3 minutes into the broadcast, and Gus Johnson has dropped 3 "spuds" on us
NICE
holy shtein...is that how they are calling the face mask this year?
great...Mikell farged his shoulder up and the linebackers are getting rolled
ha, how gay is that, and Mikell got farged up by Stewie it looks like. Awesome start
Quote from: SunMo on August 08, 2008, 07:39:32 PM
great...Mikell farged his shoulder up and the linebackers are getting rolled
i have experience with that, he's fine.
the NFLN broadcast farging sucks, they forgot to turn it to commercials for a minute, its not in HD, and the announcers suck
farging Gocong got dragged about 5 yards on that play
This is looking promising.... good thing the Phils are on, too.
i cant wait for IGY
Gocong and Bradley made nice plays there
nice lateral movement by Stewie forcing Mendenhall to get jammed up
Did anyone else hear when the announcer said the Eagles had a pretty good linebacking corps?
and there it is. Gotta say, Dawk looked slow there
what the farg was that? nice blitz.
Quote from: Geowhizzer on August 08, 2008, 07:44:07 PM
Did anyone else hear when the announcer said the Eagles had a pretty good linebacking corps?
they also said that Mikell was a prolific player...lol
That looked absolutely pathetic.
"Booker is the best kept secret as a return man because he has never done it ever!"
it is so infuriating that Greg Lewis is starting right now. Why isn't at least Baskett out there
These announcers are terrible, cant pronounce a name to save their lives
Jayson Avint
NFLN usually piggybacks the local broadcasts one team per half...i guess you have the Steelers broadcast right now?
im waiting for Buck to blow his knee out now, he looks like he did in that ravens game 3 years ago
It's like having two less coherent Spads talking at the same time.
Rich South High School represent!!
Pretty sure one of these assclowns just said Gilles has been in the league forever. Really can't fault Dawkins on that TD, he was in space with Holmes who is lightning quick anyway.
yeah, and their feed farging sucks, nice throw by mcnabb to lewis
They need to talk about MJG some more. OMG HE BLOCKED TWO PEOPLE!
hmmmm, Smith #82...doesn't really ring a bell
LJ Sighting. These guys calling the game are looking to slobber anyone in a Steelers uni...
he ran like chad lewis. Nice scramble by 5
Runyan just got bitchslapped
i just had a farging heart attack.
i looked up when mcnabb was jumping to throw it and i thought he hurt his leg again.
At least the O is moving the ball.
LOL, i cant get over how bad these fargers suck
And how much can steelers fans fluff Woodley, the annoucners have said his name every play
Quote from: Seabiscuit36 on August 08, 2008, 07:56:31 PM
LOL, i cant get over how bad these fargers suck
slurp slurp slurp
chop block
Suckage...
was that a makeup call?
Inside the 20 is in the redzone they were at the 22 these guys are just clueless.
no, i called it right away
McNabb definately looks sharp, moving around real well too. Jason Davis with a cheap shot. A chop block in a preseason game is farged up.
FLAG..ha
the one guy sounds like Chef and said..."THats very Late"
Refs help them out there.
incidental contact
Buckhalter looks good out there
Looks like Andy hasn't changed at all. Pass pass pass out the ass ass ass.
would LJ have caught that if there wasn't contact?
Pushout
nice attempt by Aavent
This redzone offense looks familiar
There's no pushout this year?
huh that could be uh bad for us.
Akers may be a strong fantasy play this year
That guy A-vANT has excellent hands, shame he couldn't get the feet down
Quote from: mpmcgraw on August 08, 2008, 08:02:38 PM
There's no pushout this year?
huh that could be uh bad for us.
I believe it has to be an obvious pushout - basically a carry out.
Holy Christ, these are the Steelers announcers. Horrible
Tdfffff re the are
Mendenhall is going to be a beast for Pittsburgh, what a great fit
Quote from: PPinDC on August 08, 2008, 08:06:05 PM
Holy Christ, these are the Steelers announcers. Horrible
Tdfffff re the are
They honestly remind me of the Penguins announcers, the homerism along with lack of knowlege of anyone not in their home Uni is amazing
I guess Mikell is OK.
D Jackson
Mini Dawk
DeShane Foster...lolllollol
Deshean Jackson with a nice catch over the middle.
Nice adjustment by DeSean "Foster" Jackson on that catch. McNabb is also getting all day back there against the Steelers' 2nd team D.
go deshan foster.
Last two minutes from these assclowns: Mikell is a huge hitter, Gaither had 170 tackles last year, and Gocong was phonominal last year. Just now...Greg Lewis was a free agent aquisition from Illinois? What the farg did he just DeShane Samspson out of Cal?? Can u here the stream on 610wip.com?? This is unbearable.
He burned the CB on that play. Guy has amazing speed, and should replace Greggie ASAP
is it me or does it look like LoBo has no idea what he is doing
Quote from: mpmcgraw on August 08, 2008, 08:15:42 PM
is it me or does it look like LoBo has no idea what he is doing
please stay out of Football threads
these announcers have no clue that Westbrook got caked off
Booker's burst is legit. Oh, and they traded for him...LAST year. According to the assclowns, the Birds are going to have issues with 3 good tailbacks.
Quote from: Seabiscuit36 on August 08, 2008, 08:16:08 PM
Quote from: mpmcgraw on August 08, 2008, 08:15:42 PM
is it me or does it look like LoBo has no idea what he is doing
please stay out of Football threads
He froze twice before he went to the endzone on the pass play.
MJG learning dirty from 69, and Phreak is flipping out now
Quote from: Seabiscuit36 on August 08, 2008, 08:19:05 PM
MJG learning dirty from 69
Haha. Very nice, indeed.
These announcers suck.
Holy shtein! A Eagles fullback made a play!
They say McNabb is a triple threat. He can run, throw, and....
HD finally kicks in.
wtf, is Jack Edwards our annoucner?
Quote from: PPinDC on August 08, 2008, 08:23:06 PM
They say McNabb is a triple threat. He can run, throw, and....
get injured
And new announcers. Casserly loves to talk personnel...good shtein
Quote from: phattymatty on August 08, 2008, 08:23:19 PM
HD finally kicks in.
Eagles broadcast in HD, Pittsburgh doesnt, cheapasses
The DE's remind me of Mamula, almost there.
Great start KOLBSY
Quote from: Seabiscuit36 on August 08, 2008, 08:24:55 PM
Quote from: phattymatty on August 08, 2008, 08:23:19 PM
HD finally kicks in.
Eagles broadcast in HD, Pittsburgh doesnt, cheapasses
They spend all their money on Iron City.
me likey jackson
Westbook
gus johnson is the goat of college b-ball announcers, but he needs to buck up on his nfl knowledge
look at spads licking his lips as he interviews westbrook, he really wants to make out with him
Quote from: phattymatty on August 08, 2008, 08:30:45 PM
look at spads licking his lips as he interviews westbrook, he really wants to make out with him
LMAO
Considine hits softer than my wife, and yet he hurt charlie batch
Anyone catch when Spuds asked Westy if he thought being "friendly" about the negotiations was the right way to do things? Someone needs to snipe that dumb bald farg.
I like Joe Mays, reminds me of Trotter in the way he hits
Mays is also all over the farging field.
Quote from: Seabiscuit36 on August 08, 2008, 08:38:41 PM
I like Joe Mays, reminds me of Trotter in the way he hits
He should be G_F's favorite already!
lol, the trivia question is about how many Emmys the Eagles Television Network has won...holy farging shtein
every since Matty said that about Spadaro, i only watch him during interviews
I love how the announcers keep refering to douchenozzle as "Spuds".
yeah you'd think the emmy winners at ETN would let gus johnson know that he just made that name up.
Mays just killed Sweed, credit to Limas for holding on
lol at Kolb yelling at the sideline if he should take a Timeout.
Mays has got already? 5 tackles?
typical Andy can't decide for 3 seconds what to do
the bar i was at turned the game after the fg. did the td drive come against the steelers 2nd team defense?
Jackson has been in nearly every play on O
And Mays on D
tapeh will make the pro bowl this tear
i like the fact that Jackson was out there so much, that has to mean he knows a decent amount of the offense
Quote from: phattymatty on August 08, 2008, 08:47:49 PM
yeah you'd think the emmy winners at ETN would let gus johnson know that he just made that name up.
32 farging Emmys - WTF
I think Jackson is the TRUTH. Its a preseason game, but i really like the adjustments he makes to get the ball, he's more than just a returner at this point
this dickface thinks he just made up the basket catch joke.
Batch got his collar bone broken by Considine..ha
i honestly thought mcdougle was gone
Quote from: Seabiscuit36 on August 08, 2008, 09:19:29 PM
Batch got his collar bone broken by Considine..ha
That's hilarious.
he is mamula
gone as in dead or just cut
Everyone on the sideline was congratulating Mcdougle like he had a sack
has Winston Justice stopped sucking too?
Quote from: Seabiscuit36 on August 08, 2008, 09:23:59 PM
Everyone on the sideline was congratulating Mcdougle like he had a sack
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
gone as in cut
Hunt looks like he actually got slower
BLOOM
way to farg that up magic man
Quote from: Seabiscuit36 on August 08, 2008, 09:26:11 PM
Hunt looks like he actually got slower
Yeah, he does. Cutsky.
These announcers blow.
Quote from: Zanshin on August 08, 2008, 09:35:30 PM
These announcers blow.
they are much better than the alternative. I guess the Pittsburgh guys come back in the 4th
I don't think so...seems like they got the first half.
Hunt is so farging sssslllloooowww.
Bryan Smith is getting run out of the play with ease...tackle just guiding him around the pocket. Mays and DJack look like the deal. Laws was also getting nice push.
I gotta admit, at this point I'd be okay with Dougs staying and Howard going the way of the Freak. Bryan Smith just brought some wood.
except for that play when he just killed bloom
Mcdougle looking like a Probowler against the burgh 3rd stringers
Studebaker disrupting plays!
What a motor!
nice heads up play by Demps
when gus johnson gets excited, i get a boner.
Quote from: phattymatty on August 08, 2008, 10:23:52 PM
when gus johnson gets excited, i get a boner.
when you get excited, i play with my jagnon
nice implosion at the end, but gasperson somehow drew interference
Feeley had Kris Wilson wide open in the end zone but threw it over his head.
I really liked what i saw tonight.
Why can't we ever beat the Steelers in pre season?
Positives:
McNabb
MJG
Mikell
D Jax
Mays
Bradley
Booker
McDougle
Negatives:
Pass rush and run defense in first half
Red zone offense in first half
Klecko in run d
Hunt
Feeley
McNabb looked damn good.
Liked Buck's burst
Booker has some moves but a wind will knock him down. Between him and DeSean they've got two 7th graders out there on the field.
Speaking of Jackson...love the way he adjusts to the ball.
JOE MAYS! Give that man #54. Please.
Quintin Mikell is a badass.
Akers driving the ball on his kickoffs was nice to see as well.
I liked what I saw from McNabb also. He looks real sharp.
I liked what I saw from Jackson, although I still want to see what he can do if he gets into the open field.
Avant looked good.
Don't know what to think of McDougle. He looked good, but against second stringers.
Booker has some moves, and is better returning kickoffs than anyone we've had back there the last three years.
Yeah, Mikell is a hittin' mf.
McDougle had a Mamula-like performance against backups. Stop listing him as a positive.
Quote from: General_Failure on August 09, 2008, 01:36:30 AM
McDougle had a Mamula-like performance against backups. Stop listing him as a positive.
Yes Sir!!
(http://colorburned.com/imagesgalleryimages/The%20Salute.jpg)
I was at the game and the two things that stuck out the most to me were Jackson looking good and Feeley looking like shtein. No great revelations I know, but those were the most extreme Eagles performances.
Jackson was all over the field and kept getting separation from the Steelers. He was zig-zagging and dropping in and out of multiple gears, and his hands looked solid.
Kolb's decision-making seemed sub-par, but other than Jackson, the receivers and line weren't giving him a lot to work with. A big takeaway from the game is that I don't want the Donovan McNabb era to end anytime soon.
I thought Mays was equally as good on defense as Jackson was on offense. Not only did he lay the wood, but he contained and wrapped up defenders, and was in on almost every tackle. He flies to the ball.
and McNabb was just looking great.
Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on August 08, 2008, 11:46:44 PM
Booker has some moves but a wind will knock him down.
He was juking right out of the grasp of the defense, and then juking himself down onto the grass. He has to find some balance.
Ryan Moats had some nice moves tonight too, but the kid is too dumb to know how to turn them into positive yards. I wasn't sure they were even going to bother letting him touch the ball.
I think it's notable that a rookie reciever jumped right into the first pre-season game and led all wr's in yards and receptions. McNabb was going to him early, and he looked to be wide open.
I would have liked to see him get better blocking in the punt return game. Like many rookies, he seemed to want to juke and jive more than anything, but at least he looked sure-handed.
Still, he'll be climbing up the depth chart at WR as the season progresses. Donovan obviously is looking for him when he's out there.
I'd like to see him get some blocking on returns also. He hasn't had a chance to turn that speed on yet. If you watch his college videos, he hasn't shown us anything yet as to how fast he really is.
mcnabb looked good.
d.jackson looked pretty good.
the rest of the wr's still stink.
the running game w/o westbrook is dismal. (61 yds rushing).
preseason games are really, really boring.
The starting defense looked atrocious. Whose brilliant idea was it to have Dawkins cover Santonio Holmes? Even more disturbing was the complete lack of pressure they got on Roethlisburger. Just awful.
Considering the offense was without its two best players and Reggie Brown, I thought they looked pretty damn good. I was really surprised at how Buck played. He looked damn good and really frigging fast out there. Of course, they marched down the field by mixing the run and pass and then got into the red zone and completely abandoned the run again. Hilarious how they do that season after season. DMac looked very strong and confident, thank Satan.
Akers looked strong. His opening kickoff was awesome. Here's hoping for a good year for dookie.
The second and third teams looked like second and third teams usually do. Meh.
Quintin Mikell was laying the motherfarging wood out there. He needs to learn not to hurt himself on hits though. Gotta go low, my brotha.
I didn't see the game of course--no NFLN--so I was left to read this thread and watch GameCenter, which captivated me for all of one quarter before I was drawn away by something better (Big Lebowski).
The game reads to me like a complete success. Everyone got a good workout, there were no injuries. I think it's great that Buck did well...that guy is pretty amazing when you consider what he's done to be where he is. I hope he stays healthy, I like rooting for him and I think he's a very capable 2nd RB behind Westbrook.
The performance of Jackson and Mays sound great, too.
Yay football.
Stillers top two running back averaging 6+ yards a carry does not sound like a total success. Otherwise, hooray football.
Complaining about the defense when we know YEAR AFTER YEAR, even in their best defensive years, Jim Johnson's defense is horrid in the preseason?
Nice.
:yay
You're like women. You complain just to complain.
Defending everything the Eagles do no matter how bad it is YEAR AFTER YEAR even though they've never done anything to earn this type of unquestioning praise?
Nice.
(http://images.dawgsports.com/images/admin/Kevin_Bacon_Animal_House.jpg)
Quote from: rjs246 on August 09, 2008, 09:10:28 AM
Defending everything the Eagles do no matter how bad it is YEAR AFTER YEAR even though they've never done anything to earn this type of unquestioning praise?
Nice.
You're kidding right?
LOL, I think you need to go back and read my posts from last season and this offseason.
I give Jackson five games before he goes on IR because he tried to make 4 or 5 guys miss.
Quote from: PhillyGirl on August 09, 2008, 09:13:46 AM
Quote from: rjs246 on August 09, 2008, 09:10:28 AM
Defending everything the Eagles do no matter how bad it is YEAR AFTER YEAR even though they've never done anything to earn this type of unquestioning praise?
Nice.
You're kidding right?
LOL, I think you need to go back and read my posts from last season and this offseason.
Why would I ever spend time rereading your ridiculous posts? I've seen enough of them to know that even when you think you're 'killing' the team that you're not really killing them at all. If you aren't the biggest homer on this board you're a mighty close second.
right, that's exactly how it was.
Was the new rule about facemask penalties posted about on this thread? Why the farg did they change that. Personal foul for an accidental facemask now? That's preposterous (I think Lito's was a 15 yarder last night regardless, but I had no clue about this new rule).
The facemask rule is old news.
Quote from: Diomedes on August 09, 2008, 09:45:04 AM
The facemask rule is old news.
I must have missed it then.
i think the ref messed that up, they are supposed to eliminate calling the accidental one altogether... that should have been a no call
Quote from: SunMo on August 09, 2008, 09:50:54 AM
i think the ref messed that up, they are supposed to eliminate calling the accidental one altogether... that should have been a no call
ah, ok....so the blatant personal fouls should still be called, but the old infractions are just supposed to be eliminated. I thought it was taht even the minor ones were now considered major ones.
Remember when a face mask used to be a face mask? Not this hand grazing over the grid crap
Unless someone's head comes off of their torso the facemask thing shouldn't be called. Incidental contact is just that.
The officials were pretty awful last night overall, though, especially with the holding calls or lack of them as it were.
Quote from: PhillyGirl on August 09, 2008, 09:05:41 AM
Complaining about the defense when we know YEAR AFTER YEAR, even in their best defensive years, Jim Johnson's defense is horrid in the preseason?
Nice.
:yay
You're like women. You complain just to complain.
The Steelers marched right down the field without so much as a "talk to the hand" from the Eagles defense. That happened a lot last year in the regular season, remember?
I thought it was pertinent to point that out since that was my impression from last night. But you're right, though. I shouldn't be actually putting any real thought into the game since it was just a preseason contest. I mean, it's not like the preseason is a precursor to events that might transpire in the regular season.
(http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2014/d0111uj8.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
(http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2014/d0111uj8.3360522540.jpg) (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=209&i=d0111uj8.jpg)
(http://images.cafepress.com/jitcrunch.aspx?bG9hZD1ibGFuayxibGFuazoxNjVfRi5qcGd8bG9hZD1MMCxodHRwOi8vaW1hZ2VzLmNhZmVwcmVzcy5jb20vaW1hZ2UvMjU0NTExMTNfNDAweDQwMC5wbmd8fHNjYWxlPUwwLDE2MCwxNjAsV2hpdGV8Y29tcG9zZT1ibGFuayxMMCxBZGQsMTU2LDEwNXxjcD1yZXN1bHQsYmxhbmt8c2NhbGU9cmVzdWx0LDAsNDgwLFdoaXRlfGNvbXByZXNzaW9uPTk1fA==)
I just pooped and it was definitely not rainbows.
Sooooo...
The first drive of the first pre-season game when they likely ran nothing special is a sign the defense is poor?
Didya notice the Eagles then walk it down the field right after the Steelers did?
Its preseason.
Being totally impartial, who does everyone think was the best looking player on the field last night?
My pick is Mendenhall. Between him and Parker, the Steelers are set at RB.
McNabb was like the McNabb of old, and I was glad to see him preform so well, but I was impressed by Mendenhall.
Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on August 09, 2008, 11:42:25 AM
Didya notice the Eagles then walk it down the field right after the Steelers did?
The TD drive was against the Steelers' 2nd team D.
Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on August 09, 2008, 11:42:25 AM
Sooooo...
The first drive of the first pre-season game when they likely ran nothing special is a sign the defense is poor?
Didya notice the Eagles then walk it down the field right after the Steelers did?
Its preseason.
Like I said. PG is in a tight race for the biggest homer round these parts...
At least Phreak doesn't get all angry about it and shtein.
Quote from: FastFreddie on August 09, 2008, 01:22:21 PM
At least Phreak doesn't post certain words in caps to over dramatize his point
Sure I've got some homer thoughts, but I believe that it is objective to say that the first team defense (or any one unit) cannot be judged in preseason.
Look at the individuals in preseason; not the whole units. We all know the Eagles keep the bells and whistles of play calling to a severe minimum, and it should be that way. Add in the fact that the Eagles and Steelers play in week 3 and you have another reason for them to not show any blitzes or personnel packages other than base defenses.
So if you'd like to write off or say they played like shtein because of drive one in the first game of the preseason, go right ahead.
What are Steelers fans saying about their defense who let a Westbrook-less, Greg Lewis as a starting WR offense go right down the field on them?
Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on August 09, 2008, 01:33:45 PM
What are Steelers fans saying about their defense who let a Westbrook-less, Greg Lewis as a starting WR offense go right down the field on them?
Probably "this defense isn't as good as the 2005 team when we won the Superbowl"
Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on August 09, 2008, 11:42:25 AM
Sooooo...
The first drive of the first pre-season game when they likely ran nothing special is a sign the defense is poor?
Didya notice the Eagles then walk it down the field right after the Steelers did?
Its preseason.
It wouldn't mean a thing if the same sort of thing didn't happen repeatedly last season, Jay.
And the same thing happened a lot on offense too (movement between the 20's and then stalling in the red zone).
But again, you're right too. It's nothing to worry about. Nothing at all.
Conversely, had the first team defense shown its teeth and shut them down or had the offense punched it in repeatedly, we'd be saying "its preseason, lets see 'em do it when the games count".
I'm just concerned about who the hell is going to rush the passer from the edge consistently other than Cole.
Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on August 09, 2008, 04:27:53 PM
Conversely, had the first team defense shown its teeth and shut them down or had the offense punched it in repeatedly, we'd be saying "its preseason, lets see 'em do it when the games count".
Yup.
But hey, the sky is falling, life is over and the team will go 3-13. All after watching the first team starters play one series in the opening preseason game. :yay
I'm pretty sure no one said anything like that. But is it ok to have a few reservations about the team? Maybe they have a few problems that will stop them from winning a Super Bowl this year?
I'm just spitballing here, but I think there might just be a happy medium that most of us are actually representing pretty well between your opinion and the one you're claiming many of us are posting.
For me, I'm just saying take the wait and see approach.
The most important thing is to see how the rookies look, how McNabb looks and how other individuals look.
Quote from: FastFreddie on August 09, 2008, 05:38:26 PM
I'm pretty sure no one said anything like that. But is it ok to have a few reservations about the team? Maybe they have a few problems that will stop them from winning a Super Bowl this year?
I'm just spitballing here, but I think there might just be a happy medium that most of us are actually representing pretty well between your opinion and the one you're claiming many of us are posting.
See, that's where you're wrong. Just because I'm not saying the defense sucks, yada yada yada, doesn't mean I think this team is going to go 13-3 and win a farging Super Bowl. You just read that from my posts but I've ever said it, nor do I even come close to thinking it.
But I'm sure not going to call it a season after watching the first series for the defense and say they "suck".
None of this matters because you are all always wrong anyway so lets just keep that in mind going forward.
Quote from: PhillyGirl on August 09, 2008, 06:24:42 PM
But I'm sure not going to call it a season after watching the first series for the defense and say they "suck".
You are, obviously, exaggerating heavily with the "call it a season" shtein.
you guys see much out of clemons??? i saw him in there late but didn't see him do much.
PG is off the reservation ridiculous, but I want to clarify... I'm not completely crushing the idea of being a homer. I used to be one in the worst way, I just had my hopes beaten down enough to finally move over to the dark side. I only point out Phreak and PG's homertude because everything they say needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
That should really go for everyone's comments. Except for three or four people, who can safely be ignored.
Quote from: rjs246 on August 09, 2008, 10:44:37 PM
PG is off the reservation ridiculous, but I want to clarify... I'm not completely crushing the idea of being a homer. I used to be one in the worst way, I just had my hopes beaten down enough to finally move over to the dark side. I only point out Phreak and PG's homertude because everything they say needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
I'm not as bad as I was. But I prefer to take the optimistic side more often than not.
On a side note..
I've never understood that saying "with a grain of salt"...what exactly does that mean?
I don't give a shtein about anyone's opinion here much less my own. All I want is what everyone else wants and that's a damn parade down Broad Street.
The point of these threads and this retarded forum is to discuss the details of that pursuit. If we can't be extreme on either side of that pursuit, then what's the point of having the forum up and running at all?
Eh - whatever. Go team or something.
Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on August 10, 2008, 12:12:49 AM
I've never understood that saying "with a grain of salt"...what exactly does that mean?
From wikipedia:
QuoteThe phrase comes from Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia, regarding the discovery of a recipe for an antidote to a poison. In the antidote, one of the ingredients was a grain of salt. Threats involving the poison were thus to be taken "with a grain of salt" and therefore less seriously. An alternative account says that the Roman general believed he could make himself immune to poison by ingesting small amounts of various poisons, and he took this treatment with a grain of salt to help him swallow the poison. In this version, the salt is not the antidote, it was taken merely to assist in swallowing the poison.
QuoteEarly lapse brings back bad memories
By REUBEN FRANK
phillyBurbs.com
It wouldn't be such a concern if it hadn't been such a big problem last year. ::)
When the Steelers scored a touchdown against the Eagles' first defense just 41/2 minutes into their preseason game Friday night at Heinz Field, it seemed like 2007 all over again. Last year, the Eagles' defense allowed touchdowns regularly on the opponent's first drive, in many cases shutting down that opponent the rest of the game.
The Vikings drove 79 yards for a touchdown on their first offensive possession last year before settling for three field goals the rest of the way. The Cowboys opened the first Eagles game with TDs on their first two drives. The Patriots opened TD-FG-TD and scored just twice the rest of the game. The Seahawks scored touchdowns on their first and third drives, then scored two TDs on their last 14 possessions. The Saints opened TD-TD a year ago and didn't get in the end zone again. The Jets scored on their first drive before managing just two field goals the rest of their game.
In some cases, the Eagles overcame the early defensive lapses. They came back to beat the Vikings, Saints and Jets. But the slow starts cost them against the Cowboys, Patriots and Seahawks.
So getting the defense going early has been a priority during the preseason. Which is why the Steelers' 41/2-minute, 79-yard touchdown drive to open the game bothered the Eagles' defenders so much.
"We always seem to come out a little bit slow, and I hate that," defensive end Trent Cole said. "We adjust and we usually get on the ball after that, but for some reason we don't do that at the beginning of the game. That bothered me."
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed his only two passes for 38 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes, and the Steelers averaged 4.5 yards on six rushes on that drive.
It was the only possession the Eagles' first defense was matched up against Roethlisberger and the Steelers' first offense. Facing the Pittsburgh backups, the Eagles' starters allowed just eight yards on two later drives.
"We didn't make any real adjustments, we just talked and said, "Everybody calm down and play our game,' " safety Quintin Mikell said. "We came out there and we did that. I just think we were really excited when we first came out there and over-thinking things, which kind of happens when you haven't been playing in a game situation in a while. We've been hitting each other all (camp), and we're just excited to hit somebody else."
Head coach Andy Reid initially seemed disappointed with the long drive.
"From a defensive standpoint, you can't have long drives like that to start the game," he said. "We have plenty of work."
But he added, "I'm not going to say it's the end of the world. They have a little different blocking scheme than what we do and we didn't work on it much. I think we'll be OK."
The starting defense is expected to play a little longer on Friday night, when the Eagles face the Carolina Panthers in their home preseason opener. Their deepest preseason playing time will come Aug. 22 in Foxboro, Mass., when the starters on both sides of the ball will likely play into the third quarter against the Patriots. The starters generally don't play at all in the final preseason game, in this case Aug. 28 at home against the Jets.
"We need to come out and stop people from scoring right off the bat," Cole said. "We have to do a better job of that because it was a problem in the past. Why? I don't know. I can't explain it. But I don't like it."
Reuben clearly needs to settle down here. I mean, it's only a preseason game.
Someone with access to him needs to talk some sense into him.
With a baseball bat.
Quote from: PhillyGirl on August 09, 2008, 06:24:42 PM
Quote from: FastFreddie on August 09, 2008, 05:38:26 PM
I'm pretty sure no one said anything like that. But is it ok to have a few reservations about the team? Maybe they have a few problems that will stop them from winning a Super Bowl this year?
I'm just spitballing here, but I think there might just be a happy medium that most of us are actually representing pretty well between your opinion and the one you're claiming many of us are posting.
See, that's where you're wrong. Just because I'm not saying the defense sucks, yada yada yada, doesn't mean I think this team is going to go 13-3 and win a farging Super Bowl.
I agree - the Eagles will be 16-0
Its so pathetic that because I don't jump on the "OMG the sky is falling" bandwagon, I'm called a homer.
Where am I saying the team will be great or whatnot? I'm still waiting for someone to show that to me?
But like Phreak, I'd rather sit here and wait to see what happens, rather than start screaming OMG OMG OMG! Life is over!
Saying you're concerned is one thing, so am I...but to say "the defense sucks just like last year" and crap like teams are goin gto run all over them all year, etc....its pointless from ONE series.
First of all, settle down. I never called you anything. You're the one who jumped down my throat when I offered my insights into what happened the other night.
Second, isn't it interesting that Reuben basically echoed my sentiments about the first team defense's seeming impotence on opening drives? If a guy that I assume you respect saw the same thing as I did, why not just accept that what we're saying might be true? I mean, Killa himself admitted that they come out flat a lot and preseason or not that's a bad precedent to be setting.
And lastly, why is Reuben Frank plagiarizing me? Why, damn it, WHY?!?
:-D
LOL, because I respect Roob means I can't disagree with him?
I always disagree with him (especially in person because fyi, he is not a fan of Philadelphia teams) on stuff. I disagree with him. I think its far too early to be having concerns about something that no one could possibly know yet after one series. ESPECIALLY when Jim Johnson is notorious for showing jack shtein in the preseason. Even in his BEST years.
I will say the only concern I have so far is with the special teams unit. I don't trust this ST coach at all to get their shtein together like Harbaugh used to do.
What concerns me more than anything is the near total absence of an edge pass rush opposite Cole. It was a sore spot last year and they did nothing to rectify the problem again. The receivers are garbage too but I said all along during the offseason that their highest priority should have been to get a legitimate defensive end to complement Cole and they didn't.
On a sort of related note - Jason Taylor looked pretty damn good last night for the Racists. :-\
pass rush is a concern but jj obviously didn't break out all his complex blitz packages in a preseason game. in a perfect world, they'd be able to get pressure on the qb without blitzing but i'm not sure that's the case with this team.
Quote from: hunt on August 10, 2008, 10:55:03 AM
pass rush is a concern but jj obviously didn't break out all his complex blitz packages in a preseason game. in a perfect world, they'd be able to get pressure on the qb without blitzing but i'm not sure that's the case with this team.
Hasn't been the case with this team since '03.
2002 really.
Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh!
Yeah, he was who I was thinking of.
I just remember Hugh terrorizing Jim Miller in a game against the Bears back then, couldn't quite remember if it was '02 or '03... and wasn't gonna look it up. Either way... that's really the last time I remember the D generating a serious rush w/o the blitz.
the game was replayed on NFLN this morning and I DVR'd it because of having to switch between it and the Phils game on Friday. it appears they are using the entire ETN broadcast.
Hugh went to Jacksonville in 2003, I think. They did try to address it by signing Kearse in 2004 and again in 2006 with Darren Howard but both of those bums were busts. I think they're a bit gun shy now since both players were massive disappointments.
the defense im afraid will not be able to carry the average offense.
in fact i think they are mostly average on both sides. no real pass rush outside of a occasional cole speed move. need to blitz all the time leaving certain WRs (esp the taller ones) to beat up on our 2ndary.
oh well. i still see them making it to the playoffs but as the 3rd team from the NFC east.
Quote from: Magical_Retard on August 10, 2008, 06:10:57 PM
in fact i think they are mostly average on both sides.
while l boogie and deshay give me much hope this is pretty much the perfect description of this team...and while a perfectly average team shouldnt make the playoffs the eagles best player is at the most important position and if mcnabb stays healthy i too think they
can reach the post season
Quote from: SunMo on August 10, 2008, 12:42:34 PM
the game was replayed on NFLN this morning and I DVR'd it because of having to switch between it and the Phils game on Friday. it appears they are using the entire ETN broadcast.
yeah, i would imagine they would. You can see why ETN has 32 emmys when compared with the Pissburgh broadcast