The experiment appears
to be over, and the Eagles have inserted Omar Gaither back into the
starting middle linebacker job this week. Nobody campaigned louder for
Joe Mays' opportunity than us, but with the season quickly approaching
and roughly zero positive standout moments for the second year player,
it's time to make the switch.
Hugh Douglas' description last Thursday that Mays has played "timid" was perfect. It's not that Mays has been awful; he hasn't really been beaten for any huge plays. Actually, the problem is he's in on very few plays at all, a major departure from last preseason where he racked up one tackle after another. At the time, he was playing without hesitation, simply running to where the ball is and making the stop. While trying to run the Eagles' true scheme though, he's been lost even where he was thought to excel, in run support.
For what it's worth, Moise Fokou wasn't any better. He's had an excellent preseason, but his trial with the first team went as expected. Fokou was nailed for a pair of penalties, including one that gave the Jags a first down on 3rd and 19, and he seemed even more likely to be out of position than Mays. You still have to like what you see from the seventh round pick, it's still just too raw for such a huge role.As for Gaither, we know what the defense will get, which is a solid contribution from a player who knows the system. He's not as aggressive as the coaches prefer, but he's a competent defender and good in coverage. I still think Mays has a ton of talent, he just didn't make the most of his shot, and it's time to move on for the time being.
Defense
- Trent Cole is an absolute beast. The front four is completely different with him in the game.
- Asante Samuel obviously had a great game, but Ellis Hobbs rebounded after last week's stinker as well.
- Quintin Demps bouncing off of TE Mercedes Lewis in the open field was way too reminiscent of last year's NFC Championship. Dawkins brings the big fella down.
Offense
- Kevin Kolb looked terrible, there's no other way to slice it. 10 for 18 for 102 yards and a TD doesn't sound too bad, but it was ugly. Twice with pressure in his face, he backpedaled deep behind the line of scrimmage and threw the ball away, once intentionally grounding for a safety. On successive plays, he overthrew then underthrew his receiver, and several times targeted covered receivers, including the touchdown throw that just barely threaded the needle. Maybe we should get more of Vick the QB next week and less Vick the gimmick.
- Eldra Buckley is always the first man down the field in kick coverage and is a pretty good tackler for a running back. Next week is probably the end of Lorenzo Booker.
- Props to the wide receivers, particularly Jackson and Avant who combined for 9 catches and 139 yards. Maclin added another 4 for 53, indicating he's coming along nicely. Through three games, you have to wonder if Kevin Curtis has much of a role in this offense by the end of the year.
- On McCoy's TD run, Celek sealed the edge nicely, allowing the runner to bounce the play outside for an easy six.
- Once the Eagles quit all that trick stuff, the whole offense seemed to get into a rhythm, including the O-line. There are still question marks though. Peters seems to get fooled every time the defenders stunt, and almost got McNabb killed again on a play the DE attacked inside. Peters inexplicably followed him into no man's land, leaving McCoy on the edge to block two blitzers. Cole continues to look sloppy, especially bad news with the announcement Herremans will be out for awhile longer than expected. And while Justice has improved greatly, he's still not much of a run blocker at all and makes his share of mistakes.
At least Shawn Andrews finally returned to practice, and could play as soon as Thursday.
- Overall, the Eagles are going to be fine, in large part due to their defense. Patt and Bunk continue to hold up the line of scrimmage, which is a big key to their success. They have playmakers in Cole, Samuel, and Mikell, and solid contributors Brown, Gocong, and Gaither.
The offense might start off inconsistent as the line continues to gel, but suddenly their Week 4 bye looks like a blessing as it will give them more time to prepare for the brutal stretch of NFC East opponents. You would like to see them manhandle a team like the Jags a bit more, but under the circumstances (Vick) and accounting for a few fluke plays, this wasn't bad for a preseason game.
Original Story:
http://www.the700level.com/2009/08/ea...
