Eagles lacking star power
The Eagles' problem is personnel.
Eagles lacking star power
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
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.
I'm so tired of McNabb and company. Dropped passes, passes in the dirt or too high constantly, or throwing short passes 800 miles per hour bouncing off receivers or through their hands. Maybe they need catcher's mitts? Where's the touch pass, Donny? But at least the Eagles are consistent. Repeat after me- three and out, three and out, three and out. Also, I'm so sick of the desparate no-time-left, stumbling-down-the-field possessions reprised at the end of the Redskins game. It is so pathetic to see them waste timeouts, run time off the clock uselessly (where's the play, Capt'n Andy?), and then fail miserably in a vain attempt to score. I can't stand watching ESPN's SportsCenter and seeing efficient teams win games while the Eagles highlights are just stumbin', fumblin' Three Stooges routines.— carnivor52- You and the front office want to blame the player execution and not the coaching, but this team has enough talent and Reid's ego wasted it. That's why fans are so angry. Good coaching factors-in imperfect execution. Andy is a very good coach but with "I have to be right" complex. His pass philosophy is fundamentally flawed. The West Coast offense was never meant to be 80% passing. Reid puts too much emphasis on out-smarting the other team with HIS scheme-based passing play calls. When the Eagles win with his philosophy, all that's doing is masking the fact that his passing philosophy makes the team more erratic and less likely to win-it-all (unless the Eagles have an overwhelming talent advantage like in 2004). The same problems with clock management, 2-minute drill, and player management show up over and over again. Those issues are coaching issues, not talent or star power.— AjayS
- KC wasn't giving up Gonzolez and Williams is a nice player but not a #1. The draft picks are going to be O-lineman and perhaps a 3-down D End. if one is available where they draft. You might even see the Birds trade up this year, but if they do I'll bet they grab a lineman. It's not sexy, but it's probably the right thing to do in the long run. For the skill positions, as much as I hate to say it, they're going to have to get lucky again like they did with Westbrook. Let's just hope they don't draft LJ Smith over Jason Whitten again.— mfsaint
- ArizonaMike, you available to coach? Agreed with everything you said. With those moves and this defense, we could actually do some damage next year. Who cares how many "stars" you have? The Pats didn't need a bunch of "stars".— mickeyb4boyle
- Another classic Hofmann micro-analysis of the situation. Rich, you have a problem in that you focus on the individual numbers and not on the relationship/context of these numbers. Why are their "star" rankings so low? Why has Westbrook dropped to 13th when he has the capability to be top 5 (as he has proven before)? Could it be that the playcalling is holding him back? Could it be that AR is actually right when he says he's not putting players into a position to succeed? Look beyond individual stat numbers Rich and try to understand why they got that way. It's called "thinking." I now know the value of a UPenn education.— hairball
Comment removed.- how long did that take you to figure that out! what do you people do mail in your articles? They have not had talent since T O and before that back in the early 60's— losteagle
- Rich, I think in fairness we, your readers, know that every column won't be a gem. But sometimes it's evident to us that you're stealing money from your employer. Perhaps you might consider farming out a column or two a week to one of your more thoughtful and coherent readers? Gordy, phillyk ... there are a few of them. Just a thought.
- Comment removed.
- The fact of the matter is that any team that lacks the players that can put the team on their shoulders and carry them for a few games is not going to win unless they as a team execute perfectly every play. Lombardi's teams executed perfectly. This team does not. And they have been lacking a star player for McNabb's entire career sans the one year T.O. contributed. This has always been the Eagles problem and because of the age of the O-Line, they are running out of time. They definitely need to pick up at least one offensive tackle in the draft to replace Runyan/Thomas when they retire and they need a playmaking tight end. Tony Hunt can be a bruising running back if they ran enough, but they don't so he really can't have an impact. If you think that they don't need a star you are silly and relying on old-timer football. Their defense is so good because of the star power they have. Their offense is so pedestrian because all they have Westbrook and McNabb (whose star is falling further every day). Jackson is fast but he doesn't have the size to be anything but a great slot receiver. If he gained some mass and experience he can become a Wes Welker, but will never ever be a Randy Moss. It is no coincidence that the Eagles haven't been the dominant team since T.O. left. If the Eagles have any intention of winning the Super Bowl they must get a dominating WR (which will not happen because No. 1 WR's are very, very rare). A TE would raise their Red Zone TD percentage greatly though.— Primadonna
- have to say....LenDale White would sure look good in Eagles green....but i guess Winston Justice was just too good to pass up. the Eagles are and will be until Reid and Banner are gone, the worst drafters of all time. We have major situations that must be addressed at this draft. I think number 1 is our OT's are way too old and we have nothing in the way of young talent at that position to move in once big John and Tre are done. Number 2 we NEED a smashmouth back, it's that simple. Westbrook is a tremendous talent but he simply cannot run b/w the tackles with any regularity. Sure he'll break a few into the 2nd level, but only when there is a good block ahead or when he tucks behind a big lineman and the LB's lose sight of him. 3rd and in my opinon LEAST important. A big body receiver that can manhandle CB's and catch and run. No need to draft anymore LB's or CB's that will just end up on special teams. And i agree 100% with AZ Mike regarding AR. He has never been the same since the SB loss and the family issues. The organization needs a shake-up and moving McNabb isn't the answer. Kolb is awful and clearly not NFL ready. Time for Andy and Banner to fade into the sunset. Thanks for the memories, all good things have to come to an end at some point. We've reached that point.— cheesesteak17
- Yes !!!! and they traded out of the first round the last two years.— ronre
- Whether you want to blame play calling, offensive philosophy, or personel, all roads lead back to the tubby jumpsuit.— Blankman
- I m with you gordy— joroho68
- Comment removed.
