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Topic: EAGLES - Week Two Analysis (Read 314 times) |
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UFF Primetime Prophet
# 29
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EAGLES - Week Two Analysis
« on: Sep 12th, 2003, 12:05pm » |
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Things did not get off on a good foot for either the Eagles nor their week 2 opponent, the Patriots. Both teams were expected to challenge for division, if not conference titles this year, so a win is very important to both teams.
The Patriots were dismantled by a Buffalo team that seemed to know every play that was coming. Oh, wait, they did, because the Patriots released Lawyer Milloy less than a week before the game and he signed with Buffalo.
The Eagles were throttled by the defending Super Bowl champs, the Buccaneers. The Eagles could not get anything going against what looks like another elite defense in Tampa. To add insult to injury, the Eagles defense took it on the chin when they lost Brian Dawkins, Bobby Taylor, and Brandon Whiting with injuries.
Look for the Eagles to try to run the ball from the outset. They abandoned the run early against TB, but they'll need to work the clock and keep their own injury-riddled defense off the field as much as possible. Once they get the running game going, they'll be able to pass the ball more effectively.
QB
Donovan McNabb played a poor game against Tampa. He didn't even try to run the ball until late in the second half. His passes were often off-target and he was pressured on nearly every throw. He should get a little more time this week and will benefit from it.
Passing - 265 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Rushing - 40 yards, 1 TD
RB
Starting RB Correll Buckhalter worked his tail off in training camp while Duce Staley sat home and relaxed. As a result, Buck got one carry and then landed himself on the bench for the remainder of the game. Staley caught the ball well, but did not have much luck running.
Staley - 30 rush yards, 30 rec yards
Buckhalter - 80 rush yards, 1 TD, 20 rec yards
Westbrook - 15 rush yards
WR
James Thrash had a big 47 yard RUSHING play in the TB game, and added a few tough catches. Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell were nearly invisible.
Pinkston - 75 rec yards, 1 TD
Thrash - 35 rec yards, 10 rush yards
Mitchell - 25 rec yards
McMullen - 10 rec yards
TE
Chad Lewis was used primarily as a blocker last week. Rookie LJ Smith got two looks in the endzone and dropped an easy TD. TEs should be more involved this weekend.
Lewis - 25 rec yards
Smith - 45 rec yards
K
Akers had no chances in the TB game, but should get some opportunities this week.
Akers - 3-3 XP, 2-2 FG
Defense
The defense did not play poorly against the Bucs until late in the game when they were tired and injured. They have a makeshift lineup for this week and may not be too effective.
23 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 int
Final Score:
Patriots: 23
Eagles: 27
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Philosopher King
of Fantasy Football
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Champ - '94, '99, '02, '04
I love ''the Gridiron''!
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Re: EAGLES - Week Two Analysis
« Reply #1 on: Sep 12th, 2003, 1:39pm » |
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on Sep 12th, 2003, 12:05pm, Philly wrote:Staley - 30 rush yards, 30 rec yards
Buckhalter - 80 rush yards, 1 TD, 20 rec yards |
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NO WAY! Buckhalter 100 yards combined and a TD; Staley 60 yards combined. NO WAY! Even if you read between the lines of these VERY forgiving/generous predictions for Buck, Staley is the better play, more upside, less downside. I would say that these predictions represent Buck's highest-end possibilities and Staley's lower-end possibilities.
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Gridiron Great
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Champ - '14, '23
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Re: EAGLES - Week Two Analysis
« Reply #4 on: Sep 15th, 2003, 8:47pm » |
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on Sep 15th, 2003, 3:35pm, Philly wrote:Well, there's obviously something going on with Buckhalter that we're not being made aware of. Reid indicated he'd be used more this week and he got one catch and no carries. Interestingly Westbrook was getting the carries early in the game before they had to throw every down.
I've spent most of the day in the emergency room with my wife, who is doing well now, so I haven't seen any post-game stuff or read anything about it yet. |
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Uh...is your alright?
As far as the Eagles.....I am PISSED, SAD, ANGRY, DEPRESSED, and otherwise a typical Eagles fan. I can't believe they are playing this poorly. It reminds me of the Rich Kotite days.
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UFF Primetime Prophet
# 29
Pay, I said pay attention, son.
Posts: 5675
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Re: EAGLES - Week Two Analysis
« Reply #6 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 8:39am » |
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on Sep 16th, 2003, 2:07am, 5-on-it wrote:The Eagles basically need to improve in the following areas:
Offense
Defense
Special Teams
Coaching
Player Personnel (Hugh, Jeremiah, etc.)
Injuries
Throwing the Football
Catching the Football
Running the Football
Catching the Football (uh huh)
Sincerely,
Donovan  |
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Offense - absolutely. Playcalling and performance has been atrocious and there is no reason for it as the squad should be better than last year in this area.
Defense - don't agree with you here. The defense has actually played well considering the number of injuries they've sustained. Most of the points have come off turnovers or have occurred late in the game when the Eagles defense is tired and can't rotate in fresh players.
Special Teams - disagree here too. With all the new players on ST, the team has been respectable here too. There is room for improvement, but I wouldn't blame ST for the Eagles downfall so far.
Coaching - ABSOLUTELY 100% agree with you. Andy Reid forgot about Buckhalter in the Pats game?! He doesn't adjust at all to what the other team is doing. He needs to look himself in the mirror more than anyone on the team.
Player Personnel - Yes and No. Douglas was a big loss in the lockerroom, but he's done. He isn't a factor in Jax and his salary would have been too large. The injuries (other than Burgess) couldn't have been predicted. Mitchell was a big loss because he was a cheap player and a big-time leader. Harris was a big loss because of the ineffectiveness of Lito Sheppard so far, but the team had to assume that a 1st rounder (and Brown, a 2nd rounder) would be able to step in. Barber is a very good player, but Wayne has been fine as a replacement.
Injuries - Yes, but how exactly do they improve in this area? They've just been very unfortunate to have all their injuries in two positions, defensive line and defensive secondary.
Throwing the football - Need improvement. McNabb needs to be able to locate the open receiver and hit him. The receivers need to be able to read a blitz and get open. The line needs to block better.
Catching the football - McNabb hits his receivers so infrequently, that they better catch it when he does.
Running the football - They've actually run the ball very well the miniscule number of times they've done it.
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UFF Primetime Prophet
# 29
Pay, I said pay attention, son.
Posts: 5675
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Re: EAGLES - Week Two Analysis
« Reply #7 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 8:43am » |
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on Sep 15th, 2003, 3:35pm, Philly wrote:Well, there's obviously something going on with Buckhalter that we're not being made aware of. Reid indicated he'd be used more this week and he got one catch and no carries. Interestingly Westbrook was getting the carries early in the game before they had to throw every down.
I've spent most of the day in the emergency room with my wife, who is doing well now, so I haven't seen any post-game stuff or read anything about it yet. |
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In his day-after press conference, Andy Reid intimated that he forgot about Correll Buckhalter during his play calls.
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UFF Primetime Prophet
# 29
Pay, I said pay attention, son.
Posts: 5675
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Re: EAGLES - Week Two Analysis
« Reply #8 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 9:56am » |
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on Sep 12th, 2003, 12:05pm, Philly wrote:QB
Passing - 265 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT (186 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing - 40 yards, 1 TD (53 yards, 0 TD)
McNabb had an even worse day than I could have imagined. Ouch!
RB
Staley - 30 rush yards, 30 rec yards (17 rush yards, 16 rec yards, 1 rush TD)
Buckhalter - 80 rush yards, 1 TD, 20 rec yards (0 rush yards, 21 rec yards, 0 TDs)
Westbrook - 15 rush yards (29 rush yards, 7 rec yards)
I was right on with Buck's receiving yards!  I honestly thought Buck would get some more work this week. Westbrook had the most carries by a RB of the group. No chance to predict that. 
WR
Pinkston - 75 rec yards, 1 TD (35 rec yards, 0 TD)
Thrash - 35 rec yards, 10 rush yards (80 rec yards)
Mitchell - 25 rec yards (16 rec yards)
McMullen - 10 rec yards (0)
Looks like McNabb is favoring Thrash based on two games. Mitchell got the looks in garbage time and McMullen didn't get a chance.
TE
Lewis - 25 rec yards (36 rec yards)
Smith - 45 rec yards (0)
LJ Smith drops an easy TD and Big Red loses confidence in him. Lewis had a lot more chances, but many of the passes were either uncatchable or dropped, which is unlike Lewis.
K
Akers - 3-3 XP, 2-2 FG (1-1 XP, 1-1 FG (57 yards!)
I feel sorry for Akers owners. He is still the best kicker in the NFL (IMO) but can't create his own opportunities to score for fantasy owners.
Defense
23 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 int (31 points allowed, 2 sacks, 0 turnovers)
The defense has not been as bad as scores would indicate, just overworked and overinjured. They lost DT Grasmanis (part of their DT rotation) for the season this weekend.
Final Score:
Patriots: 23
Eagles: 27
Missed another one. Pats 31, Eagles 10. |
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