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On The Inside
 
September 20, 2009 | Last Updated: 9/21/09 8:57 AM ET | Comments (308)
Eagles Must Learn From Poor Performance


I'm restless. Not thinking straight. Upset about the 48-22 loss to the Saints and at the same time understanding that it was one game out of 16 and that the Eagles -- and every team -- have games like this. Still, there are some things I cannot get out of my mind, whether they are factually correct or not. Off the top of the head, then ...

  • I really like the way the Eagles are using the Wildcat, and I look forward to it continuing and to, actually, expanding. Michael Vick's ability to throw the football should take this formation to a new level. While the Wildcat is effective running the football and gaining smaller chunks of yardage, what will really revolutionize things is the Wildcat gaining large gulps of real estate. I don't buy the "offense can't get into a rhythm" nonsense that comes when an offense starts and stops like the Eagles is doing right now and when blame goes to the use of the Wildcat.
  • Upon further review, Kevin Kolb played OK for his first start, but he sure could have been a lot better. The third-quarter interception on an out route in Eagles territory was a killer, as was the pick he threw to Darren Sharper that went 97 yards the other way. On the plus side, Kolb saw the field well and generally made good decisions. He showed plenty of arm. He was pretty accurate. Kolb handled all of the formation changes well. He has a bright future.
  • Seven penalties for the Eagles to three for the Saints. Big difference.
  • Poor, poor performance in the red zone. The Eagles were one of five in touchdown efficiency in the red zone while New Orleans scored four touchdowns in six trips inside the Eagles 20-yard line. There is your ballgame, folks. Kolb probably should have thrown to DeSean Jackson early on a fade route that instead he threw out of bounds toward the end of the first half. The Eagles instead settled for a David Akers field goal.
  • Ted Daisher knows his special teams must improve after a mistake-laden outing against New Orleans. Jackson has to make a better decision than he did on the punt he caught at the 2-yard line. Yes, he had a nice return, but the Eagles were penalized for an illegal block (actually, two) and a 10-10 game quickly went south. Jackson has to understand the situation there and let the ball go into the end zone. Ellis Hobbs is a home-run hitter in the kickoff return game, but his fumble to open the second half was a huge play. On the plus side, the punt coverage teams stifled Reggie Bush and Akers is booming his kickoffs and field goals. Sav Rocca averaged 45 yards on five punts, but he had a poor punt in the fourth quarter that gave the Saints great field position for a drive that turned into the gone-goodbye touchdown.


  • Safety Quintin Mikell said the defense "played on our heels" against Drew Brees and the Saints offense. It happens. The Eagles have to learn from it and not let it happen again. Brees had a masterful performance working the pocket because the Eagles didn't get the pressure they needed up the gut. Brees stepped up time and again to make big throws. The Eagles gave up 133 rushing yards after closing off the Panthers' vaunted running game a week earlier. Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson were too quiet.
  • Akeem Jordan has become quite a WILL linebacker. He had a sensational tip and interception, and three of his eight total tackles were for losses. Jordan is a rapidly-improving player.
  • I could be totally wrong about this, but didn't it seem like the Saints paid wide receiver Kevin Curtis very little respect? They single-covered him and tried to use press coverage on Curtis and held Curtis to 3 catches for 44 yards. According to the official play-by-play sheet, Kolb had Curtis as a target 9 times and completed just 3 passes to him. That isn't very productive.
  • Meanwhile, Jeremy Maclin had a couple of catches for 13 yards and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a few more reps in the coming weeks. The Eagles need his explosiveness.
  • Bottom line on this game: The Eagles needed to play an excellent game to defeat the Saints. Instead, they turned the ball over four times and made costly penalties and a close game quickly snowballed the other way.
  • Not a huge concern on the injury front with a bye week after the Chiefs come to town, but I don't want to see Brian Westbrook on the injury list at all. Some watch Westbrook and wonder if he has his quickness and burst back, but that isn't really what bothers me. For whatever reason, Westbrook has only 6 catches for 22 yards, an average of just 3.7 yards per reception. If the Eagles can't get Westbrook in space against linebackers and take advantage of those matchups, this offense is going to struggle.
  • Hard to tell how well Max Jean-Gilles played at right guard in his start, so I won't comment specifically. The Eagles seemed to have good push at the line of scrimmage. A couple of blitzes beat the blocking -- one on a designed Kolb quarterback draw in the red zone -- but for the most part the line seemed OK.
  • Macho Harris was solid in start No. 2. The secondary was really not bad, but when you play against the Saints and a quarterabck like Brees with receivers like Marcus Colston -- he was unstoppable with 8 catches for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns -- secondaries don't have much of a chance unless the quarterback is hurried. And Brees wasn't hurried as he worked the pocket so masterfully.
  • Not sure what happens with Dimitri Patterson (broken hand, surgery coming) is going to be out, but it's a loss for the special teams. Patterson is an excellent gunner in coverage.
  • Brent Celek has become an outstanding tight end. Some of his catches came in garbage time, but Celek has great hands and leg strength after he makes the catch. He got to the sticks and he is so great on is routes. Celek has 14 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown in two games.
Eagles Must Learn From Poor Performance
   
ianinaz33
09/24/09
11:41 pm ET
Thanks Einstein : About our fourth WR that starts ! " I could be totally wrong about this, but didn't it seem like the Saints paid wide receiver Kevin Curtis very little respect? They single-covered him and tried to use press coverage on Curtis and held Curtis to 3 catches for 44 yards. According to the official play-by-play sheet, Kolb had Curtis as a target 9 times and completed just 3 passes to him. That isn't very productive. "
DrPimper1232@...
09/23/09
2:38 am ET
and get rid of shawn andrews wat r we waiting 4 he might be the best rg in the nfl but wat good is he if he's never on the field
DrPimper1232@...
09/23/09
2:27 am ET
the eagles should have blitzed more the only way 2 beat a quarterback like brees is pressure and i guarantee u we would have had a few more turn overs and incompletions and andy reid needs 2 learn how 2 dicipline those ****es 2 many stupid mistakes
ericbkk23@yahoo
09/22/09
8:52 pm ET
Lets see why didn't the Eagles blitz more then one player..Hmmmmmm..could it be because the Eagles secondary is like swiss cheese and Drew Brees has the quickest release in the NFL???? He destroyed them in full coverage,it would have been 80-21 if they had done that. Dude, one or two plays did not determine this game. The Eags are in big trouble against the pass.
rlcarroll37
09/22/09
6:39 am ET
New guy here, Just want to say that the last minute thirty of the first half just freaking killed us. First of all should have run on third and eight, bleed the clock and then punted. Secondly, can't believe the ref missed the hold / face mask on Clemons on the first play after the punt. Ultimetly though I thought that we didn't blitz Brees enough in this game. What happened to all of the overload blitzes, all I saw was an occassional one man blitz. If you want to beat Brees you do it the same way you beat Brady. Blitz at least two guys on an overload, make him throw off the back of his feet. What harm can it do. If you don't blitz him, he'll just pick you apart. Lastly I would rather have DMac over Moon in anygame. Oh that's right Moon never played in an SB and only one championship game if I remember correctly.
jamie17
09/21/09
5:05 pm ET
I don't care if Ellis Hobbs is a home run hitter, we shouldn't let a CB be the primary kickoff return man. I'm not hating on CB's because I was one in highschool, I just repeatedly see these defensive guys get their one chance to make a big play and end up fumbling because they don't work on their ball-carrying fundamentals as much as the offensive guys. Put Hobbs in when we need a big play. The rest of the time use a guy who will protect the football. I'm thinking of Lesean McCoy, or Jeremy Maclin.
cetst11@...
09/21/09
4:34 pm ET
new post everybody (except Bird_brain)
Bird_brain46
09/21/09
4:32 pm ET
IF IF IF IF IF the Eagles had five more really good players and some f-ing discipline we could finally win a GD SB and we could all stop being so frustrated and sniping at each other. I think I'm done for today. Thanks for listening.
Bird_brain46
09/21/09
4:26 pm ET
tboned...I will continue to watch in my agony because I love the Birds as much as you. It doesn't mean I won't criticize them roundly when they suck and play embarrasssing football. I am not throwing in the towel. As I said several times yesterday was strike one. They do not look like a SB contender was my point and is that not what we all want. Are we sitting here caring about this SOOOO f-ing much because we are all jacked up about another 10-6 snoozer or a 12-4 NFC title loss. We want to win a title and all drink beer at the parade while we bag work. We want to piss in the eye of the Cowgirl fans who talk about their rusty old rings from 15 years ago. We all want the same thing. Yesterday just showed me we may not get it again and yeah I'm f-ing disappointed. And you should be as well instead of making excuses.
tboned208
09/21/09
4:21 pm ET
Yes sir Cets...Brown was all over Henderson like a blankett on the one long play...it wasn't a TD play but it was to Brown's side...Stride for stride Brown had a hand full of jersey and the other hand in Henderson's face...Both plaayers laying out airborn and the ball just clears Brown's fingers in to Henderson's outstretched arms and he maintained control when Brown landed on top...A phenomenal throw and catch...they were firing on all cylinders and we backfired a few times...
cetst11@...
09/21/09
4:21 pm ET
More notes that are on the side: Our containment on running plays is driving me crazy. We got hit with that misdirection cut back play WAY too many times. In our first meeting with Dallas last year they couldn't move the ball (on the ground) until they started running that same play on us. They caught us over pursuing the play and cut right back on us. (I was impressed at their FBs ability to make that cut back and unload a serious block though).
Bird_brain46
09/21/09
4:20 pm ET
JB...Marlin Briscoe was only the first to start a game and WTF did Thrower ever do?? Moon put up numbers. And get the hell out of here with Doug Williams. You could have won that game. Right place, right time. So disappointing that mediocre SOB is the first AA QB to win a SB. Here we go again. You love apples and oranges. Who do you think would win between the '78 Steelers and West Catholic since we are comparing apples to oranges. where do you get this crap?>!?!?
chrisejlewis@...
09/21/09
4:19 pm ET
cets > that missed penalty where Clemmons got held was a killer too. Is it just me or does anyone feel as though the Eagles are getting screwed by the refs on a regular basis? WTF?!
chrisejlewis@...
09/21/09
4:18 pm ET
New post up...
cetst11@...
09/21/09
4:15 pm ET
Other side note: Got to give Drew props... Two of those TD catches were perfect passes with pressure in his face into perfect man to man coverage (Brown and Hanson were the victims). Neither of the two could have defended the plays any better.
tboned208
09/21/09
4:14 pm ET
if that was nuff said bird brain...then why have you been crying out loud on here all damn day !!!! I doubt you could find 1 damn Eagle fan that liked the outcome of yesterday's game...Did yesterday set the tone for the rest of the season...HELL NO...do we have some things to work on HELL YEAH...or should we pack it up, and throw in the towel...NO MAS....NO MAS...Fair weathered fans...When we win it all rosy and when we lose it's ARMAGEDDON !!!!! Pathetic....
JeromeBrown99
09/21/09
4:13 pm ET
Bb))) What in the f*** are you talking about? Moon was the Paige of the NFL? You are nothing but insane. IF Moon is in because of that... then why isn't Willie Thrower in the HOF? What about Marlin Briscoe? Doug Williams? === Here I have been trying to get somebody to see the light... that thinks Moon is better than #5. I'm an idiot. === Is there any other man alive that would take Warren Moon over #5 if they had a game to win? I thought not.
Bird_brain46
09/21/09
4:10 pm ET
The team is poorly disciplined. Like I said, I wish they were in HS and had to run all day today at practice for being horrible and not playing with discipline.
cetst11@...
09/21/09
4:09 pm ET
A tale of two halves. I would feel better about all of that game going down the toilet if they wouldn't have missed that obvious hand to the face/hold right at the point of attack on their two min drill at the end of the first. We would have gotten the ball with more time, tied, and more momentum.
Bird_brain46
09/21/09
4:08 pm ET
kenemeka...lets see if NYG and Dallas give up 400+ yards a few more times. I know we will because the same D did it several times last year. I'm not going ape **** over one game. This is a pattern. Have you been watching the last two years or was yesterday your first game?? If it was, welcome to the land of heartbreak and misery. LOL!
chrisejlewis@...
09/21/09
4:05 pm ET
I don't think DeSean's punt return was the turning point at all. That Hobbs fumble killed us before that. Besides, Jackson had a nice return had it not been for the knuckleheads blocking in the back and holding. Back to the basics...
Bird_brain46
09/21/09
4:04 pm ET
tboned....if I gave my uncle a set of ta-ta's he could be my aunt. We sucked and we lost. Nuff said.
kenemeka@...
09/21/09
4:03 pm ET
BB, JB`s 3.51 post beat me to it; per yrds allowed: according to you, both Dallas and Giants should forget about the SB because both defenses gave up 400+ yrds yesterday and of course the Dallas D has no sacks after 2 games against.....yea Tampa with Leftwich and a Giants team they sacked 8x last time they played. No BB, you are just being too emotional; the key is how the team plays in their next 4 games; if the D is still bad, then you have a point; conversely, don`t come back here saying anything if this D plays up to par.
Bird_brain46
09/21/09
4:02 pm ET
JB.. got to agree with Southphilly. Kelly lost four SBs not one. And for Waren Moon, you are out of line and again comparing apples and oranges. Moon was the Sachel Paige of NFL history in a way. He dominated the CFL when the NFL wouldn't give AA QBs a chance and then came in past his prime and put up great numbers. D MAc could not hold Moon's jock dude. Stop your silly analogies. I thought you were getting something to eat. Be gone you nit wit! LOL!
manth15@...
09/21/09
4:02 pm ET
oh and if you want to look at it another way, letting the ball go, the penalty would have still been enforced from the spot of the foul, leaving the eagles in the same spot that they were in anyway.



 
 
 
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