Mike Tanier, over at his new home Sports on Earth, has a quick look at one Eagles defensive change at halftime designed to inhibit the Ravens' tight end-centered attack. Interestingly, Juan Castillo apparently didn't order the change, but rather it was the defensive backs acting on their own (or perhaps under the authority of shadow-coordinator Todd Bowles). Check it out.
Matchup: Eagles vs. Browns
Les Bowen had a fun piece today, looking at the last five Eagles season openers. It's interesting. There were three blowout victories: 2008, 2009, and 2011. Then there were two close losses (both to the Packers, incidentally) in 2007 and 2010.
It's hard to look at the Eagles matchup on Sunday and not see something closer to the former than the latter. The Browns appear to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. Their starting quarterback is a 28-year-old rookie. They have no passing weapons to speak of. Trent Richardson, their other first round pick, seems dangerous—but he's hobbled by an injury. The Browns defense is filled with castoffs, starting a familiar defensive backfield that includes Dimitri Patterson and Sheldon Brown. Mike Tanier was dead on accurate in his assessment of the Browns as the Eagles "minor-league affiliate".
I don't know how you call this game any other way but a victory for the Eagles. They're the nine-point favorite—on the road! I'm not smart enough to pick against all these factors. All I had to see was Damaris Johnson torching Sheldon Brown down the sidelines in the third preseason game. If that's what an undrafted free agent can do, I'm expecting a big day from the newly-minted man, DeSean Jackson. Hopefully this game will also give Michael Vick an opportunity to return to form against slightly lesser competition.
All that said, I'm also expecting a sloppy game. The Eagles weren't exactly firing on all cylinders throughout the preseason (which is fine). Keep an eye on the offensive line and linebackers this week. Problems there might not be enough to lose the game, but as with last year's opener against the Rams, the warning signs may be flashing for the rest of the season.
See you on Sunday!
Photo from Getty
Introducing The Eagles Almanac 2012
Today I’m proud to introduce Eagles Almanac 2012.
This is a project that that has been in the works secretly for months, a collaboration between 10 of your favorite writers, bloggers, and reporters to create the single best, most comprehensive guide to the 2012 Philadelpha Eagles season. The book, which you can download now as a PDF, is more than 80 ad-free pages of absolutely wall-to-wall Eagles content. There’s statistics, analysis, opinion, predictions, and even a dash of personal reflection thrown in for good measure.
The Eagles Almanac features long articles and in-depth essays on all the biggest offseason questions, and provides insight into a whole host of topics. And it does it all in a beautiful, magazine-quality layout:
I’ve personally taken on the task of editing and publishing the Eagles Almanac, but all together it was a collaborative effort between myself and a bunch of fabulous authors:
Mike Tanier (Football Outsiders and The New York Times), broke down the failings of Juan Castillo’s defensive play calling.
Tommy Lawlor (Iggles Blitz) penned a comprehensive draft review, as well as a personal recollection of the 1992 Eagles season.
Sheil Kapadia (Moving the Chains) analyzed what exactly happened to Michael Vick last year.
Jason Brewer (Bleeding Green Nation) looked at how 2012 is shaping up to be make-or-break season for Andy Reid, after 13 years on the job.
Jimmy Kempski (Blogging the bEast) put together the only NFC East preview you will ever need to read.
Tom McAllister (Bury Me In My Jersey) discussed the fragility of rabid Eagles fandom at age 30.
Derek Sarley (IgglesBlog) asked if Nnamdi Asomugha is on his last legs, and wondered what’s going on with Evan Mathis.
Sam Lynch (IgglesBlitz) looked ahead to the team’s problems and potential in 2013 and beyond.
Gabe Bevilacqua (IgglesBlog) gives advice for living in a (cruel) world where the Giants have won two of the last five Super Bowls.
And your truly examined LeSean McCoy’s breakout 2011 season and how he can actually improve from here.
Plus so much more! Given the hard work that’s gone into this book from all of us, I think it’s a steal at our price of $4.99, and I hope you think so too. At the end of the day, it’s a chance to get more top-notch Eagles content and support your favorite writers at the same time.
Buy the Eagles Almanac 2012 today!
(And while you’re at it, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.)
10 Common Sense Thoughts on Concussions
Mike Tanier:
I sincerely believe that in 20 years, we will be watching and enjoying football, and that concussions and post-concussion symptoms will be manageable medical problems that we have learned to avoid in many cases and treat responsibly in the others. American football used to have problems with severe spinal injuries and on-field deaths, first at the turn of the 20th century and later before World War II. Rule, equipment, and attitude changes have made these tragic events rare. Concussions will never be quite as rare, but I believe long-term concussion symptoms will come to be contained as medical knowledge grows and football practices evolve.
Walkthrough Lick > Wonderlic
Mike Tanier, with his new standardized football test:
Good standardized tests set very specific parameters about what they are designed to measure. Bad standardized tests are designed to “measure general mental ability, widely accepted as being one of the single best predictors of job success.” General mental ability? What the hell is that? Why, it’s what the Wonderlic measures, according to the Wonderlic website.
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 brilliantly self-destructive state of earlier this season.
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. I felt obligated to watch and feel exasperated.
I promise, it’s about the Eagles.