Retro Day
Posted: May 26th, 2017 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 78 Comments »The Eagles have had lots of good pass rushers. There was only one Reggie White. He was truly special.
Reggie White (chronological) dominance in SB XXXI pic.twitter.com/4I7c3togDh
— Mark Dulgerian (@MarkDulgerianOS) May 25, 2017
I know it hurts to see him in the Packers uniform, but that was a great day. Reggie got his ring. It wasn’t the same thing as him winning with the Eagles, but it was still great. He was my favorite player and that’s the happiest a Super Bowl has ever made me. My guy got to be a champion.
Keith Jackson was on that team as well so that also helped.
I have no idea what Bill Parcells and his coaches were thinking in terms of their gameplan, They really thought Max Lane against Reggie was a good idea, even when it was clear Reggie was killing him? Crazy. Not Tuna’s best game.
Can’t talk about Reggie without seeing some Eagles clips.
https://twitter.com/fduffy3/status/866720051935813632
*****
Seth Wickersham of ESPN has a great story up on the Seahawks and the dysfunctional relationship between Richard Sherman and those around him. Go read that. Really an outstanding piece.
I bring it up here because the piece talks about how the offense and defense don’t get along, specifically lots of animosity toward the star QB, who many feel is put on a pedestal.
Where have I heard of something like that?
The Eagles, 1986-1993. Seth Joyner and the defense against Randall Cunningham and the offense.
As I read that story, all I could think about was Mark Bowden’s great book.
If you love Gang Green, do yourself a favor and read the book. It will frustrate you at times, but there are so many great stories and Bowden is a brilliant writer. Eagles fans are so lucky they got to have him cover the team for a season and then write a book about it.
Seattle has a lot of fiery, volatile personalities on that team. They are lucky Pete Carroll was able to guide them to a title and almost to another one. The Eagles were also volatile, but that team only won a single playoff game. Buddy Ryan could never find his version of Marshawn Lynch. Buddy wanted to run the ball and play D, but he built mediocre O-lines and couldn’t find a good RB.
It would have been fun to watch those Eagles teams if they did have a gifted back like Lynch to feed the ball to. The one team that did win in the postseason had the 1-2 punch of Herschel Walker and Heath Sherman at RB.
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I read the article on the Seahawks yesterday. It looks like the Pete Carroll’s “think only positive thoughts” has fueled the division between offense and defense. Contrast his attitude and philosophty with Darth Vader Buddy Ryan. In essence, each one coddled one unit and either disparaged or neglected the other. It’s too bad that Ryan had such disdain for the offense. That era could have produced at least one SB win, IMO, if the offense had been boosted up with interior linemen and a complementary backfield.
Can you imagine if Brian Dawkins yelled “You f—ing suck!” to Carson Wentz after intercepting him in practice like Sherman did to Wilson? Sherman and Bennett are the antithesis of being team leaders.
lol no. You really think the early 2000 Patriots defenders only ever handed Tom Brady flowers and told him how much they loved him and how he was the bestestest?
Cam Newton threw down with Josh Norman in practice.
Must be a bad leader.
Steve Smith wanted to assault pretty much all of his teammates every day for the entirety of his hall of fame career.
Bad leader.
Tom Brady got in a fight with a coach on the sideline
WORST LEADER EVER
You seem to correlate being a narcissistic superstar with being a team leader. Next thing you know you’ll be reminding me how many electoral votes Richard Sherman won.
Those guys aren’t leaders? FOH
You seem to be conflating leadership with “Rah Rah, happy feelings, yayyy go team” bullshit
I never said anything about team leader being a “rah rah” guy. Causing discord on your team, continuously shitting on your franchise QB, repeatedly denigrating your head coach, asking for a trade…I absolutely would not call that being a team leader. He may have led the defense, but he surely didn’t lead the offense, let alone the whole team.
I think you’re both beating the living hell out of each others’ straw men.
You’re correct that locker rooms can thrive with friction, though it’s not required. The sweet spot depends on the locker room. There is no magic formula.
Locker rooms are highly nuanced. The biggest difference is outsiders all have a short list of actions with which they define a person’s character. The players know each other much better. They know each other when through a whole slew of emotional states, and know if that carries over to building petty cliques, antagonism, and dysfunction. As outsiders we need to recognize that the things we observe aren’t necessarily indicative of anything: good or bad.
I think the disconnect is here:
Leaders can produce results: winning or losing
Leaders can produce the results with a wide array of leadership styles: foolish, harsh, encouraging, self-sacrificing, and many more.
You can say that the only thing that matters is the result, which is an opinion. Others can say that how result was achieved is all that matters, which is also an opinion.
Leaders are stand-up comedians who get laughs, leaders are catwalk designers who leave aspiring coquettes salivating, leaders are grunts who tell corporatist superiors to kiss their ass, they know who they are and so do those in their midst. Eugene Debs was a locomotive fireman who got a million votes for president while he was sitting in a jail cell for the crime of believing in socialism. In 1980, Ronald Reagan received the votes of a gaudy 26% of the registered voters, when fewer than half of the eligible voters bothered to vote, and Republican whores called that a “mandate” at the time, and have been trying to get him canonized ever since.
If people with a stake follow somebody, that somebody is probably a leader. For over a decade, Democrats won the White House by not being Republicans (when really that is exactly what they are), and now we have a classless boor as a titled “leader” whose greatest talent appears to be self-promotion. If this two-party sham ever gets put to ashes, it will be, I am certain, because a leader has emerged that speaks the truth and isn’t punished for it.
Oh good, politics in an Eagles blog, just what we were missing.
I’ve actually found a worse piece of subhuman garbage than Richard Sherman. Take your ignorant leftist rhetoric to the Huffing Paint Post where it belongs.
If you cannot stand the heat of Sherman calling you out in practice then probably NFL QB is not the job for you. There is no one single type of leader, and frankly the best teams i have seen have a huge variety of leaders and leadership styles that mesh together to make something greater. Sherman is a guy who can dial players up to 100% and set the vision that only accepts success. Can he be dick, absolutely and you need other guys who will give emotional support and team chemistry, but 1 or 2 Shermans can be great for a team.
“Never mind that the defense missed 11 tackles in that game, allowed New England to convert a third-and-14 in the fourth quarter and blew a 24-14 lead — even after linebacker Bobby Wagner turned to safety Earl Thomas and said, “We’ll be considered the best D, bro. We got to stop them now.” That failed throw at the goal line is all anyone remembers — and it’s what Sherman can’t forget.”
Tell me again how “Sherman is a guy who can dial players up to 100%”? He sure as hell didn’t do it in the Superbowl.
Other guy gets paid, too.
But the “other guy” isn’t on the Eagles / Philly / my fantasy teams; so he sucks and I don’t ever want to hear about him.
Sherman was one tipped pass away from obscurity. If he hadn’t gotten extremely lucky and tipped that pass (against the Giants I think???) in the playoff game, nobody would have heard of him. One inch shorter on his jump and he’s just another late-round out of the league in 4 years player.
Oh please.
Truth hurts sometimes
“Can you imagine if Brian Dawkins yelled “You f—ing suck!” to Carson Wentz”
First thought is that we probably need a combination of Dawkins and the Captain America “Language!” meme for that.
Second thought is that either someone drove their Delorean into work that day, or else its encouraging to know that Dawk still has enough left in the tank to go from front office to suiting up and making the QB look bad.
Better yet, you can drive that DeLorean back to 6th grade to learn what a metaphor is.
I think my bachelors in English has that covered. Wanna save the pissy attitude for some other comment section? People here are usually pretty chill about humor, and I don’t think I could have made the joking tone of my post much more obvious.
I’m pretty sure that’s not a metaphor, so back to 6th grade with you! While you’re there, have your teacher explain the difference between a metaphor and a simile to you.
Is it unusual for there to be rivalry between the O and D? Is it unusual for athletes to talk shit to each other during practice?
For an article explaining how much of an asshole Sherman is, I honestly came away from it with a higher opinion of him.
There is absolutely a place on sports teams for the fiery, overly competitive, shit talking asshole. You just generally don’t make that person the leader of the team. When DJax or TO throws a hissy fit, it’s easy to write them off as a diva. If Peters or Jenkins did it, then you’ve got yourself a serious problem. Sherman plays both roles, and so he runs the risk of getting others to follow his lead of being a hot head, especially if there’s the added aspect of there being a Favourite Child in the room.
And how about they just buy more desks? Seems like an easy problem to solve.
Sherman always struck me as someone who walks that fine line between just enough of an asshole and too much of an asshole.
was Reggie just super strong? the highlights are crazy.
He was very strong, but he was not just strong. Fast, quick and great leverage, too.
Here you go – ran a 4.6 40 and weighed 320 lbs. Strong and fast. 21 sacks in 12 games isn’t bad.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/13711577/jj-watt-comparing-houston-texans-defensive-end-hall-famer-reggie-white
And back then, 320 was absolutely HUGE, not like now when it’s standard (or even small) for a DE.
For the Eagles, I don’t remember him listed above JBs weight, which was listed IIRC at 295. Reggie, as an Eagle, was listed at 285-290.
No, he was super human strong and he was a polarizing figure on the D line who commanded the respect of opposing D coordinators who game planned around him every week.
He made the players around him better.
He had speed and more moves than Michael Jackson on his best day.
This man was a true first ballot HOF inductee and IMO the best defensive end to ever play the game.
Here’s a great example of how Reggie made other players around him better and a great day in Eagles History.
The Eagles got 11 sacks in this one game.
Enjoy.
http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/videos/videos/Old-School-All-22-Eagles-Feast-On-Aikman/b6b9f96a-36f4-4033-bbf0-37a83df3ee95
We have that game on VHS tape at the house.
I loved that !! Thanks a ton .. now googling who were our DBacks back then… Herm Ewdards nah he was earlier. …, wes Hopskins, andre Waters, roynell Young? ?
Yes, but that was just the start of it. He had moves galore. He could move all over the DL during the game, terrorizing the entire OL. And the guys playing along side were no slouches either — Jerome Brown was a beast (would have been absolutely amazing for those two to have been playing alongside each other for years, but alas, Brown liked to drive fast). Clyde Simmons was also good, especially since other teams couldn’t even think about double-teaming him after White (who would often beat double-teams anyways) and Brown.
Also keep in mind he was 35 years old in that Super Bowl. Eagles had him from ages 24 through 31. In the strike season, where one game was cancelled and three games were with replacement players, White had 21 sacks in 12 games.
The years Randall got injured, you were basically waiting for the offense to punt so you got to watch the defense again. They were flat-out fun to watch for many years. And with Randall, the offense could put up lots of highlight-reel plays, so they were fun too — just much less consistent.
In 1991, I think with even a healthy Jim McMahon they had a chance at a Dilfer/Ravens like playoff run — but when he got injured we saw some of the worst QB play imaginable (which meant we missed the playoffs). We still had a pretty bad OL though (the continuing curse during much of the 1980s and 1990s).
OT: Chip Kelly is joining ESPN as a college football analyst. I know we were all concerned about his well being after being unsuccessful at finding a job.
Amazing that they laid off 100+ people but they had the wisdom to bring in one of the most anti-social, sarcastic assholes that I’ve seen in the last decade.
And I was a Chip Kelly fan; thought he was going to be our next great coach.
Apparently the offset language in his 49ers contract applies to analyst gigs as well, so he may be getting paid $1 just to spite them.
I wonder if this is reflective of limited coaching opportunities?
I remember watching Reggie during my teenage years and having no clue the greatness I was witnessing. I can recall multiple times where he fired off the line and literally tossed 300+ pound O linemen like they were 100 pound CB’s.
I was amazed how easy he made it look to completely outclass whomever they put in front of him. He was so quick and powerful that he had no issue beating double teams on a regular basis.
If Derek Barnett can be half the player that Reggie was when it’s all said and done, I would consider him a great pick.
Beating Reggie’s college sack record is a great starting point.
My dream is Barnett also beats Reggie’s pro sack record, while leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl win. Then, after he becomes a free agent, he announces he’s turning down more money and a supposed divine message in order to stay with the Eagles. I look forward to hearing, “Reggie, who? Derek is the greatest.”
I know, I pretty much only cared about Randall, when it was on the other side of the ball that the real greatness lay.
I remember watching the Saint’s playoff game with my parents when I was a kid- couldn’t understand why it was such a big deal when my Mom was freaking out that we actually won a playoff game.
Now I understand.
Hopefully we can end this playoff drought within the next year or two- winning a playoff game is a good first step, but I really hope we develop into an actual NFC contender for the next 20 years.
If the Eagles make the playoffs, please make sure you and your Mom watch the game together. For good measure, sit in the same chairs and eat the same snacks.
If they have a home game, I’m taking here.
If they have a home playoff game, it means this was a really good season.
Agreed. I’d take a home playoff game vs a wild card selection; of course, I’d rather play in the Divisional Round with a week of rest!
If the Eagles win the Divisional Round, we should all buy flowers for your Mom.
Lets do that when we win the super bowl.
Speaking of Super Bowls; if the Eagles win one while she’s alive, she’s agreed to get a Super Bowl champion Eagles tattoo to commemorate the celebration.
She was at the one in 2004- obviously, it didn’t turn out well.
I bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate that 2004 SB win. It’s still sitting in the ‘fridge.
Your Mom sounds like a cool lady. You think she’d consider posting on Iggle Blitz?
Nah, she’d just talk about how Randall and McNabb were the best QB’s of her lifetime.
Well, she brought you up to be an Eagles fan so she must be righteous.
I can’t tell if it’s a blessing, or a curse. Maybe both?
Eagles green runs deep in our family history; when they held training camp in Hershey, PA back between 1951-1967, my uncles would serve as ball boys and hang out down there. Football was different in those days; players would routinely go bar hopping with the locals, and friends would have cookouts with players.
I’ve been watching Eagles games for as long as I can remember; hell, when I was little and we actually scored a touchdown, my Mom would pick me up and let him hit the ceiling in celebration. Of course, we sucked while I was little so the damage to the interior of our house was minimal.
Offense versus Defense, as I remember Ryan’s teams, they were absolutely devoid on special teams as fits Buddy’s thoughts on the players that would have filled out his roster. Ryan was the biggest weakness, Lynch be damned.
Probably A Billion Dollars worth of football hero’s in coaching and management all owe their 1 Super Bowl Ring exclusively to Reggie White.
Only one Reggie White. But Marcus Smith is pretty close….
It bothers me that Marcus Smith is closer to Reggie White than I am to Marcus Smith.
Not if you measure by career sack totals.
thanks!
I just spit Miller Lite on my phone.
“The one team that did win in the postseason had the 1-2 punch of Herschel Walker and Heath Sherman at RB.”
Heath Sherman was a fumbling piece of human excrement in Tecmo Super Bowl and I’d always bench him.
Brings back good memories watching Reggie dominate. To bad Randall went down in the first game of the 91 season. Would have loved to see what they could have done in the playoffs with one of the greatest defenses in NFL history.
Or if Brown didn’t die in 92.
Yeah the defense was never the same after JB’s death. Ben Smiths injury didn’t help either. Looked like he was on his way to being a great corner.
That was such a bizarre event. I think Jerome might have been the only Eagle to play from Jimmy Johnson at Miami.
And because he murdered his nephew in the process, I can’t get overly nostalgic and/or praise oriented with Brown.
That’s a good point regarding his nephew. I have to admit, I often forget about the kid.
Hopefully it gives pause to anybody seeking to buy more engine than they can properly drive.
Murdered… um, no.
Like Brown wouldn’t have been charged with negligent homicide if he’d lived after causing the death of his nephew?
Randall getting hurt was heartbreaking.
both times.
“Bringing the heat” is such a great book…one of my favorite books on my shelf.
Numbers: I’ve always been the first to call Sam Bradford a dinker and not much of an asset, but according to FO’s new stat, which compares completion % versus what an average quarterback would have done in similar situations, he was indeed very accurate last year, ranging from very accurate in short throws to adequate in deep and medium.
#3 in the league, in some heady company: Brees, Ryan, Rodgers, Wilson, and Cousins. Wentz was #24–with the caveat that much of his negative numbers come from usual suspects Ags and DGB.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2017/2016-passing-plus-minus
Bah…
Restructured McLeod to save 2.4M this year.
Whatup Buge Halls, how you like our cap room now? Still think we overpaid for Blount?
Well, now I know that Sherman is a subhuman piece of garbage and I don’t want him anywhere near this team.