Over the last week, there has been a strange sense of optimism among the Eagle faithful. A 20-13 win over the Washington Redskins seems to have wiped away the memories of how brutal the team looked the previous four weeks. A lot of the talk surrounding in the last week has been how the team has suddenly turned it around, and is going to stroll to a 8-2 record in it’s remaining 10 games and make the playoffs at 10-6. The season has been saved.
Reality check?
This Eagles team has shown that it is far below the championship-caliber level that many had put them at in August. Their two wins have come against the winless, hapless St. Louis Rams, and the sinking ship that is the Washington Redskins. Beating the Rams soundly is nothing to be proud of, and if the Redskins had any kind of competent quarterback play in Week 6, I don’t think the Eagles would have come out of Washington with a win. In the second half, the Redskins defense made the proper adjustments, and shut the Eagles offense down. With the exception of a 59-yard pass to Jeremy Maclin, and a 31-yard run by Michael Vick, Washington kept the Eagles offense in check as they attempted to make their comeback, only to have their efforts sabotaged by the turnover-prone Rex Grossman.
This isn’t to say that the win against the Redskins shouldn’t count for anything. This is to say that everything should be kept in perspective. The Eagles showed some reason for optimism in Week 6. The defense looked better in what was easily their best effort of the season. Clearly the unit is better with Jarrad Page on the bench, and Nate Allen looks like he’s getting a little more comfortable and confident on the field. They also played the Wide-Nine a little more selectively, and as a result held Ryan Torain to just 22 yards on 10 carries.
Offensively, Andy Reid made it a point to get LeSean McCoy more involved in the game plan giving the third-year running back 28 carries. While those are all encouraging developments, they should still be kept in perspective. Rex Grossman at his worst can make any defense look good. Last Sunday was one of those days where he couldn’t do anything right and he kept putting the ball up for grabs repeatedly. With every error committed by Grossman, the Eagles advantage in the game grew larger and larger. As a result, Washington was forced to abandon the running attack and forced to continuously put the ball in the hands of the former first-round bust, and pray against all odds that he’d stop making mistakes. Also keep in mind the Redskins lost two of their offensive linemen to injury during the game (Trent Williams and Kory Lichtensteiger) causing all kinds of chaos, and impeding their ability to efficiently run the ball and protect Grossman.
As for LeSean McCoy’s large role in the offense? Come on now. If you fool yourself for one minute into thinking that Reid is going to make a concentrated effort to properly incorporate the running game into the offense, you’re either a leading candidate to be committed to an insane asylum or you haven’t been paying attention to the how this football team has been managed in the last 12 years.
Yes, the Eagles showed signs of improvement a week ago. But nowhere near enough to convince me that everything that happened in Weeks 2-5 should be forgotten, and that this ship is back on course for Indianapolis in February, or even the playoffs in January.
There are three major concerns in my mind that keep me from believing this team has any serious chance of making a miraculous run in the second half of the season.
The Defense: Again, I can’t stress enough that their most recent success came in large part because of the ineptness of Rex Grossman at the bottom of his game. Is this defense suddenly ok? Can we forget about the poor tackling from the previous four games, an issue that has plagued this defense for years? Suddenly Juan Castillo’s got it all figured out, and we can expect them not to be completely overwhelmed again this year? Washington’s offense is far from explosive, and it’s not going as easy when they face competent teams again. Will the unit improve? Yes, absolutely they will, but not dramatically enough.
Michael Vick: There are a ton of issues surrounding the Eagles quarterback. He’s clearly not the same guy that set the world on fire a year ago. He’s still making some breath taking plays, but he’s also been a turnover machine through six games. Sure he’s had some tipped balls intercepted that weren’t his fault, but you don’t commit 11 turnovers in six games by accident. The other issue with Vick is his health. We’ve seen him take vicious beatings every week and he’s had to come out of three games already. There just isn’t any way he’s going to last the season at the rate he’s going. If he’s not in top form, how can the Eagles possibly go 8-2?
Andy Reid & The Coaching Staff: Already this season we’ve seen Reid and his staff make a number of questionable decisions on gameday that have cost the team. There’s been atrocious play calling in the redzone (including several carries to the fullback, and a running back run/pass option), and there’s been the familiar problems of the Reid era such as clock management and the refusal to run the ball. He’s also been outcoached regularly this season including by first-time head coach Jim Harbaugh, who rallied his 49ers from 20-3 halftime deficit while the helpless Reid couldn’t do anything to prevent the game from slipping away. In-game adjustments have always been Andy’s greatest fault and it has already cost the team at least one game this year, and it will likely well cost them again. Eagles fans better hope that Reid’s Plan A for each of the final 10 games works to perfection, because there isn’t ever a Plan B.
Though it may sound like it, this writing isn’t meant to paint a picture of gloom and doom for the Eagles. This is a talented football team, and they’ll be a tough out for any opponent. However, the flaws on this team are pretty debilitating, and have caused them to let several winnable games slip away. This has put the team into a hole that’s going to be too deep for them to crawl out of to make the playoffs this season.
For the Eagles to have any chance of sneaking into January, they’ll need to go at least 8-2 the rest of the way. Maybe they can, but the odds are against them. The game against the Miami Dolphins is the only matchup on the schedule that the Eagles should have no trouble winning. I think expecting them to go 6-4 or 5-5 the rest of the way is much more realistic. And that’s not enough to save this season.
All real and Valid Points Denny..
This Game vs the Cowboys Sunday night is all the matters right now and this Eagle Team and Coaches need to play it as if their jobs,season and lives, depend on it.. A Eagle Victory, and then they can gear up for next Monday nights game at home vs the Bears with a chance for another win to get back to .500 at 4-4 .. then they have a fighting chanve and a real shot of getting on a roll.. We all know the issues, play-calling,turnovers, LB & Safety play ..,etc,etc which is all water under the breidge at this point, We also know that this Eagle Team is one of the most Offensive Explosive teams in the NFL when they are playing error-free and smart Football.. To me, it’s up to the Players now.. The 53 man Roster is what it is, the Coaching Staff is not going anywhere for the remainder of the Seaosn, the biggest thing that needs to change is the execution and taking care of the ball, if they can do this, they can beat any team on their schedule and can get on a major roll towards a playoff berth.. The Giants have an upcoming very difficult schedule.. The Cowboys probably have the easiest path schedule wise which makes it imperative the EAgles Beat them Head-head starting with Sunday’s game.. Let’s Go Eagles..
hahahah i cant help but laugh at some of this because before the eagles played the redskins, all i kept hearing about was the revival of rex grossman, and how the skins are 3-1 and they are the team to beat. Let me explain something very important. The eagles are the cause of that sinking ship. They rolled up like the black pearl and blew holes in that ship. Rex dosent through his picks he dosent get benched. So dont gimmie that there a sinking ship. The eagles caused that ship to start sinking. Now granted the teams offense was subpar the second half. But the redskins d has always been good, and it was a division matchup! Those games are always tough. This weeks game is huge, but i have trust in andy coming of the bye week. After all the guy is undeafeated off the by week. The players are loyal to him so they believe. Honestly dez bryant said and i quote “we should have one every game we beat ourselfs” Well one goes in the same for us. racking up over 400 yards of offense each game and not finishing in the redzone, ronnie throwing balls back on the goal line. And i dont understand why dont they run one damn Stretch play down there. mccoy is very good on the outside. sorry off on a tangent there. But this team does have some holes, but dont give me the reality check thing. I remember a season where the eagles were 5-5-1 with a tie to cincy and they turned things around with a little luck and got to the nfc championship game. This team historically starts slow it is what it is…………..one thing i will say is that and i dont know if andy stresses this enough, but we must protect the house!!!! Start winning at damn home! Protect your home fellas
Good points, but regarding the turnovers from Vick…the fumbles are on him but at least 4 of the 8 Ints were on the receivers. Also, everyone keeps calling him a turnover machine because of his 8 Ints…..What does that make Philip Rivers (9 Ints), Tom Brady (8 Ints), Matt Ryan (8 Ints), Drew Brees (8 Ints)……?
agree with dawk 100%, everyone said the eagles would lose to the redskins, and how they were an up and coming team… if the eagles could of scored on some of those turnovers more… it would of been a blowout.
now its because the redskins arent good… amazing
jddcp
Nothing like real stats to support an argument. Good stuff.
Denny,
Please allow me to be a voice of reason and to offer some balance. You failed to mention two important facts:
1. Reid’s players love him; and
2. Reid has, in the past, supplied coffee and doughnuts to media persons.
Those are important facts!
I love my team and I love its fans, regardless of our differences of opinion. In fact, it’s the differences that generate good conversation.
I think our biggest difference is the interpretation of what a “fan” should be.
The word “fan” is derived from the word “fanatic.” That’s what we all share, the fanatic support of our team.
I believe our major differences begin with expectations.
Some are happy with the entertainment aspect, exclusively. To this segment of people, wins and losses aren’t as important as the entertainment value. At one time, I fell into this category.
During Buddy’s tenure, I was totally entertained, and while we didn’t have much playoff success, I thoroughly enjoyed his quips and anti-front office antics, but more importantly, I loved the way we intimidated opponents. Even if we didn’t win the game, we always won the fight. In my opinion, this epitomized the Philadelphia spirit.
Growing up on the streets of Philly, I learned early on that I wouldn’t always come out on top, but that I could be happy with myself if I gave my best effort and let the other guy know that he wouldn’t have an easy win if he came my way.
The second group of fans, in my opinion, measures current success against previous success/failures. For example, some compare Ray Rhodes’ teams with Reid’s teams. And who could argue against that comparison? Reid is head and shoulders above Rhodes.
The third group, in my opinion, measures this team’s success in terms of obtaining a Superbowl win, exclusively. Hey, to each his own. That’s what it’s all about.
The fourth fan group pits “potential” versus “actual success,” the category to which I now belong.
Buddy’s team blew their big opportunity in the Fog Bowl, but realistically, I can’t help but believe that they would have won, had that fog not rolled in.
Reid, on the other hand, has come close to winning the ultimate prize several times. He came close so often that my expectations grew.
Now, I understand that luck is a huge part of this game. Every team faces failure based on injury alone.
Then, you have to consider that there’s a certain amount of luck in the draft process. What happens in college doesn’t necessarily translate to the pros.
And there’s the human element. People have bad days, bad weeks and even bad years, including players, coaches, refs, front office personnel, etc.
That’s all the more reason to seize the moment when it’s at hand.
For about a 5-year period, we were knocking on the door. During that period, each season-ending loss taught us something (or should have).
Some of us learned that we needed better receivers, or we learned that we needed a bit more balance in our play-calling, or we learned that we needed a punt returner, or we learned that we needed more size (across the board), or we learned that we needed improved play from our linebackers, safeties, etc.
And therein lies my issue with Reid.
While most fans recognized these needs/shortcomings, Reid either took years to arrive at the same conclusions, or to this very day, still doesn’t understand.
We watched Kevin Kolb carve up a very hot Atlanta team with a more-balanced offense two years. The play calling was diversified, calculated and methodic. We ran the ball 50 times. It was high because we ran out the clock with 19 runs at the end of the game.
But when the game was on the line, Reid called short, crisp passes to draw the defense toward the line of scrimmage, then he hit em over the top. He called draws and screens to slow down their vaunted pass rush. He passed inside and outside to widen the field.
When he threw across the middle, the linebackers and safeties were drawn in that direction and when he threw the quick out, the corners were drawn toward the sideline. It was a magical game.
I believe that had that same type of playing calling continued, with our weapons, even Rex Grossman could have guided this team to late-January or early-February play.
However, in response to that success, Reid turned around the very next game and had Kolb pass 93% of the time, which led to late first-half turnovers and a stalled 3-and-out offense in the second half. Needless to say, we gave up a late first-half, double-digit lead and lost the game.
I’m a firm believer that if a coach listens to the fans, he’ll soon be sitting with the fans, except in the case of Reid.
Some things were painfully obvious to everyone, except him. It’s all well-documented, but I’ve seen Reid eventually do some of the things that fans had been calling for all along.
For example, he finally upgraded his receiving crew (after how many years). He finally brought some size to his linebacking corps, with the addition of Stewart Bradley and others.
Still, Reid has been completely blind to the concept that he can keep his QB upright with a diversified game plan. His propensity to call deep-pass route after deep pass route, as he watches the defense pin its ears back perplexes me. His QB doesn’t even have time to set-up, much less read a defense. Reid’s a QB killer. That’s why he kept Vick over Kolb. He can’t live without a mobile QB. A drop-back QB wouldn’t last two minutes with Reid.
The other thing that bothers me about Reid is the lack of progress. The very same issues we had 10 years ago exist today, ie., clock management, short-yardage, red-zone, etc. How many of these players were on the team 10 years ago? How many of the position coaches we here then? Who’s left to shoulder that blame?
And yet one more issue has recently arisen. Reid’s teams are “soft.” I didn’t realize how soft we had become until we lost Brian Dawkins. As we lost more of Rhodes’ players, the softer we became. Finally, we have a Reid team – totally constructed by him, and what it is it: a flag-football team.
Where’s Buddy when you need him? I’d pay for Buddy’s last surgery if he would show up on the sideline and punch Reid in the head just once.
I rooted for Kotite’s teams to lose so that he would get canned, and I’m now rooting for Reid’s teams to lose for the very same reason (but never against Dallas).
I remember the likes of Drew Pearson and Butch Johnson destroying my team year after year. I recall the flex defense with Harvey Martin and Randy White. There was Landry who never smiled nor frowned. While I kicked and screamed, nearly in tears, he just stood there. It didn’t matter if we had 25-point lead because he knew they were gonna win. I remember Tony Dorsett breaking off a big run when it counted, regardless of whether we had contained him all game. I hate Dallas! I would put on a uniform today to gain a measure of revenge. Of course, they’d kill me, but I’d try.
Anyway, as far as I’m concerned, Reid’s teams represent everything that Philly is NOT. We were always a tough city. We were the boxing capital of the world, when boxing was in its hey-day. Though I was an Ali fan, Joe Frazier represented what Philly was about. He just wanted to give you his best shot at any cost or risk. He didn’t use trickery. He pursued you through blood, sweat and tears.
Football is a game of violence, but our team today seeks to avoid that aspect of the game We call plays as if we were boys playing against men. We call double reverses to pick up 1 yard and half-back pass-options on a dive play near the end zone. We exert no control, and we scare no one (except the occasional deep-threat by the little guy).
We rely on 15 scripted plays, and after that I don’t think anyone has a game plan.
In closing, I support my team’s quest to win a Superbowl, but I don’t believe Reid can ever deliver that, especially without his Ray Rhodes players.
I think we are in reverse, and there are many stats in support of that opinion, the most important is wins and losses. Since losing his Rhodes players, Reid’s record is abysmal.
Deuces!
This is how I look at it…the Eagles have shown reason for optimism even in the losses this year….you can argue the Eagles beat themselves in all of the losses, this year….Every game we had a chance to win…This is why there is no problem with optimism…you can be optimistic and still have a sense of reality…
If the Redskins had a better QB??? The strength of any team facing us is the run game…We all know coming into the season, we were supposed to be the team that makes it hard to throw the ball and thats how we played against the skins…except we were able to shut down the run too…if our run defense improves from here on out, our team will look totally different than it has the first five weeks…
Drummer – nice post. Great way to explain your perspective. I think football is no longer a game of violence. I really do.
And I agree with playcalling issues, and I’ve been saying for years that I don’t like Marty. Marty does a hell of a lot of the playcalling in my opinion, and it’s him to blame.
This article is real.
It’s what we can really expect under these circumstances Andy have place the team under.
Putting a failed offensive line coach over the defense didn’t send a message that we’re ready to compete for a Superbowl.
Stupidity at it’s best.
A Drum rolls please for the Drummerman… A nice perspective..great stuff..
Hopefully this week the team will come together to beat these Cowboys back to Texas and continue their quest of Winning the NFC East Crown again to assure the Eagles a Playoff spot…
Songs, what do you think of the move to put Juan Castillo at defensive coordinator? The reason I ask, is that you have not stated that opinion 75 Billion times. If THAT were the case, we’d know your opinion. But you haven’t told us yet. And don’t just tell us, tell us AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN…. you get the idea.
Oh, and also, if you feel like the Eagles or Reid or the FO have made repeated mistakes, by all means, use the tired expression “the definition of insanity is…. oh you know it”. Use that expression becuase it won’t be ironic at all coming from you. Not one bit. Nope.
Drummer – nice post –
Songs – do you follow sports at all – we had this baseball team in Philly – tore through the season – won a record number of games – got beat first round of playoffs –
there was this other team from St Louis – not doing so hot – not going to make the playoffs – this other team from Atlanta was gonna go – actaully had to stay up and wait around for the Phillies to beat the Braves in extra innings on the last game of the season – magically – they sneak into the playoffs – now they are playing for the championship – yeah sports – you know – never quit, never give up, never say die……..
the only tragedy is that when the eagles do turn this ship around, do get it going in the right direction – all you ship jumping rats, fair weather fans, bandwagin jumping fools will get to enjoy it as much as me – so I will have drunkin the massive quanities of green kool aid – and you will just sho wup at he parade –
Speaking of Dallas and keeping QBs healthy, here’s a snipet featured today on NFL.com from Gil Brandt, Vice President of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1988:
“Wear and tear on QBs:
In talking with several defensive coordinators around the league, there’s a belief that quarterbacks are getting hit a lot more than ever before.
Being sacked has obvious implications, but your quarterback taking shots over the course of a series, game and season is often overlooked. Aside from the injury implications, it’s equivalent to a boxer taking body blows. You can only be so sharp in the fourth quarter if you’ve taken a beating throughout the game.
Eli Manning, Mark Sanchez, Matt Ryan and Tony Romo are all on pace to have a more sacks and hits this season. Manning, for example, was sacked 16 times all of last season, but already has been taken down 14 times in six games.
An offshoot of the abuse is more interceptions. Mistakes happen when a quarterback gets happy feet and is consistently hit. Look no further than Philip Rivers, who already has nine picks compared to 13 in 2010, as proof of that theory.”
This supports my contention that Reid is a QB killer. After taking so many hits, his QBs become tentative, if not frightened. After all, they’re only human.
Drummer if lurie ever reads your post and comes to his senses that you have spoken for the philadelphia fans there will be change, there will be change. Thanks for taking the time to post that analysis, the voice of the fan
jake – please answer this honest question – Do you actually believe that ‘the voice of the fan’ is one voice?
To clarify Jake, what I mean is, do you believe that your opinion is that of the vast majority of Eagles fans? That the vast majority of Eagles fans think alike?
Why Schiller I think he does – after all there are what 40 people that post here – and the linc holds what 69,000 and there are what 1.5 million in Philly and what 6.1 million people in the ‘Delaware Valley’ so clearly Jakey and silky songs and snookie have ‘the pulse’ of the fan – and yes, i do think they honestly think people think like they do – who cares if you get rid of Reid and have a couple down years, sell the soul to win it once, who cares about the next 5, everything the eagles do sucks – everyhting is Reids fault – anything good happened in spite of him (like it was Rhodes players that Coach Rhodes led to that 3-13 season – but those same players ‘led’ the eagles to the NFCC game in a couple years) yeah – they think like that adn think others do as well
drummer eloquently summed up what I believe to be the fans perspective on the eagles and Andy Reid, pure and simple, Reid is history, change is coming
Jake, I guess ‘to each his own” or “what ever makes you happy”, but if Andy is ‘history’ and ‘change is happening’ – um, where’s the evidence? Good thing you’re not a detective
I have a bad feeling on this one
Cowboys 30
Eagles 26
Eagles begin game with onside kick the Cowboys take to the house for 7 to start the game
Cowboys stay in command until the end giving the Eagles a chance in the waning minutes of the game.
The drive ends on a 4th and 7 incompletion that was a catch by Avant ruled incomplete.
Andy wasted timeouts and could not challenge the play.
Damn! Not again!
Romo takes a few knees …game over.
When Andy asked why he blew the last timeout by not getting the play into Vick on time.
He replies….
“That’s on me and I have to do a better job there.”
2-5
Eagles take out their frustrations and blow out the Cowboy’s 41-13..
The only negative is that Coach AR get’s stuck in the “Balloon Eagles Helmet” coming of the locker room and tunnell and gets tangled into the left Ear Hole.. Thomas Jefferson Hospital comes in with the Medi-Vac Helicopter and Coach AR and the Blow-up Helmet are air lifted out of the LInc and are never heard of or seen from again… The Eagles march on with Coach MM as the interim Head Coach to win 14 games in a row securing their first Super Bowl Championship finishing the Season at 16-4…
Rumors surface years later and sightings of Coach AR come from a Potato Farm outside Boise Idaho but are never substansiated…..
Great Songs – you have yet again amazingly and correctly predicted the start of Oct 2003 Eagles Cowboys game! Wow – this is a record for you! Usually you just predict it the next day, but now you are predicting 7 years past!
Why you being so negative on your cowboys – you know you love them –
Eagles 41-17 3-4 the climb out of the deep hole continues –
Paulman..man I can’t stop laughing….you crazy.
That’s not the way I envisioned an andy reid exit but i’ll take it.
Pman – they had to call in an Army heavy lift for that one – the crew chief was heard as saying – no worries – we can carry a hum-vee……..
paulman , that’s some of your best stuff there, and navy, “no worries-we can carry a hum-vee’, funny man
7-9, no playoffs. Fire the @$$clown brigade! That’s realistic!