NFC East

Sporting News, The, Nov 23, 1998 by Neil Best

Philadelphia

2-8: T 4th

Hoying isn't solely to blame for offense

Since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978, only seven teams have scored fewer than 200 points in a season. This team is a good bet to make it eight. After 10 games, the team has scored 92 points--an average of 9.2 per game--and is on pace to score 147, which would be the third-lowest amount for a 16-game schedule. Since coach Ray Rhodes made the change in play-callers from Dana Bible to Bill Musgrave, 23 points have been scored in four games. Most of the blame has been put on struggling QB Bobby Hoying, but he is hardly acting alone. Although Hoying has thrown 199 passes without a TD, he hasn't gotten a lot of help. The wide receivers are the worst in the league and they dropped five more passes last week. No wide receiver has caught a TD pass this season or has had a game of more than 79 yards. Over the past six weeks, no wide receiver has caught a pass of more than 20 yards. The offensive line hasn't been much help, either. The Redskins' five sacks last week pushed the season total to 47, which puts the team on a pace to allow 75 for the season.

IT'S PITIFUL: Owner Jeffrey Lurie has lost his patience, and criticized the team after last week's loss, using the word "pitiful" 12 times in-an impromptu conversation with reporters. He did say, however, no decision on Rhodes would be made until after the season. Don't expect him to wait too long past December 27, though.... The defense has forced just seven turnovers in 10 games, which is another major problem. It's easy to put all the blame on the offense, but the defense needs to make plays, too. It has only three interceptions and none of those has been by a cornerback.... One bright spot was the play of rookie return man Allen Rossum, who had one of his best performances last week. The third-round pick from Notre Dame, who has struggled this season, had a 52-yard kickoff return and a 16-yard punt return against the Redskins.

GOAL-LINE STAND: The team is further from contention than anyone could have imagined. A fresh start under a new coach next season will help, but how much difference can one man make? This is a team with needs at almost every position: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, the offensive line. The defense needs a big-time playmaker, another lineman, a linebacker and a strong safety. Other than that, the team is in pretty good shape.--Mark Eckel

GRADING OUT vs. Washington

OFFENSE F

How pitiful? As many
turnovers as points scored.
That's not good.

DEFENSE C-

Once again, this unit failed
to make plays or any big
stops.

SPECIAL TEAMS B 

Good cover teams held
Mitchell in check. Rossum
has 52-yard return.

STRATEGY F

On both sides of the ball, the
teams has no idea what it
wants to do or how to do it.
PASSING        Att.    Comp.     Pct.     Yds.

Hoying         199     101       50.8      848
Peete          129      71       55.0      758

PASSING        Long      TD       Int.      Rate    Sacks

Hoying          38       0         7        47.5     31
Peete           25       2         4        64.7     16

RUSHING        Att.      Yds.     Avg.      TD

Staley         137       549      4.0       3
Garner          89       352      4.0       4
Turner          13        66      5.1       0

RECEIVING      No.       Yds.     Avg.      TD

Staley          33       233      7.1       1
Fryar           30       320     10.7       0
Graham          27       334     12.4       0

SCORING        XMP    XPA      FGM       FGA     Pts.

Boniol          9     10        7        10      30

PUNTING        No.    Yds.      Avg.      Blk.

Hutton         70     2979      42.6       0

KO RETURNS     No.    Yds.      Avg.      TD

Rossum         27     635       23.5       0

PUNT RETURNS   No.    Yds.      Avg.      TD

Rossum         13     106       8.2        0

SACKS: Douglas 12.5, Thomas .50, Wallace 4.0

INTERCEPTIONS: W. Thomas 1, Caldwell 1, Dawkins 1