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 Reid is coaching his team these days the same way that he raised his sons -- to be losers.— JerseyCommonSense- The Defense !! he must be saying stuff so he can watch the comments come in. How does a Defense start slow, I would think slow means that they are not letting the other team score. For God sake the Skins only scored 10 points. Is he a real NFL coach, where is Rich kotite when you need him ?— MoBayYankee
- Just when I think Reid could not be a bigger moron he tries to lay blame for his disaster at the feet of a Defense that was the only reason they had a shot in that game. The D got off the field just fine but then the Offense, which is run by the fat man himself would throw 3 consecutive plays, go three and out and put the D back out there before they could even take a f'ing sip of water on the sideline. Somebody needs to throw their shoes at Reid in the next press conference or at least grow a pair and ask this SOB some tough questions and not let him sidestep them for a change!— cujat13
- He's throwing his defense under the bus? Sunday is going to be ugly because his locker room is definitley jump ship after that statement. What a di— Dr. Martin von Nostrand
- The Defense !! he must be saying stuff so he can watch the comments come in. How does a Defense start slow, I would think slow means that they are not letting the other team score. For God sake the Skins only scored 10 points. Is he a real NFL coach, where is Rich kotite when you need him ?— MoBayYankee
- How does this man get away with wasting everyone's time with his 'insightful' comments? Does he think no one watches the games or understands a thing about it but him? It was terrible, Andy. All of it. But the defense played well enough to win a lot of NFL games.— PhillySubsMac
- Every time I mention Reid must go someone will say "that isn't going to happen, Lurie loves him". How come Lurie hasn't come out and commented on what he thinks of the coach? One way or another I'd like to hear what he thinks of the job he is doing. I believe the team is too proud to quit on him. With that being said you know there thinking how is this guy helping us. Maybe some of the older guy's will become somewhat bitter towards Reid as they see there careers slipping away and realize that Reid isn't giving them there best chance to win a championship. Reid, caught up in his ego may have forgotten that a Championship is what this is all about.— gwinny
- turn out the lights, its over.— kowboy
- "D" is Andy's code word for "diet". Now it all makes sense. His diet is starting slowly. oh, and the football game? Andy just sucks as a coach and GM. He beat bad teams but lost to teams with real head coaches. He's so bad at GM, he won't draft anyone in the 1st round anymore 'cause he knows he's gonna freddy-mitchell it. Sad times for the eagles indeed.— ChekUrFax
- Was Reid at the game???— trainrdt
Comment removed.- Andy would have been better off talking about his latest diet. Oops, too much like the beagles' offense. Andy, it is time to step down. You will be better for it and you will have a second chance somewhere else unless you completely self destruct.— dutchman
- Comment removed.
- C'mon Andy, blaming the only aspect of the team that kept us in this pathetic game? I'm am beyond ready to say good-bye to a once great coach that has grown predictable and mundane. It is time to move on. Pundits will say, that is just Philly being Philly but would they accept this kind of lackadaisical attitude by a coach in their city. I doubt it. Yes, Andy did good things, heck great things for Philly but the honeymoon faded, the marriage is troubled and it is time for a divorce.
- Fire REID! Keep McNabb, get a real WR in here.— Nezhy
