CrazedDogs

::sigh:: what might have been....

I don't see Randle as a slot guy. Tall, big bodied, long strides... I doubt thats his game.... but maybe Beckham though.

"settle down"? LOL, what? I think you're reading a different tone into my post than I intended. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend it across the board, I'm just saying I don't think its a big deal. And if it works for a player, like if you've got a John Randle type on your team, then I think you let the man do what he wants to do. And sort of a side point, a lot of the stuff that comes off as public smack talk is just shit that the media stirs up. Looking back at this past week, there was almost as much shit coming out of Philadelphia, and they even had a team-sponsored smack video, so I really don't think a case can be made that the back and forth between the teams had any bearing on the outcome.

Well, McBride looked like he didn't belong on an NFL field on Sunday night, so I'm going to say Cruz. Did you see McCoy turn the corner on McBride? And McCoy is real quick, but he isn't a straight line speed guy, yet he made McBride look like he was running in mud. So forget it... injured or not, cut his ass, he's a good zone player, good instincts for the game, but he just isn't talented enough to win with.

Interesting, I was too young then to remember how that game turned out.

Some of those guys are all-time greats, so what evidence do you have that they weren't focused on playing the game? Everybody is unique, but I think you could make a stronger case that smack talk is a good self-motivating technique.

I hope you're right. I cannot believe Orlando Scandrick is still in the league, that guy has got to be the worst starting cornerback in the NFL. But without Cruz, I have a hard time seeing the Giants as a team that can exploit a weak secondary. But maybe if Randle gets his head right and Beckham turns out to be a Pro Bowl caliber player the Giants will be able to weather the loss of Cruz. I don't know, I thought that was the reason why everyone was predicting the Cowboys to make it a good game in Seattle. Harvin is a weapon, but he can't post up a defensive back and make a play downfield, and there's really nobody else. So Seattle can't exploit a defense that is heavy in the front seven and weak on the back end.

Peyton Manning isn't a trash talker? "Damn it Donald!", he sure as hell is, on the field. He's probably far meaner to his own teammates than he is the other team. I'll give you Barry Sanders. The man was the polar opposite of a Peyton Manning in terms of personality.

That game wasn't over until Cruz's knee went. It was about to be a 2 score game with plenty of time left against a team that doesn't protect the clock (which as a football fan is the one thing that I don't like about the Chip Kelly offense... they aren't going to win shit of any significance as long as they're the kind of team that runs plays with ten seconds on the playclock while nursing a lead). Then the knee went and you could see all the enthusiasm go out of the Giants.

can't say I told you so because I never mentioned it, I didn't want to jinx it, but in weeks 4 and 5 Eli was also holding the ball longer. And he was holding it longer each time out too. It just wasn't exposed because the pass protection was there. I think the Eagles saw that and understood that if they played press coverage and consistently rushed five that Eli's timing would be thrown off. The offense is still a work in progress. We really shouldn't be surprised. Needs to get better fast though, because the toughest part of the schedule is coming up.

And the Eagles are absolutely as good as they showed on Sunday. Absolutely. Don't take that away from them, they got it done. The Giants played exceptionally poorly, I have no doubt they can do better than that, but that is taking nothing away from the Eagles.

Sure, you can raise somebody's motivation (and at the same time, the pressure on them) by talking trash, but what the fuck are you talking about with this 'by definition' crap? I've never known any successful guy who isn't to some degree a shit talker, and you don't get there without being focused. Everybody is different, but for the guys that keep their edge by putting their own rep on the line, I say go for it. You can't tell me that Richard Sherman isn't focused, that Aaron Rodgers isn't focused, that Phillip Rivers isn't focused, that John Randle wasn't focused, that Reggie White wasn't focused, that Michael Strahan wasn't focused...I can go on and on naming players now and then that constantly run their mouths on and off the field, each in their own way. Some tell you how they're going to beat you, some say 'nice hit' then laugh in your face, and some even prayed for your soul, but its all the same. Its all shit talk, and if it works for them, its all good as far as I'm concerned. Its not 'by definition' a distraction. I don't believe for one second that a little pre-game smack was needed to motivate the Eagles --- if it did, that would be very damning for the Eagles. But like I said, I don't think that was the case. My concern is that the team motivated by the media here was the Giants. They got hot, got media hype, and took it like a pre-game hummer...feels great, right? Until its game time and the media's happy ending left them feeling some afterglow drowsiness. And that... is damning.

No questions. The Eagles had a great game plan. I was very impressed.

a one armed pancake block.... his right arm was free, and his left hand was in the middle of Cole's chest, wasn't even grabbing jersey. No idea how the ref saw a flag there. There's holding on every play, drives me nuts when they call it where there's nothing. (Maybe they just called the wrong number.) Indeed, Beatty has been good this season. I don't expect much from Jerry, but Pugh played like he didn't want to be hit. I'm hoping he's hurt or sick or something, because otherwise we have a problem on the right side. I

until Sunday evening, I wouldn't have found that to be a very bold prediction. But fuck me, the Cowboys look like contenders. Have to admit, I like the way they've focused on the offensive line. Not that I want to see them succeed, but if I were to do it, I like to think thats how I would have done it too.

I'm kind of glad they lost so I can drop the artificial pessimism. Then again, all they did was give me more reason for pessimism.

I'm not going to pretend that it changed the game, but Peters was getting away with murder while JPP was on his side of the field, but then they call that on Beatty?!? And to add injury to insult, Cruz is probably healthy today if the ref doesn't blow that call on the play before. Whoever threw that flag, I hope that fucker loses his job and his wife cheats on him with a farm animal. I just can't get over how bad Pugh was last night, he made Barwin look like a hall of famer.

Beatty wasn't that bad last night (the holding call that negated a touchdown was one of the worst calls ever seen - that was a great block), but Jerry was awful and Pugh was worse.

LOL, I was wondering the same thing. we are, but we don't know that its true that they handle pressure any better than the rest of us... personally, I've just always assumed that people wouldn't ascend to that level unless they are 'clutch'. But then again, every week, almost every game, you'll see an NFL player lose their shit out there. Even in the league, there are some guys whose heads can be had.

Its usually a bad idea, but I don't know about that, I've known too many guys that are susceptible to head games. Maybe people like that tend to not be pro athletes, but there are some people who will beat themselves as soon as you start talking a little shit. Guess it just depends on the people on the team though.

yeah, but here's the thing about talking shit... it may motivate the other team, but if you beat them anyway, they will be left demoralized as hell.

I've been a negative ass all through the 3 game win streak, so I'm going to keep going with it until the streak breaks.

trial by fire. 2-2 through that stretch would be decent enough.

3-13

on the bright side, 5 TDs on specials and D is unsustainable... if the Eagles keep that up, they would completely destroy the NFL record for combined special teams and defensive TDs in a season. The combined records for special teams TDs and defensive TDs is 21, which no team has ever come close to, and the Eagles are on pace for almost 20. The pass rush appears to be getting home, but as long as the QB can stay upright it doesn't seem to matter who they are, they're moving the ball on the Eagles secondary. I think the Eagles pass rush vs. Giants pass protection is going to be the match up to watch... I can't wait.