There Is No Fate in Sports

The Eagles can't keep the fans' feelings of invincibility, from the Phillies' title, alive.

Fate. Destiny. Meant to be. These, along with countless other cliches, seem to be used to describe at least one team's success every year in every sport. Unfortunately none of it exists. As was proven in the NFC Championship on Sunday, the better team that day will win. Period.

Philadelphia fans saw something extraordinary this fall. By now the Phillies' story is well known. Throughout the month of October, fans invested more and more emotion into their sports team. And for the first time in 25 years, they weren't let down. First the first time in my life (Coincidentally, I'm 25 years old), I now knew I wasn't always going to be doomed to the "Close, but no cigar."

And then when everything line up perfectly for the Eagles on the final day of the regular season, in order for them to make the playoffs, things seemed destined. Things seemed even more destined when we found out that the only thing between the Birds and the Super Bowl were the Arizona Cardinals; the same Cardinals the Eagles crushed on Thanksgiving Night; the same Cardinals who's championship drought dwarfs that of the Eagles.

Before the Phillies' breaking through in October, I'd view this past Eagles game with a certain degree of trepidation. But things are different now. I went all out, emotionally, on this one. Because of the Phillies, this Eagles team appeared destined to do something special as well. Lesson learned; games, and championships especially, are won on the field (or ice or court), not in the "heavens."

Eagles Week Seven Report Card

Another week in the NFL season, and we are further from knowing who these Eagles really are than ever before. Or maybe, this is who the Eagles really are.

Passing Offense:
Another average day for McNabb and the receivers. They moved the ball between the twenties, and bogged down in the red zone; that area inside the twenty that has been called a number of names in Philly, none of which have the slightest positive connotation. McNabb made a nice pass on his lone TD pass, but also missed badly on an earlier red zone possession. Reggie Brown also dropped a TD pass on their first red zone possession, right after making two great catches to get them in position.
Grade: C

Rushing Offense:
When they ran, they ran fairly well. But you would expect a playmaker like Westbrook to run wild one week after the Bears let Adrian Peterson do everything but throw for a TD. The running game helped keep the Eagles in 3rd and short situations, but it disappeared late in the game with the Eagles nursing a lead. Some semblance of a running game would help the red zone woes too.
Grade: C+

Passing Defense:
Well, it was an A for 58 minutes. Then they gave up the winning touchdown, making Brian Griese look like John Elway in the process. Giving up a 97 yard TD drive with less than two minutes and no timeouts left is completely inexcusable, even if there are two holding penalties and a push off on the TD pass. They've held the team in every game while they got their act together, but when the chips were down, they folded.
Grade: C-

Rushing Defense:
Well, it was an A for 58 minutes too. And thankfully for them, teams don't run the ball when down by 4 with 97 yards to go and no timeouts left. So, technically they were good all game.
Grade: A

Special Teams:
Devin Hester touched the ball exactly zero times in the return game, and he was still the most effective player on the field on Sunday. The Eagles chose to kick to the short man on kickoffs, and out of bounds in the punting game, and as a result the Bears seemed to start every drive on their 40 yard line. And in a game full of field goals, this was huge for a team that couldn't move the ball. Hester basically won this game for the Bears.
Grade: F

Overall:
There was no getting around it; both teams needed to win this game. Only one did, and neither probably deserved to. There were a few good plays and a lot of bad ones. Their were poor penalties, poor non-calls, poor rules (that crazy fumbled snap that was technically a false start), and through it all the Eagles were still in a position to win. But they didn't. They moved the ball well, but they couldn't score. They held the Bears off the board, except when it counted. So is this what the Eagles really are this year? A 2-4 team that finds ways to lose instead of ways to win? For the time being, I think that has to be excepted as a very real possibility. There is still time to turn their season around, but with a game against New England, two against Dallas, and rematches with the Giants and Redskins still to come, the margin for error is now down to zero. And that doesn't seem like a very good thing for a team that has been anything but perfect.
Grade: D

Eagles Week Six Report Card

They needed a win. That's what they got. Even if it wasn't pretty, they made progress toward the team they are supposed to be this year.

Passing Offense
McNabb has had better days, but he has also had much worse. He was a respectable 22 of 35 for 278 yards and the game's lone touchdown; a 75 yard catch and run by Kevin Curtis. McNabb did through one interception while backed up on his own goal line. He can thank the defense for that one not costing them. Reggie Brown showed that he actually is playing this year, making 6 grabs for 89 yards. LJ Smith made a catch, but as a unit, the tight ends are still invisible. That needs to change sooner rather than later. McNabb capped off the passing game on the final drive with a huge third down completion to Brown that kept the drive alive, and moved the Eagles out of the shadow of their goal line. Passing game needs to be sharper in the Red Zone
Grade: Solid B

Rushing Offense
Brian Westbrook continues to show why he is now being recognized nationally as one of the best backs in the game. He gained 120 yards on 20 carries, and had a 19 TD wiped out by holding penalty. The Eagles ran the ball much more than Andy Reid is known for, but they failed to rush successfully, or at all, in the Red Zone; resulting in 4 field goal attempts and no TDs. Westbrook needs to see the ball more inside the twenty. Offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage. I would like to see more Buckhalter, and maybe even a little Tony Hunt when the line is dominating like it was.
Grade: A-

Passing Defense
Just 109 yards allowed through the air on 11 of 21 passing. That's good. Add in a big interception, and even bigger defense on a possible game tying fade route in the end, by Sheldon Brown, and you've got a dominate performance by the Eagles' pass defense. And that was done without Pro Bowlers Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard.
Grade: A+

Rushing Defense
It was ugly at first, with Thomas Jones hitting the same cut back lane time and time again to the tune of 55 rushing yards on the opening drive. But they defense stiffened, and forced a field goal. They didn't allow much the rest of the game, including stuffing the Jets multiple times inside the five, on their final drive down by seven, to force a fourth down fade route that fell incomplete.
Grade: Solid B

Special Teams
Sucked. Needs to get better in all phases. David Akers' nightmares of the Meadowlands will only get worse, as he missed two more field goals from 41 yards. He did make two that turned out to be very important. But perhaps more concerning, is the kick coverage. Leon Washington returned one kick 51 yards, and had another return that looked to be shaping up dangerously until he tripped up with a shoe string tackle. With Devin Hester coming to town this week, this simply needs to be better. That, or they should consider kicking out of bounds on every kickoff.
Grade: D- (only because it didn't lose them the game)

Overall
If they convert those two missed field goals into touchdowns, we're looking at a 30-9 blowout. So, if the Eagles can get that Red Zone offense straightened out, they look to be back on track. The defense continues to be much better, much earlier, than expected. And they should only get better when (and if) Lito and Dawkins get back. McNabb should continue to improve from week to week, and that is good news for this offense. Andy Reid needs to trust the running game more, as Brian Westbrook is his best player, by far.
Grade: B-

Eagles' 1st Quarter Report Card

With four games in the books, it's time to send the Eagles' report card home to their parents. And I don't think the Birds will be getting their allowance.

Quarterback: C
This was the big question mark coming into the season. Was Donovan McNabb healthy? I pronounced numerous times that he was, and this position was the least of the Eagles' worries. I was wrong. McNabb was simply off during the first two losses of the season to the Packers and Redskins. It's hard to pin the Green Bay loss on him, because of the special teams errors, but if he put forth a good performance the Birds could have won in spite of those miscues. However, the Redskins game can be put on five's shoulders. McNabb took off the knee brace for week three, and quite literally played perfectly in a 56-21 drubbing of the Lions. And week four was a 16-3 loss to the Giants, where McNabb's numbers are ugly, but it's hard to blame a QB when he gets sacked 12 times.

Running Back: A
The lone bright spot on the offense. Before missing game four due to injury, Brian Westbrook led the NFL in yards from scrimmage. He was arguably running better than any back in the league, and he accounted for about half of the team's offense. And even when he missed game four, Correll Buckhalter stepped in and ran very well. If only the Eagles would put the ball in these guys' hands more often; but we'll get to that more later.

Wide Receiver: D-
Kevin Curtis' big game against the Lions is all that is keeping this grade from being an F. Aside from that, the receiving corps has been dreadful. Through four games this season, the blueprint has been developed on how to defend this offense. It turns out it is pretty simple actually. It is press coverage. Three teams have done that to the Eagles receivers, and they have held the offense to 28 points, and just one touchdown. The one team that played a soft zone, the Lions, only yielded the endzone to the Eagles' offense eight times. Reggie Brown, who seemed poised to break out in this, his third, season, has been invisible. Jason Avant has actually been a nice number three guy though. Go figure, he is a big athletic guy who can beat press coverage.

Tight Ends: F
L.J. Smith has been hurt and missed two games, and might as well have missed the other two. The other two tight ends have done next to nothing as well. And they can't block either. It's been a wasted position for the Eagles.

Offensive Line: D
It's not so much that this unit has played bad, aside from the game against the Giants, where they gave up about four dozen sacks, but rather they've played well below expectations. This was supposed to be the Eagles' strength. They started every game together last season, and the first three games this season, and they paved the way for the number two ranked offense in the league last season. But this year, they haven't been nearly as good. Obviously the game against New York was horrible, but even when they haven't given up lots of sacks, they haven't been able to give McNabb a nice pocket. And they haven't been able to give the receivers enough time to shake the jam.

Defensive Line: B+
Another won of the few bright spots; especially after their poor showing for most of last year. The tackles have been very solid, if not very good, in stuffing the run and getting pressure up the middle. Broderick Bunkley worked very hard in the offseason to improve upon his forgettable rookie season, and it has paid off big time. The ends are getting relatively good pressure, but they are not getting quite enough pressure on third down passing situations leading to first downs.

Linebackers: B
A huge question mark going into the season, the linebacking corps has been perfectly adequate. Takeo Spikes appears to be fully recovered from the Achilles' injury he suffered in 2005. Omar Gaither appears to not be too small to stop the run at middle linebacker, and he provides much more range than the departed Jeremiah Trotter. And Chris Gocong, the second year player who never made a start at SAM before this season, doesn't appear lost. They need to do a better job on third an medium though.

Defensive Backs: B-
It's been hard to judge this group, with them missing two Pro Bowlers in Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard, for two and three games respectively. But, as a healthy unit, they held Brett Favre and the Packers to no touchdowns. And as a banged up unit, they did enough against a potent Lions attack, and held Eli Manning in check for the most part. They also need to do a better job on third down. It would nice if they created a few turnovers as well.

Special Teams: F-
They already lost the team a game, and that is good enough for a C- right there. They still don't really have a kick or punt returner that will scare anyone. And their kick coverage has been average at best. David Akers has been better than last year so far, but the punting situation is different. The Eagles took a risk on Australian Rules punter Sav Rocca because they loved the upside of his cannon of a leg. However, the big boomers have been few and far between. And it's not like he hasn't had plenty of opportunities either.

Coaching: F
It started in the first game, when the inability to have a backup plan to Jeremy Bloom came back to bite them. The coaching staff has refused to alter the game plan when McNabb was clearly struggling. And Andy Reid did nothing to help out Winston Justice, who was making his first start at left tackle, when the line was getting thrashed by the Giants pass rush. As a matter of fact, he didn't do anything to slow down the rush...like running. But most importantly, they lost three out of four games.

So, it's the Eagles' bye week. Maybe this report card means they should be grounded for their week off?

Who are the real Eagles?

As bad as everyone felt following that 20-12 Monday night loss to the Washington Redskins, that was how good everyone felt following the Eagles' 56-21 thrashing of the Detroit Lions. With their back against the wall, staring down a possible 0-3 start, the real Eagles showed up and saved their season. But was that actually the real team? Only time will tell, but there are plenty of reasons to believe that the 2007 Philadelphia Eagles are closer to the team in those Halloweenish uniforms than the team who's play was scary on its own through the first two weeks.

It's easy to get excited when your team's offense scores eight touchdowns and the defense records nine sacks. But let's not get too carried away. Sunday's performance was just an example of what can happen when an offense, eager to prove something, starts to click against a defense that simply isn't that good. But, on the other side of the coin, an offense has to be doing something right to reach the end zone eight times; no matter who is playing defense.

There really shouldn't have been any doubts that this offense would click at some point this season. There is only one difference from last year's number two ranked offense: Donte Stallworth is out and Kevin Curtis is in. It was figured that, while Curtis might not have Stallworth's pure explosiveness, he would provide more consistency and, at the very worst, should be an even replacement. The only question coming into the season was how would Donovan be coming off of that ACL reconstruction. How long would it take for McNabb to regain his form?

The answer appears to be three weeks. Granted, there are bound to be down weeks when that knee just isn't feeling as strong, but McNabb looked perfect on Sunday. As a matter of fact, he was perfect (158.3 QB rating). Was it a coincidence that he played better once he removed the knee brace that adorned his knee during preseason and the first two games? Not likely. By his own admission, McNabb said that the brace did limit his extension a little bit. And if he is admitting that much, it's a good bet that it affected his whole throwing motion at least a little bit. Removing the brace was a sign that McNabb feels healthy physically and mentally.

It is true that this offense will go where McNabb takes them, but let's not forget the other aspects of the game. Offensively, the offensive line, which played relatively poor the first two weeks, played fantastic Sunday. And they are the strength of this team, having now started 19 consecutive games as a unit dating back to the beginning of last season. And Brian Westbrook continues to prove that he is one of, if not the most, dangerous player in the NFL. It almost pains me that it has taken me this long to mention him.

Let's assume that the offense continues to play at a level similar to what they achieved last season. They will be in the same exact spot next Martin Luther King Jr. Day that they were last year if the defense also plays at the same level that they played last year. And that's where the biggest reasons for optimism come in. Even through two losses to start the season, the defense looked much improved from last year. The weak spots from last year, defensive tackle and linebacker, look to be significantly better. Broderick Bunkley, who's rookie season was a complete wash, is playing at a dominant level, and the new linebacking corps has done a great job stuffing the run thus far. And if last year proved anything, it is that, with this offense playing the way it is capable of playing, an average defense should be able to make the Eagles a serious contender in the NFC.

So who are the real Eagles? Well three games, with such a wide disparity in performances, is not enough to make an informed decision. And an educated guess would put them somewhere in between the 0-2 and the 1-0, but I believe that they truly are closer to the latter. The offense has a track record dating back to last season, and now they seem to be back on track. And the defense - the reason for last season's loss at New Orleans on January 13 - looks much better. And with a lot of new faces, and injuries on the mend, the defense could become even better. The real offense may not score 56 points a week, and the real defense may not record nine sacks a week, but the real Eagles should be able to win each and every week.

It's STILL not time to panic

The Eagles are 0-2, injuries are hitting the defense, McNabb and the offense look out of sync, and the schedule only gets tougher from here on out. Time to start thinking about the 2008 entry draft? Not quite. Winless after two games is, by no means, good or acceptable. But, despite the amount of weight put on each and every NFL game, it is a long season. There is time for this team to turn it around. But most importantly, this team is capable of turning it around.

Here's why:

- Each and every year, the beginning of the NFL season becomes harder and harder to predict. Teams start great only to fall off and miss the playoffs, as well as teams starting slow and then turn it on at the right time. The Lions are coming in at 2-0, one of the surprise fast starts, but will they be around come December? The Eagles are not the only team struggling to start the season. The Saints, Jets, Rams all join the Eagles at a surprising 0-2.

- Let's be honest here; McNabb has been, well, bad. Personally, I thought he would come back from injury like he did last year, and set the league on fire. I was wrong. He is obviously still shaking off rust. But the good thing is the fact that I truly believe it is just rust. It is not a Daunte Culpepper situation where he came back too early from injury, and it is not a factor of McNabb being on the down side of his career; as many in Philly will have you believe. McNabb looked like his old self in the 4th quarter against the Redskins. He moved well, and hit guys between the numbers. If that is a sign that the rust is off, then half the problem is solved.

- The defense has looked improved from last year. Not perfect, but they don't need to be. If the offense can get back in the rhythm they had last season, this defense certainly looks like it can hold it's own. They need more pressure from the defensive ends, and they need to get off the field on 3rd down, but the run defense has been very strong; even with the offense unable to give the defense any rest. When some of the defensive backs come back healthy, they should be even better as a unit.

- When penciling wins and losses when the schedule came out, these first two games will certainly "W"s for most fans'. And that was important, especially considering the difficulty of the latter part of the schedule. However, there are surprise teams every year. This year's schedule is very similar to last season's in the sense that the Eagles' should be successful early on, building up their record, and be able to hold on through a tough second part of the schedule. So when the Eagles went 4-4 in the first half, instead of the 7-1 or 6-2 many projected, the prospects looked bleak. But, as it turned out, the teams they faced in the second half were not nearly as good as everyone projected prior to the season. The same is possible this year. The Saints loom as a second half obstacle. They are 0-2 as well. And what if the Bears have the Super Bowl loss hangover that has seemed to affect so many teams this decade? And what if the Packers and Redskins turn out to be the Saints and Jets of last season? Two games is not enough time to bury, or crown, any team.

Since the Eagles dropped the game against the Redskins Monday night, the start to the 2003 season has been a big topic of discussion; both by those with hope and those who claim that it is a completely different situation and the season is over. Yes, there are different circumstances between both 0-2 starts, but there are also a number of significant similarities. Basically that team started out struggling because of poor play by an injured McNabb and a genreally out of sync offense - the same as this season. What happened over the final 14 games of that season? McNabb got healthy, and Andy Reid brought the whole offense back to basics. The result: a 12-4 record and another NFC championship appearance. I expect Reid to go back to basics a little bit, and I expect/hope McNabb is done shaking off the rust. The rest should take care of itself.

No need to jump off the Ben Franklin, Philly fans

Yet again, the Eagles have opened a season full of hope with a loss. For the sixth time in the last nine seasons, the Eagles are 0-1. Surely, for many, the opener in Green Bay was penciled in as a win when the schedule was released. And now after the 16-13 loss against the "lowly" Packers - a team the Eagles have owned for half a decade - fans all over the Delaware Valley have to be feeling a bit a panic. The special teams was obviously horrendous, the offense only put up 13 points, and the defense played well against a Division IA caliber offense. But fear not Eagles fans. Believe it or not, there is reason to feel more optimistic now than before the season started.

Before the less than complimentary comments come pouring in, hear me out. What was the biggest question mark coming out of preseason and into the regular season? No, it wasn't McNabb, it was the defense. They were coming off a season where they were essentially the Achilles heal of the team, and they were less than stellar during their time on the field in the preseason. Could the new, smaller, Omar Gaither stop the run in the absence of Trotter? Could converted defensive end, Chris Gocong, making his first start, be anything close to the answer at SAM? Could defensive tackles, Bunkley and Patterson, step up and play like the high draft picks they are? Was Jevon Kearse healthy enough to be a force again? Would Sean Considine be able to play the role of strong safety despite having the skill set best suited for free safety? And, speaking of free safety, could Brian Dawkins shake off an injury filled preseason, and continue to be the heart and soul of the defense? Well, in order, the answers after one game - which admittedly carries only slightly more weight than preseason - are: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.


The Eagles held the Packers offense to three points. The remaining 13 points, including the game winning field goal, were the direct result of Philly turnovers. The running game for Green Bay? Non-existent. The passing game, with future Hall of Famer Brett Favre? Barely existent. Granted the Packers do not have a very good offense, especially their running game, but if you remember last season, that didn't matter for the Eagles' defense. Seeing all of those question marks answered, for at least one week, has got to be an encouraging sign for Eagles fans.

Offensively, 13 points is hardly an impressive effort, but, again, there are reasons to feel good. First off, the Packers' defense should not be underestimated. They have solid defensive backs, a young and fast linebacking corps, and a great defensive line. That's a formula for a top 10 defense. So, going against a unit like that is going to cause some problems for even for the best offenses; especially on opening day. Which brings us to point number 2 and 2A/B. Offensives across the league are generally less likely to be dominant than defensives early in the season. Offenses take more timing and rythmn that is difficult to achieve at the outset of the season. And the Eagles have been slow starters for the majority of the last decade. And, lastly, but certainly not least, this was Donovan McNabb's first start since ACL reconstruction only nine months ago. And most everyone will tell you that it takes a good year or more before a player can get back to full capabilities. Combine all of that, and a 13 point effort should not surprise that much. This was the number 2 ranked defense in the league last year, and they are essentially the same group this year. They will be fine.

This loss can be directly contributed to the fact that the Eagles went into the season without anyone experienced in handling punt returns. Yes, they lost a game because of this hole, but this is a fixable hole, and a minor one compared to many of the teams in the NFC. There are basically two options to solve the problem. Send Brian Westbrook back there or bring someone else in. Westbrook is highly capable of doing the job, and could be one of the most dangerous return men in the game, but it's unclear at this time whether Andy Reid will want to risk his prized possession. And Reno Mahe - a solid, if unspectacular, return man - is probably sitting at home right now. All in all, Eagles fans should not be that upset. They should know by now that their team turns it on later in the season - when it counts most.

Not a Very Special Opener

There are very few losses in the NFL that can be attributed to one single aspect of the game. There are normally a number of issues from various aspects of the game that cause a team to lose. The season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers was the exception to the rule. Green Bay won the game 16-13 on a last second field goal, without scoring an offensive touchdown. All of their points, aside from one game tying field goal, came off of turnovers; most of which were on special teams. The Philadelphia Eagles, having significant question marks with their return game coming into the game, showed why by muffing two punts which led to 10 points including the game winner.

The Eagles fell behind by seven early when a punt was muffed by Greg Lewis and recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Later on, Lewis almost cost his team again by attempting to field a bouncing punt with about five Packers around him. Luckily for him, he was able to secure it and save his team about five yards of field position. Not so luckily for him, coach Andy Reid had seen enough, and that was the last punt return he handled.

But that wasn't the low point for the Eagles' special teams. With less than two minutes left, and the game tied, the Eagles forced the Packers to punt again - setting up a possible game winning possession for the Birds. This time they sent kick returner JR Reed back to retrieve the punt. Reed called for the fair catch, but the kick was short. Reed, instead of letting it bounce, decided to run up, and weave through blockers and tacklers, to catch the ball. He was a tad late, and couldn't control the kick. Green Bay recovered within field goal range. All Philadelphia could do was watch the clock wind down until Mason Crosby kicked the game winner through.


To put it simply, special teams lost the Eagles the game. That's not taking anything away from the Packers - they played a good game defensively - but the Eagles gave them the game. The offense and defense can not be blamed for this loss for Philly. Granted, the Eagles weren't entirely in sync on offense, but they looked like the Colts compared to the Packers' performance on that side of the ball. And defensively, they shut the Packers down entirely. Aside from one field goal drive that featured some classic highlight reel, Houdini like escapes and passes, the Packers couldn't move the ball against an Eagles' defense that had its own question marks coming into the season.

The Eagles now have some serious concerns in special teams now that they have seen how poor play from that unit alone can keep your team from winning. J.R. Reed should be adequate as the kick-off returner, but he is obviously not the answer for returning punts. Greg Lewis probably will never return another punt in his career, and Corell Buckhalter, who's experience consists of returning a few punts in preseason, is unlikely to be much better. There is only one person on this roster who could do the job: Brian Westbrook. Before he became the focal point of the offense, Westbrook earned his spot on the roster by returning punts. And he was very good at it. And he is clearly the best choice to fulfill that role right now. The only question is, will Andy Reid subject his prized offensive weapon to perceived high injury risk job of return man? Only Reid knows that answer, and its unlikely that he even knows it right now, but one thing is for sure: the present strategy is unacceptable. The special teams doesn't necessarily need to be special, but it can't become a liability like it was in the opening day loss.

NFC East Preview

Part eight of an eight part series examining each of the NFL's divisions. Today, we conclude with a look at the NFC East.

Philadelphia Eagles
This division may be the tightest at the top with the Eagles and Cowboys likely to battle for the title all year. The Eagles should win out though. The big story with the Eagles this season is the return of Donovan McNabb, and rightfully so. But the E True Holloywood Story with this team is the defense. Offensively they will be fine; and that is with McNabb not being at 100% for the beginning portion of the season. With McNabb playing up to his capabilities, this offense will be one of the best in the league. They were the number two offense in the NFL last season, behind only the Saints. Doing it with two QBs, the Eagles showed that they can, and will, rely on Brian Westbrook and the offensive line to lead the offense. McNabb will be just fine this season, the receiving corps is underrated, and Westbrook should repeat his career year behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. Back to the defense. As few question marks as there are on the offense, there are that many about the defense. Starting with the linebackers, the Eagles will start two guys at MIKE and SAM, Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong respectively, who have never started a game at those positions. Takeo Spikes should be an upgrade at WILL, however, if he is fully recovered from injuries that slowed him the previous two years. But the Eagles don't place a high priority on LB since they rely on a solid play from the defensive line and defensive backs. However, they did not get solid play from these units the last couple years, which is why the defense has lost its status as one of the elite. If guys like tackles, Bunkley and Patterson, can perform up to expectations, and Safety Brian Dawkins can shake off preseason injuries, the defense should be plenty adequate in spite of the question marks at linebacker. Being in a weak conference, the Eagles should simply be able to outscore teams for a few wins this season.
Prediction: 11-5

Dallas Cowboys
Talent-wise, the Cowboys may be right up there with the Eagles. So why aren't they going to win the division? Well, a couple of reasons. First, they have a new coaching staff, and the last time I checked, a new coaching staff rarely reaches expecations in their first season. Plus, it's not like they are upgrading from an incompetent coach. They had Hall of Fame coach, Bill Parcells, for four seasons and they were unable to win a playoff game in that time. Secondly, the Cowboys are seriously lacking behind the Eagles in experience and leadership. The Cowboys also have serious questions marks on both sides of the ball. Tony Romo, "Snap-gate" aside, really dropped off towards the end of his season. It seemed that, once opposing defenses accumulated game film on him, he was in fact a mere mortal. The defensive backs had major coverage problems last season. Roy Williams, considered by many the most overrated player in the league, is a big hitter but he contributed greatly to those coverage liabilities. And Dallas had next to no pass rush outside of DeMarcus Ware. But again, it's a weak conference, and everyone has chinks, if not holes, in the armor. And with talented players at most skill positions, the Cowboys should earn a Wild Card birth if they don't win the division.
Prediction: 10-6

Washington Redskins
There is a huge drop off from the top two teams in the division to the bottom two teams. The Redskins underperformed in just about every aspect of the game last season, and they are bound to improve this year. However, now they have a QB starting his first full season. Analysts from all around the league really like Jason Cambell, and they see him progressing into a strong leader of the offense as the season progresses. If they're right, the Redskins could be a decent team. They have a strong two-pronged running attack with Clinton Portis and the emergence of Ladell Betts last season. However they are old and shallow at wide receiver; Santana Moss doesn't seem to have that game breaking speed anymore and there isn't much behind him. The defense is about average, but with a weak offense, they are unable to hold up for a full 60 minutes and a full season. This is clearly a transitional year for the 'Skins as they acclimate the new QB to the system. And it may be Joe Gibbs last season in this unsuccessful comeback attempt.
Prediction: 6-10

New York Giants
For some reason, coach Tom Caughlin is still the coach of the New York Giants. He has had, and still does to some extent, a talented roster every year. Yet, the Giants have been unable to accomplish much of anything. And last season it hit a low for Caughlin's Giants. That is, until this season probably. There is no leadership in that locker room and no one can keep their mouth shut. Everyone always has something to say about a teammate or a coach, and it is impossible to create a winning chemistry in that atmosphere. Aside from the negative intangibles surrounding this team, they have serious issues at a number of positions. This jury for Eli Manning is still out, but not for much longer. Eli needs to stop relying on the name on the back of his jersey and start improving the weaknesses of his game (and there are a number of them), or he will go down as a big-time bust; considering what he was supposed to be in this league. And things will not get any easier for Eli this season, with the retirement of Tiki Barber. The Giants feel Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns can pick up where Tiki left off, but I don't see it. Defensively, the Giants are weak at linebacker and defensive back. It's huge that Michael Strahan decided to come back for another year, but not even he can stop this train from derailing.
Prediction: 4-12

It wasn't as bad as it looked

The Philadelphia Eagles lost there second of three preseason games Sunday night, 27-13, to the Pittsburgh Steelers. And being the third preseason game, it was supposed to be a dress rehearshal for the regular season opener. And by most accounts, it was am ugly performance - the second such one this preseason (game one in Baltimore). However, considering the things you really wanted to see from the first team gearing up for the opener in Green Bay, things weren't as bad as they looked.

Before the weekend leading up to the game, the Eagles released Jeremiah Trotter, one of the best linebackers in team history and a fan favorite. In the objective eyes of the team, Trotter had lost a step (or two or three) and was too much of a liability in the passing game. He was getting exposed too often by teams that made him move as much as possible. So the team made the switch to Omar Gaither, a quicker but smaller linebacker, to play the middle. So, naturally, the biggest question mark going into Sunday's game was how would the Birds do against the run - the Achilles' Heel of last year's team. And to be honest here, there run defense was not too bad.

Yes, the Steelers gained 398 yards of offense in the game, but only 76 of those yards came on the ground. Starting running back, Willie Parker, gained just 32 yards on 10 carries. And, yes, Parker scored on an 18 yard run untouched, but considering the problems this team had against the run last season, they really did perform quite well Sunday night.

What killed the Eagles was the passing game; and not even the straight, drop back and pass, passing game. It was screens, dump-offs, and plays off of a Roethlisberger scramble that grounded the Birds. This was certainly a little troubling, especially considering the fact that Gaither was supposed to help in the "mis-direction" game, but these were problems that can be fixed by scheme and practice. Getting run over, play after play, is usually a result of losing man on man battles - something that is much more likely to be a sign of lack of skill than lack of preparation. This was Gaither's first start at MIKE, and Chris Gocong's, 3rd start at SAM. These guys still have plenty of room to grow, and the defense should get better as they get better.

As far as the offense goes, there is no need to be worried here, even though in two of three games the first teamers have done little worth writing home about. The one thing we have seen, is a McNabb who appears to have absolutely no lingering effects from ACL reconstruction surgery. And don't get worried about the running game. The offensive line is one of the best in the league, and Brian Westbrook has pulled an "L.T.," and barely played in preseason.

The Eagles' offense is going to be productive this season. Do not let a slow preseason from them fool you; this unit is one of the best in the league. The concerns are the same as last season, and they are all on defense. The run defense put in a very good performance against Pittsburgh, and most of the negatives from Sunday night are completely fixable problems. Yes, things looked ugly, but as they say, looks aren't everything.

Trotter gets Axed

Today, the Philadelphia Eagles released nine year veteran, Jeremiah Trotter, the Axe-Man. During an emotional press conference, Trotter, along with the organization, announced the move with a sense of remorse. Trotter, in his second stint with the Birds, was a fan favorite. And it seems clear that he had become an organizational favorite; making this decision a tough one for the team. However, Trotter and his creaky knees no longer fit into the Eagles' plans at linebacker.

Ever since returning to the Eagles in 2004, after his two year experiment in Washington failed, Trotter has been a team leader on and off the field. He came back humbled and was willing to start the season as a backup. But by midseason, the Axe-Man was back, starting in the middle of the defense, on his way to his third Pro Bowl. He was the run-stopping anchor on that Super Bowl team, and even though the run defense worsened the following year, that didn't stop him from earing another Pro Bowl trip.

It is clear that the team feels that Trotter can simply no longer provide the range that their middle linebacker needs to, as they make way for younger, quicker, Omar Gaither. Trotter came into training camp after a vigorous offseason where he lost weight in an attempt be become quicker and put less stress on his aging knees. However it wasn't enough to hold off the youth movement in the Eagles' linebacking corps. Trotter's age has simply caught up with him.

Of course, this is not the first time the Eagles' have parted way with a popular veteran. And for the most part, the Eagles have been correct in their unpopular assessments. Trotter himself was a victim of this way of business when he left the team the first time. And after two unsuccessful seasons with the Redskins, he was back in Eagles green - under their terms, not his.

Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent, Hugh Douglas, Duce Staley, Corey Simon, and the list goes on. They were all popular veterans that the fans and media felt were critical parts to the team. We were wrong and the Eagles' front office was right. So it seems fair that the organization has earned the benefit of the doubt in this situation. And seeing how tough it was for them to make this particular move, it shows that they really wanted to keep Trotter on. However, in the best interest of the team, it was just time for Trotter and the Eagles to go their separate ways.

Eagles Pull a 180 on Panthers

The Philadelphia Eagles, coming off of a 29-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in their first preseason game, beat the Carolina Panthers 27-10 Friday night. It was a complete turnaround in all phases of the game. But just like against Baltimore, when it feelings of panic had to be tempered, the fact that it is preseason can not be forgotten. It also should be noted that quality of competition differed quite a bit from the first game to Friday night. But, never the less, the Eagles team that showed up Friday looked very good, and more importantly, restored the hope of a Super Bowl caliber season.
The biggest difference was obviously the addition of Donovan McNabb back into the starting lineup. It has been mentioned a number on times on this blog that this writer has complete confidence in McNabb, his ability to overcome this injury, and his potential for an MVP-type season. And Friday night, McNabb showed everyone else those same things. One by one, questions were answered. Will the offense be conservative with him in their until he gets his feet underneath him? The answer was an emphatic no. He opened the Eagles' first drive with a 27 yard strike to who else but newcomer, Kevin Curtis. McNabb has made it a habit the last dew seasons to gel early and often with his newest toys on offense. He then completed a 16 yard pass to Jason Avant. Overall, in about one quarter of play, Number Five completed 6 of 9 passes for 128 yards. In addition to those first two passes, he also threw a NFL films-style perfect pass to tight end Matt Schoebl for 58 yards. All of that was great, but how would his newly constructed knee hold up when a live rush forces him out of the pocket? That was answered the first time his protection broke down. McNabb scrambled right and threw a pass on the run. Granted, the pass was low and incomplete, but McNabb showed everyone he can still preform his Houdini act if needed. The final question: How would he handle the eventual sack? The answer: just fine. McNabb succumbed to the pass rush towards the end of his playing time, and arose unscathed. McNabb essentially showed on Friday night that his biggest obstacle won't be overcoming the injury itself, but the 9 months of rust that the injury caused.
The offense wasn't the only unit that needed to improve. And they weren't the only unit that did improve. The defense, victims of an all too familiar opening drive touchdown in Baltimore, forced Carolina into two straight three and outs to start the game. And McNabb wasn't the only starter to make an emphatic return to the lineup. Lito Sheppard made his presence felt by returning a Jake Delhomme interception 40 yards for a touchdown. Now whether that was Lito returning to Pro Bowl form, or Jake Delhomme proving that his Super Bowl season was indeed the aberration (and not the last couple seasons like everyone in the Panther's organization will tell you) remains to be seen. But it's hard to not be encouraged by what the defense did, especially in response to their opening game performance.
In the case of McNabb, only one more hurdle needs to be passed: How will his knee hold up in the days following action? Especially when he starts the season and puts it through a full game's worth of punishment. It will likely swell up initially. But if it gets severe, or is causing McNabb to miss practice time when the season rolls around, that might pose a problem. But other than that, it looks like the question mark can be removed from the Eagles' most important position (and it probably shouldn't have been there from the beginning). The Eagles' offense will be fine this season. In fact, they will be much better than fine. If there are real concerns on this team, they are on the defensive side of the ball. Improvements have been made this offseason, and through two preseason games, the results have been mixed. With a number of young and new players, it is understandable to expect the defense to be a bit of a work in progress. The next preseason game is usually used as the dress rehearshal for the regular season. And the opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, should be a good test. So, we should have a better idea of what the Eagles actually are after next Sunday. But it's important to remember that we have a real idea of what the 2007 Eagles are until about October (if not later).

No Time to get Raven Mad

There were two ways to start this post, depending on how the Eagles did in their first preseason game: "I know it's just preseason, but...." and "Thank God it's just preseason." A 29-3 loss later, and both of those statements can apply. It's always important to not put too much stock in a preseason performance, but on the other hand, the games may be a sign of things to come; both good and bad. In this case, fans hope it is not a sign of things to come, because those "things" would definitely be of the "bad" variety.
As they say, "I've got good news and I've got bad news." Let's start with the bad news. The Eagles defense looked shockingly similar to the much-maligned unit of last season; particularly in a few specific areas. Areas that were supposed to be strengthened. The Eagles were still unable to get consistent pressure on the quarterback. To be successful this year, they will have to get pressure on the quarterback without blitzing. They certainly didn't show an ability to do that last night. The Eagles again gave up a long sustaining drive that netted points to start the game. And a big reason for that is another one of the problems that plagued them last year: They are unable to get off the field on third down. Baltimore's first drive last night with the first team offense against the first team defense: 12 plays, 93 yards, and a touchdown with 3 third down conversions of 6 yards or more; including the touchdown pass. It's pretty simple for the Bird's defense this season: make teams punt and give the ball back to your offense.
There was only one glaring concern on the offensive side of the ball: the offensive line. The unit that is supposed to be the main strength of the team seemed lost against the Raven's. There were no running lanes for the backs and the quarterbacks were consistently on the run; if they were even standing. Poor QB, Kevin Kolb, in his first NFL action ever, was slammed on his first two snaps (one of them being roughing the passer, and the other being a 16 yard loss).
Those are the negatives. And before anyone goes jumping off the Ben Franklin Bridge, here are the positives. First, take a look at who was not in the game: Donovan McNabb, LJ Smith, Shawn Andrews, Brian Dawkins, and Lito Sheppard to name the big guys. Those are all key guys, and both sides of the ball are going to struggle without those guys, even for a couple series. And while the defense had it's struggles, they did seem to tackle better. Chris Gocong, a big question mark going into the season, looked much more solid against the run than Dhani Jones last season. Takeo Spikes looks healthy, and that's all you can ask for from a veteran like him in preseason. Offensively, Brian Westbrook is still making people look silly when he gets in open space, and Jeremy Bloom looks like he can really add something to the return game.
Obviously, in a 29-3 loss, the negatives are going to outnumber the positives. But this statement can not be uttered to one self enough in preseason, for bad as well as good performances: "It is only preseason." The Eagles do not game plan teams in preseason. So, it's a little understandable when a team that blitzes in waves like the Ravens, a young offensive line is going to have trouble picking them up. And Jim Johnson is not going to dial up all his creative defensive schemes in the preseason either. So, it really is impossible to get a full team diagnosis in the preseason, especially after one game. Just look at last year: The Oakland Raiders went 4-1 in route to a league worst 2-14 regular season record. And what did those eventual Super Bowl Champions do in the preseason? 1-3. Go figure.

Birds take flight, part II

Today was the first full day of padded practice at Eagles' training camp up in Lehigh Valley. No more practicing in shorts. Hitting is upon us. And what better timing to continue my Eagles preview with those heavy hitters on the defensive side of the ball. The Eagles' defense is the key to this whole season. As described yesterday, the offense has an impressive array of weapons and a coaching staff that has turned the Birds into one of the top offensives in the league. The Eagles will score their points this year. But as steady as the offense's rise has been over the years, the same can be argued about the fall of the defense. The Eagles have always been known for their punishing defense. And defense has been the backbone of every deep playoff run during Andy Reid's tenure; except last year (if you call that a deep run). Last year, the Eagles got it done mostly by outscoring teams. The defense played better down the stretch, but they certainly need to play better if they hope to achieve their goal this year: winning a Super Bowl.
It all starts on the defensive line. A good defensive line can cover a lot of deficiencies in the linebacking corps and the secondary. And on the flip side, a poor defensive line can even make pro bowl caliber players look like they don't deserve starting. This year's defensive line unit has the capability to do both, and which way they go will have a huge impact on the outcome of the season. Last year they were closer to the second type of defensive line mentioned; they didn't do their part in stopping the run by keep interior lineman off of the linebackers, and they couldn't rush the passer on passing situations. They weren't as bad as the previous year, but they vastly underperformed expectations.
There is new hope this year that this unit can perform up to last preseason's expectations, and beyond. A big reason for that renewed hope is the return of the Freak, Jevon Kearse. Kearse got off to a great start last year, picking up 3 1/2 sacks in the season's first two games, before going down with a season ending knee injury. Shortly after his loss, the whole defensive line fell apart. If the defense is a skyscraper, and the defensive line is the foundation, then Kearse is the bedrock below. At age 30, that's how important he is. Almost as important is Broderick Bunkley. That's right, last year's 6'-2", 306 lb. first round draft pick, who could barely get on the field. With a full year of learning under his huge belt, Bunkley is in position to become the centerpiece of the D-line. If they are to make a turn-around at stopping the run, then Bunkley will need to be what the front office projected him to be. And there really is no reason why he can't be that guy; he has all the tools to be a dominant defensive tackle in this league. I expect (or maybe it's hope) that Bunkley will be the big body in the middle that shuts down opposing run games this season.
The thing that makes Jim Johnson's defensive scheme so good is his defensive line rotation. We got a glimpse of it last year to start the season. It was almost like hockey where they had two complete defensive line units. And after any play Johnson could call for a line change. It worked great, that is until Kearse went down, and the lines had to be shuffled and eventually scrapped. Going into camp, the Eagles are in even better shape to bring back that strategy. Aside from Kearse and Bunkley, they have a number of talented guys who aren't unnecessarily guys that will carry a defense. Juqua Thomas, Trent Cole, Darren Howard, and rookie Victor Abiamiri will all split time at the end posistion. And Thomas and Cole specifically showed a great ability to get to the passer when they went keyed on in a offensive blocking scheme. And with a healthy Kearse, that won't be possible. At tackle, Mike Patterson, Ian Scott, Montae Reagor, Jeremy Clark, and LaJaun Ramsey will all rotate with Bunkley. It'll be interesting to see who performs best out of all these guys heading into the season, because they can't keep all of them. Regardless, I have renewed faith, and hope, that this defensive line will terrorize offenses all season.
The next line of defense, the linebackers, have been criticized for years; and rightfully so. They simply haven't had much talent there outside of Jeremiah Trotter since Carlos Emmons left. But that comes down to an organizational philosophy. The Eagles just have never valued LBs that much. To them, the key to a successful defense is the defensive line and the secondary (and a great offense). And until this offseason, it showed. Going into training camp, there is a new confidence about this LB unit because they have been greatly upgraded. The biggest upgrade being Takeo Spikes. Spikes was brought over in a trade with Buffalo, and he will become an immediate starter. But it's not just Spikes who is an improvement. Gone is banjo playing, bowtie wearing Dhani Jones, and in comes a couple young guys that this organization really loves. Chris Gocong probably would have been starting strong side linebacker last season, his rookie season, had he not suffered head and neck injuries before the season started. Now after soaking up information for a year, he is penciled in as a starter. I say penciled because there is a lot of competition. Right now rookie Stewart Bradley is third on the depth chart behind Tank Daniels. But there are many who feel that Bradley could become the strong side starter by the midway point of the season. Spikes is pretty the man at weak side, but don't forget about Matt McCoy, who was the starter their last season. He struggled mightily (partly because of a shoulder injury he was nursing) and was eventually replaced by Omar Gaither, but the organization is still high on him He could be valuable in passing situations. Gaither's natural posistion is middle linebacker, which everyone, who knows anything about the Eagles, knows is occupied by Trotter. However, this posisiton is not free from competition either. Trotter took a lot of heat about being too heavy, too slow, and generally to old. And instead of getting defensive (no pun intended), he hit the weight room and lost nine pounds off his frame. He is more solid, quicker, and most importantly, he's got less weight bearing down on those knees of his. It probably won't be this year, but Gaither looks to be lined up as the Axe Man's eventual replacement. Overall, this should be the linebacking corps should be the most active unit in training camp, as far as competition goes. And no matter who wins, the Eagles will be taking a much improved, deeper LB squad into the season.
That brings us to the last line of defense, the secondary. The Eagles lost nickleback Rod Hood this offseason to free agency. They knew it was going to happen, but they were not going to pay him the starter's money he wanted, and quite frankly deserved. And they shouldn't have. He was a good player, but it was time for him to move on and try to become a starter. That leaves the Eagles with the incumbent starters in Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard. And add in William James, who feels he is starters material and you basically aren't going to miss a beat without Rod Hood. While none of these guys can be considered "shut-down" corners (that term is used way too loosely anyway), they can definitely hold their own against the best in the league; especially if the D-line can prevent the QB from having a cup of teas before he throws the ball Sheppard is a former Pro Bowler and Brown should have been. However the real story of this defense is at safety. Yes, Sean Considine didn't show much ability to stop the run last season after replacing the soon to be departing free agent Michael Lewis, but his coverage skills are not bad at all. And behind him is Quintin Mikell, who while a good special teams player and leader, isn't much of a replacement at safety. So let's hope the guy next to Considine can pick up the slack. Again. You may know him as Brian Dawkins. But I simply refer to him as beast. As a good friend of mine likes to say, "Three quarters of the world is covered by water....the rest is covered by Brian Dawkins." This guy is the heart and soul of this defense, and maybe the whole team, and maybe even the whole city during the fall. There is nothing he hasn't done, and there's less that he can't do. He took last season's defensive performance personally, and already he's giving speeches to his defense that it wasn't good enough. In his words, "we let the offense down last year." Harsh, but correct. And I expect Dawkins to have a historical year for safeties. He will put this entire defense on his back, if he has to, in order to win a Super Bowl. But if all goes to plan, he won't have to.

Birds take flight

Unless the Phillies make the playoffs, it's the Eagle's time to own the sports landscape in Philadelphia. And they give it back until January (hopefully February). Training camp is here, and we are seeing the whole roster on the field for the first time since last January inside the Superdome. The Eagles made a lot of changes over the offseason, but perhaps the biggest change this year is there is no drama to start 2007. All the rookies are signed and at camp, and no veterans are holding out or missing time due to injury. No one with a two letter nickname is bashing his QB and anyone else he can. And we all saw how missing time in training camp can be detrimental to a rookie; i.e. Broderick Bunkley. It is rare in the NFL these days, but everyone is present and accounted for.
The big story in training camp, and with good reason, is the health of Donovan McNabb. McNabb surprised many by returning earlier than expected and participating in mini camps. And barring any setbacks, McNabb will be a full participant in camp. I've said it a number of times, but it's worth mentioning again: McNabb will be fine, health wise, assuming it doesn't get re-injured. But it shouldn't. I don't understand when it become the norm to anticipate injury and no injuries would be a pleasant surprise. It seems like no one believes that McNabb can make it through the season anymore. Apparently he has a history of injury. Ok. But he also has a history of proving people wrong. Expect a big season from McNabb.
From McNabb to Brian Westbrook, we go from most important offensive player to number 1A. Just one year ago, Westbrook was in McNabb's situation of having many critics saying he couldn't make it through a season. Now, all of the sudden, he finished a season, and his durability isn't even a remote concern anymore. Westbrook can simply due it all. McNabb may be what stirs the drink, by Westbrook is the main ingredient. Expect a big season from Westbrook.
Staying in the backfield, things start to get interesting. The main players here are Correll Buckhalter, who overcame three major knee injuries in four years to be a nice contributor behind Westbrook last season; and Tony Hunt, the big bruising third round pick out of Penn State. Fans have been screaming for a "big" back for years; almost as much as a "go to" wide receiver. I have not been one of them. I personally liked the mixture of small, quick backs who can come out of the backfield and hurt you in the passing game as well. Plus I didn't see the need; Andy Reid never stayed true to his promise to run the ball more. So why go out and get a guy who is going to get two carries a game? However, with the drafting of Hunt, the Eagles are sending a loud and clear message that they plan on balancing the offense a little more. And Hunt could be the perfect guy for them too. He isn't gonna break any long runs, but that's not what they need or want from him. What he is going to do is give those third and three runs for first downs; allow the Eagles to run down the clock late in games; and he can also catch the ball out of the backfield, which is a must for any running back in this system. I expect Hunt to get those short yardage carries and late game/run down the clock carries, and Buckhalter to get everything else that Westbrook doesn't; which won't, and shouldn't, be much.
The wide receivers, like usual, are underrated. Reggie Brown is quickly becoming a very reliable target for whoever is throwing to him. He will never put up the huge numbers you see from big time receivers around the league because that's not the nature of this offense, but he is a true number one guy. And he is entering his third year; a year that is famous for break out seasons from young wideouts. Much has been made of losing Dante Stallworth, but in my opinion Kevin Curtis should be an upgrade. Yes, Stallworth provided an explosiveness to this offense, but he was far too inconsistent (mostly because of injury); a trait that led to his trade out of New Orleans. Curtis has good speed (maybe not as good straight away speed as Stallworth) and good hands. And he is talented over the middle, and has never had the injury problems that Stallworth has had. And behind Curtis on the depth chart is a number of highly serviceable guys in Hank Baskett, Greg Lewis, Jason Avant, and even Jeremy Bloom, who is expected to big things on specials teams. The WR corps will be just fine this season.
At tight end, LJ Smith is the man. And he is in a contract year, so I expect a lot from him. He never gets mentioned with the greats in the game like Tony Gonzalez, Todd Heap, and Antonio Gates because he is not the complete package; he is not a very good blocker. However, in this system, LJ is called upon to make plays in the passing game, and that is what he does. Matt Schobel is a guy who blocks better, but can also provide in the passing game. This is basically a two man show, but it will be interesting to see if Lee Vickers, Brent Celek, and Kyle Hunt can make any noise at training camp.
McNabb and Westbrook are obviously the key individuals on the offensive side of the ball. But the real key is the offensive line. This five man unit has the least amount of question marks going into training camp and the regular season. In fact, I can't think of any. And that is a very good thing. These guys all played all of the games last year, and in the process, became arguably the best unit in the NFL. The opened up huge holes for Westbrook and kept Jeff Garcia alive down the stretch. There, really, nothing short of fantastic. Bringing the same unit into a second straight season, should bring more of the same. Expect a big season from this line.
The Eagles offense is in great shape to repeat, if not exceed, last year's squad's performance. Of course the wildcard is health. Can the key players stay healthy. If they can, watch out; you're looking at an offense that beat team by itself. One last key to this offense lies with the play calling, whoever will have that responsibilty. Offensive coordinator, Marty Mornhinweg, finished the season calling the plays, and the offense ran much smoother while he did so. The better balance sustained more drives and, in turn, kept the defense off the field more. No matter who calls the plays this season, if Andy Reid can see that this balance on offense really worked, and incorporates that same strategy this season, the Eagles should cruise through most games.
More tomorrow on the defensive side of the ball.

Philadelphia Eagles: A early team review

When did the City of Brotherly Love's football team stop receiving love from the national media? Granted, Philadelphia has never received all the respect that they deserved. But the last few years, culminating in a Super Bowl appearance, the Eagles have been receiving pretty high praise from your ESPN's and Sports Illustrated's. And now, all of the sudden, The Eagles are a passing thought to national NFL people. And I can't figure out why.
The Eagles had one bad season in 2005. And without getting into why that season turned out the way it did, that season effectively dropped the Eagles from the clique of top teams in the league in the eyes of the national media. And winning the division again last year, having the #2 offense in the NFL while doing it, seems to have done little to move the Birds up in stature. The apprehension involved with considering the Eagles an elite team seems to center around Donovan McNabb (what else is new, right?).
But why? Yes, I understand that he has had injury problems the past few years, missing the second half of the season in both. But his propensity to get injured seems to be exaggerated. In fact, it seems to be a new trend label a guy injury prone after one injury and to take off the injury prone label after one season without getting injured. Look at Westbrook. This guy couldn't shake the injury prone label before last year, even here in Philly. You could mention how Tiki Barber, a similar sized back, doesn't get injured. But it wouldn't ease the calls for an "every down back." Now that Westbrook has gotten through a season, he is no longer viewed as injury prone and those Tiki Barber comparisons suddenly become valid. I'm definitely a fan of Westbrook's, but I still hold my breath every time he touches the ball. As far as McNabb goes, his injuries have always been of the "freak nature." A broken ankle, sports hernia, and torn ACL are injuries that a player can't control. And it's not fair to call a guy an injury risk when he's also had five full seasons in addition to the three injury shortened seasons.
Injuries, aside, McNabb has clearly been one of the top 3 QBs in the NFL when healthy the last few years. Not even Peyton Manning has matched his numbers to start the last 3 seasons. Assuming McNabb doesn't rush back from this injury, there really isn't any reason to think he can't repeat those performances. And after watching how Carson Palmer came back from an arguably worse knee injury, I think it's fair to favor optimism over pessimism.
A healthy McNabb is not the only reason to be optimistic though. The Eagles are returning the same great offense they had last season, minus one player: Donte Stallworth. While Stallworth was a good player, Reggie Brown is entering his 3rd season (the year when most young wideouts breakout), and is ready become a real threat on the outside. The Eagles also brought in Kevin Curtis, who if you saw him play in St. Louis, can do everything Stallworth did. He can also play inside better than Stallworth, and he will probably miss less time due to nagging injuries.
All that said, the real exciting aspect going into this season, in regards to the offense, is the prospect of a more balanced attack. The final 2 months of last season, Andy Reid handed off the playcalling to Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. Mornhinweg, in turn, let Westbrook run more behind that huge offensive line. As a result, Westbrook had his best season in the NFL and the Offensive line was widely considered the best unit in the NFL.
The defensive side of the ball has the most question marks. It really struggled against the run last year and had trouble defending the big play; which is not a good combination. However, they got better later in the season when they replaced Michael Lewis with Sean Considine at saftey, and replacing Matt McCoy with Omar Gaither at linebacker. And during the offseason, the Eagles made their most important moves on defense. Most visibly, they added LB Takeo Spikes; a pro bowl caliber player who is coming off injury. Takeo is a huge upgrade at a position that sorely needed an upgrade. Add in a number of younger players at the position, and the linebacking corps should be much improved. Less flashy, but just as significant, the Eagles added a number of defensive tackles including Monte Reagor, who should add some pass rushing ability up the middle, and Ian Scott, who should add some size and run-stopping ability. Both the attributes were painfully missing last season.
The two biggest additions on defense were actually already on the team last year. Jevon Kearse, coming off injury, and Broderick Bunkley, coming off a virtually non-existent rookie season. Jevon Kearse got off to a great start before injuring his knee week 2 against the Giants. A healthy Jevon will once again provide a legitimate pass rushing threat on the end. That leads us to Bunkley. It may be a little extreme, but I think the success or failures of this defense next season lie on Bunkley's broad shoulders. Bunkley, a first round pick before last season, had trouble getting on the field his rookie year. However, if he can make the jump to productive starter in his second year, the whole defense becomes better. A big, skilled, player like him in the middle of the line can single-handedly improve the run defense. Players like Trotter at middle linebacker will be much more effective without offensive lineman blowing right by the defensive tackles and getting in his face. If Bunkley can not step up, either this year or next, the Eagles will have wasted another first round pick. And that can only happen so many times without causing some long term problems within the organization.
All that said, the Eagles have a relatively few number of question marks for this time of the season, especially on offense. The rest of the country really wants to put a question mark on the QB position, but there really isn't that much evidence to support that. McNabb will once again be called upon to prove people wrong. Since he's being doing it his whole career, that shouldn't be a problem. And if Takeo Spikes can stablize the linebacking corps, Bunkley and Kearse can provide a jump to the defensive line, and Brian Dawkins can continue to be a force at safety, the defense will be fine as well. And if the offense continues its balanced attack, they will be on the field longer, consequently making the defense even more effective. Combine that with a weak division and conference, I see no reason why the Eagles can't make a return trip to the Super Bowl (where they would probably lose to a superior AFC team).