In order to increase my knowledge of the NFL, I've started an individual project to create a "Streets and Smiths"- like Season Preview of every team in the NFL.
I've started and finished the Philadelphia Eagles. Tell me what you think!
Philadelphia Eagles
2006 Statistical Rankings:
Total Offense: 2nd
Rushing: 11th
Passing: 3rd
Scoring: 6th
Total Defense: 15th
Rushing: 26th
Passing: 9th
Scoring: 15th
Third Down Offense: 8th
Third Down Defense: 25th
Turnovers: 9th
Sacks: 8th
Key Additions:
QB Kelly Holcomb (trade-BUF)
WR Kevin Curtis (STL)
RS Bethel Johnson (MIN)
DT Ian Scott (CHI)
DT Montae Reagor (IND)
OLB Takeo Spikes (trade-BUF)
Key Losses:
QB Jeff Garcia (TB)
WR Donte Stallworth (NE)
DT Darwin Walker (trade-BUF)
OLB Shawn Barber (HOU)
CB Rod Hood (ARI)
S Michael Lewis (SF)
Draft:
2. QB Kevin Kolb
2. DE Victor Abiamiri
3. OLB Stewart Bradley
3. RB Tony Hunt
5. S CJ Gaddis
5. TE Brent Celek
6. CB Rashad Barksdale
7. FB Nate Ilaoa
Quarterbacks:____ooooo
Running Backs:___oooo
Receivers:_______ooo
Offensive Line:___ooooo
Defensive Line:___ooo
Linebackers:_____oo
Defensive Backs:_oooo
Special Teams:___ooo
Coaching:_______oooo
The Philadelphia Eagles� roller coaster season was characterized by unpredictability. After cruising to a 4-1 start, in which the loss of Jevon Kearse in Week 2 appeared to have no impact on the team, the team fell hard through the middle part of the season, dropping to 5-6, allowing 168 yards per game on the ground during that span and losing Quarterback Donovan McNabb for the season with a torn ACL. Then during what appeared to be the most brutal part of the season, the distraught team rallied around former Pro Bowl QB Jeff Garcia and a new found commitment to the running game to win the NFC East and drive to the NFC Divisional Playoff round where Sean Payton�s surging Saints simply outplayed the Eagles.
Thus Philadelphia went into the off-season merely with a phony QB controversy, a Swiss cheese run defense and an undersized backfield. Five months later, Jeff Garcia is gone, as is speedy deep threat Donte� Stallworth. Former Pro Bowler Safety Michael Lewis moved out of the Eagles doghouse to San Francisco while Nickel Corner Rod Hood and DT Darwin Walker will compete for jobs in Arizona and Buffalo, respectively.
The Eagles sacrificed Walker�s pass rush skills to acquire Takeo Spikes; at one time possibly the best OLB in football. He is set to solidify a Linebacker group that lacked playmakers last season. Montae Reagor was added from Indianapolis to provide pass rush on Third Down, while the Eagles signed Ian Scott to further solidify the run defense, should last year�s #1 pick Brodrick Bunkley disappoint for a second straight season. Additionally, Kevin Curtis was acquired from St. Louis to assume Stallworth�s role as the split end in Andy Reid�s big play offense.
McNabb�s health is perhaps the biggest determining factor whether the Eagles will be Super Bowl contenders. Should he go down, the familiar face of AJ Feeley should step in unless Kelly Holcomb, acquired with Spikes, should beat Feeley out in Training Camp. Kolb will most likely not see the field this or next year, but the Eagles were clearly over the moon with him to invest their first pick in him.
At Running Back, Brian Westbrook comes off a career year in which he proved critics claiming he wasn�t a pure runner wrong by rushing for 1217 yards. In total Westbrook finished with 1916 yards and 11 TDs. Hunt was drafted to provide the power running game which had been missing since the days of Dorsey Levens in 2004. "Nasti�? Nate Ilaoa is a "human bowling ball�?-type runner who will be tried out at both FB and RB. Explosive yet disappointing Ryan Moats and experienced Correll Buckhalter compete for a spot to replace Westbrook should he go down again. Thomas Tapeh is the FB and will most likely hold off any threat from Jason Davis and Nate Ilaoa.
At Wide Receiver Reggie Brown is set for a breakout season. Putting up solid numbers in his first two seasons in Philadelphia, he is now ready to be the #1 option at wide out. Across from him Kevin Curtis will look to replicate his 2005 season when, filling in for injured Isaac Bruce, Curtis started 9 games hauled in 60 catches for 801 yards and 6 TDs. He will compete with Hank Baskett who put up solid numbers in his rookie season, despite not being drafted. Further competing for roster spots are Jason Avant and Greg Lewis, along with Return Specialists Jeremy Bloom and Bethel Johnson. LJ Smith, entering a contract year, has had his production limited with injuries to McNabb the past two years and should emerge as a top flight TE with 16 games of healthy McNabb. Matt Schobel and rookie Brent Celek provide depth.
The Eagles Offensive Line was arguably the best and most healthy group in the NFL in 2006 and can be largely credited to the Eagles� late season success. Former Pro Bowl bookends Jon Runyan and William Thomas return for their eight season together as starting OTs. Shawn Andrews emerged as arguably the best Guard in football last year and returns along with Todd Herremans and Jamaal Jackson to form one of the NFLs most formidable groups. Second year prospects Winston Justice and Max Jean-Gilles are waiting in the wings.
Like seemingly every year, no area will see as many new faces as the Defensive Line. Jevon Kearse got off to a red hot start before going down for the year in Week 2. Darren Howard disappointed in his first season in Philly and will look to bounce back with a healthy Kearse opposite him. Trent Cole led the team in sacks, but was very inconsistent. Still, Cole should challenge Howard in preseason and appears to have the inside track as of now. The team also resigned pass rusher Juqua Thomas and drafted Notre Dame standout Victor Abiamiri.
At DT, the team is relying heavily on Brodrick Bunkley, who was drafted higher than an any Eagle since Corey Simon, but disappointed heavily after holding out for most of the preseason. He is opposite solid former first rounder Mike Patterson. Replacing departed Darwin Walker�s pass rush ability is Montae Reagor, while Ian Scott was acquired as insurance for Bunkley. LaJuan Ramsey provides further depth.
The Linebacking corps, consistently neglected by the Eagles Front Office finally received its renovation in the form of Takeo Spikes. Once arguably the best OLB in football, Spikes in now two years removed from an Achilles injury and is looking to return to old form. The Eagles will also hope that run stuffer Jeremiah Trotter�s surgically repaired knees can last another year. He will be challenged by last year�s surprise rookie Omar Gaither. On the Strong Side, project Chris Gocong will look to compete with rookie Stewart Bradley. Alternatively should neither impress, Spikes is available to play SAM allowing Matt McCoy, a former second round pick whose solid play declined severely after a midseason shoulder injury, to compete with Gaither for the WILL spot. In all, there is an entirely open competition at LB in Philadelphia and every job is up for grabs.
The Defensive Backfield has always been the strength of Jim Johnson�s defense. This year�s group returns less deep than in years past, but equally talented with returning Pro Bowlers Lito Sheppard and Brian Dawkins, who both stepped up late in the season when their teammates needed them to. Opposite Sheppard is Sheldon Brown. Brown is solid against the run but struggled slightly last year in coverage. Injury ridden William (Peterson) James is looking to challenge Brown for the starting spot. Joselio Hanson is the fourth Corner and came out of nowhere to be solid in limited playing time last season. Expect the Eagles to have an undrafted rookie on the roster at CB as well, considering their commitment to Rod Hood, Al Harris and Hanson in years past.
Brian Dawkins is the Free Safety and, although very experienced, is savvy enough to hide any lost speed with excellent instincts and recognition skills. Dawkins might have more years left in him than Jeremiah Trotter or Jevon Kearse. Fellow Clemson standout CJ Gaddis is a raw talent who figures to one day either replace Dawkins or be the team�s Strong Safety. Currently at SS is Sean Considine who unspectacular but solid. Special Teams expert Quentin Mikell provides further depth.
The return game will likely see more explosiveness this year than the team got from Reno Mahe in the last two years. Media favorite Jeremy Bloom will compete with burner Bethel Johnson to man both Return jobs, while Westbrook could even be an option should the team find itself desperately in need of a big play. David Akers returns once again as the Kicker and is still among the league�s elite while Punter Dirk Johnson will compete with former Australian Football star Saverio Rocca.
In all, the Eagles will look to contend for the Super Bowl once more after a year and a half Super Bowl hangover. McNabb�s health is a question mark as always, as are the knees of Jeremiah Trotter and the progression of Brodrick Bunkley. Still, the Eagles appear to be the class of the NFC East once more and a healthy McNabb could lead them back to the promised land.
Depth Chart: (<> = elite, X = solid, o = adequate, - = below average)
WR
K. Curtis o
H. Baskett o
B. Johnson
J. Bloom
TE
L. Smith X
M. Schobel
B. Celek
LOT
W. Thomas X
W. Justice
LOG
T. Herremans X
M. Jean-Gilles
C
J. Jackson X
N. Cole
ROG
S. Andrews <>
S. Young
ROT
J. Runyan X
P. McCoy
WR
R. Brown X
G. Lewis
J. Avant
QB
D. McNabbQ <>
A. Feeley
K. Kolb
FB
T. Tapeh o
N. Ilaoa
RB
B. Westbrook <>
C. Buckhalter o
R. Moats
T. Hunt
LDE
J. Kearse X
T. Cole X
V. Abiamiri
LDT
M. Patterson X
I. Scott o
L. Ramsey
RDT
B. Bunkley o
M. Reagor o
RDE
D. Howard o
J. Thomas o
J. McDougle
LOLB
C. Gocong �
S. Bradley �
D. Roper
MLB
J. Trotter o
ROLB
T. Spikes X
O. Gaither o
M. McCoy o
T. Daniels
LCB
S. Brown X
J. Hanson
R. Barksdale
SS
S. Considine o
FS
B. Dawkins <>
Q. Mikell
RCB
L. Sheppard <>
W. James o
C. Gaddis
K
D. Akers <>
E. Cochrane
P
D. Johnson o
S. Rocca -
RS
J. Bloom o
B. Johnson o
B. Westbrook
Notable Individual Stats:
Offense:
Donovan McNabb � 57% - 18 TDs � 6 INTs � 95.5
Brian Westbrook � 1217 � 7 TDs � 77 � 699 � 4 TDs
Reggie Brown � 46 � 816 � 8 TDs
Kevin Curtis � 40 � 417 � 4 TDs
Hank Baskett � 22 � 464 � 2 TDs
LJ Smith � 50 � 611 � 5 TDs
Defense:
Jeremiah Trotter � 113 Tackles
Trent Cole � 8 Sacks � 7 TFLs
Juqua Thomas � 6 Sacks
Darren Howard � 5 Sacks
Brian Dawkins � 5 TFLs � 4 INTs � 5 FF
Lito Sheppard � 6 INTs � 19 PDs
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