Man Up: Examining the O-line struggles
Here's a player-by-player look at the Eagles' offensive performance in their 22-9 loss to the Bengals.
Man Up: Examining the O-line struggles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Here's a player-by-player look at the Eagles' offensive performance against the Bengals.
I went through the first three quarters and have write-ups on every member of the first team, plus many of the second teamers.
Kevin Kolb - I detailed his performance in Saturday's post. Overall, though, I thought Kolb played well. I'm impressed with his accuracy on the move. And I think it's going to take time for him and the offensive line to develop a chemistry. That throw to Jason Avant in the end zone is the one he'd like to have back. And while he hasn't been picked off in two games, he's had at least two throws that could have been intercepted.
Michael Vick - The first seven pass plays when Vick was the quarterback in the second half: interception, sack, 12-yard scramble, sack, incompletion, incompletion, interception. Not good. He completed more passes to the Bengals (2) than the Eagles (1).
LeSean McCoy - The running game did not look good. McCoy carried six times for 20 yards, but 17 of those came on one play. On the other five carries, he had just 3 yards. There were a couple plays where he had Leonard Weaver as the lead back but didn't use him. On one, it resulted in a short gain. On another, it resulted in the 17-yard gain. McCoy couldn't pick up a 3rd-and-1, but it didn't look like he had much of a shot. The direct snap in the red zone just looked awkward. Weaver sort of ran into him. As a blocker, he did not do a great job, whiffing on a chip before going out into his route on an early play.
Leonard Weaver - He got four touches - three carries and a reception. The catch was on a screen pass, with Weaver picking up 8 yards. He was also called for a false start penalty.
Eldra Buckley - With Mike Bell's inability to get healthy, Buckley's role could be a lot more significant now than it was three weeks ago. He ran with the second team and had a nice 14-yard run in the third quarter. Overall, four carries for 19 yards.
Charles Scott - He had one carry this week, which is one more than he had against the Jaguars. Scott's primary role is as the second-team fullback. He had a decent block on Buckley's 14-yard run.
Brent Celek - He stayed in as a blocker quite a bit and did a good job in pass protection. Celek's 14-yard catch over the middle with a couple minutes left in the first half was his only reception and his only target.
Clay Harbor - He entered the game with the first team in two tight-end sets. Harbor generally stayed in to block or chipped and then went out into his route. On the 3rd-and-1 play, Harbor and Celek both lined up on the left outside Jason Peters, and the blocking created no room.
Cornelius Ingram - I didn't see him on the field in the first three quarters.
Jason Peters - "Coming into the game, they must have told the referees to make emphasis on it,"Peters told the Daily News, in reference to being called for two illegal formation penalties. That reasoning would hold more weight had Peters not led the team with 11 penalties and 78 penalty yards in 2009. From a blocking standpoint, it's hard to single out one player, but Peters did not impress in the run game, along with the rest of the line.
Max Jean-Gilles - The Eagles tried to run behind him on the 3rd-and-1 play, and the entire left side of the line got beat. He got to the second level nicely on a McCoy run, but found no one to hit. On the screen to Weaver, Jean-Gilles missed his block on linebacker Keith Rivers, or the Eagles could have had a bigger gain. On the bright side, I thought he did a nice job in pass protection.
Mike McGlynn - He seems much more comfortable in pass protection than in the run game. I didn't see any problems with the snap, but there was definitely confusion among the linemen, both in the run game and the pass game. It's really a toss-up right now as to who is going to start at center in Week 1.
Stacy Andrews - Bengals lineman Jonathan Fanene pushed him on his butt and hit Kolb on the first pass play of the game. Credit Andrews for coming back at him on the very next play and taking Fanene down. On the 3rd-and-1 play, Andrews was asked to pull, but by the time he got to the left side, several Bengals were in the backfield. Andrews did a good job in pass protection on the 7-yard throw to Jackson. The DT went right past Andrews on a short Weaver carry in the second. Ups and downs still with Andrews. There are times when he looks like he's made major improvements and times when he looks like a liability.
Winston Justice - He and Kolb will need to develop a chemistry. When Justice blocks defensive ends upfield, Kolb sometimes creates pressure by backpedaling or rolling to his right. On the direct snap to McCoy, Justice lined up outside Peters at left tackle. The line had just one lineman to the right of the center, plus Celek. Justice was also called for an illegal formation.
King Dunlap - Vick was sacked on one play where the defensive lineman got between Dunlap and guard Dallas Reynolds.
Austin Howard - Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap went right around him, sacking Vick in the third.
DeSean Jackson - He proved once again that he's the Eagles' biggest weapon, and it's not really close. Jackson had four catches for 74 yards and drew a 10-yard pass interference penalty. Good job by Jackson to keep working on the 28-yard reception where Kolb bought time and found him down the near sideline. Interesting that Jackson lined up in the slot on the 3rd-and-10 throw that resulted in a near-interception.
Jeremy Maclin - Three catches for 16 yards before leaving the game with a shoulder contusion. Maclin's got to protect the ball on the fumble where he reached for the first down.
Jason Avant - Kolb missed him on the potential touchdown in the second quarter. His touchdown catch was nullified by a Peters penalty.
Hank Baskett - He replaced Maclin with the first-team offense. Baskett played primarily in the slot with the second team.
Riley Cooper - Quiet game for Cooper. Two catches for 22 yards. Only one 6-yard reception through the first three quarters.
Kelley Washington - Played with the second team and didn't have a catch. I think I've got Baskett ahead of him at this point in terms of making the roster.
Chad Hall - He lined up in the backfield with McCoy on one play with the first team. It was a third down in the second quarter and Hall just went out into his route. I was surprised he didn't get a single carry. Hall had two catches for 9 yards late.
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Way off on McCoy. Our 1st OL couldn't stop the bengals backup DEs from penetrating, where exactly was McCoy supposed to run?— Iggles21- Sheil, great job as usual. As far as the offense goes, how much of their ineffectiveness would you chalk up to it being preseason? With the offense, aren't they trying to determine what is going to work, and just as importantly what is not going to work, as much as win the game or sustain long drives?— The Reddgie
- There is one solution to the offensive's woes, so far this year and the last couple years past, and that is to call plays they've never called before. AR has been in the league for 11 years, MM has been the OC & calling plays for several years now, and there is all the tape in the world an opposing DC needs to know whats coming. Every team has seen every formation and every play we've ever run, literally, and have their teams ready for it. Get creative, and not with the direct snap and wildcat B.S., and make some new plays. And stop pulling lineman on running plays, I don't care what technique coach JC is teaching, if the oline's strength is power, a la Stacy, Max, Peters and Winston are, (McGlynn has no strengths), then use it. Stop being cute AR and MM, and get tough. Winning teams will tell you what they are running on 3rd & 1, and then go out and do it by beating the man in front of them, not trying to outsmart them. Outsmart them on 1st and 2nd downs, on 3rd down, you "MAN UP"!— Bleue
- Reddgie, that might be a part of it, but it's a small part. How many fans out there watching the games can call the play coming once the offense is lined up? A bunch of us, and we aren't being paid to learn it, its just a byproduct of being born with the 'philly phan-syndrome', an actual illness that dictates the majority of our lives. The opposing DC's, being paid to know what's coming in our outdated and overused scheme, can't wait to play against predictability. They can gameplan for 1yard with 2 players every down and still stop the offense with the other 9 defenders.— Bleue
- Hall didn't do anything to make the roster last night that I saw. His returns were pretty pedestrian and he didn't appear that elusive. I would really hope Bell can play next game.
Comment removed.
so far from what I've seen, the worst case scenario for the O-line is happening...and DJax is unquestionably the Eagles best player.— bboybeballin
Hope they utilize Celek more in the regular season.— Richard Saunders- Regarding Michael Vick, can we finally have our "Oh wait . . . you don't think Jennifer Anniston is pretty EITHER? moment. Vick knows, and Andy knows, and the offense knows, and God himself knows that Vick can't play QB in THIS sytem, not a little, not for a game or two, not at all. It's not about whether or not he's a dog killer, or whether or not he's a great athlete. It's not about whether or not some other team in a differnt system could make him an All-Pro. It's about quarterbacking THIS system. Everybody who knows football (including Hugh Douglas when he talks about Michael learning to go through his progressions) and watches him knows that Vick can't play here, no matter what. So please let's stop pretending we don't see the elephant in the room, and relaease him and pick up a leftover backup QB that can at least play in this offense.— jimmyj
- Hall was a "feel good" story, only we don't feel so good anymore.— jimmyj
- jimmyj, thank you! I never did get what the bid deal was w/ Jennifer Anniston. I guess they had to make someone from 'Friends' a star in order to legitimize that show...never did get that show neither.— bboybeballin
jimmyj and I see eye to eye on one overhyped movie "star" and one NFL QB.- Sheil, you are allowed your opinion. I just don't understand hanging on your works as "truth from Gods mouth to your lips". "I detailed his performance", get real. How about a few facts. Maclin's two fumbles one of which he turned to laderal, spotted a lineman and changed his mind only to fumble in a mid laderal. Kolb was 'weak' if not off but played well because he didn't throw any interceptions which everyone is panting for him to do. Sheil, what is an almost interception or should have been intercepted? It's either complete or incomplete, nothing else. Buckley not only ran o.k. but made the opening tackle on the kickoff and was involved in another on special teams. That's how he will make the roster unlike Arrington, Mallett, Scott and maybe Bell. At this point Hall looks small, slow and Reno'ish. Detailing Austin Howards performance you didn't watch the same game I saw. Vick ran around and into that sack. Howard had the DE moving away from the 'pocket'. Howard also blasted the same end two other times for running gains. He looks like a shoo-in. Dunlap not only gave up a sack but also left the game with an injuried leg. What were you watching or detailing?— JACK V
- The worrisome thing about this O line, is that as poor as they look, there is no depth. No one, other than the rookie Howard, that you can trust to come in and help out. And there is no one to pick up on waivers to help, because all the NFC East teams have problems on the line.— watsonmr
- O-line will kill the Birds this year. Bunch of has beens and losers.— hititwheretheyaint
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