• March 28, 2024

Thoughts From Eagles-Steelers

This One Is On Vick

The Eagles lost a very winnable game to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and most of the blame for this loss can be placed on quarterback Michael Vick.

A week ago against the Giants, it looked as though Vick had made some strides in his development by playing a sound game, making good decisions, running the ball out of bounds, and protecting the football. This week Vick wasn’t sharp at all, and wasn’t interested in protecting the football.

The turnover-prone quarterback fumbled an astounding four times, and lost two of them. One of them came on the goalline in the first quarter, which took crucial points off of the board for Philadelphia. Imagine how different this game is with an additional seven points? Or even an extra field goal makes a huge difference.

Vick’s second fumble came inside the Eagles own territory, and gave the Steelers an opportunity to score. Fortunately for Vick, Pittsburgh was unable to capitalize.

Vick had another turnover erased after an official ruled he was down by contact. He also threw up a couple of careless passes that could have been intercepted.

It just goes to show you, once again, that Vick just can’t be relied on to perform at a high level every week. He’s going to have some pretty good games, but too often there’s going to be instances like this in which he costs this team with his careless play.

I thought the three first quarter fumbles really epitomized Vick as a player. He always claims to be crushed by his mistakes, and supposedly acknowledges that he tries to do too much at times, yet he never learns and adjusts based on his errors. The first fumble that he had was overturned, and should have been enough of a wake-up call to Vick that he needed to protect the ball better today. Instead, just several plays later he fumbled into the endzone to kill a drive and wipe away points. And even after the redzone turnover, Vick was still loose with the ball, and fumbled two more times.

Yes, Vick played much better in the second half, and did his part to help bring this team back, but his play in the first half was absolutely inexcusable. He’s been shooting this team in the foot throughout the season, and his bright moments aren’t enough to make up for it. Either he’s got to change, or they’ll have to be a change at the quarterback position.

Defense Wasn’t Good Enough

The defense did a fair job today (considering the position they were put in by their quarterback), but they were lacking in several key areas.

For the second straight week, the pass rush just wasn’t good enough. A couple of hits and a handful of hurries couldn’t do anything to throw Ben Roethlisberger off of his game. They were unable to register a sack on the Steeler quarterback, and by the time the second half began, Big Ben was in a rhythm and was picking the Eagles defense apart.This is supposed to be a defensive line that generates a handful of sacks in every game, but they’ve been almost completely MIA in the last two games. They got away with a no-show against the Giants, but they cost the team this week.

The unit also didn’t have an answer for running back Rashard Mendenhall. It was the first game that the running back had played in since returning from an ACL injury, but the Eagles allowed him to pick up over 80 yards and a touchdown despite the Steelers giving him limited touches.

The defense received a number of breaks today. There were a number of instances in which Roethlisberger found an open receiver, only to have his target drop the pass or have him miss the target by a couple of inches.

Juan Castillo’s group also missed key opportunities to make some game changing plays. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie dropped an interception in the endzone that would have wiped three points off of the board for the Steelers, and the defense had a chance to get off of the field on a 3rd and 12 on the final Pittsburgh drive, but couldn’t get the job done.

The defense wasn’t horrible today, and deserves some credit for keeping this game close, especially early on. However, this wasn’t their best effort, and they had the opportunity to make a bigger impact on the game but just couldn’t get it done.

Let’s Recognize McCoy’s Greatness

You have to love the effort by LeSean McCoy today.

While it wasn’t his most impressive statistical game, the running back was instrumental on the team’s final offensive drive that gave them a one-point lead in the fourth quarter. McCoy was the go-to guy on the two fourth down conversions, and produced both first downs with second and third efforts.

It’s clear that the injuries on the offensive line have impacted what McCoy can do in the running game. The Eagles are leaning heavily on outside runs, and don’t trust their line to generate a push to send McCoy up the middle. But in spite of the issues with his line, Shady still finds ways to make a great impact on the game, and that’s what makes him one of the best running backs in football right now.

Quick Thoughts

  • Kickoff coverage was an issue again today, but Colt Anderson did make a nice stop inside the 10-yard line to begin the second half. This unit should get a boost as Anderson’s knee continues to improve and when Akeem Jordan is able to return.
  • I like the way the Eagles work Stanley Havili into the offense every week.
  • The Eagles haven’t had much success with the deep ball this year. Either receivers haven’t been able to get necessary separation, or Vick hasn’t thrown the bomb well enough. Remember when DeSean Jackson was good for multiple 50-yard touchdowns a year? Not so much these days.
  • Very active game for DeMeco Ryans, who finished with 12 tackles.
  • Mychal Kendricks struggled for the first time this season. Kendricks was late getting to several plays, and missed a tackle on Rashard Mendenhall’s touchdown.
  • In the third quarter, down 10-0, why not have DeSean Jackson back returning punts? The Eagles needed a boost at the time, and Damaris Johnson isn’t going to be the guy that provides it for them.

Final Thoughts

This was a rough loss for the Eagles. I didn’t expect them to win this game, but they had a chance to come away from this game with a huge road victory and weren’t able to seize the opportunity.

It’s so hard to get a read on how much to expect from this team because of the hazy, erratic play of the quarterback. The Eagles can’t continue to have Michael Vick come out every week and turn the ball over multiple times.

Even with a turnover-free performance against the Giants, Vick is averaging more than two turnovers a game on the season. All three of the Eagle victories have come by less than three points. Imagine if the Browns had caught that near-fifth interception Vick had thrown on the final drive in Cleveland, and team sat at 2-3 right now. I think if this team didn’t have a winning record, the Eagles would be strongly considering changing to Nick Foles right now.

Vick tried to brush off the questions about his turnovers after game by saying it was just “one of those days.” Well Mike, there’s been too many of those days, and the fact that you’re turning the ball over at such an alarming rate is a clear indication that you have a serious problem.

While Vick will remain the quarterback next week, he’s going to face another situation in which he could be playing for his job. Another three-turnover performance could make Andy Reid take a long hard look at Foles during the team’s bye week. We’ll see what happens next week when the rested Detroit Lions come to Philadelphia.

Denny Basens

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EaglesSuck
EaglesSuck
October 7, 2012 6:11 pm

Denny at this point in the season I cant see how ANYONE would argue that Michael Vick gives us a better chance to win than Nick Foles this guy is a turn over machine. And if Nick Foles makes those rookie mistakes by turning over the football then your not losing much because Michael Vick does the same!!! 6 ints and 5 fumbles. If your going to give me those kind of numbers id rather have the rookie in there making those kind of mistakes at least he has a reason to commit those kind of mistake. With 11 years in the NFL its no excuse.

richcow
richcow
October 7, 2012 6:25 pm

Vick is what he is, an average NFL QB who is capable of spectacular plays. He is incapable of leading us to the Super Bowl. Does he give us a better chance to win the next game than Nick Foles? Of course. Would Foles be better in the long run? That is the big question. If Andy goes with Foles this season, that probably means this is his last year as head coach.

scramz25
scramz25
October 8, 2012 9:55 am
Reply to  richcow

guess what this is his last year anyway so he might as well put him in. This goes back to last year with the same play call and the same QB play. No one else in the leauge is turning the ball over like this guy . This isnt a one game or no preseason. Come on first and goal on the 1 and you give it to a QB who cant hold on to the ball.. they are finished. Get ride of andy and marty who STUNK at detriot .. its time to go with the rookie who can actually play..

peli
peli
October 7, 2012 7:29 pm

THIS ONE, AS ALWAYS, IS ON REID. Every game he receives to start, when has this offense not had to get its timing down? And more importantly, how do u qb sneak on 1st and goal. Hmmm 5’9″ qb, or top 3 rb in the game to run it in the enzone? Wait, i know how to figure this one out, who just fumbled? Thats the guy who should carry the ball!!!

peli
peli
October 7, 2012 7:32 pm

Almost forgot, what do u do if your team just had a long td drive, and then your defense gets the opposing offense off the field on a 3 n out. Hint: u def dont wanna run the ball with your 4 rbs and a fb on the roster!!

jott1972
jott1972
October 7, 2012 8:09 pm

The pass rush is a joke..Cole and Babin look slow and are aging….they wont win without a pass rush…..oh and Vick blows

jott1972
jott1972
October 7, 2012 8:10 pm

Fire reid and let vick walk after the season….clean house..bring in Oregon’s Chip Kelly

Berks
Berks
October 7, 2012 8:23 pm

It took Andy 14 years to sort of balanced offense, maybe in 10 years he can have a football team that doesn’t have a runningback ave 5 yds a carry. That tends to help deep in p-layoffs.

Berks
Berks
October 7, 2012 8:25 pm

to sort of use a balanced Off. doesn’t have an opposition RB who ave 5+ a carry

mr1charlton
mr1charlton
October 7, 2012 8:32 pm

shoulda, coulda, woulda the birds are at 3-2 despite the media spending energy campaigning for a QB change , IT’S NOT GONNA HAPPEN. for every media outlet fighting for a qb change, AND OMITTING THE COACH, who made the decision. thats real twisted. by the way as the qb didn’t have a good game HE WALKED OFF THE FIELD AFTER PUTTING HIS TEAM IN THE LEAD. the defense didn’t do it’s job for 60 min. no sacks, no inside push, couldn’t stop the run when it counted. Castillo made no adjustments like blitzing or rushing 3 and dropping 8 back in coverage. he gave big ben the same looks a majority of the time and lost

Horatio
Horatio
October 7, 2012 8:33 pm

Pretty rough on the defense when they only give up 16 points. If they come up with a stop on the last drive, the Eagles win, but they were only put in that position by a terrible offensive showing in the first place.

deserteagle
deserteagle
October 7, 2012 8:45 pm

In what has become more than an anomaly,Andy Reid’s time mangaement(lack of ) challenging a first down when you are going to go on your 30 with 4th and inches? Back to back astounding calls?time out on a third and short. ? 16 carries for shady ,when you know 20 or more carries usually means a win? If you insist on playing mike Vick,why would you not give the best player on your roster the rock and minimize mikes chance for committing a turnover? Wide nine scheme yields zero sacks and huge running lanes ..nice game plan Juan .addittion by subtraction,reduce Vicks touches ,add touches for shady and keep your job,and perhaps give your defense a rest? Times yours …

larrwd
larrwd
October 7, 2012 9:21 pm

doesnt matter who the quarterback is no qbs are successful with midgets not one in the entire league..

Rule 1. when throwing to midgets more interceptions will occur.. ( this rule has vick leery to throw deep up for grab balls that the whoel league is doing right.)
Rule 2. Midgets will not go across the middle for slants and crosses( this help build a qbs rhythm and confidence during the game)
Rule.3 towards the ending point in games midgets are more worn out from over exerting because of their small stature

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
October 7, 2012 9:52 pm

one time out for the 4th quarter.

was that time management problems again by Andy?

Told ya.

How is that high octane offense doing?

will they ever score over 24 points this season?

oh yeah…..

If you know your QB fumble constantly near the goal line, why continue the QB sneaks within 5 yards of the goal line when you have the best running back in the league?

This was an Andy Special 4 you guys.

Another thing.

How is that special team guru April doing?

Andy said he’s the best in the business and that bum have done absoluetly nothing since he been here.

I think Brian Rolle have been vindicated. Who will they scapegoat now?

Did bum ass Matthews get one tackle on special teams yet?

Why does he still have a roster spot?

oh yeah..

I think Andy finally rounded off his Reno Mahe gratuity roster spot again.

Johnson gets no where on punt returns.

Tell me that don’t remind you of Mahe.

This team is what I said they were.

oh yeah….how is that right side of the offensive line doing?

Evan Mathis is getting stunted every down and a man is coming free on either side of his bum ass.

Bell rounds off the Andrew triplets..our gratuity high priced offensive lineman that sucks ass.

Is it me or does teams target Asmo as a weakness in the secondary?

and when was the last time you heard about our safeties putting a crushing hit on receivers coming through the middle?

We are still soft at the Safety position.

Don’t panic guys….your eyes are not deceiving you.

This is the same team that made the bum ass Browns look like contenders.

Lions 29

Eagles 17

3-3 going into the buy and Andy win after the buy

Same ol same ol.

pheags88
pheags88
October 7, 2012 10:40 pm

How in the world can someone say the defense didn’t do the job for 60 min yet give any type of praise to Vick or anybody else for that matter who clearly didn’t do their job for 60 min..The Defense gave up 16 points on the road against a top offense in the league coming off a bye. That should be clearly enough to win a game in todays NFL. (didn’t JJ always preach that his goal in every game was to give up less than 17 because its usually enough to get the job done)…

Giving up 16 should be enough period. Only time it isn’t is when your offense sucks it up and turns over the ball especially in the redzone when you are guaranteed points and when your head coach coaches like a dumbass. We loss simply because of Vicks turnovers and Reid coaching. Same old story.

Our offense is flat out weak this year. Were near the bottom in points scored which is the most important stat for an offense. If it wasn’t for the defense this year we would already be out of the playoffs because our record would be pathetic.

If we get to the bye at 4-2 I will be a happy Eagles fan. I expected a loss today and mentioned in my prior posts I did not like our chances in this game with the Vick Reid duo. So the result of this game was no surprise to me. Its a just a disappointing lost but whatever now the pressure is on next week to get that win.

phillystros5
phillystros5
October 7, 2012 10:59 pm

first off the steelers helped our defense out today by committing alot of holding pentalties. i think this was not the best effort by our defense but then again not the worst. on that final drive i think juan shoulda dialed up a few more blitz packages to try and get pressure on big ben bc rushing four was not getting that job done.

second our special teams are horrible. why cant we cover a kickoff.. hell why cant henry put the ball out of the endzone like every other kicker in the league. we should use desean on punts bc johnson just aint getting that job done. why cant we create a wedge on kick returns, it would be so nice to be able to start a drive around the 40 for once

third i think the Eagles need to go out and sign chedder plax. it cant hurt this offense bc we just cant score points.. the eagles can move the ball all over the feild but cant score points and i think having plax would help the cause out alot… fast receivers are not ganna have an advantage inside the redzone bc its a tighter field. i think the birds should give foles a chance to shine like he did in the preseason. i love vick and think he can make big plays but i would love it more to have a qb to make the smart plays.. like slide feet first so a defender cant hit you instead of dive and let the ball pop out of our hands… ANDY you benched mcnabb and it helped you team rebound… BENCH vick and lets just see what happends.. worse case you have to rely on your defense to win games but hell we already do that bc vick keeps turning the ball over

1977
1977
October 8, 2012 2:19 am

Hey Denny how many turnovers did vick have in the last six minutes of the 4th quarter?? none, because his defense couldnt get a stop!! He’s definitely a big part of the blame, but when u drive your team down field on a 8 minute drive and take the lead the d has to hold.. another week of no sacks no turnovers. I like the defense but you gotta hold when it counts. And to all the nnamdi apologists, ive seen enough, he either lost a step or was never that good in the first place

1977
1977
October 8, 2012 2:41 am

I keep hearing about the defense only giving up 16 pionts (which is good) but the time of possesion and lack of stops is what the real problem was..Cant let a team constantly convert 3rd downs and run time of the clock. that was the problem today

larrwd
larrwd
October 8, 2012 3:18 am

Another problem is teams know what were are running .. our offensive line is weak so they attack us with furocity. i think clay harbor and pok shoudl be more involved,,, the patriot give so many looks and personal changes they play 4 running back 3 tight ends ….we do the same thing every time

DCar
DCar
October 8, 2012 5:40 am

I’m not going to go too nuts, but here are my thoughts, after 5 games, in which gives me enough of game play, to back my opinions.
1- Vick is far too inconsistent, & makes far too many mistakes, too win us a SB.
2- Reid, Morningwood, Castillo, are horrid at game-planning & in game adjustments.
3- Our offensive line, especially Bell, Watkins & Reynolds are brutal!
4- Asomugha, is officially the worst CB, that we have, & is the worst signing of Reid’s tenure. He gets beat at least 3-4 times a game, & gets penalties to try & compensate for his mistakes. He’s too slow to play man-to-man/ bump & run/ cover, unless he has constant over the top backup. He can’t play zone, because he is too slow, & bites every time on the stop & go & can’t cut fast enough.
5- The Wide 9, is a STUPID defensive alignment, because we are too small at DT & LB.
6- Where is our deep threat, overpaid WR DJax & Maclin?
7- Why is Celek only getting 3 catches a game (wasting his talent, run blocking)?
8- Maclin is a pussy & gets hurt, every time someone breaths on him!
9- Our receivers are WAY TOO SMALL!!!!
10- Our return teams F^#@ING blow! Johnson is useless. I don’t give a F^#@ how fast he is. He is afraid, over-matched & doesn’t know WTF he is doing. Has he returned a punt more than 5 yards? If he catches 1 more punt inside the 10 one more time, I’m going to blow my lid.
Finally, I’m not giving up on the season, because with all of the above, we still are 3-2, but we need many changes to this team. After this year Vick, Asomugha, Reid, & his entire staff, need to go! We need to move Kendricks to WILL & get a real SAM. GET A F^#@ING big WR to be either a #1 or a #2. Invest in some big Linemen, both defensively & offensively. Become a ground a pound team, on DF & OF. I’m tired of this sissy football. I’m disgusted! We should have beat them! Noway you get in the red-zone, especially the goal-line, & fumble the F^#@ing ball.
That cost us the game. You can make an excuse, that if the DF held them at the end of the game, we would have won. I’m not buying it! We should be 4-1 DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DCar
DCar
October 8, 2012 5:44 am

Also, where is this high powered sack machine we are supposed to have? Where are the blitzes? Castillo is over-matched & needs to go!!! No more excuses & delusions!

haveacigar
haveacigar
October 8, 2012 7:14 am

the sack machine has been non-existent which is true. however knowing its a TEAM game i have to say that the eagles never have the lead meaning the oppossing offense never gets into a must pass situation EVER!!!! Up until yesterday they have never had a lead at a 2:00 minute warning– 1st half and second half– pass rushing teams need a lead!– that is not an excuse but me being pissed off and turning this team over to a turnover machine. the whole complexion of the game changes if vick doesn’t fumble on the goal line.
I’m not on the foles bandwagon yet but watching a 6-5 QB move around the pocket and make play after play…. and conversly watching a 6′ run around and put the ball on the turf i’m about ready!

DCar
DCar
October 8, 2012 8:44 am
Reply to  haveacigar

Sad, but true!