• March 29, 2024

Players To Watch When Eagles Have The Ball

The offensive starters are supposed to play three quarters tonight against the Cleveland Browns in game three of the preseason. This will be the last time these guys play in a game before their September 11, debut in St. Louis against the Rams.

The team’s offensive performance must be much better than it was against the Steelers. They need to convert third downs into first down by staying away from penalties and plays which lose yardage.

In their three quarters of play I would like to see them put the ball into the end zone at least three times. Here are the players I will be watching very closely.

Michael Vick – The key to this game will be the play of Vick. We need to see him take care of the football, by avoiding mistakes and moving the football down the field. He’s got to recognize blitzes and get the ball out of his hands. Cleveland’s secondary consists of former Eagles cornerbacks Sheldon Brown and Dimitrius Patterson. The Birds should be able to attack them. I don’t want to see Vick taking chances with the football or with his health.

DeSean Jackson – I would like to see Jackson get some work with Vick in there. It would be great to see Vick hit Jackson downfield to give future opponents a picture of what they’re going to face when the season starts. One or two shots of Jackson getting deep will force safeties to back up and open up the field to all of the Birds receivers.

Brent Celek – I want to see Celek and Vick establish a connection. Celek needs to get open and Vick must get the ball to him. I want to see them develop a trust between each other because it will make the offense more consistent because throws to the tight end are the easiest for a quarterback.

Jason Kelce – I’ll be checking out the rookie center to first of all watch his management of the offensive line when it comes to communicating before the snap. If there are mix-ups with defenders coming free, it means he or Vick are missing something. Next he needs to snap the ball on time, then execute his blocking assignment.

Danny Watkins – Here’s another rookie we need to keep an eye on. I’d like to see how Watkins does out on some screens. We’ll see him work on the stretch running play which Howard Mudd loves.

King Dunlap – The big tackle will get the chance to lock up the starting right tackle position. He’s the only right tackle on the roster who can stay healthy. Dunlap needs to make sure to keep Cleveland left defensive end Jayme Mitchell off of Vick.

GCOBB

Read Previous

Kevin Kolb Is Still Getting Comfortable In Arizona

Read Next

Players To Watch When Browns Have The Ball

0 0 votes
Article Rating
20 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
paulman
paulman
August 25, 2011 7:06 am

I am looking at Vick, RT Dunlap and TE Harbor and Lee and the RB’s
The Eagles needs to start moving the ball and making some plays, and Vick needs to make better decisions and protect the ball better, who is going to step up..

DDCar
DDCar
August 25, 2011 7:58 am

You’re right G. Vick & the right side of that line, i’ll be most interested in. On defense, those LB’s better show something! Regardless of what they do, they need a solid LB.

larrwd
larrwd
August 25, 2011 8:15 am

i want to see dion lewis get alot of carries and riley cooper make some plays

nev856
nev856
August 25, 2011 8:29 am

as a unit : protection of vick
stopping the run

bugsyhawk
bugsyhawk
August 25, 2011 8:51 am

3rd downs for me. Can the O sustain drives and can the D get off the field? Why don’t they move Herremans to Right Tackle?

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20110824_Paul_Domowitch__Right_move_for_Eagles_and_Herremans_.html

Rasheed1
Rasheed1
August 25, 2011 12:12 pm

2 rookies + king dunlap? the right side makes nervous

wmonell
wmonell
August 25, 2011 12:28 pm

bugsyhawk – Excellent point, I’m with you.

skman7
skman7
August 25, 2011 3:58 pm

We need to establish ourselves early. Minimize the number of mistakes. Take the first offensive opportunity and go get a touchdown. Mike needs to get everyone involved and make sure we play 60 minutes. Treat this like a regular season game. Go Birds!!!!!!

Iggles
Iggles
August 25, 2011 6:36 pm

Not the least bit concerned with Kelce or Watkins… both have excellent feet and know how to control a defensive player. Dunlap is my only concern because he’s so tall and guys can get under him unless he stays low.
Watkins plays with a nasty edge due to his hockey and rugby background. Both he and Kelce have exclt balance and feet. They’ll be tremendous players before end of season.

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
August 25, 2011 8:16 pm

Oline Olone Oline… its been the glaring problem the beginning of this game. That entire right side… Andy is gonna have to really consider running the ball more this year with these rookies starting on this line, the run offense looks way better than the pass offense, Vick is getting killed out there, we cant have this esp with this only being a preseason game…

Bright spot is Casey Matthews, he looks much more comfortable out there and is making plays on the field… the pass defense looks good too, they havent given up any big plays, but they gotta limit the penalties ugh its killing us…

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
August 25, 2011 8:18 pm

Thats what im talking about, as i type Asante makes a INT, the front 4 have to get consistent pressure and then we ll see more of that during the year…

daggolden
daggolden
August 25, 2011 8:29 pm

What happened to the pass rush?

daggolden
daggolden
August 25, 2011 8:30 pm

Given where Watkins was taken and that he is a guard shouldnt he be a stud right from the start?

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
August 25, 2011 8:31 pm

I think its easy to see what Maclin means to this offense. Goodness gracious, Desean the NEW Todd Pinkston Jackson is going to be his new name.

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
August 25, 2011 8:44 pm

O-Line looked damn good that drive…..best drive of the preseason so far.

navyeaglefan
navyeaglefan
August 25, 2011 8:59 pm

Iggles – excellent observations! Dunlap needs to use those super long arms and get lower

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
August 25, 2011 9:41 pm

I love that there keeping Casey in there, he needs the reps!!! Hes really played good tonight and is showing more emotion, i love it… As he gets more comfortable the more plays he ll make…

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
August 25, 2011 9:45 pm

GREAT game by Casey tonight, nice way to rebound, I like to see that.

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
August 25, 2011 9:58 pm

Landri makes the team so does hargroves and the guy i said months ago maybe starting opposite trent cole, philip hunt, will make the team. Laws and parker are the odd men out…

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
August 25, 2011 10:00 pm

Cmon Andy how dont you know that they were gonna review that? We could have held them out the whole game! You cant do bonehead things like that… sheesh