unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane

For over two decades, one of the guiding personnel principles of the Philadelphia Eagles organization has been to prioritize the offensive line. Through four games, and this past week in particular, the group has undergone dramatic turnover. Hall of Fame-caliber tackle Lane Johnson retired. Cam Jurgens was shipped to Baltimore in a trade. Their respective replacements have potential, but, compared to how general manager Howie Roseman has stockpiled talent on the line in the past, the options now seem less optimal. Did Roseman and the Eagles stray from a long-held philosophy? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane retraces key decisions that brought the team to this point.

00:00 The series of decisions that impacted the state of the Eagles offensive line

19:44 Week 5 mailbag! Will Jalen Hurts ever find his “home” in an offense?

Links referenced in this episode:

unCovering the Birds - F*ck this game

https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/eagles-podcast-episode-2-lane-johnson-jeff-mclane-20230331.html

Why Lane Johnson called it a career

https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/lane-johnson-retirement-2026-next-for-offensive-line-20261007.html

Lane Johnson’s mastery on film

https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/eagles-lane-johnson-film-pff-stats-jeff-stoutland-20221012.html

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

Different year, different offensive coordinator, yet still, it feels like Déjà vu all over again. The Eagles had little margin for error Sunday vs. the Rams because of injuries. They played hard despite being shorthanded, but in the end, couldn’t put the Rams away, mainly because of poor execution on offense. Why hasn’t Sean Mannion's scheme clicked? How culpable are head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts in the offensive rut the Eagles find themselves in? The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane and Dave Murphy analyze the fallout from the 24-20 loss to LA.

00:00 A four-game assessment of Sean Mannion’s scheme

08:23 Jalen Hurts’ role in the Eagles’ offensive struggles

15:45 The offensive line, no longer a strength

24:53 Why so few under center plays?

28:58 The repercussions of recent Howie Roseman personnel decisions

34:02 How can the Eagles salvage this start?

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

Just a few months ago, when Eagles training camp got underway, the defense drew rave reviews. The prevailing sentiment was that the unit was poised to dominate this year. So far through three games, Vic Fangio’s group has done anything but. From the lack of forced turnovers to missed coverage assignments, the Eagles have plenty of room for improvement. Can Fangio work his magic to get the defense on track in time for this week’s showdown with the high-powered LA Rams? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane puts the defense under the microscope, and also answers listener questions in this week’s mailbag!

00:00 How a busted defensive play vs. Chicago signals a bigger issue

10:06 Is Jalen Carter catching too much criticism?

11:42 Could there be a change coming at back-up quarterback?

15:45 Week 4 mailbag! Pre-snap motion and three glaring flaws

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

It was a blowout, and it left a lot of questions. The Eagles’ 27-7 loss to the Bears Monday night at Soldier Field featured an offense that fizzled, a defense that folded, and a coaching staff that looked outmatched. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Jeff Neiburg provide a postmortem of the defense’s disappointing start to the season, critique of offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s approach, and assessment of how some of general manager Howie Roseman’s moves have panned out so far.

00:00 The defense has been a major disappointment

16:12 Sean Mannion's offense has yet to impress

34:17 Scrutinizing Howie Roseman's roster construction

unCovering the Birds is a co-production of KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts and The Philadelphia Inquirer, hosted by award-winning Inquirer reporter Jeff McLane. Look for new episodes throughout the season.

We're always looking for mailbag questions! Hit Jeff up on his socials, or drop a question in the comments. Jeff could answer it in a future episode!

Earlier this year, the scenario seemed far-fetched, especially after the Eagles used a second-round draft pick on a tight end. Zach Ertz overcoming a serious injury to make a nostalgic return to the city where his career began? It just didn’t feel like a possibility. Then rookie Eli Stowers got hurt in the preseason, and starter Dallas Goedert went down Week 2 vs. Tennessee. All of a sudden, the Eagles had a need. Now, the 35-year old Ertz has been tapped to fill it. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane explains how an unlikely reunion between Ertz and the Eagles came together, why both sides are hoping for more than a feel-good story, and which player on the roster could be affected by this move the most.

00:00 Inside the Eagles’ reunion with Zach Ertz

10:08 What Ertz’s signing could mean for the rest of the roster, especially a couple rookies

16:12 Week 3 mailbag: The Kenny Moore acquisition, and Jalen Hurts’ contract extension

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

The Eagles survived - again. This time, instead of holding on for dear life as they did in their opener against Washington, the Eagles came from behind in the final minutes to pull out a gutsy win at Tennessee, with their quarterback leading the way. With the Eagles 2-0, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Mike Sielski examine Jalen Hurts’ promising performance through two games, and dig into the uneven play of the defense.

00:00 A version of Jalen Hurts “we’ve never seen”

16:05 Giving offensive coordinator Sean Mannion the benefit of the doubt

21:50 The Eagles’ defense hasn’t delivered as advertised

30:35 Revisionist history: Nakobe Dean

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

Landon Dickerson has made a career of fighting through injuries and pain, last season being the latest instance. But after the left guard looked like a shell of himself Week 1 vs. Washington, the Eagles decided to shut him down - at least for now. With Dickerson landing on injured reserve, The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane explains why, this time around, he and the Eagles are taking the cautious route. Jeff also shares what he's heard about how the Eagles might fill Dickerson's void on the offensive line, and takes listener questions in this week's mailbag segment.

00:00 The Landon Dickerson dilemma: injury history, replacements, long-term outlook

17:40 Why isn’t Makai Lemon lower on the depth chart?

19:40 Should we be worried about the defensive line?

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

The Eagles eked out a season-opening win over the Washington Commanders thanks, in large part, to Jalen Hurts channeling the elements of his game that make him so dangerous. But when it comes to other areas of the offense, concerns from last year still linger. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and David Murphy assess Hurts’ performance, Sean Mannion’s debut as offensive coordinator, and warning signs on the offensive line.

00:00 Shades of 2022 Jalen Hurts???

12:56 Concerns about Landon Dickerson and the offensive line

20:38 Sean Mannion’s first game, and thoughts on Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers

30:46 Did the defense live up to expectations?

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

The regular season is almost here! All the preseason talk has been about Jalen Hurts and new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. But there’s somebody else who will have a big say in how high the Eagles fly. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane explains why this year, in the absence of traded star A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith has to take the next step, while also taking charge of the Eagles’ wide receivers group. Plus, Jeff dips into the mailbag for listener questions about Jalen Hurts and some key roster spots.

00:00 Is DeVonta Smith ready to fill A.J. Brown’s shoes?

17:00 Yes, the Jalen Hurts scrutiny is justified

19:07 Biggest candidates to disappoint, surprise this season

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

We're always looking for mailbag questions! Hit Jeff up on his socials, or drop a question in the comments. Jeff could answer it in a future episode!

The Eagles’ regular season roster is set - for now. How ready is the team for the new year, and will the talent be enough for the Eagles to get back to Super Bowl contention? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Mike Sielski examine general manager Howie Roseman’s final roster decisions in the aftermath of cutdown day.

00:00 Eagles’ 2026 regular season roster overview

04:10 How ready is the wide receiver group after A.J. Brown’s departure and Makai Lemon’s injury?

11:51 Is tight end the biggest area of concern?

21:10 The importance of the run game and offensive line

28:04 Could the defense carry the day?

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