Big plays missing from Eagles' offense
The Eagles are a big-play offense, but they were unable to get anything going down the field Sunday against the Redskins.
Big plays missing from Eagles' offense
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
The Eagles' ability to hit on big plays in the passing game was key to their success in wins against the Lions and Jaguars.
In two and a half quaters, Michael Vick had completed nine passes of 25 yards or more, and DeSean Jackson was averaging 24.5 yards per catch through three games.
When the offense was putting points on the board and clicking, it was because Jackson and Jeremy Maclin were getting downfield for huge chunks of yardage. That's the way it was last year when the franchise broke several records offensively, and that's how it was for the two and a half quarters prior to today.
The Redskins were well aware of that. And defensive coordinator Jim Haslett made the decision to take away the Eagles' big plays and force the Birds to dink and dunk their way down the field. His strategy worked to perfection. Against the Redskins, Jackson's longest reception was 9 yards. Entering the game, he had accounted for over 41 percent of the team's receiving yards. Against Washington, he had just three catches for 19 yards.
Maclin, who had scored a touchdown in every game before today, was targeted just twice and finished with one catch for 15 yards.
I asked him afterwards what the Redskins did specifically to take away the Eagles' big plays.
"They weren't letting anybody get behind them. They [the safeties] were out of there, way out of there," Maclin said. "You gotta take what they're giving us. You can't be greedy."
Kevin Kolb had a chance to hit Jackson on a big play near the sideline in the fourth quarter, but his throw was off-target. Afterwards, Jackson said he thought the wind had an effect on the pass. Kolb said it's a play he has to execute. He gave the Redskins' defense credit, but added that the Eagles hurt themselves.
On the flip side, the Redskins' ability to hit on a couple big plays in the passing game was the difference. Overall, Donovan McNabb did not have a great game, completing just 8 of 19 passes for 125 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
But on the Redskins' second drive, he found tight end Chris Cooley for a 31-yard touchdown to put Washington up, 14-0. On the Redskins' third drive, McNabb connected with Anthony Armstrong for a 57-yard completion on 3rd-and-15. Washington ended up with a field goal and a 17-3 lead.
The Eagles' defense actually held Washington scoreless in the final 39 minutes and 11 seconds of the game. In the second half, the Reskins punted five times and turned it over once.
But the two big pass plays were key in getting them an early lead that they never relinquished.
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BABYARM sighting!— BooDuhBud- Mcdermutt needs to go. Too much thinking, too complex and gaffes galore, bomb to Armstrong, two man blitz on one side and no contain on the other. No pass rush, no blitz sack, playing with two LBs eve3ry game, Sims, Bradley. Some business decisions in the way of consistency on offense, not getting O-Line depth etc. In short, a mess. KK is short on guts and arm and will cost AR his job. On the postivie side, McGlynn gets better every week. MJG played better than any other RG to date. Shady, Schmitt, DJax qand Maclin fun to watch as is Owen Schmitt. The bigger the game, the worse we play lately not sure if that means a house cleaning is in order or not a bit too early to tell.— oldBird
- Sheil, I kept wondering were the short passes check downs or were they the primary receivers? Two things, among many, were troublesome. First Kolb did not look comofortable in the pocket, though overall the protection was adequate. Second, if he was throwing checkdowns, it means that he doesn't have the confidence in his own arm to get the ball in there.— jimmyj
- kolb was checking down to keep his stats looking good.— palmyra21
- Kolb looked pretty bad today. I'd say the team as a whole looked mediocre. The Eagles are short on talent. The o-line is just plain bad. Same goes for the run defense. This is an 8-8 team at best.— p-diddy
- Looked like Kolb was doing his best impression of Donovan with the short passing game. OH that's right same coaches are calling the same predictable plays. Donovan bet us with a passer rating of 61.5 I guess that tells you all you need to know about this team. Good Luck guys your going to need it— OklahomaJoe
- main difference between these two is the coach. and that's why the eagles lost. again.— snakeplissken
- After 79 years, 64 as an Eagle fan, and years of watching mcNabb at Syracuse, I found myself rooting for the Redskins. McDermott (sp?) is no Johnson and Corn on the Kolb is the worst draft pick in a decade.... and without Vick, the Sparrows would by lucky to tie Alabama. They will keep cool in the NFL basement until many changes are made.— humanist
- Andy Reid's draft choice and QB of the future exposed again....Fire him Jeffery......Andy Reid's speedy defense exposed again...no run stoppers....and the giants and the packers and the cowgirls are licking their chops.....Fire him Jeffery Andy Reid's mishandling the time out at the end of the half exposed his lack of understanding and knwledge of the rules.......(it was not Donovan's fault haterss) Fire him Jeffery........and now with Michael down (the only reason we had a chance) the season is in jeopardy.....Fire him Jeffery......You had a chance to hire the guy who beat your team today, the wearer of two (2) Super Bowl Rings Jeff......Fire Reid today.......— nuggett
- eagles won time of possession, more yards on O, big plays- mccoy fumble, refs screwed eagles at end of first half, long punt return allowed. the glass is half full to me. clean up the penalties, have kolb take some shots down the field and they'll be OK. 17 points given up isn't the end of the world. Jacksonville beat Indy today— notch44
- Its so nice to See McNabb win this game in front of all these losing fans so they can go home crying and its even better that their QB went down and they had to put their bonehead QB back in. Way to go Skins! Great game!— MRD
- MRD... Why all the hate, Bro? For the fans, the players... You must live a lonely life to be posting hatred at 12:20 AM.— Cr0we
Comment removed.- I've seen all i ever need to see out of K.Kolb. He is not nor will he ever be the answer at QB for the Eagles.
Vick, on the other hand, is a STUD and should be extended immediately.— valorius - Kolb was checking down because the wind was a big factor in the passing game. The same reason McNabb didn't throw deep that often and why he got picked. Kolb did the rightthing, and went with the high percentage passes that had them moving down the field. If McCoy didn't fumble, it may have been a different outcome and noone would have cared.— PhillyFanSouth
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