The easiest game plan ever

by JasonB on Oct 17, 2007 11:09 AM EDT in News Comment 11 comments

Don't let this be a premonition

Just kick it out of bounds... It's that simple. Remove the threat.

For anyone that apparently doesn't watch any football outside of the Eagles that's the Bears' KR/PR Devin Hester. I think it's probably safe to say he's well on his way to being the best return man ever, if he's not there already. He gives the Bears a unique weapon the Eagles don't have and haven't had for long time. Now, I actually feel good about the punt coverage team. Although if it were up to me I'd just kick the ball out of bounds and settle for 30-40 yard punts all day... but Sav Rocca puts so much hang time on his punts that few returners have been able to do anything more than fair catch against the Eagles. That said, Hester is a risk taker and isn't going to stand back there and be content to fair catch punts all day. At some point he'll try to return a ball that he maybe shouldn't, but he has the talent to make something of it anyway.

As for kick returns, this is going to sound funny but the Eagles actually average slightly more yardage per return than the Bears... but Hester has returned one kick for a TD, something the Eagles haven't done. Although Hester is considered a more prolific punt returner than kick returner, I'm more worried about his kick returning in this particular game.

The Eagles kick coverage is ranked 21st in the NFL and as Ray Parrillo from the Inky points out our best special teamer, Quintin Mikell, hasn't been with the unit because he's been starting in place of Dawkins. If #20 were able to get healthy for this weekend and take back his spot in the secondary, it could free up Mikell to bolster our coverage team. Frankly, even if Dawk can't go I'd seriously consider asking Mikell to pull double duty and cover kicks as well as be our starting FS...

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Bears aren't that good.

Defensive injuries combined with the loss of Tank Johnson (Darwin Walker ain't no Tank) have left the defense a ghost of what they were last year. Combined with the disaster at the QB position, I think the best strategy to neutralize Hester is onsides kicks all game.

by brooksy on Oct 17, 2007 1:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think this is the game

where the eagles start to put it together again. My line on this game (if Lito plays) is Eagles 24 Bears 13

If Lito cant go... I dont know, but I'd then be much more concerned about Berrian

700 Level

by 700 Level on Oct 17, 2007 1:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kick it OB

This guy makes a compelling point for doing just as you say http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/071016&sportCat=nfl and teams will probably start doing that until the rules change. Personally I think any punt or kickoff that goes OB or out of the endzone should result in a penalty. Kick returns are the most exciting plays in football. That being said, with a rule that stringent, the kickers would always kick to the middle of the field, so maybe it should not be a penalty if the ball lands in bounds before going out. Kicking it OB in the air should always be penalized.

"When you run downfield and hit a guy who is not expecting it, there is a certain amount of satisfaction." - John Runyan

by Bo Diddle on Oct 17, 2007 2:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sav can do that!!

If you need Sav to do that he can!! In fact he can do it without even trying sometimes. But it may go against his natural instinct as if you kicked a ball delibrately out of bounds in Australian Football you are penalized!!!
Regards
md

by murraydowns on Oct 17, 2007 6:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If not OB, then GO FOR IT!

The game plan against the Bears absolutely must be to kick all punts out of bounds. Sav should be practicing that all week.

Assuming that an OB punt will only travel roughly 30 yards, I think the Eagles should be more aggressive in going for it on 4th down this week. Any time we cross the 50 yd line, it should be 4 down territory if we're not in FG range. What's the point in risking 1) a potential TD the other way, 2) a very short punt leading to little difference in field position when we can potentially keep our scoring drives alive? The rewards far outweigh the risks there.

With our defense playing well right now, I think Reid has to be very careful about punting.

And I would love to see at least one onsides kick this week. In fact, I think this has to be part of the gameplan.

by slackerjoe on Oct 18, 2007 3:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

First off,

Devin Hester has returned 3 kicks this year. Check your stats next time.

Secondly, you all shouldn't sleep on the Bears. The defense is beat up, but we still have a shot.

by I Dream In Chi on Oct 18, 2007 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I checked

And he still has only returned one kickoff for a TD this year.

Including punt returns he has 3 TDs... maybe that's what you thought.

And no one is sleeping on Chicago.

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by JasonB on Oct 18, 2007 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough,

The sentence caught me off guard, I can now see that the context was in reference to kickoffs.

You may not be sleeping and I commend your respect of Hester, but the media seems to be. Just gets under my skin.

Don't sleep on Da Bears.

by I Dream In Chi on Oct 18, 2007 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The media

It's interesting because I think the media are treating the Eagles and Bears very much the same. Both were playoff teams last year but have been completely disappointing so far this year. It seems as though the media can't decide whether they just aren't good teams, or whether they've underperformed and will get it together at some point this year.

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by JasonB on Oct 18, 2007 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True,

They both have been beat up, but maybe what I am getting at is their fickle nature after the Bears lost this week. People are selling on the Bears, but buying the Eagles this week. In some cases rightfully so after the Peterson coming out party (Is he that good, or are we that bad?). I still believe that we are a good team, and apparently you all think the same.

Don't sleep on Da Bears.

by I Dream In Chi on Oct 18, 2007 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

'07 Bears = '05 Eagles.?

Distractions a plenty. From Briggs and his contract to Briggs and his car to Tank and his guns to the QB controversy. Players have been asked very few questions by the media about football.

Injuries a plenty. Both season ending (Mike Brown) and the bumps and bruises that are seriously hampering some of the stars (Briggs and Urlacher).

I think the pressure of making the superbowl and the added expectations are taking their toll. Like the '05 Eagles, there is talent, but a lot of obstacles to overcome.

by brooksy on Oct 18, 2007 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs