Sixteen straight passes?
What was Andy Reid thinking?
Sixteen straight passes?
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
You may have heard that I generally don't think this play-calling business, this Andy Reid penchant for throwing the ball, is that big a deal. Truth is, I like a pass-first offense. I think it's more productive. When Reid talks about "situational running," I don't laugh like a lot of people. I get it. I agree with it.
All of that said, I still cannot figure out what the hell he and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg were thinking when they called 16 straight passing plays between the middle of the third quarter and the last drive of the Eagles' 10-3 loss.
I'm not like most people around here. I don't think that play calling was the main reason the Eagles lost. Up until the middle of the third quarter, they ran it a representative number of times -- 61 percent passes, 39 percent runs -- for a reasonable-but-unspectacular number of yards (12 carries, 44 yards). But then the play-calling went completely off the rails.
Sixteen straight passes, most of which were thrown when the Eagles were trailing by seven points. It was too early just to give up on it, especially when you consider how much trouble they were having executing in the passing game. Between the dropped balls and the off-target throws, why not run? I have no particular confidence that it was going to work, but you had to give it a try.
Why give up on it?
Was it just the seemingly-genetic itch to throw that Reid and Mornhinweg seemingly have? Maybe it is as simple as that, but I don't know.
Was it the series of long fields the Eagles were facing and the concern that they would never see the ball again? That would seem overstated, given how well the defense has been playing.
Was it a worry that the offense, executing so badly, could not conceivably sustain a long, multi-play, ball-control kind of drive, and that it needed a big play? Reid did not say that but, again, it seems over-thought if that was the reason.
I don't get it. And while I think that both of DeSean Jackson's dropped passes, as well as Asante Samuel's dropped interception -- all in the fourth quarter -- were all bigger reasons for the defeat, the play-calling is on the list. It has to be. Even if, most weeks, it is more symbol than substance, the play-calling against the Redskins could not help but make you wonder.
Again Andy Reid abandons the run when there was no need to. Again Andy Reid calls a bad game. Again-Andy Reid has to put players in a better position to produce. Again Andy Reid does not manage the clock well. Again Andy Reid does a very poor job of making adjustments during the game. Again The Eagles lose a vary winnable game. Yes-there were some dropped passes and a missed interception that may have affected the outcome. However this loss lies completely at the feet of Andy Reid. On a cold very windy day that made it hard to throw and catch the football they call 7 pass plays out of every 10 play run. Brilliant!!! I think a high school coach could have called a better game than that.— #1 efan- It is amazing that Andy Reid cannot see that the landscape of the NFL has changed in the past 5 years. If you look at the top 4 teams in the league, they all have the same thing in common. The Titans, Giants, Panthers, and Steelers each have 2 running backs that compliment each other, they have great defensive lines that are hard to run on, they run the ball more then pass to keep pressure off their QB's. The Eagles are running a passing style offense that worked 5 years ago, but doesn't work now against good defenses. I don't buy the theory that the Eagles lost yesterday because they were disinterested, they lost because their offense is one dimensional and when a team jams their receivers, they can't get open, and the only legit threat is Brian Westbrook.— co
- jb99..." he just needs to do a better job putting guys in position to make plays. give him some time on that." What? Are you kidding me? Are you drinking the Kool-Aid or something? Andy takes the blame to deflate the emotion and outrage that needs to rain like hellfire on these guys. Put them in a position to make plays? Wasn't this one of those cliches related to Nuke form Crash on the team bus? What in the world does that actually MEAN? They couldn't BE more in position! They are in uniform ON the field! Passes are infinitely more catches when on the numbers and not the ankles. And starting a play two yards BEHIND the scrimmage line is flirting with disaster. And running routes one yard shy of where they need to be is just plain inept. Make room on the bench.— ptricky1111
Rich, you're just as clueless as Fat Andy. We'll win a meaningless game against Dallas and the Eagles front office will spin this as we just missed the playoffs and jack up the ticket prices. Someone must have mentioned big game and Fat Andy went into full choke mode. I refuse to care anymore about the Eagles.— bigcityballer- Poor passing by McNabb, dropped passes, blown take away chances by the defense, bad play calling and poor time management...the birds will now be watching the playoffs— jss31
- All of you "Reid needs to go folks", tell me who you are getting to replace him. I get as frustrated as the next person I think the problem is more execution by players that are overvalued than play calling or coaching. 2 minute drills are the domain of the QB, this one has and will never get it. Jackson drops two huge passes that hit him in the chest and hands were those Reids fault? Westbrook gets run down by Dangelo Hall who he had a five yard lead on and was at full sprint when he caught the ball. Is Reid wrong for having his best player out there at 90% or not puttng in a lesser player, what would you all do? I have two reasons Reid stays: Kotite and Rhodes, enough said! The Eagles have been in rebuilding mode for 3 years and are extremely close. The defense is back! Now with some tweaks on offense, shoring up the line, getting a TE that has a pair, and a fresh voice at QB they are set to start another 4-5 year run. Reid is not the problem, rebuilding an aging foundation is not easy while trying to maintain a level of excellence that fell time management and a puking QB shy of a Superbowl victory. Get a grip and look at the big picture.— rhcjr2
- Only 3 plays run off from 3:48 to2:00 in that last drive.Great clock management again ANDY.— k72m76
- Rich your dreaming. This team is a reflection of the Coach's philosophy. Notice Rich the top 4-6 teams are built on run first . The power running game is the trend.. Get with the program or get run over.. I feel sorry for Westbrook. It was obvious he was playing hurt. He's been expected to carry the load and he's just not built for it. When the Eagles can't run you can basically script the rest of the game to be dropped passes, hurried off target throws, and underneath stuff thats always 4-5 yard short of 1st down and the usual 3 and out stuff. I blame the enitre season entirely on Reid.— MJPD345
- I like pass-first offenses too, but even someone with the lowest football iq (Akili Smith???) knows that you have to run the friggin ball in December! I was frustrated by the playcalling all game. I thought in last week's win that Reid called a good game and the players' lack of execution accounted for the red zone turnovers. The blame has to go from the top down on the offensive side for this one.— jayheezy
Comment removed.- rich, when are u going to admit that a pass first, pass second, pass third offense won't work? when are you going to stop taking ar and mm seriously about their "situational running" junk--its just an excuse to bury the running game??? pass is certainly more effective than running at gaining yards but it has its downsides: one, it doesn't control the clock. two, it keeps your defense on the field a lot longer, espeically when its not working, three, it has higher risks, like turnovers and penalties, four, it is much more dependednt on one or two key plaeyers having a good game, like the qb and his top two recievers...— xatsmann
- Why does Reid never get seriously challenged by the Philly media? Is having access to the Eagles' brass that important not to upset the big guy? And what is going through the owner's mind to keep Andy around despite the lack of success since the super bowl year? Lurie doesn't see Reid's ridiculous penchant to throw the ball despite the bad results? Or he believes the baloney that Reid throws around and is blaming the QB?— makrom
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- Week 16 - 15 games, 30 teams. 17 teams passed over 50% of the time and only 6 teams won. 12 passed over 55% and only 3 teams won. 10 teams passed over 60% only two won. 6 teams passed over 65% and two won. The Eagles passed 74% of their plays. Indy and SanFran were the only two teams to win with over 60% passing. Payton Manning, of course. SanFran, a fluke so put it aside. Other than Payton no other quarterback won their game while passing more than 60% of the time. only 4 other quarterbacks won their games while passing more than 50% of the time. This is not McNabb's fault. Give him a productive balanced offense and stop expecting him to carry the offense. Kolb nor anyone else would be successful with our offensive plan.— byrdsfan
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