• March 29, 2024

Eagles Face Must-Win Situation On Sunday

MichaelVick1At 1-3, with all of the areas of weakness witnessed, the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves in an awkward position this Sunday.  Win, Dallas falls to the Broncos, and we are tied for first place with an under .500 record.

The New York Giants who have yet to win a game.  Our lonely win feels like forever ago.  Hard to fathom, but the reality is that our division is bad.  Playoffs are still there for the taking.  We have a terrible defense, especially when referring to the secondary.  Guess what, so do the Redskins, Giants and Cowboys.

The gap from how we felt week one to what we stomach after week 4 feels like an entire football season of emotions.  The electricity and speed to which the offense entertained us has disappeared.  Post Redskins win; I have a few flashes of the Chip Kelly style of offense.  The big McCoy runs. The deep ball DeSean caught versus the Chargers and the run by Vick versus the Chiefs.

My recent memories are flooded with turnovers, penalties, poor red-zone efficiency, dropped passes and missed field goals.  We are beating ourselves and leaving too many points off the score-board.   We still have big playing making guys on this team.  There are good young pieces on the defensive side of the ball.  We still have three quarters left of the season.

I try to make sense of the statistical facts that proves our offense can win us games.  We rank second in the league in total offense.  We are the first team in NFL history to record 1,000 passing yards and 750 rushing yards in the first four games of a season.   The statistics make for owning McCoy, Jackson or Vick in fantasy football something worth smiling about, but I’m not smiling.  I’m pissed, with the players but also with how the coaching staff has handled them.

We have 1.5 wide-receivers worth starting on this roster.  We have three tight-ends, but we don’t have three good tight-ends, or do we?  I thought I’d see trip sets with three tight-ends in the red-zone.  I visualized Casey or Ertz making the athletic catch in the end-zone, winning their miss-match with the covering linebacker.  I had glimpses of what the Patriots did with their two tight-ends.  That image was what I thought the creative Chip Kelly would do.

So now what?  We win Sunday, that’s what.  We re-gain that feeling of what it’s like to win in the NFL.  We don’t look for players to step up as leaders, we keep our mouths shut and let our talent and effort speak for itself.

Jeff Kolsky

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E-money
E-money
October 1, 2013 11:13 pm

My gut tells me that this is the week the Giants get it together. I see Eli torching the secondary. Their run game will stink, but don’t be shocked if Victor Cruz dances in the end-zone a few times.
I hope we see more focus from the offense this week. Yards are nice, but Andy put up plenty of yards. Between Vick and Shady, this team should be able to run the ball into the end-zone whenever they get within a couple of yards of it.
I’m also hoping to see somebody (anybody) lined up where Riley Cooper usually does.

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
October 1, 2013 11:38 pm

Enough already —
now Jeff Kolsky is taking a shot at Zach Ertz —
Zach Ertz has a 37, 31 and 27 yard completions —
25 yard completions are BIG PLAYS and Zach Ertz has 3 of them in 4 games.
It is absolutely asinine that Chip Kelly continues to lineup DJax in the redzone esp. inside the 10 yard line.
Philly fans should be screaming for Zach Ertz to be in the game during goal line situations after watching Jason Avant, James Casey and Brent Celek drop TD passes this year and DJax get 2 passes swatted in the end zone before they touch his hands because his body frame is too small in consecutive weeks.

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
October 2, 2013 10:45 am
Reply to  Jeff Kolsky

sorry Jeff, I reread your article and I now understand where I misconstrued your words

jbird
jbird
October 3, 2013 12:05 pm
Reply to  Jeff Kolsky

Have to agree Jeff. I was very impressed with Kelly at first but not so much now. Hope this is just a learning curve. Fact is the toughest part of our schedule is behind us. Last three opponents 10-2 and I am willing to bet SD will be right there with KC for that wild card come December. The rest of our opponents are 16-31. If we can’t go 6-6 against the rest of this schedule we may be waiting a long time to get back in the playoffs. Think 1982-87. Dark years in my life. Had to take grief all through jr high and high school about how my team sucked.

doggod22
doggod22
October 2, 2013 12:04 am

The problem with the offense is that Vick can’t do basic math. In the Eagle’s offense each and every play is a run/pass option.

5 or fewer in the box, run. 6 or more in the box, pass. Take what the
defense gives you.

The thing that makes the offense really hard to stop is when you take what the D gives you based on the #s. Vick is not doing that far too often. And it’s weak to blame the OL, because most of those decisions are supposed to be made in 1 to 1.5 seconds. The sacks are when Vick holds the ball forever. When DeSean and another WR are bunched with only 2 defenders on them, Vick is supposed to throw a quick pass to DeSean almost every time and take the short gain with the potential for a big gain with one missed tackle. He almost never does this. He’s always holding and waiting for the big play downfield.

Vick got the basic part of the play right maybe ½ the time on against Denver, probably less. Their only chance to have any kind of reasonable success in that game was to rip off as many long drives as possible (play-wise if not time-wise) and force Denver to be a little more conservative on offense thinking their “D” was getting tired. Drops don’t help, the rest of the defensive and a special teams problems don’t help… but it they can’t run the offense the way it is supposed to be run, then the team has no chance.

At least if he’s going to do the math wrong he should err on the side of running the ball over passing it. It seems like they can pick up a minimum of 3 yards a pop as long as they run up into the line instead of practicing a tap-dancing routine. Whereas when they throw it it’s most often an exercise in futility. Long drives like the 2nd to last one of the first half where the offensive line gets to tee off on every play are what is truly going to wear down the other team in the second half.

Hopefully as the year goes on (and they avoid teams as good as Denver) they will start to get better and better at seeing what works and what doesn’t but you do definitely need your “Field General” to be able to get you into the proper play option.

If this team can manage to be just bad on defense instead of terrible, and if the QB would simply do the math correctly every play, then in three weeks it’s possible that they will be hosting the Cowboys for a one-game division lead.

NuGreembol
NuGreembol
October 2, 2013 1:21 am
Reply to  doggod22

Yeah this offense can’t score and we should have beat Denver. That damn Vick is ruining a great playoff run. Vicks math issues have been haunting him since the second grade. That Chiefs D is not as good as the numbers and amount of probowl players suggest. Chargers and Skins games were flukes offensively. Den D didn’t have the advantage with the lead and being the far better team means nothing bc we are the Eagles and should have won. This offense is so simple that other teams can’t figure it out due to its simplicity. lol im sleep

RealTalk777
RealTalk777
October 2, 2013 10:11 am
Reply to  Jeff Kolsky

think he was being sarcastic Jeff…

paulman
paulman
October 2, 2013 1:14 pm
Reply to  Jeff Kolsky

Relax Jeff, You could use to lose a few lbs ..

NuGreembol
NuGreembol
October 2, 2013 11:44 pm
Reply to  Jeff Kolsky

totally being sarcastic lol

RealTalk777
RealTalk777
October 2, 2013 10:17 am
Reply to  doggod22

First off….every play is not a run/pass option…Many times the play is pre determined, meaning there is no option…just presents the look and feel of a read option….If you want to know the facts, I’m sure you can find a few of kelly’s press conferences where he said exactly that. You just typed a 5 minute post on false information….real talk!

bsmvideos
October 2, 2013 9:07 am

Cleveland Browns coaching staff, Cleveland Browns Results.

GM Roseman Stinks…

Still hate the Fat Man…

Kelly will turn it around, but not with the Fat Man’s scrubs…

DCar
DCar
October 2, 2013 11:34 am
Reply to  bsmvideos

6 of the starting 11 on DF, is Weaselmans & the “Geniuses” rosters moves this year, so how is it the fat man’s scrubbs? Did the fat man, change the DF from a 4-3, to a 3-4, with promising, young, 4-3 personnel (Cox, Curry, Graham, Thornton, Kendricks) & 4-3 veterans (Cole, Ryans) littered all over the DF? Get over blaming The Hindenburg, he’s gone, & has nothing to do with this years failures! It all lies at the feet, of Weaselman & the “Genius”. Their changes! Their off-season failures! Their off-season ineptness!!!!

DCar
DCar
October 2, 2013 11:38 am
Reply to  bsmvideos

Yes, his drafts, that he had much say with, were putrid, but let’s get real, no matter what limp wristed Lurie condescendingly tries to spew to us, Weaselman has had most of the say, & GM duties, since 2010!

paulman
paulman
October 2, 2013 9:45 am

Anyone Recall that I stated that Coach AR would lead the Chiefs to the Playoffs before Coach Jelly Kelly would with the Eagles… I think I even had a couple of gentleman’s bets about this with some regular Posters..
Chip Jelly Kelly as an NFL Coach is a bigger Fraud than I am as a Reporter…
Read them and weep….

jakedog
jakedog
October 2, 2013 10:10 am

Where is this “unstoppable ” offense, that Kelly’s offense is tailored for vick

Who said all this and on what basis, do you know what you are talking about, or did you just make shit up, all freakin jock sniffers, Kelly this, Kelly that, well right now Kelly sucks, as Tomlin says, just the new flavor like the wild cat, shoot and run, etc, on the garbage pile of failed gimmicks

Super bowls are won by defense and pocket passers, field generals, game managers,

paulman
paulman
October 2, 2013 1:16 pm
Reply to  jakedog

and Coach’s with some gonads…

RealTalk777
RealTalk777
October 2, 2013 11:07 am

After two tough games, new coach, new system….and the means that the coach sucks….very rational thoughts….

This defense has to play better in zone coverage, being that’s what their in 75% of the time…Secondary and LB’s for the most part aren’t taking a man, when they enter their zone, early enough…Their hesitant, thinking too much…They have to approach zone coverage as man coverage when a man enter’s their zone. Particularly when a players comes across the middle….cover and release into the next zone….

pheags88
pheags88
October 2, 2013 1:20 pm

The Eagles next 5 opponents have a win loss record of like 3-13 right now. The Eagles better go 5-0 or 4-1 in that stretch. You don’t start a 33 year old QB to win 5-7 games and miss the playoffs. Remember we started Vick to WIN NOW… so this season will be a waste when it comes to the most important position on the field unless we get playoffs. This is suppose to be a win now season

greenfan
greenfan
October 2, 2013 7:25 pm

Kelly’s second division game….so far we have seen that he has a lot to learn about the NFL…..rookie coaches are expected (but not required!!) to make mistakes, the issue will be if we see the same mistakes happening without improvement.

I would expect that the Giants to do very well against a familiar foe. Manning will recognize our problems in the defensive backfield, and the Dline has yet to prove they can mount much of a rush, so he should have little to worry about.
Until this defensive coordinator proves that he knows what he is doing, I see this team have the same types of results they have had since JJ left. They do not have talented enough players to make up for the lack of coaching and direction….or maybe they don’t have talented enough players to play the basic defenses needed in the NFL…either way the Birds are in trouble until we get some talent on the defense.

As far as the offense is concerned, our Oline play has been almost as big a disappointment as the lack of production from the recievers (especially the TE’s). The line has provided some good run blocking, so you cannot say they have been a complete disaster, but the pass blocking and penalties are another question.

That being said, this division is in such a terrible state, if we can manage to turn a few of these things around, they can actually still be playing meaningful games in December…..pretty crazy to think since we have only one win at this point.

paulman
paulman
October 3, 2013 4:12 pm

Giants 35 – Eagles 31
Eli Manning gets time from his terrible Offensive Line that the Eagles can seem to penetrate against and nicks,Cruz & TE Myers all have huge games versus the Eagles Secondary … McCoy has a strong game and D-Jax a couple of nice Catches with Vick just an Average Performance all leading up to another loss..

paulman
paulman
October 3, 2013 4:20 pm
Reply to  paulman

Some Stats
GIants Offense
Manning 32-46 386 Yards 4 TD’s with 1 Int and only Sacked once
Rushing – David Wilson 13 Carries 88 Yards , Brandon JAcobs 6 Carriers 14 Yards

Eagles Offense
VIck 21-44 312 Yards 2 TD’s with 2 Int’s and 1 Fumble (in the Red Zone)
Rushing – McCoy 18 Carriers 112 Yards Polk 6 Carries – 22 Yards
Vick – 9 Carries for 64 Yards

Vinny Curry with lone Eagles Sack , Brandon Fletcher with 1 Int

gmcliff
gmcliff
October 3, 2013 11:06 pm
Reply to  paulman

I say the Giants win as well…..They are a desperate team. The Eagles keep the gullible fans hanging on to their so-called potential. Rationalizing their going to win the NFC East.

pheags88
pheags88
October 3, 2013 5:55 pm

The NYG have given up at least 30 plus points in every game this year. Their secondary is terrible, they cant sack anybody this year cause their Dline is looking old and they have no linebackers. Their offense has been terrible because they have the worst Oline in the league. I think their actually starting Dallas Reynolds off his couch.
Thus, Vick and this offense which all I was told is finally perfect for him better put up at least 35. And the defense should be able to hold them in the 20s like they did to KC and WASH.

The Eagles should win this game easily 35-24. Key would should..we shall see

paulman
paulman
October 4, 2013 9:20 am
Reply to  pheags88

and the Eagles Defense still only gets 1 Sack per my Game Stats above..

coldbrewski
coldbrewski
October 4, 2013 12:02 am

And when the eagles beat the giants fraudman will move the goalpost again. Actually, if Reid was any good as a coach he should win in KC. He has studs on defense and the offense has more than enough talent to compete with any in his conference. But as he did here; he’ll mess it up when it counts. Bank it!! Kelly’s the one with the learning curve and a hs defense. His DC has to make better adjustments and find a way to get the most out of this unit. But the talent is lacking on D.
Some of you are funny. The Giant’s need Eli to play better. He looks a lot like he has during many of his regular seasons. He’s making terrible reads and horrible throws. Don’t put his bad play at the feet of the oline. That’s an excuse.

coldbrewski
coldbrewski
October 4, 2013 12:07 am

The Giant fans I know don’t want to hear shit about the previous sb wins. That ain’t helping them now. They want Eli to man up and play better; stop looking like someone took his football and won’t give it back. I gotta give the ones I know credit. They still don’t like the eagles, but they damn sure ain’t making excuses for horrid qb play. That surprisingly comes from silly ass eagle fans still pissed Beelzebub is the qb.