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Author: Devin Jackson

  • Penn State announced the hiring of Matt Campbell as 17th head coach

    Penn State announced the hiring of Matt Campbell as 17th head coach

    After many twists and turns in its coaching search over the last two months, Penn State named its next football coach on Friday.

    Matt Campbell, who has been the head coach at Iowa State for the last 10 seasons, will become the Nittany Lions’ 17th full-time coach. Campbell led the Cyclones to an 8-4 record this season and has a 72-55 overall record with Iowa State.

    With 19 wins over the last two seasons at Iowa State, the 46-year-old Campbell, a Massillon, Ohio, native, led the program to its best two-year stretch in history, including the Cyclones’ first double-digit win season, in 2024. In Campbell’s 10 seasons with the Cyclones, they have achieved bowl eligibility eight times.

    Although he hasn’t won the Big 12 in his tenure, he’s made two championship game appearances (2020, 2024) and has consistently maximized his rosters despite Iowa State being ranked outside the top 40 of national recruiting rankings every year he’s been in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State is ranked 50th in the 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.

    Before he took over Iowa State in 2016, Campbell had a successful four-year run as Toledo’s head coach, compiling a 35-15 record and leading his team to back-to-back Mid-American Conference championship games. Overall, he spent seven seasons with Toledo, first as a run game coordinator and offensive line coach, then as the offensive coordinator in 2011 before taking over as head coach in 2012.

    Campbell has a 17-28 record against teams ranked in the Associated Press top 25 poll, including four wins against AP top-10 opponents in his coaching career that has spanned Bowling Green, Mount Union, Toledo, and Iowa State in 23 years.

    Matt Campbell yells to his team from the sidelines as they play Arkansas State on Sept. 13.

    He has long been a name mentioned in the college football coaching carousel and was interviewed in January for the Chicago Bears’ vacant head coach opening.

    The hire comes after Penn State fired James Franklin on Oct. 12, 54 days ago. The coaching search nearly came to a close earlier this week when BYU’sKalani Sitake emerged as a top candidate for Penn State on Tuesday. According to multiple outlets, Sitake was close to taking the Nittany Lions’ job before he ultimately decided to stay in Provo, Utah, and got a contract extension in the process.

    Penn State chose Campbell over Terry Smith, who went 3-3 as the interim coach and helped the Nittany Lions reach bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season. Smith reportedly has drawn interest from Memphis and Connecticut to fill their head coach openings.

    Penn State’s recruiting class takes a hit as its search for a head coach continues

    Campbell has some ties to the area. He was teammates with Eagles coach Nick Sirianni at Division III Mount Union from 1999 to 2002. Sirianni was a wide receiver, while Campbell was a defensive lineman. Campbell later joined the Mount Union coaching staff in 2005 as offensive coordinator, a year after Sirianni coached defensive backs for the program. Both also coached and played with current Toledo coach Jason Candle.

    Campbell will have his work cut out for him at Penn State. The program only signed two players on the early national signing day and will be replacing several starters on both sides of the ball.

  • 9 NFL draft targets for the Eagles on college football’s conference championship weekend

    9 NFL draft targets for the Eagles on college football’s conference championship weekend

    The Eagles currently sit at 8-4 entering Week 14 and if the season ended today, would slot into the No. 22 spot in the 2026 NFL draft.

    They have aspirations to repeat as Super Bowl champions, but it’s never too early to look ahead at the next crop of draft prospects. And with a few position groups needing an upgrade or depth added, the Eagles should be keeping an eye to the future for the next crop of NFL stars.

    Here are nine players the Eagles should be watching during conference championship weekend:

    Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

    Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)

    Pound-for-pound, there may not be a more explosive and physically imposing player than Reese in this draft class. Reese, a 6-foot-4, 243-pound linebacker, is a budding star with endless potential to play several roles for an NFL defense.

    His closing speed, ability to rush the passer as a blitzer, along with his block-shedding strength, make him a unique player who can play at the line of scrimmage and in the middle of a defense. In his first year as a starter, he has 61 tackles (10 for loss), 6½ sacks, two pass deflections, and 23 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

    He is projected as a top-five pick and might end up well out of the Eagles’ range, barring a move up. But Reese could end up in the division with the Giants or Commanders, and projects as a player who will be making plays on Sundays next year.

    Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

    Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)

    Most people who have watched Ohio State over the last two seasons know his name. Downs is the younger brother of Colts wide receiver Josh Downs and is already the higher-profile player of the pair. Caleb Downs is instinctual, savvy, and always around the ball, making tackles against the run and taking away passes over the middle of the field.

    Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs (2) celebrates against Michigan last Saturday.

    Because he’s a safety, Downs, who is listed at 6-0, 205 pounds, won’t be valued highly in the first round of the NFL draft. But he provides three-level support, has ball production to match (six interceptions, 18 passes defended in three years), and has shown the ability to cover tight ends and slot receivers.

    Corner may be a more pressing need for the Eagles currently, but Downs is an impressive player who raises the floor of a defense. He did so at Alabama (where Downs began his career in 2023) and now at Ohio State.

    Carter Smith, OT, Indiana

    Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)

    While all eyes will be on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, projected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 draft, the Eagles should be keeping an eye on left tackle Smith, who has allowed just one sack and six quarterback pressures this year.

    Smith, who is listed at 6-5, 313 pounds, is a composed hand striker who has showcased strong grip strength as a pass blocker and can anchor down against power rushers. He also works to get his hands inside the body of defensive linemen and once he has them in his grips, they can rarely escape.

    He has a tough assignment matching up against Ohio State’s defensive line, led by Kenyatta Jackson, who has 10 sacks this season. But Smith rarely gets beat in pass protection, and while his run blocking can continue to improve, he’s shown potential as a starter-level offensive lineman.

    D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana

    Ohio State vs. Indiana, Saturday (8 p.m., Fox29)

    Ponds, the standout Indiana defensive back who followed head coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison to the Hoosiers, is undersized at 5-9, 173 pounds, but he more than makes up for it with his play.

    Teams are not throwing his way as often this season, but he still attacks the football with ferocity and is physical at the catch point. He will have a tough task this weekend containing Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, both first-round caliber receivers. But if he has a strong game, he could quiet the size concerns that teams may have about him.

    Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

    Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)

    There aren’t many players built like Proctor, who is 6-7, 366 pounds, and has the athleticism to catch a pass in space. The Alabama left tackle is a physical presence as a run blocker and overwhelms pass rushers with his size in pass protection.

    There has been week-to-week inconsistency with his game, though. He struggles with his balance at times, and he doesn’t possess elite foot quickness, though he makes up for it with his frame and power.

    Proctor’s evaluation will be interesting to watch because some teams may prefer to keep him at tackle, while others may move him to guard to take advantage of his run blocking ability. Still, Proctor is a strong prospect at a position that is top-heavy and lacks quality depth. He should be of interest to the Eagles, whether they view him as a guard or tackle.

    Keon Sabb, S, Alabama

    Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)

    The Glassboro native Sabb, who was teammates with current Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell at IMG Academy and Alabama, has had a strong year after his 2024 season was cut short with a foot injury. He picked up where he left off last season, tallying 40 tackles (2.5 for loss), one interception, and three pass deflections.

    Sabb has positional flexibility, having played some nickel at both Michigan and Alabama. He excels most in taking away routes over the middle of the field and closing on passes from safety depth. With the Eagles’ struggles in the secondary, his addition could not only provide depth but also flexibility to play multiple spots.

    Georgia tight end Oscar Delp (4) has not been one of college football’s most productive players but plays an increasingly critical position.

    Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia

    Alabama vs. Georgia, Saturday (4 p.m., 6abc)

    The production isn’t eye-popping for Delp, who has just 17 catches and one touchdown in 2025, but the Georgia tight end’s talent is displayed in small bursts, and it’s easy to project him to outproduce his college stats in the NFL.

    The 6-5, 245-pound player is a vertical threat as a pass catcher and likely won’t be a do-it-all tight end because he’s not a consistent blocker yet. But when the Bulldogs feature him in the passing game, he makes teams pay after the catch. Of his 235 receiving yards this season, 135 have come on yards after catch, according to PFF.

    With the struggles the Eagles have experienced at the tight end position and an aging Dallas Goedert, it may be time to invest in a tight end via the draft. Delp brings more receiving upside but would be a nice addition to the Eagles’ tight end room.

    David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

    Texas Tech vs. BYU, Saturday (noon, 6abc)

    Though he’s an undersized pass rusher, Bailey, who transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford, leads college football in pressures (70) and sacks (12½) in 2025. Possessing a quick first step, Bailey is a speed rusher who can generate immediate wins against opposing tackles on the outside track and has a speed-to-power pass rush move that is difficult to stop.

    His run defense must improve, but Bailey generated pressure on true pass sets 41.8% of the time, per PFF. In a class without many top-end edge rushers, Bailey will likely be drafted early and can make an instant impact on third downs at the NFL level.

    Chandler Rivers, DB, Duke

    Virginia vs. Duke, Saturday (8 p.m., 6abc)

    After a breakout season as a junior in 2024, Duke hybrid defensive back Rivers has continued his strong play, collecting two interceptions, eight passes defended, and one forced fumble in 12 games this season. He has aligned as both an outside corner and nickel, and has even taken snaps at safety this season.

    The alluring part of his game is his coverage from multiple spots. He covers ground much better in zone coverage with his eyes reading the quarterback, is physical at the catch point, a willing tackler, and gets his hands on the football (seven interceptions, 29 passes defended in his career).

    Per PFF, he has taken 530 snaps at outside corner and 148 at nickel. He projects best as a nickel since he stands at 5-10, 185 pounds, but he’s a playmaker who brings value at multiple spots in a secondary.

  • Penn State’s coaching search drags on. Who’s left?

    Penn State’s coaching search drags on. Who’s left?

    Fifty-three days ago, Penn State decided it needed new blood and energy injected into the program after a 3-3 start in James Franklin’s 12th season at the helm.

    Fresh off a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance and a program-record 13 wins, Penn State had expectations to again compete for a title. To say the least, that did not happen, and Franklin was fired as a result.

    The mid-season timing was meant for Penn State to get an early start on the coaching search. Athletic director Pat Kraft was adamant on Oct. 13 that “a new leader can help us win a national championship.”

    Penn State’s recruiting class takes a hit as its search for a head coach continues

    Fifty-three days ago, and counting.

    By the time the calendar changes to December, most college football teams want to have their head coach in place, if they do decide to make a change. Consider this: Penn State had a coaching opening before LSU, Florida, Colorado State, and Auburn, and those programs all hired their next coach before the Nittany Lions. South Florida, Kentucky, and Michigan State all had coaching changes happen last weekend and each hired a new coach by Wednesday’s early signing day for the 2026 recruiting class.

    BYU head coach Kalani Sitake was on Penn State’s radar before deciding to stay with the Cougars.

    Brigham Young’s Kalani Sitake emerged as a top candidate for the Penn State opening earlier this week before he decided to stay in Provo, Utah, and received a contract extension. Other candidates like Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, Georgia Tech’s Brent Key, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea opted to sign extensions instead of jumping ship.

    Terry Smith wants to be Penn State’s next head coach

    There were opportunities to hire James Madison’s Bob Chesney (now heading to UCLA), a Kulpmont, Pa., native, and Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline (now heading to South Florida). Instead, the Nittany Lions chased after bigger targets, like Sitake, Texas A&M’s Mike Elko, and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer to no avail. And Franklin not only got a new job at Virginia Tech, he took several former Penn State commits with him.

    Brian Daboll, the former New York Giants coach, is a candidate, per FootballScoop, but the coaching search has now passed early signing day, and Penn State has just two players committed to its 2026 recruiting class.

    The pool of candidates has shrunk considerably. The Nittany Lions’ current players and staff will have decisions to make in the coming week with a bowl game looming and the transfer portal opening next month. And at this point no matter who is hired, whether it’s Terry Smith getting an internal promotion or an outside candidate gets the job, the program will be relying heavily on the transfer portal.

    Villanova signs 13 players on early signing day before FCS playoff matchup vs. Lehigh

    Villanova’s next test

    After dominating Harvard at home last weekend, Villanova travels to Lehigh (12-0) on Saturday (noon, ESPN+) for a spot in the FCS playoff quarterfinals.

    The Wildcats (10-2) will need to slow down Lehigh’s No. 4-ranked rushing attack (235.3 yards per game), which is led by running back Luke Yoder (110.8 yards per game). Quarterback Hayden Johnson also brings a dual-threat element to Lehigh’s offense, rushing for 426 yards and four rushing touchdowns in addition to his 18 passing touchdowns and 62.5% completion percentage.

    Lehigh’s pass rush is among the most prolific in the FCS. The defense has collected 40 sacks, the fourth most nationally. Lehigh also has the stingiest run defense in the FCS, allowing just 73.7 rushing yards per game, and is the No. 2 scoring defense (13.9 points allowed).

    Pat McQuaide will lead Villanova’s high-powered offense against Lehigh on Saturday.

    As opposed to last week, when the Wildcats dominated Harvard with 319 rushing yards, the offense will likely need to win this game on the arm of Pat McQuaide. He was efficient in last week’s win, throwing for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Lehigh ranks 50th in the FCS in passing yards allowed per game (207.9), so there should be opportunities for McQuaide to find playmakers Luke Colella and Lucas Kopecky downfield.

    The winner will face either Tarleton State or North Dakota next weekend.

    Can Eastern U keep going?

    Fresh off its first-ever postseason victory, Eastern University (10-1) will host Susquehanna University on Saturday (noon, ESPN+) in its first ever playoff home game for a spot in the Division III quarterfinals. Head coach Billy Crocker is a former Villanova and Connecticut defensive coordinator who has quickly built up Eastern’s football program in its fourth year of existence.

    The offense is led by quarterback Brett Nabb, who ranks ninth in D-III in rushing yards and is Eastern’s top ball carrier with 1,307 yards. He had four touchdowns in last week’s 28-24 win over Franklin & Marshall.

    Susquehanna ranks 23rd in rushing yards allowed per game (81.1 yards). The River Hawks have played two high-scoring playoff games in consecutive weeks with wins over Washington and Jefferson College and Christopher Newport University, surrendering 28 or more points in each game.

    Temple signs its largest recruiting class in program history in K.C. Keeler’s first full offseason

    If Eastern wants to slow down Susquehanna’s high-scoring offense, which ranks 16th in scoring (43.3 points), it starts with the passing offense, which averages 273.2 yards. Eastern’s pass defense has been solid, allowing 158.1 passing yards per game, and its defense ranks top 30 in points allowed (15.8 points) and top 15 in total defense (249.3).

    The winner will face either Salisbury or Johns Hopkins next weekend.

    The BIG number

    33: The number of recruits for Temple’s early signing day class, finalized on Wednesday, which was more than Villanova, Penn State, and Penn combined. That number was also the Owls’ largest in program history, and was ranked the top class in the American Athletic Conference, according to 247Sports.

    Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) is expected to go early in next year’s NFL draft.

    Game of the week

    Big Ten championship: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Indiana (8 p.m., Fox29)

    Though both teams are CFP bound no matter the result, the two top-ranked teams in college football will square off in Indianapolis on Saturday night. Heisman hopeful Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s quarterback, is a projected top 10 pick in the 2026 draft class.

    Ohio State’s defense is loaded with talent, from linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles to safety Caleb Downs.

  • How do Joel Embiid’s new Skechers shoes compare to other Philly athletes’ signature kicks?

    How do Joel Embiid’s new Skechers shoes compare to other Philly athletes’ signature kicks?

    Joel Embiid’s new signature shoe with Skechers, the SKX JE 1, was released exclusively at Lapstone & Hammer on Saturday. The Sixers center, who signed with the brand last year after his five-year partnership with Under Armour ended, debuted his shoes during the team’s 142-134 double-overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.

    Embiid wore the low-top sneaker, which has his initials on the tongue of the shoe, in black, blue, and pink. The shoe is expected to release two other colorways: neon green and black, and a red, white, black, and gold color scheme that appears to match the Sixers’ all-black jerseys from their 2001 NBA Finals team, which the team has brought back for the 25th anniversary of that season.

    Embiid previously had just one signature shoe with Under Armour, the Embiid One, which released in September 2020. Having a second signature shoe with a different company is rare, and he joins players like Aaron Gordon, Kyrie Irving, and Andrew Wiggins as active players who have had signature shoes with more than one brand.

    Although the shoes’ global release has not yet been announced, Embiid is on a small list of Philly athletes who have had their own signature shoes. The most notable is Allen Iverson with 18 Reebok signature shoes. Although the list is brief, how does Embiid’s newest shoe stack up against his predecessors?

    How Jalen Hurts’ growing relationship with Jordan is helping the Eagles QB express himself
    Allen Iverson was wearing the Reebok “Answer IVs” during Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals.

    Iverson’s ‘Questions’ and ‘Answers’

    There have been many Iverson shoes with Reebok, but the popularity of his Reebok Question 1 signature shoe, which debuted in 1996 after he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Sixers, and his Reebok Answer IV shoe, which came out in 2000, is palpable.

    The latter has even been replicated as football cleats. Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith wore custom-made Iverson IV cleats for last year’s NFC championship game against the Commanders and the Super Bowl. The shoe was an homage to Iverson’s tunnel outfit for the NBA Finals, which featured a custom-made Eagles jersey with his last name on it and a green and white colorway for the Answer IVs.

    The original Reebok Question sneakers are best known for their red cap, matching the style of the Air Jordan 11s that Iverson wore in college at Georgetown. The Question had a white base, with the red toe and blue bottoms to match the Sixers’ jerseys back then in 1996-97. Versions of them continue to be sold today, and Reebok has even unveiled a golf shoe in the same style.

    We also need to show some love to the Answer 1 high-top shoes, which had hidden laces and featured the pump on the side of the shoe with Iverson’s logo on it.

    Can Allen Iverson help make Reebok cool again?
    Sixers forward Elton Brand, now the team’s general manager, donned several versions of his Converse signature shoes during his time playing in Philly, including these in 2010.

    Converse EB

    Right as Elton Brand’s playing days started in Philly in 2008, so were his signature shoe releases. He debuted the Converse EB1 signature shoes during his first season with the Sixers, with the EB logo on the strap across the sneakers shaped as the letter “D” as an homage to his mother Daisy and his Dunbar Heights neighborhood near Peekskill, N.Y.

    Brand went on to release the Converse EB2 and EB3 in 2009 and 2010, respectively. His shoes were best known for being sold exclusively at JCPenney for $65. He had two stints with Philly as a player (2008-12, 2016), then worked his way up through the Sixers’ organization from player development consultant to general manager.

    Jordan Brand throws a party as it opens first U.S. World of Flight store in Philly
    In 2014, Ubiq, Fila and Packer collaborated to bring former Sixer Jerry Stackhouse’s signature shoe back to life.

    FILA Stackhouse

    A year before Iverson came into the fold, Jerry Stackhouse, drafted third overall by the Sixers in 1995, debuted his shoe with FILA, called the “FILA Stackhouse,” which came on the heels of Grant Hill’s popular signature shoe in the mid-1990s.

    The shoe became a major success because of Stackhouse’s instant impact in Philly, averaging 19.2 points as a rookie during the 1995-96 season. He played in Philly for only two seasons, but the shoe, which released in white, blue, and red and a white-and-red colorway, has held up over time.

    In 2014, FILA and former Philly retailer Ubiq, which closed in 2020, collaborated with Packer Shoes to release the FILA Spaghetti, paying homage to Stackhouse’s 18-year career, which ended in Brooklyn with the Nets. The shoe featured the Sixers’ vibrant red and blue colors. He also released the FILA Stack II in 1996 and the FILA Stackhouse III during the 1998-99 season.

    Julius Erving wore leather Converse sneakers during his 11 seasons with the Sixers.

    Dr. J and the Converse Pro Leather

    Julius Erving, better known as Dr. J, released his signature Pro Leather high-top sneakers with Converse in 1976, his first season in Philly, in a simple white-and-red colorway. Erving wore the leather sneakers throughout his career with the Sixers, which spanned 11 years.

    He released a low-top version a year later, but the high-top classics are his most acclaimed signature shoe. Erving also released the Converse All-Star Dr. J 2000, which debuted in 1997, and Converse Dr. J Pro Leather 2K11, which came in 2011.

    Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now the face of Converse, but Erving and Chuck Taylor are a big part of the brand becoming a key player in the basketball space.

    Charles Barkley is one of several Philly athletes who got his signature shoe while playing for another team.

    Signature shoes elsewhere

    Charles Barkley, Darryl Dawkins, Dikembe Mutombo, and Paul George all played in Philly at some point in their careers, but each had signature shoes released either before or after their time with the Sixers.

    Barkley’s came when he was with the Phoenix Suns. The Nike Air Force Max CB sneakers were released in 1993, which became one of his iconic shoes, and he released six others over the next five years.

    Dawkins had his signature shoe with the Nets come in 1984, the Pony Uptown. Mutombo had two signature shoes with Adidas: the Mutombo I and II sneakers, which came out in 1993 and 1994, respectively, while he was with the Nuggets.

    George released all six of his signature shoes with Nike before arriving in Philly, from his debut Nike PG 1 sneakers being released in Indiana in 2017 to the Nike PG 6’s in 2022 with the Clippers.

    Kobe Bryant, who played his high school ball at Lower Merion, had 29 signature shoes with Nike, though his Nike Zoom Kobe VI sneakers are probably the most popular pair in his collection.

    Dawn Staley was one of the first WNBA players to get her own signature shoe.

    We can’t forget about North Philly native Dawn Staley, who had two signature shoes released in 1999 as part of the Nike Alpha Project. Staley debuted the Nike Air Zoom S5 during her first season in the WNBA in 1999 with the Charlotte Sting, and the Nike Air Zoom S5 II followed a year later.

    Temple alum Eddie Jones, who played for six NBA teams, had two Jordan Brand signature shoes released early in his career: the Jumpman Quick 6 in 1998 with the Lakers and Jumpman Swift 6 in 1999 with the Hornets.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid debuted his new signature Skechers sneakers over the weekend.

    Verdict on SKX JE 1

    Embiid’s first sneaker with Skechers look more modern and sleek than the Under Armour Embiid One shoes. Compared to other Philly athletes’ shoes, though, and due in part to Skechers’ lack of appeal as opposed to bigger basketball brands, it’s a tough one to rank ahead of Iverson, Dr. J, or Stackhouse’s signature shoes.

    The colorway he debuted on Sunday is eye-catching, and the shoe will ultimately be judged by its performance when others are wearing it on the court. This could be the start of a long signature shoe partnership between Skechers and Embiid, but his first shoe definitely has room for improvement.

  • Eagles’ Dec. 20 game at Commanders will start at 5 p.m.

    Eagles’ Dec. 20 game at Commanders will start at 5 p.m.

    The Eagles’ NFC championship game rematch against the Washington Commanders in Week 16 has an official kickoff time.

    The first of two matchups against Washington (3-9) over the season’s final three weeks is set for Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. and will air on Fox29 locally, the Eagles announced Tuesday.

    The Commanders are on a seven-game losing streak since opening the season at 3-2, and have been playing without quarterback Jayden Daniels after he suffered a left elbow dislocation against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 2. Daniels attended practice last week, but coach Dan Quinn said Monday that the second-year quarterback is not yet cleared for practice.

    The Eagles (8-4) and Commanders split the regular-season series last year, with each team winning at home. They met again in January’s NFC title game, when the Eagles dominated Washington, 55-23, en route to the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.

    The second meeting between the NFC East foes in Week 18 still does not have a time and will be played on either Jan. 3 or 4.

  • Reports: Eagles front office exec Dave Caldwell becoming Florida GM

    Reports: Eagles front office exec Dave Caldwell becoming Florida GM

    A member of the Eagles’ front office staff will be joining a college football program.

    Eagles senior personnel director/advisor to the general manager Dave Caldwell will become the University of Florida’s college football general manager, per multiple reports. On3.com first reported the news.

    Caldwell will join the staff of Jon Sumrall, the Tulane coach that multiple outlets reported is finalizing a deal to take over the Gators program.

    Caldwell joined the Eagles in 2021 after an eight-year stint as general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent time with the Atlanta Falcons (2008-12), Indianapolis Colts (1998-07) and the Carolina Panthers (1996-97) prior to to his Jaguars tenure.

    With name, image and likeness realities and the transfer portal taking over college athletics, Power Four programs have increasingly sought dedicated general managers with the experience to handle the acquisition and compensation details of players.

    Florida finished the 2025 season at 4-8.

  • Last chance for Temple, Penn State to go bowling, and its playoff time for Villanova and Eastern

    Last chance for Temple, Penn State to go bowling, and its playoff time for Villanova and Eastern

    For the third consecutive year and the fourth time in the last five years, Villanova will open the FCS playoffs at Villanova Stadium, where it has not lost since Sept. 24, 2022.

    The Wildcats have won 22 straight home games, including the playoffs. They have won their last three playoff games at Villanova Stadium by an average of nine points, including last year’s five-point win over Eastern Kentucky.

    This season, Villanova’s opening-round matchup will be against the Ivy League’s Harvard on Saturday (noon, ESPN+). The Crimson (9-1, 6-1 Ivy) lost to rival Yale to end the regular season, but both teams earned playoff berths and will be on opposite sides of the bracket. The Ivy League is competing in the FCS playoffs for the first time this season.

    Villanova will open the FCS playoffs with a home game against Harvard

    Harvard is led by its passing game. Quarterback Jaden Craig is tied for the 12th most touchdown passes in the FCS (24) and ranks 16th in passing yards (2,722). His 272.2 yards passing per game ranks fifth in the FCS, while Villanova is middle of the pack in defending the pass (213.8 yards, 61st).

    Yale’s Brandon Webster (7) recovers a fumble by Harvard’s Dean Boyd. The two Ivy League schools made the FCS playoffs this season.

    Harvard’s defense, meanwhile, ranks seventh in rushing yards allowed (105.5 yards) and has surrendered just nine rushing touchdowns, tied for the second-fewest in the FCS. Villanova’s offense ranks 29th in rushing yards per game (178.6). Sophomore running back Ja’briel Mace has come on strong since starting running back David Avit’s injury, gaining 524 of his 600 total rushing yards in the last three games, including a school-record 291 in a win over Towson on Nov. 8.

    Experience is on the Wildcats’ side. They’ve been here before under Mark Ferrante and have a quarterback in Pat McQuaide who takes care of the football (19 touchdowns to two interceptions.

    If the Wildcats win, No. 5 seeded Lehigh (12-0) awaits them. Ferrante has led Villanova to at least the FCS quarterfinal in two of its last three trips to the playoffs.

    North Texas wide receiver Wyatt Young (10) has the fourth-most receiving yards in the FBS.

    The BIG number

    1,076: That’s the number of receiving yards North Texas wide receiver Wyatt Young has this season, the fourth-most of any player in the FBS. Young, whose Mean Green face Temple on Friday, has 56 receptions and 10 touchdowns on the year.

    One more chance to go bowling

    Penn State and Temple will be playing for the right to continue their seasons this weekend. Both teams enter the final week of the regular season at 5-6, and each team is going in very different directions.

    K.C. Keeler tries to boost his team’s confidence as Temple prepares for No. 21 North Texas

    The Owls have lost three straight games and now are in danger of failing to end their six-year bowl eligibility drought with North Texas (10-1, 6-1 American Conference) up next on Friday (3:30 p.m., ESPN) in Denton, Texas. The Mean Green, though, learned earlier this week that head coach Eric Morris will take the Oklahoma State job at the conclusion of their season, which could end with a College Football Playoff berth. Temple and K.C. Keeler will be hoping to play spoiler.

    North Texas’ offense ranks first nationally in scoring (46.3 points) and total offense (503.3) with Drew Mestemaker (3,469 yards, 26 touchdowns) under center. But if the Owls are to pull off the upset, they’ll need running back Jay Ducker to have a monster game against the North Texas’ fifth-worst rushing defense nationally (211.2 rushing yards allowed per game) and keep the Mean Green offense at bay.

    Penn State running back Kaytron Allen rushed for 69 yards and two scores against Rutgers in 2023.

    Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions are looking to punctuate a lost season with a fifth straight bowl appearance and their 11th trip over the last 12 seasons. The offense has found its groove behind Kaytron Allen, who became the program’s all-time leading rusher last weekend, and Nick Singleton, who tied Saquon Barkley for the most all-purpose touchdowns in school history.

    On Saturday Penn State will play Rutgers (3:30 p.m. BTN), which hasn’t beat the Nittany Lions since 1988.

    Terry Smith wants to be Penn State’s next head coach: ‘If I don’t speak for myself, who will?’

    Considering the Nittany Lions’ run-heavy approach, Rutgers (5-6, 2-6 Big Ten) will have to prove it can stop the ground game. The Scarlet Knights’ defense ranks 127th in rushing yards allowed (201.7) and gives up 31.1 points per game, which ranks in near the bottom nationally. With Penn State riding a two-game winning streak and plenty of momentum heading into Piscataway, N.J., it could be a long day for Rutgers, which also is fighting for bowl eligibility.

    Eastern University quarterback Brett Nabb (left) will lead the Eagles against Franklin and Marshall in the Division III playoffs on Saturday.

    Three questions

    🏈 What’s Penn looking for in a new head coach now that Ray Priore is stepping down? Priore has been with the Quakers for nearly 40 years, his last 11 as head coach. Whomever comes in next will be looking to kickstart a program that has fallen in recent seasons, but the Quakers won 12 Ivy League titles with Priore in the building, including consecutive titles in 2015 and 2016 with him as head coach.

    🏈 How will Eastern look after having a week off to prepare for Saturday’s Division III playoff game against Franklin and Marshall College (noon, watch live)? If we’re looking at history, just fine. Following a 39-37 nail-biter against King’s College on Sept. 27, the Eagles had a bye week and then dropped 37 points on Delaware Valley College on Oct. 11, which perennially is one of the better teams in the Middle Atlantic Conference.

    🏈 How big or (not) will the transfer-portal exodus be starting next week after Penn State’s regular-season finale? The word is that players are fond of interim coach Terry Smith, but is it enough to play in whatever bowl a six-win Big Ten team would compete in after such a tumultuous season? Not to rip off a Band-Aid, but this was the No. 2 team in the nation at one point. Wild.

    Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore (8) and the Wolverines will be out to upend No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday.

    Game of the week

    No. 1 Ohio State at No. 15 Michigan (noon Saturday, Fox29)

    One of the most storied rivalries in all of college football, the Wolverines are 9.5-point underdogs at home against the 10-0 Buckeyes. There’s nothing Michigan would love to do more than beat Ohio State, and if it can, that could be just enough to clinch a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of college sports right here!
  • What the film says about Saquon Barkley’s rushing struggles in 2025

    What the film says about Saquon Barkley’s rushing struggles in 2025

    Entering the final stretch of the season, the Eagles still haven’t found their footing in the running game. The lack of production from a unit that produced a 2,000 yard rusher and the NFL’s offensive player of the year has been a big part of the offense’s inconsistency this season.

    Saquon Barkley is averaging his lowest yards per carry (3.7) since 2021, when he played 13 games for the New York Giants. His 62.2 yards per game are the second-lowest of his career, and his 16.8 carries per game represent his third-lowest full season total. Barkley’s struggles this season came to a head with a 10-carry, 22-yard performance against Dallas.

    Barkley was dominant last season, when he had 11 games of 100 or more rushing yards. This year, he has one. What is causing Barkley’s down season — and can it be rectified before the Eagles embark on another playoff run?

    These numbers show Saquon Barkley’s drop-off from his historic 2024 season with the Eagles

    Here’s a look at why the Eagles’ running game has suffered this season and how it could get back on track Friday against the Bears:

    Shotgun struggles

    Last season, Barkley had 1,050 of his 2,005 rushing yards out of shotgun, averaging 5.8 yards per carry out of the gun with a plus-18.8 expected points added per rush, according to Next Gen Stats. This season, 302 of his 684 rushing yards have come from shotgun runs, and Barkley is averaging 3.6 yards per carry with a minus-13.1 rush EPA.

    What stands out most comparing Barkley’s film in 2024 vs. 2025 is how much more dominant the offensive line was at the line of scrimmage. Though Barkley saw far fewer stacked boxes last year (20.6%) than this year (32.4%), according to Next Gen, the loss of Mekhi Becton at right guard has been felt particularly in the running game, coupled with Cam Jurgens, Landon Dickerson, and Lane Johnson all being banged up this year.

    Barkley is set to outpace his carries against stacked boxes (eight or more defenders) this season compared to 2024. This year, he already has 60 rushing attempts against stacked boxes, averaging 2.4 yards per carry and managing just 142 yards, per Next Gen. Last season, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry against defenses that loaded the box, on 71 attempts (319 yards).

    But back to the shotgun runs. There was far more variety in the scheme last year, along with more movement from the offensive linemen, too. Jurgens was a focal point of that movement, utilizing his athleticism to get out in space for Barkley last season, and it helped pop some big runs downfield. The Eagles would also bring Johnson and Jordan Mailata across the formation to run power and pin-and-pull runs to help create some daylight for Barkley.

    Teams are matching the uptick in heavy personnel from the Eagles offense on running downs with eight-man boxes and aligning five and even six players at the line of scrimmage. They’re also slanting defensive linemen to disrupt and shut off cutback lanes for Barkley.

    The success the Eagles have had in shotgun this year has come in 11 personnel (one back, one tight end), where teams can’t stack the box because of the threat A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith pose for opposing secondaries.

    Because of the lack of success the Eagles have had running the ball on gap scheme runs out of pistol, which we will explain more in the next section, the offense has attempted to run counter out of shotgun, with varying levels of success since the second Giants game on Oct. 26.

    Where’s pistol?

    When the monster runs began to come for Barkley down the stretch of the 2024 season, they were typically from the pistol formation, when the running back aligned behind Jalen Hurts. The Eagles’ offensive line specifically thrived on the counter run, which pulls two backside offensive linemen or one backside offensive lineman and a tight end across the formation to kick out edge rushers and linebackers.

    Out of pistol formations last season, Barkley had 529 yards, four touchdowns, and averaged 5.7 yards per carry, according to Next Gen. This season those numbers are down drastically to 84 yards on 32 carries (2.4 yards per carry).

    The linemen pulling across the line of scrimmage last season typically included Becton, whose size and physicality would naturally knock defenders out of the play, with Johnson, or tight ends Grant Calcaterra and C.J. Uzomah, following the action and wrapping up to block a linebacker or safety filling the run gap.

    On those same runs this season out of pistol, the Eagles have been largely unsuccessful. The offensive line has struggled with maintaining blocks and working their double teams up to the second level, the kick out blocks haven’t been as effective, and teams are slanting in an attempt to change the aim points for the Eagles O-line, post-snap.

    The Eagles have only utilized Barkley out of pistol formations seven times since the bye week, and he’sonly popped two runs of five or more yards, both attempts against the Detroit Lions.

    The offense had more success earlier in the season when Barkley ran outside zone out of pistol in Week 1 against Dallas, against Kansas City, and in the first meeting with New York. Giving Barkley natural cutback lanes on such runs seemed to yield more success than trying to recreate what worked last season against far less stacked boxes.

    Under center more prevalent

    Under-center runs have come into focus more as the Eagles deploy more heavy personnel, such as 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends) and 13 personnel (one back and three tight ends), along with having a sixth offensive linemen on the field.

    In 2024, Barkley had just 72 attempts but averaged 5.9 yards per carry on under-center runs, according to Next Gen, and Barkley is already set to outpace last year’s rushing attempts from under center. He’s up to 70 attempts, averaging 4.3 yards per carry, his highest of any alignment formation this season, on under-center runs, with three of his four rushing touchdowns coming on those types of runs.

    The same outside zone runs that are working out of pistol seem to be working on under center runs, too, for Barkley.

    The lone long touchdown run of the season from Barkley, which came on Oct. 26 against the Giants and went for 65 yards, was on a duo run, which includes two double teams on the front side of the running play and a solo block on the backside. Employing more of those runs, especially with a sixth linemen on the field, can create one-on-one opportunities for Barkley against linebackers and safeties.

    The effectiveness of the under-center runs from Barkley opened up the play-action passing game against the Vikings on Oct. 19, though it hasn’t had quite the same effectiveness in recent weeks. Still, it’s worth noting the two runs Barkley has had for 10-plus yards were from under center, on pitch plays that went the opposite way of the formation’s strength (against Dallas on Sept. 4 and the Lions on Nov. 16).

    Telling stats of run game struggles

    The most telling sign of his struggles though are Barkley’s stats while the Eagles are leading, last year vs. this year. In 2024, Barkley rushed for 1,100 yards on 173 attempts, seven touchdowns, and a plus-16 EPA while the Eagles were leading, according to Next Gen. Those stats this year are much different: 327 yards on 110 attempts (3 yards per carry), one touchdown, and a minus-27.8 EPA.

    One other stat to store away: the Eagles are calling designed runs for Hurts at the lowest-rate this season since 2022. According to TruMedia, Hurts has a designed run rate of 62.5%, down from his career-high of 74% last season. And according to Pro Football Focus, he has 106 yards on designed rushing attempts this year, on track to be his lowest as a starter. Hurts has just 298 rushing yards this season, which is also on track to be the lowest of his career.

    With the offensive line’s struggles and Hurts’ decrease in designed rushing attempts, defenses are keying in on Barkley even more this season. The Bears’ defense offers a potential course-correction game for the Eagles on Friday. We’ll see if they take advantage.

  • DeSean Jackson’s Delaware State can make history, Villanova’s playoff projections, and Eastern’s dream week

    DeSean Jackson’s Delaware State can make history, Villanova’s playoff projections, and Eastern’s dream week

    When DeSean Jackson and his Delaware State program came to Lincoln Financial Field three weeks ago, he brought a team that was 5-3 and fresh off its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win of the season against North Carolina Central.

    After defeating Michael Vick’s Norfolk State in a battle between former Eagles teammates on Oct. 30, the Hornets beat Morgan State and Howard over the last two weeks, extending their winning streak to five.

    At 8-3, Delaware State not only has its most wins in a season since 2007, but it also has a chance to win the MEAC for the first time in 18 years and just the seventh time in school history.

    Delaware State would love to play another HBCU Classic at the Linc. The Eagles like the idea, too.

    A win on Saturday against South Carolina State (1 p.m., ESPN+) also would send the program to its first Celebration Bowl on Dec. 13 in Atlanta. The Celebration Bowl is the HBCU championship game between the winners of the MEAC and Southwestern Athletic Conference, and this year will be the 10th edition of the game.

    Getting there will be a challenge, though. South Carolina State has won the MEAC in two of the last four years, including last season under first-year coach Chennis Berry. The Bulldogs won the upset Jackson State to win the 2021 Celebration Bowl, beating a team led by Deion Sanders and his son and current Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

    This season, Delaware State is 4-0 at home, and averages 42.3 points and 363 rushing yards in those wins. Overall, the Hornets are the top rushing team (277.5) and No. 22 scoring offense in the FCS (33.6).

    Delaware State running back James Jones is second on the team in rushing yards with 847.

    South Carolina State’s defense ranks 16th in rushing yards allowed per game (113.5) but ranks 72nd out of 126 FCS schools in scoring defense (27.18 points per game).

    In the MEAC preseason poll, Delaware State was picked to finish last, which Jackson doesn’t let people forget, while South Carolina State was picked to win the conference for the second straight year.

    Win or lose, Jackson’s first foray into coaching has defied expectations.

    And his team may return to the Linc next season.

    Eastern University quarterback Brett Nabb (center) was named the Middle Atlantic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year for the 2025 season.

    Eastern continues to soar

    Another week of great news to deliver about the area’s little Division III program that could, as the Eagles of Eastern University wrapped up a nine-win regular season (9-1) last Saturday by winning the Middle Atlantic Conference.

    This week, the school received more conference accolades as quarterback Brett Nabb picked up Offensive Player of the Year, linebacker Jason Bateman won Defensive Player of the Year, and Billy Crocker was named the conference’s Coach of the Year.

    Next up for the Eagles? A first-round bye in the NCAA playoffs, which start Saturday. Eastern will open the postseason on the road against Franklin & Marshall on Nov. 29 (noon, watch live).

    Projecting Villanova’s FCS playoff spot

    Villanova won its final game in the Coastal Athletic Association in thrilling fashion last weekend and currently is second (8-2, 7-1 CAA) in the conference standings behind Rhode Island (9-2, 7-0).

    To earn at least a share of the CAA title, Villanova needs Rhode Island to lose its conference finale against Hampton. Also in the mix for a piece of the title is Monmouth (9-2, 6-1), which faces Albany, although Villanova would win any tiebreaking scenario and the automatic FCS playoff berth that comes with it against Rhode Island and Monmouth. Hampton and Albany are winless in conference play.

    Wildcats wide receiver Luke Colella (1) scores a touchdown against Stony Brook.

    A CAA title seems unlikely for Villanova, but it will set its sights on a third straight FCS playoff berth and fourth appearance over the last five seasons. The Wildcats likely will receive an at-large bid to the 24-team playoff, with their last regular-season hurdle coming in the form of Sacred Heart (8-3), which will join the CAA next year as Villanova exits for the Patriot League (1 p.m., FloCollege).

    First-year coach K.C. Keeler is committed to Temple, Philly, and his ‘grandpa’ dance moves

    Many outlets project Villanova earning a top 16 seed as a first-round playoff host. Opta Analysis projects Villanova as the No. 11 seed and hosting Youngstown State, while Hero Sports and Sports Illustrated have Villanova as the No. 16 seed and also hosting Youngstown State in the first round.

    The Wildcats know Youngstown State well. Villanova beat the Penguins, 24-17, to open the 2024 season and won a 2023 playoff matchup, 45-28. The schools also had three memorable playoff matchups in the ’90s, all won by Youngstown State.

    Villanova has advanced past the first round of the FCS playoffs in its last four appearances. We’ll see if Mark Ferrante’s squad can solidify its playoff standing Saturday at Villanova Stadium, where the Wildcats are 5-0.

    Penn wide receiver Jared Richardson is chasing more records.

    Record chasers

    With one game left in Penn’s football season, against Princeton on Saturday (1 p.m., NBCSP+), wide receiver Jared Richardson needs three more receiving touchdowns to set a single-season record. Richardson, the team’s leading receiver, has caught 12 touchdowns this season. The previous school record was set in 2017 by Justin Watson, who caught 14 before embarking on an NFL career that continues with the Houston Texans this year.

    Two weeks ago, we told you about Richardson’s pursuit of the program’s single-season receiving yards record. After combining for 123 yards over the last two games, Richardson needs 178 more yards to surpass Watson’s mark (1,115) set in 2016.

    James Franklin vows to pour his ‘heart and soul’ into new job as Virginia Tech’s coach

    Penn is out of the race to win the Ivy League with a 3-3 conference record. But Richardson, who in 2023 set a school record with 17 receptions in a game, also can reach the top three in school history in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He is tied with Dan Castles for the second-most receiving touchdowns in a career (27) and needs 35 yards to surpass Castles (2,444) for the third-most receiving yards in program history. Richardson currently sits at 2,410 receiving yards.

    Meanwhile, Penn State running back Kaytron Allen needs 139 yards over the last two games to become the Nittany Lions’ all-time leading rusher. Penn State, which hosts Nebraska on Saturday (7 p.m., NBC10) still is chasing a bowl game berth, and likely will lean on Allen to get there.

    Penn State running back Kaytron Allen (13) celebrates after a touchdown with Nicholas Singleton.

    Allen sits third all-time on Penn State’s rushing yards in a career list with 3,794 yards, and trails Saquon Barkley (3,843) by 49 yards. Evan Royster has the all-time mark with 3,932 yards. Allen already surpassed Royster’s mark for most rushing attempts in a Penn State career.

    Fellow running back Nick Singleton is close to breaking two Penn State records. Singleton trails Barkley (43 rushing touchdowns) by two and is one touchdown away from tying Barkley’s total touchdowns from scrimmage (51 for Barkley, 50 for Singleton).

    Former Penn State head coach James Franklin was named the new head coach at Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

    Game of the week

    No. 13 Miami at Virginia Tech (noon, ESPN)

    All eyes will be on the sidelines of the Hokies, who welcome the Hurricanes as 17.5-point underdogs at home. The question will be if new coach James Franklin will stand alongside interim coach Philip Montgomery or evaluate what he has in the 3-7 Hokies from elsewhere in the stadium. Miami should win easily, but the intrigue is just how soon Franklin gets his feet wet.

  • Why is A.J. Brown struggling against zone coverage? Here’s what the film says about his inconsistency.

    Why is A.J. Brown struggling against zone coverage? Here’s what the film says about his inconsistency.

    When the Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys for the second time this season on Sunday, they’ll face a team that plays the seventh-highest rate of zone coverage, according to Sharp Football Analysis.

    The Eagles passing offense — which has seen a lot of zone coverage — has been a roller coaster this season. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown haven’t put up the production to match the gaudy numbers they’ve produced together in years past.

    Brown still thrives against man coverage, catching 16 of his 25 targets for 244 yards and three touchdowns this season against man schemes, according to Next Gen Stats. But Brown not only has his lowest target per route percentage (20.9%) against zone coverage since joining the Eagles in 2022 per Next Gen, but has a career-low 38 yards after catch vs. zone coverages and is averaging 1.14 yards per route against zone coverage, the lowest rate of his career.

    Eagles vs. Cowboys: All the numbers that matter

    We took a film- and stats-based dive into why Brown is having a down year, and particularly what’s contributing to his issues against zone coverage this season as the passing game searches for consistency:

    Route variety

    For this exercise, we watched all of Brown’s targets in an Eagles uniform, beginning with his dynamo 2022 season, in which he finished with a franchise-record 1,496 receiving yards on 88 receptions with 11 receiving touchdowns.

    The playcaller that year was current Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen, and the first noticeable difference from 2022 to now is the variety of routes that Brown ran in that offense.

    According to Pro Football Focus, Brown had a near 70/30 split in terms of his alignment, with 808 of his 1,187 snaps that year coming out wide, and 342 coming from the slot. This will be important later, but that unpredictability allowed Brown to be moved around to several spots and be utilized in different ways.

    One of the best ways to get receivers the ball against zone coverage is moving the pocket and utilizing shallow crossing routes. Brown had a career-best 17.5 yards per reception vs. zone coverages, and the utilization of him getting underneath or between linebackers across the middle of the field made for easy throws for Hurts.

    Even though that route wasn’t as prevalent in 2023, the Eagles brought it back more often in 2024, especially after the bye week with the Birds sitting at 2-2. Against the Cowboys, Commanders, and Rams, there was a noticeable effort to get Brown touches and space for yards after catch opportunities on those routes, and even Brown’s touchdown in Super Bowl LIX came on a shallow cross route.

    In 2025, there have been attempts to incorporate crossing and shallow routes into the offense, but the attempts have been either infrequent or unsuccessful. A shallow route passing attempt from Hurts to Brown vs. zone coverage against Denver was rushed because of pressure and fell incomplete, and a crossing route to Brown vs. zone went for a 16-yard gain against the Giants.

    The routes that Brown was known for in Tennessee and even now as an Eagle, are in-breaking routes, including slants and dig routes. Those have been a major aspect of Brown’s game, because of his ability to create after the catch, and his physicality to withstand hits that come over the middle of the field.

    A large portion of his catches in 2022 were on those routes, and he dominated after the catch that year. According to Next Gen, 40.5% of his YAC came against zone coverage, and he caught 51 of his 78 targets against zone coverages for 892 yards. He also averaged 2.62 yards per route against zone, which is still the second-highest split of his career.

    In 2023, those numbers took a dip, to 2.19 yards per route, with just 26.7% of his YAC coming against zone coverages, per Next Gen. But the in-breaking routes were more successful post-bye last year, as his numbers crept to the highest yards per route mark (2.83) of his career and his second-highest YAC percentage (29.4%) against zone.

    This season, he’s at career-low in both categories: 1.14 yards per route and just 17.8% of his YAC are coming against zone coverages. He’s averaging just 9.7 yards per reception vs. zone and has 22 catches on 187 routes run against zone this year.

    Part of that is linked to the running game’s ineffectiveness in past years, but also the increase in heavy personnel. The Eagles are running 13 personnel (one back, three tight ends) at a 6.47% rate, according to Sumer Sports, almost double the rate from last year, and 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends) at a slightly higher rate this year (30.32%) compared to last year (30.16%).

    The Eagles are running more condensed formations while running 11 personnel (one back, one tight end) at the lowest rate since Brown as been an Eagle, with just 54.8% of their snaps. They’re also not throwing the ball as much either from empty formations, where Brown has thrived in previous years against both man and zone coverages.

    Add in that fact that Brown has been targeted on just 21.3% of his routes against zone coverage this season, his lowest rate since his rookie year in 2019 (20.7%), according to Next Gen, and it’s been a struggle for him to get the ball. Per Pro Football Focus, 13 of his 14 catches between the numbers this year came on passes of 10 yards or less, with just one coming in beyond 20 yards. In 2022, he had 14 catches beyond 10 yards between the numbers, 12 in 2023, and 10 last season.

    Formational changes

    As outlined above, formational changes have played a part in Brown’s struggles this season, with a shift to heavier personnel and dialing back 11 personnel. But so has Brown’s alignment, which has trended away from utilizing him in the slot.

    After playing 342 snaps in the slot in 2022, he played 259 in 2023, and 171 in 2024, which matched more of his alignment with the Titans in 2019-21 (when he averaged 131 slot snaps). This year, Brown is on pace for his fewest such snaps as an Eagle, with 52 of his 504 snaps coming in the slot, per PFF.

    He’s aligning outside the numbers over 88% of the time, which not only allows defenses to send multiple defenders his way, but also limits his route tree. Almost all of his routes against the Lions last week were outside the numbers and he played just four snaps in the slot.

    Having Brown in the slot not only creates opportunities for mismatches, but it gives him a chance to create big plays against linebackers and safeties. The 2023 season probably shows his slot usage best, when Brown had career-highs in routes (366), targets (89) and catches (62) against zone coverage with 801 receiving yards, his second-highest total behind the 2022 season.

    The route spacing this season just isn’t as sharp as years past and it seems to bring some hesitancy from Hurts in challenging those windows at times. Hurts had no problem ripping the ball Brown in 2022 and 2023 on curl or in-breaking routes, but appears not as confident in doing so this year.

    Brown had targets where he sat in the soft spot of zone coverage against Denver and Green Bay, and against the former, Hurts eventually hit him after scrambling and immediately put the ball on him against the Packers.

    What could help?

    One way to combat some of the bracket coverages and extra attention that Brown is getting from opposing defenses is to have him align on the same side as DeVonta Smith. Especially against zone coverages, the alignment puts defenses in a bind, forcing them to choose one star receiver or the other.

    A lot of Brown’s big plays against zone coverage in those situations came in either 12 personnel or empty formations, and since the heavier personnel isn’t working this year, adding more empty passes could be beneficial for Brown and the Eagles’ passing game.

    Most of the time the Eagles are attacking downfield this year, its in man coverage situations, but Hurts and the passing attack has shown the ability to hit “hole shots” which are passes in between the corner and safety in zone coverage. They did so in 2022 and 2023 to Brown, making two-high zone coverages pay for not sending help to the corner on such throws.

    The Eagles have Smith and Brown run hitch routes above league-average this year (16.5%), at 24.5% and 23.7%, respectively, according to Next Gen, and that will always be an identity of the offense. But adding in more variations, where Brown isn’t always working along the sidelines, could help open some throwing windows for Hurts.

    Whether it’s adding him more to the slot or utilizing more empty formations and 11 personnel, there has to be a more concerted effort for the Eagles to find more easy targets for Brown and find answers to their issues against zone coverage. Unlocking this dimension could be the step forward the offense needs.