o a 65 yard touchdown run to put the Birds on the board and to give them a lead.
On the play, Barkley cut o left guard Landon Dickerson and then did what he told me he needed to do.
He pressed safety Tyran Mathieu and then cut hard left and outran the pursuit to pay dirt.
I mention the story because in it lies the details of why Saquon is special.
The reason Saquon is a star. He coaches himself harder than the coaches or however the media wants to analyze Saquon.
In an era when the running back position is being de-emphasized in relation to salary the winning organization like the Ravens with Derrick Henry; the Packers with Josh Jacobs; The Vikings with Aaron Jones are all benefitting from the free agent acquisitions that teams have made for these special players.
Currently Saquon is averaging 110 yards rushing per game, trailing only Derrick Henry who is averaging 112 yards per game.
Look for Saquon to out-dual King Henry before the end of the season because the Eagles o ensive line is better than the Ravens.
The Eagles got themselves a star and a firm identity.
And with that, the Birds are on track to win the division and to put last season’s collapse behind themselves
Welcome to the Eagles Saquon.
PHOTOS BY ANDY LEWIS
Going into Week 11, Saquon Barkley is averaging 110 yards per game.
Saquon Barkley soars to new heights every week since he joined the Eagles. Saquon Barkley, for the first time, is running behind a great o ensive line, and his numbers show it.
DOMOWITCH
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
more, a place he always will hold dear. Take it from me. Philly is a great place from which to ride o into the sunset.
Fangio took over an Eagles defense that couldn’t get out of its own way last season and has turned it into one of the league’s better units, maximizing the abilities of talented young players like cornerbacks Quinyan Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, linebackers Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean and defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
The Eagles went into their big Week 11 battle against Washington ranked sixth in the league in points allowed (17.9), second in yards allowed (274.2), fourth in touchdown passes allowed (8), fourth in opponent passer rating (78.6) and 14th in takeaways (12).
Last year, the Eagles finished 30th, 26th, 31st, 29th and 25th respectively in those five categories.
In their last five games leading up to Washington, they allowed just 13.0 points and 200.8 yards per game. Gave up just one TD pass and had 10 takeaways in those five games and held their opponents to a 34.9 third-down success rate.
Early in the season, during the Eagles’
2-2 start, the defense had a plethora of costly missed tackles. Since the bye week, however, they’ve been one of the best tackling teams in the league.
Averaged nearly nine missed tackles per game in the first four games this season. In the last five games, they’ve averaged just 4.2, according to Pro Football Focus.
Fangio said the defensive coaches have emphasized tackling in practice every day since the bye week.
“I had an old coach when I first started in pro ball who said, ‘If you emphasize something, you’ve got a chance to get it [right],’’’ he said. “That’s what’s happened here. Plus, we’ve played better overall, and the ball hasn’t been in the open field as much.’’
That “old coach’’ was the guy who gave Fangio the first – and second – big breaks of his career – Jim Mora. Mora hired him in Philly, then brought him along to New Orleans in ’86 as his linebackers coach when he got the Saints job.
“Jim, to me, is one of the most underrated great coaches in the league because he just never did much in the playo s. Never quite had the overall team to go far, but was a damn good coach and a guy that I’ve always looked up to.’’
Mora is 32nd in career NFL wins with
125. Throw in the 43 he won with the Stars and he’d have 168, just four behind Hall of Famer Bill Parcells.
The criticism of Fangio by some after he left Miami last season was that he had trouble communicating with the Dolphins players. Well, that hasn’t been a problem with the Eagles where the old man is doing wonders with one of the youngest defenses in the league.
The Eagles have just one starter on defense who is older than 27 (cornerback Darius Slay, 32). The average age of their 11 starters is 25.0.
“We are not afraid to play young players,’’ Fangio said. “I never have been and never will be, so long as they can do their job.’’
“Vic is here to correct us,’’ said 25-yearold third-year safety Reed Blankenship.
“Sometimes you hate it. Sometimes you like it. But at the end of the day, that’s football. You have to have a tough shell and learn how to be mentally strong through that and just apply it through the next week.’’
Said linebacker Zack Baun: “Vic holds us accountable. There is a high standard with Vic. Obviously, we have high standards ourselves. So that marriage is crucial.’’ ••
Nakobe Dean’s last second game-saving interception against Jacksonville was a testament to how much of an impact Vic Fangio has had on the Eagles defense.
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
Vic Fangio asked the Eagles to sign backup linebacker Zach Baun away from the New Orleans Saints. Baun is likely headed to the Pro Bowl and a long term deal with the Birds.
PHOTO BY AL THOMPSON
Vic Gangio has helped make rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell into one of the top DB’s in the league.
BALDY’S WORLD FOOTBALL TOUR
Trent Williams
Brock Purdy
Tony Boselli
Fred Johnson Saquon
BALDY’S WORLD FOOTBALL TOUR
Jordan Davis
Nick Bosa
Barkley Saquon Barkely
Tom Brady
PHILADELPHIA SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION BANQUET
5 p.m. on Jan. 16,
Our Mission
The mission of our nonprofit association and its corresponding PSWA Foundation is to assemble a group of sports media members in the common pursuit to sponsor and direct functions in the interest of furthering sports: to work to assure suitable facilities and conditions at area sports venues; to aid in the college education of worthy men and women who wish to pursue careers in sports (media, management, public relations, etc.); to support youth and amateur athletic activities in the Philadelphia region; to aid other worthy charities; to place and maintain sports on a high standard in the Philadelphia region and in the nation; and to establish and fund a charitable foundation to provide scholarship aid to students interested in pursuing a career in sports or sports related activities.
Go to phillysportswriters.com for information about tickets for the banquet.
TUSH PUSH LIVES ON
The Eagles short yardage is now legend. Teams have tried to stop and to run it themselves to no avail.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 2024 SCHEDULE
PRESEASON
Friday, August 9 at Baltimore Ravens W 16-13
Thursday, August 15 at New England Patriots W 14-13
Saturday, August 24 Minnesota Vikings L 26-3 REGULAR SEASON
Friday, September 6 Green Bay Packers W 34-29
Monday, September 16 Atlanta Falcons L 22-21
Sunday, September 22 at New Orleans Saints W 15-12
Sunday, September 29 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 33-16 BYE
Sunday, October 13 Cleveland Browns W 20-16
Sunday, October 20 at New York Giants W 28-3
Sunday, October 27 at Cincinnati Bengals W 37-17
Sunday, November 3 Jacksonville Jaguars W 28-23
Sunday, November 10 at Dallas Cowboys W 34-6
Thursday, Nov. 14 Washington Commanders 8:15 p.m. Prime Video
PHOTO BY ANDY LEWIS
