When a leader goes down, who is going to step up? Who is going to be the guy that everyone looks to when "Mufasa" doesn't get up? Sunday in Houston brought those questions to the team when the Eagles lost both their quarterback on offense Nick Foles, and quarterback on defense, Middle Linebacker Demeco Ryans to what looks to be season ending injuries. Nick Foles after being hit landed on his non throwing shoulder, he was slow to get up and went to the locker room to get x rays and possibly return to the game. Low and behold bad news awaited Foles who found out that it was a collarbone injury. If broken, the injury would sideline Foles for the majority of the second half of the year. This was the news that was broken on Monday. As a harsh critic of Nick Foles, I was calling for a change after the pick six to Houston in the first half. This doesn't mean however I wished injury upon the thought to be franchise quarterback. I was still waiting for Foles to have that one big game and start to play the smart, efficient football that he did last year. We may never see that again in Philadelphia if what I am predicting comes true.
Losing Demeco Ryans should not be over looked. What he did for the Eagles not only on the field, but off the field may have turned this franchise around. Chip Kelly believes to have success you need to change the culture of the team. Well Ryans certainly changed the culture with his lead by example, motivational leadership. This however on the field is a loss that can be recovered with the great play of Mychal Kendricks who will continue to remain as the SAM linebacker where as Casey Matthews will be the play caller now of the defense. The pass rush has been fantastic lately. Connor Barwin and Trent Cole have been steady, but I have been more impressed with Vinny Curry and Brandon Graham who have overcome a lot to continue their high pass rushing productivity.
The secondary had its best performance against the Texans Sunday. Carry Williams took Andre Johnson out of the game, as for Bradley Fletcher, he continues to be up and down with a tremendous pass break up on a deep route against Johnson, but continued to struggle on his angles taken when giving up a reception. Hopefully turnovers will come with the continued improvement of the secondary. That is the key, the pass rush is doing its job. We need the secondary to start taking some risks and go for turnovers.
Now lets get to the offense shall we?
After a huge 59 yard touchdown to Jeremy Maclin, things were looking up for the offense. That was until a interception by Nick Foles that was returned for a touchdown led back to the same moans and groans of this offense this year. In comes Mark Sanchez after Foles injury. The offense didn't skip a beat with Sanchez in, on his first play Sanchez threw a 52 yard post to Jeremy Maclin that put the Eagles in the red zone which was later converted into an incredible floater to Jordan Matthews. My opinion on Mark Sanchez is a positive one.
Chip Kelly's offense is a very Quarterback friendly one if they pick up the offense. Sanchez's mobility actually made the offense even more dynamic against Houston, including the touchdown to Jeremy Maclin when the pocket collapsed, Sanchez rolled to his right and delivered a bullet on the run. He doesn't have to win the games for you, but he certainly can't lose them. The run game took a huge step forward against Houston. Lesean McCoy ran for a hard fought 117 yards, Chris Polk pounded the ball down the field on the 8 plays all running drive that led to Polk finishing the job for a touchdown. Darren Sproles broke a 24 yard screen pass as well as another for 10 yards. He ran hard and converted some crucial third and longs for the Eagles.
If Sanchez can control the offense, distribute the ball to his play makers, and not turn the football over. We will most likely not see Nick Foles again this year. I am very confident that Sanchez can lead us to a NFC East championship, and possibly more. He has won playoff games, as well as starting in two conference championships. With 202 yards and 2 touchdowns, that is the production I believe Sanchez can provide, but the 2 interceptions cannot happen if the Eagles are going to make a deep playoff run.
Nick Foles's contract is up at the end of the year. Will the Eagles bring him back into the mix? Do Kelly and Roseman still believe Foles can be the franchise quarterback? One thing is for sure, as for right now, Sanchez is the guy.
And how about Jeremy Maclin huh? He is on pace for over 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns. If that isn't comeback player of the year statistics then I don't know what is.
Losing Demeco Ryans should not be over looked. What he did for the Eagles not only on the field, but off the field may have turned this franchise around. Chip Kelly believes to have success you need to change the culture of the team. Well Ryans certainly changed the culture with his lead by example, motivational leadership. This however on the field is a loss that can be recovered with the great play of Mychal Kendricks who will continue to remain as the SAM linebacker where as Casey Matthews will be the play caller now of the defense. The pass rush has been fantastic lately. Connor Barwin and Trent Cole have been steady, but I have been more impressed with Vinny Curry and Brandon Graham who have overcome a lot to continue their high pass rushing productivity.
The secondary had its best performance against the Texans Sunday. Carry Williams took Andre Johnson out of the game, as for Bradley Fletcher, he continues to be up and down with a tremendous pass break up on a deep route against Johnson, but continued to struggle on his angles taken when giving up a reception. Hopefully turnovers will come with the continued improvement of the secondary. That is the key, the pass rush is doing its job. We need the secondary to start taking some risks and go for turnovers.
Now lets get to the offense shall we?
After a huge 59 yard touchdown to Jeremy Maclin, things were looking up for the offense. That was until a interception by Nick Foles that was returned for a touchdown led back to the same moans and groans of this offense this year. In comes Mark Sanchez after Foles injury. The offense didn't skip a beat with Sanchez in, on his first play Sanchez threw a 52 yard post to Jeremy Maclin that put the Eagles in the red zone which was later converted into an incredible floater to Jordan Matthews. My opinion on Mark Sanchez is a positive one.
Chip Kelly's offense is a very Quarterback friendly one if they pick up the offense. Sanchez's mobility actually made the offense even more dynamic against Houston, including the touchdown to Jeremy Maclin when the pocket collapsed, Sanchez rolled to his right and delivered a bullet on the run. He doesn't have to win the games for you, but he certainly can't lose them. The run game took a huge step forward against Houston. Lesean McCoy ran for a hard fought 117 yards, Chris Polk pounded the ball down the field on the 8 plays all running drive that led to Polk finishing the job for a touchdown. Darren Sproles broke a 24 yard screen pass as well as another for 10 yards. He ran hard and converted some crucial third and longs for the Eagles.
If Sanchez can control the offense, distribute the ball to his play makers, and not turn the football over. We will most likely not see Nick Foles again this year. I am very confident that Sanchez can lead us to a NFC East championship, and possibly more. He has won playoff games, as well as starting in two conference championships. With 202 yards and 2 touchdowns, that is the production I believe Sanchez can provide, but the 2 interceptions cannot happen if the Eagles are going to make a deep playoff run.
Nick Foles's contract is up at the end of the year. Will the Eagles bring him back into the mix? Do Kelly and Roseman still believe Foles can be the franchise quarterback? One thing is for sure, as for right now, Sanchez is the guy.
And how about Jeremy Maclin huh? He is on pace for over 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns. If that isn't comeback player of the year statistics then I don't know what is.
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