So word trickled out today the long-time Eagles defensive assistant and most-recent linebackers coach, Steve Spagnuolo (no, not former Eagles TE John Spagnolo) was hired by Tom Coughlin to be the Giants Defensive Coordinator. I kind of feel sorry for the guy, honestly...TC burns through his assistants, and I fear that Steve is simply the latest of Tommy C's future scapegoats (along with newly promoted O-coordinator Kevin Gilbride).
My initial take: big, fat, hairy deal. Honestly, I just cannot get that riled up about the position coach for the absolute worst group on our defense leaving...but I guess it's a bit more than that...I've seen a couple of Giants fans trolling Eagles-related message boards, mostly asking questions about the guy, but some trying to quote New York media playing up the dude. Which is fine...they have to try and get the fans excited...but seriously if the Eagles had wanted to keep the guy all that badly, they just would've denied the Giants permission to talk to him...
I base this on the assumption that Spagnuolo was under contract with the Eagles. Contracts for coaches in the NFL seem to have some unwritten rules. They go something like this: with the exception of the top job, coaching contracts can/will be tossed aside if the coach in question receives outside offers that would effectively promote said individual. (In this manner, Position coaches can jump ship to become coordinators, while coordinators can take the big leap to head coaches). Technically the teams have to "ask permission" to do this, but in the vast majority of cases, teams will grant this permission so they don't look like they are a place that would obstruct their employees careers....Teams CAN say no, and in the cases where they do say no, it appears to often come with the (again silent) caveat that the team is "doing it" because they have their own plans for the guy (Like said guy moving up within their own organization in a year or two)....
So you know what they tells me, the Eagles were NOT planning on promoting Spagnuolo to replace current Def Coord. Jim Johnson in the next couple of seasons (as some Giants fans/media have reportedly suggested). If they were, he'd still be with the Eagles, methinks.
Showing posts with label Eagles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eagles. Show all posts
Monday, January 22, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
How I would Fix the Eagles Defense
There are many question floating around about what needs to be done to address the defensive deficiencies that cropped up this year with the Birds...was it our D-Line? or LB, and over-rated secondary? Well, I honestly don't know. Every area showed flashes of promise and big splashes of incompetence, so figuring out the right formula is not easy.
Diving right in:
1. At its most basic, I believe Coordinator Jim Johnson needs to adapt his defensive philosophy a bit. For too long the Eagles have coveted speed above all else. The result is a smallish defensive that relies completely on technique and leverage but one that routinely gets pushed around and out of position too easily...Moreover, a defense that was grossly deficient against the run, and as a result consistently had trouble getting off the field in some of our most critical games. As for the adaptation....please stop making your DTs weigh-in...I don't like to believe it, but part of the reason our First Round Draft Pick Broderick Bunkley got in the dog-house was his weight....Look JJ, some beef in the middle IS NOT A BAD THING...consider what happened to your quick, light (290-range) DTs this year - THEY GOT THROWN ABOUT...perhaps if someone weighed as much as the OG they went against we wouldn't have our D-Line getting pushed around so much. Solution: Come to realize that it is the combination of speed AND size AND talent that creates great Defenses (see Baltimore, Chicago and San Diego for assistance), not just adequate ones (see Philly and Indy for details).
2. We need to add another play-maker at the LB position. The Eagles got diddly-squat from its LB corps all year. It was pathetic. OG (Omar Gaither) emerged as a real "baller" but other than that lone bright spot....very little contribution from the linebackers this year. That includes one of my favorite Eagles leaders, Jeremiah Trotter...Trot lost a step this year...I thought during the 6-10 season that Trot and Dawk were trying to do too much and that hurt the D...This year, its clear that Trotter's game is severely limited. He is a downhill MLB, who can flow to one side of the field and that's about it....He is not a sideline to sideline guy, he ain't chasing anyone down on the backside anymore, and he is a dreadful liability in pass coverage (witness the fact that when Shawn Barber went out with an ankle injury in the N.O. Playoff game, Trot was forced to stay in on passing down and Payton whipped him like a rented mule with a 3rd string TE Billy Miller). Solution: Go get a FA Linebacker. I don't care what one (Briggs, Thomas, Edwards, London Fletcher, somebody) but there are some good ones available and this groups needs a proven commodity. We do not need to hear that last year's third-round pick, Chris Gocong, a college DE who JJ is converting to OLB is the answer to our play-maker needs...
3. Resign S Quintin Mikell and CB William James and DRAFT the heir apparent to Brian Dawkins. The Eagles have a LOT of free agent DBs this year. Rod Hood and Michael Lewis are goners, they believe they are starters and they are not likely to get that chance in Philly. 'nuff said. As for the two others, I believe that both can be contributors to the D. Mikell has already proven his worth, but I don't think he labors under any illusion about being a starter...Mikell was a valuable role-player and special teams captain, it'd be nice for the ST to have some continuity, plus if both Mikell and Lewis depart, we get real thin at safety real fast...as for Will James, my jury is out on him, didn't really see a whole lot from him, but he's got decent size and he was a starter in this league. I think he could be a reasonable insurance policy, and think about it: he was a mid-season pick-up and then injured...If he stays healthy, we would benefit from having a decent nickel-CB who is already well-versed in the system. As for the safety position, we need to realize that despite having a Pro-Bowl and All-Pro caliber season our Hall-of-Fame-caliber safety Brian Dawkins is 33. We've got him for two more seasons, but with only Brian and Sean Considine on the roster for next year, NOW is THE TIME to go out and draft Dawk's heir apparent...According to Mel Kiper, this year is an exceptionally deep draft for safeties....so lets go get ourselves one...My strategy: if it looks like the safety you want won't be there when the Birds first round # will be called, see about dangling a player to move up...We used OG Artis Hicks and Hollis Thomas in that capacity last year, draft day moves....could Sam Rayburn be in that position this year?
4. Cut Dhani Jones, Matt McCoy, Jerome McDougle. Those are easy calls. None of them deserve a spot on the roster...some folks would argue to keep Matt for special teams, I guess I could live with that, but truthfully I am of a mind to cut our losses, admit failure on the 2nd rounder and move on....if we need a suicide-squad guy how about Tank Daniels or Roper...
5. Shift some the D-Linemen. In addition to adding some bulk, I would do the following, use Rayburn to move up somewhere on draft day or to acquire an additional second day pick. We already have his replacement with the team: Lajuan Ramsey. Let Darwin Walker move outside some (not all the time but give him some reps there)....I am tired of having every DE on the team weigh less than 275 lbs....Whatever happened to having a DE with some size??
What about Free Agent Juqua Thomas? I think JT played himself onto another team, but in the good way. I just don't see how, with all the hefty contracts we already have on the D-Line that the Birds will be able to keep Juqua...people took notice this year (if we did, they did) and he will get offers. Perhaps we could restructure Jevon's contract to keep his buddy Juqua around...perhaps....Either way - my starting D-Line next September goes like this: Darren Howard, Mike Patterson, Broderick Bunkley, Jevon Kearse...Trent Cole is my next guy in, but I think using him primarily on passing down would really help keep him fresh...He will be our fastball guy if Juqua finds greener pastures. My depth guys: Walker, Ramsey and a new guy, dunno who (maybe a FA find like we had with JT a couple of years ago, maybe Juqua, who knows)
Well there you have it, five things I would do to improve the Eagles Defense....
Diving right in:
1. At its most basic, I believe Coordinator Jim Johnson needs to adapt his defensive philosophy a bit. For too long the Eagles have coveted speed above all else. The result is a smallish defensive that relies completely on technique and leverage but one that routinely gets pushed around and out of position too easily...Moreover, a defense that was grossly deficient against the run, and as a result consistently had trouble getting off the field in some of our most critical games. As for the adaptation....please stop making your DTs weigh-in...I don't like to believe it, but part of the reason our First Round Draft Pick Broderick Bunkley got in the dog-house was his weight....Look JJ, some beef in the middle IS NOT A BAD THING...consider what happened to your quick, light (290-range) DTs this year - THEY GOT THROWN ABOUT...perhaps if someone weighed as much as the OG they went against we wouldn't have our D-Line getting pushed around so much. Solution: Come to realize that it is the combination of speed AND size AND talent that creates great Defenses (see Baltimore, Chicago and San Diego for assistance), not just adequate ones (see Philly and Indy for details).
2. We need to add another play-maker at the LB position. The Eagles got diddly-squat from its LB corps all year. It was pathetic. OG (Omar Gaither) emerged as a real "baller" but other than that lone bright spot....very little contribution from the linebackers this year. That includes one of my favorite Eagles leaders, Jeremiah Trotter...Trot lost a step this year...I thought during the 6-10 season that Trot and Dawk were trying to do too much and that hurt the D...This year, its clear that Trotter's game is severely limited. He is a downhill MLB, who can flow to one side of the field and that's about it....He is not a sideline to sideline guy, he ain't chasing anyone down on the backside anymore, and he is a dreadful liability in pass coverage (witness the fact that when Shawn Barber went out with an ankle injury in the N.O. Playoff game, Trot was forced to stay in on passing down and Payton whipped him like a rented mule with a 3rd string TE Billy Miller). Solution: Go get a FA Linebacker. I don't care what one (Briggs, Thomas, Edwards, London Fletcher, somebody) but there are some good ones available and this groups needs a proven commodity. We do not need to hear that last year's third-round pick, Chris Gocong, a college DE who JJ is converting to OLB is the answer to our play-maker needs...
3. Resign S Quintin Mikell and CB William James and DRAFT the heir apparent to Brian Dawkins. The Eagles have a LOT of free agent DBs this year. Rod Hood and Michael Lewis are goners, they believe they are starters and they are not likely to get that chance in Philly. 'nuff said. As for the two others, I believe that both can be contributors to the D. Mikell has already proven his worth, but I don't think he labors under any illusion about being a starter...Mikell was a valuable role-player and special teams captain, it'd be nice for the ST to have some continuity, plus if both Mikell and Lewis depart, we get real thin at safety real fast...as for Will James, my jury is out on him, didn't really see a whole lot from him, but he's got decent size and he was a starter in this league. I think he could be a reasonable insurance policy, and think about it: he was a mid-season pick-up and then injured...If he stays healthy, we would benefit from having a decent nickel-CB who is already well-versed in the system. As for the safety position, we need to realize that despite having a Pro-Bowl and All-Pro caliber season our Hall-of-Fame-caliber safety Brian Dawkins is 33. We've got him for two more seasons, but with only Brian and Sean Considine on the roster for next year, NOW is THE TIME to go out and draft Dawk's heir apparent...According to Mel Kiper, this year is an exceptionally deep draft for safeties....so lets go get ourselves one...My strategy: if it looks like the safety you want won't be there when the Birds first round # will be called, see about dangling a player to move up...We used OG Artis Hicks and Hollis Thomas in that capacity last year, draft day moves....could Sam Rayburn be in that position this year?
4. Cut Dhani Jones, Matt McCoy, Jerome McDougle. Those are easy calls. None of them deserve a spot on the roster...some folks would argue to keep Matt for special teams, I guess I could live with that, but truthfully I am of a mind to cut our losses, admit failure on the 2nd rounder and move on....if we need a suicide-squad guy how about Tank Daniels or Roper...
5. Shift some the D-Linemen. In addition to adding some bulk, I would do the following, use Rayburn to move up somewhere on draft day or to acquire an additional second day pick. We already have his replacement with the team: Lajuan Ramsey. Let Darwin Walker move outside some (not all the time but give him some reps there)....I am tired of having every DE on the team weigh less than 275 lbs....Whatever happened to having a DE with some size??
What about Free Agent Juqua Thomas? I think JT played himself onto another team, but in the good way. I just don't see how, with all the hefty contracts we already have on the D-Line that the Birds will be able to keep Juqua...people took notice this year (if we did, they did) and he will get offers. Perhaps we could restructure Jevon's contract to keep his buddy Juqua around...perhaps....Either way - my starting D-Line next September goes like this: Darren Howard, Mike Patterson, Broderick Bunkley, Jevon Kearse...Trent Cole is my next guy in, but I think using him primarily on passing down would really help keep him fresh...He will be our fastball guy if Juqua finds greener pastures. My depth guys: Walker, Ramsey and a new guy, dunno who (maybe a FA find like we had with JT a couple of years ago, maybe Juqua, who knows)
Well there you have it, five things I would do to improve the Eagles Defense....
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Why am I not writing about the Eagles?
Ok, so visitors might wonder...hey dude...you're an Eagles fans...what with the NFL-based articles...where is the Wildcard trash talk, the Giants-bashing pieces, etc???
NO, I have not given up on the Eagles...The answer:I just wanted to provide my visitors with a little something that maybe couldn't already get from a plethora of sources...I am just one dude...I cannot hope to cover the Eagles as well as Philly.com or www.philadelphiaeagles.com or anything like that..and there are a TON of great stories about the Birds out there right now, like:
No Lost Weekend, Barber likes the Hostile Linc, The Garcia-Philly Luv-Fest, The Underdog Mentality, The Little Engine that Could: Westbrook, and so on and so on
I'm cannot compete...I'm in Japan fellas, I don't to see Giants press conferences, or access to what player said what, etc, etc and so forth, and so on...I just react to things as I see 'em...
And here's another thing: I ain't big on predictions...so don't expect a Eagles XX Giants xx post from me either...I refuse to jinx them...And no real stupid trash-talking either...I know what the Eagles need to do to win the game, we all do...execute, no stupid penalties, RUN THE BALL, pound 'em in the trenches....
This game will be played between the white lines at the Linc on Sunday afternoon, and I can't WAIT boys! I gettin' hopped up, trust me. When the clock says 0:00 and the Eagles have more points...THEN I will safe to whoop it up, and start thinking about our rematch with 'Nawlins....
NO, I have not given up on the Eagles...The answer:I just wanted to provide my visitors with a little something that maybe couldn't already get from a plethora of sources...I am just one dude...I cannot hope to cover the Eagles as well as Philly.com or www.philadelphiaeagles.com or anything like that..and there are a TON of great stories about the Birds out there right now, like:
No Lost Weekend, Barber likes the Hostile Linc, The Garcia-Philly Luv-Fest, The Underdog Mentality, The Little Engine that Could: Westbrook, and so on and so on
I'm cannot compete...I'm in Japan fellas, I don't to see Giants press conferences, or access to what player said what, etc, etc and so forth, and so on...I just react to things as I see 'em...
And here's another thing: I ain't big on predictions...so don't expect a Eagles XX Giants xx post from me either...I refuse to jinx them...And no real stupid trash-talking either...I know what the Eagles need to do to win the game, we all do...execute, no stupid penalties, RUN THE BALL, pound 'em in the trenches....
This game will be played between the white lines at the Linc on Sunday afternoon, and I can't WAIT boys! I gettin' hopped up, trust me. When the clock says 0:00 and the Eagles have more points...THEN I will safe to whoop it up, and start thinking about our rematch with 'Nawlins....
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Eagles Superstitions
I've had a lot of Eagles superstitions over the years....a few years ago, I had to have the same t-shirt on under my McNabb jersey (at the time all I had was a #5 and an old #59 Mamula jersey I picked up at JC Penney for like $10 one year)....
Since then I've switched key t-shirts....I've gotten Eagles collars for my dachshunds to wear on gameday...I've had gameday rituals, etc....None of them have gotten the Birds to the promised land.
This year, I've managed to dispel most of them...The Eagles went on their winning streak the game that I forgot to put the collars on the boys...so that one is gone...(Unless you count NOT putting them on)....I've worn a ton of different Eagles t-shirts as well.
But I did pick one up lately....I got a White #36 Westbrook jersey for my birthday in Nov...At the time it was my third jersey (Green 5, Black 20, White 36)....During the Redskins game I started switching jerseys between Westbrooks and Dawkins....for offense and defensive series.....AND IT HAS WORKED! AUGH.....
I got a green #58 Trent Cole jersey for Christmas, and I wore that for the first series against the Cowboys, then I switched to #36....then I decided to go with Dawk, and BLAM fumble on the ensuing kickoff....the mojo was kickin' so I stuck with the 36-20 switcheroo....rode it all the way to a Cowboys ass-kickin'....
Since then I've switched key t-shirts....I've gotten Eagles collars for my dachshunds to wear on gameday...I've had gameday rituals, etc....None of them have gotten the Birds to the promised land.
This year, I've managed to dispel most of them...The Eagles went on their winning streak the game that I forgot to put the collars on the boys...so that one is gone...(Unless you count NOT putting them on)....I've worn a ton of different Eagles t-shirts as well.
But I did pick one up lately....I got a White #36 Westbrook jersey for my birthday in Nov...At the time it was my third jersey (Green 5, Black 20, White 36)....During the Redskins game I started switching jerseys between Westbrooks and Dawkins....for offense and defensive series.....AND IT HAS WORKED! AUGH.....
I got a green #58 Trent Cole jersey for Christmas, and I wore that for the first series against the Cowboys, then I switched to #36....then I decided to go with Dawk, and BLAM fumble on the ensuing kickoff....the mojo was kickin' so I stuck with the 36-20 switcheroo....rode it all the way to a Cowboys ass-kickin'....
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Haven't Won Nuthin' Yet
Taking a time-out from the current good (bordering on euphoric) feeling breezing through Philly
right now and I am confronted with one undeniable fact: the Eagles have NOT sealed a post-season berth. Beating the Redskins and Giants was GREAT, but it is NOT the end-all be-all for what I'd like to see us accomplish this season. Jeff, Andy, O-Line, D, special teams, etc....we got six more....Ya'll need to keep fighting. Taking out the Giants in the Meadowlands will lose a LOT of its luster if we bring our "C" game to Dallas on Christmas Day.
That said, I like what I seeing/hearing from the team right now. Which is: not much, yes they're off right now, but even after the Giants game they were saying all the right things. Andy Reid has set a good tone, no looking ahead. Focus on Dallas at the proper time: right now. All we've done it put ours in a position to accomplish our goals....its a good position to be in, yes, but we're not home yet.
Silver Lining to the voters ProBowl snub* of RB Brian Westbrook: Hey Westy, now you get to show the whole country they made a mistake on Christmas Day....
*he is first alternate after all....
right now and I am confronted with one undeniable fact: the Eagles have NOT sealed a post-season berth. Beating the Redskins and Giants was GREAT, but it is NOT the end-all be-all for what I'd like to see us accomplish this season. Jeff, Andy, O-Line, D, special teams, etc....we got six more....Ya'll need to keep fighting. Taking out the Giants in the Meadowlands will lose a LOT of its luster if we bring our "C" game to Dallas on Christmas Day.
That said, I like what I seeing/hearing from the team right now. Which is: not much, yes they're off right now, but even after the Giants game they were saying all the right things. Andy Reid has set a good tone, no looking ahead. Focus on Dallas at the proper time: right now. All we've done it put ours in a position to accomplish our goals....its a good position to be in, yes, but we're not home yet.
Silver Lining to the voters ProBowl snub* of RB Brian Westbrook: Hey Westy, now you get to show the whole country they made a mistake on Christmas Day....
*he is first alternate after all....
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
3 ProBowl Eagles and 1 Glaring Omission
First off, congratulations to Brian Dawkins, Lito Sheppard and Shawn Andrews on their selections to the ProBowl. The only person I regret NOT being able to congratulate is our team's MVP: RB Brian Westbrook. He lost out to First time selectees Frank Gore and Steven Jackson and the outgoing Tiki Barber.
So why didn't he make it and why do I think he was overlooked? Well, if you're here you probably already know I am very much biased in his favor. I get to see this Westbrook each week, and I know how much he means to the Eagles.
That said, I think part of the "problem" is on the on-line ballot itself (I say that because all the selectees are deserving and I'd be hard pressed to say, this guy doesn't belong and Brian does) ....The ballots only register limited stats per position. For offensive players it is NOT total yards...this hits the RBs hardest because they are the ones who have the greatest chance to accumulate combined yardage (with some yearly exceptions to QB's with execptional running skills like Vick, Culpepper, McNabb (when he ran), maybe Vince Young in the future). Brian's forte and true worth is measured not just by rushing stats, his "all-purpose" yards stack up well. Especially when you consider that the balloting ends before the end of the season, so it behooves running backs to crack the 1,000 yard mark early in the season (instead of just this weekend as Brian did).
For example, when I was voting online, I'd see Westbrook with 7-800 yards and but I'd know it was really more like 11-1200 total...but when you see 3 other guys up over the 1,000 yard mark just in rushing...I'm sure the fans not familiar with the NFC or Philly or such just click on the dudes with the most yards...
Monday, December 18, 2006
Ghost of MEO's Past
I dig John Clayton's article on how the Eagles could come to haunt that selfish piece of donkey crap.
He writes: "Get ready for a Terrell Owens Christmas Carol. The ghosts of T.O.'s past are coming to possibly spoil the Cowboys' NFC East celebration. f the Cowboys lose to the Eagles on Christmas Day, the NFC East lead falls into the hands of Philadelphia, the team that T.O. ripped apart last season." I agree with Clayton on this, the Eagles have rallied, and it seems only appropriate that the team they have to beat to seal the deal is the Cowboys.
A good sign from my perspective, was the way the Eagles handled the immediate media barrage about the rematch with MEO. Last year doesn't matter, how he divided the team is history. What matters now is that each player focus on what he needs to do to get ready for the biggest game of the season. Will they win. I don't know. I am not a seer, but I will go on the record with this: if the Eagles play with the same heart, bring the intensity, and exhibit the same emotion that we saw in the Meadowlands, then I really like our chances.
Its almost cliche to say the Eagles need to contain Romo, stop the rush, keep up the opportunistic turnovers and be smart protecting the football. Similar qualities (though not all the same time) are what have spurred the Eagles to their three-game, season reviving win streak. If we don't let the Cowboys run all over us, force some timely turnover, capitalize on their mistakes and commit fewer penalties/mistakes of our own, there is no reason we cannot march out of Dallas with the NFC East lead.
I want it so bad I can taste it...sweet as yesterday was, there is only 1 thing I want this Christmas: an Eagles victory.
He writes: "Get ready for a Terrell Owens Christmas Carol. The ghosts of T.O.'s past are coming to possibly spoil the Cowboys' NFC East celebration. f the Cowboys lose to the Eagles on Christmas Day, the NFC East lead falls into the hands of Philadelphia, the team that T.O. ripped apart last season." I agree with Clayton on this, the Eagles have rallied, and it seems only appropriate that the team they have to beat to seal the deal is the Cowboys.
A good sign from my perspective, was the way the Eagles handled the immediate media barrage about the rematch with MEO. Last year doesn't matter, how he divided the team is history. What matters now is that each player focus on what he needs to do to get ready for the biggest game of the season. Will they win. I don't know. I am not a seer, but I will go on the record with this: if the Eagles play with the same heart, bring the intensity, and exhibit the same emotion that we saw in the Meadowlands, then I really like our chances.
Its almost cliche to say the Eagles need to contain Romo, stop the rush, keep up the opportunistic turnovers and be smart protecting the football. Similar qualities (though not all the same time) are what have spurred the Eagles to their three-game, season reviving win streak. If we don't let the Cowboys run all over us, force some timely turnover, capitalize on their mistakes and commit fewer penalties/mistakes of our own, there is no reason we cannot march out of Dallas with the NFC East lead.
I want it so bad I can taste it...sweet as yesterday was, there is only 1 thing I want this Christmas: an Eagles victory.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Stars of the Game
This is getting be a broken record, but my Star of the Game is Brian Dawkins! What a game: 12 tackles (11 solo), 2 forced fumbles, 2 passed defended and 1 huge INT (pictured left). Its hard to say too much about this guy. What a warrior...gets hurt right near the end of the game, but doesn't want the team to have to call a time-out...Reid calls it anyway because he wants his best player to be able to stay in the game. Afterwards, when questioned about it...Dawk just shook his head, and said, "no I knew I needed to fight through it" So unlike Mike Vick who pulled himself in the waning minutes of the Falcons crippling loss, Dawkins toughed it out for his teammates.
My other stars:
***** RB Brian Westbrook. He was everywhere for the Birds today. He blew past the 1,000 yard mark with 97 on the ground (he only need 5) and another 40 in the air. None bigger than the huge 28 yarder to give the Eagles a 21-16 lead in the fourth quarter.**** Correll Buckhalter - lost in the shuffle of the manic second half was the sterling performance by Buck in the first half. 8 rushes for 48 yards might not seem like a huge day but it was, it truly was a hidden gem for this game. He ran with authority and picked up some key first downs. Coupled with his first quarter TD run and it adds up a tone-setting first half for the "General."
*** Omar Gaither - OG. What a baller. We actually had a LB almost lead the team in tackles! He had 10 tackles, including a huge sack in the first half (the only time we racked up lil Ewi today). But I tell you what, he brings a size and toughness was sorely lacking when munchkin McCoy was lined up outside.
** Reno Mahe - For ONCE, our special teams delivers a key return instead of allowing one. Reno's season high 64-yd return came at JUST the right time. Just after the Giants had taken the lead 16-14 (credit the D for holding the G-nots to a third FG) Mahe turns a great trick and winds up deep in Giants territory....3 plays later Westbrook bursts up the left side and presto-chango the Eagles are up 21-16....
* The Offensive Line - I've overlooked these guys for a while, but no longer. With rare exception the fellas up front pushed and shoved the G-men around at will. Just look at the rushing totals: 161-88...and its the Eagles with the 161!!! Whoddathunkit? Above: WB lets big Shawn Andrews spike the ball after his run. A much deserved celebration on a day when the Eagles dominated up front.Payback is SWEET
Wow, where to start with this one. For starters, I loved the way the team fought today. It seems like we had to beat two opponents today, the Giants and some flag-happy refs. But you know what? They did it, even when thing looked pretty dark. I mean Garcia gets flagged for a taunting foul deep in Giants territory, then gets PICKED and its returned deep into Eagles territory, PASS INT called on Sheldon and a quick Giants TD and about a minute after it looked pretty bright (with the Eagles up 21-16 and driving for insurance points), we are down 22-21. I know a lot of you (like me) we groaning a bit, and wondering why the Eagles ALWAYS have to make things so difficult and if we were they going to go into the tank emotionally with that huge momentum swing.
To my delight, the Eagles kept FIGHTING...they stuffed the Giants 2-pt conversion and right then and there I knew this team wasn't going to pull another 4th qtr swoon. Boom, boom, boom down the field and there were the Eagles knocking on the door again...then BLAM Garcia and Brown knock it down with a sweet rainbow strike on 2nd and 8 from the 19 yard line. A well executed 2pt conversion (which was, BTW, their only official attempt of the season) and its 29-22 and the Eagles have done what I doubt many in the Meadowlands thought they could, go into Giants' Stadium and drive the ball down the Giants throats late in the 4th quarter with the game/season on the line. I thought it fitting that the player who may have cost the first Giants game (Trent Cole with his goofball groin kick) came up with the play to seal the win, with a funky high-stepping jaunt into the endzone off lil Ewi's second INT of the day...
Last but not least: making those jackasses Shockey and Burress eat some crow was SWEET. I wondered during the week why the Giants players were running their mouths, and was quietly happy that the Eagles kept their focus where it needed to be: between the white lines from 4:15-7:15 Sunday evening....
To my delight, the Eagles kept FIGHTING...they stuffed the Giants 2-pt conversion and right then and there I knew this team wasn't going to pull another 4th qtr swoon. Boom, boom, boom down the field and there were the Eagles knocking on the door again...then BLAM Garcia and Brown knock it down with a sweet rainbow strike on 2nd and 8 from the 19 yard line. A well executed 2pt conversion (which was, BTW, their only official attempt of the season) and its 29-22 and the Eagles have done what I doubt many in the Meadowlands thought they could, go into Giants' Stadium and drive the ball down the Giants throats late in the 4th quarter with the game/season on the line. I thought it fitting that the player who may have cost the first Giants game (Trent Cole with his goofball groin kick) came up with the play to seal the win, with a funky high-stepping jaunt into the endzone off lil Ewi's second INT of the day...
Last but not least: making those jackasses Shockey and Burress eat some crow was SWEET. I wondered during the week why the Giants players were running their mouths, and was quietly happy that the Eagles kept their focus where it needed to be: between the white lines from 4:15-7:15 Sunday evening....
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Atlanta or Dallas: Does it Matter for Philly?
OK, so who should Eagles fans root for on Saturday? Atlanta or Dallas...
The argument that we should somehow swallow our bile and root for the Cowgurls goes something like this: an Atlanta loss would drop the Falcons to 7-7, and thereby reduce the immediate pressure on the Eagles. Moreover, the reality that if the Eagles win-out they win the division would remain unchanged....Dallas would move to 9-5...and we'd have a chance to keep pace by beating the Giants and improving to 8-6, setting up a huge game on Christmas Day....also, if one believes in week-to-week momentum, if Dallas wins, they might not feel as desperate on X-mas as they would if they lose to the Falcons and possibly see the entire post-season slipping away.
The more obvious: root for the Falcons to beat the Cowboys has one immediate negative consequence: pressure on the Eagles to win against the Giants in order to keep pace in the wild-card race. The bonus part of this added pressure: If they WON, they'd move into the division lead, and the game against Dallas could potentially be one that would threaten Dallas's playoff chances. As for the wild-card race, well the Dirty Birds would go to 8-6 with a win (and maybe move within striking distance of the Saints if New Orleans fumbles) and that sets up the real possibility that the Falcons will NOT have packed it in by the time the Eagles play them on the last Sunday of the season....whew....
Lots of permutations to consider here but I think the ledger in overall terms seems to favor rooting for the Cowboys. You know what? I am not going to ROOT for anyone. I am just going to watch the game with a healthy dose of interested disinterest, because ultimately none of us fans can do anything about it, and the outcome of the game is irrelevant if the Eagles just continue to fight and win.
The argument that we should somehow swallow our bile and root for the Cowgurls goes something like this: an Atlanta loss would drop the Falcons to 7-7, and thereby reduce the immediate pressure on the Eagles. Moreover, the reality that if the Eagles win-out they win the division would remain unchanged....Dallas would move to 9-5...and we'd have a chance to keep pace by beating the Giants and improving to 8-6, setting up a huge game on Christmas Day....also, if one believes in week-to-week momentum, if Dallas wins, they might not feel as desperate on X-mas as they would if they lose to the Falcons and possibly see the entire post-season slipping away.
The more obvious: root for the Falcons to beat the Cowboys has one immediate negative consequence: pressure on the Eagles to win against the Giants in order to keep pace in the wild-card race. The bonus part of this added pressure: If they WON, they'd move into the division lead, and the game against Dallas could potentially be one that would threaten Dallas's playoff chances. As for the wild-card race, well the Dirty Birds would go to 8-6 with a win (and maybe move within striking distance of the Saints if New Orleans fumbles) and that sets up the real possibility that the Falcons will NOT have packed it in by the time the Eagles play them on the last Sunday of the season....whew....
Lots of permutations to consider here but I think the ledger in overall terms seems to favor rooting for the Cowboys. You know what? I am not going to ROOT for anyone. I am just going to watch the game with a healthy dose of interested disinterest, because ultimately none of us fans can do anything about it, and the outcome of the game is irrelevant if the Eagles just continue to fight and win.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Its Not about the Stats Baby....
Everything on the scoresheet points to what should have been a very disappointing Eagles road loss to Washington...We lost Time of Possession and # of offensive plays run...two stats which can be very telling...but NOT today. Today we got creamed on the ground once again, this time to the tune of 210 rushing yards for the Redskins...Ladell Betts joined a parade of mediocre backs the Eagles front seven seemed committed to see playing in Honolulu in Feb. The matadors (as I now refer to them) weren't even in some the replays!!! They just showed Ladell chugging forward, with the legs of others players along the edges of the screen...until one of our safeties (who all played a good game) would mercifully enter the frame and make the tackle...
I thought stick'um was outlawed? I also thought it was usually DBs who used it to snag INTs...heck, it looked like the offensive linemen for the Redskins had jerseys coated in the stuff, because I didn't see one of our linemen break free all day. I wonder is someone from the secretly bathed the Eagles jerseys with negative particles while simultaneous apply a heavy coating of positive charged to the Redskins uniforms...Cause Walker, Rayburn, Howard, and Co sure looked like magnets to the Redskins' refrigerator size O-line this afternoon.
And you know what? I don't care...we escape with the W, liken it to thievery or whatever other manner of skullduggery you chose, but I will take it, and put it in the bank...it still doesn't make up for the Giants game or the game we blew against Tampon Bay but it'll have to do for now...
The Eagles now have a huge date in the Meadowlands next Sunday...hopefull they can recall how they built up a huge lead in Week 2 and then remember not to think the game is over at the of the 3rd qtr. I wouldn't mind seeing wittle Ewi get crunched three or four or eight times again.
I thought stick'um was outlawed? I also thought it was usually DBs who used it to snag INTs...heck, it looked like the offensive linemen for the Redskins had jerseys coated in the stuff, because I didn't see one of our linemen break free all day. I wonder is someone from the secretly bathed the Eagles jerseys with negative particles while simultaneous apply a heavy coating of positive charged to the Redskins uniforms...Cause Walker, Rayburn, Howard, and Co sure looked like magnets to the Redskins' refrigerator size O-line this afternoon.
And you know what? I don't care...we escape with the W, liken it to thievery or whatever other manner of skullduggery you chose, but I will take it, and put it in the bank...it still doesn't make up for the Giants game or the game we blew against Tampon Bay but it'll have to do for now...
The Eagles now have a huge date in the Meadowlands next Sunday...hopefull they can recall how they built up a huge lead in Week 2 and then remember not to think the game is over at the of the 3rd qtr. I wouldn't mind seeing wittle Ewi get crunched three or four or eight times again.
Escape from D.C.
LEFT: What's that Brian? Oh, you just sacked Jason Campbell and knocked the Redskins out of the playoffs?? You don't say...well that's my you are my STAR OF THE GAME.Whew, that was a CLOSE SHAVE...after looking good with some big plays in the first half the Eagles offense became somnambulate in the second half...Who would've thought this team could run the clock out. They needed to do it, and yes, they did it once before, but seriously, the way the momentum had shifted, the way the offense had sputtered in the second half (including that infuriating drop by Reggie on that 3rd down that would've started a drive and given the D a rest); I know a lot of phans in Birdland were anticipating a gruesome three-and-out, followed by a heart-palpitating final possession by the Skins and the Eagles 2-pt lead looking oh-so tenuous. But this team refused to break the heart of the many Eagles fans who made the trek down I-95. Garcia made a couple of huge throws (none larger than the little dump to Thomas Tapeh to get that critical "first" first down) and Westbrook made a couple of HUGE runs for us. Before I knew it, Garcia was kneeling and the players were shaking hands...and my heart started beating normally again...You know, with this team, this year, the way things have gone...high-stress close games are par for the course...
#1 defensive star of the game: (and there aren't many candidates) has got to be Brian Dawkins. With a nod to Michael Lewis for that awesome INT return, it was Dawkins making two keys plays in the 4th quarter to secure the win. The first was that flying denial on the 3rd down out pass that Randle El would've converted for a huge first down for the 'Skins if not for Dawk. The second was the huge sack on what turned out to be the 'Skins last drive of the game. I mean, a couple plays earlier the Eagles had let young QB Jason Campbell just scramble for a first down inside our 5 with the score at 21-16....Like a lot of you, I was groaning, anticipating another defensive letdown. But then comes Dawk, screaming in from the end and trying to tomahawk the ball out...sack...forced the Skins to kick the FG, and Eagles D does the most important thing a defense can do: PRESERVE THE LEAD...they gave it back to the O, and as well all know, they made the necessary plays to run-out the clock.
Some Other Random Observations About the Eagles:
I was gonna make this a third entry, but I wanted to keep OG up top for now...
A few things that struck me during the game:
- Stupid tricksy double-screen to LJ cost us a chance at a long FG....AR decided not to try a 53-54 yarder on our opening drive of the second half. Getting points out of those types of situations is going to be CRUCIAL against better teams: it would've disrupted that string of points the Redskins were on and provided some much needed breathing room. NOTE TO ANDY REID: your timing is WAY OFF on the trick plays, STOP IT....quit getting cute when the situation calls for pounding the ball and just running normal plays to regain momentum.
- Baldinger was right on when he talked about the weakness of the Eagles scheme appearing when the big-plays disappear. The Eagles didn't even try to really establish the run. Good thing they didn't lose it completely...
- Omar Gaither is a PLAY-MAKER! Nice pick early, and I thought pretty solid play from the linebacker position, which has been a huge weakness this year
- Thanks Michael Lewis...you've stayed "in the game", haven't sulked about losing your starting job and just gone to work...you're re-earning the fans respect...keep it up.
- Kudos to all the fans who invaded FedEx Field! I think that one fan who was switching between Dawkins and Westbrook jerseys got more camera time than Clinton Portis. I watched online via YahooSports and I saw a TON of Eagles fans at the game...Way to Go!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Westbrook Said it Best
Asked by Michelle Tafoya after the game "what is the realistic feelings of the team in the locker room about the rest of the season?" Westbrook answered, " We gotta chance, we gotta keep fighting, work hard to win the rest of the season and see what happens." I am paraphrasing but it illustrates a key point: don't give up, keep fighting the whole way and let things play out. I am very happy the Eagles haven't packed it in. That just is not the character of a team I would want to root for, and I think that quitting becomes contagious...if the young guys see the veterans give up then this franchise would be in for a long, long re-tooling...
Monday, December 04, 2006
Lito and Dawk SAVE THE SEASON
Finally the D makes some plays to win!!! It was a gritty, none-to-pretty display of downright Philadelphia DETERMINATION that the Eagles showed the rest of the league...Did they give up too many plays? Sure.. Did they infuriatingly keep trying play-action before establishing the run? You bet (Andy's paw-prints are all over a gameplan that didn't figure out to RUN on 1st down until our 5th series of the game). But you know what I saw? LIFE...this team did not quit...even when Carolina kept counter-punching, KEPT retaking the lead, this team kept its composure. Maybe it was the presence of Slyvester Stallone (yeah that's right Rocky himself, promoting his new Rocky 6 movie) but whatever it was, the Birds found their balls (pardon my french) and ground out a win.
My five star players of the game:
***** Lito Sheppard - Once again, Lito steps up and makes a HUGE play to seal a win...he not only saved the game, but maybe the entire season, and i LOVE the fact that he did his homework and wound up stealing Delhomme's "fade signal" to Keyshawn at the end on the game-saving INT. He said afterwards when he saw Jake tap his butt, he knew from film study it was the Panthers signal to run the fade...to he stayed home and saved us....WAY TO GO LITO!
**** Brian Dawkins - his centerfield pick of Delhomme in the 4th qtr gave us life....after we finally had a chance to get a stop and then GO AHEAD in the game, Dawkins delivered...and with a great return that almost guaranteed we'd be able to get points (turns out we did have to settle for 3) Great players make plays...nice one 20...
*** Jeff Garcia - what grit, what toughness...if that performance doesn't win over some phans in Philly I don't know what will...on the biggest stage, in a must-win game, in a game where Westbrook and running game was clickin' (more on that later) Garcia PRODUCED!...3TDs NO picks...
** Donte Stallworth - what a catch down the sidelines! It was nice to see the Eagles dial up a few long balls. Even if they don't work, it makes the opposing D respect Stallworth's speed. On a night when the Panthers were obviously keying on Westbrook, Donte showed folks there is more than one play-maker on the field for us
* Jon Dorenbos - our new long-snapper did not flub anything up...keep working that magic dude...for about 8 more games...
My five star players of the game:
***** Lito Sheppard - Once again, Lito steps up and makes a HUGE play to seal a win...he not only saved the game, but maybe the entire season, and i LOVE the fact that he did his homework and wound up stealing Delhomme's "fade signal" to Keyshawn at the end on the game-saving INT. He said afterwards when he saw Jake tap his butt, he knew from film study it was the Panthers signal to run the fade...to he stayed home and saved us....WAY TO GO LITO!
**** Brian Dawkins - his centerfield pick of Delhomme in the 4th qtr gave us life....after we finally had a chance to get a stop and then GO AHEAD in the game, Dawkins delivered...and with a great return that almost guaranteed we'd be able to get points (turns out we did have to settle for 3) Great players make plays...nice one 20...
*** Jeff Garcia - what grit, what toughness...if that performance doesn't win over some phans in Philly I don't know what will...on the biggest stage, in a must-win game, in a game where Westbrook and running game was clickin' (more on that later) Garcia PRODUCED!...3TDs NO picks...
** Donte Stallworth - what a catch down the sidelines! It was nice to see the Eagles dial up a few long balls. Even if they don't work, it makes the opposing D respect Stallworth's speed. On a night when the Panthers were obviously keying on Westbrook, Donte showed folks there is more than one play-maker on the field for us
* Jon Dorenbos - our new long-snapper did not flub anything up...keep working that magic dude...for about 8 more games...
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Its Almost Eerie...
Check out these blurbs from an MSNBC writer about an NFC East Team:
"They had it (the game) in their hands and dropped it, done in not by lack of effort or inferior talent, but by mistakes and undisciplined play."
"The role of (the) coach...in this collapse has been well-documented. He’s a stickler for detail, like arriving...early for meetings.... But on the field, his team is as disciplined as a boxful of puppies."
"You don’t win titles by taking dumb penalties. You don’t win by blowing coverages in the most critical moments in the game."
They funny thing is...the writer is talking about the Giants...not the Eagles....hee hee...the sad part is...so much of his criticism could be transposed to the Birds...Alright fellas, time to shut some folks up...
"They had it (the game) in their hands and dropped it, done in not by lack of effort or inferior talent, but by mistakes and undisciplined play."
"The role of (the) coach...in this collapse has been well-documented. He’s a stickler for detail, like arriving...early for meetings.... But on the field, his team is as disciplined as a boxful of puppies."
"You don’t win titles by taking dumb penalties. You don’t win by blowing coverages in the most critical moments in the game."
They funny thing is...the writer is talking about the Giants...not the Eagles....hee hee...the sad part is...so much of his criticism could be transposed to the Birds...Alright fellas, time to shut some folks up...
Break-Out the Kool-Aid! - NFC Pic Clears UP...
And the Eagles are right in the thick of it...IF they pull their heads out of their asses and beat Carolina tomorrow night on MNF...
The Rams, Vikings and 49ers all basically put themselves behind the proverbial 8-ball today by losing their games to the Cards, Bears and Saints respectively....I say that because I think 9-7 makes a final wildcard spot, and now they are all 5-7....I don't think any of those teams will make it. The Eagles, on the other hand, are granted another reprieve from oblivion, but ONLY if they can prove they can actually play defense...a win on MNF puts them at 6-6, and would give them the 6th sixth seed in the playoffs....
6-6 would tie them with the Falcons, Panthers (who would drop to 6-6 and lose the tiebreaker with the Birds) and Giants (who are now in official free-fall mode)..... Plus they'd have games against the Giants and Falcons forthcoming...
This is it fellas, time to motivate...time to bring your lunchpail...if you cannot get up for a huge game, on MNF, with post-season hopes riding on the line...well, then our faith in the 2006 Eagles will have been misplaced...
Just dream for a moment...Eagles manage to get hot....Dallas drops a game or two, and we get a chance to snatch the division away on Christmas Day....oh...could Santa McNabb and Co. leave MEO a nice fat lump of coal in his stocking....well its a sweet dream anyway...
The Rams, Vikings and 49ers all basically put themselves behind the proverbial 8-ball today by losing their games to the Cards, Bears and Saints respectively....I say that because I think 9-7 makes a final wildcard spot, and now they are all 5-7....I don't think any of those teams will make it. The Eagles, on the other hand, are granted another reprieve from oblivion, but ONLY if they can prove they can actually play defense...a win on MNF puts them at 6-6, and would give them the 6th sixth seed in the playoffs....
6-6 would tie them with the Falcons, Panthers (who would drop to 6-6 and lose the tiebreaker with the Birds) and Giants (who are now in official free-fall mode)..... Plus they'd have games against the Giants and Falcons forthcoming...
This is it fellas, time to motivate...time to bring your lunchpail...if you cannot get up for a huge game, on MNF, with post-season hopes riding on the line...well, then our faith in the 2006 Eagles will have been misplaced...
Just dream for a moment...Eagles manage to get hot....Dallas drops a game or two, and we get a chance to snatch the division away on Christmas Day....oh...could Santa McNabb and Co. leave MEO a nice fat lump of coal in his stocking....well its a sweet dream anyway...
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Weighing In on Philly's D
Lots of Philly writers have targeted the Eagles D's lack of size as a fundamental flaw in their system. Perhaps its true (I am leaning that way myself, I miss players like Carlos Emmons), and I cannot help but chuckle when Les Bowen writes things like: "You know those signs they have at amusement parks, setting a measurement for how big you have to be to go on a particular ride? There are Eagles scouts standing next to those lines, poised to sign anyone who is turned away," but there is something missing "from the mix" so-to-speak when assessing the current state of the Eagles defense. Yes, its true that the Eagles seem to have taken the throwback thing beyond jerseys and decided that a 70s-sized defensive line is the way to go when facing teams that routinely field offensive linemen in excess of 320lbs. (there is an argument to be made for speed and quickness to zip by these behemoths, but I am not going to make it here, plus when you get manhandled like we have been the past few weeks, it rings hollow).
It's something I cannot quite put my finger on...Its not just lack of confidence (that's an understatement) or lack of talent (although the erosion of talent at LB has reached the appalling stage) or lack of effort (when lineman cannot shed block ALL-NIGHT, I can only attribute that to not trying hard enough...getting pancaked or being out of position happens to everyone a few times each game (though with good defenses its usually only 1 dude, so it doesn't hurt as much))
The monumental collapse of the run defense (and thusly the whole defense) seems predicated on the near perfect alignment of all these negative factors, including a laissez faire attitude towards run defense....for instance
- You know, even when the Eagles we kicking ass, their run D was pretty soft...sure we had some good games, but as a general rule, good teams could run the ball on us. Bowen writes: "Watching the Colts' defense was a déjÀ-vu experience. Knowing their offense was going to score more than three dozen points while making it look easy, the Colts didn't sweat stopping Brian Westbrook." Its true, the Eagles D used to have (I hope they still to cling to the illusion) this imaginary mark of 17 pts....hold the opposition under 17 and you win (or so it was told) So when the Eagles offense was racking up points...it helped disguise a defensive weakness, no without an offense to stake us to big leads...you can bank on opposing teams testing the run early and often, because until the D mans-up to stop it, running on the Eagles is the new-old formula to breaking down the Birds..
- Do we have the personnel anymore to make Jim Johnson's schemes work? I dunno, doesn't seem like it...Lots of folks bashed the D-Line (and deservedly so) but this team has made it work before, this season in fact....both Tiki and Frank Gore were held in check....last year, basically the same group shut down LT...but it comes and goes spurts....and this latest spurt of bad and turned into a gusher....My beef is with how JJ is using his vaunted "rotation"....most of our DTs are "under-sized" (USC buds LaJuan Ramsey and Mike Patterson, both of whom I like, are listed at 290, Walker is right there too--I don't think he motors around like he used to). Rayburn plays lighter than his listed 303. Bunkley has decent size (306) but cannot seem to please the coaches enough to get on the field. (I heard one rumor that this was because he was too big for JJ's tastes)...
Now look, "undersize" Lineman are fine, when you have them coming off the edge, but when you gotta be tough in the middle and you play a 4-3, you cannot afford to start two smallish DTs and two speed rushing DEs....That is NOT what makes your D effective....We've a hard-nosed MLB in Jeremiah Trotter, but he needs to able to run free and slash to the ball-carrying....With Hollis Thomas gone, we don't have ANYONE who consistently occupies two offensive lineman...other teams simply draw up one-on-one blocking schemes and execute....and what you see it lineman and TEs snuffing out DEs and LBs on the edge, or simply pushing out of their lanes to allow to huge cutback holes....ITS PATHETIC....Jon Runyan explains here the danger of having a smallish D-line, and how it requires near perfect execution.
You cannot field a team of relative munchkins in this league and expect not to get beat up...yet the Eagles braintrust seems dead set on proving all of us "non-football" types wrongs...What do we know? Sitting in our laz-e-boys or playing football on Saturday afternoons...we know one thing, we the other team shows up with a bigger crew (especially when they got than one hard-core gym-rat who's like 230 and makes you wish you'd spend the past year in the gym), its going to be a long, bruising afternoon.
Can this team fix it? Being the eternal optimist when to comes to my Eagles, I want to say YES, YES They CAN!...show some heart, some toughness, some moxie...show SOMETHING so us fans can take heart and start cheering again....but this philosophy of speed or size is really haunting this team right now....how about a new philosophy...how about speed AND size....
It's something I cannot quite put my finger on...Its not just lack of confidence (that's an understatement) or lack of talent (although the erosion of talent at LB has reached the appalling stage) or lack of effort (when lineman cannot shed block ALL-NIGHT, I can only attribute that to not trying hard enough...getting pancaked or being out of position happens to everyone a few times each game (though with good defenses its usually only 1 dude, so it doesn't hurt as much))
The monumental collapse of the run defense (and thusly the whole defense) seems predicated on the near perfect alignment of all these negative factors, including a laissez faire attitude towards run defense....for instance
- You know, even when the Eagles we kicking ass, their run D was pretty soft...sure we had some good games, but as a general rule, good teams could run the ball on us. Bowen writes: "Watching the Colts' defense was a déjÀ-vu experience. Knowing their offense was going to score more than three dozen points while making it look easy, the Colts didn't sweat stopping Brian Westbrook." Its true, the Eagles D used to have (I hope they still to cling to the illusion) this imaginary mark of 17 pts....hold the opposition under 17 and you win (or so it was told) So when the Eagles offense was racking up points...it helped disguise a defensive weakness, no without an offense to stake us to big leads...you can bank on opposing teams testing the run early and often, because until the D mans-up to stop it, running on the Eagles is the new-old formula to breaking down the Birds..
- Do we have the personnel anymore to make Jim Johnson's schemes work? I dunno, doesn't seem like it...Lots of folks bashed the D-Line (and deservedly so) but this team has made it work before, this season in fact....both Tiki and Frank Gore were held in check....last year, basically the same group shut down LT...but it comes and goes spurts....and this latest spurt of bad and turned into a gusher....My beef is with how JJ is using his vaunted "rotation"....most of our DTs are "under-sized" (USC buds LaJuan Ramsey and Mike Patterson, both of whom I like, are listed at 290, Walker is right there too--I don't think he motors around like he used to). Rayburn plays lighter than his listed 303. Bunkley has decent size (306) but cannot seem to please the coaches enough to get on the field. (I heard one rumor that this was because he was too big for JJ's tastes)...
Now look, "undersize" Lineman are fine, when you have them coming off the edge, but when you gotta be tough in the middle and you play a 4-3, you cannot afford to start two smallish DTs and two speed rushing DEs....That is NOT what makes your D effective....We've a hard-nosed MLB in Jeremiah Trotter, but he needs to able to run free and slash to the ball-carrying....With Hollis Thomas gone, we don't have ANYONE who consistently occupies two offensive lineman...other teams simply draw up one-on-one blocking schemes and execute....and what you see it lineman and TEs snuffing out DEs and LBs on the edge, or simply pushing out of their lanes to allow to huge cutback holes....ITS PATHETIC....Jon Runyan explains here the danger of having a smallish D-line, and how it requires near perfect execution.
You cannot field a team of relative munchkins in this league and expect not to get beat up...yet the Eagles braintrust seems dead set on proving all of us "non-football" types wrongs...What do we know? Sitting in our laz-e-boys or playing football on Saturday afternoons...we know one thing, we the other team shows up with a bigger crew (especially when they got than one hard-core gym-rat who's like 230 and makes you wish you'd spend the past year in the gym), its going to be a long, bruising afternoon.
Can this team fix it? Being the eternal optimist when to comes to my Eagles, I want to say YES, YES They CAN!...show some heart, some toughness, some moxie...show SOMETHING so us fans can take heart and start cheering again....but this philosophy of speed or size is really haunting this team right now....how about a new philosophy...how about speed AND size....
Sunday, November 26, 2006
At Least the Offense Showed Up
You know folks, I think we might be able to sneak out a few wins with the offense...
I mean, Westbrook goes over 150 total yards...Garcia is super-efficient and does not make mistakes (no that late fumble was neither his fault, or a game-altering play)....and yet we still get let down somewhere....this D is HORRENDOUS...
I think I can hear the calls for Jim Johnson's head already...but to be honest, he's not the one overpursuing the stretch runs...he's not missing tackles at the line of scrimmage...he's not the one that looked velcro'd to the offensive lineman he's supposed to beat....THIS WAS a mano-a-mano blocking scheme that gobbled up the lineman and linebackers...Addai could've busted some break dancing moves on some of those runs...Hell, Addai could've done the "robot" on his way into the endzone on a couple of those plays....
And for all the illusion of the 45-21 final score, had the Eagles not blown that FG, it would've been 31-24 with 10+ minutes left in the game....no don't get me wrong...the way the D played it wouldn't have made one lick of difference....
But here the great thing about what ifs: IF you factor is the retarded WR pass that essentially gave the ball right back to a red-hot Colts offense early in the 2nd qtr....perhaps the Eagles do not allow 24 points in the first half....21 perhaps not certainly not 24....what could've happened had the game been a little tighter? Who knows. Honestly I think it would've been just another soul-crushing parade of missed tackles as the Eagles played the 2006 version of the ole defense.
I mean, Westbrook goes over 150 total yards...Garcia is super-efficient and does not make mistakes (no that late fumble was neither his fault, or a game-altering play)....and yet we still get let down somewhere....this D is HORRENDOUS...
I think I can hear the calls for Jim Johnson's head already...but to be honest, he's not the one overpursuing the stretch runs...he's not missing tackles at the line of scrimmage...he's not the one that looked velcro'd to the offensive lineman he's supposed to beat....THIS WAS a mano-a-mano blocking scheme that gobbled up the lineman and linebackers...Addai could've busted some break dancing moves on some of those runs...Hell, Addai could've done the "robot" on his way into the endzone on a couple of those plays....
And for all the illusion of the 45-21 final score, had the Eagles not blown that FG, it would've been 31-24 with 10+ minutes left in the game....no don't get me wrong...the way the D played it wouldn't have made one lick of difference....
But here the great thing about what ifs: IF you factor is the retarded WR pass that essentially gave the ball right back to a red-hot Colts offense early in the 2nd qtr....perhaps the Eagles do not allow 24 points in the first half....21 perhaps not certainly not 24....what could've happened had the game been a little tighter? Who knows. Honestly I think it would've been just another soul-crushing parade of missed tackles as the Eagles played the 2006 version of the ole defense.
Friday, November 24, 2006
The Marty Factor
One of many questions I have when the Eagles march onto the field for Sunday Night Football in America is whether or not the reunion of Marty Mornhinweg and Jeff Garcia will lead to a rekindling of Garcia's once-stellar performance. You see, when Garcia was a scrambling, West-Coast offense slinging Pro-Bowler he just so happened to be a San Francisco 49er...and his best years just so happened to come with our resident offensive coordinator as his OC.
Ok so just to be clear, that guarantees NOTHING, but it is at least one minor reason for hope...One other thing...I hope that the Eagles coaches will finally realize that they must have BALANCE offensively for this team to have a chance as the season goes on. In 2002, Andy Reid understood this, and he had Duce Staley on whom to lean. It was our running game and staunch D that saved that season (we went 12-4). With 5 out, this team will either collapse altogether without its season-long crutch or remember how to play TEAM football. That means, BLOCKING, CATCHING and TACKLING, fellas!
Ok so just to be clear, that guarantees NOTHING, but it is at least one minor reason for hope...One other thing...I hope that the Eagles coaches will finally realize that they must have BALANCE offensively for this team to have a chance as the season goes on. In 2002, Andy Reid understood this, and he had Duce Staley on whom to lean. It was our running game and staunch D that saved that season (we went 12-4). With 5 out, this team will either collapse altogether without its season-long crutch or remember how to play TEAM football. That means, BLOCKING, CATCHING and TACKLING, fellas!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Breaking Down the Choice of Garcia over Feeley
Well folks, Andy Reid made it official. He's chosen Jeff Garcia as the starter. It was almost inevitable. In truth, it is the safe move. Everyone knew this was the reason the Eagles signed Garcia, a proven starting QB in the NFL. To have selected A.J. (my personal choice) would have pried open the lid to the proverbial can of worms (but not exactly spilled them out right away).
AR said as much "I brought Jeff in there for this situation, for this reason right here." We all knew that, even after they scooped up A.J. shortly before the start of the season. Admittedly, Garcia is the option that leaves AR with other options down the line. A.J. is the big gamble: could we recapture that 2002 magic and have lightning strike twice for the same team....Well, AR still has that wildcard in the hip pocket, and by starting Garcia, Reid keeps a certain amount of QB integrity on the team. Like I said, I prefer A.J. (based primarily on the lackluster response the team showed towards Garcia with the game against the Titans still up for grabs)....however, if Reid had bypassed Garcia (in effect, scuttling his own depth chart) there is NO WAY could legitimately go to Jeff (and expect the team to accept it) should A.J. fall flat.
He's got a veteran QB, who's lead playoff teams. It may not be the move I would've made, but I can understand why he did it. For all our sakes' I hope it works out.
AR said as much "I brought Jeff in there for this situation, for this reason right here." We all knew that, even after they scooped up A.J. shortly before the start of the season. Admittedly, Garcia is the option that leaves AR with other options down the line. A.J. is the big gamble: could we recapture that 2002 magic and have lightning strike twice for the same team....Well, AR still has that wildcard in the hip pocket, and by starting Garcia, Reid keeps a certain amount of QB integrity on the team. Like I said, I prefer A.J. (based primarily on the lackluster response the team showed towards Garcia with the game against the Titans still up for grabs)....however, if Reid had bypassed Garcia (in effect, scuttling his own depth chart) there is NO WAY could legitimately go to Jeff (and expect the team to accept it) should A.J. fall flat.
He's got a veteran QB, who's lead playoff teams. It may not be the move I would've made, but I can understand why he did it. For all our sakes' I hope it works out.
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