** Official 2014 Philadelphia Eagles Thread ** (2 Viewers)

[ShaHBucks]

You can only wonder how much of last years production was the O-Line directly responsible for. I don't see 300+ pound men outrunning LeSean McCoy 20+ yards down field just to finish off a 'another' block. Foles doesn't have so long to throw the ball, on average, where you'd hear "he holds the ball too long" every week. The big plays don't have time to develop. Foles has to hurry, which he has to his credit, but that has just lead to more missed plays. I prefer the guy who 'holds the ball too long' tbh. I'd give him C for the year so far. He's compensating for a lot of issues with the offense(like R. Cooper and Celek looking finished). I haven't see him do anything that isn't correctable.

For those who don't think Foles is the franchise QB, what exactly is your preferred alternative? Kelly gets 'his guy' in the draft again? My guess is he will get paid a lot of money. The media will be sick about it like they were for guys like Dalton or Smith, but he will get paid.

I think Foles kills the migits this week

 

[Deamon]

I'm a little concerned/nervous about this game. Ok, a lot. But this is one of those games we could just show up and crush it and instantly we all have faith back in this team. Or we could lose and the wheels will have fallen off. We need the bye desperately to heal up, and boy would 5-1 be unbelievable.

24-20 Eagles.

 

[Mighty Mice]

Pumped for NYG week. Always one of the best weekends of the year.

The Giants O is rolling, Eli getting rid of the ball quickly, but the Iggles catch a break with the Jennings injury. Hopefully it make the NYG offense more one-dimensional.

Need the offense to score points, IMO this could be high scoring. Love to keep making big plays on Special Teams and get the offense in a rhythm.

5-1 and 1st in the East would be a great way to hit the bye week.

 

[Bernman2]

I was a big Foles supporter coming into this year but I'm not sure if I'm sold on him anymore as the franchise QB. I don't want Sanchez in there or anything like that but I'm glad the front office didn't extend him yet. We'll see how he finishes this season, but I don't like what I see this year:

- arm fairly weak

- slow decision making

- misses open guys (either they are open and he doesn't throw it or his throw is off the mark)]

- bad mobility

Of course the OL being in shambles and the running game being putrid don't help, but he doesn't look very good this year. I'm rooting for him, but my confidence is waning.

I hear you, but IMO this entire offense, and Foles ability to be productive in it, comes down to the running game. Kelly's offense is a run-heavy offense, obviously, and last year with the line healthy all 16 games the Eagles ran it more than anyone, and with incredible success. This year, it hasn't been as effective and it's changed the playcalling and how defenses play the Eagles. Foles has been inaccurate. He's also been tough and clutch IMO. If the running game gets fixed with the return of Kelce et al, I think we see a 2013-esque Foles coming down the stretch.

Here's a little data to support my hypothesis:

With RT Lane Johnson back in the lineup, Philadelphia tied a season high with 145 rushing yards. Effect on Foles/the passing game?

Nick Foles was 9-of-12 for 111 yards and a touchdown on play-action passes v. STL.

He's a better QB when we run b/c of a) playcalling opens up more with better down and distance and b) Defenses reaction to the run game provides better opportunities.

Foles has been a B- this year, IMO. He definitely has shortcomings, but I think a healthier offense masks them well as accentuates what he CAN do well. I have no doubt he's a QB we can win with. The special teams are a huge asset, and the O-linemen will return. This team hasn't 'clicked' yet but still getting wins. At some point they are going to get hot.

Beat the NYG at home and get to the bye at 5-1. I'll take it, and optimistic about possibly peaking at the right time.

Good points and you are focusing on the key problems we have to fix (hopefully by this weekend!). The Eagles performance all hinges on what they can do to make up for the issues on the offensive line. Foles HAS GOT TO make defenses pay for the way they're leaving large gaps in the zones to focus on 'stuffing the box.' Right now, he is not doing that. He is not making good reads on the run plays where he has the option to throw. A LOT of those have receivers wide open and right now, Foles is not seeing them.

Drawing from an article posted elsewhere (credit: Lance Zierlein), he hit the nail right on the head:

"The biggest issue of all with Foles is the one that everyone expected to be an issue last year - he won't pull the ball and run it when he should on zone read plays. Teams are playing man to man outside on the Eagles WRs because there is no DeSean Jackson to terrorize the safeties anymore. With the extra safety in the box and with a below average offensive line in front of him currently, there is very little room for McCoy to run.

Defenders on the perimeter are crashing down hard on the backside paying very little attention to Foles. At some point, if the Eagles want to get their offense back on track, Foles is going to have to start making defenses pay by keeping the ball and gaining chunks of yards in the massive space that is sometimes available to him on zone reads. The other thing he'll have to do is make secondaries respect his ability to hit them for big plays down the field."

(me again, here) I think that this is huge not only in terms of how GO the Eagles this year, but also on whether the team continues to see NickFo as the future for the Eagles. That ugly run last week, hesitant when he should have been decisive, and then not even pretending to know how to slide, needs to be fixed. I doubt at this point that Nick has even practiced running from the pocket and/or sliding.

ALSO - I wanted to ask one question here (so I'm not tempted to start another post): Does anyone know if either Sproles or McCoy have a decent are, at least in the 5-20 yard passing range? If so, why don't we have some designed 'fake runs' where say McCoy does his dancing around and then rifles the ball to a Maclin on the near sideline and use that to open up the field? I do realize both are short, and would have to contend with taller defenders, but they know their own limitations as well.

 

[netnalp]

@TomRock_Newsday: Overall tone from Giants today: Eagles don't do anything special besides take advantage of other teams' gaffes. More vultures than Eagles.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

@TomRock_Newsday: Overall tone from Giants today: Eagles don't do anything special besides take advantage of other teams' gaffes. More vultures than Eagles.

All we do is take advantage of other teams mistakes....because teams don't make those?

 

[qimqam]

Not looking good for the Eagles this weekend ... Giants D is pretty nasty and getting stronger week to week.

Think Foles is going to get killed by this pass rush and the corners are playing great.

For that reason ...i'm out. Starting Dalton

 

[Mighty Mice]

#BlackSunday

"This is horrible!" Manning says, crying. "I can't see a thing! Somebody please, fix my underwear! I'm so scared! Every single time with these Eagles! Get me out of Philadelphia!"

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/11676472/philadelphia-eagles-post-video-eli-manning-new-york-giants-getting-scared-eagles-defenders

Lots of trash talk going both ways this week. Almost like these guys don't like each other! "They're vultures, not Eagles. They should be 0-4" comments were funny too.

Broad Street v Wall Street. White collar v No collar.

God I love NYG week.

Go EAGLES!

 

[renesauz]

So bummed right now as I'm going to be stuck at work on Sunday night. Praying for a couple of easy patients that have the game on in their rooms!

 

[qimqam]

#BlackSunday

"This is horrible!" Manning says, crying. "I can't see a thing! Somebody please, fix my underwear! I'm so scared! Every single time with these Eagles! Get me out of Philadelphia!"

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/11676472/philadelphia-eagles-post-video-eli-manning-new-york-giants-getting-scared-eagles-defenders

Lots of trash talk going both ways this week. Almost like these guys don't like each other! "They're vultures, not Eagles. They should be 0-4" comments were funny too.

Broad Street v Wall Street. White collar v No collar.

God I love NYG week.

Go EAGLES!

That was pretty lame

 

[Mighty Mice]

My daughter loved it. Target audience of 9?

Just nice to hear/see the smack all week, back and forth. Big game.

 

[Deamon]

Ya I can't believe how ESPN ran that story as if the Eagles organization went out of their way to make fun of Eli. Most people don't seem to know that they make those jestful cartoons weekly and are calling us classless for it. Hopefully doesn't add too much fuel to The Giants too.

 

[Deamon]

Pretty quiet in here today... lots of nerves

 

[unckeyherb]

Yes

 

[Mighty Mice]

Great performance by Billy Davis and the defense tonight. Last Eagles shutout was '96.

5-1, first place, and a well-earned bye week.

Only real negative might be the Sproles injury. Fingers crossed.

 

[Insein]

We might be a good team. Exhale Philly. We're no longer 4-1.

 

[Billy Bats]

Destruction tonight and a complete game!! Nice work fellas, enjoy your bye week.

Our secondary isn't that good, a testament to the pass rush, bad Giants Oline, Eli scared or combo of all three?

Impressive any way you look at it.

 

[Wooderson]

Best complete game they've played in a long while

Great game.

 

[Billy Bats]

Oh and FREEEEEEE COFFEEEEEEE!

 

[belljr]

Oh and FREEEEEEE COFFEEEEEEE!

keep forgetting to download that app....just did

 

[Sludge]

Fantastic game all around and going into the bye at 5-1 is huge;especially with the 'Boys upset of Seattle today. The only downside was the injury to Sproles. Hope it isn't anything serious.

The best past is (for me anyway) I'm with the family on vacation down in Universal Orlando and I wore my Iggles' shirt while walking around the park today and took a lot of heat from the New Yawkers. I went into a sports bar to watch the game and was greeted with a typical Bronx cheer. Funny, they quieted up a lot by the end of the 1st half. And speaking of Orlando - last year I was snowed in the airport here and watched the Birds/Lions' game and now today I saw the complete destruction of the Giants down here as well. I'm sensing a trend so while it may be tough, but if anybody wants to fund trips for me to fly down here for the rest of the season I'll man up and do it. Sometimes you have to take one for the team.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

The atmosphere in that stadium was just insane tonight!! I thought it was loud when Washington came in but tonight was pretty insane. The defense was F'ing amazing! When I got to the game you could just see that the players were just pissed, especially the defensive players. There was no joking around or anything, they were all business.

I thought the OL did very good and I especially liked the play calling early on in the game on offense. I like seeing the TE's with Foles under center and I thought Kelly did a good job of mixing up playcalls out of similar formations.

My only gripe would be Foles with the turnovers. He really has to cut them down going forward. If he moves out of the pocket he needs to just throw it away every time.

Awesome. Way to head into the bye. 5-1 and 1 yard away from being 6-0.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

And I know it's only 6 games but our special teams has been the best I have ever seen since I've been watching them.

 

[belljr]

Does the new enclosure help with the sound?

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Does the new enclosure help with the sound?

I'm not sure. I have never been on the field before this season but it gets insanely loud down there. I have to yell just to talk to the guy right next to me.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

@BStrohEagles: The Eagles have allowed just two sacks in the last five games. That's their best five-game stretch since sacks became official in 1982.

@BStrohEagles: 13 different players have scored a touchdown for the Eagles this season, which is the highest total in the NFL.

@AlbertBreer: Chip Kelly is now 15-7 as an NFL head coach. Took over a 4-12 team. So much for the idea that his program wouldn't work in the pros ...

@derek_boyko: #Eagles sack differential in the last three games: +14 (16-2)

@DanGrazianoESPN: Per ESPN Stats&Info: Eli Manning was pressured on 48 pct of dropbacks Sunday, tied for second-most for any QB in a game this yr.

@MattLombardo975: LeSean McCoy now fourth in the league in rushing behind Murray, Foster and Bell thanks to a season high 149-yard night. #Eagles #NFL #Giants

@RVacchianoNYDN: Last time the Eagles shut out their opponent? Dec. 1, 1996 vs. the Giants in Philadelphia (24-0).

@RVacchianoNYDN: Giants offensive line had allowed 7 sacks all season before tonight. Then they gave up 8 to the Eagles.

 

[Billy Bats]

Eskin: Hearing @Eagles RB Darrin Sproles probably out 2-3 weeks with MCL sprain.

11:55am - 13 Oct 14

 

[fred_1_15301]

Eskin: Hearing @Eagles RB Darrin Sproles probably out 2-3 weeks with MCL sprain.

11:55am - 13 Oct 14

With the bye coming up, that's pretty good news.

 

[GoBirds]

Eskin: Hearing @Eagles RB Darrin Sproles probably out 2-3 weeks with MCL sprain.

11:55am - 13 Oct 14

With the bye coming up, that's pretty good news.

Definitely could have been worse.

 

[Deamon]

Having Sproles vs Arizona would have been nice. Couple winnable but not easy games on the road coming out of the bye. I hope they all just rest up and get healthy, and we should see an Aerial attack vs that pass D in Arizona. It's fun watching this team on a fast turf field too.

 

[Billy Bats]

http://mobile.philly.com/blogs/?wss=/philly/blogs/inq-eagles/&id=279023281

There is still a tear in his MCL, let's hope they're correct in their timetable. Afterall, Kendricks injury wasn't serious.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

I Chip

 

[Kwai Chang Caine]

I don't mean to put the ol' cart before the horse but I. Can. Not. Wait! For thanksgiving! Think I'm hosting too. Dinner at 1 then full attention on Birds vs. Cowgirls!

 

[Insein]

I don't mean to put the ol' cart before the horse but I. Can. Not. Wait! For thanksgiving! Think I'm hosting too. Dinner at 1 then full attention on Birds vs. Cowgirls!

I still remember 89 at my Aunt's house. Man that was a great day. Turkey and whoopin on the cowboys.

 

[Amused to Death]

The day after....

 

[dhockster]

I don't mean to put the ol' cart before the horse but I. Can. Not. Wait! For thanksgiving! Think I'm hosting too. Dinner at 1 then full attention on Birds vs. Cowgirls!

I still remember 89 at my Aunt's house. Man that was a great day. Turkey and whoopin on the cowboys.

I can't believe it has been 25 years since we played the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. '89 was the 1-15 Cowboys. This years game looks to be a bit more competitive.

 

[otello]

Shady just passed Steve van buren on the eagles all time rushing list. Westbrook is next, then 31.

 

[Billy Bats]

https://imgflip.com/i/d2m5k

 

[CentralPA]

https://imgflip.com/i/d2m5k

Not in our house!

 

[Insein]

The best thing I've seen since Chip got here is the sense of pride in our team and the reestablishment of a homefield advantage. I haven't been down to the link with the new additions but it does sound louder than ever. Our defense has been very opportunistic which feeds off of the crowd. I love that we're taking care of business at home. That had been lacking for a few years.

 

[dhockster]

The best thing I've seen since Chip got here is the sense of pride in our team and the reestablishment of a homefield advantage. I haven't been down to the link with the new additions but it does sound louder than ever. Our defense has been very opportunistic which feeds off of the crowd. I love that we're taking care of business at home. That had been lacking for a few years.

As it appears to be shaping up to be as a Cowboy/Eagle race for the NFC East, Home field appears to be a definite advantage for the Eagles. Not so much for the Cowboys. By building AT&T stadium so big, there are plenty of seats available for visiting fans and by charging so much for tickets, season ticket holders are willing to sell some of their seats (usually to visiting fans). S.F and Houston had a lot of their fans at their games in Dallas. Over the long run, I think this is going to cost the Cowboys.

 

[CentralPA]

The best thing I've seen since Chip got here is the sense of pride in our team and the reestablishment of a homefield advantage. I haven't been down to the link with the new additions but it does sound louder than ever. Our defense has been very opportunistic which feeds off of the crowd. I love that we're taking care of business at home. That had been lacking for a few years.

As it appears to be shaping up to be as a Cowboy/Eagle race for the NFC East, Home field appears to be a definite advantage for the Eagles. Not so much for the Cowboys. By building AT&T stadium so big, there are plenty of seats available for visiting fans and by charging so much for tickets, season ticket holders are willing to sell some of their seats (usually to visiting fans). S.F and Houston had a lot of their fans at their games in Dallas. Over the long run, I think this is going to cost the Cowboys.

Thank you Jerrah for another f*** up.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

The best thing I've seen since Chip got here is the sense of pride in our team and the reestablishment of a homefield advantage. I haven't been down to the link with the new additions but it does sound louder than ever. Our defense has been very opportunistic which feeds off of the crowd. I love that we're taking care of business at home. That had been lacking for a few years.

As it appears to be shaping up to be as a Cowboy/Eagle race for the NFC East, Home field appears to be a definite advantage for the Eagles. Not so much for the Cowboys. By building AT&T stadium so big, there are plenty of seats available for visiting fans and by charging so much for tickets, season ticket holders are willing to sell some of their seats (usually to visiting fans). S.F and Houston had a lot of their fans at their games in Dallas. Over the long run, I think this is going to cost the Cowboys.

I dont even know that its that complicated. A majority of their fans only became fans of them cause they were good for a stretch. All indications going into this season were that they were going to suck so none of the "fans" bought tickets and other teams' fans did. They only have fans when theyre doing well. Then you hear all the stories about how they became because their families bandwagon riding rubbed off on them etc.

 

[dhockster]

The best thing I've seen since Chip got here is the sense of pride in our team and the reestablishment of a homefield advantage. I haven't been down to the link with the new additions but it does sound louder than ever. Our defense has been very opportunistic which feeds off of the crowd. I love that we're taking care of business at home. That had been lacking for a few years.

As it appears to be shaping up to be as a Cowboy/Eagle race for the NFC East, Home field appears to be a definite advantage for the Eagles. Not so much for the Cowboys. By building AT&T stadium so big, there are plenty of seats available for visiting fans and by charging so much for tickets, season ticket holders are willing to sell some of their seats (usually to visiting fans). S.F and Houston had a lot of their fans at their games in Dallas. Over the long run, I think this is going to cost the Cowboys.

I dont even know that its that complicated. A majority of their fans only became fans of them cause they were good for a stretch. All indications going into this season were that they were going to suck so none of the "fans" bought tickets and other teams' fans did. They only have fans when theyre doing well. Then you hear all the stories about how they became because their families bandwagon riding rubbed off on them etc.

I agree with what you are saying about Cowboy fans. But I also thing the size of their stadium works against the Cowboys the way it might not work against other teams. Let's say Dallas has 50,000 hardcore fans that are going to go to their home games. If the stadium holds 70,000, that leaves 20,000 seats for casually fans or the opposing teams fans to buy up. But if your stadium holds 90,000, the casual fans or the opposing team fans now have 40,000 seats to fill up. Dallas and Houston both have large numbers of transplants from other areas of the country so there are usually plenty of opposing team fans to buy up those extra seats.

 

[Billy Bats]

Nicely done, Art Museum:

https://mobile.twitter.com/philamuseum/status/522465451767775232

 

[fred_1_15301]

The best thing I've seen since Chip got here is the sense of pride in our team and the reestablishment of a homefield advantage. I haven't been down to the link with the new additions but it does sound louder than ever. Our defense has been very opportunistic which feeds off of the crowd. I love that we're taking care of business at home. That had been lacking for a few years.

As it appears to be shaping up to be as a Cowboy/Eagle race for the NFC East, Home field appears to be a definite advantage for the Eagles. Not so much for the Cowboys. By building AT&T stadium so big, there are plenty of seats available for visiting fans and by charging so much for tickets, season ticket holders are willing to sell some of their seats (usually to visiting fans). S.F and Houston had a lot of their fans at their games in Dallas. Over the long run, I think this is going to cost the Cowboys.

I dont even know that its that complicated. A majority of their fans only became fans of them cause they were good for a stretch. All indications going into this season were that they were going to suck so none of the "fans" bought tickets and other teams' fans did. They only have fans when theyre doing well. Then you hear all the stories about how they became because their families bandwagon riding rubbed off on them etc.

I agree with what you are saying about Cowboy fans. But I also thing the size of their stadium works against the Cowboys the way it might not work against other teams. Let's say Dallas has 50,000 hardcore fans that are going to go to their home games. If the stadium holds 70,000, that leaves 20,000 seats for casually fans or the opposing teams fans to buy up. But if your stadium holds 90,000, the casual fans or the opposing team fans now have 40,000 seats to fill up. Dallas and Houston both have large numbers of transplants from other areas of the country so there are usually plenty of opposing team fans to buy up those extra seats.

I think the bottom line is that the Cowboys and their fans are an absolute joke in every respect possible...........

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Found this interesting from Chris Cooley:

Turns out the topic also came up during Chris Cooleys weekly film breakdown of the Redskins offense for ESPN 980. Cooley brought up Jacksons blocking not to criticize the wide receiver, but to criticize the coaching staff for putting the wide receiver in untenable situations.

Do not allow number 11 to ever be involved in blocking for screens, blocking for bubbles, picking for players in the pass game, [or] run plays to his side of the line of scrimmage, Cooley said. He WILL NOT TRY on them. Do not put him in in those situations.

I always disagreed that it was about money with Jackson. That is pretty much a ton of our offense that Cooley is saying he's not willing to do.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Blocking is why Riley Cooper sees as many snaps as he does, despite the protestation of Rotoworld and other fantasy sites.

 

[White Lightning]

Bump. Any homer updates on the OL's health after the bye week? TIA

 

[thriftyrocker]

Bump. Any homer updates on the OL's health after the bye week? TIA

Kelce and Mathis won't be back any time soon. Another month at least. The OL played great vs. NYG, though. Better gameplan, etc. Helps to have Lane Johnson back from suspension too.