What if the goal has changed?

Feva · March 22, 2006, 01:39:42 PM

That article is dead on. This year is a true test to see if Andy/Heckert/Banner's way of doing things is the right way or not. Since the middle of last year, everyone and their momma has been shteinting on the Eagles every chance they've gotten and we've had to grin and bear that shtein with the thought of "The team will return in 2006 healthy, we've got the #14 pick, and a shteinload of cap room to adequately fix the holes that showed themselves last season." You can't ask for a better situation if you're looking to bounce back from a down year.

In the back of my mind though, I've had the fear that they would simply write off last season as being, "all about injuries..." and "all about T.O." and that no doubt was part of the equation, but there were also holes that were brought to light in a major way. While they seem to have addressed some adequately (Howard, Garcia and even Schobel) they've seemed to keep things status quo on others (Barber, Jones, DT). Not saying that things need to be blown up and start all over again, but a 6-10 season where you went 0 for the division calls for at least some change in the way things are done. This FA period to this point, saw the Eagles fill some holes no doubt, but also miss on a lot of other chances to improve IMO.

I'm not going to sit here and say the FO doesn't care about winning, because I don't think that's the case... but when you see quality players in areas of need, going elsewhere (and a number of them at pretty reasonable prices)... it's kind of tough to swallow that the Eagles won't even entertain a visit. I dunno if that should be the approach of a team coming off a 6-10 season. But we should all listen to Spads when he says that "The Eagles really didn't like any FA ___'s out there on the market, but they love 'random UDFA'."

I've loved this FO's way of doing things in seasons past... and despite how this may have sounded, I think the philosophy largely has been a sucessful one. But I hope a sometimes "unwillingness to change" doesn't get things going in the wrong direction.

reese125 · March 22, 2006, 02:10:11 PM

Quote from: Sun_Mo on March 22, 2006, 11:41:30 AM
Every year, every team says it's their goal to win the Super Bowl, obviously that is a more realistic goal for some teams over others. Ever since the Eagles lost the NFCCG to St. Louis, their realistic goal each season was to get to and win the Super Bowl. What if that isn't the true goal this year?

Donovan still has at least 5 good years in him, the RB, WR, TE, secondary (except dawk) are all young. What if the goal this year, instead of patching holes to make another run at the Super Bowl, is to go with the youth movement, especially along the OL and DL and rebuild towards a Super Bowl run next season, or the one after that. Not necessarily sacrificing this season, but using it mainly to get these young guys (Herremans, Jackson, Clarke, Young, McCoy, Brown) ready to make a run?

It sounds somewhat stupid, but there is some evidence to suggest this may be the plan:

Shawn Barber - a cheap, one-year WIL who knows the system, he may be ok, but they won't have a problem mixing in McCoy at his spot because he isn't making a lot of money
They targeted LeCharles Bently, a young stud C that they could build their revamped line around, but when they didn't get him, didn't go after Mawae
They didn't sign or trade for a #1 reciever, someone that could stunt Reggie's development
They still haven't signed Runyan, or any other OL help, making it more likely that they will go with all youth on the line and probably draft a LT to replace Tra next year

So, it's possible that they are willing to take their hits with the growing pains this year in hopes that they are able to build to a run in the next couple years. It would certainly explain why they have made some of the questionable moves that they have made this offseason.

SunMo, you cant really believe this? You think Andy, Jeff and Tom sat down after the season and said, "Man, what a zesty season boys....well...looks like we got to rebuild now huh?" What impact players did we lose, besides T.O., that alters your decision of how well we do this season? You know what Barber is going to do? He could make the ProBowl this year for all we know? He got a 1-year because of his injury..smart by the eagles. Bentley is the 3rd best OL in the league--there is no youth movement there.You know how old the NE Patriots front line was on offense when they won 3 Superbowls? Take a peek. I think the average age was 27.

The only organizations that go in with the mindset of "we'll be ok this year" are the Niners and Texans, not playoff/superbowl caliber teams that come off one bad season in 6 years. The only question I have are the WR's, but again we all question that every year.....

rjs246 · March 22, 2006, 02:27:16 PM

I am not convinced that the Eagles are a superbowl caliber team at thsi point. McNabb and the returning injured should make them a playoff team again, but it's possible that they are onnly the second or third best team in their division.

SunMo · March 22, 2006, 02:28:47 PM

Quote from: rjs246 on March 22, 2006, 02:27:16 PM
I am not convinced that the Eagles are a superbowl caliber team at thsi point. McNabb and the returning injured should make them a playoff team again, but it's possible that they are onnly the second or third best team in their division.

and I agree, but had they truly wanted to be a Super Bowl caliber team, they could've accomplished that with their cap room, but they only added marginal players, feeding my theory that they are slightly rebuilding this year.

reese125 · March 22, 2006, 02:32:03 PM

Quote from: rjs246 on March 22, 2006, 02:27:16 PM
I am not convinced that the Eagles are a superbowl caliber team at thsi point. McNabb and the returning injured should make them a playoff team again, but it's possible that they are onnly the second or third best team in their division.

....and did anyone even remotely think the Seattle Seahawks were before the season started last year?

rjs246 · March 22, 2006, 02:33:29 PM

Yes. Lots of people did, actually.

SunMo · March 22, 2006, 02:34:00 PM

haha

reese125 · March 22, 2006, 02:39:14 PM

Quote from: rjs246 on March 22, 2006, 02:33:29 PM
Yes. Lots of people did, actually.

yeah really, try again.....every single analyst finally gave them props around the 12th game of the season. All of them on TV said the same teams as usual...Patriots, Colts, Eagles, Carolina.

rjs246 · March 22, 2006, 02:42:00 PM

Look, smart stuff, everyone recognized that Seattle was a playoff team and that they were one of only a few NFC teams that had what it took to be contenders. What do you want? A notarized spreadsheet of all of the pundits who said that Seattle would be the bestest NFC team? To use them as some sort of comparative example when talking about the Eagles is laughable.

ice grillin you · March 22, 2006, 02:42:29 PM

actually lots of people have been on the seahawks since 04 as the nfc favorite...they played like dogs that year but came back and did what everyone expected last year

hbionic · March 22, 2006, 02:43:01 PM

I agree with Eaglefeva....

I think howard is for the long term...schobel to back up LJ incase he keeps farging up and/or injured....gaffney and barber only to plug up holes......

McNabb, westbrook, Dawkins, Trotter, Lewis, Brown, Kearse are the main veterans on the team, other than runyan that we can sustain a competitive team and carry us for the next 2 years. I think we're ok....

other than not bringing in hutchinson and bentley...its been a normal non-exciting eagles offseason. (kearse and TO were the exception)....so we can pretty much expect another mundane draft and a competitive 'team' on the field as long as we're healthy.

I trust the FO but it sucks to feel like we've missed the boat. Because, again, what the farg can I do about it?

reese125 · March 22, 2006, 02:46:39 PM

Quote from: rjs246 on March 22, 2006, 02:42:00 PM
Look, smart stuff, everyone recognized that Seattle was a playoff team and that they were one of only a few NFC teams that had what it took to be contenders. What do you want? A notarized spreadsheet of all of the pundits who said that Seattle would be the bestest NFC team? To use them as some sort of comparative example when talking about the Eagles is laughable.

if you could provide that for me, that would be great..thanks.

rjs246 · March 22, 2006, 02:47:22 PM

Ownt? Yes.

Phanatic · March 22, 2006, 02:48:48 PM

Look at the teams and how they played in the super bowl. Really it is anyone's ball game in the NFC. The Eagles did enough to be competative but didn't make strides to seperate themselves from the pack. I really think that there wasn't much they could do about that this year because of the condition of the FA market and every team getting room under the cap. I think they are in the mix this year and maybe make a more serious run next year. Who knows though. Once TO torches us for 500 yards in that first game we're done like dinner....

ice grillin you · March 22, 2006, 02:54:49 PM

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