Team MVP: The players that makes the Eagles go is Brian Westbrook. He has been the teams MVP for the past few years, and I expect him to once again be crucial to the success of the Birds. Westbrook is one of the most versatile, and explosive weapons in the NFL. He excels at so many levels of the game. Whether it is running the ball, catching a screen pass, blocking, playing WR, or returning punts, Westbrook has always been a player opposing teams must focus on. I actually do not think there is a player in the NFL who is more valuable to their team than Brian Westbrook is to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Break-Out Player: In his second NFL season Stewart Bradley is ready to take over as the Iggles starting MLB. Stew saw most of his playing time on special teams last year, but due to an injury to veteran Takeo Spikes, Bradley was called upon to man the middle of the defense. Bradley made an impact in his first career start notching a sack, and interception, In his first NFL start against the Saints, Bradley had a sack, an interception, and was in on 3 tackles in a key goal line stand.
Bradley showed enough in the final two games of last season, and in practice to be handed the starting MLB job of Jim Johnson's defense. I think this kid will have some growing pains, but overall will be a very good player. He may even become the play making LB the Eagles defense has sorely lacked for years.
Biggest Disappointment: A player who has been disappointing Eagles fans most of his career is tight end L.J. Smith. Smith was the Eagles 2nd round pick from Rutgers in the 2003 draft, and has had his ups and downs with the Birds. While he has great athleticism, and at times shows promise, he often has issues with drops, ball security, injuries, consistency, and blocking.
I want Smith to do well, but I can't expect him to do so. An annual saying from optimistic fans is that this will be "LJ's break out year", but each year it seems he never comes through. Smith says he is healthy and appears to be in great shape, but I still do not think he will ever become an elite NFL tight end. At this point people should just hope that he can be a solid contributor, and forget about him having a break out year.
Fantasy Stud: The Eagles team MVP is also their fantasy football stud. In 2007, Brian Westbrook carried the load, and put up tremendous stats. Despite the acquisition of Lorenzo Booker, expect Westbrook to remain the focal point of the Eagles offense. He will get the bulk of the carries, and most likely reach the end zone at least ten times. Brian is especially valuable in leagues that give points for receptions, because he excels at catching the football(90 catches in 2007).
You should draft Brian Westbrook with confidence, and expect him to be a top 5 pick in most leagues.
Offensive Outlook: The Eagles offense was average in 2007, and needs to improve in '08 for the Eagles to compete for a Super Bowl. While they moved the ball well between the 20s, the Eagles struggled big time in the red zone. The Birds finished 24th in red-zone touchdown percentage, converting just 45.1 percent (23 of 51) of their trips inside the 20 into TDs.
I believe that many things factored into this low success rate, including the poor play of the tight ends, Donovan McNabb's slow recovery from an ACL repair, lack of a big possession WR, and predictable play calling.
With McNabb's knee fully recovered, a healthy L.J. Smith(pray), Brent Celek progressing some, and better play calling these numbers should improve. One more thing to keep an eye on in the red zone is WR Hank Baskett. The third year player from New Mexico, is a 6'4" college champion high jumper. The Eagles have been practicing "the fade" pattern with Baskett all training camp, and it could be tried often this year(rarely used in the past). According to the depth chart recently released, Baskett is listed as the teams 3rd WR.
Donovan McNabb hopes to completely put the knee injury from 2006 behind him. Donovan struggled early on last year, but down the stretch he seemed to return back to the "old Donovan", and that was key to the Birds finishing the season strong(won final 3 games). So far he has looked great in training camp, and look for him to once again prove doubters wrong. Last years top selection Kevin Kolb has taken a step up on the depth chart, and is now the backup to McNabb. Kolb does not have a rocket arm like Donovan does, but he is crafty and very accurate. A.J. Feeley gives the team a solid veteran 3rd QB.
The offensive line is a very talented, and deep group. Shawn Andrews has missed all of training camp, dealing with depression, and his status for the season is uncertain. Backup guard Max Jean-Gilles has been getting a lot of praise filling in for the Big Kid. If Andrews does not play for whatever reason Gilles will be ready to start, and I expect he would play well. Gilles could also wind up playing left guard if Todd Herremans struggles like he did last season. Veterans Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan will man the tackles, and both are hoping to make one last final push for a Super Bowl. Center Jamaal Jackson has been working hard to be in better shape than he was last season.
Running the ball behind this massive line will be All Pro RB, and team MVP Brian Westbrook. Brian wants a new contract off the field, but that will not get in the way of his production off the field. In fact he may play even better than last year, to prove that he deserves more money. Behind Westbrook the Eagles have solid depth with veteran Correll Buckhalter, versatile Lorenzo Booker, big bruiser Tony Hunt(on the bubble right now), and speedy Ryan Moats(appears to be on his way out).
There is a battle at FB between Jason Davis, and newly acquired Luke Lawton(Colts). This will most likely be decided in the pre season. Right now I would say Davis has the edge.
L.J. Smith claims that he will bounce back in 2008, but I won't believe it until I see it. He is healthy(for now), and has been working hard in the off season. Second year tight end Brent Celek played pretty well when given the opportunity last year, and I think you will see him be a lot more involved in the offense this season. He reminds me a lot of former Eagles tight end Chad Lewis. Matt Schobel and free agent Kris Wilson(Chiefs) will battle it out in the pre season for the 3rd tight end position.
Despite being dissed by many in the national media and fans, I feel that the Eagles have a good group of wide receivers. Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown are not stars, but they are solid football players. Curtis had a very good 20007, and after early struggles, Brown played well down the stretch. Then the Eagles add a very fast DeSean Jackson(Cal) to this group in the draft. Hank Baskett will be utilized more this year in my opinion, and could be a factor. Veteran Greg Lewis, and Jason Avant(back from sports hernia) will both have to fight to make the roster(good chance they both make it). The Birds failed to bring in a big time free agent WR, but a hard working group can be just as effective.
Defensive Diagnosis: I have high hopes for the 2008 Philadelphia Eagles defense.
The '07 defense was stout against the run(7th in the NFL), finished in the middle of the pack against the pass(18th), and was the very best NFL defense in the red zone(.364 TD %).
The problem with the D was they did not create enough turnovers. In fact they finished dead last in the NFL in interceptions(11), and dead last in the NFL in total turnovers(21). Injuries to Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard contributed to this low turnover total, but that is just inexcusable to have only 21 total defensive turnovers. To make a major impact in this department, the Eagles signed pick-off king CB Asante Samuel. The Eagles also signed pass rushing specialist Chris Clemons(Raiders), and drafted Bryan Smith to help disrupt the QB more.
The defensive line looks to be very good on paper. You have 3 top draft pick defensive tackles in Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley, and rookie Trevor Laws. Patterson and Bunkley will be the starters, and they are one of the best DT duos in the NFL. Laws will rotate in to spell those two. At right end Trent Cole hopes to continue his success of 2007 where he made the Pro Bowl. Cole is a handful to deal with, and should be busying terrifying QBs in their dreams. Darren Howard backs up Cole, and could finally start to pay off for the Birds. Howard has slimmed down for more speed, and has been earning rave reviews at training camp. Left defensive end has many guys there, but is probably one of the bigger question marks on the team. Hard working Juqua Parker(formerly Juqua Thomas) appears to be the starter as of now, but expect there to be a heavy rotation here. Victor Abiamiri was a part of this rotation, but he dislocated his wrist and will be out for 4 months(big blow). Chris Clemons will play here in long distance nickel situations, and rookie Bryan Smith is also in the mix. Former first round pick Jerome McDougle is still on the roster, and with the injury to VA could actually make the team.
The Eagles have a very young home grown group of linebackers. Omar Gaither is now considered the veteran of this bunch, and is moving back to his original position of weak outside linebacker. Gaither did well as a full time starter, but is a little undersized for middle linebacker. Taking his place at MLB will be the Eagles breakthrough player(see above) Stewart Bradley. Expect to see big things from Bradley in '08. Returning at strong side outside linebacker will be Chris Gocong. I have never been the biggest fan of Gocong, but at times he played well last year. I think a big key for him is working on playing better in space(open field tackling especially). The Eagles signed veteran Rocky Boiman, and have 3 more good looking young prospects in Akeem Jordan, rookie Joe Mays, and rookie Andy Studebaker. This group lacks experience, but could be the best LB group the Eagle shave had in the ten years Andy Reid has been the head coach.
The Eagles secondary could be the best in the NFL on paper. What team has 3 better CBs than Asante Samuel, Lito Sheppard, and Sheldon Brown? Nobody does. Joselio Hanson is the teams 4th CB, and he has really come along way since making the team off the street in 2006. Hanson reminds me a lot of another good undrafted CB the Eagles developed in Roderick Hood. Last years starting strong safety Sean Considine has lost his job to special teams captain Quintin Mikell. Mikell has been a key role player for years, and played very well in Considine's place last season. Brian Dawkins is 34, and coming off an injury plagued 2007. Many doubt his ability to still play at a very high level, but Dawkins is ready to prove the nay-sayers wrong. You can feel a sense of urgency from Dawkins to go for a Super Bowl now, because he knows this may be his last year as an Eagle.
"Red Letter: Game: The week 17 game against the Dallas Cowboys could be a game for the season. With the NFC East being so tough, I don't see any team in this division pulling away this year. This is going to be a battle war until the end, and the final game of the year could decide who makes the playoffs or maybe even the division title.
Terrell Owens returning to Philadelphia always makes for great TV. This might be a must-watch game for all NFL fans.
Projected Record/Outlook: Last year so many things went wrong. Two muffed punts against Green Bay, a 97 yard Brian Griese drive, A.J. Feeley's 7 interceptions in 2 starts, a lot of injuries(including McNabb's knee struggles + ankle sprain), a defense that did not create turnovers, and so many close losses made for a very frustrating 2007 season. The Eagles faced the toughest schedule in the NFL which made matters worse. Despite all these things working against them, Philadelphia finished 8-8, and only 1 game out of the playoffs. They also finished the season strong winning their final 3 games.
An easier schedule, a healthy team(McNabb, Smith, and Dawkins), and just a few breaks to go their way should be able to make a difference. Predicting the NFL is difficult, but I feel like this Eagles team should be able to finish 10-6 or possibly even better.
If the Eagles make the playoffs anything is possible. You can look at the New York Giants to see that any team can strike lighting in a bottle, and make a Championship run. The first step is making the playoffs, and hopefully the hungry vets like Dawkins, Runyan, Thomas, and McNabb can lead this team back to the Super Bowl.
Parting Smack: After going 8-8 last year, there is not too much smack an Eagles fan can talk. However once your team is down, the best thing is to see your division rival also go down, and that is exactly happened to the Dallas Cowboys. Tony Romo managed to top his bobbled snap debacle, by chasing Jessica Simpson around in Mexico the week before his teams first playoff game. Romo of course played like crap again, and wound up throwing the game ending death pick to seal a 2nd straight early post season exit. Cowboys fans were so proud to have 12 Pro Bowlers represent their team, but what is 12 Pro Bowlers if you can't win a playoff game? Many people have made the claim that Donovan McNabb can not win the big game, so I will now give you my parting smack.
Tony Romo can't win the little game.
Don't worry though Tony, because at least you didn't cry like a little girl after the game.
Dallas Cowboys: The Dallas Cowboys have a talented team, but they also have flopped two straight years in the playoffs. Dan from The Landry Hat will tell you that Dallas has surpassed the Iggles, but he does not have much to say when you point out that the Birds have beaten Dallas 3 of the last 4 times. Dallas added thug CB Pacman Jones, and washed up MLB Zach Thomas to their squad. Dallas is good, but the Eagles can beat them.
New York Giants: The New York Giants are the Super Bowl Champs, and beat the Eagles twice last year. The first game was the 12 sack debacle, and the 2nd was a hard fought battle to the end. They really did not add anything major to the team, but they did not do much last off season either. The biggest move they made was shipping Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans Saints. They will be tough again this year, because of their defensive line, and I expect these two games to be hard fought battles.
Washington Redskins: The Washington Redskins hired Jim Zorn to be their head coach, because Joe Gibbs bailed on them. They have a bunch of guys recovering from serious injuries, and have to be the hardest team to figure out in the division. It is tough for a first year head coach to have great success in the NFL, especially when he is changing the offensive, and defensive systems. The Redskins added veteran Jason Taylor in a trade from the Dolphins, and he could be a factor for them this year.
- Ian
Break-Out Player: In his second NFL season Stewart Bradley is ready to take over as the Iggles starting MLB. Stew saw most of his playing time on special teams last year, but due to an injury to veteran Takeo Spikes, Bradley was called upon to man the middle of the defense. Bradley made an impact in his first career start notching a sack, and interception, In his first NFL start against the Saints, Bradley had a sack, an interception, and was in on 3 tackles in a key goal line stand.
Bradley showed enough in the final two games of last season, and in practice to be handed the starting MLB job of Jim Johnson's defense. I think this kid will have some growing pains, but overall will be a very good player. He may even become the play making LB the Eagles defense has sorely lacked for years.
Biggest Disappointment: A player who has been disappointing Eagles fans most of his career is tight end L.J. Smith. Smith was the Eagles 2nd round pick from Rutgers in the 2003 draft, and has had his ups and downs with the Birds. While he has great athleticism, and at times shows promise, he often has issues with drops, ball security, injuries, consistency, and blocking.
I want Smith to do well, but I can't expect him to do so. An annual saying from optimistic fans is that this will be "LJ's break out year", but each year it seems he never comes through. Smith says he is healthy and appears to be in great shape, but I still do not think he will ever become an elite NFL tight end. At this point people should just hope that he can be a solid contributor, and forget about him having a break out year.
Fantasy Stud: The Eagles team MVP is also their fantasy football stud. In 2007, Brian Westbrook carried the load, and put up tremendous stats. Despite the acquisition of Lorenzo Booker, expect Westbrook to remain the focal point of the Eagles offense. He will get the bulk of the carries, and most likely reach the end zone at least ten times. Brian is especially valuable in leagues that give points for receptions, because he excels at catching the football(90 catches in 2007).
You should draft Brian Westbrook with confidence, and expect him to be a top 5 pick in most leagues.
Offensive Outlook: The Eagles offense was average in 2007, and needs to improve in '08 for the Eagles to compete for a Super Bowl. While they moved the ball well between the 20s, the Eagles struggled big time in the red zone. The Birds finished 24th in red-zone touchdown percentage, converting just 45.1 percent (23 of 51) of their trips inside the 20 into TDs.
I believe that many things factored into this low success rate, including the poor play of the tight ends, Donovan McNabb's slow recovery from an ACL repair, lack of a big possession WR, and predictable play calling.
With McNabb's knee fully recovered, a healthy L.J. Smith(pray), Brent Celek progressing some, and better play calling these numbers should improve. One more thing to keep an eye on in the red zone is WR Hank Baskett. The third year player from New Mexico, is a 6'4" college champion high jumper. The Eagles have been practicing "the fade" pattern with Baskett all training camp, and it could be tried often this year(rarely used in the past). According to the depth chart recently released, Baskett is listed as the teams 3rd WR.
Donovan McNabb hopes to completely put the knee injury from 2006 behind him. Donovan struggled early on last year, but down the stretch he seemed to return back to the "old Donovan", and that was key to the Birds finishing the season strong(won final 3 games). So far he has looked great in training camp, and look for him to once again prove doubters wrong. Last years top selection Kevin Kolb has taken a step up on the depth chart, and is now the backup to McNabb. Kolb does not have a rocket arm like Donovan does, but he is crafty and very accurate. A.J. Feeley gives the team a solid veteran 3rd QB.
The offensive line is a very talented, and deep group. Shawn Andrews has missed all of training camp, dealing with depression, and his status for the season is uncertain. Backup guard Max Jean-Gilles has been getting a lot of praise filling in for the Big Kid. If Andrews does not play for whatever reason Gilles will be ready to start, and I expect he would play well. Gilles could also wind up playing left guard if Todd Herremans struggles like he did last season. Veterans Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan will man the tackles, and both are hoping to make one last final push for a Super Bowl. Center Jamaal Jackson has been working hard to be in better shape than he was last season.
Running the ball behind this massive line will be All Pro RB, and team MVP Brian Westbrook. Brian wants a new contract off the field, but that will not get in the way of his production off the field. In fact he may play even better than last year, to prove that he deserves more money. Behind Westbrook the Eagles have solid depth with veteran Correll Buckhalter, versatile Lorenzo Booker, big bruiser Tony Hunt(on the bubble right now), and speedy Ryan Moats(appears to be on his way out).
There is a battle at FB between Jason Davis, and newly acquired Luke Lawton(Colts). This will most likely be decided in the pre season. Right now I would say Davis has the edge.
L.J. Smith claims that he will bounce back in 2008, but I won't believe it until I see it. He is healthy(for now), and has been working hard in the off season. Second year tight end Brent Celek played pretty well when given the opportunity last year, and I think you will see him be a lot more involved in the offense this season. He reminds me a lot of former Eagles tight end Chad Lewis. Matt Schobel and free agent Kris Wilson(Chiefs) will battle it out in the pre season for the 3rd tight end position.
Despite being dissed by many in the national media and fans, I feel that the Eagles have a good group of wide receivers. Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown are not stars, but they are solid football players. Curtis had a very good 20007, and after early struggles, Brown played well down the stretch. Then the Eagles add a very fast DeSean Jackson(Cal) to this group in the draft. Hank Baskett will be utilized more this year in my opinion, and could be a factor. Veteran Greg Lewis, and Jason Avant(back from sports hernia) will both have to fight to make the roster(good chance they both make it). The Birds failed to bring in a big time free agent WR, but a hard working group can be just as effective.
Defensive Diagnosis: I have high hopes for the 2008 Philadelphia Eagles defense.
The '07 defense was stout against the run(7th in the NFL), finished in the middle of the pack against the pass(18th), and was the very best NFL defense in the red zone(.364 TD %).
The problem with the D was they did not create enough turnovers. In fact they finished dead last in the NFL in interceptions(11), and dead last in the NFL in total turnovers(21). Injuries to Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard contributed to this low turnover total, but that is just inexcusable to have only 21 total defensive turnovers. To make a major impact in this department, the Eagles signed pick-off king CB Asante Samuel. The Eagles also signed pass rushing specialist Chris Clemons(Raiders), and drafted Bryan Smith to help disrupt the QB more.
The defensive line looks to be very good on paper. You have 3 top draft pick defensive tackles in Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley, and rookie Trevor Laws. Patterson and Bunkley will be the starters, and they are one of the best DT duos in the NFL. Laws will rotate in to spell those two. At right end Trent Cole hopes to continue his success of 2007 where he made the Pro Bowl. Cole is a handful to deal with, and should be busying terrifying QBs in their dreams. Darren Howard backs up Cole, and could finally start to pay off for the Birds. Howard has slimmed down for more speed, and has been earning rave reviews at training camp. Left defensive end has many guys there, but is probably one of the bigger question marks on the team. Hard working Juqua Parker(formerly Juqua Thomas) appears to be the starter as of now, but expect there to be a heavy rotation here. Victor Abiamiri was a part of this rotation, but he dislocated his wrist and will be out for 4 months(big blow). Chris Clemons will play here in long distance nickel situations, and rookie Bryan Smith is also in the mix. Former first round pick Jerome McDougle is still on the roster, and with the injury to VA could actually make the team.
The Eagles have a very young home grown group of linebackers. Omar Gaither is now considered the veteran of this bunch, and is moving back to his original position of weak outside linebacker. Gaither did well as a full time starter, but is a little undersized for middle linebacker. Taking his place at MLB will be the Eagles breakthrough player(see above) Stewart Bradley. Expect to see big things from Bradley in '08. Returning at strong side outside linebacker will be Chris Gocong. I have never been the biggest fan of Gocong, but at times he played well last year. I think a big key for him is working on playing better in space(open field tackling especially). The Eagles signed veteran Rocky Boiman, and have 3 more good looking young prospects in Akeem Jordan, rookie Joe Mays, and rookie Andy Studebaker. This group lacks experience, but could be the best LB group the Eagle shave had in the ten years Andy Reid has been the head coach.
The Eagles secondary could be the best in the NFL on paper. What team has 3 better CBs than Asante Samuel, Lito Sheppard, and Sheldon Brown? Nobody does. Joselio Hanson is the teams 4th CB, and he has really come along way since making the team off the street in 2006. Hanson reminds me a lot of another good undrafted CB the Eagles developed in Roderick Hood. Last years starting strong safety Sean Considine has lost his job to special teams captain Quintin Mikell. Mikell has been a key role player for years, and played very well in Considine's place last season. Brian Dawkins is 34, and coming off an injury plagued 2007. Many doubt his ability to still play at a very high level, but Dawkins is ready to prove the nay-sayers wrong. You can feel a sense of urgency from Dawkins to go for a Super Bowl now, because he knows this may be his last year as an Eagle.
"Red Letter: Game: The week 17 game against the Dallas Cowboys could be a game for the season. With the NFC East being so tough, I don't see any team in this division pulling away this year. This is going to be a battle war until the end, and the final game of the year could decide who makes the playoffs or maybe even the division title.
Terrell Owens returning to Philadelphia always makes for great TV. This might be a must-watch game for all NFL fans.
Projected Record/Outlook: Last year so many things went wrong. Two muffed punts against Green Bay, a 97 yard Brian Griese drive, A.J. Feeley's 7 interceptions in 2 starts, a lot of injuries(including McNabb's knee struggles + ankle sprain), a defense that did not create turnovers, and so many close losses made for a very frustrating 2007 season. The Eagles faced the toughest schedule in the NFL which made matters worse. Despite all these things working against them, Philadelphia finished 8-8, and only 1 game out of the playoffs. They also finished the season strong winning their final 3 games.
An easier schedule, a healthy team(McNabb, Smith, and Dawkins), and just a few breaks to go their way should be able to make a difference. Predicting the NFL is difficult, but I feel like this Eagles team should be able to finish 10-6 or possibly even better.
If the Eagles make the playoffs anything is possible. You can look at the New York Giants to see that any team can strike lighting in a bottle, and make a Championship run. The first step is making the playoffs, and hopefully the hungry vets like Dawkins, Runyan, Thomas, and McNabb can lead this team back to the Super Bowl.
Parting Smack: After going 8-8 last year, there is not too much smack an Eagles fan can talk. However once your team is down, the best thing is to see your division rival also go down, and that is exactly happened to the Dallas Cowboys. Tony Romo managed to top his bobbled snap debacle, by chasing Jessica Simpson around in Mexico the week before his teams first playoff game. Romo of course played like crap again, and wound up throwing the game ending death pick to seal a 2nd straight early post season exit. Cowboys fans were so proud to have 12 Pro Bowlers represent their team, but what is 12 Pro Bowlers if you can't win a playoff game? Many people have made the claim that Donovan McNabb can not win the big game, so I will now give you my parting smack.
Tony Romo can't win the little game.
Don't worry though Tony, because at least you didn't cry like a little girl after the game.
Dallas Cowboys: The Dallas Cowboys have a talented team, but they also have flopped two straight years in the playoffs. Dan from The Landry Hat will tell you that Dallas has surpassed the Iggles, but he does not have much to say when you point out that the Birds have beaten Dallas 3 of the last 4 times. Dallas added thug CB Pacman Jones, and washed up MLB Zach Thomas to their squad. Dallas is good, but the Eagles can beat them.
New York Giants: The New York Giants are the Super Bowl Champs, and beat the Eagles twice last year. The first game was the 12 sack debacle, and the 2nd was a hard fought battle to the end. They really did not add anything major to the team, but they did not do much last off season either. The biggest move they made was shipping Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans Saints. They will be tough again this year, because of their defensive line, and I expect these two games to be hard fought battles.
Washington Redskins: The Washington Redskins hired Jim Zorn to be their head coach, because Joe Gibbs bailed on them. They have a bunch of guys recovering from serious injuries, and have to be the hardest team to figure out in the division. It is tough for a first year head coach to have great success in the NFL, especially when he is changing the offensive, and defensive systems. The Redskins added veteran Jason Taylor in a trade from the Dolphins, and he could be a factor for them this year.
- Ian
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