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On The Inside
 
November 22, 2009 | Last Updated: 11/22/09 7:29 PM ET | Comments (54)
Things I Think I Know Before Eagles Vs. Bears

CHICAGO -- How can the Eagles start fast in a game that means so much? Onsides kick, anyone? A gadget play or two. Donovan McNabb coming out firing the football? Whatever the Eagles can do to jump-start the offense, they need to do it. Can't fall behind and come from behind. No more disconnects for three quarters.

Here are some of the things to look for tonight as I watch the pre-game warmups and the buzz begins to build at Soldier Field ...

  • Stacy Andrews inactive after starting last week? Very disappointing, but not necessarily surprising. I still have high hopes for Andrews, but it certainly would take a huge turnaround to have him contribute much this season. When you look at what the Eagles hoped to accomplish heading into the season and think about those spots that didn't work out the way the Eagles wanted, the right side of the offensive line is at the top of the list. No Shawn Andrews at right tackle all season. Nothing much at all from Stacy Andrews.
  • Did you really have a doubt that Sheldon Brown would play in this game? He is an ironman, a gamer. He is a player who you count on each week, and the Eagles need more players like him. I think, in retrospect, it was time to replace Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan at the offensive tackle spots. But what they gave was a burning desire to play every week. They were true professionals. I am wondering how many of those kinds of players this team has right now. With all of the youth, there are still questions.
  • My over/under for Michael Vick tonight is 10 plays. I think he is going to be a factor as a Wildcat quarterback. I'm not sure what role he will play, but the sneaking feeling is that Vick is going to have his most active role of the season. Of course, the Eagles have to sustain drives for that to happen.
  • What's going to change in the red zone? I say the Eagles run the ball a little bit more and I think they will use the presence of Jason Peters there. Look for the Eagles to run left. Just a guess.
  • From all of the pre-game chatter, Joe Mays is going to start at middle linebacker. Good for him. Mays struggled mentally in the preseason and early in the season when he played, so we will see how far he has come. I know this: Mays has been blowing people up on special teams. The Eagles are hoping this game is the hump for Mays to get over and become a good linebacker in this league.
  • Big, big test for the special teams against Chicago's excellent group. I think Sav Rocca will average about 35 yards gross per punt and either kick everything out of bounds or hang everything up for a fair catch. No way Devin Hester has a chance to return a punt. Won't you be holding your breath if he has room to run?
  • Here is hoping that Macho Harris holds on to the football returning kickoffs. I think he has the north-south speed to break one, but he has to absorb some hits against this Bears coverage group.
  • Great weather for game time: 48 degrees with light winds. Good night to throw the football.
  • If I'm Sean McDermott, I'm blitzing Jay Cutler constantly, and I'm double-teaming tight end Greg Olsen. I like Asante Samuel and Brown in coverage against the Chicago wide receivers.
  • This is a huge spot for Will Witherspoon. The Eagles cannot allow Cutler to check down to running back Matt Forte all game long. Stuff the line of scrimmage and play coverage.
  • My over/under for touches for running back LeSean McCoy: 22. I'm looking at 18 carries and 4 receptions.
Things I Think I Know Before Eagles Vs. Bears
   
andrew_short69@...
11/23/09
7:01 am ET
I hope the samuel and brown stop biting the double moves, they really got away with that this game, next week even though the deadskins QB sucks he wont miss wide open receivers like cutler did.
andrew_short69@...
11/23/09
6:57 am ET
I dont care how ugly it is, a win is a win The eagles finally did somthing ive been waiting to see and thats keep it together and win in the 4th quarter, i think the game was solid overall, McCoy ran well, receivers were good. Even when they fumbled late they kept there composure, and patterson has been excellent considering the situtation, i mean hes obviously not samuel but the dudes not putting a gaping hole in the D, Props to him and mays although neither really stood out, they didnt make any mistakes. Trotter looked great, i didnt see this coming but i think trotters looking like the guy he was 4 years ago, i think he can play more than just first down run situations, and hope he plays more.
IrishSparx22
11/23/09
1:24 am ET
Whats the deal with Asante Samuel getting hurt every other game? He is one of my favourite players but I don't know. He needs to beef up or something.
Fyer
11/23/09
12:59 am ET
miketoh80: We are in game TEN!!! Stop F-ing crying! Who the heck is out there to play punter, dude? You dont make changes at this point. YOU JUST GET BETTER!
Fyer
11/23/09
12:57 am ET
I find it to be VERY ironic that a few folks were talking bout trading 5 for Cutler, LOL. With the way he was missing TOUCHDOWN PASSES, be careful what you ask for.
miketoh80
11/23/09
12:55 am ET
OK, SERIOUSLY...HOW MANY TIMES ARE WE GONNA ALLOW SAV ROCCA TO PUT THE GAME IN JEOPARDY? HE IS SIMPLY NOT A GOOD PUNTER. WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE HERE..HE IS MAKING LIFE MUCH HARDER FOR OUR DEFENSE.
swoop2781@...
11/23/09
12:39 am ET
This was one of those type of wins that i could still shake my head & not feel any better moving forward.Maybe sum are happy with just making the playoffs but,i myself am in it to win it & nothing less.
JeromeBrown99
11/23/09
12:37 am ET
Yeah man... Cutler don't look so hot. Welp... I'm out guys. Till tomorrow.
aapoet@...
11/23/09
12:34 am ET
I like that we're going to get healthier, and that our young guys are going to get better as the season goes on. McNabb for cutler, heh, I do remember that. I think the reason was that McNabb can't lead the team to a win in the fourth quarter, and that cutler doesn't miss open receivers the way McNabb does. Hmmm. I had friends over who are bears fans. They said before the game that they would take McNabb for cutler on the spot. After the game, well, they didn't say much, but the envy remained obvious.
senhorcook@...
11/23/09
12:32 am ET
I meant, got rid of "it" - Two TE, bunch formation. It is worthless for us!
senhorcook@...
11/23/09
12:31 am ET
We finally did it! When I say "it", I mean the short yardage, two TE, bunch formation. And put Vick in on 3rd and short and move the LBs out a bit with 3 WRs. Thank you coach Reid!
JeromeBrown99
11/23/09
12:30 am ET
How bout them Orange? I knew Wes Johnson was a good player... but I had no idea he was that good. Thats a lottery pick right there. === No wonder JB didn't let Devo and Harris back in. We just plain don't have room for them. === Scoop makes his own shot and Trische looks great. === But that Zone... that thing is long and athletic. Best we have maybe ever had.
Chuck_Love@...
11/23/09
12:28 am ET
Yeah our D is not good right now, Cutler gave us that game, but I'll take it. I hope our D is getting healthy, we need help. Jordan would be a huge return right now. 2 more weeks without Hanson.
Chuck_Love@...
11/23/09
12:23 am ET
Yup JB, I saw how bad #5 was, just aweful. We need cutler. LOL
tnlinc@...
11/23/09
12:22 am ET
it wasn't perfect but it was a win...we are still in it and hopefully getting healthier next week...Good night my fine feathered brethren ....We bagged a bear now lets go get us some Indians....
JeromeBrown99
11/23/09
12:20 am ET
Somebody... I forget who... was saying they wanted to trade #5 for Cutler. Thats funny.
swoop2781@...
11/23/09
12:11 am ET
Happy B-Day #5!!! U are now 6-4...i know this team has what it needs,well besides getting back sum of are wounded yet i think this year will have to be the growing pain year.A win is a win no doubt yet what i know this teams caipable of has yet to show itself for a whole game.I should be use to this feeling being let down so many times as a Eagle fan but,this team i know for a fact is soooo much better then what they have done to this point.Guess knowing that makes it harder to swallow but,it is what it is & nothing more...atleast not this year.Playoffs or no playoffs doesnt really matter.
JeromeBrown99
11/23/09
12:11 am ET
Did anyone see the "demise" of #5 tonight?
tnlinc@...
11/23/09
12:10 am ET
#22 has been less than 100 % since he hurt his neck a few games ago and he just doesn't want to engage.....I can only imagine if our initial team was together and healthy..
JeromeBrown99
11/23/09
12:07 am ET
I gotta say... before I go out to get my heart jump started by a bunch of alcohol. Joe Mays is actually making progress. He looks much better. Still has a long ways to go but I had almost given up. Another lesson learned. === #54 looks much better also. === That said... we are bashed up bad. Our secondary is about as make shift as can be. We need Hans0n back... and I haven't said anything... but it's obvious Samuel is hurt. He's got some problems. He's scared out there. He's got to get healthy or we are in serious trouble. === This season reminds me of the 8-8 season in terms of "I'd" players.
tnlinc@...
11/23/09
12:07 am ET
We will never win anything with #5 and Go Huskers !! Go BSU.....Go...PSU....Go EAGLES
JeromeBrown99
11/23/09
12:01 am ET
Fire everybody! #5 can't do it. Not in the 4th Q he can't.
tnlinc@...
11/22/09
11:54 pm ET
Where Eddy Driscoll at ???? what say you tonight ???
philip56210@...
11/22/09
11:52 pm ET
I like how the opinions of the team and McNabb change in a few posts... :D I was worried but they pulled through... goodbye Sunday Night losing and not being able to come back (today) ...ahhh the irony we beat them 24-20 like they did to us...
tnlinc@...
11/22/09
11:50 pm ET
Sweedish chef...I could have gone all day with out seeing Dhes arse////...call that a black moon !!!!!!



 
 
 
 
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