03EBZ06
Need2Speed
- Messages
- 7,984
- Reaction score
- 411
Eagles Notes | Second-half scoring ranks near the bottom
Eagles Notes
Donovan McNabb said he was not aware of the disturbing trend.
No, we're not talking about the Eagles' inability to score in the red zone. We're talking about their inability to score in the second half.
"I haven't really focused on that," the quarterback said yesterday. [Maybe that is why you are 3-4?]
Well, here are the numbers: The Eagles have scored just 45 points - three touchdowns and eight field goals - in the second half during their games. That's an average of 6.4 points in the second half. By comparison, the seemingly unstoppable New England Patriots are averaging more points than that in every quarter through eight games.
The only teams scoring less frequently in the second half than the Eagles are the 1-6 Atlanta Falcons, the 0-8 St. Louis Rams, and the 3-4 Denver Broncos. [
]
"Those guys are getting paid, too," running back Brian Westbrook said of opposing defenses. "They make adjustments at halftime. As an offense, we have to find a way to adjust to the things they're adjusting to. Maybe we haven't done the best job with that so far, but that's one of the things we're going to continue to work on."
T.O. reached out to Phillips
So far this season, Terrell Owens is making more news on the playing field than off it, which has led some to wonder if first-year coach Wade Phillips is doing something to keep T.O.'s head on straight.
"He's comfortable, I think," Phillips said during a conference call with reporters. "He's at the point of his career where he knows he's a great player and he's not trying to prove that. He's just trying to win. A lot of guys get to a point in their careers where winning is really important to them, and I think that's what you're seeing."
Phillips, who was the Eagles' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 1986 to '88, said Owens was the first player to call him when he was hired by the Cowboys.
"He congratulated me," Phillips said. "We actually had a mutual friend, a guy who played for the team I was coaching, and he was good friends with Terrell and said good things about me, and Terrell called me when I got the job. So from the start it's been good."
Phillips said he had no concerns about Owens when he took the job.
"I've coached a lot of teams and been with a lot of different personalities - and I consider him a personality - and it's always worked out well," he said. "I didn't have any preconceived ideas how any of the players were. I just go in and coach, be honest with them, and treat them like men."
Injuries
Eagles tackle Jon Runyan (fractured tailbone) did not practice. Cornerback William James was limited at practice because of plantar fasciitis in his foot.
The Cowboys listed cornerback Anthony Henry (ankle) as a limited practice participant.
Honors for Cole, Akers
Eagles defensive end Trent Cole was named the NFC defensive player of the week and kicker David Akers was named the NFC special-teams player of the month.
Cole had two sacks and three tackles for losses during the Eagles' 23-16 win over Minnesota on Sunday. He leads the NFL with nine sacks.
"You can't be surprised" about the honor, Cole said. "You just go out and play, and if it comes, it comes."
Akers, meanwhile, was honored for scoring more points than any other NFC special-teams player in October, which was more a reflection of the Eagles' failures inside the red zone than the kicker's fine work. Akers hit 9 of 12 field-goal attempts in October, but none longer than 37 yards.
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports...econd-half_scoring_ranks_near_the_bottom.html
Eagles Notes
Donovan McNabb said he was not aware of the disturbing trend.
No, we're not talking about the Eagles' inability to score in the red zone. We're talking about their inability to score in the second half.
"I haven't really focused on that," the quarterback said yesterday. [Maybe that is why you are 3-4?]
Well, here are the numbers: The Eagles have scored just 45 points - three touchdowns and eight field goals - in the second half during their games. That's an average of 6.4 points in the second half. By comparison, the seemingly unstoppable New England Patriots are averaging more points than that in every quarter through eight games.
The only teams scoring less frequently in the second half than the Eagles are the 1-6 Atlanta Falcons, the 0-8 St. Louis Rams, and the 3-4 Denver Broncos. [
]"Those guys are getting paid, too," running back Brian Westbrook said of opposing defenses. "They make adjustments at halftime. As an offense, we have to find a way to adjust to the things they're adjusting to. Maybe we haven't done the best job with that so far, but that's one of the things we're going to continue to work on."
T.O. reached out to Phillips
So far this season, Terrell Owens is making more news on the playing field than off it, which has led some to wonder if first-year coach Wade Phillips is doing something to keep T.O.'s head on straight.
"He's comfortable, I think," Phillips said during a conference call with reporters. "He's at the point of his career where he knows he's a great player and he's not trying to prove that. He's just trying to win. A lot of guys get to a point in their careers where winning is really important to them, and I think that's what you're seeing."
Phillips, who was the Eagles' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 1986 to '88, said Owens was the first player to call him when he was hired by the Cowboys.
"He congratulated me," Phillips said. "We actually had a mutual friend, a guy who played for the team I was coaching, and he was good friends with Terrell and said good things about me, and Terrell called me when I got the job. So from the start it's been good."
Phillips said he had no concerns about Owens when he took the job.
"I've coached a lot of teams and been with a lot of different personalities - and I consider him a personality - and it's always worked out well," he said. "I didn't have any preconceived ideas how any of the players were. I just go in and coach, be honest with them, and treat them like men."
Injuries
Eagles tackle Jon Runyan (fractured tailbone) did not practice. Cornerback William James was limited at practice because of plantar fasciitis in his foot.
The Cowboys listed cornerback Anthony Henry (ankle) as a limited practice participant.
Honors for Cole, Akers
Eagles defensive end Trent Cole was named the NFC defensive player of the week and kicker David Akers was named the NFC special-teams player of the month.
Cole had two sacks and three tackles for losses during the Eagles' 23-16 win over Minnesota on Sunday. He leads the NFL with nine sacks.
"You can't be surprised" about the honor, Cole said. "You just go out and play, and if it comes, it comes."
Akers, meanwhile, was honored for scoring more points than any other NFC special-teams player in October, which was more a reflection of the Eagles' failures inside the red zone than the kicker's fine work. Akers hit 9 of 12 field-goal attempts in October, but none longer than 37 yards.
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports...econd-half_scoring_ranks_near_the_bottom.html
