*Official 2015 Philadelphia Eagles* - Winning when it doesnt count (2 Viewers)

[unckeyherb]

Not only do I think the field-goal attempt at the end of the game was the wrong call, Watching the game last night I felt like Chip knew it was the wrong call as well. Like someone else above said, you hired chip to go for it on fourth down there, not do the conventional wisdom. It's not hindsight, I had zero faith in Parket at that moment and had they done a quick snap I feel like 99 times out of 100 they get the first down.

 

[JetMaxx]

After watching the '03 Patriots get destroyed in the opener 31-0 in Buffalo and rebound to win the SB I'm not prepared to over react. Disappointing loss but many positives to take away. The game next week will tell us more than this one.

 

[babydemon90]

yea, way too early to panic. Tons of personnel changes this offseason, Bradford's first game since 2013, etc.. Would have been nice to come out with a win here, but let's see how we do going forward.

Side note - if we don't make the playoffs this year, seems like virtual certainly we'll see the Eagles on hard Knocks, no?

 

[need2know]

Next week vs cowboys is a must win imo

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Maxwell will get a lot of crap but Billy Davis needs more IMO. You cant come back from 17 down and then just keep leaving Julio 1 on 1 with him. If you're going to get beat make Hankerson or Rody White do it but you cant leave Maxwell 1 on 1 in that spot.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

So, pass defense was horrible last year. We get all new db's - pass defense looks horrible, with the exact same issues. It's f'n coaching. Not going to change as long as Bill Davis is DC.

they looked a bit rough, but julio is gonna get hisi'm still fairly optimistic this secondary starts to gel as the season goes on

that said, maxwell looks to be as overpaid as i feared. he's still an upgrade though so there's worse ways to spend

Dude Julio is the best.

Of course, but Maxwell looked ridiculous and completely out of place all night. Fletcher could do as well for 1/10 of the price.

 

[dhockster]

Next week vs cowboys is a must win imo

Agreed, especially with how shorthanded Dallas is. From a team confidence standpoint, if Dallas wins in Philly shorthanded, they will be rolling, and the Eagles could have the wheels fall off, even though it is still early in the season.

 

[need2know]

So, pass defense was horrible last year. We get all new db's - pass defense looks horrible, with the exact same issues. It's f'n coaching. Not going to change as long as Bill Davis is DC.

they looked a bit rough, but julio is gonna get hisi'm still fairly optimistic this secondary starts to gel as the season goes on

that said, maxwell looks to be as overpaid as i feared. he's still an upgrade though so there's worse ways to spend

Dude Julio is the best.

Of course, but Maxwell looked ridiculous and completely out of place all night. Fletcher could do as well for 1/10 of the price.

Let's see how he does vs some other guys.

 

[JuniorNB]

Next week vs cowboys is a must win imo

Agreed, especially with how shorthanded Dallas is. From a team confidence standpoint, if Dallas wins in Philly shorthanded, they will be rolling, and the Eagles could have the wheels fall off, even though it is still early in the season.

This. Sunday's game is WAY bigger for Philly than it is for Dallas. Philly needs to win. They're home and Dallas doesn't have it's best playmaker. Plus they're a game up on us already.

Has the line come out for the game yet?

 

[jasvic]

Anyone else concerned that Dan Quinn, former Seattle defensive Cordinator, straight up attacked Byron Maxwell All night last night?

How can you possibly have that three headed monster and run the ball 16 times entire game?

When Parkey started trotting out there I turned to my wife and said, I guarantee he misses this. The way that offense was clicking at that point I don't know why you don't just hurry up snap and get the first down.

ETA. It seemed to me like Chip had to convince himself not to go for it. His instinct was to ram it down their throat on fourth and one but again he fell back to conservative play, which is infuriating.

Agholor looked lost, Matthews looked studly.

Chip made the right call there. Go for the lead on the road. The defense held the Falcons in check for most of the second half. Parkey needs to make that 44 yard field goal. Hindsight is 20/20.

Might have been the right call "by the book" (though even that's questionable), but that's not why Chip was hired.

It's the kind of thing I would have expected out of 30 other NFL coaches, but Chip isn't 30 other NFL coaches. No doubt in my mind Belichick goes for it in that spot. I couldn't believe Kelly went into his shell there.

That's the one thing I've been disappointed about with Chip since he got here. He has the reputation of being aggressive with non-standard NFL thinking, but too many times like last night he doesn't show it. Aside from that, I love the guy.

 

[JuniorNB]

As for last night's game, a few observations....

I was worried about a slow start. Monday night home opener for Atlanta. Players trying to impress their new coach. That's a lot of energy to overcome.

I knew Julio wasn't going to be stopped by Maxwell. Or anyone else. But watching how easy Roddy seemed to get separation from him worries me a little. I try not to overreact, so I'm hoping he looks better going forward.

I loved the way they mixed in the three backs. Being down 17 at the half dictated a bit more passing than I bet Chip had planned, but most passes are five yard handoffs. It was ball control, move the chains passing. I have no problem with the second half play.

Chip should have gone for it. Even if Parkey had made it, there was a ton of time left and Atlanta only needed a field goal. Looking at Chip, it seemed that he didn't even agree with his decision as he was making it.

 

[Billy Bats]

Next week vs cowboys is a must win imo

Agreed, especially with how shorthanded Dallas is. From a team confidence standpoint, if Dallas wins in Philly shorthanded, they will be rolling, and the Eagles could have the wheels fall off, even though it is still early in the season.

This. Sunday's game is WAY bigger for Philly than it is for Dallas. Philly needs to win. They're home and Dallas doesn't have it's best playmaker. Plus they're a game up on us already. Has the line come out for the game yet?

Eagles -4.5

 

[ShaHBucks]

Since Bradford started a game the Eagles can't get the Rams 3rd? Is that correct?

And if Bradford plays 50% of the snaps then the Eagles don't get a 4th?

 

[Lehigh98]

Classic overreactions from most Eagles fans I know.

It was the first game of the season and they hadn't played much together, lots of rust / figuring out the team in the first half.

Still several positives (and things to learn from, and I'm sure Chip will) and some of those 2nd half drives were super impressive.

If Parkey just DID HIS JOB (and JJ didn't score a long late TD to win the game), we're talking about a win here.

Reserving judgement for after the Dallas game and really looking forward to going to that one.

 

[Lehigh98]

Heard on the Fanatic that 92% of bets were going to the Eagles?

Vegas is scary good at setting lines.

 

[tangfoot]

Heard on the Fanatic that 92% of bets were going to the Eagles?

Vegas is scary good at setting lines.

Going into last night, Vegas was getting beaten historically badly.

 

[Insein]

Heard on the Fanatic that 92% of bets were going to the Eagles?

Vegas is scary good at setting lines.

Yes crazy good. And crazy weird how many holding calls happened last night to keep the game close.

 

[dhockster]

Anybody know how many penalty yards there were on that 95 yard drive? That really was an amazing drive since I estimated about 40 yards of penalties making it really a 135 yard drive.

 

[Bushead]

Anybody know how many penalty yards there were on that 95 yard drive? That really was an amazing drive since I estimated about 40 yards of penalties making it really a 135 yard drive.

I count 4 penalties for 30 yards - which also wiped out 41 yards of offense

 

[need2know]

They were throwing flags like crazy. It seemed like every play. Eagles may have been in the wrong on some but it was fairly ridiculous. To be fair atl had some questionable ones on them too. A couple of the holding calls on those wr screens were ify. Just too many flags period

 

[Bob Magaw]

Since Bradford started a game the Eagles can't get the Rams 3rd? Is that correct?

And if Bradford plays 50% of the snaps then the Eagles don't get a 4th?

You are correct, sir.:Ed McMahon chortle:

* I think this can definitely be a win-win trade. No complaints about Foles so far.

 

[FantasySeer]

They were throwing flags like crazy. It seemed like every play. Eagles may have been in the wrong on some but it was fairly ridiculous. To be fair atl had some questionable ones on them too. A couple of the holding calls on those wr screens were ify. Just too many flags period

i only took issue with about 3 of the eagles penalties last night. the refs were ####ty, but the o line was ####tier and deserved most of it

the calls on the falcons were not iffy at all. they got away with a lot of blatant #### before chip got on them about then they started calling

 

[ShaHBucks]

Since Bradford started a game the Eagles can't get the Rams 3rd? Is that correct?

And if Bradford plays 50% of the snaps then the Eagles don't get a 4th?

You are correct, sir.:Ed McMahon chortle:

* I think this can definitely be a win-win trade. No complaints about Foles so far.

No ####, Bob. He's one of the best young QBs in the league. In a new system, with weak WRs, 3rd-string RB, and a weak O-line he mowed down one of the best defenses in the league. That's what he does (*since college).

 

[ShaHBucks]

Since Bradford started a game the Eagles can't get the Rams 3rd? Is that correct?

And if Bradford plays 50% of the snaps then the Eagles don't get a 4th?

You are correct, sir.:Ed McMahon chortle:

* I think this can definitely be a win-win trade. No complaints about Foles so far.

And you guys have our 2nd, right?

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Since Bradford started a game the Eagles can't get the Rams 3rd? Is that correct?

And if Bradford plays 50% of the snaps then the Eagles don't get a 4th?

You are correct, sir.:Ed McMahon chortle:

* I think this can definitely be a win-win trade. No complaints about Foles so far.

No ####, Bob. He's one of the best young QBs in the league. In a new system, with weak WRs, 3rd-string RB, and a weak O-line he mowed down one of the best defenses in the league. That's what he does (*since college).

Rams have won at home against Seattle in 3 of the past 4 years. With or without Foles them winning is kind of the norm at home against them recently

 

[FantasySeer]

In a new system, with weak WRs... and a weak O-line

better now on all three counts than bradford had in his tenure there

foles played pretty well, but the bad was still there too. he's still mediocre. i'd take the trade again 100% of the time

 

[Billy Bats]

Since Bradford started a game the Eagles can't get the Rams 3rd? Is that correct?

And if Bradford plays 50% of the snaps then the Eagles don't get a 4th?

You are correct, sir.:Ed McMahon chortle:

* I think this can definitely be a win-win trade. No complaints about Foles so far.

No ####, Bob. He's one of the best young QBs in the league. In a new system, with weak WRs, 3rd-string RB, and a weak O-line he mowed down one of the best defenses in the league. That's what he does (*since college).

Oh wow, I didn't know the love ran so deep and pure.

 

[ShaHBucks]

Since Bradford started a game the Eagles can't get the Rams 3rd? Is that correct?

And if Bradford plays 50% of the snaps then the Eagles don't get a 4th?

You are correct, sir.:Ed McMahon chortle:

* I think this can definitely be a win-win trade. No complaints about Foles so far.

No ####, Bob. He's one of the best young QBs in the league. In a new system, with weak WRs, 3rd-string RB, and a weak O-line he mowed down one of the best defenses in the league. That's what he does (*since college).

Rams have won at home against Seattle in 3 of the past 4 years. With or without Foles them winning is kind of the norm at home against them recently

And when the win the division?*we'll probably say it was because of Chip Kelly

 

[ShaHBucks]

Since Bradford started a game the Eagles can't get the Rams 3rd? Is that correct?

And if Bradford plays 50% of the snaps then the Eagles don't get a 4th?

You are correct, sir.:Ed McMahon chortle:

* I think this can definitely be a win-win trade. No complaints about Foles so far.

No ####, Bob. He's one of the best young QBs in the league. In a new system, with weak WRs, 3rd-string RB, and a weak O-line he mowed down one of the best defenses in the league. That's what he does (*since college).

Oh wow, I didn't know the love ran so deep and pure.

Well put

 

[Old Smiley]

I'm wondering with PHI if what we're seeing is what they are.

Like, you see the drives where everything works and think, man if they could just do that all the time....

But maybe it is what it is. It's just not going to work all the time. And that's Philly. Not a juggernaut, just a football team that's going to win and going to lose.

And because when it doesn't work it happens so fast that you think they're worse than they are.

 

[renesauz]

Anyone else concerned that Dan Quinn, former Seattle defensive Cordinator, straight up attacked Byron Maxwell All night last night?

How can you possibly have that three headed monster and run the ball 16 times entire game?

When Parkey started trotting out there I turned to my wife and said, I guarantee he misses this. The way that offense was clicking at that point I don't know why you don't just hurry up snap and get the first down.

ETA. It seemed to me like Chip had to convince himself not to go for it. His instinct was to ram it down their throat on fourth and one but again he fell back to conservative play, which is infuriating.

Agholor looked lost, Matthews looked studly.

Chip made the right call there. Go for the lead on the road. The defense held the Falcons in check for most of the second half. Parkey needs to make that 44 yard field goal. Hindsight is 20/20.

Might have been the right call "by the book" (though even that's questionable), but that's not why Chip was hired.

It's the kind of thing I would have expected out of 30 other NFL coaches, but Chip isn't 30 other NFL coaches. No doubt in my mind Belichick goes for it in that spot. I couldn't believe Kelly went into his shell there.

I agree 100% Might have been a different story with a studly kicker, but ours is a second year guy who's looked shaky in training camp. 44 yards is no gimmie, and the clock was in a rough spot where a miss meant we HAD to rely on our defense not for a stop, but for a 3 n out. The way the offense was rolling, the odds of converting a fourth and 1 were higher than the odds of hitting that long FG

 

[renesauz]

Did the Eagles take even one shot downfield? That's always been a knock on Bradford, 70% of his throws are under 10 yards.

They can still be very effective dinking and dunking, but would love to see him develop more of a vertical threat.

Disappointing loss but this team has some great talent. Not the first guy you talk about on Philly, but Kelce is an incredible athlete - best center in the game.

He had a few.....remember the one on first or second drive just out of the reach of a streaking Miles Austin? And then several longer ones in the second half, like the completion to Sproles on the wheel route down the left sideline.

Bradford lacked time most of the night, and took 6 or 7 BIG shots...you don't dial up a lot of deep routes in that situation.

 

[renesauz]

Not only do I think the field-goal attempt at the end of the game was the wrong call, Watching the game last night I felt like Chip knew it was the wrong call as well. Like someone else above said, you hired chip to go for it on fourth down there, not do the conventional wisdom. It's not hindsight, I had zero faith in Parket at that moment and had they done a quick snap I feel like 99 times out of 100 they get the first down.

"You have reached your quota of positive votes for the day"

You said it better than I did

 

[mquinnjr]

Heard on the Fanatic that 92% of bets were going to the Eagles?

Vegas is scary good at setting lines.

Going into last night, Vegas was getting beaten historically badly.

And made it all back. Both dogs covered against the spread, both dogs won straight up, and both unders came in.

They smoked the public last night, who was on the opposite of the above. I'd be shocked if that didn't put them close to or in the black after the weekend with heavy MNF volume for a double header.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

C'mon guys, you guys are smarter than that. The fg was 100% the right call to make. Parkey has to make that kick, plain and simple. Any professional kicker should make a 44 yard fg in their sleep.

 

[need2know]

C'mon guys, you guys are smarter than that. The fg was 100% the right call to make. Parkey has to make that kick, plain and simple. Any professional kicker should make a 44 yard fg in their sleep.

Don't agree. We had them on the ropes

At least call a time out and discuss. That's the ball game right there

 

[Insein]

C'mon guys, you guys are smarter than that. The fg was 100% the right call to make. Parkey has to make that kick, plain and simple. Any professional kicker should make a 44 yard fg in their sleep.

Don't agree. We had them on the ropesAt least call a time out and discuss. That's the ball game right there

Don't even call timeout. Just go. Atlanta was gassed. Yes conventional football wisdom says that's the right call 99/100 times. That was one of those 1% moments. You could just feel it. It was like Atlanta was relieved to give up 3 rather than stay on the field another play.

 

[Johnnymac]

Eagles are going to be scary good this year. If they can stay healthy they will be a very tough team to beat. They sort of showed up late for the exam last night but they were clearly the better team. That offense should be good for 30+ points every week.

 

[Billy Bats]

I laughed.

http://i.imgur.com/F7t9RCs.jpg?1

 

[Thunderlips]

C'mon guys, you guys are smarter than that. The fg was 100% the right call to make. Parkey has to make that kick, plain and simple. Any professional kicker should make a 44 yard fg in their sleep.

It would have been 100% the right call if first.....Chip let Bradford get his team to the line and try to draw ATL offsides. Then just call the TO and let Parkey take his time to kick the FG. With the 2 minute warning ....they'd still have 3 TOs to try and get the ball back.

 

[Insein]

I laughed.

http://i.imgur.com/F7t9RCs.jpg?1

Yea saw that last night. Made me chuckle.

 

[flapgreen]

Eagles are going to be scary good this year. If they can stay healthy they will be a very tough team to beat. They sort of showed up late for the exam last night but they were clearly the better team. That offense should be good for 30+ points every week.

Not with how they did it last night. If Chip figures out how to run the ball and do more than dinking and dunking down the field, then they have the potential to be very good, considering Bradford stays healthy.

 

[flapgreen]

C'mon guys, you guys are smarter than that. The fg was 100% the right call to make. Parkey has to make that kick, plain and simple. Any professional kicker should make a 44 yard fg in their sleep.

It would have been 100% the right call if first.....Chip let Bradford get his team to the line and try to draw ATL offsides. Then just call the TO and let Parkey take his time to kick the FG. With the 2 minute warning ....they'd still have 3 TOs to try and get the ball back.

This seems like a very good strategy to use. I think the pressure got to him. He's always in a huge hurry to run the plays and got caught up in the moment.

 

[flapgreen]

C'mon guys, you guys are smarter than that. The fg was 100% the right call to make. Parkey has to make that kick, plain and simple. Any professional kicker should make a 44 yard fg in their sleep.

Don't agree. We had them on the ropesAt least call a time out and discuss. That's the ball game right there

Don't even call timeout. Just go. Atlanta was gassed. Yes conventional football wisdom says that's the right call 99/100 times. That was one of those 1% moments. You could just feel it. It was like Atlanta was relieved to give up 3 rather than stay on the field another play.

The whole world would've been on him if he went for it and didn't get it there. I can see both sides, though. Tough spot to be in but that's what being a coach is all about.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

C'mon guys, you guys are smarter than that. The fg was 100% the right call to make. Parkey has to make that kick, plain and simple. Any professional kicker should make a 44 yard fg in their sleep.

Don't agree. We had them on the ropesAt least call a time out and discuss. That's the ball game right there

Don't even call timeout. Just go. Atlanta was gassed. Yes conventional football wisdom says that's the right call 99/100 times. That was one of those 1% moments. You could just feel it. It was like Atlanta was relieved to give up 3 rather than stay on the field another play.

The whole world would've been on him if he went for it and didn't get it there. I can see both sides, though. Tough spot to be in but that's what being a coach is all about.

Maybe nationally. Locally, I don't think it's as clear cut. In real time going for the FG had the feeling of a lose-lose decision. Because the game flow to that point dictated that Atlanta would likely drive down for the winning FG. I think Chip's gut was telling him that too, hence the hesitation to send Parkey out.

I might be irrational in my thought process but that's decades of experience watching Eagles games talking.

 

[duaneok66]

C'mon guys, you guys are smarter than that. The fg was 100% the right call to make. Parkey has to make that kick, plain and simple. Any professional kicker should make a 44 yard fg in their sleep.

Don't agree. We had them on the ropesAt least call a time out and discuss. That's the ball game right there

Don't even call timeout. Just go. Atlanta was gassed. Yes conventional football wisdom says that's the right call 99/100 times. That was one of those 1% moments. You could just feel it. It was like Atlanta was relieved to give up 3 rather than stay on the field another play.

The whole world would've been on him if he went for it and didn't get it there. I can see both sides, though. Tough spot to be in but that's what being a coach is all about.

this. Parkey just missed. People LOVE to put losses on the coach. At some point, the players have to execute.

 

[duaneok66]

C'mon guys, you guys are smarter than that. The fg was 100% the right call to make. Parkey has to make that kick, plain and simple. Any professional kicker should make a 44 yard fg in their sleep.

Amen.

 

[Omniscient Deity]

Maxwell will get a lot of crap but Billy Davis needs more IMO. You cant come back from 17 down and then just keep leaving Julio 1 on 1 with him. If you're going to get beat make Hankerson or Rody White do it but you cant leave Maxwell 1 on 1 in that spot.

This.

 

[Ash]

Some post game thoughts - Offense Edition

General 1st half sloppiness I wouldn't put down just to Bradford's rust. Was more of a whole unit issue. Tried to hit back shoulder/stop type routes once each to Huff (didn't turn around) and Agholor (timing, positioning off) and both times I thought it was there and the mistakes were on the WR.

On the 3rd down play in the first series Ertz on a corner route was looking over his inside shoulder for the ball when Bradford correctly put it outside.

OL played badly across the board in the 1st half. On the play where Murray lost yards back almost to the goalline, Lane Johnson and Andrew Gardner both whiffed their blocks about as badly as you could. Peters had problems with Vic Beasley, got cleanly beaten around the corner a couple of times and didn't have him under control on some other plays.

Regular responsibility confusion with guys unblocked while two players go to 2nd level etc. Gardner struggles to position himself at the 2nd level and on screen plays. Reguarly couldn't find a target in space. Gardner does do a solid job as an inline blocker on run plays.

Kelce and Babre both blocked nobody on a WR screen to Matthews at Q2 6:20 that only gained 3.

Great blocks by Johnson and Kelce on Murray's TD run at Q3 13:20. Johnson made contact and then turned his man inside with strength and footwork to give Murray the edge. Gardner did a good job pinning his man inside.

Ertz couldn't single block #50 on an Inside Zone for Sproles at Q1 2:38 and the play got stuffed for no gain. He lost #50 again in pass pro at Q3 6:30 and gave up a pressure as Bradford rolled right before finding Austin.

Beasley beat Peters outside on a play with :23 left in Q1 for a hit on Bradford.

Overall, pass protection improved significantly in the 2nd half, but Chip never came back to the run plays to see if that translated.

Great blocks by Johnson and Kelce with solid assists from Gardner, Babre and Tobin (in for 1 play) on Sproles 27yd run at Q3 4:46

Tried some kind of misdirection run play at Q3 4:16, with Kelce pulling right and Peters going left. Falcons didn't bite and shut it down.

Gardner gave up a QB hit at Q3 3:46 on the TD throw to Murray.

Nice throw in a tight spot to Huff for 13yds at Q1 5:50, he'd started the throw before Huff turned, then took a gang to bring Huff down.

Good, quick decision on the seam throw to Austin on the same series, ball was slightly overthrown but could have been caught. Nice pass pro from Murray on the same play. Came across the formation and stoned #71.

Confident sideline throw in a tight spot to Matthews for 25y at Q2 9.53

Awful drop by Ryan Mathews @ Q2 8.59, wide open.

Tried a tight throw to Ertz at the goalline @ Q2 7.28. Ball placed outside away from the S but Ertz couldn't turn or reach back for it.

#25 was squatting on the inside of Ertz route on the INT waiting for the throw and jumped on it. Mental mistake from Bradford there. Ignored Matthews wide open in the right flat, with 1:05 and 1 timeout left, got greedy for a throw that wasn't there.

After the pick by Thurmond, could have taken a shot to Cooper for a TD at Q3 13:25 as he cleared the LB. He had inside position on the CB and the S was far enough away, but went incomplete underneath to Murray instead. Also could have had a short gain to Celek open in the right flat. Until now there hadn't been a read I disagreed with.

Great throw under pressure to Matthews at Q4 9:11 to get to the 1yd line. Kelce's man cut Bradford in half just as he threw the ball, saw it coming and made the throw.

Kelce got beat badly on the Mathews TD run on the next play too. Babre got away with a hold on Kelce's man before he pushed Mathews in to the EZ.

Nice blocking by all 6 including the Gardner coming off the combo block to push the attacking MLB out of the hole on an Inside Zone to Sproles for 11yd at Q4 4:32.

Terrible, unnecessary hold by Kelce to wipe out a 25yd gain at Q4 4:15. He made a couple of nice highlight blocks in space but overall this was not his best game. This play, as well as Mathews drop obviously were huge in determining the outcome.

On the 3rd and 1 at Q4 3:14, Falcons schemed the MLB free to attak the hole. 2 DL slanted inside, Kelce picked up the DT, Gardner the DE. Johnson picked up the OLB and the MLB looped and hit the G/T gap unblocked before Mathews did. That's the downside to short yardage runs from shotgun, gives directional keys.

Chip seemed indecisive on whether to go for it or not and IMO the kick was rushed. Who knows? It missed.

Overall everybody on O was sloppy early but improved as the game went on. I liked Bradford's game much better on this viewing that I did live. Only two plays where I would question his choice, and one slight overthrow to Austin on that seam route. Take away the pick and it was almost a perfect game.

The Falcons D played a mix of Cover 3 and single high man. Very disciplined in coverage, nothing got behind them, no busts and there were really no deep shots to be had.

 

[duaneok66]

Some post game thoughts - Offense Edition

General 1st half sloppiness I wouldn't put down just to Bradford's rust. Was more of a whole unit issue. Tried to hit back shoulder/stop type routes once each to Huff (didn't turn around) and Agholor (timing, positioning off) and both times I thought it was there and the mistakes were on the WR.

On the 3rd down play in the first series Ertz on a corner route was looking over his inside shoulder for the ball when Bradford correctly put it outside.

OL played badly across the board in the 1st half. On the play where Murray lost yards back almost to the goalline, Lane Johnson and Andrew Gardner both whiffed their blocks about as badly as you could. Peters had problems with Vic Beasley, got cleanly beaten around the corner a couple of times and didn't have him under control on some other plays.

Regular responsibility confusion with guys unblocked while two players go to 2nd level etc. Gardner struggles to position himself at the 2nd level and on screen plays. Reguarly couldn't find a target in space. Gardner does do a solid job as an inline blocker on run plays.

Kelce and Babre both blocked nobody on a WR screen to Matthews at Q2 6:20 that only gained 3.

Great blocks by Johnson and Kelce on Murray's TD run at Q3 13:20. Johnson made contact and then turned his man inside with strength and footwork to give Murray the edge. Gardner did a good job pinning his man inside.

Ertz couldn't single block #50 on an Inside Zone for Sproles at Q1 2:38 and the play got stuffed for no gain. He lost #50 again in pass pro at Q3 6:30 and gave up a pressure as Bradford rolled right before finding Austin.

Beasley beat Peters outside on a play with :23 left in Q1 for a hit on Bradford.

Overall, pass protection improved significantly in the 2nd half, but Chip never came back to the run plays to see if that translated.

Great blocks by Johnson and Kelce with solid assists from Gardner, Babre and Tobin (in for 1 play) on Sproles 27yd run at Q3 4:46

Tried some kind of misdirection run play at Q3 4:16, with Kelce pulling right and Peters going left. Falcons didn't bite and shut it down.

Gardner gave up a QB hit at Q3 3:46 on the TD throw to Murray.

Nice throw in a tight spot to Huff for 13yds at Q1 5:50, he'd started the throw before Huff turned, then took a gang to bring Huff down.

Good, quick decision on the seam throw to Austin on the same series, ball was slightly overthrown but could have been caught. Nice pass pro from Murray on the same play. Came across the formation and stoned #71.

Confident sideline throw in a tight spot to Matthews for 25y at Q2 9.53

Awful drop by Ryan Mathews @ Q2 8.59, wide open.

Tried a tight throw to Ertz at the goalline @ Q2 7.28. Ball placed outside away from the S but Ertz couldn't turn or reach back for it.

#25 was squatting on the inside of Ertz route on the INT waiting for the throw and jumped on it. Mental mistake from Bradford there. Ignored Matthews wide open in the right flat, with 1:05 and 1 timeout left, got greedy for a throw that wasn't there.

After the pick by Thurmond, could have taken a shot to Cooper for a TD at Q3 13:25 as he cleared the LB. He had inside position on the CB and the S was far enough away, but went incomplete underneath to Murray instead. Also could have had a short gain to Celek open in the right flat. Until now there hadn't been a read I disagreed with.

Great throw under pressure to Matthews at Q4 9:11 to get to the 1yd line. Kelce's man cut Bradford in half just as he threw the ball, saw it coming and made the throw.

Kelce got beat badly on the Mathews TD run on the next play too. Babre got away with a hold on Kelce's man before he pushed Mathews in to the EZ.

Nice blocking by all 6 including the Gardner coming off the combo block to push the attacking MLB out of the hole on an Inside Zone to Sproles for 11yd at Q4 4:32.

Terrible, unnecessary hold by Kelce to wipe out a 25yd gain at Q4 4:15. He made a couple of nice highlight blocks in space but overall this was not his best game. This play, as well as Mathews drop obviously were huge in determining the outcome.

On the 3rd and 1 at Q4 3:14, Falcons schemed the MLB free to attak the hole. 2 DL slanted inside, Kelce picked up the DT, Gardner the DE. Johnson picked up the OLB and the MLB looped and hit the G/T gap unblocked before Mathews did. That's the downside to short yardage runs from shotgun, gives directional keys.

Chip seemed indecisive on whether to go for it or not and IMO the kick was rushed. Who knows? It missed.

Overall everybody on O was sloppy early but improved as the game went on. I liked Bradford's game much better on this viewing that I did live. Only two plays where I would question his choice, and one slight overthrow to Austin on that seam route. Take away the pick and it was almost a perfect game.

The Falcons D played a mix of Cover 3 and single high man. Very disciplined in coverage, nothing got behind them, no busts and there were really no deep shots to be had.

Amazing. Thank You.