Vick update; trying times for Eagles' defense
The Eagles' coordnators were at the podium today. Here is a sampling of what they had to say:
Vick update; trying times for Eagles' defense
Les Bowen and DN staff
The Eagles' coordnators were at the podium today. Here is a sampling of what they had to say:
* Defensive coordinator Juan Castillo conceded these are trying times with the Eagles struggling. Castillo mounted an impassioned defense of Eagles coach Andy Reid, after being asked how he felt, with Reid's job security being called into question, partly because of the gamble he took in promoting Castillo.
Castillo said: "In life, you work hard, and you work hard, and you outwork people. And usually when you do that, good things end up happening, sometimes later than sooner. But if you just outwork people, and do things the right way, like coach Reid has done here, and the way he he's taught me, which is work hard, believe in all your players, never talk about your players, coaching fundamentals, and you know what? Nine out of 12 years going to the playoffs is not a bad thing. It's not over yet. We're working our ass off. The players are doing it. The coaches are doing it. You talk about coach Reid -- let me tell you, that man works 20, 21 hours a day. Sometimes 22 hours a day. That's what we're all doing now, to try to get this going ... The fans don't like it, the organization don't like where we're at, but more than anything, we don't like where we're at. Our players don't like it.
"Do they have character? Yeah, we have character ... We're going on things we've done, we've had exeprience, we'd have success with doing ... We believe in what we are doing.
* Addressing the problem in fourth quarters, Castillo said the players are working hard and you have to believe that things will change. He said these are tests on how strong your faith is. He said third downs were the critical issue late in the game against Arizona.
* Castillo said you have to credit Larry Fitzgerald for some of the great catches that he made. Castillo said some of them came in double coverage, there were some tipped balls.
* Castillo also pointed out that the defense has scored a touchdown in each of the last two games.
* He said the Giants are going downfield with their passing game more often than they were early in the season. Castillo saw this as a function of increased confidence.
* Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said he knew Michael Vick was hurting a little bit against the Cardinals on Sunday. He said he did not know it was broken ribs, but it certainly did help explain a few things once he learned of the injury.
* Mornhinweg said Vick will not have to practice to play Sunday. He said he remains optimistic that Vick can play and called him a "tough man." He said he knew Vick was doing everything he possibly could to try to be ready to play.
* He pointed out that with five drops the Eagles' offense did not help Vick very much.
* On the progress of Vince Young, if Vick can't play, he said, "[He's grown] in leaps and bounds. He came in without any type of offseason at all and with a little bit shorter camp. He’s been working hard both on and off the field and in the classroom. [Quarterbacks coach] Doug Pederson has been doing a great job and has great confidence in Vince. I think he’ll play well.”
* Mornhinweg said the Eagles could have given the ball more to LeSean McCoy, but he said there were some one-on-one opportunities in the passing game that the Eagles did not take advantage of.
* Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (hamstring, shoulder) did not participate in the walkthrough, although Mornhinweg described him as a fast healer. Riley Cooper would get the playing time if Maclin did not play. Obviously, since the Eagles promoted Chad Hall from the practice squad, Hall could be active.
* Mornhinweg said it was a good possibility that left guard Evan Mathis (turf toe) would be able to play this week.
* Mornhinweg discounted the impact of Kevin Kolb calling out plays, saying it had absolutely no effect and disputed the idea that Kolb had any idea what the Eagles were doing.
* He said the Giants are quite possibly the best pass rushers in the NFL.
* Special teams coordinator Bobby April said Hall, elevated yesterday from the practice squad, will also be a returner, playing behind Dion Lewis on kickoffs and DeSean Jackson on punts. But April said those decisions are up to head coach Andy Reid.
- That's BS. Twenty-two point two (22.2) points, the Eagles average over nine games, ought to be enough to win any game. You can't pin all of these losses on the offense since in all instances, it was the DEFENSE that was on the field when the opposing teams surged ahead. The fault lies where every one and his brother have pointed all along, with Reid and his front office cohorts who should have anticipated that, in order to be competitive, you have to have DEFENSIVE balance as well s OFFENSIVE balance and if this means BIG, STRONG, FAST, TOUGH, SMART defensive players (WITH high motors) then that would have been prudent. No way they can expect to be in the lead EVERY time. The other team gets paid to score too. Their defense should have been designed to stop the run as well as the pass. It's absurd to think a team can depend on stopping passing plays only which, by the way, they haven't done a very good job of that either. No, the blame for this entire fiasco rest entirely on the ample shoulders of Andy Reid as Head Coach and Vice-President of Player Personnel.
— essell - what defense— phillyfan52
- Carlos; You are right, the blame goes to Michale Vick and the OFFENSE.
Vick has been outplayed in head to head games this season by a lot of quarterbacks. The following quarterbacks have all outplayed Vick in Eagles games....Eli Manning( Giants), Alex Smith (San Fran), Matt Ryan (Atlanta), Jay Cutler (Bears) and stinkin' backup John Skelton (Cards)....have ALL outplayed the $100 million Michale Vick...Ouch!— frank105 - The more Juan Castillo preaches about "hard work ...hard work ...hard work" the more I can't stand this guy. Whatever you're doing with all your hard work ISN'T working. Hard work DOES NOT mean you're being productive. And obviously this is the case with Juan. Sorry man, but you're an offensive line coach and the absolute perfect example of The Peter Principle, you will rise to the highest level of competence, when, really, you eschew what you're good at, which for Juan is coaching offensive linemen. Quit it, Juan, with the hard work mantra. It ain't fooling no one.— misterhman
- Lemme see......would I throw the guy that got me this job under the bus? Tipped balls? I guess they dont do the catch and tip drill anymore. Work hard Juan? Play them to their strengths not their weakness' Your scheme is not working.....You play to win the game......HELLOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!— NC Eagle Fan
- Have to give Juan some credit, you could tell by the look in his eyes he wanted to punch the guy out that asked that question, but he kept it professional and still got his point across.— drbob1
- Anybody up for pitchers and catchers?— M60tanker
- Hey Carlos2 and Let's Eat, The offence has put up the numbers. Why are we talking about LOSING in the fourth quarter. DEFENSE! THE EAGLES HAVE HAD A DEFENSIVE PROBLEM since J.J. DIED. There is a reason it is called DEFENSE.— jim10350
- Sorry bub. Your offense needs to be able to consistently put up more than two TDs to win in today's NFL. The Eagles' offense has only been able to accomplish that three times in 9 games. That's not very good. — jtj06
- That moron should be more worried about who will hire him after this season because is sure to be FIRED!— citysims
- A sinking ship's rhetoric.— peacefrog33756
- The only thing Andy is going to get better at is eating. When does this guy have time to eat if he works 22 hours a day?— peacefrog33756
- One thing you learn as you age: It's not about working hard, it's about working smart. I'm not knocking hard work but you also have to have the right people in the right position, utilizing everyone's skills to the best possible extent. Making the coach of a mediocre offensive line the defensive coordinator doesn't fit that description. A lot of the hard work is unnecessary hard work created by putting people in the wrong positions.
Then to have perhaps the worst coordinator in the entire league lobbying for the head coach ... there's a key endorsement, eh? Only it probably works with this front office.
— s - Hey Jeffrey it's time to clean house!!!— seeker58
- Why try to blame offense over defense or vice verse. The problems are with both. That's why we're in last place.
— coachblake45
