Yet again, the Eagles have opened a season full of hope with a loss. For the sixth time in the last nine seasons, the Eagles are 0-1. Surely, for many, the opener in Green Bay was penciled in as a win when the schedule was released. And now after the 16-13 loss against the "lowly" Packers - a team the Eagles have owned for half a decade - fans all over the Delaware Valley have to be feeling a bit a panic. The special teams was obviously horrendous, the offense only put up 13 points, and the defense played well against a Division IA caliber offense. But fear not Eagles fans. Believe it or not, there is reason to feel more optimistic now than before the season started.
Before the less than complimentary comments come pouring in, hear me out. What was the biggest question mark coming out of preseason and into the regular season? No, it wasn't McNabb, it was the defense. They were coming off a season where they were essentially the Achilles heal of the team, and they were less than stellar during their time on the field in the preseason. Could the new, smaller, Omar Gaither stop the run in the absence of Trotter? Could converted defensive end, Chris Gocong, making his first start, be anything close to the answer at SAM? Could defensive tackles, Bunkley and Patterson, step up and play like the high draft picks they are? Was Jevon Kearse healthy enough to be a force again? Would Sean Considine be able to play the role of strong safety despite having the skill set best suited for free safety? And, speaking of free safety, could Brian Dawkins shake off an injury filled preseason, and continue to be the heart and soul of the defense? Well, in order, the answers after one game - which admittedly carries only slightly more weight than preseason - are: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.
The Eagles held the Packers offense to three points. The remaining 13 points, including the game winning field goal, were the direct result of Philly turnovers. The running game for Green Bay? Non-existent. The passing game, with future Hall of Famer Brett Favre? Barely existent. Granted the Packers do not have a very good offense, especially their running game, but if you remember last season, that didn't matter for the Eagles' defense. Seeing all of those question marks answered, for at least one week, has got to be an encouraging sign for Eagles fans.
Offensively, 13 points is hardly an impressive effort, but, again, there are reasons to feel good. First off, the Packers' defense should not be underestimated. They have solid defensive backs, a young and fast linebacking corps, and a great defensive line. That's a formula for a top 10 defense. So, going against a unit like that is going to cause some problems for even for the best offenses; especially on opening day. Which brings us to point number 2 and 2A/B. Offensives across the league are generally less likely to be dominant than defensives early in the season. Offenses take more timing and rythmn that is difficult to achieve at the outset of the season. And the Eagles have been slow starters for the majority of the last decade. And, lastly, but certainly not least, this was Donovan McNabb's first start since ACL reconstruction only nine months ago. And most everyone will tell you that it takes a good year or more before a player can get back to full capabilities. Combine all of that, and a 13 point effort should not surprise that much. This was the number 2 ranked defense in the league last year, and they are essentially the same group this year. They will be fine.
This loss can be directly contributed to the fact that the Eagles went into the season without anyone experienced in handling punt returns. Yes, they lost a game because of this hole, but this is a fixable hole, and a minor one compared to many of the teams in the NFC. There are basically two options to solve the problem. Send Brian Westbrook back there or bring someone else in. Westbrook is highly capable of doing the job, and could be one of the most dangerous return men in the game, but it's unclear at this time whether Andy Reid will want to risk his prized possession. And Reno Mahe - a solid, if unspectacular, return man - is probably sitting at home right now. All in all, Eagles fans should not be that upset. They should know by now that their team turns it on later in the season - when it counts most.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment