Woodley doesn’t see impact of losing Harrison

Published: October 20th, 2011 | Tags: LaMarr Woodley, Around the League, James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers

LaMarr Woodley rarely disappoints during his appearances on NFL Network. Whether it’s taking a shot at Joe Flacco, sharing his innermost thoughts on Carson Palmer or questioning his own ranking on NFL Network’s “The Top 100: Players of 2011?, the Steelers linebacker leaves an impression, one way or the other.

This time around, though, Woodley’s critique — perhaps inadvertently — was directed at teammate James Harrison.

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The Pittsburgh defense has been dogged through the early weeks of the season for not being what most expected — as in fast, physical and big on forcing turnovers. That the Steelers are playing without Harrison, who’s on the shelf with a broken eye socket, would seem to be a major loss for the suddenly less-than-imposing defense.

Right, LaMarr?

“It hasn’t really affected us at all,” Woodley said of Harrison’s absence. “We put Lawrence Timmons at outside linebacker, moved Larry Foote at inside linebacker, guys that have started in those positions before. Timmons is definitely coming around; he’s doing a great job of rushing off the edge and doing a great job in the run game. From week to week, Timmons is starting to improve and when guys go down, you just expect other guys to come in and make plays. He’s been doing that.”

Sure, Woodley was propping up the play of Timmons. But one can’t help but wonder if Woodley also was delivering a message.

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Eagles Beat Redskins 20-13 to End Losing Skid at 4

This time, they got the other team in the act.

Using Rex Grossman as a foil, the defense picked off four passes — more than doubling its total for the season — to pull off what was essentially a must-win while simultaneously creating a fresh quarterback controversy for a division rival.

Kurt Coleman had three interceptions, and the so-called dream team of the NFC East proved it isn't buried quite yet. Sunday's 20-13 victory over the Washington Redskins gives the Eagles some momentum headed into a bye week that's followed by three straight home games.

"We know we have a long road to go," Coleman said. "But if we continue to play like we did today, then I think we're on our way."

The Eagles (2-4) raced to a 20-0 second-quarter lead before regressing a bit in the second half. Any hopes for that evasive turnover-free day from the offense came to an end when Michael Vick had a tipped pass intercepted near Washington's goal line in the third quarter.

Then, when Vick left the game for two plays after getting dirt in his eye, Vince Young made his Eagles debut and threw a pick that gave the Redskins the ball at the Philadelphia 18.

But Grossman returned the favor two plays later, with Coleman capitalizing on a pass intended for tight end Fred Davis over the middle. The Eagles led the NFL with 15 giveaways coming into the game and added two more — but Grossman was twice as generous.

"We need to reduce them more; that's still too many," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "Now they had a few which helped the cause there, but we need to keep working at that."

Fans started chanting "We want Beck!" after Grossman threw interception No. 4. Coach Mike Shanahan obliged by putting John Beck in the game for the fourth quarter, the quarterback's first action in a regular season game since 2007.

Beck looked understandably rusty, but he got the Redskins back into the game with a 2-yard quarterback draw to cap an 80-yard drive that pulled Washington within seven points with 2:44 remaining. The Eagles then ran out the clock with the tail end of a 126-yard day from LeSean McCoy, who had a career-high 28 carries and excitedly punched Reid in the chest during the game's final moments.

Reid didn't mind at all.

"Andy, we're like his kids," McCoy said of his stout coach. "We're still young. I kind of punched him. ... A lot of cushion there."

Grossman now has 18 turnovers in eight Redskins starts, including nine interceptions and two fumbles in five games this year. Shanahan said he went with Beck because the team "needed a spark." The coach wouldn't say who will start at Carolina next week, when Washington (3-2) will try to recover after getting knocked out of first place.

The Redskins also lost left guard Kory Lichtensteiger with a right knee injury that "doesn't look good," according to Shanahan. Left tackle Trent Williams severely sprained his right ankle, and tight end Chris Cooley broke his left index finger and will need surgery.

The Eagles had already shuffled their offensive line. King Dunlap's back spasms and Jason Peters' hamstring injury left them with two healthy tackles: Winston Justice, who hadn't played a snap on offense this season; and Todd Herremans, the usual right tackle who started on the left side for the first time since he was a rookie in 2005.

Coleman got the call at safety because Jarrad Page was out with a stinger. Coleman started the first three games before getting benched; now he's the first Eagles player with three interceptions in a game since Joe Scarpati in 1966.

"I wasn't getting it done, and that was apparent," Coleman said. "It was a humbling experience. God taught me a lesson, and I just worked my butt off the last couple weeks."

Vick completed 18 of 31 passes for 237 yards with one touchdown. He also ran for 54 yards on seven carries, including a 31-yard scamper on a third-and-10 after which he kicked a stray ball that nearly hit a Redskins cheerleader. He paused, holding his hand to his heart to display his remorse.

"It was very inappropriate to kick the ball," Vick said. "Sorry about that. I apologize to the cheerleaders."

Notes: Philadelphia has won 10 of 12 at Washington, including a 59-28 laugher a year ago. ... McCoy is the first Eagles player score a TD in six consecutive games since Ricky Watters in 1995. ... The Eagles, 30th in run defense entering the game, allowed just 42 yards rushing. ... Washington's inactives include CB Phillip Buchanon (neck) and WR Anthony Armstrong (hamstring).

___

Joseph White can be reached at http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

(This version CORRECTS Eagles 20, Redskins 13. Corrects Grossman's turnover stat in 14th paragraph.)

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Cardinals worrying about losing fans in a down season

The Cardinals knew they were in for an uphill battle this season.  Replacing Kurt Warner (an almost sure Hall of Famer) and other Prow Bowl talent on both sides of the ball is never easy.  I don’t think, however, Ken Whisenhunt and the Arizona Cardinals expected to be 3-7, which is good for a last place tie in the division with six games left to play.

According to Whisenhunt, though, the Cardinals don’t think they’re as bad as their standing and record.  Even still, Whisenhunt recognized that teams go through rough patches or even rough seasons, but it’s nothing permanent.

If you look around the league, you see (rough times) happen to other teams.  It’s important right now how we fight through this. I really believe that we’re going to come out of it.  We’re going to still have our opportunities to win divisions and go to playoff games and that’s what our focus is.  Do I feel like we have eroded what we have built?  I don’t feel that way.  I don’t think you can look at our team over the last two years and what we have done in the playoffs and be ashamed about anything with that or feel like we’ve lost anything from that.  If we have to go through some tough times to get back to that point, that’s what we have to do.

The tenor of Whisenhunt’s comments seems to be a defense of the progress that he’s made in Arizona since 2007.  It can’t be argued that under Whisenhunt’s guidance the Cardinals have achieved unparalleled success.  The only comparison that can be made is the St. Louis Cardinals teams of the mid 1970’s.  Whisenhunt made it clear that when you achieve that level of success, it’s difficult to replicate on a yearly basis.

We’ve gone to a Super Bowl.  We’ve played six playoff games and won four of them.  I’m not going to apologize for that.  I’m proud of the fact that we’ve done that.  To think that we’re going to do that every year, even though we aspire to do that, that’s tough.

It a fair point, but it’s cold comfort to the everyday football fan that wants to tune in and watch their team win.  It’s especially difficult when the team hasn’t won since Week 5.  Losing the fans’ trust is a concern that Whisenhunt expressed as well.

I feel as disappointed as anything that we have let some of our fans down.  That’s the thing that keeps me up at night because we have worked so hard to create such great support for our team.  Certainly we feel that.  But we still have a chance to, if we play good football, (have it) take care of itself.

Whisenhunt and the Cardinals have a chance to snap their brutal 5-game losing streak on the biggest stage that professional football has to offer, Monday Night Football.  Just to spice up the pot, the game is against Arizona’s rival the past few seasons, the San Francisco 49ers.  The Niners are also having a tough go of it this season as they are 3-7 and fresh off a 21-0 beating at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Even with a win against the 49ers in Week 12, the Cardinals will face extremely long odds in their playoff push, if there’s one coming.  In addition, it’s difficult to honestly say that the Cardinals could take advantage of a weak schedule, which they have.  Take  a look.

Week 12 – vs. San Francisco (3-7)Week 17 – @ San Francisco (3-7)

The Cardinals’ opponents’ combined record is a lowly 17-43 for a .395 winning percentage.  In addition, 4 of the last 6 games are at home.  If Arizona is planning on making a late season playoff push, they couldn’t have asked for a more favorable schedule.

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Giants coordinator losing no sleep over Vick

Published: November 19th, 2010 | | Tags: Michael Vick, New York Giants, Perry Fewell, Philadelphia Eagles, Tom Coughlin

You have to say this for Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, at least he has guts. In a profession where coaches go out of their way to compliment opposing teams, make the opposition seem better than they are (cue former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz talking up Navy), Fewell may be a breath of fresh air.

While coach Giants coach Tom Coughlin said that he had indigestion watching Eagles QB Michael Vick crush the Redskins, Fewell said that he is sleeping well because he loves his team’s game plan against the reborn quarterback (via the New York Daily News).

“Oh, I am (hyped up),” he said. “I like the way our guys prepared today for what they do. I think our guys are excited about what we have. Again, we have to come and play 60 minutes of football. Hey, we’re going down to win a football game. That’s the only reason we’re going down there. We’re taking that crew down and we’re going to go down and win a football game.”

Some might call Fewell delusional. The delusions typically reserved for teenagers waving a glow stick at a rave. You have to love Fewell’s moxie here, but here is the thing, don’t fire up Vick. Just don’t do it.

A quick aside, a letdown for the Eagles is inevitable. A statement that deserves a big, ‘duh.’ Nobody is putting up back-to-back six touchdown games. But you are implored not to over think this matchup. Even with the Eagles coming off a monster win, and the Giants coming off a monster loss, your natural instinct is to say that the Giants bounce back. But even if the Giants do win, from a fantasy perspective, Vick can still put up great fantasy numbers.

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