Eagles' backup plan?
The Eagles have no options now, it appears.
Eagles' backup plan?
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
The last time McNabb had a game as bad as Sunday's four-turnover game in Cincinnati was in 2003. It was the second game of the season against the New England Patriots, a complete disaster. The Eagles were 0-2 and reeling. The quarterback was playing terrible football. Then as now, everybody said there was no physical problem. It was just happening, inexplicably.
Reid's response back then was the three-headed monster running game featuring Duce Staley, Correll Buckhalter and Brian Westbrook. Even though he never really admitted it out loud, Reid changed his play-calling somewhere between subtly and noticeably. He ran it more, called a more traditional game, leaned on other people. And it's funny -- even though McNabb stabilized some, he was never really great in 2003. But the Eagles made it to another NFC Championship Game because they were able to take an alternate approach.
This year, there is no obvious backup plan. I have said it before and will say it again: that is Reid's failing here, this lack of a fallback plan in so many areas. But this one stands out. It is hard to believe they could even think about shifting to a more run-oriented offense at this point, not with the short-yardage problems the team has had, not with Westbrook looking as beat up as he often looks, not as long as they continue to pretend that there has been Federal legislation enacted that makes it illegal for Buckhalter to touch the ball more than twice a game.
They appear to be stuck here.
Oh, you've noticed?
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the team looks depressed, AR surely is . the freakin PRESS IS DEPRESSING!! why are the comments better than the articles? everyone is asking the same ?'s over and over and over and there is not 1 sports writer who has any answers from Andy Reid. what are they too scared of getting black balled or something? whats with all these puzzy sports writers NOT HOLDING GM or coach FatAndy accountable?? would someone please call the owner at home or catch him doing pushups in his frontyard for some anwers. MAn YOU PRESS ARE GETTING very successfully stuffed by the eagles!! all the RICH eployess of the eagles are laughing at us poor hardworking regular folk, all the way tot he frikkin bank!! BOYCOTT THE LINK people / maybe they'll get the message!! they dont care they are wasting our time / so lets not.— daveH
The sad thing is.. we'll get rid of McNabb - and he'll have a more complimentary offense - with a real running game and real WR's and flourish. And we'll still have Andy Reid, as the genius coach and GM. Philly fans deserve better than to just be a money pipeline for Lurie.— AllDawk_AllTheTime- If you look at the past draft, in all likelihood this team could have drafted both Jackson (2nd) AND Felix Jones or Chris Johnson ... of course that would have been at the expense of Trevor Laws and the 1st Rd. pick we got from Carolina. Instead we try to do it on the cheap, re. Lorenzo Booker. Gotta believe that Lurie is now so thoroughly embarrassed with this team that he will cut loose Reid at the end of the season. Hope that's not wishful thinking.
- the majority of this diaster season is the playcalling/clock management, NOT the players...36 is still hurt..so why dont we use buck alot more? its called diversity...look at the giants..3 solid RBs on that team and they TORCHED the ravens on the ground (they are ranked in the top 3 against the rush this yr), and they run for close to 200 yds on them, yet we cant run at all on the bungles...the gameplan should have been to run the ball down their throats...i cant stand shotgun formation on EVERY 1st down, then run it to get 2 yards and ALWAYS stuck at 3rd and long...its so predicatable after 1st down, it will NEVER work...why do fans know how to properly call games, yet coaches making millions cant?!?!?! its not that difficult...every good/well-baalanced team in the NFL does this approach and wins...but you cant blame #5..yes hes made mistakes, all QBs do...eli is a terrible QB, but he is a SB champion...when your WR cant catch passes, and your coaches call bone-headed plays 90% of the time..your going to suck..the biggest playmaker this yr has been desean..and they throw to him 3-4 times a game now...its a joke..— hud1519
- I just continue to scratch my head with this team. Remember back in the day, the Eagles would throw deep within one of the first 5 plays or so. Call me crazy but since Donovan has overthrown receivers early in games, why not let him air one out very early to try and loosen up; maybe it may even work... The eagles right now are so predictable and teams can throw 8 in the box because if they run, you can stop it and if you pass, the routes run will only be 10 yards maximum so they can be covered. Run Curtis and Jackson on fly patterns and let it go. At least that will address one of the many problems with this offense.— rvb2321
- Hey everyone, cheer up! All we need is for Cap'n Andy to "put our guys in a better position to win". Then everything will be great!
- Reid does not help McNabb at all, but McNabb looks pathetic. Reid and McNabb are becoming a topic for national ridicule. Uye Uye.— Rob Cherry
- Rich, Reid flat out doesn't want to run the ball. Maybe he is acting out a fantasy through McNabb and passing the ball. Speaking of ESPN, Colin Cowturd suggests its not McNabb's responsibility to know about the one overtime rule. Is that upsurd? What's more upsurd is Andy didn't know either.— GANick
- The Eagles have had good seasons for many years. what goes up must come down and the Team has to focus once again on building from the ground up. stop tying to plugs leaks in this team full of holes thinking that this team is only a player or two from a Supper Bowl.— Throbo
- Lets face facts, the same guy who was the best QB in the NFC East most of the decade is now the worst QB in the NFC East. He will end up with the least amount of rushing yards, even behind Eli Manning.— The Beast
- The scary part about "rebuilding" this offseason? Andy Reid will be in charge of doing it.— Snake
- We've got a West Coast offense without a legit fullback or tight end. Stupid!— p-diddy
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- Jeff Garcia won again yesterday. O-line, please protect DMac for six more games. We need a high draft choice from Chicago/Minn. for him.— ItalianSausage
