Archive: October, 2012
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
DeSean Jackson is quietly having his finest season in the NFL.
The breathtaking plays have been few and far between, but that hasn't necessarily been the fault of the Pro Bowl wide receiver. The Eagles offense has sputtered for most of the first six games, partly because of a banged up offensive line, mostly because of Michael Vick and the unit's 17 turnovers, and entirely because there hasn't been cohesion.
Jackson said that he thinks the offense is poised to turn things around Sunday when the Eagles host the 6-0 Falcons.
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Danny Watkins has a "chronic ankle" condition, Andy Reid said Friday, and the right guard was listed as doubtful for Sunday's game after he missed two days of practice.
"Danny has got kind of a chronic ankle and he's had it for years," Reid said. "He disturbed it in the last game and he thought it would be fine and it didn't work out. He came back Monday practice, Wednesday practiced and he just didn't feel right. So [we] backed him up and let the thing settle down and we'll see how he does tomorrow and on Sunday."
Reid was asked if Watkins' ankle has been chronic since the Eagles selected the then-26-year-old in the first round of the 2011 draft.
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
JEFF MCLANE
Record, 1-5.
Week 8: I fired my defensive prognosticator over the bye week. He worked hard, but didn’t quite get the late-week adjustments Vegas made to its betting lines. I put him in a bad position, but, heck, I wasn’t going to fire myself. I still have ten games to right this ship, though.
Picking the Eagles may sound like I’ve just dropped the anchor through the floor of the ship, but Andy Reid is 13-0 after the bye, he’s in desperation mode, and I think he’ll have his players ready to perform. The Falcons are undefeated, of course, and they’re solid across the board, but they’re ripe for the picking. Atlanta’s six opponents are a combined 13-24, giving the Falcons the easiest schedule in the NFL through seven weeks.
Philly.com Sports
Video: The Inquirer's Zach Berman reports from Thursday's Eagles practice at the NovaCare complex, where defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg met with reporters.
(Video by Samantha Corrado/Philly.com)
Philly.com Sports
CineSport's Brian Clark chats with The Inquirer's Jeff McLane and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter to preview Sunday's Eagles-Falcons matchup from both sides.
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Danny Watkins missed Thursday's practice with a sprained ankle, and his status for Sunday is uncertain.
"I gave him a breather today and then I'm just going to see from [trainer Rick Burkholder] how he does," coach Andy Reid said. "If I have to give him a breather tomorrow, I'll give him a breather tomorrow, and then we'll see where we go from there."
Rookie Dennis Kelly filled in during Wednesday's practice and will start if Watkins cannot play.
- Poll: Who will win Sunday's Eagles-Falcons game? (634 votes)
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Asante Samuel said that he expects to be greeted warmly when he returns to Lincoln Financial Field as a member of the Falcons on Sunday.
"They better cheer for me," Samuel said to reporters in Atlanta. "They're going to cheer for me or we're going to have a problem right there in Lincoln Financial [Field]. All you all fans, all I did for you all, you all better cheer for me. Deuce here. Got nothing but love for you all."
Samuel returns with the undefeated Falcons. It was pointed out to the cornerback during a four-minute interview the struggles the 3-3 Eagles have had on defense this season.
- Poll: Who will win Sunday's Eagles-Falcons game? (634 votes)
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Marty Mornhinweg's evaluation of his offense produced a simple solution: stop turning the ball over.
"Let me make myself very clear -- we have to play better in many instances," Mornhinweg said. "However, if we flip that turnover ratio, it takes care of an awful lot of things. That's the biggest key when we looked at everything with fine detail. When you make it simple, you flip the turnover ratio, you take care of an awful lot of things."
The Eagles have turned over the ball 17 times. Reid said he was going to evalute everything -- play-calling included -- but it sounds like Mornhinweg will still call plays and Michael Vick remains the quarterback.
- Poll: Who will win Sunday's Eagles-Falcons game? (634 votes)
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Going against the tide, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie came out in support of the recently-fired Juan Castillo.
While several players on defense have used Castillo’s ousting as an excuse to question his credentials or his late-game play-calling, Rodgers-Cromartie credited the former Eagles defensive coordinator with turning him into more of a press cornerback.
Rodgers-Cromartie defended Castillo, criticized some of his teammate’s finger-pointing and said that he didn't think the Eagles needed to make a change at defensive coordinator.
- Poll: Who will win Sunday's Eagles-Falcons game? (634 votes)
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Mark Nov. 27 down on your calendars.
On that date the Eagles will have to make a decision on whether to active Jason Peters to the 53-man roster or place the tackle on season-ending Injured Reserve. There are several steps that need to be taken before the Eagles get to that point, and Peters, of course, has a ways to go before he can even be considered healthy enough to return this season.
But a possible Peters return is a flicker of light for an Eagles team that could use any kind of spark.
