You might not guess it from reading our blog on a day-to-day basis, but both Dannie and I happen to be huge Eagles fans. I, for one, cannot remember the last time I missed a down, let alone a game. The reason we don’t cover the Eagles as much as the Phils and Sixers is three-fold.
- The team is already covered ad nauseum in the media.
- Without access to game tape, it is very hard to evaluate individual players (Is McNabb taking too much time, or are the receivers not open? Is it the LG or the LT who isn’t run-blocking well?) You can only get so much from seeing plays once.
- Neither Dannie or I played, so we don’t have that angle.
However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t have strong opinions on the team, just not as in-depth as we usually like to go. And it certainly doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear your opinions.
The Eagles have had a fairly quiet training camp by their standards (always a good thing), but these are the main things we’ve been reading about:
- McNabb looks great, feels great and thinks the Eagles are the best team in the NFC
- Shawn Andrews is battling some depression problems, showed up very late for camp, and is currently on the the physically unable to perform list
- The Eagles, for the first time since McNabb, actually gave someone a contract extension when they requested it, giving Brian Westbrook the money he deserves
- DeSean Jackson is a quick learner, and could end up being a 2nd round steal
- Victor Abiamiri, who I personally expected big things from, is out indefinitely with a broken wrist
- Lito Sheppard is still here, and justifiably unhappy
- L.J. Smith is poised to break out…for the 4th straight year…
So what are people’s expectations for this team? They went 8-8 last year, and haven’t been great since T.O. left. McNabb can’t stay healthy, but looks as good as he has in years. The young linebacking core could take a step forward and be great, or take a step backward and be awful. Our division is the best in football, and got better in the offseason. This is a very tough team to get a read on, so I want to see where people’s heads are at.
Here are 3 discussion points:
- What do you think the Eagles record will be, will they make the playoffs, and how far will they go?
- Aside from McNabb’s and Westbrook’s health, what do you think is the biggest key to this season?
- A non-Eagles question (presumably) – what is your Super Bowl prediction?
(1) 11-5
(2) Linebackers (and red zone offense, getting turnovers)
(3) Eagles/Pats
Hey Guys, I’m a Deep Sixer transplant who’s been monitoring your blog for awhile now but haven’t commented. Great job. Just like Deep Sixer, the interplay between commenters is top notch with knowledgable, well-written responses. Keep it up!
In regards to the post:
1) 12-4.
Disclaimer: I’ve been accused to drinking the green Kool-Aid from time to time. Admittedly, I’ve never been able to be as rational with the Birds as I am with the Phils, Sixers and Flyers. That being said, I really think the Eagles have a favorable schedule this year. I do realize it’s a tough division, though.
You can’t bank on this, but within the last decade, usually one of the two previous Super Bowl teams has a significat dropoff the following year. It happened to us in 2005. I just can’t shake the feeling it’s going to be the Giants this year.
Also, I think it’s easy to forget that the Eagles lost at least three or four games last year due to poor execution. This was uncharacteristic under the Reid regime and I think we should return to form.
2) As long as Brian Westbrook is suiting up in midnight green, his health is always going to be the biggest key to the season. Even more so than McNabb’s. It doesn’t matter if the young LB crew can adjust, the three headed CB stays happy, or if DeSean can cut it as a legit WR. Without B West, this team is toast.
3) As long as Brady and Belicheck are up in Boston, it’s hard to bet against the Patriots. I’ll refrain from picking an NFC team. I don’t think it’s too far fetched to consider the Birds here. If I were to tell you on August 13, 2007 that the NFC Championship Game that year would be against the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers would you have believed me?
OK, let’s give this a shot. I say that the Eagles record will be 9-7 (10-6 at best), and they will make the playoffs. They will stay in it until they have to go on the road, which means best case for them is a first round win and then an exit.
The biggest key(s) to the season will be the offensive and defensive lines. Typically the teams that play the most consistently and go the farthest are the ones that control both sides of the line of scrimmage. The Eagles have some issues on both lines and they need to put a solid group out there on both sides of the ball in order to have any chance.
On the offensive side of the ball this is key because:
It is critical to Mcnabb’s health. If he continues to get Umenyiora-ed on a regular basis, he won’t be around long. It is also vital if they have any hope of establishing a consistent running game. Even the west coast offense needs a respectable running game that a defense must honor in order to make it work really well.
On the defensive side of the ball it is key because:
The better the D-line plays, the easier it will be on the young linebackers. (and the secondary for that matter) They just flat out have to play better than last year. I mean, McDougle had 1 sack. That won’t get it done.
As for my super bowl prediction, I’m going to hold off for a little while. I have been too into baseball to spend any appreciable time looking at the upcoming NFL season. I’m not sure what I think about everyone else yet.
1. 9-7
2. I don’t see enough of their games to really know. Im a Jets fan primarily (don’t hold it against me, I live in the Poconos) but I’ll see if I can develop feelings for the Eagles this year.
3. Jets vs. Giants – Subway Super Bowl baby!
Realistically – 3. Pats vs. Cowboys
9-7 Vegas is usually right
2 Keys as usual. If Westbrook gets hurt we are a 4-12 team. For us to win 10 or more and make the playoffs we need a WR to become a threat
Cowboys – Pats
Hmm, Jyurk how do you get to 12-4? The only way I get to 12-4 is if they only lose to Dallas twice and split with Washington and the Giants.
I will say 10-6 with a optimistic prediction of 11-5 thinking Pittsburgh, @Baltimore and @Cincinnati will be tough games and could lose 2 of those.
My biggest key is actually the kicking game. I am worried about an aging David Akers, whose confidence and performance have been steadily declining and we have no reliable back-up if he gets hurt or flat out loses it. We have a punter with a big leg but no touch. We need him to help keep field position in our favor so we give our defense and secondary a chance to make big plays on the side of the field where they can put up some points or make it significantly easier for the offense to come in and punch it in.
Superbowl – Cowboys and Pats
Felix Jones can be special by providing big plays in the running game. If Pacman is on the field they improved a weakness. And don’t forget they get Tank Johnson in there for all of training camp and a full season. Dallas should be better.
New England got a bit younger and faster. And more importantly they are probably pissed out and highly motivated.
The Eagles need MVP performances from McNabb and Westbrook this season, more big plays on defense and better efficiency in the red zone. Like Pete said, LJ need to be the guy in that area finally.
I wouldn’t worry about Akers. I know he did the P90x program in the offseason and his league feels a lot stronger than it did last offseason. Not to endorse the product, but I’m almost at day 90 and it is SERIOUS. If followed it correctly and mixed in other types of training then he’ll have no problem blasting field goals from all over this year.
I think 9-7. The Red Zone still scares me, and they have to prove they can get the ball in the endzone before I’ll predict double digit wins.
Dan – more concerned about Akers head than his leg. He wasn’t missing short on field goals longer than 40 yards, he was just flat out shanking them. His body language and demeanor when he didn’t play well seemed to carry over game after game and never got into a good rhythm.
and Superbowl Prediction
Chargers
Cowboys (i’m wincing as i write this)
NFL schedules can be good or bad based on when you play certain teams. A few tough games coupled together can make or break a season.
That said, i’ve predicted a 10 win season for the birds. This assumes a home/home split with each of the NFC East teams.
Game 1 – Rams – Easy win. Stats all over the place – Eagles fans are Happy.
Game 2 – at Cowboys – Loss – see home/home split above..
Game 3 – Steelers – Loss – this is still a good team with a good quarterback and decent rushing attack.
Game 4 – at Bears – WIN – this is a revenge game from last year.. i’m still sick about the last two minutes of that one…
2-2 after 4 games.
Game 5 – Redskins – WIN – a little momentum, a nice win over a division opponent.
Game 6 – at 49ers – the Niners have no idea where they’re going – this is an easy WIN
Game 7 – Falcons – Reid’s record after the bye is great.. but this Falcons team stinks. WIN
Game 8 – at Seahawks – the momentum from 4 wins in a row has this team on top of the world.. we beat the Seahawks.. who are a good team. WIN
6-2 at the halfway mark.
Game 9 – Giants – WIN – we’re at home, we’re playing well, the city is happy… all is good in Eagle land.
Game 10 – at Bengals – LOSS – this is the let down, the Bengals are no slouch, but had we played them elsewhere in the schedule the turnout might be different… after a Giants game, a loss is expected.
Game 11 – at Ravens – with 2 road games in a row, we won’t be happy – but i’m convinced the Ravens will lose 10 games, and this one won’t be one of them… WIN
Game 12 – Cardinals – Eagles get back on the right track and win at home – we’re right in the thick of it, fighting for homefield. WIN
Record after 12 games – 9-3. but… The magic ends there, and despite Andy Reid’s traditionally excellent record in December, the end of the season has some tough games stacked on top of eachother.
Game 13 – at Giants – LOSS in the Meadowlands – the split continues
Game 14 – Browns – LOSS – the Browns are no fluke – and this game is nestled in between a 3 NFC east matchups… that can never be good.
Game 15 – at Redskins – LOSS – again the home/home split – our playoff hopes are dwindling…
Game 16 – We need to win to get in – The Linc has rarely seen a better atmosphere for this one… beat the Cowboys and you’re in the playoffs… this one’s a WIN – the Birds pull out all the stops – trick plays, another goal line stand – a bounty on Romo… this one’s a WIN.
Eagles finish 10-6 and get the Wild Card.
Dannie- I know 12-4 seems like a stretch. But really, I don’t think our non-conference schedule is very difficult.
I’m going to say we split against the conference and lose in Seattle, which is a tough stadium to play in.
As I said in my previous post, poor execution cost the Eagles a solid three or four games last year. (Just think- if Asante was in Eagles green last year, those INT never happen, we beat the Pats and would have been the hottest team in the league going into the playoffs. HA) I understand that losses are losses, but the Eagles have been more disciplined throughout the Reid era and I believe we will see a return to form.
Jyurk – I don’t think there non-conference is that strong either. And I think you are right about the Eagles costing themselves a couple of games and traditionally they have been a more discipline team. The question is are they simply going in the wrong direction in terms of execution and discipline now towards (the end? of the Andy Reid era). I hope they turn it around but the trend has been heading in the wrong direction.
“The question is are they simply going in the wrong direction in terms of execution and discipline now towards (the end? of the Andy Reid era).”
That’s a very good question. Part of me thinks that last year’s seeming lack of focus and discipline was a result of Andy Reid’s family situation. With all the extra cirricular activities going on in the Reid household, it is impossible to think that he was able to devote the time and energy to the team that he was able to do in the past. As the head coach, Reid sets the tone for the team. I believe that Reid’s inability to fully focus on football can at least partially explain the team’s poor execution and focus.
At the same time, I can’t deny that whole Reid/McNabb era is getting a little stale. Once upon a time, WIP was all Eagles, all the time. Like it or not, WIP is still a pretty good pulse of Philly sports fandom, no matter how inane some of its hosts are. Maybe there’s a little more going on in the Philly sports landscape with a first place baseball team, and emerging hockey and basketball teams, but you just don’t get that sense of rabid fandom that characterized the last few years. It seems we aren’t buying into the system the way we once did. Maybe some of the players are starting to feel the same way.
super bowl–colts over the saints (saints got a lot better with shockey on offense and adding vilma on defense)…
i think the eagles are an average team, 9-7, may make the playoffs as the wildcard depending on the giants season..
biggest question i have is redzone offense—needs to be a lot better…and also who is going to pressure the QB…need a big year from our DE’s and the no-name linebackers..
Cowboys
After watching last night’s preseason game. Big concern DROPPED PASSES! I need to just prepare now for the season-long frustration.
JYurk- That last paragraph in your post #13 said it all. J-Roll may be right when he said Philly fans were “front runners”. People are predicting one more win than last year when we played two thirds of the season with half a QB, a banged up defensive secondary, and a d-line that couldn’t rush the QB.
A healthy McNasty means two more wins atleast.
10-6 minimum, Dallas has the hype, Giants got hot at the right time, and Washington has a new coaching staff. We could steal the division from the Cowbumbs.
Dre – in the NFC East – the Giants are the only team taking a step back this year… the Cowboys and the Redskins are moving forward, as are the Eagles – NFC East title would be great, but unlikely – i’m thinking wild card.
10-6 seems like good bet.
KLKatz. I like your break down but I would switch two. Seahawks have owned us the last few years and we have to play them away after an easy falcons game and before a hard giants match. And I would make the Browns a win, Monday night late in the season at HOME. No way we lose that game.
Either way, Dec will not be easy for the Birds. 3 division games with the Browns in the mix, no joke. But big wins against those teams late could really bring us strong into the playoffs. But a the same time big losses could end our season just as quickly.
Superbowl Chargers vs NFC EAST
Why, we are the best over all division, look how everyteam has improved, and the way our division plays other teams in the NFC, usually dominating.