Andy bashers take a holiday
Andy Reid's day in Minneapolis was typical.
Andy bashers take a holiday
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
At the point where Westbrook caught the 71-yard screen pass for a touchdown, the Eagles has called about 68 percent passes and 32 percent runs. When they are losing, these are the kinds of numbers that get Reid barbecued. It is only a few play calls away from the sainted concept of balance, but people here insist that those play calls are the holy grail. Well, he wasn't balanced yesterday. So why aren't the Balance Police out in force?
Because it was never about the play-calling, except in the most extreme cases. It is about the players. Most of all,this was about a defense that tightened up at halftime and smothered Minnesota. On the other side of the ball, it was about Eagles receivers holding on to the ball and, especially, it was about Donovan McNabb delivering the ball under pressure. He did turn it over twice, and that can get you beat against a better offensive team, but McNabb played a tough game and absorbed a lot of punishment and functioned well overall.
It is the players, not the play-calls.
Comments (101)
Lonewolf, you know this how? A stupid call especially when he had the field wide open (to run) to continue the drive, not give the ball back to Minn....keep drives going....keep your D off the field, that's what wins games. Juggs you are so right on every count. Rich, read Juggs' take on things, then you'll get it. Nate, you're right too....— Mark1npt- Why isn't Buckhalter getting the ball??!!!!— TempleKev
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- As others have noted, the play at the end of the first half was dumb and classic Andy Reid. Reid's done a good job most of these last few weeks and more importantly the players have played well but I don't have much faith in this team winning a game in the last two minutes.— mattggotu
- You're wrong Rich. Everyone knew before the Vikings game started that this was going to be the perfect case study in support of Reid's pass-happy ways. Even so, the Eagles won because they were the more experienced and talented team at key positions (i.e. quarterback and defensive secondary)--not because an unbalanced offense is the right philosophy to win your way through the playoffs. Passing relies on a higher level of player execution to be successful and can be more erratic. Football isn't chess, but in today's NFL game when two teams have close to equal talent...preparation, day-game coaching, and play calling matters a lot--almost as much as player execution. When NFL defenses know your tendancies it makes a talented offense (or a talented player/quarterback) look bad and the defense gets worn out. When the Eagles have lost this season, we've heard several times after the games that opposing players knew exactly what was coming. Moreover, there's a synergistic effect between a balanced offense/(ball-control), quarterback play, and defensive performance. Run the ball well and quarterbacks have an easier time doing their job. Run the ball well and defenses get rest. Even when running fails for most of the game, having the largest offensive line in football pushing on the other team, wears out that defense, keeps the defense honest, gives the offense at least a chance of making a critical 3rd and 1 late, and allows "surprises" like our rarely used screen to work. Its BOTH the play calls AND the players.— AjayS
- please, one of the reasons why the birds won is because Reid didn't abandon the run when it wasn't producing the results he wanted like so many time before. the issue wasnt truly about balance, but about reid abandoning the run, making our offense predictable, and allowing the defense to be pass mode for the whole game. good work reid, terrible column hoffman.— jaydlaw
- Mattgotu is right. Coughlin will eat Reid for breakfast in the last two minutes if the game is in doubt.— jreese
- Rich, Maybe you wanna take a look at who won in the playoffs this past weekend. Every team that won, even the Cardinals were pretty close to 50/50. The Eagles werent 50/50, but they were as close as they are going to get. They werent 65 pass/35 run like normal. And the griping is about when the pass is called instead of a run. And dont give me the screen pass is as good as a run. Have you seen McNabb throw the screen lately? You dont throw the ball on 3rd or 4th and 1. And if you also throw throw throw, what keeps the defense of balance? All they have to do is cover the pass. I thought you were a smarter football person than that. You are now coming off as Eskin's long lost brother and worship the Gods of Andy Reid.— Pat c
- My opinion about Andy remains the same:— chrissmith
- My opinion about Andy remains the same: GO HOME AND BE A FATHER FOR YOUR CHILDREN. They need you.— chrissmith
- Give Mr. Big credit for doing things the right way for a change. I'm more than a little surprised. I didn't think he had it in him.— ItalianSausage
Hows about the future Mrs Baskett...hubba hubba- A decent point -- it always comes down to players making plays. But can someone explain to me why the Eagles only ran 1 screen in the first 3 quarters, and I don't remember seeing any play-action? That seems strange ahen the MN defenders were coming hard after McNabb on every play. Better play calling will make this a better offense... until then I guess we'll see a lot of field goals.— NickEeee
Classifieds:
Site Services:
Partners:
Powered By:
