I hadn’t planned to write this piece but it’s always been one of my favorites, so I decided to do a sprint-through version on Opening Day. I present a rapid fire set of unit grades. A quick primer:
I rate the following units: QB, SKILL, OL, DL, LB, DB, ST, Coaching/Management.
These grades are on a scale of 1-10; grades from 1-3 mean the unit is one of the worst, a grade of 9 or ten means the unit is one of the best.
I group players the way that Wikipedia does, meaning that guys like Reddick will be grouped with the linebackers.
Here’s last year’s version of this column for reference.
Here we go!
QB (10/10). In the QB ranks column, I rated Hurts at #3 and Mariota at #29. That means the Eagles have two of the top 32 players in the league currently; only Miami can share that distinction. Tanner McKee looks like a rock solid #3 with the potential for more down the road. Few if any teams are as well set up at the position right now.
2018 grade: 8.5
2019: 8.5
2020: 6.0
2021: 4.0
2022: 7.5
5 year average: 6.9
SKILL (9/10). The Brown-Smith-Goedert triumvirate is likely the best WR-WR-TE trio in the league. As mentioned here, Philly has arguably the best quartet of RBs in decades. The lack of WR depth and injury concerns at RB keep the grade from a perfect 10.
2018: 8.0
2019: 10.0
2020: 7.5
2021: 4.0
2022: 6.0
5 year average: 7.1
OL (9.5/10). We all know how remarkable this group is. The grade gest the slightest of dings because we aren’t 100% sure what we’ll get with Jurgens at RG. Jeff Stoutland may be the finest position coach in the sport.
2018: 10.0
2019: 10.0
2020: 6.0
2021: 8.0
2022: 10.0
5 year average: 8.8
DL (8.5/10). Because we’re only counting traditional DEs in this analysis, the depth is a slight question. We only have Graham, Sweat and Barnett at that position, which is still solid but the possibility of injury or regression looms. At DT the depth is excellent but experience is a question.
2018: 8.5
2019: 9.0
2020: 10.0
2021: 7.0
2022: 9.0
5 year average: 8.7
LB (5/10). The presence of Reddick and Nolan Smith drag this grade into the middle. If Cunningham can stay healthy and if Dean is the real deal, this grade will be too low. If not, however, we’ll be looking back on this group as an anchor on the season.
2018: 3.0
2019: 5.0
2020: 3.0
2021: 2.0
2022: 5.0
5 year average: 3.6
DB (7.5). On the surface we’re just fine here, with depth at safety and solid veteran corners. My fear is the age of both Slay and Bradberry, as well as the seeming lack of coverage safeties. This is another group that we may feel much better (or worse) about in a few months.
2018: 8.0
2019: 6.0
2020: 6.0
2021: 4.0
2022: 6.0
5 year average: 6.0
ST (2.5/10). Elliott and Lovato are solid, but the rest of the group is either weak or unproven. Special teams was a disaster last year and was a contributor to the Super Bowl loss, and I don’t see much in the way of improvement this year. Hopefully I’m wrong.
2018: 8.0
2019: 8.0
2020: 8.0
2021: no grade
2022: 2.0
4 year average: 6.5
Coaching/Management: (8/10). In my view it’s still too early to call Sirianni one of the finest coaches in the game, but he’s on the right track. Of course, few if any run a front office better than Roseman. The brain drain that’s taken place in both the front office and coaching staff over the last couple years is simultaneously a complement to the franchise and a point of concern.
2018: no grade
2019: 9.0
2020: 9.0
2021: rated as a ? due to new coaching staff
2022: 7.0
If you’ve been keeping track, you’ve noted that the Birds grade out similarly or higher than their moving average everywhere other than Special Teams. Over the last five years the Birds have racked up a 45-36-1 regular season record (55.5%), which would translate to 9.4 wins over a 17 game season. Because this team seems to be better than the composite of those five year’s teams, putting the Birds down for ten or more wins seems eminently reasonable.
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