For starters, you can see that Parker, while still more effective than last year, has dropped off to a lesser role, going from getting pressure on close to 20 percent of all pass rushes to only 13 percent. Laws has similarly fallen back to the middle of the pack as far as Eagles defensive tackles go.
Meanwhile, Cole has actually become slightly more effective as the season has gone on, leading the team in Pressure per Rush and sacks, with nine.
First round pick Graham, whose season ended prematurely on Sunday with an ACL tear, didn’t make a lot of flashy plays. Yet the rookie sill had a promising first year. He was second on the team only to Cole in quarterback hits and pressures, leading him to a total Pressure per Rush percentage of 13.7, good enough for third-best in the NFC East after 14 weeks. If he can recover from his knee injury, Graham should have a bright future on the Eagles defensive line for years to come…
"Till the Wheels Fall Off"
Yet as much as the skill players present a tank rolling through opposing forces without care, averaging more than 33 points per game since the bye, it’s the rusty, broken treads and Swiss cheese armor plating that may eventually bring the run to a halt. In other words, while the 60-yard passes from Vick to DeSean are flashy and amazing, they cover up huge deficiencies in the offensive line and defense. Clearly the Eagles have shown that they can win in a shootout. But they have little choice.
The defense was already struggling, especially in the absence of interception machine Asante Samuel. And now, with the additional losses of Stewart Bradley and Brandon Graham for the rest of the regular season, the holes are widening into massive fissures that can’t be covered up.
The same thing on the offensive line, where protection wasn’t exactly perfect even with Winston Justice playing. Having King Dunlap start at right tackle in his absence only solidifies the sense that Vick is risking his life with every pass attempt…
Which NFL Referee is the Strictest?
Most of the names on the list are relatively anonymous. Perhaps the most famous referee in the NFL, Ed Hochuli, also happens to be by far the most strict — by an average of one more penalty called a game than the next highest, Jeff Triplette.
Hochuli’s crew also calls an average of five more penalties a game than the two most lenient units, headed up by Pete Morelli and Scott Green. That amounts to a difference of about 50 penalty yards per week. Over the course of a season, that’s 80 extra penalty calls and 800 yards of game-changing decisions.
Westbrook Flies Again on Monday Night Football
Lost in the offseason drama at the quarterback position was the departure of another all-time Eagles great: running back Brian Westbrook.
As the season has gone on it has been easy to forget about Westbrook’s absence. LeSean McCoy has been better than pretty much anyone expected, gaining 779 yards on the ground and another 448 in the air to go with 7 touchdowns through just 11 games.
Plus, Westbrook has been practically invisible since signing with San Francisco. At least, until last night, when the former #36 (now #20) rushed 23 times for 136 yards, including a shifty 8-yard touchdown run, in relief of an injured Frank Gore to help the 49ers beat the Cardinals in Monday Night Football…
From Chicago, With (No) Love
Hey Chicago,
After this weekend, we’re pretty sure you won’t be thankful for anything other than the imminent dismissal of Lovie Smith.
Sure, on paper both teams come into the game 7-3 and on three game winning streaks. But the Bears have only beaten one team with a winning record all season. The Eagles, on the other hand, have four quality wins against playoff-bound teams. Can you handle it? …
Vick Describes Transformation in Sports Illustrated Cover Story
In the cover story, Vick recounted to writer S.L. Price how his mother wanted to “disown” him after the shooting at his 30th birthday party over the summer. According to Vick, she said, “You went to prison for 19 months, and you come out and you still ain’t listening.”
“Right then and there,” Vick said, “I told myself, I am changing my life. I’m going to do everything they ask me to do. I’m getting myself away from this madness.” Why this revelation didn’t occur over a year after he left prison and was reinstated into the NFL is unclear.
Additionally, Vick described that he was “ashamed” to call NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and face the consequences for this actions. He didn’t talk to Goodell for three weeks after the incident…
Vick & Reid: Building NFL History
Way back in August, I discussed my interest in seeing Michael Vick start a game this season for the Eagles. Although hopeful, my assumption was that results wouldn’t be particularly pretty. Obviously, after Sunday’s scary-good performance, we know that was wrong.
But I still go back to my initial curiosity to see the “Vick offense”:
“Someday a quarterback will come along who can throw accurately out of the spread and also pose a significant running threat. Such a Vince Young/Drew Brees mash-up would be a dangerous offensive weapon. However, until that time Michael Vick (if he has truly made strides with his throwing mechanics and watching film) is the closest the NFL has come to this ideal — an ideal both myself and Andy Reid seem anxious to witness.” …
A Ludicrous Extension: Redskins Throw Money at Declining McNabb
If before the first Eagles-Redskins meeting this season Washington had rewarded Donovan McNabb with a 5-year extension totalling $78 million, I would have been shocked at the money — but not the sentiment. Before that Week 4 showdown, McNabb was playing as well, if not better, in 2010 than he did in 2009.
Turns out though, as we go into the second McNabb Bowl tonight, things haven’t exactly gone as well since that fast beginning. Leading up to his late game benching two weeks ago, No. 5 has been having his worst season since, at best, his rookie year. Look at the numbers…