From: jmd@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (joseph.m.dakes)
Subject: Re: The Eagles have fallen and they can't get up.
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 14:42:35 GMT

In article <1992Nov4.194259.166984@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu>, aa05@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (ABDULMALIK A. ALHUSSEINI) writes:
> Q1. Why did the Eagles fall?
>     The team looked formidable in the 1st month of the season, and then went
>     to lose 3 out 4 games, so what happend? This is difficult to answer given
>     the talent level philly has especially on defense, but I can think about
>     a couple of reasons. May be you have more.
> 
>     First, the Eagles are an arrogant franchise, IMO. The players trash talk
>     alot, make season predictions based on the outcome of a single game and
>     show no respect for other teams. For example, 3 years ago (or so) the
>     Eagles beat the skins in DC in a high scoring, crazy game (remmember when
>     the eagles returned a contraveral fumble by Riggs in the 4th quarter).
>     The skins dominated that game but the eagles won on good fortune and some
>     contraversal calls. It was the 2nd game of the season and right after the
>     game the players predicted SuperBowl things! Next week SF came to philly
>     and beat them convincingly.

Oh my god.  You've hit the nail right on the head.  The reason the Eagles
have struggled the past few weeks is because three years ago they thought
they were a SuperBowl calibre team and weren't.  You're a genious.  NOT!

I remember that Redskins game.  Washington dominated the first quarter
by scoring on three long bombs to jump out to a 21-0 lead.  The Eagles may
have gotten some crazy bounces, but they took advantage of what was given
them and won what was one of the most exciting games I ever saw.  And as
for the Niners game, the Eagles were leading and completely shutdown Joe
Montana and the SF offense for three quarters.  But in the fourth, Montana
came back with four scoring drives.  What got it all started was a blown
tackle with the Niners deep in Eagles territory.  A simple pass to John
Taylor out in the flat which should have gone for naught became a long
TD run as the Eagles defender missed the tackle.  The Niners won, but
don't say that they won convincingly because they had all they could
handle that day.

>     The players are not the only guilty
>     party, the media and the fans are also arrogant. The media always stirr
>     things up, and the fans expect nothing but smashing of the week's
>     opponent. As a result, when the eagles lose no one reacts in a positive
>     way. They end up (fans and media) criticizing the players and coaches in
>     a harsh way. This is not good because it distracts the players and
>     coaches. To be fair, I think every NFL franchise has this problem, but it
>     is way big in philly.

That's right every team in the NFL has this same problem it just gets
more attention in the large media markets.  Look at the Giants fans.
Every time they lose they want Ray Handley's head.  And as an Eagles
fan, of course I want them to smash the opponent.  That's what every fan
of every team wants.

>     The win against Dallas is the most recent example,
>     it took too much emotional energy they wound up losing 3 out 4 to make
>     everybody in philly confused and angry.

Oh please.  What are you now a psychiatrist?  Did you see Emmit Smith
at the end of the game against the Eagles last week?  Don't you think
he was emotionally and physically drained?  If he wasn't, the Cowboys
wouldn't have won.  Football is a very emotional and very physical game.

>     The loss to the cowboys last week
>     looked like the end of the world even though the team has a very good
>     record of 5-3. Benching Cunningham is just a sign of the confusion. Even
>     though I think cunningham is overrated, he is capable of many things and
>     should remain as the starting QB. To sum it up, confidence is good but
>     arrogance isn't.

It's not the Eagles record, but the manner in which they are losing that
has fans concerned.  When you first looked at the Eagles schedule you
had to know that the games at Kansas City, at Washington, and at Dallas
were going to be difficult.  But you didn't know that Randall was going
to go from the #1 rated QB in the league to the bench.  Nor did you know
that the GANG GREEN would not be pressuring opposing QBs.  Nor did you
know that the special teams was going to be a thorn in the side again.

>     (note: I live in Allentown, PA, an Eagles strong hold. My
>     remarks are based on real life experiences with eagles fans, media and
>     players (on local TV)).

Hey, I have a great idea.  Move (note my address in my .sig)!  Move to
northern New Jersey and tell me you don't find the same thing with
Giants and Jets fans.  Move to Chicago and tell me if you don't find
the same thing with Bears fans.

>     Second, the eagles have some serious holes to fill. The OL is one of
>     worst in the league. You can't do alot of positive things in the NFL
>     (especially in the NFC and the east in particular) without an above
>     average OL. Unfortunatly for the eagles, their OL is below average and
>     they play in the NFC East. It must be very frustrating for the coaches and
>     fans to see that A Davis didn't develop to become the player they wanted
>     him to be. Davis cost the eagles 2 1st round picks. The loss of TE Jackson
>     looks like a costly one. Barrnet is the only quality WR, C Williams is ok
>     but not in Barnett class. The secondary is showing signs of weaknesses,
>     they really need B Smith back. The problem is B Smith injury was serious
>     and at best he can play safety.

The Eagles offensive line played solidly during the first four games
of the season when the Birds went 4-0.  Since then both LT Ron Heller and
RT Antone Davis have been suffering with knee injuries.  If they played
well early in the season they can play well now.  They just have to get
healthy.  As far as Antone Davis is concerned, he's still in his second
season.  He is much improved over last season.  If this trend continues
he may still develop into an outstanding tackle.  Other than QB, OT is
one of the most difficult positions to master in the first couple of
seasons.  And the Eagles did not give up two #1 picks for him.  They gave
up one #1 pick in addition to swapping #1's.  The Eagles got the Packers
#1 (6th overall) for their own #1 (20+?) that year.

The secondary not only lost Smith, but Andre Waters as well.  It may
take time for Miano and Booty to fill in.  CB Eric Allen is one of the
best in the league.  He can go one-on-one with anybody which allows
Booty or Jenkins to get help.  Dallas made them look bad, but they did
an adequate job against the Cards, who threaded the 49ers secondary.

> Q2. Can the Eagles get up?
> 
>     I will be surprised if they didn't rebound, granted that the players and
>     coaches put things in prospective and ignore the media and fans. They have
>     a record of 5-3 with the hardest part of their schdule being behind them.

This is key.  The most difficult part of the schedule is behind them, but
they can't get complacent.  Not now.  It all starts this week against the
Raiders.


E-A-G-L-E-S

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

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