The Eagles need the dual-threat Mike Vick back.
The greatest indictment against Michael Vick is not his turnovers or the Eagles 11-11 record in their last 22 games. Michael Vick’s problems began when he bought into Andy Reid’s propaganda of exclusively becoming a pocket passer, shunning any thought of remaining a dual threat at quarterback.
Key to victory: Give Shady the ball.
(Image via Philly Sports Central)
The Atlanta Falcons look pretty beatable for an undefeated team.
Their six wins have come against nary a winning team, .500 being the best record of an opponent they’ve faced this season. A 30-28 win in Week 4 against the Panthers or a 23-20 victory in Week 6 over the Raiders can’t exactly be described as impressive or dominating. Yes, the Falcons have come out with wins in every game but are they a commanding team? That is what the Falcons seek to prove on Sunday. The Philadelphia Eagles plan to show that the mighty can and will fall, particularly when the Falcons travel to the Linc and have failed to secure a victory in four previous trips to Philadelphia’s stadium.
Sunday’s contest promises to be a great game, with the stakes high for both birds facing each other on the field. The Philadelphia Eagles are fighting for their very future. With a coordinator already gone, each and every player and coach has been put on notice. The time to talk a good game is over. It’s time to go play it. But Philadelphia never does things the easy way, proving themselves at the very moment their backs are against the wall.
Well, the wall has appeared and it can’t be much higher.
Quarterback Matt Ryan has been stellar this season with 14 touchdowns and 6 interceptions with a passer rating of 98.8. But Ryan threw 3 interceptions in Atlanta’s game against Oakland making ball security a concern for quarterbacks of both teams this week.
The Eagles D is tasked with trying to neutralize Ryan and his tremendous offensive weapons. Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez are all dangerous players and Ryan spreads out his throws successfully to all three. This means that Philadelphia’s defense must bring pressure to Ryan and Atlanta’s pass-heavy offense. Gonzalez gave Philadelphia fits in last year’s meeting and this time will be covered by Mychal Kendricks and Nate Allen. We know that Kendricks is good but the rookie will face an incredible challenge in trying to contain Gonzalez. With a new DC, Philadelphia can inject an element of surprise to Ryan and the Falcons with the addition of some blitzing plays to keep the pressure coming.
The same concerns that existed prior to the bye for the Eagles offense are still there, first among them the turnover issue. Andy Reid and Mike Vick were not able to find an effective solution in their bag of tricks before the break but their futures depend on ending the giveaways. The shaky offensive line was dealt another blow with rookie Dennis Kelly likely getting his first NFL start on Sunday to replace RG Danny Watkins, who is suffering from left ankle issue. King Dunlap is back as the starting left tackle, which should provide some solace for this line as Demetress Bell has continued to underwhelm with pass protection. The o-line has been ravaged by injury this season but quite simply has to make it work this game and for the rest of the year.
Atlanta’s secondary thrives on takeaways and former Eagle Asante Samuel would just love to get a pick this game to prove to his old team that he is not damaged goods and they made a mistake in trading him. Samuel has one 76-yard interception return for a touchdown this season and the Falcons have gotten a total of 17 takeaways. Safety Thomas DeCoud has four interceptions alone, tied for the lead in the NFL.
Where can the Eagles get an edge against an aggressive Falcons defense? By getting the running game going and sticking with it. LeSean McCoy has struggled in the two weeks prior to the bye but Atlanta’s defense against the run is 28th– worst in the league, allowing an average 143.8 yards per game on the ground and allowing 5.2 YPC. When Shady is your running back and you’re going against a team with such poor run defense, you run the ball. Period. Philadelphia found success when it dialed up more rushing than passing attempts as it did in its victories against the Ravens and Giants. They have the talent to do it and the more Vick is asked to throw the more potential for problems.
The intrigue of the Mike Vick-as-former-Falcons quarterback has faded but there is plenty to make this game a must-see matchup as well as a must-win contest for the Eagles. Hurricane Sandy will likely make the weather a mess, not a comforting fact given concerns about ball security. Todd Bowles makes his debut as the team’s DC and needs to prove that he can dial up the right plays at the right time for the Eagles defense. The implications of 3-4 versus a 4-3 record are entirely different for Philadelphia and this team cannot afford to dip below .500. There is no more time for excuses. And if it’s another messy outing for Vick, things will get even more dramatic for Philadelphia.
Who has the edge in Sunday’s game? I’d say it’s the team who has the most at stake. In this case, it is hands-down the Philadelphia Eagles. Expect them to come out swinging, seeking to prove to their detractors and to themselves that they can hand Atlanta their first loss this season. It doesn’t hurt that the Falcons are 0-4 at the Linc, either. Prediction: Eagles 27 Falcons 21
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Eagles Defensive end Brandon Graham
Linebacker Casey Matthews hinted at what he thought of Juan Castillo’s coaching when he summed up the first meeting of the Philadelphia Eagles defense of the Todd Bowles era on Monday: “We’re not going to be predictable anymore.”
Brandon Graham took those comments further on Wednesday by blaming Castillo for the Eagles defensive woes in the games of which he presided. Graham stated that the former DC’s inability to change his play-calling in the fourth quarter was exactly the reason for the collapse the Birds experienced so many times in the last moments of games in 2011 and 2012.
Specifically, Graham stated
“I think we started running the same stuff over and over and not switching it up as much. A lot of time we ran the same coverage, stuff like that. I listen to the calls every play – ‘Coach, what do we have this play? What do we have this play,’ and it was always pretty much the same stuff.”
He’s got a point there.
Graham looks forward to predictability not being an issue that plagues the defense under Bowles.
“That’s what he talked about, not being predictable in the fourth quarter, because by the fourth quarter everybody knows what we’re going to do, and that’s how we get beat.”
“I think Coach Bowles, it’s going to be fun to see what he’s going to be doing, because I think everything we run in practice we’re going to actually really run in the game.”
While Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons will provide our first glimpse of Bowles’ defense, the new coordinator has indicated that there will not be major changes to Philadelphia’s defense other than some increased use of the blitz where appropriate. Bowles clearly has the support and full confidence of his players on defense but most have been more restrained in their comments than Graham.
As one of the biggest storylines of the Eagles defense this season is a lack of pressure brought by the d-line, Graham is certainly hoping that the changing of the guard will present him with more opportunities to show what he can do. So far Graham has taken just 18.6% of defensive snaps this season. However, BG has made the most of his time on the field and has applied constant pressure. In just 44 opportunities, he’s produced half-a-sack and 13 hurries.
The new leadership on defense has given players a renewed sense of excitement as well as urgency. This will provide a major boost to the defense and the team as a whole as they try to continue Andy Reid’s streak of perfection coming out of the bye Sunday at the Linc and try to extend their record to 4-3.
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Since the firing of former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo last week, we’ve been waiting for the corresponding shoe to drop on offense.
After head coach Andy Reid’s pronouncement that Mike Vick would remain his starting quarterback and that Marty Mornhinweg would continue to call plays on offense, we knew that no sizable changes were coming on that side of the ball for the Birds.
No, there will be no major, seismic-shift-type changes. But lo and behold, the week after Philadelphia’s bye has produced some shifts, specifically on the offensive line.
The never-ending rotation at left tackle continues with King Dunlap now back to being the starter. Yes, that means that Demetress Bell has been demoted from the position yet again, rightly so after an awful outing against Detroit. CSNPhilly’s Reuben Frank initially reported the change. Many other factors are obviously involved, but the Birds are 2-0 with Dunlap starting at LT and 1-3 with Bell in that role.
The offensive line has been a constant area of struggle for the Eagles this season, starting with the injury to Jason Peters’ Achilles in the offseason. Dunlap’s promotion, which comes after Bell replaced him on the line due to a hip injury, shows that the team is still struggling to get it right.
Philadelphia also made a move on Tuesday to better address depth on the line, which has also been a problem this season. The team announced that backup center Steve Vallos had been released and Matt Tennant was signed.
Tennant (6-4, 300) played with the New Orleans Saints for 28 games in the 2010 and 2011 seasons before heading to New England for 2012. He was released by the Patriots on October 20. Tennant was a 5th-round draft selection of the Saints in 2010 out of Boston College.
To summarize, Tennant will now be the backup to backup Dallas Reynolds, who was the backup for Jason Kelce but became the starter after Kelce suffered an ACL injury. Kelce, by the way, had surgery to repair the tear earlier this week. Hope he gets well soon — he has been sorely missed on the field.
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The question of how excited Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson was to return to practice on Monday didn’t even have to be asked. The smile radiating from his face told you the answer.
Though he’s not sure when he’ll return to football shape or if he’ll ultimately be cleared to play this season, Patterson was thrilled to be back at practice with his teammates, saying, “Everything felt good though. I feel real good out there, running around.”
Patterson has not yet been cleared for contact. His progress will be monitored closely by Andy Reid and head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder, but he knows that things will be taken slowly.
“I’m not in the rotation right now, so like I said, they’re just going to take it slow. We’re going to see how things work out. The big man [head coach Andy Reid], he’s just not in a rush to get me out there and risk anything. So, [they’re] just kind of looking at me.”
The return to practice sounded like the first day of school for Patterson – a combination of nervousness mixed with plenty of excitement.
“It felt real good, man. I feel very excited. I was kind of jittery, I would say, this morning but after getting into the swing of this and meetings and stuff, stuff goes away and [you] kind of take it in and everything’s happy. I’m just happy to be out here.”
Patterson wasn’t the only one excited to be back at practice. His Eagles teammates were thrilled to have him back and to see how far he had come since his surgery. Kurt Coleman’s remarks were particularly heartfelt.
“It’s a blessing. For him to come back from what he did and be able to come back and just be a part of this team, it’s a blessing. He’s an impact player. He’s great for the run stop. He knows how to position himself and cover a lot of gaps down there. It’s a great thing to have him back. We’re excited. It’s going to bring another person added to that D-line.”
Patterson has been featured on the new non-football injury (NFI) list this season. This new feature gives teams an option other than injured reserve. It allows them to evaluate injured players beginning in Week 6 by including them in team practices. Teams around the league then have until Week 9 to decide if the player will be placed on the active roster or to sent to IR.
We’ll see how Patterson progresses but the fact that the man who collapsed on the field in seizures at Lehigh University at Eagles training camp in 2011 and had brain surgery this offseason that required his skull to be cut open, it’s a remarkable feat that Patterson is where he is now. We’ll soon find out whether he is able to ultimately play but either way, Patterson is a winner in this situation.
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Asante Samuel looks forward to dodging calls from you, and you, and you…
There is classy, and then there is Asante Samuel. I’m pretty sure that no one has ever confused the former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback with possessing the characteristic.
As we all know, Samuel was traded to the Atlanta Falcons this offeason for mere peanuts. It’s the NFL. It’s a business. It happens. Well, “smart” is also not a word that can apparently be applied to Samuel because, based on his actions on Monday, he must believe that Philadelphia’s media is responsible for the trade.
It’s customary for players from opposing teams to speak with the media of the city of the squad they’ll be playing in the upcoming week. Standard procedure. Many players who have been traded have, at some point, been reunited with the beat writers they used to interact with on a near-daily basis.
But leave it to Samuel to behave like a horse’s behind about it all.
The story was revealed via Delaware County Times beat writer Bob Grotz on Twitter.
Good job with the misplaced anger or whatever this was, Asante. Newsflash: Philadelphia sports journalists didn’t fire you. The Eagles did. If you refused to speak to them on a call I’d kind of get it. But guess what? After today’s stunt, Philly’s media has been reminded of how glad they are to not to have to deal with you anymore.
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It’s not yet midseason but the bye week provides an opportunity to take a look at the Eagles season thus far and consider what the next ten games may feature.
While the Eagles are at exactly .500 at 3-3, there is ominous feeling surrounding the team and the rest of the season. Why? Because no one is convinced that the many issues on offense that have plagued the Birds — that o-line, the fumbles, the play calling — have been corrected. While head coach Andy Reid chose to take a stand by firing defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, he has taken no action on the offensive side of the ball.
We desperately want to believe that the problems on Philadelphia’s offense will magically work themselves out. Magic may well be the only solution, as we’ve seen no evidence of any ability on the coaching staff to adequately address the errors that have afflicted the team thus far. Which is precisely why Reid seemingly has decided to stay the course.
What’s that, that they say about the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing repeatedly yet expecting different results. It’s a quote that is often applied to the Philadelphia Eagles and especially Andy Reid for reasons precisely like this.
In early September I made a prediction for the Eagles 2012 season. Nothing outrageous, but an achievable goal: A 10-6 record for the season.
At 3-3, that means the Eagles need to go 7-3 for the remainder of the season in order to reach a record of 10-6. Can they do it?
The next test is the undefeated Atlanta Falcons at home. If the Birds don’t come out swinging this game they never will. The jobs of their coach and starting quarterback are on the line, and Reid’s perfect record out of the bye won’t hurt.
Philadelphia then takes to the national stage and heads to New Orleans to face the Saints on Monday Night Football. The Super Dome is a notoriously difficult place to play and after a very poor start, the Saints have some momentum and are heartened by the moral victory of having Jonathan Vilma back with the team.
Then we get into the thick of the NFC East battles. If the present is any indication of the remainder of the season, this may not be a year where a poor record can win the division, with the Giants currently standing strong with a 5-2 record. Dallas will come to town in Week 10, then the Eagles will head down the road in Week 11 to face an RGIII-led Redskins team for the first time.
Monday Night calls again in Week 12 as the Birds play Cam Newton in what so far has been a disappointing and frustrating season for the Panthers. In Week 13 Philadelphia gets even more prime time action as the Eagles faceoff with the Cowboys in the den of evil—Dallas– on Sunday Night Football.
With the end of the season in sight, the Eagles will face the Bucs in Tampa Bay in Week 14; back-to-back home games against the Bengals and Redskins, and in Week 17 finish it all off against the Giants.
To finish at 10-6, the Eagles can lose only three of their remaining games. If they can lose even fewer, fabulous. The good news is that, aside from the Falcons, none of the remaining Eagles opponents seem formidable. And the fact that Atlanta will play at the Linc lessens the worry.
The season will come down to the division games. I’m hoping that the Giants will do the opposite of what they did last year — start off strong and then trail off come the end of the season. But the Redskins are a surging team and are going to be more and more of a challenge for Philadelphia as RG3III gains more experience in the league. Dallas is an organization with a lot on the line if they have another disappointing year so expect a lot of fight from the Cowboys.
Whatever the record, we know that this year it’s about the postseason. Making it there and going deep. But first thing’s first: the Birds need the record and the standing to put them in a position to make a run.
As is said far too frequently when the Philadelphia Eagles are involved, there is an incredible level of talent on this roster. It’s all about how it’s put together. Time to see that “FIGHT-FIGHT-FIGHT” we know this team has to battle through and show what they’re truly made of.
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Philadelphia Eagles DT Mike Patterson, always smiling, even through injury.
Possibly some good news about the health and recovery of Philadelphia Eagles player Mike Patterson: According to a report from CSNPhilly’s Derrick Gunn, the defensive tackle may be activated by the team on Monday.
Gunn indicates that Patterson could begin practicing with the team but is “a ways off from being game ready.”
The tackle has been featured on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury (NFI) list since Aug. 27, as he continues to recover from offseason brain surgery to relieve a rare tangling of the nerves around his brain called AVM.
The Eagles and other teams in the NFL now have three weeks, from Week 6 to Week 9, to allow players on NFI to practice. If they are not activated to the roster by Week 9, then they must be placed on Injured Reserve for the remainder of the season.
Patterson is an 8-year veteran on the team, and prior to this season, had started 110 out of a possible 112 regular season games. The defensive line is one area where the Eagles has enormous depth. There is no need to rush Patterson back, so if he is not fully healed from his brain surgery, expect him to be placed on IR for the remainder of the season.
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On Thursday came a reminder of the personal crisis facing Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid alongside his professional battle.
Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek released his report on the death of Garrett Reid, 29, the coach’s eldest son. It was what the family expected and alluded to in their initial statement about the tragedy: an accidental heroin overdose. The family responded as follows:
“These results sadly confirmed what we had expected all along. We understood that Garrett’s long-standing battle with addiction was going to be difficult. He will, however, always have our family’s love and respect for the courage he showed in trying to overcome it. In the end, we take comfort in our faith and know that he’s in a better place. We miss Garrett. We miss his smile, his laugh, and his energy and we will forever love him.”
“There are many other individuals and families engaged in this struggle in their own lives, and they will always have our support, encouragement, and understanding. Never give up!”
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Mike Vick is safe as Eagles’ starting quarterback…for now.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid has not yet completed his thorough examination of his team, but after the naming of Todd Bowles as the team’s defensive coordinator on Tuesday, no comparable moves are coming on offense. A report from Jeff McLane of the Inquirer cites sources as saying that Mike Vick will keep his job as Philadelphia’s starting quarterback and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg will continue to call plays.
Well, then.
According to the report,
“Reid has yet to conclude all of his evaluations during the bye week. But the additional moves that he said he would make won’t be as significant as was replacing Castillo with defensive backs coach Todd Bowles on Tuesday.”
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