Eh

The defense was good, the offense was weak. Colt McCoy came into this game completing 70% of his passes and lit up the Packers in week 1, but he looked mediocre vs. the Eagles. Early it seemed that the Browns could just hand it off to Hillis and they'd gain 5 yards a play, but I guess the Browns wanted to give McCoy the work instead. So the Eagles applied pressure and covered really well in both the secondary and underneath via the linebackers. As a result the first team defense shut out the Browns first team offense.

The Eagles first team offense looked poor. Vick was getting crushed almost every pass play until mid second quarter. The right side of the line + center when they weren't getting beat, looked befuddled. It didn't help that Vick held the ball too long at times. The most success the Eagles had was with running plays to the left. Eventually the line got its act together and kept Celek in to help block and Vick then had some time. But even then it took until the last 5 minutes of the half to complete a pass to a wide receiver. Everything before that was short passes to McCoy. Despite all that the Eagles scored 17 points - but thank a special teams muffed punt recovery and the Samuel interception for giving the offense a short field.

The most notable play in the second half came on the Browns first TD. Reid challenged the play even though all scores are now automatically reviewed if there is the slightest question. Because he challenged and wasn't allowed to, he received a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty AND it wiped out the automatic review and the play was automatically ruled a TD. Better Reid make this huge gaffe in the 4th quarter of a meaningless preseason game up 24-7 than during a real game.

Other notes:

• Eagles started the game with some trickery - they ran a running play.
• Rookie Danny Watkins looked pretty bad early in the game.
• Specials teams blocked a FG for the second game in a row.
• LeSean McCoy was the player of the first half and looks completely ready to start the season.
• Vick was blitzed and threw a ball up for grabs and was picked but it was nullified by a totally bogus roughing the passer call.
• Vick played somewhat poorly, but the ETN made excuses for him.
• Patterson got a sack on his return from the AVN seizure and a nice ovation from the fans.
• Coleman made some nice tackles.
• Both Chaney and Matthews were good in coverage. Matthews looked better overall, but still doesn't shed blocks well.
• How come in those lame commercials where the old version of some dude (it's always a dude) goes back in time and tells the young version to prudently invest with Lincoln Financial doesn't just give out the winners for the next 10 Super Bowls or something instead?

Creamed team

Last week the Eagles came out and played like the game meant something while Baltimore just played. This week the Steelers played like the game meant something while the Eagles looked terrible. All the deficiencies of last year's Eagles team, especially on the defensive side of the ball, were present. The defense couldn't stop the run, had bad safety play, had weak linebacker play, and couldn't get off the field on third downs. Also the blitzes were all read and taken advantage of. The only positive was they continued to apply consistent pressure on the quarterback without having to blitz.

On offense the first team struggled and Vick made poor decisions that led to picks. McCoy had some nice runs, but did they keep handing off to him? That was a rhetorical question of course. The offensive line looked ok with a few shaky moments and Celek still can't run block.

I didn't watch the second half. Maybe something exciting happened and they came back from 21-0. I don't know.

Other notes:

• You know what is more boring than a touchback on a kickoff? Complaining about it over and over and over. You know what else? When it gets cold, windy, rainy, snowy etc. there won't be as many touchbacks. And enough with the kick return is the most exciting play in the game. 99% of kick returns go nowhere and on half of those there's a holding, block in the back, illegal use of hands penalty so the offense is backed up and has to call boring, conservative plays and then goes three and out.
• Steelers ran the ball a lot and ran it well. Usually it was right into the Eagles' soft, pink belly for nice gains. If there was a short yardage situation it was easily converted.
• Matthews blew a bunch of tackles, along with his teammates.
• Steelers safeties are the "cream of the crop." Eagles safeties are the "bottom of the barrel."
• Idiot Reid is still calling plays that put Jackson in a position to get crushed by guys twice his weight.
• So Celek can't block, stopped being an offensive weapon last year, and tends to drop the ball. What happened? LJ Smith part 2?
• Riley Cooper also kind of sucks. He goes weak on too many plays.
• Kind of sad when the best hit of the game by an Eagle was Vick taking Polamalu out while he was returning Vick's third pick of the half.
• In those iPhone commercials isn't it amazing how absolutely still the hands holding the phones are? It's like they are pictures or something.
• Stupid looking movies - "Contagion" and "Apollo 18."

Go birds!

For just the first preseason game after a shortened camp, the Eagles were actually impressive and surprisingly crisp, defeating the Ravens 13-6. There were no stupid penalties, no drops, an efficient 1st, 2nd, and 3rd team offenses and pressure on the QB from the defense all night.

The first team offense only played one series and went 74 yards for a TD with maybe 2 runs mixed in for no gain. The second team offense came in and it was like channel 6 had switched to a different game. The Eagles ran the ball. Repeatedly. Their drive for a field goal that featured a big dose of Ronnie Brown ate up around 10 minutes. Young was also impressive and made several good throws and one where he scrambled out of trouble and hit Chad Hall down the field for a big gain. The third team and Kafka were in by the middle of the second quarter and he also moved the offense and was crisp with his passes. He already hits receivers in stride better than McNabb ever did. Kafka made a poor decision on his interception, but other than that he was good.

The defense did not allow a TD! MIracle. They had pressure all night and that led to some interceptions by the Eagles 2 new safeties - Jarrett and Page. The first team barely played - about 8-10 snaps. Baltimore was threatening to tie the game a the end, but the third team defense held on for the win. I have doubts about the Juan Castillo move, but he does have enthusiasm and his defense follow their coach's lead.

Other notes:

• Don Tollefson is awful. He started slurping the Eagles early and just got stronger as the game went on. He made sure he parroted all the Eagles talking points about the new coaches, the new schemes, and how they feel about the many additions and verbally spooned Joe Banner when he made a 3rd quarter appearance in the broadcast booth.
• Ronnie Brown looked slow to me. He does "run strong" and puts his head down and doesn't go down easy.
• Of course Brown was bouncing everything outside - not his strength - because there were no holes in the middle.
• One of the "players to watch," Matthews, didn't play enough to judge, but it appeared he can actually cover a tight end.
• Impressive players - Chad Hall, Tapp, and Dion Lewis. Lewis, who was drafted in the 5th round from Pittsburgh, was very quick and elusive and ran hard.
• There was a distinct lack of cheerleader shots.
• Reid is fat as ever.

 

An Eagles Dream Team

I'm by no means down on the Eagles, as they've had a great off season. But, I am still not a Super Bowl believer, so I'm glad to hear Jeff Lurie insisting they're not a dream team, despite it sounding like goofy homage to The Pack. Now with Patterson going down indefinitely, it raises another concern around the team: DT's. While we're all hoping for the best for him, regardless of his football future, what's got you concerned most about the upcoming season? For me, in some order of relative importance:

• Linebackers. When the offense slows down against better/playoff teams in the cold weather, the opponents running through and TE's crossing beyond our DL concerns me. This is even more worrisome given the condition of the DL.
  
• DL, and this may be understated now with Patterson likely out. Add to that Abiamiri (aka Derrick Burgess Part 2, although maybe without an eventual good full year one day). Yikes. We know who will cover WR's, but what about the run and short field?
  
• Vick getting hurt. He's made it through only one complete season ever in his career? As fun as he has been to watch, I still flaw this approach as I don't think he's the recipe to win a championship, more to showcase a high powered offense. With Vince Young backing him up and an improved OL for 2011, I'm slightly less concerned about this but it's still up there for me.
  
• Andy Reid. Still hoping that McNabb was most of the problem, but....
  
• No more Akers, and the fear that we'll be struggling with a Kicker all year, which could become super important in January.
  

I'm not worried about safety with this secondary and the ability to put a nickle out there on every down (btw, Nnamdi can tackle!). Our skill positions on offense are fine w/ our backfield and if Maclin and DJax are both going to play (I also texted a few buddies earlier this week that either Owens or Moss would end up an Eagle before the end of the season). Our OL is much better. A lot of things going for us vs. last year.

Cody Ross & The 2011 Phils

Well, at least we know Clifton Phifer has this guy's number for now, hope it carries into the playoffs if we battle again. Four K's last night, and boy, he looked awful on all of them, sans one long launched foul ball.

Props to Ryan Howard for another nice basket catch in foul territory. Polanco is so fun to watch on third. The defense made it a lot easier on a Lee who just put each pitch in perfect spots.

I so love Hunter Pence. So goofy and awkward, full of energy and spunk, a solid hitter too. Quite a game from him last night. Looking forward to the next three SF games of this Series too.

Reflection: For as many injuries as this team has had over the season, you look at two things: The Phils managed to win a lot of games through those. And, secondly, just about every single one is working themselves out, so that a real "dream team" is emerging ready for the playoffs. Even Lidge is looking like he can add some late inning value, despite not having a fastball anymore and pretty much exclusively riding that slider. Who is still unhealthy (Blanton) but matters (No One?)?