Spike Eskin

Brilliant, @_mattmac. Just brilliant.

The Eagles are a bad football team. We discuss just how bad, as well as get into some Sixers talk today.

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Can this Eagles season get worse? You bet!

Chris, Lee and Spike discuss the awful game, Jeffrey Lurie’s big job in replacing Reid, as well as Spike’s meltdown about Jon Gruden.

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As well, I was on with the Angelo and the Morning Show today, and got my dad to admit (after a lot of screaming) that Andy Reid has done a bad job this year. Listen below.

Michael Conroy is a freelance sportswriter and Flyers fan, and a guest writer for Spike Eskin Dot Com. You can find him on Twitter @MichaelConroyPM.

Too many football fans fall into the trap of overvaluing a team’s talent. While stacking your team with gifted athletes can certainly give you an edge, it isn’t ability alone that ultimately wins out in the National Football League, it’s trust.

The NFL is truly a spectacular mess right now. Across the sport, bad teams are competing with good teams with stunning consistency. Still, if you’re watching closely, there is a winning formula to be deciphered.

Winning teams like Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, and Atlanta all have one thing in common. The players on the field and in those locker rooms, the coaches and even the owners, trust each other, and it shows. Whether it’s in a winning effort or not, those teams are on the same page. They sacrifice for each other, learn from mistakes and, for better or worse, shoulder the responsibility together. After identifying trust as the essential ingredient in this winning formula, it becomes much easier to see why a talented team like the Philadelphia Eagles has struggled so mightily.

Since the “Dream Team” was assembled, the Philadelphia Eagles have had a nervous energy about them. The team introduced new coaches on the offensive and defensive lines and promoted offensive line coach, Juan Castillo as defensive coordinator in a whirlwind of change.

From day one, it was clear that Castillo was going to be fighting an uphill battle. For a fresh crop of young defensive players, the coach may have been well received, but for a highly skilled, highly touted group of free agent stars, the move was met with skepticism. It seemed like Nnamdi Asomugha immediately recognized the limitations of his new coach. A free agent star cornerback determined to succeed in a big market would remember such limitations if ever things were to go wrong. This attitude had, without a doubt, spread throughout the Eagles’ locker room.

The defense could never wholeheartedly trust their coach. They had a built-in excuse for failure and it showed on game day.

Jim Washburn’s presence only compounded the issue when he assumed a militaristic command of the defensive line. From the outset, Washburn seemed to alienate his squad, separating the defensive line almost entirely from the rest of the defense. Irresponsibly, Jim Washburn made the defensive line a separate entity, effectively absolving them of responsibility for the failings of their teammates.

Howard Mudd began his tenure with the Eagles on a positive note. His new blocking schemes seemed to be a revelation for the Eagles’ running game. Recently, Mudd’s contributions have eroded with the talent on the offensive line. A major free agent commitment and first-round selection are flailing in their coach’s system. Why should those players believe that Mudd has their best interests in mind? He is a proprietor of the only offensive scheme in which they have ever failed to succeed.

Perhaps the most volatile element of the Philadelphia Eagles is the starting quarterback position. Michael Vick has struggled for the better part of his last 22 games as an Eagle. He can’t trust his offensive line to protect him and he can’t trust his receivers to make plays. Now it seems he has lost the ability to trust what he has depended on since the first time he picked up a football; his own ability. Losing a step, just a single step, can destroy the confidence of a mobile quarterback. It was evident with Mcnabb and now it’s evident with Vick.

Despite their personal failings to date, Washburn, Mudd, Vick and Castillo represent something far more important. They represent the decisions of the head coach; one who had previously looked infallible in the eyes of his subordinates. Andy Reid’s decisions in 2011 tested the trust of the entire organization in it’s Head Coach. Last week, that trust was completely destroyed.

When Reid fired Castillo, he sent a message to every member of his organization that he is capable of mis-evaluating as important a position as defensive coordinator. If he’s capable of making such a big mistake, the players and coaches in the locker room have to assume Reid is capable of making mistakes elsewhere. Did he make a mistake with the O-line coach? Did he make a mistake with the gameplan? Has he made a mistake at quarterback? These are all questions that will plague the least-entrenched members of the Philadelphia Eagles organization if the losses keep coming.

For years, the Philadelphia media has anticipated this situation. Andy Reid is finally at a crossroads. Whatever credibility, respect, or trust had previously been handed to the coach of 13+ years has been spent. Reid may have a couple of games to prove to his players and coaches that he can make the right decisions; the right decisions for his players, for the coaches he’s hired and for the organization. For 13 years, Andy Reid has been taking full responsibility. For 13 years, he’s admitted he needs to do a better job. If he really can, now is the time. This may be Andy’s last chance.

All images courtesy of @_mattmac.

Well after last season, I felt this way:

But now, sadly, it’s more like this:

Is the Eagles loss to the Lions just another week six for the Birds, or is it something more (worse)?

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Funny, I’ve seen the replay several times and never noticed Brian Dawkins.

Mike Vick didn’t throw any interceptions. BUT HE DID LOSE TWO FUMBLES.

The defense only allowed 16 points. BUT THEY DIDN’T GET ANY SACKS OR TURNOVERS AND BLEW THE FINAL DRIVE.

Andy Reid had some guts and went for it on fourth down. BUT THERE WERE 13 MINUTES LEFT AND THEY WERE ON THEIR OWN 30.

What does it all mean?

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Michael Conroy is a freelance sportswriter and Flyers fan, and a guest writer for Spike Eskin Dot Com. You can find him on Twitter @MichaelConroyPM.

Michael Vick:

13/20 159 yards 1 TD Rushing: 5/33 yards 1 TD QB Rating: 106.0

% of total offense: 68

Eli Manning:

6/9 126 yds 1 TD 1 INT QB Rating: 107.2

% of total offense: 64%

In the latest installment of the maddeningly unpredictable ongoing series that is Michael Vick’s career, a bizarre trend is materializing. Many are aware of Vick’s constant battle with decision-making and his affinity for making bad situations worse (sometimes in spectacular fashion). For this reason, many may find this developing pattern, and its subsequent comparison, baffling.

The Eagles are 3-1 through their first four games this season. While their record may not be surprising, the manner by which it was achieved certainly was. In all three of the Eagles’ wins thus far, a late 4th quarter, game-winning drive was required. That’s a tall order even for some of the most elite quarterbacks in the NFL. In a show of impressive resiliency, Michael Vick has come through for the Eagles whenever he’s had the opportunity.

Just how impressive have Michael Vick’s late game heroics been? For the answer, look no further than the performance of an ELIte quarterback just one year ago. (Do you see what I did there? No one has ever used that before right…right?)  Eli Manning made history in 2011, posting a stunning EIGHT game-winning fourth quarter drives. Still, it took until week 6 for the New York Giants’ signal caller to match Vick’s current total. The comparison between these two late-game heroes is even more compelling upon closer inspection.

“Clutch”

As is stated above, Michael Vick has had three opportunities this year to be “clutch”; to drive his team down the field to a 4th quarter, game-winning score. Thus, a fair comparison would warrant examination of Eli’s first three opportunities in 2011. Most importantly, overall record in these situations should be considered. Vick edges Manning here with an impressive 3-0. Eli converted on two of his first three attempts. As erratic as Philly’s quarterback has been at times, it’s hard to believe that he has been more reliable than his Giants counterpart in 2011.

Taking a Closer Look

While Michael Vick has posted a better overall record in these close games, it is a common misconception that Manning is simply rELIed on to do more. (Again, do you see what I was able to do here? It’s gold!) Taking a closer look, the statistics polygraph has determined that is a lie. During these late-game adventures, Michael Vick has had the ball placed in his hands on 68% of the plays. That’s 4% higher than Eli’s rate through his first three such drives in 2011. This really brings Andy Reid’s trust in his quarterback to light for a few reasons.

For one, Michael Vick had not been exceptional through the first three and a half quarters of most of these games. This would lead most coaches to take the ball out of his hands in crunch time, but Andy had the courage of his convictions and deserves some credit. After all, it’s his job that’s on the line. Another reason this reliance on Vick is surprising is that, for the most part, there has been plenty of time left on the clock during these late-game drives. The running game was certainly still a viable option in most of these cases.

Eli Gets One

There just had to be one area where Eli Manning and his 201l campaign could gain an advantage over Vick. It’s true, Manning’s quarterback rating of 107.2 during his first three game-winning opportunities is impressive. Connecting on 6 of his 9 pass attempts for 126 yards and a touchdown, Eli made his presence felt. What kept his rating down, however was a soul-crushing pick-6 that the New York quarterback threw at the goal line, in the waning moments of a home game vs. the Seahawks.

Michael Vick certainly has had his share of head-scratching throws this season, but few have come during his comeback bids. He’s hit his targets on 13 of 20 attempts for 159 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles’ savior has also made use of his legs, rushing 5 times for 33 yards and another score. It should be noted that this success on the ground doesn’t even factor into Vick’s impressive 106.0 quarterback rating on game-winning drives.

What Does it Mean?

Is Michael Vick a better quarterback than Eli Manning? No. I’m fairly certain that, aside from a few die-hard Vick fans, there will be little argument here. Still, the stats would suggest that what Michael Vick is doing this season in the 4th quarter is special. It’s entirely possible that Philadelphia’s quarterback is making some history of his own. There’s a lot of football left to be played, and there are sure to be some bumps along the way, but if Michael Vick is building a “dynasty,” these fourth quarter drives make for a solid foundation.

All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference.