I hope this mini bye week for the Eagles is a big wake-up call for the whole team. The offense needs to be able to protect quarterback Jalen Hurts a lot more successfully if they want to maintain their one-game lead over the Washington Commanders in the division.
I don’t know what is happening to Saquon Barkley. He had a great season last year, but he is really struggling this year and seems a lot slower as well. The defense needs to get a lot more pressure on the quarterback in order to help the secondary. I don’t know why they won’t switch Cooper DeJean to outside cornerback on the other side from Quinyon Mitchell. This week, the Eagles play the Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson, who is one of the best wide receivers in the league. So if the pass defense does not improve, they will not win this game.
The Phillies will definitely be making some changes this off season, but I don’t think one of them will be replacing Kyle Schwarber as designated hitter. It seems like the Phillies’ front office wants him back. I would agree with them if he signs a three- or four-year contract, but if he wants a full five-year deal, I think he will be playing somewhere else. Most of changes will probably be in the outfield. Justin Crawford will be promoted from triple-A ball to replace Max Kepler in the outfield, and I don’t expect Nick Castellanos back because he doesn’t get along with the coaching staff or the front office. I hope we see pitching prospect Andrew Painter in the majors for most of the season, because there have been a lot of expectations for him for a while now.
The fans won’t know what the team is really going to look like until late January or February right before spring starts because that’s when the final free agent business happens.
I hope the 76ers can come back strong from last season's disappointment. If Joel Embiid can play 60 games this season, I think the team can make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference. The regular season starts next week on Wednesday against the Boston Celtics.
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A 2002 Cape grad and 2007 UD grad, Lewes resident Sumner Spence is one of the Cape area's biggest sports fans. Although he’s used a wheelchair his entire life, he has lived vicariously through his sports-playing father, brother, and friends, who gave him his love of sports. He hopes to provide new and interesting perspectives on the sports stories and issues of the day. Email Sumner at sumspence@gmail.com.
