The observation thread

[dpierce]

Well, the season is all but over. We saw the Eagles come from ahead to take another L. I'd put up a poll asking who was more at fault, but the problem is that everyone would be right. The offense couldn't finish drives, the defense played well most of the game but folded at the most crucial point, and the coaches were stuck on stupid at critical times. What we saw was really just a microcosm of Reid's tenure. With that written, let's get to it...

The good

- Wiz was 21/34 for 221 yards and a TD. A solid, yet unspectacular performance.

- The running game continues to produce. Westbrook had 18 carries for 79 yards and the team had 25 carries for 123 overall (Wiz was 2 for 18 yards). Why didn't the Eagles keep feeding the ground game? Oh that's right, the whole coaches-stuck-on-stupid thing.

- Reggie Brown had 3 catches for 44 yards, but he was conspicuously absent from the offense late in the game. I'd like to see get more passes thrown his way in the red zone.

- Kevin Curtis had five catches for 65 yards. I like Curtis because he stretches the field, but he doesn't seem to be much of a factor in the red zone.

- The defense played great...for 59 minutes.

- Cole and Patterson brought the pain.

- I previously criticized the LB play, but all of them played very well yesterday. The play that Gaither made at the goal line yesterday was phenomenal.


The bad

- While the Eagles moved the ball very well outside the red zone, they got only one TD out of four tries. I think not using the TE in passing game more often is the culprit. Before yesterday, I didn't know that all of LJ's TDs were in the red zone. One of the TEs has to step up.

- Why did Big Red call pass plays late in the game? Chicago had no timeouts, but with the Eagles playcalling and clock management via the playcalling, Chicago didn't need any. The whole coaches-stuck-on-stupid thing again.

- Since I'm on the stuck on stupid topic, what's up with the prevent D on the last drive? Rushing only three guys? I'm sure it looks great on paper, but how often does it work?

The ugly

- Maybe it was because I saw the game on TV, but it seemed like almost no one cheered when the Eagles when Rocca punted to the 3-yard line in the last minute. Even the game announcers mentioned how apprehensive the crowd was at that point. Was it because we suspected, if not believed, or even knew, but hoped wouldn't happen? Have we all become that cynical as Eagles fans? I suppose the answer is yes to those questions.

[phattymatty]

Why did Big Red call pass plays late in the game?

Did anyone who's a real fan think they wouldn't?  I was at the bar talking to the guy next to me (non-Eagles fan) and he thought I was nuts when I told him what the next few plays would be.  I don't think it's widely known throughout the league yet that the eagles have the worst clock management in the league.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

If you want to see Reggie Brown get more looks in the red zone, you might want to tell him to catch the damn ball.

[ice grillin you]

there are so many agregiously off base "observations" in this post that i wopuldnt know where to begin

kevin curtis stretches the field?....haha

mcnabb was a good?


the offense is a bad cause its not getting in the end zone but reggie brown who dropped a pass at the goa line is a good?


and the blame is not to be spread around

the defense played fine and had the team in a great position to win

the offense had a clutch 4th quarter drive to take the lead

the play calling and clock management lost this game....period

[Cerevant]

Ok, I'll ignore the fact that there are 5 other threads discussing the Bears game.

Do you need to create a new thread every week with the same title?  Either re-use the old one, or maybe call this "Bears Game Observations" or something that gives some context?

[Magical_Retard]

Why did Big Red call pass plays late in the game?

Did anyone who's a real fan think they wouldn't?  I was at the bar talking to the guy next to me (non-Eagles fan) and he thought I was nuts when I told him what the next few plays would be.  I don't think it's widely known throughout the league yet that the eagles have the worst clock management in the league.

esp after last week in the jets game reid called passing plays and mcnabb made that play to brown to gain a 1st down. im sure reid saw that and said "well i need to pass everytime in that situation from here on".

[dpierce]

Ok, I'll ignore the fact that there are 5 other threads discussing the Bears game.

Do you need to create a new thread every week with the same title?  Either re-use the old one, or maybe call this "Bears Game Observations" or something that gives some context?

You're right. I'll use just one thread for this. That way the current misery will be in one location.

Mods, could you merge my threads please? G_F? MURP? Sus? Anyone...Bueller?

[ice grillin you]

Ok, I'll ignore the fact that there are 5 other threads discussing the Bears game.

Do you need to create a new thread every week with the same title?  Either re-use the old one, or maybe call this "Bears Game Observations" or something that gives some context?

cause i hate going back into the game thread to see peoples thoughts i like the idea of a thread like this...but it should be something like "bears post game thoughts thread" and it should be started right after the game ends

[mussa]

White Lightening is the best receiver on this team. Hands down. He consistently makes plays and catches balls. Just because he's white doesn't mean he sucks IGY. It just means we have zero chance at winning the super bowl. zero

[ice grillin you]

2
4
11
2
5

those are his catches in the last five games....doesnt look very consistent to me

anyway i never said he sucked....i said hes a disgrace as a number one...he should be a 3 like he was in st louis...the fact that he got the contract he did is another black mark on this front office

[Munson]

A lot of thosse numbers aren't his fault, McNabb was downright terrible the first couple weeks. He's been catching everything that's been thrown in a catchable posistion, and he's fast as hell. He's not the problem.

Reid/Coaching/play calling is. Stop complaining about somethin that aint broke. Maybe he should try teaching Reggie Brown how to catch.

[ice grillin you]

everything you just said may be true...cept the fast as hell part...but none of it changes the fact that your offense is not going to perform when kevin friggin curtis is your #1...hes a great #3 or an acceptable 2 behind a stud 1 and thats where he should be

[Munson]

I'm of the opinion that the offense would be doing much better if Reid would just run the ball more and if LJ Smith was back and healthy. He's kind of a big deal in the redzone.


But I'm more tired of this pass happy crap then i have ever been...they proved it in 200..2? whatever year the 3 headed monster was, and last year that they're a much better team and win when they run the freakin ball. And if Reid can't see that then I'm just going to hope like hell that Lurie does and they bring in a coach who's willing to at least go to a 55-45 balance.

[Displaced]

The Eagles got absolutely jobbed on two calls that I think ultimately cost htem the game.

The pass interference call on James and the hold on Heremans.

If they punch the ball in on one other trip into the red zone is that a problem no but I still say they got jobbed.

[Munson]

If we're going to blame the Refs, I think the most obvious non-call of the night was Trent Cole being tackled down right in front of Griese when he threw the winning TD pass. Rediculous non-call there.