The Eagles defense led the way today, but we can’t ignore the fact that they were playing against a rookie quarterback, Brandon Weeden in the first game of his career. Still it was an impressive effort for a defense that was getting little help from their offense today.
I remember when I got the news that the Birds had traded for former Pro Bowl middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans. I thought they had finally found them a middle linebacker to replace Jeremiah Trotter, then after camp started, I started to lose some of my enthusiasm about the acquisition.
I’ve told you numerous times that Ryans didn’t show much during the preseason games. I did see him make a few plays in one of the preseason games, so I wasn’t willing or ready to call him a disappointment, just yet. Still the main reason I didn’t make a judgment on him before the season started was my memories of great NFL players I had played with and against, who I had saw sleepwalk through the training camp and preseason, then dominate during the regular season.
Ryans showed us something different today compared to what we have been getting at camp and in the preseason games. The former Houston Texan and the Eagles defensive front held Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson to 39 yards on 19 carries. The middle linebacker had five tackles and two of those were on third downs to get the Eagles defense off the field.
You could see how he was anticipating plays. Ryans seemed to know when the Browns were going to run the football. He was quick and aggressive when Cleveland handed the ball to Richardson.
I hadn’t seen him run through the backside of a running play and catch the ball carrier from behind. He did it today a number of times. Richardson didn’t have a chance when Ryans pounced on him a split-second after he got the handoff in the backfield.
Number 59 showed the explosiveness I was waiting to see. You’ve got to be able to spring out of your stance at the snap of the ball and run down a ball carrier or in an instant change directions from going one way to going another in pursuit of a receiver.
Today Ryans showed us he can still do that. He also made me think of former Eagles middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, when I saw him blast a couple of the offensive guards when they tried to come out and block him. He attacked them the way you’re supposed to if you don’t want to get blocked.
Imagine what the score would have been without penalties and turnovers. Next week is a true test for this D. Weeden was warm up.
Good effort by D this week not trying to be negative.
There wont be many comments on this one G haha. Too many Eagles fans rush to judgement. Paul among many others crying and making these silly comments about D.R before he can even play down of football. “Hes average” “Hes not a top 15 LB” “Hes washed up” among other stupid comments. Do you guys even care about the games or are you just making stupid comments to get attention on here? Now the latest comments are “they played the browns, they suck, they have no offense”. Haha what jokes. Stop making comments for shock value and actually show that you have SOME football sense..You al gotta eat your words. D.R showed why hes a top 5 MLB in this league. Stayed on the field all 3 downs and made tackles in the backfield and all over the place. Hes jus gettng started.
GCobb, I was surprised you were so hard on D.R during the preseason. You know how these decorated veterans are during that period. They save there bodies/energy for the long haul so they pace themselves. Its a long vigorous season. So yes G, Im calling you out too haha you spoke way too soon about this guy. You didnt give him a chance to play a down during the reg season..
I congratulate Ryans for a great game as well as many players on Defense played well, but before anyone annoints Ryans as Top 5 MLB , lets see how he and the Defense do against a team that actually has some Offensive Weapons.. Browns have no True #1 Wr, No TE’s and their Starting QB & RB were playing in their First Games so as a Defense, not a whole lot to be worried about when facing the Browns scheme wise..
come on p-man, ryans is an all pro, who dosen’t have to prove anything to anybody. HE SHOWED YOU WHO HE IS, as far as the browns not having any players, ALL U CAN DO IS PLAY WHO’S ON YOUR SCHEDULE ! thats all. a win is a win. I don’t hear anyone slamming Drew Brees, who threw 2 pics IN A LOSS .
The secondary came together brilliantly. I still think Nate Allen is a little soft but but any of the other guys can have a star quality game on any given week. That Coleman hit to the face was pretty vicious and he didnt even come out of the game. Vick showed rust but will be better next week.. I think vick should run more. i also think there are to many pass plays . The offense should be simplified.
Paul– the Modell family made a special request that NO mention of him be done at the game. He is the most despised man in Cleveland! You crow when one of your 10,000 predictions (usually the obvious ones) comes true and hide when the other 9,999 are assanine!
before anyone totally blames Modell, the city of cleveland deserves some blame for not getting a new staduim for the browns, the old stadium was a terrible place. the field was a disaster, we once played a game there and our up and coming safety Ben Smith blew out his knee ( backpeddleing in a zone defense , no one was with in 5 yds of him ) and was never the same player after that BELIEVE ME, BEN SMITH WAS JUST AS GOOD AS BRIAN DAWKINS,
I haven’t seen middle linebacker play on this level in philly since Seth Joyner. Ryans showed his “mettle” when Coleman got his helmet knocked off by a ferocious hit to the face. Ryans came right back with a nasty hit of his own on the very next play. Although the offenses looked pretty bad, in the future we will come realize that this was a classic defensive struggle.
seth was a great LB no doubt…only he played on the outside. B & E was the MLB on those great defenses and yes he was a greeat one!
I loved B&E as a middle LB he wasn’t big ( 230lbs ) but he played bigger than he was. Just a chance we played the browns, it was against the browns ( at the vet in 94 ) where byron’s leg snapped in half, ending his career
You have that correct HAC. Seth was outside and B Evans was the force in the middle. Carlos Emmons was also very good on the other side. Quite a group of linebackers.
Carlos Emmons never played with Seth & Evans! About a decade too late! I just love this site, when everyone thinks they know WTF they’re talking about. JEESH!!!
true that u gotta know your eagles history, the weak side backer who played back then was Todd Bell, ( till he broke his leg and was done ) Jesse Small, and then William Thomas, the best ever three LB’s together was Seth, Byron, and Willie T.
correction, after Bell broke his leg, former DE Al Harris played WLB for a season ( 1990, Buddy’s last ) then Small took over
Correct, mr1. At least someone knows their $#!T! LOL!!!
It is great to have him and the D play so well. They were against a rookie QB, but that is a solid O-line that couldn’t get anything going on the run.
emmons came after that era… Willie T was the third of that trio!
man that was the heart of buddy ball!
WillieT. was not part of Buddy ball, he was drafted by kotite the yr ( 91) after buddy got fired. Willie T ‘s defensive coord was Bud Carson
HAC,
May the Ghost of Art Modell follow you around for the next 11 Years…
I guess you can’t still tell when I am serious or goofing around.. Geez already.
Brian Baldinger should be fired! he said ryans should have been cut after the pre season. this is suppose to be a respected analyst across the league and he was speaking like a overreacting fan. what an idoit.Dont get me wrong, i know it was the browns, but i havent seen a mlb in eagle green shoot a gap or run sideline to sideline like that in a long time
yes you have to go back to the early days of Trotter for an eagles MLB to have that kind of size and speed. one of Andy’s biggest personel mistake. not giving Trotter his money his first time here. when he came back, he had clearly lost a step
All-Pro from 3 YEars ago means nothing to me.. Him, Asmo, D-Jax, whoever..
You have to prove yourself as a player each and every year in order to remain a top player in the NFL.. Ryans had great game yesterday and I hope he keeps it up. but I am not jumping on anyone’s bandwagon until I see great performances against Real Offensive Teams with competitive skill players which the Browns realyl don’t have at this point..
p-man as we all know , all that matters is a player’s performance among his peers. I had no doubt’s concerning Ryans playin the run, but when I saw him in coverage making that sure tackle right before the 1st down marker. that spoke for itself ( his mobility is back ) all-pro can also be political ( a players rep ) example: Eric Allen ( who’s rep earned him all-pro ) some of his yrs were borderline
I remember Jame Cghaney’s 1st Start a couple years back, everyone in Philly went ga-ga because he make like 12-14 Tackles and was all over the field in that particular game.. Give me consistent players week in and week out and hopefuly Ryans will be this type of player, I hope so, because if he can play at a high-level consistently, then this Eagles Defense is that much better with him manning the Middle which has been a black hole for a few years now…
Who ??? never heard of that guy . Cghaney must be a figment of your imagination
Paul, who the F^#@ is Jame Cghaney’s?!?!?!? O_o
did you have a stroke while typing that? ROFL!!!!!
Funny thing about Eagle fans is when something goes well – its ‘meaningless’ when things go not so well.. has to be stressed, worried about, hyper-analyzed and blogged about..
nice game for Ryans..
@HAC….you are right, my memory failed me. Must be getting old.
The defense played well and Ryans looked like the player that all of his Houston teamates said he would be. Next week will be a much bigger test against a decent QB in Flacco and great runner in Rice. From the looks of our offense, we will need the defensive unit to be as strong as they looked against the Browns rookie QB.
“SWEET VICTORY”
So, why does it feel like we lost?
cause you are a little whining pussy – hey songs – case you missed it – the last 9 times the eagles have taken the field – at the end of the game – the eagles had more points then the other team – course you are too busy making ‘excuses’ as to why a win really isn’t a win.. 9 more songs – nine more
oh and for you Eagle history buffs – no eagle linebacker combo will ever top Frank Lemaster, Bill Bergey and John Bunting!
Got that right, Navy! Especially with these guys ignorance, towards bigger, more talented LB’s. While I like DR & love Kendricks, I still don’t think the current construction, & configuration of this LB corp, is correct. Kendricks should be the WILL, & we don’t have a natural SAM. But that’s nor here, nor there. It hasn’t hurt us yet, so I won’t complain too much, because Kendricks is a stud, & DR seems to be his old self. We’ll see?
1 – The Eagles’ defence probably looked better than they actually are because they were playing one of the 2 most inept offences in the league.(1st team in 44 years to start a rookie QB and RB at the same time)
2 – The Eagles offence probably looked better than they are because they were also playing an average D (ranked 5h in pts allowed last year, but not really the same team anymore with at least 5 starters from last year missing due to suspension or injury and perhaps their best player available but with his suspension hanging over his head)
Good times.
Good knowledge there Mr 1 and navy great eagles players you mentioned there listen up you young bucks learn something
speaking of KENDRICKS….. he pitched another great game last night!
Heyo Cigar. The Phils find themselves 5 games out of the wildcard because everyone in front of them lost last night except the Dodgers who didn’t play. Those ATL games coming up may actually mean something. Still a longshot but pretty funny.