Hi friends! The Hatchet's Locker Room was out of control last Sunday when our Eagles played the Detroit Lions. The Hatchet needed a wall stretcher to fit everyone inside and Dawn and I apologize to those that had to stand. The excitement that surrounds the Eagles right now with Carson Mania has swept the country and has Eagles Nation in a frenzied state. It certainly has shown here in the Locker Room with the huge turnouts. I have received many inquiries from nice folks wanting to know if the Locker Room was an open venue. As much as I love people and would be thrilled to open it up to everyone, it's members only. Now onto the blog…
The saying "On Any Given Sunday" was proven this past Sunday when the Eagles fell to the lowly Detroit Lions. As I said in last week's blog, the Lions are a bad football team that the birds should have walked over, laughing all the way. In my opinion, the bye week that the Eagles were coming off of really hurt the team. It seemed that they were sleep walking in the first half. I don't know if the players were listening to all the hype and that it went to their heads or what, but they definitely were not in sync. You have to give them props for the way they picked it up in the second half. They should have won the game, but would of, could have, should have, doesn't cut it.
On a side note, I must say that I've been an Eagles fan since 1954 and I can't remember a worse job of officiating that was on display Sunday. Fourteen penalties against the visiting Eagles and only two penalties against the home team Lions...GIVE ME A BREAK! Sometimes you must beat two teams: your opponent and the zebras! At the end of the day though, you have to overcome those things and get the win. I just hope this isn't one of those games that comes back to bite us at season's end. They must learn from this debacle and become better, and I think they will do just that. I had some observations from Tina and all the staff at Pain Management in Wyomissing and after listening to them, I think the "Wentz Wagon" is gonna roll!
3 Things To Know About This Week’s Game
Week 6: Eagles vs. Redskins
- Many of my Eagles brethren have asked me if I thought the interception Wentz threw last week would change the way he approaches the game this week. You must remember that Carson Wentz is a rookie playing in only his fifth pro game this week and he has played nothing like a rookie. I feel that the way Wentz is wired will enable him to come out this week and show just why the Eagles took him with their first pick in the draft. I have a feeling that he forgot about that pick by the time the plane landed at Philly International Airport and was already looking ahead to the Redskins game. I just heard that the Lane Johnson suspension has been upheld and the Eagles have some big shoes to fill at right tackle. It looks like they will plug Halapoulivaati Vaitai in and keep Allan Barbre at left guard so that there are not multiple moves on the line. No one knows how the kid will do, but he will be tested this week trying to keep the very speedy Ryan Kerrigan and company at bay and off of Carson Wentz. At running back, the talented Darren Sproles once again didn't disappoint as he averaged 9 yards a carry versus the Lions. The Ryan Matthews fumble was huge and a big part of why the Eagles are 3-1 and not 4-0 right now. He's a 7-year veteran that has to know which arm to carry the ball in. That was a rookie mistake. I want to see the speedy Kenjon Barner and the elusive Wendell Smallwood get some carries against the Skins as I think they can cause havoc in the game. We have four good running backs and I say share the rock with all four! I really thought we would see the three tight end sets a lot more than we saw then last week as the Lions were putrid covering tight ends in their previous games. This week, I'm pretty sure the Birds will keep versatile Brent Celek on the line to help in the blocking, so I look for Ertz and Burton to be involved more. Our wideouts must start getting separation if our vertical game is going to excel. Josh Huff has the speed to give Wentz a target on the deep pass along with Dorial Green Beckham, and I’m hoping they’ll be more involved. Jordan Matthews is still our best wideout, and I look for him and Carson Wentz to have a big game against the Skins. One guy who you have to take into account on the Skins defense is all world and big mouth Josh Norman. He will try to bait Wentz into making a rookie mistake. You need to be very aware of #24 at all times!
- If the Eagles defense goes into Washington on Sunday and plays like they did in the first half at Detroit last week it will be a really long bus ride home on I-95 Sunday evening. We need to get after Kirk Cousins and pressure him from the jump as it seems he's finding his rhythm and looking like the Cousins of old. If we let him sit back there in the pocket, he will shred our secondary. This Redskins team has some of the very best wide receivers in Pierre Garcon and former Eagles wideout Desean Jackson, and you just know he would like to have a big game on Sunday against his former team. At tight end, the Skins have probably the best in the league (Ertz is coming though) in Jordan Reed and they also have the re-energized Vernon Davis out of Maryland. I look for the Eagles front four of Cox, Logan, Curry and Barwin to make a statement this week and create problems for Cousins. They took over the game last week in the second half and if they play like that versus the Skins we all will be in for a great week leading up to the game against the Vikings. Also, we saw last week how important it is to have linebacker Nigel Bradham in the lineup. The team sat him down in the first half (I assume as a punishment for his firearm possession) and the defense struggled. In the second half with him in the lineup, it was a different story. I have been wondering where is that explosive player #58 Jordan Hicks that we saw last season? He is an extreme talent and hopefully he gasses it up and begins to show what he can do. Mychal Kendricks looked lost last week and is a much better player than that.
- The Eagles special teams were once again very good against the Lions, and I have no doubt in my mind that Caleb Sturgis would have nailed the field goal to win it if given the opportunity. Donny Jones is a pro and has to start being a little more consistent, and I know he will. Our friend and long snapper Jon Dorenbos ("The Magic Man") is the best at what he does and is money in the bank. I'd like to see Mighty Mouse Darren Sproles break a return off this week for a score - gosh he's so much fun to watch. Give it up for the "Little Man!" The Skins special teams are nothing to write home about and we should have the upper hand with them.
Well friends, this game is a tough NFC East division match up, and they are always hard-hitting, knock-down, head-busting, gut-wrenching games, and should be a lot of fun. The Hatchet will have the popcorn ready in the Locker Room on Sunday, and join me next week as we take a look at the upcoming Vikings game. Until then...Fly Eagles, Fly!
