Eagles fans are still steaming after the Giants game where they saw Donovan McNabb get sacked 12 times, while Andy Reid and his staff stood on the sidelines and failed to make an adjustment.
From Chuck,
Here it's Wednesday and I'm still steaming about that pathetic performance. I'm sure there have to be plays designed to combat a pass rush like that. Would it have hurt to try quick slants or draw plays? Since the wide receivers can never get open does it make sense to have Donovan constantly dropping back five steps or more? How about just running the friggin ball! Buckhalter looked good and the game was there to be had. I can't understand why Reid constantly puts Donovan in harm's way. Oops, I do know why. Reid never deviates from his master game plan regardless of what happens on the field and then the next day always says he has to do a better job of putting players in better positions to win. The time to do that is during the game! There was a time that I respected Andy Reid, but not anymore.This team is getting old and time is running out.
From Charles,
Man I'm so sick of people putting all of these should've, could've and would've on D.Mac. Stop comparing McNabb to other QBs. If Jeff Garcia was so great do you think he would be with his what 5th team. By the way, Gruden is a better offensive play caller than Reid. Oh, Brady did this with this WR… man whatever, Brady runs a different system than the Eagles. You know they say the Eagles pass too much. Well guess what, the Pats pass more. They use the pass to set up the run, not vice versa. I think the bottom line here is that the Pats are better coached, not the personnel.
The Pats offense used to be good, now they are great with Moss. Who stretches the field for our Eagles…No one. I think they do miss Stallworth. He had more speed and was more physical than Curtis. I say start Baskett as the X receiver. Better yet, put Baskett at TE sometimes. They need his size. Forget feelings, it's time to try some things.
From Tom,
G: I said it before!! Andy cannot concentrate on football with his personal problems. We had job layoffs last week and noone was able to concentrate for several days on my gig. What makes him any different? Also the offensive line appeared to have poor technique and foot movement. I saw the back trying to chip when the giants D line came after Donovan, but the back was too small and foot technique on Winston seemed poor. He stood up a lot and simply got pushed back. Receivers are non existent on this team. I am always amazed at how such a "Gold Standard" team can get this far into the season and never do anything to upgrade. I am extremely disappointed in "The Standard"!
From Ash,
G Cobb,
You know I love your work and read your site every day but after this aweful game you write a piece on McNabb must throw the ball away??
I was in row 1 at the game on Sunday night and I have never seen a QB at all level of Football (well above High School) under so mcuh pressure. You are correct that maybe there was one or two times when DMacc would have got ride of the ball but the Eagles had zero things going on and Donovan was just trying to buy some time to get a WR's open.
I told someone at the game that if this was your average QB back there he may have got sacked 20 times. Donovan rushed on 4 plays which were bascially sacks also. He also did throw the ball away bascially a number of times. Weather it was throwing it low by design to aviod a sack or whatever. He was a also hit an unreal 13 hits on top of the sacks. So by the books he was hit 25 times at least which is a joke!! Yes he is not as fast as he once was but he is still above average coompared with other QB's in getting away from pressure.
Ash,
I don't blame Donovan for 95% of the problem but he's got to do something. Most of the fault falls on Andy.
From Mark,
Garry,
You said Eagles need either a no. 1 or better backup runner. Buckhalter gained 105 yards. He was fine.
Stallworth is not that much better than Curtis. McNabb put up points last year without Stallworth. Brady almost got to SB with Gafney as No. 1??!!!
McNabb was in a bad funk last year before he got hurt. He also was playing poorly in 2005 before he went down. Giants game was bad, but Mcnabb of old could have pulled it out. On his classic move, running up to line of scrimmage and then passing, he threw past line of scrimmage.
The point I am making is that Eagles would be winning today with Garcia. Probably 3-1 or 4-0. Look how close they were with Giants and Redskins. McNabb has real confidence issues and can't play without confidence in his ability to scramble. Its like Ali making the comeback, without the footspeed, and we find out his chin is only average. He turned out to have a great chin in the 70's. Never was hit in the 60's, due to footspeed. But without the chin, his lack of footspeed in the 70's become a glaring deficiency.
When 5 heals, he should be able to scramble as well as Garcia, but by then (November), he will be totally shot mentally. Plus, his running days of his youth are over.
I know this is tough, but you need to address this. Its not lack of good backup RB. Buck is one of the best backups in the league. He ran for over 100 yards and caught 4 passes.
From Tim,
I hesitate to say this, but it seems to me that Andy Reid has lost his focus on winning football games. Not only didn;t we having decent punt/kickoff returners ready for game one but now also leaving Justice get hammered the whole game is just unbelievable to me. Its not even mistakes a rookie coach would make. Sorry, but it seems to me our coach is being distracted from the game or just doesn;t have the same desire for winning and making good decisions that was once there.
From Ben,
G,
I just can't comprehend how pathetic and ill equipped our team looks during a game sometimes. Andy Reid, or whoever, sketches out the first 10-15 plays or so and if those plays don't work out it seems like he's clueless as to what to do next. I just want to know how professionals that get paid a lot of money can be so unprepared for the only day they really earn their money. How can you not have options available during the game? How do you not know enough about your team to make instant changes? Is it arrogance? Do coaches in the NFL just refuse to change their style when it doesn't work? I just don't get it. Are they just that stupid? Has Andy always been this inept and we just haven't noticed cause his team has been so talented over the years? I'd love to know what Andy has done for preparations this year and in years past. It's not that he has to go back to the drawing board. It's that he needs to WAKE UP AND THINK!!!! I mean how is it so obvious to most fans and so oblivious to management?
From Dan,
Am I seeing things or does Donovan always take a deep drop on passes. I think before the play starts you could draw a five foot circle and plan on Donovan going to that spot. Donovan will continue to drop back even when the preasure is coming from around the corner on his back side. Why can't he step up or take a three step drop once in a while. I am sure this would help the offensive line's blocking.
Dan,
The drop whether 3 step, 5 step or 7 step is part of the play called. He did step up a few times to avoid sacks but most of the time it wouldn't have helped.
From Gary,
Okay, G. has it right , Andy is a idiot …..Andy stands on the sidelines looking like a helpless,……beached whale, …waiting for somebody to push him back into the ocean….I think the fans could make the obvious adjustments needed after the first quarter.
Gee, Buckhalter was making first downs , getting decent yardage per carry….."oh , that might drag the game out longer "? What the hell is wrong with the coaching staff ? At least give your defense a chance to catch it's breath . The Eagles were at least able to run the ball a little …..I bet Kolb is on the phone to his agent right this minute …."get me outa here " !
McNabb may catch some heat for holding on to the ball too long ….but, you need to have somebody open , somewhere . Don't we have a "play" to counter a blitz ?
My gripe with Reid is this : He had all week to prepare for not having Westbrook, create some kind of a scheme to counter the Giants front line ( it didn't just show up last night !!) God we looked awful …….first half , 85 yds offense , 83 yds in penalties
From Dean,
Hey,Gary love the insights on football,great job!!
My question nis this ,i know Reid is the man in charge but does anybody in the organization step up to him about things??I mean Sunday night Morningwheg ,Castillo or Donovan (more on him later)should have said "We are getting our Qb killed out there maybe we should do something different".
My complaint with Donovan is he doesnt open his mouth when he should.I'm sorry if it had been me out there it would have been like June jones and Jeff George a few years back.Me and Andy or the O- coordinator would have been having words about my getting my face kicked in out there.
What is going with Donovan and Reggie Brown?There has been something there all season and that needs to be resolved one way or another.If they dont get along it needs to be addressed or you put Avant or Baskett out there instead.Where are the Tight Ends in this offense?With all the talk about Donovan working with his receivers why are so many passes dropped or just uncatchable?Thes guys seem to do pretty well with Garcia back there.
I have taken up enough of your time ,thanks
