'D' breakdown: Abiamiri, Fokou, Samuel
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'D' breakdown: Abiamiri, Fokou, Samuel
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Above are photos from yesterday's game.
Just got done re-watching the first three quarters of last night's Eagles-Jaguars game.
And I have more notes and thoughts than I know what to do with. We'll start with the defense and offer up some items on the offense later today or tomorrow.
Here goes:
** If you focused in only on Asante Samuel, you'd have thought it was a playoff game, not a preseason contest. Good to see that kind of intensity and effort from one of the team's leaders, especially after the defense looked suspect in the first two games. I almost wonder if Sean McDermott challenged him this week at practice. Samuel had an interception and laid a big hit on Jaguars wide receiver Nate Hughes to force a fumble at the goal line. Pass breakups, support against the run and even a near-block on a field goal. Samuel did it all last night.
** Better QB pressure from the Eagles yesterday. Their best pass rusher, Trent Cole, was back in the lineup, which had a lot to do with it, but the 'D' seemed to have more success blitzing as well. Victor Abiamiri did a nice job getting a push up the middle, twice getting to the Jaguars' quarterbacks and once beating a double team. The Eagles' coaching staff talks about Abiamiri as a guy who it expects to be a major contributor if he's healthy. Maybe there's something to that.
** I've said it before, but defensive tackle is a major strength for this defense. Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley have Pro Bowl potential, and are going to be a handful for offenses in short yardage. Bunkley had a forced fumble, and Patterson had a sack, which was largely due to good coverage. Trevor Laws even made a nice play in the Jaguars' backfield once he got in the game.
** Linebacker continues to be a work in progress. Translation: I'm not sure these guys make enough plays. Joe Mays had his ups and downs. He did get to the quarterback once, but he also missed a tackle on a screen pass to Maurice Jones-Drew, which went for a first down late in the first quarter. Akeem Jordan was probably the best linebacker on the field for the Birds.
** Moise Fokou got a shot at middle linebacker with the first team and was whistled for a couple penalties, including one that gave the Jaguars a first down on 3rd-and-19. But here's an example of why the staff has given Fokou a shot, and why he deserves a spot on this roster. Brian Witherspoon returned a David Akers kickoff 61 yards in the third quarter. Fokou was in on coverage and was passed by Witherspoon at the Jaguars' 25-yard line. However, he never gave up on the play, and guess who finally brought Witherspoon down at the Eagles' 33-yard line? That's right. Fokou. Great hustle by the rookie.
** Macho Harris saw some extended time with the first team at safety opposite Quintin Mikell. But he suffered a sprained ankle and will have an MRI today. Quintin Demps got the start. Which begs the question: What happened to Sean Jones? The Eagles' free-agent addition saw no time with the first-team defense by my count, and it looks like Harris has jumped him on the depth chart.
** Speaking of Demps, good job recovering the fumble in the third quarter. Bad job after he started running. Demps carried the ball loosely in his right hand and tried to lateral it after he was out of bounds. It took Andy Reid about two seconds to find Demps and let him know that was not OK. On another play, Demps missed a tackle on tight end Mercedes Lewis.
** Ellis Hobbs had by far his best performance of the preseason. Good in coverage and good in run support. The Jaguars attacked Hobbs quite a bit early, and he did a nice job. You may have noticed that Hobbs is very demonstrative and celebrates after almost every play. At Lehigh, he explained that he was not allowed to show emotion in New England, so he's making up for lost time now that he's on a new team.
The Phillies play bad, Charlie yells at them and they win 10 of 11. The Eagles play bad, Reid yells at them, and they play just as bad last night.
Comment removed.- Sheil, Macho Harris did not necessarily move ahead of Sean Jones. The coaches want to see some rookies play against the other teams' number ones as part of the evaluation process. They certainly think Harris is a good prospect but don't jump to conclusions when a rookie is suddenly put in with the first team.— soulman386
- Comment removed.
I noticed that the Iggles were busy celebrating the big hit at the goal line, allowing the Jag's receiver to pick up the fumble for an easy touchdown while a couple of Iggles who could have covered it pounded their chests and pumped their fists instead. I noticed that Reid/Morninwheg still are clueless about situational play calling. Trying to throw a slow developing swing pass (lateral?) when the defense is backed inside the 2 yd line, and therefore harder to get around on the outside, instead of pounding the ball inside like good teams do in that situation.— tornadoh- Samuel did play with a lot of intensity last night, but when I saw the (many) replays of his hit, it appeared as though he were jumping in celebration while a live ball was still sitting there on the ground. Need to be a little smarter than that.— puttinonthefoil
- Yeah, Samuel laid that hit on the goal line, but then instead of playing until the whistle, he sat there and celebrated while the jags player just stood in the endzone and picked the ball up for a touchdown...Same thing happened to the O when McNabb threw that pass off of McCoy's head, everyone just sat there like the play was dead, except the Jags player who just picked it up and took it the other way...mental mistakes like that can cost you games— JTR
- Maybe, just maybe, Andy does not know how to stop fooling himself in the redzone. Totally out-thinks himself and creates more trouble than necessary. Can he ever just commit to the run just a little? His play calling is like the guy who just can't help but look at the car crash on the other side of the road. No matter how unnecessary he just can't help trying to put the square peg in the round hole for hopes that he can "perfect" his offensive scheme. It is never about just getting the ball in the end zone.— Dtownfan
- I watched Joe Mays very closely and to be frank he was awful. Couldn't get off blocks, missed tackles, etc. Then he did the old high school trick to get noticed, after someone else would make the tackle he would come in late and pile on so it looked like he did something. He will NOT be the middle linebacker opening day and may not be on roster. Book it.— 09
- I sure hope Vick only plays in the Wildcat. McNabb needs to continually play to get his rhythem. When Vick was at QB McNabb was playing WR. That makes no sense. They don't even have to cover him. Reilly,Edwards and Douglas are the worst announcers ever! When Edwards and Douglas got to talking I couldn't understand a thing they said. Hey Hugh Hey Herm we are an educated audience not some boyz hanging out on the corner in the ghetto!— bryky
- I know we haven't gotten to the offense yet but I hope Sheil mention RB Buckley. Love the guy. I hope we find a way to keep him. My friend who was watching the game with me called him a poor mans Stephen Jackson. He could be nice in short yardage with Weaver blocking. BTW, is Weaver hurt or something? Didn't see him last night.— Filislim
- At the goal line does it ever occur to the offensive guru to get someone behind big Nick Cole and simply punch it in, better yet give it to him, ala Fridge. It can't be that hard to figure out, can it?— BCRock
- Ya, I was amazed that in several situations we didnt call on Weaver to just pound out a yard or two. We need to practice that also Andy. Im not worried about them not getting that fumble after the Asante hit, I dont think they couldve beat Holt to the ball either way and its preseason, you cant get upset at that unless its a game that counts.— peteike
- Comment removed.
Bradley was the only NFL quality linebacker on the team....oh well.
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