Pregaming at the Linc?

You'll probably find me inside the gate, and somewhere to to the left this Sunday[Parking lot info]. I'll be downing some early morning meister chow. Not my flavor of choice, but certainly beats the Rocky Mountain (not) refereshment, that is Coors Light. However, I digress. Let's get back on topic, shant we?
Sunday we take on the St. Louis Rams at 1 pm (Fox, 94.1 WYSP/610 WIP, Sirius Channel 153, or NFL Sunday Ticket). We should all be excited for this season. Amidst all of the drama that has unfolded in our preseason, we are still considered contenders, but it means nothing if we can't follow through. So, no matter what we think about the Rams, it is a must win for the Eagles. We have to start strong, and carry on through the entire season. Which brings us to today's topic.

I love SBNation.com (content, layout, etc..). Often the main writers for each team site will exchange with one another. This morning was no different. Bleeding Green Nation got together with Turf Show Times (Rams) for a a little Q&A session prior to our Sunday showdown. They were both good reads. Check them out below. Anyways, I decided that I was going to answer the questions posed by Turf Show Times, as If I was the head blogger-in-charge of Bleeding Green Nation. I will try to stay away from what has already been mentioned to the best of my ability, but there is going to be at least some overlap.


Roll Tape, Queue Sound, and Action.....

1. The Eagles amassing of superstar cornerbacks, albeit one incredibly unhappy one, dominated offseason talk about your team. How do the cornerbacks fit into the larger plan for the Eagles to contend?

Answer: They play a vital role in our ability to be a contender. Jim Johnson is a blitzing guru. His defensive scheme is built on getting to the quarterback, which can leave the cornerback on an island in coverage. If they are't solid cover men, then Johnson's ability to rush the passer is limited. Having 2 pro-bowl corners (Sheppard, Samuel), and another solid corner (Brown) is great. It gives Johnson the ability to get creative, and poses a real problem for the opposing offense. Pressure leads to turnovers, and we didn't have many of those last year. If we get good pressure up front, then Samuel, Sheppard, and Brown should improve our numbers from a year ago.



2. No team is perfect. What are the Eagles' weak spots?
   
   Answer: There are a few different things that could be potential weak spots on our team. At the top of the list would be (#1) red zone offense. Piss poor, at best last year. Hopefully that will be improved upon from a year ago. L.J. Smith is healthy again, and he's a great red zone target. (#2)The wide receiver position. We lost our most productive receiver (Kevin Curtis) for an unknown amount of time due to a sports hernia. Reggie Brown is currently nursing a bad hamstring, and can't be counted on to start, and be productive right now. So, that leaves us with DeSean Jackson, Hank Baskett, Gregg Lewis, and Jason Avant to fill in. DeSean has really impressed Philly as a receiver during preseason. We expected him to be an immediate impact on special teams, and gradually work him in as a receiver, but that hasn't been the case. He was thrust into the starting line-up, and hasn't disappointed, but he's still not battle tested. How he performs on Sunday could ease a lot of fears. Then you have the receiver by committee group of Baskett, Lewis, and Avant. They all have shown potential, but not enough to differentiate themselves from one another. It's going to be very important that produce every chance they get. (#3) Special teams was another weakness that needs to be erradicated. Special teams cost us the game with Greenbay a year ago. The Eagles did address the issue through free agency, and the draft, and have looked good, So Far. Field position is crucial in a game of inches.
   
   
3. Last season the Eagles had a pretty good pass rush; how do things look this season? Defending against Steven Jackson is a lot like defending against Brian Westbrook, how do the Eagles do that?
   
   
   Answer: Wow, a two parter. I think that our pass rush looks promising. We have Broderick Bunkley and Mike Patterson at the tackles. Then we drafted Trevor Laws who's can step in, and provide a break without compromising the interior line. On the outside, we went out and signed Chris Clemmons, and let go of some others. I think that we are solid across the front four, no matter who's on the field. Jackson is a strong in runner. He can take it outside, or right up the middle. He's a workhorse. It's going to be important to control the line of scrimmage, and force him to go east/west. That will give us more timing to envelope him (hopefully in the backfield). If he has some daylight, and is running downhill, he's going to be much harder to stop.
   
   
   
4. If the 2008 Eagles were a film, what film would they be?
   
   
   Answer: I would have to say "Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." For around 7 years we were the team to beat in the NFC East. Then, we suffered a serious set back (McNabb's injuries), and this Jean Girard character (Cowboys) becomes the best out there. Now, we are healthy, and ready to make a run to be king of the hill again. You could sub in the Giants too, considering that they are the defending Super Bowl champs, but you see where this is all going.
   
   
   
5. Doesn't Donovan McNabb look like himself every year about this time?
   
   
   Answer: I'm not sure that it could have been said any better than this:"This is the first year since the superbowl year that McNabb has
   not spent
   the offseason rehabbing some type of season ending injury from the
   year prior.
   It's pretty unreal to think the guy hasn't had a proper
   offseason in 4 years. So
   I think that's where the extra optimism is coming
   from this year. Last year at
   the start of the year he looked pretty bad and
   we could clearly see he wasn't
   over the knee injury of the year prior. This
   year, he looks like a different
   person. " - Jason B from Bleeding Green Nation

Compliments of SB Nation:
5 Questions for Bleeding Green Nation.
5 Questions for Turf Show Times.

GO BIRDS!!!!

Friday's+MPIE= Good times at OFTOT


Anyone going to the game? Let me know. We'll sing the Eagles Fight Song, and slosh beers together!