Bearly Breathing
A Dreadful Loss to Chicago Exposes the Eagles' Mediocrity
WHICH WAS worse: Watching the Bears' excruciating, 97-yard drive with less than two minutes to go, or having to listen to Dick Stockton, the country's worst network play-by-play broadcaster, call it? Regardless, it was not a fun day either at Lincoln Financial Field or in front of the television. The only Eagle to have a good day was David Akers, and that's because his teammates forgot that the rules allow you to carry and throw the ball into the end zone as well as kick it. For some reason Donovan McNabb can move the chains very effectively, despite having only one real weapon in Brian Westbrook, until the Eagles get to the 20, and then unimaginative play calling and poor execution kick in. And yesterday Jim Johnson's bend-but-don't break defense, hampered by injuries, chose the worst possible time to break.
It's been a terrific run, these last half-dozen years, but the team looks to be at a crossroads. The Eagles now have the look of a competitive team, but not of a contending one, and the difference between the two is critical. I'm not advocating inserting Kevin Kolb; I think McNabb still has a fair amount of time left. But more and more, it appears as if bigger changes are needed than simply tweaking around the edges.
Dick Stockton has been horrible since the 80s when he did the NBA with Bill Russell and Tommy Heinson. What a bore.
That's the bad thing about the Eagles stinking up the joint...the announcers get bad (Brian Baldinger and Tolly?!?). I thought I was watching an Eagles pre-season game...was Dave Spadaro otherwise occupied for the game?
The Eagles are tough to watch...but how about those BoSox? Incredible run for them...the Rockies might need Spring Training to get ready they've been off for so long.
Posted by: Bill | Monday, October 22, 2007 at 02:56 PM