Much like last season for the Eagles, the off season has not gotten off to the best start for them.
Its been 2 months since the Cardinals ended the Eagles latest run to the Super Bowl, and for Eagles fans, its been 2 months of watching the Joe Banner and Andy Reid trying to make the team better.
Trying being the key word.
So far, the Eagles has added Stacy Andrews, Sean Jones and Rashad Baker. Needless to say, those names do not make the fans hearts skip at beat. The Eagles have passed on players such as T.J. Houshmanzadeh and Derrick Ward, players that could have helped them this season.
Meanwhile, the Eagles have let every single free agent of theirs walk except Joselio Hanson. That list includes one of the corner stone of their franchise, Brian Dawkins. It includes the heart of their offensive line, Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan. And it includes the best tight end in the NFL, L.J. Smith (ok, maybe not).
But as mad as the fans are at the Eagles, take a step back, and look at where the Eagles stand right now.
They have spent virtually none of their almost 40 million dollars in cap space. Through trades, they have 12 picks going into the NFL draft.
The Eagles have the ammunition to turn this around.
Some will get on them for not putting out the money for Houshmanzadeh, but was he really worth the money the Seahawks paid him? Profootballtalk.com has reported that the Cardinals are now shopping Anquan Boldin. Do you think the Eagles would have tried to trade for him if they had already signed TJ? Now, the Eagles have to be considered the favorite to land him, and many websites link him to the Eagles.
As far as letting Dawkins walk, it was not a good move. There is no denying that he was the heart and sole of this team. But the replacement they have signed, Sean Jones, is better then people think. Over the last 3 years, Jones is 3rd in the NFL in interceptions as far as the saftey position goes. Jones has averaged more tackles and more pass deflections then Dawkins. You could look at that and blame that on the fact that the Browns defense sucks, and he had more tackle oppurtunies, but you could also credit the fact that Dawkins has more sacks and forced fumbles then Jones on the fact that Dawkins plays in a blitz happy defense, and towards the end of last season, played up on the line a lot.
While Dawkins will be missed in the locker room, on the field, the Eagles defense is just as good, if not better, then it was when the season ends.
When I wrote my Eagles Off Season Preview article, I said I hoped the Eagles let Correll Buckhalter walk. Not because I didn't like Buck, but because I knew if they resigned him, they would not draft a half back in the draft. Now? Their is a good chance that when the Eagles are on the clock for the draft, they will be debating between Beanie Wells, Donald Brown or Knowshon Moreno as their running back of the future.
Their have also been reports that the Eagles are talking to Seattle full back Leonard Weaver, a 6 foot, 242 pound pass catching, tough running player. The addition of him to the Eagles offense would be big, because it would solve their 3rd and 1 problems, and would open up holes for Westbrook that were not their for him last season.
So while many people feel down about the Eagles, look at what they have the potential to due based on their inactivity in the first 2 weeks of free agency: trade for Boldin, sign Weaver, and draft top running back.
If the Eagles take the field week 1 with Boldin, Weaver, and Moreno on their offense, would you call the off season a failure? I would say that roster makes them the favorite to make the Super Bowl. All of these moves are very possible.
So even though so far the Eagles have let Dawkins walk, passed on players, and even fired a disabled man, the off season is not over. They have used virtually none of their resources, and due to public backlash, are feeling the pressure to do so.
Much like last season, the Eagles can turn this around, and I think they will.
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1 comment:
I agree with what your saying but the problem is there are too many "ifs" in your blog. Thats the problem with the Eagles. If they do this or if they do that. Also add in another if.. If these players they keep going after that were injured come back at full strength... It seems like every player they've targeted is coming off knee injuries. Too cheap? Are they going after these players because they know they have diminished value because of their injuries? They can't possibly trying to save more money could they? They already have $40 mil that they have barely touched. Yes.. if they can get Boldin and Weaver (id rather have Derrick Ward), then they can turn this offseason probably the worst offseason ive ever seen in team history) around.
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