Still working on my final 53-man roster prediction (spoiler alert: Darryl Tapp is gone baby, gone). Until that's ready, please enjoy this vintage Brian Westbrook, in honor of his retirement with the Eagles this season.
Read Between the Lines
In the midst of yet another edition of Linebacker Musical Chairs, Juan Castillo sounded off on how DeMeco Ryans fits into the group, per Les Bowen:
I think what DeMeco Ryans has added is, Meco has that experience ... Now, all of a sudden, the kids see how they're supposed to watch tape, how they're supposed to act on the field. Meco's a no-nonsense type guy, and a guy who's been in the league and done it ... You take that, mixed with athletic kids, athletic guys, now you have a good group," Castillo said Monday.
Don't get me wrong, Ryans is still a huge upgrade over the clowns in 2011. But there's a reason Castillo calls him "no-nonsense" and the rest of the linebackers "athletic." Just saying.
Vick Succumbs to Blogger's Pressure
After suffering my withering takedown last week, Michael Vick finally admitted he was wrong. Tim McManus has the details:
After suffering bruised ribs against the Patriots, Vick says that he will continue to wear the Kevlar padding from Unequal Technologies. He’s just getting more of it.
“It’s going to be a little thicker. I got fitted the other day and I look forward to wearing those,” said Vick. The quarterback anticipates having the new gear by the opener...
“I’m going to continue to go with Unequal,” said Vick on Monday. “Just the new Kevlar padding.”
But why wasn't he already wearing the newest padding? Keep the dial on McNabb or Kolb for all of your latest PaddingGate updates.
The Howard Mudd Question
I think most position coaches have basically three jobs: (1) find talented players, (2) teach those players to improve, and (3) organize a scheme that best enhances the strengths and masks the weakness of those players. To separate a job into just three components is probably vastly oversimplifying the process. Moreover, it eliminates the substantial crossover between those jobs.
Still, I think it's a good framework for evaluating position coaches to the best of our ability. For example, Eagles running backs coach Ted Williams has been very successful grooming RBs over the years. Although everyone has his misses (see: Hunt, Tony), Williams has found quality players in all rounds of the draft and has coached many of them up to be at least contributors, and often Pro Bowlers. I would argue that he's very good at jobs one and two. Unclear about three, since the scheme the RBs play in has as much to do with the offensive coordinator and line coaches.
Jim Washburn is another good test case. His wide nine-based scheme shows that job three is one of his biggest strengths. Look at how it transformed Jason Babin from the part time player in 2009 to the full time monster in 2011. Washburn also doesn't seem to have any trouble teaching his guys. Trent Cole had one of his most productive seasons last year, as did Mike Patterson. Philip Hunt and Brandon Graham both look to have made strides this year. Whether Washburn can pick talent players is more of a question, but we will get to see with Fletcher Cox.
Can we evaluate Howard Mudd under those same basic criteria? I think so, and I don't think it comes out as favorably as we might expect for him.
The key thing about Mudd we've heard since the day he arrived in Philadelphia was his scheme, much like Washburn. Mudd takes smaller, athletic linemen and puts them on the attack, even in pass protection. He likes getting his linemen in space on stretch runs to maximize their athleticism. This is more or less the opposite scheme Juan Castillo employed while the line coach, leading to an exodus of big-bodied former starters like Winston Justice and Jamaal Jackson. The scheme, as evidenced by last year's reduction in sacks, clearly works. It maximized the pound-for-pound destruction of human wrecking ball Jason Peters and covered up the deficiencies of two rookies and one career journeyman in the interior. It also paved the way for LeSean McCoy to have a blockbuster season.
But Mudd's success at the first and second job requirements is in question. Starting with the teaching side of the equation, I think you have to seriously doubt his ability when it seems so difficult for veterans to learn his scheme (especially compared to Washburn). Demetress Bell is the latest example. He may just be bad, but when healthy Bell was supposedly a solid, athletic tackle in Buffalo. Since coming to the Eagles he's looked like he's forgotten how to block. More to the point, I don't see much improvement from the Eagles two sophomores, especially Danny Watkins. Check out the game tape from the Patriots game (courtesy Jake Louden):
I'm no offensive line expert, but Watkins was beat often in that game. And he wasn't going up against Vince Wilfork here. Those were New England's third and even fourth string defensive tackles.
The Watkins pick, as it stands right now, seems like a failure of both jobs one and two. Ideally you pick a guy with more talent in the first round. But if the talent is there, as most draft experts thought it was, Watkins's slow development has to be blamed on Mudd's teaching skills. At this point, it's worth noting that in his 12 years with the Colts, Mudd had only two players ever reach the Pro Bowl. One was undrafted free agent Jeff Saturday (Kelce's predecessor) and the other was tackle Tarik Glenn, who was drafted the year before Mudd became OL coach. His scheme -- along with Peyton Manning's renowned skills -- helped make Indianapolis a great offense for years, but Mudd was never a great discoverer or developer of talent.
In the short term, as long as Watkins gets some help, this isn't such a big problem. The scheme worked last year and it should work again, even without Peters. Mudd will hopefully continue to stitch together a puzzle from mismatching pieces. But what about when he retires, which rumors suggest may be as soon as the end of the season? Suddenly, Eugene Chung will become the coach. He won't have decades of experience perfecting Mudd's scheme. Nor can we expect, in his early years, he would have any particular scouting or teaching prowess. Yet Chung would be left holding the bag on a group of linemen that may not be as good as the scheme would make you believe.
That's the most worrisome part.
Photo from Getty.
Is Michael Vick Wearing Enough Padding?
Decide for yourself. Here's Vick against the Patriots (click for bigger):
Here are other quarterbacks this preseason:
Worthing noting: Vick is a sponsor and stockholder of this company. On the other hand, though.
UPDATE: Vick will wear more padding!
Photos from Getty.
Danny Watkins Would Lose At Limbo
Tommy Lawlor, in his official Detailed Game Review (emphasis mine):
WATKINS - The gameplan called for King Dunlap to block to his inside a few times on pass plays. Danny would then do a short pull and take on the edge rusher. I’m not a huge fan of this tactic. Very mixed results. Danny had a couple of good blocks. Jake Bequette gave him fits on a couple. Up and down beyond that. There are times when he anchors and does a really good job. There are other plays where athletic moves get the best of him and he’s then holding on for dear life. I do like the fact that he won’t give up when beaten. Smart. Do what you can to protect the QB/RB.
Not to pick on Tommy, who covers both the good and the bad here, but at some point you've lowered the bar too much.
Putting the Eagles Third Down Defense Under the Microscope
One of the most concerning parts of the preseason game on Monday night was the way the defense wilted on third down (against Patriots backups). I rewatched all the third downs in the first half and noted the formations and playcalls. See the full list of 13 plays below along with the pre-snap formation (click for bigger) .
The end result was different than I expected, though. I remembered Juan Castillo's blitzes as the main problem, and certainly they were a major issue. He blitzed on three third down opportunties. On two of those plays, Josh McDaniels saw it coming a mile away and called screens that burned the defense, gaining 36 total yards. The third blitz actually did work, sacking Ryan Mallett for a loss of nine yards, only to be nullified by Nnamdi Asomugha's holding call.
But I was surprised to see just how bad the defense was under the four-man rush. Despite decent pressure from the front four, the Patriots converted 6 of 10 opportunities against no blitz, gaining 74 yards and a touchdown. That's not anyone's idea of good third down defense. Still, like the sack above, this set does include an interception by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie that was called off for roughing the passer.
One more note, before I release you into the wild of all 13 plays: the Eagles pre-snap formations were 100 percent reliable in predicting their defense. When they had the DEs stand up, that indicatd a blitz. When they had a more conventional pre-snap look, a more conventional defense ensued. Now, Castillo may be playing a long game here, trying to trick the team's early opponents that those patterns will hold. But if not, the predictability of the defense will be easy to attack going forward.
1st Q: 3-12-NE 18 (13:43) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass incomplete short right to D.Woodhead.
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1RB, 1 TE, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, man-press coverage. Allen in the box.
* Play: 4-man rush gets pressure from Hunt and Cole. Poor throw somewhere between covered Woodhead (Kendricks) and covered Branch (DRC). Incomplete.
1st Q: 3-8-NE 13 (10:20) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass short left to J.Edelman to NE 29 for 16 yards (K.Coleman; N.Allen).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR.
* Def Formation: Nickel, man-press coverage. DTs line up wide, with Cole and Hunt as stand-up rushers in the middle. Kendricks at line of scrimmage to the top, Coleman in the box.
* Play: Patriots throw quick WR screen to left side, get two offensive linemen out front. Eagles blitz 6, none react quickly to screen. Asomugha blocked by Branch. Hanson only half-blocked by linemen, doesn't pursue for tackle. Coleman comes across formation, catches up with Edelman at same time Allen appears as last defense.
1st Q: 3-15-PHI 35 (6:57) (Shotgun) D.Woodhead up the middle to PHI 33 for 2 yards (P.Hunt; T.Cole).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR.
* Def Formation: Nickel, no press coverage.
* Play: Draw to Woodhead. Four man rush, possibly cover 2. Hunt and Cole both beat blockers to inside, make tackle for minimal gain.
1st Q: 3-7-NE 23 (3:11) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass short right intended for D.Branch
INTERCEPTED by D.Rodgers-Cromartie at NE 34. D.Rodgers-Cromartie ran ob at NE 30 for 4 yards.
PENALTY on PHI-F.Cox, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at NE 23 - No Play.
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 2 RB (or 1 RB, 1 TE) in the backfield, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel. Asomugha and Hanson with man-press coverage at top. DRC playing off on other side.
* Play: 4-man rush. Both backs chip ends and release. Cox beats guard, gets pressure up the middle. DRC steps in front of Branch to make interception. Cox (barely) hits QB late, penalty called.
1st Q: 3-7-NE 41 (2:22) (Shotgun) R.Mallett sacked at NE 32 for -9 yards (T.Cole).
PENALTY on PHI-N.Asomugha, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at NE 41 - No Play.
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 2 RB, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, man-press coverage. DTs line up wide, with Cole and Hunt as stand-up rushers in the middle. Kendricks at line of scrimmage to the top, Coleman in the box.
* Play: Eagles blitz 5, with Ryans starting to blitz then peeling off to cover Woodhead. Hunt gets pressure up middle, Kendricks beats RB block on outside. Cole and Cox clean up for sack. Negated for holding call on Asomuga.
1st Q: 3-5-PHI 49 (:51) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass short middle to D.Branch to PHI 29 for 20 yards (K.Coleman).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, empty backfield. 5 wide with Woodhead at the top.
* Def Formation: Nickel, Asomugha and Hanson with man-press coverage at top. DRC playing off on other side. Kendricks picks up receiver to slot right, Ryans goes out to get Woodhead wide left.
* Play: 4-man rush, Hunt/Jenkins stunt gets pressure in QB's face but he completes pass over the middle to Branch, who got a step on DRC.
2nd Q: 3-9-PHI 28 (15:00) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass short right to S.Vereen to PHI 8 for 20 yards (P.Hunt).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1 RB in backfield, Woodhead wide right as 4th receiver
* Def Formation: Nickel, Man-press coverage on all but Woodhead, on whom Allen has off coverage. DTs in stance with rest milling around.
* Play: Eagles blitz 6, Patriots get 3 linemen out in front of RB screen. Big gain, Hunt chases him down from behind.
2nd Q: 3-7-PHI 7 (13:48) (Shotgun) R.Mallett pass short right to A.Silvestro for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, zone coverage with corners playing off.
* Play: 4-man rush, good pocket. TE beats Kendricks one-on-one on out route at goal line for TD.
2nd Q: 3-3-NE 27 (8:24) (Shotgun) B.Bolden up the middle to NE 31 for 4 yards (M.Kendricks).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 2 RB, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, man coverage. Coleman in the box.
* Play: Inside run. Landri pushed away from the play, Patriots linemen get enough on LBs to get 1st down
2nd Q: 3-13-PHI 28 (5:05) (Shotgun) B.Hoyer pass deep middle to D.Branch to PHI 11 for 17 yards (K.Coleman).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 2 RB, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, zone coverage (Marsh in for DRC, Boykin in for Hanson).
* Play: 4-man rush. Completion over the middle to Branch in a hole in the zone. Kendricks doesn't drop back enough, Coleman doesn't react quickly enough.
2nd Q: 3-17-PHI 18 (3:48) (Shotgun) B.Hoyer pass short middle to J.Ebert to PHI 17 for 1 yard (D.Ryans).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, zone coverage.
* Play: 4-man rush, Hunt gets inside pressure. Short middle dump off pass bottled up quickly by Ryans.
2nd Q: 3-9-NE 30 (2:02) (Shotgun) B.Hoyer pass deep right to D.Stallworth pushed ob at 50 for 20 yards (C.Marsh).
* Off Formation: Shotgun, 2 RB, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, man-press coverage. Allen in box, threatens blitz.
* Play: 4-man rush. Hunt gets pressure around edge, QB escapes pocket, finds Stallworth on comeback route down the sideline against Marsh.
2nd Q: 3-18-NE 42 (1:40) B.Bolden up the middle to NE 47 for 5 yards (C.Jenkins).
* Off Formation: Under center, 1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR
* Def Formation: Nickel, man coverage on outside
* Play: 4-man rush, inside run stopped by Jenkins.
Eagles 2012 Dress Rehearsal: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
It's easy to make too much of a preseason game, even one that everyone acknowledges is the last real dress rehearsal before the regular season gets underway. The Eagles are still working out the kinks, and sometimes a poor practice can lead to a fabulous opening night.
At least, that's what everyone tells me. At the risk of being that insane moron who draws too many conclusions from a glorified scrimmage, let me highlight the main things that stuck out last night:
The Good
- Mychal Kendricks is quickly on his way to becoming the best linebacker on the team. In striking contrast to Casey Matthews's first games in the spotlight a year ago, Kendricks doesn't give off any indication that the moment is too big for him. He's certainly not a Pro Bowler yet (although that didn't stop me from making such wild, fanciful leaps on Twitter), as evidenced by his subpar coverage in the red zone that gave up a touchdown. But Kendricks proved that he has the whole package. Seeing him diagnose a screen play, fight off a blocker, and make the tackle warms my heart.
- Philip Hunt continues to look like, at worst, the Eagles third-best defensive end. Hunt showed solid pass rush potential last year in limited snaps, but his added bulk makes him look like a formidable, versatile starter.
- Continuing with the defense, I would be remiss not to point out what an upgrade Nate Allen is over Jaiquawn Jarrett. Lots more to prove for Allen going forward, but his run support against the Patriots was especially noteworthy.
- What's that you say? You've only skimmed the last few paragraphs looking for the name Nick Foles? Now registering on Tim McManus's scale of 1-to-Tebow, the rookie has surpassed all expectations. I was particularly skeptical on draft day, but in two games Foles has looked better than any Eagles backup since Kevin Kolb's two starts in 2009. I'm no quarterback guru, but one of the things that stands out about Foles is his complete lack of fear (something that seems to be dooming Kolb in Arizona). His pocket awareness, perhaps aided by his 6'6" frame, is fantastic, which enables him to move around fluidly and deliver crisp passes into tight spots. If he can keep this up, there's no question he's a better option than Mike Kafka.
- The Eagles red zone offense was great. Part of that was Foles, but other players stepped up as well. Stanley Havili made his case for the fullback job, notching consecutive good plays -- a fullback trap to get to the goal line and a lead block to put LeSean McCoy in. Clay Harbor made a fantastic grab in the corner of the end zone. Even DeSean Jackson showed up, when the Eagles motioned McCoy out of the backfield and got Jackson one-on-one against a linebacker.
The Bad
- Unfortunately, all the good things I mentioned above happened against the Patriots backups. Bummer.
- On Michael Vick's injury, all I can do is quote DeSean's immortal words: "Aw man, not again."
- Ironically, new starter King Dunlap was the most impressive offensive lineman last night. Evan Mathis allowed the pressure on the play where Michael Vick was injured. Todd Herremans had a similarly poor showing. And Danny Watkins looked totally incapable of blocking anyone. Let's not even mention Demetress Bell and his struggles against fourth-stringers.
- Penalties, a problem in their own right, led to this shouting match between Andy Reid and Cullen Jenkins. Way to show some fire and all that, but this isn't really a good sign.
The Ugly
- Josh McDaniels, with only second and third-stringers at his disposal, ran circles around Juan Castillo, especially on third down. That's frightening.
Photo from Getty.