Gameday is Here
Posted: September 15th, 2014 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 126 Comments »The Eagles are at the Colts tonight on Monday Night Football. This should be a fun game.
The season opener was exciting because it was the first game, but there was nothing compelling about facing the Jaguars. They don’t have star players or a great unit. They’re simply a young team in the building phase.
Andrew Luck and the Colts offer a completely different set of circumstances. Think about some of the storylines.
* Can the Eagles win a road game against an AFC playoff team?
* Who plays better, Luck or Nick Foles, both from the QB class of 2012?
* How does the Eagles defense do against a talented offense?
* How do the Eagles do in primetime? Last year they were 3-1, with the only loss being to KC on a Thursday night?
* Can the Eagles get to 2-0?
* How does the rebuilt O-line look?
Week 2 games aren’t going to make or break a season, but this is a good test for the Eagles. Beyond winning and losing, it is important to see the Eagles play well. Last week the team was sloppy. The offense was sloppy for the whole first half. The defense was sloppy for a quarter. Both groups played well after halftime.
If the Eagles play well and lose, I can live with that. Another sloppy performance by the team would make me very nervous. I’m hoping the combination of rust and opening day jitters is what got the Eagles last week. That stuff should be gone tonight.
It will be interesting to see how Foles vs Luck shakes out. Andrew Luck is the better QB. He has a better arm and is a much better athlete. He’s able to carry his team on his back at times. Foles has a better coach, better O-line and better skill players. Foles needs help for the offense to function. He’s not the kind of QB who can carry a team.
That said…the Colts have a good offense and the Eagles have a great offense. Indy has yet to build a strong OL for Luck. They have yet to give him a strong running game. They thought dealing for Trent Richardson would change that, but to this point that looks like a dreadful deal. We’ll see if he shows any signs of progress this year.
Foles doesn’t have to be great for the offense to be great. He needs to get the ball to the open receiver. Chip Kelly’s scheme generates open receivers and the Eagles have the kind of players who can make plays when you get them the ball. There is a lot more pressure on Luck to make things happen.
Last year the Eagles had 80 passing plays that went for 20 or more yards. The Colts had 45. Last week the Eagles had 5 such plays. The Colts had 4. Maybe the offense is taking another step forward this year.
I wonder if the Eagles will be forced to playing a lot of zone to deal with Luck’s ability to scramble. If you play man, he can take off running and DBs will have their back to him. That’s dangerous with an athlete like Luck. The Eagles like to play zone anyway, but it might be dictated this week.
I think the Eagles have a serious advantage at the line of scrimmage. I will be very disappointed if the Eagles don’t win the battle up front.
Foles did not play well last week, but I’m expecting that to change. Kelly seems to know what buttons to push with him.
* * * * *
If you need a bit of light reading, check out this week’s Wulf’s Den. This is the weekly piece done by the great Bo Wulf of PE.com. He covers the QB class of 2012 and has an entertaining interview with Dennis Kelly, who may or may not be Chip’s long lost son. Or cousin. Or nephew. Or brother. Great stuff from Bo.
_
If past performances are indicative of anything, this should be the most boring first half and the most exciting second half of any game ever.
I can’t friggin’ wait. Every time I walk past somebody in the hallway at work I get this incredible urge to tackle them. If we get Foles from last year instead of Foles from last week, I think the Birds win the game. If we get one or two big plays from the defense, I think we win by 10.
Good stuff. Had me in tears!
still got me in tears.
The offense when it’s clicking is crazy. The problem is that we’re playing a QB that can dink and dunk us all the way down the field. That’s what worries me.
I’ll take the Foles from the second half of last week in a heart beat…
even that Foles wasn’t too good. Still, he did lead the team to a win…
Wasn’t too good? Did u see his numbers? I’ll guess that you didn’t see his second half numbers.
in the hallway I get the urge to wave my hand like the int’l signal to go for a pass …and then toss its at their ankles .. sorry im still hung up on some old stuff & trying to work out of it
Just for a second, i thought you meant toss the old yellow hankie at their ankles. Repeatedly.
and then I flash a huge ‘aw shucks’ smile to all and tap my chest “yo my bad my man, my bad’
AP reinstated. Vikes realized what he does for that football team and how long they’d have to sit him (and pay him) before his case is finally adjudicated. They looked real dumb at that press conference trying to explained why that team looked like hot butt [which is going to be my new favorite term].
I’m laughing “all day” with all of this stuff.
He might have 300 yards against that Saints defense.
Greg Hardy is also practicing all week
31-20 eagles
How can Sconces cover the Colts WRs? If he is physical for the first 5 yrds. then hand-checks throughout, he maybe has a chance. I fear he is going to be targeted both by the Colts and refs. Of course, our pass rush is improved so we could get some breaks.
My guess is that Eagles win in a shootout with the Offense scores more often than the Colts. And Chip seems to have Luck’s number – he knows the types of disguised blitzes that give Luck trouble.
The thought is that Williams would be better against a slower vet than a younger burner.
Ideally, he’d be on Reggie Wayne but that’s Reggie freaking Wayne we’re talking about. Boykin will be covering Hilton and Fletcher on Nicks.
Cary is a big game corner. He will do great tonight against Reggie Wayne.. Age, injuries turned Wayne into an effective WR because of his route running, but he doesn’t have the insane Speed that Cary can’t keep up with.. Going to be a cerebral technical matchup of Cary vs. Wayne, and Cary will do better than people think
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Boykin needs to step up and take it upon himself to shut down TY Hilton, and our safeties can not let him get behind the defense.
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Hopefully Brad Fletcher can keep hakim nicks in check
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Barwin and Malcolm Jenkins need to have a big night in coverage, shutting down the colts two TE attack..
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Doubt the colts score more than 24…’I say they score 20 tonight, eagles 31
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We will intercept Luck twice tonight, Meco forced Trent to fumble
OD it seems your enthusiasm has come back down some….or you haven’t started drinking yet.
Arik Armstead is heading to the eagles… What u think? Along with Mykal Kendricks little brother of course
Chip will get Armstead if he can. Loves the guy’s intensity.
I know… Fools will link us to Ifo OLOMU but Armstead will be chips real target, because he will have to replace Vinny after he gets traded for Oregons Dion Jordan 🙂
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Figure we try and draft Arik, Kendricks brother and a WR with our first 3 picks. We don’t have many open roster spots for rookies next year, so I expect us to package picks to move up and really secure two or three players we really like…
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For example something like using our first 5 picks and the extra pick from Bryce trade for a CB or Safety.
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1) Armstead
2) Kendricks
3) TY Montogemery, Stanford WR…
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We won’t have a ton of open spots for rookies next year, so we might as well secure two or three players we really like…
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We still would have the Bryce pick. 6th. 7th and UDFA… I’m sure we can find another 2 or 3 players out of those resources.
Envision the defense looking something like:
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DE: Ced Thornton/Arik Armstead
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NT: Bennie Logan/Beau Allen/papa Bear
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DE: Fletcher Cox/Taylor hart
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OLB: Barwin, Braman
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ILB: Mykal Kendrick/Najee Goode
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ILB: Demeco Ryan/Eric Kendrick
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OLB: Marcus Smith/Dion Jordan
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And our front 7 will be in place.. Longshot: extend Brandon Graham’s contract
Chip will shock the world and draft….Ameer Abdullah in the 2nd.
Chip is an offensive psycho… I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chip spend a first round pick on RB Todd Gurley with shady and Sproles on the roster…
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I will never be surprised to see Chip draft more running backs..
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But my expectation is Arik Armstead in round 1, trade up from round two for Kendricks brother….another WR in the top 100..
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Wonder if we try to sign CB Byron maxwell and renegotiate Cary’s contract..wouldn’t mind making a play for Jimmy smith in 2016.. Wanted us to draft him
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Don’t think we will want to draft another OLB, they take time to develop as do cornerbacks… Think #1 priority is to try and trade for Dion Jordan(curry).. In case Miami is dumb and doesn’t agree, I’m keeping my eyes this year on free agents like
1) Justin Houston
2) Jabaal Sheard
3) Sam Acho
4) Brooks Reed
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Cornerbacks I want to watch this year
1) Byron Maxwell
2)’Chris Culliver
3) Davon House
4) AJ Jefferson
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That’s it? T-Law constant hatred of Foles shows once again you just give a score? Sigh. Where’s the fireworks? Where’s the KA-BOOM? There was supposed to be an earth shattering Ka-boom!!! Who are you and what have you done for Geagle???????
(ps — Colts are going to score over 30)
My defense isn’t giving up 30 all year
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you’re saying — Eagles will hold the Colts to less than what Denver held them to and the Eagles offense will score as many as Denver did vs. them?
If that happens — all the NFL will put the Eagles in the SB because that will be a dominating game. This will be a game for the ages. A coming out party…
Not like Denver set the world on fire yesterday.
week 1 — when they played the Colts
I know. The point is that outperforming the Broncos agains a common opponent isn’t looking like a stamped ticket to the Super Bowl after 2 weeks.
I agree. I don’t think it happens. IF it does though — the media will have a frenzy…
Yup… NFL math doesn’t work. That’s why a laugh at fools who try to find some meaning in comparing eagles vs.jags with how skins played the jags.. I find that line of thinking just Stupid…
,,,
NFL math doesn’t work
At one point we used mmamath to prove that some lightweight Japanese fighter > Fedor.
Lol…yes I stole the phrase from mma math… Fedor is a god. I used to pray to Fedor before I went to bed
If you’re not comparing to common foe – how can you base an opinion? The redskins compare is silly. But you can compare the Colts D vs. Denver and see how that might trouble the Eagles. How can you say the Eagles D will hold them to under 24? You have to base that opinion off of previous play. I think holding (who might be) the best offense in the NFL to under 300 yards passing holds some merit but has nothing to do with how they’ll play vs. the Eagles. It’s just an opinion….
31-20
Got some depth in our Defense too. Look out for WarPig and Bair. WarPig will DESTROY the Colts center.
Yup yup..our front 7 will put a show on tonight, and the secondary will be owed an apology after what they prove tonight!
It will be interesting to see what happens if we get up by 20+ points. Luck seems to do his best work when he’s forced to play captain comeback.
If they get up big, I hope they maintain form and continue to poor it on. Don’t want to see a ’13 vs Washington type game tonight.
if we get up by 20 we will win by 30.
gameday baby, lets to this…tonight
Those accurate QBs cause fits for eagles. Rivers, Brees, P Manning, but which Luck will eagles get. Odd it comes down to the obvious…..
FOLES v LUCK SMACKDOWN.
And I think McCoy will run all over their starting ILB is out. Give shady 30 touches no matter what the score or situation, win, win.
and — passing to Ertz — Eagles should be able to attack the middle of this defense. Luck should be able to attack deep vs. our defense. Unless — Chip n company have a few tricks up their sleeves….
TE verticals will give the Eagles at least 2 TDs.
need 15 fantasy points in .5ppr. Need to get that screen / wheel route game popping. I don’t even want to see Sproles.
I need 5 points… luckily I am starting Maclin, Ertz and Sproles. I’m feeling pretty good about my chances.
Ya think?
im excited to see our defense against a greatQB. i think we will do ok.
ye sthey will score, of course, yes Luck will throw a touchdown or 2, of course, but we shoudl hold up over all.
which means out Great QB needs to score some points and give the D some help.
both sides need to help each other and we can win.
it will be a tight one. very tight.
31-20 eagles 🙂
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We intercept luck twice
I can see this going the exact same way.
Possibly see a Trent Richardson fumble via big hit by Demeco
another smack down from T-Law about Foles. Nice. Hey — how is that article you were going to write about the 2014 QB draft class as soon as Vick went down?
please tell me you’re joking
why is it a joke? T-Law has never viewed, nor ever will view, Foles as a franchise QB. That’s no secret. My comment about him going to address the QB’s coming out of college is 100% accurate …. again, no secret…
Hatred???
Hatred too strong? OK, strongly disagrees with him as a franchise QB. Or, doesn’t think he’s the guy. Or, wants some else. However you word it, he does not think Foles is the man….
Why is it hatred when the man needs to see more from a QB to give him the title of franchise QB? One good season and half a good game so far for Foles.
Right on Insomniac! Foles needs to prove he’s worthy. Personally I think he is but he scared me in the Jags game.
No worries. One of the top 3 young QBs in the NFL..
what`s let to see is if he plays like he can carry the team, (franchise QB),only be able to play well enough in Chip`s system(a keeper), or if he reverts to the deer in the headlights of the 1st 1/2 of the previous game over the course of the season(look for a new one).
Personally think he`ll become the QB of 1,000 years, but I`ll wait to anoint him until after a few years continued excellence.
I don’t need to see anything… But you are welcome to reserve judgment
He’s hasn’t even come close to earning that title, doesn’t mean he can’t do it. Calling that a good half is kind of pushing it, he did alright and the team rallied.
he was 15 of 21, 183 yards and 2 TD’s, 0 ints, 0 fumbles. QB rating of 129.7 — that’s not good? Would 400 yards and 2 td’s make it “good” or did you want another TD? I don’t see where that’s “bad”. You put that over a full game — 30 for 42, 366 yards and 4 td’s. Again — what more do you want to qualify that 1/2 as “good”?
That’s the point isn’t it? T-Law used the words “can’t carry a team”. I didn’t, he did. How does HE know? It’s not the first time he’s taken shots at Foles. It doesn’t matter whether I think Foles can or can’t(I do think he can) but he states it as a fact — which I disagree with.
I know it’s early in the season, but I’d like to give props to Chip and Howie for the FA acquisitions and management of the cap this off-season. And how important is continuity looking now?
Byrd and the secondary may get their act together, but I wonder if the Saints would have lost these first 2 games if Jenkins would have been making the back end calls and been in Ryan’s ear? Even Hoyer was amazed the Saints would go cover zero back to back and risk giving up the big play.
For all the money Denver spent on Defense, it was surprising to see a depleted Chiefs’ squad make a close game of it, on the road, held together with duct tape and spit.
Cousins’ looks so comfortable in that offense – granted it was against the Jags – will be interesting to see the internal politics unfold should Cousins go on a run. Eagles, Giants, Seahawks, Cardinals, Titans, Cowboys, Vikings then bye week. If Cousins’ can go 4-3 or 5-2 in that stretch, how do you play RGIII?
How impressive are the Tight Ends in this league?!
You play RGIII because the owner cannot possibly make a mistake.
all those injuries yesterday and still more coming from news wire — you’d have to think there are good odds the Colts and Eagles lose someone to injury. Hope not.
Chip Kelly predicts Eagles will win tonight.
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/audio/angelo-cataldi-and-the-morning-team/chip-kelly-call/
is this an ad or something? I have to go listen to the whole interview, or can you just tell me what he said?
Clearly I spoiled you… Go listen for yourself. Lol jk
I don’t listen to things. I only read.
I heard the interview live this morning, Chip does interview every Monday morning at 8pm.. Nothing earth shattering
it’s not on the Boston radio station. But you’re be happy to know, after the Vikings win the Pats are back on track, SB bound. I wish AD had played. Made no sense sitting him for one game.
Sitting him for a game is just a joke. I would rather see him play yesterday, than some phony 1 week deactivation.
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Watch Greg Hardy play this week… That will just be disgusting
right and it wasn’t hard for them to understand the facts etc. It’s pretty simple what happened.
Especially since you don’t have to hear Cataldi if he just recaps it. Can’t understand Chip’s affinity for that guy.
He said the Eagles will win. But would not give a spread. Doesn’t matter to him or the team if it’s by one, five or six.
but 20? he does prefer winning by 20 right?
How dare you say Luck is a better quarterback than Foles!! I am saving all the twits a little time banging on the keys and trying to remember how to spell. ;~D
Hey! … Some of us are big twits.
Foles inferior.
Luck superior.
Colts 27- Eagles 23
There’s a new sheriff in town.
Parkey outkicks Vinatieri.
Eagles 27 – Colts 23.
Hah, love this.
Can’t agree with what you said about Foles.
I’m 100% with you on this.
Smh
At my comment or the article?
The lowly opinions of FOles.. Not u
phew, I thought I was losing my mind….lol…enjoy the game….hoping for domination!!!!
which part exactly? That Luck is better?
What he says about Luck has nothing to do with it. I have no idea if Luck is better or no. Its the Foles comments.
So I hear that the Indy QB has never lost back to back games; is that down to Luck or is that down to luck?
I can’t believe people actually use this as a reason to say the Colts will win.
Well to be fair, we’re all hypocrites here. I’m sure we brought up Andy’s games after bye-week win streak a few times
ha good example, my first reaction was well that makes sense he had more time to prepare. I guess I would say not losing two in a row is much more about luck, the schedule etc. than it is trying harder after a loss. But, fair point.
I said it to insert some fun. Did I fail?
Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy.
I disagree with Tommy on Nick Foles. I’ll tell you what though, IN the small amount of time we’ve seen Foles in action, he’s posted up bigger numbers from our QB spot from what I can remember as an Eagles fan. He’s put up far better passing numbers than Vick and McNabb on their best years.
That’s not saying much since his predecessors weren’t great QBs in the first place.
Exactly. My statement means He’s the best we’ve had in a long time. He’s still young. Can’t jump to conclusions by saying he can’t carry a team just yet, he hasn’t reached his potential yet and has put up monstrous numbers.
ok i’ve got 41-20 Eagles
35-28 either way.
the no defense game?
I wouldn’t be surprised to see us put up 40, but the line is 53 and I think this game is going UNDERS, that’s why I took 31-20.
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Eagles/unders…
oh so you think 41-9 then huh? ok maybe
You won’t see me complaining that’s for sure.. Lol
The fact that Washington just smashed Jacksonville makes me question almost every good thing the Eagles did last week and raises alarms on the bad things they did.
Washington shouldn’t do anything well to anyone.
don’t tell geagle. i think this game will be the first test of where we are compared to decent teams.
Why? Feel free to be stupid. Don’t let me stop you
Keep on posting, Eagles brother.
The transitive property does not hold in the NFL.
All set here for tonight, match starts 1.30am Irish time and should be over at 4.30/5, then I’m up for work at 8! On a separate note, loved Mike Carlson’s description of the NFC East; “It’s the Eagles and 3 last placed teams.”
Enjoy mate. I know and appreciate what you have to go through to watch the team you love. I used to have that same schedule the few years I spend in Rome..
Thanks, I dont even have the option of recording it and watching tomorrow because I can only watch on a stream lol, only live tv game I get is the Sunday night one.
Keep this up and you’ll be Eagles Fan of the Year,
Ha ha don’t know about that, though I might be already in the opinion of the Eagles fans I met at Croke Park for the Penn state game a few weeks ago; they couldn’t believe there were Irish Eagles fans lol, even wanted pictures taken with me!
Impressive. I hope your job doesn’t require either coherent thought or heavy machinery.
Luckily it doesn’t, just staring at the computer screen will convince people that I’m busy!
I opened our support center in Ireland when I was with Symantec. Love Ireland and the folks there. Glad you’re an Eagles fan!
Best of luck to you sir, I’m planning to go to bed at halftime because I just can’t face only getting to sleep at 5:30am.
Thanks, gotta be tough to take off half way through though, dont think I’ve done that.
The wait for Monday Night Football is horrible.
Its almost as bad as a bye week. F’n hate bye weeks.