SLOW-STARTING DEFENSE?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
SLOW-STARTING DEFENSE?
Bob Brookover
If Andy Reid wanted to criticize the Eagles' defense after Sunday's debilitating 10-3 loss to the Washington Redskins, he could have pointed out that Asante Samuel and Quintin Mikell let interceptions slip through their hands.
Instead, he chose to talk about how his defense started slow.
"I thought the guys played hard," Reid said during his news conference today. "I just didn't think our execution was very good. I thought defensively we started out slow in the first half and weren't able to get off the field, but I thought the second half was a much better display of how we play on defense."
Started slow? Weren't able to get off the field?
The Redskins got one first down on their opening offensive series, which ended with a sack by defensive lineman Victor Abiamiri. They got one more first down on their second offensive series, which ended with a stop on a third-and-one play when Abiamiri got good penetration into the Redskins' backfield. Washington got two first downs on their third offensive series, which ended with a missed 54-yard field goal.
Washington's only sustained drive of the first half was a 16-play series that ended with a Shaun Suisham field goal late in the first half. An offsides penalty against Chris Clemons nullified a Darren Howard sack on a third-and-five play that would have pushed the Redskins out of field goal range. Later on that same series, Mikell let a potential interception slip through his hands that would have kept the Redskins off the board.
But it's still nitpicking to say anything negative about a defense that only allowed three first-half points, especially when Reid's offense managed to run just 21 plays for 66 yards and zero points. Reid was also critical of his offense, but he had every reason to be.
On the injury front, Reid said Abiamiri suffered a mild Lis Franc sprain against the Redskins and will have a difficult time getting back for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Stewart Bradley has fractured ribs, but Reid said he thought his middle linebacker would be able to play.
Reid said receiver Hank Baskett was feeling better after missing Sunday's game with a sprained knee ligament and receiver Kevin Curtis tested his strained calf muscle before the game against the Redskins but was unable to play. The coach said Todd Herremans was sore after playing with a sprained ankle.
Andy has no clue— potus
I keep refreshing the sports page waiting to see the headlines "Reid Prepares for His Last Game as Eagle's Head Coach". Come on, let's see it...— MFPhils
Comment removed.- I can't believe AR is still here... depressing.— bleedinggreen
- Bob - Didn't you just write an article stating Andy should stay on and even keep the GM duties? Man you have your finger on the pulse of the Eagles.....— bleedinggreen
- Bob - Didn't you just write that Andy should stay on as Coach/GM? Unreal..— bleedinggreen
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- 86 McReid!
- Let's see...the Defense holds the Skins below their average and below the league average ....and arrogant andy is critical and leads with that information......hmmmmm .....and how does 3 points stack up against the team average and the league average for scoring.....sure andy ...like it is not brain surgery to see that you have lost it and even we poor misguided fans can see that the offense was horrible....but never fear arrogant one....we know you'll fix it and you will take responsibility for it....Yeah Right ????? You are accountable to no one....Jeffery lives in an Ivory Tower and Joe could care less as long as he is cutting salaries and counting money....Please move on...— nuggett
- that was absolutely despicable for Andy to call out the defense like that, basically completely trying to shift the blame from him to Jim Johnson. which is completely insane, because the defense played great, only gave up one touchdown and that was when McNabb coughed up the ball on their own 20. Andy has gotta go.— Ryan
I guess Andy thought the Eagles should have won 3-0. I guess the defense came up small by giving up a whopping 10 points in a divisional road game.....what more can you want from your defense. We've been waiting 10 years for Andy to "put his players in a better position to be successful". Enough already. It ain't gonna happen. Everyone seems to realize this except A.R. and J.L.- Once again, why didn't any of our brilliant sports media call Reid on blaming the defense? On 57 straight passing plays? On 3 stinking points? Pathetic— fla
- Comment removed.
- THIS DEFENSE SHOULD QUIT ON REID AGAINST DALLAS BUT JOHNSON AS ALWAYS WILL HOLD THEM TOGETHER. ANDY, WHAT HAPPEN TO THE DIET? STILL KEEPING FIRING ON THAT PUTTING IT IN A BETTER POSITION ? GOING TO WORK ON THAT AND STRAITEN IT OUT. TEN YEARS IS TOO MUCH FOR ANY COACH IN THE NFL. REID WILL RETIRE AFTER THIS YEAR TO SPEND MORE QUALITY TIME WITH HIS FAMILY. PLEASE.— JACK V
