Open Tryouts for Eagles LT Tomorrow at 9AM

I'd like to thank the Eagles and particularly Winston Justice for sobering me up after a day of celebratory boozing and generally feeling on top of the world. Fans of both the Phils and the Birds will have to look past a horrible defeat at the hands of yet another division rival (and we haven't even seen Dallas yet) and focus on the positivity that the Phillies gave us. But we're not great at that, and it's tough to overlook the awful game on SNF. Osi Umenyiora made Justice his bitch, blowing past him and sacking Donovan McNabb six times, half of the Giants TWELVE total. So much for Justice being a 2nd round steal in last year's draft. Twelve sacks ties an NFL record.

It's hard to imagine a team going from the highs of last week's offensive output against the Lions to barely moving the ball against what had been a weak Giants D. The G-Men have definitely improved, but not nearly this much. I don't even think JRoll could have helped the Eagles tonight. And I really don't know how much we can expect from this team from here on out. We've seen one great game and three downright terrible showings. It's not looking good...

But screw it, let's focus on the those Phightens!

Comments

[Joe Manning]

When I heard before the game that Westbrook, Tra Thomas, Dawkins and Sheppard were out - I didn't expect a win. But I didnt expect an embarassment either.

It is inexplicable to me why Andy Reid did not make ANY kind of an adjustment to help out Winston Justice - who was starting his first NFL game against a very talented pass-rusher. You can't put a tight-end in at that side, to help block ? Maybe a double team ? I simply could not believe that they would let Justice continue to go one-on-one with this guy EVERY series, letting McNabb get destroyed.

And of course it doesn't help any that they passed the ball a zillion times. They weren't down by much, for most of the game, and Buckhalter was the only part of the offense that was working. He's breaking some great runs - so instead of sticking to that, they keep calling pass plays to recievers that can't get open, and protection schemes that have McNabb running for his life.

This is the absolute worst season I have seen from Andy Reid ever. I don't want to get into wether or not the issues with his sons are affecting his coaching - because really it doesn't matter. Whatever the reasons, this the result: 1 and 3, mostly because of Reid.

[Juanos]

Thank you, Joe Manning. Winston Justice was hung out to dry by Andy Reid and Co. A guy starting his first game ever against a Pro Bowl pass rusher at probably the most difficult position on the field to master, and no game planning for that fact or adjustments during the game. How is that possible? I'm all for showing faith in your players' ability, but come on now. Laying too much blame at Justice's feet just doesn't make any sense to me.

[Matt P]

Yes but it's fun.

[Gaze]

Justice and Reed are the obvious targets for last night's loss, but was anyone else disapointed by #5's mobility/balance last night? Sure Justice was getting run over, but McNabb dropped to his knees a couple of times on what looked to me like a simple tap on the legs. His acuracy was pretty lousy too!

And finally, I don't like to criticize guys for sitting out injured, but c'mon fellas? Is there something in the water around here that kills our players? I know cheesesteaks are unhealthy, but damn! It's laughable how many professional athletes from Philadelphia have been "injured" in the past year.

[Steve]

I'm under the impression Reid decided to sit these guys after seeing that the Phillies won, because he wouldn't be as much media scrutiny when 80% of the town is too busy being enamored by the Phillies.

The fat kid from Little Giants should play Left Tackle. The one with the gas.

[Ashe]

Why the hell didn't anyone make any adjustments to help Justice out? I think I just heard Umenyiora sack Mcnabb at practice today.

[theKrisheim]

terrible game, just terrible.

and for the first time in a long time at an Eagles @ Giants game, a rough rough crowd.

i was in 234 and there were at least 6 fights around us, which is pretty unusual for a Giants crowd. same thing for the entire upper deck, it seemed.

need this week off, that is for sure.

[Steve in Philly]

How about open tryouts for coach? Reid was far worse than Justice. Are you kidding me--Justice's first professional start is against one of the top pass rushers in the league, Justice is clearly overmatched, and Reid does nothing to fix the situation. What exactly was the tight end doing on the right side of the line? What a disgraceful lack of adjustment by the coaching staff.

[Tommy G]

Semi-related, did anyone else notice the SNF plotline battle featuring Runyan v Strahan? Here's what I got from it, Runyan talks about the great battles he and Strahan get into and comments how Strahan is a fierce competitor, speaking of him respectfully and with class. Strahan takes a shot at JR and says he holds him, then says " i own john runyan" and smiles that stupid fucking gap toothed smile. He makes me sick, he and his fake ass sack record.

[Sparky Duck]

Way to double team there Andy