Are there still doubts as to whether The Eagles are capable of winning the Super Bowl. People, your Philadelphia Eagles have what it takes to go all the way. Speed, Youth, maturity, heart, and I could go on for paragraphs about the stuff. If they believe, and I have a feeling they do, then the sky’s the limit. I know it was only a preseason game. And Tom Brady was M.I.A. That’s all true. But I can see it. And if you look closely you can also.

Donovan McNabb (13-17 180 yrds, 1 td, no pics) was in game form. He had confidence in his receivers which in turn gave them confidence in themselves. The Birds had two starting receivers out and the word was we were going to have trouble with the pats’ first team defense. Rubbish! The young DeSean Jackson Who had 4 catches for 69 yards Eagled Up the slack. His 79 yard dash of a punt return came a possession after Quintin Demps 101 yard kick return. This is on the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl special team. Tom Brady doesn’t play special teams either if you didn’t know. And if he did he would have gotten smoked like John Lynch.

The Birds’ first team offense Established it’s self tonight. We have a lot of work to do but the progress is phenomenal. Hank Baskett redeemed himself tonight. Even though he couldn’t hold on to the touchdown his hustle was Eagled Up. The team as a whole looked better. Trent Cole looked like himself with a bull rush sack. Jason Avant made a Jerry Rice catch for a touchdown early in the game. Of course every coin has two sides.

My boy DeSean Jackson did a pose like it was the Super Bowl. Or at least a crucial regular season game. This isn’t the time for celebration. That’s what parades are for! Get some solid regular season games under your belt even. The thing is, if we get over confident we get spanked. The NFL is not a joke. The level of conditioning is like none other. Any given Sunday someone can end your career in this league.

All in all I was impressed by the Eagles this week. They put the Pats on a hot stove. The Pats were done by half time. Granted this is a different team than we’ll face in the regular season but you must admit the Birds soared Friday night in New England. No word on Brian Dawkins condition after going down early in the first half. He didn’t look like he was in a lot of pain if that’s any indication. We take another step towards the regular season. A step closer to destiny.

Next we have the New York Jets with Brett Favre at the helm. It should be interesting 8/28 at 6pm est. I expect the Birds to look even better next week. The coaching staff seems to be getting across the winning philosophy behind the Eagles offense. Score by all means!

Until next time stay Eagled Up!

DeSean Jackson is Eagled Up!

The Eagles Offense is in need of an early Gut Check!  The two preseason games are a testament to that. Now that practice is closed to the public we can’t even see what their doing to improve. Hopefully their getting a big dose of a mean offensive coordinator, Marty Mornhinweg.  He can’t be happy with their performance up to this point.

The question is what changes are being made?

Well for starters Tony Hunt is getting his snaps up at fullback. You know the guy that busted loose for like 51 yards  late in the Carolina game. He had 79 yards on the day. Now we need to run more plays for DeSean Jackson shake up the play book. Carolina’s’ defense shut down the first team Eagles’ offense. Buzz word red zone again. The Birds offense needs a spark. Shawn Andrews went almost directly back to his starting right guard position. Thanks Max Jean-Gilles! But he’s no Andrews. Speaking of Shawn Andrews, he must have been in good shape. I hope so because we need him. The Pro Bowl him

The first three regular season games we have the Rams, Cowboys, and the Steelers are going to show us what we’re working with. We need tight end L. J. Smith to dig deep and make a lot of good plays. Consistency is the key for our offense. So only the most consistent players should make the cut, right?

We’ll see what happens in this Patriots game. A game that will see little if any time with Tom Brady at QB.

He’s nursing an injury but should be ready to go by September. For the Eagles‘ red zone issues to get better we need the first team offense to look in the mirror and ask themselves are they professional football players or professional football fakers. Because every passing game  without the offense significantly making it’s presence felt is a strike against every body from Andy Reid on down.

DT Dan Klecko has a lot on his shoulders this time around in Philly. The five year vet played here before. Only last time he was a Temple Owl. Now after playing for two super winning franchises (the Pats and the Colts) he’s back when Philly needed him most. If he can sure up that middle that Carolina ran through last week like the self check out at Shoprite.  We’re in business.

All in all I still have faith in the Eagles ability to win. As long Donovan McNabb is healthy we can win it all. This game of football we love so much is all about timing. I feel like it’s our time. This Friday we get yet another warm up. Hopefully the first team can show up big time early in the game. Look for Andrews to help give McNabb more time. What he dose with it is what we all tune in for.

Until next time Eagle Up!

Are we sure all of these guys are professional Football players and coaches? Maybe that’s the point of preseason. One thing is evident, The Birds need more work.

The pros shined tonight almost as bright as the lightning. By the time the rain delay (wait a minute, this ain’t a Phillies’ blog, is it?) was over I had finished my snacks and was ready for bed. But I would have never gotten any sleep. Instead I waited patiently and I wasn’t disappointed. The roller coaster started with the Panthers’ Richard Marshall snatching a fake field goal pitch and takes it to the kitchen. Touchdown. And then comes Kevin Kolb and the second team to save the day.

The Eagles are not unlike the New York Giants last season.

Basically the Birds are one play maker away from scaring the bejeezus out of the league. I think that play maker is DeSean Jackson (7 rec. for 70 yards) and I’ll go as far as saying he’s going to make them this year. Please don’t say I didn’t tell you so. He blocks! He actually blocks! He’s Eagled Up!

Mr. Brian Dawkins is Eagled Up! Some body send Muhsin Muhammad some super Tylenol extra extra strength pain killers. The replay looked nasty. I was afraid for him, because you could see B. Dawk winding up. And then pop goes the B. Dawkin in the back of the end zone. No touchdown. The hit was to make up for him missing a tackle the play before. The defense overall didn’t do bad and I liked the progress.

Who picked the New York Giants to win the Superbowl last season? Let alone only at the second preseason game.

To the fans that leave games early, here’s to you! Stupid! The highlights would have looked so good from the Linc. Literally there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Greg Lewis may not be Randy moss but his touchdown reception from Kevin Kolb looked pretty from my couch. I would have gotten struck by lightning my friend.

The 24-13 win by the Eagles was great. But the next game 8/22 (next Friday) we have the mighty Patriots. This is the NFL where you separate the men from the boys. It’ll be interesting to see who makes the first cut. As far as I’m concerned everybody is on the bubble. Coaches included! By the way, who called that fake field goal? We all know who called the play but I want to hear ole’ explain that one. My first cut would be Hank Baskett the 3rd year wide receiver missed 2 totally catch-able passes. That to me is unacceptable. But what do I know?

One thing I do know is the Birds look Eagled Up! Now let’s cut the cons and get to the pros.

 I smell a hot dog with extra onions. I smile in my sleep and mumble “I’ll take one with mustard and extra extra onions”. I get laughter in response. I opened my eyes to see my twelve year old daughter grinning. I asked “were you eating a hot dog in my bed?”. More laughter. She said nooooo Dad, I know the rule “no hot dogs in bed ”. And then it hit me…….. Game day!

I make mental shopping list. “Salt&Vinigar” chips, Root beer, and that’s right you guest it. Hot dogs!

 Tonight the birds face off with the Carolina Panthers, 8pm at the “Linc”. It’s another opportunity to see the birds in action. The Linc is sure be popping tonight. I’ll be watching on TV but you should go. And you should have a hot dog. I expect Mcnabb to show off this evening. At home against an O.K. defense he should be able to score.

 The “D” should gel a little more and more with every passing game. Look for Stew Bradley to try and make his presence felt early. All week long every where I went I heard “the “D” gotta Eagle Up!”. Everyone from the butcher on 9th and Washington to the stock guy at Shop Right said the same thing. More like a different variation on the defense has something to prove!

Either way we’re all watching ,hoping, and praying that Green Reigns Supreme tonight.

 Let’s not forget that this is just the beginning. Try not to be too hard on the team too early in the season. Syke!!! If these guys don’t produce now and we mean right now there is going to be some problems! Ask any real Eagles fan and they’ll tell you there is no tomorrows for us. I told you before Superbowl or nothing and I ment it!

 After the game the game look for a post post. Untill then Eagle UP!

Where you saddened by the Eagles 16-10 preseason lost? Don’t be! That’s what preseason is for, evaluation. I saw some good signs in that game. My boy DeSean Jackson showed me he might be the missing weapon Donovan McNabb has been looking for. Also Stew Bradley looked good at middle line backer for the first time.

A lot of fans feel as though coach Andy Reids’ time is up. I disagree.

Coach Reid may be evasive, closed lipped, and not the most media friendly coach in the NFL. But he is still a great coach. As long as coach Reid allows his staff to do there jobs and not go all micro manager crazy on us he’s the best we could ask for. Most importantly the players see this.

Watching the preseason game I could tell the guys were well prepared. The lack of mistakes even in the first preseason game was a sure sign of a well prepared team. What I didn’t like was the fact that Santonio Holmes, a good Steelers receiver cracked Brian Dawkins for a touchdown. Holmes is good, but not that good. Eagle up next game B-Dawk!

Brian Westbrook is signed, sealed, and delivered guys. We can now stop sweating! The specifics are still under wraps but unofficial reports put the deal at 13 mill guaranteed the first 2 years. That puts him amongst the top paid running backs in the league. Now go get’em West-Bee!

Defense wins games plain and simple.

What concerns me most is the fact that the Steelers on their first drive went down the field and scored. The Offense can’t get a foothold if the “D” can’t give them any breathing room. The entire defense needs to Eagle up! I’d like to see the guys mesh together. They looked out of sink. That’s what preseason is for so I’ll wait to pass judgment.

We have the Panthers 8/14 and we’re at the Patriots on 8/22. Lets see how the “D” holds up. Not to look past the Panthers but by the time we roll through New England the Eagles should be a well oiled machine. The season is a work in progress. So I’m not looking for the birds to bang zoom straight to the moon. But they have to shine like the stars we know they are. So Eagle up or else!

Rasool Cunningham