Jody Mac
09-12-2011, 01:59 PM
The juxta-position of different teams in different sports can be fascinating at this time of year. Baseball teams are deep into the stretch of their season and the NFL is just coming out of the gates for their year. Yet there seems to be more interest in the teams that have about 93 % of their season yet to play as compared to a team heading into the final 15 % of its season. Logically it doesn't add up. But maybe it's more understandable here in Philly. Eagle fans are hoping for a "dream" season, while the Phils are already having a dream season, but there is still a waiting period before we know if there is going to be a happy ending.
After a shortened pre-season the new look, high-ticket Eagles got their season underway and as far wins go, it was a solid one. There were things to like about the offense, highlights to the defense and a win on the road are something you take no matter the opponent or juncture of the season. Michael Vick was at his electrical best sprinting with the football. His passing was marginal overall but he completed passes and threw TDs when he needed to. LeSean McCoy's 122 yards on the ground were the most in the league for week one, going into Monday night. He could be poised for making this a breakout, all-pro season. Desean Jackson was his usual game breaking self with 102 yards on six grabs with a TD. He didn't look like a guy distracted by the desire for a new contract. The Eagles should return the favor and the focus and get a deal done with him ASAP. Possibly the most important thing coming out of the week one's "O" was the in-game improvement of their cobbled together offensive line. Started badly, finished strong. If they can keep the direction of that arrow up, the concerns on the revamped unit will start to lessen. But there is a long way to go.
On the other side of the ball, the numbers say they played very well for the final 55 minutes. After the first play from scrimmage, 47 yard TD gashing by Steven Jackson, the green clad de gave up just 6 more points. But... the Rams with backup running back Cadillac Williams did continue to run the ball effectively. If it weren't for an inordinate amount of drops and an early exit from Sam Bradford, the Rams may have racked up a bunch of yards through the air as well. The de line held up their end of the bargain with the pressure on Rams QBs but the question marks at linebacker persist.
Despite expectations the Eagles are a team in transition because of the amount of changes they made in personnel, on both pro bowl and rookie level. It's inevitably going to take time. So a win, any win out of the blocks is a good thing and the fact that the Eagles were more business-like than giddy after wards, portends well going forward.
Meanwhile the Phils lost on Sunday again. Why do they continue to do this when they know I come out with my weekly blog every Monday? I guess I have to force my self to remember that they won ALL six games in between their two Sunday defeats against the supposedly two next best NL teams in the Braves and the Brewers. They did so without Jimmy Rollins for the whole week and Chase Utley for the last four games of it. A tip of the cap to both Michael Martinez and Wilson Valdez who have done a great job of holding down the fort in the infield when the Phils have been hurt at second, third and short! Sunday’s loss doesn't amount to much in the big picture. This week carries 8 games on the way to a record setting number of wins this year and Charlie doesn't even need to start worrying about how to spot his guys before post-season action yet. Yes it's a little ho-hum at this time, but enjoy the ride.
If the Eagles and Phillies are not enough for you, believe it or not the Flyers are just nine days away from their pre-season opener. Chris Pronger should be ready to go even if Paul Holmgren isn't. With the way last season went, good early bad late, don't be surprised if the orange-clad faithful take a wait and see attitude on this years Fly-guy unit. When Ilya Brygalov's helmet garners as much attention as it has you know it's going to be a while before we get down to the brass tacks of making a Cup run. But they better score some goals in the first month of the season or the calls of "Where's Richy, where's Carts??" will be heard loud and long at the Wells Fargo!!
Couple random thoughts to wrap the week: Add a Giant loss and a Cowboy blown late lead defeat to the Eagles victory and things are already going the Birds way in the NFC east.... Kevin Kolb looked good in a Cardinal win (remember I picked them to win that division), while Donovan McNabb looked shaky in a Viking loss. (Forget that I picked them to make the wild card)...Falcons, up next week on the Eagles sched, were handled easily by the Bears in their opener. That's more bad news then good. They now have to shift into must win mode if they want to win 12 games again this year. Very motivated squads coming into Sunday night showdown...How nervous do you think they are in Red Sox nation right now? Those New England boxers getting a little tight in unmentionable places? ...Notre Dame better start to pick it up or the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl may not be interested this year! (Yes it is a real Bowl game!)
After a shortened pre-season the new look, high-ticket Eagles got their season underway and as far wins go, it was a solid one. There were things to like about the offense, highlights to the defense and a win on the road are something you take no matter the opponent or juncture of the season. Michael Vick was at his electrical best sprinting with the football. His passing was marginal overall but he completed passes and threw TDs when he needed to. LeSean McCoy's 122 yards on the ground were the most in the league for week one, going into Monday night. He could be poised for making this a breakout, all-pro season. Desean Jackson was his usual game breaking self with 102 yards on six grabs with a TD. He didn't look like a guy distracted by the desire for a new contract. The Eagles should return the favor and the focus and get a deal done with him ASAP. Possibly the most important thing coming out of the week one's "O" was the in-game improvement of their cobbled together offensive line. Started badly, finished strong. If they can keep the direction of that arrow up, the concerns on the revamped unit will start to lessen. But there is a long way to go.
On the other side of the ball, the numbers say they played very well for the final 55 minutes. After the first play from scrimmage, 47 yard TD gashing by Steven Jackson, the green clad de gave up just 6 more points. But... the Rams with backup running back Cadillac Williams did continue to run the ball effectively. If it weren't for an inordinate amount of drops and an early exit from Sam Bradford, the Rams may have racked up a bunch of yards through the air as well. The de line held up their end of the bargain with the pressure on Rams QBs but the question marks at linebacker persist.
Despite expectations the Eagles are a team in transition because of the amount of changes they made in personnel, on both pro bowl and rookie level. It's inevitably going to take time. So a win, any win out of the blocks is a good thing and the fact that the Eagles were more business-like than giddy after wards, portends well going forward.
Meanwhile the Phils lost on Sunday again. Why do they continue to do this when they know I come out with my weekly blog every Monday? I guess I have to force my self to remember that they won ALL six games in between their two Sunday defeats against the supposedly two next best NL teams in the Braves and the Brewers. They did so without Jimmy Rollins for the whole week and Chase Utley for the last four games of it. A tip of the cap to both Michael Martinez and Wilson Valdez who have done a great job of holding down the fort in the infield when the Phils have been hurt at second, third and short! Sunday’s loss doesn't amount to much in the big picture. This week carries 8 games on the way to a record setting number of wins this year and Charlie doesn't even need to start worrying about how to spot his guys before post-season action yet. Yes it's a little ho-hum at this time, but enjoy the ride.
If the Eagles and Phillies are not enough for you, believe it or not the Flyers are just nine days away from their pre-season opener. Chris Pronger should be ready to go even if Paul Holmgren isn't. With the way last season went, good early bad late, don't be surprised if the orange-clad faithful take a wait and see attitude on this years Fly-guy unit. When Ilya Brygalov's helmet garners as much attention as it has you know it's going to be a while before we get down to the brass tacks of making a Cup run. But they better score some goals in the first month of the season or the calls of "Where's Richy, where's Carts??" will be heard loud and long at the Wells Fargo!!
Couple random thoughts to wrap the week: Add a Giant loss and a Cowboy blown late lead defeat to the Eagles victory and things are already going the Birds way in the NFC east.... Kevin Kolb looked good in a Cardinal win (remember I picked them to win that division), while Donovan McNabb looked shaky in a Viking loss. (Forget that I picked them to make the wild card)...Falcons, up next week on the Eagles sched, were handled easily by the Bears in their opener. That's more bad news then good. They now have to shift into must win mode if they want to win 12 games again this year. Very motivated squads coming into Sunday night showdown...How nervous do you think they are in Red Sox nation right now? Those New England boxers getting a little tight in unmentionable places? ...Notre Dame better start to pick it up or the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl may not be interested this year! (Yes it is a real Bowl game!)