Top Five Philadelphia Eagles Who Have the Most To Prove vs. 49ers
Sunday afternoon the 2-2 Philadelphia Eagles are set to square off with the 0-4 San Francisco 49ers, and while many would assume this game is in the books against a win less team but lets not count our chickens before the hatch.
I've heard from a bunch of friend who are stating that this Niners squad is the best 0-4 team in the NFL, which sure they have some talent on the team but they still haven't recorded their first win of the regular season.
I don't want to see the Birds lose any games but I absolutely don't want them to lose to an no-win team and become the laughing stock of the NFL.
With that lets take a look at the five players who I think has the most to prove during this weeks game in order to have a chance to come out on top at Candlestick Park.
Oh, and yes Andy Reid deserves to be on this list but I didn't want to cheat any of you on that easy target!
No. 5: FB Owen Schmitt
1 of 8
This is not a cut on the new fullback who came to Philadelphia to fill in for Pro Bowl talent Leonard Weaver. This is more of a you're doing a heck of a job and keep up the good work. Owen was originally drafted in the sixth round (163 overall) of the 2008 draft by the Seattle Seahawks where he had just a short stint with them before being released.
Once Weaver was involved in the play that ruined his season, many fans felt worried that the Eagles would have to big of a hole to fill in finding his replacement, but then they found this guy Schmitt who they signed off the street—and was the starter just days later in the win over Detroit.
Owen has quickly become a favorite target of both QBs Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb on a dump pattern when they are getting rushed.
So we know he can catch the ball out of the backfield and his blocking seems to be decent enough, but the question that has yet to be answered is can he run with the rock?
With RB LeSean McCoy questionable (really?) for Sundays' matchup, Owen might be asked to contribute on that front to ease some of the load off of Mike Bell.
Here's a crazy thought; obviously Leonard Weaver is out for the season, so what happens if Schmitt proves to be more than capable of handling the job? Do the Eagles keep him and trade Weaver for a decent draft pick or vice-versa and just see what they can get for Owen?
This could turn into a very interesting development!
No. 4: Tight End Brent Celek
2 of 8
Another player that is on this list due to no fault of his own is TE Brent Celek. I'm left perplexed why the Eagles are not utilizing one of their biggest threats to his fullest potential but for some odd reason he has been almost non existent since the start of the season.
I understand the Birds have three lights out WRs in DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Jason Avant, but how can Celek have amassed only 10 receptions for a whooping total of 96 yards and one TD?
We are talking about a guy who was extremely close to a Pro Bowl berth last season, a guy who ate up huge chunks of yards, and basically sit him on the side burner?
Yes, he has been in the games but primarily as an added blocker which is not one of his strengths, and he has made some catches here and there as mentioned, but for the most part the Eagles are shooting themselves in the foot by not using him more in the pass game—don't you think?
He has an opportunity Sunday to really help Kevin Kolb look good, and as a roommate, if you are asked to make sure your friend stays on his feet, please do so!
No. 3: Left Tackle Jason Peters
3 of 8
Jason Peters is a good player, deep down he is a gifted athlete with explosive power and nimble toes, but he has had a rough start to the 2010 season. Maybe it isn't fair to spotlight him, maybe it is, however one thing is certain—he has more penalties than any other offensive linemen the Eagles have.
Trust me, I've looked into this!
Through the first four games, Peters has accumulated five penalties thus far for varying reasons and it appears as if the problems shows its ugly head only when the Eagles are losing.
In the first game of the season vs the Green Bay Packers, Peters was called on three plays for a total of 20 yards: Illegal formation (5 yards), offensive holding (10 yards), and a false start (5 yards).
Granted that game was ugly enough!
Then against both the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars, Peters played flawlessly and walked out of those games without any penalties—the Eagles also won both of those games!
Go back just one week to the loss to the Washington Redskins and here we go again.
Jason got called on two plays for offensive holding, once in each the second and third quarters, which again resulted in a total of 20 yards in the wrong direction.
Now, it truly isn't just Jason Peters who needs to start playing with a little more precision but we'll get to that in just a bit!
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
No. 2: Running Back Mike Bell
4 of 8
Veteran RB Mike Bell should be starting against the 49ers, now I just read that LeSean McCoy will be doing so and I have to say that is the biggest bone head decision yet—why is it Andy Reid treats his RBs like old alley cats?
As if he has no care about the players at all, just winning.
Last week McCoy left the game with broken ribs along with QB Michael Vick who had cartiladge damage in his ribs. If those organ protectors are broken, I don't care how much under armor a player is wearing, one good shot and you're back out!
That is why Mike Bell should be starting this week against the 49ers.
He has hardware on his ring finger from last years' super bowl win as a member of the New Orleans Saints so lets see if he can do exactly what he was brought to Philly to do—backup LeSean McCoy.
Let Shady sit for a game, if Mike Bell is the RB we all think he can be than let him prove it is all I'm saying.
No. 1: You Guessed It—QB Kevin Kolb
5 of 8
It has been a crazy ride for QB Kevin Kolb so far in the 2010 football season. He went from backup to starter after patiently waiting for his chance behind Donovan McNabb for three seasons.
Then after being named the starter you could literally see his head swell with ego, a sort of cockiness about him which is fine if you win football games. Unfortunately Kolb never got off and running after looking like he was going to turn out to be a pretty good QB.
I'm talking of course about 2009, this season he's been horrible!
I'll be the first to admit, I too fell to the Kolb spell. A very tricky spell to brew up but if you make it right you can alter the minds of thousands of fans.
If you can play in just two starts and become the first QB to set a NFL record (first QB to throw for over 300 in first two starts), and make the front office and the teams fan base feel like it was time to move away from a city legend—well then you've made a good batch!
We've all read the stories, he's scared, he's shook, there ain't no such thing as a HALF WAY CROOK—sorry about that, where was I, ah yes Kevin Kolb.
If Kevin losses this game, he's done and might not ever get another chance with the Eagles to be a starter. The front office will begin sniffing around the league to see if there are any teams willing to make a trade.
From there Vick will need to sign a contract, the Eagles will need to invest their first round draft pick on a new "QB of the future" because no matter how good Vick is playing, he's basically playing on borrowed time in the NFL world.
However, if Kolb comes out with a chip on his shoulder and is firing on all cylinders this week, well then your guess is as good as mine!
Where the Eagles Must Get Better
6 of 8
Offensive Line:
I wish we had No. 67 Jamaal Jackson in there but we don't, and the lack of his presence is becoming obviously clear as the offensive line has struggled heavily in pass protection. Now that Michael Vick is injured and Kolb is back in, Juan Castillo needs to make sure his squad in on their A game!
Penalties:
Back to this topic again, as I said in the Jason Peters slide—he isn't the only one committing penalties.
Stewart Bradley has received some attention for his style of play lately but he's knocking the rust off after missing all of last season. Todd Herremans had his name called a few times through four games.
My point is that the Eagles are simply committing to many penalties, giving away football real estate, and losing to themselves in most cases so far.
Get rid of them, become a more disciplined team and the W's will flow your way!
Two Key Players on the 49ers
7 of 8
If there are two players that worry me on Sunday they are TE Vernon Davis and RB Frank Gore. Both players have explosive power and both positions have given the Eagles a fit either historically (TE) or so far through the 2010 season (RB).
If either one of these guys starts to get hot on Sunday the Eagles defense could be in for a long game.
However these aren't the only two threats; QB Alex Smith really isn't that bad of a quarterback, WR Michael Crabtree could give the Eagles secondary some problems with CB Asante Samuel not playing. Joselio Hanson and Dimitri Patterson will split time in his absence.
My point is the Niners are a desperate for a win team who are hosting an injured bird. Sunday will be a lot tougher than many think!
Check Out More at Bleeding Eagle Green
8 of 8
Then c'mon down to Bleeding Eagle Green for more on the Philadelphia Eagles
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")