With the Monday morning fallout from yesterday's loss, many fans and critics alike have been calling for the head of the team's franchise quarterback and franchise head coach. One or the other has to go, it seems, at least in the jaded eyes of many. With six games left in this season, which can still be redeemed despite the team's shortcomings, it might be too soon to call in the mob.
While I do believe Reid doesn't have what it takes to win a Super Bowl as a head coach, GM, and offensive coordinator, something needs to change right now. Reid can't be a multi-tasker. He needs to focus on being the coach and do nothing else. Relinquish the GM duties, hand over the play calling, and stick to trying to figure the team out. Reid has six games left to try and win the fans back over, since chances are good he has completely lost them at this point.
McNabb is in the same boat. He hasn't been starting well, as of late. As of yesterday, he didn't really finish well, either. You can't completely blame him for his play. The team asks a lot of McNabb--to throw the ball forty or fifty times a game. Eventually, all those passes will catch up to you. He might be tired, he might be worn down. He isn't the same running threat he was five years ago, partly because of his knee, partly because he is getting on in age and not in such good of shape. It isn't time to bench him and go to Kolb full time, but it is getting close to that.
Give McNabb the start in Baltimore. If he doesn't find a rhythm in the first half, take him out and let Kolb start getting some experience. Another bad game or two and it should be time to switch gears and start working on the future of the club. The reality is we don't even know what Kolb can do. We haven't seen him get quality time, so we don't know if he's really the future or not. With McNabb's time running thin, we need to find out soon if Kolb is a band-aid or a more permanent surgical fix.
Either way, the time is coming when "rebuilding" will be necessary, and down years will happen. It has been a decade now since we've seen really bad teams, but with Reid's poor draft classes not providing much talent, those bad teams will start to surface again, at least until they can retool. Reid's stubbornness has badly hurt the offense. Not getting a true #1 receiver basically never gave an offense that relies on the pass a chance. Not getting a compliment to Westbrook means his small, fragile body is starting to fall apart. He can't be a workhorse anymore.
Overreaction is typical from fans who don't want to wait anymore for a championship. Not everyone in Philadelphia follows the Phillies. The Eagles certainly had more than enough chances to take home a Lombardi, but never got it done. McNabb does not appear to be a big game, clutch quarterback. Reid can barely field a winning team anymore. But it is still too soon to cut the cord completely. The two of them turned a disaster into a every-year competitive team. Reid still has a contract through 2010. I don't see Lurie eating any of his money, but it might be in the best interest, if he can't turn it around, to do just that.
So before we send an angry mob after the current heads, for all that they've accomplished, they deserve a chance to turn it around. Six games equates to six more chances. After that, well then maybe it will be time to say goodbye.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Eagles and Bengals...tie?
Yes, it is true, and not a typo. The Eagles and Bengals played to a 13-13 tie on Sunday, proving that, if we didn't already realize it, the team is heading toward implosion. Against arguably the second or third worst team in the league, the Eagles should have realistically had an easy day. They were double-digit favorites, if nothing else. The fact is, with the rest of their schedule, the Eagles needed to win in situations when they should--against teams that are very sub-par. With the Cowboys winning last night, they move back ahead of the Eagles in a tie with the 'Skins for second place in the East.
Next week, the Eagles face a tough Baltimore team, who the Giants managed to shred, just like they did the Eagles. Since the Eagles don't have nearly the run game of the G-Men, I think their gameplan is going to fall flat, just like it did against a much weaker team. Reid has never shown a strong ability to react or make at least minor adjustments. Instead, he sticks with the only thing he clearly knows, and that's how to pass. Unfortunately anymore, he no longer knows how to pass well.
If it comes down to a low scoring affair, which it probably will given the two defenses involved, it may be up to the defense to win the game for the Birds. Or maybe special teams. It seems unreliable to have to depend on the offense anymore. They can't get the job done. Before it was just short-yardage run plays. Now they can't pass and succeed on third down, either, which means they are all out of options. If the Ravens get their own run game going against a defense that has shown inconsistency, it will be a clock-control game and the Eagles will be on the short end of the stick once again.
That is, unless, you believe in miracles. This game against the Bengals could either be the wake-up call the team (mainly Reid) really needed, or it will be quite the opposite, sending the Birds into a downward spiral into oblivion. If the former is the case, it will probably be a first for Reid's career. If the latter, and quite reasonably more probable scenario, takes place, a rather drastic change will be needed by season's end.
So for the rest of the season, the Eagles schedule looks like this:
11/23 - @ Baltimore
11/27 - Arizona
12/7 - @ NY Giants
12/15 - Cleveland
12/21 - @ Washington
12/28 - Dallas
If the team that showed up yesterday doesn't transcend its problems, we may see a final run of five or six losses, which would be nothing short of catastrophic. I think for now, the Eagles will at least win against Arizona and Cleveland. Aside from that, a 2-4 finish it not out of the question, which would leave the Eagles at 7-8-1 and out of the playoffs again.
Well, there's always next year.
Next week, the Eagles face a tough Baltimore team, who the Giants managed to shred, just like they did the Eagles. Since the Eagles don't have nearly the run game of the G-Men, I think their gameplan is going to fall flat, just like it did against a much weaker team. Reid has never shown a strong ability to react or make at least minor adjustments. Instead, he sticks with the only thing he clearly knows, and that's how to pass. Unfortunately anymore, he no longer knows how to pass well.
If it comes down to a low scoring affair, which it probably will given the two defenses involved, it may be up to the defense to win the game for the Birds. Or maybe special teams. It seems unreliable to have to depend on the offense anymore. They can't get the job done. Before it was just short-yardage run plays. Now they can't pass and succeed on third down, either, which means they are all out of options. If the Ravens get their own run game going against a defense that has shown inconsistency, it will be a clock-control game and the Eagles will be on the short end of the stick once again.
That is, unless, you believe in miracles. This game against the Bengals could either be the wake-up call the team (mainly Reid) really needed, or it will be quite the opposite, sending the Birds into a downward spiral into oblivion. If the former is the case, it will probably be a first for Reid's career. If the latter, and quite reasonably more probable scenario, takes place, a rather drastic change will be needed by season's end.
So for the rest of the season, the Eagles schedule looks like this:
11/23 - @ Baltimore
11/27 - Arizona
12/7 - @ NY Giants
12/15 - Cleveland
12/21 - @ Washington
12/28 - Dallas
If the team that showed up yesterday doesn't transcend its problems, we may see a final run of five or six losses, which would be nothing short of catastrophic. I think for now, the Eagles will at least win against Arizona and Cleveland. Aside from that, a 2-4 finish it not out of the question, which would leave the Eagles at 7-8-1 and out of the playoffs again.
Well, there's always next year.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Giants open the door, Eagles don't walk through
Another close game, another tough loss: 36-31 was the tally. So what now for the Eagles? Let's first analyze the game.
It appears that Reid is up to his old tricks--tricks that aren't really tricky at all, and rarely are they successful. Neglecting the rest of the game, it comes down to two minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Eagles are making progress down the field. So here we are, third and two, and immediately I think we will give it to McNabb and either have him bootleg or do a short screen or underneath route and pass the ball off. Instead, we run the ball. Strong side. Gain of a yard at the most. Are you serious? How many times can they fail at a power-running game before Reid realizes he can't do it?
Well the answer is clearly more than the Eagles have done so far. So fourth and one, generally speaking a very make-able situation, especially considering they just scored a touchdown on a fourth down their last drive. The Eagles can't possibly run again...can they? Not when it has failed so many times.
Oh, but you'd be wrong to think that. Run off tackle. No gain, and as quickly as the Eagles had gained hope, they lost it. If this is not a wake-up call for a change in the play calling, I don't know what is. I also don't know what goes through Reid's head when he makes some of the decisions he does. You can't blame him for every mistake, but some of these are just plain egregious. All you have to do is anything else other than try to run for short yardage. If you try a pass play and fail, well at least we know we couldn't have run it anyway.
Reid is also one of the worst when it comes to challenging plays. Unfortunately he rarely ever gets one right. From now on, it is better if he relinquishes the right to throw the red flag and hand those over to Marty or Jimmy. On the topic of handing things over, he also ought to hand the play calling over to Marty again. I mean, what else is he supposed to do anyway? I find it very hard to trust Reid's judgment anymore in tight situations.
The big story, though, was the fact that the Eagles run defense, giving up a paltry 89 yards a game before this night, allowed over 200 yards from a dynamic Giants run team. I don't so much as blame the Eagles defense as I commend the Giants offense. Their offensive line is very good, and their backfield has three very different looks, which works wonders for them. The Giants are built to run, and built to run well. If only we could say the same for the Eagles, but the fact is the Eagles haven't been truly built to run in the last decade, mainly because of Reid's "pass first" mentality. That's fine so long as it works for you, and maybe it did work for the Eagles in past seasons, but now it doesn't fly anymore.
All three NFC East opponents have strong running backs (Jacobs, Barber, Portis) as opposed to just one fragile little guy (Westbrook). Don't get me wrong, Westbrook is a great player--but he's no power back, and needs holes and lanes in order to be real successful. I long thought that the team needed a compliment to him, even Duce was a decent enough change of pace, but the team parted ways with him and have not yet replaced that power side. Buckhalter is much like Westbrook. Booker is just another one, only worse. Tony Hunt was bigger, but we see how well that worked. Where is Dorsey Levens when you need him?
Anyway, the reality of the game is it should not have been so close. The Giants controlled it for the most part, and a few mistakes they made allowed Philly to stay close and even lead at times.
As much as I respect Reid for what he has done, I doubt the Eagles could even win a Superbowl with him at the helm. With two years left on his contract, it might be time now to start looking for his replacement. He has done a lot for the team, and it was a nice change from Ray Rhodes, but I think his tenure here has just about run its course. I'm not even so sure the Eagles could win a Superbowl with McNabb, although I think chances are better with him. Still, he is getting on in age and is showing fatigue among other things. He doesn't have the legs that made him such a threat before, and McNabb has never been a true pocket passer. He has a gun but is far too inconsistent.
So what now for the Eagles? Well, aside from needing changes off-the-field, player changes will also undoubtedly be on the horizon. Need new receivers? Definitely, despite any allegiances the coaches may have to the current squad. The Eagles made it to the Superbowl the same year they had a one Terrell Owens. Coincidence? Even you Owens haters (myself included), I don't think so. A fullback? Check. A power running back? Most definitely. The offensive linemen also need help, try finding guys that are known for their run blocking. The defense, for the most part, is okay. Maybe a few details, but really the offense is in need of overhaul.
While I personally believe it is time to move on from the Reid era, only time will tell if Banner and/or Lurie agree with me. One thing is true, though--no longer is the organization or the team on the field the "gold standard."
It appears that Reid is up to his old tricks--tricks that aren't really tricky at all, and rarely are they successful. Neglecting the rest of the game, it comes down to two minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Eagles are making progress down the field. So here we are, third and two, and immediately I think we will give it to McNabb and either have him bootleg or do a short screen or underneath route and pass the ball off. Instead, we run the ball. Strong side. Gain of a yard at the most. Are you serious? How many times can they fail at a power-running game before Reid realizes he can't do it?
Well the answer is clearly more than the Eagles have done so far. So fourth and one, generally speaking a very make-able situation, especially considering they just scored a touchdown on a fourth down their last drive. The Eagles can't possibly run again...can they? Not when it has failed so many times.
Oh, but you'd be wrong to think that. Run off tackle. No gain, and as quickly as the Eagles had gained hope, they lost it. If this is not a wake-up call for a change in the play calling, I don't know what is. I also don't know what goes through Reid's head when he makes some of the decisions he does. You can't blame him for every mistake, but some of these are just plain egregious. All you have to do is anything else other than try to run for short yardage. If you try a pass play and fail, well at least we know we couldn't have run it anyway.
Reid is also one of the worst when it comes to challenging plays. Unfortunately he rarely ever gets one right. From now on, it is better if he relinquishes the right to throw the red flag and hand those over to Marty or Jimmy. On the topic of handing things over, he also ought to hand the play calling over to Marty again. I mean, what else is he supposed to do anyway? I find it very hard to trust Reid's judgment anymore in tight situations.
The big story, though, was the fact that the Eagles run defense, giving up a paltry 89 yards a game before this night, allowed over 200 yards from a dynamic Giants run team. I don't so much as blame the Eagles defense as I commend the Giants offense. Their offensive line is very good, and their backfield has three very different looks, which works wonders for them. The Giants are built to run, and built to run well. If only we could say the same for the Eagles, but the fact is the Eagles haven't been truly built to run in the last decade, mainly because of Reid's "pass first" mentality. That's fine so long as it works for you, and maybe it did work for the Eagles in past seasons, but now it doesn't fly anymore.
All three NFC East opponents have strong running backs (Jacobs, Barber, Portis) as opposed to just one fragile little guy (Westbrook). Don't get me wrong, Westbrook is a great player--but he's no power back, and needs holes and lanes in order to be real successful. I long thought that the team needed a compliment to him, even Duce was a decent enough change of pace, but the team parted ways with him and have not yet replaced that power side. Buckhalter is much like Westbrook. Booker is just another one, only worse. Tony Hunt was bigger, but we see how well that worked. Where is Dorsey Levens when you need him?
Anyway, the reality of the game is it should not have been so close. The Giants controlled it for the most part, and a few mistakes they made allowed Philly to stay close and even lead at times.
As much as I respect Reid for what he has done, I doubt the Eagles could even win a Superbowl with him at the helm. With two years left on his contract, it might be time now to start looking for his replacement. He has done a lot for the team, and it was a nice change from Ray Rhodes, but I think his tenure here has just about run its course. I'm not even so sure the Eagles could win a Superbowl with McNabb, although I think chances are better with him. Still, he is getting on in age and is showing fatigue among other things. He doesn't have the legs that made him such a threat before, and McNabb has never been a true pocket passer. He has a gun but is far too inconsistent.
So what now for the Eagles? Well, aside from needing changes off-the-field, player changes will also undoubtedly be on the horizon. Need new receivers? Definitely, despite any allegiances the coaches may have to the current squad. The Eagles made it to the Superbowl the same year they had a one Terrell Owens. Coincidence? Even you Owens haters (myself included), I don't think so. A fullback? Check. A power running back? Most definitely. The offensive linemen also need help, try finding guys that are known for their run blocking. The defense, for the most part, is okay. Maybe a few details, but really the offense is in need of overhaul.
While I personally believe it is time to move on from the Reid era, only time will tell if Banner and/or Lurie agree with me. One thing is true, though--no longer is the organization or the team on the field the "gold standard."
Eagles O.K. with Pedestrian Performances?
Following another loss that leads the Eagles toward true average, that is a .500 record, there is a feeling of malaise and even aversion towards this team which now sits at 29-28 since a trip to the Super Bowl in 2004. It is hard to fathom how the Eagles feel about the loss, especially one enigmatic Andy Reid, but an answer could be found in how the organization seems to have become entrapped in a situation of complacent mediocrity--almost like a perpetual Super Bowl hangover.
After getting so close four years in a row at a time when the NFC was a very different animal, the last four years may just be backlash since never overcoming that final hurdle. It seems as though the team either neglects or refuses to accept the fact that they aren't the same group, and the NFC is not the same conference. A lot more parity exists, and teams that were quiet before are starting to make noise after some rebuilding. The dominant division that was the NFC East may no longer hold the reigns, but you can still make the case that they do--for now.
Impressively enough, all of the teams in the NFC East are above .500. The only other division in football to equal that mark is the AFC East, but that division does not have a team like the Giants at the top (mainly because the Patriots are no longer the same squad). Chances are good that each team will finish at or above .500, but no longer will three teams from the NFC East make the playoffs. In the South, the Panthers come out of nowhere at 7-2, then the Falcons and Bucs are both 6-3, the Saints are not far behind at 4-5. The North is much the same with a jumble between the top three teams--poor Detroit. If you include the stumbling Cowboys and wishy-washy Eagles in the playoff mix, you basically have two playoff spots for a realistic eight different teams. That means six of the people mentioned above will not make it. That will likely also mean a record worse than 10-6 is automatically out. If the Eagles want ANY chance, they need to finish at least 5-2 in their remaining games.
Back to those babbling Birds. A lot of members of their organization seem to think that the team is just fine, and better than whatever opponent they may face. It may be this feeling of former-dominance that could be the cause of their undoing. The fact is, they are no longer the dominant force or the face of the NFC. As of now, the Giants are and will remain so until another team makes the Superbowl in their place. The Eagles need to understand this is NOT 2004. This is 2008, and a time when they desperately need help just to try and make the playoffs, much less push for a Bowl win.
While the city basks under its Red sun with the Phillies championship, one that the Eagles certainly had their heads down for, a lot of not-so-Phillies and Eagles-only fans may be shaking their heads at an organization that was on the verge of bringing a parade back to town. So while the Eagles are certainly no longer the face of the NFC, they may no longer be the face of Philadelphia. And they will not be again until they bring home that Lombardi trophy. It took the Phillies 28 years to win one again--the Eagles haven't won a Super Bowl ever. The last time the Eagles won a championship, Vince Lombardi was only in his second year with Green Bay, and there was no shiny silver trophy to take home. To put a number to a name, it has been 48 years for them.
The sad part is, chances are slim they'll get one within the next few years. Anything could happen, but unless the Eagles phase out their ineptitudes and focus more on what could make them a better team, they'll forever be stuck with average. For it is not until after you realize that you are average can you truly no longer be average.
After getting so close four years in a row at a time when the NFC was a very different animal, the last four years may just be backlash since never overcoming that final hurdle. It seems as though the team either neglects or refuses to accept the fact that they aren't the same group, and the NFC is not the same conference. A lot more parity exists, and teams that were quiet before are starting to make noise after some rebuilding. The dominant division that was the NFC East may no longer hold the reigns, but you can still make the case that they do--for now.
Impressively enough, all of the teams in the NFC East are above .500. The only other division in football to equal that mark is the AFC East, but that division does not have a team like the Giants at the top (mainly because the Patriots are no longer the same squad). Chances are good that each team will finish at or above .500, but no longer will three teams from the NFC East make the playoffs. In the South, the Panthers come out of nowhere at 7-2, then the Falcons and Bucs are both 6-3, the Saints are not far behind at 4-5. The North is much the same with a jumble between the top three teams--poor Detroit. If you include the stumbling Cowboys and wishy-washy Eagles in the playoff mix, you basically have two playoff spots for a realistic eight different teams. That means six of the people mentioned above will not make it. That will likely also mean a record worse than 10-6 is automatically out. If the Eagles want ANY chance, they need to finish at least 5-2 in their remaining games.
Back to those babbling Birds. A lot of members of their organization seem to think that the team is just fine, and better than whatever opponent they may face. It may be this feeling of former-dominance that could be the cause of their undoing. The fact is, they are no longer the dominant force or the face of the NFC. As of now, the Giants are and will remain so until another team makes the Superbowl in their place. The Eagles need to understand this is NOT 2004. This is 2008, and a time when they desperately need help just to try and make the playoffs, much less push for a Bowl win.
While the city basks under its Red sun with the Phillies championship, one that the Eagles certainly had their heads down for, a lot of not-so-Phillies and Eagles-only fans may be shaking their heads at an organization that was on the verge of bringing a parade back to town. So while the Eagles are certainly no longer the face of the NFC, they may no longer be the face of Philadelphia. And they will not be again until they bring home that Lombardi trophy. It took the Phillies 28 years to win one again--the Eagles haven't won a Super Bowl ever. The last time the Eagles won a championship, Vince Lombardi was only in his second year with Green Bay, and there was no shiny silver trophy to take home. To put a number to a name, it has been 48 years for them.
The sad part is, chances are slim they'll get one within the next few years. Anything could happen, but unless the Eagles phase out their ineptitudes and focus more on what could make them a better team, they'll forever be stuck with average. For it is not until after you realize that you are average can you truly no longer be average.
PHINALLY!
Yes, one of the most overused misspellings from the last week continues to dominate the headlines in Philadelphia. I realize I am a little behind in the times, but forgive me, it has been a hectic last few weeks with the Phillies making the run that they did, a run that undoubtedly very few around baseball expected. They won the world series handily, beating the Rays in 5 games.
Needless to say the parade was ridiculous, and even more of a spectacle was trying to catch a train on either side of the parade's duration. Even though Septa made a mess despite encouraging every man, woman, and child to take public transportation, it was hard to ruin the mood that flowed through one of Philadelphia's arteries. Broad Street was packed to the brim with red-and-white clad fans, approximately two million strong.
I wish to say congrats to the Phillies as a team and as an organization, and congrats to all the lifers here in Philly that have suffered through twenty-five years of mediocre, dreadful, and oh-so-close sports franchises. It has been a long time coming for sure.
Needless to say the parade was ridiculous, and even more of a spectacle was trying to catch a train on either side of the parade's duration. Even though Septa made a mess despite encouraging every man, woman, and child to take public transportation, it was hard to ruin the mood that flowed through one of Philadelphia's arteries. Broad Street was packed to the brim with red-and-white clad fans, approximately two million strong.
I wish to say congrats to the Phillies as a team and as an organization, and congrats to all the lifers here in Philly that have suffered through twenty-five years of mediocre, dreadful, and oh-so-close sports franchises. It has been a long time coming for sure.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Phillies Advance to NLCS
In the season where football is supposed to be the dominant feature in Philadelphia Sports, at least the way it has been since 1993, the Phillies have been the only team making noise this fall. The confused Eagles are a meager 2-3 and sit at the bottom of the NFC East, while the Phillies--making their second run at the World Series--are nothing worse than the second-best team in the Senior circuit. They begin their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday to determine which coast proves to field the better squad. This is the fourth time in history the Philles and Dodgers have met in the NLCS--the Dodgers have the series lead 2 to 1.
Whether or not the team succeeds will undoubtedly fall into the hands of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, the two biggest bats on the team who have both generally struggled in post-season play. The starting pitching proved its worth against a floudering Milwaukee Brew-Crew, but now it too has to step up against a Dodger team that lit-up the Cubs strong rotation and averaged a mdoest 6.7 runs a game. So long as Myers and Moyer come to play, I believe the pitching will hold tight, but the bats definitely need to get louder. The Phillies streaky offense, which has often been their achilles heel, will need to get hot come Thursday and start pounding in the runs. The Dodgers are playing at their best since the season began in April, and it is time for the Phillies to do the same.
This is a new venue for the Phillies team, full of players unfamiliar with post-season play. Some of that starry-eyed wonder may affect them in their first game, but hopefully the eye-wash is brought out in a hurry and the team can start to focus on the task at hand. After the game on Sunday, it already sounded like the team was ready to get down to business. They will need to maintain that business-like attitude throughout if they expect to play for a World Championship.
If the Phillies can successfully navigate the Dodgers, they will most likely have to face off against a strong AL squad in either Boston or the Angels. Unfortunately for them, the Phillies have not done well in interleague play, but in the playoffs the machine is a whole different animal. Hopefully they can get over their awkwardness against Junior Circuit opponents and come ready to battle, but they still have to get by Manny Fresh and the Princes near Bel-Air in order to even have that chance.
So on a day when the Eagles lose, the truth is, it doesn't really matter. The Phillies are moving on, and a toast to their recent and hopefully upcoming successes.
Philles in 7 games.
Whether or not the team succeeds will undoubtedly fall into the hands of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, the two biggest bats on the team who have both generally struggled in post-season play. The starting pitching proved its worth against a floudering Milwaukee Brew-Crew, but now it too has to step up against a Dodger team that lit-up the Cubs strong rotation and averaged a mdoest 6.7 runs a game. So long as Myers and Moyer come to play, I believe the pitching will hold tight, but the bats definitely need to get louder. The Phillies streaky offense, which has often been their achilles heel, will need to get hot come Thursday and start pounding in the runs. The Dodgers are playing at their best since the season began in April, and it is time for the Phillies to do the same.
This is a new venue for the Phillies team, full of players unfamiliar with post-season play. Some of that starry-eyed wonder may affect them in their first game, but hopefully the eye-wash is brought out in a hurry and the team can start to focus on the task at hand. After the game on Sunday, it already sounded like the team was ready to get down to business. They will need to maintain that business-like attitude throughout if they expect to play for a World Championship.
If the Phillies can successfully navigate the Dodgers, they will most likely have to face off against a strong AL squad in either Boston or the Angels. Unfortunately for them, the Phillies have not done well in interleague play, but in the playoffs the machine is a whole different animal. Hopefully they can get over their awkwardness against Junior Circuit opponents and come ready to battle, but they still have to get by Manny Fresh and the Princes near Bel-Air in order to even have that chance.
So on a day when the Eagles lose, the truth is, it doesn't really matter. The Phillies are moving on, and a toast to their recent and hopefully upcoming successes.
Philles in 7 games.
Eagles Fall to 'Skins 23-17
Once again as Philadelphia fans we are left wanting from a hapless Eagles franchise, which is currently the weakest team in the city. The only team to miss the playoffs last season? The Eagles. My prediction is they will be the only team to miss the playoffs once again this year. Even the struggling Sixers managed to squeeze into the playoffs and almost beat a much more experienced Detroit Pistons team.
It isn't the team's fault. I don't blame the personnel at all. You can find fault within the coaching staff that has been much maligned over the recent seasons. While the rest of the NFC East has made changes and upgrades over the last decade, the Eagles have been decisively stagnant and stubborn to alter anything from their former winning ways. Granted, I believe in the old adage "if it ain't broke don't fix it," but anymore, it most certainly is not working. After an Eagles loss, we hear the same excuses and nonchalance from the head coach. It is almost as if he is reading from a script. Reid continues to say he has to change something, but in the opinion of this writer, it is Reid that needs to be change. It is time for Lurie to right the train before it derails anymore.
I don't believe in a mid-season axing, but it is time to start looking for a new head coach. The fact is, this is NOT the same team that went to four straight NFC championship games, only managing to win one of them. The NFC is not the same NFC that it was back in the early 21st century, either. McNabb stated yesterday in his press conference that "...there is no way this team is better than us." I hate to break it to you, Donovan, but that team is better than you and the Eagles. The Redskins not only defeated the formerly unbeaten Cowboys, whom you managed to lose to, but they also just kicked your can all over the field. Clinton Portis did most of the figurative kicking in a game where the unified Eagles run defense decided not to tackle anyone.
The Eagles staff seems to think they are the same team that made it to the Superbowl in 2004. Their delusions of grandeur aside, they need a healthy does of reality before going back out on the gridiron. They are very new and different team, and not in the good way. Actually the more accurate description is they are the same team, and that is inherently the problem. It is time for something new, something that can bring the Eagles back to NFC supremacy. Reid will never win a Superbowl, at least not here. And with Reid at the helm, the Eagles will never touch the Lombardi trophy--chances are they won't even get close enough to breathe on it until changes are made.
At least the Phillies won and advanced to their first NLCS in fifteen years. Maybe they can achieve the success the Eagles never did, and make it to the big one in their first opportunity. I guess since baseball season is not yet over, it is time for me to don the Red & White and leave the Green aside--at least for now.
It isn't the team's fault. I don't blame the personnel at all. You can find fault within the coaching staff that has been much maligned over the recent seasons. While the rest of the NFC East has made changes and upgrades over the last decade, the Eagles have been decisively stagnant and stubborn to alter anything from their former winning ways. Granted, I believe in the old adage "if it ain't broke don't fix it," but anymore, it most certainly is not working. After an Eagles loss, we hear the same excuses and nonchalance from the head coach. It is almost as if he is reading from a script. Reid continues to say he has to change something, but in the opinion of this writer, it is Reid that needs to be change. It is time for Lurie to right the train before it derails anymore.
I don't believe in a mid-season axing, but it is time to start looking for a new head coach. The fact is, this is NOT the same team that went to four straight NFC championship games, only managing to win one of them. The NFC is not the same NFC that it was back in the early 21st century, either. McNabb stated yesterday in his press conference that "...there is no way this team is better than us." I hate to break it to you, Donovan, but that team is better than you and the Eagles. The Redskins not only defeated the formerly unbeaten Cowboys, whom you managed to lose to, but they also just kicked your can all over the field. Clinton Portis did most of the figurative kicking in a game where the unified Eagles run defense decided not to tackle anyone.
The Eagles staff seems to think they are the same team that made it to the Superbowl in 2004. Their delusions of grandeur aside, they need a healthy does of reality before going back out on the gridiron. They are very new and different team, and not in the good way. Actually the more accurate description is they are the same team, and that is inherently the problem. It is time for something new, something that can bring the Eagles back to NFC supremacy. Reid will never win a Superbowl, at least not here. And with Reid at the helm, the Eagles will never touch the Lombardi trophy--chances are they won't even get close enough to breathe on it until changes are made.
At least the Phillies won and advanced to their first NLCS in fifteen years. Maybe they can achieve the success the Eagles never did, and make it to the big one in their first opportunity. I guess since baseball season is not yet over, it is time for me to don the Red & White and leave the Green aside--at least for now.
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