Eagles at Falcons - Sunday Night Game 2

[Orlando Eagles]

The first 4 games of the season are always the toughest IMO. Players are just not in sync. I think the best teams come out 2-2, 3-1 or 4-0. Starting the season with a losing record could very well end your season.

On the plus side I am encouraged about the team as a whole because we are seriously battle tested now. We sucked early against the skins and dominated them late. Then we play a good falcons team at their home and it comes down to the wire. That fumble at the start of the second half killed us. Wentz played bad in the 1st half but was really good in the second half. I am Jim Schwartz biggest critic but he came up big in the second half. We got beat with the perfect play call against his defensive call. I will not question him there. The blitz was the right call.

Yes, the blitzing in the second half was well done. And we did get beat in the perfect adjustment to the blitz on the go ahead TD.

However, while I’m a fan of more blitzing....I prefer to see it well disguised considering the shitty secondary we have. They did that well in the second half.

But on the game winning play they did not disguise at all. They showed a 0 look with no Safety over top. That’s fish in barrel for a guy like Ryan. Now he knows that safety over the top that has been doubling Julio all game isn’t there. Now he knows they are in man. Now he sees Douglas playing with immense cushion on Julio since he doesn’t have the backup. And Maddox was up on the line and a sitting duck for Matthews. It was a perfect adjustment by Ryan.

But even a little disguise by the Eagles and he doesn’t have this clear cut read.

 

[Orlando Eagles]

It's very early in the season and the loss doesn't bother me so much, but I am concerned about the huge rash of injuries.

That’s my biggest concern going forward.....what do we look like on the injury front short to medium term?

Luckily we get the Lions at home next week. They were a bit scrappy at home against the Chargers yesterday. Then the short turn around to go to Lambeau with any potential injury depletion could suck bad.

Luckily we get the Jets at home after a week and a half rest after that.

 

[Guy Incognito]

This play is still perplexing me this morning.

1. Why would you have a TE of Ertzs caliber run to the sticks and turn around?

2. (And more importantly) was Ertz physically ok on that play? He took a shot earlier in the drive (where they spent a TO to get him right back out there) and I remember Collinsworth commenting something along lines of “can Ertz get his hands above his head right now?”

Yeah, he short armed it. But it might have nothing to do with ball protection and all to do with physical ability in the moment. What if he couldn’t fully extend for the line?

It’s all just unfortunate. But then.....had we deserved most of the game to be come up 18 inches short? If this is a playoff or a loss that takes us out of the playoffs I’m way more upset about coming up short of the sticks, obviously.

Because it's the only big body target you have. Goeddert might have been on the field for that play, but no way he gets his number called unless the Falcons decide to leave him completely uncovered.

Ertz was their only TE, didn't have Jeffery either. Getting a big body near the sticks is almost textbook. Sucks that Wentz couldn't get that ball there a beat sooner.

 

[Orlando Eagles]

Because it's the only big body target you have. Goeddert might have been on the field for that play, but no way he gets his number called unless the Falcons decide to leave him completely uncovered.

Ertz was their only TE, didn't have Jeffery either. Getting a big body near the sticks is almost textbook. Sucks that Wentz couldn't get that ball there a beat sooner.

I totally agree. But it’s more to the point. Yes, it was the only big body. But I’m wondering how much he was dinged at that moment. If it’s something upper body that was tightening up at that moment that would explain the short arm reach.

I’m not trying to knock the call....just observing the circumstance of it. He was the only big body option. In the crush of the moment I doubt anyone is thinking about any recent ding and physical limitation as a result.

We were there at the end and I never saw that coming for almost 3/4 of the game.

 

[PhillyGreen]

Suck my vagina

Fixed it for you.

 

[Guy Incognito]

I totally agree. But it’s more to the point. Yes, it was the only big body. But I’m wondering how much he was dinged at that moment. If it’s something upper body that was tightening up at that moment that would explain the short arm reach.

I’m not trying to knock the call....just observing the circumstance of it. He was the only big body option. In the crush of the moment I doubt anyone is thinking about any recent ding and physical limitation as a result.

We were there at the end and I never saw that coming for almost 3/4 of the game.

I don't recall him short-arming the throw that Wentz missed him on third down.

I don't see that play as a short-arm, I see at as him recognizing that he has no chance of being awarded a first down if he gets stripped and he pulled it in.

 

[PhillyGreen]

Running game averaged 2.33 yards a carry (21 rushes for 49 yards). I’m in agreement that the run should have been pushed more early.

But we know these guys pass to set up the run. It’s always been the mentality. And when the passing game isn’t working and they try some runs that drive such paltry results the mentality is to get back to the passing to open things up.

The Eagles have a top 3 offensive line and if you continue with the running game the other team will break down. The Falcons had too much speed at the LB position and we did nothing to negate it. The RBBC only works when the offense is clicking on all cylinders and that was hard to do when our two biggest weapons in the pass game were sidelined all game.

 

[Sparky]

And the run game was strange. It seemed to just plow slow motion up the middle for 3-4 yards. What happened to our run diagonally to the left for 7 yards? I think that's what Minnesota used to exploit them and we didn't go there. Also don't recall any screens to Sanders...

 

[Sparky]

I'm also worried about djax not playing being about diva crap locker room stuff. I just hope I'm wrong, but Wentz looked upset and disturbed about more than the plays.

 

[PhillyGreen]

And the run game was strange. It seemed to just plow slow motion up the middle for 3-4 yards. What happened to our run diagonally to the left for 7 yards? I think that's what Minnesota used to exploit them and we didn't go there. Also don't recall any screens to Sanders...

I think Pederson was caught off guard by the injuries to both DJax and Alshon. He just was not ready for it and did not adjust quick enough for it. It does baffle me though. When a team gives you the perfect blueprint to demolish someone you should do it. The Eagles were better equipped to run than the Vikings were.

 

[PhillyGreen]

I'm also worried about djax not playing being about diva crap locker room stuff. I just hope I'm wrong, but Wentz looked upset and disturbed about more than the plays.

Wentz was probably upset about himself. He was putrid in the 1st half.

DJax does not cause locker room problems. Every team he as been he was loved as a teammate.

 

[Guy Incognito]

The Eagles have a top 3 offensive line and if you continue with the running game the other team will break down. The Falcons had too much speed at the LB position and we did nothing to negate it. The RBBC only works when the offense is clicking on all cylinders and that was hard to do when our two biggest weapons in the pass game were sidelined all game.

For the record, the Eagles are currently 14th in the NFL in rushing attempts, and 27th in YPC.

Don't know if the O-line isn't run blocking well, the RBs are missing holes, they are tipping their run calls, or what. But it's not like it's been successful (full disclosure, I realize that Miles Sanders got jobbed of a 20 yard TD run).

The long run last night was 5 yards. It's not like they were occasionally hitting on 8-12 yard carries and didn't stick with it. They had one 8-yard carry called back. Hopefully they sort out the run game.

 

[PhillyGreen]

For the record, the Eagles are currently 14th in the NFL in rushing attempts, and 27th in YPC.

Don't know if the O-line isn't run blocking well, the RBs are missing holes, they are tipping their run calls, or what. But it's not like it's been successful (full disclosure, I realize that Miles Sanders got jobbed of a 20 yard TD run).

The long run last night was 5 yards. It's not like they were occasionally hitting on 8-12 yard carries and didn't stick with it. They had one 8-yard carry called back. Hopefully they sort out the run game.

Pederson appears to be too giddy about the new toys and we have become pass happy. He is channeling his inner Andy Reid. There is no real consitency with the running games and teams are not able to sniff out the play calls based on personnel. In week 1 Sproles was the featured back. That alone is idiotic.

Sticking with the run will wear a defense down. Very few teams have the type of back where there is a lot of early success in the running game but they don't abandon it. These days we never seem to really try.

 

[old duke]

What I don’t understand is - the Vikings beat the Falcons last week. They threw the ball 10 times and ran it 35+ times. Our top 2 WRs are out and we call 50 designed pass plays and only 20 runs.

Mind you...I thought the offense played better as the game went on...but we could have run more on this team. No doubt in my mind.

Very good points, but our OL was getting beat due to the Falcs very fast DL. Does Seumalo still have a job today? God help us - he is the successor to Kelce? Please!! We need to draft a couple big, strong farm boys from Iowa and Wisconsin for our OL. We let the smaller, faster DL overwhelm us. Sad!

 

[Orlando Eagles]

I don't recall him short-arming the throw that Wentz missed him on third down.

I don't see that play as a short-arm, I see at as him recognizing that he has no chance of being awarded a first down if he gets stripped and he pulled it in.

Fair point. I saw him pull the ball back too. It was a rather short armed reach before the pull back. Most likely he was protecting the ball by habit. But that comment shortly before this play about Ertz must have trouble reaching above his head right now (presumably due to whatever ding he took) had me thinking.

Of course....Collinsworth made that comment....so I should STFU.....

 

[eaglesnut]

The slow starts suck, but that was an awesome game and Atlanta put everything they had into it. We matched their intensity overall.

We barely lost and we had a bunch of ways to win. We'll win more of those than we'll lose with this team. When we get rolling we'll be hard to beat.

 

[Orlando Eagles]

Very good points, but our OL was getting beat due to the Falcs very fast DL. Does Seumalo still have a job today? God help us - he is the successor to Kelce? Please!! We need to draft a couple big, strong farm boys from Iowa and Wisconsin for our OL. We let the smaller, faster DL overwhelm us. Sad!

Seumalo gets one pass from me. Thats it. Just this game. He was putrid.

 

[Orlando Eagles]

I'm also worried about djax not playing being about diva crap locker room stuff. I just hope I'm wrong, but Wentz looked upset and disturbed about more than the plays.

The fuck are you talking about.....?

 

[Orlando Eagles]

Pederson appears to be too giddy about the new toys and we have become pass happy. He is channeling his inner Andy Reid. There is no real consitency with the running games and teams are not able to sniff out the play calls based on personnel. In week 1 Sproles was the featured back. That alone is idiotic.

Sticking with the run will wear a defense down. Very few teams have the type of back where there is a lot of early success in the running game but they don't abandon it. These days we never seem to really try.

You have some points....though I am not ready to flat out call him channeling Andy in this way.

They have been very clear that they like to set up the run with the pass. That was not possible last night. Could they have leveraged that line and really powered in the run in there? They could. Except a few things:

1. I don't think they know what to do with this backfield committee. Howard looks OK going up the middle and can't be easily taken down. But he works best with a rhythm, which play calling is not giving him. Up the gut, off tackle (which Minny killed Atl with) would have worked well in getting Howard going. I am not ready to give Sanders this much play in the run game. He did have flashes in the Skins game. He went off tackle well. But this around end nonsense he is not ready for. He dances like he is still playing college level defenses. All that gets you in the NFL is a tackle for no gain, at best.
2. Once Clement put the ball on the ground any thought to go "run first" was shot with these guys. We all know that.

Shiny toys, sure....but I think there was less rigidity to the game plan that Doug went into the game with than Andy used to do.

 

[BPNAZ]

how many screen passes did i see to Sproles tonight.....................zero.

I'm a pathetic bitch.

fixed it for you too buddy. have a great day