***
My new column is up. Short game review + thoughts on FS and early draft needs.
--LINK--
ROSTER SHUFFLE
We cut OL Greg Isdaner and CB Stoney Woodson from the Practice Squad. We signed OT Gerald Cadogan. I like that move. Cadogan was a good player at Penn State and has NFL potential. Isdaner never did much for me. Cadogan could be a G or RT for us. I'm not sure he's good enough for LT in the pros.
We cut WR Jordan Norwood from the team. He was a band-aid while DeSean was out. Also, Kevin Curtis will be practicing this week. That eliminates the need for Norwood in practice. I don't know what we'll do with the open PS spot. Remember that the PS has 2 roles: 1- player development , 2- bodies for practice .
COMMENTS
RE: Macho's PI call
Tony gets that call because he's Tony friggin' Gonzalez. I can live with that. Star players get calls.
RE: Fiesta Bowl matchup
I'm also not a big fan of TCU and Boise playing each other. I'd like to see them going up against BCS conference teams. This is a meeting of undefeated schools and that's pretty cool, but as Cliff pointed out...we want to see these guys face the "big boys" and not each other. That kind of game would give TCU/Boise a chance to show what they can do against a school with a big rep.
RE: Macho and the future
He could be our #4 CB for a couple of years and then take over in the slot for MmmBop. He could be our #3 S. He could win the starting FS job. I like Macho because of his instincts and the confidence with which he plays. He's not the least bit awed by being a rookie in the NFL. The downside with him is that he's not an ideal fit anywhere. You have to try him in a couple of roles and see where he stands out.
RE: recent playcalling
I am happy with the recent commitment to the running game. We ran late in the game vs WAS and CHI. Both times McCoy/Weaver and the blockers came through. That had to give Andy and Marty a lot of confidence about what we can do.
Andy/Marty will always be passing guys, but they will run the ball more if it is working. When the run game struggles they avoid it like the plague. The flip side is that they will stick with the passing game no matter what. I feel confident they'd be the first guys to call for 50 pass plays in an Ice Tornado game where the starting WRs were out and we had the 5th string LT starting.
I do like the fact we've had long drives in the last few games. We've shown the ability to be methodical. That's critical at this time of the year. The OL has started to really play well. That somewhat fell apart vs ATL when Peters went out and we had to shuffle guys around. It wasn't that we couldn't block, but we didn't have the same kind of blocking as in the other recent games. We need to get Jason back on the field this Sunday so we have our best 5 blockers in place.
One thing that was great vs ATL was seeing long plays come from short passes. 2 of our 3 long passes were short or intermediate throws. I love that. RAC yards are gold in our offense. I do think we'll throw a couple of deep balls vs the G-men. Their secondary is still somewhat of a mess.
_
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Game Review is Posted - ATL
***
Here ya go:
--LINK--
John Madden always said to be nice to a team when they're down and hard on them when they're winning. Andy has plenty he can gripe about to keep the guys focused for this week. Not a great win, but a great result. Once again, too many mistakes.
The good news is that we'll likely get back DeSean this week. MmmBop returns from his "vacation". Jordan and Westy are up in the air. We'll have to wait and see.
We still haven't delivered an A-game recently. I'm hoping we see it against either the Giants or Cowgirls.
_
Here ya go:
--LINK--
John Madden always said to be nice to a team when they're down and hard on them when they're winning. Andy has plenty he can gripe about to keep the guys focused for this week. Not a great win, but a great result. Once again, too many mistakes.
The good news is that we'll likely get back DeSean this week. MmmBop returns from his "vacation". Jordan and Westy are up in the air. We'll have to wait and see.
We still haven't delivered an A-game recently. I'm hoping we see it against either the Giants or Cowgirls.
_
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Southern Hospitality
***
PHI 34
ATL 7
Epic failure. I would have the entire team running wind sprints Monday at 5am. You cannot have letdowns at this time of the year. No shutout = complete disaster.
All I've ever asked for (aside from Megan Fox, chocolate pudding, and beer) is a shutout. I don't need world peace. I don't need a cure for schistosomiasis. I never asked for inner peace or eternal bliss. I'm fine with being morally bankrupt and pleasantly bitter. I do want a shutout. Is that really asking so much? We last had one against the Giants in November of 1996. We shut out John Elway in 1992. Troy Aikman in 1991. Don Majkowski in 1990. Aikman in his rookie year of 1989. We're due.
There we were...seconds left and ATL with a big goose egg on the board. My dream was about to come true. And then Chris Redman reached into my chest. He pulled my heart out, showed it to me, and then put it up for bid on Craigslist (sold for $37). Atlanta scored on the final play of the game. Utter, utter depression set in. The victory was great, but I desperately wanted the shutout. How do I bounce back from an emotional disaster like this? Hard question. It would help if they started making Big John's Baked Beans again. Or maybe I'll find out Stuart Scott has left ESPN to work for some channel I'll never watch. One can only dream.
*********
Big win by the Eagles. We played well, but also benefited from ATL's poor performance. Their defense was really bad. The offense was missing so many key players that it isn't really fair to judge them on the game.
We didn't have our A-game, but still won going away. Big Red has plenty of things he can complain about when reviewing the game. We made more than a few mistakes. You could see him visibly upset with a couple of different players after penalties. That's good. Maybe getting on these guys publicly will make a difference.
I'm shocked that we had a bunch of yards and points, but LeSean McCoy had such a quiet game ( 6 runs for 2 yards). I didn't see that coming. Weaver and Buckley both played well and helped. The passing game was very productive even though Donovan didn't have a great game. He had several poor throws that hurt us. Luckily he made up for most of them.
The defense played well. Chris Redman really struggled and that helped us out. Trent Cole, Darren Howard, and Sheldon Brown all stood out. Macho Harris had a good game as well.
*********
The G-men upset the Cowboys. That moved us into a tie for 1st place in the division. Excellent. We're another step closer to the playoffs, and possibly a division title. We play the Giants on Sunday in a big game.
*********
Sorry for the lack of activity this weekend. Saturday was big game after big game. I was glued to the TV from Noon til after Midnight. The games were so close or compelling that I wasn't able to do any writing. Great day of college football.
I got a visit from my mom today. I watched the game, but wasn't able to spend the day online as I normally do. Time to get started on the Game Review.
__
PHI 34
ATL 7
Epic failure. I would have the entire team running wind sprints Monday at 5am. You cannot have letdowns at this time of the year. No shutout = complete disaster.
All I've ever asked for (aside from Megan Fox, chocolate pudding, and beer) is a shutout. I don't need world peace. I don't need a cure for schistosomiasis. I never asked for inner peace or eternal bliss. I'm fine with being morally bankrupt and pleasantly bitter. I do want a shutout. Is that really asking so much? We last had one against the Giants in November of 1996. We shut out John Elway in 1992. Troy Aikman in 1991. Don Majkowski in 1990. Aikman in his rookie year of 1989. We're due.
There we were...seconds left and ATL with a big goose egg on the board. My dream was about to come true. And then Chris Redman reached into my chest. He pulled my heart out, showed it to me, and then put it up for bid on Craigslist (sold for $37). Atlanta scored on the final play of the game. Utter, utter depression set in. The victory was great, but I desperately wanted the shutout. How do I bounce back from an emotional disaster like this? Hard question. It would help if they started making Big John's Baked Beans again. Or maybe I'll find out Stuart Scott has left ESPN to work for some channel I'll never watch. One can only dream.
*********
Big win by the Eagles. We played well, but also benefited from ATL's poor performance. Their defense was really bad. The offense was missing so many key players that it isn't really fair to judge them on the game.
We didn't have our A-game, but still won going away. Big Red has plenty of things he can complain about when reviewing the game. We made more than a few mistakes. You could see him visibly upset with a couple of different players after penalties. That's good. Maybe getting on these guys publicly will make a difference.
I'm shocked that we had a bunch of yards and points, but LeSean McCoy had such a quiet game ( 6 runs for 2 yards). I didn't see that coming. Weaver and Buckley both played well and helped. The passing game was very productive even though Donovan didn't have a great game. He had several poor throws that hurt us. Luckily he made up for most of them.
The defense played well. Chris Redman really struggled and that helped us out. Trent Cole, Darren Howard, and Sheldon Brown all stood out. Macho Harris had a good game as well.
*********
The G-men upset the Cowboys. That moved us into a tie for 1st place in the division. Excellent. We're another step closer to the playoffs, and possibly a division title. We play the Giants on Sunday in a big game.
*********
Sorry for the lack of activity this weekend. Saturday was big game after big game. I was glued to the TV from Noon til after Midnight. The games were so close or compelling that I wasn't able to do any writing. Great day of college football.
I got a visit from my mom today. I watched the game, but wasn't able to spend the day online as I normally do. Time to get started on the Game Review.
__
Friday, December 4, 2009
Strategy and Matchups - ATL
***
This really is a huge game for both teams. ATL desperately needs to win to stay above water in the Wildcard race. We need it to tighten our grip in the WC race and to stay right on the heels of Dallas in the hunt for the NFC East title (or Red October, whichever comes first).
The initial response is to relax because Matt Ryan is out and Michael Turner is either out or playing really banged up. The Falcons have 4 blue chip players. That's 2 of them. Roddy White and John Abraham are the blue chippers, but they don't deliver the same kind of impact as Ryan and Turner. Starting WR Michael Jenkins and RG Harvey Dahl are also expected to miss the game. This is a huge advantage for us.
That said, you should always be nervous playing a desperate team. If Atlanta loses this game they will have a brutally hard time of making the playoffs. They would be 6-6 and have a poor conference record of 5-5. Us and GB would clearly be ahead of them. The Giants beat them head to head and would be in front of the Falcons. A win against us would change things dramatically. That gets them to 7-5 and gives them the tie-breaker with us. The Falcons would then be on a 2-game winning streak and they've got another couple of home games left (they've much better at home).
Missing key players can go 1 of 2 ways. The players on the team have a sense of doom and play accordingly. The players on the team pick up their level of play to make up for the missing guys. ATL seems pretty high character so I don't expect them to fold just because Matt Ryan is sitting out.
Chris Redman is an unknown commodity. He's started some, but you hate to base a gameplan on something a guy did back in 2007. He played for a different coach and in a different system. You'd like to know what he'll do in the current set-up. We can study last week's tape, but that was Redman coming off the bench to execute a gameplan designed for Ryan.
The key to ATL is their running game. They are 10th in the NFL in attempts. They run the ball a lot. They're patient. They'll stick with the run even when it isn't fully clicking (interesting idea, huh?). We must play good run defense.
Last year we beat the Falcons in Philly, 27-14. We played very good run defense. They ran 24 times for just 77 yards. Bunk and Patt did a very good job of controlling the middle of of the line. We played good on the edges. Chris Gocong had his best game of the year vs ATL. We need to duplicate that effort on Sunday.
Bunk and Patt can still win the middle. Bunk played really well last year. I expect him to win this matchup again. Patt will deal with a backup RG. That should give him an advantage. The OLBs need to play well. Gocong hasn't played a top flight game so far this year. He's due. Spoon should be fine on the other side. MLB is more of a question mark. Disco Stew had 4 tackles and played okay last year, but didn't have a standout game. We'll have Trot at MLB most of the time. Joe Mays will get some snaps as well.
I'm sure ATL will try to burn Trot with some play-action passes. They'd also love to get him matched up on Jerious Norwood in space. That would be big trouble for us. Young Trot wasn't a good matchup for Norwood. I'm sure Sean McDermott will have a plan for trying to cover Trot's lack of speed. Let's hope it's a good plan.
The Falcons have a pair of passing targets we'll have to deal with. I know Eagles fans are worried about Tony Gonzalez. He actually doesn't concern me that much. Tony is still an outstanding player, but I don't see him dominating the game. The guy I'm nervous about is Roddy White. He's the player that hurt us last year and has the ability to make a catch turn into a big play. Tony will move the chains. We can live with that. We need to focus on him in the Red Zone. Roddy is the guy who we need to gameplan for. He'll blow by Sheldon if his hammie is still a problem. Roddy can also get Samuel to bite on a move and get behind him. The Safeties must know where Roddy is at all times. I do think Spoon will do an okay job on Gonzalez. We're not gonna shut him down. Just slowing him down should be good enough.
The Falcons OL is built to run block, not pass protect. We must get pressure on Redman. I expect Trent Cole to get pressure, but we need someone else to step up. I don't really care who it is. Clemons might be the guy to use more in this game. ATL plays in a dome on a good surface. Clemons should be able to fly off the edge and get around Tyson Clabo. I also like Victor Abiamiri in the Nickel against the backup RG.
I feel good about our offense in this game. The Falcons have struggled when facing effective passing attacks.
34 points to NYG
35 points to NO
37 points to DAL
26 points to NE
They've fared much better vs primarily running teams. SF scored just 10. MIA only put up 7 points. Tampa had 17 offensive points last week, but one score was set up by a blocked punt that gave them the ball at the 8-yard line.
Coach Mike Smith loves for his DL to rush the QB so he can play zone and limit big plays. That hasn't worked at all this year. The DL isn't getting ideal pressure. The back seven isn't doing a good job in coverage. The middle of the field has been wide open in multiple games.
The Falcons don't have a speedy trio of LBs. They don't have great Safeties. The players they do have are aggressive and will get out of position at times. ATL is ranked 27th in total defense. Big plays are a major part of the problem. The Falcons have given up more plays of 20 or more yards than any other team. I'm sure Andy and Marty have made note of this fact.
The interesting thing is that we ran the ball really well against them last year (32-192). Westy had a big day. Will we remember that and try to get Shady/Weaveer loose?
I expect the gameplan to be throwing to get the lead and then running. We have run the ball in the 1st half the last couple of weeks so we won't ignore it, but you know that Marty / Andy will be aggressive with the offense.
DeSean will miss the game. That means extra PT for Reggie Brown and Jason Avant. I know some people will want Avant to get as much extra time as possible. That's a complicated situation. Jason is a very good slot receiver. That is very different from playing on the outside. You need more than quickness out wide. Speed is very important out there. I do hope we get to see Jason play outside. I want to see how good he looks. Maybe he'll surprise us and handle it with no problem. This is a big game for Jason. He's coming to the end of his rookie contract. I'm sure he knows that a good game could really help his cause to be paid like a starting receiver. If he struggles, then he's clearly "just" a slot guy. That doesn't mean that Jason isn't a key player for us. We've seen the last few weeks just how valuable he is.
I think Jason would be an interesting matchup vs CB Christopher Owens. He'll be making his first start at CB. Jason's ability to run good routes could be a problem for Owens. If Jason sells a fake well enough, maybe he could deliver a long TD in place of DeSean. Reggie Brown will also get some of DeSean's reps. Reggie is faster than Jason and has been a successful outside receiver. Reggie has got to be jonesing to catch some passes. He also is a good route runner and could give Owens problems.
Brent Celek had a bad game last week, hopefully due to the hand injury. He'll be playing Sunday so I'm assuming he caught the ball well in practice. Brent did block well last week. We could use another game like that to help the running game. Last year we manhandled the ATL front seven. Runyan had his best game of the year. Winston Justice isn't as big or physical, but has developed into a good run blocker. Jason and Todd have a chance to really control the left side. I think we can run the ball on these guys.
The Falcons DL is small, but they are quick and fast. We need to control DT Jonathan Babineaux. Todd and JJ should do okay with him, but Nick will occasionally struggle with quick DTs. I would think ATL will move John Abraham around to try and get him singled up with our OTs. He's the kind of player that can make the one big play on defense that turns a game around. He's got 87.5 career sacks and 31 FFs. He's a master of the strip-sack.
I'm sure we'll use bunch formations, chip blocks, and TEs to help control the edges. It would also be wise to run at the Falcons and get them on their heels. We have a big size advantage. Might not be a bad idea to actually use that. I could see Leonard Weaver busting a good run. If we can get them cleanly blocked and he can hit a seam...that will go for a good distance. We better run the ball in the Red Zone. This is the kind of game where the big OL needs to win the LOS so the runners can score TDs.
Last year Donovan started 5 of 14 vs ATL and the offense got off to a real slow start. He finished 14 of 20 and ran 6 times. That's when the offense came alive. Donnie hasn't had the same kind of real slow starts this year. I'd love to see us attack them early and get a lead. That would put the game on Chris Redman and should play into our hands. You know what this might be a good time for? Flea-flicker. Have Shady toss the ball back to Donnie on a run fake and he can hit Reggie Brown for a long score. We're way behind in our flea-flicker quota this season.
I do feel pretty good about this game. I think the matchups favor us. The injury situation hurts them more. We've won consecutive close games. We're due to play a complete game. I know the Georgia Dome can be a tough place to play. That's only a factor as long as the game stays close. If we get a good lead that advantage goes out the window. As for the return of Mike Vick...yawn. Who cares?
--------------
There were some good comments on defense and the LB situation. I'll get into that stuff on Saturday.
_
This really is a huge game for both teams. ATL desperately needs to win to stay above water in the Wildcard race. We need it to tighten our grip in the WC race and to stay right on the heels of Dallas in the hunt for the NFC East title (or Red October, whichever comes first).
The initial response is to relax because Matt Ryan is out and Michael Turner is either out or playing really banged up. The Falcons have 4 blue chip players. That's 2 of them. Roddy White and John Abraham are the blue chippers, but they don't deliver the same kind of impact as Ryan and Turner. Starting WR Michael Jenkins and RG Harvey Dahl are also expected to miss the game. This is a huge advantage for us.
That said, you should always be nervous playing a desperate team. If Atlanta loses this game they will have a brutally hard time of making the playoffs. They would be 6-6 and have a poor conference record of 5-5. Us and GB would clearly be ahead of them. The Giants beat them head to head and would be in front of the Falcons. A win against us would change things dramatically. That gets them to 7-5 and gives them the tie-breaker with us. The Falcons would then be on a 2-game winning streak and they've got another couple of home games left (they've much better at home).
Missing key players can go 1 of 2 ways. The players on the team have a sense of doom and play accordingly. The players on the team pick up their level of play to make up for the missing guys. ATL seems pretty high character so I don't expect them to fold just because Matt Ryan is sitting out.
Chris Redman is an unknown commodity. He's started some, but you hate to base a gameplan on something a guy did back in 2007. He played for a different coach and in a different system. You'd like to know what he'll do in the current set-up. We can study last week's tape, but that was Redman coming off the bench to execute a gameplan designed for Ryan.
The key to ATL is their running game. They are 10th in the NFL in attempts. They run the ball a lot. They're patient. They'll stick with the run even when it isn't fully clicking (interesting idea, huh?). We must play good run defense.
Last year we beat the Falcons in Philly, 27-14. We played very good run defense. They ran 24 times for just 77 yards. Bunk and Patt did a very good job of controlling the middle of of the line. We played good on the edges. Chris Gocong had his best game of the year vs ATL. We need to duplicate that effort on Sunday.
Bunk and Patt can still win the middle. Bunk played really well last year. I expect him to win this matchup again. Patt will deal with a backup RG. That should give him an advantage. The OLBs need to play well. Gocong hasn't played a top flight game so far this year. He's due. Spoon should be fine on the other side. MLB is more of a question mark. Disco Stew had 4 tackles and played okay last year, but didn't have a standout game. We'll have Trot at MLB most of the time. Joe Mays will get some snaps as well.
I'm sure ATL will try to burn Trot with some play-action passes. They'd also love to get him matched up on Jerious Norwood in space. That would be big trouble for us. Young Trot wasn't a good matchup for Norwood. I'm sure Sean McDermott will have a plan for trying to cover Trot's lack of speed. Let's hope it's a good plan.
The Falcons have a pair of passing targets we'll have to deal with. I know Eagles fans are worried about Tony Gonzalez. He actually doesn't concern me that much. Tony is still an outstanding player, but I don't see him dominating the game. The guy I'm nervous about is Roddy White. He's the player that hurt us last year and has the ability to make a catch turn into a big play. Tony will move the chains. We can live with that. We need to focus on him in the Red Zone. Roddy is the guy who we need to gameplan for. He'll blow by Sheldon if his hammie is still a problem. Roddy can also get Samuel to bite on a move and get behind him. The Safeties must know where Roddy is at all times. I do think Spoon will do an okay job on Gonzalez. We're not gonna shut him down. Just slowing him down should be good enough.
The Falcons OL is built to run block, not pass protect. We must get pressure on Redman. I expect Trent Cole to get pressure, but we need someone else to step up. I don't really care who it is. Clemons might be the guy to use more in this game. ATL plays in a dome on a good surface. Clemons should be able to fly off the edge and get around Tyson Clabo. I also like Victor Abiamiri in the Nickel against the backup RG.
I feel good about our offense in this game. The Falcons have struggled when facing effective passing attacks.
34 points to NYG
35 points to NO
37 points to DAL
26 points to NE
They've fared much better vs primarily running teams. SF scored just 10. MIA only put up 7 points. Tampa had 17 offensive points last week, but one score was set up by a blocked punt that gave them the ball at the 8-yard line.
Coach Mike Smith loves for his DL to rush the QB so he can play zone and limit big plays. That hasn't worked at all this year. The DL isn't getting ideal pressure. The back seven isn't doing a good job in coverage. The middle of the field has been wide open in multiple games.
The Falcons don't have a speedy trio of LBs. They don't have great Safeties. The players they do have are aggressive and will get out of position at times. ATL is ranked 27th in total defense. Big plays are a major part of the problem. The Falcons have given up more plays of 20 or more yards than any other team. I'm sure Andy and Marty have made note of this fact.
The interesting thing is that we ran the ball really well against them last year (32-192). Westy had a big day. Will we remember that and try to get Shady/Weaveer loose?
I expect the gameplan to be throwing to get the lead and then running. We have run the ball in the 1st half the last couple of weeks so we won't ignore it, but you know that Marty / Andy will be aggressive with the offense.
DeSean will miss the game. That means extra PT for Reggie Brown and Jason Avant. I know some people will want Avant to get as much extra time as possible. That's a complicated situation. Jason is a very good slot receiver. That is very different from playing on the outside. You need more than quickness out wide. Speed is very important out there. I do hope we get to see Jason play outside. I want to see how good he looks. Maybe he'll surprise us and handle it with no problem. This is a big game for Jason. He's coming to the end of his rookie contract. I'm sure he knows that a good game could really help his cause to be paid like a starting receiver. If he struggles, then he's clearly "just" a slot guy. That doesn't mean that Jason isn't a key player for us. We've seen the last few weeks just how valuable he is.
I think Jason would be an interesting matchup vs CB Christopher Owens. He'll be making his first start at CB. Jason's ability to run good routes could be a problem for Owens. If Jason sells a fake well enough, maybe he could deliver a long TD in place of DeSean. Reggie Brown will also get some of DeSean's reps. Reggie is faster than Jason and has been a successful outside receiver. Reggie has got to be jonesing to catch some passes. He also is a good route runner and could give Owens problems.
Brent Celek had a bad game last week, hopefully due to the hand injury. He'll be playing Sunday so I'm assuming he caught the ball well in practice. Brent did block well last week. We could use another game like that to help the running game. Last year we manhandled the ATL front seven. Runyan had his best game of the year. Winston Justice isn't as big or physical, but has developed into a good run blocker. Jason and Todd have a chance to really control the left side. I think we can run the ball on these guys.
The Falcons DL is small, but they are quick and fast. We need to control DT Jonathan Babineaux. Todd and JJ should do okay with him, but Nick will occasionally struggle with quick DTs. I would think ATL will move John Abraham around to try and get him singled up with our OTs. He's the kind of player that can make the one big play on defense that turns a game around. He's got 87.5 career sacks and 31 FFs. He's a master of the strip-sack.
I'm sure we'll use bunch formations, chip blocks, and TEs to help control the edges. It would also be wise to run at the Falcons and get them on their heels. We have a big size advantage. Might not be a bad idea to actually use that. I could see Leonard Weaver busting a good run. If we can get them cleanly blocked and he can hit a seam...that will go for a good distance. We better run the ball in the Red Zone. This is the kind of game where the big OL needs to win the LOS so the runners can score TDs.
Last year Donovan started 5 of 14 vs ATL and the offense got off to a real slow start. He finished 14 of 20 and ran 6 times. That's when the offense came alive. Donnie hasn't had the same kind of real slow starts this year. I'd love to see us attack them early and get a lead. That would put the game on Chris Redman and should play into our hands. You know what this might be a good time for? Flea-flicker. Have Shady toss the ball back to Donnie on a run fake and he can hit Reggie Brown for a long score. We're way behind in our flea-flicker quota this season.
I do feel pretty good about this game. I think the matchups favor us. The injury situation hurts them more. We've won consecutive close games. We're due to play a complete game. I know the Georgia Dome can be a tough place to play. That's only a factor as long as the game stays close. If we get a good lead that advantage goes out the window. As for the return of Mike Vick...yawn. Who cares?
--------------
There were some good comments on defense and the LB situation. I'll get into that stuff on Saturday.
_
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Know Your Enemy - ATL
***
The Falcons are 6-5 and in 2nd place in the NFC South. Expectations were high this year after last season's 11-5 record, but things haven't gone according to plan. I can't say that one thing sticks out. Seems like there are a variety of reasons for the struggles.
The most simple explanation is that teams play ATL differently. They were a surprise team last year. No one regarded them as a serious playoff team. Next thing you know they're 11-5 and in the postseason. This year teams thought of the Falcons as a target, not just an opponent. "Let's go beat the good team"...that kind of thing.
The schedule hasn't done them any favors. ATL played at the Giants, at Dallas, at New England, and at New Orleans. That's 4 tough road games in the first 10 weeks of the season. The Falcons are 0-4 in those games. They're 6-1 the rest of the year.
Injuries have been a factor this year. The Falcons 2008 turnaround was greatly aided by the team staying healthy most of the year. RBs Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood have missed time this year. QB Matt Ryan got hurt last week. Slot receiver Harry Douglas has missed the whole year. Rookie DT Peria Jerry has missed the whole year. There are other guys who've missed time. I think you get the point.
The Falcons still believe in running the ball first and foremost. They will feed it to Turner, Norwood, or Jason Snelling. The healthy RB will get used. That sets up a play-action passing attack. While ATL has had issues, they are averaging just under 25 points a game. They can put some points on the board.
As for Falcons opponents...they can also put some points on the board. The Atlanta defense has been disappointing. ATL has given up the most long plays of any team in the NFL (plays of 20 or more yards). They have coverage issues, don't have a great pass rush, and aren't big blitzers. When QBs have time they have a good chance to find someone open. The middle of the field seemed to be a major vulnerable spot.
We'll talk more about strategy tomorrow.
PLAYERS
QB CHRIS REDMAN --- Coach Mike Smith spent time with him when both were with the Ravens. Redman has been in the league for quite a while. Think of him as a poor man's AJ Feeley. He has talent, but at the same time...there is a reason he's not starting anywhere on a full time basis. 23-41-243 with 2 TDs last week. Led the Falcons to a comeback win over the Bucs. The good news...he won. The bad news...he was losing to the Bucs.
RB MICHAEL TURNER --- He's been very banged up recently with an ankle issue. Not sure if he'll play this week. Short guy, but thick and powerful. That helps him to run between the tackles. Good burst makes him dangerous if he gets to the open field. Turner is a guy that normally will have 20 runs for 55 yards and then has a couple of long runs mixed in. The Falcons don't mind the short runs. That plays into their ball control style. Turner's numbers for his year were down, in part because the long runs had been less frequent. Then he got red hot for 3 games (NO, WAS, CAR). Turner was 47-428 in those games. 9.1 YPC??? Crazy. I have no idea if he'll play or which Turner will show up.
OTHER RBs --- Jerious Norwood is the speedster. They don't feed him the ball much, but he can bust a long play any time he touches the ball. Norwood has been banged up, but did play some last week. Jason Snelling is the other key player. He's a big, upright runner. He lacks speed, but is tough and will moves the chains. ATL can have success with him in the lineup. They just won't get as many big plays.
WR RODDY WHITE --- He's developed into the real deal. White has good size and great speed.
TE TONY GONZALEZ --- Some chump I've never heard of.
OT WILL SVITEK --- Backup player who took over at LT last week for Sam Baker. Will has had to play a couple of times this year. He held his own vs Julius Peppers and Andre Carter. Of course it helped having Ryan at QB. He got rid of the ball quickly and helped his OL out.
RT TYSON CLABO --- I love watching this guy play. Think of him as Runyan, Jr. Tyson is big at 6'6, 330. He's mean and dirty. He likes to push the buttons of defenders by doing whatever he can. Very good run blocker. Adequate pass protector.
INTERIOR TRIO --- The Gs are Justin Blalock and Harvey Dahl. Both are good run blockers. Dahl is hurt and might miss the game. He's probably their best interior blocker. Todd McClure is the C. He's not the biggest guy, but is a smart, veteran blocker.
DE JOHN ABRAHAM --- Dangerous pass rusher. Isn't having a great year, though. Only has 3.5 sacks and 0.5 TFLs. That normally is one game for John. I haven't watched enough of him this year to know if this is due to good blocking or if he's lost a step.
DE KROY BIERMANN --- Undersized DE, but a solid rusher. Has 4 sacks on the year. Also has 2.5 TFLs and a FF. Quick off the edge. Great motor. Can struggle vs the run.
DT JONATHAN BABINEAUX --- Good athletic DT. Leads the team with 5 sacks and 5.5 TFLs. Very quick off the ball. Very good motor. Only weighs in the 290 range, but speed is his game.
MLB CURTIS LOFTON --- Teams leading tackler. Short, thick, powerful LB. Good hitter and tackler. Good run defender.
SAFETIES --- Erik Coleman is the veteran. He's 2nd on the team in tackles. He isn't a big playmaker and isn't a gifted player. Erik is just a solid DB. Thomas DeCoud is a young guy on the rise. He can hit, but also has good range and some cover skills. DeCoud has a couple of sacks and 6 pass break-ups. He can make plays all over. Thomas leads the team with 2 INTs.
CBs --- Chris Houston is the top cover guy. He is most comfortable playing tight man coverage and chasing WRs all over the field. He does lead the team in PBUs with 9, but doesn't have good hands. Chris only has 3 picks in 2 1/2 years. The other spot has been filled by Brent Grimes and Tye Hill. Last week they gave Christopher Owens a chance and liked what they saw. Owens will start opposite of Houston. Owens is small at 5'9, 181, but he can cover. The defense seemed to settle down with him on the field last Sunday. Chevis Jackson is a good Nickelback.
SPECIAL TEAMS --- This has been somewhat of a trouble spot. Their LS got hurt earlier and the Falcons just signed a new guy, Joe Zelenka. They just cut PK Jason Elam and signed Matt Bryant (owner of a 62-yard FG against us in 2006). These are veteran players with good track records. Don't count on them struggling. The punter is still Michael Koenen. He's not having a great year (25th in net avg). Eric Weems is the RS on both punts and KOs. He's got solid numbers. Small, but speedy returner. The Falcons did allow a blocked punt vs Tampa that turned into a TD.
Falcons at Stats.com
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/teams/stats?team=atl
EAGLES NOTES
LB Akeem Jordan has been practicing this week. He's been playing with the scout team. I haven't seen in print what position he's playing. I've heard that the plan is to use him at MLB. I'm not sure if Akeem will play this week, whether starting or just in a limited role.
Why move him around? Sean McDermott liked Will Witherspoon a lot at WLB. He wants to leave Spoon out there. Notice that our TE defense has been a little better lately. Spoon gets some of the credit for that.
Jordan has the style of play and skill set to be a good MLB. He is very good at taking on lead blockers and stuffing them. Jordan is physical. He has natural power when he hits a runner, receiver, or blocker. Some guys need to uncoil to deliver a good blow. Jordan is just one of those guys with a natural toughness. He played in a 4-2-5 system in college that kept him between the tackles quite a bit. Moving to MLB is not a stretch. In the past when Jordan was a backup Jim Johnson had Akeem practicing at multiple spots so he could fill in at any of them. That's not the same thing as moving full time to the middle, but it does mean he's got some idea of what he's getting into.
I know some are concerned by "the shuffling". Gocong is still at SAM. Spoon has been at WIL now for a few games. Really you're just moving one guy. Why not go back to the original setting with Spoon inside? My guess is that McDermott feels like the new configuration is simply the better way to go. Akeem has been more of a playmaker this year, but he hasn't stood out in coverage. Last year he was a big help on TEs. This year he lost his job in the Nickel because he was struggling. I have no problem with Sean moving him to MLB.
What about the future? I think next year the projected starters at LB will be FOKOU - STEW - SPOON. Jordan would be the top backup. Joe Mays will be a backup. Byron Evans will take Trot's spot...unless Bill Bergey is available and then he'll get it.
COMMENTS
RE: Hating on Jordan
Akeem has had some real good moments this year. He's been more of a playmaker. He had a couple of games where he played very well. He also did have some issues. He didn't lose his job in the Nickel because Sean wanted to hang out and chat with him on the sideline. LBs have responsibilities that go beyond what you see in an obvious way. Jordan wasn't doing his job the way Sean wanted it in certain situations. If the goal was to punish him, Akeem would stay on the bench. The Eagles are trying to find the best trio and also want guys in places where they can succeed.
RE: Eric Berry
He is absolutely the real deal. He's not making as many highlight plays this year because Monte Kiffin is playing him in the box more. Tougher to pick off passes when you're up close to the line. Eric would be a great FS for us. Beery can hit, tackle, cover, and anything else you want...unless you want someone with extensive knowledge of the Magna Carta.
RE: Gocong
Most people project him to go sign with a 3-4 team in the offseason. Chris was a great pass rusher in college. He's okay for us, but hasn't developed into the kind of player I was hoping. I think he'll get a little better each year so there is logic to keeping him, but his best value is probably to a team that will rush him more.
_
The Falcons are 6-5 and in 2nd place in the NFC South. Expectations were high this year after last season's 11-5 record, but things haven't gone according to plan. I can't say that one thing sticks out. Seems like there are a variety of reasons for the struggles.
The most simple explanation is that teams play ATL differently. They were a surprise team last year. No one regarded them as a serious playoff team. Next thing you know they're 11-5 and in the postseason. This year teams thought of the Falcons as a target, not just an opponent. "Let's go beat the good team"...that kind of thing.
The schedule hasn't done them any favors. ATL played at the Giants, at Dallas, at New England, and at New Orleans. That's 4 tough road games in the first 10 weeks of the season. The Falcons are 0-4 in those games. They're 6-1 the rest of the year.
Injuries have been a factor this year. The Falcons 2008 turnaround was greatly aided by the team staying healthy most of the year. RBs Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood have missed time this year. QB Matt Ryan got hurt last week. Slot receiver Harry Douglas has missed the whole year. Rookie DT Peria Jerry has missed the whole year. There are other guys who've missed time. I think you get the point.
The Falcons still believe in running the ball first and foremost. They will feed it to Turner, Norwood, or Jason Snelling. The healthy RB will get used. That sets up a play-action passing attack. While ATL has had issues, they are averaging just under 25 points a game. They can put some points on the board.
As for Falcons opponents...they can also put some points on the board. The Atlanta defense has been disappointing. ATL has given up the most long plays of any team in the NFL (plays of 20 or more yards). They have coverage issues, don't have a great pass rush, and aren't big blitzers. When QBs have time they have a good chance to find someone open. The middle of the field seemed to be a major vulnerable spot.
We'll talk more about strategy tomorrow.
PLAYERS
QB CHRIS REDMAN --- Coach Mike Smith spent time with him when both were with the Ravens. Redman has been in the league for quite a while. Think of him as a poor man's AJ Feeley. He has talent, but at the same time...there is a reason he's not starting anywhere on a full time basis. 23-41-243 with 2 TDs last week. Led the Falcons to a comeback win over the Bucs. The good news...he won. The bad news...he was losing to the Bucs.
RB MICHAEL TURNER --- He's been very banged up recently with an ankle issue. Not sure if he'll play this week. Short guy, but thick and powerful. That helps him to run between the tackles. Good burst makes him dangerous if he gets to the open field. Turner is a guy that normally will have 20 runs for 55 yards and then has a couple of long runs mixed in. The Falcons don't mind the short runs. That plays into their ball control style. Turner's numbers for his year were down, in part because the long runs had been less frequent. Then he got red hot for 3 games (NO, WAS, CAR). Turner was 47-428 in those games. 9.1 YPC??? Crazy. I have no idea if he'll play or which Turner will show up.
OTHER RBs --- Jerious Norwood is the speedster. They don't feed him the ball much, but he can bust a long play any time he touches the ball. Norwood has been banged up, but did play some last week. Jason Snelling is the other key player. He's a big, upright runner. He lacks speed, but is tough and will moves the chains. ATL can have success with him in the lineup. They just won't get as many big plays.
WR RODDY WHITE --- He's developed into the real deal. White has good size and great speed.
TE TONY GONZALEZ --- Some chump I've never heard of.
OT WILL SVITEK --- Backup player who took over at LT last week for Sam Baker. Will has had to play a couple of times this year. He held his own vs Julius Peppers and Andre Carter. Of course it helped having Ryan at QB. He got rid of the ball quickly and helped his OL out.
RT TYSON CLABO --- I love watching this guy play. Think of him as Runyan, Jr. Tyson is big at 6'6, 330. He's mean and dirty. He likes to push the buttons of defenders by doing whatever he can. Very good run blocker. Adequate pass protector.
INTERIOR TRIO --- The Gs are Justin Blalock and Harvey Dahl. Both are good run blockers. Dahl is hurt and might miss the game. He's probably their best interior blocker. Todd McClure is the C. He's not the biggest guy, but is a smart, veteran blocker.
DE JOHN ABRAHAM --- Dangerous pass rusher. Isn't having a great year, though. Only has 3.5 sacks and 0.5 TFLs. That normally is one game for John. I haven't watched enough of him this year to know if this is due to good blocking or if he's lost a step.
DE KROY BIERMANN --- Undersized DE, but a solid rusher. Has 4 sacks on the year. Also has 2.5 TFLs and a FF. Quick off the edge. Great motor. Can struggle vs the run.
DT JONATHAN BABINEAUX --- Good athletic DT. Leads the team with 5 sacks and 5.5 TFLs. Very quick off the ball. Very good motor. Only weighs in the 290 range, but speed is his game.
MLB CURTIS LOFTON --- Teams leading tackler. Short, thick, powerful LB. Good hitter and tackler. Good run defender.
SAFETIES --- Erik Coleman is the veteran. He's 2nd on the team in tackles. He isn't a big playmaker and isn't a gifted player. Erik is just a solid DB. Thomas DeCoud is a young guy on the rise. He can hit, but also has good range and some cover skills. DeCoud has a couple of sacks and 6 pass break-ups. He can make plays all over. Thomas leads the team with 2 INTs.
CBs --- Chris Houston is the top cover guy. He is most comfortable playing tight man coverage and chasing WRs all over the field. He does lead the team in PBUs with 9, but doesn't have good hands. Chris only has 3 picks in 2 1/2 years. The other spot has been filled by Brent Grimes and Tye Hill. Last week they gave Christopher Owens a chance and liked what they saw. Owens will start opposite of Houston. Owens is small at 5'9, 181, but he can cover. The defense seemed to settle down with him on the field last Sunday. Chevis Jackson is a good Nickelback.
SPECIAL TEAMS --- This has been somewhat of a trouble spot. Their LS got hurt earlier and the Falcons just signed a new guy, Joe Zelenka. They just cut PK Jason Elam and signed Matt Bryant (owner of a 62-yard FG against us in 2006). These are veteran players with good track records. Don't count on them struggling. The punter is still Michael Koenen. He's not having a great year (25th in net avg). Eric Weems is the RS on both punts and KOs. He's got solid numbers. Small, but speedy returner. The Falcons did allow a blocked punt vs Tampa that turned into a TD.
Falcons at Stats.com
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/teams/stats?team=atl
EAGLES NOTES
LB Akeem Jordan has been practicing this week. He's been playing with the scout team. I haven't seen in print what position he's playing. I've heard that the plan is to use him at MLB. I'm not sure if Akeem will play this week, whether starting or just in a limited role.
Why move him around? Sean McDermott liked Will Witherspoon a lot at WLB. He wants to leave Spoon out there. Notice that our TE defense has been a little better lately. Spoon gets some of the credit for that.
Jordan has the style of play and skill set to be a good MLB. He is very good at taking on lead blockers and stuffing them. Jordan is physical. He has natural power when he hits a runner, receiver, or blocker. Some guys need to uncoil to deliver a good blow. Jordan is just one of those guys with a natural toughness. He played in a 4-2-5 system in college that kept him between the tackles quite a bit. Moving to MLB is not a stretch. In the past when Jordan was a backup Jim Johnson had Akeem practicing at multiple spots so he could fill in at any of them. That's not the same thing as moving full time to the middle, but it does mean he's got some idea of what he's getting into.
I know some are concerned by "the shuffling". Gocong is still at SAM. Spoon has been at WIL now for a few games. Really you're just moving one guy. Why not go back to the original setting with Spoon inside? My guess is that McDermott feels like the new configuration is simply the better way to go. Akeem has been more of a playmaker this year, but he hasn't stood out in coverage. Last year he was a big help on TEs. This year he lost his job in the Nickel because he was struggling. I have no problem with Sean moving him to MLB.
What about the future? I think next year the projected starters at LB will be FOKOU - STEW - SPOON. Jordan would be the top backup. Joe Mays will be a backup. Byron Evans will take Trot's spot...unless Bill Bergey is available and then he'll get it.
COMMENTS
RE: Hating on Jordan
Akeem has had some real good moments this year. He's been more of a playmaker. He had a couple of games where he played very well. He also did have some issues. He didn't lose his job in the Nickel because Sean wanted to hang out and chat with him on the sideline. LBs have responsibilities that go beyond what you see in an obvious way. Jordan wasn't doing his job the way Sean wanted it in certain situations. If the goal was to punish him, Akeem would stay on the bench. The Eagles are trying to find the best trio and also want guys in places where they can succeed.
RE: Eric Berry
He is absolutely the real deal. He's not making as many highlight plays this year because Monte Kiffin is playing him in the box more. Tougher to pick off passes when you're up close to the line. Eric would be a great FS for us. Beery can hit, tackle, cover, and anything else you want...unless you want someone with extensive knowledge of the Magna Carta.
RE: Gocong
Most people project him to go sign with a 3-4 team in the offseason. Chris was a great pass rusher in college. He's okay for us, but hasn't developed into the kind of player I was hoping. I think he'll get a little better each year so there is logic to keeping him, but his best value is probably to a team that will rush him more.
_
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Random Stuff
***
I heard DeSean was likely to sit this week before yesterday's story broke. I'm fine with him and the Eagles being overly cautious on this. DeSean is impossible to replace. The Eagles have never had a guy like him in the history of the franchise. Jeremy Maclin is a good WR. We've had plenty of them. DJax is unique. Protect him.
The reason I refer to DeSean in such a way is that he is the only player we've ever had that is a threat to score any time he touches the ball. Ray Didinger might be able to make a case for someone in the pre-50s era. Back then good athletes really stood out because they were rare. The league is now filled with athletic guys. When you stand out in today's NFL you are really a special, special athlete.
I'm sure the recent string of concussions and news about concussions is starting to strike up some fear in players. DJax could be sitting as much because of that as the injury itself. We don't know. I'm okay with being cautious, though. I don't want him playing scared. Let him sit for a week and then get back out there.
We're dealing with a new situation in football. I was a backup in HS. My lack of talent, size, and athletic ability kept me firmly planted on the bench. One day in practice I got my bell rung by a guy named Pat McNair. He loved to hit me every day in practice. Pat was tough. And competitive. And mean. He saw me on a kickoff drill and nailed the crap out of me. I stood up and the field was spinning. That was my first (and probably only) concussion. An Asst Coach came up and told me to get into the next drill. I told him I couldn't because the field was spinning. He goaded me into staying on the field and taking part in the next few drills. I don't hold any grudges with the coach. That was how football went in those days. It was a different world. Getting your bell rung was almost a rite of passage. Now we refer to it as a brain injury and look at it much more seriously. By the way...I don't want Pat to sound like a bad guy. I think most football fans will understand that calling a guy "mean and tough" is a compliment. He played hard and practiced hard. If we had more guys like Pat we'd have won more games.
PERSONNEL SHUFFLE
WR Jordan Norwood was added to the roster because of DeSean's injury status. Norwood was on the Practice Squad. Here are my pre-draft notes:
We cut CB Ramzee Robinson from the roster. He was good on STs, but the return of Quintin Demps made him expendable. Q is a very good gunner, as you saw on Sunday.
We added CB Chris Roberson to the PS in place of Norwood. I liked him when he was a prospect prior to the 2005 Draft. He's bounced around the league since then without much success.
PLAYOFF TALK
We really are in a good position right now. We'd be the 5th seed if the playoffs started today. The goal is to win the divsion, but for now we need to at least secure a Wildcard spot. We're 7-4, 6-2 in the NFC.
Non-Division Leaders
PHI 7-4
GB 7-4
NYG 6-5
ATL 6-5
SF 5-6
At best, the Giants will split with us. They're struggling right now and injuries are piling up.
We don't play the Packers. We do have a better NFC record as of now.
We play ATL this week, obviously. We could gain a huge advantage by beating them.
We play SF later on. Should they stay hot and get closer we can take care of them head to head.
Remember that this time last year we needed so much help it wasn't funny. Feels much better to control our own destiny. That doesn't mean we can't screw it up, of course.
One note about the close games...we haven't played a complete game in a while. One way to look at that is that we're due to blow someone out. I'd love to save it for the Cowboys, but won't object if it comes this week in Atlanta. Winning the close games is great, but I sure could use a relaxing Sunday.
DRAFT TALK
I think about the draft basically all year long. I love talking about it. The only thing that will drive me crazy is if you guys get together and choose a player to ask about over and over. Kenny Phillips was that guy 2 years ago. I grew to hate him more than any other human being, except Stuart Scott and Billy Mays.
One thing to keep in mind when reading a mock draft that I put together is that this isn't necessarily what I want. It is more of an exercise to see how things might play out. I don't skew picks around the Eagles to have certain players fall to us. What's the point in that? It would be easy to have Eric Berry slide to us and make that pick. I'm more interested by what you do when there isn't a clear target. That happens quite a bit and it makes you look at things creatively.
Taylor Mays is an interesting prospect. He's 6'3, 230. He can hit like a ton of bricks. He's got great range. Unfortunately he isn't much of a playmaker. He has 5 INTs and a FF in 4 years of playing. Taylor isn't the most instinctive guy either. I really value Safeties that anticipate plays and can get into position ahead of time. Those guys tend to have a nose for the ball. I won't object if the Eagles go for Mays, but he's not a slam-dunk choice like you might think. I still have some hope that Demps and/or Macho can develop.
Navorro Bowman is a terrific LB and he'd be great for us at WLB. I'm just not sure we'll spend the pick on him. Sean McDermott likes Spoon at WLB. That's a guy he wants there the rest of '09 and next year. That makes Jordan a backup at MLB and WLB. We can still draft someone to add to the mix, but it probably won't be early.
_
I heard DeSean was likely to sit this week before yesterday's story broke. I'm fine with him and the Eagles being overly cautious on this. DeSean is impossible to replace. The Eagles have never had a guy like him in the history of the franchise. Jeremy Maclin is a good WR. We've had plenty of them. DJax is unique. Protect him.
The reason I refer to DeSean in such a way is that he is the only player we've ever had that is a threat to score any time he touches the ball. Ray Didinger might be able to make a case for someone in the pre-50s era. Back then good athletes really stood out because they were rare. The league is now filled with athletic guys. When you stand out in today's NFL you are really a special, special athlete.
I'm sure the recent string of concussions and news about concussions is starting to strike up some fear in players. DJax could be sitting as much because of that as the injury itself. We don't know. I'm okay with being cautious, though. I don't want him playing scared. Let him sit for a week and then get back out there.
We're dealing with a new situation in football. I was a backup in HS. My lack of talent, size, and athletic ability kept me firmly planted on the bench. One day in practice I got my bell rung by a guy named Pat McNair. He loved to hit me every day in practice. Pat was tough. And competitive. And mean. He saw me on a kickoff drill and nailed the crap out of me. I stood up and the field was spinning. That was my first (and probably only) concussion. An Asst Coach came up and told me to get into the next drill. I told him I couldn't because the field was spinning. He goaded me into staying on the field and taking part in the next few drills. I don't hold any grudges with the coach. That was how football went in those days. It was a different world. Getting your bell rung was almost a rite of passage. Now we refer to it as a brain injury and look at it much more seriously. By the way...I don't want Pat to sound like a bad guy. I think most football fans will understand that calling a guy "mean and tough" is a compliment. He played hard and practiced hard. If we had more guys like Pat we'd have won more games.
PERSONNEL SHUFFLE
WR Jordan Norwood was added to the roster because of DeSean's injury status. Norwood was on the Practice Squad. Here are my pre-draft notes:
#3 WR at Penn State, but has some pro potential. Had a productive career, 126-1593-13. Could be a #4 WR. Works the slot well. Has very good hands. More quick than fast. Only runs in the 4.5 range despite being small (5'10, 180). Does have some RAC ability. Tough guy. Not afraid to take a big hit over the middle. Has limited experience as a PR. Likely a UDFA, but has the right attitude. Just wants a shot in camp to show what he can do. Father is the Defensive Coordinator at Baylor so you know Jordan is a "football guy".
We cut CB Ramzee Robinson from the roster. He was good on STs, but the return of Quintin Demps made him expendable. Q is a very good gunner, as you saw on Sunday.
We added CB Chris Roberson to the PS in place of Norwood. I liked him when he was a prospect prior to the 2005 Draft. He's bounced around the league since then without much success.
PLAYOFF TALK
We really are in a good position right now. We'd be the 5th seed if the playoffs started today. The goal is to win the divsion, but for now we need to at least secure a Wildcard spot. We're 7-4, 6-2 in the NFC.
Non-Division Leaders
PHI 7-4
GB 7-4
NYG 6-5
ATL 6-5
SF 5-6
At best, the Giants will split with us. They're struggling right now and injuries are piling up.
We don't play the Packers. We do have a better NFC record as of now.
We play ATL this week, obviously. We could gain a huge advantage by beating them.
We play SF later on. Should they stay hot and get closer we can take care of them head to head.
Remember that this time last year we needed so much help it wasn't funny. Feels much better to control our own destiny. That doesn't mean we can't screw it up, of course.
One note about the close games...we haven't played a complete game in a while. One way to look at that is that we're due to blow someone out. I'd love to save it for the Cowboys, but won't object if it comes this week in Atlanta. Winning the close games is great, but I sure could use a relaxing Sunday.
DRAFT TALK
I think about the draft basically all year long. I love talking about it. The only thing that will drive me crazy is if you guys get together and choose a player to ask about over and over. Kenny Phillips was that guy 2 years ago. I grew to hate him more than any other human being, except Stuart Scott and Billy Mays.
One thing to keep in mind when reading a mock draft that I put together is that this isn't necessarily what I want. It is more of an exercise to see how things might play out. I don't skew picks around the Eagles to have certain players fall to us. What's the point in that? It would be easy to have Eric Berry slide to us and make that pick. I'm more interested by what you do when there isn't a clear target. That happens quite a bit and it makes you look at things creatively.
Taylor Mays is an interesting prospect. He's 6'3, 230. He can hit like a ton of bricks. He's got great range. Unfortunately he isn't much of a playmaker. He has 5 INTs and a FF in 4 years of playing. Taylor isn't the most instinctive guy either. I really value Safeties that anticipate plays and can get into position ahead of time. Those guys tend to have a nose for the ball. I won't object if the Eagles go for Mays, but he's not a slam-dunk choice like you might think. I still have some hope that Demps and/or Macho can develop.
Navorro Bowman is a terrific LB and he'd be great for us at WLB. I'm just not sure we'll spend the pick on him. Sean McDermott likes Spoon at WLB. That's a guy he wants there the rest of '09 and next year. That makes Jordan a backup at MLB and WLB. We can still draft someone to add to the mix, but it probably won't be early.
_
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Celek Gets Extended
***
Good news. Brent Celek signed an extension that will keep him an Eagle through the 2016 season. Wait, don't they know the world will end in 2012? Odd. Anyway, Brent is one of our best young players. It's great that we were able to sign him long term. He's playing very well this year, but I think Brent will be even better in a year or two. He's got some subtleties to yet master about getting open and blocking.
We all got on Brent for dropping passes in the WAS game only to find out he had a bum thumb. I have to think that hindered him. We've seen Brent drop a pass here and there, but normally he's been sure-handed.
TIDBITS
* My new PE.com column is posted. Lots of Jason Avant praise inside.
--LINK--
* Expect Jeremy Maclin to be the PR this week if DeSean is out. I'm expecting us to sit DJax. Better safe than sorry when it comes to concussions. Maclin has looked better on punts than KOs, but he hasn't looked anything like the stud he was at Mizzou. I'm not totally sure why that is. Obviously coverage units are faster and better in the NFL, but that still doesn't explain why he's struggled so mightily as a returner. Jeremy was a dynamic weapon on punts and KOs in college.
* If DeSean is out the team will probably tweak the roster to add another body at WR. Goodbye backup CB, hello Practice Squad receiver. Just a guess.
* I posted a mock draft at ScoutsNotebook. Here it is:
http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=mockdraft0910
I had the Eagles taking TCU pass rusher Jerry Hughes. He played LDE for them. Only goes about 6'2, 260, but he is a very good edge rusher. Jerry has 26.5 sacks over the last 2 years.
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Good news. Brent Celek signed an extension that will keep him an Eagle through the 2016 season. Wait, don't they know the world will end in 2012? Odd. Anyway, Brent is one of our best young players. It's great that we were able to sign him long term. He's playing very well this year, but I think Brent will be even better in a year or two. He's got some subtleties to yet master about getting open and blocking.
We all got on Brent for dropping passes in the WAS game only to find out he had a bum thumb. I have to think that hindered him. We've seen Brent drop a pass here and there, but normally he's been sure-handed.
TIDBITS
* My new PE.com column is posted. Lots of Jason Avant praise inside.
--LINK--
* Expect Jeremy Maclin to be the PR this week if DeSean is out. I'm expecting us to sit DJax. Better safe than sorry when it comes to concussions. Maclin has looked better on punts than KOs, but he hasn't looked anything like the stud he was at Mizzou. I'm not totally sure why that is. Obviously coverage units are faster and better in the NFL, but that still doesn't explain why he's struggled so mightily as a returner. Jeremy was a dynamic weapon on punts and KOs in college.
* If DeSean is out the team will probably tweak the roster to add another body at WR. Goodbye backup CB, hello Practice Squad receiver. Just a guess.
* I posted a mock draft at ScoutsNotebook. Here it is:
http://www.scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=mockdraft0910
I had the Eagles taking TCU pass rusher Jerry Hughes. He played LDE for them. Only goes about 6'2, 260, but he is a very good edge rusher. Jerry has 26.5 sacks over the last 2 years.
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