Tuesday, October 2, 2012

By The Numbers: Week 4

I'll be doing a segment like this every couple of weeks, just to keep everybody updated on the Eagles, from a numbers standpoint.

Let's take a look at Sunday's thrilling victory over New York:
6-14: At the five minute mark of the 2nd quarter, Michael Vick was 6-14 for 78 yards. He finished the last 35 minutes with a statline of 13-16 for 163 yards and a touchdown.

99.4: Michael Vick's passer-rating Sunday. Very controlled, sharp performance from the QB.

121: LeSean McCoy had 2 yards rushing in the first half. Shady exploded though, 121 yards rushing in the second half, shredding the Giants defense.


Eagles celebrate a dramatic victory
on Sunday night
52.94: This was the percentage of run plays called by Marty Mornhinweg against the Giants. Out of 68 offensive plays, he dialed up 36 runs to only 32 passing plays.

7.5: Yards per carry from Stanley Havili's two rushes. Just a small sample, but the young fullback has played very well this season.

36.2: Average yards per kick return by Giants rookie David Wilson. Simply unacceptable.

3.0: Yards per carry allowed by the defense. Philadelphia's defense is lethal when it forces opponents to become one-dimensional.

Now let's take a look at the Eagles so far this season:

417.8: Offensive yards per game for the Eagles this season. The team is moving the ball up and down the field at will, now Vick just has to put together some more perrmances like he did this Sunday.

30th: Where the Eagles rank in points per game. Turnovers are the number one contributor to this. It must improve, 16.5 ppg is largely under-achieving.

6th: Where the Eagles rank in total defense. The defense is allowing 298.2 yards per game so far, and allowing 20.8 points per game.

26.9: Percentage of third down conversions for Philadelphia's defense. They are getting off the field on third down at a great rate, good enough to rank them third in the NFL.
Philadelphia has soared to the top
of the NFC East at the quarter mark
3rd: Where LeSean McCoy ranks in the NFL in total rushing yards.

2: Number of 40+ yard plays allowed by the defense this year. This is a huge improvement over last year. The 2011 defense had good moments, but allowed the big play far too often. This year, Philly is playing much more disciplined football.

333: Number of receiving yards for DeSean Jackson this year, good enough to rank him 11th in the NFL. The explosive wideout looks like his old self again this year, and Marty Mornhinweg is finding ways to get the ball in his hands despite defenses taking away the big play.

2nd: Where Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie ranks this year in interceptions. His three interceptions are second only to Tim Jennings from Chicago. No interception was bigger than his pick off Eli Manning in the endzone.


Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95, I'll get ya back.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Naked Eye: Week 4

I'm back! Sorry, I've been swarmed with work and school the past few days, but the blog is back.

Naked Eye is a weekly segment I'll be doing where I give my thoughts on the game after just watching the telecast. No film study yet, just instant observations and thoughts about the team's performance.

The Eagles played a clean game last night for the most part, it truly was a team victory. The drama was intense, most drama in a game I can remember since December 19, 2010. Let's take a quick look at the game:
Dawkins came out of the tunnel
one last time as an Eagle

- Brian Dawkins is still the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles. No player has every connected with Eagles fans the way B-Dawk does.

- The O-Line really struggled in the first half but their play was outstanding in the second half. Andy Reid made good adjustments to slow down the Giants pass rush, leaving Celek and McCoy in to chip. Mathis had a couple huge blocks and I thought Demetress Bell really improved as the game went on.

- The run defense is so much improved over last year. The Eagles are using their safeties a lot in run support. This is effective, but risky at the same time. Philly is very susceptible to play-action because Nate Allen and especially Kurt Coleman bite on the fake. That's something that needs to improve moving forward.

- Fletcher Cox is a stud. He is a disruptive force and will only get better each game. Love what I've seen from the rookie.

- Ramses Barden's completion deep over Nnamdi Asomugha was once again not Nnamdi's fault. He was supposed to have safety help over top, so his job is to take away short and intermediate patterns. He did that, Coleman just bit hard on the play-action.

- It was good to see Alex Henery have a sharp game. He really hasn't made many pressure kicks in his short career, but he nailed a clutch 48-yarder to put the Eagles up 13-10. He finished the game 4-4.

- Let's give some props to our redzone defense. Remember the past three years when we were historically terrible inside the 20? It just proves how important good linebackers are.
Vick connected with Jackson in the
corner of the endzone for the TD

- Vick played his best game of the year. It wasn't explosive, like the Baltimore game, but he looked like an improved quarterback. Maybe it was just the play-calling or maybe it was Vick recognizing pressure and disposing the football. The turnover battle is such a big statistic at the end of games, it was nice to come out on the winning-end for once.

- Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg had one of their best games with play-calling. In the second half, they relied on the run game to ignite the offense and it was very effective. Philadelphia's offensive line is much more adept at run-blocking over pass-blocking. Also, Michael Vick is really one of the best QBs in the NFL when he has a dependable run-game.

- Nobody in the NFL can change direction like LeSean McCoy. Period.

* I'm going to study the film tomorrow evening and take a deeper look into the big plays of the game. These are just the things that caught my naked eye.

Extra Point: I have an interesting idea for a future post. I have a pretty good story about how I handled the last three minutes of the game and I want to hear your story. E-mail me at mmchastain1s@gmail.com with your reactions and actions during the last Giants drive or even throughout the game. I want to make another fan post because I want this to be an interactive blog. If I get at least five e-mails or tweets then I'll write the post.

Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95, I'll get ya back. Also, e-mail me at mmchastain1s@gmail.com.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Dissecting Vick: Week 3

This week's Dissecting Vick segment was a lot less enjoyable than last week. To be blunt, he wasn't good. As an optimist myself, it was hard to watch, hard to look at his performance so far this season and think he's a better quarterback than he was two years ago.

Let's start with the good:

- His completion to Damaris Johnson for a first down on the second series of the game was nice. He stood in the pocket and delivered a strong ball, even with a defender drilling him to the ground.

- In the second quarter, he had a really nice throw to DeSean Jackson that pushed the team to the one-yard line. DeSean found space right over the middle of the field and Vick got him the ball.

Quarterback Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws a pass during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. The Carindals defeated the Eagles 27-6.
I want the old Vick back. The confident
Vick, who knows he's one of the best
- He made a nice throw to Avant in really tight coverage. I don't understand why he doesn't utilize the reliability of Avant more often. He knows the receiver will battle anybody for the ball and put his body at risk.

- He stepped up in the pocket, evaded rushers and delivered a high ball to Avant, which he came down with. It was on second and really long, and almost resulted in a first down.

- In the 3rd quarter, he threw a good out-route to DeSean Jackson, which just got over the out-stretched arms of Patrick Peterson.

- Vick showed flashes of his ability to get the ball out at the beginning of the second half. Watch that on film, and grow.

- Well, that's it for the good. I added another bullet to make it look better.

Now let's focus on the bad:

- It honestly looked like Vick thought he was playing seven-on-seven with an unlimited sack clock. There were times when the receivers weren't getting very open, but as an NFL quarterback, you have to be able to make tight throws. Put the ball in places where only your receiver can get it, if it results in an incompletion, no harm done. He has to get rid of the football.

- When the Eagles offense approached the one-yard line with 16 seconds left and no timeouts, Marty designed a rollout for Vick with FB Stanley Havili as his primary option. Havili had a step, Vick couldn't pull the trigger. Watch the replay of that, if Vick goes to Havili early, the linebacker doesn't have an angle for the interception.

- The 93-yard fumble return TD was 100% Vick's fault. I don't want to hear anybody blaming Andy Reid or Marty Mornhinweg, or even the offensive line. If Vick points out the blitzer, S Kerry Rhodes, before the snap, LeSean McCoy (who went right to pass protect) would've picked him up on the left side. Not only was Vick oblivious to the defense, he held on to the ball way too long on a three-step drop. Arizona did a great job jamming Celek. Vick needs to throw that ball out of the endzone and go into halftime down 17-3, not 24-0. Unacceptable.

Daryl Washington - Philadelphia Eagles v Arizona Cardinals
Vick needs to secure the ball
when he evades the pocket
- Quarterbacks need internal clocks in their head, one second, two seconds, three seconds, out. Give me the best five offensive linemen in the NFL right now and they can't sustain pass protection for seven seconds against the Cards D-Line on every play. Come on.

- Vick ran the ball recklessly too. It is impossible to sustain backyard football week-after-week against NFL defenses. This isn't realistic, but he needs to learn to run responsibly; take the yards given, don't push the limits, and put two hands on the ball prior to contact. The fumble outside of the pocket was inexcusable.

- Another problem with Vick is quarterback savvy. The good, veteran quarterbacks now how to protect their receivers. Vick almost gave Celek two concussions on back-to-back plays. Luckily for Vick and the Eagles offense, Celek is a monster. He took two huge licks, one bomb from Kerry Rhodes. Vick can't put his receivers in danger, especially not his most reliable one.

- Along with the game-changing 93-yard TD Vick allowed, he was clueless against the Cardinals blitz most of the afternoon. On a couple play-action passes, defenders knifed right through untouched and delivered blows to Vick. This also might have been lack of run game. Why would the defense bite on play-action when the Eagles don't run the ball enough?

Mike Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles is nearly sacked by Daryl Washington #58 of the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona.
Michael needs to get the ball
out before he takes this shot
- Even if Andy Reid and Vick won't admit it, Michael was gun-shy Sunday. He showed an overall lack of confidence. I would rather my QB go down confidently swinging than pulling back. He needs to deliver the ball with instinct and confidence, throw into tight windows. The best example I have of this is his completion to Clay Harbor last week on the final drive. It was a play action pass on second and long. The defense wasn't fooled and were in Vick's face pretty quickly. He didn't have time to think, he just instinctively delivered a beautiful ball to Harbor in tight coverage. I want to see that.

- Ken Whisenhunt had a perfect gameplan called against the Eagles defense. Using part of this, let's look at how Vick can improve as a passer. When the Cardinals saw off-man coverage, they delivered stick routes. Easy seven yards, every time. When the Cardinals faced two-man press, they utilized their tight-end with crossing routes and slants, they moved Fitzgerald around to get a more favorable matchup. I want Vick to understand the defense and exploit its weakness. If they blitz, just call a hot-route and get rid of the football. Live to fight another down. Positive yards will lead to opportunities for big plays. A strictly vertical passing game is much easier to defend than a diverse one.

One more note:

- I was really hard on Vick this week. This doesn't mean I'm downing our quarterback, this doesn't mean I don't believe in him anymore. There are high expectations for this team and he has to play better. He's still the man for the job. I truly feel sorry for the Giants defense, because I think he's going to pick it apart. Watch out for Michael Vick this week.


Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95, I'll get ya back.

Team Report Card: Week 3

It was tough, but I managed to make it through the game film a second time. Nothing is harder than watching film and writing about your team after such a terrible performance. This new article is a weekly segment were I hand out letter grades to positions based on the week's performance.

Quarterback: D 
- Vick was terrible. He held on to the ball for an eternity and was responsible for most of the hits he fell victim to. He was also bad at diagnosing pressure and getting the protection straight. In his defense, Maclin was out and his receivers weren't really getting separation. I'll have my column Dissecting Vick: Week 3 up tomorrow. Check it out for a more in-depth look at the QB's performance.
Bryce Brown Running back Bryce Brown #34 of the Philadelphia Eagles rushes the football against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. The Carindals defeated the Eagles 27-6.
The rookie could play a big
part in the offense this year

Running Back: B+ 
- McCoy was great when he got the ball, Andy Reid should be ashamed of himself for how little he utilized his best player on offense. He made countless defenders miss and displayed excellent patience before hitting the hole. McCoy was solid in pass protection. He was late on one play, still making the block, and whiffed on a blitzer almost resulting in a safety. But other than that, he was steady.

- I liked what I saw from 7th-round rookie Bryce Brown. He had a drop on a play, trying to run up-field before securing the football. He ran the ball very effectively though, four carries for 28 yards. He exploded up the middle on a 17-yard scamper, hitting the hole with authority.

Wide Receiver: C-
- DeSean was out-played by second-year star Patrick Peterson. Peterson is one of the few corners in the league who can run stride-for-stride with Jackson. He didn't have any drops but he struggled to get open. On a deep pass down the sideline, I really think he could have had it if he wasn't worried more about drawing a flag. DeSean will be fine though, I expect a breakout performance against a much-less talented New York secondary on Sunday night.

- Damaris Johnson had a bad fumble on a punt-return. But as a receiver, he was solid. The undrafted rookie ran some good routes, ending up with five receptions for 84 yards.  He had a couple explosive-looking plays where he made defenders look silly. Not much more you can ask for from an undrafted rookie debut.

- Jason Avant made an acrobatic catch over the middle, elevating way up and plucking the ball out of the air. He also made a catch in tight quarters. Not much more action for the vet.

Tight End: B-
- Maybe Celek said something bad about Vick's wife, because at points during the game, it looked like Vick was trying to get Celek killed out there. On back-to-back plays, Vick threw Celek directly into highlight-reel hits. Kudos to Brent, who got back up and kept going. Good quarterbacks don't throw their receivers into hits like that. (Obviously kidding about Vick's wife.)

Offensive Line: I have to break this down into two groups.

Mathis, Watkins, and Herremans: B
- They all had good moments. On Celek's big-gainer, Mathis handled two Cardinals defenders. Brilliant block by him. Herremans had a hell of a block on the Michael Vick run up the middle towards the end of the first half. Watkins also had good moments, especially in the run-game. He struggles every now and then in pass protection, but Watkins is a nasty run-blocker.

Reynolds and Bell: D
- Where should I start? Bell whiffed on the first play, if he was trying to block the air next to Calais Campbell then he did a great job. Reynolds had some serious miscues in the first two series, D-Linemen were going right around him. On the first-play of the second half, Bell started his block about three seconds before the snap, sharp football. On Bell's holding call, I don't give him much blame at all. Vick had plenty of time to dispose of the football, but held on to it and held on to it. Bell held a solid block for over four seconds. A third quarter sack was Reynolds fault, another whiff by the youngster. Honestly though, maybe it was the play-calling that kept the Arizona D-Line honest, but the pass protection was much better in the second half, things settled down.
LaRod Stephens-Howling #36 of the Arizona Cardinals is tackled by Darryl Tapp #55 and Phillip Hunt #76 of the Philadelphia Eagles at University of Phoenix Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona.
DE Darryl Tapp was around the
football all afternoon

Defensive Line: A-
- They got pressure all game. Kolb got the ball out early almost every pass play. The only problem for the defense:  everybody was open. The run defense was good most of the game, starting up front. The stunts on third and long were effective throughout. Darryl Tapp had his best game as an Eagle. He made a home in the Arizona backfield. Cole and Babin got pressure off the edge, and Brandon Graham really stood out. He got pressure which led to a Tapp and Thorton sack, and had another half sack and three tackles-for-loss. DT Cullen Jenkins got pressure up the middle and flushed Kolb out. Honestly, I think the talent is so overpowering on the line that I don't think there will be a letdown this season from these guys, they're relentless.

Linebacker: C-
- Mychal Kendricks didn't have a good game. He blew two coverages, one on RB Ryan Williams and one on TE Jeff King, both resulting in easy first downs. He had a couple missed tackles, but also had a nice run-stuff, along with DE Darryl Tapp.
- DeMeco had an OK game. He had some nice plays against the run, but wasn't consistent against the pass. He should've helped on the Fitzgerald crossing route where Kurt Coleman got picked by an Arizona receiver. Plus, DeMeco should have had an interception on Kolb's TD pass to rookie WR Michael Floyd. Against the run he was good, blowing up a run play for a four-yard loss in a one-on-one stop of the running back. He also stopped Ryan Williams for a small gain after Williams went through a pretty big hole.

Cornerback: Again, I'm going to have to separate this into two groups.

Rodgers-Cromartie and Asomugha: B
- Nnamdi had a good game. The deep touchdown pass to Fitzgerald was not his fault. Kurt Coleman was supposed to have deep help, when the safety is over top, the corner's job is to take away short and intermediate routes, Nnamdi did. Other than that, he wasn't targeted much. Against the run, Nnamdi made some good hits, knocking Peterson out of bounds on a wildcat run and stuffing the running back after a modest gain.
- Rodgers-Cromartie had good moments, but honestly, he looked disinterested at some points. DRC had a couple pass-breakups, one was on a curl route to Andre Roberts. He could've made a better effort on some tackles, he looked content being blocked and didn't do much to shed.

Boykin: D
- The rookie really struggled. In his defense, he was matched up against superstar WR Larry Fitzgerald in the slot for a lot of the game. He played huge cushions on a couple plays, one to Fitzgerald and another to Roberts, resulting in really easy completions for Kolb. I'm not sure if this was designed or he was playing safe football. He was bailed out by Early Doucet, who dropped an open catch which looked like a touchdown. His tackling was a serious issue all day, he made a poor effort to take down Fitzgerald who almost turned a three-yard drag into a 17-yard first down.

Safety: D-
- After two good performances by Allen and Coleman, this was a pretty bad week all-around. Coleman had a blown coverage which led to a Fitzgerald touchdown. He also had a pretty bad missed tackle in the first quarter. Nate Allen took terrible angles in pursuit all game. On the Andre Roberts huge gain which was called back, Allen looked lost trying to pursue the receiver. They have to play better for this defense to thrive.
Johnson's fumble ruined a great return

Special Teams: C
- Damaris Johnson had a great punt return nullified by an out-of-control fumble. Chas Henry out-kicked his coverage multiple times, and Patrick Peterson started his offense in good field-position. Boykin had some decent returns, nothing special. Henery continues to be stellar at making kicks with no pressure.


Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95, I'll get ya back.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Another QB Controversy in Philly?

Is there a quarterback controversy brewing at the NovaCare Complex? No, not yet. Vick played horrendous football in Cleveland but Eagles fans let it slide, blaming it on rust. Then he looked pretty darn good against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 and fans were relieved. But Vick and the offense struggled mightily against a good Arizona defense. Vick has nine turnovers (6 INTs and 3 fumbles lost) and there's no excuse for that.

Today at his Monday press-conference, Andy Reid was less-than convincing that Vick's job was secure. The direct question was "Andy, at what point, if any, do you consider a QB change if the turnovers keep racking up at this rate?"

"Well right now, right now we're with Michael and that's what we're doing. We'll evaluate as we go."

That was Reid's response. I don't think anybody can say that's a ringing endorsement for the starting quarterback. Later, on his weekly radio show, Reid sounded a little different.

"It was the last question, I was finishing up the press conference. Michael's our quarterback. Period. Michael's our quarterback."

Andy Reid has been known before to back players, then change his mind. To take a deeper look into the matter, I traveled all the way back to November 16, 2008.

Donovan McNabb had a rough outing against the Cincinnati Bengals which ultimately resulted in an ugly 13-13 tie. Immediately following the disastrous performance, Andy Reid took the podium. Here's an excerpt from the Q&A.

November 16, 2008:

Q: "Based on how he's (McNabb) gone over the past four games or so, is he on a short leash right now?"

Even McNabb had a short leash under
Reid. The NFL is about winning now
Reid: "No. He's just gotta keep firing."

Q: "How surprised were you to see him struggle like that today?"

Reid: "You're gonna have games like that, man."

Q: "It's not normally your style, but do you think there's a shakeup you need to make?"

Reid: "No. I mean, I'll look at everything but I can't pinpoint one, no."

November 17, 2008:

Q: On how Donovan was missing easy throws and just an overall lack of accuracy. "Is there any situation when he gets like that where you would go to Kevin (Kolb) or a new guy and see what happens?"

Reid: "No. That's not what I'm doing right now. Donovan will continue to be the quarterback."

The next week, McNabb was benched at halftime in favor of youngster Kevin Kolb in a 36-7 loss to the Ravens. McNabb later returned the week after to lead the Eagles to a 48-20 win over the Cardinals behind his four touchdown passes.

Now let's move forward to September 19, 2010. Starter Kevin Kolb was injured in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers. Michael Vick replaced him, almost finishing off an electrifying second-half comeback. The following week, Vick led the Eagles to a win in Detroit. Right after the game, Reid again addressed reporters.
Vick handed the clipboard over to
Kolb in Week 3 of 2010

September 19, 2010:

Q: "Is it hard to go with Kevin after a game like that?"

Reid: "No. Not at all."

Q: "With Kevin, is he cleared with the concussion and do you expect him to start next week?"

Reid: "Yeah, both guys (Stewart Bradley) have been cleared, and yes."

September 20, 2010:

Q: "Andy, what would you say to people who think your best chance to win is with Michael Vick?"

Reid: "Listen, I know I'm in the business where I can't please everybody. I know that, that's not what I'm here to do. I'm here to make the decision that I think is best for the team."

Q: "What is it about Kevin (Kolb) that makes you think he gives you the best chance for the season?"

Reid: "Well, listen, we'll just see how it works out."

The next day, Reid called an evening press conference to officially name Michael Vick the new starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.

What to make of this:

I believe what Andy said on his radio show. Michael is his quarterback this week. I don't think he's thought about pulling him, yet. Key words there: this week, yet. Vick hasn't earned the right of guaranteed job security. In a "what have you done for me lately?" league, he will have to play better. I'm fed up with his excuses, his promises of how he's going to start taking care of the football. Fans are worn out and frustrated.

If Vick doesn't slow the turnovers,
he might see some sideline action
Andy Reid is a player's coach. Every week, Eagles fans hear him take the shots for his players' mistakes. He doesn't intentionally break his word, he's making what he believes is the best decision for the football team. Vick hasn't played well, but is Foles a better option? There's really no way to tell. Fans clamoring for the 3rd round rookie are basing it on his stellar preseason performance, however let's remember that he was picking apart second-string, vanilla defenses.

Don't get me wrong, Foles looks great and I believe he can be the future starter in Philadelphia. He gets rid of the ball, throws a great deep pass, and has nice touch. He's also a big, strong kid who can see clearly over the tallest defensive lines. But I also strongly believe Vick gives the team the best chance to win now. If Vick can't improve his turnover rate though, Reid has no choice but to yank the star. There's no situation where I see Foles taking over long-term for Vick, yet. Could I see Reid pulling Vick for a series or two, or a quarter? Absolutely.

Even though I don't see Foles getting playing-time this Sunday, it's definitely a story to watch. If Vick comes out and puts together three straight sloppy possessions to start the game, the home crowd might show their impatience. The pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Andy Reid and Michael Vick this week. How they deliver will say a lot about the season moving forward.


Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95, I'll get ya back.




Sunday, September 23, 2012

Cup Check: Week 3

Cup Check is another new weekly column where I'll give reasons why the glass is either half-full or half-empty. Fans of all teams overreact to each game, whether it be positive or negative. It's hard not to, but once the game settles in over a few hours, things calm down. The performance by Philadelphia this week was unacceptable. They weren't prepared in any phase for this game. Is there real reason to panic, Eagles fans? No.

The glass is still half-full.

Check the standings - Along with New York and Dallas, the Eagles are tied for first place in the NFC East. The Cowboys are coming off two weeks of less-than-stellar performance, Washington is hurting big-time, and the Eagles have a chance to take down the defending champions next Sunday night.
After some shaky performances, there's
still reason to believe in this duo

It's the NFL - Even the best teams lose on the road. It's one game, and the Eagles looked impressive last week. The defense was still only responsible for 20 points allowed, and they were put in some tough positions on the field. Juan's group still hasn't allowed a second half touchdown and they seem to be doing a great job making adjustments, unlike last year.

They have the players - In past years, there were gaping holes in the team. Linebacker was always a position under scrutiny. Wide-receiver has been under the microscope, along with the offensive line in some years. The talent is there, more so than in recent seasons. Left tackle and center remain in question, although King Dunlap will be returning sometime soon and Andy Reid has won many games with make-shift centers before (my first and last Mike McGlynn plug-in). The only question mark is Vick, and it's a legitimate one. The other pieces are in place.

Will Vick ever be the answer? - Nobody really knows that yet. Some fans are calling for Foles, some still have faith in their QB. There's no denying that he's struggling with turnovers. The poor performance was collective today, receivers could have ran better routes, the line could have communicated better, and the play-calling could have been more quarterback-friendly. One positive to take out of the first three weeks: Vick seems improved running the two-minute offense, something that shouldn't be over-looked. There will be many close division battles and he's won the close game this year.

Andy Reid's teams bounce back - Here are some examples:

---> In 2010, the Eagles lost an ugly game at home against the Redskins in the much-anticipated return of Donovan McNabb. It was an ugly game, Vick was injured and Kolb stepped in and played safe football only to lose 17-12. The next week the Eagles traveled to San Francisco for a victory and returned home to dominate a good Atlanta team, all of this with their backup quarterback.
Akeem Jordan Quintin Demps #39 and Akeem Jordan #56 of the Philadelphia Eagles taunt Adam Jones #21 of the Dallas Cowboys on December 28, 2008 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Cowboys 44-6.  (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Quintin Demps;Akeem Jordan;Adam Jones
The Eagles dominated Dallas
after a brutal loss in D.C.

---> After losing back-to-back games in 2009 to fall to 5-4, the McNabb-led Eagles fired off a six-game win-streak. They followed back-to-back ugly losses with sharp, precise football.

---> In the magical 2008 season, the Eagles looked terrible at many different parts of the season. They suffered a brutal three-game streak in the middle of the season, falling to 5-5-1. After that they followed with three good wins. At another point in the season, the Eagles controlled their playoff destiny, only to deliver another flop, falling to the Redskins in Week 16 10-3. The next week, in one of the more memorable Eagles games, they destroyed the Cowboys 44-6 and made a deep run in the playoffs.

What does this mean? - These examples may not translate into the 2012 season, but history tells us that the team will bounce back. Like every NFL team, they perform poorly some games. The good teams come back stronger the next week.


Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95, I'll get you back.




Inside the Mind of Andy Reid: Week 3

This is my weekly column designated to delving into the mind of the Eagles' general, Andy Reid. This is a time when I put my optimism aside and give brutal honesty. Let's take a look at some of the issues surrounding a flat performance in the 27-6 loss in Arizona.

Andy Reid absolutely has to give
his QB a better run/pass ratio
Making sense of the run/pass ratio - There's no feasible way to make any sense out of the lopsided play-calling. Eagles fans are probably hoarse from screaming at their televisions. By my unofficial count, in 63 offensive plays, Marty dialed up 46 pass plays (37 pass attempts, 5 sacks, 4 Vick scrambles) and 17 run plays. When your quarterback is getting hammered the way Michael Vick was in the first half, you HAVE to help him out. Andy didn't. Vick was repeatedly taking blow after blow and getting no breathers in between, dropping back in consecutive plays. It's sad to look back and think about how a couple rushing first downs could have got the offense flowing.

Final three plays of the first half - I have no problem with three passing plays. Let's look at the situation, 1st and goal at the one-yard line with 16 seconds left and no timeouts. Many fans on Twitter were screaming for a McCoy run, but if he doesn't get in the endzone there, the team has enough time for a spike and a field-goal. A run call there gives you one shot, while you get three shots with a pass play. It's completely Vick's responsibility to point out safety Kerry Rhodes so he doesn't become a free rusher. There are times when the play-call is at fault, and there are times when the players' execution is at fault.

Vick and the offense weren't in-sync
for very much of the afternoon
Details, details, details - The Eagles lack detail in their performance, and that is a direct reflection on the head coach. Missed tackles, poor angles in pursuit, blown coverages, missed assignments in protection, lack of effort, etc. are all tied to lack of detail. That falls on the head coach and the rest of the staff. The defense was so sharp and precise in the first two weeks, but they reverted back to their 2011 defense this afternoon. Kolb had easy completions to Andre Roberts and Jeff King that kept drives alive. These were wide open throws, throws that you and I can make. Nothing aggravates me more than giving up free first downs to the offense. The missed assignments in protection are a combination of faults. Vick hasn't been sharp in recognizing blitzers consistently, and the offensive line has faced some challenging injuries. This isn't all on Reid.

Time-management woes - I thought Reid and Mornhinweg's game-plan was backwards. The game started off so pass-happy, no balance whatsoever. Then, trailing 24-0 with time a big factor, Mornhinweg relied on the run-game to ignite the offense. The offense looked smooth in the third quarter. Quick comeback routes, off-tackle runs, swing passes were all part of the plan to get the offense going. But why wait until the second half? If there were ever a time to run a pass-heavy offense, it was at a time when trailing by more than three touchdowns. We have to have balance from kickoff on. It's much easier to defend a team who is one-dimensional.
Vick doesn't stand a chance to play
a healthy season with all these hits

Why the fans deserve an explanation - I would love to hear Andy Reid say that the imbalance in play-calling was his fault and it won't happen again. I would love to hear Andy Reid say that he's going to give Vick quicker reads and smaller chunks of yards to eliminate negative plays and ignite our offense. Eagles fans have been beating this dead horse for years. It's hard to argue with statistics, Reid has a pedigree as an offensive-guru and has proven success. This Andy Reid philosophy has resulted in offensive records for the franchise, weeks where Vick has looked unstoppable, and more importantly, repeated periods of inconsistency. Fans deserve an explanation as to how Reid can possibly think 46 pass plays will cut down on the hits Vick takes. He needs to explain how arguably the best back in the league should only touch the ball 16 times. He needs to explain how repeated slow-developing pass plays can get the offense in a rhythm. The problem: he can't explain that.

Andy Reid isn't going to change. He has faults but when things are clicking, the team will look great. He'll be sure the team bounces back next Sunday night against the New York Giants.

* I'll be doing a post later tonight telling the fans why the glass is still half-full. Be on the look out for that one.


Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Through the Eyes of the Fans

This is the start of my new weekly Saturday column. Here, I'll take a look at the predictions from the most important group in the NFL: the fans. I sent out a tweet from both of my accounts, @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95, asking for a prediction on the anticipated game tomorrow. If you missed it this week and would like to be a part of it, keep a look out next week. Here's what the Twitter universe had to say:

@sbrennan99 - Eagles 24 over Cardinals 10
@TDubbb15 - Eagles 31 over Cardinals 14
Michael Vick knows they can't deliver
a repeat performance from last year
@joslewis - Eagles 24 over Cardinals 7
@caffienefeen - Eagles 24 over Cardinals 17
@KimmayJ - Eagles 20 over Cardinals 17
@dklausner - Eagles 24 over Cardinals 13
@Trublueiz - Eagles 24 over Cardinals 21
@shirindhaboss - Eagles 24 over Cardinals 10
@SigmaEsquire03 - Eagles 28 over Cardinals 6
@schwabbFTM - Eagles 21 over Cardinals 16
@matthoffnerd - Eagles 38 over Cardinals 0
@AdamBershad - Eagles 36 over Cardinals 10
@sh_tmycatsays - Eagles 27 over Cardinals 24
@jevygurl - Eagles 24 over Cardinals 17
@MikeMcC122 - Eagles 24 over Cardinals 17

What to Make of These Predictions:

- The Cardinals have much more respect from the Philly fanbase than they had in the preseason.
- Not many fans are expecting an offensive explosion from either side. Both defenses have been impressive thus far in the 2012 season.
- Eagles fans expect the team to bring a 3-0 record back to Philadelphia, as any die-hard fan should.

Two-point Conversion

- @dklausner had a bold prediction, he sees Damaris Johnson playing a major factor in the game-plan tomorrow. He calls for Andy and Marty to dial up #13 on quite a few plays tomorrow, predicting a TD for the undrafted rookie.
-------> I like this prediction a lot. It may have seemed lack-luster, but I was very fond of the run play last week that was called for Damaris Johnson. Like Dan was saying, he's a playmaker and they need to find a way to put the ball in his hands.

- @caffienefeen thinks the success the Eagles had against Baltimore, running a more balanced attack, will carry over into tomorrow afternoon. He expects a calmer Michael Vick and the defense the to continue its stellar play.
--------> I think every Eagles fan was relieved to see a more balance game called by Marty Mornhinweg last week. It worked well, so why switch it up?

Next week, give me some comments along with your prediction and I'll plug it in. I want to hear from the fans.

* Follow these Eagles fans on Twitter, they'll get you back!

If you haven't checked it out yet, give my article titled Arizona Cardinals: Full Scouting Report a read. 
I spent three hours studying film to break it all down, it's everything you'll need to know before kickoff tomorrow.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Arizona Cardinals: Full Scouting Report

Philadelphia's week three opponent is no slouch. Arizona is a disciplined, smart football team who is well-coached. Even though the Eagles remain unbeaten, the sloppy play cannot continue to result in victories. If the Eagles plan to move to 3-0, they must play a smart football game from start to finish.

Arizona Cardinals:
Record - 2-0

By the Numbers:
Arizona's win over the New England Patriots landed
the team in the NFL's spotlight
Offense:
Points per game - 20.0
Offensive yards per game - 249.0
Pass yards per game - 175.0
Rushing yards per game - 74.0 
Third down conversion rate - 29.2%

Defense:
Points allowed per game - 17.0
Yards allowed per game - 320.5
Passing yards allowed per game - 218.0
Rushing yards allowed per game - 102.5
Third down conversion rate allowed - 32.3%

By the Film:

Offensive Philosophy:

Smart, safe football - Arizona tries to play 49ers style football. The problem: Kevin Kolb doesn't take care of the football quite like Alex Smith has under Jim Harbaugh. There were many plays in the New England game where the Cardinals faced third and medium-to-long and were completely content with punting the football away. They ran running plays like draws and pitches out of the shotgun. The pass plays used were screen passes and throws underneath. The main objective: take care of the football and trust their defense.

Second year stud, Patrick Peterson, is
a playmaker on both sides of the ball
Yards by all means necessary - Arizona will use second-year cornerback Patrick Peterson as their wildcat quarterback. Playmaker Larod Stephens-Howling will get some screen passes from Kolb, and with an aggressive Eagles defensive-line, the screen-game could be an effective way to get chunks of yardage. Rookie LB Mychal Kendricks, whose been asked to cover opposing running backs very often, will have his instincts tested.

Pound it, pound it, pound it - Arizona's run-game has been anything but effective early in the season. But don't try to convince Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt to abandon the run game. They will run it again and again, no matter the success. It sets up the play-action and keeps them from being one-dimensional.

Disciplined offense - It was tough to find penalties called against Arizona. They display all the attributes of a well-coached football team. Even with a very shaky offensive line, they play disciplined, rarely committing a false start. The Cardinals execute; one of the biggest reasons they've been able to win with a lack-luster offense.

Don't underestimate Kolb's wheels - I've said this in my earlier post (Quick Scouting Report: Arizona Cardinals), and I stick by it; Kolb might lead Arizona in rushing yards against Philly. Philadelphia has been running much more man defense than in past years, which means the middle of the field will be cleared out on some plays. With every Eagles D-Lineman bursting up field, there will be opportunities for Kolb to step up and take off.

Defensive Philosophy:

Now you see us, now you don't - Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton, disciple of the great Steelers D-Coordinator Dick LeBeau, runs a complex scheme. They show complex looks but play tight, man-to-man coverage. There were plenty of occasions against New England when Arizona showed pressure and only brought four. That could be a dangerous tactic against the Eagles, with no safety deep initially, but Vick has been flustered mentally many times before.

Timing is everything - When Arizona does bring pressure, it usually finds home. Opposing QBs have had issues against the Arizona blitz which means one thing: Horton knows when to bring on the dogs. Vick had a good week against the Baltimore blitz last Sunday and he'll need to have a similar performance this 
week.

These LBs can cover - Tom Brady had to deliver good balls in tight windows to find Gronkowski last week. Against the Ravens, Celek found acres of open spaces for Vick to find him. This won't happen against Arizona's man defense. These linebackers can run stride for stride with tight ends and some running backs. They play smart, instinctive football.

Philadelphia's Point of Attack:

Winning the Battle Against the Arizona Offense:

Collapse Kolb's space - At a slight feeling of pressure, Kolb bails. He wants no part of a tight pocket, his pocket-presence is definitely a weakness. Throw in some stunts on obvious passing downs and Kolb will run himself into a sack or two. He likes room to step up and he'll escape the pocket to find it, which will eliminate one side of the field.

Make AZ one-dimensional - They will run, and run often. But the Eagles can't allow it to be successful. Ray Rice had some big gainers in the first half last Sunday but Juan Castillo and company really tightened things up. Philly's second-half run defense has been nothing short of outstanding; on 20 second half carries, Philly has allowed a stingy 33 yards.

Do what you do - There won't be a need to blitz very often. Kolb will make a few nice throws in tight coverage, but I don't think he can contain it for 25 pass attempts. There will be some errant throws which the Eagles can capitalize on. Don't give Kolb many chances to exploit a blitz with an easy completion.
The Eagles line was very disruptive
without putting up big sack totals Sun.

Short and sweet - I don't see Arizona suffering many sacks, but that doesn't mean the Eagles defensive line won't cause mayhem. Philadelphia forced Baltimore out of their vertical attack and made Flacco settle underneath all afternoon. Kolb and the Cardinals don't like negative plays because they don't have the explosiveness to recover.

Finish the play - Philadelphia's tackling has been vastly improved over last year's debacle. Kolb's ability to escape a sack and keep a play alive is underrated, there's no denying that. He's not going to keep his eyes down-field like a Ben Roethlisberger or his Sunday opponent, Michael Vick, but he'll turn a couple seven-yard losses into three-yard completions. This was very evident against the New England Patriots. Bring the man down and finish the tackle.

Beating a Disciplined Defense:

Keep firing down-field - The Cardinals will show blitz often on passing downs. They'll bring safeties up, although they will sprint back into coverage of occasion. If there's a one-on-one matchup on DeSean Jackson, go deep. There's nobody that can run stride-for-stride with DeSean for sixty yards. Even if they are incomplete passes, the vertical passing game keep the defense honest. It also leads to penalties on the defense which can ignite an Eagles drive.

Remember that one play? - On the second play of Philadelphia's game-winning drive last week, Vick threw a back shoulder throw to Celek up the seam. If the Cards play two-deep man and Celek has one-on-one coverage up the middle, Vick needs to read the 'backer. If the LB is on his outside hip, throw the skinny post. If the LB is on his inside hip, throw the back-shoulder pass.

Shady being Shady - Arizona's defense is always in pursuit, they flow to the football. Nobody in the NFL has mastered the cutback quite like RB LeSean McCoy. If the Arizona linebackers commit one-way, Shady will flip the play and head the other way, maybe for some big runs.
Dockett and a good Cards D-Line will
challenge the Eagles new linemen

Depth will be tested - Center Dallas Reynolds and left tackle Demetress Bell will be starting their first games as Eagles. Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell are two very talented athletes and the Eagles O-Line will have its hands full. Will the protection be in-sync? Communication will be key, and will be difficult in the loud Arizona dome.

Matchup Time:

Experience vs. Talent:
Eagles Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg vs. Cardinals Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton

Marty called a brilliant game against the Ravens last week, but Horton called an equally successful game against Tom Brady and the Patriots. Will Marty and Andy be able to exploit the few weaknesses they saw on film? Will the talented, but young Ray Horton be able to out-smart a man who's been battling coordinators for years? Vick will need defined reads and open throws to get his confidence going. The Cardinals will look to rattle the QB early and often.


Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95, I'll follow you back.






Thursday, September 20, 2012

State of the NFC East: Week 2

Before the Giants take the field tonight, let's take a look at the NFC East landscape.

It doesn't matter how, Vick has
led the Eagles to a 2-0 record.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) - 2-0 is 2-0. It doesn't matter how. After two ugly performances, the Eagles escaped with two one-point victories, first team in NFL history to do so. The good news, Philadelphia hasn't even played close to their potential on offense. The Eagles are averaging 471 yards per game this season, an enormous amount. However, they are only averaging 20.5 points per game. The nine turnovers committed in two games is obviously to blame. There's no way they'll keep up that pace. The bad news, they won't keep escaping games where they show such a carelessness with the football.

Look ahead: Andy Reid and the Eagles make the trip to Arizona to play the Cardinals. Look for the Eagles to clean up their offense a little and keep Celek heavily involved. Arizona will look to force turnovers and take care of the football on offense.

T-2. Washington Redskins (1-1) - The Redskins look like the second-most impressive team in the NFC East. Rookie sensation Robert Griffin III has lived up to the hype through two games. That doesn't necessarily mean his success will be continued, the NFL now has two game-films on him. Look for defensive coordinators to attack the rookie with complex looks, but look for Shanahan to keep the reads simple and quick. Washington's defense was impressive against the high-powered Saints offense, but with the news that DE Adam Carriker and OLB Brian Orakpo are done for the year, the defense will take a major hit.

Look ahead: Washington plays its first home game as they welcome the (1-1) Cincinnati Bengals to town. The Bengals have been far from impressive so far, especially on defense. RGIII should put up solid numbers but I think Cincy will scrape out a victory, they're too good of a team to put together three straight duds.

This guy could be the key
to the Giants secondary
T-2. New York Giants (1-1) - The Giants have been up-and-down so far in 2012. They looked bad for seven quarters of football, then Eli Manning and company exploded for 25 points in the fourth quarter in a comeback victory over Tampa Bay. The defense is still led by a good defensive line, but the secondary is hurting. Former first-round pick Prince Amukamara has had problems staying healthy and hasn't played at a consistently high-level. The Eagles and Cowboys have too many weapons for the Giants to handle, but a good pass-rush can mask weaknesses behind it. Eli Manning is one of the best fourth-quarter QBs in the NFL, if not the best. If you're going to beat the G-Men, you might need to take a big lead after three.

Look ahead: New York travels to Carolina on a short week to play the Panthers tonight on NFL Network. For a game breakdown, check my Thursday Night Football piece.

T-2. Dallas Cowboys (1-1) - The Cowboys looked good in the NFL opener, but they looked equally bad in the Seahawks game Sunday. It was quite surprising and has to be discouraging for Cowboys fans, because they had four extra days to prepare for Seattle and delivered a horrendous performance. They were out-muscled by the 'Hawks. Rob Ryan's defense should rebound, with newly-acquired CBs Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, their pass D should be much-improved. They still have playmakers on both sides of the ball.

Look ahead: The Cowboys host Tampa Bay this Sunday. I got Dallas in this game, I don't see them delivering a similar performance like last week. The lack of consistency is a reflection of head coaching, if they don't start improving that aspect, I don't see them seriously contending in the East this year.


Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95, I'll follow you back.

Thursday Night Football: Scouting Report

Each week I will have a post about the Monday Night Football game along with the Thursday Night Football game. This weeks Thursday Night matchup is the New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers.

Keys to the Game:

- Carolina must establish their running game. The Panthers have an intimidating arsenal of runners; DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Mike Tolbert, not to mention Cam Newton. In their first game, Carolina rushed for a measly 10 yards against Tampa Bay, but then gashed New Orleans for 219 rushing yards. They may not need that much production against the Giants, but 10 yards just isn't going to result in a W.

Rookie RB David Wilson had a
rough debut against Dallas
-  New York can't afford these slow starts. There's no denying the fact that Eli Manning has raised his game in the fourth quarter. However, they can't expect to score 25 points every fourth quarter like they managed against Tampa. Eli will have to be more consistent from opening kickoff until the clock reaches double-zero.

- Somebody will have to step up for the Giants, who are without WR Hakeem Nicks, T David Diehl and RB Ahmad Bradshaw. New York is much easier to defend when you can focus of stopping Victor Cruz. Somebody is going to need a big game for the Giants, maybe TE Martellus Bennett or rookie RB David Wilson.

- If the Giants run game wasn't bad enough, with Bradshaw's absence now, the rookie RB will face a much bigger workload. He fumbled early against the Cowboys and hasn't seen much action since (5 total carries for 10 yards). Carolina should be attacking the rookie and going for the football. Test him early and often.

- The O-Line of the Panthers was brutal against Tampa's front four. Newton played a solid game but you won't win games in the NFL when you rush for 10 total yards. DE Jason Pierre-Paul and company will be pinning their ears back and going after Cam, especially if the Panthers run game isn't effective. Will Cam have enough time in the pocket to deliver the football on time?

Key Matchups:

- RB David Wilson vs. LB Jon Beason: Beason is an explosive linebacker who will be coming full speed at the rookie. Wilson has very little experience in the NFL and he will be tested. Is he up for the challenge?

Look for Cam to find his favorite
target early and often
- WR Steve Smith vs. Giants secondary: Steve Smith is still a playmaker in this league and a very good wide-receiver. The Giants secondary has been shaky to say the least. Smith will be looking to match what Tampa WR Vincent Jackson did against the questionable secondary of New York.

- Giants DEs vs. Panthers Ts: LT Jordan Gross is a really good player. He should be able to hold his own against whoever the Giants put up against him. The right tackle spot is a little more nerve-wracking. Byron Bell tops Carolina's depth chart but it looks like a mis-match against Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, or even JPP if he lines up over there.

Prediction:

Giants 23 Carolina 27

- I think Carolina's home crowd will be an advantage. The game will be tight, but New York is so much easier to defend without Nicks and no run game. Carolina will have decent success running the football and Cam Newton will have a solid game.

New York Giants v. Carolina Panthers 8:20 PM ET on NFL Network


Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95, I'll follow you back.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Stock Market Update: Week 2

For every Eagles fan, nothing starts the week off on the right foot better than an Eagles victory. In this weekly segment, I'll take a look at who's stock is going up and who's stock is in a downward spiral. It's hard to criticize after a win, but I'll do my best.

Stock: Up

- QB Michael Vick: This is an obvious choice. After last week's performance against Cleveland, there was really no place to go but up. Vick really played a sharp game though. Earlier today I took a very in-depth look at the QB's performance. Check out that article, Dissecting Vick. Overall I would give him a B+ for his showing.

Celek hurdles over Reed and fires up
Lincoln Financial Field.
- TE Brent Celek: He was the best player on the field Sunday. The Eagles offense is at its best when Brent Celek is involved. His toughness has made him a fan favorite in Philly and his hands seem as reliable as ever. In my opinion, his shining moment was catching a pass over the middle while getting laid out, then jumping up and delivering his signature first-down celebration. Awesome.

- WR DeSean Jackson: He's back. The old, playmaking Jackson is back. Fresh off a new contract, he's giving it 110%. He's made many tough catches this year in traffic, something we didn't see much of last year.

- S Nate Allen: I consider Allen an unsung hero. He doesn't get a ton of credit but he's playing at a very high level this year. On Baltimore's last drive, Allen had great coverage on TE Dickson down the middle of the field. He also made a good tackle on the first play of the game, it was just him and Ray Rice and he stopped the back for no gain.

- CB Brandon Boykin: The rookie has made plays. His athleticism is something Eagles fans haven't seen in the slot in a long time. Flacco challenged Boykin twice on the last drive and the rookie was up to the challenge. On the first play of the drive, he had a diving pass breakup. The next play, the 5'9" Boykin out-jumped 6'2" WR Jacoby Jones to break up a deep pass.

- DT Fletcher Cox: Cox has made his presence felt. He led Philadelphia's defensive line in snaps last week and recorded five tackles, one for a loss. The rookie has been outstanding in his first two weeks.

Ryans takes down Bernard Pierce
- MLB DeMeco Ryans: The veteran LB looks like a steal for the Eagles, who traded a 4th round pick and swapped 3rd round picks with Houston in exchange for the former Pro-Bowler. It's still early to make any judgments yet, but he's been everything the Eagles could have hoped for. His interception of Joe Flacco was big to start of the second half.

Stock: Down

- DE Brandon Graham: I actually thought Graham has performed well in his first two games. The only problem: he's played 13 snaps total this year. He's found ways to make his presence felt, but his slide down the depth chart lands him here.

- S Kurt Coleman: Coleman had a great game in Cleveland, but there were a few plays he'd like to have back from Sunday. Two blown coverages against Ray Rice in the fourth quarter, one on third down. On the third down play, Rice stayed in to block and Coleman came to pressure Flacco, then Rice got lost for a first down. On Rice's big run up the middle, Coleman was one-on-one with the back and missed on a tackle. Hard to hold that too much against him, how many players can tackle Ray Rice on an island?

- LB Akeem Jordan: Saw limited action, but didn't play great. Missed a tackle early and was beat in coverage on another.

The O-Line played well, but Watkins
has to be more consistent
- CB Nnamdi Asomugha: Every cornerback in the NFL gets beat, Asomugha is not immune to this. On the touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones, Asomugha had a good initial jam, but the WR's double move beat Nnamdi by a step. Flacco delivered a gorgeous ball. The touchdown pass to Jones that was called back looked like a break for Asomugha. There was mutual contact, and he never made a play for the ball, but the flag went the Eagles way. Not his best performance, but nothing Eagles fans should worry about.

- LG Danny Watkins: The guard still has his issues in pass protection. He has great moments, but too many lapses in protecting Vick. One one play, he didn't hold his block for more than a second before Vick was forced to evade the pocket. He needs to be more consistent, no excuses.


I'll have an article up later called Rookie Report Card: Week 2, where I'll grade out each rookie and give my reasoning. Thank you for reading and spread the word!

Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95.

Injury Report: Bell Set to Start Sunday

It will be a stretch for King Dunlap to start against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Head Coach Andy Reid. Maclin also will not practice, along with safety Colt Anderson.
Bell raises Vick up after the go-ahead
TD on Sunday against the Ravens.

The Eagles signed Demetress Bell in the offseason to take over the reigns of superstar Jason Peters while he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon. Bell's transition into the Howard Mudd scheme has been slow, but Bell looks to be improving. After being inactive week one, he jumped over rookie Dennis Kelly for the backup tackle spot and played well when Dunlap went down on Sunday, other than one holding call. He'll get his chance to win back the starting left tackle job with a solid performance against Arizona.

Maclin re-aggravated his hip pointer injury and is getting treatment, according to Reid.


Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95.


Dissecting Vick: Week 2

Dissecting Vick is part of a weekly segment I will be doing on Wednesdays; breaking down Vick's performance. On film, I will take a look at the big plays made, good and bad, and give the facts about who was to blame or praise. In the first installment, I'll take a look at the 24-23 win over Baltimore.

Let's start with the bad:

- The unacceptable INT in the redzone was a result of a very poor decision. Baltimore only blitzed three, King Dunlap missed a block on Courtney Upshaw and Vick escaped the pocket. There was room for Vick to scamper for about 5 yards, but instead he threw into traffic and was intercepted by Bernard Pollard. As Vick said in his press conference, he needs to learn to take a single instead of going for the home-run.

- Vick's first sack came as a result of blown protection. Baltimore showed pressure but only rushed four, three off the left side of the O-Line. Pollard had a free lane to the QB.
Safety Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens is tackled by wide receiver Damaris Johnson #13 of the Philadelphia Eagles after Reed intercepted a Michael Vick pass intended for Johnson in the third quarter during a game at Lincoln Financial Field on September 16, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Ravens 24-23.
Rookie Damaris Johnson tackling Ed
Reed after picking off a Vick pass.

- On 3rd and 1, McCoy dropped a wide-open first down with room to run. But Vick really could have put a little more touch on that, he fired a bullet for no reason.

- On 2nd and 7 later in the 3rd quarter, Vick got away with one. It looked like one of his passes from Week 1. Celek was covered but Mike threw the football anyway and it went right through the LB's hands. Almost cost the Eagles three more points.

- The second INT wasn't as brutal as the other ones this season. Vick threw to Celek, who was covered by Ray Lewis. The ball went off Celek's hands and into the bread basket of Ed Reed. Celek took responsibility for the pick after the game, but it was about 50/50 between him and Vick.

Now a look at the good:

- On the first play of the game, LeSean McCoy had a great blitz pickup. Vick took his time and delivered to a wide open Brent Celek.
Avant's acrobatic grab on 3rd and 10.

- On the first drive, the Eagles faced a 3rd and 10. Vick waited patiently and delivered a great ball to the always-reliable Jason Avant. He put the ball where only his receiver could get it. Great, acrobatic reception for Avant too.

- On their first TD drive they faced a 3rd and 20. Vick delivered a strike to Celek who gained about 19 yards. It was decent coverage, but Vick was decisive and accurate.

- On a play-action end-around, Vick felt the pressure from the outside and stepped up, double-clutched and delivered a good ball to Celek. First down.

-  The TD pass to Maclin was Vick being Vick. On 3rd and 3, Marty called up a rollout but nothing was open initially. While being chased Vick looked down-field and saw Maclin in the endzone and managed to make a good throw for six.

Vick and right guard Danny Watkins
celebrate a touchdown.
- On the drive that led to the field-goal, which tied the game at 17, Vick saw nothing down-field, took his medicine and settled for Celek underneath. This was the play when Celek hurdled Ed Reed and the crowd went berserk. Vick had great protection on the play.

- Vick looked off Ed Reed and put up a perfect deep ball to DeSean Jackson in-between two defenders for a 49-yard gain. He had all day to throw, the offensive line really had a solid game.

- On the game-winning TD drive, Vick delivered a gorgeous back shoulder throw to Celek. I would love to see more of this up the seam during the season.

- Vick's best throw of the day, in my opinion, was the play-action pass to Clay Harbor that resulted in first and goal for the offense. Pressure was in his face but he gave Harbor a perfect throw in tight coverage.


Overall, Vick really played a good, solid game against a good defense. Give credit to the offensive line and receivers too, he had time to throw and open receivers to throw to.


Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesallday95.





Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Eagles All Day Blog

Eagles All Day Blog is now on Twitter! I've spent time on all these articles, trying to bring in-depth, accurate information and thoughts. I want this to be different than most blogs and websites, doing research and studying film to bring the best analysis to the readers.

I want to thank you guys and tell you that I appreciate the views!



Follow me on Twitter at @eaglesallday95 and @Matt_Chastain25!

Kevin Kolb Trade: Revisited

Last July, the Philadelphia Eagles traded Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals. This trade had an enormous impact on the Eagles defense that fans have enjoyed thus far in 2012. Let's take another look at what Philadelphia fully got in return for their short-time starting quarterback.

Kolb was up and down
during his time as an Eagle.
Philadelphia sent QB Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft (51st overall pick). In year one, Rodgers-Cromartie was forced to play the nickel position with Philly's logjam at cornerback, and didn't play great. After the Eagles dealt Asante Samuel to Atlanta prior to this year's draft, Rodgers-Cromartie was back at his full-time outside role. So far in 2012, he's played at a very high level (2 INT in two games).

During this past year's draft, the Eagles traded the pick acquired from Arizona to Green Bay in exchange for the 59th pick and the 123rd pick in the draft. With the 59th pick, Philly took DE Vinny Curry from Marshall and with the 123rd pick they took CB Brandon Boykin from Georgia. Vinny Curry had an impressive camp and preseason, but with Philadelphia's plethora of defensive ends, he's been inactive so far this season. After releasing long-time nickel CB Joselio Hanson, Brandon Boykin has taken over as the starting nickel corner and thrived. His leaping deflection over the 6'2" Jacoby Jones was just one of the many plays the electrifying rookie has made in his short stint as an Eagle.

Vick looks to avenge last year's loss.
Kevin Kolb has been a disappointment in Arizona thus far. Arizona signed Kolb to a lucrative contract worth a maximum of $63.5 million over 5 years with $21 million guaranteed. Kolb started nine games for the Cardinals, leading them to a 3-6 record and throwing 9 touchdowns versus 8 interceptions. So far this year though, Kolb led the game-winning drive against the Seahawks and beat the New England Patriots.

Kolb gets his chance to beat his former team this Sunday at 4:05 pm ET. He missed last years showdown due to injury, a game which Arizona won 21-17. I'm sure Vick can't wait to avenge last year's upset.



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Quick Scouting Report: Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals sounded like one of the easier games on the slate when the schedules were first released. After a win over the New England Patriots, the Cards are getting some national attention. Their defense looks aggressive and fast and their offense has taken care of the ball thus far. Plus, Arizona has a raucous stadium that makes it tough on opposing quarterbacks.

Later in the week, I will have a full scouting report on the Week 3 matchup of unbeatens. Here's a quick look after watching their game against the Patriots on NFL Game Rewind:

Arizona Offense:

- With Kevin Kolb leading the Cards offense, Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt finds creative ways to gain yards. The Eagles have a very aggressive defensive line and the screen pass could be a big-gainer for the Arizona offense. They will even try some Wildcat package with Patrick Peterson at QB, this worked for a very nice run against the Patriots defense on Sunday.
Jenkins and the rest of the D-Line
can collapse the pocket on Kolb.

- Whisenhunt knows that the way to succeed with Kolb is with quick, safe passes. Three and five-step drops will lower sack totals, but that doesn't mean the Eagles D-line won't disrupt his rhythm.

- When Kolb senses pressure, he bails out of the pocket. He might lead the team in rushing yards against the Eagles, especially with Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams struggling to establish themselves.

- Fletcher Cox, Derek Landri, Cullen Jenkins, and Cedric Thorton can make Kolb's life hell. If they eliminate Kolb's space to step up and deliver the football, it's going to be a long day for the AZ offense.

Arizona Defense:

Campbell's enormous size could be a
factor in the Eagles passing game.
- DE Calais Campbell is 6'8" and long. Vick stands at only 6'0", there could be a lot of tipped passes in this game, which could mean chances for interceptions. That is something to watch for on Sunday.

- Arizona's defensive coordinator, Ray Horton, is from Pittsburgh. He's going to bring many of those zone-blitz concepts against Vick. Vick didn't face much pressure against Baltimore. They blitzed him 9 times and he went 5-7 for 82 yards and 0 INTs but was sacked twice. Can Vick deliver another solid performance against extra pressure?

- The middle of the Cardinals defense is their strength. Outside runs will probably be more relied on by Marty Mornhinweg to get the run game started.

- Arizona has a very aggressive defense, so watch out for cutbacks from Shady if they over-pursue.


Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) at Arizona Cardinals (2-0) 4:05 pm ET on FOX

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Chad Johnson Headed to Philly

Chad Johnson is headed to Philadelphia.

"5 hours past my bed time... if I miss this flight to Philly in the morning it'd definitely be a pisstified moment..." This was Johnson's tweet last night.

No, Andy Reid is not interested in the walking distraction that is Chad Johnson. Riley Cooper is nearing return and Damaris Johnson has done his job thus far. There was uproar in the Twitter universe that maybe this meant he was headed to the NovaCare Complex for a workout. Luckily for Eagles fans, this is not the case. The team has come together through a tough training camp and two physical battles, the last thing they need is a locker room distraction.

Plaxico Burress and Terrell Owens are both also NOT scheduled for a workout in Philly, for anybody else who was wondering.



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Kelce Shut Down, Vallos Back

Jason Kelce is done for the year, officially. The Eagles announced today that he has been placed on injured-reserve. Kelce had a completely torn MCL and partially torn ACL. The injury looked gruesome and turned out to be.

Head Athletic Trainer Rick Burkholder said that when they scoped out Kelce's knee, they found out that the partial ACL tear was enough to where it would also need repaired, along with his MCL. "He'll have the ACL reconstruction probably somehwere between three and four weeks if everything goes well," he said.

The Eagles announced today that they signed veteran center Steve Vallos, who spent the offseason with Philadelphia but was cut once rosters were trimmed down to 53. Vallos was originally drafted by Seattle and has eight starts in his career. The time he spent learning Howard Mudd's scheme in the offseason will be very important for him.

This is a big blow to the Eagles. Dallas Reynolds experienced his first NFL game action on Sunday and played pretty well against a tough Ravens front. We'll see if teams target Reynolds with stunts and A-gap blitzes to test his inexperience.



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