If you're booking tickets to the philly super bowl, taking futures on them to win the nfc, or even to win better than 10 games, you'd better think twice.
The 2 year cover machine eagles may be stepping back.
Coaching.
4 years ago the eagles ownership were known as the tightest wads at the bank. They refused to make any improvements in their death trap stadium, and traded away every piece of talent they ever had. Looking for a new coach, and not wanting to spend a cent, they brought in unknown Andy Reid, Qb coach from Green Bay.
Much to everyones amazement Reid built a team, based upon the fantastic unsung coaches, Jim Johnson def. coordinator, and new guy Leslie Frazier, secondary coach. The combo of excellent defensive coaching, and the gifted qb coach's draft pick of Donovan Mcnabb, wound up making a team.
Well, ownership is laughing all the way to the safe deposit box. Are they now saying, "lets open the checkbook up and put this team over the top"?
NO. IN SPADES.
Philly is a very fat $10mil under the cap, no other team is even close to that #. 2 offseasons past, when faced with a crisis at wr, they did nothing except a 3rd rate pickup of James Thrash. This year when faced with nearly the same crisis at wr, they stood idle again. Their dline was the suspect that commited the crime vs. the rams in last years title game, but they did nothing to bring in some help.
Instead of paying their best defensive player Jeremy Trotter the cash to keep him they let it slide. Instead of taking a chance on the brilliant s Damon Moore's knee, which he ripped up in the title game (loyalty, whats that?) they sent him limping off. Instead of getting fine center Bubba Miller back in the fold after his injury last year, they decided average would have to do instead.
These type of personnel decisions don't just effect the talent of the team, they effect the heart. When a player knows if he gets injured he's on the street, and has to play on a turf that is subpar to begin with, it ultimately effects his effort.
Although the philly coaching team returns in tact, the attitude of the owners is once again showing its ugly head.
Slight downgrade.
QB.
Short story. Mcnabb is premiere pro bowl. He now only runs when necessary to protect himself. Can we belive he's only had 3 seasons? Unlimited potential, only held back by his poor supporting cast.
stable at the top.
RB.
Buckhalter was the future, and lost for the season due to injury. Duce Staley started recovering from foot surgury 2 years ago, and had a miserable season last year, only averaging 3.6ypc, but an even worse 3.2 in the last 3 games.
Can he come all the way back to the preinjury 4.5ypc form? Doesn't look good, as the word is they tried repeatedly to dump him in the offseason. He can catch though, 63 last year. They bring in the oft injured Dorsy levins gbay tossoff but Past his prime. Cecil Martin, good hands guy, the FB, one of the better ones. Some camp babble about 3rd rounder westbrook, we'll see.
Downgrade, how bad, don't know til we see if Levins and Daley are healed.
WR.
It is difficult for me to say how much I disrespect the ownership for allowing this crew to remain, in the face of a brilliant qb. Supposed superstar rookie Freddie Mitchel had only 21 catches last year, and given more chances than any other rookie. In the spring the coaches said how great he was doing offseason, now they say how bad he is. Keep an eye on him in pre-s, he's their only real potential upside.
James Thrash was a 3 or 4 receiver in Wash before making his way north. As numero uno last year he had 63 catches. Terrible. Todd Pinkston is not a guy you'd want in an egg throwing contest. Fast, but can't catch, got 42 last year but dropped as many. However, his 3rd year in, so big upside to come (maybe, maybe not). TE Chad Lewis had a fine year, even though his total catches were way down to 41. Remember the year before he was absolutely the only pass option so had more.
Condition is a slight upgrade as Mitchel and Pinkston age, but still way below average.
Oline.
The line returns in tact, and has some very strong players in t Jon Ruynon and tre thomas, both pro bowl talent. However the interior gets weaker at the guards with Jermaine Newberry and John Wellborne, and then at center they're letting well below average Hank Fraley try again. Maybe in this his 3rd year, he'll be better, but never the great force of Bubba Miller.
Condition stable.
dline.
Here's where the cracks in the dam start. Admitedly weak against the run last year (18th in the league), with a small line and blitzing lb's, they did nothing to beef it up. Great blitzers in Hugh douglas and Corey Simon but run weak. Also Brandon Whiting and Holis Thomas were just above average. Now Thomas has rebroken his foot and lost for the year, and they have no replacement. Currently penciled in with the eraser ready is Darwin Walker, booted off the Cards in his rookie year, didn't play 'cept for scrub action last year.
Condition Regressing.
Linebacker.
2 huge losses here as Trotter sent packing down the beltway, and Mike Caldwell as well. This crew was the soul of the team and covered for some major run stopping problems on the dline. A major set back. Barry Gardner tries to fill the middle, untested and average so far. And Shawn Barber tries to return from injury, coming over from Wash. What's that sound you hear on the beltway? that's danny dotcom laughing his butt off at a trotter for Barber trade.
Carlos Emmonds, pro bowl caliber, does return. And Levon Kirkland comes over from Pitt. He's still above average when under weight and healthy, but showed up at 300+lbs.
Major downgrade.
Secondary.
My top rated squad league wide last year, and second in passing, but lose the exciting Moore to injury. He's replaced by 4 time pro bowl Blain Bishop, who is old, and has some injuries. Speaking of old and injured, is Troy Vincent on the downslope? Yes. Troubled last year, and now once again nursing imjury problems in camp. One of the greatest, watch his status closely.
Brian Dawkins, rated by many as the top safety in the league returns, as does cb bob taylor. so this unit still top rated, depending on aging.
But here's a strange one. Ried blew his first 3 draft picks on 2 cb's and one safety. Very tough to square this looking at his problems at wr and dline.
Condition stable, you cant get any better.
kicks.
Akers is pro bowl, Landetta old but still hitting the punts. Excellent return men.
conclusion:
Have any of the units been upgraded? Not really, except maybe the wr moving up to below average. Have any of the units been downgraded? Several, including coaching, rb, dline, and lb. The change isn't dramatic, but regression is setting in. The eagles are going to be in the fav role this year, relish it as one of the only times in their modern history.
This cover machine is currently 'out of order'.
The 2 year cover machine eagles may be stepping back.
Coaching.
4 years ago the eagles ownership were known as the tightest wads at the bank. They refused to make any improvements in their death trap stadium, and traded away every piece of talent they ever had. Looking for a new coach, and not wanting to spend a cent, they brought in unknown Andy Reid, Qb coach from Green Bay.
Much to everyones amazement Reid built a team, based upon the fantastic unsung coaches, Jim Johnson def. coordinator, and new guy Leslie Frazier, secondary coach. The combo of excellent defensive coaching, and the gifted qb coach's draft pick of Donovan Mcnabb, wound up making a team.
Well, ownership is laughing all the way to the safe deposit box. Are they now saying, "lets open the checkbook up and put this team over the top"?
NO. IN SPADES.
Philly is a very fat $10mil under the cap, no other team is even close to that #. 2 offseasons past, when faced with a crisis at wr, they did nothing except a 3rd rate pickup of James Thrash. This year when faced with nearly the same crisis at wr, they stood idle again. Their dline was the suspect that commited the crime vs. the rams in last years title game, but they did nothing to bring in some help.
Instead of paying their best defensive player Jeremy Trotter the cash to keep him they let it slide. Instead of taking a chance on the brilliant s Damon Moore's knee, which he ripped up in the title game (loyalty, whats that?) they sent him limping off. Instead of getting fine center Bubba Miller back in the fold after his injury last year, they decided average would have to do instead.
These type of personnel decisions don't just effect the talent of the team, they effect the heart. When a player knows if he gets injured he's on the street, and has to play on a turf that is subpar to begin with, it ultimately effects his effort.
Although the philly coaching team returns in tact, the attitude of the owners is once again showing its ugly head.
Slight downgrade.
QB.
Short story. Mcnabb is premiere pro bowl. He now only runs when necessary to protect himself. Can we belive he's only had 3 seasons? Unlimited potential, only held back by his poor supporting cast.
stable at the top.
RB.
Buckhalter was the future, and lost for the season due to injury. Duce Staley started recovering from foot surgury 2 years ago, and had a miserable season last year, only averaging 3.6ypc, but an even worse 3.2 in the last 3 games.
Can he come all the way back to the preinjury 4.5ypc form? Doesn't look good, as the word is they tried repeatedly to dump him in the offseason. He can catch though, 63 last year. They bring in the oft injured Dorsy levins gbay tossoff but Past his prime. Cecil Martin, good hands guy, the FB, one of the better ones. Some camp babble about 3rd rounder westbrook, we'll see.
Downgrade, how bad, don't know til we see if Levins and Daley are healed.
WR.
It is difficult for me to say how much I disrespect the ownership for allowing this crew to remain, in the face of a brilliant qb. Supposed superstar rookie Freddie Mitchel had only 21 catches last year, and given more chances than any other rookie. In the spring the coaches said how great he was doing offseason, now they say how bad he is. Keep an eye on him in pre-s, he's their only real potential upside.
James Thrash was a 3 or 4 receiver in Wash before making his way north. As numero uno last year he had 63 catches. Terrible. Todd Pinkston is not a guy you'd want in an egg throwing contest. Fast, but can't catch, got 42 last year but dropped as many. However, his 3rd year in, so big upside to come (maybe, maybe not). TE Chad Lewis had a fine year, even though his total catches were way down to 41. Remember the year before he was absolutely the only pass option so had more.
Condition is a slight upgrade as Mitchel and Pinkston age, but still way below average.
Oline.
The line returns in tact, and has some very strong players in t Jon Ruynon and tre thomas, both pro bowl talent. However the interior gets weaker at the guards with Jermaine Newberry and John Wellborne, and then at center they're letting well below average Hank Fraley try again. Maybe in this his 3rd year, he'll be better, but never the great force of Bubba Miller.
Condition stable.
dline.
Here's where the cracks in the dam start. Admitedly weak against the run last year (18th in the league), with a small line and blitzing lb's, they did nothing to beef it up. Great blitzers in Hugh douglas and Corey Simon but run weak. Also Brandon Whiting and Holis Thomas were just above average. Now Thomas has rebroken his foot and lost for the year, and they have no replacement. Currently penciled in with the eraser ready is Darwin Walker, booted off the Cards in his rookie year, didn't play 'cept for scrub action last year.
Condition Regressing.
Linebacker.
2 huge losses here as Trotter sent packing down the beltway, and Mike Caldwell as well. This crew was the soul of the team and covered for some major run stopping problems on the dline. A major set back. Barry Gardner tries to fill the middle, untested and average so far. And Shawn Barber tries to return from injury, coming over from Wash. What's that sound you hear on the beltway? that's danny dotcom laughing his butt off at a trotter for Barber trade.
Carlos Emmonds, pro bowl caliber, does return. And Levon Kirkland comes over from Pitt. He's still above average when under weight and healthy, but showed up at 300+lbs.
Major downgrade.
Secondary.
My top rated squad league wide last year, and second in passing, but lose the exciting Moore to injury. He's replaced by 4 time pro bowl Blain Bishop, who is old, and has some injuries. Speaking of old and injured, is Troy Vincent on the downslope? Yes. Troubled last year, and now once again nursing imjury problems in camp. One of the greatest, watch his status closely.
Brian Dawkins, rated by many as the top safety in the league returns, as does cb bob taylor. so this unit still top rated, depending on aging.
But here's a strange one. Ried blew his first 3 draft picks on 2 cb's and one safety. Very tough to square this looking at his problems at wr and dline.
Condition stable, you cant get any better.
kicks.
Akers is pro bowl, Landetta old but still hitting the punts. Excellent return men.
conclusion:
Have any of the units been upgraded? Not really, except maybe the wr moving up to below average. Have any of the units been downgraded? Several, including coaching, rb, dline, and lb. The change isn't dramatic, but regression is setting in. The eagles are going to be in the fav role this year, relish it as one of the only times in their modern history.
This cover machine is currently 'out of order'.
