Eagles

Baldy’s Breakdowns: “There’s Nobody Lined up on Zach Ertz”

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Dec 16th, 2019 · 12:53 PM EST

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Ex-Eagle Brian Baldinger is a Twitter content machine.

His breakdowns have been pretty good over the last few weeks, so I figured we’d share Monday’s clips for your football enjoyment.

Here’s clip #1 from the Eagles/Redskins game:

.@Eagles v @redskins @cj_wentz to @ZERTZ_86 on 3-7 for +27. Why can’t the #Redskins get lined up? Easy pitch and catch when Ertz is left uncovered! #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/rT0paBSUUB

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 16, 2019

“What are they looking at here? Maybe it was supposed to go to the three-receiver side right here, but there’s nobody lined up on Zach Ertz.”

That would be important for Washington, to cover Zach Ertz. And Baldy’s right, it is indeed shocking that some of this is taking place in the NFL.

Clip 2:

.@eagles @cj_wentz to @ZERTZ_86 on 3-9. This is a good looking picture. From the protection, to the route, to the throw. The kinds of plays the #Birds need to make if they want to make the post season starting next week v @dallascowboys #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/elGdidHaJ5

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 16, 2019

“The protection is excellent. It’s just excellent, you can’t get it really any better than this.”

Landon Collins is a Pro Bowl safety who was more of a volume tackler and not exactly known for his elite coverage skills. And yeah, Carson’s mechanics looked a lot better in this game. The Eagles were up in the 60% range on third down conversions.

Clip 3:

.@eagles v @ZERTZ_86 from @cj_wentz on the go ahead TD. Will any team in the NFC EAST cover this great receiver. He will gladly accept all of your coverage breakdowns. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/zT9PwOhxQI

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 16, 2019

“This is the second week in a row now, in the NFC East, nobody covers Zach Ertz, go-ahead touchdown.”

Same design they cooked the Giants with last week. It’s just a bunch formation to the right and blown coverage leaves Ertz wide open in the end zone, this time on a short two-yard out instead of that seam through the middle.

Clip 4:

.@eagles v @Redskins @goedert33 with one of the great improbable catches of this season; and when they needed it most! #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/5OLH35vHhh

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 16, 2019

“This concentration by Dallas Goedert is unreal.”

Baldy showed another blown switch route clip involving Goedert that took place during the Patriots game. In this case, huge catch, but it makes you wonder what the hell is going on if you’ve got receivers running into each other in mid-December.

Clip 5:

.@eagles @cj_wentz to @G_Ward1 3 receptions on the game winning drive and none more important than the game winning TD; his first in the @NFL. Ward is a great story of perseverance and hard work and never giving up. It’s a story that never gets old. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/ETOdSkfl44

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 16, 2019

“He jumps first, he beats Norman to the ball, and a contested catch”

I couldn’t believe it either. Awesome to see an Eagle skill player actually go up and make a play, “high point” the football and whatnot.

Baldy mentioned Tyler high school, where Ward went. Same school as Earl Campbell, so good company.

Clip 6:

.@Eagles ran the ball on 4 third down attempts; and a few of the runs were 3-long. Those are strong tendency breakers . What did @cj_wentz see to stay with the run especially on 3-11 down in the 4th Q. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/pnJDOTi2qc

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 16, 2019

“They need to get Carson involved in the run game more. He’s good at it. He’s great at it.”

Agreed, and if he gets hurt, it is what it is, but Wentz’s legs were a big part of his 2017 season and I don’t think he’s ever going to become and elite pocket passer in this league. Gotta let him do some things on the ground when necessary.

And actually, I’m not sure that 3rd and 11 draw was against a zero blitz. I clipped that play from the broadcast and it looks like they had a safety over the top, Montae Nicholson, then blitzed six guys while Nicholson took a bad angle and had to recover to make the tackle. But whatever, splitting hairs, they beat the overload as Baldy mentioned and got a huge gain out of it.

Eagles/Cowboys Sunday let’s goooooooooooooooooooooooooo