http://www.sportsnipe.com Philadelphia Eagles, Team News, Updates, and Stats from all sports sources, updated continually. http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048693/philadelphia-eagles-shuffle-linebackers-ahead-showdown-chicago-bears-canadian-press.html PHILADELPHIA - For the second consecutive week, the Eagles will go with a different look at linebacker because of a knee injury to weakside starter Akeem Jordan. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048692/eagles-reshuffle-lbs-going-into-game-bears-ap.html For the second consecutive week, the Eagles will go with a different look at linebacker because of a knee injury to weakside starter Akeem Jordan. Coach Andy Reid ruled out Jordan for Sunday night's game at Chicago. Will Witherspoon will again start at weakside LB, and second-year man Joe Mays will start in the middle. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048160/reid-westbrook-out-at-least-three-weeks-profootballtalk.html Washington TimesReid: Westbrook out at least three weeksProFootballTalkPhiladelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook is expected to miss at least three weeks following his latest concussion, coach Andy Reid said today. ...With Westbrook out, Eagles hand inconsistent ground attack to McCoy, WeaverReading EaglePHI: Update on Veteran RBWarpathInsiders.com (subscription)Brian Westbrook: Out Three More WeeksRotowireExaminer.comall 11 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048159/bears-gm-angelo-i-am-alarmed-national-football-post.html BearGoggles (blog)Bears' GM Angelo: 'I am not alarmed'National Football PostThe Chicago Bears are 4-5 heading into Sunday night's clash with the Philadelphia Eagles, and they've lost four of their last five games. ...Keys to the Game: New Moon and the Jay Cutler SagaBearGoggles (blog)Footballic Ramblings: Fly Like An Eagle EditionGapers Block (blog)Lovie says Bears just want to get to game in turning down NBCChicago Sun-TimesChicagoNow (blog) -ChicagoBears.com -ESPNall 75 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048158/red-zone-what-eagles-must-do.html You know, of course, how the Red Zone has become such a struggle for the Eagles. They lead the league in the number of times they have scored in the red zone versus the number of times they have reached the red zone, yet they rank 23rd in the league in touchdown percentage once inside opponents' 20-yard lines. The bad jokes and nasty criticism aside, the real question is this: What are the Eagles going to do about it to make it better immediately? Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048157/eagles-mvp.html We all know that this season has been full of frustration. Yet they still find themselves in the thick of the conference despite inconsistent play. The team as a whole as been up and down, including coaches but what about the players themselves.I'm just curious if you guys could give me your take on:1) who is your MVP thus far2) who is your biggest surprise3) who is your biggest disapointmentFor MVP I have to go with Trent Cole with strong support from Sheldon BrownThe biggest surprise has to be the play of Winston JusticeOther than shawn andrews not playing this year, I am most disapointed with the play of Victor Abiamiri. It seems the Eagles are still looking for that other bookend. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048156/idea.html How would you guys like to see Mike Shanahan here. My opinion would be that he would make a 5-6 yr deal that would give him a yr or two to make this a fearsome team. We have the biggest O-line in the league with alot of youth. We have the best young twosome at wide recievers, a defense that could use a fine tuning, a steady veteran kicker and punter. Looks like we just need a good play calling coach. Would Shanahan work here or not? I think it would be a great move. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047278/bears-clark-payne-doubtful-for-eagles-game-chicago-tribune.html Bears' Clark, Payne doubtful for Eagles gameChicago TribuneBears tight end Desmond Clark and safety Kevin Payne are not expected to play Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles after coach ...and more » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047277/nfl-week-11-philadelphia-eagles-at-chicago-bears-sunday-820-pm-tv-nbc-newjerseynewsroomcom.html Chicago TribuneNFL Week 11: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears, Sunday, 8:20 pm, TV: NBCnewjerseynewsroom.comIn addition to the subplot of Asante Samuel having a chance to pad his interception total this week, this is as much a must win game for the Eagles (5-4) as ...Like Bears, Eagles having red-zone difficultiesChicago TribuneNFL Betting: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bearsbetting.betfair.com (blog)Bears' GM Angelo: 'I am not alarmed'National Football PostBearGoggles (blog) -Covers -Gapers Block (blog)all 83 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047276/keep-building-momentum-eb.html I'll admit it, Elton Brand's play against the Bobcats has me excited. Yes, it was one game, but he did things in that game that I worried he'd never be able to do again. Forget about the dunks, the guy is 6'8" with a standing reach of like 11 feet, he should be able to dunk when he's 60-years-old, the thing that most impressed me was that ability he showed to get off the floor quickly for blocked shots. That's explosiveness and timing, two vital pieces of the puzzle for a guy like Brand. Tonight's game is crucial for EB in my mind. Wednesday could've been a blip. It could've been a hyper-motivated guy digging deeper than ever before to come up with a huge game after his coach essentially said he had no faith in him to the press. We need to see two things at this point:(1) Elton to continue to trust his body. If he's hesitant out there, bad things happen. He doesn't get up for blocks, he doesn't push his man off the blocks, he doesn't clear out space for rebounds, he doesn't attack the rim. A hesitant Brand is an ineffective Brand, and we need much more than that. (2) Elton desperately needs to get his touch back. Even if injuries are a concern, and they've lessened his ability to muscle guys when he has the ball in the low post, there's no reason to think his struggles when he's facing the basket, on short jumpers, stem from anything other than rust. Take a look at these two graphics from NBA.com's hot spots. The first is EB's shot chart from the 2006-2007 season (his last full season): Now take a look at the same chart for this season: The vintage EB scored a ton of points on jumpers, and he hit them at a high rate. This season, that shot hasn't been falling. He doesn't seem to be putting enough arc on the shot, for the first five or six games he left nearly every attempt short and didn't seem to be shooting with any confidence at all. Over the past couple of games, the jumper has looked better, he's had a better rhythm, but still the shots haven't been falling. It's coming, you can see it's coming and one thing this offense will create is open looks for bigs from within 15 feet. Williams and Iguodala can get to the rack, and each will dish to a big (either Speights or Brand) for an easy look.The impact of the apparent erosion of Elton's physical skills, which hopefully were overblown through the first handful of games, would've been much less alarming had he been hitting his jumper at his usual rate. The level of athleticism may or may not come all the way back. My feeling today is it will be back to a decent level, if it isn't already there. If that's the case, and you couple it with his typical shooting percentages on short jumpers, Elton is going to be more than fine.Of course, this leads us to a bigger question, one John proposed to me via e-mail yesterday. If Brand is back, if he continues to knock the rust over the next 10-20 games and returns to a difference-maker on both sides of the ball, in what way does this help the Sixers the most? With Brand on the floor, contributing for this team, or as a trade chip? If he appears to be worth his contract, and the Sixers can get equal value for him in a trade, should they move him?I'll leave that up to you guys to discuss in the comments, I'll chime in later.By the by, Elton's competition tonight is Zach Randolph, so he'll have every opportunity to follow up Wednesday's performance with another solid showing, albeit against a sub-par, uninterested defender. Rodney Carney is a go for tonight's game, updated from the Sixers via Twitter.  Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047275/jackson-primed-for-big-game-vs-bears.html As a rookie, wide receiver DeSean Jackson burst onto the scene with two 100-yard receiving games to start his NFL career. And while he enjoyed one of the more stellar rookie years in the league, he was never able to cross the 100-yard mark again in 2008. http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Sto...?STORY_ID=19462 Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046540/nflphiladelphia-eagles-chicago-bearsby-numbers1122-faniq-blog.html NFL**Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears**By The Numbers**11/22FanIQ (blog)The tiebreaker question is used to determine ranking if two or more entries have the same point total. The answer closest to the correct answer (over or ...and more » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1046539/like-bears-eagles-having-redzone-difficulties-chicago-tribune.html Chicago TribuneLike Bears, Eagles having red-zone difficultiesChicago TribuneThe Philadelphia Daily News reports: The Bears aren't the only NFL team dealing with red-zone issues. Their opponent this Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles, ...NFL Betting: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bearsbetting.betfair.com (blog)Bears' GM Angelo: 'I am not alarmed'National Football PostKeys to the Game: New Moon and the Jay Cutler SagaBearGoggles (blog)Covers -Gapers Block (blog) -Chicago Sun-Timesall 77 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1045381/rams-host-warner-cardsbears-welcome-eagles-on-sunday-night-wjbd-online.html Rams host Warner and Cards...Bears welcome Eagles on Sunday night.WJBD OnlineCHICAGO - A pair of teams going in the wrong direction will colide in Chicago when the Bears host the Philadelphia Eagles on "Sunday Night Football. ...and more » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1045380/nfl-betting-philadelphia-eagles-at-chicago-bears-bettingbetfaircom-blog.html Chicago TribuneNFL Betting: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bearsbetting.betfair.com (blog)Without Brian Westbrook, the Philadelphia Eagles will rely heavily on Donovan McNabb as they try to get their season back on track this weekend. ...Footballic Ramblings: Fly Like An Eagle EditionGapers Block (blog)Lovie says Bears just want to get to game in turning down NBCChicago Sun-TimesBears need better output from stalled running gameChicagoBears.comESPN -The Courier News -Northwest Heraldall 63 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1045379/my-eagles-wish-list-for-sunday-nightamp8217s-game.html Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044907/eagles-assist-in-giving-phila-children-free-eye-exams-kyw1060com.html Eagles Assist in Giving Phila. Children Free Eye ExamsKYW1060.comby KYW's Ian Bush Children can get free eye exams and even glasses on Friday, and the Philadelphia Eagles are helping to make it possible. ... Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044906/top-ten-philadelphia-eagles-to-keep-eye-on-sunday-night-chicagonow-blog.html ChicagoBears.comTop Ten Philadelphia Eagles to Keep an Eye On Sunday NightChicagoNow (blog)Let's forget about the doom and gloom that surrounds the Bears and instead focus our attention on Sunday night's opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles. ...Inexperience equals inconsistency for EaglesPhiladelphia InquirerEagles, Bears in similar spotSportingNews.comNFL Preview - Philadelphia (5-4) at Chicago (4-5)MiamiHerald.comKTVU.com -Gapers Block (blog) -Cherry Hill Courier Postall 112 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044905/philadelphia-eagles-week-11-odds.html by David Zalubowski - AP View full size photo » We have our weekly set of Eagles related odds from Bodog. Jay Cutler – Total Interceptions thrown Week 11 vs. the Philadelphia Eagles Over   1.5          -150 Under 1.5          +120 And I figured you'd all get a kick out of this prop which features a couple of our most disliked players who have fallen on hard times this year. Player Props What will happen first in the 2009 NFL Regular Season? Brandon Jacobs records 100 or more Rushing Yards in a game                 5/4 Terrell Owens records 100 or more Receiving Yards in a game                   3/2 Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044097/red-zone-blues-cherry-hill-courier-post.html ChicagoBears.comRED ZONE BLUESCherry Hill Courier PostPHILADELPHIA ? Eagles' coaches like to say every game is different, and that's largely true, ...Inexperience equals inconsistency for EaglesPhiladelphia InquirerEagles, Bears in similar spotSportingNews.comNFL Preview - Philadelphia (5-4) at Chicago (4-5)MiamiHerald.comKTVU.com -Gapers Block (blog) -CBSSports.comall 109 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044096/nfl-williams-3-tds-carry-dolphins-past-panthers.html He may be 32, but Ricky Williams is far from done. And even without Ronnie Brown, the Miami Dolphins are back in the playoff picture. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044095/eagles-notebook-reid-says-penalty-situation-has-gotten-ridiculous.html Andy Reid doesn't throw around words like "ridiculous" every day. So when the coach, asked about being fourth in the league in penalty yardage assessed, reached deep into his bag of press conference responses, right past "I have to do a better job putting the players in position to make plays," and "everyone has a little piece of the pie," to "It's ridiculous" - well, you could tell Big Red was a mite peeved. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044094/eagles-notes-depleted-birds-need-some-leadership-from-ranks.html For some players, there is a temptation to try to take on too much when circumstances present opportunity. At the start of the season, Quintin Mikell strapped on the added weight of trying to assume Brian Dawkins' onetime role on the Eagles' defense, and it nearly crushed the safety. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044093/doctor-develops-absorbing-system-to-help-prevent-concussions.html IT DID NOT occur to Dr. Todd Aaron to delve into the problem of athletic concussions until he found himself standing in a hospital emergency room in 2002. There because his then-9-year old daughter Arianna had been tossed from a horse during an equestrian event, the worried father soon gave way to a curious scientist as he pondered the problem. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044092/looking-to-overhaul-team-bills-owner-says-its-about-winning.html Firing coach Dick Jauron was merely the start of a major overhaul Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson is prepared to conduct this offseason to make his team a contender again. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044091/mays-could-get-call-in-middle-from-eagles.html It would make for a nice story: Middle linebacker gets another shot at starting position and gets to do so in front of family and friends in his hometown. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1044090/paul-domowitch-avant-cares-most-about-final-score.html Jason Avant doesn't know what Sunday night in his hometown of Chicago will bring. It might bring another 100-yard game, like the one he had last week against the Chargers. Or it might bring a goose egg like the ones he had in Weeks 6 and 7 against the Raiders and the Redskins. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043895/bears-in-brief-kreutz-back-practicing-streak-safe-chicago-suntimes.html Chicago TribuneBEARS IN BRIEF: Kreutz back practicing; streak safeChicago Sun-Times... after missing two days, making it likely he will run his streak of consecutive games started to 112 on Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. ...Bet on it: Kreutz should playESPNall 13 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043894/keys-to-game-new-moon-jay-cutler-saga-beargoggles-blog.html StarNewsOnline.comKeys to the Game: New Moon and the Jay Cutler SagaBearGoggles (blog)The Bears host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night and Bears fans are hoping for a ?New Moon.? No, it's not the next installment of the Twilight Saga, ...No stopping rumors, Eagles' mcnabbESPNPhiladelphia Eagles opponents preview - Chicago BearsBleeding Green NationJay Cutler targets turnaroundBoston HeraldUSA Online Gambling News -National Football Post -Bleacher Reportall 135 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043893/harris-in-line-to-return-kickoffs.html Special teams coordinator Ted Daisher said that rookie safety Macho Harris could be in line to take over the kickoff return duties this week in Chicago. http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Sto...?STORY_ID=19458 Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043892/bob-ford-do-eagles-pass-because-they-cant-run.html Even though Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg rarely stand together on the sideline, they are closely linked by both the headphones over their ears and the spaces between their ears. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043891/ed-barkowitz-bears-still-searching-for-their-offensive-forte.html JUST BECAUSE BEARS coach Lovie Smith seems intent on beating his head against the wall, it doesn't mean fantasy leaguers have to do the same. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043890/les-bowen-mays-might-be-man-in-middle-as-eagles-shift-defense-again.html THE SAN DIEGO game was the first time all season the Eagles' defense was unable to force a turnover, a situation that had something to do with Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and maybe even more to do with all the guys playing unfamiliar roles, filling injury gaps. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043889/sam-donnellon-eagles-redzone-woes-have-become-running-joke.html HIS ANGST came and went Sunday, but for a quarterback known for saying nothing, Donovan MacNabb's actions spoke a thousand words. The Eagles had just flubbed a third-and-1 from the San Diego 7-yard line, this time on a well-covered rollout incompletion into the end zone, and their quarterback, who has seen this sort of thing so often over 11 years on the job, had enough. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043888/look-for-eagles-to-blow-through-bears-in-chicago.html Eagles (-3) over BEARS National spotlight. Back in his hometown. What more could Donovan McNabb ask for? Maybe another run for him and his mom with a Campbell's Soup commercial? Or, a stinkin' win. At 5-4, the Birds could really use a W. It's not panic time because the NFC East Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043887/eaglesbears-scouting-report.html Recent history: The Eagles lost to the Bears, 24-20, on Sept. 28, 2008. Chicago lead the series, 28-11-1. OFFENSE Eagles: 352.2 yards per game (12th) Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043886/eagles-vs-bears-pick.html I'VE SEEN the Eagles lose games to the Bears they should have won each of the past two seasons, and here I am, taking the Eagles again. Even though they are 0-7 on Sunday nights since these little NBC deadline-busters first appeared. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043885/eaglesbears-watch-were-watching.html Each week, Daily News football writer Paul Domowitch will tell you the things he will be keeping his eyes on during that week's game: Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043884/resurgent-williams-leads-dolphins-to-win-over-panthers.html CHARLOTTE - He's 32, but Ricky Williams is far from done. And even without Ronnie Brown, the once written-off Dolphins are back in the playoff picture. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043883/couple-more-thoughts-on-mcnabb.html Continuing this week's theme of absolutely ignoring Sunday night's must-win game against the Bears, I want to continue the McNabb discussion from Thursday. As usual, you all came through in the comments with good questions and ideas, and Brad even went off and did his own research.  I want to get to all the issues raised, but first, a clarification about yesterday's post. I wasn't arguing that the Eagles offense is in the ideal position right now.  The running game is a mess and the run-pass balance is even worse.  I'm truly flabbergasted that -- far from adding new "wrinkles" to the Wildcat each week to keep opponents guessing -- we've actually just kept stripping stuff out of it, to the point that it's really just the Mike Vick charity project.  (This post -- not mine -- has proved annoyingly prophetic.) I actually agree with a lot of the things Lawlor has been arguing.  I just haven't seen statistical support for his grand unifying "deep ball infatuation" theory as to why things aren't as good as they used to be. Now, back to McNabb.  First question, from ATG: As to the 1-10 yards changing to behind the [line] passes, is that still an indication of a weak line? Is the running back releasing later because he has to help more? Are teams playing this section tighter, where half the passes go, and forcing us to throw it shorter or longer? Is it just because Westbrook hasn't been around to soak up those passes? Maybe a little of each? To help answer that question, I pulled the situational stats for all pass catchers for the last two seasons.  But I immediately found something weird: Passes Caught Behind The Line 2008 -- 24.9%2009 -- 22.6% Whoops, that doesn't fit the narrative.  There are two problems here:  1) The receiving numbers are not available by quarterback, which means the total numbers include Kolb's figures, and 2) The numbers I pulled today for receivers finally have the San Diego stats included.  One game may not seem like it could change the numbers for half a season, but remember, McNabb threw 55 friggin' passes in this one.  Here's the adjusted table: Lesson #1:  Sample sizes, sample sizes, sample sizes.  This is why you have to be careful throwing around some of those red zone statistics and other numbers I saw today.  Even with San Diego, you're still only talking about 6.5 games for Donovan.  Heck, McNabb's only thrown 23 passes in the red zone all year.  I feel pretty comfortable when we're talking about seven and a half years of situational stats, but week to week, there's going to be variation. Lesson #2:  In the end, because the Kolb and McNabb numbers are mixed, there's really no receiver effect we can measure, at least at this point.  Westbrook caught 56 percent of his passes BTL last year and 53 percent this year.  Buck and Booker were at 66 percent last year, McCoy's at 70 percent this one.  Running backs as a group caught 27 percent of passes this year and are at 25 percent this year.  These aren't big variations. - - - - - - So what's with Kolb, anyway?  And how about that other guy who always comes up in these discussions ... from the professor: For comparison, what do these numbers look like for Garcia's stint? His game management left an impression on me that an Eagles offense could dink and dunk to move the chains and chew the clock, if it ever chooses to. Fair warning, the next chart is going to blow your mind.  It did mine, at any rate (definitely click for the full size):  That's completely nuts.  Looking just at the far right column, there's almost no significant difference between the distribution of passes called for Garcia in 2006 and McNabb from 2002 through 2008. That was unexpected. Now, obviously, we know that chart covers up some year-to-year McNabb variation.  Certainly.  But you're lying if you said you saw that one coming. As for the completion percentages at the various depths, I'd warn that we're again dealing with small sample sizes.  But I don't find it remotely unplausible that Garcia was a couple percentage points more accurate than McNabb from short to intermediate routes.  McNabb's a 59 percent guy for his career, Garcia is 61.6.  Sounds right. Understand, though, how that difference scales into the real world.  McNabb's completed about 63 percent of his passes from BTL to 20 yards this year.  Say Garcia would be at 66 percent from the same range.  That's about one short(-ish) pass a game McNabb misses that Garcia would have completed.  That's going to kill a few drives over the course of the season, but combined with the way the distribution of passes really wasn't all that different in 2006, it's not providing much of an explanation for what's different. And keep in mind that you're trading that one pass a game for significantly better output on all the other passes he does complete. - - - - - - As for what explains the difference between 2006 and 2009, it's probably this:   Anyway, that chart's too depressing to even try to extrapolate to a 16-game season, so let's talk about Kevin Kolb.  Did you see his numbers up there?  Now that's a different offense. - - - - - - Next issue, from Brad: The decline in the 1-10 yard pass (which is the WCO hot spot) has coincided with an uptick in behind the line passes. Completion percentages and ratings have remained high, but the total amount of the designed screens/check-downs has increased steadily. On the face of it, this looks to be the most promising angle of attack for those looking to keep the "big play infatuation" theory alive.  Maybe it's not that McNabb's throwing so many more balls downfield, but because he's so focused down there, he's missing guys at the intermediate level and being forced to dump the ball off right before he gets sacked.  The first problem is that this hypothesis is almost completely unprovable for those of us not privy to what Marty's actually calling (i.e., all of us).  Maybe we are more of a deep ball / check down offense than we used to be.  The second -- and far bigger -- problem with this argument is that even if it's true, it shouldn't be having the effect being claimed.  Take another look at McNabb's 2009 numbers, and this time check out the YPA and YPC columns: (If you go back to the big chart above, you'll find similar YPC and YPA numbers across his career.)  Yes, McNabb's throwing more BTL passes this year, but because he hits on a much higher rate on those, the yards-per-attempt figure is almost identical to passes thrown between one and 10 yards.  So it doesn't really matter, in the end, if he's throwing slants or hanging around for awhile and throwing checkdowns.  The end result is the same.  You're getting five and a half yards (with presumably less variance on the BTL throws, as well, since the completion percentage is so much higher). - - - - - - Except -- and here's the big old caveat -- situationally this isn't true.  When you're in the red zone, you'd much rather be good at throwing a five-yard slant than a 45 yard bomb / check down.  - - - - - - As a further complication -- and though this question wasn't directly asked -- not all BTL throws are checkdowns.  The Eagles throw a lot of screens.  Might there be a significant difference in yardage gained between those two categories? To answer that question I went to the 2008 FO game charting and pulled all the BTL passes from last year.  There does seem to be a difference: I'm guessing the unclassified plays mostly belong with the dumpoffs, because their spreadsheet tries to force you to claim anything behind the line is a screen pass.  I'm not sure how they would define swing passes.  I know when I was charting I marked that for plays where McNabb didn't check everyone else on the field before going to his back out of the backfield.  But one charter's swing pass could be another's dumpoff.  Bottom line, though, is that there is a difference, and it's probably fair to say that dumpoffs are about a yard worse than 1-10 throws.  So that's maybe two yards a game. Nothing to sneeze at when you can't convert third-and-one, of course. - - - - - - And because Sam will point this out if I don't mention it, it's impossible to square those FO numbers with the ESPN stats above.  That's the downside of mixing and matching data sources.  I think both are telling us something interesting, however. - - - - - - Next question: The only thing I am not sure your stats are accounting for, is when Donovan gets sacked or flat out misses an open guy underneath.  Is that because he is locked on downfield. Trust me, I am hyper obsessed with Donovan McNabb's sack statistics.  I'm the guy who spent all last year arguing that McNabb's dramatically decreased sack rate had more to do with a change in how he played the game than with the guys blocking for him.  I still think the case is pretty airtight, but after the crap we've seen this year, I'll be a little less sanguine going forward on the importance of the offensive line. Anyway, yes, McNabb's getting sacked a lot more this year than he did last year.  But he's only at a sack rate of about seven to eight percent (depending upon how you calculate it), which is both in-line with his career average and significantly higher than we saw in 2004 and 2006 (the other years he was bombing away). As for the second part, that's already been discussed above. - - - - - - Last one: My only concern would be that you're missing that this year's Deep Ball increase (+40), which is statistically significant, appears to be coming directly from the percentage of pass attempts in the 1-10 yard area. McNabb's historical rate of 41+ throws is 2.2 percent.  This year it's 3.2 percent.  That 1 percent difference is not accounting for the 8 percent difference from 1-10.  Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1042938/third-downs-plague-birds-d-reading-eagle.html The News JournalThird downs plague Birds 'D'Reading Eagle... all the attention on their misfiring offense in the last couple of weeks, it's been easy to overlook another problem area for the Philadelphia Eagles. ...Battle With The Bears Is Sean mcdermott's Chance To Earn His StripesBleacher ReportBanged-up Eagles defense searching for answersPress of Atlantic Cityall 11 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1042937/opportunity-strikes-again-reading-eagle.html Opportunity strikes (again)Reading EagleNow the Philadelphia Eagles head into a stretch of the season that will determine their playoff fate without their most reliable running back and with ...and more » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1042936/radio-show-redesign-field-trip.html We're on the verge of some new, and hopefully, exciting changes here at Depressed Fan. I say we, because you guys are what keeps me posting and I want you to be part of the process. After the jump, some details on the new site, the new server, a new radio show I'm going to be co-hosting with Derek Bodner and an update on our first field trip, which is quickly approaching. First things first. I made the final payment on our block of tickets for the December 19th game against the Clippers yesterday, the tickets will be in the mail to me early next week. Right now, we have about 10 seats left, so if you haven't reserved your spot yet, send me an e-mail. The seats are floor level, section 115, rows 13 & 14, $25 each. If you can't go but you know someone who may want to, have them e-mail me here: brian@blogsbyfans.com.Now to the new stuff. First, Derek Bodner had a great idea and I'm going to be joining him to do a weekly live podcast/radio show. We're going to spend a half-hour talking about the Sixers, taking calls and eventually we hope to have guests join us as well. Our premiere will be on Monday night (the 23rd) at 8p.m. You should bookmark the home page for the radio show, it's called Sixers Beat. Derek did a great job putting this project together and I hope a bunch of you guys will be able to join us on Monday night, if you can't make it, you'll be able to listen to the replay on the site. For this last part, the redesign, I'd really like to know what you guys like/dislike about the site as it currently looks/works. As part of the redesign, I'm going to be moving to a new server which opens up a few doors for new features and will make everything much faster. The biggest change will be the ability for anyone to write a post, all you have to do is open an account (which will be much easier, and the login process will be streamlined as well). I know how I use the site, as a reader and commenter, but I was hoping I could get your feedback in the comments on how things might be improved. Here are a series of question, answer any you'd like, and if I forgot something, or you have an idea, don't hesitate to post that as well. (You can also e-mail me any suggestions you might have, if you're more comfortable with anonymity. My e-mail address is brian@blogsbyfans.com)How often do you visit?How often do you comment?Do you ever use any of the links in the black section in the middle of the home page (Player salaries, helpful links, archives, recent entries, entries from the rest of the Blogs By Fans Network)?Have you opened an account and/or created a profile here? If so, do you login to comment? If not, why not?Would you be interested in writing your own posts (to be displayed in the sidebar, with the possibility of them being included in the main section of the site?)Do you like the images I attach to entries on the home page? Would you be fine with plain text?Is the site easy to read as it's currently constructed? Text too small?Do you follow me on Twitter? Do you subscribe to the site using the RSS feed? Would you like to receive an e-mail whenever a new post is published?What do you like most about the site? What would you love to change?This is not in the plans, but if an account was required to leave a comment, would that be too much of hassle and would you stop visiting?Name one feature you wish the site had.Thanks in advance for any responses, in the past I've kind of stumbled through redesigns without any concrete feedback from you guys, but the community has grown to the point where I want to make sure I'm heading in the right direction this time around. Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1042176/bears-need-better-output-from-stalled-running-game-chicagobearscom.html Chicago TribuneBears need better output from stalled running gameChicagoBears.comThe Bears will look for more production from their running game Sunday night when they host the Philadelphia Eagles. Chicago's rushing attack ranks 30th in ...Lovie says Bears just want to get to game in turning down NBCChicago Sun-TimesBears deny rift with NBCESPNBears Shun NBC for Sunday Night GameFanHouse (blog)ESPN -ChicagoBears.comall 35 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1042175/footballic-ramblings-fly-like-eagle-edition-gapers-block-blog.html ChicagoBears.comFootballic Ramblings: Fly Like An Eagle EditionGapers Block (blog)... of a playoff berth particularly when you look at the next month of games starting with Sunday's tilt against the playoff-craving Philadelphia Eagles. ...Inexperience equals inconsistency for EaglesPhiladelphia InquirerEagles, Bears in similar spotSportingNews.comNFL Preview - Philadelphia (5-4) at Chicago (4-5)MiamiHerald.comKTVU.com -CBSSports.com -WBBM780all 88 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1042174/if-you-had-to-fire-one.html of the two main Eagles after this season because you, the owner of the Eagles has just decided that change is needed and it is no longer acceptable to be "in the hunt", who would you fire:Reid or McNabb? and why?This was a real hot button conversation today at work with varying heated opinions.Also, a separate question, is that assuming you're not necessarily firing anyone, what does Reid need to do to warrant an extension before next season (assumes they won't let him be a lame duck coach in 2010 and a decision must be made before the 2010 draft)A. Nothing, he's already earned it, I'd extend him right nowB. Even if we don't make the playoffs, as long as we're 7-9 or better, I extend himC. If we make the playoffs, he gets an extensionD. If we get to the 2nd round he gets an extensionE. We need a trip to the NFCCG to get an extensionF. Super Bowl or bustG. Super Bowl Champion or bustH. He can never warrant an extension no matter what he does this year, Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1041371/eagles-bears-in-similar-spot-sportingnewscom.html ChicagoBears.comEagles, Bears in similar spotSportingNews.comAP LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Donovan mcnabb called it a "must win," and just to be clear, he was only referring to his Philadelphia Eagles. ...Inexperience equals inconsistency for EaglesPhiladelphia InquirerNFL Preview - Philadelphia (5-4) at Chicago (4-5)MiamiHerald.comNFL Preview - Philadelphia (5-4) At Chicago (4-5)KTVU.comCBSSports.com -WBBM780 -KYW1060.comall 85 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1040819/lovie-says-bears-just-want-to-get-game-in-turning-down-nbc-chicago-suntimes.html Chicago TribuneLovie says Bears just want to get to game in turning down NBCChicago Sun-Times... night's game with the Philadelphia Eagles, and that they're ready to circle the wagons after fulfilling media obligations Friday following practice. ...Bears deny rift with NBCESPNBears Shun NBC for Sunday Night GameFanHouse (blog)Briggs: Struggles are on playersChicago Tribuneall 22 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1040142/inexperience-equals-inconsistency-for-eagles-philadelphia-inquirer.html Bleacher ReportInexperience equals inconsistency for EaglesPhiladelphia InquirerAP PHILADELPHIA - Donovan McNabb looks around in the huddle and sees guys who were in high school or college when he led the Philadelphia Eagles to the ...Eagles Search for Volunteer to Be New 'Community QB'KYW1060.comInexperience equals inconsistency for EaglesBleacher Reportall 42 news articles » Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1040139/inching-toward-mediocrity.html Or are they? The Sixers defensive rating has improved over the past four games (2 wins, 2 losses), but have they really performed better? We'll take a look after the jump. The Sixers now rank 21st in the league in defensive efficiency, down from their low point of 29th about a week and a half ago. Sure signs of improvement, right? Well, that depends. Consider this, in their past four game, the Sixers played three of the worst offenses in the league. The Nets rank 30th, the Bobcats 29th and the Bulls 27th.You'd expect the Sixers' season numbers to improve drastically against those teams, but at this point in the season, looking at the cumulative number really doesn't mean much, the sample size is so small, your efficiency rating is going to be skewed greatly by who you play. For example, playing against the Raptors, who lead the league in offensive efficiency at 114.5, a allowing a 104.5 rating in that game would really be a good defensive effort, while playing the Nets and allowing 104.5 would be atrocious. You really need to play a bunch of games before the cumulative number works out.With that in mind, we have to look at who the Sixers have played, and how they've fared against the teams' season efficiency numbers (again, the sample sizes are too small, and can vary based who those teams have played, but it's a better barometer than your team's cumulative total). Here's the chart of the Sixers relative defensive efficiency vs. all the teams they've played thus far. In 11 games, only three times have the Sixers held teams under their average offensive rating for the season, Milwaukee in the second game of the season (they actually held them almost 17 points under their season number), @ Detroit, barely, and @ the Nets, again barely. In the other 8 games, they've made opposing offenses look better, in six of those games, significantly so.Obviously, you have matchups to consider, some teams will be better suited to take advantage of your weaknesses, etc, but you'd expect an average defensive team to cumulatively be pretty much even when you break their season down like this. Better defensive teams would have a positive DIF column, and a bad defensive team would be in the negatives. If you total up the DIF column for the Sixers, you get a whopping -76.14, or almost 7 points worse, per game. The reasons are simple. A made three is the most-efficient offensive trip possible (with the exception of the four-point play, which almost never happens), the Sixers give up a ton of threes. Offensive rebounds extend possessions, so second-chance points kill you as well and don't show up in standard defensive stats, like field goal percentage (one possession could result in 3 shots, with only the third falling if there are two offensive rebounds. In the box score, this shows up as 33% from the floor, which you would think is great defense. In offensive rating, this is 2 points on one possession, which is pitiful).In a nutshell, the Sixers "don't defend the three and don't worry about grabbing defensive rebounds" philosophy is creating a perfect storm of inefficient defense. It looks like they're only ranked as highly as 21st because they've played 7 of their 11 games against teams ranked in the bottom half of the league, and five of their games against four of the worst offensive teams in the league (Nets 30th, @ Nets 30th, @ Knicks 26th, @ Bulls 27th, Bobcats 29th). They were even in negatives against those teams, thanks in large part to the pitiful defensive effort they put forth in the Garden against the Knicks.If this trend continues, and I don't really see any reason to think it will not, the Princeton offense is going to have to transform the Sixers from a mediocre offensive team (currently, the 21st most efficient offensive team), to a top-ten offense. Does anyone think that's possible? Philadelphia Eagles - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates