Eagles Examiner, Week 7: You’re Invited to a Tent-Folding Party
Tough to wipe off the stink: A 19-16 loss; a 2-4 record. Last place in the division. Another sign that something is amiss at the core of the 2007 Eagles. The Birds appeared to be in control of this game, only to get trampled in the final two minutes by a Chicago Bears offense that had seemed even more punchless than their own. Ironically, the defense, which has been one of the lone bright spots for the Eagles this year, let the Bears roll 97 yards into the end zone for the final, deflating touchdown. It’s tough to say that the season’s officially over, since this team still seems to have an odd burst of consistency every now and again. Yesterday’s loss and last week’s flat performance against the Jets make that 56-point explosion in the Detroit game even more confounding. If the Eagles are a good team playing terribly, then who’s responsible? Yes, I’m still not convinced they completely stink. However, sadly, that seems to be the only thing left to be determined.
The two faces of Donovan: Something fluttered inside when Donovan seemed to gallop gimp-free over to the sidelines and hop over the first-down marker. There he is, I thought, there’s our quarterback. After some missed open receivers, a few high throws and some fired into the dirt, the thought remained. McNabb didn’t play horribly, but he still seems to be managing an offense built to just move the ball down field, not actually put it in the end zone. The Eagles are playing offensive bocce ball, really. How long before it’s time to start moving on from this era of glorious unfulfilled expectations? Some say now.
Trent Cole, sack machine: Trent Cole has seven sacks this season. Seven. He’s quietly becoming one of the best defensive ends in football and one of the most consistent guys on the team. Does anybody even know what he looks like without his helmet on? It’s a shame that, with the way the rest of the team is playing and its putrid record, he seems destined to have a Pro Bowl season that’ll be woefully forgotten. And Omar Gaither’s transition from bubbling understudy to sturdy anchor is progressing nicely. But as well — or, better, encouragingly — as the Eagles D has played so far this year, yesterday’s loss still proves they’re not ready to win games all by themselves yet.
Drowning: Are we still supposed to believe Andy Reid is 100 percent with this team? That the micromanaging, sure-of-himself leader, whose central focus in life is this team and his players, still exists under that bushy red mustache? Bullshit. Granted, nothing ever comes out of those press conferences, but that spark in the eyes isn’t there anymore. The games that Andy Reid has lost this year have far outnumber the ones he’s won. At what point, honestly, is it right to start asking questions about life without him? Soon. Very soon. Of course, if he beats Dallas in two weeks that’ll be a conversation for another day.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:59 am
What seems to be missing in all of this is the lack of touches by Westbrook in the second half. On top of that, Westbrook barely touches the ball in the redzone, where the Eagles need him most. Andy Reid and Morning-sickness-wheg are too hard-headed to realize that sometimes the passing game isn’t it today. Westbrook is our offense but we take him out of the picture when we need him the most.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:01 am
To say that the Eagles had a fairly decent run these last few years would be an understatement.
There are no dynasties in the NFL, as there are in basketball, baseball and hockey. The salary cap takes care of that. But even beyond that, the difference between a great team and a losing team is so infinitesimally small that a player or two who’ve lost a step can really affect a whole unit.
At this point, I think it’s time for Andy Reid and Co. to move on. He’s had many years to prove his philosophy of ‘pass first, run later’ and he’s stuck to it through all the NFC championship and Super Bowl losses. He’s done well in the draft, but there have also been some awful missteps.
Tangentially: When Tom Brady asks for an upgrade at quarterback, he gets Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker and Randy Moss. When McNabb asks for an upgrade, he gets Kevin Curtis. Something is amiss, there.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:22 am
Disagree with PSV on ‘no dynasties in the NFL’. What are the Patriots? If the Colts can win one or two more they may also be considered dynastic.
Totally agree with PSV on the tangent. If this is a pass first offense how about some first team receivers? Give McNabb the trio Brady has and things could be a lot different. (Although, after the Owens debacle I can see the Birds being gun shy about someone like Moss.)