When the season ended, many Eagles fans were ready for brooms to come through the NovaCare complex, and clean house. After an 8-8 finish following all of the off-season acquisitions, many people thought the coaching staff did this team a disservice, and that they all should all be sent away. But let's look at this from another angle.
First, was it any of the coaches that tried to make that silly halfback pass against San Francisco that cost the Eagles the game? No. Did any of the coaches jump offside in Buffalo that allowed the Bills to run out that game? No. Did any of the coaches fail to knock the tar out of Larry Fitzgerald in the Arizona game, and not allow him to be open to score? No. And, did any of the coaches throw 4 INT's against the Seahawks? No.
But the final four games of the season is where the coaches did some of their best work. And sure, you can say it was against teams that had nothing to play for; and that they were sub-par on a talent level. But, it's still the NFL, and those games meant something, especially the Dallas game. Forget for a moment the fact that Dallas just rolled over and played dead, which was disgraceful on their part.
Eagles owner Jeff Lurie held a "State Of The Eagles" press conference shortly after the season, and many thought he would announce sweeping changes. He did not. He did state that the season was a disappointment, and that it was unacceptable. But, he also could see things from a different side. He liked how this team gelled towards the end of the season, calling it a reason for optimism. But, in his mind, this team should have been better. It was coming off a division title, and the NFC title game the year before that. He said that any team with Coach Reid, a coach that has been in the playoffs 9 out of the last 12 seasons, should not finish 8-8.
Give Lurie his due here. He is an owner, that despite the fast press conference to address the season, has not lost his cool and blown things up the way a Dan Snyder or Jerry Jones would. He is being cool headed about this, and is sitting back, and letting Reid decide who should remain on his staff, and who he needs to bring in. And that is the sign of a smart business man. He surrounds himself with quality people and lets them make the decisions they feel are best. Sometimes, Lurie might step in, but his approach in this case is spot on.
Reid is the man to coach this team. The players believe in him. I'm just not sure Castillo is the right man for the defense. I think that, as the season went on, players like Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin were able to adjust to the Wide 9 scheme, and be successful.
Let all of the new players from this season have a one year grace period to get adjusted to this new system and to each other. Besides, the Eagles were in the chase till the next to the last game of the season, and with the bad season they had, that says something. It doesn't say the NFC East is weak; did you all see what the Giants did to Green Bay this past weekend? It says that this team will be competitive next season, that it can win, and that Reid should be the man allowed to steer the ship. Lurie, thankfully, will sit back, and let the coaches do the job he pays them to do.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Eagles.....make a list. Here's one, for starters....
A very special welcome to everyone out there today, and especially those at Philadelphia Sports Nation. Yes, the season is over for the Eagles, but all is not lost. The combine and the NFL Draft is coming up, and as any football fan knows, teams can get fixed in a hurry depending on their draft. So, with that in mind, I would like to throw my two cents in on what the Eagles need to do this off-season.
1. Re-sign Desean Jackson.
Yes, I know he can be a petulant pain in the back side, but when he is on his game, he is a player that can change the game at any time (remember the punt return against the Giants?). But, without a long-term contract for him, he decided to play half-hearted, an action that turned a lot of people off. But, trust me, you would rather be angry at him while he's still in an Eagles uniform than to watch him come to the Linc in another team's colors, and burn you in a totally different way. Get him signed, get him to camp on time, and make him happy. A happy Desean is a productive and dangerous Desean.
2. Protect Michael Vick
The offensive line had some rookies starting, and they didn't do half bad. Danny Watkins had a respectable season. Lesean McCoy was in the running for the rushing title right up to the last weekend of the season, and his O-line was partly responsible. So, what can the Eagles do? For starters, get this group a bit younger. Evan Mathis will be 32 next season, and Jason Peters will be 31. My suggestion is to let some of the younger guys get in there and start to play. Dallas Reynolds could contribute, Julian Vandervelde could contribute, and in this day of younger, stronger, faster defensive ends, getting the O-line a little younger will help keep Vick off his back, and his ribs intact.
3. Get younger as a team overall
First, release Juqua Parker, who will be 34 next season. I still can't get the memory of the Buffalo game out of my mind, when he jumped offside, when everyone in the stadium, on TV, watching on-line, and listening on the radio knew that Buffalo was going to try that. Also, Joselio Hanson, 31 at the start of next year, see you later. What team is really going to be scared of throwing at a cornerback that's only 5'9"? Ronnie Brown? Remember the San Francisco game? See you later, Ronnie. You, and your 31 years of age. Vince Young? OK, I know he will only be 29 years old, but 4 INT's against Seattle is just unforgivable. If the Eagles had the Seattle win in their back pocket, we would be talking about the Eagles playing this weekend, instead of talking about their off-season moves.
4. Trade Samuel or Rogers-Cromartie for some help
In this sense, I would probably keep Samuel, and trade the younger Rogers-Cromartie. I know, I just said to get this team a bit younger. But DRC cannot cover in the slot. Teams threw at him when they figured this out. Let Samuel and Asomghua pair up as the starters, and get someone else in who knows how to play the slot. DRC could bring back either a decent pick, or some younger talent in trade.
5. Let a defensive coach run the defense
I cannot stress this enough. When I first heard that a guy that used to coach the O-line was going to be the defensive coordinator, I thought I had heard it wrong. But, sure enough, an O-line coach was brought in, and you all know the rest of the story. Yes, the D-line came together, and became very strong, but too many teams ran for too many yards, and a good, strong defensive mind in place will stop that from happening next season.
With the Eagles picking in the middle of the first round, here is a list of players they should be looking at:
1. WR Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina. Make him the #3 with Jackson and Maclin......scary!
2. Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama. This team needs linebackers, period.
3. Zach Brown, LB, UNC.
4. Luke Keuchly, LB, Boston College.
5. Cordy Glenn, T/G, Georgia. Getting younger on the O-line can't hurt.
6. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford.
That's all for now, folks. Hope everyone is having a great day, and Fly, Eagles....Fly!!!!!
1. Re-sign Desean Jackson.
Yes, I know he can be a petulant pain in the back side, but when he is on his game, he is a player that can change the game at any time (remember the punt return against the Giants?). But, without a long-term contract for him, he decided to play half-hearted, an action that turned a lot of people off. But, trust me, you would rather be angry at him while he's still in an Eagles uniform than to watch him come to the Linc in another team's colors, and burn you in a totally different way. Get him signed, get him to camp on time, and make him happy. A happy Desean is a productive and dangerous Desean.
2. Protect Michael Vick
The offensive line had some rookies starting, and they didn't do half bad. Danny Watkins had a respectable season. Lesean McCoy was in the running for the rushing title right up to the last weekend of the season, and his O-line was partly responsible. So, what can the Eagles do? For starters, get this group a bit younger. Evan Mathis will be 32 next season, and Jason Peters will be 31. My suggestion is to let some of the younger guys get in there and start to play. Dallas Reynolds could contribute, Julian Vandervelde could contribute, and in this day of younger, stronger, faster defensive ends, getting the O-line a little younger will help keep Vick off his back, and his ribs intact.
3. Get younger as a team overall
First, release Juqua Parker, who will be 34 next season. I still can't get the memory of the Buffalo game out of my mind, when he jumped offside, when everyone in the stadium, on TV, watching on-line, and listening on the radio knew that Buffalo was going to try that. Also, Joselio Hanson, 31 at the start of next year, see you later. What team is really going to be scared of throwing at a cornerback that's only 5'9"? Ronnie Brown? Remember the San Francisco game? See you later, Ronnie. You, and your 31 years of age. Vince Young? OK, I know he will only be 29 years old, but 4 INT's against Seattle is just unforgivable. If the Eagles had the Seattle win in their back pocket, we would be talking about the Eagles playing this weekend, instead of talking about their off-season moves.
4. Trade Samuel or Rogers-Cromartie for some help
In this sense, I would probably keep Samuel, and trade the younger Rogers-Cromartie. I know, I just said to get this team a bit younger. But DRC cannot cover in the slot. Teams threw at him when they figured this out. Let Samuel and Asomghua pair up as the starters, and get someone else in who knows how to play the slot. DRC could bring back either a decent pick, or some younger talent in trade.
5. Let a defensive coach run the defense
I cannot stress this enough. When I first heard that a guy that used to coach the O-line was going to be the defensive coordinator, I thought I had heard it wrong. But, sure enough, an O-line coach was brought in, and you all know the rest of the story. Yes, the D-line came together, and became very strong, but too many teams ran for too many yards, and a good, strong defensive mind in place will stop that from happening next season.
With the Eagles picking in the middle of the first round, here is a list of players they should be looking at:
1. WR Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina. Make him the #3 with Jackson and Maclin......scary!
2. Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama. This team needs linebackers, period.
3. Zach Brown, LB, UNC.
4. Luke Keuchly, LB, Boston College.
5. Cordy Glenn, T/G, Georgia. Getting younger on the O-line can't hurt.
6. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford.
That's all for now, folks. Hope everyone is having a great day, and Fly, Eagles....Fly!!!!!
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