Reid will "pass" on running...

[TempleOwl]

Why run? Eagles are winning Reid's way

By Jeff McLane

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER


The lesson here is: You can't argue with success.

And Eagles head coach Andy Reid, in his day-after game press conference at the NovaCare Complex today, continues to be the teacher when questioned about his team's run-pass imbalance.

"I really think when it's all said and done I'm not sure people really care if you ran the ball or threw the ball," said Reid.

"They care a little bit about if you win or lose."

And the Eagles are winning Reid's way - through the air as evidenced by yesterday's stunning 37-31 comeback victory over the Chiefs in Kansas City.

Reid's play calling once again leaned heavy on quarterback Donovan McNabb's arm as the Eagles went pass in favor of the run, 48-17. Through four games, the Eagles have thrown the ball more than twice than they have run it, 184-79.

With quarterback Donovan McNabb suffering through all sorts of injuries, the most serious, a sports hernia, which as of today is still status quo, many have questioned Reid's decision to keep dropping McNabb back and thus opening him up from more possible injury.

"We try to do what the teams are going to give us," said Reid. "We thought we saw some things we could throw on them against. We we're hoping to run a little bit better than what we did, too. It just didn't work out that way."

With the Chiefs focused on running back Brian Westbrook, the Eagles managed only 28 yards on the ground as opposed to 368 in the air.

As with most modern-day NFL play, the days of running the ball to set up the pass are over, especially in Reid's version of the West Coast offense (read: short passes). But his leaning on the pass this season is much more pronounced than in his previous six years at the Eagles helm, when the balance was 60-40 in favor of the pass.

In injury news, Reid announced an assortment of bumps and bruises, some more serious than others. And he touched on the progress of two key contributors who missed Sunday's game.

Kicker David Akers is getting a second opinion on his torn hamstring today. Reid said he wouldn't know if Akers' injury is more serious than first imagined until after the examination.

Akers' replacement, Todd France, filled in competently after a rocky first half in which he saw a 40-yard field goal attempt blocked. In the second half, he was 2 for 2 from 44 and 37 yards.

Reid said that defensive tackle Darwin Walker's thigh contusion, which kept him out Sunday, is getting better. But he wouldn't commit to Walker being ready for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

"I think it's a coin flip right now," said Reid.

The Eagles are thin at tackle now that Paul Grasmanis is lost for the season. The 10-year veteran suffered a torn right Achilles tendon against the Chiefs. In 2003, he tore the tendon in his left leg.

Reid said that Keyonta Marshall, a rookie on the practice squad, could be looked at as a possible replacement.

Eagles safety Brian Dawkins was undergoing an MRI on his left ankle as Reid spoke. Dawkins had his ankle rolled on by teammate Dhani Jones during the game and appeared hurt as he limped off the field. But he came back on the field a few plays later and after the game said his ankle felt fine.

Reid said the MRI was more a precaution.

[PhillyGirl]

Posted this on another thread, I'll repost here:

Ray Didinger  made a comment last night regarding the Eagles run game which he (Ray) has been screaming for all year. He said he noticed something in this game for the first time. He said that the Eagles run game isn't the traditional run game (I think Aikman said this during the game too). That little dump passes and screen passes and draw plays...THAT is what the Eagles use as a run game. Easy "passes" for McNabb and then the RB does the work.

[SunMo]

i get the short passes = running thing.  the only thing that doesn't work for that is that you don't leave your QB open for hits when you handoff.  even a short pass leaves the possibility for Donovan to get smacked, like he did late yesterday.

not saying AR is wrong or anything like that, just saying that a short pass is the same thing as a run.

[Wingspan]

Posted this on another thread, I'll repost here:

Ray Didinger  made a comment last night regarding the Eagles run game which he (Ray) has been screaming for all year. He said he noticed something in this game for the first time. He said that the Eagles run game isn't the traditional run game (I think Aikman said this during the game too). That little dump passes and screen passes and draw plays...THAT is what the Eagles use as a run game. Easy "passes" for McNabb and then the RB does the work.

didinger just noticed that?

has he watched reid coach for the past 6 years?

[MURP]

Posted this on another thread, I'll repost here:

Ray Didinger made a comment last night regarding the Eagles run game which he (Ray) has been screaming for all year. He said he noticed something in this game for the first time. He said that the Eagles run game isn't the traditional run game (I think Aikman said this during the game too). That little dump passes and screen passes and draw plays...THAT is what the Eagles use as a run game. Easy "passes" for McNabb and then the RB does the work.

thats nothing new,  thats what the entire west coast offense was built around.  Short passes used as "runs."  Doesnt change the fact that the Eagles do need a better running game.  It's easy to throw all over the place against junk defense like the 49ers, Raiders and Chiefs.   Not quite as easy against a good Defense.

[PhillyGirl]

I agree with what all of you guys are saying and you know how I feel about the run. I was just pointing out what Ray Diddy said.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I believe we'll see him go back to the 60/40 balance that he had last year.

I want him to run more too, but I think we'll see him get back to running a bit more soon. Yesterday they were down 24-6. That means a ton of throwing.

[TempleOwl]

I'm hoping he's waiting for Gordon to get more familiar with the playbook.  I'd like to see the Eagles get creative with the run.  I don't care how often they run vs pass as long as they win.  Why run when everyone in the building knows they are going to run?  They should use the run to keep teams off balance.

[Sgt PSN]

I'm hoping he's waiting for Gordon to get more familiar with the playbook. I'd like to see the Eagles get creative with the run. I don't care how often they run vs pass as long as they win. Why run when everyone in the building knows they are going to run? They should use the run to keep teams off balance.

I was wondering the same thing in regards to Gordon.  As far as the Eagles running the ball yesterday, I really didn't expect them to run much anyway.  The Chiefs have a pretty active group of linebackers and they've been pretty solid against the run so far this year.  They've also got the speed to play against screens which is why they were mostly ineffective yesterday as well. 

I don't really need to see balance in the running game as much as I would like to see effectiveness.  I don't care if the Eagles run the ball 10 times every game as long as those 10 rushes go for positive yards.  But mostly, I'd like to see the Eagles get away from passing when they are leading late in the 4th qtr. 

[TexasEagle]

But mostly, I'd like to see the Eagles get away from passing when they are leading late in the 4th qtr.

That's my biggest problem with the lack of running game. Not that they don't run enough (which they don't) but that they pass when they're up late int he game and should be running to keep the clock going. What they did int he Chiefs game is a travesty. KC should have had next to no time on the clock to get down the field but 3 passes, no clock time wasted and KC has too much time to move down the field.

[mussa]

lord this subject is overplayed

[4and26]

Posted this on another thread, I'll repost here:

Ray Didinger  made a comment last night regarding the Eagles run game which he (Ray) has been screaming for all year. He said he noticed something in this game for the first time. He said that the Eagles run game isn't the traditional run game (I think Aikman said this during the game too). That little dump passes and screen passes and draw plays...THAT is what the Eagles use as a run game. Easy "passes" for McNabb and then the RB does the work.

Thought about this a bit and you know this makes "sense".  A dump or screen pass to a RB and what have you done, you've eliminate or got around 10 players on the field (offence and defensive lines).  Now he has only 6 defender to beat in open space.
Not saying a running game is not important but getting a back past the line of scrimage into open field provides some favorable matchups  ......

[General_Failure]

Sure. All you've got to do is complete those little dumpoffs and not, for example, throw it backwards and incomplete for a fumble or 5 yards beyond the fullback that you know can't catch.

[PhillyPhreak54]

C'mon...who didn't love Parry coming out of the slot to catch a 12 yard pass and promptly fall on his can?!?

[Feva]

Stop, drop and roll baby... stop, drop and roll.