Other than the McNabb injury, I think we have to be pretty happy about the week 1 demolition of the Carolina Panthers.¬† Based on what I had seen of the Eagles in training camp and preseason, I didn’t think they’d win this game.
But I did occasionally remind myself that Carolina had been awful up to this point and was without their top defensive run stuffer.¬† Still, this was a team that won 12 games last year despite stinking up the joint in the playoffs.¬† Well, I don’t see anyway that these Panthers win 12 games again.¬† Brutal.¬† So, let’s look at the game:
What I liked…
-McDermott did a great job with the defense after the initial drive.  They gave up the early TD and it seemed like it could be a long day for the Eagles D.  But McDermott put the clamps down and shut them down for the rest of the day.
-DeSean Jackson is incredibly smooth and a joy to watch on punt returns.¬† He returns punts incredibly well and it’s not just speed.¬† His patience and vision are superb.¬† There are tons of guys that can run fast, but it’s an entirely different skill set to identify and hit holes.¬† He’s brilliant.
-Back to the defense: Five sacks, five picks, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown.  Including the special teams TD, they scored an insane amount of fantasy points.  The genius that I am, I wanted no parts of them this season in fantasy. 
-I liked Akeem Jordan.¬† I’m not his biggest fan and I always thought he needed to make more big plays.¬† A sack and an INT will do it.¬† Well done.
-Sheldon Brown continues to impress.¬† This is the best I’ve ever seen him play, and I’m referring to his preseason as well.¬† If he continues to make these big plays, the Eagles might just have to pay the man.
-Brian Westbrook made me feel a little better about his health.¬† He didn’t look exactly like the old Brian, but that will probably never happen.¬† But I’ll settle for 90% of old Brian.
-Nine carries for 46 yards for Shady McCoy.¬† Nothing wrong with that.¬† He looks like he’ll be just fine if something happens to Westbrook.
-Donovan looked good although his yardage numbers don’t show it.¬† Tough to throw for big yards though when you start drives at the opponents’ 20.¬† His legs looked great and he looked loose and mobile.¬† I had just gotten done texting someone that it’s so much better when he runs…..then he ran for the TD….and got hurt.¬† I need to shut my mouth.
-I was impressed with the defensive line.¬† I wasn’t sure if they would be able to get pressure and they did a great job of it.
-I loved how Victor Abiamiri took his time to grab the fumble before running it in.  How many times have we seen guys get so excited in that situation that they overrun the ball or drop kick it through the back of the end zone?  Anyone remember the 2001 opener when Rams kick returner Aveion Cason fumbled the kick and Quinton Caver thoroughly blew the recovery?  Yeah, I do. 
…And not so much:
-This section will seem like nitpicking, and it technically is when you destroy someone 38-10.
-Kevin Curtis, catch the ball.¬† It’s fine in a blowout, but when it’s the 4th quarter of a 20-17 game against the Giants, that is unacceptable.¬† Just sayin’.¬†
-Five interceptions and I’m complaining about the few they dropped?¬† Again, fine in a blowout, but there are times when Asante just has to catch that ball.
-I used to stick up for Jake Delhomme, but I can’t anymore.¬† Based on Sunday’s game and his performance in last year’s playoff loss to the Cardinals, he is just brutal.¬† I give the Eagles credit for many of those picks, but Delhomme’s fingerprints were all over most of them.¬† Delhomme is just not that good.
-That said, neither are the Panthers.¬† I couldn’t tell if the Eagles were playing really well or if the Panthers are just that bad.¬† Steve Smith might want to ask for a trade because I have no idea who will get him the ball this year.¬† The defense shouldn’t be doing any bragging either.
-Kevin Kolb doesn’t do it for me.¬† I’ll probably get more detailed on that as we watch him play more and I have more specific examples to illustrate my ire for his play.
-Jason Peters, you are joking with those false starts, right?  You have to be kidding me.  
We’ll have to see what happens next week.¬† I don’t see any way that Donovan is playing with that cracked rib.¬† They will just have to weather the storm until he can get back.¬† If they pick off Brees five times, that should help.¬† But I don’t see that happening.¬†
