Eagles-Lions Up-Down Drill
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Eagles-Lions Up-Down Drill
A look at the ups and downs from the Eagles' brutal 26-23 loss to the Lions in overtime:
Andy Reid
↓ -- A lot will be written about so-and-so did this wrong, and so-and-so unit did that wrong, but the Eagles’ 3-3 start rests solely on the head coach’s shoulders. Reid was terrible on Sunday. A .500 record going forward, needless to say, won’t save his job.
Nnamdi Asomugha
↑ -- For more than three quarters, Asomugha and others kept Calvin Johnson in check. But games go four quarters – more than four in this case. Megatron found his rhythm late, but most of it wasn’t at Asomugha’s expense. The cornerback’s interception was the only big-play the defense made all game.
Eagles o-line and d-line
↓-- It all starts up front, as Reid is wont to say. The Eagles lost the battle in the trenches. Jim Washburn and Howard Mudd are two of the best position coaches in the league, but their units aren’t getting the job done this season.
Michael Vick
↓-- The Eagles quarterback was under ungodly pressure for most of the game. Not many would have survived that kind of beating. But those two interceptions were brutal.
Jeremy Maclin
↑ – Lost in that disaster was the wide receiver’s best game of the season. Maclin finished with six catches for 130 yards and a 70-yard touchdown.
Marty Mornhinweg
↓ -- He made some good calls throughout the game, but overtime hasn’t been good to Mornhinweg. Why in the world would any offensive coordinator not call for a screen pass on third and 31 and backed up in overtime?
Dallas Reynolds
↓ -- Forget about his below-average blocking, who snaps the football to his quarterback as he’s waving for his wide receiver to go in motion? It wasn’t like Reynolds had to contend with crowd noise.
Danny Watkins
↓ – Danny Watkins is a worse top draft pick than Brandon Graham will ever be because the Eagles are forced to play the right guard and he just can’t get the job done.
Trent Cole
↓ – This was going to be an up arrow for the third and one attempt in the second quarter that the defensive end helped disrupt. But Cole, once again held sackless like the entire Eagles defense, shouldn’t finish any game without a tackle.
Howie Roseman
↓ – Some battles are lost before they’re fought. The Eagles’ lack of depth at safety had been harped upon since the start of the off-season and yet the general manager did little to address the issue. It cost the team when Nate Allen left with an injury.
Brent Celek
↓ -- The Eagles tight end took a beating and kept on playing Sunday night, so it’s hard to criticize Celek. But he should have held onto a couple of throws, including one in the end zone. He also had a touchdown called back when he pushed off at the line.
Juan Castillo
↓ – Three quarters of strong defense based on a solid game plan does not excuse getting out-coached in the fourth quarter and overtime. The Eagles defensive coordinator was out-witted by Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan at crunch time.
Fletcher Cox
↓ -- The rookie has to keep his cool. Cox was kicked out of the game for punching a Lion. With the extra time and the Eagles’ struggles on the line, losing the defensive tackle hurt down the stretch.
Brandon Hughes
↓ -- Why was Hughes out of the field late in the game getting beat time after time? Because he’s the Eagles’ sixth defensive back in their dime package. Doesn’t excuse some shaky defense from the cornerback.
You got it! Lot's of problems.
Vick had a lot of pressure for sure but he SUCKS at moving in the pocket. Most QB's are slow but are able to avoid the rush with little suubtle moves…a step to the side or a step forward and that buys them time. Vick if he moves it is into the rushers.
Marty's play calling has SUCKED all season! No screens at all this year. Run the F…in ball more! Short pass patterns and slants so the ball comes out. Not rocket science but he insists on throwing deep 90% of the time it seems.
The D line has been horrible and we thought they were going to be a strength this year. They should take a lot of the blame.
Why was Anderson and Marsh out there along with Hughes at a critical time in the game?— connorjr- Time to bring back McNabb. With 2 weeks of preparation McNabb can be ready to lead us after the bye.— lonewolf 10
- Yeah - lead us to yet another mediocre year with maybe one more one and done playoff appearance! Talk about moving backwards! — gdibig
- We need a more productive slot receiver and QB. IMO if we sign Plaxico and start the rookie we still have a chance this season. That means less batted passes and more 3rd down conversions. Run the ball more with the FB and shady. See these moves would mean Andy recognizes that his offense needs more adjustments but that won't happen. He thinks just waiting for players to step up is the answer. Good coaching means okay I'm tired of the fumbles and poor slot production lets give someone else a shot.— Yes_General
- The overtime series left no doubt this team has poor coaching on the offensive side of the ball. This was supposed to be one of the best in football and they barely avoided losing the game before they even punted. Will not watch again. Too hard. Same problems as last year with a head coach in denial as to the talent of his staff. What can they do to fix this? Nothing. I was a big Andy Reid apologist but no more.— iskabobpatel
- They are highly overrated talent wise, especially without Jason Peters. Probably no better than 10-12 in the league — banned
- The Tonner said it before the season began: the Eagles lost their best CB, OT and had no safeties to speak of. How the team would improve on last year's "fool's gold" aided 8-8 record was beyond the Tonner. For his truth-telling, the Tonner was called a hater and had to absorb many slings and arrows. The Tonner can accept that, most prophets are called crazy by their contemporaries. Well the Tonner is here to remind everyone he was right. Look it up if you want. Whether you like it or whether you don't like it, you should have learned to love it because it's the truth according to the Tonner and it's the best thing going today.
- Vick makes poor decisions but the head coach has to help him. Vick is getting clobbered every game with 10-12 hits per game. Reid keeps throwing when he has McCoy and doesn't use him.
Grow a pair Jeff and fire your head coach...Reid is a moron.— Fan74 - Somehow the eagles beat the Ravens despite the turnovers. Since then the Eagles have lost 3 of 4. By the way, Baltimore is now 5 and 1.— Fan74
- Cardinals gave up another 5 sacks today, making 22 in their last three games. Against the Eagles, not so much.
Kurt Coleman and Colt Anderson at safety with no pass rush? You may as well let them score and be done with it.
Kurt ole— banned - What happens to a good defense when the ofense keeps making coqstly mistakes is they get disheartened and disgusted and that is what you can expect from the Eagles defense the rest of the season.— mario1239
- i cannot fathom two sacks and a throw away in OT. Then again when your O-Line is this bad, anything is possible. Mike Vick is masking how bad the O-Line really is. We lose against teams with a good front seven (Arizona, Detroit, Steelers). How does Brandon Hughes wind up being in the conversation at crunch time ? Safety depth was an issue since day one for the 2012 season. Bell is soft, Reynolds is a practice squad player, Watkins is lost, and Herremens gets worse every game. i would move King back to left tackle, Herremens to RG, and Kelly to tackle. How can it get worse ? BTW, Jackson was open on the shallow cross that Suh batted away.— oldBird
- On defense, Jenkins is useless. Can't play run or pass rush. Time to activate the kid from Marshall and cut Cole's and Babin's snaps. Without Nate Allen, the safeties are in trouble.— oldBird
- This team is far past it's expiration date. The offense is soooo predictable and the defense can be easy to confused. Vick is stone cold stupid and the safties, the line, especially Babin are terrible. If we go 8-8 would be good, but I would rather us go 5-11 and get a better draft pick
- The Eagles could not have played any worse today, and game was still close. They will finish 9-7 on the talent they have, and give ownership a lot to think about.— camasbud
