NFL Week 7 General Discussion Thread

Jake Plummer threw two INTs in week one. Since then, he's thrown only one INT and seven TDs. And the INT was in week 2. No INTs since then.

Remember what I talked about with him and pass attempts in a game? In weeks 1 and 2, he had 48 and 37 attempts. Since then, he hasn't hit 30, and he hasn't thrown a single INT.

*Legion* wrote:

Jake Plummer threw two INTs in week one. Since then, he's thrown only one INT and seven TDs. And the INT was in week 2. No INTs since then.

Remember what I talked about with him and pass attempts in a game? In weeks 1 and 2, he had 48 and 37 attempts. Since then, he hasn't hit 30, and he hasn't thrown a single INT.

All I know is that this week better be the week McNabb throws less than 35 times...I'll jump off a bridge if I have to endure another 55 pass attempt game..

TheGameguru wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

Jake Plummer threw two INTs in week one. Since then, he's thrown only one INT and seven TDs. And the INT was in week 2. No INTs since then.

Remember what I talked about with him and pass attempts in a game? In weeks 1 and 2, he had 48 and 37 attempts. Since then, he hasn't hit 30, and he hasn't thrown a single INT.

All I know is that this week better be the week McNabb throws less than 35 times...I'll jump off a bridge if I have to endure another 55 pass attempt game..

Yes Eagles really need to be more balanced but at this point where is the running game going to come from? Letting Levens go I think turned out to be a huge mistake.

From the game-and-a-half I've seen of the Eagles, they have the capability for a decent running game. It just seems like the coach made a decision that he would rather throw the ball all the time. To be honest, I think it's one of the main reasons that the Eagles aren't a better team.

Poppinfresh wrote:

From the game-and-a-half I've seen of the Eagles, they have the capability for a decent running game. It just seems like the coach made a decision that he would rather throw the ball all the time. To be honest, I think it's one of the main reasons that the Eagles aren't a better team.

I am of the impression that they are not getting many yards per carry.

Also Westbrook is known more for catching balls out of the backfield then being a work horse sort of runner.

From WashingtonPost NFL coverage:

McNabb is averaging 42.3 passing attempts per game this season, while Westbrook is averaging 10.8 carries per contest.

According to Fox Sports they gain 3.4 yards per carry.

I would think with McNabb being injured they would want to run the ball more too but maybe falling behind and having to play catchup has something to do with the lack of running game too.

I agree though that you can not get too far in the NFL if you are pass happy.

What is funny the NFC east which has been a traditionally smash mouth grinding running game division is pass happy this season.

Well, maybe you're right. Maybe the Iggles don't have what it takes for a good running game. I've only seen a game and a half, and I wasn't paying super-close attention anyway. 3.4 yards, though, isn't all that bad. Do that three times and you have a first down. The Steelers only get 0.6 yards more, and they have run the ball twice as much.

If nothing else, I think it's dangerous to be overly one dimensional. For whatever reason, the Eagles' coaches are pass happy. They have fewer rushing attempts than anyone else in the league. I just think that's a bad idea (and it sounds we're in agreement on that.)

maladen wrote:
Poppinfresh wrote:

From the game-and-a-half I've seen of the Eagles, they have the capability for a decent running game. It just seems like the coach made a decision that he would rather throw the ball all the time. To be honest, I think it's one of the main reasons that the Eagles aren't a better team.

I am of the impression that they are not getting many yards per carry.

Also Westbrook is known more for catching balls out of the backfield then being a work horse sort of runner.

From WashingtonPost NFL coverage:

McNabb is averaging 42.3 passing attempts per game this season, while Westbrook is averaging 10.8 carries per contest.

According to Fox Sports they gain 3.4 yards per carry.

I would think with McNabb being injured they would want to run the ball more too but maybe falling behind and having to play catchup has something to do with the lack of running game too.

I agree though that you can not get too far in the NFL if you are pass happy.

What is funny the NFC east which has been a traditionally smash mouth grinding running game division is pass happy this season.

As you mentioned, Westbrook is NOT a workhorse back. He is a speed back with excellent hands. If you give a speed back 10 carries per game, you can't expect 4.0+ YPC. The smaller agile speed backs make most of their yards by breaking off one or two 20+ yard carries per game.

Another big problem with Westy's low YPC average is the fact that the Eagles have been targeting and placing strong pass blockers on their offensive line. While they have the talent to keep McNabb on his feet, their strength is not run blocking, which leaves Westy fighting for holes to break through.

I fully believe that if Westy was carrying the ball 18-20 times a game, his YPC average would vastly increase. He's an excellent back that is fully capable of hitting a weakness in the defensive line if the chance arises. He also has the speed and agility to beat the secondary in the instances that he's given the ball enough to make it out there.

Oh I agree Westbrook is very dangerous but I think the loss of Dorsey Levens was a bigger hit than the Eagles figured.

Toss in McNabb being injured I think makes it harder as it seems McNabb has not thrown deep in last couple games.

This lets the safeties creep up and no longer have to respect the passing game even though they know the Eagles are going to pass.

We are in agreement about it being bad to throw the ball 50 times a game.

I think if the Eagles do not run the ball well against Denver this week they are likely to lose although Eagles have a tendancy to come back in the 4th and the Broncos tend to let people back in the game in the 4th so we will see.

I still can no make up my mind if the NFC east is a good division or marginal division this year.

Oh I agree Westbrook is very dangerous but I think the loss of Dorsey Levens was a bigger hit than the Eagles figured.

AFAIK Dorsey is sitting around on speed dial in case Gordon goes down.. unless some other team picked him up... I mean the guy is pretty old..they looked at Dorsey again in the offseason as soon as Buckhalter went down but Gordon was available so they went with him.

I think if the Eagles do not run the ball well against Denver this week they are likely to lose although Eagles have a tendancy to come back in the 4th and the Broncos tend to let people back in the game in the 4th so we will see.

I think the Eagles will shock the pundits this weekend and beat Denver...and once again not run the ball at all....I think the D and a marginal offense will probably get the job done in a close game.... honestly no one is looking for the Eagles to run the ball all that well.. we're really only hoping to get it up to somewhere near 60/40 from 80/20.. in the end the Eagles can beat anyone by simply spreading the ball around...running a bit to keep the LB's honest and relying on the Defense to keep them in games.

Everyone was sorta hoping that we'd see Moats earlier this season run the ball some...but apparently he's having difficulty picking up this so-called West Coast Offense.. like we havent heard that around here about pretty much every rookie.

I think the Eagles will shock the pundits this weekend and beat Denver...and once again not run the ball at all....I think the D and a marginal offense will probably get the job done in a close game....

As a Chiefs fan, I am hoping you are right.

maladen wrote:

Oh I agree Westbrook is very dangerous but I think the loss of Dorsey Levens was a bigger hit than the Eagles figured.

Toss in McNabb being injured I think makes it harder as it seems McNabb has not thrown deep in last couple games.

This lets the safeties creep up and no longer have to respect the passing game even though they know the Eagles are going to pass.

We are in agreement about it being bad to throw the ball 50 times a game.

I think if the Eagles do not run the ball well against Denver this week they are likely to lose although Eagles have a tendancy to come back in the 4th and the Broncos tend to let people back in the game in the 4th so we will see.

I still can no make up my mind if the NFC east is a good division or marginal division this year.

While I agree with your opinions on the Eagles needing to run to open Denver's defense in some respects, I think that McNabb (even with his sore groin), will be more than effective against what has been a very lackluster secondary this year. Denver is allowing nearly 250 yards passing against them so far this year, and a strong pass oriented team should tear them to shreds. Keep in mind, Denver is also one of the top rushing defenses in the league, with both a very strong set of rushing minded defensive linemen and linebackers. While Westy is dangerous rushing, in this instance he'd be better suited in assisting with the passing game. Champ Bailey is an excellent shutdown corner for Denver, but Williams, Lynch, and Ferguson will have a tough time keeping a handle on Greg Lewis and TO together, and throw in Reggie Brown to stretch the field a bit. That leaves Denver's linebackers to cover LJ Smith, Westbrook, and McNabb. Not a good situation.

To address the fact that McNabb has had trouble getting the ball deep, well, why does he need to? With three strong receiving threats on his team (TO, Westy, Smith), and two mediocre receivers to back up TO and keep the safeties downfield, I'm not sure why you think (particularly in this game against Denver) that Philly will need to put up a strong show rushing.

Philly needs a back that can carry the ball out of the backfield, definitely. Westbrook isn't that guy. Dorsey Levens wouldn't really be that guy at his age either, though. Ryan Moats isn't it either - he's yet another undersized back that's more suited for a Westbrook style role (though not as explosive). Lamar Gordon is who he is - just a guy.

Buckhalter was going to be that guy, but, well, the wind blew.

Champ Bailey is an excellent shutdown corner for Denver, but Williams, Lynch, and Ferguson will have a tough time keeping a handle on Greg Lewis and TO together, and throw in Reggie Brown to stretch the field a bit.

Greg Lewis isn't anything special. And Reggie Brown has been invisible. No more than 1 catch in a game played against anyone other than SF. It doesn't take studs to stop the non-TO receivers on this team. See the Dallas game.

That leaves Denver's linebackers to cover LJ Smith, Westbrook, and McNabb. Not a good situation.

When you don't have to worry about the run, this gets a hell of a lot easier. See the Dallas game.

Philly needs to find a way to move the ball on the ground with the guys on the roster. Maybe with some clever scheming to try and keep those undersized backs from getting squished in traffic. Maybe squeezing all the blood there is out of the Lamar Gordon stone. Just something.

Ryan Moats isn't it either - he's yet another undersized back that's more suited for a Westbrook style role

hmm...considering he has yet to carry the ball from scrimmage one time yet.. I'd say the jury is still out on Moats.. I'd wait and see how he looks.. certainly in preseason he was running the ball well between the tackles...granted that was against 3rd stringers..but he is a rookie..

Buckhalter is done...he'll never play another down in the NFL.. The Eagles will have to draft another RB... but they'll never have a feature back..since its simply not in Reid's philosphy to give anyone the ball more than 10-12 times a game.. and certainly as a whole they'll never run on average more than 20-22 times a game tops.

They were most effective with Staley and Westbrook that one year... with Buckhalter also...but honestly Staley could have just as easily taken Buckhalter's carries..he just wanted feature back money and carries...something he was never going to get in Philly..

Shame he's had so many injuries with Pitt.

Aaaaand Travis Henry finds his way to Philly next year!