Realistic Look At Eagles Season

With Training Camp right around the corner in ten days time (from the moment I type this on the 11th of July) and just about every preposterous season preview book throwing around predictions and playing favorites as they always do, I figured that yours truly would take this opportunity to look at the season schedule for the Eagles and offer his two cent piece on what record we are capable of coming up with. Now, keep in mind of course that this is going to be assuming that, if the team does suffer injuries, that they will be minor ones or the transition between the starter and backup is as seamless as possible.

First, the schedule for the Eagles’ 2008 season:
Week 1 - St. Louis Rams (9/7/08)
Week 2 - @ Dallas Cowboys (9/15/08)**
Week 3 - Pittsburgh Steelers (9/21/08)
Week 4 - @ Chicago Bears (9/28/08)*
Week 5 - Washington Redskins (10/5/08)
Week 6 - @ San Francisco 49ers (10/12/08)
Week 7 - Bye Week
Week 8 - Atlanta Falcons (10/26/08)
Week 9 - @ Seattle Seahawks (11/2/08)
Week 10 - New York Giants (11/9/08)*
Week 11 - @ Cincinnati Bengals (11/16/08)+
Week 12 - @ Baltimore Ravens (11/23/08)+
Week 13 - Arizona Cardinals (11/27/08)***
Week 14 - @ New York Giants (12/7/08)+
Week 15 - Cleveland Browns (12/15/08)**
Week 16 - @ Washington Redskins (12/21/08)+
Week 17 - Dallas Cowboys (12/28/08)+

*Denotes Sunday Night game at 8:15 PM on NBC
**Denotes Monday Night game at 8:30 PM on ESPN
***Denotes Thursday Night game at 8:00 PM on NFL Network
+Game subject to being moved to SNF or 4:00 PM slot from a 1:00 PM slot

My take on the schedule is as follows:
Week 1 - St. Louis: A good early test to see how well our secondary has come along since the injured players have returned and we will see Asante Samuel in his first game as an Eagle: the offense can really help its self against a weaker defense.
FINAL: Eagles 34 Rams 17 (1-0)

Week 2 - @ Dallas: Last year in Irving, a Brian Westbrook knee sealed the win and a season split with the Boys, but Tony Romo didn’t play as well as he had in other games prior. He should be back in form and Dallas will deal Philly an early season loss to level our heads.
FINAL: Cowboys 20 Eagles 13 (1-1)

Week 3 - Pittsburgh: If the Eagles want this game, Donovan McNabb needs to bring his A-game because it will be essential. The run defense of the Steelers should keep our backs in check, and the defense will be in a long day against the duel running attack of Rashard Mendenhall and Willie Parker and, of course, Big Ben chucking the ball to Hines Ward and company. But consider this: last year, Pittsburgh was 11-5 but only 4-4 on the road, including a very poor overtime loss to a then ONE WIN Jets team: home field cooking will help.
FINAL: Eagles 24 Steelers 20 (2-1)

Week 4 - @ Chicago: Last year, the Bears embarked on a final drive which ended with their previously dormant offense striking and them winning 19-16, but they are hardly half the offense they were as opposed to last year (if you can believe that) and it will really fall on the Bears defense. If we can even chip in 16 points we can win.
FINAL: Eagles 19 Bears 9 (3-1)

Week 5 -Washington: The Skins are now coached by Jim Zorn after Joe Gibbs retired to go back to his racing team. This game kind of worries me because of their win in Philly last year on prime time none the less, but I really think our offense, which sucked in the first two games last year, will be clicking by this point.
FINAL: Eagles 21 Redskins 13 (4-1)

Week 6 - @ San Francisco: We have no idea who their quarterback is, how much more Frank Gore can handle, and just how much better their secondary is going to be, which makes this game a winnable one.
FINAL: Eagles 28 49ers 14 (5-1)

Week 7 - Bye Week: Oh, we can beat that one right?

Week 8 - Atlanta: The Falcons are a team with little to no direction for now, so it is best to jump on them while they still suck I suppose.
FINAL: Eagles 34 Falcons 10 (6-1)

Week 9 - @ Seattle: This is going to be a tough one for us: we couldn’t win at home against them thanks to FOUR AJ Feeley interceptions last year, and playing at Qwest Field isn’t an easy thing for opponents to do.
FINAL: Seahawks 23 Eagles 17 (6-2)

Week 10 - New York: Believe me when I say that we OWE it to ourselves to beat this team at home…anything less is a freaking disgrace.
FINAL: Eagles 20 Giants 17 (7-2)

Week 11 - @ Cincinnati: This is quite an interesting game: will the secondary withstand “Canon” Carson and the chemical receivers they possess? A better question: will they know how to play defense by then?
FINAL: Eagles 35 Bengals 21 (8-2)

Week 12 - @ Baltimore: This will be the first time former special teams coach John Harabaugh will be coaching against the team that brought him into the NFL, so knowing us could give the Ravens an advantage. Of course, in order to maximize that advantage, they will need a quarterback and an offensive line that will actually play first for that to happen.
FINAL: Eagles 17 Ravens 3 (9-2)

Week 13 - Arizona: Our rendition of the third wheel on Thanksgiving Day, we will welcome back Rod Hood to Philadelphia, but the Cardinals won’t be welcomed: after all, it will be a late November game for a team that is used to the Southwest heat, and by this game, Tim Rattay and Tim Hasselback will be splitting the quarterback duties for the Cards probably.
FINAL: Eagles 31 Cardinals 20 (10-2)

Week 14 - @ New York: Due to us having ten days off between games and the fact that sweeping New York doesn’t seem likely, I will give them the win this time, but we will be waiting for them…IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!
FINAL: Giants 16 Eagles 13 (10-3)

Week 15 - Cleveland: This is quite an intriguing match-up: Cleveland, like their interstate rival, is known for their overpowering offense but could use a brush up on their defense. The Eagles win VIA withstanding a barrage of Browns offensive fury and delivering their own and the uppercut KO punch.
FINAL: Eagles 35 Browns 28 (11-3)

Week 16 - @ Washington: Should I be concerned that we are in Washington this time around? No, because since 2000 we are 7-1 in Washington with our only loss coming during that dismissal 2005 season.
FINAL: Eagles 24 Redskins 17 (12-3)

Week 17 - Dallas: Say, you think the division will STILL be on the line between the Blue N’ Silver and the Green N’ Silver by this time? Yeah, me thinks that is a possibility, and I think, using the late December weather in Philly, we can overcome the Boys to earn a season split between us for 2008.
FINAL: Eagles 23 Cowboys 20 (13-3)

Well there is my prediction: 13-3! Now, I DO see two swings games, those being the Steelers and the Browns games which were hard for me to pick, so AT WORST, I see this team going 11-5 but using my calculations, I see 13-3.

Just A Hunch

From SixerFan78:

I was talking with my pop a couple days ago about the Birds, and he really gets the sense that they could be gearing up for a serious run in 2009/10......I told him I was little skeptical, but I decided to do a little research on the idea......I came up with these thoughts:

1. The Eagles have 9 picks next year, including 2 first rounders.......With all the talent in next year's draft, I'd be disappointed if the Eagles didn't walk away with atleast a minimum of 2 immediate starters at positions of need.

2. They will have cap space as always......Question is, will they use it in the right spots during FA?......WR, TE, S, OT, PK, P, and FB all COULD be needs after this year, unless a few players step up this year.

3. Quite a few elite receivers will most certainly be available via the trade market......Chad Johnson, Roy Williams, and Anquan Boldin could all be available since they will be closer to FA.....Those teams will look to move them more next offseason than they did this offseason......With a good amount of early picks and available roster players, I will be really pissed if they don't target a legit #1. (Hell, I'm still pissed they haven't gotten a #1 target this offseason)

4. The age factor of the team's core.......I've said this in another thread, but I'll say it again......This could be the last year for Dawkins, Smith, Runyan, Thomas, and even Akers ......If these guys have solid seasons, and they attempt to resign some of these guys, then I think that will show their intentions for the possibility of making a run in 2009/10.

5. Will McNabb stay and will Sheppard be dealt?.....If Mcnabb shows he is healthy and returns to form this season, this is his team, not Kolb's......If Lito proves he can stay healthy, I'd imagine it will increase his trade value or the possibility of the Eagles trying to keep him.

6. Most young players should be ready to take the next step by then:
-(Andrews and Cole are already probowl players)
-(Bunkley and Patterson should also make it to a few in the near future too)
-(Gaither, Gocong, Herremans, J. Jackson, Curtis, and Brown have all proven to be pretty good players, so it would be nice if they can improve their play a bit more)
-(Bradley, Abiamiri, Justice, Hunt, Jean-Gilles, and Celek all have potential to be good to great starters or backups, but time will tell with them.......All 6 of them could likely wind up being a big part of the Eagles core in 09)
-(Clemons, Mikell, Hanson, Avant, Booker, Parker, and Jordan should all be good to great backups this season, and it shouldn't be surprising to see most of these guys take a significant amount of snaps this season)
-(Laws, Jackson, and Demps could all potentially fight for starting spots as early as this year, but most of the other picks from this year shouldn't contribute too much.......Most of these picks will contribute in 09/10......One name to remember is Jack Ikegwuonu.......If he is 100%, he could possibly claim the nickelback spot next year if Lito is moved.



I haven't written the Eagles off this season because I think they should be a very good team this year......I'm just not sure if I'm ready to call them a Superbowl contender right now, but you never know......After doing a bit of research, I can tell you it opened up my eyes a bit to idea that my dad brought up........There is certainly more question marks this season than there will likely be in 09/10.......With that being said, does anybody agree with the idea about them gearing up for a Superbowl run in 09/10, rather than this year?

Position Breakdown: Linebackers

Linebackers:
Much can be said about the starters of the team and pretty much the depth in general here: all these guys are VERY young still. Yet if history has taught us anything, that really isn’t all that bad: the leader of the unit has to be Omar Gaither, who started six games at WILL in 2006 and all 16 games in 2007 at MIKE linebacker, but looks to go back to WILL full time with the emergence of Stewart Bradley, who had two strong starts at MIKE late last year. Bradley moving to MIKE means that Chris Gocong, the starter at SAM last year after missing his rookie year in 2006 with a stinger, won’t have to worry about him dueling over SAM with him. Akeem Jordan, a rookie free agent out of James Madison, showed some spurts of skill last year late and will figure not only into special teams but also the job at WILL, while the team picked up former Titans and Colts starter and special teams leader Rocky Boiman (oh, how fitting of a first name for him to have in this city!) to compete for the SAM spot with Gocong and lead the special teams unit. The team also has Pago Togafau, who they picked up from camp cuts from Arizona last year, and three rookies in Andy Studebaker, Joe Mays, and Justin Roland as well, compiling nine linebackers for six spots.

What will happen: The trio of Gaither, Bradley, and Gocong are all going to start and will continue to prove their worth as well, but depth is where we need to find the answers: I put Jordan in to backup WILL, Boiman will backup at SAM, and Studebaker will backup at MIKE while the team will keep Mays and Togafau and put them on the squad.

Position Breakdown: Defensive Line

The first part in a series leading up to Training Camp:

Defensive Ends:
Once upon a time, the Eagles had a problem finding someone to tag up on the right end with Jevon Kearse, their big free agent signing back in 2004, but now Kearse is gone back to Nashville. Now the team needs to find someone who can man left end opposite Trent Cole, their pro bowl defensive end coming off a career best 12.5 sacks in 2007, but that shouldn’t be that big of a problem. Juqua Parker, formerly carrying the last name of Thomas, started the final five games of last season but will face competition for his starting spot from free agent end converted from linebacker Chris Clemons and also 2nd year pro Victor Abiamiri, the teams second pick in the second round of the 2007 draft from Notre Dame. Factoring into the equation as he does every year will be Jerome McDougle and also Darren Howard, who has been reported to have slimmed down and is in the best shape of his life, and don’t forget Bryan Smith, the team’s 3rd round pick this year out of McNeese State.

What likely happens: Cole will be locked in at right end as he has been the last two years, but left end is one spot that is going to be the focal point of all training camp: I will go out on the limb and say that Abiamiri gets it IN THEORY because Parker will also see a lot of snaps but Victor will be the 1st down left end: Parker and Clemons will serve as the top backups, while Howard will nudge his way into the 5th spot. As for Jerome, he will get his long awaited release from the team, and Bryan will likely be put on the practice squad.

Defensive Tackles:
Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley can form one of the top tackle duos in the NFL as they progress to their prime: Bunkley had a bad rookie year before taking a sharp 180 turn last year to provide a sense of run stuffing we needed, while Patterson has not been one to shy away from quarterback pressure. The depth however is a spot that has been lacking and is probably a good reason why the team used their first pick in the second round on Trevor Laws out of Notre Dame and former teammate of Victor. He will compete with Montae Reagor, who the team signed last year as a free agent away from Indianapolis, and also Kimo Von Olhoffen, who the team let go after a year contract but decided to bring him back in early June for training camp. Another interesting factor is Dan Klecko, who the team originally signed to fill depth for fullback but then they decided to move him back to his most recent position at tackle (remember, he entered the league with New England a linebacker and went to Indy as a tackle and goal line blocker).

What likely happens: Patterson and Bunkley just aren’t the future of this team, they are also the present: the 1st round picks of 2005 and 2006 are locked in as the starters. Laws, upon the news of his signing and getting into camp, will likely be the first man off the bench and Reagor will be the second man off the bench, while Von Olhoffen will be the 5th spot to alternate games with Reagor. This, of course, leaves Klecko out of the equation, no sooner after he came to the team as a fullback.

Training Camp Battles

It's almost that time of year. Training Camp. Time to watch young players battle it out with veterans and earn spots on the Eagles roster. It will be a tough, grueling couple of weeks. Intense battles will loom as there are 80 players vying for 53 spots. Those not selected to the active roster might have a chance to end up on the Practice Squad.

The biggest three battles in Training Camp IMO are as follows:

Offensive Line, Tight End and Fullback.

Last year the Offensive Line was banged up at different times. Only C Jammal Jackson was healthy enough to play all 16 games. This year health will again be a key.

Starters this year again should be LT William Thomas, LG Shawn Andrews, C Jammal Jackson, RG Todd Herremans and RT Jon Runyan.

That is not etched in stone though. Winston Justice has been taking reps at OG. We drafted Max Jean-Gilles last year as an OG. And this year we added three more OL hoping to make an impact.

Mike Gibson is a 6'3 305 lb OG. He has good blocking techniques and may be able to slide outside to a OT position.

King Dunlap is a 6'8 310 lb OT who has long arms and a mean streak. Think of the second coming of Jon Runyan.

Mike McGlynn is a 6'4 311 lb OG who like Gibson could swing outside and play OT.

These three rookies will battle it out with veterans Nick Cole, Scott Young, and Stefan Rodgers for spots on the roster. It should be an interesting battle to watch.

The next big battle will be the TE position. Currently we have four on the roster. LJ Smith is coming off an injury filled season. He is back healthy and expected to be the number one TE.

Brent Celek was a rooie last year but played like a veteran at times. He received extensive playing time due to Smith's injury. Look for him to emerge as a number two TE this year.

Matt Schobel had an OK season. He was brought in to take some pressure off of LJ Smith but it hasn't really happened. I don't look for him to retain his spot this year.

Kris Wilson was brought in to add size and speed. He spent the last couple years in Kansas City behind All-World TE Tony Gonzalez. Playing behind him for four years should have some positive effect on Wilson. The Eagles like his speed and hands. He could emerge as a dangerous threat as the season progresses.

The last big battle to watch is the Fullback. It is a rarely used position by the Eagles, but an important one when we do use it. Jason Davis should be the starter. But there are concerns about his health. Davis has been injured the past two seasons. But when healthy, he is a quick, sure handed FB.

Luke Lawton was brought in from the Colts to add some competition. Like Davis, Lawton is beginning his third year. But unlike Davis, Lawton has seen the field. His experience could give him an edge.

And finally the rookie Jed Collins. He has everything to gain and nothing to lose. He is a former TE brought in to play FB. With Smith, Celek and Wilson here, there is virtually no chance for him at TE. But at FB he knows how to block and catch. Learning the playbook is another story. But if he can master it, he has as good a chance and Davis and Lawton.

There are other battles in TC that will merit watching, but these three IMO will be the best ones.

Tough Decisions Ahead

Sometime between now and the start of training camp on July 21, Eagles coach Andy Reid is going to have to release eight players who participated in the just-completed organized team activity (OTA).

The demise of NFL Europe robbed the Eagles and the rest of the NFL of the roster exemptions they were allowed to use at the start of training camp. As a result, only 80 of the 88 players who were running around the NovaCare Complex the last two months will be allowed to make the trip to Lehigh University.

Reid and his staff will carefully review the tapes from the minicamps and OTAs before making the cuts in hopes of avoiding a mistake similar to one he made while an assistant with Green Bay.

"The coaches and I were just talking about that on the field today," Reid said after Thursday's final OTA. "The first guy that came to mind was (Arizona Cardinals quarterback and former league MVP) Kurt Warner. We had him in Green Bay (in 1994), and he was afraid to even go in and call the plays in the huddle. And yet, the guy's one of the greatest players to play in this league.

"I was wrong. It happens. You never know, so you give people a shot as long as you can give them a shot. And then you have to make the judgment call. You're not always going to be right, but hopefully you're right more than you're wrong."

The Eagles' cuts this week will mostly be comprised of rookie free agents who were long shots to make the team, anyway.

There are four such players among 11 wide receivers currently on the team and three among the 11 linebackers. One or two rookie free agents usually wind up making the regular-season roster, but it will be difficult this season because of the depth at most positions.

"A couple of us really tried to step it up today and show the coaches something," said Gary Butler, a linebacker from Division II California (Pa.). "I thought I had a real good day, and I can only hope the coaches see some potential. We'll just have to see how things play out."

There could be some surprises on the list. Dan Klecko, who signed as a veteran free agent, now finds himself near the bottom of the depth chart at defensive tackle after getting switched from fullback earlier in the week. Michael Gasperson, a three-year veteran of the Eagles' practice squad, is back at wide receiver after a brief stint at tight end.

Reid and his staff could even decide that some veterans would be better off seeking employment elsewhere. If that's the case, defensive end Jerome McDougle and running back Ryan Moats could be packing their bags soon.

McDougle, the Eagles' first-round draft pick in 2003, is entering the final season of the six-year, $9.5-million contract he signed as a rookie. Most of his first five seasons were a waste, due to a myriad of injuries and a gunshot wound suffered just before he was due to report to training camp in 2005.

The 29-year-old has played in just 33 career games and has three sacks. He missed all of last season with a torn triceps. The addition of veteran free agent Chris Clemons and third-round draft pick Bryan Smith left McDougle as the seventh defensive end behind starters Trent Cole and Juqua Thomas, plus Victor Abiamiri, Clemons, Darren Howard and Smith.

"I don't want to just make the team; I want to make a difference," McDougle said. "I was a first-round pick for a reason. When I'm healthy, I can play with the best of them. The coaches must know that or they would have gotten rid of me a long time ago.

"I feel good right now, and hopefully I can stay that way. If I can, it will be up to me to seize the bull by the horns and take advantage of the opportunity when it comes my way."

Moats, a third-round pick in 2005, also missed all of last season after suffering a broken ankle during the first preseason game.

Moats showed flashes of potential as a rookie, averaging 5.1 yards per carry while rushing for 278 yards. But he rarely left the bench the following season while he struggled to master the playbook and was hampered by fumbles during training camp last summer before he got hurt.

The Eagles traded for Lorenzo Booker during the draft in April to serve as Brian Westbrook's main backup. Correll Buckhalter and Tony Hunt are also vying for roster spots with Moats.

"I stopped worrying about that stuff a long time ago," Moats said. "I know what I can do, and (the coaches) know what I can do. I've proven what I can do when I've been given the opportunity, but I just haven't had a lot of opportunities.

"I don't know when my next chance will come around, but when it does, I'll be ready. Hopefully, I'll still be here, but if not, I guess that's just the way the cookie crumbles."

LINK TO ARTICLE

Eagles Outlook 2008: Defense

Eagles Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson must be in heaven. The Eagles managed to land the top defensive Free Agent in Asante Samuel. Then they went out and added DE Chris Clemons. On top of that they signed ST Ace LB Rocky Boiman. This in addition to an already solid defense.

Looking at the Defensive Line, the Eagles don't really have any holes. Trent Cole and Chris Clemons form a solid pass rushing duo. Victor Abriami, Darren Howard and Juqua Parker (Thomas) form a solid power rushing tandem. Add in oft injured Jerome McDougle and the Eagles have it all at DE.

The Eagles drafted Bryan Smith from little McNeese St. He is a speed rusher like Trent Cole. And like Cole he was small coming out of college. But he will add some weight during the offseason programs the Eagles run. And he will be pushing for a role on the team.

The Defensive Tackle Spot is a little easier to figure out. Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson are the starters with rookie Trevor Laws and Monte Reagor and LaJuan Ramsey adding the depth. Don't count Jeremy Clark out though. He could push Reagor or Ramsey out.

The Linebackers are the youngsters of the defense. The addition of Boiman gives this group it's veteran leader, but aside from him, they are only in the league three years or less.

Last year rookie Stuart Bradley filled in at MIKE. And what a game he had. The determination was made he should get a shot at the starters spot at MIKE. To do that, Omar Gaither would have to slide back out to WILL. Chris Gocong again handles the duties at SAM.

Boiman can play all three spots. Akeem Jordan played well after being called up late and will also get playing time at WILL and ST. Pagu Togafau will see reps at MIKE.

The Eagles have four rookie LB's that will try and earn a spot. One of them, Andy Studebaker, gets the most attention due to his recruiting. He posted a video on YouTube. That got him some attention. And being from a small school doesn't help. But the kid has plenty of heart and will power. So he will make it work.

The secondary is the strength of this team. Already solid, they lacked takeaways last year. They didn't give up to many big plays. They just didn't make too many big ones. Enter Asante Samuel. The former Patriot was the coup of Free Agency. He was immediately penciled in at LCB.

Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown formed a solid CB tandem. With Samuel in place, Brown and Sheppard will rotate playing RCB and Nickelback. Brown will more than likely be playing the slot. This allows him to blitz or cover, both of which he does well. All three will have plenty of playing time. The NFL has evolved into more of a passing game than it was years ago.

Joselio Hanson rounds out the corners. If the Eagles carry five, look for Nick Graham to be with the team again this year. He was a solid Special Teams player. But he will get pushed by two other players the Eagles signed this year, Tanard Davis and Therrian Fontenot.

Brian Dawkins had a rough season last year. His wife gave birth to premature twins. Dawkins missed most of the OTA's and Training Camp to help deal with the birth. This year he is back. And with a vengeance. People claim he has lost a step. That may be true. But he is still one of the top Safeties in the league.

Quinton Mikell and J.R.Reed both played well last year in Dawkins absence. Sean Considine was injured but returns giving the Eagles a solid four man Safety group. Add in rookie Quinton Demps and the Eagles are looking very solid. Demps will get a shot at making the team primarily as a Special Teams player. But a few jarring hits during preseason may get him on the field earlier than expected.

The Eagles went out and did things to make this defense one of the tops we've had here in a while...... on paper. There is no reason they shouldn't rank in the top 10.....no top 5. They have size up front. Speed on the ends. Good cover corners. Everything a good defense needs. Now all they have to do is execute.

Eagles 2008 Outlook: Offense

Well it will soon be a new season. Free Agency has come and gone, as has the draft. Training Camp is right around the corner. And here is what I think is in store for the Eagles on Offense.

QB: Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb, AJ Feeley

McNabb is still the number one QB on this team. He bounced back from his ACL injury in 2006 to have a decent year last year. The last three games of the season he showed why defenses used to fear him. Not only could he throw, but run. I see more of the same this year from McNabb.

Kolb moves up to the number two QB spot. He is being groomed as the heir to McNabb. He has al the physical tools and the mental ones too. All he needs is time to digest the playbook and time to develop a rapport with the WR's.

Feeley moves from number two to number three. He played well in the two games he subbed for McNabb. The only problem was he was throwing more passes that the opposing team caught than his own team. If he isn't cut or traded, he stays at number three.

RB: Westbrook, Booker, Hunt, Buckhalter

I know it doesn't seem reasonable to keep four RB's but for this team it is due to what each one brings.

Westbrook is one of the top all around backs in the league. He can run, catch, block, probably even pass. He is the most important part of our offense.

Booker is the one we wanted last year before the Dolphins drafted him. He is almost a Westbrook clone. He too can do all the things Westbrook can do. Which is the reason the Eagles wanted him so bad.

Buckhalter is one power back. He can get the tough yards, yet break out for the screen. He came back from some serious knee injuries to play well the last two years.

Hunt is the mystery. He's the power back we need to get the tough yards. He can do that. What he couldn't do was pick up the blocking schemes and blitzes. Should he get a handle on that this year he will again make the team easily, and possibly push Buckhalter out the door.

WR: Curtis, Brown, Avant, Baskett, Jackson

This looks like the weak link of the team. But it far from it. It is a solid set of WR's that can get the job done.

Curtis came to the Eagles last year and posted a 1,000 yard season. He can easily duplicate that this year. It would benefit him more to play in the slot, but his speed on the outside makes him dangerous also.

Brown had an off year last year. He started off slowly but came on strong mid season. He could emerge this year as a legitimate number two WR.

Avant is the one I'd like to see more of. He starred at Michigan, known for good WR's. He was injured his rookie year and played sparingly last year. He did post some good numbers for the limited time he played. Once again, like with Baskett, the more time he spends with McNabb developing a bond, the more passes will come his way.

Baskett is the big target we need for the red zone. He's 6'4. He has solid hands. But for whatever reason, he hasn't established himself yet. That should change this year.

Jackson is the speed demon. The second round pick from Cal will be our punt returner. He has excellent hands and speed. He can make defenders miss. Jackson will get a shot at playing this year. Maybe not right away. But by midseason he will find himself on the field.

TE: Smith, Celek, Wilson

A healthy LJ Smith is the key to the red zone offense. He is McNabb's safety blanket. His injury last year couldn't have come at a worse time. He was looking for a big contract, but bring hurt didn't help him. Smith might not be one of the elite TE's in the league, but he is a solid one. Mark him down for 60 catches and a bunch of TD's .

Celek received more playing time than people thought he would. The injury to Smith and Matt Schobel gave Celek an opportunity to play. And he didn't disappoint. He was pretty solid and made some good plays. He will need to work on his blocking a little, but not too much.

Wilson learned the position from playing behind one of the greatest TE's ever in Tony Gonzalez. But he never really got an opportunity to play. He will with the Eagles. They liked what they saw in the kid. He's big and fast with soft hands. He will make an impact here.

OL: Runyan, Herremans, Jackson, Andrews, Thomas, Jean-Gilles, Justice, ??????????

The starters are set IMO for the third year in a row. The problem is who backs them up? Jean-Gilles will push for playing time at OG. Justice will benefit from another season after having a few bad games last year. But they need to move him inside or to RT. The guys we drafted could push out some vets like Stefan Rodgers, Nick Cole and Scott Young. But right now it is any body's guess as to how it will pan out.

This offense will be very explosive. There are so many things Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinwig can do with it. The Eagles have speed and power. They have guys that can punch the ball up the middle or go outside the tackles. There are few holes. Only questions. The main one being can they stay healthy? We shall see.

Booker Learning His Way, Too

He may not be a rookie, but, Lorenzo Booker knows that he too has a lot to learn between now and training camp. That is why the second-year running back has maintained a steady diet of X's and O's since the end of the post-draft mini-camp.

While most rookies spent the last couple weeks back home, Booker remained in Philadelphia, spending much of his time at the NovaCare Complex.

"Come (training) camp I want to be ready," said Booker, who was acquired from Miami in a draft day deal. "You can't play if you're thinking all the time. I should be here learning the offense so that when (training) camp comes its full speed, I'm out there making plays, and then when the regular season comes I might as well have been here last year because I will know it so well.

Known for his mix of speed and elusiveness as well as his pass-catching ability, the 5-foot-10, 191-pound Booker feels that he's a perfect fit for this offense.

Coaches believe Booker, a third-round pick of the Dolphins in the 2007, can step in immediately and complement Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook. Like Westbrook, Booker figures to line up all over the formation and be a threat in both the run game and the pass game.

"The offense and the team is exciting itself, but being able to work with a guy like Brian is priceless. That was one of the things that excited me, just being able to see his style of play and the success that he's had in this offense," Booker said. "You can't help but be excited because that's what you do. You know that you're not coming into a situation hoping they use you right, hoping they understand what your strengths are."

Booker said catching the football is definitely a strength he brings to the Eagles. He said he loves catching it out of the backfield as much as he loves running with it. He had success at both last year in Miami, amassing 125 yards on 28 carries and 237 yards on 28 receptions.

"I'm immune to the way I get the ball, I don't care," Booker said. "I'm dying to go on a straight nine route and jump over a defensive back. That gets my blood boiling just like running threw the middle and picking up five or 10 yards and breaking a few tackles. Just give me a chance to help the team and I'll do what I have to do."

As for pass-blocking? Booker says he can do that too.

"I can pull up tape of me blocking Junior Seau and I blocked fine," he said. "Hell, I'm tough too. I don't care how big I am and I don't care how big the other guy is. Blocking is all a state of mind."

It's worth noting here that Booker bench-pressed 225 pounds 25 times at the NFL combine.

As for the mental aspect of the game, certainly the learning curve isn't as large for Booker as it is for the 10 players that make up Philadelphia's draft class. Booker has a year of experience under his belt -- albeit seven games – and that makes a huge difference. He knows he can perform at the NFL level.

"I can pull up film of me playing against the best of people. Asante (Samuel), I played against him twice last year, and Ray Lewis and guys like that, so as far as having to prove that to myself, I don't have to," said Booker. "Now it's just about proving to myself I can play as well as I know I can, and I'm in the perfect situation to do that now."

Bottom line is this: Booker may be more than the third-down specialist many immediately penciled him in to be.

"I think that the more I prove to them that I can get the job done I think the more action I'll end up seeing," he said. "I'm a fast learner."

LINK

Darft Day Is Here

FINALLY! After an offseason of speculation, the best day of the football offseason is here. The NFL Draft. As of right now the Eagles have 11 picks in seven rounds. Numerous questions need to be asked:

1) Will we trade Lito Sheppard? And if we do, who will it be to and for what?

2) Will we make a play for a BIG WR like Chad Johnson, Anquan Boldin or Roy Williams?

3) Who will the Eagles select with their first pick? An OL or a CB? Maybe a WR?

4) Will the Eagles move up in the first to get a player they covet?

5) How will different trades affect what the Eagles do?

6) Will losing a couple minutes this year hinder the draft process? Instead of looking for the best offer will teams just take a chance on certain players or trades?

7) Will the Eagles draft a Special Teams Returner?

8) Will any other players other than Lito get traded? The past couple years we traded 1-2 role players to move up.

All this will be answered in a few short hours. Draft begins at 3:00. Three hours later than usual. Both ESPN and NFL Network will have coverage.

Eagles Schedule

Six nationally-televised games, including a Thanksgiving night showdown against the Arizona Cardinals, are on the 2008 slate. And how about this for the end of the season - three of the final four games are against the NFC East. The season finale? A showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles will be a team to watch in 2008.

Sept 7 - Eagles vs Rams (Home)
Sept 15 - Eagles vs Cowboys (Away)
Sept 21 - Eagles vs Steelers (Home)
Sept 28 - Eagles vs Bears (Away)
Oct 5 - Eagles vs Redskins (Home)
Oct 12 - Eagles vs 49ers (Away)
Oct 19 - BYE
Oct 26 - Eagles vs Falcons (Home)
Nov 2 - Eagles vs Seahawks (Away)
Nov 9 - Eagles vs Giants (Home)
Nov 16 - Eagles vs Bengals (Away)
Nov 23 - Eagles vs Ravens (Away)
Nov 27 - Eagles vs Cardinals (Home) Thanksgiving Day
Dec 7 - Eagles vs Giants (Away)
Dec 15 - Eagles vs Browns (Home)
Dec 21 - Eagles vs Redskins (Away)
Dec 28 - Eagles vs Cowboys (Home)

Moats Ready To Compete

Running back Ryan Moats remembers the sequence of events quite vividly.

He had a run up the middle for five yards and thought to himself, "Okay, this is a good start."

Moats was called upon to help in pass protection and did just fine. Run routes. The same result.

But on his second carry of the game, the Eagles' preseason opener in Baltimore last August, everything changed for Moats. In the gamebook, it simply says "R. Moats right tackle to PHI 20 for -3 yards (P. Burgess)."

In reality, Moats fractured his ankle fibula when he was dragged down by Ravens rookie linebacker Prescott Burgess. He was placed on Injured Reserve and his season was over. After what he called his best training camp, Moats was forced to start from scratch.

"It's hard, man, you know. It's heartbreaking to do something like that when you're doing so well," said Moats after a recent workout at the NovaCare Complex. "I felt comfortable in the offense. I knew everything and on the field at the time I was doing really well."

The Eagles' third-round pick in 2005 got some playing time late in his rookie year and finished with 278 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns came on electrifying runs of 40 yards or more.

In 2006, it appeared as if Moats would be the perfect complement to Brian Westbrook. Moats could spell Westbrook, but the Eagles would still have a big-play threat that could score on any given play.

It didn't happen.

Moats never reached the end zone. In fact, he barely got the ball. In only eight games, Moats had 24 touches - 22 carries and a pair of kickoff returns. He doesn't know why he fell out of favor, but he admits that the pressure to change everything about his game from the way he carried the ball to his running style had an adverse effect on his play. Now, Moats is comfortable mixing what he's learned in the pros with the improvisational style that earned him WAC player of the year honors when he rushed for 1,774 yards and 18 touchdowns in his final year at Louisiana Tech.

"I think my style from college was very loose and it was all about instinct, just feeling it," said Moats. "When I got here I stopped feeling it because so much stuff was coming at me at one time, and I didn't know what to do. I was a young guy, but now I trust myself as a runner. If I make a mistake, I make a mistake. When you get here you feel like nobody makes mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. Even all the starters make mistakes. Once I realized that you can make a mistake and you'll be alright you can just keep going."

The Eagles piled on the pressure by using their third-round pick in 2007 on Penn State bulldozer Tony Hunt. However, Hunt didn't get on the field much as Correll Buckhalter was a more-than-capable backup to Westbrook.

The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away. The Eagles have a deep and talented corps of running backs, but Buckhalter and Moats are entering their contract year. Hunt has to make strides in his second season. Confident and in fantastic shape, tipping the scales at 210 pounds, Moats has realized that he can't control what decisions are made or how others perform. He can only go out there and compete. And he's ready to do just that.

"I don't know what's going to happen," said Moats. "All I can do is control what I put out. I'm just going to play football. I'm not worrying about who, or if I'm here or wherever. I'm just going to play and let my play do the talking. They drafted Tony Hunt (last year). What can I do about that? I went to training camp and I came to play. It's competition, and you can't be afraid of competition."

LINK TO ARTICLE

Football Aids Reids Family Crisis

Andy Reid walked among his peers this week here at the NFL Annual Meeting offering the kind of self-effacing confidence and concrete pride that have marked his nine seasons as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

It was the first time Reid had been in their midst since his drug-related travails with his sons Garrett and Britt. His peers reached out to him with compassion. He accepted it. He is equipped, he said, for another Eagles draft, another Eagles training camp, another Eagles season. The fact so many here wanted him back meant much to Reid.

But there is a more crucial endorsement that keeps him pressing on in the NFL.

"One thing both Garrett and Britt have been adamant about is telling me to keep coaching," Reid said softly, squinting under the brimming sunshine. "They said, 'Dad, keep doing it. Keep doing it your way. Don’t let things slide because of us.' That gave me a nice kick."

So, he will coach. He will persevere. He will fight. He will pursue that next championship, that next ring that each NFL coach craves.

But for how long?

"When that day comes," said Reid, "when it is time, I will acknowledge it and make that change. I’m fortunate that I get a say in when it is coming. I’m fortunate I get a say in when I decide I’m leaving."

He will take it a play at a time. A game at a time. A season.

He continues to build the Eagles. And bolster his family.

He knows that many people believe he cannot and should not serve both. Not now. Not with healing ongoing. He knows that people are watching him as a father, as a man, as much as they are watching him as a coach. He senses the incessant probing eyes on him.

"We’re all as coaches teachers, whether it is our kids or players," said Reid, who turned 50 on March 19. "I keep in perspective what I am trying to do with both. You get to the point in this kind of situation where you just don’t care about the outside opinions. You get to the point where you have to do the right thing, what your heart tells you to do. It is probably one of the most pure feelings you can have. Everybody has their own problems to deal with regardless of profession. I am no different from anyone –- we all deal with it as best we can."

Reid’s private, family road has been taxing. He and his wife, Tammy, have five children. Garrett, 24, and Britt, 22, were each sentenced last Nov. 1 for up to 23 months in prison on drug and gun-related charges. The court proceedings revealed both had long-term drug-related dependencies.

"Britt has been out for seven weeks," Reid said. "He is working. He is taking classes. It is a day-by-day process. It’s going well. Garrett is still in. We don’t know when he will be released. I have made sure our focus is on each kid in an even way. Each one is different, special. I took that six weeks off last year to spend very important time with them. I was able to go through the rehab process with them. I learned some things. I learned I wasn’t an expert on it.

"We put everything in our communication out on the table. You do that in low points in your life. And when you do that, the door to the heart opens up. When you talk like that, obviously, there are things you learn you did not know. There are a few 'wows' that go on. When you open your heart like that, you get a few 'wows' from them; it’s a two-way street there. Your eyes open. You grow together."

Montgomery County judge Stephen T. O’Neil in a Norristown, Pa., courthouse scolded the Reids as parents during the sentencing. He called their home a "drug emporium" referring to several prescription drugs found in it. He labeled them "a family in crisis."

Reid felt the sting.

"I always thought the judge’s heart was in the right place," Reid said. "I’m not saying I liked what he said and that it didn't hurt that day in court. Had I wished he not said it? Yeah. But it happened. The people closest to us know that is not true. He had a lot of pressure on him. I knew that. I deal with that kind of pressure every day as a coach. It brought even more media attention to it. We’ve worked through it.

"People have stepped to the plate for us in unbelievable ways. The support I heard was from Tom Lasorda to Bill Cosby to my neighbors and beyond. I tried to write back hand-written letters to so many for their support. All of their expressions, their feelings. There were so many, I couldn’t do them all. And Jeffrey (Lurie) was the best. I don’t think I could have done it, survived it, without him."

Lurie, the Eagles owner, hired Reid in 1999. It was a clear-cut choice, Lurie said. Reid was big enough, strong enough, said Lurie, to not be swayed by the intense opinions and critics of "the big-city market and passions" of Philadelphia fans.

Lurie’s affection for his coach is deep.

"He has had a family issue that any one of us could have," Lurie said. "I tried to be the best possible support system for him without being invasive. I root for him. I cannot tell you how much respect I have for him as a family man and as a person. And I would feel that way if I met him and got to know him and he was a truck driver in Nebraska. This is a very hard-working football and family man who is dedicated. He still has a voracious desire to win and succeed in both. The way I see it, we are ready for another run."

Reid led the Eagles to four consecutive NFC Championship Games from 2001 through 2004, has won five division titles and reached Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005 that resulted in a 24-21 loss to New England. He is 96-62 overall as Eagles coach. Of the 73 first-time head coaches hired since 1990, he is one of only six coaches to remain with their original team for eight or more years. Among active coaches, his .608 winning percentage ranks only behind Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy (.637) and New England coach Bill Belichick (.627).

The Eagles have been active this offseason, their chief acquisition being free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel from New England. Quarterback Donovan McNabb seeks a healthy return from an injury-marred, 8-8 Eagles output last season.

Reid bristles and his glare is zealous when he talks about the toll of losing and his hunger for winning. He recognizes that Philadelphia is a "real" city with "real" fans who expect him to balance his family with his job and make the Eagles champions.

"Every year is a new year, a different thing in our game and you can’t rest on things you’ve done in the past," Reid said. "I fight against that. It gets you in trouble.

"I’ve tried to be myself. I’ve tried to be real about everything. I am not trying to hide."

LINK TO STORY

Eagles Sign LB

Here are two reasons to immediately love the Eagles' newest linebacker.

One: While he wasn't named after the movie icon, Rocky Boiman has the perfect name for Philadelphia.

Two: He's got a grudge against Dallas.

The Eagles made their fourth addition of the free agency period when they inked Boiman, a versatile special teams demon, to a one-year contract.

"I think it was a good situation," said Boiman. "First of all, it's a team that is always competitive and in the hunt every year. Winning has always been the most important thing to me. As far as the position at linebacker, there is a lot of youth. I think I can come in and bring some veteran capabilities to that. I think it's going to be a really good fit."

A fourth-round draft pick of the Titans in 2002 out of Notre Dame, the 6-4, 236-pound linebacker has played in 86 career games (19 starts) and nine playoff contests with Indianapolis (2006-07) and Tennessee (2002-05). He has posted 194 tackles, five interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown at Pittsburgh in 2003), 1.5 sacks and 91 special teams tackles.

Last season, Boiman was forced into a starting role at strongside linebacker when Rob Morris suffered a season-ending knee injury. He responded with a career-high 64 tackles, a pair of interceptions and another 15 tackles on special teams.

Another reason to love Boiman: he's got some bling. He was a member of the Colts' run to the Super Bowl in 2006.

Boiman is the most experienced linebacker on the Eagles as he enters his seventh season. Omar Gaither is the second-longest tenured vet at linebacker with three years under his belt. Boiman has played at all three linebacker positions, but is expected to make his greatest impact on special teams. Sounds like a job that would have been perfect for his movie namesake.

"I think at this level, you have to have the desire on special teams," said Boiman. "A lot of times, it's not the prettiest work in the world, but you have to be tough and you have to really have that desire to run down the field and know you're going to get hit and things like that. It's something that has really been big for me. It's been a big part of my career and has kept me in the league for a while. I'm definitely looking forward to doing it here too."

Now playing in what he described as a "physical" NFC East, Boiman will also get the chance to play against the Cowboys twice a year. After he left Tennessee, he signed with Dallas but was the odd man out after they drafted Bobby Carpenter and moved Greg Ellis to linebacker.

A fan of the movie Rocky, Boiman said that he knows the theme song, but don't ask him to sing it. Having the name certainly wasn't lost on him in the days leading up to his visit with Philadelphia.

"I had never even thought about it until a day or so ago, my buddy said something about it," said Boiman. "There's definitely some irony there. It should be a fun thing."

With Boiman in the fold, the Eagles have signed three defensive players in free agency (cornerback Asante Samuel and defensive end Chris Clemons the others) and one offensive player (fullback Dan Klecko).

LINK to ARTICLE

Eagles Draft Busts

The NFL draft is one of the most highly anticipated days of the year for some people. It is the day when teams look to add quality football players to their roster.

I for one am a huge draft fan. I love the excitement around it. The feel of the people in the crowd. The reactions when players are picked. The good picks, the bad picks. I love it all.

One thing I don't like are the "busts". Just what is a bust? No one will say for sure, but my personal definition of a bust is simple. Someone who showed plenty of potential in college, was a high draft pick, and never materialized. Most people think bust and think of Ryan Leaf right away. He was the great college QB who was the second overall pick in the draft in 1998. He never really got off the ground though.

As for the Eagles, we have had our share of draft busts.

Starting way back in 1936. Jay Berwager. He was our first ever draft pick. He never signed a contract and never played a down for the Eagles.

Kevin Allen. The 1985 pick looked good at the time. A monster at OT. But was a terrible pass protector and run blocker. Former Eagles coach Buddy Ryan once described him as a good player to have, "if you want someone to stand around and kill the grass."

In 1993 we actually had two busts. Leonard Renfro and Lester Holmes. Holmes, the OG actually did play in 46 games, but wasn't a very productive player. Renfro was even worse at DT.

1994 was much of the same with Bernard Williams. He played two seasons but never really did anything worth mentioning.

1997 yielded John Harris. The big 300 lb DE was supposed to be a force. Instead he was a farce with only 2 sacks in two seasons.

2001 had the "Mouth". "The Peoples Champ" "Fred -Ex." Yes Freddie Mitchell had some OK catches. 4th and 26 sticks out most. But overall he never lived up to his potential. He was known for his mouth than anything else.

People claim 1995's draft pick, Mike Mamula was a bust. I strongly disagree. He wasn't a bad player. He was a player who shouldn't have been drafted that high in the first place. A great combine showing made his stock rise dramatically. The Eagles traded up to get the DE from Boston College. IMO he should have been playing LB. He was too small to play DE against big 300 lb OT's. He had decent speed for his size. But he only recorded 31.5 sacks in 5 seasons.

So there you have it. Some of the busts the Eagles have had. I'm sure I'm overlooking other ones. Other teams I'm sure have had the same experiences at one time or another. My only hope is the Eagles have more luck in this year and future drafts.

Search For WR Continues

It's no secret the the Philadelphia Eagles want to upgrade their WR's by adding an impact one. The last time we had one was in 2004 when they went to the Super Bowl. Why we can't develop our own is beyond me. We need to look elsewhere to get one.

Randy Moss was offered a contract. He turned it down to stay with the Patriots.
Larry Fitzgerald signed a contract extension with the Cardinals.
Javon Walker went to Oakland. Donte Stallworth to Cleveland.
Tory Holt, Marques Colston and Roy Williams are all said to be off the market.
Chad Johnson may make enough noise to have the Bengals want to trade him.

But other than that who is available. Rumors have Anquan Boldin on the list of potentials here in Philly. Lee Evans would also be a nice addition, as would Andre Johnson. But a deal may not be done.

The Eagles can offer Lito Sheppard and Reggie Brown as trade bait. They also have 8 picks in the draft not counting the Comp picks they will receive. It should be enough to get a deal done somehow. But how much will it take. I don;t see the Eagles giving up a first round pick and Lito Sheppard. When Sheppard is 100% healthy, he is one of the top CB's in the league. And our first round pick is #19. A solid player will be had for sure.

As for the draft, the Eagles can either trade up or down to get who they want. Among the top WR's are Limas Sweed, Malcolm Kelly, Mario Manningham, Devin Thomas and James Hardy. Any of these players would be a quality player, but rookies rarely start right off the bat for the Eagles. They would be gradually worked in. So the question is do the Eagles pull the trigger on a deal and get a WR like Williams or Boldin? Or will they go through the draft and hope they pick the next Fred Barnett and not Freddie Mitchell?

Wait in another month and see.

Eagles Sign CB Asante Samuel

The Eagles landed the top CB and possibly player in Free Agency with the signing of Asante Samuel. The 6 year deal will keep him in Philly until 2014. He is a play making corner who does well in both zone and man coverage.

The move also signals that the Eagles are going all out in Free Agency. The Eagles made contact with Samuel first and convinced him to visit Philly. Once here the deal was said to be in place in a short matter of time. A Press Conference was held at 5:15 announcing the signing. When I first heard bout the Press Conference my immediate thought was "We Got Him". Why else would they call a press conference over a player visiting?

Samuel played the last couple season with the Patriots. He has 16 interceptions over the past two seasons. He returned one of those INT's for a TD against the Eagles this season.

The move may also signal the end of Lito Sheppard. Rumors have it that the Eagles are shopping Lito around now. Again they are only RUMORS. Until I see an official trade I won't believe it.

Having Samuel, Brown and Lito as our corners makes the Eagles one of the top secondaries in the league easily. Adding a healthy Dawkins and the youngsters Hanson, Reed and Mikell, well it's pretty solid.

Eagles and FA

This morning at 12:01 am Fre Agency began. It is a time for teams to sign other players to strengthen their team. The Eagles haven't done much in Free Agency the past few years. In 2004 they signed DE Javon Kearse and WR Terrell Owens. 2005 brought in DE Darrin Howard. Nothing major in 2006. 2007 saw WR Kevin Curtis. What will 2008 bring?

CB Assante Samuel is the most coveted player in FA. A great corner in both man and zone coverage. He will be asking for some big money. The Eagles have it to spend after releasing Kearse. It saves them $6 million or so. Adding Samuel would signal that the Front Office has heard the pleas of the fans and players about adding playmakers. Samuel is rumored to be visiting Philly this morning. PLEASE DON'T LET HIM LEAVE WITHOUT A CONTRACT!

WR Donte Stallworth played here in 2006. He bolted for New England. Will he come back to Philly? I don't know. I don;t know what happened behind closed doors last year when the Eagles offered him a contract. Maybe he has a change of heart and signs here again.

DE Paul Spicer is a veteran. He's a very solid DE with Jacksonville. Adding him would provide solid depth with Kearse being gone. A nice one or two year deal.

OG Alan Faneca is ne of the top 3 OG's in the league. He may be 31, but OL tend to play longer than most position players. We really don't need him, but if you can add a top OL to an already solid OL, it's a good thing. Once again money will be the sticking point. If the price is right, get him. Imagine Runyan, Faneca, Jackson, Andrews and Thomas with Herremans, Jean-Gilles, Justice and Young as backups. That is a solid OL with experienced backups.

There are other possibilities out there. The top three are the ones I hope we do get. Do I want Faneca? YES. Do we need Faneca? No. So if he would go to another team, which is very likely, it won't break my heart.

Here's to hoping the Eagles Front Office goes out aggressively and gets the playmakers we all want to see. Super Bowl is the goal. Like a friend says "1 winner, 31 losers". I'm tired of being one of the 31!

Potential Prospects

Chris Williams – Offensive Tackle – Vanderbilt – 6’6” – 315 lbs.
Projected Round: 1st Chase’s Position Rank: 3rd
Overview: Is a natural pass blocker who rarely breaks his form or technique. Even in his long jump he landed initially with his feet and knees under his shoulders. Has a questionable lack of “mean streak” that most teams covet in a mauler Right Tackle. He’ll probably need to bulk up to be able to play to his potential at the next level. Off the field, nobody has anything bad to say about the guy. He’s known to be a hard worker and a quick study who is a likeable guy in the locker room with teammates and coaches. Is known to take the younger guys under his wing and help them improve on their own game; a team leader. Is believed to be one of the best offensive linemen in Vanderbilt history. Known more his “finesse” than power, but made a bold attempt at the Combine to prove the stereo type wrong by being somewhat over-aggressive in his position drills. He also showed great athleticism and the ability to “pull” and “stunt” fluidly though some scouts question his technique running longer distances. Has had experience at both guard and tackle and could probably make the switch to guard his rookie season until he reaches the ideal weight to bookend the offensive line.

Where he would fit in on the Eagles: With both current offensive tackles, William Thomas and Jon Runyan, the Eagles have a potential future problem at offensive tackle. If Chris Williams is selected by the Eagles at #19 (and it would have to be here) he will be a very good long-term solution to the future departure of William Thomas at left tackle but will most likely step in and compete for the starting Left Guard position his rookie season. Williams will need to add bulk in the offseason to make the transition to pros but at his current size it would appear that the transition to guard would be a more realistic scenario. But this is not his permanent home. The Eagles will need to work closely with him to get his body in shape to take a step to left when the spot is left vacant. I feel that he could become a staple in this offensive line in both positions on the left side of this defensive line but you will get the most value out of him at tackle.

What Scenarios Will the Eagles Possibly Face: Well, as with every #1 draft pick, there will be some questions that would need to be answered in depth chart on the offensive line. This pick will most affect the future of Winston Justice on this football team. It will boil down to if they feel Justice is better suited for the right side or not, which I feel that he is. But more immediately, this pick would pose a three-way position battle at left guard this training camp. Todd Herremans struggled at times and was unable to solidify his status as starter on the offensive line. Max Jean-Gilles was drafted in the 4th round two years ago and filled in respectably in spots at both guard positions and is expected to give Herremans a run for his money in Training Camp. With all four offensive guards from last season returning this is going to leave an odd man out and even open the possiblity of a trade later in the draft of either Herremans or Justice (who was a projected first round pick in 2006).

Derrick Harvey - Defensive End - Florida – 6’5” – 252 lbs.
Projected Round: 1st Chase’s Position Ranking: 3rd

Overview: Is a pass rush specialist. Is quick off the ball and is at his best when facing blockers that lack the athleticism or technique to counteract his speed. Has had no experience as a linebacker, but some feel that he is better suited as a 3-4 outside linebacker because his frame seems too lanky to have success in the NFL with his hand down. But if there is one thing that scouts seem to be wrong on more often than not is if a particular defensive end prospect doesn’t have the size to be an effective defensive end in the NFL (i.e. Dwight Freeney, Trent Cole). Though pass rushing is Harvey’s strong I personally do not feel that he is limited to this. In my opinion he seems to have the body that still has some pounds to gain and has extremely long arms that can be used to his advantage if he is taught how to use them. Harvey is most compared to Jevon Kearse, mainly in my opinion because they both were productive defensive ends at Florida and have similar physical measurable, unlike Kearse though Harvey has a wide variety of pass rush moves that he uses effectively. Is athletic enough to drop back in coverage in a zone blitz and fast enough to clean up sweep runs to the outside. I feel that Harvey could immediately step in and play in at least passing situations depending on what weight he reports to training camp at but that could develop in a very versatile every down defensive lineman in the NFL.

Where he would fit in on the Eagles: That’s easy. Remove Jevon Kearse and plug in Derrick Harvey. I think the comparisons between the two will make it hard for the Eagles to turn down if he’s still on the board. The Eagles were willing to pay Kearse big bucks to be the kind of defensive end that Harvey still has the potential to become. I see Harvey working right into the rotation on passing downs right away and as he starts to grasp the concepts of the defense and the NFL, he will eventually compete with Juqua Thomas and Victor Abiamiri for snaps.

What Scenarios Will the Eagles Likely Face: Well the buzz has already been going on around various circles that the Eagles might be ready to part ways with Jevon Kearse drafting Derrick Harvey would basically be packing Jevon’s bags for him. Darren Howard and Jerome McDougal have not been productive since becoming an Eagle and one of these guys could also feel the heat if Harvey is drafted. The Eagles normally carry five defensive ends going into the season (this year it was Kearse, Howard, Cole, Abiamiri and Thomas. McDougal was on IR) Which would leave at least one of the two the odd man out when it comes time to make the final roster cuts. Not only would this pick increase the production of the defensive end position especially in terms of quarterback pressure but in the long run it would also allow the Eagles to save money by making higher paid, yet disappointing players at the position expendable. A “win-win” situation on more than just the football field.

Eagles Final Review

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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