The Eagles Examiner, Week 1: Putting the “Special” in Special Teams
Each week during the Philadelphia Eagles season, the Daily Examiner will take a comprehensive look at what the local and national football geniuses are saying about our beloved/frustrating/heartbreaking team.
A little gimpy, a little inaccurate, welcome back, 5: Donovan McNabb’s return was neither incredibly heroic nor memorable, but the fact that he played at what appeared to be at 90 percent capacity did eliminate some fears about his production potential. The poise seemed to be there (sometimes), but, of course, so did the inaccuracy that’s dogged him his whole career. Perhaps the swagger that glowed around him in the early part of last season, then vanished last November, is actually gone forever. A couple of more weeks of inconsistent performances, then the Kevin Kolb draft pick may begin to make more sense. But 16 weeks from now, this performance could be vanquished from memory if there’s a post-season at the end of it. One that, hopefully, doesn’t involve on-field projectile vomiting again.
The disintegration of Brian Westbrook off to rousing start: The Birds’ only sure-fire offensive weapon did his part once again — running, receiving, decoy-ing — but it’s apparent that if other teams watch film of this game and take Westbrook out of the scheme, well, the Eagles are very, very ordinary. Reggie Brown did his best Na Brown impersonation yesterday, catching one ball and doing his part to ensure that Terrell Owens won’t be forgotten. But Jason Avant earned at least half of his #81 with a touchdown and four receptions for 53 yards and celebrated his production by kicking a Packers special teamer. Kevin Curtis is everything he was in the St. Louis Rams offense — a speedy, white receiver — only this time, he’s not in the Rams offense.
Your fence still requires a bigger ‘D’: Jevon Kearse continues his consistency of being remarkably average throughout 95 percent of the game, making one big play, then limping off the field soon after. If Kearse wasn’t such a friendly, charismatic guy, he’d have to be considered one of the worst acquisitions in Eagles history. Kearse has been living off of his rookie season for a few years now, and it’s apparent that he’s nowhere near — nor will ever be — the dominating pass-rushing freak that his expensive contract expects him to be. Fine, he got a sack and a fumble. Continue to believe.
Yes, there were some bright spots. Mike Patterson showed some flashes of Jerome Brown-dom, but stopping the Packers’ woeful, nonexistent running game shouldn’t garner him Pro Bowl consideration just yet. Sean Considine’s protein shakes appear to have served him well, but Lito Sheppard’s did not. Did the Eagles even have any linebackers on the field yesterday? Did they really need them?
So, that’s what it means to muff dive: That wasn’t a surprise at all. Yesterday’s special teams disaster area harkened back to those inglorious years of Danny Smith’s gum-chomping incompetence. It’s curious to see what kind of sound decision-making process the coaches employed when awarding Greg Lewis the punt return job. The next person who gets it should be trained to catch a ball using live kittens or wailing babies in order to ensure their hands are solid. Or, actually, just bring somebody who knows how to wave for a fair catch, then run as far away from the ball as possible. This should probably not be practiced with babies or kittens. Somewhere, Reno Mahe and Jeremy Bloom are smiling.
Whither pickle juice?: Andy Reid’s becoming more predictable as the seasons go on. Do you think Green Bay didn’t have their trick-play radar on the whole first series the Eagles had the ball? Plus, once again there were those baffling play-calls that seemed to just do nothing but give the Packers defense momentum. Yes, Correll Buckhalter should really be running the ball on third down. Perhaps Marty Morhninweg should come dressed in his Rich Kotite costume next week. The chahhts are not your friend, Marty. Neither is the wind.
PHOTO: Metro
September 10th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
I used to hate Reno Mahe. My friends and I used to bemoan the fact that all he could do was catch the ball and fall down.
I miss him terribly.