I was at the game today, so I’ll have to do any and all analysis from memory, so bear with me.
I was surprised on the ride home to hear everyone on the radio talking about this was a “bad win” and seemed disappointed with how the team played as a whole. While this was true in some respects, it appears to me that people think this Eagles’ team is better than it really is. Consider…
- We are playing with 2 NFL-caliber cornerbacks. CB’s 3 through 5 are either out for the year (Hobbs), suspended (Hanson) or released (Ikegwuonu).
- We are playing with 1 of our starting LB’s from training camp (1 out of 4 if you include Omar Gaither), a position we were already very thin at, and the 1 guy who is left (Gocong) isn’t all that good.
- The Andrews’ brothers, who were supposed to be a huge part of offensive line, are M.I.A.
- Our best offensive weapon for the past six seasons, Brian Westbrook, has been a complete non-factor and is likely watching his career come to a close.
- Our 4 best offensive weapons (McCoy, Jackson, Maclin, Celek) have had 1 year of starting experience combined prior to this season.
My point is that 7-4 seems about right for this team. I think given the circumstances, they are playing pretty well. You can see that the defense is really, really beat up when a team like Washington can score 24 points on them and convert on several 3rd and 5+’s. Do people really think we are going to go into the playoffs and compete with the Saints and Vikings with this (active) roster? I certainly don’t.
On to my thoughts on the game…
- Say what you will about McNabb (and we know people will) but he had some great throws on that game winning drive, and did it without Jackson or Celek. Unfortunately for the McNabb haters, the drive did not occur with 2 minutes left on the clock, so it doesn’t count.
- If we had lost this game, the only thing I would have talked about was Andy Reid unbelievably foolish decision to onside kick to start the game. When you are playing a team you are better than and has a pretty bad offense and you are at home, the last thing you want to do is give them confidence and a free 7 points. I am a big Andy Reid supporter, but he has done several things this year that have lowered my support level a bit. This would be 2nd on my list.
- First on my list? His consistently idiotic play-calling on 3rd on short. I can’t write this, or say this enough. RUN LEONARD F-ING WEAVER ON 3rd AND SHORT. DON’T PASS. DON’T WILDCAT. DON’T VICK. THE DUDE AVERAGES 5.8 YPC. FIVE POINT EIGHT! WHY THE HELL DID YOU SIGN HIM!? If I see one more play action pass on 3rd and 1 with McNabb tossing over the WR’s head, I might lose my mind. It’s as if the man’s brain just completely leaves his head when we get in those situations.
- LeSean McCoy continues to impress me. However, I don’t believe he will ever be the weapon Westbrook was and he still needs to work on knowing when to run North/South and when to try to get the corner.
- Asante Samuel’s ball-hawking gave us two huge FG’s at the end of the half. But someone needs to explain to me why he doesn’t know how, or care how to tackle.
- Jason Avant has 17 catches for 276 yards in the last 3 games. I think he has a chance to be the best 3rd WR in all of football.
Despite all our problems, and all our injuries, the only 2 games we’ve really been beat this year was against the Saints (with McNabb out) and against the Chargers (playing like a top-5 team right now). I know I said above that this team is what it is right now, but that doesn’t mean it can’t improve. Each game from here on out is a big one. Starting with the Falcons next week, potentially without their starting QB (Matt Ryan ) and RB (Michael Turner).
So what did you guys think? I’m sure there is plenty I missed.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Jackson suffered a concussion. Bad news. More looks for Avent who is clearly under appreciated, under valued and under utilized overall.
I agree with you on Samuel. I have said it repeatedly, Samuel act’s like this is Madden football and he can just “hit stick” everyone. Though I appreciate his gambling ways as they lead to many interceptions but if he does not learn how to tackle soon then I am not sure how much more I can take of it.
The 3rd and short stuff is just out of this world. They call the most predictable plays its unreal. You could literally watch just the Eagles games from this year, nothing previous and know what is coming and what isn’t on third and short. Weaver has been an absolute godsend this year and yet he is under used. Buckley as the goal line back? Why? We have Weaver? Bring in Nick Cole to be the lead blocker and let Weaver punch it in.
Speaking of underused…Jason Avant is amazing. I honestly thing he could be a solid #2 and you could use Maclin’s speed in the slot but having DJack and JMac on the outsides with Avant in the slot works as well. He is the best 3rd down receiver I have ever seen since Brandon Stockley.
Enough of Vick, he is utterly useless. When he is on the field everyone knows that its a 95% chance of it being a running play. Moose Johnson seemed to make that very clear, as well as Vick’s use does not make it a Wildcat play as the Wildcat is with a running back lined up to take the snap.
I really would love for Reid not to be back next year but he will get his extension. And we will be dealing with the same ignorance, poor clock management, refusal or inability to make second half adjustments, inability to challenge a play and get it right as well as his awful and predictable play calling and his poor use of time outs. I would only be ok with Reid being brought back if they brought in a real offensive coordinator and not just one who has the title and is set up to be a scape goat. Wouldn’t hurt to have someone who can actually manage a clock and two minute drill as well.
That being said, given the Eagles injuries they are very much a 7-4 team, probably 8-3 because there is still no reason they should have lost to the Raiders. They are not anything other than an average football club who has for the most part been able to beat teams they should have. But to think this team will get any further than the first round of the playoffs if to get there at all is crazy. And I think people are finally starting to come to that realization.
I don’t think you can justify firing a head coach with Reid’s W/L record in this NFL. Yes, he has his faults, and I’m not sure he will learn from them and get better, but the ship he runs here is the reason we are 7-4 despite all the injuries we’ve had. And also the reason why his disciples (Childress, Harbaugh, maybe Spagnuolo) have all been successful.
can you start doing more posts in the week about the eagles and a game preview maybe?
But when is enough enough? When is getting close but not getting over the hump seen as the failure that it is? 10 years and not one title. Shannahan won the Super Bowl twice and he still got let go after a few years of not getting it done. McNabb will be gone after this year and Reid will have another talented roster that will not get the job done because when push comes to shove and the going gets tough, Andy get’s out coached. Childress is not a good coach. He inherited a good team and is lucky that he has the best running back in the game and that Favre hates the Packers more than he likes Childress. As for Spags, the jury is still out on him.
And by the way, you made the key statement ” I’m not sure he will learn from them and get better,” that is my biggest issue with him. He won’t learn. Whether its because he is stubborn, or too proud I don’t know. But he will continue to make back breaking mistakes at the worst times.
I’m still amazed by Jackson’s utterly inexplicable ability to get wide open. I mean, there’s open, there’s wide open and then there’s Desean Jackson. He’s a bit too much of a show boat for me but he’s developed into my favorite player on the team. He is so exciting to watch.
Maclin and Avant are both playing well also. It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the playoffs should the Eagles hold on and make it. Just so many weapons on the offensive side of the ball.
One thing that sort of surprised/impressed me was how well the Redskins tackle. They have a damn good defense among all that nonsense most notably illustrated by their excellent tackling. They were wrapping up McCoy’s legs all day.
Very good summary of the game/team. The main reason why I read the site is because of posts like this.
This could be an exciting stretch of games with a lot of ups and downs because of both our offense and defense. Andy Reid and Mcdermott need to step up because they need to play to our strengths and our weaknesses.
Keep up the good work!
To my recollection, th last time Andy Reid started a game with an onsides kick was at Dallas in or around his 2nd year. The Birds were either semi or serious underdogs that day, and it was pure brilliance.
Naturally, circumstances totally dictate the wiseness of a play, today’s being seemingly ridiculous (didn’t hear the explanation, so far be it from me to be totally convictioal). But its maybe a bit ironic how one time, its brilliant, and ludicrous in another circumstance. But that’s sports.
I assume Andy wanted to apply shock strategy. I actually kinda liked Mike Quick’s observation after the Iggles first score, suggesting, or wondering if they might do it again which really would have blown the Skins away. That would have been interesting.
You know, its common observation that in this league of alleged parity, its amazing how bad the bad teams there are this year. Although the Titans have escaped that group, the Lions, Browns, Rams are really, really pathetic. And at a minimum, the Saints, Colts, Vikes, maybe the Pats are somewhere around terrific. And today, I see Lawrence Frank is gone, reminding me how bad da Nets, da Knicks, the Twolves et al are, with the likes of the Lakers, C’s, Atlanta, etc. are opposite. Salary cap leagues, no less. In that regard, makes one wonder how effective an MLB cap would be.
Shady McCoy is great. He has brought me a ton of happiness the last three years. With that said, the kid is driving me crazy with his lack of ball control. He has gotten incredibly luckily thus far to not have fumbled 2x a game so far.
When the Eagles drafted him I was so excited – basically I said his talent is top-grade but that he needed to work on 2 things right away. 1) pass protection, which I believe he is truly working on and 2) tucking the ball high/tight..which it seems that he knows he is not great at, but still continues to do.
Everytime that Shady gets in the open field his arm is outstretched with the ball waving all over the place. He’s going to get stripped from behind and have the ball poked out very easily if he does not change this. I truly hope that this does not come back to kill us with his extended playing time.
I loved this game much better pass / run ratio. Reid was aggressive and went for it on 4th down at the goal line. Yes I’d like to see more running especially at 3rd and short. Realistically most of the time 3rd and short should be viewed as 2 down situations and you run both times.
We need a new punter.
I heard Celek tore his ligaments in his thumb, which was why he couldn’t catch 4 straight passes.
Vick is eating up an all too valuable roster spot. De-activate.
#5 is still a very, very good QB. But did you notice he underthrew Maclin ? #18 and #10 are making it a habit to have to come back for the ball on long throws. That’s either timing or an aging arm.
Al G-
We’ve definitely gotten a lot of feedback on people wanting more Eagles stuff. We are working on how we can best provide this to you guys.
Ed R. -
I hear ya. But after years and years of poor teams, I don’t think you can fire someone who has a .600 WP% for his career and 10 playoff wins.
People (not saying you) act like we go get Bill Cowher and we are going to magically win Super Bowls. All coaches have flaws.
Once you have a guy around as long as Reid has been, you get used to the good stuff (ability to perform with many people out, managing of the cap, player development, etc…) and focus only on the bad stuff. Happens all the time. Happening in college right now with Bob Stoops.
Ideally, Reid would be the GM and make the player personnel moves.
The other thing with Reid is that he has always been with McNabb. Wouldn’t mind seeing if things change with a different QB.
By the way, I expect McNabb back next year.
First time I’ve found this blog and I have to say, you’re an extremely critical fan. I definitely appreciate your insights on the positions and players you analyze, just wouldn’t want to be one of the players reading the blog.
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We are playing with 2 NFL-caliber cornerbacks. CB’s 3 through 5 are either out for the year (Hobbs), suspended (Hanson) or released (Ikegwuonu).
We are playing with 1 of our starting LB’s from training camp (1 out of 4 if you include Omar Gaither), a position we were already very thin at, and the 1 guy who is left (Gocong) isn’t all that good.
The Andrews’ brothers, who were supposed to be a huge part of offensive line, are M.I.A.
Our best offensive weapon for the past six seasons, Brian Westbrook, has been a complete non-factor and is likely watching his career come to a close.
Our 4 best offensive weapons (McCoy, Jackson, Maclin, Celek) have had 1 year of starting experience combined prior to this season.”
Pete-
You hit on something that I have been thinking about a lot with this team. I’m interested in seeing McNabb and Reid apart from one another. This team has be very good but not great with the two of them and I always wonder which one would be better off without the other. I wanted to see the opposite however. I want to see McNabb without Reid. I just get the feeling that Reid micro manages everything which makes it hard for them to speed up the offense in the final 2 minutes. Let’s face it they’ve been competitive in all but a handful of games the last 10 years and the 2 minute offense could be the difference between a 12 win team and a Superbowl and a 9 win team getting knocked out in the NFC championship game. Maybe McNabb isn’t good at quickly coming up with a play and improving like Peyton or Brady. Or maybe Reid doesn’t allow him to do that. I’d be interested to know how they would do apart from each other though.
How is Vick wasting a roster spot? I enjoy it when people say that because it’s a ridiculous statement. Think about it this way, would your rather have that roster spot taken up by a guy on the sidelines who’s main job is to look at a clipboard and contribute if the two guys ahead of him get injured or would you rather have a guy who can come in and actually play a few downs every game? It’s not Vick’s fault that Andy Reid only has two different plays where he uses him and the opposing team’s defense knows this.
I have long believed that McNabb has made Reid who he is. McNabb is a good NFL QB, maybe borderline great QB. Not Hall of Fame like Brady, Brees and P. Manning but McNabb’s numbers speak for themselves. All the while, spending a decade playing in a system that I think handcuffs him more than it does allow him to properly utilize his skill set.
McNabb is not a West Coast offense type QB. Yes he has done well in it but he could have done better somewhere else where he was in a system better suited to his strengths. Now I say this knowing full well that there is really no way to ever back this statement up but I think if you take McNabb away from Reid, Reid is an average NFL coach if that. You take Reid away from McNabb and he is possibly a Hall of Fame quarterback. I think the three big knocks I have on McNabb are his inconsistency, his inability to read a defense and audible out and his inability or unwillingness to work through his progressions. Amazingly, he telegraphs passes like no other and yet his INT numbers are very good. Maybe it’s because he throws so many balls into the ground, I have no idea.
However I do think you can fire someone with a 600 WP, and I will cite Mike Shanahan to illustrate that. He had a 615 WP in Denver and two Super Bowls and still after three years of not making the playoffs, in which he went 9-7 and 8-8 in two of those three years he was canned. Shanahan had a better regular and post season WP than Andy and has two rings. And he had one QB to work with that entire time as well. Just like Reid. You can fire a coach who has had success when just success is not enough.
I don’t think that bringing Cowher or Shanahan or Holmgren or any of those guys guarantees anything but I do think anyone of them does increase our chances. There are things Reid is good at but I think after this much time, the things he can’t do, and hasn’t done, outweighs what he can do and has done. As the saying goes, when the going get’s tough, the tough get going, I would not say that about Andy Reid. I don’t think anyone could.
I don’t think Andy is ready for a roll as a GM yet. I think he enjoys doing both jobs, enjoys the power and he does them with some success but after 10 years and no Super Bowls is that good enough?
McNabb will most certainly not be back next year. Kolb’s rookie contract expires at the end of next year. I doubt he would resign if he does not get significant time next year. Which is a shame because I do think he can be the QB of the future. He needs to play in order for them to really evaluate what he is. Yes he did well this year in his two starts but that is too small a sample size for me to be comfortable and I am a huge Kolb fan.
Looks like we catch a break with Matt Ryan out for the Falcons next week.
And Turner. But it would help to have DJack. Not that Maclin and Avant can’t get it done because they can.
I think it is OK to be critical of yesterday’s performance on a team level. As beat up as the Eagles are, the Skins are more beat up. No Portis, Betts (we still have MCCoy), not a single starting OL left (we still have 2 – Herrimans and Jackson), no Haynesworth, no Hall (one of their starting corners). Apparently we are the only team that makes Campbell look good. The Skins are really really bad. Eagles lose to a 4-win team yesterday.
And yes they only have been outplayed badly by two teams, but those are the only two real good teams they have played. Not a single win of their 7 is against a good team.
Reid discussion is tired. I am in DC today and they are raving about Reid as the reason why the Eagles are consistently good. Yes, they are rarely great but I guess from the Skins viewpoint “good” looks real good. But from the Patriots, Colts, Steelers viewpoint – not so much. I don’t fault the fan for wanting to be one of those elite. Reid has had long enough to prove he isn’t one of the elite. So what do you do? Always scarey to take a few steps back to possibly leap to the elite. Cuase it may never happen. One thing I know is McNAbb will never be a world champion. I would give Reid an extension but would like to try him with another QB more accurate as a passer.
Ed R.
I understand Drew Brees is a great QB right now but how can you consider him a sure hall of famer and not even give Donovan any consideration? Even without a super bowl ring McNabb will generate serious hall of fame talk. For a simple comparison check out McNabb and 2002 HOF Inductee Jim Kelly…by the end of his career McNabb’s numbers should surpass those of Jim Kelly
Also I highly doubt the Eagles will give up on McNabb after this season. Going into this season I thought for sure he would be gone but now I believe otherwise. I think management will realize that the few qbs better then McNabb are all locked up in long-term deals.
On a side note, I’ve become a big fan of Tony Pike at Cincy this year and given the Eagles luck in drafting Cincy players (Celek, Cole) I really hope they give him a shot and draft him
Here is how I can consider Brees an HOF QB over McNabb.
Brees and McNabb are the same age but Brees has played 2 less years, 26 less games than McNabb.
With that, Brees has 2000 yards less, 19 less TD’s but 12 more INT’s. However Brees has a 64.3 completion % compared to McNabb’s 59.0. Brees also has a lifetime of 90.7 compared to McNabb’s 86.4.
Now Brees does not have much playoff experience, which compared to McNabb might almost be a good thing as McNabb has not been able to win them the big game and has a rather poor record in the NFC title game. But you cited Jim Kelly who as we all know was a solid 0-4 in the Super Bowl and he is in the HOF.
If you look at what Brees has done in 27 less games and project that out, he would crush McNabb in every category but INT’s. And here is the best part. Brees is getting better. McNabb is not. I don’t think McNabb is getting worse by any stretch but he is not improving.
You could make the argument that McNabb never had weapons minus a year with T.O and thats absolutely correct but neither did Brees until recently.
This might not be the most fair argument to have as I am a huge Brees fan and not much of a McNabb fan, but I am also a fan of being fair and objective. If McNabb was on another team, and had a coach who had a system better suited for McNabb’s strengths then I think McNabb would be a sure firer HOFer. I hope he finishes his career and makes the case for himself, he deserves it and he has taken a lot of crap from the media and fans. Some deserved but most of it is not.
I really don’t think McNabb will be back. Especially with his contract being up the following year. I think he will get traded and either sign an extension with his new team or get a year to prove himself to that team. Kolb is ready to be the every day QB of the Eagles. He is ready to be the every day QB of a lot of teams to be honest. I doubt the Eagles get past the first round and I think that is what will ultimately be the deciding factor on whether McNabb stays or goes.
I don’t see the Eagles taking another QB, not with Kolb waiting. But if McNabb does come back next year then they might have to draft someone because Kolb will bounce after his rookie contract expires.
Ed R-
Here is my write-up last year on why McNabb is a HOF QB…. heavy on stats.
http://www.reclinergm.com/is-donovan-mcnabb-a-hall-of-famer/
A couple of your stats are totally bogus on that link. You have to throw out his interception ratio. Half of his passes were behind the line of scrimmage to Westbrook, you can’t intercept that pass. In fact I’d argue you really need to figure out what Donovan’s passing yardage is subtracking YAR and then stack him up to other QB’s.
Because he throws so many short West Coast style passes and the stuff to Westrbrook, his completion ratio should be #1 all time, the fact it is so low is a major hurdle to his candidacy.
POLL please, I’d like to vote and for as much as I love McNabb, he isn’t HOF
“you have to throw out that interception ratio”?
uhhhh….no you don’t. McNabb is not the first west coast QB of all time and do you see how many screens the Patriots and Tom Brady run? I’ve seen 2 in the first series tonight!
Here’s a quick argument for McNabb….
He currently sits at 31,509 passing yards and 209 touchdowns. He JUST turned 33, and is in EXCELLENT physical shape. He will likely play 5 more productive years, for the Eagles or otherwise. If he only plays 3 more years at 3,000 yards a season and 15 touchdowns, he will reach the milestones of 40,000 yards and 250 TDs. Let’s also assume he wins no more playoff games, keeping him at 9 playoff victories. THIS IS BEING CONSERVATIVE.
Here is the list of QBs, in NFL history, with 40,000 yards, 250 TDs and 9 playoff victories.
I agree with everything you just said Pete except that a guy who has played 1 full season in the last 5, including this year can not be classified as being in Excellent Physical Condition. He may be in shape. But that doesn’t mean he is in excellent physical condition. Maybe its a game of semantics but that’s just my view. But I will say this, you have sold me on the McNabb HOF argument.