Can the Eagles get it all done?

[Phanatic]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=citadel-2_492013_67&prov=citadel&type=story

The Eagle Eye: What We See and Hear

Chuck Hixson - Scout.com
January 23, 2006 at 10:24am ET
Keeping our eyes peeled wide open and our ear to the ground, we bring you various news and notes heard along the way. They come from various sources with various thoughts, but they provide some insight into how the 2006 Eagles may look.


RB Brian Westbrook is a versatile back who can cause matchup problems in the passing game when the defense tries to cover him with a safety or linebacker. He's a good perimeter runner, but isn't very effective between the tackles. Persistent fears about his durability were confirmed again when he went down with a foot injury late in the season.
It will be interesting to see if the Eagles try to bring in another featured back to provide cover for Westbrook's injury history or if they stick with the crop of young backs already on the roster.
I agree with this. Westbrook is good and all but can he be the go to guy at running back?


RB Ryan Moats is a similar style runner to Westbrook, versatile and elusive on the perimeter but not as effective between the tackles. It's a long shot that he'll ever reach the status of Westbrook and appears headed for a backup type career.
I thought he looked good at times, but he does seem like a lesser Westbrook.

RB Lamar Gordon was inadequate as a short-yardage back for the Eagles. Don't look for him to get much attention from the Eagles and he might not even be a part of the 2006 Eagles.
Guess he's gone.

FB Josh Parry is not a very good blocking fullback. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, but doesn't have the speed to do much with it after the catch. In other words, he can't block and he can't run, which isn't a lot of help, is it?
Amen and Parry Sucks!!

TE L.J. Smith was on a 90-catch pace early in the season before QB Donovan McNabb got hurt. Trouble is, he's not a very good blocker, which has hurt the Eagles' perimeter running game. Since the birds have a lot of perimeter type runners, Smith doesn't provide a lot of help. This is one guy that McNabb definitely makes better and more useful by being able to get him the ball. Smith owes Donovan big-time.
I wouldn't think that it would be hard to pick up a blocking TE to compliment LJ. Draft one in the 1st round

TE Chad Lewis re-signed with the Eagles at mid-season, but probably won't be back next season. He's well liked and respected in the locker room, but just simply doesn't fit into the Eagles' plans.
Chad is gone? But he's a Mourman!!

WR Reggie Brown had a solid rookie season, catching 43 passes with four touchdowns. Coach Andy Reid has called him the most talented receiver he's coached. But with Terrell Owens gone, the sense is the Eagles need to find a solid veteran to pair with Brown.
Don't be surprised if in a few years, the Eagles are looking for a young receiver to pair with Reggie Brown, who they'll then refer to as a "solid veteran".
Get Moulds!!

WR Todd Pinkston, who missed all of last season with an Achilles' tendon injury, is a vertical threat who averaged a league-best 18.8 yards per catch two years ago, when he was playing opposite Terrell Owens.
No, he doesn't have the ability to take over for Owens, even if he is healthy. In fact, with the emergence of Brown, Pinkston better have rear view mirrors installed on his helmet.
If the Eagles don't add a reciever and we go with Brown and Pinky I'll jump off a bridge!

WR Greg Lewis was in over his head last season when he was forced into the starting lineup. But he can be a good number three or number four receiver. He's got good hands, pretty good speed and a knack for finding the hole in a zone. In the right role, he can provide some help.
...a Godamn bridge I say!!

LT Tra Thomas , an often inconsistent player, has a high salary cap number and is coming off major back surgery. He might not be back nest season. The talent is there, but the desire - and now, a healthy back - appear to be lacking.
The Eagles are determined to rebuild the defense and Thomas will likely be lost in the shuffle or see a severe cut in playing time. Although with the big cap number that he brings, he'd be a pretty high-priced backup.
Expensive depth

OL Todd Herremans , a rookie, played pretty well in place of injured starter Tra Thomas before breaking his leg. As long as he can get himself healthy, the Eagles are very high on what Herremans can provide.
another as long as... YAY!!

RT Jon Runyan , 32, is an unrestricted free agent. The Eagles would like to re-sign him, but they don't want to overpay him because of his age. Runyan has made it pretty clear that he's looking for a pretty good sized payday and while he loves playing in Philadelphia, it's likely that he'll test the market.
Losing Runyan? Say it ain't so!

RG Shawn Andrews , who played at a much-too-heavy 370-plus pounds this season, might slide outside to replace Jon Runyan if Runyan becomes a free agent. Andrews needs to make the most of the potential opportunity and slim down some to more effective.
He needs to go on Andy's diet

C Jamaal Jackson replaced Hank Fraley after Fraley got hurt at mid-season, and played well. He's bigger and stronger than Fraley and probably will be the season-opening center.
Anyone have an opinion on this?

DT Mike Patterson , the Eagles' first-round draft pick, played OK for a rookie. He certainly gained some respect and outplayed fellow DT Darwin Walker who was a major disappointment.
Hopefully Patterson gets better and better

DE Jevon Kearse had a disappointing season, despite his 7 1/2 sacks. He never has developed an inside pass-rush move, which has enabled tackles to ride him to the outside.
He's now 30 years old.

DL Jerome McDougle, the Eagles' 2003 first-round pick, missed the entire season after getting shot just before the start of training camp. McDougle has recovered well and has put on a lot of the weight that he lost because of the shooting. Time and training camp will tell if he's ready.
I really hope that he comes back and plays well...

MLB Jeremiah Trotter was one of the league's better run-defending inside linebackers and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl. Trotter just keeps getting better and better and has stepped up to take a leadership role on the Eagles defense.
Trotter rules!!

LB Dhani Jones had a disappointing season. The Eagles' decision to turn the undersized Jones into a strongside linebacker has not worked very well. The Eagles likely will move Jones back to the weak side and bring in a new strongside linebacker.
So Dhani has one more excuse to use and this is finally the year that he lives up to this contract.

LB Keith Adams had a disappointing season as a starter. Adams is better suited for a special teams and backup role.
Sounds good to me

LB Matt McCoy was the Eagles' second-round draft pick, but he never got on the field, mainly because of problems picking up coordinator Jim Johnson's defense. The Eagles are expecting McCoy to make a significant contribution in '06.
Sounds like he could go either way. LB through Agency?

CB Lito Sheppard , hurt by the lack of a consistent pass rush, got beat much too often and must play better in 2006 or risk falling down the depth chart. The same is true for Sheldon Brown . Both players should be hoping and praying that the Eagles can find a way to put together a better pass rush and take some of the heat off of the secondary.
Tito get me some tissue!!

SS Mike Lewis, a former Pro Bowler, was terribly inconsistent and made a slew of mental mistakes that resulted in busted coverages and missed assignments.
He should be back to form next year

FS Brian Dawkins is 32 and wasn't the same playmaker in 2005 that he's been most of his career. Again, the lack of a pass rush could have contributed, but Dawkins is starting to show wear and tear.
Blasphemy

CB Rod Hood moved into the starting lineup after starter Lito Sheppard got hurt and played very well. He's a restricted free agent who could draw some interest from other teams, but the Eagles won't let him go. Sheppard and Brown should be paying attention to just how much the Eagles are willing to give Hood, because while they regressed, Hood moved ahead in 2005.
Meanwhile, while Hood will likely see a good amount of time in the secondary, he could well have seen the last of his kick return duties. Ryan Moats and Bruce Perry are the leading candidates for that job.


PR Reno Mahe doesn't have great speed, but is sure-handed and managed to average a league-best 12.8 yards per return in 2005.
Reno's going to make the team again!! I'm so excited

The kicking game appears set. David Akers is one of the league's very best kickers and P Dirk Johnson missed much of the season with a sports hernia, but will be back. He doesn't have a great leg, but is consistent and has a good net average. In other words, he gets the job done. 

My biggest concern out of all this is the offensive and deffensive line. If Runyan leaves the o-line is losing a great player and leader. Certainly at his age he should get his pay day though....

D-Mac won't have the time he needs and the running game will be the usual crap

The D-Line will get no pressure and Lito will look like Tito all over again...

Why am I pessamistic about next year? Can they get it all done?

[PhillyPhreak54]

Jamaal Jackson has a better than 50/50 shot at being the opening day starter. He's pretty good and he has the size advantage over Hank.

[Displaced]

I agree with you on Jackson Phreak.  I have felt the Eagles have needed to upgrade at the C position way back when Olin Kreuts (sp?) was available. 

Honey buns gives everything he has but there is pressure in Donnie's face too quickly way too often.  I believe he is the reason the offense does poorly against the 3-4.  He gets shoved and smacked around all the time.  I believe he is the reason the Eagles can't run up the middle either.

I don't know if Jackson is the answer.  I like his size and he seems to have the ability to root defenders out of the middle but I have to see him make some more line calls and set the protection to become a true believer.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I was high on Jackson last year until he got hurt in camp again and I heard that they had soured on him because of his inability to stay healthy. So I was somewhat surprised to see him stick around.

Fraley filled in very well from the time Bubba Miller went down, but even around this time last year I wanted to see an upgrade at the C position. I was hoping they could get Chris Spencer in the 2nd but SEA ended up getting him in the 1st round.

Jackson got valuable experience this year. The biggest thing he needed was to be able to recognize fronts and be able to make the calls and he did well. If he can stay healthy I think he could be a long term answer there.

[LBIggle]

i really hope people are joking when suggesting a TE in the first round. 

[Zanshin]

Can't say I'm really on board with the Moats assessment.  From what I've seen, he runs between the tackles better than Westbrook.  I know that isn't saying all that much, but there it is.

[MURP]

That is a failry accurate take on the Eagles from Scout.com.  Other than lumping Sheldon in with Lito last year. 

[Wingspan]

Can't say I'm really on board with the Moats assessment.  From what I've seen, he runs between the tackles better than Westbrook.  I know that isn't saying all that much, but there it is.

seeing that was concurrent with jackson taking over at center, i would tend to beleive that westbrook can have success running between the tackles as well.

[mussa]

they need to get the ball in moats hands next year.  he's just like westy, but seems to run more downhill.  he's bound to bust a big run everynow and then.  3 headed monster.  who's gona be number 3?  buck? yea right.  hey i am all for a big running back.  hell bring dorsey back!

i am also concerned with both lines.  whats the market for DE and DT's this year as far as free agency?  i say we go OL or DL 1st round.  Trade up for the best guy available. 

[Zanshin]

I think Jackson is more physical, but still....Moats doesn't have all the skills that Westbrook has, and he might be dumb as rocks...but he certainly seems to run with more power than Westbrook inside.

[SunMo]

regarding Westbrook, Reid has to utilize him better.  more screens, traps, and pitches.  Westbrook isn't an I-formation, up the gut runner, but he is a very fast, elusive runner who you need to get in space.

[henchmanUK]

Off the top of my head, things I think we need to address to get us back to the level we were at this time last year.
A backup QB
Starting SLB
A big running back
More consistency from Kearse
A wideout
Better playcalling

Do I think all of this is going to get done? Some, but not all. At the moment I see us being around a .500 team next season.

[Wingspan]

That is a failry accurate take on the Eagles from Scout.com.  Other than lumping Sheldon in with Lito last year. 

sheldon was as guilty as lito was. lito just gets noticed more.

however, that being said, a semi-effective pass rush would go miles to cure the blunders in the secondary we saw all season.

[SunMo]

Do I think all of this is going to get done? Some, but not all. At the moment I see us being around a .500 team next season.

that's rediculous, they're a 9-7 team this year with a healthy McNabb.  the situation is not a bleak as many think.  do they need to make moves?  yes.  are they a couple years away from playing for the NFC crown again?  no, they can do that next year if the offseason goes well.

[mussa]

sheldon was holding his own til lito started getting burned.  then they started to pick on brown.