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McNabb/Westbrook: 2 Seasons

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  • McNabb/Westbrook: 2 Seasons

    We went to the SB in 2004 and represented the culmination of the early phase of the Reid era.

    Starting in 2005, the Eagles began the revamp the D via the draft and FA while remaining competitive with the remaining old guard and youngsters inserted in 2002-2004.

    Once that side of the ball was largely turned over to a new core (Dawk leaving this off-season was the final move), the Eagles shifted focus and starting in 2007 began to revamp the O and ST while, again, remaining competitive with the remaining old guard and youngsters inserted in 2004-2006.

    Thomas, Runyan, LJ, Buckhalter, GLewis were the final moves besides 2 of the best Eagles of all time, McNabb and Westbrook.

    I will state now these two stars have 2 seasons to win here and, after that time, they will be gone and the Kolb era will begin. The replacement for Westbrook is still unclear, many believe McCoy is the guy, but we have not seen him play yet. The reality, however, is that he will be replaced in some fashion soon.

    Kolb will have at minimum Maclin, Jackson, Avant, McCoy, Ingram, Celek and a solidly young OL to assist in the transition not to mention a pretty good D.

    On ST, Akers is the final piece left and I expect competition as soon as this TC for that role. Rocca is young, we are swimming in return guys for punts and kickoffs and have improved our coverage units alot with the last 2 drafts.

    Losing Dawk, Thomas, Runyan, Buckhalter et al. was tough this year, but get ready folks in 2 seasons McNabb and Westbrook will join them. Obviously, I believe McNabb will not get an extension or will only get one that allows the Eagles to move ahead with Kolb in 2 seasons.
    Eliminate distractions, create energy, fear nothing, and attack everything.

    -Andy Reid

  • #2
    Sounds about right...heck, after they cut Dawk loose, I expected DMac to go too. But you're right, for sure he won't get the long-term deal that he's looking for.

    I think that Kolb's a free agent in 2011, though. It'll be interesting to see how much the Eagles, and other teams, are willing to offer a QB who's ridden the pine for a while.
    "Philly fans are great....It's the only place where you pull up on the bus and you've got the grandfather, the grandmother, the kids and the grandkids - everybody flicking you off. At other stadiums, they give you the thumbs-down. Here, they give you the middle finger.”
    — Michael Strahan

    "No one likes us, no one likes us, no one likes us, we don’t care, we’re from Philly, F—-ing Philly, No one likes us, we don’t care!”
    - Jason Kelce with the best championship speech ever

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    • #3
      I agree with everything you mention VFK. Except I think Rocca is actually in his 30's and may even be older than Akers. I had a long career over in Australia before coming over. But that is actually nitpicking.

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      • #4
        I can see most of that happening.

        If Kolb is the future,, hell there might be a Jr playing in college next year that will be the heir apparent.

        But the general gist of 2 or 3 years left is reasonable.

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        • #5
          Sheridan seems to agree........I'll muddy the water a little, by saying IMO that the Eagles have only rarely been the "splurge" type when it comes to high profile free agent TE's, RB's or WR's. Paying more coin to sign Peters and Stacy Andrews (and drafting the skill players) makes more sense in AR's world than signing Gonzo or Boldin, and then drafting players for the OL.




          Phil Sheridan: Eagles building for Kolb era

          By Phil Sheridan
          Inquirer Sports Columnist

          Let's say you're the coach of an NFL team and you have the final say on personnel matters (any resemblance to actual coaches is purely coincidental).

          Now let's say your team went pretty far in the playoffs last year with an aging core of players, and your analysis is that a partial overhaul is necessary in the off-season (any resemblance to actual NFL teams, etc.).

          Finally, for the sake of this exercise, let's say you have a veteran quarterback who has been very good for most of his career, but has had injuries and is prone to prolonged slumps. Let's say you also have a young quarterback you've been developing behind this veteran starter for a couple of years, and you believe he can play (any resemblance to actual signal-callers, etc.)

          Here's where you, the hypothetical coach of the hypothetical team, must make a decision on this partial overhaul: Do you try to add impact players who can help the veteran quarterback win now? Or do you go with younger players who can develop along with the younger quarterback and be ready to peak when he does?

          For the sake of the exercise, do you acquire established offensive stars such as tight end Tony Gonzalez and wide receivers Anquan Boldin, Chad Johnson, and Braylon Edwards? Or, knowing that it usually takes two or three years for an offensive player to bloom in your system, do you eschew the vets and draft a wide receiver, running back, and tight end in one weekend spree?

          Take your time. There is no absolutely right answer. While you're weighing those options, let's consider Andy Reid's off-season from a slightly different perspective.

          The story line that extends from the aftermath of the loss to Arizona in the NFC championship game to this weekend's minicamp in South Philadelphia has been whether Reid would get Donovan McNabb the weapons the veteran quarterback has lobbied for. The knee-jerk reaction to the Eagles' unprecedented splurge on offensive skill players in last week's draft (plus the investment in new offensive tackles) has been that Reid did just that.

          Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Cornelius Ingram? Look at all the shiny new toys McNabb will get to work with. Stacy Andrews and Jason Peters? Look at all the time McNabb will have to work with.

          Before we submit our conspiracy theory, it must be said right up front that McNabb will be the Eagles' starting quarterback when the season starts. Barring injury, he will indeed line up behind that revamped line and distribute the ball to the best all-round set of offensive weapons he's ever had here.

          The Eagles' off-season moves, as advertised, will give McNabb better weapons right away. But those moves will not give him the best possible array of weapons for this year - not if Gonzalez and even one of those receivers could have been had for roughly the same price.

          Ask yourself this: If Reid was preparing his team for the Kevin Kolb era, what would he have done? The answer would look exactly like what he has done - recast the offensive line so that it's set for the next five years, add youth at receiver and running back so those players grow within the Eagles' offense, and let it all simmer while McNabb stirs for a season or so.

          The point has to be stressed: McNabb and Brian Westbrook will be behind the line of scrimmage on first and 10 against Carolina on Sept. 13, barring injury. Reid is still hoping the new additions will help his mainstays win the NFC East title and make another run at that elusive Lombardi Trophy. And maybe they will. After all, the Eagles have been in the conference final five times on McNabb's watch.

          But history under Reid shows that Maclin, McCoy and Ingram are more likely to be major factors in 2010 and beyond. DeSean Jackson's 2008 season is a glaring exception among Eagles offensive players in their rookie years in Reid's offense. McNabb might well be the quarterback in 2010, 2011 and 2012 - when this year's draft class is in full flower - but each passing year makes a transition more likely.

          Kolb had several chances to play in 2008. He threw four interceptions and no touchdown passes in his last three appearances, so it was fair to wonder if Reid and his staff were still sold on the former second-round pick. Reid's true opinions are learned only through his actions, and he made no effort to acquire another quarterback to prepare for the post-McNabb era.

          So Kolb it is. The only question left is, when?

          Our hypothetical coach considered his options and went with building for the future. That won't hurt his hypothetical quarterback in the present, but will help the next guy a whole lot more.

          Any resemblance to the Eagles, of course, is purely coincidental.
          "Philly fans are great....It's the only place where you pull up on the bus and you've got the grandfather, the grandmother, the kids and the grandkids - everybody flicking you off. At other stadiums, they give you the thumbs-down. Here, they give you the middle finger.”
          — Michael Strahan

          "No one likes us, no one likes us, no one likes us, we don’t care, we’re from Philly, F—-ing Philly, No one likes us, we don’t care!”
          - Jason Kelce with the best championship speech ever

          Comment

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