Monday Catch-Up and Musings

I've been pretty out if the mix since the game ended on Thursday night.  We were visiting my wife's family in California and there was a lot going on.  I'm also sick and work this morning has been crazy.

So.  Today's going to just be a catch-up day.   Then we're back tomorrow with your regularly scheduled programming.

Thoughts:

The annihilation of the Cardinals obviously begs for an explanation of how that fits into the "not talented enough" framework.  I'm hamstrung here because I watched the game on a grainy computer feed that made picking up on things like the arrival of Demps hard to do in real time.  My plan is to do a video rewind this week -- with this question as the theme -- but my gut instinct here is that this is a case of a) The Cardinals are a truly excellent match-up for the Eagles and b) Things like this tend to happen in the NFL. 

The Cardinals proved once again that if you can't stop Brian Westbrook, you won't stop the Eagles.  Unfortunately, most of the rest of the league seems to have figured out how to stop (an injured) Brian Westbrook.

Eat it, Spadaro.  I've still not gotten over this piece the Eagles' web front man wrote a couple weeks ago about McNabb.  This part especially drove me nuts:

McNabb is holding on to the ball, waiting for the receivers to create separation and then gunning it to them. The receivers are not consistent enough catching the football, but I believe of lot of that has to do with their lack of certainty as to when the ball is coming out, and where it is coming to, and how fast McNabb is throwing it and all the little insecurities that lead to drops.

McNabb was playing with six different receivers, three tight ends and a couple of running backs, and Spadaro blamed him for the timing issues.  And drops. 

Whatever.  The fact that the Eagles finally shortened their receiver rotation on Thursday night -- with the explanation as given by the announcers that they felt the previous set-up was hurting his ability to get into a rhythm -- pretty much closes the book on that one.

Watch Nick Cole.  One of this year's biggest disappointments has been Jamaal Jackson.  He's too heavy, he doesn't seem to be playing well, and the rumors are finally starting to come out that he's not looking that great on film.  Cole has never impressed me in his time on the field, but if he has four games to get a look, maybe he'll be a little more consistent.  This is his chance to make a run at starting center for next year.  If he doesn't do it now, it's not happening.  (And if he doesn't do it fast, look for Mike McGlynn to get his shot.)

That's it for now.  Back tomorrow.