ekansekans's blog: "df"

Reasons To Believe 1. Heres To Good Health - The Eagles offence was slowed by injuries throughout most of 2011 and still managed to finished ranked fourth overall. The health issues began when an off-season illness caused wide receiver Jeremy Maclin to show up to camp underweight. Maclin also missed time later in the year. Quarterback Michael Vick was also sidelined in November and early December. This season, the offence begins the year at full speed, with Maclin poised for a breakout year and Vick looking to reestablish himself as a dominant force through the air and on the ground. The Eagles also have explosive receiver DeSean Jackson and star running back LeSean McCoy giving them one of the most dangerous attacks in the league. 2. The Middle Man - In recent years, Philadelphia has struggled to stop the run. The result has been a defence that can get after the quarterback (DE Jason Babin had 18 sacks in 2011), but gives up big chunks of yardage on the ground. The team may have finally rectified that issue by trading for former Texans middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans. If Ryans can bring the same run-stuffing ability he showed while in Houston, then the Eagles defence could transform into an elite unit. Ryans presence in the middle should also help Brian Rolle and second round draft pick Mychal Kendricks use their speed to make plays on the outside. 3. Team Chemistry - When teams acquire the amount of free agent talent that the Eagles did in 2011, finding a way for those players to bond on the field takes time. The Eagles coaching staff found that out the hard way when the team stumbled out of the gates to begin the season. However, as the year progressed the teams play improved and that late season success may have been a result of their players finally gelling, which bodes well for this upcoming season. With one of the most skilled rosters in the NFC, the Eagles are hoping the pieces fit together in 2012. Reasons To Doubt 1. Protection Issues - Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jason Peters will miss the year after tearing his Achilles in the spring. Philadelphia brought in former Buffalo Bills left tackle Demetress Bell to replace him, but King Dunlap beat him out, meaning the position is no longer considered a strength for the team. Offensive line coach Howard Mudd will continue to work his magic, which helped the Eagles line open holes for McCoys 20-touchdown season. While the success of the running game is important, the key to the season will be keeping Vick healthy. 2. Down On The Corner - Nnamdi Asomugha was considered to be the prize of the 2011 free agent crop, a shutdown corner who could lock down opposing teams top receiver every Sunday. However, Asomugha didnt assimilate into the Eagles defensive scheme as well as the team had planned. During his time with the Raiders, Asomugha excelled at man coverage. In Philadelphia, he is often called on to drop back and play zone. In the preseason, with a year in the system, Asomugha is still looking out of sorts at times. With Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Dez Bryant and Miles Austin lurking in the division, Asomugha will need to answer the call in the regular season. 3. Tough Schedule - Last season, the Eagles managed only one win in five games against teams that eventually made the playoffs. Things can change quickly in the NFL, but this year Philadelphia faces eight teams that reached the post-season a year ago, including six of their first eight games. Playing in a notoriously difficult NFC East, if the Eagles get off to another slow start, playoff hopes may be lost by the midway mark. The NFC will be extremely competitive and if the Eagles are unable to win the division, there are no guarantees that they will be able to capture a wild card berth. What To Expect Heading into last season the Eagles had several new pieces and because of the lockout they didnt get a full off-season program to get everyone on the same page. A year later, with a full training camp under their belts, Philadelphia should truly be in position to contend for the division crown and the NFC Championship. No longer burdened by Vince Youngs "Dream Team" claims, the Eagles are flying somewhat under the radar, which is hard with a team that boasts this much talent. If Vick plays the majority of the year, Reid will get his club back to the post-season for the 10th time in his 14 years as the Eagles head coach. Authentic Peyton Manning Jersey . The 26-year-old winger signed a four-year deal worth $17.6 million with the Panthers, keeping him in Florida through the 2015-16 season. Broncos Manning Jersey . -- The Detroit Red Wings gave defenceman Brad Stuart and the San Jose Sharks a head start on completing a reunion for next season. http://ozarksaids.org/new.html . Harper thought it was one of two things: "I was thinking I was going down because Rizzo and everybody was over there or the All-Star game," he said.BALTIMORE -- Holding a six-run lead with James Shields on the mound, the Tampa Bay Rays appeared poised to end their three-game skid with a no-sweat victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The Rays won it all right, although it was anything but easy. Elliot Johnson and Ben Zobrist homered, Carlos Pena ended an extended slump with two doubles and two RBIs, and Tampa Bay squeezed past the Orioles 9-8 Sunday to avert a three-game sweep. The Rays led 7-1 in the fourth inning and 9-6 in the eighth, but it was 9-8 when Fernando Rodney got Matt Wieters to ground out in the ninth with runners on second and third with two outs. Third baseman Sean Rodriguez backhanded the final grounder while retreating and fired a one-hopper to first to get Wieters by a step. Rodney got his 10th save in 10 tries in a game that earlier appeared was going to be blowout. "When I ran out on the field I was high-fiving everybody, yelling, We had it all the way," manager Joe Maddon said with a slight grin. Shields earned his sixth win for the Rays, now 2-6 in their last eight games. Tampa Bay entered the series tied atop the AL East with Baltimore and left town happy to have salvaged the finale. "We never like getting swept," Shields said. "Its a big win." Zobrist had three RBIs and Johnson scored three runs and drove in two. Pena was 3 for 37 with 14 strikeouts in May before hitting a third-inning double and adding a two-run double in the fourth to make it 7-1. Pena also contributed with his glove by snaring the throw from Rodriguez for the final out. "On the last play, it seemed (Rodriguez) fell a little bit and he had to get something on it and obviously Carlos was there to pick him up," said Johnson, who had a great view at shortstop. "(Pena) has a Gold Glove for a reason." After Baltimore closed to 7-6 in the seventh, Johnson and Zobrist hit successive homers off Troy Patton in the eighth for a 9-6 lead. The nine runs were the most scored by the Rays since April 19, and they needed every one of them. Wieters and Nick Johnson homered, and Nick Markakis had three RBIs for the Orioles, who were denied their first three-game home sweep of Tampa Bay since 2007. "This team never gives up," Wieters said. "We had a chance in the ninth and just didnt come thhrough.dddddddddddd It would have been a nice game to win, but at the same time you know this team is going to keep playing hard and were not out of any game. Thats how we feel in this clubhouse." Shields (6-1) gave up six runs, four earned, and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 9-5 lifetime against Baltimore, including 6-1 at Camden Yards. Shields retired eight straight batters before J.J. Hardy doubled in the sixth. Markakis followed with an RBI double and Wieters hit his eighth homer to make it 7-4. "I wish I could have gotten Wieters out right there," Shields said. "That was a really big moment in the game." A throwing error by Tampa Bay second baseman Will Rhymes preceded a two-run double by Markakis in the seventh. After Elliot Johnson and Zobrist connected in the top of the eighth, Nick Johnson hit a solo shot in the bottom half, his second homer in three games off Joel Peralta. Orioles starter Jake Arrieta (2-4) allowed seven runs and a career-high 10 hits in 3 2-3 innings. The right-hander has yielded 13 earned runs in his last 10 innings and has only one win in seven starts since opening day. "I think it really comes down to four fastballs that were elevated with guys on base that they were able to put good swings on it," Arrieta said. "So, really the only thing I take away from it is, just I got to get the ball down." After stranding runners at the corners in the first inning, the Rays went up 3-0 in the second when Johnson hit an RBI single and Zobrist followed with a two-run double. Wieters led off the bottom half with a double and scored on a single by Chris Davis. In the Tampa Bay third, Rhymes snapped a 0-for-13 drought by bringing home Pena with a two-out single. The Rays went up 7-1 when Matt Joyce singled in a run and Pena delivered a two-out double. NOTES: Tampa Bays B.J. Upton struck out four times. ... Orioles OF Xavier Avery, the teams second-round pick in the 2005 draft, went 0 for 4 in his major league debut. ... The Orioles open a two-game series against the Yankees on Monday. RHP Jason Hammel (1-3, 6.69 ERA lifetime against NY) will start for Baltimore. ... Tampa Bay will send Jeff Niemann to the mound Monday night in Toronto. ... Baltimore has lost six straight on Mothers Day. ' ' '