The Best Offense Is a Great Defense

January 26, 2011

There’s an age-old football adage that everyone knows well, and has heard over and over again – a saying that The Walrus should have tattooed to his forehead… Defense Wins Championships.

Is it a cliché? Maybe. But man, does it certainly hold true.

In less than two weeks, either the Steelers or the Packers will be crowned Super Bowl Champion. This really shouldn’t come as a surprise – no, not because we all follow football and haven’t been living under a snow mound for the last week – but, because both teams rely on the tenacity and strength of their Defenses. Sure, both teams needed big plays from their All-Pro Quarterbacks in big moments in order to advance this far – and got them – but the reason these two teams have gotten to the pinnacle of the sport is their stout defensive play.

Pittsburgh and Green Bay – as I mentioned earlier today – had the 2nd overall and 5th overall defenses, respectively, during the 2010 Regular Season. Both teams suffered (what should have been) devastating season-ending injuries to key offensive players – Tight End Jermichael Finley and Running Back Ryan Grant in Green Bay, and Offensive Linemen Max Starks and Willie Colon in Pittsburgh – and took a dip during the middle part of the year. But they both stayed buoyant thanks to guys like James Harrison and Clay Matthews, Jr., Ike Taylor and Charles Woodson, Brett Keisel and B.J. Raji… I didn’t even mention Troy Polamalu or Cullen Jenkins, who were both injured for good chunks of the season.

The point is this: a great offense can carry you through a 16-game Regular Season, but when the Postseason rolls around and every single possession matters, its Defenses that truly shine. Let’s examine the past ten Super Bowls, going back to the 2000 season, when the Baltimore Ravens brought Defense back in vogue.

 Super Bowls since 2000:

  • 2000 – Super Bowl 35
    Baltimore Ravens – 2nd Defense; 16th Offense
    New York Giants – 5th Defense; 13th Offense
  • 2001 – Super Bowl 36
    New England Patriots – 24th Defense; 19th Offense
    St. Louis Rams – 3rd Defense; 1st Offense
  • 2002 – Super Bowl 37
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 1st Defense; 24th Offense
    Oakland Raiders – 11th Defense; 1st Offense
  • 2003 – Super Bowl 38
    New England Patriots– 7th Defense; 17th Offense
    Carolina Panthers – 8th Defense; 16th Offense
  • 2004 – Super Bowl 39
    New England Patriots – 9th Defense; 7th Offense
    Philadelphia Eagles – 10th Defense; 9th Offense
  • 2005 – Super Bowl 40
    Pittsburgh Steelers – 4th Defense; 15th Offense
    Seattle Seahawks – 16th Defense; 2nd Offense
  • 2006 – Super Bowl 41
    Indianapolis Colts – 21st Defense; 3rd Offense
    Chicago Bears – 5th Defense; 15th Offense
  • 2007 – Super Bowl 42
    New York Giants – 7th Defense; 16th Offense
    New England Patriots – 4th Defense; 1st Offense
  • 2008 – Super Bowl 43
    Pittsburgh Steelers – 1st Defense; 22nd Offense
    Arizona Cardinals – 19th Defense; 4th Offense
  • 2009 – Super Bowl 44
    New Orleans Saints – 25th Defense; 1st Offense
    Indianapolis Colts – 18th Defense; 9th Offense

Over the past decade, the Super Bowl winner has averaged the 9th ranked Defense and the 14th ranked Offense during the Regular Season, while the loser has averaged the 10th ranked Defense and the 7th ranked Offense. In seven of those ten Super Bowls, the team with the higher-ranked Offense lost.

To further that point, teams entering the Super Bowl with the number one-ranked Offense have won just one-out-of-four championships. St. Louis (2001), Oakland (2002) and New England (2007) each lost the Super Bowl with the league’s top offense. New Orleans is the only team to win a championship with the 1st overall Offense – and they beat the Colts, the only other team over that timeframe to win a Super Bowl with a top-three Offense and a Defense that ranked outside of the top-ten. Conversely, the top-ranked Defense has not lost a Super Bowl (Pittsburgh in 2006, Tampa Bay in 2002 and Baltimore in 2000).

Long-story short… no matter how beat-up a team is, or how poor their Offense may be (see: Dilfer, Trent), if they have a top-five defense, they can beat any Offense. Yes, I realize there are exceptions – the 2001 Patriots and the 2006 Colts – but the rule holds pretty true (besides, that Patriots team is one of the all-time flukiest Super Bowl Champions, and the Colts won because Rex Grossman killed the Bears – polar opposite of how the Ravens didn’t allow Dilfer to shoot them in the foot).

So what does this have to do with the Eagles? Well for one thing, The Walrus’ entire football philosophy centers around the idea of Offense: getting the most snaps possible, gaining the most yards, scoring the most points. It does not take into account the fact that the best offense is a good defense. Coincidentally, the strongest Eagles’ teams under Reid (2002, 2004 and 2008) all had Defenses ranked in the top-ten and reached (at least) the NFC Championship Game. Reid’s two best offenses (ranked 2nd overall in 2006 and 2010) couldn’t even make it past the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Andy Reid strives to have the number one Offense every year. The team has broken franchise records for points scored six times during Reid’s tenure and re-written the franchise’s history books in terms of Offensive production over and over again. But there is still no championship trophy in the Lincoln Financial Field Headhouse. No Super Bowl win to be proud of. No comeback for when the Steelers and Cowgirls fans rub their rings in our collective face.

The number one ranked Offense gets you points, highlights, accolades and possibly a bye in the playoffs. But the number one ranked Defense gets you a Lombardi Trophy.

It’s time to change the organization’s philosophy. It’s time to Fire The Walrus.

2 Comments | The Walrus | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chase Wexler

Whisker Wednesday

January 26, 2011

Happy Snowy Whisker Wednesday Eagles fans! While we shovel off the Andy Reid effigy out front, enjoy today’s upperlip-follicles of fun.

  • It’s great that “Offensive Coordinator” Marty Mornhinweg is down at the Senior Bowl scouting talent to improve an already potent, high-powered offense – as opposed to scrambling for a job with another team. But besides a Guard or two, a Tackle and possibly a Quarterback-of-the-future, what does the number two ranked Offense really need? Ray Didinger (a man who has forgotten more about football than anyone of else will ever know), makes a great and simple suggestion for fixing the line – which includes signing a “blue chip” Free Agent Guard like Logan Mankins (if he’s available) and moving the other pieces into their natural positions (Right Tackle for Herremans; Right Guard for McGlynn). The only issue is banking on Jamaal Jackson’s health.

    Regardless, wouldn’t the Eagles be much more inclined to be scouting talent for the Defense – considering they only need to fill spots at every position, including two, if not three new Linebackers. But I guess that’s hard to do when you don’t even know who the coach will end up being.

    Speaking of which…

  • Another week gone by, still no Defensive Coordinator. Not that that’s surprising though. For those keeping score, that’s now Jim Mora, Jr., Dick Jauron and Dennis Allen all declined; Rob Ryan and Bill Davis were never given a real chance; Dick Lebeau and Mike Pettine, Jr. are pipedreams. But no need to worry… It’s clear that the next Eagles Defensive Coordinator will be coming from either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Green Bay Packers – the two Super Bowl teams who’s Defenses rank 2nd and 5th, respectively.

    I’ve already pointed out Packers’ Secondary Coach Darren Perry and Jets’ Line Coach Mark Carrier – whom the Eagles should certainly give a look – and Daily News Sports Columnist Paul Domowitch adds a few more names to that list, including one that’s been mentioned more and more the past two weeks: Mike Trgovac, Packer’s Defensive Line Coach. Unfortunately, like Pettine in New York, Trgovac doesn’t seem inclined to leave his current post. But you never know.

Coming later today – besides your Whisker Wednesday Poll, of course – we’ll take an in-depth look at how the old saying, “Defense Wins Championships,” holds up in the modern NFL. Stay warm. Stay safe. Stay furious (at Andy Reid).

Leave a Comment » | The Walrus, Whisker Wednesdays | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chase Wexler

Reason #1,018 to Fire The Walrus

January 25, 2011

The Terrell Owens Debacle

Aside from the late-80’s/early 90’s Reggie White-era underachieving Eagles, this has got to be the most frustrating and infuriating episode in Eagles history.

The whole Terrell Owens-on-the-Eagles thing felt doomed from the start(*). We all remember the long, drawn-out soap opera (including his agent, David Joseph, forgetting to file papers voiding the final two years of TO’s 49ers contract, the “trade” to Baltimore, the subsequent protest and arbitration) that famously culminated with TO signing a seven-year, $49 million deal with the Eagles on March 17, 2004.

(*)I was “in college” at the time – meaning I sat in my apartment all day, not going to class, getting stoned, watching movies and furiously following every move the Eagles made. I’ll never forget turning to my roommate after the whole Eagles-TO acquisition finally played out and (honest to God) saying “this isn’t going to end well.” I think it was due to the fact that McNabb and Owens instantly became best friends in an odd, forced way. Watching the two of them playfully joke around during interviews on ESPN almost felt like watching a Hollywood sham-marriage – where two stars are “set-up” by publicists to further an agenda (ie. Tom Cruise not being gay).

2004 was one of the most memorable and exciting Eagles seasons ever. Thirteen wins, the most by any Philadelphia Eagles team. The third-highest point total in franchise history (at the time). NFC Champions for the second time in franchise history. The team that finally got over the hump and went to a Super Bowl – though unfortunately without finishing the job.

With the 8th ranked scoring offense (would have been in the top-five had TO not broken his ankle in Week 15 and Reid not sat his starters in Weeks 16 and 17) and the 2nd ranked scoring defense, the 2004 Eagles were arguably the best Eagles team to ever take the field. But then the 2005 offseason happened, and everything fell apart.

After playing the Super Bowl on that semi-healed broken ankle – miraculously catching nine balls for 122 yards, but not getting into the endzone – and realizing that the “$49 million” contract he signed the previous year was only worth $20.27 million, TO signed with superagent/superasshole Drew Rosenhaus and demanded a raise. This led to:

  • The Eagles balking, and rightfully so. Though Owens was definitely a top-ten NFL receiver, he wasn’t paid like it. But he signed the contract the Eagles offered him and nobody held a gun to his head to do so.
  • Owens taking shots at McNabb’s Super Bowl choke-job, and rightfully so.
  • Owens attempting to play in the NBA Summer League with the Sacramento Kings, and the Eagles denying him.
  • Owens threatening to hold out, but not following through, choosing to submarine the team’s season instead.
  • Owens wearing a Michael Irwin jersey following a brutal loss in Dallas, just to piss off the fans.
  • Owens continuing his assault on McNabb, dividing the Eagles locker room.
  • Owens and a retired Hugh Douglas coming to blows in the locker room in front of the team.
  • The Eagles not celebrating Owens’ 100th career touchdown reception, leading to TO calling the Eagles “a classless organization,” and rightfully so.
  • The Eagles suspending Owens for four games for conduct detrimental to the team and then deactivating him for the remainder of the season.
  • Owens’ famous driveway sit-ups.

Whether TO was deserving of a raise or not is beside the point. The Walrus, The Devil and The Billionaire allowed their diva wide receiver to hijack a championship-caliber team at the height of its talent, causing an irreversible divide in the locker room and officially outing McNabb – a supposed leader – as a big puss who couldn’t fight his own battles(**). Even worse, the mess was documented on a national stage. Owens was the lead story on ESPN on a daily basis and his antics totally outshined an Eagles team that went 6-10 in 2005.

(**)Though the turmoil did give us the classic Sam McNabb “Black-on-Black crime” line, so at least we got that.

Sure, the Andy Reid-led Eagles have been back to the playoffs four times since 2004, including one NFC title game appearance, but the Terrell Owens debacle was the unraveling of the Reid-era Eagles.

 

Leave a Comment » | Reasons to Fire The Walrus, The Walrus | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chase Wexler

Eagles Fan Book Club: Bringing The Heat

January 22, 2011

A lot of readers have been asking me about my affinity for a hard-nosed, head-hunting, Buddy Ryan-style defense. Well aside from the old adage “Defense Wins Championships,” there are a few reasons:

  • Football is a game of chess and it’s all about blocking your opponents moves.
  • The way to win is to strike fear into the heart of your opponent.
  • The Eagles teams that truly resonate with Philadelphians are the ones that dominate on defense.

That last point is key. The seminal Eagles teams are the squads from 1988 to 1992. The Buddy Ryan-era. The Reggie White/Jerome Brown-led defenses. Easily the best defense ever to not win an NFL championship, but unfortunately, a team that desperately underachieved – going 1-4 in the playoffs with division rivals grabbing three Super Bowls in that span (Washington Redskins twice and the New York Giants once).

As infuriating as it is to look back on what those teams didn’t accomplish, Eagles fans still hold that era in the highest regard. Much like Buddy’s son Rex’s current Jets team, those Eagles teams were boisterous and loud-mouthed, tough, terrifying and vicious, and, above all else, cared more about beating the Cowgirls than stats and records. They were the “Bounty Bowl” team. The team that once beat up the Redskins so badly the game was deemed “The Body Bag Game.” Those moments endeared them to Eagles fans forever.

For fans that weren’t around during that era, it’s hard to articulate why those teams are still so beloved. If you were to look at stats and their win-loss record on paper, you won’t be blown away. You had to be there. You had to witness it. No Eagles team really compares (though Jim Johnson’s defense at the height of its powers with Dawkins, Douglas, Trotter, Vincent, Taylor, etc. comes pretty close) and the current regime – with its focus on a high-powered downfield offense – is a far cry from the smashmouth, brutalizing football played here in the late-80’s/early-90’s.

If you really want to understand why those teams were so meaningful, why its so heartbreaking that they severely underachieved and why Eagles fans still pine for the days of that defense, I implore you to read Mark Bowden’s 1994 tome, Bringing the Heat.

Bowden, a Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer from 1979 to 2003, and author of the award-winning Black Hawk Down, chronicles the Buddy Ryan/Rich Kotite-era Philadelphia Eagles in immense and surreal detail. He beautifully explores the cast of characters – from Ryan and Kotite, to White and Brown, to Cunningham and Joyner and even Norman Braman – and absolutely covers every angle, story, season and meaningful moment from that timeless Eagles era.

Bringing the Heat extensively covers the 1992 Eagles season, following the devastating and tragic death of Jerome Brown, and the subsequent destruction of the team, but, as the title suggests, explains why Buddy Ryan’s mentality (and defense in general) is so important to the game of football.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Bringing the Heat. You won’t be disappointed. You’ll fall in love with what Rex Ryan is currently doing (last week’s win against the Patriots epitomizes this sentiment).

Most importantly, you’ll fully comprehend why it’s time to finally Fire The Walrus.

Leave a Comment » | The Walrus | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chase Wexler

The Curious Case of Michael Vick… Or, How I Learned to Admit I Was Wrong and Love the Quarterback

January 20, 2011

On July 6, 2010 I wrote the following (presented unchanged):

For the record, I was never a fan of adding the (once) phenomenal athlete to the team – and, unlike many people, my displeasure had nothing to do with the fact that he killed dogs(**). I’m not really sure what people ever saw in him besides his speed and agility, but “Earth to football executives…” he is NOT AN NFL QUARTERBACK!

**Though as a dog lover, I can’t say that didn’t play some role.

Has anyone ever seen Vick throw a legitimate pass under 60 yards? No, because he couldn’t execute a proper screen pass, cross pattern or out route to save his life. And he’s a left-handed quarterback to boot, which gives him an automatic handicap(***). I get that he has a cannon for an arm and can throw a tight spiral the length of the field, but how the hell is that supposed to work in Andy Reid’s dink-and-dunk west coast offense?

***Can anyone name the top-five left-handed quarterbacks in NFL history? Number one is obviously Steve Young – the model for all left-handed football players (and I would have called him the “gold standard,” but Jeffrey Lurie and Joe Satan Banner have forever tarnished the meaning of the word). But then it goes Kenny Stabler, Boomer Esiason and Mark Brunell. Number five? Detroit Lions great Scott Mitchell. That’s how pathetic the list of southpaw QBs is, and the number one reason why you should NEVER trust a left-handed passer (sorry to break it to you Arizona fans, but Matt Leinart ain’t the answer).

Wow, how’d that turn out? I’ll be the first to admit that I was horrifically wrong – except for the Matt Leinart/left-handed QB part – but I absolutely stand by the first paragraph. That was 100 percent my opinion on Michael Vick prior to Kevin Kolb’s brain being shaken violently by Clay Matthews, Jr. in week one of the 2010 NFL season.

And honestly – unless you were an out-and-out Vick fan and apologist for his entire career, claiming he was Superman – you probably thought something along the same lines. He was a glorified running back with an inaccurate cannon of an arm.

Then he came to the Eagles.

The Walrus gets very-little-to-no credit for Vick becoming the ultimate weapon he eventually became this season. Coaching-up Quarterbacks is one of Andy Reid’s that I truly appreciate, but let’s get one thing straight: He had no idea what Vick was(*).

(*)Copyright Mike Missanelli.

The Walrus convinced The Billionaire and The Devil to “take a chance” on Vick when nobody else would – partly because of the issues with his sons, but mostly do to the fact that Reid thought he could get a second round pick for him if he showcased him enough in the Wildcat. Add to that the insane amount of publicity and attention they received “rescuing” the polarizing, social-pariah Vick, and The Devil and Lurie were all-in.

They continued the charade by paying him a roster bonus of $1.5 million, guaranteeing his $5.25 million base salary, which they figured wouldn’t matter because they’d be dumping him, and, according to many sources, particularly ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio, tried relentlessly to do. But they failed, and were on the hook for that money whether they released him or not – and we know how the Eagles feel about wasting money. And, if you recall correctly, they didn’t even give him a chance to compete for the starting Quarterback spot. He won it by default, when Kolb got concussed and Vick played like Vick.

Sure, you could argue that Reid and his coaching staff did wonders with Vick, turning him into the dynamic force he became this season. But how come they didn’t recognize that in the mini-camps or Training Camp? How come he was still being regulated to that Wildcat bullshit on the first two drives of the season? Because The Walrus thought he had re-invented football? Actually, yes. They had no idea what they had with Vick until Week 3, when he had a coming-out-party against the Jaguars, throwing for 291 yards and three touchdowns (119.2 QB rating), running for another TD and no turnovers.

Mike Vick finally proved why he was taken 1st overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. His upside was something nobody had ever seen done on a football field, and he didn’t reach it in Atlanta. It took a total shakeup of his life – from his occupation and freedom, to his financial and social status, to his friends and loved ones, even down to his core beliefs and world-view – and then his subsequent devotion to change, be great and, ultimately, redeem himself – for Vick to finally reach his true potential. It’s been said a million times before, but it’s true… Hollywood couldn’t write that story.

He was phenomenal this season. In five games he had more comebacks than McNabb has had in his career:

  • Week 9 vs. Indianapolis Colts – Down 17-16 in the third, won 26-24
  • Week 11 vs. New York Giants – Down 17-16 in the fourth; won 27-17
  • Week 13 vs. Houston Texans – Down 24-20 in the fourth; won 34-24
  • Week 14 vs. Dallas Cowgirls – Down 20-17 in the fourth; won 30-27

And of course, the legendary…

  • Week 15 vs. New York Giants – Down 31-10 with 8:12 left; won 38-31

Vick almost pulled two other comebacks: In Chicago (Week 12), the Eagles trailed 31-13 in the fourth, before Vick willed them back to within five, but they simply ran out of time(**).  And you know what happened in the Playoffs against Green Bay.

(**)Of course, had the equipment manager given the players the proper cleats before the game stared, maybe they could have won the game in the first half.

What Vick said after the game really stuck with me: “I made a mistake, but I went down swinging.” I love that attitude. I’ve wanted to hear an Eagles Quarterback say that for so long I can’t remember. What a completely different feeling those words give you, as opposed to “I’m the captain of this ship. I need to do better” and “Some players showed their youth.”

Vick is a warrior. If you listened to Mike Missanelli’s interview with Vick yesterday on 97.5 The Fanatic, you heard Vick and Missanelli discuss how that attitude is a product of where he grew up, and was also embodied by another Virginia-native, Philadelphia-legend – and one of my all-time favorite athletes – Allen Iverson. Iverson epitomized the “Warrior” spirit that Vick exudes and their play, respectively, proves it: Reckless, selfless abandon; immense heart and pride; extraordinary athleticism; and absolutely no ability to play at less than one hundred-percent effort.

That’s the type of player that Philadelphia idolizes. That’s the type of player that this Eagles team desperately needs (considering he was worth at least two wins alone). That’s the type of player – and person – that I love.

I was wrong about Michael Vick. But I’m certainly happy to admit it.

1 Comment | The Billionaire, The Devil, The Walrus | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chase Wexler

Reason #222 to Fire The Walrus

January 20, 2011

We already know how next season will end

With an interception and disappointment… At least, if you look at The Walrus’ very consistent track record.

Not counting the 1999 season – his first as Head Coach – Andy Reid’s teams have annually dashed the city’s championship hopes in very similar fashion.

Following The Walrus’ 5-11 inaugural season, the Eagles overachieved in 2000, winning 11 games in a weak NFC, beat an equally-overachieving Tampa Bay team in the Wild Card Round and then got trounced by the eventual NFC champion-Giants at the Meadowlands, playing from behind the entire game.

Then the streak started:

  • 2001 – NFC Championship Game vs. St. Louis Rams
    In a back-and-forth game, the underdog Eagles got the ball for one final time, down five points, with 2:20 left on the clock. McNabb drove the team to mid-field, but then – with time – stepped up in the pocket and fired a pass to Freddie Mitchell… except All Pro-Cornerback Aeneas Williams was standing right in front of him, and ended the game (and season) on an interception.
  • 2002 – NFC Championship Game vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    Also known as the second worst day of my entire life (and I refuse to link to this game, due to the fact that I’ll stab myself in the eyes if I see even one second of it). After driving 73 yards to the Bucs’ 10 yard-line, the Birds had 3:12 to score 10 points and take the game to overtime. But then McNabb threw a pass DIRECTLY to Ronde Barber, who returned it 92 yards for a NFC clinching-TD, thusly ending the game, the season, and Veterans Stadium, on an interception. By far, the worst Eagles loss I have ever witnessed.
  • 2003 – NFC Championship Game vs. Carolina Panthers
    Also known as the Ricky Manning, Jr. Game. A game marred by three McNabb interceptions in 10 minutes (all by the aforementioned Ricky Manning, Jr.), horrendous play by the Eagles’ Wide Receivers and McNabb getting his ribs bashed in so badly that Koy Detmer had to come in to throw the game/season-ending interception, with the Eagles down 11 points and 5+ minutes on the clock.
  • 2004 – Super Bowl XXXIX vs. New England Patriots
    Tragic… Another back-and-forth contest that was tied through the third quarter before the Patriots took a 10-point lead midway through the fourth. McNabb led them back to within three (on the most controversial drive in Eagles history – lack of urgency, not going to the no-huddle and, of course, puke-gate), and the Eagles got the ball back with under a minute to go. But McNabb kept the streak alive by forcing a pass right to Rodney Harrison. Another game, another season, ends with an interception and no Lombardi trophy.

In 2005, the Eagles suffered from the dreaded “Super Bowl Hangover.” McNabb had a miserable season before injuring his groin and missing half the year. And even though the team only went 6-10 and missed the playoffs, the streak of Eagles’ seasons ending on interceptions continued in Week 17, with Koy Detmer (replacing the putrid Mike McMahon) throwing a pick with just over two minutes left against the Redskins.

The Eagles made the playoffs three of the next four seasons, with the following results:

  • 2006 NFC Divisional Round Game vs. New Orleans Saints
    Eagles trailed by only three points with just over three minutes to play, go three-and-out and punt (way to play to win the game Walrus!), never to get the ball back and have Jeff Garcia end the season with a pick.
  • 2008 NFC Championship Game vs. Arizona Cardinals:
    Down 7 with 2:53 left in the game, McNabb drove the team over mid-field before throwing four-straight incomplete passes to end the game.
  • 2009 NFC Wild Card Game vs. Dallas Cowboys
    Eagles got completely outplayed and never really had a chance to win the game, but still ended the final drive of their season with four-straight incomplete passes.

Of course, that brings us to this season… And we know how that ended. Different Quarterback. Same Coach. Same Result. A chance to win a playoff game, in which the Eagles controlled the ball, the clock and the momentum, only to under-throw it away to Tramon Williams and the Green Bay Packers with under two minutes to go.

How many more seasons can end like this? More importantly, how many times does the same outcome need to occur before Andy Reid is finally held accountable? Though McNabb can certainly take a heaping of the blame for his small performances in big situations, we’ve seen the exact same conclusion with Detmer, Garcia and now Vick (who rightfully took the blame). But at what point do we need to step back and look at the guy whose responsibility it is to put these players in the right position and make sure they don’t force stupid mistakes?

If all of those seasons ended on a bad pass by McNabb, fine. But that’s not the case. This trend needs to end and there’s only one way to end it… Fire The Walrus.

Until then, 2011 will just be another Groundhog Day.

1 Comment | Reasons to Fire The Walrus, The Walrus | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chase Wexler

Whisker Wednesday Poll

January 19, 2011

Whisker Wednesday continues with the Whisker Wednesday Poll:

Which Super Bowl-winning “Free Agent” Head Coach Would You Want To Replace The Walrus?

Personally… I’d go with an up-and-coming coordinator or someone from the Ryan family.

But, if forced to go with one of these guys… I’m a Chucky fan. Gruden is a great gameday coach, makes adjustments, his players love him and he always had his teams prepared (I refuse to talk about one of those games, in particular). He’s also a great judge of talent – although, if you’ve listened to him these past two years on Monday Night Football, you’d know that every player in the league is a great guy with a great motor.

Cowher would definitely be intriguing, but let’s not forget how long it took him to get over the hump – and he had some great teams over the years. Whose to say he’d be able to recreate the ideal situation he had in Pittsburgh, with a phenomenal supporting cast of coaches around him (Dick LeBeau, Mike Tomlin, Ken Whisenhunt to name a few) and a constant influx of talented players (essepcially on defense)? Dungy falls into a similar category, as he also struggled to break through and win a championship, but then fell into Peyton Manning’s lap and may as well have coached from home.

As for Billick, well let’s just say that the only difference between him and The Walrus is a Super Bowl win… Which can be credited to the Ravens’ defense and only to the Ravens’ defense, which Billick didn’t have a hand in. He was considered to be an “Offensive Genius” – his Super Bowl-winning offense ranked 16th overall – meanwhile, the number one defense (maybe of all-time) was led by four currentHead Coaches: Marvin Lewis, Bengals (Coordinator); Mike Smith, Falcons (Defensive Assistant Coach); Jack Del Rio, Jaguars (Linebackers Coach); and Rex Ryan, Jets (Defensive Line Coach). Brian Billick is the Drunk Uncle to Andy Reid’s Walrus.

Parcells’ Man Boobs scare the shit out of me.

Got a Head Coach you’d rather see than any of these? Leave them in the comments.

Coming soon… Time’s Yours Tuesday!

Leave a Comment » | The Walrus, Whisker Wednesdays | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chase Wexler

Whisker Wednesday

January 19, 2011

  • Mike Missanelli hosted an Eagles Wrap-up Roundtable yesterday on 97.5 The Fanatic(*), featuring former-Eagles/current-Philadelphia media personality Vai Sikahema, ESPN Senior NFL Reporter (and South Philly native) Sal Paolantonio and Tim McManus, Eagles beat reporter for The Fanatic and phillysportsdaily.com (which you should definitely check out if you haven’t already).(*)And will broadcast live with Mike Vick today at 3:30 p.m.

    The general consensus of the discussion leaned towards two conclusions: With the offseason in limbo, the Eagles will likely stick with the 4-3 defense, meaning Dick Jauron is the easy answer to the question “Who’s the next DC?”; and, it’s time for Andy Reid to go.

    To further that point, Sal Pal – who is well-known to be a lifelong Eagles fan and has been favorable of Reid in the past – openly ripped the Eagles management, even saying (to my delight) that The Billionaire Lurie and The Devil Banner are more concerned with counting their money than winning championships! Hmmmm… where have we heard that before?
    Missanelli also mentioned a comment made by Mark Schlereth, ESPN NFL analyst and three-time Super Bowl Champion. Per Schlereth, Andy Reid’s style of football will never win a championship. A member of the back-to-back champion-Denver Broncos, he points to controlling the game by effectively running the ball and playing a brand of smashmouth defense. Shit, maybe the Birds should just hire Schlereth.

  • As the Coordinator Position Turns… Yes, the Eagles Defensive Coordinator position is still wide open – which I view as a good thing, because there are some great defensive minds who’s team are still currently playing – but some new names were thrown into the mix yesterday. NY Jets’ DC Mike Pettine, Jr.’s name was being floated around, but just as I had suspected when researching potential hires, he is not looking to leave Rex Ryan’s side anytime soon. It was also pointed out yesterday (by I believe Sal Pal) that Pettine has never called plays – an integral role for the Eagles Defensive Coordinator, as Reid’s defensive knowledge is on par with his dieting habits… nonexistent.Mike Trgovac, Green Bay’s Defensive Line Coach, is another name that gained some momentum in the last 24-hours. You may remember Trgovac as the Eagles’ D-Line Coach under Ray Rhodes. He also manned the Carolina Panthers’ Defense from 2003 to 2008 and was rather successful.

    Sources also claim that the Eagles’ are in talks to bring in long-tenured Tennessee Titans Defensive Line Coach, Jim Washburn… as D-Line Coach. You might think that’s a move that puts the cart before the horse – securing a Line Coach before a DC – but Washburn is one of the best in the business and has passed up numerous chances to be a coordinator. For him, it would be a lateral move. For us, he’d be the best defensive assistant since Ron Rivera was on the staff.

  • John (Gonzo) Gonzalez, Philadelphia Inquirer Columnist, wrote a brilliantly scathing article about The Walrus, his propensity for lying and his brand of comedy. Lying to the media is something that has never bothered me about Reid – he’s a football coach, that’s what they do – particularly about the status of players and coaches. Reid simply won’t throw people under the bus, and that’s admirable.Not to keep plugging Sal Paolantonio, but during that Fanatic Roundtable, he suggested that the move to fire McDermutt came from the very top, over Andy’s head. It would make sense, considering The Billionaire and The Devil needed a fall guy, and they clearly aren’t going to answer our prayers by firing The Walrus anytime soon.
  • You know how the Eagles are currently lacking in playmaking Linebackers? Yeah, that’s nothing new. Reuben Frank, Eagles Beat Writer for CSN Philly and Burlington Courier Times, dredges up the depressing history of the Linebacker position under the Andy Reid-regime.God, I miss the days of Willie T…

    Look for a new Whisker Wednesday Poll coming later today!

Leave a Comment » | The Walrus, Whisker Wednesdays | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chase Wexler

Reason #3 to Fire The Walrus

January 18, 2011

Freddie Mitchell

Ugh. I feel like this doesn’t need any further explanation, but let’s rehash this horrid experience from Eagles history anyhow:

  • Desperate for a real playmaker on offense, and armed with the 25th pick in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, The Walrus, then-GM Tom Modrak and the Eagles personnel team took Mitchell and passed on four Pro Bowl Wide Receivers, two Pro Bowl Tight Ends and two other wideouts that weren’t great but would have been an insurmountable improvement over that talentless assclown known as FredEx:
    • Reggie Wayne, 1st round, 30th pick (Pro Bowler)
    • Todd Heap, 1st round, 31st pick (Pro Bowler)
    • Quincy Morgan, 2nd round, 33rd pick (decent #2-3 wideout)
    • Alge Crumpler, 2nd round, 35th pick (Pro Bowler)
    • Chad Johnson (aka Ochocinco), 2nd round, 36th pick (Pro Bowler)
    • Robert Ferguson, 2nd round, 41st pick (decent #2 wideout)
    • Chris Chambers, 2nd round, 52nd pick (Pro Bowler)
    • Steve Smith, 3rd round, 74th pick (Pro Bowler)

The Eagles could have also taken anyone of these playmakers (though Morgan flamed out once he was traded to Dallas), but instead went with the smallish (maybe 6′ and definitely under 200 lbs.), speedy and cocky wideout from Los Angeles (sound like someone else we know?).

But, again, hindsight is 20/20.

  • The fact that Freddie Mitchell was the sole Eagle to provoke the Patriots through the media leading up to Super Bowl 39. Even Terrell Owens kept his mouth shut (though he was slightly busy getting his broken leg ready for the game). The only good thing to come out of that, was Bill Belichick calling Mitchell out after the game saying, “He’s terrible. I was happy when he was in the game.”Mitchell, by the way, caught one ball for 11 yards in the game.
  • “I’d like to thank my hands for being so great.” Sorry Freddie, but I hate to break it to you… your hands, not what you think they are. In four years, Freddie caught 90 balls. He did however average 14 yards per catch. Maybe he should have thanked his feet.
  • The nicknames… I know you remember them. Of course there’s the aforementioned “FredEx”, but his most (in)famous is probably “The People’s Champ” – you may remember him carrying around a WWE-style belt to press conferences and such. What championship did he ever win, I always wondered. Then there was “The Sultan of Slot,” which would have been a clever for the Madden version of Freddie Mitchell (who could absolutely destroy the middle of the field in Madden 02); Hollywood, because he was from Hollywood (get it?) and because he was once on the show Blind Date (I guess?); First Down Freddie, which actually carried some weight, because it seemed he’d always pick up a first the few times he did catch the ball; and of course Fourth Down Freddie or 4th and 26 Freddie.Which brings us too…
  • 4th and 26. Freddie Mitchell’s shining moment. Listen up fellow Eagles fans… Yes, 4th and 26 is a nice memory, but guess what, it proved to be meaningless in the end and is FAR from the Eagles greatest plays.Sure, the win against Brett Favre and the Packers was a great win, but it was a Divisional Round game – the first of the postseason for the Eagles, who secured homefield and a bye – and was made entirely moot the next week, when they lost at home, as favorites, to the Carolina Panthers. If Freddie Mitchell had any real talent, maybe he would have been able to get off the line of scrimmage and catch a freaking pass in that game. Instead, the Panthers Defensive Backs and Linebackers absolutely destroyed the Birds’ receivers at the line, blowing up their routes and their confidence. But that’s neither here nor there.4th and 26 was a really awesome play, totally memorable and endearing, but (again) its far from one of the best Eagles plays of all-time. It doesn’t come close to 4th-and-1 against Dallas (my all-time personal favorite). It doesn’t measure up to DeSean’s return this year (which similarly feels a little less special, considering it was the absolute apex of the 2010 Eagles season). It’s not nearly as good as the legendary Wilbert Montgomery game-sealing touchdown against Dallas in the 1980 Championship Game, the original Miracle in the Meadowlands, Randall Cunningham jumping over Giants Linebackers or even Donovon McNabb juking two Redskins defenders out of their shoes. 4th and 26 is great, but its forever tainted by the egotistical jackass who caught it.

Leave a Comment » | Reasons to Fire The Walrus, The Walrus | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chase Wexler

Reason #627 to Fire The Walrus

January 18, 2011

The $138 Million Mistake: Building the Offensive Line around Shawn Andrews

$138 million combined for Shawn “Getting my Michael Phelps on” Andrews, his big brother Stacy “I have a girl’s name for a reason” Andrews and Jason “Turnstile” Peters, Shawns’ best friend and college roommate.

Shawn Andrews, the 16th overall pick in the 2004 draft and heir apparent to John Runyun’s Right Tackle throne –thoroughly covered here – received a healthy (no pun intended) contract extension (seven years, $40 million), following a dominating Pro Bowl season in 2006. Andrews continued the trend the next season, going to a third-straight Pro Bowl, but then strange mental health and back issues limited him to just two games in two seasons, eventually leading to his release in 2009.

With Andrews’ mental health becoming a major distraction – he missed 17 days of training camp in 2008 for no apparent reason, grew an odd faux-hawk and, again, got his “Michael Phelps on” – and with the team already investing multiple drafts picks and chunks of cap space in him, The Walrus and The Devil thought it a good idea to surround this guy with people that would keep him in line.

Right at the start of Free Agency, the Birds snatched up Shawn’s older sister brother Stacy, ranked as one of the top-five free agents, even though he was coming off a major knee injury – it wasn’t the strongest class – for $38 million over six years. The week of the NFL draft, the team traded the 28th overall pick (they still had the 21st overall) and a fourth-round selection to the Buffalo Bills for disgruntled Pro Bowl Left Tackle, Jason Peters. The Eagles subsequently gave Peters a six-year, $60 million deal, with $24 million guaranteed, as Reid called him the best Left Tackle in football… even though Peters gave up the most sacks of any starting lineman the previous year (not a red flag for anyone?).

So what did $138 million in contracts, two first-round picks, a second and a fourth add up to:

  • Two games from Shawn Andrews, who was then cut, drafted by an UFL team (though he didn’t sign), picked up by the Giants during the Pre-season – who gave him a six-year, $32 million deal!??! – where he started seven games (and played very well) before hurting his back. Again.
  • Ten games from Stacy (two starts), who was constantly injured, forced to take a pay cut (dropping his base salary from $2.95 million to $1.15) and then shipped to Seattle for a seventh-round pick in 2011 (where he started 12 games?!). He lasted 18 months in Philly.
  • Twenty-eight starts from Peters, who has been decent (at best) at Left Tackle, and has inexplicably made the Pro Bowl each year as an Eagles (on reputation alone). Much like Tra Thomas before him, Peters gets called for holding and/or offsides WAY too often, and can be confused for a turnstile against good Defensive Ends.

Oh and by the way, the reason they invested two draft picks and a ton of money in Jason Peters, was to protect McNabb’s – and then Kolb’s – blindside. With Peters blocking Vick’s weakside, guys like Antoine Winfield, DeMarcus Ware and Clay Matthews absolutely maiming the Eagles’ Quarterback all season.

Yet another reason to Fire The Walrus.

1 Comment | Reasons to Fire The Walrus, The Walrus | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chase Wexler

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »