The Curtain has Closed

Eagles Score First and Gives False Hope

It was a beautiful opening drive, in which it was the 3rd time the Eagles scored on the opening drive all season. But it ended with Philadelphia being eliminated from the playoffs, and Washington clinching the NFC East in Philadelphia 38-24. Redskins

Mo Murray Mo Problems

Once again, DeMarco Murray causes problems for his team. It is not as if I think he should never play. His role should be specifically limited as the third down and short yardage down running back. He is the third best running back and should be treated like one. Murray’s specialty is short yardage and running downwards with power. As soon as the Eagles were able to muster up momentum, number 29 fumbled the ball that led to a touchdown; and indefinitely ended the Eagles season.

Do You Even Blitz?

With Byron Maxwell out, the Eagles needed to apply pressure onto Kirk Cousins quickly. The defensive line was not able to apply consistent pressure ever since Bennie Logan was put on the injury list before the Patriots game. Cousins had more time in the pocket than it takes the Eagles to run a play. All of Philadelphia is confused as to why their team rarely blitzes. Washington offensive controlled the line of scrimmage the entire game. My only thought as to why the Eagle’s defensive coordinator did not blitz was because he does not trust the coverage enough.

What do They get Paid for?

Almost every drive of the Eagles had a dropped pass. The fact that wide receivers get paid to catch a football, and fail at their job is embarrassing. It is baffling how such a simple job is hard for the Eagles professional athletes.

Random Thoughts

Its Saturday Night Football and the Thursday night crowd shuffles in. 

The commercial with Andrew Luck plucking facial hair from his bearded face creeps me out because of how disturbing and disgusting it is.

Kirk Cousin has beginners luck. Eagles fans saw it with Nick Foles; so I hope Washington can enjoy it while they can. Never the less, I am so pumped to watch Washington get smoked round 1 of the playoffs.

  
A wrap-up of the Eagles season will be posted after the Giants game. 
- Pants (Glen)

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Wake Me Up When the Season is Over

Celebrity Death Match --- Murray vs Chip

Chip Kelly must feel silly. I have no clue what DeMarco Murray did. Murray may not be worth the 40 million for 5 years that the Eagles are paying him, but he is good for something. And that is converting on third down. He is successful on all 12 of his 3rd down conversion attempts. Someone who is getting paid the big money that he is should touch the ball consistently no matter how bad he is. The past three games he is averaging a minuscule 7 rushing attempts. It seems like Kelly is trying to prove something by not playing Murray. Both Murray and the Eagles are terrible, so what is the loss in letting him play? If the Eagles cut him at the end of the season, it would be a gigantic 13 million dollar hit on their salary cap.

Defense is Struggling Mightily Again

Eagles need to improve in the red zone. If the opposing team gets within 20 yards of the Eagle’s end zone, they are almost guaranteed to score a touchdown. There is absolutely no depth in the secondary. Yeah they are not healthy, but who cares.

Not only does Philadelphia have a terrible red zone defense, but they also cannot defend against the run. They are ranked 5th worst in the league in stopping the run. Mychal Kendricks cannot make a tackle and Kiko Alonso is a bust. The Eagles are trying tackle high and are getting embarrassed. Almost every tackle they look like they are trying to strip the ball; when all they need to do is make the tackle. Bottom line is if the Eagles cannot stop the run, they will never be a good team.

Sit-Down Jordan Matthews

When Jordan Matthews was drafted he seemed like a timid and shy receiver. Now, for some reason that he is almost done with his second season, he is acting as if he is God’s gift to the world. Number 81 did not do anything worthwhile to warrant his cockiness. I hope the Linc breaks out in a, “Dude you’re not that good” chant. Every Eagles fan can only hope for Matthews to be as good as he thinks is. I get that his job is run down a field and catch a ball made out of pigskin; but how can anyone be celebrating like he is when the team is as terrible as they are.

Do you hear the fat lady?

Most Philadelphia fans wish that their beloved Eagles can be finally eliminated from the playoffs like most teams that have a record of 6 – 8. No matter how many times they lose, Eagles fans cannot be put out of their misery because they still have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs. If the Eagles win their next two games against Washington and the Giants, then they would be in the playoffs. So hooray for the division being terrible?

- Pants                                                  

Somebody Caption this with a speech bubble.             Eagles are a walking zombie!

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Happy Hawks?

After two terrible wins against Ivy League opponents Princeton and Columbia, SJU needed to step up their game and prove that they can compete. The Hawks proved this last Sunday against a strong Temple team, beating them in overtime 66-65. However, this was not enough, Hawk fans everywhere needed to see more.  Today against Illinois State, we saw an offensive monster. With about 3:27 left in the 1^st half, it went from a close game to a blow out.

The Hawks were able to put on an impressive showing today against Illinois State. The Hawks shot 46.6% from the field and 45.5% from long range. This was shooting that was unprecedented from any game prior. This by far was the best all around offensive showing that the Hawks have had all season. They not only impressed with their shooting ability but, with their ability on the defensive side of the ball. Though Illinois State, may not be the greatest opponent this was a much-needed win for the Hawks. There was no doubt coming into this game that the Hawks should win, but by how much was the question. SJU really proved that they do have the offensive capability to compete in the A-10.

Though there was a lot of good to take out of today’s game, there was some bad as well. The Hawks failed to hold their large lead late in the game. A lead that was hovering right around 30 for most of the 2^nd half disappeared. This was mainly due to the fact that St. Joe’s best player DeAndre Bembry came out of the game. The Hawks need to learn how to adjust when their captain is not in the game. We also saw struggles from Lamarr Kimble as well, forcing Shavar Newkirk to leave the bench during the time when he should have been sitting. The Hawks need to learn how to play with only one or two starters on the court that are not named Bembry, Miles or Newkirk. Coach Martelli needs to have the team work on this before A-10 play begins.

Going into today’s game Hawk fans were shaking their heads with the recent play of their team. St. Joe’s proved that they can once again beat a bad team by a lot, however the question is now how will they fair against A-10 opponents. The Hawks face off on Tuesday with another out of conference team Virginia Tech, in what should be a hard fought game. We look forward to seeing St. Joe’s can continue their dominance on the court.

-Brett

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Ivy League... Struggle...

Saint Joseph’s University came into today’s game against Princeton coming off a shaky win against Columbia. The plan coming into both games was to distribute the ball evenly throughout the court, keeping the pressure off DeAndre Bembry. However, this game plan did not work for the Hawks tonight. Princeton put early pressure on the Hawks, keeping them from ever getting their game started. From the start of this game it looked to be a lost cause for either team.

If you wanted to watch a bad all around basketball game then this was the perfect game. The Hawks put up their fewest points of the season. The offense never got anything going and was purely being run on DeAndre Bembry. Bembry single handedly won this game, scoring 27. There were nine guys who hit the floor tonight; only five were able to score. Throughout, this season Coach Martelli has preached the importance of distributing the ball to lead to scores. This did not happen for SJU, and that was due to the fact that they could not hit a shot. Once again the pressure was on DeAndre to score and get the rebounds, really showing what he was made of. However, Bembry did struggle from three again; a shot he has to improve on.

Tonight was truly a game to forget about. Coach Martelli said in his press conference that the team will watch film of what they are doing right. Two guys we are starting to see have their minutes dwindled are Javon and Oliva. In tonight’s game Oliva only hit the court for 21mins and Javon did not see action.  If the Hawks are going to compete and reach that goal of 10-2 before A-10, we will need guys to step up. This team has the talent, however they have yet to utilize it to their full potential. The Hawks next game is against Temple where they hope to kick-start the offense!

-Brett 

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At least we have the Pope...

There is no doubt that this Saint Joseph’s team is much better then last season. They are more skilled all-around and have much better chemistry in general. The main weakness in years past for St. Joe’s was their struggle to score, this year they have overcome that. However, like in years past the Hawks still struggle against true competition and cannot get much needed wins.

After tonight’s loss to Villanova the team will fall to 4-2. It was expected that the Hawks would fall to Nova. If you asked any reporter or fan they would agree. However, fans did think they would get a better showing out of the Hawks. They did fight hard at the start of the 2^nd half, but in reality the Wildcats were just bigger, faster, and stronger. They were overall a more skilled team, as was expected. Even though the Hawks did lose to Villanova, the more disappointing loss came last week against the Gators.

St. Joe’s had the win against the Gators in the bag last week and fell apart in the final minutes. This would’ve been a very good win for the Hawks, but they were not able to hold on. They Hawks needed their star players to step up in that game, however they did not. Again, the Hawks struggled to put all their talent together to get a win. But, like tonight they showed they can stay in games against very good teams.

If St. Joe’s is going to be a team that ranks higher in the A-10, they need to see their best players step up.  DeAndre Bembry was basically non-existent for long stretches in both of the Hawks losses. We will need to see Bembry step up and become that team captain, and NBA player that is expected. The fact is Coach Phil Martelli has to get the best out of his players every single game, we saw that early on but not lately. Coach Martelli has to see the talent he has on the court and learn how to best utilize, because if he does not he is just wasting their time.

As we look towards the next two games the Hawks face off against Ivy League teams. They will have a hard game against the Princeton Tigers; however don’t expect much of a game against Columbia. The Hawks will need to step up in their next few games and if they are lucky they will be 6-2 after these Ivy League games. No matter what, just remember the Pope is a Hawks fan!

-Brett

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4 and 5 Birds

Would the real Philadelphia Eagles please stand up…Well, in case you have been living under a rock for the past 2 months the Eagles are 4-5. This record has many Eagles fans scratching their heads, because this team was a “Super Bowl Contender” and Chip Kelly is an “amazing coach.” This team to be frank simply does not have it. They aren’t contenders nor do they show any glimmer of potential. The good news for those die-hard fans that don’t think with the minds, but their heart the Eagles are still in it. The Eagles can still make the playoffs because of their terrible division, which they currently rank 3^rd in. But, in reality if Dallas never were affected by injuries they would likely have the comfortable lead in the division.

Now, I will admit Sam Bradford’s play had improved since the first game, as well as the run game. However, the team still lacks skills in major areas like their pass game as well as well consistency with their defensive backs. When looking for reasons why the Eagles have struggled, I think one aspect is clear and that is Chip Kelly. The difference between Kelly and Reid is that Reid was football man. Reid understood the game, and trusted his colleagues. I am not saying that Kelly is not qualified to coach, he understands the game. However, he wants overall control, he wants to make changes that should not occur. As soon as Kelly wanted to be in charge of Player Development, things have gone downhill. This is where the problem lies. The fact that Kelly went 10-6 with players that weren’t “his” proves that he is not as good at evaluating talent as thought. The fact that Chip Kelly cannot win with his “guys” proves that this.

The Eagles may be good eventually, and Chip Kelly may turn out to be a wonderful coach in the NFL. However, it looks like this may not be his time. The Eagles have struggled mightily this season, and have proved time and time again that they do not have what it takes to compete. It looks as though we are looking at another disappointing Eagles team and other disappointing Philadelphia team.  

-Brett

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Oh What A Night 3-0 and 1,000Pts!

St. Joe’s put on a show tonight destroying Buffalo 89-67, and it was a true team effort. Not only did Hawks fans get to see an unbelievable win, but they also got to see DeAndre Bembry reach 1,000pts! This team has really put in together to start the season and deserves the success that they have had. The Hawks start 3-0 for the first time since 2009, and with the way they are scoring it looks as though more success is to follow.

The team started in unbelievable fashion scoring 21pts and holding Buffalo to only 5 in the first 11minutes. St. Joe’s success continued at that pace scoring basket after basket, as well as playing strong defense. Miles helped carry the team throughout, scoring 24pts and could have had even more. Not only did Miles play well but we saw guys like Newkirk and Demery truly step up. If we see consistency like we did tonight there is no doubt in any fans mind that this team can continue to be a juggernaut in the A-10, and could even win it all.

Though the team’s defense was shaky to start, they really kept it together holding Buffalo to only 67pts. Coach Martelli is still surprised with how well his defense has played, as well as the ability this team has to score. Martelli’s main goal coming into this season was to have a team that can score. As all fans know this has been one of SJU’s biggest problems and it looks like it is finally solved. DeAndre Bembry is the main reason for this, and that is because of his distributing of the ball rather than scoring. With DeAndre in charge of this offense it will continue to blossom throughout the season.

Starting the season 3-0 makes the upcoming game against the University of Florida much easier. It makes the team very comfortable to go away and still have the ability to win. As Coach Martelli said during his press conference "I know nothing about them... But I'll be well informed by 7am tomorrow.” Coach Martelli believes the team will be 100% prepared for this upcoming game, and feels comfortable that the team will compete.    

-Brett 

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Back in Hagan!

Going into the Hawks season opener, there were not many fans thinking that this game would finish with a combined 163 total points. That was the case in the Hawks victory over the Drexel Dragons, 82-81. Even Phil Martelli mentioned himself how he would have expected the total of both teams being 82. The final score does not do the Hawks justice. They consistently maintained an 8 point lead for most of the game. There smallest lead was the final score.

St. Joe’s was able to rack up 82 points because they were attacking the basket rather than sitting back. They put a lot of pressure on Drexel early in the game. There seems to be the best chemistry when Zeke and Bembry are on the court. They played with intensity in the first half that left them tired in the second. However, in the second they were able to find their captain, Bembry, under the basket. With Drexel holding on to the game late, Checco Olivia hit a three to put a dagger in the game. Saint Joseph’s started the game leading 11-2 and they kept Drexel frustrated and emotional throughout the entire game.

The big issue for the Hawks is defense. They were leaving Drexel outside the arc, and were not guarding inside of the basket. In the second half Shavar Newkirk was subbed out for Kimble due to his poor defense. James Demery mostly defended around the perimeter of the arc last year, while against Drexel he was under the basket. The biggest takeaway from this game is that every player got minutes while coming away with a victory.

The freshmen, Checco Olivia stepped up big time. He could easily be considered the MVP of the game. When Checco was told he was starting, he was not fazed by it. Throughout the game he looked like he was having fun. Martelli described him as zany. He had tremendous post passes to Bembry. While the Italian freshman had 12 points, 3 blocks, and 4 assists he still needs to improve on his rebounding.

There were scouts in Hagan, which everyone would assume they were there to watch DeAndre Bembry. DeAndre led the team with 23 points, most of which he made look easy. Surprisingly, he was not on the court for the most amount of time. Isaiah Miles was on the court for a minute longer than Bembry. Last year Bembry played the most minutes out of everyone in college basketball with and average of 39.

The Hawks will face Niagara at 5PM in Hagan to start their Hall of Fame Tip-off tournament.

-Pants

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So it Begins...

Purpose of Non-Conference Games

College basketball has started and our St. Joe’s Hawks will tip-off their season against Drexel Dragons tonight, Friday November 13th. Even though the Hawks did not beat the Dragons by much last year, some are saying that it is a preseason warm-up. However, SJU also lost to Fairleigh Dickinson last year to start their season. Of course a game that everyone has circled is Villanova, but don’t you dare call it the Holy War or else some cranky history professor will cry about it in the Philly Inquirer. The Hawks are catching a break this year since they are playing against Ivy League schools.

Hall of Fame Tip-Off

The Hawks will get a chance to showcase their athleticism against Niagara, Buffalo, Florida, and Old Dominion/Purdue. Florida and Old Dominion/Purdue will be played at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

Starting 5

To start the season, the starting five will be WG Bembry, PG Newkirk, WG Brown, F Miles, and F Olivia. In case you are not aware, Coach Martelli has never really stuck with the tradition starting 5 with a center, shooting guard, and small forward. He simply puts the best 5 players out on the court.

Phil has received quite a bit of criticism for not playing his freshmen enough during the season. This year with Pierfrancesco Olivia starting, there is speculation that it is only because of Papa Ndao’s lingering issues. No matter who is part of the starting five, it is the total minutes that will explain which player plays more of a pivotal role on the team. During the non-conference games, Martelli’s bench normally gets more action than during the regular season. However, hopefully this season proves that he can trust more of his bench throughout the entire season. 

Aaron Brown is a player that gives it his all on every play, which is what probably earned him the starting role. There are players like Javon Bauman, DeAndre Bembry, Isaiah Miles, and Papa Ndao that know have won the A-10 championship, and have seen what it takes to win. Going into the season St. Joe’s Hawks are predicted to end their season ranked 7th in the conference.

-Pants

Non-Conference 2015-16 SCHEDULE

Friday November 13 - DREXEL - 8:00 p.m.

Sunday November 15 - NIAGARA - 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 18 - BUFFALO - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday November 21 - vs. Florida - 2:30 p.m.

Sunday November 22 - vs. Old Dominion/Purdue - 12/5:30 p.m.

Tuesday December 1 - VILLANOVA - 7:00 p.m.

Friday December 4 - at Columbia - 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 8 - PRINCETON - 7:00 p.m.

Sunday December 13 - at Temple - 4:00 p.m.

Saturday December 19 - ILLINOIS STATE - 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 22 - vs. Virginia Tech - 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 29 - MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE - 7:00 p.m.

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