Hard truths to face before '06 Season

[henchmanUK]

JJ brings it on first and second down, then doesn't dance with the one that brung him on third down. I shouted at the TV when we rushed four on one third and long, then, on the next Seattle third down, I guess I should have been pleased we didn't rush four. Sadly, we rushed three. Maybe this is a tired over-reaction, but I'd be quite happy to see JJ fired this year. He's been flat-out awful and predictable. None more-so than last night.

[Mad-Lad]

having a quarterback who doesn't telegraph his throws would be nice.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

After watching some of the Colts game this week, I realized that they probably miss Simon more than the other two combined.  Burgess has been nice off the edge in Oakland, but I don't think he'd be any more effective than Cole or Kalu on our front 4.  While Simon has no sacks (unless he got one Sunday), he defenitely was pushing the center of the line into the backfield more often than not.  Darwin Walker has disappeared since the first few games, Patterson is erratic and probably needs to hit the weights, and the other guys are really "insert fat guy here" material.

Still, I don't fault the decision to cut Simon loose when the decision was made.  In hindsight, it didn't work out.

I still don't think matching the contracts for Burgess and/or Ike would have made any difference on this team.

[Wingspan]

• for all of the bazillions of mid and late round draft picks the eagles cream themselves over every offseason, the lack of depth on this team and absolutely uncalled for and totally disgusting.
• the backup quarterback spot has been completely ignored for years. i know you cannot have 2 probowlers. but to think a team would have a better insurance policy than mike farging mcmahon and koy the holder detmer. neither one of those guys even deserve to be in the league.
• its time to end the "undersized and fast" DE experiment. IT DOES NOT WORK
• right now this team is worse than the 1999 eagles.
• greg lewis sucks
• for as good as trotter is vs the run, he is that bad vs the pass, in fact...almost every god damn linebacker on this team should be cut in the offseason. the outside LBs especially, terrible terrible terrible.

[Zanshin]

It's bad.  But let's be realistic.  The bad is compounded by the rash of injuries.  We're basically fielding a second or third team squad.  Now, I'm sure the team could tolerate a backup playing here or there without that much of a dropoff-- but when they're all on the field at once, it magnifies the problems exponentially. 

We've lost our probowl QB, both starting WRs, our starting FB (Ritchie to injury, basically), 3/5ths of our starting o-line, our "big" back, our starting corner, a projected starting DE who would be better suited against the run...blah, blah, blah.  There are not many teams that would look good dealing with that.  And that's not even considering the overall pallor from the Owens mess.

Right now we're looking at inferior talent and/or lack of experience...all trying to learn to play together late in the season against teams with actual playoff hopes.

This team has needs...but it's really rough to get an accurate read on that right now because of the situation.

[Zanshin]

Oh, all that said:  We need at least two starting quality OLBs next year.  That's hurt us since day one.

[Mad-Lad]

Get Chad Greenway!

[Wingspan]

It's bad.  But let's be realistic.  The bad is compounded by the rash of injuries.  We're basically fielding a second or third team squad.  Now, I'm sure the team could tolerate a backup playing here or there without that much of a dropoff-- but when they're all on the field at once, it magnifies the problems exponentially. 

We've lost our probowl QB, both starting WRs, our starting FB (Ritchie to injury, basically), 3/5ths of our starting o-line, our "big" back, our starting corner, a projected starting DE who would be better suited against the run...blah, blah, blah.  There are not many teams that would look good dealing with that.  And that's not even considering the overall pallor from the Owens mess.

Right now we're looking at inferior talent and/or lack of experience...all trying to learn to play together late in the season against teams with actual playoff hopes.

This team has needs...but it's really rough to get an accurate read on that right now because of the situation.

while all above is true....the defensive line sucks because of arrogence, not injury. the let two guys walk, and tried to count on a 3rd guy who had yet to be healthy since being drafted.

[Zanshin]

Well, Burgess had a good year...but come on, nobody was sold on him.  He's never been healthy, either.  And Simon wanted way more than his fat butt was worth.  It's not like they just walked for no reason.

[NextLevel]

You all make good points, but I think our predictability on both sides of the ball has hurt just as much as playing with all the injuries.  It seems that every team we play against is well prepared to face our "Air Reid" experiment and the blitzing defense.  Could we change it up already?

We need some quality outside linebackers, at least 2 new WRs, hopefully with some experience and talent and a short yardage back that can push a pile and get the tough yards.  I really like Westbrook, but we need someone to compliment his style.

The defensive line is horrid this season.  Eventually, we'll have to address this problem.  Hopefully in this upcoming offseason instead of after Reid gets canned.

[Wingspan]

Well, Burgess had a good year...but come on, nobody was sold on him.  He's never been healthy, either.  And Simon wanted way more than his fat butt was worth.  It's not like they just walked for no reason.

true. but there was no seeable attempt to replace their production after they left.

face it...if burgess was totally inneffective this year, or injured, some people here would be telling us how right the eagles were for letting him walk pointing out his lack of production. how many times did we hear Johnson telling the cameras how good burgess was? mcdougle and buckhalter are never healthy either...but the birds keep them around.

i've said before that this season is a wash, and can be just a bump, and not a new trend. but the eagles, in some areas brought this upon themselves (LB and D-Line).

[BigEd76]

Draft picks and healing can't give a team "heart" though.  It's pretty bad when the Buddy team from last night called them heartless, gutless and embarrassing.  They never look like they give a damn out there.  How do you come out with a game that big and not show up or care?

[NextLevel]

It makes a guy wonder if Reid has lost all control of the team, and if the players have lost all respect for him.

[Zanshin]

mcdougle and buckhalter are never healthy either...but the birds keep them around.

The Eagles didn't have to make any serious decisions about those guys, though.

There's serious room for improvement, in many areas...but this season has just been a disaster from start to finish.  It's tough to read it, because it's a little on the ridiculous side.

[BigEd76]

While I'm not going to go the "window slammed shut, blow the whole team up" route that Salisbury did last night on ESPN, I can't blame everything on TO and injuries.  The depth has sucked for years now and there's a problem with the nonchalant attitude that surrounds these guys...