will we ever win?

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.