Revisiting the Juan Castillo Hiring

In light of Juan Castillo’s unceremonious and scapegoat-y dismissal, I thought I’d take a look back at what I wrote the day he was hired:

Well, this is sure to appease a lot of fans. The three-week long search for a defensive coordinator is finally over, and suffice to say that no one saw this move coming. The news started to filter out late this afternoon that the Eagles hired the team’s offensive line coach, Juan Castillo, to replace Sean McDermott as defensive coordinator. Wait, what?! I don’t feel like doing the research, but I have to think what happened today is unprecedented in the history of the NFL. Stunning. Mystifying. Dumbfounding. Stupefying. What-the-fuck-ing. All synonyms that describe complete and utter disbelief apply. Maybe most shocking of all, however, is that the Eagles didn’t wait 11 more days to make this announcement in an attempt to steal the Phillies’ thunder as they opened spring training. I kid, I kid. Sort of. Anyway, fear not, my fellow fans, Juan Castillo isn’t totally green when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. He played linebacker in college at Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) and for the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL from 1984-1985. He also has experience coaching defense… in high school… over 20 years ago. Something tells me you’re still not exactly encouraged. 

MEME TIME!

Sorry, couldn’t help myself.

In a development much less shocking, Eagles fans are up in arms and have taken to the Internet to spew their vitriol. As for me, after getting over the initial shock, I experienced a completely unexpected feeling: calm. I can’t even explain to you why. Castillo has no experience as a defensive coach of any kind at the collegiate or professional level, so rationale would seemingly indicate that hiring him in this capacity is a disaster waiting to happen. I can’t blame the people who are going berserk because they certainly have a valid argument as to why this doesn’t make sense. They also have every right to dismiss the hiring as an ego massage for Andy Reid (it is) and another strike against the unjustifiably haughty management structure operating within the NovaCare Complex. Believe me, I get it. I’m one of the team’s harshest critics, which is why the hiring of Juan Castillo as defensive coordinator should have sent me into a violent rage. After all, this move highlights the three things I really can’t stand about this current incarnation of the franchise: tedious nepotism (God forbid someone should come in and challenge Andy’s way of doing things — I guess no other team employs worthy coaching candidates), unflinching stubbornness, and a perceived we’re-smarter-than-everyone-else attitude that has resulted in precisely zero Super Bowl wins. Yet I find myself not quite ready to jump off the Ben Franklin Bridge. Maybe I’ve become desensitized to the Eagles and their whacky ways, which is a plausible explanation. Or maybe it’s because I just downed a handful of Valium. No, I’ve got it: The Eagles finally did something I’ve always given them shit for not doing, and that’s think outside the box. So kudos in that respect. To be honest, what frustrates me most about all this isn’t the hiring itself, it’s that the Eagles didn’t even bother to interview coaches from the Steelers or Packers. You really mean to tell me this decision couldn’t have waited another week? It also gives me pause that Castillo is jumping over to the defensive side of the ball and right into position as coordinator. I think it would’ve made more sense to make him a position coach on defense first. But what do I know, right?

Yeah, pretty certain my calmness was a result of having become desensitized to the Eagles and their whacky ways. In retrospect, rereading how I tried to talk myself into Castillo’s hiring is pretty humorous. Against my better judgment, it seems, I decided to give Andy Reid the benefit of the doubt when he added another ring to this circus. Mistake. Larry David would tell me I should’ve known better, that it’s not for me. I feel for Juan, I really do, and even more so after watching his heart-wrenching post-firing interviews with Vai Sikahema and Derrick Gunn. Here’s a guy who was barely even a consideration for the defensive coordinator position until the pool of qualified and available candidates evaporated. It still pisses me off that the Eagles didn’t wait until after the Super Bowl to interview defensive coaches from the Packers — like Winston Moss, Mike Trgovac, Kevin Greene — and Steelers — like Ray Horton, who took the job in Arizona and has punished the Eagles in their two matchups since. Andy, despite one of his exhausted Reidisms, did NOT put his longest-tenured comrade in a position to succeed. Instead, he put him in position to fail and, ultimately, out of a job. It’s a sad and tragic — if not predictable — end, really. (Edit: Oh, and Juan Castillo was a DAMN good offensive line coach, by the way.)

Juan Castillo has been a member of the Eagles’ coaching staff since 1995. The man has more than paid his dues and is universally respected. Now, while he’s only coached on the offensive side of the ball, do a little bit of Googling and you’ll find that he had plenty of involvement with the defense behind the scenes. Whether it was educating the front four about what to expect from the offense, breaking down protection schemes with the late Jim Johnson, or reminding players that he used to play linebacker, Castillo never strayed too far from his defensive roots. As Juan said in his introductory press conference earlier this evening, he’s a “defensive guy that’s gotten stuck on the offensive side.” Well, after 16 years as an offensive coach, he’s finally getting a chance to be that guy again — and now he gets to incorporate everything he’s learned about NFL offenses over the years into game plans aimed at attacking them. And you know something? I’m willing to give Castillo the benefit of the doubt. That said, I still think an introduction of new coaching philosophies is necessary for the Eagles to finally win a Super Bowl. So, would I have liked to see Reid take this chance to inject some new blood into the franchise at a position of power? Definitely. But maybe this isn’t such a bad thing. Juan Castillo has been here a long time, and he knows what Philadelphia is all about. He also knows the organization inside and out. Speaking of which, as the Eagles are wont to do, they preemptively went into damage control mode and had the public relations staff working overtime to get input from coaches around the league about how excellent Castillo is going to be at running the defense. Granted, the statements they procured were from former Eagles coaches, but were you really expecting anything different?

Did Castillo incorporate anything he learned from coaching the offensive line for 15 years? If he did, that input was useless and sure as shit didn’t work. I swear, preseason defenses have been more imaginative and complex. For someone who deconstructed protection schemes with Jim Johnson, Castillo didn’t seem to have a clue how to combat them. And don’t even get me started on his talent evaluation skills. I gave up on Castillo’s ability to that extent when he immediately championed Casey Matthews as a capable starting middle linebacker and defensive captain. As someone who watched Matthews a lot in college and thought he’d be, at best, a reserve linebacker and special teams staple, I could not have been more vehemently against the decision.

At least Todd Bowles has credibility and provides an infusion of new coaching philosophies that weren’t developed in an Eagles incubator. I like what I heard during his introductory press conference; sounded like someone who knew what he’s talking about, which is a relief. This defense has talent, no question. Let’s see if Bowles can harness it.

Haters gonna hate, but, for once, I won’t be one of them. For all the shit I give Andy Reid, I can’t deny that he has an eye for coaching talent — just look around the league, where four of his former assistants are now head coaches (John Harbaugh, Steve Spagnuolo, Leslie Frazier, and Pat Shurmur). Need more evidence? One of his first moves as head coach of the Eagles was hiring Jim Johnson, then the Seahawks’ linebackers coach, to be his defensive coordinator. As my grandfather has told me thousands of times, you don’t get anywhere in life without taking risks. Only time will tell if this specific risk was calculated and shrewd or stupid and irresponsible. Juan, you have my support. Now make Jim Johnson proud.

Maybe I should never stray from being a hater. Serves me right, I guess. Live and learn.

PS - What’s flying under the radar with all the uproar about Castillo taking over as defensive coordinator is the fact that Reid lured Howard Mudd, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, out of retirement to coach the offensive line. Mudd’s lines were some of the best in the league during his 12-year stint with Indy, and Peyton Manning swears by him. Yeah, I’m on board.

Obligatory YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp-ifMyyMhU

Further reading: http://www.csnphilly.com/02/02/11/Eagles-promote-Juan-Castillo-to-D-coordi/landing_eagles.html?blockID=402689&feedID=704

More: http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Who-is-Juan-Castillo.html

The Jason Peters and Jason Kelce injuries have irrevocably ruined the offensive line. It is a certified dumpster fire that not even Howard Mudd can salvage (at the moment).

Next change on the docket: Andy Reid comandeering play-calling duties from Marty Mornhinweg. It’s coming, I can feel it. (Edit: Well, it’s not coming just yet. But if the offense continues to struggle and underperform, I imagine Andy will take over play-calling responsibilities in an effort to control his own fate.)

Week 6 Recap: Lions 26 Eagles 23 (OT)

I yearned for the Eagles to be focused, play smart, and put forth a dominating effort against the Lions, but they did not oblige. It was the kind of game that leaves you wondering why you even bother with this team. No, seriously, I had four friends text me asking that. Here was my answer to them, in GIF form. Are we sure it wasn’t 2011 yesterday? Because with the way the Eagles played, it felt like last season. In a game that doubled as a contest between two teams trying to outdisgrace one another, the Eagles took charge at the end. I wrote in last week’s game recap article that the Lions were like a hyperactive version of the Eagles when it came to mixing talent with self-sabotage, and for nearly 55 minutes that held true. Then the home team decided to show the Lions how it’s done.

The Good

1. Jeremy Maclin. He went for six receptions, 130 yards and a touchdown, which came on a 70-yard catch and run. Maclin, who’s been battling the effects of a painful hip injury for a month, finally looked back to form. He would have had another long catch and run to perhaps ice the game late in the fourth quarter had Ndamukong Suh not deflected Michael Vick’s pass.

2. Riley Cooper. Made a key block on the kickoff return after the Lions took a 3-0 lead that allowed Brandon Boykin to go for, gasp, 30 yards! On that ensuing drive, Cooper made a nice 8-yard reception on 3rd and 6. Of course, two plays later, at the Detroit 29, Dallas Reynolds snapped the ball before Michael Vick was ready and the Lions recovered the fumble. Sigh. Whatever, I hope Riley, now that he’s healthy, is more involved in the offense because he’s the only real big target in that wide receiver corps.

3. Defense during the first three quarters. The Eagles didn’t record any sacks, but Matthew Stafford was 6 of 21 for just 91 yards and an interception. If that’s what the quarterback’s stat line looks like, I could care less about getting sacks. Then again, some scribes in the press box declared the Lions’ problems on offense weren’t so much about what the Eagles did, but rather what the Lions didn’t do and that Stafford missed a bunch of opportunities. Either way, during their first nine drives, the Lions managed a mere six points and looked out of sorts a majority of the time.

4. Nnamdi Asomugha. After a rough few weeks and increasing criticism directed his way, Asomugha played his best game of the season. He was matched up on Calvin Johnson almost exclusively the first three quarters, with Nate Allen helping over the top instead of Kurt Coleman (finally), and held Megatron to one catch for 28 yards. He also had an interception on a deep pass into the end zone. Then in the fourth quarter, for reasons known only to Juan Castillo, Nnamdi was relieved of his responsibility to cover Johnson. Why did Castillo want to give Johnson and Stafford different looks in the fourth quarter when they couldn’t get anything done against the previous coverages? I just… I don’t know. Nnamdi didn’t, either. Great sign. 

Naturally, this morning, Andy Reid refuted Asomugha’s assertion and said the Eagles didn’t change up their defensive scheme in the fourth quarter. Ok, then. Please, by all means, continue to treat us like idiots.

Edit: 5. DeMeco Ryans. Well, at least the middle linebacker position has been solved. Ryans continues to look like the player he was for the Texans pre-Achilles injury. Recorded a season-high in tackles (13) and tackles for loss (three).

The Bad

1. Turnovers. Another game, another negative turnover differential for the Eagles, who now lead the NFC at -9 (they also lead the NFC with 17 turnovers, which is five more than the runner-up Cowboys). The good news: Vick didn’t lose a fumble. The bad news: He threw two awful interceptions. Pick your poison, I guess.

2. Offensive line. Bad, bad, bad. Collectively, Demetress Bell, Evan Mathis, Dallas Reynolds, Danny Watkins, and Todd Herremans couldn’t move the Lions’ front four off the line of scrimmage, and the run game was rendered useless — detrimental, in fact. In pass protection, the unit’s performance was barely any better. I really have no idea how Michael Vick hasn’t suffered a concussion or season-ending injury yet with the kind of beating he takes each game. It’s definitely one of the marvels of the season to this point. The official scorer recorded just 11 hits on Vick inside the pocket, but there had to be more. To everyone calling for Nick Foles: He’d get murdered playing behind this line. Remember that Vick had nine scrambles in this game — for 59 yards — to elude pressure and pick up positive yards. Nick Foles wouldn’t be able to save himself that way. Now, in fairness, Foles wouldn’t hold onto the ball as long, but he would still be a sitting duck back there — a sacrificial lamb with little chance of achieving success.

3. Brent Celek at the goal line. You know things are bad when Brent Celek is responsible for taking two touchdowns off the board. The first instance came in the third quarter, when Michael Vick stared down a blitz and fired a perfect pass with a defender flying at his head. Unfortunately, Celek wasn’t able to hold up his end of the bargain. The ball hit him in the worst spot — the hands — and he simply dropped it. Yeah, there was a defender draped on his back, but Celek himself will tell you that’s a catch he needs to make. The Eagles settled for, you guessed it, a field goal. Then on the very next drive, with the Eagles in the red zone and looking to go up 17-6, Celek redeemed himself with a touchdown catch. Except he didn’t. In a call that we’ll label as highly questionable, the referee determined that Celek pushed off his man and whistled him for offensive pass interference. It was ticky-tack, at best, and the replay was anything but convincing. Still, it happened, and the call went against Celek. The Eagles were forced to settle for another field goal. So, if you’re counting at home, that’s two plays directly involving Celek that cost the Eagles eight points.

4. Special teams. All week, media members made jokes about the Lions’ putrid special teams, and how if there was one team out there worse than the Eagles in that phase, it was Detroit. Oops. Looks like Bobby April’s group doesn’t want to give up the fight for that ignominious mantle. It all started with Mat McBriar’s first punt, which traveled 47 yards but recorded a hangtime of… did the ball even stay in the air three seconds? Stefan Logan fielded the punt at his own 18, but without a defender near him and nothing but green grass ahead, was able to break a long 48-yard return all the way down to the Eagles’ 34. That led to the first of Jason Hanson’s four field goals on the day. Oh, and so much for putting DeSean Jackson back to return punts, as he had one attempt for -3 yards. The Eagles return units as a whole did nothing, so par for the course there.

5. Run defense. For the second week in a row, the Eagles run defense was exposed. This time the front seven let the league’s oldest offensive line push them around and gave up 108 yards on 22 carries to the formidable running back tandem of Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell.

6. Discipline. There are plenty of examples from which to choose, but Fletcher Cox’s ejection headlines this section. The precocious rookie made the biggest mistake of his young career by punching a Lions player during the PAT attempt that made the score 16-13. Can’t do that, dude. With Cox out of the game, the Lions marched down the field with ease on their last two drives. But there’s more. Earlier, in the second quarter, and despite a ref standing right there, DeSean Jackson somehow wasn’t flagged nor ejected when he jabbed a defender right under the chin strap.

The Ugly

1. The pass rush. What was an uneasy cause for concern has now become a full-blown panic. The Eagles can no longer get to the opposing quarterback. Like, not even close. The pass rush was supposed to be one of the team’s foremost strengths coming into season, and in the preseason appeared it would live up to that billing. The first two games, everything was in order. Against the Cardinals, however, it started to change. What we’ve seen over the past four games is an erosion of stupefying proportions. I don’t even know what to say. Jason Babin and Trent Cole have been almost non-existent, and the only defensive lineman consistently getting even a little bit of pressure on the quarterback is Brandon Graham. 

2. Preparation. This is confined mainly to the offense, which has come out of the gate the last four games looking anything but ready to play. Here’s a summary of the Eagles’ first scripted 15 plays from each of those games (not including penalties):

@ Cardinals: 66 yards, lost fumble, no points

vs. Giants: 51 yards, no points

@ Steelers: 90 yards (Vick’s lost fumble at the goal line came on 16th play), no points

vs. Lions: 29 yards, lost fumble, no points

If there’s one thing you can count on with the Eagles, it’s for the team to be mired in a general malaise for the initial 15-20 minutes of game time.

3. Fourth quarter defense. Maybe last week’s failure to stop the Steelers at the end of the game wasn’t just a blip, but rather a sign that the defense is reverting to 2011 form. Spotted a 10-point lead twice in the final quarter, the defense went into Swiss cheese mode. After the Eagles stalled again in the red zone and kicked a third field goal to make the score 16-6, the defense immediately gave up a seven-play, 79-yard touchdown drive. A Vick interception and Detroit punt followed. Then came the 70-yard scoring strike to Maclin. Up 23-13 with 5:18 left, it looked like the Eagles would hold on for their fourth win of the season, and the entire team seemed to take a deep breath and relax. Except no one told the Lions the game was over. I’d go through what happened during the final five minutes of regulation, but something tells me you don’t want to relieve it. Instead, I present you with the following:

Lions offense over the first 46.5 minutes of the game: 163 total yards, 6 points

Lions offense over the final 17.5 minutes of the game: 286 yards, 20 points

Matthew Stafford during the first three quarters: 6-21, 91 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Matthew Stafford during the fourth quarter and overtime: 16-25, 220 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

Calvin Johnson during the first three quarters: 1 catch, 28 yards

Calvin Johnson during the fourth quarter and overtime: 5 catches, 107 yards

Eagles’ total yards on offense in the fourth quarter and overtime, not including Maclin’s 70-yard touchdown: 5. That’s not a misprint. Five total fucking yards.

4. Juan Castillo’s play-calling meltdown. Juan, if it ain’t broke, please don’t try to fix it. Schematically or otherwise. I’m really not trying to be disrespectful here, and I’m going to put this politely, but Castillo’s ability to design blitzes and understanding of when to deploy them leaves a lot to be desired. There’s no creativity with this defense, it’s like watching a vanilla preseason gameplan. At least that’s how it seems. Has an Eagles blitz gotten to the quarterback even one time this season? That’s a serious question. And when your own players are questioning why you changed the defensive philosophy in the final quarter after stifling the opposing offense the first three, well, odds are you screwed up big time. The Eagles front four hadn’t sacked Stafford up to that point, but the defense as a whole was still playing well. It was not until Castillo decided to dial up some extra pressure and switched to zone coverage* that the Lions were able to get Calvin Johnson the ball and started humming offensively. Coincidence? Unlikely.

*(Edit: and dime package, with the burnt crispy Brandon Hughes, to make up for Nate Allen’s absence after he suffered a hamstring injury)

5. The run game. The Eagles’ offensive line got owned at the point of attack all afternoon. There was nary an opening for LeSean McCoy to run through, and he finished with 14 carries for 22 yards. Early on, the Lions were putting one and sometimes even two extra defenders in the box, thoroughly unconcerned with the Eagles’ ability to beat them with the big play. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Teams no longer fear the Eagles. It’s been that way for the defense since the passing of Jim Johnson, but now that statement is proving true for the offense.

6. Sack (-7 yards), sack (-14 yards), incompletion, punt. This doesn’t need more elaboration, but the Eagles’ abortion of an overtime possession encapsulates the totality of failure that was the entire afternoon.

7. The crowd. All game, the fans in attendance were relatively lifeless. You barely heard anything on TV, yet the feeling of angst was palpable. It was almost as if the Eagles faithful could sense the inevitable and were bracing themselves for disappointment. I can’t blame them. Hell, the stadium was more than half empty for overtime. Is apathy starting to settle in? Anger is one thing because at least that shows people still care. Indifference, on the other hand, is the kiss of death.

Conclusion

Do I even have to invoke the “same shit, different season” refrain? Sunday’s performance was a carbon copy of 2011, and one that fuels my pessimism going forward. Just a total collapse by both the offense and defense. For everyone who maintains hope that whatever current season will be different, the Eagles shit out these kinds of performances to snap you back to reality. It’s exasperating, it’s distressing, and it’s depressing. Oh, and the best part? We, and the Eagles, get to stew on this loss for two weeks! I sarcastically tweeted early in Sunday’s game that the Eagles resembled a team looking past the Lions and ahead to a tough matchup against the bye week. If not for the Lions’ own ineptitude that included committing a litany of penalties, the score would’ve been at least 17-0 in the second quarter. The Eagles finally got it together a bit and looked like they might wake up and throttle the Lions, but they could never quite get fully untracked.

It’s been a common theme all season, the inability to put together a complete effort, and over the last two games the Eagles’ luck has subsided. Whereas the optimists wanted to overlook the process in favor of the results when the Eagles were 3-1, the deficiencies in that process are now coming back to haunt this team. The way the Eagles escaped with their three victories was not sustainable, and a regression to the mean has begun. You can’t turn the ball over, leave points on the field, and consistently shoot yourself in the foot if you expect to win. The Eagles say they understand that but appear powerless to rectify the issue. Sloppiness, carelessness, and self-sabotage have become part and parcel of this team’s identity. The Eagles will not finish the season with a winning record, much less make the playoffs, if the trend continues.

Say what you will about Andy Reid, but you cannot knock the man’s record when he has two weeks to prepare for an opponent. In the regular season, his teams are an immaculate 13-0 after the bye week (and 3-0 in the playoffs). I’d like to think this means the Eagles will be ready to go against the undefeated Falcons the weekend before Halloween. Then again, that game could end up being a damning indication Reid has lost his touch and is nearing the end of his tenure as head coach here in Philadelphia. After more than 13 years, it all comes down to this. Andy Reid now has 10 games left to save his job.

Week 5 Recap: Steelers 16 Eagles 14

Alright, be honest with me. Before the season started and you were going through the schedule ticking off wins and losses, like every fan does, you put an “L” next to October 7 against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. While we’re being honest, I’ll admit I thought this was a game the Eagles were going to lose by two touchdowns. Coming off an emotional win and going on the road to face a Steelers team coming off a bye, at home, getting back key players from injury, and needing a win to avoid a 1-3 record… just seemed like the perfect storm for a blowout. Even all the betting trends were against the Eagles.

I know the impulse reaction to a loss, especially one as frustrating as today’s, is to go insane and say the team is nothing but a bunch of bums. To focus on the negative and neglect to exercise perspective. As a fan who’s prone to episodes of irrationality, I understand. I do it all the time. Today was a winnable game, and the Eagles gave it away. However, if you had told me a month ago that through five games the Eagles would be 3-2 with a chance to move to 4-2 going into the bye week, you bet your ass I would’ve taken it. That’s how I’m choosing to look at things, for a change.

The Good

1. Second half Michael Vick. As agonizing as it was to watch Vick derp all over the field and give away sure points in the first half, it was refreshing to watch him hang inside the pocket and deliver in the second half. For the fourth time this season, he directed the offense down the field for the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. It just so happens the other team has a guy who’s made a career out of late-game heroics. The bottom line is the Eagles, as usual, need more consistency from Vick. Playing a solid second half in an attempt to make up for a deplorable first half is zero-sum. At least Vick is improving against the blitz and has now gone three straight games without an interception, both of which are accomplishments that shouldn’t be glossed over nor trivialized. Up next: not fumbling.

2. Putting together big boy drives. A growing story this season has been the Eagles’ inability to hit home runs on offense. How much do Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg love connecting on the big play? Having Michael Vick step up into a clean pocket and launch a rainbow with the flick of his wrist that travels over fifty yards in the air, into the waiting hands of a streaking wide receiver who doesn’t even have to break stride on his way to the end zone. That is their baby, and they’ve been unable to conceive quite like they’re accustomed. I imagine it’s unbearably maddening for Andy and Marty to see their high-flying aerial attack reduced to sporadic fireworks. Not being able to do things the way you want sucks. The flip side is that in the process they’ve been forced to practice some discipline with their play-calling, which has resulted in the Eagles stringing together long, time-consuming drives. It’s not the embodiment of sexy football, but damn if it doesn’t get the job done.

3. Overall performance on defense. What you’ll read in the “The Bad” section would seem to make this point a contradiction. I don’t care. When the defense allows only 16 points, that should be enough to win the game. The Eagles have now scored less than 20 points in four of five games, yet they’ve been in each one until the end — aside from the Cardinals loss — and that’s a credit to the vastly improved defense.

4. Kurt Coleman, thrower of shoe. I found it amusing. In a game that was about as fun as watching paint dry, Coleman throwing Antonio Brown’s shoe to the sidelines provided some comic relief. It also had people on Twitter referencing Austin Powers, naturally.

5. LeSean McCoy. It wasn’t a dynamic performance for Shady (his longest gain was 15 yards), but he was his usual dependable self, contributing 80 total yards, a trademark juke-and-go touchdown, and two tough 4th and 1 conversions. Yet in a game with suboptimal weather conditions, I’d have liked to see him get upwards of 30 touches instead of just 20. Until this offense is built around McCoy and a greater emphasis on ball control is enforced, I’m afraid the turnover plague will persist.

Edit: 6. Resilience. Down 10-0 in the second half, the Eagles didn’t quit, eventually managing to come back and take a 14-13 lead. That’s one thing about this team: For all their warts, a lack of heart isn’t one of them. As someone who’s lamented the Eagles’ soft nature in the past, the unrelenting fight they’ve shown this season has been a highly encouraging  development.

The Bad

1. Scoring points. The Eagles aren’t doing it. Somehow, they’re second-to-last in the league in points scored per game, behind only the woefully inept Jacksonville Jaguars. Pretty unbelievable, but this is what turning the ball over has wrought. The Eagles are incredibly lucky to be 3-2.

2. First half Michael Vick. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, Vick’s first half performance was devastating and inexcusable. He can’t keep turning the ball over and leaving points on the field, especially when four of the Eagles’ five games have been decided by two points or less. Two costly fumbles (another that got overturned because a defender touched his leg as he went down), lackluster play in general, so on and so forth. I guess I’ll put some of the blame on Andy/Marty for calling a quarterback draw at the goal line, but that’s mainly because I disapprove of any play inside the 5-yard line that doesn’t go to Shady. Oh well, at least Vick’s fumble at the goal line didn’t come back to haunt us (I’d relay Vick’s post-game quote where he downplays his fumbling habit, but I’d prefer not to perpetuate his delusion).

3. Third down defense. A vital strength through the first quarter of the season, the Eagles third down defense let them down in crucial moments yesterday. Before Sunday, the Eagles defense had held opposing offenses to 14 of 52 (26.9%) on third down. The Steelers went 6 of 14 (42.8%), with two particuarly daggerific conversions coming on the game-winning drive.

4. Inability to get sacks. The Eagles defense has seven sacks in five games this season. Seven. For this vaunted pass rush that was touted as perhaps the team’s greatest asset, seven sacks in five games isn’t going to get it done, and Juan Castillo’s refusal to blitz has not helped matters. The front four is getting some pressure, but not nearly enough, and when quarterbacks are being forced to move, Eagles defenders aren’t taking them down. Instead of plays ending, they’re getting extended. Wide receivers wriggle free, quarterbacks buy extra time to make throws. More often than not, that’s going to kill you. This Eagles defense is no exception. Case in point: On that 3rd and 12 from the Steelers’ 18 during their game-winning drive, Roethlisberger was able to shuffle forward and elude Jason Babin, who fruitlessly grabbed at the girthy quarterback’s right thigh pad. Instead of a sack, Ben hit Antonio Brown, who had broken free from Brandon Boykin (he got picked on during that final drive), over the middle for 20 yards. From there, that ominous feeling of inevitability began to set in. Roethlisberger was going to march them down the field, and the defense would be powerless to stop him. Sure enough, that’s what transpired. Sigh.

Edit: Sunday marked the FIRST TIME since Week 6 of the 2010 season that Roethlisberger was NOT sacked in a game. Wow.

5. Inability to force turnovers. Take away Brandon Weeden’s four interceptions from Week 1, and the Eagles defense has forced a mere three turnovers the past four games (and only one in the last three). So, the defense can’t sack the quarterback nor take the ball away, while the offense turns it over with regularity. Disaster awaits.

6. Run defense. I’ll take some of the blame for this, as to why the league’s worst rushing attack had success against what had been a stingy Eagles run defense (136 yards on 31 carries; 122 yards on 28 called runs). You see, in my fantasy league, I started Rashard Mendenhall. I had to. My running back situation is dicey, and Doug Martin’s bye week meant Mendenhall was my lone other back aside from LeSean McCoy. Wouldn’t you know it, Mendenhall looked fresh in his first game back from an ACL tear and gashed the Eagles defense, en route to a more productive afternoon than Shady. I know, I know, I’m an asshole. But hey, it looks like I’m going to win my fantasy matchup! /ducks

7. Nnamdi Asomugha. Ben Roethlisberger was looking to target Asomugha on seemingly every pass in the first half, especially when he needed to make a play. There was no safety help to blame this time, either. I don’t like to hate on Nnamdi, and I’d rather it didn’t have to be this way, but with each week it’s getting more difficult to defend him. He looks like a player past his prime who’s now a shell of his former self. We hoped last season’s underwhelming play could be blamed on an adjustment period and the otherwise clusterfuck of a defense. Unfortunately, our greatest fears are being realized. Nnamdi is a step slow, has to play 10 yards off the line of scrimmage so he doesn’t get beat deep, and receivers are having little trouble getting separation (the Steelers attacked him with comeback routes consistently). It’s starting to appear as though Asomugha might be no more than an average (adequate?) cornerback, at best, and, at worst, a weak link in the secondary that opposing offenses look to exploit.

Edit: According to Jeff McLane, Nnamdi allowed 6 receptions for 58 yards on 7 targets. Now, was that 7th target the easy touchdown pass Antonio Brown dropped in the end zone? Either way, weak showing for Nnamdi against the Steelers. As someone who felt he got way too much criticism last season, hopefully he can turn it around because, well, the Eagles really need him to.

The Ugly

1. Turnovers. The ball was slick, no doubt, and there was a total of six fumbles on the day. Here’s the problem: Five of those fumbles were committed by the Eagles, four by Michael Vick. Vick lost two, one at the half-yard line with the Eagles poised to score the game’s first touchdown, had one recovered by Danny Watkins after a strip sack, and another overturned by replay on a technicality. Eagles players give a similar refrain after every game about having to protect the football. Until that actually happens for more than one game at a time, it will remain just talk. And, as we know, one thing these players have been exceptional at recently is talking — and not backing it up on the field. Given the Eagles’ -7 turnover differential (tied for WORST in the NFC and second-worst in the league), being 3-2 instead of 0-5 is a huge break. They’re playing on borrowed time right now, and the losses will start to pile up if they don’t take better care of the football.

2. Overall flow. A steady rain fell throughout the game, and both teams played like they were moving in quicksand. It was ugly to watch. Painful, too. The longest gain for either team went for 24 yards, and new meaning was given to the phrase, “matriculating the ball down the field.” Three, four, five, six, and, if we were lucky, seven yards at a time. Both offenses were gracious enough to throw in 15-20 yard chunks just to flirt with our flickering interest. Otherwise, it was a very uuuugggghhhh-inducing affair all around.

Conclusion

The Steelers are now 20-2-1 in their last 23 games against NFC opponents at home (one of those losses and the tie coming against Michael Vick, incidentally). Pittsburgh is anything but an easy place to play, and you should never underestimate the indomitable will of a proud champion, especially one with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm. Nevertheless, this Eagles team, this uncharacteristically scrappy Eagles team, hung in there and slugged it out. They fought until the very end and made a desperate Steelers team sweat out a close win. It just so happens that a week after winning on a missed field goal, the Eagles lost on a made field goal. Perhaps this was the universe’s way of evening things out. Or some shit like that.

Yeah, I’m aggravated, but given what I was thinking going into the game, I’ll swallow hard and live with this result. Would it have been nice to beat our cross-state rival? Of course. However, in the scheme of things, this is as harmless as a loss can be. It didn’t come against a division or conference opponent, and it didn’t torpedo the season. Shrug it off and get ready for the Lions at home. We have yet to see the Eagles put together a truly impressive performance, dominate their opponent, and coast to victory. The Lions are like a hyperactive version of the Eagles when it comes to mixing talent with unconscionable self-sabotage. They’ve proven themselves wildly undisciplined in all phases and, despite coming off a bye, should be ripe for the taking. No more screwing around, Eagles. Focus, play smart, and take care of the football. Win this game. Win it convincingly. Break the suddenly unattainable 30-point barrier. Go into the bye at 4-2 and feeling good, ready to move to 5-2 against the Falcons in a Week 8 measuring stick game. Besides, as we all know, Andy Reid doesn’t lose immediately following the regular season bye. That Atlanta game is totally in the bag.

Week 4 Recap: Eagles 19 Giants 17

First thing’s first: Brian Dawkins, I love you. You were my first jersey and remain my favorite all-time Eagle. I hope one day we’re lucky enough to experience another safety of your caliber. Next stop: Canton.

Has your heart resumed beating? Wow. Cardiac kids, these 2012 Philadelphia Eagles. That’s now three wins by a grand total of four points, all involving late fourth quarter comebacks. Who are these guys? The Eagles sit at 3-1, with a -17 point differential, and became the only team in NFL history to get their first three wins of the season by two points or less. Hey, I’ll take it. But, as Andy Reid would say, they still need to get better. Winning close games is ideal for building character, and I hope it pays off down the road when the Eagles inevitably find themselves in the same situation. They are playing with confidence, and it takes a big pair of you-know-whats to come through in crunch time. Last season, this is a loss. While it’s refreshing to see the Eagles pull out these kinds of wins, they still need to play better overall if they want to compete with the best teams in the NFC. Now, the Eagles have the talent to be in that conversation, and with their upcoming schedule we’ll see if/where they belong.

The Good

1. NO TURNOVERS. HOLY SHIT WE DID IT! No turnovers! Finally. Two games ahead of schedule, too. I hope this is a trend that persists. Take care of that football like it’s a Fabergé Egg, and the results will be favorable.

2. Balanced play-calling. By my count, the Eagles finished the game with 35 called passes and 31 called runs (Edit: With 24 of 37 second half plays being called runs). Bellissimo!

3. LeSean McCoy. Power football, that’s what the Eagles do! Sorry, laying it on a little too thick. Seriously, though, FEED THE SHADY. Please, Andy/Marty, just keep feeding him. Stick with the run, even if it doesn’t pay immediate dividends. Only two yards on six carries in the first half? Yeah, that sucks, but that’s why football has two halves. The football gods rewarded you not abandoning the run — in the form of 121 second-half rushing yards on 17 carries for McCoy. SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FEED SHADY?! The Giants defense started to wear down! You know, I also didn’t see Vick get hit much in the second half. Huh, maybe a little correlation-causation. And play-action actually works when the defense has to respect the run! Isn’t that wild?

As I’ve said ad nauseam since I started writing/blogging nearly two years ago, LeSean McCoy is the best player on this team. Cut the crap, this offense needs to be built around him. It might not always be sexy — actually, scratch that, ball control is sexy — but methodically moving the ball down the field is incredibly effective. Now, if only the offensive line could get that final push at the one-yard line. Can’t be soft down there. Can’t give Bryce Brown carries there, either. There’s a time to get the rookie involved, but it’s not deep in the red zone when you have LeSean McCoy and are in search of a touchdown.

Obligatory quote inclusion: “Shady gives me boners” - Ari Lowell. Touche, Ari. Touche, indeed. Shady is boner-inducing. Our generation’s Barry Sanders. FEED HIM THE BALL AND POUND THE FUCKING ROCK. Thanks. Signed, every Eagles fan.

Click the following link for more Shady awesomesauce. Simply fantastic. The legend continues to grow.

Edit: Encouraged by what I saw from Stanley Havili. Had a few key blocks to spring Shady and made the most of his three touches. Loved Andy/Marty incorporating the I-Formation, which is when the running game took off.

4. DeSean Jackson. Huge bounce-back game for DeSean after last week’s disappointing performance. He set the stage early by hauling in a tear drop 32-yard pass from Michael Vick to get the Eagles out of the shadow of their own goal line. Then there was that nifty catch where he cupped the ball off the turf. The (real) refs ruled the pass incomplete, signalling that the ball hit the ground. Good thing Andy listened to DeSean and threw the red challenge flag because that was a no doubter from the very first replay. Jackson got his right hand under the ball, and it popped right up to his shoulder, where he secured the catch. Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth slowly came around as they saw replay after replay. The Twitterverse was hesitant at first, as well. But the more times NBC showed it, the more you believed the call was going to be reversed. Sure enough, the (real) refs concurred. Instead of facing 3rd and 10 at their own 20, Jackson was granted the 11-yard reception and the Eagles picked up a first down. They got to the Giants’ 45 on that drive before having to punt, and Matt McBriar pinned Eli Manning and friends at the 13. Significant swing in field position, and a subtly important momentum shift in the Eagles’ favor. Andy Reid, King of the Challenge. Has a nice ring to it.

Back to DeSean Jackson. Later in the second quarter, on the first touchdown drive that put the Eagles up 7-0, he ran a gorgeous route, faked the shit out of Corey Webster, and then beat Antrel Rolle to the left corner of the end zone before catching a rainbow from Vick. Pretty play all around! DeSean was quiet most of the second half (three receptions for 37 yards), but he did make a critical 19-yard first down catch on the first play of the game-winning scoring drive.

5. Michael Vick. Vick made some harrowingly dangerous throws, including a few into at least triple coverage intended for DeSean Jackson. He managed not to get burned with those, but it has to stop because that dumb luck will not last. Ah, whatever, screw the details, I won’t be the dick who complains about 19/30 for 241 yards, a touchdown, ZERO turnovers, and at least three induced neutral zone infractions on an antsy Giants defensive line as a result of a masterful hard count. The thing I truly liked about Vick in this game, though, was that he played within himself. Got out of trouble in the pocket, made short and quick throws, took what the defense gave him. If there was a lane to take off and run, he did it. Typically that was courtesy of one ballerina wearing a Giants jersey who forgot what containment entailed. Vick needs to trust his instincts as an athlete instead of neutering himself and attempting to become strictly a traditional passing quarterback. That’s what McNabb did and his effectiveness suffered. There’s a time to throw, and there’s a time to run. Don’t feel shy about doing the latter when the opportunity presents itself. Vick is the rarest athlete ever to play the quarterback position. No apprehension, just take off.

6. Defense. Completely shut down the Giants rushing attack. Eli Manning scares the living hell out of me, but I have to give the Eagles defense a lot of credit for their performance. Yeah, there were some breakdowns and the unit got gashed at times, but it’s not easy to hold down that potent passing attack all game. What counts is the defense stood tall and made plays when it needed to. Juan Castillo’s troops rose to the occasion in moments of adversity when, last year, they would have folded like a house of cards.

7. Second half offensive line. Whatever the Eagles did at halftime, however they adjusted,* it worked brilliantly in the second half. God bless you, Howard Mudd, you beautiful soul. You too, right side of the line. Yeoman’s work by Todd Herremans and Danny Watkins (and Brent Celek) to clear lots of room for Shady on the right side in the second half. Evan Mathis had a strong game, too.

*(Edit: Oh, duh, the I-Formation incorporation was the major adjustment.)

8. Fletcher Cox. He’s combining unique, freakish athletic ability with sound technique and an elevated football acumen. We have a superstar in the making here. Cox was a terror inside and vital in stifling the Giants run game, consistently penetrating the backfield to apply pressure up the middle. Is there a defensive tackle in the league quicker off the snap? Is that even possible?

9. Jon Dorenbos. This might fly under the radar with everything else there is to dissect, but how about Dorenbos playing in pain on a bad ankle. Four excellent snaps on each of Alex Henery’s field goals (and props to Mat McBriar on the holds). He even made a special teams tackle. Stud. YOU ARE APPRECIATED, MAGIC MAN!!! All that’s left now is to get Dorenbos on the receiving end of some one-yard touchdown passes, Mike Bartrum-style.

10. Alex Henery. Four of four on field goals, including the game-winner. A solid night’s work.

11. Brandon Hughes. Had a big pass breakup on third down in the second quarter and later was first downfield on the punt cover unit and delayed Randle’s return. Played physically and with confidence. Honestly, I felt more at ease when he was in the game instead of Nnamdi.

12. Cedric Thornton. He was only in for 18 snaps, but for the second week in a row Thronton made himself noticeable. If you remember the Eagles’ lone sack from last week, he pushed the guard (or was it center, I can’t remember and don’t care) back five yards and into Kevin Kolb, preventing the quarterback from stepping up in the pocket. This time, Thornton pushed his man backwards again, forced Ahmad Bradshaw to bounce outside after the first five yards, came off his block, and made the tackle before Bradshaw could get to the next level. Cedric Thornton, like Brandon Graham, is earning more snaps and should get them. Kid’s a beast. He and Fletcher Cox are the future at defensive tackle.

13. Damaris Johnson. Bit of a tongue-in-cheek entry here. Damaris fielded the first punt inside the 10-yard line, to a rightful chorus of boos from the Philly faithful. On the next two punts that fell inside the 10, however, he let them go into the end zone. PROGRESS! Naturally, the crowd applauded his correct decisions with hearty cheers. I’ll say this until it starts happening regularly, but I want to see more of Damaris featured in the offense. He had a nice 17-yard catch and run on third down and is going to start busting big plays with increased touches.

Edit: 14. Third down defense. Foolish of me to forget this in the original article, but the Eagles third down defense so far has been spectacular. After holding the Giants to 2-of-10 on third down conversions, the Eagles are third in the league in the category, with opponents converting just 26.9% (14-of-52) of the time, behind only Houston and Chicago. Remember how much trouble this defense has had getting off the field in recent seasons? Exceptionally improved this season, to the point where it’s now a strength. However, committing penalties that give the opposing offense a first down remains an issue. That has been the case on 10 occasions, which ties the Eagles with Denver for fourth-worst in the league.

The Bad

1. First half offensive line. Michael Vick was under siege basically the entire first half. It looked a lot like last week against the Cardinals. He didn’t have time to get things going, and the offense couldn’t get into much of a rhythm. It was choppy, it was sloppy, and Vick was getting hit on nearly every drop-back. The offensive line couldn’t get even a semblance of a push up front, either, and the run game went nowhere.

2. Nnamdi Asomugha. Eye poke aside, he had issues last night. Apparently Nnamdi always thinks he has help to the inside, but I’m inclined to think perhaps he’s just not playing that well (Edit: Kurt Coleman biting on nearly ever play action fake didn’t help). Gets toasted a lot when he plays soft coverage and funnels the receiver inside. Maybe there should be a safety there, but at some point Asomugha deserves a share of the blame, right? He also got beat cleanly on successive receptions for long gains during the Giants’ fourth quarter touchdown drive. Whatever the case, like the rest of the defense, Nnamdi was up for challenge on the Giants’ final drive. Earned his paycheck those last two minutes. He also had a post-game quote to Sal Paolantonio that caught my attention:

“We respect them. We can’t stand them, but we respect them.”

I shared a similar sentiment on Twitter (this was when Eli converted that 4th and 1 to Victor Cruz for a big gain at the end of the third quarter). Listen, I hate the Giants, but, damn, I respect them. More than I can say for the Cowboys.

3. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Made that crucial pick in the end zone — TAKE A KNEE!!! — to thwart Eli late in the third quarter but had a lot of trouble covering Victor Cruz all night. Got burned a few too many times for my liking; also committed fourth-down pass interference penalty on Barden during the Giants’ final drive.

Edit: After watching the All-22, I owe DRC an apology here. That 4th and 1 and the fourth down pass interference were really his only mistakes of the night (if you don’t include not taking a knee in the end zone after the pick), they just happened to stick out most. By my count, only four of the maybe eight passes thrown to DRC’s man were caught, one of which was that ridiculous Dominik Hixon grab, and a majority of the time Eli didn’t even bother to look his way. My most egregious error: DRC was great against Cruz in the first half when matched up on the outside. It wasn’t until the Giants moved Cruz to the slot in the second half that he started doing damage. And in those cases, it was predominantly Brandon Boykin covering Cruz, not DRC. Lastly, DRC made solid tackles on separate plays to stop the ball-carrier from getting to the first down marker. Thank you, All-22, for allowing me to observe a player’s performance in totality, instead of just the one or two negative plays that get seared in my memory and lead me to write something that makes me look like an uninformed jackass.

4. Sacking the quarterback. It’s not happening. Opposing offenses respect the front four and are frequently employing extra blockers/chippers. The Eagles are managing to get pressure with just the defensive line, but after recording no sacks against the Giants, they now have just one in the last two games. Plus, at the end of the first half and into the second, Eli had all the time in the world to throw. I understand Juan Castillo’s trepidation with sending the blitz because of how lethal Eli is against it, but he’s also deadly when he has time to go through each of his reads. I think there needs to be more stunting and exotic blitz packages, kinda like what was dialed up during the final quarter of last season. Either way, I get the feeling the sacks will start to come. 

The Good/Bad (new feature!)

1. Fourth quarter defense. This pretty much sums up the Giants touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that put them up 17-16: 

“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the Philadelphia Eagles play defense as bad as they did on that drive.” - Cris Collinsworth

But, hey, the defense was strong at the end when it needed to be. The first pass interference call on Nnamdi Asomugha was ticky-tack, but the (real) refs made amends by rightly calling Ramses Barden for blatant offensive pass interference two plays later.

The Ugly

1. Special teams coverage units. Kick coverage teams - (Colt Anderson + Akeem Jordan) = total ass. This was an embarrassment. Letting the other offense start around their own 40-yard line on every possession is a recipe for disaster. Getting back Anderson and Jordan — who, I surmise, must be two of the best special teams players in the league — is necessary, but Bobby April needs to get this fixed. Quickly. One solution would be a kicker who can boot the ball deep into the end zone. That ain’t Henery. Can McBriar boom ‘em off the tee?

2. Goal line offense. Gotta be able to pick up one yard at the goal line to score touchdowns, or you won’t fair well as the weather turns and games get tougher. Come on, offensive line, get a push. Come on, Andy/Marty, don’t give Bryce Brown these carries instead of your true meal ticket. Come on, Shady, run north-south. Field goals got it done this time, but more often than not they won’t.

3. Penalties. The field was littered with yellow laundry last night. Eagles are painfully sloppy penalty-wise, and it’s something that needs to be cleaned up. Now. This shit is going to lose the Eagles a game. How many first downs did defense give the Giants with a third down — or fourth down — penalty? Four? That’s really bad. Todd Herremans also had two holds, one to negate a big run by McCoy. I can’t even remember the last game he was whistled for two holds.

Conclusion

Watching Lawrence Tynes’ first field goal sail wide left was glorious. That feeling of euphoria was replaced with grave fear when it became clear Andy had called the dreaded “ice” time out. Ugh. I couldn’t shake that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Tynes was going to make the Eagles pay and hit the re-try. Of course he was. For 52 gut-wrenching yards of a football fluttering through the air, that’s precisely what it looked like would happen. But as the ball died at the end and the “no good” sign was indicated, euphoria — and relief — resumed. Whew. Aw, shucks, sorry, Eli! Again, so wonderful of the (real) refs to call that obvious Ramses Barden offensive pass interference penalty (every yard counts), and of Kevin Gilbride to air it out one more time instead of going conservative.

Anywho, let’s revisit what I wrote at the end of last week’s article:

How much do you want to bet that Andy/Marty go into survival mode, come out with a balanced attack on offense, Shady gets 25 carries, and the Eagles grind out a gutsy win?

So… CHECK, CHECK,* and CHECK! Say what you want about my negativity and self-loathing, but I know my team, and I know what it takes to win. My mom also tells me I’m smart and handsome. Great stuff on offense, Iggles. Keep it going. Once you figure out how to punch it in at the goal line, the flood gates will open. Just please, PLEASE, Andy/Marty, don’t go away from Shady and the run. Balance is the key. Remember that. This is one way to ensure 2012 doesn’t devolve into a case of same shit, different season.

*(McCoy got 23 carries, close enough)

On to Pittsburgh next week, where I anticipate a well-rested Steelers team determined not to fall to 1-3. The Eagles will need to match their intensity and sustain it in order to move to 4-1. Certainly not an easy task, and something of an emotional letdown would be unsurprising. However, if the offense and defense play like they did last night, I’m comfortable with our chances. If Andy/Marty go back to their irresponsible pass-happy ways and render Vick a sitting duck, I’ll be considerably less comfortable. Come on, dudes, do the right thing in the name of winning. Don’t make me beg more than I have already.

Week 3 Recap: Cardinals 27 Eagles 6

Oof. Just when you hope the Eagles might be ready to put it all together and cement their standing as one of the league’s elite teams, they take a steaming dump in the middle of the desert and remind you there’s still a lot left that needs to be fixed. That’s to take nothing away from the Cardinals, who looked and played like the better team. But the Eagles… oh, the Eagles. Dennis Green’s infamous “They are who we thought they were” tirade comes to mind. One of those games, I suppose.

Wednesday edit: Do yourself a favor and read Derek’s All-22 breakdown over at Iggles Blog. Awesome, awesome stuff. Sunday’s game was truly a debacle of epic proportions. Want more? Sheil Kapadia’s got you covered.

The Good

1. So, uh, we’re trending down in turnovers. Only three this week! No interceptions thrown by Vick, but he did cough up two of the three fumbles. At this pace, the Eagles will finally commit zero turnovers in their game against the Lions in Week 6, right before the bye. Slow and steady wins the race, my friends. For now, the total sits at 12, with Vick accounting for nine of them. That’s more than every other team in the league, aside from the Chiefs. Suboptimal.

2. Brandon Graham. He’d earned more snaps, he got (a few) more snaps, and he delivered (again). Tremendous energy and tenacity from Graham seemingly every time he was on the field. He finished the game with four tackles, three tackles for loss, half a sack, and a quarterback hit. Yeah, Graham needs to be a regular in the rotation.

3. Jason Babin. I thought Babin had a really strong game. He generated consistent pressure and made hustle plays, including chasing Kolb down from behind on a third-down scramble and tackling him a yard short of the sticks.

4. Mychal Kendricks. I fall in love with him more and more each week.* Speaking of linebackers, Daryl Washington is a monster. He was all over the field, and then some. I mean, I knew Washington was good, but holy shit. I imagine he’ll be appearing in Michael Vick’s nightmares.

*Edit: I watched NFL Game Rewind and All-22 today (Tuesday). Let’s just say that upon further examination Kendricks did NOT have a good game. Didn’t look confident playing zone, blew some coverages, missed some tackles. He’s a rookie, these things will happen. Still, his talent level is off the charts. To be honest, the play I’m referencing that earned my love was when Kendricks exploded into the backfield and, with the help of Darryl Tapp, dropped LaRod Stephens-Howling for a four-yard loss in the third quarter. Speaking of Tapp, I should have dedicated Kendricks’ spot in “The Good” to him instead. Definitely one of his best games as an Eagle.

5. The defense. While there were some communication and coverage breakdowns, to go along with less pressure on Kevin Kolb than desired, I actually thought the defense had a pretty solid showing. Juan Castillo’s unit, at the very least, made sure things didn’t get out of hand and allotted the offense multiple chances to get back in the game. Was the Fitzgerald touchdown bad? Yes. Were there a few too many easy third down conversions in the first half? Yes. But on the whole, the defense played well enough to win. It would’ve been nice to force a turnover or two, however.

6. Damaris Johnson, the receiver. Anyone who reads my work or follows me on Twitter knows I’m a big Damaris Johnson fan and want to see him get more involved in the offense. With Maclin sidelined, he got his chance. Damaris had an effective game as a receiver, leading the team with five catches for 84 yards. He’s got moves on top of moves and can make guys miss in the open field.

The Bad

1. Pre-game preparation. The Eagles came out flat, on both sides of the ball. I felt like I was watching a replay of the 2008 NFC Championship Game. One team was fired up and ready to attack its opponent. The other looked like it thought merely showing up would be enough to win. Andy Reid admitted after the game that he did not have his team ready to play. Cool. So what then, exactly, did you do all week? I thought the Eagles would respect the Cardinals after their upset of the Patriots. I thought the Eagles would come to Arizona focused, hungry, and ready to prove their 2-0 start was no mirage. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was a disheartening, we’ve-seen-this-way-too-many-times-before performance.

2. The discrepancy in physicality between the two teams. The Cardinals came out and punched the Eagles in the mouth. Over and over. It was apparent from the beginning that their machismo was in full swing. This was a team determined to prove to all the doubters that it was for real. Instead of standing up the challenge and responding in kind like they did against the Ravens, the Eagles wilted. That was a curb-stomping.

3. Offensive line. There were times when Vick had all day to throw, but more often than not he was running for his life. Demetress Bell, who got abused by Calais Campbell all afternoon, said the line wasn’t in sync. His fellow replacement, Dallas Reynolds, also had a rough game. Ray Horton, the Cardinals Defensive Coordinator, correctly targeted the virgin starting center. He channeled his inner Jim Johnson by calling for relentless pressure up the middle and deployed a number of Double A-Gap blitzes. Reynolds was overwhelmed, Vick was flushed, and plays were thrown out of whack immediately. Also, let’s call a spade a spade. How many blatant holds did the Eagles get away with? Ten? A hundred?

4. DeSean Jackson. Just when we were starting to think he’d put 2011 behind him, DeSean submitted an infuriating head-up-his-ass effort. He left TWO touchdowns on the field, the second of which will be detailed in “The Ugly” section. The first came with the score 10-0 Cardinals and the Eagles pinned at their own nine-yard line. Vick heaved a beautiful touch pass down the sideline for DeSean in single coverage. Jackson felt the cornerback tug at his jersey and, instead of playing through, appealed to the ref scab for a pass interference call while the ball was still in the air. If DeSean keeps running instead of bitching and slowing down, he makes the catch in stride and saunters the next 60 yards unimpeded for a touchdown to make the score 10-7. That’s an immature and petulant display from a receiver who, unfortunately, has sullied his reputation with such behavior. You got your money, DeSean. It’s time to grow up.

5. Michael Vick. I’m putting Vick here because he indeed had a poor game, but there was way too much hate for him exploding on Twitter. Listen, he was far from good, but he was also far from the main reason the Eagles lost. Vick’s issues remain the same. He has minimal pocket awareness, makes slow reads, displays terrible blitz recognition, holds onto the ball too long, leaves himself susceptible to taking big hits, and is an erratic player in general. That’s what he is. (Edit: The All-22 was not kind to Vick; he’s thinking too much and now seems extra hesitant to make throws, even open ones, for fear of them getting intercepted.) What’s worse, Vick’s deficiencies are exacerbated by coaches who have no interest in helping him out. There is literally a 0% chance Vick remains healthy for much longer, especially if Andy/Marty insist on constructing ridiculously one-sided game plans. How do you think it’s appropriate to devise a pass-heavy attack when the offensive line has two new starters and the top three wide receivers are DeSean Jackson, Damaris Johnson, and Jason Avant? Square peg, meet round hole.

Also, what’s the deal with not having Vick in shotgun? Were Andy/Marty afraid Dallas Reynolds couldn’t snap the ball a few yards?

6. Damaris Johnson, the punt returner. Johnson fumbled while trying to fight for extra yards on his initial return, which resulted in a Cardinals touchdown and 10-0 deficit for the Eagles. Then, after the defense forced Arizona to punt on their first possession of the second half, he made a fair catch at his own five-yard line. Dude, what the hell? Do you not know where you are on the field? Damaris has done this far too much already, and it’s unacceptable. As a punt returner, you never catch the ball inside your own ten-yard line. Period. This is day one stuff. Signal for a fair catch and then get out of the way at the last moment — make the other team down the ball. It could always bounce away and into the end zone, you know.

7. Brian Billick. I’d rather have been listening to Dan Dierdorf. That’s all I’m going to say.

The Ugly

1. Offensive play-calling. Simply atrocious. Andy and Marty were up to their old tricks again. You knew that commitment to the run couldn’t last more than one game. What insufferable teases! It all started on the very first possession with three straight pass plays and a three-and-out. Right then, I knew we were in for a loooooong game. At halftime, the totals were 25 pass plays and only five — FIVE! — run plays.* That includes a preposterous four carries for LeSean McCoy. Why… how… WHAT the fuck is that?! If I’m a defensive player on the other team, I go up to Andy/Marty at the end of the game and thank them for making my job infinitely easier. Seriously, how is this offense not built around Shady? It’s beyond baffling, and it’s not even close to being funny anymore. Is there any other team in the NFL that actively keeps the ball out of the hands of its best player?

*Edit: The Cardinals secondary did an exemplary job of blanketing Eagles receivers. Call me crazy, but I don’t think the best remedy for that was to call MORE pass plays. Same shit, different… ah, forget it.

Here’s another gripe of mine. When Andy and Marty see a game speeding up and getting out of control, they rarely attempt to slow it down. Instead, they just keep calling pass after pass. Even when their quarterback is getting beaten to a pulp. Michael Vick, as usual, was getting clobbered in and out of the pocket every other drop. The solution? Obviously it’s to tell him to keep firing. Right, Andy/Marty? I mean, why give the ball to Shady and trust him to make something happen? It’s not like he’s the best player on your team or anything. After all, I guess it makes more sense to wait until you’re down 24-0 before running the ball. Certainly that wouldn’t have been a prudent idea before the game was essentially over. I never have understood this bullshit, and I never will. I’m convinced Andy and Marty just have sick, twisted senses of humor. They must love tormenting us. Nothing drives me to the edge of my sanity quite like the Eagles trying play action when they A) haven’t been running the ball at all or B) are down by three touchdowns in the second half. News flash, the defense isn’t buying it. Ever.

Oh, and one last thing: Andy/Marty added insult to what-could’ve-been-injury by calling for a meaningless run play with 30 seconds left in the game… and for the handoff to go to LeSean McCoy. WHAT?! WHY?!?!!?!?! Take a knee, you dicks. Where’s the payoff in putting your All-Pro running back at unnecessary risk like that? Unconscionable idiocy, pure and simple. Even if Shady breaks free for a touchdown, it won’t erase the 21-point deficit. So, again, what’s the point? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Andy and Marty decided, Hey, how can we make this game even worse? Oh, let’s be irresponsibly negligent and try to get Shady hurt! Wouldn’t him tearing his ACL on an inconsequential play be HILARIOUS?!

2. End of the first half. Down 17-0 and with a chance to seize some momentum going into halftime, the Eagles methodically drove down the field. DeSean Jackson caught a pass over the middle at the two-yard line, and instead of lunging for the end zone, he cowered at the thought of getting hit, ducked his head, went limp, and got tackled. Instead of a 17-7 score with under 20 seconds left in the half, the Eagles were faced with a 1st and goal from the Cardinals’ one-yard line. Let’s be real, what Eagles fan out there didn’t expect catastrophe to ensue as karmic retribution for DeSean’s turtling? Naturally, the timeout Andy burned before the first play of the second quarter came back to haunt the Eagles here. With just 16 seconds left on the clock and no timeouts remaining, the Eagles, predictably, called three straight passing plays (besides, field goals are for pussies). It was a worst-case scenario situation through and through, with the dagger coming on third down. Vick didn’t identify blitzer Kerry Rhodes inching toward the line of scrimmage pre-snap, despite it occuring on his non-blind side. What followed happened in slow motion. Vick, for whatever reason, never even looked that way and just kept his eyes to the right side of the field. One second later, Rhodes annihilated him with a thunderous hit. The ball popped loose and bounced right to James Sanders, who had a convoy of blockers down the sideline. Ninety-three yards later, it was 24-0. Game, set, match. A classic Eagles moment. Just classic.

3. Body language on offense. I’m sorry, but you can’t convince me the Eagles offense didn’t look scared of the Cardinals defense. Moreover, the players were not mentally in tune with the game. Like, at all. To nitpick one of the numerous examples, let’s highlight the Eagles’ drive right after the Cardinals took a 17-0 lead. It’s 2nd and 20. Vick lofts a pass deep down the middle for Brent Celek, who couldn’t make the catch and took a devastating hit for the second straight play (one of the three times I think Vick was trying to get his most dependable receiver decapitated). The dejected offense started to head off the field. Except, uh, it wasn’t fourth down. Just 3rd and 20. The next play? A handoff to LeSean McCoy that went for no gain. Might as well have just let the offense come off the field and punted on 3rd down.

4. Covering Larry Fitzgerald. He kills us every single time, and with astonishing ease. It’s almost like the game plan on defense is to leave him open, with the hope that he might just drop the ball out of shock. Fitzgerald was targeted nine times yesterday and made nine catches. Easy pickings. (Edit: Take it away, Brian Westbrook. Double-cover, or at least shadow, Larry Fitzgerald? Nah, dude, he’s no Torrey Smith!)

Conclusion

Mama said there’d be days like this. Listen, sometimes you just get your ass kicked by a team that wants it more. That’s what happened to the Eagles in Arizona. The errors they made during the first two games that didn’t cost them victories doomed them this time. You play with fire that much, you’re going to get burned. That’s a disciplined and fierce Cardinals team, one that wasn’t going to beat itself or let the Eagles get away with turning the ball over. What it comes down to is this: The Eagles aren’t as good as we thought, and the Cardinals are better than we thought. Give a tip of the hat to your opponent, accept the beating, briefly lick your wounds, and forget it. Come home, regroup, and remember that you’re still 2-1, tied for first in the NFC East. Sunday Night Football awaits, and it’s now time to focus on those revitalized Giants. How much do you want to bet that Andy/Marty go into survival mode, come out with a balanced attack on offense, Shady gets 25 carries, and the Eagles grind out a gutsy win?

Week 2 Recap: Eagles 24 Ravens 23

Remember my season preview, where I said the Eagles had to create a new identity? How they had to engender a toughness we hadn’t seen before? A toughness they’d so often lacked in crucial late-game situations? Well, it’s happening, and that’s why, despite all the other eyesores, I couldn’t be more encouraged.* Toughness. Heart. Grit. Guts. Character. Wherewithal. Pick a word to sensationalize that intangible because you’re watching it take form. Yes, the turnovers, penalties, and general sloppiness all remain exasperating and have to be cleaned up. However, we’re witnessing a marked resilience from these Eagles that bodes well for the rest of the season. There have been similar flashes before, but not in back-to-back weeks, and not so demonstrable. The Ravens came out swinging with their typical macho bravado and street-fight mentality, as if they thought they could intimidate the Eagles into capitulating like the same candy ass lambs of years past. After all, who better to peg the Eagles’ personality than John Harbaugh? But as Harbaugh learned, this just might be a very different group of Philadelphia Eagles. Not only did these Eagles take the punishment and refuse to go down, they came right back and threw punches of their own. I can understand why the Ravens bitched and moaned after the loss — they weren’t expecting to get beaten at their own game. The tears, they are delicious. I’d rather my team play “dirty” than soft anyway.

*Okay, so I said this toughness had to be borne out of a physical, smash mouth running game. Whatever, I’m just thrilled that it’s happening somehow, period.

The Good

1) Balance. HALLELUJAH WE HAVE BALANCE ON OFFENSE!!!!! I can’t recall exactly how many of Michael Vick’s eight legit carries (two kneel downs excluded) were designed, but I’ll go ahead and say half. That would mean Marty (and Andy) called for 35 runs and 38 passes. See, that wasn’t so bad, right? Even on a day when the run game wasn’t continuously gashing the Ravens defense, the Eagles stuck with it. LeSean McCoy had 25 carries for 81 yards, with a long of 20. So, on the other 24 carries he only had 61 yards. But you know what? I don’t care. What’s promising is that the Eagles didn’t abandon the run. This is something we need to see every week. It helps control the flow of the game. It helps the Eagles churn out yards while beating up the opposing defense. It helps keep Vick from getting hit time and time again. But most of all, it makes me happy.

2) Michael Vick. I’ll admit, after the Eagles’ first drive, I was calling for Nick Foles. I saw a Michael Vick who appeared to have learned absolutely nothing from last Sunday’s game against the Browns. It started well, with the Eagles utilizing a no huddle offense (gee, I wonder why Andy didn’t want the media at practice this week) and marching down the field. Then came the GODDAMMIT WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! moment. Vick rolled to his right, the sideline quickly approaching and a hoard of Ravens defenders breathing down his neck. Instead of running out of bounds or throwing the ball away and living to fight another down, he jumped and threw across his body. NO NO NO NO DON’T FUCKING DO THAT!!!! It was an inexcusable decision compounded by a weak throw, which was intercepted in the end zone by a diving Bernard Pollard. Now, to Vick’s credit, that was one of only three bad passes he made all game,** en route to completing 23 of 32 (71.9%). Rather than unravel, Vick came back with a vengeance and made some simply insane throws (the bucket throw to DeSean Jackson down the sidelines comes to mind), in addition to taking the customary lickings and managing to keep on ticking. For the second straight week he began a drive deep in Eagles territory with under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, his team down six points and needing a touchdown to take the lead. For the second straight week, he delivered. You’ll have to excuse me while I pick up my jaw off the floor. This kind of clutchness is foreign to me, but, you know, I wouldn’t mind getting used to it.

**The other two were both intended for Brent Celek. The first came in the second quarter, when Vick didn’t see Ray Lewis lurking underneath. Thankfully, Lewis was moving to his right and had to reach across his body; the ball deflected off his hand and fell to the ground incomplete. The second throw I’m referencing came with the Eagles trailing 17-14 in the third quarter and facing a 2nd and 7 at the Ravens’ 11-yard line. Vick made a throw that should’ve been intercepted by an undercutting Albert McClellan, who had a pick-six on his mind, but the ball went right through his hands.

3) Halftime adjustments. One thing I’ve always lamented about the Eagles during the Andy Reid era has been their inability to make in-game adjustments. If a team had success doing something against us in the first half, they typically continued to do so unimpeded in the second half. Whatever Juan Castillo did/said between the second and third quarters, it worked. Ray Rice had eight carries for 77 yards in the first half. In the second half, he had eight for 22. The gaping holes he had up the middle in quarters one and two were nowhere to be found in quarters three and four. The Ravens offense, which looked so proficient in building a 17-7 lead through the first 30 minutes, sputtered in the second half, with Joe Flacco completing just eight of 25 pass attempts as he had to contend with a ferocious Eagles front seven that made life in the pocket quite uncomfortable. Castillo has taken plenty of lumps, but he deserves hefty praise for what’s going on with the defense right now. Those guys are buying into his system. Related: Asante Samuel is a punk.

4) Brent Celek. Nobody is cooler — or more badass — than Brent Celek. Nobody. He embodies the toughness — everything, actually — I want to see from my football team. Every week Celek reminds me why I ordered his jersey moments after the NFC Championship Game loss to Arizona. Keep throwing him the football.

5) DeSean Jackson. Insert unoriginal, exhausted dig about DeSean Jackson “actually trying” this season. He might weigh 170 pounds soaking wet, but his heart weighs twice that much. When DeSean plays like he’s capable, it makes me giddy. And now that he’s got his guaranteed money, he can lay it all on the line. Seven catches (on eight targets) for 114 yards. DeSean looks like a man on a mission and is going to have the best season of his pro career in 2012.

6) DeMeco Ryans. Oh, right, this is what having a difference-maker at linebacker can do for your defense. While Ryans’ play — seven tackles (two for loss), one sack, one interception, one pass defended — was phenomenal overall, it’s his inspiring performance as a field general that’s most significant. The Eagles haven’t had an emotional leader of this magnitude on defense since Brian Dawkins.

7) Mychal Kendricks. Oh, right, this is what having a difference-maker at linebacker can do for your defense. Kendricks sure as hell doesn’t look like a rookie. I can’t stand Dan Dierdorf and think he needs to go the way of the glue factory, but his incessant fawning over Kendricks was on point. The kid is everywhere, and he can do everything. Future Pro Bowler.

8) Brandon Boykin. As soon as two years from now, we’re going to look back on the 2012 draft class as one of the best in team history. Brandon Boykin is part of the reason why. He was excellent all afternoon and most noticeable with the game on the line. Boykin recorded few pass breakups during the final Ravens possession, including one where he jumped like ten feet in the air to swat the ball away and deny Jacoby Jones. Joselio who?

9) Derek Landri. The venerable Derek Landri, if not for a single pass deflection, wouldn’t have shown up in the box score because he didn’t record a single tackle. Don’t let that fool you, though, because he played a spectacular football game. It was Landri’s penetration that blew up a few run plays deep in the backfield. He also had a pressure on Joe Flacco early in the fourth quarter, with the game tied 17-17, that forced the Ravens quarterback to overshoot Dennis Pitta — as a result of hurrying the throw — on what would have been an easy pitch-and-catch touchdown. Derek Landri is the Brent Celek of the defense, and it’s not just because they’re both white.

10) Dallas Reynolds and Demetress Bell. Ok, I won’t lie to you here, I didn’t expressly pay attention to Reynolds or Bell when they came in for Jason Kelce and King Dunlap, respectively. I was too much of a nervous wreck to focus on anything other than who had the ball and where the ball was going. But the fact that Vick had adequate protection and neither player was called for a penalty is more than enough reason for me to include them as part of “The Good” section. Reynolds and Bell were thrust into unenviable spots and came up HUGE. From the sounds of it, this is the beginning of an extended stretch of playing time for both. Fasten your seat belt, folks.

Edit…

11) Eagles secondary. Dominated Ravens wide receivers and limited them to a mere 12 TARGETS all game. Only Jacoby Jones had an impact, catching one touchdown and having another wiped off the board because of offensive pass interference. Anquan Boldin didn’t do anything at all and aside from a twisting-and-falling 40-yard catch early in the fourth quarter, neither did Torrey Smith.

12) Third down defense, which had been a major weakness for the Eagles defense in recent seasons. Not anymore, at least through two games. The Ravens went just 4 for 14 on third down (including lapses in coverage that led to Ray Rice being wide open and converting twice on the Ravens’ final scoring drive), a week after the Browns went 2 for 13. The Eagles defense is finally taking advantage of its opportunities to get off the field. That’s killer instinct.

The Bad

1) Turnovers. Four more turnovers, including three in the red zone, for a total of nine in two games. Just like the coaches drew it up! Emerging with a 2-0 record is a relief, but this trend is not sustainable. The Eagles need to take better care of the football, or the losses will accumulate.

2) Sloppiness. Turnovers, penalties, general stupidity. All of them, still plagues. Who needs an opponent when you’re so good at beating yourself? The Eagles won’t keep getting so lucky.

Edit…

3) Not declining the offensive holding penalty on third down early in the fourth quarter, which would have forced the Ravens to attempt a field goal to break a 17-17 tie. I know it’s nit-picky, but this really pissed me off. I was incredulous. I get the rationale behind pushing the Ravens back to the 31-yard line and trying to force a longer field goal, even though their rookie kicker wasn’t going to miss from any distance (as he would later prove by booting a 51-yarder). My main gripe was giving the Ravens an extra chance to convert for a first down, and perhaps score a touchdown to take a 24-17 lead, after getting a crucial stop. I don’t care that the penalty put them in a third-and-long situation. Knowing the Eagles, offering such a mulligan meant they’d either give up the conversion clean or just commit a penalty to get it done. The latter option prevailed, thanks to a call against Asomugha for illegal contact. Fortunately, DeMeco Ryans sacked Flacco on the ensuing third down back at the 34 to make the whole sequence of events moot. Still, it’s the original decision that makes me slap my forehead in anger and disbelief.

The Ugly

1) Injuries. I sincerely hope yesterday’s win doesn’t turn into a Pyrrhic victory, as the injuries suffered could be devastating. At one point, three players went down in the span of four snaps. Jason Kelce’s season is almost certainly over, we’re just waiting for the formality of confirmation. I knew it immediately upon seeing the replay. The way his knee awkwardly buckled and bent inward, that’s a classic ACL tear. (Edit: It’s a full MCL tear and partial ACL tear, but the result is the same — Kelce is done for 2012. Double Edit: Wait, he might not be done for the season? Don’t play with my heartstrings like this, doctor dudes.) As far irreplaceable players — from a unique skill set standpoint — on the offense, Kelce is up there with Shady and Vick. So begins the era of Dallas Reynolds, who, at age 28, just got his first taste of regular season NFL action. He’ll be getting a lot more. King Dunlap left with a hamstring injury, and the severity remains unknown. Jeremy Maclin isn’t even close to 100%, and he likely won’t be for the foreseeable future.

2) The Refs Scab Zebras. They don’t have any fucking idea what they’re doing (forward pass =/= fumble). It’s embarrassing, it’s difficult to watch, it’s ruining the quality of the game, and it has to stop. I need me some Ed Hochuli biceps, and I need them now. By the way, Jacoby Jones totally pushed off Nnamdi Asomugha on that fourth quarter touchdown catch. Yep, textbook offensive pass interference. No doubt. Not at all ticky-tack. I definitely wouldn’t have been pissed off if that went against my team. TOTALLY THE RIGHT CALL! You should see the expanse of my shit-eating grin right now.

Conclusion

For the first time since 2004, the Eagles sit at 2-0. No question that the 2011 Eagles are 0-2 right now and the city is in full-blown panic mode. But this isn’t 2011, and this isn’t the same paper champion, powderpuff Dream Team. If the Eagles can ever get out of their own way, they’ll be downright unstoppable. This football team has scary, SCARY potential, and I feel sorry for the rest of the league if it’s ever harnessed.

Prior to this season, the last three Super Bowl champions — Saints, Packers, Giants — had won the Eagles’ home opener. As we all know, correlation implies causation, so I’ll see you in New Orleans. If you need me, I’ll be one of the 50,000 drunk, naked people idiots running through the streets while double-fisting piña coladas.

One last thing: The Eagles became the first team in NFL HISTORY to win each of its first two games of the season by a margin of one point. They are on pace to go 16-0, with a +16-point differential and 72 turnovers committed. I repeat: See you in New Orleans.

Other notes: Props to PhillyFollower for accurately predicting the Eagles had more comeback magic in them prior to the game-winning touchdown drive. Also, a friend texted me Saturday night asking for my final score prediction. “24-23 Iggles,” I replied, before sending, “No, 27-24,” five seconds later. Ignore that second text and LOOK HOW CLAIRVOYANT I AM!!!

Kevin Kolb and the suddenly formidable 2-0 Arizona Cardinals are up next. Happy Rosh Hashanah!

It’s Okay to Admit a Mistake

I’m certainly no stranger to being wrong, though becoming a writer has forced me to face and deal with the accompanying ignominy. Then what follows is the realization that the only difference between Joe reader and I is my faux pas are out there for the world to see, vulnerable to the vitriolic nature of public criticism. Even so, it remains a sobering and humbling experience, but also one that is vital to objective evaluation and desired self-improvement. The Eagles, often lampooned for their stubbornness and we-know-better-than-you disposition, have recently been much more honest and forthright with their failings. They’re making progress on this front, and while that’s no small development, there is still a long way to go.

Yesterday, the Eagles admitted the biggest draft mistake they’ve made in the Andy Reid era by releasing Jaiquawn Jarrett. In retrospect, this is a move we should have all seen coming with the acquisition of David Sims. The only thing keeping Jarrett on the roster after a dismal-then-mediocre preseason performance was his status as a second round pick in 2011. There have been plenty of references to what the experts were saying, so I, as an amateur (see: totally not expert) talent evaluator, thought I’d dig up and post my immediate reaction when the pick was made:

Like Jets first round pick Muhammad Wilkerson, Jarrett played right in the Eagles’ backyard. There were reports after Temple’s pro day that the team was very interested in him. Solid player with high character and exhibits traits the Eagles love, all the way down to being undersized and compensating for it with his motor and instincts. Jarrett is known as a fierce hitter who’s smart, physical, tough, fundamentally sound, and plays a very cerebral game, which, in college (see: not the NFL), helped make up for his 4.62 speed and the fact that he’s not an explosive athlete. But what if that 4.62 indicates he’s a step slow? Whereas it wasn’t a death knell in college, that could spell his demise in the pros. Something tells me Andy Reid will refer to him as a “battler” on more than one occasion. I just hope Jarett can reward the team’s faith. The question now is, how do the Eagles see him? If it’s as a free safety, that would seem to speak volumes about their concern regarding the severity of the injury Nate Allen suffered when he ruptured his patellar tendon against the Giants late in the season. Jon Gruden — who feigned prophetic prognostication powers as he let everyone know this would be the pick moments before it was announced — thinks Jarrett can also play strong safety at the next level (so, is he Quintin Mikell’s replacement?).  I hope he’s right. I like the way Jarrett plays the game and think he can be a fine NFL player, I’m just not sure what position will give him the best chance to succeed in the pros. Perhaps the team sees him as a Brian Dawkins type of player in the free safety/strong safety hybrid mold. I’m less optimistic, though interested to see where he plays.

After a few days to reflect and digest, I wrote the following in my draft recap:

You might look at Jarrett’s measurables and automatically dismiss him, but to do so for that reason is to ignore the one edict that scouts live by, which is to judge the player predominantly based on his game tape. I watched Temple a few times this season because I wanted to get a look at Muhammad Wilkerson. I couldn’t help but notice Jaiquawn Jarrett, as he always seemed to put himself in the right position to make a play. He’ll straight lay guys out, relishes the chance to make a bone-jarring hit that fires up both his teammates and the crowd, and sets the tone for the defense. Jarrett’s character, dedication, and leadership all draw unanimous praise, too, from peers, coaches, and professors alike. Perhaps nothing flashy really stands out about him, but he’s a solid player who thinks the game as well as anyone. I just hope his physical and athletic limitations don’t mitigate his feel for the game in the pros. Also, Jarrett currently has a very thin build; he needs to add some bulk and get stronger if he wants to play in the pros the same way he did in college.

While my concerns about Jarrett’s transferability from college to the pros came to fruition, suffice to say there’s no way I saw this debacle as the end result. I thought he was a nice enough player who could contribute in time, I just recall not being sold on his worthiness as a second round selection with so much other enticing talent — even though at other positions — on the board. But keep in mind, I don’t know what I’m talking about. The Eagles front office isn’t stupid — quite the opposite, actually — but the employees who comprise it are human. And as some guy once said, “To err is human.”

Andy Reid again played the role of martyr and took responsibility for drafting Jarrett, saying, “I think one of the key things is when you make a mistake, for your system, that you correct it…. And you can’t let your ego get in the way of that. You just can’t do that. You take care of it. You’re not going to be right 100 percent of the time.” OH COME ON!! REALLY?! The irony in his statement is as delicious as it is infuriating. Now, if only we could get Reid to admit the mistake of mismatching his offensive philosophy with a starting quarterback whose skills do not meet the necessary criteria. Then we’d actually be on the road to REAL change. (Edit: Build the offense around LeSean McCoy. Pretty please. It’ll be better for everyone.)

Week 1 Recap: Eagles 17 Browns 16

Before I begin, this was my first time watching a professional sporting event — or anything — from the press box. I drove with my roommate six-and-a-half hours from DC to Cleveland, where we stayed for exactly 24 hours. I’d like to thank my Dear/Fearless Leader (and editor) at SB Nation and Bleeding Green Nation, Jason Brewer, for hooking up the media credentials and making such an experience possible. Hopefully there will be many more.

Anyway, that was a tough, humiliating loss for the Eagles to start the season against the lowly Browns. Wait, they won? Oh, in that case, WOOOOOOOO SUPER BOWL HERE WE COME!!!!! Could this have been any more of a classic performance by Andy Reid’s Eagles? Seriously, never has a win felt so empty. That was shameful and pathetic. The first play from scrimmage — Vick under pressure, flips a screen pass to LeSean McCoy, who fell over and caught the ball on his back for a six-yard loss — should’ve been a warning sign for what was to follow. As I tweeted in the third quarter: No team in the NFL actively tries to lose games quite like the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s a phenomenon. Last season, the Browns had the second ranked pass defense and 30th ranked run defense in the NFL. The Eagles’ game plan? PASS PASS PASS THEN PASS SOME MORE. The Eagles have the best running back in football and their quarterback is struggling? Fuck it, PASS PASS PASS THEN PASS SOME MORE. At one point in the fourth quarter, the Eagles had 50 called pass plays to 19 called run plays. That’s as absurd as it is inexcusable and reinforces the notion that nothing has changed on offense. What that really means is nothing is going to change overall either. I hope, for the sake of your own sanity, that you’re mentally perparing yourself for an entire season of this disgraceful nonsense.

I’ve made my opinion on Michael Vick very clear: Asking for him to drop back more than 30 times a game is a recipe for failure. I really cannot stress that enough, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of vindication as I watched him vomit all over the field for the better part of three-plus hours. Until the Eagles adjust their offense, expect the frustration to continue. Vick had 56 pass attempts on 62 (62!!!) called pass plays. Meanwhile, LeSean McCoy had a paltry 12 carries through the first three quarters, along with a few long runs that were called back on penalties (I use this word loosely). Not until the second drive of the fourth quarter, after Vick had gift-wrapped the Browns a pick-six and a 16-10 lead, did Marty/Andy decide that running might be a worthwhile idea and gave Shady the ball eight times (he added six receptions for 26 total touches). The Eagles, regardless of what the final score says, failed miserably. If the Browns had even a competent quarterback instead of the overmatched Brandon Weeden, they win this game by at least two touchdowns. Both these teams tried to outsuck each other. The Eagles are just lucky that the Browns are the Browns and 99.9% likely headed for a top-three pick in the 2013 draft. This was worse than the first game of last season against the Rams, which, though a win, revealed many ugly warts that would plague the Eagles. I get the sneaking suspicion we’ll look back two months from now and say the same thing about 2012’s opener against the Browns. I want to be wrong about that.

The Good

1. LeSean McCoy (sans first carry). Feed Shady the football, and do it before the fourth quarter when play calls are being dictated by desperation. Yes, I’m begging. Oh, but passing wins in this league, right? No, EFFICIENT passing wins in this league. There’s a difference between the two. You want to know which teams win with passing? The ones with accurate quarterbacks who make smart, responsible decisions with the football. Michael Vick has shown he’s not capable of being that kind of quarterback on a consistent basis. The game plan should be constructed accordingly, and it should be done around the team’s best offensive player, LeSean McCoy. But what do I know, I’m just some blowhard fan/blogger with an opinion and a platform to express it.

Also, if you’re going to keep four running backs on the roster, USE THEM. Get Bryce Brown more than two carries. Give Chris Polk some playing time. Sprinkle in Dion Lewis, too, once he returns from injury.

2. The defense. Yes, the Browns offense is somewhere between atrocious and horrendous, but the Eagles defense still only allowed 185 yards of total offense when you discount Brandon Weeden’s meaningless 25-yard scramble to end the first half. Then consider that the Eagles turned the ball over five times, giving Cleveland the following field position:

McCoy’s fumble - Cleveland recovers at their own 49; Resulting drive of six plays for 26 yards, ending in a field goal

Vick’s first interception - Cleveland gets the ball at their own 40; Resulting drive of three plays for 9 yards, ending in a punt

Vick’s second interception - Cleveland gets the ball at the Eagles’ 43; Resulting drive of seven plays for 29 yards, ending in a field goal

Vick’s third interception - Cleveland gets the ball at the Eagles’ 22; Resulting drive of six plays for 18 yards, ending in a field goal

Vick’s fourth interception - Cleveland’s D’Qwell Jackson returns it 27 yards for a touchdown

Superhuman effort from the defense to limit the damage of those turnovers and bail out the offense. Also, the tackling, by everyone, was simply superb. The one that sticks out to me most was Nate Allen’s key open field stop on Alex Smith, who had about 20-30 yards of open field in front of him. Considering that the Browns have one of the best offensive lines in football, the defensive line actually played pretty well, especially against the run. Just a real encouraging effort from a much-maligned unit. We’ll see if it carries over.

3. Kurt Coleman. Coleman’s scrappy style is quite endearing. He came to play on Sunday and was all over the place. This is one TOUGH dude, too. He took that helmet-decapitating hit from Trent Richardson, still made the tackle to force a 3rd and 1 (that the Eagles stopped), and didn’t even come off the field. Instant respect. Instant admiration. In addition to Coleman’s five tackles and two passes defended, he added two interceptions, one at the goal line on a tipped ball and the other to seal the victory. In the locker room after the game, he answered questions with a giant smile and cuts on the bridge of his nose and philtrum, courtesy of the Richardson truck stick. Kurt Coleman, I salute you.

4. DeMeco Ryans. Now that was the DeMeco Ryans I remember seeing in Houston. Great stuff yesterday from the Eagles’ major offseason acquisition. He served as a field general, stuck with his gap assignments, and blew up multiple run plays, including a few 3rd and 1 situations. I guess we can put to rest the concerns that were raised about Ryans during the preseason. At least for now.

5. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Got burned by Mohamed Massaquoi on what should have been a touchdown during the Browns’ first drive of the game. Luckily, Weeden sailed the throw — a common occurence — out of the end zone. After that mishap, however, DRC played like a superstar. He was stride-for-stride with his man all the way down the field and made two huge interceptions. Everyone and their mother saw how he looked in training camp and the preseason and predicted a monster season for the free agent-to-be. If Sunday’s game is any indication, DRC is well on his way to earning himself some serious coin. While we’re on the cornerbacks, you know who else is legit? Brandon Boykin.

6. Chas Henry. He looked like Mat McBriar out there! Henry set an Eagles record with a 55-yard gross punt average (with a long of 62!). Unfortunately, as the next section will cover, his net average was significantly less. But that’s not Henry’s fault. He did a great job of flipping field position when the Eagles were pinned deep in their own zone.

Edit: I owe Jason Babin an apology here. He played a hell of a game, especially against the run (wait, WHAT?!), and deserved to be mentioned in my “Good” section. Not bad for a guy who missed the entire preseason.

The Bad

1. The offensive line in pass protection. It seemed like Vick got hit on literally every dropback. I’m not exaggerating, either. It’s no wonder he was getting flustered and skittish in the pocket as the game went along. That kind of pounding will take a toll on any quarterback, and you have to imagine it influenced Vick’s deplorable second half. If this keeps up, he won’t make it out of the Ravens game next week. Granted, the line played much better in the second half and beared no responsibility for Vick’s three interceptions, but it seemed like the damage to his mindset was already done. Also, each offensive lineman aside from Todd Herremans was called for holding.

2. Punt coverage units. Despite Henry’s booming punts, he rarely outkicked his coverage. The problem was that the first wave of defenders routinely missed tackles. Nobody except Akeem Jordan appeared disciplined enough to come in under control and square up to make a tackle on Josh Cribbs. Everyone else took bad angles or left his feet and went flying right past him. Cribbs was pretty much a lock for a 20-yard return on each punt that didn’t involve The Dream getting there first. It’s the difference between making the opposing offense start at its own 10-yard line versus its own 30. That’s not an insignificant change in field position. The coverage unit has to be better.

3. The refs. While the Eagles certainly didn’t help themselves, the refs left a lot to be desired. The players were not thrilled. This is what happens when the NFL sends one of the worst (of the worst) crews to officiate your game.

4. Pat Shurmur. I can see why Browns fans loathe this Andy Reid disciple. Shurmur’s most egregious error cost his team a pick-six in the third quarter. It was the Eagles’ first play of their first possession of the second half, starting at their own 11-yard line. Vick dropped back and dumped the ball off to his right to Clay Harbor, who momentarily caught the pass but was hit immediately by Browns linebacker Kaluka Maiava. The ball became dislodged and fell towards the ground. Upon first glance, it seemed like the ball bounced off the turf before popping back up and into the hands of, I believe, Dimitri Patterson. Patterson, undeterred, sprinted into the end zone, even as the refs blew the whistle and signaled an incomplete pass. Not a single person, except for Patterson, thought otherwise. But as soon as the stadium scoreboard showed the replay, I said aloud, “Uh, that’s an interception.” The ball never hit the ground. Instead, it deflected off Harbor and then off Maiava’s leg, right to Patterson. The crowd realized it too and started vocally urging their head coach to throw the challenge flag (amendments were recently passed to make these kinds of plays, where the outcome is obvious despite the whistle blowing, challengeable, right? Someone let me know if I’m wrong).* Luckily, Shurmur either didn’t see (comprehend?) the replay or employs a booth assistant who should be fired. He was caught in a moment of indecision, and Vick quickly snapped the ball to end the suspense. Of course, the play Shurmur did end up challenging later on was not challengeable.

I also have no idea why Shurmur didn’t call for a two-point conversion try after D’Qwell Jackson’s pick-six. Oh well, not like the Browns could’ve used that extra point anyway.

*Edit: As a commenter pointed out, one of the replays on TV definitively showed that the ball hit the ground. Said replay wasn’t put up on the stadium Jumbotron. And even if Patterson had made a clean interception, the Browns would have only gotten the ball at the spot since the play was blown dead. My bad on that.

The Ugly

1. Sloppiness. How do you outgain your opponent 456 to 210 and manage only to squeak out a 17-16 comeback victory by the skin of your teeth? By turning the ball over five times (could’ve been as much as seven or eight). By committing double-digit penalties. By doing nearly everything possible to hand an inferior team the game on a silver platter. By being the Eagles.

I didn’t think it was possible, but these Eagles look to be dumber than last season — a truly remarkable accomplishment. I feel like a broken record, but it really is a case of same shit, different season. In more ways than one. Not only did Marty/Andy abandon the run for long stretches even though Shady was gashing the Browns defense, but the players on the field couldn’t stop committing penalties that negated big gains. It was a carbon copy of the preseason and instilled precisely zero confidence moving forward. Who needs an opponent when you’re so adept at beating yourself? Regardless of the incompetence that oozed from the pores of each referee who bumbled around the field, the Eagles themselves looked every bit as discombobulated and clueless. This might be a talented football team, but it is also a very, VERY stupid and undisciplined one. Final count on the penalties was 12 for 110 yards, and there were a bunch more that the Browns declined. Look no further for the reason why the Eagles typically get smoked by the better teams on their schedule — it’s because those teams don’t beat themselves.

2. Michael Vick. Wow. Just wow. Maybe there was some Dawg Pound karma in effect? It was a ghastly showing by Vick, and he deserved to get benched. I’m shocked I wasn’t deluged with texts from my Atlanta friends (yes, they’re sports fans!). To be honest, I’m disappointed in them. Back to Vick…

- His first interception came on a pass intended for Brent Celek over the middle. Vick was scrambling to his left and at the last second lofted the ball in the tight end’s direction. The decision was worse than the throw, but not by much. Craig Robertson, whoever he is, stepped in front of Celek for the pick. As Jimmy Kempski, my neighbor in the press box, dryly noted, “You just can’t throw at Craig Robertson.” I laughed pretty hard at that. Jimmy and I, we had a blast.

- Vick’s second interception was when he really started to unravel. Clay Harbor was WIDE open over the middle, but Vick held the ball about a second too long (what else is new) and by the time he uncorked the throw, three Browns’ defenders were right there. One stepped in front of Harbor and should’ve had the interception, but the ball deflected off his hands and popped in the air. L.J. Fort, whoever he is, was there to finish the job.

- The third interception was on both Vick and Jeremy Maclin, though I place more of the blame on the quarterback for poor ball placement. Vick’s throw was too far out in front, and Maclin, who fully extended his arms, had the ball deflect off his hands. Joe Haden was right there for the pick and returned it 50 yards to the Eagles 22. Naturally, the Browns could only muster a field goal.

- The fourth interception, everyone in the press box saw it coming as Vick stared down Maclin in the middle of the field. D’Qwell Jackson read Vick’s eyes and stepped right in front — 26 yards later he somersaulted into the end zone and the Browns were ahead 15-10 (pending the extra point). The Eagles, who had been dicking around all game, suddenly found themselves in deep shit.

- Vick actually should’ve thrown five interceptions (and I’m sure there was a sixth in there somewhere that I’m forgetting), with the fifth one effectively ending the game. Just in case you couldn’t tell how close it was, here’s the photo evidence, courtesy of Kempski over at Blogging the Beast. That L.J. Fort guy again, whoever he is, came thisclose to turning yesterday’s nightmare into a reality, but the ball slipped through his fingertips. I guess that’s why he went undrafted in April.

Now, to Vick’s credit, he did achieve an exceptionally rare feat for the Andy Reid era in driving the offense down the field for a game-winning touchdown with under two minutes left. I did the research for an article last season (see the link), and by my count, Sunday’s 16-play, 82-yard (91 including penalty yardage) touchdown drive marked just the FOURTH time in Reid’s 227 games — including playoffs — as Eagles head coach that the team was able pull out a comeback win when down by more than three points and needing a touchdown DRIVE to win. Still, don’t forget about Vick’s fumble at the 10-yard line that he was fortunate to barely recover, and don’t neglect the fact that the throw preceding the touchdown to Harbor was a bad decision and should have been intercepted. But it wasn’t, and I suppose beggars can’t be choosers. Lady luck, at those moments, was on the Eagles’ side.

Conclusion

When I sat down at my seat in the press box prior to kickoff and asked Kempski for his thoughts, we agreed the Eagles should win rather easily, though we both acknowledged their penchant for first-game brain farts. Then I said, “Yeah, if they lose this game, I’m giving up on the season.” I wasn’t kidding (Edit: And this is how I felt while watching that travesty unfold before my eyes). All yesterday did was reinforce my concerns about this team as a whole, but at least the defense gave me a glimmer a hope.

Maybe next week will be different. For now, the Eagles are 1-0, and as Jason Kelce said to me after the game, good teams find a way to overcome adversity and win when their backs are against the wall. And, hey, winning ugly is still winning. We’ll find out soon enough if this is finally an Eagles team with the wherewithal to come through in the clutch, or if yesterday’s final drive was nothing more than a fluke that mollified an otherwise unsightly performance. One thing’s for sure: The Eagles won’t beat any other team on their schedule if they play the way they did Sunday afternoon.

Edit: I didn’t attend Andy Reid’s post-game press conference, but had I done so and been ballsy enough to ask a question, it would have been, “Do you have to do a better job of preparing your team?”

2012 Philadelphia Eagles: Time to Create a New Identity

Over Labor Day weekend, Reuben Frank, on the heels of Jimmy Kempski’s revelation that the Eagles are the second-youngest team in the league, penned an article entitled “Eagles hope youth translates to Super Bowl.” At the end of the piece, he wrote:

The Eagles have tried every other way to win and still no sign of a Lombardi Trophy in the lobby of the NovaCare Complex.

So maybe trying to get there with youth and speed is the answer. Maybe trying to simply out-sprint everybody else to the Super Bowl will work. Nothing else has.

Oh, Reuben, the Eagles have tried every other way to win a Super Bowl? Really, you’re sure on that? Because I think there’s at least one way they haven’t tried.

When you look back at even the great Andy Reid teams of yesteryear, they always lacked a certain snarl to them on offense. There was just something missing. A toughness, a killer instinct. The Eagles rarely (never?) had that we-will-run-the-ball-down-your-throat-and-there’s-nothing-you-can-do-to-stop-us attitude on offense. Nowadays it’s not just on offense where the team lacks toughness — that candy ass personality plagues the defense, too. Ever since the departure of Brian Dawkins and passing of Jim Johnson, the Eagles have sported what has to be one of the league’s most pathetic tackling units. When Johnson was running the show, he directed a formidable and fearsome squad, populated with guys who were set on seek-and-destroy mode at all times.

The present Eagles brain trust loves smaller, faster players who can fly around the field. The drawback with that, however, has manifested itself at the second and third levels, where linebackers and defensive backs routinely either whiff completely, fail to wrap up, or just get run over in their attempts to prevent ball carriers from gaining extra yards. It’s been a fucking epidemic, and I didn’t see overwhelming evidence in the preaseason to suggest that marked change is on the horizon. Yeah, the defensive line is menacing and ferocious getting after the quarterback, but it was last year too. That outfit still had trouble against the run, and Antonio Dixon, the best run-stopper on the roster, was released after a lackluster preseason in which he looked lost in Jim Washburn’s scheme. Shoddy tackling, general confusion, coverage breakdowns, gaps that even I could run through, susceptibility to the screen pass, inability to get off the field on third down, committing a moronic penalty that negates a big play or stop. Those remained problems this preseason. Sound familiar? On top of all that, we’re banking on Juan Castillo, in just his second year coaching defense, being able to match wits with shrewd, battle-tested offensive coordinators. Does that not terrify you? Because I’d say it still qualifies as cause for concern (0:26).

Aside from the defense, if this Eagles regime ever wants to win a Super Bowl, Andy Reid needs to sublimate his ego and defy his core offensive principle as a football coach. It’s time to get mean. It’s time to get nasty. The Eagles need to add a smash-mouth, power component to the offense. One that helps them control the game, that grinds out yards while wearing down the defense, that wages a war of attrition on the body and mind of opponents. I know, I know, fat chance. Their stubbornness never ceases to amaze me. This is what’s wrong with the Eagles: They don’t truly intimidate other teams, and they lack the brute force to compel opponents into submission. Teams might fear the Eagles’ speed and home run potential, but they don’t fear their ability to beat them when the game is on the line.* Now, I understand that offenses have evolved and passing wins in this league. I’m not trying to say otherwise. What I am trying to say is the Eagles are soft — that is their style, and it has been for years. In my opinion, it is the predominant reason why they so often shit themselves late in close games. Soft doesn’t win in this league (neither does stupid, another unflattering character trait they’ve personified), and no matter how sexy and effective the aerial assault might be, you still have to run the ball to win certain games. The Eagles tease you by pretending to understand and abiding by that principle for two, maybe three games each season, before reverting to their irresponsible, pass-happy insanity and leaving you with blue balls.

*Edit: It’s not only because of the Swiss cheese defense that this team blew so many fourth quarter leads last season. The offense’s failure to shorten the game by running the ball with authority also played a major part in the collapses.

Let’s take a look at the defending Super Bowl champions, shall we? Instead of only emulating the Giants’ blueprint on defense, perhaps the Eagles should take a page from their offensive philosophy, seeing as how, you know, that has also been a vital part of their success. The Giants, who had the worst rushing attack in the league last season and were forced to build the offense around Eli’s arm, still made a concentrated effort to cultivate an identity of power and toughness by running the ball (especially in the playoffs).* I guess that’s what pisses me off the most, the selectivity the Eagles display in order to appease their we’re-going-to-win-our-way agenda. They NEED to finally incorporate a rugged mentality into their own identity on a consistent basis. They HAVE to make other teams fear them physically. That doesn’t necessarily mean a 50/50 pass/run ratio, but how about, say, 53/47? Otherwise, as I wrote last year (and the year before that), expect 2012 to be a case of “same shit, different season,” especially with this gauntlet of a schedule. I’m already bracing myself. Jesus, I hate watching my team play like a bunch of pussies.

*Edit: Ok, so what I should have written here is that the Giants didn’t ABANDON the run during their playoff games (aside from against San Francisco, which was understandable). My bad, guys, I apologize. Profusely. Thanks to all the sharp individuals who were sure to call me out on this. I couldn’t have done it without you. Oh, and by the way, here are the pass/run ratios of the six Super Bowl winners prior to the Packers and Giants:

2009 Saints – 52/48
2008 Steelers – 52/48
2007 Giants – 54/46
2006 Colts – 56/44
2005 Steelers – 41/59
2004 Patriots – 48/52

I did the above research for this article that I wrote nearly two years ago. Does that do anything to satisfy everyone clamoring for some substance to support my style?

Side note: When the Colts won the Super Bowl, it was Howard Mudd’s line and the rushing game on offense — not Peyton Manning — that carried them through the playoffs (save for the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots when they had to rally from an early 21-3 deficit). Of course, the defense was lights out, too, but you understand my point.

I’ve been begging for years for this to happen, but now it’s an even more pertinent plea. LeSean McCoy is the best player on this team, arguably the best running back in football, and the offense should be built around him first and foremost anyway. The coaches, like the players, need to stop talking about what they will do and actually do it. If keeping Michael Vick healthy is really a priority, then shifting to a more balanced approach that limits his dropbacks and relies on a capable offensive line and talented trio (quartet?) of running backs — more Dion Lewis, Bryce Brown, and Chris Polk, please — would be in the team’s best interests. Remember the three-headed monster days of Duce Staley, Brian Westbrook, and Correll Buckhalter? That was fun. Now, if the coaches are hypocrites, Vick — who needs to be saved from himself because he can’t change his biological hard-wiring and basic urges as an athlete, no matter how hard he might try — will be dropping back to pass 30 or more times per game and indubitably take a severe beating in the process. Operating the offense in such a manner, which makes it inevitable that he’s going to suffer a significant injury, is counterintuitive and DOESN’T MAKE ANY FUCKING SENSE! Using history as a guide here is recommended, and it would suggest limiting the number of times Vick is exposed to taking a hit. The current methodology on offense isn’t conducive to ensuring that he stays healthy and plays the full season. But this is classic Andy Reid, trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Please, try something else, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! (0:17)

Then again, a Vick injury means we’ll get to see Nick Foles thrown into the fire. Deep down, we all know he’s the future quarterback of this team, and it’s okay to allow yourself to be excited after watching him in the preseason. If the thought of a serendipitous Bledsoe/Brady-like twist of fate has danced around in your head, you’re certainly not the only one (I wonder who’d play the part of Mo Lewis?). Foles is going to be a starter in this league, a good one too. I’ve seen so many local media and national pundits claim the Eagles can’t win if Vick has to miss extended time because of an injury. You know something, I disagree. If the Nick Foles era has to begin sooner than planned, so be it. I’m kinda ready, actually, since it is my belief that Michael Vick is too unaware (in the pocket), indecisive, erratic, and unreliable to lead his team to the Super Bowl, much less win it. He’s also shown an alarming inability to adjust* to what defenses have been throwing at him since the Vikings opened Pandora’s box in Week 16 of the 2010 season. With the recent trend of rookie quarterbacks coming into the league and holding their own, why can’t Foles make the jump? He’s obviously been quick to master the voluminous playbook — no easy task — and is lightyears ahead of where any other quarterback has been at such an early stage in development during the Andy Reid era. Consider that Foles wasn’t exactly surrounded by a bevy of NFL-level talent, excepting Juron Criner, at Arizona, so give him the weapons the Eagles have on offense and see what happens. Take a risk and dare to dream, people. The ironic thing is that Foles — because of his natural instincts, quick decision-making, poise, and accuracy — profiles as a more ideal fit than Vick for the kind of offense Reid and Marty Mornhinweg want to call.

*(Oh, why hello there, David Murphy.)

In closing, I’d like to infuse some Passover Seder spirit into this article. Please, somebody tell me, why is this season of Eagles football different from all other seasons? There’s only one way it can be: The Eagles themselves have to be different. Will that happen? I doubt it, even with Reid’s job hanging in the balance. 

Edit: But I sure HOPE they are different because it would mean I could enjoy watching my team again. Bryce Brown and Chris Polk can BOTH play, and each brings his own unique style to complement Shady’s Barry Sanders-esque sublimity. Brown blends speed and power in a way that made McCoy invoke a Bo Jackson comparison. Bo Jackson! For those of you, like me, who were too young to watch Bo in his heyday, we are blessed that YouTube exists. That is some SERIOUS praise from Shady (who, in the linked article, makes it sound like this season the Eagles might earnestly use the multi-back system as more than just a token element of the offense — PLEASE LET THIS BE THE CASE). Also, as we saw in the preseason, Polk relishes the bruiser role; he lowers his shoulder, straight runs people over, and inflicts pain on the defense. He can actually muscle his way to get the tough yards. It’s awesome. The cherry on top: Polk is a polished pass blocker who can be trusted on passing downs. Dion Lewis is a nice niche player, but Brown and Polk’s respective skill sets could ultimately make him obsolete. Keep Shady fresh, give the two rookies more snaps!

Predictions

NFC East

(Week 2 Edit…)

1. Cowboys (10-6)

Breakout player/s: Barry Church (SS). Big, strong, solid athlete who can tackle and cover. He’s flashed in his time as a backup and special teamer and now steps in as the starter in a revamped secondary. Call it a hunch. If the first game is any indication, Kevin Ogletree (WR) is the breakout candidate on offense.

Other: As far as the best MLBs in football who get little to no hype, Sean Lee leads the pack. He’s everywhere.

1. Giants (10-6)

Breakout player/s: Martellus Bennett (TE). I was originally going with the rookie David Wilson (RB), but as I watched the opening Giants/Cowboys game of the season, it struck me: Oh, right, Eli loves throwing to his tight end. Look what he did for Jake Ballard and Kevin Boss. Bennett is a huge target — basically the same size as Ballard, actually — with superb athleticism. He is primed for a breakout season now that he’s no longer stuck behind Jason Witten in Dallas. Also, Ramses Barden (WR), who at 6’6” is a mismatch for every cornerback in the league. He’s got skills, too, just needs to get on the field. Could be this year’s Victor Cruz.

2. Eagles (9-7)*

Breakout player/s: Phillip Hunt (DE). Move over, Cameron Wake, there’s a new CFL-import DE ready to make his mark in the NFL. I can’t remember the last Eagles DE I’ve seen who strip sacks the QB as well as Hunt. Couple that with his unparalleled burst and explosion off the edge, and you’ve got a fumble-forcing bat out of hell.

More: Derek Landri is the man, Mychal Kendricks is a stud, and I’m a big fan of Cedric Thornton, while David Sims will be starting in place of either Nate Allen or Kurt Coleman before the bye week. Just as he did during his three years at Tulsa, the diminutive Damaris Johnson — who Andy Reid said reminds him of DeSean Jackson (can’t find the link, but I remember reading it) — will send fans into a delirious frenzy numerous times as both a punt returner and receiver on offense. He’s an electrifying talent and will serve as yet another big-play weapon for the Eagles. Lastly, I’d like two-TE sets to become a staple on offense because in addition to a commitment to the run, I want to see more of Clay Harbor as a receiver. I also hope the significant inclusion of Brent Celek in the passing attack that took hold after the fifth game of last season carries over into 2012. Get him the football. Pretty please.

3. Giants (8-8)

Breakout player/s: Martellus Bennett (TE). I was originally going with the rookie David Wilson (RB), but as I watched the opening Giants/Cowboys game of the season, it struck me: Oh, right, Eli loves throwing to his tight end. Look what he did for Jake Ballard and Kevin Boss. Bennett is a huge target — basically the same size as Ballard, actually — with superb athleticism. He is primed for a breakout season now that he’s no longer stuck behind Jason Witten in Dallas. Also, Ramses Barden (WR), who at 6’6” is a mismatch for every cornerback in the league. He’s got skills, too, just needs to get on the field. Could be this year’s Victor Cruz.

3. Cowboys (8-8)

Breakout player/s: Barry Church (SS). Big, strong, solid athlete who can tackle and cover. He’s flashed in his time as a backup and special teamer and now steps in as the starter in a revamped secondary. Call it a hunch. If the first game is any indication, Kevin Ogletree (WR) is the breakout candidate on offense.

Other: As far as the best MLBs in football who get little to no hype, Sean Lee leads the pack. He’s everywhere.

4. Redskins (6-10)

Breakout player/s: Aldrick Robinson (WR). Speed kills. I felt Robinson was a prospect who flew under the radar going into the 2011 draft. He flashed in the preseason and is an explosive playmaker on a team severely lacking them. Robinson is the Redskins’ only true deep threat and should work his way into the offense as a regular sooner rather than later. At the very least, just tell him to run as fast as he can down the field and let RG3 air it out.

NFC North

1. Packers (12-4)

Breakout player/s: Randall Cobb (WR) is the hot name here (and with good reason), so instead I’ll go with Alex Green, a dual threat who should emerge as the team’s starter at RB. On defense, it’s D.J. Smith (ILB), who first caught my attention last preseason as a rookie (scroll to the bottom). He was a record-setting tackler at Appalachian State and will fill a similar role for the Packers. Smith is only 5’11”, but the dude is built like a brick shit house at 240 pounds, possesses elite level instincts, and can lay the wood. I bet he gets compared to Dexter Coakley, also an Appalachian State alumn.

2. Bears (10-6)*

Breakout player/s: Kellen Davis (TE). Davis is 6’7”, 270 pounds, and ran a 4.6 coming out of college. He is the starting TE in an offense that, with Mike Martz gone and Mike Tice calling plays, will heavily feature the position as part of the passing game and allow him to develop into something more than just a red zone specialist. I can’t imagine Jay Cutler not looking for this monster target in the middle of the field.

3. Lions (8-8)

Breakout player/s: Ryan Broyles (WR). If Broyles’ knees don’t explode, he’ll be one of the league’s elite slot receivers in no time.

4. Vikings (7-9)

Breakout player/s: Kyle Rudolph (TE). Loved him in college, and I get the sense that Christian Ponder will be looking for his safety valve receiver frequently. Also, Jamarca Sanford (FS), who very quietly had himself a nice season in 2011.

NFC South

1. Saints (11-5)

Breakout player/s: Isa Abdul-Quddus (SS). First, I thoroughly enjoy saying his name. Second, in recording just 16 total tackles last season, Abdul-Quddus forced FIVE fumbles (tied for third in the league). That’s because he hits with devestating, annihilating force.

More: I love what the Saints did this offseason from a personnel standpoint while the fallout from the bounty scandal sought to cripple the franchise. Hiring Steve Spagnuolo then signing Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorne (who I wanted on the Eagles), and a reborn Brodrick Bunkley were all strokes of genius. I think the defense will be a real source of strength, and we all know what the offense will do with Drew Brees at the helm, even if Sean Payton won’t be around. I see a Super Bowl contender when I look at the roster on paper and get the feeling this is a team that will be all kinds of galvanized after what transpired over the summer.

2. Falcons (9-7)

Breakout player/s: Jacquizz Rodgers (RB). A homeless man’s version of Darren Sproles and easily my favorite player from the 2011 draft. If you don’t like Jacquizz, you don’t have a soul.

3. Buccaneers (7-9)

Breakout player/s: David Martin (RB) is getting all the hype, but the most impactful player could end up being the Bucs’ initial first round pick, Mark Barron (SS). Mason Foster (MLB) is another player to watch on defense.

4. Panthers (7-9)

Breakout player/s: Picking Luke Kuechly (OLB) is too much of a copout. Instead I’m going with Brandon LaFell (WR), who’s poised to emerge from the aging Steve Smith’s shadow, and Haruki Nakamura (FS), who finally gets his chance as a starter after years on the Ravens as a steady backup and top-end special teams player.

NFC West

1. 49ers (11-5)

Breakout player/s: Chris Culliver (CB) was someone I really liked going into the 2011 draft and quickly earned playing time on what was the league’s best defense last season. He remains the nickel corner for now but has starter ability. Also, Kendall Hunter (RB) should take on more of a workload as the wear and tear on Frank Gore’s body begins to take its toll.

2. Seahawks (9-7)

Breakout player/s: Russell Wilson (QB). OH MY GOD HE THROWS JUST LIKE DREW BREES!! DID YOU KNOW THEY’RE ROUGHLY THE SAME SIZE?? MUST COMAPRE!! For real, though, I like Hustle Wilson and hope he succeeds. Looked great in the preseason, that’s for sure. On defense, it’s definitely K.J. Wright (OLB), who combines size, speed, athleticism, and smarts. He’s a Pro Bowler in the making.

3. Rams (6-10)

Breakout player/s: Robert Quinn (DE). I was skeptical about him prior to the draft because of how he played against top tier competition in college. Never mind about all that, Quinn is a freak and showed last season he’s just scratching the surface of his potential. Playing opposite Chris Long doesn’t hurt his cause either.

4. Cardinals (5-11)

Breakout player/s: You know what, I kinda like John Skelton. Anyway, Rob “take it to the” Housler (TE) has the size, athleticism, and raw ability to emerge as the one of the next superfreaks at his position, while rookie Justin Bethel’s (FS) extraordinarily long arms have already enabled him to become a kick-blocking demon on special teams — granted, in the preseason — just as he was in college (FROM: Presbyterian).

Wild Card: 49ers over Eagles, Bears over Cowboys Giants

Divisonal: Packers over Bears, Saints over 49ers

Championship: Saints over Packers

AFC East

1. Patriots (13-3)

Breakout player/s: Chandler Jones (DE). I thought Jones was the best DE in this past draft class, and he wowed everyone at training camp. I’ve even heard/read the Jason Pierre-Paul comparison drawn on more than one occasion. Not too shabby. Also, Aaron Hernandez will have a better season than Rob Gronkowski.

2. Bills (9-7)*

Breakout player/s: Arthur Moats (OLB). I thought Moats would break out last season after an eye-opening end to the 2010 season, but a position switch to MLB helped stagnate his development. Now back on the outside, where he thrived in 2010, I’ll cast my lot with Moats again. Hard-nosed player who’s underrated as a blitzer. The candidate on offense is T.J. Graham (WR), a rookie speedster from North Carolina State who will be featured in the slot and can take the top off a defense. He’s also a dangerous returner and holds the ACC record for all-time kickoff return yards with 3,153.

3. Jets (6-10)

Breakout player/s: Ugh, fuck this circus of a team and their attention-mongering antics. Seriously. I hyped Temple product Muhammad Wilkerson (DE) a lot going into last year’s draft, so I’ll stick with him. Hey, maybe Chaz Schilens (WR) will finally stay healthy long enough to take advantage of the fact that he’s 6’4”, 225 pounds, and ran a sub-4.4 coming out of college. Oh, right, it won’t matter because he has Mark Sanchez/Tim Tebow throwing him the ball. I’m not kidding nor exaggerating when I say Greg McElroy is the best quarterback on the roster.

4. Dolphins (5-11)

Breakout player/s: Sean Smith (CB). I’m recycling another name from last season, partly because I’m lazy and partly because I still believe in his size/talent combination. I also predict that Charles Clay (FB/H-Back/TE) will lead the team in receptions.

AFC North

1. Steelers (11-5)

Breakout player/s: Chris Carter (OLB). James Harrison is 34 and breaking down. Enter football’s new Chris Carter; this one plays defense. I watched him terrorize the opposition at Fresno State, and after seeing him in the preseason I feel he’s ready to do the same in the pros. He’s in the perfect scheme for his talents as a pass rusher and gets to play opposite LaMarr Woodley. Cortez Allen (CB) is another second-year player to watch and, like Carter, someone who intrigued me coming out of college (FROM: The Citadel). He’s got size, ability, and plays physically. There’s no reason he can’t overtake Keenan Lewis for the second starting cornerback spot.

2. Ravens (10-6)*

Breakout player/s: Paul Kruger (OLB). “KRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUG.” That’s going to be the chant from the crowd at M&T Bank Stadium when Kruger makes a play, right? He registered 5.5 sacks on 15 total tackles in limited time last season. Now the fourth-year pro out of Utah is starting, replacing Jarret Johnson as the Ravens’ white defensive player du jour. Expect Kruger to build on his 2011 performance and become a household name in 2012.

3. Bengals (7-9)

Breakout player/s: Vincent Rey or Dan Skuta (both OLB) are candidates on defense but start the season in backup roles. For that reason, I’ll go with Mohamed Sanu (WR). Given what’s in front of him at the position, he should ascend to the #2 spot.

4. Browns (3-13)

Breakout player/s: Uh… Josh Gordon (WR)? Just looking at this roster is depressing. At least they have Jabaal Sheard (DE).

AFC South

1. Texans (12-4)

Breakout player/s: Clay Matthews clone Brooks Reed (OLB) is a sagacious pick to lead the league in sacks, but it’s his backup, Bryan Braman (OLB), who piques my interest. Why? Because this dude is one crazy you-know-what. He’s notorious for being arrested in college (FROM: West Texas A&M) for manufacturing psilocybin, the active principle in psychadelic mushrooms. Sweet. Looking at his picture from back then, I’ll just say the charge doesn’t exactly surprise me. Since the arrest, however, Braman has cleaned up his act. An undrafted free agent, he established himself last season as perhaps the Texans’ best special teams player. Oh, and he made a tackle sans helmet.

2. Colts (8-8)

Breakout player/s: T.Y. Hilton (WR) and LaVon Brazill (WR). This rookie wide receiver duo will serve as Andrew Luck’s (who is very for real) second and third options at the position behind Reggie Wayne. Both showed plenty of potential in the preseason, and Hilton’s 4.3-speed is legit.

3. Titans (6-10)

Breakout player/s: Perhaps Jared Cook (TE), finally? Though given that he burned me last year, I’ll go with Colin McCarthy (MLB). He’s right up there with Sean Lee as far as emerging star MLBs go.

4. Jaguars (4-12)

Breakout player/s: Rashad Jennings (RB) is the obvious choice here, given Maurice Jones-Drew’s holdout and how that typically adversely affects players throughout the season. Before tearing his ACL in the preseason, Jenning was actually a good bet to break out last season based on how he played in 2010. I’m still holding out hope for Austen Lane (DE), as well.

AFC West

1. Chargers (9-7)

Breakout player/s: Well, prior to breaking his ankle in the preseason, Vincent Brown (WR), long a favorite of mine dating back to his days at San Diego State, would have been the clear choice. Since he won’t be back until late October at the earliest, I’ll go with Vaughn Martin (DE) instead… because he went to the University of Western Ontario (after transferring from Michigan State).

2. Broncos (8-8)

Breakout player/s: Eric Decker (WR). Yeah, you could say I’m a huge fan. I had Decker as a breakout player for last season, and, despite the Tebow wishbone offense, he had plenty of shining moments that made you think, Hey, if this guy ever has a real quarterback throwing him the ball, he could put up some great numbers. Peyton Manning should be the best thing that ever happens to him. I think Decker goes for 90 catches, 1,200 yards and double-digit touchdowns.

3. Chiefs (7-9)

Breakout player/s: Jon Baldwin (WR). As far as physical ability goes, Baldwin is up there with any wide receiver in the game. He can be a dominant player, perhaps even the best from his draft class (which includes A.J. Green and Julio Jones), it’s just a matter of whether he can stop being a foolish, selfish, and disruptive jackass long enough to harness his talents.

4. Raiders (6-10)

Breakout player/s: Miles Burris (OLB). Love his style, tough as nails, and totally fits that Raiders persona. I first noticed Burris — who shows a knack for getting to the quarterback on the blitz — when watching San Diego State to get a look at Vincent Brown and have been a fan ever since. It’s not at all a surprise to me that he’s their starting weakside linebacker for Week 1.

Wild Card: Steelers over Bills, Ravens over Chargers

Divisional: Texans over Patriots, Ravens over Steelers

Championship: Texans over Ravens

Super Bowl XXXXVII: Saints over Texans (IN YOUR FACE, GOODELL! First time the city hosting the Super Bowl will feature its home team — might as well have them winning, too. Now, would Roger ever allow such a spectacular egg-on-his-face scenario to take place? Guess we’ll find out.)

The Eagles Should Sign Plaxico Burress

I don’t have a reason much better than, well, why not? It’s just a gut instinct. You cannot tell me adding the luxury of Plaxico Burress, especially with this team’s problems in the red zone, isn’t something the Eagles should at least try. As he showed last year, catching touchdowns is still something he can do quite well. And is there really a better fit out there for Burress than the Eagles? Come on. Michael Vick throwing him the ball, brothers in strife returning from exile and writing the final chapter of their careers. Forget Dream Team, I’m talking Redeem Team. I smell a movie script.

Also, if the Eagles are going to employ players looking for a second chance after spending time in jail, they might as well do it for a proven winner who at the height of his career was considered one of the game’s most lethal assassins. At this point, who gives a shit? Remember, Burress is the man directly responsible for catching the touchdown pass that beat the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. The Eagles could use someone with that kind of mentality, especially late in games. You know, when they are typically choking losers. Plaxico, while always being a problem child who clashed with coaches and acted like a douche off the field, committed the crime of being an arrogant and stupid person. He didn’t hurt anyone except for himself (although, granted, he could have), in more ways that one. It sure seems like prison humbled Burress to the point that he’s not actively a dick anymore and is only looking to play and help a team any way he can. We’re talking about one of most clutch wide receiver of his generation. How many times did he come up huge with the game on the line? Did Plaxico ever not make a catch for Eli when the Giants needed it most, especially late? I know you remember him curb stomping us all the fucking time. Whatever the risk is for the Eagles to sign Plaxico Burress, they should take it. Really, I just want to win. Besides, if he sucks, they can cut him without any financial penalties (assuming the contract is non-guaranteed).

Lastly, tell me it wouldn’t be the best thing ever to see Plax possibly burn the Giants two times a year, especially for touchdowns — maybe some even late in games, if we’re lucky. Does that not tingle your loins, people? Why, he could be the Eagles’ better (and, yes, blacker) version of Riley Cooper! Get it done and give Burress a chance, I say.

Other thoughts…

- John Skelton is apparently the favorite to win the starting quarterback job in Arizona. Good. He’s a much better quarterback than Kevin Kolb (who’s been unbearably terrible and could even find himself out of the league soon), which is something I concluded after watching him beat the Eagles back in November, and at least has a skill set that can fly in the NFL. Does Skelton always make the best decisions? No. Is he pristine with his accuracy and ball placement? No. But he’s got as strong an arm as anyone, and I’ve seen him make a number of clutch plays when he needed to down the stretch late in games. It was Skelton’s performance against the 49ers in a 21-19 win in Week 14 that dealed the deal for me. He led the Cardinals back from a 19-7 third quarter deficit against the best defense in football — and did so with astonishing poise and moxie. Skelton has the kind of weapons at his disposal on offense to be successful. Even aside from Larry Fitzgerald, Early Doucet, Andre Roberts, and rookie beast Michael Floyd makes for a pretty sweet foursome at wide receiver. Beanie Wells finally stayed healthy and looked like an NFL running back last season, while Ryan Williams is back from a torn ACL. And then there’s tight end, where Todd Heap is pretty much washed up but athletic superfreak Rob Housler is waiting in the wings, ready to make his mark.

- AFC Team I’m rooting for this season: Colts. Andrew Luck’s been pro-ready for two years, and it’s going to shock people how easy he makes it look at the NFL level. That’s not just based on his evisceration of the Rams, I promise. One more time, he’s a more athletic version of Peyton Manning.

The Colts themselves are flush with rookies playing major roles all over the offense. You already know about Coby Fleener, who I was hoping the Eagles would draft in the second round if he was still on the board. But it’s two wide receivers who intrigue me the most. T.Y. Hilton was an electrifying player at Florida International who displays the kind of explosive speed and acceleration that enables him to turn a ten-yard slant into a 70-yard touchdown. Then there’s little-known LaVon Brazill, who played at Ohio. The only people who have heard about him, aside from professional scouts, are draft-obsessed nerds like me. And I’m okay with that. Brazill is a lot like Hilton, actually. Fast, quick, athletic, shifty, with a ton of moves. He had a play of 40+ yards in half of the Bobcats games last season and was by far the team’s best NFL prospect. Brazill is the kind of receiver who makes things happen with the ball in his hands, and Andrew Luck is the kind of quarterback who can get it to him. Unless you consider the Colts a mortal enemy, how can every other football fan not want to see them succeed? I’m not alone here, right?