What they're saying about the Eagles
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
What they're saying about the Eagles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Here's a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles:
The Eagles are 21st in ESPN.com's power rankings. Writes NFC East blogger Dan Graziano:
A road win in Miami is a good win right now, the way the Dolphins have been playing, so the Eagles get the win and slide up three spots. Just 17 more gets them back to their preseason ranking! Again, as with Dallas, there are a bunch of teams right in front of them -- Seattle, Arizona, Chicago -- that all beat them head-to-head. So the ranking looks about right.
Elliot Harrison of NFL.com has the Eagles at No. 21:
While wins by the Falcons and Lions ruled out what was already a Shawn Bradley-thin chance of earning a wild-card berth, the NFC East title still is in play. Defensive coordinator Juan Castillo has taken more criticism than any assistant in pro football (although Arena ball hasn't started yet), but his unit was disruptive Sunday, starting with holding Miami to 3 of 15 on third down.
SI.com's Don Banks isn't sure any of the NFC East teams deserve to be in the playoffs:
As for Philadelphia, in the unlikely event the Eagles make the playoffs after registering as the biggest disappointment in recent NFL history through the season's first 12 games, I would submit a division championship by them would indeed speak volumes about how far the once-feared NFC East has fallen. Philadelphia's only consistent qualities this season have been the depth of its underachievement, and the creativity its star-studded roster has shown in finding new ways to lose fourth-quarter leads, mostly at home before its rabid and frustrated fan base.
But Banks isn't ready to completely rule out the Eagles:
The "Good'' Eagles made a return showing for their game at Miami on Sunday, and believe it or not, there's still some hope for Philadelphia in the NFC East race. The Eagles are 5-8, and would have to win at home next week against the Jets, at Dallas in Week 16 and home against Washington in Week 17. Then they'd need some help. How much help? If Dallas (7-6) loses two of its last three, and the Giants (7-6) go 1-2, the 8-8 Eagles would win the division. Remarkable. And not entirely implausible.
Brian Billick of FoxSports.com has the Eagles 21st in his power rankings:
The Eagles may have had their best all-around game on Sunday against the Dolphins. With Jason Babin and Trent Cole leading the way, the defensive line accumulated nine sacks and an interception. Making this group of players into a team is an ongoing effort, but they appear to be ironing it out.
In his pre-Bowl mock draft, Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com has the Eagles taking Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still:
Will Andy Reid be back next year? Will DeSean Jackson? Do the Eagles hire a new defensive coordinator and install a new scheme? There are several questions to be addressed in Philly before the Draft, but one thing for certain is the rush defense needs to improve. Philadelphia’s interior defensive line’s been a sore spot all season. They could go a variety of directions to address the holes on D, but I think they take Still — a 6-4, 310-pound local product out of Wilmington, Delaware.
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com has the Eagles 19th:
So they do have a pulse? Strange as it might seem, they are still alive.
Michael Silver of Yahoo Sports has the Eagles 19th:
When Michael Vick plays the way he did in Miami on Sunday, doesn’t my case for keeping Andy Reid seem that much stronger?
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the Eagles 25th:
It was refreshing to see the Eagles finally kill a coach other than their own.
The National Football Post has the Eagles 19th:
Can the Eagles put together two wins in a row when they host the Jets this weekend?
Football Outsiders took a look at how teams varied in their performance from the first three quarters to the fourth. They found that the Eagles had the 10th-ranked defense in the first three quarters, but were 29th in the fourth.
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Best quote goes to Mike Florio.— p-diddy- When the Giants beat the stinkin' Redskins this week....and Cowboys beat the stinkin" Buccaneers....the Eagles will be ELIMINATED from playoffs and they will tank the rest of the season.— frank105
- But,,, this is the "all in" season,, surely a 7-9 or 6-10 season can’t happen!! Right?
not with Howe as the “guy” and not with Juan and his outstanding ability to adjust and use his players to their strengths!!
Not with Marty and his love affair of all that is passing!
Not with a fragile QB who stands “steadfast” in the pocket and trusts his “inner QB” instincts delivering deadly accurate strikes to his receivers in motion,,, never running AWAY from a pocket that isn’t collapsing! Not a QB who only when forced will run and slide for that first down assuring he’ll be healthy for the next play! not a QB who can see the blitz coming from the weak side and call an audible!
This can’t happen! With all that is perfect with the front office and their TRUE desire to win a championship!!! Status quo nowhere to be found in this organization!
— With all this talent who needs a real defensive coordinator 2011 - Still is a very good player, but either takes plays off or is out of shape for the long haul. On the other hand, the LB corps has taken the whole season off, so how could it hurt?— banned
- Wanted: A small fast QB with a history of poor accuracy, losing sight of receivers because of stature and never finishing the season healthy... Could earn 80 Mill as long as completion percentage stays at a robust 55.8%...
Inquire within.
— With all this talent who needs a real defensive coordinator 2011 - Lurie the schnorer will keep Reid and Howie Baby for two more years of drafting, and that means at least two dozen more speedy midgets with "high motors." Can't wait for that.— NM Eagle fan
- Hey Silver - Vick played horriby against MIA! Not sure how that would help anyone's case for keeping Reid.— BleedPhilly
- Pete Schreger's comment is inline with today's media; clueless and utterly lacking research"There are several questions to be addressed in Philly before the Draft, but one thing for certain is the rush defense needs to improve. Philadelphia’s interior defensive line’s been a sore spot all season....Fuggin DL has been good against pass it's the run where it's been spotty. We don't need another pass rushing DL we need run stoppers like Dixon(hope he's ready for next year) and fuggin LB's. Week in and out the media is getting worse much like the refs.....people do your fuggin jobs not sure how some of these bozo's get paid.
— glove69 - Uh, that's what Schrager is saying... rush defense = run defense— Mr. Magee
- Devon still is a horrible pick made by somebody who clearly knows nothing about the eagles.burfict,martin or reiff.— Illeagle
- Wide 9 formation makes dts focus on pass rush makes rush d mainly the lbs job.lbs havent filled gaps.dts are fine.ceartainly not priority #1.we need lbs capable of shedding blocks,lbs with instincts to read and diagnose and dont bite on simple misdirection.then and only then rush defense aka run defense(fuggin idiot) will improve.— Illeagle
- What game was Billick watching. The offense really wasn't all that good Sunday.The defense played well. The Dallas game was the Eagles best all around game. And Florio did have the best comment.— watsonmr
- The Eagles are way more predictable than picking Still. I would bet that the Eagles either draft an Offensive Lineman(a good choice considering it is both a weakness and stregnth. One quality addition to Peters could make this unit very, very good) Or they will pick one of the 5 QB's being projected in the 1st round. They will not draft a LB and probably shouldn't since there is a lot of LB talent in the draft. Let's just hope they don't start trading 2nd Rd.picks for 5th rd picks and they choose a LB in round 2. If they really loved a Safety early, tha ey might do that but only if the guy was projected as an All-pro type upside.— UncleStosh
- Only lbs with second rd grade are olbs there are no mlbs and all the olbs are tiny or play in a 3-4.they can probably get barron in the early second rd @ saftey.— Illeagle
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