Marty Mornhinweg conceded Monday that the coaching staff, after evaluating the first three games, recognized that they needed to adjust their offensive approach to try and get Michael Vick into a greater comfort zone. Some of it was as simplistic as running the ball more and dialing up shorter passes. And some of it is more complex.
“There’s a lot of things that go into that, certainly,” said Mornhinweg. “There’s all different ways to do it. And you have to design it against the particular defensive structure and talent that you’re playing against as well.”
The design was effective against New York, and undoubtedly helped Vick turn in an efficient, turnover-free performance in the 19-17 win. There is more to it than that, though.
Nnamdi Asomugha now has 20 games under his belt with the Eagles, and the jury is still very much out in the court of public opinion.
Andy Reid on Monday was asked to assess his big-money cornerback following a tight win over the Giants.
Sunday night’s Eagles-Giants tilt pulled in the highest overnight rating for a Week 4 NFL primetime game in 16 years, according to an NBC Sports press release.
The Eagles’ 19-17 win over New York registered a 15.6 overnight rating and a 25 share. That is the best in Week 4 since September of 1996, when the Colts and Dolphins fetched a 19.1 rating on ABC.
Sunday night’s rating were 23 percent higher than last year’s Week 4 matchup between the Jets and Ravens.
These teams also met in Week 4 of the 2007 season on Sunday Night Football. That game drew a 10.8 rating and 17 share, down 44% from Sunday night’s game.
Here’s how the snaps were distributed Sunday night against the Giants.
When Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie came up with the interception in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, he (against better judgment) declined to take a knee and instead looped to his left and up the sidelines before being forced out at the nine-yard line. The Pro-Bowl corner then made his way through the sea of leaping green and settled in near midfield.
All the while, Juan Castillo was tracking him.
Michael Vick walked off the field gingerly following the Eagles’ 19-17 win over the Giants Sunday night.
“Something happened with my knee on the last drive,” said Vick. “I’m all right though. I’ll be ready for next week. Hopefully.”
While that is enough to bring out some concern, it is heartening to Eagles fans that Vick was not subjected to the inordinate amount of hits that he had endured over the first three games. The Giants managed just three quarterback hits on the night and finished with two sacks. In contrast, the Cardinals hit Vick 13 times in the pocket and the Browns 11 times. It is no coincidence that Marty Mornhinweg dialed up over 100 pass plays between those two games.
Against New York, however, the Eagles ran it 36 times and threw it 30.
Here are some instant observations from the Eagles 19-17 win over the Giants Sunday night:
Nnamdi Asomugha exited in the first half of the Eagles-Giants game with an eye injury.
Trainers were working on the cornerback on the sideline for a couple series in the second quarter and appeared to be giving him eye drops. He eventually made his way into the locker room with about six minutes remaining in the opening half. He was replaced by Brandon Hughes.
The press box announcer said that Asomugha went to the hospital for further evaluation. He later corrected himself and announced that Asomugha would return.
Here are the Eagles inactives for Sunday night’s game against the Giants: Riley Cooper, Dion Lewis, Colt Anderson, Akeem Jordan, King Dunlap, Nate Menkin and Vinny Curry.
Demetress Bell gets the start at left tackle one again with Dunlap (hamstring) sidelined for the second straight week. Jamar Chaney will start for Jordan at weakside linebacker.
Some numbers to ponder as you kill time before kickoff:
Vick continues to struggle against defensive back blitzes, and the league is wise to it. The Eagles’ signal-caller has seen the most defensive back blitzes in the league (tied with Ben Roethlisberger) through three games, according to ESPN Next Level Stats. He is 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) in those situations, which is the worst rate in the NFL.
It’s not surprising, then, that the Cardinals decided to send safety Kerry Rhodes off the edge on one of the most critical plays of the game last Sunday.
During the first Eagles-Giants meeting last season, Chris Canty delivered the blow that knocked Michael Vick out of the game.
After a play-action fake, Vick delivered a beautiful pass to Jeremy Maclin for 23 yards, but Canty nailed him, and the quarterback suffered a bruised right hand. Mike Kafka came in and threw a couple interceptions. The Eagles were outscored, 15-0, in the fourth quarter and were on the losing end of a 29-16 decision.
Tonight will be the first time Vick faces the Giants since that Week 3 matchup in 2011 (he was sidelined for the second meeting). And Jason Pierre-Paul indicates that the Giants are looking to knock him out of the game once again.
Join us for a live chat as the Eagles take on the Giants Sunday night. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m.
Is anyone picking the Eagles to beat the Giants? Here’s a roundup of what the national media are saying.
On Friday, the Giants listed wide receiver Hakeem Nicks as doubtful. Today, they’ve downgraded him to out. Nicks will not travel with the team to Philadelphia.
Nicks is probably the best receiver in the division, so it goes without saying that this is a big break for the Eagles. Taking his place will be Ramses Barden, the 6-foot-6 target who caught nine balls on 10 targets for 138 yards last week against the Panthers.
