With Ryan out, it will make the Eagles' day easier.


Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com, who is rarely wrong, tweeted today that Matt Ryan will be out when the Eagles head to Atlanta for an NFC showdown that will most certainly have playoff implications for both teams, win or lose.

Glazer goes on to say that Ryan has turf toe and will be visiting a specialist in Charlotte, North Carolina. Turf toe could mean that Ryan will not only miss this game, but could miss the next few games as well depending upon the severity of the ligament damage.

It's bad news for a struggling Falcons team, but great news for a struggling Eagles team. With Ryan out, the Falcons will most certainly start Chris Redman. Redman, while a decent backup in his own right, is not a quarterback capable of beating this Eagles defense.

The defense is struggling right now, but if the Bucs could put up a fight, then the Eagles defense should be able to dominate. Add that onto the fact that Michael Turner could miss this game with a high ankle sprain and that Jerious Norwood is less than 100 percent and you have a recipe that equals no excuses for this Philly defense.

In fact, if this is anything less than total domination, Philly will start to question if this is really a defense that can carry this team deep into the playoffs. The Falcons still have some weapons, so a shutout is by no means expected, but anything more than 14-17 points would be unacceptable.

This could be a very good game for this team as a whole to gain some confidence, some momentum, and really get them in gear for domination in December.

On the other hand, this could be a trap game for them. With Ryan and Turner most likely out, it wouldn't be shocking to see this defense become complacent and lay an egg, so to speak. On top of that, it's difficult to bury a team when they're against the ropes. Especially a well-coached and talented team like the Falcons.

It will be on the coaching staff and the leaders of this team to prevent that from happening.

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The line must be better for the Eagles to go anywhere.


Todd Herremans, Jamaal Jackson, and Nick Cole all have starting experience in this offense and with this team. They were all guys hand-picked by Andy Reid and have all had to overcome challenges from other players to keep their jobs.

They won those challenges, kept their jobs, and outside of injuries they haven't lost their jobs since last season. So what in the world is the problem with the Eagles' interior line?

On passing plays, they're getting pushed backward and missing blitzers. On running plays, they're getting pushed back and forcing LeSean McCoy to find a cutback lane in order to go anywhere. On screen plays, they're completely missing their guys. They run right by the defenders and leave either McCoy or Brent Celek out to dry.

Never before have I seen three guys get manhandled so badly throughout a season. Herremans doesn't have the body mass to play guard, Cole doesn't have the feet to move around well enough to play guard, and Jackson has been struggling for a while. However, I do put a lot of Jackson's struggles on his attempts to compensate for the struggling guard duo.

I'm by no means giving Jackson a pass -- he must play better -- but it feels like he's peeking at the guys shooting the 'B' gaps because he doesn't trust the guards next to him not to get beat. He's always been very good in pass protection, and that seems to be suffering this season.

If we could take about 30 pounds off Cole and give it to Herremans, it would balance the two out and create more of a formidable duo, but last I checked that wasn't an NFL or FDA-sanctioned procedure.

So, until it is, we'll just have to hope Stacy Andrews gets healthy and that the light turns back on for Herremans, a player who just a couple years ago was looking at his first Pro Bowl nod.

With all the talk of Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan leaving via free agency, who would have thought that the tackle positions would be two most stable positions on this line?
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Jackson missing time could be costly for the Eagles.


At this point, there's no news regarding how serious it is, but Andy Reid has told the local media outlets after the game that DeSean Jackson has a concussion. He left in the third quarter after having his bell rung by London Fletcher on a crossing pattern.

The team doctors kept looking at DeSean's eyes and talking to him, probably to see if he was responsive and remembered what happened. He did lay down on the field, but he didn't seem to lose consciousness and walked off the field on his own power.

It would appear -- and I'm not a doctor -- that even though it is a concussion, it's not as serious as Brian Westbrook's or even Kurt Warner's from last week. However, with the new spotlight on concussions, it would not be surprising to see D-Jack get held out of next week's game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Even as a more optimistic breed of Eagles fan, I don't like the Eagles' chances against a good Falcons team if Jackson has to miss the game next week. Jeremy Maclin has been playing well, and Jason Avant may have some of the best hands in the league, but it's Jackson who opens up the lanes for both of those guys.

Without him there to attract the attention of the defense, the remaining Eagles receivers could have real issues getting open for Donovan McNabb.

Then there's the issue of depth at receiver. Right now, the Eagles have only four healthy receivers, including Jackson, so if Jackson were to miss time they'd have to call up one of the rookies on their practice squad.

Either Jordan Norwood (5'11 179) out of Penn State, or Dobson Collins (6'2 178) out of Garder-Webb would see their first real playing time in the NFL in a must-win game for the Eagles to stay in the divisional race.

Here's to hoping Jackson doesn't miss any time.

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Isn't it time to stop questioning McNabb in the clutch?


For all the talk of Donovan McNabb not being able to come up in the clutch, he's got two fourth-quarter comebacks to add to his resume' in the past two weeks.

Both of the go-ahead/tying drives ended with runs, but McNabb was a keystone of the drives in both games. In the Redskins game today, he was able to make a beautiful throw to Jeremy Maclin along the sidelines in a place that only he could get it and set up the game-winning field goal.

The Eagles may have been able to run the ball the length of the field, but they didn't have to because McNabb, who gets a bad reputation for being innacurate, threw a perfect pass.

His statline (21-35 260, 1 touchdown, 1 interception) won't do justice to the good game he actually had. His lone interception came as a result of pressure put on by the Redskins front four -- something he was forced to deal with all game long.

On top of the pressure, Brent Celek had his worst game of the season. He had four receptions for 33 yards, but had at least three drops within a span of two series. McNabb was hitting him in the hands but Celek seemed to get into a funk that he couldn't stop.

Even with DeSean Jackson leaving in the third quarter, McNabb was able to lead this team down the field when they needed to be led. It wasn't pretty, but the bottom line is that the Eagles are 7-4, currently the fifth seed in the NFC, and only one game out of the division lead.

McNabb isn't doing it by himself, but he sure is doing a lot for this football team.

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Vick could be a key to this game if used properly.


Like last week, this is absolutely a must-win game for the Birds. In fact, every game from now on is a "must-win" game because teams like the Packers and Falcons are just waiting for the Eagles to lose and gain more of a foothold in the NFC wildcard race.

I say the "wildcard" race, but the Eagles are still looking at the possibility of a Week 17 showdown in Dallas determining who wins the NFC East. It's the only division in the NFC really left contested unless the Cardinals or Vikings have a monumental collapse. Which, at this point, seems unlikely.

But with the Giants losing to the Broncos in embarrassing fashion, the Eagles have a real shot to move up in the division and keep pace with the Cowboys. A win against the 'Skins would give Donovan McNabb and company only one loss in the division with two games left to play -- one against the Giants, and of course the Week 17 game with the Cowboys.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's look at what the Eagles need to do to avoid a letdown and complete the sweep of the 'Skins.

Don't Be Afraid to Run Up the Middle

Albert Haynesworth will be a game-time decision, but whether he plays or not Andy Reid cannot be afraid to attack the middle. The 'Skins will be expecting to see a lot of stretch and off-tackle plays with LeSean McCoy because of Haynesworth presence, but I believe running right at him is the better way to go.

Even if Haynesworth plays, he'll be dinged up and less than 100 percent. So if Reid just tells Jamaal Jackson and either guard (depending on which way the play is going) to double-team him, the line should be able to open up some holes up the middle.

That would then leave McCoy one-on-one with London Fletcher who should not able to bring down a shifty McCoy in the open field. I'm not saying Fletcher won't get his hands on McCoy from time to time, but at least seven out of 10 times McCoy should be able to shake him and keep moving.

Don't Lose Sight of Antwaan Randle El

It's not because I think he's a great receiver, but because he's the key to any trick play that they may try. He has a background as a quarterback, so using him to throw the ball just makes sense.

With the Eagles' aggressive style of defense, running a few trick plays would make a lot of sense, and would probably work. It's the risk you take when you have a defense that swarms and attacks like the Eagles' defense does, but as long as you keep an eye on Randle El the defense should be able to sniff it out.

For instance, if he just stands at the line of scrimmage and doesn't seem interested in running a pattern, it's probably because he's got some other assignment. A double-pass, wide receiver pass, or some funky reverse is most likely.

Also, expect the Redskins to try and use the Wildcat this week more than they have in the past.

Get Creative With Mike Vick and the Wildcat

Vick's long run last week, I think, instilled some confidence in the coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg told everyone to expect to see more of Vick this week, but then again, he's been saying that every week.

This week, however, could be different. In the weeks prior, Vick hasn't shown a whole lot to warrant playing time. But against the Bears, he was able to break off a 34-yard run to set up an Eagles field goal. He seemed to lack the speed he once had, but he appeared as shifty as ever, freezing a defensive back in his tracks as he ran around him.

I'm not part of the crowd that believes the Vick experiment is a failure if he doesn't make an impact this year. In fact, I don't think it's possible to fail with Vick. He was brought in as a backup quarterback who can do some other things, so there was only a factor of reward and very little risk.

That said, I do think that Mornhinweg and Reid are wasting the man's talents. Use him when the offense is struggling, not when they're rolling, and I think you'll see a guy who can make a clutch play to keep a drive alive and the offense moving.

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Demps has lost his job at two different positions.


"We are pleased to announce that Eagles safety Quintin Demps has recently joined the RSR family," Drew Rosenhaus tweeted today.

Call it a hunch, mainly because it's nothing more than that, but I see the Eagles and Quintin Demps headed for an ugly break-up.

The wheels were set in motion this year during training camp and the preseason when it became evident that Demps should not, and was not going to be, a starter for this team. His lack of a desire to hit and bonehead mistakes all made it quite clear that he was a role player on this team.

Now with his signing of Drew Rosenhaus to become his agent, Demps appears ready to give this franchise an ultimatum regarding his future. I'm assuming it will sound something like, "Start me, trade me, or let me go."

Again, I have no evidence that this is going to happen. I don't know Demps personally and of course cannot speak to why he signed Rosenhaus. Maybe he just feels like Rosenhaus is a good guy to have in his corner if anything were to go down. I mean, DeSean signed Rosenhaus and nobody made a fuss, so why would I feel this way about Demps?

Just a hunch. I don't have anything further on it than that, really. Watching Demps at practice and during training camp, he just doesn't seem to have his head in the game. It feels like Demps likes the idea of being an NFL player more than he actually likes doing it.

He also appears to believe he's better than what he is, and I also get the feeling that all of these injuries that are popping up are more just a result of his frustration with his role than anything else.

For example, when the Eagles played the Giants a few weeks back, they went into the game knowing that Macho Harris, at the time the starting free safety, was not going to play. Magically, Demps found the strength to play in that game, knowing full-well he'd get an opportunity to give Sean Jones a breather and see some time.

But since then, he's just been injured game after game after game. It would truly be just a lucky coincidence that he was okay to play that game, but can't find the strength to play special teams.

Perhaps this is all unfair, but it's just my hunch. I can't possibly be the only one, can I?
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Outside of 2004, McNabb is having his best season.


I am not quite sure how I did it (and I don't think that I am the only one) but I have managed to overlook the great statistical season that McNabb is currently putting together.

The ups and downs of the season, the team's short yardage woes, the never-ending injuries, and the chatter about the need to usher in the Kolb era have all hidden the fact that McNabb (in a non-T.O. season) may be having his best season.

To the 2009 stats we go:

- Completion %: 61.6
- Average Yards Per Attempt: 7.7
- TDs: 14
- Interceptions: 5
- QB Rating: 95.9

Sure a lot can change in the next 6 weeks, but if you project out McNabb's statistics for the remainder of the season you get:

- 25 TDs, 9 Interceptions, 3,376 yards

(Again, outside of 2004) The completion percentage is his best, average is 2nd best, projected TDs would be 2nd best, and QB rating would be his best. And the numbers might turn out to be even better based on McNabb's past December history.

Over his career the month of December brings about McNabb's highest monthly winning percentage (68%), highest completion percentage (60.7), highest TDs per game (1.6), and 2nd highest QB rating (89.6). It's safe to assume that McNabb's best football has yet to be played this season.

All this is being done despite McNabb working behind a patchy OL that has already surrendered 22 sacks (projects to 39 total sacks) and having to battle back from a rib injury. Pretty darn impressive if you ask this fan!

Ultimately, and as a QB I think it's fair, McNabb will be judged by the team's record this season and playoff success. But the numbers show that McNabb, despite just turning 33, is still at the very top of his game. Oh yeah, he is still at the top of the NFC QBs as well:

- 7th in Completion %
- 3rd in interceptions
- 4th in QB Rating
- 5th in yards per attempt

There will always be "McNabb-lovers" and "McNabb-haters." But as we make yet another playoff push it is still nice to have #5 again under center.

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It's not hard to see why Jackson is a Philly fan-favorite.


It's Thanksgiving, so every blog has to have an "I am thankful for" post. So to not disappoint here is yet another one for your read. And if you are an Eagles fan this is an obvious one.

When it comes to Eagles football, this fan is of course thankful for #10. No not Koy Detmer. I am talking about DeSean. I have the jersey, I love the swagger, and I love the confidence (well maybe until it comes to Joe Banner having to pay the guy).

The city has been starved for a true No. 1 WR and DeSean gives the fans exactly that. A game changing WR, who with the ball in his hands can go for six at any time.

Just look at these 2009 NFC WR Rankings (minimum 20 receptions):

- Receptions: 13th
- Receiving Yards: 4th
- Average Yards per Catch: 4th
- Average Receiving Yards per Game: 5th
- Receiving TDs: 6th
- Receptions of 20+ Yards: 3rd
- Receptions of 40+ yards: 1st

If this performance continues one has to assume that Jackson will be suiting up in Miami (well unless the Eagles are in the Super Bowl) as the Eagles' first Pro Bowl WR since Mr. Terrell Owens.

As a quick comparison, through 10 games, the 2009 Jackson is slightly behind the 2004 Owens.

- Owens: 57 receptions, 908 yards, 13 TDs, and a 15.7 yards per reception average
- Jackson: 42 rceptions, 728 yards, 5 TDs, and a 17.3 yards per reception average

Happy Turkey Day! Here's to leftovers in the lot of the Linc on Sunday and DeSean catching a few TDs as the Eagles roll over the depleted Redskins!

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No, Rocca. Big thumbs down for you. Two, in fact.


The whole Rugby player turned American Football player was cool for year one and maybe year two. Unfortunately the act is growing old quick. Honestly, when Rocca lines up for a punt I feel that the receiving team has 12 men on the field and the Eagles -- only 10.

Example one is the Chargers game. First quarter: the Eagles go three and out and punt the ball from their 10. In comes Rocca and there goes a 30 yard punt out of bounds to the Eagles 40. Six plays later the Chargers are winning 7-0.

Example two is the Bears game, Third quarter: the Eagles are clinging to a one point lead. The Eagles offense stalls at their own 40 yard line. Not a big deal because a punt should reverse field position and pin the Bears deep in their own end of the field. Not quite because Rocca proceeds to punt for 16 yards, out of bounds.

The Bears turn the good field position into their first lead of the game.

The consistency with Rocca just isn't there. The Eagles' youth already brings about enough miscues this season. The last thing the team and us fans should be worrying about is the punter screwing things up. Especially with how crowded NFC playoff picture is.

The statistics also show the need for a change. Rocca's overall and net punt average are both down from last season. Compared to his NFC peers the numbers are even worse (minimum of 25 punts, 16 players): Ranked 14th in overall average & Ranked 8th in net average

I remember the stink that Akers caused when he lost Koy Detmer as his holder. Maybe the fact that Akers is hot with Rocca as the holder is giving Rocca job security. And maybe mid-season isn't the time for a punting change, considering that you are picking from garbage for a replacement. But come this off-season the Eagles need to address the Punter position.

Competition is needed, even on special teams.

I have this feeling our Eagles are about to get hot and reel off four or five straight wins, but not if the punter can't find some consistency.

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Jon Runyan epitomized what it meant to be an Eagle.


Very rarely is a player unanimously like by the Philadelphia fanbase, but Jon Runyan was able to do just that. He was beloved by everyone in the city during his 10 years with the franchise.

Now, after not being able to find a home for the first 10 games of the season, it looks like Runyan has found a match across the country in San Diego to play for the Chargers.

Runyan has been extremely underrated during his NFL career, whether it be in Houston/Tennessee with the Oilers/Titans, or in Philadelphia with the Eagles. Right now, if we don't count his stay on free agency, Runyan has a starting streak of 190 regular season games.

The man is an absolute warrior and would have to be nearly crippled if he were to ever miss a game.

On top of his reliability, Runyan can change the entire demeanor of an offensive line. He's often called a dirty player, but he's really just a guy who plays the right tackle position the way it is supposed to be played: with an attitude.

That attitude infects the other four guys playing on that line with him and creates a wall of big men who will take your head off if for no other reason than to impress Jon.

In fact, a 2008 poll of NFL defensive players revealed that getting blocked by Runyan on a screen pass was one of the scariest things they could face.

Said Cortland Finnegan of the Tennessee Titans: "A screen with Jon Runyan with [Brian] Westbrook behind him," he said. "One-on-one with Runyan with Westbrook behind him for a touchdown. Oh my goodness. I know I am going to have to go through him if it's for a touchdown. I'm just thinking about what body part I am going to use that could be injured. Shoulder? Neck? Back? Those three things I would be highly worried about with Runyan.

With Jeromey Clary out for the year, Runyan would be the perfect guy to step in and not only fill a role, but to help that entire offensive line get better. A nasty guy like Runyan could really help get that running game going and make that Chargers offense even more scary.

And suddenly, I'd find myself rooting very quietly for the Chargers, just as I do with Dawk and the Broncos.
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Ikegwuonu was seemingly doomed before he began.


Jack Ikegwuonu, once thought to be a steal in the fourth round, has officially worn out his chances in Philadelphia as the team waived the underachieving cornerback today.

In his place, the Eagles signed Geoffrey Pope (6'0 186), a cornerback off the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad. Pope will immediately take Ikegwuonu's place on the 53-man active roster.

How much time Pope will see has yet to be determined, but it will most likely happen on special teams, if he's even active on game days. P.J. Hill, another mid-season pickup for the Eagles this year, has spent most of his time as a healthy scratch so expect Pope to do the same.

However, if the Eagles feel like they need someone else to strictly play special teams, he could stay active over a guy like Quintin Demps.

Realistically, Ikegwuonu wasn't going to get much playing time anyway. Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, Macho Harris, Ramzee Robinson, and Dimitri Patterson (not necessarily in that order) were all ahead of Ikegwuonu. However, it spoke volumes that a guy like Robinson, who was only with the team for a week, was seeing time over Icky.

I had said that during training camp he appeared to lack the closing speed that a corner needs, most likely due to his knee injury before the draft two years ago. It's a shame because watching him you could tell he knows how to play the game, but in this league your body has to hold up or you're going to get replaced.

That's why Icky is going through now, and barring a magical comeback as a safety, his days in the NFL are most likely numbered.

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Two of the most disappointing players this season.


Well, maybe the chopping block.

With Winston Justice signing a four-year extension to keep him in Philadelphia through the 2013 season, the other disappointing Andrews brother (Shawn) finds himself at a real crossroads for the 2010 season.

It's now become unlikely that he will ever play as an Eagle again, and he could just be playing a waiting game until he finds out which one of the other 31 NFL teams wants to be severely disappointed by an immense amount of talent just floating around their practice facility.

The problem the Eagles will run into is finding a trading partner for a guy who has played a total of two games over the past two season. One game per year is not a good enough workload to warrant a trade for any other team.

So, what the Eagles may wind up doing is simply keeping him on the roster and holding out hope. There are rumors that he's embellishing the injury to his back, so maybe having Justice entrenched as the starter will force him to wake up and start playing.

And if he doesn't, the guy is only making $1 million next season, which is cap-friendly enough to keep him as a backup plan.

So far, both Andrews brothers have been extremely disappointing, but at least it appears as though Stacy will be ready to go next year after his knee injury has hobbled him a bit longer than anyone expected.

There you go, NFL, there's a guy on the trading block with as many Pro Bowl appearances in his career as games played over the past two seasons.

Anyone willing to part with a draft pick? No? I didn't really think so.
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Cole has been phenomenal against the run and pass.


One Eagles victory over the Bears does not automatically make the Eagles an elite team again. On the flip side, losing to the Cowboys and Chargers does not make the Eagles the worst of the worst. The NFL season is filled with high and lows and the Eagles are no exception to this rule.

Can the Eagles, as they currently stand, win the Super Bowl this year? I would never say never, but the odds are surely against it. But does this mean that Eagles fans should just give up on the home team? NO!

If having to wait until 8:30pm yesterday to watch the Eagles game taught me anything it's that fall and winter are a heck of a lot better with a team in playoff contention. My NFL fandom is minimal if the Eagles aren't playing (and yes I play fantasy football). So having to sit through an almost full day of NFL games without the Eagles SUCKS!

Yes, the Lombardi trophy remains the ultimate goal, but it sure is nice to have a winning football team to cheer for. Imagine if 10 games into the season the Eagles were out of the playoff picture. How incredibly awful would football Sundays be for the next 6 weeks. Even worse, imagine playoff football without your favorite team to Super Bowl-fantasize about.

So it disgusts me as an Eagles fan to listen to talk radio and read message boards and hear/see Eagles fans actually rooting for the Eagles to lose or coaches/players to get seriously injured.

Good thing the Browns or Lions don't play in Philadelphia.

What is the point of all my babbling?

I guess it's to remind fans to just enjoy watching and cheering for the Eagles. It's fine and fun to play the role of Monday morning QB, especially when Reid and McNabb make the job so easy sometimes. But don't going losing sight of how great it is to have winning football in our home town, even if they continue to fall short of the parade down Broad Street.

Because if you are like me (don't follow hockey), the fall and winter sports alternative are the Sixers and way too many days until the Phillies open their 2010 season.
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McNabb talks to Cutler after an Eagles win Sunday.


After last night's game against the Chicago Bears, in which Donovan McNabb willed his team to a victory, McNabb and Jay Cutler met in the middle of the field and spoke for about three minutes.

Well, actually, McNabb talked and Cutler just listened.

The mics were able to pick up a little of what McNabb was saying at the end, but it seemed as though the gist of the conversation was McNabb giving Cutler some invaluable advice on how to deal with a city on your back and the media down your throat.

Let's be honest, if anyone knows how to deal with a situation like that, it's McNabb.

And now we see why McNabb knows how to deal with the situation that Cutler is in. After his talk with Cutler, McNabb is drawing scrutiny from some members of the Philadelphia media. Apparently the talk was "over the top" and should have happened behind closed doors.

To me, this is lunacy. McNabb was simply giving a young quarterback some good advice and showing what a class act he really is, and yet the media still finds a reason to find fault in something he did.

Instead of talking about how he led the Eagles' offense down the field for the game-winning touchdown by making the keys throws they needed to be made and avoiding the pressure when it was there, we're left to read about how he shouldn't have talked to Cutler for so long.

It seems like no matter what he does, the media will never give McNabb the credit he deserves for what he has done for this team and this city. Even if he were to never win a Super Bowl here in Philly, he, along with Reid, have brought respectability back to a franchise that had none for a good portion of the post-Dick Vermeil era.

Yes, Randall Cunningham did a lot in opening the door for McNabb to be successful, but like McNabb, Cunningham will never get the respect he deserves as "The Ultimate Weapon," even though he's held in a much higher regard than McNabb.

And even "The Ultimate Weapon" didn't have the success that McNabb has had.

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Someone needs to wipe this stupid smile off his face.


Playing the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football. Playing under the lights, McNabb heading back to his old stomping grounds on a nationally televised game -- What in the world could possibly make this game any worse?

Oh, well, how about the fact that the team we haven't been able to beat over the past two years anyway, now has a legitimate threat at quarterback? Yeah, I guess that could make it worse.

Call me a pessimist but the Eagles, over the past two years, have been absolutely awful against the Bears and on Sunday Night Football. So, throw those two components together and add on that this is a must-win game and you have the makings of a tough night for the city of Philadelphia.

But since I am optimistically pessimistic, let's take a look at what the Eagles must do to change their fortunes.

Put Pressure on Jay Cutler

Unlike last week against Philip Rivers, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has to bring the pressure on every play. Whether it's first and 10, or third 15, McDermott must have someone in Cutler's face all game.

Cutler is a strong-armed quarterback who can will his team to a win if given the opportunity, or he can throw the game away by forcing throws that aren't there to inadequate receivers. He still feels like he's throwing to Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, so he'll take chances they would have rewarded, whereas these receivers just don't have the talent.

The linebacking corps is once again depleted this week with Jordan sitting out again, so it's imperative that McDermott get pressure in Cutler's face to make up for it.

Joe Mays may be getting his first NFL start, which is difficult enough without having to worry about putting the defense on his shoulders.

Run the Football with McCoy and Weaver

It seems like this is a key to the game every week, but it will stay that way until Reid actually does it.

This is a good football team that can run the ball if they are allowed to get into the rhythm of it. Running the ball is all about the mentality of wanting to run it, which these linemen simply don't have because Reid doesn't allow it to happen.

A lot of people are ragging on the Eagles' line for not being tenacious enough, and some of it may be warranted, but most of the blame for the lack of a running game rests on Reid's shoulders. If you don't instill the mentality, it won't just show up out of the blue.

Don't Settle for Field Goals

The only time I want David Akers on the field today is to kick the extra points and for kickoffs. That is absolutely it. If he has one field goal attempt, especially in the redzone, I think my head is going to explode.

At this point, I would much rather see Reid go for it on fourth and goal from 20 and not make it, rather than kick a field goal that proves absolutely useless later in the game.

Is that a bit extreme for effect? Of course, but at this point I'm half-serious.

Every time Akers is on the field for a field goal attempt, the feeling is that the offense has lost. It doesn't matter if it's a 19-yard attempt, or a 59-yard attempt, when the offense fails to punch it in that first time down the field it starts a trend that is tough to stop.

Running the football in the redzone could help to prevent the redzone field goal attempts, but it will still be on Reid to call the play and the offense to execute. This is a group effort of futility and it's getting very difficult to watch.

Cover the Tight End at All Costs

If Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel can't shut down Earl Bennet and Devin Hester by themselves, or with the help of just one safety, then they don't deserve the money they're making and the jersey they're wearing.

These Chicago receivers are decent on their best day, and downright awful on their worst. If two of the better corners in the league cannot shut them down, then the Eagles will lose anyway.

What the defense needs to do is bracket Greg Olsen and make sure he's not allowed to expose the middle of the field. Whether it's Chris Gocong or Will Witherspoon, Quintin Mikell always has to watching and helping out.

Bottom line: if Olsen is allowed to get big numbers and take control of the game, the Eagles will lose.
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A strong showing by Mays would be cause for optimism.


After starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley went down for the season with a torn ACL, most fans thought it would come down to a battle between Omar Gaither and Joe Mays to see who would be the team's starter for 2009.

It began that way, but when it became obvious that Mays was in over his head and that Gaither could not stand up to the beating that a middle linebacker must take, the job went to Jeremiah Trotter.

Then after Trotter came in and made it evident that his age and injuries had caught up to him, the Eagles decided it was time to swing a trade for Will Witherspoon. Brandon Gibson and a fifth-round pick later, we have the Eagles third starting middle linebacker.

Then, last week, we were forced to suffer through the fourth as Chris Gocong, while his effort was a valiant one, fell on his face in the MIKE position.

He looked out of place, confused, and clearly out of his comfort zone -- as well as his coverage zone.

So with Akeem Jordan still out with a knee injury, the Eagles are looking for other solutions to their middle linebacker troubles. As is the case with most chronic problems, the Eagles went back to square one and started over -- right back at Joe Mays.

Mays has taken the majority of the first-team snaps at MIKE, with Witherspoon and Gocong at WILL and SAM respectively. There have been other sets of linebackers -- most likely with Witherspoon in the middle and Moise Fokou also in the mix -- but the most prevelant has been Witherspoon, Mays, and Gocong.

It could either be a sign that Mays is finally getting acquainted with the defense, or just a sign of desperation from a team trying to deal with a depleted defense thanks in large part to unfortunate injuries.

Mays is from the windy city, so it would be fitting for him to get his first career start back where it all happened.
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"Shady" can carry this team if he's given the chance.


The Eagles must win this Sunday in Chicago or the season is, for all intents and purposes, lost. If they fall to .500, the Cowboys and Giants will gain control of the division and the Birds will be on the outside looking in.

Last season the Eagles were able to sneak into the playoffs after falling to 5-5-1, but that will not fly this season. The NFC is too competitive for the Eagles to fall behind now. With a 6-4 record they're still in the mix, but a 5-5 record pretty much removes them from the playoff chase, barring a magnificent run.

Which, of course, the Eagles have done and are capable of doing.

But it can't get to that point and if the leaders on this team do their job, it won't get to that point. The coaching staff has got to get these young guys better prepared so that McNabb can stop burning timeouts, and Reid has personally got to commit to the run and keep the defense relaxing on the sideline.

It was only a matter of time before this quick-strike offense caught up to the defense and began to wear them down, and we're seeing it now. We're seeing opposing offenses sustaining drives much longer, the pass rush is deteriorating, and key guys are getting hurt.

Reid has got to have faith in his rookie running back and allow him to pound the ball against the Bears. Not only that, but Reid has to stick with the kid. McCoy is not the guy who is going to bust it for 20 yards on the very first play and keep it rolling, he's going to need some carries to hit his stride.

But once he hits that stride, it will be pretty to watch.

He may only get one, two, three yards on his first five to 10 carries, but that 11th carry will be a 25-yard scamper and then nothing less than five yards on each carry thereafter. Correll Buckhalter was the same way, however, and we saw how often he ever got to get going.

If you feed McCoy, he will produce. However, if you don't run the ball and continue to go through the air, the offense will not be able to give the defense any time to rest and Jay Cutler will go off.

If Kyle Orton can throw three touchdowns against them last year, Cutler could easily throw five.

This will hinge upon Reid's commitment to the running game, and McDermott's commitment to getting back to getting after the quarterback and doing what that defense does best. If both coaches can do that, the Eagles should win this game fairly easily, as they're obviously the more talented team.

However, if the Birds continue to pass and sit in coverage on defense, this Bears team will absolutely march all over them.

Quintin Mikell said this is the Eagles' "Super Bowl," so let's hope it gets treated that way by all 53 guys -- and the coaching staff.

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Westbrook is already out for Sunday at Chicago.

After suffering his second concussion in only three weeks, the Eagles are being very, very cautious with their star running back, Brian Westbrook. Reid has continuously said that Westbrook's health is their primary concern, and now he's proven it by ruling Westbrook out for Sunday's game.

Even when healthy, Westbrook has not been very impressive this season and has lost some carries to the rookie LeSean McCoy and newcomer fullback Leonard Weaver.

With only 381 total yards, and two total touchdowns, Westbrook's production has been worse than what it was even last season. The concussions and other knee/ankle problems, along with his age, have taken their toll and we may never see the old Westbrook again.

The whispers around the city are that Reid could very well shut Westbrook down for the entire season, opening the door for perhaps a veteran running back to enter the mix. However, the odds are better than Reid would use the roster spot on the defensive side of the ball for a unit that has been decimated by injuries this season.

With LeSean McCoy, Eldra Buckley, Leonard Weaver, and newcomer P.J. Hill all on the roster, odds are good that Reid will be content with his backfield. Considering that he hasn't used them a whole lot this season anyway.

Expect a decision to made on Westbrook sometime early next week, most likely Monday or Tuesday, giving the Eagles enough time to bring in another player if need be.

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Another concussion has Westy's career in question.


With the new concerns surrounding concussions, Brian Westbrook's recent problems have gotten a lot of publicity in and outside of Philadelphia.

It's not such much surrounding what the Eagles do with Westbrook this year, as it's almost the consensus opinion that he head to the IR for 2009. But that's where the opinions then fork to either side.

Many people believe that two concussions in three weeks is enough for a 30 year old running back to get the hint and hang up the cleats in the offseason, while others believe that if he sits out this year, he'll be able come back in 2010 without any nasty side effects.

Eagles fans are on pins and needles wanting to find out, but as always, coach Reid isn't giving anything away just yet.

"I don't know," Reid said after being asked if Westbrook would play again in 2009. "I think it's too early to tell right now. It's the last thing on my mind. First thing is that he's OK and that we take care of him. Football right now for Brian Westbrook is not the important thing. It's making sure that we get him analyzed, tested and taken care of and then we'll go from there.

"Not that we didn't do that before. We took every precautionary measure that we could before and it happened again. Obviously we're going to check with experts and make sure that we listen to them like we did before. The number one thing is Brian's health. You can put football aside and make sure that he's taken care of here."

Reid is spot on in this situation. Football has to take a backseat to the man's health. He may be getting over the hill as far as the NFL is concerned, but in the grand scheme of things he's got a long and full life ahead of him.

After all, he's only 30.

There were some encouraging signs this time around however, as Westbrook didn't lose consciousness after sustaining concussion number two.

"He was foggy," Reid said. "He stood up and walked off the field, but you could sense that there was something wrong there."

If he has to head to the IR, the Eagles could seek the help of a veteran free agent like Warrick Dunn, someone who suits the role Westbrook was filling. Dunn could be a great teacher for LeSean McCoy as a guy who has done it very well for a long time.

Not only that, but Dunn might just be the very best locker room presence in the entire league, so it's not like there's a risk in bringing him in.

More information is sure to come out later this week once Rick Burkholder and the team doctor's get a chance to check Westy out and see how serious this is.
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McDermott's refusal to blitz lost the Eagles this game.


With a depleted secondary and linebacking corps, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was obviously afraid of Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, and the pair of 6'5" receivers the Chargers boast in Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd.

He feared their big-play ability to the point that he got out of what this defense does best, which is blitz and get pressure on the quarterback. Instead of sticking to the defense's strengths, McDermott opted to sit the safeties and linebackers in coverage.

The front four got some decent pressure on Rivers, but he was easily able to step up past the pressure into a clear pocket, allowing him to find Gates in the middle of the field, along with every other receiver on the team.

McDermott's inexperience came to the forefront yesterday by allowing himself to get scared of the opposing offense and take him out of his element.

There's a difference between tweaking your defense to best defend an opposing team, and it's another thing entirely to change your entire philosophy. When you change the philosophy of a defense, only bad things can happen.

These linebackers are not good enough to sit back in coverage and be effective. They have to constantly be attacking the line of scrimmage to fill gaps on running plays, and get at the quarterback on passing downs.

Will Witherspoon was playing the WILL position, a position he has played in the past, but Chris Gocong was forced to play the MIKE -- a position he has never played in either college of the NFL, which was quite evident during the course of the game -- and Moise Fokou made only his second career start at SAM linebacker.

Were it the original starters in Stewart Bradley, Akeem Jordan, and Chris Gocong this defense could have probably worked, but it was doomed with the trio the Eagles put on the field yesterday.

For that matter, even having guys like Omar Gaither at WILL or Witherspoon at MIKE might have worked, but this trio was absolutely not ready for what McDermott was asking of them.

If this happens again, Reid is going to have to step in and talk with his young defensive coordinator. This is not something that can be allowed to happen again because it lost the Eagles this game. Even with their redzone woes on offense, just one defensive stop could have given them the win.
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Now is the perfect time to use Vick in the Wildcat.


With the score 14-6 at halftime, the Eagles are in great position to get blown out of the water.

Yes, it's only an eight point game, but the Eagles cannot close the deal in the redzone and now twice have had to settle for field goals. They have given the Chargers all of the momentum and all the confidence that they can stop the Eagles whenever they want.

DeSean Jackson now has two drops and an ankle injury, Jeremy Maclin still doesn't want to get hit returning kicks, and Westbrook couldn't find a cutback lane with a chaperon and a chauffeur.

Add all that onto the fact that Reid's playcalling is atrocious, the line can't run-block, and the linebackers all look confused and you've got the makings of an awful second half.

Sean McDermott is playing scared at this point by just sitting back and playing coverage. He's afraid to get beat at this point, and if JJ was still around he'd be losing his mind. This defense is about pressure and attacking and at this point they're doing neither.

If Reid doesn't start running the ball more often and getting this line to run more effectively we're going to see a complete offensive implosion, which will then be followed by a complete defensive implosion.

But running the ball isn't going to happen, which everyone knows, including Howie Long on FOX's halftime show.

"What is it about the Eagles going to the West Coast? They just refuse to run the ball on the West Coast," said Long.

Amen, Howie. Amen.

Prepare yourselves Eagles fans, this could get very, very ugly.
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Any real fan can tell me what was going on here.


If you ask most fans in Philly what the keys to this game will be, you may be told that it doesn't matter. The season, apparently, ended with a Week Nine loss to the Dallas Cowboys at home, dropping the Eagles to 5-3 with a 2-1 divisional record.

Negadelphia strikes again.

So for those of you who still think this season of two games above .500 is salvageable, stick around and we'll see what it's going to take for the Birds to move to 6-3.

Be Creative With Secondary Depth, Or Lack Thereof

It is going to take some real creativity, innovation, and ingenuity on the part of defensive coordinator Sean McDermott to work with the depth he now has in the secondary.

Or, rather the lack of depth.

With Ellis Hobbs out for the season and Joselio Hanson serving a four-game suspension, Dimitri Patterson moves up from your fifth corner to the third and puts this team in a bad spot.

The Eagles did sign Ramzee Robinson and call up Jack Ikegwuonu from the practice squad, but between them there's only 19 games of playing experience -- all belonging to Robinson.

That said, we could see a lot of Macho Harris and Quintin Demps lined up at corner over the next few weeks until Robinson and Ikegwuonu earn the trust of the coaching staff enough to throw them into live action.

Chargers week was certainly not the week to lose depth in the secondary, but the faith is that McDermott knows what he's doing and will be able to make up for it with some creative blitzing and coverages. If not, it's going to be a long day for the Birds in sunny San Diego.

Run the Football Up the Middle

Overall, the Chargers are not very good against the run this year, ranking 26th overall with just over 130 yards per game allowed. However, it's up the middle that the Chargers are most susceptible to the run.

With Jamal Williams landing on Injured Reserve earlier in the year, the Chargers have been scrambling to find a replacement who can eat space the way Williams could. However, the problem is there's just no one in the entire league who can play the position the way Williams can.

The Eagles need to take advantage of that and the duo of unimpressive linebackers manning the inside for the Chargers defense. They need to do that by running Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy, and most importantly Leonard Weaver right behind Herremans, Jackson, and Cole/Andrews.

Jaw at Philip Rivers

As much as physical prowess obviously plays into this game, the psychological side of the game cannot be overlooked. When there is a guy like Rivers who is known for losing his cool when someone jaws at him, it doesn't make any sense not to take advantage of it.

There's not really that type of guy on defense for the Eagles, except maybe Asante Samuel, so someone is going to have to step out of their comfort zone and do a little yapping at Rivers.

Samuel is a good candidate, but as a corner he doesn't have a lot of interaction with the quarterback. A guy like Trent Cole could get into Rivers' head with a little talk, but again, he's not really that type of guy.

A lot of people may believe this to be a dirty move, but you've got to do all you can against a talented team like the Chargers. The Eagles would be fools not to take advantage of Rivers' hot head.
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Gocong has never played MIKE in the NFL or college.


This Sunday, we could see some new faces in different places in the linebacking corps given that Akeem Jordan will most likely not play.

Sean McDermott has openly said that if Jordan can not play that Will Witherspoon will line up as the WILL linebacker, Chris Gocong at MIKE, and Moise Fokou will get his second consecutive start at the SAM linebacker position.

So what does this say about Jeremiah Trotter? Apparently McDermott trusts Gocong more to start at a position he's never played over Trotter who's played the position for his entire career.

It appears as though the Eagles feel they made a mistake by bringing Trott back.

Either way, it will certainly be eventful to watch how this actually works out. Witherspoon has been a successful WILL before, so that's not a big deal. Fokou, while he didn't exactly impress last week, will get better and is a natural SAM. But Gocong has never played the MIKE position and may have some troubles.

He's the smartest guy in the linebacking corps, as well as the biggest (6'3 263), so it makes him the perfect candidate to give it a go. However, it's not quite as easy as all that, and everyone knows it.

Playing the MIKE is a difficult position and takes a superior mind and a superior athlete to play the position, especially in McDermott's defense.

Tossing Gocong into the middle could be for the fear of playing against Antonio Gates, who will probably need to be double-covered. Fokou, Gocong, and Witherspoon are the best coverage linebackers the Eagles have, which isn't exactly saying much, but having the three of them on the field at the same time may not be a bad idea.

Gocong and Witherspoon would be the duo on the field for the nickel package as well, which may not matter considering the cornerbacks situation and the depleted secondary.

Either way, buckle up Philly, because it's certainly going to be a trip.

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A good spot would have kept the game alive for Philly.


Mike Pereira, VP of officiating for the NFL, said on his usual Wednesday chat with Rich Eisen of NFL Network's Total Access program, said he would have moved the ball on the fourth down Donovan McNabb sneak.

Pereira said that with the presence of the field logo, it made the spot very easy to make because the ball lands at a point in the Eagles' logo. He said that had the logo not been there, he probably would have kept the call on the field.

However, the thing that will get your blood boiling is not the fact that it would have moved the ball, but that Pereira added, "It might have made a difference."

Which is the VP of officiating's way of saying, "Yes, it would have been a first down."

First, let me say that I'm very surprised, and pleasantly at that, with Pereira. He usually goes on those chats with Eisen and blows a whole lot of smoke for Eisen. He will waiver on calls here and there but rarely does he ever dispute a call.

This time, it was very obvious that the ruling needed to be overturned, and I give kudos to Pereira for actually saying it, rather than continuing to stick by the incompetent officials.

The first challenge that Reid made, I believe, was a good challenge. It wasn't conclusive, and was worth another look. He probably should have, and did, lose that challenge, but to lose the second challenge is inexcusable.

But when is the league going to make officials like Walt Coleman and Alberto Riveron, who is absolutely awful, stand up and be accountable? When is there going to be a repercussion other than a bad mark and maybe the loss of a playoff game?

It's a shame that there aren't more officials like Ed Hochuli, who messed up the call between the Broncos and Chargers last season, but instead of clamming up and acting like he did nothing wrong, the man read and answered every piece of hate mail he received.

That's a man with character. That's the guy who should be the new VP of officiating when Pereira steps down, which evidently is going to be at the end of this season.

It's always a stretch for me to say that one call could change the outcome of an entire game, because anything could have happened on that next play. McNabb could have fumbled the snap, threw an interception, gotten sacked and had the ball stripped or anything else.

Or, he could have hit DeSean Jackson up the middle of the field for a touchdown to take the lead late in the fourth quarter.

The fact is we just don't know, but what we do know is that Coleman blew the call. It was plain as day, even to Cowboys fans. Anyone can say, "Well, you can't see the left elbow," but if you look at the replay, it's not possible.

McNabb would have to have a much longer left arm, or be tilted to the left. In fact, he's tilted to the right, making it impossible that his elbow touched the ground.

Either way, the game is over and it's time to look ahead to the Chargers. Hopefully this blown call and knowing how close they came to overtaking the NFC East will light a fire under this team, which has looked lackluster, to say the least, at points in this season.
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Is a diuretic worth a one-month suspension?


When is the NFL going to finally just admit that a diuretic in no way improves the performance of a player, and that even the idea of a diuretic being used to mask steroids is a rare occurrence at best?

Well, the short answer is never. The NFL, while a juggernaut that could easily use its size to shape public opinion, constantly seems to be bowing to the court of such opinion.

Because of the circus taking place in the MLB under the incompetent rule of Bud Selig, the word "steroids" has gotten such a negative connotation that the major sports leagues are doing all they can to make sure the word is not even brought up.

Therefore, by banning diuretics that could possibly at some point in time perhaps be used to mask the presence of steroids, the NFL and other sports leagues, are able to quiet the uninformed and ignorant yells of the media.

Enter Joselio Hanson.

Even riding on the coat tails of the blocking of the StarCaps suspensions, the NFL can't open their eyes long enough to see that what they're doing is absolutely wrong and nothing more than a sophisticated form of peer pressure from the media and other outside sources.

Should Hanson have known better than to take a diuretic? Probably, but if someone walks down a dark alley at night in a bad neighborhood and gets beaten and mugged, people don't shrug their shoulders and say, "Oh well, they should have known better."

Instead, they go out and get the guy who did the mugging.

Right now, the NFL is the mugger and it's time to put a stop to it. Allowing themselves to be influenced by a bunch of know-nothing media members should be embarrassing and is actually quite dangerous for their business moving forward.

It's time for the NFLPA to put pressure on the owners and get this nonsense sorted out.
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Hobbs is done after being put on I.R. Wednesday.


First, I received a text message telling me that Ellis Hobbs would be out for the season because of a severe neck injury that required surgery; which was a bit of a shock because I'm not sure that most believed it to be that serious.

Then, not a half hour later, receive a text message telling me that nickel corner Joselio Hanson would miss the next four games after being suspended for testing positive for a diuretic.

And just like that, a position that was thought to be overflowing with talent was cut down just as thin as the linebacking crew that has caused the Eagles defense so many problems this season.

And to make matters worse, Akeem Jordan missed practice, and could miss the Chargers game, with a hyperextended knee while Moise Fokou missed practice with the flu.

In the place of Hobbs, the Eagles signed cornerback -- and former Mr. Irrelevant -- Ramzee Robinson, who played in 19 regular season games for the Detroit Lions over two years in 2007 and 2008.

In place of Hanson, the Eagles have called up conerback Jack Ikegwuonu who was a fourth round pick of the team last season. Ikegwuonu was called the steal of the draft last year, but has appeared to suffer greatly from a torn ACL that caused his stock to plummet in the first place.

He'll get a chance to prove his worth as the dime corner behind Robinson, who has much more playing time and experience than Ikegwuonu.

Macho Harris, who played cornerback in college, could be asked to do it again for the next month until Hanson is able to return. Quintin Demps played some corner for the Eagles during his rookie year with some success, so he will most likely be asked to do it again in addition to taking back kick return duties, which were formerly held by Hobbs.

Hobbs had been doing fairly well returning kicks, but Demps is much more of an explosive returner if he can hit the hole. He has breakaway speed that Hobbs lacked, but is really a feast of famine return man. He'll either simply get you to the 20, or break it away into enemy territory.

This is still a good defense, but the loss of depth at the corner position could certainly prove to be a challenge for Sean McDermott and his crew. If the passing defense is going to be able to sustain itself for the next month, the front four are going to have to do a much better job getting pressure on their own and force some errant throws.

Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown are going to be asked to play a lot more in the base defense, and the Eagles could use the nickel a lot less than usual, but the guys they have are there becaues they believe they can get the job done in this exact situation.

Through all of the bad news, there is some good news to report.

Chris Gocong came back to practice today and is expected to play when the Eagles head west to San Diego. Jordan is questionable at this point, but it's good to have at least one of the original starters in the lineup.
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Reid watches McNabb throw too often in the fourth.


A lot is being made of the Eagles fourth quarter woes after their loss to the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, but too much of the blame is heading Donovan McNabb's way.

While the quarterback does deserve some blame for an offense not being able to score, everyone is stopping one step too short. If you want to find the real culprit for the Eagles' offensive woes in the fourth quarter, look no further than Andy Reid.

More specifically, take a look at his play-calling sheet.

The problem with the Eagles in the fourth quarter is the lack of ball control. They don't focus on controlling the clock for the entire game, so they can't be expected to just turn it on when they need to. It's a mentality that the play-caller instills by committing to running the ball, and Reid never has or never will be that way.

Reid's offense is focused around putting up so many points early that it becomes impossible for the opposing offense to come back. He figures that the opposing team will have to pass to get back on top, but the defense's blitzing ways won't allow that to happen.

The problem is that if one key to that plan doesn't work out, he finds himself scrambling to adjust but just doesn't know what to do. He can't turn the offense's philosophy on its ear in the middle of a game because it's not built to do anything else, so he sticks with the same plays -- even though they're not working, and he knows it.

If he would just run more often earlier in the game it wouldn't be so difficult to play ball control at the end of the game.

It's certainly a problem that needs to be addressed, but it would take a full overhaul of Reid's offensive philosophy to fix it. I'm a personal fan of Reid as a head coach because of the way he can get players to overachieve and mold them into Pro Bowlers from nothing. However, his play-calling has hurt this team too long.

Let Reid coach, but let someone else call the plays.
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Who's more valuable, Brent Celek, or Fraction Jackson?


After eight weeks of the season, the Eagles are sitting at 5-3 overall with a 2-1 record in the division. It's not a bad place to be at the half-way point, but the Eagles, as well as their fans, understand that 7-1 bounced off this team's fingertips.

A combined eight points between their two losses is the only thing keeping them from having complete control of the NFC East, but they're still in the mix and with a number of players getting healthy, are in good position to make a push in the back eight of the season.

There are a number of players who have stepped up in all three phases of the game, allowing this team be in the position they're in now. So, let's take a look at this team's MVP's at the half-way point of 2009.


Offense: DeSean Jackson, WR

Jackson has already doubled his number of receiving touchdowns from his rookie season with four, and two more touchdowns -- one on the ground and one on a punt return -- to bring him to six total.

26 receptions for 530 yards and four touchdowns has him on pace for 52 receptions for 1,060 yards and eight touchdowns -- not a bad season for a second-year receiver. However, those will be difficult numbers to reach if he doesn't increase that catch total. At the moment, he's averaging over 20 yards per reception which will be very difficult to keep up.

Add his receiving numbers to his versatility to the run the ball on the end-around or the wildcat, and you've got a special player.

Jackson figures to be a deep, big-play threat for the rest of the season, but will need the rookie Jeremy Maclin to step up and starting getting more separation to draw the double team away from Fraction Jackson.


Defense: Trent Cole, DE

With 7.5 sacks on the season, Cole is on his way to a 15-sack season -- a stat that should be plenty to get him to his second Pro Bowl, and would be a career high by 2.5 sacks. Cole has always started off fast but faded at the end, so it will be important for him to keep up this kind of production and finish with at least 14 sacks.

Not only has he been great against the pass, but he's been fantastic against the run. Whether teams run at him or away from him, he's doing a wonderful job of shadowing the runner and bringing him down immediately.

His entire game is coming together beautifully, and he now deserves to be mentioned among the top defensive ends in the league in the same breath as Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers, John Abraham, and others.


Special Teams: Eldra Buckley, RB

Ellis Hobbs has been decent returning the ball, David Akers has done a good job of putting points on the board, and Rocca has been good but inconsistent. Eldra Buckley, however, has been by far the best performer on special teams.

He's consistently the first guy down the field for kickoff coverage, and if he's not making the tackle he's forcing the return man inside so that someone else, usually Akeem Jordan or Tracy White, to make the tackle.

Buckley is showing why he's on this team and his competition in training camp, Lorenzo Booker, is floating around the free agent wire.


Most Improved Player: Brent Celek, TE

Celek, only halfway through the season, is already looking at career bests for the season. With 40 receptions, 486 yards and four touchdowns, he should be on his way to his first Pro Bowl in only his third NFL season.

At this pace, Celek will finish with 80 receptions, 972 yards, and eight touchdowns. Those are unbelievable numbers for a tight end that, if he can pull it off, should put him in the conversation for one of the best young offensive talents in the league.

Just to show how much he's improved, let's look at his first two season.

Rookie season (2007): 16 receptions, 178 yards, one touchdown
Second season (2008): 27 receptions, 318 yards, one touchdown

This season, even if he disappears in the second half of the season, he's going to blow those numbers away. He is most definitely the most improved player on this team, if not of the entire league.
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Newsflash: Eagles are 5-3 at halfway, not 3-5.


They say ignorance is bliss, but in the circle of Eagles fans it's become more of an epidemic.

This city used to be populated with the most knowledgeable of fans who could back up their beliefs with real football knowledge and nothing but a love for the Eagles. Whether they agreed or disagreed with the coaches or management, someone could always look forward to a well-informed discussion with an Eagles fan.

Unfortunately, those days are long gone. The city has become populated with people who wear midnight green with more of a mob mentality than an actual love for the game and for their team.

Don't get me wrong, the passion is there, and it's there in abundance. Unfortunately the knowledge of the game has been completely thrown out the window.

When the Eagles are winning, the city is ready to put Andy Reid in the Hall of Fame and already have their Super Bowl parties planned.

The Eagles are the best team in the league, and there's no one who will tell them otherwise.

However, lose a game that drops them to a respectable 5-3 and only one game out of the NFC East lead with eight games left to play and it's time to fire the coach, change quarterbacks, and break out the petition to have Jeff Lurie sell the team.

It's disgusting to listen to, and embarrassing to have to address.

But with this new age of instant opinion, anyone with a keyboard is able to hop on any site and give their uninformed and off-base opinion.

Then to make matters worse, these are the same people who are employed to fuel the fire that's been started by the village buffoon.

The writers that populate the newspapers and websites covering the Eagles, for the most part, are ignorant to the way football is played because they've never played. They don't understand the intricacies of the game and only see the shell of what is happening.

They see wins and losses, and they see the stat lines. That's it. Outside of that, they're completely oblivious to what goes into even the most fundamental of plays.

These people write the stories with the intention of stirring up an uninformed fanbase; a fanbase uninformed because of the writers who are uninformed in their own right.

See the circle? It's vicious, and has trapped an entire city.

The worst part is that there are people out there in the media who are informed, and do understand what they're talking about, but get brushed to the side in the firestorm of ignorance and downright stupidity that floods the profession.

The cast on NFL Network (Marshall Faulk, Jamie Dukes, Mooch, Rod Woodson, etc.), for example, all speak of Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb as a Hall of Fame duo who are among the top five in the league at their respective positions.

These are all people who have played, or coached, the game and understand what they're talking about. Rather than listen to the people who have experience and an understading of the game, the masses would rather listen to journalism majors who just happened to get stuck covering the Eagles.

There are still a handful of good Eagles fans who have not been influenced by the hacks hyping themselves as "experts," but at this point it's the minority.

Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb are one of the winningest head coach-quarterback combinations in the league and currently are manning a 5-3 football team. With eight weeks to go, and a 2-1 record in the division, the Eagles are very much alive in the NFC East race and are still in great position for, at the very minimum, a playoff berth.

But by all means ignorant and uninformed masses, hit the panic button. Fire Reid and release McNabb for a quarterback with two career starts.

I'm sure that will work out for the best.
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If you're thinking "Ogletree, who?," you're not alone.


The Cowboys have run two wide receivers screens in this game to No. 85 Ogletree, and both of them have been illegal.

As soon as the ball is snapped, Marc Colombo is running down field to block any defensive back he can get his hands on, but that problem is that the screen is actually a pass, unlike a lot of wide receiver screens.

For a lot of screens, the wide receiver will take a step behind the line of scrimmage, technically making it a run. But instead of doing that, Ogletree is actually taking a step or two forward before catching the ball.

Because he's going forward, what Colombo is doing should be ruled as an illegal man down field. The way the officials are missing these calls is absolutely atrocious and if the Eagles do not bring it to their attention, then they are fools in their own right.

If you make the officials aware, they will begin to look for it and therefore have absolutely no excuse for not calling back every single screen the Cowboys run until they run one legally. And if they were to actually run one legally, it wouldn't work.

Watch to see if the Cowboys run the screen again, and if they do, watch for the yellow laundry hitting the grass.
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The Eagles 'D' could miss Gocong big time tonight.


We talked a few days ago about what would need to be done if Chris Gocong was unable to go tonight, and now we see that situation coming to fruition.

Chris Gocong is indeed out tonight, and joining him on the sidelines will be Brian Westbrook, Kevin Curtis, Mike McGlynn, P.J. Hill, Victor Abiamiri, Dimitri Patterson, and Max Jean-Gilles. It's a list that includes five potential starters, and could mean trouble for this Eagles team.

Moise Fokou will step in for Gocong, and LeSean McCoy will once again start for Westbrook who has really been a non-factor so far this season anyway.

All three quarterbacks are active, which to me doesn't make a whole lot of sense. There's no chance that Kevin Kolb goes in the game, outside of a McNabb injury, which would be covered by keeping him as the emergency third quarterback.

It will be interesting to see how the carries are spread out with only three active running backs in Leonard Weaver, Eldra Buckley, and McCoy. We will most likely see a whole lot of Weaver right away, and hopefully we get to see some of Buckley outside of garbage time.

The Eagles are hurting right now, but it should be exciting to see how deep this team really is.
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The Eagles should get creative with DeSean Jackson.


The Eagles are heading into their third straight divisional game, their second at home, and are looking at a very good opportunity to get on a roll at the half-way point of the season.

The Dallas Cowboys present a particularly unusual problem for defenses because of their inconsistencies. One week they can win a game by running the ball, then the next week the running game will completely disappear. The case is the same with the passing game and the play of Tony Romo as well, so it's difficult to prepare for this team.

Millions will tune in to this game on Sunday night expecting a shootout in the same fashion of Week Two of last season, but it wouldn't be surprising to see this game come down to defense and whoever holds the ball last.

Let's see what the Eagles have to do Sunday night to ensure those millions of viewers see them win.

Jay Ratliff vs. Jamaal Jackson

This isn't a matchup that will get hyped up in the same way that DeSean Jackson vs. Terrence Newman will, but it could wind up being the most important matchup of the entire game.

Ratliff is unusual in that he does not play both 'A' gaps. Instead, he will pick and choose a gap to shoot before the play and attack that gap. What his job becomes then is to get penetration rather than to eat space as is the job description of a more conventional nose tackle.

What Ratliff does sounds more like the job of a nose tackle in a 3-5 system you'd find in high school or college football.

Jackson is most likely going to have to get help from either guard, depending on the gap that Ratliff shoots. What will, or should, happen is that the guard would chip Ratliff with the hope to turn his shoulders square to Jackson, allowing him to gain the leverage and stop Ratliff's penetration.

The trick for the guard will then to be able to get off the combo block on Ratliff and watch for the blitzing inside linebacker, which the Cowboys will do a lot of if for no other reason than to have a man in the other 'A' gap.

On running plays, it will be imperative that the guard first help Jackson blow Ratliff off the ball before coming off the block to get a hat on the linebacker. If the Eagles linemen can do that, Philly should be able to have their way on offense.

Coverage Must Be Perfect

Personally, I don't believe that the Cowboys' receiving corps' is as good as most would say. Miles Austin is riding a three-game career, Patrick Crayton is nothing more than a good slot but below average starting receiver, and then there's Roy Williams.

Why people still refuse to call him a bust at this point is beyond me, but let me just go on record as slapping that title on him right now. He has a lot of raw talent, but the reputation of him as lazy with little work ethic seems to have certainly been warranted.

He obviously doesn't do what needs to be done in order to make himself better, and it certainly shows in his lack of production and Romo's lack of faith in him.

That said, they are big-play receivers if the coverage on them is lax. They all have the speed necessary to get down the field and make a secondary look foolish as they showed against Tampa Bay.

Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown should be able to shut these receivers down, but they will have to work for it. If they can harrass and abuse these receivers, they may even be able to come up with a few turnovers.

Avoid the Shootout at All Costs

This Cowboys defense is not good enough to stop this Eagles offense -- if Reid is willing to do what it takes as far as the playcalling is concerned.

The way you beat the Cowboys is by keeping that offense and sidelines and beating the Cowboys defense until they can't move. You have to tire them out both physically and mentally, then take advantage of them with the big play.

However, if Reid comes out and wants to immediately take shots down the field, the defense is going to start pinning their ears back and attacking McNabb. It's something that will eventually work as DeMarcus Ware will be difficult to stop if he's able to just attack McNabb with reckless abandon.

Short passes, screen plays, and more importantly, running the football then hitting that defense with the big play is what will win this game for the Birds. Getting into a shootout plays right into the hands of Romo who likes to move around and make plays through the air.

Keep him off the field, win the time of possession battle, and the Eagles should be able to move to 6-2 and a game atop the NFC East.
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