{"id":283044,"date":"2025-08-12T20:29:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T20:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/283044\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T20:29:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T20:29:11","slug":"eagles-film-analysis-tanner-mckee-is-a-legit-quarterback-with-the-floor-of-a-top-backup-and-maybe-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/283044\/","title":{"rendered":"Eagles Film Analysis: Tanner McKee is a legit quarterback with the floor of a top backup and maybe more"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are back! It\u2019s time for another Eagles season and I\u2019ll be covering the offense and defense every single week, as always. Personally, I sort of hate preseason football because it\u2019s so vanilla schematically, but it does give us a chance to look at some of the backups. Let\u2019s get into it! (Previously: All-22 defense takeaways<\/a>)<\/p>\n

We had the first look at the quarterbacks, and honestly, not much to say on Kyle McCord or Dorian Thompson-Robinson so I\u2019ll ignore them in this one. This night was all about Tanner McKee. McKee was probably the best player on the field for the Eagles, going 20 of 25 for 252 yards, two touchdowns, and no picks. He played into the third quarter and faced Cincinnati\u2019s first-team defense at the start and looked completely in command. He showed improved pocket mobility, the ability to keep his eyes downfield, and fantastic ball placement for his guys to make plays. McKee is a legit quarterback with the floor of a top backup and maybe more. McKee\u2019s college film was good, too. I\u2019ve always been a fan and said this post-draft\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI sort of love the pick. I\u2019m sorry. I can\u2019t help it. I love these big old-fashioned pocket passers even if the NFL has passed them by. Five years ago, Tanner McKee is definitely an early-round pick. He can do so many things well. He throws with beautiful touch down the field, is pretty consistent with his ball placement, and can get through his progressions\u201d<\/p>\n

This is the long Will Shipley run that got everyone excited. I like the design (under-center outside zone with opposite motion to stress the defense horizontally), and the execution up front was spotless. I\u2019m surprised we didn\u2019t see more of this last year and I wonder if we will this year. The Eagles best three backs all excel in outside zone. I thought the right-hand side of the line did exceptionally well here and it was good to see Jahan Dotson blocking down the field. Maybe I\u2019m harsh (I\u2019m sure you will tell me in the comments) but I still want Will Shipley to beat that last defender. I wasn\u2019t overly impressed with Shipley, despite his good numbers, and the goal-line sequence (three attempts inside the five) where he just didn\u2019t move the pile was a little worrying.<\/p>\n

This is classic \u201csingle-high, let it fly\u201d from McKee here. McKee hits depth and trusts the matchup. I was critical of Johnny Wilson in my recent film review<\/a> but this is exactly what I wanted to see more of from him. He has a huge frame and whilst he may never separate well, he needs to win in these contested situations.<\/p>\n

Bin this call. Two outs stacked within 5 yards and zero MOF stress. It\u2019s just asking the defense to squeeze your routes on the outside and provides little for a quarterback over the middle. The route spacing here makes life harder than it should be. Additionally, considering backup offensive linemen around the league suck, this was a decent showing from the offensive line. Drew Kendall and Trevor Keegan were clean in pass pro, and Cameron Williams was OK considering how raw he was.<\/p>\n

AJ Dillon time. This is him at his best: downhill outside zone from under center, reading the DT\u2019s helmet and cutting decisively. The YAC and pile-pushing physicality showed up, and he looked good as a receiver (3-27). I had him outperforming Shipley overall. I did note a few more gap concepts in his rushing attempts too (this could be nothing, could be something we see in the regular season) and I thought he looked comfortable out there. To me, he\u2019s just a far more physically imposing player than Shipley. However, as I said in my review of his game, Shipley is a very well rounded back who will be needed this year. I\u2019ve just got a hunch that Dillon could be used more than some people think.<\/p>\n

This was McKee\u2019s worst rep. I\u2019ll include some concerns I have about his overall game just for balance. He\u2019s obviously a very talented thrower. He can throw on the move, but he doesn\u2019t see the flat corner and gets away with one here. He\u2019s an aggressive thrower and if he starts somewhere down the line, there\u2019ll be some turnover variance, especially because he won\u2019t create with his legs. That often leads to tighter window throws.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve waited long enough, let\u2019s talk about Darius Cooper. Cooper was a UDFA who has received some positive reports<\/a> (especially from the man BLG himself), and he looked sudden off the line in this one and caught the ball really well. It\u2019s only been one game, but after 6-82 and TD later, he is getting closer to a spot on the 53. If not, good luck sneaking him through waivers after this film. I was very impressed with how often he got off press coverage and how well he used his physicality at the top of his route. I was not expecting the move he made here after he caught the ball!<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t get any better than this. Two-high pre-snap, late rotation to single-high; McKee looks off the post safety and takes the go route on the outside. McKee\u2019s process is so clean. Cooper\u2019s release is great, but it\u2019s the mid-route hand usage is so clever and so nuanced. That says a lot about the work he puts in on the training ground. Just watch the nudge with his hand to create the tiny bit of separation required. That\u2019s what we see the best at this position do. Perfect ball, perfect catch. I love it.<\/p>\n

This one is not on McKee, but there\u2019s a tiny lane to escape between the back and LT, but McKee\u2019s not that creator. That just means the structure around him has to be excellent and the concept on the left is late here. I\u2019d rather the back release than hang in protection on this concept, as McKee doesn\u2019t really have anywhere to go. This is a rough rep for Myles Hinton, and he ends up on the ground. I did an All22 watchalong of Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams for my Patreon a couple of months ago and the obvious takeaway was just how raw both of them are. I don\u2019t think either should be anywhere near the field this season. Hinton had a really rough game.<\/p>\n

I would bet that Crash has been the most common Eagles concept over the past couple of years and this is a clinic in how to throw it. McKee keys the flat corner, is staying low and then rips the hole shot between the cornerback and safety, and puts it right on the upfield shoulder. This is elite processing and placement. It\u2019s good stuff!<\/p>\n

There is nothing better than a slot fade vs single-high. McKee drops it in the bucket and Wilson thanks him for it. It\u2019s also a throw Hurts loves, so this is something to keep an eye on in the regular season. Interestingly, Johnny Wilson played inside more than I expected this game. That\u2019s something to monitor. I think the slot suits him as it gives him more free access and more chances to play against smaller inside cornerbacks.<\/p>\n

I think this was a fantastic game for Wilson, but I just wanted to show this for balance. The ball from DTR isn\u2019t great, but I still want the big-bodied guys to erase a slightly errant throw. He\u2019s turned a corner lately with using his frame; finishing plays like this in the short game is the next step that I want to see the rest of preseason.<\/p>\n

I was going to include the Kyle McCord interception, but I felt bad\u2026 let\u2019s just end by saying that it wasn\u2019t a terrific start for the young rookie quarterback.<\/p>\n

Thank you for reading! I\u2019d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below and ask any questions. If you enjoyed this piece, you can find more of my work and podcast here<\/a>. If you would like to support me further, please check out my Patreon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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