This isn’t good. Not at all. Asante Samuel sat out practice on Thursday, and while we keep hearing that he’s “day-to-day,” there is a very good chance that he misses the Dallas Cowboys game this weekend.
A source tells Bob Grotz of the Delaware County Times that it’s not so much that he suffered a setback, but him not wanting to rush back (surprised?) to risk a long-term injury.
The team is being very cautious about his status, and that’s not a shocker. As it is, team’s like to be coy with injuries. But it’s even more so with Samuel. It’s simply a different defense when he is out there, and you’d like the Cowboys to spend as much time as they can preparing for him whether he plays or not.
As of now, Joselio Hanson is preparing as though he’ll start on Sunday.
“I’m going to prepare like I always do – like I’m going to start and like I can make some plays and help the team win,” Hanson said. “That’s all that matters is us getting a win right now. I took all the reps this week and hopefully if Asante doesn’t play I’ll be able to step up.”
Doubt it, but I guess that’s the right attitude. Even with Asante out there, this Cowboys passing game is going to pose a lot of problems. Without him? Let’s just say the front four will absolutely have to pressure Kitna big time.
Also read where RT W Justice did not practice either….
A much tougher game to win without these 2 Players who both have been playing at a Pro Bowl level this Season.. Yikes..
Better now than 3 weeks from now.
Alright, that’s it! No more tackling for Asante.
3 Weeks from now may be too little too late Drummer…
They need this game versus the Cowboys
Sorry, I’m not buying it. We could lose this game and still win the division.
Yeah but we get a fresh Parker back at DE. Graham gave us nothing. Dez Bryant is out and he is a playmaker at reciever and returner. Its not the end of the world if Asante doesnt play. Just gotta out score them. All I know is I watched that Tenn vs Indy game last night and I just cant believe the Eagles let a old Kerry Colllins torch them. Tenn hadnt scored a TD in 14 quarters. How did they kill the Eagles?
Definitely would be a big loss but let’s not sit here and act like the Cowboys are full strength. They have their handful of injuries and banged up players as well. So while missing Asante would be big, they still don’t have enough to beat us. Period.
We desperately need Asante back. The Cowboys are playing at a very high level right now. If not a for a Roy Williams fumble, this team would be 4-0 over their past four games against very solid teams. As big of hopes as people now have for this team making a deep playoff run, it could easily be crushed with a loss this weekend. As of right now, the Packers aren’t even in the playoffs and they hold the tie breaker over us; as does the Bears.
stevo made a good point yesterday that in last years loss the cowboys attacked Assante with bubble screens, and had great success. I have NO confidence in Hanson after the Bears game, but just a thought, Assant didn’t have a very good showing against the cowboys last year, so it may not be as big an issue if he isn’t able to play
I rather have CB Lindley out wide in Samuels Position instead of Hanson
Let Hanson remain the Nickel/Slot CB for he does that well, but Hanson does not have the size,speed or strength to play the outside where at least Lindley has the size and strength to compete against these Bigger WR’s (Autin/Williams) that the Cowboys have.
green, I agree. We need our corners to be more aggressive and and good tackling against Dallas. Sure, Asante is a playmaker but Garret knows exactly how to attack him and Asante’s defense against the WRs screens was brutal. So I much rather him stay out to come back 100% because him playing at less than that could hurt us even more if Dallas decides to play physical with their WRs where he probably won’t have as big an impact.
Schaub and the Houston passing game is much more explosive than the John Kitna led Cowboys. It will be more important to stop the run and play good special teams. Sure they will make plays after all they get paid to play too. But at the end of the day, I think we will handle them pretty well mostly because I think our pass rush gets to Kitna.
paulman, I agree with you. I don’t even want to see Hanson playing outside. He is a good nickel CB to play the slot and that’s it. Not big or fast enough to play outside. Put Patterson on Austin and Lindley on Williams. The safety play will be key. Nate Allen had to play a good game this week and not let anything get behind him and Mikell needs to make better plays on the ball and TACKLE.
good comparison between schaub and kitna. We have held some very good running backs to little yards this year, we just need to have consistant tackling. I also believe that we will get pressure on Kitna, so keeping close coverage on the underneth routes will be critcal. I think having Badley this year will make a huge difference.
Yeah our front 7 for the most part is pretty solid. A couple games this year they’ve gotten handled but for the most part have been pretty good especially since Dixon has been inserted and Fokou has had more playing time. Even Trevor Laws is showing some life. So as long as our front contains the run and get’s pressure, I’m not too worried.
I think Kinta is more like a Shaun Hill and Kerry Collins type where he has a strong and accurate arm
on the Intermediate/Sideline routes (10-25 yards) and prefers to step up in pocket to deliver the ball
He doesn’t throw a very good deep ball and typically does not get a lot of “arc” on his passes,
He’s more like a “line drive” type of passer and doesn’t throw real well on the short/underneath routes or the “touch plasses” or if he’s on the move…
I think Schaub has better wheels and is a better passer on the undeather routes which is
not Kitna’s strength … Either way, get Kitna on the move and take that “step-up pocket zone” away from him and he will put a couple up for grabs.. ..
Strong and acurate on the Intermediate
well we aren’t comparing and contrasting Kitna and Schaub because there is no comparison. More like the Texans passing game versus the Cowboys and how our secondary may play against it. So in my opinion we aren’t playing a very explosive offensive passing team right now so it’s more important that we stop the run and tackle. If we do that, we will win. No doubt about that. I have concerns about our secondary but without Asante I think they are more than capable against this team as long as they tackle their man when they catch the ball. Asante is a very good player but against some teams he could be a liability because of his inability to tackle well and refusal to play press coverage. So personally, I don’t mind it as much as long as he get’s healthy for the rest of the season. Our secondary will be ok against Dallas. A good pass rush and run stopping will ensure that. Just my thoughts.
I am getting more concerned about RT W Justice being out for this week’s game
K Dunlap is taking snaps at todays practive and has improved a lot this season.. but I would still
rather have Justice covering Vick’s blind side.. I am sure the Cowboys will switch Ware & Spencer
around on him to give Dunlap some different looks and try to get to Vick from his back side…
I hope Kolb has been lossening up his arm for I think he will be needed in this week’s game….
I’m pretty sure they’ll give Dunlap some help with the TE and FB. Of course you would like it if you didn’t have to give help but throughout most of the season they have been keeping Celek in more to block so I don’t think that will change much this week since Dallas has a good pass rush. But they are hurting in the interior of their LB corps so that’s just more things we can take advantage of against them.
please dont say that pman
knock on wood or something after u jinxed the man
we want to go to the playoffs
Just read a report about rookie CB Perrish Cox (on Denver Broncos) who has started 8 games as a rookie and has actually made a nice transtion to the Pro Game and is looked upon as the heir apparent to CB Champ Bailey. He was charged today fon a Sexual Assualt Charge (brought on by his girlfriend) out in Colorado.
The Reason I bring this up is that the Eagles were very high on this player at Draft Time,
I don’t know much about his background or the circumstances surrounded these charges by his girlfriend…but I do know the the Bronocos are going thru a terrible season and some PR issues with their fans (HC McDaniels fiasco,Taping of practices by Opponents,etc,etc, that the Broncos may end up releasing him if these Charges have any merit to them..
He could be a player to watch if he’s released or if he is cleared of the charges or if his Girlfriend drops the charges after being paid a nice $$$ settlement as often is the case
Just thought I mentioned this for the Eagles Scouts & Coaches were real high on this kid back int he Spring…
If Justice is out– the K Dunlap becomes the Starting RT and Austin Howard is probably activated for the game and would be the Back-up.. How about having Howard come in on running situatuons for red-zone offense and line up as a TE next to RT K Dunlap to help block and Eagles could stilll have Celek go out in pass patterns…Bring in Howard and pull out a WR or instead of having TE Harbor in.
paulman, I agree. I like having the extra lineman in there instead of putting the TE in their if he’s only going to block anyway. I would love to have the extra tackle for running plays and all short yardage plays. I’m tired of throwing the ball on 2nd and 3rd and 1 all the time.