Reid sticks up for McDermott
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Reid sticks up for McDermott
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Sean McDermott has become a punching bag of sorts for local Eagles critics, but his boss did not join the chorus that has increasingly criticized the Eagles defensive coordinator.
“I thought Sean had a heck of a game plan, doggone it,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said Monday, a day after the Eagles were humiliated by Tennessee, 37-19. “That’s’ a good football team right there. For three quarters, we had it right there. It’s not all about the offense, it’s not all about the defense. Everybody has an opportunity. We have to make sure we secure that up and finish things off.”
McDermott's defense surrendered 20 fourth-quarter points to the Titans -- Tennessee's last seven points came courtesy of a pick six off a Kevin Kolb last-second heave -- as quarterback Kerry Collins and receiver Kenny Britt torched the secondary. The unit has had trouble late in games, but previously it did not catch up to the Eagles. This time it did.
"Now it came back to bite us in a big way," Eagles safety Quintin Mikell said, "and basically, our asses were kicked. I think this will be a wake-up call. This is the NFL. All 11 guys on the field have to play together for four quarters."
Mikell was reminded that Peyton Manning and the Colts were next on the slate, along with a number of other playoff-worthy teams with above-average quaterbacks.
"I don't want to even hear that word," Mikell said, referring to "Peyton," who he said was "the best to ever play the game, in my opinion."
Despite the defensive problems, the Eagles are 4-3 heading into a bye week.
“It’s a crazy league,” Reid said. “We’re sitting there 4-3 and we’re right there in the hunt in a good way. I know I’ve got a good football team."
That football team will likely be led by Michael Vick again. Reid said that he expects his quarterback to be healthy enough to start the Nov. 7 Colts game.Vick said after the game that his injured rib cartilage was not 100 percent, but that he wouldn't know for sure until he actually played and took a hit.
Reid said that wide receiver DeSean Jackson has not yet passed the necessary concussion tests and been cleared to return to practice. He did, however, say that Jackson, along with tackle Jason Peters (knee) and defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley (elbow), "had a pretty good chance" of being ready for the Colts.
Still, Reid said he wasn't sure if Bunkley would be 100 percent even when he comes back. That means Antonio Dixon, who has been one of the defense's recent bright spots, would still see the majority of snaps at defensive tackle.
In other injury news, Reid said that tackle King Dunlap hyperextended his knee and has a bone bruise. The injury, the coach said, could take all of the two weeks off to heal. Dunlap has been filling in for Peters. Reid said that if neither left tackles could go, Todd Herremans would slide over from left guard.
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
This team is actually performing ahead of where I had projected them to be upon breaking training camp. I refused to be suckered into the notion that they were gonna beat the Jeff Fisher-led Titans. I absolutely knew better. As soon as that lineman went in and forced that take-away near the goal line, I just KNEW that would be the end of them. But while I thought that would be the start, I did not expect to see them freaking HUMILIATED the rest of the way. I am still of the opinion they can finish 9-7. And with the O-Line, D-Backfield, and team-depleating injuries to several key GOOD players, I think that aint terrible!— TBear- Quarterback is the least of this teams issues.
We have serious issues on the O line. The D backs are marginal at best. The linebackers are spotty and special teams are a hold your breath deal every week. Not to mention the youth factor as a whole on all facets of the team. Coaching is the same as when we went to the SB. Change that and you really start from scratch. With a young team that could set us back five years. Ladies and Gents play the hand your dealt cause that's as good as it's going to get.— adipaolo 
This is a playoff team, and so are the Titans. It's starting to look like the same injury bug that hit them so hard last season has found a permanent home. That said, McDermott is not doing his job, he needs to be demoted and Dick Jauron should now be the D Coordinator.- This is a playoff team, and so are the Titans. It's starting to look like the same injury bug that hit them so hard last season has found a permanent home. That said, McDermott is not doing his job, he needs to be demoted and Dick Jauron should now be the D Coordinator.
- this is a rebuilding year, and the sooner that i came to grips with that the easier it is to watch this team. They should be on a year long scouting trip to see what pieces are needed (OL, DL, LB, DB) and they have a pretty young core. I also think that the administration needs to go because instead of creating a system that fits the players, reid is trying to have the players fit the system.— xlGmanlx
- WHAT ANDY SAID:
I thought Sean had a heck of a game plan, doggone it,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said Monday, a day after the Eagles were humiliated by Tennessee, 37-19. “That’s’ a good football team right there. For three quarters, we had it right there.
WHAT ANDY MEANT:
"If anybody expects me to change a gameplan during the game, just because it's making us lose, they must have never seen an Eagles game before"— jimmyj - we just need another 2 or 3 DBs at 5'6" shorter. then bring on that Peyton guy. ugh— raoool
- how do all of you brainiacs know there werent any adjustments made at half time? Were you in the locker room? When the birds win nobody is crying about the freaking half time adjustments are they? Some of you fans are so amazingly ignorant. After every loss you want AR fired? Really? Andy was covering Britt, Hobbs and Allen were and they both played like sh*t all day, they're human, it happens. Guess what? It'll happen again someday with EVERY player on the team for EVERY team in the NFL. This aint' madden 2011 dbags, it's REAL life and anybody that's ever played even a single down of football knows this. SHUT UP already with bashing the staff.— HuskerEagleFan
I don't know...Andy lost me at "doggone it!"— NancyNancy
A heartless secondary. If the star player (Samuel) is unwilling to tackle anyone, why should anybody else? I think Mr all or nuthin has ruined that secondary. McDermott is in wayyy over his head. Stew Bradley is about as overrated a player as I have ever seen in my life. Thank God Vick is coming back in. We need a player that can single-handedly take over a game. Like him or not....that's what this team needs right now to at least stay above .500- McDermott and Reid should be held accountable for yesterday's loss. Another example of Reid not being able to think on his feet and say "Hey Sean, you think we better put a stop to this," instead of just standing there and watching Britt run up and down the field.— watsonmr
"Heck of a game plan"- Reminds me of when Mike Tyson said "everybody gotta plan till they get hit!" Fire Andy Reid- HUSKER:
It's not about a player having a bad day. It's about covering a receiver having the best day against an Eagles defense ever, with a mediocre CB; while on the other side of the field your all-pro CB covers Joe Nobody. The Eagles coaches sincerely and whole heartedly believe that on D at least, the scheme is superior to the talents of any individual player. That's why they have blitzed Ernie Sims more than 80 times this year without him ever getting to the QB. The scheme calls for the WIL to blitz so it doesn't matter if he is any good at. The scheme calls for Bradley to cover the tight end, doesn't matter if the TE is too fast for him. The scheme calls for Hobbs to cover Britt, doesn't matter if he is too good for him.
It works very well against poor teams or in cases like the Falcon game, where they outplan the opposing coaches. If the Colts come in healthy look for them to put up 35 points or more.— jimmyj
