Nnamdi targeted often and more observations from the Eagles-Steelers
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Nnamdi targeted often and more observations from the Eagles-Steelers
Jeff McLane
PITTSBURGH -- Here are some early observations and ruminations from Eagles-Steelers game:
Targeting Asomugha
With Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie blanketing Mike Wallace for most of the first half, Ben Roethlisberger continued to look and throw at Nnamdi Asomugha.
The Eagles cornerback has increasingly been targeted by opposing quarterbacks this season. Roethlisberger hit receiver Antonio Brown for a couple of medium-length pass completions and then found the receiver in the end zone after he beat Asomugha.
Brown, though, couldn't hold onto the ball, and Asomugha dodged a bullet. In the second half, he was again on Brown when Roethlisberger hit the receiver for six yards on third down and six.
More Havili
Stanley Havili's growing role in the Eagles' offense was on display on Sunday.
The Eagles continue to use the fullback in multiple packages and not just as a lead blocker. He lined up as an outside receiver, as an extra tight end and was used in the running game and the passing game.
The Eagles rave about his versatility, and his blocking was late developing. Havili is turning into a complete fullback.
Inconsistent punting
When the Eagles signed Mat McBriar two weeks ago, special teams coordinator Bobby April said he wanted consistency. It has not come yet.
McBriar, a two-time Pro Bowler, might be a better long-term answer than Chas Henry this season, but there haven't been immediate benefits. His 56-yard punt went into the end zone for a touchback, and he missed on a 39-yard punt that could have pinned the Steelers deep into their territory.
He had four punts Sunday for an average of 44 yards.
In and then back out
The Steelers got healthy during the bye and welcomed safety Troy Polomalu, linebacker James Harrison and running back Rashard Mendenhall back into the fold for Sunday's game.
But Polomalu re-injured his calf in the first half and did not return. The Steelers also lost linebacker LaMarr Woodley, their best pass rusher in their first three games, to a hamstring injury. The Eagles did little to capitalize on their absence in the first half.
Work in progress
Rookie linebacker Mychal Kendricks deserves the praise he's earned this season, but he whiffed on two one-on-one tackling possibilities in Sunday's first half.
The first was a Roethlisberger run when Roethlisberger faked a pitch that Kendricks bit on. It was a human reaction, but it looked like Kendricks thought the option was actually an option, and he missed a difficult shoestring tackle on Mendenhall's 13-yard touchdown.
Best for last
Tight end Brent Celek caught a clutch 2-yard touchdown pass to put the Eagles ahead in the fourth quarter. Earlier in the game, however, with their offensive line battered and facing a blitz-happy Steelers defense, the Eagles had to keep Celek in to block.
Celek provided a lot of help for left tackle Demetress Bell against Harrison. But with Celek staying in, Michael Vick didn't have his second-leading receiver as an option. The tight end had only one pass thrown in his direction in the first half - a throw away - and didn't record a catch until the third quarter. Celek finished his day with three catches for nine yards.
Not enough pressure?
The Eagles defensive line had only five sacks in the first four games this season.
The reasons, we were told, were because quarterbacks were getting rid of the ball quicker and opposing offenses were helping their lines by chip blocking. There was certainly some of that again on Sunday, but the Birds' front four was not generating enough pressure for most of the first half.
Brandon Graham, who has played well enough to warrant more snaps, was the only defensive lineman that was consistently getting in Roethlisberger's face.
Trent Cole and Jason Babin were almost non-existent in the first 30 minutes, especially late in the second quarter as the Steelers scored 10 points on their final two drives.
In the end, the Eagles did not sack Roethlisberger at all.
Have always looked forward to enjoying "the ecstasy of winning and the agony of reading about it the next day" (Mike Schmidt) but now its just the same old, same old every week. Can't believe it, but now enjoying reading about the Sixers more than these Birds. Just not a fun team to follow; excrutiating actually— Fibanacci- we gotta biltz more but dont have great safetys to do it often y juan doesnt do it much wit a safety like b dawk jj culdnt dial dem up every play cause u knew b dawk had backfield lock down not case wit our safeties now dey struggle it pass coverageescpially poor tacklig bye defencewhole game— A TRUE PHILLY FAN
- vick dint loose game fumble was 1st and 2nd quater its tha d same when jj was here super bowl when mcnabb and offence left fieldwe were winning deion and tom score eagles lose cards nfc champship game offense and mcnabb leave field winning warner and fitz scor late drive wit like 22 ticks left rams game winning champonship game again warner and rams beat d again late score vick has got us 3 4th quaater wins dis year already d wouldve held it wouldve been 4 c the pattern under andy d chokes like those games up d just cant finsh strong it big spot— A TRUE PHILLY FAN
- One of the biggest hyped busts in the history of Philly sports.— wo_fat
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- Graham is ready to take a lot of snaps from Babin.— armchairGM
- 12 million a year for Namdi?? What did they see in this guy. I'd rather have Asante back! I can't stand Castillo, not because he's a clueless OL coach who thinks he knows defense but because of the way he turned our vaunted D into a lame, no blitz, no pressure prevent soft zone team. That is what made Eagle football over the last 30 years. It was our relentless blitzing causing havoc Defense! I can't stand to watch them anymore. Can someone make a play, a big hit? Our safeties suck and our D line is too small, plain and simple— kchaz
- Juan sat back all game and waited for D-line pressure, which never really happened. Why didn't he start to dial up some blitzes to get pressure? And Namdi better get used to being busy and thrown at alot. He's clearly only the 2nd best corner on the team. He was flat out lucky that Brown dropped that ball in the endzone, because he was toast on the 1 on 1 coverage. In fact, he looks closer to "Toast" Izell Jenkins than the guy we spent a whole lot of money on.— mish798798
- Seasons over...might as well cancel the remaining games.— bannedrepublican
- The Defense lost this game. No pressure on the last series at all. In the NFL you have to protect your lead. I will never understand why the Eagles went zone when Brown was hurting them in that passive zone.— Dexter
- Eagles lost because of Vick's turnovers. No other reasons. He should be out of work right now. It's really that simple.— maximusud
- Absolutely right Jeff..No pressure from our great D line.. no sacks in 2 games and only 5 in 5 games!!. Not good enough. Maybe if they got help with a blitz or two or maybe a stunt, then someone might get free, but when you only have to block 4 it's pretty easy. Thanks Juan for a great game plan again— kchaz
- the eagles lost because they couldn't get a stop on the final drive. thats it— bababooey2yall
- So, Brandon Graham was doing a nice Mike Mamula impersonation, huh?— Lonewolf11
- Asomugha is over rated. Not impressed with him so far
D line has to do a better job.
Notice Coleman got run over and failed to wrap up a few tackles today too.
With all that the real problem seems to be Vick's decision making and bad habits with ball security AND Marty's poor play calling!— connorjr - When Eli Manning threw 3 picks in the 1st half a couple of weeks ago, he then brought his team back to take the lead. Afterward, the story wasn't his 3 picks. It was the comeback.
Same thing here. Vick had a bad first half, but he came through when it counted. In fact, if he had ANY time left, he probably would have done it again.
The defense not only surrendered the lead, but it didn't leave any time for the offense to re-regain the lead. - Vick sucks and he is the reason we lost!— Dr. D.
- To rely on a defense to "WIN" a game would mean you're relying on them to score.
To expect them to not lose them game would mean you're relying on them to keep the opponent from scoring, which is what "defense" means.
You can't say you're putting together a defense that plays with a lead, then hold them blameless when they don't.
The Wide 9 is supposed to swallow QBs. This defense has zero sacks in the last two games and only 7 all season. What's the point in utilizing a Wide 9 alignment, if it doesn't produce sacks?
We had 51 last season and are on pace for for 21 this season. With 10 defensive linemen, that's each for the entire season).
Our rotation is supposed to keep them fresh. There's no excuse.
