(by Ross Jacobs)
More backups facing off against each other, but we actually have some interesting ones to talk about this time.
As for the game itself, it was a back and forth affair between two pretty decent groups. Certainly, a lot better than some of the other squads I’ve had to watch recently. And I want to specifically point out that the Eagles offensive scheme looks much improved. Much, much improved over whatever Kevin Patullo had going last year. They actually have an offensive coordinator this year, albeit perhaps not as good as Kellen Moore or Shane Steichen, but I think the worries about the offense are very overblown, and I particularly like how involved the RBs have been in the passing game. If they get Barkley more targets that will be a nice bump for his fantasy stock. This should be a decent group overall.
Player Notes...
-- It’s been a long time coming, but Andy Dalton has reached the end of the road. Man does he look old and bad. Dalton never had much of an arm to begin with, but whatever he had is shot. Tanner McKee is the backup here and looks decent, not starter good but good enough to hold down the fort for a couple games.
-- I wish I could say the same for Tommy DeVito but he was all over the place here, firing some really wild passes. There were good throws mixed in along with some nice scrambles, but I would not be feeling great about my backup QB if I was Mike Vrabel.
Behren Morton came in late and looked like a small rookie still learning the ropes. I thought he was scrappy coming out of Tech, but he’s definitely got a ways to go.
-- I saw some people saying “Free Kyle Williams” after this game and I just don’t get it. He beat 3rd stringer Ambry Thomas in 1-on-1 man coverage. Wonderful. He isn’t doing that to starting level defenders, and even if he was, man coverage beaters aren’t all that useful because the league runs zone over 70% of the time. Contrary to popular belief, beating zones consistently is the much harder skill…that’s why defenses run so much zone. Williams just is not a starting caliber receiver at this point. Maybe he can continue to get better and make it someday, but it probably won’t be with the Patriots.
-- I wanted to get a look at Patriots rookie TE Eli Raridon as the beat writers have been raving about him, but he didn’t play here for unknown reasons. Perhaps he really is going to be a quasi-starter?
-- Lan Larison got the start ahead of Jam Miller. Miller did absolutely nothing to prove he belongs on a 53 man roster, but Larison showed off some nice receiving skills.
-- Carson Steele of Chiefs fame two years ago (remember how much FAAB people were blowing on him?) got some good touches here for the Eagles. He had a couple of flashy runs jumping over defenders but was overall pretty average on the ground. He did make some big plays coming out of the backfield though. He seems like a guy you could put at FB a few times a game and do some fun things with. But I doubt he makes the roster with Will Shipley playing ahead of him and looking like the superior player.
-- Rookie 1st round tackle Caleb Lomu was playing left tackle, not right here. He already looks stronger and more physical but still has some developing to do. He’ll be a starter in another year or two and may even take over for Will Campbell on the left side.
-- Much was made on X about massive rookie OT Markel Bell and how dominant he was…except he really wasn’t. He had a couple nice plays where he climbed to the second level and demolished some tiny linebackers, but he also struggled with movement in space and was letting edge rushers into his body because he’s so tall and can’t bend. He’s got some ability and will continue to develop, but he’s hardly the dominant force some people are trying to claim.
-- And my final note is on Eagles defensive tackle Ty Robinson. Robinson was selected in the 4th round of the 2025 draft and was a player I thought very highly of. He is progressing very nicely and was an absolute load for the Patriots to try and block here. A couple of years from now he could turn into the next Zach Allen.
===========================
