Eagles Notebook

Posted: October 12th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 33 Comments »

Jason Avant called a players only meeting today.  One early report on Twitter made it sound as though Avant wanted to almost apologize for Sunday.  Other reports have come out since.  Check out this line from Albert Breer of NFL.com:

I was told one of the $$ lines in Jason Avant-led players-only Eagles meeting was: “You don’t want to be the guy that gets a coach fired.”

Mike Vick talked to the press later today and was very defensive about all the public pressure on Andy Reid.  It sounds like these guys are hearing all the public chirping and that bugs them.

I’m happy that they care about their coach and want to defend him.  I’d be even happier if it showed in the way they play Sunday.  It sounds like the guys have the right mindset, but we’ve got to see on-field results.

* * * * *

Let’s talk about Jarrad Page for a minute.  I’ve been real critical of him this week.  He deserves it.  Page was horrible on Sunday.  I’m not trying to make him the scapegoat.  A lot of guys had a hand in that loss.

Page is expendable (right Rambo?).  He isn’t a young player who’s learning on the job.  He isn’t a player with upside.  He’s not coming off injury.  Page is what he is.

Someone on Twitter got on me for saying good things about him this summer.  Here’s the deal.  Page has been an effective starter in the past, but mostly an inconsistent player.  There’s a reason he’s bounced around and was available when we got him.

I studied him this summer and based my info on what I saw.  New team, new scheme.  New set of circumstances.  Page did MMA training with Jay Glazer this spring.  I wondered if that did have some great effect on him.

You evaluate players in part based on their past, but have to factor in that they can change.  Does the Michael Vick of 2011 look a lot like the Vick of 2006?  Not at all.  Page played very well this summer.  He deserved every good word I wrote about him.

Unfortunately the regular season has not been an extension of that.  Page was up and down early on, but now seems to be regressing.  He was flat out terrible on Sunday because of the missed tackles.  I don’t wish harm on the guy.  Les Bowen says he’s a good guy.  I wish him the best of luck, but I’d move on at this point.  Page isn’t likely to get better.  He’s got to be somewhat of a head case with his tackling right now.

I’d rather see Colt Anderson out there than Page.  Or Jaiquawn Jarrett.

And this brings up a new topic.

* * * * *

Page wasn’t practicing with the starters today.  Kurt Coleman and Jarrett split the reps.  Kurt looked pretty good Sunday.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed on him bouncing back after a crappy start to the season.

I’ve talked about Jarrett before, but he’s a player of interest right now so it’s worth covering again.  There are no physical issues.  The Eagles are trying to make sure he’s ready to play on defense.  Part of being a Safety is the ability to read the offense before and during the play.  Before the play you may need to adjust the alignment of players and/or coverages.  During the play you need to see things clearly and get to the right spot.

Young players can get overwhelmed with the mental side of things.  If that happens, they lose confidence and then that creates other problems.  DBs can’t be hesitant.  They have to trust their eyes and play at full speed.

The Eagles want Jarrett to be a long time starter.  They don’t want to throw him on the field in a muddled defense and kill his confidence.  They want him to be ready.  It would also help if Nate Allen is truly back and brings stability to the deep middle.

* * * * *

Trent Cole was trying to convince some reporters that he would play Sunday, but apparently his injury is still evident.

I’m going to give Cole some free advice.  Go slow, dude.  We need you for the whole season.  We’re not gonna win/lose on Sunday because of you.  Take this week and the bye and get right so that you’re good for the final 10 games.

33 Comments on “Eagles Notebook”

  1. 1 Matthew Verhoog said at 12:21 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    I wonder how many OT have said to Cole, (or at least thought), “Go slow, dude”

  2. 2 Anonymous said at 1:46 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    I’m sure Trent Williams hit him up on Twitter with that advice.

  3. 3 Mac said at 1:47 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    Priceless

  4. 4 the guy said at 2:03 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    I agree that Trent Cole shouldn’t rush back and he won’t be why they win or lose. I just worry that if the next game is another loss we won’t really need him back at all this year.

    Making the playoffs from 1-4 is rare enough. Only one modern NFL team has ever made it from 1-5, and that was the year of the merger (1970). Can you name the team?

  5. 5 Anonymous said at 2:42 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    I sure can. I’ll leave it open to others.

  6. 6 Anonymous said at 3:07 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    I found it with a Google search, but that feels like cheating.

    As a side note, they actually were 1-6 before winning the division. That feels like a precedent that can have us all breathing a little easier.

    As a hint for the rest of you, it was NOT the Panthers or Jaguars.

  7. 7 the guy said at 5:05 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    True, but I feel like the fact that it happened the exact year of the merger and hasn’t happened in the 40 years since is a bad thing.

  8. 8 Anonymous said at 12:06 PM on October 13th, 2011:

    Oh, you are just being a Negadelphian. The experimental probability, roughing in for the changing number of teams a bit, is probably a bit more rare than 1/10,000.

    The likelihood of us losing the SF game after the half had to be around 1/20,000. The odds of Avant giving up two balls in a single game, 1/100,000. And we all know Young’s infamous was one in a million.

    Clearly, we have demonstrated that we can defy the odds. In fact, it almost feels like a given. I’m thinking we should rest the starters this week to be ready for the stretch run.

  9. 9 Anonymous said at 2:12 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    I have to say, I don’t see what anyone could have argued with you on about Page. When we signed him, I think I remember you thought he had only an outside chance of making the team, if any. During the preseason, he shocked a lot of us and played well. Anyone watching could see he was one of our best safeties in the preseason. At the time, it was hard to argue he hadn’t earned the starting spot. Unfortunately, he has not lived up to his preseason hype, not because he was truly over hyped, but because frankly, he has regressed. I don’t think you have talked about him in a way that doesn’t reflect all that.

  10. 10 Anonymous said at 3:02 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    I agree with everything you said, but I don’t have any trouble believing people were criticizing. We have all seen how hindsight allows people to pretend they new better all along. When a guy gets hurt he was a poor draft pick, when the defense can’t stop the other team we never should have punted, when a pair of fullback dives don’t produce a touchdown…

    Okay, maybe not that last one.

  11. 11 Anonymous said at 6:53 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    Don’t forget how everyone in hindsight says it wasn’t a good idea for Ronnie Brown to throw the ball backwards while getting tackled at the goaline. Sure, once you see it doesn’t work you decide that turning and tossing the ball away isn’t smart, but if the ball had accidently bounced to Herrmans who ran it in for a touchdown, everyone would have loved that play. 🙂

  12. 12 Mac said at 1:30 PM on October 13th, 2011:

    The only thing better than one fullback dive is two fullback dives. I can see why you separated that one out to show it’s awesomeness.

  13. 13 Anonymous said at 2:51 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    Atta boy, Avant. There’s our leader. Now if only we can get Jamal Jackson on the field. He brings so much good. Why is he not starting in this time of need? It would be a huge boost to this team.

  14. 14 Anonymous said at 2:56 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    i know we shouldn’t hope for an injury, but if that’s the only way he can get on the field…

    this kind of stuff is the reason we’re in this predicament — they simply can’t make the common sense move.

  15. 15 Gary said at 3:08 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    Jackson’s leadership would be nice, but he just doesn’t fit this blocking scheme.

  16. 16 Anonymous said at 1:07 PM on October 13th, 2011:

    from what i read about training camp, he didnt look so bad.

  17. 17 Anonymous said at 2:57 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    With Coleman, is it possible that he had a different mindset at the start of this year when he was trying to keep his starting job?

    Last year, he was a backup that got a shot because of injury. He had nothing to lose, and that can give you confidence.

    This year, when he was trying not to lose his starting spot, he looked hesitant. When he was benched and then put back in he looked more like the guy from last year.

    Maybe he learned being afraid of mistakes is a great way to make them.

  18. 18 Anonymous said at 4:16 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    Back in 1996 the Eagles started 7-2 and then lost 3 straight games. Irving Fryar was interviewed by NBC, I think, and said that the team was better as the hunter than the hunted. That comment has stuck with me over the years. Simple, but brilliant.

    I think Coleman did lose some edge.

    This will sound crazy, but I also think Danny Amendola is partially to blame. He blocked the hell out of Coleman for 3 1/2 Qtrs in the opener. Amendola is a relentless little blocker and it drives DBs crazy. I think that got to Kurt’s head and made him tentative in the next couple of games. He kept looking for the blocker instead of attacking the ball. Just a theory. No proof to it.

  19. 19 Anonymous said at 3:33 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    Should there be any concern that after a 1-4 start and rumblings of a coaching change, it took our 3rd/4th string WR to call a team meeting, and not our $100 million dollar QB? I am not anti-Vick. I’ll support him as long as he’s wearing an Eagles jersey. But I’m growing increasingly weary of some of the things he’s saying and doing in public(read: whining), and the apparent LACK of things he’s doing behind closed doors.

    I know that certain guys just don’t “have” leadership in their DNA. But he’s the QB. He’s the franchise player. You sign that check for $100M, you’re signing up for a lot more than just throwing the football. You shouldn’t be sitting in the back of the room and waiting for your mild-mannered slot receiver to whip everyone into shape.

    The Michael Vick of the first 12 weeks of 2010 seems like a completely different human being than the one who is currently making $20M+ a season. The ‘new’ Vick seems nonchalant, complacent. We need FIRE right now. We need passion and a never-say-die type of attitude. We need the guy who was PLAYING TO GET a one-hundred million dollar contract. Instead, we’re getting a guy who already has one; a guy who might not be looking for a whole lot more out of this situation. I hope I’m wrong. Because this team goes as Vick goes. And right now, its not going very well.

  20. 20 Steve H said at 4:15 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    I kind of agree with you, Vick has been saying some really iffy things lately in the media, whether its the Roger Goodell thing about “steering” him to the Eagles (why bring that up?) or whining about the officials or talking about how you “can’t design a defense to stop him” (how did that one not get more press? Arrogant much Mr. Vick?)

    I’ve never really been a Vick supporter, he was actually my least favorite player in the whole NFL before he came to the Eagles. At this point I want him to do well, but only because he plays for my team, not because I really like the guy.

    That being said, Avant is more of a fixture on the Eagles than Vick is and I think his word probably carries some weight around the locker room, so it doesn’t bother me that he was the one leading it.

  21. 21 Jon Blank said at 4:33 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    I think you are being a little harsh on Vick. He’s on pace to be the 1st QB in history to pass for 4000 yards and run for 1000. Curb the turnovers and he’s in the convo for MVP, provided they fix the leaky defense.

  22. 22 Anonymous said at 12:30 PM on October 13th, 2011:

    Didn’t I read that Vick called each of the guys in for a private meeting last week?

  23. 23 Anonymous said at 6:18 PM on October 13th, 2011:

    I hope this is true. I had not heard that.

    I don’t think I’m being too harsh on the guy, though. He may be on pace for a nice statistical season, but he’s also tied for the league lead in INTs, and while a few of them haven’t been his fault, a few of them have been absolutely awful decisions.

    I want him rallying the team, I want him whipping his teammates into shape, and I want him shouldering some of the blame every once and awhile instead of just whining to the refs about missed calls.

  24. 24 Anonymous said at 6:45 PM on October 13th, 2011:

    I was critical of Vick when he sat on the bench sulking after his hand injury. I think you might be going a bit far saying all he does is whine to the refs. He said the pick-6 was his fault. He said he made a poor decision and should have taken a sack. I think that kind of thing has been a lot more common than the complaining about late hits.

  25. 25 Anonymous said at 4:32 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    For PSU fans. Great story from The Onion on JoePa.

    http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/penn-state-players-all-worried-theyre-going-to-be,21120/

  26. 26 Mac said at 1:39 PM on October 13th, 2011:

    It’s the little things that really matter.

  27. 27 Anonymous said at 3:17 PM on October 13th, 2011:

    Great stuff. I loved the bit about casting a shadow.

  28. 28 Christopher Miller said at 5:26 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    Any college LB’s you are high on if we are watching college ball now?

  29. 29 Deshawn Bentley said at 6:00 AM on October 13th, 2011:

    Vontaze Burfict, Luke Kuechly and Manti Te’o are the top LB. Zach Brown, Ronnell Lewis, Dont’a Hightower and Travis Lewis are good late 1st round talent.

  30. 30 Christopher Miller said at 3:08 AM on October 14th, 2011:

    thx!

  31. 31 Anonymous said at 1:44 PM on October 13th, 2011:

    How is Burfict a top LB. His highlight tape is great with the hits, but his hips and everything else don’t look like a LB that can play 3 downs or in obvious passing situations. I would have to say that he is great in a specialist role or maybe he can learn to be an 3/4 OLB. However, I just can’t see his OVERALL skill sets translating to a first round selection. Would I like to see us draft in the 3rd or 4th…..pipe dream but he looks like a guy that might develop into someone that can take on OL, whip em and get to the ball carrier; or someone that can blitz up the middle like Trotter.

  32. 32 Deshawn Bentley said at 10:15 PM on October 13th, 2011:

    Although not his strong suit, he still succeeds in man/zone coverage. Schematically ASU has Burfict move around pre-snap which limits his positioning for coverage off the snap. However he has good hands and you will see Vontaze move back into coverage and come up with interceptions. By nature of his athleticism he is clean in his dropback but definitely needs to clean up his upright stance. If he bends his knees more and plays with the balls of his feet he would improve his coverage. He’s not terrible in coverage, heck he’s probably above average with room to improve.

    “doesnt look like a LB that can play 3 downs or in obvious passing situations”

    Thats where Burfict succeeds the most! He is one of the rare ILB that can that can get through the OLine with such burst and consistency that Burfict does. He’s an absolute terror when he splits the gaps and applies pressure in the backfield.
    Also he is a menacing terrifying tackler…You know RB’s, QB’s etc are going to cringe when he’s coming. Basically every responsibility a LB has, Burfict can do at a top tier.

    In summation, the violence and aggression that he plays the game with are phenomenal. Sometimes you want your middle linebacker to be an ass-kicking freak of nature—that’s Burfict to a tee. He scares the offense, and intimidation is a strong asset to have in the NFL.

  33. 33 Anonymous said at 2:39 PM on October 13th, 2011:

    Tommy – after reading this – UNDER REVIEW: EAGLES’ EFFORT STINKS – by Ray D – this pin pointed why I was really troubled by the game…..watching it live – I was terribly upset at the effort esp. DRC and Asante and now you even hear abt Nnamdi….this is why I do not buy the Kool Aid….this team has some serious issues and will not go far…the previous Eagles D sometimes did not have so much talent but at least tried and gave it their all…I wonder if DRC is not interested becoz he plays only a handful of snaps..and Asante becoz he knows after this season hes not gonna be here….