Michael Vick Will Not Improve From Last Season
I’m not a fan of Michael Vick’s game, and I never have been. The Eagles (and Vick himself) spent the off-season telling everyone that Vick understood he needed to play a much smarter brand of football in order to keep himself healthy and cut down on his high turnover rate from 2011.
The idea behind this thought process was that Vick would benefit from finally having a full off-season to work with the coaching staff and correct his various flaws. But the off-season has come and gone, and even though we’ve only seen a limited sample of the quarterback in training camp and the preseason, he’s given more reason for doubt, and provided no evidence that there have been significant changes in his approach to the game.
Vick’s mentality is to be as aggressive as possible, and never give up on a play. That means that instead of throwing the ball away, or protecting himself from unnecessary contact, he’s going to make reckless decisions that will provide opposing defenses with turnover opportunities, and leave himself open to crushing hits.
Vick’s physical talent and potential will always be through the roof, but he’ll always be his own worst enemy because he’ll never be a smart player. I think his play in the preseason spoke volumes about just how little he’s changed and developed since 2011. If the former Falcon wasn’t willing to throw the ball away, slide instead of dive on runs, and take his aggressiveness down a notch in meaningless preseason games, why should anyone believe that he’ll be any different in the regular season?
A player over 30-years old just isn’t going to be coached out of bad habits that have been with him for his whole career.
King Dunlap Will Be Just Fine At Left Tackle
Not many people trust Dunlap at left tackle, but I’m going to give the King a vote of confidence. While the fifth-year tackle hasn’t enjoyed an overwhelming amount of success in his career, I think he’s made great strides since the 2009 preseason when he looked like a turnstile against Colts’ star pass rusher Dwight Freeney.
Dunlap has had a good amount of time to learn and develop with this team. When Howard Mudd arrived as the team’s offensive line coach, he purged the team of all of their previous backups in favor of new players that fit his attack style. Solid players like Jamaal Jackson were sent to the bench. Players who had been serviceable starters like Winston Justice, Max Jean-Gilles, Mike McGlynn, and Nick Cole were all phased out of the offensive line picture by the end of 2011 training camp. But Dunlap survived, and proved that he could play both tackle and guard for Mudd.
The Eagles didn’t plan on Dunlap being their starter. They wanted Demetress Bell to be the guy, but things just haven’t worked out for the former Buffalo Bill. But though he wasn’t Plan A, I think the team is confident in Dunlap, and they believe he’s earned an opportunity to show what he can do after developing and improving for several years. I believe he’ll start the entire season at left tackle, and that he’ll do a good job.
Everyone Gets A Shot At The WILL
Weakside linebacker is going to be a revolving door for most of the season. Steady Akeem Jordan gets the nod to start the season, but his job security is on a week-to-week basis. The veteran has had several opportunities to start during his six years with the Eagles, but he’s never been anything special. He certainly isn’t a liability, but it won’t be long before the team will be tempted to give opportunities to other players on the roster in hopes of getting more out of the position.
Jamar Chaney was supposed to be Brian Rolle’s competition, but injury has prevented the third-year linebacker from making a serious run at the job. He’s shown some flashes in the past, and may thrive more in a position where he can be free to focus more on attacking the ball. He’ll need to get healthy first, and impress the coaches in practice.
Rolle may also get another crack at the job, but he’s going to have to handle his demotion well and keep working hard. He was the lone bright spot of the 2011 linebackers, and has shown that he can make plays on the field, but something went wrong for him during this preseason that caused him to regress.
Casey Matthews may even get some consideration to start again. Juan Castillo has been a big fan of Matthews since he arrived on the team last year, and if the second-year player shows some serious signs of growth, the coaches would love to give him another opportunity to prove himself.
The Eagles Will Not Make The Playoffs
I don’t see this season ending with much of a different result than 2011. While the 2012 team is improved, the team’s key issues from 2011 (unreliable quarterback play and an overwhelmed defensive coordinator) remain and will cost the Eagles once again.
Last year this team didn’t respond well to adversity, and couldn’t stand up to the tougher teams on their schedule. This year they’ve got 10 games against teams that were .500 or better in 2011, and also have a game against one of the teams on the rise in the Carolina Panthers. There aren’t a lot of layups on this schedule, and given this team’s recent track record against quality opponents, I just can’t see them winning 10 or 11 games like so many other analysts seem to think.
I have the Giants winning the division, which means that the Eagles would have to make the playoffs as a Wild Card. The NFC is a deep conference, and Philadelphia would need to finish with a better record than the Bears, Lions, Falcons, Panthers, and Cowboys to earn one of the two Wild Card seeds. I think it’s a very tall order for a team that hasn’t proven it can sustain a high level of play and thrive against quality competition.
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I agree with most of the article, but I also think that Vick will be on a short leash (sorry) if he demonstrates that he can’t eliminate the mistakes from last year. I think the Eagles will struggle defensively on 3rd down. They’ll have a ton of sacks like last year, but will have trouble getting off the field on 3rd down because teams will gash them with running plays, screens and short passes.
I’m predicting 9-7, out of the playoffs again, and regime change for next season.
Here is my prediction:
Eagles are 5-4 going into week 10 then Vick goes down, Foles comes in and finishes strong and gets the Eagles into the playoffs at 10-6 but they lose a wild one in the playoffs as the defense doesn’t hold up…..Reid comes back as coach, Vick is shown the door and Foles is the new guy in town
This article is on point!
By the way…Juan Castillo really likes Matthews speaks volumes because both of them stink like a rotten corpse.
Keeping players like Matthews and Jarrett tells me this coaching staff still can’t let go of their losing ways.
Thomas showed in preseason he was a better Safety than Jarrett..and Rau caused a fumble and made plays in the run game. There’s players that made plays in the preseason that the Eagles let walk while keeping known bums and I’m for one is tired of it.
They did the same thing to Babin the first go around and drafted bum ass Graham.
They did the same thing cutting Landri only to keep bum ass Trevor Laws.
Why?
Can some one tell me why Riley Cooper is still on the team yet Gilyard was cut?
We drafted Riley as a red zone threat only to see him get out jumped and outplayed in the red zone…yet Edward heaves up a prayer to the end zone and Gilyard adjusts to make a TD in the End Zone.
We need a player like that who makes the QB looks good…not a bum ass who can’t get separation.
There’s little margin for error in the NFL ..and this keeping who have proven nothing needs to stop if the Eagles expect a different outcome.
Juan Castillo is still the defensive Coordinator
7-9
Dunlap has back problems.I’d doubt he can hold up for 16 games
Its been awhile hanging with you guys, now I know why. I am done with the philly loser mentality, no hope-ism. The Call it like I seers, I’ve seen guys like you in the military your the one that tells the guy with a gut wound that he is going to die, and make the nervous guy go AWOL. I am going back to the koolaid drinkers stand where the script is balanced, and commentoers have some dame hope. Later gents.
Yep, i keep trying to make a post, but it dropped me. Basically its been a while since I ran with you, now I know why. Who can stand the constant philly loser mentality? Damn you wear a brother out. I feel you guys pain but it is now stop no freaking hope around here. I am going back to the koolaid drinkers stand get some real balanced professional insight, going to hangout with Lawler and PE.com and regain my sense of balance.
You guys are never happy even when they make moves you love you wiggle your way back to some point that rakes you so you can be disappointed. You my friend is the guy in war who tells the troop with a gut wound that he is going to die, instead of “Hang in there Buddy”. Yep not doing it anymore!
lol @ monolith
theres a diference between negatively and reality…if you wanna go live in lala land and pretend nothings wrong, go ahead and you can look just as foolish as vince “dream team” young and mike “this is a dynasty” vick.
I used to think the season hinges on Vick’s play, but even if he does all the things he must the problem goes back to that unbelievably bone headed decision to bring in these high profile position coaches on defense, then make your o line coach their leader, in the pantheon of the most imbecile decisions ever made in sports, this is right up there, and the eagles will pay the price this season, no playoffs
So, we agree.
way to go Negadelphia fans. I do feel the season can go either way but i am going to jump on the winning the division train. i think the defense is going to lead the way. this team is just too deep to lose. 12-4 record including 5-1 in the divison.
Paulman’s Predictions for 2012 Season
Game 1 Eagles Win 26-13 over the Browns (1-0)
Game 2 Eagles Win 27-26 over the Ravens (2-0) – GW FG by Henerey
Game 3 Eagles Win 30-20 over the Cardinals (3-0)
Game 4 Giants Win 30-26 over the Eagles (3-1)
Game 5 Steelers Win 26-20 over the Eagles (3-2) Vick gets injured
Game 6 Eagles Win 31-27 over the Lions in a wild one (4-2 into Bye Week)
Game 7 Eagles Win 33-24 over the Falcons in Vick’s return (5-2)
Game 8 Saints Win 34-30 over teh Eagles in another wild game (5-3)
Game 9 Eagles Win 26-20 over the Cowboys (6-3)
Game 10 Eagles Win 23-13 over the Redskins (7-3)
Game 11 Eagles Win 28-24 over the Panthers (8-3)
Game 12 Cowboys Win 30-26 over the Eagles (8-4) Vick gets re-injured
Game 13 Eagles Win 26-16 over the TB Bucs (9-4) Foles plays
Game 14 Eagles Win 26-23 over the Bengals (10-4) Foles plays
Game 15 Eagles Win 24-20 over the Redskins (11-4) Vick returns
Game 16 Giants Win 27-21 over the Eagles (11-5)
Eagles finish with tie with Giants at 11-5 but are the Wild-Card team since losing head to head Season series to the Giants who end up with better NFC East division record
Eagles host the Seahawks in 1st Round of PLayoffs and unfortuantely lay an egg and lose to the Seahwaks 26-16 as Vick commits 4 Turnovers in the Game.. After the Game, Lurie sells the Eagles to Actor Brad Pitt who moves Team to Los Angeles, Coach Ar resigns to take the San Diego Chargers job and takes entire Staff with him.. Eagles play 2 Lame-duck Seasons in Philly as the Lod angeles Stadium is built in front and 1/3 Capacity crowds.. The new HC brought in is former Temple Coach Al Golden to lead the Franchise
I think its hilarious that we fans are so conditioned to dissapointment that your all being pessimistic with the hopes that you’ll be wrong. Its a good approach actually.
MARK MY WORDS GUYS…WE’LL GO UNDEFEATED LIKE WE DID IN THE PRESEASON AND BE THE FIRST TEAM IN NFL HISTORY TO WIN THE SUPERBOWL UNDEFEATED!!!!!!!! EAGLES BABY!!!!!!!!!
Paulman, no way we get swept by the Giants this year, defies conventional wisdom and recent history. I’m on board with the rest of your predictions but we win the division. Actually i think we win that Pittsburgh game though, they have a weak o line and their d line is not the d line of old.
^^^ BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA ^^^
I agree that Vick is inconsistent. I think the defense will be good but Vick will cause alot of turnovers with his erratic play.
They finish 9-7 possibly 10-6.
Reid resigns after the season and Bowles becomes coach.
Patriots win the Super Bowl over Falcons.
Raiders sign former Eagle CB J Hanson making many Eagles that have been n released to sign with another Team so far… (OG Vandervelde, OT DJ Jones, OLB K Clayton, TE Brackett, CB Hanson ) and word is that QB Kafka,WR Gilyard, DT A Dixon and even CB Lindley are all in talks with other Teams and could be added to an NFL Roster this week..
I think former Eagle Draft Pick OG Brandon Washington was picked up also by another Team…
I think they wil lregreat letting Brackett and DJ Jones go.. I though DJ Jones played much better than OT D Bell and Draft Pick D Kelly and would have been the best back-up OT behind Herremans nad Dunlap.. Eagles are in big torouble at OT if Herremans or Dunlap get injured in my opinion.. Demetress Bell is a complete bust and reminds me of when they signed and hyped up Stacy Andrews a few years back who looked lost from Day 1 and never imprevoved, in fact I think Bell looked worse in his final 2 Preaseason games then he did earlier on.. His Confidence, his Technique and focus seem to be out the window… Eagles should have cut the chord with Bell and kept DJ Jones as their 3rd OT option in case of injury to allow Draft Pick Kelly to mature and develop..
This is godo year to get both the Steelers and Ravens who I don’t believe are as strong as some of their Recent Teams.. Another plus is getting the Lions,Falcons,Panthers and Bengals all at home for these Teams have really struggled when going onthe road..
When you think about it, EAgles Road Games (outside of NFC Trips)
are Cleveland,Arizona,Tampa Bay, New Orleans & Pittsburgh> It’s imperative the Eagles go at least 3-2 in these 5 Road Games and protect their home turf and they should be a Playoff Team.. I belive the schedule even though they are facing quality teams and playoff teams from a year ago favors them pretty well.. The last 3 Weeks have 2 Home games and Road game to Meadowlands so their travel is not bad at all
They do and should Start out 4-2 by the BYE week
11-5
The defensive line will carry the team and the offense will go from decent to stellar week to week, but that will be enough for the team to be fairly dominant. Holding over Matthews and Jarret when neither of them can hope to even dream about pushing a starter out of his spot is deplorable when there were players that could potentially push starters that were released.
Falcons… Atra1781.. HAve you checked their Defense out.. Not very impressive, still no pass rush, LB Corp is average and their Safety play is average at best..
Juan Castillo is the defensive coordinator y’all.
check out this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk3aO4IDJgI
No playoffs will be fine by me. The end of the Andy Reid era would be worth a celebration.
And so we agree.
Mono – too funny man –
Don Winslow – where you writing to us from today – Georgia or Virginia? I used to live near Arlington too – Ballston area.. hated all the Redskin fans!
12-4 – why – the defense – bear with me hear – in the last 8 games, the eagles have won all 8 – I realize the ‘they don;t count, they don;t matter, they were meaningless crown will pile in here) they have in 6 of those games only allowed one TD, and have given up an avergae of 13 points in the last 8 games.. the team has more talent at DL, LB, and CB and believe it on not, the safeties are actually better then at the start of last year, and this was a team that ended up ranked in the top 10 in many categories last year – Bowles was a great pick up.
Also – special teams will be better – especially the return games.. been disappointed so far in April – but I think he has the talent now to do well..
Offense – should be ‘interesting’ but even with all the issues last year – they set franchise records in yardage – now, just cut down on turnovers…
Songs – can;t let a post go without calling you a fuckin idiot –
just keep bitching you whiney fuck – Cooper is on the teams becuase he is a special teams stud.. you are the only idiot that doesn;t see that and is hung up on the whole ‘red zone’ thing – for my money – give the ball to mccoy – I guess now that Kafka and Chad hall are gone you will still repeat your stupid mantra of ‘keeping known bums’
by all accounts Graham is kicking ass – Allen looks good, and Edwards had a greta pre-season – but your are the resident broken watch – 1440 stupid comments, and like abroken watch – right for two
then again – I guess we could just watch the season – so officially, when do the games ‘count’ when are we allowed to start appreciating the good parts of the team?
Navy? When we drafted Riley Cooper, was it because he was projected as a good special teams player, or a big body receiver that would help us in the red zone?
Did you see any highlights touting him as special teams stand out?
So, what in the hell are you talking about?
He’s ass and couldn’t carry bum ass Chad Hall’s jock.
Gilyard should have that spot.
By the way…..The Pats put up 457 total yards against “genius” Castillo’s defense last year buddy…..
I’ll use the owner’s word’s to describe those bogus stats your touting.
Fool’s gold.
Songs – who fucking cares how, why or where they drafted Cooper – really – you are the only idiot that harps on it – you and you alone – every other person with a clue about football understands that when a player is drafted they blow all kinds of smoke and sunshine up the players ass and then reality sets in… again – who fucking cares – his job is to be a bad ass special teams player – hand the ball to McCoy and use the newspaper clippings from when Cooper was drafted (just like Foles was drafted to be the #3 and a project and Kelce was drafted to be a project, and Edwards was signed for an extra arm) and use it to wipe your motuh or your ass cause shit falls out of both …]
as for Brady putting up 457 – how many teams did he do that to last year – genius? And wasn;t last year um…. last year.. course – your the idiot that wants to sign Winslow… dude – when you step in the dog shit, and its on your shoe, wipe it off with a towel or hose it off, don;t lick it – you are one stupid fuck..
Brother, I’m with you…we’re just wading in the water until Reid is the hell outta here.
See, I’m a realist.
I use to be a die hard thick and thin until I seen the pattern here..Same Ol s#!t
Wasting time outs..creating weak spots, keeping players that would be practice squaders on good teams on the roster…I’,m freaking tired.
so now I point out the obvious so fans can stay level headed and realize this team will lose when it matters under Reid.
Now, the Browns?
You can put 3 months morgage on the Eagles and coast through the winter with the cash.
we’re good for beating up on bums..
That’s what I do now..
I bet on the Eagles against doormats and take the points with competitive teams against the Eagles knowing Reis usually losses to good teams and if he don’t lose ..the score is so close you can win with points given.
As a Eagles fan I’ve learned the patterns and make out like a bandit every year even though I know going in the team will not win a Superbowl.
Juan Castillo is the defensive Coordinator so look for the Eagles to lose games in the 4th quarter.
And if Juan works real hard there’s a good chance by the end of the season the defense begin to gel and win the last 4 meaningless games.
my final prediction 7-9
well asshat – I think I read the eagles are playing what? 10 teams that had winning records lastyear plus the up and coming panthers so…
why don;t you whine, snivel and MAKE EXCUSES for why you are such a sorry sad sack – and really – a whiney pussy like you should never. ever refer to anyone else carrying jocks, cause the only time you ever put one on you put it on over you mouth –
I am a betting man songs – you agree – the eagles win more then 9 games – you get from 0-9 wins – I get from 10-16 – loser goes home, never agin posts on GCOBB – deal? come on bitch – put up or shut up – should be an easy bet for a whiney bithc like you – you have already made your sorry sad excuses for how and why the eagles will beat Cleveland, and all your excuses why poor precious can’t be a fan…. really – I just enjoy the hell out of the fact that every statement the eagles make, you call ‘a ready made excuse’ and then you sit there and make just as many if not more excuses…
so what do you say asshat – time to put you out of your miserable misery..
10 wins you go – forever – we got a bet??
bet
No one needs Jordan to be anything more than the steady player he is. That is, if DeMeco Ryans is 75% or more of what he was prior to his injury, and if Kendricks is anywhere near as good as he has looked this preseason.
King Dunlap is fine but not going to give you the run blocking on the 2nd level that we got from Peters, and that’s going to cost McCoy some yards.
And I think the biggest issue with Vick is that he is almost always looking for a big play instead of taking a smaller play that’s available more quickly. It’s like a home run hitter that always swings for the fences.
Teams have adjusted to this but he hasn’t adjusted to the adjustment.
From what I am seeing on here, there is a great deal of undervaluing what the Eagles really have and overvaluing the rest of the league. The predictions in this article are based on some facts, but the reality is we really don’t have a clue what this team will be until after the first quarter of the season.
I’m going with 10-6 based on what I think this team is. I do see the potential for them to be pretty dominant in all three phases, but the turnovers and red zone issues on offense must be eliminated and the defense must be able to get off the field on 3rd downs. Absent that, it’ll be 2011 all over again.
Its being reported the Eagles are 3rd in the league with 20.2 million left in cap space this season. I wonder why Lurie didnt insist on getting the best FA safety money could buy or signed the best OLB in FA. I mean I understand managing the cap but if your constantly 20 million under the cap every year whats the point? I mean couldnt they have brought in 1-2 FA studs and still been 5-10 million under the cap. Because honestly I dont need to sign every one of my young players do I. If Maclin would walk there are 10 Maclins out theeeir I could sign when the time comes. Its not like I am dismantling a SB team.
Make or break year for Maclin. This is a very important year for him. For a nuber 1 pick to avg about 60 catches and 800 yards a year in a passing league is unacceptable. I understand he was sick last summer but still in a passing league he must be better. Maclin has gotten a free pass for years. Take off the green colored glasses. There are 30 plus other recievers every year in the NFL that but up better numbers. We need a #1. Desean is what he is and is locked up. If Maclin doesnt give me a monster year its time to bring in a big stud to play opposite of Maclin. Could you imagine if we would of traded for a B Marshall to play opposite Desean? Noway Im signing Maclin during the season. This is his last shot for a long term deal from us would be my approach.
hahah the eagles wont make the playoffs… they had a bad year last year jesus christ.. to predict them to not make the playoffs is total lunacy.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it 400 times more… the whole “They will not be good thing” is just a cheap cop out for putting yourself in a win win situation. If by chance they make the playoffs and get deep, the eagles are in the playoffs, and if they suck you look “smart” for saying it before the season.
grow balls and look at basics, just basics. They have a high powered offense that can put up a lot of points from all different areas. They have an insanely deep and talented defensive line. They have one of the better young linebackers in the game, and maybe the best 1-2 tandem of corner backs.
Say what you want about anything else, say that castillo sucks, say reid sucks, say anything. What I mentioned alone puts them in the playoffs to start, and lines them up with damn near any other team in the NFC, if not the NFL.
The packers and patriots had 2 of the absolute worst defenses in the league last year, they were terrible. Do you think those people are sitting home saying “well the pats will maybe win 9 games, and the packers would be happy with 10”. No, they arent.
what other teams are there? the niners can’t score, the saints are bound to have problems, the ravens defense is getting old, the steelers wont be the same, the jets blow, the giants got lucky… who honestly is that much better ? I think an up and coming team this year will be the seahawks, but they arent nearly as good as the eagles.
get your stupid heads out of your asses and just watch the damn games, enjoy the season, and blow me when the eagles are bencing starters week 16 and make the playoffs
Maclin has had to toil under a final year McNabb who was well into his decline, and a Mike Vick who only completed 233 and 253 passes with the Birds. (He was 21st in the league last year)
Hard to catch 80, when there aren’t 8- catches to go around.
Top Qbs in the league complete 150+ more passes than Vick….put Maclin on NE and he’ll look like a superstar.
Nice one Zoltek.
Mention the LBs, mention the DL, mention the cornerbacks….
Then gloss over the giant elephant in the room with a blanket “high powered offence” statement, ignoring that the birds are bottom tier in the league at the most important position.
lmao @ zoltex
wow you are beyond delusional. you know where this team gets its garbage hihg powered offesnse myth label from? from running up the score on the worst teams in the league. but when real teams come to play, this offense looks much worse…for you to predict the eagles resting their starters in week 16 is total lunacy. rest assured you’ll be looking and feeling damn foolish for buying into the nonsense that is the michal vick experience and the fatman and the “hard working” defensive coordinator…such a tool you are
11 to 12 wins easily in 2012
I think the Eagles WR is very suspect as a group and is going to have a hell of a time getting separation from Teams with Physical CB’s which Teams like the Browns,Ravens,Cardinals,Steelers,Giants,Cowboys,Bengals all have on their Teams… WHo is the big strong WR who can make the tough Catch.. D-Jax/Maclin/D Johnon scare anyone on a short field.. Avant can’t run away from LB’s and Cooper has potential but hasn’t proven he is a legitimate NFL WR to me… Maybe he steps up.. but If I am a Defense, I am right up in the Eagles WR faces adn push and hit them around early and often and make them worry about getting hit than catching the ball.. Is this Eagles WR Corp “tough enough” to go against the better Defenses and I am not sold on them as a WR Corp as being so..
Dag, I to would love to see Maclin step his game up this year like you..But your argument about him which I’ve heard many say on here and on the radio is bogus. No receiver will have stats like Calvin Johnson or Andre Johnson (who btw for being proclaimed one of the best Wrs in this prolific passing league has NEVER had double digit Tds in a season throughout his what 9yr career go figure) in this current offense…It just wont happen..too many options out there for an offense in which Reid likes to spread the ball around. The guys you see who catch 90 balls a year are basically all the offense has. What running game does Calvin have? what other Wrs does he have to take plays from him? And btw he also has a Qb who is capable of throwing 5000 yards in a season. Vick couldn’t touch those passing numbers.
Look I want Maclin to be better…But instead of basing my opinion solely on whether he catches 90 passes in this current offense, Im looking to see him improve his game in other ways. Like being a clutch player and catching a ball that hits you in the hands at the end of a ATL game on 4th down to keep the game alive. Or not fumbling the football at the end of a half against the giants or like he did last year (was it 49ers game). I want to see the guy play tougher. I want him to be clutch because so far he has proven (this goes for prolly everybody as well) he isis not.
Zoltec, I also agree with Vinnie here. You want to talk BASICS? we looked like the worst team in the league when it came to pure football fundamentals. Couldn’t even tackle for shit. I put that on the coaches and the players. Hopefully Ryans and Kendrick (who i stated right after the draft was my favorite pick, even over Cox) can help that. But please don’t base your argument for the defense being good this year on basics..lets have players who can show they can get off blocks and tackle first.
I could never look at the schedule with Vick as our Qb, and say with a straight face we will win 11-12 games. Its not lunacy at all man. You just cant do that with a QB who is so injury prone and cant even make it through a series in a preseason game. Maybe the football gods will cut us a break this year and let Vick stay healthy all year..but i’ll stick with reality over miracles
If your Team Offense is Top #10 ,
Does it matter where your QB is ranked “I”ndividually ?
The eagles should be fine this year.
They need to simplify the offense. We know teams are blitzing him coming from the left side. Why not a slant route from Maclin, and send either Mccoy or celek into the flat until they stop blitzing him from that side. Make the other team pay for showing their hand. Other teams seem to always do it to the Eagles.
A couple of other items that people are overlooking.
1 – The Eagles are still Rebuilding.
I don’t know if its the love for Vick, or listening to the media hype about this being a SB team, but it isn’t. Its a team ithat is still going through a re-building process begun when braintrust decided McNabb and the rest of the SB running crew (West,Dawk, etc) were old. This takes a few years and it isn’t finished yet. This rebuilding process will continue through next year with the addition of a new LT and the implementation of Foles at QB. The process is very similar to the one Reid went through 1999-2001. In fact, the ability to do it and maintain a relaticely competitive team is a teswtament to Reid. (who I still don’t like as a game day coach, but as a team builder….$$)The Eagles’ are building to run through 2013 – 2020. The Eagles have the 2nd youngest team in the NFL this season (second only to the Rams). This does not bode well for this year’s playoff success.
2 – Evidentce of the team’s inexperience comes through when we look at the Eagles’ against good teams last year. In 2011 Eagles were 6-4 against Miami, NYJ, Buffalo, Wsh, Dallas, STL, Sea and Arizona. Not exactly a murderers row. And 3 of those losses came in the “tougher” matchups in that group (at Dallas, at Buffalo, at Seattle). Against Good teams, the Eagles’ were a paltry 1-5. (against Atl, SF, Chic, NE, with the annual split against NYG).
This does not bode well, at all, for a team that has to play Baltimore, Det, Atl, and then on the road vs Pitt and New Orleans, to go with always difficult NFC east matchups vs NYG and even Dallas.
II do not think this very young squad is quite ready for that.
3 – Vick. ‘Nuff said.
9-7, but improving as a team. Foles with 6 starts this year (2 through injury, then taking over week 11 or 12)
Another obstacle – the Giants “free” wins due to the sched
Ever since the NFL started putting the SB champs on the stupid opening Thursday game (2004), the defending champs have gone undefeated (8-0). I see no reason why this trend won’t continue.
To ass to that, the same team then gets a mini-bye week t prepare for the following week. No suprise that the same teams are 5-3 in week 2.
Seeing the Giants will have 11 days to get ready to host the Bucs in week 2, I don’t think its ridiculous to think the G-men will start 2-0.
These 2 “free” wins for the Giants are somewhat mitigated by the fact that the Eagles get to host a Thursday game this year, so they get one freebie of their own.
Eagles are rebuilding?, tell that to Lurie, who has publicly stated that a Reid rebuilding record of 8-8 will warrant his firing, yes, finally, out with Reid, his dumb ass overrated quarterback, his step son defensive coordinator, his pathetic lies to the media, fans, get out, get the hell out, Andy Reid for once, for all, get the hell out
I don’t think anything has to be told to Lurie, he can see what is in front of him
And what is in front of him is a team that has only 4 players (Desean, Herremans, Celek on O, and Cole on D) who were on the team 4 years ago.
This team has been completely overhauled over the last 3 yuears. It is now the 2nd youngest team in the league.
I know Lurie said there will be massive changes if 8-8, but I’m not sure about that.
There will be a change at the QB position, but not sure about Reid.
@Vinnie, here you go again…because of your personal feelings toward Vick you are not telling the whole story!
You Said:
“Maclin has had to toil under a final year McNabb who was well into his decline, and a Mike Vick who only completed 233 and 253 passes with the Birds. (He was 21st in the league last year)
Hard to catch 80, when there aren’t 8- catches to go around.
Then you said:
Top Qbs in the league complete 150+ more passes than Vick….put Maclin on NE and he’ll look like a superstar.
Ummm, Vick missed 3 games do to injury…so did you account for the attempts of Kafka and Young last season…No, you didnt…Also how about the games in which Vick left early due to injury?
Could this be the reason why Vick completions and attempts are less than those “top QB’s” in the league? I’m pretty sure it is…
How about giving the whole story next time