Bleacher Report - Articles by Benjamin Morgan

Correll Buckhalter, Eagles Defense Must Step Up to Beat 49ers

Benjamin Morgan — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:39:04 -0400

With Brian Westbrook ruled out for the Eagles' game against the 49ers with broken ribs, the pressure will fall to Donovan McNabb to carry the team. If the Eagles hope to win on Sunday, they must receive efforts from Correll Buckhalter and the defense to take pressure off of their quarterback.

Westbrook brings versatility and unpredictability to the Eagles' offense, often lining up as a receiver or running a route out of the backfield. He has averaged 3.7 yards per carry and 6.9 yards per reception, not counting the week three game against Pittsburgh, in which he had only five carries before leaving the game early with an injured ankle. Westbrook has also crossed the goal line six times.

Buckhalter has been with the Eagles since he was drafted in 2001. Multiple major knee surgeries have presumably robbed Buckhalter of some of his agility and speed, but regardless, he needs to contribute on a Westbrook level to keep San Francisco's defense honest. While he did contribute to the Eagles' victory against Pittsburgh, gaining 87 yards on a total of 16 touches (10 carries, six receptions), he failed to score on a crucial 3rd-and-goal run on the one-yard line against the Chicago Bears, a game that ended with a victory for Chicago.

The Eagles' defense must step up and shut down the 49ers' offense if the Eagles' offense fails to be effective. In a game last week against the Washington Redskins the Eagles jumped to a quick 14-0 lead, but the offense failed to reach the end zone for the rest of the game, and David Akers missed a 50-yard field goal and hit one from 23.

The defense started strong as well, but failed to shut down Clinton Portis in the second half. On a key 4th-and-1 late in the fourth quarter they failed to stuff the run and, because they were out of timeouts, Redskins QB Jason Campbell was able to kneel the ball to end the game.

Philadelphia's defense faces another premier running back this week in Frank Gore. The Eagles' linebackers and defensive line must neutralize Gore and the running game and force quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan to beat their secondary, which includes cornerbacks Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, Lito Sheppard, and free safety Brian Dawkins.

Philadelphia Phillies Sweep: Two Parts Earned, One Part Given

Benjamin Morgan — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:26:15 -0400

When the Philadelphia Phillies came into town on Friday, the Atlanta Braves trailed the NL East leaders by three-and-a-half games. The Braves failed to capitalize on their chance to make up ground. Instead, it was the Phillies who, with a little bit of help from the Braves, completed the sweep just a few days after taking two of three from the Florida Marlins.

On Friday. Jamie Moyer faced off against Tim Hudson in a game that is best described as a pitchers duel. Tim Hudson went seven-and-two-thirds innings while striking out three, walking four, and having only one run cross the plate against him. Despite his performance though, the Braves were never able to put the game away.

Running mistakes by shortstop Yunel Escobar and relief pitcher Will Ohman were bad endings to good run-scoring opportunities, and when the game went into the top of the ninth, things got worse for the Braves. A dropped two-out fly ball by Kelly Johnson scored Eric Bruntlett to tie the game. Shane Victorino's triple scored the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth. Victorino later threw out what would have been the Brave's tying run at home plate, ending the game in a 4-3 win for the Phillies.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Phillies received solid pitching from their starters and relievers and never trailed the Braves in either game. Brad Lidge, the Phillies closer, pitched in all three games and garnered a save in both opportunities he received.

While Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins delivered solid performances, the MVP of the weekend was Shane Victorino. He went 5-12 at the plate and delivered two RBIs, and played consistent defense, including the highlight-reel throw he made to end Friday's game.

Because of Atlanta's inability to win Friday night, and their inability to shut down the Phillie's offense (who scored six runs in both Saturday's and Sunday's games), Atlanta now trails Philadelphia by six-and-a-half games, and they lost a crucial division series at home.

While there is still a lot of season left to be played, it will be interesting to see what kind of effect this weekend will have in the playoff race in September.

Philadelphia Phillies: Brad Lidge and the Bullpen Making a Difference.

Benjamin Morgan — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:43:15 -0400

Risk, or reward? That question was asked many times when the Philadelphia Phillies traded outfielder Michael Bourn for closer Brad Lidge after the 2007 season.

At the end of a season in which the Phillies bullpen ERA ended at a dismal 4.50—among the dredges of the league—it was worth the risk to sign a closer who had lights-out potential.

Brad Lidge (one win, 12 saves, 26 strikeouts, and a 0.82 ERA through 22 innings) has proven to be all reward in these first two months of the season, just two years after posting a 5.28 ERA through 75 innings with the Houston Astros. He has become the reliable closer that the Phillies have been missing in recent years.

At the end of May 2007, the Phillies' bullpen had 12 saves, and the team's record stood at 26-27. Now, a year later, the Phillies bullpen has 14 saves, and the team record is 31-24.

The fact that the bullpen in 2008 has only two more saves than at the same point in '07 is mostly the result of fewer overall save opportunities, as the Phillies have recently been on an offensive tear, scoring 67 runs in a seven-game span, while splitting a four-game series against the Astros and then sweeping the Colorado Rockies. Lidge scored a save in the Phillies' only save opportunity during that run.

So far in the 2008 season, the Philadelphia bullpen holds a combined ERA of 2.81. That's good for first in the Major Leagues, and a big reason why they are only half a game behind the first-place Marlins entering a three-game series against Florida on the last weekend in May.

Another discrepancy between the '07 and '08 bullpens is the combined ERA in and after the seventh inning. In 2007 that ERA was 4.53, 24th in the Majors, while in 2008 that number has dropped to 2.98, third best in the league.

Phillies team leaders in ERA:

1. Brad Lidge - 0.82 (bullpen)

2. J.C. Romero - 1.33 (bullpen)

3. Chad Durbin - 1.89 (bullpen)

4. Rudy Saenez - 2.75 (bullpen)

5. Cole Hamels - 3.18 (Starter)

Thank you to MLB.com for the statistical information.