Monday, October 31, 2005

Slow Motion

It's a toss up as to whether the Eagles offense or defense is in more dire straits after yesterday's loss to the Denver Broncos. In his day-after press conference at the NovaCare Complex, head coach Andy Reid didn't seem to know which area was more pathetic, as well.

No argument can be made that his belated play-calling has taken on new heights of incompetence. Reid agreed.

"I've got to do a better job," he said. "I've got to get them in sooner for him so he has enough time to get the play to the players in the huddle and at the same time have the time at the line of scrimmage to do what he needs to do there."

As far as Donovan McNabb's incompetence, Reid still insists that there's nothing wrong with McNabb besides his assortment of injuries. His performance in the last three games says otherwise.

Coming off a bravura performance the previous week by holding Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson to seven yards, the Eagles defense allowed 564 total yards to the Broncos.

Almost half of those yards came from running backs Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell, both who rushed for more than 100 yards. With Anderson and Bell gobbling up chunks on the ground, the Broncos were able to sell the play-action as quarterback Jake Plummer toasted the Eagles secondary for 309 yards.

It's probably unfair to focus on one area, but the lack of a pass rush has been a consistently below average, as Reid noted.

"We can do a better job there," he said. "It's a matter of defeating the man over you."

It didn't help matters that the Eagles lost end Jevon Kearse in the first quarter with an AC contusion. He underwent an MRI yesterday.