Eagles' offense sputters without DeSean
The Eagles got a glimpse of what the offense looks like without DeSean Jackson, and the results were not pretty.
Eagles' offense sputters without DeSean
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
EAGLES 20, CHIEFS 17
The Eagles got a glimpse of what the offense looks like without DeSean Jackson tonight.
And the results were not pretty.
Jackson suffered a neck strain during the Eagles' first offensive play from scrimmage, absorbing a hit from Chiefs safety Eric Berry after catching a wide receiver screen. He did not return.
The offense scored on that possession with an 18-yard LeSean McCoy run, but struggled the rest of the game. Kevin Kolb finished 11-for-25 for 103 yards. Before his last possession, the numbers were 6-for-19 for 47 yards. Kolb threw his first interception of the preseason and was sacked four times after avoiding a sack in the first two games.
Trent Cole, meanwhile, left the game in the second quarter with a right ankle injury. X-rays were negative, but Cole did not return.
Mike Bell and Todd Herremans saw their first action of the preseason. Bell carried eight times for 17 yards. His longest carry was 4 yards.
Herremans was one of the only bright spots, as he played the entire first half at left guard.
"I definitely wanted to get some game time before we open up the season with the Packers in a couple weeks," Herremans said during the broadcast. "I'm real happy with how I felt out there. Obviously we've got some things to work on."
In a surprise move, rookie cornerback Trevard Lindley rotated in with Ellis Hobbs at right cornerback and came up with an interception.
The Eagles played their starters throughout the first three quarters, although the second-team defensive line of Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, Trevor Laws, Antonio Dixon and Darryl Tapp rotated in.
Mike Kafka led the offense on an eight-play, 80-yard drive in 1:41, finding Riley Cooper for the game-winning touchdown from 18 yards out to give the Eagles the win.
The Eagles' final preseason game is Thursday at the Linc against the Jets.
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Quite an impressive showing by KK, 14 misses compared to 11 catches...hope they can get on the same page in two weeks, Green Bay is surely going to put up their share of points.— Bleue
That first game is going to be an embarrassment Bleue. You know I don't want it but it's coming. Be prepared.— tpizza
Comment removed.- Hm. Kolb obviously needs offensive plays that concentrate on receivers who can evade defensive secondaries without relying on blazing speed, and that means an offensive line capable of buying him the time for those less physically capable receivers to defeat coverage schemes. So how did the offensive line perform, and how is it likely to continue performing? This unit - not glamorous at all, and never much the focus of sports reporters' attentions - is the make-or-break element, and it would be best to have more attention paid to it. -30-— Tucci78
- Yes Sono, except that Donovan is going to be on a team that will finish with 5 win tops as well have a WR corps that is 5 times worse than what he had here when he first started and a RB who is one concussion from retirement. Eagles will finish between 6-10 and 9-7, might be slow at first but whatev...I have seen way to many Eagles teams just fall short in the recent years, I am ready for a change and if it takes a few then so be it.— ESFjellin
- Will we ever win Super Bowl?— Zero Ringgs
- A SUPER BOWL? BIRDS SUCK!— Zero Ringgs
- I've had enough of this corny Kolb character. Bring McNabb back or start THE KAFKA ERA!— Eman84
- Kk apologist to the rescue!!!! Lol— shaad
- The D looked pretty bad. Cassel has a baby arm, can't throw much beyond 20 yards. A good QB would have put up 30 tonight. One sack, but really no pressure on Cassel. No pass rush in three games so far.— jimmyj
- This offense reminds me of the total incompetence of the Bush Administration.— eldiablodelsol2009
Eagles D looks really good. Kolb and the Offense will be fine when jackson gets back and all the o-line is healthy.— briandawkins20- The plays need to be quicker passes for now. And Kolb is fixated on the primary receivers and forces the ball to them. The run game is actually showing potential though.— PhillyFanSouth
- briandawkins20: Your post is as laughable as your statement all summer that Kolb has a quick release. No Kolb doesn't have a quick release at all which is compounding the problems of the O line. They haven't played a good QB yet, and the D looks very shaky. No QB pressure at all.— jimmyj
- Skunk Kolb stunk more than usual and needs to get the hook. This stiff makes Koy Detmer look like Johnny Unitas. Not too late to get Kafka in there with the young guns.— del ravio 100%
- I hope they do absolutely NOTHING! #5 couldn't have been thrown out any faster. This is what everyone was begging for a McNabbless Eagles team. Remember all the "TRADE MCNABB" and "START THE KOLB ERA" chants back in April? This is what happens when we get what we asked for. Granted it is preseason, but it was the last time were gonna see the starters till Green Bay. This team has been more than 1 or two good drafts away from a Superbowl win since 2004. Remember even the superbowl team had a problem with stopping the run(or did we forget about the Steelers game that caused the first loss that season and it popped up again in the SB.— SWIM
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