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http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_3820e63c-686d-56c8-b0d4-d7bcc9ea7386.html
Eagles QB Nick Foles was a surprise sensation last season, throwing 27 TD passes with only two interceptions in place of an injured Michael Vick. His 119.2 passer rating at season’s end was the third-highest in NFL history. Foles opened this season with three straight 300-yard passing games, but ran into a brick wall otherwise known as the San Francisco defense last week. Although he wasn’t listed on the Eagles’ injury report this week, Foles has had issues with a sore left shoulder, and matters weren’t helped when he absorbed several hard shots from the 49ers. Even though it’s his non-throwing shoulder, some in Philly are wondering if it hasn’t affected his accuracy. He’s 29th in the NFL in completion percentage (57.8) and has already thrown four interceptions. The league’s best deep passer a year ago in terms of passer rating (124.0) on throws of 20 yards-plus, Foles completed only one of 13 deep balls against San Fran, including two INTs.
WHERE’S MCCOY?
Teams have been able to bear down on Foles because the Eagles have been so one-dimensional on offense. LeSean McCoy, a two-time Pro Bowler and the NFL’s leading rusher last season — with a franchise-record 1,607 yards — just can’t get it going so far this season. A week after gaining 22 yards in 19 carries against Washington, he was held to 17 yards in 10 carries last week in San Francisco.All in all it’s made this the worst four-game stretch in his career. He’s averaging a mere 2.7 yards a carry, barely more than half his 5.1 average for 2013. Of his 70 carries this season, 49 have gone for 2 yards or less. McCoy has had only one run longer than 5 yards over his past 9 quarters. Why has he been so ineffective? Is he injured? Is it the Eagles’ depleted offensive line? One thing’s for certain. McCoy must be excited about the opportunity to face the Rams’ 30th-ranked run defense, which has allowed a 100-yard rusher in each of its three games.
GOING DEEP
Although it hasn’t worked well this season, the Eagles love to stretch defenses by going deep. According to Pro Football Focus, Philly already has thrown 39 passes of 20 yards or more this season, which is tops in the NFL. Think the Eagles noticed the Rams’ two long pass interference penalties, or Dez Bryant’s 68-yard TD catch, in the Dallas game?
LIFE AFTER DeSEAN
With DeSean Jackson now in Washington, St. Louisan Jeremy Maclin has made the most of the opportunity to be the Eagles’ No. 1 WR. The Kirkwood High/Mizzou product has deep speed, good hands and is on pace for his first 1,000-yard season. Riley Cooper is averaging only 8.3 yards a catch, less than half his 17.8 average in 2013. Jordan Matthews, a rookie from Vanderbilt, is a big slot receiver.
UP FRONT
The Eagles were minus three offensive line starters last week against the 49ers and it showed. Coach Chip Kelly conceded that the Eagles: “got whuppped up front.” RT Lane Johnson, the No. 4 pick in the 2013 draft, returns from an NFL drug suspension to face the Rams. But Pro Bowl OG Evan Mathis (knee) and C Jason Kelce (sports hernia) remain sidelined.
HELLO, PAT
Pat Shurmur, the Rams’ offensive coordinator for two seasons (2009-2010) under coach Steve Spagnuolo, has the same duties for Kelly in Philadelphia after spending two seasons as head coach in Cleveland. Make no mistake, Kelly calls the plays, but Shurmur has mixed elements of the West Coast passing game into Kelly’s run-heavy, up-tempo spread scheme.
SPECIAL CHALLENGE
In just four games, Philly’s special-teams unit has returned a punt and kickoff for a touchdown to go along with a blocked punt and blocked field goal. Former Mizzou star Brad Smith fell on the blocked punt for a TD at San Francisco. Chris Polk leads the NFL in kickoff returns, with a 40.4-yard average; veteran Darren Sproles, acquired for a fifth-round draft pick in the offseason, is second in punt returns, with a 15.4-yard average.
Eagles QB Nick Foles was a surprise sensation last season, throwing 27 TD passes with only two interceptions in place of an injured Michael Vick. His 119.2 passer rating at season’s end was the third-highest in NFL history. Foles opened this season with three straight 300-yard passing games, but ran into a brick wall otherwise known as the San Francisco defense last week. Although he wasn’t listed on the Eagles’ injury report this week, Foles has had issues with a sore left shoulder, and matters weren’t helped when he absorbed several hard shots from the 49ers. Even though it’s his non-throwing shoulder, some in Philly are wondering if it hasn’t affected his accuracy. He’s 29th in the NFL in completion percentage (57.8) and has already thrown four interceptions. The league’s best deep passer a year ago in terms of passer rating (124.0) on throws of 20 yards-plus, Foles completed only one of 13 deep balls against San Fran, including two INTs.
WHERE’S MCCOY?
Teams have been able to bear down on Foles because the Eagles have been so one-dimensional on offense. LeSean McCoy, a two-time Pro Bowler and the NFL’s leading rusher last season — with a franchise-record 1,607 yards — just can’t get it going so far this season. A week after gaining 22 yards in 19 carries against Washington, he was held to 17 yards in 10 carries last week in San Francisco.All in all it’s made this the worst four-game stretch in his career. He’s averaging a mere 2.7 yards a carry, barely more than half his 5.1 average for 2013. Of his 70 carries this season, 49 have gone for 2 yards or less. McCoy has had only one run longer than 5 yards over his past 9 quarters. Why has he been so ineffective? Is he injured? Is it the Eagles’ depleted offensive line? One thing’s for certain. McCoy must be excited about the opportunity to face the Rams’ 30th-ranked run defense, which has allowed a 100-yard rusher in each of its three games.
GOING DEEP
Although it hasn’t worked well this season, the Eagles love to stretch defenses by going deep. According to Pro Football Focus, Philly already has thrown 39 passes of 20 yards or more this season, which is tops in the NFL. Think the Eagles noticed the Rams’ two long pass interference penalties, or Dez Bryant’s 68-yard TD catch, in the Dallas game?
LIFE AFTER DeSEAN
With DeSean Jackson now in Washington, St. Louisan Jeremy Maclin has made the most of the opportunity to be the Eagles’ No. 1 WR. The Kirkwood High/Mizzou product has deep speed, good hands and is on pace for his first 1,000-yard season. Riley Cooper is averaging only 8.3 yards a catch, less than half his 17.8 average in 2013. Jordan Matthews, a rookie from Vanderbilt, is a big slot receiver.
UP FRONT
The Eagles were minus three offensive line starters last week against the 49ers and it showed. Coach Chip Kelly conceded that the Eagles: “got whuppped up front.” RT Lane Johnson, the No. 4 pick in the 2013 draft, returns from an NFL drug suspension to face the Rams. But Pro Bowl OG Evan Mathis (knee) and C Jason Kelce (sports hernia) remain sidelined.
HELLO, PAT
Pat Shurmur, the Rams’ offensive coordinator for two seasons (2009-2010) under coach Steve Spagnuolo, has the same duties for Kelly in Philadelphia after spending two seasons as head coach in Cleveland. Make no mistake, Kelly calls the plays, but Shurmur has mixed elements of the West Coast passing game into Kelly’s run-heavy, up-tempo spread scheme.
SPECIAL CHALLENGE
In just four games, Philly’s special-teams unit has returned a punt and kickoff for a touchdown to go along with a blocked punt and blocked field goal. Former Mizzou star Brad Smith fell on the blocked punt for a TD at San Francisco. Chris Polk leads the NFL in kickoff returns, with a 40.4-yard average; veteran Darren Sproles, acquired for a fifth-round draft pick in the offseason, is second in punt returns, with a 15.4-yard average.
