December 2011
50 posts
8 tags
Say Goodbye to Asante →
Bob Grotz, for the Delaware County Daily Times:
Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel has been seen, not heard around the NovaCare Complex the past couple of weeks.
And just barely seen.
Sure, he’s rehabbing a tight hamstring that will keep him out of the season finale against the Redskins.
But until the past two weeks, Samuel has been a regular at the open locker room, if only...
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A Muddled Future →
Jeff McLane, for the Inquirer:
“I don’t know what [Mudd’s] going to do, to tell you the truth,” center Jason Kelce said Thursday. “Talked to him a little bit earlier, and I don’t think he even knows. I think a lot of it is going to depend on what happens with the entire coaching situation.”
Indirect confirmation that there is or was uncertainty...
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A Full Off-Season With Andy and Marty →
Dave Zangaro, for CSN Philly:
“The one nice thing, again, when you think Michael hasn’t had an off-season as a starter to really go through things, I’m saying without the lockout,” Reid said. “With us he hasn’t had that opportunity. That’ll be a positive going into this thing. I look forward to that.”
For those of you who blame the lockout for the Eagles woes, perhaps it’s better to...
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Rewind: Notes on the Eagles-Cowboys Game
One of the unheralded stories of 2011 is the regression of Michael Vick. After borrowing Superman’s cape last season, Vick returned to mere mortal status once again. Just as a simple measurement, in 2010 he had quarterback passer rating above 90 in 10 out of his 12 games. This year, he’s only had 5 out of 12.
However, things seem to be picking back up for Vick as he and the...
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The Infallible Reid Fallacy →
Tim McManus, for Philly Sports Daily:
Is there any way a man so meticulous would be blind to the fact that Castillo, who hadn’t coached defense since the 1980’s (at the high school level, no less) might fail early and often during the transition from offensive line coach to defensive coordinator? If I can project struggle, and you can project struggle, are we really buying that the Head Coach...
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Too Little, Too Late
Everyone has to enjoy a near-shutout against the Cowboys, even if Dallas did muddle through the meaningless game led a backup quarterback. The Eagles did lose to John Skelton earlier in the season, so at the very least this counts as progress.
The Eagles have put together their best and most consistent stretch of the season over the last three weeks, and there’s no reason to believe...
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On Spagnuolo's Future →
Kevin Acee, for the San Diego Union-Tribune:
League sources have said for weeks that Kroenke plans to clean house after the season, firing both head coach Steve Spagnuolo and General Manager Billy Devaney. League sources also said this week that it is all but certain that Spagnuolo will join Andy Reid’s staff in Philadelphia as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator.
I’m skeptical of this...
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The Creepiest Santa Claus Ever
That video was painful.
Week Sixteen
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys
4:15pm on FOX
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Jim Washburn Doesn't Take It From Anyone →
Sean Jensen, at Yahoo Sports:
When he signed with the Tennessee Titans, defensive line coach Jim Washburn told him that he’d give snaps to the best players, regardless of where they were drafted or how much they were paid.
“ ‘If Jeff Fisher tells me who to play, I’m going to tell him to [expletive] himself,’ ” Babin said Washburn told him. “ ‘Then he can fire me.’ ”
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Charting the Eagles 2011 Playoff Odds
For the Eagles to win the division and make the playoffs, they need to win out against the Cowboys and Redskins, and hope the Giants lose this week and beat the Cowboys next week.
That’s still an unlikely string of outcomes, but it’s much better playoff chances than the Eagles have had in weeks. Football Outsiders head honcho Aaron Schatz was gracious enough to provide archives of...
10 tags
Choices at Safety →
Tommy Lawlor:
We’d all love the Eagles to go find Dawk, Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, or someone like that, but these are rare talents. You simply can’t hold the Eagles (or any team) to that standard. Can the Eagles upgrade on the current set of Safeties? That’s certainly possible, but I think the player would have to be special.
It’s obviously a false dichotomy to say that the Eagles only...
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Alex Henery's Questionable Leg Strength →
Tommy Lawlor, in his always detailed game review:
Speaking of FGs…a few people (me included) wondered why Reid didn’t try for a FG in the late 3rd Qtr when we had the ball at the NYJ 36. We punted. We then stopped the Jets and got the ball back at the 39. 3 plays later we scored a TD. I won’t lie. I wanted to see Henery kick a long FG. We know the guy is good from 30-the low 40s. We have no...
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Rewind: Notes on the Eagles-Jets Game
I rewatched the Eagles-Jets game last night and came away with several short nuggets for your enjoyment. Here you go:
The Trent Cole and Jason Babin delayed blitz routine is fun to watch. Jimmy at Blogging the Beast has a nice breakdown of it. Though they’ve run this for a few weeks, it was especially effective against the Jets. I expect that the Cowboys tackles will be more prepared...
6 tags
You've Been Mostly-Dead All Day →
From Monty Python to The Princess Bride, Mike Tanier explains the Eagles’ current situation:
Like 20-something underachievers who realized their girlfriends would leave them unless they stopped jamming at open mike nights and got a real job, the Eagles combed their hair and abandoned slacker chic in the last two weeks. They are now brilliantly flawed, which is a step up from their...
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Shady: I Wanted to be One of Those Guys →
LeSean McCoy, as told to Reuben Frank at CSN Philly:
“Training during the offseason, I wanted to be one of those guys. I think that’s the biggest difference from this year and last year – the confidence level. When I step on the field now, I feel like I’m one of those guys (opponents) are worried about.
“‘Where’s DeSean Jackson? Where’s Mike Vick? Where’s LeSean McCoy?’ I want to be one...
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Stop Drinking the Juan Castillo Kool-Aid
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly both fans and writers can jump-start the bandwagon after a mere modicum of success.
When I wrote yesterday about the possibility of a pro-Juan Castillo movement, I had no idea it would get started so quickly. I assumed it would take at least another week or two of solid defense, and even then it wouldn’t be particularly vocal. Apparently I was...
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Kolb Due $7 Million Roster Bonus →
Jason La Canfora, for NFL.com:
Kolb will earn a $10 million signing bonus and $2 million salary in 2011. He’s due a $7 million roster bonus this March, which conceivably could be declined by the Cardinals, meaning they would could get out of Kolb’s deal after paying him just $12 million over one year.
Hypothetically, could the younger namesake end up back in Philly in the...
8 tags
Read Between the Lines →
Jeff McLane, for the Inquirer:
Washburn defended Babin’s play and said he’s actually become stouter against the run this season. Taking to the chalkboard, Washburn diagrammed how the ends in the wide nine are to rush upfield and squeeze running backs inside to the tackles or an unblocked linebacker or safety.
“There might be some other reason why we hadn’t played...
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Asomugha: We're Teaching Castillo →
Ryan Messick, at Philly Sports Report:
“We talk to [Castillo] a lot because we, especially the older guys, like myself and Asante, we’ve been in the league, you know, and we kind of know what goes on with defenses and what call is good and not good at any particular time,” said Asomugha. “So we talk to him a lot but he goes out there and he still has his game plan and he makes all the calls...
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By the Numbers: Record-Breaking Victory
You may be surprised to hear this, but the Eagles are two more solid defensive efforts away from retaining Juan Castillo. One can see how the notion is going to start gaining momentum.
Since the Eagles left Seattle in disgrace, their defense has played two straight good games, albeit not against world-beaters. Over the final two weeks, they play two teams that they held to a combined 20...
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Angry Birds?
Mark Sanchez screams like a girl.
Week Fifteen
New York Jets @ Philadelphia Eagles
4:15 pm EST on FOX
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'Remarkable Talent' →
Paul Domowitch, for the Daily News:
“Oh yeah, I really believe that,” Mudd said this week. “If anyone doesn’t think [Peters is the best left tackle in the league], I would categorically ask them to give me one who is as good. I didn’t say better. I said as good. So that puts him in a pretty rarified place.
“The only other guy I’ve coached...
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Tis' But A Scratch! →
See more Eagles cartoons from Rob Turnoe at the link.
(Via Reddit)
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Graham & Pierre-Paul →
Les Bowen, for the Daily News:
Brandon Graham has fled Twitter lately, Graham said yesterday, because he is tired of fans’ critical comparisons with Giants defensive end (and NFC defensive player of the week) Jason Pierre-Paul.
“It’s ridiculous, how bad the fans are, saying how they wish they had JPP,” Graham said following yesterday’s practice. “I...
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Worst NFC East Ever?
It’s tough to watch this year’s NFC East. Eagles fans have long prided themselves on the fact that their team plays in one of the toughest divisions in the league. This year, that just isn’t true.
I charted the Football Outsiders overall team efficiency DVOA for each NFC East team since 2000. The results are below:
So it turns out, on a purely average DVOA basis, that this...
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Vick & Burress →
Zach Berman, for the Daily News:
Vick’s influence on Burress stretched beyond football. When Burress was first released, Vick said Burress should think “family first and football second.” Burress said Vick maintained regular contact with Burress’ family, both over the phone and in person.
“He went through hell,” Burress said. “Him picking up the...
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A Lost Season for Brandon Graham →
Jonathan Tamari, at Birds’ Eye View:
Graham knows Pierre-Paul’s numbers: 12.5 sacks, a big blocked field goal last week.
“It’s tough for me going through it because I’ve got to live with it,” Graham said, referring to the expectations and comparisons. At times, he doesn’t even want to go out because he knows the questions he will face from fans.
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Rex Ryan, Poet →
Rex Ryan on Michael Vick:
“He can throw a battleship through a strawberry.”
The Daily News staff buried the lead on that one.
Update: Other outlets, including the New York Post, have the quote as “He can throw a strawberry through a battleship.” Which does, I suppose, make slightly more sense.
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What's Wrong With Nnamdi Asomugha?
While re-watching the Eagles win over the Dolphins, it was hard to miss another poor showing by Nnamdi Asomugha. The $60 million cornerback isn’t shutting down many wide receivers these days.
On Sunday, Brandon Marshall got by Asomugha for an early touchdown, and later Brian Hartline (!) beat him for a 24-yard gain. Those two plays were the only ones where Asomugha’s receiver was...
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The Truth About Bad Luck
Friend of the blog Justin F. wrote a post at Bleeding Green Nation in which he calculated the Eagles’ Pythagorean win percentage, a metric that estimates a team’s wins based simply on points scored and allowed. Justin notes that the Eagles jump up to just over .500 if you calculate win percentage using the Pythagorean method (compared to .385 in real life). Then he offers a common...
4 tags
Steve Smith Hits Injured Reserve →
The upside: his $2.3 million salary wasn’t the biggest waste of money the Eagles spent this offseason.
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By the Numbers: A Win!
Jason Babin, after the game:
“I don’t know how many times we stopped them, but it was almost unfathomable. I wouldn’t have even guessed we could stop them that much.”
I think I speak for all Eagles fans when I say, yes, that is “almost unfathomable.”
10 = Stops by the Eagles on downs of two yards or fewer. Very unexpected, although if you go through them individually...
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Every Road Game
Did the cartoon guys get fired this week in lieu of Juan Castillo?
Week Fourteen
Philadelphia Eagles @ Miami Dolphins
1:00pm EST on FOX
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Juan Castillo, Dead Man Walking
Guest post from the peerless BountyBowl:
The headlines say that the players back Embattled Defensive Coordinator Juan Castillo™, but man, the quotes seem to tell a different story. Or maybe I just don’t know what “back” means. Does it mean “Politely acknowledge that his ass is getting fired”? If so, then no problem.
Winston Justice: “Not entirely his...
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Dolphins and Eagles: Two Roads Diverged
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Let’s take a trip back to week nine. The Eagles were 3-4 with some momentum, having just defeated the Redskins and Cowboys in back-to-back weeks. It was the high point of the season, when everyone was still talking about Andy Reid’s ability to turn his team around down the stretch.
Conversely, week nine for the...
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DRC Makes No Excuses →
Reuben Frank, at CSNPhilly:
He makes no excuses.
“It’s been frustrating basically playing a new, different position, but I’m young, I’ve got a lot of time to just learn,” he said at his locker before practice Thursday. “Slot is a difficult position to play if you’ve never done it before. I never really even paid attention to it because you’re outside doing your thing.
“Outside is a...
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Calling All Asante Samuel Interpreters →
Asante Samuel, as quoted by Les Bowen:
“We were top five [in turnover differential, at plus-9] last year, huh? What do you think the difference is?” Samuel asked. “You don’t want to say it? I got no comment.”
Who does Samuel blame most? Is it “the offensive line coach?” Maybe it’s those pesky front office boys “playing fantasy football with the owner’s...
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Follow Up: What a Good Team Looks Like
On Monday, I demonstrated one flaw in the composition of the 2011 Eagles. There are too many starters who are new to the team, because they’re either recent draft picks or recent free agent pickups.
But just for comparison’s sake, here’s what a good team looks like. The 2011 Eagles starters overlaid with the (currently 12-0) 2011 Green Bay Packers starters, arranged by number...
9 tags
Who Would Have Thought →
Sheil Kapadia, at Moving the Chains:
The Eagles have given up 22 passing touchdowns, tied for second-most. And opposing QBs have a 91.4 rating. That’s a worse mark than last year (80.8). Who would have thought that they would replace Dimitri Patterson with Nnamdi Asomugha, add Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, improve the defensive line, blitz less and still be an easier team to pass against than...
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'Not an Old Football Team'
On Monday, Andy Reid pushed back against the gloom patrol, reminding everyone that the Eagles window is still wide open:
“People perceive us to be an old football team, but we’re really not an old football team.” he said on his radio show. “We’re one of the youngest teams in the [NFL]. That takes time.”
Unfortunately, that’s just not as true as it...
7 tags
McNabb-Baiting →
Bob Ford, for the Inquirer:
All that said, and all that considered, here’s one for you: If the Philadelphia Eagles actually believe the final four games of this season might mean something, they should release Vince Young immediately and sign McNabb. (I know, I know. I am aware there is a large percentage of you who must now blindly search the floor for your heads, because they have...
5 tags
Babin to Reporters: Brush Your Teeth →
Jason Babin, on Twitter:
Wow reading some of these articles, if u where in the L room & saw some of these reporters, u would understand. It’s like they never saw a; Tbrush, shower, and problly the only time they leave their mom’s basement….. I said some, other are dead on…
Poor hygiene, but at least we can spell?
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Short Term Players, Long Term Problems
Former Eagles tight end Chad Lewis, to Derek Sarley in 2009:
It’s a fine line and it’s very hard to define. You have to push to have strong team chemistry at the same time you push to win. Sometimes those are competing forces. Sometimes it requires Trotter in the locker room getting in someone’s face. Or it requires Donovan sharing a joke to keep people laughing and cut through and...
9 tags
The Missile Manifesto →
Sam Lynch, at Iggles Blitz:
As we go through the rubble of this epic disaster of a season, there is a great deal of evidence that this team’s figurative guidance system has been broken for some time. More bluntly, the team’s front office philosophy and personnel appear to be fundamentally flawed. And when we think about how to fix this franchise, it is the front office that needs the most...
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By the Numbers: Why Even Try?
After last night, it seems pretty clear that the Eagles have hit the low point of Andy Reid’s tenure as head coach. The only question now is whether you have any hope that he can turn things around. I assume many of those folks who have stubbornly supported Reid over the last few games are starting to change their minds, but we’ll find out.
7.9 = Vince Young’s interception...
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Enjoying his Salmon and Coffee/Latte Cap
Smash the hipster!
Week Thirteen
Philadelphia Eagles @ Seattle Seahawks
8:20 pm EST on NFL Network
Also, bonus video! The Whiskey Saints basically show us the Eagles season in three minutes:
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The Last Eagles-Centric Walkthrough →
The inimitable Mike Tanier, at Football Outsiders:
So there they were, two of my favorite performers, two legends of contemporary music, being completely non-entertaining as they indulged their worst instincts. But I could not turn away, because I am a Springsteen and U2 fan. I kept waiting for it to get better. Maybe they would rip into some song I don’t expect or do something truly magical....
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'You Need to Have a Plan'
Earlier today, I quoted a point Tommy Lawlor made about the question of whether or not to fire Andy Reid. Sam Lynch elaborated on that viewpoint in the comments. For those who don’t visit the comments (shame on you), I’ve re-posted his response below. Also, follow Sam on Twitter here.
I think Tommy is absolutely right. His point is consistent with the post I made at Iggles Blitz a...
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The NFL vs. the Marklars →
A fun, Space Jam-inspired look at the best NFL players.
Only one question for Jimmy: where is Chad Hall?
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Change for Change's Sake →
Tommy Lawlor, at Iggles Blitz:
A factor that gets largely ignored is that firing Andy Reid is only half the issue. Who do you replace him with? You do not make a change for the sake of making a change. That’s a dumb way to run an organization. Jeff Lurie and Joe Banner need to have some ideas about who might be brought in to replace Reid if they decide to fire him.
Is that true? Take the...