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        the Gridiron >> the Red Zone >>  EAGLES - Week Four Analysis
        
(Message started by: Philly on Sep 25^th, 2003, 9:59am)

Title: EAGLES - Week Four Analysis
Post by Philly on Sep 25^th, 2003, 9:59am

It's been a long two weeks. Having a bye in week three seemed like a slap in the face by the schedule-makers, but after getting repeatedly slapped in the face by the Bucs and the Patriots, the bye week was a bit more welcome.

The Eagles have had two weeks to get their act together and get some players healthy. Unfortunately it looks like only Brandon Whiting will have the opportunity to return from injury. Dawkins is still out and Taylor and McDougle are both doubtful. It doesn't appear the Eagles got their act together either. The week off was highlighted by Donovan McNabb leaving town, Freddie Mitchell ripping the fans and media, and Bobby Taylor ripping the Eagles brass about contract issues.

Fortunately for the Eagles, the Bills spent last weekend getting whooped by the Dolphins. The Bills have serious RB trouble now as Travis Henry has severely bruised ribs and backup RB Sammy Morris underwent hernia surgery. Their top FB is out too. Apparently Henry is going to give it a go while wearing a flak jacket.

QB:
Donovan McNabb has been a passing disaster this year. If not for his scrambling ability (which is underutilized) he would bea complete fantasy failure. Look for him to improve his numbers a bit as the Eagles will run a more balanced game plan this weekend.
McNabb: 230 pass yards, 45 rush yards, 2 pass TD, 1 fumble

RB:
Contrary to popular belief, the Eagles actually do have RBs on their roster. Duce Staley has received the most work this season and remains a decent runner and excellent receiver/blocker. Correll Buckhalter has been ignored by Coach Reid despite his #1 RB status on the depth chart. He has one carry and one catch in two games. Brian Westbrook miraculously got the bulk of the carries early in the Patriots game, and ran well, but disappeared from the game plan after the 1st quarter.
Staley: 50 rush yards, 35 rec yards, 1 rec TD
Buckhalter: 30 rush yards, 20 rec yards
Westbrook: 20 rush yards, 10 rec yards

WR:
At the end of 2002 and through training camp/pre-season, Todd Pinkston seemed to emerge as the Eagles #1 WR, with Thrash falling to #2 or even #3. Early this season, it seems McNabb still has the most confidence in Thrash. Freddie Mitchell talks like he is Terrell Owens, but plays like he is... well... Freddie Mitchell. Billy McMullen should get more time as the season goes on.
Thrash: 50 rec yards, 15 rush yards
Pinkston: 30 rec yards, 1 rec TD
Mitchell: 10 rec yards
McMullen: 15 rec yards

TE:
LJ Smith dropped a couple TD passes in game one. One was his fault, the other was a bad throw. Smith didn't get any looks in game two. Chad Lewis was targetted repeatedly in game two, but still didn't produce much.
Lewis: 25 rec yards
Smith: 35 rec yards

K:
David Akers got to kick off once and watch a fake FG in game one. In game two he had three kickoffs, went 1-1 in XP opportunities, and went 1-1 in FG chances (his one FG being a 57-yarder. If he gets the chance, he'll produce.
Akers: 2-2 XP, 3-3 FG

Defense:
The defense has kept teams from running the ball, despite all the injuries at DE. Opponents have been able to throw the ball well with injuries in the secondary. Lito Sheppard has shown that he still has a lot to learn despite being a #1 pick in 2002.
Defense: 60 rushing yards allowed, 310 passing yards allowed, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 20 points allowed.

Final Score:
The Eagles are a bit more desperate than the Bills at this point. I think the coach finally realizes that the team has to run the ball effectively to win games and should adjust his game plan accordingly. The Eagles are 12-4 on the road over the past two years and getting out of the Link should help them this weekend.
Eagles - 23
Bills - 20

Title: Re: EAGLES - Week Four Analysis
Post by Philly on Sep 29^th, 2003, 8:12am

on 09/25/03 at 09:59:30, Philly wrote:

*Predictions are in bold. Actual results follow.

QB:
McNabb: 230 pass yards, 45 rush yards, 2 pass TD, 1 fumble
McNabb regained his passing rhythm and was much more accurate this week.
172 pass yards, 47 rush yards, 0 TDs, 0 TOs

RB:
Staley: 50 rush yards, 35 rec yards, 1 rec TD
Buckhalter: 30 rush yards, 20 rec yards
Westbrook: 20 rush yards, 10 rec yards
The Eagles ran the ball 34 times (including McNabb's scrambles) and kept the Buffalo defense off-balance (and the Buffalo offense off the field).
Staley: 4 rush yards, 16 rec yards, 0 TDs
Buckhalter: 25 rush yards, 1 rush TD
Westbrook: 96 rush yards, 5 rec yards, 1 rush TD

WR:
Thrash: 50 rec yards, 15 rush yards
Pinkston: 30 rec yards, 1 rec TD
Mitchell: 10 rec yards
McMullen: 15 rec yards
The wide receivers were able to get open this week and made some key catches.
Thrash: 47 rec yards, 5 rush yards
Pinkston: 60 rec yards
Mitchell: 24 rec yards

TE:
Lewis: 25 rec yards
Smith: 35 rec yards
LJ Smith reappeared this week and Chad Lewis was used solely as a blocker.
Lewis: 0 rec yards
Smith: 16 rec yards

K:
Akers: 2-2 XP, 3-3 FG
Still the best in the league when he gets the chances.
Akers: 2-2 XP, 3-3 FG (as predicted)

Defense:
Defense: 60 rushing yards allowed, 310 passing yards allowed, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 20 points allowed.
Despite all the injuries on the defensive line, running the ball against the Eagles is still difficult. Troy Vincent missed most of the game with an injured hamstring, so the Eagles secondary consisted of 3 second-year players and 2 undrafted rookie free agents.
Defense: 17 rush yards allowed, 296 pass yards allowed, 2 sacks, 0 INT, 1 FR, 13 points allowed.

Final Score:
Eagles - 23
Bills - 20

Eagles 23, Bills 13... The Eagles finally played a balanced game, running the ball 34 times and passing it 29 times, and the result was a winning effort that kept the Bills offense from ever getting into sync. The Eagles defense, despite even more injuries, played very well and only allowed some junk passing yards to Bledsoe in the 4th quarter. The interior D-line played exceptionally.

Title: Re: EAGLES - Week Four Analysis
Post by Noey21 on Sep 29^th, 2003, 11:22am

Nice anaylsis. And pretty close acurately.

Only question. I was out camping all weekend...what happened to Staley?

Title: Re: EAGLES - Week Four Analysis
Post by Philly on Sep 29^th, 2003, 11:56am

Hard to say... he is healthy, so it must be the same as what happened to Buckhalter in games 1 and 2...?

Title: Re: EAGLES - Week Four Analysis
Post by BarnabyWilde on Sep 30^th, 2003, 10:06am

Good luck with the Redskins next week!