Nick Foles took Michael Vick’s job last year and ran with it. His incredible season saw him complete 64% of his passes with a 9.1 yards per attempt average for 2,891 yards in 13 games. He added 225 yards rushing with three touchdowns. Most impressively he threw 27 TDs with only two interceptions. (Pause for dramatic effect.) If he can improve upon those numbers in his first full season as a starter, he’ll soon be recognized as one of the leagues top QBs. The NFC will surely be hoping he was a fluke.
LeSean McCoy was the leading rusher in the NFL last year compiling 1,607 yards on 314 carries. He averaged 5.1 yards per run and 100.4 rushing yards per game while scoring 9 times. He also caught 52 passes for 539 yards, making him the league leader in touches with 366, and added 2 more TDs through the air. He is without a doubt one of the best players in the game. The Eagles also added x-factor Darren Sproles from the Saints who had 71 receptions for 604 yards plus 220 rushing yards in 2013. He’ll line up in the backfield as well as the slot, and help to alleviate the loss of DeSean Jackson who is now in D.C. The coaching staff also appears to think pretty highly of power runner Chris Polk – so look for him in short yardage situations.
If TE Zach Ertz can improve his blocking he can become a star. His 469 yards last season should be improved upon as Head Coach Chip Kelly has stated that Ertz is slated for an expanded role. The Eagles look to be using a lot of two TE sets in camp so expect him to be a major contributor this season. Brent Celek is an excellent player as well who added 502 yards in 2013, giving the Eagles quite the 1-2 punch at TE. Second-round pick Jordan Matthews out of Vandy is a slot WR the coaching staff is expecting big things from, and seems to fit perfectly in this system that will utilize the slot-men big-time.
The loss of playmaker DeSean Jackson hurts, be he took vacations on running plays and the Eagles are a running team. Matthews can block and third-round pick Josh Huff out of Oregon gives the Eagles better depth than they had last year. Riley Cooper is coming off a breakout season in which he had 835 receiving yards, and has been steadily improving every year of his career. No. 1 wideout Jeremy Maclin is returning from ACL surgery that forced him to miss all of 2013. He’s had a very consistent career averaging 64 receptions for 861 yards per year. If he can return to form the available targets for Foles could be better than last year’s group.
RT Lane Johnson had an fantastic rookie season. He was then suspended for the first four games of this season due to a positive test for PEDs. So, is Johnson really any good? Only time will tell but for now Allen Barbre will take over on the right side. The Johnson drama notwithstanding, Philly has one of the best O-lines in the league. Jason Peters is an elite LT, and LG Evan Mathis is the best offensive lineman in all of football according to PFF.
With Cedric Thornton, Fletcher Cox, Bennie Logan at the nose, and pass-rusher Vinny Curry off the bench – the Birds look to be real strong on both sides of the line.
Veteran pass-rusher Trent Cole had trouble adjusting to the 3-4 scheme last season holding a doughnut in the sack category through the first half of the season. But he got going in the second half recording eight sacks in as many games. He is still probably better suited for the 4-3, but if he continues to get one sack per game no one will complain. ILB Mychal Kendricks is the best player on the Philly D. Last year he recorded 106 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 INTs, forced 2 fumbles and recovered 4. That’s the playmaker ability needed at LB if you’re going to play the 3-4. Louisville first-rounder Marcus Smith will probably be eased in and start off as a backup, but he has the same kind of playmaker potential as Kendricks – maybe more.
New addition S Malcolm Jenkins from the Saints will help improve the secondary, and that unit certainly can use some improving. The Eagles have been pretty horrendous at safety since the departure of the great Brian Dawkins, and haven’t faired much better at corner. If the front-7 continues to get better in year-two of the new system they’ll cover up a lot of the weaknesses at the back. However, if getting to the quarterback is a problem teams with top-notch passing attacks could torch the Birds.
VERDICT: In today’s pass-happy NFL, rushing the passer is key. If Philly can do it I think they will win the NFC East. This division looks to be really competitive so if they can’t get to the QB, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re bottom-feeders.
Article By: Anthony Schiano
