Archive for January, 2011

The Eagles are rebuilding their defensive coaching staff from the ground up.  Today the Birds announced that Jim Washburn will be their new defensive line coach, but Philadelphia has yet to name a new defensive coordinator.  Washburn replaces Rory Segrest, who was fired earlier this week. Philadelphia is still searching for a replacement for Sean McDermott, who was fired as defensive coordinator and quickly landed in the same role in Carolina. Washburn spent the last 12 years with the Tennessee Titans, where he most recently presided over the turnaround of Jason Babin, who had just 2.5 sacks in Philadelphia last [...]

The Eagles have parted ways with defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortenson.  Philadelphia’s defense finished the regular season 12th in the NFL in yards allowed, but was 11th worst in points allowed thanks to frequent red zone struggles.  McDermott was in just his second year as defensive coordinator after taking over for Jim Johnson on an interim basis in May of 2009, then took over in full after Johnson died of cancer. Andy Reid gave his final press conference of the season on Monday and was asked whether McDermott would be back next year. “Yeah,” Reid said. [...]

by Ryan Messick Lead Writer Andy Reid offered up a few nuggets of information in his post-mortem press conference today at the Nova Care Complex.  The Eagles head coach is proud of his sixth NFC East title, especially in a year in which Philadelphia was retooling.  Still, Reid craves a Super Bowl – and some beef. “Well to tell you I don’t want to win a Super Bowl,” Reid said trailing off. “I like prime rib and I’d love to win a Super Bowl. So I’m hungry for both, if you understand where I’m coming from.”

by Ryan Messick Lead Writer For a fleeting moment, as Michael Vick’s pass sailed toward the end zone, it looked like he had done it again.  Down 21-10 with 8:50 left, Vick was in the midst of orchestrating what would have been the Eagles’ eighth come from behind win of the season.  Instead, his pass for Riley Cooper fell into the hands of Tramon Williams with 33 seconds left, ending the Eagles season. “I could have checked it down to the back and I feel like I got greedy and took a shot at the end zone and didn’t throw [...]

The Eagles went to the well one too many times, and this time couldn’t dig their way out as they tried to mount a furious comeback, but fell to the Packers 21-16.  Michael Vick threw an interception to Tramon Williams with 33 seconds remaining, sealing the Eagles’ fate. Vick had pulled the Eagles to within a score with 4:02 left on a quarterback sneak, but the Birds took a penalty on the two-point conversion when Brent Celek stepped out of the back of the end zone and was the first to touch the ball when he caught Vick’s pass in [...]

The Eagles trail the Packers 21-10 after three quarters, but seem to have new life after Michael Vick hit Jason Avant for a 24-yard touchdown in the third quarter.  Aaron Rodgers answered with a 16-yard screen to Brandon Jackson, but the Birds have been threatening since. Philadelphia capitalized on a turnover earlier in the third quarter when Darryl Tapp stripped the ball from Aaron Rodgers on a sack and Juqua Parker recovered. Two plays later, Vick threaded a beautiful pass to Avant after the offensive line picked up a blitz, cutting the deficit to 14-10. Rodgers and company marched back [...]

by Ryan Messick Lead Writer The Eagles may have taken themselves off life support at the end of the first half, but they still trail the Packers 14-3.  Aaron Rodgers has a pair of touchdown passes, one to Tom Crabtree and one to James Jones, both from inside 10 yards. Rodgers is 13-18 for 111 yards, the two touchdowns and no interceptions. Philadelphia was off to a bad start immediately, as Michael Vick was sacked by Desmond Bishop on a blitz on the first play from scrimmage.  The huge hit set the tone as the Packers defense pressured Vick throughout [...]

The Eagles got off to a rough start against the Packers in their Wild Card round playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field. On the first play of the game, Michael Vick was sacked by Desmond Bishop on a blitz that was never seen or picked up.  Bishop delivered a crushing blow, dropping the Birds into second-and-19.  By the end of the quarter, Philadelphia trailed Green Bay 7-0 on an Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass to Tom Crabtree from seven yards out. After the initial sack of Vick, the Eagles went three-and-out and punted it away.  The Packers were ruled to have [...]

by Ryan Messick Lead Writer 5. DeSean Jackson – There are two “under the radar” ways in which Jackson can be a key difference maker in this game.  One is as a punt returner against a suspect Packers coverage unit.  Jackson will likely be used on most, if not all, returns.  On offense, Jackson needs to be able to recognize the Packers tricky schemes out of a blitzing, 3-4 zone defense.  If he can read the blitzes and break off his routes accordingly, he should have a strong game. 4. Don’t bite on Rodgers’ Play Action – While the Packers [...]

The Eagles will be without two starters who were listed as questionable for today’s game against the Packers.  Stewart Bradley and Max Jean-Gilles were both announced as inactive moments ago. Bradley practiced Friday in a limited role after missing the earlier sessions this week with a dislocated elbow.  Bradley as injured in Dallas on December 12 and missed the last three games of the regular season. Jamar Chaney has filled in and racked up 16 tackles against the Giants and seven against the Vikings before sitting out the season finale.

by Ryan Messick Lead Writer Win or lose, today’s game should not be an indictment of this Eagles franchise or its coaching staff.  Many would have you believe that a loss today to the Packers means the Eagles are on the wrong track.  Fewer wins than last year, another season without a playoff victory and another disappointing finish to the year. What people don’t want to realize is that the Eagles are in the rare position to compete in a rebuilding year.  Call it retooling, if you will.  From the end of last season into training camp, the Eagles changed [...]

by Ryan Messick Lead Writer The Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers square off today at Lincoln Financial Field in a Wild Card round contest that features the NFC’s best offense and best defense. Nobody in the conference has given up fewer points than the Packers at 15.0 per game, but nobody in the NFC has scored more than the 27.4 points per game the Eagles have posted. Something will have to give today. “They’re just playing at a high level,” said Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. “If you look back at the track record, they’ve done a great job in [...]