Philadelphia Eagles Week Three Report Card

The defensive tackles were suffocating KC all day.


While it's always fun when the Eagles dominate over the course of an entire game, it loses some of its value when it's a team like Kansas City. Philadelphia and Eagles fans specifically hate a lot of people in a lot of different cities around the country, but Kansas City just is not one of those cities.

Regardless of the team, it was good to see the Eagles get a much-needed win Sunday as falling to 1-2 in the NFC East would have killed their playoff hopes.

Last week's report card certainly wasn't anything to run home and show to the parents, but this week's will certainly be fridge-worthy.


Quarterback | Grade: A-

After a pretty decent game last week against the New Orleans Saints, Kevin Kolb came back Sunday against the Chiefs and lit up the Linc. With 327 yards through the air, two touchdowns, and adding one more touchdown on the ground, Kolb led this team to the victory today.

He made a lot of tough throws like the slant to DeSean Jackson that went for a touchdown, and the late touchdown pass to Brent Celek. Both throws showed off his strong arm and even showed a bit of accuracy necessary to be a successful quarterback in this league.

The one thing I still notice about Kolb is the fact that he will feel phantom pressure. What I mean by that is even in a clean pocket he will shuffle to his left and right and move backwards causing a throw off his back foot. He's got to learn to stay in the pocket, feel the pressure when it's there, and step up rather than falling backward and throwing from his back foot.

If he doesn't fix this fundamental flaw, it's going to lead to a lot of interceptions. However, that's just nitpicking at this point as he'll now get to go back to being Donovan McNabb's backup and will have the time to work on those mechanical issues.


Running Backs | Grade: B+

There was really only one running back today, and that was the rookie LeSean McCoy. In his first career start he showed why the entire city was excited to get him in the second round, and why a lot of draft experts were calling him a value pick at the 53rd overall selection.

As a runner, he's much better than Brian Westbrook. I don't mean to say that he's already a better overall player than Westbrook, but as a runner he's light-years ahead of him.

He is very good at feeling players around his feet and moving away from them, while at the same time keeping his eyes downfield and making moves to avoid the oncoming defender as well. This ability leads to an outstanding ability to make a play out of nothing as he did on at least three separate ocassions Sunday.

He was able to see the cutback lanes, hit them hard, and make a play when the offense needed it. He was extremely physical today throwing out the stiff-arm and lowering the boom on several defenders today, bouncing off three different Chiefs players to score his lone touchdown of the day.

McCoy still has a lot to learn about becoming an all-around playmaker, but Westbrook's injury should give him more snaps, more time, and more of a chance to learn on the fly. Don't be surprised if this kid is the primary running back by Week Eight.


Receivers/Tight Ends | Grade: B+

Brent Celek and DeSean Jackson were absolutely phenomenal. Celek has shown that he deserves to be in the conversation of premier tight ends in this league, and Jackson is certainly make a case for himself as one of the most explosive players in the entire league. The game Sunday only furthered the argument for each player as premier at their respective positions.

However, outside of those two, there was not much production. Jeremy Maclin had four catches for 33 yards in his first career start in place of an injured Kevin Curtis, and the duo of Reggie Brown and Jason Avant was all but unheard of throughout the entire game.

Kolb certainly did plenty with those two players, but a big part of McNabb's game is spreading the ball around to several different receivers, so the other guys will have to step up in Week Five if they want to start their first winning streak of the young 2009 season.


Offensive Line | Grade: C+

Kolb had all day to throw the ball, as I don't recall him even being hit all that often, much less getting sacked. He was able to stand in the pocket, go through his reads, and deliver the ball without any issue.

However, LeSean McCoy did not have the same luxury as running lanes were few and far between. The Kansas City defense was able to penetrate on running plays as the line just did not seem to be able to get onto their man when it was time to run-block.

Linemen are creatures of habit, and in this offense their habit is to pass block. They don't work on run-blocking as much as pass-blocking because the Eagles don't run as much as they pass. Therefore when it's time to turn it on and plow the defense backward, the linemen are unable to turn it on and get the defense moving backward.

Regardless of the reason, the line simply needs to block better for the running backs and until they can do that, they're going to receive low marks.


Defensive Line | Grade: B

The line was getting pressure on its own and was in the face of Matt Cassel all day. They were able to stop Larry Johnson behind the line on several ocassions and created a brick wall for the Chiefs offense.

It would have been nice to see the line get more sacks, but two by the line (three total) isn't bad, though it should definitely be higher. Cassel did a pretty decent job at getting rid of the ball before the pressure got there or the defense would have had a lot more sacks. However they were able to force some errant throws and make him very uneasy, so it's difficult to complain.

If Victor Abiamiri and Juqua Parker can continue to get pressure opposite Trent Cole, this defense should be able to hide the sub-par play of the linebackers all year long.


Linebackers | Grade: B-

With Omar Gaither coming up with a sack, Chris Gocong forcing a fumble, and Akeem Jordan flying all around the field whether it be on defense or special teams, the linebackers had a pretty good day.

They did a very nice job of reading the play and reacting, which caused four tackles for a loss and had the Kansas City defense nervous all game long. It's difficult to get excited about a good showing against such a bad team, but it's a step in the right direction for a squad that has been a bit questionable early in the year.


Secondary | Grade: B-

The grade may seem a bit low, but I was disappointed in this squad because they could not capitalize when given the chance. The front seven was forcing some errant throws, but no one behind them was able to come up with a pick.

Not only did they not create any turnovers, they allowed some big plays by being out of position, and even allowed Cassel to throw two touchdowns. Had the rest of the defense not been playing well, this game could have been a lot closer than what it was.

If the Eagles want to continue to win, they're going to have to get that high-paid secondary in gear and making some plays. Asante Samuel has been especially disappointing this season as he has zero interceptions and certainly isn't much of a help in stopping the run.


Special Teams | Grade: B

David Akers was good again this week, connecting on both of his field goal attempts and on all four of his extra point attempts. In fact, excluding the blocked field goal, he is perfect so far in 2009.

Then there's Sav Rocca who must have read the terrible things being said about him because he came out and had his best game of the season. He booted one 53 yards, and then two punts inside the 20 brought his average down, but overall he had a good game.

Jeremy Maclin was not good returning punts. Moving on.

DeSean Jackson, however, did look good and Ellis Hobbs was even able to find some space returning kicks, although I still think Quintin Demps should take over the return duties when he's back to 100 percent.

The penalties were still there, however, and even though some of them were a bit, let's say, ticky-tack calls, it's inexcusable. Ted Daisher will again have them running hard during the special teams sessions and will make their lives miserable until they get it right.