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My newest column is posted on PE.com. I took a look at various parts of the team where we've answered some questions and others where we still don't know what is going on.
* Questions and Answers *
ABOUT THE JAGS GAME
The big story line is about Ron Mexico. I'll get to him in a minute, but wanted to cover some other guys for now.
I'm told the coaches are actually happy with Joe Mays. That was good news to hear. Joe hasn't stood out on tape so far, but the coaches know exactly what they are looking for. The Jags normally run between the tackles. This gives Joe a chance to play well and ease any doubts we have.
Moise Fokou is one player I'll be focused on. When and where he'll play are definite things to watch. He will be the backup SAM, but also may get other snaps. A note about him getting reps at MLB the other day...the Eagles have cross-trained LBs now for a while. Ike Reese could play all 3 spots. Omar Gaither was trained at all 3, even as a rookie. Akeem Jordan played MLB and WLB in camps. Stewart Bradley spent time at SAM and MLB. Mixing Fokou in at MLB could be a way to see what he can do, but also to cross-train him so that he knows all 3 spots.
Stacy Andrews is scheduled to make his Eagles debut tonight. It will be good to see what he can do at RG. The Eagles have brought him along slowly, which was the smart thing to do. Jason Peters will start at LT. He was up and down vs NE. Let's hope for a better showing this time around. Winston Justice will be the RT. I'm still mixed in regard to him. He hasn't struggled or anything like that, but he's not playing so well that you feel safe with him as a potential starter.
TE Rob Myers had a very good game last week. I'm excited to see what he can do. Another good game from Rob could move him up the depth chart and into the mix for a roster spot.
The DL should be greatly improved. Trent Cole will start. VA has now practiced a couple of weeks and has some game experience. Same for Trevor Laws. The man I'm really looking forward to watching is Jason Babin. He played really well last week. I want Jason to continue being disruptive. He is on track to get a roster spot if he keeps up his level of play.
The secondary has been an interesting group so far this year. Ellis Hobbs needs a good game. He doesn't look like a proven veteran out there. And confidence is huge at CB. Those guys need to be able to think of themselves as a combination of King Kong, Superman, and Alexander the Great.
It would be nice if Dmitri Patterson continued his good play and Jack Ikegwuonu finally showed us what he can do. Jack's big test will be next week when he plays a lot.
For some reason there are people who aren't satisfied with the play of Quintin Demps so far. I'm not real sure why. I think he's looked pretty good. Macho Harris is getting better as his ankle improves. I'd love to see him make a coverage play.
Finally we get to Mr. Vick. I honestly don't know how I'll feel when I see him on the field for the first time. I might be excited. I might get a queasy feeling. I might spew chocolate pudding everywhere as it really hits me, "Michael Vick is an Eagle. When the heck did that happen?".
I'm a lot more excited to see Myers, Babin, and Fokou than Vick. That puts me in a bizarre minority, along with people who think Bea Arthur is sexy or people who log onto the internet with their Commodore Vic-20.
I heard that the bad showing last week had a lot to do with the players having dead legs. Players were worn down from TC and playing 2 games in 7 days. Mix in the road factor and Peyton Manning's presence and you can see what happened. This week is a whole different ball of wax. We're rested. We're at home. We aren't playing the Colts. I fully expect our starters to play well. This is only a preseason game, but it is important to see the guys have some sustained success. I'd really like a red zone TD. The defense just needs a couple of 3 & outs. Good pressure on the QB would be nice, since we have all our DL back.
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11 comments:
Yeah I thought Demps played well so far and deserves to start at this point. Sucks we won't know about Jones though.
I thought Jordan looked great last week especially on the play where he broke up the TD in the end zone. He caught up to the TE right in time. Very impressive.
Assante looked like a master on one play and got burned on the very next one. He is risky so I guess that is going to happen.
I was reading about Jason Babin's career and came to the conclusion that his time in Houston wasn't too incredibly bad. I'm guessing the high expectations of being a 1st round pick combined with playing for a bad team had an effect on him.
With the Eagles he'll have the opportunity to play spot-duty and focus on rushing the passer. I can see a "Clemons-like" season from him. Of course, we don't need two Clemons's, so the real one should get off to a faster start this year (fingers crossed).
I agree with orange on Samuel. He gets a free pass for taking chances (and missing) if he gives us multiple INT's (and a TD!) in the Postseason. It would be nice if he nabbed more than 4 INT's in the Regular Season though.
He's another player who was sort of up and down as the season went on.
Assante was GIGANTIC in the playoffs. He won us that Giants game.
There is a difference with Clemons and Babin.
Jason = 270 lbs
Chris = 240 lbs
eagles look horrible so far in the preseason I a mbetting against them in the first game
mccoy runs outside for a TD surpise!
Tommy lets all hang out for week 2
Isn't the Eagles Mantra on defense " don't give up the big plays" ?
I couldn't get out to Pennsylvania last night to see the game on TV, so I had to listen on satellite radio. I could hear that the Eagles defense did OK although the starters gave up those big plays. But on the radio its hard to know how the specific players were doing. Merrill Reese didn't help since he rarely told us who made the tackle or gave us much insight to the defensive successes the Eagles were having.
The absence of defensive info is replicated this morning in the press where at least 75% of the articles were about Vick. Unfortunately, I think it is going to be like this the whole season.
I am desperately looking forward to your post game comments - particularly how guys like Fokou (besides the two penalties), Mays, Ikegwanu, Demps, and Patterson did.
I really laughed at McNabb channelling his inner TO at the press conference. I can't remember enjoying a McNabb press conference more.
McNabb should just go back to not talking to the media. Is this guy serious? The last thing you want to be doing is stirring up QB controversy. Why is he such a little baby? tell him to just shut up and go out there and play the best he can. God!
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