Sturm: Eagles Preview and Emails

[WoodysGirl]

The Cowboys play the Eagles in a desperation game on Sunday and there is no question that both teams are in a real similar spot. I assume everyone has hashed and rehashed all of the Michael Vick/Andy Reid narratives up against the Jason Garrett/Tony Romo types and have noted how similar the season has been in both cities.

the theme in Philadelphia is that their defense is pretty embarrassing. In fact, if you read this story, they don't pull many punches.

The Eagles’ defense is a collaboration of soft, overpaid, uninspired sissies who purposely avoid contact and expect to win games solely on reputation.

Those aren’t the rants of a critical beat reporter, a cynical fan or any one person who plays for an NFC East rival.

It’s the reputation cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said that he and his teammates have been saddled with around the NFL and it surfaces in not only what he’s hearing but also how opposing teams game plan against them.

“Everybody looks at us as a pretty defense,” Rodgers-Cromartie said after Thursday’s practice, “[and that] guys don’t want to be physical. We’ve got to go up there and make a name for ourselves.”

What I find most amazing is their very weak pass rush. From 2008-2011, no organization in football has more sacks than the Eagles and their 181 - they are tied with Pittsburgh - and they consistently bring the pain to the opposing QB.

But, this season, you must scroll down to 46th place in the NFL to find the best Eagles sack man, Jason Babin with just 3.5 sacks after 18 last year. Trent Cole? He sits in 120th place in sacks with 1.5 so far. That is a far cry from his spot in double digits every year.

Read the rest: http://sturminator.blogspot.com/2012...nd-emails.html

[Chuck 54]

Cole and Babin are probably licking their chops this week...I hope we can run the ball a little. We need a career effort from Felix.

[Proximo]

Originally Posted by Chuck 54

Cole and Babin are probably licking their chops this week...I hope we can run the ball a little. We need a career effort from Felix.

If Cole and Babin are licking their chops, then so is every member of our front seven. The Eagles have an even poorer excuse for an O-line then we do, and they just placed their RT on IR, so now they'll have to dig even deeper into the depth chart.

[Dave_in-NC]

The dream team.

[lwehlers]

well after reading strums blog it reaffirms that the cowboys are going to finish 6-10. no 3-5 cowboys teams have finished the year at .500 or made the playoffs. this also the fourth time since 2000 that this team has started 3-5 never won more then 6 games. this season has really been dissapointing.

[sonnyboy]

Originally Posted by lwehlers

well after reading strums blog it reaffirms that the cowboys are going to finish 6-10. no 3-5 cowboys teams have finished the year at .500 or made the playoffs. this also the fourth time since 2000 that this team has started 3-5 never won more then 6 games. this season has really been dissapointing.

Wonder if all of those other 3-5 teams played more than 1 team with a losing record?
Or had as soft a schedule as we face in the final 8?

[Hoofbite]

Originally Posted by sonnyboy

Wonder if all of those other 3-5 teams played more than 1 team with a losing record?
Or had as soft a schedule as we face in the final 8?

Soft schedule?

4 divisional games, Pittsburgh and New Orleans?

I'm amazed at how people like to point out the schedule being weak when only 1 team on that list has fewer wins.

Dog fight every week.

They are what they are. 3-5 and they play stupid and sloppy football.

[nalam]

Originally Posted by Hoofbite

Soft schedule?

4 divisional games, Pittsburgh and New Orleans?
....

They are what they are. 3-5 and they play stupid and sloppy football.

^^^^ THIS ^^^^

There is no gimme in NFL and divisional games are never easy even during the domination days. Also this team has not given me enough evidence of playing 3-4 continuous inspired full effort games .

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by Hoofbite

Soft schedule?

4 divisional games, Pittsburgh and New Orleans?

I'm amazed at how people like to point out the schedule being weak when only 1 team on that list has fewer wins.

Dog fight every week.

They are what they are. 3-5 and they play stupid and sloppy football.

It's a soft schedule in terms of opponents win percentage. Because those divisional teams we're playing just aren't very good. It's also soft in comparison to the 8 games we just played.

[M'Kevon]

Originally Posted by lwehlers

well after reading strums blog it reaffirms that the cowboys are going to finish 6-10. no 3-5 cowboys teams have finished the year at .500 or made the playoffs. this also the fourth time since 2000 that this team has started 3-5 never won more then 6 games. this season has really been dissapointing.

Really?? That's what you got out of that article?

[jterrell]

Originally Posted by nalam

^^^^ THIS ^^^^

There is no gimme in NFL and divisional games are never easy even during the domination days. Also this team has not given me enough evidence of playing 3-4 continuous inspired full effort games .

Lots of reasons to be upset at the state of this season.
All that said there are also very basic things like facts out there when you want to let go of emotional responses.

Dallas has lost this season to 5-4 Seattle on the road. The other 4 losses have been to opponents with 6 losses COMBINED. 1 of those 6 losses they administered themselves.

And yes we get divisional games on the horizon. Except we already played the pair against the best team in the division and the defending SB champs.
Right now Dallas is actually in 2nd place in the division.

So while Dallas has been awful the first half they play teams just as awful if not even worse every week but one.