There hasn’t been much to praise the Eagles for lately, but if their aim yesterday was to lose in a way that perfectly captures and summarizes their season, then someone needs to give those guys a pat on the back because that’s exactly what they did.
And now we’ve come to this, a 1-4 record for a team that many believed would be in the NFC Championship game, never mind the playoffs. And while the questions before may had been concerning whether their talent could mesh well enough to win the title, the real question now must surely be, can this team even finish above .500?
Week five summed up everything that’s wrong with this Eagles team, the Bills-Eagles game was a true case study for the failings and under achievement of Andy Reid’s football team.
There were blind side hits on the quarterback, poor tackling, bad clock management, and even worse run defense. And for good measure, we had a four-interception day from Michael Vick complete with Jason Avant, who ironically had a career day, losing two catches, one that resulted in an INT and another for a fumble.
Perhaps such a summary of yesterday’s events at Orchard Park may paint the picture of a team that just had terrible luck and a bad day at the office against the Bills, but do not be misguided. During great stretches of the game, it just looked that the Eagles were being plain out-coached as Buffalo often came up with the sneaks, screens, and shovels that always made it look like they were a step ahead of Philly.
Yet with all that, with all the problems outlined just now, the Eagles were within a touchdown and the fourth quarter, perhaps the very least an output of 489 yards on offense should get you. But with the Eagles needing the 
ball, and the Bills “going for it” on 4th down, Juqua Parker jumped offsides and the rest is history. What a way to end a game, right? A mental error that personifies the problem with a team that has been questioned all week about whether or not they had the mental strength to turn around their season.
Sadly, on the evidence of yesterday’s game, it looks as though the answer to that question may be a resounding no.
While the jury may still be out on the Eagles for some fans, the verdict, for this journalist, is already in. As talented as they might be, as much potential as they may have to turn their current situation into a comeback story, this Eagles team just may be one of the worst mixes of talent in the NFL right now, comprised of ingredients that at the moment just do not go well together.
Their glaring weaknesses (O-line, second level defending, linebackers, safeties) overshadow their strengths, and the coaching staff does not compensate for that fact well enough.
In the NFL there are seldom easy games, and at 1-4 the Eagles have a LOT of ground to make up. Time is not on their side, and quite frankly, the coaching is not either. So as hard is it may be to swallow, as of now, the Philadelphia Eagles have officially become fools’ gold, a sad reality, but the reality nonetheless.
The Eagles are severely deficient in assessing and executing football fundamentals from the talent evaluators, those who draft and pick up free agents, the coaches, the players.
The plan that they put together prior to the season has reared it’s ugly head. They are a bunch of strangers trying to be a team and failing miserably to date.
Andy Reid. That’s pretty much all one needs to say. He built this house of cards and he runs it. He decided to hire Castillo out of his usual blind loyalty to his assistants. Castillo wasn’t even a top O line coach, so how could he make that transition. He continues to take responsibility and maybe that’s the biggest problem. His players play with no fire and no heart. How about holding your players accountable. Sitting up there at the podium week after week and taking responsibility does not make your football team better. It does not pull them together because he has their backs. It enables them. He put together some good players and filled key positions but ignored the leadership factor. Trent Cole and Assante Samuels may have been the best players on their defense but they aren’t leaders. Q Mikell and Stewart Bradley were not great football players but they were leaders on this team and he chose to let them both walk. Bad move. He brings in Ronnie Brown and Steve Smith and then he doesn’t even use them for the things they are good at or even much at all. Pointless signings. Money that could have been spent on LBs or a safety. The blame for the failure that this season has become rests squarely with Andy Reid.
1 steamboat…2 steamboats….3 steamboats…4 steamboats…5 steamboats…..
fools gold? we’re more like zimbabwe dollars
“Their glaring weaknesses (O-line, second level defending, linebackers, safeties) overshadow their strengths, and the coaching staff does not compensate for that fact well enough.”
Another article that mentions everyone but the QB who had another solid 4 int day. But hey…can’t criticize the chosen one.
On year…8 tds, 7 ints and 7 fumbles. Putting the ball on the turf or into the arms of defenders at almost double the rate of scores but not a problem….not the problem at all…..
RTB, Zimbabwean $$$!!! Classically, hilarious! More like wooden nickels!
I agree G-man,
I was hesitant from the get go about jumping on the Eagles Bandwagon for this 2011 Squad and stated so numerous time back during Summer Camp..
I was critical of their play during the Pre-Season, where I know there is little game planning, but I just didn’t see a sence of urgency from a lot of players or from the Coaching Staff and the way the lockout went with short prep time, I felt these Pre-Seasons games this year should have been taken a little more serious for continuity and confidence purposes and especially with all the new Players and Coaches the Eagles were trying to mold into a team than in seasons past and I just sensed that many Eagle Players and Coaches were going thru the motion.. I’ve stated for a few years now than Coach AR and his philosophy will not win Playoff games or Championships and he is really clueless when it comes to the Defensive side of the ball where he had JJ handle it for him when he was coaching.. Now that AR has to also worry about the Defense, he’s been an utter failure at it.. for 2 Seasons, he had McDermott trying his best, but without any real talent at key Positions, and now he has Castillo with some Talent, but Castillo doesn’t know what to do with it…
Coach AR needs to go, plain and simple..
What would everyone say if Kolb was still the QB and the Eagles started 1-4 and played in a similar fashion…
Please be fair guys. Vick’s picks are mostly the result of tipped balls by our own receivers (and sometimes the opposition) or direct hits on M. Vick while in the pocket while in process of throwing the football. In fact Vicks perserverance through all the adversity (hits -some late, and injuries),has been one of the few positive aspects of the past five games. In fact he’s about the only thing the Eagles have going. If the O-line does it job and keepsthe QB clean his numbers would be a lot better and the Eagles would be at least 2-3 or 3-2right now inspite of all their other difficiences
I didn’t get to see much of the Buffalo game, but of what I did see I couldn’t help but to sit there and wonder how the Eagles could have passed on both Nick Barnett and Shawn Merrimen in the off season based on the fact that they knew, within the organization, that they were getting rid of all of the veteran LBs?
Paul…if Kolb was here he would have thrown twice as many interceptions and would have been knocked out for the rest of the season by now.
To Butch..
Both Merriman & Barnett were both coming off knee injuries. but both look very good this season and are rejuventated playing with a young team that’s on the rise… Did you see how Rookie LB Kelvin SHeppard (#55) played for the Bills He made more plays as a rotational player than this entire Eagle LB Corp have in 5 games so far..
About Kolb, you are probably right, Kolb has not impressed me at all and is not a #1 Starting NFL QB Caliver player and the Eagles were fortunate to get DCR and a 2nd Round pick for him.. Though DCR will leave via Free-Angecy after this season and the EAgles will trade that 2nd Round pick to the Cowboys for 1 4th Rounder and 1 6th Rounder in return..