Guest Column: EAGLES-STEELERS, Gettysburg 2004?� By JC
We are living in an era that has been compared to the
1860�s with respect to conflicting political views between those of us that are
decidedly �Blue�, and those of us that are characterized as �Red�. A
Civil War era comparison can seemingly also be applied to last weeks� NFL game
between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you�re an
Eagles fan, Sunday�s bludgeoning at the hands, arms, and ground-pounding legs
of the Steelers could be likened to what the battle of Gettysburg ultimately
meant to the Confederacy. It would be disrespectful on this Veteran�s Day
to compare the blood that was spilt on the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, to
the virtual blood-red ketchup which oozed freely o�er Heinz field every time
the Steelers marched into the red zone. Nevertheless, a comparison
between the results in the aftermath of what transpired on these two great
fields of battle can be made. By that, one gets the distinct impression
that not only did Philadelphia lose the battle for Pennsylvania, albeit
surviving to fight another day (at least according to the schedule), but will
ultimately lose the war (or bid for a Superbowl appearance) as a result of what
occurred on that unseasonably warm day in Pittsburgh. Why? Because simply
stated, the Eagles have been solved.
The Philly faithful, resolute as they are, are downplaying
this first defeat of the 2004 campaign, characterizing it as a single loss, a
meaningless loss to an out of conference opponent. This opinion has been
popularized in the print media, and by several sports talk radio outlets, most
notably on 610-WIP Philadelphia, which plays mouthpiece for the legion of
Eagles fans. Admittedly there is some validity to this position.
However, the real concern if you�re a fan of the Eagles, is not the
significance of one loss, but their one-dimensional offense, and whether an
offense so conceived, and so dedicated to the pass can long endure. This
pass oriented offense was, in Heinz-sight, as predictably doomed to failure as
was Pickett�s Charge against the Union lines on the final day of battle at
Gettysburg.
Theories for beating the birds were articulated by Ray
Didinger, Merrill Hoge, and several other talking heads prior to last Sundays�
game. Truth be told, the Eagles offense had been sputtering for several
weeks. In any event, these theories were proven unequivocally at the
defensive clinic that Steeler Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau performed in
the aptly named city of �Roethlis-burgh�.
In addition to the concerns on offense, the mystified masses
in the city of brotherly love must have also been wondering what happened to
that much heralded �Eagles Defense�. Oxymoron aside, that undoubtedly was
one of the most anemic efforts posted against a top-flight running attack in
recent memory. I�m sure those that follow the birds could cite other more
heinous efforts, but I can�t recall a team manhandling another so handily this
century. By the way, early condolences to those anticipating an unprecedented
fourth consecutive return to the NFC Championship game for the Eagles. It
doesn�t appear that it�s going to happen, unless head coach Andy Reid can rally
his troops. Considering how his defensive squad is constituted, it appears
to be beyond coordinator Jimmy Johnson�s power to add or to detract, at least
in a manner significant enough to counter either another running juggernaut, or
seemingly anyone with a balanced offense.
The �Gray� Americans of the 1860�s never fully recovered from
the defeat suffered in south-central Pennsylvania in 1863. Could the
pummeling Philadelphia suffered at the hands of their cross state rivals in
2004 be a harbinger of things to come? If Pittsburgh is their Gettysburg,
what city will ultimately prove to be their Appomattox in the playoffs?