Last week, we examined LeSean McCoy’s rapid rise and comparable numbers to Brian Westbrook through the first five games of 2010. However, while most of the focus over this bye week is on the quarterback controversy, McCoy has followed up his brilliant opening with two straight lackluster rushing performances.
As always, the question is why? Is he wearing down from all the carries? Are defenses keying in on him?
Looking first at McCoy’s workload, week by week, we can see that he’s catching more passes and getting more rushing opportunties over the last 4 weeks: …
Chronic Defensive Meltdowns? Cool It.
No one enjoyed the Eagles collapse late in the game on Sunday (except Kenny Britt, I suppose). It was brutal in its historic ineptitude.
But I’ve already seen, in multiple locations, this notion that the Eagles have been chronically bad late in the game. Is that a real trend or just the delusional musings of a couple of reactionary fans? Turns out, it depends how you look at it.
Start with average scoring by quarter — the Eagles and their opponents — through week seven’s fiasco: …
Riding the Hot Hand: Vick or Kolb?
The question of who to start as quarterback never gets answered in Philadelphia. Six months ago it was “McNabb or Kolb;” now we’ve moved on to “Kolb or Vick.”
Six weeks into the season, we’ve seen great play from both Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick. And while Kolb is still likely the long term franchise QB, it’s no longer clear who gives the Eagles the best chance to win on any given Sunday. The question may be moot this weekend when Vick likely will not have recovered fully from his rib injury, but after the Eagles’ by in week eight, head coach Andy Reid will have to make a choice.
Perhaps we can get a leg up on this decision by examining how well the two quarterbacks have done so far …
Is LeSean McCoy Progressing Faster Than Brian Westbrook?
Does that mean McCoy has progressed a year faster than his predecessor? Not necessarily. First of all, McCoy was coming from the advantage of a big time college football at the University of Pittsburgh. Westbrook, on the other hand, was making the leap to the NFL from D1-AA at Villanova. He was fighting an uphill battle to even make it in this league.
Second, we don’t know that Westbrook couldn’t have taken on a bigger load earlier like McCoy did. #36 entered the league when the Eagles already had two capable backs in Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter. Andy Reid didn’t need to rush him along like he did with McCoy.
So, all that aside, what if we do want to compare the early Westbrook years with what we’re seeing from McCoy? Ultimately I think you have to compare Westbrook’s 2004 season, his first as “the man,” to McCoy’s 2010. And looking at the actual numbers, you can see a pretty obvious trend…
Nate Allen's Quietly Historic Rookie Start
Before the season there was plenty of idle speculation about the Eagles first round pick, Brandon Graham, and whether he might capture the defensive rookie of the year award. Unfortunately, while Graham has shown tremendous promise, he hasn’t been any kind of immediately dominant force.
However, much more quietly, the Eagles second round pick, Nate Allen, has proven he deserves to be in the conversation for best defensive rookie — if not the best rookie safety in recent NFL history.
You might be shocked by this statement. Has Allen really been that good? Actually, through the first five weeks, he’s put up disruptive numbers that match or better almost every other rookie safety of the last 30 years…
What's Wrong With Brent Celek?
Last year, Brent Celek put up ridiculous numbers as the Eagles’ leading receiver: 76 receptions for 971 yards and 8 touchdowns. Those statistics put Celek among the elite group of NFL tight ends.
Then Donovan McNabb left.
Many people, including myself, didn’t see that as such a bad thing. In fact, I predicted an absolute monster 2009 for Celek, since he would be thrown to by good friend Kevin Kolb, a young quarterback who makes extremely accurate short range passes.
So much for that prediction…
Kevin Kolb: The Quarterback Who Lost His Mojo
One year ago everyone was raving about Kevin Kolb, and with good reason. Starting two games in place of an injured Donovan McNabb, Kolb became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass over 300 yards in each of his first two starts.
More important than the numbers though, was what we saw from Kolb. It was obvious he didn’t have McNabb’s cannon arm, but he ran the offense with the poise and confidence of a veteran, finding open spots down the field for his dynamic wide receivers and checking down to higher-percentage options when those options weren’t available. Kolb looked like a young player rapidly on the rise in the NFL, a quarterback on the cusp of stardom.
Fast forward a year and things don’t look so pretty. Everyone wrote off his lackluster preseason — no Eagles quarterback was playing well in front of that makeshift line. And I defended him after one terrible half. But supporting him is becoming increasingly hard to do…
Eagles Pass Rush: Even Better Than Last Year?
The chart on the right (stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus) helps us see who’s in to put pressure on the quarterback — and who’s not. Let’s start from the bottom then work our way up.
Patterson and Bunkley have become situational players in the 2010 defense. The Eagles have long rotated the two big-bodied starters out on passing downs, but they’re doing that more often than ever. Last year the two rushed the passer about 50 percent of the time that they were in. By taking them out more often, McDermott has given more rushing opportunities to players who actually cause pressure.
Interesting to see Brandon Graham on the Trent Cole diet of close to equal pass and run play percentages. Basically what that means is that the two of them play on almost every snap — regardless of type. They are the Birds’ most complete linemen…