Behind the Mic: Chip, They Cannot Block

I have now wasted approximately seven hours watching the Philadelphia Eagles.  Which is nothing compared to how much time the Eagles wasted so far preparing for this season.  Imagine all the hours Chip Kelly invested in putting this team together and all the hours this team has spent trying to learn to play together.  And for what?  To be embarrassed two weeks in a row; to be described as the “worst performance I have ever seen” by both Troy Aikman and Jimmy Johnson and, I am sure, scores of others.

Just consider these ten thoughts after Sunday’s game:

1. Against the Cowboys, the Eagles rushed for a total of seven yards. It was actually worse because they only got to positive yardage late in the game.
   1. S. – Cowboys backup QB Brandon Weeden rushed for 11 yards!
   2. P.S. – Brandon Weeden’s rushing total matches DeMarco Murray’s total for the year!!
2. DeMarco Murray is on pace to rush for 88 yards for the season. He has now carried the ball 21 times for 11 yards.  He carried 13 times for two yards on Sunday against his former team.  This is the worst rushing start to a season in the history of the NFL.  Last year, he ran for a league-leading 1,845 yards and had 285 yards rushing in his first two games last year with Dallas.
3. The Cowboys were on the field more than twice as much time as the Eagles – 40:30 vs. 19:30. The hurry-up offense is nice when it works, but it destroys the defense when it doesn’t.
4. The Eagles had one, that’s right – one, first down in the first half and that was via a penalty.
5. Sam Bradford looks so uncertain in the pocket, when there is one. There is no deep threat and he looks very unsure of himself as he goes through his progressions, often missing an open target.  Add to that the double negatives that there is no run game and no deep threat.  It is easy to understand his uncertainty.  I thought this was a great trade when it was made, but without some blocking up front, it does not matter who stands in the pocket.
6. The whole offense lacks any creativity. The first-round draft pick was supposed to be a deep-threat receiver, but there has not been a deep threat yet.
7. Jordan Matthews MUST catch the ball.
8. Eagles’ special teams allowed a punt block which resulted in a score.
9. The defense lost two starting inside linebackers in the game and yet, overall played pretty well considering…..
10. There are so many people to blame – the offensive line, the quarterback, the receivers, the defensive secondary, the special teams, the coaching staff, etc. The NFL season is a long one, but is it long enough for all of these problems to get solved?

The fans were booing by the second quarter this past Sunday.  After watching the Sixers, Flyers, and the Phillies, they could be a very angry mob by mid-season.

Perhaps the Pope could stop in the locker room and offer up a prayer.  Trust me – it cannot hurt.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)

1. I suffered through the Eagles loss on Sunday after suffering through Princeton’s domination of Lafayette on Saturday night. The Leopards have so many players injured it is unbelievable.  Their top running back was injured on Friday when the team was doing their walk-through.  Wagner is up next on Saturday at 6:00pm on RCNTV.
2. I am really anxious for the baseball post-season to begin. Joe Maddon, former Lafayette baseball player, is managing the Cubs and they should get in.  My announcing buddy, John Leone, is a life-long, die-hard Pirates fan and they should get in.  The Yankees and Mets will be there.  Toronto looks terrific.  There are so many storylines.
3. Is it any wonder that legal betting venues like Las Vegas love the NFL? Before Monday night’s game, seven underdogs won out of the 15 games played.  The biggest upset occurred in New Orleans where the 10-point favorite Saints lost by seven to Tampa Bay.  I bet (should I use that word?) that quite a few “survivor” pools were destroyed by that loss.
4. Having seen both Parkland and Easton play the past two weeks, I cannot wait for that matchup on October 16. It should be a great high school game. If you cannot make it to Cottingham Stadium, watch it LIVE on RCN4 or RCN 1004 in HD.
5. I have been doing NFL picks for many, many years and I cannot remember ever being under .500, but my early results (16-16) are much like the Eagles – embarrassing.

NFL PICKS LAST WEEK – 7-9; OVERALL  16-16 (50%)

GIANTS
CAROLINA
PITTSBURGH
MINNESOTA
HOUSTON
JETS
NEW ENGLAND
CINCINNATI
CLEVELAND
INDIANAPOLIS
ATLANTA
ARIZONA
SEATTLE
BUFFALO
DENVER
GREEN BAY