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Three Key Questions for the Eagles’ Playbook
Published: May 26, 2009
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Every offseason, things change.
Players, coaches, playbooks, style, attack, planning; it all gets rebooted or tweaked over the course of just a few months.
With the moves the Eagles made, or didn’t make, this offseason, they too will see some significant changes and need to make some significant adjustments to their plan of attack. So, let’s highlight the three key changes for this 2009 squad.
1. The anticipated loss of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson
This one is especially difficult as Johnson is battling cancer in his spine and most likely won’t be able to coach the defense this year, as he’s already taken an indefinite leave. His focus is rather on beating the deadly disease rather than beating opposing quarterbacks, so with that, secondary coach Sean McDermott is poised to take over the reins.
McDermott has been in Philadelphia for 11 seasons and built his way up the coaching ladder. He was a safety for four years at William & Mary and right after his career ended, went into coaching.
The focus of Johnson’s defense, as we all know by now, is blitzing. The Eagles would often stack seven, eight, sometimes even nine men in the box and throw all kinds of different players from all kinds of different directions at the offensive line and quarterback.
With solid, cornerstone cornerbacks like Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor, Sheldon Brown, Lito Sheppard, and now Asante Samuel, Johnson has always had the ability to leave his corners in single coverage along the outside, knowing they would stick to the wideouts.
McDermott trained and learned from Johnson during his time with the Eagles. But, everyone has their own different style, their own way of doing things. So, the question now becomes, what will McDermott do?
Will he blitz the hell out of the opposition like Johnson? Will he work in more zone schemes and trust his guys to stay at home? Will he keep the safeties back in pass coverage and trust his lineman to put pressure on the quarterback?
Most likely the basis of Johnson defense will remain, but McDermott, as acting defensive coordinator, will most certainly tweak things here and there. The defense was built to Johnson’s standards—shutdown corners, a deep defensive line, hard-hitting safeties than get can cause pressure—so we’ll see how McDermott takes someone else’s personnel and runs with it.
2. 2. The addition of LeSean McCoy
Surely, the Eagles didn’t draft Shady to stick him on the bench.
Well, at least we hope not.
But, either way, with this kind of talent in the backfield, Andy Reid and Co. should certainly look to run the ball a little bit more than they have in the past. And by a little bit more, I mean at least a few a carries here and there.
Because, really, how many times have the Eagles passes on first down? On second down and short? On third and inches? Just about all the time. Like almost 100 percent. See, doing this once and while, perhaps involving play action, is fine. It changes things up, it keeps the defense on their toes, figuring you’re going to pound it inside to pick up those few yards, but maybe, just maybe, you’ll try something short out in the flats or over the middle to the tight end.
But, when you’re the Eagles, it’s fairly obvious that you’re going to throw a 10-yard crossing route to a mediocre wide receiver or try something downfield when all you need is a few inches. It’s fairly obvious when the fact that you can’t run in between the tackles is compounded by the fact that you don’t even remotely try to do so.
My pent-up anger with the Eagles’ play calling aside, the fact is they have one of the best young running backs in the NFL on their roster right now. And, not to mention, still have a little player named Brian Westbrook hanging out at the top of the depth chart. That one-two punch, and yea, they are more or less the same size and same type of runner, could be lethal. If Reid uses them right.
And with his massive offensive line, using them right is simply giving each a minimum of 10-15 carries per game. That needs to be done, there’s no question about it.
3. The loss of Brian Dawkins
B-Dawk leaving hurts more inside than it does on the roster, but still, the safety and security he offered leaves a void the Eagles might never be able to fill.
Dawkins was not only the vocal and emotional leader of the Eagles, he was a Pro Bowl caliber free safety. He could knock you out, pick you off and was a player every opposing quarterback needed to eye on every offensive possession.
The Eagles have replaced Dawkins with a two-headed monster of second-year player Quintin Demps and free-agent acquisition Sean Jones. Jones had some starting experience with the Browns, while Demps filled in on passing downs and other packages last year for the Eagles.
Demps has the chance to be a pretty good player. He’s athletic, he’s fast, he’s quick, he can make plays on the ball. But, as we saw last year in the NFC Championship game, he’s got a long ways to go before he can be fully trusted to not give up the kinds of plays he gave up to Larry Fitzgerald.
Jones, meanwhile, has put up pretty good numbers. He can tackle (111 in 2006, 96 in 2007, 56 last year while battling injuries), he can cause turnovers (14 career interceptions), he has the right mindset (wanted to sign a short term deal to prove his value).
So, now we must worry about how Jones and Demps can replace Dawkins. Will McDermott have to call less blitzes? Can he use these guys in remotely the same way Dawkins was used? Will the Eagles give up more big plays? Will they have to anticipate that?
While Jones was a strong safety in Cleveland, it shouldn’t be that hard to make the adjustment to free safety. So, the Eagles could be looking at a solid player on their hands. The question is can they use him correctly, and if all goes well, will he sign a long term deal here?
That question, on top of the others asked, all remain to be seen.
Why I Love the 1995 Philadelphia Eagles
Published: May 20, 2009
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The call lives in Eagles lore.
They give it to Smith and they stop them again.
They stop them again.
And this time they can’t take it away.
When the Eagles beat the Cowboys on that cold December afternoon, that was it. I was hooked.
And all that was behind it: the rivalry, the fans, the players, coaches, uniforms, stadium, owners, announcers, weather; well, that’s what got me into football.
The 1995 Philadelphia Eagles were the first football team I followed. It was the last year of the classic Kelly Green uniforms. It was the first year of the Ray Rhodes era. It was the last year before Jeffery Lurie and Joe Banner would wipe away the team’s history and pretend everything that came before it didn’t exist and never happened.
So, let’s take a calm little stroll down memory lane and look back at all that transpired during that season.
Week One: vs. Tampa Bay (Sept. 3)
It was a disastrous start to the season as the spelling-challenged Errict Rhett rushed 26 times for 85 yards and one touchdown in a dominating Buccaneers victory. After making his Eagles debut with a less-than-stellar 17 carries for 39 yard effort, Ricky Watters uttered his famous “for who, for what” line when asked why he didn’t try and catch a ball over the middle. Joy.
Result: Loss, 21-3 (0-1)
Week Two: at Arizona (Sept. 10)
“Willie T” William Thomas started the game with a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown and the Eagles rolled to their first victory of the season.
Result: Win, 31-19 (1-1)
Week Three: vs. San Diego (Sept. 17)
The Eagles blew a 14-0 lead and lost to freakin’ Stan Humphries and the Chargers to lose their second straight home game.
I remember Rhodes cursed in the post-game press conference, something I’m pretty would get Andy Reid kicked out Mormonism.
Result: Loss, 27-21 (1-2)
Week Four: at Oakland (Sept. 24)
The Eagles jumped out to a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Then, as he’s been known to do, Jeff Hostetler unleashed his furry upon the unworthy opposition.
Or, things just kept getting worse.
Result: Loss, 48-17 (1-3)
Week Five: at New Orleans (Oct. 1)
Peete made his first start as an Eagle and Gary Anderson hit five field goals to get the Birds back in the win column.
Result: Win, 15-10 (2-3)
Week Six: vs. Washington (Oct. 8)
The Redskins battled back from a ten-point fourth quarter deficit, but in overtime, Anderson hit a 35-yard field goal to give the Eagles their second win in a row.
Result: Win, 37-34 (3-3)
Week Seven: at New York Giants (Oct. 15)
The Eagles took home a big victory in the Meadowlands as Watters ran for a score and my personal, mustachioed hero, Mike Zordich, scooped up a fumble 55 yards for a return touchdown.
Result: Win, 17-14 (4-3)
Week Eight: Bye
Week Nine: vs. St. Louis Rams (Oct. 29)
The Eagles forced four turnovers against Chris Miller (haha) and the Rams, and Peete did the rest.
Result: Win, 20-9 (5-3)
Week 10: at Dallas (Nov. 6)
Michael Irvin caught eight balls (I’ll pause will you figure the joke-in-that out) for 115 yards and score. Emmitt Smith, born without the ability to speak coherently, still rushed 27 times for 158 yards and two scores. A presumably concussed Troy Aikman threw for 202 yards and a score.
Dallas. Sucks.
Result: Loss, 34-12 (5-4)
Week 11: vs. Denver (Nov. 12)
Watters found the endzone twice, Peete threw for 264 yards and score, the defense knocked This…One’s…For…John Elway out of the game and the Eagles cruised.
Result: Win, 31-13 (6-4)
Week 12: vs. New York Giants (Nov. 19)
It was a game of two’s: The number of Peete touchdowns, Watters touchdowns, Dave Brown interceptions, and the amount of points our gaptoothed friend Michael Strahan got for blocking a punt out of the endzone in garbage time of the fourth quarter.
Result: Win, 31-19 (7-4)
Week 13: at Washington (Nov. 26)
Was it defense or bad offense? Who knows. Either way, two Watters touchdowns were enough to beat the Racists for a second time.
Result: Win, 14-7 (8-4)
Week 14: at Seattle (Dec. 1)
Future Eagle Chris Warren ran for two scores and the legendary Rick Mirer also ran one in as the Eagles barely put up an effort. Insert grunge rock joke here.
Result: Loss, 26-14 (8-5)
Week 15: vs. Dallas (Dec. 8)
Result: Win, 20-17 (9-5)
Week 16: vs. Arizona (Dec. 15)
Down 17-0, the Eagles battled back and won the game on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Peete to Calvin Williams to clinch a playoff berth. And yes, he and Fred Barnett really were still playing.
Result: Win, 21-20 (10-5)
Week 17: at Chicago (Sept. 3)
With the Bears fighting for a playoff spot and the Eagles locked into one, the Birds did the noble thing and took the week off.
Result: Loss, 20-14 (10-6)
Wild Card Round: vs. Detroit (Dec. 30)
Anderson 21-yard field goal. Barnett 22-yard pass from Peete. Barry Wilburn 24-yard interception return. Watters 1-yard run. Rob Carpenter 43-yard pass from Peete.
And that was just the second quarter.
Result: Win, 58-37 (11-6)
Divisional Round: at Dallas (Jan. 7)
Chris Boniol hit three field goals. Deion Sanders had a 21-yard rushing touchdown. Smith, Irvin and Aikman all found the endzone. There was a blizzard going on outside in Philadelphia.
Basically, it couldn’t have been a worse way to end a season.
Result: Loss, 30-13 (0-1)
