Offensive breakdown: Avant, Maclin, the line
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Offensive breakdown: Avant, Maclin, the line
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Yesterday we did the defense. Today we move to the other side of the ball.
Here are my observations on the offense after re-watching Thursday night's Eagles-Jaguars game:
** Let's start with the good. MTC has made no bones about it since last season. We are huge Jason Avant fans. In fact, if we gave out an award to an Eagles player who epitomizes the way MTC thinks the game should be played, Avant would be given the trophy. Here's what you know. Avant was the leading receiver for either team Thursday with five catches for 92 yards against the Jaguars. But that's not what stood out to us. Listen, Avant is sure-handed, runs good routes and reliable. He's never going to make a Pro Bowl and probably will never have a 1,000-yard season. But you win games with guys like Avant. On the Eagles' second drive, Donovan McNabb found Jeremy Maclin on a wide receiver screen. Avant, lined up on the same side of the field, took Jaguars cornerback Brian Williams to the ground with a textbook block to open up running room for Maclin, who picked up 9 yards and a first down. Avant gives full effort on every play and battles until the whistle blows. To steal Larry Brown's favorite line, he plays the game the right way.
** Jason Peters and LeSean McCoy also did nice jobs of cutting their men down at the line of scrimmage on the Maclin screen.
** More on Maclin. I thought he delivered by far his best performance to date. I'm more encouraged that Andy Reid is going to find some creative ways to get him the ball this season. In the second quarter, with the Eagles facing a 2nd-and-10, he did a nice job of breaking a tackle and getting to the marker. Overall, four catches for 53 yards and some quality reps with the starters.
** Analyst Hugh Douglas was ripping Maclin for being a little tentative after absorbing a big hit. What do we think? Was he a little too harsh?
** I thought Peters played better. He has plays where he looks like an All-Pro, and he has plays where he looks like a rookie. Maybe that's to be expected, given his injuries and the fact that he's on a new team. I really wish Reid wouldn't have called him the best tackle in football. I'm holding out judgement until he plays in the real games.
** On the other side, I'm still not comfortable with Winston Justice starting at right tackle Week 1. Not sure how he avoided a flag after getting beat by Reggie Hayward and then nailing him in the back in the first quarter. He got beat again in the third quarter, but McNabb got rid of the ball just in time to avoid a sack.
** Thirty-six throws for McNabb in a preseason game? I'm going to have to look up if that's a league-high for attempts so far.
** I'm concerned about how this line will react when facing blitzes early in the season. You saw it against the Jaguars, specifically up the middle and from the cornerback position. McNabb took some hits. I didn't think Jamaal Jackson had a particularly strong performance.
** Nick Cole and Max Jean-Gilles both saw time at left guard with the first team. Reid will have to make a decision on who gets the nod before Week 1, now that Todd Herremans will miss that game.
** Not a good job by Cole on a third-and-two LeSean McCoy run in the first quarter. But luckily the Eagles got a generous spot to earn a first down.
** Let's make a deal, Andy. You remove every play that involves an overhand lateral, and we'll agree to not question your play-calling. At least until Week 2.
** McNabb missed some throws, but also made some spectacular plays to avoid pressure and pick up big chunks of yardage.
** Another concern. This offense is historically slow to get the play in to McNabb, and it's resulted in numerous penalties and wasted timeouts over the years. How are they going to avoid those mishaps when Michael Vick comes on to the field for a play here and there? You saw them have to waste a timeout in this very situation in the first quarter.
** Blocking does not appear to be a strength of Kevin Curtis, and it was quite noticeable on a couple occasions. Once on a screen to McCoy. And another time on a screen to DeSean Jackson.
** Speaking of Jackson, he does a tremendous job of avoiding contact and going down at the right time after the catch. Many questioned last season whether he'd be able to stay healthy given his size. But so far he's had no problems.
** McCoy was late to pick up a blitzer in the second quarter, but McNabb escaped and found Maclin over the middle.
** As for the run game, 19 carries for 66 yards is not very good, but it's unfair to judge that aspect with Leonard Weaver sidelined. That's how much of a difference I think he's going to make.
** Zero carries for Lorenzo Booker. And did you notice whose been one of the Eagles' best players on special teams coverage this preseason? That's right. Eldra Buckley.
** You may have noticed that this was a relatively Vick-free post. I figured his six plays have been analyzed already at length. But a couple quick notes. On his dart to Hank Baskett, the Jaguars only rushed three, and Vick did a nice job of being patient and making a perfect throw. The whole Vick-McNabb relationship intrigues me. I'll explain more tomorrow and hope to provide a different spin on it.
The Eagles got Vick mostly for the draft picks they will trade him for once he's in shape and another team needs him bad enough. Mcnabb has been assured of this... That explains why he is so comfortable with the situation— BBAX
sheil what'd you think about hugh's comment? i personally didn't see what he was talking about and thought maclin had a good game, but then again i was flipping on and off from the phils game so i don't really know.. curious as to what you thought though— MPatt24- I agree with MPatt24. Hugh really bashed Maclin for missing a ball thrown by Kolb at the end of the 3rd or 4th quarter. He kept saying he was afraid to get hit and he "heard footsteps" because he the corner was right there. He even eluded to the fact that Maclin should evaluate whether or not he wants to play football at this level, which is a jump from one missed ball. If he actually watched the play, it was a poorly thrown ball that caused the incompletion. Kolb was pressured and threw off his back foot. It also looked like Maclin was breaking out and the ball was thrown to his inside shoulder. Now that could have been Maclin's fault for running the wrong route but in no way did I think Maclin was scared of being popped. Coach Edwards was defending Maclin and said it was Kolb's fault. Does Maclin look comfortable on kick/punt returns? No. But does that mean he is scared and not a football player? Absolutley not. He came from a school where he had the potential to score a TD on every return. He's realizing now he isn't the best player on the field. Jackson was an abberation for a rookie and comparing Maclin to Desean is comparing apples to oranges. I think Maclin will make a good contribution to this team. I thought Peters did a pretty decent job. The comentators were picking on him the whole game but every play they showed where someone was in the backfield it was someone coming up the gut which isn't Peters assignment. I think having Weaver on the field will help the protection and open up some holes.— BadgerVMD
- How bad was that commentating trio? So many awkward silences, so many blatantly wrong descriptions. And if you're getting the descriptions wrong, any "analysis" of what's going on is impossible. Liked Badger said, they were ripping Peters a lot (esp. Hugh). ON a specific play they blamed him, and then the replay showed he blocked his man perfectly and it was another guy's man. *awkward silence*. Maclin looks good at receiver, but does not hit the hole on kickoffs the way Hobbs/Demps do.— BroadcastingWisdom
- A poorly thrown ball to maclin it was,but he could have made more of an effort to catch it..Putting one hand up to bat it down as your looking at the defenders approaching is not what an nfl reciever does...i agree with hugh,he didnt want contact— stupidgurl
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Brief and to the point; I too am a HUGE Jason Avant Fan. I have been on his bandwagon since day one and if the Eagles don't use him more, that is just plain stupid. This guy is a class act, a great route runner, and something we haven't gotten to say much-------GREAT hands. Love him, love him, love him! Big fans in this house!— cgrant
- Sheil, you're way too harsh on Winston Justice. I've watched every snap he's played this preseason and he's coming along nicely as a RT. Sure, he'll lose a battle once in a while but on the whole he's doing a nice job. You keep harping on the few battles he loses throughout a game. You don't talk about the overall quality of his play which has been high so far. The guy's a hard worker, good character guy. He deserves a little more fairness from you.— soulman386
- Hugh Douglas is spending too much time with Angelo Cataldi. He's beginning to sound like him as a color analyst.— Bob1
- You guys would have enjoyed the feed from Jax. I live just north of Jax so it's a local broadcast here. Tony Boselli called McNabb one of the top QB's in the NFL. Kind words from a very good retired OL. He was worried at the end of the game that the Eagles had moved the ball at will against the Jags throughout most of the game. He did say the Jag players were more aware of their circumstances during the game than were the Birds. Tory Holt's TD was a classic example. I do not recall the Jag announcers saying anything negative about Maclin or Peters.— Lockyer
- I'm watching the Eagles-Jags game for the 3rd time on my DVR because I forgot to watch Stacy Andrews specifically during the first two viewings. He did awesome. He gets down the field very quickly for a big man. At one point, it looked as if he was running as fast as McCoy when he was setting up a lead block. Justice did OK getting downfield on running plays too...but not as good as Andrews. Stacy Andrews has a chance to be one of my favorite players if he keeps this up.— hydrodoug
- gordy, i didn't think he looked all that timid. i hate hugh douglas as an analyst and the rest of them were garbage as well. how long was it until they realized it wasn't mikel who put that hit on at the goalline? the 610 morning show is seriously so awful i can barely sit through it, and last week the midday show was painful to listen to espescially on friday when hugh was on. he was a good football player, but he is GOD AWFUL on the radio and somehow worse as an analyst..this is one of the reasons i was hesitant to listen to his questioning of whether maclin wants to play football— MPatt24
- Sheil, I mostly agree with your comments: --overall, a slightly softer grade on the offense as the Jags have a better than average D, I like the depth they have and only at the end with 2nd and 3rd teamers did the Eagles really move the ball against them. --Also agree Avant might be getting to a breakout year this season; if McNabb and he stay healthy, the QB has faith and looks for him more and more. --I still think Justice is battling confidence issues, but he is making progress, I feel, and could wind up as a solid player by the end of the season. Bad news is, if he has to be there throughout the year, we are going to lose a full level of performance from the O-line due to the fact he's replacing someone. --I used to really like Curtis, but he's gone backwards it seems to me, and like you said, his blocking has GOT to improve to help launch the other weapons when they are coming to his side of the field. --And that's good news; a great set of young, fast weapons. Forget Douglas' comment; it was ill-chosen and said to a rookie who was trying to reach a poorly thrown ball. exposing him more to a tough hit. In fact, McCoy won't be chosen as Rookie of the year, but could be just as valuable to the team. --And Buckley, Buckley, Buckley; hopefully Coach can find some ways to use him; maybe in the occasional 3rd down package as a decoy for Westbrook. --Oh, one last note: Weaver is going to, even with Reid's inexperience with actually having a real FB, make some real difference and help at the very least #5's health as the O line will struggle a lot early on. --Bottom line after your two articles? I wish it was better, but offensive weapons won't be able to be fully used because of the O-line for the first half of the year, and I fear the D will give up too much yardage and not be able to "not break" like earlier Eagle defenses due to poor leadership from the linebackers. An improved Akers this year will help by a few points. Final record: 9-7, no playoffs...— Icemannj
- Jason Avant is the type of player who makes up for lack of speed with intelligence, toughness, and technique. He is the type of player who can be a leader by example and does the little things neccessary for the offense to thrive. Maclin worries me a bit as he is the "anti" Avant. He has all the physical tools but he reminds me of Kenny Jackson and will probably have some big plays, but overall will underachieve. He slipped in the draft for a reason folks and I liked Harvin better. Kevin Curtis is done. The guy had 2 big games (Detroit and Jets) with this team and has been very average with the rest. Never liked the signing and since his natural position is the slot, with Avant firmly entrenched there it is hard to find a role for this guy. Maclin will be the guy opposite Jackson in a year or two but in the meantime can Reggie Brown be the guy on the outside? Peters will give up some sacks this season so hopefully his run blocking makes up for his deficiencies in pass protection. The guy looks out of shape and the fact that he has overachieved (tight end at Arkansas) scares me that he turns into a guy who made his money and nothing to play for. With this schedule, I cannot see any scenario that does not end up 7-9, 8-8, or 9-7. This team on paper is slightly above average but it has to play 3 strong teams on the road (Atlanta, San Diego, Chicago)plus having to play in the best division in football basically adds up to 6 losses automatically. The swing games will be New Orleans and Carolina where if they split they will be 9-7 and may get into a wild card. I figure they lose to both teams so that means they will have to sweep one division team which does not seem likely. Schedule is too tough right now but an injury or two changes that week to week. All these squandered opportunities in the past looks like it will haunt this regime to the end. Not going all in when you had a devastating defense from 2000-2003 will be looked upon as the reason.— tmax13
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
