Giveaway Sunday in South Philly

Who knew that it was Giveaway Sunday down in South Philly?

Let’s start with the Eagles. Time's yours, Andy. Again. Spare us how it is your responsibility and that you have to do a better job of putting players in position to make plays.

You don’t have the players. Or the scheme. Or the staff to figure it out.

All you, your staff and team did yesterday was watch a 23-3 lead disappear as the 49ers – sporting the worst offense in the NFL - scored 21 unanswered points to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

It is your third loss in a row and the third straight week in which the Birds have coughed up a second half lead.

Good teams don’t do that. Dream Teams don’t even contemplate it.

Sure, it’s tired and everyone is weary of hearing about it. But there’s a ring of truth to this dream turned nightmare. It tells you everything you need to know about Reid and the regime that runs the Eagles these days.

That is what they value. Superstars. Cornerbacks. But not, apparently, safeties. And certainly not linebackers.

The Eagles have put all their eggs in line coach Jim Washburn’s “Wide Nine” alignment. Yet they are a doughnut defense, with a huge hole in the middle. Their linebackers and safeties can’t cover the massive gaps created in this defense.

The decision to hand the reigns of this defense over to Juan Castillo, who was the Eagles offensive line coach, looks more and more like a disaster. It actually could be said that Washburn wields more power with the Eagles. That’s why they’re running his system, even though they don’t have the horses to pull it off.

I’ll spare you Reid’s normal post-game mockery of the media – and in so doing the fans.

It’s clear Reid is not going to change. Unfortunately, it does not appear Jeff Lurie and Joe Banner are looking to change either.

Then there’s the Phillies. This one is simple. The Phils put four runs on the board early for starter Cliff Lee.

That has to be a W. Lee has to take that one to the bank.

He didn’t. Instead the Cardinals pecked away and eventually walked off with a 5-4 win, knotting the NLDS at 1 and going home to St. Louis for two games.

Maybe the Phillies offense thought this one was in the bank as well. They did nothing after the 2nd inning, and against a string of Cardinals’ relievers.

But this one hangs on Lee. He simply has to win this game. That is why he was brought back. Compare Lee’s effort with the bulldog tenacity of Roy Halladay the night before. After surrendering three first-inning runs, the look on Halladay’s face told you everything you needed to know. He simply blew away the Cards from that point on.

The Phils now send Cole Hamels to the mound Tuesday night in St. Louis.

The Phillies don’t want any part of falling behind two games to one in a best of five.

Two teams. Two giveaways. Two ugly losses.

Time’s yours, fans.

Comments

Anonymous said…
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