Bummer in the Bayou

I felt the Eagles-Saints matchup last week was morewith Considine subbing in for passing situations. The
of a "trap" game then a "letdown" game. Afteronly thing we can hope for is a fire lighting under Lewis,
defeating the Dallas Cowboys in a game that grabbedwho was a pro bowler two seasons ago and that he
Super Bowl-like attention the Birds would have to becan regain his confidence that has taken a major blow.
on their game 2 weeks in a row as they faced a newAs for Considine who I've watched closely since the
and definitely improved New Orleans Saints team. Thepre-season, I hope the playing time he's being given
Saints are leading the NFC South, and for goodpays some long term game dividends. He's earned a
reason, they have a legitimate NFL quarterback inplace in the defense we just didn't expect it to be at
Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and Deuce McCallisterLewis' expense.I thought time management was a
provide outside the tackle speed as well as power upsubject we would not have to touch this season
the middle in the running game. Their defense can bebecause the Eagles had done such a decent job of
tricked as you saw on Sunday but for the most partdoing so, until it cost them a chance at winning the
they play hard and get after you. Sean Payton is agame Sunday. Reid says he has to do a better job at
fresh-faced head coach who has yet to be figuredmanaging the clock but he's been saying that since he
out. Most importantly, the Saints are the sentimentalshowed up 8 seasons ago. Taking a timeout after a
favorites of the league as they return to asack is useless, if his first 10-15 plays are scripted and
post-Katrina New Orleans. This is a focused andyou're mixing it up after that, Reid & Co. should not be
united team playing for a city and a region. Pushoversburning a time out until well into the second quarter. I'm
no longer, the Eagles found themselves in a dogfightalmost resolved to taking a delay of game penalty in
instead of a cakewalk. Give credit to the Saints theythe first and third quarters just to hold onto the timeout.
did come back late in the game but everything theIf there was a timeout available late in the game
Eagles are feeling this week was self-inflicted.No unit inSunday maybe rookie linebacker Omar Gaither gets
football requires more focus than special teams; thisoff the field before the fatal 12-man on the field
unit can change the complexion of a game and breakpenalty is called and we're not having this discussion.
the spirit of the opposition. Sunday lack of focusNevertheless, Andy continues to buck common sense
possibly cost the Eagles the game when late in theat times and says that he will continue to call timeouts
first half Ryan Moats backed into return man Dexterwhen the play clock is running down, Donovan
Wynn causing a muffed punt deep in Eagle territoryMcNabb agrees. The argument here is why continue
leading to a Saints touchdown late in the first half givingto push yourself back by taking 5 yard penalties
them a 17-3 lead. Head coach Andy Reid argued thatconstantly. That's why the timeout is there. No. How
Moats was blocked into Wynn. At any rate, Moatsabout getting to the line of scrimmage with a sense of
should have held his block and known where he wasurgency and getting the play into McNabb on time.
in relation to Wynn.I like Michael Lewis as a person andBetter yet, send him in with three plays to call, similar to
as a player, but he has slowly become a liability in thewhat the Indianapolis Colts do with Peyton Manning.
Eagles pass defense. Opposing quarterbacks fromMcNabb has the liberty to call his own plays, which
David Carr to Drew Brees have gone deep at somemakes this all even more baffling.No need in crying
point or another finding Lewis out of position to helpover spilled Mint Juleps, the Birds are 4-2, with a
over the top. He is not the primary culprit in the EaglesTampa Bay Buccaneer squad on life support and the
having the 27th rated pass defense, but his fingerprintssuddenly not so scary Jacksonville Jaguars up. The
are on several deep passing plays this season. InsertEagles have two winnable road games before the
second year safety Sean Considine who has beenbye week, finishing at the midway point 6-2 or even
playing in the dime package and has held his own. In5-3 is more than any of us could've expected. Looking
yesterday's press conference, Reid acknowledgedat the way things are panning out around the league
that Lewis and Considine would platoon the strongthis season, that December from hell isn't looking too
safety position. Lewis would be in for running situationsbad.