Although I’m looking forward to the championship games this Sunday, it’s still a little sad. No, not because the Eagles aren’t there. I’m over that. It’s sad because it’s the last weekend of the season where we’ll get to watch multiple NFL games on a Sunday.
Oh well, we still have the Flyers and Sixers to follow and pitchers and catchers will be reporting before we know it.
We have two interesting match-ups to watch on Sunday and plenty of story lines to go along with them. Let’s start with the first game on Sunday, the Ravens and Patriots.
This should be a fun one. You have a tremendous defense against a tremendous offense. It’s the one seed against the two seed. I see this being a great game, but from what I’ve been hearing so far this week, I feel like I’m one of the few that believes it.
I actually heard a popular Philly radio host tell a Ravens fan who called in that he didn’t believe this game would be close. This didn’t bother me that much. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
The thing that bothered me was how he attempted to defend his argument. He kept driving home the line on the game asking the Ravens fan why the line wasn’t closer if it was going to be a close game.
I feel like sports betting has become increasingly popular, especially among younger generations and the mobile NFL betting apps that can be used with smart phones. However, I don’t see a line that Vegas makes being a staple in an argument why one team will beat another.
If you want to argue that you think the Patriots will win easily because of how Tom Brady is playing right now, I understand that. However, you don’t play a defense as talented as the Ravens everyday.
I think the other sides for both teams will have a big impact on the game. Can the Ravens offense maintain drives and keep the ball out of Brady’s hands? Can the Patriots lowly defense step up and make some plays?
I’m excited for the match-up and think a lot of people aren’t giving it enough credit.
On the NFC side, I find it sickening that the Giants are in the NFC Championship but you can’t deny how well they’ve played this postseason. They dominated the Falcons and handled the Packers in Green Bay. Eli Manning now has people debating who the best quarterback in the family is. The majority still seems to be in Peyton’s corner, but Eli is clearly turning some heads.
That Niners game against the Saints was just outstanding. With the way Drew Brees was playing, I wasn’t sure if anyone in the NFC could take him down. However, Alex Smith and company clearly had other intentions.
Unlike the match-up in the AFC, I see these teams each being much more balanced on both sides of the ball. I really don’t even know how to feel about this game.
The Niners seem to be a team carried by their defense, but Smith really proved something to me last week. Playing at home also seems to be a big advantage for them. They’ve been solid all year and continued that against the Saints last week.
On the other side, we often see a team who just creeps into the playoffs getting hot and making a serious run. The Giants fit that bill perfectly this postseason and have been a real challenge.
I could this one going either way, but I give the Niners a slight edge with that run-stopping defense and home-field advantage.
There’s a limited amount of NFL games left, so I hope to see two great ones this Sunday. The good news is I think there’s a great chance of that happening.
Whether you agree with it or not, Andy Reid will return as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012. Jeffery Lurie made this announcement at his press conference this week, and it didn’t really come as much of a surprise.
Lurie still believes in Reid, but he made it very clear how disappointed he was about this season, calling it the most disappointing season since he has owned the team. His words were strong, they were honest and agreeable.
Come next season, we’ll see Reid back on the sideline but I think one thing will be a lot different. That will be the length of the leash the front office has on Reid.
When the Eagles were collapsing earlier in the season and the hot seat started heating up, one thing seemed very clear. The continuation of the Reid era in Philadelphia was in jeopardy, but Big Red had a pass for the rest of the season. There would be no firing midseason.
Is that something he earned while being here? Depends who you ask. I don’t expect there to be complete agreement on this, but that’s irrelevant. Reid is still here. If you thought he should have been fired during the season or that some NFC Championship and Super Bowl losses shouldn’t earn you a free pass, it doesn’t matter.
If you watched or even just heard about Lurie’s press conference, the overall tone was pretty clear. The 8-8 season this team put together was simply unacceptable. The expectations were high. They weren’t meant. There is plenty of blame to be spread around, but at the end of the day, it falls to the top.
So here we are, back at the top with Reid. The owner has put him in the position to call the shots and lead this team to the Super Bowl. Like every year, the expectations will be high. It seems just like any other year.
However, I truly believe this is it. This is the do or die season. One last run with Reid. Start the season off slow, hit the unemployment line.
Lurie thinks Reid can do it, but he’s clearly frustrated. Reid won’t have the type of leeway he’s had in the past. He’s going to be under the microscope from day one. The bar has never been set higher for the coach.
Time to man up Andy, this is your last chance.
Coming into the season, there were a lot of questions surrounding how well the offensive line would be able to protect the Eagles new $100 million asset. They had a new offensive line coach and were attempting to throw rookies into the starting lineup right out of the gate.
All things considering, I’d personally say the offensive line has played above my expectations. So entering last weeks game against the Dolphins, my biggest concern was seeing Michael Vick get hit while scrambling, not in the pocket.
However, the offensive line was abysmal. Vick saw pressure in the backfield all game and has missed practice this week due to soreness in his previously injured ribs. The Dolphins have some talent up front on defense, but I didn’t think it was anything the Eagles offensive line couldn’t handle.
The good news out of last weeks game is that Vick didn’t get seriously hurt and the defense carried them to a victory.
The same thing can’t happen this week against the Jets. It really can’t. The offensive line needs to step up and play like they have been throughout the season.
LeSean McCoy had two touchdowns last, but he didn’t have the running lanes he’s been seeing all year. He was bottled up and often had defenders hitting him before he could even cross the line of scrimmage. The Eagles run blocking has been very good for the most part this season and they need to get back to that.
On defense, the Jets have two talented corners in Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie who are very physical. When corners play physical, it can take longer for a receiver to run their route. This means the quarterback needs more time in the pocket.
Vick was getting barely any time last weekend, and the Eagles only saw success when they adjusted the play calling and started running short routes and screen passes. These plays work, but the Eagles have a lot of talent that can stretch the field and that’s not something they want to have taken away from them.
Another thing that concerns me is Vick’s health. He proved to us last week that the whole “I’m going to start sliding more” thing was a lie. It doesn’t surprise me. The guy plays the game hard and you have to give him credit for that. However, it has resulted in many injuries for him in the past.
The Eagles playoff hopes are slim, but I’m not holding my breath. They may not go to the playoffs, but I want to see Vick finish out the season and play well. His play has been very inconsistent this season and I’d like to see him finish 2011 on a high note.
In order for Vick to do that, his line can’t play like they did against the Dolphins. They need to step up and it all starts this weekend against the Jets.
In this week’s Invading the Nest, Joe Caporoso of TurnOnTheJets.com answers a number of questions for us.
We start by talking a little bit about Mark Sanchez and the Jets current chances of making it into the playoffs. We also talk about how much the Jet’s will miss Jim Leonhard as well as how former Temple Owl Muhammad Wilkerson has been playing this year.
We then get into the game, looking closely at where each team will have an advantage on Sunday and we end with a prediction on the game from Joe.
BirdsFan: Mark Sanchez is one of those guys who just can’t seem to play with any consistency. What are your feelings about Sanchez? Do you think he could ever lead the Jets to a Lombardi trophy?
TurnOnTheJets: I think Sanchez is one of the most unfairly criticized players in the NFL. If he was a religious man playing in Denver, he’d be lauded for his ability to win. The guy is 28-17 as a starter with 4 playoff wins already and hasn’t even played 3 full seasons yet. Yes, he struggles with his accuracy and decision making at times but he is a winner and players better the bigger the spot gets. I absolutely believe he can lead the Jets to a Super Bowl.
BF: The Jets sit in the driver seat right now. How do you see the rest of the season playing out? Do they make the playoffs? If so, how far do you think they can go?
TOTJ: I think the Jets will ultimately find a way into the playoffs, probably as a 10-6 team. Once they are in, they are dangerous as we’ve seen the past two years. I think they can pull off an upset or maybe two but I am not sure they are equipped to get over the hump this season.
BF: How much of an impact do you see the loss of Jim Leonhard having on Sunday’s game? The rest of the season?
TOTJ: It hurts, particularly in the punt return game. The Jets haven’t any consistency there except for Leonhard. On defense, they will miss his leadership but if Brodney Pool can stay healthy they should be okay.
BF: Muhammad Wilkerson, the Jets first-round rookie draft picked, used to play his home games at Lincoln Financial Field with Temple last season. How has he performed for the Jets this season?
TOTJ: Wilkerson has quietly put together a very good year. He is solid against the run and has got a decent push rushing the quarterback. I am not sure he will ever be a Pro-Bowl type player but will likely be a key piece of the Jets defense for years to come.
BF: On Sunday, where will the Jets have an advantage on offense? On defense?
TOTJ: The Jets biggest advantage is their physicality and ability to play well in the fourth quarter. On offense, I expect Shonn Greene to have a big day going North and South on the Eagles. On defense, I think Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie can get Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin out of their game.
BF: Where will the Eagles have an advantage on offense? On defense?
TOTJ: The Eagles speed on offense will be a big problem for the Jets, particularly from LeSean McCoy on the edges. On defense, Jason Babin could be a big problem for Wayne Hunter, the Jets inconsistent right tackle.
BF: What player could be a potential x-factor for the Jets on Sunday?
TOTJ: Aaron Maybin. He is the only Jets player in the front seven with the speed to chase around Vick. If he can bring him down for a few sacks and force a fumble, it could be the difference in the game.
BF: Give me a score prediction.
TOTJ: I think the Eagles will be leading the whole way, but the Jets will put together a big fourth quarter to escape with a 27-24 victory.
Earlier this week, I wrote that Eagles quarterback Michael Vick needed to have a bounce back against the Dolphins. He didn’t have the kind of game I’d hoped for, but he did walk away with the win.
One thing I didn’t take into consideration when talking about Vick having a good game was the play of the offensive line. They’ve really made strides this season, and it’s pretty remarkable considering they are starting two rookies. However, they had a horrible performance against the Dolphins this week and Vick had absolutely no time to do anything.
When it was all said and done, Vick went 15-30 for 208 yards with a touchdown and an interception. These weren’t the best numbers, but he did a pretty good job with what he was given.
One thing that immediately caught my eye was came on the first series. He scrambled a bit in the backfield and broke out on a run. Instead of sliding like he said he would start doing, he went head first into two defenders.
Although I would have preferred not to see that, it didn’t come as a big surprise. Whether or not you like Vick, it’s really hard to deny how hard he plays the game. He’s super competitive and he puts forth as much effort as anybody else on the field.
Seeing Vick get put on his back was a common theme though. He was sacked four times and hit a bunch more. Again, I put just about all of this on the line, but there were some times that Vick shouldn’t have held the ball as long as he did.
The Eagles did make a pretty good adjustment offensively around the end of the first quarter. With Vick seeing instant pressure on just about every play, the play calls were changed to short pass plays and a lot of screens.
I love seeing the Eagles stretch the field with Vick’s big arm, but that just was not a possibility in this game. Vick did not have enough time to make a throw deep down the field. This was a good adjustment though as it allowed the Eagles play-makers to get the ball in their hands quickly and make plays.
His best series probably came in the second quarter where he had a nice roll out play where he hit Jason Avant along the sideline. He then came back and ended that series with a beautiful throw to DeSean Jackson for a 34 yard touchdown.
The second half was a lot less exciting as the offense didn’t end up scoring any points. Vick threw an interception in the third quarter that he’d clearly like to have back. Other than that, he was pretty careful with the ball.
His most memorable plays in the second half were a scramble in the third quarter where he ended up hitting Riley Cooper for a 29 yard completion and a scramble in the fourth quarter where he only gained four yards but made a bunch of defenders miss in the process.
It wasn’t the best performance of Vick’s career but it was nice to see him get a win in his first game back. He got very little help from his line, but he did all he could with what he was given.
I hope to see a better performance out of the line next weekend so that Vick gets more of a chance to shine.
Although it didn’t look good early, the Eagles were able to travel down to Miami and come back with a 26-10 win.
Early in the first quarter, the Eagles had a punt blocked that the Dolphins were able to immediately turn into a touchdown and take a 7-0 lead. The touchdown came on a reception from Brandon Marshall with Nnamdi Asomugha in coverage. It wasn’t the worst coverage I’ve ever seen. However, Asomugha twisted himself in a weird position before correcting that move and trying to make a play on the ball. It was a great throw and the small miscue from Asomugha allowed Marshall to score.
After that, it was quite the performance by the Eagles defense. They recorded a safety, a total of nine sacks, forced a fumble, and recorded an interception that was almost taken all the way back for a touchdown.
On a few drives, they gave up more on the ground than they would have liked to but the effort was pretty solid for the day overall.
Offensively, we got to see the return of Michael Vick. Unfortunately for Vick, his offensive line had an atrocious game. They couldn’t block at all and the Dolphins defensive line pretty much lived in the backfield.
The coaches were able to make some adjustments to get Vick throwing out of short drops and using the screen game, but it was a difficult day for Vick.
Running back LeSean McCoy didn’t put up very big numbers in terms of rushing yards, but he did find the end zone twice. DeSean Jackson also had a nice little game catching four passes for 59 yards and a touchdown.
After the defense seemed to be the biggest issue, they clearly outperformed the Eagles offense today. However, it was nice to see that effort out of them and was nice to see the Eagles walk away with a win.
They will return home to host the New York Jets next weekend.
Last season, we saw two different Michael Vick’s. We saw the Vick that can play like superman, and we saw the Vick that doesn’t make smart decisions with the football.
The Eagles had a choice to make at the quarterback position in the offseason, and I think they handled it the right way. Unfortunately, we’re not seeing nearly as much of the superman Vick as we would have liked.
When Vick signed his contract before the season, it meant that he was supposed to be the quarterback of the future. If Vick continues to play like he has been this season, it’s hard to say the future looks very bright.
As many expected, Vick hasn’t been able to start every game this season. However, it’s not like the Eagles were right in the thick of the playoff race when he was healthy.
I have two hopes for Vick the rest of the season. The first is that he can stay healthy and play in all four games. The second is that he shows the fans and the Eagles front office that he is worth the investment.
This all starts on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Vick was less than stellar in his last outing, but he needs to put that behind him and move forward. He really needs to put the whole season behind him and start fresh.
It’s still the 2011 season, but I’m already thinking about 2012. Most of my questions for next year surround the defense. However, one of the biggest questions I have on the offensive side of the ball is about Vick.
Is he capable of leading this offense deep into the playoffs? Could he lead this team to a championship? I think both are possible given the weapons Vick has around him. He doesn’t have to put the entire offense on his shoulders. He simply needs to be efficient and make good decisions with the football.
Vick has the opportunity to instill a lot more confidence in both myself and the Eagles fan base this weekend. It won’t be easy. The Dolphins are a team that has played very well lately. I also question how inspired the Eagles are right now. How deflated are they? The bar was set so high coming into the year and has been no where close to reached.
It’s going to be on Vick to inspire his troops. It’s going to be up to Vick to get the ball to his playmakers. It’s going to be up to Vick to be smart with the football.
This isn’t what Eagles fans expected from their $100 million man. It’s time for Vick to bounce back.
I haven’t followed the Dolphins all that closely, but I think the recent play of Reggie Bush has really helped the team find some success. He’ll never be what people thought he could be coming out of college, but he can be an extremely effective back when utilized properly.
One thing that you can’t deny about Bush is his speed. He’s fast. It’s that simple. The good news for the Eagles is that they’ve long preferred speed over size at the linebacker position. This is something I’ll be interested in seeing on Sunday. Can the Eagles linebackers run with Bush? More specifically, I look at Brian Rolle.
You can argue that Rolle made his way into the starting lineup because of how poorly Casey Matthews played. I won’t deny that. However, I’m not going to knock him for the job he’s done since giving the opportunity.
Not to sound like a philosopher or anything, but anytime you’re given an opportunity in life, you have to make the best of it. Rolle has done just that and has been a pleasant surprise on an otherwise awful Eagles defense.
Rolle isn’t the biggest guy on the field, but he’s not afraid to be physical. More importantly, he’s fast and has the ability to get to the ball very quickly. This is a big reason why I think he’ll be a big key for the Eagles defense on Sunday.
Bush is coming off a good game. Combine that with the fact that the Eagles got killed by Marshawn Lynch last week, and it adds up to Bush getting a fair share of touches. Bush and Lynch are completely different runners, but when you tackle the way the Eagles did last week, it doesn’t really matter who is running the football.
Unlike Lynch who can dominate you up the gut, Bush loves to get to the outside and showcase his speed. Rolle will need to play a key part in making sure this doesn’t happen. He’s going to need to take good angles and really use his athleticism.
He should also be a key in defending Bush in the receiving game. Bush catches the ball very well out of the backfield. The Eagles (ok maybe just Casey Matthews) made Brandon Jacobs look like a track star earlier this year. If Rolle doesn’t keep a close eye on Bush, he could potentially have a huge day for the Dolphins.
Football is a team game and the Eagles are going to need a solid performance out of their entire defense. However, I think Rolle is a guy that matches up well with Bush and will be relied upon heavily this Sunday.
DeSean Jackson has hit a bit of a rough patch. He’s been criticized, questioned, and it seems his frustration is starting to get the best of him.
I never really believed that there was a possibility of the Eagles not resigning him until a few weeks ago. They have depth at the position, but I always believed Jackson was too big of a play-maker to simply let him walk away.
This isn’t to say that I don’t want to see Jackson back with the Eagles, because I really do. However, I’m not sure that the Eagles feel the same way. It seems kind of crazy, but the Eagles could potentially let him walk at the end of the season.
So is Jackson disgruntled with the Eagles front office? Yea, I’d say so. Is he disgruntled with Andy Reid right now? More than likely. Does this mean he can just cruise through these last four games and then see what happens this offseason? I think he’d be foolish to have that mentality.
This has been and continues to be a “contract year” for Jackson. He has proven himself in the past, but if he wants to get the type of money he thinks that he’s worth, he needs to continue proving himself. Not just to the Eagles but to the entire league.
If he continues to crash and burn here the rest of the way, it’s not going to help his case with the Eagles or any other team.
Whether he feels like it or not, Jackson has to go out there and give it his all this weekend. He really has to the remainder of the year. It’s a shame that it’s coming down to this, because he has handled the whole situation very well until recently. He’s just going to need to man up a bit longer.
The good news for him is that Michael Vick will be back in the lineup. He clearly enjoys playing with Vick so I think that will help motivate him. Also, Vick’s ability to stretch the field helps Jackson use his ability to run the deep vertical routes he’s had success with in the past.
Regardless of whatever grudges Jackson has now, he needs to do everything he can to finish the season on a high note. It’s the best move for his career, whether or not it’s in Philadelphia.
As the Eagles get ready to take their talents (or lack of talents) to South Beach, I was able to ask Brian Miller of PhinPhanatic.com a series of questions about the upcoming matchup.
Brian starts by reflecting on the Dolphins season thus far as well as the play of Reggie Bush. He then looks to see where both teams will have an advantage of both sides of the ball and tells us who could be a possible x-factor for the Dolphins. In the end, Brian concludes with his final score prediction on the game.
BirdsFan: Looking at the Dolphins season, it looks like a tale of two teams. Why did they struggle earlier in the season and why are they finding success now?
PhinPhanatic: That is the question that everyone is asking and no one has an answer for. In my opinion it was the lockout. Matt Moore, Reggie Bush, Mike Pouncey, Charles Clay, and Daniel Thomas all received no off season work with the team until training camp started. Injuries piled up early as a result.
BF: With four games remaining and the playoffs clearly out of reach, what are you looking to learn from the Dolphins the rest of the season?
PP: It has become more about Tony Sparano and whether he will keep his job, something impossible a month ago. Many are watching to see if the team continues to improve.
BF: Reggie Bush had a solid game last week. What have your thoughts been on Bush this season?
PP: He is proving to be more than a one dimensional back. In fact he hasn’t actually been used to his strengths yet which has a lot of Miami fans talking that we haven’t touched the surface.
BF: Michael Vick should be returning to the lineup this week. What do you think the Dolphins will look to do defensively against Vick?
PP: With the Eagles struggling but still solid with their running game I look for Miami to try and force him to throw and keep McCoy in check. Vick is coming off an injury so Miami will try and keep him pressured.
BF: On Sunday, where will the Dolphins have an advantage on offense? On defense?
PP: On defense, the run defense will be the key. On offense, again our running game should give us the slight edge.
BF: Where will the Eagles have an advantage on offense? On defense?
PP: Defensively the Eagles should be able to cover our WRs and take that option away from Matt Moore. Offensively, the Eagles passing game could bring the edge to Philly.
BF: What player could be a potential x-factor for the Dolphins on Sunday?
PP: Charles Clay could be the difference maker. His versatility at FB and TE puts him in good positions to make plays.
BF: Give me a score prediction.
PP: Miami 30 – Philly 21
On a short week, Keith Myers of 12thManRising.com was nice enough to answer us a series of questions about the upcoming Eagles and Seahawks match-up.
The Seahawks have had some recent success so I start by asking what this can be attributed to. I also get his thoughts on both Tarvaris Jackson as well as his opinion on the Eagles both before the season started and now.
Keith then gets into more detail about the match-up telling us where he thinks each team will have an advantage, who could be an x-factor for the Seahawks, and he ends by giving us a score prediction.
Also, make sure to check out the questions I answered for him by clicking here.
BirdsFan: In the last three weeks, the Seahawks beat the Ravens and Rams and blew a fourth quarter lead to the Redskins. What can this rash of success be attributed to?
12thManRising: A young team finally growing up. Contrary to what the national media would have you believe, there is a lot of talent on this team, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
BF: The Eagles were thrown into the national spotlight after the offseason signings they made. However, they’ve failed to live up to the expectations. What did you think about the self-proclaimed “Dream Team” then and what do you think of them now?
12MR: I honestly didn’t like the moves then. The Eagles seemed to go after names instead of players that filled needs. Nnamdi Asomugha might be one of the best corners in the NFL, but the Eagles were fine at corner and really needed help at safety and LB instead. Vince Young isn’t a quality backup QB; Ronny Brown was injured and not going to be an impact player; the signings didn’t make a lot of sense.
I still expected them to the better than they’ve shown so far this season. I expected the defense to struggle, but I expect Vick and the offense to be able to out score most opponents. That offense has too many weapons for anyone to be able to stop them. Vick’s injuries have clearly hurt the Eagles.
BF: Tarvaris Jackson hasn’t been the most impressive quarterback during his time in the NFL. What are your thoughts on Jackson? Is he the quarterback of the future?
12MR: Jackson isn’t the QB of the future in Seattle. He was never meant to be. Jackson’s presence in Seattle is that of a temporary stop-gap to help bridge the gap to a new QB in the next year or so. He’s actually been decent this year. More so than I think most fans outside of Seattle know. He’s also playing hurt. He has a torn pectoral mussel on his throwing side, and it is obviously causing them a tremendous amount of pain when he throws the balls. His toughness has been a pleasant surprise.
BF: With a record of 4-7, this season couldn’t have been that much fun to watch so far. What has been the biggest positive for the Seahawks this year?
12MR: The development of the young players. The Seahawks have 3 defensive backs in their first or 2nd year (Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman) that might be in the top 5 at their position in the NFL. Doug Baldwin has been a great addition at WR. The offensive line is starting to really come together and show signs that the unit will be a strength in 2012.
While 4-7 has been difficult to watch, I think most fans had tempered expectations as this team rebuilds into a contender. Seeing the development of the young players as a part of that rebuilding helps ease the pain of a losing season.
BF: On Thursday, where will the Seahawks have an advantage on offense? On defense?
12MR: The Seahawks running game will be the advantage they should be able to use. The Eagles don’t have a good run defense, and Marshawn Lynch has been huge over the the last 4 games for the Seahawks.
BF: Where will the Eagles have an advantage on offense? On defense?
12MR: The Eagles running game shouldbe their advantage as well. The Seahawks have a very stout run defense (#3 in the league in terms of yards/carry) but the strength of that unit is the big bodies up front. The Eagles tend to attack the edges and not the center of the run defense, and I expect them to have success running to the outside because of their speed.
BF: What player could be a potential x-factor for the Seahawks on Thursday?
12MR: Earl Thomas. The free safety is very fast and has tremendous range. He could easily break out with a 3 interceptions in any game if the opposing QB isn’t careful. In a game like this, Thomas could easily change the entire game with a couple timely picks.
BF: Give me a score prediction.
12MR: With Vick out, I think the Eagles offense wont be able to run away with the game. It really comes down to which defense gets the most turnovers. Vince Young is an interception waiting to happen, so I’ll take the Seahawks 23-21.
I don’t know about everybody else, but I was very excited about the fact that the Eagles had to face the NFC West this season. This is the same division that sent a team to the playoffs who finished 7-9 in 2010.
When looking at the 2011 schedule before the season started, I chalked up four wins against the NFC West for the Eagles. Why should a team with all that talent lose to any of the teams in that division? At the time, this seemed like a logical argument. However, there’s a reason they play the games.
As the Eagles get set to face the final team from the NFC West, they enter with a 1-2 record against that division. Isn’t that something?
First of all, I’m not sure anyone thought the 49ers were going to be as good as they have been this year before the season started. With teams like the Lions and Bills starting to fall, I think you can say the 49ers have been one of the biggest surprises this season.
For all the rest of the teams, I can’t come up with any excuse. They took care of business the opening week of the season against the Rams, but they have struggled with injuries and been a major disappointment.
The loss to the Cardinals still blows my mind. Especially with John Skelton leading the troops. The Eagles simply couldn’t finish what they started.
So here we are, heading into the final game against the NFC West, and the best the Eagles can do is finish 2-2. If they lose, they’ll finish with a single win against arguably the worst division in the NFL.
Not something I expected, but this season hasn’t really been as expected. Has it?
Throughout the season, Eagles fans have been calling for Andy Reid’s head. They had an extremely aggressive offseason, bringing in a ton of big name players, but the expectations haven’t been met.
For the most part, I don’t think fans even care about who would be next in line. Instead, they just want Reid gone because they’ve grown sick of him. There’s no secret behind why. He preaches about putting players in a better position to make plays without doing so, he fails to manage the game clock effectively, and he won’t commit to the run even when it’s successful. The list goes on. I get it.
I’m ready for a change like most other fans in Philadelphia. The thing is what kind of change? The Eagles don’t need a big name coach to come in and take over this team. They need a guy who will come in and be committed to what they want to do. There in lies the issue. What do they want to do?
Andy Reid has always been a more offensive minded guy. This wasn’t a big problem when Jim Johnson was around, because he was an amazing defensive coordinator. Since his departure, the defense has been exposed. The Eagles have had a high-powered offense the last few years, but simply relying on your offense to score a ton of points isn’t a very solid strategy.
Will the Eagles really turn their focus to the defensive side of the ball next season? I think they need to. If you’re going to keep Reid, you need to get rid of Juan Castillo and bring in someone that knows what the hell they’re doing defensively.
If Reid goes, how much overhaul do you do? Could the Eagles be a hard-nosed team in 2012 with an emphasis on running the ball and playing good defense? I’d love to see that, but I think that’s a pretty big change to make in one year. However, I think running the ball more and playing better defense are clearly two things that need to happen.
If that is something the front office is leaning towards, they’re going to need to find coaches who have that same mindset.
Regardless of who remains on the coaching staff next season and who doesn’t, one of the biggest keys is going to be getting everyone on the same page. The front office, scouts, and coaches all need to have the same understanding so that they can put together the right personnel to do what they want to. I don’t think that continuity exists right now, and I think that’s pretty clear.
This season has been a disaster to say the least. Many people believed it may take a while to put all this talent together. They’ve had a long time to get it together and they’re still failing to do so.
I fully believe that Reid will finish the season. If he gets canned at the end of the season, I hope the front office does some serious evaluation before they decide what direction to go in.
What are your thoughts on the future of the Eagles coaching staff?
I’ve felt that this season has been over for a while now, but there have been people with more faith than me. At this point though, it’s over. The sad news is there are still five more games left.
So what can you do when you’re seasons over? You learn as much as you can. It’s not 2012 yet, but the Eagles already have a bunch of questions they need to answer.
The first thing that comes to mind is coaching. Who is staying and who is going? Is this the end of the Andy Reid era? Juan Castillo can’t stay, can he? Who is available?
At this point, I don’t think we’ll know much about this for awhile. There’s a ton of loyalty in the Eagles organization and I have a hard time believe Reid will get the axe before the season comes to an end. However, I think Reid and a large portion of his staff will be under the microscope the rest of the season.
This staff has been under a considerable amount of criticism and rightfully so. Game plans have been poor, adjustments haven’t been made, and the talent utilization is no where close to where it should be.
Player wise, the questions clearly start on defense. More specifically, how can the Eagles get better at the linebacker position? I think that all has to start with an evaluation of Jamar Chaney and where they want him to play next year.
Do they think he’s the long-term solution in the middle or would they prefer to move him back to the strong side? He didn’t dominate the strong side earlier in the year, but I believe that the defensive line scheme was a recipe for disaster at that point. Teams were running all over them until they adjusted the line.
I do think Chaney could be successful back on the strong side, but I think that will all depend on whether they can find a guy for the middle. If it’s not Chaney, I can tell you that guy is definitely not on the roster right now. Could this be the year they finally draft a linebacker? Ask me again when I know for sure if Reid is coming back next season.
Who are going to be the safeties next year? Can Nate Allen get back to how he played at the beginning of last season? Can Kurt Coleman play at more of a consistent level? What do we know about Jaiquawn Jarrett? Can he get some starting time down the stretch so we can see what he’s got?
I think there’s potential in all three of these guys but it’s hard to say anything is close to being set in stone. I can’t say I’d be thrilled to see them use another early draft pick on the position, but I’m not ready to rule it out. I’ll definitely have my eye on these three guys the remainder of the year.
What’s the deal with the corners? Is Asante Samuel coming back? Has Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie done anything relevant enough to merit a new deal? Do you bring Joselio Hanson back?
I think Nnamdi Asomugha is the only sure thing for 2012. This isn’t because he’s been dominant, but they’re not going to unload him after the deal he got. Plus, I think he’s been used quite poorly for a large portion of the season.
On offense, the only real question to me is DeSean Jackson. Are the Eagles seriously thinking about letting him walk? I never believed that was a real possibility until very recently.
He seems to be driving Andy Reid nuts and his performance on the field hasn’t been what we’re used to seeing. The Eagles have some pretty solid depth at the wide receiver position, so it could be a possibility. I’d rather see him stay, but it’s hard to tell what the Eagles plan is. We should get a better idea of their intentions as they head down the stretch.
Their decision on Jackson should also tell us about their intentions for Steve Smith. He hasn’t been a big part of the offense this year, but they may consider keeping him around if they do let Jackson walk.
Outside of that, Michael Vick will be back. Jeremy Maclin will be back. LeSean McCoy will be back. We’ll see a lot of familiar faces on offense in 2012.
The Eagles will return a lot of talent, but they clearly have a lot of work to do putting it together. It’s time to start thinking about next season with the Eagles championship hopes crushed. However, they have some season left to help learn more about how to improve for next season.
What will you look for from the Eagles during the rest of the season?
Many people probably put this game down as a loss when they tried to predict the Eagles schedule in the beginning of the year. What they probably didn’t predict is that they’d enter that game with a record of 4-6.
It’s been a very rough season and yesterday was a very rough game. Here are some random thoughts and observations I have on the Eagles most recent loss.
Solid start, right? I was very weary going into this game, but this after the Eagles took a quick 10-0 lead, I thought they might be on to something. It kind of reminded me of the early lead they put on Indy last year, another game I was weary of before kickoff. However, the end results were quite different.
From the start, it was pretty evident what the Eagles offensive game plan was. They wanted to throw the ball on a depleted Patriots secondary. I understand that they wanted to expose this area, but how do you abandon the run so easily? The Eagles entered the game with the league’s leading rusher after ten weeks.
LeSean McCoy has been absolutely dominant this season, and the Eagles have thrived in the games where he gets a solid number of rushes. The Patriots were doing a good job shutting him down when he did touch the ball, but Shady seems to always get better as the game goes on. It’s impossible to shut him down for four quarters.
So what do the Eagles do? They give him 10 carries. Mind numbing stuff.
Staying on the offensive side of the ball, DeSean Jackson. Wow. Has he outplayed his contract? Absolutely. He’s done amazing things for this team. However, he hasn’t done it the most when he has needed to. When is that? The final season of your contract.
He had some awful drops, including two possible touchdown balls. He seemed to have little desire to help block down the field. He played so poorly that he was benched. If you told me Jackson got benched I’d automatically assume it was because of some bonehead move he made after the play. I’d never believe he’d be benched because he played so poorly.
Nnamdi Asomugha was a game-time decision for the Eagles. When they announced he was going to play, I was happy. However, am I the only one who almost wishes he didn’t? The secondary was lost all day and I don’t think him coming in and out of the game was helpful. He clearly wasn’t at full strength either. Toughness is a good thing but not if your toughness is detrimental to the team.
What’s the deal with Nate Allen? Remember how much promise he showed us at the beginning of last season? Clearly, times have changed. Can some of it be blamed on injury? Possibly, but he had an absolutely horrific game. He couldn’t tackle and he was often out of position in coverage. I want the old Allen back.
Mike Patterson’s sack was pretty sweet, but how does that only get to Tom Brady? He’s not mobile at all and the defensive line has been one of the few positives on the Eagles defense this season.
Speaking of Brady, he was absolutely dominant yesterday. Don’t get me wrong, I hate his guts. However, you can’t argue that he wasn’t on-point yesterday.
There’s a saying “take what the defense gives you” and that’s exactly what he did against the Eagles. The middle of the field was open pretty much all day and he took advantage of that. He had the opportunity to hit wide open receivers on multiple occasions and did so every time. When the middle was clear, he tucked the ball down and ran for first downs. This isn’t what he’s known for at all but he took everything he was given.
Outside of the first seven minutes or so in the first quarter, this game was pretty hard to stomach. I knew they would have a tough time against the Patriots, but I didn’t expect that kind of performance. Throw in coaches fighting one another on the sideline, and you have yourself quite the ugly game.
Some serious evaluating needs to be done in the Eagles remaining games.
The Eagles have a big matchup with the Patriots this Sunday, and to get ready for it, I was able to ask Jamie Pacheco of MusketFire.com a series of questions regarding the game.
Jamie gives us some thoughts on Andy Reid and the “Dream Team” and weighs in on both Michael Vick and Vince Young. He also takes a closer look at some of the on the field matchups and identifies who he think could be an x-factor for the Patriots.
In the end, he gives us a very tight score prediction so make sure to check out who he believes will come out on top!
BirdsFan: Andy Reid is taking a lot of heat after assembling the “Dream Team” but failing to put together a very impressive season so far. What are your thoughts about Andy Reid as a head coach?
MusketFire: I think Andy Reid is one of the better coaches in the NFL. The Eagles likely would have been better served personnel-wise staying mostly with the status quo instead of trying to collect talent in a year they wouldn’t have time to practice with each other in mini-camps. I would give him another year with this roster, assuming it remains somewhat stable. The Redskins learned that you can’t collect talent and also have a “team.”
BF: Michael Vick has struggled a lot this year and Vince Young struggled as well but found a way to win, which he seems to have a knack for. Which quarterback would you rather face and why?
MF: I’d rather face Vince Young if I’m the Patriots. While he is a threat to run, he doesn’t have the big ability of Michael Vick. He’s also not as accurate as Vick can be, which is helpful considering the state of the Patriots’ secondary.
BF: Tom Brady has had a few games this season where he’s thrown multiple interceptions. What have defenses done successfully to force Brady into turning the ball over?
MF: I think those interceptions are more on Brady than they are the opposing defenses. He would never say this publicly, but I feel that he’s trying to make something happen and force the ball because he doesn’t trust the defense. I think he feels that he needs to put up as many points as possible in order for the team to have a chance to win. Former Patriot Rodney Harrison has echoed that sentiment in some interviews.
BF: After bringing in Nnamdi Asomugha, there has been a lot of question surrounding how the Eagles have used him. How would you use Asomugha against the Patriots offense?
MF: I’m not sure how comfortable Asomugha is in the slot, but if he could play there I’d have him shadow Wes Welker the entire game. If he’s going to remain on the outside receivers, he’s not going to be much of a factor because the Patriots utilize the slot receiver and tight ends so much.
BF: On Sunday, where will the Patriots have an advantage on offense? On defense?
MF: The Pats have an advantage on offense with their tight ends and Wes Welker. I don’t think that the Eagles have anybody on defense that matches up well against tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Look for Brady to find them early and often. On defense, the Patriots have an advantage on the defensive line against the Eagles’ offensive line. The problem is that the Pats’ d-linemen are big and not made for chasing mobile quarterbacks around, so I’m not sure it’s going to help them much against Michael Vick or Vince Young.
BF: Where will the Eagles have an advantage on offense? On defense?
MF: On offense, the Eagles have a huge advantage with their passing game. The Pats will have to commit somebody to spy on Vick or Young, which leaves the secondary more vulnerable to the pass. I don’t think the Pats have anybody that can cover DeSean Jackson, so he provides a big mismatch for the Eagles to exploit. On defense, the Eagles’ pass rush should be able to get pressure on Tom Brady. The offensive line has struggled giving Brady time early in games and with Matt Light’s status uncertain, that could exacerbate the situation. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jason Babin to get a couple of sacks.
BF: What player could be a potential x-factor for the Patriots on Sunday?
MF: Rookie RB Shane Vereen got his first carries of the season Monday night and looked quick with the ball in his hands. The Patriots may try to incorporate him more into the gameplan, which serves duel purposes. Vereen gives the Pats a potential big-play threat on offense and can help establish a running game, keeping the Pats’ defense off the field by eating up the clock.
BF: Give me a score prediction.
MF: Pats pull out a narrow victory at the end and win 31-30.
I had a conversation with my mother right before the start of the game last night. I told her there wasn’t a chance in hell the Eagles were going to win this game. She then reminded me that I said there wasn’t a chance in hell they would lose to the Cardinals last week. Touche, mother.
I didn’t come off of my stance on the game. I only added that the Eagles defense would need to have a terrific outing if there was any chance of them winning. The Eagles defense stepped up to the plate on Sunday night.
They’ve been a perfect picture of inconsistency so far this season. They brought in a new defensive coordinator, new players, and new schemes. All of this has seemed to lead to some struggles, but they really pulled together against the Giants.
One of their biggest struggles so far this season has been stopping the run. They have made adjustments to their wide-nine technique to try and improve upon this and it has definitely helped. However, we haven’t really seen them be consistently good.
Sunday night was a different story. They consistently stopped the run all night allowing just 29 yards rushing on 17 total carries. Their defensive line got tremendous push off the line, and it allowed the linebackers to step up and make fairly easy plays on the ball carrier.
The line was also able to get a lot of pressure on Eli Manning in passing situations. They recorded a total of three sacks but they were in Manning’s face all night. There were barely any blitzes called, but they weren’t needed. It makes things a lot easier on defense when you can get the kind of pressure the Eagles front-four was getting on the Giants offense.
Manning, who has played surprisingly well this season, wasn’t able to get much done through the air. He went 18/35 for 264 yards with a touchdown and an interception on the night. Those aren’t great numbers, and they’re even inflated with two big completions he connected on.
The Giants only really pieced together one good drive that ended in Victor Cruz embarrassing Nnamdi Asomugha yet again. Not sure what Asomugha’s big struggle with Cruz seems to be. He goes from owning Larry Fitzgerald a week ago (when they actually let him cover Fitzgerald) to giving up big plays to Cruz.
It’s frustrating to see Asomugha give up the big play like that, but it’s not something I’ll lose sleep over. We know the talent he has and we’ve seen it a lot this season. Maybe not as much as we’d like, but Philadelphia fans set the bar high.
Overall, you really have to applaud the efforts of the defense. They clearly knew that they needed to step up for this game and they came out with a lot of fire. We’ll just have to see if they can continue to play with that fire the rest of the season.
Earlier this year, Glenn Warciski of UltimateNYG.com was kind enough to answer a number of questions for me. With the Eagles about to face the Giants for the second time this season, he answered another set of questions for me.
This time around, I ask Glenn to reflect a bit on the last game, preview this game for us, and he ends with a pretty surprising prediction!
Also, make sure to check out the questions I answered for him over on his site.
BirdsFan: When we talked before the first game this year, you predicted the Eagles to win big. We know that wasn’t the fact. Give us a quick reflection with your thoughts on the game.
UltimateNYG: The Giants did not play well in their first two games against Washington and St. Louis. I did not expect the Giants playing as well as they did. Although the Giants defeated the Eagles, the Eagles dominated this game on paper. But the Eagles turned the ball over and did not execute in the red zone.
BF: The Giants are right in the middle of a very brutal part of their schedule. How do you see the them finishing the year? Give me a record prediction.
UNYG: Before the season started, I predicted the Giants finished the season at 5-11. Boy, I am I wrong. With a 6-3 record so far, they have exceeded my expectations. Yes, they have a difficult stretch. Couple this with Coughlin’s Giants collapsing in second halves of seasons, I think it is difficult to predict how they will finish. If the Giants lose to the Eagles on Sunday, could the Giants collapse again? It is conceivable. They have the Saints at New Orleans and Green Bay at home. Then they will have to face Dallas twice. Despite having a 6-3 record this year, I still do not have a pulse on this team. They have lost to Seattle at home. They defeated the Patriots in New England. Just edged Buffalo and Miami at home. And then should have won against San Francisco but they turned the ball over and did not execute in the red zone. If the Giants are going to make a run, they have to beat the good teams. And they will face many good teams in the coming weeks. Therefore, we will see what kind of Giants team we have. Will the Giants be a playoff contender or is a fourth collapse on the horizon?
BF: There’s been a lot of heat in Philadelphia surrounding Andy Reid. Give me your perception of Reid. Do you think he’ll be the Eagles head coach next season?
UNYG: Even though Reid has not won a Super Bowl, in my opinion, he is one of the best coaches in the game. If the Eagles do implode this season, I do not believe owner Jeffery Lurie will dispatch him. Reid’s body of work has been excellent. For the most part, his teams are well prepared and competitive.
BF: Prince Amukamara seems like he’s very close to making his Giants debut. Do you think we’ll see him this week? If so, what kind of role might it be in?
UNYG: If Prince Amukamara plays against the Eagles, he will be playing in nickel or dime coverage. At UlimateNYG, we believe he will be a solid starter some day. We do not believe he is going to be a number one corner someday.
BF: What’s the biggest difference we can expect to see from the Giants team we saw earlier this year compared to now?
UNYG: Eli Manning has played well. Eli has always been a streaky quarterback. So far this season, he has been consistent. He is not turning the ball over and is making good decisions with the football.
BF: Whether its on offense or defense, what is one weakness the Giants have that the Eagles should try to expose?
UNYG: The Giants cannot run the football. Remember, Ahmad Bradshaw is out. The Eagles must shut down the Giants ground game. Make Eli throw the ball 40 to 50 times.
BF: Give me a score prediction.
UNYG: I do not have a good feeling about this game. The Eagles season is on the line. I believe this game is going to be close. I think this game will come down to special teams. If this is the case, I favor the Eagles. Eagles 23 – Giants 22.
8-1. That would be the Eagles record if games stopped after three quarters. Unfortunately, they don’t and if they did they wouldn’t call them quarters. That’s not the point though. The point is that the Eagles are 3-6 right now and can’t finish what they start.
You have to question why, but it can’t be put on any one concrete thing. I believe there are a number of factors that have led to these late game collapses. They lack leadership on the roster. The coaching has been less than stellar. Most of all, I think they believe that they’re better than they actually are.
Sure, Vince Young is the only one to come out and drop a public bomb with his “Dream Team” comment. However, I don’t think he’s the only one who thought they were built in that kind of fashion. I was blown away this offseason. They made move after move and it looked like it was never going to stop.
This team looks amazing on paper, but that doesn’t translate into wins. We’ve seen what they’re capable of when they click on all cylinders. Look at the Cowboys game. However, there has been no consistency.
They play pretty good for three quarters, but they don’t finish. They think they’re so good that they can just coast to the finish line. That can’t happen in the NFL.
Coaches at every level of every sport preach about playing a full four quarters, or whatever is relative to the sport. Is that point not being made by the Eagles coaching staff? Is it not soaking in for the players?
My guess is that it’s a combination of both. The coaches think too highly of the team and so do the players. They don’t have to preach something as simple as playing hard from beginning to the end.
It’s a shame because now this team is a laughing stock. They brought in a ton of high profile talent and have three lousy wins to show for it.
Do they have other issues? Sure they do, but we’ve seen that you can have all the talent in the world and it means nothing if you’re only going to show up for three quarters.
Each week I try to sit down with a blogger from the opposing team and take a closer look at the upcoming matchup for the week. This time around, I was lucky enough to speak with Scott Allen of RaisingZona.com about the upcoming game with the Cardinals.
Right off the bat I have to ask him about his thoughts on Kevin Kolb. I also ask him about how rookie Patrick Peterson has played so far this year, a player a lot of Eagles fans were very high on. After looking at some individual players, we look more at the matchup and we find out that Scott doesn’t have a whole lot of confidence in his Cardinals. In the end, his final score prediction reflects this.
BirdsFan: I have to ask you about Kevin Kolb. Were you supportive of the Cardinals making the move for him? What are your thoughts about Kolb now?
RaisingZona: Absolutely supportive and still am. He’s better than what we had last season and needs to be given time to get it right. I keep preaching patience. I’ve always said that it could take a full season or more before he gets completely comfortable here.
BF: I haven’t seen much of Patrick Peterson this season. How would you evaluate his play so far this season? Has he lived up to the hype?
RZ: I would say as a cornerback, he plays like a rookie most of the time. Gets burned a lot. He will improve. He got an interception this past week against the Rams. As for Patrick Peterson the punt returner, he’s better than advertised. So much speed, so much agility. Great vertical balance. Team’s had better learn to stop punting to him. Then again, teams still punt to Devin Hester too. Enough said.
BF: Win or loss, just about every single game the Cardinals have played has finished close. Keeping that in mind, do you think the Cardinals are better than their 2-6 record or do you believe it fits them pretty well?
RZ: They are a 2-6 team, but not a bad 2-6 team. They are a 2-6 team that could easily be 6-2, 7-1, or 0-8. They lost to Washington by 1 point after leading by 8 in the fourth quarter. Lost by 4 to the Giants 31-27 after leading by 10 with five minutes left in the game. Lost to the Seahawks by 3 after having a 10-3 lead. Lost to Baltimore by 3 after leading by 21. That’s a team that doesn’t know how to close it out. On the flip side, they could have easily lost both the games they won, so if just a couple of those losses swing the other way, I think people look at these Cards in a much different light, even with the same stats.
BF: Michael Vick has been very much up and down this season. What are your thoughts about Vick and where do you rank him among other quarterbacks in the NFL?
RZ: I thought Vick surprised me last season and thought maybe he had turned a corner and becoming a premier QB in the NFL. He is still a premier athlete, however I think he’s not as good as he was last year and not as bad as he was in Atlanta as far as quarterbacks go. He somewhere in between. I think I would rank him in the middle of the pack right now.
BF: On Sunday, where will the Cardinals have an advantage on offense? On defense?
RZ: Cards will have an advantage only if the Eagles get locked in their locker room and can’t come out to the field for the game. Seriously, I think the Cards really have no advantages. Despite the 3-5 record I still think the Eagles are the far superior team overall. With the exception of Larry Fitzgerald, I think the Eagles are better at every position, although their secondary isn’t as strong as I believed. Still better than Arizona’s right now.
BF: Where will the Eagles have an advantage on offense? On defense?
RZ: Everywhere. Quarterback, running back, their defensive line vs the Cards offensive line.
BF: What player could be a potential x-factor for the Cardinals on Sunday?
RZ: The punter, Dave Zastudil. Maybe the Cards can play a game of field position? That strategy might work for about a quarter.
BF: Give me a score prediction.
RZ: Eagles 37 Cards 14