Pronger; The Right Choice For Captain?

When the Flyers traded away Mike Richards, everyone wanted to know who would be the next captain.  Would it be Danny Briere; the veteran who certainly has leadership abilities.  Or perhaps a young gun like Claude Giroux or JVR to signify the new youthful direction the Flyers were clearly gearing toward.  In the end the Flyers decided to make Chris Pronger, by many stretches the undisputed leader of this team, the next Flyers captain.

The Flyers certainly were justified in their decision to make Prongs the official leader of the team.  To start, even when Mike Richards wore the official C during his time with the Flyers, guys still looked toward Pronger as the true leader on and off the ice.  Also Pronger is a veteran, a guy who is not afraid to voice his opinion, and overall a natural leader in every sense, so giving him the captain position was essentially a no-brainer.

But one thing the Flyers failed to factor into their decision making process was Pronger's age.  Pronger is currently 37 and since joining the Flyers, the amount of games he has played in each year have steadily gone down.  After appearing in all 82 games in his first year with the Flyers in 2009-10, Pronger played in just 50 games last year hampered by injury after injury.  This year Pronger has played in just 13 games and could be out for the next 4-6 weeks with a knee injury.

Ultimately I don't think the Flyers should have given the C to Prongs because over the past season he hasn't been consistently in the lineup.  Jumping in and out of the lineup not only hurts this team defensively and statistically, but it also hurts them mentally.  Without their captain, the Flyers don't have a true identity and they play differently.  They aren't lost per say, but they lack a sense of purpose when they are without their leader.

Talking about this notion is a moot point because obviously the Flyers aren't going to and can't rip away the C because a guy is hurt.  But it is definitely something to keep in mind especially if the Flyers go through difficult losing streaks and difficult stretches.  The Flyers need their captain, and Pronger can't lead when he is sitting on the bench hampered by injury after injury.

Future Of The Eagles: Cut Ties With Desean Jackson

Since the season is all but lost, I figured I would start a series of posts concerning the future of this Eagles team.  From the players, all the way up to the head coach, I'm going to give my opinion on what I feel the Eagles should do to succeed in the coming years.  To start I wanted to first take a look at Mr. Desean Jackson's contract status.  As you may or may not know, Jackson is in the final year of his rookie contract and the man wants to get paid.

A lot of people believe that at the end of the season, the Eagles are going to franchise tag Desean Jackson and wait to give him his big deal.  Especially after this year with his missed meeting(s), various dropped passes, and failed attempts to go across the middle, many believe the Eagles will franchise De, pay him 10-11 mill next year, and see if he really is a big time receiver.

In my opinion, I believe that at the end of the season the Eagles should move on from Desean Jackson and look to spend their money elsewhere; here is my theory.  The Eagles already have another great receiver in Jeremy Maclin who will be in the final year of his rookie contract next year.  I feel that Maclin is more deserving of a contract than Jackson, and the Eagles should give the big bucks to him instead.  In addition to Maclin, the Eagles also have Riley Cooper, Jason Avant, and Brent Celek who are all pretty good receivers.  The Eagles were competitive in the past with receivers like James Thrash and Todd Pinkston, and even without Jackson, a recieving corps consisting of Maclin, Cooper, Avant, and Celek sounds pretty good to me.

Simply put the Eagles have a surplus of wide receivers.  I think the Eagles are going to allow Desean Jackson and Steve Smith, who signed a one year deal at the start of this year, to walk at the end of the season.  The Eagles have glaring holes at linebacker and other positions and can't afford to pay a guy like Desean Jackson 10-11 million when they really don't need him.  With Mike Vick and Lesean McCoy leading one of the most feared rushing attacks in the NFL and other offensive weapons, I really don't think the Eagles will miss Jackson too much come next season.

He gave us highlights and flashy memories that I know I will never forget.  His punt return against the Giants was truly magical and so was his heroic Monday night effort against the Redskins last year.  Unfortunately Jackson is immature, and his bone head plays sometimes cost the Eagles yards and points on the score board.  Ultimately the man simply wants too much money and I think it's in the best interest for everyone if the Eagles cut ties with Desean Jackson at the end of the year.

The Nightmare Season Needs To End

I hate to say this, in fact it pains me to say this, but right now I just want this nightmare season to end.  At 4-7 the Eagles are still not mathematically out of it, but I really just want someone to stick a fork in the Birds so that we can move on.

It wasn't supposed to come to this.  The Eagles, with all of their highly talented off season acquisitions were supposed to fly high to the Super Bowl and finally bring this city a parade.  They weren't supposed to go 4-7, frustrate fans with great then awful performances, and ultimately cause Eagles fans pain.

Yesterday was an embarrassing loss.  The Birds lost by a final of 38-20 to Tom Brady and the Patriots, and it was a painful Sunday afternoon to say the least.  Eagles fans have every right to be mad at the coaching staff, the players, and most importantly Andy Reid.

At this point it's hard to do, but I will continue to voice my support for Big Red.  This is shaping up to be just his 3rd losing season with the Eagles, and while I know that I'm in the minority of Andy Reid supporters, I will continue to stick by him.

But there is no defending yesterday's pitiful performance.  The Eagles didn't adjust, they didn't play with a sense of urgency, and overall nobody stepped up and made a big play.  A lot of the blame for yesterday's loss can and should be pinned directly on Reid.  But in terms of the big picture for this franchise, I still want Reid to remain as head coach of this team.

The nightmare season has to end.  It has gone on for long enough and I really just want the pain to stop.  I'm an eternal Eagles optimist, but after yesterday's lack luster performance, even I can't find a single positive or silver lining.  

I really can't write anymore about this game.  At this point I'm at a loss for words.  

Eagles Patriots Keys To Victory

The Eagles are too tough to predict so I'm not even going to waste my time and yours with a pointless prediction.  Instead I'm going to use this Eagles Patriots preview article to highlight what I think the Birds need to do to pick up a victory.

Pressure Brady: This kind of goes without saying as the key to winning any football game is getting pressure on the quarterback.  But I think getting a consistent pass rush is even more important against the Patriots because of the type of offense they run.  The Patriots incorporate a lot of quick slant routes into their offensive game plan, and if the Eagles front four can collapse the pocket and disrupt Brady's timing, the Eagles could very easily win this game.  The Eagles got a ton of pressure on Eli last week and need to keep it up tomorrow afternoon.

Bump Em':  Running a lot of quick slant routes, the Eagles defensive backs need to bump the Patriots' receivers at the line and disrupt their timing.  While it would be nice to have Nnamdi Asomugha out there who specializes at bumping guys at the line, he may not be able to go due to a knee injury.  Regardless of who is out there they need to bump guys like Deion Branch and Wes Welker at the line.

Tight Ends:  Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski make up an extremely frightening Patriots tight end duo.  The Eagles linebackers and defensive backs are definitely going to have their hands full trying to cover these guys.  Both Gronkowski and Hernandez are key targets especially in the redzone, and the Eagles need to focus in on taking them out of the game.

Throw The Ball:  Usually I want the Eagles to focus on running the ball but I want them to go with a more focused air attack against the Pats.  The Patriots have one of the worst pass defenses in the league and Vince Young needs to find the open man and capitalize when possible.

Even though the Cowboys were able to squeak out a win against the Dolphins (and ruin everyone's Thanksgiving), the Eagles are still very much alive in this division race.  The Giants are heading down to New Orleans to take on Drew Brees and the Saints, so with a win the Eagles can keep their post season hopes alive and maybe boost the confidence of the players and coaches as well.  

Flyers Finish Busy Stretch With Winter Classic Preview

Today the Flyers will finish up a stretch of 3 games in 4 days as they travel to New York to take on the Rangers in a Winter Classic preview.

The Flyers kicked off their busy stretch with a 4-3 win on Wednesday night vs the Islanders.  Down 3-1, the Flyers battled back and forced overtime.  In the extra session, Scott Hartnell got called for a stupid hooking call that gave the Islanders a 4 on 3 man advantage that the Flyers somehow survived.  Bobrovsky had some nice saves and as soon as he was free from the penalty box, Hartnell passed the puck to Danny Briere who ripped a shot from the slot past Dipietro for the game winner.

After stepping in for Bryzgalov and stopping all the shots he faced against the Islanders, Bobrovsky got the start yesterday and helped the Flyers to a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.  The Flyers trailed 1-0 going into the second period, but Claude Giroux had 2 goals and Voracek had a goal as well in the 2nd period to give the Flyers a 3-1 lead which they held on to.

Today the Flyers will cap off their busy stretch as they give hockey fans a Winter Classic preview vs the Rangers.  While the game may not be outdoors,  it will still feature two teams that hate each other's guts.  The Rangers are 4 points behind the Flyers and will definitely be trying to make up some ground.  While the Flyers come into the game with a 2 game winning streak, the Rangers come in having just beaten the Washington Capitals yesterday 6-3.

The matchup between the Flyers and Rangers should definitely make for an entertaining afternoon of hockey.

NBA Lockout: Players & Owners Reach Tentative Deal

According to the NBA's official twitter account,

"NBA owners & players reached a tentative agreement early Saturday morning to end the 149-day lockout."

According to Jalen Rose, a former player and analyst for ESPN, with the agreement free agency and training camps will begin on December 9th.  The tentative agreement reached by the players and owners also calls for a 66 game season which would begin on Christmas day with the Celtics vs the Knicks, a finals rematch with the Heat vs the Mavericks, and Derrick Rose and the Bulls taking on Kobe and the Lakers.

Not much is being released about the specifics of the agreement, but both sides are optimistic that they will be playing basketball come Christmas Day.

This really comes as a shocker to most people because it seemed like after the last deal that the players rejected all hope for a season was lost.  And while it may not be a full 82 game schedule, 66 games is plenty and I'm so happy they finally reached a deal.

If you thought that after the NFL lockout was over it was a mad rush, just wait until you see what unfolds in the NBA in the coming month.  Players coming back from over seas, free agent signings, rookie signings, training camps, pre-season games.  It is going to be nuts especially for the Sixers who have new owners.

According to John Anderson of Fox29, if the NBA keeps the original schedule the Sixers would open up on the road December 26 vs the Sacramento Kings followed by 5 more road games.  Their home opener would then be January 6th vs the Detroit Pistons.  No word yet on whether the NBA will have a revised schedule or stick with the original.

Overall very good news as the Sixers will be playing in just a little over a month.  Stay updated to Broad Street Marching as we get more news on the agreement and reactions from the Sixers.

Nnamdi Exposed

After the Eagles lost to the Arizona Cardinals, many fans and experts were bashing Juan Castillo for not playing man coverage against Larry Fitzgerald.  Given the talent that the Eagles have at the corner position, many would have preferred the high price free agent signee Nnamdi Asomugha to cover Fitz through out the game; and rightfully so.  Asomugha is supposed to be one of the best corners and he should be able to take a big time player like Fitzgerald completely out of the game.  But very simply Asomugha is NOT one of the best corners in the game and on Sunday night it really showed.  Click the link below for proof.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/09000d5d82451979/Manning-hits-Cruz-for-24-yard-TD

As you can see from the video, Asomugha was lined up one on one against Victor Cruz and he got badly burned.  If Asomugha can't even handle Victor Cruz, how do you expect him to do against Fitzgerald who is arguably one of the game's best receivers?  The point is Asomugha clearly is not one of the game's top corners and he shouldn't be trusted in man coverage.

Asomugha definitely has his strengths.  He is great at bumping receivers at the line and using his height and length to make plays.  But he isn't a lock down corner like Darrelle Revis who completely removes big time receivers from games.

People are too enthralled by the name Nnamdi Asomugha.  He played for a very bad Oakland team and the only reason teams didn't throw his way is it was just easier to throw to the corner opposite Nnamdi who was probably even worse.  Teams didn't throw Nnamdi's way and everyone thought he was this amazing corner.

But in 10 games with the Eagles, Asomugha is being exposed as a below average corner.  He is getting beat, he is missing tackles, and he is getting called for stupid penalties.  If Asomugha had the talent to play man coverage, Castillo would certainly utilize him to take big receivers out of games.  But he can't play man and Castillo in turn is trying to use the prized free agent as best he can.

I typically don't like to bash players especially a guy like Nnamdi who does so much for the community off the field.  But when you are getting paid 60 million and you can't even cover Victor Cruz something has to be said. I really hope Asomugha finds his place in this defense and figures out a way to be effective.  But as of right now Asomugha continues to get exposed week after week and is definitely not living up to his contract.  

A Love Hate Relationship: Desean Jackson

He will make a dazzling long catch down field that will put the Eagles in scoring position.  He will make a spectacular punt return to win the game.  He will stretch opposing defenses and open up all kinds possibilities for the offense.  Very simply Desean does a lot of good for the Birds, but he can also do other things that will leave you scratching your head in confusion.

Like fumble the ball before even going into the end zone.  Or run in front of the endzone before eventually going in as a defender runs up to make a tackle.  Last night De added another stupid play to his long list of stupid antics.  He got called for taunting that cost the Eagles 50 yards and very easily could have cost the Eagles the game.

Last night's penalty brings up the long love hate relationship between Desean Jackson and the fans of this city.  He can be so great one minute, and then he can be an absolute bone head the next.  I think a lot of people have to realize that Desean is not Jeremy Maclin or Lesean McCoy.  Both Maclin and McCoy are even tempered and very mature.  They are articulate and they carry themselves as true professionals on and off the field.  To the best of my knowledge, Desean Jackson also helps out off the field and is a positive influence in the community but his on field antics tell another story.

Desean is cocky, bold, and flamboyant and is never afraid to show his emotions after a big play.  On Sunday night after a big 50 yard catch, De flicked the ball at the Giants coaches and then made a gesture toward his jersey and danced around.  It was childish and stupid and it could have been detrimental to the Eagles chances in the game.

Luckily the Birds won and we are able to sit here and talk about how it didn't affect the game.  But the incident brings up prior bone head incidents made by number 10.  Like the near fumble against the Cowboys a couple years ago.  Basically Desean has to grow up and mature real fast especially if he wants that big contract that he has been so earnestly seeking out.  If Jackson continues to make immature foolish plays, he could find himself without a contract and could be elsewhere come next season.

Down But Not Out

Just when you think they are dead in the water, they suck you right back in.  At 3-6, the Eagles were definitely up against the ropes heading into last night's division game against the Giants.  And while it certainly wasn't a flashy victory, they got the job done and now it seems that their playoff hopes are still very much alive.

Last night the Eagles put aside their back to back home losses and injuries to Mike Vick and Jeremy Maclin, and they won a football game.  They went on the road and beat a tough division opponent by a final of 17-10.

With 3 interceptions Vince Young certainly wasn't great.  But he did manage the game and was able to orchestrate an 18 play 81 yard drive that ended with a Riley Cooper touchdown.  In the end Young was 23 of 36 for 258 yards and 2 touchdowns.  While he didn't look pretty throwing the ball with his awkward and some what uneasy mechanics, he got the job done especially in the fourth.

And give credit to the Eagles coaching staff.  McCoy was getting pretty bottled up but the Eagles kept going to him.  They were consistent with the run through out the game and were able to mix in Chad Hall, Ronnie Brown, and Dion Lewis into the ground attack.

Defensively credit has to be given to Juan Castillo.  The Eagles defense did a great job of filling gaps and stopping the run.  Jacobs was a huge non-factor last night primarily because the Eagles linebackers stepped up and made some plays.

The defensive line also got great pressure on Eli Manning.  They hurried him into making bad decisions, and Jason Babin forced a fumble at the end to help seal the victory.  With under two minutes, the Giants were driving and threatening to score when Babin popped the ball out from Eli's hand and the Eagles recovered.

The defense, offense, and special teams all played well and everyone contributed to this great victory.  The Eagles played a full 60 minutes, were able to overcome turnovers, and fought and clawed their way to victory.

As I stated before, at 4-6 the Eagles are definitely not out.  And when the Eagles play like they played last night, it makes you believe that the possibilities are endless.  The good news for the Eagles is the Giants looked absolutely lost last night.  They couldn't run the ball, Eli looked bad, and they overall didn't look like a playoff team.  The Giants are also faced with a tough schedule down the stretch, so I definitely believe the Eagles can catch the Midgets.

The bad news for the Birds is the Cowboys look good.  They are finding a nice balance between their running and passing game and they look like they are getting hot.  The Cowboys also have a seemingly favorable remaining schedule.

The Eagles are definitely going to need some help if they want to play post season football.  But if the defense plays the way they did last night I think the sky is the limit for this team.

A Difficult Task

The Eagles are 3-6.  Their star quarterback Michael Vick is out with cracked ribs and their star wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is also injured.  Things really couldn't get any worse for the Eagles as they come off consecutive home losses to the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals.  Everything is stacked up against them and as they prepare for tonight's game against the New York Giants, and the only way to go is up; right?

Vince Young will make his first start as Eagles quarterback under the prime time lights of Sunday night football. Earlier this year against the Redskins, Young was 0 for 1 with an interception.  A lot of people are bad mouthing him and saying that he doesn't have what it takes to be successful in this league after that short outing.  Personally I think he will do just fine.  Young is very similar to Vick in that he can throw the ball and make plays on the ground.  I think changing over to Young is going to be a smooth and easy transition for this Eagles offense.

And while the Eagles will be without the services of Jeremy Maclin, I think that Brent Celek and Lesean McCoy are going to have monster games tonight.  With Vick out, Andy and this coaching staff have no excuse not to go to Lesean on the ground.  McCoy had 30 rushing attempts in the Eagles win over the Cowboys, but during the past two weeks he has gotten 14 and 16 attempts respectively.  Is there a strong correlation between running the ball and winning games?  The answer is obvious and McCoy needs at least 25 touches for the Birds to have any chance in this game.  And with Maclin out, I also see Brent Celek having increased targets and chances to make some plays.

Against the Giants earlier this year, the Eagles fell behind early.  But they battled back and held on to a 16-14 lead going into the fourth and final quarter.  In the fourth the Giants scored 15 unanswered points and went on to win the game by a final of 29-16.  Tonight the Eagles defense and offense have to play the entire 60 minutes.  A lot of experts highlight the fact that the Eagles are allowing so many points in the final quarter but they forget to mention the fact that the Eagles offense also goes to sleep in the most important quarter.  Both the defense and offense have to play the entire game tonight.

If the Eagles come out and throw the ball 3 times on their opening possession and go three and out, I might just lose it.  The Eagles have to go to McCoy and establish the run or they can say goodbye to their season.  The Eagles are up against the ropes, but a tough division win tonight could put some hope back into the hearts of Eagles fans.  

Meet Jonathan Papelbon

I feel like there are a lot of mixed feelings on the signing of closer Jonathan Papelbon.  Some people feel that he is past his prime and the Phils front office overpaid for him.  Still others feel that he was the best reliever on the market and say bravo to the Phillies for going out and getting their man once again.

When you look at the numbers, there is no denying the fact that Papelbon is one of the game's elite closers.  In 7 seasons with the Red Sox, he was 23-19 with a 2.33 ERA and 219 saves.  In 6 seasons as the Red Sox main closer Papelbon has posted 30 or more saves in all years and only had an ERA over 3.00 once.  And those are just regular season stats.  In 18 post season games, Papelbon is 2-1 with a 1.00 ERA and 7 saves.  In 3 World Series games in 2007, Papelbon allowed 0 runs and recorded 3 saves to help the Sox win the title.  Basically the man has been in the tough spots and has gotten it done.

Personally I would have liked to see the Phillies spend the money on more pressing offensive issues.  I still consider Jimmy Rollins a vital part of this offense and it would have been nice to see the Phillies bring him back first.  But at the same time I definitely feel that Papelbon is an upgrade over Madson.  I was never entirely sold on Madson as closer primarily because I didn't think he was a true closer.  In Madson's early years he was originally a starter and I think that over the course of his career the Phillies continued to try and force him into being something he wasn't.

Papelbon is a natural closer and he also shakes up the clubhouse.  He is very bold and has a lot of confidence, and his personality and talent will definitely help the Phillies next year.  Forget about what you are hearing from other baseball fans.  They will tell you that Papelbon was awful down the stretch last year and helped in the Red Sox collapse.  In reality, Papelbon had just 2 bad outings in September.  They are just trying to down play the fact that the Phillies just got a whole lot better with the addition of Papelbon.

I'm not going to lie, there is no getting around the fact that in the past, when teams go out and spend big money on a closer it usually doesn't work out.  But look at 2008.  Brad Lidge came in for the Phillies and was perfect.  Will Papelbon's contract be worth it if he comes in and gives the Phillies a perfect 2012?  I think so, and I think the Papelbon can come in and be that dominant lights out closer especially in the NL.  As for the rest of the off season I think RAJ still has something up his sleeve, and we will just have to wait and see how it all unfolds.  

Sportsradio Debate: 94 WIP vs 97.5 The Fanatic

WHICH STATION IS BETTER? 94 WIP OR 97.5 THE FANATIC? READ TO FIND OUT.

With the official launch of Sportsradio 94.1 WIP set for tuesday September 6th, I figured I would re-post this article that I posted a few weeks ago as it seemed to get a lot of attention. This article is basically a rundown of the new lineup for WIP and how it will look to compete with The Fanatic.

As a kid growing up, I listened to 610 non stop. I would fall asleep listening to Glen Macnow, and wake up to Angelo and the morning team. When I got home from school, I would do my homework and listen to Howard Eskin argue and debate callers for hours on end.

But in October of 2009, ESPN 950 AM, 610's lowly competitor, began broadcasting on 97.5 FM. Now known as 97.5 the Fanatic, I began listening to the FM sports radio station primarily because of it was clearer and didn't have any static like WIP which at the time still broadcasted on 610 AM. I was also drawn to the station because of their late afternoon show hosted by former WIP announcer Mike Missanelli.

Better known as Mikey Miss, he was fired from his position at WIP in 2006 for getting into an altercation with a producer. Mikey Miss returned to Philadelphia in 2008 and was hired by at the time ESPN 950 AM. When 950 began airing on 97.5 FM, the Mikey Miss show began to draw better ratings than WIP's late afternoon show hosted by Howard Eskin.

To this day 97.5 The Fanatic continues to grow and continues to compete with 610 for the Philadelphia sports audience. In response to the Fanatic's growth, WIP will now be broadcasted on 94.1 FM, and with the resignation of Howard Eskin, will offer a new lineup of shows. Here is lineup set to take affect on September 6.

5:30-10:00 AM

In the morning slot it will be Angelo Cataldi and the morning team as they continue their dominance of the morning drive audience. Accompanied by fellow hosts Al Morganti and Rhea Hughes the show also features guest announcers Ricky Botalico and Keith Jones.

10:00-1:00 PM

CSN's Michael Barkann and former Eagle Ike Reese will take over in the mid day slot. I love Barkann and can't wait to listen to him on the radio.

1:00-6:00 PM

Glen Macnow and Anthony Gargano will attempt to compete with Mikey Miss for the drive home show. Macnow is great and Gargano is a guy all Philadelphians can relate to.

6:00-10:00 PM

Rob Ellis will remain in the night slot or this spot will be filled with sports broadcasting such as Flyers and Sixers games.

Big Daddy Graham handles the over night show.

Now that you have the new lineup for Sportsradio 94 WIP, here is 97.5 The Fanatic's current shows.

6:00-10:00 AM

Mike and Mike in the morning is a national show which features a wide variety of geusts from all major sports.

10:00-2:00 PM

From 10:00-12:00 it's Harry Mayes and Brian Balldinger. I love Baldy as he really knows his stuff not only in football but in baseball as well. And from 12:00-2:00 Mayes hosts the show with Dan Schwartzman. The show is great and very entertaining.

2:00-6:00 PM

It's the famous Mikey Miss show for the drive home. Mikey Miss calmly debates with callers as producer Jon Marks pipes in every now and then. Some people dislike Missanelli, but I love him and he is very knowledgeable and very entertaining.

6:00-7:00 PM

Talking Baseball With Dutch airs after the Mikey Miss show and John Marks co-hosts the show. I don't listen to this a whole lot because I'm not a huge fan of Darren Daulton.

7:00-10:00 PM

In the night slot is the Tom Byrne show. Bryne is another young voice on the Fanatic.

10:00-1:00 AM

Another former WIP announcer, Tony Bruno hosts the night show. Bruno's is funny and very entertaining.

The overnight is taken care of by a national show hosted by Jason Smith. And from 5:00 AM-6:00 AM, Sportscenter is broadcasted.

Starting September 6th, both stations will be broadcasting on FM, and as I'm too torn to completely choose one, I'm going to go through show by show as to who I am most likely to listen to.

In the morning slot, I will listen to 94 WIP hands down. Angelo is an iconic voice in Philadelphia sports, and as much as I like Mike and Mike, sometimes I get disinterested as they talk about national sports. The WIP morning show has a real Philadelphia feel, and all they talk all about the teams I love.

For the midday slot, this is going to be a close call. I love Michael Barkann and I'm extremely excited to see what he can do on the radio. But on The Fanatic you have Harry Mayes and Brian Balldinger and for now it's too close to call. In the beginning I will continue listening to The Fanatic in the midday slot, but I will keep an open ear out for Barkann and Ike Reese on WIP.

Mikey Miss vs Glenn Macnow and Anthony Gargano. This is going to be a battle. Once again I'm going to give the edge to Mikey Miss and The Fanatic, but I will definitely tune in to WIP to see what Macnow and Gargano can do.

I don't listen to the radio too much at night, but when I do I will most likely go with WIP because they broadcast games.

I think The Fanatic's ratings are taking a huge hit come September. With WIP offering an FM station and a new exciting lineup, current Fanatic listeners, like myself will definitely be intrigued to venture down the dial to see what WIP has to offer. Plus WIP broadcasts Eagles, Flyers, and Sixers games.

Overall WIP is the long standing giant in Philadelphia sportsradio. They have a lot of older iconic voices that have been in this city for a long time. But The Fanatic is on the rise with a lot of younger announcers and in turn appealing to a younger audience. With both stations now on FM, I think it's best to mix in both stations to your radio listening.

With the mix of talent on both stations, I know I will personally be listening to both to start out. And I will probably stay that way unless one station can fully win me over.

UPDATE:

It's been about 3 months since WIP and The Fanatic have been on the FM air waves together, and for me personally, I'm a split listener.  Literally when either station goes to commercial I quickly reach to my dial and click the other station.

I'm a split listener basically because it's too hard to choose.  The Fanatic is the young voice of Philly sports.  They have sweet Rap and Hip-Hop intro songs, plus a ton of cool sound effects that always keep you guessing.  And by young voice I mean that a lot of the hosts on the Fanatic are either in their 20's or 30's.  Guys like Sean Brace, Tom Byrne, Johnny Marx, Harry Mayes, and Nick Kayal are some of the young voices featured on 97.5.  Another thing the Fanatic does well is they get their listeners to be actively involved in the show.  In addition to call-ins, the Fanatic also has a text board where you can text a message into the station.  The guys on the show usually do a great job of reading texts through out the show.  The Fanatic also has sports center updates and have a lot of national games.  I also love the fact that 97.5 has Brian Baldinger.  Baldi really knows his football and it's always awesome to listen to a guy who knows so much about the X's and O's of the game.

Some of the negative aspects about the Fanatic are they have too much of a national feel.  Mike & Mike in the morning is a national show, and they broadcast a lot of MLB playoff games and NFL prime time games.  Personally I'm a mild fan of Mike & Mike.  They are pretty entertaining even if they are a national show.  But I don't really like when they broadcast non-Philadelphia sports.

As for WIP, I love the morning show.  From Angelo and Al, to featured guests like Joe Conkolin, the morning show is awesome and it has a real local feel.  The Mike & Ike show is probably my favorite.  Michael B and former Eagle Ike Reese goof off and talk sports.  Reese has great knowledge on the Birds primarily because he played for Andy Reid so he knows how the Eagles tick.  They also cover the other main sports as well.

I don't like the commercials with WIP.  I feel that they are ridiculously long and their show segments are extremely short.  Also sometimes they rely too much on callers.  Sometimes I'd like to just hear from the hosts.  Also WIP does an OK job with getting twitter comments, but it would be sweet if they got an active text board up and running.

Overall I would classify myself as a split listener leaning a little towards WIP.  Their morning set up is so solid and that's when I primarily listen to the radio.  But I also love listening to the Fanatic to get a much younger perspective on Philly sports.

Feel free to leave a comment on what station you like better!        

Do You Think I'm Good?

Me and my buddy Jimmy.

Growing up as a Phillies fan, I was very futornate.  Not only did my dad and I go to countless games, but we also went to Spring Training down in beautiful Clearwater, Florida.  My very first year at Phillies Spring Training was very memorable.  For our first game, my dad and I arrived at brand new state of the art Bright House Networks field and my eyes lit up.  The sky was blue, the grass was green, and the new baseball season feeling lingered in the air.  I remember standing on the main concourse while my dad grabbed a beer when suddenly a man tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I wanted to be bat boy. 

It truly was a dream come true.  I got to meet Jim Thome, up and coming Ryan Howard, and countless others.  But one thing that I remember in particular during my experience as bat boy were the encounters I had with Jimmy Rollins.  I was fortunate enough to get his autograph twice, and both times, just before he was about to sign his autograph he stopped, looked me in the eye, and asked: "Do you think I'm good?"

Both times I laughed and answered yes.  He's an All-Star shortstop, what else could I say?  Plus I wanted to stay on his good side so I could get his autograph.  The point of me telling you all this is not to impress you with my memorable experiences as Phillies bat boy.  I bring up this story to shed some light on Jimmy's current position as free agent. 

Right now Jimmy is loving free agency.  He's testing the waters and asking other teams, "do you think I'm good?"  And also, "how much are you willing to pay me?"  Jimmy deserves it.  He's been a Phillie his entire career and now he's going out and seeing if there are favorable options outside of Philadelphia. 

Personally I feel that the Phillies and Rollins are going to get a deal done.  Based on Jimmy's various tweets this off season it's hard to get a feel for where he stands.  On the Fanatic a couple months ago, Rollins stated that "he won't settle for less."  But in a tweet to the Fanatic's Sean Brace, Jimmy mentioned the fact that he still has "ringless fingers."  I think that Rollins is just seeing what's out there right now.  He's seeing who wants him and he's seeing how much money he can get.  At 33 he is relatively young and there will definitely be a market for him.  He's an unbelievable defender and can spark an offense on any given night.  Right now he likes the fact that other teams want him.  He sometimes got a hard time in Philly from the fans and media and he likes the fact that other teams are coming up to him and saying, "Yes Jimmy we think you're good, here is a 5 year deal to prove it, come play for us."

At the end of the day I think Rollins' loyalty to the Phillies is going to prevail.  I think they will settle on a 3 year deal and Jimmy will remain a Phillie.  So don't get too worried when you here Jimmy talking to other teams.  He's enjoying his time as free agent, let him.  I honestly feel that Rollins will eventually return to the Phillies front office and try to work out a deal.  And hopefully Ruben Amaro has the means to bring back one of the greatest shortstops in Phillies history.   

The 3-6 Eagles

When I stop and think about the 2011 Eagles, a sharp pain hits my Philly sports heart.  What the Eagles were expected to be and what they could have been really doesn't matter now that they are 3-6.

Even though expectations were sky high for this team and in all likelihood they will not make the playoffs this year, it's important to stick by them even in the tough times.  It shouldn't be too hard to stick by them this weekend as they head up to East Rutherford, New Jersey to take on the hated Giants.

 For the rest of this season my advice to all Eagles fans is to be hopeful for next year.  The Mike Vick era in Philadelphia is only just beginning and I feel that the Birds will definitely be able to win a Super Bowl within the upcoming years.  There is so much talent on this team and I think that given a full off season of preparation, the Eagles will definitely be able to put together a successful year.

We saw what this team was capable of against the Cowboys.  Against Dallas the Eagles looked invincible and experts were saying that they had the stuff to compete against the Packers.  The talent and potential for this team is definitely there, it's just going to take some time to piece it all together.

And I will continue to voice my support for Andy Reid.  He is a great football coach and he is not going anywhere.  During this past off season, Eagles executives Reid, Banner, and Roseman came together and knew that with the lockout, it would be an ideal time to bring in big name free agents.  Do you really think they would pull the plug on Reid after just one year?  Very simply Reid's contract is up after 2013.  If he can't get it done within the next two seasons, then fine; by all means pull the plug.  But even though he has been here since 1999 and hasn't won the Super Bowl, Reid is a good enough coach to turn this team with this talent into a Super Bowl team.  The Eagles didn't spend all of this money on free agents to completely overturn the system after just one unsuccessful year.  Andy Reid is so much more than head coach and he is so involved on every level with this Eagles franchise.  He is here for at least the next two seasons, and if you have a problem with that then go root for the Giants.

And who knows.  The Eagles could win out, go 10-6, and make the playoffs.  Stranger things have happened.  Remember last year's game against the Giants?  Maybe the Birds can get something going this Sunday night against the Giants and start a little miracle.  At the very least they can give us something to cheer for in what so far has been a very disappointing season.

Time To Blame The Players

Let's put all the blame on Andy Reid.  The 21 turnovers on the season, the countless missed tackles, the dropped passes, the missed field goals, the blown defensive coverages, the 4th quarter let downs, let's just blame Andy Reid for all of that.

I know the importance of the head coach position in the NFL.  And in Andy Reid's case, he is almost like the GM so he understandably gets a lot of the blame because at the end of the day he is the man in charge.  But after Sunday's pathetic loss to the Cardinals, I'm pinning the blame solely on the players.

Very simply the players aren't executing.  Against Arizona, the Eagles had costly turnovers, missed throws, blown coverages, and a mighty surplus of dropped passes.  Let's blame Big Red for Steve Smith taking a knee as he went for the first down.  Let's blame Mornihweg for Vick throwing the ball right to a Cardinal defensive lineman as the Eagles were threatening to score.  The coaches can only do so much and the players aren't stepping up.

Blame it on the lack of off season preparation or lack of chemistry, but after yesterday's loss you can't blame the coaching staff.  The players have to do a better job of just making plays.  Vick needs to do a better job of orchestrating the offense.  He forced way too many throws, and at times would have been better off if he had just tucked the ball and ran.

I will say that the 14 rushing attempts, especially in a game without your star reciever Desean Jackson, is extremely weak.  McCoy had 81 yards on just 14 attempts, and the Eagles should have gone to him a lot more.

But again I'm blaming players like Vick for making bad decisions.  I'm blaming Steve Smith for an awful effort.  I'm also blaming the Eagles secondary for getting lazy against Fitz.  For three quarters they held Fitz to 3 catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.  But in the fourth quarter Fitzgerald exploded for 5 catches 94 yards and a touchdown. What happened in the fourth quarter?  Did Castillo stop the coverage schemes that he had been calling earlier in the game?  Nope, the players didn't execute it's that simple.

I know that Big Red is going to get a lot of criticism.  He's been here for 13 years and has no ring to show for it.  But this season, these guys aren't executing.  Try pinning the blame on guys like Mike Vick, and Jeremy Maclin who as of right now aren't getting it done on the field.

Eagles Bears Final Thoughts

Early and often boys, early and often.

As we head into the last final few hours before game time, I wanted to share some last minute thoughts on the Eagles Bears Monday night match up.  Tonight is going to be a turning point for the Eagles.  If they come out flat and don't perform well, they could lose, drop to 3-5, and ultimately everyone would know that last week was a total fluke.  But if they come out and absolutely crush the Bears, even at 4-4 they will be one of the most feared teams in the entire league.

I think another big key to tonight's game is going to be turnovers.  If the Eagles can limit their turnovers, they become so dangerous because they can score on just about any drive.  But if they turn the ball over they give the Bears more opportunities to score and really put themselves in a hole.  I think the Eagles secondary is going to come up with some big interceptions tonight.  I think they will have at least 2 interceptions against Cutler which will be huge in terms of momentum and extra opportunities for the offense.  I also think that Forte is going to be a non factor.

Last week the Birds jumped out to a huge lead and even though Demarco Murray was having considerable success on the ground, the Cowboys were behind and were forced to throw the ball.  I think that's going to happen again tonight.  The Eagles are going to have some big plays early which will lead to quick easy scores, and Cutler is going to be forced to play catch up the entire game through the air.

After last week's performance, you have to like the Eagles chances against da Bears tonight.  I think we are going to see a lot of what we saw last week, and hopefully another big victory for Vick and the Birds.  

Eagles Bears Keys To Victory

Last week the Birds put on a truly unbelievable performance.  The offense and defense both clicked, and the Birds looked like a world class football team.  Heading into tomorrow night's showdown against the Bears, the only question is can they do it again?  Here are my keys to another Eagles victory.

Stop Forte: This is easier said than done.  Forte has been on fire lately and like McCoy, he is emerging as an elite running back in the NFL.  The Eagles defensive line has to do a good job of slowing him down at the line of scrimmage.  Make him fight his way past the line and earn every yard he gets.  The Bears don't have too many threats at wide receiver, so the Eagles should be able to completely focus in on Matt Forte and stack more guys in the box to stop him.

Get After Cutler:  The Birds have to do a good job of getting after Cutler early and often.  Cutler is a head case, and if they can frustrate him early on, it could carry over to the rest of the game.  The front four has to get pressure on him, and Castillo has to work in some blitz packages to get additional pressure on Cutler.

Take What They Give You:  The Eagles shouldn't be going into this game with a run or pass game plan.  Instead they should be planned to take what the defense gives them.  If they stack the box to stop Shady, stretch the field with De and J-Mac.  And if they drop safeties back into coverage, exploit the middle of the field with underneath throws to Celek, Avant and also give Shady some touches when less guys are in the box.

Forget About Division:  The Giants beat the Patriots on Sunday and sit at 6-2 atop the NFC East.  The Eagles can't expect to go out and try and win back the division in one game.  They need to take the rest of the season one game at a time and not try and do too much.


Get Celek Involved:  Celek is just another playmaker on this team and the Eagles need to find different ways to get him involved.   

I like the Eagles to win big at home on the prime time stage of Monday night football.  Initially I thought this was shaping up to be a trap game, but as we get closer to game time, I see the Eagles absolutely steam rolling the Bears.  Final score: EAGLES 45 bears 13.

Flyers Win Big

Everybody scores!

After an ugly shootout loss to the Devils, the Flyers redeemed themselves in a big way with a 9-2 victory tonight over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Everyone got in on the action.  Jagr, Giroux, Couterier, Voracek, Talbot, JVR and others scored as the Flyers again put up a huge lopsided number on offense.  They got a lot of odd man rushes, long passes, and they took advantage on power plays.  The thing that impressed me most was the Flyers ability to score in transition.  On Talbot's goal, Voracek did a great job of setting up Talbot who was flying down the ice toward the goal.  I was also impressed with their chemistry.  There were some unbelievable set ups, and these guys looked like they had been playing with each other for years.  And the young guns continue to shine.

When the Flyers went out and signed Bryz, many people thought they were sacrificing offense for a dominate goalie.  But at this point in the season the offense looks like the strong point, and they continue to put up huge numbers every game.  They are extremely fun to watch and they can really pour it on when they need to.

And although Bryzgalov didn't have too many shots to worry about he looked solid and I think he is beginning to settle in as he seems to be getting more and more comfortable.  Although he didn't get the shutout, he still looked great and came up with some big saves.

You really can't get overly excited about this game because the Blue Jackets looked like a disinterested bunch that didn't want to be there.  But 9 goals is always encouraging and the Flyers can certainly build on this win as they get ready for a 3 game road trip.

Can Shady Handle The Workload?

During the past two games Shady has gotten a combined 58 carries which is pretty significant given the fact that he had just 77 carries through the first 5 weeks of the season.  There is no argument that Shady is quickly emerging as one of the most talented backs in the entire NFL.  The only question or argument that arises is whether or not he will be able to handle such a heavy workload.

McCoy is undoubtedly shifty and extremely fun to watch when he has the ball.  He can make people miss and turn a broken play into a large gain.  But at the same time he's not the biggest running back, and if he's averaging between 25-30 carries there is no telling if he will be able to handle such a big work load.  And if other teams really begin to stack the box in an effort to slow down McCoy, it will mean less wide open running lanes for McCoy and increased risk for injury.

McCoy really has seized the opportunities that Marty Mornhinweg and Andy Reid have given him.  He is cashing in on big games, and overall helping his team win.  But the Eagles have to be mindful to not overwork him.  They have a pretty good back up in Ronnie Brown who they should look to give more carries to if McCoy gets a little banged up on or play or just needs a quick breather.

Very rarely in this day and age in the NFL do you see teams with one main running back.  Usually there is a steady back up or a running mate who helps out and takes some of the carries and pressure off of the feature back.  But the Eagles are clearly not thrilled with Ronnie Brown and the jury is still out on Dion Lewis, so all of the running responsibilities fall right on the shoulders of number 25.

McCoy averaged 23 touches a game during his two years at Pitt, but 23 carries in college and 25-30 at the professional level are two completely different statistics.  Shady is a very talented runner and extremely fun to watch, but the Eagles have to be careful not to give him too much of a workload.

Jason Avant, C'mon Man!

This isn't the first time a #81 wearing an Eagles uniform said something dumb.

Earlier in the week Jason Avant made this stupid comment:

“We don’t want people jumping on our bandwagon now,” Avant said. “We want people to go out and still talk bad about us.”

At first I tried to ignore it because at the end of the day, Avant is still the third receiver on this team.  If Vick had said this I would have been furious, but the fact that our third receiver was mouthing off didn't bother me too much at first.

But when given the chance to apologize for his bandwagon comments Avant didn't back down:

"Let’s get this clear – I will not apologize for what I said....I don't really care (if people boo), you know why? Because I play my hardest. I play my hardest for Jesus Christ and for this team. You going to boo me for playing hard? You going to boo me for being the guy that’s going to chase down the play when nobody else is running? You going to boo me for being the guy that’s doing special teams or going over the middle and taking a big shot? Boo me for doing what’s right? ... Listen, I understand. This is what I do respect about Philadelphia fans. They're very, very knowledgeable, and I love playing before our fans. I want to win a championship for this city so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so bad. So I respect them and I love them as fans. What I’m saying is that I go out, give everything I have and whatever was said, which I don't even remember half of it, it’s still my opinion, no matter if it was the worst thing in the world.”

What I don't get about Avant is he has been here for close to 6 seasons now and at this point he knows how Philadelphia fans operate.  We boo you when you deserve to be booed, and we cheer for you when you deserve to be cheered for, it's that simple.  Why then, in your 6th year in the city, do you suddenly have a problem with that mentality?

From his comments I get the sense that Avant is almost trying to pick a fight with the fans and I don't know why.  Avant should be happy and feel blessed that he gets to play in a city like Philadelphia where fans are so passionate about their teams.  Would you rather play in a city where nobody watches or shows up for the games?

At the end of the day I don't think Avant is a bad guy or anything like that.  In his comments he does aknowledge the fact that Philadelphia fans are great.  I feel that at this point his "bandwagon" comments were basically just taken the wrong way, and instead of simply apologizing he decided to dig himself into a deeper hole.  Basically, Avant needs to learn to not make dumb comments especially about the fans because we are the greatest sports city in the world.  But don't be too hard on the guy because he is still a very talented third receiver.

Flyers Lose Sloppy Game To Devils

I really don't like the Devils.  Whether it's because I have bad memories of them growing up and beating the Flyers in the playoffs, or simply because it seems that guys like Marty Brodeur and Patrick Elias have been there forever, I have always had a strong hatred geared towards the division rival New Jersey Devils.

The first period was extremely physical and had all the elements of a typical rivalry game.  Some hits resulted in penalties and both teams had their fair share of opportunities.  The Flyers squandered a 2 man advantage mainly because they were careless with the puck.  Every time they got close to scoring, someone would turn it over and the possession would be lost.  Aside from the squandered opportunities, the first period was very exciting hockey to watch.  Both teams used their speed and physicality to create opportunities.  Also Bobrovsky had 10 saves in the opening period and looked extremely solid in net.  

In the second period, Zac Rinaldo scored his first career goal and the first of the game.  Rookie Sean Couterier dug out a puck from behind the net and centered it to a wide open Rinaldo.  The Flyers then took a 2-0 lead thanks mainly to Jaromir Jagr.  Jagr skated into the zone and retained possession of the puck as he went all the way around the back of the net.  Then he snapped a quick pass right in front of the net across to a wide open Claude Girous who burried the empty netter to make it a 2-0 game.

But then the Flyers got sloppy once again.  They started to lose faceoffs and as a result the Devils snuck a cheap goal past Bob to come within one.  The Flyers then turned it over in their own zone which resulted in a 2 on 1 for the Devils and Adam Henrique wristed one past Bob to tie it at 2.

Max Talbot cashed in on a penalty shot in the third, but the Flyers again got sloppy with the puck and the Devils quickly tied it at 3.  Both teams got their opportunities in the extra session but the game would eventually go to a shootout to determine a winner.

After a controversial shootout goal by Danny Briere, the Devils eventually won thanks to Patrick Elias who slid the puck under the pad of a stunned Bobrovsky.  Bob got his pad in the right position, but Elias found a way to sneak it past him for the game winner.

Overall it was a very frustrating game to watch.  The Flyers showed flashes of absolute brilliance, but at other times they looked like a rookie team.  They were extremely sloppy with the puck especially in their own zone.  Careless turnovers led to goals for the Devils and the Flyers allowed the Devils to continue to get back in the game on numerous occasions.

But at other times the Flyers looked great.  Jagr created a ton of opportunites, young guys like Rinaldo stepped up, and Bobrovsky looked pretty solid in net.  The Flyers just need to patch up their game right now.  Whether the sloppy play and lack of discipline is due to the youth or their overall lack of chemistry, the Flyers have to get things figured out.  Because right now they are killing themselves with dumb mistakes.

Eagles Fantasy Fix: Week 9

Against Dallas, the Eagles racked up big fantasy points.  Mike Vick went off, McCoy was unreal, and Brent Celek finally emerged as the tight end everyone had hoped for.  Going into week 9 I'm starting Vick, McCoy, Desean Jackson, and Brent Celek who I just picked up this week.  So going by the fact that 50% of my fantasy players are from the Eagles, and the fact that I'm a huge Eagles fan, be advised that all of my prediction are biased but fun nonetheless.

Mike Vick: With Shady McCoy getting more and more touches every game, there is less pressure on Vick to perform.  While McCoy's new role is encouraging for the offense it could mean less fantasy points for Vick owners.  I personally feel that Vick is more comfortable with an enhanced running game and I expect big things from him again on Monday night.  I predict Vick goes 20/27 for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns, and rushing he picks up 40 yards good for 20 fantasy points.  

Shady McCoy: As good as McCoy was against Dallas, I still think we have yet to see McCoy's best performance.  That's scary to think about when you consider McCoy put up 185 yards and 2 td.  But I think Monday McCoy is going to rush for 201 yards on 27 carries and 2 td, and 30 yards and a receiving td good for 41 fantasy points.  It's a bold prediction, but right now Shady is hot and I think the Eagles are committed to giving him the ball more and more.

Desean Jackson: Jackson is a toss up at this point.  You're either getting 20 points or 2.  But his potential is too high to ever sit him.

Jeremy Maclin: Maclin is usually good for a touchdown.  I think he will have Vick's other passing td on Monday night.

Brent Celek: Celek is emerging once again.  I think he will have 6-8 catches good for 60-80 yards on Monday night so he is a great option at tight end especially in PPR leagues.

Jason Avant: If you have a lot of bye players look to add Avant.  He's a solid option and could potentially get you some big points.

While I definitely feel the Eagles shouldn't take the Bears lightly, I'm beginning to get this overwhelming sense that the Birds are going to steam roll Chicago.  I'm predicting another win which would be big for the Eagles season and for your fantasy team as well.  

Da Bears Off Da Bye Week; & Too Soon To Believe?

Andy Reid is 13-0 coming off the bye week.  When asked why he has such great success coming off the bye, Reid replied, "I don't know."  Whether it is the amount of time he gives his players off, or the overall game preparation that he puts in, there is no argument the Eagles are an amazing team coming off the bye.

As for the Bears, during Lovie Smith's time as head coach Chicago is 3-4 coming off the bye.  Certainly not 13-0, but at the same time not awful by any stretch.  The Bears are a well coached team and I expect them to be a handful for the Eagles come Monday night.

Although the Eagles cruised past the Cowboys on Sunday night, to sit there and think that they are going to steam roll the Bears is simply absurd.  The Bears are still a good football team and the Eagles can't take them lightly.

To me this Monday night is the ultimate trap game for the Eagles.  They are coming off a huge win against a division rival and it seems like a lot of the players are already beginning to think about the playoffs after just one great performance.  The Eagles need to get refocused for Monday night and get amped up because at 3-4 there is ZERO room for error.  The Eagles simply can't afford to lose a game here or drop a tough one there.  They have to be nearly perfect from here on out.

And let's be real for a second.  If the Eagles had not totally obliterated the Cowboys like they did on Sunday night, there is no way there would be this much excitement surrounding the Birds.  If they had simply eeked out 13-10 victory and just barely squeaked by, people would be extremely hesitant to jump back on the bandwagon.

But the Eagles didn't just squeak by against the Cowboys.  They completely destroyed Dallas and put on an absolutely amazing performance.  In just about every aspect of the game the Eagles came prepared to dominate.  All of the off season moves came together and the Eagles looked flat out dominating.

While the performance was dominating, it was still after all just one game.  Personally I need to see another dominating performance before I'm a full blown believer again.  The Eagles have to come out on Monday night and take care of business against the Bears, and maybe then I will be fully back on the Eagles bandwagon.

Vick The Playcaller

Right before Shady McCoy's second touchdown run on Sunday night, Mike Vick yelled at the line of scrimmage: "Kill-kill, kill-kill!"  On this particular play the Eagles had planned to throw, but Vick saw how the defense was set up and quickly audibled to a running play which resulted in an easy score for Shady.

While this may seem like a very insignificant moment in the game and a rather routine thing for a quarterback to do, in reality it marks the maturation of Vick as a playcaller.

Last year Vick struggled greatly at recognizing blitzes and calling smart plays to combat potential blitzes.  Vick turned the ball over and physically got hurt due to the fact that he wasn't well prepared in reading opposing defenses.  But now Vick is beginning to read opposing defenses and take what they are giving him.  In addition to changing from passing plays to running plays, Vick is also beginning to go underneath to his tight ends and slot receivers.

On Sunday the safeties were play way too far back, and instead of chucking the bomb down field against double coverage, MV7 methodically moved the chains by making small throws underneath. This Monday Vick will face a Chicago defense that simply put is not as good as in past years.  If Vick does a lot of what he did on Sunday night against the Cowboys, the Eagles should cruise to yet another easy victory.  Vick's abilitiy to read opposing defenses will also help the Birds limit turnovers which was a huge problem for them in the early going.

Ultimately it is awesome to watch Vick evolve from a scrambling quarterback into a guy who can stand back there and read opposing defenses.  His growing knowledge of the game as well as his athletic abilities will certainly help the Eagles down the stretch.

Stopping The Run

Against the run the Eagles did a fairly good job on Sunday night of stopping Demarco Murray.  The Birds held Murray to just 74 yards on 8 carries which is pretty impressive considering what the young back did against the Rams last week.

The only complaint I have is the Eagles gave up a couple big runs which they really need to stay away from.  But all in all it was an awesome performance from the run defense.  The secondary did its job of containing Austin, Bryant, and Witten, and the linebackers like Jamar Chaney were able to stay home did an outstanding job of containing Murray.

This marks two consecutive games in which the run defense has been on top of its game.  But the Birds run defense will perhaps face its biggest challenge this week against the Bears running back Matt Forte.  Forte is quickly emerging as one of the best running backs in the league and the Eagles are definitely going to have their hands full.  The thing  that the Eagles have going for them this week is the Bears don't have as many talented receivers as the Cowboys.  As a result the Eagles are going to be able to bring more guys into the box to try and contain Forte.

In week 1 when Steven Jackson broke off that long touchdown run, the run defense looked absolutely pathetic.    But the Eagles have certainly come a long way since then, and after two impressive performances against the run, the Eagles run defense is shaping up to be a strong point of the team.        

Eagles Offensive Line Starting To Gel

With the addition of new offensive line coach Howard Mudd, and a bunch of new players, the Eagles offensive line got off to a pretty slow start.  In the first few weeks there was a lot of shuffling on the O-line, and they were clearly out of rhythm and lacking chemistry.  The protection for Vick was subpar, the Eagles turned the ball over a lot, and as a result they lost games in the early going.

But after a week off, the Eagles offensive line looked great against the Cowboys.  Vick had all day to throw, and glaring holes and running lanes were opened up for Lesean McCoy.  The Eagles always had all the tools for a successful offensive line now they are finally beginning to piece it all together.  They have a great coach and protection scheme and individually they have some great blockers.  Peters is steady as a rock, Herremans is extremely versatile, and Kelce, Mathis, and Watkins are quickly emerging as great interior linemen.  The offensive line is finally starting to find rhythm and everyone is beginning to play better together.

As a result this entire Eagles offense is benefiting greatly.  First and foremost Vick has more time in the pocket.  Vick is a dangerous quarterback period, but when you give him time back in the pocket he is deadly.  He can go through his reads and he can also find running lanes to pick up quick first downs.

The enhanced protection is also clearly helping Shady McCoy.  He had a career best 185 yards against the Cowboys and earlier this year even if he was given 30 touches that just simply would not have happened.  The offensive line was too inconsistent early on but now it seems they have definitely found their stride.  The offensive line was so successful against Dallas because they were able to get past the line of scrimmage and set up blocks down field.

Lastly the protection benefited the Eagles in the turnover department.  The Eagles had 0 turnovers against the Boys mainly because Vick wasn't rushed into bad throws.  He was able to stand back in the pocket, go through his reads, and make smart throws.

Overall the offensive line is going to be the key to a successful second half for the Eagles.  And if the boys up front play like they did on Sunday for the rest of the year, I see no reason why the Birds can't run the table.