Brent Celek fends off Redskins safety DeJon Gomes. Photo via D Hallowell

It was a tortuously boring and messy game to watch, but the Eagles’ 34-10 win over the Redskins is the last Eagles football we’ll see until the summer so I hope you soaked it all in.

The 2011 season is over for the Philadelphia Eagles, and they finished with an 8-8 record. The team went on a 4-game winning streak to reach that record, but that is little consolation for a woefully painful and disappointing season.

“Too little, too late.” That, and not the cursed label of “Dream Team,” should be the term applied to the 2011 Eagles.

RB LeSean McCoy was not active for the game, so there went one compelling reason to watch the game. In fact, there went the one reason to watch any Eagles football all season. Jason Babin ended his season with 18 sacks, as his teammate Trent Cole had the only sack for the Birds against the Redskins.

The game was perfectly summed up by Governor Ed Rendell on Postgame Live:

“I’ve never seen a less impressive 34-10 win in all of my years of watching  football.” » Continue reading “It’s a Wrap: Eagles Finish 2011 at 8-8″

Will Steve Spagnuolo replace Juan Castillo in 2012?

By this point, columnists far and wide have weighed on the report of current Rams coach (for at least the next few days) Steve Spagnuolo will be named the next defensive coordinator of the Eagles. The blogosphere blew up when Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune said on Monday evening that Spags’ arrival in Philadelphia was “all but certain.” I have read through a good deal on the commentary on the matter and have fleshed out what are the best points as to why this move may happen, and why it may not.

Sheil Kapadia in Moving the Chains:

League sources also said this week that it is all but certain that Spagnuolo will join Andy Reid’s staff in Philadelphia as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator.

What would need to happen for the aforementioned scenario to play out? The Rams would have to cut ties with Spagnuolo, which seems likely, based on several reports out of St. Louis and around the country. The Eagles would have to cut ties with Castillo. And Spagnuolo would have to want to join the Eagles. He will likely have other options: becoming a defensive coordinator elsewhere, taking a year off, etc.

The Eagles would also have to decide on their defensive philosophy if they brought in Spagnuolo. In St. Louis, and before that with the Giants, Spagnuolo relied on a blitz/zone-blitz scheme. While the Eagles have blitzed more in recent weeks, for much of the season, they’ve relied on pressure from the front four and Jim Washburn’s wide-nine. Through 15 weeks, the Eagles lead the NFL with 49 sacks, and 45 of them have come from defensive linemen.

The change in defensive philosophy that would mark a return to the Eagles is a great point. As painful as the process of getting all of the components to work has been, are the Eagles going to scrap it all and start over once again?

The problem with the report stating that the naming of Spags as Philadelphia’s next defensive coordinator is “all but certain” is that it ignores a number of other moving pieces. » Continue reading “Making Sense Of The Rumors: Who Will Be The Eagles’ DC In 2012?”

Caffeine will ease the pain of reading about the state of the Eagles.

Newsflash: Bad teams brew a lot of news. There isn’t much to say if you’re lucky enough to root for a good team. They’re good. They’re winning. Yay team.

When your team is bad, you have stories about player meltdowns, tensions in the locker room, questions about the team’s leadership and tenure of the coaching staff…all wonderful to read when it’s not about your team. But when it is? It’s not so great.

But alas, that’s where we are with the Philadelphia Eagles. A crappy team that now provides us with an unending supply of news stories. So let’s get to it.

Take that: Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg says that ole’ Kevin Kolb exaggerated the help he provided to his current team by calling out the plays from his lazy former team. Does that make you feel better? Yeah–me either. – CSNPhilly

Former Eagles LB Jeremiah Trotter weighs on the inner workings of the Eagles’ front office and locker room. – Eagles Addict

Sayeth Vince Young: “”It’s not about me. It’s about the team. I want to go out there and lead the guys to a victory. I’m definitely happy, definitely happy to be playing. But at the same time, it’s not about me. It’s all about the team.” That sounds like someone who’s going to be starting in a game, doesn’t it? Prepare yourselves… – Philadelphia Eagles

Yes, he’s likely to be  the starter for your team on Sunday and yes, there is concern that Vince Young still doesn’t know the Eagles’ play book. What the heck has he been doing sitting on the sideline all of that time? – Pro Football Zone

Sheil Kapadia breaks down 15 things you should know about the coming Sunday Night Football Eagles – Giants Game – Moving the Chains

The Eagles spate of 4th quarter meltdowns aren’t just infuriating. They aren’t just humiliating. They are historic. Historically bad. – CSNPhilly

Steve Smith, every Eagles fan’s least favorite wide receiver right now, returns to his former stomping ground for the first time since becoming an Eagles. He’s expecting Giants fans to be a lil’ sore about that. “Brutal,” in fact.  – ProFootballTalk

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/phillysportmuse.

The level of expectation for the Eagles’ receiving corps shot up measurably this weekend with the appearance of that wideouts Jeremy Maclin and Steve Smith at the Novacare on Saturday. It was the first time that either have been able to practice in the 2011 season.

Maclin is recovering from an extended viral infection that he feared was lymphoma. Smith is recovering from knee surgery and initial estimates had him not returning to the playing field until mid-October.

Do both players think they will be ready for the season opener against the Rams in St. Louis on September 11? Absolutely.

St. Louis is Maclin’s hometown, and members of his community have purchased 1,000 tickets to support their native son.  Maclin said that there is “no doubt about” the fact that he will be ready to play in St. Louis. » Continue reading “Eagles Briefs: Jeremy Maclin and Steve Smith Practice”

A story line is developing with Eagles and their three cornerbacks that I don’t think anyone anticipated over the weekend.

Surprise number 1: Asante Samuel showed up at training camp on Monday. It was his first time being present since camp officially kicked off last Thursday.

Surprise number 2: Unlike Nnamdi Asomugha, Samuel is not pleased with having 3 CBs on the roster.

Les Bowen reported via Twitter that Samuel, when asked if he had asked for a trade stated, “no comment.”

Samuel went on to say,

“I want to be where I’m wanted. If I’m wanted here, [I want to be] here. If I’m not appreciated here, then life goes on. I move on.”

Yeah. I’d say Asante wasn’t too happy with the Eagles moves this weekend.

Sheil Kapadia of Philly.com interpreted the response as follows:

According to CSNPhilly, Joe Banner stated in an interview that the team is entertaining offers for Samuel, but no conclusions have been reached.

Samuel went on to say,

“If they’re tired of my big-playmaking ability, maybe they’ll ship me out.Maybe they’l keep me. I don’t know. Who knows.

“My role is my role. I’ll still do what I do. Nothing’s changed for me. If something changes, you’ll hear about it.”

When asked if he felt wanted by the Eagles, Samuel said “50/50.” And in case you’re wondering, he shed no light on his absence from the beginning of camp.

Asante Samuel sounds is a disgruntled employee. His sudden appearance at Lehgih, comments and demeanor of that of someone who is defeated but putting on an air of defiance to hide the hurt.

If he remains an Eagle, he’ll have to do like other individuals disappointed with their employer and continue to work hard and keep their head held high until another opportunity presents itself.

Where this story will head next is your guess. I would say that Samuel is headed elsewhere, but the appearance at Lehigh University on Monday is a bit of a plot twist in this story.

The bigger question is to the Eagles’ intentions. Do their plans for the defense in 2011 include a 3-corner scheme? If so, role will each of the Pro-Bowl CBs play in the secondary?

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/phillysportmuse.