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| Eli Manning: a dejected, historically lucky, piece of crap Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE |
After a suffering a shellacking at the hands of KEVIN KOLB (Really???) and the suddenly
tenacious Arizona Cardinals Defense
in Week 3, the Philadelphia Eagles,
and Michael Vick in particular, were
scrutinized by everyone, including their own grandmothers, during this past
week leading up to their triumphant victory over the New York Giants last
night.
Skip Bayless refused to call Vick anything less than a
basket case on multiple First Take airings. NFL Countdown, NFL Live, NFL
Network, along with everyone else, criticized the play-calling and turnovers
committed by the Eagles through their first 3 games.
But, with 12 team turnovers, 9 coming from Vick himself, the
Eagles were still 2-1, with two 4th Quarter comebacks, and a chance
to belly up the Giants and claim a nice lead in the NFC East.
Well… That. Just. Happened!
On Brian Dawkins
number-retirement night (And seriously, did you actually think the Eagles would
lose on Brian Dawkins night??), the Birds did what was necessary to win
football games. They had ZERO turnovers. They gave up 57 yards rushing. They
forced the Giants to go 2-10 on 3rd Down conversions. But, most
importantly, they actually featured tremendous play calling in the final 5
minutes of the first half and almost all of the second.
So far this season, the Birds have been very reluctant to
establish their ground game first and develop their aerial attack second. That
norm still occurred in the first quarter, but, suddenly with the clock winding
down on the first half, Marty Mornhinweg
actually started calling effective, diverse plays. Here’s LeSean McCoy for a run up the middle, Vick three-step drop to Brent Celek for 7, then back to McCoy!
Overall, the Brids racked up 422 total yards on 30 pass plays and 36 rush
attempts. That’s a textbook balanced offense that hasn’t been seen under Andy Reid’s regime too often. Michael
Vick also looked masterful at times, carving up the Giants linebackers and
secondary with three-step drops and 7-15 yard passes instead of an array of
attempts at 20-25 yard passes. The Offensive Line wasn’t dominant, but was very
serviceable in the second half as well. If the Eagles offense continues to play
the way the ended last night’s contest, the Steelers have their hands full next
week.
But, of course there has to be some criticism dished out.
Offensively, the Eagles reverted to last season’s style and struggled to turn
Red Zone opportunities into seven points. However, you can’t be too nervous
about these difficulties because they haven’t really had much of them thus far
this season.
The main problems with the team last night were none other
than gaping holes in Special Teams coverage and slot-pass coverage. With
Special Teams, there must have been just endless amounts miscommunication.
That’s the only way to speculate how the holes in the team’s coverage were so
wide open, Shaquille O’Neal in his
oversized Buick sedan could’ve drove through them. After fumbling a crucial
possession David Wilson cried during
his team’s season opener earlier this season. He then was benched behind Andre Brown in Week 3, who started in
place of Ahmad Bradshaw. Brown was
waived 8 TIMES in his career prior to this season. Yet, the rookie Wilson was
still able to torch the Special Teams? Make some open field tackles guys!
However, most importantly, the Eagles severely struggled
covering slot receivers. Under secondary coach, Todd Bowles, the Eagles’ cornerbacks have been playing a
bump-and-run style of one-on-one pass coverage that has worked wonders on the
outside of the field. The corners and safeties have been working together
excellently on the majority of pass plays this season, only allowing 206.8
opponent pass yards per game, which ranks 8th in the NFL. But man,
Bowles needs to call up is friends, Linebackers Coach, Mike Caldwell, and Defensive Coordinator, Juan Castillo, to discuss how the linebackers need to help the
third corners in the slot. Brandon
Boykin, DRC and even Brandon Hughes busted their butts all
night trying to defend Victor Cruz
and a few tight ends. But, I have to say, the linebackers, especially Demeco Ryans truly let them down. Ryans
has been an excellent defensive quarterback, pass rusher and pretty efficient
covering tight ends one on one this season, but he showed a major flaw last
night. His inefficient help on slot receivers directly resulted in the only two
Giants touchdowns of the evening. It was Ryans who read the tight end option incorrectly,
leading to a Bear Pascoe TD and it
was Ryans who failed to cover Victor Cruz underneath (a ball he should’ve
picked off and taken to the house), leading to his touchdown and annoying salsa
dance. I still can’t believe NBC played salsa music during its broadcast. How
flipping ridiculous!
With an outstanding pass rush and run-stopping front seven,
the Eagles defense looks to be in great shape. Most offenses don’t have such
dynamic slot receivers as the Giants do in Cruz, but if the Birds can fix this
problem, they might be able to be called the best defense in football later on
this season.
Now, For the sake of my cholesterol, we’re not even going to
discuss the icing the kicker fiasco… Let’s just say, with the struggling Steelers
are up next, who gave up 34 to the Raiders, can you smell 4-1?
#Eagles baby!
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