Maybe the Eagles can't run the ball - The Orange Mane

Arkie · 10-28-2005, 11:55 AM

Kevin Roberts, a nine-year veteran of the Courier-Post sports staff, writes the inside story on the Philadelphia professional sports scene.
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Thursday, October 27, 2005

PHILADELPHIA
What if the Eagles can't run the ball?

The Eagles won't run, that much we know. They pass 73 percent of the time, making them the most unbalanced, pass-heavy team in the NFL.

Talking about the offensive struggles of the last two weeks (one touchdown in the last eight quarters), Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb started to talk about things like rhythm and execution before he finally gave up and said:

"We're not running the ball," McNabb said. "That's what you want to hear, right?"

Well, that's what everyone seems to want to talk about. The Eagles are last in the NFL in rushing attempts and rushing yards.

Even when they try to run, the Eagles aren't very good at it -- which doesn't quite add up, since they ought to have the element of surprise. Seriously, when McNabb turns and hands off to Brian Westbrook, it feels like a gadget play, doesn't it? It's like the equivalent of a triple-reverse for a normal team.

"Oh my gosh -- they're running off-tackle! Eagles head coach Andy Reid is pulling out all the stops today, Brent!"

But the Eagles average just 3.4 yards per carry, which ranks 26th in the league.

"If they had to run -- and I don't know that they have to -- I don't think they're good at it," said Brian Baldinger, a FOX Sports TV analyst and former Eagle. "They don't have a good blocking tight end. They don't have a good blocking fullback. They've built this vaunted passing game, and it's been very good and very productive and it's won a lot of games for them. But they haven't built a running game.

"They're built to be a good pass-blocking line -- and they're very good. They're probably the best one-on-one pass-blocking line in football. They're not built for (run blocking)."

Of the Eagles' 102 running plays this season, 26 have been for no gain or been thrown for a loss. That's 25.4 percent of the time Reid calls for a handoff, it goes nowhere or puts the Eagles in a hole. That's a staggering number.

Atlanta, the No. 1 rushing team in the NFC, has seen a running play go for no gain or a loss just 30 times in 242 rushing attempts (12.4 percent of their running plays.) Denver, the AFC's top rushing team and this week's Eagles opponent, has seen 13 percent of its 222 runs go for no gain or a loss.

"You look at your personnel and decide what you have and what makes them most effective," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "It all depends on what the defense is doing to you. These people are so talented, they can take away whatever they want to take away. You've got to have the flexibility to go in a different direction when you have to."

The Eagles are a passing team (maybe you heard). Either because of injury or execution, McNabb hasn't been particularly sharp the last two weeks. The passing game has stalled a bit.

And so everyone is howling for the Eagles to be flexible and go in a different direction. But maybe they can't. Shanahan, who in fairness was speaking in general and not specifically about the Eagles, makes the point that coaches lean on what they can do and shy away from what they can't. Reid's public stance is that he believes in his running game, but his playcalling raises the question of whether he really wants to use it.

As Reid has said a hundred times, he goes with what works.

His offensive line simply isn't a run-blocking line. Westbrook has averaged just 3.9 yards per carry after averaging 4.6 yards per carry last year. He's gained 256 yards rushing this season, but 127 have come on six big runs. In his other 59 attempts, Westbrook is averaging 2.2 yards per carry. The Eagles ran on first down four times Sunday. They gained a grand total of two yards.

Is everybody sure the Eagles should keep going to that well?

The Eagles do need to run more -- to protect the quarterback, keep the ball moving and balance the offense. But first they have to get better at it.

McNabb again Wednesday said the offense would be fine and would put everyone's minds at ease soon enough.

"We'll find out against Denver -- when we run the ball a lot," McNabb said.

Then his eyes got wide, and he clapped his hand over his mouth like he'd given away a secret.

Oops -- I've said too much. It slipped out. I'm sorry.

McNabb was kidding, of course. It's unlikely the Eagles will run a lot in Denver.

They'll say it's because they don't want to. But it's because they can't. Reach Kevin Roberts at kroberts@courierpostonline.com

http://www.courierpostonline.com/app...76/1063/SPORTS

jmz313 · 10-28-2005, 12:00 PM

Theres no doubt in my mind thier first play from scrimmage will be play action. They'll have 25 rushes by games end 15-18 from RBs and teh rest from #5.

Crushaholic · 10-28-2005, 12:02 PM

That's good, because stopping Owens will be a chore by itself...

ludo21 · 10-28-2005, 12:24 PM

"Oh my gosh -- they're running off-tackle! Eagles head coach Andy Reid is pulling out all the stops today, Brent!"

i found that tid bit funny.

Stopping the run doesnt scare me agains them, TO and Westbrook out of the back field does scare me tho. It is going to be a chore and hard work to handle them, heres to hoping Bailey continues his great season and DJ, Gold and the DL contains Westbrook!

10-28-2005, 11:55 AM	#1
Arkie Ring of Famer Gggggrrrrrr rrrraaaahhh Arrrrhhhn. Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 9,130 Adopt-a-Bronco: Quinton Carter	Maybe the Eagles can't run the ball Kevin Roberts, a nine-year veteran of the Courier-Post sports staff, writes the inside story on the Philadelphia professional sports scene. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, October 27, 2005 PHILADELPHIA What if the Eagles can't run the ball? The Eagles won't run, that much we know. They pass 73 percent of the time, making them the most unbalanced, pass-heavy team in the NFL. Talking about the offensive struggles of the last two weeks (one touchdown in the last eight quarters), Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb started to talk about things like rhythm and execution before he finally gave up and said: "We're not running the ball," McNabb said. "That's what you want to hear, right?" Well, that's what everyone seems to want to talk about. The Eagles are last in the NFL in rushing attempts and rushing yards. Even when they try to run, the Eagles aren't very good at it -- which doesn't quite add up, since they ought to have the element of surprise. Seriously, when McNabb turns and hands off to Brian Westbrook, it feels like a gadget play, doesn't it? It's like the equivalent of a triple-reverse for a normal team. "Oh my gosh -- they're running off-tackle! Eagles head coach Andy Reid is pulling out all the stops today, Brent!" But the Eagles average just 3.4 yards per carry, which ranks 26th in the league. "If they had to run -- and I don't know that they have to -- I don't think they're good at it," said Brian Baldinger, a FOX Sports TV analyst and former Eagle. "They don't have a good blocking tight end. They don't have a good blocking fullback. They've built this vaunted passing game, and it's been very good and very productive and it's won a lot of games for them. But they haven't built a running game. "They're built to be a good pass-blocking line -- and they're very good. They're probably the best one-on-one pass-blocking line in football. They're not built for (run blocking)." Of the Eagles' 102 running plays this season, 26 have been for no gain or been thrown for a loss. That's 25.4 percent of the time Reid calls for a handoff, it goes nowhere or puts the Eagles in a hole. That's a staggering number. Atlanta, the No. 1 rushing team in the NFC, has seen a running play go for no gain or a loss just 30 times in 242 rushing attempts (12.4 percent of their running plays.) Denver, the AFC's top rushing team and this week's Eagles opponent, has seen 13 percent of its 222 runs go for no gain or a loss. "You look at your personnel and decide what you have and what makes them most effective," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "It all depends on what the defense is doing to you. These people are so talented, they can take away whatever they want to take away. You've got to have the flexibility to go in a different direction when you have to." The Eagles are a passing team (maybe you heard). Either because of injury or execution, McNabb hasn't been particularly sharp the last two weeks. The passing game has stalled a bit. And so everyone is howling for the Eagles to be flexible and go in a different direction. But maybe they can't. Shanahan, who in fairness was speaking in general and not specifically about the Eagles, makes the point that coaches lean on what they can do and shy away from what they can't. Reid's public stance is that he believes in his running game, but his playcalling raises the question of whether he really wants to use it. As Reid has said a hundred times, he goes with what works. His offensive line simply isn't a run-blocking line. Westbrook has averaged just 3.9 yards per carry after averaging 4.6 yards per carry last year. He's gained 256 yards rushing this season, but 127 have come on six big runs. In his other 59 attempts, Westbrook is averaging 2.2 yards per carry. The Eagles ran on first down four times Sunday. They gained a grand total of two yards. Is everybody sure the Eagles should keep going to that well? The Eagles do need to run more -- to protect the quarterback, keep the ball moving and balance the offense. But first they have to get better at it. McNabb again Wednesday said the offense would be fine and would put everyone's minds at ease soon enough. "We'll find out against Denver -- when we run the ball a lot," McNabb said. Then his eyes got wide, and he clapped his hand over his mouth like he'd given away a secret. Oops -- I've said too much. It slipped out. I'm sorry. McNabb was kidding, of course. It's unlikely the Eagles will run a lot in Denver. They'll say it's because they don't want to. But it's because they can't. Reach Kevin Roberts at kroberts@courierpostonline.com http://www.courierpostonline.com/app...76/1063/SPORTS

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10-28-2005, 12:00 PM	#2
jmz313 Perennial Pro-bowler Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 982	Theres no doubt in my mind thier first play from scrimmage will be play action. They'll have 25 rushes by games end 15-18 from RBs and teh rest from #5.

10-28-2005, 12:02 PM	#3
Crushaholic Armchair Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 22,078	That's good, because stopping Owens will be a chore by itself...

10-28-2005, 12:24 PM	#4
ludo21 RIP Darrent Williams Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 17,977 Adopt-a-Bronco: Paul Ernster	"Oh my gosh -- they're running off-tackle! Eagles head coach Andy Reid is pulling out all the stops today, Brent!" i found that tid bit funny. Stopping the run doesnt scare me agains them, TO and Westbrook out of the back field does scare me tho. It is going to be a chore and hard work to handle them, heres to hoping Bailey continues his great season and DJ, Gold and the DL contains Westbrook!