Sunday, October 3, 2010<\/p>\n
4:11:<\/strong>\u00a0 The one thing I never thought I’d see, but am not that upset that I’m seeing is about to happen:\u00a0 Donovan McNabb is going to play at the Linc as a visiting player<\/em>.\u00a0 I think this calls for a BSB live blog.<\/p>\n 4:14:<\/strong>\u00a0 So, the fans, apparently, greeted Donovan with an overwhelming chorus of cheers.\u00a0 Yet another disappoinment to the national media, who was DYING for another story of the stupid Philly fans who boo everything (a huge post on this coming soon…).<\/p>\n 4:16:\u00a0 <\/strong>Joe Buck and Troy Aikman here announcing.\u00a0 If you told me fifteen years ago that these two (the Cowboys QB and the son of Jack Buck) would be the major national announcers, I would probably say that I would really like one of them and really hate the other.\u00a0 But, I would say I’d probably hate Aikman and love Buck.\u00a0 But, no, I actually kind of like the ex-Cowboy quarterback (as an announcer), and I HATE the son of the great\u00a0Cardinals play-by-play guy.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:18:<\/strong>\u00a0 Quick note on Sav Rocca, that I wanted to say before that return, and now it doesn’t look as “prophetic.”\u00a0 Through the three years of watching him punt now, he always hits boomers (averaging over 50 yards a punt), but they are always line drives, which gives the opponents great chances at returns.\u00a0 I don’t like him very much.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:19:<\/strong>\u00a0 There you go, national media – we booed…<\/span><\/p>\n 4:21:<\/strong>\u00a0 After a great punt return, a bad penalty, and a strange scoring drive, the Redskins are – just like that – up 7-0.\u00a0 What just happened???<\/span><\/p>\n 4:25:<\/strong>\u00a0 Honestly, there have certainly been better quarterbacks than Michael Vick, but has there ever been a better athlete to play this sport?\u00a0 Even now, at 31 years old and going through what he has been through, he still makes everyone else look like they’re running in slow motion.\u00a0 He doesn’t even look like he’s at full speed and he just flat-out runs by these professional athletes.\u00a0 It’s like a high school team where that one guy on the field is just a lot faster than everyone else.\u00a0 It’s awesome to watch.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:27:<\/strong>\u00a0 Stuffed again on 3rd and short.\u00a0 You would think that the change from McNabb to Vick would really help the short-yardage packages this year, but it just hasn’t been the case.\u00a0 It’s so frustrating.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:31:<\/strong>\u00a0 Okay, I didn’t really “openly laugh” watching McNabb miss a WIDE OPEN receiver, but I did chuckle a little bit to myself.\u00a0 I want the best for the guy, but it’s nice to see him miss receivers for someone else.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:33:<\/strong>\u00a0 I think Trent Cole might be the most underrated Eagles player I’ve seen in my lifetime.\u00a0 The guy is a monster and you never hear anything about him.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:34:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, the Phillies (and their 8 pitchers) finally lost to the Braves, 8-7.\u00a0 So, this assures that they will not face the Giants unless San Fran loses today and tomorrow and beats the Braves on Tuesday.\u00a0 It’s pretty unlikely, so that’s good.\u00a0 And, it also means that we are one Padres win away from a dream scenario as a baseball fan–a three-way tie and back-to-back one-game playoffs.\u00a0 I’m salivating just thinking about it.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:36:<\/strong>\u00a0 Let’s keep talking about the Phillies because it’s now 14-0 Redskins.\u00a0 This is bad…<\/span><\/p>\n 4:38:<\/strong>\u00a0 In the last two minutes, I watched Donovan McNabb throw a touchdown to the tight end in a Redskins uniform, and I saw Pat Burrell pop out to the secondbaseman wearing a Giants uniform…weird.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:42:<\/strong>\u00a0 Another nice play by\u00a0LeSean McCoy.\u00a0 I thought he was a big question mark coming into the season, but he’s been really good so far.\u00a0 He’s a VERY important player for the next 5 Eagles seasons, I would say.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:44:<\/strong>\u00a0 Vick is a lot faster this year than last.\u00a0 He couldn’t turn the corner last year like he is doing this year.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:45:<\/strong>\u00a0 Another note on McCoy.\u00a0 I always really liked the nickname “Shady,” but I never thought it would catch on quite to the extent that it has.\u00a0 I was listening to last week’s game on the radio, and I don’t think Merrill Reese or Mike Quick ever said “LeSean” all game.\u00a0 They only referred to him as “Shady.”<\/span><\/p>\n 4:47:<\/strong>\u00a0 A fourth-and-inches conversion!\u00a0 Interesting.\u00a0 I’ve said this a thousand times on the blog–I HATE going for it on fourth down.\u00a0 I don’t necessarily mind it so much at this point on the field because the field goal is long and the punt doesn’t really help, but I really hate it, in general.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:48:<\/strong>\u00a0 I’m really surprised by the lack of production from Brent Celek this year.\u00a0 Especially considering how good Vick was at using the tight end (Crumpler) in Atlanta, it’s really surprising that Celek has been so absent from this offense.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:50:<\/strong>\u00a0 It’s a dangerous game we play when we want our quarterback running around like that all the time.\u00a0 Hey, at least we have our “future” as a backup…<\/span><\/p>\n 4:52:<\/strong>\u00a0 Great, and now the field goal is even longer than it would have been if they hadn’t gone for it the first time on fourth down.\u00a0 See, it doesn’t pay off.<\/span><\/p>\n 4:53:<\/strong>\u00a0 Okay, I guess we have to think a little bit now about what it means that Kevin Kolb is in the game.\u00a0 McNabb on one side, at the Linc, and now Kolb has three quarters to try and make up a 14-point deficit.\u00a0 Not to be overdramatic, but we could be looking at one of the definitive moments in the next generation of our football team.<\/span><\/p>\n 5:02:<\/strong>\u00a0 Interestingly, the Eagles were one of the worst teams in red zone offense last year.\u00a0 This year, with Vick, they are #1.\u00a0 The Redskins, with McNabb are #30.\u00a0 Just sayin’…<\/span><\/p>\n 5:06:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, they just reported that Vick suffered a rib injury and is questionable to return.\u00a0 Just when we thought this QB situation couldn’t get any more messed up.\u00a0 A rib injury means that Vick will be “okay” to play, but not 100% for most of the season.\u00a0 What does that mean?\u00a0 Do they play him because he’s physically able to play?\u00a0 Do they play Kolb because Vick isn’t 100%?\u00a0 Not good, not good.\u00a0 I would almost rather he have torn his ACL…almost.<\/span><\/p>\n 5:10:<\/strong>\u00a0 The Giants have a 2-0 lead on the Padres in the 4th.\u00a0 Come on, Pads, it’s just one game away from a dream playoff scenario.\u00a0 As the Phillies are concerned, a Giants win assures a matchup with Cincinnati on Wednesday.\u00a0 The Reds have named Edison Volquez as their Game One starter.\u00a0 Obviously, we’ll have plenty of time to talk about this, but I like the matchup.<\/span><\/p>\n 5:12:<\/strong>\u00a0 Kolb’s first play on his first drive “back:” \u00a0he drops the snap and then throws the ball into the back of a lineman.\u00a0 Please tell me this won’t be a circus.<\/span><\/p>\n 5:15:<\/strong>\u00a0 Now that Jeremy Shockey has left the NFC East, has DeAngelo Hall become the hardest player in the NFL not to hate?<\/span><\/p>\n 5:17:<\/strong>\u00a0 It is interesting to see just how different this offense looks like with the two very different quarterbacks.\u00a0 It just reaffirms my belief that this team would be at its best if they had a 60% Kolb-40% Vick “quarterback platoon” situation.\u00a0 Can you imagine trying to gameplan a defense to stop that?<\/span><\/p>\n 5:21:<\/strong>\u00a0 Someone I know showed me this ESPN article written in January laying out all the reasons why Marty Mornhinweg is the next great NFL head coach<\/a>.\u00a0 It’s interesting, at the very least.<\/span><\/p>\n 5:35:<\/strong>\u00a0 A delay of game penalty after a booth review AND a timeout???\u00a0 How the FFFFFF does that happen?\u00a0 That’s unbelievable.\u00a0 I don’t have the words right now.\u00a0 Aikman and Buck are trying to let the Eagles off the hook, but I don’t agree.\u00a0 That absolutely CANNOT happen, and it’s absolutely on the coach and the quarterback.<\/span><\/p>\n 5:38:<\/strong>\u00a0 Okay, it’s halftime, and the way it ended was a perfect ribbon to put on a VERY BIZARRE first half of football.\u00a0 The defense didn’t look that good, but the offense was effective.\u00a0 The last drive, though it ended with just 3 points, was encouraging.\u00a0 If I were a gambling man and had access to the worldwide web, I would absolutely put a hefty wager on the Eagles at -3.5 for the second half.\u00a0 Actually, now that I think about it…be back in a minute.<\/span><\/p>\n 6:01:<\/strong>\u00a0 These penalties are killing me!\u00a0 I’ve said time and time again that this game is won and lost on third down–both offense and defense.\u00a0 You have to extend drives on offense and you have to get off the field on defense, and these penalties are just killing the defense.<\/span><\/p>\n 6:02:\u00a0 <\/strong>I love that McNabb just threw an interception to the “McNabb compensation pick.”<\/span><\/p>\n 6:05:<\/strong>\u00a0 The problem with Kolb has been his “happy feet.”\u00a0 He seems a little bit more aware in the pocket today, but he still doesn’t look poised.\u00a0 Happy feet are what derailed the careers of more talented guys like David Carr, Ryan Leaf, and Andre Ware, while poise in the pocket has allowed less talented guys like Jeff Garcia, Drew Brees, and…ahem…Donovan McNabb\u00a0have\u00a0great careers.\u00a0 Hopefully, Kolb can find some poise in the pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n 6:09:<\/strong>\u00a0 Another great play by Stewart Bradley.\u00a0 He has the ability to be a superstar in this league, if he can stay healthy.\u00a0 He might be the most important player on the Eagles defense.<\/span><\/p>\n 6:10:\u00a0 <\/strong>Say what you will about the Philadelphia fans (and I know you will), they are so educated.\u00a0 The crowd just went nuts when they saw McNabb throw one at the feet of Chris Cooley.\u00a0 A seemingly mundane play was incredibly exciting to this crowd because we recognize that those passes have been the cause of so much frustration over the years.<\/span><\/p>\n 6:14:<\/strong>\u00a0 I don’t know about Philly, but here in Baltimore it’s about to rain – and maybe hard.\u00a0 So, it might be important to get back in this game now and not rely on a passing game to get back in it late in the fourth.<\/span><\/p>\n 6:21:<\/strong>\u00a0 It’s a young team.\u00a0 It’s a young team.\u00a0 It’s a young team.\u00a0 We have to keep reminding ourselves that these growing pains are going to happen.\u00a0 But, it’s so f’ing frustrating sometimes.\u00a0 If this McCoy fumble is actually a fumble, that’s absolutely gigantic as far as momentum here.<\/span><\/p>\n 6:26:<\/strong>\u00a0 All credit is due to the Redskins defense here, which has played a very good game, but the Eagles are just killing themselves here with penalties and stupid plays.\u00a0 Ugh…<\/span><\/p>\n 6:27:<\/strong>\u00a0 Oh, and Mr. McNabb?\u00a0 He’s been extremely mediocre.<\/span><\/p>\n 6:29:<\/strong>\u00a0 Even with a bye week, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman can’t help but talk about the Dallas Cowboys, huh?\u00a0 They’re great…<\/span><\/p>\n 6:38:<\/strong>\u00a0 Okay, down 11 with thirteen minutes left.\u00a0 This drive could be one of those season-definers.<\/span><\/p>\n 6:43:<\/strong>\u00a0 These holding calls might cost me a remote control.<\/span><\/p>\n 6:47:<\/strong>\u00a0 A terribly inaccurate deep ball to an open Jackson, a very costly holding penalty, and completely ignoring a wide open Maclin.\u00a0 Let’s hope that drive\u00a0wasn’t “season defining.”<\/span><\/p>\n 6:52:<\/strong>\u00a0 Buster Posey just hit a solo HR off an absolutely exhausted San Diego bullpen, and it looks like we won’t have any one-game playoffs this year, and the Phils can get set to host the Reds on Wednesday.\u00a0 The Giants now lead 3-0 in the bottom of the 8th, so the Padres have to get out of this inning and then somehow find 3 runs against Brian Wilson.<\/span><\/p>\n 6:59:<\/strong>\u00a0 Will someone please tell these guys that it’s the fourth quarter.\u00a0 All these dinks and dunks are great (I actually love that offense), but we’re running very short on time right now.<\/span><\/p>\n 7:08:<\/strong>\u00a0 Not that I want to disagree with Joe and Troy again (oh, wait), but I think the defense has actually done enough today.\u00a0 The offense is to blame for this loss.\u00a0 The defense has played a decent game, all things considered.<\/span><\/p>\n 7:09:<\/strong>\u00a0 Then again, they have to get off the field right now…<\/span><\/p>\n 7:12:<\/strong>\u00a0 One minute, a whole field and we need a touchdown.\u00a0 Kevin Kolb, let’s see what you can do, kid.<\/span><\/p>\n 7:13:<\/strong>\u00a0 As much as I don’t really like Rocca as a punter, this Bidwell guy for the ‘Skins is atrocious.<\/span><\/p>\n 7:17:<\/strong>\u00a0 How big do things like the McCoy fumble, the missed 2-point conversion, and the STUPID delay of game penalty at the end of the first half look right now?<\/span><\/p>\n 7:19:<\/strong>\u00a0 Four seconds left and we need a TD, it’s a shame we lost Riley Cooper earlier in the game…oh ya, and some guy named Vick.<\/span><\/p>\n 7:22:<\/strong>\u00a0 Jason Avant has a shot, but can’t come up with the catch in the end zone on the last play of the game, and the Eagles lose to a pretty bad McNabb-led Redskins team, 17-12.\u00a0 It was one of the most frustrating games I’ve seen in a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n Okay, now the difficult part of a 16-game season is knowing exactly how to put one game into perspective.\u00a0 It’s natural to exaggerate the significance of a single game and make knee-jerk reactions.\u00a0 And, usually these knee-jerk reactions are overstated.\u00a0 But, then again, there are only 16 games in a season.\u00a0 Last year, if the Eagles had not lost to the pitiful Raiders, they would have been able to rest all their starters in Week 17, with the division and the bye locked up.\u00a0 And, how different could the postseason have been if they got a bye and then a home game?\u00a0 Two years ago, the Eagles tied the Bengals, which looked like it would be the difference between making the playoffs and watching from home.\u00a0 So, it’s also wrong to just throw out games as not important.\u00a0 This one could hurt…a lot.\u00a0 But, right now, they are still tied for the lead in the division.\u00a0 But, the hard part of the schedule is upcoming, and Kevin Kolb looks shaky.\u00a0 Obviously, a lot more on this coming up on the blog.\u00a0 For now…<\/span><\/p>\n Let’s go Phils!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sunday, October 3, 2010 4:11:\u00a0 The one thing I never thought I’d see, but am not that upset that I’m seeing is about to happen:\u00a0 Donovan McNabb is going to play at the Linc as a visiting player.\u00a0 I think … Continue reading