The state of Philadelphia

[erod]

I've had this big question mark on my face all offseason when it comes to the Eagles. Just what in the Sam Hill are they - meaning Chip - doing? None of these moves make sense to me.

The Eagles are an enigma wrapped in a puzzle. Occasional moments of brilliance are fogged over with frequent bouts of ridiculousness.

First off, Chip is hamstrung. He DESPERATELY needs a quarterback that can run for his offense to work. Foles couldn't do it, Sanchez couldn't do it, and Bradford definitely can't do it. It's little wonder why he was basically offering the Liberty Bell for Mariotta. Defenses don't even have to acknowledge the read option fake at all; in fact, it kind of makes it open season on Bradford.

Then, he goes and signs Demarco Murray, a downhill runner custom built for lining up seven yards behind the line of scrimmage. Lesean McCoy was successful because he could make quick, scat-back moves in the backfield and cut upfield. Elusiveness is the key to running from the shotgun sidekick formation, especially as close as Chip lines his QB up to the line of scrimmage. Murray doesn't have that ability, and Matthews only slightly more. Sproles is the best option here, other than the guy Chip sent to Buffalo.

Philly had a decent option as a nickel slot cover guy in Boykin. Then, Chip traded him for a box of jelly beans and watched his corners go down in camp. Now, they have almost nobody to mark Beasley in the slot, or Escobar, or anybody. It was a strange move.

Then, he ran off a good guard in Mathis, and if you watched the Eagles play on Monday, their offensive line didn't look good at all. Murray and Matthews combined for 13 whole yards rushing. Wow.

Add to this the dismantling of the receiving corps from Jackson and Maclin, a tandem that had big days against Dallas. He just replaced them with lesser versions of the same. Small, quick guys that aren't as good as Jackson or Maclin (although Jordan Matthews shows promise).

Add to all this Chip's bizarre insistence of playing every game in breakneck fashion. It tires defenses, yes. BOTH defenses. And it adds miles and wear and tear on his own team as they play 20 percent more plays each season. That's the same as 2-3 more games. I wonder if and when the NFLPA starts complaining about it, and in fact, if it starts to affect free agents' willingness to play there. It did seem to factor in Frank Gore's decision to back out.

I sense an uneasy panic in Philly, and if Dallas pulls this out on Sunday like I think they will, it could get really ugly up there. That "amazing" preseason offensive display stoked the flames of media and Eagle fan alike, and it may serve to set them up for a thunderous crash early this season.

That's a flawed franchise with a flawed coach, a flawed scheme, and a flawed roster, playing in front of a flawed city of flawed people.

And it's fascinating to watch.

 

[ilykdrama]

Good read, man. Not far fetched. I agree with the fact that Chip is an egomaniac that's desperate right now. I think it DOES come crumbling down if we win in Philly without Dez, McClain, Gregory and Hardy. Let's hope. I'll be rooting the Boys in harder than ever. They deserve it, Garrett, deserves it and Jerry/Stephen deserve it.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

They're not a bad team at all. 5 more minutes on Monday and they win that game. I think their system works but hinges on complete mistake free football at a faster rate.

I think its delusional to discount them. Not to mention Flectcher Cox was probably the best Dline player we Saw last year

 

[JoeBoBBY]

Good read. To be fair to the running game. They got down in that first half. forget the score, but I think it may have been 3 scores. DM didnt have the yardage, but he did score 2 bringing the team back. Bradford had them rolling in that second half.

And they shouldve won the game. A missed field goal, and a drop pass by a rookie. They probably shouldve won the game. And , we probably should have lost. and of course Denver probably shouldve have lost last night!

-- these early games..... can be deceiving.

having said that; The decisions Philly and Chip are making, as you detailed above, are confusing. Even if they luck out and have a good season, the decisions being made right now seem extrememely odd.

I would love to stick it to them this week...... We get a 2 game lead on them, and its going to be very hard for them to catch us.

 

[erod]

Good read. To be fair to the running game. They got down in that first half. forget the score, but I think it may have been 3 scores. DM didnt have the yardage, but he did score 2 bringing the team back. Bradford had them rolling in that second half.

And they shouldve won the game. A missed field goal, and a drop pass by a rookie. They probably shouldve won the game. And , we probably should have lost. and of course Denver probably shouldve have lost last night!

-- these early games..... can be deceiving.

having said that; The decisions Philly and Chip are making, as you detailed above, are confusing. Even if they luck out and have a good season, the decisions being made right now seem extrememely odd.

I would love to stick it to them this week...... We get a 2 game lead on them, and its going to be very hard for them to catch us.

I'm actually putting little stock in last week, as this was basically the real preseason game for everybody. I don't even put that much stock in this game on Sunday.

Over the long haul, though, these decisions and flaws will eat them alive yet again.

 

[jday]

I've had this big question mark on my face all offseason when it comes to the Eagles. Just what in the Sam Hill are they - meaning Chip - doing? None of these moves make sense to me.

The Eagles are an enigma wrapped in a puzzle. Occasional moments of brilliance are fogged over with frequent bouts of ridiculousness.

First off, Chip is hamstrung. He DESPERATELY needs a quarterback that can run for his offense to work. Foles couldn't do it, Sanchez couldn't do it, and Bradford definitely can't do it. It's little wonder why he was basically offering the Liberty Bell for Mariotta. Defenses don't even have to acknowledge the read option fake at all; in fact, it kind of makes it open season on Bradford.

Then, he goes and signs Demarco Murray, a downhill runner custom built for lining up seven yards behind the line of scrimmage. Lesean McCoy was successful because he could make quick, scat-back moves in the backfield and cut upfield. Elusiveness is the key to running from the shotgun sidekick formation, especially as close as Chip lines his QB up to the line of scrimmage. Murray doesn't have that ability, and Matthews only slightly more. Sproles is the best option here, other than the guy Chip sent to Buffalo.

Philly had a decent option as a nickel slot cover guy in Boykin. Then, Chip traded him for a box of jelly beans and watched his corners go down in camp. Now, they have almost nobody to mark Beasley in the slot, or Escobar, or anybody. It was a strange move.

Then, he ran off a good guard in Mathis, and if you watched the Eagles play on Monday, their offensive line didn't look good at all. Murray and Matthews combined for 13 whole yards rushing. Wow.

Add to this the dismantling of the receiving corps from Jackson and Maclin, a tandem that had big days against Dallas. He just replaced them with lesser versions of the same. Small, quick guys that aren't as good as Jackson or Maclin (although Jordan Matthews shows promise).

Add to all this Chip's bizarre insistence of playing every game in breakneck fashion. It tires defenses, yes. BOTH defenses. And it adds miles and wear and tear on his own team as they play 20 percent more plays each season. That's the same as 2-3 more games. I wonder if and when the NFLPA starts complaining about it, and in fact, if it starts to affect free agents' willingness to play there. It did seem to factor in Frank Gore's decision to back out.

I sense an uneasy panic in Philly, and if Dallas pulls this out on Sunday like I think they will, it could get really ugly up there. That "amazing" preseason offensive display stoked the flames of media and Eagle fan alike, and it may serve to set them up for a thunderous crash early this season.

That's a flawed franchise with a flawed coach, a flawed scheme, and a flawed roster, playing in front of a flawed city of flawed people.

And it's fascinating to watch.

On the outside looking in, it certainly looks dysfunctional, but I'd wait to pass judgement until roughly 6:30 PM Sunday Central.

 

[perrykemp]

Erod:

Philadelphia is not a state, it is a city.

 

[JoeBoBBY]

Erod:

Philadelphia is not a state, it is a city.

Im not sure PA claims it anymore. They certainly dont give a , about it.....

 

[erod]

Erod:

Philadelphia is not a state, it is a city.

I was hoping everybody would catch the irony.

And trust me, the rest of Pennsylvania doesn't claim Philadelphia as its own.

 

[erod]

On the outside looking in, it certainly looks dysfunctional, but I'd wait to pass judgement until roughly 6:30 PM Sunday Central.

Sunday won't say much unless Dallas wins. Philly is healthy, Dallas isn't. Philly is at home. Philly is the desperate team at this point.

Dallas is playing with house money.

 

[jday]

Sunday won't say much unless Dallas wins. Philly is healthy, Dallas isn't. Philly is at home. Philly is the desperate team at this point.

Dallas is playing with house money.

In a 16 game season, I'm not so sure there is such a thing as "house money." Even with the injuries the Cowboys are dealing with, I don't see Philly having much of an advantage; this actually levels the playing field. The Eagles don't have a #1 WR, a young and promising pass rusher, a guard like Leary or a corner like Scandrick. So, this will actually be a better barometer for where the Cowboys are at then you may think.

 

[Miguelitomama]

They're not a bad team at all. 5 more minutes on Monday and they win that game. I think their system works but hinges on complete mistake free football at a faster rate.

I think its delusional to discount them. Not to mention Flectcher Cox was probably the best Dline player we Saw last year

All I can say is that I'm so glad to no longer be living in Philadelphia. The weeks before a Dallas/Iggles match-up were intolerable, especially during the Aikman era. I had to hear "Dallas Sucks" on a regular basis. And forget wearing any fan gear...what a bunch of whiners. The Michael Irvin drug arrest was like Christmas for those people. Go Cowboys!!

 

[Clarkson]

Agree with mostly all of this, but Matthews is not a "small" WR. He's like 6'3.

 

[Fletch]

They're not a bad team at all. 5 more minutes on Monday and they win that game. I think their system works but hinges on complete mistake free football at a faster rate.

I think its delusional to discount them. Not to mention Flectcher Cox was probably the best Dline player we Saw last year

Five more minutes? Lol

If you can't do it during regulation, then you are what you are.

 

[Biag]

All I can say is that I'm so glad to no longer be living in Philadelphia. The weeks before a Dallas/Iggles match-up were intolerable, especially during the Aikman era. I had to hear "Dallas Sucks" on a regular basis. And forget wearing any fan gear...what a bunch of whiners. The Michael Irvin drug arrest was like Christmas for those people. Go Cowboys!!

I kind of enjoy living in the area when they win. All the smack talk all week then its crickets. All last year it was wait till December when Romo and they boys choke and then they did. Plus the bonus of listening to WIP and the whining and excuses the following week.

 

[jrumann59]

Kelly has a lot of Spurrier in him as it comes to strategy.

 

[jazzcat22]

Eagles may get off to another fast start, giving them yet again, false hopes. They will once again, get the tired leg syndrome later in the year and fade. We don't know that for sure, but probably is a good chance that happens.
If the Eagles win, I may not watch the shows for a week, as the Chip love will be unbearable. LOL.
This game will not make or break any teams season. Although if we win, it will hurt them more than it will hurt us if we lose. As to the 0-2 start to a 1-1 start. But it would be a huge win for us starting off 2-0, and them 0-2. Huge win, but not a devastating loss.

 

[jrumann59]

Is that one of the 57 that the pre........

 

[Satchel89]

I agree totally. You bring up some very good points. My thing is that Bradford still has to prove that he can stay healthy and be able to withstand pressure in the pocket. I'm putting some faith in the D-Line without Gregory. I know everyone wants to talk about how quick he throws and how he's so good in this offense. He just never looks comfortable to me and I think he throws some interceptions in this game. And Kelly is so in love with himself that he does all these personnel moves that he thinks will him look like a genius because it has to be about him and not the team. The Eagles roster is actually worse. The secondary matches up pretty well against Matthews, Ahgolor, and Cooper. I know Cooper had some catches against Claiborne but I don't think he scares anyone. None of the 3 scare you like Maclin and Jackson. Then Shady is gone and he gets replaced with Matthews and Murray. Murray is good but he isn't good running sideways in their offense. I think Kelly was an idiot in getting rid of his 3 best players on Offense. Cowboys are the better team

 

[CATCH17]

The key will be getting off the field on 3rd down and cashing in Touchdowns on long drives.

If we play soft coverage and let them chip away at us all day like we did the Giants then it could be a long day because Murray can knock it in once you get in the redzone.