From: jmd@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (joseph.m.dakes)
Subject: Eagles Report
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 18:55:14 GMT
Keywords: Philadelphia 36, New Orleans 20


The Bills' come-from-behind victory over the Oilers was the biggest in
NFL history, but the Eagles' comeback against the Saints wasn't too
shabby either.  Considering that it was 20-7 late in the third quarter
at the SuperDome where the fans pride themselves on being the loudest
in the NFL, and that it was against the Saints defense and its four
all-pro linebackers.  Yeah, I'd say it was a pretty good comeback for
the Birds.

I think Keith Byars said it best, "the Saints played for thirty minutes,
we played for sixty."  Actually the Saints did play for sixty minutes,
only they were forced to play without the football for the last thirty.
New Orleans' proud defense could not stop Randall and Co. in the second
half as the Eagles moved the ball at will with a balanced attack.  After
being stuffed in the first half, Rich Kotite made a BIG change on offense
to start the second.  Kotite remembered how well the Eagles moved the ball
on the ground against the Saints back in week-1 using a one back set.
Herschel dominated the day back in September and the Saints were keyed on
stopping Walker the second time around.  So Kotite crossed them up with
Heath Sherman as the lone back in the second half.  It was an excellent
adjustment as Sherman ran for over 100-yards including the go-ahead TD.

According to Reggie White, the only defensive adjustment in the second
half was a mental one.  Hebert was almost perfect in the first half
finding open receivers underneathe the Birds coverage and hitting
IronHead Heyward on screen after screen.  But LB Byron Evans stayed with
Heyward and the secondary stepped up its coverage in the second half.
Without anybody to throw to, Hebert was a sitting duck as the GANG GREEN
pinned their ears back and went after him.  Three interceptions and a
safety later there was no question as to which defense was the more
dominant.

Report Card:
============
Quarterback:  A-.  Randall struggled early on, but mostly because of a
non-existent running game giving him second or third-and-long to work
with.  But he played a smart game and came back with a great second half.
Randall hit on 19 of 35 for 219-yards, two TDs, and no INTs.  He also
scrambled twice for 19-yards and made some good decisions to avoid the
pressure and get rid of the football.

Runningbacks:  A.  The Eagles started the day with a two-back set.  But
as I mentioned above, Kotite went with Heath Sherman as the lone back to
start the second half.  It worked to perfection.  Sherman finished with
105-yards on 21 carries and one TD.  He also caught three passes for
29-yards.  Herschel was limited to 12-yards on 5-carries.  But don't get
too excited Herschel-bashers, he's still a BIG part of the Birds' offense.

Receivers:  A-.  Arkansas Fred Barnett burned the Saints for 102-yards
on only four receptions including two TDs.  Barnett's second TD grab was
one for the '92 highlight film.  Calvin Williams caught four for 36-yards
including one on a key third down conversion.  Veteran Roy Green also
came through with a key third down reception for 24-yards.  Keith Byars
hauled in six balls for 37-yards.  There were a couple drops or their
grade would have been an A!

Offensive Line:  B.  The Saints defense dominated the Birds' line in the
first half.  Particularly Antone Davis going against LB Rickey Jackson.
But Antone handled him when it counted in the second half, as the Eagles
rushed for 136-yards and limited the Saints to only one sack.  Ron Heller
did an outstanding job against Swilling.

Defensive Front:  B.  The GANG GREEN was horrible in the first half as
Hebert was unconscious.  Reggie White got the lone sack (a safety which all
but sealed the win late in the fourth), but the defense put enough pressure  
on Hebert to force him into mistakes.  Reggie said coming into the game
that if they applied pressure on Hebert he would turn the ball over.  And
he was right on the money.  The D' held New Orleans to 76-yards rushing on
twenty attempts.

Secondary:  B-.  After a shaky start (CB Mark McMillian was flagged for
interference in the endzone and CB Eric Allen was burned for six) the
coverage picked up and they made some big plays.  Eric Allen had two huge
INTs including one for an 18-yard score which put the nail in the Saints
coffin.

Special Teams:  B.  Jeff Feagles punted great, but unfortunately too often.
Roger Ruzek was 2 for 2 on FG attempts and had five of his six kickoffs
land in the endzone.  But the neither the returns nor the coverage was
anything special.  They were solid however.

Overall:  B+.  The Eagles looked pretty bad on both sides of the football
in the first half.  But they came out and played a great second half.
To come back like that against the Saints at the SuperDome shows the type
of character and poise, not to mention talent, that this team has.

So this group of Eagles have gotten their first playoff win under their
belts.  And now all the Randall-bashers can look for something else to
find fault with because they can no longer say, "Randall hasn't won a
playoff game."  He's got one and he's going for two.  Next week, the
showdown in Big 'D, Philadelphia at Dallas.  It should be one hell of a
game and one hell of a week on this newsgroup.


E-A-G-L-E-S

Joe Dakes
AT&T Microelectronics
555 Union Boulevard
Allentown, PA  18103
alux1!jmd