The Airing of Grievances
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by Russianator
Like most Americans, I've been waiting since January for football to begin. The late run the Yankees are making is great, but it's football season. It is the best time of the year - and so far it's been awful. I feel like I've been repeatedly kicked in the nuts for three straight weeks now and I'm about to explode like OJ looking for his memorabilia. We have chronicled the exploits of the horrific Syracuse team ad nauseum on this moronic blog and Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician did an excellent job describing the state of the program here, so I'll leave that alone for now.
Today I turn my wrath on Andy Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles. When Reid took over in 1999, he turned the franchise around, I give him credit and thank him for that. He's been one of the most successful coaches in franchise history - but right now he's KILLING ME. Reid, while extremely successful, has an Achilles heal that could keep the Eagles from ever winning a Superbowl under his leadership. The problem - other than looking like Grimace dressed in black on game days - is that he's too stubborn.
For YEARS Reid has ignored some glaring fundamental problems that the rest of the free world can see, but he refuses to acknowledge and fix, thinking his "system" can conquer all. They are:
- The failure to commit to the running game. Brian Westbrook is one of the best running backs in the NFL - when McNabb got hurt last year, they ran the ball more and surprise - they won 5 of 6 to get into the playoffs. The run/pass distribution last night against Washington was 46 passes, 20 runs. Westbrook AVERAGED 5.6 yards a carry - yet he only carried the ball 17 times against a Redskin defense that is strong in the secondary but weak up front. That is pathetic. So much for learning from last year.
- The failure to sufficiently upgrade the receiving corps. If you are committed to throwing it twice as much as running it, here's an idea - bring in some guys that can get open and catch the ball! Other than that mental patient TO, he refuses to do so. The guys they've drafted, Na Brown, Billy McMullen, Freddie Mitchell, Todd Pinkston - not exactly what I would refer to as good football players. To top it off, this year they let Donte Stallworth walk - a guy who enjoyed playing in Philly, stretched the field, and scared the hell out of defensive coordinators. He stretched the field and forced teams to roll coverage towards his side. His replacement, Kevin Curtis, is nothing more than a nice slot receiver (who's now making $30 million) - he's not strong enough get off the press coverage, and while fast, defensive backs don't respect his speed the way the did Stallworth. Don't even get me started on Reggie Brown. I've seen better hands on a digital watch.
- The failure to adequately address special teams. Other than Westbrook, for 8 years the return game has been a mess. Here's an idea, instead of wasting 2 years trying to get a skier to become an NFL returner - go out and get someone who did it successfully for 3 or 4 years in college. Reno Mahe was never the answer, and never will be, although this year they screwed things up so bad he actually seems valuable, trust me, he isn't. No team is worried about Reno Mahe breaking a punt return or Correll Buckhalter taking a kick off return to the house
- The failure to draft well. As I noted above, all the receivers they've drafted have been busts, but this past draft is looking like it will leave scars for years. The team needed secondary help in particular. Brian Dawkins, while the heart and soul of the team, is aging rapidly. Sean Considine hasn't proven anything and doesn't scare any receivers coming across the middle. Lito Sheppard is more fragile than fine china. Yet, what does Reid do - he takes a quarterback first (pissing off the guy whose trust he needs most) and then doesn't draft ANY secondary help until the 5th round - even though they are thin back there.
If the Eagles are going to win, Reid has to change, and change quickly. He has a quarterback who's not fully recovered from a knee injury, a beat up secondary, and a play calling philosophy better suited for the arena league. It's all on him this year, and so far he's dropped the ball. 14 weeks left Andy, patience is growing thin.
I'm guessing most people don't care about the plight of the Eagles, but I've been waiting 9 months for this and been subjected to 20 quarters of horrible football so far (college and pro combined), and just couldn't take it any more. If this keeps up, Festivus is going to take a looooong time in my house this year.
Originally posted at www.idiotsonsports.blogspot.com
