Archives for September 26, 2003

‘But two games – two losses – into the 2003 season, Smith and McMullen have combined for a grand total of zero catches.’

‘”I’ve never been a part of anything like this,” he said. “There are times when you just don’t play well or you don’t put points on the board, and to do it on back-to-back games is tough. But as a leader and the quarterback of this team, I can’t let it bother me or bother my play. You just have to focus on the next opponent and go out and show your team that your head is high and things are going to turn out positive.”‘

‘After two games, the Eagles aren’t even close to 50-50. Again, if you take away quarterback McNabb’s 10 carries, the Eagles have run the ball 18 percent of the time and passed it 82 percent.’

‘The Eagles rank 27th of the 32 NFL teams in pass defense, giving up an average of 242.5 yards per game. They have allowed five touchdown passes in two games, after giving up just 18 all last season.’

‘Akers kicked a career-best 57-yard field goal when the Eagles lost to the New England Patriots 31-10 on Sept. 14. That kick has been the brightest offensive moment for the Eagles this season, and it left open the question of whether Akers would be permitted to try other long attempts as the season goes along.’

‘The Eagles’ offense hasn’t done anything to pick up the slack. In the first two games, the offense has been on the field an average of 22 minutes and 53 seconds, meaning the shorthanded defense has played just over 37 minutes per game. Only the Bears’ defense has been on the field longer.’

‘”I was a hard player, not a hard worker,” said DeLamielleure, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last month. “I loved playing, but I always felt lucky.”‘

‘Said defensive coordinator Jim Johnson: “I wouldn’t imagine they’d run. I think they’re going to stay with the vertical passing game. They want to go deep. I think they would like to run the ball better. We’ll see if they can, but I think their philosophy is to get the ball deep.” Bledsoe’s main target is the dangerous Eric Moulds, who has 13 receptions for 244 yards this season.’

‘Williams said Henry was feeling better and didn’t rule out the possibility of him playing without practice time.’

”’For Drew it’s tough because he’s a competitor,” Moulds said. ”Maybe he should’ve thrown that ball away. But his competitive nature took over and he tried to zip it in there.”’

‘The Eagles are 10-4 after bye weeks. Reid owns a 21-2 mark when his club leads in time of possession and 30-4 record when his team scores 20 or more points.’

‘The Bills held Henry out of practice again on Thursday and head coach Gregg Williams stated his desire to have Henry test the injury during Friday’s practice. It is, however, possible that Henry might play without practicing this week.’

‘"We’re all in this together and for us to be successful I need to be on the football field. A lot of guys depend on me and I’m doing everything I can to get back out there."’

‘A virtuoso running performance by O.J. Simpson led Buffalo to a startlingly easy 30-21 victory over Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh. In what many observers called Simpson’s best day ever, the Juice ran around and through the vaunted Steeler defense for 227 yards, including an 88-yard touchdown jaunt in the third quarter that put Buffalo on top 23-0.’