Last Year:
Quick look! Did you see that? You must have missed. That was the Eagles? window of opportunity to win that just passed by. The Eagles once again had a very successful season but they had to keep the tap dance shoes in the closet because they fell short of the big dance. It will not get any better for the Eagles, it really won?t. They had it right in their hands, and they dropped the ball. They had home-field advantage against a team that doesn?t play well in the cold, and a team that doesn?t play well on turf. Even more so they got off to a great start and just went downhill after that. They really blew it. For a team that continues to try to downgrade their defense through free agency, and upgrade it through the draft while leaving an average offense in tact, the Eagles will not win the championship. Don?t expect anything more than what this team achieved last year because they have not improved in the off-season.
What we Learned from Last Year:
The Philadelphia Eagles always seem to create a craze for being a true contender, but in reality they don?t have enough. The defense was good to begin with, but they really took over once McNabb broke his ankle. We know they have a great secondary. We know that they can put great pressure on the quarterback. We know that the defense keeps them in games every single week, but the problem is if the defense doesn?t show up for one quarter of any game the Eagles chances of winning decrease greatly. The Eagles have had years to build an offense that would help out their prolific defense but the franchise has failed over and over again. The first problem the Eagles have is that they don?t draft well. That?s not to say that last year?s pick Lito Sheppard, or this year?s pick Jerome McDougle are bad selections, but the problem is that if the Eagles would have kept one of their key free agents in the past few seasons (Jeremiah Trotter or Hugh Douglas) it would have allowed the Eagles to get some offensive help through the draft. No defense in the league is scared of James Trash or Todd Dropston because they are not guys that put any fear in defensive backs. Heck not only that, these guys are speedy route runners and McNabb can barely deliver the ball to them in stride. The Eagles offense doesn?t scare anybody like the defense does. The key to beating the Eagles is picking up their blitzes, and beating their defense. Even 10 points sometimes is too big of a deficit for the Eagles to overcome.
Going back to last year the moons couldn?t have aligned better for the Eagles. Philly didn?t have to go into cold Lambeau and beat Green Bay. They didn?t have to go into a hostile environment in Tampa Bay. They didn?t even have to go indoors and play on the turf in St. Louis. One of the most important games that the Eagles had to play in recent franchise history was at home. Even at home the Eagles were not the better team that day. There?s nothing more to say.
What has Changed?:
Two years ago the Eagles lost Jeremiah Trotter to free agency, and brought in some lower caliber players to fill in, but drafted Lito Sheppard. This year the Eagles lost Hugh Douglas on the defensive line, but brought in University of Miami standout Jerome McDougle. Now the point is not to prove that the Eagles defense will take a step back, because it won?t. The Eagles have many budding stars at the DT and DE spot, but the point is that the offense hasn?t changed either. Al Harris will be replaced with Lito Sheppard. That?s also not a big deal. The problem is that the Eagles were in their absolute best position to win last year and they lost. Now this year they are no better, so how do they expect to get further? Don?t worry about Duce Staley playing/not playing. He?s good, but Correll Buckhalter and Brian Westbrook are very similar running back who can do the job. Who is going to help Donny Mac put points on the chalkboard? What playmaking WR?s do they have? Nobody.
This team hasn?t improved offensively and it is disappointing because they are so close to a championship. I don?t know if they would have had the cap room, but how nice would it have been to have David Boston? Or to have some kind of a go-to target for McNabb? The best teams in the league make year-to-year adjustments and try to be dynamic and find a way to succeed. What the Eagles are doing is trying the same formula year after year hoping they will get enough breaks and lucky bounces to win it. Unfortunately for them it doesn?t get much better than last year.
O/U 10.5:
Although the Eagles can?t make deep runs into the post-season, they can bounce with anyone in the regular season. Even in a tight division 11 wins may not be too much to ask because they are the best team there. They also play: Buccaneers, Patriots, @Bills, Jets, @Falcons, @Packers, Saints, @Panthers, @Dolphins, and 49ers.
Fantasy Sleeper:
If you?re looking for a sleeper on this team, don?t shy away from Duce Staley. A lot of people are worried about his whining, and his contract problems but the reason why he is so important to this offense is because he is a playmaker. With so few on the O already, the team will be thrilled to have Duce back. He wants a new contract, and what better way to show it than to perform well on the field.
Quick look! Did you see that? You must have missed. That was the Eagles? window of opportunity to win that just passed by. The Eagles once again had a very successful season but they had to keep the tap dance shoes in the closet because they fell short of the big dance. It will not get any better for the Eagles, it really won?t. They had it right in their hands, and they dropped the ball. They had home-field advantage against a team that doesn?t play well in the cold, and a team that doesn?t play well on turf. Even more so they got off to a great start and just went downhill after that. They really blew it. For a team that continues to try to downgrade their defense through free agency, and upgrade it through the draft while leaving an average offense in tact, the Eagles will not win the championship. Don?t expect anything more than what this team achieved last year because they have not improved in the off-season.
What we Learned from Last Year:
The Philadelphia Eagles always seem to create a craze for being a true contender, but in reality they don?t have enough. The defense was good to begin with, but they really took over once McNabb broke his ankle. We know they have a great secondary. We know that they can put great pressure on the quarterback. We know that the defense keeps them in games every single week, but the problem is if the defense doesn?t show up for one quarter of any game the Eagles chances of winning decrease greatly. The Eagles have had years to build an offense that would help out their prolific defense but the franchise has failed over and over again. The first problem the Eagles have is that they don?t draft well. That?s not to say that last year?s pick Lito Sheppard, or this year?s pick Jerome McDougle are bad selections, but the problem is that if the Eagles would have kept one of their key free agents in the past few seasons (Jeremiah Trotter or Hugh Douglas) it would have allowed the Eagles to get some offensive help through the draft. No defense in the league is scared of James Trash or Todd Dropston because they are not guys that put any fear in defensive backs. Heck not only that, these guys are speedy route runners and McNabb can barely deliver the ball to them in stride. The Eagles offense doesn?t scare anybody like the defense does. The key to beating the Eagles is picking up their blitzes, and beating their defense. Even 10 points sometimes is too big of a deficit for the Eagles to overcome.
Going back to last year the moons couldn?t have aligned better for the Eagles. Philly didn?t have to go into cold Lambeau and beat Green Bay. They didn?t have to go into a hostile environment in Tampa Bay. They didn?t even have to go indoors and play on the turf in St. Louis. One of the most important games that the Eagles had to play in recent franchise history was at home. Even at home the Eagles were not the better team that day. There?s nothing more to say.
What has Changed?:
Two years ago the Eagles lost Jeremiah Trotter to free agency, and brought in some lower caliber players to fill in, but drafted Lito Sheppard. This year the Eagles lost Hugh Douglas on the defensive line, but brought in University of Miami standout Jerome McDougle. Now the point is not to prove that the Eagles defense will take a step back, because it won?t. The Eagles have many budding stars at the DT and DE spot, but the point is that the offense hasn?t changed either. Al Harris will be replaced with Lito Sheppard. That?s also not a big deal. The problem is that the Eagles were in their absolute best position to win last year and they lost. Now this year they are no better, so how do they expect to get further? Don?t worry about Duce Staley playing/not playing. He?s good, but Correll Buckhalter and Brian Westbrook are very similar running back who can do the job. Who is going to help Donny Mac put points on the chalkboard? What playmaking WR?s do they have? Nobody.
This team hasn?t improved offensively and it is disappointing because they are so close to a championship. I don?t know if they would have had the cap room, but how nice would it have been to have David Boston? Or to have some kind of a go-to target for McNabb? The best teams in the league make year-to-year adjustments and try to be dynamic and find a way to succeed. What the Eagles are doing is trying the same formula year after year hoping they will get enough breaks and lucky bounces to win it. Unfortunately for them it doesn?t get much better than last year.
O/U 10.5:
Although the Eagles can?t make deep runs into the post-season, they can bounce with anyone in the regular season. Even in a tight division 11 wins may not be too much to ask because they are the best team there. They also play: Buccaneers, Patriots, @Bills, Jets, @Falcons, @Packers, Saints, @Panthers, @Dolphins, and 49ers.
Fantasy Sleeper:
If you?re looking for a sleeper on this team, don?t shy away from Duce Staley. A lot of people are worried about his whining, and his contract problems but the reason why he is so important to this offense is because he is a playmaker. With so few on the O already, the team will be thrilled to have Duce back. He wants a new contract, and what better way to show it than to perform well on the field.
