Let's Talk Defense

The newest version of Gang Green is playing brilliantly right now.

They held Dallas to only 6 points, their lowest output of the season. The week before, WAS got 10 points. Cleveland was held without an offensive TD. The Giants only scored 14 points (7 of which came via a blocked FG run back for a TD).

For the month of December the defense allowed a total of 2 TDs. They scored 3. Great, great stuff right there. You can ride a dominant defense to a title. Right now the Eagles D is playing dominant football.

Final rankings:

Yards Allowed - 3rd
Points Allowed - 4th
Rush D - 4th
Pass D - 3rd
Sacks - 3rd
3rd Down - 2nd
Opp. Comp. % - 2nd
Opp. QB Rating - 5th
Opp. YPC - 3rd
Opp. Rush TDs - 2nd
Fewest 1st downs - 4th
Fewest Penalties - 5th

The defense came up with 29 takeaways, an improvement of 10 from last year.

They scored 4 TDs (Parker, Samuel, Clemons, Hanson).

Yardage allowed:

DAL - 298
WAS - 249
CLE - 196
NYG - 211
ARZ - 260
BAL - 248
CIN - 226

I stopped there. That stretch of games is when Jim Johnson made changes. Akeem Jordan took over at WLB. Jim got more aggressive with his gameplans. He started to really challenge his defense. They responded by playing great football. Joselio Hanson took over as the Nickel back in that stretch as well. Lito did play some because of an injury to Asante. Lito was burned for 4 TDs in his limited time. Thanks for helping out, Lito.

Victor Abiamiri and Chris Clemons emerged on the DL in that stretch. Victor is out with a Lis Franc sprain and might be done for the year. Clemons got all 4 of his sacks in the 2nd half of the season. He started to offer impact at DE and as The Joker. His ability to run and chase gives JJ something to get creative with.

Trent Cole is the best player up front. He "only" had 10 sacks, but his presence is felt all game long. He came out of the Dallas game without a sack or tackle, but go ask Romo who hit him the most. Trent did.

Bunk and Patt are rock solid inside. Those guys clog the middle like a Frat house toilet on burrito night. They didn't make a whole lot of plays this year. They only combined for 2.5 sacks, 3 TFLs. Just look at the improved LB play. Last year our LBs had 22 TFLs. This year they had 27. Bunk and Patt occupied blockers and let the other players make the plays. Bunk is on the verge of becoming a Pro Bowl player. He's starting to really get disruptive.

You have to mention Darren Howard. He came up with 10 sacks this year to lead the team. Most of his sacks came from RDT in the Nickel/Dime defense. He's a big part of why the 3rd down defense is so good. QBs know he is going to be exploding off the ball and they must act quickly. He forced Romo into an INT on Sunday.

The linebackers were a sore spot for a long time. No more. Bradley looks terrific at MIKE. Gocong is improving at SAM and has good potential. Jordan has played very well at WIL. Gaither was up and down in his time as a starter this year, but is a top flight backup. Gocong is 250+ and runs well. Stew is 250+ and instinctive. Jordan is only around 240, but he's athletic and surprisingly physical. Akeem is very good at taking on lead blockers.

Safety play was a major issue in September. I was ready to put Dawk out to pasture. That was then, this is now (thanks, Emilio). JJ is using Dawk wisely and the results speak for themselves. Mikell has been rock solid all year. Even Quintin Demps is getting some reps. He's part of our D against 2-TE sets. Big pass plays aren't the problem they were early on.

We paid a lot of money to bring Asante Samuel in here. Sammie has been about as good as advertised. He dropped key picks vs CIN, WAS but those are my only two real complaints. Sheldon Brown didn't make a lot of plays, but he's been solid. Both guys will hit and tackle you. MmmBop Hanson is playing well right now as the Nickel corner. He lacks the speed to play outside, but he's a terrific role player.

We're getting plays from all 3 levels of the defense. The guys play well as a group. There is a real chemistry on this unit in the last 4-6 games. Don't underestimate the importance of that.

2005 - PIT rides their D to a SB win
2006 - Indy rides their D to a SB win
2007 - NYG ride their D to a SB win

Obviously the Bucs and Ravens did the same thing at the beginning of the decade.

I'm not telling you the D will carry us to Tampa and/or win the title, but it is possible. And not "it could rain chocolate pudding" possible. I'm talking about very doable.

Let's hope this version of Gang Green is able to come up big in the playoffs. If they do, watch out NFL. We'll have as good a chance as anyone.
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ABOUT THE DALLAS GAMEPLAN

Jim Johnson was very passive against Dallas in Week 2. He called a game based on not getting burned by deep pass plays. He limited blitz looks. Romo sat in the pocket and ate us for lunch. They scored 34 offensive points and got plenty of big plays.

This time around Jim wanted to be more aggressive. He did that in a couple of ways. Jim used the tactic that BAL had last week and came with delay blitzes. This is when a DB or LB hesitates for a second or so then takes off after the QB. The thinking is that the blockers will all engage a defender and won't see the blitzer coming on the delay. He'll then get a free run at the QB. Dallas adjusted for this pretty well. Our delay blitzes didn't eat Romo alive the way the Ravens did.

We also stacked the line on some plays. This was effective in terms of forcing quick throws and errant throws. The blitz isn't just designed to get sacks. It is effective if the QB has to get rid of the ball quickly and plays don't work right.

Tony Romo had some interesting comments after the game. On Dallas early FG drive we had blitzers coming off the slot. They would leave the receiver wide open at the snap and attack. Another defender would shoot over to the receiver and tackle him, but Dallas got short gains. Tony said we took that away after that drive and kept all the receivers covered. He and the Cowboys didn't respond well.

I liked the fact we were so versatile in the game. Jim brought pressure off both sides. He brought it up the middle. He rushed only 4 at times.

We played tight man coverage sometimes. We laid off and played zone on other plays. We didn't let Dallas ever get into a comfort zone.

We used the creative 2-man DL look. We'd have a couple of guys down in a 3-point stance. We'd have several other players milling around at the LOS. The offense didn't know who was coming and who was dropping. I didn't notice this having any particular success, but it gave the offense something else to deal with. They just got overwhelmed - physically, mentally, and based on the sight of Romo laying on the ground crying for mommy...emotionally as well.

Great gameplan. Great execution.
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Still Smilin'

I don't know about you guys, but I am still one happy camper. We're in the playoffs and Dallas is sitting at home. Life is beautiful.

The DGR is posted:

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9174#9174


I'll start focusing on the Vikings tomorrow or Wednesday. I'll be writing about our juggernaut defense tomorrow. Those guys have been great.
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Cloud Freakin' 9

What a day. This is as good as it gets in the regular season.

The Raiders went to Tampa and won 31-24. Houston beat Chicao, also 31-24. That set us up with...win and you're in. We controlled our own fate last week and blew it. Would that happen again?

No.

We got an early FG and led 3-0. Dallas adjusted to our blitzing by playing small-ball and went on a FG drive themselves. 3-3.

That was basically the end of the game. We scored the next 41 points to go up 44-3. We got big plays on offense, defense, and special teams. The coaches did a good job on both sides of the ball and the players were even better.

* Buck delivered a 59-yd catch and run. He also caught a TD pass.

* Celek caught a TD.

* DeSean had a big catch on 3rd down.

* Green Akers nailed a 50-yd FG.

* Q Demps forced a fumble on a KOR that led to the long FG.

* Dawk had a pair of FFs. Both balls were run back for TDs.

* Clemons had a sack, FF, and a FR that he ran back for a TD. He also got good pressure that led to poor throws.

* Sheldon came up with his first pick of the year.

* MmmBop Hanson ran back a fumble 96 yds for a TD.

* Akeem led the team with 11 TFLs and a 2 TFLs.

* Darren Howard got his 10th sack of the season.


I left Trent Cole, Brian Westbrook, and Donovan McNabb out of the list. They all came up big, but not necessarily with one play.

McNabb made a few terrific throws. He had 2 TD passes. He helped us to go 6 of 9 on 3rd downs in the 1st half. He executed very well late in the half when the clock was an issue. He sneaked for the other TD. It wasn't a great game, but he gave us what we needed. He led us to 1st downs and touchdowns. Well done, Donnie Mac.

Westy had 13 carries for 50 yards. He caught 2 passes for 12 yards. Those numbers are far from impressive, but he did have a big part in the win. Westy lined up out wide on 2 key plays. One was a long pass to DeSean and the other was the TD pass to Buck. His presence impacted those plays just by alignment. He also set up the QB sneak by running for 5 yards and getting us inside the 1.

Cole didn't have a sack. Or even a tackle. But he came off the left side like a bat out of hell the whole game. He hit Romo a few times. He drew double-teams on multiple plays. He was disruptive even though he didn't actually make any plays. I was really hoping he'd get his 10th sack of the year, but that didn't happen.


DEFENSE

Our D has been sensational in December. They have allowed 2 TDs. Washington got one after McNabb fumbled and gave them the ball inside the 20. The Giants got a TD when they scored on our prevent defense with less than a minute left in the game. That's it for the whole month.

The D scored 2 TDs in December and allowed 2. How's that for balance?

We allowed the fewest points in the NFC. And that includes several non-offensive TDs that were scored against us.

I have to give special mention to Brian Dawkins. His energy and emotion were clearly infectious today. He made plays as well. His 2 FFs were huge. Both were run back for scores. You could see the other players reacting to Dawk today. It felt as if they couldn't lose for his sake as much as their own.

Great day.
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Gameday Thoughts

Last night I went to a get-together with some old friends. One guy I hadn't seen in years. His name is Marty and he's a Raiders fan. Omen?

This morning I'm driving around and the last song on the radio "A Little Help From My Friends" by Joe Cocker. The Eagles need some help from our friends in Oakland, Houston, and New York. Omen?

It all probably means nothing, but some tough losses have put me in a position where I have to look for anything positive. When you don't take care of business you are left to watch the scoreboard and hope.

It makes the day fun in the sense that you have to watch several different games and they all matter. It sucks because you have to rely on other teams to help you out.

All we can do is watch and hope. And then take care of business when 4:15 rolls around. My nightmare scenario is to have things go our way early in the day and then for the Eagles to choke against Dallas.

Please Eagles...please...beat the friggin' Cowboys. No matter what else happens I want us to win today and keep Dallas out of the postseason. That's the Christmas present I want from the guys in green.
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Dallas Preview is up

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9172#9172


I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I wasted mine spending time with family when I could have been locked in a room studying game tape. Neither one of my nephews has any understanding of the Okie Package. How the heck am I supposed to have a good conversation with them? What's more important, Santa or delayed blitzes up the middle?

It was nice to take a short break from football, but I'm excited for the Dallas game and the onset of bowl season. We've had a few games to this point, but only one key game. TCU beat Boise State 17-16 in a good game on Tuesday.

The season finale against Dallas should be exciting. We might have a chance at the playoffs. At least we'll be able to play to keep them out. That's better than nothing.

I'm also really curious to see how the new and improved Eagles defense handles the Cowboys. They can run or throw. They have WRs and TEs. They have a mobile QB. If we control them or shut them down, I'll be incredibly impressed with how far our defense has come. We weren't even a good speed bump back in September against them.
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DGR + Some Akeem Jordan Stuff

DGR is posted:

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9166#9166

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Akeem Jordan has now played in 2 NFC-E games. The defense has been substantially better in each contest. Don't give him all the credit, but he's done his part.

With Gaither:

DAL - 34 offensive points ... 380 yards
WAS - 23 offensive points ... 388 yards
NYG - 36 offensive points ... 401 yards


With Jordan:

NYG - 7 offensive points .... 211 yards
WAS - 10 offensive points ... 249 yards
DAL - ???

Omar had 15 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FF in those 3 games.
Jordan has 14 tackles and 2 TFLs in his 2 starts vs NFC-E opponents.

I'd still like to see Akeem make more plays (sacks, INTs, FFs, FRs), but I'm very encouraged by what I've seen so far.

Dallas will be a huge test on Sunday. They have a talented, balanced offense. A good showing by Akeem and the defense would be a great way to close the season, no matter what else happens.
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Monday Thoughts

I'm still working on the DGR.

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The loss is no less frustrating today. I've spoken to several fans and we all try to joke about things, but everyone is pissed about the way yesterday played out. The biggest gripe is the lack of running, as you would imagine.

I told a friend prior to the game that all we needed to do was feed the ball to Westy and play good defense. He got 18 touches, but 2 of the runs were junk plays right before the half and 3 touches came on the final drive of the game. That means Westy had 13 touches during the other 57 1/2 minutes of action. Pitiful.

This is the part of Andy Reid that makes me want to kidnap him and give him the football version of the Ludivico Treatment. Brian Westbrook is our best offensive player, not Donovan McNabb. No offense to #5, but Westy is now the key to the offense.

There is no excuse for underusing him in our biggest game of the year. I'm sure Andy has some brilliant reason for why things played out like that, but I'm gonna side with my common sense over his "rationale".

The playoffs are a major longshot, but I'll be excited to see what we do against Dallas on Sunday. No matter what, you always want to beat the Cowboys.

I know a lot of people want to talk about Reid and his future. I'll get into that a little bit in the next couple of days, but I still want to see the whole season play out before saying anything definitive.

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New PE.com article is up:

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=17029

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Welcome To My Nightmare

Sorry I'm stealing from the great Alice Cooper, but the title seemed all too appropriate. Tampa Bay lost to the Chargers in an early game and gave the Eagles control of their playoff lives. The Eagles promptly swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills and took a long walk off a short pier.

The loss to WAS was miserable, just miserable. The offense that had been so balanced and so productive did not show up. Instead we got a pass happy attack that failed, whether ball control or big play. We had more incompletions (20) than runs (16). We had more passing attempts (46) than Westbrook had rushing yards (45).

How can you complain about a defense that only gives up 10 points? Let me try.

The guys did a good job overall. That isn't up for debate. WAS only had 249 yards and their lone TD drive came on a short field after a sack and fumble. WAS didn't have any offensive play of more than 19 yards. We forced them to play small ball.

The problem is that this kind of a game requires you to do more than just stop the opponent. The season is on the line. "Good enough" isn't good enough. You must make plays. We didn't. The defense missed several opportunities:

* Campbell fumbled on the first drive. The ball was in the middle of a pack of players, but an O-lineman fell on it.

* Campbell forced a pass in the Red Zone. Quintin Mikell hit the ball and it went up in the air. Q wasn't able to get it as it fell. A couple of LBs were also in the area, but neither could get to the ball. They kicked a FG on that drive.

* McNabb got sacked and fumbled. That gave WAS very good field position. The defense couldn't come up with a stop on the drive, when we desperately needed one. That proved to be the only TD of the game.

* Asante Samuel had a gift thrown his way. The ball came right to him with nobody around. It was an easy pick. The only question was whether Samuel would go out of bounds at midfield or be able to return it deep into their territory. Unfortunately, Asante dropped it. That cost us a minimum of 40 yards of field position.

* Stewart Bradley had 2 passes in his vicinity with a chance to make a play. He wasn't able to get to either ball. One of them would have been a pick-six.

* Chris Clemons blitzed up the middle on 3rd/long. He came out of control and got blocked, opening up a huge vacancy in the middle. Jason Campbell ran for 19 yards.


As bad as the offense was, it didn't help that we had horrible field position. We had 4 drives start inside the 10-yard line. We averaged starting drives (for the game) at our own 18-yard line. That is awful. WAS averaged starting at the 39.

McNabb didn't have a good game. He finished 26 of 46, but those numbers don't tell you of the stream of errant passes that he threw. McNabb had thrown the ball very well the last 3 weeks, but we got the wrong McNabb today. Donnie was back to hitting the ground too much. He failed to run in the 1st half on a couple of plays where he could have really helped us. He did run a couple of times in the 2nd half, but didn't have the same type of opportunities. The receivers didn't help him out. There were several drops.

DeSean Jackson had 2 chances for huge plays. Donovan hit him down the left sideline with a deep ball, but Peanut couldn't make the grab. The throw wasn't great and he did have to adjust to it. On the final drive McNabb threw a terrific pass down the right sideline. Jackson did a great job of going up for the ball. It hit him in the right forearm and he wasn't able to make the grab. That was in the endzone and would have tied the game at 10.

The Eagles are not out of the playoff hunt yet, but anytime you need the Oakland Raiders to come east and pull off an upset...not good. That's sorta like expecting Amy Winehouse to show up sober when you ask her to babysit.

I know a lot of fans are furious with Andy/Marty and the playcalling. They're mad at Donovan for coming up small in a big game. Do remember to give Washington credit. They have a Top 5 defense. LaRon Landry didn't make the Pro Bowl, but anyone who watched the game hopefully understands just how good he is. Landry is the best FS in the NFC. He just controls the middle of the field.

We knew the winning streak would end at some point. I just didn't want it to come so early. All any of us wanted was to control our own destiny. Tonight I can't help but think of the old saying "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it." We got it. We blew it.
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DEFENSE

The defense has been pretty good all year, but really outstanding here recently. We're up to 3rd in the league in total defense. We're first in the NFC. Very impressive stuff.

The defense hasn't been flashy. We don't have 50 sacks. We don't have a bunch of turnovers. The guys are playing sound, fundamental football and are doing a great job on 3rd downs. We're 2nd in the league in 3rd down D. They get off the field and turn the ball over to the offense, which has been a good thing for the past 3 weeks.

Reuben Frank has a good article with some numbers:

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/99-12192008-1640645.html

Here are a couple of key samples:

After allowing 20 points per game and 288 yards per game the first 11 weeks of the season, the Eagles are allowing 12 points and 222 yards per game the last three weeks.

the Eagles now rank third in the NFL in defense (first in the NFC), fifth in rushing defense, third in sacks, second on third down and second in first downs allowed.

Reuben's article focuses on some personnel changes. That certainly is part of the reason for the hot play. I also think Jim Johnson got more aggressive. He played safe in the first Giants game more than I cared for. He focused on limiting Plaxico Burress. They killed us.

Since then he's turned the guys loose. We've run more 8-man fronts and not been as obsessive about big pass plays. The ironic thing of course is that by being more aggressive the defense has played better and the big pass plays have gone away.

It also helps that Brian Dawkins seems to be playing his best football of the year. For some odd reason, he just comes alive in December games.

The defense also has gotten a boost from the offense. We're 33 0f 50 in the last 3 games on 3rd downs. That means drives keep going and the defense stays off the field. Arizona's potent attack couldn't do much while McNabb, Westy, and company methodically moved up and down the field.

As for the personnel changes...they have helped. Akeem Jordan has been very good at WLB. He's done much better at taking on the FB than Gaither did. Joselio Hanson is happy to be on the field and it shows in his play. Lito wasn't happy at all and it definitely showed in his play.

Up front, Victor Abiamiri is getting more and more of Juqua's snaps. He doesn't have much in the way of production, but he's come close to sacks and TFLs a handful of times. Victor has to learn to seal the deal. He's added a good presence at LDT in the Nickel as well. Chris Clemons only has a couple of sacks, but he's getting good pressure from LDE in the Nickel and Dime sets. He caused the INT to Samuel last week by pressuring Ken Dorsey. Chris has also had some good moments when they've used him as The Joker. JJ hasn't used the Okie much the last couple of weeks which has me wondering if that is something they've sorta shelved until the finale against Dallas.

There is still room for improvement (more "plays" from the DTs...more coverage plays by the LBs...etc), but I've really enjoyed watching this defense. The best thing is that the group isn't all that old. I'd love to see this group play well for the next few years. For now, I'll just settle for them getting us to the postseason.
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DAVID AKERS

Green Akers looked like a goner at midseason. He missed several kicks early on and didn't inspire any confidence. Even when kicks did go through there was a ton of movement on the ball. You just felt nervous.

Things have changed since then. David seems to have figured some things out. His kicks are straighter. His kickoffs have generally had pretty good depth.

Akers really got my attention when he nailed a 51-yard FG against the Giants. In the Meadowlands, no less. He's now 29 of 35 for the year. 3 of the misses are due to blocks (not his fault at all). The other 3 misses all came from 50+.

What do we make of this?

I'd feel more confident if Akers had been nailing a bunch of 48-yard FGs, but he's generally kicking 42 and 43 yarders. He seems to be money inside of 43. Beyond that things are a question. He struggled early, but did hit the kick vs the Giants. And that kick was straight. Really impressive kick on a cold, windy day.

At this point I'm willing to bring David back for another season, but the Eagles must have competition for him. They need to bring in a kicker who has a realistic shot of pushing him next summer. I'll cheer for Akers to win the competition, but he does need to do just that..."win it".

GAME PREVIEW

The preview of the Skins game is posted.

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9163#9163
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Fullback in 2009

I'm curious about some opinions on this situation.

I think Klecko has shown enough to be brought back as part of a competition. Beside that, what do you do?

The Eagles could spend a pick on a player, but college isn't developing great FBs anymore because of the dreaded spread offense. Relying on a pick would be similar to counting on Jason Davis.

The team could go sign a FA, but I'm not sure what decent FBs will be available.

Thoughts? Ideas?

DGR is Posted

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9160#9160
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The Future of Dawk

What do we make of Brian Dawkins for 2009? A month ago I thought his situation was a no-brainer. I thought he was done. Now, I'm not so sure.

I still have concerns about Dawk and his speed / ability to cover, but the issue is complicated. He just got his 7th Pro Bowl selection today. Dawk has played better in the last few games. 2 of his 5 pass break-ups came in the last 3 weeks. His only INT came in that span. He has 13 tackles, a FF, and 2 TFLs in there as well.

The defense has played lights out. They've only allowed 44 points. Actually, that isn't true. 14 of those points came on returns. 7 came against the prevent defense. The D has really only given up 23 points in the last 3 weeks. That is good stuff.

What makes me nervous is that Jim Johnson could adjust the defense in each game. ARZ had no real running game. That allowed him to keep the DBs back and let them attack receivers in front of them. The Giants were minus Plaxico Burress. They still had plenty of good talent on the field, but that team without Plax is very different. The Browns started their #3 QB.

I want to see what Dawk can do against a good, balanced offense. WAS is on a cold streak, but they are balanced. Dallas in Week 17 will be the real test. Dawk struggled against them in Week 2.

I still love Dawk and have also enjoyed Quintin Mikell this year. The problem is that both of them lack the speed and range to really control the deep middle. Both guys are very good around the LOS. Can you get away with a defense that has 2 Strong Safeties in the modern NFL? I have my doubts.

Dawk is a very important player to the history of the Philadelphia Eagles. I think he could be a HOF player. Keeping him would be great. The problem is that he'll be a year older next year. He won't get any faster.

You can look at Dawk's stats and see some good stuff. The big concern is the lack of INTs and pass break-ups. He has one pick on the year. He has 5 PBUs. One came on a deflected pass while blitzing. The fewest PBUs in a full season is 11. The fewest in any year is 6. He could finish with only 5 this year despite playing all 16 games and being healthy.

The sack and FF totals are good. He's making a lot of plays around the LOS. The problem is that you need someone to be the centerfielder. Dawk has been that guy for more than a decade. Can he fill that role next year? Do you bring him back, but pull him off the field on 3rd downs?

Dawk has to decide if he wants to play. He could go out while still playing at a solid level. He could decide that money is important and shop his services to the highest bidder. He could work out a one-year deal with the Eagles.

People are obsessed with Reid and McNabb's future, but every bit as interesting is what will happen to the man who's been here since April of 1996.

I have mixed feelings on the situation. I love Dawk, but we must get faster in the middle of the defense. We could bring him back, but give some of his PT to Quintin Demps or a rookie Safety. I think our defense needs a playmaking presence in the middle of the secondary to be at its best. We don't have that guy right now (although Demps could be that guy in 2009).

I'll cheat and reserve final judgment until all 16 games are in the books.

Dawk's stats for anyone interested:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?playerId=978

New PE.com story is also up:

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16973
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Postgame Thoughts

Good win. I was hoping for a comfortable margin and 30-10 was solid. The team got a little sloppy in the Red Zone or the score could have really been lopsided.

The defense had to blitz and pressure more than I expected, but they did a good job of it. We only came up with 2 sacks, but Dorsey could not get comfortable. He finished only 11 of 28. We also picked him off twice. Stewart Bradley had his first INT of the year. Heck, that was the first LB pick of the year. We need more of those.

The attack wasn't as balanced as I prefer, but the passing game was working real well and the run game wasn't having a lot of success. We did pound the ball with Kyle Eckel in the 4th. In the end RBs had 31 carries.

I didn't see any major injuries, always a crucial part of being happy after a game in December.

This wasn't the most crisp, error-free game of the year, but I don't want to make too much of that. I like the fact we got a lead and kept Cleveland at bay the whole game. We weren't smooth, but we always had control. That's the important thing.

We're now 8-5-1. We stay alive in the playoff chase. On to Washington...

LATE ADDITION

There are some fans griping about Kolb and his night. Relax about Kolb. Look at his numbers:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10480


Kevin played well vs STL in the opener. He played well against PIT in week 3. Why? He was fresh from playing at Lehigh and in Training Camp. He was in rhythm.

He's not getting a lot of practice reps with the starters or running our offense. He's looked sloppy the last couple of times out, but don't make too much of that. He and McNabb put up the same numbers in the BAL game. Kevin had a batted ball picked off tonight. That hardly means he's a bad player or not the future.

McNabb began his career 14 of 31 over the span of several games. Kolb is 17 of 32.

Kevin may in fact prove to be a bust in the future, but a sloppy pass in the 4th Qtr of a blowout is hardly reason to think a guy can't play.
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Pregame Browns Stuff

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16955

Bottom line...we better win.
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Sunday Stuff

* Sorry for the lack of posts. I was out of town for a couple of days.


* The Bucs didn't do us any favors today. The Falcons beat them 13-10 in OT. We need Atlanta to lose a game to give us a realistic chance for the postseason. The Bucs missed a FG late in the game. Their D came out and stopped Atlanta. Then they blocked a punt and got the ball deep in Falcons territory. I was very happy. Brian Griese and the Bucs stalled quickly and kicked the tying FG (barely). Tampa got the ball to start OT, but Griese took a terrible sack and Atlanta got the ball and marched down for the winning FG.

We now need Minnesota to come up huge next week. They host the Falcons.


* We can still cheer for the G-men to beat the Cowboys tonight. That would help. About the whole TO situation. They knew what they were getting into, so I have no sympathy for anyone in that organization. I hope this thing really explodes.

Reports now say there are some players calling Jason Witten a snitch. I don't fully understand how he's the bad guy in this debacle. That is the lunacy of Planet Owens. I know if Dallas feels they need to trade him that I'd gladly give up a 1st round pick for Jason.


* Game Preview is posted...

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9158#9158
_

The 4-headed Monster

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16915

An exciting, fact-filled look at the Eagles receiving corps!!!

-----

RANDOM THOUGHTS

* I hate the fact we have a Monday night game coming up. The team is hot. I want them to play Sunday and then to have full rest for the Redskins. Unfortunately, that isn't the case.

* I was talking to a friend on the phone yesterday about the team. We strayed into the area of draft talk. Trying to guess what 1st rounders the Eagles will be looking at is tricky. There may not be an OT or S worthy or available at either pick. That could make things interesting.

* You can say what you want about how Akeem Jordan got his job, but the bottom line is that he's doing it very well.

* The shine is starting to come off Jim Zorn a little bit. I can't say he's doing anything wrong, but WAS has now lost 3 of 4 and Clinton Portis is bitching to the press about how he's being used. Jim seemed great a month ago. He had the team winning and all the players were saying the right things.

* Amazing how good LJ Smith can look at times. He's not had a great year, but he has shown enough that teams will absolutely pursue him in March. Compare that to Lito "Did I just give up another TD" Sheppard. He's been awful of late and isn't sending a good signal to the other 31 teams. I'm sure Drew Rosenhaus is ready to argue something crazy (does the Chewbacca defense work in contract law?). LJ is an inconsistent player, but he has tried this year. I can shake his hand and wish him well. Lito...don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya. Go be fragile for some other team.

* Want to support an Eagles fan and add something "exotic" to your Christmas party? Check out this:

http://www.thenakedsushiking.com/

I'm a fish sticks, chocolate pudding, and PBR man myself.
_

DGR is Posted

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9153#9153

---------

Reggie Brown was a healthy scratch. Good.

I don't think Reggie is a bad player. I still think Reggie is a capable starting WR. The problem is that he's not a good fit for the 2008 Eagles.

DeSean came in as a rookie and took his job. He's more athletic than Reggie and has better hands. He's a natural receiver. Reggie isn't nearly as gifted.

Curtis, Baskett, and Avant have all shown that they can thrive in our offense as starters and/or role players. They don't lose focus when they go 20 plays without a pass coming their way. They can come and go and still play at a high level.

We've seen both Hank and Jason show excellent ability to adjust to Donovan's passes over the middle. They can go up or down for the ball. Curtis is similar, but he's more effective adjusting to the ball downfield.

Reggie's biggest 2 biggest weaknesses are inconsistent hands and failure to adjust to the ball. I think he could thrive on a different team, but he simply isn't a good fit for us.

I know cutting/trading him in the offseason isn't an easy thought because he has been a good player in the past and is due some money, but that would be the prudent move. Hopefully we can get something like a 4th or 5th round pick for him. Some team should be interested in his services.

I know a lot of fans will say "Aw, he sucks man. Nobody will want Reggie." Not so. Reggie is 27. He's healthy. He has 163 career catches and averages 14.5 per reception. He has size and is a good route runner and blocker. Some team will be interested. Whether we can pull off a trade I'm not so sure about. Brown will be on some team next year and will probably be a productive player.
_

New PE.com Article is Posted

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16905

Taking a look at the Giants game.

I'm still working on the DGR.
_

Early Reaction

I sure didn't see that game coming. Did you?

I'm not not talking about the result. I knew we could win. I didn't buy the "Eagles will need a miracle to win" garbage. We almost won the last game and didn't even play all that well.

I was shocked by the way we won. I did not anticipate Westy running 33 times and the Giants not breaking 100 yards on the ground. We won the battle at the line of scrimmage, after the 1st quarter. Fred Robbins seemed to think he was Albert Haynesworth in the opening period. Luckily he remembered he's Fred Robbins after that and played at a normal level (which is good this year...Pro Bowl type DT).

Our OL just pounded on those guys. They blocked well. The receivers, TEs, and Klecko helped out. Westy ran well. We had success and the coaches stuck with the run. Amazing how that works. 37 called runs. That was a thing of beauty.

The defense played well. The Giants helped by dropping some passes and looking sloppy, but our guys deserve a lot of credit. They were much better than the first Giants game.

David Akers nailed a 51-yd FG to open the scoring. That was his longest kick of the year. I was really surprised to see him hit that long of a kick on a cold windy day at the Meadowlands (where he struggles).

He had 2 blocked (one was really just deflected). I didn't think either was Akers' fault. Winston Justice had a very poor block on Justin Tuck that led to the disaster before halftime. CB Terrell Thomas has to get a lot of credit on the second kick. He flew off the edge and just got part of a hand on the ball.

We really won this game by keeping control of the ball. We had a 17-7 lead and got the ball back with 9:26 left in the 4th quarter. I told the team (through the TV of course) that I wanted a 5-minute drive. They delivered. The Eagles went on a 14 play, 46 yard drive that ate up 7:17 and resulted in a FG. How's that for domination late in the game?

The win puts us at 7-5-1 and squarely in the middle of the playoff hunt.
_

Gameday Thoughts

One player who came up big last week was RB Kyle Eckel. He ran 6 times for 27 yards. Forget the numbers, though. He produced at the right time and in the right style. Eckel got the ball in an early 3rd/1 situation and ran over the right side for just over a yard. McNabb handed him the ball and Eckel (5'11, 237) ran to the right side. LJ Smith was down blocking. Eckel basically ran over Smith. He didn't want to go wide and give the defense a chance to get to him. He ran straight ahead.

Not all RBs are effective at this style of running. There is no vision or cutting ability involved. Quickness, agility, and balance aren't important. You just lower your shoulder and run into a wall. Eckel did this very well. There was no hesitation on his part. He wasn't worried about a big run. He knew that he'd either get the yard or be stuck on the bench.

Later in the game Eckel got some carries as the Eagles were trying to run down the clock. He looked pretty good. It was against the Cardinals and it was in garbage time, but still...it was nice to see him running the ball.

When he did get the ball deep in the I-formation he showed RB skills. He had a 12-yard run up the middle that was created by a nice cutback. The offense moved to the right. The defense all flowed that direction. Kyle saw this and made a simple cut back to the left. He didn't go too wide. He kept as N-S as possible and was able to hit it right up the field.

Eckel was tough for the Cardinals to tackle. He ran 6 times and I'm not sure they got him on the ground more than 2 or 3 times. The other times he was pushing the pile and defenders were fighting to stop his progress when the refs blew the whistle. That is exactly what you want in a power back.

Running like that could have made a significant difference in the first Giants game. Hopefully it will today.

Big Red better have Eckel active. Buck is out. Booker had a good showing last week, but we need Eckel in a game like this. If Kyle is inactive and we have 6 WRs in the game, Reid should not only be fired, he should be deported. I think AR and Marty will play Eckel and use him in short yardage situations.

DEFENSE

We must do a better job against the run:

* DEs and LBs must set the edge and force the RBs back to the middle.

* Akeem Jordan must play the FB better than Gaither did. Win that battle and you disrupt what the RB wants to do.

* The Safeties must come down and tackle. They have to come down quickly and have to tackle cleanly. That's a tall order when talking about Giants RBs.
_

Dawk Talk

Brian Dawkins had his best game of the season in the win over Arizona. He came up with 5 tackles, a FF, and an INT. He helped the Eagles to control the middle of the field by coming up quickly and punishing receivers who tried to catch the ball.

I've talked about Dawk's struggles this year. He can no longer cover receivers or tight ends one-on-one with regular effectiveness. His speed and range as a centerfielder has really fallen off. Dawk is still a force around the line of scrimmage and as a hitter, but he's fallen to the level of a mere mortal in other areas.

What happened last week to make Dawk look so good? The circumstances of the game really helped out. ARZ is not a balanced offense. They cannot run the ball with any effectiveness. That meant Dawk could stay back and not worry about needing to fly up in a hurry.

Arizona doesn't throw to the TE very much. That helped. Dawk knew to mainly focus on the WRs. Not only that, but the Cards aren't a downfield attack. They throw a lot of intermediate passes. Those routes don't stretch the field, but they take long enough that the DBs have a chance to come up and get in on the play. Perfect scenario for Dawk. And he took advantage of it.

There is another scenario at work. Dawk has struggled early the last couple of years only to get hot late in the season. Look back at 2006. 3 of his 5 TFLs came in the last 5 games of the year. 3 of his 4 INTs came in that stretch. He had 6 passes defensed as well.

What about 2007? 2 of his 3 TFLs and his only INT of the year came in the final month. The defense played its best game of the year against Dallas, holding the Cowboys to only 6 points.

It could be that Dawk just plays with a heightened sense of urgency late in the year. Maybe Jim Johnson changes the way he uses him. I can't say anything definitively. I do know that each of the last two seasons Dawk looked done in October only to come alive in December.

He played great against Arizona. Let's hope this will be another season where he saved the best for last and he makes plays in the final month. A strong finish from Dawk will help this team to win some games and maybe even get back to the postseason.

Sunday's game against the Giants will be a huge test for the Eagles and Dawk. They have a complete offense. They can run and throw. They can throw short and long. They can throw to the backs, TEs, and wide receivers. The Eagles need #20 to come up big to come out of the Meadowlands with a "W".
_

Game Preview

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9147#9147

One point I didn't cover in there that was brought up by someone on the EMB is that the game best not come down to a late FG. David Akers has really struggled with kicks at the Meadowlands. Add in the fact that the weather reports call for a cold, windy day (possible snow) and you don't want Akers kicking to win the game.

This is absolutely a winnable game, but the Eagles better not come out flat or play sloppy. You can't rely on the Giants to do anything other than play good football. You have to match their level and go one higher to beat them. We'd all love to see Eli be the guy from 2005, but that just isn't likely.
_

Some Giants Talk

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16852
_

Eagles Add OL to Practice Squad

Yesterday the Eagles signed Chris Patrick from the Practice Squad to the 53-man roster. To fill his spot they added OL Tala Esera of Hawaii.

Guess what position he played in college? LT, of course. He'll be a G for us. He was too short and not athletic enough to stay out there, but does have talent. He lists at 6'3, 310. Esera has spent some time with the Colts on their Practice Squad.

Why all the OL and not a RB? That is just Big Red's way of doing things. He loves his linemen. Don't complain too much. He could always cut Kyle Eckel and go sign another OL.
_

Eagles Add OL

Adam Caplan of Scout.com is reporting that the Eagles have signed Chris Patrick off the Practice Squad to take the roster spot of Max Jean-Gilles, who was injured in the Thanksgiving win over Arizona.

http://profootball.scout.com/a.z?s=127&p=9&c=2&cid=817564&nid=3323609&fhn=1

Patrick played LT at Nebraska. He didn't show the kind of athletic ability needed for playing on the edge, but he was a quality player. My big concern with Patrick as a prospect was his ability to handle athletic edge rushers. He has a chance to be an effective G in the NFL. The Eagles love to take guys who played OT, especially LT, and move them to C and G.

More on Gaither & the Running Game

Someone asked why the Eagles would play Omar so much as a starter if they truly intended him to be a backup. Excellent question.

The situation is complicated. Gaither played in 2006 because Matt McCoy was really struggling with a shoulder problem. They needed Omar on the field.

He moved to MLB last year because the team liked him and had high hopes. Plus, they wanted to get faster at MLB after seeing Trotter lumber around in 2006. I think we all have nightmares from that Saints playoff game. Gaither was up and down. Stewart Bradley really got our attention with his PT late in the year. They had to get Stew on the field.

Here was my review of Gaither's 2007 season:

* OMAR GAITHER - Began as our backup MLB in the summer and then got the starting job one day at Training Camp. The coaches had seen enough to know that playing him over Trot was the right move. Omar proved the coaches right. He had a good year. He led the team in tackles. The biggest concern most people had with Gaither was his ability to play the run. I'd say Omar handled the run just fine. Sure, he had some missed tackles and bad plays, but all LBs do. Considering it was his first year as a starting at MLB, you can say Omar had a very good season.

His strength came in playing the pass. Omar had 8 passes defensed. He had one INT. Picked off a pass intended for Shockey. Ran the ball back 49 yards. Broke up a pass in the endzone vs the Jets. Played the pass very well in the Pats game. Omar covered well, whether dealing with backs, receivers, or TEs.

On the negative side...Omar did show his limitations. In the second WAS game he read the play and yelled "screen pass". Omar knew what was coming, but still overran the play and gave up a gain of 12 to Portis. He's got to play under more control there. Gaither blitzed up the middle all year, but never got a sack. He only had 4 TFLs. That number should be closer to 8-10 the way we let our MLB attack up the field. Omar lacks natural power and closing speed.

I think the team loved the thought of a young set of LBs. Spikes got the heave-ho and Omar went back outside. The hope was that he'd be a better fit there. He had shown some promise in 2006. The biggest problem I have with Gaither is the lack of "plays". In 3 years he has 3.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 2 FFs, and one FR. That's more like a great game than a 3-year span.

Akeem Jordan has 2 FRs in his limited PT this year. Speed can make things happen. Omar is smart. He's a leader. He's not fast or athletic.

Gaither started 32 straight games from '06-present. Going from that to just STer is hard. Ike Reese didn't have to make that transition. Ike got precious few starts early in his career so being a backup was easier to accept (not easy though).

At this point just as important as the why of Gaither's benching are the results. Jordan has played well. The team allowed only 13 points in 5 quarters in his first start. In the next one he was part of an effort that slowed down the #2 offense in the league and limited them to 20 points. Those are good results. He's playing good football and the unit is too.

This is far from an ideal situation. Gaither has always been a high-character guy. Now he's put in a tough position. He is being told "we want you to sign an extension and to be part of our future" at the same time he's being told "you're not good enough". That has got to bewilder him. I know it would me.

Omar can complain about the timing, but he can't complain about not being given a chance. The Eagles have made moves each year to get him on the field. They wanted him to work out. This is a player they liked a lot. The problem is that they can't seem to find anywhere that he's suited to start and thrive in their system. Having him as a backup and STer would be ideal for the team. It just isn't ideal for Omar.

I hope something gets worked out and he stays around, but I have a bad feeling he'll go elsewhere. Omar could be a solid MLB in a different system...I think. I don't know if any team will be completely comfortable with the way he plays in space. I don't know if anyone will pay him what he wants and guarantee him a job. No matter what happens, I hope Omar finds his niche somewhere.
________________

THE RUNNING GAME

Playcalling had a definite part in the success of the running game. The coaches stuck with the rushing attack. ARZ stuck with their Nickel defense for basically the entire 1st half. That gave us a running advantage. Our passing attack was effective enough to keep the Cardinals thinking that the way to go was keeping their Nickel in the game.

It also helped that we ran from base formations and exotic looks. Shotgun could mean passing or running. That kept their defense on their heels and allowed our OL to control the line of scrimmage.

Clancy Pendergast, Arizona's very good Defensive Coordinator, was kept off balance throughout the 1st half. He didn't know what to expect. Our balanced attack and good line play kept him from ever getting a good read on exactly what we were going to do. We could run and throw with equal effectiveness.

That sure was a fun offense to watch, huh?
_

Misc Stuff

More on Shawn Andrews

This is a confusing situation. On one hand you've got me saying Shawn is done with football. PE.com is posting articles about him still trying to play this year.

What the heck is going on?

I've gotten info from multiple sources. They agree that depression is the main problem. It is causing him to not want to play football. Or I guess you could look at it that playing football is causing the depression. Either way, there is no passion for a game that requires a great deal of passion.

Shawn has never given less than 100% on the field from what I've seen. His weight and conditioning have gotten better each season. This is a focused, hard working young man. The problem is that he simply doesn't like football and all that goes into it.

Some fans will be shocked to read this. "He's getting paid millions to go play a game for Christ's sake". I understand that mentality. The key point I would tell them is that football is all encompassing. The season starts around July 4th and goes through New Year's, longer if you're lucky. Players are "off" from February through June, but even then they have mini-camps and passing camps to go to. They have to work out the whole time. You can't take time off. Do so at the risk of losing your job.

That puts a constant sense of pressure on players. I remember Shannon Sharpe talking about how he couldn't wait to retire so he could go to the movies and eat some popcorn drenched in butter. He was such a fanatic about his body that he wouldn't do that while playing, whether in season or not.

I don't think the average fan understands the level of dedication some players have to the game. They are handsomely rewarded for that, but it doesn't make it any easier.

I haven't spoken to Shawn himself. I'm going off reports I'm getting from sources. This isn't a 100% lock, but the sources I'm getting the info from are completely independent of each other. They also have no agenda with making the comments. This isn't a situation that makes anyone happy.

If true, why are the Eagles handling the situation so passively? Why is Shawn still on the roster?

I can only offer my thoughts. I don't have any inside info on that perspective.

My thinking is that the team is hoping that Shawn comes around and works his way through these feelings. They have been protective of him through this whole process. When you have a player who is one of the best in the entire league, you have to go out of your way to keep the situation positive.

Anyone who's read interviews with injured players knows that most of them feel like outsiders to the team. That's the way football is. You can't worry about the injured guys. The healthy players are the focus of the coaches and staff. They all work together toward winning games. By keeping Shawn on the 53-man roster you allow him to still be part of the team. You keep him in contact with his teammates. If there is a way to help Shawn through this it will likely be because of them. The bond in the locker room is strong and that can hold sway over a guy.

Just today the team put out an article talking about Shawn coming back this year. I think they are doing that in hopes that he will be drawn back to the organization, to his teammates.

I hope what I've heard about Shawn is wrong and he does in fact play. He is a great offensive lineman. He seems like a good guy who is battling a real tough situation. This is one situation where I hope my sources are 100% off target. I'd give anything to see #73 mauling defenders next year.

Here is the PE.com article on him still hoping to play in 2008:

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16826

_____________________________

Here is my newest PE.com article. There's some thoughts on division rematches and a look back at the Cards game.

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16828

_____________________________

OMAR GAITHER

Another complicated situation. Reports say that he was offered an extension, but turned it down. He was benched sometime after that. Are the two incidents related?

I've done some checking and they don't seem to be related. I think the team would love Omar to become the next Ike Reese. They'd love Omar to be a backup at all 3 spots. They'd love him to become the leader on STs.

The problem is that Omar sees himself as a starter. That is why there was a disagreement over his value.

Jim Johnson and the defensive coaches apparently weren't happy with the way he was taking on FBs or playing screen passes. Those factors led to the benching. Jim wants the best guys on the field. He doesn't care about money.

About Omar and his replacement, Akeem Jordan...I think Omar has been solid this year. He's looked really good in a couple of games, not so great in a couple of others. I don't think he needed to be replaced because he was a huge weak spot. I can't say that I noticed a specific problem with him and lead blockers, but the coaches know exactly what he's supposed to do and grade him accordingly.

As for screens, they have been a problem. Omar has struggled with screens going back to the CAR game in 2006. Deangelo Williams put moves on Gaither that probably still give Omar nightmares. I remember last year in the first Giants game Omar called out a screen. Sure enough, the Giants ran a screen. It went right at Omar and gained 8-10 yards. He knew it was coming but couldn't stop it.

I'm not going to tell you he's solely to blame for the problems with screen passes, but you do want the WLB to have enough speed, quickness, and agility to be able to get to the RB and make the play.

It doesn't help Omar's cause that the first game Jordan started he led the team in tackles and had 2 TFLs. I do like the added speed that Jordan brings to the lineup. Let's see how he does against a physical team like the Giants. If we handle the run better, then Jordan may deserve the job full time. If he struggles and the run defense isn't better, then maybe Omar deserves to get his job back.

I wish Omar had a hand in more turnovers. He has one FF and one FR. I'd prefer more than that from the WLB. Jordan has a FR in his 2 starts.

I am curious about Omar not playing at all. He went from starting WLB and being a Nickel LB to just STs. That is quite a drop-off. Is that a sign from the FO? Maybe. It could also have to do with matchups. Omar hit the bench against BAL, who likes to throw to RB Ray Rice, and ARZ, when our Nickel D was on the field a lot. Let's see if he gets any PT this week against the Giants.

They may just have to let Omar play out his deal and see what he can find elsewhere. Ike Reese was never thrilled with being a backup, but he made the best of the situation. The team benefited from that. I don't know if Omar is comfortable with the notion of "only" being the #4 LB and a STer.

_____________________________

IMPROVED RUNNING

A combination of factors led to better running by the Eagles. The Cardinals defense really helped by staying in the Nickel for most of the 1st half. That allowed us to have some early success. When the run works early, we will stick with it (at least more than usual).

Westy ran better than he has in the last few games. He had some pep in his step. He was able to hit the hole better and get positive yards.

The OL got some confidence the more they got to run block. They also got into a rhythm. Jamaal and Todd especially worked well together. They had several combo blocks where they'd double the NT, then one guy would release and go get a LB.

The WRs did a fantastic job. You have Avant and Baskett blocking DEs on some plays. And I'm not just talking about chicken-fight kind of blocks. I'm talking about taking the guys on forcefully.

Blocking is contagious. Once the guys get going, it spreads and everyone gets involved.

Kyle Eckel and Lorenzo Booker fit in well. Eckel used his straight-ahead style (plus size and power) to be effective. There was no hesitation. He got the ball and went upfield. He only made simple cutbacks. On short yardage runs he simply attacked the line and fought for yards. That is what this team has needed. Booker used his speed and elusiveness to find seams and get through them in a hurry.

This was a total team effort. Everyone involved, including the Cardinals, had a hand in the Eagles success on the ground. I hope we get to see more of this in the final month. I'll go nuts if we completely get away from this. Like Charlie and Dee eating the "human meat" on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, I've had a taste of the running game and I can't go back to the way it was before.
_

Random Stuff

* DGR is posted.

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9132#9132

* The injury to Max Jean-Gilles could be a blessing in disguise. Max has started most of the year and failed to distinguish himself. He has some solid games, but has also really struggled a couple of times.

I'm not sure Nick Cole can ever be a full-time starter. One way to find out is for him to get on the field for several games. We need to know if Nick is worth keeping around and if he has the ability to be an effective starter.

Mike McGlynn will now be active for games. I'd love for Mike to get some snaps. He could be an important piece of the OL puzzle next year.


* Speaking of the OL and next year...I'm not hearing good news about Shawn Andrews. I've heard from multiple sources that Shawn is likely done as a player. From what I'm hearing, he just doesn't want to play anymore. I'm assuming the depression issues are tied into playing. Take away football and take away the root of the depression.


* Dawk played a great game against the Cards. He played his best football in December each of the last two years. Could that happen again this season? You'd think an aging player would wear down. He seems to be able to draw some old magic out late in the year.

If the Eagles are to go on any kind of serious run, Dawk will need to play at a high level.


* Hank Baskett had a really good game against ARZ. He came up big on 3rd downs several times in the game. He's really developed into a good role player.


* The Eagles will be well rested for next week's showdown with the Giants. Let's hope Brian Westbrook is able to come out and play like he did against the Cardinals, if not better. Fresh legs on him would be a huge bonus.
_

The Madness of King Andy

The Eagles played really well in the win over Arizona. That was the kind of effort that was need in Cincinnati and Baltimore. Is it too little too late? Probably, but it will make things interesting over the final month.

The offense showed us what they can do when the attack is balanced and there is a focus on efficiency. Donovan McNabb played well. The receivers had a very good game. The OL dominated the LOS. Brian Westbrook played like a star and even the other runners contributed anytime they got a chance.

This kind of attack worked in 2003. Ditto in 2006. The coaches know that. They've proven that they can effectively call a game with a balanced attack.

So why does it take a desperate situation or act of congress in order for Andy to adjust and go more balanced??? I just don't get it.

That style of attack would have been perfect for say...a cold, windy day in Cincinnati. Instead, we threw the ball 60 times and put up a whopping 13 points.

There is one thing that bugs me. Arizona played arguably their worst game of the year. They looked flat, uninspired, and just lost. They did know that wasn't a walk-through...right? I hope the yards and points weren't just a product of playing a team that had a very off night. Some of that stuff did come awfully easy.

We'll see how the offense looks against the Giants in 9 days. That is a big time test. Will Andy keep the offense balanced or does he go back to the aerial circus?

Quick Game Thoughts

* Nick Cole did a solid job at RG.

* Todd Herremans had a terrific game.

* I loved the use of Kyle Eckel at RB. Well done.

* Starting Joselio Hanson was smart. Lito's basically been a bum this year. I'm glad they rewarded my man MmmBop. Lito's got more talent, but I'll take the guy that will bust his balls to get the job done.

* The secondary did a great job of coming up and pounding receivers after short catches (and drops). That's what you have to do. Punish guys. Discourage them from catching the ball.

* I was shocked we didn't have one sack. The DL did get pressure and we came up with INTs so it all worked in the end.


I'll be working on the Game Review. Finally a fun game to go back and re-watch.
_

Gameday Thoughts and More

My sources tell me Asante Samuel will definitely miss the game. That leaves us with only 3 CBs. That means Quintin Demps slides into that number 4 CB spot.

Demps played some CB earlier in the year and failed to impress. He's come a long way since then, at least in the other phases of the game. His hitting and tackling on punt coverage has improved greatly. Watching him tackle this summer was not fun. He was timid and tentative. Now he flies to the ball and puts the man down.

Q is playing faster and with more confidence. He's got some experience under his belt and now has a feel for the speed of the game. I think using him on defense is the way to go. And they don't have great options. They could put the other Quintin down in the slot and use him as a nickel back and then play Considine at his S spot. No thanks.

Put Demps in and let's see what the kid can do. I actually would love to see him get some time at FS. I'd like to have some feel for whether he can handle the job next season or if that is an area to address early in the Draft.

Kyle Eckel could see his first action as an Eagle. Buck is out. LoBo will take his spot. With Westy less than 100% I think the team would be wise to activate another RB. Eckel has primarily played FB in the NFL, but he was a very good runner at the Naval Academy. He could fit in for a few basic running plays in an emergency situation.

I hope Andy doesn't go with only 2 RBs. That would be dumb in my mind.

Booker should get some touches tonight. I was excited about him after watching him in the spring and summer. He has been a huge disappointment this year. I don't know what the problem is. He has talent. We just aren't seeing it. I do think the team could use him more wisely. Maybe more playing time tonight will bring out a good showing from him.

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Andy Reid might be sticking around. I'm hearing different things from different sources. I'm not hearing anything close to definitive about Big Red. I really believe that the last 5 games will play a big part in determining his future. Should the Eagles lose out, that would likely be too much for him to overcome. If the team can win 7, 8, or even 9 games...there is a strong chance he could return.

I've got a lot of thoughts on this situation. I'll be putting up a post over the weekend with some more info. I'll continue checking around for any hints about the big man's future.

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
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Couple of things

Game Preview is posted.

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9129#9129

Can McNabb really suck again? Donnie is going through a wicked cold spell. He better snap out of it against the Cards. He needs to show teams that this was only a temporary slump. Bill Parcells sensed Drew Bledsoe was done in 2006 and sat him on the pine. That was the end of his career. Bill Belichick did the same with Bernie Kosar back in the early 90s. I hope Donovan hasn't hit the wall. I see a talented guy...at least I did a few weeks ago. Come back to the Five 'n Dime, Donnie Mac, Donnie Mac. Do not go gently into that good night. (How's that for coupling weird references?)


New PE.com article is up.

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16794

I went over a few things about the Eagles I'm thankful for. Somehow I forgot to mention the cheerleaders. Me is dumb.
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New PE.com article is posted.

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16776


DGR is posted.

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9126#9126


I don't know how everyone else is doing right now. I'm still not in a great mood because of Sunday. I also am having a hard time getting excited for Thursday night. We're still alive in the playoff hunt. We have a chance at some redemption. I am curious to see how McNabb plays and what the vibe in the stadium is. I just can't say I'm excited about the game.

I guess part of my problem is this. Do I cheer for these guys I love to watch play? Do I hope they have some breakthrough game and show some character? Or do I hope they bottom out so that change does come? Plus, that would help us out in terms of the draft.

I hate having to consider scenarios like this. I want to see the team doing well and making the playoffs. Counting on another January at home is incredibly frustrating. I love playoff football, no matter who is playing. It is just more fun when your team is actually involved.

I'll start thinking about the Cards today and writing some kind of a preview.

This is just a weird time to be an Eagles fan.
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THE DAY AFTER

Remember that movie? It was about the aftermath of a nuclear war. There was carnage all over the place. People were dead, or dying. Families were torn apart. The air, water, and soil were all toxic. There was endless suffering and misery.

Man I wished Philadelphia looked that good today.

Big Red benched Donnie and you'd have thunk he executed him at midfield with a flying dragon kick. Okay, the thought of Reid doing a flying dragon kick is a bit silly (and opposes several of Newton's laws). Anyway, this was seen as the last act of a desperate man. Well, to steal from Blazing Saddles, I don't care if it was the third act of Henry V. It was the right move.

I think.

A co-worker handed me a fortune cookie today. The message: Your help will be needed in an embarrassing situation.

Oh my. Is this an omen in regard to me writing an article for PE.com explaining the wisdom of the benching? Is it random luck? Do I have another embarrassing situation to cover up? I remembered to wear both pants and underwear to work, so that isn't a concern.

I still stick with my original thought. Benching McNabb was the way to go. I re-watched the game last night and some this morning. Donnie's body language was terrible. He looked very unsure of himself. He didn't play with any sense of conviction. This isn't lack of focus or effort. This is about being afraid to make a mistake. And you know what that leads to...more mistakes.

He who hesitates is lost. My mom told me that countless times when I was growing up. McNabb was very hesitant against the Ravens. He was tentative.

That has to change on Thursday. He needs to go out and play aggressively. Take chances. Just do so at 100 mph.

I'm still a Donovan McNabb fan. I don't know what his future is, but there are no guarantees beyond the next 5 weeks. I want him to do well. I don't want him to ride into the sunset of his Eagles career in a crappy blue '87 Ford Escort (what I drove in high school). I want him to have success.

I can't cheer against the team while we're still technically alive for the playoffs, but the best thing might be to lose most of the remaining games and have a chance to add an impact player in the Draft. Of course what I want or who I cheer for maybe moot points. We play two division leaders and two possible playoff teams. We might be in for a long last 5 weeks of the year.

The Eagles are never boring, that's for sure.
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I have a big headache

I'm starting to think the Eagles might not win the Super Bowl this year.

Losing 36-7 to the Ravens was not what I expected to see. Normally Andy Reid teams handle adversity pretty well. Today the team came up way short when they needed to come up big.

We have to be careful about how we look at this game. The score was 12-7 at the end of 3 quarters. The offense was the big problem at that point. The defense had played very well. STs had given us a KOR TD, but had also allowed a blocked punt for safety. That's more good than bad, but not ideal.

The offense hadn't done squat at that point. Nada. Nothing. Their biggest accomplishment was turning the ball over and putting the defense in harm's way.

The 4th Qtr was a complete disaster. We got outscored 24-0 and everyone had a piece in that.

Donovan McNabb got benched at halftime. I was on the phone with a friend talking about the game. We discussed the possibility of making a change. We both thought it made sense. I just wondered if Reid would make the move knowing the firestorm that would follow with the Philly and national media.

McNabb deserved to be benched. He made some really dumb mistakes in the 1st half. He threw the ball behind several receivers. 2 of those plays resulted in INTs. Another would have been, but the ball was tipped.

Being off target is one thing, but his throws showed a lack of confidence. A QB who is hesitant is a player with little chance to succeed.

Painful day. The 2008 season is basically over. Expecting this group to pull off some miracle run? Nope. I don't see it happening. The Ravens showed today that they are a clutch team. They made plays when the opportunities came up. We lack that.

I don't think the team ever quit. I didn't see a lack of effort.

I'll re-watch the game and post my notes. Can't wait to see this game again.
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Game Preview

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9123#9123

I'm picking the Eagles to win. I know, I know. I'm a delusional optimist. Or "hey dude, gimme some of what you're taking".

I think Eagles fans are being overly negative in regard to the team and overly positive in regard to the Ravens. That gives them this vibe that winning in Baltimore is some Herculean task. That simply isn't the case.

The Ravens are banged up right now, especially along the OL. We lead the league in sacks and are 2nd in TFLs. They have a rookie QB. Jim Johnson has a terrific record against rookie QBs. That matchup favors us.

I do realize they run the ball well, but we've stopped teams outside the NFC East. I think we'll handle their running attack. JJ won't fear their passing game and will commit extra guys to playing the run.

The Eagles offense vs the Baltimore D? That's a tough matchup. I think McNabb and the playmakers will come up with enough offense for us to win the game.

Andy called the team out this week. He threatened to take away jobs if guys didn't start playing better. I think the players will respond to that. AR doesn't do that kind of stuff often (about once every solar cycle).

I could be completely wrong. I fully realize thinking optimistically about this group of Eagles isn't normal. We'll see what happens on Sunday. I expect to see smothering defense by the Eagles and enough big plays to get us a much needed W.
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Couple of things

New article is posted.

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16725

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Random Thoughts

There are plenty of things to mad at Andy Reid about. However, people are coming out of the woodwork with things to complain about. One complaint on the Eagles Message Board was that Reid forces guys into different positions too much. The big examples were making Chris Gocong a LB and Dan Klecko a FB.

Gimme a break.

Gocong should be a LB. He might be optimally suited for a 3-4, but he's doing fine as a 4-3 SLB. You have to be careful about thinking a LB isn't working out. Mike Vrabel played DE at Ohio State. The Steelers let him go after his first contract. Think they regret that move? The Jets had James Farrior. They let him go to the Steelers. Think they regret that move?

Give young guys a chance to find their niche. Gocong has shown the athletic ability to be a very good LB. He's got the size. He's still working on the positional skills. Those should come with time. Chris is getting better each season. He's doesn't play in the Nickel/Dime sets, but still has 2 sacks, 3 TFLs, and a FF. He's making some plays.

As for Klecko at FB...plenty of teams have taken a defensive guy and made him a lead blocker. A lot of people don't realize that. Slow ILBs can make ideal FBs. DT is sorta unusual, but Klecko isn't the only guy. Former Eagle Jon Bradley played DT for us and the Bucs, but Detroit moved him to LB. Madison Hedgecock spent some time on the DL when he was in college.

I think the real key here is that the coaching staff thinks so highly of Dan that they want to keep him around. He really moved to FB when Abiamiri came back. We've got 8 DL now: Cole, Juqua, Darren, Clemons, VA, Brod, Mike, and Trevor. There wasn't really room for Dan in that rotation.

He's been up and down at FB, but hasn't played so poorly that he's significantly hurt the running game. Our struggles are due to lack of reps and inconsistent OL play.
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Detailed Game Review of Cincy Tie is Posted

http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=9101#9101

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#5 should have pled the 5th...

Never offer evidence against yourself.

Donovan didn't know games could end in a tie. That is dumb. How can you not know that?

At the same time, it didn't affect the game as far as I could tell. Reid handled the game strategy correctly. Donovan was trying to move the offense. In the end, this is much ado about nothing. Still, it just makes him look bad.

I explained to a friend that half the time Donovan talks you're proud he's the Eagles QB. He comes across as bright, thoughtful, and a good guy. He seems like the athlete you'd actually like your kids to look up to.

The other half of the time you cringe with every word. You wonder if he knows what certain things mean. You wonder if he knows cameras and microphones are turned on.

Listen, I've said plenty of dumb things. I'm no saint. I just have the good sense to make sure I say them after 12 beers so I have an excuse. And I don't do it in front of the media.

The next 6 weeks are going to be an interesting time for McNabb. His future in Philly is up in the air. He needs to go at least 3-3 to stick around. That's my guess, I should say. It would help if he won a close game (or two).

Donovan is still a good QB, but something is off right now. Too many slow starts and unsuccessful finishes. Too many critical mistakes. We've seen him get hot before. I hope that happens again, both for him and the Eagles. We can still get into the playoffs. Even if we're a major longshot to do anything, I'd like the guys to get back to the postseason. Those games are special. If nothing else, it is good for the young guys to get a taste of playoff football.
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PE.com article is up

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16708

I'm still finishing up the DGR.
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Right in the lumber yard

That's where our season just went. Don't get the reference? Pop in Caddyshack and all will become clear. Plus it will cheer you up on a miserable Sunday.

We just tied the 1-8 Bengals. I spent much of the game staring at the TV with a sense of disbelief. We've all seen a good team struggle against a bad team. The good team normally wakes up at some point and pulls out the win. That's what I was waiting for.

Never happened.

McNabb had a bad game. He struggled to find open receivers. He made bad reads and bad throws. He threw 3 INTs and fumbled deep in our territory. He also had several passes deflected right at the line of scrimmage.

Naturally when your QB is having an off day the smart thing to do is to lean more on your running game. The Eagles did just that. They turned Brian Westbrook into Earl Campbell and gave him 14 carries in the 5-quarter game. Correll Buckhalter got serious action as well. He was handed the ball a Walter Payton-like...1 time.

5 full quarters of football and our RBs had 15 total carries. That is simply unacceptable.

Andy believes that the way a QB overcomes a bad game is by throwing the ball a lot. There is logic in his theory. He always points out that you don't tell Larry Bird to stop shooting because he's in a slump. True enough. HOWEVER...maybe you get the ball to Kevin McHale a few times and lean on him more than usual. No one is asking for you not to pass. Just dial it down a notch. It is possible to throw more than 15 passes and less than 50.

Every offense in the entire NFL is best when it is RB-centric. Run the ball. Throw play-action passes. Throw screen and swing passes. Throw dump-offs to the RBs. We used to be good at this. Duce was the key to the offense early in Reid's tenure. In 2003 we had the 3-headed monster with Duce, Buck, and Westy. Even the 2006 team went through the RBs.

I miss those days. The current offense is productive, but lacks something. All the packages and looks are interesting, and sometimes successful, but they come up short at key moments. You need to get the ball to your best players in key situations. We don't do that. Not enough, anyway.

5-4-1. This is brutal. I'm starting to get apathetic with this team. What is the point in getting to the playoffs if we're going to get bounced immediately? We can't win a close game. We don't come through in clutch situations.

Normally I'm of the belief that you get to the postseason and anything can happen. We've seen a few teams come alive in January. The problem is that those teams normally are coming together late for a reason. We're healthy. We're experienced. What the hell is there to come together?

I'm still pulling for this team to win because that is just how I'm wired, but this season gets less fun every week. I don't ask that the team go undefeated, but watching a talented group of players underachieve is about as frustrating as it gets.
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Gameday Thoughts

This is a game we better win. We're the better team and can't afford a let down.

Here are some goals I've got:

* 28 carries by RBs - We need to get the ball to Westy and Buck a lot. Andy, Marty, and Donovan have talked over the years about the need to run the ball in November and December. This week would be a great time to commit more seriously to the run.


* 4 sacks (or more) - Our pass rush is good, but should be better. Fitzpatrick is a guy you can get to. Our DL needs to come up with at least 3 sacks today.


* Stay strong in the Red Zone - We came up big in this area last week. If we can score several TDs today, we'll win going away. The question is whether last week was a turning point or an aberration? It takes 2 or 3 games for it to be considered a trend.


* Get back to good run defense - Outside the division we've played very good run defense. We need to bounce back from last week and get back to controlling the line of scrimmage.


* Get a big lead - I'd love for us to be up by 21 or more in the 4th Qtr. That would give us a chance to look at some young guys. It would be great to see Quintin Demps play some Safety and to see Victor Abiamiri play a lot of snaps at LDE.


The bottom line is to go out and win, but it sure would be nice to get some style points today.
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Up Front

You can talk about a lot of things in regard to the Eagles and why the team is only 5-4. One simple problem is that we aren't owning the line of scrimmage (LOS) the way we need to.

I was watching the NFL Network last night and checking out the NFC Playbook show. I had the volume off because I was also paying attention to the LOU/CIN college game. The NFLN show was doing some segment about the Giants running game. They showed several plays that were successful. The one thing that stood out to me as I watched the highlights was how quickly the OL got off the ball. Those guys fire out and start blocking immediately. It is a beautiful thing to behold.

The Eagles OL doesn't look anything like that. They come off the ball more deliberately. They push and lean on defenders. The Giants attack. That is one of the big reasons that they run block so effectively and our guys don't. You can really see the difference in short yardage situations. We don't push the defense backward. Our massive OL is stalemated or moved back.

There isn't one reason for this. We have big guys. They don't normally move as quick. We don't run enough so the guys don't get into a rhythm. Even with those factors I don't know why we aren't better. We should be.

We are good to very good in pass protection. Our OL gives McNabb a clean pocket most of the time.

On defense we control the LOS in non-division games. It is against NFC East teams that the guys get handled. The pass rush was non-existent against Dallas and the run defense only okay. Against Washington and New York the pass rush was only okay, but the run defense was basically non-existent. No matter how you slice it, we didn't come close to controlling the LOS in any of the games.

I don't know exactly what needs to be done, but the coaching staff needs to push some buttons. They have to get the guys to play more aggressively and physically. We've seen the guys do it. We don't lack the talent. We simply lack the results.

If we are going to win 10 or 11 games this year it will require the guys up front playing at a higher level. If the guys are good with 8 or 9 wins the status quo will do just fine.

We've seen the guys take over the LOS in the past. Our OL dominated at times down the stretch in 2006. Our front seven was #1 against the run after the first 4 games of the year. They also were #1 in sacks. They have shown this year that they can be special.

Get it done, big boys. Get it done.
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Various Thoughts

New PE.com article is posted. I talked about the team coming up short in close games and big games, as well as talking some about the Bengals.

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=16667

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A lot of people wondered how Andy Reid would use DeSean Jackson this year. DeSean showed as far back as mini-camps that he was too good to fall into the normal rookie pattern of waiting his turn.

DeSean had a solid showing at Lehigh and played really well in the preseason games. That got us excited for the regular season. The situation turned out favorably for most involved because the starting WRs weren't healthy at the beginning of the season. That meant lots of chances for Jackson. And he didn't disappoint. Big Red played him a lot and got him the ball.

I was curious how much that would change as Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis got healthy. Curtis got his starting job back, but Jackson kept Reggie's spot.

That was smart and it was the right move. DeSean is the 2nd most talented receiver we've had in the Reid era. I think we all know who the best was (Dietrich Jells, of course). I'm glad Andy didn't fall into the "play the safe veteran" trap.

Reggie Brown is a talented player, but he doesn't offer the same kind of impact as DeSean. A coach has to put the best players on the field. Not only does Jackson have the athletic ability, but he looks polished and ready to play.

What becomes of Reggie Brown in the future? Does he move to the slot? Can he play FS? FB? I'm not sure what to say about Reggie. I'd love to find a good way to keep him on the field, but I like Curtis and Jackson more. I like Avant in the slot. I love Hank Baskett as a backup and role player. I'm not sure Reggie is a good fit anywhere.

It would be interesting to move him to the X spot and Curtis to the slot, a place he excelled for the Rams. Reggie's big enough to battle some press corners. He's got enough speed to get deep. He's just not great in any area. Do you move everyone around to get him on the field or trade him?

Reggie caught 1 pass last week for 7 yards. That doesn't bode well for his future.

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One thing I hope does carry over from last week is Red Zone success. The Eagles have failed to blow out a couple of teams because they stalled near the goal line. I want to see the team punch the ball into the endzone several times vs Cincy and win comfortably. That would quell some fan anger and shut up the hyper-critical media. I'm happy to say that I get to belong in both camps.

anti-Reid angst

There are more than a few people on the Eagles message board that actually want the team to lose out or do poorly the rest of the year. The thinking is that a losing season will cause Jeffrey Lurie to fire Andy Reid or at the least make some changes in the hierarchy of the team.

This isn't just the lunatic fringe either. Some fans who think this are guys I respect. Not all mind you, but some.

Why do they feel that way? Utter disdain for Andy Reid.

I don't fall into either camp. I don't want the team to have a losing season. I don't feel utter disdain for Andy Reid.

My goal is still for the Eagles to reach the postseason. You never know what will happen in the postseason. I know the Eagles are a longshot to do much in the playoffs, let alone get to the Super Bowl, but I still have that as my target until the day we're eliminated.

I understand the thinking some fans have...that us going 10-6 and just getting into the playoffs is nice for this season, but doesn't help us move closer to being a SB caliber team. There is some logic in that.

Getting to the playoffs will give Andy Reid some sense of validation that his systems are still working and the team is on the right track. If the team misses the postseason for the third time in 4 years...that's a bad trend and something that Lurie will have to acknowledge. He will then force Reid to make some changes. Either some assistants go or the offense gets adjusted or the team brings in an outside GM or something. That's what some fans want...something new.

They feel that Reid has, for lack of a better term, "jumped the shark". Maybe. I still think Andy is a good coach. I've never been his biggest fan, but I appreciate the way he's run the team and led us to a lot of success. Too many people dismiss that as a marginal accomplishment. It isn't.

Andy does drive me crazy at times. He doesn't run the ball enough. We all know that. He's too cute and gimmicky on offense. I used the metaphor the other day that he's too much icing and not enough cake. Offenses can do all kinds of things, but they require a solid base built on running the ball.

Overall, I am okay with him as the GM. I'm fine with the drafting style. Trading out of the 1st made sense the last two years. Picking Kolb was fine wiht me. I have gripes with some picks, but that's going to be true with any person/team. Our pro personnel moves have not been good the last 4 or 5 years, with a couple of exceptions. I don't know what the problem there is. We've made some poor choices and we've missed some guys that we should have pursued.

I do wish we weren't so value oriented, but that is more Joe Banner than Andy Reid. If you really like a guy and feel he's going to be important to the team, overpay for him, whether that is compensation or money. Be aggressive when trying to close deals. Too often we come up in 2nd place.

If we do miss the playoffs, which is a good possibility, I'll be interested to see what Andy says. At some point you do have to make changes. I'm a big believer in continuity, but not for the sake of continuity. You have to be open to new people and new ideas when the current set-up isn't working.

Should Andy be fired if the team misses the playoffs? Maybe. I'd rather discuss that scenario when we have all the facts. The other key is to have a replacement who you feel will be an improvement. Change for the sake of change isn't good.

The first thing to focus on is how the team does down the stretch. If we continue to struggle big time against NFC East teams then maybe change is in order. If we go 2-1 or 3-0 in the rematches...different story. Maybe we go 6-1 down the stretch and get to the postseason as a red hot team. I wouldn't fire Reid at that point. Wouldn't make sense. I know people will say "That won't happen". We'll see. My point is that we don't know for sure so I'm not comfortable making a judgment at this point. Let's wait and see what happens in the final 7 games. There will be plenty of time to debate Big Red's future at that point.
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