Eagles-Jags observations
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles-Jags observations
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Here are a few quick observations off the Eagles-Jaguars game that may have been lost in all the Vick hoopla:
DEFENSE
-- Having Trent Cole back makes a huge difference. The end was a disruptive force in the first quarter -- his lone 15 minutes of play. He could have had two sacks -- Eugene Monroe was called for holding after Cole burned him on the outside and Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard barely dumped an incomplete pass off before the Eagles' end dropped him.
-- Joe Mays is, unfortunately, going to be a work in progress. Early in the game he over-pursued on a screen pass and later on the Jags exploited the linebacker's over-aggressiveness with another screen. If you want a middle linebacker to stuff the run or straight out blitz, Mays is your man. But he has some learning to do when it comes to dropping into coverage. Mays did tip a Garrard pass in the first half.
-- Asante Samuel has arrived just in time for the season. The cornerback had an interception, nearly decapitated a wide receiver and gave the Eagles D some sass last night. Ellis Hobbs, filing in for the injured Sheldon Brown, also came out with a litte fire. He was downright awful last week against the Colts -- as was Samuel. But Hobbs, if anything, secured a spot on the team. He also had a nice kick return for 26 yards.
-- Quintin Demps has a tough job in replacing the beloved Brian Dawkins, so you don't want to pile on. But the safety has been underwhelming, to say the least. He was completely flummoxed on the Maurice Jones-Drew 45-yard screen that led to a TD. Demps had no solo tackles and just one assist. He's pretty much got the starting job by default -- Sean Jones has been just OK -- but it's not a position without worry with the regular season two weeks away.
-- Moise Fokou has been steadily earning more playing time this preseason and with Omar Gaither recovering from a knee sprain, the rookie could sneak onto the first team in the nickel. He led the team with six tackles last night and, despite his relative youth, could be the contingency plan if Mays doesn't work out.
-- I think Jason Babin made this team. Makes you wonder what Chris Clemons and Bryan Smith are thinking.
OFFENSE
-- Jason Avant will be Donovan McNabb's second favorite wide receiving target during the regular season. DeSean Jackson will get the most looks, but Avant's crisp routes and reliable hands will give McNabb a better option that Kevin Curtis.
-- Shady McCoy had his second straight subpar night. He's a rookie and there's going to be a learning curve. He sometimes tries to do too much and when he's faced with a tackler always seems to want to kick it outside. He'll be fine, though, as a complement to a healthy Brian Westbrook.
-- Speaking of running backs, I think Lorenzo Booker has finally found his way out of town. He had no carries last night while Eldra Buckley took three. I'm not sure if Buckley finds a roster spot. He hasn't been consistent catching the ball out of the backfield. But he's ahead of Booker at this point. Kyle Eckel's fumble last night may have doomed his chances of making the team.
-- I heard that a certain former Eagle -- rhymes with Few Fouglas -- was critical of Jeremy Maclin's play last night. I actually thought Maclin looked good and made strides over his previous two games. There's no way he has the impact Jackson brought to the wide receiving corp last year, but he'll have his moments as he becomes familiar with the offense.
-- Curtis had only one catch for 14 yards. That gives the veteran wideout just two catches in the preseason. The Eagles say he's fine, but you have to wonder if he's completely recovered from that off-season sports hernia surgery.
-- Kevin Kolb's night got off to a bad start with the safety, but he rebounded and threw perhaps the best pass of the game when he zipped a throw to Reggie Brown for a 9-yard TD. Kolb, in my estimation, had a rotten camp and that may have had something to do with the Vick acquisition. But he was better last night -- not great or even good -- and he'll have a sizeable portion of next week's game to solidify his backup spot.
UPDATE: Elder statesman Bob Brookover took exception with my assumption that Clemons or Smith could be the odd defensive ends out. He suggests that the Eagles could carry seven ends (Cole, Victor Abiamiri, Darren Howard, Juqua Parker, Babin, Clemons and Smith) because Howard and Abiamiri can also play some tackle. [Plug alert] Brookie, by the way, will predict the 53-man roster in Sunday's paper.
MV is getting all the press, but watching the birds last night, well they showed signs of good play. They will probaly wake up around the 2-3 mark. By game 6 they are monsters.— starbird- MV is getting all the press, but watching the birds last night, well they showed signs of good play. They will probaly wake up around the 2-3 mark. By game 6 they are monsters.— starbird
- I have to agree with "Few Fouglas." Maclin hasn't been that impressive. Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting him to take it to the house every time he touches it. To me, he just doesn't look that fast. He doesn't seperate himself from defenders..be it on offense or on special teams. Ray Didinger made it seem like he was such a steal when the Eagles drafted him. That doesn't appear to be the case at all. I hope he comes around, but I don't see Maclin making much of an impact this year.— misplacedeaglefan
- "I heard that a certain former Eagle -- rhymes with Few Fouglas -- was critical of Jeremy Maclin's play last night." That's an overstatement. Douglas just said that Maclin looked tentative after getting whacked near the goal line and that Maclin still needed to adjust to the level of physicality in the NFL and bounce back with some fight when he gets knocked down. He didn't say anything negative about Maclin and he was dead-on with what he said.— JimG
- Dear p and Will.i.am, last time I checked a Super Bowl Championship is the goal, not just getting to the Championship game, and losing it 4 times! Reid has benefited from a weak NFC, he could never have cut it in Buddy Ryan's era. Now, Reid is a better coach than Buddy, but after 11 years, this guy is just out ideas. He has too much control. And he can't seal the deal or put a team together that can. So, if your OK with 2nd place, than you're OK with Andy; but if you want a Super Bowl Championship he's got to go.— the anti-CD75
- Dear p and Will.i.am, last time I checked a Super Bowl Championship is the goal, not just getting to the Championship game, and losing it 4 times! Reid has benefited from a weak NFC, he could never have cut it in Buddy Ryan's era. Now, Reid is a better coach than Buddy, but after 11 years, this guy is just out ideas. He has too much control. And he can't seal the deal or put a team together that can. So, if your OK with 2nd place, than you're OK with Andy; but if you want a Super Bowl Championship he's got to go.— the anti-CD75
- Beloved fans and Eagles faithful, Chill!!! These used to be called exhibition games. They are the opportunity to look at fringe players, get the starters some real contact and run stupid plays to see how 2nd stringers react. Fortunately, we have an early bye week. Because of injury it will take time for the O-line to gel and the D to solidify. We could very well be 1 & 2 by the time the bye comes but getting it together along the way. Kolb is stilla rookie due to no playing time and Vick is Vick. He'll never be as good as Donovan and never realy a true QB. He's an insurance policy for Kolb, his back up, and another cog in the offense. Relax, they wil come together by November as they do every year.— cbray
Comment removed.- I hate to say it, but looking at the WRs Curtis looks like the receiver that needs to get cut with Reggie Brown taking that outside starting spot...for the moment. I agree with Hugh Douglas, Maclin looked soft and scared after that big hit and hopefully that doesn't mean that he will be an alligator armed receiver. Babin is going to take Smith's job even though he didn't look nearly as he did in his other outings. The Eagles are only going to keep 9 D-linemen and they aren't going to cut Laws and Klecko and keep Bryan Smith.— Imhotep397
