Something Wicked This Way Comes...

Over the weekend a man jumped from 24 miles above the earth and broke the sound barrier as he hurdled toward earth.  That is the closest analogy I can give for my feelings on the Eagles the past two weeks.  I was 24 miles high when the Eagles beat the Giants on Brian Dawkins' night.  We beat a more than solid opponent with something to prove.  It wasn't a blow out, but that night I thought the sky was the limit for the Eagles.  Now I think that was the high point and I am coming back to earth in a harsh way.

I think maybe I knew deep down this season would be a big disappointment because in reality little things hadn't changed for the Eagles; just our luck.  We got two wins on last minute plays to start the season and you thought that maybe just for a minute that when the turn overs stopped and the D-Line started getting sacks that this team could be dangerous.  Then the Arizona game happened and I lost all faith.  It was the same team with the same coach.  Brian Dawkins deserved a win on his night and I think the crowd willed it to happen.  Of course we also ran the ball and showed toughness when we needed it.  Maybe the Giants game was the turning point where this team would finally live up to the hype of 2010 when Vick was an MVP candidate and we locked down all our young talent.

Two games later and I have no hope for this season.  We played ugly and turned the ball over against the Steelers in a game best described by my friend Adam, "This is an Abortion.....of twins".  Glad he was equally  disgusted with his team, but they won and we lost.  The Steelers drove down the field on our defense and scored the winning field goal.  

Fast forward to this past week and we lose to a team I previously thought was more dysfunctional that the Eagles.  Once again, turn overs and poor execution plagued the Eagles.  Our defense gave up 10 points in the final 5 minutes and that was all the wrote.  

When I was a kid I used to get upset at losses but only in the sense a loss wasn't a win.  The Eagles losing was bad and the Eagles winning was good.  Now I see blown coverages. faulty schemes, and idiotic game plans. In wins I can get angry or see a silver lining in losses.  

This team has very few tangible silver linings.  They are young, talented, and locked up for years without killing the cap.  We have an owner I know wants to win.  Our cheerleaders are hot.  That is it.  That is what I have to look positively at.  

Now the negative:

We have a coach with a 20+ month learning curve.  No one in the world thought Juan Castillo, an OFFENSIVE line coach, should take over as our DEFENSIVE coordinator.  It was a stupid idea from day one.  Today Andy fires him. 

Did I say 20+ month?  I meant 13+ year.  Our coach refuses to run the ball and still loves pass heavy offensive game plans.  This would rank far less on the lunacy scale if we had an offensive line that could give a quarterback any time or a quarterback without turn over issues.  We have both.

Turmoil - This team still isn't coming together the way I thought they would.  I used to blame it on the lock-out, but maybe there is something deeper in the locker room.  

Misplaced blame - The D ranks 13 and held opponents to lower than average point totals for most of the games and has had to cover for an unimaginably high turnover rate.  The offense averages 17 points a game and keeps turning the ball over.  Fire Juan.  Sure, that will fix it.  

Jeff Lurie,

You have a young team with a lot of talent, a devoted fan base, and a GM that seems to have a firm grasp on the salary cap.  Please clean house as soon as possible on the coaching staff and rebuild there.  I wanted Andy to work.  I thought this season was the one.  It won't be.  Fire Andy.  Thank him for his time and all the memories, but fire Andy and lets move on.  I'm not asking for 24 miles up.  I just want to be able to lift my head at all.

-Mike