From: dggok@pbhyg.PacBell.COM (4E150M)
Subject: Re: Analysis of Eagles vs Cowboys
Reply-To: dggok@PacBell.COM (David G. Gok)
Organization: Pacific * Bell, San Ramon, CA
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 17:30:02 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.160420.20034@midway.uchicago.edu> epc1@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
>
>Well, I haven't posted any insights in a long time due to other concerns.
>However, this matchup begs to be over-analyzed.  I just wish I were in 
>Philly so I could hear some of the WIP analyses.  WIP is interesting
>because the people who call in are 3 out of 4 times idiots saying the
>same things over and over again.  However, some of the commentaters
>are truly insightful and have fresh perspectives instead of reaching into
>a bag of hackneyed banalities such as "the Saints played for 30 minutes
>while the Eagles played for 60".  I can't stand meaningless cliches
>like this.  I can understand why players do it but when commentaters
>can't lend more than such phrases then they deserve to be fired.
>
This is probably the most reasonable assessment of the Cowboys/Eagles
game that I have seen on the net by an Eagles supporter.  Do these
teams really hate and dis-respect each other as much as their
net.fans seem to?  Compare the network traffic about this game to
the 49ers/Redskins game - which features the teams that have WON
7 of the last 11 SuperBowls.  No insults, no nasty comments.  Just
two teams and two sets of fans getting ready for what should be a
great game.  I expect the Eagles/Cowboys to also be a great game.

>I've seen almost all of the Eagles games on TV this year and have followed
>them very closely.  I was also fortunate enough to see them against
>the Giants in Week16 at the Vet.  Despite talk by contrarians to lose the
>game and play the 3rd wildcard team, the Eagles really needed to win the
>game convincingly.  The Eagles haven't played up to expectations this year;

(Not a flame, merely a question) Have the Eagles ever played up to
the expectations in Phildelphia?  If so, when and what were the
expectations?  

>most people expected them to win the NFC East and even host the NFC
>championship game.  In addition, late into the season, they had close games
>against the Seahawks and Redskins.  On top of this were the controversies
>surrounding Randall, Seth, and Reggie - Randall because of his inconsistency,
>Seth because of his mouth, and Reggie because he might leave next year.
>If the Eagles were like the 49ers and played at a consistent, playoff
>like level throughout the entire season, then they could think about losing to
>the Giants.  However, the Eagles did not obviously play at such a level.
>Hence, the Eagles needed to prove to themselves and to everyone else
>that they could play at such a level and build up momentum going into the 
>playoffs.  The Eagles did do this by dominating the Giants for 2.5 quarters 

Winning the last 4 and 7 of the last 8 will build up some momentum in
the regular season.  Winning their first playoff game since 1980 should
also help.

>before the eased up because of imminent victory.
>
>Against the Saints, the Eagles looked pathetic for the first 2.5 quarters.
>Needless to say, the defense made adjustments.  I'm still not
>sure what happened to the offense in the first half.  The second
>half of the game was incredible for the Eagles.  The looked as fantastic
>as the Eagles did in the first 4 games of the season.  While the Saints
>coaches, offense, and defense deserve some of the game, the Eagles
>looked like they were in great form and virtually dominant.  In addition,
>despite Kotite's mediocrity as a coach and a team leader (he brought in
>Pat Ryan, he never made contingency plans before Jacksons departure, he
>had to be TOLD by Byars to use him as a tight end), Kotite showed a small
>bit of intelligence and he did have a plan going into the game.  The Eagles
>rushed to the left at Pat Swilling.  This is the first hint of an offensive
>scheme by Kotite which has worked to my knowledge.
>
>
>Now, what can we conclude about the Eagles vs Dallas game going into this
>game?  
>	- The Eagles are close to achieving an incredible form and consistency.
>While not quite as dominating as they were in the first 4 games of the season,
>the Eagles are close to such a level.  
>
>	- Randall, even when down in the last 5 games or so, never had the
>panicked look about him as if he believed himself as the savior of the Eagles.
>Randall's numbers have been mostly average.  To be winning with such numbers
>makes me feel very good because it shows that the Eagles have multiple
>offensive threats which are being used.  It also shows that Randall is
>using sound judgement in not taking everything into his own hands.
>
>	- The defense is damn good.  Certainly playing as if it were in the
>top 3 in the league over the past several weeks.  Maino and Booty might
>even be average as safeties now.
>
>	- Walker and Sherman have both had 100+ yard rushing days in the last
>2 weeks.
>
>	- The Eagles field goal unit looks very weak, not because of Ruzek
>but because of his surrounding support players.
>
>
>With this in mind, the Eagles have several weaknesses.  Their field goal
>attempts can be blocked.  The two corners are excellent.  However, if Dallas
>starts sending sending another one or two people as intermediate and deep 
>threats, the Eagles might have real problems.  Randall can still fumble
>the ball because he cannot feel pressure as easily as everyone would want
>him to.  I don't believe Randall can be mentally rattled but turning over

But other NFL teams might believe that he can be rattled :-)

>the ball twice will really hurt the team.  I still feel Sherman will
>fumble the ball once in a game.
>
>Despite these weaknesses, the Eagles have many more things in their favor.
>Vai is a constant threat.  The Eagles linebackers are excellent.  The offensive
>line has been very good over the last several weeks.  One of the Eagles 
>rushers is likely to get a 100 yards against Dallas.  Having given up 160 yards
>to Emmit last game, the Eagles are almost sure to contain him this time.  I

Kind of weird logic.  Because Smith demonstrated he can run on the Eagles,
the Eagles are almost sure to contain him.  If they concentrate too much
on the run Dallas might have a field-day passing.

>don't think people realize that Emmit has never done well against the Eagles

How many years has Smith been playing?  Two, Three?  Seems like a short
period of time to be talking about "never done well".

>until the last game.  Finally, one has to wonder,
>if the Eagles are this good with average numbers by Cunningham, what can 
>happen if he has a good day?  
>
>I feel very good about this game.  In fact, I think the spread is ridiculous.
>The Eagles have alot of strengths coming into this game.  In addition, I still
>feel that the Eagles have the Cowboys' number.  Alot of people have forgotten
>the bane of the Eagles.  In addition, they feel that huge wins over Atlanta

I never forgot, because I never knew.  What, exactly, is the "bane of
the Eagles"?

>and Chicago indicates how great the team is.  While I am an Eagles
>fan, I am being very objective in my analysis and my statement when I say
>to Cowboys' fans, "Be very afraid".

I'm not a fan of either team, but I would say that the Eagles should be
wary of the Cowboys as well.  It should be a great game.


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