Early this season I talked about the issues surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles football team and head coach Andy Reid. Well, this past Sunday, the Redskins crushed, and I mean crushed the home standing Birds 23-17. Finally, reality has set in with the rib injury to Brian Westbrook taking an offensive toll on the Philadelphia offense. Only, major piece of arsenal left for Reid is rookie sensation, DeSean Jackson who does everything for the coach. In fact, if Jackson did not dance for 68 yards on a punt return, the differential in the Sunday tilt would have been more eye opening.
The NFC east is loaded with talented groups of offensive and defensive lineman. Philadelphia, though, has the least ability. On the offensive line, the injury to guard Andrews has hurt (along with early season depression issues) and the replacement (GIles) is just so-so having problems picking up the stunts of the better defensive lines. Looking at the Washington game, the 'Skins ran Portis to the left side of the line, the Eagles right side defensively, which means the 'Hogs ate lunch to the tune of 231 yards rushing, 145 by Portis. In addition, to the Eagles line and playmaking issues the special teams seem to be failing in key areas once again. This time around, K David Akers has been plagued by mental, rather than physical and technique issues. There is an old theory in major league baseball, that once a hurler loses the physical ability to hit certain spots around the plate, the mental part begins to slip. The same goes for a place kicker. Also, the Eagles committed another major penalty on special teams late in the game which led to the winning touchdown for the 'Skins.
Our insiders still insist that QB McNabb is far from 100% and his health could be another late season problem for a franchise in a nose dive. Thankfully, for the local fan base the Phillies did not fall off the bus on their way to the National Pennant series with the hot LA Dodgers. One down and one to go, maybe!