unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane

Four games into the season, the Eagles’ offense was stuck. With the team on its bye week, key members of the offensive line felt it was time to speak up. So they went to their head coach and offensive coordinator with feedback. It was straightforward and to the point. “We’ve got Saquon ‘F***ing’ Barkley. Let’s give him the f***ing ball.” Message received. Since then, the Eagles haven’t lost, climbing their way to the top of the NFC. But for as much as the players deserve props for pushing a run-first attack, so too does Nick Sirianni for implementing it. Given the Eagles' steady improvement during the season, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane wonders if there’s more Sirianni should be getting credit for…

Plus, in this week’s “Pick Six,” Jeff catches up with tight end Grant Calcaterra, who grew up a triplet, briefly retired from football, only to later find his way back and break through to the NFL.

Jeff also reexamines some of Sirianni’s crucial decisions against the Jaguars, and, despite the decisions not working out, explains why we shouldn’t have been surprised by Sirianni’s aggressive approach.

00:00 “Give him the f****ing ball”

13:05 Don’t blame Sirianni for being aggressive

17:37 “Pick Six” with Grant Calcaterra

25:33 It’s Cowboys Week!

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

Hope can be fickle in football, but right now, following an impressive Week 8 victory vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, the Philadelphia Eagles have built modest momentum. What’s been responsible for the turnaround during the team's three-game winning streak? For starters, the head coach tweaked his approach, and his quarterback has responded with improved play. Are Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts sold on the evolution of the offense? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane takes a look at the Eagles’ new identity, and explains why certain players might be more eager to fully embrace it than Sirianni.

Plus, with A.J. Brown putting together another dominant season, Jeff poses the question: could the 27-year old be the Eagles’ best receiver of all-time?

And in this week’s “Pick Six” segment, find out which member of the offensive line Landon Dickerson has developed a secret language with.

00:00 How DeVonta Smith’s big touchdown signals change in offense

08:52 Is A.J. Brown the Eagles’ best receiver of all-time?

18:25 “Pick Six” with Landon Dickerson

31:30 Welcome back, Dough Pederson (Part II)

Links referenced by Jeff in the episode…

A.J. Brown podcast: https://www.audacy.com/podcast/uncovering-the-birds-with-jeff-mclane-e8fbc/episodes/raising-aj-brown-24ecc

A.J. Brown article:

https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/inq2/eagles-aj-brown-bio-starkville-mississippi-20230905.html

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

Saquon Barkley was a stud, the defense was dominant, and all seems well in Eagles Land, at least for now, following a blowout win over the New York Giants. But beyond the breakout runs and bevy of sacks, there were other noteworthy developments from the victory - some encouraging, others indicators of just how much more work the Eagles have to do as they near the halfway point of the season. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane takes a look at the coaches’ tape, and zeroes in on areas where quarterback Jalen Hurts still needs to improve.

Plus, ahead of a potential matchup with Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase, rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell joins Jeff for this week’s “Pick Six” segment. They talk about nicknames, family, and favorite movies.

00:00 Jalen Hurts film study

12:01 Where’s Jordan Davis?

17:00 “Pick Six” with Quinyon Mitchell

24:11 Vindication for Nick Sirianni

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

The consensus within the Philadelphia Eagles was virtually unanimous: it wasn’t pretty, but they got what they needed against the lowly Cleveland Browns - a win. The result nudged the 3-2 Eagles back above .500, and brought them within a half-game of first place in the NFC East. All good things, right? Yes, but the seemingly impulsive actions of head coach Nick Sirianni overshadowed the Eagles’ success. What did Sirianni’s back-and-forth with the crowd in the closing moment of the fourth quarter say about his ability to handle his emotions? How did members of the organization feel about his antics? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane does some digging…

Plus, ahead of Saquon Barkley’s first trip back to MetLife Stadium to face his former team, the New York Giants, the star running back joins Jeff for a “Pick Six” segment and dishes on Penn State culture, Philadelphia area golf clubs, and what he wants to do after his NFL playing career.

00:00 Team sources label Sirianni's behavior "embarrassing"

16:01 'Pick Six' with Saquon Barkley

27:23 Hurts, Sirianni relationship showing signs of progress

Oh, and here’s the link Jeff referenced in the episode about the time Barkley torched the Eagles in 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D4oRMI0uCQ

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. New for this season, look for fresh episodes to drop weekly in the days following every Eagles’ game.

All it took was a confident, affirming answer. But once again, instead of seizing an opportunity to diffuse speculation, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts added fuel to the fire surrounding the stability of his relationship with head coach Nick Sirianni. The question posed to Hurts after the Eagles’ lopsided loss in Tampa: given their respective leadership duties with the team, would he and Sirianni huddle up and try to help solve the Eagles’ identity issues during the upcoming bye week? “We have our moments,” Hurts said flatly. The response was as brief as it was evasive, and marked yet another instance since last season’s collapse in which Hurts left his feelings towards Sirianni open to interpretation. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane examines the duo's dynamics, and why it seems like Sirianni typically goes out of his way to defend Hurts.

Plus, we pull back the curtain on Cam Jurgens’ transition to the Eagles’ starting center job, all while the shadow of his future-Hall-of-Fame predecessor looms over him.

00:00 Does Nick Sirianni shield Jalen Hurts from criticism?

11:45 Cam Jurgens' transition to starting center

21:05 Bryce Huff is "frustrated"

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. New for this season, look for fresh episodes to drop weekly in the days following every Eagles’ game.

The Philadelphia Eagles were angry. And on the heels of a painful loss in their home opener, they played like it. From the dominance of the defensive line, to Jalen Hurts' poised, game-winning drive with time running out, the Eagles notched a resilient Week 3 win in New Orleans. Listen as The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane takes you on a tour around the victorious winners’ locker room at the Superdome through interviews with several key contributors. 

Plus, details on how and why Hurts, now in his fifth season, might finally be finding his leadership voice, and a new Pick Six interview with emerging linebacker Nakobe Dean. 

00:00 Jeff chats with C.J. Gardner-Johnson

06:41 Jalen Carter tells Jeff why he thinks his performance vs. Saints was still "trash"

09:48 Jordan Davis explains why the Eagles played angry

13:07 Jalen Hurts and signs of stronger leadership

20:30 'Pick Six' with Nakobe Dean

29:40 Nick Sirianni's fourth-down decisions under the microscope

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. New for this season, look for fresh episodes to drop weekly in the days following every Eagles’ game. 

The Eagles’ home opener on Monday Night Football was there for the taking, and the Atlanta Falcons obliged, pulling off a stunning upset in the final minutes. There were multiple factors that led to the 22-21 loss, which dropped the Eagles to 1-1. But two weeks into the season, one problem has proven more glaring and costly than the rest: the Eagles’ defensive line, a group loaded with blue-chip talent that seemed poised to take a crucial step forward this year. Why has the Eagles’ D-line underperformed? Can practice reps and continued development alone fix their issues? Or, did Eagles’ general manager Howie Roseman and his talent evaluators make some missteps in constructing the unit? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane examines these questions in the aftermath of the Eagles’ agonizing defeat.

Plus, with Nick Foles in town for his retirement ceremony at Lincoln Financial Field, Jeff revisits an overlooked “what if” moment from the Super Bowl MVP’s career that, had it gone a different way, might have propelled his legacy to even higher heights. 

00:00 Where the defensive line has gone wrong, and whether the problems can be fixed

15:05 The big "what if?" Nick Foles moment

24:10 Should Vic Fangio get a pass?

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. New for this season, look for fresh episodes to drop weekly in the days following every Eagles’ game. 

Here's the article link Jeff referenced in the episode. 

The Eagles went to Brazil and came back with what they were looking for - a win to open the 2024 season. From Saquon Barkley’s breakout debut to a sturdy showing from the revamped offensive line, there were encouraging signs in the team's 34-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers. But there was also plenty of room for improvement; issues the Eagles will have to address if they want to become a Super Bowl contender. After watching game tape, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane gives his “good” and “bad” reports from Week 1, and details what he’s been hearing about some potential personnel developments. 

Plus, starting tight end Dallas Goedert joins Jeff for a “Pick Six” question-and-answer segment.

00:00 Telling Week 1 takeaways 

18:01 "Pick Six" with Dallas Goedert

24:01 Linebacker rumblings...

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. New for this season, look for fresh episodes to drop weekly in the days following every Eagles’ game. 

Nick Sirianni survived the Eagles’ disastrous collapse last season - barely. At the heart of criticism surrounding the fourth-year head coach was a sideline temperament that, at times, crossed the line from passionate to problematic. Did he suffer from a lack of composure? Were his antics undermining how the team was treated by referees? Was his enthusiasm endearing to players, or perceived as childish? As the Eagles get set to start anew in 2024, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane asks Sirianni whether he’s changed, and talks to other members of the organization about what they've noticed.

Plus, ahead of the Eagles’ historic regular season opener in São Paulo, Jeff talks with Jake Stoutland, son of the team’s longtime offensive line coach, and his wife, Nathalia, about how football and Brazil are intertwined in their lives. 

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. New for this season, look for fresh episodes to drop weekly in the days following every Eagles’ game. 

After beating up on mostly themselves the first two weeks of training camp, the Philadelphia Eagles welcomed a fresh challenge: a trip to New England for a joint practice with the Patriots, followed by a preseason game between the two teams. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane traveled to Foxboro, MA to take in the action, and explains why the joint practice might have been the singular, most important event of the Eagles' preseason. Plus, he chats with longtime Patriots beat reporter Greg Bedard about a rumor that just won't go away: ex-New England head coach Bill Belichick's interest in Nick Sirianni's job...

00:00 Revelations from joint practice with Patriots

13:58 Greg Bedard on Bill Belichick's rumored interest in Eagles

27:16 Stock up, stock down report

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout 2024 training camp, and publishing weekly beginning with the start of the regular season.