Ricky Bo: The Trenches Are The MVP of This Eagles Team
By Ricky Bottalico
When you think about the Super Bowl, this upcoming Sunday, who will be the next M.V.P? Following this Eagles team all season long, it may not be just one player. The Trenches, the blood and guts of a football team are what stick out as most impactful.
Offensively, the Eagles have the #1 pass block, the # 3 run block and are ranked #1 overall This all starts with Jason Kelce, the leader of the line. Kelce has been relatively healthy all season long and has shown his value throughout every play. Notable, Kelce while still blocking another player has thrown down a defender with one arm.
Lane Johnson, while playing injured, has not allowed a sack and most impressively a quarterback hit all season.
Across the board, Landon Dickerson, Isaac Seumalo, and Jordan Mailata have been solid standouts. When you look at this O line, appreciate what this team has. There is strength, size, smarts, and leadership. Know that when Kenny Gainwell ends up in the end zone, those holes were opened up by a great line. When Hurts goes untouched, yeah, it’s these guys!
Defensively the trenches are big, strong, and fast! The D has come up with 70 sacks this season and is a mile in front of the second-place Chiefs (55). The middle of the line was stitched up mid-season, with the two additions of Suh and Joseph. Additionally, credit is due to Howie Roseman, as he saw a game in which Fletcher Cox was exhausted and went out and made the necessary moves.
What I’ll be keyed in on the most Sunday, will be how the Chiefs try to stop Haason Reddick. Reddick has been nothing short of a mainstay in opposing backfields (you would think, priority #1 for a double team). Two guys may be able to slow Reddick a little, but what that does is open up the rest of the D to attack Patrick Mahomes. Especially Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham, who have been dominant this year too.
When you look at this Super Bowl, there are so many big-name players that could put up points, but in my eyes, APPRECIATE THE TRENCHES!
