The Linc - How much Macho is too much Macho?

by JasonB on Dec 30, 2009 3:30 PM EST in Philadelphia Eagles News

Macho Harris: Victim or Vacuum? | Philly | 12/29/2009
The official might have over-reacted. It was borderline, and maybe Harris shouldn't have been flagged. But he was, and that means it was a dumb play. Because he didn't have to do that, to achieve the same strategic goal. It was unnecessary. And that's what the official called.

NFC East Pro Bowl analysis - NFC East Blog - ESPN
I'm glad that the voters rewarded DeSean Jackson for a huge season. He's the first player in Pro Bowl history to be elected as a kick returner and wide receiver in the same season. Pretty remarkable stuff.

Eagles Notes: Eagles could face Cowboys twice | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/29/2009
The Eagles play the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a game that will decide the NFC East title. There's a decent chance the same two teams could play again the following week in a playoff game.

Six Eagles named to Pro Bowl; Brown not one of them | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/29/2009

Six Eagles were named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster tonight, but cornerback Sheldon Brown was not one of them.

Eagles lose durable center, hope to adjust | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/29/2009
Practice will be more vital than ever for the Eagles this week as they prepare for their showdown against the Dallas Cowboys with the NFC East title and a few other things on the line. That's because the man who had started every offensive play this season for the Eagles before Sunday is finished for the season.

2010 Mock Draft X (12/30) " Weller and Bryan’s Sports Blog
This is kind of ridiculous... but these guys have been doing mock drafts all year. We can never have enough mock drafts eh?!

Favre among 8 Vikings in Pro Bowl - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Dallas and Philadelphia, which meet for the NFC East title on Sunday, had the next most players on the NFC roster with six each, followed by top-seeded New Orleans with five. There were 13 first-timers chosen in the NFC in voting by fans, coaches and players.

Tweet Comment 49 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

i don't care what anyone says....

that was a clean play. was macho supposed to let scheffler make the tackle near the end zone? no. absolutely not. in fact….i don’t see how you can call it anymore than good safety play. it’s too bad he had such a bad game otherwise…..but he did exactly what you are supposed to do. looked like a good hard block to me.

"it's like i tell my ex-wife, i never drive faster than i can see, and besides it's all in the reflexes." -Jack Burton, Big trouble in little China

by snowhill82 on Dec 30, 2009 3:42 PM EST reply actions

i agree

i thought that was a good play by macho… even if the ref is gonna flag him for that, there is no way he should be fined for that hit

by mkellyrutgers on Dec 30, 2009 3:55 PM EST up reply actions

Liked the Hit

I don’t think anyone thinks he shouldn’t have made the hit.. i think the flag was just because it looked like hit hit the guys helmet and almost took his head off (anyone got a link to the replay? I haven’t actually watched it since the game so I could be wrong). But 10/10 times they should go for the block no doubt, just gun for the pads when drilling the sap. His QB left him hung out to dry.

by Sparki on Dec 30, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions

The video is in the article

by Cormican on Dec 30, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions

Yea

Thx. Looking at it again… I change my mind

His forearm was definitely on the chest, his shoulder actually looks like it hits Scheffler in the shoulder cleanly.. best reply angle for seeing where his shoulder hits is about 47 sec mark, but you can’t really slow it down, its close but that reply looks pretty clean.. kept his feet down led with shoulder and hit high chest/shoulder… Scheffler just got drilled and it probably happened to fast for the ref who threw the flag to see.

by Sparki on Dec 30, 2009 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

I always want him to make that hit. He doesn’t know if Asante is going to make that pick and shouldn’t slow up “just in case”. The refs need to realize that it’s not that easy for these guys to pull up after running full speed.

I’ll take that kind of play from everyone on this team, it wasn’t dirty, he wasn’t trying to hurt anyone he was playing hard and I’m good with it.

Jim Johnson 1941-2009

"The 0-2 pitch, swing and a miss! STRUCK HIM OUT! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of baseball! And let the city celebrate! " - Harry Kalas 1936-2009

by Whodie126 on Dec 30, 2009 4:52 PM EST up reply actions

100% agree..

"it's like i tell my ex-wife, i never drive faster than i can see, and besides it's all in the reflexes." -Jack Burton, Big trouble in little China

by snowhill82 on Dec 30, 2009 5:13 PM EST up reply actions

Totally Agree!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Dec 30, 2009 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

Agree

He doesn’t know if Asante is going to make that pick and shouldn’t slow up "just in case". The refs need to realize that it’s not that easy for these guys to pull up after running full speed.

This is the key here. I don’t think that it was an intended block, but rather he was playing the ball / receiver. I looked at it several times, it would be awful hard for him to pull up. He gets a pass on that one in my book.

I'm a Cowgirls Cockroach Troll - Beware

by MRPH on Dec 30, 2009 8:58 PM EST up reply actions

I agree. I think Reid likes Macho so much because he is willing to make plays like that. He is aggressive and physical. He didn’t have his best game but by any means I wouldn’t write him off like some people.

In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard.
-Theodore Roosevelt

by Eaglesgrl5 on Dec 31, 2009 7:54 AM EST up reply actions

That penalty pissed me off more to an unimaginable extent.

They called it because they thought it was helmet to helmet. It clearly wasn’t.

by Clyde Simmons on Dec 31, 2009 8:26 AM EST up reply actions

If Scheffler made the catch, the hit would have been legal, right?

The problem is, I don’t think Macho hit him to take him out of the play. Macho was still playing the ball, as it wasn’t clear until Macho was 2 steps away that it was picked. If he pulls up and Asante misses the pick, that’s a Denver TD.

Scheffler’s momentum was already taking him out of the play and away from tackling Samuels. Good play by Macho. As I told my wife after the ensuing Bronco TD: Eagles 27, Broncos 10, officials 7.

by Cormican on Dec 30, 2009 3:45 PM EST reply actions

agreed

if macho just gave him a shot instead of trying to take his head off he wouldn’t of gotten flagged.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Dec 30, 2009 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

Pro Bowl

Looking forward to not watching it because 6 certain players will be too busy to participate. It starts with this weekend, gotta beat the boys

by kglash2211 on Dec 30, 2009 3:52 PM EST reply actions

One more link (EvilBanner, don't look)

Is Andy Reid Coach of the Year?

by EANX33 on Dec 30, 2009 5:28 PM EST reply actions

a good deal of you are swinging on reid's nuts now

Ive been saying what a great coach he is and all anyone can complain about is the run game. I said all we need to do is execute, the c oaching is fine…lo and behold we’re winning games and everyone is back on the andy band wagon. He’s the best coach we’ve ever had and maybe the b est coach we’ll ever have. What a heck of a GM he is too.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Dec 30, 2009 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

Great coach - Nope

Reid is a good coach who has several strengths but his notable defeciencies (time management & timeout utilization, pass-crazy zaniness at times, poor record in challenges and poor preparation/adjustments in a key games) are enough to keep him from being considered a ‘great coach.’

I don’t understand the ‘Reid-haters’ though who bash him for everything and wanted to run him out of rail on a town this year. Frankly, I wanted to see what he did this year before making a decision on him. If the Eagles floundered badly (sub .500) and missed the playoffs for the 3rd time in 5 years, then I might have been more apt to see the Eagles’ make a coaching change this offseason.

by MG77 on Dec 31, 2009 12:48 AM EST up reply actions

Frustrating

Reid frustrates the hell out of me at times. The time management thing is the worst. Someone needs to tell him that you only get 3 timeouts per half. And I’m sorry, that’s easily fixable. I just don’t get it.

That said you need to take the bad with the good, and there is a lot more good than bad. We could have it worse for sure.

I'm a Cowgirls Cockroach Troll - Beware

by MRPH on Dec 31, 2009 7:19 AM EST up reply actions

Someone also needs to tell him

that you lose a timeout if you lose a challenge, so maybe you should only challenge when you’re REALLY REALLY sure!

With that said, I agree completely with the good/bad…he offers a lot more good than bad. This year is the perfect example! Which other coach could not only have survived the injuries we suffered, but thrived in spite of them. Reid has assembled a solid group of players that can fill in for each other really nicely.

"What did it feel like? That collision, I didn't feel nothing, because he was pretty much defenseless. It was like running through a cardboard box. Seriously. Cardboard box."- Sheldon Brown on his pounding of Reggie Bush in the '06 Playoffs

by jalarsen1 on Dec 31, 2009 8:49 AM EST up reply actions

Anyone else think

that we should just hire or find someone for clock management? You know, someone that stands next to Reid down the stretch and tell him when it’s good to take a timeout? Such a simple problem but it keeps biting us in the ass.

by chrisbeomsuh on Dec 31, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

I'm with you

Reid is incredible at what he does…and that is assembling a competitive team.

by jalarsen1 on Dec 31, 2009 8:50 AM EST up reply actions

Coach of the year

If they win the Dallas game and finish 12-4, I would vote for Reid as coach of the year given all things considered (exceeding expectations, dealing with a fair amount of injuries, JJ’s death, 4 rookie starters and a ton of younger players).

by MG77 on Dec 31, 2009 1:23 AM EST up reply actions

The immortal words of Al Davis

Reid’s preparation before game day lets his team overcome some flaws as a game day coach. Starting with the talented players and staff he’s assembled, most obviously. It’s amazing to me that he turned over the roster so much, made the team so much younger on average (especially on offense), and due to injuries didn’t get productivity out of some players who were penciled in as starters at the beginning of the season but still managed to reel off 6 straight wins in the toughest half of the schedule to go 11-4 at this point. The changes on the offensive line alone have made the offense struggle at times. The O-line has always been the key and this year they went from long-term stability (Runyan, Thomas) to changing it around almost every week.

Anyway, in my mind Reid still has to beat Dallas this week to qualify as coach of the year. 12-4 with a first round bye should do it.

Just win baby.

by EANX33 on Dec 31, 2009 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

Don't have a problem with the hit.

Do have a problem with Macho returning kicks.

"He wasn't an astronaut, he was a tv comedian! And he was just using space travel as a metaphor for beating his wife!"

by groot on Dec 30, 2009 5:54 PM EST reply actions

It would be Hilarious if in this week or the next (if Demps can't play)....

Macho bursts an 85-90 yard TD Return. Then everyone will be back on the Macho ship haha. When Macho first started returning kicks for us a couple of weeks ago…almost EVERYONE was on the bandwagon!! U can’t deny that! Macho looked natural out there returning kicks then. Yep he had a bad game. Haha..this is the NFL! Like Sheldon Brown always says..“You have to have a SHORT memory in this League and in this game (meaning football) in general!” Macho will grow and learn from this and he’ll be fine! I do like Demps a little more at Returns as he has had a couple of TD returns last season. In the Pre Season and Reg Season! The LEGAL block was just that Legal. No late hit. No Unsportsmen like conduct. No defenseless hit! If they want all those then look at our first game of the season. McNabb gets hit and roll on ON THE GROUND after he score the TD! Where was the flag.? Where was the fine? If he would have caught it and Macho still laid the hit…The refs would’ve held on to that flag. Goodell and these refs are a joke! And can NOT be trusted

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Dec 30, 2009 6:57 PM EST up reply actions

I agree he had a bad game

But please. No more Macho on returns. He can’t secure the ball to save his life (TUCK IT CLOSE TO YOUR BODY MACHO!).

by chrisbeomsuh on Dec 30, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

I hear u...

He can’t secure the ball to save his life (TUCK IT CLOSE TO YOUR BODY MACHO!).

And if u read everything I wrote (check it again)..I stated the I DO like Demps a little more as a returner!!

And what about when Macho had those pretty long returns the first couple of times when he was assigned the job! No one and I’ll repeat that, No one complained about him returning kicks. No one complained saying “He can’t secure the ball to save his life!”. Why becuz he WAS securing the ball and was doin a nice job at returning kicks! Oh but wait after ONE game “No more Macho on returns” or “He can’t secure the ball to save his life”! Wow..So, after Djax’s very bad game against the Redskins last season (we all remember that one), did u say “No more Djax on the field” or “Djax catch catch to save his life!” Of course not! Or when Djax did that bone-headed play against Dallas on MNF last season (we remember that one as we thanked God the Bwest scored the very next play). Did u throw Djax under the bus! Of course not becuz he was a rookie and we KNEW the rookies will make mistakes and grow form them! Macho is do alright! Had a bad game but dont quarantine him! He will learn and move forward! If he doesn’t then he will get benched! But see how he responds from the bad game before throwin him under the bus! Now lets freakn move on and man-handle those Cowgirls!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Dec 30, 2009 8:21 PM EST up reply actions

I should've said, "No more Macho on returns FOR THIS SEASON"

I am by no means throwing him under the bus (for the record, I like the kid on defense). The reasons why I don’t want him returning kicks (for now) are simple:

1. I like Demps returning better to begin with
2. At this point in the season, those mistakes are going to kill us. Turnover on a kickoff return is probably the worst type of turnover. The opponent just scored, has the momentum, and you’re giving the ball right back to them with a short field. Mistakes like that are going to cost us a playoff game.

And also some of the things we saw last game were pretty disturbing. Like taking the ball out when the kickoff was at least 5 yards into the end zone or having the ball so far away from his body while running. While those are easily fixable problems, it’s kinda scary that they are problems at all because even a high school football player would know that. Can you say that those are rookie mistakes? In my opinion, no.

I may have over-reacted in my post and my choice of words weren’t the best. I agree that we should give him a chance… just not this season.

by chrisbeomsuh on Dec 30, 2009 9:39 PM EST up reply actions

If Demps is a full go

then I want him returning kicks too! Only becuz he has had NFL success at it returning acouple of TDs! If Demps cant go then Im fine with Macho! It was a mistake and he should learn from it! After just ONE freakn game im not at ALL worried about him! Im way more focused on the Cowboys and hoping that our defense steps it up!!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Dec 30, 2009 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

nooo

macho sucks … there is no macho boat .. cuz that never left the dock .. he is that bad .. shouldnt see the field again

An inconsistent coach is far worse than an inconsistent quarterback.(Route 36)

by jack is better than asante on Dec 30, 2009 11:08 PM EST up reply actions

JIBTA

Largely right on. Granted I didn’t expect Harris to come in and star by any stretch but he hasn’t grown much growth this year either and been a real liability at times in coverage & kickoff returns.

by MG77 on Dec 31, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

Your whole comment was a joke right!

Hahaha…I’ll leave it at that becuz it know ur not being Serious! I would be wasting my time talkin to u! U dont like Macho! No matter what he does, u dont like Macho! I get it. How about u just dont comment about my comments when it come to Macho. It would save u time as I can’t take u serious when it come to ur view of Macho! Again, If u dont like Macho then u just dont comment. Cuz u wont change my mind about him until he plays as bad as Sav Rocca! Meaning he must play horribly bad for the rest of this season.

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Dec 31, 2009 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

I have an example though

.. that u can NOT deny! Though u might try to becuz maybe ur that type of guy or girl! I wanted Winston Justice off our team after that Giants game a few years ago! He was worse than awful. Most if not all of us were MORE THAN ready to get Winston off our team. We had every right though! His name should’ve been changed to..Winston Just-that-bad! No one gave him a shot in heck to come back and redeem his self! What happened this year. Freakn Shawn Andrews goes down AGAIN. Ridiculous! So who do the coaches throw in there. Not Stacey Andrews (who should be on C’mon man)! But Winston J. Over training camp Justice showed new life and came with a new aggressive attitude! But still..we were all very very skeptical (rightfully so). But then the reg. season rolled around and up to this point….Winston has surprised me along with many other people! How could this be? Is this the same Winston from that dreadful Giants game! Who is this guy?! This guy can actually play ball! Winston has done a solid job. Of course he wont be goin to no Pro Bowl but he is not giving up 5 or 7 sacks a game let alone FIVE games! Players grow and u never know how that player will REALLY turn out until that play experience adversity and mistakes! Without Winston Justice this season…we would’ve been SCREWED BIG TIME due to Mr Shawn Andrews! If we would’ve gave up and cut him when all us fans wanted him out…we would be suffering right now becuz King Dunlap would probably be our starting Tackle (i know he’s a LT but he would’ve had to switch to RT due to the S.Andrews injury)! King freakin Dunlap! So Macho or any other player in the same boat on our team other than Sav Rocca, becuz he IS getting worse not better, is alright in my book as of this moment! Lets see how it pans out becuz u never know!!…….Winston Justice man….simple as that!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Dec 31, 2009 7:00 PM EST up reply actions

Justice . . . weak

Played incredibly poorly in a single game in a really tough spot. Harris has gotten his share of playing time this year at FS and hasn’t shown much at all including an ability to be consistent enough to start despite some weak competition. He has been a complete zero as a return man with one of the worst averages in the league

Why can’t you just admit that Harris hasn’t shown enough to be a starter this year and that the Eagles likely won’t be counting on him outright to be the starter next year? He certainly can improve but he hasn’t shown the ability to be a starting FS this year.

Get so tired of your endless posts defending a guy who has been mediocre at best this year and really struggled in 3-4 games.

by MG77 on Jan 1, 2010 4:14 AM EST up reply actions

Thats the funny part....in your head

U think I said that Macho was a Pro Bowler, an All Star, The Best Safety on this team hahahhaha. When i did not say anything CLOSE to these things. And on top of that..if u think the Justice point was weak…Then it shows that u most def are in denial! This is way i can’t ever take ur comments serious.! Becuz u dont believe that u r serious!! It ok man homie. I dont dislike u. We are fellow Eagles Fans. U aren’t right…and neither am I! We wont know until everything pans out! I leave it at that!!!!!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Jan 2, 2010 1:12 PM EST up reply actions

Macho's cheerleader

Just change your handle. I will stop being so tough on Harris is if he actually shows everything but so far he hasn’t.

by MG77 on Jan 1, 2010 4:15 AM EST up reply actions

Again...the name calling is ANOTHER

reason I can’t take u serious. Call me whatever u want. How does it PROVE ur point. How do it not make u sound like ur joking!! I guess u think that I’ll get offended or mad if u call me a name. But I could care less becuz it means nuttn except that u love callin people names when they do not buy in to the stuff u say! Besides that, If I were a “Machos Cheerleader”, then why would I say that I like Demps better on kick returns. Why would I say that Macho did in fact have a bad game! Either u r not really reading my comments or u r just DENYING/ SELECTIVE with what u choose to read and comment on from my post (s). If u were not denying and selective then u would’ve already stopped trying to convey to me that u think Macho stinks. Read ALL of what I write and dont leave out things that I said! C’mon man, simple as that. Later

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Jan 2, 2010 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

yea

Would u rather Maclin return kicks and GET HURT again and who has not done well returning kicks either…or Macho! Id rather have Jmac stay healthy!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Dec 31, 2009 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

I am NOT good with Macho returning kicks!!!

When you fumble and give the other team 7 points after they just scored 7 points, you have to feel like an ass. In fact, you have to think, “I am NEVER going to do that again, I need to redeem myself!”

And then he fumbles AGAIN!!!!!!

The risk is too great b/c the stakes are too high…I don’t want him back there. I’d even prefer Maclin back there if Demps can’t go (even though he looks like a scared little boy)

by jalarsen1 on Dec 31, 2009 8:53 AM EST up reply actions

Not happening

But Harris does need to play well enough this week at FS because he is likely going to get a number of snaps again because Demps is questionable again.

by MG77 on Dec 31, 2009 12:49 AM EST up reply actions

Realtalk,

I agree he can be a good kick returner if he just works on securing the ball. But now is no time to be working on things during the game.

"He wasn't an astronaut, he was a tv comedian! And he was just using space travel as a metaphor for beating his wife!"

by groot on Dec 31, 2009 2:06 AM EST up reply actions

I agree

the stakes at this point in the season are too great to be ‘working on it’

by jalarsen1 on Dec 31, 2009 8:54 AM EST up reply actions

Macho got fined for that LEGAL block!

Hit him with a $7500 fine. But all is well though guys…The guy from the panthers who hit Dmac (defenseless) late, on the ground and in the Endzone got off scott-free/fine-free! No need to worry. Goodell and the league are fair and balanced. They are very consistent with their ruling! They protect ALL players. Ha

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Dec 30, 2009 7:02 PM EST reply actions

It was a questionable call

But Harris didn’t have much impact on defense and has horrendous on special teams. It wasn’t his only ‘stupid’ penalty of the season either as he has 3 other personal fouls on the season too in moderate time. He also had played poorly in a few other games too including the Panthers game and the 2nd Skins game.

by MG77 on Dec 31, 2009 12:51 AM EST up reply actions

i never like Macho as a KR

I felt he was too slow. I don’t like Demps either. The only person I liked returning kicks went on IR for a neck injury and the position will be fine next season. For now let Demps handle the role, if he’s injured someone better teach Macho to protect the ball.
As a player on the field, I liked Macho. He’s a rookie and he’s learning. Everyone said he made no plays. That LEGAL hit on Scheffler would have been a great play by the rookie if not for some idiotic flag.

RIP Jim Johnson. You will truly be missed.

by Igglesfan13 on Dec 31, 2009 1:53 AM EST via mobile reply actions