Eagles Examiner, Week 14: What Is and What Should Never Be
The Eagles are so bad, Bill Conlin’s turning into Dennis Miller: “Eagles president Joe Banner has played the cap the way Heifitz played a Stradivarius.” That’s one quote from the heady Bill Conlin column announcing the death of a the Andy Reid Dynasty. Conlin, usually strapped to the Phillies beat, is summoned to educate Philadelphia’s collective fanbase on all that was lost yesterday, and somehow manages to squash a Hapsburg Dynasty reference in his column for good measure. History lessons aside, the Eagles’ 16-13 loss at home yesterday against a punchless Giants team destined for first-round playoff elimination was horrendous. Yet who didn’t see it coming? Was there ever a doubt that the two-minute offense run by McNabb would result in an incomplete 4th-down four-yard pass play in the middle of the field when they needed six yards? The only thing surprising was how David Akers managed to kick the ball 60 yards, since this season his once powerful, automatic leg appeared to be no longer useful beyond 45 yards. The doink off the right upright just gave this season — and the end of the dynasty — a fitting soundtrack.
Ciara’s take: Death of a dynasty? No. The Eagles are not dead. I refuse to believe that Eli Manning can steer the ship for the Giants for the next five years, and I know that there is no way that the Cowboys can hold this out. This hasn’t been our year, period. Even through all of this, I stand behind Donovan as our starting quarterback. Why? Because six of our eight losses this year are not his fault. Challenge that if you want.
Westbrook can’t save everyone: Brian Westbrook provided his usual Pro Bowl-caliber output yesterday, but once again it isn’t enough to save the season. This team has too may holes in it talent-wise, coaching-wise and spirit-wise for him to fill. Once again, another week of unusual play-calling that seems to drag down momentum like a rusty anchor. When this offense works, it’s seemingly unstoppable. When it doesn’t, it’s boring, listless and uncompetitive. But has it worked effectively for a stretch of time since Jeff Garcia? Not at all.
Ciara’s take: People always bring up talent. Name any of the receivers from our three NFC championship-game teams? You can’t. We’ve done pretty well with mediocre, no-name receivers. Westbrook isn’t the only answer to our problems, as everyone believes. Can we please not look into the future and figure out how to fix now.
Jim Johnson’s tinkering is noteworthy: The defense has improved every week. The young linebackers are getting better each series, plus they can drop back in coverage, and there’s finally push in the front four. And Trent Cole looks like the second coming of Dwight Freeney. There’s a legitimate foundation there. And, finally, they’re starting to get some turnovers. The chances of a victory in the last three games depend heavily on how this unit performs. There. There’s an injection of positivism into this lost season.
Ciara’s take: There was a bit of concern with great uncle Jimmy in the start of the season. Omar Gaither and Trent Cole are the MVPs of the season. When Jeremiah Trotter was released, everyone believed this D was about to hit the dark side. But this team is turning it around. My hate for one person is well noted here, so he shall remain nameless.
Dallas doth sucketh: Just smash Tony Romo. Do something. Make these guys limp into the playoffs because of this game. Don’t give them a first-round bye. Find some semblance of pride and destroy them, even if they’re playing third-stringers by the second quarter. The only thing left to play for is the dashed dreams of of a chronically wounded city.
Ciara’s take: Dallas should have lost yesterday, but as they always do, they find a way to win. The Eagles like to motivate themselves by being the underdog, and this is the personal opportunity to do so. There is a passionate, boiling hate for those imbeciles in Dallas, especially Jerry Jones, who looks like he coughs up dust.
December 10th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
I agree with Ciara on the wide receivers front - since 2007, only two teams with ‘high powered offenses’ have won the Super Bowl.
This offense is no better nor worse than the offenses that went to those NFC championship games (excluding the ‘04 team).The defense, while not spectacular, isn’t horrendously bad either.
As for Akers - I blame Reid’s ineptitude with special teams as a whole. I have a feeling Akers’ inability to kick has a lot more to do with Sav Rocca than Akers himself. The last two seasons Akers has had two different holders, whereas prior he had one go to guy.
Something has to be said about playcalling. Not on the defensive end, as they are clearly progressing every week and did some decent work on the Patriots. No, as always, it’s on offense. Maybe Reid should take a page out of Childress’ new playbook and just run the damned ball. When Childress figured out he had this neat weapon called Adrian Peterson he let him loose, and they’ve been doing well for themselves since.