The First Igglesblog Reader Mailbag

I have to say, you guys really stepped it up yesterday.  I know it's the slow time of year and there's not much going on, but the response to yesterday's piece was really nothing short of overwhelming. 

I almost don't know where to begin, so let's just dive right in to your questions:

Why doesn't Andy Reid follow the lead of Mike Nolan and Jack Del Rio and wear a suit on the sidelines for Eagles games? (Mike, Voorhees)

The NFL has a very strict rule requiring players and coaches to wear only approved clothing from league partners.  At this time, I'm told by my sources that a rumored deal with Casual Male Big & Tall is still a long way from completion.  Also, Reid likes how dressing in black makes him look all gangsta.

When will Eagles fans finally realize that #5 is not the quarterback to lead this team to the Super Bowl? (Owen, Moorestown)

The day McNabb and Feeley switch jerseys.

Recently, Jeremiah Trotter said of Reid: "I never heard him call out a guy. He takes the blame on himself. And I try to do the same thing."  Is he forgetting last season when he blamed his struggles on the size of the defensive line? (Mark, New Orleans)

First of all, the Eagles have always had a small defensive line, it's just that Corey Simon threw off the mean for a few years, so clearly that's not the explanation for last year's results.  Secondly, Trotter's very much a "team" guy.  He sees himself as being just one piece of a larger unit, so when he blames everyone else for his own problems, that's really just his way of taking it on himself.

I think Jevon Kearse is really cute.  Do you know how I could contact him? (Amy, Paoli)

The gym wouldn't be the first place I'd look.

Do you think AJ Feeley and Heather Mitts will get back together? (Erin, San Diego)

That depends.  If the rumors are true and he cheated on her while they were apart, I really hope she can find it in her heart to forgive him, because they really are a cute couple.  On the other hand, if she's the one who went astray, she's clearly a cheating bitch and he's better off without that trampy little Pat Burrell lover.

Isn't it time for ESPN to promote Erin Andrews to sideline reporter for Monday Night Football? (Tom, location listed only as "parents' basement")

Probably better to keep her on summer and/or indoor sports, don't you think?

I like to sniff my own poop while I read your blog. (Charles, Houston)

Sorry, I think you sent this one to the wrong email address.

What's your prediction for the Eagles' record this year? (Sal, Brooklyn)

3-0 in the playoffs.

Is Koy Detmer finished as an NFL quarterback? (Ty, San Antonio)

I love Koy, but his days as an NFL quarterback ended five years ago.

Can you shed any light on the controversy over whether the Eagles are playing a one-gap or two-gap scheme on defense? (Gary, Philadelphia)

I'd be happy to.  First of all, let's talk about the difference between the two techniques, because it's pretty complicated.  In a one-gap scheme, each player is responsible for one gap in the line.  In a two-gap scheme, some guys are responsible for controlling two gaps. 

Now that we've got the technical stuff out of the way, let's look at the Eagles.  People don't realize that -- among Jim Johnson's many accomplishments -- he is also the creator of the no-gap scheme, in which some defenders allow themselves to get pushed so far out of the play that they then control no gaps whatsoever, leaving ball carriers free to run unimpeded until the moment when Brian Dawkins lays them out.  Darwin Walker is the prototypical no-gap defensive tackle, which is why he's looking for a massive contract extension befitting his unique skills.

When they're not in the no-gap defense, Johnson typically plays a one-gap scheme, but there are times when he dares to ask his defensive tackles to maybe help cover more than one gap.  Some local commentators think it's really, really rude to ask a 300-pound professional defensive tackle to do this, because it's not as much fun as just blasting your way through a hole in the line so you can open up a free cutback lane as quickly as possible. 

Johnson counters by arguing that there are times when his blitz schemes, which focus on overloading a single point of weakness to spring a free rusher, require players away from the point of attack to hold their position until reinforcements arrive.  But since he's only been coaching football since before the legalization of the forward pass, we can safely disregard most of what he says.

(Tomorrow: More of your questions.  Keep 'em coming.)

Comments

[Tom G]

I thought the rule on coaches' attire was changed to allow for suits?

[Tom G]

Oh, and while we are on the subject of attire, Erin Andrews has no business being bundled under a parka on a Monday night in Green Bay. It's not natural.

[BleedingGreenNation]

Ty from Houston... Nice.

[AndrewGurn]

re: your comments on Koy being finished:

You're obviously a total douche bag. Detmer dominated last year and will continue to do so for probably the next 1000 years. Lick my sweaty taint.

From your friends at koy.thereverendag.com