Philadelphia Eagles at the Bye

The Birds are 3-3 going into the bye week.  Before the season started looking at the schedule if you would have told me that would be the Eagles record, I would have been shocked and pessimistic about their playoff chances.  With the NFC East being as strong as it is, a .500 record likely would set us a ways back in our own division.  But thanks to some favorable outcomes in week 6 and bad luck for our division rivals, we are not in too bad shape.

• Washington loses to St. Louis, one of the worst teams in the NFL, on a last second field goal, dropping them to 4-2.
• Dallas loses to the Cardinals in overtime making them 4-2…
• On the first play in overtime of that Cowboys game Tony Romo broke the pinkie on his throwing hand.  He will be out up to 4 weeks making Brad Johnson the starting quarterback for three games (@Rams, Bucs & @Giants).
• Dallas loses Felix Jones for 2-4 weeks with a partial torn hamstring.
• Pacman Jones up to his old tricks again and has been suspended for at least 4 games, most likely more considering he can’t stay out of trouble to save his career.  That means Dallas is down their two best cornerbacks for at least a month.
• Dallas lost their punter with multiple fractures in his kicking foot.
• Giants lose to the Browns on Monday Night Football dropping them to 4-1, with two games still to come against the Eagles.

One game back when most people expected us to be 2 games behind the Redskins and Cowboys and 3 games back to the Giants with two meetings scheduled is not a bad place to be considering how poorly the Birds have played thus far.  But all that will mean nothing if the Eagles don’t get their act together and and shore up some holes.

Eagles Biggest Weakness

Besides injuries to Brian Westbrook and Kevin Curtis yet to play a game, I think it’s pretty clear where the Eagles are weak.  Right in the center of the field on both sides of the ball. The production we are getting out of the tight end position is ridiculously bad.  When L.J. can actually stay healthy and play, he has been lackluster to say the least.  Celek has been even worse and Matt Schobel has been invisible.  Even worse these guys can’t block to save their life either.

Eagles Tight End Production at the Bye

Receptions	16
Yards	132
Yards Per Reception	8.3
TDs	2
Long	19

The Eagles had an opportunity to turn their tight end weakness into a strength by doing whatever it took to get Tony Gonzalez, but like most times rumors about the Eagles and a player we need come up nothing got done.  The Eagles are reportedly about $20,000,000 under the cap, but nothing got done.  We could have had Gonzalez for not only this year but next year as well, giving us two shots to compete for a championship, but nothing got done.

Opposing Teams Tight End Production

Receptions	39
Yards	503
Yards Per Reception	12.9
TDs	2
Long	57
Team’s leading Receiver	5 out of 6

So not only are we not getting the production from our own tight ends, we haven’t done all that well defending our opponents’ tight ends either.  They are averaging 6.5 catches per game and 84 yards per game.  And as you can see are the leading receiver in every game but one.  I thought our linebackers were supposed to be faster.

Venting Frustration

I am admittedly not a huge football guy.  Don’t claim to know all the intricacies of the sport.  So please educate me if I am out of line here.  But I feel like the Eagles value draft picks significantly more than current players whose production is proven and therefore much more likely to be realized if we acquired them.  I don’t know what Kansas City was asking for Tony Gonzalez.  I heard a 3rd round pick, a 2nd round pick, some combination of picks, all things considered whatever it was the Eagles needed to get that deal done.  Word is the Eagles did make every effort, and the Chiefs turned them down.  But that’s when you have to make an offer a team can’t refuse.  I don’t know, but I think sometimes in sports it shouldn’t be about getting the best deal, rather getting the player you need to be successful now.

Look, I am sure some stat geek did an analysis of the value of all the draft picks over time and teams make decisions based on those expected values when evaluating actual players vs. picks.  But “over time” does nothing for us next week.  And “over time” we have one Super Bowl loss as our highest level of achievement.  I don’t know about you, but that simply isn’t good enough for me.

Then we see two division rivals go out and bolster their offenses with two proven players in this league in Roy Williams and Shaun Alexander.  Some have said Jerry Jones gave up too much for Williams.  Really?  Is that a fact?  He is only 27-years-old, so besides helping them win now he is also security if T.O. breaks down at 35.  Dallas also got two draft picks back when Adam “Idiotman” Jones went stupid again – as expected.  I call that smart deal-making by Jones hedging his risk in that trade.  But I really just think Jones and Dallas have a different philosophy even if that means taking more risk and making a few more mistakes.  One thing that we’ve heard Jeffrey Laurie preach to us recently is “do whatever it takes to win now, petal to the metal” blah, blah blah.  Well, Jones backs that approach with action, not just unfulfilled trade and free agent rumors.  When will we see that from Laurie?

The window of opportunity is closing rapidly for this team, if it isn’t closed already.  We really need to win NOW.  We have too many players at key positions getting to an age when their effectiveness will drop to the point where we will be rebuilding.  Or in the case of Brian Westbrook gets hurt so often it’s very possible his career won’t be as long or productive as we all would like.

Offense

• Jon Runyan – 35 in November
• William Thomas – 34 in November
• Donovan McNabb – 32 in November
• Correal Buckhalter – 30 and free agent after this season
• Kevin Curtis – 30
• Brian Westbrook – 29

Defense

• Brian Dawkins – 35
• Darren Howard – 32 in November
• Juqua Parker – 30

By the way what is with all the November birthdays?

The part that concerns me is I don’t think this team is stable behind anyone one of those guys.  Do you?

On a Good Note

The Eagles have improved in one critical area that killed them last season which is turnover differential.  Last year the Eagles were 25th in the NFL at -8.  So far this year the Birds are first in the NFC and second in the NFL at +5.

The Eagles are first in the NFL in sacks with 21.  Last season they were 9th with 37 sacks for the entire year.  So far so good in terms of putting pressure on and getting to the quarterback.  Now I’d like to see them get more pressure with just their front four and not have to rely on blitzing every time they need a pass rush.

Special teams: Punting.  The Birds are 9th in average yards per return, 7th in average yards per return allowed and 7th in net punting average.  Rocca has also improved his touch with 10 kicks inside the 20.  The Eagles are tied for 5th in IN20%, they were 17th last season.

Eagles Remaining Schedule

• Atlanta
• @ Seattle
• NY Giants
• @ Cincinnati
• @ Baltimore
• Arizona
• @ NY Giants
• Cleveland
• @ Washington
• Dallas

The Birds have two winnable games coming out of the bye week, and it is well documented that Reid has his teams ready to play as well.  Then the division-leading Giants come to town in a game I think the Eagles MUST WIN, especially at home.  Besides pulling us up the ladder and pulling New York down a notch, this team needs to prove they can beat a good team – period.  Enough with the nonsense talk about being a better team then the opponent you just lost to.  Prove it!

I know many of you made predictions before the season.  After watching 6 games now, how has your season outlook changed?  What will the Birds finish at and will they make the playoffs?

October 17, 2008