Eagles Fail At What Nick Sirianni Brings Up All The Time

Eagles fail at what Nick Sirianni brings up all the time originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ARLINGTON, Texas — You’ve probably heard Nick Sirianni say it a million times. He wants the Eagles to master the things that take no talent.

They didn’t do that on Sunday.

In their 24-21 loss to the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, the Eagles shot themselves in the foot repeatedly. They turned the ball over twice and were penalized 14 times for 96 yards.

“Uncharacteristic of us, obviously,” Sirianni said after the loss. “Always put that on me. If there’s stuff like that, that we spend time going over, obviously I have to get my message across better. That’s gotta be on me. We’ll fix the things that we need to fix technique-wise and look-wise. We have to master the things that require no talent and that’s always going to be on me when something like that happens.”

The Eagles’ 14 penalties on Sunday are tied for the most during the Sirianni Era. The Eagles were penalized 14 times for 89 yards back in Week 1 of the 2021 season — his first game as head coach.

The Eagles on Sunday were actually called for 16 penalties and 14 stuck. They were flagged in all three phases of the game. Here’s a complete look at those penalties:

1Q: Illegal contact: Nakobe Dean
1Q: False start: Fred Johnson
2Q: Offensive holding: Tyler Steen
2Q: False start: Cam Jurgens
2Q: Illegal motion on special teams: Sydney Brown
3Q: Illegal formation on offense
3Q: Running into kicker: Cameron Latu
3Q: Illegal block above the waist: Joshua Uche
*3Q: Too many men on defense 
3Q: Defensive pass interference: Quinyon Mitchell
*3Q: Defensive pass interference: Cooper DeJean
3Q: Defensive pass interference: Kelee Ringo
4Q: Offensive pass interference: DeVonta Smith
4Q: False start: A.J. Brown
4Q: Illegal use of hands: Fred Johnson
4Q: Player out of bounds on kick: Kelee Ringo

* Not included in count to 14 — Too man men was offset, DPI on DeJean was declined

“You can’t expect to move the ball when you’re committing things like facemask penalties, false starts, illegal formations,” left tackle Jordan Mailata said. “That stuff takes no talent. That’s something we pride ourselves on at the Eagles. 

“I think a large part of that is just a lack of focus, particularly on those crucial parts of the game, third downs or extending first downs, making them 1st-and-20, 2nd-and-20. You can’t play behind the sticks. That’s something we always talk about.”

Sirianni on Sunday stressed the importance of cleaning up the pre-snap penalties. He said he can live with some of the flags that get thrown in the heat of battle. There are going to be some calls for holding or pass interference.

But too many men on defense? False starts? Illegal formation?

Those can’t happen.

“I’ve got to be better with my message to them,” Sirianni said.

The Eagles also lost the turnover battle in this game. Saquon Barkley lost a fumble on offense and Xavier Gipson lost one on special teams. Even though the Cowboys didn’t score points on those ensuing possessions, the Eagles lost their own chances to score on those drives.

Sirianni is always talking about the things that require no talent. And those issues popped up repeatedly on Sunday.

“Showed up a lot,” Barkley said. “Especially ball security. Ball security takes no talent. I work my ass off on it. In my career, I’ve been really good at taking care of the ball and I just let the team down in that moment. This one is going to sting.

“But being in this profession, you’re going to make plays and you’re going to have mistakes. You just have to respond. Go back to the drawing board. We have a short week. I just gotta get right for the team.”