The observation thread

[ice grillin you]

rocca was horrible other than the last punt which was magnificient...i mean it is possible to kick a ball more than 15 yards that isnt returnable...

however you have to blame the coaches for putting him in that position...something which hes never done before

[reese125]

that article yesterday summed it up pretty well for the kicking game. The fact that Akers was pumping his fists in joy every time he kicked the ball to the opposing 40 was embarrassing

[Munson]

that article yesterday summed it up pretty well for the kicking game. The fact that Akers was pumping his fists in joy every time he kicked the ball to the opposing 40 was embarrassing

I would have rather had him do that then let Hester get a shot at returning it against this special teams unit.

[dpierce]

On to Minnesota, because no one demanded it!

The Good


- Wiz has gotten a lot more accurate since the first few games. He was 23/36 for 333 yards and a score today. It seems like he's finding his rhythm again.

- Reggie Brown had 8 catches for 105 yards. I wonder what happened to make him go from being the next Na Brown to the guy who showed up today. The grab he made in the 2nd quarter was amazing. Someone needs to check if he wore stickum during the game.

- Westbrook's numbers weren't huge today (credit to the Vikes D-line), but the 2 TDs were.

- The Iggs kept running even though it didn't work. I know, I know...this should be in "The Bad", but I liked seeing Philly stay with running game. It's about time.

- The offense finally scored in the red zone.

- Cap'n Fair Catch (aka Reno Mahe) actually gained 27 yards on a punt return. Of course, he later returned to form by gaining 0 yards on his following attempt. I guess he didn't want to push up that return average too high.

- JJ's gameplan. He took a lot of heat from a number of us last week, but his plans kept Peterson in check.

- The defense played really well, and the D-line exceptionally so. They helped hold the Vikes to 105 total yards on the ground (Peterson had 70) and got 4 sacks (Cole had 2, while Kearse and Thomas got 1 apiece).

- With 9 sacks for the season already, Cole should make the Pro Bowl.

- Sheldon Brown flew to the ball all day long.

- Mikell just keeps on playing well in Darth's absence.

- Gocong seems to be getting more involved in the defense as well.


The Bad


- FOX's camerawork. They lost track of the ball several times today, which was really annoying.

- Where's LJ? Did anyone see him at all other than during the overthrown pass in the end zone?

- Even though Kearse had a sack today, it was his only tackle of the game. It's time for him to go.

[Sgt PSN]

Here's my observations:

1.  Minneapolis is a horrible city to tailgate in.  The stadium is in the heart of downtown and there is no stadium parking lot but just a bunch of small parking lots randomly scattered around a 5 block radius of the stadium. 

2.  Because of the lack of tailgating, the parking lots are clean enough to eat off of.  Which I did. 

3.  The Vikings have an inflatable Nordic ship that they run through when taking the field and it's horrible looking.

4.  They have great prices on concessions.  $6 for a beer is ok but you could get a hot dog and nachos together for $4.75. 

5.  I hate that stupid farging horn sound that they play any time the Vikes get a 1st down. 

6.  I hate their "fight song" with a passion.  I also hate the fact that they play it when the team only scores a FG.  Lame.

7.  I hate Andy Reid for calling all pass plays, including a farging flea flicker, on the 4th qtr drive that started with around 7 minutes left.  WTF is wrong with this guy?  And then when he finally does call a run play, it's with his gimpy QB instead of Westy or Buck.  Brilliant.

8.  Reggie Brown has been pretty solid for the last 3 weeks or so and it's about damn time.

9.  I met Thomas Tapeh's sister in the parking lot and she gave me a hot dog.  It was good.

[SunMo]

7.  I hate Andy Reid for calling all pass plays, including a farging flea flicker, on the 4th qtr drive that started with around 7 minutes left.  WTF is wrong with this guy? 

absolutely nothing wrong with what he did there

[PhillyPhreak54]

Passing the ball this game, against a horrendous pass defense, was the right game plan.

[ice grillin you]

i agree with both sun and phreak

cant hate on reid for his calls this game

[MDS]

reid called a fine game. the eagles still suck, but whatever, farg dallas.

[SunMo]

the big guy had the play chart again too, i wonder if he's calling the plays full time again

[PhillyPhreak54]

i agree with both sun and phreak

cant hate on reid for his calls this game

The only thing to pick about, as I said in the other thread, was when they did run they ran it inside too much. If you want to run it up in there, its got to be with Hunt or Buck or with Westbrook after he's loosened them up a bit by stretching it outside. But then again, with the way Jackson was not doing his job I doubt if anyone runs it in there well today.

The TO on the 3rd play, on plays that should be scripted and run without problems, was ridiculous.

Who's ready for Bill Sampy? I actually hope they do call him up if Greggie is lost. He's a PR and a KR.

[SD_Eagle5]

The play on the 4 when they lined Avant up in the backfield and shovel passed it to Westbrook was a great call against a stout defense. The playcalling wasn't bad today. I had to ask myself if I was just thinking that because they moved the ball well or because it was actually decent but I think it was decent. The short game passing game was used properly which was the difference.

[Munson]

1. Trent Cole is an absolute beast and assuming Kearse is gone next year I'm starting to lean towards them drafting another DE early to compliment Cole.

2. Chris Gocong has very quietly had an okay year, with today being his best performance. I actually noticed him more then a couple times this game, and it was good to see. He started off slow but I think he's coming around. Definately better then what I was expecting so far.

3. Considine is still getting run over. He needs to bulk up or get off the field. Or just learn that he's too small to hit people and needs to wrap up.

4. Where are the farging TE's?

5. Reggie Brown has finally shown up. Very good game from him today, hopefully he can keep it up against tougher defenses.

6. McNabb looked a little bit like his old self with some of the escapes from the pocket he made today. Still not as fast as he once was, but...it was good to see.

7. Anyone else catch the look on Reid's face after Childress pulled the onsides kick? Classic.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Responses:

1.  Yes, Trent Cole is a beast.  Thank you, Captain Obvious.  Drafting a DE is not any more a need than almost every other position on the field, though.

2.  He's been no more or less visible than any other linebackers, and the team defense and team run defense have both been great, despite the Dawkins injury.  Agreed, though... no reason to hate on Gocong.

3.  He sucks and should be a special teamer.

4.  Injured, white, and white.

5.  Anomaly.  He still needs to be replaced long-term.

6.  Wrong.  McNabb looked like he was TRYING to be his old self but was incapable.  He's basically Byron Leftwich now.

7.  Yes.

[Sgt PSN]

i agree with both sun and phreak

cant hate on reid for his calls this game

For most of the game, I agree.  He called a pretty good game and he did seem to stick with the run consistantly even though it wasn't overly effective.  Although opening up the game in the shotgun on the first 3 or 4 plays was rather annoying as well. 

But it was that one drive in the 4th when he called pass pass pass pass pass pass qb draw pass pass.  I was going nuts.  I'm not saying that every play call should have been a run but one pass was incomplete and another went to Tapeh I believe and he ran out of bounds.  So that was a good minute or so that could have been run off the clock and wasn't. 

Oh well, they won so Reid is safe for now.