After reading through some of the quotes from Eagles' brass down at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL, I am about to become physically ill. After falling short of a championship, the Eagles are once again trying to convince themselves that they are better than they really are.
The following quotes from defensive coordinator Jim Johnson pretty much sum up the view of the team that is seemingly being put forth by Reid and Company:
The following quotes from defensive coordinator Jim Johnson pretty much sum up the view of the team that is seemingly being put forth by Reid and Company:
"I'm happy the way we finished, but it's tough to look at the playoffs. We're going through the [game tapes] right now and we're saying, 'We're as good as any team in the playoffs, and that's how we feel.' I think everybody knows we were one or two games away from being a really good team, or one [win] away from the playoffs. That's what's disappointing for us."
In today's paper, even the Inquirer got on board with this ridiculous "we're not all that far away":
when you look at the NFC playoffs this season, you wonder whether the Eagles can really be that far away from serious contention. Among the four finalists in the conference, the Eagles beat the Cowboys once, should have split with the Giants, and should have beaten the Seahawks and Packers. And they stayed within three points of the Patriots.
A year ago, the Eagles won more playoff games than either the Packers or Giants. In fact, Green Bay and New York were both 8-8, and it took four tiebreakers and percentage points for the Giants to earn the final wild-card spot - and an eventual loss to the Eagles.
What happened in a year? The Packers and Giants got better defensively, maybe just healthier, and both got better play from their quarterbacks than could reasonably be expected. The same formula would work fine for the Eagles. With some help at defensive end, some depth in the middle of the line, and some attention to the defensive backfield, that defense will be just fine again.
On the other side of the ball, they need another good receiver, a reliable tight end, a continuation of Brian Westbrook's healthy streak, and . . . better-than-expected play from the quarterback. That's the missing factor.
(When did Joe Banner start going by the name of Bob Ford? Or did Dave Spadaro steam Bob Ford's laptop and submit this story under his name?)
Please...please, someone tell me that this team is not going to stand pat as it sounds they are prepared to do. This is exactly the type of thinking that has doomed the Eagles since the Super Bowl season of 2004. They continue to think that the players they drafted are better than they really are and over the past three years we've learned that most of these draft picks are sorely lacking in talent.
If this team doesn't go out and either sign or draft impact players at the following positions, the 2008 season will be over before it starts:
1) A speed receiver (I really hope Donte Stallworth makes his way back here.);
2) a third corner (not sure if anyone that's decent is on the free agent market, so the draft will likely be the way to go);
3) a young safety (again, probably through the draft);
4) another pass rushing defensive end (I suppose this will be the #1 free agent target);
5) a tight end (or just bring back LJ); and
6) a kick/punt returner who preferably has never worked as a host at Chickie's & Pete's and is not a former skiier.
Yeah, it's a long list. Judging from the above quotes, much longer than the Eagles likely realize.
Please...please, someone tell me that this team is not going to stand pat as it sounds they are prepared to do. This is exactly the type of thinking that has doomed the Eagles since the Super Bowl season of 2004. They continue to think that the players they drafted are better than they really are and over the past three years we've learned that most of these draft picks are sorely lacking in talent.
If this team doesn't go out and either sign or draft impact players at the following positions, the 2008 season will be over before it starts:
1) A speed receiver (I really hope Donte Stallworth makes his way back here.);
2) a third corner (not sure if anyone that's decent is on the free agent market, so the draft will likely be the way to go);
3) a young safety (again, probably through the draft);
4) another pass rushing defensive end (I suppose this will be the #1 free agent target);
5) a tight end (or just bring back LJ); and
6) a kick/punt returner who preferably has never worked as a host at Chickie's & Pete's and is not a former skiier.
Yeah, it's a long list. Judging from the above quotes, much longer than the Eagles likely realize.
Geez, it's going to be a long offseason.
2 comments:
What did you say??
Hey doom and gloom. the sky's not falling, the football team is not the hockey or basketball team. Its gonna be alright.
For some reason I do feel they'll add another WR this offseason. Not sure why i feel this way but i do.
A punt and kick returner is a huge need as well. They had awful field position all year and thats a huge disadvangate. Its funny they tried to add here(pitifully) last year but it didn't work out.
A DE is a need this team has missed on in the past. We did not see enough of the draft pick last team so taking a gamble on him would seem foolish? It worked w/ Bunkley in year 2 but DE is too complex and important.
I feel like this draft will mirror 2002 when we loaded up on secondary players. We don't really have a choice....
We'll spend in the FA market like always. Its funny this town acts as though we're not active in FA. What they fail to realize, we are active we just don't spend every last dollar thats available....
2004 TO and Kearse
2005 Howard
2006 Curtis TKO
I guess i'd tolerate LJ for another season.
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