Eagles March to Another Loss Vs. Saints

The 2012 New Orleans Saints 2012 defense is statistically the WORST in the HISTORY of the NFL. Accordingly, the Eagles had more yards, more first downs and more time of possession than the dangerous Saints offense did. Their 447 yards translated to 13 points on the scoreboard against a defense that had surrendered an average of 30.9 points a game through their first 7 contests.

The offensive line is decimated and hence deplorable. Michael Vick compounds the shoddy offensive line play with indecision, poor ball security and the ever-present turnovers. He has no pocket awareness, is unable to feel pressure, frequently runs into pressure, often drops the ball and often throws it to the wrong team.

The Eagles scored 13 points and the Saints scored 7 with the Eagles' offense on the field, courtesy of a poorly thrown Vick pass that was returned 99 yards for the first points of the game. Yet another redzone turnover by Vick and the Eagles on the road against a potent offense. Deflating to say the least.

The Eagles reached the Saints' Red Zone 4 times and came away with 6 points. That is a major reason they lost the game. The defense held the Saints to 21 points, although they displayed atrociously bad tackling at times.

All the analysis in the world cannot explain a team that continuously amasses yardage, but cannot score points. When the Eagles do score points, their defense has breakdowns at inopportune times. When it makes the occassional big play, they commit an untimely turnover to negate it (see Riley Cooper’s kickoff return for a TD that was called back.)

Rather than assess the minutiae that produces loss after loss, it is easier and more accurate to just acknowledge this is a bad team. They have some talented players, but it does not translate to performance on the field.

When such a situation arises and a team has a coach who has been at the helm for 14 seasons without a Superbowl win, the finger has to be pointed at that coach. The culture of the team is poisonous right now.

I am as staunch an Andy Reid supporter as there is, but it has to be ackowledged that his reign seems to have come to an end. I still think he has been an excellent coach and has done a great deal for this organization. I think he will go to another team and be successful there.

Barring a miraculous turnaround that seems as likely as finding a Mormon on Bourbon Street, Eagles fans should thank Andy Reid as he is fired after this season.

That is not to say it is all his fault. These players should look in the mirror to find the culprits of this second disastrous season in a row. They are unable to perform the basic functions of an NFL players at times, i.e., tackling, blocking, catching, etc. No amount of coaching can teach pride, and when things are really embarrassing, players have to at least feel that shame and man up.

Nnamdi Asomugha is the poster child for the lack-of-pride syndrome that has infected this team. He is one of the biggest busts in the history of professional sports. He arrived with a sterling reputation as a player and a man. He might be the most charitable guy in the world, but he is horrendous as a player—not horrendous for a big-name free agent, horrendous for anyone. He cannot cover anyone, he cannot tackle anyone and he does not have the professional pride to do anything about it.

There are a number of players like that on this team. But all that being said, you cannot fire all the players and, for a coach that was already on the hot seat, their lack of pride and his inability to instill it in them thus far is what will cause this to be his last season if it does not change.

There is no indication it will get anything other than worse.