do you think the starting eagles offense looked good tonite because the are good or the the raiders the past three years is one of the worst franchises in history
I think it's probably a combination of both. But again, you must remember this is the preseason. Putting that aside, however, I have to admit that I am INDEED very pleased with what I saw tonight.
The first unit defense was pretty good too, considering they shut down Lamont Jordan 3 straight times. They're gonna lose this game tonight though, 16-10, but who gives a damn! Like I said before, it's the PRESEASON! (Glad phootball is back though...lol!) :)
As a Hawaii guy, I have to say that Timmy Chang looked like sh*t. He looked skittish in the pocket, he wasn't hitting receivers in stride, he has no arm whatsoever... Oh well. Aloha, Timmy.
yeah... he seemed like he couldnt settle in although i heard good things about him coming out of camp... that doesnt really matter tho if u cant perform in the big show... to tell u the truth garcia and detmer looked pretty weak too.... lets hope donovan stays healthy...
The Birds starting O and D lines were utterly dominant. They had their way with the Raiders lines. I loved seein' that. Imagine 4 quarters of that. It would've been a blowout.
Both Timmy Chang and Andrew Walter didnt look as good to me as they once were. Walter appeared to have zip on the ball in college. It looks like slow motion now. Chang just looked rusty and extremely weak.
A lot of times, these guys look so terrible because of the simplified dumbed down rookie backup schemes that they are running. Couple that with the substandard practice squad o-lineman that appear to fold like wilted lettuce when the ball is snapped...
the eagles first teams looked extremely well to me...parts of the d-line was in the backfield on EVERY play....they gave up no long pass plays...the offense looked quick and precise...mcnabb lost ALOT of chunky soup weight and looked very light on his feet...the receivers ( hank baskett and reggie brown) caught what was thrown to them and surprisingly, brian westbrook showed great burst running north and south between the tackles...he even had a few runs where he broke multiple tackles...i love what i see...i hope they can bounce back and silence the critics....
I don't think there is any question as to the validity of the Eagles this year. I think the critics are now more focused on the fact that the Giants, Cowboys, and Redskins are looking that much tougher. I think in their journalistic zeal, and the never ending need to justify their opinions with even the most intagible piece of info, that they are focusing too much on the lack of chemistry of last years team...most of which was caused by TO's unending stream of bullsh1t and the absence of a quarterback with any amount of skill whatsoever.......of which I don't foresee as being a problem this year.
So while the Eagles should be "ok" this year, their record will likely reflect that of the toughest division in the entire League. That is not a contradiction if you read exactly what it is I'm writing.
It's hard to tell about teams in the pre season, they use a plain vanilla scheme, so as not to give away too much information. that is why teams can go undefeated in the pre season, and not win many games when it counts.
We will know about the eagle offense, when the games count.
Are "critics ... now more focused on the fact that the Giants, Cowboys, and Redskins are looking that much tougher."
Or, are they "focusing too much on the lack of chemistry of last years team...most of which was caused by TO's unending stream of bullsh1t...etc."?
I know you claim that this is "not a contradiction if you read exactly what it is I'm writing."
but I'm reading it...EXACTLY...and sounds contradictory to me. I'm confused, , unless you mean that both are contributing to underrating the Eagles.
One thing's for certain. If the Birds d-line is for real, then the offense will have plenty of opportunities to work with a much shorter field. Their schedule isn't so bad, either. They could get off to a quick start. You read it here, first.
Oh, and if that d-line is real, then LOOK OUT Bledsoe. The Cowboys weak O-Line will play over its ability due to great coaching, but I have a feeling that the Birds d-line rotation may be NAS-TY. Can't wait 'til Bunkley starts to feel it. Should start to happen right around, say...October 8th.
I expect the cowboys offensive line to be improved. Teams won't be able to do alot of blitzing on pass plays when they double cover at least one wideout and a tight end.
that being said, I think that the problems that Phili had last year had less to do with TO and more to do with the injuries they had.
Think about it..If TO would have played, but both Mcnabb and Westbrook were out, how effective would he have been? the greatest players are only as good as the surrounding players and their health.
But, you put even a moron like TO in the Cowboy offense, with healthy wideouts and QB's, and he can be dominating.
Lest you think TO will be a disruption, just look at his first year with Phili, He got them to the super bowl.
If I was the rest of the division, I would be game planning a way to slow TO down, without giving up a way to stop the run.
But, you put even a moron like TO in the Cowboy offense, with healthy wideouts and QB's, and he can be dominating.
Lest you think TO will be a disruption, just look at his first year with Phili, He got them to the super bowl.
If I was the rest of the division, I would be game planning a way to slow TO down, without giving up a way to stop the run.
I smell super bowl
T.O. was awesome all year when he played... and great in the super bowl... but he definitely didnt get them there... he was injured through the entire playoffs (including the last 2 and a half regular season games.... Before that year, the eagles had gotten to the NFC Championship without TO three years running, and in 2004 they got to the Super Bowl with no problem with him on the sidelines... he greatly contributed to their great regualr season record... but its a stretch to say he got them to the super bowl, like people too often generalize....
What I am saying, is the Eagles will not be nearly as bad as last year, though their record will reflect the fact that the other teams in their division will have gained ground. That division will be a mess this year. Home games will be so key to winning that division.
So on paper it may look as if they haven't gained much footing from last year, though I suspect that they will still be tough outside of their division.
Even with what happened last year, how do you discount them for a playoff run? They essentially are still the team to beat in that division. To say otherwise would be a gross underestimation, or a bold blind throw at the dartboard to try to like like the omnicient one.
What I am saying, is the Eagles will not be nearly as bad as last year, though their record will reflect the fact that the other teams in their division will have gained ground. That division will be a mess this year. Home games will be so key to winning that division.
So on paper it may look as if they haven't gained much footing from last year, though I suspect that they will still be tough outside of their division.
Even with what happened last year, how do you discount them for a playoff run? They essentially are still the team to beat in that division. To say otherwise would be a gross underestimation, or a bold blind throw at the dartboard to try to like like the omnicient one.
Thanks for the clarification, GoBears. I try to be objective, but as someone who has bled Iggle green since the late 60s (a bleak era), it's not easy.
That said, I agree completely with what you've written above, and it seems as though ALOT of people are grossly underestimating them (ranked # 23 in S.I.'s preseason rankings? Unbelievable). I don't think profootballtalk.com's power rankings are all that great (no Miami yet? Is Saban BLOWING Florio?), but one thing they've gotten right: all the NFC East teams are bunched from around 15 to 8: four above average teams, none of them great. As you said, it should be a mess (a GLORIOUS mess, not the kind of mess you've got in the NFC North).
About a week ago, Ernie Accorsi was on WIP here in Philly saying that he still thinks the Birds are the team to beat in the division, because you can't overtake the champ based on injuries. He also pointed out that Andy Reid is the whole reason that the other NFC East teams got better. Once he established himself in Philly, it raised the level of competition in that division by forcing the owners to get better coaches.
Look for that to start happening in your division, soon.
The Eagles 1st unit looked great for that whole series...If McNabb and Westbrook stay healthy throughout the preseason I think their stock will rise in fantasy leagues, especially Westbrook,their O-line also looked dominant, of course they were playing the sh*t of the league, Aaron Brooks looks the same as last season (like sh*t)...The Raiders should just spend this season letting Walters get reps and experience...
, unless you mean that both are contributing to underrating the Eagles.
