Quick hit thoughts the Eagles' first preseason game
Kevin Kolb moves the offense, the offensive line holds, Mike Vick with big plays for better and worse, and Riley Cooper makes a big first impression
Quick hit thoughts the Eagles' first preseason game
Jonathan Tamari
Here are some very, very quick thoughts on the Eagles' first preseason game, now that the coach has spoken and the stands here at the Linc have emptied. First half thoughts from earlier in the night are below.
Coach Andy Reid got a bunch of questions on the offensive line, and he said he was pleased - though he acknowledged that the first team was in there for just one quarter for one preseason game. (He didn't add, but I will: against an opponent that did not look very formidable). He said he was happy with both the pass protection and run blocking.
Mike Kafka had a nice long pass to Chad Hall, though Reid said he came up short on some others. Arm strength has been the knock on Kafka, but Reid actually praised his strength.
Martell Mallett got a chance to do his thing: 15 runs for 60 yards and a touchdown. But it was against the Jaguars' third team defense.
Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said the defense had some growing pains. Those deep touchdown passes they gave up fell under that heading. The team has some promising safeties with Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman, but with Quintin Demps and Antoine Harris both hurt last night, the experience is thin.
In response to a question about Nate Allen and Brandon Graham: Allen didn't really have much to do. Six plays, none of which were very threatening by the Jaguars. Graham got some pressure - he flew around Jaguars' tackles - but didn't get to the quarterback. Still, he looked every bit as dangerous here as he has at camp, though facing mostly back up offensive linemen. After the game he told some reporters he was getting too far upfield, rushing past the quarterback and would have to fix that.
Other rookies: Kurt Coleman had a strong pass break up on an early third down and was around the ball often. He may have been victimized on one of those long passes, though. Need to review the video to see. Kafka was OK, nothing spectacular but no big mistakes, either. Riley Cooper had a big night, 3 catches, 61 yards. Trevard Lindley showed some good ball skills, even if the interception was taken back. Reid said he liked the young corner's aggressiveness. Those are the main impressions, keeping in mind I had to spend much of the second half, when some of the others rookies got in, writing a story for the paper in order to beat my deadline. I hope to have more after watching video of the game.
Kick coverage needs work. The Jaguars averaged 32 yards per return and almost broke a couple. Ken Parrish had to make two plays early. Reid pointed this out in his press conference.
Two other first half points I didn't make below:
The first team defense did about as much as you can expect, short of creating a turnover. Two series, two three-and-outs.
DeSean Jackson's run, as a reader pointed out, shows what kind of a weapon he is. There are many very good receivers, but not nearly as many who can shake a guy to the ground and make an entire stadium - in a preseason game, no less - say "wow."
UPDATE: In response to one last question about Ingram, before I pack up and go get some sleep (I think the Linc staff would like me to go, too): he was there, but not in very much. Clay Harbor really looks like he has moved ahead in that competition, though the coaches might say they are trying to be careful with Ingram. Ingram told reporters he would be patient and work his way back into the swing of things, though he might not really have much choice. He has not looked very dangerous in camp so far.
Some very, very quick thoughts on the first half:
Kevin Kolb moved the offense well and spread the ball around, targeting DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant and Brent Celek in two drives and part of a third. Kolb did have a couple throws into coverage, though, and the offense got into the red zone twice with Kolb in and couldn't score touchdowns. He was 6 for 11 for 95 yards.
Michael Vick looked explosive with his arm and leg, hitting Riley Cooper on a long pass and outrunning defenders for several good gains, not to mention that slick touchdown run. The red zone fumble and interception take off some of the luster, though.
The first team offensive line gave Kolb plenty of time to throw. He faced little pressure. No apparent snap problems. There was not much running room for LeSean McCoy, though.
Riley Cooper, welcome to Philly. First reception, a 46 yard bomb from Mike Vick. Just like at Lehigh.
Second team pass defense needs some work -- two long touchdowns given up to Luke McCown.
Kurt Coleman made a couple nice plays: a big hit to break up a pass on fourth-and-three, and a solid tackle, fighting off a blocker on the kick return after the Vick score.
Asante Samuel stuffed Marcedes Lewis to prevent a first down and disrupted another third down throw to get the defense off the field in the first team's only two sequences.
Ken Parrish's kick offs did not reach the end zone (except one on a bounce).
LeSean McCoy had a good pass block when the Eagles were backed up inside their 10.
Kelley Washington had a quietly good first half. Nearly blocked a punt, got open deep and drew a pass interference penalty to set up the Vick score and provided a down field block for Eldra Buckley to help him gain some extra yards on a pass play.
Clay Harbor got a few looks with the first team in two tight end sets.
The Jaguars' first teamers looked quite bad. Keep that in mind while assessing the Eagles.
UPDATE: In response to a question below, Stewart Bradley did play but had no tackles. The Eagles first team defense was on the field for just two three and outs. They gave up just 10 yards.
Jeff and I will have more in Saturday and Sunday's Inquirer.
What did you see?
kolb looked really good and the defense forced two 3 in and outs so that was really good.— briandawkins20
I told you Vick would shine again....— elijah29
@briandawkins20: You must be looking through beer goggles. 3 yrs and all we get is 6-11 0 TDs the kid has progress very little. After 3 yrs sitting watching, learning and waiting you'd expect more than that. People better hope he shows more in the next game because he really doesn't look that much better than yr 1 and he has better WRs to throw to. Reid better hope his safety net Vick will show up or the Kolb experiment might just blow up in his face. By the way what did #5 look like? Ha,Ha, jab, jab.— realtruth- realtruth: It was a pre season game so calm down dude. Kolb did really good and will get better as time goes on. calm down because Kolb is a stud and will prove alot of haters wrong this year.— briandawkins20
Kolb is a CLASS ACT ...look forward to the statistical breakdown of this game...GO 'BIRDS' johnnyu- Didn't see any stats for Bradley, is he playing?— ras#2
Comment removed.- Please provide your reviews of the rookies: Allen, Graham, etc...— JohnFC
- Michael Vick Looked real good and real fast. I really didn't see enough of Kolb to get an opinion. He threw into heavy coverage at least twice and is lucky he did not get picked off either time. Special teams looked real shabby especially on kick offs. David Akers has a better leg by far for kick offs. The coverage on kick offs was terrible. The Eagles need to find a way to pay DeSean Jackson. He gave his all in a pre-season game. A class act all the way!— Rob0426
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- Was Ingram out, didn't see him at all.— kcruel
- Nice wrap-up, Jonathan. We'll have to see what we do against a better D.— tacklinjoe
Philly_Mike correct. Bills are hopeless this year. Looks like Cooper & Mallett are in.— Richard Saunders- Its only preseason and McNabb looks like McNabb, no stock in preseason games, Kolb will be fine like Aaron Rodgers, this is a rebuilding year, don't expect much until next season when everybody has been together and seasoned— PHILLY76
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- Snap Judgments, where we try to make Biblical pronouncements based on a few series of play!: Vick was both the star and the goat. He proved once again that he can't run Andy's system at all, but he's the best of the sandlot QB's. You had to laugh at Hugh Douglas (and the incredibly incompetent Don Tollefson) though. How many times did we hear "he's learning to go through his progressions" or something like that. The guy is 30 years old and an 8 year veteran HUGH!!!!! Hank Baskett is in trouble, and Hanson is gone. El Buckley has a high motor. Lindley might be a player. Coleman is a hitter, but not a player yet. The D looked dominating, but still can't get a pass rush without 6 guys coming. There's NOBODY behind the first team secondary. Andy rushed the ball more times in one quarter than ever before, mean anything? Keep Austin Howard, if only so Hugh Douglas gets to say "pancaked" a dozen more times. Celek will catch 100 balls this year if healthy. McGlynn was competent. The O-line rush blocked pretty well. Kolb is much more mobile at first glance than we thought. Ok, that's it for now.— jimmyj
- Oh yeah, why are we still talking about McNabb? Move on!— jimmyj
- I don't doubt that Kolb will be a good QB! With all these weapons he should thrive in this offense. We need him to be great! I want a superbowl! Don't tell me this garbage about this is Kolb's first year. Please! That just gives Reid a pass! If Kolb has inflated stats and Aykers is a pro bowl kicker it is not good!!!!!!!!!!
- Quick thought ... It's a shame Vick didn't break his legs. A**HOLE— savealife
- Lol @ anyone who thinks McNabb did better than Kolb. 7.25 Y/A < 8.64 Y/A, not very tough math. I really enjoyed watching the Redskins first drive...Two passes into the dirt.— TheKolbTouchdownMachineShow
- Touche' Real Truth...guess I really don't have much to add EXCEPT Kolb sure didn't look like Mr. Radar Accuracy as SOOOO advertised AND McNabb sure seemed to fit the ball into tight coverage off his back foot on his TD toss....and outside of the two turnovers Vick looked sharp, much better than last year..and Kafka wasn't too bad...P.S. Philly 76; correct Aaron Rodgers is a STUD Fantasy pick like Kolb will be vs. suck arse teams BUT how many playoff wins does Rodgers have compared to Farve the INT machine? Be something close to how much KK will pale to #5, the best TD/INT ratio QB of all time, when it all said and done with...yea #5 throws some dirt darts but not too many dumb arse Int's, only a few when you really look at it....— RoastedBird
- aaron rodgers was a legitimate 1st round draft pick, kolb was at 4th rounder at best that the birds took in the 2nd. no comparison at all, btw green bay had a heck of a season in rodgers first year, no let off and you could even say were better then the year before. kolb has shown nothing to say he is a starting qb in this league, in his only regular season starts he threw how many interceptions? he did ok in the first preseason game against a bad team, still way too many question marks on him to say one way or the other but i still think vick will be starting qb before this thing is over.— dust_m23
- The new QB's always look good in preseason. People just love the brand new QB like a new puppy. Then the regular season starts, and he starts missing a few passes. Then he loses a few games. Then the love just slowly goes away. Kinda like a balloon slowly losing air. That's right all of you Kolb lovers know what I'm saying.— dowens1617
- It's pre-season! Who cares how McNabb played, he's not here but I will say this, I'm not sold on Kolb just yet. McNabb has a better group of receivers and I'm interested to see what Kolb does when the defense doubles DJ!— ziggaman
- Really need to see this O Line in more than a quarter of pre season against a real team.
- Cooper might be our Marques Colston - this kid looks like the real deal
i think hank baskets the obvious cut at reciever unless hes that much better than kelly washington on special teams(which i doubt)..but someone better watch out for austin howard hes gonna be a starter sooner than later— wcm65- If u don't think vick is a difference maker try this when in atl everyone knew vick gave them the best chance to win when he wAs out they lost. When Brady went down Matt cassell kept it movin not sayin vick is better but look how much he ment to his team. LAstly just be honest with yourself if vick was the starter for the chiefs they would be taken a little more seriously. It's not vicks fault that atl couldn't win it's funny that now that he is gone they made moves to get proven players instead of rejects (asley lelie, peerless price, warrick "I been" dunn, Ed "no hartwell", and how about alge "who do u play for now" crumpler) what a joke!— shaad
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