Where Do The Eagles Rank?

Even before the Draft or Free Agency starts most of the national media outlets rank the Eagles in the teens. CBS Sportsline give them the best ranking at 10, while Sports Illustrated ranks them at 14. Most everyone is in agreement we should keep McNabb and try to get him a first class receiver. Here is my analysis of each offensive position, with a look ahead to FA which officially begins this week, and the draft, and next week I will look at the defence.

There are few teams in the NFL with a quarterback situation as strong and deep and promising as the Eagles' threesome of Donovan McNabb, A.J. Feeley and Kevin Kolb.For McNabb, who enters his 10th season with the Eagles, the main focus of his off-season is good health. For the first time since the 2004 campaign, McNabb is training to better his body physically, rather than training to recover from an injury. At the end of last season we started to see the old Donovan, like we haven't seen in the last few seasons. McNabb picked apart Buffalo's secondary in the last game of the season, completing 29 of 41 passes for 345 yards, one touchdown and one interception and the Eagles ended their campaign with three straight wins and some real optimism heading into the off-season. He had his swagger back, and while it was too late to rescue the '07 campaign, it was very much welcomed. Having McNabb back without any health questions is a gigantic boost for this football team. Feelley is a dependable, experienced veteran and a player that we have come to trust as a backup to Donovan. He has consistently shown an ability to step in when he is needed and move the offence. He does have a tendency for mistakes though. He needs to work on his composure under pressure but, otherwise a good solid backup. Then there is the newest addition to the QB position Kolb, he will probably be a good replacement for McNabb in a few years. Kolb showed the Eagles, without question, that he would have no problems making the transition from his college offensive scheme to the West Coast offense the Eagles use. He picked things up very quickly, had a live, accurate arm and didn't flinch in the extensive preseason games he played.

Now lets look at the Offensive backfield, specifically the half-back and full-back positions. Every time Brian Westbrook touched the ball in 2007, we edged up on our seats and waited for something magical to happen. Generally, Westbrook delivered. Westbrook showed durability, power and explosiveness and continued an impressive season with his second Pro Bowl appearance, his first as an elected player. Westbrook was everything the Eagles needed, showing the league that he is perhaps the most complete running back in the NFL. The Eagles have a star player in Westbrook, who has finally gotten the recognition outside of Philadelphia that he has deserved for a number of seasons. Westbrook is a true star who is clearly in the prime of his career. Buckhalter had a career best season as well. Buckhalter ran with power and explosiveness and looked better than he has ever looked in his career. I'll admit I would not have kept him around after he missed three full seasons to knee injuries, but it looks as if Andy Reid knew what he was doing with Buckhalter. Buckhalter needs to improve his blocking in pass protection, but he clearly gives the Eagles an excellent option should they choose to reduce Westbrook's workload this season. It's also possible the Eagles will use more formations with both players to take advantage of the different looks they present to defenses. At fullback, starter Thomas Tapeh is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent. Tapeh did a good job blocking for Westbrook last season, but was not used much as a ball carrier or receiver. If the Eagles don't secure Tapeh, they will have to pick up someone to replace him at least as a lead blocker for Westbrook.

Next the Receiver corps, I think we are all in agreement that this is where the Eagles really need the most work. There are some bright spots the Eagles know they can build with, but how much can they accomplish with there current personnel. Kevin Curtis was a terrific addition in free agency, he gave the Eagles speed down the field, and demonstrated the ability to go up and make acrobatic catches in coverage. He showed good durability despite the most playing time in his career. He delivered everything the Eagles hoped he would, and Curtis could be headed for even bigger numbers in his second year in the system. Despite this though I don't think he is what the Eagles need as a no. 1 Receiver, he would make a good no. 2 or 3, but they need a receiver that can take full advantage of NFL rules which encourage the passing game and limit what defensive backs can do in coverage. The other starter is Reggie Brown, who was inconsistent early in the season, he also scored only four touchdowns and his yards-per-catch average was the lowest of his career, 12.8 yards. Brown, at his best, is a slashing route runner who is strong enough to ward off defensive backs and make tough catches with his strong hands. He has the jets to make big plays after the catch, and he shows good ability with the ball in his hands. But Brown struggled for part of last year, no doubt about it. His production just wasn't there. I think that after three seasons this is as good as Brown is going to be. Jason Avant made nice strides as the team's third receiver in his second season. Avant caught 23 passes and scored a pair of touchdowns, and had opportunities to make more plays, but the connection wasn't made. There just doesn't seem to be any chemistry between him and McNabb, but remember, he is only entering his third season. Avant has a lot of good football in front of him. He doesn't have the blazing speed to be a consistent deep threat, but Avant has a chance to be an excellent receiver in short areas as well as the intermediate passing game. Both Greg Lewis and Hank Baskett, who comprised the rest of the receiving corps in 2007, had their numbers fall off from the year before. The Eagles don't have a Pro Bowl receiver among the group. The touchdown numbers were down from years past, part of the team's struggles in the red zone. It is obvious that the Eagles need desperately to upgrade their receiving corps this offseason, whether through free agency or the draft, something needs to be done.

Lets take a look at the tight end position now. It loomed as one of the more pressing issues for the Eagles: What to do with L.J. Smith and his pending free agency? Well, the Eagles wasted no time in addressing the situation, assigning the franchise tag to Smith, far in advance of the February 21 deadline for using those designations. After struggling through an injury-plagued 2007 season, Smith says he feels "great" and completely recovered from a sports hernia injury, a groin injury and a knee injury that limited him so much last year. Smith looks forward to getting back on the field and contributing to an offense that sorely missed his talents in the 8-8 campaign. At his best, Smith gives the Eagles a complete dimension at tight end. He can move around the formation and give the Eagles favorable matchups, and he can control the middle of the field as a pass catcher. He is also a good pass blocker and a solid blocker in the running game. Smith's excellent speed, his size and his play-making ability, especially in the red zone, are important attributes for a team that moved the ball well at times in 2007 but lacked the consistent execution needed inside opponents' 20-yard lines. He and Donovan McNabb have a good rapport and a strong bond of trust to make things work. Backing up Smith is second-year man Brent Celek, who rose quickly in his rookie season. It was obvious by training camp and in the preseason that Celek also had the physical skills to match his football intelligence, and he was a contributor last year. He needs to get stronger and become a better blocker, but there is no denying that he has good route-running ability, soft hands and some after-the-catch moves. In time he could become a very good starting-caliber tight end in this league. The third tight end on the roster is veteran Matt Schobel, who has produced reasonably well when he has had passes thrown his way. It is, it seems, a good situation for the Eagles. The team has three tight ends who know the system and who can make plays in the middle of the field and down the field.

Finally lets shift the focus up front to a group of men who are suddenly in the national spotlight after the Super Bowl once again illustrated the importance of success at the line of scrimmage. The Eagles have to play the Giants twice a season, and they fully understand the fury New York's front four brings. In both meetings last year, New York's front gave the Eagles fits. In the first game, the Eagles were without left tackle William Thomas, tight end L.J. Smith and running back Brian Westbrook and, yes, those injuries contributed to a terrible offensive performance. In the second game, after that opening drive, the Eagles were just plain beaten up front. In light of the Super Bowl stunner, the Eagles have to make sure they are good enough win the line of scrimmage against every team, starting with the Giants. On paper, the Eagles are set. They have veterans at tackle with William Thomas and Jon Runyan, and inside the trio of Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews, left guard Todd Herremans and center Jamaal Jackson is as accomplished as it is promising for 2008 and beyond, however the offense didn't click enough last season, and the red zone was a problem, no question about it, and the line shares in the blame. Moving forward, with age creeping in on the edges of the line, the Eagles have to make sure they are challenging each position up front and making the line as good as it can be. Certainly, it is very comforting to have the bookends back for another season. The Eagles know what they are going to get with both Thomas and Runyan. Both are technically sound, complete professionals and they hold the point of attack very well. There are a lot of teams wishing they could have a tackle situation like this. Both Thomas and Runyan enter the final year of their contracts, with their futures somewhat unknown for the first time in many seasons. At some point, the Eagles have to make the determination that they need to be better on the offensive line, and/or that they need to prepare for the day when their veteran tackles won't be around. That being said, it wouldn't hurt to pick up a Tackle or two late in the draft. Inside, the guards and center combination is sound. Very much so. The Eagles are big enough to handle large tackles and they have the communication and quick feet to play well against blitzes that teams run. All around the Line seems stable and a return to good health this year should make all the difference.

The offense looks strong with the exception of the WR position and that should be addressed in the upcoming weeks. Next week I will take a look at the Defence position by position. In conclusion the only offensive position that the Eagles really need to work on in FA and the Draft is WR. Overall I think that the WR position is the most pressing of the Eagles concerns at this time and they should try to pick up a no.1 and Maybe a no.2 receiver in free agency or the draft. secondarilly it wouldn't hurt to pick up at least one OT in the draft, possibly in the fourth round or later.