I knew the Eagles running game was going to be good this year, but I had no idea they were going to put on the type of performance they displayed last night. On Monday Night football in front of the nation, they ran the football 49 times for 263 yards and I’m sure the tape will look frightening to the rest of the defenses on their schedule.
Most of the night, Eagles running back LeSean McCoy had to decide which gaping hole to run through, the one to his right or the one to his left. They made the Redskin run defense look like they didn’t belong in the league.
I’ve been eager since training camp to see the offensive line get to work together in a full game. They kicked some butt. All-Pro beast Jason Peters was back dominating at left tackle, underrated Evan Mathis at left guard using his athleticism and technique to block defensive tackles, with a smart, tough and athletic center Jason Kelce in the middle making the calls, with Mr. Versatile Todd Herremans at right guard doing a good job with his smarts and technique and another athletic freak in rookie Lane Johnson at right tackle getting better every time out.
It was easy to see they were the strength of the football team, but how great would their impact be. It was big last night. The Birds offensive line dominated for most of the evening. They fit this scheme perfectly because the key to opening the big holes in the zone blocking scheme is getting the defensive line to move laterally. The technique requires superior quickness and agility, not mention what the rapid pace does to the big defensive linemen.
This offensive line together with offensive mastermind of Chip Kelly, who loves to run the football and is turning into a frightening monster. Kelly knows how to spread a defense out then attack them inside and outside with the running game better than anybody I know. The Redskins had no idea what hit them last night. McCoy has great vision and is a master of the cutback, so the offensive line only needs to get the defensive line moving and let number 25 find the hole.
Everybody’s curious,” said McCoy. “We’re learning as this thing goes. Coach Kelly is new to us and we’re new to him and we’re working so well together. Everything he’s asked us to do, we’re doing. He’s a great coach. Today is the first time that I think a lot of the guys in the locker room had like fun. We couldn’t wait to get back out there and have fun.”
“We’ve said since Day 1, it’s a game”, Kelly said. “It doesn’t have to be run like a business. And we don’t run our practices like a business, we don’t run our training sessions like a business. We’ve got a bunch of guys who are excited to be at work every single day, and they make us as coaches make sure that we come to work every day ready for them, because these guys are going to challenge you in the meeting room from an x’s and o’s standpoint because they are so knowledgeable about the game. It keeps us sharp, it keeps them sharp, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s a real good group to be around.”
“I was expecting it,” said left tackle Peters. “Like I said in the preseason, I know is going to get to 1,000 quick because of the way our offense is set up. He’s got the cutback, he’s got the frontside. I’d say by Week 10, he’ll be at 1,000, easy.
The Redskins are still looking for McCoy, who had been licking his chops for quite a while just thinking about playing for Kelly and getting the chance to run the football between 25 and 30 times a game. He got his chance last night and didn’t disappoint.
McCoy turned some of the Washington defenders in circles in Barry Sanders fashion.
Last night the offensive line got those big guys for the Skins moving laterally and the holes were as big as any I’ve ever seen on the NFL level. A number of times, Shady had room to run inside and outside or anywhere else he wanted to run. He made the Skins tacklers look foolish by faking them to the ground with his cuts. He carried the ball 31 times for 184 yards and one touchdown.
On the touchdown run he cut back and jumped over a Washington defender, who was diving helplessly before McCoy accelerated and went into the end zone standing with his hands raised.
This running game has room to grow, in fact so does this entire offense. If they continue working hard and staying humble, this team could be still standing when the playoffs begin.
I have to disagree with you G on Mr versatility Todd Herremans, I seen him blow a couple assignments, get beat BAD on a couple plays that got Vick pounded and just look slow, I have to admit, Paulman has been saying since day one that Herreman was going to be the weak link on that line. Lets just hope it was him having to get use to a new position and he steps it up starting next week.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BRING BALANCE
I dont know why this concept is so hard for some to grasp…. when you run the ball, you make your Oline better. They WANT to hit and push. They WANT to show that they are big and bad. When you run the ball it takes pressure of your QB. The D has to respect the run.. they have to step up.. leaving space underneath the safeties for crossing routes by FAST WR’s. Its basic basic football and it has taking THIS game for the simpletons to get it.
GREAT GREAT job by Chip.
GREAT GREAT job by the entire team to pull this off.
It takes a TEAM to win football games… who knew?
AGREED! What a breadth of fresh air to watch a team coached the right way.
I agree. Run the ball to set a tone!
Couple of points:
Kelly understands making the D defend the entire field is difficult. D must not be able to predict the play. Keeping manageable second and third down yardage is key.
Strength of the team is the O line and and Djax/McCoy/Vick- Chip played to his strengths. That’s a dig at Reid.
Strength of the D is the front 7- design good blitzes, send the right players and be creative.
The specials were FANTASTIC. Coverage on punts and kicks was the biggest change of all.
Mistakes were made to be sure but I for one did not expect the Birds to win last night.
Paulman’s Top 10 NFL List after Week #1
1) 49ers (1-0) – Beat a solid Opponent in the Packers
2) Bronco’s (1-0) – Thouroughly beat the SB Champions Ravens badly
3) NO Saaints (1-0) – Beat a solid Team in the Falcons in a close Game
4) Titans (1-0) – Beat the Steelers on the Road as a big underdog
5) EAGLES (1-0) Beat the favored Redskins on Road in Coach Kelly’s debut
6) KC Chiefs (1-0) Won easily on the Road against a poor Team
7) Dolphins (1-0) Won handily on the road versus the Browns
8) Seahawks (1-0) Won a hard fought battle on the road versus Carolina
9) Lions/Bears (1-0) Beat the Vkings by 10 Pts in Reggie Bush’s debut and Bears came from behind to beat the Bengals at home
10) Cowboys (1-0) Beat NFC Rival GIants in a sloppy, but exciting game
Both Patriots & Texans won on the Road , but were heavy favorites and neither really played that well or probably didn’t deserve to win…
If you lost your Opener (Packers,Falcons,Steelers,Redskins,Giants, Bengals,Ravens) then you don’t make the list in week #1, you just can’t..
I expected the birds to win but i didnt expect 45 mins of Quality Defense from top to bottom the score should of been way lower for the skins but hey this is the first game and we set a tone. I understand this is only game one but no one should sleep or should of slept on the skins they were last yr division champs and were predicted to be up there this year too yes anything can happen but i think it was perfect timing for chip to prove the naysayers wrong and that he is legit.
There are some kinks and some wrinkles they need to fix but everyteam does they will do better as the season progresses.
Yes the eagles should play 60 minutes of D.
Breaking News from Bleacher Report Bradley Fletcher has a concussion i dont know for how long or if they have to rotate or he may have to sit out a game just to be safe or they will pick up another CB but i know they brought back Brandon Hughes he should be able to help out maybe rotate with Boykin an possibly Kurt Coleman.
Fletcher will most likley have to sit out a week as most “Concussed” Players end up doing to pass a battery of league mandated Tests…
I see Boykin moving ot the outside with J Poyer playing the Slot/Nickel Back..
Poyer did not look good at all on monday, he looked slow and always three yards away from the receiver. This is a big problem.
Poyer had a nice special teams play…Him being 3 yards off isn’t a problem, its what you do when the ball is snapped….He’s not ready yet. But a lot of what we saw could be attributed to the soft coverage the Eagles were playing also.
Chip Kelly 1-0
Andy Reid 1-0
Joe Banner 0-1
Gus Bradley 0-1
Tom Heckert still in the drunk tank
I think the Right team Gus would Succeed he doesnt suck i think Jacksonville just doesnt have what it takes to get where they need to be. Now Andy Reids Vision of how he wants his team was given to him on a silver platter and he is running away with it and rightly so he deserves it just lose to our eagles and after that i will cheer you on all the way.
Chip kelly is the real deal will we have loses yes who doesnt but what he brings is hope and reassurance to the city of philadelphia and to philly sports.
brandon hughes will probably play nickel mixed in with kurt coleman
I’m curious as to where all of the regular posters are on this site that has been crying about how bad the Eagles are going to be. YOU KNOW THE ONES WHO CLAIM TO BE EAGLES FANS AND RANT AND RAVE ABOUT HOW THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO PICK TALENT AND CAN’T PLAY. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!! If you’re going to hide now, don’t come out when the Eagles lose or don’t play well. That’s what Dallas fans do. Go post on Fake Eagles Fans.com
Who’s hiding. I want to see how long it last before the wind goes out of your sail, and you start making excuses. I have none, nor do I make excuses. So why are you curious?
I don’t root against the Eagles. So, for me there is nothing for you to gloat about. We’ve played 1 game……The Offense looks great. The Defense still stinks.
I am still a realist, and a real fan…..translation, I will post when I find it necessary, and When I see fit. I never need anyone’s permission so spare me.
Lol, it’s funny but good to see you all know who you are. I had to do something to get you guys to come out. Any other time you guys are lighting it up on here. I’ll never have an excuse. I’m with them do or die. I can’t control who Howie brings in or how they play. I’m not worried about individual players, its abot the team. If I could do a better job I’d apply. Some of you guys duon’t even give thema chance before the games begin. Just bash and bash and bash. Statistically speaking the way the defense played last night contradicts your belief that the D stinks. The only thing you base that off last year. Time heals all wounds. Is the D at it’s best? Nope, Are they better than last year? Lots!! That’s a fact. The D is not world beaters yet…but damn They balled last night. Give credit where and when it’s due.Some of you so called Eagles fans were mad as hell last night because of how well they played and can’t wait until they perform poorly so you can say “SEE I TOLD YOU”. I won’t be waiting to comment waiting for wind to out of my sails. I’ll be standing up as an Eagles fan knowing that they will get better, not waiting to bash them because I think I’m a better GM and coach than who’s at the Novacare. If I was I’d be there not tapping away on my keyboard.
Not one word you said described how I felt. I wasn’t mad at all. But I know some of you think you’re smarter than you really are so I just let you talk, no comment to your post, and watch your enthusiasm go through it’s highs or lows, and you’re certainly on a high. I’m always mellow, and temper my emotions, although still a fan.
Being a fan gives me the right to bash when I feel necessary, regardless of the opinions of others. Just like you yourself will be bashing them when they don’t have a game like last night.
What you’re saying doesn’t have any affect on me at all. Anyone that wasn’t impressed with that Offensive performance is an idiot. I was impressed, but it didn’t change my expectations for the season, because realistically, I know we are still 3 years away from truly contending. But the game was entertaining, and I hope I see more performances like that against more competitive teams.
That being said, I still say 3-13, 4-12, 5-11, as a realistic fan, because I know this defense is our achilles heel.
I just caught wind you turned on the Eagles last year and started rooting for the skins, then the seahawks, then the 9ers, say what you want, that completely discredits you period!No fandom for you, just fraudum!!!
Hit wrong tab, not meant for you!
You are talking about Songs.
Whos hiding @$$puppet? I’m 1 of those so-called guys, & I responded 1st thing this morning. Stop being a f^#@ing @$$hole! You ain’t no more of a fan than anybody else. Stop beating your chest, it’s 1 game, against a befuddled team with a scared, recuperating QB, & they still almost lost. So STFU, before you start proclaiming your superior fandom! It was a fun game. The offense looked good. The defense not so much!
LOL, that’s Mr. A$$hole to you.
LOL!!!!
you can be a fan, do or die, and still have realistic expectations.
I’m a 76ers fan. Are you a 76ers fan Eagle? Then my point should be clear
Too many of you confuse negativity and pessimism with being ‘realistic’ fans. You saying we’ll win three to five games is you being negative.
Nope. You can say the birds will win 7 games and still be positive about it. Most fans realize we are not winning a superbowl but there are fans who wont enjoy last night or this season because it doesnt fit THEIR plan.
I enjoyed last night, but my plan would still work better than Howie’s.
I don’t see your point.
no realistic. A pessimistic point of view doesn’t mean your not a fan.
I’ll leave it at this. Who gives two shakes in the toilet what you think. I’m going to say what I damn well please. I don’t live for anybody’s approval, I’m a grown man. Screw you, and your shortsighted point of view. Period.
I second that notion! As I’ve stated a million times on here, “IF YOU DON’T LIKE, or CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH, DON’T READ, nor COMMENT ON MY POSTS!” It’s that simple. Just because we differ with points of view, doesn’t make any of us worse, or less of a fan, nor does it make us want them to lose. Whatever makes you Super-fan losers sleep at night. I’m SOOOO sad, that you are better fans than me. I can’t live with myself anymore. BOO HOO!!!! GTFO!!!! It was a fun game to watch, but it was 1 game. My 6 game prediction, still holds. If they make a boob out of me, I’ll eat crow. IMHO, their DF, still blows, & the offense is going to catch up with them, whether it be Vicks, inevitable revert, the break down of the line, overuse of Shady, or the lack of WR’s. I hope I’m wrong, because the last 2-4 years, has been depressing in this city, for all the sports!
BTW, Shady is a beast! I pray he stays healthy.
Plan? Please explain Cliff.. You peaked my interest
also, there are some strange cats on the website, worrying about other people fandom? Have to find a hobby
Who said I need to approve what you say? As I said you’re just negative. You’re giving an opinion, my opinion is you’re wrong. You believe being negative is being realistic. You’re wrong and I’ll say it how many times I want. Being realistic would be judging this year’s team based on what they do THIS year. Not on what they did under Reid.
You people can be as negative as you want. That’s your right. I’m going to keep saying youre wrong. That’s my right. And I’ll continue to do so, because you’re opinion is based on negative emotions from previous failed seasons under the previous failed coach, not based on what this coach will do.
Negative about What? An honest opinion? Thats not negative Skayne, Thats real. You take the bitter with the sweet as we have all learned as Eagles fans.
Weren’t you negative about Vick being resigned? I wasn’t. Does that make you less of a fan. Not in my opinion.
So, if I don’t like a player, prospect, or coaching scheme, then I don’t like’em. Just MY opinion, which we all post on GCobb, but that shouldn’t bother you either.
Just know I’ve spent way too much money on Season Tickets over the last 20 years, not to give my opinion. You speak of me being an internet GM, but considering the lost Superbowl Opportunities, and wasted draft picks, and squandered all-pro prospects we have had. GMCliff really couldn’t do any worse.
And although I am technically disabled, I am very much qualified to be a GM in Sports Management my Brother. I have a PHd, and Masters, and an uncanny eye for talent. I’ve hit on 85% of my target prospects over the last 12 years. What’s Howies, and Andy Reids success rate? My point is that I Am wrong, at times, but not that often, that you should ever criticize me, so step off.
Big Frank, the plan this off season was simple. Fix the Defense.
I have screamed that all offseason.
We drafted Lane Johnson, which I get, we needed another Tackle, he is serviceable enough to contribute, but, he is in essence, a project of sorts. We could have got one as good as Johnson in a later Round, traded for one or signed a Free agent.
On Monday night, what new faces other than Lane Johnson, did you see on the field on Offense? And what would you say is the weakest element on this team this year, as was last year? So which was more of a priority?….The Defense. We would have a stronger OVERALL TEAM, if that was done.
We didn’t need Zach Ertz, or Matt Barkley. We could have gotten Bennie Logan in a later Round. Did we really make a push to get extra draft picks?, or create trades, for draft picks, and or veterans that we should have made for like Brandon Graham, or Jeremy Maclin?, or did we just overvalue Brandon Graham? I doubt it.
If the Defense was stronger, added to a newly vamped Offense, and Special Teams, we would be a lot closer to contention than not, because now Top Free Agents may want to play in this system now.
Players like Charles Tillman, Malcolm Jenkins, and Jarius Byrd are now in play, along with potential college draft prospects, and current players who shouldn’t be starting, wont be in a position to hurt the team.
You have better playmakers at the Linebacking position also, if you draft nastier, athletic, Linebackers that can cover.
Phase 1 of the plan “Fix the Defense”
what new faces other than Lane Johnson, did you see on the field on Offense? STARTING…. I should say
I won’t spend too much time on your claims about picking players since you provide no proof. As I said, I didn’t say one word about how much of a fan you are. That was someone else. You said being negative was being realistic. I said that being negative doesn’t mean you’re being realistic, it’s just you’re opinion based on what the previous regime did.
My opinion is you’re wrong. This is a comments section. You state what you believe, I state what I believe. You make comments, expect people to agree or disagree. That’s what I expect when I comment. I will defend my position, you defend yours. I did NOT say you can’t have an opinion. I said it’s wrong. That’s what a comments section is for
As far as you’re disagreement about the Eagles draft strategy, the draft is about getting impact players regardless of ‘needs’. In the draft, where you’re picking the best player available might not be a position of need. Your positions of need might not have any impact players worth taking at the spot you’re in. You take high impact players regardless of position. Drafting for ‘need’ is part of the failures of the past two years.
FA is where you fill needs. If there were no salary cap, you would try to get all the players you want. Since there is a cap, you have to manage resources. So in FA, you don’t tie your hands by risking everything on big money guys. Most of the guys available aren’t top players. You take positions you are bad at and try to get to average. Too many of you don’t understand that going from horrible to just average at certain positions will mean a substantial improvement for the team.
If you think the Eagles didn’t want to put an all-star at every position on D, or didn’t understand they need to improve, you’d be mistaken. Where you draft and limited resources restricts what you can do. Because of the cap, the Eagles made a lot of low-risk medium reward decisions. You don’t have to hit on all just some.
Take a top-notch O, improve from horrible to average on D, make STs top-notch, and you have a team that can win.
Wrong based on what? the fact that they won their first game?, or their winning record for the season? Or their upgrades lead to the same result?
You make no sense Skayne. I know what FA are for. I know what a draft strategy is.This is why I don’t comment on every article. It serves no purpose to reason with you, you don’t see your wrong until the end result is presented to you. So we’ll talk then, and see who’s wrong Brother.
My position isn’t based on ONE game. I was saying this the whole summer before the games started.
My position is based on the games we played over the last 3 years. The talent is there. In ’10 we made the playoffs. In ’11 top 10 in points allowed and scored. In 2012 the bottom falls out due to injuries on the o-line. Also bad luck in a short 16 game season.
I knew the difference between winning and losing the last 2 years has BEEN ABOUT COACHING! How many times do I have to say it?
So know ONE GAME hasn’t swayed me. It’s my evaluation of the last 2 years. And as the season goes on, success won’t matter to you. You’ll keep making excuses until the very end.
So you admit you have always been one of those unrealistic fans, who chooses the optimistic route. I can respect that, but has nothing to do with me, so this debate is closed as far as I am concerned, because although you choose to think like that, you prove me correct based on the RESULTS of ’10, ’11, and ’12
You just prove that you don’t know how to evaluate a team other then the final result. Which makes it more unlikely that you hit on 85% of the players in the draft.
Your analysis? We had a losing record, so EVERYBODY is a bum. Glad you’re not the GM.
I’ve been saying this the whole summer. I picked the Eagles to win, you believed they would lose. I was even close on the final score.
So who’s the one being unrealistic?
I NEVER stated that the Eagles would lose to the Redskins….
I aint Hiding Bit@H
Well at least you know who you are BIT@H A$$!
Pump the Breaks Folks.
The Redskins were BAD, Freaking Bad!
Yeah, it’s all the deadskins fault! Give the Eagles no credit, you continue to show who you are. Like I said http://WWW.FAKE EAGLE FAN.COM
Good start…not gonna get excited till I see it is week 8 or so and were still doing it. If we are 5-3 or better Ill be legitimately excited. Last year we were 3-1 after 4…so Im just gonna watch and see how this all develops. I expected the offense to look decent but the big surprise was the defense. The looked agressive and mean. I was really happy with that.
You guys make me laugh. Just be happy that with a win on the road against a divisional opponent. Just be ecstatic with McCoy having 180+ yds and the skins not even getting 75 yards. Be happy with Kendricks flying around the field and Barwin, Cole, Ryans and Williams making plays. Be happy with the freakin special teams which were really good.
Just enjoy the moment and don’t project. And also stop lecturing everyone else about optimism under the guise of keeping it real. If you didn’t have fun watching that game last night, then I don’t know what to tell you.
Amen!! This is what happens when fans have watched bad football for several years…. they get it in their heads HOW to turn it around… they get so locked into THEIR plan that any other plan is stupid. Basically, they care more about being right then winning the games. Isnt it sad that for many… last night was not fun… it was not a step in the right direction…. it was PROOF that they and their plan may be wrong.
Who cares how they win guys… point is… they WON.,
That was the most fun i’ve had in a LOOONNNGGGG time.
They ran the ball 49 times! That is 4 Andy Reid coached games.
And today Kelly said that they thought that they were too slow.
Reagal and others….
I agree.. its the start of the season and we will have to watch it all play out. Most fans have the eagles finishing with 6-9 wins.. i dont hear many boasting about a superbowl win BUT…..
With all the negativity on here about how the eagles should just scrap the season and the qb and play the backups…. its nice to set the tone. Its nice to finally see what many of us knew COULD happen. The Eagles… as bad as their secondary MAY be…. have a reason to fight for THIS year. This O can word and didjst that…. beating the NFCE champs. Did you watch the Cowboys and Giants this week? Do you honestly think that they would crush us? I say no. And so….. IF…. IF….. IF….. the Oline, qb, Rb’s, D can continue…. there is no reason to think we cant build off of this and win games this year. AND THATS WHY THEY PLAY THE GAMES!!
Exactly, and that’s all I’m saying. It’s just funny to me how some of the everyday posters was conspicuously absent on this board. If you wasn’t absent the message wasn’t meant for you. If you responded, I obviously struck a nerve whether you was absent or not. Don’t get offended, just ask yourself….Why is that?
LOL!!!! You haven’t struck any nerves Brother. We aren’t sweating you Eagle. Stop flattering yourself man, you sound silly saying that.
After the 1st Week of Games
Was anyone impressed with the Secondaries or Overall Defense’s of the Redskins,Cowboys & Giants and other NFC Foes like the Packers,Falcons,Cardinals, Vikings,Rams & Lions and then other AFC Top Teams like the Ravens,Patriots,Texans,Bronco’s, & Bengals
All these Teams gave up 24 Points + with many in the mid 30’s with lots of Big Plays and Yards…
It’s the way of the NFL.. Give up 24 Pts and less, and you have a great chance of winning Football Games in Today’s High-Flying, Pass-Happy NFL
It is what it is…
pass happy? the birds ran it 50 times!
Reagel Eagle that wasnt what the so called “experts” said prior to the game they didnt expect the skins to be bad one person perdicted 41-0 on espn for the skins to win. If they were such a bad team like you state they wouldnt have won the division last year. RGknee hurt not hurt rusty not rusty he eventually got a groove going on offense they will be fine this year not great but fine. The eagles can take this division by storm and the league it is up to the Eagles to complete the task can they Yes. Will they? TBD
The Skins WERE BAD BAD BAD
but if they were good would we have taken the air out of the ball in the third quarter– you need to get used to 42-35 games
Conveniently, you say the Redskins are bad AFTER we put a beating on them.
Before the game you thought we had no chance. I had people like you pegged right. You’ll be Debbie Downers unless the Eagles do something unheard of like starting off 10-0, at which point you MIGHT change your stance.
Didn’t say are. I said Were.
They spotted us points with no offense from them. They gave great Field psition, They WERE TERRIBLE!!!
Regal…Meanwhile you forget about the first possesion of the game for us, led to 7 points for them…then the Avant fumble gave them great field position as well that lead to 7..you just showed what “ignorantly selective” means….
Great start to the Kelly Era, and our 2013 season. After the last 5 years do Reid, and his predictable offense and poor defense after JJ’s death, it was like being a kid at Christmas time last night and watching this team RUN THE BALL!!
The defense had been a real unknown during the preseason, but there were a number of players who came up really BIG. Mr. Cary Williams, I apologize for doubting your on the field play….you backed up everything you said with your play on the field, a turnover, a sack, a clutch play on 4th down, and no stupid penalties…you have a new fan in me. Keep up the aggressive play for our defense. Trent Cole…this guy changed positions and is playing like an All-Pro…great job Trent!! Mychal Kendrick’s was all over the place, and did his job of shadowing RGIII…great job!! Chung…..well…..nobody is perfect.
Needless to say there was a lot to be happy about with our offense…Kelly gets it….he is working to beat the defense, not working to “run HIS SYSTEM”…he will run whatever it takes to BEAT YOU!! Our line had some huge holes that FINALLY allowed Shadey to show the world that he is a great back. Mike Vick did a great job running the new system….he made good decisions on the read-option and also made good throws …..112 QB rating is great by most any measure, so Kelly’s competition this summer resulted in very good play from the system….one note on Vick is the way he was limping at the end of the game, this is the first game of the season and we would hope that his history of injuries can be avoided. DJax…great job, over 100 yards receiving and a TD….great job EAGLES!!
What about SPECIAL TEAMS?? Great coverage on kick offs and punts…Donnie Jones!! Yeah!!
Great way to start the season….plenty of room for improvement, but great start for this coach in his inaugural game in the NFL.
GO BIRDS!!!!!
I for one thought the eagles would lose last night, and I am happy to admit I was wrong. I love the direction the team is going just did not think they would be so effective on both sides of the ball this early. I’m sure you can point to any number of reasons why but I really don’t care how Washington played, I was just looking at how the eagles played and it was impressive. I don’t know how the rest of the seasons going to go but for one night I was totally entertained and I loved it. I think it’s a little early to know how the season will unfold but after last night I don’t know how as an eagles fan you can’t feel good about that performance. It’s only 1 game enjoy it.
No one hiding here.. I have stated for a while that I really liked this opening part of the Schedule and expected the Eagles to Start at least 2-1 with a 50/50 Chance of Stealing one on the Road against the Redskins with RGIII not playing in live action in almost 8 months and possibly starting 3-0…but let’s take things week by week.. Eagles & Coaching Staff should be hard at work today breaking down film of Game Tape of the Redskins Games along with the Chargers/Texans Game to begin to prepare for upcoming game with San Diego..
Chargers played well for 3 Quarters and really had the Texans on the Ropes last evening and let that game get away from them… How they react and repsond is anyone’s guess… but I expect them to come in with fire from their ears and play hard and compete for 60 minutes so this will not be any pushover game for the Eagles and they need to heal, stay grounded nad focused at the task at hand..
One game but wow, that was a fast paced first half. I guess chip wants it faster. The bar has been raised and eyes opened. Hope the d can continue to get better, but the offence owns teams like that there will be more wins than losses come the end of the season.
Knew the Eagles would win that game a few weeks back. I did not know how they would look doing it. The NFL will surely try to copy some of Chips stuff but you can’t mimic his practices which are ultimately what allows him to call plays 100 miles an hour like he is playing Madden on PS3. its going to take staff being hired away from this team for the NFL to fully grasp what’s going on.
I liked:
The teams attitude after that horrible fumble call early. that could have easily taken the wind out of us. We didn’t come right back and score either but still kept the pedal down. Nice.
Vick calmed himself down after a bad second drive he was trying to make up for the fumble call with every throw it was nice to see him calm down and throw that TD to Desean on the third drive.
Special teams, Chris Polk made plays and it shows guys are committed to making an impact one way or another.
Desean looked into the game, Celek was wide open a few times, and the defensive effort was there most of the game
I disliked:
Kelce, Herrimans, both struggled on certain blitz pickups and it was obvious. You can expect Lane Johnson to whiff once a game but the vets can’t let Vick get smashed right up the middle. Some of it was basic stuff you always have inside responsibility how you can be an interior lineman and don’t touch a body on pass protection is beyond me. other than that they played well.
Bryce Brown needs to run with more purpose and not like he is being chased by a dog. We need him if Shady is going to last the season.
Surprised By:
Trent Cole and how well he played. He did an excellent job of defending run plays and was in space very little. the book is still out on him, as I see better passing attacks finding ways to force him to cover but so far so good.
Cary Williams I knew he could cover and tackle but I wasn’t sure if he could make plays he proved that he can.
Overall great start to the season my expectations of what this team would be after the Reid firing in year one are blown away. looks like the development of a real team and Chip doesn’t even have all the players he want on the roster yet. The practice reps has our team ahead of other teams as far as stamina preparation and tempo which in turn helps us hide deficiencies we may have.
I will just keep saying it. This team ALWAYS had talent. They went to the playoffs in 2010. But the guy coaching this team was awful the last two years.
In 2011, he starts of by hiring d-line coach Jim Washburn, because he was so enamored with the ‘Wide-9″. This guy has always been enamored with ‘systems’, not players who are in them. He compounds the situation by hiring his o-line coach as DC, because none of the prospective DCs the Eagles interviewed would run the d-line coach’s system. He weakens two areas with one idiot-stroke, and allows his inexperienced DC’s authority to be usurped by a rogue d-line coach(why wouldn’t he act they way when the HC wants to run his system?).
2011 was sunk by the defense’s horrible start and injuries to Vick that saw him get knocked out of 2 games and miss 3 others. But at the end of the season, the Eagles had scored the most points and gave up the least amount of points in the division. Both numbers being top 10.
The next year we continue with the wide-9, continuing to ignore that it didn’t fit our players, most especially the LBs and safeties. We had the most bland D in history. EVERY team knew that we were only going to rush the down four. The sacks went down because of how extremely easy it was for opposing teams to set up protection.
The offense was a disaster because the HC and OC wouldn’t adjust to the fact that without Peters and subsequently three other o-lineman, the plays they wanted to run couldn’t be executed by the backups. In 2011, the Eagles had this play called “sprint-draw”, in which Jason Peters would be responsible for blocking TWO d-lineman on his own. Not like you double team one guy and slide off to get a linebacker, but block two guys on his own. He would throw the DE and then block the LB, all one play. It was comical to see the Eagles try to run that play with Dunlap, who was better in protection than people give him credit for, but was always mediocre in run-blocking. It was another example that Reid doesn’t know that PLAYERS determine what plays you can call, not how much of a genius you think you are when drawing up plays.
The coaching on this team sucked ass. Players weren’t developing, and weren’t being used to the best of their abilities. Just look at Kendricks through the pre-season and the Redskins game. The man was born to blitz, because his sudden speed on delayed blitzes shocks QBs. Would Reid or his staff would do it? In their system, it was more important to make him SLB and not use his dynamism as an athlete.
Understand a few things about Kelly. He’s a brilliant mind, but in the way you want a person to be brilliant. He knows what he’s good at, and understands that others are also smart and is always looking to learn from them. He understands that players need to be put in position to succeed. A smart coach calls plays in a game that he knows his players can execute. He doesn’t have them do things that they aren’t good at and then say the players were awful.
This team has the talent to win 10 games yearly. Reid’s awful coaching has obscured the talent on this team. I wrote it before, this team will have double digit wins, and the performance on both sides of the ball didn’t surprise me in the slightest. Kelly is an excellent coach, and with him we can be a successful team again.
Every team has talent, even the Jaguars. That doesn’t translate into a championship caliber team unless you have ALL the elements needed to succeed.
The Eagles weren’t as talented as the ones that were viable contenders over the last 4 years. Please
One question about last night…..Where was Casey? Did he even play?
He Played on Special Teams .. on Kickoffs and Punt Covereages..
I expect him to start seeing playing time by next Week as he’s been healing from his Knee Scoping Procdure that he had in early June and pretty close to 100%
Wheres Vinny? LOL
Why are you laughing? Didn’t your Giants look like shit losing to the Cowgirls?
Giants were terrible but still almost beat them cowpokes
I love how the haters on here are saying its only one game. After one game the Vegas odds for us to win it all went from 50 to 1 to 25 to 1, the power rankings went from us being 25th to us now being 5th. This shows it’s about ONE game! the pessimistic fans are so mad at us optimistic fans for this one game, question, when was the last time the Eagles played a game like this? Can’t remember eithet could ya’s? Exoect this week in, week out. Great week to be a TRUE Optimistic Eagles Fan!!!!!
They could go 11-5, lose in the playoffs by playing a terrible game and they would still be negative–claim that if the eagles followed their expert draft advice they would have won that game… they never see the big picture–
I for one have been cautiously optimistic about about the kelly era–I was always taught that to use the offensive formation to dictate to a defense (a fundamental) but this dude has taken it to a whole new level–he gives his qb 4-5 options on every play–
It would be great if they were to play like this Week in and Week out, but lets be realisitc here after 1 Game… Let’s see how they Practice,Play when there are expectations placed on this Team and Coach and not just amusing interest by the National Media and Football Talking Heads..
Can they Sustain this Energy & Focus week in and week out, can they remain realtively heathy ?? (Vick was one sore Player with shots/bruises all over his body after 1 game..) McCoy can’t carry the ball 30 Times a Game for 4 months… I am gung-ho about the prospects of this Eagles Team, but as usual, the Philly Media and many of it’s Fans claim “Greatness after 1 Week” .. For us oldtimers, we have seen this before.. I am cautiously Optimistic but let’s play a few games, overcome some hardships and injuries that will occur, have different Game Plans, get more players involved in the Offense outside of Vick,McCoy & D-Jax for they simply can’t carry 75% of the entire Offense for an entire Season
I support Chip Kelly and what he’s done and doing to this Team and brings an energy, focus, confidence & accountability that has been lacking for the last 5 Years from the Franchise.. Let’s Go Eagles..
Haters….funny andrew, if you go back to your first post on this page, the first post overall on the page, and you were “HATING” on the ToddFather….I guess it is in the eye of the beholder whom is deemed a hater and who is not.
Personally, I loved the game on Monday night. I was suprised at the pace, but could not of been more excited to watch it all play out. That being said, there is no deneying the fact that it is only one game in a 16 game season, and the coach and team have all said that they made mistakes in the second half that they will need to work on to correct. Not being negative, just making an honest observation and echoing what the team is also saying.
There are a few on here that want to scream about others being haters, but come on, we are all Eagles fans who love this team, but we are also Eagles fans who if you are one who has followed the team for over 3 decades like me, have become excited before only to be brought back down to earth. I think we need to see more than a single game to begin rewriting the entire history of this team. That being said, it was a very positive start to the Kelly Era and with the state of this division I truely believe that we can make some noise and be playing meaningful games in December. Stop with all of the labels…if you are a fan of the team you would understand…if you are only a fan of a few players, then I understand yours and others motivations.
Well said Greenfan!!!
I Understand the enthusiasm, and excitement to the stat of our season, but don’t point fingers, and label people like we just won the SuperBowl. If you are a real Eagles fan, you know we’ve been here before. So excuse me if I don’t get too overly joyous, That would be foolish.
Gm, I understand where you are coming from and agree with some of your assessment but I am more optimistic.
But I want to look at your win/loss projections. You say that they will win at most 5 games this year, so I wanted to go down the list. I apologize if you did this in an earlier post.
This is how I see it:
09/09 – @ Skins = W
9/15 – Chargers = W
9/19 – Chiefs = W
9/29 – Broncos = L
10/06 – @ Giants = L
10/13 – @ Bucs = W
10/20 – Cowboys = W
10/27- Giants = W
11/03 – @ Raiders = W
11/10 – @ Packer = L
11/17 – Skins = L (Redskins play better in 2nd game)
12/01 – Cards = W
12/08 – Lions = L
12/15 – Vikes = W
12/22 – Bears = L
12/29 – @ Cowboys = L
9-7
You could definitely make a case for them wining some of the losses and vice versa, but that is how I see it after week 1.
What wins do you have?
My other point is yes the defense may play bad, but there are not a ton of really good defenses on their schedule this year. None of them are dominant, so the offense is going to score points. There are going to be a lot of high scoring games.
Shoulda been @Vikes for 12/15.
Thats a fair objection Bugs. Thank you Brother.
I never go through the schedule like that Bugs Brother, because some teams improve as the season goes on, and some good teams go backwards, you never know….Injuries play a role as well
I do say they go 5-11, 6-10, at best after watching Monday Night.
I thought I might lure you in. haha.
You said 3-13
I do say they go 5-11, 6-10, at best [after watching Monday Night.]
Fan- an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or activity.
where the guys who claimed this was a rebuilding year and that Foles should start, wasting Shady and Djax in their primes for the next few years?
They are with in and your Redskin buddies…..you are a FRAUD.
Go away TROLL.
I’ve been an Eagles fan for over two decades. I’ve been through all the heartbreak of the late 80s, 90s, and early 21st century. I was young when the late 80s-early 90s teams lost, but that has no bearing on this team.
To be a truly great head coach, you have to be two things: great football mind and great CEO. You have to have the big and little picture in sight.
In Buddy Ryan, we had the great mind, terrible CEO. Not to mention having to go through the best division in football. Reid it was vice-versa. He brought in Jim Johnson and John Harbaugh. He built a great organization. But he was always a mediocre football mind. The terrible play-calling, horrible game management, and belief in systems over players. That’s why after a run between 2000-2004 where we won no less than eleven games, from ’05-’12, he’s only a few games over .500. Harbaugh left, and JJ unfortunately passed away. With the exodus of other coaches, Reid’s attempts to replace them became comical. Once he was no longer a good CEO, he was no longer successful.
Chip Kelly has both sides. He’s a great football mind. He was schooling guys in college, many of them going to the NFL, some already having had success in the NFL. He’s a good CEO, he’s building a strong organization top to bottom.
I believed this team still had a lot of talent. I believed Kelly would bring it out. I wasn’t surprised by our performance against the Skins, because Kelly knows what he’s doing. In Denny’s Monday’s Picks, I had the Eagles winning 35-24. So I’m very confident in Kelly, and what this team can do.
If some want to hold off, it’s your prerogative. But I don’t let past failures dominate my thinking. Kelly wasn’t here for past failures. He’s what this team has needed for a long time.
Ok Brother, then you roll with that, and I will roll with mine, and we will talk after the season….LOL!!!!!!
sjayne….well said
Also, outside Haloti Ngata, and Jarius Byrd, he has not coached any successful NFL players…..Food for thought, he is admittedly not a CEO. Thats more of that unrealistic optimism.
Too, he only focuses on the Offensive side of the ball exclusively. He doesn’t have both sides; He delegates totally to his Defensive Coordinator.
Your statements prove you don’t know what your talking about….I rest my case.
You really aren’t that smart are you? That’s what a good CEO does, he hires smart people and let’s them do the job he’s hired them for, so he can focus on the big picture.
You prove with every post that you don’t have a clue.
Why are you talking as if you have been right, while I’ve been wrong? You got it backwards. I knew the Eagles would win, you thought different. Now, since you’ve been wrong, your caveat is wait for the end of the season. It’s clear you just want to delay admitting you’re wrong.
You had the Eagles at 3-5 games. Won’t need the whole season to prove you wrong again. Then you’ll make another excuse.
and you will be one of so many in the past….who learn otherwise.
Fellas, I think we have our next candidate for the kiss my ass club……
The last ones told me I didn’t have a clue, said:
Dennis Dixon would be the starter,
Foles wouldn’t even be on the team,
Desean Jackson would be traded,
Jason Babin would have a monster season for the Eagles, after his 18 sack season, when I said he should have been traded, then they cut him,
Brandon Graham, was a beast, and would lead the team in sacks. How you gonna do that when you don’t even start?
and Michael Vick would be playing elsewhere…….
None of these statements have been delayed, but have been said all offseason, beforehand.
You are gonna learn, that it is a lot easier jumping on than it is jumping off, when you mouth is just as corrosive as your butthole….
LOL!!!!!! There is always one every year DCar….
And I am still standing
gmc, you’re gonna start running out of material for those shirts. You might have to start making hats.
I saw an TV Commercial on NFL Network
For the GMCliff “Kiss My Ass” Clothing Line
At your Local Dick’s Sports Stores..
Shirts, Sweats,Hoodies, Shorts Hats and even a damn Umbrella
Good Grief….
LOL!!!
BTW, When did I say the Eagles weren’t gonna win games? You aren’t referring to this one game again are you?
I never made that statement in reference to the Redskins game either. But, I got you, you say the Eagles will have a winning to respectable record right? OK…We’ll see. I hope your right. Because if your not, I have a t-shirt for you.
Before the first game you said 3-13. Stick to it
I’m not jumping on the bandwagon. I was driving the wagon.
And the corrosive attitude is yours. I only gave back what was given. No more, no less.
Listing other so-called predictions is irrelevant. The only thing I challenged you on was what the team would do this year.
When I’m right you’ll keep making excuses.
Glad somebody else saw the prediction the self-proclaimed genius gmcliff is now trying to run away from.
I don’t make excuses Brother. I emphasize my point.
Cliff you changed your prediction after one game. Why can’t others change their view?
Who complained that they did, or that they couldn’t?
Let me refresh your memory, gmcliff, the self proclaimed genius who hit on 85% of his draft picks.
Go to the post, Can the Eagles make the playoffs in 2013? Scroll down past 20 posts, there you aren’t predicting 3 wins.
So stop with the revisionist history.
There you ‘are’ predicting 3 wins.
LOL!! So what? That doesn’t say who they would lose to, or beat. I just know they’re not a playoff team, so my prediction is what it is, a record for a below average team……2-3 more wins doesn’t really change that. They still are what they are.
That’s great skayne – if that makes you a REAL fan, congratulations!
If I’m a FRAUD fan because I think this team is a work-in-progress then so be it…
I’m done discussing this subject.
Good cuz I’m tired of explaining I don’t give a shit about what type of fan you are. That wasn’t me, it was another poster.
It is a work in progess. That doesn’t mean the team can’t win as they improve during the season. They left plays on the field. It’s great that they whooped em without being perfect.
Correct! people act like two things can’t be true at the same time. why can’t you be a work in progress as well a good football team. Just because you are not where you want to be doesn’t mean the present can’t be successful.
LOL!!!
Fellas… did I miss a meeting? Are we not all still eagle fans? Don’t we all want them to win? I dont understand 99% of the arguments here….. why not give this coach and this system and this qb and this rb and this dc a shot? We’ve all been right at some point in time and we’ve all been wrong… who cares? I wanted a D minded coach and a run game… i got 1 out of 2 and im PUMPED.
I didnt want babbin back… i was wrong 1 year and right the next… WHO CARES?
Guys, I live in MN… they would kill for our coach and our system and yes… even our qb.
The D is a work in progress… i wanted a better FS…. i didnt get it.. oh well. Im not jumping ship… so far we are 1-0 and we just beat the NFCE champs.
Enjoy the ride a little guys.
I’m all for enjoying this ride. But some think that to be an Eagles fan, you have to live in constant fear of past failures.
I’m all about going all-in with Kelly. This guy is a complete football coach.
Gm cliff stick to your guns 3-13. When you are a gm you have to live with your decisions you being the “all knowing” said 3 wins. Stand by it