Posts Tagged ‘The War Room’

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It’s Official: Andy Reid’s Tenure as Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach is Done

Monday, December 31st, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Monday morning what we already knew – Andy Reid is no longer head coach of the team.

In a statement, team owner Jeffrey Lurie said,

“Andy Reid won the most games of any head coach in Eagles history and he is someone I respect greatly and will remain friends with for many years to come,” said Lurie.  “But, it is time for the Eagles to move in a new direction.  Coach Reid leaves us with a winning tradition that we can build upon.  And we are very excited about the future.”

Lurie added,

“The search for the new coach of the Philadelphia Eagles will begin immediately.”

The Eagles will hold a press conference at 1 pm today.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Philadelphia Eagles: This is it for Andy Reid and Mike Vick

Sunday, December 30th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Will today be Andy’s swan song?
(Image via Black Sports Online)

 

This is it.  The final game of the 2012 season for the Philadelphia Eagles will unfold this afternoon at the Meadowlands.  Sitting at 4-11, there are no playoff aspirations for this team.  There are only questions of what’s to come.

What’s in store in the year ahead for Mike Vick, who will today lead the Birds for perhaps the last time.  His tenure with the team was at first electric, then fizzled precipitously over the past two seasons.  It is that electricity that many of us hope to see from Vick today, one last time.  Can he drive the Eagles to victory over the Giants once again and end their playoff hopes for good?

If Vick does put in a strong performance, the question of whether he will see a return to Philadelphia in 2013 will grow even more uncertain.  Recent reports say that Vick is unwilling to renegotiate his existing contract with the Eagles, which would pay him a base salary of $15.5 million next year.  It’s hard to imagine Philadelphia paying that figure for a quarterback with a losing record with the team.  But, of course, that decision and so many others depends on who will be named head coach of the Eagles next year.

With the Andy Reid era almost assuredly coming to a close following this game, the questions about the coaching situation will come in rapid succession.  When will Reid be let go (it’s widely expected to happen before the new year)?  Who will be named to succeed Big Red?

The endless rumors about Oregon head coach Chip Kelly coming to Philadelphia are so plentiful that you have to wonder if it seems packaged a bit too nicely.  After all, when have the Eagles ever done what was predicted, particularly when it comes to personnel?

Today, there is a game to focus on.  Tomorrow, all talk about the Eagles will swirl around the many “what ifs” that surround the team following an abysmal season and a head coach whose record in the last four seasons has been 33-30, interestingly falling short of Rich Kotite‘s mark in his four seasons with the team (36-28).

Can Mike Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles go 2-0 against the Giants this season and end all hope of a return to the playoffs by last year’s Super Bowl champs?  With a little help by New York’s troubled defense it certainly can happen.  It won’t exactly end this long, disappointing season on a high note, but a win against the G-men is always a good thing.  It won’t change Philadelphia’s losing record but the end of what has been the most successful era of Eagles football deserves to end with a “W”.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Mike Vick to Have One Last Stand as a Philadelphia Eagle

Friday, December 28th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Andy Reid & Mike Vick
(Image via Black Sports Online)

 

What would the 2012 Philadelphia Eagles season be without yet another twist to end the season?

With Nick Foles sent to injured reserve on Wednesday, Mike Vick will make what is very likely his final appearance in an Eagles uniform on Sunday against the New York Giants.  This after being relegated to the third-string quarterback last week, when he wasn’t even active for the game.

But Vick isn’t hanging on to bitterness.  He’s excited to have the opportunity to play, to get back under center and hopefully to lead them to a win.

“It’s great to know that you’re going to have a chance to go out and play.  The one thing I never do is waver or back down from opportunities to go out there and get on the field regardless of what has transpired throughout the season.  I’m fully confident in myself and the guys around me.  We’ll have to go out there and put it all together for the last game and get a win for Andy.”

Like the head coach who brought him to Philadelphia, though, Vick is trying to avoid thinking about the “what ifs.”  What if this is his last game as an Eagle?  What if this is his final game as an NFL starting quarterback?

“I don’t think about it.  The only thing I think about is going out there and trying to be productive for this football team, enjoy the last game [of the season] with my teammates, and make the most of it.”

Sunday’s game will hold little meaning for the Eagles, with the team long out of the playoffs and nothing truly able to put a positive spin on the horrific season.  But it could prove to provide quite an important opportunity for Vick, who will likely be on the hunt for a new job in 2013.  But like the other “what ifs”, Vick says he’s not entertaining these thoughts either.

“I’m not putting pressure on myself to go out and try to put on a great performance in the sense of an audition.  I think it’s about just going out and playing and doing what you love to do.  [There’s] already enough pressure on you in this league but the thing I’m truly confident about is my ability to play the game of football, what I know, what I’ve learned, the success I’ve had over the past years, and what I can accomplish [in the future].  I think I just have to go out and continue to play my game.  The focus is to try to be the best player I can be year in and year out and being in tip-top shape, and ensure that I’m doing all the right things.”

In his remarks to the media on Wednesday, Vick reflected on his career in Philadelphia.

“My time has been great.  I’ve enjoyed being here, I’ve enjoyed the coaches, [and] I’ve enjoyed the teammates that I’ve had.  Some have come and gone but given the opportunity I was able to go out and be productive in 2010, finished strong in 2011, and this year was just a roller coaster ride.  We had a lot of ups and downs.  We had a lot of guys who got hurt.  We just had to deal with it the way we did and the joy we get, and the fulfillment, of still being able to go out and play the game.”

The roller coaster that has been 2012 will continue into 2013, as the Eagles seek to find a new coach, team and identity.  But it is so fitting that what is likely to be the last game of the Reid-Vick era in Philadelphia football will see the two together in game action one final time.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook. 

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Philadelphia Eagles Season Sinks Even Further Into Meaninglessness

Monday, December 24th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

(Image via the Philadelphia Eagles)

 

The ending of Sunday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins, the final home game of an awful season for the Birds, was a good analogy for the frustration of the entire year.

Nick Foles, trying to orchestrate a game-tying drive, found new tight end Evan Moore near the goal line only for Moore to drop the pass with 11 seconds left in the game.  For what would be the final play, Foles threw an incompletion that was ruled an illegal forward pass, thereby ending the game.

And so it went, with the Redskins winning 27-20 and on the cusp of winning the NFC East.  Which left the Eagles to sink even further into meaninglessness, falling to 4-11.

If the Eagles were trying to put on a good show for Andy Reid’s final home game or attempting to play the spoiler, they failed at both tasks.  But sadly, while we may have hoped for a different outcome, we didn’t really expect it.

There were some high points, certainly.  Foles’ 27-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin in the first quarter was a beauty.  And Dion Lewis notched the second touchdown of his career with a run into the endzone in the fourth.  Brandon Graham was fierce, leading the defense with 6 tackles and showing that his 2012 “I’m not a bust” campaign will be a success.  And Shady contributed his talents to the running and passing game, accruing 77 yards from 9 passes and getting 45 yards on the ground from 13 carries.

One of the highlights from the game only served to point out how bad this team has been this season.  Colt Anderson got an interception, the first time the Eagles have done so since Week 5.  That’s just pathetic.

Not surprisingly, there was a whole lot of bad.  Philadelphia converted on just 5 of 15 3rd downs.  The Redskins’ horrible defense did a number on Foles and the offensive line, sacking Nick five times.  And once again, as was the case when the Eagles and Redskins met up in Week 11, RG3, returning from an injury and visibly limping early in the game, put in another strong performance, going 16/24 for 198 yards for 2 touchdowns and 1 pick.

Foles’ numbers for the day were 32-of-48 for 345 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble.  He sustained an injury to his throwing hand but neither he nor Reid pointed to that as the reason the team couldn’t get it done this time – as has been the case so many times this season.

The final test for Philadelphia comes next week when they play the Giants at 1 pm at the Meadowlands.  This painful chapter of Eagles history will soon draw to a close, with a report this morning from ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio on Mike and Mike saying that Reid will be fired on December 31, a day after the team’s final game.

We’ll see.  But it would be fitting to ring in 2013 Reid-free to show that we are truly entering a new era.

The end is almost near.  I can’t remember ever wanting to see the end of the football season come to a conclusion but this season warrants that exception.  And then will be an offseason of a lot of uncertainty and change.  But it’s time.

And, in case you’re wondering, if the draft were held today the Eagles would have the fourth overall pick.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Washington Redskins vs Philadelphia Eagles: Birds relishing the role of spoiler?

Sunday, December 23rd, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lot has changed since the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins first met in Week 11.  That game was Nick Foles’ first career start in the NFL.  Both teams were 3-6.

But that’s where the fortunes of the teams took divergent paths.

Since then, Washington has won 5 games in a row and the Eagles….haven’t.  The Skins have found that they are more blessed at the quarterback position than anyone knew, after Kirk Cousins stood in for RG3 last week and led the team to victory on the road against the Cleveland Browns in Week 15.

This week, Griffin III will be back to face the Eagles at what is very likely Andy Reid’s final game at the Linc.  While the team undoubtedly welcomes his return and leadership, RG3 faces some challenges on his offense, particularly from Washington’s offensive line.  They’ve been hit with a rash of issues, both injuries and suspensions.  Against a Philadelphia d-line that is finally bringing pressure to the quarterback, it could be a rough game for RG3.  But he’s more than adept at finding ways to escape danger and Washington will try to bring rookie gem RB Alfred Morris into the fold as much as possible.

Eagles fans will see the return of LeSean McCoy to the field, his first time in action since that Week 11 meeting with the Redskins when he left late in the game with a concussion.  Will he have a limited role while the Birds try to give Bryce Brown more playing time to work on securing the freaking ball and affording Dion Lewis some opportunities to take the field?  It seems silly to needlessly risk Shady sustaining further injury but we’ll see how it goes.

The Redskins come into this game with everything in the world to play for — if they win this week and next, they will have won the NFC East for the first time since 1999.  The Eagles as spoilers?  Is it really that fun or interesting playing “spoiler” when every team in your division has a chance but you?  I think the motivation for Philadelphia will be more to put in a strong showing for the final home game of their head coach.  But will that be enough to propel them past Washington’s playoff aspirations?

After the mess we saw against the Bengals, I don’t think it will be.

More things to watch:

  • Will special teams suffer yet another epic meltdown?
  • How will the crowd at the Linc greet  Reid?
  • After almost a full season, the Birds are still trying to figure out this safety situation.  Nate Allen was benched, Kurt Coleman is back at free safety and Colt Anderson remains, switching to strong safety.  We’ll see how it goes.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Sunday at the Linc: Will Fans Cheer or Boo Andy Reid?

Sunday, December 23rd, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Reid’s final stand will come at the Linc on Sunday
(Image via GCobb.com)

 

Regardless of the outcome of today’s game at Lincoln Financial Field between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins, it will be a significant day in the franchise’s history.  Why?  Because it will very likely mark the last game in Philadelphia for Andy Reid, the last time he will have an opportunity to interact with thousands of Eagles fans.

How will the good-bye go?  Will fans boo?  Will they applaud?  The curiosity of seeing the final reception for Reid from Birds fans may well override the storyline of the three-way tie in the NFC East that will, in part, take place on the field.  We already know, of course, that the Eagles are the only team in the division with no part of that race.

Players like LeSean McCoy, who will take to the field Sunday after recovering from a concussion, doesn’t want to think about the rapidly approaching steps leading to the end of Reid’s tenure in Philadelphia.

“I’m not thinking like that.  I don’t want to answer that type of question.  As far as I’m concerned, he’s our coach right now and hopefully in the future.”

For better or for worse, Shady is in Reid’s corner until the very end.

“If you sat here and tried to name five to eight coaches that’s better than Coach Reid, I would like to hear them, because Coach Reid’s a good coach.  He gets blamed for everything.  Sometimes if you break down the film or break down the plays and the mistakes, how do you fault the coach for that?  But I guess people have their own opinions and their minds are made up.  The thing about the team is we know how good of a coach he really is.  Whatever happens, happens.  I’m behind Coach Reid 110 percent.”

Yes, it is players who are the ones who actually play the game.  But from an outside perspective, the sloppy play and poor fundamentals point to a lack of discipline.  A lack of respect for the game.  And no one on a team is more important in setting a tone of discipline and respect than the head coach.

Does Reid deserve a warm send-off from Philadelphia fans at the Linc on Sunday?  I’d say so.  If nothing else, it’s because the nightmare of the past two seasons is nearing its conclusion.  Yes, Big Red brought a lot of success to the franchise over his fourteen years with the team and that should be acknowledged.  But he is also made a number of shocking miscues that have led directly to where the Eagles find themselves today.

The long march to the end of the season is thankfully almost over for this team, as is, in all likelihood, the end of the Reid era in Philadelphia.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Philadelphia Eagles Sign TE Evan Moore

Sunday, December 23rd, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Philadelphia Eagles Tight End Evan Moore

The Philadelphia Eagles filled the roster spot left vacant by Clay Harbor’s trip to IR by signing tight end Evan Moore on Thursday.

 

Moore (6-6, 250) was with the Seattle Seahawks for most of the 2012 season, playing in 14 games before being released on December 19 after an unimpressive season – Moore had just 1 catch for 6 yards this year.

 

Prior to that, Moore spent 4 years with the Cleveland Browns (2009-2011), where he set career highs in catches (34), yards (324) and touchdowns (4) with the Browns in 2011.  In total over his career in the NFL, he has played in 47 games and has made nine starts, recording 63 receptions for 810 yards and five touchdowns.

 

In coming to Philadelphia, Moore reunites with one of his Stanford University teammates, quarterback Trent Edwards.

 

Moore entered the NFL in 2008 as a rookie free agent signed to the New Orleans Saints.  He spent training camp and preseason with the Green Bay Packers before suffering a knee injury that forced him to miss his entire rookie year.  Moore was released by the Packers as part of their final roster cuts in 2009 and signed to the Browns practice squad midway through the season before being promoted to the active roster on December 5 of that year.

 

Moore will wear number 86 with the Birds.

 

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

 

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Philadelphia Eagles TE Clay Harbor Placed on IR

Sunday, December 23rd, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Clay Harbor has seen his last game action of the season.
(Image via CBSSports.com)

 

Another one bites the dust as #2 tight end Clay Harbor was placed on injured reserve by the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday.

Harbor suffered a lower back injury during Thursday night’s game against the Bengals.  That game was his first career start, filling in for a concussed Brent Celek.  Against Cincinnati, Harbor had 3 catches for 30 yards and, unfortunately, lost a fumble.

The third-year player finishes the year with a career high 25 catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Thankfully for the Eagles, Celek will be back in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Redskins.

No corresponding roster move has yet been made by the team.

In other injury news from a decimated Philadelphia Eagles offense, LeSean McCoy has been cleared by an independent doctor and returned to practice on Monday.  As for whether he’ll play on Sunday, head coach Andy Reid said,

“There’s a chance he ends up playing for us this week.  We’ll see how it goes with the practices this week.  He practiced (Monday) and did well.”

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

 

 

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Total Turnover Meltdown by the Philadelphia Eagles

Friday, December 14th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, Philadelphia Eagles fans.  We didn’t even get a week to enjoy a win.  We endure more than two winless months,  and then the victory that finally breaks the skid lasts for a mere four days.

Sigh.

The final Thursday night game of the NFL season saw a strong performance from the Eagles defense that was wasted by carelessness in the other phases of the game.  Specifically, the Birds made five turnovers that the Bengals turned into 31 points on the scoreboard, with Philadelphia wasting away a 13-10 lead it took into halftime to lose the game 34-13.

Sadly, Jeremy Maclin’s fumble on the second play of the game should have told us how the story would ultimately end.  Kansas City led the league in turnovers at the start of the game but no more.  The title now solely belongs to the Eagles, who have committed 34 this season.

In a horrific series of events in the second half, the Birds managed to give the ball back to the Bengals four times in five consecutive plays.  Foles threw an interception, Bryce Brown fumbled once again on a handoff that was never in his control, then Clay Harbor fumbled, causing Cincinnati to score 17 unanswered points in 5 minutes and 37 seconds.

Leave it to CSN’s Reuben Frank to break it down to an even more shocking perspective:  That meltdown equated to almost three points scored per minute by the Bengals.

A repeat of Sunday’s rousing performance by Foles was not in the cards this game.  The rookie struggled,  completing 16 of 33 passes for 182 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception for a passer rating of 62.9.

The shame of it all is that the sloppiness and epic screw-ups of the offense and special teams covered up a stout performance by the defense.  The d-line was all over Andy Dalton.  In the first half alone, the D had 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.  Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox put in inspired performances, with Graham getting 2.5 sacks and Cox earning 1.5.  Cullen Jenkins brought Andy Dalton down once, and get this — even Trent Cole had a sack.

This was the defensive line we were promised in the preseason.  We were finally seeing what all of the immense talent we knew could accomplish.  Unfortunately, it’s come far too late.

The good news for all of us — team and fans alike — is that we get a break.  The Eagles won’t play again until the eve of Christmas Eve, when they’ll face the Washington Redskins.  Our expectations will go back to being nothing.  Perhaps we’ll see some great play by the defense again.  Maybe the offense can put together another game like we saw in Tampa.  Something to lessen the torture of seeing a team in total meltdown.

But, then again, it’s what we’ve witnessed all season.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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No Love Lost from the Philadelphia Eagles Linebackers Over the Departure of the Wide-9

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

It was no illusion.  The Philadelphia Eagles defense played better than they had in weeks in Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  It couldn’t have all been because the death knell had been blown to the Wide 9 with the firing of Jim Washburn, could it?

Not all, but it certainly didn’t hurt.  The linebackers  felt that new d-line coach Tommy Brasher’s more traditional approach made their work on the field easier.  Some were open in speaking about it to Tim McManus at Birds 24/7 on Tuesday.

Said Jamar Chaney,

“It’s better for the linebackers.  If you ask any linebacker what scheme or how they would want to do it, they would want the linemen to hold up the blocks and they go make the plays.”

With the change, the d-line is keeping offensive lineman busy for longer periods of time, which frees up the linebackers to make plays.  Things may have gotten harder for the defensive lineman but their efforts have helped their linebacker brethren.

“There is no read [before].  With this right now, they read the blocks.  It’s probably harder for the d-line but it’s easier for the linebackers.  It’s harder for them because they have been playing the Wide-9 and they have to make the adjustment, but it’s probably easier for the linebackers because everything will get more clear.  Not saying that linemen aren’t going to get up on us, but they probably aren’t going to get up on us as fast.  It just clears out everything.”

The elimination of the controversial formation wasn’t the only change that seemed to have an impact on Sunday.  With Mychal Kendricks’ switch to the WILL linebacker position, which he played in college, he was freed up to more effectively utilize his speed to make plays.  And there was marked improvement with the secondary.  Colt Anderson did a good job replacing the injured Kurt Coleman at safety and noted that no Wide 9 meant that safeties felt some of the same relief as the linebackers in defending pass plays.  As he told McManus, in those situations they experienced “a little less stress.”

While seeing any improvement on the Eagles defense was long overdue, seeing the near-immediate positive impact of Washburn’s firing makes you wonder what could have been if the move had happened when there was some hope of saving the season.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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