unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane

The last time the Philadelphia Eagles took a cornerback in the first round of the NFL Draft? Before this year, it was 2002. The last time they chose cornerbacks with each of their first two picks, like they also did this spring? Same deal, in 2022, when the team selected Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown - two mainstays during the Andy Reid-Donovan McNabb era. If early returns are any indication, the rookie tandem of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean could be primed to have a similar positive impact on the franchise’s fortunes. What’s clicked for the youngsters both separately and collectively that’s allowed them to earn starting roles this early in their careers? How does their relationship contrast on and off the field? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane profiles the Birds’ budding defensive backfield duo.

Also, as good as Saquon Barkley has been, it always helps to have a high-quality back-up for such a heavy-usage rusher. Jeff goes inside the weight room to highlight an area where second-stringer Kenny Gainwell has Barkley beat.

Plus, with the Eagles looking more and more like a contender during their six-game winning streak, we examine three factors that could put the team in the running for the NFC’s top playoff seed, and three more that could hold them back.

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 Philadelphia Eagles handled the first team on their schedule this week - beating the Dallas Cowboys on the road. And it wasn’t just a win. It was a drubbing, marking the Eagles’ first win at AT&T Stadium in seven years. Now, on short rest, what figures to be a much stiffer, significant challenge awaits - a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Washington Commanders. At stake, sole control of the NFC East heading into the home stretch of the season. The Eagles say Washington has their full attention. In fact, the Birds believe they still haven’t played their best football yet, despite winning five in a row. What would help them reach a higher level? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane thinks the answer could lie with getting star receiver DeVonta Smith back in the mix.

Plus, in this week’s “Pick Six” interview, Zack Baun tells Jeff what it was like growing up with a single mom, and why he refuses to let the sport he plays define him.

00:00 DeVonta Smith says fewer targets “tough,” but wants to win

14:17 “Pick Six” with Zack Baun

22:22 First place on the line in Thursday Night Football showdown with Washington Commanders

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.

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.