Sad Sacks

Following up on my friend PK’s email about the year over year decline in sacks:

 

Oddly, the Eagles’ defense still gets a fair amount of sacks but at least my perception is that they don’t put a lot of constant pressure on the QB from their rush.

 

Maybe someone can help out my memory, but in 00, 01, and especially 02 did they have a particularly good defensive line then? Again, my take, is that even back then a lot of sacks were caused by corner/safety blitzes. The difference is that the defensive line was slightly better and Dawkins was younger and faster and got to the QB before he threw, while now the defensive line can be stopped, and Dawkins is getting to the QB a half-step after he throws the ball…that and the other d-back blitzers just aren’t very good at it and just plunge into the line and are stopped.

 

I’m also wondering how much of those sacks back in 00-01-02 were “coverage” sacks caused not by the d-line but by Taylor, Vincent, and Dawkins just blanketing the receivers.

 

It’s a very bitter loss. As I noted previously, I’m hesitant to declare the season over after such a gut-wrenching L – in light of the losses to Jax and Tennesee last year that looked like season killers, but to give up a 97 yard game winning drive, at home, to a 2-5 team that now drops you to 2-4 – with pending games vs. NE, Seattle, and 2 games vs. Dallas? It is now a huge hole the Eagles have dug themselves. I still don’t think the Skins or Giants are very good, but Dallas is for real and we continue to lose ground.

 

And while it is very easy to criticize the defense for yesterday’s loss cause of the last drive, let’s not forget 1) the offense failed to get a critical first down and maintain possession and 2) the defense, in the end, only gave up 19 points – which is only a FG more than they were averaging. The offense, once again, couldn’t get in the end zone enough. Scoring 1 TD a game is not going to win many games in the “national football league.”