Jaws: Don't expect fast start from Eagles
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Jaws: Don't expect fast start from Eagles
Daily News staff
The Eagles open with consecutive road games for the first time since 2002, and this might be the least likely year for them to want that situation.
The Birds travel to St. Louis on Sept. 11 and then play a Sunday night game in Atlanta on Sept. 18. The team already has been prepping for the noise inside those domes, practicing indoors on one of the nicest days of the summer earlier this week.
"I would be very surprised," Ron Jaworski said today during an ESPN conference call, when asked if the Eagles would be able to get out quickly. "I know the term Dream Team has been mentioned. The Eagles organization despised that word. They know it is going to be difficult with zero OTAs and rookies not getting their playbook and veterans that were signed not getting their playbooks … I think it is going to be difficult to get off to a fast start. Teams that have stability in their coaching staffs and players are going to be the teams to beat this year."
With the new players and a virtually entirely new coaching staff on defense, Jaworski said the Eagles will need some time to succeed.
There is no doubt, when you look at Philadelphia, they have an incredible assembly of talent on their team right now," Jaworski said. "However, that being said, they also have had in incredible changes on their coaching staff … It takes time for a team to develop that chemistry that is so important. The Eagles have spent $200 million procuring talent, but we just don’t know how quickly it will come together, or if it ever comes together. There is certainly a lot of unknowns even if you have talent. Football is a consummate team game."
Added Jon Gruden: "Philadelphia went crazy. They’ve added a great corner and trading for another. I don’t know if they are the Dream Team, but they did make some eye-opening offseason additions."
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To read our earlier post, click here.
Eagles are the DREAM TEAM...get the t-shirts printed.— frank105- I would, but I'm already waiting for my "Frank105 is an idiot" t-shits to come back from the printer. — Zeus2754
- Good one! Let me buy you a beer. — lalaw9833
- I think two road games might be better to start; nothing like the confidence-building crowd at the Linc following consecutive 3-and-outs.— n62
- Those two road games may be against the two most up and coming solid teams in the NFC and should be very tough to win even one of them. I'd take a split gladly but wouldn't see starting 0-2 as a failure. Their schedule is pretty easy after those opening two.— Mark1npt
- Those "D" coordinators are already salivating, getting their blitz packages together.— TBear
- 'dream team' should never be uttered again - by anyone! it was a stupid comment from a scrub of a back-up QB who doesn't know jack about philly! knock it off!!!— rofratu
- Bring it on baby. I am so ready for Eagle football. Iggs were a Vick hurried toss from beating the Super Bowl Champs last year. Say what you will about the O-Line but who did they lose? Cole and Gillies. We have added some players and once they gel or the starters assume their roles (Justice and Jackson)that should not be a big issue. I think the key is the defense and I think they are going to get better week to week. Play Chaney in the middle and Clayton and Matthews on the outside. Have Washburn's D-Line throw fast balls for 4 quarters and by the end of the game the turnovers we create and recover will reward this team with the victorisois! Savois Faire Playmakers Everywhere!!Forget the Pittsburgh game...New England also got smoked in the pre's this year and no one is throwing them under the bus. Boomer...Gruden...King will all be eating their words when the season ends althoiugh they won't admit it.— rockinrob
- You guys and Jaws must be joking. Offensively,who do the Rams have outside that scare you? Defensively, how many good corners do they have to watch Maclin, Jackson, Avant,and McCoy? As far as the Falcons are concerned, Reid owns them--I think since Reid has coached the Birds, they've lost one game against Atlanta--beat them twice in the playoffs, and their only loss was against Vick in 2005--when Trotter got thrown out of the game before the game even started. And don't you guys think Vick is going to be fired up going back there as a starter?— bobbyuk
- Good one, Zeus.— phillyinsd
- The eagles can beat the RAMS. Period. As for the eagles going to Atlanta. It might not be that bad, because there are still a ton of Vick fans in Atlanta. This is the first time they get to see him play at home in about 5 years. All Vick has to do is make a couple of spectatcular plays and the crowd will be 50/50, which would be an advatage for the eagles.— radicaleaglesfan
- Dream Team will turn into a nightmare by week 3...— tralala
- We'll see but this team could be anything. The Eagles are really good at a lot of positions but they are complete bottom of the barrel at LB, Safety, and 50% of the line with 3 new coaches, 1 of whom coached the other side of the ball last year and a new philosophy O-line coach whose resume is built on protecting a QB who plays the game 1 second faster than the plays happen and holds onto the ball for about 1.5 seconds total. His other teams let up 44 sacks a year. So you might be right...but in pro sports super stars usually trump that stuff because the games are won by big plays and the Eagles have big play makers all over the field on both sides of the ball. This team could be 7-9 or 13-3. We'll see soon. — UncleStosh
- Come on ppl its the F'n Rams, this has to be a joke.— beerflow
- until they get protection for Michael, a stud run stopping MLB and a stud DT for push up the middle.......most of our opponents will use the Pittsburgh formula for mauling the Birds......big and strong beats light and fast everytime......Way to go Andy....— nuggett
