Jaworski: Eagles could be better than in '08
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Jaworski: Eagles could be better than in '08
Daily News staff
ATLANTIC CITY — Ron Jaworski was at Harrah’s today to talk golf and his 25th annual Celebrity Golf Challenge, set for May 17-18, at Atlantic City Country Club. There also is a poker event scheduled for Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City. Proceeds from the events again will benefit the United Way Charities.
But when you see Jaws, you can’t help but want to talk football.
The former Eagles quarterback and current “Monday Night Football” analyst touched on a few subjects related to his former team with the Daily News' Chuck Darrow.
The Eagles open a mandatory minicamp Friday at the NovaCare Complex.
* On the current outlook for team (barring injury issues): “We tend to forget they went to the NFC Championship Game last year. I look at this team right now ... it’s a better team than the one that walked off the field after losing to Arizona.”
* On offseason acquisitions: “I think if you look at the entire offseason, it’s been outstanding. Looking at Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas and Brian Dawkins, these were guys up there in years and banged up, and you pick up Stacy Andrews, you pick up Jason Peters, you pick up Sean Jones ... it looks like you won’t take a step backwards.”
* On how the Birds fared in the NFL draft: "At least 20 teams had [Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin] as a Top 10 player ... he fell to them. It was a good move to move up in the draft. He was basically there for them.
“They love [Pitt running back and second-round pick LeSean McCoy]. He’s quick. he’s dynamic. He’s explosive.”
To read our earlier posts:
Donovan McNabb's thoughts on the offseason, click here.
Freddie Mitchell's new blog and other Eagles notes, click here
They also won 9 games in the regular season- hopefully they will improve from that. Consistency is the key this season, and the revamped offensive line should help significantly.— terb- terb, consistency is not the key...the key is winning the super bowl. i don't care if they do it as a 6 seed— Remember Tim Kerr
- ... and missed 10 by a hair and could've easily had one or two more. If the new guys gel and fit in with the overall chemistry, and the receiving corps matures quickly, Jaws could be right ....— sha987
- if 18 teams (or 20+ by whichever count) had Jeremy Maclin rated as the top receiver, why did he last until pick 19?— yantastic
- He lasted as long as he did because Al Davis is an insane old man. The birds got a gift pick.— arb
- reading the headline, i hope so. i hope the eagles can score touchdowns from a first and goal from the two or three yard line at anyones stadium. i'm hoping that when faced with a third and one or two they can convert weather against the giants or cowgirls 90% of the times. i'm really hoping they can crush the redskins at least once. they got to run the ball better to do these things.— JACK V
- I love Jaws!— fgdavis
- As soon as they find someone who can blitz like Brian Dawkins. That front 7 is garbage. They only get to the QB when Dawkins would come to the line of scrimmage.— Philly-Mughsots
- As soon as they find someone who can blitz like Brian Dawkins. That front 7 is garbage. They only get to the QB when Dawkins would come to the line of scrimmage.— Philly-Mughsots
- By the look of the offseason they did not look at themselves like a team that went to the nfc champ game. The looked at themselves as a team who went 9-7-1. I give them props they upgraded an offensive line who could not convert on a 3rd and 1 to save there life, got a full back, and drafted a couple of young players that could help contribute a good bit this year. With Jackson having a year under his belt, and Curtis playing a full year the sky is the limit for us. Not bad for a team that 2 weeks into free agency had almost everyone posting on this site cryin about how cheap this team was because they would not sign T.J. Housh.— wkd515
Comment removed.- Maclin lasted as long as he did, not only because Al Davis is insane, but several of the teams drafting ahead of the Eagles didn't have WR as a high priority need over QB or T like Detroit, St. Louis, etc. For example, the Jets need a WR but they traded up to get Sanchez. The Browns only needed a WR if they traded Edwards and that didn't happen. The Bills didn't need a WR at all since they have TO and Evans. Several teams that could have used a WR drafted after the Phils such as the Giants, Ravens, Cowboys and Bears. The answer to that question was pretty obvious to anyone who followed the draft and what was happening. As for the Eagles' draft, ESPN put together an average of all of the grades by the "experts" for all of the NFL teams and the Eagles had the highest average grade for the entire NFL. The only experts that didn't give them an A also happened to be experts that didn't count trades for Peters and Hobbs as part of their "draft".— JimG
- Comment removed.
- The front 7 is garbage? What an asinine statement. Some of the nonsense that people come up with cracks me up. Cole is a very good DE. Bunkley and Patterson are good DTs. Howard had 10 sacks last year in a part-time role. Parker and Clemons provided a decent pass rush in limited roles. Abiamiri is going to be a good player. Bradley is a future pro-bowler. The other LBs are fast and athletic. Go become a Little Giants or Cowgirls fan...you don't have a clue what you're talking about. I loved Dawkins and he was a great blizter from the safety position, but every team's pass rush improves when the team brings a safety up to the line and stacks the box with 8 players. The Eagles were third in the NFL with 48 sacks as a team. It's ridiculous to claim that they wouldn't have had a ton of sacks without Dawkins...frankly having him blitz made the outcome of a particular play as dependent on the scheme as it was on Dawkins. Make no mistake, most of the Eagles sacks are created by Jim Johnson and his blitz schemes.— JimG
- Comment removed.
