The clock is ticking until game time as the Eagles practice in preparation to meet the arch-rival New York Giants on Sunday night. Starting quarterback Michael Vick is nowhere to be found and Vince Young is getting all of the snaps in the last full practice of the week.
Not only is Vick missing, but so is talented, young wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. Riley Cooper is taking the snaps at the X wide receiver position opposite DeSean Jackson.
I think the chances of Vick or Maclin playing has become very slim. They’re also going to short on the defensive side of the ball with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie out with a high ankle sprain.
It’s a Friday workout which means the focus is on goalline, short yardage, two-minute situations and other special situations.
I think this game plan needs to feature LeSean McCoy and deep throws to DeSean Jackson. If the Birds can get their running game going against the Giants, then let Young take some shots downfield to Jackson, they may be able to get New York some problems. The running game and the deep speed of Jackson will pen up the middle of the field for Brent Celek and Jason Avant.
It will also keep the pressure off of Young, which would be a good recipe for Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg. If they get pass-happy versus the Giants, it will be a recipe for disaster.
i still bet the Eagles would win come sunday
I don’t think Vick should play unless he is at least 80%. Not exactly estatic about Young playing either but I think it will work out because now Reid has no choice but to adjust the gameplan to incorporate Mccoy into it more fully. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Eagles win this week or lose it in a close one (how many times have we seen that this season???) . The concern I have is on the Defensive side of the ball. I have seen Eli make some great game changing plays when the pressure is on and the game is on the line. I just don’t have enough confidence in this defense being able to hang in there with the Giants for the entire 60 minutes but we will see what happens.
1 game too late!! Vick should have been benched last game after that awful display …
How did he get outplayed by Skelton? I still can’t believe it
Just like Vick was outplayed by the Bears QB Cutler the week before..
It’s been the trend for the entire 2011 Team and Season Doctor .. (except for RB McCoy) The Eagles WR’s & Defensive Secondaries have been outplayed in about 7 of their 9 games if you ask me..
Here is 1 fans crazy idea for this teams defense.
The Gianst can run the ball and Eli has been great this year. It’s time to challenge these premiere cornbacks and play off man for Assante and Hansen and let Nnamdi blanket Nicks or Cruz. 1 safety deep.
Use a 5 man front.
The 5 man front should stop the run and allow the backers to stay clean. These backers just can’t get free of blocks so the front needs an extra guy to help the backers and get after Eli. If Eli has time he’s going to have another good day, pressure affects him more than other quarterbacks.
I would seriously use a 5 man front with 2 or 3 linbackers. Cole, Patterson, Dixon, Jenkins and Babin up front. We have weak linebackers, the 5th lineman is an upgrade over the 3rd best linebacker. It’s time to get the talent on the field and see who can play when the whistle blows. See who will be the guys to keep for next year.
The Jets used 3 nose guards to dominate the line last night despite losing. The offense lost that game for the Jets, Pettine designed a great defense for last night, lets see this coaching staff come up big.
Got into it with one of my friends about whether we should as fans want the eagles to loose out for the rest of the year to better the team for the next couple of years. Im a die hard Eagles fan. I’ve watched every game week in and week out since we prolly drafted McNabb. I must admit tho it really got me thinking what a top 5 pick would do for this team. What a terrible 5-6 win record will do for the FO in regards of pressure to force them to make a move with some of the horrendous coaching staff and player personnel decisions this year…Its not like playoffs are realistic possibility this year and even if there was a miracle, in my mind nobody is beating the Packers this year.
Fact is tho I could never want the Eagles to lose a game esp to the giants. or any other division rival..I hope we break Eli’s legs on sunday and same goes for Romo in December. I hope we crush the playoff aspirations of the players and all their dumbass fans. Redskins are just irrelevant to me. Sure a top 5 pick would be great, just look at how good the top 5 picks from last year have ended up..their usually real difference makers for the next 5-8 years unlike what we usually get in the 20s…But I just cant ever wish the Eagles to lose a game for a shot at a draft pick. Just cant. Regardless of the record this year, Im hoping the FO realizes changes need to be made to the coaching staff and the philosophy here in regard to the players on this team..I think Reid needs to go regardless of the record..I like him and I credit him the most with the success we had here which is evidenced by him making real players out of average QBs who have done nothing and have shown how bad they really are without Reid coaching them in his system. But its time for the guy to go on a football standpoint and a business standpoint. He hasn’t won a playoff game in years and our shortcomings are directly related to his philosophy of not putting value in linebackers, size on the Dline, or emphasis on the running game. When it comes to business, man have any of you been to an Eagles game lately? sure the stadium is packed (and it always will be since fans here love their team and are not just frontrunners like some overrated WR thinks) but the Linc is dead. No noise at all…People are just so fed up with the same thing happening over and over again. Wouldnt mind Reid up in the FO but this coaching staff needs new blood bad mostly for the players…These players have no heart here…Reid is too nice on them. They need to be called out for the BS they put on the field every week. They just have no passion. We need a coach that going to bitch them out not one who is going to protect them every week and just say thats on me I need to do a better job.
I’m hoping the birds change things up this week.
Maybe a 3rd quarter collapse instead of a 4th quarter collapse.
How much does anyone want to bet that the underdog, undermanned Eagles Team play their best game of the year and beat th Giants and it will all be fgor naught since they will not be making the playoffs this years.. just enough of a performance to keep Fans and the Local Media for some more wishful thinking and tease us on what this team could have been…
twirl finger
I agree they will win… and lose to NE…
If you want to know how bad the eagles coaching has been just look at what john fox has been able to do in denver with guys this team has thrown away and far less talent (TEBOW- I admit I did the guy but he is not even close to vick in talent)
Could you imagine vick running the modified spread option at times with mccoy!
but hey that would be utilizing what you have 100% and definately not an option for AR and company
haha thats dig the guy not did the guy.. whoops!
RegalEagle, “you admit that you did the guy” ugh lol.. from the sounds of it I think you liked it haha…
Eagles can win this game, the giants should win this game. I dont have a score at this time maybe by gameday i can fomulate one but this team is so scrambled and confusing and unpredictable, no clarity except the fact that they are 3-6 and fighting for there lives… im with them 100 percent but i really dont know what to expect from this team week in and week out…
@RegalEagle yea what happened to all the plays last year like that .vick hasnt had any designed runs… i just belive its the coaching there stuck in the 80s west coast offense..
Being that it’s the Giants Steve Smith should get some plays to redeem himself after playing weak and diving down before the sticks to avoid contact.
ya think steve smith will recognize calls and signals from the giants and tell our d like kolb did? my money says coughlin and manning will adjust or reid never even thought of that!
That plus S Smith won’t try to help his Eagle team anyways.. He will probably be signaling to Def/Coord Perry Jewell what Eagles Offensive plays they have called
OOH BOY! I can’t wait for the 3 interceptions, & the mental meltdown in this 35-14 loss. I’ll watch very little of this slop. I’d rather do more fun things with my time, than to get aggravated with this joke of a roster, & this $#!tty enigma team. GO F^#@ REID! Save face & further embarrassments, & just quit, you arrogant, stubborn, SOB.
Eagle Offensive Grades after 9 Games (Skills Positions)
QB – Vick (C) Vick has not played well and has committed too many turnovers, his record is 3-8 in his last 11 starts and 1-6 at the “Linc” as the Eagles Starter which is not good. Ther definitely has to be concern by the Eagles brass on whether he was worth that big contract..
RB – McCoy (A) Eagles best player in 2011 in a landslide,having a great season
RB – R Brown (C) The Fumble play down at the Goal line knocks him down a grade. Brown has done what has been asked of him and was hoping he would become the Short-yardage/red-zone back (like a Marion Barber) to get the tough yards and to save a poundiing on McCoy
RB – D Lewis (C) Is great out in space and thought he would be more production in Special Teams, but has a bright future and again like Brown, with McCoy having such a Monster Year and staying healthy, that kind of limits Lewis opportunities
FB – Schmitt (C) Simply not atheltic enough to contribute, FB Position needs an upgrade for 2012
WR – D-Jax (D) Will refer to him as “Nowhere Man”, too many drops, coupld of costly fumbles, 30 catchers, 2 TD’s.. skipping practice.. People may say he’s done the right thing by keeping his mouth shut, but man, yuo have to play ball and right now, his mind and energy level seem to be back out in the California
WR – J Maclin (C +) Actually had a fast start to the season considering his illness over the spring/summer, but then the fumbles & drops starting coming, Maclin is the Eagles best all-around Receiver and need him to play well down the stretch for his confidence for he will be the #1 WR in 2012 as D-Jax departs via free-agency)
WR – J Avant (C) Has taken a big step back this season on and off the field, Has some drops and a couple of fumbles that have hurt, does not have the speed to run away from coverages and then made some controversial statements about Fans which is a no-no in Philadelphia and which has seemd to effect his play and energy level the last couple of weeks
WR – R Copper (D) Just has not stepped up and made any plays, this Seasons at all, I am disappointed in him for I though he had the skills to be that dangerous 4th WR that teams don’t pay attention to where they can sneak up and make some plays similar to a Packer Jordy Nelson or Texans Ryan Walter do, but Cooper just doesn’t seem to have it..
WR – Steve Smith (D) Never a 100%, not a good locker room fit and all of a sudden seems to forget how to run routes and a catch a ball, he’s been a big disappointment as many others on this team has..
TE – Brett Celek (B) Has had a pretty godo year after a slow start, helping in the blocking game, and has has made some big catches and still works the middle of the field well… Vick’s overthrow of a wide-open Celek kind of underscores the teams 2011 Season on woulda,coulda been.. Celek has done his part though and has bounced back after a poor 2010 Season
TE – C Harbor (C+) I love this players potential and athletecism, he has improved his blocking and I wish the EAgles Offense would get him the ball more often and utilize his taletns and mid-matches… I would like to see him line up at FB who could help chip a DE for pass protection and then slip out for a shrt pass matched up vseres a LB which could be a big gainer.. I also would like to see him work out wide in 3 or 4 WR Sets and down in the Red-Zone where the Eagles could use more size and toughness against agressive secondaries… The Eagles Offense Genuis’s (AR & MM) are mis/under utilizing this player (as they are with McCoy) in my opinion
Paul, your grade for Vick too generous he is 20 out off 33 with his qb rating, 11 pics and 8 fumbles, 2 turnovers every game, 60.3% comp. Why does Vick get a pass for his sub par performance, D grade, if McNabb or Kolb had these numbers the fans would be calling for their benching
Eagles Grades along the O/Line
LT J Peters (B+) – Eagles Best OL and can be dominating at times, get him out on a pull, or screen plays and he’s just a beast.. Still has the mental lapses of lining up or jumping off-sides at least once per game, but overall, I could not name a team who would not want him to anchor the QB’s Blind Side. He’s lost some weight and probably in the best shape of his career and will most likely make the Pro-Bowl again despite the Teams record
LG E Mathis (C+) Plays well on Screens,Mis-directions and out in space. Is pretty good in Pass Protection, but has struggled with short-yardage,red-zone plays where defenses have bust thru right over and thru him.. HAs good footwork but need more upper body strength at the point of attack
Center J Kelce (B) After a sluggish start, has really come on, and as a rookie has been very impressive especially being the Center where you become the leader of the rest of your linemates in the right schemes,and calls,etc.. Another quick athletic OL who is great out in space on screens,mid-directions but strulles a little bit with the striaght ahead,power blocking that is neccessary on short-yardage and red-zone situations.. He will get bigger and stronger as he matures but Kelce may end up being the best,most productive Draft Pick of the 2011 Draft and be a start for the next 8-10 Seasons at a very important position…
RG D Watkins (C+) Obviously had very high expectations on him out of the gate being their Top Pick which was compounded by the EAgles Coaches naming him as a Starter before he was ready in SUmmer Camp, they smartly recovered and sat him down for a few games to work on his technique and to learn the playbook and it appears it has worked very well.. Wakins has improved with each passing week and is an excellent run blocker and gets to that 2nd level to pick-up LB’s very well..He does need work in pass protection and again like Kelce/Mathis, get a little stronger at the point of attack for straight,power blocking… I think he’s a good player and teammate and will be a solid starter for the next 4-5 Seasons and teaming with C Kelce should make a nice tandem for a long time..
RT T Herremans (B) The Eagles most versatile and maybe most improtant player along that OL for he can play Outside, Inside, the left side and right side.. Has a little trouble with Speed Rushers (but what OL doesn’t) and doesn’t have the foot speed he once had,but has played consistent all Season and brings a mental toughness to the OL that the young OL can learn from
Reserves
OT/G King Dunlap (B), Still never sure if he could be a full-time OL, but in a reserve role has played well when given the chance and really surprised me last week playing LG which he looked pretty good considering it was his 1st game ever at that postion… I thnik the Eagles lock him up with a 4 Yea rdeal to be at #1 back-up/reserve for the OT Positions as they look to trade WJ after the Season.. Eagles have put a lot of time and energy into Coaching up Dunlap over the last few Seasons and who is a free-agent and need to secure him . I believe Dunlap could be a Starter at OT for many teams in the NFL and will be in demand come the off-seaon if they let him test the market
OT W Justice (D) – This Season has been a lost one for WJ, After his off-season knee Surgery, than all his time and work as the EAgle Player Rep in Negotiations during the Lockout really set WJ behind in Rehab and Conditioning.. I also don’t think the Team handled it well and he should have probably been doing more in the off-season.. With signing a nice COntract Extension early last year, I think he is the odd-man out and will be traded this off-Season, Again the OT Postion is a Premium one and WJ could be a Starter on many teams in the NFL (Redskins,Steelers,Seahawks, Raiders,Vikings) could all use updgrades along their OL to name a few
I beleive the Eagles could get a 4th Rounder for him in return or could be used to package him with a draft pick to possibly move up in the Draft, but either way, I do not see him returning to the Eagles in 2012
Jamal Jackson (I) – Has not taken a snap this year which is his final season in Philly, He’s been a warrior and a good teammate but his size and lack of mobility does not work in Mudd’s scheme and he will not see any action outside of an injury to Kelce
Justin Vandervelde (C) – Got some playing time last week with Mathis out.. Will be the back-up C & G for next season and has a solid foundation to learn under Mudd to become a potential starter at LG by 2013..
To be honest, when evaluating this Eagle Offense for 2011,
This Offensive Line has probably graded out the Highest amongst all the Postions (besides McCoy) but remember , withougt some of these big holes this OL have created, McCoy would not be getting some of these big runs.. I think they have provided Vick with more than ample time to make some plays and that Vick continues to hold to ball a little too long before either getting rtif or it or deciding to scramble.. many times I have seen Vick scramble right into a blockers defender…
In Summary, the QB & WR Positions have let this Offense and Team down in my opinion,, Everybody and their brother &sister knew this Eagle Defense was going to be a real work in progress and after a slow start, has performed pretty ok and at least has kept the Eagles in games but when you look at the last 2 weeks in particualr ,with playoffs chances hanging in the balance, the Eagles Offense and skills players did very little.. I belive the Eagles Defense scored 7 Points each versus the bears and Cardinals and the Eagles still lost.. We all know that Coach Ar teams nad the Eagles are built to score and basically outscore other teams and it just hasn’t happened with Vick and the WR’s this Season.. Maybe D-Jax holding out a couple of weeks and contract issues have hurt, maybve Mcalin’s illness and not playing at all in the SUmmer have hurt, maybe J Avants statements and his looking over his shoulder type of play have hurt.. The one thing I do know is that the QB & WR’s have not been clicking all season with any type of consistentcy and if it were not for RB McCoy and his monster games he has had, the EAgles may have 1 Win this season.. All this missed time last summer is months ago and the Vick & WR should have been on the same page a lot sooner and especialyl since they all played together last yer so it’s not like a whole lot of changes made… I think the concentrations,focus and commitment to excell and heart are just not there this season for a few of them and we are seeing the results of their up & down performances..Many of us have stated, the Eagles will only go as far as QB Vick takes them and that hasn’t chanceg, so forget about the play-calling, time out management, etc,etc, unless Vick plays at a high level, the Eagles don’t win and that’s what I take for these first 9 games of the season..
To Jakedog,
You are probably right about Vick deserving a (D), and I would have no argument, I did give him a little benefit of the doubt for the crappy play-calling from MM & AR which could allow him to be more effective, but bottom line,it is up to VIck to make the plays or not and this Season he has not.. So a D is understanding and probably more deserving.. Maybe a (C-)
paulman I agree with your analysis, especially on the o line play, people want to talk about the defense, Castillo, but if Vick and the wideouts played even at a B level this team would easily have 2-3 more wins, huge disappointment and huge attitude, makes it hard to watch and root for them