Almanac Week -- Dumping The Notebook

 

The Eagles Almanac, a collaboration of nine Eagles fans and writers that previews the 2012 season, came out Monday.  I contributed a few pieces, but didn't have time to write up everything I researched.  So buy the book, and then if you want more, I'll be dumping out the notebook for a few days.

---

One of the stories people tell about the Castillo-led Eagles defense is that the group started slowly -- really, really slowly -- but by the end of the year everyone was on the same page and things were clicking.  Leaving the larger debate aside for a moment, let's take a look at the number of non-screen pass plays that Football Outsders' game charters identified as "hole in zone," "blown coverage" or "uncovered":

Not really a match with the "everyone on the same page" storyline, is it?

---

Another just-for-fun graphic, all pass attempts by direction and distance in 2010 and 2011.  Note the strong Nnamdi effect (click for full size):

(And actually, this link is an even better "full size.") More later this week.