After the Philadelphia Eagles celebrated the 50th Anniversary of their last NFL Championship, I think it’s safe to say this organization will go at least 51 years without a title.
The fact that the Eagles lost to the Green Bay Packers 27-20 in the season opener wasn’t that tough for me to swallow. It’s how they lost the game that irritated me.
On 4th and 1, calling a Michael Vick run play from the shotgun was about as foolish as it gets. What amplifies the stupidity of the call is the starting center and fullback both went down with injuries (more on that later). Plus, Brent Celek may have worked on his blocking but it’s not his strong point.
In addition to that one ridiculous play, here’s my take on the Eagles Week 1 performance.
- I previously advocated that Donovan McNabb be traded because it was obvious head coach Andy Reid wasn’t going anywhere. My confidence in Reid hasn’t increased though.
- This Eagles defense is going to be good. It’s unfortunate that they started to wear down before halftime. Holding Aaron Rodgers under 200 yards passing and forcing 2 interceptions was huge.
- I have to give credit when it’s due. Joselio Hanson had a pretty decent game.
- If you think Vick is going to be the Eagles’ starter any time soon, you’re only giving yourself a headache. Kolb was horrible today before his concussion, but he’s going to have to learn the hard way. This is going to be a long process with him.
- Both Kolb’s struggling under pressure and Vick’s ability to run was manifested by one common denominator: This offensive line is not good.
- This game would’ve been much worse if Ryan Grant didn’t hurt his ankle. He was just getting warmed up when he went down.
- There are four defensive players I’ve repeatedly said could be upgraded on (Mike Patterson, Quintin Mikell, Akeem Jordan, and Omar Gaither). I think today’s game showed why.
- It’s been said that Reid has been in ‘no nonsense’ mode. Could it be because he feels his job is on the line despite the contract extension? An eight win season is expected, but anything less that six warrants a coaching change.
- Allowing Kolb and Stewart Bradley back in the game was highly irresponsible.
- Jason Peters continues to prove to be a horrible trade acquisition and contract signing.
- It’s only week 1, but doe anyone wonder about the 2009 draft if the Eagles didn’t make any trades involving their first round picks? They could’ve had Michael Oher and Hakeem Nicks.
- The starting wide receiver numbers (DeSean Jackson: 4 rec/30 yards and Jeremy Maclin: 4 rec/38 yards) aren’t going to cut it.
- Why was Eldra Buckley on the field when he fumbled the ball? He’s not a fullback. What happened with Mike Bell?
- There has to be a way LeSean McCoy gets more touches.
- I’m not a fan of Antwan Barnes at all. I would’ve preferred rookie Daniel Te’o-Nesheim be activated.
- Healthy or unhealthy, the Eagles are atrocious in the penalty department. That said, the offensive pass interference on Celek was a bad call.
- Bobby April has his work cut out if he’s to show Philly he’s such a good special teams coordinator.
- Anyone who thinks the next two games (at Detroit Lions and at Jacksonville Jaguars) are automatic wins needs to rethink that assessment.
It was too good to be true that the Eagles entered this season with minimal health problems. A season can change in a blink of an eye. After three quarters, five starters are hurt.
Kolb and Bradley have their share of tests to perform to prove they can return to the field. Jamaal Jackson and Leonard Weaver are likely done for the season. While he heals his bruised knee, Peters needs to figure how to stop hurting his team with mental mistakes.
Patience, Eagles fans!! This long season may have just got longer.
I’m just relieved that no one can blame McNabb, the best QB to ever don an Eagles uniform.
Since McNabb isn’t around to blame, some people have begun to blame the opponent. How ridiculous is that? Kolb has stolen money just like the Andrews Sisters.
Actually, I’m enjoying the blame game. I’ve got no problem watching some die a slow painful death. Eventually, you’ll run out of excuses and admit this one fact:
McNabb won in spite of Reid.
My guess is that with all the publicity relative to head injuries, the league is going to look very close at the Kolb/Bradley situations… Jackson loss is gonna be a killer.
After Vick was picked up by the Eagles, I recall Kolb saying that he welcomed competition at QB (although he had already been anointed the starter).
I’ll bet he still welcomes competition, because he was getting popped yesterday – and left the game with headache.
They had an entire off-season and all of the pre-season and THAT was the offensive play that they came up with to start the game?
Songs & Phillwill should be pleased to know that much of what they talked about all summer came to pass in the FIRST HALF.
You always hear comments about Reid prefaced by, “if there is one thing he knows is quartrebacks, since he had so much success with Brett Farve and Donovan McNabb”…..well that is a bunch of sh**. If he had tried, he could not have put a new qb in a worse position to succeed. The offensive line was exposed last year as a major liability, did the guy even draft a young OL or pick up a free agent (not until after the rosters were set and they need a body to replace the 2nd Andrews). Back to Kolb….Reid then decides that it is a good idea to keep trying this rediculous wildcat, taking a young qb on and off of the field. They guy cannot even get into a rythum if he was capable.
The eagles will never win a superbowl with Andy Reid running the show. The funny thing is that now with Howie put in place as the Joe Banner yes-man, it has the possibility to go down-hill even faster.
I am sick.
greenfan…….amen. I feel your pain. I do believe that is just the beginning of a long few years. It might take an ownership change.
Wow, I’m surprised that nobody is jumping to conclusions after one game in which the horribly injury plauged eagles almost beat one of the best teams in the league.
Can everyone please give it up about McNabb? Did anyone watch the Redskins/Cowboys game? Yes, the Redskins won but it sure didn’t anything to do with McNabb. He had a 63.4 passer rating and no TDs. He looked like the McNabb we were used to here in Philly, throwing bad passes at his WR’s feet. Kolb looked like crap yesterday but it’s one freaking game against arguably the best team in the NFC. A lot of the blame needs to be on the o-line who forced Kolb and Vick to run for their lives.
schiller, yeah, you can try and say that many are jumping to conclusions after one bad game. That might be fair, but what about the last 3 regular season games? This team and coaching staff came out, and on their FIRST offensive play they had an illegal formation?? How does that happen? Don’t they script the first 15 plays?? This was the FIRST play of the season, you don’t think they would have practiced and practiced it….plus…THAT was the best hey could come up with??
Look, Reid has had success. Was his success due to him drafting a qb that was able to perform well over a decade, and maybe hid some hideous playcalling and game-management? Maybe, but like it or not this is all HIS (being Reid) doing. Personally I believe that Kolb can be a good quarterback, but it certainly did not show in how Reid put him out there.
Reid may have a “system” of how he does things, but sometimes it makes sense to take a look at what you have and adjust your system. Kolb should have played more in the pre-season, but Reid stuck to his script. He tried to avoid a controversy by naming Kolb the starter, but by jerking Vick in and out of the game, it does not allow the young qb to get his confidence and the confidence of his teamates rolling. This is caused by what the coach does, not the players.
So again schiller, maybe it is premature or maybe it is 12 years of watching a coach make the same mistakes over and over and never learn from them. All fans knew last year that it was doubtful that the team would enter this year with both Reid and McNabb. The FO, for reasons of their own, made the move to extend Reids contract. They have made their decision, and now we all have to live with it until his contract is up (because we all also know that they would never fire hm and have to pay two coaches at the same time).
Good stuff Haran,
This team is in worse shape than I thought, it’s going to be a long season…
Schiller, the game was over in the 3rd Period when the Packers let up both defensively and offensively, Rodgers stopped passing to open Finely and WR’s and they basicall ran the ball to eat some clock, on Defense they backed off of a press coverage and played a sorft cover 2 zone.. Did you notice that once they had C Woodson out of press coverage that D-Jax actually starting to make some plays.. The Packers eased up off the pedal, but it was good to see the Eagles at least battle to the end and make a game of it and make it exciting at least..
and at
Nice points greenfan.
Paulman, the game was not over in the third quarter, that is an absolutely pathetic statement. Greenbay may have let up and thought it was theirs, but if vick runs the ball in like he could have, its a tie game. Tie games don’t end in the third quarter so don’t give me that bs.
Yeah and the run game never goes out of style. We were doing pretty well against the packers offense until they decided to run the ball. I don’t care what anyone says, the run game never goes out of style. Good teams are able to run it when they want to.
i refuse to believe GB let up. with contracts incentives and the competitive nature of these athletes, no team lets up or pulls their foot of the gas. Do you think Rodgers wanted to throw another pick? Defenders get hurt when they dont play full speed, so the whole argument/statement that they let up is BS. Vick came in and played extremely well and was efficient when throwing the football and extending plays when he needed and credit is due for his effort yesterday. Vick was able to succeed bette rthan Kolb bc he has the ability to create plays with his feet and he does a damn good job of it. Kolb seemed to lock onto one receiver and follow him through his route completely ignoring his progressions. O-line struggled. We will get better it was game one, its along season. Clay Matthews is a beast, guy played out of his mind yesterday.
Really disappointed in the kick-off team, and special teams in general. I had believed that with the change in special teams coach that we would have had improved, but again we are seeing long returns and great field position putting more pressure on our defense. I know that it is only the first game, but if we are going to keep giving up big returns, it will be a long, long season.
honestly the only thing that really bothered me was that call on 4 and 1. How the HELL do you run up the middle when you have 2 injuries there. Spread the damn field and give vick an oportunity to make it with running or passing. DUMB. Thats reids bad in game ajustments.
BTC…Thank for putting out Mcnabb’s QB rating after his team beat the Cowgirls…Since you have the stats would you bless us with Kolb’s rating?
“Newsflash” kolb don’t have a concussion…He played the same way before he thought he was an athlete and got ran down by a 300 pound lineman.
BTC..will be waiting for that rating on Kolb.
“TIME’S YOURS”
schiller is an idiot. Don’t try to spin it like we lost because of injuries. We would have gotten blown out if Kolb would not have gotta hurt. Period. His injury was the best thing that happened yesterday. I was at the game and many fans left early because they figured the game was over. We if Vick doesn’t come in, we don’t score 20 points. So don’t use you lame spin when one of the injuries is a direct reason why we could have tied this game.
btc24, I’m not going to defend McNabb too much anymore since the season has began, but he’s in a new city, new team, new offense, new coach. So there will be some struggles there. And Kolb will have have struggles too but to this degree? Seriously? Don’t compare stats or situations.
dawkplex1221…not only did they run a qb sneak, but they ran a qb sneak out of a shotgun formation on 4th and 1.
Truthfully, Buddy Ryan did a better job of telling Randell to “go make some plays” compared with this group. QB sneak from the shotgun?? Sometime I think these guys should be coaching 10 year olds in the Bert Bell League.
I’m not trying to say Kolb played well; he certainly didn’t. At no point during my post did I try to say Kolb played well or even will play well for that matter. But to bring up McNabb as if he would have done any better is the dumbest thing that’s been posted all morning!!!. McNabb didn’t do squat against Dallas and Green Bay’s defense is far better than Dallas.
TIME’s YOURS SONGS…
PAULMAN…THAT’S BULLSH%T
They didn’t pull up in the 3rd Quarter….Vick escaped many rushes and made plays…they were agressive and if Kolb would have continued he would not have escaped those same pass rushes..Stop making excuse..
Kolb is a damn bum..This is what the philadelphia eagles fan deserves.
Don’t fire Reid!!!!!
He have won in the past.
Trade vick so he can win someplace else…
Philly need Reid, Kolb, Banner and Lurie…”THE GOLDEN STANDARD”
There will be mutany if Reid continue with Kolb….Bank on it!
It doesn’t matter who’s back there now. This OLins is gonna get someone killed soon. Horrible, just horrible. More penalty yards in the first half than offense?!? That’s pathetic. The Eagles played bad yesterday, really bad. Kolb looked like a deer in the headlights, the OLing did it’s best impression of a sive, and the playcalling…if you can call it that….wtf, was it Britt Reid calling the plays?
I’ll still be rooting for them come Sunday but they gotta get these simple things cleaned up and fast.
And Washington won in spit of McNabb, he didn’t look that great.
This week, it’s the Packers let up offensively and defensively. Okay, perhaps you’re right, Pman. We’ve got 15 more weeks and you only need 15 more excuses. I’ll help you out:
The sun was in our eyes.
The dog ate our homework.
It was too hot.
It was too cold.
Our receivers had too many drops.
Okay, now you only need 10 more excuses. No need to thank me.
Wellwell, once again, McNabb gets no credit. He made plays. Of course, he doesn’t have the weapons that Kolb has, but he won. He didn’t throw any INTs, while Kevin did his best to break a single-game record.
When will you understand that McNabb won in spite of Reid? McNabb suffered a lot of injuries because of Reid and he eventually became tentative. However, he was never as tentative as Kolb. Could Kolb throw 3 TDs on a broken ankle? Could he play through a sports hernia? Can Kolb even play with a headache? Can he play with the defense arriving in the backfield simultaneously with the ball and the defense knowing which plays are being run?
Vick used his elusiveness – just as McNabb did. Of course, Vick will eventually get killed, because Reid cannot run the ball and he can’t stop pass rushers with his predictable play calling.
Kolb’s rating was 56.2, slightly better than the 37 he had his previous outing. However, I’d lay a dollar to a donut had he not gone out with a headache, his QB rating would have been much lower.
At the end of the day, McNabb is 1-0 (with a weak offense) and Kolb is 0-1 (with more weapons than any other QB).
btc..what the hell are you looking at? Mcnabb would not have done better?
The Eagles would have won this game inn the 1st half if Mcnabb was behind center…Kolb makes the team worse.
Remember, we were told that the Eagles had all these picks to “wheel and deal’ for the draft? We were loaded..We were told Tapp was a great pick up in free agency?
Where was the big plays by the pick ups yesterday? Teo- inactive – Tapp – inactive.
Did they wheel and deal for a center knowing their top center was coming off of a major knee injury? No, we were told Nick Cole would be adequate with more reps…..When will the Eagles fans wake up?
this front office have masked their incompetence for years with the Rhodes defensive holdovers and the drafting of Mcnabb.
Now, we are starting to see what this organization is about… If Kolb was black he would be benched..period.
Kolb needs to get some hard mileage on him and that was it yesterday. Seeing Mike play like that should be all the motivation in the world for getting a W agaisnt Detroit.We need a W and thats all im thinking about. Kolb is the guy and it’s not going too change until he is just inept when he’s being given time and guys are open. 3-4 is a b!tch too block man. Cowboys showed that last night. Good for Don…he’e gone so who cares aboutwhat he woulda done and yack yack. The slant too theout was there on the outside.Can i get a tailback too run the 4th and 1 for a 1st?
Stew should be sat until the Skins.
Mcglynn needs too study.
I like what i saw from Maclin.
Is Jason Peters retarded.
Weaver showed me why we bleed green.
The Eagles can beat any team in the NFC East if they fix mental errors and execute.
GO Birds…beat Lions.
Paul, “Did you notice that once they had C Woodson out of press coverage that D-Jax actually starting to make some plays?”
Here’s what I noticed: Once Vick made some plays with his feet, it forced the corners and safeties to pay attention to the run, thereby opening up opportunities for other players.
What are you talking about??? Stop making excuses!!!!
it took songs 1 game to start the racial sh** again
btc24 i have to respectfully disagree with you. McNabb would have done better. I think scorpiodsu made a good point. McNabb didnt set the world on fire but he also didnt kill his team with far fewer weapons. I think he acquitted himself well considering new team, new coach, new scheme and no weapons versus the “Young Gunz” that everyone was crowing about in the offseason that Kolb had to work with in the first half. Dallas has a dynamic and imposing defense as does Green Bay so to say that McNabb doing better is the dumbest thing you ever heard is kind of an overstatement. Maybe you think McNabb would not have done better but its not the dumbest thing you ever heard. To everyone else I say if Kolb is healthy he deserves to start. Im not blind; I do see how much better they looked when Vick was in but if Kolb is truly the Eagles future then they HAVE to find out what he really is and what he can do. If he doesnt show improvement over the course of the season then you had better damned well find out NOW, this season so you can have a plan going into next year.
Erock:
Initially, Kolb had time. Protection was not a problem. It became a problem for Vick after Jackson was hurt.
If Kolb should have been picked off 3 times, how do you figure he’s the man?
You like what you saw from Maclin? What did you see?
Ok schill 1st off if vick starts the gm like he should have we win.2nd if he runs it in on the play u talkn bout we r still down 3 .3rd i dnt give a rats ass about injuries 1 of the injuries almost make us win the gm if kolb dnt get hurt we lose by 40. I cant believe i come on here n say injuries u sound like a gmen fan or cowgirl fan . We win if we dont run a fuckin qb sneak from the shotgun on 4th n a yard n a half. Especially when ur qb just ran for his life 3 previous plays n is tired evone i said is abum playd like 1. Almighty kolb bum ass ellis hobbs n bun ass eldra buckley . Did u c shady blow tha blk 1st qtr on 3rd down bwest as 3rd down rb makes that blk with ease .
Oh gosh…how silly to make this racial ALREADY!…Give it a rest Songs. You are like a chef who makes a great dish and then serves it on a trash can lid. You can make some good points and then obscure it with nonsense. I was following along with what you said then you spout that crap..you should have stopped at front office incompetence.
Erock u gotta love kolbs moxy lmao
0 TD passes during both the pre-season and regular season and he goes out with headache after half a game. Am I missing something?
Yards after the catch – what is that?
Reading the coverage quickly, thereby creating less pressure on the offensive line – huh?
Accuracy – The most accurate passes went to Green Bay.
IM starting to wonder if the way you stop Desean Jackson is with press coverage…Mike Jenkins of the Cowboys did it for two straight games to end last year and now Woodson took D Jack out of the game essentially. I hope his weaknesses dont get exposed (i.e press coverage, physical corners)..If so then the brain trust is going to have to come up with a way to get him free.
Troy, I agree that Kolb should start. We gave up far too much. He’s either got to prove himself to be either the next Aaron Rogers or Ginger Rogers.
Songs, you’re an idiot. Please keep that racial stuff off this board.
The way to stop Jackson is with a good pass rush. It doesn’t matter whether you get open, if the QB can’t get the ball to you.
Songs, I agree. I think we should try to keep the topic to football, exclusively.
troy, that’s exactly how you stop him. If you can get your hands on him, you’ll easily overpower him. The thing is not every DB can do that so for the ones that can they are successful against him. Here’s the other thing, without McNabb’s arm and ability to extend plays Jackson doesn’t have the time to get down field to fight off defenders. He will have a lot more downfield opportunities with Vick because of his elusiveness and arm. With Kolb it’s a different story. I been saying it for months, Kolb is the worst thing that could happen to Jackson and a new contract. Not because Kolb may be bad but because the type of QB his is right now. Jackson will regret the day he said the team is better off without McNabb. He’s definitely not. It’s easy to hit players in stride when they are wide open. No so much when you have to fight off pressure and still make a play down the field.
Who is making excuses Drummer/Scorpion
What I am saying is that the game was essentially over by the 3rd Period, and the Eagles just are not very good right now and will take a big hit with these inmjuries to Weaver/Jackson.
The final could have been worse if the Packers kept it pushed to the medal, but they eased up after leading by 17 pts so not to rub it in to Coach AR.. It was nice that Vick led them them to a couple of drives to get some confidence & some offensive rhythm going.. but don’t tell me that the EAgles almost beat them.. that’s ridiculous as
What did WR D-JAx/J Maclin do when the Packers were playing their normal “Press Coverage” instead of a soft cover 2 that they playined in the 4th period once they were up…
Also, back to the 4th & , IF anyone watches the replay LT Peters and LG Herremans actually made good enough blocks against the Packer Defenders for Vick to get the 1 yard but it was the failure of TE B Celek who failed to block LB Matthews JR and allowed him to get inside and undereath and stopped Vick for a loss on that play.. B Celek played a horrible game too, this Eagle is plain and simple, just not very good across the board.. Maybe McNabb did cover a lot of deficiencies..
But I will give Kolb and this offense the entire season to show that they are capable NFL players and have what it takes to get the Eagles to a Super Bowl..
Here we go with all the weapons crap the Eagels have and most observors probably have them ranked 3rd out of 4 just in the NFC East alone and about middle of the road in the NFC teams behind teams like Cowboys,GIants,Packers,Vikings,Saints,Falcons,49ers & CArdinals
I agree Kolb should start because we have to know. Unfortunately, that may come at the expense of having a real bad season. If the FO would have just come out and tell the truth that this is a year where they are only focused on developing Kolb rather than winning a SB, I would respect them more. Of course, I wouldn’t like it but I’d respect them for being honest. But with all the talk of this team still going to be good or even better without McNabb, letting Kolb still play over Vick clearly says that we aren’t worried about winning now. If they were, Vick would be the QB mostly because this O-line will get Kolb killed. Vick is the better QB for the team right now based on the status of the o-line. But Kolb has to start for them to know what they have. Because they don’t know just like we don’t. They might think they know but they don’t know.
We’re in for a long drama filled season. Imagine if Kolb really does suck and is only a backup QB and you traded McNabb and let Vick walk. That would be probably the most disaterous thing that’s ever happened to this franchise and it has to cost Andy his job.
Paul you got me mixed up. I didn’t say you were making excuses. Schiller on the other hand is.
Scorp, so you think losing weaver, jackson and bradley doesn’t hurt the team? If so, you are a moron.
I liked the fact that he kept his head…made some nice grabs and looks like a real deal stunner.
I meant Kolb is the man..as in he will be the starter if he recovers. I think he’ll be cool. Kick Detroits tail in….and yes i still like his attitude and am not ready too write a book on him yet. Some of his throws he makes look easy. The o-line has too put in some extra work.
So the rest of this division looks awesome right? GTF outta here.