Game Notes: Eagles Look Special Against Patriots

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Friday night should put to rest any talk about how horrible the special teams have looked.  Fans have been harping on the perceived poor play of the entire group, when in reality it's mostly been limited to particular players or isolated incidents.

Yes, the Lorenzo Booker experiment is a failure.  David Akers missed another 40-yard field goal against Carolina.  Sav Rocca had a tough outing against the Steelers, and the kick coverage units were poor that night.  Mostly though, the criticism seemed excessively harsh, as the group appeared to be improving all along.  Some were already calling for special teams coach Rory Seagrest's job.

And then, in less than two minutes of game time, Quintin Demps and DeSean Jackson provided the spark we've all been hoping for, returning a kick and a punt for touchdowns respectively.  Sav Rocca punted balls out of bounds, pinning the Patriots at the 3 yard line once, and then again at the 1 yard line.  Everything was working.

Special teams are back in Philly.  As good as the first team offense and defense played, it was the third unit that won this game for the Eagles.

Offense

* I thought the Eagles receivers looked fine.  The Patriots don't have the best corners and certainly weren't giving McNabb any creative coverages, but everyone played a role.  Avant's touchdown catch in particular was sick.  L.J. Smith had a couple of nice catches as well.

* Baskett cost the team 6 points when he fumbled a ball into the end zone.  It was a careless blunder, but since this was an exhibition game, I'll give him a pass.  99 times out of 100, that's a touchdown.  Baskett also showed some excellent blocking skills several times during the first half.

* Speaking of blocking, Tony Hunt was not very effective leading the halfback.  However, he showed he is willing to do the job, so perhaps with some work he will become a quality fullback.  Hunt is going to make this team.  He carried the ball well, picked up a blitz,  made plays on special teams again, and frankly, Jason Davis didn't look any better.

* Jamaal Jackson struggled to contain Vince Wilfork at the beginning of the game, but mostly held him in check.  Wilfork is possibly the best nose tackle in football, so it was a good test for the center.  Shawn Andrews did fine in his return.

* What was there not to like about the first team offense?  242 total yards in the first half, 68 of them on the ground.  They were stopped in the red zone twice, but I didn't read too much into it.  Rodney Harrison single-handedly kept the Eagles out of the end zone on the first series, which is just what great players do, and the second time was the Baskett fluke.

Defense

* Trent Cole had a very good game, picking up a sack and constantly bringing pressure to the quarterback.  Of course, he was up against a backup, so had he been invisible, this spot would probably have bad things written.  Mike Patterson also made some nice plays, including a great read on a screen pass that sent the QB fleeing for his life.  If Cassel throws that ball, the runner would have been flattened.

* Jerome McDougle continues to bring the noise, and I'm actually going to be disappointed if he doesn't make the team.  I really want to see what he can do.  He probably has a shot considering Darren Howard hasn't done anything yet.  Bryan Smith also made some plays, but he doesn't seem to be putting much pressure on the QB.

* Dan Klecko has been awesome.  That guy just knows how to play football. 

* It's probably a good thing the Eagles hold on to Lito Sheppard, because those backup cornerbacks are flat out lousy.  Anyone after Joselio Hanson on the depth chart plain isn't good.  Demps looks like he has a ways to go before he is ready to contribute on defense.

* As good as the Eagles played, it's hard to take too much away from this game.  The special teams deserve to be praised, and the offense and defense did what it should under the circumstances.  Still, this was only an exhibition game against the Patriots, without Brady and their left tackle, using the most basic schemes in their playbook.  It's almost nothing but positives, but with tempered enthusiasm.

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