Staff Blog
About Last Night – September 22nd
EAGLES
The Eagles’ pass rush came back in full force, and while
most everyone is crediting Jimmy Johnson, a motivated front four, and Brian
Dawkins I think much of the credit goes to the Birds’ special teams. After the game Ike Reese was explaining the difference
between a short field and a longer-one scheme wise. If a team is at midfield – as the Cowboys
were virtually every time they touch the ball – one big play off a beaten blitz
immediately puts them in scoring position.
If a back can get behind a blitz and sneak for 20 yards from their own
10 it isn’t going to break a team.
Because the Steelers kept on starting deep in their own territory, the
Birds were able to swarm their line.
Granted, field position alone isn’t going to account for the
difference between no sacks and a whopping nine
sacks, and Johnson and his defense deserve a ton of credit, but it is worth
noting that for the second straight week the Birds got to a QB is his own end
zone.
The Game: 15-6 in a physical game that showed just how hard
it is to run against the Birds, and just how much that offense misses Brian
Westbrook. The Steelers laid out the
blueprint of how to attack the Eagles (lay back, and them dink-and-dunk you to
death). It’s a plan that ensures that
the Eagles’ weapons have to make plays in space, and with Westbrook out Obama
is only Bird who has proven he can. Bowen’s recap HERE, Brookover’s HERE, Pittsburgh’s is HERE, and the AP’s is HERE, with video.
The Hero: Since the Eagles’ linebackers swarmed, dline drove
and corners locked down (Asante Samuel is pretty much the greatest dback ever), defensive coordinator
Jimmy Johnson has to get the gameball.
Or at least share it with punter Sav Rocca.
The Race: The Giants and Cowboys are still undefeated, and
the Redskins improved to 2-1 in what is shaping up to be a stout division.
Other Notes:
- Yes, the Birds’ tailbacks were unable to get their ground
game going, but it is worth noting that fullback Tony Hunt and All-Pro RG Shawn
Andrews were out of the game. - At one point in the second quarter Ben Roethlisberger
dropped back to pass seven times, was sacked five and threw an interception. - The Eagles limited Pittsburgh
to 33 rushing yards on 19 attempts, a 1.7 average. - That coming off weeks when Dallas averaged 2.8 ypc and the Rams averaged
just 2.4 - L.J. Smith had another bad game before being knocked out of
it with a lower back strain - Chris Clemons has fallen behind Darren Howard on the depth
chart. - A point Phil Simms was all over – with a minutes left in the
game the Steelers had a 4th and 10 around the Birds 20. Down nine they needed two scores to win, but
they elected to try for 7 instead of taking the points and going for an onside
kick. Unforgivable. - Brian Dawkins has played more games with the Eagles than
anyone except for Harold Carmichael - whom he is ten behind.
PHILLIES
The Game: Behind Jamie Moyer, Clay Condrey and Brad Lidge the Phillies won 5-2, never trailing in a game they easily could have lost. Murphy’s recap HERE, Zolecki’s HERE, Florida’s HERE, and the AP’s HERE, with video.
The Hero: Pedro Feliz, who came in when Greg Dobbs‘ right-calf cramped up in the bottom of the 7th, homered in the 8th to give the Phillies a little breathing room – more than Brad Lidge ended up needing.
The Race: The Phillies climbed 1.5 above the Mets and three full ahead of the Brewers with just six to play. The team would need a New Yorkian collapse to miss the postseason.
Other Notes …
- In nine games in Atlanta
this season the Mets lost 8 times. The
Phillies did not lose once - The Phillies have homered in 17 consecutive games, a club record
- The Phillies are 9-1 over their last ten
- The Phillies’ corner outfielders continued to struggle. Jayson Werth went 1-for-14 in the series with eight strikeouts, and teammate Pat Burrell went 3-for-24 on the trip.
- Ryan Howard committed his 17th error of the season
- Jimmy Rollins had three more hits
- Ryan Howard did not strike out
