Jody Mac
09-26-2011, 01:56 PM
If you followed the on-goings of the Phillies and Eagles over the previous six days you would have believed going into Sunday's action, one of the two had an excellent chance to win. Chances are you had to flop your beliefs to get the right results. After losing 8 straight the Phils lineup finally clicked and "Doc" Halladay threw 6 scoreless as the Phils finally got win #99. Meanwhile the Eagles came in a nine point favorite over a Giant team that was decimated by injuries, who they had beaten six straight times. So much for that streak as Big Blue rolled to a 29-16 win at the Linc. Let's deal with the bad news first.
After falling behind 14-0 early, the Eagles fought, scratched and clawed their way to a 16-14 lead in the fourth quarter. But like last week in Atlanta the Eagles were blanked in the final stanza while they allowed 15 points. That makes it 29-0 in the last two fourth quarters. Championship teams close deals. Eagles fans are left closing their eyes and crossing their fingers. It's not working right now. What caused this Eagle defeat? Answer- everybody!
The early finger pointing seems to be at Andy Reid and his coaching staff and the men who wear the striped shirts on Sundays. While the coaches and refs deserve the scrutiny, lets not leave out a very culpable group, the Eagles’ players.
To say the Eagles struggled in short down situations Sunday would be an understatement. Both at the goal line and a key 4th down in the 4th quarter. The play calling left plenty to be desired, but isn't the offensive line supposed to be able to get a surge to move the pile one yard? We all know Howard Mudd likes the smaller, quicker offensive lineman. Apparently the group he has assembled strong suit is not pushing the opponent backwards at the point of attack. This could be a problem all year. When asked about this and all the other legitimate issues about the loss, Andy Reid decided less is more when it came to answering. Yes or no answers only please!
Michael Vick and his broken hand was much more talkative after the game. Vick called out the refs big time, while trying to not call out the refs. He surmised the reason that he has not been able to finish the last two games is because he his taking illegal hits in the pocket after he has released the ball. While he has a point, that he has always been officiated differently because of how he plays the game, how about his offensive line holding their blocks a second longer and keeping their QB a little bit more clean.
On the defensive side of the ball, Eli Manning threw for four TD passes. It's the most touchdown passes against the Eagles at home since a guy named Montana threw five back in a game at the Vet in 1989. Add that to the four TD tosses Matt Ryan threw last week and we are finding out there are ways to throw TD passes without challenging the Eagles vaunted triumvirate of cornerbacks. You have to be able to cover tight ends and backs coming out of the backfield too. Speaking of those corners, they are having a tough time finding enough time for Dominic Rodgers-Cromartie. Can't make plays standing on the sidelines. Nnamdhi Asumugha had a tough game yesterday, unable to help stop Victor Cruz' two touchdown catches. At least we can end the debate as to who is the best corner in the football. Receivers are still unable to get off Revis island while Nnamdhi is still finding his way in the Eagle secondary scheme. For 12 million dollars per year, maybe the Birds should think about putting him out there on the island more often. Casey Matthews struggled mightily in the middle for the Birds in the first two weeks. He struggled even more at the weak side spot on Sunday. The linebacker realignment was a necessity. Now they need to do more. The rookie fourth round pick needs to learn off the job, off the field.
Question Reid and his staff if you so desire. You should. They had a lousy game on Sunday. Let the refs know you think Michael Vick should be officiated like all the rest of the QBs in the league. It may do some good. But don't give some of the Eagle players an unwarranted pass. Several Birds are not living up to expectations or their paychecks.
We knew the Phillies were going to win a game again this year after taking a 0 for 8 in contests going into Sunday. They finally did, beating the Mets 9-4. The panic is abated for at least one day!! After accomplishing every thing they could as far as putting themselves in the best position for the post-season, the Phillies mentally threw it into cruise control and before you knew it they had dropped eight straight. Time to turn the faucet back on. Hopefully it will be as easy as it was to turn it off. While full-fledged panic is an over reaction, concern is certainly called for. Can Rollins, Victorino and Utley get out of the funks they have been in the last few weeks? Will the nagging injuries Ryan Howard and Hunter Pence have suffered have an adverse effect on their playoff play? The star starting staff demands blind faith but can the same be said about the bullpen? I think I could get a hit against Antonio Bastardo these days. Brad Lidge and Michael Stutes are far from sure things or lights out these days. Even Ryan Madson hasn't been in a save situation since September 15th! These are legitimate questions, viable concerns. Your confidence has right to be shaken, just not gone!
My sense is that the Phillies are still the team to beat, with home field advantage and the best starting pitching, by far, entering the post season. The last series against the Braves who are playing for their playoff lives should be a nice prep for the upcoming post-season weekend. Do not give up the ship Phillie fans. The seas have gotten unnecessarily choppy the last week but the vessel is far from sunk. We knew all year this team was built for October and it is soon to arrive. Now if Ian Kennedy out-pitches Doc Halladay next Saturday feel free to move to Defcon 5 panic mode.
Sports bits and pieces...If the Cowboys beat the Skins tonight, the Eagles will be in sole possession of last place in the NFC east. Bet you didn't see that one coming...You can have the undefeated Lions and Bills at this time, I'll stick with my pre-season choices of the Packers and Chargers to be Super Bowl bound come February.. We have seen too many Wild Card teams advance to and even win the World Series in the last decade or so to discount their chances. But usually those teams are playing well to claw their way into the playoffs. Out of the teams left fighting for those spots (Braves, Cards, Red Sox, Rays) only St. Louis is finishing strong and if they make it, they will face the Phillies in the first round. Uh-oh!!... Nothing endears players to the Philly faithful as being unfairly treated on the road by stupid fans of other teams. But I guarantee Wayne Simmonds would have chosen a different path to becoming a Flyer fav...Nice to see the hoop fans come out in droves to the Palestra to watch the NBA's traveling all star lockout show. Imagine how pumped up they would have been had the Birds not laid the egg they had at the Linc earlier in the day!!!
After falling behind 14-0 early, the Eagles fought, scratched and clawed their way to a 16-14 lead in the fourth quarter. But like last week in Atlanta the Eagles were blanked in the final stanza while they allowed 15 points. That makes it 29-0 in the last two fourth quarters. Championship teams close deals. Eagles fans are left closing their eyes and crossing their fingers. It's not working right now. What caused this Eagle defeat? Answer- everybody!
The early finger pointing seems to be at Andy Reid and his coaching staff and the men who wear the striped shirts on Sundays. While the coaches and refs deserve the scrutiny, lets not leave out a very culpable group, the Eagles’ players.
To say the Eagles struggled in short down situations Sunday would be an understatement. Both at the goal line and a key 4th down in the 4th quarter. The play calling left plenty to be desired, but isn't the offensive line supposed to be able to get a surge to move the pile one yard? We all know Howard Mudd likes the smaller, quicker offensive lineman. Apparently the group he has assembled strong suit is not pushing the opponent backwards at the point of attack. This could be a problem all year. When asked about this and all the other legitimate issues about the loss, Andy Reid decided less is more when it came to answering. Yes or no answers only please!
Michael Vick and his broken hand was much more talkative after the game. Vick called out the refs big time, while trying to not call out the refs. He surmised the reason that he has not been able to finish the last two games is because he his taking illegal hits in the pocket after he has released the ball. While he has a point, that he has always been officiated differently because of how he plays the game, how about his offensive line holding their blocks a second longer and keeping their QB a little bit more clean.
On the defensive side of the ball, Eli Manning threw for four TD passes. It's the most touchdown passes against the Eagles at home since a guy named Montana threw five back in a game at the Vet in 1989. Add that to the four TD tosses Matt Ryan threw last week and we are finding out there are ways to throw TD passes without challenging the Eagles vaunted triumvirate of cornerbacks. You have to be able to cover tight ends and backs coming out of the backfield too. Speaking of those corners, they are having a tough time finding enough time for Dominic Rodgers-Cromartie. Can't make plays standing on the sidelines. Nnamdhi Asumugha had a tough game yesterday, unable to help stop Victor Cruz' two touchdown catches. At least we can end the debate as to who is the best corner in the football. Receivers are still unable to get off Revis island while Nnamdhi is still finding his way in the Eagle secondary scheme. For 12 million dollars per year, maybe the Birds should think about putting him out there on the island more often. Casey Matthews struggled mightily in the middle for the Birds in the first two weeks. He struggled even more at the weak side spot on Sunday. The linebacker realignment was a necessity. Now they need to do more. The rookie fourth round pick needs to learn off the job, off the field.
Question Reid and his staff if you so desire. You should. They had a lousy game on Sunday. Let the refs know you think Michael Vick should be officiated like all the rest of the QBs in the league. It may do some good. But don't give some of the Eagle players an unwarranted pass. Several Birds are not living up to expectations or their paychecks.
We knew the Phillies were going to win a game again this year after taking a 0 for 8 in contests going into Sunday. They finally did, beating the Mets 9-4. The panic is abated for at least one day!! After accomplishing every thing they could as far as putting themselves in the best position for the post-season, the Phillies mentally threw it into cruise control and before you knew it they had dropped eight straight. Time to turn the faucet back on. Hopefully it will be as easy as it was to turn it off. While full-fledged panic is an over reaction, concern is certainly called for. Can Rollins, Victorino and Utley get out of the funks they have been in the last few weeks? Will the nagging injuries Ryan Howard and Hunter Pence have suffered have an adverse effect on their playoff play? The star starting staff demands blind faith but can the same be said about the bullpen? I think I could get a hit against Antonio Bastardo these days. Brad Lidge and Michael Stutes are far from sure things or lights out these days. Even Ryan Madson hasn't been in a save situation since September 15th! These are legitimate questions, viable concerns. Your confidence has right to be shaken, just not gone!
My sense is that the Phillies are still the team to beat, with home field advantage and the best starting pitching, by far, entering the post season. The last series against the Braves who are playing for their playoff lives should be a nice prep for the upcoming post-season weekend. Do not give up the ship Phillie fans. The seas have gotten unnecessarily choppy the last week but the vessel is far from sunk. We knew all year this team was built for October and it is soon to arrive. Now if Ian Kennedy out-pitches Doc Halladay next Saturday feel free to move to Defcon 5 panic mode.
Sports bits and pieces...If the Cowboys beat the Skins tonight, the Eagles will be in sole possession of last place in the NFC east. Bet you didn't see that one coming...You can have the undefeated Lions and Bills at this time, I'll stick with my pre-season choices of the Packers and Chargers to be Super Bowl bound come February.. We have seen too many Wild Card teams advance to and even win the World Series in the last decade or so to discount their chances. But usually those teams are playing well to claw their way into the playoffs. Out of the teams left fighting for those spots (Braves, Cards, Red Sox, Rays) only St. Louis is finishing strong and if they make it, they will face the Phillies in the first round. Uh-oh!!... Nothing endears players to the Philly faithful as being unfairly treated on the road by stupid fans of other teams. But I guarantee Wayne Simmonds would have chosen a different path to becoming a Flyer fav...Nice to see the hoop fans come out in droves to the Palestra to watch the NBA's traveling all star lockout show. Imagine how pumped up they would have been had the Birds not laid the egg they had at the Linc earlier in the day!!!