:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/25404773/20131215_pjc_ah7_068.0.jpg)
Don't forget to follow the wonderful BGN writers on Twitter:
Brandon Lee Gowton - @BrandonGowton
Mike E. Kaye - @mike_e_kaye
James Keane - @JeromesFriend
Brent Cohen - @EaglesRewind
Mark Saltveit - @taoish
Josh Collacchi - @JoshCollacchi
BGN Radio - @BGN_Radio
Let's get to the links...
Putting Alex Henery under the microscope - JimmyK, Philly.com
Alex Henery has become a controversial player this season for the Eagles, and last Sunday's loss in Minnesota only added fuel to the fire. On the one hand, Henery was 3 for 3 on FG attempts, but because the Eagles didn't trust that he could consistently kick the ball through the end zone on kickoffs, they employed a failed squib kick strategy, which allowed the Vikings to have great field position to begin their drives. That was to avoid the best kick returner in the NFL, Cordarrelle Patterson. It won't get much easier this Sunday when the Eagles face Devin Hester of the Bears. There are facts that say Henery has been a good kicker through 3 seasons with the Eagles. However, there are other facts that say he has not. Since he has become a topic of interest, let's put Henery's numbers under the microscope.
McCoy: 'I've got to put the offense on my back' - Reuben Frank, CSN Philly
When LeSean McCoy watches tape of the Bears, he sees holes. Big holes. He sees missed tackles and long runs. He sees the potential for big yards. “A lot of guys are gashing them,” McCoy said Wednesday. And McCoy, limited to a ridiculous eight carries Sunday in Minnesota, has a message for Chip Kelly: “I feel like this game I’ve got to put the offense on my back,” he said. “I want to roll.”
Davis and the Defense - Tommy Lawlor, Iggles Blitz
The Eagles defense was awful on Sunday. But Bill Davis made me feel more comfortable with the situation after listening to his PC on Tuesday. Davis talked about what went wrong. He was critical of his players, in a reasonable way. Davis talked about the fact that there were times when the coverages used by the Eagles needed to be tighter. He also said MIN did some things on offense they hadn’t seen before.
Film review: This time, the other team had the better plan - Derek Sarley, Daily News
If the Detroit Lions set themselves up as the perfect foil for the Chip Kelly offense, the Minnesota Vikings showed us what can happen when an opposing defense arrives with a much better plan. That’s the look the Vikings gave the Eagles the entire day: One safety deep, three defensive backs in man coverage (usually), and one safety dropped into the box to provide extra run support. In theory, Chip Kelly’s run game can still function against this setup, because the quarterback can “block” one of the defenders by reading him on the handoff. This only works, however, if the defense treats the quarterback as a legitimate threat to run, which the Vikings did not.
All-22: The Education Of Nick Foles - Sheil Kapadia, Birds 24/7
On Tuesday afternoon, Nick Foles stood behind the podium at the NovaCare Complex and was asked what it’s like. What it’s like to throw for 428 yards, complete 62.5 percent of your passes and be labeled as inconsistent by many observers, including your own head coach. “I agree with it,” Foles said. “We didn’t win. I missed some throws that didn’t give us an opportunity to win. And I’m a firm believer that as an offense we have to score more points than the other team no matter how many points they score. And I didn’t put us in a good position.”
An All-22 look at why Bennie Logan is playing more - Jeff McLane, Inquirer
Over six starts, Logan has shown steady improvement and based on his production against the Vikings on Sunday played his highest percentage of snaps this season. The defensive lineman played 50 of 75 plays, less than Fletcher Cox (63) and more than Cedric Thornton (47) for the first time this season. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis said Logan's performance in Minnesota was probably his best of the season.
The Problem With Riley Cooper's Redemption - Deadspin
There are two legitimately fascinating stories hiding in ESPN's "Hot Read" on the redemption of Riley Cooper, and neither of them are told. One is buried and glossed over, the other ignored altogether, in favor of a trite and vaguely insulting tale of overcoming self-inflicted adversity.
Sound FX: Dez Bryant Mic'd Up vs. Green Bay
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant left the field early during the Cowboys' 37-26 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Witness, through Bryant's mic, the events that led to the last minute defeat of the Cowboys
