Thread Tools

Display Modes

**Coatesvillain** · 01-08-2005, 06:21 PM

Three. Three chances, three times fell short, three hope destroying interceptions that resulted in a tumultuous offseasons. Then came the day when everything changed, a day shy of an arbitrator's ruling a trade broke through between the Ravens, Eagles, and 49ers where the Eagles landed Terrell Owens the Midnight Green adorned Moses who was destined to finally lead the Eagles to the promised land. And TO was doing a great job of making the prophecy come true as the Eagles broke out to a 12-1 record a game shy of clinching home field advantage. And then... it happened.

Owens against the rival Cowboys caught the ball on a crossing pattern, and as he was charging down the field the hand of Dallas safety Roy Williams grasped onto the back of Owens' shoulder pads and as he brought Owens down to the ground TO suffered an injury that has him out until the Super Bowl, if the Eagles are still around.

With the absense of Owens, a ragtag group of receivers are forced into a position where they have to step up and make help the team get over the hump. Todd Pinkston, known for his fear of getting hit, Freddie Mitchell, fan favorite known for his bravado and assortment of nicknames as well as making the first down, and two second year players Greg Lewis and the enigmatic Billy McMullen. Eagles offensive MVP, Donovan McNabb has another year's worth of pressure on his shoulders where he holds the expectations of a city starved for a championship, but this year he's not alone by his side is Eagles tailback Brian Westbrook who missed all of last season with a biceps tear.

Overlooked amongst all this, is the Eagles defense which is returning two defensive linemen in Hollis Thomas and Derrick Burgess, and is a unit that will have all the season opener starters available to play. And two of the Eagles more unheralded free agency signings linebackers Dhani Jones and Jeremiah Trotter are huge reasons as to why the run defense is much improved in the second half of the season. What makes the defense better than last season is a fast ball off the edge known as the Freak, who has been used in various ways by Jim Johnson, Jevon Kearse makes everyone on the defense better.

Behind everyone else on the defense is a group that was figured to be the units weakness but instead emerged as a strength, three of four of the starters in the defensive secondary are Pro Bowls, one half of the unit are All Pro players. With their first full year of starting, Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown have thrived, Michael Lewis has emerged as one of the best young safeties in the league, and Brian Dawkins has shown why he's the best in the business.

The question that has a lot of fans scared is, whether or not this team is good enough to escape the NFC playoffs and finally break curfew and make it to the big dance before the clock strikes twelve.

There's doubt, there's detractors, but there's also hope, hope that this is finally the year that the City of Brotherly Love's most beloved team finally gets it done. And after three whole weeks without the starters, the Eagles have a chance to prove they are capable on January 16th with the world watching in the playoffs.

**BEEZ** · 01-09-2005, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PhillyPhanatic!

Three. Three chances, three times fell short, three hope destroying interceptions that resulted in a tumultuous offseasons. Then came the day when everything changed, a day shy of an arbitrator's ruling a trade broke through between the Ravens, Eagles, and 49ers where the Eagles landed Terrell Owens the Midnight Green adorned Moses who was destined to finally lead the Eagles to the promised land. And TO was doing a great job of making the prophecy come true as the Eagles broke out to a 12-1 record a game shy of clinching home field advantage. And then... it happened.

Owens against the rival Cowboys caught the ball on a crossing pattern, and as he was charging down the field the hand of Dallas safety Roy Williams grasped onto the back of Owens' shoulder pads and as he brought Owens down to the ground TO suffered an injury that has him out until the Super Bowl, if the Eagles are still around.

With the absense of Owens, a ragtag group of receivers are forced into a position where they have to step up and make help the team get over the hump. Todd Pinkston, known for his fear of getting hit, Freddie Mitchell, fan favorite known for his bravado and assortment of nicknames as well as making the first down, and two second year players Greg Lewis and the enigmatic Billy McMullen. Eagles offensive MVP, Donovan McNabb has another year's worth of pressure on his shoulders where he holds the expectations of a city starved for a championship, but this year he's not alone by his side is Eagles tailback Brian Westbrook who missed all of last season with a biceps tear.

Overlooked amongst all this, is the Eagles defense which is returning two defensive linemen in Hollis Thomas and Derrick Burgess, and is a unit that will have all the season opener starters available to play. And two of the Eagles more unheralded free agency signings linebackers Dhani Jones and Jeremiah Trotter are huge reasons as to why the run defense is much improved in the second half of the season. What makes the defense better than last season is a fast ball off the edge known as the Freak, who has been used in various ways by Jim Johnson, Jevon Kearse makes everyone on the defense better.

Behind everyone else on the defense is a group that was figured to be the units weakness but instead emerged as a strength, three of four of the starters in the defensive secondary are Pro Bowls, one half of the unit are All Pro players. With their first full year of starting, Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown have thrived, Michael Lewis has emerged as one of the best young safeties in the league, and Brian Dawkins has shown why he's the best in the business.

The question that has a lot of fans scared is, whether or not this team is good enough to escape the NFC playoffs and finally break curfew and make it to the big dance before the clock strikes twelve.

There's doubt, there's detractors, but there's also hope, hope that this is finally the year that the City of Brotherly Love's most beloved team finally gets it done. And after three whole weeks without the starters, the Eagles have a chance to prove they are capable on January 16th with the world watching in the playoffs.

Thats a nice lil mini editorial PP.

Too bad, im not an Eagles fan. For them to have any chance of succeding in these playoffs McNabb has to run a little bit more

**Coatesvillain** · 01-09-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BEEZ!
Thats a nice lil mini editorial PP.

Too bad, im not an Eagles fan. For them to have any chance of succeding in these playoffs McNabb has to run a little bit more

Thanks.

And McNabb running is something that everyone but that blowhard Howard Eskin will admit to the Eagles needing. It'll open up everything else, especially things for Westbrook.. because the defense can't spy both of them.

Now if they could get someone to make plays in the receiving core.

For those who aren't aware.. Five Eagles were named Pro Bowl starters:

Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens, Lito Sheppard, Michael Lewis, and Brian Dawkins.

And next week at Lincoln Financial Field the Eagles will host Daunte Culpepper, and the Minnesota Vikings a rematch from an early September matchup.

**madman** · 01-10-2005, 06:36 PM

Honestly i am worried that the Vikings beat the pack so handley, they might come out thinking we dont need to try that hard, we alredy beat the packers and besides the eagles dont have TO, but if they come out like they did then they have a chance of winning should be fun though

**Turkish Delight** · 01-10-2005, 08:51 PM

This is gonna be a good one. Ofcourse if TO were to play, I would pick Philly no doubt, but since he's not coming back for awhile, I think Minny might actually have a good shot at this one. They're confidence is sky high after that win at Green Bay, so this one should be really exciting to say the least.

**Coatesvillain** · 01-12-2005, 12:15 AM

The best thing about this game is, no one knows what the Eagles have to offer on offense. I have a feeling that they'll slowly march the ball down the field eating up clock, allowing Freddie Mitchell and LJ Smith to work in the middle of the field. With the Vikings slow linebackers the Eagles can try to isolate Westbrook against Claiborne, or even if they try to put Willie Offord or Brian Russell on him, it's a matchup that Westbrook can win.

I'm sure we'll see a lot more running from the Eagles, the defense is playing a lot better, but now the offense needs to keep them fresh and off the field. And please Jim Johnson keep Keith Adams off the field for the most part on defense.

The big question I have here, is how Pinkston will respond to facing off against Antoine Winfield. The Eagles don't need him to be TO, but they need him to be a consistent option who won't shy away from contact, and will be able to get off the jam at the line.

Oh, and big news here.. Brian Westbrook is going to be returning punts in the postseason.

**madman** · 01-13-2005, 05:59 AM

And Moss is still a bit gimpy with that leg

not good news

**sheefo13** · 01-14-2005, 09:47 AM

Right now this team really doesnt need moss. Burelson, robinson, cambell, wiggins are goin to do a good job in this one. Once again moss will be a decoid and once they start to forget about him, they will launch it to him.

I dont see how the vikes arent favorites. If you can win in the frozen tundra, then you can win in philly. Althoguh they are 2 diffrent teams, I would much rather see mcnabb in the playoffs than see favre.

digital jello · 01-14-2005, 09:49 AM

When I was at the game on Monday night, Byron Leftwich was in the audience about seven or eight rows in front of me.

He got more of an ovation than the entire Sixers.

**Coatesvillain** · 01-14-2005, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sheefo13!
Right now this team really doesnt need moss. Burelson, robinson, cambell, wiggins are goin to do a good job in this one. Once again moss will be a decoid and once they start to forget about him, they will launch it to him.

I dont see how the vikes arent favorites. If you can win in the frozen tundra, then you can win in philly. Althoguh they are 2 diffrent teams, I would much rather see mcnabb in the playoffs than see favre.

What has Marcus Robinson done since his game winning catch in overtime against the Texans? Basically nothing, I'll agree that Nate Burelson has become a player this year but they still have to go against the best secondary in football on Sunday. The Eagles used the perfect gameplan against Minnesota in Week Two, to stop Randy and the Vikes receivers play the Cover 2, don't let Randy get deeper than the corners and tackle.

Jermaine Wiggins isn't a playmaker he's more of a move the chains type of guy, and with Mark Simoneau out (who had trouble defending him) I think the Eagles will have no trouble with Dhani Jones or Nate Wayne defending him. What people are missing out in this game is that the Eagles have the best defense left in the NFC Playoffs, and they have a healthy front seven (aside from the injury to Simoneau).

Winning in Lambeau Vs a team with no defense is a lot different than playing against a team in Philly with an upper echelon defense. The Vikings won't get anything easy. If they win, they were the better team, but I have a hard time seeing it happening.

Brian Westbrook, Freddie Mitchell, LJ Smith, and Chad Lewis will find some openings over the middle and underneath against the Vikings linebacking core. If Westbrook is split out wide (he'll be decoyed too) a CB will have to cover him, moving another player into a matchup against a slower linebacker. If Chris Claiborne is forced against LJ Smith watchout, LJ could have a big game.

I think it's amazing how much the Eagles are being overlooked in this game, I guess that's what happens when you basically put your starters on ice in the last two weeks.

**BEEZ** · 01-14-2005, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sheefo13!
Right now this team really doesnt need moss. Burelson, robinson, cambell, wiggins are goin to do a good job in this one. Once again moss will be a decoid and once they start to forget about him, they will launch it to him.

I dont see how the vikes arent favorites. If you can win in the frozen tundra, then you can win in philly. Althoguh they are 2 diffrent teams, I would much rather see mcnabb in the playoffs than see favre.

8-8 team vs 13-3 team. Simple fact of the matter the Vikings defense stinks. Give me a legit reason where they are better than the Eagles. They are not a better team Period.

I mean didnt Minnesota play the same teams the Ealges did

Thread Tools Display Modes

Thread Tools

Display Modes