This week the New Orleans Saints head again house to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3 of the 2024 common season. Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation joins us to preview Sunday’s matchup between two of one of the best speeding assaults in soccer.
NJ: After practically three years, former Saints DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is about to make his long-awaited return to the Caesars Superdome on Sunday. Given the small pattern dimension from this season, how do you assume he’s carried out throughout his second stint in Philly, and do you count on him to set the tone early in Week 3?
BLG: CJGJ has been inconsistent.
He’s permitting a (not so) good 158.3 passer score when focused, in response to Professional Soccer Reference. He’s additionally already missed 4 tackles via two video games. For context, essentially the most he’s ever missed in a single season is 11. A kind of misses got here in Week 2 when he allowed a deep completion to Darnell Mooney after which was completely unable to convey the receiver down.
It hasn’t been all unhealthy, although. CJGJ actually ought to’ve had a game-winning defensive cease when he blew up Bijan Robinson within the gap on fourth down for a turnover on downs. That was a particular type of play. And if Saquon Barkley doesn’t drop a game-sealing catch, CJGJ’s spotlight could be getting an entire lot extra focus this week.
CJGJ unexpectedly popped up on the harm report, however the Inquirer’s Jeff McLane reported that “it’s not a serious concern.” We’ll see if that’s really the case or not. I do count on him to be fired as much as play his former crew. It’s fairly attainable that he’ll channel that vitality to make some large performs. It’s additionally attainable he’ll get a bit overzealous.
NJ: With star WR A.J. Brown anticipated to overlook just a few weeks resulting from a hamstring harm, are you assured within the Eagles’ depth at receiver behind DeVonta Smith towards this loaded Saints secondary?
BLG: No, I’m not tremendous assured within the Eagles’ receiver depth behind DeVonta (who is excellent).
Britain Covey is a strong position participant who ideally ought to see not more than two-to-three targets per sport as a possession receiver. He shouldn’t be getting six targets — together with some designed touches in high-leverage situations — like he did final week.
Jahan Dotson has means in concept however we’ve but to see it in actuality. Jalen Hurts doesn’t appear to belief him contemplating Dotson has simply two targets over the primary two video games.
Parris Campbell will seemingly be briefly elevated from the observe squad to be a fourth receiver. He didn’t get a goal in Week 2.
Rookie Johnny Wilson seems on observe to overlook Sunday’s sport resulting from a hamstring harm.
Realistically talking, the Eagles can’t majorly depend on their receiver depth to assist change Brown. Quite, they should lean extra closely upon Dallas Goedert and Saquon Barkley. The teaching employees must do a greater job of getting the Eagles’ prime tight finish concerned. And whereas Barkley hasn’t lacked alternative (26 touches in every of the Eagles’ first two video games), the Birds ought to journey him even more durable whereas Brown is out. And particularly on this sport when the Eagles might stand to learn from operating the ball and controlling the clock to attempt to preserve the Saints’ offense off the sphere.
NJ: The pairing of recent OC Klint Kubiak and star RB Alvin Kamara has gotten the Saints’ run sport off to a spectacular begin via the primary two video games of the season. With Inexperienced Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs and Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson getting no matter they need on the bottom towards the Eagles protection, are you involved with their means to restrict this mesmerizing New Orleans run scheme?
BLG: Completely. Taking out 4 Kirk Cousins runs that resulted in damaging one yard, the Eagles are permitting seven yards per carry via two video games. There’s each purpose for the Saints to run the ball over and over till the Eagles can truly show they’ll cease it.
One would assume we would see Vic Fangio attempt extra five-man fronts this week to assist cease the run. However we’ll should see if that’s really the case. And whereas some schematic modifications may assist, there are nonetheless personnel points right here too. The Eagles’ line of defense simply hasn’t been stout sufficient. They’re not successful their share of 1-on-1 battles. Oh, they usually additionally apparently can’t rush the passer in any respect, in order that’s additionally a problem.
NJ: What’s occurring with LB Devin White? Are his beginning days within the NFL behind him? Saints followers aren’t any strangers to the previous LSU Tiger, as the previous All-Professional induced issues for the Saints’ offense throughout his 5 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
BLG: It’s been a bizarre arc. The Eagles signed White to a one-year contract value $3.5 million assured again in March. This even supposing he received benched late final season.
White had some good moments in OTA’s and he took the entire first first-team linebacker reps in 11-on-11 in coaching camp. It seemed like he was going to be a Week 1 starter, at the least in a rotational capability.
However then White suffered an ankle harm in observe main as much as Week 1 and didn’t journey with the crew to Brazil. Round that point, it was reported that White misplaced the beginning job to third-year linebacker Nakobe Dean anyway. Dean undoubtedly had some good moments in coaching camp, however I don’t assume White seemed unplayable by any means.
White was wholesome sufficient to play in Week 2 however the Eagles determined to maintain him inactive as a wholesome scratch. I’m guessing they may attempt to commerce him earlier than the deadline?
In any other case, he gained’t be taking part in except there’s an harm to both Dean or Zack Baun … one other linebacker you’re acquainted with.
NJ: In line with FanDuel Sportsbook, the Saints (-152) are presently 2.5-point favorites over the Eagles (+128) in Sunday’s matchup; who do you assume will come out on prime, and what’s your ultimate rating prediction?
BLG: Possibly the Eagles will win this sport as a result of, as quite a few Week 2 outcomes reminded us, the NFL could be fairly bizarre and unpredictable.
However I’m simply taking the Saints to win this sport. This can be a powerful spot for the Eagles, touring right down to New Orleans on a brief week.
The Saints have seemed unstoppable thus far and I don’t see how the Eagles are going to be the primary crew to sluggish them down after they can’t cease the run or rush the passer. Philly’s offense needs to be anticipated to place up some factors however not sufficient to maintain tempo with the Saints’ scoring means.
Saints beat the Eagles, 42 to 21.
Thanks once more to Brandon Lee Gowton for becoming a member of us this week! You possibly can take a look at the remainder of his work here.
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