Going into the season, Eagles head coach Andy Reid thought he had one of the most talented teams in his nine years in Philadelphia, even with distractions arising. First, there was the health of QB Donovan McNabb, who was coming back from ACL surgery and facing the prospect of being backed up by his future replacement, rookie Kevin Kolb. Reid also had to deal with family problems away from the field. But in the end, the reason the Eagles finished 8-8 and in last place in the NFC East was that the team didn’t make enough big plays. It was anemic in the red zone, ranked last in defensive takeaways and didn’t have a return touchdown by punt, kickoff, fumble or interception all season.
Team MVP: RB Brian Westbrook was the team’s best player, taking that title from McNabb with an even better season than his breakout effort in 2006. Westbrook has silenced critics who said he was not durable enough to be a full-time back and established himself as one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. He was the team’s best runner, receiver and even returner, though the team resisted giving him that duty full time.
Biggest surprise: The LB play was something of a concern entering the season, but it became a team strength by year’s end. The nicest surprise was that it was the young guys who played the best. Omar Gaither played well enough to more than justify the release of Jeremiah Trotter in training camp. But the real star of the group might be Chris Gocong, who bounced back well from a neck injury. The college D-lineman played the “Sam” spot as if he had been doing it his whole life. Stewart Bradley’s strong effort at season’s end caught some eyes, too.
Biggest disappointment: The secondary was a sore spot for most of the season. CB Lito Sheppard logged a lot of time in the trainer’s room and wasn’t always the shutdown corner he had been in the past. Fellow CB Sheldon Brown has a spot on the team, but he often gets burned and simply isn’t athletic enough. And FS Brian Dawkins, the mainstay and leader of the group, missed six games due to injury and took a big step back in his play. With the depth thin, the team needs to add multiple defensive backs.
Offseason outlook: TE L.J. Smith is expected to land elsewhere as a free agent, so tight end is a position of concern. But finding help in the secondary and getting a return specialist are more pressing needs. The Eagles aren’t flush with cap space, but they have enough to make a few key moves. Plus, there is talk that some high-priced veterans not named McNabb — Darren Howard, Jevon Kearse, Takeo Spikes and others — could be let go to free up more money. As for McNabb and his plea to add more playmakers, well, it’s on the list but not necessarily at the top.
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