What they're saying - Eagles bow out in first round
by JasonB on Jan 11, 2010 6:00 AM EST
in Philadelphia Eagles News
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PrintWith two straight embarrassing losses to the Cowboys to end their season, these Eagles have a slot of explaining to do... I doubt you'll find much satisfaction amongst these quotes however.
Donovan McNabb was obviously asked what he thought went wrong...
"I take full responsibility for all of it, for all the opportunities we had to make plays, I should've made those plays for our team, and I just didn't."
Sean McDermott's defense was sliced up once again... Why is that Sean?
"We've lost some production this year at the safety position. I would think that needs to improve next year if we want to go as far as we'd like to go as a team."
You lost "all" production this year at the safety position.
Andy Reid was pretty frank.
"I saw us slip as a football team the last two weeks, not as a defense, not as an offense and not as coaches. (snip)
They were better all the way around – in every phase. I guess we did a couple decent things on special teams, but that was about it. They’re the better team right now. They came out and kicked our tail two weeks in a row in every way."
Lots more after the jump
"It's disheartening. We have a ton of talent. We showed that throughout the year. Now because one team beat us twice in a row, it put a bad marker on our whole season."
Well that one team was the Cowboys and those two times were for the NFC East title and a chance to move on in the playoffs. So... yeah it does put a bad marker.
Macho Harris talked about his rookie year
"I could never replace Dawkins. There was no pressure. I felt I could play ball myself. I felt, like, 'I'm a rookie. If they're making that comparison as a rookie, compared to B-Dawk's 12th year, that's unreal. I want to improve my whole game. From zero to 10, I want to get better. Get stronger. Get faster. Work with the coaches more and know exactly what they want."
"It was the same thing as last week. It’s embarrassing. We never planned to lose like this. To have it happen in the same environment is very disappointing."
Finally, Jeremiah Trotter was asked if the Cowboys are just better?
"It is what it is. We know we can play better, but there’s one thing in knowing it and doing it. We haven’t done it the last two weeks. So right now, yeah, until we close the gap, that’s what it’s going to be."
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Interesting
That McDermott came out and said what the most glaring weaknesses were. I’m wondering if some of this had to do with scheme. I just don’t understand how Mikkell can go from nearly all-pro to mediocre and playing out of position in one season. We definitely need to make some whole sale changes because the Giants will, Dallas is already good, and I think the Skins are actually determined to get better too.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
so
who is to blame mikell or mcdermott
by allmaddenking on Jan 11, 2010 7:40 AM EST up reply actions
well...
We did have that no name Brian Dawkins guy playing along side of him…
Obviously I figured that helped Q out…but, I didn’t think it was gonna impact his play as much as it did…but when you lose weapon x…it hurts..alot…he clearly outplayed all our safeties this season…
Not to mention the fact that our whole team..offense included missed his leadership.
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 9:04 AM EST up reply actions
Dawkins sucks now
He can’t c over. I don’t think a hybrid LB/S would’ve helped us in coverage at all.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
haha...ok
You really think Macho/Demps/Jones was an upgrade over Dawkins????…shit, even throw Mikell in there too.
I know he has lost a step, but you really want to argue that any of our safeties were better…even if we’re soley speaking of coverage. Take away and ignore the fact that he’s an astounding upgrade at safety if we’re only talking about hitting/tackling. He’s clearly an Overall safety upgrade over all 4 of ours.
And even if you were 100% right that he can’t cover At all and that he sucks (Even if he had no legs, I would NEVER say Bdawk sucks)…he probably could have out tackled and out covered all of our linebackers too (bit of a stretch..but not as much as you’d think which is sad).
Any way you put it, having Dawkins around this year, in any form, anywhere on the field…was a defensive upgrade.
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
i thought of it the opposite way
i thought that having Q helped Dawkins immensely last season. Q is great but how can you expect him to do it by himself? This draft is certainly going to be interesting.
RIP Jim Johnson. You will truly be missed.
by Igglesfan13 on Jan 11, 2010 4:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Crappy safety play has been Dallas' issue for years
Since Woodsen retired Dallas didn’t have a safety who could cover. Roy Williams was horrible and over rated. Now both their safeties are competent. Your safties killed you guys.
by StillHateTheGiants on Jan 11, 2010 10:41 AM EST up reply actions
yeah no argument there
our safties are a major problem
Hard to replace Brian Dawkins
I'd rather be an Eagles fan till the day i die and go 0-16 every year than be a cockroach cowboys fan
I think what you saw was similiar
to Dallas when Darren Woodson was forced into retirement. Not only did the loss of that guy hurt (Dawkins for you) but the play of the other safety, Roy Williams for us (Mikell for you) was seemingly dependent on the other guy.
I think that made sense, Woodson elevated the play of Roy Williams, and we saw what he became after Woodson retired.
lol Williams hurt us before he left
2009 Dallas Cowboys: 11-5!!!
2009 New York Jets: not 11-5 :(, but PLAYOFFS!!!
2009-2010 Dallas Mavericks: 57-25, despite the recent molestation at the hands of the Lakers
I hope Q is better than Roy Williams…but I like your analogy.
Seems to fit pretty damn well..unfortunately….but I’d like to give Q another year (with some semblance of a linebacking corps.)
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 5:12 PM EST up reply actions
As a Cowboys Fan I have Great respect for Dawkins
When you lost him and Jim Johnson, I, as a Cowboy fan do not fear the Eagles anymore
ModernCowboys
by ModernCowboy on Jan 11, 2010 7:38 PM EST up reply actions
I wonder if the safety rotation messed with Mikell
He knew and trusted what Dawkins was going to do in 2008. He might not have felt as comfortable working with Jones than Harris than Jones than Harris…
If you don’t trust that the other guy is going to do his job you find yourself inclined to not pay full attention to what you’re supposed to be doing.
The monster at the end of this blog.
The Skins have been determined to get better for over a decade. I’ll believe it when it happens.
I actually see the Eagles being a in a similar quandry to the Packers 2 years ago. A good, young QB, who appears ready to start, and an old QB who has been one of the greatest things ever to happen to the franchise. Do the Birds try to trade or cut Donovan and look at next year as a rebuilding year with Kolb? Or does Kolb get stuck in limbo, due to loyalty to McNabb (not suggesting McNabb isn’t still a very capable QB).
Pressure
Not getting pressure on the QB exposes your weaknesses. We didn’t pressure on Romo and we paid the price. Between injuries and not a lot of talent we just didn’t have it on defense. We were able to hide it at times this year by getting pressure.
As much as we need help at LB and Safety I think I would be most happy if we got another stud DE to go with Cole.
I'm a Cowgirls Cockroach Troll - Beware
i would like a saftey
some 1 who can do it all hit and cover. we can get a pretty good de in the 2nd or 5th we seem to have good luck with our 5th rounders
by allmaddenking on Jan 11, 2010 7:49 AM EST up reply actions
id say safety or o line
We struggled a lot when Peters and TH and obviously jackson were out. Good thing our coach is great at drafting right?
If we trade either McNabb (that REALLY pains me to say) or Vick I would love all the extra picks to improve our D. Besides offensive line, there is almost nothing wrong with the offense, except depth.
Safety, linebacker, and defensive end are most important for our D (in that order).
RIP Jim Johnson. You will truly be missed.
by Igglesfan13 on Jan 11, 2010 4:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I missed Dawkins this year...
just saying
I'd rather be an Eagles fan till the day i die and go 0-16 every year than be a cockroach cowboys fan
. . .
I’ll miss Dawk every year…
/shakes head at the thought of seeing Macho start another game.
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 9:07 AM EST up reply actions
I mean...
financially, it made complete sense for the FO…
But, heart wise, leadership wise, legacy wise…dropped the fucking ball.
We should have Franchised him and overpaid him for 1 year for 1 more run at the title.
However…it woulda been so nice if Dawk had just said No, I’m staying to Denver. I don’t blame him for leaving for all that guaranteed loot, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if he turned them down either…
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 12:49 PM EST up reply actions
Especially coupled with losing Jim Johnson
That’s the equivalent of losing two brilliant defensive coaches at one time.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
o yeah it is.
we lost a big chunk of our team’s heart and grit…if not all of it.
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
I was surprised
We did as well as we did. Honestly, who thought we would go 11-5 this season after losing JJ and dawkins. And in top of that, we had a ton of other rookies starting. I don’t think any team could still have a successful season after going through all those hardships except the eagles. Yeah… We are all dissappointed, but good season boys. A lot better than I had anticipated.
WTF is America's Team....
by FlyEagles15 on Jan 11, 2010 5:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
i SUPPOSSE
If ya look at it that way….Ok sarcasm aside, yes you are right, despite the hole that I feel inside, we were overmatched, despite our mistakes. If Jones INT holds ups, and if Mc Nabb hits a couple of our guys where he should have, maybe its a closer game, but I think it would have come down to one last drive by us and they come up and stop us…
That said, we had 11 wins this year, fought through ALOT of adversity, but in the end got knocked out. Regroup/reconfigure/restructure time!
i actually think Macho will be fine
but he DEFINITLY wasnt ready to start in 2009 as a rookie
I'd rather be an Eagles fan till the day i die and go 0-16 every year than be a cockroach cowboys fan
Hope your right...
Although I was pretty happy to see that Macho got knocked out of the game last week…
Not like I have much faith in QD or Jones either, but…
In the quarter+ he played, we got to see him blow coverage atleast twice, try and lay shoulder first hits that turned into missed tackles, then when he tried to wrap up, he was shrugged off by Felix another 2 or 3 times, and nearly fumbled another kick return when he should’ve taken a knee (where was QD for KRs)..not to mention watching him make bad reads and take bad angles on almost every play he was near…
Despite that rant, I am not a Macho hater..well, until last week where it was pretty obvious he was stinking it up wherever he was playing…end result…we need a new “game changer” at safety…I hope it’s as clear to the FO.
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
Yea thats not cool!
I realllly dont like Andy Reid! But I dont wish or hope he gets hurt or something bad happens to him!!
"... 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..."
I wasn’t happy to see him hurt…but i was happy that he wasn’t in the game anymore…read my comment again…I never applauded the injury, I was simply happy he wasn’t back in the game. Would have been equally satisfied if the coaches just smartened up and took him out.
I would never be happy to see an eagle injured…EVER, I was just saying that he was playing so badly on Sunday, he did us a favor by running the ball out of the endzone like an idiot and getting up-ended again. Best play he made all game was not fumbling the kick return…
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
I agree! He was a rookie and played CB in College!
College CB to Rookie NFL Safety in one YEAR and u expect him to succeed right away and do everything right……..Yea Right! He did help us when need, but he still has a lot to learn about the position…and learn about what it takes to play NFL safety!! He did mess up alot this season…So did Sean Jones (oh and what about that no tackle effort in that second Giants game. We all remember that..Horrid! C’mon Sean!) We virtually had no solid safetys nor steady good play from the safety position this year all around including Mikell!
"... 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..."
Ya he is a rookie
And ge played decent. So give him a couple seasons and I think he’ll be a decent safety. We can’t expect EVERYONE to blow up during their rookie season.
WTF is America's Team....
by FlyEagles15 on Jan 11, 2010 5:53 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
What happened to Demps?
Wasn’t he supposed to be fighting for a starting spot during training camp? How do you go from competing to be a starter to inactive in the playoffs?
We definitely need a quality safety and a couple of linebackers, but Reid doesn’t usually like to spend high picks on these positions. Is this the year he finally caves and spends a 1st or 2nd on LB or S?
I'd like to know more about Hanson
I’ll admit I haven’t really rewatched them, but in those last 2 games… he seemed to be giving up too much.
He thought the job was his and didn’t really try as hard as he should of during Training Camp adn the preseason. I’m not going to go searching for the quote from him that basically said that, but I remember it. And if I remember it, I’m willing to bet the coaches do too.
Let the beasting begin.
by TransplantedFan on Jan 11, 2010 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
Go get Earl Thomas from Texas
He’s awesome and will probably be there at the bottom of the 1st round.
"Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends."
by DatNguyenNguyenScenario on Jan 11, 2010 10:57 AM EST reply actions
what's annoying
is that we have two young ones in demps and harris plus we tried out sean jones and we’re already talking about drafting another one.
respective issues...
-attitude problem
-talent problem
-scheme problem?
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
O and D lines
I’d personally like to see our O line just to get stronger. It seems like way too often they get pushed around when it’s gut check time….3rd and 1 or 4th and 1. Everyone knows it’s man up time and it always seems like we loose those battles. They are big men, but when it comes time to prove it, we always fall short it seems.
Defense First.
I hear ya, but I find it even more frustrating when the defense can’t get off the field on 3rd and 5+…
Did you see Romo’s stats on 3rd down mid way through the 3rd quarter…He was 5/6 for 5 first downs…and the one he missed was 3rd and 32.
That’s pathetic…DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS…if our D stepped it up, we had opportunities for a comeback despite our offensive struggles…ones that stand out are that we could’ve had them 3 and out on their first drive (set the tone) and again 3 and out opportunity the drive following the Vick TD (momentum shift), and all the other 3rd and 6/7/8 that was converted on a quick slant…ugh.
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
I like your thinking too
Good call man. I like that too. I know our defense needs some play makers too. I just think that with Bradley coming back he will make a big difference.
This season was doomed with all the injuries and the Andrew’s mafia tearing up the whole team with no heart what so ever.
I hope Stew is back to the way he was…but statistics unfortunately will point to a two year span for a full recovery from the ACL injury….ugh.
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
That quick slant
Was bugging the crap out of me!!! It was so predictable…
WTF is America's Team....
by FlyEagles15 on Jan 11, 2010 6:01 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
same with all the wr screens…coudn’t stop either.
by 5 plus 10 equals 6 on Jan 11, 2010 7:04 PM EST up reply actions
I bet we try and can't do it
Spagnuolo is a defensive coach that worked under JJ. He values his safeties. I sincerely doubt we’re able to pull off a deal for Atogwe.
About 10 minutes ago, I was pondering my own existence. Then I decided that it didn't matter.
Reid says!!!
Mcnabb is our starter next year!!!
by bclancy15 on Jan 11, 2010 2:49 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Of course he's going to say that
I agree that it is likely he stays be Andy will not tip his hand now regardless of what he is going to do.
I'm a Cowgirls Cockroach Troll - Beware
Reid also said many many times in the past...
That, “We like our WR’s” and “We think we have enough weapons!” But we all knew those were both very false statements!!
"... 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..."
Do you guys really think Dawkins would've helped us this year?
I don’t. He gets abused in coverage and thats pretty much what was happening to us when we went up against good offenses.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
How much better though?
Maybe minimally. We still got a ton of turnovers and at times we were getting pressure. I don’t buy the whole leader thing. I don’t think you have to get hyped up out of your brains to play good football. These are grown men not kindergartners. I love Dawkins but no way would I want him on my team anymore.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
He was a monster run stopper
So yeah. I mean, face it- one of the main reasons Mikell thrived so well in his safety position last season was because he didn’t need to do everything like he’s doing this year. Mikell needs help. He’s like Trent Cole of our DB’s.
by LegendKnight22 on Jan 11, 2010 4:17 PM EST up reply actions
i would argue
that the loss of Bradley was the main reason we couldn’t stop the run as well as we did last season.
RIP Jim Johnson. You will truly be missed.
by Igglesfan13 on Jan 11, 2010 4:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
You've obviously never played a contact sport
Getting everyone pumped and ready to bust some heads is what dawkins brought…and yeah it was important to have that. And you can see it how our team doesn’t hit nearly as hard as last season
WTF is America's Team....
by FlyEagles15 on Jan 11, 2010 6:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I think we missed him, especially his leadership. But the price to keep him was very high, probably too high.
I'm a Cowgirls Cockroach Troll - Beware
but
It’s not like with the injuries we had some really talented under acheiving bunch. The fact is they just weren’t good enough at certain positions. You could make a speech that belongs on Friday night lights but it would’n’t of made our mediocre players/back ups any more talented.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
if you blitz the house on every def play (which ahs done wonders for the eagles through the years)
You better have some talent back there to cover man to man. If you expect to blitz the way you do, and leave a rookie saftey back there, you’re simply putting them in a position to fail. That screwes up the defense and the player as well because it makes it tougher for them to learn the game………theory from Parcells.
Don't think so......
Dawk may have helped against the run, but he would have been no help in pass defense. He’s slowed down. He can still hit and be involved in the run defense….and may probably play another year or two. But I doubt he would have helped us much this year.
Time to evaluate the QB position????
I’ve also been an Eagles fan since the 60’s and the teams under Reid and McNabb have been by far the best teams over the years. Even better than the one that Vermeil took to the superbowl. I’ve seen QBs come and go from VanBrocklin to McNabb and McNabb has been the best, with Jaws and Cummingham running a close second, third. Many players, QBs included, at some point in their careers hit a wall. They reach a point where they just don’t have it anymore, or they may need a change of scenery. Kurt Warner is a good example. After taking the Rams to the superbowl, Warner bounced around the league, played backup, until he latched on to the Cardinals and revitalized his career. He’s been playing great ever since. He’s 38. McNabb, 33, may have hit that wall. I’m not calling for a change yet, but his performance, based on the 2 games against Dallas, needs to be evaluated. Something is different in his play, based on those last 2 games. He did get us to 11-5. Who would have thought that with all the injures? I’m still one of his biggest supporters, but maybe it is time for a change. By the way, Brady only had 38 yards in the first half. What’s up with that????
It's been more than those two games at Dallas
He struggled big time vs Denver in the 2nd half. He hasn’t played well in over 10 quarters. Plus, let’s be honest, we played shit teams whether anyone wants to dispute that or not.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
True That!
Denver and 49ers!
"... 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..."
McNabb looks done. He's not as quick as he used to be and he's not that accurate.
Kolb looked good and the sooner you pair him up with the young receivers and TE, the more it’ll benefit the eagles (unfortunately for me) in the future.
Brady can’t do it w/o stealing signals……..he choked vs San Diego 2 years ago when they got discovered and he choked against Baltimore this time.
I think one of the main reasons why our D got worse as the season went on
was because of McDermott’s changing of his personnel and where they play. Earlier in the year, I really did believe Macho did well enough at the safety position to be there in certain situations. As the year went on, it seemed like he was there for far too many snaps. He’s a rookie, for crying out loud. Why take that chance?
Same goes for our LB situation. Our MLB was solid enough till we brought in Witherspoon, who, in his first game with us, completely raped and seemed like a possessed man. As the year went on, we saw Jordan playing middle LB. Why? He has been consistently good as the outside LB. I know McDermott had to improvise with the injuries, but after Jordan came back, why not return everyone to their regular LB positions? Why change something solid into something unfamiliar.
Basically, I think McDermott tried to do too much with a depleted defense. With that said, the potential this guy has is ridiculous. I am more than excited to get back a healthy Bradley and more time to fix the safety position.
Cowboys Fans take on Dawkins
The man was a Cowboy killer and I dreaded seeing him. He beat us this year in the Denver game. We are just now recovering from the loss of Woodsen (and that was 7 years ago).
So here is my question: Does the 3 victories (two blowouts) make up for 44-6? Are we even ?
ModernCowboys
Hmmm....
Well you’re in the playoffs now so I guess so. But that 44-6 was f’in incredible.
WTF is America's Team....
by FlyEagles15 on Jan 11, 2010 8:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
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