I like the strengths of this team this year. The big question (that you already mentioned in a previous column) is the quarterback position and Mike Vick. Let's hope he holds up , stays healthy and plays like he did his forst year.

Unrelated to the topic but Garrett Reid was found dead at Lehigh today: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/08/05/reid-son-dead.ap/index.htm

Thoughts on how this affects the season?

Yes, quite fresh and I just finished our local CBS affiliate's sunday sports final show, where Merrill Reese was interviewed. This wasn't just the son of the coach, who spent some time around the team, he was currently the assistant strength and conditioning coach, and had been on the team so to speak since Andy took the job in '99. Merrill said how well like Garrett was by the players and that he had close friendships with a handful of players. NFL players typically have much closer relationships with assistant coaches than they do with the head coach, and Garrett was an assistant coach. Yeah its all too fresh still, but maybe over time, this horrible thing, will bond this '12 Eagles team and they'll play this season in memory of Garrett. At the Phils game today, there was a moment of silence in memory of Garrett, who's picture was also splashed on the Jumbotron for an extended minute. This was a very classy move.

Love the acquisitions of Demeco Ryans and Fletcher Cox to help tighten the flabby middle of this defense from last year. Boykin is a lightning quick mosquito who should help pester opponents with his added element of electricity to the return game. Looking forward to checking out Bryce Brown who was the #1 running back prospect in America coming out of high school before suffering multiple injuries. On a more important note, my sincerest condolences go out to the Reid family. Nobody shold have to suffer the agony of losing a child. Sounds like Garrett was just another tortured soul devoured by the deadly disease of addiction.

Well said. Not confirmed that drugs played a role, but 29 year olds aren't typically found dead. Doesn't really matter- tragic either way. My sincere condolences go out to his friends and family as well. RIP...

What a tragic thing to happen to a family. The Eagles are the family with many different parts. Families are resilient, otherwise, we all at one time or another could have folded back on our selves and collapse. Love is the strength of this family, it gives us the choice to have a great day..week...season or not. I don't think it is a surprise that Coach chooses to grieve on the field with the rest of his loving family.

Boom. Eagles Football is all about a hard-hitting, resilient style of defense. Since the all too soon departure of #20 this kind of defense has vanished from the city of brotherly love. With the addition of Cox, a much needed MLB and leader, and 2 shut down CB’s who are now comfortable in Eagle green, I see the gang green defense returning to Philadelphia. R.I.P Garrett Reid.

John Madden coming in with a bang. Agreed on all. This defense needs to be tougher and that's why I think Ryans is integral, both for what he can do himself and what he can instill in others. Gang Green baby!

so your pumped on Ryan because he played all 16 games? Reading this and these comments makes it sound like you guys think the Eagles have the best defense in the NFC. While that wasn't exactly said that's how it seems. I'm going to say the 49'ers returning all 11 startes are better. Giants are better ONLY IF Terrell Thomas can rehab his knee instead of surgery is injury since he wasn't on the team last year due to injury

So you're banking on a guy who played ZERO games, while at the same time, busting our chops for liking a guy who played in all 16? I like Ryans because he's a very good proven player. The Niners defense is really good. The Giant aren't in the conversation.

If Terrell Thomas is back they are in the conversation since he is their best corner and has been. Then if Prince Amukamara steps up (2nd year, 1st round draft pick) the Giants defense is better and proven since they won a SUPERBOWL!!!!!

They won a Superbowl on offense and lightning in a bottle. Although, they caught it twice so have to give them credit. Other than those flukes, they haven't won a playoff game since Coughlin's been there and they won't this year. If this gimp can walk, if this guy gets better, blah, blah, blah. Let me know when it happens.

Posted by SJGIANTSFAN:
I know this is an Eagle blog and living down here amongst Eagle fans as a Giant fan is always, let's say entertaining. But for all the back and forth, and wins, losses, super bowls and such, all that was put into perspective on Saturday. As a long time Giant fan and eagle hater (games), my heart goes out to the man who has to bury his son. Nothing is close in comparison, wins and losses mean zero. Chin up Andy Reid, even Giants fans hearts and prayers are with you at this difficult time...

I'm sure I speak for the entire Eagles family and fans when I say thank you.
Very classy.

SJGiantsfan. Boom! Now that's tough actin tinactin.

John Madden, hmmmm...

Well done!

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thoughts from last night's game?

I thought Bell looked unbelievably slow off the snap and struggled with any kind of speed on the outside. He turned his man loose several times and Vick won't last long if he doesn't improve. But it looks like he's just not that quick, so I'm not sure if he can get better. This is a MAJOR concern of mine now.

On defense, pursuit was way better and the pass rush looks strong. Ryans and Kendricks look good. But there seem to be some issues carrying over from last year. Poor tackling. Run defense was weak at the point of attack. Defensive backs out of position. Failure to get stops on 3rd down. What was that defense on the goal line score early in the game, Juan?

It's early, some of this gets fixed. I get that. But not all of it will.

yeah 3rd down was atrocious, and Kafka lookd SLOW. Not reading the defense slow just mechanically slow. The one very bright spot was SWOOP. He was in mid season form.
Also the Real Madrid soccer players kicking field goals at halftime was top notch.

Great to see Henery drill the 51 yarder at the end. W's and L's are meaningless in preseason, but given the circumstances, nice to win. GREAT job by the fans honoring Andy and Garret.

I was most impressed with curry. I read a story on him today, knew he was hard core Eagles fan growing up, learned he was more so than I initially thought. He wouldn't allow any live shooting of his home and scene there during this year's draft. It turns out that much of his family home is covered with various types Eagles memorabilia, which he didn't want to take down for the draft, so if he was drafted by a different team. If he happened to be drafted by another team, the mini Eagles museum wasn't going to come down. My biggest disappointments; Jarrett-still very unpolished & looked lost most of the time, Ryans-zero tackles, looked slow at times with his reads and his reactions. Nnamdi - seriously why were the offenses in the AFC West so afraid to throw at him for all those years, and it was quickly clear that Jason Peters isn't at LT.

Ryans didn't play that much. Jarret isn't a starter and has played very little NFL football so he did look unpolished- not sure where the "still" comes in. I didn't really notice Naamdi do anything good or bad, but I was bitterly disappointed with his performance last year. It couldn't have all been unfounded rep so we'll see this year.

One of the biggest issues last year was coverage in the secondary. Guys being out of position, being used to their weaknesses, and generally leaving guys wide open.

That was blamed on Juan. And it was on display again.

Last season the excuse for Jarrett and many of the Eagles rookies was two fold, wherein they didn't have the normal off-season workout schedule to adapt and improve their technique to the pro game. Then there was the new defense coordinator, but really all the new coaches to varying degrees, who were all adjusting under these circumstances.
Jarett, second round draft pick, who got a surprise start because Nate Allen was dinged up, shouldn't 'still' look that inept, or why was he taken in the 2nd round in the first place. Yeah I agree with what Porter said above, the more I think about it the more worried I am about Juan's ability to not just call a game, but prepare the parts of the Defense to synchronize around a game plan. I can't tell if Juan is the leader and has a vision for his defense or he's being led to it by Jim Wasburn. There is no doubt that Juan has yet to get a full grasp on it all yet. All I keep hearing is the limits for practice time, as outlined in this new CBA, are going to compromise the coaches ability to teach and work on the fundamentals. This work happens in those off season sessions and during the beginning of training camp. My question is why can't there be more off season non-contact sessions, which have strict guidelines per players safety, to ensure the product on the field is still at a high level and we don't see a 2nd round draft choice like Jarrett look so lost.

He didn't look THAT lost. He's a young player with no experience and he's not even a starter so not sure why you're focusing on him so much. Rather than try to rewrite the bargained agreement between the players and the owners, just realize all teams work within the same constraints. Whichever teams are best able to manage them will be successful.

Porter- Merton Hanks reference was classic- HA!

If you think he didn't look that clueless you are probably the only person who didn't. He was a 2nd round draft choice, who really should have been a 3rd round pick at best, and was taken with the pick we got for Kolb. A second round pick should be challenging for a starting position in his 2nd year, but Jarret is about to be cut and turn into a bust. We have a secondary that will be our team's weakest. The Steelers knew this too and went right at it during much of the first half. I didn't see us draft a safety, and with the questionable play of Nate Allen so far and what is obvious about Jarret, it was foolish not to draft a one safety, with all the picks we had. I mean McNutt, Washington and Brown might be good players, but did we have weaknesses or issues with our starters at WR, OG and RB like we did with our secondary last season, which will now have again this season. Watch the game again Mike, it'll be on comcast in a few minutes, cause you missed a few things.

My thought with the new CBA guidelines for practice time and how it pertains to this player is that some young players are late bloomers who will need more time to work on the fundamentals which now they won't get because of the restrictions. Jarret might have been alright if he that time or a better coach. I am beginning to think our 2ndary coach in his 2nd year there, Mike Zordich, isn't that good, but I know our defensive line coach is that good, and Vinny Curry is a reason why I know.

Proofread your post- you missed more than a few things. Yeah, a coach's ability is entirely based on how 1 player you picked out under him performed in his first preseason game. Get a clue.

Bell was demoted for King Dunlap at LT. We may want to get at least 5 more QB's in here, because they're going to get drilled.

DRC and Nnamdi, I am fine, just not thrilled with our starting corners, but if you don't have questions about Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman as starters at the safety positions then you need to get a clue. There development is what I base my questions about Coach Zordich and his ability on. I think they should try corner Brandon Boykin at safety, it seems like he wants and knows how to be physical, which is what I saw lacking from our secondary in this first preseason game and for much of last season. I fondly remember Zordich the player and how gritty and physical he once was, so why aren't the players he coaches now reflecting anything similar. I thought that was the theme of this year's training camp where Andy wanted to toughen them up, so more hitting in scrimmages and drills. Your only as strong as your weakest link, right? That was my point. I saw alot of positive development from our young defensive linemen in watching that first preseason game, and I didn't see the least bit in our secondary.

I agree with your point on Boykin. I don't agree with the adage that you're only as strong as your weakest link in football. For instance, if you pressure the QB relentlessly, your safety coverage is not as important.

Your blogs are so interesting to read. Great job!