Injuries are a part of the NFL. It’s not a matter of whether players will get injured, it’s only a matter of who will get injured, when will it happen and how serious will the injuries be.
So far this season, quite a few of the Eagles injuries haven’t hurt them, but in a roundabout way, they have helped them. A number of times, the player who replaced the injured player has played much better than the guy they replaced.
I don’t know what’s going on with the Eagles this year but they’re definitely doing something right. They’ve had injuries at three key positions, quarterback, defensive tackle and cornerback, and gotten better because of the injury.
First, they had quarterback Kevin Kolb get sacked by Eagles linebacker Clay Matthews. Matthews locked Kolb’s hands under his body so he couldn’t brace the fall. Kolb’s head hit the turf and he sustained a concussion.
So what happened. Enter Michael Vick who has played as well or better than any quarterback in the league. Vick was NFL Offensive Player of the Month during September. He went down with an injury, so what happened.
You’ve got to give Andy Reid a great deal of credit for having the courage to name Vick the starter. It was unpopular but looking back we can see that he was right.
Kolb replaced him and was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his outstanding play against the Falcons.
Vick has come back and been NFC Offensive Player of the Week in two of the three weeks he has played since his return.
The Birds were having troubles stopping the run, when defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley went down with injury. What happened?
Back up defensive tackle Antonio Dixon stepped in and has been the team’s best defensive tackle. His dominance in the middle has helped to shut down all of the running games which they’ve faced for the last five or six games.
Dixon has taken on double teams and still been able to penetrate into the backfield. He’s been making plays behind the line of scrimmage and disrupting everything in front of him.
Now that Bunkley is returning from injury, the Eagles will have to find a way to keep him on the field.
With Dixon in the middle of their run front, the Eagles run defense was very impressive against New York. They attacked the Giants running game to the point where it forced New York to abandon their running game and they’ve got one of the best running attacks in the NFL.
The Birds held the Giants running game to only 61 yards.
Eagles cornerback Ellis Hobbs went down after the Titans game in which he was getting torched. Now cornerback Dimitri Patterson has stepped in and he’s playing on a very high level at the right cornerback position. The Birds secondary has played some of their best football since Patterson has taken over.
He picked off two passes against the Washington Redskins and ran one of them into the end zone. Patterson has done a good job of emulating the cornerback on the other side of the field, Asante Samuel.
Patterson was part of a secondary which did a good job versus the Giants by picking off three passes and holding them to only 147 yards passing.
It makes me wonder how some of the starters ever became starters. We know Kolb was handed the job, without competition Were the others evaluated properly?
Dare we say,
the Eagles have the best Roster in the NFL… Maybe that Joe Banner was correct after all…
But GM H Roseman and Front Office/Scouts have done a nice job of picking up some players who fit this Eagle System and can contribute (players like DIxon,J Harrison, Schmitt, J Calvin) to go along with some trades to pick up players like E Sims,D Tapp who are now entrenched in the Eagle way of playing. Have to credit the Coaching Staff and AR for developing young players to be ready for the opportunity to step in when called upon.. We’ve seen W Justice, M McGlynn,K Dunlap, MJG,T Laws,D Patterson,Coleman,McCoy,Maclin,D-Jax and this years high draft picks in Graham,Allen all improve as the season goes on and as these young players become NFL Professional Football players.. Add all these things into th mix with a special player in M VIck who is making a comeback for the ages, and it’s special roster,team & season.. It’s time to enjoy it.
Add Fokou as the SAM backer as the starter over Jordan. They have 3 new starters on defense since opening day along with a rookies Allen (starter) and Graham as the first in the DE rotation. That is alot of new blood only getting stronger as the season progresses. They still give up too many td’s in the red zone. Once the red zone td % goes down they really have something.
This team is definitely headed in the right direction… I had them going 8-8 this year with Kolb at QB, I was just not impressed with him. I had them fairing slightly better if Vick got to play, which he has and done way better than I expected. This team is getting stronger every week and playing more physical football. I thought we traded Sheldon Brown away, but now we have him reincarnated in Dimitri Patterson. That kid is tough and solid. Now its one game at a time, bring on the Bears…
Paulman, you know better than that, you have been around here long enough to know the FO cannot do anything that works out well. Andy is a fat pig, Joe Banner is the anti-Christ and Howie Roseman is not a football guy. We are only winning because of Mike Vick, on offense, defense, and special teams. The FO had nothing to do with it.
G, I said it last week and I’ll say it again. Clay Matthews made the play of the year for the Eagles.
Not too sure about “the best roster in the NFL”. It just means they had the guys who should have been starters on the bench and lucked out with injuries. I think Patterson would have played whether Hobbs was hurt or not. There’s no doubt in my mind that if Kolb doesn’t get hurt he plays for at least 2 more games after Green Bay and Bunkley doesn’t lose his job. I give credit to them for not giving the job back to those guys who got injured. Not sure who ever said a player can’t lose his job to injury. Of course not when the guy who’s backing him up is not better. In these cases they are clearly better. But G, where’s the outcry for Bunkley and Hobbs like it was for Kolb?
Thus far people are stepping up, which has to happen in a team sport!…Dixon is doing very well, no doubt….but Bunkley isn’t trash, like you said G, if the Eagles can find a way to keep him on the field, the defense gets even better. Patterson definitely seems to deserve the job over Hobbs…he played solid against the Giants, didnt allow the big play, he was thrown at a few times but made solid tackles. Coleman did a good job stepping in for Allen, but I wouldnt go as far as to say, the secondary was improved. McGlynn has stepped in pretty well in place of Jackson, but I wouldnt say the O Line is improved because of it…Cole has stepped played well, but I wouldnt say he’s perofrming better than Max Jean Gilles would be…
Thus far this season the backup players are simply stepping up…
Real talk your right…… The eagles have done well by getting the right guys to fit a position…… Remember some years back and some of last year when we were playing musical offensive linemen…… Put cole at center….. Take cole out put him at RG…….. Peters is hurt put herramans at LT….. Peters is back put him at LT…….. Put Herramans back at LG……… Alright jean Gilles is hurt…… Put Nick cole at his place……… Jamal Jackson is hurt put nick Cole at center again…….. You know what I mean…….. It’s been a real circus with the offensive line for the past few years……. And thats because we were solid in the early years with Tra Thomas, Hank Fraley, Jon Runyan, Mayberry, and Welbourn……… I miss those guy……… SOLID AND DIDNT TAKE NO BS>>>>>>
The Db’s have been great this year….. Better than last year I tell ya…….. Shawn Jones was terrible had alot of potential but didnt fit the Eagles scheme…… Macho Harris was physical but lacked speed……. Quinton Demps……. What is there to say…….. LOL!!!……. Besides that with Colemen who can play FS and SS is a great thing to have and This guy Colt Anderson he is everywhere on special Teams…… Maybe our future Ike Reese on ST…….. Other than that the Eagles have been one of the most healthiest teams in the league now…… (knock on wood)!!!!
Jroc…yeah man, a big part of it is allowing the guys time to practice with each other and develop chemistry..I dont think the team as a whole is at its full potential because alot of these injuries…
And my man Owen Schmitt WV……… That guy should get a PRO BOWL NOD at FB………. He is doing his thing……. Blocking has good hands…….. and his awareness is just excellent……. He gets a probowl vote on my behalf………
Eagles probowl Pick:
Mike Vick
Lesean McCoy
Jeremy Maclin
Deshawn Jackson
Asante Samuel
Trent Cole
reserve injury related (Quinton Mikell)
reserve injury related (Ernie Sims) because players tend to avoid his area…….
reserve injury related (Juqua Parker) Has been solid this season…. Possibility……
Yes sir, I like Owen Scmidt, not sure he’s been utilized enough to get a pro bowl nod…but I definitely like this guy’s effort all around
Anderson, disagree about Reid; in my view, Reid should get a lot of credit for Vick’s resurgence.
For the record and as far as injuries go,
The only mistake I believe the AR made, was not keeping C J Jackson on the PUP list and let him heal 100% before taking the field. He would have been eligible after week 5 or 6 and then would have been in much better shape to help out with the stretch run.. I think Jackson was nowehere near 100% in September which contributed to his current injury of a torn tricep.. Eagles could have had
LT Peters, LG Herremans, C Jackson, RG McGlynn, RT Justice for the stretch run and Cole,MJG,Dunlap,Howard as Reserves…but it is what it is and I like the job McGlynn has done and he is the future Center most likely moving forward where Jackson Eagles and playing days are probably over..but I think McGlynn would make a beast at the Guard Position..
Anyone know what the Status of DL V Abriami is.. I haven’t heard or read anything lately on him
On a side note anyone interested in any of the below Authentic jerseys:
Randall Cunningham Kelly Green with the Jerome brown patch
Brian Westbrook 75th anniversary (Yellow and blue)
Desean Jackson 2010 Pro Bowl
All letters, numbers and logos stitched on. Tags on all jerseys.
McGlynn has been the major key in the offensive line’s improvement in each game. He’s one of the big, but under-appreciated stories of this season. That’s a hard position to master in a short time. If/when he returns to guard, he’ll be that much better… hopefully, Jamaal will have lost nothing when he returns.
Jamaal is mostly like not going to be returning. I think the Eagles cut him loose in the offseason.
I agree Scorp,
JJ’s contract is up I believe and the Eagles will most likely not tender an offer unless it’s a reduced salary but Eagles typically don’t have 30 years olds with history of injuries on the Roster as back-ups..but he could come back amd move McGlynn over to RG or as a back-up .
N Cole, MJG and Wells all have their contracts up after the season and 2 of the 3 won’t be back more than likely, I think MJG is the most consistent of the 3, but Cole has that versatility of moving
to Center in a pinch
Back to Eagle Pro-Bowl Candidates
I think RT W Justice will get strong consideration and possibly earn his 1st berth as Pro-Bowl
He has had a very consistent season and flys under the radar, but if you look at how both O/Tackles are playing right now (Peters & Justice) it may be hard to find a better tandem who are healthy and playing at a high level in the NFC if you think about… Check the other teams rosters and most of issues at the OT Position (Cowboys,Giants,Redskins,Packers,Bears and even the Saints this year have had issues of keeping their OT’s healthy and productive all season)
As I have said, something is up. Faith is forcing the hand of the Eagles to position the players that are needed to win. I believe that Celek’s play thus far is part of that same mode, hemight just be the hero of the playoffs when D-coords firgure they have us nailed down then the unexpected rise of celek and our other TE will burst through to open our more lethal weapons as these D-coords attempt to adjust, but to no avail.
Stand on it brothers, you heard it here first. As always LONG LIVE THE EAGLES.
I with Monolith,
Something more special than that annual a slice of Aunt Ruth’s Fruit Cake is going on around this Thanksgiving Holiday..I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s been a great ride so far..
To all my fellow posters and to the Staff of G Cobb Site and G-man himself, Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday and enjoy yourselves and your families (remember, no drinking and driving)
.M family & I are heading to NYy/NJ to spend the holiday with Family and friends. Enjoy..
I agree with Paul and Monolith. This season has a certain “feel” to it. We’re playing with house money, because no one expected us to win this season.
No Jake, you are missing the point, Andy is fat and can do no right. That is the official party line here at GCobb.com. He is a bad parent and Mike Vick is doing everything all on his own in spite of Andy’s glaring deficiencies. No other viewpoints will be tolerated, change your tune or you will be sent to the Re-education Camp in Siberia (aka Buffalo) All we need is Mike, all we need is Mike…
Be safe Paulman and have a happy thanksgiving. Drummer you are correct sir we are playing with house money and if things continue to break the right way this could well be something special.
I’ve always questioned Reid’s player selection when, in many instances in the past, the temporary replacement for an injured player played better than the starter and then would disappear, banished forever to bench duty when the starter reappeared. My protestations went mostly unheard or just plain ignored. Now, I feel vindicated.
The bottom line is that the Eagles have some problems evaluating the best players on there roster. Ive been preaching Dixon for over a year. Ever since the Chicago game. Bunkley isnt very good no matter how you try to justify it. He gets o penetration and teams ran the ball down our throat. It baffles me that it take an injury to get Dixon playing time. Jeff Owens is another one who is stuck on the practice squad and who is better that Bustley. I have 1 more SHOCKER for you. Kurt Coleman should be starting over Allen. Coleman is a PLAYMAKER and physical. Allen plays 40 yards off the ball and is soft. Jordan should be playing ahead of I do nothing well Ernie Sims. Im starting to realize that if your no good on one team the odds are your no good on another. The only way players make impacts on other teams is if they werent getting an opportunity to play.
daggolden, I agree with you. I do give Andy credit for many of the personnel moves, but he’s no genius. He’s just like any other coach who can get lucky by fate deciding who is going to play. Andy was lucky that Kolb got injured in the same way the “genius” coach in NE was lucky that Drew Bledsoe got hurt and that Dick Vermiel was lucky that Trent Green got hurt. It fortunate that these injuries have happened early in the year but by no means does Andy deserve anyone sucking up to him and acting like he’s a genius. He’s made some nice moves and like many coaches, been lucky.
Desean Jackson wasn’t even supposed to be starting in his rookie year. If it wasn’t for Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis both being injured, they were the starters. Now I do think that eventually, Jackson would have become the starter but it surely would not have been from game 1. which would have been the difference between making the deep playoff run where we backed into tournament or sitting home watching the entire thing.