Eagles Chat: A win would ease the pain

Welcome every one. Let's get started.

Why doesn't the NFL pull tapes from the Patriot's previous SB wins to determine if they were illegally taping their opponents?

Had a feeling this subject might get some questions. I don't know if the NFL has done what you suggest, but what's the point? They're not going to strip the Pats of their Super Bowl titles and I don't think the Eagles or any of the other teams would care to be crowned champions in that manner.

Why was Reggie Brown invisible last Sunday?

I don't know the answer to that one for sure, Brian. I watch the TV video Monday after every game, but I wish I had the coach's film so I could see how often Reggie was open. The Packers did get some pressure on Donovan, which I'm sure prevented some things in the passing game. It'll be interesting to see how much of a factor Reggie plays this week.

Do you wonder why Reid chose a QB in the draft? McNabb has a 1-4 record in his last 5 games. Good move by Reid.

I think Donovan's mounting number of injuries played a factor in taking Kolb, but I also think the Eagles really liked Kolb as a QB. McNabb has done an awful lot of winning during his time here, so he deserves a chance to continue that tradition. If McNabb gets hurt again or struggles, the Eagles feel as if they have their future in place.

Is Reno the answer?

It depends on the question. If you're looking for a sure-handed punt returner who doesn't have explosive speed, then Reno's the answer. If you're looking for Devin Hester, he's in Chicago.

Will the Eagles run more this week?

The Eagles had a 60-40 pass-to-run play call ratio last week and I think that's about where they want it. Most weeks it'll be in that range unless they have a double-digit lead late in the game and want to run out the clock.

Do you think Andy has lost his edge and is burnt out with coaching due to the time in the league and his sons, considering how UNprepared we were for week one?

No, I think Andy still has a passion for coaching. It's something I talked with him about before the start of the season and he still loves his work. I just think he made a terrible misjudgment about the return game.

Bob Why wasn't there a penalty called when the Packer player did not give Greg Lewis two yards to catch the ball? Seems like no one mentioned this rule all week.

Great question Johnny. I looked all over the NFL rulebook and could not find anything that says a player must be given a certain amount of room to catch a punt if he doesn't call for a fair catch. To me, the rule that might have been overlooked by the officials is that you can't advance a muff. A Packers player was clearly trying to advance the ball at about the 8-yard line, which is why it ended up in the end zone for a touchdown.

Is Special Teams now Andy Reid's "gloss-over area"? First it was the running game, then linebacking. Now this? Just plug in a coordinator and anyone to return? Sav Rocca would look interesting fielding punts, eh?

I don't know if it's a gloss-over area. The Eagles wanted Dave Toub, the Bears' special teams coach, to come back to Philadelphia, but he opted to remain in Chicago. I think the Eagles really thought Bloom was going to be their return guy, but he wasn't able to do it. The mistake was probably in not bringing back Mahe just to have as a security blanket.

Any chance we call more plays like at the end of last year while we had Garcia, for example quick slants and more runs. Seems to me 5 in there would be just as good if not better w/ those types of plays being called.

I think you might see more of those types of plays against the Redskins, who have quick linebackers. The offense just needs to play better as a whole. The offensive line didn't have a great game Sunday either.

Most fans felt the play-calling was not up to par against the Pack. It seemed there was no momentum built as a result of the play calling. What is your assessment?

The only sequence I really didn't like the Eagles' play-calling was after Cole forced the fumble and Kearse recovered late in the game. Calling a draw to Buckhalter on first down didn't seem like a good call to me. I think you get the hands in one of your two best playmakers -- Westbrook or McNabb. An obvious holding on Herremans also killed that series.

What about the two min. offense? have we spoke about that?

We haven't spoke about it, but it didn't really come into play too much against the Packers. The Eagles didn't have to rush at the end of either half.

AR has lost us another game with his bonehead play-calling or player selection. Is it time to begin looking for a replacement and especially so after the signing of steel-shoes-on-magnets-Mahe?

Mr. Prez, have you talked to your people about this subject? I don't think it's time to fire Andy, but that's just my opinion. Let's see how the season unfolds.

Bob, Why don't the coaches make better adjustments during the games? It seems like every year we "stick with the game plan" in a game or 2, even when that game plan is clearly not working. (i.e., make a decision to not lose the game on punt or kick returns after you have already been killed by the return game in the first half) How hard would it have been to have Reed back there and instructed to not get within 30 feet of the ball...even if it rolled to the 1? PLAY FOR OVERTIME for goodness sakes!

Kevin, I think that's called playing scared. You can't do that in the NFL. I think Brian Westbrook made a great point yesterday. He said his first punt return went off his helmet. If he had never had another chance, the Eagles probably would have lost that game at the Meadowlands in 2003. It's not as easy as it looks.

Yes, I have talked to my people and the vote was 102 to let him go and 43 to keep him. Since you asked.

All right then, we'll forward this information to Jeffrey Lurie.

Go birds

I could be wrong, but that's not a question.

Bob, Reno Mahe?? I mean if you put a trash can out there you would have a better chance if it breaking a long return.

And if you put Reno Mahe out there in Green Bay, the Eagles are 1-0 instead of 0-1.

An observation: Randall Cunningham had trouble picking up secondary receivers, but McNabb has trouble hitting his primary receivers. It can be smart, avoiding interceptions, but it also can mean more hurries, knockdowns, sacks and wear and tear. Your opinion?

When McNabb is healthy and at his best, he can throw to just about any receiver. I don't think his ability to find his first option is a real big problem.

Last one for me. Do you feel we let the Defense dictate to us what we can do and game plan for instead of, for instance a team like the steelers you know you'll have to stop the run and you'll get smacked in the mouth on D. Don't we lack an identity on Offense?

I couldn't disagree more. The Eagles' identity on offense is that it spreads the ball around to a bunch of different players with McNabb and Westbrook as the primary weapons. That hasn't changed and it has been a pretty successful formula for a long time.

I'm second-guessing the decision to bring Mahe back. I agree he will help, however I would have like to have seen them bring Bloom back and release Greg Lewis. With Reed gone, we only have 3 safeties and Reed looked good on kickoff returns. What does Lewis give you that Bloom couldn't as the 5th receiver?

I think Lewis is a better and more experienced receiver than Bloom, but I wouldn't have had a problem if they had gone that direction. Having three safeties is a potential problem, especially when the team is also thin at cornerback.

What is you opinion of Belichek, and the Patriots' championships now?

The Patriots are still champions, but I think the commissioner's penalty should have been more severe. I think Belichick should have been suspended for a couple of games at least.

think last week's game was really a matter of shaking rust off and calibrating the team. They should roll over the Skins in the home opener. What I am more worried about now is our Super Bowl! Everyone around the NFL seems to be speaking up about the Patriots, what's going to happen now that our defensive players are speaking up about the possible foul play in Jacksonville?

Nothing is going to happen. The penalty has been handed down. The only backlash is that the Patriots have forever tainted their titles and reputation by getting caught cheating.

How much will losing Lito Sheppard hurt the Eagles considering that 1) the Redskins effectively have a rookie at QB, and 2) the Redskins have a legitimate #1 receiver in Santana Moss?

mattymatty, Losing Lito is a concern, but cornerback is a position where the Eagles have some depth. William James believes he is a starting-caliber CB and this is his chance to prove it.

Has anyone else noticed AR seems to have a passion for signing Mormons who wish to play in the NFL and very few have been successful, yet AR continues to sign 5'8" RBs and 5'9" WRs but passes up quality WRs and RBs that are free agents. Totally disallusioned sometimes by the player selections. Either the AR has the FO convinced we can win with "cheap" players or AR is not a good judge of quality NFL players and has lucked out with enough that we win games but never the big ones.

He likes BYU guys and I don't think it's unnatural for a coach to like players from the school he attended. It would be wrong to say none of them could play. Chad Lewis was a very good NFL tight end and Curtis, a Mormon but not a BYU guy, has a chance to be a real good starting receiver.

Do you think the passing of Allen Rossum in the off-season was a bad idea? And what's the timetable for the return of AJ Feeley now?

A.J. will probably still be the emergency QB this week. He said today he can still play. He probably won't be listed the No. 2 QB until after the bye week. I don't know if passing on Rossum was a mistake. His numbers have been on the decline the last few years. I just think they need to get better in the return game. All right everyone, thanks for participating and I'll see you next Friday at noon again.

Noon Tuesday, with the Inquirer's Ashley Fox. Go to

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