Philadelphia Eagles’ Return Policy: Remember Game One in 2007?

In 2006, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom in the fifth round to be their kick returner. Unfortunately, Bloom was injured for the season and the possibility of having the best returner since Brian Mitchell was put on hold.

In 2007, after much anticipation, Bloom was healthy, but ended up being released before the regular season begun. The crazy part was, he was part of the final cut, without a legitimate returner to replace him.

Andy Reid decided that he would give the ultra-talented Greg Lewis a chance. He also brought back safety J.R. Reed to help out, as well.

In case you don’t remember, that decision caused disaster as soon as the Eagles regular season started in Green Bay. Both Lewis and Reed fumbled punts that immediately resulted in low Green Bay scores, and ultimately lost the game, which sparked an 8-8 season.

Reid quickly addressed the situation by re-signing the most exciting two-yard return man in NFL history, Reno Mahe. Obviously, there was no confidence in the special team’s ability to obtain decent field position on returns.

In response, the Eagles drafted wide receiver DeSean Jackson and safety Quinten Demps in 2008. Both players gave the special team a spark not seen since 2002. The downside is Demps and Jackson are expected to eventually move on to primarily play the positions they were drafted for. 

Learning from his mistakes, Andy Reid seems determined to ensure that 2007 doesn’t happen again during his tenure.

Here’s a look at players acquired this 2009 offseason that, according to scouts, are very competent return men:

• Jeremy Maclin WR: First round draft pick
• Victor Harris CB: Fifth round draft pick
• Brandon Robinson WR: Sixth round draft pick
• Courtney Robinson CB: Undrafted rookie
• Marcus Thigpen RB/WR: Undrafted rookie
• Ellis Hobbs CB: Acquired via trade

These acquisitions give the Eagles a total of eight players going into training camp, who are dangerous return men. Four of those players (Jackson, Demps, Maclin, and Hobbs) are pretty much a lock to make the 53-man final roster. The other four players’ fate may be determined by their return ability.

As 2007 pointed out, that decision can make a huge difference between wins and losses.

Evaluating the Eagle’s Offseason, Part I: Departures

After the NFL draft every year, fans and media alike like to evaluate the selections.  Whether it’s their favorite team or the entire team, it’s every sports fanatic’s goal to assess their team’s potential.

While I’m one of hundreds who have expressed their opinion about the Eagles highly successful draft, the climatic last weekend in April is far from the only part of the offseason(which begins after the last game).

Now that the offseason is unofficially coming to an end, I’d like to evaluate focus on the other segments that will help shape the roster that travels to Lehigh in late July.

 

Part I: Player Departures

One of the hardest things to do is say goodbye to those you’ve grown to love.  Unfortunately, the harsh business side of the NFL makes it a necessary evil.  How did the Eagles handle it this year?

Brian Dawkins, FS (Denver Broncos)

Nobody, I mean NOBODY wanted to see Dawkins go. Nobody will ever fully replace him either. But, all things eventually come to an end.  How Dawkins tenure ended was a problem to me. 

I’m not mad at Denver’s offer, nor am I mad at Dawk for taking it.  I think the Pro Bowl free safety should’ve never made it to free agency to begin with. 

Grade: D-

The Eagles weren’t prepared to lose Dawk, and the fans definitely didn’t think his time in Philly would be done. They were lucky they signed Sean Jones, but who plays where in the secondary is the question. 

William “Tra” Thomas, LT(Jacksonville Jaguars)

I’m probably in the minority when it comes to Tra’s departure.  I thought it was past his time to depart, and his back issues concerned me.  Therefore, it was time to move on at left tackle, as far as I’m concerned.  My problem with losing him was, like with Dawkins, there was no concrete back-up plan. 

I’m pretty sure everyone was pro-Jordan Gross, but so was the Carolina Panthers. 

Grade: B

This could’ve been an “F,” but the trade for Pro Bowler Jason Peters was enough to make you say “Tra who?” 

Correll Buckhalter, HB (Denver Broncos)

Buck isn’t going to find a starting role in Denver.  They signed two others and drafted Knowshon Moreno with the No. 12 pick!

Regardless of what the Broncos do, letting Buckhalter is one of the best moves the Eagles could’ve made.  Having two 30-something backs as the one-two punch of your running game is a recipe for failure.  I’m glad to see the Eagles depart from that philosophy.

Grade-A+

This departure, along with the Broncos taking Moreno with the No. 12 pick, prompted the Eagles to draft Shady McCoy who is pretty the future of the Eagles ground game.

Jon Runyan, RT(unsigned)

I would’ve loved for Runyan to return for at least one more year.  His leadership and durability will be missed. Unfortunately, micro-fracture surgeries are difficult to recover from.  Especially for a 35-year-old playing a position that requires constant knee-bending. 

Grade: A

The Eagles couldn’t afford to wait and see how Runyan rehabs.

L.J. Smith-TE (Baltimore Ravens)

How this guy was franchised for the 2008 season, I’ll never know.  Smith is very athletic, but his football IQ is horrendous (so are his hands come to think of it…). 

Grade: A++

His departure actually came a year late.  In 2008, the Eagles’ determination to start him was a business move because of the tag placed on him.  That actually got in the way of Brent Celek’s progress more than anything else.  Glad we don’t have to worry about that any more.

Sean Considine-SS (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Thought to be an improvement in coverage over Michael Lewis, Considine seemed to have never recovered from a shoulder injury a couple years ago. He ended up being replaced by Quinten Mikell and used mainly on special teams.

Grade: A

Special teamers are always replaceable, and Considine still considers himself a starter.  He’ll get his chance as a Jaguar, while the Eagles move on wiith Mikell and Sean Jones.

Greg Lewis-WR (New England Patriots)

In my opinion, Lewis’s role with the Eagles had as much an impact as mine.  Between the dropped passes, undefined routes and stupid penalties, Lewis was one of the biggest liabilities on the roster.  I’m so glad Bill Belichick saw a lot in him. 

Grade-A++

I just wanted Greg Lewis gone! The fact that the birds got a fifth-round pick in return was a pleasant surprise.

Lito Sheppard-CB (New York Jets)

I loved Lito’s game-changing ability (especially against the Cowboys).  It’s a shame that his production was limited due to nagging injuries. After requesting a trade in 2008, he ended up behind Joselio Hanson (yes him!) on the depth chart. 

Grade: Incomplete

The Eagles should’ve traded him to the Saints last year for a second-round pick, but they declined.  They ended up getting a fifth rounder this year (used on TE Cornelius Ingram) from the Jets. 

His real value will be determined by his production in 2009.  That will determine the conditional 2010 pick also included in the trade.

Overall: B

The Eagles decided to move on and let go of five reserve players they ran out of use for, two ancient tackles, and an aging legend. Watching Dawkins press conference in Denver is still hard to digest, but his departure was going to happen sooner or later.

Next….Veteran Additions

The Eagles Current Defense Roster Is One Big Jigsaw Puzzle

When you look at the moves the Eagles made on the defensive side, you can’t help but think: Who is going to go where?

Not only will last year’s No. 3 ranked unit have a change in leadership, but it’s also possible that there will be five different starters from the squad that started the season last year.

One also can’t help but wonder about the status of coordinator Jim Johnson. 

Sean McDermott has learned under Johnson and is more than capable of taking over the position, but I’d rather have the blitz master patrolling the sidelines motivating the D. 

Above all else, I pray Jim Johnson recovers his health fully. 

That’s way more important than football.

A closer look at the current guys on the team….

 

Defensive Tackle

Broderick Bunkley and Mike Patterson have become quite a formidable duo on the interior of the defensive line. 

Bunkley possibly could make a run at the Pro Bowl this year. 

The starters are intact, but I would like to see more of Trevor Laws this year.

 

Defensive End

Trent Cole is a lock on the right side, no question. 

My concern is left end. 

Victor Abiamiri got off to a rough start in training camp, and I don’t think he ever recovered.  He’s serviceable, but I’m not big on Jaqua Parker starting.

Let’s hope Abiamiri stays healthy this year. 

I also expect a stronger start from Chris Clemons and productivity from 2008 third round pick Bryan Smith.  I’m not sure if Darren Howard can duplicate his 10 sack season of last year. 

 

Linebacker

Not only has Stewart Bradley cemented his spot in the middle for years to come, he’s the guy best suited to be the defensive leader with the departure of Brian Dawkins. 

Chris Gocong had a solid year, but I’d like to see him improve even more. 

The biggest question mark is Omar Gaither.

In 2007, Jeremiah Trotter gets “axed” so Gaither can man the middle. The next year the same thing happens to Takeo Spikes so Omar can slide outside and let Bradley handle the middle. 

After all of that, Gaither loses his spot midseason to undrafted Akeem Jordan(who did a decent job).  Gaither needs to want that starting spot and earn it back. 

If not, he should be preseason trade bait.  The rest of the linebackers are mainly built for special teams.

 

Cornerback/Safety

Normally I would separate these two positions, but the entire Eagles secondary is what sparked me to write this article. 

The only sure spot is where Pro Bowler Asante Samuel will lineup. 

At the other corner position, is it Ellis Hobbs?

How long before Sheldon gets shipped to another team?

Does Sean Jones start at free safety or does Quinten Mikell slide over there and let Jones start?

Is Quinten Demps ready(Don’t judge his last sighting! That was Larry Fitzgerald after all!!)? 

The Eagles obtained quite a few defensive backs via draft and undrafted signings as well.  This looks to be a very competitive summer for these guys.

 

Overall

On paper, the Eagles defense has the potential to improve on last year’s success. 

The keys are health, leadership, and placement.  If they get those things in order, nobody is going to want to line up across from them.

The Philadelphia Eagles Potential Offensive Lineup Looks Familiar

Let it be known, I have no problem with NFL team’s mimicking other team’s style of play as long as it’s productive.

For instance, Bill Walsh founded the West Coast Offense that so many teams continue to use almost thirty years later.  Tony Dungy’s “Cover 2” defense began to spread throughout the league when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl (even though Dungy was gone by then).  Rex Ryan has even resurrected his father’s “46” defense with much success.

Such is the case of the NFL because it’s the ultimate family-tree business.  A head coach grooms his assistants into head coach material.  When these coaches depart to run their own teams, they tend to take their mentors philosophy and tweak it into a form of their own, which they then use to groom their own assistant coaches and so on.

However, the key to success for these coaches is to find the right players to execute their plans to perfection. 

While Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid has implemented the West Coast offense in Philly, they’ve never fully had the pieces in place to execute it the way it’s needed.

They had Brian Westbrook to look like this decade’s Roger Craig, but it’s the other skill positions that were missing the past few years: A fullback who can catch, a balanced tight end, and wide receivers, who weren’t necessary as fast as they were quick.  All of the skill positions ran crisp routes such as slants, outs and flats.  Also, the offensive line wasn’t just productive but also balanced in run and pass blocking.

Although the Eagles signed Leonard Weaver to address their void at the fullback position, I still don’t see this as a West Coast team.  Their draft selections would’ve been different if that was the road they chose.  Their tight end pick would have possibly been Brandon Pettigrew, and their newest wideout would’ve been either one of the Giants’ draft picks (Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden) or Anquan Boldin.

The Eagles addressed their lack of weapons and holes on their offensive line.  The way this team is set up, they seem more equipped to run a spread/vertical offense similar to the Indianapolis Colts (particularly the 2006 Super Bowl Champ version).

Quarterback

Donovan McNabb is no Peyton Manning, but who is??  After years of petitioning for weapons, No. five’s 10th anniversary gift is an arsenal to work with.  He has the potential to break records with this group if he stays healthy.

Running Back

The Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy combo remind me of Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes.  Westbrook is the shorter, older Rhodes, and McCoy is the taller, fresher rookie like Addai.

Wide Receiver

Look at the prospective top three receivers.  With his size (6’1″, 200 lbs), rookie Jeremy Maclin is the exact same size as Reggie Wayne and with similar skills as well. 

While he’s definitely shorter, DeSean Jackson’s body type and style of play remind me of Marvin Harrison.  He just has to improve his route running.  Kevin Curtis could man the slot and be Ricky Proehl (who also did the same thing for the 1999 champion St. Louis Rams).

Tight End

Like I said, Pettigrew would’ve been the West Coast type tight end.  Instead the Eagles waited to select Cornelius Ingram.  Whether he starts or the birds stick with Brent Celek, either one could be a threat in the middle of the field like Dallas Clark.  The Eagles want their tight ends to be able to block, but getting down the field is more important.

Offensive Line

While McNabb is no P. Manning, Jamaal Jackson DEFINITELY won’t be mistaken for Jeff Saturday.  Having said that, he should improve with a healthy Shawn Andrews line up to his right.  Add Andrews’ brother, Stacy, Jason Peters, and a constantly improving Todd Herremans and this line can have the impact similar to Tarik Glenn, Ryan Lilja, Saturday, Jake Scott and Ryan Diem of the Colts.

After comparing the possible 2009 Eagles with the 2006 Colts, one can only hope they finish the season in similar fashion.

Day 1…Did You Really See This Coming?

Today was all about the speculations. A friend and I were on our way to Lincoln Financial Field for the Eagles Draft Party.  I’m listened to the radio hoping for a last minute move to bring in either Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin.

I just knew that the Birds were going to obtain that stud receiver today along with using the No. 21 pick on Knowshon Moreno.  Boy was I wrong.

When the Oakland Raiders selected Darius Heyward-Bey (Maryland) with the No. 7 pick instead of Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech), that was my first clue that it would be a very interesting Day 1 of the draft.

As far as the Eagles were concerned, I wanted them to upgrade at the three offensive skill positions of wide receiver, tight end and running back (in no particular order) before the day was over.

Two thirds of my request was fulfilled, but how it was done is what threw me completely off-guard.  I kept thinking to myself about the last article I wrote.  When it comes to the Philadelphia Eagles, expect the unexpected.

When Denver picked running back Knowshon Moreno (Georgia) at No. 12, there definitely were a few grumbles echoing throughout the Linc.  Many fans felt he was the only option at running back.

I kept thinking that the best next option is LeSean McCoy(Pittsburgh) for running back, but they definitely were going to have to trade up in the second round for him. 

Before that though, let’s keep our fingers crossed that tight end Brandon Pettigrew stays available until pick No. 21.

When the Eagles traded with the ultra-generous Cleveland Browns to jump up to pick No. 19, I was prepared to cheer for our new starting TE. 

Then came the shocker.  The Eagles selected wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (Missouri) and all I could do was just stand still for five minutes with my jaw dropped.  Initially there were mixed feelings surrounding me.  Some fans loved the pick, others hated it. 

Once recollected my thoughts and came back to Earth, I thought about previous reports about Maclin.  He was the No. 2 wideout in this draft behind Crabtree.  He was projected to be a top 10 pick.  Simply put, he fell right to the Eagles as a gift and I’m happy they cordially accepted.

I didn’t pay much attention to him before the draft because I figured if he’s a top 10 prospect there’s absolutely know way he’ll end up in midnight green.  Thank God mock drafts are meaningless.

The Eagles need to send another thank you present to Al Davis (the first for the win over Tampa last year that helped the Eagles reach the post season). You see, if he didn’t have such an infatuation with speed, the Raiders would’ve selected Crabtree instead of Heyward-Bey, prompting the San Francisco 49ers to take Maclin at No. 10. 

Yes, the Eagles could’ve still taken Pettigrew but Maclin is actually a better fit. Also, there are still quite a few tight end prospects available that could contribute immediately.

To top the day off, the Eagles were able to select McCoy in the second round without having to trade up.  McCoy actually is a player I originally felt would fit the Birds style of play better than Moreno. 

I truly believe the Harrisburg, Pa., native will be the heir apparent to Brian Westbrook.

Once again, the Eagles made a move nobody saw coming.  Unlike previous years, I must say it was a pleasant surprise.  They addressed a need fans screamed about for years and they kept their first round pick. 

I’ll give them an A for Day 1 of the draft. Now it’s time to look forward confidently to Day 2 selections….

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