This football team must get out of the habit of getting behind every week, then making this mad dash to catch up. They took too long to adjust to the Green Bay game plans on both sides of the football.
Michael Vick was walking off the field blaming himself for getting greedy on the pass to Riley Cooper that was intercepted. He said he could have checked it down to LeSean McCoy or looked elsewhere for an open receiver.
It had looked like it was going to be a storybook ending until that interception. The Birds were only 27 yards away from another comeback victory. They had plenty of time, but Vick put one up in Cooper direction and Green Bay cornerback Tramone Williams went up and picked off.
Vick said he didn’t get it up high enough and he’s right. If he had thrown it higher, Cooper might have had a chance at it or it would have gone out of bounds.
This wasn’t the way they wanted it to end. You could see the pain on the faces in the locker room. When they had the ball with a little less than a minute to play on the Green Bay 27 yard-line, they were almost sure they were going to score.
This offense has to adjust quicker to what teams are giving them. The Packers had decided defensively that they weren’t going to give them the opportunity to hit the big one, but the Eagles didn’t figure it out until the second half when they started taking the short stuff.
The Eagles had a similar defensive game plan against the Packers, but Aaron Rodgers and the Pack recognized it and started running the ball and taking the short passes in the first quarter.
Eagles Pro Bowl kicker David Akers killed them today. He missed two makeable field goals and the team lost by five points. It should have been 23-21 if Akers had made those field goals. Reid didn’t point the finger at Akers after the game but he did tell reports, you can count when asked about whether the Akers misses hurt them.
The defense did make some big plays in the second half in order to give the offense a chance to win the game, but they struggled again in the red zone. When teams get inside the red zone versus the Eagles they know they’re getting ready to score a touchdown.
I’d like to know who you blame the most for this loss. Do you put it mostly at Vick’s feet? Do you put it mostly at Aker’s feet? Do you put it mostly at Andy Reid’s feet? Or Marty Mornhinweg? Or Sean McDermott? I know everybody bears some of the responsibility, but who do you blame most?
I’ll be jumping in the conversation throughout the night.
Personally, I can’t blame any one player.
Akers had a bad night, but he’s been rock steady in the past.
Celek made a bone-headed play by stepping out of bounds. Had the 2-point conversion counted, we would have only needed a field goal to tie. Then Vick doesn’t need to force the ball into the end zone.
If I have to play anyone person – gun to my head – it’s Andy Reid. Like you said, game-time adjustments are so critical and he just doesn’t show up.
I’m not hating the defense. They gave up only 21 to Green Bay and they gave us the ball back with more than 2:00 to play.
Execution just wasnt there and they werent prepared or motivated enough. This offense has just gone through the motions the last few weeks without any real direction or gameplan. We are a so called “West Coast” offense team but our gameplans dont reflect that at all and nor does our personnel. At least we now know who our starting QB will be and we can build a team around him and spend a whole offseason creating a gameplan, playbook and team of players around him to make this team successful.
I just found out that McCoy had only 12 carries. That settles it for me. Reid’s a bum!
Wasn’t that Paul talking about the play-calling was balanced?
Prior to this game, every fan, sports analyst and reporter recognized that Reid needed to run the ball so that he could take the pressure off of Vick. So, what does Reid do . . . run the ball 12 times? Either we’re all dumb or he’s a genius.
I got it. He’s a genius. The man has parlayed this into a long career.
The playcalling was balanced in the first half. Then we fell behind and had to become one dimensional.
Not defending AR because I agree he still needed to run more but he panics and always throws when hes down a TD. But 2nd and 20 and 3rd and 10 didnt help the situation with dumb penalties forcing us to throw. And also we were 2nd and 3 and couldnt get a first down with 2 runs. Need to execute there!
Mimitaro
This first half doesn’t look balanced to me. P, P, P, P, r, r, P, r, P, P, P, r, r, P, r, P, P, P, P, P, r, P, P
mimitaro, being down 14-3 doesn’t mean it’s time to abandon the run game. But anyhow, our rush defense was bad again in a big game. A remember Green Bay should have had 28 but the WR dropped a TD where he burned Asante. They could have put up 35 if they wanted to. But they didn’t need to when they were running the ball so well.
Packers played Nickel almost all game and we still have no dedication to the run.
oh but drummer – that’s Andy Reid balance. He didn’t pass it every play. Bottom line is that Andy Reid’s passaholism doesn’t win against the best NFL teams. An extremely pass heavy offense only works against the average, mediocre and lousy teams which gets you to the playoffs year after year but also keeps you from the SB wins. This is not new news. Even with the rules that heavily favor the passign game it still requires enough balance to keep the D guessing whOh but drummer – that’s Andy Reid balance. He didn’t pass it every play. Bottom line is that Andy Reid’s passaholism doesn’t win against the best NFL teams. An extremely pass heavy offense only works against the average, mediocre and lousy teams which gets you to the playoffs year after year but also keeps you from the SB wins. This is not new news. Even with the rules that heavily favor the passing game it still requires enough balance to keep the D guessing which Reid is incapable of.
Look, it’s high time we called the kettle black.
This is a numbers game that Reid and the Eagles have played for many years. Despite what many fans think, they are not stupid. In fact they are VERY, VERY SMART. This offense gets them exactly what they want and Vick has brought even more of it. Fans, popularity, TV ratings, merchandise sales and sold out games year after year. That’s what this offense brings and I don’t think they’ll ever change. This is a business and they put higher priority on being in the playoffs and keeping their popularity high than winning it all. If they happen to win it all too, that’s great but that’s not what the owner or coaches put they’re priority on. If it was about winning it all, they would change. Clearly, they have what they want.
ich Reid is incapable of.
If I were even more cynical I’d guess that the Eagles were told this isn’t this year and intentionally called a predictable offense.
Look , it’s high time we called the kettle black.
This is a numbers game that Reid and the Eagles have played for many years. Despite what many fans think, they are not stupid. In fact they are VERY, VERY SMART. This offense gets them exaclty what they want and Vick has brought even more of it. Fans, popularuty, TV ratings, merchandise sales and sold out games year after year. That’s what this offense brings and I don’t think they’ll ever change. This is a business and they put higher priority on being in the playoffs and keeping their popularity high than winning it all. If they happen to win it all too, that’s great but that’s not what the owner or coaches put they’re priority on. If it was about winning it all, they would change. Clearly, they have what they want.
I still can’t believe Reid opted to kick a field goal on that 4th and 1. Even if akers makes it, it’s still an 8 point game. At the time, we were having major problems stopping GB. So why not go for it? Despite our defense holding them to 21 points, they were pretty bad. GB was eating up a ton of clock on 80 yard TD drives. Absolutely NO pass rush what so ever.
To Drummer,
I never stated the game plan was balanced as far as Pass/Run Ratio,
I did state that this game plan was better and the Eagles had many opportunites to score some points. I thought it had more crossing routes taking advantage of thh middle of the field. The Execution on the Screen and Wheel routes was poor by VIck all game this is not one of his stegnths (the check-downs or short throws to the backs is an Area that VIck needs to work on)
Th penalties and sacks killed drives, and the Execution on 3rd Downs and in the Red-Zone for both the Offensive and Defensive side was the difference and reason of todays loss…
And Drummer, using the logic that If Celek got the 2 Point Coversion, that Kicker Akers could have tied it at the end, well he already has missed 2 FG’s and it was his misses earlier that made the EAgle to have to go for the 2 point Conversion so you can count on that and it was obvious that Coach AR had lost confidence in him after his missed that short 2nd one and wouldn’t think about sending him out besides and extra point attempt…
I stated before the game that if McCoy didnt get 12-15 touches in the 1st half, (Rushes & Receptions) that Coach AR was not going to put the Eagles in a succesful position to win the game
Am I disappointed in the game plan and the execution, hell yes…
Am I surprised by the play calling and the execution, no I am not
This Eagles team was close to leading the NFL this year in “Negative Plays”, (Sacks & Penalties) This hidden loss yardage sooner or later,catches up to you and today without making any big plays on offense down the field (outside of Maclins & D-Jax catch and run plays) the EAgles were simply not good enough to overcome it, and when your Pro-Bowl kicker misses 2 gimme FG’s, It’s almost meant to be that your not going to win unless your flawless in other areas and in execution…
Sorry, this one’s easier to read – the windows we type in are very samll…
That’s Andy Reid balance. He didn’t pass it every play. Bottom line is that Andy Reid’s passaholism doesn’t win against the best NFL teams. An extremely pass heavy offense only works against the average, mediocre and lousy teams which gets you to the playoffs year after year but also keeps you from the SB wins. This is not new news. Even with the rules that heavily favor the passing game it still requires enough balance to keep the D guessing which Reid is incapable of.
Look, it’s high time we called the kettle black.
This is a numbers game that Reid and the Eagles have played for many years. Despite what many fans think, they are not stupid. In fact they are VERY, VERY SMART. This offense gets them exactly what they want and Vick has brought even more of it. Fans, popularity, TV ratings, merchandise sales and sold out games year after year. That’s what this offense brings and I don’t think they’ll ever change. This is a business and they put higher priority on being in the playoffs and keeping their popularity high than winning it all. If they happen to win it all too, that’s great but that’s not what the owner or coaches put they’re priority on. If it was about winning it all, they would change. Clearly, they have what they want.
If I were even more cynical I’d guess that the Eagles were told this isn’t this year and intentionally called a predictable offense.
paulman says:
January 9, 2011 at 6:50 pm
2nd crucial off sides by #74 this game
The game plan and play calling has been pretty good,but the execution not so good
Paul
My bad. I misquoted you. I should have posted, “Was that Paul who said the game plan was pretty good?”
To Drummer about play selection on the 1st half
16 Passes to 7 runs If my count was correct.. how many of those passes were to McCoy or RB’s on
screens or out of the backfield ..If it’s 3-4 times, which I am guessing, then it’s almost a 13-10/12-11
type of ratio since these Screens/Backfield passes are really like running plays (at least that what the coaches and annoucers always say)
It’s funny, we and the media bitched for 2 weeks about the EAgle Offense throwing bomb after bomb
with too many play calls, then today, I only recall 1 Deep toss to Maclin down the sideline who was covered and of course the final Int which was a 30-35 yard pass… Those crossing routes to Maclin/D-JAx were there all night and those recerives had room to run after the catch.. D-Jax only had 1 attempt and Maclin Twice I think.. why didn’t they run that earlier and run it until the Packers stopped it…
I disagree that the game plan was pretty good. Like I said, everyone who analyzed this game (including you, Paul) said that McCoy needed to be featured.
You said he needed at least 10-12 touches in the first half alone. Well, he ended up with 14 for the game. That’s in stark contrast to what you posted prior to the game.
I’m not faulting you in any way, because Reid’s play-calling has a way of making people think there’s a sense of balance and direction, when in reality, it’s only that way for the first 15 plays.
Drummer,
Again I think Vick panicked a little and got some happy feet and rusghed some throws when he actually had tim eto survey the field, He threw behind AVant for example of back to back pass plays which probably were that 12-15 yard routes and Avanat could have had the 2nd one, but the passes were behind the receiver and this is when Vick was not under duress.. Sometimes I think he felt it when it wasn;t there, his timing on the screen/wehlle routes was pootr, he was not allowing enough time to suck the d/Line in and then throw over them to an open Back and allow some soeconds for the O/L to get down field and pick-up a LB to Block.. I don’t recall any recverses ran and the paly calling and decision making by VIck in the Red-Zone was terrirble.. Are the Eagles the only team that never throws the ball into the red-zone.. It’s 3rd and goal from the 7 Yard line and Vick throws a 2 yard out to Avant in which he has no chance of getting into the Red ZOne, throw the ball and run a route into the end zone.. Eagles do this more that any team it seems like…
Paul
McCoy had 14 touches, and I disagree that screens are like runs, although they do slow down the pass rush.
To be honest with you, I was entertaining company and didn’t really watch the game with any focus. I don’t know what kinds of patterns were being run. That’s why I’m relying totally on the numbers.
I admit that numbers alone can be misleading. So, I may be totally wrong here. I admit that.
But from the numbers alone and from the little that I saw, Reid neither focused on running nor on featuring McCoy. If I recall, the first play was a sack on Vick – which looked just like the Minnesota game.
Paul
I saw those two plays and I blogged about those two plays to Avant. On both plays, Vick was blitzed. He rushed the first one (thinking he had less time). And the 2nd one should have been caught. The ball hit him right between the numbers! If he can’t catch a ball that hits him in the numbers (just because Avant had to adjust his body), then he doesn’t need to be on the team. This isn’t little league. To his credit, Avant’s made some tough catches, but he’s also had some wide open drops.
Look, running the ball is not the main key to winning football games in the modern day NFL. Top 10 teams for rushing attempts in the NFL this year only 6 teams made the playoffs. The 5 teams who attempted to rush the LEAST in the NFL this year? 3 of them made the playoffs. Its the situation which is the problem with Philly. But like I said earlier we were 2nd and 3 and McCoy had two shots at rushing for a first down and missed BOTH. So of course AR is going to get a little pass heavy! Thats where the short passes should come in to play but we are a West Coast offense without the personnel to apply the philosophy.
Screens don’t give your offensive linemen a chance to tee off on the defensive line, which wears them down.
Mimitaro
The Pats run the ball approx 10 times more per game than the Eagles. With the best QB in the NFL, why is that?
Aikman made the point today that McCarthy said that he cares more about the number of runs per game than he does about the yardage gained on those runs. Remember, they came into this game with one of the worst running games in the league.
McCarthy understands that he needs to keep his QB from taking too many hits, so that he can complete passes. He understands that when he runs the ball he makes the defensive line a bit hesitant. In this game of inches, those milliseconds made a huge difference.
Because most games the Patriots are leading by 20 points at half time and they rack up the rush count to keep the clock moving and end the game.
But Patriots actually rushed for 26 more times than the eagles this year. Which is about 1.5 attempts per game over a season. Which is quite low considering theyre always playing from the front.
Mimitaro
You seem to miss my point entirely. It’s not about having the top running attack. It’s about keeping your QB healthy and it’s about creating opportunities for other players.
Each time you run successfully, the safeties creep closer to the box, which opens the door for the long pass.
Each time you throw the long pass, it opens the door for the underneath passes.
Each time you hit an underneath pass, you open the door for the run.
Even if you’re not successful with any facet of the game, you must still call those plays to keep the defense honest.
mimitaro – I don’t think anyone is implying that you need to be run heavy. Only that you need enough balance to give the Defense guessing enough so they don’t get comfortable AND so that the defense isn’t right 70% of the time when they choose to defend the pass. It’s that predictability that puts unnecessary pressure on the O line and of course, unnecessary pressure on the QB.
No, that’s not why.
If you check their stat sheets, you’ll see that they run from the outset.
Also, Vick had 100 rushes this year and Brady had 30. If you subtract those, the disparity is much greater.
Maybe you missed my point… You called AR out for never calling those plays. My stats and point was he is rushing enough but perhaps in the wrong situation. How many people called for his head the last 2 years because we wouldnt run on 3rd and 1? If its 2nd and 3 and Mccoy and the o-line cant convert 2 rushing attempts into a first down, I put the ball in Vicks hand and pass it too.
Let’s take today’s game.
Did the Packers run the ball because they had a 20 point first-half lead?
Does any team struggle like the Eagles with picking up a first down on short yardage?
Did our inability to do so have a direct effect on today’s game? (Aker’s missed FG)
I didn’t call Reid out for never calling those plays. I called Reid out for not adjusting to the situation. We faced the 18th ranked run defense, yet we called only 12 runs.
In a west coast offense you want an accurate QB, a pass catching RB, and 2 posession receivers. We have the pass catching RB and always have, our QB is not accurate on short throws, and our receivers can only catch a ball by outrunning somebody 40 yards deep or by the coverage playing 10 yards off them. Our gameplan doesnt suit our players. This is why the Packers are such a high scoring offense. Their receivers can catch anything while carrying 2 guys on their back across the middle or a quick slant and can adjust and outjump anybody for the ball. Short passing is whats needed but we suck at it. Whens the last time you saw D-Jax or Maclin make a spectacular catch in traffic?
Avant is our best receiver in traffic and he only plays 1/3 of the snaps.
I wholeheartedly disagree that they run enough however, I do agree that they run it at the wrong time. IMO you are foolish to expect to be successful running on a critical 3rd and 1 if you haven’t established a running game. Running well isn’t like throwing a switch. Empirical evidence is that running becomes more successful as the game progresses and typically, if used early and often in the game, the more successful it is late in the game.
I called Reid out for being so predictable that the defense pins its ears back and sends more blitzes than any other team has ever seen.
As I’ve posted many times, it’s not about running the ball. It’s about play diversity.
When Reid calls drop-back passes at an 88% clip in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, he is setting his QB up to get killed. He’s done it every game since the Titans and has gone as high as 93% against the Giants.
He does it regardless of the state of his offensive line, regardless of injuries, regardless of success we may have had running the ball, regardless of weather, regardless of increased pass pressure. He just keeps calling them and his QB keeps getting hit.
Mimitaro
If you haven’t noticed, we don’t run a WCO offense. We run a vertical offense.
KC today had Jamaal Charles rushing for 80 yards and a 9 yard average in the first 20 mins of their game and look how that turned out for them.
Pretty sure we saw a very good example of a WCO in GB.
mimitaro – Do we really need to remiond you of the KC QBs horrific play? Come guy, you’re better than that. It’s getting late.
The KC comment was in regards to the running from the outset comment.
But wait shouldnt the QB be able to play better if you rush effectively early
I noticed one thing today. When the Pack scored on that screen play, the running back faked inside, drawing then defenders, then went outside after his blocks had time to develop. He was actually holding the lineman’s jersey as he followed him downfield.
It hadn’t occurred to me before then, but that’s one flaw McCoy has. He’s not nearly as effective as Westbrook in the screen game, because he doesn’t set up his blocks as well. He often gets tacked by the first man, and we know that he’s elusive. He just doesn’t understand how to set up the blocks. It takes patience and guile.
Mimitaro
Just because you have success running, it doesn’t mean you’re assured of a win. You still need good players.
I’ll put it like this. If the Eagles had that running game today, they would have won going away.
Mimitaro
Please don’t misunderstand. You make some good points, especially the one about the Pats playing with a lead, which may account for some of the disparity. But, we’ve also run out some clock too.
I’m not arguing you down. I try to keep an open mind. If you help to see something differently, that’s great! I’m not concerned with being right. I’m concerned with understanding and I recognize that I’m just some fan posting a whole lot about something of which I know very little. I’ve never played a pro game and have never even sniffed a training camp.
So, please keep continue posting as we go through the post-season.
I like you, especially because you’re respectful and you make intelligent arguments.
Ahhhh..we’re huting like no other man. 27 YARDS!!FUGGG!
I really blame the d and Akers most…how many friggin long 3rds and short 3rds to extend drives do we gotta give em? Sh!t im blaming A.R. over Akers actually. I dunno…half heated and actually proud of some of them young guys(i like the core group better).
Thought they shoulda run blitzed more once Starks got going.I saw them catch the run play rather then attck so many times…suspect. Draft a huge backer,O-TACKLE!!!,GAURD,AND CENTER.
I need the whole right side…rg/rt…reworked.
I know, and I partially agree we need to run more/better but for the sake of a good debate on Gcobb im trying to point out our problems are bigger than that aspect of the game. I think if its 3rd and 5 and we are in shotgun, if Vick doesnt like blitzes off the edge from OLBs and DBs then why not run a draw play? Did anyone see Peyton change the play at the line of scrimmage yesterday on 3rd and 9 cause he saw something he liked and Addai ran it for about 14 yards. We need more smart situational running plays, not running for the sake of running.
This team (and past ones) has trouble adapting on the fly, not just waiting for halftime. This is the fault of the offensive coordinators. This same stuff has been Eagles history the last 12 seasons so put the blame where it needs to sit. Some of the very fastest receivers in this league and there is no alternative plan for attacking? Ridiculous! Though I support Vick, he’s not a top 5 QB yet. You still win as a team, but the Eagles lost this one as a team. Howie and Joe, you better come up with some big stoppers on defense this offseason through FA and draft… and consider warning the OC’s that they better break from old ways. Too many teams in last 1/4 of season put together defensive plans to stop the very predictable Eagles offense. Howie/Joe, get some FA’s and draft picks in here who are more skilled, and bigger, on defense with some new blood on the OL and at tight end before our QB’s get beat down and injured. Vick needs to be able to stand in the pocket knowing he has protection, running by choice rather than being forced out constantly. And fix the red zone defense & offense once and for all. Last place is disgusting. Please send Rory Segrest packing. How can Dick Jauron coach with no depth/talent back there available when guys get hurt? You already have lost Graham, Allen, Weaver, Owens, M. Jackson, Hobbs for most of next year at very least. And you’re going to face tougher teams and coaching in the division and NFC next year.
The offense looked slow without D-jax? 12 carries for Mccoy.
Did they cut Jerome Harrison!? Where was he on short distance…does he not know the playbook?
McCoy had 12 rushes and 4 pass receptions for 16 total touches for the Game
(He was was targeted 7 times total in the passing game in which he caught 4 passes)
The Eagles ran 60 Offensive plays so McCoy was about 25% of the game plan where he probably
needed to get 8-10 more touches in the running game but that’s hard t odo when yuor FG Kicker misses 2 FG’s and has you down by 11 points which is 2 scores by the middle/end of the 3rd Quarter. Especialyl that 2nd one after a decent drive and could have made the score 21-13 with you can still keep the RUnning game as a honest threat.. but in the end, the Eagles and Coach AR does what he always does.. and that’s pass pass pass which is why he will never bring a Championship to the Philadelphia Eagles as long as he coaches here.. maybe next season with Brad Childress back for MArty Mohnerwig,maybe that will change a little for the better sinec Childress does like to pound the rock more than MM or AR..