Latest on Joe

[Mervin72]

This was from the Eagles website yesterday

McDermott Updates Position Battles

August 16, 2009 | Last Updated: 8/16/09 4:29 PM ET | Comments (0)



As the attention regarding the Philadelphia Eagles continues to center around Michael Vick, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has plenty of areas that need his attention as the preseason in now in full swing. Even though the first seven question of his press conference Sunday dealt with Vick and the Wildcat formation, McDermott did discuss two of the interesting position battles on the roster - middle linebacker and free safety.

Middle linebacker Joe Mays made just one tackle in a quarter of work Thursday night against the Patriots. But he did a good job of communicating the calls to his players, looked sure of his assignments and played well in space as the first-team defense spent a considerable amount of time in the nickel formation.

"You look from A-to-Z on it and you look how he handles himself in the locker room before the game, how he handles himself in pre-game warm up, and how he commands the huddle," McDermott said. "That's all a part of it. Then, you evaluate the whole package, and I thought he did a nice job for his first time out there. It's important that he continues to make progress."

One linebacker who has stood out is rookie Moise Fokou. The backup strongside linebacker had a pair of tackles.

[onbison09]

I don't think tackles matter as much as how calm and composed he is out there.

[Bison Dan]

I don't think tackles matter as much as how calm and composed he is out there.

If he didn't miss any tackles then it's hard to improve on tackling even if all he had was one.

[bisonmike2]

I think it's good news that they aren't just looking at a stat line when evaluating these guys.

[TheDoctor]

I think this is great news for his 1st game running the show. I can't wait for Thursday nights nationally televised game. ;)

[lakesbison]

I just got done texting with joe.

said things are amazing and he had a blast in the last game.

said his plans are to be back for homecomings!!

[OrygunBison]

If he didn't miss any tackles then it's hard to improve on tackling even if all he had was one.

I hear what you're saying but it is a little different with the MLB since he needs to command such a large portion of the field. A good MLB will likely be near the action on almost every single play. That being said, if there was a problem, you'd think coach would have singled that out.

[onbison09]

The announcers were complementing him after most of the plays on how composed he was etc. I don't know what the coaches thought but I haven't heard anything negative. Also it was his first NFL start so all in all pretty good.

[westnodak93bison]

I think he will be fine but can you imagine facing down an offense lead by Tom Brady or most other NFL QBs?

[BlueBisonRock]

I think he will be fine but can you imagine facing down an offense lead by Tom Brady or most other NFL QBs?

If I had Joe's gifts rather than being well over the proverbial hill, I would be salivating at the thought. :hungry: :hungry: :hungry:

Competition brings out the best!

[TheBisonator]

Let's go JOE!!! We're rooting for you!!

[A1pigskin]

I think Joe will do just fine. Looking forward to watching him play.

[IndyBison]

I'm going to the game Thursday night and got tickets in the 2nd row behind the Eagles bench. I may take my Bison banner so Mays knows he has a fan behind him. I also watched the Vikings-Colts game on DVR tonight and heard Humber mentioned on a couple tackles. Could be 2 Bison on the field!

[Jdubs21]

Joe said on the fan the other day that he is excited to go head to head with humber :)

[NWNDBison]

Joe should see lots of action tonight as his co-competitor Omar Gaither has a knee sprain and will not be making the trip. There's always the new guy, Wilhelm, but he's only been practicing a week and it's doubtful he knows the plays or the system. I'm sure they'll try him out, but cautiously.

Should be a great opportunity for Joe.

http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2009/08/20/sports/doc4a8d3c5db7e95526128152.txt

Great picture of Joe in this one:

http://www.mcall.com/sports/football/eagles/all-s-eaglesnotebook.6993828aug20,0,6672112.story

http://csnphilly.com/pages/landing_09?Eagles-Mays-Ready-for-Test-No-2=1&blockID=70353&feedID=704

Kaiser Wilhelm: With Omar Gaither sidelined by a knee sprain, Joe Mays and Matt Wilhelm should get most of the middle linebacking work. Of course, it’s important to keep an eye on Mays, who more or less inherited the starting job when Stewart Bradley went down for the season. But the Birds signed Wilhelm because he’s a veteran with the size Mays lacks; even though he’s trying to learn one of the toughest positions in a complex defense on the fly, the braintrust has made it clear Wilhelm has an opening here. It will be interesting to see what he does with it.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/dneagles/53708877.html

[lakesbison]

JOE's on FOX TV right now.

not a good start, they down 14-0

[lakesbison]

Joe on the tackle.

slipped on a pass defense, but he looks good, not lost, filling holes.

read a screen play well too.

[onbison09]

Here's a good article http://www.anygivensaturday.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62657

[lakesbison]

PHILLY ARTICLE THAT WAS SENT TO ME.

thursday is big game for JOE!

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/359/story/1021640.html?story_link=email_msg

[lakesbison]

Zero tackles for Joe into 2nd quarter...... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Mervin72]

Did he start? Doesn't look like the Jags are running the ball very effectively

[NorthernBison]

Watched the game at 10:30 on the NFL Network. Joe played all of the first half and was still playing in the 3rd qtr when I turned it off.

He looked like he was comfortable. I mostly concentrated on watching him. I didn't see any glaring goofs on his part but I probably wouldn't notice the kind of mistakes that coaches see.

The announcers were Philly announcers. One comment from one of them was that the Eagles are concerned that Joe is playing too "timid" and they are pretty high on some other player that they wanted to get in the game to see if he might make more plays and be aggressive.

[17>1]

Did I just read Joe Mays and timid in the same sentence ?

[NorthernBison]

Did I just read Joe Mays and timid in the same sentence ?

I have it recorded. The word "timid" was used. Kind of blows your mind.

[Bison Dan]

I have it recorded. The word "timid" was used. Kind of blows your mind.

I think they mean he thinking too much and not reacting.

[NorthernBison]

I think they mean he thinking too much and not reacting.

Maybe. Like I said, I watched Joe closely on virtually every play. It looked to me like he was sound on his assignments. They didn't do a lot of blitzing with the linebackers so he was basically reading and either flowing to the ball or dropping into coverage on most plays. I never saw him plow into the pile and have the runner come out somewhere else.

I did see him get caught up in traffic once where the back caught a screen and Joe made the tackle but after about a 10 yard gain. The announcer commented that the linebackers need to stop those plays. I don't think it was directed solely at Joe because it was about the third or fourth screen pass that worked well. It just happened that Joe was the LB that got a little out of position on the previous play.

I really don't know how I was able to watch football for all those years on regular TV with no HD. I am ruined.

[Fightin' Bison]

From Memory:

In the 1st, Joe put good pressure on Garrard on a blitz, resulting in a poor pass.

In the 2nd quarter, Jones-Drew ran through Joe's attempted tackle on a short pass over the middle. Jones-Drew went on a long run. I think that drive ended in a TD or FG. Should have been wrapped up for a 2-3 yard gain.

In the 3rd, Joe made a solo tackle on the J'ville TE along the sideline.

In the 3rd, Joe missed a fumble recovery in the end zone that ultimately went to J'ville for a TD.

He finished the game with 2 tackles, 1 solo.

All in all, not a super impressive game. In his defense, J'ville stayed out of the middle on almost all plays, so Joe didn't have a great deal to do.

[Bison Dan]

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/131847/

I find it interesting that the gf herald was so interested in this and they had nothing about him all pre-season.

[cvbison1]

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/131847/

I find it interesting that the gf herald was so interested in this and they had nothing about him all pre-season.

i thought that was interesting too haha. First thing all season about him in gf

[DjKyRo]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp09/news/story?id=4432982

Philly replaces Mays with Gaither as starting MLB :(

[SDbison]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp09/news/story?id=4432982

Philly replaces Mays with Gaither as starting MLB :(
That sucks.......hopefully they are just trying everyone and joe still gets the nod when the season starts.

[NorthernBison]

That sucks.......hopefully they are just trying everyone and joe still gets the nod when the season starts.

Doesn't sound that way. Unless Omar bombs in the remainder of the pre-season.

I still think Joe will get game reps and still have his chance to show it on the field. Omar had problems getting off blocks last year and struggled in the middle. He played better on the outside from what I've read on one Eagles message board.

What I've seen of Joe this year is a steady performance. Nothing flashy. Maybe they want more impact. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it all works out.

[Amused]

From Peter King this morning:

5. I think, speaking of the Eagles, the defense is becoming a concern. If I were coordinator Sean McDermott, I'd be a little more than concerned. Where's the pressure? Where's the red-zone defense? Can Joe Mays be an adequate replacement for Stewart Bradley (it looks like no right now)?

Philadelphia's first-team defense has been on the field for 16 drives and given up 48 points. Seeing that the average game is about 12 series per team, the Eagles' starters, in essence, have given up the game-equivalent of 36 points. And seeing that the final preseason game is fairly meaningless as far as first-teamers playing, Philadelphia will enter the season not knowing how the defense is going to play.



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/08/30/mmqb/3.html#ixzz0PmK5ehJj

[bisonmike2]

From Peter King this morning:

5. I think, speaking of the Eagles, the defense is becoming a concern. If I were coordinator Sean McDermott, I'd be a little more than concerned. Where's the pressure? Where's the red-zone defense? Can Joe Mays be an adequate replacement for Stewart Bradley (it looks like no right now)?

Philadelphia's first-team defense has been on the field for 16 drives and given up 48 points. Seeing that the average game is about 12 series per team, the Eagles' starters, in essence, have given up the game-equivalent of 36 points. And seeing that the final preseason game is fairly meaningless as far as first-teamers playing, Philadelphia will enter the season not knowing how the defense is going to play.



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/08/30/mmqb/3.html#ixzz0PmK5ehJj

great. I have the Eagles D as my fantasy D. Oh well, at least I have the Packers D as back up!

[TheDoctor]

Joe made the team obviously and hopes to get a lot of playing time this year. Unfortunately, he told me he messed up his shoulder and will be out 3-4 weeks. Just thought I'd let you know if your looking for him next week. The fact that he will not be dressed has nothing to do with how much he will play this year. He needs to rehab his shoulder and get back on the field. Heres to a quick recovery. ;)

[sambini]

Get well Joe+++

[NDSUFan_Sav]

great. I have the Eagles D as my fantasy D. Oh well, at least I have the Packers D as back up!

I got Eagles D as well just to have Joe Mays!

Good Luck to recovery!

[lakesbison]

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/Defensive_end_works_out_for_Eagles.html

NOT GOOD AT ALL.. *SNIFF*


and

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/moving_the_chains/62567082.html

** Linebackers Joe Mays and Moises Fokou got on the field during the Chiefs' final drive

[Bison"FANatic"]

Gaither done for the year but the eagles brought in a LB from St. Louis. Hopefully Mays will get some reps or is his shoulder still not doing very well?

[Till]

Reid basically said that it's an experience thing. Joe's getting some great tutelage on the MLB position from the Ax Man himself, Jeremiah Trotter. Reid then went on to say that Joe's gonna be in this league for a long time and he'll get his shot.

[TheDoctor]

The week before homecoming he played special teams. Unfortunately, he did not dress last week. Hopefully he can get back on the list of those dressing this week. ;)

[westnodak93bison]

not looking good for Joe

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4585548