Written by: Matthew Blunk
"Dream Team."
A harmless if
imprudent quote from Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Vince Young
brought about a storm of criticism and backlash, especially when the
Eagles stumbled to a disappointing 1-4 start to the season. Michael Vick
missed three games and was alarmingly inconsistent at times; Nnamdi
Asomugha rarely resembled the league's top shutdown cornerback; DeSean
Jackson's effort and desire frequently came into question; and head
coach Andy Reid's decision to re-assign the team's offensive line coach
to defensive coordinator was second-guessed throughout the 2011 season
(and long after it).
Clearly, the Eagles have work to do to get
better. The "Dream Team" should try and mesh better as a team. They've
gone through much scrutiny together, which should
bring them closer as a unit. Will all the negative media coverage lead
to a chip on their shoulders? That remains to be seen. But if
Philadelphia can fix what's broken on its roster, the Eagles can come
much closer to realizing their "dream."
Safety
The tandem
of Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman is definitely upgradeable. Yes, the
Eagles just drafted Jaiquawn Jarrett out of Temple last season, but he
hasn't changed the world yet. I'm not saying Philly needs the next Brian
Dawkins, but having a great safety in the last line of defense is
essential, particularly with this brand of defense. The Eagles have been
an aggressive team defensively since the late Jim Johnson coordinated.
The "Wide 9" principles of Jim Washburn and playcalling of Juan Castillo
keep that trend alive. But to truly succeed with that kind of
philosophy, you need a dependable playmaker at safety, something the
Eagles lack at the moment.
Offensive Tackle
Jason
Peters' ruptured Achilles is a cataclysmic development in Philadelphia.
In March, the Eagles dealt Winston Justice to the Indianapolis Colts
essentially to move up in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. King Dunlap
was re-signed sooner after, and Demetrius Demetress Bell was brought in
after the news of Peters' likely-2012-season-ending injury. The ever
reliable Todd Herremans moved from left guard to right tackle last
season, and figures to remain on the right side this year as well. If
the Eagles find themselves in a position to draft a stud offensive
tackle, they ought to pounce. Peters will be on the wrong side of 30
after 2012, and Herremans' optimum position is on the interior offensive
line. Dunlap is strictly on the roster for depth purposes. Bell could
be a long-term starter if he proves himself in Peters' stead. But this
could be an opportunity for Philadelphia to think both short-term and
long-term about a very important
position.
Outside Linebacker
The highway robbery
acquistion of DeMeco Ryans from the Houston Texans erases the gaping
hole at middle linebacker. Outside 'backer is still a bit murky, though.
Akeem Jordan and Moise Fokou figure to get first crack at starting
gigs, but are they really good enough? Neither player has been a
meaningful difference-maker in the NFL to date. Simply put, the Eagles
can do better. Maybe they can take Chad Greenway off the Minnesota
Vikings' hands?
2013 NFL Draft – Top Impact Players
This year’s National Football League draft gets underway on Thursday night (4/25) in New York’s iconic Radio City Music Hall. The ceremony will begin at 8ET and be televised on ESPN. One can only wonder what the wild and crazy Jets fans will have to cheer (or jeer) about now that the N.Y. …
2013 NFL Draft Primer
The 78th edition of the National Football League draft will begin on Thursday night, April 25th at 8pm ET. The official description of this event is The NFL Player Selection Meeting. This gathering will take place at the famous Radio City Music Hall in New York City. …
Concussions, lawsuits and the NFL – How did we get here?
By Melissa Harder
Next week will mark a big moment in the ongoing concussion class action lawsuit brought by over 4,000 former players against the National Football League (NFL). Lawyers for the former players will argue the matter belongs in federal court while the NFL will push for the claim to be heard in arbitration. …
