NFL Power Rankings: How Michael Vick and Philadelphia Eagles Can Climb in Week 6
If you haven't noticed by now, the Philadelphia Eagles have some serious issues to work out. Now five weeks into the 2011 NFL season, Michael Vick and his once-merry band of over-hyped free agents stand at 1-4 and constitute far and away the most disappointing team in the league.
As bleak as things may seem in the City of Brotherly Love, there is still reason for hope. It's only mid-October and, fortunately for the Eagles, that leaves 11 games on the regular-season schedule. The NFC East also happens to be an eminently winnable division, with the Washington Redskins and their rather flimsy 3-1 record sitting precariously atop an unpredictable heap.
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That being said, Andy Reid has his work cut out for him if he's going to get Philly back to the playoffs. Here's what he, his coaches and his players must do from here on out to realize their dream season, starting with a Week 6 trip to Washington.
Protect Michael Vick
Philly's biggest problem this season, without question, has been the play of its offensive line. The Eagles' front five has been abysmal in pass protection, leaving Vick susceptible to big hits on nearly every play and making it difficult for their superstar quarterback to distribute the ball to the team's bevy of weapons.
There are a million ways to divide the blame for the O-line's poor play—moving Juan Castillo from offensive line coach to defensive coordinator in the offseason, bringing in a bevy of new faces, losing said new faces to injury—but the bottom line is, the guys who are healthy enough to play need to step up their collective game. Regardless of continuity and chemistry (or a lack thereof), Philly's big boys up front need to set aside their recent failings and start fresh, with renewed determination and commitment to keeping Vick off the turf.
Take Care of the Ball
Philly's poor offensive line play has given way to a slew of other problems, not the least of which is ball security. The Eagles have turned the ball over 15 times in five games, the most of any team in the NFL, which, as you might expect, correlates with the league's worst turnover margin at -10.
Once again, the blame doesn't all rest on any one particular player's shoulders. Vick has made some poor throws, but typically when under duress from an opposing defense that's shredded his lackluster line. At other times, Vick's receivers have done a poor job of catching or hanging onto well-thrown balls.
Regardless of where you point your finger, the fact remains that Philly needs to do a much better job of taking care of the ball from here on out.
Utilize the Ground Game
What can the Eagles do to improve ball security and take some pressure off their offensive line?
Well, for one, they can run the ball more. Philly's ground game is as explosive as any in the NFL, leading the league in total yards and yards per attempt, but ranks only seventh in attempts.
Part of that speaks to Andy Reid's offensive philosophy, which has long been stubbornly pass-first, even on the goal line. It's tough to imagine, though, that he won't at least consider adjusting his play calling to some extent to take advantage of a running game, behind Vick, LeSean McCoy and Ronnie Brown, that picks up nearly six yards per carry.
By running the ball, the Eagles can shift some of the immense pressure that currently sits on Vick's shoulders onto those of McCoy and Brown, all while allowing the O-line to push forward rather than sit back on its heels in pass protection.
Stop the Run
As easy as it is to rag on the Eagles' offense, which is still one of the best in the NFL, we must not forget to point a few fingers at the team's defense, which has been somewhat surprisingly abysmal thus far. Philly currently ranks 26th in the NFL in points allowed and, more startlingly, 30th against the run.
To be fair, the Eagles' ineptitude in stopping the run isn't entirely unexpected. For one, the bulk of their linebacking corps from last season left via free agency, leaving the team with one of the youngest (read: most inexperienced) second lines of defense in the league. The addition of Pro Bowl corners Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has only compounded the problem, as it's made running the ball not only a necessity for opposing offenses, but also a no-brainer, given how difficult it is for most quarterbacks to fit the ball into such tight coverage.
Now, the Eagles' linebackers aren't about to flip a switch and become monsters of the midway overnight. To help them out, defensive coordinator Juan Castillo would be wise to utilize his safeties a bit to fill gaps on the ground. Philly spent a ton of money upgrading its secondary and, as such, should invest more trust in its corners to hold their own in man-to-man coverage.
And if that doesn't work out, then the Eagles can push the panic button.
Josh Martin's Week 5 NFL Power Rankings |
11. Houston Texans |
12. New York Giants |
13. Dallas Cowboys |
14. Oakland Raiders |
15. Tennessee Titans |
18. Atlanta Falcons |
19. Cleveland Browns |
20. Chicago Bears |
22. Seattle Seahawks |
23. New York Jets |
26. Philadelphia Eagles |
27. Denver Broncos |
30. Miami Dolphins |
31. St. Louis Rams |
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