What we really need

by Joe_D on Dec 26, 2011 12:57 PM EST

1. A PROVEN defensive coordinator. I like Juan as a person, but he's just not a NFL DC... Sorry, wins against Mark Sanchez (who by the way COULDN"T EVEN PASS ON THE GIANTS WHO HAVE THE WORST SECONDARY IN THE NFL!!!), Matt Moore, and Stephen McGee DO NOT put any faith that we have turned some sort of corner and will be a top defense next year. Sorry, but don't even come in here arguing how "hot" these guys were coming into any game. Spagnuolo anyone?

2. A PROVEN LB!!!! Sorry, no hybrid tweeners. No athletic guys with a football IQ of zero either (Ernie Simms). I don't care about their 40 time either, they need to be able to cover though (Chaney). One that could tackle consistently and run plug up the A gaps (Trotter) would be nice too.

3. We need to start getting "a little younger" in a certain areas... Jason Peters, Todd Herremanes, Trent Cole, Cullen Jenkins, Asomugha, Samuel, Babin, Vick, etc are all going to be on the wrong side of 30 next year. We need to get some players through the draft that can replace their production...Again, please stop it with these fast tweeners who never pan out.

4. Convince Howard Mudd to stay un-retired. Our O-line went from crappy to fantastic in a matter of a few games under Mudd. It's going to be huge for keeping Vick healthy.

5. Continue to develop Watkins and Brandon Graham. These guys need to play and play at a high level, especially Graham.. You just can't simply miss on a 13th overall pick, and your 27 year old rookie better be damn near pro bowl level at 28.

6. Keep Jim Washburn. The wide 9 works, it gets pressure on the QB without having to blitz all day. Sorry to the PFF and PFO readers, but Tennesse had a fantastic defense for years with Chan Gailey and Washburn.

And yes, SOMETHING needs to happen with drafting. I don't believe Andy has total control, I think Banner and Roseman have some power there as well. Either way, WE HAVE to start getting some talent in the draft. These 2nd and 3rd round busts are KILLING this team. There's not a single good player on the defense that we drafted aside from Trent Cole and that was years ago.

Don't be fooled by this 3 game win streak, and likely 4 game. We still haven't proved anything to anyone but when we don't turn the ball over 7 times a game we can beat the mediocre teams. There still needs to be change, and I want proven guys whether it's proven players or proven coaches. No experiments, no question marks to start the season.

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Comments

Well said, #6 especially. If we had backers who could fill the run gaps, with that pass rush this defense could be phenomenal.

"I’m the real macaroni you cheesy b@#$%, I’m demonic with the Kraft" - Eminem

"Don't bother getting married - just find a woman you hate and buy her a house." - some anonymous great man

by djthekidd on Dec 26, 2011 1:22 PM EST reply actions

I'm glad this wasn't another fire Andy post.

I’m not sure what’s going on with the defense right now. It’s looked damn good and if it truly is all Juan than with another strong performance he may have saved his job. I agree that everyone is getting old fast and if a run don’t happen next year it may not for a while. I think this defense could be a big time LB or two away from being something special next season.

And I fully agree on Mudd. I would love to see him back next year.

"Learning to eat soup with a knife"

by h2o_34_35_44 on Dec 26, 2011 1:44 PM EST reply actions

How soon we forget

About the new England game. The defense always looks good against crap hole teams that we have been playing lately

by Saidrick on Dec 26, 2011 1:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

agreed

JoeD AKA The Voice Of Reason

by Joe_D on Dec 26, 2011 3:51 PM EST up reply actions

Problem with wide 9 is

You need good active LB’s for it to work effectivly.

by Late for Dinner on Dec 27, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

I have a great "fire Andy" post in the pipeline.

Look for it soon.

Castillo is a joke. His defense beat some shit QB’s and people are praising this clown.

God Damn you, Andy Reid.

by EvilBanner on Dec 26, 2011 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

I’m all for making a strong statement and supporting change with reason. I’m sure your post will be well written. Will you be including a plan to replace Andy?

by Wokjab on Dec 27, 2011 1:12 PM EST up reply actions

Yep.

I have about 10 candidates lined up.

God Damn you, Andy Reid.

The fat queen has failed us again. Reid must go.

by EvilBanner on Dec 27, 2011 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

Why Fire Juan?

His D is getting better week by week. Marty has been making same mistakes over and over again. Fire Marty, please.

by buddyball9 on Dec 26, 2011 1:57 PM EST reply actions

As Tommy pointed out today

The Eagles defense is 8th in yards and 13th in points allowed. We’ll see ultimately what the strength of schedule was, but I was surprised by those numbers.

by ajay on Dec 26, 2011 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

how is it getting better

who did we stop?

Sanchez? – so did the Giants crap defense
Matt Moore?
Stephen McGee , a third stringer?

Not sold…….

JoeD AKA The Voice Of Reason

by Joe_D on Dec 26, 2011 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

And were roasted by John Skelton. i think that is a billion times worse.

"I’m the real macaroni you cheesy b@#$%, I’m demonic with the Kraft" - Eminem

"Don't bother getting married - just find a woman you hate and buy her a house." - some anonymous great man

by djthekidd on Dec 26, 2011 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

Getting smoked by Skelton and Brady were the final straws for me. Couldn’t cover a damn person against New England, then letting Skelton eat us up in the 4th quarter sealed Juan’s fate for good.

by DLawrence55 on Dec 26, 2011 6:18 PM EST up reply actions

Brady smokes a lot of teams, so I can give them a pass on that. But getting your lunch money stolen by John Skelton should lead to a Juan way ticket out the door.

"I’m the real macaroni you cheesy b@#$%, I’m demonic with the Kraft" - Eminem

"Don't bother getting married - just find a woman you hate and buy her a house." - some anonymous great man

by djthekidd on Dec 26, 2011 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

yeah that whole game was just unacceptable.

juquan jarrett on Fitzgerald? Whaaaat!

JoeD AKA The Voice Of Reason

by Joe_D on Dec 26, 2011 7:07 PM EST up reply actions

serious, you have to fire juan. sorry

Be heard and Sign the Fire Andy/Juan petition Fire Andy Reid and Juan Castillo Petition | GoPetition

by the-vet on Dec 26, 2011 8:03 PM EST up reply actions

jaquan was 1 on 1 because Asante went outside the coverage scheme and gambled on the play.

by eagleyosh on Dec 26, 2011 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

Other datapoints: the Cards also beat Dallas and San Francisco, the latter looking for home-field advantage at the time.

It’s not like the Eagles are the best team Skelton has beaten.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by alcatraz0109 on Dec 26, 2011 9:50 PM EST up reply actions

Skelton did not beat the 49ers

They beat themselves. Skelton did throw 3 TDs, but he was responsible for 3 turnovers as well. The defense also held the 49ers (the #7 ranked run offense) to 233 yards of offense and 90 rushing yards which would have been 53 if Frank never got that break away run.

Skelton suffered from the D effect where the defense decided to start playing against the Cowboys and 49ers.

"truTV is like BET for white folks." - Chuck
"Brian Dawkins is always 100% Eagles related."--macjack09 & BGN Nation

by macjack09 on Dec 26, 2011 10:42 PM EST up reply actions

Note that I said

the Cards also beat Dallas and San Francisco

and not

Skelton also beat Dallas and San Francisco

It’s about more than just who the other team’s QB is. My point is that the Eagles aren’t the best team to lose to the Cardinals, and the fact that John Skelton happened to be starting for the Cardinals isn’t the only thing to consider in analyzing this loss, a fact that seems to be lost on a few people in the thread.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by alcatraz0109 on Dec 26, 2011 11:24 PM EST up reply actions

In fariness

Schottenheimer’s dumbass calling 67 pass plays stopped Sanchez more than the Giants crap defense.

But you’re right

GO CUSE, BLUE, AND EAGLES!

by tanman5 on Dec 27, 2011 6:34 PM EST up reply actions

at some point you have to pass

granted the jets o-line made about 10 penalties and put the offense in bad positions, u have to be able to convert 3rd and longs at some point.. even eli did it with cruz’s 99 yrd td.. he didnt do it once…6-7 yard passes was all he had

JoeD AKA The Voice Of Reason

by Joe_D on Dec 27, 2011 7:53 PM EST up reply actions

When teams offer little resistance, the way Miami, NYJ and Dallas did for Juan, Marty can be thought of as a good OC. Remember the last 3 years, when the Eagles set franchise season scoring records each year? Marty was the OC.

Too bad the Eagles are not playing a good offensive team that needs to win. If they could stop, or even slow down, a good team, I might be be inclined to think this “defense is getting better” idea had a little merit. I love to see them tackle, but face it, they are not getting blocked as well by the bad teams.

It is such an easy trap to fall into. I’ve said this before at BGN : the way I remember it, in the ‘90s Cincinnati used to start most every year 2-7 or 0-7 or 1-9 then go 3-1 or 4-1 over the last 4-5 games, against weak teams or teams that had nothing to play for and drag out the "we’re gonna build off that and take that momentum into next year" nonsense.

Reid just answered that exact question. “Are you a believer in the carry over of momentum from one year to the next”.
He said the camaraderie will carry over. He said the team has gelled. He also said that he has previously said that every year is different and didn’t want to contradict that.
I think it’s clear that he has gotten over the initial agony of seeing his team go down the toilet. At this point the pressure is off and he feels better.

by waterfield on Dec 26, 2011 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

Andy's teams are great when the pressure is off.

This team of divas and queens choked when the pressure to win was on, but now to keep their cushy accountability-free existance going at club NovaCare, they decided to win a few meaningless ones.

God Damn you, Andy Reid.

by EvilBanner on Dec 26, 2011 4:51 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly.

And it means they can take a vacation for the first 8 games next year, because if their heroic charge down the stretch doesn’t win it in 2012, there’s always 2013.

by waterfield on Dec 26, 2011 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

Fuck the "Gold Standard"

Lurie’s new motto for this team should be “Where accountability goes to die”

by DLawrence55 on Dec 27, 2011 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

ok, I agree with some of these, but can we please give it a rest about the competition the eagles have faced in this three game win streak?! It is not like the defense has not had good games other times this year. First cowboy game comes to mind. The defense has not just played well recently. They have just dominated! I refuse to slight them by saying who have they played. You want to know who they played? They played statistically the best red zone offense in the nfl. They played a hot Miami team who absolutely shut down shady and had been scoring points like mad and even dropped 30 on the bills in buffalo the following week and they played a cowboy team who had something to play for on their first series and looked dominant still. I don’t think it is that far fetched to say they have gelled. Also, they beat the giants in new York and played good defense there. To just claim the defense has only played well recently is a bogus claim. There were times where they have been flat out dominant earlier in the year and also sucked earlier in the year. To me this demonstrates a learning curve for the defense. I really wish they could have gotten into the playoffs so we could see just how much they have improved in a playoff atmosphere as well.

by PhilsForever on Dec 26, 2011 5:46 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Question

Has this defense beaten any play off teams. Also remember that Tavarius Jackson blew this defense up right before the streak.

by Saidrick on Dec 26, 2011 6:23 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Question

I want to take your question and flip it. Overall, judging the whole season including the 3 game win streak, what defenses are better than the eagles in the nfc playoffs this year? The 49ers…that is about it. The nfc playoff steams defenses stink. All of the good defenses this year minus the 49ers are in the afc it seems.

by PhilsForever on Dec 28, 2011 2:44 AM EST up reply actions

Dude I feel you

and would love to agree. but i just can’t… as the poster above said have we even stopped a playoff team?

Yes, the Giants or the Cowboys will make th eplayoffs, we have stopped both we are probably better than both, but they are both also VERY mediocre teams.

If the birds could take a good offensive team and LIMIT them, then I would be on board with you but they just got creamed by any team with a half decent qb…. and sometimes with a bad qb (Tavaris Jackson!!!!) They have looked good — somtimes. But they haven’t convinced me they could do it on a consistent basis and that’s why we’re golfing in january

JoeD AKA The Voice Of Reason

by Joe_D on Dec 26, 2011 7:06 PM EST up reply actions

For the record

We couldn’t beat the giants with Juan try. We needed a two tries to beat a mediocre team.

by Saidrick on Dec 26, 2011 8:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

The Eagles need a steady supply of HGH flowing throughout the weight room. Isn’t that how the Packers, Steelers, and Patriots did it? Along with the monster QB, of course..?

Oh boy, is this great!

by MayIhave10,000marblesplease? on Dec 26, 2011 7:29 PM EST via mobile reply actions

rec'd

Everyone needs to take a step back and realize where this team is at. I could care less if we beat the redskins 100-0, you are what your record is. I agree with every point stated which oddly is usually not the case. Good work.

Be heard and Sign the Fire Andy/Juan petition Fire Andy Reid and Juan Castillo Petition | GoPetition

by the-vet on Dec 26, 2011 8:01 PM EST reply actions

I agree that something needs to be done with the DC possition

Although I think unless we get someone like Spags, Juan won’t be leaving this year. We have shown improvement and that will be enough to keep him here another year unless a highly coveted DC becomes available to us. I agree on every other point, hopefully Kuechly will be able to solve our linebacker problems or at least make them suck less.

And drafting I couldn’t agree more. The eagles have found less and less diamonds in the rough as of recently and we are starting 6-7th round picks instead of making better ones with our more valuable picks.

by Doug_M on Dec 26, 2011 8:46 PM EST reply actions

Last year the Lions

won the last four games and they “were a team on the rise”. The Eagles win 4 games in a row (hopefully) and it means nothing. I don’t get it.

Cowboys suck.

by stinkypants on Dec 26, 2011 10:39 PM EST reply actions

Um...really ...

The lions set a record three years ago and now there in the play offs. The eagles went from 10-6 to 7-8. Thats a decline. Not a rise.

by Saidrick on Dec 26, 2011 11:16 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Get ready to scream......

I’m defending Castillo….lol. From my point of view, I believe that the D….coaches and players…..have finally began to understand each other. Castillo was not the only new coach on the defensive side and all of them had to get to know each other and how to work together. Jim Johnson had a staff that he trusted and they trusted him. And the players trusted him and his schemes. When everything is new, sometimes it takes a while to gain trust in each other and understand the new schemes. As for the defense coming on at the end of the season against mediocre team. Hell, this is the NFL and anything can happen. Any team can be beaten on any given Sunday. Yeah, we beat Miami, Jets and Cowgirls, but the team could have easily given up, but they showed improvement and played hard….and won convincingly. To get rid of Castillo now would disrupt what I see as something special. Yes….there are areas to improve on, especially with the linebacking position. And bringing in a new DC would mean starting from scratch again. McDermott was given 2 years, so I say Castillo deserve 2 years. The difference I see in McDermott and Castillo, I see an improvement with Castillo. I’m disappointed that it took so long too, but I can’t deny that there was an improvement. As for age, defensive players usually last longer than offensive players. Example….Ray Lewis, Brian Dawkins. Both are still playing good ball. (I still think Dawk was let go too soon…lol). I know I’m probably alone in this, but I feel more excited about what to expect in 2012 than I did in what to expect in 2011. Something told me it was going to take a while for things to jell and that ‘Dream Team’ crap just made things worse with the high expectations. Well…………let me have it. Give me your best shots…..I know most of you will probably disagree. But I’m a big boy, I can handle it………………………just my opinion.
Goooooooooooooooo Eagles……

by Virgoman3 on Dec 27, 2011 12:00 AM EST reply actions