5 keys on offense this season
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
5 keys on offense this season
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
1. Give the new quarterback some time and space: The offensive line has to perform smoothly, and the backs and tight ends have to pick up blitzes, for the Kevin Kolb era to progress.
2. Get the ball to DeSean Jackson as quickly and as often as possible: Duh. No. 10 is the Eagles’ biggest star now, their game-changing talent.
3. Avoid turnovers: This is a cliché, but with a young quarterback and a young running back who has been known to fumble, it really is relevant. Don’t try to do too much, take the loss or the sack, keep the ball.
4. Develop Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek into stars: Defenses are going to key on Jackson, and despite the importance of point No. 2, this also has to happen to keep the offense steady. If Maclin and Celek are productive enough, point No. 2 gets easier.
5. Kolb has to be the guy Andy Reid thought he was when he drafted him in 2007: Growing pains, sure, those can be endured, but the talent and potential have to show through.
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Also, astute readers might have noticed the wideouts missing in today's position by position analysis. There is a very good reason for this: your Eagletarian is a senile doofus. After covering the wideouts in the 5 keys, he forgot to put them in the position by position. Most of what I would have said is in the 5 keys. I would only add that Jason Avant is money as a slot receiver, and if Riley Cooper can get on the field, I think he's a pretty promising red zone target.
To read our earlier post, click here.
We Want Vick!! We Want Vick!! We Want Vick!! We Want Vick!!— elijah29
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I think the development of our skill players on O will be stunted by a potential disaster on the O line, not helped by a mediocre-to-poor defense. I'm looking at 7 wins: GB, Detroit, Washington X2, Tennessee, Jax, and 1 from either Dallas or NYG. I think I may be overly optimistic. Hope I'm wrong.— 1980
Point #1 might be the only one that matters. Im starting to hate the O-line.— dragoon6- The OL should play better, assuming the following: JJ is healthy and does not get re-injured, ditto Herremans, Peters plays to his potential and eliminates the penalties, Justice does not regress and Cole plays well enough to keep Wells on the bench.— The Reddgie
I agree songsrme2. We heard that for years. First it was just to get rid of DM but then when he threw for some yardage there was a no holds barred stampede to start the savior. He's been learning for 3 years and if he has all this talent, this accuracy, the "perfect for the WCO" mentality to say nothing of his "leadership" qualities then it's put up or shut up. Some guys are still calling him a rookie. He wanted the job, he's got it. No steps backward allowed. No excuses allowed.— tpizza- Once again we are relying upon an offensive lineman who is coming off a torn acl to save our offensive line. That is not a good start. We are also "hoping" Kolb is the real deal. Two huge questions that need to be answered for our offense to succeed. I do not think they will get the answers we are looking for.— demewill
- Sorry Philly Mike, I guess no one heard you LOL— charmaine
- Number 1 is interesting sure.. Why ? Because you never mentioned running the football should be the tried and true way to protect your newbie quarterback ?? Eaglatarian is drinking the koolaid. Yup. They bought into Andy's little dancing bear routine.— MJPD345
- Kolb must deliver. The OL has been repaired although Jackson should be held out another month with the hope of getting 3/4 of a season from him. It's stupid starting a wounded player at center no less. McGlynn can do the job as he proved durning preseason. The defense although new and young should be better than last years EXCEPT against top passing teams like GreenBay and the Colts. Only reason this team won't win nine is if Kolb fails.— JACK V
- 11 at a minimum Jack V. We're better all around than last year so the only reason to regress is as you say. Still trying to see what is so brutal about the sked too. Lose to GB then 6 non play off teams. If we're not 5-2 minimum by then itll be an all out disaster already.— tpizza
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- It's much more than pass protection that has to be the concern for the offensive line. Their ability to coordinate and open up opportunities for the running game is too much overlooked. Everything boils down to how that unit functions. A mediocre quarterback, a physically lackluster corps of running backs, all of these can be productive if only the offensive line clicks. Unfortunately, nothing seen in the preseason gives me any confidence there. -30-— Tucci78
- LeSean fumbled TWICE last year...you cover this team every day. Known to fumble... my 3 yr old knows 2 fumbles in nearly 200 touches doesn't make you known for fumbling.— Iggles21
- How about Play Calling??? This team becomes too predictable and we all kbnow what's coming. Run the ball occasionally on 2nd and 6 to make third down a "possible" run play so teams stop blitzing the QB without fear of the run. To me, this is #1 on the list.— Dtownfan
- So if I am reading the correctly, all these people calling for disaster wanted what? Keep the old team until social security kicked in? These are the same people that were calling for heads after the Dallas games. You wanted change, you got it. How many more years has McNabb got? 1? 2? 3? The change was coming and the timing was right. Get used to it. Andy Reid, chapter 2, starts Sunday. Everybody is going to love this team in two years. If the O-Line stays healthy, this team could really be something THIS SEASON.— craig123
- Kolb will be fine and he looked sharp against the Chief in the Regular season last year but made freshman mistake in the Saints game,but that is to be expected. Jeff Garcia ran Andy Reid version of the WCO for us and he got us into the playoff and nearly into Superbowl,if only the Eagles Defense could have stopped Brees and NO Offense that year. The Eagles would have beat up Rex and the Bears in NFC Championships if Defense didnt let team down against Saints. The Defense just could not stop the run,but anyways Kolb will run the Offense similar to how Garcia ran it. Now,his first year wont be his best. Aikman went 1-15 in his first season, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning didnt have great first year's etc... Point is, the Eagles need a leader with drive to lead the offense and Kolb seems like the man for the job,and he does have good accuracy for the WCO. Hopefully, there wont be a lockout in 2011,because The Eagles should have a ton of money for free agency and the Draft should help make this team a powerhouse for the 2011 season. I hope the Owners arent stupid enough to cause a lock out because that killed baseball and hockey! Plus, it would really hurt the development of all the young Eagles,lets hope for the best. GO BIRDS!
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- Don't say we, I've been an Eagles fan for 50 years and I don't want Vick. Only if Kolb is injured, "THE ONLY WAY".— jacka123
- To anyone who knows anything about football, we gave McNabb 11 years and he didn't win the SuperBowl, so you shouldn't say anything about Kolb until he is a starter for at least 2 years, so grow up people.— jacka123
