Week 3 Random Obervations and Opinions

By: Mike Duncan

-                It is not time to panic/overreact.  The Andy Reid led Eagles are notorious for starting out slow(2-2 through 4 games five times in his 12 year tenure).  This is magnified this year by the lack of offseason camps  caused by the lockout as well as the abundance of new faces on the roster and coaching staff.  All this being said, there team deserves to be heavily criticized following two straight horrendous losses

-                Shady Mccoy is a complete stud.  His lateral movement and agility is as good as it gets.

-                Is it really surprising that the eagles have lost the past two games in which their star QB was knocked out for the 4^th quarters in close games? 

-                Any casual Eagles fan could have told you 5 weeks ago that Casey Mathews was not a starting caliber LB.  Surely NFl coaching staffs could have seen this also?  Why will it have taken 3 weeks for the staff to make a move?  Don’t expect Casey Mathews in the starting lineup vs San Francisco in week 4. 

  

-                Mike Vick was obviously not all the way back from his concussion.  He just didn’t look himself out there including an unwillingness to scramble, trying to spike the ball on 4^th down near halftime, multiple dropped snaps in both shotgun and under center, and what could be characterized as playing in a fog or daze. 

-                5 new starters on defense, a new DL coach and a new Defensive Coordinator; yet the same problems remain on defense: making stops in the redzone, LB play and the inability to make key stops late in the game.

 

-                The Eagles safeties are, at best, average.  It makes no sense to me that they should have two safeties on the field and have Rodgers-Cromartie on the sideline.  Surely Juan Castillo can come up with some type of defensive strategy to keep Cromartie, Samuel, and Nnamdi on the field at the same time on a majority of snaps. 

-                In the late 1^st/early second quarter the Eagles had a drive that started on their own 20 and ended on the Giants 2 yardline.  This drive included 8 straight runs to march up the field.  Facing a 2^nd and goal at the 2, the Eagles passed the ball the next two plays leading to a one yard loss and an incompletion ultimately leading to a field goal. 

-                Later in the game the eagles had 4 straight rushing attempts at the giants goaline and failed to score a td. 

-                At the end of the first half, the Eagles called their final timeout after a pass completion took them to the Giants 16 yardline.  Coming out of the TO, the Eagles had two false start penalties  before they could get a play off after the timeout.  They settled for a FG on that drive as well.

-                The last three points only highlight the fact that the Eagles redzone offense is extremely lacking.  Especially with a player as dynamic as Mike Vick. 

-                After failing to punch it in at the goaline on 4 straight plays, Andy Reid choose to kick a FG.  Why, after seeing the failed short yardage plays earlier and his apparent lack of faith in their short yardage game to go for it at the Giants 1 yardline,  would Andy Reid feel the need to go for it on 4^th and 1 at the Giants 45 yard line in the 4^th quarter while up 2 points?

  

-                Why wait till Mike Kafka comes into the game in the 4^th quarter to try to get the ball deep to Desean Jackson? 

-                One of the most important steps a coach can do to be successful in the NFL is to create schemes that are tailored to their players strengths and designed to hide their players weaknesses.  I don’t feel the Eagles coaches are doing a good enough job at this.  Especially on defense. 

-                When you have a player as explosive as Desean Jackson, you have to find ways to get the ball in his hands.  Where are the quick passes such as slants and screens to him that can utilize his speed and quickness.

-                Who is the leader on defense?

-                This team has too much talent to be playing this poor. 

-                Can Mike Vick stay healthy?

-                Where is the contribution from the past two eagles draft classes? 

-                If Mike Vick can stay healthy this is without question a playoff team.

Did I mention Shady Mccoy is a complete stud?

The NFL becoming "soft" is for the better of the game

Say what you want, you’re entitled to your opinion, but the NFL has become soft…and it’s for the good of the game. Ok tough guy, we get it, you’re old school, you think the players are softer than they were in the 70s. Well guess what they are and everyone knows that. But what you’re forgetting is that these players are not only bigger than they were 30-40 years ago, but they are much, much faster. The average player today is faster than the fastest player was 30 years ago, and he probably weighs 30 pounds more. The NFL is changing, and it’s making changes to protect the players you root for every Sunday. You can call these players whatever you want, it’s freedom of speech, but it does not make you tougher to question a player’s health after the hits they take. You’re watching in HD on your couch, drinking beer and eating wings and chips, but you’re tougher than the guys on the field right? Of course you are. The NFL is doing the right thing handing out fines to repeated offenders, aka “Dirty Players”. Dunta Robinson deserved that, because Jeremy Maclin did not. This isn’t an Eagles fan upset about Maclin getting hit. Maclin got right up, sat out one play, and continued to own Dunta Robinson. There is no place in the NFL for hits like that, after all it’s just a game. Maclin still held onto the ball, even after Robinson launched himself, using his helmet as a weapon…again. Robinson did the same thing last year knocking DeSean Jackson out of multiple games. Robinson was originally fined $50,000, but reduced to just $25,000 after his appeal. In a game where you players must react in milliseconds it is hard to not make a play on the ball or on the receiver. With the way the game has evolved, these players need to make it second nature not to lead with their helmets, just as the fans will have to learn that the game is changing for the better. These players aren't gladiators, they're people just like you and me. These are fathers, sons, brothers, husbands risking their lives for the entertainment of us. Without these safety changes being made, what is it going to take for fans to realize this is a good thing.  The NFL is preventing the ultimate loss, the death of a player on the field of play. The safety changes are worth it, for everyone.

Eagles-Falcons Post Game Coverage

By: Steve Johnson

Bright Spots:


Pass Rush
The Eagles defensive line dominated most of the game. Trent Cole had a field day with Sam Baker. Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson continued to blow up the pocket, and Jason Babin made a ton of great plays. They look like they tired down a little bit when Ryan started running a no huddle.

LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin
Shady McCoy is becoming the real deal. Another great game. 18 Carries, 95 yards, 2 TDs
Jeremy Maclin 13 Rec, 171 yards, and 2 TDs
They got swagger
When asked by D Gunn post game if he think's the Eagles are better than the Falcons, they responded
"Yes, Yes, for sure. And we're gonna see them again, believe that" -Shady
"We're a better team than them, and I think they know that" - J Mac

Concerns:


Linebackers
They need to address this position. There are still guys out there that can make a larger impact than Casey Matthews. Turner was shut down other than one 61 yard run, but that's all it takes to change a game. Tony Gonzalez was Ryan's only difference maker, catching 7 balls for 83 yards and 2 TDs. This is the only real weak spot in the Eagles.

Safety
Where is Nate Allen, where is Jaiquawn Jarret? Why are the Eagles last 2 second round picks not starting. I see Allen on special teams. Is he still not 100%? I expect this position to get better with time, but I would prefer the changes to be made sooner rather than later. Unlike the Linebacker position, this can be addressed within the roster.

Mike Vick's health
I know this isn't as bad an injury as it gets, but it is some concern when the entire season rests on this man. Can Mike Vick stay healthy this season? Let's hope so. Apparently he is doing fine. He has a concussion, that will most likely keep him out next week vs New York.

Final Say
I think the Eagles played well. I think they are the better team than the Falcons, but that's the great thing about football. The weaknesses are clear on this team, but the good thing is, they can be corrected. This team is still young, and they still are not use to each other. Mike Vick needs to stay healthy and on the field. If he is in the game, the Eagles are unstoppable on offense. Next week the Giants come to town, they play Monday vs the Rams, a team the Eagles were clearly much more talented than. We'll see how talented the rival Giants are.

Eagles vs Falcons Preview

By: Steve Johnson and Mike Duncan

Quarterbacks
Edge- EAGLES
 While both teams are strong here, the edge definitely goes to the Philadelphia Eagles.  There is perhaps not a more dynamic player in the NFL than Mike Vick.  Vick is going to get nothing but better as he continues to mature in this offense.  Matt Ryan is a nice young Qb who had an underrated year statistically last year.  However, he needs to become more consistent.  Michael Vick is capable of taking over a football game while Ryan is more of a game manager.  This should be an excellent battle to watch as Mike Vick is coming back to the place where it all started for him and Ryan and the falcons will be looking to bounce back from a very poor week 1 showing at Chicago.  

Running Backs
Edge - EAGLES
Once again the edge goes to the Philadelphia Eagles, although the Falcons ball carrier is no slouch himself.  Shady Mccoy and the Eagles offense are a perfect match for each other.  Mccoy's blend of agility, quickness and pass catching ability make him one of the most dangerous RBs in the NFL.  Coming of a an excellent week 1 showing, he should have another strong performance in the Georgia Dome.  One other note pertaining to Mccoy is that he is averaging a ridiculous 8 yards per carry on turf at dome stadiums in his career.  Michael Turner is a powerful bruising RB that will present problems for the Eagles poor run defense.  This will be the key for Atlanta to win the game.  While Turners skills have certainly declined as of late, look for Atlanta to give the eagles a heavy dose of Michael Turner out of the gate too keep the clock running and the Eagles offense off the field.  Mccoy is the better RB but Turner will be the key to the Falcons success come Sunday night.  

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Edge - PUSH
Both teams have excellent WR corps.  The Falcons have a top tier WR in Roddy White and a rookie WR in Julio Jones who has massive potential.  Tony Gonzales is an aging TE but has sure hands and can still be a threat in the middle of the field.  The Eagles have one of the most explosive WRs in the NFl in Desean Jackson.  He is not, however, as complete a WR as Roddy White.  Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles number 2 is a more complete WR while still offering big play ability.  The problem with Maclin is the fact that he missed the entire training camp and preseason due to an illness.  He is healthy now but it may take him a few games to get back into game shape and top form.  Jason Avant provides a dependable inside target and Steve Smith should provide even more weaponry once his injured knee gets closer to 100%.  For now, it is fairly even but once Maclin plays a few more weeks and Steve Smith gets healthy, the Eagles should have a clear cut advantage. 

Offensive Line
Edge - Falcons
There is some serious concern along the Eagles offensive line.  Rookie first rd pick Danny Watkins, someone expecting to contribute right from the start, is not yet ready so he will likely be inactive.  Meanwhile, the Eagles are starting 2 journeymen G's and a rookie C.  Last week was the first time the OL for the Eagles was able to play together.  Pro Bowl LT Jason Peters is a bit banged up some that may be something to watch.  The Philly OL should improve as the weeks go by but for now there is definitely legitimate concern.


Defensive Line
Edge - Eagles
The additions of Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin proved to be huge pickups last week as the Eagles recorded 5 sacks. Darryl Tapp's sack and Juqua Parker's fumble recovery for a touchdown was a huge momentum booster for the Eagles. The Eagles will be without Tapp this week, out with a Pectoral injury, which could hurt the Eagles great rotation they have keeping their players fresh. The big splash for the Falcons this offseason was bringing in DE Ray Edwards, but Edwards was hardly noticed last week in their loss to the Chicago Bears. To make matters worse they lost DT Jonathan Babineaux with a torn MCL and also are without starter Corey Peters. 


Linebackers
Edge - Falcons
To say this is an advantage for the Falcons is an understatement. The Eagles linebackers are young and undersized, look for the Falcons running game and TE Tony Gonzalez to try to exploit them. After the first 2 drives last week, the Eagles linebackers didn't play terrible, but that was without Running Back Steven Jackson. However the Eagles can stack the box with secondary help. The Falcons have a very solid linebacker corp in Curtis Lofton, Stephen Nicholas, and second year man Sean Witherspoon, who led the team with 10 tackles last week. The Falcons struggled last week tackling against the Bears, but it won't get any easier trying to tackle the Eagles quick and elusive offensive weapons.


Secondary
Edge - Eagles
Forget what ESPN's KC Joyner said, he's a moron. The Eagles might have 3 corners better than either of the Falcons corners. That's not a knock on the Falcons corners, Dunta Robinson is solid, but the Eagles just have 3 playmakers at that position. Local product and Shippensburg grad Brent Grimes is a good playmaker at times but there's a reason he was targeted more than any corner in the league last year, and it's not because he's a shut down corner. Rodgers-Cromartie and Asomugha are still learning the defense, but can pretty much stay with anyone 1v1. Samuel already knows the defense, just choses not to run it, he has a worse gambling problem than Michael Jordan. Expect him to bait Ryan into a pick.


Special Teams
Edge - Falcons
The Eagles are running with 3 rookies on Special Teams in Alex Henery, Chas Henry, and returner Dion Lewis, so the Falcons have the advantage here. Eric Weems is a good returner and don't be surprised if he runs a a big one back with the lack of special teams coverage the NFL faced in week 1. The Falcons coverage units did a good job on Devin Hester last week. Matt Bryant is an experienced kicker and could make a difference in this game. 


Coaching
Edge - Eagles
Say what you want about Andy Reid's in game decision making but nobody is better at setting up a gameplan during the week than Reid. The Eagles also have an all star coaching staff with the additions of Howard Mudd and Jim Washburn, and Marty Mornhinweg is one of the better assistants in the NFL. Mike Smith is also one of the better head coaches in the league, and keeps his players playing hard. This should be a good matchup to watch Sunday.


Mike's Take:
When its all said and done the Eagles will simply have to much firepower on offense and plenty of talent on defense to stop the Falcons.  
Final Score 27-17 Eagles     
Steve's Take:
The Falcons are a good team, and they will be fired up for this game after coming home from a loss to the Bears. With that being said, Mike Vick has made it clear he wants this game, and his teammates want it for him. The Eagles are just the more talented team. 
Final Score: 31-24 Eagles

Mike Vick is worth $100 Million Dollars...again

By: Steve Johnson

Six years, 100 million dollars, 40 million of that is guaranteed. This is the contract giving to a man that had everything. A man who had all the God given talent in the world. A man who was already given over 100 million dollars. This man had endorsements, cars, clothes, and houses. And then he lost it all in a federal indictment for dog fighting. Michael Vick was given 23 months to sit in a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas to think about what he could have done differently, and what he might do differently if he was given another shot. Well he got that chance in the 2009 season opener when Kevin Kolb’s head was slammed in the turf by Clay Matthews. The rest is history, we all know the story, and this isn’t about all that. This is about the future, the future of Mike Vick and the future of the Philadelphia Eagles. Mike Vick deserves every single penny of that 100 million dollars for one reason, Mike Vick WILL win a Super Bowl. I could end this article right there, but then I wouldn’t have a chance to let all the naysayers, the haters, a certain animal rights activist group and the unbelievers become believers in this great man.

Mike Vick is the most talented player at the hardest position to play in all of sports that we have ever seen. I’m not saying he’s the best, nor will he be the best, but Mike Vick has the talent to become a Super Bowl winning Quarterback and one of the best we’ve ever seen. Never have we, and probably never will we see a player that has the combination of speed, throwing power, and the lightning quick release Vick has. What we saw from Vick last year was no fluke, it was just the beginning. Disagree? That’s fine, I don’t blame you. I didn’t believe it at first either. I’ve admitted it plenty of times, no need to continue to rub it in, I did NOT believe in Mike Vick at first. Can you blame me? Nope, can’t blame me either. Anyone that says they predicted what he would do last year is a liar, it’s that simple. Yes, when he played those first two games against Jacksonville and Detroit, he looked great, but I wanted to see more. In a reactional fan base it was easy to want to believe in Mike Vick, but he had to show more. And you know what? He did, and did he ever. He had one of the greatest seasons we’ve ever seen from a quarterback. Last year was no fluke, not with this coaching staff, not with these weapons, not with Vick’s new attitude toward not only football but to life. Say what you want, but he has changed. No longer does he just rely on his God given abilities. He is the first one in and the first one out, the type of the guy that brings his lunch pale for a day on the job. He has plenty to thank for this. A better organization in the Philadelphia Eagles, better coaching in Head Coach Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg, and better family and friends that give him all the support he never had in Atlanta. Let’s not forget about the weapons he has now, or the lack there of “weapons” he had in Atlanta. He never had the likes of a DeSean Jackson or Jeremy Maclin in Atlanta, hell he probably never had a Steve Smith. Warrick Dunn was a nice back for a couple years, but Shady McCoy brings something extra. With all those offensive weapons and a revamped offensive line and defense, it’s quite hard to imagine a scenario that the Eagles don’t make a long playoff run this year, let alone the next six years. This group is not only built for this year, but built for a dynasty. Overall this Eagles team is the best Vick has ever played for, come to think of it, it’s quite possibly the best Eagles team we’ve ever seen. Only time will tell if he can lead this team and this city to the ultimate victory, the win they’ve been waiting for all their lives. There’s a lot of pressure on Vick’s shoulders once again, but this time around they’re strong enough to hold it all…and hopefully to hoist the Lombardi trophy.