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Bob Ford | Get real: The Birds just aren't as good as they think they are.
By Bob Ford
Inquirer Columnist
Confidence is a great thing, and it's obvious that the Eagles, a football team lacking in certain areas, are not lacking in that attribute.
Some of it they deserve. Before last season, the Eagles averaged nearly 12 wins for five straight years - and the company line on who gets the blame for 2005 is pretty clear.
With Terrell Owens in the rearview mirror and Donovan McNabb healthy, this is a team that fully believes a return to glory is a birthright. You can hear it in the way they talk about themselves. You can find it in the way they carry themselves.
And you can definitely see it in the first half.
The Eagles have started some games this season - most notably Sunday's against New Orleans - as if the mere sight of the wings on their helmets would carry the day.
"I wouldn't say that we weren't ready to play," McNabb said. "We missed a lot of opportunities in that game that we could have taken advantage of, and in the second half we came out and did exactly that. You're not going to play a perfect game. You may have a bad quarter here, good quarter here and it may continue on. But it's unfortunate that it had to start that way, but we finished strong, had an opportunity to win."
For the Eagles, many of the bad quarters here and there have arrived early.
The team has led at the end of the first quarter in only two of its six games this season, and has trailed at the half in each of its last three games.
Great teams assert themselves early and snuff out the opposition as quickly as possible. When the Eagles were at their best, on the way to the Super Bowl two seasons ago, they held a halftime lead in 11 of their first 12 games. The only exception was the loss to a Pittsburgh team that was far better that day. Otherwise, the Eagles announced themselves by getting the lead and then expanding it.
The current Eagles aren't doing it that way.
"I think most everybody is looking forward to putting a complete game together," linebacker Shawn Barber said.
"We haven't played consistently enough," safety Brian Dawkins said. "We haven't played a certain way, dominant, game after game. One game we come out and play the way we know we can play, the next game we don't have that edge to us."
Maybe they think being as talented and accomplished as they are is the only edge they need.
"We didn't play very well that first half, on either side of the football or special teams," Andy Reid said of the New Orleans game.
Here's something the coaches might think about trying. Instead of telling the players how good they are and how they will brilliantly execute the schemes, tell them they might just stink. Tell them the team is stumbling too often through the "easy" end of its schedule and another loss or two will make it very likely that many of them will be seeking other employment very soon.
For reference, there are a few other items that might be worth mentioning, if overconfidence is a real issue as the Eagles approach what should be a routine win in Tampa.
Mention that the team can neither run nor stop the run with any consistency. Bring up the worrisome trend in which the defense can't adjust to an opposing offense that uses quick counts, motion and a three-step drop. Remind them that the receivers are still basically untested, with the exception of Donté Stallworth, who is two games from being labeled a malingerer. Throw in the fact that the special teams can't generate a good return on a dare.
That covers the high spots, although there are some other issues. Reid wouldn't come out and say that Sean Considine is now starting ahead of Michael Lewis at strong safety, even when asked directly who would be on the field for first and 10.
"We're going to mix and match some things," Reid said.
The last thing the defense needs is more confusion after giving up at least 24 points in four of the last five games.
Then there are the back spasms being suffered again by offensive tackle William "Tra" Thomas, the passivity of the defensive line since the loss of Jevon Kearse, and the spotty work of punter Dirk Johnson.
It doesn't add up to hopelessness. This is still a good team with a lot of weapons, one capable of winning 10 or more games and getting some momentum in place for the postseason.
But the Eagles aren't good enough to walk onto the field and win a game automatically. Not nearly good enough to start playing seriously in the third quarter.
In other words, not as good as they think they are.
And this week would be a perfect time to play like it.
By Bob Ford
Inquirer Columnist
Confidence is a great thing, and it's obvious that the Eagles, a football team lacking in certain areas, are not lacking in that attribute.
Some of it they deserve. Before last season, the Eagles averaged nearly 12 wins for five straight years - and the company line on who gets the blame for 2005 is pretty clear.
With Terrell Owens in the rearview mirror and Donovan McNabb healthy, this is a team that fully believes a return to glory is a birthright. You can hear it in the way they talk about themselves. You can find it in the way they carry themselves.
And you can definitely see it in the first half.
The Eagles have started some games this season - most notably Sunday's against New Orleans - as if the mere sight of the wings on their helmets would carry the day.
"I wouldn't say that we weren't ready to play," McNabb said. "We missed a lot of opportunities in that game that we could have taken advantage of, and in the second half we came out and did exactly that. You're not going to play a perfect game. You may have a bad quarter here, good quarter here and it may continue on. But it's unfortunate that it had to start that way, but we finished strong, had an opportunity to win."
For the Eagles, many of the bad quarters here and there have arrived early.
The team has led at the end of the first quarter in only two of its six games this season, and has trailed at the half in each of its last three games.
Great teams assert themselves early and snuff out the opposition as quickly as possible. When the Eagles were at their best, on the way to the Super Bowl two seasons ago, they held a halftime lead in 11 of their first 12 games. The only exception was the loss to a Pittsburgh team that was far better that day. Otherwise, the Eagles announced themselves by getting the lead and then expanding it.
The current Eagles aren't doing it that way.
"I think most everybody is looking forward to putting a complete game together," linebacker Shawn Barber said.
"We haven't played consistently enough," safety Brian Dawkins said. "We haven't played a certain way, dominant, game after game. One game we come out and play the way we know we can play, the next game we don't have that edge to us."
Maybe they think being as talented and accomplished as they are is the only edge they need.
"We didn't play very well that first half, on either side of the football or special teams," Andy Reid said of the New Orleans game.
Here's something the coaches might think about trying. Instead of telling the players how good they are and how they will brilliantly execute the schemes, tell them they might just stink. Tell them the team is stumbling too often through the "easy" end of its schedule and another loss or two will make it very likely that many of them will be seeking other employment very soon.
For reference, there are a few other items that might be worth mentioning, if overconfidence is a real issue as the Eagles approach what should be a routine win in Tampa.
Mention that the team can neither run nor stop the run with any consistency. Bring up the worrisome trend in which the defense can't adjust to an opposing offense that uses quick counts, motion and a three-step drop. Remind them that the receivers are still basically untested, with the exception of Donté Stallworth, who is two games from being labeled a malingerer. Throw in the fact that the special teams can't generate a good return on a dare.
That covers the high spots, although there are some other issues. Reid wouldn't come out and say that Sean Considine is now starting ahead of Michael Lewis at strong safety, even when asked directly who would be on the field for first and 10.
"We're going to mix and match some things," Reid said.
The last thing the defense needs is more confusion after giving up at least 24 points in four of the last five games.
Then there are the back spasms being suffered again by offensive tackle William "Tra" Thomas, the passivity of the defensive line since the loss of Jevon Kearse, and the spotty work of punter Dirk Johnson.
It doesn't add up to hopelessness. This is still a good team with a lot of weapons, one capable of winning 10 or more games and getting some momentum in place for the postseason.
But the Eagles aren't good enough to walk onto the field and win a game automatically. Not nearly good enough to start playing seriously in the third quarter.
In other words, not as good as they think they are.
And this week would be a perfect time to play like it.
