It's fun watching Carolina doing all this trash talking all week ....
Guess they take their cue from their coach John Fox; you won't see Andy Reid nor his team talking trash all week about an opponent. Even Freddie Mitchell who talks 24 hours a day shows absolute respect for opponents; anyway, he's too busy talking about Freddie Mitchell to care.
When asked about his guarantee to his players that GB would beat Philly, Fox was eventually asked about his team not having been in a championship game and how it may affect their play.
His answer was along the lines of yeah, we haven't been there but we haven't lost twice either !
John Fox should remember this .... Andy Reid took over a garbage team. Andy Reid has been to the playoffs 4 years in a row. He has been in 3 consecutive conference championship games.
I think John Fox has a snowball's chance in hell of equaling Andy Reid's performance.
Most coaches in the HofF can't put those numbers out there let alone John Fox ... who I do think is a good coach.
Muhammed talking about how Steven Davis shouldn't play because then he may not be able to play in the Super Bowl ...
Ricky Manning talking about how he's not impressed at all by the Eagles ! Hey dood, they beat your ass once ... just shut up and play your game.
Mintner talking about how he can't wait to "get it on" with Philly fans .... damn ... he should go talk to Dan Morgan who used to be a 700 level Eagle fan growing up ... Morgan won't let his fiancee come to the game ! No batteries, look for the loons in the crowd to be throwing bowling balls at Mintner when he comes on the field ... lol
As far as on the field things; Vincent being back, if healthy, will be a big help. With Troy out, J Johnson rarely blitzes Dawk or moves him up against the run. With Troy in there, it opens up the Eagles blitz package quite a bit more and allows Dawk to help against the run.
If Vincent can't go, I'd look for more Lito Sheppard than Sheldon Brown. Although not as strong against the run, Sheppard does have the speed to keep up with Smith. That is, if anyone can keep up with him. Taylor will most likely have Muhammed regardless of who the other corner is; Taylor doesn't have the speed to take Smith.
It's interesting to see how the media and many fans fawn over McNabb. Of course, he is the key player for the Eagles because if he has a bad game they're simply not going to win. He's key because the ball is in his hand every offensive play.
McNabb is not however the emotional leader of this team; the Eagles will to win doesn't come from McNabb. It comes from 2 players ... Duce and Dawk. They are the heart and soul of this team; McNabb has his teams' confidence but is not the player who makes sure their will to win comes to the fore.
All you need to see is Dawk running down Green last week on the 4 yard line. Most players simply give up on that play. Or watch Duce's two runs down the stretch; refusing to be stopped. Every player on this team knows you give that same effort every play, knows you never give up.
Anyway, Carolina will look to run the ball down the Eagles throat and set up a big play here and there. I think if the Eagles can stay away from the big play from Smith, the running game won't be enough to win the game for Carolina. The Eagles are used to losing the stat game but winning the scoreboard game; the only game that really counts.
Eagles by 3.
J |
