Eagles vs Steelers game

[WEST is GOD]

I just checked the play by play. I guess I was seeing things. I saw Johnson on the back of the jersey. What the hell.

Well Mariscal sucks then.

[TexasEagle]

Johnson didn't play. Mariscal (sp?) didn't have a very good kick that first punt. Actually, the first one was ok, the rekick wasn't that great though.

And McMullen (and all the wrs) was impressive. I kept waiting for him to drop a pass that hit him right in the hands.

And that catch LJ made on the TD was a nice grab considering the zip on that ball.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Yes he did, I saw him on the very first Eagles punt. #8 Johnson on the back of his jersey. Unless I was really seeing things. I was surprised because I know he had surgery.

He didn't even make the trip, bro.

ESPN put up Johnson's stats but it was Mark Mariscal.

Unless Dirk drove to PIT on his own and punted without Reid knowing it, you're seeing shtein.

[TexasEagle]

It's just great to see Eagles football again, isn't it?

Right on! Got to watch the game in HD in here tonight too. Crystal clear image... everyone should get an HDtv!

[PhillyGirl]

I didn't think Mariscal was THAT bad. Johnson started off in the preseason last year shaky on his first few kicks as well. He's just holding Dirk's spot until he comes back.

[JTrotter Fan]

Way to go Patterson and Reggie.  That's a hell of a first game!  I'm very pleased!

[Sgt PSN]

I missed the first quarter and a half but I liked a lot of what I saw from the back ups and guys just fighting for a roster spot.....be it with the Eagles or another team.  McMullen made a few nice catches before getting yanked.  I was very impressed with Mike McMahon.  He made some very nice throws and showed some good mobility and ability to improvise, especially on that nice run.  Moats looked not only to be quick and elusive, but not afraid to lower his shoulders and put on a little power display too. 

I was kind of surprised to see so much offense in the first preseason game from the Eagles.  I'm not used to saying this as of the last few years but turnovers and special teams are what cost them the game.  It's irrelevant because it's preseason but it's still something that needs and will be addressed. 

[Rome]

My buddy and I were the only ones out of 50 or so regulars to watch the game at the Pub tonight.



Of course, at least 50 Steelers queers showed up with their towels and beads and gay little toy school buses and enjoyed giving us shtein for the first quarter.  I hate shteinsburgh and everything about the Steelers, especially the toothless, ass-end-of-the-state fat chicks who gorge themselves on peanuts and sweet iced tea and then fail to leave the waitresses a tip.

[TexasEagle]

He wasn't necessarily bad, but last year Johnson had a good kick to balance out every bad one. I don't think Mariscal had a single kick tonight that made me take notice. He had adequate distance, but nothing to get excited about. But, as you said, PG, he's preseason a filler so not really a big deal either way.

[MURP]

- I thought Reggie Brown looked like a 5 year veteran.  Just amazing how this guy can learn the offense so quickly and run such precise routes.   

- Moats, damn, this guy could be special.    Tonight we got a taste of that power/quickness/moves combination he has.   His height might help him rather than hurt him.


-  McMullen-  Didnt look great, but he caught em. good enough for now.  Thank god.

- Bruce Perry - dayum!   someone had some pent up aggression that needed to be released!   Just wish this guy could stay healthy.   maybe we can send him some Karma and get rid of his curse.

-  McCoy and Cole looked average.  Some decent plays and some where they looked lost.

-  Mike McMahon stepped it up which was nice to see, although Joey Harrington was 9/9 the other day.   

- DMAC looked pretty sharp out there.  No chance for a weak opening up of the season.  Lets keep that completion % closer to 65 than 60 again this year.   


-  Special teams, terrible, but who cares.  Harbaugh will have the guys ready to go.  Each year the Eagles lose some special teams studs, they flop around in the preseason, and then guys step up in the regular season.


-  Jason Short-  bam, nice hit.  Luv this dood. 

[PhillyGirl]

- I thought Reggie Brown looked like a 5 year veteran.  Just amazing how this guy can learn the offense so quickly and run such precise routes.   

Most impressive catch was the one on the sidelines where he kept both feet in bounds. Really impressive for a rookie in his first game. 

[PhillyPhreak54]

My observations (pasted from the EMB):

1. The special teams are going to be roasted, but I remind you that Harbaugh hasn't really had a chance to shape his units yet. He's got to work with guys who are not going to be in the NFL in 3 weeks. Once he has time to set his squads after the 53 man rosters are set, then evaluate the overall performance of the ST's.

2. The punt return TD shouldn't have happened. They called off-setting penalties on the teams. Rod Hood was blasted in the back and they called Dexter Wynn for going out of bounds on his own. Wynn was pushed out, so it was a bad call.

3. But since they did not get the call right on Wynn, Mariscal showed his inconsistency and punted a terrible low line drive and the coverage teams had no shot. Colclough took it on the run and was gone before they could set up.

4. The kickoff return was a combination of poor coverage and a poor kick by Akers. He lined the kickoff and by the time the coverage units got down there the returner was out to the 30 and only needed one or two blocks.

5. I also see some geniuses are blaming Donovan for the INT on the first play of the game...wrong. That was Greg Lewis' fault. He either ran the wrong route or he didn't turn around at the right time. It was a strict timing route and Lewis wasn't out of his break quick enough like he was supposed to be.

6. Despite the INT, Donovan still had a very nice showing. He was 14/19 for 132 yards. That is a 73.6% completion rate.

7. Billy McMullen, Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown showed me a lot tonight. Lewis shook off the early problem and made several nice grabs.

8. Billy McMullen's confidence has to be very good right now. He made several big catches and got the first one out of the way like Dawk said.

9. Reggie Brown doesn't look like a rookie to me, folks. I said this when I was up at Lehigh and I'll say it again now - I believe he will contribute. Forget the Eagles young WR histories under Reid, I think Reggie will be the one to break the mold.

10. Todd Herremans looked OK for his first NFL game and being the #1 LT. He got mixed up on a blitz by PIT and let Farrior get through. He downblocked and Farrior went outside to get to the QB. He did have one good pancake block in pass protection though.

11. Adrien Clarke about got Koy killed by Brett Keisel. Clarke totally blew his assignment and blocked the wrong guy. Keisel had a clean shot at Koy.

12. LJ Smith had back-to-back penalties on one drive. He false started and then he held on a Westbrook run negating a nice gain. He did make a nice catch on that TD from Donovan.

13. The offense was rusty early on with the penalties but they finally put together a good solid drive. I liked how Donovan looked early and often to his young WRs. Build the confidence.

14. Can't really say much about the first team defense since they only played one series thanks to the INT and two STs failures. They didn't get a lot of work at all tonight. But that's OK.

15. Rod Hood had a nice INT, great positioning.

16. Quintin Mikell made a rookie mistake by trying to go for an INT instead of separating the WR from the ball. It resulted in a 32 yard gain.

17. Matt McCoy showed good recognition skills in diagnosing that reverse. He is a guy who you can tell likes to hit. He gave up a long pass to Matt Kranchick, but that was a perfect throw to him and wasn't much Matt could do.

18. Ryan Moats, like I've said before, is a very capable inside runner. He gets inside the big bodies and can turn out nice runs. His center of gravity is very low and he's got a thick build. I really like watching him play.

19. Mike McMahon looked very good tonight. I think he might be one of those guys who do not practice well, but when the game comes he plays well.

20. Bruce Perry is bulked up from last year and it showed on his TD run. He ran that Steeler over with no problems. I'd love to see him get more work at RB.

21. Chris Samp has nice hands, eh? When I saw him at Lehigh he caught everything thrown to him.

22. I bet Corey Peoples' head will be on a swivel next game, huh? He got smoked on that one play by Fred Gibson.

23. Mike Patterson and Keyonta Marshall were getting nice pressure up the gut. Patterson was blatantly held on one play by Chukky Okobie and if not for that he would've killed Batch.

24. The most important thing was that there was NO MAJOR INJURIES. So despite several aspects of the game looking rusty, they did not lose any players.

[General_Failure]

Dare I say it? The offense has some nice weapons.

[PhillyGirl]

19. Mike McMahon looked very good tonight. I think he might be one of those guys who do not practice well, but when the game comes he plays well.

The anti-Na Brown

[TexasEagle]

Good comments (except for that posting on the EMB part ).

10. Todd Herremans looked OK for his first NFL game and being the #1 LT. He got mixed up on a blitz by PIT and let Farrior get through. He downblocked and Farrior went outside to get to the QB. He did have one good pancake block in pass protection though.

Was this the delayed blitz that got in McNabb's face? I don't recall who got through, but if it's the play I'm thinking of Herremans was already engaged and Westbrook was blocking out when the delayed blitzer took off running. Herremans saw him and got out an arm but he couldn't slow him down enough. Was nice recognition on his part to see the blitzer, but there wasn't much he could do being engaged already. For a rookie playing with the 1st string in his first NFL game he was pretty impressive to me.