NFL GM Thinks League Is Mimicking Philadelphia Eagles Blueprint
Fox Sports Analyst Mark Schlereth joined The John Kincade Show to preview the 2023 NFL season. He gushed over the state of the Philadelphia Eagles, a “model franchise” of the…
Fox Sports Analyst Mark Schlereth joined The John Kincade Show to preview the 2023 NFL season. He gushed over the state of the Philadelphia Eagles, a “model franchise” of the NFL.
Schlereth Reveals Conversation with NFL GM
Schlereth’s coverage of the Seattle Seahawks during the preseason helped him stumble upon an interesting sentiment from a competing front office. He summarized a conversation with Seattle GM John Schneider.
“Everybody right now is trying to mimic, to copy Philadelphia, especially on the defensive front, with not only the size and the speed and athleticism, but the depth. He (Schneider) goes ‘They rotate eight guys. The ability to keep those guys fresh, the ability to have those guys play at a really high tempo throughout the entirety of four quarters is now something everybody looks at.'” -Mark Schlereth
Praise from an opposing NFL GM certainly isn't easy to find. After two Super Bowl appearances in six seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles have a glowing reputation around the league.
“They have been so successful. They have been so strong. They are so good that everybody’s looking at them kind of as a model franchise. Here’s how you build a team.” -Schlereth
Praise for Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni
A gigantic 180 on the perception of Howie Roseman has suddenly led to consistent praise for the long-time GM locally and nationally. Schlereth spoke about Roseman’s ability to restock the talent on the roster, specifically pointing to the tendency to add in areas that are already loaded with talent.
“What Howie Roseman has put together from just a depth standpoint and continuing to attack in depth positions of strength is incredible to me. I think one of the things that happens to you from an attrition standpoint as a football team…is you tend to ignore positions of strength and you go after positions of weakness.” -Schlereth
Roseman added Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith to a group of pass rushers that shattered a franchise record with 70 sacks in 2022. The defensive front entering 2023 looks arguably better than the group in 2022.
DeVonta Smith had a strong rookie season in 2021. Roseman also didn’t wait around for his first-round talent to take on more of the load. He instead paired Smith with A.J. Brown to help build one of the best offenses in the NFL.
The lauding of Howie Roseman seems almost too common around the NFL in 2023. However, Nick Sirianni doesn’t get as much of the credit. Schlereth complimented the job of a coach who reached the Super Bowl in only his second season. He thinks Sirianni is capable enough to survive the loss of the two coordinators that helped him to succeed in 2021 and 2022.
“When you’re a successful team, everyone want to pick you off, take your people. So that is something you’re going to have to overcome, but I think they’re exceptionally well-coached.” -Schlereth
Watch the full interview with Mark Schlereth below.
Watch The John Kincade Show live on the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page on weekday mornings from 6am-10am.
Philadelphia Eagles projected Week 1 starters include three newcomers on defense, one on offense, and three younger players stepping into starting roles for the first time.
The defending NFC champs will travel to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots to kick off the 2023 NFL season.
2023 Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts returns as the starting quarterback after a breakout season landed him second in MVP voting behind only Patrick Mahomes. Philadelphia’s franchise quarterback signed a lucrative $255 million contract extension this offseason.
Nick Sirianni will enter his third season as head coach. He inherited a 4-11-1 team and took them to the playoffs with a 9-8 record in 2021. The drastic improvement continued in his second season on the sidelines at Lincoln Financial Field when the Eagles finished 14-3.
General manager Howie Roseman has built a reputation as one of the best executives in the NFL. He also continued to stock the cupboard with talent in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the selection of University of Georgia standouts Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith.
Philadelphia Eagles Projected Week 1 Starters
Hurts leads an offensive attack that finished third in the NFL in points scored in 2022. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert also return as his three strongest weapons in the passing game. Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson have at least one more run together as the anchors of a stout offensive line.
Philadelphia native D’Andre Swift will likely join the starting lineup in Week 1 as the only newcomer. Cam Jurgens will move into a starting role as the right guard.
On defense, veterans Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham hope to bring the city another moment of glory before the end of their respective careers in midnight green. Second-year players Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship will both play full-time starting roles for the first time. Carter, Terrell Edmunds, and Zach Cunningham will likely crack the starting lineup on opening day.
The defense under new coordinator Sean Desai will feature multiple packages and rotating personnel. One look will be a traditional 4-3 base.
Jalen Hurts
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesQuarterback, #1
Oklahoma University/University of Alabama
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (53rd overall) in 2020
D'Andre Swift
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty ImagesRunning Back, #0
University of Georgia
4th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Detroit Lions (April 2023)
A.J. Brown
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesWide Receiver, #11
Ole Miss
5th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Tennessee Titans (April 2022)
DeVonta Smith
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesWide Receiver, #6
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (10th overall) in 2021
Quez Watkins
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesWide Receiver, #16
Southern Miss
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (200th overall) in 2020
Dallas Goedert
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesTight End, #88
South Dakota State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (48th overall) in 2018
Jordan Mailata
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesLeft Tackle, #68
Jeff Stoutland University
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 7th Round (233rd overall) in 2018
Landon Dickerson
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesLeft Guard, #69
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (37th overall) in 2021
Jason Kelce
Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty ImagesCenter, #62
University of Cincinnati
13th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (191st overall) in 2011
Cam Jurgens
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesRight Guard, #51
University of Nebraska
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (51st overall) in 2022
Lane Johnson
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesRight Tackle, #65
Oklahoma University
11th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (4th overall) in 2013
Brandon Graham
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)Defensive End, #55
University of Michigan
14th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2010
Fletcher Cox
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesDefensive Tackle, #91
Mississippi State
12th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (12th overall) in 2012
Jordan Davis
Photo by Norm Hall/Getty ImagesDefensive Tackle, #90
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2022
Josh Sweat
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesDefensive End, #94
Florida State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 4th Round (130th overall) in 2018
Haason Reddick
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesEdge Rusher/Linebacker, #7
Temple University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2022)
Nakobe Dean
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty ImagesLinebacker, #17
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 3rd Round (83rd overall) in 2022
Zach Cunningham
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty ImagesLinebacker, #52
Vanderbilt University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (August 2023)
Darius Slay
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesCornerback, #2
Mississippi State University
11th NFL Season- Acquired in trade from Detroit Lions (March 2020)
James Bradberry
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesCornerback, #24
University of Arkansas/Samford University
8th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (May 2022)
Reed Blankenship
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesSafety, #32
Middle Tennessee State
2nd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2022)
Terrell Edmunds
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesSafety, #26
Virginia Tech
6th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2023)
