• March 28, 2024

Without Vick, Offense Sputters Without Downfield Passing

The Redskins defense came into their game against the Eagles planning on playing a two-deep zone defense.  They didn’t want to play man-to-man and turn their backs to Michael Vick.

The Birds offense started out slowly with what seemed to be some conservative play-calling.  They got things going a bit when Vick took off on a scramble, but the play was called back and the Birds number one quarterback was injured in the game.

DeSean Jackson said he told Vick before the play in which he was injured, to stop taking those big hits, but Vick saw the goalline on the play in which he went down and couldn’t resist going for it.

Kevin Kolb came in and started taking check downs to LeSean McCoy.  The Redskins gave it to him, especially in the second half and he feasted on the check downs.

Kolb looked better than he did against the Packers, but he didn’t look sure of himself.    With the game on the line, he threw some passes that hit some Skins defenders’ hands and could have been picked off.

I’ll give McCoy credit, he makes people miss and has great vision.  He has been the most consistent offensive football player on the roster in the first four games.

If it happened one game, or two games or three games, that’s one thing, but McCoy has made plays in every game the Birds have played so far this season.  The running back was the Eagles number one offensive weapon, but that fumble was a crusher.  He’s got to hang onto the football because teams are going to try to pull it out of his hands.

Wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin should have taken off their uniforms when Vick went down because they were not a factor after the injury.  They contributed together a total of 4 catches for 34 yards.

When Kolb entered the game, Jackson and Maclin  were taken out of the game totally.

The Birds did score a touchdown, but the offense was nothing to write home about.

Kolb must get the ball downfield if this offense is going to click the way it was working under Vick.

He got the chance to get the ball to Jackson on a deep crossing route, but over threw him.  After the game, Kolb said he’s got to make that play.

Jason Avant got his hands on the hail mary pass, but couldn’t hold onto it.  The replay shows it was in his hands, but the guy who is supposed to have the best hands on the football team couldn’t pull it in.

After Avant said he thought somebody had gotten their hands in there to get the ball out, but looking at the video it seemed that he just let it slip through his fingers.

Jason Peters was in the locker room defending his play and all the costly penalties, he’s been inflicting on the football team.  He replied to a question about his penalties, by saying they had won before despite getting penalties.  Peters went even more with the defensive stance by telling a reporter that “ain’t nobody perfect”.

GCOBB

Read Previous

This Was Not A Good One For The Eagles Defense

Read Next

It’s Going To Be A Tough Week Ahead For Andy Reid

0 0 votes
Article Rating
34 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
runtheball09
runtheball09
October 4, 2010 2:54 am

Get rid of Jason Peters NOW!!!

Talongrip
Talongrip
October 4, 2010 3:27 am

Just blow this team up and start over without Andy Reid. Did anyone check out the post game show on eagles.com?? Tra Thomas remember him ?? said they need bigger run stop type DT’s and he went on to say Kevin Kolb has got to learn to throw the football down the field to attack the defense and not just take the check downs!! if he can see this and I can see this why cant AR see this??? the eagles cannot stop power running football teams with their current philosophy C’MON MAN!!!! how long do we as eagles fans have to put up with crap?? put a bigger, more physical football team on the field and run the Damn football more than 25 times a game. if I was an opposing team and had the eagles on my schedule I would run the ball down their throats. the current eagles are too small. look what happened to Mikell he got ran over. your SS should never get run over unless the RB has Jacobs size 6’4″ 260. FIRE ANDY REID NOW and take Kevin Kolb with him!!!! What a Joke.

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
October 4, 2010 4:31 am

Now, everyone can see how Kolb has gotten stats. Against New Orleans, the score was 31-13, with 3 minutes left in the game. For all intents and purposes, the game was over, after which time, Kolb completed some passes against their zone defense.

In the Washington game, trailing and playing against the worst defense in the league, Kolb completed some passes against a zone.

When he took the head coaching job, Shanahan fired the entire defensive coaching staff, hired Jim Haslett, and the Redskins transformed from one of the best defensive teams to one of the worst, overnight. Any other defensive coordinator would have blitzed Kolb like crazy. Not Haslett, he thought it wise to play a zone. I guarantee the 49ers will bring the house.

Reid’s many weaknesses are exposed when he doesn’t have a super-human quarterback to carry his team.

I haven’t seen the quick reads or the yards after the catch Kolb was supposed to produce. I haven’t even seen flashes. People talk about Peyton Manning’s first year and his 28 picks. What they don’t mention are his 26 TDs. I’ve heard Kolb called a gunslinger. That’s a joke. He checked down 99.9% of the time, and the few times he tried to complete a pass wide receiver, he threw into coverage.

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
October 4, 2010 4:33 am

Checkout the Media Spin:

Kevin Kolb Outplays Donovan McNabb in Return to No. 1 Quarterback Role
10/03/2010 9:45 PM ET By David Elfin

PHILADELPHIA — It was supposed to be the Donovan McNabb vs. Michael Vick showdown at Lincoln Financial Field this afternoon. But it was Kevin Kolb, lately the forgotten man in the Philadelphia-Washington quarterback triangle, who had a more productive day than his much more accomplished and experienced fellow passers.

Pressed into duty when Vick was sidelined with rib and chest injuries with 26 seconds left in the first quarter, Kolb — whose potential prompted Eagles coach Andy Reid to trade 10-year starter McNabb to the Redskins in April — wound up with better numbers than Vick and McNabb combined.

Vick completed 5-of-7 passes for 49 yards and ran three times for 17 yards. McNabb was 8-for-19 for 125 yards, a touchdown and an interception while running five times for 39 yards. Kolb completed 22-of-35 passes for 201 yards, a touchdown and an interception while running twice for 21 yards.

But while Vick left the Linc in pain and McNabb left smiling after winning his ballyhooed return, 17-12, Kolb left in limbo yet again after rallying the Eagles from a 14-0 deficit to within a bobbled Hail Mary of victory.

More coverage: Vick X-Rays Reportedly Negative | Quick Hits

“You always want to play,” said Kolb, who lost his job at halftime of the opener against Green Bay because of a concussion and Vick’s brilliant play during the ensuing 10 quarters. “Mike’s been playing outstanding. I didn’t want to force anything (today). I didn’t want to try to be overly aggressive, learn from the mistakes I made last time and take what the defense gave me.”

Which Kolb didn’t do against the Packers when he completed just 5-of-10 passes for 24 yards.

“He did some good things,” Reid said of Kolb’s performance against the Redskins. “There were some throws that he would probably like to have back, but he put us in a position where we had a chance to win the game. We just didn’t get it done.”

Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson had measured praise for Kolb, but noted, “Vick’s able to do so much more in the scramble game, his arm strength, just keeping defenses off guard.”

As for who plays next week at winless San Francisco, it’s way too early know.

“I’m a competitor,” said Kolb, who managed a slight smile when asked if it would be fair for Vick to lose the job because of injury. “I want to play. It’s vital for our team and our season to win next week. I hope I get the opportunity. We’ll see what happens with Mike’s injury. I prepare like the starter every single week.

“There’s (been) some difficult times (since I was benched) but if you’re mentally strong and you understand the situation, you gotta just keep pressing on. I’ve been a backup long enough to know you’re just one play away.”

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
October 4, 2010 4:37 am

Big Daddy Graham said that DeSean Jackson probably had a bad day. How many times did Aikman show Jackson running downfield, wide open? Kolb simply cannot play.

What is with all this love for Kolb?

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
October 4, 2010 4:47 am

Andy ran the ball and did he everything he could to protect Kolb, but Kolb still couldn’t get it done against the worst defense in the NFL. Could he have beaten West Catholic School for Blind Girls? I have my doubts.

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
October 4, 2010 4:52 am

The decade-long debate over whether Andy Reid or Donovan McNabb was more responsible for the consistent string of clock-management gaffes that highlighted their tenure together with the Eagles has been settled.

With Reid and McNabb on opposite sides for yesterday’s Eagles game against the Washington Redskins, we were going to find out whether the coach or his former quarterback was more responsible for clocks always running a bit faster than the Eagles were thinking.
It was Andy. It was always Andy.

McNabb did burn two timeouts less than 2 minutes into the third quarter, but the most damning time-management miscue in the Eagles’ 17-12 loss belonged to Reid.

It was definitive.

How could Reid let happen what happened at the end of the first half yesterday?

How does a coach get so disjointed that his team ends up getting a delay-of-game penalty coming out of a timeout because he can’t decide on a play?

Reid’s blunder turned a fourth-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line into a fourth-and-6. It was a change that might have cost the Eagles the game.

Nothing McNabb did could have trumped Reid not being able to come up with a play and get his team prepared to run it in what essentially amounted to 6 minutes of dead time.

If the Eagles score a touchdown, they are down by seven at the half. Instead, they settled for a field goal and trailed, 17-6.

“I take full responsibility, in particular, for what happened at the end of the first half,” Reid conceded, as if anyone else could have been at fault. “I thought the play initially started out as [fourth-and] inches, but after the review, the play we had for inches ended up being a yard.

“The clock was well into it when we were aware of that.”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Beijingjake
Beijingjake
October 4, 2010 6:13 am

Deer in headlights Kolb… man you would think that at 26, he would be able to see past the line of scrimmage and at least think about going downfield. Peters’ performance and comments are why guaranteed contracts are not desired by management…

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
October 4, 2010 6:53 am

Without Vick playing,
This Eagles Defense better play a whole lot better than it did today..
You cannot spot any team in the NFL with a 14/17 point lead and expect to win many games
4 main reasons they lost
#1)The Redskins were running right at them in the 1st half and the Eagles had no answer to stop it
(watch for the 49ers,Falcons,Bears,Cowboys, & Giants do the same thing, run between the tackles)
#2) The Time Out/Delay of Penalty at the Goal Line just before the half ended costing them 4 points
#3) The Fumble by McCoy at the 2 yard line when it looked like they were about to score a TD
#4) No Vick playing limiting the Eagles Big play capability

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
October 4, 2010 8:36 am

No. 1 Reason They Lost

Without Vick, they have no quarterback.

rcp1936
rcp1936
October 4, 2010 8:46 am

Yeah the video replay shows Jackson running free but that is NOT an overall view

I would like to see that and decide if he was really free or it was after Kolb was in the act of throwing to somebody else

I wait to see what Didinger and Jaws say after reviewing the film

They may confirm Aikman’s statement

Nothing wrong with moving the ball in short chunks if that is what the D is giving you

And Kolb did it for one TD and was moving again on the next to last series when another damn penalty stopped the momentum

rcp1936
rcp1936
October 4, 2010 8:50 am

Hey Drummer

Vick plays QB not defense

There are TWO parts to the game

14–0 right out of the chute

And relying on a QB’s running ability eventually results in what you saw especially when he is not the modern 6’3″ 6’4″ 235-240 pounder

Did you really think Vick running was the future of this season

rcp1936
rcp1936
October 4, 2010 8:53 am

Paul M

You forgot to add in the rally breaking Holding Calls

Like Vick’s run and Kolb was moving on the next to last series after getting one TD on those short chunk plays

phillywill
phillywill
October 4, 2010 9:10 am

rcp u love kolb ur annoying
u love a guy that stinks
the defense gave up 17 pts wippty doo
and the 1st 7 was easy because of the punt return to start the drive
kolb had 3 qtrs 9 pts on the worse d in the league
stop the excuses

phillywill
phillywill
October 4, 2010 9:13 am

the replays showed maclin running free jackson running free every1 running free this guys was still throwing check downs with 30 secs left
i never knew who schmitt was apparantly he’s our num 1 wr
at least get behind a dude who can play
why do u like kolb ? please tell me y? did u got to houston ? r u a relative ? i dont understand how u can be a fan

phillywill
phillywill
October 4, 2010 9:16 am

1td in 3 qtr’s on those short chunk plays disgusting we had num 1 scoring offense in the league coming in against the num 31 defense in the league
i cant wait to go the next kolb game so i can schmitt num 1 wideout in league now

Marcus
Marcus
October 4, 2010 9:47 am

I plan on starting Schmitt next week in a WR/RB slot on my fantasy league. He may have more catches than Maclin and Jackson combined.

rcp1936
rcp1936
October 4, 2010 10:08 am

Phillywill
I ain’t nobodys fan but just stating facts

Eagles were down 14-0 when Kolb comes in
McCoy fumbles away a TD series
Reid blows 4 points
And everybody jumps on Kolb
Peters holding stops momentum on the next to last series when they were moving the ball with those short chunks

And if you didn’t think Vick was bound to get hurt you were dreaming

Hell Kolb is going to get hurt again –notice he did scramble twice for over 20 yards

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
October 4, 2010 10:35 am

And people want to blame the offensive line coach? You can’t coach guys if they have an attitude like Peters. Period.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
October 4, 2010 10:55 am

I think everyone thought when Kolb was going to be the QB that this would turn into a “true” WCO. The fact is, this hasn’t been a true WCO since TO suited up for us. Andy likes explosive plays down the field. Our receivers a built to make plays down the field. You have to be able to do short passes too but at the end of the day this offense is built for making big plays. And if Kolb can’t do it, we are going to suck. He looks like Trent Dilfer out there except this isn’t the Ravens defense or running game.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
October 4, 2010 11:18 am

And please stop it with the “If Avant would have caught the pass”. We are not dealing in woulda coulda shouldas. If that’s the case, if Washington picks the ball of either one of the 2 chances that hit them right in the hands we aren’t even throwing a hail mary. I’m surprised Kolb didn’t check it down on that play.

navyeaglefan
navyeaglefan
October 4, 2010 11:56 am

Kolb did his job – he completed the high percentage passes – moved the ball down the field. The skins were playing soft – he took what they gave him. Had the team not been down by 11 points the entire second half the skins probaly would have had to come up and cover the short passes – they didn’t need to. in the woulda coulda shoulda – no fumble – add three – new game.

Butch007
Butch007
October 4, 2010 12:59 pm

When Peters came in and was nonchalant about the criticism of personally allowing his QB to get sacked 11 times while he was in Buffalo the previous season I thought there would be problems. The major problem is that the Eagles don’t have a anyone the could start at LT without punching a hole somewhere else in the starting O-Line.

Fortunately, Vick’s X-Rays came back negative.

If Avant hadn’t been such a clutch receiver in the very recent past I would certainly lambasting him right now, regardless of Kolb’s to be expected foibles there was an opportunity to win the game. The only thing I can say in that in real time watching it looked like an interception. Only after seeing the 32x slow motion version could I even tell the ball touched Avant’s hands. The only thing I can say is that Avant was surrounded by 3 Redskins players. My guess is that he never saw the ball and the 16th of a second that the ball touched his hands he thought it was a defender’s hand, arm etc. I question the decision to put the ball there and wonder whether there was somewhere else to put the ball where there wasn’t triple/quadruple coverage in the first place.

Stewart Bradley is not a miracle worker (fairly obvious).

Antonio Dixon should be starting, Darryl Tapp should be getting more playing time. Brandon Graham probably shouldn’t be starting and the Eagles need at least one more big DE. I still think Pannel Egboh could be had and could help the team on 1st and maybe 2nd downs.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
October 4, 2010 1:25 pm

navy, that’s all good and well except when your receivers are running wide open down the field. Their zone was not impossible to beat. Kolb was scared. He basically admitted it after the game where he said “I didn’t want to make any mistakes”. And that’s fine but don’t tell me when Jackson and Maclin are open downfield that it’s ok to keep checking down to your slow arse FB when you need to score now.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
October 4, 2010 1:26 pm

Dude is just scared because everything he throws over 15 yards, a defender get their hands on it.

navyeaglefan
navyeaglefan
October 4, 2010 1:43 pm

scorp – I agree – Kolb was playing safe (you can say scared) – he was not taking shots down the field – he was making the high percentage pass. I didn’t tell anybody anything – Kolb did his job as the back up QB – he came into the game – moved the team, made no turnovers….

Come on though Scorp – how can you dog Owen Schmitt – he made plays, he got firtst downs..

navyeaglefan
navyeaglefan
October 4, 2010 1:46 pm

One thing that irks me I dont hear/read about –

How much time was on the clock when the redskins got the ball back up by 5………. (that two point play sucked by the way)

Why can’t our D make a late game 3 and out.. I think think of two or three times last year when the O got the ball back with no timeouts and no time to try and mount a last scoring drive

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
October 4, 2010 5:00 pm

KOLB IS ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHO DECIDED THIS GUY WAS THE FUTURE OF THE EAGLES?

THAT GUY SHOULD NEVER EVALUATE ANOTHER QB EVER AGAIN….COACHING AND TALENT EVALUATING IS 2 DISTINCT ROLES.

We wasted a chance at 1st round talent for a bum that will be a journeyman in this league at best.

navyeaglefan
navyeaglefan
October 4, 2010 5:21 pm

Songs – this same never evaluate talent drafted McNabb to a chorus of boos – brought Vick in for a tryout – turned a 6th rd AJ Feeley into a 2nd rd draft pick –

RegalEagle
RegalEagle
October 4, 2010 5:28 pm

Kolb played like what he is a young QB that needs game reps to improve. Vick is obviously a better QB right now but that is expected of a guy with his experience. This team lost as a team and they almost pulled it out in the end.

If you had asked me in preseason would I rather win 10+ games with Vick or go 6 and 10 and find out about Kolb this year I would have said I will take 6-10. this is a rebuilding year and we all knew it but then we changed our minds?

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
October 4, 2010 6:21 pm

Oh I’m not dogging Schmitt. He did exactly what he was supposed to do. I just don’t want my FB to have a better receiving that than my pro bowl receiver or my 1st round draft pick. That’s all.

Monolith
Monolith
October 4, 2010 6:22 pm

RCP, your right brother, Navy I agree. Kolb was not stellar but he did what a backup is to do. If you like Kolb fine, if you hate him fine, the reason I like this site is for the diverse views, but we do have to be fair in how we call it. I saw a lot of funky ball paly on both sides of the ball, Kolb was not great, but he was not ass backwards either he was average, I think given time by the line he would have made better throws, still he had some that he layed out there for the defense to steal, but they didn’t so go figure.

Scorp i think your views are fair and on point, that is what i am talking about, something real, not hate analysis. Hey Songs Brother I feel ya, i am thinking along that line now also, maybe we could have had that big bad dirty “O” or “D” lineman.

Well whatever we are where we are and that is that, so strap yourselves in fellas, we go to war with the guns we have until the off season, so wipe away those tears, and start praying for some furtune.

As always LONG LIVE THE EAGLES, (no matter who is coaching)

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
October 4, 2010 10:29 pm

regal…..who the hell told you this was a rebuilding year? The Eagles told us in the offseason it’s not rebuilding, then made Vick the starter in an effort to compete this year…If they never said it …and they’re trying to win this year…where are you guys getting the idea that everyone knew this was a rebuilding year? You damn losers are saying rebuild to excuse a bum ass Kolb as QB. We are looking to win now…the organization said from the beginning they are looking to win without setback….who gave you the memo of rebuilding?

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
October 4, 2010 11:37 pm

“G” is their still a market for a Kolb trade? and if so, what you think we could get?

Let’s get rid of him before teams realize what we see.