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!!!!!
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