A Telling Stat
Added on Dec 14, 2012 by Scott in
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There are a myriad of reasons for the decline of the Philadelphia Eagles. Haphazard front office decisions, poor coaching, underachieving free agents, a severe lack of discipline and a spate of season-ending injuries to key players are just a few. To be honest, it would take pages and pages to deconstruct all the missteps the organization has made in the last three years. However, there is one stat that is very revealing and ultimately troubling: the won-loss record at home.
The Eagles have dropped ten of their last fifteen home games, and if they lose as expected to the Giants in Week 17 it will be eleven of sixteen. Despite one of the newer stadiums and one of the league’s most rabid fanbases, the Eagles are not an intimidating presence inside Lincoln Financial Field. If a team can’t win at home, the odds of advancing to the playoffs become slimmer.
What is the explanation? In a word, turnovers. In those ten defeats, the Birds have totaled 24 giveaways, and turned it over at least once in nine of the ten games, including five in last night’s ugly drubbing at the hands of the Bengals. A lot of plays and performances can sway an outcome, but ball security is perhaps the most crucial in determining victories. For whatever reason, Andy Reid’s Eagles don’t know how to take care of the rock in their own building.
It’s easy and also justified to point the finger of blame at Michael Vick, who has been a sloppy and reckless quarterback since 2011. It’s easy and also justified to point he finger of blame at rookies like Bryce Brown and Nick Foles, who are still learning how to navigate the stormy seas of the NFL.
But there is a major lack of accountability under Reid’s watch. Both veterans and youngsters are getting away with committing blunders, goofs and mistakes. Holding onto the ball takes focus. Not throwing across the body into double coverage takes common sense. Carrying the ball tight against the body takes concerted effort.
All of these problems can be corrected through proper coaching that stresses doing things the right way. Repeatedly telling the press and fans that “they need to work harder” solves nothing. Firing a defensive coordinator midway through a season when the offense can’t keep the ball or score in the red zone solves nothing. Crossing fingers and wishful thinking solves nothing.
Andy Reid either forgot how to deliver a message or has a team of 52 who refuse to listen. Whatever the case, he has clearly overstayed his welcome in the City of Brotherly Love. The good news is the season will all come to a merciful end in two weeks. After that, the real fireworks will begin.
