There's a ton to catch up on in terms of Eagles news this Wednesday afternoon. Take a look at all the latest content for November 18 in today's edition of The Read-Option ...
QB Questions, And Get To Meet Thad Lewis – Dave Spadaro
"Bradford's injury, suffered in the second half of Sunday's loss, comes at a particularly crucial time with games on Sunday against Tampa Bay and then four days later on Thanksgiving at Detroit. Lewis may not even factor into the picture, but on this day at the NovaCare Complex he was a story, and an interesting one for a team desperate for a victory in the short term and a quarterback answer in the long term.
Lewis has bounced around enough to know that he is, as every player knows, 'one play away. You always have to have the mentality of 'next man up.' You always have to be ready. I know the playbook and I know that if I'm called on, I will be ready.'
Sanchez is the next man up, should Bradford not play against a tough, fast and aggressive Tampa Bay team. And if Bradford isn't dressed, Lewis would be active and in uniform for the first time since the last game of the 2013 season, his swan song in Buffalo.
'I've been here since Week 2, nose down in the playbook since I got here and have had plenty of opportunities to study, so now it's pretty much second nature. I feel very comfortable,' said Lewis. 'It's similar to what I've done in the past, just different terminology, but the same concepts.'
Lewis improved exponentially on Tuesday just by taking some practice reps. If all goes well, we won't see him ever take a snap in a game this season. But you never know. The 'next man up' is Sanchez if Bradford can't play on Sunday and then after that it's a quarterback you never thought would enter the equation in 2015. Welcome to the NFL, where anything can happen. For Lewis, anything and everything does happen."
Tweet Of The Day
Today, Bradley Cooper was spotted in New York supporting his favorite NFL team ...
Sports Authority GT Stallions Playoff Pep Rally
[Bennie Logan joined Sports Authority to pump up the Stallions for their postseason run ...
Bennie Logan joined Sports Authority to pump up the Gloucester Township Stallions for their postseason run ...
Coordinators Recap Miami Game – Max Rappaport
"Third-down Issues Hurting Eagles
While answering questions from the media on Tuesday, Davis noted that the biggest statistical goal he has for his defense is to become the top-ranked unit in terms of points allowed per drive. The Eagles are close as it is, ranking fifth in that category at 1.6 points allowed per opponent possession. He also puts a great deal of emphasis upon forcing turnovers, and Philadelphia currently ranks second in takeaways per game, at 2.2.
Indeed, Davis has a good deal to be happy about so far this season, but something that has troubled him has been the play of his unit on third down. So far this season, the Eagles rank 19th in the league in third-down conversion rate allowed, giving up a first down by air, ground, or penalty 39.5% of the time on third down.
'The two places that affect the point allowed per drive the most are turnovers, [and] the third down is a turnover,' he said. 'We have to get better at getting the ball back for our offense.'"
Lawns Of America
Other Views
Center Jason Kelce Wants Eagles To Snap Out Of It – Les Bowen, Daily News
"'I think (setting the tone is) my job . . . It's not like I've got to get with 'em each individually and coach 'em up or anything like that, I've just got to not make mistakes,' Kelce said. 'Right now, I think I have 11 penalties through the season. The next closest center with penalties has seven, so I've got almost twice as many as the next guy down.
'That's really what's got to happen. I've got to eliminate those mental mistakes, the false starts, bad snaps. If we eliminate those things, I firmly believe we'll get everything fixed.'
Kelce, named to the Pro Bowl last season, gave an example of how he overthought Sunday. He wanted to stop Miami defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh from successfully splitting Kelce and right guard Matt Tobin. Kelce tried to fire out and hit Suh a glancing blow, knocking him off-balance, into the grasp of Tobin. Kelce said he missed Suh entirely, allowing the $114 million disrupter a clear lane to the backfield.
'Instead of trying to do more, just go back to the basic fundamentals, go back to the basic steps, how to surface blocks," Kelce said. "Don't try to overdo it, just try to block the guy.'"
Jason Peters Did Not Refuse To Dress Vs. Miami As A Backup – Matt Lombardo, NJ Advance Media
"The circumstances behind Eagles left tackle Jason Peters being inactive Sunday against the Miami Dolphins became a topic of conversation this week after a report surfaced that the veteran offensive lineman refused to be a backup.
According to Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson, Peters had every intention and desire to play, but it was head coach Chip Kelly that held him out of the Week 10 contest.
'Not that I know of,' Johnson said Tuesday, when asked if there was any truth to the report that Peters opted against dressing for a backup role. 'He was getting ready to go out. I think he told (offensive line coach Jeff) Stoutland that he was ready to go and wanted to play. I don't know if him and Chip had a conversation, but that's who ultimately made the decision.
'Really going into the game, I thought I was playing left and he was trying to go during warmups but I don't think Chip allowed him to go. I was expecting to play right vs. Miami. In the locker room I was trying to figure out where I was playing.'"
Jameis Winston Says He 'Grew Up An Eagles Fan' – Marc Narducci, Philadelphia Inquirer
"The Buccaneers will visit the Eagles on Sunday. Winston says he has never been to the City of Brotherly Love, but he has a football connection, sort of.
'I grew up an Eagles fan,' the rookie quarterback said.
Was Winston just playing to the local writer? Apparently not. He has been quoted as saying that before.
Winston explained that he was a big Randall Cunningham fan. Cunningham was the Eagles' quarterback for 11 seasons before moving on to the Minnesota Vikings.
Since Cunningham retired in 2001, when Winston was 7, so the quarterback's following of the ex-Eagle has come from extensive video review. 'I just love the way he played,' Winston said.
When it was suggested that Winston and Cunningham had similar styles, he replied, 'That is a high compliment.'"
