Thought that title would get attention.

Eagles fan here.  Just wanted to say, WOW!  You guys made a statement (although making a statement against us doesn't seem to be like a real feat this season) Some comments/questions:

- GREAT job by Cutler tonight.  He was awesome!  Great decisions, great playmaking.

- I'm annoyed that we're like the first team in like 4578473835 games to NOT sack Cutler once.  To think we're supposed to be good at getting to the QB is a testament to your OLine.

- Every time I watch the Bears play it reminds me how nice it must be to have LBs that know how to play football.

- Is Earl Bennett THAT good, or do we just have the most overrated trio of CBs EVER???

Good game.  Good luck the rest of the way.  At least I'm out of my misery now, and I get to be productive this winter instead of worrying about games that I have no control over.

I only became a Giants fan in 2007

But I could sure get used to beating the Eagles.

by LondonNYG on Dec 19, 2010 2:36 PM EST reply actions  

 

 

Well, looks like you'll have to wait till next year to get that shot.

"I think that the Eagles are too good a team for the Giants to declare victory right now..."

Lance, what game are YOU watching?

by jamoca5 on Dec 19, 2010 2:40 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

its true. we cant let up. we need to come on and play the same way. we cant let up at all.

Someone had some sense...(but I'll admit that I had basically give up at this point too)

Vick had 33 yards passing in the first half. Eli had two touchdown passes of 33 yards or more.

by long time listener on Dec 19, 2010 2:48 PM EST up reply actions  

Oh, BTW, VIck finished this game with just 9 yards less rushing than BOTH of your running backs managed against us in 2 games

Dodge punting well today

by sexyscottish on Dec 19, 2010 2:54 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

WOW!  That's probably spoken too soon!

Vick is going to hate being in the NFC East facing this defense twice a year

by lboogie25 on Dec 19, 2010 3:01 PM EST reply actions  

Just when I was thinking that this defense was going to hate seeing him twice a year.

We are the best team in the NFC...

and the best team in the NFL when Eli is playing well.

Wanna Fight?

by jdaking123 on Dec 19, 2010 3:27 PM EST reply actions  

Hmmm...

31-10

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

 

by gr8kicks on Dec 19, 2010 3:41 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

Merry Christmas to you too, kind sir.

THUD THUD THUD

You hear that? It’s the sounds of everyone in the media jumping off the Philly bandwagon.

by Dan the Giant on Dec 19, 2010 3:42 PM EST reply actions  

Do you hear that?  That's the sound of the media ramming the Miracle at the New Meadowlands down your throat for the rest of your life...BAHAHAHAHA....

classic

fauxjohnmadden: If the officials ruled that Eli Manning’s older brother was David Garrard and not Peyton Manning, Andy Reid wouldn’t challenge that either

by long time listener on Dec 19, 2010 3:46 PM EST reply actions  

Actually....that was pretty funny...

But then it all starts to slip away....

We Giant can never, ever, ever relax.

by ZILLAG on Dec 19, 2010 3:47 PM EST reply actions  

KP went forth pick.

Only bad play the D has made today.
All good boys!! The O will take it from here

by gr8kicks on Dec 19, 2010 3:48 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

Yup, 1st mistake, but now we're about to kick an onside kick that you weren't ready for:

Wow now thy get the onside kick.

by EricBrat20 on Dec 19, 2010 3:49 PM EST reply actions  

And that is NOT good...

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

by HOFArmchairQB on Dec 19, 2010 3:49 PM EST reply actions  

Um....

any reason we’re not defending onsides kicks?

by TNYFBG on Dec 19, 2010 3:49 PM EST reply actions  

Well, probably be awkward if you were considering there were like 5 minutes left and we didn't have our hands team out there...

WTF??

How are we not prepared for that?

 

by gr8kicks on Dec 19, 2010 3:50 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

Here we go.. Don't tell me this is Reggie Miller at the garden.. We can't take losing this one..

by lboogie25 on Dec 19, 2010 3:49 PM EST reply actions  

And then we score again...

How does this happen!?!?!?!?!?

This is ridiculous.

by HOFArmchairQB on Dec 19, 2010 3:54 PM EST reply actions  

just how the hell do you let a team get 300 yds of offense in a half??

and there could be more coming. this is going to be an EPIC collapse if the offense cant get a 1st down

by Nfpdawg on Dec 19, 2010 3:55 PM EST reply actions  

And their offense just can't get it working...

Gotta get into FG range.

by TNYFBG on Dec 19, 2010 4:03 PM EST reply actions  

We have to punt

Fuck

There is no hope.... there is no future....

by Syler on Dec 19, 2010 4:04 PM EST reply actions  

FUCK!!!!!!!!!

by EricBrat20 on Dec 19, 2010 4:04 PM EST reply actions  

Eli was pissed...

by NikhilP on Dec 19, 2010 4:04 PM EST reply actions  

this offense is ridiculous

by rcnt123 on Dec 19, 2010 4:04 PM EST reply actions  

And then we score again...

you gotta be fucking kidding me

by long time listener on Dec 19, 2010 4:12 PM EST reply actions  

YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME

by maculis on Dec 19, 2010 4:12 PM EST reply actions  

Wow

How embarrassing,

by TNYFBG on Dec 19, 2010 4:12 PM EST reply actions  

wow

at least we have the ball for the last 1:16 minutes

by Wei on Dec 19, 2010 4:12 PM EST reply actions  

And then...

screw it.. this is disgusting..

now its a coin toss.

offense has just shut down.

by Moshe52792 on Dec 19, 2010 4:17 PM EST reply actions  

hope dodge doesnt drop this

by Wei on Dec 19, 2010 4:18 PM EST reply actions  

If Dodge drops this ball...

by lboogie25 on Dec 19, 2010 4:18 PM EST reply actions  

Oh...he didn't drop it...don't worry...everything's gonna be fine...

There it is. by TNYFBG on Dec 19, 2010 4:19 PM EST reply actions  

fuck it. bye.

by Moshe52792 on Dec 19, 2010 4:19 PM EST reply actions  

I don't motherfucking believe that just happened

by long time listener on Dec 19, 2010 4:19 PM EST reply actions  

Perfect

Good night

by ronjohnson on Dec 19, 2010 4:19 PM EST reply actions  

OH MY GOD

 

by TheBraveDude on Dec 19, 2010 4:19 PM EST reply actions  

BYE BYE COUGHLIN HELLO COWHER

by lboogie25 on Dec 19, 2010 4:19 PM EST reply actions

And my personal favorite on the front page by Mike Farley:

  Matt Dodge hits a line drive to center, which Jackson bobbles before taking it to the house and then showboating into the end zone, taking the Giants' dwindling playoff hopes with him.  I'm not ashamed to say this -- I wanted one of the Giants to punch Jackson in the mouth right then and there.

WOW...for a small, fragile WR, who can be taken out of games so easily, he certainly gets a rise out of the Cowboy/Giants fans who write him off so easily.

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did!!!!

For those with playoff seeding questions:

#1 seed:  We need:

To win out, finish 11-5 with a 9-3 conference record
For the Falcons to lose out, finish 11-5 and we hold the tie breaker
For the Saints to beat the Falcons, but lose their other two, finish 11-5, 9-3 in the conference, but we would hold head to head over them since they would have split with the Falcons (we would both have beaten Cowboys, Niners, and Vikings)
For the Bears to go 1-2, finish 10-6 since they hold tie breaker on us
For the Packers to lose just one more game and finish 10-6 since they hold tie breaker over us
For the Bucs to lose just one more game.

Possible...HAHAHA

__________________________________________________________

#2 seed:  We need:

To win our division with a better record than the NFC North division winner.
If we win out (12-4), we need Chicago to drop one game (finishing 11-5)
If we finish 11-5 , we need Chicago to drop 2 games, and Packers to drop one
If we finish 10-6 (losing 2), our 1 win has to be against the Giants while they finish no better than 10-6 (giving us the tie breaker over them), we need Chicago to lose out, and Packers and Bucs to lose 2.

Possible...yes!  If we can win out; the Bears will likely drop one between Vikings, Jets, and Packers.

Finish 11-5 and things get REALLY murky and possibility drops to miracle at best...best if we don’t put ourselves in that position.

______________________________________________________________

#3 seed: Division winner...we need

-To beat the Giants, and then just win one more game and it’s ours regardless of what the Giants do.
-If we beat the Giants and lose the remaining two, we need the Giants to lose one additional game
-If we lose to the Giants, we have to win the remaining 2, and the Giants have to lose to the Redskins.  If they beat the Redskins, they will finish with an equal division record, but a better conference record
________________________________________________________________

Wildcard is still REALLY hard to figure:

First, in order to get the wildcard, we have to lose the division to the Giants (see criteria for #3 seed)

Secondly, we lose the head to head tie breaker to the Packers and Bears, so we have to finish with a straight up better record than either of them (though we’re only competing with one of them since the other will get the division)

Thirdly, we’re tied with the Bucs for conference record, so if we finish with the same overall record as them, we need to beat their conference record or common opponent record.  We should get this with our Atlanta victory, but things get easier if they lose to Detroit.

Here is a breakdown of how both teams offenses and defenses have responded to their opponents averages.  The opponent is listed to the left.  The top line shows how many points their offense scores on average, followed by how many points the Bears or Eagles actually allowed.  The differential is in parentheses.  The middle line is the same, but opposite.  It shows how many points the opponent gives up on average, followed by how many points the Bears or Eagles actually managed.  The TOTAL differential accounting for both offense and defense performances are given as a 3rd line.

A differential of "0" is EXACTLY average.  A positive number correlates to how many points better than average the unit performed, and a negative number indicates how many points worse than average.

I.E. The fact that the Eagles managed 28 points against Jacksonville is only a +1 since they allow 27 points on average.

I.E. The fact that Chicago held Dallas to 20 is only +3.3 since Dallas scores 23.3 on average anyway.

_______________________________________________
First up:  CHICAGO

Detroit     -averages 23.5 pts/gm, Chicago held them to 14 (+9.5)
        -gives up 25.6 pts/gm, Chicago managed 19 (-6.6)
        -differential: (+2.9)

Dallas        -averages 23.3 pts/gm, held to 20 (+3.3)
        -gives up 27.4 pts/gm, managed 27 (-.4)
        -differential (+2.9)

Green Bay    -averages 25.2 pts, held to 17 (+8.2)
        -gives up 14.6, managed 20 (+5.4)
        -differential (+13.6)

NYG        -averages 25.3 pts, held to 17 (+8.3)
        -gives up 22 pts, managed 3 (-19)
        -diff (-8.7)

Carolina    -averages 11.7 pts, held to 6 (+5.7)
        -gives up 25.2 pts, managed 23 (-2.2)
        -diff (+3.5)

Seattle    -averages 18.5 pts, held to 23 (-4.5)
        -gives up 23.3, managed 20 (-3.3)
        -diff (-7.7)

Wash        -averages 20.2, held to 17 (+3.2)
        -gives up 24.5, managed 14 (-10.5)
        -diff (-7.3)

Buf        -averages 21.3, held to 19 (+2.3)
        -gives up 27.6, managed 22 (-5.6)
        -diff (-3.3)

Minn        -avgs 17.2, held to 13 (+4.2)
        -allows 22.6, managed 27 (+4.4)
        -diff (+8.6)

Miami        -avgs 17.2, held to 0 (+17.2)
        -allows 20.8, managed 16 (-4.8)
        -diff (+12.8)
____________________________________________________
Now the Eagles:

Green Bay    -avgs 25.2 pts, held to 27 (-1.8)
        -allows 14.6 pts, managed 20 (+5.4)
        -diff (+3.6)

Detroit    -avgs 23.5, held to 32 (-8.5)
        -allows 25.6, we managed 35 (+9.4)
        -diff (+0.9)

Jax        -avgs 22, held to 3 (+19)
        -allows 27, we managed 28 (+1)
        -diff (+20)

Wash        -avgs 20.2, held to 17 (+3.2)
        -allows 24.5, we managed 12 (-12.5)
        -diff (-9.3)

San Fran    -avgs 16 pts/gm, held to 24 (-8)
        -allows 21.9, we scored 27 (+5.1)
        -diff (-2.9)

Atlanta    -avgs 25.6 pts/gm, they actually scored 17 (+8.6)
        -allow 19.2 pts/gm, we scored 31 (+11.8)
        -diff (+20.4)

Tenn        -avgs 25.7 pts, managed 37 (-11.3)
        -allow 19.8, we scored 19 (-0.8)
        -diff (-12.1)

Indy        -avgs 26.8 pts, managed 24 (+2.8)
        -allows 21.6, we scored 26 (+4.4)
        -diff (+7.2)


Wash        -avgs 20.2, held to 28 (-7.8)
        -allows 24.5, we managed 59 (+34.5)
        -diff (+26.7)

NYG        -avgs 25.3, held to 17 (+8.3)
        -allows 22, we managed 27 (+5)
        -diff (+13.3)

______________________________________________
Bears Defense has been better than average in 9 out of 10 games.  They routinely hold their opponents to 5.74 points less than their opponents usually score.

Bears Offense has been better than average in 2 out of 10 games.  They routinely score 4.26 points LESS than their opponents usually allow.

Bears Team has been better than average overall in 6 out of 10 games.

Eagles Defense has been better than average in 6 out of 10 games.  They routinely hold their opponents to 0.45 points less than they usually score, which is so close to zero, you can safely say that Eagles opponents score what they usually score.

Eagles Offense has been better than average in 8 out of 10 games.  They routinely score 6.33 points more than their opponents usually allow.

Eagles Team has been better than average overall in 8 out of 10 games.
_____________________________________________

Take this for what it’s worth, but there’s a lot that can be said here.

Chicago usually scores 19.1, and our defense would usually allow you 19.  We usually allow 22.6 and you usually score 4 points less...so I'd expect you to score 17-21

Eagles usually score 28.4, and while Chicago would allow us 23, we usually score 6 more than the 14.6 allowed, so look for the Eagles to score 21-23

“No one can beat us;  We can only beat ourselves.” 

There is no line in sports that I hate more than this one.  This is nothing more than a cop-out, so you can sleep well at night knowing that while you may have lost the game, you did not lose control of your own destiny.  No one wants to be overpowered, no one wants to lose a fight.  This stupid line puts someone in the weak psychological position where they can feel as though they have never and can never lose a fight.

With that said, I want to explore a theme I’ve come across on BBV that goes something like: “Giants mistakes and miscues cost them the game.”   I don’t think this is true, and I want to explore it.

To say that mistakes and miscues cost one team the game implies that certain things did not go their direction, and consequently went the direction of the opposition.  However, for one side to say that their miscues were costly, and the opposition’s miscues were not, you have to really see ALOT of one-sided miscues:  To a point...you can’t say the Giants miscues cost them the game unless they had significantly MORE miscues than the Eagles had.  For every miscue you give back to the Giants, you have to give one back to the Eagles...and the argument of miscues only works if one team simply has more miscues/mistakes to give back.

For the sake of argument I will define a mistake as “detrimental play by a single player that was not affected by the opposition”.  For example: a false start is a mistake.  It is on a single player, and had nothing to do with the opposition (I realize that sometimes a lineman might be jumpy anticipating a rush, and a false start might be caused by the opposition, but I’m ignoring this for the sake of brevity); whereas holding is not a mistake because it is usually a strategy to prevent the defense from making a play. 

A miscue is simply a mistake by several players of one team because of a lack of communication, or a misread etc...  Again, a miscue cannot be caused by the opposition, otherwise it is more than just a miscue, it was getting confused and beat by the other team.  An example of a miscue is an interception that happens b/c the receiver ran a different route than the QB expected, etc...not an interception b/c the defense simply read the play and executed...

Continue reading this post »

A lot of talk about the WRs this week. While the horse has been beaten, and lies dead, and this is undoubtedly continuing to beat the poor animal...I’m hoping to calm down the fan bases. The reality of the issue, from a stats perspective, is that our skill positions are pretty equal and all sides have good reason to like the guys they have.

Continue reading this post »

Alot of talk about the WRs this week. While the horse has been beaten, and lies dead, and this is undoubtedly continuing to beat the poor animal...I’m hoping to calm down the fan bases. The reality of the issue, from a stats perspective, is that our skill positions are pretty equal and all sides have good reason to like the guys they have.

Do you want to talk about TD’s?

-Nicks has been in the endzone 9 times!

-Followed by Dez and Maclin at 7 times each

-Giants top three WRs have combined for 16 TDs

-Cowboys top three have 15 TDs (Dez kick returns included)

-Eagles top three have accounted for 14TDs (DeSeans’s rushing TD included)

Do you want to talk about yards (for guys with at least 500)?

-Nicks has 735

-Miles has 725

-Jackson has 697

-Maclin has 621

-Dez has 539

-Smith has 517

Do you want to talk about the ‘Duo’s’:

Maclin/Jackson have 1317yds for 13 TDs

Dez/Miles have 1264 for 10 TDs

Nicks and Smith have 1252 for 12 TDs

Do you want to talk about the ‘Trios"

Giants have 1728 for 16TDs

Eagles have 1674 yds, 14TDs

Cowboys have 1630, 15 TDs

And while we’re on skill players, it should be noted that:

Ahmad Bradshaw is good for 1040 yds with 5 TDs

LeSean McCoy is good for 967 yds with 6 TDs

Marion Barber and Felix Jones combined are good for 879 yds with 3 TDs

***and while it’s easy to see the woes of the Cowboys RBs this year, it should also be noted that Witten has 20 more catches for 200 more yards than either Celek or Boss, in fact, you’d have to combine Celek and Boss’ stats to come close to Witten much in the way we had to combine Jones and Barber to even compare to the other backs.

WOW. Big week in the division!  But not as big as people are making it out to be.  Let’s take a look:

Giants take on a 1-7 Dallas team coming off a MONSTROUS win against Seattle where they looked unstoppable!  Dallas has been nothing short of garbage, and had to deal with a coaching change, this was supposed to be an easy Giants win with a big game the following week.  Of course the game didn’t follow the script, but you can’t blame the Giants for overlooking the Cowboys.  Bottom line: Giants were not as bad as they looked against the Cowboys, not as good as they looked against Seattle, and PLEASE don’t give me this garbage that Dallas is going to run to 9-7 and a wild-card spot (I’ve actually heard that one).

Eagles massacre the Redskins on MNF.  Great win!  Fun to watch.  Vick was electric.  But the Eagles are not as good as they looked there, nor are they as bad as they looked when they gave up 27 4th quarter points to the Titans after entering the 4th with a 9 point lead.

So what’s going to happen Sunday night?  Two division rivals, and two good teams are going to play each other for nothing more than a win against a quality division opponent.  This game isn’t for a division title, it’s not for a first round playoff bye, it’s not even a game that defines the rest of the season for either team.  This is a division game.  Yup, the winner will be the week 11 division leader, which is about as awesome as old meatloaf the night before thanksgiving dinner.  I want this win, you want this win…but don’t make it out to be more than it is.

Speculating is fun, it’s half of what we do on these boards.  And with the quality of our teams it’s pretty easy to imagine a scenario in which either of us will win.  I’m not going to pretend that your front four don’t scare me death.  I’m praying we figure out how to prevent Nicks from doing to us what Kenny Britt did, and I’m hoping we can force Eli into some overthrown balls or bad decisions. 

With that said, I’m sure you guys will have your hands full figuring out how to contain Vick while also keeping enough guys deep to stop DeSean and Maclin.

I think the Eagles have an edge in this one, personally (and yes, I’m a homer, and I’m excited with my team, so of course that’s what I think), but I’m on the Giants board to hear why I’m wrong.  Where do you guys match up well against us?  How do you think you win this game?  Will this be a shootout or a defensive party?

As a side-note: I have no interest in any argument about Vick or his past.  The Eagles did not sell their souls to win at all costs by signing him.  There’s nothing he can do to change the past, but from what I can tell, he is making a point to change the future.  I don’t know in what world or what country it isn’t a good thing when a criminal is released, rejects their past, refuses association with their old cronies, and becomes a productive citizen again. We release enough criminals that end up right back in prison for the same crime. Vick hasn’t become Mother Theresa, but he got a job that he happens to be pretty good at, and he’s stayed out of trouble.

Okay, I’m throwing questions out there in order to get some answers and maybe spark some conversation on a topic other than starting/trading our QBs.  Feel free to jump in on any or all of these:

Question #1: What’s up with Victor?  We placed on PUP before training camp if I remember correctly, which means he now (after 6 games) has three weeks to start practicing.  Does he come back now?  After the bye?  Ever?  We’re pretty stacked at DE, and at least Graham (and maybe Tapp) have played DT in passing situations which Victor has done in the past.  So, do we need him?  Do we even want him?  If we do, at which player’s expense?

Question #2:  What’s up with Keenan Clayton?  He hasn’t been activated at all this year.  I thought he had a good preseason, I thought he especially outperformed fellow rookie LB Jamar Chaney who has been active this season.  Is Chaney just a better ST player?  Do they play different LB positions (SAM vs WILL...with all our LB shuffling I forget who has settled into which position)?

Question #3: What’s up with Reggie Wells?  And this question should largely spark speculative answers unless anyone has found some inside information that I have no access to.  He stepped in for Nick Cole in his first game as an Eagle, and has been absent since.  I actually thought our line looked better once he came in, and fully expected him to get the start the following week.  MJG ended up with the start, and has actually been playing really well.  Is Wells’ position on the bench due to the good performance of Herremans/MJG, or to his own poor performance (in either practice or picking up the playbook)?  Is he another Stacy Andrews whom we’ll hear endless excuses for until he’s simply not on the team anymore?

Question #4:  Again a speculative one, and TOTALLY dependent on how strongly he comes back: but, what are the chances we keep Weaver as the big RB we’ve tried to get this year while keeping Owen as FB.  I, for one, have LOVED Owen.  This kid is a tough guy, a brutal hitter, a weapon in the offense, and a good blocker.  Of course, that’s not to say I don’t want Weaver, b/c I think the same things of him.  In reality, I’d love both...but how cool would it be to have McCoy, Harrison, and Weaver with Owen as a FB?

Question #5:  What’s up with Clay Harbor?  I thought he had a good preseason, and I was excited to see him in game action, but it seems as though Garrett has largely been the second TE.  Is Garrett the better blocker?  Is there something that Clay isn’t catching onto?

Time’s yours...

Here’s a breakdown of every third down in the game.  First by the Niners; I only list the drives that had a 3rd down with the ultimate result of the drive underneath.

1st Drive:

3-1...Frank Gore runs 4 yards over the right end, tackle by Bradley.

3-10...Smith hits Zeigler for 20 yards

3-8...Smith to Crabtree for 11

***Touchdown***

2nd Drive:

3-8...Smith to Crabtree for 14

***Fumble***

3rd Drive:

3-1...Smith to Ginn for 17

***INT***

4th Drive:

3-14...Frank Gore runs for 9

***PUNT***

5th Drive:

3-7...Parker tips pass

***FG***

6th Drive:

3-21...Smith to Davis for 31

***FUMBLE***

7th Drive:

3-8...Smith scrambles for 2

3-4...Smith to Crabtree for 5

3-1...Smith to Gore for TD

***TOUCHDOWN***

9th Drive:

3-10...Smith intercepted by Lindley

***

The result of all this was a 62% 3rd down conversion rate with two 3rd and 8’s, a 3rd and 10, and a 3rd and 21 completed.  It was also incredibly frustrating that we did not manage a single 3rd down sack!  We could neither pressure Smith, nor defend his WRs.  The other thing to notice, is that Smith did not throw incomplete ONCE on 3rd down; and most of the receptions weren’t even challenged.  He just hit a guy standing all alone on the field.  With that said, I can’t figure out if I’m mad at the defense for this performance.  On one hand this 3rd down conversion % SUCKS, but they forced 5 turnovers, which really is above and beyond the call of duty in that department.

***

Here’s how the Eagles fared on third down:

1st Drive:

3-3...Jackson wildcat for 8

***TOUCHDOWN***

2nd Drive:

3-10...Kolb to Schmitt for 6

***FG***

3rd Drive:

3-9...Kolb sacked

***PUNT***

4th Drive:

3-3...Kolb sacked and fumble

***TURNOVER***

4th Drive:

3-9...Kolb incomplete to Celek

***PUNT***

5th Drive:

3-2...Kolb to Hall for 9

3-1...Wildcat to Buckley for nothing

4-1..(for good measure b/c we went for it) Kolb incomplete to Celek

6th Drive:

3-18...Kolb scrambles for 19

3-15...Kolb to Schmitt for 13

***MISSED FG***

7th Drive:

3-5...Kolb incomplete to Maclin

***PUNT***

8th Drive:

3-5...Kolb incomplete to Celek

***FG***

9th Drive:

3-2...Kolb incomplete to Celek

***PUNT***

***That breaks down to 3-12 third down conversions, or 25%.  One was a DJax run, one a Kolb scramble, and one was Kolb’s pass to Hall.  Other than that, we gave up two 3rd down sacks, tried a stupid wildcat play, threw to Schmitt too short twice, and threw 4 incompletions (3 to Celek).  One sidenote should be that Kolb did not once look to Avant on 3rd down, and I’m not sure why.

With Vick we are generally good on 3rd downs, but watching this game I couldn’t fault Kolb for our woes.  At least 2 of those 3 incompletions to Celek were catchable balls, one of them hit his hands 3 separate times. 

Your thoughts?

I’m not really here to talk Kolb exclusively.  It’s easy to say he sucks, it’s probably more accurate to say that he simply has not lived up to expectations, and riding the shadow of a reborn Vick isn’t making anything easier.

I’m not going to defend his check-down effort last night.  I was as frustrated as anyone.  I’m about ready to let the Kolb-is-the-future ship sail.  However, I do want to be fair.  Kolb led us to 9 points, and FG position when Shady fumbled.  If Shady doesn’t fumble, and we at least get that FG; Kolb has us on the 32 on the last play of the game...the last play would have been a lot more comfortable if Akers had been pulling the trigger.  I’m just saying, if we even leave the Hail-Mary aside, it’s not hard to imagine a different scenario to that game.  Yes, his 5.2 YPA was garbage!  So, I’m willing to say that he didn’t play well, but I don’t think it’s fair to say he sucked. 

Last year, we complained that we didn't need a superhero as a QB.  We all said that we had plenty of play makers, and we just needed a QB that could get the ball to those guys.  Kevin did that: it just happened to be only one of our play makers (McCoy) that he was getting the ball to, and we all would have preferred other guys getting in the mix...but that was working (200 yards passing in a half is good regardless of where it comes from, right? )Is it fair, then, to argue that 'it was McCoy, not Kevin'?

I don’t want to sound like a Kolb apologist, because I’m not.  The kid has to do SOMETHING on the field to make me believe.  He didn’t do that last night, but in fairness, he didn’t make me hate him more.  And for the record, I do prefer Vick under center as long as he’s healthy.

In other news:

-When do we start expecting more of Bobby April’s units?  We couldn’t return the ball past the 25 on Kickoffs, and really gifted the Skins the first points of the game with their huge PR.

-When do we start wondering if Dick Jauron could put together a better defensive game plan than Seanny McD?

And as a side-note:

-I’m much happier with our emergency FB acquisition of Owen than I was with Kyle Eckel.

So it’s all about the money!  The NFL is a freaking Cash-Cow!  From advertising sales, ticket sales, merchandise, television/radio contracts etc... there is nothing sacred that the NFL cannot turn into more revenue. 

With the current CBA expiring, all attention has turned to the major players in the new contract negotiations: The player’s union (the players), and the owners.  After all, without the owners there would be no teams, but they make their money on the backs of the players. 

We, as fans, are portrayed as looking at this from the outside in; with the NFL organization trying to broker a deal with between the major players with us, ‘the fans’ in mind.  “The fans” we are told, want a shorter preseason, and the owners want more regular season games. 

Forget that bull$%^!!!  I'm sick of other people telling me how I feel!  While yes, the owners make their money on the backs of the players, they ALL make their money on the support of the fans!  You want to know what the fans want?  Here are a few things that jump to the front of my mind:

1. Don’t charge me $250 for a mesh shirt that was assembled in Indonesia for pennies!

2. Don’t sell advertising space on my Madden Football game that cost me the same $60 that I pay for games without advertising

3. Don’t blackout local television broadcasts because fans didn’t come up with $100+/seat to watch an unpopular team.

4. If you ask for tax-payer money to help build your new stadium, then understand it’s public property!  And forgive my reluctance to pay $10,000 MORE for a PSL.

5. Don’t sell so much advertising space, that you are forced to take time-outs from the game in order to cram all the commercials into your television broadcast.

So, as you guys sit down and figure out exactly how you’re going to split up the GIANT cash-pie that we, the fans, baked for you.  Be careful, because if you keep up the ridiculous act that you’ve been running, you may have to ask the question: “What if the fans initiate a lockout?”

What do you guys REALLY want from the NFL?

Hey Guys, Eagles fan here!

Firstly, thanks for that brutal defensive slug-fest the other night that just go uglier as it got later...lol...

Anyway...

I have a question about Stacy Andrews, since you guys should know him better than I do at this point.  Last year he did somewhere between nothing and jack squat for us, and every reason (excuse) in the book was offered: he's still tentative on his knee, he's having trouble with the playbook, we run a different technique than he's used to, etc...

So, this was supposed to be the year.  2 years removed from his knee injury, a full year to learn the book, and a full healthy offseason to prepare physically.  The dude has looked so far like an immovable wall on running plays (and I don't mean that in a good way.  He's immovable: he doesn't get pushed back, but he doesn't get any push forward, you can forget the idea of him getting to the secondary, and the RB beats to the edge on every play he pulls), and against you guys he looked like a turnstile on passing plays especially when he's rushed to the inside.

My question is: what can I expect from him?  I don't need a probowler, but am I looking at a reasonable starting caliber lineman here?

You love them.  I love them.  But what can we learn from power rankings, especially early ones?  I broke down the last 10 years of week one power rankings for the two teams that made it to the Super Bowl to see how much they meant when compared to reality.

Continue reading this post »

I count 6 brutal games.  The kind of games that I almost expect not to win, just so I’m not too disappointed when it happens, and I’m ecstatic if we beat the odds.  Those games are:

1. Home vs Green Bay
2. Home vs the Colts
3. at the Giants
4&5. both games against the Cowboys
6.. Home vs Minnesota

Beyond that I count 7 additional tough games.  These are the kind of games where I know we have as good a chance as anybody, it just really depends on which Eagles team is going to show up.

1&2. both Washington games
3. Home vs Atlanta
4@ Tennessee
5. Home vs the Giants
6. @ Chicago
7. Home vs Houston

While that covers 13 of our 16 games I’m excited about a couple things. 

-Of those 13 games, 8 of them are home.  Of course that means our entire home schedule is tough, but I’d rather play the tough games at home than on the road.  Look at this way, if you have to face Indy, Minnesota, Green Bay, Atlanta, and Houston wouldn’t you rather not travel for it?

-Let’s look at the toughest of the brutal games.

-We have to play Peyton Manning this year.  That sucks in itself, BUT we get to play them after our bye week.  Andy’s record is pretty good after the bye (perfect, actually, if I recall correctly), and while of course past performance is no definite indicator of future performance, if I have to play the Colts, I would pick to play them at home after the bye week.  Oh, and the Colts will be going into that game on a short week, having just played their division rival Texans on Monday night.
-In Dallas vs. Dallas.  This is my second favorite game every year (my first being in Philly vs Dallas).  Of course we know how they owned us last year, and this is going to be a really tough game...BUT, again...since I know we have to go Dallas, and we do it every year, wouldn’t you prefer to do it the week after playing a Thursday night home game?  We have 10 days to prepare, without having to get over traveling the week before.  Oh, and Dallas will be going into that game a week after traveling up to Indy to see Peyton on his terms.  Again, not saying we’re going to win, but if I got to pick my terms, this would be them.
-Minnesota comes to us on a short week also after just hosting division rival Chicago, and hosting the Giants the week before that.  Sucks having to play on a short week, sucks worse having to travel on a short week after playing a division rival.

-So, while our last 5 games go Texans, Cowboys, Giants, Vikings, Cowboys...the football gods have at least managed to make a brutal schedule seem at least as manageable as possible

The purpose of this series is to look back at the scouting reports of the players that are currently on our roster, and see how they've panned out in real life compared to their expectations coming out of college.  Here are our 2005 and 2006 draft class players that remain on the team.  It was ridiculous to realize that we have no players on our roster that we drafted before 2005!

Continue reading this post »

Yes.  I was a guy who thought it best to trade McNabb, though I never expected it to be to a division rival.  With that said, we move on with all the respect in the world for what Donny's done for us.

But I do not remember the last time we've had this many needs going into a draft.  The Sheldon trade really caught me off guard...and this is how our starting roster likely looks like rolling into next year (question marks are in bold):

QB: Kevin Kolb, (does this mean Vick stays?)

RB: McCoy

FB: Weaver

TE: Celek, Ingram

LT: Peters

LG: Herremans

C: Cole, Rookie

RG: Andrews

RT: Justice

WR: Jackson, Maclin, Avant, Baskett

DE: Cole, Tapp

DT: Bunk, Patterson

Sam: Fokou/Hall

Mike: Bradley

Will: Jordan/Gaither

RCB: Hobbs/Hanson/Rookie

LCB: Samuel

SS: Mikell

FS: Harris/Jackson

On Offense we're counting on Stacy being fully rehabbed, Cornelius recovering from a busted knee, Cole transitioning well to center, or else starting a rookie, and of course Kolb picking up where he left off against KC...and that's the good side of the ball.

Our defense is counting on Bradley to anchor the linebacking corps coming off knee surgery.  They're either counting on Fokou to play well, or Hall to show something, and we're back to the perennial question of either Gaither/Jordan at Will.  We do not have a starting CB opposite Asante.  I'm not sold on Hobbs, Hanson, or a Rookie to stick with Miles Austin.  And of course we're asking Marlin Jackson to forget his knee surgery and upgrade the debacle that was our FS position last year...oh yeah, we also have Macho and Demps there.

So, no, we're not rebuilding we're just asking a lot of unproven players to start.

Here's to hoping we pull in a vet or two (CB/LB) before training camp!

And SHUT UP ALREADY!!!!

Nobody is saying that McNabb is and always was terrible!  Nobody is being "unappreciative" of all the wonderful flowers and roses he's dropped off on our doorsteps.  Nobody is disputing his records or his stats.  Nobody.

Enough of the posts reiterating his stats for the last decade.  We know them.  We've watched him.  He's left us in awe, and he's left us frustrated.  We were there, we lived it, we don't need a history lesson.

I'm sick of being told I'm unappreciative because I think it's time to move on.  How does that position imply that I somehow don't appreciate what he's done?  I wouldn't want Michael Jordan on my professional basketball team today, but I certainly appreciate what he's done as a player.

I'm not saying you have to jump on the Kolb train, because clearly that isn't your intention; but SHUT UP ALREADY!!!

-Stop telling us we all booed McNabb on his draft day...not true

-Stop saying he's never been supported...not true

-Stop saying he's never been appreciated...not true

-Stop saying we've wanted to trade him for years now...not true.

You're stealing drama lines from the media and running wild...it's ridiculous.

And for the mature audience, I'm sorry I couldn't exercise more self-control and refrain from writing this.  I know I should just ignore the crap that aggravates me; but I could only hold off for so long.

1. He brought us to the Superbowl, okay, we lost...but he’s still our best chance!

2. Just last year he threw for over 3500 yards, with a 99 yard TD pass!  That’s explosive offense!

3. He’s the best QB this city has EVER seen!

4. Okay, so he’s in his mid-30s, but some guys are older and still productive

5. People just don’t appreciate what he’s done for us, he’s done things no one else has been able to

6. He’s broken almost EVERY QB record in franchise history.

7. We owe him ONE MORE CHANCE!!!!!!  He’s still our best chance to win

8. What’s the alternative?  Some punk kid we picked up in the 2nd round, who was only mildly impressive when he had to step in and start?

9. Oh, in case you thought this was another Donovan McNabb post, you were wrong.  This is a throwback to Ron Jaworski and 1986.

10. At some point...you move on.