Eagles: Love and hate
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- There are three players left from the Philadelphia Eagles team that graduated to Super Bowl XXXIX, with no starters remaining. That is not a turnover. That is a teardown, with the Eagles younger, faster and greener than at any time I can remember in the Andy Reid era.
That could be good. Of course, it could be bad, too. Inexperienced players can commit mistakes that veterans do not. They also make plays that some vets can't, which is why I love following this year's Eagles. They're a fascinating study in evolution, with the club undergoing a makeover while trying to remain a division contender.
Can it happen? Sure it can. These are the Eagles, a team that went to the playoffs eight of the past 10 years. But that was with Donovan McNabb at quarterback, and he's gone. Kevin Kolb is here, and making that move took guts -- one of the things I love about this club. It is not afraid to take risks. You want to know what else? Read on:
Love
• Kevin Kolb as a passer. He has the arm. He has the accuracy. He has the confidence. And he has the right attitude to play in the Philadelphia market. "One thing I have to preach to myself," he said, "is that you can only control what happens on the field. There are so many things thrown at you, and so many angles talked about -- good, bad and ugly -- and I block it out. My college coach taught me that, and Andy [Reid] picked up on that because that's the way he is. I don't read anything, I don't look at anything, and I just focus on football. If I let those things start weighing on me, good or bad, I may start thinking I'm better than what I am. Then it affects my play, and then it's a distraction for me." See what I mean?
• The return of Stewart Bradley. A year ago, the Eagles lost their star middle linebacker in training camp and never recovered. They had a revolving door at the position, with no one holding it down as Bradley did in 2008, when he had more than 100 tackles. In fact, the club grew so desperate as the season wore on it re-signed and then started Jeremiah Trotter. Now that Bradley is back, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott can exhale. "It's going to take him some time [because he's recovering from a serious knee injury]," McDermott said. "More than anything, I just want him to play confident in himself. When he plays the way he can play the other players will pick up and follow."
• The acquisitions of Ernie Sims and Darryl Tapp. Sims is a quick, fast and aggressive outside linebacker who will hold down the weak side. Tapp is a situational pass rusher who, one former Seattle assistant told me, was Seattle's most effective pass rusher a year ago. Somehow, the Eagles managed to acquire them, another example of the rich getting richer. "I like them both," McDermott said. "They have speed and explosiveness off the ball." Or, in other words, what the Eagles did not have a year ago.
• McDermott with a year's offseason experience as the defensive coordinator. He was thrown into the job last summer after the death of Jim Johnson, one of the game's top assistants, and he scrambled to make a name for himself. In the last two games, the Eagles weren't just beaten by Dallas; they were destroyed, outscored 58-14, with McDermott and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg outmaneuvered and outgunned. Now McDermott has had time to pull his unit together, push for players he likes and make his voice heard. "It makes a world of difference in terms of timing," he said. "As a staff, we've been together since February and put together a playbook we believe in and establish a vision and the way to go about accomplishing that vision. It's made a big difference."
• The additions of special teams coordinator Bobby April and secondary coach Dick Jauron. Both are outstanding, with April one of the game's best at his position. The Eagles ranked 30th in kickoff returns and 23rd in punting last season, and April should make improvements in both areas. "I had an opportunity to bring Bobby in here," said Reid, "and I like the résumé. The great special-teams coaches are experts on angles and techniques, and that's what Bobby is." April coached in Buffalo under Jauron, who made his name as a top assistant before becoming a head coach. Jauron and Reid were together in Green Bay as assistants. I think you get the idea. These guys know each other. "When Dick was a head coach," Reid said, "he and I would always joke when we were at the owners' meetings. We'd say, 'Wouldn't it be great for one day to be a position coach again -- where you don't have all the worries?' So when he was released by the Bills I called him and said, 'Remember those conversations we had? I'm putting it out there; if you would like to come down we've got a spot for you.'"
• Their wide receivers. We all know DeSean Jackson is a gamebreaker. Get ready for Jeremy Maclin to join the club. Maclin was the team's third-leading receiver last season, scoring four times and averaging 13.8 yards per catch. Expect both those numbers to go up.
• Right tackle Winston Justice. A year ago coaches told me he was a keeper. I was skeptical. Then I watched him play. He was more consistent and outplayed left tackle Jason Peters. At one time, Justice was considered a bust. Now he's a fixture. What happened? "Here's the thing," Mornhinweg said. "You can tell an awful lot about a man when adversity hits, and he went through that thing up the highway [when he yielded six sacks vs. the Giants]. But the way he reacted to that made me think, 'Hmmm, this guy's got a chance to be a real good football player because of the way he responded.'" Looks as if he was right.
Hate
• Injuries on the offensive line, particularly at center. Jamaal Jackson hasn't recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him late last season, which means the Eagles move guard Nick Cole to that position again. Only Cole is hurt, too, sidelined with a knee injury. That opens the door for Mike McGlynn, which means more inexperience at a key position. Guard Todd Herremanns is hurt, too, but expected to be in the opening day lineup. "To be honest with you," Reid said, "I'm not that worried about the offensive line because I have experience there and quality starting experience. Plus, I have two guys who are quality starters who are Pro Bowl-level players who aren't practicing right now ... but who will be. I think that's a good situation."
• Depth at running back. There isn't much. LeSean McCoy is the starter, and while he had a nice rookie season the Eagles are asking a lot to have him carry the position. Behind McCoy is Mike Bell, who is little more than a journeyman but someone Reid swears by. Then it's special-teams star Eldra Buckley, and while he looks good in practice he's not what I would consider a quality relief pitcher. If anything happens to McCoy, the Eagles could be in trouble here.
• The NFC East. The Eagles are young. The rest of the division is not. That could mean trouble. There is no division that is stronger or more balanced than the NFC East, with Dallas considered the team to beat. Normally, that club is Philadelphia, but normally the Eagles aren't trying to get to the top with inexperience at key positions -- and that has lowered the expectations outside the 215 area code. "It's definitely a good change," safety Quintin Mikell said. "We're the hunter again."
