Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys Keys to the Game

For the second time in two years, it all comes down to this. For all the marbles it’s our beloved Eagles and the hated Cowboys clashing in Week 17 to see who will be crowned NFC East champion, and, for the Eagles, to see who will take the second seed in the playoffs.

The Eagles are riding a six-game winning streak into this game, but the Cowboys are hot in their own right after knocking off the previously unbeaten New Orleans Saints and perhaps knocking off the mental block they always seem to hit in December.

Both of these teams are heading to the playoffs, but only one will go as the division champ. The other will have to fight and claw their way through as a wild card and make a kind of improbable run that only happens a couple times per decade.

Let’s take a look at what the Eagles must do to beat the Cowboys, and wrap up the division and No. 2 seed.

Keep Tony Romo in the Pocket

Outside the pocket, Tony Romo is almost as dangerous as Donovan McNabb, circa 2001. However, inside the pocket he’s only average at best. He doesn’t seem to see the field as well and obviously does not like to throw with guys around him. He’d rather move outside, see the entire field, and throw cleanly.

The Eagles’ defense has to keep him in the pocket. They do that by controlling their own individual gaps and not playing outside the system. Trent Cole and

Juqua Parker can’t let Romo run around them or step up because they got ridden outside, and Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley have to get an inside push and avoid letting him step up.

On top of that, there should always be a linebacker with one eye on Romo. This might cause some extra receptions for Jason Witten on a hot route, but that’s less damaging than if Romo is allowed to make plays outside the pocket and gain some confidence early.

If they keep Romo in the pocket (oh, and hit him whenever given the chance), they should be able to control the passing game, and at the same time, control that draw the Cowboys like to run. If everyone is playing gap football, the draw won’t gain a yard.

Allow DeSean Jackson to Attack Cowboys’ Safeties

If that Dallas defense has a weak spot, it’s their safeties. They’re not awful like the pair out in New York, but they’re certainly not headed to the Pro Bowl anytime soon.

If DeSean can get them to go flat-footed, it will be a very long day for them.

The Cowboys shut DeSean down last time these two teams met, but that was because they were able to focus everything on shutting him down. Since then, Jeremy Maclin has seemed to come into his own and, with a big catch or two, can draw the coverage away from Jackson.

When that happens, it’s time to see what you can get down the middle of field to DeSean. If they allow a safety to cover him in the deep half of the field, it’s a play the Eagles should be able to take advantage of a couple times in this game.

Here’s a prediction: Jackson will break the single-season record for most 50+ yard touchdowns.

He’ll get his ninth today, beating Devin Hester and Crazy Legs Hisrch’s record of eight.

Give Them a Heavy Dose of Leonard Weaver

As much as the big play will be a factor in this game, so will controlling the clock and playing mistake-free football. Brian Westbrook goes down too easily, and

LeSean McCoy has had a bit of a problem with holding onto the football in key situations, so it’s time to see more of Weaver.

Weaver is a guy who will very rarely go down because of one guy. You’re going to need two, three, or even four players to bring him down and by the time those guys get there he’s dragged the others for an extra yard or two. He abuses defenses and will make guys think twice before they hit him.

If the Eagles can do this with Weaver, it will open up the deep passing attack and give an opportunity to Westbrook and McCoy to take advantage of a beaten Cowboys defense.

The best friend of an offense is a tired opposing defense. It will allow Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg to do almost whatever they want with success. Of course, it’s contingent upon those two actually sticking with the run.

So, in short, don’t hold your breath, Philly.

Article originally published at 2 Mintues to Midnight Green!

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Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys Keys to the Game

For the second time in two years, it all comes down to this. For all the marbles it’s our beloved Eagles and the hated Cowboys clashing in Week 17 to see who will be crowned NFC East champion, and, for the Eagles, to see who will take the second seed in the playoffs.

The Eagles are riding a six-game winning streak into this game, but the Cowboys are hot in their own right after knocking off the previously unbeaten New Orleans Saints and perhaps knocking off the mental block they always seem to hit in December.

Both of these teams are heading to the playoffs, but only one will go as the division champ. The other will have to fight and claw their way through as a wild card and make a kind of improbable run that only happens a couple times per decade.

Let’s take a look at what the Eagles must do to beat the Cowboys, and wrap up the division and No. 2 seed.

Keep Tony Romo in the Pocket

Outside the pocket, Tony Romo is almost as dangerous as Donovan McNabb, circa 2001. However, inside the pocket he’s only average at best. He doesn’t seem to see the field as well and obviously does not like to throw with guys around him. He’d rather move outside, see the entire field, and throw cleanly.

The Eagles’ defense has to keep him in the pocket. They do that by controlling their own individual gaps and not playing outside the system. Trent Cole and

Juqua Parker can’t let Romo run around them or step up because they got ridden outside, and Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley have to get an inside push and avoid letting him step up.

On top of that, there should always be a linebacker with one eye on Romo. This might cause some extra receptions for Jason Witten on a hot route, but that’s less damaging than if Romo is allowed to make plays outside the pocket and gain some confidence early.

If they keep Romo in the pocket (oh, and hit him whenever given the chance), they should be able to control the passing game, and at the same time, control that draw the Cowboys like to run. If everyone is playing gap football, the draw won’t gain a yard.

Allow DeSean Jackson to Attack Cowboys’ Safeties

If that Dallas defense has a weak spot, it’s their safeties. They’re not awful like the pair out in New York, but they’re certainly not headed to the Pro Bowl anytime soon.

If DeSean can get them to go flat-footed, it will be a very long day for them.

The Cowboys shut DeSean down last time these two teams met, but that was because they were able to focus everything on shutting him down. Since then, Jeremy Maclin has seemed to come into his own and, with a big catch or two, can draw the coverage away from Jackson.

When that happens, it’s time to see what you can get down the middle of field to DeSean. If they allow a safety to cover him in the deep half of the field, it’s a play the Eagles should be able to take advantage of a couple times in this game.

Here’s a prediction: Jackson will break the single-season record for most 50+ yard touchdowns.

He’ll get his ninth today, beating Devin Hester and Crazy Legs Hisrch’s record of eight.

Give Them a Heavy Dose of Leonard Weaver

As much as the big play will be a factor in this game, so will controlling the clock and playing mistake-free football. Brian Westbrook goes down too easily, and

LeSean McCoy has had a bit of a problem with holding onto the football in key situations, so it’s time to see more of Weaver.

Weaver is a guy who will very rarely go down because of one guy. You’re going to need two, three, or even four players to bring him down and by the time those guys get there he’s dragged the others for an extra yard or two. He abuses defenses and will make guys think twice before they hit him.

If the Eagles can do this with Weaver, it will open up the deep passing attack and give an opportunity to Westbrook and McCoy to take advantage of a beaten Cowboys defense.

The best friend of an offense is a tired opposing defense. It will allow Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg to do almost whatever they want with success. Of course, it’s contingent upon those two actually sticking with the run.

So, in short, don’t hold your breath, Philly.

Article originally published at 2 Mintues to Midnight Green!

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Attention Philadelphia Eagles: Macho Harris Is Not a Kick Returner

Hear this, Macho—you stink as a kick returner.  But the let’s not stop there.  You’re play all over the field has been less than stellar.

To start, Macho Harris has shown us that he’s not ready to be the starter at free safety. His tackling is, let’s say, iffy at best, and he hasn’t show a grasp on Sean McDermott’s defense. Now his current issues revolve about his lack of skills as a kick returner.

However, that’s not going to stop Andy Reid from stubbornly sticking with the rookie safety out of Virginia Tech while Quintin Demps nurses a sprained ankle.

Let’s put aside his bottom-of-the-barrel return average for a second, because it doesn’t really matter you average 90 yards per return if you can’t hold on to the football. Even after two fumbles against the Denver Broncos nearly cost the Eagles the game, he’s, for some reason, still returning kicks.

One of those fumbles was a direct result of being afraid of contact. He’s shown that same fear while playing safety, so it isn’t a shock to see him brace for the impact of the tackle. But what happens when an NFL player is afraid to get hit?

He gets hit harder.

That’s what happened to Harris, who could then do nothing as the Broncos recovered his fumble and turned it into a touchdown. Then, on another kickoff, he had the ball poked out again. This time, fortunately, Victor Abiamiri was close by and was able to fall on it and keep possession.

Were it not for Abiamiri, it would have been disaster. The Broncos would have gotten the ball in great field position with a field goal almost guaranteed and a good shot at getting into the end zone.

So, remind me again why Harris is keeping his job.

Attention Andy Reid, this is not the week to be stubborn in your ways. Too much is at stake, and a division title can’t be put in jeopardy by some rookie who doesn’t like to get hit. At the very least, put someone back there who can withstand the impact and hold on to the football. I don’t care if he gets to the 20-yard line and falls down.

Eldra Buckley seems like a guy who could accomplish this. He’s a guy looking to make an impact and, who knows, may just break one. However, what I am certain of is that Buckley is a guy who’s not afraid of getting hit and I’d bet that would not put the ball on the ground.

So let’s end the Macho Harris experiment and get a capable kick returner on the field.

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Philadelphia Eagles-San Francisco 49ers: Keys to the Game

The Eagles are rolling right now, and after beating a division opponent by racking up an impressive 45 points, they must be feeling pretty good about themselves. Unfortunately, this game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers has “trap game” written all over it.

The 49ers are a team that, in my opinion, has underachieved this season. I thought that after the showing they put on with then-interim head coach Mike Singletary last year that they would come out and challenge the Arizona Cardinals for the NFC West.

They haven’t done that this season, but they certainly have the ability to stick with anyone in this league—as evidenced by the beating they laid on the Cardinals last week. Singletary will have his players hyped up to the idea of playing spoiler, so they’re just the kind of dangerous team that the Birds cannot afford to overlook.

So let’s look at what the Eagles must do to afford an untimely let-down this Sunday.

Put 22 Eyes On Frank Gore at All Times

When Frank Gore gets more than 20 touches in a game, the Niners are an astounding 6-0. Given that they’ve only won six games, it makes sense to figure that they’re key to winning any game is to feed Gore.

That stat makes it very obvious what the defense must do—stop Gore. However, it’s much easier said than done. Gore is a guy who runs with an attitude and will lower the boom on you Earl Campbell style if you don’t hit him properly.

Then, just when you think he’s going to run you over, he’ll just outrun you to the corner and he’s gone.

He’s one of the most underrated players in the entire league. For a guy to do the things he’s done and not get put in the discussion with guys like Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, and Steven Jackson is an absolute crime.

It’s the Eagles’ job, however, to make sure the East Coast viewing audience doesn’t get a chance to see him shine in Philly.

They do that by tackling. Again, it sounds much easier than this defense has made it look. The amount of times we’ve just seen a shoulder get thrown at someone’s chest or an arm tackle at about the same height has been disgusting.

These guys are professionals, but I could go to my local high school game and see better tackling.

Stick, wrap, and drive. It’s not difficult of a formula for a good tackle but it seems to be lost on this team. It’s something I’ve always complained about during the Reid era and that’s the lack of focus put on the fundamentals.

It doesn’t matter if you’re six years old or getting paid $6 million this year, a team can’t win games with missed tackles.

I’ll end my tangent with this: if the Eagles try to tackle Gore the way they tried to tackle Hakeem Nicks and Domenik Hixon, they won’t get beaten in the Linc—they’ll get embarrassed.

Don’t Let Vernon Davis Have a Free Release

It’s something I’ve complained about with Chris Gocong since day one and it’s just getting worse as the years go by. He doesn’t touch the tight end off the line, at all. He lets these guys have a free release and then is confused when they’re behind him, wide open in the seams.

Tight ends have destroyed this defense all year, and Gocong’s the reason why. I’m not saying that I think that’s the reason, I’m telling everyone that this is the reason. Gocong refuses to hit anyone at the line, and these tight ends are far too good nowadays to allow that.

The word around the NovaCare complex is that Moise Fokou will be splitting time with Gocong and taking the majority of the passing downs, but it’s not going to matter if Fokou sticks with the trend. He’s got to get in Davis’ face and be physical with him. It’s the only way to stifle a great tight end—which Davis has become this season.

Hit him at the line, cause frustration for him and Alex Smith and I guarantee it will lead to more sacks and will result in the 10th win of the season for this team.

Use a Three-Man Rotation and Find the Running Game Early

It’s probably going to be snowy in Philly when the Niners come to town, so it should work in the Eagles’ favor. Playing in Philly as opposed to San Francisco should certainly have this team ready to play in the cold and use it to their advantage.

Unfortunately, that’s not necessarily the case. With this spread-out, wide open attack that the Eagles employ, the snow could actually benefit the Niners who are undoubtedly a step ahead of the Eagles as far as talent at the running back position goes.

LeSean McCoy is making great strides, but he’s not Frank Gore. Leonard Weaver can do a lot of good things, but again, not Frank Gore. However, the two of them together could come very close to being able to do about the same things.

But I believe that a three-man rotation at running back could be extremely beneficial to this offense. I’ve been a big proponent of getting some more playing time for Eldra Buckley and I’m not about to back off of that stance in Week 15. It’s time to see what this kid can do with 8-10 carries.

Put Leonard Weaver in front of him and that could be a package that no one on the other side of the ball wants to get in front of. Buckley is a smaller and more compact back (think Maurice Jones-Drew size, maybe an inch taller) that can really be a pain for a 6’1″ linebacker to tackle because he’s already so low to the ground.

Add in the battering ram Weaver in front of him and you could have some literal headaches for the Niners defense.

Article Originally Published at 2 Minutes to Midnight Green!

 

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Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants Keys to the Game

It’s always fun when the Eagles and Giants go at it. Most Philly fans would say that the Cowboys are the most hated rivals, but Brian Dawkins always used to say that nothing got his blood pumping like Giants week—both of them.

The Giants, however, are a bit limp heading into this game. They won five straight games to start the year, then they lost four straight, and now they’re 2-1 since then to bring them to a 7-5 record that will force them to win out and get some help if they’re going to win the division.

Beating the Eagles tonight would be a good start to that as it would bring both teams to 8-5 with a series split, but the Eagles are going to be fighting just as hard to win this game and keep pace with the Cowboys and their less-than-tenuous division lead.

Let’s see what it’s going to take for the Eagles to keep pace, and to end the Giants’ hopes in the Meadowlands tonight.

Get Pressure on Eli Manning

It’s not secret that Eli has been banged up all season long. His foot has been giving him issues throwing the ball all year, and the Eagles were able to victimize him the last time these two teams met.

He’s not able to plant properly which is resulting in the ball sailing over the head of his receiver and, more often than not, into the arms of a waiting defender. Asante Samuel and Quintin Demps each grabbed a pick off Eli without pressure in his face, so with some pressure I imagine he’ll throw the ball much more erratic.

Eli has always had a reputation of a guy who will just throw the ball up for grabs rather than getting hit, so if the Birds can get Trent Cole, Jason Babin, Darren Howard, and the like in his face it will result in a long day for Eli and some quick points for the Eagles.

Stuff the Box With Eight Guys Every Play

This coincides a little bit with getting pressure on Eli, but this one is more about stopping the run and not fearing the Giants’ receivers.

With Plaxico Burress gone, the Eagles corners aren’t dwarfed by their receivers anymore. Their guys may be a bit faster, but Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel are able to stick with anyone in the league based solely on great technique, so that’s not exactly worrisome.

If Sean McDermott will put eight in the box every play, the Birds should easily be able to stifle the 1-2 punch of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. That forces Eli to try and beat them, and then my first point comes into play.

See how this all fits together?

Off of this set McDermott can then start to employ some zone blitzes and get to Eli’s hot reads before he can. Once again, should result in a long day for Eli and some quick points for the Birds.

Heavy Dose of the “Dream Weaver” and “Real McCoy”

It’s a key to every game—call me stubborn—and it won’t change no matter who the Eagles are playing. They must run the ball to win the game. I don’t buy into the nonsense that now you pass to setup the run because it just doesn’t make sense. The run will always set up the pass—passing will do nothing more than make your team soft when it comes time to run.

Leonard Weaver has done more than enough to warrant more carries, and the rookie LeSean McCoy has been sensational when he gets the starting nod. The Eagles have something here in these two, so let’s just hope that the duo of Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg realize it.

You know what will create a very long day for Eli? Watching from the sidelines as his defense gets thumped.

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Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons: Keys to the Game

Matt Ryan is out, Chris Redman is in. Michael Turner is beat up and might not play; Jerious Norwood, his backup, is less than 100 percent; and this is a team that just barely pulled off a win against the one-win Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

So why isn’t there a fan in the city of Philadelphia who feels like this will be the easy game that it should be on the surface?

It could be because Redman has won and played well in the past, Turner—even at only 50 percent—is still a very good running back, Norwood is explosive, and that defense can be extremely surprising in the big plays it’s able to make as a unit.

Still, the Eagles should win this game, and the fans will expect nothing less. So let’s take a look at what the Eagles will have to do to make that happen.

Control the Falcons’ Ground Game—Make Redman Beat the Eagles

It’s easier said than done, but the Eagles defense must be able to contain the running game and the duo of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. This will hinge on the play of the two big men in the middle, Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley, and the three linebackers, whomever they may be.

Akeem Jordan went through practice and ran with the scout team defense, so his availability is still up in the air, but there’s optimism to be found. If he plays, Will Witherspoon will most likely move back to the middle and Chris Gocong will stay at SAM.

Regardless of who’s playing, the linebackers will have to do a much better job of flowing sideline to sideline and making plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. It seems like every week, the linebackers are just a step too slow, turning a play that should have gained, at most, two yards into a five- or six-yard gain.

Patterson and Bunkley will have to get a push up the field to take the pressure off the linebackers, and the ends will have to prevent getting hooked by the offensive tackles. If everyone can keep their contain and the Eagles can get a good day out of Patterson and Bunkley, the Eagles defense should be able to contain the Falcons’ explosive running game.

Once that happens, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott can dial up the blitz, rattle Redman, and put the game in the hands of the Eagles offense.

Establish a Running Game Early

This seems like a key to the game every week, but that could be because it is. Reid needs to establish a running game for this offense to open it up for this suddenly thin receiving core. This offense can’t always rely on the big play, and now with DeSean Jackson most likely out Sunday, it becomes even more important to control the time of possession battle.

LeSean McCoy, Leonard Weaver, and Eldra Buckley all need to see carries. If they pound this Falcons defense by running the ball, it will open up big passing lanes for McNabb to hit Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant for a few big plays that could wind up being the difference.

This game will certainly not be a shootout, so controlling the clock and running the football become paramount.

Don’t Blow the Game on Special Teams

This seems rather obvious, but the Eagles have done it before. Now, this week, without Jackson returning punts, the duty goes to Maclin. Maclin has been incredibly unimpressive on special teams this season, whether it’s returning punts or kicks. He seems afraid of getting hit and likes to watch the coverage unit, which could result in a muffed punt.

If Maclin gives up the ball on a punt return, it could give the Falcons cheap points and some immense momentum that the Eagles may not be able to reverse.

On top of that, Sav Rocca is going to need to punt the ball much, much better than what he has over the past several weeks. It seems like all year his punts are not going very far, and when they do they’re not anywhere near the spot he wanted them to hit.

What happened to the Rocca we had his first year over here? The first season he was in Philly he was booting the ball 65 yards on a consistent basis and his pooch-punts were unreal. It was almost a guarantee that if Rocca was punting from as far back as midfield that the return man would have no choice but to watch it roll to about the two-yard line before being touched down.

That’s the punter the Eagles need back, but right now it’s very far from what they’re getting.

This article was originally featured on 2 Minutes to Midnight Green .

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Jay Glazer: Falcons’ Matt Ryan Ruled Out Against Eagles With Turf Toe Injury

Jay Glazer, who is rarely wrong, tweeted today that Matt Ryan will be out when the Eagles head to Atlanta for an NFC showdown that will most certainly have playoff implications for both teams, win or lose.

Glazer goes on to say that Ryan has turf toe and will be visiting a specialist in Charlotte. Turf toe could mean that Ryan will not only miss this game, but possibly the next few depending upon the severity of the ligament damage.

It’s bad news for a struggling Falcons team, but great news for a struggling Eagles team. With Ryan out, the Falcons will most certainly start Chris Redman. Redman, while a decent backup in his own right, is not a quarterback capable of beating the Eagles defense.

The Philly defense is struggling right now, but if the Bucs could put up a fight against Atlanta, then the Eagles defense should be able to dominate. Add that onto the fact that Michael Turner could miss this game with a high ankle sprain and that Jerious Norwood is less than 100 percent and you have a recipe that equals no excuses for this Philly defense.

In fact, if this is anything less than total domination, Philly will start to question if this is really a defense that can carry this team deep into the playoffs. The Falcons still have some weapons, so a shutout is by no means expected. But anything more than 14 or 17 points would be unacceptable.

This could be a very good game for Philly as a whole to gain some confidence, some momentum and really get them in gear for domination in December.

On the other hand, this could be a trap game. With Ryan and Turner most likely out, it wouldn’t be shocking to see this defense become complacent and lay an egg, so to speak. On top of that, it’s difficult to bury a team when they’re against the ropes. Especially a well-coached and talented team like the Falcons.

It will be on the coaching staff and the leaders of this team to prevent that from happening.

Update: Coach Mike Smith has confirmed the report; Ryan is out.

 

This article was originally featured on 2 Minutes to Midnight Green.

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Keys to the Game: Eagles vs. Washington Redskins, Part 2

Like last week, this is absolutely a must-win game for the Birds. In fact, every game from now on is a must-win game because teams like the Packers and Falcons are just waiting for the Eagles to lose and gain more of a foothold in the NFC wildcard race.

I say the “wildcard” race, but the Eagles are still looking at the possibility of a Week 17 showdown in Dallas determining who wins the NFC East. Barring a monumental collapse from the Cardinals or Vikings, the NFC East is the only contested division left in the conference.

But with the Giants losing to the Broncos in embarrassing fashion, the Eagles have a real shot to move up in the division and keep pace with the Cowboys. A win against the ‘Skins would give Donovan McNabb and company only one loss in the division with two games left to play—one against the Giants, and of course the season finale with the Cowboys.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s look at what the Eagles need to do to avoid a letdown and complete the sweep of the ‘Skins.

Don’t Be Afraid to Run Up the Middle

Albert Haynesworth will be a game-time decision, but whether he plays or not, Andy Reid cannot be afraid to attack the middle. The ‘Skins will be expecting to see a lot of stretch and off-tackle plays with LeSean McCoy because of Haynesworth’s presence, but I believe running right at him is the better way to go.

Even if Haynesworth plays, he’ll be dinged up and less than 100 percent. So if Reid just tells Jamaal Jackson and either guard (depending on which way the play is going) to double-team him, the line should be able to open up some holes up the middle.

That would then leave McCoy one-on-one with London Fletcher who should not able to bring down a shifty McCoy in the open field. I’m not saying Fletcher won’t get his hands on McCoy from time to time, but at least seven out of 10 times McCoy should be able to shake him and keep moving.

Don’t Lose Sight of Antwaan Randle El

It’s not because I think he’s a great receiver, but because he’s the key to any trick play that they may try. He has a background as a quarterback, so using him to throw the ball just makes sense.

With the Eagles’ aggressive style of defense, running a few trick plays would make a lot of sense, and would probably work. It’s the risk you take when you have a defense that swarms and attacks like the Eagles’ defense does, but as long as you keep an eye on Randle El, the defense should be able to sniff it out.

For instance, if he just stands at the line of scrimmage and doesn’t seem interested in running a pattern, it’s probably because he’s got some other assignment. A double-pass, wide receiver pass, or some funky reverse is most likely.

Also, expect the Redskins to try and use the Wildcat this week more than they have in the past.

Get Creative With Mike Vick and the Wildcat

Vick’s long run last week, I think, instilled some confidence in the coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg told everyone to expect to see more of Vick this week, but then again, he’s been saying that every week.

This week, however, could be different. In the weeks prior, Vick hasn’t shown a whole lot to warrant playing time. But against the Bears, he was able to break off a 34-yard run to set up an Eagles field goal.

He seemed to lack the speed he once had, but he appeared as shifty as ever, freezing a defensive back in his tracks as he ran around him.

I’m not part of the crowd that believes the Vick experiment is a failure if he doesn’t make an impact this year. In fact, I don’t think it’s possible to fail with Vick. He was brought in as a backup quarterback who can do some other things, so there was only a factor of reward and very little risk.

That said, I do think that Mornhinweg and Reid are wasting the man’s talents. Use him when the offense is struggling, not when they’re rolling, and I think you’ll see a guy who can make a clutch play to keep a drive alive and the offense moving.

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Philadelphia Eagles Waive CB Jack Ikegwuonu; Sign CB Geoffrey Pope

Jack Ikegwuonu, once thought to be a steal in the fourth round, has officially worn out his chances in Philadelphia as the team waived the underachieving cornerback today.

In his place, the Eagles signed Geoffrey Pope (6’0 186), a cornerback off the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad. Pope will immediately take Ikegwuonu’s place on the 53-man active roster.

How much time Pope will see has yet to be determined, but it will most likely happen on special teams, if he’s even active on game days. P.J. Hill, another mid-season pickup for the Eagles this year, has spent most of his time as a healthy scratch so expect Pope to do the same.

However, if the Eagles feel like they need someone else to strictly play special teams, he could stay active over a guy like Quintin Demps.

Realistically, Ikegwuonu wasn’t going to get much playing time anyway. Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, Macho Harris, Ramzee Robinson, and Dimitri Patterson (not necessarily in that order) were all ahead of Ikegwuonu. However, it spoke volumes that a guy like Robinson, who was only with the team for a week, was seeing time over Icky.

I had said that during training camp he appeared to lack the closing speed that a corner needs, most likely due to his knee injury before the draft two years ago. It’s a shame because watching him you could tell he knows how to play the game, but in this league your body has to hold up or you’re going to get replaced.

That’s why Icky is going through now, and barring a magical comeback as a safety, his days in the NFL are most likely numbered.

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Keys to the Game: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears

Playing the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football —playing under the lights, McNabb heading back to his old stomping grounds on a nationally televised game. What in the world could possibly make this game any worse?

Oh, well, how about the fact that the team we haven’t been able to beat over the past two years anyway, now has a legitimate threat at quarterback? Yeah, I guess that could make it worse.

Call me a pessimist, but the Eagles, over the past two years, have been absolutely awful against the Bears and on Sunday Night Football.

So, throw those two components together, add on that this is a must-win game and you have the makings of a tough night for the city of Philadelphia.

But since I am optimistically pessimistic, let’s take a look at what the Eagles must do to change their fortunes.

Put Pressure on Jay Cutler

Unlike last week against Philip Rivers, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has to bring the pressure on every play. Whether it’s 1st-and-10, or 3rd-and-15—McDermott must have someone in Cutler’s face all game.

Cutler is a strong-armed quarterback who can will his team to a win if given the opportunity, or he can throw the game away by forcing throws that aren’t there to inadequate receivers. He still feels like he’s throwing to Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, so he’ll take chances they would have rewarded, whereas these receivers just don’t have the talent.

The linebacking corps is once again depleted this week with Jordan sitting out again, so it’s imperative that McDermott get pressure in Cutler’s face to make up for it.

Joe Mays may be getting his first NFL start, which is difficult enough without having to worry about putting the defense on his shoulders.

Run the Football with McCoy and Weaver

It seems like this is a key to the game every week, but it will stay that way until Reid actually does it.

This is a good football team that can run the ball if they are allowed to get into the rhythm of it. Running the ball is all about the mentality of wanting to run it, which these linemen simply don’t have because Reid doesn’t allow it to happen.

A lot of people are ragging on the Eagles’ line for not being tenacious enough, and some of it may be warranted, but most of the blame for the lack of a running game rests on Reid’s shoulders. If you don’t instill the mentality, it won’t just show up out of the blue.

Don’t Settle for Field Goals

The only time I want David Akers on the field today is to kick the extra points and for kickoffs. That is absolutely it. If he has one field goal attempt, especially in the redzone, I think my head is going to explode.

At this point, I would much rather see Reid go for it on fourth and goal from 20 and not make it, rather than kick a field goal that proves absolutely useless later in the game.

Is that a bit extreme for effect? Of course, but at this point I’m half-serious.

Every time Akers is on the field for a field goal attempt, the feeling is that the offense has lost. It doesn’t matter if it’s a 19-yard attempt, or a 59-yard attempt, when the offense fails to punch it in that first time down the field it starts a trend that is tough to stop.

Running the football in the redzone could help to prevent the redzone field goal attempts, but it will still be on Reid to call the play and the offense to execute. This is a group effort of futility and it’s getting very difficult to watch.

Cover the Tight End at All Costs

If Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel can’t shut down Earl Bennet and Devin Hester by themselves, or with the help of just one safety, then they don’t deserve the money they’re making and the jersey they’re wearing.

These Chicago receivers are decent on their best day, and downright awful on their worst. If two of the better corners in the league cannot shut them down, then the Eagles will lose anyway.

What the defense needs to do is bracket Greg Olsen and make sure he’s not allowed to expose the middle of the field. Whether it’s Chris Gocong or Will Witherspoon, Quintin Mikell always has to watching and helping out.

Bottom line: If Olsen is allowed to get big numbers and take control of the game, the Eagles will lose.

 

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