“Al’s State of the Eagles Address”

Philadelphia Eagles 2008 Schedule

Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
San Francisco 49ers(5-11)
St Louis Rams (3-13)
Seattle Seahawks(10-6)
Cleveland Browns(10-6)
Baltimore Ravens(5-11)
Pittsburgh Steelers(10-6)
Cincinnati Bengals(7-9)
Atlanta Falcons(4-12)
Chicago Bears(7-9)

And of course…2 Games w/ Washington, New York, and Dallas

I’m predicting a nice bounce back from our beloved Birds…Out of the above, minus, of course the teams in our division who all made the Playoffs (two of which probably might not have even been there…had we taken care of our business against them…), there are only 2 teams on the schedule that actually made the Playoffs in 2007/08. Even with the possibility of improvement from teams like Chicago, Cleveland, or possibly one of the others. The Eagles are still looking at a very easy schedule with 7 games against teams with a record of 8-8, and mostly much worse.

With the proper offseason moves, this might be a very good opportunity to make another run at the Bowl. Easy there…don’t choke on your morning coffee…Yeah I said…the Super Bowl…The Eagles will be making a run at it next year. In the wacky world of the NFC (and take a look at how things have gone over the last couple of years for evidence to the fact), the Eagles have an extremely good chance of being right back in the Hunt. I’m looking for that.

Easy schedule aside, I think the it’s going to be key for the Eagles to recognize their weaknesses and address them accordingly-and quickly.

Necessary Additions/ Offseason Moves/Etc:

PK/KR: I believe the Eagles will need to add a legitimate PR/KR out of the draft and hopefully will select someone who can also add depth in the secondary. It would be great to find someone with big play ability, in the mold of a young Deion Sanders. If the Eagles use one of the their top 3 picks on this selection, I believe it would help their fortunes out immensely. The simple fact that this position on the team has been held by the likes of Reno Mahe, and we didn’t even have an actual Punt Return/Kick Return man in the first game against the Pack, made us lose that key game. Looking back, who knows how much of a difference even just that one win would have been in regards to impacting how the team played early on in the season.

Punter: It’s a safe bet, that the Eagles better find themselves an actual Punter, one who can directional punt and drop a ball inside the 20. We had way too many instances where teams would get the ball back in touchbacks, and the promise of that long punt was never there in the regular season. So, it’s Goodbye for Mr. Rocca. G’day, Mate!

Kicker: Not that my faith in David Akers has been shaken…but maybe a little bit of competition in Training Camp might put Akers back on track…either that or they might want to just bring a guy in for a look…For the first time during his career…I would actually question or worry during a routine field goal…David, say it isn’t so! Akers was the first Kicker I ever liked. I hope he hasn’t lost his footing…heh.

WR: Deja Vu anyone?? The Eagles definitely need to bolster their receiving corps with an actual legitimate gamebreaker or at the very least veteran wideout who will come onto the team’s number one receiver. This has been a sticking point and one of my favorite gripes/criticisms throughout Andy Reid’s tenure as our Head Coach (minus the move to bring in T.O. and the year we had Stallworth, which I was stunned that the Eagles would go into the season this year with losing a couple of very important Veterans). Adding Kevin Curtis was a good move, and he turned out to be a very good complementary receiver, we need more than that. I believe Reggie Brown has shown that he isn’t the Number One receiver that he was touted to be. Looks like we need serious Number threat and add him to the WR corp. Avant played decently. Baskett was missing in action this year. And Greg Lewis shouldn’t have a chance to make the squad. If New England didn’t stand pat with their receiving corp why should anyone in the League minus maybe Indy, Arizona, or Detroit stay with theirs? With the swirling rumors of Chad Johnson’s discontent in Cincinnati, and the prospect of one of the two New England receivers being available, or possibly making a run at Bernard Berrian. The Eagles have a chance to add a very key component for the team in the coming offseason. Personally, I would go with the best gamebreaker available.

Never heard of him? Take a look…He’s a free agent at the end of the season:
Bernard Berrian #80 | Wide Receiver | Chicago Bears

QB: For this coming season to be anything at all, the Eagles will have to stick with Donovan McNabb at QB. McNabb had a rough going in the beginning of the ’07 campaign but definitely showed signs of his old self in the last couple of games, including a really nice run in the New Orleans game. Regardless of everything else that seems to follow McNabb in regards to controversy (whether you like it or not), he’s still one of the top QB’s in the league…and I will argue that he is still a top 10 if not top 5 QB in the league. Without him, the Eagles fortunes in the coming season would be completely uncertain and IMHO, would be in doubt. So, if there is any question at all, I’m sticking with McNabb. Answering any question about the prospect of Kevin Kolb…just take a look at the fortunes of over 90 percent of all QB selected in the 2nd Round. Almost all of them have been busts or have not made any real impact on the team that drafted them, which would even include Mr. Favre, who was actually drafted by Atlanta…but that’s another story altogether. Favre, aside, you are looking at serious questions in regards to Mr. Kolb when I think of his future as the Eagles QB. And sadly his pedigree from Houston doesn’t help his future stock, when I think about it. With the likes of other infamous QBs like Andre Ware, and David Klingler as other Houston standouts…hmmmm…yeah…I think I am going to stick with McNabb for as long as possible. In fact, I hope I don’t see Kevin Kolb get a snap in the coming season, and possibly for the next 5 seasons after that (of course, I mean as long as Donovan is healthy). When I think of this post Super Bowl slump the Eagles have been in, I liken it to the situation that Denver had during Elway’s career. What would have happened if Denver had given up on Mr. Elway during those lean years after their Super Bowls in the 80s…? Maybe he would be still considered a QB that could never have won the Big One. Just some food for thought.

RB: I am not even embarrassed to see this. I LOVE Brian Westbrook. What an amazing season he had for the Birds, and if we were a Playoff team, he might even had a chance to be considered as MVP. He was definitely our MVP player this season. Breaking two team records, and having to give the Eagles back a 3 Million accounting snafu…Hmmm, maybe it’s time to reevaluate his contract and shoot this guy some money. He really earned it, and he truly DESERVES it. And, while they are at giving him some money…Maybe it’s time to really move towards getting the running game in order. A little run first, here and there would help. I personally would like to see a little bit of mix up with a bigger bruising back as well. We didn’t really get a chance to see how Tony Hunt would have been in that role. And the yearly question mark that Mr. Buckhalter poses…Might this be the time to add another back as well. I think we can possibly sever ties with Mr. Mahe, with the moves mentioned above. I wish we had a Tank Fullback…Tapeh has been… Okay (I love rhyming)…but that’s all. He seems to block well, and catches the occasional pass, but I think we could do better. We could use a guy who can be a threat to punch it in at the goal line or when we need just one yard.

Offensive Line: Not that they definitely need it, but I will take ANY bet from anyone that the Eagles will add an Offensive lineman in the draft. Heh. Any takers?? I wasn’t too pleased with what I saw of Winston Justice. Max Jean-Gilles filled in well. William Tre Thomas was decent but not fantastic. And Runyan was just plain Runyan…I’ll hate it when he retires finally. The Big Kid Andrews has been a great pick, and is going to Honolulu once again. The line played decently but there’s room for improvement. I’ll say we take an Offensive lineman in the draft…I just don’t hope it’s our first pick…then I will just hate waiting hours on Draft Day (again)…

Defensive Line: I like how the young DE’s and DT’s have come along. Trent Cole looks like the star of the bunch, and he has a pretty good compliment in J. Thomas. I am looking for good things from Albiamiri. The Eagles can bolster their Ends with a move in either Free Agency or in the Draft again. The DT’s look improved as both Patterson and Bunkley had decent improved seasons.

Linebackers: Am I going to shock even myself in saying that this has ACTUALLY become one of the team’s strong areas…Wow, what a difference a year makes…
The coming of Stewart Bradley, and the play of Gaither, and even Gocong has been pretty good. I am predicting good things from Mr. Bradley (who’s best outing was his game against New Orleans where he finished with 5 solo tackles, 1 Sack, and 1 Interception…Not bad considering he didn’t play all that much in his rookie season). Add Takeo to that mix and you have a decent group. The Eagles are high on Jordan as well…I haven’t seen enough to make my decision there.

Secondary: Injuries to Lito and B-Dawk put the Eagles in a little bit of a bind. Age could be a factor in Dawkins but I firmly believe that he will come back ready and hungry to play next year. He’s under contract for one more year, and the future Hall of Famer deserves the chance to come back and play with the team. The Eagles had good help from Mikell, and serviceable help from an undersized Hanson. I believe the Eagles need to add a player or two to the Secondary-just in case. Maybe they will fare well without injuries from the veterans on this group…but they cannot bank on it. I believe it might be time to shift Mr. Considine back into a more spotty role…and maybe more work in Special Teams.

Departures: Look for the Eagles to probably sever their ties with Jevon Kearse, Jerome McDougal, Darren Howard, Kimo VanOelhoffen, and Montae Reagor on the Defensive line. In the Secondary, Will James probably needs to go. On Special teams, it’s time to let Sav Rocca and Reno Mahe go. On Offense, say goodbye to my least favorite Tight End L.J (Fumbles) Smith (who will probably still be a somewhat sought after Tight End in Free Agency. Personally, I say it’s good riddance…as I have still not forgiven him for fumbling in the Super Bowl. And defintely it’s time for Greg Lewis

The Distinguished/Competition: Here’s how it might shake out…Let’s say the Cowboys make it to the Super Bowl and then lose (as they more than likely will) to New England. You can pretty much bank on the eventual Super Bowl slump that has affected SO many of the NFC teams that have lost in recent years (*ahem* including our own). Don’t look for them to contend if they make it there this year. Crazy, huh?

If the Packers make it to the Super Bowl…regardless of even outcome…I’d say that would be a good Swan Song for Brett Favre (this might actually make John Madden weep openly). Don’t look for the Pack to go back (I even made that rhyme…)

Not so certain who will show up in the NFC. I’d venture to put Minnesota, and New Orleans into the mix.

Unknowns to show up or not might be Detroit (who always shows a knack for finding ways to lose…and always on the road). A slightly improved Arizona? A very mercurial, but might be in the thick of it, Chicago??

So, let’s see what happens in the NFC in the coming weeks, but at least one team in our division will possibly be a Playoff team next year.

If the Eagles emerge as I expect them to, you can take at least one of the 3 teams in our divison out of the Playoffs, and depending upon if Dallas goes and loses, you might see them actually even miss the playoffs on top of that…Shocker? (If I have to suffer through a Dallas/New England Super Bowl…at least I can hope that I don’t even see them in the Playoffs next year, right?)

Just my two cents…

-Al

Link:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20080103_Inqlings___Eagles_nest_is_up_for_sale.html

#1 need on the team
WR (and least likely to fill)

#2 Secondary (see above)

#3 Punt / Kick Return Look around the league it isn’t just Hester anymore. Vikings, Giants and others have guys that can score at this position.

#4 DE Need to cut a bunch of dead wood here. J. Kearse second highest paid Eagle at 8 million per year , and Darren Howard sixth highest paid eagle at 5+ million a year, and McDougle all need to go.

This money is needed for a replacement DE, a WR and A BUNCH of it needs to be paid to Brian Westbrook

#5 Offensive Line, Can Winston Justice play?

#50 QB Donovan is still amoung the best at the position, leave this roster spot alone and focus attention elsewhere.
#51 RB Westbrook rocks, and Buckhalter really showed me something this year.

It’s too bad because looking around the NFL I see nothing but dreck at the QB position. Heck Eli Manning is a wreck and he’s probably the 12th best in the NFL right now. There is nothing wrong with Donovan as your QB, leave that part of the team alone and worry about making other parts of the team better.

#20 is my 3rd favorite Eagle all time, but I think he is done, add another year to him and I don’t see him doing much else besides nickel or subbing in and out next year. That combined with Will James and a regularly hurt Lito is a disaster waiting to happen.

1) It’s a pet peeve of mine when people throw around words like “outstanding” “elite” “great” etc. to describe players who have yet to earn that distinction and clearly are not. It’s a disservice to those players who have earned that degree of success. Omar is in his 2nd year and had a decent season. But in no way would anyone consider 103 total tackles (tied at 18th in the NFC and 32 in the entire league), 70 solo tackles (tied at 34th in the NFC and not even in the top 50 in the NFL), 4 tackles for loss, 0 sacks, 1 int, 1 FF (where is the major game changing impact?) outstanding. It has always bothered me as an athlete when I was considered good and ppl would call a competitor good as well who I was vastly superior to.

2. Hanson just flat out STINKS. What games where you watching? He lacks the vital tools needed to play that position, namely size (5-9), strength (can’t jam ANYONE), and most importantly for a smaller DB SPEED – this has been the knock on this guy since entering the league. At his size he would need to have good jumping ability and be extremely fast to make up for his stature. He has neither. He gets bullied everytime he is matched up with a bigger receiver and burnt by fast slot guys. All season I asked myself and anyone in the room why is this dude was on the field? I think Pete hit it right on the nose with that comment.

However i do not agree with 2 things:
1) Your Omar Gaither opinion: he’s an outstanding LB and will be elite very soon.
2) Your opinio on Joselio Hanson- If you watch him play he is actually pretty good… better than James in my opinion.

-Overall i like your opinion and the Eagles should be an elite team next year =)