Another of our loyal readers, Phillyatheart, wrote an article laying about the progression of Andy Reid’s football teams over the years. He describes the early Andy Reid teams after Big Red took over for Ray Rhodes in the early 2000’s to the squad that was just eliminated from the playoffs.
If you remember those early teams, they had offenses that were much different than the ones they’ve had the last couple of years. The relied on the short passing game then, now they throw the ball downfield, primarily.
Those defenses led by Jim Johnson were manned by Ray Rhodes drafted stars like Brian Dawkins, Hugh Douglas, Troy Vincent and Jeremiah Trotter.
Checkout and tell us what you think.
Phillyatheart’s comments:
Does any body remember the early days of Reid’s career here in Philly with a shoddy Doug Pederson and a young McNabb? Those were the dink and dunk days when the receivers were mediocre and Chad Lewis led the team in receptions. They relied on the short passing game, dump offs to the 
running backs, the running game, and McNabb’s improvising to move the ball. They were a ball control offense that occasionally found a big play. The defense was pretty strong and both lines were good.
Under Jim Johnson they were the second ranked red zone defense. They were very good at forcing 3 and outs. They had players that could play in the trenches, a great secondary, and a tough physical football team that gutted out wins with Duce Staley carrying defenders for extra yards and applying relentless pressure against opposing quarterbacks.
Along the way, they surprised teams with a few tricks here and there (ex. the pickle juice game against Dallas that started with an on-sides kick). This was an up and coming team with a strong foundation, a growing young franchise quarterback, and an efficient coach who got them to play at a high level. They were the ultimate overachievers who came up short because of the lack of talent (or so we thought).
Fast forward to the present and it seems like almost the opposite is true. Gone are most of the solid veteran players of the previous era. This team has been completely rebuilt on both sides of the ball. And this is what we’ve seen the past few years. This is a big play offense that can occasionally find a ball control style. As a result, the team has more three and outs when their bread and butter is taken away. The defense rarely gets a consistent pass rush.
The team can’t run in short yardage situations with consistency. The playcalling and gameplanning are the same week after week no matter the opponent. The QB is being asked to carry the team. The defense can’t get off the field on third down and can’t stop teams in the redzone. The offensively line allows too many pressures and sacks. The team is heavily penalized. They have highly skilled offensive players but are weak in the trenches. With all this supposed talent you can argue that they are the ultimate underachievers.
Now, with both styles of teams the Eagles have won more games than they’ve lost under the Andy Reid era. The problem is that the Andy Reid era is flawed because of the overall approach. Andy was criticized over the years for not surrounding McNabb with enough skill players. After years of believing he was fine with what he had, he and the Eagles brass went for broke and signed T.O.
This was the beginning of the high-flying Eagles that has morphed into what we have today. The approach has been very heavily dominated by the passing game since then. Reid transformed the team from a gutsy, hard-nosed cold weather team that lacked offensive talent, to a front-running, high-flying, attacking team with speed and finesse, but lacking in power and toughness.
Both versions of this Eagles franchise under Reid have one thing in common: coming up short when it matters most. Is it dumb luck, bad play calling, injuries, or a curse? You make the call, but I’m going with the one consistent element: Andy Reid!
Maybe if we pour pickle juice on jim johnson’s grave he’ll come back alive
I think before we prepare for the end of the world as we know it, one has to consider that despite losing their starting QB (yea I know replacement was a major step up…), 1st/2nd draft choices, MLB, starting pro-bowl fullback, etc. to injuries, and having receivers with alligator bodies too often, the team still finished 10-6, so Big Red must be doing something right. Give a brother a break
We need some better scouts and a better draft strategy. I read an article on PFT today which said the Patriots only have one offensive skill player who was drafted in the top 60 (Rob Gronkowski)! Yet they are one of the best offenses going around. Do they just get lucky and hit diamonds in the rough or do they not only have the leagues best QB and coach but the best scouts too? Or do they have coaches in place to get the best out of all their players because this is something Rory Segrest doesnt seem to be doing with our d-line considering Babin and Clemons have 4 sacks between them last year and around 22 combined sacks this year on other teams.
Jake, if Kolb doesnt suffer a concussion in week one against the Packers and he goes on to start in week 2 onwards, do the eagles still finish 10-6? Is the record a reflection of Andy Reid or Michael Vick.. because Vick had to win a lot of those games himself. Around 15-20 starters played very average for most of the year and Vick bailed them out.
Backward with reid has coach
We could have Joe Montana has QB and still lose because the coach runs 12 times
i take that back , i see Montana having the drive to win so he would audible 25 times a game and run the ball cause he knows that would open the pass.
Reid would get pissed tell montana to stop it even though we are winning. then because of his ego either bench or trade Joe
Memories. Like the corners of my mind. Misty water-colored memories. Of the way we were.
I’m convinced that Reid is the luckiest man alive.
Which is why the Eagles and their fans are home in January watching the better Teams in the NFL still paly on for a Championship.. I have stated for 3 years that Coach AR’s philosophy of Pass First does not work well in the NFC East or work in th vold,bad weather come playoff time when you play better teams with better Coaches
Coach AR system is better suited for a COllege Program where finesse and gadget plays works
I think he would make a vey good coach at BYU but does not belong as Coach of the Eagles
This team has become more “soft” every season under him..It’s a finesse team that is better suited for another CIty but not Philadelphia
RIGHT ON POINT Phillyatheart….AR needs to be removed as HC but we all know its not going to happen because he making a lot of money for Jeffrey Lurie. Think about this…if you were the owner and you had a HC who helped you achieve billionare status a couple of years ago…would you be in a hurry to fire him??? This is why I totally agree with what #36 said, the Eagles dont care about winning a SB they only care about revenue being made and we are all suckers to think the Eagles will win a SB under AR its not going to happen.
Paulman this is a little sample from Mel Kiper of where Kolb might go next year. I respect your opinions on this board but like the rest of us they are just fans opinions. You saying noway that Kolb goes for a high pick isnt the reality of his situation. He is VERY Highly regarded and WILL go for a HIGH price. . I am letting you know I didnt write this so I dont have to hear some fans bitch and moan. He didint wite that. It plagarism he going to jail. lol oh please. anyway. this is what Kiper says 1) Cardinals:
I’m not trading away the No. 5 pick they hold, but what about No. 38, plus another pick or two? A similar deal netted McNabb.
The Eagles will most certainly be looking for steeper compensation than the return they got on McNabb.
2) 49ers:
Would you trade the seventh pick in the 2011 draft if it finally gave you a legit quarterback? What if you traded that first-round pick, and perhaps next year’s second- or third-rounder, but got Philly’s current second-rounder in return?
Reasonable deal for both parties.
3) Titans:
It’s not enough to make me trade away that No. 8 pick, but if they could get Philly to go for a deal based around the No. 39 pick, maybe they have something.
A deal centered around the 39th overall pick will not get it done from the Eagles perspective, unless you’re talking about adding multiple extra picks in the 2-3 range. Again, there’s no way the Eagles will consummate a deal that’s similar to the compensation they received for McNabb.
4) Vikings:
Could the Vikes dangle the No. 12 pick? I highly doubt it, but they’ll be looking.
The Vikings’ 2nd round pick is number 43 overall, which again, isn’t going to get it done if that’s the centerpiece of a trade. If the Vikings really like Kolb, they’ll have to cough up that 12.
Dag I also read that article and it makes sense to trade Kolb while his value is high and then sign a veteran as a backup to Vick. The only problem with that is what happens in 3 years or so when Vick starts to age and decline and we have nobody coming through. Trading away Kolb would mean in the next 2-3 years we would have to draft another decent prospect with an early pick.
By the way the issue wasnt you copying BGNs content as your own and bringing it to the forum like all us fans do. It was the fact that G himself had posted it without sourcing which is a whole different set of rules.
Mimitaro I had no idea he was gonna post it but anyway I have asked this question 10 times and not once has ANYONE answered this. Vick gets franchised 1. Kolb stays next year 2. Vick doesnt do well you dont resign him and he walks for NOTHING. or Vick does well you have Kolb so you have to resign Vick than KOLB walks for NOTHING his contract is up. How can that be possible. Bottom line is if you have both qbs on the team next year 1 of them will leave for NOTHING. am i right and if I am how can the Eagles justify that? One more thing. I dont care about 4-5 years down the line with Vick I will cross that bridge when it comes. Get a running game and an oline and an athlete like Vick can play at a pro==bowl level for 5 more years.
Paulman,
I agree, I think Reid would be a great college coach given the right set of skill players. In college you can win with an inferior scheme if you have the athletes. That just doesn’t work in the NFL. Other than the Rams with Vermeil, I can’t think of one team that won a Super Bowl with a high-flying pass-first offense. Even the 18-0 record breaking Patriots offense couldn’t win it with their aerial assault. I think Belichek learned quickly from that and rebuilt the team into a more balanced attack. They were much better once they got rid of Randy Moss and relying on big plays downfield to move the offense.
When will Reid get the memo?
“If a team is throwing the ball 52, 48 times a game and running it 12 times, if I were a defense, I’d be pinning my ears back,” –
— Brian Westbrook
2010 NFL stats:
Saints pass to run ratio was 1.73:1
Colts pass to run ratio was 1.73:1
Eagles pass to run ratio was 1.56:1 (This is excluding 70% of Vicks runs – I accounted for 30% due to the number of QB draws that were run with Vick lined up at QB)
Whats interesting is both the Saints and Colts played in the superbowl last year under the same pass first system they play under this year. Both have won the superbowl in recent years under the same offensive system. The eagles actually have a better run to pass ratio than both these teams and apparently we will never win a superbowl under Andy Reid with a pass first offense?
How about we get a player instead of a pick for Kolb?
It’s not strictly the number of passes vs. runs. It’s can you run the ball consistently when you need to. How many yards have the Eagles left on the field in short yardage situations at crucial points in a game over the past few seasons? Stats don’t account for game situations and opponents. You’ve got to call the right plays at the right time and it usually takes this coaching staff too long to make adjustments in play calling in big games.
They have been lacking for far too long with regards too in-game adjustments. In reflection on this season look how we won the NFC East? Cowboys later. Eecked out w’s againt the Gmen,and Skins…ehhh. Close seasons(win the Vikes game) instead of letting a Pack team come in our place and take our hearts. Play championship ball in the season and have coachs make in game changes with the best of them all year. Im not seeing that from AR anymore. Take a look at the games in season Andy won the coaching battle.
Jags..but they were the Jags…superior talent
Niners Falcons…got the team rallied around Kolb. And these are the games i believe are gonna get us a #1 pick for him.
Colts…Vick was pure magic and the d had a great game….end of the game they coached well enough too get the w.
Packers game……Mcooy is legit probowler and you feed him 12 handoffs…pathetic.
Peanut leaves the game and you still sling the rock….no goddamn screens
Let Rodgers get outside the pocket and didnt keep him square.
Starks..no run blitzes…let them confuse you all day with the bone?D-tackles and d-lineman gotta go.This aint the fuggin NFCWEST!!!
Little bit of andy reid supporters that are left say he 1)most victories for Eagles coach 2)we are always in contention give him another 3 years 3)we were crap 10 years before he was here
I don’t think people realize that during Andy’s tenure the Cowboys and Redskins really stank. that is a ton of victories in a poor division that historically was tough. the coaches before Andy had to deal with Cowboy,Giant,Redskins Super Bowl teams plus the years they did not win but were very damn good. With andy we played outside the division we would lose to average team and usually big.
Memo to everyone…. Its not the friggin O…. Its the friggin D. I’m all for running more and we need a batter o line but first we need to fix this soft ars D.
For the record….. Jamming the ball down people throats once in a while would really help the d. I just think we need to reload our D starting with mcd.
Maybe the problem is simply the philosophy shared by Reid, Lurie, Banner that “being in contention every year and eventually something good will happen” isn’t aggressive enough to win a Superbowl. Instead, you need to be good at everything and not having a glaring weakness here and a glaring weakness there as the Eagles do every year. Like last year, we knew we didn’t have a great team this year. We forgot. Every year we believe in magic instead of having the horses to beat everybody on offense, defense, and special teams. McNabb didn’t have enough “magic” and Vick didn’t have enough “magic” to cover the other inadequacies of the team to win it all.
Mimitaro
You’re wrong!
If you subtract Vick’s 100 runs and Brady’s 30 (most of which were called), the Pats ran the ball 100 times more per game. And when you consider that Vick didn’t play every game, it’s even more lopsided.
You also claimed that the Pats ran more in the 2nd half because they were playing with a lead. I checked out their first 8 games this season ( so far). They threw the ball 60% of the time in the first half and 61% in the second half. And they ALWAYS establish the run first.
In the first half, they passed 117 times and ran 79 times (60%)
In the second half, they passed 132 times and ran 85 times (61%)
For the entire game, they average 60% passing (the same as in the first half).
Besides, like I posted yesterday, it’s not just about running, but about “how” you run. I’m talking Power I, traps, misdirections, shuttle pass, etc. We rarely see those things from Reid.
Also, if the Pats run game is working, they stick with it.
My chart won’t post correctly, but just so you know that I did my homework. Here it is.
I list (in order) runs, passes, total plays, percentage passing, percentage running:
Patriots v. Bengals entire game 23 44 67 66% 34%
Patriots v. Bengals first half 9 24 33 73% 27%
Patriots at Jets entire game 19 37 56 66% 34%
Patriots at Jets first half 14 20 34 59% 41%
Patriots v. Buffalo entire game 29 33 62 53% 47%
Patriots v. Buffalo first half 12 10 22 45% 55%
Patriots v. Dolphins entire game 25 28 53 53% 47%
Patriots v. Dolphins first half 14 20 34 59% 41%
Patriots at Ravens entire game 23 44 67 66% 34%
Patriots at Ravens first half 14 22 36 61% 39%
Patriots at Chargers entire game 21 36 57 63% 37%
Patriots at Chargers first half 9 19 28 68% 32%
Patriots v. Vikings entire game 24 27 51 53% 47%
Patriots v. Vikings first half 7 13 20 65% 35%
Bengals 9 24
Jets 14 20
Bills 12 10
Dolphis 14 20
Ravens 14 11
Chargers 9 19
Vikings 7 13
TOTAL PLAYS 79 117 196 60% 40%
SECOND HALF
Bengals 14 20
Jets 5 17
Bills 17 23
Dolphis 11 8
Ravens 9 33
Chargers 12 17
Vikings 17 14
TOTAL PLAYS 85 132 217 61% 39%
ENTIRE GAME
Bengals 23 44
Jets 19 37
Bills 29 33
Dolphis 25 28
Ravens 23 44
Chargers 21 36
Vikings 24 27
TOTAL PLAYS 164 249 413 60% 40%
I accidentally deleted the title above, but these are first-half stats:
Bengals 9 24
Jets 14 20
Bills 12 10
Dolphis 14 20
Ravens 14 11
Chargers 9 19
Vikings 7 13
TOTAL PLAYS 79 117 196 60% 40%
As you can see, the Pats run the ball MORE in the FIRST half than they do in the 2nd half. That’s a far cry from running to end the game.
So, again, I ask, why do the Pats run the ball so much more than the Eagles when they have the best QB in the game?
I know the figures can be a little difficult to interpret.
The bottom line is this:
The Patriots run the ball almost 10 times per game more often than the Eagles.
And they run the ball more slightly more in the first half than they do in the 2nd half.
That’s one reason why Brady’s not banged up like Vick and McNabb by season’s end.
Reid is a QB killer.
Ummm not really sure what you were getting at my stats were in relation to the colts and saints and how they have been even more successful than us even though they pass the ball at a higher ratio than the eagles. So I was basically saying the pass/run ratio of playcalls is the least of the eagles problems.
Six things more important than the pass/run ratio cost us the wildcard game. Our inability to stop the run, our inability to stop them on 3rd and long, missed FGs, dumb penalties, no pass rush and our lack of impact players on both sides of the ball due to our team being full of average players.
Its like the Cavs of last few years having to rely on LeBron to step up or they lose the game. We are putting the same pressure on Vick, Samuel and Jackson. We just dont have a good team overall.
I just want the Gcobb readers to see there are bigger issues than AR not committing to the run enough.
Let’s remove emotion, loyalty and just look at how the season began and ended. The team was flat and horrible in the opener against Greenbay. Mike Vick comes in and lifts the team. He begins to break down as a result of Andys inability to properly mix his plays. (shotgun every down) (see didingers article on csnphilly).
The Playoff bound Philadephia Eagles should have lost to the Giants. They then loss to a ROOKIE HEAD COACH with a ROOKIE QUARTERBACK with almost no starts who WAS drafted to be a WR. All this at home with a BYE ON THE LINE. The year before HUMILIATED by DALLAS. twice.
Andy Reid has a problem adjusting. To Everything. His Fastballs are not working on defense.
He refused to draft a center and relied on TORN ACL GUY to be the starter.
Stewart Bradley drafted even though he had a torn ACL in 2005 at Nebraska. Gets to the Eagles and becomes TORN ACL GUY. Now a injured Elbown.
Marlon Jackson – TORN ACL GUY
Cornelius Ingram – TORN ACL GUY
Stacy Andrews – TORN ACL GUY
Ricky Sapp – TORN ACL GUY
Jack Ikeqwuonu – TORN ACL GUY
Look at the draft picks and money wasted on TORN ACL GUY. Look at the production. One good season from Stewart Bradley.
TORN ACL GUY represents the Eagle Philosophy.
WE WANT TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP AS LONG AS WE CAN DO IT ON A BUDGET.
The only head coach who comes into a season with NO KICK RETURNER. Or SLOW MOTION KICK RETURNER – AKA – Reno Mahe or his clone Chad Hall. The SEC ACC BIG TEN AND BIG 12 are full of track guys playing football who run back kicks. There is no way in Hades that a NFL team can’t have a speedster running back kicks.
Jeffery Lurie said he wanted the Eagles modeled after the championship teams of the 49ers. He has hired a couple of head coaches with ties to their system and organization. He needs to look at himself and ask does he have anywhere near the desire to WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP THAT
EDDIE DEBARTILO HAD.
Bottom line is running the football is an attitude and and a mind set. It is to initiate contact on the line and and be physical. If you watch those physical runnign teams, they succeed more in the second half then they do in the first. Look at Seattle last week. You have to commit to it and stick with it. Reid uses the running game as a change of pace.. Reid transformed a historically blue collar football team, to a small, weak soft bunch of sugar britches. Lurie is a businessmen man and just cares about the organizations image and making money. All he cares about is putting wind turbines on the linc, and making sure our front office has the most percentage of women working in it. He doest care about winning the super bowl. Reid will never be fired..ever! We dont even fire assistants here.
Mimitaro – You are correct. You could win with passing team.
Passing is not the problem. It’s the strategy he uses to pass. It’s so predictable, unless you have overwhelming talent(TO and McNabb in their prime) it’s going to get shut down by Playoff teams. Vick caught teams off guard. Once they adjusted Andy had no adjustment for their adjustment. Mixing in the run like the Packers did is one adjustment. A pitchout to the opposite side of the blitz is another. A bubble screen to the blitzing side is another. A draw. A screen. This guy just keeps trying to chuck it down field with a horrible offensive line. An effective play action slows down the linemen and linebacker. It’s not effective when the other team knows you are going to pass.
Now who is reposible for 5 of the 6 other areas that you said that the Eagles are deficent in? (Akers is a probowler who just had an off night)
Andy Reid. His Fastballs – His Defensive Coordinator.- His practices.
Ask Brad Childress, who got fired because Bret Farve is a interception machine. He did. He brought him in. He decided to start an overrated interception machine who only cares about himself.
Jerry Jones has bought Superbowls (plural) to Dallas. He hires and fires based on results.And the result he wants is a Superbowl. Even though he already has a couple of throphys.The Giants multiple Superbowls. Washington Multiple Superbowls. The Saints and the Tampa Bay Bucs. The 2 worst organizations in the NFL have won Superbowls in Andy Reids Tenure. 12 Seasons?
The Eagles can not out talent 3 playoff teams in a row. And they certainly can not out coach 3 playoff teams in a row. That’s not my opinion. After 12 seasons of this coach and his yes men.
Those are called the facts.
Bobby Bethard showed how important it is to have a great personnel man. I think Howie is going to be great a GM. You can’t argue with the production that we got out of his draft picks and free agents at FB and RB. In 2 to 3 years the Eagles might be able to out talent the rest of the NFC. But I don’t think Vick will last that long under Andy Reids Kill the QB, bullseye system.
Then we’ll have a NEW excuse as to why we did’nt win the Superbowl.
memo to Stevo, the o-line does play like batter. and they make a lot of dough.
i agree with philly heart, the saints would throw early, the year they won the superbowl. And pound the ball in the second half. Saints ran the ball very well that year
BSM – yep, a center would have been good, and my reco for top pick this year. That is the QB of the line, and obviously the line played like “batter” for whatever reason, probably to some extent due to lack of a top-line center. I also think the tackles are marginal at best, if you consider the penalties that especially Peters brought on himself… And yea, hard to run the football with that line. But the draft is only days away, so my new year’s wish: 1. Draft a center 2. Get Weaver back and sign him. 3. Draft or sign an OLB and corner. 4. Draft or sign a mountain to play in the middle/DT. 5. Sign Akers.
Daggolden
I read and hear the arguments from Kiper and the others..
I just don’t think Kolb has shown enough in 8-9 Career Starts over the last 2 years that he is a legitimate #1 QB and that he “has it” and that team would be willing to to trade 1st Round Draft Pick (or multilple #1/#2 picks like the Eagles are supposedly asking for)
I think Kolb can be a solid NFL QB in the right offense on the right team.. but he’s not a game changer, I think he can manage a game plan well and if he was on a team that could run the ball effectively and have real offensive balance like the Vikings,Titans,Cardinals,49ers,DOlphins all fit that type of system, then he could do well but in Coach AR pass happy offense.. HE wouldn’t last 3-4 games witought getting hurt throwing the ball 40-50 times a game and beinh this Eagle O/L..
Look how beat up Vick got late in the season and there is no way that Kolb gets away from 1/4 of the hits that Vick was able to
I think a #2 Round and a 4th Round is fair compensation… or a #2 this year and a #3 next year
Mimitaro
My stats come directly from the play by play. In that way, I can see what type of plays are being called. When they’re being called and why they’re being called.
Doing it that way is difficult, but I can see the truth. If I see that Brady ran the ball on 2nd and 1, I know it was a called run and not a scramble.
Here is the play-by-play against the Bills. In the first half, they passed the ball 12 times and ran it 10 times (and like I said, they throw the ball more in the 2nd half):
1st QUARTER
Time Quarter Team Situation Play
9:43 1st NE 1st & 10 at NE25 > Tom Brady Pass to Wes Welker to NE30 for 5 yards 1
9:10 1st NE 2nd & 5 at NE30 > Aaron Hernandez Off Left End to NE43 for 13 yards 1
8:37 1st NE 1st & 10 at NE43 > Fred Taylor up the Middle to NE46 for 3 yards 1
7:54 1st NE 2nd & 7 at NE46 > Tom Brady Pass to Aaron Hernandez to Buf29 for 25 yards 1
7:09 1st NE 1st & 10 at Buf29 > Fred Taylor Off Right Guard to Buf25 for 4 yards 1
6:34 1st NE 2nd & 6 at Buf25 > Tom Brady Pass to Aaron Hernandez to Buf11 for 14 yards 1
5:58 1st NE 1st & 10 at Buf11 > Fred Taylor Off Left End to Buf7 for 4 yards 1
5:18 1st NE 2nd & 6 at Buf7 > Tom Brady Pass to Randy Moss for 7 yards for a TOUCHDOWN 1
1:12 1st NE 1st & 20 at NE13 > Tom Brady Pass to Julian Edelman to NE9 for -4 yards 1
0:26 1st NE 2nd & 24 at NE9 > Tom Brady Pass to Wes Welker to NE14 for 5 yards 1
2nd QUARTER
Time Quarter Team Situation Play
15:00 2nd NE 3rd & 19 at NE14 Tom Brady Pass Incomplete to Wes Welker 1
10:37 2nd NE 1st & 20 at NE15 Danny Woodhead Off Right Tackle to NE20 for 5 yards 1
9:56 2nd NE 2nd & 15 at NE20 Tom Brady Pass Incomplete to Randy Moss 1
9:52 2nd NE 3rd & 15 at NE20 Tom Brady Pass to Brandon Tate to NE34 for 14 yards. Brandon Tate FUMBLES (FF-Drayton Florence), recovered at NE34 by Jairus Byrd RETURNED for 0 yards. 1
6:06 2nd NE 1st & 10 at NE24 Brandon Tate Off Left End to NE29 for 5 yards 1
5:45 2nd NE 2nd & 5 at NE29 BenJarvus Green-Ellis Off Right Guard to NE36 for 7 yards 1
5:05 2nd NE 1st & 10 at NE36 Tom Brady Pass to Rob Gronkowski to Buf43 for 21 yards 1
4:20 2nd NE 1st & 10 at Buf43 BenJarvus Green-Ellis Off Right Guard to Buf23 for 20 yards 1
3:40 2nd NE 1st & 10 at Buf23 Fred Taylor up the Middle to Buf22 for 1 yard 1
3:06 2nd NE 2nd & 9 at Buf22 D. Woodhead up the Middle for 22 yards for a TOUCHDOWN 1
0:18 2nd NE 1st & 10 at NE33 Tom Brady Pass to Brandon Tate to Buf38 for 29 yards 1
0:11 2nd NE 1st & 10 at Buf38 Tom Brady Pass to Aaron Hernandez to Buf25 for 13 yards 1
TOTAL PASSES AND RUNS IN THE 1ST HALF 12 10
Wow!!
You guys are really talking football!! Everyone’s using their thinking caps and not just arguing for the sake of being right or for the sake of hate.
That’s what I’m talking about!!
Special kudos to bsm. You should be a writer!!!
Mimitaro
My bad. I did misunderstand your post. Just the same you and I were having this discussion the day before and you said that the Eagles run the ball just as much as the Pats and that the Pats run the ball only because they were blowing teams out and were running out the clock at the end of games.
All of that was in response to my question:
With the best QB in the game, why do the Pats run the ball nearly 10 times a game more than the Eagles?
Is that Paul stating that Kolb hasn’t shown enough? Surely my eyes deceive me.
Kolb has displayed the same problems since he’s been here, which still exist today:
(1) Throwing into coverage,
(2) Bailing on the play,
(3) Inability to go deep.
I just don’t think any team will part with a No. 1 pick for a QB with that sort of history.
But then again, there was always the Herschel Walker trade.
BSM, you said it best. This is it, right here!
” He begins to break down as a result of Andys inability to properly mix his plays. (shotgun every down) (see didingers article on csnphilly).
The Playoff bound Philadephia Eagles should have lost to the Giants. They then loss to a ROOKIE HEAD COACH with a ROOKIE QUARTERBACK with almost no starts who WAS drafted to be a WR.
All this at home with a BYE ON THE LINE. The year before HUMILIATED by DALLAS. twice.
Andy Reid has a problem adjusting. To Everything. His Fastballs are not working on defense.”
I hope they sign Vick but let me bring up a point about kolb if he were the starter. The offense would be much more balanced. Anyone remember when Jeff Garcia took over for McNabb in 2006? Prior to mcnabb getting hurt, we were all screaming for a running game. Garcia came in and the whole offense changed to better suit Garcia’s style and lack of arm strength. The offense became much more balanced and subsequently much more efficient. Reid is like a poker player always playing on tilt; with no patience. I think kolb has proven that he can be a solid QB and would probably be better suited for this team as long as Reid is around. Vick is a far superior athlete with a cannon for an arm but with Reid coaching, it’s only a matter of time before he gets Vick injured for the season and Kafka takes the helm. If Kolb had an o-line to protect him, you’d see a much more “consistent” offense. In Vick’s last two games, the offense has scored 14 and 16 points, respectively. Prior to that, the offense was sputtering big time against the Giants until the last 7 minutes the game. But like I said, I’m not advocating Kolb be the starter over Vick but just putting some perspective over the Vick and Reid combination and what it means for this offense.
As long as D-Jax is the main weapon on Offense, Coach AR’s Philosophy will be to throw it deep and often. To be honest, it’s the only routes that D-JAx can run effectively and not get injured on due to his size..I wouldn’t mind if they traded D-JAx for a #2 and # 4 Pick in return or a stud CB/DE
and also trade Kolb for a #2 and # 4 pick and start building more of a Running attack built around a better O/Line, Bigger RB’s and Bigger WR’s but I know this would never happen under Coach AR
It’s much too simplistic to look at the pass-run ratio. It doesn’t tell the whole story. Besides, as I’ve said all year, it’s not about the ratio. It was about slowing the pass rush with play diversity.
And as BSM/Didinger pointed out, there was none.
We had a very efficient passing offense, a record-breaking one (kinda like with McNabb). So, you lean on it until someone stops it.
But once it’s stopped, you must adjust.
After they realized that Reid was rolling Vick only to his left (with no receives on the right), NY stopped it by overloading on Vick’s left.
Reid adjusted in the next game. He began to roll Vick to his right.
Then teams sent corner blitzes from Vick’s right.
Reid adjusted again. He put everyone in a tight formation and placed Vick under center. Unfortunately, Vick had no time to set up and no opportunity to escape.
After only a couple more games (1/8 of the season), Reid adjusted again. He put Jason Peters in the backfield. That was pure genius!
Reid was determined to go deep. He refused to take what the defense gave him. He refused to attack the middle of the field. And he refused to play power football, all of which spelled the team’s doom. But this is nothing new.
Paul
I disagree. Jackson broke open the NY and Dallas games with crossing routes. He’s too small for the quick slant, but not the intermediate crossing routes.
And any time you have a player who changes a team’s defensive alignment by his mere presence alone, he’s already done his job. It’s up to the coach to take advantage of the situation. Reid never did.
Teams don’t line their safeties up 30 yards deep on one Sunday, then 15 yards deep the next. There’s little wiggle room in how they line up because if they deviate, it creates pockets.
Once teams began to line their safeties up as much as 20 yards deeper, we should have killed the middle of the field. And we should have run the ball from the Power I, forcing the safeties into the box.
BSM
What’s the title of the article. I couldn’t find it.
“Andys inability to properly mix his plays. (shotgun every down) (see didingers article on csnphilly).”
Paulman, decent point about djax but he would deffinitely warrant a first rounder. Drummer has a good point too regarding having to account for him in every formation.
the Eagles need to approach this year’s draft looking for explosive playmakers on defense much like Desean, Maclin and Shady on offense…..game changers, specifically at SS, DT and DE. The middle of the defense is soft and needs to get better.
The Eagles need a Polamalu like presence in the secondary as Mikell is done and has been exposed since Dawkins left as an average player…the Eagles are high on CB Lindley and most likely will address CB and OL in free agency…..I think the future is bright, but this draft and offseason are HUGE! If they neglect to fill the obvious holes and go into training camp with as many question marks as this past year, then they will take a big step backwards!
When examining the Eagles’ direction, a lot’s been made of this team’s unexpected vault into the post-season, but little’s been said about the reasons why (as they relate to our division).
Dallas was supposed to be the class of the division, returning from their first division crown and play-off win in a decade. And Washington was supposed to at least be competitive.
However, neither team was on the radar by mid-season.
Which leaves us with the Giants. Let’s face it, the Giants owned us, except for the miracle work of Vick. At the very minimum, they formulated the blueprint for other teams to whup us to the ground, like we stole something. They changed up their defense and exposed Reid’s immutability. Before it was said a done, even a bad Minnesota team to look like a SB contender. Our season ended with a 3-game skid that left us feeling as if we had watched a great movie with the worst ending.
Yes we made the playoffs. Another feather in Andy’s cap! But, ONCE AGAIN, it was against a very weak NFC East.
Next year, the NFC could still be up for grabs. Problem is, in the playoffs, we must play teams outside of the NFC East.
I still say Reid is the luckiest man alive. He got lucky with McNabb, BWest and a weak NFC East.
And once again, he’s gotten lucky with Vick, McCoy and a weak NFC East.
Regarding Jackson, I’ll go back to Barkley’s quote:
After asking Katz for some help, namely “Shack,” Katz came back with Charles Shackleford, instead of Shaquile O’Neal. And when the team lost again, Barkley was blamed. In reply, Barkley asked why the best players were blamed, not the mediocre ones, not the bad ones, but the best.
Jackson is small, but he’s a difference maker. The only other receiver (during Reid’s tenure) who can even hold a candle to him is T.O. So, why get rid of one your best players for an unknown?
I think that problem with Andy Reid is that he tries to outsmart everyone and he ends up Outsmarting himself. They rarely fool anyone with the play-calling, so it ends up being match-ups and then the preparation shows in the opposing defense but not in the offense. Every time I see shotgun on 3rd and 1, I want to throw up. That should be 2 TEs and I formation, but the Eagles offense is too “smart” for the play that every other team in the league runs.
Speaking of the shotgun, why does every play have to be the spread offense. Can Vick play under center at all?