Sunday, September 27, 2009

Eagles-Chiefs Notes

> If there's a faster man in the NFL than DeSean Jackson, I haven't seen him. His huge plays in this game made it comfortable, and remember, he was probable for this game with a groin problem. He's also right to think ahead about touchdown celebrations, and showed his toughness on a fourth down slant for a first down. The Man Love Is Growing.

> In the first two games of the season, rookie RB LeSean McCoy looked tentative and fumble-prone. In this game, he looked like Brian Westbrook II, Electric Boogaloo. I don't know how much that is the Chiefs, and how much of it was McCoy, but in any event, encouraging.

> There is one significant advantage of the Wildcat, in that it helps to limit Cap'n Andy's tendency to put too much on his QB. Kevin Kolb had a big fantasy day in just the first half, mostly on throws that weren't that hard.

> I get that you probably can't give Jamal Charles all of the touches in Kansas City, since he's not that big. But unlike starter Larry Johnson, Charles occasionally makes good things happen for the offense, and appears to actually want to play football. If new coach Todd Haley doesn't ditch LJ by midseason, he's an even bigger idiot than he's looked like so far this year.

> Having been officially spoiled by DJ in his rookie year, I remain unimpressed by rookie WR Jeremy Maclin. There's just nothing here that I haven't seen from, say, Reggie Brown, who, um, you can have. But he did make a great catch on an out for a first down in the third quarter, so, patience.

> If there is a bigger security blanket in the NFL then Brent Celek for Kevin Kolb, I haven't seen it. Kolb should just stick his thumb in his mouth when he throws to him, and the Eagles should play the theme from "Peanuts".

> In Kolb's first two starts, he's led field goal scoring drives in the last minute, with both drives showing solid understanding of clock fundamentals. It might be the most encouraging part about his time under center. That, and the zip he shows on some throws; he might just have a stronger arm than McNabb right now.

> Akeem Jordan is, so far, my defensive MVP for this team, if only because he's also the team's best non-DJ player on special teams. His technique may not be perfect, but he's just got a motor and quicks.

> The Chiefs are really, really good at having their good plays called back for flags. They might be the best in the league at making sure their holding penalties cause the biggest breakouts; even in garbage time, a touchdown was called back on a Charles run.

> You know you've spent too much time watching preseason when... you notice how Danny Amendola isn't just gone from the practice squad, but now returning kicks in St. Louis. Between Amendola and Hank Baskett, the NFL is validating the Eagles; talent evaluation; it's not like when Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell went from starters here to out of the league everywhere else.

> Actual commentary from Grade Z level color commentator Solomon Wilcots: "No double coverage on Bobby Wade." Um, seriously, Bobby Wade demands more than Asante Samuel? Somehow, um, no. And I know he scored a touchdown late. Whoop de damn do.

> If your last name was pronounced Suck Up, don't you think that you'd, you know, change it? Or at least say that it's French, and the p is silent?

> In the third quarter, down 24-7, just to underscore the earlier point about Larry Johnson... the Chiefs call a fake punt to convert a fourth down. They then follow up on that potentially momentum changing play by... calling two straight meh runs by Johnson, the second of which results in a more or less game-ending fumble, and he compounds the error with a defeated challenge. The Chiefs are really, really, special. I think the Eagles will have a harder time next week on their bye.

> I'm not saying the Eagles put this one in cruise control in the second half. But it's rare that you see defenders yawning during the snap count.

> In the non-Jeff Garcia garbage time today, there were no penalties, sacks or turnovers. Having said that, the offense was not actually perfect; there was some weakness in short yardage, Kolb threw a ball that should have been picked, and the wideouts did drop a ball or two. But still, pretty close to perfect.

> For all of you out there who drafted Michael Vick for your fantasy league smartness, you can move on now. There are other places to get two yards.

No comments: