What they're saying about the Eagles
Here's the weekly roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles as they prepare for Sunday's game against the Falcons.
What they're saying about the Eagles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Here's the weekly roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles as they prepare for Sunday's game against the Falcons:
SI.com's Peter King has the Eagles 15th in his weekly rankings:
Kevin Kolb needed to throw a knockout punch in the quarterback boxing match Sunday night, and what he did was win a TKO with his very nice 22-of-32 night in the 27-24 win at San Francisco. Maybe he'll get one more start before Mike Vick returns, or maybe Vick pushes hard to be ready next week against Atlanta in a game he really wants to play.
Matt Bowen of the National Football Post offers up his notes from the Redskins' gameplan when they faced the Eagles back in 2005.
It's interesting to see what offensive tendencies are the same five years later. The Redskins had a big focus on the Eagles' screen passes, and their game plan focused on Terrell Owens and Brian Westbrook. On first and second downs, the Redskins prepared for crossing routes that were designed to pick up yards after the catch.
As I mentioned in yesterday's post, the Eagles have not always had success with those this season. Last week against the 49ers, the Birds' wide receivers picked up only 27 yards after the catch.
Bowen's piece is definitely worth a read though. It'd be interesting to see how it compared to opposing game plans this season.
SI.com's Don Banks has the Eagles 15th in his power rankings:
I'm not buying the notion that Kevin Kolb could play his way back into the starting lineup while Michael Vick recovers from injured ribs. I think Andy Reid and the entire Eagles locker room knows who gives them the best chance of winning this season, and it's No. 7. Vick puts the big play back into play in Philly.
ESPN.com has the Eagles 14th in its rankings:
Kevin Kolb didn't look too bad while beating the 49ers in San Francisco.
Adam Caplan of FoxSports.com has the Eagles 15th in his power rankings:
You had to be impressed with QB Kevin Kolb's performance last week at San Francisco. The quarterback position for this team is in pretty good shape. The thing that Philadelphia has to overcome is injuries at several key positions.
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com has the Eagles 14th:
Kevin Kolb answered a lot of questions at San Francisco. He might need to do so again this week against Atlanta if Mike Vick can't play.
Michael Silver of Yahoo Sports has the Eagles 12th.
Football Outsiders, which has not been impressed with Michael Vick's performance this season, did not make much of Kevin Kolb's performance last week either:
Kolb ended up having a day roughly similar to what Michael Vick produced in his two starts. Like Vick, he was playing against a pretty bad pass defense (although, unlike Vick's opponents, this pass defense was actually good a year ago). When Kolb got pass protection, he looked like an very effective quarterback, capable of making plays downfield while remaining cool and collected in the pocket. Where Kolb struggles, though, is when he gets stuck in third-and-long or has issues in front of him. Once his pocket breaks down, Kolb devolves into the early-2008 Matt Cassel before our very eyes, which isn't a surprise; like Cassel back then, Kolb lacks the pro reps that you need to grow comfortable with pressure. It may end up that Vick is the better quarterback for this Eagles team because of his ability to make hay with a terrible offensive line, even though Kolb is probably the better passer.
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"Kolb is the better passer" LMAO. What a F'in joke. Vick is the best QB on the team, and a top 10 NFL QB. Period.— elijah29
The Daily D Report has the Eagles ranked 20th:
"The horrendous D play calling and the equally as bad LB’s will keep them in the bottom half of the league.— osi is hurt boohoo- Bill, I'm not sure if there's some hidden BS in your comparison between Kolb and Vick but I can tell you, the Vick you described is not the Vick that has been working and studying his tail off for the last year and a half. Kolb has not done enough to give him any props on passing and reading anything.— Gee Money
- Like pilots, there are old quarterbacks and bold quarterbacks but not old and bold quarterbacks. Having the option to run certainly makes Vick a more dangerous quarterback for defenses, but also to his health and longevity.— RichB
- Actually, I agree with both Bill1996 and everyone else. Take a look at the teams that Michael Vick played against. Detroit? Jacksonville? He did good for the little time in the GB game but played stiffs the rest of the way. Then gets hurt in the Redskins game. So really, Vick has not had a true test. And Kolb was never really given a chance. i think the QBs are yet to be determined. Heck, even McNabb had better competition although he still is Low Throw McBlow.— roodaddy99
Comment removed.- Who are Football Outsiders and what's their deal?! It's obvious that Vick is the better improvisor, but give Kolb some credit. He did scramble out of trouble and found Celek for a TD. He also showed some escapability on a nice run for a first down.— HDTV
- That's true Imallaboutdatruth, but McNabb brought his tendencies to the Redskins. You know, missing wide open receivers, throwing at their feet. But I do have to say that at least they are first in the division.— roodaddy99
- Calling a criminal a criminal doesn't make you racist...— beagle29
- bill1996, Kolb is smarter??? Wow, talk about stereotypes. What freaking QB in the NFL isn't smart you idiot. Vick took the Falcons to the NFC conference championship, I don't think when teams prepare all week for you and you still manage to have success is just a matter of athleticism, you have to be smart to outwit defensive coordinators who spend all week looking at film and preparing schemes simply to shut one man down. Get a grip Bill1996, just another reason why Philadelphia rank 92nd in college graduates but 2nd in the US of colleges in the Philly metro area. Go read a book.— jojorich2
- Eagles will be in the 20's in everyone's ranking by the end of the year...truth be told! Eagles are doomed until they remove the real problem, REID...— tralala
- Look at the stats and tell me who's a better QB.. does Vick or Kolb make Desean Jakson better? Vick does and that's clear. smh people are so mean and blind to the fact that vick is the better QB right now. Many are Racist and some just hate Vick from the Dog killing incident that went on. With all that stuff aside.. lets talk about the Athlete in Mike Vick and we all know the truth of the matter.. He's the best for the Team right now.— twistedmetalone
- Bill 1996 = reason 2,356 why cousins should not marry.— mlr710
- Reid's record in the ten years + coaching the Eagles is the best among coaches with 150 games or more. I wouldn't refer him as the dumbest coach .— kenr
- rubanek, stating that a criminal is used to running form the police his whole life, may be considered a foolhardy statement but it is not racist. just because the person he is referring to is african american does not make that a racist statement, that's all i'm saying. you are making the jump to racism, i look at it as vick is someone who has been in trouble with the law for a good portion of his life. i would call a criminal a criminal regardless of skin color.— beagle29
- I agree with beagle29. Why can't anyone criticize a black man without being a racist? Pulling out the racist card here shows that you know you are wrong and don't have a better point. Truth is that Kolb is a better PASSER (as stated in the article), Vick is the better QUARTERBACK. Over time, Kolb may learn enough to become a good quarterback.— hoyaray
- The offense runs better under Vick, and Vick does a better job at getting the ball to his playmakers. Kolb played adequately last week, but still I have yet to see him and his accuracy allow his receivers YAC. Ride Vick until the wheels fall off.— beegal99
- nizzies...give it up. Its getting real old. When was the last time a great running/average passer QB won a SB? Buehler, Buehler.
While you're on the racist kick, nizzie, the only black QB to win a SB was slower than Kolb.— JamesJ - Bill1996 is undoubtedly a racist alright.— HeelYes
- Cut it out with the 'you're more racist than me' BS already. KK and Vick are both middle-of-the-pack QBs in this QB-rich league right now, and we're not going to win with either of them this season anyway, with the rest of this roster. It may not be realistic, but I would split the remaining season in half for the 2 guys to see what they've got and prepare for the continuation of the rebuilding next offseason.— goeagles87
- the bookies like the eagles to win by 3. so expect heavy money on the falcons and guess what! the bookies win, again.— JACK V
- Imallaboutdatruth: 5 is happy with who pays him and could care less about the final score. Get over it skippy!— jjthree
- Completely agree with Football Outsiders. So far neither QB has played well enough for the team to be anything more than the Wayne Fontes/Bobby Ross/Barry Sanders era Lions i.e. beat the bad teams and lose to the good ones. But Kolb is just starting out, shows promise, and presumably will get better after 15-20 starts. It is baffling that they would forego that development while alienating fans at home and across the country just to keep Vick off the streets.— jtj06
- I am an outsider looking in so I do have a much different perspective on a lot of things about the Eagles...I live in Seattle and am a Seahawk fan and I am a Huge Jerome Harrison Fan...So I have move my flag from Cleveland to the Eagles (We all get here in different ways)
1) Andy Reid...As an outsider I always viewed you guys as a rock of stability...a Dynasty like Pittsburgh...Solid, Stable, Always good..Most Teams (Certainly Cleveland) Pray to someday be where you guys are...
2) The Browns played Atlanta last week...They are Really tough to run on..Now the Browns Offensive Coordinator is not Very Good (he is horrible) but they couldn't do anything with Big old Hillis or Quick and Fast Harrison ...On the other hand their version of running the ball is plunges into the line between Left Tackle and Guard...That's it. No deception, they haven't run a Screen pass all year, and their passing game sucks, They have no one as good as kolb or your WRs...so maybe that will loosen it up for McCoy...
3)You guys complain about Reid on Game day...Look at Mangini he is horrible...
4) The Browns have a FB L. Vickers #47....He is a free agent at the end of the year...He is as good a Run Blocker as I have seen..JUST SAYING...
5) It is nice being a new Eagle Fan ..and going into a game with at least a chance to win no matter who WE play.— Bigmike 34
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