Two weeks, two Eagles wins, and still some questions

Before I begin this, let me check my pulse.

… … …

Okay, I’m good.

If this is how it’s going to be for the Philadelphia Eagles and its fan base all season, there may be a spike in reservations on the heart transplant lists at hospitals across the Delaware Valley.  In both games so far, the Birds have started slow and gotten themselves in a 10+ point hole only to miraculously pull it off in the end.  (Of course, the win at Indianapolis last night was a bit tougher than the 17 point win at home against Jacksonville, but that’s because, let’s face it, the Jaguars stink.)

The situation the Eagles have created thus far after two weeks reeks as well.  After a surprising 10-6 record and an NFC East Division title last year, the expectations are a little on the high side.  It’s year two of Chip Kelly.  It’s year two of Nick Foles.  There’s no DeSean Jackson, but they have Jeremy Maclin coming back combined with the addition of Darren Sproles.  The first halves of both games have displayed a sputtering offense and a defense that clings to just enough life to make it interesting in the end.

Yes, Eagles fans.  Your team is 2-0, but admit it.  This isn’t the 2-0 start you envisioned, is it?  Don’t get me wrong.  There was much to be encouraged about last night.  Nick Foles looked A LOT better last night than he did last week.  Foles’ deep throws are still a little bit off, but he’s much closer now than he was in week one.  The insane interception by Colts cornerback Greg Toler was the result of a eye-popping leap at the ball’s high point.  (The interception was also a result of Maclin not switching from receiver to defender, but let’s just gloss over that.)  If Toler doesn’t make that pick, it’s 17-13 at the half.

The biggest sign of encouragement comes from the smallest guy on the team.  Darren Sproles — who came over in a trade from New Orleans — can be best described in the way that Cochise from “The Warriors” describes Riffs leader Cyrus in the opening credits of the movie:

“Magic … whole lotta magic.”

So far, Sproles has 11 receptions for 166 yards.  That’s 15.1 yards per catch — only slightly less than DeSean Jackson’s 16.2 last season.  (Okay.  I’ll stop before I get carried away too far on that.)  ESPN’s Jon Gruden said this multiple times last night, and it really is a shame for Eagles opponents.  Just when you get tired of trying to wrestle down LeSean McCoy, Sproles comes on to the field.  They’re essentially the same back even if McCoy is about five inches taller.  Both backs are shifty.  Both backs are near impossible to bring down, and both backs are absolutely deadly in the screen game — something the Colts learned the hard way last night.  This tweet from me late last night says it all:

Sproles with 900 pounds of offensive lineman in front of him is just unfair..

— Adio Royster (@AdioBRoyster) September 16, 2014

It really is.  The Eagles should be thankful for Sproles’ production because the offense isn’t getting what it should be from receivers Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper.  Cooper, more so, has been considerably invisible.  Cooper’s best play last night was drawing the pass interference call against Vontae Davis that set up LeSean McCoy’s two-yard touchdown run.  His only other memorable moment was dropping a beautifully placed ball that would have been a touchdown had Cooper held on to it.  (Seriously, Riley.  The ball hit you … in the hands.  You’re quickly becoming known as “Featherstone” in my circle of friends.  If you don’t know who that is, watch “Necessary Roughness” starring Scott Bakula.)

At least there’s Zach Ertz, right?  The second year tight end from Stanford is second on the team in receptions and first in yards and ridiculous catches over the middle.  We all know head coach Chip Kelly loves multiple packages that feature a slew of different personnel groups.  Ertz has been benefiting from that, and he’s showcasing his talents.  On the drive that set up the field goal, Ertz started out in the seam and cut sharply to the left corner where Foles dropped it in his hands.  Ertz’s route running makes him special — as if the speed and catching radius wasn’t enough. He’s not Jimmy Graham fast, but he’s shifty enough and gets his hips and footwork into his cuts to create space.

There’s a lot of good going on with this team, but there’s concern about the stuttering offensive in the beginning of games.  Thankfully, the defense has played … (thinking of the right adjective) … decent.  The Eagles defense hasn’t been world beaters by any stretch, but they’re not so terrible that the offense can’t get things going.  There’s some concern with a run defense that allowed Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw to look the way they did last night.  The next two running backs this defense will see are Alfred Morris of the Washington Professional Football Team and some combination of Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde when they travel to San Francisco.  Tackling drills should be a point of emphasis in practice this week.

The Eagles will have to see what happens with Mychal Kendricks — who was injured in the second half.  Casey Matthews came in for ONE defensive series before defensive coordinator Billy Davis said, “Whelp. That’s enough of that idea.”  If Kendricks is out for a while, the Eagles will be going with Emmanuel Acho — because I think I speak for all of us when I say I never want to see Casey Matthews on the field again … ever.  I don’t even care if he’s part of the grounds crew.  He’s not allowed on the field ever again until the end of time.

The secondary looks surprisingly stable.  I know.  I know.  Andrew Luck threw for three touchdowns, but they were all to Ahmad Bradshaw — who, in theory, needs to be covered by … well ANYONE.  After seeing the flare out pattern the first time, you’d think Billy Davis made a point to have someone cover Bradshaw in the flat.  Nope.  There he was again putting the Colts up 27-20 midway through the fourth quarter.  After giving up 266 yards and two touchdowns to Chad Henne last week, the Eagles secondary did give up three touchdowns to Luck, but less than 200 yards passing — 172 to be exact.  That’s encouraging.  Malcolm Jenkins continues to look like the steal of the free agency period.  Jenkins is the quarterback of the secondary the Eagles have needed for a long time, and his interception in the fourth triggered the tying drive.  (By the way, with all due respect, Colts fans … T.Y. Hilton flopped on that alleged “no call” you’ve been whining about.  I know it.  You know it.  The American people know it.  Settle down, over there.)

Two heart attack educing wins in two weeks.  Washington is in town this weekend for our first NFC East matchup this season.  There’s plenty to be joyous about, but let’s keep our enthusiasm tempered a bit.  It’s a long season, and no one can be this lucky for too long.