You heard it here first! (Actually, you didn’t, because I never bothered to write it.) But I did predict at the beginning of this season that the Philadelphia Eagles would turn their 6 wins / 10 losses season from last year to a 10 wins / 6 losses record for this year. Predictions from most fans seemed to be more optomistic, while sportscasters were more pessimistic. I didn’t see a great team coming out of last year; there were just too many things that went wrong to blame it all on T. O. and the injuries to McNabb and others. But I knew we had a good team nonetheless, and that Andy Reid would bring them around.
Now, after yet another season-ending injury to McNabb, it looks like the Eagles are going to make my prediction come true if they can defeat the talented but hapless Falcons next week. How is it that the team seems to be better with Jeff Garcia than with Donovan McNabb?
Despite all the accolades, I don’t think it has much to do with Garcia. He has done a great job, but his primary advantage is that he hasn’t made many mistakes. He doesn’t need to make highlight reel plays, he just has to keep the ball and steadily march downfield. The difference has been that the team hasn’t been able to depend on McNabb making the huge downfield plays. We have one of the best offensive lines in football, a great pass-catching and stretch-playing running back in Westbrook, and a pretty good between-the-tackles running back in Buckhalter. Given the opportunity to combine with a few screens, fast slants and out routes, and the occasional deep ball to keep the defenders honest, this line and backfield has shown it has the ability to maul the opposing defense. McNabb is a great player, but with a field of mediocre wide receivers you don’t want a quarterback carrying a pass-happy offense.
Through much of the season the Eagles defense has looked bad, but I think it has all been up front. The secondary of Brian Dawkins, Lito Sheppard, and Sheldon Brown are just phenomenal, but any defense is going to get beat when the front 7 can’t put a consistent pass rush together. Primarily, I think our problem has been with the outside linebackers. The defensive line hasn’t been making a lot of plays, but their primary responsibility is to open holes for the linebackers to come into the backfield unblocked and to pick up blockers in the run game. The problem has been that our linebackers refuse to stay in their gaps and can’t seem to make tackles. Thankfully, it seems Omar Gaither, Quentin Mikell, and others have gotten us back to the bend but don’t break Eagles defense of yore. There are few things better than a successful four-down stand against a great running back like Tiki Barber or Marion Barber III.
Are the Eagles going to go far in the playoffs? I don’t know. They are peaking at the right time, and the rest of the NFC looks fairly putrid. Only the Bears and Saints look like a really significant challenge. I can’t see the NFC winning the Super Bowl, though. Even if the unstoppable Chargers don’t make it, Indianapolis and Baltimore are both playing ridiculously well.
What do the Eagles need for next year? I would say mostly to hold onto their current players and keep them healthy. On offense I wouldn’t change a thing about the line or the backs. Getting McNabb healthy will be good if Reid and Mornhinweg stick to this play-calling. Hopefully Garcia will stick around despite clearly being capable of begin a starter somewhere. The cadre of receivers aren’t great, but I’m not sure we need a great wideout. Then again, it’s hard to imagine how good this offense could be with someone with the talent of Owens but a good attitude. Defensively I like the corners and free safety. If Michael Lewis were willing to remain a run specialist, I like the combination of him and Considine, but we probably need to look at a strong safety. Trotter is still playing well, but a good veteran outside linebacker would be a great free agent signing. On the line I feel good about the ends, but a better defensive tackle would be nice. Maybe after actually going through an entire training camp Bunkley will start performing. I don’t know, but this win over the hated Cowboys was a great Christmas present, and I am feeling good about the future. Fly, Eagles, Fly …