What a start to Andy's 12th year with the birds.
- First play is a trick play, resulting in a 5 yd penalty
- No running plays on first series
- QB knocked out of the game by half time
- Mismanaged the clock at the end of the first half to give the packers the ball back for another 3 points
- Used all the timeouts in the 2nd half with 5 minutes left.
- Put Bradley back into the game, when clearly Bradley looked like a fly that was just smacked out of the air.
- 4th and 1 QB draw call
With how hard the packers were blitzing and coming after Kolb, it would have been smart at that point to ditch his pass heavy game plan, but again Andy is stubborn. If Andy wanted to pass at this point, he needs to use quick passes. Slants and screens. He could have run some delay hand offs and just get the packers to ease off the gas pedal defensively.
How can you expect Kolb to get into a rhythm when you keep pulling him out and putting in ick for trick plays? Does Andy feel like the only way his team can run the ball is when Vick is in the game and they run a trick play? Is Andy being stubborn or just disrespectful towards the packers D-fense, which was one of the best in the league last year.?
The eagles started the game with really no idea how their O-line would hold up against a great 3-4 defense. As a coach you need to play to your teams strengths. Put in plays at the beginning of the game that will build the team's confidence. High percentage plays. Give Kolb easy throws to make. WR screens and hb screens are high % throws and they counteract an over aggressive defense.
Now, you are running a 2 minute offense and the Pack have 2 timeouts at this point. You can't afford to go three and out. As they just scored a touchdown. Andy goes three and out. Now the packers have the ball back and march down for a last second field goal.
The eagles came out in the second half with a much different game plan. Who knows, had buckley not fumbled on that opening drive, it may have been a different game. The reason why the Eagles can be successful with Vick, is because he makes his own running plays. Andy just calls passing plays, and Vick will bring the balance. He will run the ball for 100 yards a game and teams will have to start respecting our rushing attack. That is what was opening things in the passing game. The packers had to start respecting and playing run, and holy cow we moved the ball!
This brings me to the fourth down play. I'm pretty sure we had a timeout to think that play up. It takes me back over the years of unsuccessful 4th and 1 plays from Andy Reid. Giants Chase Blackburn stuffed us, and the bears stuffed us, and I'm sure the cowboys stuffed us. The redskins stopped our 4th and goal drive to win the game on prime time 2 years ago. Andy, obviously this seems to be an area where you need to do a better job. Maybe start by putting your players in a position to be successful. The eagles were beating the packers to the edge all game with speed. The strength of the packers d-fense has been their interior line. Andy calls his play... a qb draw into the heart of the packers d-fense with McCoy as the lead blocker. LOL. That is a play my sister would choose in madden. She also knows nothing about football. Vick is the most dangerous weapon you have out there next to Jackson. If you are going to line up in the shot gun, make the packers think pass or get him out on the edge where he can pass or run for the first down.
With as bad as Andy called the game, they were still in it to the very end. To me, this is what hurts the most. Knowing that if we had a different guy calling the game, perhaps things would have ended differently. I'm sure next week Andy will find a way to keep the lions in the game.
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