Skins vs Eagles week 1

Two things:

(1) Even with a big lead, I just don't see Griffin as the type to allow the team to ease up. Just generally, he's too smart and too competitive for that. In addition, this is his "I told you so" moment in front of a national audience. I am certain he has been waiting eight months to erase the image of him collapsing on the field and the bad taste of losing. We will undoubtedly lose games this season - this will not be one of them. If RGIII has anything to say, this team will be making a statement Monday night. "It's our night!"

(2) I really mean it when I say the Eagles don't have character. When a team's leaders are Vick and D. Jackson, that team is simply not going to have the strength/resiliency to rally back. In the past, and for all his multitude of faults, Reid was the glue - taking the blame when things went wrong, absolving players, etc. Don't see Kelly doing that. I really think the Eagles are vastly overrating themselves & Kelly's system and underrating the leadership dearth on their team.

I go back to the Thanksgiving day win against the Cowboys. We took a big lead in to the half then came out and let them back in. Granted they never caught up but, IMO, Griffin and the offense settled back several times.

If it is a truly new era though we will take the lead and never look back.

The only thing that scares me about the eagles is that we haven't seem their offense yet. But like others have said, there isn't anything London Fletcher hasn't seen in his 16 years in the league.

The Eagles have a terrible offensive line and only 3 offensive weapons: Vick, McCoy, and Jackson. They have a new offense and a new head coach.

Meanwhile, we have a good offensive line anchored by a Pro Bowler at LT; top-notch offensive threats in RG3, Morris, Garcon, and Davis; an excellent 3rd down back in Helu; a very solid receiving corps behind Garcon; and a top-tier fullback. We have a veteran, Super Bowl winning coach and a proven offense. Clearly, at the very worst, our offense will keep up with theirs.

If I'm correct running the hurry up O reduces their down the field attack. To me that has been their biggest weapon over the past few years.

COACH.............. TEAM................ W......L
John Harbaugh... Baltimore ..........5........0
Jim Harbaugh..... San Francisco......2......0
Greg Schiano...... Tampa Bay.........1......0
Mike Shanahan... Washington.......15.....4


I'd say Shanahan is pretty good at opening day games.

Yes he is. Good post.

Important thing about our pre-season, and yes overall it's meaningless, is that our offense was effective even without most of the 1st string. Point being that our whole team, especially offense, is on the same page, and executing efficiently. I don't see the Eagles defense as particularly better than any of the starting defenses in preseason, and putting Griffin, Morris and Garcon on the field together is going to be to much for the Eagles. If anything, I worry we get a big lead early, and then let off the gas, and the Eagles make a comeback.

I agree about the offense,my main concern is I dont think the defense was tested by those teams

It sucks waiting to be one of the last games on week one. Sigh.

It sucks waiting to be one of the last games on week one. Sigh.

Yup. That's why I dislike our being on MNF. It's bad any time but especially the first week.

Remember June Jones/Mouse Davis run and shoot offense? How did it do in the NFL.

Well every team has part of that offense in their playbook. They just don't run it all the time.

I think as far as Kelly is concerned, right now he has a QB that turns the ball over too much and can't stay healthy. I think some weeks it will work and others where they won't get first downs and throw their defense back on the field. This type of offense isn't anything the NFL hasn't seen...Buffalo and the Benglas ran it back in the 80's early 90's. Those offenses just didn't have all the misdirection and window dressing.

I agree about the offense,my main concern is I dont think the defense was tested by those teams

The defense practices daily against one of the best offenses in the league.

How much more testing do they need?