Hey, MDFan urged me to check in. I've been super busy, but wanted to throw out a few thoughts.
First, you guys on this board have watched the NFL for years. C'mon, you knew the Eagles were fat and happy after the nation patted them on the back over the TO bowl. Same thing with the Bears. NFL teams CAN'T get jacked for 16 weeks. It doesn't happen. The key for the good teams is to pull out a win in those inevitable flat games. The Eagles played a good Saints team at home, rallied in the 2nd half, were in aposition to win and lost. The Bears deserved far more to lose and won, against a lesser squad.
So what is the point? Its a long season. Its HARD in the NFL to win 3 in a row, and the Birds had done that after the NY Giant debacle. It would have been 4 in a row off an emotional win facing a well coached team in a loud dome. Not a great recipe. Still, Philly should have won.
Style make fights. The Saints "match up well" with us if you think about it. We are a pressure D. They have a big OL, like to run the ball with a power guy and a speed guy. They STICK WITH the run. AT QB, they have a guy who is efficient like a machine--that is in the 15 yard and under range. They dink and dunk and run--exactly the thing our D is least designed to handle. Right?
Defensively, we had no Stallworth. So they had their CB's go man under with some safety help rolling to one side. They did drop an 8th man to handle some runs and to take away shorter throws and to bring heat.
They have some nice DE's. There were plays to be made but too many drops. Hey men, we are playing with alot of babies on O. What do you expect? I saw Avant, Baskett, and others--alot of first and second year starters.
Defensively, Jom Johnson needs to understand this D only can handle one style--attack. He's so scared of the big play, he gives up huge chunks of yards on first down. Trotter, IMO, has not played well lately. He is running himself out of plays again. McCoy--like the fire, but he needs to be more consistent. The entire DL just had an awful game.
I'm not a knee jerk guy. The reason I don't do the boards so much anymore is the whole "we are awesome, Miami bound" after a big win like Dallas, and then "we suck, sky is falling" after losing to a well coached team who played great in a "statement" game for them!
Here's what NFL coaches do. Divide the season into quarters. The Birds were 3-1 in the first quarter. They are 1-1 in the second so far. I expect them to beat Tampa, then Jax at home, and then after the bye, win as usual. They will then be 3-1 in the second "quarter" of the season, and standing at 6-2. Right on track to 12-4.
Yes the season gets harder schedule wise, but lets see who is still competitive in December, shall we? Maybe Atlanta will tank by then. Skins could implode, Dallas still is shaky (shouldn't you drill the Texans at home coming off a loss?). 12-4 wins the division for sure. 11-5 could too. 10-6 gets in as a wild card.
Now, onto the D. Biggest problem I saw Sunday was just getting off the abll, playing with fire, and wrapping up. Yes I'd like to see the CB's press more, and more run blitzes.
What won them the game was JJ's too much respect he gave Bush. We should have played 8 in the box, pressed the CB's and had Dawk as free deep. The Saints WR's lack speed. So why the cushion? It was to contain Bush, and played right into Payton's hands.
Also, how about a little credit to the other team? They protected well on the OL with 2 rookies. The stick throws Brees made for the one TD to Horn in traffic and to many guys on 3rd downs were just great throws. Can you really say the coverage was bad except for Mike Lewis on the tying TD? I can't. Looked like a great QB finding the holes in the D and nailing it. Tip your cap. And remember, how many teams have the loud dome, 2 great backs, a coach who has schemed against our D for like 7 years, and an accurate as a laser QB, plus 2 speed rush ends and 2 good bump CB's? Not many. Styles make fights.
Too much crying for my taste on every Eagles message board. Its cool to vent, but be realistic. Many thought we'd struggle to make the playoffs before the season started, now everybody wants 13-3. Sheesh. We have a YOUNG TEAM, that should get BETTER as the season goes on. And YES, I'd START Considine! Mike Lewis is getting exposed weekly now. SC won't get beat that bad--he doesn't bite at every fake, can run a little better,k and has much better anticipation and ball skills. THAT should help ALOT. The fire will be back again and you will see improvement up front.
I also like Ramsey better than Truck Driver. His athleticism helps.
Bottom line, we have a good team, not a great team, that will get better as the season goes on, and which has to play SMARTER on D, with lots of emotion every week, and with tighter CB play and a new SS. With Hood back healthy, SC starting, and everyone firing off the ball on D, it'll be OK. Relax Eagles Nation. The Saints played us at the RIGHT TIME. Nothing else, OK? They whopped the Falcons, and held their own at Carolina. Its not a "bad loss" in that respect.
Finally, our coaches should have anticipated the letdown, and put in more aggressive plays to wake up the troops. Where was the gadget play? Its almost like the Eagle coaches sort of mailed it in this week. On to TB..
First, you guys on this board have watched the NFL for years. C'mon, you knew the Eagles were fat and happy after the nation patted them on the back over the TO bowl. Same thing with the Bears. NFL teams CAN'T get jacked for 16 weeks. It doesn't happen. The key for the good teams is to pull out a win in those inevitable flat games. The Eagles played a good Saints team at home, rallied in the 2nd half, were in aposition to win and lost. The Bears deserved far more to lose and won, against a lesser squad.
So what is the point? Its a long season. Its HARD in the NFL to win 3 in a row, and the Birds had done that after the NY Giant debacle. It would have been 4 in a row off an emotional win facing a well coached team in a loud dome. Not a great recipe. Still, Philly should have won.
Style make fights. The Saints "match up well" with us if you think about it. We are a pressure D. They have a big OL, like to run the ball with a power guy and a speed guy. They STICK WITH the run. AT QB, they have a guy who is efficient like a machine--that is in the 15 yard and under range. They dink and dunk and run--exactly the thing our D is least designed to handle. Right?
Defensively, we had no Stallworth. So they had their CB's go man under with some safety help rolling to one side. They did drop an 8th man to handle some runs and to take away shorter throws and to bring heat.
They have some nice DE's. There were plays to be made but too many drops. Hey men, we are playing with alot of babies on O. What do you expect? I saw Avant, Baskett, and others--alot of first and second year starters.
Defensively, Jom Johnson needs to understand this D only can handle one style--attack. He's so scared of the big play, he gives up huge chunks of yards on first down. Trotter, IMO, has not played well lately. He is running himself out of plays again. McCoy--like the fire, but he needs to be more consistent. The entire DL just had an awful game.
I'm not a knee jerk guy. The reason I don't do the boards so much anymore is the whole "we are awesome, Miami bound" after a big win like Dallas, and then "we suck, sky is falling" after losing to a well coached team who played great in a "statement" game for them!
Here's what NFL coaches do. Divide the season into quarters. The Birds were 3-1 in the first quarter. They are 1-1 in the second so far. I expect them to beat Tampa, then Jax at home, and then after the bye, win as usual. They will then be 3-1 in the second "quarter" of the season, and standing at 6-2. Right on track to 12-4.
Yes the season gets harder schedule wise, but lets see who is still competitive in December, shall we? Maybe Atlanta will tank by then. Skins could implode, Dallas still is shaky (shouldn't you drill the Texans at home coming off a loss?). 12-4 wins the division for sure. 11-5 could too. 10-6 gets in as a wild card.
Now, onto the D. Biggest problem I saw Sunday was just getting off the abll, playing with fire, and wrapping up. Yes I'd like to see the CB's press more, and more run blitzes.
What won them the game was JJ's too much respect he gave Bush. We should have played 8 in the box, pressed the CB's and had Dawk as free deep. The Saints WR's lack speed. So why the cushion? It was to contain Bush, and played right into Payton's hands.
Also, how about a little credit to the other team? They protected well on the OL with 2 rookies. The stick throws Brees made for the one TD to Horn in traffic and to many guys on 3rd downs were just great throws. Can you really say the coverage was bad except for Mike Lewis on the tying TD? I can't. Looked like a great QB finding the holes in the D and nailing it. Tip your cap. And remember, how many teams have the loud dome, 2 great backs, a coach who has schemed against our D for like 7 years, and an accurate as a laser QB, plus 2 speed rush ends and 2 good bump CB's? Not many. Styles make fights.
Too much crying for my taste on every Eagles message board. Its cool to vent, but be realistic. Many thought we'd struggle to make the playoffs before the season started, now everybody wants 13-3. Sheesh. We have a YOUNG TEAM, that should get BETTER as the season goes on. And YES, I'd START Considine! Mike Lewis is getting exposed weekly now. SC won't get beat that bad--he doesn't bite at every fake, can run a little better,k and has much better anticipation and ball skills. THAT should help ALOT. The fire will be back again and you will see improvement up front.
I also like Ramsey better than Truck Driver. His athleticism helps.
Bottom line, we have a good team, not a great team, that will get better as the season goes on, and which has to play SMARTER on D, with lots of emotion every week, and with tighter CB play and a new SS. With Hood back healthy, SC starting, and everyone firing off the ball on D, it'll be OK. Relax Eagles Nation. The Saints played us at the RIGHT TIME. Nothing else, OK? They whopped the Falcons, and held their own at Carolina. Its not a "bad loss" in that respect.
Finally, our coaches should have anticipated the letdown, and put in more aggressive plays to wake up the troops. Where was the gadget play? Its almost like the Eagle coaches sort of mailed it in this week. On to TB..
Comment