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        the Gridiron >> the Red Zone >>  EAGLES....................WEEK 12 ANALYSIS
        
(Message started by: Philly on Nov 21^st, 2003, 11:02am)

Title: EAGLES....................WEEK 12 ANALYSIS
Post by Philly on Nov 21^st, 2003, 11:02am

A lot of people are wondering how the Eagles have managed to claw their way to a 7-3 record. One word: depth. A team that was ridiculed by many following the pre-season for keeping six undrafted rookie free agents on their roster has proven that it knew what it was doing. All six of the players have contributed to the success of the team this year.

The defensive secondary lost three Pro-Bowl players early in the year. Clinton Hart, a former baseball player and Arena Football League refugee, stepped in for Brian Dawkins and played spectacularly. Sheldon Brown, a draft pick in 2002, filled in admirably for Troy Vincent. Lito Sheppard, another 2002 draft pick, also played well in place of Bobby Taylor. Roderick Hood, a undrafted rookie, played the nickel back position with some success until he too was injured.

The defensive front also suffered numerous injuries. 2003 draft picks Jerome McDougle and Jamaal Green both were expected to play extensively and were injured in the pre-season. Hollis Thomas, returning from two years of foot injuries, was having his best year before suffering another season ending injury. Paul Grasmanis, a high-energy and very capable backup defensive tackle, was also lost for the season. So the Eagles hit the waiver wire and grabbed Marco Coleman and Jim Flanigan, both of whom have filled in adequately.

After suffering through some early-season injuries, McNabb is getting healthy at just the right time. Brian Westbrook, who emerged as the team's number one RB, went down with an ankle sprain, but was replaced with success by Correll Buckhalter and Duce Staley. Now the injuries are hitting the offensive line. Pro-Bowl guard Jermane Mayberry was lost for the season, but much-maligned backup Bobbie Williams has stepped in and has not been as bad as many thought he would be. John Welbourn, arguably the Eagles best guard, is now out for at least three weeks, so enter another undrafted player, second-year guard Artis Hicks. With Hicks and Williams in the lineup, the Eagles did not allow a sack against the Giants (one of the league's best pass rushing teams). It was the first time in 25 regular season games that the Eagles were not sacked at least once in a game.

Now, for the Week Twelve matchup.

The Eagles enter the game with a five-game winning streak which was highlighted by a 28-10 drubbing of the rival Giants last week. It was the first game in 2003 where the team played well in every aspect of the game.

Their opponents this week, the Saints, enter the game having won four of their last five games. They started the season 1-4 but have clawed their way back to second place in the NFC South.

Both teams run the ball very well. The Saints are lead by Deuce McAllister, who already has more than 1000 rushing yards on the season. The Eagles are running by committee, with Brian Westbrook as the committee chairman when he is healthy. Look for both teams to run the ball extensively on Sunday.

The Saints passing game has been erratic this season, despite have weapons like Brooks, Horn, and Stallworth on the roster. They'll have trouble throwing against the Eagles secondary this weekend. The Eagles have not passed the ball well for the majority of the year. McNabb is finally getting his accuracy back after struggling with an injured thumb early in the year. The WRs are average at best and have trouble getting open. If the Saints can rush the passer effectively, it will be a long day for the Eagles passing game.

QB:
McNabb won NFC offensive player of the week honors for his efforts last week. He had plenty of protection and was able to find his receivers all day. This week the Saints blitzing defense will hurry McNabb into throwing before his receivers can get open.
McNabb: 21-33-235 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 4 carries-22 yards

RB:
This is clearly Brian Westbrook's show when he's healthy, which he is right now. Buckhalter and Staley will steal some carries and catches, including some in the red zone, but Westbrook is a good start nonetheless.
Westbrook: 20 carries-114 yards, 1 TD, 3 catches-30 yards
Buckhalter: 2 carries-4 yards, 1 TD
Staley: 4 carries-15 yards, 2 catches-31 yards

WR:
They came alive last week. Thrash is still the WR that McNabb feels most comfortable with, although Mitchell seems to be the one getting open most often. Whatever happened to that tall skinny-legged guy that played so well last year?
Thrash: 4 catches-38 yards
Mitchell: 4 catches-55 yards, 1 TD
Pinkston: 1 catch-4 yards

TE:
Smith and Lewis are a solid duo who will be integrated into the game plan.
Smith: 4 catches-62 yards
Lewis: 3 catches-19 yards

K:
Akers hits them when he gets the opportunity. Maybe he gets a chance at a game-winner this week?
Akers: 3-3 XP, 1-1 FG

Defense:
Not a solid play this week. They'll create some havoc and get some turnovers, but Deuce McAllister should be able to put up very good yardage against a team that is allowing 157 rush yards a game over their last five (all wins).
Defense: 160 rush yards allowed, 230 pass yards allowed, 2 INTs, 1 FR, 2 sacks

Final Score:
Should be a close one. It might go to the team who has the ball last.
Saints 26
Eagles 24

Title: Re: EAGLES....................WEEK 12 ANALYSIS
Post by captainpurple on Nov 21^st, 2003, 11:24am

Fantastic!

I know it pains you to predict a loss, but I'm thinking you'll be pleasantly proven wrong. McNabb gets better each week, and if the 'aints fall behind 20-3 again, no way do the Eagles let them back in like ATL did.

Title: Re: EAGLES....................WEEK 12 ANALYSIS
Post by bakes781 on Nov 21^st, 2003, 12:48pm

The Saints have been very inconsistent this season. The Eagles appear to be healthy now, so it all depends on which Saints team shows up. If I were a betting man I'd stay away from this game.

Title: Re: EAGLES....................WEEK 12 ANALYSIS
Post by Philly on Nov 21^st, 2003, 1:01pm

on 11/21/03 at 12:48:09, bakes781 wrote:

The Saints have been very inconsistent this season. The Eagles appear to be healthy now, so it all depends on which Saints team shows up. If I were a betting man I'd stay away from this game.

Out - Bobby Taylor, Both Offensive Guards
Questionable - Brian Dawkins, LJ Smith, Darwin Walker

They're still hurting, although they've been playing well despite the injuries. I just think they have to stop the run or it will come back to bite them in the butt. They've been lucky that it hasn't hurt them so far.

Of course the Eagles could take control of this one early and it could be a blowout, but I don't see it that way. I think it comes down to a field goal in the 4th Q.

Title: Re: EAGLES....................WEEK 12 ANALYSIS
Post by Philly on Nov 24^th, 2003, 1:47pm

on 11/21/03 at 11:02:00, Philly wrote:

Actual: 16-25-259 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 7 carries-54 yards
Another excellent game from McNabb. While the stats don't blow you away, he managed the game very well, spreading the ball to 10 different receivers.

Quote:

Actual:
Westbrook: 9 carries-52 yards, 1 TD, 3 catches-47 yards
Buckhalter: 7 carries-18 yards, 1 TD, 1 catch-20 yards
Staley: 8 carries-77 yards, 2 catches-26 yards
Just when Andy Reid develops a bit of a pattern, he changes it all up. If you started Westbrook, you should be reasonably happy, as he had 100 total yards and a TD. But Staley ran the ball well (almost 10 yards a carry - and his longest was only 16 yards). Buck found the endzone once again.

Quote:

Actual:
Thrash: 2 catches-19 yards
Mitchell: 2 catches-24 yards
Pinkston: 1 catch-48 yards
Not too many to the wide receivers this week. The RBs and the TEs also got in on the action. If you're starting any Eagles WR, your team has some serious WR issues.

Quote:

TE:
Smith and Lewis are a solid duo who will be integrated into the game plan.
Smith: 4 catches-62 yards
Lewis: 3 catches-19 yards

Actual:
Smith: 1 catch-28 yards
Lewis: 2 catches-37 yards
Some nice yards per catch, but not too much else.

Quote:

K:
Akers hits them when he gets the opportunity. Maybe he gets a chance at a game-winner this week?
Akers: 3-3 XP, 1-1 FG

Actual: 3-3 XP, 4-4 FG
No game-winner as I suggested, but an excellent game nonetheless. Hope you started him this week.

Quote:

Actual: 199 rush yards allowed, 287 pass yards allowed, 3 FR, 2 sacks
The defense is still allowing the better RBs to run all over the place, but they are coming up big when they need to. Still some injured players that will change things when they get back.

Quote:

Final Score:
Should be a close one. It might go to the team who has the ball last.
Saints 26
Eagles 24

Actual:
Saints 20
Eagles 33
The Eagles were in control of the game from the outset. Both teams committed far too many penalties (or were too many of those penalties called by the refs in the first place? 26 for 202 yards). The Saints seemed to shoot themselves in the foot at inopportune times. Fumbles and penalties ended drives and led to Eagles scoring chances. The Eagles clicked on offense... their 3-headed RB attack worked yet again, and opened up enough passing lanes for McNabb to maintain drives. This was an important win in what could have been a down week before two big games coming up (Panthers and Cowboys).

Title: Re: EAGLES....................WEEK 12 ANALYSIS
Post by Philly on Nov 24^th, 2003, 7:01pm

Items from the Andy Reid day-after news conference:

Injuries: Brian Dawkins and Bobby Taylor will probably be questionable for Sunday against Carolina. I think the decision to play is now in the players' hands. John Welbourn is improving, but will probably be doubtful for Sunday. All other injuries are minor nagging ones and those players should play.

Praise: Andy Reid rarely says anything about specific players, preferring to discuss the entire units. But this week he went out of his way to praise Duce Staley for his leadership in helping the younger RBs and his understanding of his role in the RBBC. Not sure what to make of that.

Philosophy: A reporter asked Andy Reid if he'd rather have 10 players with one or two catches (like yesterday), or one go-to player who could be counted on for 10 catches... Reid said he'd rather spread the ball around because the defense cannot focus on taking a specific player out of the game plan. (Translation: Look for a continued RBBC and WRs with boring fantasy stats.)

Fantasy: Don't start any WR from the Eagles under any circumstance. If you have to start an Eagles RB, go for Westbrook who appears to be the most dangerous and likely to score of the bunch. LJ Smith is not a bad start at TE as he has big-play capability. McNabb will not be a good start the rest of the season. Too many good defenses coming up (@CAR, DAL, @MIA, SF). Akers is still a decent start, even if he doesn't get as many chances. If you don't lose points for yardage, Eagles defense is a decent start. If you do lose points, Eagles D will kill you.

Title: Re: EAGLES....................WEEK 12 ANALYSIS
Post by captainpurple on Nov 25^th, 2003, 9:17am

I've had CB on my bench each of the last 2 weeks, and he's had a TD. Is he vulturing now? Or is it just luck of the draw? Should I even bother to hold on to him, or try to move him?

Title: Re: EAGLES....................WEEK 12 ANALYSIS
Post by Philly on Nov 25^th, 2003, 9:21am

If the Eagles get into a goal line situation, it seems like Buckhalter has been getting the calls, and he has been scoring nearly every time he gets in there.

But the Eagles are just as likely to have Westbrook run it in from 10-15 yards out.

I think the Eagles RB sitch is too dicey right now to count on, although Westbrook seems to be getting the most action and producing the most with his chances. If you can trade CB, might not be a bad idea to do so...