The tipping point in starting this blog was the Eagles loss last week to the Washington Redskins. They're 0-2 and I'm just forced to write about it. After their week one loss to an inferior Green Bay Packers team, I thought we would be OK. First game, on the road, playing against a veteran QB (even if it is one who should be shilling for Depends by now, not Wranglers), a loss was no big deal. Sure, it was a kick in the groin when we lost to GB due to two fumbled/muffed punts. That should have been a 20-6, maybe 16-9 Philly win. But it wasn't, and I chalked it up to first game jitters, team not being in sync yet, etc. Now comes week two. And we have a loss at home to a division opponent that's not even a particularly good team. So here are the Eagles issues that I want to get off my chest.
1- Linebackers. I know I have an unnatural appreciation for Jeremiah Trotter*, but it sure seems like it would be nice to have him around this season. Its not like we needed to free up money to sign someone else post haste, that cap room isn't going to be used until next year. Even if he could be our top second string LB and we bring him in situationally, why release him?. I know at this point in his career he's below average in pass coverage, but the guy can still get off blocks, tackle running backs, and he's a great positive leadership force on a team. With regards to our remaining LBs, Takeo Spikes looks (in a MarshawnLynchism) solid, Omar Gaither hasn't looked bad at the Mike spot, but where's Chris Gocong been? Did he get a single mention by the announcers in last week's Monday Night game? I'm usually looking at the linemen more often than LBs when watching football (a product of my playing offensive tackle in high school), so I'd have to watch the films again (which I really don't want to do after tonight) to see if he was just getting whipped or if others were getting to plays just before him, but only three tackles in each of his first two games seems to confirm my initial suspicions that he hasn't been good at fighting his way to ball carriers.
*Not like that. I'm just saying that the only Eagles jersey I currently own is a #54. I mean, did you see the guy's farewell press conference? I don't care who else he played/plays for, that guy is an Eagle. Bleed-midnight-green Eagle. This is not a point you can argue with me.
2- Defensive line. I have no qualms with our play against the run, I think holding Clinton Portis to 69 yards was a good effort, its the pass rush, or lack thereof, that I found frustrating. I know that in Jim Johnson's defensive scheme pressure often comes from LBs, CBs, and safetys, but the ends and tackles still need to lead the charge against opposing quarterbacks. Jason Campbell was hurried at times tonight, but to get only one sack against a team that's not really terrific in pass protection AND is missing TWO of their starting offensive linemen is unacceptable. As much as I'd like to say that Jevon Kearse should be the leader here and is under performing, I can't really pin this on a specific player; its attributable to the whole D, but IMHO, it starts with better line play.
3- McNabb. Yeah, you were waiting for this one. He had a bad week against Green Bay. He was average against the Skins. 28 of 46 for 240 yards with no interceptions is a pretty good night for a guy who is playing at 80%. I feel like he'll be better next week and that by the time we get to the Jets in week six he'll be in the ball park of the old Donovan. That's providing his health continues to improve, which isn't a given with McNabb after the past few seasons.
4- Westbrook. Man are we screwed if he's seriously injured. It seems awfully recent that I was expecting him to split carries with Correll Buckhalter evenly, now I'm ready to write off a season if he's hurt. That knee strain of his had better be a minor injury. Perhaps the most important back to his team in the NFL (discuss).
5- Offensive line: Not bad. Not great, but not problematic. As always, the less you say about the O-linemen, the better.
6- Receivers. Cue the groundskeepers from Major League: "they're still shitty!" Kevin Curtis hasn't particularly impressed yet, but he looks like a workable #2 receiver. Not as in "lets throw a pile of #2 at him," but as in "if there's an actual good receiver on the team that demands double coverage or the other team's best corner he'll have some good games." Unfortunately there's nobody on this team that demands that kind of respect from the opposing secondary. Reggie Brown and his 3 catches for 41 years sure as hell doesn't look like that guy. Our best wide receiver so far is a guy who coming into this season figured to be behind Brown, Curtis, Greg Lewis, and Hank Baskett on the depth chart, Jason Avant. Avant has eight catches for 99 yards in two games, and has given the overall impression of a good possession receiver. Side note: wouldn't hurt to have L.J. Smith healthy. Also wouldn't hurt if he was as awesome IRL as in my Madden franchises. The more I think about the Eagels receivers of the Reid era, getting T.O. was, to borrow an analogy from Bill Simmons, the ultimate "girlfriend who bakes cookies" for McNabb.
7- Andy Reid. I'm generally a Reid supporter, and I like to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, but calling a time out when you opponent is about to kick a field goal with 14 seconds left on second down reminds me of the quote from Napoleon, "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." Unless you think they're faking and you don't have the right personnel on the field (or are short personnel on the field, I theory I've heard but not seen proof of), there was no good reason to call that timeout. Thanks for handing the 'Skins four points. If we don't do that, at least at the end of the game we're only trying to make up one score. Thus on the second to last Eagle drive we go for a touchdown on 4th down from the Washington 3 yard line. In fact, even if you forget the timeout debacle, if you go for that 4th down, score a touchdown and make the conversion, our last drive concludes with a game tying field goal. Sure, you needed two scores, but are you going to get a better chance for the necessary touchdown than from the three yard line? Probably not.
8- Random thoughts (I know, like the rest of the blog isn't). Lito Sheppard, come back, we miss you. If Winston Justice turns into a starter at some point, I may have to get his jersey and dub it The Jersey Of Justice!
1- Linebackers. I know I have an unnatural appreciation for Jeremiah Trotter*, but it sure seems like it would be nice to have him around this season. Its not like we needed to free up money to sign someone else post haste, that cap room isn't going to be used until next year. Even if he could be our top second string LB and we bring him in situationally, why release him?. I know at this point in his career he's below average in pass coverage, but the guy can still get off blocks, tackle running backs, and he's a great positive leadership force on a team. With regards to our remaining LBs, Takeo Spikes looks (in a MarshawnLynchism) solid, Omar Gaither hasn't looked bad at the Mike spot, but where's Chris Gocong been? Did he get a single mention by the announcers in last week's Monday Night game? I'm usually looking at the linemen more often than LBs when watching football (a product of my playing offensive tackle in high school), so I'd have to watch the films again (which I really don't want to do after tonight) to see if he was just getting whipped or if others were getting to plays just before him, but only three tackles in each of his first two games seems to confirm my initial suspicions that he hasn't been good at fighting his way to ball carriers.
*Not like that. I'm just saying that the only Eagles jersey I currently own is a #54. I mean, did you see the guy's farewell press conference? I don't care who else he played/plays for, that guy is an Eagle. Bleed-midnight-green Eagle. This is not a point you can argue with me.
2- Defensive line. I have no qualms with our play against the run, I think holding Clinton Portis to 69 yards was a good effort, its the pass rush, or lack thereof, that I found frustrating. I know that in Jim Johnson's defensive scheme pressure often comes from LBs, CBs, and safetys, but the ends and tackles still need to lead the charge against opposing quarterbacks. Jason Campbell was hurried at times tonight, but to get only one sack against a team that's not really terrific in pass protection AND is missing TWO of their starting offensive linemen is unacceptable. As much as I'd like to say that Jevon Kearse should be the leader here and is under performing, I can't really pin this on a specific player; its attributable to the whole D, but IMHO, it starts with better line play.
3- McNabb. Yeah, you were waiting for this one. He had a bad week against Green Bay. He was average against the Skins. 28 of 46 for 240 yards with no interceptions is a pretty good night for a guy who is playing at 80%. I feel like he'll be better next week and that by the time we get to the Jets in week six he'll be in the ball park of the old Donovan. That's providing his health continues to improve, which isn't a given with McNabb after the past few seasons.
4- Westbrook. Man are we screwed if he's seriously injured. It seems awfully recent that I was expecting him to split carries with Correll Buckhalter evenly, now I'm ready to write off a season if he's hurt. That knee strain of his had better be a minor injury. Perhaps the most important back to his team in the NFL (discuss).
5- Offensive line: Not bad. Not great, but not problematic. As always, the less you say about the O-linemen, the better.
6- Receivers. Cue the groundskeepers from Major League: "they're still shitty!" Kevin Curtis hasn't particularly impressed yet, but he looks like a workable #2 receiver. Not as in "lets throw a pile of #2 at him," but as in "if there's an actual good receiver on the team that demands double coverage or the other team's best corner he'll have some good games." Unfortunately there's nobody on this team that demands that kind of respect from the opposing secondary. Reggie Brown and his 3 catches for 41 years sure as hell doesn't look like that guy. Our best wide receiver so far is a guy who coming into this season figured to be behind Brown, Curtis, Greg Lewis, and Hank Baskett on the depth chart, Jason Avant. Avant has eight catches for 99 yards in two games, and has given the overall impression of a good possession receiver. Side note: wouldn't hurt to have L.J. Smith healthy. Also wouldn't hurt if he was as awesome IRL as in my Madden franchises. The more I think about the Eagels receivers of the Reid era, getting T.O. was, to borrow an analogy from Bill Simmons, the ultimate "girlfriend who bakes cookies" for McNabb.
7- Andy Reid. I'm generally a Reid supporter, and I like to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, but calling a time out when you opponent is about to kick a field goal with 14 seconds left on second down reminds me of the quote from Napoleon, "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." Unless you think they're faking and you don't have the right personnel on the field (or are short personnel on the field, I theory I've heard but not seen proof of), there was no good reason to call that timeout. Thanks for handing the 'Skins four points. If we don't do that, at least at the end of the game we're only trying to make up one score. Thus on the second to last Eagle drive we go for a touchdown on 4th down from the Washington 3 yard line. In fact, even if you forget the timeout debacle, if you go for that 4th down, score a touchdown and make the conversion, our last drive concludes with a game tying field goal. Sure, you needed two scores, but are you going to get a better chance for the necessary touchdown than from the three yard line? Probably not.
8- Random thoughts (I know, like the rest of the blog isn't). Lito Sheppard, come back, we miss you. If Winston Justice turns into a starter at some point, I may have to get his jersey and dub it The Jersey Of Justice!
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