I’m kicking off my 6-part Eagles preview with the area of the team that has the least to figure out during training camp (WR/TE) and finishing up with area that has the most question marks (OL).
The format for all these previews will be the same: Depth Chart / Most Important Player / Biggest Question / Division Rank / Final Thoughts
Depth Chart
The top 3 WR’s are set in stone with Jackson, Maclin and Avant. I think Cooper will fit in well as a 4th WR and either Baskett or Hall will be cut (hopefully Baskett). On the TE side, I think the back-up spot is very much up in the air and it will be interesting to see which of those 2 recent draft picks emerge.
Most Important Player
I could go a couple ways here. My original thought was that it was Maclin because he is the unknown among the top-3 WR’s. But then I realized that I was simply assuming a huge, pro-bowl year from Celek, and I don’t think that anybody should really be assuming anything this year. In the 2 games that Kolb played last year, Celek had 16 catches for 208 yards and a TD. He only had 763 yards in the remaining 14 games combined. Celek and Kolb seem to have good chemistry and for a young QB in his first year starting, he’s going to need a good safety valve, and that will be Celek. If their two games together so far are any indication, Celek could be an absolute force this year.
Biggest Question
How good is Jeremy Maclin?
The Philly media would have you think that “Will DeSean Jackson stop trying because he wants a new contract?” is really the biggest question, but I believe that was simply them trying to drum up a big story during a relatively quiet off-season. Jackson had said all the right things, and I have no reason at all to believe he will act up.
So on to my question. Maclin was slated to go as high as #7 overall in the 2009 draft, but dropped a bit and the Eagles moved up to get him. He put in a very solid rookie year in a complex offensive system with 773 yards and 4 TDs. Prior to last year Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald were the only WR’s to have 750+ yards and 4+ TD’s as a 21-year old rookie (Percy Harvin, Maclin and Hakeem Nicks also did it last year). With all the hype over DeSean Jackson, I haven’t really heard much about what Maclin’s upside is. Do we really have a chance to have 2 pro-bowl WR’s and a pro-bowl TE?
There are countless cases of WR’s having drastically different production in their rookie and 2nd year (both good and bad). With a new QB and a full year to learn the system (don’t forget Maclin had 7 catches, 146 yards and a TD in the playoff game against Dallas) – we’ll really get an idea of what kind of player Maclin can be early on in 2010.
Division Ranking
1. Dallas (Miles Austin, Roy Williams, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten)
Austin was 3rd in receiving yards among WR last year, Witten was 3rd among TE’s. Add 1st rounder Dez Bryant, former pro-bowler Roy Williams and some quality depth in Patrick Crayton and the Cowboys have one of the top WR cores in the league. There is a chance for dischord here though, with Williams having a history of being an underachieving complainer, and Bryant already showing that not all his marbles are there. What is guaranteed though is that Jason Witten will continue to rip us up unless Nate Allen can prove to be a stud right off the bat.
2. Philadelphia
If Kevin Kolb underachives, it won’t be because he doesn’t have the weapons. This is arguably the best Eagles receiving core since I’ve been watching them (roughly 1990).
3. New York (Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, Kevin Boss)
A very solid group here, but no one stands out as elite. They missed Plaxico Burress’ height in the red zone, but Smith and Manningham really stepped up their game. Hakeem Nicks is a big breakout possibility.
4. Washington (Santana Moss, Antawn Randle-El, Joey Galloway, Chris Cooley)
This isn’t Thrash/Pinkston by any means, but you know Donovan would rather have our crew down there in D.C. Cooley really underachieved last year, but could return to form with the upgrade at QB.
Final Thoughts
This is the group on the Eagles that is the easiest to get excited about. We have the most exciting Eagles’ player since Westbrook in his prime (Jackson), a young prospect who could be just as good (Maclin), a strong veteran presence who excels at tremendous 3rd down grabs (Avant), a token white-guy who could also be a red zone threat (Cooper) and a TE well on his way to being the best pass-catching TE in team history (Celek). Oh, and did I mention their average age is 24 and they all seem to love our new QB situation? The only thing that could derail this crew is an injury to Jackson, who is the most irreplaceable player on our offense.
I know I’m extremely biased on this being both a lifelong Philly and Gator sports fan and wanting to see guys succeed in both uniforms, but I watched Ingram in college closer than most Eagle fans, and I can tell you that if his knee is indeed healthy and he is able to shake off the rust off (I’ll admit its a big if) he will be better than most people are expecting. He is probably the most unique player at the position in the league as he has the size of a tight end, but he runs like a wide receiver. His last year of college he averaged 14.9 yards per catch with Tim Tebow (who I believe will eventually be successful, but was years behind where Kolb is now during his sophomore year of college) throwing him the ball. The Eagles already have a great arsenal of weapons and it would be ridiculous one if Ingram reaches his full potential.
My biggest concern for this team is “leadership” and believe it or not that is my only concern…well maybe the O-line. This team is sooo talented it is ridiculous. But where is that leadership coming from? The veteran leadership that carries teams through camp and losing streaks, and holds people accountable. Trotter, Dawkins, Runyan, Westbrook, Sheldon, Tra Thomas…you need atleast a guy to bring that fire. I hope Bradley and Kolb step up, but who knows if they have that, and who knows if players will listen. Maybe Weaver? or Avant? I really don’t know at this point.
Jurnee, to further your point I heard nothing but good things about Cooper too. Albeit a 5th wheel probably, but still seems like a good WR to have stashed away.
I agree with Pete, I see Cooper getting the 4th spot, better hands and similar size to Baskett with much better speed
Kevin Curtis, we hardly knew ya.
Richie, the QB always needs to be at least one of the leaders, if not the leader. I am hopeful that Kolb will be the guy on offense. He isn’t a rookie anymore and the guys have seen what he can do in games and practice and already seem to have a level of respoect for him. There have been no overused hankies in the lockerroom at the loss of McNabb.
On defense I hope it would be Bradley but I really don’t expect much from him this year, the first year after blowing out his knee. That injury typically takes a couple years to recover from. I expect we hear that he is dealing with swelling sometime in camp and he plays limited time this year. PEople seem to assume he will be 100% this year, which is really being optimistic in my mind. So we do have issues with leadership on defense. Perhaps Trent Cole?
Any Recliner GM readers interested in doing a fantasy football league? I’d be willing to set it up. I did the fantasy basketball league a year or two ago on here and it worked very well, most people updated regularly.