The Eagles’ preseason opener against the Ravens was hardly an inspiring return to football, but don’t let that fool you into thinking we saw the real offense. This was classic Philly, protecting their key players and keeping the actual playbook under wraps. The organization just does not treat these preseason games as rehearsals for their real offense, so even if it wasn’t a thrilling watch, you gotta look deeper.
Sean Mannion’s Influence and a Running Game Tease
Despite the basic approach, there were early indications of Sean Mannion’s influence, especially in the running game. We saw a noticeable emphasis on more under center runs. Charting six Outside Zone runs and three Duo runs isn’t a huge sample size, sure, but the shift was undeniable. The *structure* of the running game was way more interesting than the results themselves, telling you what they *might* be trying to build. Now, flip that to the defense: Baltimore’s defense, under Jesse Minter, was anything but vanilla. They threw creative pressures at the Eagles’ inexperienced offensive line, really testing their communication and protection rules. Meanwhile, Philly kept their offensive calls super basic, which just highlights that gap.
Eli Stowers’ Unexpected Gauntlet
The opening clip for the first-team offense really told a story, especially regarding the tight end duo of Grant Calcaterra and Eli Stowers. Honestly, neither guy looked like they could give the Eagles the blocking needed for a legitimate two-tight-end package. Calcaterra was lucky not to get flagged, and Stowers’ usage was just plain weird. The guy was drafted primarily for his receiving ability, yet they repeatedly asked him to perform difficult assignments as an attached blocker. I’m choosing to see this as a deliberate preseason test, not a preview of his regular season role, because if they genuinely needed an in-line blocker, they wouldn’t have drafted someone with Stowers’ skillset. His blocking did improve a bit as the game went on, but those early results were definitely rough. On the flip side, Markel Bell at right tackle showed some real grit. He initially lost his rep and let a defender through, but his recovery ability was a clear positive in that same opening clip.
This was just the first look, folks, but if the Eagles are really putting guys like Stowers through the wringer this early, imagine what they’re cooking up for when it actually counts. Keep an eye on that offensive line and those tight ends as the preseason rolls on, because there’s definitely more to unpack!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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