• March 29, 2024

Improvement In The Red Zone Is Lone Bright Spot In Offensive Performance

There should be no celebrating by the Eagles offense after that 26-10 win over the Miami Dolphins. Yes they did put the ball into the end zone when they had their opportunities but neither the running game nor the passing game functioned smoothly. They can’t feel confident about their ability to move the football against a good defense.

You can’t overemphasize the importance of putting points on the board when you get the chance, but this offense must improve if the Birds are going to run the table in their remaining three games.

Birds quarterback Michael Vick seemed to be erratic and out of sync with his receivers.   He never got in a rhythm and missed the DeSean Jackson a couple of times on curl routes.  He also missed other throws and didn’t seem to be reading the Dolphin coverages very well.

Yesterday’s performance was the worst of the season for the Eagles offensive line.  Jason Peters gave up a couple of sacks to “Old Man” Jason Taylor with Michael Vick’s inability to keep his footing contributed to the sacks.   Todd Herremans was run over by Cameron Wake on one pass rush.

Rookie center Jason Kelce was beaten on numerous pass rushes up the middle.  Left guard Evan Mathis was also beaten a time or two and overpowered.

They also did a poor job of blocking for running back LeSean McCoy.  The Birds halfback ran for 38 yards on 27 carries.  Nearly every time he touched the football, there were two and three defenders in the backfield.  Still McCoy must learn something from this game. He can’t take risk which cause him to lose yardage.

I will give the offense credit for putting the ball into the end zone three times.  McCoy scored twice on runs behind Peters and Herremans on the left side.  The Birds move Herremans to tight end on the goalline and put him right next to Peters, then they run behind them.

They ended a nice march on the first McCoy score and took advantage of a Kurt Coleman interception on the second one.

On the third touchdown by the Birds, DeSean Jackson ran a beautiful route and Vick put the ball where it needed to be for score.

The Eagles offense finished the day with only 238 yards of total offense, which is normally close to what they get in a half.

GCOBB

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scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
December 12, 2011 1:26 pm

No coincidence that when they got down there, they gave the ball to Shady. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how successful you are running the ball, it just matters that you do. It’s something about running the ball that seems to give a mental edge over a team. Not to mention the physical toll it takes when their Dline is constantly getting thrown around. I mean we can look at our team and see what it does when teams just keeping pounding the ball.

paulman
paulman
December 12, 2011 1:45 pm

Vick’s performance in his 1st game back after being out for the last month.
A “C” Grade which is not good enough to beat the good teams but I will give him the benefit of the doubt playing and missing the last month
Let’s see how he does versus the very active Defense of the Jets next week..
I will watch hom closely over these final few games to evaluate his performance and his prospects for leading the Eagles back to Playoff Contention in 2012 ..

ozzman
ozzman
December 12, 2011 1:53 pm

Reids offense always gets squashed against good defenses.

paulman
paulman
December 12, 2011 2:17 pm

Runor down at NovaCare is that Eagles Extend Coach AR thru the 2017 Season
Owner Jeff Lurie doesn’t like change and doesn’t want the Pressure of searching and selecting a New HC and Vision of the Franchise.. The Lurie’s are going to ride this train for as long as it lasts…

paulman
paulman
December 12, 2011 2:17 pm

Should have been “Rumor” down at NovaCare is ..

ozzman
ozzman
December 12, 2011 2:34 pm

Where did you hear that Paulman?

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
December 12, 2011 3:18 pm

Paulman is just fooling around. And Paulman, when are you bring back “Paul Mancini”?

granbeagle
granbeagle
December 12, 2011 5:06 pm

Steve Smith to IR is my favorite of the day. Howie I’m available for half what you paid him AND can foul things up even more.
I don’t care what this franchise is worth on paper, if I’m Jeff Lurie I am starting to get a bit peeved at on who and how much my coin is being spent.
No one has actually gotten One Billion Dollars for one of these franchises yet have they?

daggolden
daggolden
December 12, 2011 5:14 pm

I know one thing we may not show up against the Jets but Dallas is in trouble when we show up in Dallas. On another note has anyone watched David Akers this year. I swear when he was here he would stuggle to reach the end zone on kickoffs and barley could reach on 50 yard field goals. All of the sudden he kicks everything out of the end zone and has multiple looong range plus 50 yard field goals. How is that? hmmmm

granbeagle
granbeagle
December 12, 2011 5:18 pm

Henery the human stick is not too inspiring next to Akers for sure>

paulman
paulman
December 12, 2011 5:22 pm

I have to protect my kids Scorpion, they get enough grief from the community about me being their Father as it is… ha ha
Only kidding about Coach AR receiving an extension, I do believe that 2012 will finally be his final Season for many of the reasons I have stated before
(AR’s Contract status,t he fact his SAtff are all signed 2012 and already is the highest paid Coaching Staff in the NFL, they will want to find out by next Season if Vick is really the Franchise QB so there will be lots of major decisions coming down the pike, but not until after 2012.. I am afraid this Off-Season will be more like the usual Eagle Off-Seasons in the past and much more quiet that last years overspending and aquiring lots of new players…
Probably much more of a “Tweak and Tinker” Off-Season with the Roster instead of wholesale Scheme changes, Coaching changed and new Players as they will concentrate on the Draft

Dolphins Fired their HC T Sporano this afternoon as well the Chiefs..

DCar
DCar
December 15, 2011 4:30 am

IT WAS ONE FREAKING GAME! GOD ALMIGHTY! It was the Dolphins, with a Pop-Warner offense in there. Give me a break. They are still the worst red zone team in the NFL.

schiller
schiller
December 15, 2011 5:49 am

D, the hemorrhoids are that bad eh?

DCar
DCar
December 16, 2011 2:28 am

Schill, you ought to know. You’re Reid’s roids! BWAHAHAHA!!! Sorry I had too. LOL!!!