Eagles Season Preview Coach and Roster Breakdown
Westbrook who will be out for 3-4 weeks. The other Victor Abiamiri will return sometime during camp as well.
Coaching Situation is still the same besides two changes. Big Red Andy Ried is still the HC. The assi HC is and off cord is marty morniegweg still. On Defense a huge a change as secondaries coach and local guy Sean McDermont takes over at cord. He young but is what you’d want in an NFL coach passionate, hard at work, goal striving, doesn’t take players mistakes too kindly and coaches the Defense the sameway Jim Johnson did. Speaking of which Johnson has Melonomia again and it’s not looking like he will be back with the team. The Eagles said McDermont is now their guy. I believe he was JJ’s predicessor awhile ago. On Special Teams we have Tony Dierst who was an intern with the the team in ’06. He doesn’t change much if at all.
QB:
Donovan McNabb is the all pro starter. With a new deal and new weapons he should definitely have a good year. I predict a career best or close to it.
AJ Feeley is a fan favorite behind him while Kevin Kolb is the 3rd stringer. Not much experience and little playing time but when he did play in the reg season it wasn’t pretty to say the least.
FB:
Mac5 has a new hybrid FB for him named Leonard Weaver (via FA Seat). Scouts compare him to Mike Alstott but smaller and he’s been clocked as one of if not the fastest FB in the NFL. He can do it all. Kevin Eckel is behind him If he makes the team it’s likely on ST and maybe goal line situation. He’s a local kid who went to Episcopal Academy and Navy
RB: As always when healthy probably the best overall back in the NFL in Brian Westbrook. Battling back from surgery but he should definitely be a go by week 1 in Carolina. Behind him we have Harisburg Native and Pitt U star leSean ‘Shady; McCoy. I really loved this kid in college and he’s got strong legs and can catch as well. Really needs to learn how to pick up the blitz but running a pro style offense in College shouldn’t make it too difficult for him to digest the Birds Playbook. Lorenzo Booker is the 3rd String guy and he looks to have a more productive year.
WR: probably the Best core Ried has had as Eagles Coach. Leading the way is Kevin Curtis who battled a Sports Hernia and concussion most of the year but when on the field he did very well. It lead to the emergence of rookie Sensation DeSean jackson the first WR to start under Big Red as Rookie and first for the birds since keith Jackson. Behind them we got happily newlywed hank “The Bank’ Baskett as a big leaping deep catcher and mr Slot Jason Avant. Two not widely known WR in the league but fair well in this offense for now. Rookie Jeremy Maclin will need to study hard. He’s got the same tools as Jackson but how he goes from the spread option to a pro style offense will determine how much he produces and how much time he sees on the field. With Washington State WR Brandon Gibson Drafted and signed and log jam at wr Reggie “The Big Dissappointment” Brown Era in Philly could be over.
TE; Brent Celek after a terriffic year will start at TE this year. He’s quickly become a favorite of McNabb’s. He needs to work on his blocking. The team took a chance on Multi purpose athlete out of Florida Cornelius Ingram. He was a QB converted to TE and did extreamly well before injuring and tearing his ACL in Camp at UF last year. He’s very talented and wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the field quickly. Needs to work on Blocking. Matt Schobel is the mute 3rd stringer with Eugene Bright could challenge Matt for the final position. TE is stronger this year then last year if all stay healthy.
OL: The Ol is rated as one of the best in the NFL by a lot of teams. Big and nasty. Most likely another one of Big Reds best groups in his time but they have an argument from another group, With main stays Todd heremans at G/T and C Jamall Jackson we have newly inspired Shawn “the Big Kid” Andrews back healthy in both categories. Newly Acquired guys Jason Peters (Via Trade Buff) and Shawns big Brother Stacey Andrew (Via FA Cincy) settling in next to brother shawn the Eagles line is a huge fiercesome group. Winston Justice if he doesn’t get his act together is likley gone with Mike Gibson and Mike McGlynn (compared to Jon Runyan in paying style) with rookie Paul Faniaka in the mix his days could be gone. Max jean-giles had a good season till a broken leg prematurely ended it on Thanksgiving Night. This is an all pro group and very talented and potential talent to be very good.
DL: Trent Coles name doesn’t come up much when you think of feared Defensive ends hungary for a QB definate pro bowl type player and underrated most likely due to his size. With Quickness in Juqua Parker, Hybrid LB/DL Chris Clemons and Bryant Smith look for the Eagles to rotate with Abiamira when he comesback like they always do. DT has Brodrick Bunkley and run stuffer and Trevor Laws (2nd yr out of ND) who had a nice season as your starting d tackles. Mike Patterson & Dan Klecko in the mix along with veteran DE/DT Darren Howard we have a nice group here.
LB: At MLB a very underrated guy in Stewart Bradley. Got the starting nod at MLB last year and did very well. Probably one of the more underrated young LBs in the league. Chris Gocong is a hybrid
LB/DE and did well at the strong side last year while Akeem Jordan saw a lot of playing time at weak side by the end of the year. A good cover LB and could be a very good player in the system. Joe Mays, omar Gaither and Tank Daniels are locks as Tank is a good Special Teamer. The rest will sort itself at as camp and pre season progresses.
Secondary: Losing Dawkins hurts but Quinten Mikell is ready to Step Up. Quinten Demps looks like the starter for now as guys signed by FA Sean Jones and playmaker who could be a LB and Rashad Baker Spending time there. Macho Harris from maryland is in there as well and the guy can hit. At CB the loss of Lito Sheppard doesn’t change Much the Eagles mad ea draft day trade with NE for Ellis Hobbs. Sheldon brown if he’s cooperative will see the field as a starter with Asantie Samuel As the other. Joselio Hanson showed he can nickel them well and I think he’s underrated. Jack “Igana” Ikegwuono (Thanks for giving Jack and nickname Samuel.) in the mix. He was a highly touted top round CB in last years draft out of wisconsion but tore his ACL during work outs. Eagles took a shot at him. Ellis Hobbs comes in from a draft day trade with the Pats and looks to see time at KR and CB in either nickel, dime or 2 CB packages. Overall secondary has some questions.
K/P: Do we need to say anything? All Pro Kicker David Akers has anchored the kicking duties and set Teams marks in points and FGs. Aussie Punter Sav Rocca comes back as a punter and looks to continue to kill the ball. KR and PR most likely Demps and Hobbs with Maclin getting a look there and at PR with Action Jackson taking full duty most of the time.
Overall this team is stacked with potential and a potential Super Bowl Berth is in the mix. Look for an high powered offense mixed with Andy’s bag of tricks a violient Blue collar defense and good special teams. If people stay healthy we could be seeing these guys parade down broad and pattison in Feb.