Eagles Chat: Ouch! Let's talk about the Phillies

Ashley Fox:

Good morning, folks. Just saw a shot of the downtown rally for the Phils. Pretty amazing stuff. On another note, let's talk about that debacle last night. Ask away...

Jimmy Sheridan:

Most Embarrasing Game EVER. How does the coaching staff (Andy Reid) not make the adjustment? How do you not see your LT (Justice) is getting owned on every play? How do you not account for this & get him some help? There is nothing Andy Reid can say that will suffice for not making this adjustment. It's time to start talking Bill Cowher out of retirement. We don't need to hear another round of "I have to do better" from Andy. You had your chance to do better throughout the course of the game and ya didn't. Bye bye Andy, your time is up.

Ashley Fox:

There's going to be a lot of that today, I'm guessing.

Mark:

The play calling was suspect throughout the game. Instead of helping Winston Justice with a back or tight end, the Eagles decided to send as many guys deep as possible and hope that bum Justice would get lucky.

Ashley Fox:

They didn't help him at all. That's one of those experiences that can ruin a guy. To Justice's credit, after getting CRUSHED, he stood in the locker room and answered every question. Good kid. Just way overmatched, and he got no assistance from the coaching staff.

Ze:

After last night’s game, is safe to say that if the eagles continue to play that way, the future of mcnabb is in doubt, as an eagles player.

Ashley Fox:

Yep.

Jeff:

Hang in there, Birds! When we're healthy, we're awesome! I still think we're a playoff team and McNabb is the best quarterback in the NFC!

Ashley Fox:

OK.

Mark:

Anyone else think that Donovan looks sexy covered in grass stains and Osi Umenyiora?

Ashley Fox:

Sexy? I leave that one alone. But Umenyiora is a beast. It's no secret. And to let Justice get his lunch handed to him, it was unfair. It shows you just how valuable Tra Thomas is.

Derek:

What a disgrace, was Reid even paying attention to what was going on out there? He hung Justice out to dry.

Ashley Fox:

I'm sure AR will take full responsibility today at his 2 p.m. news conference. Whatever that means.

Sammy:

Baseball is here! Who cares about the Eagles!

Ashley Fox:

Who would've thought we'd hear that on Oct. 1. Congrats to the Phillies.

MR:

WR's seemed to have trouble getting open again this week. Reggie who??

Ashley Fox:

Reggie Brown has been a nonfactor this year. Without Westbrook, there was no offensive weapon on the field.

Bennyboy:

Talk about upsetting........that was terrible. That many sacks and NO ADJUSTMENT from Reid.... Come on Andy... I felt bad for McNabb, let’s not forget hes still healing from his ACL and they let him get sacked how many times?

Ashley Fox:

Twelve times. They are lucky McNabb didn't get hurt.

Jeff B.:

Do you think Andy will step down at the end of the season, with all his personal issues , and if the team misses the playoffs?

Ashley Fox:

No. I'd seriously doubt it. That doesn't fit his style. I really don't think Andy is in any professional trouble. That's not to say he should be, I just don't think he is.

KB:

Actually Ashley DMc did sustain an injury to his wrist. Thanks Andy!

Ashley Fox:

KB, you're right. I stand corrected. Had a late night/early morning/no sleep. My brain's a little foggy.

Jon Ruffin:

It's hard to say how well McNabb played yesterday. We barely got to see him play. Most of the time he spent running (unsuccessfully) for his life. It wasn't just pressure from his left side. He was getting heavy pressure from the middle on almost every series. Andy, if you're going to pass every single down, AT LEAST max-protect. This loss falls squarely on the hands of Andy Reid. And like most posters, I'm tired of hearing him say "I have to do better."

Ashley Fox:

Jon, I hear you, but get ready. We're going to hear a lot of that this afternoon. It's interesting how easily Steve Spagnuolo, the Giants' d-coord who used to be the Birds linebackers coach, was able to pressure McNabb. Part personnel, but had to be a big part familiarity with the Eagles offense.

Danny Noonen:

Hey guys, love your work. I’m hearing a rumor that McNabb had a stain on his jersey that people thought was blood and it turned out to be ketchup from a cheesesteak he ate at halftime... is that remotely true?

Ashley Fox:

Thanks, Noonen. I'll check that one out.

Mike:

Poor field position once again. Without Westbrook this team goes nowhere. Unfortunately for McNabb the team can go somewhere without him, it has shown it in the past.

Ashley Fox:

I agree, Mike. The Eagles are a totally different team without 36. He's their Rollins.

Gotean:

Are the Eagles only a hair away like Andy says?

Ashley Fox:

If the hair is the length of the NJTP, then yes.

Winston:

Look on the bright side … Reno looked good.

Ashley Fox:

Thanks, Winston, for bringing a half-full glass to the table.

Wally:

Why the heck didn’t they give that guy help? Were any coaches watching the game? Looks like they were punishing him for something he did wrong. If I had watched the game I could have seen that that poor guy needed help.

Ashley Fox:

That's a good question, Wally. You had to feel bad watching Justice get obliterated from every angle.

Teecha:

Guess we all know who the best coach in town is go Charlie!

Ashley Fox:

Again, never thought I'd hear that on Oct. 1. Unbelievable. I've watched the YouTube clip of the final inning about seven times this morning.

Jose:

LOL NJTP Funny, you got it all! Will the Eagles make the playoffs?

Ashley Fox:

I'm saying no. They might make a post-bye week run, but I doubt it. Their schedule has not been that tough, and they're 1-3. What happens when they see the Patriots? Or the Cowboys?

Jon Ruffin:

As much of a spark that Westbrook is to the team, the running game didn't really look all that bad yesterday. Buck went over 100 yards on only 17 carries. Again, it falls into the lap of Reid. He ran away from the run and put McNabb in a position to look nothing but bad.

Ashley Fox:

I agree, Jon. Buck did a fine job last night. Really ran hard. But Westbrook is such a weapon, and a good pass blocker. He makes a huge difference all the way around.

Potsie:

If what we saw from the eagles against the lions a result of their poor defense or are the eagles not living up to their potential?

Ashley Fox:

That was a question I was asking a lot last night. Is this team the one that crushed the Lions, or the one we saw last night? The Giants D coming in had horrible numbers, and they couldn't get anything done. The Lions, as we all saw, couldn't have tackled me at the Linc. So...

Zambo:

while i agree that not leaving Tapeh to chip Osi and help Justice I wonder if Reid believed the plays called should have worked and chose to be stubborn about it. here is my thinking...do you remember a few years ago when Strahan just owned Runyan and it was Runyan's low point ever? He responded brilliantly and has owned him since. Any chance that Reid wanted to test Justice and force him to a low low low point? I have to believe that was the reasoning.

Ashley Fox:

And cost the Eagles the game? No, I don't think that's what Andy was trying to do.

TiredofAR:

I think the iggles are out of playoff contention. do you?

Ashley Fox:

Yes I do, Tired.

T.O.OOO:

The running game did get over 100 yards BUT there was no threat of westbrook out of the back field to catch the ball screens etc. Westbrook not being there, poor coaching, and poor inaccurate passing once again killed the eagles!

Ashley Fox:

Pretty much, 81. Thanks for checking in.

Matt:

What are you kidding Zumbo? Why test a 2nd year rookie in that situation when you need WINS unless you hate your QB!

Ashley Fox:

Right.

Jerry:

Everything points back to Andy. His head is not in the game! From his poor evaluation of players causing him to bring back Reno Mahe to his lack of game day adjustments causing Justice and the offensive line to look terrible. What are Marty Morneigwig's credentials? Bye Bye Andy and take your other coaches with you.

Ashley Fox:

There have been a lot of missteps this season, to be sure.

Zambo:

of course Ashley i wouldn't think they would test Justice to cost them the game but what the *bleep*? that is the ONLY explanation I can come up with. I think that thinking in coordination with the arrogance in play calling is the only real explanation. makes me sick.

Ashley Fox:

I hear you, Zambo. You're frustrated. You should be. Hang in.

T.OOOO:

Your welcome, luv your chat and our record.

Ashley Fox:

I hear that.

Keith:

Mitch Williams looked hot yesterday!

Ashley Fox:

Oh dear.

Jon Ruffin:

If you hadn't noticed, I like McNabb So I'll say this: There was two passes I think McNabb wishes he could have back. The one into the dirt to Kurtis in the first half and the slightly late pass to Brown in the endzone. Even the latter one is iffy, since he was running for his life. Other than that, he either was getting smacked in the mouth or the receivers were inexplicibly dropping the ball. Sometimes McNabb does choke, but it wasn't this Sunday.

Ashley Fox:

I agree, Jon. He had no time back there, and he was running for safety almost every down. And his security blanket, No. 36, was not there to check down to.

frankb:

It was so bad I had to go to a movie. How could reid be so immune to what was going on. forget about McNabb's feelings. time to put in a more mobile Quarterback, Kolb, and see what happens. it couldn't be any worse. andy is operating with a heavy load on his mind (the boys) but you absolutely have to make some changes when the game is getting out of hand. seems like he's lost it.

Ashley Fox:

I don't think making a QB switch is the answer at all.

Benie:

Yeah put Kolb in there so he can eat grass. I wouldn’t put Joe Montana in there the way the o line was playing.

Ashley Fox:

Exactly.

Yard:

Eagles will make the playoffs once Westbrook gets back?

Ashley Fox:

Yard, love the optimism, I just don't share it.

Benie:

Is Kevin Curtis the real deal or not?

Ashley Fox:

Jury is still out.

Yard:

That’s fine but nobody shared it when I said the Phils will win the division or when I picked the winning BIG 4 but a division title and $10,000 later I look good and now all the eagles fans jumped over to my phils.

Ashley Fox:

I hear you, Yard. Keep thinking positive thoughts.

Jim:

coach Reed seems not himself, perhaps family issues on his mind. He will retire regardless of what the Eagles do this year. Next coach will be the Big Tuna.

Ashley Fox:

Wow, that'd be something.

Patsie:

Go EAGLES WE STILL LUV YOU!

Jon:

I always take a lot of grief being an Eagles fan in North NJ, but this is the first time I've been embarrassed to be a fan. Will AR ever publicly challenge his players to elevate their level of play?

Ashley Fox:

Doubt it. That's not his style. He keeps everything in-house.

Ted:

On a bright note Correll played a good game good for him luv to see it.

Ashley Fox:

It's always good to see Buck do well. That kid went through a lot and kept at it. You have to love that.

Ashley Fox:

All right, everybody. Sorry to cut it short, but I've got to get down to the NovaCare Complex for AR's press conference. Not expecting to hear much, but we'll see. Have a good week, and enjoy the baseball. I'll be back on Monday.