Eagles overpower Browns, 27-10...areas of concern still remain...
But Derek Landri's strip sack of Weeden ended Cleveland's first offensive series and was the first of five sacks the front four would produce, including 1.5 by Brandon Graham. Maybe that play actually did turn things around...
"It started out as a play fake, almost like a play-action pass," Landri said. "I just got off the ball, got into the guard, made an inside move and the quarterback was right in front of me. I got my hands up on the ball, threw him to the ground and tried to pick it up and score."
"We started slow. They had a big play to start the game off, and you never want to start a game off like that. We've got to figure a way come Week 1 against these guys to shut it down and not give up a big drive. We were fortunate enough to get in a good situation and make a play and kill all their momentum, which is what you want to do."
Eagles defense eventually found its rhythm and turned into a swarming gang-tackling machine by design, basically beating the Browns with team speed...
Nick Foles, the rookie QB from Arizona, took it from there... After tossing a bad-decision INT on his second snap of the game, Foles picked up where he left off in the first two preseason games by producing his best effort of the summer, throwing two touchdown passes in leading the Eagles to a 17-3 halftime lead before giving way to Trent Edwards.
Foles completed 12 of 19 passes for 146 yards, but it was his decision-making and elusiveness inside the pocket and out that continued to dazzle. Foles has taken a majority of the snaps in the preseason because of injuries to Vick and Kafka, and has yet to take a sack, which reflects his pocket awareness even more than the effectiveness of the offensive line.
In the first quarter, he looked off receivers on the left side, turned and waited until the last possible moment to unload a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brent Celek, capping a three-play drive that was set up by Darryl Tapp's fumble recovery at the Cleveland 15-yard line. Linebacker Ryan Rau, a long shot to stick with the team, caused the fumble.
Foles took advantage of a short field less than three minutes later by calmly hitting Dion Lewis over the middle for a 2-yard touchdown that was set up by Keenan Clayton's punt block and Curtis Marsh's recovery at the 3.
But of all the passes Foles completed, it was one that didn't count that turned the most heads. On third-and-6 from the Cleveland 23 early in the second quarter, he lofted a perfect missile to Damaris Johnson, who was blanketed on the end-zone sideline by former Eagle Sheldon Brown. Johnson's catch was originally ruled a touchdown before being overturned on replay, which revealed he didn't get a second foot down in bounds, and the Eagles then settled for a field goal to give them a 17-0 lead.
"For being a rookie, he is so calm," Celek said. "Any time you ever make a mistake, if you can come back and let that go, you're going to be fine in this league. We all make mistakes. It's how you respond from it. Nick has done a great job, not only throughout camp but through the first few games." Celek's touchdown reception offered further proof that Foles could be ready to be named the backup to Vick, who is out for the remainder of the preseason with bruised ribs. Foles started as the No. 3 quarterback behind Kafka, who broke his non-throwing hand in the first preseason game.
"Really, it wasn't a play that was designed for me," Celek said. "I just leaked out late because I knew there were some problems. Basically, I just got open and Nick got me the ball. It was a little bit of improvisation."
Other guys who impressed: Rookie wide receiver Damaris Johnson made a sensational circus catch for a 45-yard gain to get the Eagles out of poor field position in the second quarter and averaged 14.5 yards on four punt returns, including a 30-yard burst on the final play of the first quarter to set up a field-goal drive. He finished with two catches for 58 yards.
Brett Brackett, a tight end out of Penn State, broke the plane of the goal line with a gutsy full extension for a touchdown after catching a short pass from Trent Edwards in the third quarter.
Rookie cornerback Cliff Harris added an interception in the third quarter, leading to another field goal. The pass was tipped by Clayton.
I'm going to rewatch the game on NFLN at 4:00 P.M. EST today (Saturday) and try to make some new observations. There are going to be some very difficult cuts coming up. And am I the only one who has noticed veteran DE Darryl Tapp is playing out of his mind with desire to stick with this club?
| PHI Passing | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | SACKS | RTG | ||
| N. Foles | 12/19 | 146 | 7.7 | 2 | 1 | 0-0 | 99.9 | |
| T. Edwards | 14/17 | 127 | 7.5 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 117.4 | |
| Team | 26/36 | 273 | 7.6 | 3 | 1 | 0-0 | -- | |
| Philadelphia Rushing | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LG | ||
| C. Polk | 6 | 39 | 6.5 | 0 | 20 | |
| B. Brown | 7 | 18 | 2.6 | 0 | 7 | |
| D. Lewis | 5 | 4 | 0.8 | 0 | 4 | |
| S. Havili | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | |
| E. Igwenagu | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | |
| T. Edwards | 5 | -3 | -0.6 | 0 | 1 | |
| L. McCoy | 1 | -4 | -4.0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Team | 26 | 55 | 2.1 | 0 | 20 | |
| Philadelphia Receiving | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LG | TGTS | ||
| D. Johnson | 2 | 58 | 29.0 | 0 | 45 | 2 | |
| B. Brackett | 3 | 34 | 11.3 | 1 | 20 | 3 | |
| D. Lewis | 2 | 24 | 12.0 | 1 | 22 | 3 | |
| J. Hamler | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |
| E. Akpla | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| E. Igwenagu | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |
| C. Ford | 2 | 16 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | |
| B. Celek | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 1 | 8 | 2 | |
| M. Jacobson | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
| M. McNutt | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | |
| L. McCoy | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| C. Hall | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | |
| C. Polk | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
| J. Maclin | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| M. Gilyard | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| T. Jones | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| D. Jackson | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| B. Hernandez | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Team | 26 | 273 | 10.5 | 3 | 45 | 35 | |
| Philadelphia Fumbles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| FUM | LOST | REC | |
| J. Vandervelde | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Brown | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Tapp | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| T. Cole | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Team | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Philadelphia Interceptions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| INT | YDS | TD | |
| C. Harris | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Team | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Defensive | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TACKLES | MISC | ||||||
| TOT | SOLO | SACKS | TFL | PD | QB HTS | TD | |
| B. Rolle | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Rau | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| F. Trotter | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| V. Curry | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Landri | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Clayton | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Thomas | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| N. Asomugha | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Hughes | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Thomas | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Graham | 2 | 1 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| K. Coleman | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Thornton | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Jarrett | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Boykin | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Lindley | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Kendricks | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| -. Team | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Brackett | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Marsh | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| W. Bonner | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| O. Ogbu | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Taylor | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Jackson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Harris | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Gilyard | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Chaney | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Hunt | 1 | 0 | .5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| A. Jordan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team | 57 | 39 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Kick Returns | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO | YDS | AVG | LG | TD | |
| B. Boykin | 2 | 49 | 24.5 | 25 | 0 |
| B. Brown | 1 | 20 | 20.0 | 20 | 0 |
| Team | 3 | 69 | 23.0 | 25 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Punt Returns | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO | YDS | AVG | LG | TD | |
| D. Johnson | 4 | 58 | 14.5 | 30 | 0 |
| M. Gilyard | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team | 5 | 58 | 11.6 | 30 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Kicking | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FG | PCT | LONG | XP | PTS | |
| A. Henery | 2/3 | 66.7 | 41 | 3/3 | 9 |
| Team | 2/3 | 66.7 | 41 | 3/3 | 9 |
| Philadelphia Punting | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOT | YDS | AVG | TB | -20 | LG | |
| C. Henry | 2 | 78 | 39.0 | 1 | 1 | 46 |
| M. McBriar | 1 | 38 | 38.0 | 0 | 1 | 38 |
| Team | 3 | 116 | 38.7 | 1 | 2 | 46 |
While I think Jordan is a decent football player, IMO he shouldn't be a starter... now, I do think he's looked very strong this PS... but, I'm disappointed in Rolle. It was his job to lose, and not only did he lose it, but he lost it to a 3rd string guy, since Chains has been hurt all PS... that IMO is unacceptable.
Now we're back to having Jordan starting??? Him being the best man for the job isn't exactly a ringing endorsement... a lesser of two evils at best IMO. Jordan is a capable backup... but we really should have been able to find someone better than him to be starting... that we didn't is down right baffling considering all the trouble we had with our LB's last year.
The sky isn't falling or anything... but this IMO is not good news.
@atvcar Naw... you arent correct. Now that we've seen Ryans and Kendricks.,... its clear to all that we were one LB short to begin with. Now we have the 3 best on the field. Jordan is a decent player.
I'm excited about this move.
Jordan and Hans0n have been tearing it up.
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Per the AR presser...
-- As expected, defensive tackle Mike Patterson won't be ready for the season opener and will be out an extended period of time. Reid said there was a chance he could miss the entire season. (sad, but probably best for Fatt Patt to hang them up)
-- Reid said that it would be a struggle for wide receiver Riley Cooper (collarbone) and linebacker Casey Matthews (high ankle sprain) to be ready by the season opener on Sept. 9 at the Browns.... hmmmmm, what does this do to the 53 man roster? Can't PUP either guy... IR? No... sooooooooo, cut them, or hang onto them but just keep them inactive on gameday?
-- Defensive end Jason Babin (calf) is making progress and is still on target to return in time for the opener.... GOOD
-- Reid said that King Dunlap was still his starting left tackle and won't play in the preseason finale against the New York Jets Thursday night, a sure sign that he will open the season as the starter ahead of Demetress Bell.... YIKES
-- Reid said quarterback Michael Vick (bruised ribs) threw today during the morning walk-through and that he would be eligible to practice if this were a normal week.... good news!
-- Mike Kafka will have his broken left hand evaluated tomorrow. Reid sounded optimistic that the quarterback would be able to participate in Thursday's game.... also good news.
-- Joselio Hanson is still the first team nickel cornerback ahead of rookie Brandon Boykin, Reid said. Hanson probably won't play against the Jets.... one mystery of the 53 man solved.
-- Colt Anderson (torn ACL) is making progress, but Reid said the safety wasn't completely healthy. Anderson is likely to start the season on the PUP list.... a shame, but not surprising.
more on Fatt Patt... here is what AR said...
“I think that’s going to be an extended time here. We’ve just got to see how that goes, if he’s able to go at all this year. We just have to see how that works out. We’ll take checkups in increments here, but right now, it’s going to be awhile.”
does not sound very promising to me... it's either healed or it isn't... I don't see how more time is going to make the area strong enough for football... but, even if it does... and that's a big if... why would he risk it?
what I mean by more time not helping is that from what I read, if the area was going to be strong enough... it should have done so well in advance of now... it doesn't seem likely more time will affect it much more one way or another.
Welp... off to the gym!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111!!!!1!
When I get back... you people better have Moffra signed up.
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STEELERS' DECASTRO OUT FOR SEASON
An MRI Sunday revealed the guard suffered a torn ACL and MCL,
Wow! Not a good sign for our team if we're starting a retreaded LB. Better hope that Ryans perks up, or it's goodby season.
@sunbutts HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!111!
You werent invited to play ff!!!!!!1111!!!!!!!!1
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111!11!!
@atvcar Shit happens--ask Nate Allen. He's been steam rolled by some of the worst RBs in league!
@sunbutts @TheGreatJB99 Rivers??? HA I saw him get steam rolled in their last PS game... looked like a safety trying to play LB!
@TheGreatJB99 Would have been better with Rivers who is lighting it up for those nasty Giants!
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Hahah! Foles thinks his nick name is Sunshine...when EVERYBODY knows his nickname is Nickpolean Dynamite.....
He needs to get this updated....pronto....
@tboned208 @atvcar @TheGreatJB99 meh... still saw him guessing wrong... if he was good vs cleveland wouldn't he still be starting?
@TheGreatJB99 it's the best I've ever seen him play... he's been everywhere. I've never been a big fan of Rolle... all heart but short on talent IMO... Chains is disappointing he can't get healthy to see if he's a fit or not.
We also need one more persoin.... as Bri has backed out claiming he's dead... or dying.... or something. Cant remember which.
@TheGreatJB99 that andrew mackwhatever his name that played last year emailed me asking if it was too late to reup...
@TheGreatJB99 pretty sure... it said mothra in parenthesis... his team name was sunny's jock strap.. no wonder he stunk!
