It is frustrating to be a Philadelphia Eagles fan. Sitting at 1-4 is not a fun place to be after five weeks of football and it doesn’t get any better moving forward with Washington, Dallas, and Chicago on the horizon. The defense looks lost, Mike Vick looks frustrated, and Andy Reid doesn’t have an answer beyond stating that “it is his fault.”
Before the season began, we were promised a “Dream Team” after signing a myriad of talented players, particularly on the defensive side of the ball including Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Cullen Jenkins. These players were supposed to shore up a defensive unit that was already good last season by most standards. Furthermore, to strengthen the Eagles powerhouse they signed experienced backups in key offensive positions in the form of Vince Young and Ronnie Brown.
So what is the problem? How does a team with stars like Mike Vick, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Asante Samuel , and Jeremy Maclin fall into a rut and lose four straight games this early, without major injuries? The answer is simple: fundamentals.
Football is a game of fundamentals. Running the ball. Stopping the run. Tackling. Maintaining coverage. These simple fundamentals are what the Eagles have forgotten.
Offensively, all the Eagles have been doing is passing the ball. Andy Reid has always been a “pass-first” type of coach, but at this point, he isn’t even keeping defenses honest. On Sunday, against the Bills, LeSean McCoy averaged over seven yards per carry, yet he only carried the ball eleven times. Subtract the 32-yarder that he broke off and he was still averaging nearly 5 yards per carry. When you have this kind of success on the ground, it should be exploited. In the Patriots win over the Jets on Sunday, we saw their offense do exactly this, particularly in the fourth quarter, where a weak Jets defensive front did not have an answer for BenJarvis Green-Ellis.
The Eagles actually have the top ranked rushing offense in the league, but Vick accounts for about 40 percent of their rushing yards and those are typically not on designed running plays. With Vick, the Eagles are rushing for 165 yards per game. If you just look at the running backs, they are averaging 102 yards per game.
There is no doubt that Mike Vick is an exciting player that puts you on the edge of your seat every time he takes off or winds up, but he has always been more successful when defenses respect the team’s running game. If you are going to sit Vick back and ask him to throw 40 passes a game, you can expect turnovers, just as we saw on Sunday with his four interception performance. Andy Reid: you have a running back in LeSean McCoy, now use him! Force defenses to respect your running game and you will see your passing game improve, as well.
Defensively, the Eagles have been terrible. The team paid big money for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha in the offseason in the hopes that they would shut down their opponents passing attacks (they also retained Asante Samuel, despite many trade rumors). Here’s the problem: the age of the big receiver is here and it isn’t going anywhere. Simply covering receivers down the field Deion Sanders style is no good anymore with tall, muscular receivers such as Dez Bryant, Hakeem Nicks, and Miles Austin taking over (notice that I selected all receivers in the Eagles’ division, which coincidentally they must play at least twice each season). To be successful, you must be able to tackle in the secondary. It is to the point where if an opposing offensive player hits the Eagles’ secondary you can bank on a score. Tackling is the centerpiece of the game of football and there is no way to be a winning team in the NFL unless you do so consistently. ..
Speaking of tackling, the Eagles’ defensive front is no better. It would be difficult to indicate even a single play on Sunday against the Bills where Fred Jackson did not break the first tackle and gain additional yardage. This inability to tackle allowed the Bills to control the clock and move the ball, ultimately leading to a win. It was not that long ago where the Eagles defense (coached by the great Jim Johnson) was feared for exotic blitzing and unwavering tenacity. Now, as a fan, I would be happy to see them make a tackle for a loss.
Football is a game of fundamentals. This holds true at the high school, college, and professional levels. It is time for the Eagles to drop the “we are great because we are superstars” mindset and start playing good, fundamental football. Run the ball. Tackle. Stop the run. Remember what you learned in little league. Now is the time to focus on the basics and salvage your season. Even at 1-4, I am still optimistic that the Eagles can get it right. Fortunately, they are in a division where a few wins will put them back in the hunt. Hopefully, in next week’s game against the Redskins, the Eagles will get back to the basics.
