It wasn't the offensive line!!!

[firstdayfan]

That tears it! I have been hearing tons of stuff about the offensive line and how they didn't help Jake very much on Sunday. I even posted a little something about it in one of the threads. I hate that I didn't DVR this game so I could really analyze what happened on each of those interceptions but luckily ESPN helped me out as they showed all 4 INT's in a story they were doing on Jake. So through the magic of the internet we can now break down each play.

1st INT (2nd and 5 @ the 29)

Eagles rush only 4 and the offensive line picks them up very well giving jake a nice pocket. As Jake was about to release the ball I could see two underneath routes covered up well (Williams and what looks like King). Jake releases and the ball actually gets deflected by a linebacker at about the 30 yard line, it is easy to see the balls flight and spiral change dramatically. As Smith then tips the ball it is intercepted at the 50. One other thing that I noticed was that Barnidge was wide open along the sidelines with no one within about 7-8 yards of him. Smith was open but the ball was deflected and would have probably been completed for a first down at the 50 or more (probably would have changed the whole outcome of the game as we were leading 7-0)

2nd INT (3rd and 7 @ the 33)

I can only make out about 3 Eagles players as the ball has already been snapped in this clip. Absolutely no pressure on Jake, he has a perfect pocket. Either Stewart or Williams was standing at the 36 (4 yards to a 1st down) with two guys just beyond the 1st down to beat (I'm sure it would have been close. Jake throws it to the left sidelines towards Smith which is intercepted by the corner who was trailing Smith. Jake stepped into his throw nicely but I guess it was simply a poor throw considering the INT (we were down 17-7 at this point).

3rd INT (3rd and 18 @ the 27)

This was the play Fox said that they should have simply ran a draw play and I have to agree. The Eagles rushed 4 and because they were trying to set up the screen the LB got in clean as Wharton released to get out for the screen. Gross ushered his guy around to sell the screen (on a screen play you are supposed to let the defenders up field) and Jake waited until there was a man literally in his face and then tried to throw it away I think but the Eagles picked it off. (31-10 at the time) That play should have never been called.

4th INT (1st and 10 @ the 24)

Eagles blitz with 5 defenders and it is picked up well however the pocket was beginning to collapse as Jake released the ball I don't think he was able to fully step into the throw(he might have been able to move around and find that Hoover was wide open at the line of scrimmage to his right and had green grass ahead and would have been easy first down) but instead launched it down field to Smith who had a step but the ball was short and intercepted. Samuel practically stopped and jumped up for the pick. (Jake was pulled after that)

Now the fumble-TD was a blitz although they didn't have a good angle but I noticed that Kalil just picked the wrong guy to block. Most of the sacks came when the Eagles overloaded one side or the other and just outmanned that side or the middle. The offensive line didn't play well but to say they have ANY blame in the 4 INT's (which ultimately cost us the game) is ridiculous to even bring up.

[robtrox0]

orly?

[Sultan33g]

I agree...they didnt play their best football but Jake had open recievers and poo if they arent open dont throw it. I would be much happier if we got a sack than an interception in my opinion.

[rayzor]

it was the oline + jake + coaching.

[monstercat]

The O-line was terrible. That doesn't excuse the INT's but they were not good at all. If anything, the Eagles pass rush was even more effective when Jake was on the bench.

[PanthaSan]

Nice post and observations FDF. I don't think it was a failure that can be attributed to any one part of our team. It was just a sum of a lot of little things that went (horribly) wrong that day. Nothing more.

I blame it on the boogie

[Guild]

Good writeup, but 5 sacks and 10 (I think) QB hits says that the OL was a problem.

[panther4life]

it was a culmanation of the eagles stellar playcalling, execution, lack of execution on our part..the last pick in particular was more less a hail mary as we needed to put up points quick....we could have had any qb in the leauge play instead of Jake and we still would have lost the game. The gameplan sucked, the execution of it sucked across the board. Jake is going to be the scapegoat..especially being on the heels of the arizona game

[Cat'sGrowl]

your right, it wasn't just the offensive line.

It was also the coaching staff and their inability to make adjustments.

[KillerKat]

I believe the OP meant it wasn't the O-line's fault for Jake's own poor decisions.

[Cat'sGrowl]

What about the other poor decisions by the other 2 Qbs?

It's hard for a QB to make good decisions with constant defenders in his face.

Oh, wait, this is a Jake hate thread, isn't it?

Screw the facts, blame Jake!

One of those kinds of deals, right?

Oh, well, I'm sorry for ruining your fun, yall just get back to what you were doing.

I'll just be on my way.

[Guild]

I believe the OP meant it wasn't the O-line's fault for Jake's own poor decisions.

It is likely the porousness of the OL led to some of those decisions whether they were blitzing on a particular play or not.

Not that I am defending #17's decisions but there is probably more than his stupidity and/or inability to execute that contributed to them.

[Jackofalltrades]

Oline played like garbage, as did most of the offense. It's not all Jakes fault as much as some would like it to be.

[rayzor]

It is likely the porousness of the OL led to some of those decisions whether they were blitzing on a particular play or not.

Not that I am defending #17's decisions but there is probably more than his stupidity and/or inability to execute that contributed to them.

agreed. had they kept the eagles out jake wouldn't have been thrown into panic mode along with the other three QBs.

that game brought out the worst in jake. oline's job is to keep that from happening by keeping pressure off. they aren't responsible for his bad decisions but their lack of protection forced him into that situation where he could make those bad choices.