A "special" - not a "dream" - team
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
A "special" - not a "dream" - team
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Every preseason in the NFL, with hope unbridled, it's Super Bowl or bust. Cliches are tossed around, buzz words and phrases are used to encapsulate a team, and story lines are manufactured.
Last year, after Donovan McNabb and a cast of veterans were shown the NovaCare door, it was Kevin Kolb and the "Young Guns" that were going to lead the Eagles to Canaan. Oops. That narrative lasted all of a month and a half. Kolb suffered a concussion in the opener, Michael Vick assumed the controls and the season was turned on its head.
This year, after the Eagles blitzed the NFL with an unprecedented flurry of free agent signings, the Eagles became the league's version of the "Dream Team" when a freshly-inked Vince Young uttered those unfortunate words. Young, unkowingly, teed up a narrative for the media to sell on a 24-hour loop.
I have done over two dozen interviews with national and regional radio stations over the last few weeks and the first question in most cases has to do with the Eagles as "media darlings" and the self-proclaimed "Dream Teamers." I always make it a point to put Young's comment in context and how he is just one of many Eagles players and coaches. For the most part, the Eagles that I've covered for three seasons are a fairly modest group.
Young was an Eagle -- a backup, no less -- for all of a half day and suddenly he's the spokesman for Andy Reid and company. (I wish I could repeat what one person, who also worked with Young in Tennessee, had to say about the quarterback's slip.) Vick would never put a target that large on the Eagles.
But why let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Nnamdi Asomugha is as measured a speaker as I've ever encountered in an NFL player. So when the cornerback was asked following the Eagles' 13-6 preseason win over the Ravens whether he had a sense of how good the Eagles could potentially be, I took note. The Eagles should have given Asomugha the podium before Young that Saturday almost two weeks ago, because he gave an answer that was both confident and unassuming.
"Yeah, I definitely have a sense," Asomugha said Thursday night. "I've had three practices and a preseason game, and obviously we're talented -- it's laid out all over the place and everyone sees it and the coaching is great here as well. So, we could be really special. I think we have a great opportunity to do some big things this year. But with those expectations, you have to put in a little more focus, so it may not be as easy as other people are expecting it to be. We still have a lot of work to do."
Indeed. There are still at least 19 games to be played. There are still a variety of issues -- the offensive line learning Howard Mudd's teachings, the lack of depth at defensive tackle, a new defensive coordinator in Juan Castillo, a very young linebacker corp, Jeremy Maclin's health, DeSean Jackson's contract situation, a rookie kicker and punter -- and when you spell them out like that you might think this was a 5-11 team.
But it's almost never as bad as it seems in training camp. And the same can be said from the opposite perch.
"It's awesome. It's awesome," Vick said of the Eagles' chemistry. "I wish every guy could make this team and be a part of it. But yeah, we definitely have something special and this was by far one of the best training camps that I had, one of the best teams that I ever felt that I've been a part of and I enjoy each and every teammate that I have in the locker room."
Reporters aren't allowed in the locker room at Lehigh University. We'll get our chance to sniff out the chemistry in a week when the Eagles return to the NovaCare. It will be a very different vibe with stalwarts like Quintin Mikell and David Akers gone, but general manager Howie Roseman and Reid really did a fine job bringing in new blood that won't be disruptive (well, except for maybe Young).
"When you bring in a bunch of new guys you never know how they're going to take to the locker room or how they're going to fit in," tight end Brent Celek said. "But ... the guys that [the front office] brought in are top-notch guys -- they are on the field, but off the field, as well. And the fact that we all just gel so well together on and off the field, I think that's what makes us so special."
There's that word again. (Full disclosure: I brought up the word "special" to Celek because of what Asmougha and Vick had said.)
"You can have a bunch of guys with a lot of talent on the same team and not get anywhere because no one gets along," Celek continued. "But when you got guys that get along and want to be great together and want to have something special as a team like this, then you got something."
Something, maybe, you can dream about.
best off season / pre-season ever!?!?!?!?!?— Justicek- If they gave out a trophy for best off seasons, Dan Snyder would be 10 time reigning champion.— thefadd
- Continuing humility would be the wisest approach from the players verbally...it's obvious the team has added a lot of talent all around and the new coaching appears to have the resume to get the best out of the whole group...one has to love the new energy....a lot to be excited about.— greenbloodVAEagle
- It's a good time to be a Philly sports fan all the way around!— Panthro2011
- good post mclane— sore richard
- If they don't score a TD on the first possession of the 1st game the city could lose it!— PhiEagleII
- I give the eagles a 50% chance of winning the SB— 4thand10
- As Vick put it it is about the "chemistry" right now everyone is on a pre-season look what we can do high. IF we make it through the season without any lockerroom drama (do you hear me Vince Young and DJax!) and the "yes we can" feeling stays with this team we could be bearing witness to a magical year as Eagles fans.— unbelieveable!
- new england has done well in the off season as well they also added key players in positions that was needed. i think thats the only team that stands in our way of being SB champs.as far as the phiilies i gotta feeling its a done deal just givem the hardware now.— philly sports
- and for all you mcnabb haters. if they had the same approach when he was here. we might have about 2 SB. im glad they finally figured out that you gotta get weapons if you wanna win. wen mcnabb was here they would sign second stringers they thought would play like starters. but thanks eagles you finnally gave us the best shot 2 win.
— philly sports - MAN I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!! THIS TIME LAST YEARS I WAS CRYING THE BLUES FOR THE MCNABB MOVE IN FAVOR OF KOLB TO BE THE STARTER WHAT A JOKE THAT TURNED OUT TO BE LOL!!! I GUESS THAT JOKE WAS ON ME AND NOT A FUNNY ONE MIGHT I ADD!!! NOW I'M FEELING THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE AS LAST YEARS WITH ALL THE MOVES WE'VE MADE STARTING WITH KOLB BEING SHIPPED TO AZ FOR DCR :) BRILLIANT MOVE THERE!!! AND ALL OF THE REST OF THE MOVES INCLUDING VINCE YOUNG!!!! HE'LL BE FINE ONCE A RIED AND THE COACHING STAFF START TO BREAKDOWN HIS BAD HABBITS AND REINFORCE THOSE WITH GOOD ONES!!! I DO BELIEVE TWO YEARS AGO EVERYONE ONE WAS WORRIED THAT VICK WOULDN'T PAN OUT FOR US AND LOOK AT HIM NOW COME BACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR!!!! HEY "LONEWOLF" I HAVENT SEEN YOU ON HERE TALKIN THAT MAN CRUSH ISH ABOUT KEVIN KOLB??? OPPPS MY BAD HE'S GONE JUST LIKE YOU LOL!!!! GO BIRDS!!! THIS SHOULD BE A SPECIAL YEAR FOR US!!! LONG LIVE STARSHIP 7!!! AKA MICK VICK COME BACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR!!!!! LONG LIVE THE BEST FRONT OFFICE IN FOOTBALL!!!!— DJ_Bootleggah
- We aint going ANYWHERE while The Great Experiment is in progress on the O-Line. (A rookie and a castoff on V7's blindside....ouch.)— TBear
Comment removed.- I second that. Macho Harris was an experiment. 2009 w/o a real middle linebacker and bringing Trot back, that was an experiment. Dan Klecko at FB was an experiment. This o-line will actually be a strenght this year, as it once used to be. Sucks to say Casey Matthews is an experiment too, hopefully it works out. — beerflow
- We're either winning the Supe or the worst team that ever laced them up. It never changes, only the year changes. Let them lose their first game and see what gets posted. But hopefully they can do a 'typical' AR 11-5 or thereabouts and then see what they got.— PhillySubsMac
- If you think we're losing to the Rams, you're delusional. Also, how is 11-5 typical when we haven't finished better than 10-6 since 2004? — beerflow
- Please, please do not vilify Vince Young before he has an opportunity to demonstrate why the Eagles are a special team. Does anyone think his "dream team" statement was being irresponsible? The media bordered on trashing the Mike Vick signing. Turned out to be a great move. Vince Young is an outstanding QB who can help us down the road! Back off a bit please— reveugene
- wow that idiot that said we would have 2 titles if we did this with McNabb. WE DID. We brought in the Troy Vincents and Asante Samuels of the world. The T.O.'s and Javon Kearses as well. You are blinded by the short offseason where they signed in bunches. Some of you people act like they NEVER spend, thats not true. They just didnt always spend in areas that we wanted at times, like WR and Linebacker. THEY ALWAYS spent on Corners. This is nothing new.— silrock27
- Howie, you did a great job, BUT we still need some linebackers and O-Linemen. Get back to work !!— Craig321
- This is thee DREAM TEAM. A few tweeks and the tinkering be done. Cut Cooper instill Stevie Smith, Matthews and midget all to slow to. Sign Jamarcus bfor the Cowboys get him to take Romo place. Mike MVP and SB MVP. After this year, Mike will be philly statue instead of rocky.— Tyrone7
- This should be a pretty good Eagles team.— road515
- The only way they have a chance is if they can play as a team and not get selfish and cry like To! Look at Troy Aikman's numbers he played for the team and not his numbers and how many rings does he have!— thinkinggreen
- that new rule on kickoffs is terrible, now there is no more returns or good field position (say getting a return out to the 40) in a tight game at the end that gives an offense a chance to get into FG range in less than a minute. Terrible rule, they will change it back next season guaranteed— peteike
- DREAM TEAM...the national media and TV announcers have labeled the Eagles the DREAM TEAM...this article can't erase or stop that that now, the Eagles are THE DREAM TEAM...and that's cool.
— frank105 - Eagles are the DREAM TEAM...this writer shouldn't be afraid of the DREAM TEAM label....Eagles need to be confident and bold and embrace the DREAM TEAM label.
DREAM TEAM...Super Bowl win or bust.— frank105 - frank105, keep drinking the green Kool Aid. Suspect O Line and thin at LB. 10-6 at best if Vick can stay healthy.— blackhawk90
- @bh90, the guy's a troll. look at his other posts. It's either sarcasm, or trying to instill hate. looks to me like the work of a 12 year old. or maybe just some unemployed guy of the same intelligence level. — goeagles87
- ABOUT EAGLES TIXS, PLEASE READ: Has anyone else had their single game Eagles tickets that they bought in early August taken away without them knowing? Ticketmaster never notified me or contacted me in any way to let me know that they were recinding my purchase of Eagles v. Pats tickets. I had four seats. When I reviewed my credit card statement today their was a refund on my statement. When I called to ask ticketmaster they blamed the Eagles organization. WONDERING IF IT HAS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE?— Eagle GREEN Mt State
- 14-2, Super Bowl Champions and then and only then, I can die.— Theo1980
- 11-5 or 12-4 and a division or wild card.. Then it's anybody's guess.
would really have liked to see them strentghen the O line a bit more.
Still excited with the prospect of having a legitimate contender..That's all we can ask.— dedhed - The media complaining about the media? whaaa?— ej610
- Casey Matthews and this undersized LB corps look to be the likely "weak link" on what otherwise should be a pretty strong D.
Nice that Matthews has such a great football IQ, but that won't help him shed 325 lbs. guards who are going to have him and his LB cohorts for lunch. Hopefully the Birds DL can "protect" them some, but right now it doesn't look encouraging for Eagles LB's.— FishFryFrank - @silrock27 first off im no idiot. second mcnabb had that team for one yr. the second yr he had that team his star reciever went bizerk on him. when he did have the team he took us to the big dance without his #1 WR and we been to more playoffs then P manning can only imagine with the teams mcnabb had to play with.— philly sports
- I just hope that coaching, time management, time outs and play calling are as god as the talent.— jimk24
