My Eagles Wish List For Sunday Night’s Game

As we reach the annual “must-win” portion of the Eagles season, I have identified a few things I’d really like to see on Sunday night, besides the obvious, which would be a win.

And here they are:

- An eight to ten play drive that results in a touchdown. You know, a nice mix of run and pass that ends with either Weaver or Shady plowing across the goal line. The kinda thing they couldn’t do last year in Chicago.

- Less than five penalties. It’s way too much to ask that the Birds be penalty free. That will never happen with this bunch, but I will be skipping with glee if they manage to not get called for 1) an illegal block in the back on a kick or punt return and 2) a defensive offsides on a critical third down.

- A sustained push from the offensive line. I’m really beginning to think that the O-line is not taught properly how to drive block in the run game. It’s been a longstanding problem with this team and it doesn’t matter who plays where. What difference does it make if the Eagles have the “largest offensive line” if they have no idea how to use their size to an advantage? It’s not the running back’s fault on the goal line. There just aren’t any holes to run through.

- Timeouts at the end of the game. Nothing pisses me off more than having ZERO timeouts left in the final three minutes. That’s been the case the last two weeks. It’s tough to wins close games when you can’t stop the clock on either defense or offense. Well-coached, disciplined teams do not squander timeouts.

- An attempt to cover the tight end. Same ol’ story. Whether it’s a safety or a linebacker, no one seems capable of covering tight ends. I’m sick of hearing all this “it’s by design” crap too. Jason Witten and Anonio Gates both caught huge third down passes to seal wins the last two games, and neither was covered at the time. If you’re scheming to stop the opposing offense, the tight end position should be involved in the conversation.

- More Jason Avant. Wes Welker catches 6-10 passes per game and defenses always account for him. Don’t tell me Avant can’t do the same. He is unstoppable over the middle and up the seams. His routes are crisp. His hands are second to none. GET. HIM. THE. BALL. With two downfield threats like DeSean and Maclin running defenders deep, there is no reason why Jason shouldn’t catch a minimum of five passes every game.

- Spoon back in the middle. Sean McDermott is doing a fine job in his first season, especially when you consider the amount of injuries he’s had to deal with. That being said, the Chris Gocong at MIKE experiment needs to cease. Put Fokou at WIL and move Spoon back where he belongs. Watching these three against the Chargers was a comedy of errors. If they make Matt Forte – who is not playing well – look good, they are in serious trouble.

I don’t think I’m asking too much. Play smart, play physical. Football ain’t nuclear physics. I just wish somebody would tell the Eagles.

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