From: epc1@quads.uchicago.edu (Merlin)
Subject: Re: Eagles poor win over LA
Reply-To: epc1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 19:18:18 GMT

In article <1992Nov10.213347.5043@cbnewsm.cb.att.com> jmd@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (joseph.m.dakes) writes:
>In article <1992Nov10.155048.7895@midway.uchicago.edu>, epc1@quads.uchicago.edu (Merlin) writes:
>> At first glance, it would appear that the Eagles under the leadership of
>> Jim McMahon won a blowout against the Raiders.  However, this is not the
>> case.  The Eagles in the first half had a very poor offensive effort.
>
>Poor offensive effort or not, the game was a blow out.  A meaningless
>last minute Raiders TD only made it look more respectable at 31-10.
>

I'm worried about the quality of the wins, not just by the quantity of the 
scores.  Superficially, the scores between the Eagles vs Denver is similar
to the score between the Eagles vs Raiders.  However, the games were played
on entirely differently.  The Eagles crushed Denver in every aspect of the 
game.  However, against the Raiders, the Eagles' offense was anemic and the
offensive line porous.

>> Kotite, in his stupidity, never bothered to establish the running game early
>> on.  And I definitely noticed what the announcers were concerned with -
>> there were alot of junk in their offensive plays.  Motion, fakes, and
>> complicated sets can be effective when properly utilized; however, they
>> were ineffective for most of the game.
>
>Here I agree with you.  The announcers overdid it a little bit, but
>motion and play action on third and very long serves no purpose.  The
>only reason I can come up with for Kotite not going to Herschel early
>to establish the run is because of the Eagles excellent field position.
>Kotite was going for the quick strike rather than a sustained drive.

An excellent field position is a prime reason to start and stick with a
running game plan.  Then, the play action pass work much more effectively later
in the game when you don't have such a great field position to start with.

>> And once more,
>> Kotite had the QB come out throwing on first and ten from the beginning of the
>> game.  WHY IS HE SO STUPID.  We have in Herschel one of the the top six
>> running backs in the league (in terms of yardage gained); however, Kotite
>> comes out throwing and continues the passing game until the Eagles built
>> up enough of a lead to start a running game.  Kotite needs to have Herschel
>> tire the opposing defense down by giving him the ball 20 - 25 times and
>> running through the middle.  Then, the play action pass can work.  I saw
>> Barnett and Williams consistently doubled because we had not even started
>> running the ball until the second half.
>
>You want to keep the defense off guard.  You want to pass when they
>expect run, and run when they expect pass.  So I have no problem with
>throwing on first and ten.  But you need to mix it up.  

The problem is that the first and ten pass plays have been incredibly
unsuccessful.  I attribute this to the lack of the development of the
running game.  For some reason, Kotite has not called in running plays
early in the game for the last several games.

>> The Eagles need a better tight end.  I don't know why Kotite keeps on
>> bringing on washed up snappers to play skilled positions such as tight end.
>> Beach needs to go.  I have never seen him produce in the past 9 games
>> of the season.  We need a 3 receiver set.  Or a modified run and shoot
>> receiving corp offense.  We have the receivers for such an adaptation in 
>> Barnett, Williams, Sikahema, and Green.
>
>Beach needs to go?  Who the hell are they going to get to replace
>him at this point in the season?  Beach stays because not only is
>he the long snapper, but an excellent blocker.  I really thought
>that Maurice Johnson would be able to get open, but I guess not.
>Once Byars' hand heals, he'll be used more at TE.  I agree that they
>need a better one, but that should have been addressed during the
>offseason because they knew Keith Jackson would be a holdout.  The
>Eagles have used a 3WR set now that Roy Green has been activated.
>
>> Whatever Kotite decides, he better get rid of his junky plays and produce
>> a viable offensive scheme.  So far, he's only succeeded in taking a good
>> football team down the road of the Jets.
>
>Give me a break.  The Eagles are 6-3, their best record at this point
>in the season since '89.  They have some problems offensively, but
>nothing that can't be fixed if the team works hard.  And with the
>GANG GREEN the team doesn't need to score 30 points per game to win.
>I wasn't happy with Kotite's decision to bench Randall, but I'm giving
>him the benefit of the doubt.  The offense looked good early in the
>season and there is no reason why they can't turn it around.
>

Give me a break, the Eagles are resembling the Jets personnel more and more.
From the offensive coordinator to Pat Ryan to Pat Beach to a myriad of other
players brought in by Kotite, we are seeing a dramatic change in the
personnel.  6-3 is nothing to laugh at but the record could have been
better had Kotite found a way to improve the offensive line earlier.  We've
had a poor offense for over a month now.  That is a long time for the coach
to figure something out.  I enjoyed seeing McMahon and I don't fault Kotite
for making the decision.  However, seeing the inadequecy of the offense under
both Cunningham and McMahon proves to me that Kotites play calling needs
much improvement.  We need a better running game (or just more running plays) -
especially EARLY in the game.  We need more receivers on the field to deflect
some of the constant double team by the opposing players.  And we need
more points on the board.  We don't need thirty points to win a game since
we have a great defense.  However, we should try to improve the offense so
that they CAN win games without depending on the defense.  This means
that the offense should be able to produce 30 points a game.

The time for a resurgence is now, before the games against SF and Washington.
And of course, before the playoffs roll around....
-- 
En Pum Cho					
University of Chicago Class of 1994
math & economics major
epc1@midway.uchicago.edu