Eagles News: “Don’t be surprised if DeVonta Smith becomes the Eagles’ best receiver”

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles Left …

Predicting potential upsets for all 32 NFL teams in 2024 – ESPN+
Don't be surprised if … DeVonta Smith — not AJ Brown — becomes the Eagles' best receiver. What I'm hearing: “Smith looks amazing” or something along those lines is what I heard every time I spoke to anyone about Eagles training camp over the past month. Keep in mind that the Eagles extended Smith's contract this offseason before extending Brown's. That's not to say you should overlook Brown, as this should be one of the best wide receiver duos in the entire league, and new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will likely move her and the newly acquired Jahan Dotson around the lineup to find mismatches. But in the eyes of the Eagles, who selected him 10th overall in the 2021 draft, Smith has improved his game every season, and he could be on the verge of his big breakout — possibly even overtaking Brown as the team's No. 1 wide receiver.

Vic Fangio's Defense 101: Part 3 – MFC Coverage – BGN
I said I would give you three variations. I lied. Here's a bonus variation to finish this article off. The really cool thing about Fangio's Cover 1 is that sometimes defenders can take a lateral route and stay in man coverage with the receiver because they already have an advantage inside. This means the cornerback who was in man coverage is now free to become the free defender. This is often referred to as a switch. It requires a lot of skill and communication, but is really hard for a quarterback to read. Even quarterbacks as smart as Dak Prescott can be fooled by it… How beautiful is this coverage? It doesn't get any better than this.

Training Team and Squad Adjustments – Iggles Blitz
Byron Young is 6'3″ and 275 lbs. He played in 6 games last year and had 4 tackles. He plays with the kind of power and physicality Vic Fangio wants from his guys on offense. Marlon Tuipulotu has been a solid backup the last few years, but Fangio didn't seem too convinced by him. When Fangio was recently asked about a backup NT, he didn't mention Tui. And that's the position Tui has held for the last few years. The Eagles initially liked him enough to keep him, but they considered Young a backup. Another benefit for Young is that he's under team control for 3 years and gets a low salary.

Roobs 10 problem areas for Eagles 2024 season – NBCSP
Can Saquon stay healthy: It's exciting to think about the possibilities Saquon Barkley offers the offense. But injuries have been a problem for Barkley, and over the past four years he's averaged 4.0 yards per carry – the 23rd best mark among 29 running backs with at least 500 carries as of 2020. But Barkley has also always been the focus of opposing defenses, and that won't be the case this year, and with this O-line – which is far better than any O-line he played behind with the Giants – he should be much more than a 4.0 yards per carry back. The eight longest TDs of Barkley's career all came from 2018-2020, and he'll have to prove he still has that explosive big-play potential to take the pressure off the passing game.

Charges release RB Isaiah Spiller from practice squad, Eagles sign JT Woods to PS – Bolts From The Blue
In other news, it was announced that former Chargers third-round pick JT Woods was signed by the team to the Eagles' practice squad. Woods never really proved himself in his first two seasons as a safety for the Charges, which led to him switching to cornerback this offseason. Despite the change, Woods still couldn't find a way to stick around. Now he's getting a fresh start on the east coast.

Chargers extend contract with K. Cameron Dicker for four years and $22 million – Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers have long struggled to find a consistently high-performing player at the kicker position, and the fact that they signed Dicker for an extended period of time may be a troubling feeling for those fans who know all too well what it's like when the team doesn't have a reliable player at that position. [BLG Note: Former Eagles kicker has found long-term security in California.]

Linval Joseph is keen to defend Mike Zimmer again – Blogging The Boys
Joseph isn't the player he once was. However, his experience is undeniable, and familiarity with what Zimmer wants to do is like riding a bike for Joseph. When it came to bringing Joseph to Dallas, Zimmer had a big influence on the former second-round pick. “I know Zimmer. I know this defense and I'm just happy to be a part of this defense again. I played in this defense for six years and it really helped me develop my game.” Mazi Smith, the Cowboys' second-round pick from last year, was considered for the next step in 2024. There have been approaches, but Smith still hasn't found the consistency the Cowboys need to have full confidence in him. Since he's a draft pick, it wouldn't be surprising to see Smith get the nod to the starting lineup initially, but Joseph and his experience in Zimmer's system could limit his playing time. Ultimately, as we speak today, Joseph is the better player.

Adoree' Jackson and the Giants reunite – Big Blue View
The New York Giants and veteran cornerback Adoree' Jackson have reportedly reached an agreement to bring Jackson back to the Giants for a fourth season. […] GM Joe Schoen said this week that “rosters are set around the league” and there is “not much” of real talent available. However, it looks like he still has a significant move up his sleeve. It looks like I could be wrong about that. Jackson's performance dropped off significantly last season, although he is still young enough to have several good seasons left. More troubling, at least to me, and the main reason I didn't expect the Giants to return to Jackson, is that his performance seemed questionable at times. Apparently I'm not the only one who has questioned Jackson's performance in 2023.

Commanders fans have muted expectations as Adam Peters/Dan Quinn era begins in Washington Football – Hogs Haven
Reading between the lines, it seems like Hogs Haven readers in general are still a bit unsure of what to expect from the offense and defense. There is hope that the team will be better than last year and the expectation that better coaching will lead to better play, but there is concern about the talent level of the roster, particularly at certain positions (usually CB, OL, WR, TE). In addition to better coaching, the optimism seems to be driven by positive expectations for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Overall, the “glass half full” group appears to outperform the “glass half empty” group by more than 2-1, with both groups combined being outperformed by the “looks like a .500 finish” cohort.

NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother killed in tragic accident caused by suspected drunk driver – SB Nation
On Friday morning, the hockey world woke up to tragic news: New Jersey State Police confirmed that Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau (32) and his brother Matthew (29) were killed Thursday evening. The brothers were biking in Salem County, New Jersey, when they were hit by a car that was attempting to overtake another motorist. The driver is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and has been charged by police. The Gaudreau brothers, originally from New Jersey, were in town to celebrate their sister's wedding, which was supposed to take place on Saturday.

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