Domowitch's Eagles-Saints report card
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Domowitch's Eagles-Saints report card
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
RUSH OFFENSE
Forced to play run-and-shoot with the Saints, the Eagles ran the ball just 21 times for 85 yards. Forty-five of those yards came on seven runs out of the Wildcat formation. Just three of Brian Westbrook’s 13 rushing attempts went for more than 5 yards. Grade: C-plus
PASS OFFENSE
Kevin Kolb threw three interceptions, but two of them came in end-of-the-game desperation. The killer was the first one early in the second half when Saints linebacker Scott Shanle picked off his sideline throw for DeSean Jackson with the Eagles down only 11. It set up a short Saints scoring drive. Grade: C-plus
RUN DEFENSE
The Eagles gave up 133 rushing yards, including 47 on an early-fourth-quarter Saints scoring drive that ended any hopes of a comeback. Two of the defense’s surest tacklers – strong safety Quintin Mikell and cornerback Sheldon Brown – whiffed on Reggie’s Bush’s 19-yard cutback run for a TD. Grade: C-minus
PASS DEFENSE
The Eagles had no answers for Drew Brees, who threw for 311 yards and three TDs. They couldn’t get pressure on him because of his uncanny ability to get the ball out quickly, and their inconsistent tackling gave the Saints’ receivers too many yards after the catch. Brees was 9-for-11 for 131 yards on third down. Grade: D
SPECIAL TEAMS
Aside from a 63-yard kickoff return by Ellis Hobbs and a 61-yard punt by Sav Rocca, special teams were a disaster. Every time they stepped on the field, they seemed to commit a penalty. And Hobbs’ fumbled kickoff return to open the second half was a backbreaker. Grade: F
OVERALL
Turnovers, special-teams penalties and too many missed tackles on defense cost the Eagles any hope of getting off to a 2-0 start. Grade: D
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To read our post about Kevin Kolb's day, click here.
To read Andy Reid's take on the loss and a Brian Westbrook update, click here
To read Les Bowen's report on the game as it happened, click here
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don't worry folks, we'll bounce back. donny mac will get healthy and we have four soft games coming up...the birds will bounce back— chainsawpaul- Comment removed.
- Special teams are anything but special.— NJBites
- There needs to be a category for coaching. Reid and McDermott's fingerprints were very visible on this loss.— p-diddy
- I say we get rid of Andy Reid and bring in Tony Dungy. Dungy is a real winner.
- no excuses - the birds got beat...but there were some horrible calls (missed calls) at key times. Don't like the gadget plays, but I bet they are setting up something special. We are a Nov/Dec team...the Cowgirls win early in the season....we get better as the amount of film grows...— ziggy
- Once again we got to see inconsistent play by the defense. Why did they even take the field today? Embarassing!— dc723
- No. Desean deserves and F too. He set up that sequence at the end of the first half by fielding the punt inside the 10, and then got stuffed.— SeanB
- dont forget about the non call holding play right before that 2nd quarter td on bush's catch...and the same guy held on the non fumble that was challenged in the 3rd— RZA1217
the defense was wrong. against Brees, you have to play coverage and hope to get enough pressure from the 4 down linemen.- Best Roster in the NFL Joe...by the way, how's Dawk doing in Denver? 13 total points given up by the Broncos in 2 weeks. Weren't they one of the worst defenses in the league last year Joe? Dawk 17 tackles, 1 fumble recovery. Macho Harris 5 tackles. Oh, and Dawk's hand is broken too. Speaks for itself.— Dean1
- Comment removed.
- If we were to get rid of AR (which I wouldn't) - I would rather have Chucky or Cowher.— Bobphxville
