I had counted on all the normal Andy Reid opening day problems:
* Yep, anybody can return kicks. That’s why rookie Dion Lewis was bringing the opening kick of the 2011 season out from eight yards deep in the end zone – and getting to the 11-yard line.
* I knew the Eagles defense might be a problem, with the Eagles annual blind eye to the linebacker position, the anointing of untested and undersized rookie Casey Matthews as the middle linebacker, and the huge gamble of Juan Castillo moving from offensive line coach to defensive coordinator. So there was Steven Jackson taking the very first snap for the Rams and bolting untouched 48 yards for a touchdown. Uh-oh.
* Of course that was set up by a line drive punt off the foot or rookie punter Chas Henry. Anybody can punt, right?
* And it came after the Eagles offensive line almost got their quarterback killed in the very first series. When Reid sent out that group for the first series of the game, it was the first time they had lined up with each other in a game. Rookie first round pick Danny Watkins had been demoted. Todd Herremans had been switched from left guard to right tackle. No problem, right?
There’s only thing I had not counted on when I picked the Rams to beat the Eagles.
Michael Vick.
He’s that good.
Put him together with LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson, and they form an almost unstoppable troika of offensive firepower.
The Eagles rode Vick’s arm – and more importantly his legs – in rallying from a shaky start to dominate the Rams.
Vick simply does things no one else on the planet can do - and no defense is easily going to stop. He threw for 187 yards – albeit only going 14 for 32 while under constant assault – but also ran for 98 yards.
McCoy torched the Rams for 122 yards on 15 carries.
Jackson caught six balls for 102 yards, making a huge statement in his push for a new conract.
Vick covers up a ton of mistakes. The Eagles offensive line is very much a work in progress. Vick is not. He very likely is the most valuable player in the NFL.
The Eagles will go as far as he takes them.
Right now, while running for his life and hopefully staying healthy, he’s taken them to 1-0.
Now he heads toward a prime-time homecoming Sunday night in Atlanta.
The Eagles will follow. He is their leader, the face of the franchise. They must keep him upright, and healthy.
So long as they do that, they will be hard to beat every Sunday.
* Yep, anybody can return kicks. That’s why rookie Dion Lewis was bringing the opening kick of the 2011 season out from eight yards deep in the end zone – and getting to the 11-yard line.
* I knew the Eagles defense might be a problem, with the Eagles annual blind eye to the linebacker position, the anointing of untested and undersized rookie Casey Matthews as the middle linebacker, and the huge gamble of Juan Castillo moving from offensive line coach to defensive coordinator. So there was Steven Jackson taking the very first snap for the Rams and bolting untouched 48 yards for a touchdown. Uh-oh.
* Of course that was set up by a line drive punt off the foot or rookie punter Chas Henry. Anybody can punt, right?
* And it came after the Eagles offensive line almost got their quarterback killed in the very first series. When Reid sent out that group for the first series of the game, it was the first time they had lined up with each other in a game. Rookie first round pick Danny Watkins had been demoted. Todd Herremans had been switched from left guard to right tackle. No problem, right?
There’s only thing I had not counted on when I picked the Rams to beat the Eagles.
Michael Vick.
He’s that good.
Put him together with LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson, and they form an almost unstoppable troika of offensive firepower.
The Eagles rode Vick’s arm – and more importantly his legs – in rallying from a shaky start to dominate the Rams.
Vick simply does things no one else on the planet can do - and no defense is easily going to stop. He threw for 187 yards – albeit only going 14 for 32 while under constant assault – but also ran for 98 yards.
McCoy torched the Rams for 122 yards on 15 carries.
Jackson caught six balls for 102 yards, making a huge statement in his push for a new conract.
Vick covers up a ton of mistakes. The Eagles offensive line is very much a work in progress. Vick is not. He very likely is the most valuable player in the NFL.
The Eagles will go as far as he takes them.
Right now, while running for his life and hopefully staying healthy, he’s taken them to 1-0.
Now he heads toward a prime-time homecoming Sunday night in Atlanta.
The Eagles will follow. He is their leader, the face of the franchise. They must keep him upright, and healthy.
So long as they do that, they will be hard to beat every Sunday.
Comments