Casey Matthews won’t be the only Eagles defender trying to improve his performance on Thursday. Nobody on the defensive side played that well, except maybe defensive ends Trent Cole and Jason Babin. I’ll tell you that the safeties and the linebackers know they must improve.
The current strongside linebacker Jamar Chaney, who I believe should be starting in the middle, correctly points toward the defense’s problems on third down, as what they need to improve on from the Pittsburgh game.
“We just need to go out there and play our game,” Chaney said. “Against Pittsburgh we didn’t get off the field on third down, so we’ll need to try to do that more this week.”
I’m still trying to figure out why it made sense for them to move Chaney out of the middle when he cause a fumble or got an interception in every game he started at middle linebacker. I know they want to finally have somebody on the strongside who can cover the tight end, but I don’t think it was worth them moving Chaney out of the middle.
I remember Chaney telling me during the off season that he was going to be the team’s starting middle linebacker when the season started even he had to take the job from Stewart Bradley.
They’re asking a lot of the middle linebacker right now because of the way the defensive ends and tackles are flying upfield at the snap of the ball. Chaney showed me that he can work through the trash and find the ball, but I don’t know if Matthews can do that. It’s a lot to ask for a rookie who hasn’t had much of a chance to get to know the system.
I know they want to solve their problems of guarding the tight end, but they may be forced to move him back to the middle. Expect him to move back there if Matthews doesn’t play well tomorrow night.
“To be honest with you, there were a lot of missed assignments,” safety Kurt Coleman said. “I think we tied those loose ends up and we’re ready to go out there and play the Browns.”
Coleman has played better than all the other safeties. He does a good job of coming up and tackling ball carriers in the open field. I like the job he does as the eighth man on the line of scrimmage, but he needs to learn to disguise the coverages better. I want to see them man-up the corners outside and give Coleman a chance to blitz.
He’s looking forward to the Browns game because it’ll be their last tune up before the regular season.
“It’s going to be a great test for us,” Coleman said. “It’s really our last chance for us to get out there and get to play almost the whole game. As far as starters go, we need to solidify everything on the back end. We need to get more picks.”
The Birds starting Will linebacker, Moise Fokou is looking at this game with a positive attitude.“The next team is the next opportunity. It’s another opportunity,” Fokou said. “This week I think the starters are going to have a chance to go out there and showcase their talents and it’s going to be a good audition to see what this defense could look like.”
I think Akeem Jordan is a better Will linebacker than Fokou, but neither one is a special player.
casey mathews is fat slow and small….
I would rather hear what Cole, Nnamdi or Asante has to say about our defense
I’m a closet browns fan, they have a part of our eagles over there
I like QB McCoy, and he has multiple solid weapons with an easy schedule
But, what is easy to a team that hasn’t been winning? we’ll find out
I do like D’Qwell Jackson and T.J. Ward on the defensive side of the ball
Kinda rooting for them to make some noise in the NFC North
The Ravens are overrated as far as contenders go
Pittsburgh is and always will be legit
larrwd – ur a troll and will be ignored from now on, that is all
Not to mention Pat Shurmur quietly making a name for himself in this league!!
This is off topic but had to get it out there.
For all you knuckle heads that want to say 10-6 is fine as long as we get in. You are absolutely dead wrong! Unless 10-6 somehow gets you a bye this year (which I believe has happened only once or twice since 1990), we will be screwed. Say we win the East and assume that will get you to the three slot over the NFC West winner. Maybe we get a nice little match with Detroit or Donovan in the first round. Yeah we would win that, but then we get Atl, NO or GB on the road. If we could somehow win against one of them do you think we turn around and do it again the next week against another one? Very unlikely unless we get some real lucky breaks and outstanding performances. Like Shady racking up two hundred AP yards and two TDs or Vick having a QB rating over 120. And of course the coaching would have to not suck like it did in Arizona three years ago.
Two teams in the 16-game era have won a SB with less than 11 wins. Last year’s Packers and the 2005 Steelers. Lets assess. The Steelers had the defense of the decade and the greatest D coordinator of all time running it. They also had a great line and smash mouth running game. They drew the Bengals (whom they owned) in the first round and promptly shredded their star QB’s knee very early in the game. Next they did have one tough opponent, the Colts. The Colts made too many mistakes and did not capitalize on Pit’s one BIG one and lost the game. The Steelers got the one they needed where they played well and the other team under performed. Next they got Denver (you know that one team every year that has a great record but they really aren’t that good. Yeah think of the 2002 Eagles or last year’s Bears.) Denver was that team and it showed. Easy win and then the Seahawks a team with no seasoning there for the first time. And guess what, the Steelers lost the game but the officials gave it to them anyway. So there is your first 10-6 champ.
Next up, the Pack. They had a terrific coaching staff, a great QB (not a guy who under achieved for six years, went to prison, redeemed himself, put together ten very good games, then fizzled down the stretch.) No a great QB that had numbers for THREE YEARS not ten games. And he had a TRUE #1 WR and a cast of other very good ones. Plus they had a very good defense that was outstanding against the pass with a one man wrecking crew at LB that terrorized opponents. Like they Steelers they got a first round opponent that was severely over matched. Yeah that would be us. Then they got two teams that were frauds with good records in Atl and Chic. I would have liked to see them play NO in the Super Dome. They probably wouldn’t be the champs right now. Then they played their one great game against a superior opponent (Pitt) like when Pitt beat the Colts in ’05. The rest was pretty easy. It fell just right.
Now GENIUSES, what similarities do you see between this year’s Philadelphia Eagles and those two teams that make you think 10-6 will get it done???????????????????????
Larrwd, fat and slow? where do you see fat on him? I think your reaching a bit…
JBird – responded on the other blog you posted this – history has proven your entire argument wrong multiple times in every direction – there is no coorelation between regular season results and playoff results
well – let me correct that – if your regular season results are not good enough – your playoff results are are going to be 0-0
navy…how the hell am I wrong?? Name the other 10-6 team that won it. How can you be so dismissive? They do not have the core strengths to make a deep playoff run to a championship as they stand right now. Core strengths would be outstanding defense or great O line or terrific QB or truly great players. Which one of these things do they have. Who on this team is a GREAT (not good) difference making player? They have a mediocre O line and defense with worrisome holes. And we as fans cannot say Vick has proven himself as a really good and consistent QB yet. You are just saying I’m wrong with nothing to back it up. Give me some facts Navy! I’d be glad to debate.
DUDE – really – did you just post that – LAST YEAR THE PACKERS WERE 10-6 and the #6 seed –
in 2007 the Giants were 10-6 and beat the 16-0 patriots
I could list the multiple # of teams that finshed with the best record during the regular season and did not win the SB or even get to SB –
navy…I stand corrected on the 07 Giants. I try to block that one out I must admit. Tampa was 12-4 and the Cards didn’t finish the deal. And I will say I agree on some of your premises about being hot, lucky breaks, health etc. But I will also state that the 07 Giants had a much better defense, O line and running game than this team and at least one HOF player on the field in Strahan. Once again we do not have these core ingredients. Its like when Eskin would say “well the Pats won the SB without great WRs.” Well he didn’t mention they had Belichick and Tom Brady not AR and Donovan. Or to say well the 08 Steelers won without a good O line. Yeah but they had one hell of a defense. You can always point to every winner and say they didn’t have something. But they cannot be lacking many different things and we do and always have since AR has been here. Too many areas that are not good enough and none that are off the charts good to compensate. That’s my main point. We don”t have what those other teams had. So one cannot simply say well you can win it all at 10-6. Yes its been done but look at those teams and explain how this team could do the same thing. You really can’t.
Anybody that believes you need to have a better record than 10-6 to win the superbowl is a moron………all you have to do is get in. Just get in.
And Jbird – as the team has not played a SINGLE DOWN this NFL season – how do you know what they have and don’t have? I think Vick is a Pro Bowl QB – I think McCoy – D Jackson, Peters, Hermanns and Celek have great shot at Pro Bowl on Offense – take a look at the saints – they won a SB by outscoring everyone – the O Line is solid in 4 of 5 positions with RT a question mark right now – does the regular season start tommorrow? Are the playoffs next week? You will have to ask the NY Giants who they consider a ‘great’ difference maker…… they may have some ideas…..
so what do you want to debate?
The Steelers had an excellent game plan against us…. its not all Casey Matthews fault it was the defense as a whole unit… they kept our defense on the field which was smart and it looked like to me the Steelers had a game plan all along after that embarrassment performance against Washington…. they r the defending afc champs and I give them a ton of credit. Nate Allen is the biggest question mark in our backfield and it looks to me he’s about 70-75% healthy and should be on the pup list if u ask me… give the starting role to page and Jarrett could backup Coleman and colt Anderson can backup page.. that just my theory on that situation and please castillio hargrove is a defensive end…. let him play defensive end and use him in joker roles within the pass rush… I know injuries within our front line has plaqued us but the Steelers noticed the disadvantage and ran with it…
navy….I don’t care about teams that had the best record and didn’t win. That is a different subject entirely. What I am talking about is teams that won titles with average regular season records. It is the complete opposite. You made some good points, so don’t back pedal now. My whole premise was that we better not go 10-6 because we need a gimme game and home field and are not built to handle a LONG road to a championship.
Birdo…you are a moron for writing that after I just made that lucid argument. You come on here with some horseshit about all you have to do is get in when I clearly stated only three 10-6 teams have won and nobody with less than ten wins. There is no argument for “all you have to do is get in” or 10-6 teams would win every year. This isn’t baseball.
16-0 and the SB – look – my family avoids me till tuesday if the eagles lose (regular season – playoffs till the following weekend)
I am not sure the point you are tyring to make – if you go 15-1 you still have to win 3 playoff games – if you go 10-6 you still have to win 4 playoff games –
if you go 7-9 you don’t get to play – hyperventilating about not having a future pro-HOF (I think Asante and this new guy Nn at cornerbacks may get looked at in the far future)
And while we discuss Brady and Belechick – just a minor point – but have you noticed since the big cheating scandle the reults haven’t been as spectacular?
You mean like a home field playoff game against the # 6 seed – boy – you just keep stepping in it
Look – I get yoru point – I would rather the NFC Championship game run through the Linc as well, but it all things – one day at a time, one week at a time, one game at a time. Stating we are doomed without X number of wins and X number of home field games is stupid – you are doomed if you don’t make the playoffs. The team just executed one hell of an off-season plan in some interesting circumstances. There are going to be some great games and some turds, hopefulyl we play well enough to win the turds.
We’ll go 13-3 this season…. the only tough games will be against the afc east against the patriot’s and jets I see us splittin 2-2 against the afc east
jbird, your argument is ridiculous and I can’t believe you actually spent time writing it.
Just because a 9-7 team hasn’t gone on to win a Superbowl DOESN’T mean it will NEVER happen!
THREE 10-6 teams have won the Superbowl in the last four years. I wouldn’t mind following suit.
You’re putting too much emphasis on the regular season record. If our regular season record is good enough to get into the playoffs and we’re HOT or STREAKING, I’m content.
navy…I can understand your point. However I didn’t step in it with GB because I discussed them being a #6 seed and having a 10-6 record. I am getting ahead with the argument I know. But I just don’t agree with the philosophy that “all you have to do is get in.” I was just saying it is not a wide open free for all like the NCAA tourney where anything can happen. Those teams that won had some special qualities for 10-6 teams. Also, I think we know we are a hard luck team. So we need a road that is reasonable. I don’t know if you like baseball, but the Phils got a ring with a team that wasn’t as good as they have been the three years since then, yes because they got hot and yes because they were peaking and yes because they were healthy. But also yes because they didn’t play the Cubs, the Sox or the Angels. Things went their way. You catch my drift? I just think we need to have a good record, try to keep it to three games instead of four, try to be at home instead of New Orleans (where the officials are obviously Cajun as you indirectly pointed out). Just don’t think we will do it the hard way. So that means not texting about their vacation plans in week six while the Skins are kicking their ass. Not sleeping on the Cardinals. Not sleeping on Seattle. You know what I mean? They need to win the games they are supposed to because if you look at the schedule 11-5 should be easy and its not a huge stretch to win 12 or 13.
I predict 14-2 so this whole argument is ridiculous.
JB – I get you – no worries – gGonna be a fun season that hopefully ends happily next Feb!
Birdo….I’m thinking 12-4 so you are right the whole argument could be ridiculous. Just saying they need to handle their business. That team I saw last week looked a little too relaxed especially given what was happening on the field. They should have looked pissed!
G…I think Clayton is better than Jordan and Fokou as the WILL.
The Browns were 5-11 last year and their star running back is injured . The Eagles are game planning according to G. I hope their will be improvement.
Versus the Run
I have Fokou at SAM, Chaney at MIKE and Rolle at the WILL positions
On Passing Downs
I replace Fokou with Matthews
I replace Rolle with Clayton
And on 3rd and real long (8 + Yards)
I pull Chaney and have an extra CB/Safety in there
Remember the Borwns Top Pick from a year ago RB Montario Hardesty who had a knee injury and was out all last season, he is now healthy and looking pretty good this Camp so far and they also picked up Free-Agent Brandon Jackson from the Packers who is a very good 3rd Down back.. This team has a lot more weapons than a year or 2 ago and won’t simply have to rely on RB P Hillis like a season ago… Watch for these 2 players who I really liked out of College and were hoping the Eagles would draft
FB Owen Marecic from Stanford a real throwback type of player who is also very talened and played both FB & LB at a very high level in College
WR Greg Little from North Carolina is another one of these 6-2 225 lbs Andre BOldin types who can catch in traffic but also has sneaky speed..
On defense watch out for Rookies DE J Sherad from Pitt and CB B Skrine from UT-Chattanooga
The Browns have had excellent draft the last 2 Years (Sinec T Heckerts arrival) and they are laying a very good foundation to be a playoff competitive team, unfortunately they play in a very tough divsision with the Steelers and RAvens in front of them.. I see them as a 7-8 Win Team this year but very competitive in most of their games that could go either way…
@jbrid clayton is better ,hes faster ,he gained 10 poinds of muscle so he could start this year. hes great in coverage becuase he was a safety and he has instincts.. this casey mathews experiminet ruined claytons chance to start .. pretty dumb if you ask me.. but im just a troll ..who knows?
@jon hart he is definately caring extra body fat more than the other linebackers . he tried gaining a bunch of mass and it has slowed him down.. muscle wise he is smaller than the other linebackers on the team. i was rooting for mathews but i am not impressed one bit.. rolle looks much better.. like paulman said chaney roll and fokou should be the starters.. although i like clayton over fokou.. but fokou has more experiance ..
14-2…13-3…has anyone actually looked at the sched? There are issues.
Lets’s say 4-2 vs NFC east…very possible…its unrealistic to think of a sweep, and there’s the pre-bye week game (Reid seems to love losing that one) at the skins. That’s 2 losses.
The Thursday night game in Seattle is going to be beyond difficult. SInce the NFL adopted those stupid games, home teams have won over 70%…add to the fact the Birds are playing a late Sunday gave vs the Pate the week before and that Seattle game is looming as a big L that everone will be fretting about. They’re going to get Monday off, walk thru tues and fly out Wed…no practice time at all.
That’s 3 losses.
And then there are the 4 games against the Pats, @Atl, Jets, and Bears…there’s a loss in there somewhere……
That’s 4 – perhaps 5
Everyone else out there think the @stl, @ mia, @buff, Ariz games all going to go exactly as planned….that we’re not going to have to turn 2 or 3 games over the “shudder” VY?
I think 11-5 is a realistic (though slightly optimistic) goal.
I need to get this right…..
VIck is a superstar who cannot be questioned or critiqued despite 6.5 years of “meh” QB play.
Matthews is a terrible “failed experiment” after his first 2 exhibition games.
Good times all around.
That’s right Vinnie, get with the program or get the steppin
your record means absolutely nothing, and is irrelevant, no matter how many teams have done it. Look at the red sox… everyone counted them out in april, and now they are picked to win the AL.
if the eagles start 9-1 and finish 10-6, then there is a problem, if they start 5-5 and finish 10-6 then I would have not a worry in the world. It’s all about when you peak.
Zoltek is 100% Correct
It’s about how you finish not how you start…
All teams are a work in progress this and especially this year after the lockout,etc,etc,… Teams that can get thru the 1st month without major injuries and cag get their legs and groove back will be primed for a strong 2nd half..Playoffs teams are made and strengthened with a good finish over the last month of the Season.. Starting fast surely does help though and they way the Eagles Schedule falls, they need to get off to a good start for their middle stretch is difficult before finishing up with 4 tough ones at Miami, Home with Jets, at Dallas and Home vs Redskins
Their 1st 2 games on the Road scare me a little bit, but VIck seems to actually play better away from the Linc and they really should be 4-2 at the least, then go 4-2 over those middle 6 games and split the last 4 games or win 3 of 4 to get to 10/11 Wins… But winning that 1st one is a must for
if they start down 0-2 , then it may turn out to be a very uphill battle from there.. I think the NFC is not as strong as years past, but I also think that all 4 teams will beat and battle each other where a 10-6 or definitely a 11-5 Record wins the Division with 2nd & 2rd place being right behnid at 9-7 or 8-8
Should be a great race
Vinnie..you’re not getting it….Look at Vick first 2 preseason games…it was no question that he was a baller.
It don’t take forever to know when a player is special. Matthews is nothing special
What? The 2010 preseason games? When Vick threw no tds and 3 picks in 28 atts?
Or do you mean his first 2 pre-season games back in 2001?
Game 1: 3 of 6 for 24 yrds
Game 2: 3 of 7 for 22 yrds and an INT
Those 2 games???
Dude, that isn’t even 3rd string “special”….and yet, this is when you discovered he was a “baller”??? I suppose you remember he did have 3 scrambles for 50+ yrds, so baller it is….too bad he wasn’t an RB eh?
Good grief.
Actually, the depressing thing about going back and looking up his 2001 preseasons, is that his 2010 and 2011 preseasons are worse!
Plyers who need to step it up to get substantial playing time this Season
RT – K Dunlap (had a pretty good showing vs the Steelers, can he build on this and be consistent and gain confidence in his linemates and coaches)
C – J Kelce (can he beat out J JAckson and show that he has what it takes to be a starter in the NFL, my $$$ is on Kelce nailing the Starter’s Spot)
TE – C Harbor (shows some spurts of energy and playmaking ability, then disappears for long stretches, can he show he belongs in NFL)
DT – Patterson (wih health issue, how does he rebound)
DT’s – Hargrove and Landri (another great opportunity to get reps and see a lot of action with Dixon and Laws still out..)
DE’s – Tapp, Teo & Hun – (Who steps up , 2 of these 3 players will make the final roster but 1 of these players probably gets squeezed out)
LB’s — Well documented about Chaney/Matthews early struggles leaving the door open for players like Rolle,Clayton and Jordan to compete with #1’s for playing time
Safeties – Page & Colt Anderson are battling for 1 Roster Spot
CB – Hanson,Lindley,Marsh,Graham are battling for a likely 2 Roster Spots
WR – Hall, Moss, JR Higgins,Turner likely battling for 1 Roster Spo
t
i dont even care about vick im worried about the linebackers and im happy nate allen was replaced until he proves himself .. i think rolle can be a starter with chaney .. i do not like casey mathews at least not in the middle..
WOW, this post and these comments are the most useless i have ever seen. this is a web page to forget, time to click that “x” in the upper-right hand corner…
Paulman, stop interjecting your nonsense when there is a good debate on the topic at issue, you attempt to change the discourse on something largely irrelevant, man, I wish I could meet you and beat your pussy ass
What are you Jake, a real tough guy now.. Guys like you are assholes…and besides, you wouldn’t know a good Debate if Betty White came over to your dump and gave you one…
Since you asked, I am a tough guy, stop changing the discourse with nonsense, let it play out, this is going to be a very interesting season for the birds, many questions, starting with the play of the quarterback, he will be on the hot seat, and Reid as well, finally
Jakedog, Vick was on the hot seat last year, it aint nothing….where this mans been you think he’s taking any of this lightly? Cats like you and the unmentionable fakest fan on this site wish for Vick to fail…I can actually respect Vinnie because he is pretty open about it…I respect you cause you are a fellow Eagles fan…but you are one of those fake ass type of friends that Vick had, by his side when he excels, ready to throw him out when he struggles…you too fake too be tough…your a transparent type of cat, real talk!
Haha real talk, get it straight, Vick is one tough mother, I doubt whether he is the man to get it done, especially with Reid the passaholic, that’s my opinion, that’s right, if Vick gets it done I’ll be there to cheer him, if not, I’ll boo his ass in the finest Philly tradition, go piss in the Schuykill and figure it out, come hang in northeast Philly, you will think differently about things
Paulman you have some realistic competition but I believe 2 of those WR’s will make team. Probably Higgins and Turner. Also we know they are not releasing Lindley or Marsh……I want to see our D come out and be physical. LB’s need to be tough and prove to us that they are ready. I also want to see Hunt at DE… I think he has a chance to be a real good 3rd down rusher. Kelce has this one game to prove he can play if not Jackson is our open day starter. FYI – Vick beter be more decisive this game or he is going to have a long day and lose alot of confidence going into the season.
Our DF has more question marks than the Riddler. If anybody thinks we are going to win a Super Bowl this year, with this DF as currently constituted & this a$$ clown running the DF, you are delusional. Our Safeties are too young & inexperienced. Our LB’s suck. Chaney is out of position. Mattews is out of his league. Castillo is out of his mind. Also this Secondary will have problems with the trifecta of pro bowl CB’s adjusting. Too many questions to me, I don’t know what you guys think. Andy’s a$$ is on the line with that stupid, egotistical, Castillo move. Just saying.