The team was loose and the chatter was loud yesterday at Eagles practice, which took place inside the indoor practice facility at the Nova Care Complex. Some teams play well when they’re loose but other teams lose a bit of their concentration when they’re loose.
I don’t know what the deal is with this team, but we will find out.
It was defensive work day on Thursday, so the defense got the chance to work on their game plan.
Everyone is eager to see how good this defense will be with the addition of Nmandi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Jason Babin.
Asomugha was the prized catch in this year’s free agency market. Once he decided to come this way, the expectations for the Birds went up dramatically. Now the dress rehearsals are over and it’s time for this new Eagles defense to debut.
“I think we’re there,” said Asomugha. “We have a few new players on defense and a new coach, so it’s not going to be the same in Week 10 as it will be in Week 1. But I think where we are right now is good enough to go out and dominate.”
I don’t agree with the Pro Bowl cornerback because I think it’s going to take them at least three or four games to get on the same page. I think their defensive line could cover over any miscommunications in the secondary with their pass rush, but I don’t trust this team against the run, yet. They could be a great defense by the end of the season, but not right now.
Eagles new defensive coordinator Juan Castillo is confident that his defensive squad is ready to go, even though they haven’t had the chance to work together very long because of the lockout.
“I think [the shortened offseason] affects everybody, even veteran teams. I know some teams did work on their own, but the OTAs and minicamps, there are a lot of things you cover and a lot of things that you do,” Castillo said.
Asomugha gave us a glimpse of what the Birds are going to be doing defensively with their talented cornerbacks.
“There’s a lot of movement with me and Dominique right now in terms of matchups and trying to take advantage of our skills,” Asomugha said. “Asante [Samuel] is still doing what he’s done on the left side so he’ll pretty much remain there, but there’s a lot of moving parts around the defense.”
Castillo is confident that the Eagles defense will be ready to play their best football late in the game because of their superior conditioning.
“We feel this is going to be something that [comes down to] our guys in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter is going to be the key. How we play in the fourth quarter and what we do in the fourth quarter . . . I think the conditioning is going to play a big role in all the games, not just our game. I think across the NFL, the teams that are in the best condition are the teams that are going to win games, at least for the first 3 to 4 weeks, until everybody gets even as far as being in shape.”
Does anyone see the Eagles Defense Stopping either this Packer or Saint Offense..I dont…
Who is going to stop their TE’s and RB out of of the Backfield..
Eagle LB’s Chaney,Matthews,Fokou,Rolle,Clayton will have their hands full trying covering the likes of TE J Finley, Grant, CObb, Starks or the Saints J Graham. Sproles, P Thomas.. .etc,etc
I am so sick of hearing about the shortened off season. . Packers and Saints looked pretty good with shortened off season. NO MORE EXCUSES.
Paulman, make the same mistake you did with the Phillies/Braves. I dare you. Do it. Make our obnoxious prediction now so you can look like a fool in January.
You can’t play the game until you are on the field and the refs blow the whistle.
Blowing your horn before the game is meaningless. Cullen Jenkins is the only guy who is grounded that has opened his mouth thus far. “We’ll dominate” No one can game plan to stop Me” is all bull and trash talk with no history to even
cover it. SU and play the game.
I see Paulmans point.
Although i think our secondary can contain the receivers better.
Green Bays defense is overrated or the Saints offense is that good.
I am saying 10-6 good for 1st place.
Greeen Bay/New England SuperBowl
Super Bowl Prediction : Packers over the Steelers again..
In fact it will be these 2 Teams battling it out for the next few seasons. or until Armegeddon begins (which is suppposed to start in Philadelphia first and then spread throughout the rest of the Country)
Honeslty it may sound crazy guys but I think a team like the Vikings or the Chiefs are a good match up against the Packers. Running the ball often is how you beat them keep that offense off the field and try to force them to kick field goals.
I have a different take on watching that game yesterday because the saints defense just looks awful but the saints put up 30 something points against the number 1 rated defense in the league so that goes to show you can score on them but running the ball and forcing field goals are the key to beating them.
the saints offense is really good…the packers only won because the saints defense is ridiculously overrated.
Green Bay was great last night, their ability to rush was scary. I hope this officially keeps the target on their back and the nation can praise them and proclaim them champion in Sept. Rogers is the real deal, but he was on fire last night. The Saints hit him early, but backed off because he made passes to covered guys. Teams will have to keep attacking him or be carved apart. The point about their defense giving up so many points is valid.
It was a great game for the Eagles to watch to stay hungry and humble.
Suh is training everyday to crush Rodgers like Mr T did to Rocky.
Does anyone think that the Eagles WR Corps can hold a candle to the Packers and Saints WR Corps (who were missing Lance Moore) , I don’t
Greg Jennings is one of the Top #3 WR in all of Football, he just Catches everything whether he’s in traffic and then can make moves up the field afterwards.. He’s a beast and D-Jax/Maclin are not even in the same conversation .. Can WR R Cooper develop into a J Nelson type.. I am not so sure.. This Rookie Cobb, that everyone is drooling about, is the real deal, see him explode out there and is just another weapon that will create lots of match-up problems when facing the Packers. .They are simpley stacked on Offense and with a healthy RB IN R Grant and TE J Finely , they are definitely the top ranked team in the NFL and NFC in my opinion
paulman plus they have garys son randell cobb
I mentioned Packers Cobb a week or 2 back as being a Rookie to watch for this seaon.. He’s a very talented kid who played WR, in the backfield, Return game and was a 2 Year Starter at QB for the University of Kentucky in his Fresh/Sophomore Season and switched to WR his last season in College..
hi paulman, what team DOES have LBs to cover the weapons the saints and packers have? Obviously the packers and saints do not, and they are 2 of the top 2 teams in the league… so why should we worry about the eagles being able to cover them ?? not every team has weapons like that.
i think the birds win the div with 11 or 12 games. I think they get a buy week in the playoffs and i think they CAN go deep. I wont talk about anything further because i dont play that game. The only reason i write this is because i want to see what PMAN says…… i want you tom eat your words in a major way AGAIN this year. So…. pman…… dont hold back. What do you think??
Stevos line……. “Just enjoy the ride”!!
Paul has been wrong about the Eagles for the last few seasons, as well as the Phillies. Didn’t he ell us the Eagles would be bottom feeders in our own division last season? Hey more or less he did, so much for calling it as yo see it.
Listen scary faithful, The Rams are who we thnik they are. Anyone care to remember how Paul preached to us that the Panthers were going to own us two or three seasons ago, only to watch them panthers get beat down then roll belly up for the rest of season and has yet to recover.
I hope my criticism of the local Philly teams helps their Coaches,Players and Fans keep their focus and not get so full of themselves and that my analysis of their opponents help them better prepare for, I would rather be wrong on all of my Predicitons and the Teams/Players succeed and win Championships. This is my mission here on GCOBB.com
Here are my Predicitons for the NFC East (which I see as the 3rd strongest Division in the NFC behind the South & North Divisions this year as I did last year)
NFC East
Eagles 10-6
Cowboys 9-7
Giants 8-8 or 7-9
Redskins 6-10 or 7-9
I think the Eagles will start sluggish but start gelling as the Season rolls along, they do have a very favorable opening 6 games and really could be a 5-1 team without really playing all that well which would be a fantastic start..
The Rams,49ers,Bills on paper, should all be be easly wins for the Eagles based on talent alone but we all know that the Eagles never do anthing the easy way and that wins and games are not decided by whats on paper..
I think they will start 4-2 but this 1st game makes me a little nervous for the way the Eagles OL has played and all the changes that have occured and especially the last 2 weeks.. I think the changes are good for the long run, but I am not so sure how it will play the 1st couple of weeks with so little time together as a unit..
Paul, and I know you’re only serious a percentage of the time, but if you think you posts on GCobb have any effect on the coaches or players, then you have no right to call Andy Reid an egomaniac…..that would be YOU
I think that the Birds CBs can cover the GB WRs, but Finley will destroy them. The Pack O is great at creating mismatches and Rodgers always seems to find them. D-Jax and a healthy Maclin rival the top 2 Saints Wrs and if you add in a healthy Steve Smith (hopefully), I would say that they are better. Brees and that offense make those WRs more than the other way around. Sproles and Graham would kill the Eagles if they played the saints.
Schiller,
Just like you, I enjoy the psychological insight that theTeams,Coaches,Media and Fans all get involved in with discussing,analyzing,overhyping or downplaying a teams,coach,players, games or season or whatever
Take this from a long-time tortured fan of Philadlephis Sports like many on here.. I will tend to downplay the expectations so as not to be emotionally let down in the end… It this behavior childish and immature, probably, but I will never believe the “Company LIne” or the “Local or National Media” on how good,bad or indefferent a team,player or coach can be or is.. I go by what I see and if If I don’t have a lot of Intel to go by, then I will go by past perfomance as an indicator to watch tendancies that %’s will favor or not favor.. It’s my own madness that keeps me involved and a passionate fan but still at a distance to not be disappointed or to have to my guard down..
I am not sure what this condition is called, (maybe you know) but it is what is, I want the Eagles and Phils to win every game, but I know that’s not possible or very likely, But when I see problems,issues, schemes,not addressed or shortcomings that prevent our Philly Teams from winning it all . then I comment about them to the best of a passionate fan’s ability…