Does Nick Foles’ steady progress signal the return of Andy Reid for the 2013 NFL Season?

Photo courtesy Brian Blanco/The Associated PressNick Foles runs for one of his three touchdowns, the other two of which came courtesy of his arm, as he led the Philadelphia Eagles to their fourth come-from-behind victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Photo courtesy Brian Blanco/The Associated Press
Nick Foles runs for one of his three touchdowns, the other two of which came courtesy of his arm, as he led the Philadelphia Eagles to their fourth come-from-behind victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-21.

Nick Foles is growing up right before our eyes.

The third-round rookie quarterback stole the spotlight from rookie running back Bryce Brown by leading the Philadelphia Eagles (4-9) to their fourth-comeback victory this season on a time-expiring, one-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin that snapped the Eagles’ eight-game losing streak and gave them a 23-21 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7).

Brown has been the big story the past two weeks as much for his impressive 150-plus rushing games as his devastating fumbles. Foles, on the other hand, has been able to steadily grow as a quarterback in his fourth start, doing it mostly in the shadows of Brown’s spotlight.

Yesterday, the two rookies switched roles, as Brown was limited to a measly six yards on 12 carries. Two weeks after Brown broke an Eagles’ rooking rushing record, Foles broke one of his own, throwing for an Eagles’ rookie record of 381 yards on 32 of 51 passes and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). Perhaps most impressive of all was what he didn’t do: turn the ball over.

Foles’ steady improvement is a promising sign for a team in desperate need of a spark, but it might also signal some news that would make most Eagles’ fans cringe. Since Foles is making strides in Andy Reid’s system, it would not be inconceivable to see Reid back for another year.

Photo courtesy Chris O'Meara/The Associated PressJeremy Maclin caught Nick Foles' time-expiring, game-winning touchdown throw to propel the Eagles to victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, snapping their longest losing streak in 42 years.

Photo courtesy Chris O’Meara/The Associated Press
Jeremy Maclin caught Nick Foles’ time-expiring, game-winning touchdown throw to propel the Eagles to victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, snapping their longest losing streak in 42 years.

Think about it. Reid is considered to be a quarterback guru who knows how to develop quarterbacks. Look what he did with Brett Favre in Green Bay, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and even Kevin Kolb (before Kolb was traded away and exposed in a new system with the Arizona Cardinals).

To bring in a new coach would almost certainly mean learning a new system, which would essentially halt any progress Foles has made and send him back to square one. Jeffrey Lurie finds himself in a precarious situation because of the backlash he would receive if he kept Reid around for another year. Yet Foles’ steady progress may be the one thing strong enough to save Reid’s job.

Is an improving rookie third-round quarterback worth keeping the much-maligned coach around for another year? Foles’ performance in the last three games of the season may determine that answer.

Philadelphia Eagles Update: Jim Washburn fired, Matt Kopa acquired and Andy Reid’s curious press conference

Photo courtesy footbasket.comAndy Reid's firing of defensive line coach Jim Washburn led to the disclosing of information about Washburn's demeaning treatment of former defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.

Photo courtesy footbasket.com
Andy Reid’s firing of defensive line coach Jim Washburn led to the disclosing of information about Washburn’s demeaning treatment of former defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.

There has been a flurry of moves and news lately by the Philadelphia Eagles, which is not unusual for a 3-9 team that realizes that change is inevitable. The biggest change for the Eagles came after Andy Reid decided to part ways with defensive line coach Jim Washburn.


After another disastrous year with the Wide 9 scheme, this is not necessarily a surprise, but the story of Washburn’s negative influence and demeaning treatment of former defensive coordinator Juan Castillo certainly was. For the complete story of the backlash to Washburn’s time with the Eagles, check out Reuben Frank’s article from csnphilly.com.

The Eagles acquired Matt Kopa, an offensive tackle off of the New England Patriots’ practice squad, on Dec. 3. Kopa was picked up to fill the roster spot left vacant after Jason Babin was released. The Eagles have been devastated by injuries to their offensive line this year, so picking up another backup is a wise move in trying to protect Nick Foles. Once again, Reuben Frank covers the story at csnphilly.com.

The last news of interest from the Eagles came from Reid’s press conference announcing the firing of Washburn. He made some unusual comments and appeared in complete control despite the chaos surrounding this team in his supposedly last days as head coach of the Eagles. After cutting Jason Babin, firing Washburn and naming Foles the starter for the remainder of the season, John Smallwood of the Daily News Sports Columnist posed the question that most Eagles’ fans do not want to hear: could Reid be back for another season? Check out his article for more on philly.com.

Three lessons we learned from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Sunday Night Football loss to the Dallas Cowboys

Photo courtesy www.bloggingtheboys.comNnamdi Asomugha and the Eagles' defense surrendered the lead with 5:40 remaining in the game to lose their eighth straight game and second against the Dallas Cowboys this season.

Photo courtesy http://www.bloggingtheboys.com
Nnamdi Asomugha and the Eagles’ defense surrendered the lead with 5:40 remaining against the Dallas Cowboys to lose their eighth straight game and second against the Cowboys this season.

The losing streak continues. Make it eight straight losses for the reeling Philadelphia Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles (3-9) blew a solid performance from their offense with another heartless showing on defense, giving up a late touchdown with 5:40 remaining to the Dallas Cowboys (6-6) to relinquish the lead and ultimately go on to lose 38-33.

At this point, wins are merely a statistic, because they will do nothing to affect the outcome of this season or the likely purging of the team to follow. These last few games are merely the testing ground for some of the undecided issues still revolving around this team.

Some things are certain, such as Andy Reid’s impending firing. Others are probable, such as the likely departure of Michael Vick. Yet there are still some intriguing plots to be played out for the Eagles. Their Sunday Night Football flop began to address several of these.

Photo courtesy www.mysanantonio.comBryce Brown's outstanding performances have been dampened by his inability to hold onto the ball.

Photo courtesy http://www.mysanantonio.com
Bryce Brown’s outstanding performances have been dampened by his inability to hold onto the ball.

1) Bryce Brown needs to cure his fumble-itis

Brown looks to be a star in the making. In his second game replacing the injured LeSean McCoy, the running back rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Once again, however, his night was ruined by an untimely fumble that helped to bring about the beginning of the end for the Eagles.

With the Eagles down 31-27 and trying to string together a drive, Brown fumbled by being careless with the ball in traffic. His fumble was recovered by Morris Claiborne and promptly taken back 50 yards for a touchdown to increase the Eagles’ deficit to 11 points.

There is no denying that Brown is a special talent in the making at running back. However, after three fumbles in two games, it is also clear that he took one too many lessons from Vick about holding onto the ball. He needs to be taught how to probably tuck and run with the ball. He swings it away from his body and fails to put two arms around it in piles. Until he can learn to protect the ball, he will be nothing more than a talented liability.

2) Todd Bowles is not the answer at defensive coordinator

Photo courtesy Getty ImagesTodd Bowles has been unable to have a positive effect on the Philadelphia Eagles' defense, which has gotten worse as the season progresses.

Photo courtesy Getty Images
Todd Bowles has been unable to bring a positive change to the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense, which has gotten worse as the season progresses.

Bowles is not completely at fault for his defense’s dismal play. For one, the defense shows the least amount of heart out of any of the units and fails to play with much fire. He did inherit the defense seven weeks ago, however, which is always a tough transition.

With that being said, the Eagles have not won a game since Bowles took over for Juan Castillo. That’s a pretty broad statistic that can be influenced by other areas, though, so let’s get more specific. In the six losses since he became defensive coordinator, his unit has allowed at least 28 points in every game.

Want another statistic? I’m glad you asked. According to the breakdown by Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, below are “the quarterback ratings of the five quarterbacks the Eagles have faced since Bowles took over. Keep in mind the league-leader this season (Aaron Rodgers) has a 105.6 QB rating.”

Week 8: Matt Ryan — 137.4
Week 9: Drew Brees — 128.2
Week 10: Tony Romo — 122.1
Week 11: Robert Griffin — 158.3
Week 12: Cam Newton — 125.0

After adding in Romo’s most recent quarterback rating of 150.5 against the Eagles in Week 13, only one question remains:

Need any more proof?

Photo courtesy Michael Kubel/The Morning CallNick Foles will have a chance to prove himself during the last few weeks of the season after he was named the starter by Andy Reid.

Photo courtesy Michael Kubel/The Morning Call
Nick Foles will have a chance to prove himself during the last few weeks of the season after he was named the starter by Andy Reid.

3) Nick Foles is serviceable and has a chance to be more

Foles is evidently growing more confident leading the Eagles’ offense. His numbers and decision-making have improved over the past three weeks.

Foles was 22 of 34 for 251 yards and one touchdown against the Cowboys. He has thrown for 793 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions and has a passer rating of 73.3 this season, and has started the last three games.

Those numbers are an improvement from his prior two starts against the Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers, in which he was 21 of 46 for 204 yards and two interceptions against the Redskins and 16 of 21 for 119 yards against the Panthers.

Reid named Foles the starter for the remainder of the 2012 season even after Vick returns from injury, so Foles has a chance to continue growing and proving himself. The remaining games may not mean much for the Eagles’ season, but they are crucial for Foles to prove himself as a true starting quarterback.

Philadelphia Eagles concede 2012 as lost NFL season by cutting Jason Babin


The Philadelphia Eagles, mired in a seven-game losing streak and out of playoff contention with a record of 3-8, gave the first signs of conceding the 2012 season by parting ways with starting defensive end Jason Babin on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy Scott Rovak/US Presswire
Jason Babin was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday, signifying the beginning of big changes for the team.

Babin, who the Eagles acquired in 2011, had an outstanding year for the Eagles in a mediocre season last year, recording 18 sacks and a second trip to the Pro Bowl. He came to the Eagles after rejuvenating his career with the Tennessee Titans in 2010, when he posted 12.5 sacks and earned his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Babin basically followed defensive line coach Jim Washburn to the Eagles, whom they acquired from the Titans as well. Babin was released after his follow-up performance failed to impress. He had a team-high 5.5 sacks after 11 games, but his lack of heart was evident and his salary too high to sustain in a long-gone season.

Cutting Babin is an obvious sign that the Eagles are planning on stripping down their “Dream Team” and sending players on their way so that they can get a fresh start next year. It is simply a matter of time before Andy Reid goes, and Michael Vick will most likely follow. Babin’s departure shows that no one is exempt from being let go, and that the Eagles will be entering into rebuilding mode.

The one positive that will hopefully come from all of this is the departure from the dreadful Wide 9 scheme that has been nothing short of a disaster in Philly. By cutting Babin, the Eagles are signifying the end of that failed experiment and the start of a new team.

Bryce Brown’s ascent and demise on Monday Night Football for the Philadelphia Eagles

Photo courtesy Ron Cortes/philly.com
Bryce Brown had a record-breaking day for a Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie running back, but his two fumbles hurt the team in their 30-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football.

Bryce Brown was having the game of his life. The rookie, who was drafted in the seventh round after a disappointing collegiate career, was running over and around Carolina Panthers’ defenders on his way to a big night. He already had 129 first-half yards and one 65-yard touchdown scamper under his belt when his momentous ascent peaked.

Early in the third quarter, Brown broke Correll Buckhalter’s Oct. 7, 2001 rookie-rushing record of 134 yards against the Arizona Cardinals. Almost immediately afterwards, in a moment that fit in perfectly with the narrative of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2012 season, Brown took a handoff, got spun around after making Panthers’ linebacker Luke Kuechly miss and lost the ball while going to the ground. The ball was recovered by Kuechly.

This fumble would have been a blemish on his outstanding, 178-yard, two touchdown performance if it had been the only one. That wasn’t the case.

After redeeming himself with a five-yard touchdown run, Brown was at it again, tearing through a porous Panthers’ defense when the ball was ripped away from him. The Panthers recovered yet again, eventually leading to a 23-yard field goal by Graham Gano to give the Panthers a 24-22 lead, a lead from which they never looked back to go on to win 30-22.

Photo courtesy philly.com
Bryce Brown’s outstanding day was offset by two fumbles, the second of which led to a 23-yard field goal for the Carolina Panthers that gave them the lead, which they never relinquished.

Brown received one final chance for redemption – for the second time in the game – when the Eagles elected to go for it on fourth-and-inches from the Carolina 40, down 24-22 with 8:35 left. Just like has been the case seemingly all year for the Eagles, Brown was hit almost immediately in the backfield, and his churning legs were no match for the wall of defenders dragging him down well short of the first down. With this final attempt squashed, Brown and the Eagles could only put their heads down and watch yet another game slip away.

This is not to say that Brown did not show flashes of brilliance and the makings of a potential star. His performance caused fantasy owners to jump for joy and was one of the few bright spots in another dismal loss for Eagles’ fans. His lack of ball control was simply the epitome of what the Eagles’ season has become.

Just like Brown, the Eagles started off strong with a 3-1 start and sole possession of first-place in the NFC East division. Their ascent reached its peak much too early, however, and they quickly crashed back down to earth with seven consecutive and mind-numbing losses. Now 3-8 and well out of the playoff race, the Eagles are left to ponder about their lost season. Brown should be wary to do everything he can so that his NFL career does not take a similar path of a rapid ascent and even faster demise.

Wise words of advise for the Philadelphia Eagles’ Nick Foles

Photo courtesy Dale Zanine/US Presswire
Nick Foles may receive his first career NFL start this Sunday against the Washington Redskins if Michael Vick is unable to go.

Welcome to Philadelphia, rookie. It’s a great city if your team is winning. These fans will embrace you and shower you with love if you prove that you’re a winner. Unfortunately, we are also a demanding bunch. If you fail to win, you do not receive an abundance of chances to turn things around, even if you’re a rookie. You may be a folk hero now, but that’s only because you’re not under the spotlight. The real test begins this week, when you will most likely start your first career NFL game against the Washington Redskins. Here are some tips for before, during and after the game.

Before the game:

Refrain from any use of the devastating term “Dream Team.” Your team is unfortunately 3-6, and reviving such a ridiculous and cursed term would put you in bad graces faster than a defensive linemen gets through your depleted offensive line.

Do not talk about saving Andy Reid’s job. No matter how well you play, chances are his fate is already sealed. Attaching yourself to him would not be a very wise career move if you expect to remain in Philly very long. It sounds selfish, but you need to look out for yourself at this point. You did not cause this 3-6 start, so don’t attach yourself to the situation.

During the game:

Give LeSean McCoy the ball. It may sound like a simple concept, but the Eagles have failed to do it consistently throughout the season. A good running back is a rookie quarterback’s best friend. Let him run wild, and hopefully he’ll help set up third and manageable situations.

Don’t try to prove too much. Just manage the game and don’t throw interceptions or turn the ball over. Turnovers will land you in hot water more times than Nnamdi Asomugha is called for pass interference penalties. At this stage of the season, it may be impossible to win games on your own, but you certainly can help lose them.

Get rid of the ball quickly. If you haven’t noticed yet, your offensive line is banged up and has done a poor job protecting Michael Vick, hence why you’re starting. No offense to Trent Edwards, but he is not the future of this team, so no one wants to see him play. Keep yourself upright by being aware that you may have under two seconds to start scrambling or get rid of the ball. With that being said, wearing extra padding might not be a bad idea.

Photo courtesy philly.com
Nick Foles needs to be a presence in not only the locker room, but also in press conferences. He would be wise to connect with the media, who have helped to create his folk hero status.

After the game:

Be a leader in the press conferences. Try your best to be positive, but don’t be fake. The Philly media wants to hear what you really think about something, so be real with them as long as it does not jeopardize you or your team. You have to strike a balance between being optimistic and admitting your own shortcomings. Do not take lessons from Reid. He frustrates every reporter because he always says the same things. Mix it up once in awhile.

If you follow these guidelines, you’ll be off to a good start with the Philly fans. Just be careful, because if everything works out and you become the starter, you will have to earn the folklore that has been bestowed upon you. It’s always easier being the backup. Time to prove that you can be the starter.

How long will the Philadelphia Eagles’ losing streak continue?

Photo courtesy philadelphiaeagles.com
Andy Reid will most likely have to rely on rookie quarterback Nick Foles against the Washington Redskins on Sunday to try to stop the Eagles’ losing streak.

I’ll admit it. I’m starting to get worried. The Eagles are losers of five straight, and the end is nowhere in sight. The scariest part of this dreadful slump is that the Eagles could potentially lose every game for the remainder of the season. Is it likely? No. But a possibility? Absolutely. Just take a look at their final seven games.

Photo courtesy AP
Robert Griffin III could give the Philadelphia Eagles nightmares for not one, but two weeks.

Weeks 11 and 16: Washington Redskins

The Redskins, although sharing an identical 3-6 record with the Eagles, have a certain quarterback named RG3 running the show. Although they have struggled after a fast start, the Eagles’ secondary has been torn apart on their five game losing streak. Add in a quarterback who is a threat with his legs, and the Eagles could be in for not one, but two long weeks, as they have the Redskins twice on their schedule.

Photo courtesy http://americanfootball.wikia.com
Although the Carolina Panthers are struggling, Cam Newton has the ability to get hot at any moment.

Week 12: Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are another struggling team and may be the Eagles’ best chance to secure a victory. They are a dismal 2-7, but with Cam Newton, there is an equal chance of him producing an incredible game as there is of him being silenced and becoming a non-factor. With the way the Eagles’ season is progressing, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Eagles catch Newton when he’s hot.

Week 13: Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys already beat the Eagles once by putting up 38 points, and I would be shocked if they suffer a letdown the second time around. With their victory over the birds, the Cowboys are right back in the thick of the hunt for the NFC East with a 4-5 record, second only to the New York Giants (6-4).

Photo courtesy Bruce Kluckhohn/US Presswire
Doug Martin and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have rebounded from a rough start and caught fire.

Week 14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Although the Buccaneers suffered from a slow start, they are headed in the opposite direction of the Eagles. The Bucs are on a three-game winning streak to improve to 5-4. They have been playing stellar football, and unless they suffer a letdown, they will be a tough match-up for the depleted Eagles.

Week 15: Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are only 1-4 in their last five games, but picked up a crucial win to keep their season alive by thoroughly manhandling the Giants this past Sunday. They still have a reason to play because they find themselves fighting with the Pittsburgh Steelers for a potential wildcard spot. The Eagles, meanwhile, are in danger of being out of playoff contention with one more loss. By Week 15, they may be out completely.

Photo courtesy Tony Gutierrez/AP
Eli Manning and the New York Giants currently lead the NFC East, but already lost to the Philadelphia Eagles once this season.

Week 17: New York Giants

What more is there to say? These are the Giants we’re talking about. They most likely will still be fighting to secure their playoff standing, so chances are they won’t be able to sit any of their starters. The Eagles did beat the Giants earlier this year, but that makes a split all the more inevitable. The Giants are 6-4 and leading the NFC East. They have a knack for getting hot at the end of the season, so Week 17 is a bad time to get stuck playing them.

With all of that being said, the Eagles still have life in them despite their losing streak. A 3-6 record looks hopeless, but if they can turn things around and play with nothing to lose, they could just squeeze into the playoffs. They would need to go at least 6-1 to finish at 9-7 and give themselves a chance, which would be a tall order. I don’t think they’ll go 0-7, but if I had to choose between the two options, right now the Eagles don’t look like a team capable of winning another game this season.

Philadelphia Eagles Midseason Report

Photo courtesy Sean Gardner / Reuters
Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles passing offense has struggled mightily this season due to the lack of protection and turnover issues.

Halfway through their schedule, the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves at 3-5 and in near-desperation mode as they prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. With eight games remaining and Andy Reid’s job on the line, this team has a lot to prove. Here are their grades at the midseason mark.

Passing Offense: D+

Michael Vick is having a tough year leading the Eagles passing attack, but despite his turnover issues (nine interceptions), the blame should not fall all on him. The Eagles offensive line is in shambles, with only Evan Mathis remaining from the original starting five due to injuries. Injuries are a part of the game, but the Eagles’ backups have looked worse than a high school JV team. DeSean Jackson has shown flashes of brilliance, but has not regained the form he showed in 2009. Jeremy Maclin has also been inconsistent, partially due to nagging injuries. Even so, the turnovers, 27 sacks allowed and stalled drives within the red zone are unacceptable for a team with so much talent at the skill positions.

Photo courtesy AP
LeSean McCoy, perhaps the Philadelphia Eagles’ most dangerous offensive weapon, has seen limited touches in the past several weeks.

Rushing Offense: C-

LeSean McCoy has been outstanding…when given the ball. At the beginning of the season, McCoy was given 20-plus touches in the team’s three wins. During the team’s four-game losing streak, however, he has disappeared. He has been underutilized and has had little influence over the outcome of games. When McCoy is not involved in the offense, the Eagles usually fall short.

Passing Defense: F

The Eagles much-maligned secondary has failed to sway its critics by consistently turning in poor performances. Nnamdi Asomugha has been exposed and is playing nowhere close to his former Pro-Bowl level. Teams have been picking on Brandon Boykin and Kurt Coleman, who are showing signs of being a rookie and former seventh round pick, respectively. The defensive line is doing very little to help their secondary, totaling only 11 sacks. The lack of pressure that they’ve been able to put on the opposing team’s quarterback is embarrassing and needs to be addressed.

Photo courtesy AP
The Philadelphia Eagles have struggled defensively, getting beat in the passing game and missing tackles.

Rushing Defense: C

The Eagles defense is currently ranked No. 16 in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game, so they are in the middle of the pack. Just by watching them, that seems to be where they belong. Occasionally the Eagles will stop the running game of their opponents, only to commit a mind-blowing amount of missed tackles to allow a long run and give away momentum. The Eagles give up an average of 114.1 rushing yards per game. Their corners are poor tacklers, and the wide nine scheme gets them in trouble when players miss their assignments, leaving gaping holes.

Photo courtesy philaphans.com
Alex Henery and the Eagles’ special teams have been one of the few bright spots during the first half of the season.

Special Teams: A-

This may be one of the few bright spots on this team. Alex Henery has stepped in and replaced the legendary David Akers by hitting 14 of 15 field goals and a perfect 13 of 13 extra points. His long is only 49 yards this year, but he has made five field goals between 40 and 49 yards. Mat McBriar has been a steady presence at punter, and although the return game has not been prolific, they have made very few mistakes.

Photo courtesy David Maialetti
Andy Reid and his staff need to regroup and refocus their team if they want to salvage the season.

Coaching: D

There are numerous areas that need help from the top down. Andy Reid has struggled to rally the troops in each of the past two seasons. His players appear to have quit on him, which is turning this season into potentially his last with the team. Howard Mudd has been unable to turn his patchwork offensive line into a semblance of a unit, and Todd Bowles has yet to do much better than the recently fired Juan Castillo at defensive coordinator. Marty Mornhinweg has also struggled to call effective red zone plays, resulting in a lack of offensive production.

Overall: D

Is this a lost season? Not yet. Will it be if the Eagles lose to the Dallas Cowboys? Quite possibly.

Is Michael Vick to blame after the Philadelphia Eagles’ Monday Night Football disaster?

Photo courtesy Getty Images
Michael Vick is receiving most of the blame for the Eagles’ disappointing start to the season. There are much bigger offenders that need to be addressed for the struggling birds.

Everyone is calling for Michael Vick’s head after the Eagles’ embarrassing performance against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football, in which they lost 28-13. Vick and the Eagles’ offense had a miserable day, scoring just 13 points despite four, 1st and goal opportunities.

Is Vick completely at fault? Let’s break down the game and take a look. As dismal as he’s been this season, the Saints exposed an offensive line that is dinged up, beleaguered and completely out of their league. Only one starter (Evan Mathis) remains from the beginning of the season after Todd Herremans was injured during the game. The Eagles’ backups are under siege, and unfortunately showing why they were backups entering the season.

Vick is known as an elusive quarterback, yet he was sacked seven times, the fourth-highest total of Andy Reid’s tenure. Now, some of those times could have been because he missed defensive reads or should have audibled to a different play, but the amount of time that he had throughout the entire game was scarily short. Often times, Vick had the ball in his hands for less than two seconds before getting flushed out of the pocket or hit by a bone-crushing hit.

Besides spending a good amount of the game on the ground, Vick received very little help from the play-calling in the red zone or even his teammates. Brent Celek, his normally reliable tight end, got a hand on the ball, tipping it to Patrick Robinson for an interception that was returned all the way. Vick’s ball could have been thrown better, but Celek did not appear to snap his head around in time to see the ball.

When you can only manage two field goals in four, 1st and goal opportunities, the quarterback is not the sole problem. Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg have to be given some of the blame for their play-calling, which stalled drive after drive. A quarterback is only as good as his coaches, and Reid and Mornhinweg did not get the job done.

Photo courtesy Bill Haber/AP
Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints picked apart a lifeless Eagles’ defense that missed tackles and seemed to quit on coach Andy Reid.

Lastly, the Eagles’ defense looked lifeless. Most of the players appear to have quit on Reid and consequently the season. They got stomped on by Drew Brees and co., but not because they were overmatched. Instead, they failed at the basics, such as missed tackles and lack of communication. Players were out of position, not wrapping up and not putting in a complete effort.

When a unit has given up on their coach and the season, the blame should not be placed on the team’s starting quarterback. Yes, Vick’s performance has been less than stellar and he is a reason for the disappointing season thus far. It would be a mistake to label him as the sole reason for the Eagles’ failures though, because there are many other holes that need to be fixed, some of which are much larger than the starting quarterback position.

Clipped Wings: Philly Phunnies

Photo courtesy Getty Images
What is Brent Celek thinking here after running into ex-teammate and trash-talker Asante Samuel after the Atlanta Falcons wrecked Celek’s Eagles? Post a caption and get a chance to write a guest column about anything Eagles!

Not only were the Eagles blown out by the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday, but to make matters worse they had to face their old teammate, Asante Samuel after the game. Samuel is known for his brash trash-talking, which often times is larger than his game. Lucky for him, the Eagles are in a down spiral and Matt Ryan tore apart the Eagles’ defense.

Poor Brent Celek had the unfortunate timing to run into a gloating Samuel after the game. So I ask you, what do you think is going through his head? Post a caption for the chance to be recognized next week! The winner’s caption will be displayed in a post and they will get the chance to write a guest post about anything Eagles-related for the site.