Epic Disaster
Posted: October 2nd, 2011 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 119 Comments »SF 24, PHI 23.
We led 23-3.
SF, which averaged 214 yards of offense, gained 442.
They were 2 for 3 in the Red Zone. We were 2 for 7. As much as anything, that’s the game.
Both teams missed 2 FGs.
To make matters worse, Trent Cole and Jason Peters left with injures.
So…who wants to talk about Dallas blowing their lead to Detroit and losing? Yeah, that’s not making me feel much better either.
4 straight weeks with a Red Zone turnover. Simply unacceptable.
3rd straight week with a blown 4th Qtr lead.
This team has me confused and depressed. I’ll write up some more thoughts later. This is going to be a depressing week.
Sign me up for the “Fire Juan Castillo” petition. Pathetic.
Ok, let’s look at the offense.
* Scored 2 TDs, but one came from a turnover.
* 2 for 7 (28%) in the red zone.
* 5 for 13 (38%) on third down.
* 3 turnovers, one in the RZ and one on the final drive when they were down by 1.
* 12 RB runs vs 46 passes when they had the lead most of the game.
* Most reliable player (McCoy) gets 15 touches for 52 yards.
This was a team loss, top to bottom.
Yeah, that was heat-of-the-moment. But seriously, WTF? This is a defense built to protect a lead late in the game. Not working.
no depth of talent.
San Francisco had more yards today than they’ve had in seven years. I don’t care if me and my two dogs are our linebackers, that’s ridiculous. This is on the defense more than the offense.
I don’t disagree. My problem is I expect a whole lot more from the offense.
Everybody should have known that the LBs and S were going to be a problem, and a first time D coordinator would probably struggle. That seems to be the case, in that WRs generally aren’t killing us and the sacks are piling up.
I’m grading on a curve. The offense has more talent and stability, and is underperforming just as much.
The Niners 32nd ranked offense put up 442 yards, their best output in 7 years. The 1427 yards the Eagles have given up so far is the worst opening 4 game performance since 1989.
The Eagles offense may be doing a lot of stupid things, but Juan’s defense is absolutely putrid. I thought he said he was simplifying the defense and drilling the fundamentals. However the fundamentals suck and everybody looks confused.
Andy keeps showing you why he will never lead the Eagles to the super bowl. The Castillo decision is just the latest chapter on why.
Hey at least it is just week 4. There is plenty of time left. Right now the whole team is not getting it done, but hopefully this is fixed. And how about Maclin coming up short in crunch time again? Not all his fault of course, but you could make the case he has lost us two games this year already.
At 1-3, chances for being even a playoff team are slim to none based on past NFL history.
Chance of winning a Super Bowl after starting 1-3 are basically non-existant. It’s happened only once in the history of the NFL.
Yeah but I think if you look at it in perspective it is too early to write this team off. There were so many new faces, and looking at the rest of the NFC East I do not thing they are great either.
I like the optimism…but what is it based on?
This is a team that cannot stop the run or the pass. This is a team that has trouble scoring in the redzone and has trouble preventing other teams from scoring in the redzone. This is a team that gives the ball up and doesn’t force turnovers.
Sure, we can turn it around…but I haven’t seen anything to give me hope.
I’n sure they’ll get better in time to go 8-8 or 7-9, enough to ruin a top draft pick which HowAndy will waste anyway.
If Juan still has a job 2morow then Reid needs to get fired
And hire who? Sounds like a solid plan.
Jim Washburn? Jeff Fisher?
Honestly, I think the defense calling their own plays with no coordinator couldn’t be any worse.
How about any one besides our average at best Oline coach
The three most important things a head coach needs to do to be successful in the NFL is:
– Acquire your franchise QB.
– Hire a great General Manager.
– Hire a great Defensive Coordinator.
Andy had nailed down all three of these points from 1999-2008. No longer.
If you don’t have a competent GM, you draft poorly. In the NFL, you draft well or die.
If you don’t have a competent DC, all the talent in the world on defense doesn’t matter because the DC can’t motivate them and can’t scheme to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.
There have been a lot of things said about Castillo, but not motivating players is not usually one of them. If you look back during training camp all of the guys were jumping around going crazy, wouldn’t say motivation is the problem.
Exactly. The drafting since 2008 has been absurdly bad. Since the amazing back to back of Maclin & McCoy, the Eagles haven’t drafted a single quality NFL starter. Six of these guys are already out of the NFL. If you go back to 08 you get DJax but no one else and up to 10 guys out of the NFL.
3 quality starters out of the last four drafts? That’s a pretty bad way to build a team.
Yeah it’s bad, but people seem to forget there are still 12 games left! Not to mention the rest of the NFC East is not tearing up either.
Season is far from over, but we’ve got no fudge room left.
a team that loses at least 2 starters a week to injury and has no ability to hold any lead?
No. Face it. This season is over!
An axe has to fall somewhere. Assuming Andy gave one of his fiery speeches after last week’s devastating loss, there’s nothing more to say really – it’s time for action. You either bench a guy (which wouldn’t work here because I don’t think it’s a player problem) or you fire a guy (sorry, Juan). The real crime is this is clearly Andy’s fault, so I guess the price he has to pay is firing a friend.
Not sure what’s confusing about this team. Sure, Chaney is a disappointment, but the rest of the LB and the safeties we knew were going to be awful. And we knew the offensive line was bad. At least 8 of the 22 starters are not NFL caliber players.
It’s terrible they didn’t give Vick more talent, but there’s nothing confusing about why this team is bad: they have bad players!
I’m kind of with you on the O-line issues, but when you lose three games in a row where you have a lead in the 4th quarter, you have to look beyond the players for answers. Especially when you blow opportunities before the 4th quarter to add points.
Don’t get me wrong, the coaching has been terrible. But when you go into a season starting Mathis, DeVan, Kelce, Chaney, Matthews/Rolle, Fokuo, Coleman & Page… ouch. When was the last time the Eagles had that many sub-NFL starting players in their starting lineup? Even Jim Johnson couldn’t make that defense work.
2010 Eagles:
Buckley, Hall, N. Cole, Jean-Gilles, Wells, Bradley, Gaither, Sims, Patterson, Coleman, Hobbs, etc
You’re going to pretend that Stewart Bradley isn’t a NFL starting player? The difference between Bradley and Matthews is immense. Mike Patterson is a fine player, there’s a reason I didn’t count him.
I’ll give you MJG and Ernie Sims.
Bradley is currently the backup on a NFC West team with a defense ranked 18th by FO. He had one good year for the Eagles, but hasn’t been a good player since his injury.
I didn’t mention Patterson at all.
Imo this team believes its own hype. The best way to lose is to be convinced that you’re entitled to a win. How many more weeks do we have to lose in embarassing fashion before we start playing like we’re the underdogs?
I thought 2 but we’re at 3 and counting…
This is the first time that I have ever thought that Reid has lost his team. I realize that many will disagree with this, but this team has zero sense of urgency. What the heck was that play that Ronnie Brown pulled? The scary part was the fact that that play was CALLED. Ronnie Brown didn’t just say, “Oh, I’ll pass the ball to Scmitt who is just standing there. Watch the film, Owen was running the play and waiting for the pass/lateral from Brown. The turnover and iffy call was only softened by the fact that us making the kick was a crapshoot.
If I have to see Juan Catillo running around like a crazy person on the sidelines, screaming nonsense and then answer that “we have to work harder and longer”, I may swallow my tongue.
Honestly, how long have we all looked at how McCoy/Maclin/Jackson/Vick carried the ball and commented on how it was a turnover waiting to happen? Well, it happened. And you know what, there will not be any accountability–because the front office has not accountability for Reid. The guy gets a free pass and is allowed to treat the fans and media like idiots and be a condescending prick. His comments of “its on me” and “putting players in better position”, after 13 years is demeaning and insulting.
C’mon guys. When your only hope is it’s only week 4 you know its time to look elsewhere. This team is terrible on defense, on turnover prone. They can’t stop big plays. It happens every week . This is what a bad football team looks like. They may win 9 games this year if they straighten it out, but they have no shot at being a legit contender.
I expected the problems with Castillo to be bad playcalling and adjustments. I thought he’d do well at coaching up fundamentals like tackling and firing the defense up when he needed to. It has been the reverse.
Guys seem to be in position, but miss tackles. One of the final plays the Eagles D bunched up in the middle against the run, and the 49ers just ran right through it. Aside from some ill-advised and unnecessary blitzes, the players just aren’t getting it done. Of course, that still reflects on the coaches.
I don’t know about firing Castillo. It still seems early to me for a first-year guy. You either fire the guy because you think you can still compete and also have a replacement available, or you keep him and give him a chance to work it out. And let’s be honest, the offense hasn’t exactly impressed either, and they have a lot less in the way of excuses.
I thought you made some good ponts. I too projectile vomited after seeing us blow another big lead. My immediate reaction is fire everyone and bring in all new players. Then after sweeping up all the stuff I broke watching the game, I came to my senses. What would firing Juan four games into the season really do? Their tackling fundamentals are awful, but he is putting players in position to make plays. He doesn’t seem incompetent, they just aren’t getting the job done. When has firing a coordinator midseason suddenly turn a team around? If things don’t improve, end of the season – hell yeah. Firing Juan now, when the new D-cornidator doesn’t have time to install a new defenese? That makes as much sense as complaining daily about not drafting Sean Lee.
I’m with you guys. I’m in no way impressed with Juan, but I’ll tell you that making him a scapegoat isn’t going solve everything else that’s wrong with this team
at least we got the rookie pay scale done before our Top 10 pick
If I was Desean I would hold out from tomorrow…!
LolEagles!!!
So do you think the team just needs to gel? Or are these serious problems that will continue to plague the team? Seems like the talent is there, they just need to get together. All three losses could have and should have been wins. It’s just been wierd. So I would say things can get better.
I just don’t buy that the talent is there. I don’t think it is. It definitely is in some positions, but not in others.
Does this team have the same feel to it as the Cowboys of 2010?
Fair question. I don’t think they blew leads, though. Didn’t they just struggle completely?
How do you solve a problem like Castillo?
How can he catch a lead and hold it down?
How to find a word to describe his defense?
Pathetic! Wretched! A bunch of clowns!
With a nod to Rodgers and Hammerstein.
I LOLed.
I simply remember Marlon Favorite’s plays,
and then I don’t feel so bad…
Anyone:
Did Reid insinuate that kid Henery was to blame for this game?
If so, Reid’s a real “corporate” survivor.
His D.C. is bad enough. Okay . . . no surprise.
But his O.C.? What’s up there?
What’s up . . . how ’bout whenever the Eagles are at the goal line, Jason Kelse goes BACKWARD.
And on that stupid Brown pass/run option, Kelse was pushed back into scrubbenie DeVan and disaster.
THIS STARTS AT THE TOP.
Howie Roseman is not the guy.
Neither is Juan.
************
And I’m not interested in how the Saints D stinks. Or the Pats.
They don’t have the Eagles’ O-line.
Reid didn’t try to pin the game on Henery. Reid mentioned that the kicker has to do his job, but also talked about the coaches, offense, and defense. No one was beyond blame.
Henery cemented his rep as a choke artist. Time to search the free agent lists.
Haha
Well done!
Every member of the staff and roster has a hand in the 1-3 start. No one is immune.
Firing someone? You do that if you think it will help. You don’t do that just to appease the fans.
I just can’t shake the feeling that the reason Juan has a job in the first place is that Reid didn’t want to fire a guy who deserved better. Reid wanted Mudd, didn’t want to fire Juan when Mudd said “yes.”
It’s not Juan’s fault. He’s like the vet CB you want to find a spot for on your roster, but runs a 4.6. Juan is just overmatched.
The collapses have come against progressively worse teams. It’s like the rookie head coach needed a half to figure Juan out, adjusted at halftime, and executed.
Even if we had scored on all our RZ possessions and won by 28, we’d still have the same problems on defense, no? Having this defense collapse so thoroughly so early may be a blessing in disguise, if we can get a guy in here who is qualified.
Any of those (besides Fisher) out there?
Even if we had stopped them on all their RZ possessions and won by 28, we’d still have the same problems on offense, no?
Tommy, please, you don’t have to be confused and depressed. This team just doesn’t deserve any kind of emotion from our side. Well, usually we can’t help it, but at least I’d suggest to give it a try. Trust me, this team cares much less than you do. You work watching film and making reviews much harder than they do trainig and playing, and you get paid much less than they do. Well, have some beer and try to forget about this team and the season.
This team is so bad they would have lost to the 48ers.
Tommy –
You are hereby absolved from writing a DGR for this atrocity. Going through it once is surely enough for one man. Also, as I understand it, the good folks at PBR would need to go into war-time production to accommodate the task.
Actually, could you write it for the first half and then pretend like the second half never happened?
I think it’s too easy for Reid to tell the team “We need to play better.” A real challenge would be to ask them to play worse.
Tommy,
You seem to be taking the brunt from frustrated fans. Some are Negadelphians that seem to come alive when things don’t go well, others are short-sighted and see a loss as validation why their calls to fire everyone were right and your measured approach was wrong. Some are just angry and will probably apologize tomorrow.
You fight the good fight, talking fans down from the ledges in early October. I, for one, appreciate the rational side and perspective to keep things grounded in reality.
Keep up the good work.
I understand the need to vent. I’m very bummed out right now.
I’m more interested in understanding why stuff happens. Ranting and raving doesn’t really answer questions. I used to be super-emotional, but now I’m better at handling bad days. They’re no fun, but at least I no longer break stuff and get nuts.
What’s the reality with this team? What’s the grounded approach the haters should take?
To Tommy, understanding what happened only answers why your upset. You can analyze each play frame by frame all you want, but the bottom line is this defense can’t stop anyone; you don’t need the coaches tape to see that. SF offense is horrid, and the defense couldn’t come up with stops when they needed to. It may be one guy here and one guy there, but that’s the same thing you see every week, with all bad teams. They have 5 guys on defense right now that aren’t very good.
At some point they may be on the other side of the turnovers and luck may break their way, but this team has too many major holes to be considered legit.
The reality with team is that they have dropped 3 painful loses in a row. The reality is that they could have, and should have, won them all. That sounds like it makes it worse, but in reality it does not. It would be worse going forward if we had been out matched start to finish, across the board.
As for what approach haters should take, haters gonna hate, right? If they want to complain about the coaches, the players, the FO, fine. Vent until their pain fades. I understand that.
But the comments warning not to tell us how bad the Saints defense is, or dismissing Tommy’s statement of being confused, or insulting his optimism are uncalled for. This isn’t a subscription site, and many of the readers see Tommy’s work as the best out there.
To your other comments, what else is there for us as fans but to see what went wrong so we can discuss it intelligently and hope to see better? The alternative is to give up and wait until next year, or root for a different team. I cannot consider the second option and I am not ready to look forward to next year. Maybe it would save me a little heart ache, but I can take it.
I want Juan Castillo fired, but who would replace him? While some would say “anyone could do better than Juan”, I don’t think that’s actually the case. Is there someone on the current staff that could do the job? Or would they have to hire someone from the outside and has a coordinator ever been fired mid season and replaced by someone from outside the organization?
With that said, I firmly believe this team will turn it around, but the question is WHEN? Next week? After the bye? or after they’ve already played themselves out of the playoffs? This team is such an embarrassment right now…ugh…
Oh and go Phils! I need something to pick me up after that epic fail.
I think everyone sees Shady as the most consistently effective offensive weapon we have (and on that point, Jesus, what happened to Maclin? I was hoping he’d at least create some discussion on that point this year). Yet 54 runs and 12 passes this game. That’s coaching. Also coaching:
-No playoffs, Div. round loss, no playoffs, NFCCG loss, WC loss, WC loss (Reid’s history since ’04). Other teams that have made the conference championship games in recent history (’09 Vikings, ’08 Cards, ’05 Seahawks, ’05 Panthers, ’07 Chargers, ’05 Broncos). I’m trying to list teams that have done nothing since their appearances there. Ignoring teams that have come back to have playoff seasons, but still have not managed to win the SB. Point here being that giving Reid a new lease on HC life because of that ’08 appearance seems kind of foolish, especially given how bad the recent seasons have been. 1 playoff win since ’04, excluding that season. Yes, cherry picking, but look at those other teams up there. The difference between us and them? NFCCG appearances 10 years ago?
-Owen Schmitt with 2 carries inside the 5
-Giving the DC job to Juan Castillo
-An incredibly inconsistent offense that has the magical combination of not being able to score in crunch time and turning the ball an absurd amount
-Terrible, if not worst-in-league performances in the Red Zone by the Offense. Oh, and the Defense. Great combination there.
-Awful challenge record, and nationally recognized clock management bungling
-[insert every comment about bad recent drafting that Morton and others have made]
-Sloppy tackling issues. Sure, you can point out that the players have to execute. But if multiple players aren’t consistently executing, don’t you have to wonder if it’s an institutional thing?
I’m not saying we fire Reid now. We can still go 13-3, get a first round bye, and win the Super Bowl, and that’ll be awesome. But seriously. We give the guy one of the most talented teams in the league. He probably should be better than 1-3 right now. The goddamn 49ers are 3-1, two games better than us. Alex Smith, Kendall Hunter, Michael Crabtree, and Joe Staley are 3-1. Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, and Jason Peters are 1-3.
If we can’t make some noise in the playoffs this year (and how the goal posts have been shifted from the “All in! Super Bowl or bust!” posts of the preseason), what does this guy need to do to get fired?
We didn’t “trade away” Dawkins, Mikell, and Akers they all left via free agency for more money…….Losing seasons, which they are on their way this year, is how Andy Reid gets fired. Eagles fans call for his firing after every loss, and sometimes wins, but the man has only had 1 losing season since 2000 (2005). He’s compiled the best win total, winning percentage, and playoff victory total (10) in team history. He has captured six division titles and five trips to the NFC Championship game. Since he was hired in 1999, no other franchise has earned more divisional playoff round appearances (7) and only Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots have matched Philadelphia in conference championship game appearances (5). He has his flaws but you have to admit that’s a pretty impressive resume. Without a flaw flat on their faces losing season I’m not sure how you could build a compelling case to fire him. Because he didn’t win the super bowl? A lot of coaches would be out of work come Febuary.
Admittedly, yes – they weren’t trades (semantic error on my part), but they were situations where we had the opportunity to pay for these guys and we didn’t. You don’t know if it was an unreasonably high amount, just as I don’t, but, and this is especially salient in the case of Mikell, it’s pretty clear that Reid was okay with letting them go, otherwise we would have paid for them. I don’t imagine StL was breaking the bank for Q. And especially given how terrible our safeties have been thus far, it’s a clear lack of foresight on Reid’s part to think that it’s okay to send them away.
As for the remainder, you’re missing the point of my post – how many of the things that you listed up there are recent accomplishments? 5 NFC CGs? 4 of those happened in 2001 – 2004 – 7 years: 7 – 10 years ago. Great, let’s hire Chuck Noll to coach this team – he’s certainly done a lot of stuff a while ago.
And if you want to defend him for his stellar playoff appearance record, why isn’t it fair to question his ability to win it all? He’s certainly had enough chances, as you pointed out. And in every single one of those playoff appearances, we’ve lost in games which featured some serious out-coaching (not by Reid) and seriously questionable calls (by Reid).
The man, to his credit, has kept us on the right side of .500 for most of his career. He’s had more playoff runs than most NFL coaches dream of, but two things make me very concerned:
1) A lot of this success is frontloaded
2) A man who makes the playoffs this many times should have something to show for it. And while it would be bad enough if he was fielding inferior teams (he’s had time to build the Eagles), the losses can also be attributed to, in no small part, some atrocious playcalling, clock management, and halftime adjustments
I agree that it’s premature to call for his head “after a loss,” and I note this in my post above. I just think that if we have another unsuccessful season (though, I don’t know, maybe you’ll define another Div round playoff loss as a success), we have to seriously consider showing him the door.
Pathetic. At least McDermont had some idea of how to make adjustments at half time. I miss JJ. Bad.
How do you collapse like that three weeks in a row.
Very Angry. Can we talk about 6-10? and who we draft?
Arrrgggghhh! WHY? Why do we have to suck with all this talent?
KTOMMY:
If you could make 1 change — just 1 — that you think would substantially impact the Eagles’ situation positively, what would it be?
Or is this a team that needs much more than 1 substantial change? Or no changes?
********
By the way, Kelce may be great between the 20s — like the rest of the Eagles’ offense.
But take a look at EVERY short yardage play the past 3 weeks.
Kelce’s been at the center (no pun) of the Eagles’ failure.
Today, as before, on the Brown fumble — which on the replay really does look like an incomplete forward pass — he was again pushed back into DeVan.
When it comes to needing even half a yard, Kelce’s TOO small. So it appears for now.
I mean, who — at the 6 inch line — runs a “pass/run” option into the middle of the O-line?
PS – on the reply, you can see the 49ers were not fooled. The LB opposite Harbor — the intended receiver (I believe) — picks him right up even as Brown is hitting the line.
I am stunned. Blindsided. Flabbergasted. Etc.
I expressed my concerns about Atlanta and was not shocked when we lost. I thought the Giants game was a huge disappointment against a team that the Eagles are better than. But this game? Complete and utter bullshit. From the week of gameplanning to the gameday coaching to the execution of the players, complete and utter bullshit. Dream team? This doesn’t look like a TEAM, period. We’re a collection of talent that can’t do shit on Sundays. As my parents would say: I’m not even mad. I’m fucking disappointed.
I have never once, in the last 13 years, called for Andy Reid’s job. I am damn close to calling it for tonight.
Good write. I agree. The first word I would use to describe my feeling is disbelief/dumbfounded.
Although, when they came out and scored to make it 23-10 right after half, I had this horrible urge to turn the TV off because it was about to get ugly.
Let’s focus on the positives. Clay Harbor and Jason Avant looked slightly above average. That’s all I got.
Let’s focus on the positives. Clay Harbor and Jason Avant looked slightly above average. That’s all I got.
1. Is it the defensive scheme?
2. Is it the LBs and safeties failure to execute the scheme?
3. Is it the failure of the D.C. to adjust at halftime?
4. Is it the offensive scheme inside the 20?
5. Is it the offensive line’s inability to gain a yard insides the 20?
6. Is it the O.C. failure to adjust to what defenses are doing?
One thing’s for sure . . . if Alex Henery had another game like this in the next 3 weeks, he’s gone.
The selection of Danny Watkins is everything that’s wrong with with this team, from Banner down.
He was the wrong choice in a lock-out year, given position move and inexperience w/ American Football.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL . . . I can’t believe I’m writing that.
12 games left.
There is just no way the Eagles are in the same class as the Packers. No one is right now.
That could change.
The Pack’s horrible Defense turned it around last year after a few games.
So there’s hope.
On the other hand, Juan Castillo — and I love the guy — is not Dom Capers. Just not.
I think we have to worry about even making it into the playoffs before we can talk about trying to beat the Packers (or what you are really trying to get at – win the NFC).
I don’t want to overreact too much after a game like this, but lets face it, we are a 1 and 3 team. Unless something significant changes, the Bills are playing a lot better than us so far, and the Redskins are playing a lot better than anyone thought they would going into the season. Going into the bye week, we very easily could be 1 and 5. Even if you want to remain optimistic, I doubt anyone really can feel strongly that we will be 3 and 3. Oh and by the way, this was supposed to be the “easy” part of our schedule.
The Packers defense was never horrible at any point last year.
They were above-average in the first half of the season and ended the season as an elite unit.
The Eagles defense has been god-awful gouge-your-eyes bad for three straight games, and merely competent vs. maybe one of the 5 worst teams in the NFL (Rams).
Tommy:
Reid may have no choice but to bring in the defensive equivalent of Bill Musgrave — like Ray Rhodes did in 1999 to take over, without the title, for O.C. Dana Bible.
Bible’s a pretty damned good college O.C. Was okay back in 1998. An up-and-comer.
But his offense in 1999 was what the Eagles defense is this year.
In 1999, the Eagles couldn’t score.
In 2011, the Eagles can’t really stop anyone.
Rhodes had no choice. And his decision to install Bible as O.C. led to the hiring of Reid.
It would be ironic if Reid’s choice of Juan as D.C. — who seems overmatched right now — leads to Reid’s ouster. Doubtful. But, if things continue, possible.
Tommy:
You may have stopped reading.
But are the Eagles actually 1-7 in their last 8 games?
If so, there are some serious problems w/ the team.
Thats horrifying.
Thats horrifying.
1-6 in last 7 games..
Losses Minn Dallas GB Atl NYG 49ers
Wins Rams
The Giants of course get a bullshit call from the officials to help them win their game.
Accusations are flying around amongst ourselves re: “negadelphians” etc. People are angry, confused, broken… I know my dog is looking at me sideways right now. Apparently it’s because she was passing gas, but still. With all of that said, let’s try to look at the remainder of the season objectively (as best we can). Specifically, I’m interested in our chances of reaching the post-season. It’s sobering.
We are 1-3. There are 12 games remaining. For argument’s sake, let’s say we need to finish the season 10-6 to have a legitimate chance at the playoffs. We might get in at 9-7 with a lot of help, but 10-6 feels more realistic (and will probably require some help anyway). To finish 10-6, we need to go 9-3 the rest of the way. In other words, we cannot lose more than 3 games the rest of the season.
Here’s what’s left:
@Buffalo
@Washington
BYE
Dallas
Chicago
Arizona
@Giants
New England
@Seattle
@Miami
Jets
@Dallas
Washington
Let’s look at the next two games (@Buffalo, @Washington).
– Obviously, we’d like to win both and limp into the bye week. You’d get a couple of good road wins and even-up the divisional record.
– If we split, then we can only lose 2 games in the last 10, and that includes on the road for the Giants and Cowboys, traveling to Seattle on a short week (Thursday night!), and at home against New England and the Jets. That’s some tough sledding.
– If we lose both, I think the chances of going 9-1 in the last 10 games are near impossible.
In my opinion, we HAVE to win the next two games to keep hope alive.
IF we win the next two games, we’ll need to go 7-3 the rest of the way. This is the NFL, and as we are acutely aware, there are no cupcake games. That said, I only see 2 games out of that 10 that this current team might be favored in (Seattle, Miami), and they’re both on the road, one of them on a very short week.
Let’s look as those 10 games after the BYE.
Dallas
Chicago
Arizona
@Giants
New England
@Seattle
@Miami
Jets
@Dallas
Washington
Assuming we’ve improved on defense by then (and how could we not?!?! Don’t answer that, Juan…), I think there are 7 realistically winnable games (Patriots, Jets, @Giants will be tough). Per my cupcake comment, nothing will be easy, but if we can manage to sweep that difficult homestand (Dallas, Chicago, Arizona), then we “only” need to go 4-3 the rest of the way. That means sweeping the divisional games and winning one other game, OR winning all our home games plus one road game, OR sweeping the AFC and winning one divisional game, etc.
Basically, if we can rip off 5 wins in a row beginning now, then we’ve got a puncher’s chance. That’s a HUGE “if,” and don’t count the team out for another inexcusable stinker, but maybe that’ll be off-set by a wildcard Brady broken arm or something.
No matter what, I think we need to win the remainder of our divisional games to keep ourselves in the mix. We already handed the Giants one win… no more.
And now, to walk the dog…
There is no doubt in my mind, we have to win the next two games to have any semblance of hope whatsoever for a playoff berth. I’m sure there are teams who have started 2-4 or 2-5 before and still managed to make the playoffs. But its obvious, we will not be one of them. There’s no unity here. The coaching staff is still in flux, the roster has yet to become a cohesive unit, and it still looks like–to a man–no one on this team CARES whether they win or lose.
I’m not an extremist. I don’t make rash proclaimations during week 4 of the NFL season. But in this case, I’m making an exception. We lose either of the next 2 games, and we’re fuckin’ done.
Sad face.
There is no doubt in my mind, we have to win the next two games to have any semblance of hope whatsoever for a playoff berth. I’m sure there are teams who have started 2-4 or 2-5 before and still managed to make the playoffs. But its obvious, we will not be one of them. There’s no unity here. The coaching staff is still in flux, the roster has yet to become a cohesive unit, and it still looks like–to a man–no one on this team CARES whether they win or lose.
I’m not an extremist. I don’t make rash proclaimations during week 4 of the NFL season. But in this case, I’m making an exception. We lose either of the next 2 games, and we’re fuckin’ done.
Sad face.
I’m looking forward to when Bill Conlin turns his attention to the Eagles.
As noted elsewhere, this team feels like the 2003 Raiders. Not the 2010 ‘Boys
I’m looking forward to when Bill Conlin turns his attention to the Eagles.
As noted elsewhere, this team feels like the 2003 Raiders. Not the 2010 ‘Boys
Castillo looks like a huge mistake. Not a fan at all. But like some of the other posters here, I’m not sure how effective firing him would be. A new coach that trying to re-mould a defense this deep into the season? I think you’d be looking at a few weeks (minimum) where things would still be out of sync. Especially when you consider that there isn’t really an internal option. Washburn’s on the record saying that he’d never want to be a DC. Who else do you really trust in-house?
We’d either be looking at someone completely foreign to the Eagles’ scheme, or (assuming that all of the existing coaches have bought into Castillo’s scheme) someone who couldn’t win the DC job outright back in the offseason. Neither sounds like an instant fix to me. Very, very depressing, but have we gotten to the point where letting Castillo ride out the season is our best bet?
On a side note, I would’ve been able to stay hopeful at 2-2, but 1-3 and coming off the back of a loss to the Alex Smith led Niners is a bit much for me. At best we’re 3-3 at the Bye and have to run the gauntlet at the back end of the season. There’s no longer a margin of error for whoever is our DC moving forward.
What evidence do we have that the defense will improve under Juan?
The defensive problems don’t stem from the scheme being too complicated. Quite the opposite. Dallas is having problems, but as they learn the scheme, they could improve. All we have to look forward to is better execution. Sure, our players aren’t executing, but this goes beyond that, no? The bigger problems are schematic and ones with personnel. Did Aso, DRC, and Asante suddenly become JAGs overnight?
Simple Question, Use JJ as short yardage center?
You know Tommy, honestly the Cowboys losing, especially in spectacular fashion like they did, does make me feel better. Romo blows another game with boneheaded turnovers, and Calvin Johnson scores the game winner after Rob Ryan tries to call him out. In my humble, focusing on the Cowboys failures rather than our own numbs the pain a little bit.
As they say, misery loves company.
ALL OVERBOARD!
THE BAD DREAM TEAM
If Castillo can’t keep up with opposing OC’s adjustments leading to 4th Quarter meltdowns they’re in trouble. The most logical internal option to replace him would be cornerbacks coach/ press box guy Johnnie Lynn, who was Giants DC for 2 years and had the third lowest points allowed his first season as DC. Getting a new guy and experienced guy in there can also boost the players confidence. Apparently Andy talks to Fisher all the time and Washburn also seems to know him.
One other concern is that the two rookie position coaches on D don’t seem to be cutting it. Chaney and Fukou played well last year under Bill Shuey, who was one of the scapegoats, and they’ve been awful under Caldwell. The safeties have been awful under Zordich, who replaced Jauron. The one subtraction that has predictably had the intended effect was Segrest giving way to Washburn, and DL is the only position which is not seriously underperforming.
McDermott was scapegoated by the PR-focused front office last offseason, and they didn’t have a better option, leading to a chaotic search for a DC last January. Having a smart, third year DC that knows the players and can work on his communication skills is looking good right now.
It’s becoming clearer also that they don’t have a quality starter to show for the past two drafts.
I honestly think the biggest part of this is that our linebackers are just plain lousy. Matthews completely bombed in his first go round. Fokou got quasi-benched and has blown play after play. Jamar Chaney, the supposed ‘sure thing’ in the LB corps, is most often seen diving at, and missing, ballcarriers as they turn upfield. This looks like the worst LB group we’ve had in years, and that’s not a snap overreaction.
But for pete’s sake, can you perform worse in crunch time than Castillo has?
Yeah I think based on the press conference Reid isn’t going to pull the plug on Castillo, unless the FO wants to and gets their way. Generally when there’s an in-season coordinator change, the head coach clashes with the coach or there’s a housecleaning where the head coach and the coordinator goes, but the FO usually doesn’t force in-season discontinuity on the coach.
Also the inability to establish the run game in the second half is killing their defense. They’re passing on first down when they’re up 20 points. Off the box score I’m counting 54 passes and 12 runs. They don’t take time off the clock and the defense gets tired.
Maybe the league will go to an 18 game schedule with three quarters a game.
Truthfully, how much of this mess is a fault of our D line blowing by their blockers and not reading the play? I really enjoy watching us get to the QB, but I have watched Babin overrun running plays time and time again. From what I have seen, and I will get ready for the bashing from everyone, but Babin is a great pass rusher but a horrendous run stopper. Most big runs seem to originate from his amazing gaps and the fact that he runs so far out of the picture and the LB or safety gets blown up with the emerging blockers. Essentially, I see the running backs hitting full stride before they even hit the second level because they haven’t even had to make one cut. While our LBs are horrible, even Seth Joyner would be swallwoed up at times playing behind Babin.
Babin isn’t the main problem, but one a problem nonetheless.
no many agree Babin’s been bad against the run and their better run stopping DEs are hurt.. Hunt’s not going to help in that area.
That’s not Babin thats the Wide 9
And so many of you mocked me when I stated that the Eagles were closer to the Luck sweepstakes than the playoffs a few weeks ago.
Andy has run this team into the ground. They are poorly run from the top down, and the terrible Castillo mistake is only the latest in Andy’s legacy of failure. The only hope at this point is that they continue to play bad enough to get both Andy fired and draft Luck.
Just to clarify, you came here to comment “I told you so,” and “Abandon hope, all ye fans?”
Wouldn’t that time have been better spent rooting for the Phillies?
You don’t need me to tell you to abandon hope, a working pair of eyes should do the trick.
Yet here you are, hoping Cole is healthy and hoping you are wrong about the team. Declaring they will lose and hoping you are wrong. Sounds like you are practicing some emotional hedging. Certainly the safe and prudent approach.
Or I just don’t want what I know to be true to actually be true, so I hope that my very non professional opinion is wrong.
Ok now you’re just going overboard with the hyperbole. “Legacy of failure” ? I’ll bet the majority of the teams around the league would love to have had the eagles last 10 or 12 seasons.
Please stop hoping that we’ll suck and start hoping we’ll turn it around. Concern and frustration is one thing but I find people that actively root against our team to be completely intolerable, and we’ve been picking up more and more on this board lately.
0 Championships in 13 years is a legacy of failure.
I’m not going to bother arguing over whether or not Andy has the ability to win a super bowl. If you truly believe that then I can understand why you want this team to lose, and I am unfortunately going to have to tolerate someone rooting against my team on our own message boards in the meantime.
I’m not rooting against them. I’m incapable of that. As I said, I would absolutely love to come on here and eat a delicious helping of crow after an Andy led Eagles super bowl win. I absolutely root hard for them during the games. I just know in the back of my mind that the Eagles will probably have to rid Andy of his coaching duties before a SB win will ever happen.
So you think Andrew Luck changes all the things that are wrong with the team right now? You’re funny
EXPOSED.
The Niners showed the rest of the NFL how to play against the Iggles and have success. Let’s ignore the the fumbles, INTs and missed FGs. Without a semblance of a running game or play calling creativity especially in the redzone, the Iggles have very little chance of improving. You would think that spreading a defense out would produce space for Vick, McCoy, Jackson and Maclin. I’m just sayin’. Shady is shifty and Vick helps (when he does run), but only if the defense is on it heels. The offense is losing that edge. Big plays (25 yards or more) are not producing points. 416 passing yards is nice, but 2 for 7 in the redzone and a 1-3 record makes for really bad post-game press conferences. Although the last two have been the best in “unintentional comedy”. The Emperor is in rare form behing the microphone!
Defensively, when your front seven can’t stop giving up 4+ yards per rushing play it makes sense to spend big bucks on your cornerbacks. They’ll be busy doing what you aren’t paying them to do. TACKLE. And that’s saying a lot when your safeties are the worst tacklers on the team. The Niners didn’t pass their way to victory. They rushed to it.
Finally, when you give the responsibility of pass protection calls to a player who can’t read blitzes let alone read defenses your offense will fail. Vick is not reading anything when they come to the line of scrimmage. The Niners forced him to throw into zone coverage or they blitzed. Some Niners’ blitzes were disguised, but many were obvious. It’s time to swallow some pride and replace Kelce with Jamal Jackson and give him the protection calls. This will allow Vick to concentrate on reading coverages. If he ever does.
But in the immortal words of The Emperor, “I’m not gonna get into all of that. We’ll be fine.”
Silly post.
Really silly.
Let’s ignore the fumbles and missed FGs? Was that sarcasm? If not for those, the Eagles win goin g away.
A semblence of a running game? Have you watched the NFL this season? Running games are about as useful as a good drop-kicker. It’s a passing league first, second and third.
To me the major issues are:
1. Vick still seems unable to pick up the blitzer from the edge.
2. Castillo’s scheme seems to be unable to cover the flats.
3. Castillo play calling seems to be predictable. At any “high moment” he packs the blitz.
4. Page has no business starting, I’m incredulous as to why Jarrett’s learning on the job isn’t happening. It’s not like Page is doing anything.
Has there been any word on Cole? Can’t find any updates anywhere and the defense is definitely not going to improve without him.
Theres a reason why an NFL Oline coach has never been promoted to DC…think about that move..Its fucking hard to believe
After some reflection on today’s outcome, as well as the two weeks prior, it seems painfully obvious that Juan Castillo must be, at the very least, demoted, if not fired. This defense is terrible. It’s not just the linebackers. Nnamdi is being beat far too regularly. If the guy is a beast at man to man, but mediocre in zone, then the obvious answer is to let the man go all out at what he does best. Adjustments aren’t being made in the game, nor during the week. I love Castillo, but Reid set him up for failure.
Not that everyone doesn’t deserve blame today, (the offense was terrible) but we still had a 23-3 lead in the third.
Now the Phillies have gotten Andy’s eaglestink on them. Just great.
Real rough day.
We are all Morton tonight.
I am not going to pile on now, but I am looking forward to the DGR with the hope that there was some sign of improvement somewhere (only got to hear the game on WIP so maybe even that is too optimistic).
A couple things I hope happen: Andy shuts down the PC’s by everyone but himself until he gets this thing rolling. They are pointless and only give the media more ammo to fire.
Start Watkins and Jarrett…might as well get the rookies in there to see what they can do. The last thing we need is more question marks going into the off season.
Find a physical LB or two somewhere (anywhere) to play SAM/MLB. I would give Chaney one more shot at MLB but run blitz with Jarrett more to help stop the run. We should have 8 in the box on any play not 3rd and long and maybe even those too. I would rather see us playing aggressive and get burned than not and getting burned anyway.
I would trade Samuel. The promise of such a talented trio of CB’s sounded great, but we have not figured out a way to use them effectively. I don’t know that any of the three play slot as well as Hanson, and maybe a team with some momentum and buzz will be willing to overpay for him (1st and backup LB prospect or something). I have a feeling we will need these draft picks to fill some rather significant holes next off season.
The idea of trading Samuel sounds great when you put it like that (1st and backup LB prospect), but not so much if you put a realistic idea of what we could expect to receive in a trade.