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August 2006
8/18/06
8/17/06
…and Into the Ravens Nest
8/15/06
8/7/06
Thursday, August 17, 2006
12:51:00 PM EDT
Feeling Hopeful
Hearing Dave Matthews - Raven
Come on Raven give it up
Won't you give the light up
I'm to waiting
Here like a dead log
When I say this I mean, aww
Won't you go with your head
Live life till you don't need in it
But don't give up on it
Thursday’s match-up with the Ravens promises to be a stout test for the young Eagles offense. For the first time this preseason, the Eagles are facing an experienced and battle-tested defensive unit. Led by Ray Lewis, this unit has been one of the hardest hitting groups in the always-tough AFC North.
While Lewis is reported to have lost a step, the Ravens had taken steps to protect the heart of their defense by drafting Oregon’s Haloti Ngata, a 6-3, 330 LB mass of a man who anchored the Ducks defense for four years. For the first time since the days of Tony Siragusa, the Ravens have a stud in the middle of their defensive line to allow the multi-talented Lewis to roam the center of the field.
New to the Ravens aviary is savvy veteran QB Steve McNair. Injuries have plagued McNair in recent seasons, and as the Titans had slipped from their former high level of play, his statistics had slipped as well. The Ravens acquired McNair for a fourth-round pick in the 2007 draft and hope that he will become the final piece of their offensive puzzle. Say what you want about McNair; the man is a warrior.
TE Todd Heap and former Titan Derrick Mason provide McNair two sure-handed targets to energize the offense. RB Jamal Lewis was re-signed for three years this off-season, and former Bronco Mike Anderson was added to the fold to give the Ravens depth in the backfield. This offense is experienced and should also give the Eagles a solid read on the progress of their revamped defense.
On the Eagles side of the line, Reno Mahe will once again be shouldering most of the running load with the first-team offense. Bruce Perry will rejoin the ranks and tonight also marks the return of Correll Buckhalter to game action.
Buckhalter has trimmed down from his former playing weight, and has been the subject of many positive reports out of the Eagles training camp. Many fans, myself included, welcome his return to action and admire his dedication to rehabilitating his injuries, but are holding our breaths waiting for the next devastating injury to derail his return once again.
In his blog on PhiladelphiaEagles.com, Sheldon Brown touts the progress of the young wide receiver group, saying they are ready to play. Quoting Brown, "What I like most about our receivers is the way they compete. They're physical and they get after a cornerback. They don't back down. They're hard to jam at the line of scrimmage because they are so strong.” The Ravens defense will test the strength of this young group.
On the wide receiver topic, have we seen the last of Todd Pinkston in an Eagles uniform? Throughout much of the last week, we had seen reports of Pinkston being ready to return to action Thursday night, yet in Andy Reid’s press conference, the head coach described Pinkston as not ready. Reports out of Lehigh noted that he looked to be in great shape, yet lacked the former explosiveness he had been noted for in his career. It’s common knowledge that he is not the most physical of players, and his courage has faced intense scrutiny over the last three seasons. The bottom line, without his break-away speed, Pinkston has fallen behind the rest of the wide receivers, and may very well be at the end of the line of his Eagles career.
The keys for Thursday’s game will be two-fold. First, how well will the Eagles defense look against an offense geared to pound the ball on the ground to move the chains? Lewis and Anderson provide an outstanding one-two punch out of the backfield, and still-mobile McNair has the skills to exploit Heap and Mason against an overly-aggressive defense.
Second, we will see the intestinal fortitude of the young wide receiver group against a hard-hitting defense. Will their size allow Brown, Avant and Baskett to chuck defenders at the line, and get open for McNabb’s passes? With Westbrook and Moats on the sideline, there is little to be gleaned from the running game tonight, other than the progress of the offensive line going against a highly-physical unit.
Here’s to a great game with no injuries to mark the half-way point of this year’s preseason.
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12:51:00 PM EDT
Feeling Hopeful
Hearing Dave Matthews - Raven
…and Into the Ravens Nest
Won't you give the light up
I'm to waiting
Here like a dead log
When I say this I mean, aww
Won't you go with your head
Live life till you don't need in it
But don't give up on it
Thursday’s match-up with the Ravens promises to be a stout test for the young Eagles offense. For the first time this preseason, the Eagles are facing an experienced and battle-tested defensive unit. Led by Ray Lewis, this unit has been one of the hardest hitting groups in the always-tough AFC North.
While Lewis is reported to have lost a step, the Ravens had taken steps to protect the heart of their defense by drafting Oregon’s Haloti Ngata, a 6-3, 330 LB mass of a man who anchored the Ducks defense for four years. For the first time since the days of Tony Siragusa, the Ravens have a stud in the middle of their defensive line to allow the multi-talented Lewis to roam the center of the field.
New to the Ravens aviary is savvy veteran QB Steve McNair. Injuries have plagued McNair in recent seasons, and as the Titans had slipped from their former high level of play, his statistics had slipped as well. The Ravens acquired McNair for a fourth-round pick in the 2007 draft and hope that he will become the final piece of their offensive puzzle. Say what you want about McNair; the man is a warrior.
TE Todd Heap and former Titan Derrick Mason provide McNair two sure-handed targets to energize the offense. RB Jamal Lewis was re-signed for three years this off-season, and former Bronco Mike Anderson was added to the fold to give the Ravens depth in the backfield. This offense is experienced and should also give the Eagles a solid read on the progress of their revamped defense.
On the Eagles side of the line, Reno Mahe will once again be shouldering most of the running load with the first-team offense. Bruce Perry will rejoin the ranks and tonight also marks the return of Correll Buckhalter to game action.
Buckhalter has trimmed down from his former playing weight, and has been the subject of many positive reports out of the Eagles training camp. Many fans, myself included, welcome his return to action and admire his dedication to rehabilitating his injuries, but are holding our breaths waiting for the next devastating injury to derail his return once again.
In his blog on PhiladelphiaEagles.com, Sheldon Brown touts the progress of the young wide receiver group, saying they are ready to play. Quoting Brown, "What I like most about our receivers is the way they compete. They're physical and they get after a cornerback. They don't back down. They're hard to jam at the line of scrimmage because they are so strong.” The Ravens defense will test the strength of this young group.
On the wide receiver topic, have we seen the last of Todd Pinkston in an Eagles uniform? Throughout much of the last week, we had seen reports of Pinkston being ready to return to action Thursday night, yet in Andy Reid’s press conference, the head coach described Pinkston as not ready. Reports out of Lehigh noted that he looked to be in great shape, yet lacked the former explosiveness he had been noted for in his career. It’s common knowledge that he is not the most physical of players, and his courage has faced intense scrutiny over the last three seasons. The bottom line, without his break-away speed, Pinkston has fallen behind the rest of the wide receivers, and may very well be at the end of the line of his Eagles career.
The keys for Thursday’s game will be two-fold. First, how well will the Eagles defense look against an offense geared to pound the ball on the ground to move the chains? Lewis and Anderson provide an outstanding one-two punch out of the backfield, and still-mobile McNair has the skills to exploit Heap and Mason against an overly-aggressive defense.
Second, we will see the intestinal fortitude of the young wide receiver group against a hard-hitting defense. Will their size allow Brown, Avant and Baskett to chuck defenders at the line, and get open for McNabb’s passes? With Westbrook and Moats on the sideline, there is little to be gleaned from the running game tonight, other than the progress of the offensive line going against a highly-physical unit.
Here’s to a great game with no injuries to mark the half-way point of this year’s preseason.
Written by mrbiersnob Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | digg this
