Archives for October 2011

‘Still, with Vick, LeSean McCoy, the NFC’s second-leading rusher, and high-quality wideouts Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson, plus all those high-priced defensive stars, Philly is favored against the Bills.’

‘"It’s a big point of emphasis this week, third-down conversions," Bills coach Chan Gailey said. "Normally when I talk about things we have to do to win with the team, it’s things the other team does well that we have to get better at so we can negate that. One of the points this week is us on third down. It doesn’t have anything to do with them. Especially we had way too many third-down and 6 minuses (or fewer) that we didn’t convert. We had not been doing that but we did this week."’

‘"In this league it is," said McIntyre, who is 6 feet, 247 pounds. "Teams are moving away from it. They want to spread people out. But the guys who are playing fullback — me, [the Ravens’] Vonta Leach, that [Owen] Schmitt at Philly — we want to bring it back."’

‘The Eagles also are expected to have a new starter at left tackle. Jason Peters has a hamstring injury and did not practice Wednesday. His replacement is King Dunlap, a fourth-year player who was a seventh-round pick in 2008. Dunlap started five games last season. The Eagles’ center, Jason Kelce, is a rookie sixth-round pick.’

‘”There isn’t really a way to stop Vick, but you can definitely do some things to frustrate him and put them in some bad positions. But he’s going to make plays; he’s a terrific quarterback and he does a lot of things great.”‘

‘”It’s things that the other team does well that we have to get better at so that we can negate that,” Gailey said. “One of the points this week is us on third down. It doesn’t have anything to do with them, it’s we need to get better on third down. We had way too many third downs – six minuses – that we didn’t convert. We have not been doing that, but we did (last Sunday).”‘

‘At the Bills camp this week, coach Chan Gailey was asked if he thinks the Eagles are a desperate team and if that poses any special problems. “Everybody needs a win,” he replied. “You walk into any press conference, anywhere, and everybody will say the same thing. Everybody’s desperate. They’re no different than anybody else we play. I think a lot of times if you use the word desperate, then you start trying to do things you can’t do and that creates more of a problem than a solution.”‘

Eagles put Watkins back into starting lineup (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Eagles’ defensive line gets some reinforcements (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Watkins cracks Eagles lineup (Philadelphia Daily News)

Jenkins has to fill leadership void on Eagles defense (Philadelphia Daily News)

Landri back with Eagles, with something to prove (Philadelphia Daily News)

Vick issues wakeup call to Eagles teammates (Philadelphia Daily News)

Watkins will make first start (Burlington County Times)

Team’s problems more than just defense (Burlington County Times)

Watkins finally gets a start (Wilmington State Journal)

‘Dream Team’ no more (Wilmington State Journal)

Vick admits ‘Dream Team’ is dead after 3-game losing streak (Delaware County Daily Times)

Pressure’s on Watkins again as Eagles face Bills (Delaware County Daily Times)

in isn’t altogether fine with latest fine (Delaware County Daily Times)

Watkins to make his first NFL start (Allentown Morning Call)

Landri returns to add defensive line depth (Allentown Morning Call)

Philadelphia Eagles first-round draft pick Danny Watkins to play Sunday at last – ready or not (Easton Express Times)

Watkins back in starting lineup (Reading Eagle)

RIP: Vick says ‘dream team’ label ‘dead’ (Reading Eagle)

Rookie Watkins to start at right guard for Eagles on Sunday in Buffalo (Press of Atlantic City)

Vick says ‘Dream Team’ nickname is dead (Press of Atlantic City)

Just maybe media, fans were right about this Philadelphia Eagles team (Trenton Times)

Danny Watkins gets the call from Eagles that he’ll be starting (Harrisburg Patriot News)

Eagles need Watkins to be ready this time (CSN Philly)

Eagles may be without DE Parker again vs. Bills (CSN Philly)

Do the Eagles have a leadership crisis? (CSN Philly)

Vick: Dream Team label is ‘dead now’ (CSN Philly)

Brown keeps replaying ill-advised throw (CSN Philly)

Landri happy to be back with the Birds (CSN Philly)

Reid’s update: Watkins, injuries and more (CSN Philly)

Vick: time to move past ‘Dream Team’ label (AP)

Watkins set for starting debut (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy And Personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Reid: System has contributed to Asomugha’s slow start (The Sports Xchange)

After Step Back, Watkins Moving Forward (PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

Injury Report: Tapp, Parker Making Strides (PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

Landri Happy To Be Back With Eagles (PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

Gailey: Success No Surprise For Bills (PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

Back To Basics For Maclin (PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

Watkins To Work With Starters (PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

DT Dixon Undergoes Surgery (PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

‘What’s difficult to overlook is the alarming rate of yards being piled up against a new-look defense that’s suddenly springing familiar leaks. Buffalo has allowed 450 yards in each of its last three games, including 458 in a 23-20 loss at Cincinnati last weekend.’

‘Barnett doesn’t think the injury “is too serious” and expects to return to practice in the next few days. He rolled his ankle in a 23-20 loss at Cincinnati on Sunday, and wore a protective boot at the team’s facility a day later.’

‘”We’ll be mad about the game for a little bit longer and move on from there. And we’re doing whatever we can right now to prepare in trying to get to 4-1.”‘

‘”I wouldn’t say this is a test of adversity for us,” veteran linebacker Shawne Merriman said. “We came into this season as underdogs and people not really expecting much from us. So I wouldn’t call this our first test of adversity. I think every game is a test of adversity for us.”‘

‘This could be the week RB Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller receive a large workload. A good running game would take pressure off starting rookie LT Chris Hairston and keep Eagles’ star QB Mike Vick off the field. Defensively, Buffalo’s job isn’t to sack Vick but to contain him; he’s rushed for 228 yards and averages 7.1 yards per attempt.’

‘Veteran Drayton Florence has played well in his place but Leodis McKelvin, the opposite starting corner, has been inconsistent. If McGee is available, it could be McKelvin who goes to the bench and plays the nickel role. Either way, Buffalo’s secondary will be better with McGee back.’

‘Nick Barnett, Shawne Merriman, Eric Wood, Demetrius Bell, C.J. Spiller, Aaron Williams, Chris White and Ruvell Martin all sat out of Wednesday’s session.’