Posted: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 9:24 AM | 112 comments |
 

Eagles lacking star power
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Criticizing the play-calling is this city's guilty pleasure, like watching "Cheaters" or "Blind Date." But even on days like last Sunday, when it seems as if Roger Lodge is calling the plays in the second half, that isn't the Eagles' real problem.

That would be personnel.

That would be a lack of star players.

I'm just going to run these numbers down in no particular order. They're just numbers, and they don't tell the entire story, and that is all true. But as a quick-and-dirty measure of stars, or identifying the players the other team might be really, really worried about, it offers some suggestions.

The quarterback, Donovan McNabb, is 16th in the NFL in quarterback rating, 16th out of 32 starters, smack in the middle. He is 18th in completion percentage, 19th in yards per pass attempt.

The running back, Brian Westbrook, is 13th in the NFL in rushing attempts per game (16.9) and 15th in yards per game (68.2) and yards per attempt (4.0). Westbrook actually has one more carry this season than the Giants' Brandon Jacobs in the same number of games played but he is averaging a full yard less per carry. Injuries, whatever -- those are the numbers.

The top wide receiver, rookie DeSean Jackson, has 60 catches -- which is 26th in the NFL among wide receivers. Injuries and et cetera have hurt the Eagles' receivers this year, but that's the ranking of their best guy, 26th.

Tight end? With 37 catches, L.J. Smith is 20th in the league. And, you know, it's a good thing they don't rank these guys by blocking ability.

Defensive line? Trent Cole and Darren Howard each have nine sacks, 13th in the NFL, and have had fine years. But 13th is 13th -- and, combined, they have fewer sacks than the Cowboys' Demarcus Ware.

Defensive back? Asante Samuel leads with four interceptions. That's the 12th highest total in the NFL among defensive backs.

Again, while there is often an explanation, the result is the result. They have talent but little scary talent. They have guys who concern the other teams' coaches but don't keep them up at night. Westbrook is clearly the closest thing they have in that regard but he is perpetually dinged, it seems. And after that, well...

That is the issue here.
Posted by Rich Hofmann @ 9:24 AM  Permalink | 112 comments
112
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  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:22 AM, 12/23/2008
    Individual stars don't win games, teams do. This team isn't lacking star power, its lacking ENTHUSIASM and a will to win. (EX: SEE B. DAWK). I am sure Jeff Garcia's stats weren't great either. But guess what? He played with confidence and a sense of urgency to win and look how far he went. The Eagles are lethargic.
    — phillyk
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:23 AM, 12/23/2008
    Rich, I dont have to read any further than the first few lines. Lack of star power? If you tell me that McNabb, Westbrook, Dawkins, Samuel, and our linebacking crew (to name a few) are not stars, then be sure to start packing your bags and join Andy Reid wherever he goes after this season. Winning Super Bowls is not about 'stars,' it's about leadership and a team playing as one unit (offense, defense, and special teams). See the New England Patriots and Florida Gator football and basketball (2006) as nice examples.
    — gatorbait
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:37 AM, 12/23/2008
    Here are some other numbers. 3rd in the league defensively in yards and 6th in points. That would be even better if they didn't give up 2 blocked field goals for touchdowns plus 2 interceptions returns for TD's and a kick off returned. Not to mention TD's set up by their offense like on Sunday when McNabb fumbled or when he fumbled against Cinncinatti. In baseball, they track pitcher's run support. If this Defense tracked point support by the Offense in their losses they could file a lawsuit. The same thing happened last year. The defense was at least playoff caliber but the offense sucked. If you are going to analyze this team start and end with the offense. The dysfunctional running game, bad play calling and a mediocre quarterback.
    — Gary L
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:42 AM, 12/23/2008
    Phillyk is right. TEAMS win games, and championships for that matter. Dallas has a roster full of stars... Look at them, they could be sitting at home with us. It is play calling and lack of enthusiasm. Only one person on the team was pumped up during the 2nd half. To tell you the truth, thats what happens when the players dont believe in the plays being called. Stats dont mean anything. Andre Johnson is the best receiver in the nfl, his team sucks. Calvin Johnson... check the stats, still without a win. Drew Brees...etc.
    — sandiego20
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:47 AM, 12/23/2008
    We dont need stars. Its all the coaching and the bad play calling and it seems like every opponents know what they are going to do next. Their plays are easily predictable and they dropped too many passes this year. I am not satisfied with Kevin Kolb since he made too many mistakes and I dont think hes the right guy for the team. They need like maybe 2 or 3 playmakers. I think Andy Reid has alot in his mind with his two boys in jail which isnt good. I am the father of five, and if any of my kids are in jail, my mind wouldnt be working right. Andy needs to be on a sabbatical leave until his boys get out of jail. Its the only way. Hes also having too much power controlling over the team which isnt good.
    — daddyadamson
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:58 AM, 12/23/2008
    Reid has to go, HE IS USELESS....
    — kacie
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:02 AM, 12/23/2008
    This is without a doubt one of the worst articles ever written! Who pays you???
    — eagles2010
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:04 AM, 12/23/2008
    Daddyadamson makes a point that I am surprised none of the columnists/talking heads on Comcast has made at least since the season started. The stuff with Reid's kids has clearly affected his thinking. While the issues are the same (too much passing, clock management, etc.) they have been more severe this year, which probably cost the Eagles 2-3 games. That's the difference in making and not making the playoffs. Reid probably should have taken a year off or relinquished some duties and gotten his head together.
    — nellar
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:06 AM, 12/23/2008
    This off season will be very telling. Does Lurie continue on with Reid and make no changes, or will he tweak what they already have? Having missed the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years, I think it calls more more drastic moves. If the Eagles continue to languish, and the Phillies win another championship, could Philadelphia become a baseball town again?
    — chasing history
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:08 AM, 12/23/2008
    This is simple..... you can say its star power but it all goes together..... If Andy balances out... then the wr's get open... then the passes get caught....then #5"s numbers go up. Wow, that was hard.... but really..... we need alot of help. This is a good team who has a few weeknesses. A new Coach will help this big time. We need to get another WR on the other side of Jackson, move Kevin to the slot, bring in a real life NFL FB, fix the prob on the line, get a TE who wants to block. It sounds like a lot but i dont think it would be that hard.
    — stevo8drum
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:11 AM, 12/23/2008
    We have two first round picks this year and a fairly high second rounder. A smashmouth, every-down RB, to complement BW, should be taken with first pick. A big, strong, good hands,blocking-capable TE (Brandon Pettigrew, e.g.,) with second first round pick. Big OL with second round pick. Then we will have plugged some obvious holes. But someone other than AR will need to make those picks. Otherwise, who knows what nonsense we'll end up with. Personally, as I have said in the past, AR simply stopped evolving as a coach after the SB loss. It is time for him to resign or be fired. Otherwise, the Eags will be mired in mediocrity for the near future.
    — ArizonaMike


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About Rich Hofmann
Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest. Rich has blogged the postseasons of the Flyers and Eagles. E-mail Rich at hofmanr@phillynews.com

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