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Jon Runyan - Are You Tough Enough?

We here at EaglesChick.com (that'd be MarySue and I), have a passion for the Eagles, and we also have taken a shine to a few players.  For myself, Akers, Buckhalter, Dawkins, and Baskett put a sparkle in my eye.  MarySue tends to lean Westbrook and Dawkins.  However, both of us like big Jon Runyan - even if he does need a haircut right now.

So we'd like to institute the "Are You Tough Enough - Jon Runyan Style" series, where, each edition we highlight 5 reasons Jon Runyan is tough enough.

1. Jon Runyan is so tough that he can just blink and knock down defensive linemen.
2. Jon Runyan is so tough that he can utter just four little words and it can stop an opponent's offense for at least 8 plays.
3. Jon Runyan is so tough Chuck Norris concedes his toughness to him.
4. Jon Runyan is so tough that when he tackles you, your grandchildren will feel it and be knocked on their asses!
5. Jon Runyan is so tough even Eagles fans won't boo him.

Short but sweet, and not to mention entirely fun & silly. Are we "Chest Bump Worthy"?  Maybe, stay tuned, next week will ad 5 more "Are You Tough Enough" reasons Jon Runyan is tough enough.

Is Brian Westbrook carrying the EAGLES this season?

Let's ask ourselves where would the Eagles be if God forbid something were to happen to Brian Westbrook. Could they make it without him? I am honestly starting to think that they wouldn't. It is quite obvious that they are dependent on him, I believe I had read somewhere that they feel the need to keep him as "fresh" as possible if they want to have a chance to make it into the post season. Now if that is not showing dependency then i don't know what is!

Brian Westbrook had his career high game last night against Miami he rushed for 148 yards on 32 carries! With his previous high being 141 in the wild card round against the Giants last season. With this yet another awesome game for Westbrook he is well on his way in his march towards the greatest season for a running back in Eagles history. So far this season he has 849 rushing yards, 55 catches all adding up to his 518 yards on the season. I would say he is well on his way!

Not only is Westbrook a heck of a football player but I think we all have to agree that he is definitely a "team" player and does not take anything for granted. He might be having an awesome season but he is not afraid to give credit to his fellow teammates. He can be quoted as saying......

"It feels good," ... "The team fought. We didn't play a perfect football game, but we continued to fight. When the team plays together, even when they are playing a team that is 0-9, we played a great game. When you have an offensive line, fullback, tight ends and receivers blocking for you the way I did, you are going to have some success and we did that today."when the team fights like that and stays together, we will have an opportunity to win the game and we did."

Athough Correll Buckhalter, is a comparable back up with his good combination of size and speed, he just doesn't have the patience or experience that Westbrook does, and Tony Hunt with his powerful running style is only really good on those short yardage gains.

With this said I guess we all need to hope for the best and keep our fingers crossed that nothing happens to Westbrook not only for his sake but for the sake of the team!

Another Great Goal Line Stand Helps Eagles Improve to 5-5

Please allow me a few moments to stop and savor that right now, we no longer have a loosing record and we're finally at 500.  As optimistic as I tend to be, realism does set in, and I realize this moment will be shortly lived likely coming to an end after next Sunday night.  This Thanksgiving, I'll be thankful that these "Birds" are 5-5 rather than 4-6 or 3-7, and look like they might have some feathers left to try and fly.

So - how about them Eagles Defensive Linemen?!  Let me tell you, they rock!  You guys and goal lines stands, just really impressed me yet again this week.  You guys give the fans the hope that there still really is life in the football team in green.  I actually jumped up and cheered after each stop, and I haven't done that much at all this year, so thank you!

Takeo Spikes and Brian Dawkins certainly have lead some kind of rallying cry for this part of the team.  These guys have in two weeks managed to change the entire "feel" of a game.  Last week's amazing 7 or 8 play stand against the Redskins was amazing, and to turn around and be able to do it for a 4 play stand this week again, was just awesome.  When our defense "clicks" it really can be a force to be reckoned with.

And how about "B-West"?  Brian Westbrook had a career high game, and looked just about damn near unstoppable.  On the ground it was tough for the Dolphins to stop Westbrook once he got moving.  He had 132 yards rushing on 32 carries - both are career highs.  It was something amazing to watch, and likely not something we're going to see again this season.  The Dolphins, lets just say, are a team in a bad situation (one worse than the Eagles, and even Ricky Williams can't help them with that!), and that just left it open for Westbrook to pick away and exploit everything that was wrong with the Dolphins' defense.

Donovan McNabb went out of the game with a sprained ankle in the first half.  Prior to that, he had been picked off for two interceptions both in the red zones - both at points where it was almost certain the Eagles were going to score.  I think it's really sad when Philadlephia fans were cheering when he went limping off the field and into the locker room.  Some of Eagles fans are just so fickle, there's a reason why the fans have been nick named the "boo birds", and unfortunately that kind of display of "eagle fandemonium" is what makes the rest of America think there's no intelligent life in the stands of the Linc or in Philly.

AJ Feeley came in and replaced D-Mac, but he wasn't much better.  Picked off again down in the red zone, just as they were about to score, Feeley made me through my hands up in disgust.  Then they came back out after the half, and it seemed like a different team.  However, they obviously decided to go with what works, their running game with Westbrook.  Hand off after hand off from Feeley to Westbrook kept chipping away the yards and the time.  Westbrook got the Eagles into the red zone, and Jason Avant topped off the drive with a 9 yard reception in the end zone.

I think the fact that Feeley seemed to have just as much difficulty getting a passing game going as DMac has, goes to show, the Eagles desperately need someone to step up and be "THE" receiver, you know like that overbearing, self inflated, ego maniacal idiot that use to play for the Eagles?  The fact Feeley had to turn to Westbrook again and again, keeps going back to how one dimensional we are right now.  Unfortunately that will just make it all the more tough to beat the Patriots and the Cowboys.  So for this week, I'll savor the non-loosing record, and enjoy a 2 week winning streak.

Just 1 More Stop - Defensive's Goal Line Stand Wakes up the Eagles

"Just 1 More Stop"

Those words from the Eagles' Jon Runyan to Takeo Spikes were enough to rouse the Eagles defense into a awe inspiring 7 play goal line stand that limited the Redskins to just a field goal - despite a penalty that gave the Redskins an additional set of downs.  What a powerful display of defense it was.  It was like someone woke up the defense and told them the game was going on.

Up until that goal line stand, I kept wondering where in the hell the defense was.  The Redskins were just controlling the field and blowing by the Eagles left, right and center.  Then it was like waking a sleeping giant, and if Johnson put caffine in the Gatorade for his players, I'm thankful, and if it was Runyan's words -  Jon Runyan, you rock (even if you do need a hair cut).

The 4th quarter was the best playing I've seen of the Eagles in a few games.  It was encouraging to see LJ Smith and Reggie Brown doing great.  It was even more awesome to see the offensive line make some spectacular blocks to free Brian Westbrook right up to go for a touchdown.  Shawn Andrews and Jon Runyan made two amazing blocks on that play, and seeing the brief replay on it, it just made everyone here watching the game with me go "WHOA!"

"He's really tough if you let him in the open field, and we did, " was London Fletcher's response when asked about blocking and covering Brian Westbrook.  Westbrook, once again carried the offensive.  We as Eagles fans cheer for his 5 catches for 83 yards and his 20 carries for 100 yards and hoot and holler for those 3 touchdowns he made.  His playing is just awesome, and without him the Eagles wouldn't have won.

Unfortunately though, the Eagles rely way too much on Westbrook.  As great as he is, right now the Eagles offensive is one dimensional - the Westbrook dimension.  No one wide receiver is stepping up to help out.  Sure today we saw a lot more of Hank Baskett (this chick likes that!), finally LJ Smith is really back, and Greg Lewis even shined a bit.  But no "one" is standing out and taking some of that weight off of Westbrooks shoulders.  With 7 more games to go, it's difficult to see how the Eagles can win on just Westbrook.

The defensive had some impressive numbers - Takeo Spikes had 12 tackles, 9 of those unassisted.  Brian Dawkins had 9 tackles.  Then just looking at their 4th quarter, it was like night and day, compared to the rest of the game.  Great job to the defense, it was like you woke up the entire team - kudos!

Kudos to Donovan McNabb as well with a 138.5% QB rating on the day, despite his fumble, Donovan looked good.  Connecting on passes, scrambling and being patient - at least this game he didn't eat as much grass.  He looked good - much better than last week.  I'm not of the opinion that "McNabb needs to go" - unlike the other Eagles fans who are screaming for his head.  Personally I think, he needs 2 things 1) more weapons beyond Westbrook and 2) more time to heal that injury.

Can this win, turn into a streak?  So far this year, that hasn't happened, but we are playing Miami next week and they haven't won a game yet in 2007.  That could be either a blessing ... in the form of an easy win, or a curse in the form of the Eagles being their first win that they've been trying desperately to get.  I think the Eagles might just have turned a corner, hopefully we'll be on a two game winning streak next week and improve to 500, that'd be really nice, wouldn't it? :)

Jon Runyan - thanks for kicking the team into gear, us Eagles fans really appreciate it!

Eagles vs Redskins - Will the Eagles Show Up to Play?

After last weekend's severe pummeling given to the Eagles (and us fans) by the Dallas Cowboys, the thought on every Eagles fan's mind, along with all the sports analysts on FOX, CBS, NBS, ESPN and the NFL channel, is are the Eagles going to show up to play?  Has the team's "ass", so to speak, be thoroughly kicked into alignment that they finally realize the season is half way through and they look like a team from pre-Andy Reid days, not a football team that's played in this new millennium?

Last night I checked out the injury report for the Eagles vs. Redskins game.  While the Eagles' offense seems a bit banged up with 4 wide receivers having some kind of injury - Reggie Brown (neck), Jason Avant (groin), Kevin Curtis (knee), Greg Lewis (chest), along with Westbrook being listed with a shoulder injury, Jon Runyan with a glute injury and LJ Smith with a back injury - but all are playing, one might be wondering if the Eagles are going to be able to show up and catch balls for Donovan McNabb.  Looking at the other side of the ball the Redskins are out three major weapons.  Santana Moss is out with an injury to his heel, Cornelius Griffin is out with a back injury and Antwaan Randle El is listed with a hamstring injury is out as well.

With the Redskins missing at least 2 major weapons on offense, Eagles fans might be breathing a little easier.  I know this chick looked at the injury report and thought - "well the Eagles might have a chance to win".  However, for the Eagles to win, the rest of the team has to show up and Donovan needs to be "on target" today.  No more of the 40% QB rating crap.  Although Donovan cannot be blamed for all the current "whoas" of the Eagles, he does carry some of that weight and he needs to improve and get the ball away a lot quicker instead of constantly being sacked.  I don't think Donovan has eaten as much grass in any year prior to 2007 - but then again, prior to that he had a great offensive line that included Jeremiah Trotter.

I have a feeling today's game might be a nail biter, but certainly hope the outcome is one we'll be cheering about.  We so need to cheer about something, a win over an NFC rival would be great.  If we can't get that - then maybe the Giants with pummel the Cowboys?  I know, we're not suppose to like the Giants either, but on game days, I root for 2 teams, the Eagles and who ever is playing against the Cowboys!

Andy Reid, His Sons & The Eagles

Andy Reid is not going to be able to escape the comments, the out loud thinking and the flat out questioning of whether or not his sons' situations that came to a head this past week, affected what happened on the field last night at the Linc.  Granted, the Eagles are not the better team (I've been saying that since week 2 or 3), but how could the Eagles look so unprepared, confused and just down right bad?  That falls on the coach and after so much noise was made, we all know that it is Andy who's coaching the team, not Mornhinweg or Johnson.

What I find most disturbing about the mess Reid's sons have made with their lives is the hypocrisy.  Sure, they are his sons, and he loves them, and wants to support them, what parent wouldn't?  But these "kids" are 22 and 24 and still living at home, not holding down any jobs and who knows about school.  Wait, I'm wrong, I believe Garrett was holding down the job of "Drug Dealer in North Philadelphia", according to his statements.  So where does the hypocrisy come in?

Andy Reid notoriously passes on great players who have drug issues.  This year, rumors flew around Dante Stallworth not being re-signed just for that reason.  He was the one receiver who was the closest we've seen to filling the void of the overbearing, self inflated, ego maniacal idiot that helped to embarrass the Eagles last night.  Now Stallworth is on the one team that is likely super bowl bound, catching balls from Tom Brady along side Randy Moss - not in Eagles' green, syncing with McNabb and making our offense look more than one dimensional.  The Eagles have lost a hell of a lot this year because of this hypocrisy.

I like Andy Reid, I think he's a good coach, but I think he's got to seriously stop and take a look at how his sons' situations are affecting the Eagles.  What message does this send, not just to players but to the kids who look up to him as a coach?  Not one but two sons, addicted to drugs, one pulling weapons in road rage, another dealing drugs in north Philly.  You are telling me Andy didn't have a clue?  Come On ......

According to authorities, they found 89 prescription drug pills in Garrett Reid's jail cell Thursday morning. They believe he smuggled them in his rectum when he was jailed earlier this week.  That's some serious addiction when you are putting pills up your ass, pulling them out and taking them.  That kind of addiction doesn't happen over night, and can only go unnoticed if you are never home to see your family. 

Montgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill noted that searches of the Reid home found illegal and prescription drugs throughout the house. He said both boys had been over-medicated throughout much of their lives."It sounds more or less like a drug emporium there, with the drugs all over the house and you are an addict," O'Neill told Britt Reid.

In a Yardbarker article back in August, they question the role of Reid's wife Tammy in all of this. With this latest comment from the judge, it really makes a parent wonder.  As an Eagles fan, it also make you wonder if this is affecting Andy's thinking a lot more than what everyone's been lead to believe.

Watching Vai and Howard in the post game wrap-up on NBC 10 last night, I couldn't help but to agree with with Vai about Andy undoubtedly having to take a long look at things after the season and maybe even stepping down on his own accord.  We can't make any assumptions either way, however if the Eagles continue to slide into a pit of lost games and embarrassments, we won't have to make assumptions, Jeffery Lurie's going to make sure something happens.

Howard made an interesting comment as well last night, "it's the end of an era".  That's pretty much the same as saying "it's time to rebuild".  I agree with him, that it's the players that have to be looked at, and not so much the coach.  However, don't be surprised if the coach himself thinks its the end of his own era and doesn't return next year.

I Hate To Say This, For the Eagles, It's Rebuilding Time

For a team with such hope and promise at the beginning of the season, what a disastrous season this has really turned out to be.  Even the most loyal and most optimistic of us fans can only shake our heads in disgust.  The game has probably just ended the third quarter against the Cowboys, and I couldn't even handle to watch anymore of it.  Small glimpses of great plays, but nothing, nothing at all the even resembles a heartbeat of a team.  The only positive thing about tonight's game - the return of Brian Dawkins.

The three most dreaded words in any fan's vocabulary at this time in the season is "It's Rebuilding Time", and right now, that's what it is for the Eagles.  No hope of a playoff birth, we'll all be cheering for any opponent of the Patriots and any opponent of the Cowboys for the rest of the season, and what games happen after December. 

I love the Eagles, but man, what a let down, what a real let down.  After so many years of the Eagles dominance over those "Plowboys", it's tough to be on the opposite side now.  It's tough to see your team loose to that overbearing, self inflated, ego maniacal idiot who unfortunately for the Eagles was the best receiver McNabb ever had. The signs were written on the field in that first set of plays with a McNabb fumble, resulting in a Cowboy's touchdown.

"This is a rebuilding season", we'll be some type of phrase used in the coming weeks, mark this chick's words.  I just know that McNabb had better improve and they better find him a receiver for next year, since this year was just pretty much slammed shut on us after the first half.  If those two things don't happen, heads will roll and either McNabb will be on the fast train to Chicago or we'll be seeing Kevin Kolb a lot sooner than we thought.

Do we still Love T.O.?

Terrell Owens is one hell of a football player that I will give him. However LOVE? Now your pushing it! One could say that it has a lot to do with his attitude both on and off the field that has caused many Eagles fans to have grown to dislike him, even before he began playing for the Cowboys.

I must say that he is coming to Philly this Sunday with "very high expectations" as he had said, and that he expects nothing but affection from Philadelphia fans on Sunday night. He just figures it Will be DISGUISED as Boos! He was quoted as saying "They still love me, I don't care what they say, those boos, they ain't really boos man, Theres a lot of love in those boos."  Well now my mamma didn't raise no fool, but correct me if i am wrong, if you like someone don't you usually clap or yell yeah don't you, instead of yelling BOOOOOOO!!   Just checking.

Ok Birds lets get out there on Sunday night and show good ole T.O. just how much we "love" him!

 

                                                                     

Have The Eagles Found Their Heart To Play Again?

The Eagles actually found the Red Zone on Sunday.  They actually looked like a team who wanted to play football and win.  So does that mean their heart is in the game?  Seeing as this past week's game was against their old Offensive Coordinator, one might say yes.  But, some might say it was because they had something to prove.  I'm going to try and lean towards the optimistic side and I get the feeling the guys just might have figured out that they need to play together to win, not just play to collect paychecks.

The playing was actually impressive this past Sunday, blocking, tackling, making the plays all looked solid.  The nonsense of weeks past seemed to be a distant memory as we watched the offense actually score touchdowns in the red zone instead of field goals.  Don't get me wrong, David Akers, I love ya and your very lovely kicking leg, but I'd just rather see those green jersey crossing that touchdown line and scoring 6 points rather than just 3.

The true test of whether the Eagles are playing as a team is always against the Cowboys.  The last couple of years, the Cowboys just sucked.  The last few years the Cowboys managed to stink up the field worse than the Eagles did during the Kotite years.  This year though, it's a different Cowboys' team - totally.  the "other 81" has got something to prove, and so does his QB, Romo, and you can bet they are aiming to make an example of the Eagles.  Emotions are going to be running high as always, so this will definitely be a test of two teams, not just another battle of #81's.

Are the Eagles good enough to beat the Cowboys?  Optimistically?  If they play like a team that wants to win, they can beat them.  If stop with causing stupid penalties, and work together to stop the Cowboy's assuallt both on the ground and in the air, and then the offensive plays as good as they did this past Sunday, there's hope. Boy, do I have a lot of optimism, don't I?