Re-building the 2013 Eagles Defense

New Defensive Coordinator Billy Davis will be the architect of the re-vamped 2013 Eagles defense. Many fans are expecting a switch to a 3-4 defense, but Billy Davis runs a 4-3 under front. He hasn't publicly declared the Eagles a 3-4 or a 4-3 but I think it's safe to assume he'll run the 4-3 under he's ran in the past. The Seattle Seahawks are another team that  runs the 4-3 under front.

Let's take a look, position-by-position at what responsibilities each player will have in the 4-3 under defense.

Left Defensive End:
- In 2009, Billy Davis had Calais Campbell as his LDE. Campbell is 6'8" 282 lbs. In Seattle, this position is occupied by Red Bryant (6'4" 323 lbs). So this isn't the defensive end we're used to in Philadelphia (insert Jason Babin joke here). The LDE spot in the 4-3 under is more for a run-stopper than a pass-rusher. They're looking for a guy with 4-3 DT size.

Dorsey has been a bust in KC but could be a servicable
starting LDE in Philadelphia.

I don't think the Eagles have this guy on their roster right now. Fletcher Cox is an ideal fit for the Right Defensive Tackle spot. There are a few options in free agency:

- Jason Jones (6'5" 276 lbs) - He is more of a pass-rushing DT in a 4-3, but he's got decent size and would come at a discounted price. He also played in Seattle last year so he has experience in the 4-3 under front.

- Richard Seymour (6'6" 317 lbs) - He's got the size and experience. He's good at stopping the run and still has pass rushing skills. He is 33 years old but has at least two good years of football left. It wouldn't be cheap, but wouldn't be a long-term commitment either.

- Glenn Dorsey (6'1" 297 lbs) - He's got the perfect size for this role and he's a proven run-stuffer. He's known for being a big draft bust in Kansas City but he should come at a reasonable rate and he's still only 27 years old.

Left Defensive Tackle:
- This is the nose tackle. He'll line up between the guard and center. He's a big body that is very tough to move. This player will be double-teamed often and asked to occupy the center (freeing up a one-on-one for the RDE). The Eagles are used to having undersized defensive linemen, but this position will definitely break that mold under the new system.

The Eagles don't have a starting-caliber nose tackle on the roster. Antonio Dixon has the size, but would be a better fit for a very good backup NT. There are a couple options in free agency:

- Alan Branch (6'6" 325 lbs) - He was the starting LDT in Seattle last year. That makes him a potential hot target for Howie Roseman this offseason. He's got the size and experience in this system.

Fletcher Cox had a stellar rookie campaign for the Eagles

- Terrance Knighton (6'3" 330 lbs) - His nickname is "Pot-roast". He's a huge thumper in the middle. Knighton has flashed as an elite run-defender and he's also looked uninterested at times. He's still only 26 years old and has potential. For the right price, I think it's worth the gamble.


Right Defensive Tackle:
- This is where I expect Fletcher Cox to have a breakout season. Cox had an outstanding rookie campaign and has received comparisons to Richard Seymour. He should have a seamless transition into the RDT role. In the 4-3 under, the RDT will line up between the tackle and the guard. With the NT occupying the center and the Right Defensive End occupying the tackle, Cox will get many one-on-one pass rushing opportunities. Pete Carroll said the right defensive tackle spot is where you put your best interior pass rusher in the 4-3 under.

Right Defensive End:
- This is the "Predator" in Billy Davis' scheme. This is the pass-rush specialist. Chris Clemons fills this role in Seattle, Bertrand Berry (6'3" 270 lbs) filled this role for Billy Davis in Arizona. In 2009, Berry rushed the passer 94% of the time and dropped into coverage 6% of the time just to mix it up. I think this is a perfect role for Trent Cole. He's got the same size as Berry, and he's got the athleticism to drop into coverage 6% of the time. Jim Johnson used to put him in coverage on rare occasions, so it's not foreign to him. Brandon Graham fits this role as well, but Cole is just a better player. Graham could be a very nice backup, spelling Cole to keep him fresh.

Strong-side Linebacker (LOLB):
- In 2009, Chike Okeafor (6'5" 265 lbs) played this position for Davis. Okeafor rushed the passer 70% of the time and dropped into coverage 30% of the time. I don't think Brandon Graham or Vinny Curry have the athleticism for this role but I think there are many great draft prospects, I'll save that for a later post.

Anthony Spencer played a similar role in Dallas
and could have a big impact in Philly.

Let's look what free agency has to offer:

- Anthony Spencer (6'3" 250 lbs) - He's probably the only name I would get excited about in this free agent class. He had a very productive year in Dallas last season, and with their grim salary cap situation, they could let him hit the open market. He's still only 29 years old, so a 4-year deal seems reasonable. He's athletic enough to fill the SAM Linebacker spot in this system.

- Paul Kruger (6'4" 270 lbs) - He's only 27 years old and had a productive year in Baltimore last season. I'm not sure he has the athleticism for this role in pass coverage.

- Daryl Smith (6'2" 248 lbs) - He has major injury concerns, but he's been very productive in Jacksonville when he's on the field. He's good as a run-stopper and a productive pass-rusher. Not sure if he's got the ideal size Billy Davis is looking for, though.

Middle Linebacker:
- This is the thumper in the Billy Davis scheme. DeMeco Ryans wasn't great in Houston's 3-4 defense, but that was primarily due to his injury. He's healthy now and had a good first year in Philly. Gerald Hayes (6'1" 253 lbs) played this role for AZ in 2009. Ryans will play quarterback for this defense and should excel in this role.

Weak-side Linebacker:
- Mychal Kendricks will finally get to play a natural position that uses his strengths. The weak-side backer has a defensive lineman wall in front of him. This frees him to use his athleticism and make free runs to the ball-carrier and quarterback. Kendricks played out of position for most of last year but he played ILB in a 3-4 at California. I expect Kendricks to have a great year under Billy Davis in 2013.

Summary:
- This is an in-depth look at the 4-3 under front. It's different but Seattle proved last year that it can work and work very well with the right personnel. I think DeMeco Ryans, Mychal Kendricks, Fletcher Cox and Trent Cole will be the only front-seven starters for Billy Davis that are currently on the roster. I also think Brandon Graham, Antonio Dixon, and Cedric Thorton will play important roles as well.

- So the Eagles need a Left Defensive End, Nose Tackle, and a Strong-side Linebacker to complete their re-vamped front-seven. I will come out with a post later this week looking at some of the draft prospects that could fill these voids.

* Follow me on Twitter @Matt_Chastain25 and @eaglesalldayblog, I'll get ya back!

The Eagles Next Coach Will Be...

The Eagles head-coaching search is well under way. The rumor mill is flooded with reports from different "sources". Let's take a look at the candidates, I'll give a little background and rank them on MY wish-list.

1. Chip Kelly, Oregon Head Coach.

Kelly is the hottest name going
through the rumor mill.

- Kelly has had success at many schools. At John Hopkins he was the defensive coordinator and spent time at New Hampshire coaching running backs and offensive linemen before being promoted to offensive coordinator. As the architect of the offense, Kelly's New Hampshire squad finished 2005 second in the nation in total offense.

- Kelly was hired in 2007 as Oregon's offensive-coordinator and achieved much success, enough to earn a promotion to head coach in 2009. He has led the Ducks to four straight BCS bowl appearances.

Kelly has made it atop my list for a few reasons:

1. I love the fact that his offense is based on speed. Speed kills and it's one the skills you can't teach. The personnel currently in Philly is a nice fit (D. Jackson, McCoy, Maclin, B. Brown, D. Johnson). For anybody who thinks Kelly will try to implement his Oregon offense in the pros in mistaken. He'll bring those principles and translate it into a pro offense.

2. He's known as a detail-freak who values every aspect of the game, even special teams. Turnovers were the biggest issue for the 4-12 team last year. This was a result of sloppy play, something I think Kelly would clean up. Field-position was a very underrated issue for the Eagles last year, and a boost in the return game would help drastically.

- If there are concerns with Chip Kelly being Philly's next head coach it would be his ability to put together an experienced staff. The defense needs a strong, experienced, successful defensive mind, especially with an inexperienced NFL head coach. Would a hot, sought-after name join a Chip Kelly staff?

2. Mike McCoy, Denver Broncos Offensive Coordinator

McCoy has proven success in the NFL

- Mike McCoy started his coaching career in Carolina. He's worked under John Fox there and moved with him to Denver. He's been a quarterbacks coach for four years, helping Kyle Orton achieve a career year in Denver. McCoy was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2009 and held the position ever since.

- The main reason I'm high on Mike McCoy is his adaptability. He's proven to be a great coach when you look at his years in Denver. The success achieved with Tebow is directly linked to McCoy. He's adapted and found the best possible offenses to suit his personnel over the years.

2010 - Broncos ranked 7th in passing yards with Kyle Orton at quarterback.
2011 - Broncos ranked 1st in rushing yards with Tim Tebow at quarterback.
2012 - Broncos ranked 4th in total offense with Peyton Manning at quarterback.

- I like the possibility of McCoy poaching a coach off the Denver defensive staff to become the new defensive coordinator. Denver's defense has been very impressive over the last couple years running the 4-3 defense.

3. Ray Horton, Arizona Cardinals Defensive Coordinator

- Ray Horton is a disciple of the great Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. If that's not exciting enough, he turned around a Cardinals defense in 2012 that should receive zero blame for the team's demise. Horton also achieved some success as a player, former second round pick with 19 career interceptions.

- I love the immediate improvement Horton would bring to the defense, but he's always been running a 3-4 defense since his days in Pittsburgh. A transition to a 3-4 defense would require some personnel overhaul and likely come with some bumps in the road. Horton would have to look elsewhere around the NFL to build an offensive staff since Arizona fired the majority of their's.

- Honestly, most signs point to Horton getting the Arizona job since Andy Reid looks all but certain to sign in Kansas City. Arizona really doesn't want to lose Horton and there have been no reports of an interview scheduled with Philly, yet.

Marrone is an underrated name
in all this speculation.

4. Doug Marrone, Syracuse Head Coach

- Doug Marrone is not a popular name within the Eagles fan-base, but I would actually be fairly excited with his hiring. Marrone was the Saints offensive coordinator from 2006 through 2008. He and Sean Payton put together one of the most lethal offenses in the NFL. After the 2008 season, Marrone was hired to become the head coach at Syracuse. He turned around a bad Syracuse team and led them to two bowl victories in four years.

- Although the Saints offense was putting up gaudy numbers in Marrone's days as OC, Sean Payton was calling plays and Drew Brees was throwing the ball. That is something to remember.

5. Mike Nolan, Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator

Nolan brought back the vintage
suit look in his 49ers days.

- Mike Nolan is one of the finest defensive coordinators in the NFL. He's had success running a 3-4 defense (Miami) and a 4-3 defense (Atlanta) recently. Nolan is respected around the NFL and should be able to put together a fairly experienced staff.

- However, Mike Nolan had a chance as an NFL head coach before, and it didn't turn out so well. In 2005, San Francisco hired Nolan to be their new head coach, but he compiled an 18-37 record in 3+ seasons. He headed the regime that drafted Alex Smith with the number 1 overall pick. Many people talk about the risk with hiring a Chip Kelly, but Nolan is an even bigger risk since he's had a chance and failed.

- I'm sure Nolan has learned from his experiences in San Francisco and would do a better job, but the goal in Philadelphia is to win a Super Bowl. I'm also sure the addition of Nolan would improve the defense with all of his success and experience as a defensive coordinator.

Honorable Mentions: 
- Greg Roman, San Francisco Offensive Coordinator.
- Keith Armstrong, Atlanta Falcons Special Teams Coach
- Lovie Smith, former Chicago Bears Head Coach


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

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.

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.

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.