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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.