Everybody will be waiting to see how and when the Eagles get DeSean Jackson involved in the game today. One of the big stories of this past week following the win over the Niners, has been about the way Jackson’s involvement in the game is greatly diminished when Kevin Kolb starts.
Jackson has gone over 100 yards receiving with Vick in there at quarterback, while he’s caught just 45 yards of passes from Kolb.
According to numerous reports, Kolb was throwing the ball to Jackson quite frequently this week in practice, but Jackson doesn’t see that as a reason to expect that he’ll get the ball when the game starts.
“Just because you do it in practice doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to happen in the game,” Jackson told reporters during the week. The third-year wide receiver knows the Falcons will try to take him and his big-play ability out of the game.
Kolb can’t let this change his game if he can’t get the ball to Jackson. Winning is more important than getting the ball to Jackson.
He’s got to play his game and if that means throwing the short to intermediate pass, then that’s what he needs to do. Kolb can’t try to be Michael Vick, he’s got to play his own game.
Every team in the league would rather have running back LeSean McCoy, tight end Brent Celek and Jeremy Maclin catching shorter passes in front of them rather than Jackson beating them deep for big plays.
I’m sure Kolb will take some shots downfield to Jackson, but he must not force them. If he doesn’t think he can get the ball to Jackson, he should just continue throwing the ball short.
This Falcons secondary isn’t great but they have shown the ability to pick the ball off. Atlanta has 10 interceptions in five games. If Kolb put the ball up deep to Jackson and the throw is ill-advised, there’s a good chance it will be picked off.
Remember that turnover statistics are secondly only to the points on the scoreboard, when it comes to predicting the winner of the game. Kolb must not sacrifice this football game in order to get the ball to Jackson.
“I think you prepare as much as possible and then just wait to see what they give you,” Kolb told reporters earlier in the week. “There are always adjustments being made during the game. So regardless of what happens, we’ll be ready for it.”
Kolb must keep this same attitude during the game. Getting the ball to Jackson isn’t the goal of the game. Winning is the goal. If they find a way to win, then not getting the ball to Jackson can be tolerated.
Reid and his staff might not want that going forward, but Kolb can’t worry about that now.
Kolb can’t try to compete with Vick in this game. He’s competing against the Falcons and the Falcons alone.
Watch the game with us here on GCobb.com today. We will have a Eagles-Falcons article for you to make your comments on as you watch the game.
Vick will come in and launch a bomb to d-jax.
McDermott’s D shocks the world and shuts down the Falcons. Eagles 24-13
Exactly
It is about winning not making sure Jackson gets his catches
I am sure Reid sat down with Kolb and told him to ignore the articles about getting the ball deep to Jackson ( If Kolb even reads them )
So now we are counting 2 games and a represenative sampling of Djax production? If I recall correctly, they hooked up last year on a deep pass against New Orleans (in a losing effort). I do not recall if he caught one against the Chiefs, but we will say he didn’t, which means for last year he caught a deep pass from Kolb every other game, in games which he played. This year, the Packers’ game was a mess, we will give him credit for one half of football played, no long passesd completed. He sits down until the Redskins game in which he comes in as a sub, throws underneath on a prevent defense (which is the correct thing to do) and got the team just as close to winning as Vick did to beating the Packers. The 49ers game, Desean was a non-factor, but he also sat out quite a bit with some kind of knee twist or contusion. So basically Kolb has played four full games, one of which we will throw out (one half against the Pack, one half against the Skins.) Extending that over a season, he will catch 5 long touchdowns per season, add one in running the ball, 2 scores on special teams, and he gets 8 tds a season. That is an acceptable number based on his size, and the fact that he is essentially useless as a reciever inside the redzone. This was way too long, but assuming 10’s production will decline significantly with Kolb may not be true. We do not have enough of a sample size to be anywhere near certain of a trend.
It’s about moving the chains and sustaaing drives when Kolb is at QB..
He’s a rhthym passer who is going to move the team with 5yd-15 yd passes, so it’s up to the playmakers to make that first guy missed and get some Yards after the Catch..
If they stay committed to the run and mix in a couple of screens plays, then he should have a couple of opportunities to tak some shots down the field.. If they don’t or can’t run the ball effectively, I believe the Falcons will drop in deeper coverages (Cover 2 and Cover 3) and try to let Kolb beat them from the pocket..
The Key tot his game is the Eagles Defense which must come out from the get go and play agressive,but smart football, they must force an early tunrover and not allow FAlcons Rushing attack to gain momentum and get into Ryan’s face with pressure up the middle.. If the D starts out slow or if it can’t get off the field on 3rd downs and allows the Falcons to run effectively, this could get ugly..
I am calling for Falcons 27 – Eagles 16 Win
Paulman’s Top 10 in the NFC entering this week’s games
#1) Falcons – (4-1) – Appear to have the least amount of weaknesses in the NFC, well coached
#2) Redksins – (3-2) – 3-0 versus the Cowboys,Eagles & Packers give them edge for NFC playoffs
#3) Bears – (4-1) – Off to a good start but how long before Cutler blows a game or two…
#4) Giants – (3-2) – Playing well after a slow start, starting to run the ball and D/Line is playing well
#5) Bucs – (3-1) – Not sold on this team but they are 3-1 and have big game vs Saints today
#6) Packers – (3-2) – Have been hit with lots of Injuries on Offense & Defense with season ending injuries to TE FInley, LB Barnett, also have Matthews,Driver and O/Line hurting and no clear RB…
#7) Saints – (3-2) – A bad loss to the Cardinals last week, need to rebound and in a hurry
#8) Cardinals – (3-2) – Winning ugly but winning and going with young QB M Hall..
#9) Eagles – (3-2) – 3 Wins versus LIons,Jags & 49ers, losses to Packers,Redksins, can they beat a good team, we will find out Today.. Could jump up to top #5 with a win today
#10) Seahawks – (2-2) – Coming off a bye with a road game versus the Bears.
Paulman’s Picks for Week # 6 (Overall record of 40-36 after a horrible week in last week picks)
Bears over Seahwaks — Seattle off a bye by play lousy on the road when having 1pm start times
Miami over GB Packers- Packers hit with lots of injuries on both sides of the ball and Rodgers coming off concussion..
Chargers over Rams — A high scoring fun game to watch, lots of big plays but Chargers too strong
NE Pats over RAvens — Patriots rid of locker room cancer that is R Moss, they play their best game of the year to win in playoff type of game
Saints over Bucs — Saints have been struggling but put it together today to play their best game of the year.
Giants over Lions — (Lock of the week) Giants just too strong and playing really well right now
Steelers over Browns — Not as easy as it would appear,as Big Ben struggles in 1st game back
Chiefs over Texans — Cheifs held the COlts Offense in check most of last week, Texans are just not as physical as their talent is. Chiefs are this years most improved team who played hard all game long despite QB Cassell, who is not really playing that well
49ers over Raiders — another close game and local rivals, 49ers get off the schnied w/late FG
Broncos over Jets — Jets off a monday night Victory, short week and travel out west and could be due for a letdown. Quietly, Bronco’s QB K Orton is having an All-Pro Season
Vikings over Cowboys — Playoff game for whoever loses will most likley be out of playoff picture
I expect big plays and a good game from Farve/Moss/Peterson and the D/Line to be all over Romo
Colts over Redksins — Manning had one of his quietes games last week as a Pro, I look for him to go deep early and often versus Redskins agreesdive Safeties, look for WR Garcon to have big game
Titans over Jags — Titans physical play will wear down the Jags and RB C Johnson has big 2nd half on MNF
Falcons over Eagles – (Score 27-16) My Heart wants Eagles but my head says the Falcons are the most balancd team in the NFC and have ben great all season on coverting on 3rd Down, They have a heathly RB duo in Turner & Snelling , and get WR M Jenkins back to go along with All-Pro
WR R White, and H DOuglass and reliable B Finneran to go along with HOF TE T Gonzales..
If they are able to establinsh the run early, it may be a long afternoon for Eagles D..
Defensively, the Falcons allow an average of 14 points per Game and really don’t have many big name players outside of DE Abraham, CB D Robinson, but watch out for DE R Biermann vs Justice and DT J Peria vs MJG and their young Safety tandem of Moore & McCoud had played outstanding so far this season.
The Eagles on Offense must sustain drives, run effectively, protect the ball and stay away from negative plays (Sacks, Penalties)
The Special Teams must play their best game of the year for if they allow a short field to the Falcons, it will be doubly tough on Eagles D.
The Falcons Front 7, similar to the Eagles, are smallish and can be run on, but AR/MM must be willing to commit and stay with the Rushing attack.. (watch fot Joquie Bell to see his first action and get a couple of carries spelling McCoy from time to time, watch for Buckley to play in some 3rd Down packages and on possible Screen plays)
This is ther sternest test year to date for the Falcons are well-coached, physical and hungry and would love to stick it to the Eagles who beat them bad in Atlanta last season (QB Ryan/RB Turner were injured and not playing) Falcons also have a chip for they felt Eagles ran the Score up on them late in last season’s game,so they will be looking not only to win, but to send a statement.
I think a lot will be told by how well the Eagles D play from the Start and in the 1st couple of Series
where they have struggled a little bit this season…
Is it too late for me to change my pick with the Eagles winning in covincing fashion 31-17..